Vivica A. Fox is now a Psychic Friend

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YBW Exclusive Interview w/ Prof. Griff

Interview with Public Enemy Artist and Lecturer, Prof. Griff, by Tolu Olorunda.

“Prof. Griff” is a Hip-Hop artist, community activist, lecturer and so much more. He has accumulated enormous knowledge, over the years, in his struggle for the liberation of young black and brown minds. Prof. Griff is a member of the legendary group, Public Enemy, but he has also branched-out and pursued solo projects, in his musical career. He is a vociferous lecturer, who has taught at Colleges and High Schools for some time, while trying to stress the importance of understanding the texture of the new wave of Hip-Hop in the 21^st century. Along with fellow lecturer, known as “The Black Dot,” he has spoken extensively on the “vibratory frequencies” and “chakras” that influence the majority of music, news and entertainment packages -- which dominate the mainstream-channels today. In 2007, he was featured in an underground documentary, entitled, “Turn off Channel Zero.” The documentary was constructed for some candid-analysis of the dynamic effects of Media Empires – such as Viacom – on the minds, hearts and souls of young black and brown youth. Professor Griff is a dedicated and relentless fighter for Truth and Justice, who has steadfastly criticized the Hip-Hop Industry for its opulence, materialistic-obsession, misogyny and destructive-content. I had the opportunity to speak with him on issues pertinent to Black America – focusing on three pivotal pillars – with regards to the incivility of today’s young folks, the responsibility of the adults, and the complicity of commercial Hip-Hop in the destruction of black heritage:

YOUNG FOLKS

Thanks for joining us, Professor Griff. I want to go right-off-the-bat to an issue that is deeply pressing: Teenage Pregnancy. Psychologist, Frances Cress Welsing, speaks of teenage-pregnancy -- being as a result of an emotional-overdose in young black girls? Do you agree with that inference, and what are effectual means of combating it?

I agree with it wholeheartedly, and in order to combat it – just as the great philosophers and teachers who came before us advocated – we need to “know thyself.” And in order to know thyself, we need to know our open enemy also. There’s a DVD out now titled, “Medical Apartheid;” it explains in detail the experimentation on young black girls during slavery. When you look at how the black woman was used in slavery – to produce multiple slave children – and you put it under a microscope, you then incorporate it into the education of young children in the home. We can also ‘offset’ teenage pregnancy (in our community) by changing certain behaviors.

TV and Radio seem to be the primary sources of entertainment and stimulation for young black/brown kids. How does one utilize those channels in order to reach them?

You don’t; you turn them off. There’s nothing that our open enemy would put on his major networks – as far as entertainment – that would educate our children. We need to stop thinking that way; that’s absolutely ridiculous. Several years ago, investigative researcher, Cory Johnson, put certain cartoons under the microscope. He talked about the perversion of subliminal suggestions and advertising that goes on in the context of three-minute cartoons. Furthermore, most of our actresses and actors are not concerned with what goes on in the lives of the younger ones.

It’s no secret that the majority of Black and Brown kids are dying mentally, morally and spiritually. What is your diagnosis of the state of the young community, and what are the prescriptions that you offer?

You have to primarily put those dynamics under the microscope. If we’re dying spiritually, we’re dying simply because there are no diets -- as far as the educational element is concerned. If what Dr. Cress Welsing said in “The Isis Papers” is correct – with regards to Racism and White Supremacy being both local and global -- we need to take this issue more seriously. We are letting our open enemy destroy the minds of our young people in the third and fourth grade. If our kids are spiritually-educated in religious institutions on Sunday Mornings, what do we expect at the end of the day? And to write a prescription for that, the hearts, minds and souls of our young people’s destiny must be put back into our own hands; and until we take the daunting task of educating our young people, we’re going to remain in this position.

ADULTS

What’s your overall-assessment of African Americans in the mainstream of the media beltway?

Well, that’s a very political-oriented question, and in most cases, the average-person answering it would tend to be more politically-correct. But, if the belt tightens within the beltway; what do you think would happen to Black people attempting to be more politically-correct in the arena of politics. First of all, let’s define politics: Politics is the science of governing people. If black people can’t govern themselves, then who are we governing? We presently have a fundamental disconnect with our young people. I sat on a panel at Martin Luther King Library, in Washington D.C - where the focus was “Bridging the Gap: The Civil Rights movement vs. Hip-Hop community” - and we couldn’t even come to amicable terms. So, we need to bridge the gap, and work on those agendas that never reach the news stations and TV networks.

In the documentary “Turn Off Channel Zero,” you spoke of “raising the dead;” can you elaborate on that?

What I mean by raising the dead is, raising the mentally and spiritually dead, from the grave of ignorance. And, ignorance is bliss; a lot of people just want to remain deaf, blind and dumb. We also have to understand that it is not going to be an easy task; to tell someone that ‘Lil Wayne’ is not “the best rapper” of all time, provokes a fight. And, we need to understand that dynamic.

As an historian, what role did slavery play vis-à-vis the present crisis of Black and Brown disunity?

Well, slavery was three-fold, and it depends on how you view it. The way I view it, nothing good came out of it; and those in the struggle for liberation and mind-revolution feel the same way too. So, as far as I’m concerned, slavery did nothing good for black people, and that’s the bottom-line.

HIP-HOP

Moving on to Hip-Hop; how destructive is - that element of what you coined “disposable music” in - Hip-Hop today?

Well, we’re talking of Hip-Hop being co-opted; i.e. the upper/middle-echelons of the music industry having the ability to market and develop the new Hip-hop sound. Also, N.W.A (Niggaz with Attitude) was used sort of as a template for every other Hip-Hop act that came after it. And then the movies that came out such as, Boyz n the Hood, and Menace II Society, set the template and frequency for what the future Hip-Hop sound would be. Prior to Hip-Hop being “niggerized,” we put out images that uplifted the people, but now Hip-Hop has grown to be very destructive. I’m doing a lecture-series now, called “Destroying Hip-Hop’s Appetite of Self-Destruction,” because unfortunately, all we’re deriving right now from Hip-Hop is low-vibratory frequency. Hip-Hop was once the voice of the voiceless, and a sub-culture of our ultimate/grand culture, and those are some of the things we need to understand.

In the late 1980’s Public Enemy emerged and changed the industry and culture of Hip-Hop forever. But, can you rewind and take us back to the beginning -- and how oblivious you might have been to the significance of what you we’re doing at the time?

It was definitely one of those things that we didn’t initially recognize, but was guided by the spirit. We didn’t know that what we we’re doing – in the context of those 4 or 5 albums - was going to change the course. But, most important was what we we’re doing outside of the music – such as, the prisons we visited, the hospitals we visited, and the projects we visited – that made the larger difference. Of course, we we’re blinded in hindsight, because we didn’t know that we we’re going to raise a nation of millions or 5,000 leaders. Stevie Wonder said that, “when you believe in things that you don't understand you will suffer.” We we’re trying to resurrect and reflect back on the “Black Panther Party.” We didn’t know that we we’re going to start a mind-revolution, but we knew that we we’re going to start something, so we had a goal.

Public Enemy gaining access to Def Jam is still looked upon as a phenomenon today – as many ‘conscious-artists’ lament their inability to get ‘looked upon’ by a mainstream/major record-label. How did the Def Jam thing happen; and being that your message was black-nationalistic in nature, how come no one saw the threat you we’re posing?

They trivialized what we we’re doing. They thought it was cute; and just innocent kids with Malcolm X key chains. No one saw it coming, and they didn’t think that Public Enemy would hit that hard. They heard our music on a College radio station, and automatically assumed that we we’re clawless. Also, initially, they just wanted to sign Chuck D – not the other 6 guys. And then, Chuck D incorporated “The Bomb Squad,” my community activism and Flavor Flav. More so, with Flavor Flav, because they assumed that we couldn’t be dangerous with a ‘clown’ on the stage with us. So, when we stepped up to the plate, and they found out that we we’re raising the conscience-level of black people, we caught them by surprise. By the time they found out our true objective, it was too late. It was too late, because by that time, we had thousands of white kids devoted to our music. And, we incorporated those white kids into our thrust of revolution. Those white kids came to our concerts and carried the messages back to the suburbs. Finally, Def Jam tried to regurgitate our music, and slowly tried to chip away Public Enemy by eliminating its members, one by one – such as giving Flavor-Flav a reality show. From the looks of it today, they might have successfully neutralized Public enemy – and it was by design.

Lastly, what are your upcoming projects – both musical and social?

I can’t give my personal plans up - on an open-interview - but we plan on uniting the political-action networks. What’s wrong with Talib Kweli, Mos-Def, Common, Public Enemy and KRS-One sitting down together to put forth a 4-point agenda to be adhered to? Such as: NO more disrespect of our women in Hip-Hop videos; and NO more ‘bling-blinging’ of Diamonds out of South Africa, Sierra Leone and The Congo; and NO more ‘big I’ and ‘little u’; and NO more signing of contracts with Beer and Liquor companies – which inversely further the destruction of our communities. If we can put forth this platform out, and the artists give their words, things will certainly change.

Thank you so much for your input sir, we sincerely appreciate it. Prof. Griff can be contacted at: http://www.myspace.com/professorgriffofpublicenemy

This interview was conducted by Tolu Olorunda, Staff Writer for YourBlackWorld.com

Black Health: Black Actress Gabrielle Union Talks about being Raped and Beaten

 

 

Actress Gabrielle Union Talks About Being BRUTALLY BEATEN And SEXUALLY ASSAULTED

As a 19-year-old college student, she was raped at gunpoint and beaten beyond recognition during a night shift working at a Payless ShoeSource. “I blanked out and had an out-of-body experience, like I was hovering above seeing this horrible thing happen to someone else—not me,” says Gabrielle, who got through the trauma partly because of an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show she had seen days before on victims of violent crimes.

After her ordeal, she immediately turned to UCLA’s Rape Treatment Center. “It gave me my life back,” she says. “My dignity and self-esteem were gone and they helped me find them again.

That’s why I now lobby for state legislatures across the country to help raise funds and awareness for rape crisis centers, and I speak to college girls about what happened to me. My goal is to never hear the words ‘me too’ from someone after I say ‘I was raped.’ ”

gabrielle union,black women,african american women,african american health,rape

Black Entertainment News: Ciara Signs a Modeling Deal

 

 

R&B singer Ciara has signed with modeling agency Wilhelmina and is in talks to launch her own clothing line.

Wilhelmina will now focus on casting Ciara, who’s currently ending a print modeling run for Jay-Z's Rocawear line, in both clothing and fragrance campaigns, according to the singer.

"Modeling has always been one of my aspirations," says Ciara. "But I was
insecure about my height. I thought I was 5'7" but I just found out that I'm 5'8" so I'm really excited about that."

Ciara’s also in talks with the budget-friendly department store, Steve & Barry's, to create a reasonably priced clothing line that bridges her personal style with affordable price points. Steve & Barry's also carries Sarah Jessica Parker's Bitten line as well as the New York Knicks' Stephon Marbury's Starbury collection.

"I have a couple of cool things that I'm working on," says Ciara. "The coolest thing about Steve & Barry's is they cater to everyday people. I won't say that my line will be like theirs, I want to stay true to who I am, but most importantly it has to be affordable."

Ciara is also in the midst of prepping her third album, "Fantasy Ride," set for September via Jive. Her last album, 2006's "Evolution," has sold 1.3 million copies to-date, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

 

Click here for more.

Is Today's Black Music To Blame For All of This? - Pearl Jr.

Is Today's Black Music To Blame For All of This? Pearl Jr.

Just within the past few days, I've been shocked and awed to no end; furthermore, to add insult to injury, major media isn't discussing these high levels of racism against Black women like they did with Rev. Wright. Oh, my bad, Blacks were to look like the racist in that instance and now when non-Blacks do it, it's just barely mentioned. As usual, NOW (National Association of Women) is MIA (missing in action). How about endorsing Barack Obama, NOW that Hillary is out? Despite crucifying Michelle Obama for her obvious delight of being REALLY proud of America, 9-year-old Malia and 6-year-old Sasha have been labeled "Nappy Headed Hos" by a racist group of people who approved, created, built and leased office space to demagogue-like, so-called, artist Yazmany Arboleda, who developed a HATE exhibit called, "The Assasination of Barack Obama". The well-raised daughters of two highly educated, respected, and accomplished Black people have come VICTIM to being lumped into a group of women who have been misogynized to no end in hip hop music. It's time we face the facts. Rap crap music has devastated the Black family leading to the downfall of the Black community. Not even the most successful and powerful Black man's family in political history is immune to being labeled worthless by whoever deems it. Do you recall, the most hated President Bush ever being called "trailer park trash"? Not hardly because the claim would be off base-President George W. Bush is a warmonger as well as a failure as a President to be accurate. In lieu, to label little girls a derogatory term aimed at sex-aged promiscuous Black females, the phrase must NOW be used to describe ALL Black females, despite their age, background, integrity, personality, actions, or prestige. Then I hear and see that Michelle Obama is being branded "Obama's Baby Mama" instead of Barack's wife. This wreckless slur solidifies the hatred, disrespect, and dismissal of Black women as human beings worthy of a successful Black man's love, matrimony, and commitment. Fox News' Michelle Malkin, a Philippino racist against anything non-White, labeled Mrs. Obama inaccurately, because a "Baby's Mama" isn't married to the father, and since the text on the screen reiterated Ms. Malkin's words, it proves malice, forethought, and apparent collaboration with a female producer by the name of Jessica Herzberg, the show's producer. It's now fun to hurt Black women. Why not, it seems Black men do it all the time, so let's all jump in and rip out the hearts of Black women; after all, too many Black men are too psychologically twisted to realize that the disrespect, abandonment and dishonor they show to Black women will affect their own daughters, mothers and sisters--creating a hostile world for their own off springs, even if their children are bi-racial. Actor/comedian Eddie Griffin has recently been slapped with a lawsuit because he didn't realize that by his own actions of putting down Black women, abandoning Black women, and going on the big screen praising non-Black women that his own MAMA would be so very disrespected he would get enraged to the point of physically assaulting a producer on his newly developed reality show. You see, they put Griffin's mother in a cheap cheesy hotel and then treated her as if she had no attributes to be respected. After all, she did raise him and must take some responsibility for his actions--the good AND the bad! I wonder what will it take for us to learn and for Black men to take a stand and NEVER allow that stand to fall down, as with the Don Imus insult to a girl's basketball team calling them "Nappy Headed Hos" and Duane "Dog" Chapman racist rant against his White son's Black girlfriend calling her the "N" word. After a short-lived controversy, both of them got their shows back, and Imus even got a raise and a better time slot. You see, the word prejudice (pre-judgment) needs to be re-introduced into everyday language as the most pervasive form of racism today--if one is disrespected, then all are subject to be put in the same category of some form of worthlessness. The hatred of Black women is so vivid that Michelle Obama is being strung up once again. This time for something she didn't even say. Mrs. Obama is being accused of using the term "Whitey", which is supposed to be on some church tape somewhere, but, of course, the tape will soon come to a conservative talk radio or cable news show near you soon. Meanwhile, everyone hate her for the pretense that it MIGHT be true! The most recent example of straight ignorance and weakness on behalf of Black men that relates to the pre-judgment of Black males, rap crap artist Lil Wayne has a photo of himself as a baby on his recent album cover with gang teardrops, tattoos, and other thug paraphernalia to promote his filthy degrading noise. The most disheartening part is the record company has went all out to saturate the marketplace with a thug baby meaning ALL Black males are criminals and menaces to society despite the age, once again! Yes, yes, it is top-level record executives, not Black-owned companies, who green light these society destroying images for public consumption. Remember Motown's music of love and healing, featuring songs and lyrics like "Baby Baby Don't Cry", "My Guy", "Ain't No Woman Like the One I Got, "Sugar Pie Honey Bunch", "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" "Precious Love" and the sweetest of all, "My Girl". This music gave strength through togetherness. The above small list of songs, written, owned, distributed, and produced by Blacks, of the 1960's, bonded the Black race with love so strong, Blacks tore down the walls of segregation and created a whole new world with vast possibilities. Today, too many of us are begging to be a part of our own downfall, raising our arms and hands up high, urging pick me pick me, I'll say the most despicable, degrading words if I could just have a few years of fame and fortune, paid to them by those who HATE Black progress. Even Ashanti has sold her soul to the devil with her newest song urging for Black women to kill, stab, shoot Black men who cheat. I mean, damn, how low can we go? Inspite of all of this, there is hope lying directly in front of Blacks. The glass ceiling may be shattered to pieces with the Obama's having the best odds of living in the White House as President and First Lady of the USA. Just know, the Obama's are only two people; Blacks must do the work to NEVER, EVER, EVER support ANYTHING that disrespects or dishonors anything Black, and that includes going in your child's room and destroying all that anger music that resonates like a prayer of pain and failure in your child's heart each and every time they hear it. Too bad, Lil Wayne's album is slated to have the #1 best selling week of 2008. This time, maybe 70 percent of rap crap sales are White hip hoppers because judging by the above atrocities, it's fun and cool to judge Blacks in a bad light. By analyzing rap crap's dismal sales of 2007 and 2008, hip hop is truly a dying genre that should have been never been transformed and owned by non-Blacks. The most disheartening revelation is Blacks financed their own demise, and if Blacks can do that, then Blacks can contribute to their own growth and prosperity. Pearl Jr. is an author, activist, journalist and producer. She is is a member of the National Academy of Media Arts & Sciences. She has authored three books, one documentary and has successfully ran four websites (award-winning) and serves as the founder and owner of Elbow Grease Productions (EGP) and Pearl Jr. Publications. She is best known for her work in the African-American community. She is a long-time activist. As an activist, Pearl Jr. has successfully challenged major corporations to respect the Black community, she has protested and forced major corporations such as Nissan Motors, Ebay, and the NAACP to change their ways to better represent a positive image for African-Americans. Pearl Jr. has also leads the charge consistently against negative rap music. She writes widely published articles such as, "The Rap Crap Treason Act" and "The Golddigger lie leads to Black Male Failure," which has awaken the sleepy giant in the hearts and minds of the Black public. She runs the websites: TRUtalk.us, MichaelJacksonInsider.com, and BlackWomenNeedLoveToo.com