Hip-Hip Category Archives
Poetic Justice: A Documentary on Durham, Hip Hop and Spoken Word
Published on 31 May 2011 at 10:26 am.
2 Comments.
Filed under education, Hip-Hip, spoken word.
I’m working on a documentary about an after-school program I’m involved with called Poetic Justice. Check out this poem from one of our students and peep an article I wrote about the program below:
North Carolina is emerging as one of the hotbeds of the international spoken word and slam poetry scene, with several nationally ranked […]
Read ‘Poetic Justice: A Documentary on Durham, Hip Hop and Spoken Word’
hip hop and spoken word curriculum in Durham public school system
Published on 6 Mar 2011 at 11:54 am.
No Comments.
Filed under positivity, education, Hip-Hip, spoken word.
A few months ago I started working with an incredible spoken word artist, Kane “Novakane” Smego, a member of the Sacrificial Poets. He was in the midst of developing a curriculum called YouTh ink, which empowers teenage youth through spoken word. We combined YouTh ink with the Blackademics curriculum (learn more about that here) and […]
Read ‘hip hop and spoken word curriculum in Durham public school system’
Hip Hop, Music & Politics at NCCU
Published on 9 Jan 2011 at 11:12 pm.
1 Comment.
Filed under education, Hip-Hip.
I’m teaching a new course at North Carolina Central University called: Hip Hop, Music and Politics. The class explores the relationships between music and various political movements. By addressing music of artists like KRS-One, Bob Marley, Billie Holiday and Lauryn Hill we gain invaluable insight into the Stop the Violence, Rastafari, Anti-Lynching and Women’s Movements. […]
Read ‘Hip Hop, Music & Politics at NCCU’
New Progressive Sounds from The Beast
Published on 15 Oct 2010 at 3:19 pm.
1 Comment.
Filed under music, Hip-Hip.
The Beast - Freedom Part 2 from BECAUSEUS on Vimeo.
On Tuesday The Beast’s new anthem Freedom Part 2 was released to the masses (check us out on 2dopeboyz.com). I wrote an article about the song, which was published in the News and Observer entitled, When Freedom Disappears. The articles talks about how and why we […]
Read ‘New Progressive Sounds from The Beast’
A phone call with Hip-Hop personified
Published on 18 Jun 2010 at 12:14 pm.
4 Comments.
Filed under music, Hip-Hip.
[Ringing]
Yo.
Hip Hop?
What’s up?
You’re alive!
Can’t stop, won’t stop.
Thanks for letting me interview you, I know you’re busy.
It’s cool. I got to take advantage of this opportunity to represent myself.
You’re breaking up a little. Can you hear me okay?
Yeah. I’m on a cordless house phone and I stepped out of range for a moment, but I’m […]
Read ‘A phone call with Hip-Hop personified’
June 2010 Interview: Mark Anthony Neal
Published on 15 Jun 2010 at 11:59 pm.
Comments Off.
Filed under black culture, music, history, popular culture, Hip-Hip.
This Black Music Month our interview is with professor and public intellectual Dr. Mark Anthony Neal. We discuss the role of the public intellectual, Aaron McGruder’s The Boondocks and Dr. Neal’s contribution to Born to Use Mics: Reading Nas’s Illmatic. Enjoy!
Read ‘June 2010 Interview: Mark Anthony Neal’
Re: “Kick’n it w/ ?uestlove” Roots+Joss Stone perform You Got Me
Published on 30 May 2010 at 12:46 pm.
No Comments.
Filed under Uncategorized, music, Hip-Hip.
Backstage footage from The Roots concert I wrote about in my last post: Kicking it w/ ?uestlove (well, kinda). The Roots and Joss Stone perform You Got Me with the ill Kid Cudi reference on verse 3.
Read ‘Re: “Kick’n it w/ ?uestlove” Roots+Joss Stone perform You Got Me’
Kicking It w/ ?uestlove (well, kinda)
Published on 26 May 2010 at 11:24 am.
2 Comments.
Filed under music, Hip-Hip, jazz.
This afternoon I have the honor and privilege of speaking with one of my inspirations, the founder of my favorite band, blog and tweets: ?uestlove. I’m interviewing him for a musical and scholarly project I’m working on called Freedom Suite. Freedom Suite is a jazz and hip-hop mixtape from my band, The Beast and jazz […]
Read ‘Kicking It w/ ?uestlove (well, kinda)’
Guru Joins The Anscestors
Published on 20 Apr 2010 at 5:07 pm.
No Comments.
Filed under Hip-Hip, obituary.
Guru passed away Monday after a lengthy battle with Cancer. He was 43 years old. The influential emcee was half of the legendary band Gangstarr and founder of the visionary jazz/Hip-Hop fusion experiment, Jazzmatazz. The best way to cherish Guru is to celebrate his life’s work and passion. Below, you will find a gem from […]
Read ‘Guru Joins The Anscestors’
Racial Politics and Represenation in, THE BEAST
Published on 4 Oct 2009 at 1:24 pm.
12 Comments.
Filed under music, racial rhetoric, Hip-Hip.
Wei: So what’s up with The Beast?
Me: Yo the music is amazing I can’t wait ’till you to hear it!
Wei: Yeah, me too. So live instrumentation, huuh?
Me: Yes - piano, bass, drums and me on vocals.
Wei: Word, word.. so where they at?
Me: Right over there setting up (point to the front door).
Wei: The white boys?
Me: […]
