You are here: Home / Archives for Rhymesayers

Brother Ali Brings Dope Music and Serious Political Heat…Real Talk for 2012

November 4, 2012 By

If you thought the Ice Cube video about political corruption was dope, then you’ll enjoy what Brother Ali is breaking down.. His album Mourning In America an Dreaming in Color is a masterpiece..The videos he put out are dope.. Here’s a  cool interview from the folks over at dazzhot where he goes in what’s challenging the world around us..Big up to Ali for holding it down in 2012 and waging war on the system.

Mourning in America

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKHsGh-y8d8

Only Life I Know

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HwATJMeOYU

Interview w/ Brother Ali via the homies over at Dazzhot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqnGYDK7T5Y

Filed Under: 2012 Daily News Tagged With: , , ,

Our Intv w/ the First Lady of the Rhymesayers Psalm One

February 3, 2011 By

http://vimeo.com/19495035

Psalm One, the first lady emcee of Rhymesayers, stops by OLM studios to talk with Davey D about her musical beginnings, affiliations and future.

Producer:
RomeDigs

Editor:
Jerome Palencia

Videographer:
Lorenzo Escalante
Jerome Palencia

Filed Under: 2009-Daily Hip Hop News Tagged With: , , , , ,

Hip Hop Loses One of Its Dopest Battle Emcees.. RIP Eyedea of Rhymesayers

October 17, 2010 By

 

RIP Eyedea He was a beat on the mic

 

This has been a rough year for Hip Hop, too many have passed before their time. We lost Guru earlier this year. Last also west coast Hip Hop pioneers Mr Fantastic aka Melvin from the Bay Area and just last week Roger Clayton of Uncle Jamms Army.

Tonite we just got word that Micheal Larsen, aka Eyedea, who is down with the Rhymesayers camp in Minneapolis. The details around his death are sketchy. We know he was 28 and folks are saying he died in his sleep.

Eyedea was a beast on the mic. many of us knew him and his DJ Abilities. They put out about 3 or 4 albums on Rhymesayers. Later he put out a couple of solo albums The Many Faces of Oliver Hart Or: How Eye One the Write Too Think. But what really made Eyedea known was his battling. I recall him winning all sorts of battles earlier in the decade including Scribble Jam, The Blaze Battle and the Rocksteady Battles.  In many ways because he started making noise around the same time as Eminem, He was overshadowed in mainstream circles, but well known within underground enclaves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9WuzdMlPZU

People may also remember when Eyedea took on PEACE from Freestyle Fellowship

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjmAPoqpwLE&feature=related

Eyedea had no problem going head up against people in his own crew.. peep this battle with Brother Ali

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obZj6nEWdj8&feature=related

Remember when him and Murs of Living legends went head to head?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni55-kp7c5o&feature=related

Return to Davey D’s Hip Hop Corner

Filed Under: 2010 Daily News Tagged With: , , , , , ,

An Interview w/ Chaka Mkali aka I Self Divine of the Rhymesayers

August 10, 2010 By
Intermedia Arts presents: CHANGEMAKERS

Chaka Mkali aka I Self Divine

Chaka Mkali, also known as I Self Devine is a musician, MC (Rhymesayers Entertainment), community organizer, racial justice trainer, graffiti artist, muralist, program coordinator and director of organizing and community building at Hope Community. His politically-conscious, socially aware stance isn’t to look cool, but is actually reflected in his everyday actions and engagement. I Self uses his passions in the arts, community organizing and music to reach to uplift spirits and sustain movements.  He had the honor of painting the first mural on the current home of Minneapolis’ Intermedia Arts and will continue his community and creative work, for he builds bridges long after the murals have been painted over and the shows have ended.

As Minnesota’s premier multidisciplinary, multicultural arts center, Intermedia Arts builds understanding among people by catalyzing and inspiring artists and audiences to make changes in their lives and communities. Intermedia Arts is the only organization in the region that empowers artists and community leaders to use arts-based approaches to solve community issues. From graffiti art to digital technology to performance art to spoken word, they work from the community up to unearth and enliven new and emerging artists and art forms while challenging and exploring the role of art in our lives. By stimulating civic dialogue and giving voice to the issues and experiences of underrepresented communities locally, nationally and internationally, Intermedia Arts contributes to a stronger, healthier society.
“Intermedia Arts doesn’t tell you what to do. They support you being you.” -Chaka Mkali (I Self Devine)

The artist, Rebecca “B FRESH” McDonald filmed and photographed ten MN-based artists for Intermedia Arts’ campaign CHANGEMAKERS. Be on the look out for the complete series soon.
Photo and video by B FRESH Photography and Media | Design by Lacey Haire | Images and video courtesy of Intermedia Arts
Filed Under: 2010 Daily News, Essential videos to peep Tagged With: , , , , ,

B-Fresh Interview w/ Rhymesayers rap star Toki Wright

February 18, 2010 By

Share/Bookmark//

Meet Toki Wright-Strong Black male

by Rebecca ‘B-Fresh’ McDonald

http://bfreshphotography.com/2010/02/11/tokiwright/


Rhymesayers hosted A Benefit for Haiti on Tuesday night (raising over $25,000) with Toki Wright performing new material off his upcoming project, BlackMale, an 8-song EP full of his real-life stories and opinions about the black male’s experience. It will be released digitally on Rhymesayers on February 16 and will support Haiti relief as well: Fans will have the opportunity to donate any amount for direct relief efforts as Wright’s friend will be returing to Haiti to hand out basic needs items like aspirin and toothpaste with the proceeds.

I sat down with Wright to explore the connection he is making between the local and global community. See video slideshow below.

B FRESH: With the benefit for Haiti that Rhymesayers organized and your new project where all proceeds will go to the same cause, tell us about the importance of connecting the local with the global community. How do you stay active and engaged in this connection?

Toki Wright: The world is a lot smaller place than we think. We have a lot more in common with our global neighbors than we think. Our music travels across the world and effects many people. As long as you are telling a true story you can connect with others everywhere.

BF: With your organizing and activist hat on, what would you tell people about the struggle or obstacles in making these local/global connections?

TW: The struggle is to make sure that your words find their way into all communities and they are backed up by action.

BF: Your new project touches on similar issues: From your travels around the world to the experiences of a simple day in the barber shop. What should fans and supporters expect from BlackMale and of Toki Wright for 2010?

TW: People should expect a very well thought-out project in BlackMale. Every song on the project is significant to me. It shows my growth as an artist and a person since releasing A Different Mirror. In 2010, I have no plans of slowing down or stopping. I have my first headlining tour coming up (the Black Belt Tour) starting February 25th. I’m going to keep pushing my released projects while working on features and my new album.

BF: What is your inspiration for the project?

TW: I was inspired to add to the documentation of the African-American experience. As we advance technologically we also lose much of our storytelling. If people dig up the United States 1,000 years from now and all they hear are tales of violence and partying, it will make sense why we were led to our own destruction. I want to be able to add some other answers.

BF: Give me your most memorable line from this project off the top:

TW: Off of the track Time Zones-”You wont make it to see 25/they tell us in the hood but they aint tell the kids at Columbine.”

BF: What is your creative process like?
TW: Stress and relief.

BF: What is a habit you have or something quirky that you do while creating?

TW: I keep a pen and pad next to my bed and try to always write my first thoughts when waking up.

BF: After coming off of tour and setting into your new position over at McNally, what has changed about your lifestyle, music etc, and what has stayed the same?

TW: I’m much more focused. I’ve been challenging myself to write in different ways. I don’t think I’m too much different from before the exposure though people may look at me in a different way.

BF: Do you have any other show coming up?

TW: Me and Sims from Doomtree had to make the decision of whether or not to play this benefit show because we are both playing at Sauce on Saturday, February 13th. The Haiti Benefit will be a lot shorter performances, but we knew we had to be present. I look forward to having a party with people both Tuesday and Saturday.

BF: If you could work with anyone this year who would it be and why?

TW: Me, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, and J Dilla on the production. Why not?

BF: Is there anything else you want the world to know about Toki Wright?

TW: “BlackMale” will be available online next Tuesday February 16th. Twitter me. @mrwrighttc

Below is an interview we did last year with Toki Wright..when he released his first Rhymesayer album

Return to Davey D’s Hip Hop Corner

Filed Under: 2009-Daily Hip Hop News, Essential videos to peep Tagged With: , , , ,

Newest Rhymesayer Member Toki Wright Comes through and Represents

June 12, 2009 By

daveydbanner

Share/Save/Bookmark//

Minneapolis Hip Hop artist Toki Wright and the newest member of the Rhymesayers sat down w/ us to talk about the new Hip Hop College he is direction and race relations within Hip Hop. He talks about the importance of having an accredited school on Hip Hop and how we need to bridge the gap between Hip Hop from the hood and Hip Hop enjoyed in burbs. 

 

HIP HOP DIPLOMA

Hip-hop has emerged as the newest cultural phenomenon, with a global presence on stage and in youth culture, TV, film, radio, video games, and other media.  Hip-hop music, like every other musical genre from blues to jazz to rock, has a unique set of musical characteristics and challenges.  McNally Smith College of Music is proud to announce a new three semester Diploma program dedicated to hip-hop studies. Our new Diploma program in Hip-Hop Studies is for prospective students who want to explore and develop in a cross-departmental curriculum that covers music, recording technology, language, music history, and music business.
You’ll get hands-on technical training on recording and mixing music in a studio. You’ll take part in a three-course history sequence that grounds hip-hop in its cultural origins.  You’ll learn the fundamentals of language through creative writing and performance.  You will take part in a hands on introduction to deejay techniques and hip-hop music production.
Students enrolled in our other music degree programs can also take advantage of our wide range of hip-hop classes.  For example, music business majors can take hip-hop classes as electives.  
Whether you are focused on music performance, music composition, music business, or music technology our goal at McNally Smith College of Music is to provide you with a contemporary music education as far reaching and in depth as possible.  Today, this includes exploring the sound art of beats, lyrics, sampling, and remixing; the digital technology of MIDI, loop-based music, and hardware sound sources; the dynamic world of editing, mixing, and processing in the modern recording and production studio; and the business skills of branding and promoting your work in the new realm of social media.

Accredited by The National Association of Schools of Music

 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

The hip-hop curriculum includes both general and hip-hop specific courses in the areas of  Music Technology, Music Composition, Music Performance, Music Business, General Music, and Liberal Arts. 

The Big Picture

The Hip-Hop Studies program spans three semesters and results in a Diploma credential.  The hip-hop program culminates with a comprehensive final project and an actualized professional portfolio.

Return to Davey D’s Hip hop Corner

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: 2009-Daily Hip Hop News, Essential videos to peep Tagged With: , , , ,