Join the family and friends of Victor “Sano” Rosa as we celebrate his life with a memorial concert @ SOB’s on Tuesday, September 14th 2010. There will be a $15 admission fee and all the proceeds will go towards his family. Flyer below.
Buy tickets HERE.
Previously Posted: In Memory Of…
I spotted the promo for “World of Jenks”, MTV’s new reality TV show online and was intrigued to learn more about the guy named Jenks. What I learned is he’s an award-winning filmmaker whose work speaks for itself and him. When you click on his Twitter page there is no bio section for him to fill up with his many accomplishments (which he has) or self-adoring adjectives that tells us how cool and great he is (which he is). At 24, Andrew Jenks has mastered what so many are trying to figure out: How to capture reality on camera. While many lose the story when the camera turns on, that’s when it begins for Jenks. He has the ability to create a bond with people that allows him to tell their story and bring the viewer closer to understanding their reality.
While Jenks follows members of MTV’s generation of Twenty-somethings to see “what life is like” on “World of Jenks” he searches for life’s meaning while living with the elderly in the award winning documentary “Room 335.” Trailer below.
A new school opens in BK!
Mott Hall Bridges Academy, a new middle school (serving grades 6-8) located in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn focused on science, technology, engineering, and math prepares students transition from middle school to high school, and eventually to college and beyond. The school has partnered with Replications Incorporated in order to help the students achieve academic success.
MHBA will be overseen by principal Nadia Lopez, someone that I can personally attest to their commitment of bringing first-class education to inner-city students.
If interested in learning more or enrolling your child visit: www.insideschools.org
Have you ever dreamed up an ideal means of business for yourself but couldn’t afford to fund it and have no credit history? Grameen Bank may be the answer to getting your next or first business venture up and running. Grameen (meaning village) is a banking system created in Bangladesh by Dr. Muhammed Yunus that offers micro-lending to Americans as well as folks across the globe who are financially below poverty level.
The system is simple and straightforward a group of entrepreneurs each take out a loan to be paid back in weekly installments (plus interest). If one person defaults, all are held responsible. All that is required are entrepreneurs with a plan, who you can trust. So far Dr. Yunus and Grameen Bank have been successful in their endeavors. Newsweek reports Grameen’s payback is “98%, compared with the U.S. commercial-banking average of about 90%.” The FDIC reports “nearly 8% of the U.S. population has no access to credit, and 18% has very little. This is the population that Grameen aims to serve… they are more likely to get their money back from African-American hairdressers or Latina food-cart operators than middle-class whites with maxed-out credit cards.”
In 2006 Grameen Bank was awarded the Noble Peace Prize “for their efforts to create economic and social development from below” and last year Dr. Yunus received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Hopefully Dr. Yunus’s efforts will not only help large population groups break out of poverty but re-instate the integrity behind the word credit (meaning “to believe in”; “entrust”) so bodegas in every hood can take down their signs.
*I searched for the version with the London Bach Choir opening to no avail if you happened to come across a link let me know! In the meantime listen and take heed.
Jason Fleming El came up with a novel idea: sagittarianmind.com, a blog that joins astrology with hip-hop allowing fans of both genres to understand their favorite artists better and help them learn more about themselves. Recently, Jason went through the 12 signs of the zodiac and personalized a playlist for each sign to enjoy. While he didn’t include the actual tracks I believe the songs selected are a great reflection of each member of the zodiac so find your sign then go find the tracks and enjoy!
Aries
1. Follow the Leader – Eric B & Rakim
2. I’m Still # 1 – Boogie Down Productions
3. Ladies First – Queen Latifah
4. Play to Win – Gangstarr
5. 2nd Round K.O. – Canibus
6. Mama Said Knock You Out – LL Cool J
7. The World is Yours – Nas
8. Take Over – Jay- Z
9. No Fear – O.G.C.
10. Protect ya Neck – Wu Tang Clan
Taurus
1. C.R.E.AM. – Wu Tang Clan
2. I Love The Dough – Biggie feat. Jay- Z
3. All About The Cash- Gangstarr
4. Slow Down – Brand Nubian
5. Take it EZ – Common
6. Dead Presidents – Jay- Z
7. Mostly the Voice – Gangstarr
8. Take Your Time – Pete Rock feat. Loose Ends
9. The Cash – Cocoa Brovas
10. One To Grow On – UMC’s
Gemini
1. A Million and One Questions – Jay Z
2. The Questions- Common feat. Mos Def
3. Super Lyrical – Big Pun feat. Black Thought
4. Special Delivery Remix – G-Dep feat. Ghostface, Keith Murray & Craig Mack
5. The Message – Nas
6. The ? Remains – Gangstarr
7. Ebonics – Big L
8. I Gotta Story To Tell – Biggie
9. The Versatility Joint – Kev Brown
10. 100 Bars – Canibus
Cancer
1. T.R.O.Y. – Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
2. Reminisce – Mary J. Blige
3. Can We Go Back – Hi -Tek feat. Talib Kweli
4. Emotional – Carl Thomas
5. The Food – Common feat. Kanye West
6. Nothing Like Home – Mobb Deep feat. Littles
7. Back in The Day – Ahmad
8. Mood Swing – Asheru
9. In a Sentimental Mood – Duke Ellington & John Coltrane
10. Nostalgia – Marco Polo feat. Masta Ace
Leo
1. The Sun God – Hi- Tek feat. Common
2. Exhibit C – Jay Electronica
3. Shine On Me – Pete Rock & CL Smooth
4. Royalty – Gangstarr
5. Down With The King Remix – Run D.M.C. feat Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
6. Queen Bi*%h – Lil’ Kim
7. Braggin’ Writes – J- Live
8. In The Sun – Large Professor feat. Q-Tip
9. Jazzy Belle – Outkast
10. Gold Digger – EPMD
Virgo
1. Virgo – Nas feat. Ludacris & Doug E. Fresh
2. So Fresh & So Clean – Outkast
3. The Purist – Polyrhythm Addicts feat. Large Professor
4. Flawless – Phife
5. The Upgrade – J- Live feat. Oddisee and Pos from De La Soul
6. Be Healthy – Dead Prez
7. Funky Technician – Lord Finesse
8. New Year’s Resolution – Lootpack
9. One Time 4 Ya Mind – Nas
10. You must Learn – Boogie Down Productions
Libra
1. You’re A Customer – EPMD
2. Full Cooperation – DEF Squad
3. Affirmative Action – The Firm
4. The Most Beautifullest Think In This World – Keith Murray
5. Appreciate – Pete Rock feat. C.L. Smooth
6. You Gotta Love It – Nas
7. Look of Love – Slum Village
8. Harmonize – Nice & Smooth
9. Smooth Operator – Big Daddy Kane
10. Mainstream – Outkast
Scorpio
1. Last Dayz – Onyx
2. Resurrection – Common
3. The Re-birth of Slick – Digable Planets
4. I Gave You Power – Nas
5. Hell – Pharoahe Monch feat. Canibus
6. Best Kept Secret – Diamond D
7. Revenge – Grap Luva feat. Pete Rock
8. Mystery Man – Last Emperor
9. Let’s Talk About Sex – Salt & Pepa
10. Quiet Storm Remix – Mobb Deep feat Lil’ Kim
Sagittarius
1. Award Tour – Tribe Called Quest
2. Worldwide – Jazzy Jeff feat. Pauly Yamz & Baby Blak
3. World Famous – M.O.P.
4. December 4th – Jay-Z
5. Travelocity – Masta Ace feat. Punch & Words
6. State To State – NO ID feat. Common
7. I Get Around – Digital Underground
8. Traveling Music – J- Live
9. Truth – Dwele
10. You Can’t Stop The Prophet Remix – Jeru Tha Damaja
Capricorn
1. Work – Gangstarr
2. Success – Fat Joe
3. The Bizness – De La Soul feat. Common
4. Strictly Business – EPMD
5. Handle Your Bizness – M.O.P.
6. Eric B. is President – Eric B & Rakim
7. I get The Job Done – Big Daddy Kane
8. Let’s Be Realistic – ED OG
9. Determination – Black Star
10. The Official – Dilla & Madlib
Aquarius
1. What They Do – The Roots
2. No Comparison – Buckshot & 9th Wonder
3. One in A Million – Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
4. Aquemini – Outkast
5. Astronomy (8th Light) – Black Star
6. The Originators – Beatnuts feat. Large Professor
7. Electric Relaxation – A Tribe Called Quest
8. Next Movement – The Roots
9. Da Original – Jeru Tha Damaja
10. This is Me – Common
Pisces
1. Visualize – Mr. Complex
2. Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix
3. Made You Look – Nas
4. Angels – Wax Poetic feat. Norah Jones
5. Hellucination – Smif-N- Wessun
6. Don’t See Us – The Roots
7. Feel Me Flow – Naughty By Nature
8. In My Own World (Check The Method) – Common
9. How High – Redman & Method Man
10. Watch Me – Little Brother
Education and it’s reform have been a hot topic this year.
During this year’s Tribeca Film Festival I had the pleasure of checking out “The Lottery”, a documentary that not only uncovers the crisis in NYC’s public education system (The average black/latino 12th grader reads at the same level as the average white 8th grader) but also presents a solution: equality through education reform.
Living in a country that encourages entertainment over education it seems we are breeding more American idiots than heroes. The Sundance Film Festival featured the documentary “Waiting for Superman” a film that explores the same educational crisis seen in “The Lottery” but this time the solution (at least in D.C.) is DC’s Public schools Chancellor, Michelle Rhee. Unafraid to terminate a teacher or school that doesn’t perform well, and a challenger of the powerful teachers’ union, Rhee seems to be the hero the students in DC have been waiting for.
If after being enlightened on the crisis on education you want to know how you can help, take a look at Hilde Back and Chris Mburu’s story. “A Small Act” is an award winning documentary on how one woman’s simple act of generosity toward a stranger is reciprocated through social change and educational progress.
Below are some great ways you can give back. Click on a link and make a difference.
A Small Act
“Each of us has the ability to create change. Each of us has the power to do something small. So what can you do? What’s your small act?”
My BLANK
“Your BLANK can be anything. Energy. Skills. Passion. Time. It’s whatever you have to offer. Everyone has BLANK in them to make a difference. What’s your BLANK?”
Youth At Risk
“Transform the chaotic lives of young people through persistent and compassionate mentoring.” *Shout to @BossLadyNYC for sharing the information.
Boys & Girls Club of America
Donate to a club in your neighborhood.
The other night I received the devastating news that my friend and colleague Victor Rosa best known by his friends and peers as Sano died in a fatal car accident in the Dominican Republic. My heart broke upon hearing the news. The last time I spoke to Sano was over a year ago, he called to congratulate me on my recent achievements and said he was proud of me and my success inspired him to keep moving forward. Regretfully, we never spoke again.
While we didn’t see each other very often, we could always depend on catching up during his showcases, The Latin Connect at SOB’s. Sano’s passion for Latin Hip-Hop, his love for his people, and pride in his heritage were the perfect ingredients to create what the people have proclaimed to be the #1 Latin Hip-Hop Showcase in NYC. Sano made SOB’s his home away from home. A small, intimate spot filled with people excited to experience history in the making; Latinos were finally being recognized in hip-hop and not just American-Latinos but folks from La patria that favored congas over 808′s. The dance floor was “la sala” where folks danced with drinks in hand while their favorite artists be it The Beatnuts, Joell Ortiz, Immortal Technique, T-Weaponz, Notch or Termanology performed on stage. Downstairs in the dressing room was “la cocina”, the smallest space in the house where everyone wanted to be because you could hear the juiciest conversations and fill your belly with laughter, and, if you were looking for him, that’s where you would’ve found Sano. Always in the mix and in love with life, Sano was the epitome of someone living their dreams. Unfortunately, he is gone way too soon but his passion for life will serve as inspiration for those of us still fighting to realize our own dreams.
R.I.P to my colleague and friend Victor “Sano” Rosa.
Jackz has his eye on the prize.
You probably recognize him as young Joell from Joell Ortiz’s “Call Me” video but his name is Jackz and he’s in pursuit of his own rap career. Check out his single Eye On The Prize and let me know if you LIKE or DISLIKE.
Jim Jones + FUSE go into the classroom to teach High School students about the music business. First lesson: The music industry is 10% talent and 90% business.
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