PK Girls December Event

The Glue Of The Family

   

   The Glue Of The Family

By

Sengbe Ben Yosef

   For more than 400 years there has been a riff in the African family. This riff was caused by European slave traders and Europeans seeking to enrich themselves off the backs of African people. We all know what I'm talking about right? Well if you haven’t missed the last 400 some odd years you know about the African slave trade and the mistreatment of African peoples by greedy racist Europeans. The African slave trade was the cause the worst holocaust known to man. Over 100 million and counting Africans have died in the holocaust. People seem to think the African holocaust ended in 1865 on the bloody battle fields of North America but it still goes on even in this day and time.

   The slave trade was one part of the holocaust but what came after that may prove to be even more deadly to the African people. Slavery facilitated the break up of the family and the division of African people on many different levels. Most of those breaks were as a result of the physical torture that left scars on the soul of a people.  Today that history continues right down to the public beating and murders of slaves to keep the other slaves in line. People want to see the world as changed but the African knows better. We don’t have the luxury of pretending racism is over and done. We know it’s far from over.

  
 

I could go on making point by point statements to support my views of the subject but what would be the point? What could I say that hasn’t been said before? What good would it do me when so many others have tried and failed? If the world wouldn’t listen to a prince of peace like Martin Luther King Jr. what chance would my crude words have of reaching them? So I will not waste time on that instead I will make a few points on what I feel we are doing to ourselves in this war that is being waged against us. I will attempt to make some points I hope will help my people in this fight for our humanity. We need some real life solutions if we hope to make it through this darkness.

   I come from a large family of American Africans. From the time I was born up until a few years ago my family had someone who was the glue of the family. Every African family has this person or has had one such person in the ranks of their family. In the times before the slave trade and colonialism we call these special people by other names such as Chief, Negus, Baba or Igbo. In the African family someone was always the keeper of the Odu or word of God. This person was also the guide for the community and family. My family had that person for many generations our most resent was my granddad. 

  
My grandfather was a strong African man who had wisdom and insight that kept our family moving forward.  Since his passing the glue in my family seems to be weaker and no one seems to want to take up the role or assume responsibility for the family’s well-being.  Every nation or family needs a leader someone who can galvanize the people and bring them together the rough times. This is missing in my family and has been missing in my race for some time. Who will come forward to take the helm? Who will give wisdom to the people and lead them with the Odu (word of God)? If we are to move forward as a people we need our teachers and Chiefs to come out from hiding and lead the people.

 
Will you come out now you good men and women who are the keepers of the Odu (word of God)? Will you lead us now and show us the way? We are lost on this path and we don’t know which way to turn. Our so called leaders today are not true to the Odu (word of God) and they cause many to stumble. With their lies these leaders endanger the masses and cause the children to die. They are not fit for their roles and they do the will of their earthly masters. They help to conceal truth and they lay with the enemies of our people. Oh God I beg you give courage to your children those whom you have chosen to lead the people. Help them to shake off their fears and trouble them less that may free their minds to serve the family community and your will.

 

   The glue is missing in our families and in the nation. Is there no one who will come forward? Every house must have glue or the nations bonds will become weak and the people will be doomed. I have said this at this time because God has put it on my heart this way and it is no accident that it happened now because the healing season is upon us. A season and time for new life a time for family and nation to rebuild their bonds.
    Let us come together in this season not to find one person to be the glue but let us all become the substance that bonds the family and the nation. Will you accept my challenge to you? Will you be the tie that binds us in this struggle? Shake off your fears and your worries that you are not enough because I know you are just what the family needs. You are glue and we won’t make it without you.

Back To Basic

Back to Basic

The story of a Hip Hop purist

By

Sengbe Ben Yosef

   

   A while back I was scrolling down my timeline on a popular site I use to network with people  who are into music and other things. I came across an MC that was throwback to the glory years of Hip Hop. Even though the MC has a classic style, trust me when I say: he’s no copycat. The way he went in on the track reminded me of the good old days. His machine like flow was mechanical in nature but it still had tones of rhythm. The ultra-unique way he flows bounces you around and for some reason I wanted go into my B-Boy dance.

   The artist name is Rabu aka “Rabu Wit a U”. I also like to call Mr. Throw Your U’s Up because that's his theme when he performs live at a gig. After listen to Rabu over the next year or so I decided it was time to make him the subject of one of my blogs. I asked if I could interview him for my blog and he agreed. Sit back buckle up and get ready to throw your U's up.

   

   In these days and times in Hip Hop we need to take care of the MC’s who hold the roots of the music down. Come let me show you why Hip Hop is not dead and thanks to purist like Rabu it isn’t going anywhere soon. I hope by telling the story of MC’s like Rabu I can get people to support these MC’s to make sure that our culture is passed on properly to young people coming up in this new world of hip hop.

   I caught up with Mr. Incredible (Rabu Wit a U) and asked him about his music and this is what he had to say. First I ask how got his start in Hip Hop. Rabu started in hip hop at age 15 and by age 16 he started taking music seriously. Rabu has been making music for nearly 20 years. He says he enjoys it and will always be a part of it in some way or another.

   At age 17 all Rabu wanted to do was be in the booth rapping and making new tracks. He is influenced like most us in hip hop by the MC’s that pioneered rap and the culture of hip hop. In addition to rap Rabu is classic B-Boy he likes to draw graffiti art. I have seen some of his artwork it's nice; really creative work. What B-Boy would be complete if he didn’t like to fight or have mad boxing skills? On a side note Rabu says he’s nice with the hands and the rhymes.

   

     Rabu said that the first person to really give him advice on music was a good friend of his. You may remember him from our October blog; the artist Trazsh Man. Rabu says they have worked to help one another for many years. Mr. U said they work on stage together a lot and they help one another with music as well.

   We began talking about live performances and being on stage. Rabu said almost from the start he was on the stage because to him the cypher is the first stage that MC’s have to prove themselves on. Rabu says he would join in on the cypher anywhere there was one happening. In school on the streets in the club it didn't matter to him. Rabu said one of the first times he jumped into the cypher, Rabu was talked into it by a girl who said he couldn’t rap. This next part is a little spooky because Radu said he started spitting barz and it was like the girl disappeared into thin air.

    I asked what, did he think about before he went on stage or into the cypher. He said: he gets nervous at the outset but then he as he sees the crowd enjoying the music he gets more into it and let the experience take over. Rabu says: he’s always nervous before he starts but it gives him a chance to prove himself so that what chases all fear away when he is on stage or in the cypher.

    When it comes to music in general Rabu said he likes to listen to all the old school legends like Luther, Teddy P, the Jackson's and many more. Rabu says today music is lacking in many ways but he still listens to artist that makes sense in their music. He says a lot of the music today doesn’t make sense so his listening scope is narrow. He said he’s a little ticked off at how thing are but it is what it is and all he can do is make the best music he can make.

   

So we moved on to talk about Rabu’s music and what it’s all about. He said his music is all about fun and keeping his sound true to himself and the hip hop culture. He thinks it’s important to keep the legacy of hip hop alive for the youth. He says his music is different from the mainstream because it comes from his inner being and a place that is real inside him. Rabu say: he feels a lot of artists are not being true to themselves and it hurting the art and the music.

    I asked Rabu about a track of his that I really love called Unstable. I wanted to know why he made the track and what inspired him to do a song like that. Rabu lives in that cypher mind state and as we know sometimes in the cypher it ain’t about barz it’s about destroying the competition. Rabu say the song is a dis song and in it he is going after somebody's neck. The way he is pursuing them is reckless and that make him like a wild man, hence the name Unstable.

    I closed out by asking about life outside of music and how it was for an independent artist. Rabu said outside of music he is a husband to a lovely woman with whom he has two beautiful kids. Rabu still holds down a regular job I would call it a nine to five but he said it the graveyard shift. He said he doesn’t mind working a job because he loves music and the job won’t stop him from trying hard for his family and fans.

    Rabu say it’s hard being an independent artist but that’s fine with him because he doesn’t have to depend on anyone to get things done. He said it’s on me and that’s cool. Rabu wants his family friends and fans to know he really loves the way they been showing him love. He wants them to know his music comes from his heart and as long as he has air he is going to rep hip hop in the purist form. For Rabu it’s about purity in hip hop and having something meaningful to say to the people. Rabu says his fans can look forward to hearing and seeing a lot more from him in 2016. He is looking to do more of everything in the coming year.

 
If you like hip hop and you love pure flow then I suggest you check out this young man out of south Jersey because he is keeping the culture alive one bar at a time. I love this cat because he has flow but I love him for much more than that. I dig this soldier because he understands how important it is to support the culture of hip hop and the music. He also understands why we all need to start remembering our roots. Please support “Rabu Wit A U” because good work should be rewarded. Throw your U's Up!!!

The Muisc: Mr. Incredible Mixtape

                    U-Ology Mixtape
                    Rabu On SoundCloud

Do You Really Want Change

   

Many people say they want a change in the world but the truth is many of us only want to be included... Here's what I mean; People are all quick to get upset and talk a lot of revolutionary things but when they sum up what they're really saying it seems they are only mad because they are not included more in this oppressive social structure...

   Most people don't care two shits what happens to the world as long as it isn’t happening to them... So you want revolution for real right??? But every day of your life is spent thinking how we can get some more of this shit... So I don't think revolution is what you really want... You love being the slave as long as your masters hide the truth of how they really feel from you...

   Really; lol: You're going change the world and still want to shop at Safeway Wal-Mart and Food Lion for you meals??? Revolution may be as simple as learning to grow your own food and open your own grocery store but I figure not many are ready to do that... Yet come black Friday you run to give your masters all you have for one silly ass day that has nothing to do with the truth of God... This is the reason I say we don't really want change from our present condition...

   If you really had a mind for change you would be finding ways to feed and clothe the nation... You would do less marching and begging and more school building... If you were true to what you say they couldn't buy you off with dreams of better jobs bigger houses and cars... Which by the way are only better slave traps...

   My friends you don't want freedom; you just want to be free to be a better slave... You love your oppressors... You love the way they look the way they dress they talk and really you're a woman who loves an abusive man... You love to have your ass beat... Some will read this and be mad but I don't care because I got God and my ancestors... They will keep me company...

Story by Sengbe Ben Yosef

Art by Hale Woodruff