Entertainment

FREESTYLE: Stop Complaining, More Campaigning, Says Mistah FAB

Published

11 years ago

August 27, 2013

[embedplusvideo height=”400″ width=”550″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/19XjmgY” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/XjXvb98uOf0?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=XjXvb98uOf0&width=350&height=300&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep1219″ /]

Along with Too-Short and E-40 to Mac Dre and Keak-Da-Sneak, Mistah FAB (born Stanley Cox) has played a role in the Bay Area music scene.

A proud native of North Oakland, Mistah FAB talks about the good, bad, and ugly he encountered growing up. But unlike many of today’s youth, he made it out. The senseless killings, the lack of hope, and the need of leadership, has forced the self-proclaimed “real mayor of Oakland” to speak out.

“When there is a lack of opportunity, violence is highly indulged in. The mind state of the average adolescent [in Oakland] is I’m 12, but I have the stress of a 30 year old,” said Mistah FAB.

He says the statistics support the crime and violence in Oakland today. Murder rates soaring, incarceration at an all time high, and with kids dropping out of school, the perception of success isn’t evident in the community.

“All things that are woes in our community are rising,” he added. “People don’t appreciate life.”

At a young age, Mistah FAB learned to appreciate life because of his mom. She showered him with love, and like many single mothers, she worked 3-4 jobs to make sure she could provide for him. She was his hero.

His mother passed away a few years ago after battling cancer, but he still credits his ambition and success to the foundation his mother put in place.

According to Mistah FAB, that foundation made him stay focused. He moved away from street life and made the decision to seek individuality and do things his own way.

He’s from the hood and his music talks about “hood things” but he says that doesn’t define him as a man.

“My job is to go out, make music, about things I have lived. That’s all my music is about,” said Mistah FAB. He wants his philanthropic actions to speak for him.

Last weekend, he held his 8^th Annual Backpack Giveaway in Oakland providing 2,000 backpacks to kids. He also holds a toy drive each year during the holiday season to bring a sense of hope to the community that he holds close to his heart…. something he isn’t sure Mayor Jean Quan is doing.

“I can say she got in position, and she took care of her people, and she did a good job doing it. She made sure Chinatown was taking care of,” he said. “I don’t think the Black and Latino community are her biggest concerns. “

District 1 councilman Dan Kalb isn’t showing any interest as well, according to Mistah FAB. He says he has reached out numerous occasions to meet with him but has not gotten a return phone call.

Even with the lack of leadership, Mistah FAB says it isn’t an excuse for the violence in the streets. As a father – with the recent string of children caught in the crossfire –he feels it is time or the community must become to take more responsibility, to speak out to bring about the needed change.

“You complain about the liquor store but what you drinking for? You complain about the legal system but why isn’t anybody going to school to be lawyers or judges?” He asked. “We spend more time complaining than campaigning.”

Mistah FAB will also co-host the 2nd Annual “Hiero Day” – Oakland’s biggest Hip Hop Festival – on Sept. 2nd at Linden Street Brewery. For more info, visit the event’s Facebook page.

The “FREESTYLE” column will feature popular artists as they voice their opinion on national and/or community based issues in the Bay Area.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Early Learning Center for Preschoolers at Contra Costa College

Don't Miss

Lower Bottom Playaz Brings Shakespeare to West Oakland

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

5 days ago

November 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

STREAMED LIVE!
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/PostNewsGroup
YOUTUBE: youtube.com/blackpressusatv
X: twitter.com/blackpressusa

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

Published

1 week ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Business

Sacramento Kings and Black-Owned Digital License Plate Firm Enter History-Making Partnership

Reviver founder and Chief Strategy Officer Neville Boston attended the Sacramento Kings’ season opener at Golden 1 Center, witnessing players debut the company’s patch. Reviver proudly supports the Sacramento Kings’ community and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Photo by Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media (CBM).

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Reviver founder and Chief Strategy Officer Neville Boston attended the Sacramento Kings' season opener at Golden 1 Center, witnessing players debut the company's patch. Reviver proudly supports the Sacramento Kings' community and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Photo by Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media (CBM).

By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

Reviver, the world’s first digital license plate and connected vehicle platform, has entered into a history-making jersey patch partnership with the Sacramento Kings, team officials announced right before the team’s season opener on Oct. 24.

The collaboration establishes Reviver as the first Black-founded technology jersey patch partner in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

The Reviver logo now appears on the left front strap of Kings’ uniforms.

Reviver founder and Chief Strategy Officer Neville Boston was in attendance to see the company’s patch worn by the Kings, during a game with the Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento.

“It was an absolutely amazing night. More than I ever expected,” Boston told California Black Media (CBM). “The Sacramento Kings have been incredible. On a national, and maybe a worldwide level, this partnership raises the profile of Reviver with the assistance of (Kings chairman and CEO) Vivek Ranadivé and the Kings.”

According to the Kings’ brass, Reviver, supported by the Black Star Fund, a Black-led venture capital firm based in Sacramento, is now an official “innovation partner” of the Kings and Golden 1 Center; a presenting partner of “Capitalize Technology,” a King’s corporate social investment initiative; and the exclusive digital license plate of the Sacramento Kings.

Headquartered in Granite Bay, a suburb of Sacramento, Reviver was born from a vision to modernize and streamline the vehicle registration renewal process. On Jan. 1, 2023, the state of California joined Georgia, Colorado, Michigan, and Arizona as states that have approved digital license plates for use statewide, after Reviver completed a four-year pilot program that evaluated a replacement for metal plates.

About 10,000 California drivers bought digital plates during the pilot program. Vehicles registered with the state are eligible to adopt the new high-tech tags. Reviver existence was made possible when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 984 in September 2022.

Under that law, California vehicle owners can update their titles, registrations, and other records remotely. In addition, the digital license “RPlate” includes a flashing message if a vehicle is reported stolen or if there is an Amber Alert.

Ranadivé is spreading the news that Reviver has international potential.

“This jersey patch partnership with Reviver continues the Kings long tradition of using our global platform to promote innovation and technology,” Ranadivé stated. “It’s particularly exciting to showcase a homegrown company that was part of our Kings Capitalize program. This is just the beginning of our work together, and we look forward to helping Reviver in its mission to modernize the driving experience.”

The commercial use of patches in professional basketball all began in 2009 when the Women’s Basketball Association (WNBA) Phoenix Mercury removed its name to replace it with sponsor, LifeLock, an identity-theft protection company. The landmark deal netted a contract worth about $1 million annually.

Kindra Montgomery-Block, vice president of diversity, equity, and social impact for the Sacramento Kings, was the integral facilitator who assisted Boston and his team in connecting with the sports franchise that is boasting 40 years in the Capital City.

“This partnership between the Kings and Reviver, backed by the Black Star Fund, will invest in the Sacramento community to promote technology and innovation in the region,” Montgomery-Block stated. “Reviver will support the Sacramento Kings community and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.”

Editor’s Note: Neville Boston is a California Black Media board member.