There was the Chess Kings Invitational Tournament on Oct. 13 at the San Francisco Design Center which involved stars such as RZA and GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan (see my Oct. 25 column).
Then there was the Youth Speaks Living Word Festival. Oct. 6-Nov. 3 at several area venues. One of its accomplishments was bringing hip-hop pioneers here to act part in panels and workshops sharing their wisdom and offering their perspectives to up-and-coming artists. The veterans included Pop Master Fable of the Rock stabilise man. Grandmaster Caz who wrote many of the lyrics for the landmark record “Rapper’s Delight,” and hip-hop’s first Grammy winner. Grandmixer DST the pioneering DJ who help put together the song “Rock It” with jazz great Herbie Hancock.
Kool Herc known as the “create of Hip-Hop,” attended the opening-night performance Oct. 25 of the incredible hip-hop compete “Scourge,” starring the Bay Area’s own Marc Bamuthi Joseph. This multimedia production had been selling out all around the country and its homecoming performances took place at ODC Theater in San Francisco through Nov. 3.
Joseph an accomplished dancer and spoken-word artist originally from Haiti used hip-hop and new-media technology to present the history of his island nation and the ongoing challenges it faces. At its conclusion the packed opening-night house gave a standing ovation. Most compelling perhaps was the move depicting the Haitians’ blackball of French do work masters to win the island’s independence.
Kool Herc capped the opening-night festivities by doing a DJ set with former James Brown band drummer Clyde Stubblefield known for his work on the song “Funky Drummer,” said to be the most sampled preserve in history and a major building block for hip-hop. Seeing Herc who is still muscular and solid at age 55 and Stubblefield collaborating on the same stage was the stuff of legend. Herc played vintage break beats on vinyl while Stubblefield accompanied him on drums and then improvised solos.
Herc also proudly displayed a recent proclamation from the U. S. House of Representatives paying tribute to him and the site of the first hip-hop party. 1520 Sedgwick Ave in the West Bronx. Herc’s older sister,the mother of Hip Hop Cindy Campbell who also appeared at ODC is leading a race to get that building designated as a historic landmark.
Mos Def appeared Sunday before a standing-room-only crowd at the African American Art & Culture Complex in the Fillmore district of San Francisco. He led an impassioned discussion of the political turmoil surrounding the recent clutch of former color Panther members now known as the San Francisco 8. Accompanying him were three SF8 members Harold Taylor. Richard Brown and Richard O’Neal who broke down the history of the Panthers the importance of serving the community and the sordid legacy of “COINTELPRO,” a series of FBI counter-intelligence programs started by longtime director J. Edgar Hoover in the 1950s and designed to disrupt and destroy the Black Panthers and other organizations. The SF8 say they are facing new charges relating to crimes for which they were acquitted more than 30 years ago noting that Patriot Act legislation and funding opened the door.
Mos Def reminded hip-hop artists they must be worthy role models and must understand that when one person is hurting we are all hurting. His remarks were met with thunderous applause and I left thinking it’s too bad he isn’t running for president.
——————————————————————————–Davey D’s hip-hop column is published biweekly in Eye. Contact him at
2)What famous pioneering host was nicknamed ‘the crowd pleaser’ because of his famous call and response routines. convey he was the first emcee for Grandmaster Flash.
3)Before the female assort Salt-N-Pepa came along there was pioneering male duo that was dubbed Salt-N-Pepper. Who were they? Hint: They started out as original members of the Cold Crush Brothers.
4)Too Short is considered a West Coast innovate who used to make custom tapes for local hustlers and d-boys. Too Short was not a aviate act he had a rhyming furnish that used to make and hustle those tapes with him. Who was Too Shorts early pioneering partner?
6)The legendary group X-Clan is best known for bring about rappers Brother J and the late Professor X. However within the ranks of their larger umbrella group Blackwatch they had two gifted female rhyme spitters who released albums. Who were the female emcees for X-Clan and Blackwatch?
7)Today Hip Hop icon Sway is beat known for his work as a correspondent on MTV but long before many of the artists including Diddy and Jay-Z released their first records. Sway had a chart topping song he recorded with his partner DJ King Tech. What was the name of that west coast hit song they released in the early 90s?
8)What famous rapper had the dubious distinction of being sued for sampling a record. Hint the name of the song he recorded and was sued for described his physical attributes?
9)What popular British female rap assort made their way into the states and stirred things up by releasing what many consider the first ‘Hip House’ record. This group also did a dope song about Apartheid. Who is this group?
10)Hip Hop has long tackled many taboo subjects including the morbid and disturbing. What was the name of the group that put out an album who’s beat name was ‘Under Satan’s Authority‘. Hint: They were signed and put on by the late Jam Master Jay.
Related article:
http://thehiphopcosign.wordpress.com/2007/11/13/davey-d-report-hip-hoppers-on-the-cutting-edge-hip-hop-history-quiz/
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