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Posted at 7/19/2007 04:25:00 PM
Mr. J Medeiros is an eloquent hip-hop artist on a mission to create massive social change through music, in more areas than one. In keeping with the release of his debut solo-album “Of gods and girls” on July 24th, 2007, Mr. J officially launches his anti child trafficking campaign “IamConstance.org” in Los Angeles today; a website that relates to the non-traditional, “hit” single off the album: “Constance”.
“Constance” is the true story of a girl raised in The Philippines, kidnapped, and forced into prostitution and internet pornography at a young age. The video for “Constance” (which has already compiled over 100,000 views on YouTube), illustrates how Americans support this scenario everyday through “legal” and “illegal” internet porn sites.
“People don’t see the connection between clicking on the internet here and someone being raped in a hotel room on the other side of the world,” exclaims J, “I want people to recognize our responsibility in what is happening here. Child pornography is a $3 Billion dollar market and the porn industry all together is $57 Billion worldwide; it brings in more money than professional football, baseball, and basketball franchises combined.”
The story of Constance aims to show the massive population of pornography users, that they may be fueling rape, abuse, human-trafficking, and child pornography. This is where the “IamConstance.org” campaign comes into play – the website hosts countless anonymous accounts from victims of trafficking, kidnapping and abuse. The purpose is to create change by revealing the magnitude of these atrocities.
The “I Am Constance Campaign” was born when J released the video online, and was immediately flooded with hundreds of YouTube comments, MySpace letters and personal accounts from women and men sharing their painful stories evoked by watching “Constance.” This sent Medeiros on a mission to tell these people’s stories, and show how many people are affected by this issue.
Mr. J’s hope is to increase awareness and accountability for these crimes. More than half of sexual assaults go unreported. J has partnered with organizations like humantrafficking.org, I Am Coming, and XXXchurch, in the hopes to break the silence about these crimes. They aim to rally support to demand that the UN increase minimum penalties for Human Trafficking worldwide. “800,000 women and children are kidnapped, trafficked and raped each year. That’s 2200 people each and every day, one every 39 seconds. Traffickers who are arrested may receive as little as 1 -4 years in prison. This has to stop,” demands J.
To watch the Constance video or to read like-minded “Constance” stories, go to:
http://www.iamconstance.org/.
click the link to see this online
http://hiphopruckus.blogspot.com/2007/07/mr-j-medeiros-starts-campaign-against.html - Hip Hop Ruckus
In 1997, Mr. J Medeiros co-founded hip hop’s heroic underdog group, The Procussions, launching their 10-year journey to indie hip hop success; touring the globe three times over, travelling with A Tribe Called Quest, collaborating with hip hop super star Talib Kweli, and receiving critical acclaim from the likes of Billboard, Complex and URB. The Procussions have released two LP’s; 2003’s As Iron Sharpens Iron and sophomore LP, 5 Sparrows For 2 Cents, on Rawkus Records.
Mr. J Medeiros has always been passionate and honest with his lyrics (i.e. The Procussions’ “The Storm” and “Little People”), but with his solo-debut, Of gods and girls, (which will be released on 7-24-07) Mr. J displays veteran emcee versatility, substance and style, as he really opens up to discuss topics few artists have the depth to talk about. His single and video for “Constance” has spread like wildfire on Youtube, as it tackles the taboo topic of human trafficking in the Philippines. “Constance” was subsequently featured on CBS Evening News for its exposé on human trafficking and internet pornography.
Numerous artists talk about saving the world, but Mr. J practices what he preaches by devoting a great deal of his time to special interest activities. He has served in Americorps NCCC, worked in a High School with special needs students, worked with a community outreach program that fights for the rights of persons with developmental disabilities, served as a volunteer fighter-fighter, helped build homes with “Habitat For Humanity” and has recently built a partnership with iamcoming.org; a non-profit, anti-human trafficking organization.
Further illustrating his growth as an artist, Mr. J handles the bulk of the production himself, including the incredible “Keep Pace,” “Silent Earth,” and his ode to his mother and father’s unconditional love on “Call You.” Of gods and girls finds Mr. J rekindling his chemistry with Procussions members Rez, who joins Strange Fruit on the Illmind (of G-Unit fame) produced “Change”, and Stro the 89th Key, who produces “Strangers” and “Honest Man’s Hustle.” Long-time friend, Pigeon John assists on “Money” an anthem for those with checking account woes. Although complimented by top-notch guests, J carries the weight of this album on his own shoulders, delivering stimulating dialogue from track to track and showing a glimpse of humor amidst an honest and sober dose of reality. Mr. J comments, “a lot of these songs were written at a time when I was broke and when I felt truly alone. Of gods and girls stems from that. It’s very personal.”
Rawkus Records’ Co-founder Jarret Meyer waxes passionately about Mr. J Medeiros and what he brings to the label as an artist, stating, “In terms of content and artistry, Mr J. ranks among the top artists I have had the pleasure of working with. But, what separates Mr J. as an individual is an unrelenting DIY punk spirit. He is definitely a career artist who will continue to make a big impact on music and culture.”
To veiw this artical online clik the link below.
http://www.thuglifearmy.net/news/?id=3697
- Thuglifearmy.com
Discography
Albums
2003 The Procussions As Iron Sharpens Iron
2004 The Procussions Up All Night (Japanese Exclusive)
2006 The Procussions 5 Sparrows for 2 Cents [7]
2007 Mr.J.Medeiros Of gods and girls [17]
2008 Mr.J.Medeiros Friends Enemies Apples Apples
Music Artists
2004 Sound Providers An Evening With The Sound Providers
2005 Deux Process In Deux Time
2005 Sharlock Poems The Movement
2005 Pigeon John Sings The Blues
2005 Othello Classic
2005 Illmind and Symbolic One The Art Of One Mind
2005 Ohmega Watts The Find
2005 One Block Radius Loud And Clear
2006 The Official Boondocks Mixtape Hip Hop Docktrine
2006 Hocus Pocus 73 Touches
2007 Othello Alive At The Assembly Line
2007 Hocus Pocus Place 54
2008 DaJla and Benji The Motherland
2009 EP "The Art of Broken Glass"
2009 LP "Friends, Enemies, Apples, Apples"
Video Games
2007 2k7 College Hoops
2008 EA Sports NBA Live [18]
2008 EA Sports XBOX Face Breaker [19]
Movies
2006 IFC Films American Gun [20][21]
2006 QD3 Entertainment Rising Son: The Legend Of Skateboarder Christian Hosoi
2008 Arnaud Desplechin "Un conte de Noël"
T.V.
2005-present MTV
2006 TLC Miami Ink
Photos
Bio
Wikipedia- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._J._Medeiros
May 30, 2007
Rap music can either be really hard or hardly real. Mr. J. Medeiros is living a life drenched in reality and writing lyrics that reflect it. With East-coast b-boy roots since the age of 7, it was unlikely that J found his calling in the fledgling hip-hop scene of Colorado Springs. Making the most of the college radio station, winning local MC battles, building his breaking crew, DJing events and writing graffiti in the Rocky Mountain town eventually sent J on his career path. He jump-started a record label with friends, and moved to Los Angeles, with his group, The Procussions.
Mr. J has always had a passion to help people, and has devoted years of his life serving in AmeriCorps (the Presidentially honored service organization), volunteering for Habitat For Humanity, and caring for people with mental disabilities. In working with people with developmental disabilities, I really started to understand the shallow ways that we as society communicate and interact, begins the MC, "So many people live their lives in corners because they either cant or wont subscribe to the ideals of materialism and superficial beauty, and it truly hurts. These experiences helped Medeiros find his calling to share this reality to others.
Medeiros has made himself an ally to many causes through his music. He reveals his passion for womens issues, with songs like Constance", which tells the story of a girl trapped in the taboo world of child pornography and human trafficking. The songs lyrics are aggressive and bold, "Its not illegal to use raping as a cash crop / As long as it says shes 18 on your laptop". Medeiros knows hes going against the grain. A large part of hip-hop's identity has been formed through a consistent disregard to a womens civil rights". declares J.
This altruistic attitude in Medeiros music touches on many other concerns from alcoholism to autism to self-esteem issues. There arent a lot of traditional themes that I talk about. I try to make music in a form to where people can take it as their own, instead of just talking about my experiences," says the thoughtful artist. As soon as it leaves my mouth, its no longer my music."
Medeiros has been making music for other people for over nine years with the LA based trio, The Procussions. They earned their stripes by playing to over 150 crowds per year with a critically acclaimed live show. Performances paved the way for the success of 2003s independent, As Iron Sharpens Iron, and attracted legendary independent hip-hop imprint Rawkus Records to sign the group and release 5 Sparrows for 2 Cents in 2006. This gave Medeiros a chance to develop his artistry while sharing the stage with hip hop greats such as The Roots, Big Daddy Kane, Talib Kweli, and A Tribe Called Quest.
These experiences helped Medeiros to unveil the album he had been writing and producing since 2004, Of gods and girls. Its pretty personal," says J, "Most of the album is about what we (I) make gods out of, the idea's men have about women and how those two interact in both a dangerous and beautiful way...there is a focus on women in this album with a hope that in mans recognition of woman as an equal we will be creating safer environments for women in what, for the most part, has been a "mans" world...hiphop." Although introspective, the inspiring time was not a pleasurable one for the MC. J wrote Of Gods and Girls while sleeping on friends couches between tours, without health insurance or a consistent income. It was a sense of loneliness, it was a sense of being broke," admits J. In retrospect, it wasnt that bad. I didnt have a car, but I did have a roof over my head, and I had food."
Putting things in perspective, Medeiros, from a better place today, can appreciate the art born out of the struggle. His undying commitment to his goals found him the opportunity to create HyDef Laboratories, his own record label, and partner with Rawkus to release Of Gods and Girls in July 2007. Rawkus co-founder Brian Brater speaks passionately about J, Sometimes I look at what Mr. J. is accomplishing and I think this guy will be Rawkus biggest star EVER. His point of view, and his message on Of Gods and Girls is as relevant and as timely as Mos Def and Kwelis Blackstar vision in 1998. If his talents have been used as a gift to others, this would be Js biggest reward. Humbled yet determined, Mr. J. Medeiros sums up his goal, I want my music to speak with dignity and inspire social change". Written by Paine
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