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‘Peace of the Puzzle’: an interview wit’ rap artists TKash and Five Eighty
April 15, 2011
“Peace of the Puzzle” is in the tradition of actual harmony and structure that’s only derived from live instrumentation. In short, it’s real music, not just in figurative sense. This music is more relaxed and reflective about the elements of peace and humility.
Pierre Labossiere on welcoming Aristide home to Haiti
April 10, 2011
“I was at his (President Aristide’s) house, we heard a roar of shouts of joy, and then over the walls people started coming in, pouring into the courtyard of the house when they saw the car. People were accompanying the car as many as three miles from the airport to his house,” relates Pierre Labossiere of the jubilant welcome that greeted the Aristides on their return to Haiti ending seven long years of exile for them and brutal repression of the people they had to leave behind. Pierre tells the story of the Haitian people and how their never-say-die spirit continues to inspire the world.
‘52 Weeks’: an interview with author Darla Brown
April 8, 2011
How do you think that society should be better educated on the topic of domestic violence? By teaching our children in grade school, girls and boys, that it’s not ok to fight or hit anyone, for starters.
The art of rappin’ ‘in Black & White’: an interview wit’ rapper Hasan Salaam
March 29, 2011
I have known the talented emcee Hasan Salaam for about half a decade, and I have always admired his style on the mic, his insightful lyrics and his deep recognizable vocal tone. He is one of the more humble rappers on the East Coast scene as well as one of the dopest.
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.
‘COINTELPRO 101’: an interview wit’ filmmaker Claude Marks
March 17, 2011
“COINTELPRO 101” is a recently released documentary that takes a long hard look at the FBI’s Counter Intelligence Program to crush resistance that led to the deportation of Marcus Garvey, the assassinations of Malcolm X, George Jackson, Fred Hampton, Martin Luther King Jr. and more.
Stories from the block
March 11, 2011
In “Block Reportin’,” Oakland journalist and filmmaker JR Valrey lays bare stories of struggle and resistance through a collection of nearly a decade of interviews with local political leaders, national Black resistance leaders, artists and family members who’ve suddenly seen themselves cast into the spotlight.
The Oakland school police killing of Raheim Brown Jr.
March 6, 2011
On Jan. 22, 20-year-old Raheim Brown was shot and killed by the Oakland Unified School District’s police force outside Skyline High School. Calling the killing an “assassination,” Raheim’s mother, Lori Davis, was horrified by the excessive use of force.
Notes from the West Bank: an interview with M1 of dead prez
February 25, 2011
M1 of dead prez on his second visit to occupied Palestine, this time to the West Bank, observes: “People live in constant fear of being raided by the Jewish military settlers, yet the brothers and sisters I was able to greet on the street had nothing but love in their hearts. You could literally see the wounds on the young men.”
Revolutionary and Gangsta: an interview wit Aisha Sekhmet
February 19, 2011
Revolutionary gangsta rap artist Aisha Sekhmet is bold, passionate and intelligent. Check out this fiery much needed newcomer to the rap world in her own words.
Internet politics: an interview with hip hop journalist and internet guru Davey D
February 18, 2011
Davey D from Hard Knock Radio, Breakdown FM and daveyd.com breaks down WikiLeaks, net neutrality and what is happening to this democratic library called the internet, formed by the U.S. government.
A rose growing from concrete: an interview wit’ poet Jazz Hudson
February 12, 2011
Jazz Hudson is one of the new up and coming poets out of the Bay who has been making a name for herself at poetry readings – one of the most loquacious and passionate young sistas to come out of the concrete jungle of Oakland in a long time.
Punany Poets 2011 Tour: a Q&A wit’ Arekah Kane
February 10, 2011
The Punany Poets, who do AIDS awareness through erotic poetry and are going on a nationwide tour, will bring the interactive, adult dinner theater show, “Aphrodisiac,” to the El Rincon Restaurant in San Francisco on Saturday, Feb. 12.
Boys to Eagles: an interview with Jesus El
February 5, 2011
Jesus El, a member of the Golden State Warriors acrobatic dunk team, has started a youth program, Boys to Eagles, to help young men who grew up in single parent homes in the ghetto just like him. The program not only helps train acrobats, but musicians, video journalists, dancers and entrepreneurs.
Made up world: an interview with makeup artist Michelle Anyanwu
January 14, 2011
When most people think of artists, they do not think of makeup artists, although most of us are looking at the work of makeup artists on the daily. “My craft is one of transformation,” says Michelle Anyanwu.
‘Poems About This Roller-Coaster Ride Called Life’: an interview with poet Kaira Espinoza
January 14, 2011
Kaira Espinoza is a poet from the Mission district of San Francisco who recently completed her debut book of poetry called “Poems About This Roller-Coaster Ride Called Life.”
Wet paint: an interview with visual artist Sophia Dawson
January 11, 2011
Sophia Dawson is an artist I met in Harlem, New York, at this year’s Black Panther Film Fest, where she had a striking painted piece of Black Panther co-founder and Chairman Bobby Seale. I have seen a lot of dope, conscious-minded Black visual artists over the years; she is definitely one of the more talented ones.
Georgia prisoners: Standing up by sitting down
January 5, 2011
“Dec. 9, 2010, marks the first time in a long time that a group of Georgia prisoners were successful in demonstrating that they were – and are – absolutely positively tired of the slavery-like conditions of the state of Georgia,” writes 18-year prisoner Eugene Thomas. Listen to a Block Report interview with Eugene by M.O.I. JR broadcast on KPFA’s Hard Knock Radio.
Mumia’s case a lightning rod for police terrorism
January 5, 2011
Today we are going to be talking to Philadelphia Tribune writer and Temple University professor Linn Washington, who is going to give us an update on the case of Mumia Abu Jamal.
‘Nigger means God’: an interview wit legendary comedian Paul Mooney
December 24, 2010
Paul Mooney is one of Black comedy’s biggest breathing legends, long time partner with Richard Pryor. Two of his upcoming performances at the great Black Rep are benefits for SF Bay View – on Tuesday, Dec. 28, at both 7 and 9 p.m. What a great gift for Christmas or Kwanzaa! Be sure to say you’re supporting the Bay View when you reserve your tickets.