RIP Reggie "Combat Jack" Ossé (Patreon)

I'm really bummed that I have snoozed "write recommendation for Combat Jack Radio post" for 6 months on my reminder app. I was trying to think up ideas to get me to start writing and that topic was super easy to do. So remember to give people their flowers while they're alive. I know I am going to burst into tears the next time I turn on The Combat Jack Radio show. It has been a big part of my life for almost 6 years now. The host passed away after being diagnosed with cancer in October. I feel like one of my best friends isn’t coming back to play this week. I learned a lot about what I do by listening to him. 

He has amazing interviews with Juvenile, Kevin Gates, Dame Dash, Ice T, and everybody else in Hip Hop you’d want to hear from. One of the best shows he ever did was an interview with Raymond Santana. A member of The Central Park 5. A court case that still resonates some truths to this day. Back in 1989 a rape and murder in Central park was attributed to the black and latino kids “wildn’ out” in the park. White people were basically floating around the idea that minority youth were feral animals who roamed the streets born addicted to crack and ready to kill. This was the chance to “send a message” and those kids were sent to jail.

Donald Trump ran full page ads demanding the death penalty for these kids.

Hillary Clintons Super Predator Theory back in 1996 was based off all the dubious thinking that wolf packs like these must be brought to heel. 

Well in 2002 a guy in prison confessed to the crime. They did a test and proved it. Those 5 kids were let out of jail after their life had been stunted for 13 years. There are no other podcasts who have had Raymond Santana on as a guest. It’s a shame that the whole election cycle happened and the podcast boom couldn’t stop talking about the two biggest dumbasses in the world long enough to try and tell the story of someone like Raymond Santana. I learned a lot from Combat but more than anything he taught me the most in how to practice real honesty. Rest In Power.

“Internets, you know what time it is: 

Dream them dreams 

then man-up and live them dreams, 

because a life without dreams is black and white, 

and the universe flows in technicolor and surround-sound. Blaow!”

• Reggie “Combat Jack” Ossé