Nobody Campaign

Help Red Baron release a tribute to Trayvon Martin and Oscar Grant, and create a scholarship fund in their name

Red Baron will release Nobody on Feburary 26, 2012, the one year anniversary of the killing of Trayvon Martin.  All proceeds Red generates from the sale of Nobody will go towards the creation of a scholarship fund at Morehouse College in the name of Trayvon Martin and Oscar Grant III, both of whom were roughly of college age at the time of their death.  Red Baron will work in conjunction with representatives from Morehouse College and with members of the Martin, Fuller and Grant families, in order to select a promising student at the college to receive the scholarship.

Nobody is a gripping single by Red Baron that chronicles the harrowing details of the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in addition to the fatal shooting of Oscar Grant III by former Oakland transit officer Johannes Mehserle. With the use of chilling piano chords, snapping snare drums, winding electric guitar riffs and remarkable guest appearances from Tomeka Carroll and Domonique Wilson, Red Baron paints a vivid picture of the two tragedies, remarks on their unfortunate frequency, the unjust application of law and how hip-hop and urban culture contribute to the stereotyping of African American men.  The single becomes even more timely considering the shooting death of Jordan Russell Davis.

Red would love for you to support this endeavor.  From now until, Monday January 14th, Red will raise funds to launch the Nobody campaign. You can be a part! To learn more and contribute, click here.

Timothy “Red Baron” Welbeck was the inspiration for a main character in the upcoming film He Heard My Cry. The Ervin Riggs directed film, which premiered at the 2012 Hollywood Black Film Festival, is an intimate portrait of attraction, betrayal, friendship and love, that centers on Jay Morrison (played by Trell Woodberry), who is met with a dilemma when he learns his fiance has had an illict affair and is now pregnant.   Timothy Grant (played by John Jordan), a lawyer and close friend of Jay Morrison who seeks to offer him sound advice on how to proceed, was loosely based on Red Baron.  You may learn more about He Heard My Cry by clicking here.  You may learn more about Red Baron by clicking here.

Dr. Crystal J. Lucky, Director of the Department of Africana Studies at Villanova University, has recently invited Red Baron to provide a guest lecture at the university.  The lecture, entitled Reflection Eternal: Hip-Hop An American Folk Art Birthed in Africa, discusses hip-hop  culture, the music the culture influences, as well as the relevance of  hip-hop’s role as the preeminent modern black aesthetic.   He is scheduled to speak  Thursday October 4th.

Reflection Eternal: Hip-Hop, An American Folk Art Birthed in Africa

Red Baron has been blessed with some additional press coverage of late.  Red is featured in the current issue of Beats and Lyrics Magazine.  He is a featured artist in the Artists 2 Watch section of the current edition of Skope Magazine.  He is also in the Music You Need to Know About section of BroBible, listed as one of 50 Christian Hip-Hop Artists That Provide Hope for the Future on Praverb.net.

Shades of Grace was also featured on Tha Produce Section  and DroptheR. Additionally, the video for Shamika Phoenix’s On the Rise feat. Red Baron was recently featured on the Powerhouse Show.  Lastly, Red Baron has upcoming features in Soul Anchor Collective and Hip-Hop News Media.

Fleisher Art Memorial

Recently a woman known as “Mistress Zeneca” hosted an event, self-described as a “religious-themed [sexual] role-play party”filled with bondage, discipline, domination, submission, masochism and other forms of taboo sexual behavior, in a former church in Philadelphia.  In essence, she hosted a sex party in what was once a house of worship. Shortly thereafter, Red Baron wrote a contributing article for Revolutionary Ink addressing this very issue, the role of church in modern society and more.  You may read the article by clicking here.

Red Baron also has an article slated to appear in the upcoming issue of Hip-Hop Stardom 101. Additionally, he has recently written about the Penn State child-sex scandal, Trayvon Martin, racial profiling and turning 30.  Be sure to check out the articles, and leave your thoughts in the comment section.

On Tuesday June 19th, Red Baron testified on a panel of lawyers supporting the establishment of youth courts at a Philadelphia City Council Committee on Public Safety hearing, sponsored by Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr.  Councilman Jones organized to explore the expansion of alternative youth courts in the city.  As reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, “youth courts were first introduced to Philadelphia schools by the Norris Square Neighborhood Project in 1999 and in 2004 the Philadelphia school district included Teen Court as an approved sanction for minor offenses.”  Studies show they can potentially reduce juvenile incarceration, recidivism rates, school violence and bullying.  While in law school, Red Baron volunteered for a youth court in nearby Chester, PA.  In the June hearing, he testified as to his experience.

Thank you for your continued support of Red Baron.  2011 proved to be a year filled with tremendous blessings for Red, both personally and professionally.  What follows is a description of some of the more notable blessings the Lord bestowed upon Red Baron, along with the fruit the Lord graciously allowed Red Baron to bear, as he labored to serve the Philadelphia area and beyond.  It is Red’s prayer that the following updates encourage you, as you see the fruit of his labor.

Throughout the year, Red Baron continued his musical pursuits, participating in numerous concert events across the country, including The University of Baltimore’s Homecoming Concert, The 2011 eXtreme Tour’s launching event, The Objective, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School’s First Annual Hip-Hop Day, Shades of Grace Release Party, Kingdom Kafe Second Anniversary, Rapfest 2011, Student Justice for Palestine Event at Temple University,  Christ Center Church of God Christmas Day Service, etal. Red Baron also appeared in the official music video for Shamika Phoenix’s On the Rise and released the official video for Mr. Incredible.

In April, Red Baron released his critically-acclaimed sophomore studio album entitled Shades of Grace. The album has been described as “a masterpiece” and “hip-hop in its purest form.” The album was also listed as a top 10 release of 2011.  It includes the uplifting single Have Plenty feat. Tomeka Carroll (Grand Prize Winner in the Hip-Hop Category of Session 1 of the 2010 John Lennon Songwriting Contest), the rousing counter-cultural anthem Ready to Live (remix) feat. You, the riveting retrospective works: Southern Comfort (Hue I Am) feat. Lisa McClendon, A Black and White Affair, Life is Beautiful feat. Tomeka Carroll and more.  If you do not have it already, you may download Shades of Grace for free by clicking here.

Shades of Grace is the natural progression of Red Baron’s critically-acclaimed debut, Paint the Town Red. The music itself has heavy fusions of gospel, jazz, blues, soul, rock and yet still rings true of hip-hop. Its content wrestles with some of the more compelling issues of our day–conversion, the intersection of race and faith, the search for love, satisfaction and purpose–all neatly packed into one incredible cd. You may learn more about Red Baron by visiting here.

In the spring, Red Baron became a contributing writer for Hip-Hop Stardom 101 and Gospel Rap Fan.  As a contributing writer for Gospel Rap Fan, Red Baron wrote reviews for Conquest’s RAGEep, Omega Sparx’s Sleeping Giants, Rkitect’s Revolution Doctrine, Alert’s All I See is Red, Stack City’s Five Star General, Omega Sparx’s Juggernaut, Primisis’ Reconstruction Mixtape Vol. 2, Verbal Kwest’s Batman & Batman.  As a contributing writer for Hip-Hop Stardom 101, Red Baron wrote an article reflecting on the life and legacy of Tupac Amaru Shakur.

In May, Red Baron also appeared on Part 2 of the Oprah Farewell Spectacular with a few hundred of his colleagues from Morehouse College, as they surprised Ms. Winfrey in order to thank her for the scholarship, named in her honor, they all received as a byproduct of her generous giving to the college.

Over the summer, Dr. Nathaniel Norment, Jr., Chair of The Department of African American Studies at Temple University, appointed Red Baron as an adjunct professor in the department.  Red Baron is charged with teaching Hip-Hopcrisy: Hip-Hop and Black Culture, a Special Topics course designed to offer its students with in-depth analysis of hip-hop culture, the music the culture influences, as well as the relevance of hip-hop’s role as the preeminent modern black aesthetic.

In November, Red Baron and his wife celebrated three years of marriage and welcomed their second child into the world.

Red Baron served, and continues to serve, as legal counsel for Executive Producer of the official soundtrack for an upcoming major motion picture, participated in the negotiation and securing of $750,000+ major label distribution deal for platinum-selling American R&B group and negotiated and secured major label distribution for Philadelphia-based production company.

Shades of Grace

Shades of Grace recently received favorable reviews from Cross Rhythms. You may read an excerpt of the review below.

Standout song Have Plenty raises some hard-hitting questions for anyone who can relate to the lyrics “we have what we don’t want, we want what we don’t have”. It’s a song packed full of wisdom as the Philadelphia-based emcee raps, “If I have need of anything, I have need of the king.with him I have all that I need. I have plenty”. Red Baron showcases his talent for writing both serious and light hearted lyrics throughout the album. “I was getting more ‘A’s than a pack of Duracells,” he says recounting his school days on A Black And White Affair.  Southern Comfort contains more great lyrics mixed in with a brief rendition of classic hymn Blessed Assurance.

You may read more of the review by clicking here.

Red Baron exclusively debuted the official video for Mr. Incredible with ILiveHipHop.  Check out the video here.