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‘Information Age’: an interview wit’ M1 of the revolutionary rap group dead prez
November 23, 2012
The rap group dead prez have by far some of the most radical politics of any artists in American music today. We caught up with M1 to talk music and politics for a minute, right before they come out here this Saturday, Nov. 24, and rap songs from their new album “Information Age” as a part of the Rebel Soul Fest, which is going down at Yoshi’s in San Francisco.
The San Francisco Black Film Festival is back!
June 9, 2012
Summertime in the Bay Area is nothing without all of the music, food and film festivals. If you missed the Oakland International Film Festival, there is still time for you to catch the Bay’s biggest Black film festival, the San Francisco Black Film Festival, which runs June 15-17 at a number of theaters around San Francisco. This year Leo Sullivan will be in attendance. He is one of the cartoon visionaries who created Fat Albert and Looney Tunes. Digital Underground will also be a part of this year’s festivities, as well as Black Panther Party co-founder and chairman Bobby Seale.
Occupy the Airwaves: an interview wit’ the rap group Rebel Diaz
December 24, 2011
We feel it’s important to be a part of this conversation. If there’s a national and international conversation going on against capitalism and imperialism, we need to be a part of that. But folks also gotta undersand that racism needs to be talked about and that white privilege still exists.
The People’s Lunch Counter in Texas: an interview wit’ organizer Seidah Williams
August 16, 2011
Seidah Williams, an organizer with the People’s Lunch Counter, says PLC provides an atmosphere that nurtures and develops self determination by the way of community and home gardening, holistic health and wellness, and political education. PLC’s Black August Course honors fallen freedom fighters.
The future of music: an interview wit’ musician Rico Pabón
June 20, 2011
Rico Pabón is one of the most talented, versatile, dedicated and well-informed artists that I know on the West Coast. At home in the studio or on the stage, the Afro-Puerto Rican bilingual musician known as Rico Pabón is a man of many genres. Although hip hop is the music of his generation, he is just as comfortable singing traditional Afro-Carribbean tunes with a live band.
Poor Righteous Teachers: an interview wit’ Wise Intelligent
June 13, 2011
The Poor Righteous Teachers appealed to young people trying to find themselves and their Blackness, like me. It was an honor for me to interview Wise Intelligent because of how much I gained from his conscious lyrics.
‘Fly, Fresh, and Responsible,’ the mixtape: an interview wit MC/DJ Mike Flo
June 7, 2011
Many of y’all have seen Mike Flo at work with the rap group dead prez. Charismatic, eclectic, funny and good-natured – he has a mixtape that can be downloaded for free called “Fly, Fresh and Responsible” hosted by M1 of dead prez.
Straight outta Pittsburgh: an interview wit’ rapper Jasiri X
May 18, 2011
Jasiri X is one of the most famous up and coming conscious artists in the nation who has been making positive noise with his music. Straight out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jasiri X has been working with Paradise of the legendary rap group XClan in a community coalition called One Hood.
Stic.man’s ‘The Workout’: Making health political – and fun
May 12, 2011
“It benefits the system to have a sick, weak and high mass population of apathy to govern over” says Stic.man, of the revolutionary rap group dead prez, speaking about his latest solo album, “The Workout,” and how health and fitness is related to the political world we live in.
20th anniversary of the Welfare Poets: an interview wit’ founding member Rayzer
March 26, 2011
The Welfare Poets have shared a stage with Dead Prez, Immortal Technique and the revolutionary Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Minister of Information JR Valrey speaks with founding member Rayzer about what has kept them going strong for 20 years.
A conversation with the MOI JR, author of ‘Block Reportin’’
March 13, 2011
Bay Area journalist JR Valrey, the voice behind Block Report Radio on KPFA and associate editor of SF Bay View, known as the Minister of Information, reports vital news about the struggle against oppression. In the 31 interviews in his new book, “Block Reportin’,” he shows what he calls the “big gap between what is going on in the world and what is being reported. I want to inspire people to become their own media and to truly speak on behalf of the people.” Meet JR at his first book signing Saturday, March 19, 6:30 p.m., at Marcus Books, 3900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland.
Revolutionary and still grindin’: an interview wit’ Stic.man of dead prez
March 2, 2011
The legendary rap group dead prez will be coming to the Bay Area to perform at Yoshi’s in San Francisco this Friday, March 4. Their free mixtape, “Revolutionary But Gangsta Grillz,” was one of the dopest albums dropped in 2010.
Prisoner on stolen land: an interview wit’ Aaron about political prisoner Leonard Peltier
November 24, 2010
Leonard Peltier is a legendary leader of resistance against police and government oppression specifically dealing with the indigenous people of Turtle Island (Amerikkka). Now his nephew Aaron is releasing the “Free Leonard Peltier Album,” which features some of the most notable rappers on the scene today that rap for freedom. The listening party is Tuesday, Nov. 30, 6:30 p.m., at the Black Dot Cafe, 1195 Pint St., West Oakland.
Politics makes strange bedfellows
July 3, 2010
THE VERDICT is INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER. Justice for Oscar Grant says: ‘ All out to Broadway and 14th!’ And heed these wise words: ‘Requesting Activists and Citizens over 50 years old to show up at 14th street and Broadway. HANDS AROUND OUR YOUTH! We the older generation need to be present to protect our youth from possible police brutality. We must bear witness to our youths right to assemble and peacefully demonstrate. Let OPD know these are our children and deserve to be respected as full USA citizens with the right to peacefully demonstrate without police or outside interference. Come and protect our children.’
Rebel of the underground: an interview with RodStarz of Rebel Diaz
June 1, 2010
On the eve of Oscar Grant triggerman Johannes Mehserle’s trial in LA, the first time a Cali cop has ever been tried for an on-duty murder, Rebel Diaz from NYC and Oakland’s own Beeda Weeda are headlining ‘The Black and Brown Get Down for Oscar Grant’ benefit concert Wednesday, June 9, 9 p.m., at the Rockit Room. Meet Rod Starz of Rebel Diaz, some powerful allies, musically and politically! Pre-sale tickets – $15 at http://beedaweedarebeldiazsf.eventbrite.com/ – are going fast.
Kween among men: an interview wit’ the Oakland-based songstress Kween
February 12, 2010
Kween is one of the many talented vocalists hovering around the Bay, right alongside Ledisi, Femi, Netta B, Silk E, Chela Simone and others. Behind the mic, Kween is a beast, with a very distinct style and beautiful voice complemented by her seamless chocolate kiss complexion.
The mind of Gil Scott Heron, Part 2
October 13, 2009
I had to publish more of this interview with the legendary Gil Scott Heron because a whole lot of readers personally got at me and told me that it was too short. They told me that they wanted to hear more of what he had to say. If y’all want to read interview installments 3 and 4, y’all are goin’ to have to vote and put your bid in, because I literally had to transcribe this interview that was done for radio by hand. Otherwise you can wait until the Oct. 19, when it will premiere on Greg Bridges’ show, Transitions on Traditions, which airs on 94.1FM in Northern Cali (kpfa.org) at 9 p.m. Enough on that.
The Pac work ethic: an interview wit’ Umi of Prisoners of War
May 29, 2009
I have known Umi for a good half a decade and he has been a major supporter of the POCC’s Code of Culture all around the country, whether it was assisting now political prisoner Aaron Patterson when he was on the streets with the many campaigns that he was involved in, or whether it is him giving comrades moving through New York a place to lay their heads.
‘Oakland at war, a civil war, us against the authorities’
April 23, 2009
“It’s a civil war, us against the authorities – if you get pulled over, you’re so afraid for your life that you’re going to react as someone would react in war. A random traffic stop is life or death now.” – Mistah F.A.B., interviewed by Davey D
Davey D’s adventures at SXSW#1: Building with dead prez
March 28, 2009
Davey D chops it up with dead prez about the cop killings in Oakland and Oscar Grant.