Author John Potash joins me in the first hour for a discussion of his book The FBI War on Tupac Shakur and Black Leaders. John describes the radical political life that Tupac was born into; mother Afeni Shakur and step father Mutulu Shakur were both prominent Black Panthers. We talk about the impact that this had on Tupac and how this would ultimately shape his life and his untimely death. John talk about the political messages with in Tupac’s songs, as well as his efforts behind the scenes to broker peace between gangs such as The Bloods and Crips. These efforts along with the politicization of the gangs would contribute to the FBI and US Intelligence targeting Tupuac relentlessly. We explore the numerous assassination attempts on Tupac including the infamous Atlanta and Marin Music Festival shootings. Later we delve into the New York shooting and the trumped up sexual assault case that would land Tupac in jail. John and I also break down the influence of Death Row Records and Suge Knight on Tupac. We discuss the intelligence connections behind Death Row, including CIA cocaine money, mafia lawyers, and the deep relationship it had with the LAPD and their elite police units. We discuss how Death Row was able to orchestrate Tupac’s killing in Las Vegas at the behest of the FBI/ATF and others. We finish off by talking about the impact that Tupac’s killing had on the rap world and the activist community.
In the second hour I talk about my article in the American Journal of Economics and Sociology. I talk about the issue as a whole which deals with CIA and DOD influence in Hollywood and talk about the other writers involved. Later I rant about the growing corporate take over of America and the misuse of the term Deep State. I discuss the notion that corporations are becoming countries, and countries are become nationalist corporations. I look at this through the lens of Trumps administration and the Keystone Pipeline as a case study. I attempt to show how this is really what the Deep State is up to.
Show Notes:
The FBI War on Tupac Shakur and Black Leaders
The American Journal of Economics and Sociology Vol. 76 Issue 2
Porkins Policy Review 