MUSIC VIDEO DEBUT: "BORICUA GUERRERO" With the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City having just passed this weekend, I hope everyone is still excited to celebrate what it means to be Boricua! For me, being Boricua has a lot to do with what you do to celebrate the culture during the other 363 days out of the year. Today, I just released a new music video for a song called #BoricuaGuerrero. With this video, I want people to understand that Boricua pride stems from a lot more than just waving a flag. Cultural pride without knowledge of the culture is a dangerous pastime... CLICK HERE TO WATCH "BORICUA GUERRERO" MUSIC VIDEO CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MP3 OF "BORICUA GUERRERO" Even the Daily News slipped up in their promotions by "accidently" putting a  Cuban Flag in their newspaper while advertising for the Puerto RIcan Day Parade. Absolutely embarrassing! All to sell an extra buck! Most people don't even know there is actually a difference between the dark blue Puerto Rican flag and the light blue Puerto Rican flag. One being a symbol of our freedom and national independence (light blue) while the other represents our status as a colonized commonwealth of the United States (dark blue). And if you notice, Coors Light is back at it again with using "Boricua" in their billboards to sell more beer! Always around the time when our communities are at the height of celebrating our cultural identity. Coors Light has been consistently, year after year, promoting "Boricua" hand in hand with "Drinking  Beer." Despite the countless community campaigns expressing our absolute outrage, Coors Light has made NO attempt to rectify their actions. Our people have been under attack since 1492 and we are still struggling to preserve our dignity and respect. Last year, during this very month, I took a 10 day journey to my ancestors' land: Boriken also known as Puerto Rico. It was a life changing trip to say the least. I was able to tour the entire island from east to west. While staying in Bieke aka Vieques which is an island off of Boriken, I was lucky enough to record with 2 native Hip Hop artists named Lady M and MC Natra. We recorded a song called #BoricuaGuerrero with a beat made by @Rephstar of @Circa 95. In less than 24 hours, Lady M and MC Natra memorized their verses and we recorded a music video. This video is a montage of that footage plus clips that I have been compiling for over 2 years and is intended to amplify Boricua pride while educating on our history and culture. It was filmed on location in The Bronx, El Barrio (Harlem), and throughout Boriken.

POLICE TERRORISM ESCALATES IN THE BRONX

This week, a young high school senior named Jatiek Reed was viciously assaulted by police on his own block. The way they beat this young brother is utterly insane. Police are trained to be machines and follow orders, point blank. It’s as if they have no hearts, let alone any conscience behind those badges. Our communities need immediate protection from this deadly violence that is plaguing our streets. Sad doesn’t even describe how tragic this all is. Yet and still, more and more youth of color continue to be terrorized by police.

Also this week, 18 year-old Ramarley Graham was shot and killed in his home by plain clothes NYPD Officers for allegedly carrying marijuana. (A more detailed article can be found HERE) A few days ago, officers in Illinois shot and killed a 15 year old boy with autism. I mean…when does this all stop!? There are countless stories of people getting harassed, searched, beaten, and killed by police. Mostly young black and brown males. This is beyond racial profiling. This is a government funded and strategized effort to suppress all black/brown/native/indigenous peoples. The time has come to reawaken the spirits of our ancestors and completely restructure the foundation of this society in which we live. Elections are coming up and they are nothing more than a theatrical distraction of illusions.

Turn oFF the Television, Turn oFF the Radio…Decolonize your mind!

PACK THE COURTHOUSE!

(Flyer Art by Rephstar of Circa 95)

INTIKANA BRUTALIZED & UNJUSTLY ARRESTED!

On the early morning of Tuesday, November 15, 2011, RDACBX member and Bronx artist Intikana was brutalized and arrested by police while filming on Fulton and Broadway in Manhattan during NYPD’s raid on Zucotti Park (aka Liberty Plaza). Due to the excessive force implemented by arresting officers, Intikana suffered a concussion, hematoma to the head, a fractured wrist, visible bruises to the body, and other bodily injuries. This excessive force was exercised on not just Intikana but hundreds of peaceful protestors, journalists, and innocent bystanders.

RDACBX strongly condemns Intikana’s immoral arrest, as well as the brutality inflicted upon him and others at the hands of the NYPD. As a Hip-Hop artist and educator based in the Bronx, Intikana is a valuable asset to his community, contributing his time and energy to address the very social and economic ills that the Occupy Wall Street protestors were denouncing.

RDACBX, along with our community allies, demand that the NYPD be held accountable for its unjust treatment of Intikana and others arrested at their predawn raid. In the Bronx, home of the poorest congressional district in the United States, our neighborhoods have disproportionally been affected by the crimes of the proverbial 1%. The process of gentrification, furthered by greedy real estate/banking interests, and enforced by brutal stop and frisk policing which profiles Black and Brown youth, has wreaked havoc on our community. In denouncing the brutal arrest of our member Intikana, RDACBX also calls for an end to the increasing militarization of our streets, which criminalizes the actions of peaceful citizens in defense of corporate interest.

DISMISS ALL CRIMINAL CHARGES!
DECOLONIZE ALL STREETS!
NO TO A POLICE STATE!

("FREE INTI" Art by Juan Martinez)

IN THE HEART OF MAYA'S ANCIENT CIVILIZATION

DJ Charlie Hustle and I were brought out to Guatemala through an organization called HIP HOP 4 PEACE which was founded by a dedicated and passionate educator from Switzerland named Shew Fleur. Hip Hop 4 Peace’s goal was to utilize Hip Hop in educating, raising awareness and empowering youth living in a marginalized and violent context. While there, we got to facilitate workshops with youth ranging from 7-13 years old. In only one week of workshops, we got the youth to write, dance, paint, sing, rap, DJ and play a wide variety of games. We had such a fun time with the youth and although we were the facilitators, we found them being the ones teaching us very strong lessons which I think have already made us better collaborators, listeners, and overall human beings.

During our time in Guatemala, Charlie and I got to visit Tikal which is the heart of the ancient Mayan civilization. We got to see pyramids and some of the most beautiful sacred sites we have ever seen. After so much hard work, sweat, and perseverance…HIP HOP 4 PEACE’s community center was forced to close down. Unfortunately, the organization was unable to garner the support and funds needed to keep it running. This was hard for DJ Charlie Hustle and I to accept because as members of a community center in the South Bronx, we know how challenging it is to keep a space running with limited resources. Nonetheless, we endure. Our last day in Guatemala was probably the most difficult for us. A sadness set in moments before our last event ended and left many of the youth in tears. In only one week, I grew an unexplainable attachment to the youth and couldn’t believe how many memories were created in such a short period of time. Talk about a life changing journey.

Hasta la proxima vez!!

FIRST TIME EVER TOURING CANADA

Canada was amazing!!! Got to work with several 7-12 years olds in Toronto. So much passion and energy! We played games, spoke about Hip Hop, wrote poems, drew pictures, and had lots of fun! I also featured at the BAM! Youth Slam in Toronto where I covered a 13 minute poem by Gil Scott Heron entitled “The Ghetto Code (Dot Dot Dit Dit Dot Dot Dash).” The venue was packed with youth predominately from Asia and Africa. Such a beautiful exchange of history, culture, and art.

Had another show in Hamilton that was organized in a youth center unfortunately on the verge of closing down. Roughly 50 people showed up ranging from 7-8 years olds to teenagers, young adults in their 20s, to men and women in their 50s & 60s. I have to admit that I was super flattered when the youth in Hamilton wanted me to sign autographs. Not even just a few either! I was signing cds, posters, belts, sneakers, pieces of paper, arms, and elbows! Many of the youth were refugees from Northern Africa. Humbling beyond words. The entire tour was a bundle of powerful moments, inspiring conversations, and dope performances. So blessed. So thankful.

Special shout outs and thanks to Aiden, Redge, Barrio Nuevo, and everyone who made this tour possible!!!

TOURING AND RECORDING IN BORIKEN

This past June, I successfully managed to tour the entire island of Boriken [Puerto Rico] from Aguadilla to San Juan as well as Biejo San Juan, Loiza, Fajardo, Vieques [Bieke], Ponce, Adjuntas, Utuado, Cabo Rojo, and back to Aguadilla. Phew!!! For those of you who have never been, that equates to going in a more or less complete circle around the island. What a monumental journey in my life. Growing up, I used to visit my grandparents in Cabo Rojo for the summer but never had I seen the island like this before.

During my trip, I saw the ancient Taino ruins in Caguanas and even the Pre-Taino ruins at El Centro Indigena. I got into the craziest adventures, met all kinds of people, enjoyed some of the hardest laughs my stomach has ever had to endure, played chess, received acupuncture, learned more about my history, was interviewed live on Vieques Radio, and got my music played on UPR (University of Puerto Rico) Radio’s Hip Hop Vox FM (hosted by Velcro). So many stories. I even got to record 2 new songs at Phantom Studios in Bieke (Vieques) with Lady M and MC Natra. One of the songs will definitely be featured on “LIMPIA LIMPIA.” : )

Special thanks to Ramon Serrano, Yasmin Hernandez & Robert Rabin!!!

(Photo by MC Natra)