HRS News

Yesterday, R. Kelly released “Rise Up,” a moving track about healing in the aftermath of the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech. A troubled student killed 32 people and himself on the university’s campus in Blacksburg, VA.

The lyrics feature the words: “Rise up, when you feel you can’t go on, rise up, and all of your hope is gone, rise up, when you’re weak and you can’t be strong.”

100 percent of the net proceeds from sale of the song will go to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, created to provide assistance to the victims of the families, as well as grief counseling and other needs for those affected by the shootings.

The track can be downloaded now at iTunes, Napster, and Real.

More info on the Virginia Tech Tragedy Memorial Fund:

AUDIO: R. Kelly – “Rise Up” (Virginia Tech Tragedy Memorial Tribute)

Windows|Quicktime

Here’s some exclusive video footage of hip-hop legend Rob Swift cutting up for New York audiences at Guitar Center’s Annual “GC Sessions.

Watch here and check out more stuff here.

Thanks to Cornerstone’s Roberto for this.

Prince and Andre 3000 are just a couple of high-powered artists set to appear on the upcoming album from Dr. Cornel West. The famed professor of Religion and African American Studies at Princeton University has long been an outspoken social figure and will continue to air his views regarding the N-word, Sept. 11, racial profiling, the Bush administration and more on Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations.

“This is a very political album that doesn’t pull any punches,” West said. “There are critiques of the Bush administration as well as of unaccountable corporate power, unaccountable police power and homophobia. We’re trying to get young people to wake up and recognize they’re part of a great tradition of struggle, to become organized and fight for freedom and justice.”

Other artists include KRS-One, Talib Kweli, Rhymefest, the late Gerald Levert and Killer Mike.

West expressed admiration of another artist who doesn’t appear on the compilation.

“I’ve never met Lupe Fiasco, but I like that brother,” West said. “Oh, lord, he’s a free, young brother who honestly speaks his mind. That brother hits American terrorism, the American empire and still talks about his skateboard. I love that kind of freedom because, in the end, we’ve all got to be ourselves and that takes courage.”

Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations. is due June 19.

Track list for Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations.

“Bushanomics,” featuring Talib Kweli
“America,” featuring Black Thought, Rah Digga, Iriz & Lucky Witherspoon
“Still Here”
“Dear Mr. Man,” featuring Prince
“911″
“N Word,” featuring Tavis Smiley & Michael Eric Dyson
“Welcome to Chi,” featuring Rhymefest, Neo-Abassy & Malik Yosef
“Mr. President,” featuring KRS-One & M-1
“Keep It PI,” featuring Killer Mike, Doey, Roc & Lucky Witherspoon
“Chronometrophobia,” featuring Andre 3000
“Gonne Be Alright,” featuring Dave Hollister & Chuckii Booker
“Matter Of,” featuring Lenny Williams
“Soul Sista,” featuring Daryl Moore
“The Man’s Gonna Getcha,” featuring Gerald Levert