KPFA - Hard Knock Radio

Davey D taps Netfa Freeman of Pan-African Community Action (PACA) and the Black Alliance for Peace to unpack what’s really happening in Washington, D.C. Freeman says the story isn’t a sudden “DC takeover” but an intensification of long-running policies: federal agents augmenting MPD, a crime narrative used to justify containment, and a local government—under Mayor Muriel Bowser—collaborating rather than resisting. He frames it as colonial occupation at home: an “internal colony” dynamic that criminalizes homelessness, migrants, and especially Black youth. Freeman stresses identity reductionism: placing Black faces in high office can mask austerity and repression while creating the illusion of progress. He cites DC’s “sanctuary city” backsliding and ICE detentions sweeping up thousands with no criminal record. Against massive budgets (Davey cites $170B for ICE), Freeman argues root causes—poverty, underfunded schools, lack of care—could be addressed for a fraction of that, especially if impacted communities design the solutions. He highlights PACA’s People’s Pan-African Wellness Front—community health efforts inspired by the Panthers and Cuba’s neighborhood-based care—as an example of people-first, low-cost intervention. On resistance, Freeman notes encouraging on-the-ground pushback to police/ICE actions, but says the key is turning raw courage into organized, politically clear, protracted struggle. He warns about co-optation (“rad-lib” reformism), romanticizing oppression (“it’ll wake us up”), and covert tactics that weaponize desperation to turn communities against movement organizers. The antidote: deep relationships, political education, and tangible material support that make sell-out tactics harder to land. Freeman closes by situating DC within a global struggle against imperialism, urging folks to follow PACA (PACADMV on socials) and Black Alliance for Peace for campaigns “to defeat the war against African people.” Some quick Davey-D-style takeaways to consider: Don’t mistake representation for liberation; track material outcomes. Budget lines tell the real story—follow the money, not the press release. Organize courage: viral moments need structure to become power. Pair political education with concrete services; care work builds trust and resilience. Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post DC Under Occupation: Netfa Freeman on Policing, Poverty, and Resistance appeared first on KPFA.

Host Davey D sits down with psychiatrist and author Dr. Terry A. Kupers to dig into the realities—and rising urgency—of ending solitary confinement in 2025. Kupers defines solitary plainly: 22+ hours a day locked alone in a cell, meals through a slot, minimal caged “yard” time, and almost no human contact—“like being locked in your bathroom 24 hours a day.” He traces the practice from early Quaker experiments in “penitence” to its modern resurgence amid overcrowding, longer sentences, and punitive “supermax” design meant to break people rather than rehabilitate them. Kupers challenges the “worst of the worst” narrative. Research shows heavy reliance on solitary correlates with more violence and rule violations inside prisons, not less. By contrast, places that reduce isolation and invest in programming—citing Norwegian models and reforms tried in North Dakota—see violence drop, especially when formerly isolated people mentor others. He highlights the 2015 Ashker settlement at Pelican Bay, which ended California’s practice of indefinite solitary based solely on alleged gang affiliation, as a blueprint for change. The human toll is severe: extreme anxiety, paranoia, cognitive decline, depression, and a disproportionate share of suicides (roughly 60% of prison suicides occur in units that hold about 5% of the population). Women who report sexual abuse are often placed in solitary “for their protection,” contrary to professional standards. ICE detention, Kupers adds, uses isolation heavily while also deploying mass crowding—two faces of the same harm. Racial disparities and the targeting of politically conscious prisoners persist, echoing a lineage from slavery and convict leasing to Angola’s notorious history; he cites the Angola 3 and Albert Woodfox’s 44 years in isolation. Kupers’ new co-authored volume, Ending Isolation: The Case Against Solitary Confinement, centers incarcerated writers like Quanetta Harris and launches alongside a “Journey to Justice” national bus tour. He closes with a call for wraparound reentry supports and a broader public reckoning: solitary is torture, and ending it is a democratic imperative. Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post Ending Isolation: The Case Against Solitary Confinement appeared first on KPFA.

On this episode of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sat down with lawyer, journalist, and author Malaika Jabali to unpack her new bookIts Not You, Its Capitalism. Drawing on her legal background and years of political reporting,Jabalichallenges the myths surrounding capitalism and reframes our relationship to money, struggle, and systemic inequality. Jabali explains that the idea for the book emerged during the pandemic, when people internalized their economic hardship as personal failure rather than a systemic flaw. Using the metaphor of a toxic relationship, she likens capitalism to a manipulative partner”gaslighting folks into believing they arent working hard enough while hoarding the fruits of their labor. Weve been conditioned to think this is the only way to live,Jabalisays, and thats the biggest lie of all. She and Davey dig deep into the psychological hold capitalism has on people, especially Black communities. From prosperity gospel churches pushing predatory loans, to celebrity billionaires being held up as aspirational goals,Jabaliargues that capitalism sells false hope while hiding its exploitative roots. As Davey puts it, Thats big pimping”the American way. The conversation also centers race and class.Jabali challenges the whitewashed history of socialism, highlighting Black revolutionaries like Assata Shakur, Martin Luther King Jr., Dolores Huerta, and Kathleen Cleaver, whose critiques of capitalism were often erased or watered down. She points out that capitalism in the U.S. was born through racial exploitation”enslaved labor, redlining, and now the prison-industrial complex”and cant be separated from that legacy. Jabalidoesnt shy away from tough contradictions, especially the debate around Black capitalism. She critiques the notion that individual wealth will liberate communities, pointing to Atlanta”a city known for Black excellence, yet riddled with inequality and displacement. If Black capitalism was the solution, she argues, it wouldve worked by now. Davey also raises a sharp point about how billionaires collaborate and share resources, while everyday folks are conditioned to hustle alone. They practice collective power, he says, and were taught individualism. Thats not by accident. To make the book accessible to younger readers, Jabali collaborated with illustrator Kayla E. to include visual breakdowns “like the cheeky timeline of exploitative Johns, from plantation owner to Silicon Valley CEO” all exploiting labor in different ways. She encourages readers to start with Chapter 1 (Why Capitalism Is a Catfish) and Chapter 2 (The Boy Is Mine) for a crash course in how race and class divisions keep working people fighting each other instead of the system. In short, Its Not You, Its Capitalismis more than a critique its an intervention. And its a call to remember that our worth isnt tied to our wages, and our liberation wont come from mimicking billionaires, but from reclaiming power together. Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post Its Not You, Its Capitalism: Malaika Jabali Breaks Down Economic Gaslighting, Black Liberation, and the Illusion of Wealth (ENCORE) appeared first on KPFA.

On today’s show, we look at the state of workers’ rights in 2025 with Jennifer Esteen, a nurse and SEIU labor leader. Esteen reflects on the shifting landscape of labor rights in the U.S. and beyond—from new protections for workers in places like California, to the growing attacks on unions and collective bargaining nationwide. We talk about the challenges facing frontline workers, including unsafe conditions, wage theft, and employer retaliation, and highlight the new waves of organizing happening in health care, tech, and the South. At a time when global reports show a steep decline in basic labor rights, we ask: what strategies are workers building to survive and win? Esteen helps us connect today’s labor struggles to broader fights for economic justice, racial equity, and democracy itself. Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1 FM, weekdays 4–5 pm), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post The State of Workers’ Rights appeared first on KPFA.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post Hard Knock Radio – August 29, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

On today’s show, we mark the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with journalist and organizer Jordan Flaherty. Flaherty, who has reported extensively from New Orleans and across the Gulf Coast, reflects on the storm’s devastating impact and the decades-long struggle for recovery and justice that followed. We look at how communities—especially Black, working-class, and immigrant residents—fought to survive displacement, systemic neglect, and the privatization of public resources in the aftermath. Two decades later, the lessons of Katrina remain urgent. From climate disasters to housing insecurity and government abandonment, Flaherty helps us connect the ongoing crises of today to the movement stories and survival strategies born out of Katrina’s aftermath. Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post Hurricane Katrina 20 Years Later appeared first on KPFA.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post Hard Knock Radio – August 27, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

On Hard Knock Radio, Davey D sat down with Oakland boxing coach and community leader Dalia “La Pantera” Gomez, known affectionately as Coach G. The conversation highlighted her grassroots boxing and wellness program at San Antonio Park, which has become a vital hub for young people and families. Coach G reflected on her upbringing in Oxnard, where parks provided sanctuary and shaped her love for sports. That experience inspired her to keep her program outdoors, even when kids asked about moving into a gym. For her, being in nature teaches resilience, builds community, and keeps youth connected to traditions often lost in today’s screen-dominated culture. She and Davey D critiqued the privatization of youth sports, where families are pressured to pay thousands for elite leagues. Coach G argued that capitalism and the “rat race” have replaced community values with profit-driven models, shutting out those without resources. Her free and low-cost training stands as a counterbalance, offering not only boxing but also health education and connections to programs like Homies Empowerment. The two also discussed challenges working within city parks, where community-led improvements have often been blocked by bureaucracy and red tape. Despite the obstacles, Gomez emphasized the importance of collective care, noting how neighbors came together to provide tents, equipment, and other support when the city would not. Coach G also celebrated the rise of women in boxing, citing events like Beautiful Brawlers and pioneers such as Martha Salazar and Blanca Gutierrez. As one of only a handful of female coaches in the Bay, she highlighted the detail-oriented approach women bring to the sport. Beyond boxing, Gomez promotes wellness through nutrition, mocktails, and community fundraisers, framing her work as a pathway to strength, self-knowledge, and collective empowerment. Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post Fighting for Community: Boxing, Collective Care, and Wellness Movement in Oakland appeared first on KPFA.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post Hard Knock Radio – August 25, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

On today’s program, Thandisiwe Chimurenga hosts a conversation with Dylan Rodríguez, scholar, teacher, and longtime organizer. Rodríguez has been a professor at the University of California, Riverside since 2001, where he teaches in the Department of Black Study. His work interrogates state violence, policing, and the carceral system while amplifying collective strategies of resistance and liberation. Together, Chimurenga and Rodríguez reflect on navigating U.S. politics in the age of Trump, unpack the failures of both the Republican and Democratic parties, examine the dangers of clinging to a two-party system, and explore pathways for organizing, resistance, and building power beyond establishment politics. We begin with news from New York, where State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani recently secured a key victory in the New York City elections—signaling the growing influence of progressive politics at both local and national levels. Later in the program, we turn to Poor News Network (PNN), a grassroots, poor-people-led media, education, and art project based in Oakland. Through storytelling, reporting, and cultural work, PNN lifts up the voices of unhoused and low-income communities while exposing what they call “Amerikkka’s war on the poor.” Their work challenges corporate media narratives and highlights survival, resistance, and resilience from the ground up. Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post Progressive Victories and America’s War on the Poor appeared first on KPFA.

Fighting Back Against Censorship On this episode of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sits down with Emerson Sykes, senior staff attorney at the ACLU, to unpack the growing wave of book bans and attacks on free speech sweeping across the U.S. The conversation spotlights the federal governments removal of nearly 600 books”includingCant Stop Wont Stop: Young Adult Edition, co-authored by Davey D and Jeff Chang”from Department of Defense-run school libraries. The Bigger Picture Sykes draws a direct line between executive orders issued by the Trump administration and an aggressive purge of materials deemed connected to DEI, gender identity, and so-called divisive concepts. He explains how keyword searches”rather than thoughtful review”were used to yank hundreds of titles from circulation, many centering women, LGBTQ voices, and communities of color. Free Speech Under Siege Sykes outlines how the ACLU differentiates between broad ideas of free expression and the legal scope of First Amendment protections. He underscores that the First Amendment shields private speech from government censorship”not private moderation by platforms like Twitter. The current censorship campaign, he argues, is a clear violation of constitutional rights and part of a broader authoritarian push to whitewash history and suppress dissent. Court Battles & Legal Strategy The ACLU has successfully challenged similar laws in states like Florida and New Hampshire, particularly where public universities faced restrictions on curriculum. Sykes details how the federal government, in the current case, is arguing that it has unchecked authority to pull any material in the name of compliance with the Commander-in-Chief”a stance the courts have not yet upheld. What’s at Stake Davey D and Sykes explore how legal definitions”like those attempting to equate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism”could pave the way for dangerous precedents that criminalize dissent. They warn that the broader implications could extend to banning speech critical of police, the military, or U.S. institutions under the guise of protecting certain groups. Call to Action Sykes urges listeners to stay vigilant in their communities”whether in schools, workplaces, or local governments. He stresses the importance of pushing back on censorship at the local level and supporting organizations that are fighting for civil liberties nationwide. Later Mumia Abu-Jamal discusses the murder of Anas Al-Sharif, a Palestinian journalist working for Al Jazeera, who was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on a media tent outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post ACLUs Emerson Sykes on Book Bans, Free Speech, and Government Overreach (Encore) appeared first on KPFA.

On today’s show, we begin with Frankie Ramos, Director of Campaigns and Organizing at CURYJ (Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice), joined by Mike Muscadine, Community Peace Manager. They share details about this Saturday’s Town Nights event, themed “Fresh for School.” The gathering continues CURYJ’s work to build safety through community, not punishment, with resources, performances, and back-to-school support for local youth. In the second half, we hear from journalist, author, and political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal, who joins host Kalonji Changa in a wide-ranging conversation recorded by Black Power Media. Marking 40 years since his imprisonment, Abu-Jamal speaks on his health, reflections on movement building in the wake of George Floyd, and the role of revolutionary journalism in amplifying the voices of the people. His words call us to unity, resistance, and renewed commitment to the struggle for freedom. Together, these conversations highlight the spirit of resilience and organizing that fuels movements for justice—from Oakland’s streets to prison cells across the nation. Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post Fresh for School and Free Them All: CURYJ’s Town Nights & Mumia Abu-Jamal Speaks appeared first on KPFA.

On today’s show, author and activist Kalonji Changa fills in for Davey D to speak with poet, activist, and New Orleans native Sunni Patterson, reflecting on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. On August 29, 2005, Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, causing catastrophic flooding, widespread destruction, and claiming the lives of over 1,800 people. The storm exposed not only the vulnerabilities of the levee system—which Patterson notes were intentionally breached—but also the deep racial, social, and economic inequities that left Black and low-income communities disproportionately affected. In the immediate aftermath, reports emerged of armed militia groups forming in certain neighborhoods, including Algiers Point, a predominantly white area, where residents set up barricades and guard posts and used violence against people they perceived as looters. Democracy Now! reported that this group was accused of shooting at least eleven African American men, while local police failed to investigate. Meanwhile, federal response efforts faltered, and FEMA’s failures left many evacuees without support. Patterson recalls finding help and solidarity not from government agencies, but through community networks while evacuating to Houston, and she reflects on her return to New Orleans, the struggles around property recovery, and the long, uneven process of rebuilding. Two decades later, we revisit Katrina’s enduring impact: the mass displacement of residents, the dismantling of public housing and schools, the gentrification that reshaped the city, and the ongoing trauma carried by survivors. Patterson and Changa examine the political dimensions of the disaster—how government neglect, delayed rescue efforts, and failed recovery policies turned a natural disaster into a man-made catastrophe. This conversation is not only about remembering loss, but about honoring resilience, exposing systemic and state violence, and highlighting the ongoing struggle for justice in the aftermath of one of the most politically charged disasters in U.S. history. Kalonji Jama Changa is a seasoned organizer who has worked on various social justice fronts. Kalonji is founder of the anti imperialist organization FTP Movement and the multimedia platform Black Power Media. He is an author and filmmaker and is currently working with veteran freedom fighters to build a United Front Against Fascism. Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post Katrina 20 Years Later: The Storm, the State, and the Struggle appeared first on KPFA.

On today’s show, we turn our attention to Gaza, where the humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic levels. The United Nations has declared a stage 5 famine, and leading human rights organizations, along with genocide scholars, have nearly unanimously recognized Israel’s assault on Palestinians as genocide. Here in California, state lawmakers are advancing AB 715 — legislation aimed at stifling criticism of Israel at a time when public opinion overwhelmingly opposes its military actions. As the legislature returns to session, the fight over AB 715 raises urgent questions about free speech, political dissent, and the right to stand in solidarity with Palestinians. Host Anita Johnson speaks with Mohamed Shehk, Organizing Director for the Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC), about the realities on the ground in Gaza, the motivations behind AB 715, and the growing movement to oppose it. We’ll also hear from political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal on the killing of Palestinian journalist Anas Al-Sharif by the Israeli military. Al Jazeera reported that Al-Sharif, one of Gaza’s most prominent journalists, was killed along with four staff members in a targeted airstrike. Mumia will also share commentary on the importance of Black August, an annual commemoration that spans the entire month of August. Black August honors Black political prisoners and the long history of Black freedom struggles in the United States and around the world, and uplifts traditions of Black resistance against racial, colonial, and imperialist oppression. Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post Silencing Solidarity: California’s Battle Over AB 715 appeared first on KPFA.

On this edition ofHard Knock Radio, host Davey D sits down withKamauFranklin”organizer, lawyer, and co-editor ofNo Cop City, No Cop World: Lessons from the Movement”for a deep and revealing conversation about the grassroots struggle in Atlanta and what it means for movements across the country. Franklin lays out the origins of the Stop Cop City movement, born from the backlash to the 2020 uprisings over police violence. While masses called to defund or abolish the police, Atlantas response”despite its reputation as a Black Mecca”was to buildCop City, a sprawling, militarized training facility funded by corporate giants like Delta, Cox, and Waffle House. Located on land once promised to a working-class Black community, the site has drawn protest, organizing, and repression. Kamaubreaks down how Black political elites”what he and the late Glenn Ford call theBlack misleadership class”helped enable Cop Citys creation. These are officials who use their identity to gain trust, but govern in ways that align with corporate and developer interests rather than the needs of working-class Black folks. Theyre not struggling with Black liberation politics, Franklin says. Theyre trained to be transactional. Davey D andKamauexplore the dangers of identity politics when its weaponized for status quo governance. They also touch on the defanging of Black radical politics through state repression, corporate media manipulation, and the amplification of conservative Black voices that present themselves as authentically hood while pushing reactionary agendas. Franklin highlights the importance of coalition-building, even as the Cop City fight has faced internal challenges and political repression”including terrorism and RICO charges against protesters. He names the essay by Ashley Dixon on base building as a must-read in the book, pointing to the hard, often unglamorous organizing work needed to sustain movements. He also lifts up moments of solidarity with Indigenous communities”especially the Muskogee Nation”who were displaced from the land now being bulldozed for Cop City. In the final stretch, the conversation turns to the dangers ahead: the rise of white militias, expanded federal surveillance, and increasing use of anti-terror laws to stifle dissent.Kamaucalls for a shift from Know Your Rights to Community Defense. He underscores the importance of building alternative infrastructure”from housing to farms to mutual aid”as a way to deepen political power beyond elections. Listeners are encouraged to followKamaus work atCommunityMovementBuilders.organd his YouTube platform,Black Liberation Media. Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post Kamau Franklin on Cop City, Black Misleadership, and the Fight for Real Power (Encore) appeared first on KPFA.

On this edition ofHard Knock Radio, host Davey D sits down withKamauFranklin”organizer, lawyer, and co-editor ofNo Cop City, No Cop World: Lessons from the Movement”for a deep and revealing conversation about the grassroots struggle in Atlanta and what it means for movements across the country. Franklin lays out the origins of the Stop Cop City movement, born from the backlash to the 2020 uprisings over police violence. While masses called to defund or abolish the police, Atlantas response”despite its reputation as a Black Mecca”was to buildCop City, a sprawling, militarized training facility funded by corporate giants like Delta, Cox, and Waffle House. Located on land once promised to a working-class Black community, the site has drawn protest, organizing, and repression. Kamaubreaks down how Black political elites”what he and the late Glenn Ford call theBlack misleadership class”helped enable Cop Citys creation. These are officials who use their identity to gain trust, but govern in ways that align with corporate and developer interests rather than the needs of working-class Black folks. Theyre not struggling with Black liberation politics, Franklin says. Theyre trained to be transactional. Davey D andKamauexplore the dangers of identity politics when its weaponized for status quo governance. They also touch on the defanging of Black radical politics through state repression, corporate media manipulation, and the amplification of conservative Black voices that present themselves as authentically hood while pushing reactionary agendas. Franklin highlights the importance of coalition-building, even as the Cop City fight has faced internal challenges and political repression”including terrorism and RICO charges against protesters. He names the essay by Ashley Dixon on base building as a must-read in the book, pointing to the hard, often unglamorous organizing work needed to sustain movements. He also lifts up moments of solidarity with Indigenous communities”especially the Muskogee Nation”who were displaced from the land now being bulldozed for Cop City. In the final stretch, the conversation turns to the dangers ahead: the rise of white militias, expanded federal surveillance, and increasing use of anti-terror laws to stifle dissent.Kamaucalls for a shift from Know Your Rights to Community Defense. He underscores the importance of building alternative infrastructure”from housing to farms to mutual aid”as a way to deepen political power beyond elections. Listeners are encouraged to followKamaus work atCommunityMovementBuilders.organd his YouTube platform,Black Liberation Media. Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post Kamau Franklin on Cop City, Black Misleadership, and the Fight for Real Power appeared first on KPFA.

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post Hard Knock Radio – August 13, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Wu-Tang’s Mathematics Breaks It Down: From DJing to Drum Patterns to the Black Mind Unchained In this lively and in-depth Hard Knock Radio conversation, host Davey D sits down with DJ and producer Allah Mathematics of the Wu-Tang Clan to discuss legacy, innovation, and the discipline behind his latest solo album Black Sampson and the Bastard Swordsman. From Southside Queens to Wu-Tang Lore Mathematics traces his early roots through Queens, where he was deeply influenced by figures like GZA and RZA. He recalls being GZA’s DJ before Wu-Tang formed, likening the elusive MC to “Mr. Snuffleupagus”—always just missing him. He shares how that foundation shaped his entry into the crew and his passion for music. The Influence of the 5% Nation and Hip Hop Ethos A powerful thread throughout the interview is Mathematics‘ relationship with the Nation of Gods and Earths (5% Nation). He reflects on how its teachings gave him self-worth and discipline, concepts that later showed up in both the Wu’s lyrical complexity and his personal life. Davey and Math unpack how the 5% Nation’s influence can be seen everywhere—from the b-boy stance to the use of terms like “cipher.” Crafting Black Sampson: A Cinematic Tribute The conversation dives deep into the concept and construction of Black Sampson and the Bastard Swordsman. Each track is named after a classic blaxploitation or martial arts film—Claudine, Dolomite, Warriors Two, and Mandingo—fusing sound with cinematic memory. Inspired by the loss of his mother, the album is heavy with emotion and entirely composed of live instrumentation, with no samples used—marking a major shift in his production style. On Production, Wu Legacy, and the Math Sound Mathematics talks about the collaborative, competitive energy between Wu producers like RZA, 4th Disciple, and True Master. He describes his distinct drum-heavy production style as a reflection of his own heartbeat. He also details how learning piano and music theory allowed him to craft original “samples” and experiment with live horns, guitars, and layered textures. Art, Identity, and the Full Creative Vision A graphic artist himself, Mathematics reveals he designed the iconic Wu-Tang “W” logo and was heavily involved in the visual concepts for the album. Over 5,000 unique album covers were produced, reinforcing the idea that each copy was its own collectible piece of art. Final Thoughts Mathematics encourages listeners to treat the album like a full-course meal—meant to be consumed from beginning to end. He closes with a nod to the ongoing Wu-Tang tour, which wraps in July, and reminds fans to tap in via his app for free tickets and updates. Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post Wu-Tang’s Mathematics Breaks It Down: From DJing to Drum Patterns to the Black Mind Unchained appeared first on KPFA.

Fighting Back Against Censorship On this episode of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sits down with Emerson Sykes, senior staff attorney at the ACLU, to unpack the growing wave of book bans and attacks on free speech sweeping across the U.S. The conversation spotlights the federal governments removal of nearly 600 books”includingCant Stop Wont Stop: Young Adult Edition, co-authored by Davey D and Jeff Chang”from Department of Defense-run school libraries. The Bigger Picture Sykes draws a direct line between executive orders issued by the Trump administration and an aggressive purge of materials deemed connected to DEI, gender identity, and so-called divisive concepts. He explains how keyword searches”rather than thoughtful review”were used to yank hundreds of titles from circulation, many centering women, LGBTQ voices, and communities of color. Free Speech Under Siege Sykes outlines how the ACLU differentiates between broad ideas of free expression and the legal scope of First Amendment protections. He underscores that the First Amendment shields private speech from government censorship”not private moderation by platforms like Twitter. The current censorship campaign, he argues, is a clear violation of constitutional rights and part of a broader authoritarian push to whitewash history and suppress dissent. Court Battles & Legal Strategy The ACLU has successfully challenged similar laws in states like Florida and New Hampshire, particularly where public universities faced restrictions on curriculum. Sykes details how the federal government, in the current case, is arguing that it has unchecked authority to pull any material in the name of compliance with the Commander-in-Chief”a stance the courts have not yet upheld. What’s at Stake Davey D and Sykes explore how legal definitions”like those attempting to equate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism”could pave the way for dangerous precedents that criminalize dissent. They warn that the broader implications could extend to banning speech critical of police, the military, or U.S. institutions under the guise of protecting certain groups. Call to Action Sykes urges listeners to stay vigilant in their communities”whether in schools, workplaces, or local governments. He stresses the importance of pushing back on censorship at the local level and supporting organizations that are fighting for civil liberties nationwide. Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post ACLUs Emerson Sykes on Book Bans, Free Speech, and Government Overreach (Encore) appeared first on KPFA.

On this Composer, pianist, and vocalist Samora Pinderhughes tells us about The Healing Project. The Healing Project, a fundamentally abolitionist project, explores the structures of systemic racism and the prison industrial complex. The Healing Project takes action towards abolition with forms such as musical songs, films, an exhibition, community gatherings, live performances, and a digital library of audio interviews. At the center of the project are the intergenerational voices of people across the country, including folks incarcerated in prisons and detention centers. Their stories, experiences, and ideas serve as the foundation for The Healing Projects vision for societal transformation. And later Poor News Magazine explores America’s war on disenfranchised communities. Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson. The post The Healing Project: An Abolitionist Story (Encore) and Poor News Magazine (New) appeared first on KPFA.