Earlier this year, seven gifted musicians and singers arrived at San Quentin to give its residents an opportunity to express and display their … [Read more...]
Celebrating BLACK HISTORY/HIP HOP
PIONEER WOMEN OF HIP HOP: MC Lyte is recognized as one of“the best female vocalists in hiphop” history. She was the first solofemale rapper to … [Read more...]
Marin Shakespeare pays tribute to ‘the Bard’ with production of Richard III
The lobby of San Quentin’s Garden Chapel was filled with Shakespearean costumes. The actors were from San Quentin’s Shakespeare program and the Marin … [Read more...]
MAKING TRACKS: Grammy winning rap artist Lecrae produces CCWF prisoner’s original hip-hop track
A woman incarcerated at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla is the first female to record and release an original hip hop track from … [Read more...]
Nina Simone: legendary singer, songwriter and civil rights activist
Born Nina Simone Catherine Waymon, Nina was a singer, songwriter and a civil rights activist. She recorded more than 40 albums between 1947 and … [Read more...]
N.W.A helped set the stage for modern hip hop music
N.W.A – Rap Group (1987-95) The N.W.A rap group was at first criticized as a misogynistic hip hop crew that glorified drugs and crime. But the … [Read more...]
Bread & Roses perform for Death Row
Entire concert was videotaped for Death Row viewing Prisoners and outside guest Tony Saunders played a concert for the 700-plus men housed on … [Read more...]
World class musician returns to SQ after long hiatus
Blues harmonica player Mark Hummel, 63, returned to San Quentin State Prison in August to discuss his music and to play a few tunes for the men in the … [Read more...]
SQN celebrates Black artists and entertainers
Rapper Kendrick Lamar made history by becoming the first hip-hop artist to win a Pulitzer Prize. Lamar won the honor for his fourth studio album, … [Read more...]
Prisoners Who Love Music
Many of the men at San Quentin love music. “Asked on the Line” conducted 23 random, informal interviews with men in blue and asked, “What is your … [Read more...]