RAPtivism

“Oscar Grant Movie Trailer just came out. Starts at the...

Sat, 11 May 2013 07:56:45 -0700

“Oscar Grant Movie Trailer just came out. Starts at the Cannes Film Festival in France this weekend. Praying for success there. Then moves to LA Film Festival as the Gala film and premieres on June 17th. It will be in Oakland shortly after that to premiere, then to New York for a premiere, and finally in theaters July 26, 2013” (via The Oscar Grant Foundation)

I had a blast at the University of San Francisco (@USFCA) last...

Fri, 03 May 2013 19:07:00 -0700

I had a blast at the University of San Francisco (@USFCA) last week where I was honored to deliver a keynote lecture intertwining music, storytelling & a unique visual presentation. Big SHOUT OUT to all the students who organized and the faculty who supported them in manifesting their vision for this very special “FIGHT THE POWER : The Fifth Element of Hip Hop” conference. SHINE ON, RAPtivists! ❤

#MayDay piece by inspiring artist/activist @favianna. Came...

Wed, 01 May 2013 22:45:00 -0700

#MayDay piece by inspiring artist/activist @favianna.
Came across this poster while in the #mission #sf 2day!

IF YOU AREN'T ACTIVELY WORKING FOR PEACE YOU AIN'T HIP HOP

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 22:36:00 -0700

IF YOU AREN'T ACTIVELY WORKING FOR PEACE YOU AIN'T HIP HOP: Check out highlights from a recent panel...

#BAYAREA Come join me & my band for these events in...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:15:00 -0700

#BAYAREA Come join me & my band for these events in May! #RAPtivism

"For women, then, poetry is not a luxury. It is a vital necessity of our existence. It forms the..."

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:24:02 -0700

“For women, then, poetry is not a luxury. It is a vital necessity of our existence. It forms...

favianna: May we, as citizens of the planet come together and...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:23:09 -0700

favianna:

May we, as citizens of the planet come together and fight the climate change criminals, for our mother, Pachamama. Happy Planet Day!

Michigan State University—so nice to connect with you all...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 22:13:00 -0700

Michigan State University—so nice to connect with you all this weekend through song, speech & one-on-one conversation!

Thanks for the love you shared. Wishing you many wonderful things as we continue to work towards a future where justice is the norm. ♥

Respect & RAPtivism-

3 Dope Songs by Aisha Fukushima The RAPtivist via Davey D's Hip Hop Corner

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:03:00 -0700

3 Dope Songs by Aisha Fukushima The RAPtivist via Davey D's Hip Hop Corner: Big shout out to Aisha...

"Do not chase people. Be you and do your own thing and work hard. The right people who belong in your..."

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 18:47:35 -0700

“Do not chase people. Be you and do your own thing and work hard. The right people who belong...

So proud to have been part of making this #RAPtivism event in...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:41:05 -0700

So proud to have been part of making this #RAPtivism event in solidarity with the #OscarGrant Foundation happen!

#Oakland #PoliceBrutality #Resistance

My keynote presentation at Rock The School Bells 6 hosted by...

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:34:04 -0700

My keynote presentation at Rock The School Bells 6 hosted by Skyline College on the theme “Sky’s The Limit” in honor of the Notorious B.I.G.

Check it out, leave a comment, share :)

Peep one of the latest videos from Shadia Mansour...

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:30:00 -0700

Peep one of the latest videos from Shadia Mansour (@shadiamansour) & Omar Offendum (@offendum) titled

لازم نتغير (We have to change)

Would be interested to hear your thoughts, fam. Lots of layers to the song/message/imagery.

—

LYRICS (w/ Translation):

Chorus)
الأرض إبترجع إرجوع، العالم عم بدوخ
الولي وين ضللنا إنروح، لازم نتغير
(Translation)
The earth is moving anti-Clockwise
and the world is losing its balance
Tell me, where else is there for us to go
We have to change

(Verse) Shadia
كل ما حدة بيمنعني، بشجعني أعمل العكس
أنا أخت ارجال، بس صاحبة حق
كيف بدي أقول عن حالي مقاتلة الحرية إذا ببعد عن التحدى، إذا بخاف من كلمة لأ
مجتمعنا مثل توقيت الغرب، دايماً إمأخر
كل ما ناخد دفشي لا قدام ، بيدفشونا عشرين قرن لا ورى
وبالنسبه لل فلسطيني، هل حالي بتحزن أكتر من شهر تشرين الثاني
أنا عندي أمل في الانسان ، بس الحكي ما بيفيد، ما بجيب غير الحلم
احنا بين احتلالين، إحتلال المخ وإحتلال البلاد
مفش شك أن الطريق إلى المساواة معقدة
بس مستقبلنا بيبدا لما نحرر أنفسنا من العبودية العقلية

(Verse) Omar
أيه والله ما عاد في خيار
اللي بهمه مستقبل العالم كله
قله: لا ضرر ولا ضرار
من عمر عمر الفاروق لثورة عمر المختار
هلجملتين اللي أيد الإزدهار
يا عمي خذ قرار
مشان ما تصفي لوحدك بالغبار
أو على سفينة الحياة
بين الجزيرة والمنار
اللي بيحتار …
يطفء تلفزيونه
ولي ما بعيش بدونه
لك الله كون بعونه
قرن الواحد وعشرين
بدأت بالزلازل
عواصف وقنابل
دمرت أبراج بابل
دم العرب لسة سائل
دأماً فش أحد سائل
وهذي مشكلتنا
فتنا بالفتنة ونسينا اسرتنا
لا تكون أناني
فكر بخيك
فكر ببيك
اتذكر اللي بيحكي زيك
حتى أولادك وأحفادك يمشو بفيك
واذا حاسس صدرك عميتضايق
خذلك نفس خي …
وقوم اتغير
(Translation)
We no longer have a choice …
Anyone who is concerned about the future of mankind as a whole, should heed these words:
‘La Dharar - wa La Dharar’
From the age of Omar Al-Faruq
To the revolutions of Omar Al-Mukhtar
These two sentences are what have helped us prosper
So make a decision
Before you end up alone in the dust
Or on the boat of life drifting between Aljazeera & Almanar
If you’re confused … turn off your television
And if you can’t live without it - then God help you
The 21st century
Began with Earthquakes
Hurricanes & Bombs destroying the Towers of Babel
The blood of Arabs is still flowing but nobody ever cares
And this our problem
Succumbing to fitna & forgetting our family
Stop being selfish
Think of your brother
Think of your father
And remember those who speak like you
So that your children & grandchildren can walk in your shade
And if ever you feel your chest is constricting
Just take a deep breath my brother…
Stand Up & CHANGE.

THIS WEEK! Trinity International Hip Hop Festival in Hartford,...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:29:00 -0700

THIS WEEK! Trinity International Hip Hop Festival in Hartford, CT

http://trinityhiphop.com/

This is one of the only events of its kind that I know of in the U.S. that brings together such an great contingency of global hip hop artists, thinkers & organizers in one space! Definitely worth checking out.

A mes amis au Maroc— Check it...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:22:54 -0700

A mes amis au Maroc—
Check it out!
http://www.boulevard.ma/

Very happy to be part of such a dynamic panel yesterday at the...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 10:52:00 -0700

Very happy to be part of such a dynamic panel yesterday at the “RUN IT BACK: Remebering Hip-Hop As Social Activism!” discussion with M-1 (DEAD PREZ), Boots Riley (The Coup), Jasiri X, staHHr, Mark Gonzales & Jahi, moderated by ‘Davey D’.

Also, a special shout to Ankh Marketing for organizing this event & kicking off the Hip Hop Proclamations series…!

Respect & RAPtivism! ♥

Visual artist/activist, Favianna Rodriguez (@favianna) recently...

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 22:37:00 -0700

Visual artist/activist, Favianna Rodriguez (@favianna) recently posted the words below via facebook & I wanted to share it with you all. I hope that in some small way it inspires you :) Favianna also created the “Migration is Beautiful” artwork above. You can check out more of her work at http://favianna.com/

“The tools I use are not new. Reclaiming our humanity and our beauty is resistance. I don’t believe in only reacting to the oppressor’s framework of laws and ideas and that define who we are. Celebrating human dignity does not undermine nor ignore our suffering. It’s not an either/or game. On the contrary, true liberation requires both imagination and action… and LOVE! In the words of the great Steve Biko, a founder of the Black Consciousness Movement - ‘The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.’”

This track titled “Billie” is a collaboration I did...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:34:00 -0700

This track titled “Billie” is a collaboration I did with French hip hop artist, Emcee Kev, as a tribute to the one & the only… Billie Holiday!

You can download this song & Emcee Kev’s entire EP here:

http://emceekev.bandcamp.com/album/la-baraka-ep

Photo

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:16:09 -0700

Goes TURF in Germany just released this video of him dancing to...

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:52:00 -0700

Goes TURF in Germany just released this video of him dancing to the track “Lazer Quest” from our #RAPtivism album! The song features Aisha Fukushima (US), Genesis Elijah (UK) & Stanza (UK) with prod. by Beezwax Beats (GE).

Download the RAPtivism album for yourself here: http://raptivism.bandcamp.com