The Evolution Has Come: Long Live Oscar Grant

Wednesday, January 14, 2008, Oakland, CA

Today, like last Wednesday was electric, inspiring and empowering. Oakland stood up and demanded justice. In a collective outcry we all shouted "I AM OSCAR GRANT" as we followed youth leaders like Franceyez Jackson in a peaceful rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza. After hearing the words of very spirited OG's like Dereca Blackmon and Tony Coleman, we marched peacefully but intently all the way to the District Attorney's office. United under a banner of justice, unity and strength, we showed BART, The Oakland Police Department and our clown mayor that the people of Oakland, California are an organized body of nonconformist activists that will no longer sit still for the massacre of our young black men. Despite subconscious fear tactics ensued by the powers that be such as choppers overhead and a mobilized police force in full riot gear, we moved with love and force. Families, community leaders and everyday civilians all transformed into freedom fighters today. Moved by messages from Too Short, Mark Curry and Oscar Grant's grandfather and coach, today we celebrated truth. Demanding the prosecution of all the Bay Area Racist Transit police officers involved in Oscar Grant's apprehension and murder. We are now an organized and orderly mass of civil dissenters. I urge everyone reading this to get down with CAPE (Coalition Against Police Execution) if you aren't already. This can be done by emailing joincape@gmail.com or calling 415-748-1556. You can also find us at Facebook and Myspace and I strongly suggest you all join this movement. This is not a sedentary moment in time for we have not yet won. We soon shall win but we gotta keep pushing. We have to make sure that another Johannes Mehserle action does not take place as we have to make an example of him. An arrest is not enough as murder can easily be delineated to manslaughter and if you read between their stutters, it's written all over their lips.

This would have been a perfect moment in time, if all that took place was our triumphant display of noncompliance with injustice. But of course that's not all that happened....

When will we learn to stay completely disciplined and stick to the script? The mainstream media won tonight. They got the ratings they wanted tonight. They have once again sensationalized the situation. They spent the last few hours, from 8pm to now, reporting the rioting and damaging of the stores near Frank Ogawa Plaza. Very little talk of the peaceful protest, and the drummers and the unity. Very little commenting on the presence of reputable agencies like Leadership Excellence and Ella Baker Center downtown but tons of footage of Jamba Juice, Wells Fargo and Club One store windows broken. It's all good though, We got footage and I'm finna share some soon. Nonetheless let's keep it rocking. Let this be a full wake up call and start to unite for real, from the heart. It's time to put aside our petty differences and become selfless and become one. We have to really support one other and get behind all who work to heal our community. One such entity is Cov Records and they need our help. Their 28th and Telegraph location is being shut down this Friday, January 16, 2009. Mind you now Cov Records has been serving 30-50 youth per day, every week for the past 6 years. And as they seek to transition their community-based music and video production center into a Green Youth Media Center they can really use your support. As a matter of fact Grind For The Green and Destined Nation Media are major partners of that center and we beseech you to please help in this effort as much as you can. They need financial support and contributions can be made at support@artinactinworld.org.

Also several healing events will be taking place this Saturday, January 17, 2009 where we can reflect and honor Oscar Grant and our movement. I will be hosting and performing at one of these events called Cultivating Town Solidarity that will take place at Merritt College's Huey P. Newton Auditorium located at 12500 Campus Drive in Oakland from 12:30pm - 5:00pm. This event is being presented by Oakland Leaf, BUMP, Youth Movement Records, Cov Records, Art In Action, Weekend Wake Up and with me, Grind For The Green and Destined Nation Media is supporting it. Please join us in this day of unity and culture.
Three other Day of Remembrance events will be going on as well in Oakland at:

East Oakland Youth Development Center - 8200 International Blvd. (East Oakland)
Arise Charter School - 3709 E. 12 St. (Fruitvale)
Poplar Recreation Center - 3131 Union St. (West Oakland)

These event will all take place between the hours of 12pm - 4pm. Finally there will also be a March for Justice coming up on MLK Day this Monday, January 19, 2009. It will assemble at 11:30am at West Oakland Bart and will begin promptly at 12:00 pm. Brought to you by the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement. Check them out at www.inpdum.org.
Big up all you my comrades in this struggle, progress and evolution. Big up Zion -I, Jakada Imani, Alli Starr, AshEL Eldridge, Ryan Peters, Trinidad, Salim, Jon, Dave and the whole LE crew, KEV, Kev Choice Jennifer Johns, Ise Lyfe and everybody mentioned in this article.Let's Fight The Power and reclaim our spirits of peace, community, and justice. Let's use this current turn of events as an impetus for spiritual and communal enlightenment and empowerment.

One Love,

Ambessa Negus/Cantave aka AmTheArt
Co-Founder, Co-Owner
FIYAWATA-Grind 4 The Green (G4G) - Destined Nation Media

2009 is Business As Usual for the Oakland PD

2009 is Business As Usual for the Oakland PD

What does 2009 have in common with the Oakland Police Dept. ? The number 9, it completes them both. One of the two entities, marks a mass shift in consciousness, a breaking away from an old stagnant way of being, a limited view of the universe and an era of enlightenment - 2009. The other one, a set of blue robed hooligans that carry 9mms, represents a crystallization of all that is being faded out in this era: tyranny, abuse, force, racism and oppression - The (Oakland) Police Department. It's no wonder they collide head first on the 1st of this year at the Fruitvale BART station. My question (other than wtf) is when's this shit gonna end? Its 2009 and like Scarface said "we're dealing with the same list". All I can say is thank God for Technology. Thank God for the witnesses and thank God for a fed up people. If you got a chance to see the video (it's on KTVU.com) you got to see a Webster's dictionary definition of excessive police force and brutality.

First of all why would you shoot an apprehended civilian, who you've handcuffed, in the back, after he lays perfectly and cries out please don't shoot me, please don't taze me, I have a four year old daughter?" Why would you do this in front of people watching and intentionally showing you they are witnessing and documenting you? Lastly, why would you demand that a civilian give you a phone that they recorded your actions with? Never mind the last question, but the answer to all three is you have a license to kill, that matches your itch. You're a pig as noted by our great ancestor Huey P. Newton. The scary question is what if there was no camera? Also, remember the Rodney King incident? That was caught, you guessed it, on camera. What does that mean to this BART case? We got a black president about to take the presidency, is he even exempt? Why or why not? The fact is cops are supposed to serve US for we pay there salaries. They are our servants, they have to work for you or in this they'll work case against you. Wake up!!

And while we're on the subject the IRS, The Federal Reserve and the American Monetary System are all fraudulent (google Zeitgeist). There is no law that states we MUST pay taxes. We are quickly beckoning on the age of Aquarius and your enlightenment and evolution are in your hands now! How do we respond to this tragic kick off to an already murder-prone city like Oakland, CA? The choice is yours get pissed, rally, talk about it or take decisive action fueled with a determination to change existence as you know it. I say RISE the fuck up!!!!

Am The Art

Destination Xpress

FIYAWATA/GREEN FESTIVAL

What could I say - WE DID IT. OBAMA. Got a Blackman in office, But WHAT DOES THAT MEAN???

After meditating and visualizing on that question for 10 minutes hit me up on my blog and leave a comment at http://destinednationmedia.blogspot.com.

Why do I begining this blast this way? Well one answer: perspective. What does Obama mean to you? To me: possibility, REALITY- America couldn't really be realistic without electing Obama after 8 years of BUSH---shit and finally change. Funny right. Well Obama represents change, what change do you PLAN to manifest? Sorry folks, I don't mean to talk to myself outloud again, but can you relate? Anyway FIYAWATA, Grind for The Green and in this case my wife Zakiya Harris are all about change. I highlight Zakiya, because she has successfully directed this year's SF Green Festival and one of her main contributions to it was bringing Hip-Hop to the forefront of its Green Mission (see the flyer for the Friday evening's event "Word To The Mother (Earth) which should've been called Hip-Hop's Gonna work it out). And with Obama in office what could I say Brothers Gonna Work It Out!!!! Are or we really? Maybe if we really listen to sisters for a change. What do you think? Tell me at http://destinednationmedia.blogspot.com.

But speaking about Hip-Hop: FIYAWATA is hosting that event on November 14th from 6:30pm-8:30pm and we're rocking on the following day, November 15th at Green Festival again at 3pm. What's up with FIYAWATA, well other than having our name mentioned 3 times already in this blog, we're finally going to drop our second project this year - Jouney Into Sound 2, originally a mixtape, now a suite before the holidays and we got a barrage of jams coming your way after that. Find out more at our latest write up at http://adambernard.blogspot.com/2008/11/screamed-at-by-ska-girl.html Just to note here at Destined Nation Media we keep promotion shameless. With that one last plug TOWNTRONIKS. That's all I'm saying.

If you're really real about change though visit MoveOn.org and Repoweramerica.org. Another place to learn about a change that can save the planet is Van Jones' book Green Collar Economy, check it out.

Thanks for listening, reading and putting Hope in The White House. Now we just have to paint it Black or multicolor.
Love,

Ambessa The Articulate

VOTE HIP HOP NOW!!!!

HIP-HOP

33 years old and it's founders are quickly approaching 50. Made from streets littered with junkies, drugs, crime, lost hopes, poverty and style. Fitting the profile of many black males today. Somewhat drug related, somewhat deviant, somewhat prison prone.
Not supposed to be successful, productive, law abiding, thriving, assimilated, upwardly mobile. Well... guess what?

HIP-HOP

From selling crack to smoking it. From outcast to celebrity. From bum to king. From Trials and Tribulation to Triumph. From ghetto to Hollywood, Rome. From poor black kid's music to Globalization's music. From ashy to classy. It's mantra punks dissed me but in my face they kiss my ass. What's your credo now Hip-Hop, clothes, bankrolls and hoes or CHANGE? You made it Kid, you've arrived. And now as you deliver your keynote to the cosmos what will your message be. Pop the bubbly, Party and Bullshit, Take the Bitch to the Telli. Or are you going to announce that you will now raise your kids, make right by your baby mamas, leave the drugs alone, leave the THUG alone. Will you now see a chiropractor to straighten out the crooks in your back to walk upright or will it be more party and bullshit and party and bullshit? The chance is now. The fork is in the road, what will you feed yourself now.

Make the change in the polls, make the change in the streets, make the change in your homes, make the change in you ...deep.

Let's all go vote, not tomorrow but today, right where you are now. Before the Revolution comes, The Evolution must come.

Vote HIP HOP NOW

Artists Who Grind

The Bay's 1st Ever Solar Powered Hip-Hop Concert

Were ya there? If not where the hell were ya ???  

 Sunday, September 7, 2008 at  8:15 AM it happened, our alarm clock rang. 

"AAAAAHHHH it's Sunday !!!!!!" 

8:15 AM on Sunday is like 5:00 am on any other . Anyway fast forward an hour and we arrived at Yerba Buena Gardens to cap off our 2008, 1st annual Grind for the Green festival with the 1st Solar Powered Hip-Hop Concert ever to take place in San Francisco. 

This epic event headlined by Raashan Ahmad and a condensed version of Crown City Rockers, began with us arriving a few minutes shy of 9:30 AM to greet Orion from Solar Living Institute who greeted us with a great surprise, The Solar Power would not be doable. What ???  Well apparently the distance from where 1,000 pound solar panel on wheels was parked was too far to conduct a proper charge from the cable that distributed it to the stage.  We needed a  fatter cord and we needed an electrician to  uninstall and install the different cables. In short, blah, blah, blah.

 So, here we are mommy, daddy and baby bear all ready to commemorate our day in the sun, powered by the sun on a Sunday  and we heard naaah son.  Disappointing huh? Well despite this horrible news, I proceeded to carry boxes, turntables and bags of food into the gardens. We kept it moving till finally,Yerba Buena Gardens' staff located an on duty electrician who was a block away at the Metreon and was able to do the damn thing. He wouldn't even take a tip from me or let me buy him lunch, he merely said "that's what I'm here for". Kudos to you, Electrician Sean. 

The rest as they say was hip-hop. Ren the Vinyl archaeologist  played classics and everybody else on the bill ripped. From Cov Records' J- Million who kicked it off with a debonair showcase of witty lady songs and Queen Deelah who steadily built up momentum with a hard but feminine set to us, FIYAWATA and Jahi whose performances knocked top Bay Area groups out their spots. (This is me looking into a near future) The whole event was grand, what was really exciting was when our 3 finalists went song for song and our boy Olondis (Lil-O) Walker took the $500 cash prize. If that wasn't enough Raashan Ahmad closed out the show with his crew mates Kat 010 and Woodstock as if they were Run-DMC hungrily killing their first tour.  If this wasn't huge enough, on Thursday September 11, 2008, (7th anniversary of 9-11) we open up for Digable Planets at DNA Lounge. Next to stop: 3 shows in NYC. Look out for this is a Journey into Sound Volume II. 

Grind 4 the Green: Sustainable Hip-Hop or Bust

"Broken glass everywhere, people pissin on the stairs you know they just don't care."

Any true lover of Hip-Hop can immediately identify the quote above, and if they're old enough reminisce what they were doing when they first heard it. For that matter a die hard 16 year-old hip-hop enthusiast today can probably recant the entire song with a deeply heartfelt inner serenity when they get to the famous hook "Don't push me cuz I'm close to the edge, I'm trying not to lose my head". Lyrics like these Melle Mel penned keepsakes represent an era in Hip-Hop when inner city residents went head to head against local and national government policies that brought drugs, crime, disparity, poverty and pollution into our neighborhoods. A time that made the creation of hip-hop a stark necessity. Fast forward 20 years later hip-hop is the world leader in music and a multi billion dollar industry and the blocks where it came from still have broken glass everywhere? Wait, a minute something is wrong here, how can this still be the case? Where are all the mainstream giants? The Jay Z's, The 50's, The Diddy's and Weezy's ? Who's gonna clean up the block? Who's gonna teach the kids? How come no one's doing anything to pick up the broken glass? Do they just not care? 

Oh wait, there is someone, it's the folks from Grind for the Green or G4G. It's us, no to toot our own horns but really it's us. Grind for the Green G4G is annual 4 part summer eco music festival produced for and by youth that has been initiated in the San Francisco Bay Area. With this program of ours, we've decided to address the issue of environmental racism in our neighborhoods which is part of the planet's holistic environmental problem that has been growing at an alarmingly toxic rate. In rehashing this program known once upon a time as Grind and Glory, we - Zakiya Harris and myself Ambessa Cantave hired and trained 8 Frisco and Oakland youth to throw 4 events: a music business conference, performance workshop, beat battle and solar powered concert. Thus far we've successfully executed 2 of them. Our Music Business conference which was preceded by a party at Club Mighty, had Talib Kweli as it's keynote speaker and the chief rocker at the pre-party. We busted our asses and worked literally off of 2.5 hours of sleep to see it through.  Thank God for panelists like Namane, Goapele's manager from Sky Blaze Records, Kerry Fiero of  Strive Management and Rob Collins of BAVC/BUMP, amongst others.  We also just knocked out event 2 which was a performance workshop, with topics covered by Bay Area art mavericks such as, JAHI, Do-DAT and Elefant of the Attik, Nu-Dakades and Ahsabi Monique. We as FIYAWATA just ran around like mad people. Through both of these events our eyes opened to the possibilities that lie in this kind of work which is one part music business education and ecological solutions building. In all of our events, mind you we pledge to only use recycled and recyclable food ware, stationery and other materials as part of our campaign. After these four events we will be placing about eight youth into SF State's Music Recording Industry program in the Spring and taking them on an eco-awareness raising eco-tour after that. This goes to show that no matter how braggadocios the mainstream maybe, solutions for hip-hop and our people's future, once again stems from the underground.