hip hop 4 LIFE...

what's good all! so this week I wanna give some shine to an organization that is promoting Hip Hop and healthy living, self esteem and self respect. I love it! can I tell you how much how I love it? I love it PERIOD.

Founded in 2003 by Tamekia Flowers-Holland, Hip Hop 4 Life is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that seeks to serve young people ages 12-18 with a special emphasis on those residing in at-risk environments by offering young people life skills training, while infusing the education of important health-related issues.

their mission is to build confidence and sound judgment in young people so they can not only achieve their utmost potential but also become proactive members and leaders within their communities. With year-round mentoring, social and educational activities and interactive life skills training/health-risk prevention workshops they are truly laying foundations for the future.

R&B Artist Chrisette Michelle performs at Hip Hop 4 Life & BET Rap-It-Up Youth Empowerment Event

Soulja Boy, Sammie & Mike Jones represent at Man UP! program, sponsored by BET Rap-It-Up and Hot 97

by incorporating the presence and support of celebrities, as well as health, corporate and entertainment professionals these young people are exposed to options. options for themselves, their future, and their communities that prove to be alternatives to what they are presented with everyday via mass media, their neighborhoods and other influences that may not be the most positive.

and Tamekia does not do it alone! there are so many incredible people involved in making Hip Hop 4 Life's mission and dream a reality:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman
Nicole Tucker, Darkreign
Vice-Chair
Natasha Aarons, Promotions Executive
Secretary
Melissa Pressley, Deutsche Bank
Treasurer
Edwin Warren, Bank of America
Members at Large
Dr. Nafeesah Antwine, Associate Psychotherapist
Tamika Blockett, Nickelodeon

chatting with Tamekia Flowers-Holland, she explained a bit more to me about the organization..

me: what was the catalyst for Hip Hop 4 Life?

Tamekia Flowers-Holland: Prior to starting Hip Hop 4 Life, I volunteered with several community-based organizations and saw that young people were really struggling with low self-esteem, obstacles within their communities, peer-pressure, and inadequate information about health issues. Many young people go through their teen years and enter adulthood without learning the basic life skills or developing the confidence that can propel them to success. As a result, young people are dropping out of high school at alarming rates. They are falling victim to homicide, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, suicide, crime, dating violence and negative perceptions about themselves and others. It is for this reason that Hip Hop 4 Life is deeply committed to providing programming which consistently exposes young people to opportunities that take them beyond their neighborhoods and foster education, self-confidence, growth and a profound desire to achieve. Thus Hip Hop 4 Life was born!

me: what are some of the programs that Hip Hop 4 Life offers to the youth?

Tamekia Flowers-Holland: Hip Hop 4 Life offers our Empowerment Team members (young people who sign up directly to Hip Hop 4 Life) year-round mentoring, social and educational activities and interactive life skills and health-risk prevention workshops that integrate health professionals, entertainment executives, sports executives and notable celebrity involvement. We serve young people ages 12-18, with a special emphasis on those residing in at-risk environments. Some of our topics addressed are self-esteem, dining etiquette, sexual health, grooming, hygiene, defining your image and style, peer-pressure, college/career planning, financial health and how to conduct yourself on the internet and social networking sites, to name a few. We provide the platform for expression, discussion and enlightenment on the issues they are experiencing in a non-judgmental setting. Our programs are also offered to schools and community-based organizations as one-day sessions.

me: if you could let the world know one thing about Hip Hop 4 Life, what would it be?

Tamekia Flowers-Holland: Hip Hop 4 Life’s core team consists of successful professionals within the Hip Hop entertainment and youth culture markets. Therefore, we possess a highly knowledgeable understanding of formats and experiences to which young people will be receptive. This knowledge, along with significant input from our teen Youth Advisors, allows for us to create programs and events that are engaging and educational. I am really proud about the fact that Hip Hop 4 Life’s ability to immediately engage youth is one of our unique attributes.

me: where can people send donations or correspondence?

Tamekia Flowers-Holland: Please visit our “Make A Difference” or “Contact Us” pages on our website HipHop4Lifeonline.com

there you have it folks! for those who say the Hip Hop Community doesn't care and all we do is talk about guns, drugs and cars..you direct them to Hip Hop 4 Life! these peoples are dedicating their time and efforts to make the world a better place, so let's show them that we care too! stop by the website, volunteer your time, tell a friend or just ask yourself, what can I do? what can I contribute to Hip Hop, to the world, to life?

this week's feature made me feel good, inside. these sistas are FRESH because they are doing something FRESH and in the process creating FRESH perspectives for tomorrow!

so til next week, y'all! more details coming soon for the next "She's So Fresh" Showcase on NOVEMBER 5th! we're still accepting sponsorships, so if you're interested in being a sponsor, hit a sista on twitter and I will send you the info! so save the date because if you wanna see FRESH Women MC's then you'll wanna be there!

peaceandblessings

rox

true to form..

wazzzzzup everybody! Bless Roxwell back at it and this week we are going north to Toronto and we have...

TRUE DALEY

born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, True Daley is one of Montreal's first Woman MC's, hosting ‘The Masters at Work’ on McGill University Radio in the early 90's. discovering she had a knack and passion for mixing Hip Hop and Broadcasting, True relocated to Toronto and went on to earn her degree in in Broadcast Journalism.

she also was making a name for herself in Toronto's Hip Hop collectives and her Factor-awarded demo, "'…In the beginning" became the launching pad for her first single ‘Comin’ In’. the release of the video saw her winning a Much Music Videofact Award, as well as being screened at the Reelworld Film Festival in the short film category and winning the BFVN’s ‘Reel Black’ Award.

all this while being the first voice heard on the airwaves of Canada’s first urban music station while working for Flow 93.5 as the morning news anchor.

As a freelance writer she's interviewed (one of this authors faves) Grammy Award-winning artists Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott, India Arie and Canadian icons k-os and Little X, as well as Nobel Peace Prize Winner Bishop Desmond Tutu.

as an MC she's rocked NXNE, Toronto Urban Music Festival, Honey Jam, When Sisters Speak, The Urban Music Awards, and been on MuchMusic’s ‘Much Vibe’, CBC’s ‘Zed’, and HBO’s ‘Soul Food’ among others. She has also been profiled in print media such as Maclean’s, The Toronto Star, Now Magazine, and Peace! Magazine.

she has defined her sound as afrocaribbean.folkdafied.soul, also the name she’s chosen for her debut full-length album which will be released on Jahmecca Recordings, the independent label she co-owns with her brother MicMitch. True cites the likes of The Skatalites, Gregory Isaacs, Sinead O'Connor, Prince, Rakim, KRS-ONE, Tracy Chapman, Beyonce,and Coldplay as some of the influences on the evolution of her sound

In 2009, True is excited to release her new album, starting with the single ‘I Used To Love H.I.M.’ (Hip-Hop’s Inspirational Messages), which is a response track to Common’s classic ‘I Used To Love H.E.R’.

of course, I had questions:

me: what's different, if anything, between being a Woman MC in Toronto and in the US that you can tell?

True: To my knowledge, the struggles are the same. The overt sexism, or under-estimation of our skills seems like a global phenomenon. However, what I do find is that the Canadian women in this biz always take their careers to the next level and have made significant strides in this industry. For example, the Queen of Canadian hip-hop is the youngest and first hip hop artist in Canada to be signed to an American label, when KRS-ONE signed her First Priority/Atlantic in 1988. She is also an actor and spokesperson. In addition, another female rapper Motion, is the first Canadian hip hop artist to publish a book. She has two titles under her belt 'Poetry In Motion' & '40 Dayz'. She is also a teacher and community activist. So, in these ways..Canadian female artists have a lot to aspire to, in regards to becoming professional artists with cross-promotional avenues for their music.

me: what is your honest perception of Hip Hop in the US?

True: Honestly, I think that those who are doing something experimental or unique should just head out to Europe or Asia because generally speaking American marketing and media discourages being unique -- so audiences aren't likely to try something new, the way other communities might. Maybe, I'm generalizing to certain areas of the states ...cause I find that stuff coming out of the Bay area is always on some different ish...and even if I don't like all the content with some music from the South...there's always a heavy bassline and as someone of Jamaican descent, I can't help but move to the music. Americans are hustlers...they don't take anything for granted...so everyone is always on their grind and that's the most admirable quality about hip hop artists and the indie industry. Having recently returned from New York after years of not visiting, the grime and the grit was still there and it refreshed my passion to make my dreams happen!

me: as a woman of color NOT from the states, what is the impact you see on the Toronto Hip Hop scene as a result of the Hip Hop product being exported by US?

True: What's ironic is that many hip hop icons and public figures that New Yorkers and others admire are from the Tdot. Video Director - Little X, Video Vixen/TV Host - Melissa Ford, Rappers -Drake & Kardinall Offishall, the dancers in Sean Paul videos are mostly from Toronto-based Blaze Ent. and the list goes on...Canadian culture overall is a hybrid of American and European culture. Like the British, Toronto is more cautious and conservative than they'd like to admit. I'm originally from Montreal, a french-speaking city and we're very laid back, experimental, and courageous when it comes to art. We're also very outspoken and loud at times. I find Torontonians are heavily influenced by New York when it comes to wanting the swag, shine and rep that New York has. Many pride themselves on being the 'New York' of Canada. The T-dot is also called the 'Screw-face Capital', meaning they rarely show love to artists and make it difficult to be won over. However, I don't find that to be an attribute. Especially, when audiences are afraid to freely express their appreciation for an artist until he/she is relatively popular. We as Canadians have free healthcare and government grants available for college and university education so our lifestyle is not filled with the kind of struggle that many Americans face. Which is why I feel that Torontonians don't generally travel to the states on a regular basis to push their product or line up gigs. If there's one thing about New York I think Tdot rappers should mimic...it's the hustle.

me: you lived in Taiwan for a bit, did you feel more embraced or less as a Woman Hip Hop Artist?

True: In Taiwan, I had the most memorable experiences as an emcee. Overall, there is overt racism in the education/corporate field. I was told numerous times 'We don't hire black people'. There's an obsession with having white skin and NEVER getting a tan or you're viewed as 'lower class'. Also, although many women were highly educated in positions of power, they had to down-play their roles at home because the traditional mindset is that the husband should be higher educated and more prominent than the wife. So sexism and racism was widely accepted as the norm. However...with all that being said--I have NEVER gigged at so many high-profile events in my life. I felt like Josephine Baker going to Europe when her own audiences didn't accept her. She got mad love in a foreign country despite experiencing hardships based on her colour. There is an obsession with African-American culture and entertainment and they assume that all black people can sing, dance, rap, act, etc. So I took that stereotype and rode with it :) and luckily for me my talent was never in question. Being a broadcast journalist, actor and singer...I was able contracted by Moet Chandon & Marc Jacobs at their corporate parties, and also performed for the President of Taiwan as part of their 'Africa Day' Celebration, and last but not least...I formed an all-female crew with 2 DJ's called 'Jahmecca Soundcrew' and we opened for Missy Elliott. I mean, I could go on and on and on about how blessed I was to get all these opportunities. I am also the first black woman in the country to host her own TV show and I was also a morning news anchor on their only English radio station. The only struggle was ensuring I got paid fairly and on time. I remember one promoter told me that I was charging way too much and that he could get a Russian singer to sing for half the price. I told him to call her up, but I bet she couldn't put on a show like me. Needless to say, I got the gig.

there you have it folks, her name is True for a reason. shouts out to True Daley, in Toronto and worldwide, holding it down for the Woman MC and Women in Hip Hop! Check her out: True Daley

til next week, y'all stay tuned for details for the upcoming "She's So Fresh" Showcase on 11/5!

peaceandblessings rox

planting seedz..

peace all!

it's me, Bless Roxwell! back to give you a head's up on another woman in Hip Hop that's actively working to preserve the culture for the next generation through her chosen medium of film.

Stacey Muhammad.

photo by tee smif

having worked with KRSONE, Wise Intelligent and more she has dedicated herself to the work of documenting and preserving Hip Hop culture. this New Orleans, LA native spent some years in Washington DC and Maryland before relocating to Brooklyn in October, 2006. her journey would lead up to her acclaimed film, "I AM SEAN BELL, black boys speak", which made it’s film festival premier at the New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival.

I AM SEAN BELL, black boys speak from Stacey Muhammad on Vimeo.

in 2005 her first film, “A Glimpse of Heaven, The Legacy of the Million Man March”, screened at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore, MD to rave reviews.

A Glimpse of Heaven, the Legacy of the Million Man March Clip from Stacey Muhammad on Vimeo.

Stacey Muhammad has worked with multiple media outlets and hip hop artists, lectured and participated in numerous panel discussions about filmmaking and hip-hop culture. She founded Wildseed Films and has now joined forces in a partnership to form IntelligentSeedz, with Wise Intelligent's Intelligent Kidz, Inc., a Trenton, NJ based youth media organization. established to provide at risk youth with the necessary skill set to tell their unique stories through film, their first short documentary, Dying to Learn, is set for release in October. this sista is truly planting seeds for the future and and building tomorrow's activists.

Stacey is currently in production for two short for documentaries: "I AM SEAN BELL II, black MEN speak" (slated for release in November 2009) and “Out of Our Right Minds, The Rise of Mental Illness amongst Women of Color”…slated to be released January 2010 but I caught up with her with some questions...

me: what inspired you to explore the medium of film?

Stacey Muhammad: I’ve loved film for as long as I can remember. Initially screenwriting was my interest, however I wanted to see my ideas come to life beyond the writing. This led to a desire to acquire the skills needed to actually produce my own projects. So, I embarked upon the journey of studying and learning as much about the filmmaking process as I possibly could by attending film school, workshops, and anything else I could find. I’ve always been drawn to documentary filmmaking, particularly as an activist. It’s a powerful way to communicate with an audience.

me: how do you decide on a topic?

Stacey Muhammad: First and foremost, I consider myself an activist, so I’m drawn to human issues and subjects that enlighten and uplift humanity while challenging us to examine our ideals and issues on this planet. When I chose to do the Sean Bell film, I was extremely disturbed by the verdict and wanted to hear from the children, particularly young black boys, about their thoughts, fears and concerns regarding violence against black men. Most of the topics that interest me, are those subjects that give a voice those often unheard populations of people, who indeed have stories to tell and victories to celebrate.

me: what issues, if any, have you encountered that you felt were due to the fact you are a woman?

Stacey Muhammad: Truthfully, none! Thus far, I’ve been blessed. That’s part of the beauty of independent filmmaking. I don’t feel as if I’m trying to attain a position or to compete with anyone, male or female for anything. I get to create the work I believe is important. If anything, I feel that my work has been celebrated and appreciated more because I’m a woman in a male dominated field.

me: if you could give young filmmakers, male and female, a piece of advice what would it be?

Stacey Muhammad: One thing that I’ve learned is that life is what it is, meaning that everything we do and experience is connected. Often, we try to compartmentalize our lives and deal with different aspects of our experience (be it our personal lives, our career, etc.) Filmmaking, for me, is a spiritual process and journey. I’ve been prepared through life experiences, for each and every topic I choose to explore. So, my advice to any aspiring filmmaker would be to live your life with integrity, take care of yourself, learn as much about your craft as possible, commit to creating the life you desire and expect the universe to grant you everything you ask for.

Stacey Muhammad is an award winning independent filmmaker and activist committed to using the power of media to educate, enlighten and empower and that's why "She's So Fresh"!

so til next week folks! exciting things on deck! planing the next "She's So Fresh" Showcase on 11/5 and so much more, so stay tuned!

peaceandblessings

rox

Hip Hop Sisters Meet and Greet

what's good folks!

so I just got back from the Hip Hop Sisters Meet and Greet and..wow. the power, the energy, the sisterhood. I have to shout out MC Lyte for everything she's done to bring us together as women. I have to shout out AtLas and Mecca for being the right and left hands and all their hard work and love of Hip Hop.

there were so many dope women in the house that I don't know where to start. from Toni Blackman, DJ That Fucking Sara (Berlin), and Starrene Rhett of GangStarrGirl.com, to Kween Kash, True Daley (Toronto), Eagle Nebula, Tasty Keish and yours truly. and that's not counting all the other sistas too numerous to name. it was awesome, inspiring and for the love o' heaven, necessary!

there's always myths that sistas can't get along, but I don't think that's true. I think that when you love yourself, then you are able to love those around you. when you value yourself, you are able to value those around you. what I felt today from these sistas was so much love and support and a shared value of Hip Hop and what it meant to all of us coming up and what it still means to all of us.

so I had to write a lil sumthin sumthin about days like today remind of why I do what I do and why it's important. so THANK YOU to all my Hip Hop Sisters, the ones I knew already and the new ones I met.. we are legion, we are building and y'all besta pay attention!

peaceandblessings

rox

it's Hip Hop DARLING, and it's FRESH..

hey hey good people!!

so in case you don't know them already, which you may, and you should, I would like to introduce you to two young women that are doing their own thing, shining their own shine and rockin bodies and minds..

NOLA DARLING

citing the influences of everything from OutKast and The Fugees, Stevie Wonder and Donnie Hathaway, to Ella Fitzgerald and Jimi Hendrix, they've rocked stages from The Knitting Factory NYC to The Roxy and The Viper Room to UCLA's Jazz and Reggae Festival. they've been featured on XXL.com, Hip Hop DX’s “DX NEXT”, VIMBY’s “Candied Cartel” and Digiwaxx to name a few.

their journey began in high school at the NYU’s High School Acting Program at Tisch School of the Arts and both ended up attending and graduating from NYU after which they took a trip across the globe "to investigate Hip Hop and its impact on young people outside of the US". the two-woman team interviewed countless Hip Hop heads, producers, DJs, dancers, and artists from Johannesburg to Rome and produced the documentary film "WORD?! I Didn't Know ( ___________ ) Could Get Down Like That!” that was honored as the Official Selection of the 16th Annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival.

"That Nola D" by Nola Darling *Boom Boom Pow Remix" from Nola Darling on Vimeo.

with that much love for the art and so much talent between them, its inevitable and understandable that NOLA DARLING leave a lasting impression with their style and creativity. their FRESH. these sistas are pushing the envelope as MC's and singers and they are truly multi-threat.

after helping found A-OK Collective, which includes rapper Fresh Daily and Producer/DJ Melo X, they released "Nola Darling's Pretty-Gritty Mini-Mixtape" and are prepping for their next release, an EP due out in 2009. they'll also be rockin at SOB's on September 9th '09, opening up for Nina Sky...

and they answered my few questions..

me: how long have the two of you been working together as Nola Darling?

NOLA DARLING: We've been working on Nola Darling as an official group for about 2 years.

me: what is the creative process like for each of you, anything specific you do or need before you sit down to create?

NOLA DARLING: We don't have a set process. Each song is a baby born in its own unique way. Sometimes something in a conversation or experience will spark a concept or line, or melody....and we can build a song from there....but if we start working from a beat, we'll usually listen to the beat in the background for a few days before even writing, let the vibe sink into the subconscious, then come back to it on the day we're ready to dive in and just put the sucker on repeat! A relaxing and comfortable environment is always ideal...just not too comfortable.

me: do you write separately, then come together or do you write together?

NOLA DARLING: It really depends on the song...we usually write our own verses separately, but agree on a melody and/ or common theme. For hooks, it varies: sometimes one of us is particularly inspired or lightning strikes both of at the same time with scarily similar ideas. That's crazy, but we've come to expect it now. We always have at least portion of a song that is written in the same space and time.

me: how did you choose the name Nola Darling?

NOLA DARLING: On one of the first songs we ever recorded together, we used dialogue from the Spike Lee film "She's Gotta Have It", and decided to call the song "Who Is Nola Darling?" Ultimately, we decided to keep the name for ourselves because we could relate to certain aspects of the character: her freedom, outspoken nature, and joie de vivre. At the same time, we also felt the name was perfect because we wanted to bring character of Nola Darling into 2009, and make her the subject of her own story, instead of the object. Her story is told mostly through the eyes of her three lovers instead of Nola herself. We like to say that we represent the next chapter, told from the female perspective.

werd. so there you have it folks! check out NOLA DARLING at SOB's in NYC on 9/9/09! and find them on myspace, or their blog and support Hip Hop and the Woman MC!

and I just want to take a second to thank all those who check in every week and ARE supporting women Hip Hop, you are appreciated and all I can ask is that you keep supporting sistas in your area!

peaces

rox