“I love hip hop! I love family! I love life!”- Blitz
When: Monday, June 15, 2009 Where:Highline Ballroom (431 W. 16th Street, NYC) Time: 7PM Cover: $15
**All proceeds go to the Sybarite Artist Development Center. Music & videos by: HARD HITTIN HARRY. Attend in the name of ART… Click HERE to find out more information on Blitz.
By the way, if you’re in the Syracuse area this Saturday, join M. Island‘s Juneteenth performance in Clinton Square. Show starts at 1PM sharp. Have a ball! Peace…
“As I’ve said before, 7even is so compelling because he is uber-creative and original, while still piloting his spaceship close to the Jacktown streets.”- David D, The Smoking Session
Peace! Want to know more about this guy? OK, I met him at an Open Mic Night in college. We’ve spit together, we’ve had sessions together and stayed up all night talking about hip hop on the “yard”. Is he dope? Of course. In search of something good, I stumbled into 7even:Thirty and his latest video. Check out it out:
To find out more about 7even Thirty click HERE. Click on the cover art below to download his latest effort, Late Night Sessions.
“Here is the actual video from Bacardi B-LIVE 2009′s stop in Kansas City, where Jazzy Jeff was forced offstage by the venue for playing hip hop. We don’t want to jump to any conclusions here, but everyone in America has seen The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, right? Maybe not. Regardless, Z-Trip was bummed, Jeff was bummed, Skillz got totally thrown out of the club–it was enough melodrama for the Huffington Post!”- Linda Lee, TheFader.com
In these “last” days, hip hop is still receiving tons of backlash and criticism. This isn’t unheard of, but it is unfortunate and kind of ignorant. Please, continue to be a positive representation of the culture and the art form. In the meantime, support DJ Jazzy Jeff and his genius construction. B-LIVE hits Milwaukee tonight with Q-TIP. If you’re in the area, come out and enjoy the show.
“Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive — the risk to be alive and express what we really are.”- Don Miguel Ruiz
This kid was only five-years-old. I think its a great way to keep the positivity flowing in your circle. Enjoy!
“Your support will help make the Voices of New York Speak! Conference a reality for parents, educators, and youth advocates to attend and discuss the potential of positive multimedia and creative arts resources made available to our youth.” – VONY
When: May 19, 2009 Where: 85 Avenue A (btw 5th and 6th) Time: 6:30 PM Cost: $15
“That is the great American story: young people just like you, following their passions, determined to meet the times on their own terms. They weren’t doing it for the money. Their titles weren’t fancy – ex-slave, minister, student, citizen. But they changed the course of history – and so can you.” – President Obama at ASU
Outside of the Honorary Degree debate surrounding his attendance, President Obama’s Speech at Arizona State University was perfect. What an extraordinary visionary, example and speaker. Don’t you agree? In the words of a CDT Facebook friend… “Once again, perfect timing.”
“The goal of the New York Photo Festival is to document the future of photography in all its forms. Our group of internationally-respected curators will deliver their personal vision of the newest and most important trends in contemporary photography, each exhibited in their own pavilion and promising to draw the attention of the entire photographic community.”
“Since 1986, AIDS Walk New York has raised more than $105 million for HIV programs and services in the tri-state area, and has grown into the largest AIDS fundraising event in the world. In 2008 alone, 45,000 participants, many of whom were members of 2,450 corporate and community teams, raised a record sum of over $7 million for Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) and 50 other local AIDS service organizations.”
Location: Central Park (59th to 110th St. New York, NY) Time: 11 AM When: Sunday, 5/17 Cost: FREE Website: www.aidswalk.net
The Academy School of Hip-Hop Basics is celebrating its first year of teaching students the basics of hip-hop dance with a birthday party that will have attendees sweating and grooving whether it’s their first class or their fiftieth. Partygoers will enjoy a free hip-hop dance class, beat-box demonstrations from a special guest and more!
Location: Stepping Out Studios (37 West 26th Street, 9th Floor New York, NY) Time: 1 PM When: Sunday, 5/17 Cost: FREE (RSVP:theJDAOD@gmail.com) Website: www.robopsicle.com
“According to Ross, the sunglasses worn on the cover of the May 2009 issue of XXL Magazine were customized with solid gold accents by Jacob Bernstein, AKA ‘The Sunglasses Pimp.’ ‘It’s the same thing as buying a Rolls Royce and having it tricked out; just because the product has been customized by me doesn’t take away from the fact that the frames are authentic Louis Vuitton Millionaires,’ Bernstein told AllHipHop.com”” – Realhiphopsoul.com
Peace. Once again people… Hip Hop outlets and so-called “artists” find themselves in a situation that makes the culture look foolish. This isn’t the first time artists have been “checked” by large luxury brands, nor is it the first time people involved in the Hip Hop Industry have been called out on their promotional campaigns by brands that don’t care. I find it disturbing that people (of all colors and creeds) find their self-worth in designer names and tags. It hurts even more to see young black and brown people consuming and worshiping brands that don’t either (a) support them and their pursuits (b) look down upon their culture or (c) don’t acknowledge that millions of dollars of their profit are made in their support. It is very saddening. At this point, beyond this isolated issue (because LV supports acts like Kanye West and Pharrell, but they attempted to sue Britney Spears) I just think people should re-evaluate being free promotional tools. I believe musicians and average everyday people should stop being walking billboards for people who don’t even acknowledge their existence. At the same time, I’m not against buying luxury items, I’m just against being spokespersons for $0.00 and having massive influence on the lives of children who grow up dying to get a hold of some of these possessions. Continue reading “Lessons Learned: Rick Ross + Louis Vuitton = Shameful Promo” »
“Seven out of 10 Americans are one paycheck away from being homeless.” -Pras Michel
One of the cool things about Hip Hop is The Culture’s ability to teach and provide an alternative look into different realities. Last year I had an opportunity to interview the Grammy Award winning Pras and talk to him about his film project, “Skid Row” and his intentions with the film. With such an sincere and passionate approach to homelessness in America, the movie received awesome feedback. In these social economical times, I decided to shine light on an issue that a lot of us overlook- homelessness. In your spare time, be happy about your current situation and all of the things (most of us) take for granted on a daily. Be happy to have a home, shelter, food and people who care about you. Take a look at the trailer:
Watch the interview he did with Tavis Smiley over a year ago:
I have to be honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of the Black Eyed Peas but I’ve always thought their messages were positive and their music was progressive. The sound wasn’t really my taste- but the messages (are from my understanding) optimistic. Lately, Will.I.Am has been in the spotlight with his proactive messages, the historical hologram on CNN and his involvement in the Obama Campaign. I dig his efforts and I appreciate his position. Yesterday on Oprah, Will.I.Am surprised four boys with full scholarships to attend college. Over at CDT we believe in the notion, “Live to Change Something”- not (simply) as a cool phrase, but as an actual manifestation. We salute Will.I.Am and his cause. In case you missed Oprah, here’s a clip:
Events, Live To Change Something, Videos | AHLOT June 12, 2009 | 
Comments (0) 
Peace and love.
