"At the bottom of our news tonight, there's been a new animal aimed at falling off the face of our Earth. Yes—young black teenagers are reported to be the oldest, and the newest, creatures added to the Endangered Species List. As of now, no efforts have been made to preserve the blacks—when asked why, a top top law official adds, 'Because they make good game.'" —Ice Cube, "Endangered Species" (1990)

According to USA Today, during a seven-year period ending in 2012, a white police officer killed a black citizen nearly twice a week in the United States. What's funny are those comment sections of articles like this—or about the Mike Brown shooting, or the murders of other blacks at the hands of the police—frothing over with people asking, "What about black-on-white murders, or even black-on-black murders?" While you'd think "Well, what about four centuries of chattel slavery followed by two centuries of socioeconomic warfare and literal state-funded terrorism?" would be a decent comeback, you'd be wrong. Do not engage. Just put your hands up like a victim, and hope this nonviolent gesture of supplication will save you when it's your turn. If not, well, maybe someone will get it all on camera, and that cop's ass will surely land in hot water then. Right?

"I have searched all night and day for new and better words that could express my feelings and fear for the people of this country. I found no new words. I have no hope-filled insight to deliver. I only have this warning to all Americans: Whatever this country is willing to do to the least of us, it will one day do to us all." —Killer Mike, Op-Ed: Killer Mike on the Problems Underlying the Chaos in Ferguson (2014)

Shout-out to the few rap cats using their voice and outlets to talk about this, or even just acknowledge it a little bit—the rest of you are completely fucking useless. Seriously. If you wanna hear a great song addressing the #Ferguson shit, peep Dizzy Wright's "I Need Answers": "Why, do we always feel like a target?" You know why.

Let's get out of our heads, though—go see a show. "Garage-jazz" quartet Industrial Revelation are headlining the Columbia City Theater on Thursday, August 28, with support from local underground stalwarts Spekulation, Julie C, Wizdumb, and Diogenes. That same night, you'll also find Little Dragon and Dam-Funk at the Showbox, haphazardly crossing the streams of icy Swedish R&B and sunny Pasadena "Modern Funk." On Friday, August 29, the latest local installation of the now-nationwide Black Weirdo party goes down at Chop Suey, with DJ sets from Shabazz Palaces, THEESatisfaction, DJ Riz, Chocolate Chuck, and DJ Mursi Layne—who happens to be THEESat's newest addition to their live show. Tuesday, September 2, LA's Blu plays Barboza. Buyer beware, though—while he raps good, he will likely just be standing there stock-still, so don't expect M.O.P. or anything. Go ahead and "Stick to Ya Gunz," just like those open-carry assholes—just stay your black ass out of Walmart before they do you like John Crawford.