A suicide occurs every 15 minutes…

http://rapgenius.com/1909435

This is an epidemic.

And it’s becoming more and more clear that we’re experiencing it deeply and closely in Hip Hop.

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/editorials/id.2084/title.get-your-mind-right-hip-hop-mental-illness

http://allhiphop.com/2013/01/11/silent-killer-hip-hop-can-no-longer-ignore-mental-illness/

http://www.38thnotes.com/2013/04/02/beats-rhymes-and-life-hip-hop-mental-health-and-youth/

http://rollingout.com/health/rappers-with-a-mental-illness/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/breaking-hip-hops-silence-kid-cudi-speaks-on-mental-health/2013/01/17/257828fe-60b0-11e2-9940-6fc488f3fecd_blog.html

Capital Steez and Freddy E both took their own lives in the last year. Capital Steez was part of Joey Bada$$’s Pro Era crew. Freddy E was Tyga’s artist and linked to Honey Cocaine.

It’s that serious – that we’ll do anything it takes to end the pain.

HAROLD HUNTER RIP.

In addition to appearing on Steel Tipped Dove’s ‘& a whole bunch of crazy motherfuckers’ mixtape…

http://rapgenius.com/1916015

“#AaronSwartz” will appear on AWKWORD’s ‘World View’ LP. See below the album logo (not the cover) for more information.

“Though his mission is serious, AWKWORD’s got a quicksilver wit that permeates most of his tracks… Stay on his good side; it’s a pretty inspiring place to be.” — MTV OurStage

“Awkword’s career is going straight up, so check him out now so you can say you knew him ‘before before.’” — HipHopDX Music Editor Kathy Iandoli

Rapper/Activist (and Sociologist) AWKWORD is one of the “dope artists” putting New York City Hip Hop back on the map (DOPEMusicBlog) — making “quality music that deserves to be heard” (Chuck D of Public Enemy). AWKWORD is also “the heart and soul” of World View (BuckMarleyXXX), the first-ever 100% For-Charity Global Hip Hop Album. Hosted/presented by The DJ Booth (DJBooth) and also sponsored by The Morgan Stanley Foundation, The Red Tag Society and End of the Weak (EOW), in addition to Dope Music Blog and The Mad Bloggers, AWKWORD’s “highly anticipated LP World View” (The Source) is designed to connect us worldwide through Hip Hop music & culture. World View features contributions from every continent, approximately 20 countries and every U.S. region. The album boasts production from the likes of Harry Fraud, Domingo and Numonics, and guest emcee appearances from Joell Ortiz, Sean Price, KRS-One, Slug (of Atmosphere), ILL BILL and more.

For AWKWORD, this is nothing new. Today he fights for change through music; his activism began in childhood, with the guidance of his mother (RIP). AWKWORD created his high school’s first (now annual) Diversity Day with the Anti-Defamation League. While earning his Bachelor’s in Sociology from Vassar, he founded the school’s Prison Reform Group, lobbied New York State Congress for the repeal of the Rockefeller Drug Laws and worked or volunteered at Green Haven maximum-security prison, an alternative-to-incarceration center, a probation office and an at-risk youth center. From his World View project, all proceeds are donated to Guns 4 Cameras (Aim to Live), a 501c3-registered nonprofit that goes beyond the gun-exchange program, working to eradicate street violence through the Hip Hop-inspired education and empowerment of our at-risk youth. The organization’s founder, Hezues R’ was shot at 22 times at age 22 and survived to re-dedicate his life to saving the streets. He and the organization’s Spokesperson, Hip Hop icon Pharoahe Monch, have traveled the country speaking to the youth about Hip Hop, making the right choices, and putting down their guns and picking up their cameras (or their pens or their microphones) to be productive instead of destructive. Future plans for the organization include local gun-for-camera exchanges nationwide — and not for cash either, for cameras and inspiration.

AWKWORD has appeared on/in The Village Voice, Huffington Post, Complex, XXL, The Source, Vibe, Hot 97, Urb, MTV, Vlad TV, AllHipHop, Hip Hop DX, Stupid DOPE, The Smoking Section, Okay Player, Hip Hop Wired, HotNewHipHop, Nah Right, 2 Dope Boyz, DJ Booth, Hip Hop Game, iFame TV, Radio Dispatch with John & Molly Knefel, ANDYOUDON’TSTOP Radio with Chuck D of Public Enemy, Hip Hop Nation with Statik Selektah, Halftime Radio with DJ Eclipse, The Emilio Sparks Experience, etc.

“Don’t let the stage name fool you — when it comes to rocking the mic… AWKWORD is anything but.” — DJBooth.net

“Better get down with AWKWORD’s movement, he’s doing something very positive for the Hip Hop community.” — DonutsAndMilk.com

#itsoktobeAWKWORD

AWKWORD Audio – http://bit.ly/AWKWORDraps

AWKWORD Video – http://bit.ly/AWKWORDtv

FULL BIO: http://AWKWORDrap.com/AWKWORD

EMAIL: info@AWKWORDrap.com

7-Time Grammy Nominee LAW sings the hook and plays guitar on “#AaronSwartz”. He is best known for his work with Amy Winehouse and George Clinton. It is an honor to have him part of this.

It’s me!

http://twitter.com/steeltippeddove

Steel Tipped Dove does a stellar job with production on this song. “#AaronSwartz” appears on his Potholes In My Blog-sponsored mixtape ‘& a whole bunch of crazy motherfuckers’ (July 1, 2013), which also features Kool AD (Das Racist), Lakutis, Open Mike Eagle, YC The Cynic, Fat Tony, Jesse Abraham, Big Baby Gandhi and many more.

Look to these organizations if you are considering suicide.

There are so many people trained to help us. I shout some of them out at the end of this song.

To Write Love On Her Arms
Grassroots Suicide Prevention
Lifeline
NIMH
SAMHSA
The AFSP
The Trevor Project

It’s MORE daring to choose LIFE.