Hip Hop Camp Videos

 

Finally got a moment to upload these. Over the next few days I'll be posting the hip hop camp performances from ethos. You'll never see hip hop this cute in your life. Enjoy!

Desmond

all the performances, rock band and choir, can be seen here http://ethosmusiccenter.blip.tv/

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Hip Hop Camp Videos

So on one weekend in Portland you have Juneteenth parade, naked bike ride, and the gay pride parade.

The naked bike ride gotta love it!

Peace and Unity Fest!!!! It's Back!

Peace and Unity Fest 2010

On August 7, 2010 Y.O.U.th (Youth Organized and United to Help) presents The 3rd Annual Peace and Unity Fest beginning at 1:00pm at the Mallory Avenue Community Enrichment Center (M.A.C.E) parking lot located at 126 N.E. Alberta Street.  Y.O.U.th  is a non-profit organization promoting opportunities for youth to explore their talents and gifts through an art medium. 

The Peace and Unity Festival serves as a fundraiser for the upcoming 5th Annual Youth Summit (February 2011). The Peace and Unity Festival will feature celebrated local and national musicians and spoken word artists, community activists and faith leaders, and community vendors.

Invited speakers include: Host Pastor Fred D Woods (Calvary Christian Church), Rev. Renee Ward (Chrysalis Ministries), Universal Zulu Nation Member, Representative of the Nation of Islam, Representative of Hebrew Israelites Church, and more.

Featured artists include Ro Deezy, Rose Bent, Black Market, F.I.Y.A. as well as DJ’s from all over the Northwest.

Vendors will include small businesses and individuals who provide a service to our community.  The Peace and Unity Fest is a venue for these vendors to gain more exposure and support from the community. 

The organizers of the event hope the Peace and Unity Fest serves as a magnet to assist us in “Building Our Community”.

School Supplies, along with your donation of $5, will assist families in need with the essential school supplies (backpacks, pens, pencils, paper, rulers, etc.) before the first day of school.  Proceeds benefit the 5th Annual Youth Summit.

For more information on how to volunteer or financially support the 5th Annual Youth Summit contact Imani Muhammad Y.O.U.th at 503-781-5313 or via email at info@travelingpillar.com.  Visit their website at www.youthsummit09.blogspot.com

Imani Muhammad
503-781-5313
The Future is All About Y.O.U.th
www.youthsummit09.blogspot.com

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Peace and Unity Fest!!!! It's Back!

Youth summit on Portland cable media right now! Channel 11

How to get into hip hop

It has been ask of me recently, to provide guidance on how to get into hip hop music. It can be overwhelming with all the rappers, emcees, and everything in between claiming to be real hip hop and flooding the sound waves with their version of the music. The reality, hip hop is diverse! People draw distinction between rap and hip hop, but really it all stems from the culture of hip hop and there are many branches. So how do you navigate your way through the varieties of hip hop? Start with what you’ve heard and liked. Find out who the artist is and who they have worked with. Since like minds flock together you will begin rapidly expanding your hip hop collection with similar sounding artist. Also you may want to find out who produces the tracks (music without the lyrics).  After all it was the music of hip hop that got me hooked and if that is the case for you, follow the producers. Eventually you will develop an ear to appreciate good music production and lyrics, and you have to work at. It is my opinion that the best of hip hop is not represented in pop culture, so you have to do your research to find it. To get you on the right foot, in the right direction, Here is my list of recommended artist to begin listening to.

DLUX THE LIGHT J

Common

The Roots

Lupe Fiasco

De La Soul

Tribe Called Quest

Mos Def

Talib Kweli

Kidz in the Hall

Pharaoh Monch

Little Brother

Living Legends

How to get into hip hop

MLK Memorial

Can you believe that this hasn't been done already? Lets make it happen. Check the link.

http://mlkmemorialnews.org

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MLK Memorial

Goodbye July

The last week of July was a busy week. I had performance from Tuesday thru Sunday. The Highlight would have to be Last Thursday on Alberta Street. If you want to give god a laugh, make a plan. I planned to be on the corner of N.E. 17th and Alberta, in front of the Community Cycling Center. Well, there was a bike parking lot set up right in the spot. There was no more room for me and my sound equipment. I was about to scrap the idea, but I told myself I needed to stick it out, as a growing experience.

The back-up plan, walk up & down the street and give out sample CDs. Managed to borrow some microphone time from Kelsey (Pianist with an amazing voice) and Hal, to perform “Voice.” It went well and was well received. New plan, ask for some microphone time from folks that had sounds systems. I ran into Worth (Guitarist with a great voice, a fan on Alberta referred to him as the next Robin Thicke), and he said “If you want to do a few pieces and freestyle, be my guest.” I was like word!
We had the bucket drummers, funky guitar, soulful vocals, and a fresh spoken word eMCee. In the category of vocal performers on Alberta, we had held down the biggest crowd, from what I was told. Worth and I went back and forth with 90’s hip hop and r&b cuts. Classics like, “push it”, “Fresh prince of Bel Air”, “Jump on it”, “Too Close” to name a few. Great times and we made a little food and gas money. My man “Izzie,” had some great shirts for sale that you should check out at www.horisingup.com. He wanted get on the mic, but they opened the street before he had the chance. Folks from the crowd kick a couple verses and freestyles. This guy wearing a tiara was actually pretty dope with the rhyme skills, to everyone’s surprise and delight.

This was a drastic difference from my experience last month. I just felt like I was shouting at people without a sound system. If a man, wearing a black head wrap and hoody to match, were shouting “CATS BUST GATS” I would walk a little faster and avert eye contact as well. Worth and I may link up to do it again next month. It’s a great feeling when your art connects directly with the people, shakes them from the normal routine. They pay attention and have a good time with you.

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Goodbye July

Oh The Pressure

Something interesting happened Friday. For those who don't know, I teach freestyling to 4th and 5th graders. For those who don't know what freestyling is, it’s the art of improvised rhyme, emceeing, or rapping if you will. Think improv comedy for rapping, or rap battles, or rap cyphers.
Any what, I had 4 student in my class, 3 show up for this performance Friday, and only 1 wants to perform.
I explained how what they are demonstrating is easier than what we did in class. Still no go. I even talk to some of the parents and they couldn't convince them to perform.
I decided to not force to force them, but I had one trick up my sleeve. The host called the freeystyle class to the stage. I take the mic and demonstrate what freestyling is all about. Then I explain my game called freeystyle flash. On the projector screen are two words that rhyme. My willing student would rap a phrase using those two words. The phrase would be completely improvised by the student. He rocks the first two words "house" and "mouse." The crowd loves it.
I go to the next pair, "blue" and "shoe." Ask my second student if he wants to try. With a little hesitation, he agrees. Rocks it. My third student, which was like pulling teeth just to step on the stage, was still like "I ain't doing it." Time for my trick, I said to the crowd "Maybe you can get him to give it a try." They go crazy. There chanting his name, clapping, and screaming. In deciding to go for it he gives me the nod. Third pair of words go up "best" and "test." The kid that was so convinced he couldn't do it, rocked it the best.
I guess this proves to me that we are social creatures. Society can bring out the best in us just easily it can bring out the worse in us. As hard as we like to act sometimes, we all need someone to validate our existence before we begin to validate it for ourselves. What do you think?

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Oh The Pressure

Great Show, Low Numbers

THIS IS MY POST ABOUT THE DEEP ROOTS RELEASE PARTY THIS YEAR. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY ON THE ROOSEVELT CAMPUS, MAYBE TOO BEAUTIFUL. THE SHOW OPENED UP WITH DANCERS AND THE PLACE WAS PACKED. AFTER THE BREAKERS, THEY TRIED TO TRANSITION TO THE DEEP ROOTS PORTION. THE PEOPLE CAME TO SUPPORT THEIR FRIENDS FROM THE DANCE GROUPS. AFTER THAT, THEY BOUNCED LIKE IT WAS A FIRE DRILL. SHOW MUST GO ON. SO WHAT, IF THERE ARE MORE CHAIRS THAN BODIES.

IT WAS STILL A GREAT EVENT AND MY NIGHT WAS MADE WHEN I BEGAN PERFORMING, PEOPLE CAME IN. THEY HEARD THE MUSIC AND SAT UP FRONT. THAT REALLY GOT ME GOING. SO I'M ROCKING LIKE THEIR ARE THOUSANDS IN PLACE.

THAT'S BEEN MY STORY. GREAT SHOWS FOR SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE. BETTER THAN THE REVERSE, RIGHT?

I FINALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS FEELS LIKE. MY GOAL IS TO BE A LEGENDARY ARTIST AND I REALIZE THAT THIS DONE BY ONE SUPPORTER AT A TIME. KNOWING THIS, I TRULY APPRECIATE THE MOMENT WHEN PEOPLE EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION FOR WHAT I DO.

I THINK PEOPLE MAY WONDER WHY I DON'T GET DOWN OR SADDENED BY LOW TURNOUTS. MY FAITH HAS BEEN STRONG LATELY. SO STRONG THAT I BELIEVE I AM A LEGENDARY ARTIST, AND THIS IS HOW MY STORY BEGINS.

ITS LIKE, IF YOU KNEW TOMORROW YOU WERE GETTING ONE MILLION DOLLARS, YOU WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT THE MONEY YOU DON'T HAVE TODAY. AS I KEEP WORKING TO DELIVER LEGENDARY PERFORMANCES AND EXPERIENCES, I KNOW I AM LEGENDARY AND IT JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE OTHERS RECOGNIZE AS WELL. SO I SMILE NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE TURNOUT. ALL I NEED IS ONE MORE PERSON TO KNOW ABOUT ME THAT DIDN'T KNOW YESTERDAY. THAT'S HOW MY LEGEND BEGINS, GREAT SHOWS GROWING NUMBERS.

Great Show, Low Numbers

Thank You U "DUB" T

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Thank You U "DUB" T