Happy Birthday El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz! Thank you for teaching us to love ourselves. In honor of Malcolm X's birthday today check out this 1994 PBS documentary entitled "Malcolm X: Make It Plain"
HAPPY HIPHOP APPRECIATION WEEK 2013...SPREAD "LOVE" THIS WEEK...CELEBRATE LOVE AND ESPECIALLY THE LOVE OF ONESELF, FAMILY AND HIPHOP CULTURE.
WEAR YOUR FITTED HAT A LITTLE MORE TWISTED TO THE SIDE...BREAK OUT YOUR LEE JEANS, WATCH A CLASSIC HIPHOP MOVIE AND TWEET AND FACEBOOK ABOUT THAT FEELING..THAT "LOVE" FEELING YOU GET WHEN YOU SAW YOUR FIRST LIVE HIPHOP SHOW. WHEN DID YOU FALL IN "LOVE" WITH HIPHOP? WHAT'S THAT "LOVE" FEELING YOU GET WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE NOW RECITING KOOL G RAP RHYMES THAT INSPIRED YOU WHEN YOU WERE THAT SNOT NOSED KID ROCKING DUSTY SHELLTOES. DO YOU REMEMBER THE SELF "LOVE", CHUCK D HELP SPREAD WHEN HE TOLD THE WHOLE BLOCK TO FIGHT THE POWERS THAT BE! "LOVE" IS A POWERFUL SOURCE. SHOW SOME, B!
CELEBRATE THE LAST TRUE AMERICAN CULTURE THIS WEEK, YALL..
CELEBRATE HIPHOP APPRECIATION WEEK MAY 12-19TH. IT'S A "LOVE" THANG.
----------------------------------- CELEBRATE ON THE LATE LATE TONIGHT AS WE RETURN TO THE AIRWAVES WITH RETURN OF THE BOOMBAP (BEATS RHYMES AND THE GOODLIFE)
RETURN OF THE BOOMBAP (BEATS, RHYMES AND THE GOODLIFE) RETURNS to the AIRWAVES MAY 13TH.
WRFG 89.3 FM (ATLANTA)
WWW.WRFG.ORG (WHOLE WORLD)
3A--6AM EASTERN 12A-3AM PACIFIC 8A-11AM LONDON 9A-12P BERLIN 2P-6P JAPAN
ROCK WITH US AS WE CELEBRATE HIPHOP APPRECIATION WEEK 2013 AND THE RETURN OF THE REALEST AUTHENTIC HIPHOP RADIO SHOW EVER!
"IT'S THE RETURN OF THE REAL HARD BEATS AND REAL RAPS"
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL BOOMBAP APP ON IPHONE, BLACKBERRY AND ANDROID! TO VIBE AND LISTEN LIVE
In case there's a reader or two that doesn't recognize, let me say this: Barry Sanders is an NFL all-time great! Check out the video above - showing how he's been toting that pigskin like a star since high school. The former Detroit Lions' running back now has a book, "Now You See Him." This clip below is from the intro portion of the DVD that comes with the book.
I have been a life-long admirer of NASA Mission Specialist Dr. Ronald McNair. "Eyes on the Stars" (above) is a great PBS StoryCorps short about him; narrated by his brother Carl.
'On January 28, 1986, NASA Challenger mission STS-51-L ended in tragedy when the shuttle exploded 73 seconds after takeoff. On board was physicist Ronald E. McNair, who was the second African American to enter space. But first, he was a kid with big dreams in Lake City, South Carolina.'
- PBS StoryCorps
A real American hero, I often shared Dr. McNair's story during Black History Month observances at my high school. A shame we no longer have a space program to speak of in the U.S. Dreams of space travel, and astronauts like Ronald McNair who made those dreams real, are what had youngsters nationwide studying hard in math and science classes. Because you weren't going anywhere near a shuttle if you didn't know math and science.
A generation of kids, dreaming...filled with hope...and working hard in school. That is the legacy of Dr. McNair and all those who dared to 'boldly go where [few] have gone before.'
R.I.P. Dr. McNair, you were an inspiration for so many (including other Black boys from the south, like me).
Footage of Dr. McNair's final moments (aboard the doomed shuttle Challenger) - headed for the stars - after the jump. I still get choked up watching the footage.
Scarface declares the first words are the most important in a rhyme because they set the tone of the verse. And you know he knows a thing or two about good rhyme writing. Surprisingly enough though,Scarface doesn't like listening to his own rhymes. Above: Watch part 1 of a very dope backstage interview in which Face touches on the possibility of another Geto Boys album, some real history behind "Mind Playin Tricks On Me" and more.
Check out part 2 after the jump. Really good viewing!
Deep backstage interview with Scarface. Up top is part 1. This is part 2. Facemob speaks on his love/hate of Hip-Hop. Loves Kendrick Lamar. Hates that we're losing the culture. And make no mistake: He's mostly p!ssed about it.
'Let me say this [right.] I want this to be as offensive as I can f-king make it..."
Well, damn, Uncle Face. Don't hold back! Good stuff all the way through. Part 2 of this interview ends with Facemob sharing a story of the last time he spent time with Tupac which was when they recorded the track "Smile."
Beat Society - the Original Showcase for Beatmakers - presents this '7-minute look into the history, working parts and talent that make up the Original Showcase to spotlight the art of Beat making.'
Great video short. We're talking Pete Rock, Oddisee, STS, !llmind, Blu, Statik Selektah, Hezekiah, Marco Polo, Truck North, Dice Raw, Eric G, Reef The Lost Cauze, Skyzoo, and Khrysis speaking on Beat Society, on their art and culture, and more.
1990 was my first first year in radio when I was doing a hip hop show called 'Strictly Hip Hop' in Pennsylvania. I had also started a cable access show of the same name later that year & it wasn't uncommon to receive dozens of new records & videos in the mail every week. Back then most of the videos we would receive from the record labels & indie promoters would arrive in the form of 3/4 inch tapes or on VHS. I need to get on my job like Tampa Bay area DJ Sandman who digitized one of Gangstarr's old video press kits from back in the day. I know I have this same video on VHS somewhere in storage. I'm literally kicking myself to get on it because I do need to take the time to digitize many of my old shows & interviews from the 90s. In the meantime check out the video of GURU & DJ Premier's video press kit. Rest in peace GURU! On another note....I'm definitely feeling how DJ Premier is rocking my favorite NFL team's baseball cap. #RAIDERNATION BABY!
"This was a VHS Promo sent out by Chrysalis Records at the time the legendary Hip Hop group, Gang Starr was getting ready to release their 2nd album, "Step In The Arena" (Released 1/15/91) This video tape has been sitting in a box in my studio for years..I've always wanted to share it with Hip Hop fans who may have never had a chance to see it. It includes rare footage of Dj Premier & Guru in the studio working on their album and also a rare interview." - DJ Sandman
Sometimes the thought of the future for anything is a medley of unknowns.
We prepare for it but essentially things change and we go with the flow. We all had dreams of that white picket fence, that sports scholarship that would help us eventually "GET OUR MOMMA" a mansion, signing that big record contract or just getting our degree and being successful ever after. Well sometimes what we thought would be just "ain't" happen. That white picket fence is now a third floor apartment above some noisy family that shoots bee bees through our bathroom window and never turns of their TV(really?). That sports scholarship turned into two years at community college while working part-time at Target to make "ends" meet. That degree was harder and took longer than you thought only to be laid off when the economy tanked. As with Hiphop music, culture and lifestyle the very essence of what it is and where we thought it was going changed like the very person you were when you fell in love with it. As many of us have grown up to enjoy Hiphop and what it has given us, life has made certain things more important and Hiphop has suffered. The question is do you really care? Really think about that. When you have kids, a job, bills,mortgages, ______ fill in the blank....where does "Representin' the REAL HIPHOP" place on your list? To some of us it doesn't. With that.. the very truth bearers of Hiphop culture have let it go into the realm of the unknown and the future is a cloudy as it was that summer day in 1973 when Kool Herc and Kevin Donova
JANELLE MONÀE COVERS LATEST ISSUE OF FLATT MAGAZINE DISCUSSES PHILANTHROPY, ADVERSITY, PERSONAL STYLE, & BEING A WOMEN IN MUSIC, WITH SPECIAL GUEST CYNDI LAUPER!
"Remaining unique and comfortable in my own skin is part of my DNA...I feel a shift in the amount of diverse examples of women in the music industry." - Janelle Monáe "I used to call the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Men because when I walked thru the museum there were only a handful exhibits dedicated to women...I think the next generation will be the generation where equality for all will actually be a reality." - Cyndi Lauper
FLATT Magazine is the artifact of a new community of creative entrepreneurs who believe that art, in all of its guises, can be a scaffold for great change. Operating as a philanthropic gesture, Founder and Editor in Chief, Christina Lessa promotes the urgency of support for the arts in America whether through mentorship, physical action or finance. http://flattmag.com/
"In this episode, we celebrate legendary producer J Dilla, who has worked with The Roots, Common, Erykah Badu, Janet Jackson and A Tribe Called Quest. Then we join musician friends J. Rocc, DJ Spinna, Frank Nitt and Grap Luva in Detroit to open Dilla's storage locker, never-before-seen to the public. Crate Diggers profiles people with extraordinary vinyl record collections, with owners displaying and telling the stories behind their collections." - Fuse TV
By 2042 the U.S. is expected to become the most diverse it's ever been racially speaking. The way the demographics are going, the U.S. will not have an ethnic majority. The team over at TheMMXLII interviewed Talib Kweli about growing up in the "melting pot" of Brooklyn and what diverse communities can teach us about self-identity and heritage. It's the power of diversity
It's crazy to think of all the music New Edition has been involved with over the years as a group & even with their respective solo careers, spin-off groups, & artists they've mentored. I can remember that period well when New Edition first came out & 'Candy Girl' was their first big hit. Check out this classic clip from 1983 when they first appeared on Soul Train. The music was good but I did get a good laugh looking at this video of the outfits & the way they looked back then......
On Saturday February 23rd, 2013 Nike hosted a day of service in celebration of the 37th annual Black History Month with the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Metro Atlanta organization. Three Atlanta based athletes who were rebels in their sport as well as game-changers in their community were selected to inspire the youth and enable with a purpose. Anson Carter (NHL), Fred McCrary (NFL), and Warrick Dunn (NFL) spoke to a room of BBBS "Little's" about what it means to "Be Bold. Be True." They also shared stories of their past, and the obstacles they've overcome to achieve their goals.
In addition Nike Sportswear Senior Footwear Designer Jonathan Johnson-Griffin was also in attendance to speak about his journey as an African American designer, as well as the inspiration behind the 2013 Nike Black History Month footwear and apparel collection.
The event was hosted by WXIA 11 Alive's Sam Crenshaw and took place at the Big Brothers Big Sisters midtown headquarters nicknamed "The House." Exclusive Nike "Be Bold. Be True." T-shirts were given out to youth in attendance.
This was a great event. Thanks to everybody who helped make this happen. Always remember influence and inspiration is important for our youth.
L to R: Anson Carter, Warrick Dunn, Jonathan Johnson-Griffin, Fred McCrary
Senor Kaos warming up the crowd
JJG and a piece of the Nike 2013 BHM footwear & apparel collection designed by Jonthan Johnson-Griffin
Former Atlanta Falcon Warrick Dunn
Senor Kaos, Anson Carter, Warrick Dunn, Janice McKenzie-Crayton, Alicia Willis, JJG, Fred McCrary, Christian Weaver
New York, NY (FOX FUSE) - Dancehall star David "Mavado" Brooks makes history as the first Caribbean artist to receive an exclusive video premiere on Billboard, with his new single "Take It" featuring Karian Sang.
Distributed by Zojak World Wide and produced by Troyton Music, the blockbuster dancehall pop single debuted back in September and has been steadily gaining momentum on the international market, peaking at #1 on the BBC 1Xtra and Choice-FM charts in December, and also hitting #1 on CHRY 105.5FM in Toronto. The track also steams up airwaves in South Florida on Miami's hit station WEDR-99Jamz, and continues to enjoy airplay on reggae specialty programming, globally.
"Zojak World Wide/Troyton Music utilized top tier radio DJ pools to get the track played in major markets," states Zoe Espitia, CEO of Zojak World Wide. "The company also secured radio interviews with commercial stations in the US and Canada, and enlisted Rhona Fox of Fox Fuse as the PR for the video."
Signed to We The Best/YMCMB, Mavado continues to thrill dancehall fans by staying true to the genre, despite his evolving move beyond dancehall borders. "Now aligned with a powerful hip-hop conglomerate, Mavado nonetheless has pledged allegiance to the music that birthed his career," writes Billboard journalist Patricia Meschino, in the exclusive premiere on March 4, 2013.
In a recent survey conducted by the Associated Press, Soulja Boy, the much-maligned Atlanta rapper garnered over 57% of the votes to attain the unflattering title of 'Worst Artist in American Music History'. The polling began on October 1st through November and over 200,000 fans and a number of record label personnel voted, according to the Associated Press. Also receiving votes were Vanilla Ice, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears and MC Hammer. No word if Soulja Boy will be awarded with a ceremony or trophy for this historic honor.
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!['Beat Society' Is Back (feat. Pete Rock, !llMind, and More) [Video]](images/blogs/4-2013/19993-beat-society-is-back-.jpg "'Beat Society' Is Back (feat. Pete Rock, !llMind, and More) [Video]")
