Hard Knock Radio – April 1, 2025

Hard Knock Radio

Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.

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Hard Knock Radio

Framed: The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal and the System That Buried the Truth and Donald Lacy on Art, Gentrification, and the Power of Cultural Memory

This week on Hard Knock Radio, Davey D sat down with Rachel Wolkenstein—longtime attorney and advocate for political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. Gearing up for the upcoming Freedom Tour, Rachel breaks down the real story behind Mumia’s 43-year incarceration: a case rooted in FBI surveillance, COINTELPRO tactics, corrupt Philadelphia cops, and a justice system built to … Continued


Hard Knock Radio

Dr. Mike Benitez: “This Is a Direct Attack on Academic Freedom and Democracy”

The Political Push to Defund Diversity In a wide-ranging conversation on Hard Knock Radio, education leader and cultural scholar Dr. Michael Benitez issued a stark warning: “We’re watching academic freedom and democracy get hollowed out in real time.” Dr. Benitez, a former university vice president and longtime advocate for equity in higher ed, joined Davey D to break down … Continued


Hard Knock Radio

Roy Ayers Tribute w/ Jessica Care Moore, Ursula Rucker and Kwado Deterville

In this powerful episode of Hard Knock Radio, Davey D brings together a trio of cultural powerhouses—spoken word trailblazers Ursula Rucker and Jessica Care Moore, alongside cultural historian and artist Kwadwo Deterville—to honor the expansive legacy of Roy Ayers. A true connector across generations, cities, and musical movements, Ayers was remembered with love, laughter, and deep reverence. Roy Ayers: Beyond ‘Everybody Loves the Sunshine’ Most … Continued


Hard Knock Radio

San Francisco’s Rightward Shift: Mayor Lurie’s Law-and-Order Strategy Under Fire and Oakland’s History of Development and Disruption

Policing the Crisis: Tim Redmond Breaks Down the City’s New Direction Budget Cuts, Housing Deficits, and the Cost of Cleaning Up the Streets In a recent Hard Knock Radio conversation, host Davey D spoke with journalist Tim Redmond of 48 Hills about major political and policy shifts in San Francisco under Mayor Daniel Lurie’s administration. … Continued


Hard Knock Radio

In Conversation with Dr. Rosa Clemente about Education, Fascism, and Resistance

In a crucial discussion, Hard Knock Radio host Davey D interviews Dr. Rosa Clemente, a journalist, political activist, and former vice-presidential candidate. They discuss the rising threats to education, civil rights, and the broader implications of political shifts in the U.S. The Attack on Education and Civil Rights Dr. Rosa Clemente warns that an executive order could soon dismantle … Continued


Hard Knock Radio

The Urgency of Protecting Black Girls: A Hard Knock Radio Conversation with Nola Brantley

The Urgency of Protecting Black Girls: A Hard Knock Radio Conversation with Nola Brantley The crisis of missing Black girls and the ongoing struggle against Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) remain urgent issues, yet they often go overlooked in mainstream discourse. On a recent episode of Hard Knock … Continued