Philadelphia, PA – August 17, 2006 — Respect The Culture, LLC, a
Philadelphia-based record label and multi-media company, has released
Nex
Millen/Retrospective’s debut solo album, “Who is Mumia Abu Jamal?”
The new
CD features the spoken word of controversial death row inmate and
political
prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal.
Nex Millen’s alternative, soulful beats accompany the spoken word of
Jamal,
recorded from death row at Huntingdon State Prison and S.C.I. Greene.
The
album also includes guest appearances by Assata Shakur, Allen Ginsberg
&
Jello Biafra.
“A diversion from the smooth rhyme style featured in Nex
Millen/Retrospective’s work with former groups, Souls of the Lost
Elements
and the Group of Pimps, Millen’s latest effort features his skillful
production and a message in his music – the message of death row inmate
Mumia Abu Jamal,” said the album’s Executive Producer Marci Krufka.
“From
the haunting keyboards of ‘To Be Like Malcolm, A Message To Mumia’ to
the
funky, up-tempo sound of ‘A Bright Shining Hell’ to the subtle
scratching in
‘Statement of the Facts’ and ‘Legalized Crime’ to the moving strings of
‘The
Depth of Our Courage,’ Millen’s beats artfully support the powerful
lyrics
without detracting from the purpose of the piece – to allow listeners
to
hear the voice of Jamal and his supporters – many for the first time.”
Nex Millen/Retrospective is a Philadelphia-born artist, producer and
DJ. He
is a co-founder of Camden, New Jersey-based Breakbread Projects and a
member
the critically-acclaimed group Nuthouse. Millen has performed across
the
United States and throughout Europe and was the Music Coordinator for
the
Digable Planets 2005 Reunion Tour UK. He has released several
recordings
with former groups, produced numerous singles, albums and mix tapes for
other artists and was the Music Supervisor for the very successful And1
B-ball mix tapes.
Mumia Abu Jamal is an award-winning journalist who exposed police
violence
against minority communities. Imprisoned in 1982 for the alleged
murder of
a Philadelphia policeman, Jamal maintains his innocence, citing the
lack of
evidence, racial bias in jury selection, improper tactics by the
prosecution
and ineffective counsel from the public defender at trial as well as
new
forensic and other evidence in his defense.
During his twenty plus years of incarceration, Jamal has published
numerous
recorded and written essays regarding his political and social beliefs
via
www.prisonradio.org. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of this
CD
will be donated to The International Concerned Friends & Family of
Mumia Abu
Jamal.
Respect the Culture LLC is a Philadelphia-based record label and
multimedia
company, featuring hip hop and other artists, local events and
performances
via its subsidiary CultureNights, and a clothing line, CultureWear,
featuring original apparel with a spiritually and socially conscious
message.
“Who is Mumia Abu Jamal?” is available for purchase at
www.cdbaby.com/cd/nexmillen, ITunes, Rhapsody, MSN Music, Sony
Connect,
Verizon Wireless and other music sites online as well as in retail
stores in
the tri-state area.
For a promotional copy of the CD (press only) or for more information
contact Marci Krufka at Respect the Culture at 610-550-9705 or
UltraVibeusa1@gmail.com.
