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From YouTube: Councilmember Johnson Honors the Young Flames 2-13-2020
Description
From the Stated Meeting of Philadelphia City Council held Thursday, February 13, 2020:
Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District) led a presentation recognizing South Philadelphia rap group Young Flames for the positive themes in their music, including the anti-violence song "Guns Down"
Read the resolution: https://phila.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4326428&GUID=C7FB0DD3-EB1B-42BE-8A24-48FB1CDF0D16&Options=ID|Text|&Search=flames
A
B
1998
I
lost
a
cousin
of
mine
to
gun
violence
in
South
Philadelphia
and,
as
opposed
to
me,
getting
involved
and
the
retaliation
that
was
going
to
take
place
as
a
result
of
him
losing
his
life.
I
started
on
my
own
program
to
address
the
issue
of
gun
violence
called
peace,
not
guns,
and
from
that
point
I
decided
to
dedicate
my
life
to
teaching
young
people,
cop
resolution,
anger
management
and,
most
importantly,
in
side-street
education.
B
Who
create
an
anti-violence
song
called
guns
down
that
specifically
focuses
on
the
very
critical
issue
of
gun
violence
that
we're
dealing
with
right
now
as
the
city
and
they're
so
inspiring
by
their
efforts,
because
as
a
young
man,
I
think
I
started
my
program
when
I
was
in
my
20s,
but
the
good
word
says
out
of
the
mouths
of
babes,
and
so
for
me.
We
want
to
continue
to
encourage
these
young
men
because
they
represent
truly
the
best
of
the
city
of
Philadelphia
has
to
offer
and
I.
C
Thank
you
and
whereas
young
flames
began
with
a
group
project
for
music
class
by
for
students
at
Universal
Institute
charter
school
in
the
two
years
since
the
group
has
grown
to
comprise
10
members,
Safi
Johnson
and
raise
your
hand
when
I
call
your
name
Safi
Johnson
KY
year,
McGee
Khaliq,
McGee,
Makai,
McNeil,
Jameel
meadows,
I,
Mir,
Crawford,
Jayden,
barosky,
behind
Goodwin
I,
see
air
Bagwell
and
Tyree
Reeves.
All
ten
members
of
residents
of
South
Philadelphia
and
students
at
Universal
Institute
charter
school.
The
group
is
managed
and
mentored
by
Christopher,
Gideon's
and.
E
Whereas
the
group's
first
performance
on
October
7,
2009,
teen
centered
around
a
theme
of
anti-bullying
since
then,
the
group
has
performed
and
recorded
other
music
was
with
positive
messages,
including
guns
down,
which
is
my
favorite.
The
song
was
motivated
in
part
because
of
some
of
the
families
of
the
members
had
been
affected
directly
by
gun
violence.
The
group's
lyrics
also
advocate
against
substance
abuse
and
for
academic
success
and
personal
responsibility
on
February
4th
2020
Philadelphia's
local
NBC,
affiliate
channel
6
aired
a
segment
on
the
group
prominently
featuring
guns
Dale.
F
And
whereas
the
passion
focus
and
positivity
mentioned
above
our
shining
example
of
the
positive
potential
of
third
office
use
despite
the
weighty
challenges
of
this
time,
young
Flames
have
used
music
to
spread
positive
messages
in
their
community,
an
effort
that
deserves
recognition
and
praise.
Now,
therefore,
be
it.
G
Be
resolved
that
the
Council
of
the
city
of
Philadelphia
that
South
Philadelphia's
rap
group
young
flames
be
recognized
for
the
positivity
and
themes
in
their
music,
including
the
anti
violence
song
guns
down.
Further
resolve
that,
in
a
gross
copy
of
this
resolution,
preserved
to
present
it
to
the
young
flames.
Be
evidence
of
this
council's
appreciation
and
extreme.
B
So
going
through
this
a
little
different
right,
cuz
I've
been
in
this
chambers
on
plenty
of
different
Psalms
and
when
she
she
people
come
down
here,
people
of
high
status,
we
clap.
We
stand
up.
You
know
now
again
on
any
given
day
right,
we'll
turn
on
the
news
and
we'll
see
african-american
young
men
being
shot
down
and
murdered
by
gun
violence
right.
These
young
men
are
in
the
right
place,
doing
the
right
thing.
So
I'm
gonna
ask
for
everyone
in
the
room
to
please
stand
and
give
them
a
real
big
round
of
applause.
A
H
Is
the
first
thing
that
comes
to
mind
when
I
think
of
this
honor
on
behalf
of
the
boys
myself
and
the
entire
young
flames?
Family
I
would
like
to
thank
every
council
member,
especially
councilman
Johnson,
who
sponsored
this
resolution
and
made
this
happen
for
us
when
one
of
the
boys
Emir
came
to
me
with
the
idea
of
guns
down,
I
had
no
idea
to
impact,
we
could
create,
with
this
song
the
boys
each
put
their
heart
and
soul
into
every
line
that
they
wrote
and
delivered
a
message
that
our
city
deeply
needs
gun.
H
Violence
has
affected
many
of
us
in
this
room
and
for
a
group
of
kids
to
have
the
courage
to
stand
up
against
this
epidemic
leaves
me
completely
blown
away
every
time,
I
think
about
it.
Looking
at
their
faces,
standing
before
you
today,
I'm
beyond
proud
of
each
and
every
one
of
them
standing
up
here
today,
I
want
to
say
we
need
our
community
to
join
with
us.
The
nonsense,
the
violence,
the
killings
all
needs
to
end.
H
Our
kids
need
to
see
that
education
and
being
able
to
talk
through
their
issues
are
the
right
answer
and
not
succumbing
to
the
pressures
many
of
them
face.
Joining
a
gang
are
carrying
a
gun
to
solve
their
problems.
Our
youth
deserve
the
opportunity
to
walk
to
school
or
walk
to
the
playground,
without
the
fear
of
simply
being
in
the
wrong
place
at
the
wrong
time
as
a
community.
H
There
are
more
of
us
who
live
life
as
we
were
supposed
to
than
not,
and
it's
time
we
take
our
streets
back
if
our
youth
concede
us
and
stand
up
for
this,
then
there's
no
reason
why
we
as
adults
cannot
do
the
same.
I
urge
everyone
to
join
these
boys
and
the
movement
they
are
creating.
Our
kids
need
to
see
all
the
positives
that
we
can
offer,
which
is
why
I
started
this
group
to
begin
with.
I
know
this,
because
mentorship
is
key.
I
was
that
kid
who
needed
a
mentor?
H
Let's
start
doing
what
we
need
to
do
uplifting.
Are
you
providing
them
avenues
to
save
spaces
where
they
can
have
fun
and,
most
importantly,
creating
a
city,
a
city
that
all
of
us
can
be
proud
to
live
in
I?
Thank
you
again
on
behalf
of
the
young
flames
and
leave
by
quoting
one
of
the
lyrics
from
their
song.
It's
a
marathon
that
they're
running
and
there's
no
time
for
gunning.
Thank
you.