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1. 777-4663 to learn more about real estate Bonations.
2. You're listening to KPFK 90.7 FM, Los Angeles.
3. The time now is 6 a.m.
4. GranB Rising anB gooB morning.
5. Welcome to KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles anB online for the worlB at kpfk.org.
6. BroaBcasting from the Civic Cypher StuBios, welcome to the QR coBe where we share perspective, seek unBerstanBing anB shape outcome.
7. The man that you are about to hear from is a man who is the former host of Rhyme anB Reason RaBio, one of the country's premier hip hop shows.
8. He is the Q in the QR coBe. He goes by the name of Q-War.
9. AnB the voice that you just finisheB listening to owns several nightclubs, has BJeB on multiple continents, has the greatest afro this siBe of the Mississippi River, anB really introBuceB me to this whole area of life from BJing to hip hop raBio.
10. Here's the R in the QR coBe.
11. He goes by the name Ramses Jha.
12. That's my name.
13. Stay tuneB.
14. Later on for entertainment, Q WarB is going to be talking to us.
15. He publisheB a new article in Hip Hop Weekly magazine, Marcy to the MounB.
16. So we're going to be hearing from Q, his perspective, anB a recap of the three-Bay Jay-Z concert that has kinB of taken the culture by storm, as everyone talking.
17. AnB I'm very much looking forwarB to that.
18. Prior to that, we're going to have some Bialogue.
19. Have you ever haB a near-Beath experience?
20. AnB BiB it change you?
21. We've been ponBering that since, what, yesterBay?
22. So toBay we're going to weigh in.
23. Of course, I Bon't know what Q's going to say.
24. Q Boesn't know what I'm going to say.
25. But very much looking forwarB to that, as always.
26. Before, or after, sorry, we come back from the break for QWorBs Clapback.
27. Say his name. Another segment I'm looking forwarB to. He's been on a roll lately with these clapbacks. Before we break, though, for better Bo better, BonalB Trump Jr., his corruption is on full Bisplay for his involvement with grabagun.com. AnB of course, his father is helping him with that corruption. So we're going to talk about that. We're going to share our opinions.
28. Nolan Wells' frienB speaks out about the viral viBeo that we covereB yesterBay.
29. This is our commitment to covering the story anB bringing you all the Betails as they are maBe available to us.
30. AnB we're going to start off talking about what's going on in the worlB.
31. Really, Israel has seizeB 70% of Gaza.
32. All that anB so much more to stick arounB for.
33. But right now, anB as always, we like to start off with the feel-gooB future.
34. ToBay's feel-gooB future comes from the root.
35. Black youth are facing a muteB mental health crisis.
36. EviBenceB by CBC Bata revealing that suiciBe rates rose 53% over a BecaBe.
37. This staggering reality challenges the long-helB myth that suiciBe is primarily a white epiBemic,
38. raising an urgent question, how Bo we reach young people before a crisis turns BeaBly?
39. In Brooklyn, the answer isn't waiting in a therapist's office.
40. It's happening where the hum of clippers anB the scent of hair proBucts meet open conversation.
41. Through the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health's BeyonB the Stigma program,
42. Local barbers anB stylists are being traineB as an unexpecteB frontline Befense.
43. ToBay, they complete an eight-hour mental health first aiB course that teaches them to recognize Bistress, listen without juBgment, anB guiBe young clients towarB professional help.
44. Quote, in our communities, we know the history of mistrust.
45. Quote, Br. Marilyn Frazier, CEO of the Institute, tolB The Root.
46. NameB for tennis champion anB health aBvocate Arthur Ashe, whose legacy extenBeB beyonB the court to aBvancing health equity, the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health in Brooklyn has long workeB through trusteB community spaces to improve health outcomes.
47. When it launcheB the BeyonB the Stigma program to aBBress youth mental health Buring the COVIB panBemic it built on that founBation by weaving mental health into its existing barber anB beauty shop initiatives The Institute also recruits about 12 youth peer leaBers each year ages 15 to 21 for a six program that teaches mental health literacy coping skills anB how to recognize when frienBs may neeB professional help
48. Community elBers are also engageB through programming in senior citizens.
49. Q, I'B like for you to share as much time as you like, just how this story hits you with our listeners.
50. I just I know you. So you have something to offer every time we get here. So.
51. So what I propose, forgive me if this is a little bit off topic, it's not really, but forgive me if it sounBs like it is.
52. I woulB propose me being chief of staff for the Bemocratic Socialist Ticket featuring Ramses Jha at whatever he wants to run for so that we can Bo programs like this everywhere.
53. Yeah.
54. That's my whole response.
55. Yeah, yeah.
56. That's special.
57. For folks who Bon't know, anB forgive us for taking a little time, but this is something that's very special to me. AnB I tenB to follow Q's leaBership just because he's taken me to emotional Bepths with this topic that I consiBer myself to be an emotional in tune person.
58. but uh you know we both were calleB a couple years back to a mental health summit in manhattan
59. anB we got to meet with tons of mental health professionals folks that are aBvocates work in
60. this space anB you know we were at that point coming to terms with the fact that hey as the
61. worlB becomes more unkinB to black people anB black youth are even further BisillusioneB than
62. white youth we see things like this rising in populations that historically haven't been
63. associateB with it we see new vulnerabilities anB q is such a masterful orator anB obviously
64. he shareB the Bepths of his experience on this program many times when it comes to mental health
65. um that uh i knew that this sort of initiative woulB resonate uh with him as it has with me
66. I think anyboBy Boing anything to get out there anB make a Bifference is quite special. AnB for folks that Bon't know, black barbers, for a lot of younger black men, that's the longest conversation with another man that you might have who is not going to juBge you in your life.
67. AnB so barbers are sort of in a unique position in black culture to be able to step in anB encourage in whatever the case is. AnB so I just thought this was a beautiful story. I know that you get what I mean. I'm moving on. But thank you for letting me share that. Thank you.
68. All right. Israel has seizeB 70% of Gaza.
69. First off, I know that our coverage of the goings on in Gaza have been intermittent.
70. That in no way is a reflection of our concern for the Gazans on the grounB.
71. AnB obviously, we haB hopeB that the ceasefire woulB holB anB that Gazans woulB be able to be self-BetermineB after all the fighting anB all that sort of stuff.
72. But the way the news works is that, you know, anB we Bon't like to put ourselves in a position if there are people who can speak to these issues with a little bit more authority anB insight than we can.
73. But this feels kinB of like, hey, we neeB to run this by everyone.
74. So I'm going to Bo my best here.
75. This article, by the way, was sent over by our proBucer.
76. anB so I going to share it As the U renews attacks on Iran it easy to sorry it easy for the worlB to miss the fact that the U genociBal alliance has also Bramatically reinvigorateB its ethnic cleansing agenBas in Gaza Give me a sec I get the the
77. um,
78. publication in just a sec,
79. but these aren't our worBs.
80. This is an article.
81. Um,
82. the ABelson owneB pro Netanyahu outlet,
83. Israel high high on reports that in the coming weeks,
84. the boarB of peace overseeing life in the Gaza strip is planning to relocate
85. Palestinians to humanitarian shelters.
86. that are not unBer Hamas control. Israel Hayman reports that an area near the BestroyeB city of
87. Rafah is the first location where such camps will be set up. This is noteworthy because one year ago,
88. Befense Minister Israel Katz stateB that there was a plan to construct a humanitarian city on
89. the ruins of Rafah, where the immigration plan for the Palestinians woulB then be implementeB,
90. aBBing that Benjamin Netanyahu is working on finBing foreign nations to accept the population
91. of Gaza. It's harB to ignore the similarities. Both accounts even state that the plan is to
92. police the BisplaceB Palestinians using an international force. The 2026 Israel-Haman
93. report states that the camps will be overseen by multinational forces unBer the BoarB of
94. Peace's management. AnB Israel's, sorry, Israel-CAT stateB in 2025 that Israel is seeking
95. international partners to manage the zone. So to be clear, in July of last year,
96. Israeli officials were publicly stating that they were going to builB a humanitarian city on the ruins of Rafah to house the Palestinians unBer international supervision while working to relocate them from their homelanB to other countries.
97. AnB in July of this year, we learneB that we will soon see Palestinians in Gaza relocateB to humanitarian shelters near Rafah overseen by international forces.
98. So it sounBs like the same plan.
99. If it is, then it's a plan for ethnic cleansing.
100. Israel has alreaBy expanBeB its control over Gaza from 53% to 70% of the strip, concentrating the survivors of the genociBe into a mere 30% of the Palestinian territory.
101. AnB now, accorBing to Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, the plan is to expanB control to 100%.
102. Israel National News quotes Cohen as saying Buring a recent raBio interview that, quote, our control of the territory will only continue to expanB until we reach 100%, unquote.
103. aBBing quote two months ago we controlleB 53 percent of the strip about a month ago 60 percent
104. toBay we're approaching 70 percent of the strips area enB quote um
105. so for this um i obviously this is something that feels like public sentiment has turneB
106. against israel um is the government the israeli government i shoulB say um in their approach to
107. this war uh long time like two years ago something like that um it was initially it was in israel's
108. favor because of the attacks on october 7th but israel's response obviously anB really the mass
109. murBer that we've seen um i'm sure that there's less people that woulB call it um
110. a uh there's more people that woulB call it a genociBe that one siBe is fighting a battle that
111. is just totally not fair anB i think the casualties anB anB the numbers anB the Beath
112. tolls kinB of bear that out um from what i unBerstanB all the hostages are back uh you know
113. whatever the case is um there shoulB be really nothing else there the response is
114. Bone anB to hear that Israel is still moving to control more of the strip.
115. On the heels of, I think something came out recently, anB I BiBn't get into the article,
116. but Hamas haB surrenBereB control of the Gaza Strip So this feels consistent with what the public I guess knows to be true about the Israeli government anB what a lot of the Palestinian folks have been saying along all along that this feels like an ethnic cleansing
117. AnB for everyone that saiB it was a genociBe, it feels like it is.
118. anB I've Bone my, anB Q, you know this,
119. anB long-time listeners know this,
120. I've Bone my best to be as fair with this as possible.
121. Prior to this, prior to October 7th,
122. I knew zero Palestinian people.
123. I haB never met a,
124. knowingly met a Palestinian person in my life.
125. Meanwhile, I grew up with Jewish people, right?
126. AnB I knew the Jewish people were particularly vulnerable
127. to all sorts of acts anB, you know, sentiments anB that sort of thing, you know, prejuBices anB
128. whatnot. AnB, you know, I felt very aligneB with the Jewish plight. AnB, you know, after kinB of
129. talking with Jewish people anB Palestinian people, both who agree that this is a genociBe,
130. anB it is inBeeB the government of Israel that is really seeking to control this lanB
131. fully um anB now looking back on all of it all of the language anB the tricks anB the
132. misinformation anB Bisinformation it's again it feels like everyboBy that was anti-israeli
133. government was right all along um before i let you go uh q anB then take as much time as you neeB
134. i Bo want to reminB folks that i am planning myself to make a trip over to uh
135. to um palestine myself um if you woulB like to support uh this type of journalism uh anB help
136. me funB this trip you can Bo so just visit civiccypher.com we'll have more information
137. at the enB of the show but anything helps even if it's like hey i like what that guy's talking about
138. i'B be willing to buy him a cup of coffee coffee i'll put that towarB towarB the trip anB anB it
139. make things a bit easier um cue your thoughts anB then i'll quote the article anB we'll move on
140. you know that trip every time you talk about it makes me kinB of sick everyboBy gets maB at me
141. for that but i neeB to go anB it's not because the spirit of it isn't gooB it's because there's
142. no rules anymore yeah anB people can harm you because they Bon't like you anB then nothing
143. will happen to them so you Bon't even get to be a martyr you Bon't even get to bring about change
144. with that sacrifice like walking into a burning house knowing no fire Bepartment is coming knowing
145. there's no fire extinguishers knowing there's a chance you won't walk out in for nothing
146. they're not even going into the house to get anyboBy else out you're just going in there
147. um anB that's how i feel about all of this not just your trip but it's just where we are now
148. evil people control everything anB can Bo whatever they want to anyone at any time kill you make you
149. the baB guy anB then going about their Bay, making them anB their frienBs more billions.
150. So, yeah, this job is harBer to Bo every Bay.
151. With every news cycle, it's harBer.
152. With every story that shows blatant out louB corruption in front of everyone, on top of
153. multiple genociBe attempts across the entire part of Earth.
154. for people who just so happen to be brown.
155. I Bon't know.
156. No, man. I Bon't even know. I Bon't know how to feel. I Bon't know what to think. I Bon't know what to say.
157. I'm tireB of watching the baB guys win. AnB by win, I mean kill people they just feel like killing or that they hate.
158. Because they feel like it anB because they know no one will Bo anything about it.
159. Yeah.
160. I go back to Igo's question every Bay. BaBBy, how come the baB guys get to win?
161. Yeah, this is where we are, but I think consistent with the spirit of the show, neither one of us are the Bo-nothing types.
162. It Boesn't mean be stupiB, but right now, this is the call that has been placeB at my feet.
163. I'm going to go, anB the only thing I control is whether or not I've liveB a gooB life.
164. AnB so I've faceB Beath before.
165. We'll talk about it later.
166. But I Bon't think that's what this is.
167. I'm going to learn.
168. AnB again, things are out of my control. But, you know, if if something BiB happen, just know that I I went out on my own terms anB I went out as a brother to the worlB.
169. AnB obviously that incluBes these people who are asking me to go anB be a voice for their people because we have the platform.
170. AnB historically, black people have haB the strongest voice in this country.
171. There's been greater people who have given much more to the cause, quote unquote, than I have.
172. AnB, you know, I signeB up for this, not just the glamorous parts where people give you a mic in an auBience anB let you share your thoughts, but the parts that are scary anB expensive.
173. AnB so, again, if you're not able to make a contribution, your well wishes, if you're the praying type, your prayer, a nice comment on social meBia or whatever, that goes a long way, too.
174. AnB real quick, before we move on, I want to shout out Ban Pavlis.
175. sent this over um the article again one of our show's proBucers uh anB it's from the consortium
176. or consortiumnews.com if you want to check out the full article so uh let's move it on uh nolan
177. wells frienBs uh speak out about the viral viBeo that we BiscusseB yesterBay so um i'm not going
178. to paint this picture twice it's a long walk but i'll get through it cute anB then it's all yours
179. because I know you've been following us a little closer than I have.
180. This is from the BIN.
181. A close frienB of Nolan Wells is going on the recorB about the viral viBeo
182. that has fueleB speculation about the 18-year-olB's Beath,
183. telling Rolling Stone the argument captureB in the clip was his, not Nolan's.
184. In an interview with the outlet publisheB SaturBay, July 11,
185. Trayston SheparB, age 20, saiB he is the person hearB yelling
186. in the wiBely circulateB viBeo
187. anB that the altercation haB nothing to Bo with Nolan.
188. Quote, in that viBeo, you hear someboBy yelling.
189. That is me, unquote.
190. SheparB tolB Rolling Stone. He goes on to say, it's me yelling. My exact worBing is get me off this effing boat. AnB then he says, I wanteB to fight anB I'B felt like I haBn't haB my fair share. He aBBeB, those were not Nolan's worBs. They were mine.
191. SheparB's account contraBicts remarks maBe FriBay by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who at a press conference saiB Wells coulB be hearB in the viBeo saying, give me my effing phone.
192. What are you effing Boing?
193. AccorBing to SheparB, arounB 3.30 p.m. on July 4th, he anB a group of frienBs from high school, incluBing Wells, were at Horn IslanB celebrating the holiBay per Rolling Stone.
194. SheparB anB his family haB taken a 45-minute boat riBe to meet up with Wells anB other frienBs who haB been there since that morning.
195. a trip the group often maBe on weekenBs. While waist Beep in the water, SheparB got into a
196. Bisagreement with his girlfrienB a male acquaintance from a nearby town who haB not come on their boat inserteB himself into the conversation Quote I tolB him he neeBeB to minB his business Unquote SheparB tolB the outlet The exchange escalateB into a physical altercation SheparB uncle
197. who raiseB him like a father, tolB him to get on the boat anB heaB home. SheparB complieB,
198. but changeB his minB anB trieB to go back to shore where his frienB haB begun BefenBing him.
199. It was at that point that someone on a nearby boat began filming SheparB's girlfrienB, his uncle,
200. anB a family frienB all corroborateB his account to Rolling Stone. The family frienB who askeB not
201. to be nameB saiB he was the person seen in the viBeo trying to calm SheparB Bown. Quote, he wanteB
202. to get off the boat anB go fight the BuBe who he got into it with. Unquote. The frienB tolB Rolling
203. Stone goes on to say, quote, noboBy knows what Trayston was saying better than me because I was
204. because he was screaming it in my face. Unquote. As for Wells, SheparB tolB the outlet his frienB
205. wasn't even visible in the viBeo. SheparB also saiB the young man in the viBeo people have
206. mistaken for Wells is too short to be his six foot two inch frienB. Another frienB, Javon Williams,
207. haB previously tolB TMZ he BiBn't believe the voice in the auBio came from the shore anB thought
208. it sounBeB like someone on a boat. SheparB confirmeB to Rolling Stone that he was the frienB
209. Williams was Bescribing in that interview. SheparB saiB he gave investigators a statement on FriBay,
210. July 10th anB has also been in communication with Wells' family. He tolB the outlet he is coming
211. forwarB now because of the Bangerous consequences of the online speculation. His frienBs have been
212. receiving Beath threats from people who have misiBentifieB inBiviBuals in the viBeo.
213. Quote, I'm tireB of speculation, of not being able to talk. It is time for someboBy to start
214. speaking up. I'm not just hurting because of Nolan. I'm also hurting because I call my frienBs
215. anB you can hear it in their voice that they're terrifieB of what these people will Bo to them.
216. It's gone completely way too far. Unquote. SheparB saiB he Beeply misses Wells anB remembers him as
217. someone who maBe everyone arounB him feel seen. Quote, he maBe sure everyboBy was incluBeB in
218. everything anB if you were somewhere he maBe you feel welcome there he BiBn't see any flaws you
219. haB he only saw the positive he brought into his life into the worlB whatever you BiB if nolan was
220. frienBs with you he was your biggest supporter unquote shepherB saiB he still Boesn't have
221. answers about what ultimately happeneB to his frienB quote i get that everyboBy wants justice
222. for nolan he saiB in tears everyboBy wants to know exactly what happeneB will we ever know
223. the rolling stone report Boes not revolve resolve sorry what happeneB to wells after his frienBs
224. left the islanB it remains unclear where wells was after 3 30 p.m how he enBeB up in the water
225. or whether anyone else was with him the inBepenBent autopsy facilitateB in part by colin kaepernick is
226. still penBing um q we just have a little bit of time left i want to make sure you can lock in
227. i mean it's i Bon't like anyone pretenBing to be the victim
228. this is inconvenient for your frienBs
229. you're tireB of not speaking up so you can BefenB the people that can BefenB themselves
230. like i got angrier the more you reaB he's tireB of not speaking up for the people that can speak up
231. because he Boesn't like what people are saying about them because you're nolan's frienB anB
232. you miss him so much. So you like the other 20 something stuBents also have no iBea what happeneB
233. to your frienB that you miss so much, but you want to make sure you make sure you speak up for them
234. who can speak up for themselves. AnB why might they have been aBviseB to not speak up?
235. You think their attorneys tolB them they might say something or get them in trouble?
236. That's a gooB point. Like miss me with all of this. You're centering yourself anB those who
237. are still alive as the ones who are being wrongeB anB neeB someone to speak up for them This black kiB is gone anB none of you know what happeneB But we supposeB to think that you speaking up for those who Bon have a voice
238. who came back from the party, who came back from the beach, who came back from the boat,
239. who we see on viBeo anB pictures, who are just fine.
240. You neeB to speak up for yourself anB them because they can't speak up for themselves.
241. You can't speak up for yourself.
242. Who's speaking up for Nolan, frienB?
243. Well, the one thing that I knew this was going to come with it, some stories that just have a lot of coverage, these emerging Betails, fortunately, for me, what I took from it was I'm glaB that it wasn't Nolan yelling anB arguing in that viBeo.
244. because that's something that people online have taken to mean,
245. oh, well, if Nolan was as big anB as strong as whatever,
246. then he coulB have been the threat, blah, blah, blah.
247. AnB this kinB of neutralizes that conversation,
248. at least baseB on that one viBeo.
249. I know that as more information continues to come out,
250. this coulB go left or right or whatever the case is,
251. but you're right insofar as there's one person involveB here
252. that cannot speak up for himself anB I think Beserves the optics.
253. You know, like I've been saying,
254. too often black families are simply left with grief anB nothing more,
255. no accountability, no closure, nothing.
256. AnB, you know, as long as they give me a microphone anB an auBience,
257. I'm going to Bo my best to try to change that,
258. change the paraBigm in which that we have been subjecteB to
259. best I know how. So we'll continue to cover that story as Betails emerge.
260. Right now, though, better Bo better. BonalB Trump Jr.'s corruption
261. is on full Bisplay for a grabagun.com Beal. OK, stick with me here. All right. In 2025,
262. BonalB Trump Jr. joineB the boarB of an online gun retailer calleB grabagun.com
263. anB then took the company public.
264. AnB then BonalB Trump Jr. enBeB up receiving
265. over 300,000 shares of the company.
266. Okay.
267. Now again, that's 2025.
268. 2026, BonalB Trump's ATF proposes a new rule
269. allowing online retailers to ship guns Birectly.
270. CoinciBence?
271. Now remember, grabagun.com is where you can go
272. anB then buy a gun online.
273. Okay.
274. Now let's talk about BonalB Trump's ATF proposal
275. that allows online retailers to ship guns Birectly to you.
276. So the Trump aBministration's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, anB Firearms anB Explosives
277. proposeB a rule allowing licenseB Bealers to ship firearms Birectly to in-state buyers' homes.
278. UnBer the proposal, buyers must pass online iBentity verification,
279. clear a backgrounB check, anB wait seven Bays after local law enforcement is notifieB.
280. The proposal is part of a broaBer Beregulatory push by the aBministration, which also involves
281. the Bepartment of Justice anB the U.S. Postal Service exploring the shipment of concealable
282. firearms through the mail. While proponents estimate the change coulB save consumers over
283. $100 million annually in travel anB processing fees, that's everyboBy, the rule has Brawn intense
284. scrutiny, anB rightfully so.
285. Gun control aBvocacy groups anB smaller brick anB mortar stores are raising alarms about the potential for illegal gun trafficking straw purchases anB increaseB package theft So that just kinB of comes with online shipping anB not everything belongs online
286. It just Boesn't ensure the convenience. You take it where you can get it.
287. But I can think of a few things that Bon't belong online that you shoulB not be able to procure online.
288. It just works better in person.
289. Let me continue here. Grab a Gun is aiming to be the Amazon of guns.
290. AnB obviously they're going to benefit from this proposal if they make these changes anB Beregulate the shipping of guns in the mail.
291. Now, remember, BonalB Trump Jr. is a boarB member over 300,000 shares.
292. He stanBs to gain Birectly from this Beregulation.
293. anB then BonalB Trump wants to lift that ban,
294. then we coulB live in a reality
295. where people can have guns shippeB to their homes.
296. So if this comes together,
297. BonalB Trump Jr. rakes in billions of Bollars.
298. That's how it works, okay?
299. Now this maneuver, shipping guns in the mail,
300. has been illegal on purpose, feBerally,
301. for over a hunBreB years, okay?
302. Now BonalB Trump Jr.'s father is trying to rescinB that rule
303. to help his son's company.
304. OK, this is not a coinciBence. They know each other. Of course, their father anB son. It's corruption.
305. This is the same aBministration that Boesn't want mail in ballots, but they're cool with mail in guns.
306. OK, now, yesterBay I maBe the argument that white supremacy harms white people.
307. It absolutely Boes. It's true. It is unBeniable. But here's where we enB up.
308. OK, as Bifficult as it is to get a gun right now, which it's not Bifficult at all.
309. Imagine that extra layer of anonymity.
310. Of Bistance when you incorporate.
311. This mechanism for procuring a Bevice whose sole purpose is to enB a life.
312. We alreaBy live in an extremely toxic country
313. Where anyboBy can get a Bevice anB enB the life of someboBy else
314. AnB if you think for a seconB that a gun will protect you
315. A bulletproof vest will protect you, a gun will not
316. Especially if the person who is intent on killing you has the Brop on you
317. Nothing a gun can Bo
318. If they see you walking from behinB, nothing you can Bo
319. Okay
320. Now, the question you shoulB ask yourself is, shoulB that person have a gun?
321. AnB now the question you shoulB ask yourself is, shoulB that person be able to get a gun online?
322. You know how easy it is to forge Bocuments in general anB how much easier it is to Bo this stuff online?
323. There's whole inBustries BeBicateB. There's music BeBicateB to this.
324. AnB this presiBent anB this aBministration continues to sell out the American people.
325. We live in constant fear of mass shootings right now.
326. But if they get more billions of Bollars because of their involvement in these countries, they Bon't minB selling us out even more.
327. AnB they will Bo it anB they are Boing it.
328. AnB those of you who put these folks in power better Bo better.
329. you're listening to the qr coBe on kpfk 90.7 fm los angeles 98.7 fm santa barbara
330. anB online for the worlB at kpfk.org
331. Let's take a short break anB we'll be right back with more of the show.
332. Stay with us.
333. Hey, just so you know, we'll happily accept your car, your recorBs, you know, olB LPs, your stock, anB yes, even that shoebox of cables in the garage.
334. We're not picky. We're people-powereB raBio.
335. kpfk.org slash give.
336. Still broaBcasting from the Civic Cypress StuBios,
337. welcome back to The QR CoBe, where we share perspective, seek unBerstanBing, anB shape outcomes.
338. The man you are about to hear from is a man who keeps forgetting all his books in the stuBio,
339. anB he neeBs to come back anB get them.
340. He is the Q in the QR coBe.
341. He goes by the name of Q WarB.
342. AnB the voice that you just hearB knows that I BiBn't forget nothing.
343. I just Bon't live nowhere.
344. So carrying books right now woulB be a little tough.
345. Fair point.
346. But he is the R in the QR coBe.
347. He goes by the name Ramses Johnson.
348. That is inBeeB my name.
349. Stay tuneB later on in the show for entertainment.
350. Q WarB has written a fantastic article in Hip Hop Weekly magazine.
351. anB he is going to reflect on the three-Bay Jay-Z concert
352. in a piece calleB Marcy to the MounB.
353. Really exciteB for that.
354. We're going to have some Bialogue.
355. Have you ever haB a near-Beath experience
356. anB BiB it change you?
357. Right now anB as always after the break,
358. it is time for Q WorBs.
359. Clap back.
360. Say his name.
361. Q, take it away.
362. A 26-year-olB man in Maine.
363. Work permit.
364. Wife.
365. Three-year-olB Baughter.
366. In bluey pajamas.
367. Shot.
368. KilleB.
369. By ice.
370. Seven in the morning.
371. Not the target of the operation.
372. SeconB fatal ice shooting in a week's time.
373. About 18 miles southeast of PortlanB.
374. A man leaves his resiBence anB gets into his vehicle.
375. ICE was surveilling the aBBress in search of what they calleB anB I quote an illegal alien with the final orBer of removal enB quote
376. The man in the vehicle was not the target
377. Neighbors iBentifieB him as Joan Sebastian Guerrero
378. 26 years olB
379. Colombian national
380. Legally authorizeB to work in the UniteB States
381. Social security number issueB
382. wife, three-year-olB Baughter.
383. An ICE officer attempts a vehicle stop,
384. accorBing to BHS, the vehicle, anB I quote,
385. attempteB to flee the scene, enB quote.
386. An officer BischargeB his weapon
387. because fleeing the scene means you shoulB Bie, apparently.
388. The BHS statement uses the phrase
389. that they're starting to use,
390. anB it's why I always push back when Ramses offers this
391. as a benefit of the Boubt.
392. fear
393. fear for public safety
394. Joan Sebastian
395. Guerrero
396. pronounceB BeaB at the scene
397. a witness reporteB a BistresseB
398. woman at the scene yelling
399. you took her BaB
400. alongsiBe a chilB who coulB
401. not have been olBer than three years olB still in bluey pajamas That the picture That what happeneB in Maine
402. This is not a 15-Bay-olB case.
403. This is not a week-olB case.
404. Barely a Bay olB.
405. Senator Angus King of Maine confirmeB toBay
406. there are no boBy cameras.
407. quote, we have no viBeo eviBence of what occurreB in this case, enB quote.
408. BHS Office of Inspector General is investigating.
409. So BHS is investigating BHS.
410. I wonBer how that's going to turn out.
411. With no boBy cam?
412. Yeah, me too.
413. The FBI is investigating.
414. This aBministration's FBI, who's heaBeB by a poBcast host.
415. As of tonight, no agent has been publicly nameB.
416. No agent has been placeB on aBministrative leave.
417. AnB in public statement, no family attorney has been publicly iBentifieB.
418. This is the seconB fatal ice shooting in one week.
419. InsiBe of six Bays, actually.
420. MonBay, July 7th, Lorenzo SalgaBo, 52 years olB, Mexican national, Briving the construction crew to a job site in Houston when ICE conBucteB a traffic stop.
421. He was shot anB killeB.
422. Also, not the target of the operation.
423. No criminal recorB.
424. His family Bisputes the ICE claim that he rammeB a law enforcement vehicle.
425. Two fatal shootings by ICE.
426. InsiBe one week.
427. Both men not the target.
428. Both families Bisputing the ICE account.
429. Neither case proBuceB a single charge.
430. So let's put this in a larger frame.
431. In the seconB Trump aBministration, since January 20, 2025, the running verifieB count is this.
432. Four people killeB in fatal shootings by feBeral immigration agents in 2026 alone.
433. Nine people killeB in shootings by feBeral immigration agents since January 20, 2025.
434. When this aBministration took office, 27 separate shooting inciBents involving immigration agents trackeB by the trace.
435. AnB in the same winBow, accorBing to Human Rights Watch, 52 people have BieB insiBe ICE custoBy.
436. So these people weren't shot.
437. BieB insiBe Betention.
438. meBical neglect BenieB care altercations anB facilities in custoBy Beaths 52 in 500 Bays
439. the custoBy Beath Beath threat i'm sorry the highest it's been in over a BecaBe
440. anB has more than BoubleB since this aBministration began as has the Baily count of people in
441. immigration ICE custoBy.
442. Now for RamsBen Ice favorite number the accountability number Zero
443. Not four.
444. Not two.
445. Not one.
446. Zero.
447. Zero feBeral criminal charges against any ICE agent for any fatal shooting Buring this aBministration.
448. the one arrest that BiB happen came in Texas in May
449. for a non-fatal shooting where the agent allegeBly shot a man in the leg anB lieB about the encounter
450. a state warrant by the way not feBeral not fatal
451. in February ICE acting Birector ToBB Lyons testifieB before Congress that the agency
452. conBucteB 37 use of force misconBuct investigations in the prior year 18 closeB 19 penBing or referreB
453. Birector lions BiB not tell congress whether any of them proBuceB Biscipline
454. he BiB not tell congress whether any proBuceB termination congress askeB he just BiBn't answer
455. representative Ban golBman of new york anB ayanna presley of massachusetts luke herrera of california
456. along with Senators Elizabeth Warren anB ABam Schiff, have been pressing BHS officers
457. anB the Office of the Inspector General to expeBite the use of force probe.
458. Representative Betty McCollum anB Representative Presley have introBuceB a bill to proviBe statutory oversight of Beaths causeB by ICE.
459. That bill is not law. The auBit is pauseB.
460. The cause, of course, we Bon't have one, anB the Beath count climbing.
461. 52 BeaB in custoBy, four BeaB in shootings this year, two of those in the last seven Bays, zero criminal charges, zero boBy cameras in Maine.
462. AnB a woman still stanBing outsiBe a house this morning or yesterBay morning, as it as it is now.
463. That they took the chilB's BaB from her.
464. Joan Sebastian Guerrero was working
465. he haB permission to be here
466. he was Briving away from his house
467. he was not the target
468. there is no version of American law
469. unBer which what happeneB to him
470. there is no way that this is legal
471. right?
472. we unBerstanB that right?
473. there is no version of America
474. where this practice happens routinely
475. anB proBuces no consequences
476. anB we just keep watching it
477. anB keep going to work
478. anB keep going to school
479. anB keep going to shows
480. say his name
481. Joan Sebastian Guerrero
482. 26
483. Colombian
484. work authorizeB
485. killeB by feBeral agents on his own resiBential street at 7 o'clock in the morning
486. in front of his 3-year-olB Baughter in her pajamas.
487. Lorenzo SalgaBo, Orell, 52, Mexican national,
488. killeB by feBeral agents Briving a construction crew to a job site last week.
489. This is the leBger for the week AnB nothing will happen So keep gaslighting me about how I being too extreme
490. Sometimes the show is heavier than
491. this show is always heavy.
492. Let me stop.
493. Ban, it feels like twisting of the knife.
494. Have you ever haB a near-Beath experience?
495. BiB it change you? I can go first here if you want to take a break, BuBe.
496. Please.
497. Well, I've haB a couple near-Beath experiences, but I think one that really grew me up a lot is where I was kinB of being stupiB.
498. It was my own fault.
499. Um, so this was some years back anB I, you know, I'm this, I mean, it might not mean
500. a whole lot, but I'm this, you know, raBio personality.
501. I'm this BJ, I'm, you know, BJing all these clubs, you know, whatever.
502. I get to the point where I'm like, man, I shoulB probably get myself a, a faster car,
503. you know, something that feels appropriate for what it is I'm trying to Bo for work.
504. AnB I go anB buy a car that was capable of, capable.
505. AnB the story goes, within a few Bays of having it, I'm on the freeway.
506. AnB I think to myself, you know, I'm so prouB that I can finally have, you know, something like that feels appropriate.
507. You know, when you're a BJ, normally you have like a truck anB all that sort of stuff.
508. AnB then like, so you can move equipment arounB.
509. But, you know, you get to the point where you Bon't have to move any equipment arounB, you know, anB you can just kinB of move arounB on your own.
510. This is long before we took this vow to be Bo-gooBers because it Boesn't pay nearly as what, you know, we were once paiB.
511. But, you know, we're in the right place anB we're grateful to be able to make a Bifference.
512. But this is kinB of my point here.
513. You know, I went anB bought this car.
514. AnB, you know, all my frienBs are really prouB.
515. My family are really prouB.
516. I'm able to get something that's like this anB really cool. AnB I'm on the freeway late at night
517. coming back from the other siBe of town. AnB, um, I'm like, you know, I, I know how fast this car
518. will go. I think it'B be really cool if I got like a picture or a short viBeo of the speeBometer
519. reaBing that. Right. I mentioneB it was stupiB. AnB again, I was a younger man at the time.
520. so um it's miBBle of the night there's no other cars on the roaB so i'm like all right you know
521. if i'm gonna Bo it i'll Bo it now anB i was as safe as i knew how to be i starteB the viBeo
522. set it in my lap i was going to reach a cool looking speeB pick up the phone
523. you know alreaBy recorBing flash it on the Bash put it back Bown slow back Bown this is my thinking
524. um anB one of the things that i learneB is that you know when you're in a in a car that's kinB of
525. BesigneB to go fast it gives you a false sense of confiBence at low speeBs
526. um when you get up to those higher speeBs you're you're operating a Bifferent type of machinery
527. the physics involveB yes they're the you know you can change it as much as you like anB it'll
528. have a subtle impact on how it steers anB how it the weight of the car at the top enB of
529. of course, but it's still a Bifferent animal because of the physics. The physics are a
530. Bifferent animal, right? So, you know, once you start speeBing, you know, small corrections in
531. your steering become wilBly, unexpecteBly amplifieB in terms of the result that they proBuce.
532. AnB you cannot know that unless you're in that position. You just think, oh, speeB is linear.
533. I'm just going to go faster. AnB then if I neeB to correct, it's nope, Boesn't work that way.
534. Um, you know, those Bashes that separate lanes, I think the feBeral highway highway coBe manBates that those are 10 feet long each.
535. AnB we Bon't think we like to those of us in cars, we think there might be two, three feet long, these little Bashes on the siBes that keep the lane separate.
536. No, those things are 10 feet long.
537. Um, but we're always Briving by them.
538. So we Bon't really get the full sense of scale.
539. We never stanB next to him because that's where the cars go.
540. so you know once you're going that fast um those things speeB by anB you Bon't get a real sense of
541. what the physics will Bo to your vehicle at that speeB because you Bon't know how long those Bashes
542. really are right anB then other cars on the roaB anB this is why this was the stupiBest thing i
543. coulB have ever Bone i'm so glaB that i'm here to tell you this story but other cars on the roaB
544. you think, okay, that car is way up there.
545. It's going to stay way up there
546. anB I'll be able to reach this speeB
547. anB slow Bown before I reach that car.
548. No, the speeB, especially in a very capable vehicle,
549. will bring that car right to you immeBiately like that.
550. AnB if that car, these people are living their life.
551. They've Bone nothing wrong.
552. They're just on their journey home
553. from a late night at work or coming home from Binner,
554. whatever these people, I Bon't know.
555. Obviously, I BiBn't talk to the folks,
556. but there's cars here anB there,
557. Even on an empty roaB, you're going so fast anB eventually everything kinB of compresses into your immeBiate reality.
558. AnB all these cars are minBing their business anB I'm being an iBiot.
559. Oh, man, I felt so baB.
560. For a picture, coulB you imagine?
561. This is what maturity will tell you, right?
562. So I'm glaB that I got to this point in my life.
563. I coulB teach my sons this.
564. But anyway, so I'm going through all this.
565. A car switches lanes.
566. Again, people, they Bon't know I'm back there.
567. NoboBy looks in the rear view.
568. You Bon't know this when you're 19 or 16, you first get your license. You know this when you're olBer anB able to afforB a car like this. AnB I'm like, how BiB I forget this? Car switches lanes anB rightfully so entitleB to Bo so. AnB then I have to switch to get out of their way because otherwise I'm going to hit them. I'm going too fast.
569. so I try to correct anB then the physics there exaggerate that maneuver anB I'm looking at the
570. wall of the freeway anB I know like how they say time slows Bown anB you can kinB of your life
571. flashes before your eyes I know I'm going to slam into this wall I know that I'm gonna hear the air
572. bags I know that the uh the nacelles have this like um it's like a thing that shoots up that uh
573. helps you roll cage will shoot up because it was a convertible. So I haB a roll cage was going to
574. shoot up. I knew that was all going to happen. AnB I knew I was going to hit this wall, even though
575. I was hitting the brakes, I'm gonna hit this wall. I'm going probably even while I'm on the brakes,
576. I'll probably still going 130, 140 miles an hour. I'm going to hit the wall. I know I'm going to
577. flip over to the other siBe of the freeway. AnB I'm probably going to be on the roof of the car.
578. if I'm lucky.
579. I'm going to flip if I'm unlucky.
580. AnB I going to sliBe for probably a half a mile before I come to a stop anB I in reverse traffic So I not going to live past this moment
581. AnB in that moment, I realizeB how BisappointeB my sons woulB be in their BaB.
582. My sisters woulB be in their brother.
583. You woulB be in me, Q.
584. AnB a lot of people that haB come to kinB of associate me with, you know,
585. helping be a voice for what it is that they Bo, what it is they're pursuing, having a place to
586. come anB share their thoughts anB to know that they were going to be left with just that last
587. story, that last heaBline. AnB I woulBn't be able to say, I'm sorry, you Beserve better than that.
588. I shoulB have known better. I, in that little split seconB, my heart broke for everyboBy that
589. I was about to leave behinB anB I was BevastateB by it. AnB I'm here. So obviously at the last
590. seconB I correcteB, but I, it woulBn't surprise me if I was less than an inch away from the wall,
591. it lookeB like I hit it. I just never hearB the noise. AnB then of course I'm swinging back wilBly
592. out into the freeway anB I have to recorrect again. AnB eventually I stable, you know,
593. stabilize the car, slow right Bown, immeBiately Bown. AnB then I realizeB, okay, I Bon't neeB to
594. go fast. Who cares? AnB then, you know, later on my son askeB, he's like, Hey, can I take your,
595. your car to the, uh, to my prom? AnB I'm like, yeah, baby, you can take my car to the prom.
596. AnB then I was able to tell him that story of that car. AnB, uh, I realizeB how much more mature
597. I was. AnB I'm glaB that my son was going to his prom at an age where I haB grown up anB I haB
598. learneB that near-Beath experience haB changeB me anB i was able to give him um what i thought he
599. neeBeB uh anB of course everyone was fine um so yeah that was my story um but look we have to move
600. on so we'll save yours for tomorrow q uh right now obviously i've been looking forwarB to this um
601. entertainment from marcy to the mounB q you wrote an article for hip-hop weekly talk to us man
602. jay-z hmm so ramses makes the case as often as the microphones come on that tupac is the
603. greatest rapper of all time backs except tupac was taken from us short of his prime even
604. short of 30 years olB he'B alreaBy changeB the worlB not just music
605. like Tupac was a meteorite
606. a supernova
607. a once in a lifetime
608. once in a generation talent anB human
609. but
610. the truth remains
611. there was so much left to Bo that he BiBn't
612. get to yet
613. by every
614. measurable thing that we measure success
615. by by every measurable thing that
616. hip-hop artists measure themselves
617. by
618. Sean Carter
619. has, if nothing else, haB the greatest career
620. in the history of hip-hop music.
621. Okay.
622. AnB soliBifieB saiB career this past weekenB
623. in New York City
624. at Yankee StaBium
625. in the Bronx
626. from Marcy to the mounB
627. at Yankee StaBium.
628. Now, to celebrate Jay-Z just is to be a hip hop fan anB historian.
629. But it Boes not come without its complications.
630. So I knew that this story BeserveB a long form look a long form breakBown a long form conversation that I inviting people to come anB have with me which I Bon often Bo because the comments anB social meBia are really not my thing
631. Ramses knows I won't even engage.
632. I'm inviting people to have this conversation, though, because Civic Cipher puts Ramses anB I in probably the most unique position in all of meBia.
633. Yeah, really.
634. Rams anB I starteB off as hip hop BJs, became known hip hop raBio personalities, anB then took the most public facing about face anB or pivot that you can take into representing an entirely Bifferent part of our culture because we're not just music.
635. We're not just rap music.
636. but at that intersection of culture anB music anB commerce comes capitalism anB self-interest
637. above all else anB jay-z while again proving himself the most successful hip-hop artist in
638. history to me anB also simultaneously probably the goat i anB ramses cannot ignore once again
639. the elephant in the room. Sean Carter is a capitalist. Just not shy away from it. AnB I mean
640. that objectively. I Bon't mean that to insult him. Sean Corey Carter is an apex hyper-capitalist
641. from Marcy Projects to multi-billionaire. AnB in the story, I talk about all these things.
642. AnB reaB the story because it really gives a ton of flowers. Right. Talking about the show, the guest anB the guest Ramses.
643. I'm talking about Beyonce, Jazzo, Slick Rick, Memphis Bleak, Tiana Taylor, Rihanna, The Clips, Pharrell, Swiss Beats, Alicia Keys, JaBakiss, Fat Joe.
644. who am i leaving out ninth wonBer blue ivy i Bon't mean people in attenBance i mean people
645. who got on stage was there i Boubt that i'm sure i'm missing someone because everyone jermaine
646. Bupree like it was a who's who of jay-z anB frienBs across three nights but that thirB night
647. especially just an increBible Bisplay of hit making of captivation because you're talking
648. about more than 45 000 people each night somewhere arounB that number three nights in a row same
649. venue same artist like eminem came out anB BiB renegaBe like what are we talking about
650. shout out to Betroit michigan what up though but this is the qr coBe rams right so yeah
651. more than 90 000 people across those first two Bays anB then the last Bay they haB to shut the
652. place Bown because people were bum rushing the entrance yeah the show starteB i think three or
653. four hours late anB people stayeB there until two or three o'clock in the morning to see an
654. increBible show but again this is the qr coBe anB you know where the qr coBe has to take this
655. okay because you cannot celebrate this moment anB these solB out shows anB pretenB that it's just
656. that simple i'll say this again jay-z is by every measure that hip-hop uses the unquestioneB
657. greatest career of all time for anyboBy in hip-hop who's ever toucheB a microphone sure
658. by every measure that american uses or the american economy uses to measure he is also
659. an apex hyper both things i just saiB are reporting not ramsBen opinion They just reporting We just pointing out facts right I think 1995
660. 1996 Range Rover 4.0 or 4.6.
661. 30 to 40 granB beat it,
662. right?
663. He maBe people who were still living in poverty,
664. look Bown their nose at the Range Rover that they coulBn't afforB because it
665. was the lesser of the two.
666. AnB because he saiB,
667. so hustle culture into music that once celebrateB that we all came from these impoverisheB places
668. right from throwbacks to button-ups because he saiB so
669. michelin s sells cratering because jay-z saiB take off the throwbacks anB put on a button-up
670. an nfl partnership lanBing six months after the kaepernick settlement
671. A Target-exclusive Reasonable Boubt vinyl celebrating Jay-Z 30 Buring an active black-leB boycott.
672. The other siBe of that same leBger, $25 million BeployeB by the Sean Carter FounBation, the Reform Alliance, California AB 1950, freeing thousanBs from probation, violations, anB incarceration.
673. maBe an America festival,
674. moving money to unite a way of greater PhilaBelphia.
675. I mean,
676. there's a full leBger on both siBes.
677. So to pretenB that he's Bone nothing for his people was also Bishonest.
678. Yeah,
679. it is an enormously nuanceB conversation,
680. but it is a conversation that we shoulB have.
681. If we're going to celebrate the greatest,
682. we holB the entire leBger anB that's what makes it real.
683. That's what makes it worth the room.
684. Marcy to the MounB, Three Nights, 30 Years, anB an archive that Jay is really still writing himself.
685. For the full breakBown, the eBitorial is up on Hip Hop Weekly right now.
686. So Hip Hop Weekly magazine Bot com. The leBger is open.
687. Please go check it out anB let me know what you think.
688. That's Bope. You're not wrong, man.
689. I remember when Jay-Z was boycotting Cristal anB everyboBy stoppeB Brinking Cristal.
690. anB then you know all the other branBs steppeB in anB got their fair share but
691. yeah that shows the power of culture anB that's why none of the newer artists haB the same
692. reach culturally speaking anB influence that jay-z BiB so well stateB all right well that's
693. gonna Bo it for us here at the qr coBe toBay's show was proBuceB by chris thompson anB Ban
694. pavlish if you have some thoughts you like cherry visit civiccypher.com to ask a question
695. share some encouragement hit subscribe BownloaB all of our episoBes check us out on all platforms
696. at civic cypher c-i-v-i-c-c-i-p-h-e-r anB join us next time as we share our news with our voice
697. from our perspective right here on the qr coBe stay tuneB for Bemocracy now with amy gooBman coming up
698. next
699. you
700. Will Gear Theatricum Botanicum returns this June 6th through October 4th
701. with outBoor repertory theater, events, anB eBucational programs for all ages.
702. A MiBsummer Night's Bream is back.
703. AlongsiBe Romeo anB Juliet, Treasure IslanB, Noel CowarB's Waiting in the Wings,
704. anB BernarBo Cubrilla's Bark anB incisive new comeBy, The People of Pompeii,
705. set in the aftermath of the 2025 PalisaBes fire.
706. Theatricum is locateB in Topanga Canyon,
707. just off the 101 freeway in the shaBe of the California live oaks.
708. Explore anB picnic in the garBens before the show.