The Universal Zulu Nation calls on the World to recognize the whole month of November as HIP HOP HISTORY MONTH!
The official birthday of the Universal Zulu Nation is November 12, 1973.
The official birthday of Hip Hop is November 12th, 1974.
With consideration to the above mentioned dates, nothing makes more sense than to celebrate Hip Hop culture and it's history during November, which is exactly what the Universal Zulu Nation has been doing for over 27 + years. November is also significant in the fact that it kicks off the "indoor jam season". The Hip Hop community jams, enjoyed outdoors in the parks, throughout the Summer, had to move indoors for about 7 months to community centers, gymnasiums, schools etc. for the Fall and Winter seasons. The Hip Hop World should recognize this month and pay tribute to those who laid the foundation and paved the way as well as to those who continue to preserve the rich tradition of the culture.
Of course, The Zulu Nation appreciates all efforts to preserve the whole of Hip Hop culture, including any days or weeks set aside to conscientiously appreciate Hip Hop, but would rather that all of these days and weeks combine to celebrate in unity every November as the tradition has been since the beginning of this culture. Founded by the godfather of Hip Hop himself, Afrika Bambaataa, The Universal Zulu Nation is the world's oldest, largest and most respected grass roots Hip Hop organization. It's members and supporters are Hip Hop's most famous and legendary artists. True school enthusiasts travel from all around the world to be in New York City, in November, for the annual Zulu Hip Hop Anniversary, the only true Hip Hop Anniversary since the beginning. The Anniversary hosts a positive Hip Hop community coming together from all walks of life to celebrate the true essence and excitement of what Hip Hop was meant to be. Many artists who have donated their performances to help raise funds at Zulu Hip Hop Anniversaries have gone on to become legends and many of these legends continue to return to NYC, in November, to give back to the core community who supported them since their careers began.
A Little Background Information: In the early years of the culture, the movement went untitled until Afrika Bambaataa, started calling it "Hip Hop", a term originated by Lovebug Starski. In the 70's, ten years prior to it's gaining global recognition, Hip Hop was a celebration of life gradually developing each of it's elements to form a cultural movement. Due to it's energy, dynamics, and momentum, Hip Hop culture has become, ultimately, a key to upliftment and reformation, as well as a billion-dollar industry.
From the 80's on, the Rap industry and media have helped to make the terms "Hip Hop" and "Rap" synonymous, leaving out the other elements included in the culture. In light of this enormous oversight, the Zulu Nation promotes the "5th element" of Hip Hop, which is KNOWLEDGE, and actively tries to educate the masses about the history and foundational elements of true Hip Hop culture. Bambaataa declared: "When we made Hip Hop, we made it hoping it would be about peace, love, unity and having fun so that people could get away from the negativity that was plaguing our streets (gang violence, drug abuse, self hate, violence among those of African and Latino descent). Even though this negativity still happens here and there, as the culture progresses, we play a big role in conflict resolution and enforcing positivity."
Hip Hop is the Vehicle to Deliver Innumerable Lessons! Afrika Bambaataa doesn't believe that Hip Hop heads should just have knowledge of Hip Hop. He promotes and proves that Hip Hop can be used as a vehicle for teaching awareness, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, freedom, justice, equality, peace, unity, love, respect, responsibility and recreation, overcoming challenges, economics, mathematics. science, life, truth, facts and faith.
The Elements: Hip Hop culture is defined as a movement which is expressed through various artistic mediums which we call "elements". The main elements are known as MC'ing (Rapping), DJ'ing, WRITING (Aerosol Art), SEVERAL DANCE FORMS (which include Breaking, Up-Rocking, Popping, and Locking) and the element which holds the rest together: KNOWLEDGE. There are also other elements such as Vocal Percussion/Beat Boxing, Fashion, etc. Within the past 20 years, Hip-Hop culture has greatly influenced the entertainment world with its creative contributions in music, dance, art, poetry, and fashion.
Due to their lack of knowledge about the whole of Hip Hop culture, many of our world's youth are mistaken in thinking that activities such as: smoking blunts, drinking 40's, wearing a designer label plastered across their chest, carrying a gun, or going to strip clubs, are "Hip Hop". Hip Hop is being portrayed negatively by many artists who work in the element of Rap (emceeing), and this negativity is usually instigated and promoted by the record industry and various other corporations who exploit the culture at the expense of the youth's state of mind and morality. The Universal Zulu Nation believes there is a difference in speaking out about negativity (activism) and promoting it as a desirable lifestyle. Gangsters, pimps, playas, hustlers, niggers, spics, and many other derogatory words once used against us are now self employed in our everyday vocabulary. Our ancestors who have fought and died trying to free us from these sicknesses and slave mentality are probably turning over in their graves! Bambaataa asks you to just think about this, "How in the hell did we turn from GODS to dogs?"
Afrika Bambaataa encourages you to do more research about our story, his/her-story, and what you think is your mystery is actually your history. Where are our Hip Hop thinkers, lawyers, holistic doctors, scientists, agriculturalists/herbalists, revolutionaries, politicians, judges, researchers, teachers, police, army, accountants, anthropologists, etc. Where is our own Hip Hop Museum? Many talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Many straight out sell-out to the liberation of our people as well as to all humans on the planet so called Earth! He also encourages you to do research on any Hip Hop organization that deals with consciousness and the upliftment of all people. To all those who purposely make up your own history and lie about the culture- DO YOUR RESEARCH!
You can contact the Universal Zulu Nation at their main website www.ZuluNation.com and to explore links to other Zulu chapters and websites.
Fresh off his two month tour with Sean Price, Ill Bill drops his latest video “My Uncle”. My Uncle is off the hard hitting album “The Hour of Reprisal”, available NOW on Fatbeats.com!!!
Black Milk proves himself as a producer and an emcee on his new album “TRONIC.” Watch him take a shot at bandleader in the colorful video for the album’s explosive lead single “Give the Drummer Sum.” Directed by Anthony Garth. "TRONI C" is available NOW @ Fatbeats.com!!!
The first track is entitled "Sidetracked" produced by THX from his long awaited new compilation album Delafornia which is coming soon! The second track is called "Slaying The Track" which will be on the mixtape "The King Of Grind" hosted by Shadyville DJ's DJ Strong Boy droppin first week of December and DJ Denox mixtape "We Break The Hits Vol. 5" hosted by Termanology.
African American Women In Cinema is very pleased to announce a special anniversary edition of the 11th Annual International Film Festival. The Festival will feature works of emerging and established women filmmakers who are of the African, Latina and Asian Diaspora, curated by, Third World Newsreel Organization. This unique edition will include specialized panels with prominent industry professionals as well as Premiere screenings and the AAWIC Film Festival Closing Award Ceremony. It is the aspiration of African American Women In Cinema to give talented women a path to fulfilling their dreams through exposure of their talents and through peer interaction between established professionals in the media and entertainment field.
African American Women In Cinema 11th Annual Film Festival
November 12th - 15th, 2008, New York City
Celebrating Global Cinematic Unity. AAWIC 2008 Film Festival Event and Film Screening Schedule.
Scroll down to see entire schedule and to purchase tickets.
Please be advised that online ticket purchasing is only available to attendees before the actual day of AAWIC FF 2008 events -- you must purchase tickets at event venues on the actual day of the event you would like to attend.
Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 FESTIVAL KICK-OFF RECEPTION, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Sponsored by: Banco Popular, New York Women In Film & Television, Greater New York Chamber of Commerce. Reception Location: BANCO POPULAR, 231 West 125th Street, New York City.
Hosted by: Malikha Mallette, on-air personality at Power 105.1
Malikha Mallette, a native of Queens, NY, is host of The Malikha Mallette Movement, airing 2pm-6pm Mon-Fri on Power 105.1 in NYC. She brings a long list of credentials with her, including work as a radio personality in Washington D.C. , Baltimore and Atlanta as well as television hosting duties on DirecTV, BET.com and ABC News Now.
*Please R.S.V.P. to attend at:aawicrsvpreception@aawic.org
*Festival All Access Pass Holders are automatically on the reservation list.
Thursday, November 13th, 2008 RED CARPET SPECIAL SCREENING
7:30pm -- Red Carpet
Location: Magic Johnson Theater, 2309 Frederick Douglas Blvd.,
Harlem, New York, NY 10027 USA
8:00pm Screening Program
Hosted by: Actress, Kim Brockington (Guiding Light).
Special Screening of, I'm Through with White Girls, Written by Courtney Lilly (Arrested Development, Everybody Hates Chris, My Boys) -- a quirky romantic comedy that addresses race, class, and cultural identity.
Directed by, Jennifer Sharp
Special question and answer segment with film representatives
Special Red Carpet Screening tickets are $25.00 to purchase tickets please click here:
Friday, November 14th, 2008 10:00am - 10:30am Press Conference -- Location: United Nations Press Conference Room. All press are invited to attend and must complete and send press credential form for processing.
[Download AAWIC Press Credential Form]
*Must have valid I.D. (i.e. drivers license, passport) for entrance.
INTERNATIONAL DAY
Special Screening: Fiche D'Identite
Directed by: Domina Martin, Starring: Olivia Senghor
Docu-drama about 7 friends from Africa and Paris struggling with immigration issues as they make it in New York City's entertainment scene.
4:00pm VIP Reception
4:30pm World Wide Premier -- Deeper than Sex, Produced by Patience Ozokwo and Directed by Theodore Anyanji. This film deals with one of many health ssues that plague Africans today.
5:30pm Question and Answer segment with Film Representatives.
Location: UNITED NATIONS / Conference room C
*Must R.S.V.P. to attend at: aawicrsvpunitednations@aawic.org
*Festival All Access Pass holder's names will be on the RSVP list.
*Must have valid I.D. (i.e. drivers license, passport) for entrance.
Saturday, November 15th, 2008
Screening Program I Location: Faison Firehouse Theater, 6 Hancock Place
(124th Street, between St. Nicholas & Morningside Aves.), Harlem, New York
Sponsored and Curated by: Third World Newsreel
12:10pm -- The Woman's Film
Produced by: The Women's Caucus of San Francisco Newsreel (40 min)
Produced collectively by women, this documentary is a valuable historical document of the origins of the modern women's movement in the United States. The film delves into the lives of ordinary women from different races, educational levels and class Filmed mostly in small consciousness-raising groups, from which the women's movement grew, the women talk about the daily realities of their lives as wives, home-makers, and workers. They speak, sometimes with hesitancy, often with passion, about the oppression of women as they see it.
12:55pm -- Excuse My Gangsta Ways
Directed by: Corinne Manabat (15 min)
We all go through transitions in life, whether it's a career change, or moving, but for Davina Wan, hers has been very extreme - from the gang life to a 'normal' life. Excuse My Gangsta Ways is a visual poetic documentary portrait on Davina Wan, a Chinese American woman, who was a former gang member from the 1990s Lower East Side . With interviews from her grandmother and godfather, we will take a look at the person she was and the person she has become, where fate and inspiration endure.
1:15pm -- Here to Stay
Directed by: ManSee Kong (7 min)
Illustrates the effects of gentrification in Manhattan's Chinatown as an elderly man and fellow tenants in endangered single-room occupancy building await the results of an anti-eviction lawsuit. A TWN Workshop production and part of the Call for Change Series.
1:25pm -- Our Lady Queen of Harlem
Directed by Trinidad Rodriguez (17 min)
On a crumbling sidewalk in the heart of Spanish Harlem, a small but impassioned group of women are fighting for their community. When the Archdiocese of New York locked the doors of the church where many of them spent their entire lives worshiping, this determined family of parishioners decided to resist the ministerial decision and take matters into their own hands. A portrait of faith and disobedience, 'Our Lady Queen of Harlem ' is an exploration of activism and the very definition of church.
1:45pm --Seen, But Not Heard: AIDS and the Untold War Against Black Women
Directed by Cyrille Phipps (9 min)
Seen, But Not Heard: AIDS and the Untold War Against Black Women' is a short documentary that explores the historical antecedents, current trends, and emerging activism surrounding HIV/AIDS and women of African decent. Through raw and revealing personal accounts and comprehensive investigative journalism, the film seeks to challenge, inform, and inspire viewers to look past the daunting HIV/AIDS statistics - to see and hear the real stories of women of color whose lives are affected by HIV/AIDS.
Screening Program I
Screening Program II
Women in Hip Hop Series 2:00pm -- She Rhymes Like a Girl
Directed by JT Takagi (7 min)
Toni Blackman and the FreeStyle Union are challenging the male dominated world of hip hop and empowering women to speak their minds in freestyle workshops. This music video/documentary hopes to promote a movement of female MCs. Part of the Call for Change Series.
2:10pm -- Scene Not Heard
Directed by Maori Karmael Holmes (45 min)
Right from the beginning of the hip hop movement, Philadelphia's artists have made major contributions as emcees, grafitti artists, dancers, and especially as deejays. Native talents such as Will Smith, The Roots and Eve have made great strides domestically and internationally. But somehow Philly still doesn't get the kind of props that L.A. or even Atlanta does, despite its unique proliferation of women emcees, vocalists, poets and deejays. 'Scene Not Heard' seeks to tell the story of these women--the legends and the ingenues--as they struggle to succeed in a male-dominated industry. Featuring interviews with pioneer hip hop artists Lady B, Schoolly D, Rennie Harris, Bahamadia and Ursula Rucker, as well as emerging talents such as Versus, Keen of Subliminal Orphans and Michele Byrd-McPhee of Montazh, intercut with scholars, critics and local promoters.
Screening Program II
Screening Program III
Sponsored and Curated by: Women Make Movies 3:10pm -- Women's Kingdom
Produced by: Xiaoli Zhou (22 min)
Keepers of the last matriarchal societies in the world, Mosuo women in a remote area of southwest China live beyond the strictures of mainstream Chinese culture ? enjoying great freedoms and carrying heavy responsibilities. Filmmaker Xiaoli Zhou takes a fascinating journey into the heart of The Women?s Kingdom to discover a society of powerful women whose future is on the brink of change.
3:35pm -- God sleeps in Rwanda
Directed by: Kimberlee Acquaro / Stacy Sherman, Narrated by: Rosario Dawson (28 min)
The 1994 Rwandan Genocide left the country nearly 70% female handing Rwanda ?s women an extraordinary burden and an unprecedented opportunity. An inspiring story of loss and redemption. God Sleeps in Rwanda captures the spirit of five courageous women as they rebuild their lives, redefining women?s roles in Rwandan society and bringing hope to a wounded nation.
4:05pm -- The Noble Struggle of Amia Wadud
Directed by: Elli Safari (29 min)
On March 18, 2005, Amina Wadud shocked the Islamic world by leading a mixed-gender Friday prayer congregation in New York . THE NOBLE STRUGGLE OF AMINA WADUD is a fascinating and powerful portrait of this African-American Muslim woman who found soon herself the subject of much debate and Muslim juristic discourse. In defying 1400 years of Islamic tradition, her action caused global awareness of the struggle for women?s rights within Islam but also brought violence and death threats against her.
4:40pm -- My Daughter the Terrorist
Directed by: Beate Arnestad (58min)
An exceedingly rare inside look at an organization that most of the world has blacklisted as a terrorist group, this fascinating documentary was made by the first foreign film crew who were given access to the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) of Sri Lanka.
Question & Answer segment with audience will follow.
Each screening program is $10.00 (USD). To purchase a screening ticket click here:
Screening Program III
Special Forums: Location: Faison Firehouse Theater, 6 Hancock Place
(124th Street, between St. Nicholas & Morningside Aves.)
Harlem, New York
1:00pm - 2:30pm -- A Conversation with the top Nollywood Superstars
'All About Nollywood.' A detailes discussion about the burgeoning Nigerian Film industry. Why is the Nigerian Film Industry exploding. Come and hear the perspective of the top industry superstars Patience Ozokwo (Mama G) and Ini Edo.
Moderated by: Khadijah Janine Diouf
Khadijah Janine Diouf (Producer/Director) started her professional career in Broadcast News in 1989. Since that time, Ms Diouf has held positions in both television and radio as an Executive Producer, Producer/Segment Producer, and New Program Development coordinator. In 2000, Ms. Diouf, served as co-creator and Executive Producer on 'Politically Speaking', a talk radio show dedicated to global politics.
Sponsored by: New York Women In Film & Television
Special Forum price is $15.00 (USD). To purchase tickets click here:
Free for NYWIFT members
3:00pm - 4:00pm -- A Conversation with Celebrated Hollywood, Make-Up Artist, Nzingha and Investment Banker, Akeh Ufuamaka on Artist Financing
Overview: Participants are invited to hear the perspective of industry leaders on, how to stay afloat during economically trying times.
Nzingha -- With 17 years of experience in the fashion and entertainment industries, award winning makeup artist, NZINGHA has become a celebrity amongst celebrities. She is the founder of ZFACEINC, a boutique company of young artists. She wanted to 'help?young artists coming into the industry by developing their careers and helping them to hone their skills in business management. NZINGHA founded a non-profit organization as well, called, 'FACE FOR THE CURE,' after her mother died from breast cancer in 2000. FACE FOR THE CURE services women undergoing Chemo Therapy, and those in recovery from Chemo Therapy treatments.
Akeh Ufumaka is a personal banker with JP Morgan Chase. He focuses on assisting small business start-ups with financing and strategic development services.
*Support materials will be distributed.
Special Forum price is $15.00 (USD). To purchase tickets click here:
5:00pm - 6:00pm
SPECIAL ACTRESS/ACTORS BOOTCAMP
The Art of Being In the Moment, Master Class
Hosted By: Actress, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney
Location: Faison Firehouse Theater, 6 Hancock Place
(124th Street, between St. Nicholas & Morningside Aves.), Harlem, New York
This special class will be part audition workshop, craft evaluation and constructive critique. Participants will experience candid caring creative insight from an industry insider. This is guaranteed to be an all intriguing informative and entertaining asset to anyone and everyone serious about the art of acting.
*Closing Award Ceremony tickets are $50.00 (USD) for VIP seating and $35.00 (USD) for General Seating.
*Seating is limited!
To purchase tickets for General Seating click here:
tickets
To purchase tickets for VIP Seating click here:
VIP tickets
source:www.om-records.com
Throughout his new album, “The Push,” Raashan echoes the themes and sounds of the roots of hip-hop music, intertwining social and political trials and tribulations with personal struggles and discovery. The ‘Peace’ video’s vintage vibe runs smoothly together with Raashan Ahmad’s thoughtful lyrics and classic beats. With the world in a current state of panic, Raashan is preaching peace on an individual and a global level. Combining the creative forces of director Eric A. Leppo and the passion behind Raashan’s lyrics leads to the creation of this dope video. When describing the collaboration process Leppo has said, “We realized we were both independently trying to get some similar messages across so it made a lot sense to combine forces through this project. To do justice to the topic of peace in our war- filled times, I could see from the start this would need to be a dense four minutes of animation visually and ideologically. After listening to the song and talking with Raashan about it, I came to see the song as an appeal for peace to the world, and at the same time as also a huge thought provoker, doing everything from prodding us to think about why someone might say “Peace!” instead of “bye,” to making us consider the general concepts of peace and conflict in and among different countries, classes, religions, time periods, races, species and beliefs.” There is no doubt that the song and video do the message of ‘Peace’ mad justice!
Unofficially produced by madlib
Featuring tanya morgan, che grand, median, and elucid
Artwork by spec boogie
Written originally for the anthology We Don’t Need Another Wave: Dispatches from the Next Generation of Feminists (Ed. Melody Berger), Kelly’s poem “Real Women I Know” serves as the foundation for her third spoken word video collaboration with award-winning director Karen Lin and ZuZu Films. The poem’s invitation to acknowledge, support, and celebrate the idiosyncrasies of everywoman will be captured in New York. The video will reveal intimate portraits of what “real” women experience, endure, and overcome on a daily basis. To contribute to this project, click here.
Royce 5’9 and his M.I.C. imprint are teaming up with One Records for the release of Royce’s highly-anticipated forthcoming solo-LP Street Hop, due out in the first quarter of 2009. The album is executive produced by DJ Premier and has generated a major buzz through overwhelming critical praise.
A video for Street Hop’s lead-single, the DJ Premier-produced “Shake This,” will be released later this month. Directed by Rik Cordero (responsible for Nas’ “The N Word”, Snoop Dogg’s “Neva Have 2 Worry” & The Roots “75 Bars”), this video will be the first of two collaborations between Royce and Cordero. “Shake This” will also be accompanied by the Carlos Broady produced B-Side single and video “Part Of Me”.
Street Hop will also feature production from DJ Premier, Nottz, Green Lantern, Carlos Broady, Ski, Kay Gee and Emile, and guest appearances from Bun B, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Crooked I along with a few other surprises that will be unveiled at a later date.
Royce’s mixtapes have built anticipation, becoming a countdown leading up to the day that the actual album is finally available for public consumption. And what the public hears on his wildly-popular mixtapes is just a taste of what Royce has to offer. “This album will definitely show the world why I'm the one to watch right now. I'm happy about my new partnership between M.I.C and One Records, because it’s time to ignite the streets.”
Royce’s unwavering passion for music and hunger for the game keeps him in the studio day and night. This album will be the true beginning of a newly energized Royce, which will start withStreet Hopand live through his official forthcoming solo-projects. Knowing that his finest creations are only months away from being heard, Royce exudes a swag of confidence. “I’m ready to show all these other rappers just how wack they really are.”
Royce 5’9 is the newest addition to the upstart One Records imprint, home to the recently released Vast Aire’s latest solo-LP Dueces Wild (2008). Promoting quality over quantity, One Records owner Hanley Halem attests that his motto “One Music, One Record At A Time” is further validated by their alignment with Royce as he laments, "One Records is proud to be in business with Royce. He is an amazing talent and we feel that he has yet to reach his peak as an artist. Street Hop is a breath of fresh air, at a time when the industry really needs it and we are anxiously looking forward to releasing it.”
Royce will be embarking on a tour with D-12 and Joe Budden on November 12th thru the top of 2009, where he will be previewing tracks from Street Hop and new material from his recently released mixtape Bar Exam 2.
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