Category Archives: HIP-HOP

2020’s Abject Lack of Leadership on Every Level

Annual Juneteenth Parade and Festival in Philadelphia, PA

*This is a repost from our new non-profit Inspireonebillionpeople.org

Juneteenth

As we celebrate this historical Freedom Day, a lot of things just look and feel different. For obvious reasons, this Juneteenth is hitting me different. In an unapologetic way, I have chosen to convey my thoughts about today, this country, the social environment, and the depraved state of leadership in this nation in this blog post. This is part of my decision not to harbor deep ire about things that I do not have control over. Otherwise, those things would have control over me. Don’t react to the drama; but come up with a well-constructed response. I will, however, start at the top, with the most powerful seat in this country; and the most powerful in the world at one point (no sure about now). The dynasty and deep disaster of the current Presidency is need of a serious overhaul. Why am I mentioning this in my Juneteenth post? Because this moment must not be forgotten, and I am trying to plant seeds for November. The current administration has to go, and I cannot do it alone. We are in an abyss of leadership as a nation. And this president just tried to steal Juneteenth. FULL STOP! (USA Today)

The SIN

I declare my inalienable rights. I will use my voice, time, energy, and resources for something I can control. Having a screaming match on Facebook with the current administration supporters does nothing. These supporters are right-wing conservatives; complicity aligned with Ultra-Right wings views admittedly or not. It is what it is. The current Presidency is not a leader and certainly not the Presidency for all people. My views on the president as a person are exclusively based on the words that have come out of his mouth before and during his time in office, devoid of equality, empathy, and action. In November, I will “Vote my Values” as right-wing religious Republicans like to say. However, as a Christian, racism is not a minor issue with God. It’s at the heart of the Gospel. (James 2:8-9) “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ But if you treat people according to their outward appearance, you are guilty of sin, and the law condemns you as a lawbreaker.” Prejudice is a sin. I can’t be a pro-life supporter of Roe vs. Wade, but for the death penalty, DACA, and concentration camps for Muslims in China. It is impossible to want prayer in school, but also capture people at the borders, and put families into refugee camps, subjecting children to these deplorable conditions. The current administration approved of putting children in cages! No, as a republican, you are a sinner if you are a Christian shouting vote your values and checking a box for republicans this November; but that’s you. Or, you could simply follow your conscious and not support the ignorance, pomposity, and outright arrogance. I believe it is commensurate with the criminality of this current administration, to the point of ignorance, and cannot be overstated. No one in the higher ranks of leadership in this country knew about Juneteenth and the importance of the day to black people. This is because they only care about their history; not all the people. Their version of history is taught in schools every day. Black history is usually an elective or not taught at all.

Just a reminder. It is Juneteenth, and we are free!

COVID-19

During the pandemic COVID-19, African Americans have suffered disproportionately in the rate of infection and deaths. It has been laid bare for the world to see; all the mechanisms of dysfunction and deprivation for an entire race of people in the richest country in the world.
Thousands of black people have suffered and died due to systemic oppression in a free country, with the most severe constraint being freedom itself. The pre-existing condition for black people in the COVID-19 environment is…being black. We need structural change. Demand that our government make healthcare, housing, and education accessible and equitable for everyone. Racism and Coronavirus are not the only pandemics going on right now; mental health, joblessness, hopelessness, generational poverty, and more. In four months, we have dismantled the educational system for black children, which we do not know the damage yet to be repaired for years to come. What we need is someone to step up and tell our people how to deal with all the challenges going on. A new president will not fix most of what is going on now. The best we can do is elect someone that will recognize us as people and has decided to be our president.Then we as a community of people; we need organization and strategy going forward, delivering information that will help our own people cope with day-to-day and future challenges.

Spiritual Leadership

It is my hope that Spirituality will rise to the top of the conversations in order to explain what’s going on and why it is happening. I see Spiritual leaders who have shrunk under the weight of changes. They, too, in a way, have decisively not led ALL people when times got tough. For example, the topic of race and social injustice simply stumped religious leaders, and they bowed out of the fire sermons. Others relegated their speeches and storytelling to someone better with oration. Just an observation from my vantage point. That is not a judgment. Do what Jesus would do! You cannot purport to be a leader when times are good, but when the war starts and the bullets start flying, you become unhinged. Grace? Yes.

June 19, 2020, is a great day! This year is worthy of a book, and we have one in the works.

Black Lives Matter March and Protest in Philadelphia, PA

The Path Forward

Still, in conclusion, I just would like to say on this Juneteenth, the day that the current administration initially decided to hold a rally in Tulsa Oklahoma, the sight of black wall street and the burning down of a black city; As we find our way through racial discussion and discrimination; The great divide in this dominant non-dominant society designed at the hands of man; we are still trying to fight social injustice with social injustice.

Part of this movement appears to be content with burning down cities and screaming at police officers who can be easily triggered to fire upon crowds as easily as unarmed black men and women. I see all this and think, “where is our organized leadership?”; at all levels, starting with our homes. Not a separate voice but a consistent united front as a people. Where is our skilled negotiator? Let’s join together somehow, some way. We have to stem the damage and do no more harm to our people. Movements, elections, protections, freedom, spiritual guidance, and leadership are all of the things I pray for all people. Black people we are due NOW! Make your voice heard, be informed on how and what effects our future.

Freedom is our inalienable right; we have been emancipated, but we still do not have the freedom.

Juneteenth Independence Day concept, 3D rendering isolated on white background

New Music | HAN-AN FEATURING DALVIN WOODS “ARE YOU ALREADY READY?”

New Music from HAN-AN titled “Are You Already Ready?” Produced by Paul Trahan featuring Dalvin Woods. Lyrics written by Rick Cruz and Sean Howard. Vocals were recorded at Maximus studio’s in Charlotte, NC with Ira Parker (Sound Engineer). The song was mixed and mastered by Paul Trahan of New Orleans, La.

GRAFFITI | Street Art for Hope and Peace | eL Seed | TED Talks

Born in France to Tunisian parents, eL Seed delights in juggling multiple cultures, languages and identities. Not least in his artwork, which sets Arabic poetry in a style inspired by street art and graffiti. In this quietly passionate talk, the artist and TED Fellow describes his central ambition: to create art so beautiful it needs no translation.

VIDEO PROMOTION|TROY JOHNSON TOAST187 PRODUCTIONS ON YOUTUBE

TROY JOHNSON of TOAST187 Productions is a producer specializing in Music Videos, Short Films and Music. This YouTube channel hosts a list of Music Videos in which he was the chief writer, producer and director. The company itself has worked with allot of well-established artist not listed on the channel, and over the years he and his team has made some long standing contributions to the culture of hip-hop. Click the here to [Subscribe]

Throwback Thursday | Terror TrollZ “ADMIT IT”

The Golden Era of Hip-Hop was not as golden as everyone would have you believe. In the 90’s some people were missing the Motown Era’s softer sound in Hip-Hop music. The kind of music today’s rappers get criticized for. Almost everyone was supposedly hard core and if you grew up in the hood you knew that was mathematically impossible. So somebody was FRONTING, everybody couldn’t be a gangster. I say that to say this; allot of MC’s were just lying on records. That was totally unacceptable at that time because Hip-Hop’s slogan was “keep it real”. However, today history reports that they were just talking about what they saw in their neighborhoods, so that gets a pass. Real Hip-Hop MC’s on the other hand were living the lyrics in their songs. That was the main controversy in Hip-Hop at that time. I would say real MC’s are the reason for some of society’s social and political changes, because they told their stories from an honest place. There are millions of these records online because not all of them were able to capture their dream of success. This track is a tribute to Hip-Hop paving the way.

GRAFITTI | SPIT (WILD STYLE)

This piece is basically homage to the move “Wild Style”. The white train depicted in the movie was a train that had no graffiti on it, and the graffiti artists in the movie were looking for that train so they could be the first to paint their TAG (ART) on it. If you did not see the movie you won’t get it. The track and lyrics were meant to be reminiscent of the 80es BOOM BAP Hip-Hop. Music is art and this track is just that “ART”.

MC CYPHER – C I P H E R DIVINE

This footage is from a Radio Show that Biltmore Records Produced in 2012. The show was called Cipher Divine and it was basically Cyphers broadcasted live on air. The only rule was no cursing. Some of the shows Cyphers are on YouTube while others are still in the archives. The idea of a cipher is just a creative circle where participants are able to present their ideas to the group. Every real artist knows this is what a cypher looks like; every voice counts and anyone can participate.