Posts tagged hip hop.
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! ❤
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 (@shadiamansour) & Omar Offendum (@offendum) titled
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 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:
Performing an original song “Sweet Sounds” for a Climate One (@ClimateOne) ‘Generation Green’ event at the San Francisco Commonwealth Club. Enjoy!
Download the track + the full RAPtivism album here.
I love this moment from the Latin@ Summit last week! Yours truly on the mic & a courageous youth tearing it up with some fresh dance moves. Totally improvised, totally fun :) #RAPtivism
Thanks to Jasmin for filming.
*art by Banksy*
The RAPtivism theme for this year’s Valentine’s Day is “love thyself” — an important part of healing & growth.
I hope the songs in this #RAPtivism playlist serve as reiki to the soul… Giving you courage to keep strong & carry on! ♥♥
“Special,” Lowkey
“You Say,” Brother Ali
“Is Your Love Big Enough?” Lianne La Havas
NEW VID! “POET TREE” AISHA FUKUSHIMA feat. MADlines
Piano arrangement by Isaac Ho
Filmed by Max Silverman in San Francisco.
KRS-ONE Address Oakland Youth on African American Male Achievement
12/21/12 SONG FOR THE END OF THE WORLD (…AND THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ONE)
“EMERGENCE” BY @INVINCIBLEDET
I’ve had this song on repeat for a hot minute since hearing Invincible (Detroit) rock the Bay Area on her Emergence Media ‘Outerspaces’ Tour featuring tenaciously talented artists Climbing PoeTree and Las Krudas. In light of the talk about the “end of the world” on 12/21/12, I think the lyrics of this piece really speak to the “earth shift” we have ahead of us in coming months, years and hopefully, generations for the better.
Here’s the chorus:
Emergence/
This is the verge of an earth shift/
While we searching for purpose/
Parallel universes/
Is burstin’/
At first you can’t tell on the surface/
Emergence
*the video above blends two songs together—‘Detroit Summer’ & ‘Emergence’ (in that order)
**Check out Invincible at http://emergencemedia.org/
@GABRIELteodros talks #HIPHOP & #SCIFI @TEDx Ranier! Amazing discussion of the ways we can help shape the future through hip hop culture.
‘Culture Trumps Politics: Or Does It?’ - Panel with Define American’s José Antonio Vargas, comedian Negin Farsad, journalist Jeff Chang, and Treme writer Lolis Eric Elie. Moderated by Rinku Sen.
#FacingRace 2012
Excited to be the featured artist on @LaPenaCultural’s NEW WEBSITE ! Thanks for helping me share RAPtivism with the world—I look forward to performing at La Peña again soon! ;-)
A
FAM! Peep the NEW VIDEO of my performance lecture on the #RISEUP #RAPtivism Tour in #Japan at Tamagawa Gakuen (TOKYO). The school’s Dance Club students also threw down some original choreography to my song “Sweet Sounds” ! Hope you enjoy :) Directed & Edited by SHUX1 (@musicstrengthTV). A collaboration with the US Embassy.
“If you want to achieve #greatness, stop asking for permission.”
