2 Nite!!!!!!!!!!!

Night Biters Book Signing at Laurel Book Store in Oakland

If you’re in town stop by

Night Biters Book Signing

Recognizing Diversity

With all the talk about Susan Boyle losing Britain Got talent that no love has been given to the BGT winners Diversity

The 11-member troupe was led by lead dancer and choreographer British-NigerianAshely Banjo, his brotherJordan Banjo is also a member while Nigerian-Born Ike Ezekwugo is the final Nigerian link in the troupe.  While Ike was born in Nigeria and migrated to the UK, Ashley and Jordan are children of Nigerian, Funso Banjo, a former boxer and now a successful businessman and his British wife, Danielle – a former dancer with the Royal Ballet. The troupe performed an energetic and captivating routine that thrilled the crowd and wowed viewers. The British press is already enamored with the young dancers as they are being championed as positive role models for Black Youth in the UK. According to Ashley, ‘My education matters to me…As far back as I can remember, my parents drummed into me the importance of doing well at school. I’m not going to be spinning on my head when I’m 50, but as a qualified scientist I can always earn a living’. Ashley is currently studying Natural Science at Queen Mary University, Jordan is studying for his GCSEs and is already predicted top results while Ike will graduate with his Human Resource qualification soon. click here for more

The judges left Britain gobsmacked at their decision to select a goup of hip hop dancing brown skinned youth over a classically trained singer, but by doing so, they have made BGT truly an inclusive show, thats not afraid to look at its future.

The praise Cowell gave to Flawless (another exceptional dance group who many feel is better than diversity) were not empty

So the future is wide open for dance groups in Britain

but as for one of Diversity’s youngest dancers the future means back to school

Back to school: Perry Kiely, 13, returned to Gable Hall School in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex on Wednesday

Michael Jackson in Brazil Somebody Cared About Us

Shot in the Favelas of Brazil, this little seen video showcases the talent and the beauty of a segment in Brazil that’s rarely seen in a positive light. The media in Brazil take great care in only highlighting an image of blonde blue eye-ness and the dark skinned poor living outside the city is something that the government wish would just go away

I believe the video was shot by Spike Lee and it is a thing of great beauty, clearly handled with great care.

The Kanye Curriculum: 7 Ways to Be a Success

From Fast Company.com

Kanye West has proven himself with three critically acclaimed albums (the verdict is still out on 808s & Heartbreak) and record label GOOD Music. Along with Nike and Louis Vuitton shoelines, he has a clothing line called Past Tell, restaurant firm KW Foods, and the Kanye West Foundation. To sum up his success, Kanye teamed up with J. Sakiya Sandifer to write “Thank You and You’re Welcome.” Here are some words of wisdom from the book.

To learn the Kanye’s  Way to Success click here

Losing its Vibe

Vibe Magazine used to be a staple in the hip hop community, but ever since Editor-in-Chief Danyel Smith took over, the ship has been slowly sinking. I think we could say that she is single handedly responsible for Vibe Magazine falling apart.Recently, a story was published in Vibe which listed the Top 50 Hip Hop Blogs out today. If you look at their list, it’s clear to see that Vibe has NO CLUE what the kids are looking at. Ever since Danyel took over it seems like Vibe is detached with what’s going on in the entertainment world. A magazine that started out as something that hip-hop fans could be proud of has quickly turned into a magazine hip hop fans are ashamed of. click here for full article

Black rock artists have gotten past the fear that prevents many of us from fully following our interests, even when those interests aren’t seen as “traditionally” black. “I grew up listening to Joy Division, New Order, Echo & the Bunnymen, the Cure….” says TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone. “I simply identified with something in the [white rock] music.” He took that music as inspiration and, along with his bandmates, created Dear Science, the sharp, angry and euphoric genre-mashing album that Rolling Stone and SPIN unanimously named their 2008 album of the year. It was also one of the blackest albums I’ve heard. click here for full article

Hipster Health

Currently there is nothing cooler than being a hipster, but that doesn’t mean that being a hipster is not without its complications
Read below to maintain your hipster health

Tight Jeans

Those tight jeans Over the last several years, experts say they’ve been seeing more young women at a healthy weight complain of nerve damage symptoms. The culprit: too-tight jeans. click here

Tattoos

Find out what risks tattoos pose, ways to protect yourself and what to do if you no longer want the body art.

Tattoos gone wrong click here and here

Those Shoes

It took 4 million years of evolution to perfect the human foot. But we’re wrecking it with every step we take. click here

Skate Boarding

It is tempting for the eager skater to advance quickly through learning the basics, and it’s a temptation that’s worth resisting. If you want to progress, it is time well invested to learn the basics thoroughly, even if the moves are a little uncomfortable for you. Like a pyramid, everything else you do as a skater will be built on these first skills click here

As you live and Breathe

Hipsters  must be aware that they are viewed as a cultural threat click here

Another great article on Hipster rap click here

Can You Hear Me?

It is not uncommon among concertgoers to leave a concert unable to hear. In most cases their hearing returns shortly. Unfortunately, permanent hearing loss from loud concerts is becoming increasingly common click here

Also Check out this great site

Doctor Hipster says Be Careful

Check out the hipsters click here

Straight Out of Sudan

WITH his blue jeans, dreadlocks and lilting accent, it is difficult to imagine Emmanuel Jal as a bald, battle-hardened 12-year-old wielding an AK-47.But it has taken mental and emotional fortitude for the 29-year-old to front up at the Sydney Writers Festival this week and again dredge up the memories of his horrific childhood. Jal was only a small boy when war broke out in Sudan in the mid-1980s between the Islamic regime in the north and the mainly Christian south. click to read more

While his policeman father joined the guerilla Sudan People’s Liberation Army, Jal fled his home in southern Sudan as a seven-year-old with his siblings and mother, who was later murdered.

- Rapper Emmanuel Jal was one of the “Lost Boys” — youths caught up in violence in Sudan. He later escaped to Kenya. Now he’s making music about peace.

Emmanuel Jal plays at Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday party concert and is described by Peter Gabriel

as an artist with ‘the potential of a young Bob Marley’

NPR article click here

10 Questions: Emmanuel Jal  Time Magazine

Myspace

African Underground: Hip Hop in Senegal

Step into the African Underground and listen to a new voice inspired by religion, politics, old school Hip Hop and Senegalese culture.

For more information about this film and to take action, visit: www.mediathatmattersfest.org/8?id=7

Flawless Defined