Hip Hop Unites for Youth
April 2008 marked the 40th anniversary for the founding of Seattle`s Black Panther Chapter. The chapter was the first ever outside of California. The anniversary celebration included a mobile display of Panther artwork, press, and photography that hit several campuses over the last week of April. It ended with an all-day Saturday event at Yesler Terrace Community Center that included workshops, panels, and speakers. The event was a chance for people to come together, learn about and celebrate the work of the Seattle BBP chapter, meet the local founders, and buy some BPP merchandise. But while this significant heritage event was taking place, another critical gathering was going down only blocks away.
"Power to the people," Wyking tells the crowd of 40 or so people gathered at the Garfield Community Center; "Panthers are celebrating their 40th year reunion today. They say power to the people, but the people always have the power. We're just tricked into believing we don't. Right now, this is about reclaiming our power and getting to the power tables. That means those downtown associations, when they're at their Monday luncheons, we'll be making our rounds. Whether we're invited or not, we'll be at the table because it is our table, we finance that table."
Saturday, April 26th, 2008 marked the first convening of the new United for Youth Coalition, initiated by Wyking of Seattle Hip Hop Youth Council. With youth violence progressing at an alarming rate in Seattle, tax dollars pouring into enforcement instead of prevention, and summer just around the corner, United for Youth is about community self-determination and wake-up call for those who are supposed to be leading the charge. "This Unite for Youth Movement is just a beginning, we're gonna do for ourselves, but at the same time we are going to hold people accountable who are supposed to be doing for us, and taking the tax dollars. People are getting resources in the name of helping the youth, billions of dollars allocated to getting this problem solved, and it's just been getting worse ." Unite for Youth has already surveyed 200 young people in the Central District and South End, doing the grunt-work that policy-makers simply haven't taken the time to do, and the group plans to develop proposals as soon as the research is complete. Check out part one and part two of video Coolout's Georgio Brown produced as a part of the Youth Stakeholders Project. In the meantime, Unite for Youth members will facilitate practical, community-based political education in town halls such as these, just as the BPP did with Liberation Schools four decades ago.
In Seattle, the economic agenda behind gentrification (or urban-ethnic cleansing) is the same agenda driving the Gang Bill and similar criminalization-heavy policies that are supposed to stop youth violence. " Part of the problem is the division between people who've just moved into the community, and the people who have been in the community," says Wyking. Rich newcomers believe that public safety can be increased by increasing enforcement. The Gang-Bill, which allocates large amounts of money to police departments instead of com-munities for prevention, was easily passed in the state with the same belief system. " These policies are being written, signed, and passed with virtually no input from the communities that they will impact the most," he says.
During the Hip Hop Youth Council Panel, young people voiced their perspectives on the roots of youth violence, stressing lack of culturally relevant education and economic opportunity. Toward the end of the panel, emotions ran high when a mother in the crowd said, " I would just like to remind the youth to remember the people that have come before them who have worked so hard to create the opportunities that they have today. I still haven't heard anyone up there address the question of how to stop the black on black crime. You can`t wait on someone to give you solutions. Challenge yourself on a personal level." One young man, Will, responded by saying, " People keep looking at the youth as being the problem, people are pointing fingers on the youth, but the community needs to be a family and start parenting better. How can you be ashamed about me when I'm a product of my environment? When I'm a product of you?" Genieva Arunga, another panelist, asserted that the expressed sentiment pointed to the roots of the issue. " The ones committing violence are the ones with the time. If you love to learn, you`re going to spend your time doing that. Education addresses the problem. The schools have messed it up, saying the goal of education is to get money. Nah, you are going to school so u can get knowledge. Most of people shooting each other wasn't going to school, because they could get more practical knowledge elsewhere. If school is supposed to prepare us for life, then in school we should be learning life skills. But not everybody looks at us like human, so that's why they don't portray us or treat us as humans." Wyking reminded the group how necessary this type of honest intergenerational dialogue is, saying, "There might be heated disagreements, but we got to cool off and come back, 'cause at the end of the day, it's just us."
The next panel addressed economic em-powerment vs. imprisonment in the Black community. Although Black people only make up 4% of the total population in Washington, 25% of the prison population in this state is African American. The panel featured a diverse group of leaders including Sheley Secrest of the NAACP, Knowledge God Allah of the Associa-tion for Afrocentric Development, Charles Miaza from Justice Works!, Robert Jeffery from Black Dollar Task Force, Tramaine "Lil' T-Kid" Isabell, from the Letting Our Violence End Foundation, and Cochise Moore from Seattle Hip Hop Youth Council. The conversation gravitated around how to change the economic and social conditions that create criminal behavior in young people.
T-Kid, who runs a mentorship program, says that in order to prevent youth violence, you must provide knowledgeable role models, who know the whole picture, have street influence, and understand the historical context of neighborhood battles. " My uncle's a pimp, my dad's a dope fiend, my brother's a gangster, I've been shot, had to relearn to walk. This Central District/ South End battle, it's been that since I was a kid," he says, shaking his head, " You can go coach youngsters, but you really need original members. Get the head officials. Empower brothas getting out of the penn, lay down the law, branch off, and organize. We led you into what you're doing and we're trying to lead you out. Out of 28 little homies, ages 12-17, only 4 go to school. They all have probation officers, they all smoke weed and sell dope, but there's more to them than that, they just don't have no one to tell them there's another way.
The last speaker was 37th district (South Seattle) district representative Eric Pettigrew, who spoke about growing up in South Central Los Angeles, stressed the importance of process and persistence in the state capital, and promised his full-fledged support for those who were willing to do the work. When confronted about his initial backing of the Gang Bill by a young person in the audience, Pettigrew assured the crowd that he withdrew his support as soon as the prevention money to community groups was pulled from the legislation. He also added that many politicians in the state legislature were quick to support the bill because they needed it for reelection.
In closing words, Wyking urged all organizations to take on the responsibility of implementing at least one program focused on youth this summer, and asked individuals to sponsor at least one youth or community-lead youth organization. This application of Harriet Tubman Code to the War on Youth is akin to the One Prisoner, One Contact mandate of Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr. and the POCC. It's the work ethic of those leading the new movement in the era of what Chairman Fred calls, " second-generation cointelpro".
Showing posts with label wyking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wyking. Show all posts
Friday, April 4, 2008
Saturday, February 2, 2008
NW HIp Hop News February 2008
February 02, 2008
Local to Global Networking for the Northwest Hip Hop Community
February 2008
B Girl Media206 Zulu
Notable January Recaps
The breakdown of last month's events...
-Project Mayhem and Laced Up launched the first episode of Water, on January 23rd at Columbia City Theater in South Seattle, a Northwest Hip Hop collaborative production that defied all odds, keeping community-building its core momentum. It was grind-level Hip Hop at its best, with some of Seattle"s most underrated, top-notch crews. "All Independent local artists, $15 bucks at the door, in the South End and it worked," said Open Hands of SleepWalkers , an emcee duo who, along with Waves of the Mind make up Mind Movas. Combine Mind Movas with Alpha P, BYC, and B-Girl Media , and that's the backbone of Project Mayhem, a conglomerate crew who, along with MadK and others are central organizers of 206 Zulu. Confused? It doesn't matter. As a diverse collaboration of some of Seattle's most networked artists, crews, and supporters, Water was a multifaceted Hip Hop Powerhouse, built from the ground up.
"The vision was connecting everyone with everyone," said Andrew Rotherford of BYC, key organizer of the event, "and cultivating a powerful shift with that energy."The film photographer and editor linked up with Jeremy "Jerm" DuBois of Alpha P to produce Water after they caught the spark exploring a new film idea. Drawing from years of relationships, family ties, and the concrete network the collective boasts, the duo pulled together a line-up as fluid as movement and invited the town to break bread courtesy of Princess Franada Catering, build, and rock with some of Seattle Hip Hop's best kept jewels.
From the opening music spun by DJ Intro Cuts of Poster Midget, to the final tracks cut by DJ Audeos of NW Gear, the collective brought it hard. Illtop, GodSpeed, Good Medicine, LaRue, and Project Mahyem, blessed the mic with Amos Miller and Language Arts as special guests. BYC (Money Mike, BeNo, B-Boy CleanUp, and Apple 1) held down the floor along with Mikeski from FunkySneakers and Remi from FraggleRock.
Respect to the 206 Zulu Camp along with GCL1 of 21st Century Martial Arts and Block Teamsters Union for holding down the security and William Brody of Red, White, and Boot Productions for holding down the stage management, and shouts to Yirim Seck, King Khazm, Sista Hailstorm, Rogue Pinay, Lulu Carpenter, Jai Bird, Mario, Jen Johnsen, Macklemore, Merm, and everyone else who came through and brought their people together to kick off the launch of Water. Check the next episode of Water, on February 27th featuring I.Gang, Black Senate, and Parker Brothaz of Block Teamster's Union, and 4BC Musik's Silent Lambs Project, when we bring it to Neumos on Capitol Hill.
R.I.P Antwoyn Elijah King, age 19 * January 20th, 2008
-Shouts out to Wyking of Remix Marketing and Seattle Hip Hop Youth Council for winning the MLK King County Hip Hop Pioneer's Award on January 19th, an event that was a part of the county's MLK Celebration. Laura "Piece" Kelley-Jahn and Jen Johnson from Seattle Debate Foundation were also honored as finalists, and Hip Hop debaters from Seattle and Tacoma, along with teaching artist and debate coach Rajnii Eddins graced the stages at both events. What? You didn't know that Martin Luther King Jr. County had Hip Hop Awards? Don't feel bad because most award finalists themselves didn't know until few weeks before the ceremony itself. What do winners get? A plaque, some recognition, semi-good publicity opps if media picks it up, and hopefully a platform to address some important issues impacting Hip Hop's constituency in the region. Here's what Wyking had to say:
"I appreciate the work that we've been doing in our community with hip-hop being recognized and honored witht he MLK County Hip-Hop Award. I don't think there is anything more MLK than hip-hop so I think it's a supreme opportunity to challenge people's perception of what hip-hop is and also what Dr. King stood and gave his life for. A lot of people talk MLK but they are far from his walk. If this is going to be MLK County we need it to be that in principle and policies not just name. We need to get away from the Rufus King Plantation policies and politics that are displacing us from our communities and miseducating and sentencing our children to incarceration and death. Dr. King stood up and took sacrifices for what he thought was right. We are in a time where people need to stand up be willing to put something on the line to make our communities and world better."
Musica Entertainment's CEO Tony Benton said he started the Seattle awards five years ago to reach out to city government and dispel stereotypes about local hip-hop venues, according to an article in Tacoma's News Tribune.
"There was essentially a misunderstanding of what hip-hop was," said Benton , also the community affairs director for Clear Channel's Puget Sound radio stations, which include hip- hop-oriented KUBE-FM (93.3). "It's more than just gangsta rap music." Benton said he believes progress has been made in Seattle.
...the talk sounds good, but you've got to appreciate the irony of this exerpt given the role media conglomerates like Clear Channel have knowingly played in perpetuating stereotypes through 'ish like payola ...are these words of an insider, an ill-informed reformist, or just another person who's full of it? Folks can read more about the awards ceremony from Marian Liu at the Seattle Times .
-The same time the Hip Hop Awards were crackin' off, Pinay SA , CARA (Communities Against Rape and Abuse), Youth Speaks Seattle, 206 Zulu, KBCS, Bayan-USA, Hip Hop Congress, and B-Girl Media presented INDAYOG 2, the second annual all women's Hip Hop show to a PACKED house at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, featuring performances by Chief Sealth Filipino Youth Club, Melissa Noelle Green, Beyond Reality, Piece, Beloved1, Gigi, Southern Komfort, Kontagious, Onion, Julie C, DJ B-Girl Chillz, SKIM, and more!
" Indayog is a manifestation of the thoughts and emotions that build up inside me from years of being made to feel silent and invisible," said Rogue Pinay of Pinay SA, organizer of the event, " [last year's] show was a discovery of female voices in the hiphop community and the resulting barrage of energy that burst forth...[this year's event] is a more focused and intentional space to address the intersection of current issues that affect me on a daily basis- imperial agression, gentrification, violence against womyn and the commodification of our art (and hiphop in particular), which are all tools of state repression."
In preparing the program for the night's event, Pinay SA asked performers to answer the question: Why would you do a show on state repression? Here are some of exerpts of some answers:
"Hip Hop is a progressive social movement, with revolutionary origins, and subersive potential. Created as a reaction to the systematic deconstruction of the civil rights movement, hip hop functions as a safe space for urban youth seeking refuge from crime and drug culture."
-Laura "Piece" Kelley-Jahn
"State repression most drastically affects those who see what is wrong in the system and are planning or working to change it. Many artists fit in this catagory by definition. We are both educating and inspiring audiences while also working to effectively counteract repressive tactics."
-Angela "El Dia" Dy
"Division itself dilutes power and continues to draw borders between groups of people who are struggling. If everybody decided to work together and support each other as a whole, we could take back out power in the local and regional music markets."
-DJ B-Girl Chillz
"Just as energy cannot be destroyed, but only transferred from one form to another, oppressive societies and governments must be redeemed, starting with individuals. I believe Hip Hop offers a form of redemption..that's why I'm an emcee and b-girl, and that's why I'm part of Indayog II, the rhythm of movement."
-Beloved1
-Chukundi "DJ Kun Luv" Salisbury of Seaspot Media Group and Seaspot.com was keynote speaker in Cleveland High School's 2008 MLK Celebration, as a part of the ongoing partnership between Seaspot Media Group and the Family Empowerment Institute. See the press release here.
-Silas Blak of the legendary Silent Lambs Project dropped a video this month for the song "Breathe Easy (Mind Click)," featuring Yirim Seck . The song is from Blak's solo album "Silas Sentinnel." Click Here to Purchase!
Read more: http://www.myspace.com/juliec206/blog#ixzz11mYbshT9
Local to Global Networking for the Northwest Hip Hop Community
February 2008
B Girl Media206 Zulu
Notable January Recaps
The breakdown of last month's events...
-Project Mayhem and Laced Up launched the first episode of Water, on January 23rd at Columbia City Theater in South Seattle, a Northwest Hip Hop collaborative production that defied all odds, keeping community-building its core momentum. It was grind-level Hip Hop at its best, with some of Seattle"s most underrated, top-notch crews. "All Independent local artists, $15 bucks at the door, in the South End and it worked," said Open Hands of SleepWalkers , an emcee duo who, along with Waves of the Mind make up Mind Movas. Combine Mind Movas with Alpha P, BYC, and B-Girl Media , and that's the backbone of Project Mayhem, a conglomerate crew who, along with MadK and others are central organizers of 206 Zulu. Confused? It doesn't matter. As a diverse collaboration of some of Seattle's most networked artists, crews, and supporters, Water was a multifaceted Hip Hop Powerhouse, built from the ground up.
"The vision was connecting everyone with everyone," said Andrew Rotherford of BYC, key organizer of the event, "and cultivating a powerful shift with that energy."The film photographer and editor linked up with Jeremy "Jerm" DuBois of Alpha P to produce Water after they caught the spark exploring a new film idea. Drawing from years of relationships, family ties, and the concrete network the collective boasts, the duo pulled together a line-up as fluid as movement and invited the town to break bread courtesy of Princess Franada Catering, build, and rock with some of Seattle Hip Hop's best kept jewels.
From the opening music spun by DJ Intro Cuts of Poster Midget, to the final tracks cut by DJ Audeos of NW Gear, the collective brought it hard. Illtop, GodSpeed, Good Medicine, LaRue, and Project Mahyem, blessed the mic with Amos Miller and Language Arts as special guests. BYC (Money Mike, BeNo, B-Boy CleanUp, and Apple 1) held down the floor along with Mikeski from FunkySneakers and Remi from FraggleRock.
Respect to the 206 Zulu Camp along with GCL1 of 21st Century Martial Arts and Block Teamsters Union for holding down the security and William Brody of Red, White, and Boot Productions for holding down the stage management, and shouts to Yirim Seck, King Khazm, Sista Hailstorm, Rogue Pinay, Lulu Carpenter, Jai Bird, Mario, Jen Johnsen, Macklemore, Merm, and everyone else who came through and brought their people together to kick off the launch of Water. Check the next episode of Water, on February 27th featuring I.Gang, Black Senate, and Parker Brothaz of Block Teamster's Union, and 4BC Musik's Silent Lambs Project, when we bring it to Neumos on Capitol Hill.
R.I.P Antwoyn Elijah King, age 19 * January 20th, 2008
-Shouts out to Wyking of Remix Marketing and Seattle Hip Hop Youth Council for winning the MLK King County Hip Hop Pioneer's Award on January 19th, an event that was a part of the county's MLK Celebration. Laura "Piece" Kelley-Jahn and Jen Johnson from Seattle Debate Foundation were also honored as finalists, and Hip Hop debaters from Seattle and Tacoma, along with teaching artist and debate coach Rajnii Eddins graced the stages at both events. What? You didn't know that Martin Luther King Jr. County had Hip Hop Awards? Don't feel bad because most award finalists themselves didn't know until few weeks before the ceremony itself. What do winners get? A plaque, some recognition, semi-good publicity opps if media picks it up, and hopefully a platform to address some important issues impacting Hip Hop's constituency in the region. Here's what Wyking had to say:
"I appreciate the work that we've been doing in our community with hip-hop being recognized and honored witht he MLK County Hip-Hop Award. I don't think there is anything more MLK than hip-hop so I think it's a supreme opportunity to challenge people's perception of what hip-hop is and also what Dr. King stood and gave his life for. A lot of people talk MLK but they are far from his walk. If this is going to be MLK County we need it to be that in principle and policies not just name. We need to get away from the Rufus King Plantation policies and politics that are displacing us from our communities and miseducating and sentencing our children to incarceration and death. Dr. King stood up and took sacrifices for what he thought was right. We are in a time where people need to stand up be willing to put something on the line to make our communities and world better."
Musica Entertainment's CEO Tony Benton said he started the Seattle awards five years ago to reach out to city government and dispel stereotypes about local hip-hop venues, according to an article in Tacoma's News Tribune.
"There was essentially a misunderstanding of what hip-hop was," said Benton , also the community affairs director for Clear Channel's Puget Sound radio stations, which include hip- hop-oriented KUBE-FM (93.3). "It's more than just gangsta rap music." Benton said he believes progress has been made in Seattle.
...the talk sounds good, but you've got to appreciate the irony of this exerpt given the role media conglomerates like Clear Channel have knowingly played in perpetuating stereotypes through 'ish like payola ...are these words of an insider, an ill-informed reformist, or just another person who's full of it? Folks can read more about the awards ceremony from Marian Liu at the Seattle Times .
-The same time the Hip Hop Awards were crackin' off, Pinay SA , CARA (Communities Against Rape and Abuse), Youth Speaks Seattle, 206 Zulu, KBCS, Bayan-USA, Hip Hop Congress, and B-Girl Media presented INDAYOG 2, the second annual all women's Hip Hop show to a PACKED house at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, featuring performances by Chief Sealth Filipino Youth Club, Melissa Noelle Green, Beyond Reality, Piece, Beloved1, Gigi, Southern Komfort, Kontagious, Onion, Julie C, DJ B-Girl Chillz, SKIM, and more!
" Indayog is a manifestation of the thoughts and emotions that build up inside me from years of being made to feel silent and invisible," said Rogue Pinay of Pinay SA, organizer of the event, " [last year's] show was a discovery of female voices in the hiphop community and the resulting barrage of energy that burst forth...[this year's event] is a more focused and intentional space to address the intersection of current issues that affect me on a daily basis- imperial agression, gentrification, violence against womyn and the commodification of our art (and hiphop in particular), which are all tools of state repression."
In preparing the program for the night's event, Pinay SA asked performers to answer the question: Why would you do a show on state repression? Here are some of exerpts of some answers:
"Hip Hop is a progressive social movement, with revolutionary origins, and subersive potential. Created as a reaction to the systematic deconstruction of the civil rights movement, hip hop functions as a safe space for urban youth seeking refuge from crime and drug culture."
-Laura "Piece" Kelley-Jahn
"State repression most drastically affects those who see what is wrong in the system and are planning or working to change it. Many artists fit in this catagory by definition. We are both educating and inspiring audiences while also working to effectively counteract repressive tactics."
-Angela "El Dia" Dy
"Division itself dilutes power and continues to draw borders between groups of people who are struggling. If everybody decided to work together and support each other as a whole, we could take back out power in the local and regional music markets."
-DJ B-Girl Chillz
"Just as energy cannot be destroyed, but only transferred from one form to another, oppressive societies and governments must be redeemed, starting with individuals. I believe Hip Hop offers a form of redemption..that's why I'm an emcee and b-girl, and that's why I'm part of Indayog II, the rhythm of movement."
-Beloved1
-Chukundi "DJ Kun Luv" Salisbury of Seaspot Media Group and Seaspot.com was keynote speaker in Cleveland High School's 2008 MLK Celebration, as a part of the ongoing partnership between Seaspot Media Group and the Family Empowerment Institute. See the press release here.
-Silas Blak of the legendary Silent Lambs Project dropped a video this month for the song "Breathe Easy (Mind Click)," featuring Yirim Seck . The song is from Blak's solo album "Silas Sentinnel." Click Here to Purchase!
Read more: http://www.myspace.com/juliec206/blog#ixzz11mYbshT9
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