The San Quentin Warriors won again! For the second straight year, the prison’s premiere basketball team beat the Golden State Warriors squad of staffers 93-85 in a community atmosphere that featured NBA-playoff intensity. The victory had particular significance for San Quentin power forward Harry “ATL” Smith, who paroled a few days after the game. “All praise is due to God,” Smith said. “It’s bigger than basketball. This program has really been my family. When I get out, I plan to continue repping the Warriors and Jesus Christ.” The annual … [Read more...] about S.Q. Warriors take trophy back
David Jassy
Common visits SQ music program
David Jassy playing music for Common and guests Hip-hop artist Rashid “Common” Lynn heard about the positive music being produced from prison by David Jassy, a Grammy-nominated Swedish rapper and producer, and came into San Quentin to meet about a collaborative project. “He has a genuine interest in prison reform,” Jassy said. “They heard about the YOP mixtape and they have ideas they want to discuss.” The YOP mixtape, produced by Jassy, showcases the raw voices of young incarcerated rappers rhyming about their truths, without glorifying … [Read more...] about Common visits SQ music program
Musicians rocked San Quentin’s Catholic Chapel
San Quentin State Prison, known by its warden, Ron Davis, to be “The Titan of Rehabilitation,” one-upped itself with a spirited collaboration. Featured were incarcerated musicians sharing the stage with a gospel duo made up of a retired associate warden and a prison staffer, local Bay Area musicians, and a guitar/violin duo from Sacramento. There was standing-room only for the nearly 350 people stuffed in the prison’s Catholic Chapel on Nov. 10. “I believe in the healing power of music,” said Lisa Starbird, a representative of Bread and … [Read more...] about Musicians rocked San Quentin’s Catholic Chapel
Youth offender mix tape captures generational trauma of incarceration
Daniel Gutierrez, 21, says with regret that prison has been the norm in his family. “Everyone has been to jail except my mom. “When I got to San Quentin, I ended up three cells down from where my grandfather was once housed. In the county jail I was in the same dorm my father was once in. I was even on the same (prison) yard with my uncle,” said Gutierrez. A musician, Gutierrez said he shares a parallel life with his grandfather, Jose Moreno, who has been out of prison two decades. He even reflected on that relationship in a rap song, “The … [Read more...] about Youth offender mix tape captures generational trauma of incarceration