Bmore’s Hip Hop Community Enters New Season
This past Tuesday night I attended an event at the 5 Seasons (Guilford Ave.) that was billed as a Townhall Forum for Baltimore’s Hip Hop community (Teens and Young Adults). C Love (pictured above with her “right hand man”, Ike) moderated the discussion. The aim of the night as I perceived it was to organize this powerful and passionate community behind shared objectives - the main one being challenging WERQ 92.3FM - currently the biggest Hip Hop“Hip Pop” mouthpiece in town. Talks of protest and marching was heard throughout the night - the kind of stuff that always perks my ears. But in addition, more nuanced and “sophisticated” strategies were discussed like organizing money and coming to the negotiating table not with a beggar’s mentality, but with big bargaining chips.
Not only was Hip Hop issues discussed, but other community groups like Baltimore Algebra Project and Baltimore Education Network were welcomed to the mic as well to speak to issues important to them. Even, Brandon Scott, a representative from City Council President, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s office was welcomed to the mic.
I was encouraged to hear how determined many in this community are to support each other and rally together behind shared objectives. Generals, bosses, CEO’s, gangstas, artists, activists, and preachers (ok - I think I was the only preacher in the room) thought it important enough to spend 2 hours discussing the condition of the community and how we are committed to changing it for the better.
At the center of it all was C Love - an extremely passionate sista of pure heart who obviously enjoys great respect from Bmore’s Hip Hop crowd. Many speakers paid homage to her and as the night progressed it was clear to see why. Anyone who can get that many people together on a Tuesday night and successfully manage massive egos for the purpose of community uplift deserves much respect. I’m convinced that C Love will not let the momentum of Tuesday night fade away. I look forward to supporting this branch of the revolution and hopefully partnering with C Love and Ogun on another similar initiative.
As we left the 5 Seasons, lightning and torrential rain showered the city as if to water the budding seeds of revolutionary ideas and cultivate the continued growth of necessary alliances. The thunder served as divine war drums announcing the onset of a new generation of activists who will earn their scars while battling injustice in the suites and streets of Baltimore.
October 11th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
“As we left the 5 Seasons, lightning and torrential rain showered the city as if to water the budding seeds of revolutionary ideas and cultivate the continued growth of necessary alliances. The thunder served as divine war drums announcing the onset of a new generation of activists who will earn their scars while battling injustice in the suites and streets of Baltimore.”
That was beautiful……it meant so much that you stayed until the end and I got the opportunity to meet you. I admire and respect much of what you say on your blog and your energy is very positive. I Look forward to the opportunity to work with you. I can be reached via email….I will give you my and ogun’s #s.
c
October 12th, 2007 at 12:27 am
Sup Bruh,
Didnt know about the event, sounds like it was great just the type of momentum we’ve been talking about. I would love to get some of the people involved with us at the NAACP Branch. We need this new blood to keep things jumping.
Keep it going
E
October 12th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
This is awesome,
The Hip-Hop generation has made some very positive contributions to the black culture, society and the world, albeit their contributions are often overlooked. The Hip Hop movement is a revolution that includes a message that is encased in a multi-facted aft form!
I was impressed by Rev. Stanley Burrell some years ago, many of you know him as MC Hammer. He and several other rappers took it upon themselves to protest some proposed legislation that California voters were expected to vote upon several years ago. That legislation would have had a serious impact on youngsters in the Golden State.
Hammer and company had a ‘mock prison cell’ constructed and set up in public view. They had themselves locked into the cell, in public view in Alviso (just outside of San Jose) California, to demonstrate what would happen to our youngsters if the legislation was voted into law.
Russel Simmons has also appeared at many of Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conferences; and Puffy and others are doing their best to make a positive ‘political’ impact upon the nation. Keep up the good work, and perhaps all of the seperate groups could work on something nationwide.
However, don’t expect us over 50 Hip Hoppers to be able to move like you youngs folks can - well perhaps Reverend Burrell, but the rest of us…!!