~Arian Muhammad

dee 1

These are just two acts of many that are now taking place sparking a new wave cultural activism against degrading  images in hip hop reaching all the way to Africa. In a 2001 address to hip hop artists in New York  Minister Farrakhan stated “I do not think it is an accident that music and culture have moved to this time and that the spoken word has become that which is affecting youth throughout the entire planet. In countries where governments do not like western music or western civilization, people are sneaking around listening to the word and moving to the beat of the hip hop generation. – In China, in Japan, in Europe, in Africa, in the Caribbean, in Central America and South America, the youth are following you.”

On Feb 28th we come to see that this statement is indeed true when a youtube video was uploaded of ten year old Watoto From The Nile sending a “Letter to Lil Wayne”. A song  which has been described as a direct statement of justice explaining that people are growing tired and fed up with the constant degredation of Black women inside of Hip Hop music. Children voice thier views and opinions on the melodic track.

During the speech the minister went on to say “When you are a rapper and you understand your leadership role, you must understand that, with leadership comes responsibility. You did not ask for it. It is imposed on you, but you now have to accept responsibility that you have never accepted.” This address took place ten years ago and was heard by many of our popular artists and executives both major and independent. But just who is this man Minister Farrakhan? Who is this ‘Islamic preacher’ who is listened to by millions, and sought out for guidance throughout the world of politics, entertainment, and religion? Who is this man oft times seen with and embraced by many famous Black artists, actors, and musicians?  What did Minister Farrakhan really say at the 2011 Saviours’ Day address in Chicago?

To the news source that twisted the address and reported Minister Farrakhan as calling Rihanna fans swine, in an attempt to divert people away from a man that you don’t want us to listen to, you have instead provided a platform to expose a new audience to someone that a generation in confusion would benefit very much from hearing. During the Feb 27th address before dissecting images portrayed to the masses throughout popular culture, Minister Farrakhan spoke on the inner manifestation of god that lies within all human beings ” I’m not into condemning you for what you do like I’m the holy one.. we all come out of the same cut.. but I know what I see in you so I’m always trying to pull it because I see God”

He then stated that we are beginning to be ‘swine-like’ in our behavior and  have become numb to indecency and proceeded to speak on what was recently shown on the annual televised award show. “I saw my beautiful sister the other night at the Grammy Awards… my poor sister… and she was dressed.. almost with like a pair of drawers and she got her legs wide open and is just grinding away.  (brief pause) If that didn’t revolt you, you’re beginning to be a swine. When you can sit down and listen to somebody and every third word is “you mf ” this and they start talking about the act that is done in private and bring it out in the public and make it so low down and filthy and you’re sitting there laughing at a filthy damn joke and then the next day you go to church and sing in the choir you are a swine.”

This may be a tough pill to swallow for a generation not used to being checked for it’s behavior to the near point of self-destruction. But we have to ask have the masses truly fallen into lowly state of existence and have come to love more and more extreme and debauched expressions of artistry? Is it true that society is being made to accept and be comfortable with degeneracy?  If so what effect is it having on our youth and civilization in general? So far it is appearing that a movement is emerging that conflicts with the messages being sent out by mainstream machines. Things are gradually coming to a point where you’ll eventually have to choose sides and decide if you want to break away and be a part of what benefits humanity or continue to bask in that which ill-affects us and our future, the youth. Either way you have to think.. even the babies are crying out against the madness.

Before you go check out Casta Stone a young artist from West Africa stepping to the mic to prove that all hope isn’t lost..

Peace,

I am writing this letter as a sister in the Nation of Islam, your sister, and as a fellow artist, to those who wish to help Minister Farrakhan in this mission through the Ministry of Arts and Culture based on what we have been given from him but not taught exactly ‘how’ to do in a step by step manner. I write this letter in hopes of clarifying the intent, motive, and vision behind  the MIA Music Is Alive Campaign and the recent move called the ‘17 day theory’ which calls for pulling support away from entities that aid in our destruction as a people and redirecting our support to that which contributes to our growth and independence.

The MIA Music Is Alive Campaign was founded on the 9^th issue of the Millions More Movement and is an attempt to unite like-minded artists in a campaign to spread the seeds of cultural transformation across the nation. This campaign was formed in 2008 beginning as a letter to the minister and has gained the support of many artists both within and outside of the NOI along with activists within the hip-hop community.  Recently we’ve sent out the idea of a 17 day call for withdrawal of support of degrading songs and images via radio, purchase, and download.

This is more so aimed towards those of us who have a following and can spread the message since we do not support this culture anyways, I believe.  This may be deemed as a bold move esp. upon the release of a tweet that called for a ‘shut down of “corporate ignorance”. But I believe that those of you whom I am writing to know, understand or have some idea of the corporatization of and exploitation of our talent by outside forces and not only did the Minister say for us to demand an end to such but we have been called upon as artists to recommit to the development of our people.

A way to do this is to address and confront the ‘machine’ of ignorance that we all know exists and as the case is with our Minister the interest is not to ‘attack’ our people but help to raise and awaken them, however rude the awakening may be. The fact is we are losing our children and not truly realizing that there is a real war going on while the people are popping their fingers.  It is hard to write this without shedding tears because I see the Minister pleading with us not only for us to make the necessary steps to save ourselves but to help him save our people. I am asking if we could unite in this effort.

I am asking if we can unite and put our heads together on this because although we have not been given specific instructions, we have been given a base.  I see that base in the 9^th issue of the Millions More Movement and we established MIA upon that base. No one told me to do it, yet at the same time by studying the words of the Minister, I saw it as an instruction.  Recently while speaking of the trouble I was experiencing with support I was blessed to have a brother tell me of a recent experience he had with the Minister where he was invited to dinner with him. The minister was speaking on how he wanted ‘Witnesses’. In a booming voice he asked the brother “since when did we have to have permission to stand up and be a witness? “ (Paraphrasing from conversation) “Who will stand up and be a witness that a man came and raised us up from death into life?!”

That was definitely inspiration for me to continue despite the emergence of trial. Now, since this letter is addressed to artists/activists I asked how can we be witnesses that we heard a man like Minister Farrakhan?  A man who is not ‘loved’ by the world for the truth he represents and neither wishes to conform or lie in bed with it? Of course we have to be wise in our dealing because the enemy is wise also. In 2005 I will never forget how the Minister called for ministries to be established and 10 issues were laid out that were given to as the absolute last hope of our people. Within our community I see that respective movements are growing to achieve the goal of cultural transformation that are being expressed in different ways butI believe that there is power in unity.

I believe there should be a line of communication between us so we can operate faster and more effectively. If there is something we disagree with along the way or feel would not work, we have to at least be willing to offer suggestions for improvement as opposed to simply objecting and withholding our support. The believer is the friend of the believer and we are in the hour where we will come to see this quickly so let us start to become the sister and brother of one another now in our fight to establish that which has awakened us amongst an already present force of opposition.

The 17 day theory is about bringing attention to a stance against nonsense but it doesn’t end there. We have to unify and find ways to better support our artists who represent the opposite. The idea for the 17 day theory came from discussing how Egypt made a difference in 17 days, and has officially started on Feb 16^th. What would happen if we spent the remaining 12 days and our days from there on going over ideas to help usher in the change we want to see, in a “collective” manner? The cultural transformation, the hereafter, none of it is going to fall into our laps, we have to build it, and it is solely upon us and our reliance on the God.

Please take time to read the 9^th issue of the millions more movement and reach out if you are serious about helping to establish a new cultural paradigm and willing to unite and come forward with ways to effectively perform our duty of civilization. How will they know except they have a teacher? And how can they have a teacher except he be sent?  We have been and are being sent, so let us be bearers of witness to those whom we are being sent to that one has indeed come amongst us to lift us from our condition. Can we establish a solid system of support?  Can we really evolve from being event driven into an operating entity? And last but not least can we do it together?

With love, humility, sincerity, and earnest desire to help the Minister,

Your Sister Arian “poetess” Muhammad

9th Issue of The Millions More Movement:

9Artistic/ Cultural Development

We demand a greater accountability and responsibility of our artists, entertainers, industry personnel and executives, for them to commit to the redevelopment and upliftment of our people. We demand an end to the exploitation of our talent by outside forces. We will make strides in obtaining greater control over the means of production and distribution of our immense artistic talent and creative genius. We advocate for cultural development, and for the knowledge of our original culture to be used as a model for future advancement.

Read the other 9 issues at www.millionsmoremovement.com

To assist in this effort contact: musicofamovement@yahoo.com or call 810.990.7624

“Facebook Like” button

FACEBOOK: FRESH DAILY

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fresh-Daily/110830952269084?v=wall

We are pleased to support a wonderful community service effort sponsored by multiple non-profit and grassroots organizations in the Indianapolis area. This full day of events includes a food pantry for the needy, an art display, a community dialogue,  and feature performances by a host of phenomenal poets including Tasleem Jamila El-Hakim, Lyricist 19, and O.C.E.A.N. with  HBO Def poet Sunni Patterson as the highlight of the evening.

Like what you heard?  Be sure to log on to www.blogtalkradio.com/a-queen-by-all-means for a special Hip Hop segment on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 9pm eastern you can also start off your Saturday mornings with Wisdom Smoothies at 9am.

For Immediate Release

Contact:          Tony Muhammad

Vice-Chair Difference Makers, Inc.

754-246-0222

organichiphopevent@yahoo.com

(L-R Arian “Poetess” Muhammad, Jasiri X, LaGuardia Cross Jr., Adisa Banjoko, Tony “Hip Hop Educator” Muhammad)

Difference Makers Inc. Non -Profit Organization and the FIU African and African Diaspora Studies Graduate Students Association Present

The 2010 Organic Hip Hop Conference:

“Building a National Movement of Responsibility”

October 29th – 30th

MIAMI, Florida – For the past six years, The Organic Hip Hop Conference has become a leading voice in advocating healthy living through Hip Hop culture to the South Florida community.  Just as Hip Hop as a culture and movement was founded under the principle of saving the lives of the youth in the streets of the South Bronx in the 1970s, the legacy continues today, as the message of Organic Hip Hop is oriented towards setting new qualitative standards in the ways that we think, eat and act as individuals, families and communities.

Since 2004, the breadth of the conference has expanded.  It began as a lecture symposium coupled with a vegetarian banquet, conscientious entertainment and cultural venders at Florida International University’s Biscayne Bay.  Since then, it has turned into an annual staple experience for the community filled with workshops, film screenings, award ceremonies and concerts.  In recent years it has been held in key cultural South Florida locations; at the Miami Light Project’s Light Box near Wynnewood’s distinguished arts community (2008) and the historic African Cultural Arts Center in the heart of the Liberty City community (2009).  The conference has attracted people of different genres who seek to promote Hip Hop as a culture and force that can positively transform lives.  Past Organic Hip Hop events featured cultural and intellectual icon KRS One, Professor Griff of the famed Rap group Public Enemy, Queen Afua and Supa Nova Slom, Brother J (of X Clan), journalist Davey D, holistic dietician Dr. Laila O. Afrika and community leader Min. Rasul Muhammad.

The 7^th Annual Organic Hip Hop Conference will take place on October 29 – 30, 2010.  Unlike previous conferences, it will be a part of a larger national movement of collective responsibility among artists called the MIA (Music is Alive) Campaign.  Congruently, the theme of this year’s conference will be “Building a National Movement of Responsibility.”  Co-sponsoring the conference will be Difference Makers, Inc. Non-Profit Organization and the FIU African and African Diaspora Studies Graduate Students Association.

Day 1 of the conference (Friday, October 29) will be held at Florida International University’s Modesto Maidique Campus.  From 9 am to 3 pm, both public and private school educators are invited to partake in workshops demonstrating how to incorporate the empowering voice of Hip Hop in day to day classroom activities.  Workshop instructors include Organic Hip Hop Conference co-organizer Tony Muhammad, Hip Hop Chess Federation co-founder Adisa Banjoko, national recording artist behind the “Free the Jena 6” anthem Jasiri X. Smith, MIA Campaign founder Arian Muhammad AKA Poetess and PATH (Preserving, Archiving & Teaching Hip Hop History) founder Brimstone 127.

Workshop instructors will convene again at 7:30 pm for a panel discussion on the importance of “Building a National Movement of Responsibility” within Hip Hop.  Immediately following the panel discussion there will be a live band local artist showcase featuring J Phonnix; Laguardia; Mecca AKA Grimo; Lip, Tongue and Ears founder Shamelle Jenkins; Kimani Kenyatta; Big Babatunde; Orion and Lox the Rippa.  To attend please RSVP the AADS GSA by calling 305-348-4264.

Day 2 of the conference (Saturday, October 30) will be held at two locations.  The first portion will be held at the historic African Heritage Cultural Arts Center in Liberty City.  From 10 am to 2pm, youth as well as families are invited to participate in interactive workshops oriented towards healthy eating, thinking and living.  Workshop topics include “A New Diet for the Hip Hop Generation,” “Kemetic Yoga 101,” “The Value of the Spoken Word” and “Chess and the Martial Arts.”

On Saturday evening, MIA Campaign organizers will gather at Catalyst for a “Build Session” with Miami Hip Hop community leaders for the purpose of discussing how to develop and expand educational and cultural programs both locally and nationally.  Shortly following the “Build Session” attendees will engage in games of chess, checkers and dominos while local DJs spin smooth grooves and artists display their talents open mic style.

For more info, visit www.organichiphopevent.wordpress.com.

ARIZONA IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY

Phoenix to Experience 1^st Annual Hip Hop Town Hall “Spotlighting Hip Hop and Politics”

On October 30, 2010 the Phoenix metropolitan community will experience the 1st Annual Hip Hop Town Hall presented by the Phoenix College NAACP/BSU.  This event will engage young adults in meaningful dialogue about current issues which are important to them in a format which is appealing to them and in a genre which many enjoy and value. The 2010 theme is “Spotlighting Hip Hop and Politics”. The purpose of the Hip Hop Town Hall is to provide a platform for people to develop an awareness of and dialogue about issues which are germane to them and their communities. Hip Hop has a huge voice for many people, regardless of region, race, religion, class, etc. This Town Hall will provide a platform for the often unrecognized positive impact of Hip Hop through education and debate on community issues.  Partnering with the Phoenix College NAACP/BSU are the Black Entrepreneurship Association, Peacefest Organization, and Queen YoNasDa, hip hop artist,the National Director of the Indigenous Nations Alliance-Millions More Movement, and the initiator of Hip Hop 4 Haiti.

Students are dialoging and Hip Hop songs and videos are addressing current topics, such as immigration, ethnic studies, affirmative action, mosque placement, use of the n-word, etc.  For those who may not find other venues appealing, there is a need to provide a platform for intellectual dialogue and to listen to all sides of these issues. In addition, many people are indifferent or unaware of current issues, and this forum aims to instill in them the need to exercise their citizenship through being fully informed and voting.

The First Annual Hip Hop Town Hall “Spotlighting Hip Hop and Politics” will bring overall awareness of past, present, and future pieces of legislation. The meeting will discuss how these laws affect or unite the community. Both local and national political leaders and hip hop artists will be presenters at the Town Hall which promises to be a very engaging and thought-provoking evening.

Currently looking for Partners and Sponsors..

For more information about this event, please email queenyonasda@aol.com or camilla.westenberg@pcmail.maricopa.edu

By Tony Muhammad
Hiphopeducator19@gmail.com
http://tonymuhammad.wordpress.com/

Peace and Blessings! We are now in the year 2010; marking the beginning of a new year and the birth of a new era of intelligence in this universal culture we have come to know as Hip Hop. Hip Hop has been best defined by one of its greatest icons, KRS-One. In the song Hip Hop Lives, KRS-One says:

Hip means to know
It’s a form of intelligence
To be hip is to be up-date and relevant
Hop is a form of movement
You can’t just observe a hop
You got to hop up and do it
Hip and Hop is more than music
Hip is the knowledge
Hop is the movement
Hip and Hop is intelligent movement
All relevant movement
We selling the music

So according to this lyrical definition, in order to live and express Hip Hop to its greatest potential we must stay in tune with the modern times and act in accordance with what is most needed in those times. As the Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan puts it, “Time dictates the agenda!” I have encountered many “old school heads” that argue that we need to return to the spirit and expression of Hip Hop’s golden era (late 80s and early 90s). Time and time again I have disagreed with this assessment. While it is enriching and inspiring to study how the knowledge and wisdom that was pregnant in the music of that time inspired many of us to become the cultivated men and women that we are today, we must keep in mind that it may not be the medium of expression needed to have a significant impact on the hearts and minds of the people today; especially young people. The music has changed and so too the culture has changed.
What we are countering today goes far beyond the senseless street violence of the 80s that prompted noted Hip Hop artists to produce the Stop The Violence Movement in the East Coast and We’re All In The Same Gang Movement in the West Coast. In truth, we have just experienced a whole decade in which the minds of our people, especially the youth, have been corrupted like never before. Corporate media on all levels has fostered an attraction and consequently an addiction to materialism, violence, sex and sexual abuse. This is so much so, that our young Brothers and Sisters, many of whom are growing up in homes that offer very little love and guidance, are being raised to believe that it is totally acceptable, and therefore normal, for a man to inflict harm on another human being so that his own senses could be pleased. Our young men mainly become victims to this in the streets and our young ladies mainly become victims to this domestically “between the sheets” … or literally by force in the back seat of cars.

Tony Muhammad- Miami FL Writer, Social Studies teacher, Co-organizer of The MIA Music Is Alive Campaign

The predominant image of a young man of color by way of subliminal media suggestion is one that is constantly in and out of jail, jobless and maintains very little responsibility for self or others. Our young ladies are made to believe that if they do not look like Beyonce or some object that is “sexually arousing,” then they are not valuable in the eyes of anyone, including themselves. In response, many of those of the older generations within the culture become disgusted by the new trends and in their bitterness do not take the time to drop seeds of wisdom to the youth. Either this or in their attempts to stay relevant (A.K.A. “cool”) and therefore financially successful, the older folks pick up the negative trends that the younger generation has adopted, both in music and lifestyle. When all of this happens, there is no true guidance. Overall, what has been fostered for well over a decade across the board is a culture of death and disrespect and Hip Hop has been one of the main vehicles used in order to bring it into existence.

According to a recent national report compiled by Northeastern University criminologists, “54 percent of gun violence victims are black males between the ages of 14 and 17.” According to the same report, “the number of homicides involving black youths — as victims and perpetrators — surged by more than 30 percent from 2002 to 2007, even as overall murder rates across the U.S. have been relatively stable.” It is also noted in this same study that guns have increasingly became the weapon of choice since 2000 (by 40 percent). While the homicide rate among Latino youth is statistically not as high as among Black youth, it is found that the homicide rate among poor urban Latinos is still well over three times higher than the white homicide rate.

We must pose the question, “Can we afford to lose another generation of young people of color?” Emphatically, the answer is “No!” However, in order to effect a change, a new breed of role modeling within Hip Hop needs to be birthed. We can no longer compromise and simply settle with financially successful personalities who market and distribute music and fashion that promote violence, sexism and unintelligent mass consumerism to speak to young people as why they shouldn’t engage in these behaviors. These methods have proven to be ineffective.

This is why a national call is being made right now by a network of activists and artists within the culture to consolidate our efforts nationally and to engage young people in the process of actively rebuilding our economically wasted cities; ultimately devoting ourselves to a day of service that we claim for ourselves in which we are in control of a responsible image of Hip Hop that we can claim for ourselves.

For anyone interested in joining this national effort

We can be reached at
hiphopdos@yahoo.com
or call 754-246-0222.

“For Colored Girls who feel like Black Bitches after watching BET”

Got me feeling like maybe
I am just a bad bitch or buss-it baby
Nothing more than a D cup and round butt
Face down and ass up
Dropping it low for he with the biggest bankroll
Cause she on TV looks just.. like… me
In red lip gloss, a corset, and lace weave
Ready to suck it off or get laid
Oversexed and underpaid
I
Am an all week freak
All blonde streaks
And ass cheeks
To rap beats

I
Am a consumer
Compulsive buyer
All I do is shop and bop
Off these tricks or the gov’ment
Compulsive liar
See me on Maury, yelling, “Sorry!”
“This gotta be wrong!”
And still pop that P for the theme song

I
Am
A loudmouth bitch
Checking his email, voicemail
Facebook, and Twitter
And if I see another chick picture with some glitter
Imma get wit her
His space is MySpace -
I’m all in his face
And if it’s a problem, I’m running up behind him
Wynita Bynum
Yeah, I know you HEARD me!
Fat, Black, and insecure
Martin Lawrence, Eddie Murphy
I deserve to get fucked on the floor like Halle Berry
Cause that’s the game, girlfriends,
Kelsey Grammer, Tyler Perry
Hell to the naw
And you can’t get wit it if you can’t follow this ass in the mall
And if they wanna be like Mike and go White
Or like Tiger and rather find her Caucasian bussing tables
Than Black with an education
I’ll go dyke
Like Nicki or Eve -
I am B.E.T.
And you can’t change me
Unless you change the station.
© 2010 Nikala Asante