Message To The Activist

unedited straight from my mind to the net

There are several terms that I once identified myself as and with but now due to the overwhelming amount of people who call them selfs conscious, intellectual, and activist, revolutionary.

That are looking to further their careers. And don’t really care to do the work/not doing work at all, that is required and that comes with those titles. I try not to label myself in those fields any more.

I still relate to them all but I rather let the work I do speak for it self. The work speaks volumes and from engaging with thousands of people it
gives every day working class people a better understanding of what I stand for as opposed to the labels or ideology.

“People don’t care what you know, until they know how much you care”
People who call and label them self as conscious, intellectual, activist, feminist etc. And want to use their skills to better the community and uplift others. Love to engage in conversation online, love sitting on panels and lectures, love sitting in study groups with a-a likes. Which is all good but a certain level of practice and work has to be put in on a basic level also.

The work and practice is what many are missing. I think many love the titles and the attention they get with it but don’t have the drive to put in the time and energy to practicing and working.

In my opinion black activist, conscious people, revolutionaries have to step it up. Too often we talk about the things that need to be done and say “We got a lot of work to do” but when concrete work is being carried out we disappear and don’t support. We have to learn how to support each other’s projects and causes in a timely manner. And lastly stop finding every reason not to work with each other and build a untied front/coalition in order to carry out mass work. The time spent debating and disagreeing can be spent on real work. Letting differences in ideology stop you from working with other groups is problematic. The solution won’t come from just one focus area but many areas of focus.

Raptivist Celebrates Hip-Hop’s 40th with Parade up Philly’s Longest Street

This article is from techbookonline and was written by By Christopher “Flood the Drummer”® Norris

https://www.facebook.com/notes/techbook-online-fan-page/raptivist-celebrates-hip-hops-40th-with-parade-up-phillys-longest-street/10151579940310911

 

“Coinciding with the week-long celebrations marking the 40th Anniversary of Hip-Hop, The Hip Hop Party for the People presented their 2nd Annual Philly Stand Up! Parade.”

The culture of hip-hop this week has been celebrated across the country, with last Sunday marking the 40th anniversary of the day Clive “Kool Herc” Campbell held his historic Back-to-School Jam in the South Bronx. While many marked the occasion with parties – including “Kool Herc” himself who hosted a gathering in New York’s Central Park last Saturday – The Hip Hop Party for the People in Philadelphia this morning paid tribute to the global culture with a parade up Philly’s longest street.

One of six (6) founders of the political party that uses the culture of hip-hop to engage young people in politics is Raptivist Pili X. A former assistant teacher at South Philadelphia High School, X says the organization was birthed from the desire of local activists, artists, school teachers, and mentors wanting to affect change in the city’s political system.

“We all realized that after all these years of activism we never really utilized the political system and leveraged our collective vote, OUR political power,” says X, a former City Council Candidate who ran as an independent.

X claims “Let’s Get Free,” the 2000 debut album of Dead Prez is responsible not only for his love of hip-hop, but is commitment to community activism.

“Once I heard that album and the things they were talking about I wanted to be an artist.”

X says he doesn’t balance his career as a hip-hop artist and an activist; instead he blends the reality of the two into a unique brand that is relatable in both sectors of society.

“People who know me in the hip-hop world know me as activists and vice-versa. Other artists try and separate their political beliefs and efforts from their mainstream career because they’re afraid it will tarnish their brand, for me it only illuminates it and helps me stand out from the crowd.”

X rejects the idea that hip-hop is dead and say “it all depends on what you listen to.” He says Philly in particular has great hip-hop artist and recommends listening to STS, Chill Moody and himself.

X says that what they’re doing with Philly Stand Up! – which was founded after Mayor Michael Nutter and the City implemented the controversial curfew laws – is revolutionary and he’ll continue to use hip-hop to engage more of the city’s young people, with hopes of one day scaling the Millennial-led movement and it’s parade to be as big as the Thanksgiving and Christmas Day parade

 

HipHop Gives Back Interview

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To counter the attacks and criticisms of HipHop I wanted to do something showing people that there is more to HipHop, Than what we are fed by the mainstream. With the recent controversy around lyrics from Lil Wanye about Emmett Till and Rape lyrics from Rick Ross has put the HipHop culture and community in the spot light but not in a positive manner.
I interviewed a HipHop based organization. To show that HipHop is alive, doing well, and making a positive difference, impact and change in the world. Here’s the Interview with Konata J Director Hip Hop Gives Back

PX: What is HipHop Gives Back?

KJ: There are two components that make up Hip Hop Gives Back.

HipHopGivesBack.org is our non profit foundation that is dedicated to investing into the lives of individuals and their communities by offering services and programs that will impact current and future generations through fundraising, awareness, mentorship, and education under our F.A.M.E. pillars. We lead these programs and initiatives throughout the year that provide us and our partners with the opportunity of “Giving Back and Building Up”.

HipHopGivesBack.com is the site that works in conjunction of our non-profit that highlights the positive aspects of the Hip Hop culture. A majority of the time the negative occurrences in Hip Hop are what gets promoted by mainstream media and other outlets and the positive news gets neglected. We choose to do the opposite by providing awareness of positive news and events and by highlighting artists, entertainers, athletes, activitsts, community organizers that are a part of Hip Hop, companies and entities of the culture that give back to people and communities. We are the “Home of Hip Hop’s Humanitarians”.

PX: I was on your website and seen a good number of health related articles. Why is health something that HHGB feels is important for people to know about?

KJ: Hip Hop Gives Back recently initiated our first annual Hip Hop Health Awareness Month for the month of April. One of Hip Hop’s founding pillars was to help and uplift the community. Raising awareness about the variety of health issues that affect members of the Hip-Hop community and their fans and supporters may lead to cures, treatments or at the least provide inspiration for those who may have the same health issue as the people that are highlighted on the site. The health stories we highlight serve to provide education and to let the readersknow how members of the Hip Hop community have been affected directly by the various ailments. Their story on how they battled, persevered, overcame or in some cases sadly, succumbed to the illness they were dealing with. We provide links for to find more information about each health topic that is covered and discussed.

PX: I recently had a conversation with a woman who said Hip Hop is all Misogyny, glorifying drug dealing, killing. Do you have any solutions to breaking the negative reinforcements and stereotypes of HipHop?

KJ: One of the ways we can start to move toward change is by supporting artists and projects that make music contrary to the subjects she spoke of. Hip Hop music today is presented in various forms that include speaking life, spreading love, upliftment, celebration and knowledge of self and community. These are the content of the songs that can be supported and requested to represent the true and balanced story of what Hip Hop music will be presented to the masses. This subject matter has always been around in Hip Hop and we are currently in an avant garde music subject shift in which lyrical content and varying subject matter is being moved to the forefront. I’m not naive to believe that misogyny, drug dealing or other heinous topics will stop being the subject of all Hip Hop songs but the balance is what is needed ASAP!

PX: Is America Ready for a HipHop Party? (A Hiphop political party, just like you have the dems, repubs, tea party, Green Party)

KJ: Now more than ever its essential for the fans, supporters and members of the Hip Hop community to organize and focus our voice and voting power. The number of issues that affect us all continues to increase day after day and our needs are not being met sufficiently. Hip Hop’s impact can be felt from pop culture,to the effect on economies throughour buying power, to federal and state laws, to science and technology. The Hip Hop community has the ability to influence the presidential election as we’ve seen in voter turnout for the last 3 elections but more importantly for local and state elections. This is where the focus needs to be placed where immediate results can be seen and change and growth can continue. I’d like to introduce an idea to work with Hip Hop Gives Back, The Hip Hop Party, #HipHopEd, 99 Problems.org, RapSessions and a several other key organizations and contributors to harness and mobilize the Hip Hop voice to have our shared agenda addressed.

PX: Any current or future projects that we should look out for?

KJ: Definitely, we are proud to be one of the sponsors of the 2nd Annual Black Man Can Awards (#BMCAwards) which recognizes the accomplishments within the community and professional arenas, the awards will honor black men and boys in more than 12 categories who embody the definition of a positive black male. We also have mentoring and speaking engagements on-going throughout the year, our quarterly volunteer clean-up initiative in Atlanta and this December we return with our flagship event, the Battle Of The Charities 5 on 5 Basketball tournament in which one charity will receive over $1500 in prize money.

PX: How can people get involved wit HHGB?

KJ: You can submit stories, events or news of the Hip Hop community giving back on Contact Us form that is at the bottom of the home page of www.hiphopgivesback.com

To donate funds to our Non-Profit Foundation – HipHopGivesBack.Orgvisit
http://hiphopgivesback.com/donate

We’re always accepting applications for volunteers in a variety of roles. The submission form can be found at
http://hiphopgivesback.org/volunteer/

Follow HipHop Gives Back and Konata on twitter
@HipHopGivesBack @Konata_J

My Account Of The HHPP Formation

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My Account Of The HHPP Formation"
The thing that that makes the HipHop Party for the People (The HipHop Party) special is that not only did we create an actual political party to challenge the monopoly of the two party system is that

All of us who founded the party before the party was thought of were Community organizers, leaders, teachers, mentors, activist political and social, revolutionaries, artist, writers, enhuperuers. We took our talents and strengths and tried a different approach and style. To bring about the change we wanted to see.

In september 2010 leaders from all over Philly came together to support and draw attention to the police brutality beaten of Askia Sabur who was a viticm of the Philadelphia police department 19th district. The neighbors, community, and organizers took over the block of the beaten and held People's Court which started as a goruop of about 10 and turn into a block of hundreds. At the peak of the Peoples court the block was shut down by PPD. Because of the out pour onto the streets. The following week after there was a mass walk to the PPD 19th Dis. To serve them with papers of charges against the officers who were guilty of the brutal attack and to the 19th dist. The walk draw hundreds of concerned citizens to take over the streets of west Philly and walk in support of Askia. The Askia Coalition Ag Police Brutality was formed to fight for justice for Askia Sabur and all other victims of police brutality.

In 2011 we went on to forum the HHPP. by early to mid January of 2011 At first asking people who would seem to be great candidates to join us and run for a elected office (activist, community leaders) who were apart of the leadership who helped put together the people's court and walk. When we didn't get the response wanted from those folks. some thought it wasnt the way we should have been going, some afraid to step into the world of politics. we looked within our own to find candidates. The first candidate selected was Keturah Caesar for City Council By February we chose another candidate Pili X to also run for City Council as well.

We went on from there having meetings and think tank sessions to create which is now known as the "six focus areas" and at the same time preparing our self for our City Council Campaigns with talking points from various topics education, youth, job creation, economic development, neighborhood transformation,

Taking speaking engagements any and every where possible. Internet Radio stations, blogs, night clubs, local news papers, black republican and tea party meetings, schools, community center meetings,
hiphop shows and cyphers.

Quick Thoghts: Constant Mobilization

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It seems that we only come together when something happens. When there is a situation that has occurred, a tragic event, And shorty after we come together, we fall off and are back to are normal routine. For example the cases such as Jena 6, Trayvon Martin, Hurricane Katrina. We mobilized quickly when these things happened but after a while forgot about them.

We have to get in the habit of Constant mobilization.

Constant: continuing without pause or letup; unceasing

Mobilization: assemble or to organize

I like the idea of constant mobilization because it ensures us that no matter what is going on or happening that there is a group and will always be a group of people working day in and out.

So that when things do happen and people are ready to build and organize there is already a team of people ready to lead those who have not been active.

We have to knock out the habit of organizing and mobilizing in moments. Because when the moment is over with or when the media is done covering it that’s what it has become just a moment. When in reality most of the time they are much more than monuments and deserve more than just a moment of our attention.

The Hip Hop Party has demonstrated Constant Mobilization since being founding in early 2011. Running candidates for city office, fighting to end stop and frisk & other unjust laws, holding our event series the Political Hot Spot, youth work though Philly Stand Up, North Philly Peace Park community garden, Organizing various actions for police brutality victims, building international relationships with ppl in Sierra Leone and Canada, Educational programs and alternative model school classes.

One of our six focus areas on which our work is based is Mass Mobilization and Education of the People.

Millions of everyday people must be educated to their fundamental humanity and worth. People should be supported, aided, and encouraged in their struggles to improve their lives and those of their loved ones. The Hip Hop Party for the People will always base our work on the mood, desires, and wishes of the community. To educate and mobilize the people into a tremendous movement for social transformation, the Hip Hop Party for the People believes in the development of the People’s Power. We believe we can achieve this through Door to Door Community Organizing, the tactics of Non-Violent Direct Action, and challenging unjust laws. The Hip Hop Party for the People believes informed participation in the affairs of one’s own community is the highest form of citizenship.

Quick Thoughts: Building Formula

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I’m not a advocate of the prison system at all. I know there are many men, women, and children locked away in prisons, who have not been giving fare trails and people convicted for crimes that they didn’t commit. The prison system needs to be reformed and the justice system needs to be reformed as a whole, security sector reform is needed. And better relationships between the system and the people is needed as well.

There where plans to build a new youth detention center in phila, which is already built and has people upset and protesting it. Which they have every right to do. I’m not against protesting/rallying at all. The activist involved with the protesting and petitioning against the opening of this new youth detention center are doing some good work. But they are missing a key focus area. And that’s the building with the youth and their families that are in that neighborhood. Building beyond the weekend protest, handing out flyers with info, petitioning.

It’s one thing to go out and protest against something that’s wrong every weekend. And it’s another to go out and build, talk, concertante with the people. I think if they went out and spent time in that community/neighborhood with out saying anything about protesting and just going to be servants of the youth since the center is for youth. Doing a after school program or a weekend program of some sort. Basketball, music anything to engage the youth in that neighborhood the community would respond better to their efforts and goals. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grands ect would want to know what the kids where up to and that would be a way to pull adults in on what they are doing.

The work is good that they are doing but they haven’t maximized their potential and tapped into the resources of that community fully yet.

The formula is simple for any org or person doing community based work. When going into a neighborhood/community especially when your not from there you have to engage the people in the area in some type of way. There are many ways you can do this, but to just come into a community without it. Most time it and get that neighborhoods attention would call for a event, circumstance, situation that made them gravitate to you. Other wise you might just look like a crazy out sider.

This formula has been proven to work. With the work of the HHPP and its partner orgs Phila Coalition of the Heart, Philly Stand Up and others.

EX: PCOH found a lot filled with years of trash. Organized with parents and their children a clean up. And turned the lot that was a land fill for years into a garden with free organic vegetables for any one to take as they like. Now that north Philly neighborhood knows the members of PCOH. PCOH can go into that neighborhood if there help for a issue was ever needed and get the support of the children and adults.

OBEY YOUR THIRST

 

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OBEY YOUR THIRST

I obey my thirst all the time. Every day in fact. As a matter of fact I’m obeying my thirst by writing this.

I think that every one has a little thirst in them, some more than others. Me personally Im thirsty all them time. But my thirst may be different from the thirst of the average person.

My thirst is a thirst to live. I wake up every day. With extreme thirst to live the most productive I possibly can. My thirst is to be sucussful any and every thing that im doing and trying to achieve. And I obey that thirst

The slander towards people who are thirsty. Has people afraid to obey it. I would have thought different with every one claiming now days that they aren’t followers.

When you need or want something to drink, you get something to drink. So why not obey your thirst and go after that dream job, the person you’ve had a eye on and want to ask out on a date, applying to the college/university everyone doubts you can get into.

I can go on for days but the point is to obey your thirst, in a good positive productive way. and oh yeah Obey Your Thirst

Quick Thoughts: HipHop and Gun Violence

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Quick Thoughts: HipHop Gun Violence

Is mainstream Hip Hop scared of doing a song/songs about gun violence that challenges the laws in place and for new laws to be written. Has mainstream Hip Hop became such a commodity and to corporate to make music that speaks out against gun violence and raises awareness to the issue that affects millions living in urban communities everyday. Would doing songs of this type make people loss respect, discredit the artist, or Lessing their street credibility

These are a few of the questions that come to mind when I think of the issue of gun violence in the urban community as well as others. And with the nations most recent mass shooting where many young lives where taking it comes to mind.

Hip Hop as a whole has done a great job addressing these questions but mainstream Hip Hop has not. I don’t think our biggest artist, brands, celebs have used their voice and influence to its greatest power yet. At least not in the last 5-10 years on a mass level.
Another question that comes to mind is it Hip Hop’s job to address the issue of gun violence? And not just through song but actually having discussions and dialog about it?

I can see a Lupe Fiasco or Nas coming out doing a song and speaking about the issue easily. But are artist who have built their careers, brands and fan bases off of living a street life and having to carry a gun and using it as an everyday part of life willing to take a stand on such an important hot topic?

p.s

There was 16 major mass shootings in 2012 that where covered wildly by media and also the which seems to be never ending mass shootings that happen in the inner city ghettos everyday that dont get national attention

VOTE HIP HOP

Written By: Pili X
Edited by: Marie Nikkie Victorious

This is just something I wrote early one morning, when I saw quotes on Facebook and Twitter, advocating that people NOT exercise their right to vote. One individual posted on the topic of voting “’The only politics black folks should be concerned with today, are the politics of revolution’ -Bobby Seale”. My response to this is; revolution meaning change! If change comes about by voting and being involved with politics as we have seen time and time again throughout human history, than we should most definitely be concerned about what’s happening in American politics today, and be a part of the solutions to the things that are not in the best interest of the people.

A new and progressive political party of America, called the Hip Hop Party for the People (HHPP) is grounded on the fundamental truth that we must BE THE CHANGE that we want to see. The HHPP is a vehicle to encourage and enable members of our community to run for elected office. We’ve been and strive to continue moving forward in fielding candidates in local, state, and national elections. The HHPP is dedicated to breaking the democratic and Republican Party domination of political power and participation. We will not only continue to register new voters, but most importantly, we will continue to educate communities on the power of its organized vote. The Hip-Hop Party for the People will use the elections and elected office as just one platform of many to educate and empower more honest Americans who want to see a change for the better in our society. We will also provide endorsements of non-HHPP candidates who are about doing the work that we must in order to make a positive change for our nation as a whole. As previously stated, our vote is just one tool, one tactic, one platform.

With elections coming up so many are taking to twitter and Facebook to say how they feel and which candidate they are with or not with. I also see a lot of people who are “In the know” as far as governmental politics may be concerned, such as social activist, occupiers, community organizers and many others; actually pushing the line of not voting. When I ask “what’s the alternative to not voting”? Silence. No one can ever give me an answer. Maybe the reason they can’t give me an answer is because they have no actual practice. They put in no work to bring about change (outside of facebook politics), have no alternatives, and do no real work inside their communities.

In 1973 Bobby Seale, cofounder of the black panther party, ran for mayor of Oakland and Elaine Brown (Philadelphia native) a leader in the Black Panther party, ran for city council in Oakland the same year. The triumphs of President Hugo Chavas of Venezuela and the Maoists in Nepal winning a majority of votes in the 2008 elections are amongst many things, a testament to the importance of knowing and exercising the power of the peoples vote. In 2008 American voters, many first time voters united and made history by electing Barack Obama as President of the United States.

In the 2011 Philadelphia elections in which I was a candidate for city council, I saw many candidates under the age of thirty; courageously take on leadership rolls by running for city government. People like me and Keturah Caser who run for city council of Philadelphia under the Hip Hop Party for the People. Megan Door (who ran for mayor), Diop Olugbala (also ran for mayor) and Isaiah Thomas (ran for city council) to name just a few people. In other states we’ve seen Hip Hop artist Che Smith aka “Ryhmefest” run for city government in Chicago and Luther Campbell aka “Uncle Luke” run for mayor of Miami. Both Fest and Luke ran serious campaigns for the people of their respected cities.

The urban/hip hop community is split in it’s acceptance of our right to vote. Some believe that your vote does not count while others promote the importance of voting. Recently two highly influential Hip Hop artists, Kendrick Lamar and Lupe Fiasco, have publicly expressed their disbelief in the American voting system. While other artists such as 2 Chainz who is a spokesman for the “respect my vote campaign”, Flo Rida, Good Music’s artist Pusha T and Nas, have spoken on their decisions to still support President Obama. Jay-Z, who headlined his Made In America festival and during the early part of his set, played a video of a personal message from the President, telling people to go vote this November, no matter their political views, affiliations or beliefs.

Being educated and involved with politics is a tactic/tool to bring about change (revolution). No, it is certainly NOT the whole answer, but the vote is proven to be a powerfully, necessary tactic/tool, that for many nations of people, plays a pivotal role in our everyday life as we know it. I’m not going tell you who to vote for but I will urge you to go out and exercise your right to vote. I used to feel like many who don’t believe in politics, “my vote doesn’t count”, “Nothing’s going to change”, “All we’re doing is voting for the lesser of two evils”. These are all lines that I myself used to say to counter people saying “go vote”. But these are all excuses and part of the reason why we, the people of this great nation are stepping up, to BE The Change that we want to see, Instead of letting our power lay dormant. Get involved, educate yourself and exercise your right to vote.

Pili X thoughts on Ross & Jeezy

The beef between Rick Ross and Jeezy & 50 Cent and Gunplay is the talk of hiphop on every major web/blog site. With all parties involved being major influences in hiphop. I think that many are not taking advantage of this unfortunate events. They are missing the opportunity to engage in a real conversation and talk real solutions.
I can only thing about how the media made the BiG vs PAC East vs West beef much more than what it actually was

“fuck that beef shit, that shit played out”- Notorious B.I.G

The media wants things like this to happen to get viewers or hits. Not knocking any media outlets for trying to eat but the last thing hiphop needs is two or three of its biggest stars really take it pass just
records. And really take it to the streets.

“Get money leave the beef alone” – Nas

Every one on social media we have to be careful how we promote this type of thing. Because while its entertaining us. We are just adding fuel to the fire just like we did when the media made a beef between two if our most beloved brothers a east vs west war.

“Beef is not what J said to Nas, Beef is when the working class can’t find jobs”- Mos Def