“The Rise Of The Turtle”, the newest instrumental hip hop album from Sacramento Knoxx, is a shining example of the type of independent hip hop being released from Detroit artists today. Uplifting and full of creative twists, the Southwest Detroit representative showcases a number of hard hitting beats that have helped him become a rising music talent.

“The Rise Of The Turtle” is the third instrumental album released this year from Sacramento Knoxx, including “Heart Beats” and “TheSelenaTape”, a tribute to legendary singer from Mexico who continues to influence popular musict today.

Born Christopher Yepez, he began making music as a youth learning jazz and blues, but then discovered hip hop as a creative artform that spoke to his generation. Influenced by the story telling lyrics of hip hop in the 1990s, Sacramento Knoxx, now age 27, could relate the hardships being told by rap artists around the country to the problems of Southwest Detroit.

His love for creating hip hop beats began by making “pause tapes”, which he made by looping instrumentals together using his mother’s two cassette boombox, patiently rewinding one tape back to the beginning of the loop while pressing pause and record with the second tape. This gave him the sound of a full band without the expense of gathering instruments, players and recording equipment.

From this self-starting beginning, he slowly began to get access to computer recording equipment, learning the sequencing programs on his own and developing his own techniques and style along the way.

“Nobody showed me the ropes, it was just me and my homie, we figured it out and we pushed forward,” says Sacramento Knoxx. “It’s just been a slow climb, just evolving with that sequencer and then putting more technology to it.”

Since these humble beginnings, he has become a respected contributor the local hip hop scene, building relationships with other local artists and collaborating on different projects. He produced every track from the debut solo album released this year from Mic Audio of Stereo Boyz, and also directed two videos from the release. He has produced videos for his own projects, adding a personal dimension to help listeners connect with his music.

Sacramento Knoxx also helped establish “The Raiz Up”, a weekly Sunday afternoon gathering in Southwest Detroit for the hip hop community and local youth to come out and participate in creating art and building relationships with others in the city. A DJ is always on hand to feature new local music, and the team brings out beat making equipment to teach the basics of making hip hop instrumentals.

“Basically, I was like I got this vision, let’s just do it,” says Sacramento Knoxx. “I hit my collective up and said let’s just go out there and do what we do, do what we love, drop the knowledge and teach others if they want to learn, it’s open. I got the mechanics together and said ok we need a generator, speakers and everything else.”

“The Raiz Up” is a free event held at different locations in Southwest Detroit, and there is always a forum to start conversations about social issues that are of concern to the people attending, whether that is education, local economics or crime in the city. The gathering carries forth the tradition of hip hop culture being an effective tool for education and awareness. “The Raiz Up” will take place at on October 28 at All Saints Park on Longworth and Mullane, from 1pm to 5pm.

“Whether its 5 people out here or 50, this is in existence as a platform to come learn something. Even if you don’t want to learn, come hang out, chill.”

The title “The Rise Of The Turtle” represents Sacramento Knoxx’s indigenous roots and his ties to the native culture. He is of the Ojibwe people, and the reference to the turtle refers to it being a symbol for the earth.

He cites a famous quote from Louis Riel, a 19th Century political figure of native Canada who fought for the rights of indigenous peoples, who stated “my people will sleep for one hundred years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back.”

Sacramento Knoxx sees now as a time for the people to regain their spirit and come together for a stronger future together. For him, hip hop music and culture is one way of making those important connections.

“It was powerful to me,” says Sacramento Knoxx. “People are in this music sometimes for a lot of things, my thing is to share what I can bring.”

Download “The Rise Of The Turtle” from Sacramento Knoxx  http://www.SacramentoKnoxx.bandcamp.com.

Detroit — The legacy of the late J Dilla has added another chapter with the release of the new music video “Center Of The Movement”, featuring hip hop icons 5 ELA and rising star Pierre Anthony. The song is the newest single from Rebirth Of Detroit, the latest album from J Dilla released on Ruff Draft Records.

The music video, directed by Steve Furay of Common Breath Media, shows the city of Detroit unified as the center of a new music and cultural movement, a position familiar to the Motor City as recognized by the world. J Dilla continues to experience a growing reputation worldwide as one of the greatest music producers of his time, a prodigious artist who accumulated a lifetime of classic material before his tragic passing in 2006.

5 ELA are one of Detroit’s most exciting groups in the city’s current hip hop landscape, with their highly anticipated new album “Global Warming 2022″ scheduled for release in 2013. Their latest music video, “Salute”, is a 15 minute experimental short film also directed by Steve Furay.

Mudd of 5 ELA says the Center of the Movement video “is a powerful expression of what a love movement is meant to be. With historical artifacts displayed from Detroit’s and the world’s music history it gives a new meaning to the Renaissance City Detroit is known for.”

Director Steve Furay has created several music videos for 5 ELA through his company Common Breath Media, as well as the online video series 5 ELAvision. He is also a contributing writer for The Michigan Citizen, writing stories about the city’s hip hop community and it’s role in helping Detroit develop a revitalized art and media economy.

The video was created as a cooperative economic project, directly aimed at promoting all of the performing artists and the companies represented in the production, including Ruff Draft Records, 5e Gallery, Black History 101 Mobile Museum, Nandi’s Knowledge Cafe, Spectacles, and Common Breath Media.

A special introduction was also filmed for the music video, featuring words from Detroit’s internationally celebrated poet jessica Care moore, Paradise Gray of X-Clan, Omari King Wise, Duminie DePorres and Khalid El-Hakim, with an original score from Black Bethoven.

The video also serves as promotion for the new book “The Center of the Movement: Collecting Hip Hop Memorabilia” from Khalid El-Hakim, owner of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum. The book will feature interviews and essays by some of hip hop’s pioneers, including Professor Griff, KRS One and Paradise Gray of X-Clan, as well as rare memorabilia from the archives of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum. “The Center Of The Movement” will be published by Moore Black Press, owned by jessica Care moore.

The video shows pieces of 5 ELA’s history through memorabilia held by the Black History 101 Mobile Museum, including images of founding member Proof of D12, a flyer for a classic 5 ELA show with Eminem as a guest opener, and a copy of the classic “Yesteryears” EP, produced entirely by J Dilla.

“The material objects of hip hop are created, used and often discarded with never being placed into a significant historical context,” says Khalid el-Hakim. “After 40 years of a movement that many people did not think would last, there is evidence in vast materials such as flyers, clothing, photos, promotional material, albums, cassettes, fine art and etc. that people are now finding value in.”

DJ LaJedi, official Starfleet DJ, sound provider for Michigan legend One Be Lo, and founding member of The Foundation of 5E Gallery, states that the Center Of The Movement video is an important step to bringing Detroit hip hop music back to the city’s Motown soul roots, and helping it be a transformation tool for the next generation.

“For 40 plus years, Detroit Hip Hop Culture has been nurtured in the womb of a Musical Mecca-Detroit, Michigan” says DJ LaJedi, a Detroit hip hop DJ. “The innovative tradition of Detroiters in music, entreprenurial, spiritual, educational and lifestyle arts has been the spark that keeps our fires lit throughout our celebratory and extremely challenging cultural story.”

Republished courtesy of The Michigan Citizen. Targeting the state’s African American and progressive minded community, The Michigan Citizen covers economic and social development throughout Michigan’s urban communities.

James “J Dilla” Yancey, the Detroit born and raised son of Mrs. Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, is known as the greatest hip hop song producer of all time, having created a timeless soul sound and influencing a generation of music superstars before his early death in 2006. Now, as an annual celebration is set to return with a concert in his honor, Mrs. Yancey sat down to discuss this  year’s  Dilla Day tribute and her role in Detroit’s music industry future.

On Feb. 9, Dilla Day will light up the Fillmore Theater marquee once again, and for somebody who’s really earned it, says Mrs. Yancey.

“And even though he’s not here to see it, all of the good things that are coming for his legacy, it’s just a positive vibe as we continue to grow,” she said. “So he’ll reach his pinnacle by us moving forward.”

The second annual show will include Detroit superstar emcee Royce Da 5’9”, international star Talib Kweli, J Dilla’s younger brother Illa J, close friends Frank N Dank and rising Motor City rap group Clear Soul Forces. Part of the proceeds from tickets sold will be earned by Mrs. Yancey for the management of her son’s affairs, which left her years of financial suffering after his death.

“We all have a mission and the mission has to be fulfilled,” Mrs. Yancey said. “We have no choice.”

Mrs. Yancey is open about her life after her son’s death.

Only 32 years old when he passed, Dilla’s legacy left her as a business caretaker without proper rest to grieve for the loss of her son.

“He knew where he was going and that’s why he left us in charge,” said Mrs. Yancey. “I didn’t think I’d ever be able to get there and delve into it, because my mourning was an unusual thing, it wasn’t normal to me. I was in denial. So I really didn’t know where to start.”

She added that the usual comfort those in mourning would find is not always available.

“You know how you latch onto the ones around you? But every time something happens tragic in your life the ones around you are not always the ones to nurture to make you feel whole.”

Last year in February, the Fillmore marquee first shined “Dilla Day Detroit” onto Woodward Avenue, as snow piled in the streets from an evening downpour. With limousines lining the street, Detroit hip hop’s royalty came out to celebrate J Dilla and support the performing artists. The evening gave hope to many for a brighter future.

Detroit’s music industry is positioned to make a great comeback through people and organizations building media classes and businesses, and Mrs. Yancey’s Ruff Draft Records is one of those here to help the industry grow.

“We’re moving forward, we’ve got lots going on,” she said.

“Right now we’ve been charged to bring it back to what it (was). We’ve kind of lost it for sometime with Motown leaving, for certain people to think it was over. And so if we feel like that, how is the rest of the world going to embrace or look at us?

“We have to waken the city up to what we have to offer, let them know that there’s so much more, even now, because we’ve had the lessons learned by those that are older and have been in the game a long time. Some of them are coming forth now to try to do things because they just can’t sit back anymore.”

Detroit’s unique sound and rhythm have been shared worldwide for decades, so the city is no stranger to birthing stars like J Dilla. Creating a new industry is about moving forward and the opportunity is to use his global popularity to benefit the youth in the city where he developed his talents.

“This industry is cut throat on some ends,” Mrs. Yancey expressed. “And the artists, you have to have support of some type. If you don’t have a support system for what you do, you’re lost in this type of industry. Someone or something will kind of kick you up and down.”

But, Mrs. Yancey says, she’s blessed to be a part of the “craziness.”

“I love it,” she admitted. “(Music) is all I’ve ever known in my life. The whole point for me is to help me to grow and become who I really am inside, not just as Dilla’s mama, but as the person who I am, and it’s totally revolved around music, because that’s been my life.”

Dilla Youth Day will be held the same weekend as the concert, on Sun., Feb. 10 at the 5e Gallery, 2661 Michigan Ave., from noon to 4 p.m. The youth event will feature the Urban Strings Youth Orchestra, dance teams Hardcore Detroit and Motor City Rockerz, a 5eHERUbiz youth project and a hip hop beat making workshop.

“It’s all a part of allowing oneself to be a part of something,” says Mrs. Yancey. “We’re so standoffish and we have so many walls up, that we can’t receive. And that’s part of the problem, because we don’t have enough people listening to our young people or giving them the time and attention to find out if they even have gifts, much less the ability to hone those gifts.

Mrs. Yancey says that’s why it’s important for places like 5e Gallery that embrace everyone.

“It doesn’t matter where they’re coming from or how old they are, they’ve opened the door and are willing to do these things,” she said.

Mrs. Yancey understands that the foundation of her business as caretaker of her son’s music legacy is the deep love fans feel for both her and J Dilla, something she say has kept her strong and steady over the previous years.

“I have come into my own in the past year. I’ve had some bumps and bruises, but they’ve been good ones,” she said. “I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. It’s not about me, it’s bigger than me. I don’t think that I ever thought that it was about me.”

Highlights from Dilla Day Detroit 2012:

The official press release from World Hip Hop Market and Nomadic Wax has arrived and is reprinted below. The link for free download is here.

Shine on.

For Immediate Release

World Hip Hop Market and Nomadic Wax team up for all female MC mixtape

World Hip Hop Women: From The Sound Up Draws on MCs from Around The World

Atlanta, January 21, 2013 – Hip Hop Culture is nearing its fourth decade of existence. Throughout those 40 years, main stream hip hop music has tended to be male dominated, with some notable exceptions. Despite what we might see on the surface, the hip hop community is in fact filled with amazing female artists from all over. If you are asking “where are all the female MCs at?”, then you just aren’t looking.

World Hip Hop Women: From The Sound Up is the latest mixtape project from Nomadic Wax and World Hip Hop Market. The brainchild of Detroit’s DJ LaJedi and World Hip Hop Market founder Greg Schick, the new mixtape seeks to highlight the female voices and causes that are always present but less often heard. Featuring artists from 15 countries, the project joins Iranian MCs living in Washington, DC, to Zimbabwean artists in the “Sunshine City”, Harare. It celebrates both Cuban heritage and the Palestinian struggle together, alongside exclusive Spanish dancehall, and new dubstep sounds of South Africa.  World Hip Hop Women are fierce emcees spittin’ bars that transcend language barriers, cultural differences, and gender bias, expertly mixed together by DJ LaJedi, sound provider for Detroit legend One Be Lo, an Official Starfleet DJ and founding member of The Foundation of 5E Gallery.

“I salute every artist who contributed to the mixtape,” said LaJedi, “for their courage and commitment to the spirit of creativity.  Many of these women are carving paths where there are none.  They embody ‘firsts’ of all kinds:  MC Black Bird – first female to release a hip hop record in Zimbabwe; Soultana – member of Tigress Flow, first all-female hip hop crew in Morocco; Masia One – first female to be nominated for Canada’s Much Music Award; Shadia Mansour – The First Lady of Arab Hip Hop; MC Melodee – Holland’s leading Lady in Hip Hop; DJ Naida – Zimbabwe’s #1 female DJ, and on and on.  They are assuming leadership roles in their native communities and beyond through endeavors that prove their conscious attitudes regarding love, truth, peace, freedom of expression and social justice.”

The project is hosted by one of North America’s leading female voices: Toronto’s Eternia. Eternia has been a frequent collaborator with Nomadic Wax and World Hip Hop Market, so it was natural that she be the voice ushering listeners through their global journey. According to E in her track “The BBQ Remix”, “We offer you an alternative, all feminine, all-star representative, all perspective, all nation, the global champion, call it the reckoning, all elements, all natural, it’s effortless.”

The original cover artwork is provided by Detroit’s premier graffiti writer, muralist and graphic designer Sintex, with back cover credits due to Ben Herson of Nomadic Wax. Boston’s Notable Productions oversaw the impeccable mastering.

The intention of the collaborative effort of World Hip Hop Women: From The Sound Up is to inspire cross-cultural collaborations with opportunities for awareness, growth, and understanding. Mixtape contributor Soultana from Morocco sums up the project well: “I will be happy if all Arab girls try to write about something they feel or experience…And why not have a new generation of Arab femcee’s? ‘Cuz ‘til now, the girls are shy and they don’t have the courage to be a rapper or to express themselves in music. So I believe that WHHW will be a bridge to a new world where Arab women and girls to be a part of it.”

LaJedi added, “You will hear nothing but strong, insightful verses. The sounds are native to locations on opposite ends of the globe, and yet the sonic journey will be familiar to anyone who has a heart for great music.  Whether you understand the language or tonal origin of any song in the mix, the flow will guide the expansion of your mind and the movement of your body!”

The mixtape is available for free download at http://nomadicwax.bandcamp.com/track/world-hip-hop-women-from-the-sound-up

Full artist information at http://worldhiphopmarket.com/world-hip-hop-women-mixtape-artist-profiles/5771

About World Hip Hop Market – World Hip Hop Market is the leading news media site for global hip hop culture and an events production company for international urban music festivals and conferences. www.worldhiphopmarket.com

About Nomadic Wax – Nomadic Wax is a fair-trade international record label and production company dedicated to producing and promoting global urban music and media. www.nomadicwax.org

Track Listing:

1. Eternia + MoSS – “The BBQ Remix (ft. Tiye Phoenix & Jean Grae)” (Canada/USA/prod: MoSS)

2. M.C. Melodee – “Cha Cha Cha 2011” (Netherlands/prod: Cookin Soul)

3. Masia One – “Warriors Tongue” (Canada/Singapore/prod: Che Vicious & Travis Von Cartier)

4. Mad Muasel – “Soloyo” (Spain/prod: JML)

5. Ana Tijoux + Invincible – “Sube” (Chile/USA/prod: Hordatoj & Ana Tijoux)

6. Raw-G AKA Gina Madrid – “Conexiones Subterraneas (ft. Aima the Dreamer) (Mexico/USA/prod: Cubo)

7. Shadia Mansour – “Al Kufeyyeh 3Arabeyyeh” (UK/Palestine/prod: Sandhill & Johnny Juice)

8. Soultana – “Sawt Nssa (Women’s Voice)” (Morocco/prod: Itoube Music)

9. Sa-Roc – “Fine Line” (USA/prod: Sol Messiah)

10. Bella Shanti – “Saint or Sinner” (New Zealand/prod: Soul Chef)

11. El Gambina – “Sunny Days” (Korea/USA/prod: Jony Fraze)

12. Mana, Mia Lone, Triple Threat & Opal Rose – “Young Girl” (Iran/USA/prod: Blackheart)

13. The Foundation Of 5E: Taneesha, Insite The Riot, Jade, Nik Nak, Mahogany Jonz, DJ LaJedi – “The Foundation” (USA/prod: AEetech)

14. Black Bird – “H-Town Hustler” (Zimbabwe/S. Africa/Zambia/prod: Jusa Dementor)

15. Peridot (formerly Queen Herawin of The Juggaknots) – “So” (USA/prod: SINQUE)

16. Invincible + Waajeed – “Emergence” (USA/prod: Waajeed)

17. Las Krudas Cubensi – “No Me Dejaron” (Cuba/prod: Odaymara Cuesta, Olivia Prendes & DJ Mike)

18. Lithal Li – “Eye The Con” (South Africa/prod: Yves Adler)

19. Black Athena, Versy, Burni (Jitzvinger, Caco) – “Disputing Claims” (South Africa/prod: Shaheen Arifdien)

20. EmpresS*1(الامبراطورة الاولي) – “Rap Renaissance/Bent Belady” (Egypt/UK/prod: Silent Sym/Asteeka)

21. DJ Naida – “Done” (Zimbabwe/prod: Xndr)

 

For interviews, media inquiries, or for more information please contact DJ LaJedi at unlimitzzzzz@gmail.com and Greg Schick at greg@worldhiphopmarket.com

 

One Be Lo

One Be Lo is without doubt one of Michigan’s most celebrated independent hip hop artists, having performed across the globe both as a solo artist and as one half of the group Binary Star. His creative vision continues to grow with each release, blending art and education to become a unique voice of his generation.

In 2011, One Be Lo released the album “L.A.B.O.R. (Language Arts Based On Reality)”, a thematic release with each song named after an animal to show how their characteristics reflect qualities within men and women. The result is an album that speaks to adults and children, backed by world class instrumentals and lyrics from the man that fans have revered throughout his fifteen year music career.

This vision for blending creativity and with lessons for life has helped One Be Lo, aka Nahshid Sulaiman, a native of Pontiac, become a celebrated storyteller, a voice that fans across the world identify as representing “real hip hop”, without gimmicks or the negative trappings of commercial radio music.

“What I’m doing I don’t even frame it in the context of the music industry, or capitalism even,” says One Be Lo. “This oral tradition is thousands of years old, that’s how our people related to stories of history, and medicine and religion. The oral tradition was very powerful way before people had books.”

“L.A.B.O.R.” is a full twenty one song album, including the songs “Rabbit Food”, which focuses on eating healthy, and “The ANT (i matter)”, written to help people understand that no matter how small a role one plays in society, their impact overall is important to the whole of society.

“I like to target the self and have people reflecting on (themselves),” says One Be Lo.  “They don’t even have to be thinking about what I’m saying, sometimes you can say something and it’ll make somebody think of something else. But just reflecting.”

For One Be Lo, who was raised in Pontiac when the automotive industry was an economic force throughout the neighborhoods, the word labor also reflects the concept of a labor union, with a strength in the collective of workers coming together to complete a common goal.

Throughout the years, he has developed a large network of talented and creative individuals willing to contribute their own time and energy to a greater vision of artistic and entrepreneurial development in Michigan, while reflecting the values of self development.

“The Laborhood doesn’t consist of three hundred people or three thousand people, the laborhood could just be you by yourself. It’s about getting into that zone and getting busy, and sometimes it’s one person. Sometimes it’s five people with different disciplines.”

One Be Lo has developed an education workshop based on the concepts within the “L.A.B.O.R.” album, and he has presented the experience to several times this year, including at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. No matter the stage of life the audience may be at, from child to grown adult, the concepts of personal reflection and self-improvement are always relevant.

“I’m not talking about isolating yourself and becoming an island and assuming to be self-sufficient. I’m talking about developing yourself so you can be compatible (in society). It’s about self-development,” says One Be Lo.

He is continuing to develop the concept of “L.A.B.O.R.” as a teaching tool, with plans for a workbook and children’s book in the near future.

“The way I’m talking about doing children’s books or workbooks, people already do it with Shakespeare or Langston Hughes or Maya Angelou. All I do is write short stories. Basically taking lyrics and translating it to different forms of media.”

“L.A.B.O.R.” falls into the theme of birthing that One Be Lo has developed throughout his solo career. Previous albums supporting the theme include “Project F.E.T.U.S. (For Everybody That Understands)” released in 2002, followed by 2005′s release of “S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M. (Sounds of Nashid Originate Good Rhymes And Music)”, then “The R.E.B.I.R.T.H. (Real Emcees Bring Intelligent Rhymes To Hip-Hop)” in 2007.

This year, One Be Lo also released “K.I.C.K.P.U.S.H. (Keep It Cool Kid, People Usually Show Hate)”, a full album produced by the Pontiac-based collective known as The Autocons. His fans have come to appreciate his messages as much as the music itself, and this support has allowed him to be a self-sufficient artist and entrepreneur.

“I can sell this product because I know exactly what it is. I’m the one who put the seed in the ground and cut the pesticides away, I nutured it. I took the harvest and I brought it to the market myself. I’m not interested in just being in the game. I’m interested in taking this thing and tell you exactly what it is.”

“L.A.B.O.R.” and other albums are available for purchase at www.OneBeLo.bandcamp.com.

Produced by Black Bethoven, “Salute” is an introductory track to 5 ELA’s upcoming album Global Warming. The song will not be on the album, but will set the tone for the sound of the project and the message of a peaceful future through intellectual, political and spiritual awareness.

The artists who appear in the video are all leaders in their field and add to the collective beauty of Detroit culture. 5 ELA aims to help elevate the culture of the city by exhibiting the principals of personal ascension through love of the self and refinement of thought and habit.

The 15 minute experimental video was directed and produced by Steve Furay for Common Breath Media, an indepedent multi-media company operated on the principal of creating media that exhibits accountability to the community. The intent of video project was to build on the creativity of the 5 ELA song, expand the audience’s imagination towards the cosmos and develop an introspective visual meditation.

“We can make something creative through collaborations to give a statement to the world that the city of Detroit is something beautiful and special beyond their expectations,” says Furay. “5 ELA are inspirational pioneers like other local brands that moved the world. This is the Motor City legacy, it’s not cars, it’s innovation, creativity and love for our people.”

The “Salute” video is also a visual representation of the five elements of hip hop, the four artistic elements (DJ, MC, Bboy/Bgirl and graffiti) plus the fifth element, knowledge, that is the backbone allowing the culture to truly reach the hearts of the people. As more people throughout the world continue to identify themselves as a part of the culture, it has become more important than ever to advance the idea of the knowledge element of hip hop to help people see its importance.

Creative media expressions like the video for “Salute” can help the world see this broader vision and participate in hip hop culture with more depth.

“Media is being used on a mass scale against the people to divide us against each other and ourselves,” says Furay. “People are supposed to be together and see each other’s great works, not shortcomings, through the documentation of artists, journalists and other media creators. We need to be more aware of how people receive these messages so we can learn to create media that is more meaningful.”

“Hearts are the strongest when they beat in response to noble ideals.” – Ralph Bunche

Khalid El-Hakim is an educator from Detroit who is passionate about giving youth knowledge of important individuals that are often left out of textbooks. His recently published book, Drum Majors For Justice: 101 Quotes By African-American Politicians, is a unique introduction the names of historical figures who have laid important groundwork for modern politics throughout the country.

Drum Majors For Justice features quotes of inspiration from many African American leaders that faced challenging odds in paving the way for a future of equality. Collected here for easy reference, the words of these leaders reflect the importance of understanding civic engagement and participating in elections.

This is the first book from Khalid El-Hakim, a former Detroit schools teacher who has dedicated himself to working full time with the Black History 101 Mobile Museum. As the entrepreneur of the museum, he has traveled across the nation presenting for students and communities. He has over 5000 items in his collection, with exhibits featuring Black political leaders, Hip Hop culture, and Detroit history.

The inspiration for Drum Majors For Justice came during his time as a teacher at the Detroit Public Schools, where he spent time considering news ways of teaching politics to his students. The achievements of Black politicians is often neglected in school textbooks, and some teachers find it necessary to look outside of their assigned materials for ways to introduce these important figures.

“I would say the materials in the schools didn’t include a lot of the people that they should have in terms of having a strong African-American representation in texts books,” says El-Hakim. “For teachers, we would have to supplement a lot of that, we would have to pull from outside of the text books to get information that would relate to the students.”

The book’s title was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the push he gave to the African-American community to engage in politics, which led to a large number Black men and women taking office throughout the country on a local, state and national level in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The history of Black civil rights leaders like Dr. King and Malcolm X are regularly taught in classrooms, but the names of Black politicians who represented their communities are equally important.

Khalid El-Hakim

“Coming out of the hip hop generation,” says El-Hakim, “we usually dismiss politicians period, because we don’t trust them, they don’t reflect the views of the masses of people. But, when I started doing research on Black politicians, I came to respect the political process more through the lens of some of these Black politicians who actually were down for the common man.”

“A nation is formed by the willingness for each of us to share and the responsibility for upholding the common good.” – Barbara Jordan

Drum Majors For Justice is published independently by Moore Black Press, a Detroit based company owned and operated by poet jessica Care moore. She is a world reknowned artist who spends time in classrooms and jails teaching the art of writing to students.

“I’ve been friends with Khalid for going on 20 years, and I used to sit in on his classes when he was a teacher. He is such a good brother and so really about walking the walk,” says jessica Care moore. “This seemed like the perfect book, both of us are into education, and this is a book that I can take into the jails, into the schools and write curriculum around.”

Publishing the book independently has allowed El-Hakim the opportunity to create a full presentation with the Black History 101 Mobile Museum in support of the book. He has already toured the “Drum Majors For Justice” exhibit extensively in 2012, including at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and the N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art in Detroit, with many more dates being prepared for 2013.

“Reading these quotes, you have to look deeper into the core democratic values of America and society,” says Khalid El-Hakim. “When you want to teach about rule of law for example, you have quotes in there that relate to that, if you want to teach about truth and justice and what freedom means, you can look at some of the quotes about what freedom means for these politicians.”

“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” – Thurgood Marshall
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Republished courtesy of The Michigan Citizen. Targeting the state’s African American and progressive minded community, The Michigan Citizen covers economic and social development throughout Michigan’s urban communities.

As a lead percussion player for Parliament Funkadelic, “Butch” Small’s work has traveled the world, influencing musicians of nearly every genre over the span of his career. Some of the more notable Parliament Funkadelic hits that Small contributed to include “Atomic Dog” and “One Nation Under A Groove”, radio and dancehall anthems that continue to move the people.

Beyond his sessions with Parliament Funkadelic, Small was considered a go-to recording percussionist for many of the era’s funk greats, including The Clark Sisters, The Dramatics, RJ’s Latest Arrivals, Johnnie Taylor and many more.

His career took him on the road often to perform for audiences across the country. During one trip to play the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, in the early 1980s, he was exposed to the fresh sounds young men rapping to the beat of a new kind of funk. Later, after returning home from one of his many tours, he took special note of his son’s developing interest in hip hop music.

“I came home and he had a little turntable, something you would buy from Woolworth’s at the time,” says Small, “and he was scratching on it and I asked him if he was interested in that and he said yeah. I immediately took him to Wonderland Music and got him his first (Technics) 1200 turntable.”

With the right tools to make the music, DJ Los developed his skill at a young age. Encouraged by the success he had seen his father experience, he formed the group EZB and DJ Los and was taken under his dad’s wing as a professional recording musician.

“We did his first album when he was 15,” says Small. “I had noticed that he had an actual real knack for rhythm. Whereas I had listened to Hip Hop culture, and I had listened to Eric B (of Eric B and Rakim) and how their scratching ability wasn’t as accurate, so I knew right away that he was definitely talented enough to go on and pursue his career.”

The first album from EZB and DJ Los, Untouchable, was released in 1988 and is considered a pioneering album in the history of Detroit hip hop. In the years to come, Detroit hip hop exploded in creativity and became recognized worldwide for its unique sound and feel.

By the early 1990s, the funk sound that Small had helped develop reached new importance to hip hop music, particularly amongst artists from California, with producers sampling drums and hooks of many of the greatest hits by Parliament Funkadelic and other legendary funk songs. The music that originated in Detroit became a sound that revolutionized hip hop.

Soon, Dr. Dre, the most commercially successful of all the California hip hop producers, was calling Small for live recording sessions in Los Angeles. His work became integral to the sound of West Coast hip hop that traveled the world and changed the sound of commercial rap music. His credits include some of the biggest hits from artists including Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, Too Short, The Dogg Pound, and Ice Cube.

“When my dad got called to go to LA, I looked at it like ‘he’s on now’,” says DJ Los. “He had other artists on the label, he had Kaos and Maestro, Dice, as well as my group EZB and DJ Los. We had a meeting about the possible opportunities we may have. I specifically went and tried to make tracks to send to my dad so he could showcase them while he was out there.”

One of the songs that DJ Los produced was chosen for the soundtrack to the movie Above The Rim, a successful album that earned him a platinum plaque, further solidifying his position as pioneer of Detroit hip hop.

“You got to be optimistic,” says DJ Los, “and when you create, you should always have a goal of what to do with your creation. A lot of times I’m surprised by what happens with my creation, but I always have intent with it. I might say this is going to be on the radio, or this will be an intro, but an R&B singer might hear it and say I want to sing to it, and they’ll turn it into something else. I can still be great, but at least when you had a goal when you created it, you had a vision.”

DJ Sicari (left) and DJ Los at 5e Gallery

DJ Los has recently become more involved in the city’s hip hop community, where a new generation of young talent are meshing with veteran musicians to create a vibrant and creative new scene. In February, he conducted scratching workshops at the Hip Hop Congress Midwest Summit in Ann Arbor, as well as the Dilla Day Detroit Youth Day at the Virgil H. Carr Cultural Arts Center. He also has production credits for the latest Snoop Dogg single called “Breathe It In”.

For Carl “Butch” Small, discovering new music will always be an important part of his life. He is excited for Detroit’s new hip hop community, seeing his reflection in the young creative energy carrying the city’s music legacy into the 21st Century.

“I’m always interested in the new aspect of music. I’m one of those people that pull from the underground, because I’m one of those people,” says Small. “They’d be the ones to step out of the norm. It’s easy to hear a song on the radio and blueprint a song off of that. But the ones that don’t have that blueprint that create, that’s where I come from.”

Republished courtesy of The Michigan Citizen. Targeting the state’s African American and progressive minded community, The Michigan Citizen covers economic and social development throughout Michigan’s urban communities.

“Detroit City Exquisite Gritty. Detroiters are Innovators and Survivors. The sound produced here has been forged in conditions of extreme pressure – and extraordinarily demanding atmosphere that produces extraordinary art. DETRIOT SONICLYZM!!! Mixtape Series is DJ LaJedi’s sampling of some of the freshest Hip Hop Soul Music out of Detroit.”

DJ LaJedi has now released her new mixtape Detriot Soniclyzm!!! 3.13, the third in the series of mixes highlighting hip hop from the Motor City, or “Det-Riot” as the city is coming to be known. With twenty fresh cuts, the release is a sonic boost of support for globally recognized artists that represent a new era for Motown hip hop soul.

Detriot Soniclyzm!!! 3.13, available for free download now for a limited time, features songs from OneBeLo, Danny Brown, Guilty Simpson, Nick Speed, Fowl, Sheefy McFly, Cold Men Young and Stretch Money, plus Almighty Dreadnaughtz alumni Supa Emcee, Slautah and Konphlict.

5 ELA’s latest track “Salute” is a featured song on the mixtape, supported by the recently released video directed by Steve Furay for Common Breath Media. The Black Bethoven produced song is a teaser for their upcoming album “Global Warming”, set to be released worldwide in 2013. “Salute” sets off the group’s Starfleet movement, using intergalactic imagery to bring love, peace and uncut funk back to hip hop.

Also contributing are Clear Soul Forces with their hit song “Get No Better”, while Moe Dirdee continues to ride the momentum of his anthem “You Don’t Belong In Detroit”. Instrumentals from 14KT, Apollo Brown, XtheDetective, Crate Digga, and Sacramento Knoxx are included to round out the experience.

DJ LaJedi has had an active year touring the nation as DJ for OneBeLo in support of his newest album releases “L.A.B.O.R.” and “K.I.C.K.P.U.S.H.” Her ear for enlightened independent hip hop and spiritually-wise activism has led her to become a highly respected music selector for fans in venues of all sizes. She has also contributed an article series for WorldHipHopMarket.com and Common Breath Media, spotlighting women hip hop artists from around the world.

“I do this to reverberate the Sounds of my City,” says Dj LaJedi. “I Salute Every artist in the mix, and I Salute you for supporting it.  Share Freely. SHINE ON!!!”

Follow DJ LaJedi

http://mixcloud.com/lajedi

http://soundcloud.com/lajedi

http://twitter.com/lajedi
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DETRIOT SONICLYZM!!! 3.13
DJ LAJEDI
1. “tite son!” Prod. XtheDetective
2. “Bounce” Prod. Crate Digga
3. “Pineapples(Dj LaJedi Remix)” Sheefy McFly Prod. Sheefy McFly
4. “1000 Freaks” Sheefy McFly Prod. Sheefy McFly
5. “Fire(Dj LaJedi Remix)” Cold Men Young Prod. Jay Norm
6. “Mirrors” Dopehead Prod. Sheefy McFly
7. “Bruiser Brigade” Danny Brown Feat. Dopehead Prod. Skywlkr
8. “Salute(Dj LaJedi Remix)” 5 ELA Feat. Omari King Wise Prod. Black Bethoven
9. “Born and Raised in Pontiac” One Be Lo Prod. AutoCons
10. “You Don’t Belong In Detroit” Moe Dirdee Prod. Chanes
11. “Stand Up” Feat. Guilty Simpson Dj Soko Prod. Apollo Brown
12. “Yeah” (cuts by Dj Dez) Ron D.
13. “The D Light In You” Prod. 14 KT
14. “Gangsta Shit(Dj LaJedi Remix)”
Feat. Supa MC, Big Herk, Stretch Money Prod. Nick Speed
15. “Detroit Princess” Prod. Sacramento Knoxx
16. “Get No Better” Clear Soul Forces Prod. KanKick
17. “Zero to Hero” Fowl Prod. Hir-O
18. “Smile” Stretch Money Prod. Nick Speed
19. “We Almost Lost Detroit(RIP J. Dilla)” Prod. Apollo Brown
20. “People Mover” Feat. Moe Dirdee Slauhtah & Konflict Prod. Slauhtah
(Almighty Dreadnaughts)

Conceived, mixed and recorded by Dj LaJedi

For Jordan Duchnycz, his personal spiritual quest and world journey has led him to create a unique way to deliver lessons that he has studied over the years. Duchnycz created the animated web video series, Spirit Science, as a way to deliver his insights on spirituality, new age sciences, and his insights on the singularity of the human spirit. The series has steadily grown in popularity over the past twelve months, with each YouTube video posting tens of thousands of views.

“Through a conscious realization,” says Duchnycz, “I started opening myself up to bigger perceptions of what reality is, and found something that i felt i really wanted to share with people.”

Topics covered by Spirit Science include meditation, chakras, male and female energy, sacred geometry, and the power of crystals. The style of the animated videos is designed to be entertaining and engaging, helping to educate people about concepts that may seem contradictory to their prior knowledge.

Duchnycz, who has adopted the moniker Jordan Spiritpatch after the “patchman” character that narrates the videos, developed the lessons from his own studies, coupled with his talents in graphic animation.

“I’d been doing animations online for several years,” says Duchnycz, “so the lessons translated very smoothly into manifestation after that. They started pouring out of me, until i had done a full season.”

Spirit Science currently has nineteen episodes of the video series published on their YouTube page, with dozens more videos featuring discussions from other contributors to the Spirit Science community.

In the series, Duchnycz acknowledges people’s thinking that the two words spirit and science may seem disconnected, but he sees the two as complimentary. As mankind continues to learn from science about the human body, the planet and the universe, our knowledge further resembles many lessons taught within spiritual traditions.

Meditation, for instance, has been discovered by various research teams around the world to have a tremendous effect on the performance of the human brain.

Also, “Power Of The Heart”, episode 15 in the series, demonstrates not only that the heart is the most important organ within the body for sustaining life, but modern research has shown that it is also the origin of thought and intuition.

Knowledge of spirit over the centuries have taught that it is best to act through the wisdom of the heart, and that actions of compassion can increase the vibration of positive energy in the world to guide towards a unity consciousness necessary for a greater peace on the planet.

This cross-pollinating of science and spirituality can create a more dynamic curriculum of education for future generations.

“Everyone is learning and growing on their path,” says Duchnycz, “and it’s beautiful to see what some people are doing to bring communities together around the globe. From (online videos) Paradigm Shift to Thrive, it’s not all ‘my community’, everyone is just coexisting together and trying to connect dots to make things on this planet a little better.

“And it’s fantastic! It’s so inspiring to me to see everyone stepping up in this way!”

The world can experience joy in knowing that Jordan Spiritpatch plans that audiences can look forward to “lots of more Spirit Science! And the rising of the Kingdom!”