It’s on! Congratulations to President-elect, Barack Obama for starters, but additionally — in contrast to what many uninformed opinion leaders may believe, hip-hop has a heart. I have to mention this, because hip-hoppers and hip-hop organizations such as The Universal Zulu Nation, The Temple of Hip-hop Kulture, Free Ya Mind and Hip-hop Congress do so many positive things to represent and uphold what is great about hip-hop and the efforts are regularly overlooked by those with the power to magnify this important work to counter the ills of our society.



So, here goes! The Third Annual Hip-hop for The Homeless Benefit has been confirmed for Saturday December 6 at Olympia’s China Clipper. Hip-hop for The Homeless seeks donations of clothing, food and cash each year before the traditional winter holiday season in an effort to feed and clothe people during the cold season. The donations are distributed to resource centers for those in need, such as Bread and Roses, Camp Quixote and The Thurston County Food Bank. Confirmed guests and performers are: Kokane (That’s right … the P-Funkateer from NWA, Above The Law and Ruthless Records fame!), Wojack of Criminal Nation (The lead vocalist/writer from Tacoma’s legendary and pioneering hip-hop crew), Knucklehead Banga (A protégé of Wojack’s and from Tacoma by way of the dirty south), Alex Duncan (the dope Reggae/Dancehall phenom), Asliani (A fly female MC from Beantown (Boston, for those under rocks), DJ Luvva J (yours truly) and all party people with a purpose.



Hip-hop for The Homeless was founded by our brothers and sisters to the north in the mighty province of British Columbia’s famed city of Vancouver. The Van City Hip-hop for the Homeless was an event that I took pride in contributing to since 2002, and my work there inspired the movement here in the United States. It is an honor to serve those in need and the least of us … For some of us, it is a duty. Hip-hop for the Homeless will accept food, clothing and cash donations at the door in order to join the party.



On the music release front, look for new music from Miz of The Real Life Click. He told me recently that he dropped The Prelude in late October, so if you don’t find it in the store … find Miz! The Lacey-based Boriqua MC can be found somewhere in The 25360! Also, Hip-hop for the Homeless performer, Asliani has an item to look for. Her pro-feminist/humanist release, You Do Or You Don’t, hits stores and the Internet in early December. After hearing what she is rapping about, I can say that she is developing her flow, but her words and purpose on the mic leave very, very little to be desired. Asliani boldly confronts the shallow lyricism and materialism that challenge the original hip-hop aesthetic. In one track, “On The Real,” Asliani confronts the “heartless pimp/mack” attitude that is frequent if not common within our hip-hop community. She professes that she can see through the pimps’ shallow words and knows that even a professional gentleman of leisure needs love and affection. Go ‘head, girl!



On a less inspirational note and one of respect, Rest in Peace to Def Jam’s Shakir Stewart. Stewart committed suicide a little more than a week ago, and his story was one of great inspiration. The Bay Area native relocated to Atlanta to strike up his career and began in the recording industry at the entry level. His hard work placed him in influential positions where he would go on to sign artists like Young Jeezy to Def Jam as an artist and repertoire specialist before earning a promotion to executive vice president of oOperations, filling the sizeable shoes left by former president, Sean Carter. You know … Jay-Z? Anyway, what a loss — peace to Shakir Stewart. One wonders what was traversing his mind. In the words of William DeVaugh, “Be thankful for what you got” … Stay up!





Peace & Love

 

Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. is an editor, writer and producer. A graduate of Washington State University and student at The Evergreen State College, he writes and edits the Pacific Northwest section of OZONE Magazine and hosts and produces Live From I-5 Radio (since ‘89) every Friday at 3 p.m. on KAOS 89.3 FM (www.kaosradio.org) in Olympia. He writes a weekly hip-hop column in the music section on the Weekly Volcano’s Web site.