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2008 begins the second decade of Black August Hip Hop Project benefit concerts to assist and support our Political Prisoners. The venue for 2008 will be BB King Blues Club, which is located at 237 W. 42nd St, between 8th Ave and Broadway - right in Times Square, New York City!
NOTE: The previous venue for this year's benefit concert was the Nokia Theater. If you've already purchased a ticket for the 2008 concert at Nokia theater, your ticket will be honored without complication at the new venue, BB King Blues Club.
ARTISTS PERFORMING on AUGUST 31st 2008:
EPMD
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BILAL
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DJ Marley Marl
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SMIF N WESSUN
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SHADIA MANSOUR
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IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE
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DAS EFX
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JOELLE ORTIZ
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BLITZ THE AMBASSADOR
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DJ SCRATCH
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DJ EVIL DEE
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DJ OP
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Plus other surprise heavy weight guests like every year ...!
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 Black August originated in the concentration camps of California to honor fallen Freedom Fighters, Jonathan Jackson, George Jackson, William Christmas, James McClain and Khatari Gaulden. Jonathan Jackson was gunned down outside the Marin County California courthouse on August 7, 1970 as he attempted to liberate three imprisoned Black Liberation Fighters: James McClain, William Christmas and Ruchell Magee.
Ruchell Magee is the sole survivor of that armed rebellion. He is the former co-defendant of Angela Davis and has been locked down for 40 years, most of it in solitary confinement. George Jackson was assassinated by prison guards during a Black prison rebellion at San Quentin on August 21, 1971. Three prison guards were also killed during that rebellion and prison officials charged six Black and Latino prisoners with the death of those guards.
These six brothers became known as the San Quentin Six.
To honor these fallen soldiers the brothers who participated in the collective founding of Black August wore black armbands on their left arm and studied revolutionary works, focusing on the works of George Jackson.
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 The Black August benefit concert in New York City was a major success, raising more funds for political prisoners than we've ever achieved before!
The Nokia Theatre sold out it's stock of tickets days before the showtime, the buzz in the community about the show was strong, and the vibe, the turnout, and the messaging of the event were everything we wanted and needed.
Thank you to all of the supporters of the benefit concert that purchased tickets, or participated in any way. The success has been due to you.
Event photos by Monifa Skerritt-Perry
Event photos by M Szwajkos
Here's a sample of some of the concert coverage from Vibe's website:
Back to Black (POSTED: 17:02 EST, August 29, 2007)
"This ain't no damn concert, but we're going to rock on," exclaimed M1 of dead prez.
Sunday night's Black August celebration at Times Square had all the characteristics of a jam session: political-minded emcees, a sold-out Nokia Theatre, legendary DJs rocking the ones and twos- but, in response to the problems plaguing inner-city neighborhoods, the prevalent theme was "Free Your Hood."
Organized by the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, this year's Black August - its first year (400 attendees at New York's Tramp's in '97) is indicative of the success the campaign has seen- marked the 10th year of its existence and evolution.
To read the rest of the review, visit vibe.com.
Billboard's website has also done a write up of the event. Here is a portion of it:
Black August: Libertad!
Mariel Concepcion, N.Y.
The annual Black August concert, which honors freedom fighters and
political prisoners, took over New York's Nokia Theater on Sunday,
August 26th, with a huge hip-hop bill that included Dead Prez, Talib
Kweli, Common, Mos Def and several others.
Presented by Malcolm X Grassroots
Movement, the evening was hosted by MXGM's Monifa Bandele and Dead
Prez' M1. The sold-out event was dedicated to Assata Shakur, a
revolutionary activist and former Black Panther member who, even though
evidence revealed she neither carried nor fired a weapon, was sentenced
to life in prison in 1973 for the death of a New Jersey state trooper.
Shakur, who celebrated her 60th birthday that night, is in exile in
Cuba and has a $1 million bounty on her head, along with having been
recently being placed on the list of domestic terrorists.
It was a full house an hour in,
everyone bumping to Black Sheep and Run DMC courtesy of DJ Evil D.
"This is not an industry party! We are real motherf***ing people at a
real show. So, make some noise!" commanded D.
To read the rest of the review, visit billboard.com .
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 click for enlarged version
Richard Brown, Richard O'Neal, Ray Boudreaux, and Hank Jones were
arrested in California. Francisco Torres was arrested in Queens, New
York. Harold Taylor was arrested in Florida. Two men charged – Herman
Bell and Jalil Muntaqim – have been held as political prisoners for
over 30 years in New York State prisons. A ninth man -- Ronald Stanley
Bridgeforth – is still being sought. The men were charged with the
murder of Sgt. John Young and conspiracy that encompasses numerous acts
between 1968 and 1973.
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