"Cruel and Unusual Punishment" - the album, was produced by the Welfare Poets. It was also co-sponsored by The Shield Magazine (out of Hunter College, NYC) and The Campaign to End the Death Penalty (NYC chapter). This Hip Hop CD compilation features some of the most prolific Hip Hop emcees from around the country (and world for that matter). Many of the artists that appear on the album have for years been cultural workers doing the necessary work to abolish the death penalty and make real change happen. Participating artists: Hasan Shakur -- His song -- Gots To Know was created before he was railroaded by the Texas system of injustice; The Welfare Poets - Rayzer, The Legendary MIC and Jamaki-Bo with music from Djibril and Jamaki (Harlem, BX and BK); Abiodun (of the Legendary Last Poets- NYC); HiCOUP (NJ); Blitz (Ghana/NYC); Hasan Salaam (NJ); Chosan (Sierra Leone/London/NYC); Son of Nun (Baltimore); A-Alikes (NYC); Tru-N-Livin (NJ); Warclub (Cali/Phili); Jav'lin (Amsterdam); InI Mighty Lockdown (New Rochelle); Hec-1 (NY/Chi); Rebel Diaz - Rodstarz and Lah Tere (Chi); Wordplay (Cincinatti); JuggaBlak (Mount Vernon); LemBoogie (Mount Vernon); Block McCloud (Brooklyn); Bolos (Brooklyn); Truth Universal (New Orleans) and Wise Intelligent (of Poor Righteous Teachers - NJ). The album was released in February of 2007. It was influenced by the need to dismantle the inhumane death penalty system. The death penalty is both racist and classist in its intention and application. The album was inspired by Hasan Shakur, who was unjustly executed by the state of Texas on August 31st, 2006.