SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS
+
Brandon Lloyd
+
TRIN-I-TEE 5:7
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive Edition: 2009 Vol 2 issue 1
“Urban Inspiration”
HEA VY D hip-hop to Reggae
5
GURU & Solar Gettin’ Jazzy
Steps for building wealth
THE QUEST FOR TRUTH...SAM COOKE MUSIQ SOULCHILD STREET SANITATION: KEITH MURRAY +
BERN NADETTE STANIS
+
USA $3.00 /Canada $4.00
REDSTORM THE POET
CONSCIOUSNESS
Exclusive 2009 Vol 2 Issue 1
Feature Contents
Photo: Robert Zukerman
5 Street Sanitation
The boot, another way that the government is taking our money...
6 Sounds of Blackness
Gary Hines Interview about Kings & Queens and the group’s contribution to the King Memorable Foundation
8 Trin-i-tee 5:7
pg
Grammy nonimee, reveals the meaning behind their songs
13 Alicia Cole Victim of Hospital Negligence
18
Photo courtesy of 7 Grand Records
After a minor surgery in the Hospital, Miss Cole was diagnosed with a hospital infection called Nosocomial infections
16 A Disney Dream Come True Matthew, a cystic fibrosis patient, dream comes true
18 Heavy D From Hip-Hop to Reggae Heavy D Speaks about his Jamaica roots
22 GURU & Solar “Gettin Jazzy ” Duo talks about there endeavors, successes and Non-profit organization
26 Keith Murray "Nobody Does It Better"
pg
22
Keith Murray tells us about the Do’s and Don’ts’ in the music industry
28 Redstorm Rejuvenation of a Soul
Redstorm continues to conquer his mission after serving time and living a street life
32 Erik Greene Quest for Sam Cooke Truth Mr. Greene continues to keep his uncle’s Legacy alive
Cover Photo: Heavy D, Photographer: Robert Zukerman, Graphic Design: Atron Productions.
3
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
Regular Content 4 Editor’s Page 5 Letters 11 Business/ Technology 13 Health Solution 14 Environmental/ Earth Talk 14 Advice Column Q&A’s 15 Words of Encouragement 15 Comic/ CM Corner 29 Teen/ College Spirit Section 29 Book Review(s) 31 Know Your Rights
Overcoming Obstacles
CONSCIOUSNESS “Urban Inspiration” STAFF Founder & Publisher Aaron Robinson
Cherie Johnson
Jesse White Dr. Madhubuti
Belo
Keith Murray
Scarface
Senior Vice President Mozella Sullivan
Chris Harris
Administrative Asst. Julia M. Robinson Josephine Robinson Consultant Frank Robinson Fred Robinson
W
elcome to Consciousness Magazine "Urban Inspiration." This issue is very important to our time as we face many critical aspects of today, as well as, the challenges we are up against in the future. From the setbacks and the trials-and-tribulations that Consciousness has overcome, creating this issue has allowed the staff and I to associate and meet some of the most gifted and inspirational individuals that have made an impact on society. As I reflect back on my teenage years, I realize that I grew up in one of the poorest communities in the United States, Hopkins Park-Pembroke, Illinois. As a child, my family and I had to make great sacrifices in order to make it in life. As an adult I have come to understand that it is the heartless individuals who think that they have control over our lives who try to limit some of our resources and prevent us from being a greater person. These are done in hopes of enabling us from receiving our blessings. These individuals can be the local corrupted political officials who try to limit us, while only being concerned with building wealth for personal gain. This may eventually effect the people within the community. These heartless individuals also include the corrupted business associates and workers who try to stop the success of our dreams by stealing and neglecting our rights, which results in destruction and deceptive practices. Last but not least, the corrupted school administrators who hope to diminish our educational levels. As a publisher, business man and a student of life, I have witnessed these factors. Trying to remain optimistic in harsh reality can be very challenging, yet rewarding. While having faith and remaining humble, these things have come to pass, allowing me to witness the greater possibilities in life. This issue represents life and dreams, along with revealing the truth behind peoples endeavors. With that in mind, all things are possible in God’s eyes. I hope that this magazine is a blessing to you and that you find it enjoyable as well. I want to thank you for being apart of this journey as we continue to change lives, as well as give out a positive message to our readers. Thank you so much.
Event Coordinator Allezom Productions, Inc. P H O T O S A T R O N P R O D U C T I O N S
Marketing / Promotions / Public Relations CM Strategic Team Sales Advertising Media Bids Graphic Design / Photographer Atron Productions Web Designer CM Strategic Team Illustrator / Comics Eric Plaut Writers/Interviewers Lee M. Harris Darnell Jordan SirRocco Kimosabee Special Correspondent Russell Norman Tami Reed Columnist Dangerous Lee Contributors
Katrina Dunbar Tocarra Eldridge Taisha D. Mikell William R Patterson
Aaron Robinson Founder & Publisher email: arobinson@consciousnessmagazine.com
Special Thanks Heavy D Lee & Valerie Harris William Hawkins Views expressed by advertisers and/or press release are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Consciousness Magazine. Consciousness Magazine will not be held responsible or liable for advertisers misinformation, misprints, or typographical errors, etc., herein contained.
CONSCIOUSNESS MAGAZINE gives thanks to our first African-American President, Barack Obama. 4
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
Consciousness Magazine requires that all advertisement be in compliance with all applicable laws and be truthful and not offensive or detrimental to individuals, groups, or businesses. Consciousness Magazine reserve the right to revise, delete, objectionable words or phrases, and refuse any advertising it deems unacceptable. Subscription rates; $18.00 per year (6 Issues) Consciousness Magazine ISSN:1553-5568 is published by Consciousness Magazine. Postmaster: Send address Change and Subscription Orders to: P.O. Box 6858, Chicago, Illinois 60680, Phone: (312) 217-2276 Email: info@consciousnessmagazine.com. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the Publisher. ©2008 Consciousness Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
CM Letters are all kinds of resources for everyone. This magazine lets one know that they can achieve to be the best they can be and not to let the pressure of the world pull them down. When knowing that someone else has achieved it. I can achieve it too. Big ups! Keep spreading your good works.
Chicago, IL
A Community Blessing
Congratulations on bringing out such a great magazine that relates to everyone no matter what walks of life you're enduring. This is a magazine that touches inner souls and encourages one to know that there
Tommy Lowery Chicago, IL
Support
Sherrice Hardin
A Source of Hope
I hope Consciousness will inspire others in the community to use their talents and be aware and active in the community.
A community magazine is inspiring to me and shows me that someone cares about doing something positive in our community. It takes a lot of motivation and hard work to get a magazine started but it will be resourceful for our community. Where a newspaper focus on current events; a community magazine can cover current events and explore the history in the community.
Count On Me For Support! Dear Consciousness Magazine, I want to inform you that I would gladly advocate for support of your publication in as a platform for youth, young adults, and college students to be informed and to express their views in this awesome publication. Thank you very much for all of your effort! Arnold Buchanan Illinois
Write to us: We want to know what you think. Send emails to comments@consciousnessmagazine.com. Include your name, address, and telephone number. Letters may be edited for clarity and/or length. For Customer Service and Subscriptions visit us at www.consciousnessmagazine.com.
Street Sanitation
The Boot By SirRocco Kimosabee
I
n life we as people have to deal with life as it comes. No matter how aggravating and frustrating the situation is you still have to deal with it when it comes. Now to add insult to injury, the city has come up with a very effective method of making motorists pay for those ever so often thorns in the side, known as tickets. It’s the city’s way of giving you the ‘BOOT’. Usually when a person receives a ticket it is because of one or two reasons, one they ignored the sign that was posted, didn’t see it or two they thought that they would be back to their vehicle before parking enforcement shows up (this is usually the one that I fall victim to). Either way, why is it that the city has to impose such a law on their citizens, a law that dictates when or if you will be able to drive, especially if you have a certain amount of parking tickets? They do it because they can. Extortion has always been a part of the governments’ tactics to keep people I the place that they wanted them
5
Consciousnes Awareness to be in. Extortion (Black's Law Dictionary - 6th Edition) is defined as: "The obtaining of property from another induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, or under color of official right." If you have a ticket and you can not afford to pay it, and then you get another one, and one more on top of that, you have now been officially placed on ‘the list’ that qualifies your vehicle to get a boot, and if you have not come to make a payment in the time allotted to you, you will come to find that the city has now confiscated your vehicle. Now for me this is something that I have had to deal with personally, mainly because at the time I received my tickets I was unable to pay any of them at the time. For the record I must say that if you get a ticket it’s simple to avoid getting a boot all you have to do is pay your tickets and not let them accumulate. For some this is not an option. There are numerous amounts of individuals that live check to check; any little thing that they encounter between checks can potentially make these types of people susceptible to being homeless. Let’s face some truths about this matter, the main one is this, if you have parked your vehicle in a place where the city has placed postings for you to do otherwise, then yes there is a penalty to pay. However we also know that all across the world there is a deficit, a negative balance that has to be paid back some kind of way, so what the leaders of our various cities that enforce parking boot laws are doing is their part in making the deficit grow or lessen. What you have to do is decide what part you’re going to play.
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
“We’re All Kings & Queens”
I
n our world of Cultural/Gospel awareness, I have never had the privilege of meeting anyone as vowed to educate our people concerning who they are until speaking with Mr. Gary Hines. Through the music for many years, Gary Hines has opened the hearts and minds of many Kings & Queens. In my interview with Gary, I felt not only blessed, but privileged to hear this man’s vision and input.
from that time to the present, now, is music director and producer. LH: First of all, can you tell us what inspired the name, The Sounds of Blackness? GH: The inspiration for the name Sounds of Blackness came from the unique message and ministry, really that we’ve been blessed with as a group. That is to tell the story of the African-American experience from Africa to America and to all of its different genre’s. For example, it’s impossible to fully appreciate the glory hallelujah of the gospel without knowing about the pain of blues and the duel meanings and complexity of the spirituals. We tell the story of our people through music. In order to do that, we needed to include every sound of blackness: R&B, Gospel, Spiritual, Jazz, Blues, Reggae, and Ragtime. That’s the meaning of the name Sounds of Blackness.
Lee Harris: Tell us a little about yourself and your relevance to the very well known and talented group, "The Sounds of Blackness." Gary Hines: I’m a native of Yonkers New York, so always a shout out to New York. I was born and raised there and have an original music background there. My mother, Doris Hines is a Jazz singer, relocated us to Minneapolis back in the sixties. We’ve been based in Minneapolis every since. Sounds of Blackness evolved out of McAllister College here in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1971. My role with the group
LH: Let’s talk about the CD, Kings & Queens: Message Music From the
6
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
Movement. Who came up with the name, Kings & Queens: Message From the Movement, and what was the motivation behind this title? GH: I don’t take credit for it. That’s something that you know the good Lord Himself gave to me. I’m just a vessel. I acknowledge that always. I believe He gave me that message just because as we look around, especially, and see the violence that’s so pervasive in our streets, in our schools, in our communities, and directed towards women. Somebody on the artist side needed to take a stand and address that. Not only with those issues, but with the root causes of them, which has themselves rooted in such items as self-esteem and selfintegration issues. We wanted to tell especially to our young people, we being the Sounds of Blackness, that they are not bangers and thugs; even if that’s what they do. That’s not who they are. They are not B’s and Hoe’s as it goes popularly now. They are not those negative inference titles. They are in fact Kings and Queens. So,
Kings and Queens: The Message Music From the Movement is about bringing the spirit of the movement as we used to call it.
the Door I’ll Get It Myself. You can go down the line. With Aretha Franklin, to talk about the King of Soul, now we go to The Queen of Soul. Aretha had Rock Steady and all those fun party songs. She also had To Be Young, Gifted & Black, Amazing Grace and were always dealing with spiritual and the political side. You can go down the line with all of our artist whether it is The O’Jays or Sly & The Family Stones. All our artist had that sensibility to always have a message component to try and uplift the people and that’s what
LH: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was very special to all of us because of the way he stood up for righteousness and equality for all God’s people. Did you have any encounters with the King Family prior to this album? GH: Yes! Actually personally, Sounds of Blackness have touched base with the King Family on a number of occasions. First and foremost, in terms of direct contact growing up in New York listening to Dr. Kings Speeches, seeing and following the marches. Actually, even as a youth being apart of some of them, witnessing some of them. Daddy King, as we would lovingly call him as of course Father, came to Minneapolis and preached here. Sounds of Blackness were apart of that. Some years following that, we were blessed as Sounds of Blackness to go to Atlanta and be featured in The Martin Luther King Celebration Parade. We talked with the late Sister Coretta Scott King; rest her soul. Speaking of queens that we talk about, Martin and Coretta in the song saying they are kings and queens. We got to speak with her at length about the movement in the music as it related to her and to her late husband. We spoke with Dexter Scott King, as you know is the CEO of The Martin Luther King Center in Atlanta and made him aware of this project. Best Buy, is a Minnesota Cooperation, as well as, Sounds of Blackness. Best Buy is carrying Kings & Queens exclusively. We have partnered Sounds of Blackness to donate a portion of the sales from Kings and Queens to the Martin Luther King Memorial Fund to help build that. That’s another reason why we call this a movement.
freedom and so. That’s a reality that we always have to remember. LH: Gary, you are obviously a well known part of this very talented and professional group. Did you play a part in the decision to record with such a large group of talented musicians and vocalist? GH: Yes I did. Though, as music director, that was a conscientious decision. I think the perception is that we’re a larger physical group than we are. We have twenty five members in our total membership, fifteen
“ We, Sounds of Blackness, always seek to glorify God by uplifting people through the music and unique message and ministry that He’s blessed us with.” Sounds of Blackness are trying to resurrect with the Kings & Queens Movement. LH: After listening to many songs by The Sounds of Blackness over the years, I have found, an urgent need type of lyrics, used in your music to reach someone. Do you consider the message of your music being basically cultural? GH: Oh, absolutely! You know first and foremost, we, Sounds of Blackness, always seek to glorify God by uplifting people through the music and unique message and ministry that He’s blessed us with. At the center, it’s always the spiritual message first and foremost. The scripture tells us first the natural, but we always seek God’s advice, council, guidance and blessing on everything we do; before we embark on it, as we embark on it and afterwards and throughout the entire process. LH: In some of the songs, I can almost place myself in a special place in time. Was it your intention to remind the listener that we cannot forget where we were as a people and how far we still need to go by using the old Negro spiritual tunes? GH: That’s exactly our intent my brother. All Sounds of Blackness recordings, you will hear, the range of African American Music styles as Dr. Billy Taylor says, "The members of the family of African American music and of course one of the prominent members is spiritual in the acapella spirituals by prolific composers," people like: William L. Dawson, William Grant Still, the late Moses Hogan and so on. You can look at Frederick Douglas’ Journal of Escape to Freedom and he talks about how some of the songs help guide him along the pathway as he escaped from slavery to
LH: The message is very heavy. Would you agree that there is too much giving the public what sales, verses giving them a message that’s going to help heal many of the problems of this world today? GH: I certainly do agree with that my brother. The great Paul Roberson once said, "All true artist have the responsibility to people as artist." The late great, my favorite artist of all times James Brown…look at his music on the party and fun side, you have Cold Sweat and Poppa’s Got A Brand New Bag. On the political side, he had Say It Loud-I’m Black and I’m Proud, Don’t Be A Dropout, I Don’t Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing, and Open Up
7
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
singers and ten musicians. In our traveling touring or when we’ll interview, people think we have like fifty or a hundred members. LH: Before we complete our interview, is there anything else you would like to say to the readers out there and especially where they can pick up a copy of the CD by none other than The Sounds of Blackness? GH: I would just like to say that on behalf of Sounds of Blackness, we take this opportunity to extent our heartfelt thanks and appreciation on each and every Sounds of Blackness worldwide family member. We don’t say fans! We, the people that love and support us and have done so over the years, we call them family members. This is truly a worldwide around the globe Sounds of Blackness Family. We thank them for that, we thank God for them and we want to let them know that Kings & Queens: Message Music From the Movement is available right now exclusively at Best Buy. When they purchase a copy, again they are making a direct contribution to The Martin Luther King Memorial Fund. LH: This actually concludes our interview with Mr. Gary Hines of The Sounds of Blackness. Gary, much success to you and the group. Thank You So Much Gary Hines! GH: You’re welcome, and thank you my brother!
-By Lee M. Harris eternalchoice2@yahoo.com
By Lee M. Harris
M
any things have happened in the lives of the many victims of Hurricane Katrina. Being able to put their lives back together hasn’t been easy, but through true faith, God has allowed these three young ladies to rise to the top of their careers. Today I had the privilege of speaking with Gospel’s Trio, Trinitee 5:7.
Lee Harris: Before we get started, could I get each of you young ladies to introduce yourselves? T57: Hi, I’m Angel! Hi, I’m Chanelle! And Adrian!
ine in our writing so much passion and every emotion, from anger to frustration, to hurt and even our joys and our victories. It all came out. We wrote eighty percent of this album.
LH: Chanelle, very briefly, who is Trini-tee 5:7 and how was the group formed? Chanelle: Trin-i-tee 5:7 has been in existence now for ten years. We were started by a gentleman by the name of Kenneth Grand, I would say is the founder. He had a vision to put a girls group together that had youth appeal and also had a message. So we partnership with Gospel Century which was our label at the time and recorded our first album self titled Trin-i-tee 5:7 in ‘98. Now four albums later, we have recorded our latest project T57, which we would like to say is the DNA of Trin-i-tee 5:7
LH: Angel, first of all, if I’m not getting too personal, is Angel your original birth name? Angel: Yes it is. It’s my birth name. LH: How did you guys come in contact with Manager Matthew Knowles or did he approach the three of you? Adrian: We were in concert in Houston, Texas. Matthew Knowles saw us. We closed the show. Two artists came on before us and he came back stage immediately after our performance. He said, "That was wonderful. You guys are an amazing group. Would you like to do plays? What are you interested in?" He had many wonderful questions and that led him to speak to our manager Sonya Norwood and our label at the time. Three weeks later he flew us to Houston, Texas to let us know that he wanted us on his label. He wanted us as his artist and that’s how that happened.
LH: Chanelle, if you would, please tell us a little about the devastation that occurred with the effects of Hurricane Katrina that motivated you all to move forward? Chanelle: The devastation of Katrina was just bad. The devastation was a great lost; however, I believe that the greatest trials of your life is designed to prepare you for greatness and for great opportunities. God allowed that whole experience to bring or elevate us to a whole new place. The T57 album was recorded weeks after Katrina hit. You could imag-
LH: I sort of see Destiny Child from an image standpoint. Are there any connections? Did you all pick up anything from the type of image that they have as far as the performance goes or anything like that?
8
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
Adrian: Oh! I understand your question. Actually I appreciate your question. I think what it is, is that we have a lot of respect for the hard work that they have done as a family and as a business. Basically, what they’ve accomplished. We have our own established sound and Destiny’s Child has an established sound, which has allowed us to be apart in that manner. At the same time, we have global aspirations as did Matthew has for us. There are certain components for any group that have a standard. If you have the same goods, you say we’re a solid group and Destiny’s Child is a solid group. Those are the things that we have in common. He saw those things in us. LH: Angel, it’s obvious that the name of your CD titled T57 revolves around this CD being what Trin-i-tee 5:7 is made of. Who inspired the name of the group? Angel: Yeah, it was a collaborative effort between us, our former manager Kenneth Grant and our record label. T57 is taken from First John: Chapter 5 Verse 7, which we believe bare record, having the fathers word, and the Holy Ghost. We believe these three are one. It’s a major goal for us to always be three as one and for us to be able to come together with like hearts, minds and spirits, and go forth in what our mission is. LH: Angel, it is understood that the three of you were credited with much of the
Photo: Courtesy of Music World Entertainment (MWE)
Tr in-i-tee 5:7 From Katrina to Top Gospel Trio
LH: Ok, that song has really sparked a lot of spiritual movement inside a lot of people. Angel: It really has. It’s a song that is always requested when we go to perform. So many radio stations across the country play that song on a daily basis.
that we have, and I wrote that song from a certain place in my life. A lot of times we don’t understand why we go through the things we go through and feel the heartbreak and passion, or the desperation, or whatever. We can’t always articulate it. In this song, I was able to. I guess it speaks for a lot of women. I was able to express myself and express some of the same sentiments of many women, so we’ve gotten a great response from, "I Still Love You."
LH: Adrian, what was some of your holdbacks or struggles prior to getting to this point in your career? Adrian: Well some of the struggles would simply be learning how the industry works, learning all the components,
LH: Chanelle, what’s next for Trin-i-tee 5:7? Chanelle: Wow, I love to say that the sky is the limit! God has given us so many opportunities, one after another. He’s given us the wisdom and the longevity to
song writing in this CD. Which one of you actually came up with the song, God’s Grace. Angel: R. Kelly wrote that song.
“
be there for our people! Adrian: We’d just like to say, T57 is an experience and the celebration of ten years for the group. It is something that has blessed many people. There are twelve tracks there for you to love and to embrace and to keep people going through day to day life. We’re very thankful. Thank you! LH: Adrian is there a website or something that someone could go to and see this project that you guys are doing. Adrian: Certainly, they can go to Trinitee57.com. LH: At this time would you guys like to say something in conclusion? T57: We celebrate your efforts, come and
I believe that the greatest trials of your life is designed to prepare you for greatness and for great opportunities. maintain. We’ve worked on some Christmas Specials, had several television appearances and a lot of networks with Gospel Music Channel. You’ll be seeing a lot of those kinds of shows coming up soon.
learning how to translate musically and creatively on stage per song and how to have your persons enhanced. That has always been the fun part. More so, on the industry-business side is how to become educated and more postured for business in this industry. We have different components that make up the whole; the business side, the creative side and the performance side. It’s all very exciting. You have to make each of those components so that it’s fluent, very beautiful.
LH: Before closing, is there anything you all would like to say in specific to the readers? Angel: Well I’d definitely like to start by saying… we’d love for our fans to visit us on our MySpace page which is www.myspace.com/trinitee57. We love hearing from our fans. They respond to our blogs and let us know how they like the records. We welcome you to visit us there! Chanelle: I’d like to encourage our fans and just anybody that is interested at all in the experience of Trin-i-tee 5:7. We’d like to encourage everyone to become more involved in humanitarian efforts. While we’ve gotten major support in our music endeavors, we have also gotten support in our humanitarian efforts. We had our own campaign Ambassadors of Hope and Triumph, where we go throughout the Gulf Coast and work with the families that lost their homes and their possessions; and helped build homes. We’ve worked with Habitat for Humanity. I visited an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico, where you just go and just be with the people. This is a passion. We love to encourage everyone to just truly embrace a heart of compassion and
LH: The song, "Listen, I Need You and Beautiful Girl," was performed with popular artists such as, Alicia Keys, Yolanda Adams, Dave Hollister and Usher. At anytime was there ever a voice competition between these singing greats? Chanelle: Not at all! LH: How complicated is it to capture agreement with other women, especially, what we refer to sometimes as church folk when you do the song, "I Still Love You?" Chanelle: It’s interesting the different responses that we’ve received, because the song is a love song. It is a song that is written from my experience. Again, like Angel said, we wrote from our experiences and what’s important to us is for people to know that as women. These are real experiences, whether you’re a Christian or whatever your faith is. These are real emotions and experiences
9
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
”
join your vision and hope that you attain all your goals. We appreciate that we can be apart of that journey with you! LH: I have concluded my interview with Miss Chanelle Haynes, Miss Angel Taylor and Miss Adrian Anderson of the very popular Trio Female Gospel Group, Trin-i-tee 5:7. On behalf of myself and Consciousness Magazine, we wish you much success. Not only with your music, but in your every walk in life. Thank you ladies and may God keep blessing you. T57: Thank you! Thank you so much! Same to you!
Business
BARON Five-Step Action Plan for Building Wealth o matter where you are starting from, N you can begin to turn your life around or dramatically improve your financial situation using THE BARON SOLUTION™ 5Step Action Plan for Building Wealth. It is important to learn disciplined strategies of sound money management, investing, and business administration. The more you learn about these areas, the more confident you will be in selecting advisors, making investments, and handling your business and financial affairs. You can easily move forward on your journey to financial success by taking these five simple actions: Step One - Pay Down Your Debt. It is extremely difficult to build wealth when you are paying 20-30% interest on credit cards. You should begin consolidating your debts and negotiating with creditors to lower your interest rates when possible. For some, credit counseling, debt management plans, or debt negation plans may make sense, but be careful because there are some unscrupulous services out there. You can use the Resources section of BaronSeries.com to obtain your free credit report and find the fastest and cheapest way to pay-down your debt. Step Two - Begin Building a Cash Reserve. Calculate your monthly expenses and strive to stash away at least six-months worth of savings for emergencies and to take advantage of investment opportunities that present themselves. This calls for a lot
discipline, but as the old African proverb says "Save your money, and one day it will save you." Through the free Resources section of BaronSeries.com, you will be able to find many of the highest interest rate checking, savings, and money market accounts in the country to help you fight inflation. Step Three - Develop a Long Term Investment Portfolio. By taking advantage of the power of compounding, you can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, by the time you retire. Use the free BaronSeries.com investment calculators to find out how much money you will need to invest in order to reach your financial goals as well as how long your savings will last. Keep in mind, you should never invest money that you cannot afford to lose, or invest in things you do not understand or feel totally comfortable with. Step Four - Create a Cash Flow Portfolio. It is important to learn to generate income from your investments rather than your physical labor. This will enable you become financially free long before retirement. Rental real estate, business and insurance income streams, and royalties from intellectual property such books, music, inventions, etc., are great way to go. Mastering these areas may take quite a bit of work up front, but are well worth it on the back-end. When it comes to cash flow strategies, think "outside of the box." If a particular strategy won’t work in your area, than think nationally or internationally and establish local partnerships.
Step Five - Start Your Own Business. It has become essential for individuals to not only diversify their investments, but also their sources of income. Since wages increase at about 3.4% and expenses rise at a much faster pace, the average person today is working harder and getting poorer. Every person has a great untapped business idea that can generate millions of dollars if properly executed. You just need to leverage THE BARON SOLUTION Four Keys for Building a Successful Business: a proven business model, experienced management, access to capital, and strategic partnerships. Remember, becoming wealthy is not difficult; it just takes time and focus. Unfortunately, most people do not focus on becoming wealthy, until they do not have much time. Know that you can always change the condition of your life financially; you just have to be willing to think differently, more creatively, and strategically. By William R. Patterson www.baronseries.com
Artwork: Licensed
Z
F
NuAnSkool Soul’s in Session: Interview with Musiq Soulchild by Taisha D. Mikell with Katrina Dunbar
Lights…Camera…Action!!! This is how Soul Artist Musiq Soulchild (born Taalib Johnson) views making music. The process for him is like making a movie. When the beat drops, the scene begins. Through the different roles he plays he gets to experiment with a wide variety of emotions, but he is always the main character. Although he may strongly identify with some of the characters, none of the songs he sings are autobiographical. The music comes from a general perspective. One that almost any man or woman can relate to. Still on the front end of a successful career, filled with multiple Grammy nominations and topping the Billboard charts at #1, many would compare this Philadelphia native to some of the musical greats from which he draws his inspiration…Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway and Marvin Gaye. Consciousness Magazine had the privilege of speaking with Musiq as he prepares for the release of his new album.
CM: For those who have been living under a rock for the last 7 years and aren’t familiar with your style, how would you describe your music? MS: I make music that bridges the gap between generations. It’s soul music…music that feels good and sounds good. CM: If you weren’t singing professionally what do you think you would be doing? MS: Maybe a film director. I really like theater and story telling…or maybe a chef. I’m not great, but I like to play around in the kitchen. But seriously though, I’d probably be a professor. I’m passionate about learning and teaching. I would love to share the knowledge I’ve gained. CM: You said that you equated the making of Luvanmusiq with going to college. What exactly does that mean? MS: There was such a long break between albums it was like starting over. I was growing up and reinventing myself with this album. It was much more mature. CM: Why the long wait between Luvanmusiq and SoulStar? MS: I learned a lot between these two albums. As a very creative person it is sometimes hard to find comfort in this industry. I learned I had to change my perspective if I was going to survive. Some compromises and sacrifices had to be made if I was going to be able to make any money in this game. That’s why I do it. I could be just an artist anywhere, but I want to make money (laughs).
I had to learn to make the transition from just being creative to being a business person. I had to learn the difference between good music and good radio and figure out a way to fuse the two. In time I hope the industry will change and start to accept more artist freedom and creativity, but for now I’m willing to play the game the way it is. CM: Do any of the songs you’ve recorded hold a special place in your heart? Do you have a favorite album or track? MS: Honestly, they are all special. Some of them are reflections of who I’ve been. Some of them are things I aspire to. CM: When you aren’t working in the studio or preparing for a performance, what kinds of things do you do for fun? MS: I’m just a regular guy…I like to chill: Catch up on sleep, watch movies, eat, shopping, play video games, hang out. CM: Do you keep in touch w/many of your old friends? MS: Not really…they’re on some other stuff--not necessarily bad, but we’re just in different places. I move around a lot so I’m always meeting new people. CM: So many of the songs you sing are about love and relationships. Our readers want to know, is there a special someone in your life now? MS: No--right now I’m focused on my career. If I were in a relationship I would only make her mad. CM: I got to see you perform a while back at the Taste of Chicago. I was really impressed that you were able to keep your flow and energy up in all that heat. Do you typically enjoy performing in outdoor venues? MS: I love to perform anywhere and everywhere for both fans who have been following since the start of my career and for people who don’t have any of my CDs. I especially love performing for long time fans. They know the songs and feed into my energy. CM: Consciousness Magazine strives to take our readers on a prosperous journey, which will hopefully strengthen, inspire, enlighten and reach the youth and adults in our ethnically diverse communities. Do you see your music playing a role in this mission? If so how? MS: Oh Yeah! No disrespect to what’s on the radio, but I see my music as an alternative to the negativity…to how women, blacks, people from the hood in general are portrayed. My music isn’t just about sex, but about love and positive relationships. CM: What can we expect from Musiq in the future? Are you currently working on any projects? MS: I’m currently working on a new album. I’m also working on myself. I’m working to be a better artist (wardrobe, performances) and a better man. I’ve been in the game for a while now and want to make sure my image and style stay fresh.
Photo: Courtesy of Solqi Management
CM: Any last words? MS: Keep rocking soul music…thanks for the support. Discography: 1. Aijuswanaseing (Nov. 14, 2000) Def Soul Classics 2. Juslisen (May 7, 2002) Def Soul Classics 3. Soulstar (Dec. 9, 2003) Def Jam 4. Luvanmusiq (Mar. 13, 2007) Atlantic Record 5. Onmyradio (Dec. 9, 2008) Atlantic Record
12
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
F
F
Staph bacteria
HEALTH Solutions
LESH
EATING
DISEASE
(Nosocomial infections) Pt. 1
By Lee M. Harris Photo: Parents Ron and Betty Cole with Alicia
eternalchoice2@yahoo.com
In today’s society, we face a killer of invisibility inside our hospitals or houses of care that are supposed to be there to save lives, not take them. I recently spoke with actress and survivor of this deadly disease, Alicia Cole. Miss Cole agreed to share with the readers some things about her tragic experience with the carelessness of the health care system. Her hope is to save many lives and to put pressure on healthcare facilities across the country to increase their safety and infection prevention standards. She is also working to change the malpractice laws that protect hospitals who are careless and negligent toward their patients. My name is Alicia Cole: I’ve been a working actress and a member of the Screen Actors Guild for over fourteen years. Now the ironic part of all of this is that I play doctors and nurses all the time. At the time of my illness, I represented the State of California as the Doctor in their campaign against Childhood Obesity. The irony is that they chose me to represent the picture of health and also to represent the face of professionalism for the medical community. However, while these commercials, billboards, and radio spots were running, I was in the hospital in the ICU, fighting for my life from a post-surgical infection. I went into the hospital on August 15, 2006 for a routine myomectomy. It’s a common surgery among women, especially black women because we’re more prone to what is called Fibroids. Fibroids are just benign tissue growths in our uterus. Women have this done all the time. Two days after my surgery when they were supposed to release me from the hospital, my fever was around 103` and I was nauseous. I kept throwing up and I was getting chills. No one could figure out why. My doctor said, "You may have a minor post operative infection, that’s not unusual. We’re not going to let you go home until we get your fever down." My parents had come in from Ohio to be with me for the surgery. By the third day after my surgery, I could not keep anything on my stomach. It was as though I had the flu. I had chills and then I would get hot and break out in a sweat! My abdomen was
swelling and becoming red and hard. I was in immense pain. My doctor kind of took a wait and see attitude. He put me on antibiotics and said, "We’ll just play it by ear and see what happens." Two days after that, one of the nurses- bless her heart- came into my room, closed the door and pulled my parents to the side of my bed. She said, "Listen, something is wrong here, your daughter is healthier than most of the people we see in this hospital. I have seen people in worst condition than her have this operation and they’re home by now. She’s getting worse, not better." I’m just a nurse, there’s not a whole lot I can do, I can make suggestions, but if the doctor doesn’t want to listen, they don’t have to. If you, as the family, request an Infectious Disease Specialist, they have to get one. But you didn’t hear that from me." My parents said, "Not a problem, we will keep it in confidence because we don’t want you to lose your job." Some states have laws that protect nurses, doctors or any staff member that comes forward when they see something being done incorrectly. It’s kind of a whistle blowing law. It protects them from losing their jobs. Unfortunately I don’t believe California has that type of law, so if you see something that’s not being done properly and you speak out about it, you are in jeopardy of losing your job or being reassigned. That’s why, unfortunately, a lot of nurses and doctors don’t say anything when they see things that aren’t being handled the best way that they could. This is something that really needs to change in our country. When professionals feel safe to report the bad apples, it makes the whole system better and safer. Well to fast forward, during one of the dressing changes, my mother discovered a black dot on my stomach above my incision. When she asked the nurse what it was the nurse said, "Oh, probably nothing." She never even bothered to look closer. She just began to argue with my mother insisting that it was a mole or lint and that mom was making a big deal out of nothing. Unfortunately, that’s what a lot of healthcare workers do when you ask questions or when you challenge them, but it’s important that you still do. My mother insisted that she call the doctor and have him come back to
13
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
the hospital. We later learned that if my mother had not stood her ground, and insisted on the doctor coming back, I would have been dead by the time he got there in the morning, or I would have been so far along in the disease process that they probably would not have been able to save me. Necrotizing Fasciitis (NF), is it’s a deep, deep tissue infection that attacks the layer of what’s called the fascia, which is what holds your fat to your muscle and protects your muscles. When they cut deep into you, if any bacteria gets down that deep, it will start growing and multiplying and eating away at you. There’s no visible signs on the outside, except fever and swelling, so you don’t know what’s going on. I was literally being eaten alive from the inside out and that black dot my mother saw was the first sign of the disease breaking through to the surface. Finally, the nurse called the doctor and in the hour and a half it took the doctor to get to the hospital, that tiny black dot had become a quarter size circle of pus. At that point, my doctor’s face went completely white and he said, "Ok, this is serious. We need to be concerned now." He called for the nurse but she never came back. Then he looked at my mother and asked, "Mrs. Cole, are you squeamish at all?" and my mother answered, "No." That’s when he had her put on a mask and some gloves. Right then and there, in the room, he and my mother proceeded to open up my incision. No anesthesia, no local, nor any betadine, just my mother holding my stomach while he cut. I thought at first, I must be dreaming. Then, he proceeded to cut open the two rows of sutures that were deep inside my abdomen. When it was all done, my mother went out into the hallway to tell my father what had just happened. The doctor soon followed and my parents told him, "This is out of your hands now, we need an Infection D i s e a s e Specialist."
Continue in Next Issue...
In-Service Nurses Training on Cole in the ICU following third surgery. No gowns or masks are being worn by the staff (nurse on the left has no gloves).
Environmental: EarthTalk
Rising seas’ affect on fresh water The intrusion of saltwater from the sea into rivers and groundwater is a serious issue, but the threat is not from a reversal of flow, and our far inland lakes and rivers are not expected to be directly affected by the salty water of our oceans. However, the sensitive areas around the edges of our con-
temperatures, melting mountain glaciers and polar ice caps, and other factors. Higher temperatures also cause thermal expansion of ocean water, intensifying the problem. Rising sea levels cause major problems as they erode and flood coastlines and, yes, as they mix salt water with fresh. A November 2007 article in ScienceDaily posited that coastal communities could face significant losses in fresh water supplies as saltwater intrudes inland. And whereas it had been previously assumed that salty water could only intrude underground as far as it did above ground, new studies show that in some cases salt water can go 50 percent further inland underground than it does above ground. Salty water invading groundwater can reach not only residential water supplies but intakes for agricultural irrigation and industrial uses, as well. Economic effects include loss of coastal fisheries and other industries, coastal protection costs, and the loss of once-valuable coastal property as people move inland.
tinents, where fresh water meets salt water, are at risk, and greater efforts must be taken to protect them. Some 40 percent of world population lives less than 40 miles (60 kilometers) from the shoreline. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global average sea levels should rise eight to 34 inches by the year 2100, a much faster pace than the four to 10 inch increase of the past century. Seas rise because of higher global
Q: I'm just as guilty as the next, but why do people talk more than they listen? Do we assume that we have more to teach than we have to learn?
A: If you’re just as guilty as the next then you should have a pretty good idea of why people talk more than they listen. For me, it would have to be that I am trying to seem interested in their conversation. You can only nod and say "umm huh" so many times before the person asks "know what I mean?" It sucks when you have no answer so yapping over them seems better.
Q: How do you know when you're an adult? 14
Estuaries at the mouths of rivers have in the past handled rising ocean levels. Sediment that accumulates along the edge of an estuary can raise the level of the land as the sea levels rise. And mangrove swamps, which buffer many a coastal zone around the world, flourish in brackish conditions. But because of our preference for living in coastal areas, and our habit of reengineering our surroundings accordingly, humans make matters worse by preventing natural processes from managing the change. On the coast, we build roads and buildings, and replace natural buffers like mangrove swamps with dikes and bulkheads to control flooding, which make the problem worse by preventing beach sediment from collecting. And as we dam rivers and create reservoirs, we trap the sediment that would naturally flow down to the sea. In some places, changes are happening. Governments are beginning to restrict or prohibit building in setback zones along the coast where risk of erosion is the greatest. A newer policy of "rolling easements" is also being tried, where developers are allowed to build in restricted zones but will be required to remove the structures if and when they become threatened by erosion. The IPCC recommends more drastic actions, such as creating more marshes and wetlands as buffers against the rising level of the sea, and migrating populations and industry away from coastlines altogether. CONTACTS: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, www.ipcc.ch. www.emagazine.com/earthtalk
A:
When your 18th birthday arrives you’re an adult, legally. If you’re 18 or for that matter 35 and cannot handle your own business and you’d rather run the streets getting high, not working, and can’t commit to anything then you’re not an adult. Comprehend? Listen to Ask Dangerous Lee Live on Blog Talk Radio every Friday at 8pm: www.blogtalkradio.com/askdangerouslee www.myspace.com/dangerouslee askdangerouslee@hotmail.com
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
Words-of-Encouragement
A Touch of Truth Its been awhile since I’ve touched you all with a bit of my world. The last few months have been a continuing journey in a thing we call life. I have learned so much more about myself in such a short amount of time. With that being said, I ask you this: Do you know who you are?…Do you know what you want in life? Take some time and think on it. Over the last few months, I had a head on collision with these questions, and those answers came to me in two life changing events: 1. Throughout my life I’ve always had a passion to do anything creative, including writing, singing, dancing, and acting. Over time, I kept that passion, but I tried to b r u s h i t o ff a s a h o b b y a n d d i d
By Darnell L. Jordan
what I thought was conventionally right. After awhile, I found myself unhappy with what I was currently doing with my life, and it felt like something was missing. What was it?…my passion! What I had been pushing to the side was what I’m meant to do in life. So, I quit worrying what others would think, thought about what makes me happy, and decided to pursue my passion 100% no matter what happens.
had in my life. Family has always been a big part of me. We represent each other, and they serve as a permanent support system.
2. In April, I met two of my three brothers on my father’s side whom I have never met. That was a big ball of emotion. To be 22yrs old, and immediately have new siblings in your life is a weird but GREAT feeling. It is a sense of assurance and it opens a new and exciting chapter in your life. It also made me appreciate the family I already
Do I know what I want to do with my life?…More than ever, and it took me doing something that I didn’t want to do to make me realize my calling. Life is short, and there’s no time for shoulda, coulda, wouldas.
So, to answer those questions. Do I know who I am?...Yes, and I learn even more of who I am day by day. In fact, knowing my family and being close with them is an essential element in getting to that point.
Hello, my name is Josephine Robinson, I work in the administrative department for Consciousness Magazine. While hanging out at a get away with some friends in Champaign, Illinois, I had the opportunity to meet one of my favorite hip-hop artist, Talib Kweli. Not only was he a cool individual, but he took out the time to associate after performing in concert that night.
15
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
It’s
a
Dream Come True
for an Incredible Little Illinois Boy!
6 year-old Matthew of Bourbonnais, IL has a smile that can light up a room! This
happy little guy loves to be around people and has a talent for making them laugh.
Matthew is a huge Star Wars fan and loves watching the movies and playing with his Star Wars toys. He also enjoys baseball and says his favorite team is the White Sox. While in many ways, Matthew is a typical little boy, there is something that makes him unique from his peers: Matthew has cystic fibrosis.
Photo: Matthew and his family
C.F. is a chronic lung disease that causes the lungs to be covered with thick, heavy mucus. The condition often leads to lifethreatening lung infections. In addition, C.F. causes the body to have difficulty with digestion and food absorption. Matthew must endure daily breathing treatments and takes numerous medications. He also has a g-tube. Recently, this brave boy enjoyed a very special break away from his worries for a precious while thanks to his friends at Kids Wish Network, an organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. It was no surprise to anyone when Matthew announced that what he wanted most for his wish was to go to Disney World. Kids Wish Network took care of every last detail. Matthew’s Wish Coordinator, Vanessa Covolo, arranged for he and his family to fly to Orlando and booked hotel
accommodations for them at the beautiful Royal Plaza Hotel in Downtown Disney. She also arranged for meals, spending money and more. Kids Wish Network Wish Funding Specialist, Ruth, secured sponsorships from Matthew’s local Wal-Mart and Fraternal Order of Eagles. Before he knew it, Matthew was on his way to sunny Florida. "He had an absolutely fabulous time!" said Matthew’s mother, Penny, of his experience at Disney. "He was just go, go, go all the time!" And with an itinerary full of things to do, that was no surprise. Penny said they visited the Animal Kingdom, Sea World, MGM Studios and of course, the Magic Kingdom. "Magic Kingdom was the best," she smiled. "He did everything there." Everything included his very first roller coaster experiences. "He loved them!" Penny laughed. Some of his very favorites were Space Mountain,
16
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain. "He felt like a big kid, riding all the rides with his older brother. He thought it was pretty cool." Another stop on his busy itinerary included a visit to the Pirates Dinner Adventure Theater, where patrons watch a live pirate show while noshing on a delicious dinner. Penny said Matthew had a blast. "He really enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun." Penny was incredibly grateful to Kids Wish Network for making Matthew’s wish come true. "It was a fabulous trip! We greatly appreciate everything!" Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Matthew’s wish extra special: Compassion Program, Bubbalou’s Bodacious Barbeque, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Mimi’s Café, Pirates Dinner Adventure Theater, Royal Plaza Hotel, Wal-Mart and Wonderworks. Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children. If you know a child between the ages of 3 and 18 who may be in need of its wish granting services, please call 727937-3600 or toll free 888-918-9004. For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit their website at www.kidswishnetwork.org
Interviewed and written by Lee Harris eternalchoice2@yahoo.com
Don’t call it a come back! The memories of the suave moves and Hip Hop Rhythms of the very successful Heavy D & the Boyz will always take center stage in our minds when we think of jamming with a large thunder of electricity. Over the last ten years, the Hip Hop world has moved on into many directions, but without the world of music having such pioneers as Heavy D around exposing his hits, something would surely be missing. I decided to check in with the world reknown Dwight "Heavy D" Myers, to see what has been keeping him so busy over the years. During the interview with him, I found out that he has actually been very active, as most multi-talented artist are. Lee Harris: Please tell us a little about the man we all have come to love and know as the "Overweight Lover" Heavy D. Heavy D: Not so overweight anymore. It’s weird for me to talk about myself that way. I mean, I could say I’m the sexiest thing on two feet! LH: Hey look out now! I notice that, sometimes things change. You’ve probably answered this question many times before, but for Consciousness, who came up with the name Heavy D? HD: Absolutely, my older brother, who was a year older than me. Actually when we were younger, it was him, his older friends and I who had the two turntables. They kind of introduced me into the Hip Hop World. They would never let me rap on the microphones, because I was the little annoying brother. So, one of his best friends name was Heavy C. He was actually a good family friend; his name was Clarence Johnson. Through my search, I was trying to find my rap name, my MC name. My brother just came in and said, "Just call yourself Heavy D." I said, "Yeah! I’m stealing that." I took it from Heavy C and I became Heavy D. LH: After becoming Heavy D, did the thought ever cross your mind that one day if you weren’t so heavy,
what you would do? Would you hold onto the name or what? HD: Well, the name and the beauty about the name is that it’s just a cool name. I’m not as heavy as I used to be, but it’s still just a cool name. It works out either way. It’s a brand and you don’t want to move away from it. LH: Just like Lil’ Romeo. HD: That’s right! As I get older and more mature, I incorporate my birth name, which my parents gave to me. Slowly but surely people will know both of them. LH: It is my understanding that you were born in Jamaica and came to the U.S. at a relatively young age. Are you actually of a Jamaican descent or were you just born there? HD: My whole family’s Jamaican. My daughter is first generation American. All my nieces and nephews are first generation Americans. LH: What triggered your interest in music and what was it about Hip Hop that interests you most? HD: Well… coming from Jamaica, which is actually the birth place of Hip Hop; believe me. If you’re familiar with DJ Cool Herc, he was the one that introduced the concept of the two turntables and the microphone, which had been going on in Jamaica for quite some time. I remember those vibes. It was a natural gravitation to me. The better question is, How could I have not been doing it? You can’t seek something like that out. It finds you, it’s either in you and it discovers you, because you really can’t discover it…I believe that. It’s like, there’s no way I can’t do this. I can’t imagine not doing it. That’s just me as an artist…period. The older I get the more I get involved as being an artist who encompasses not just music and acting; I might pick up a paint brush one day and discover I’m great at painting. I love the idea of being creative. To me, that’s what an artist is, just being creative. The world doesn’t have to really like it, but I have this desire in me that is always looking to create. LH: So in other words, you could basically say it was a purpose, because you’re very good at what you do and you love it? HD: That’s the better word. [I’m not a fool]. I recognize my status and I hate saying, I’m great at it. If I’m great or if you perceive me to be great, it’s only because I love it. I have a tremendous amount of passion for it. LH: Well based on your stage performance and everything that I’ve seen over the years, you do love it. I can see it all over you. HD: I’ll tell you something. The reason it took so long for me to make another piece of music is because I didn’t love it anymore. I had outgrown what I was doing in my life at that time. I had records sitting
Photographer: Greg Bojorquez
18
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
in a vault that one day, maybe would get released somehow. I wasn’t satisfied with the quality of it. Through the process, I discovered that it’s over. I fell out of love with it. I felt that I had conquered this to the best of my ability. Not that I was the best in the game at it. I had given it my best. I had come to a point where I should probably not do this again, because all it’s going to do is diminish what I’ve done and dishonor the culture. I put the culture first. It’s a challenge to be good. When growing up looking at the cats that were older than me, I had to be that good at least to do it. I was only trying to be better. When I was cutting over the last ten years trying to assemble a Hip Hop album, I realized it was over. I put that exclamation point on it! I’ve always had one foot in Reggae and one foot in Hip Hop. I’ve done records with Super Cat, Buju Banton, Coco Tea, Josie Wales and all the legendary artist. I’ve always wanted to do a Reggae Album. Being in a big system, they didn’t see the benefit of it. For me it would have been for the passion, fun, art and doing something I love. So, it was commerce verses art, as usual. If you’re not in control of your own label, commerce will win because they write the checks. Now I’m in a situation where it’s my label. I can do what I want and I’m doing what I want. It’s probably one of the most gratifying experiences since probably my first two or three albums. LH: This takes me back to Sam Cooke. I spoke with his nephew a
“
you continuing to live life while you’re dealing with death. There’s nothing you can do to change the circumstances. You can’t kill yourself and join those people, whether you think so or not. What you have to realize is that you’re still alive. If you have kids, you have to be alive not only physically but spiritually. You can’t let it damage your spirit. I have to smile for my daughter everyday. I have to laugh with her, and she knows when I’m not in a good mood. She’s only eight and she’ll look at me like, "What is your problem!" And I’m like, "Ok! Let me switch up. Sorry!" Kids that age, they’ll think it’s them. I made a choice to look at my mother and her strength and Troy’s Mother and her strength. They still laugh and they still have a good life. Death is inevitable. There’s nothing you can do about it. With that being said, what you can’t conquer, why waste time! LH: Heavy D & the Boyz became the first group signed to Uptown Records, which signed several powerful acts such as, yourself & the Boyz, Christopher Williams, Jodeci and Mary J. Blige. What was it about Heavy D that lifted him to the top position as President and CEO of Uptown Records? HD: Oh Lee! What it was…Andre Harrell and I had a wonderful chemistry. I learned a lot from Andre and he is just a genius; the Barry Gordy of that generation really. I mean, he really had a vision and
If you’re an artist, it’s your responsibility to be true to yourself first. while ago and he has this book out called, "Our Uncle Sam, the Sam Cooke Story." It talks about owning your own label and being able to have the rights and say so to everything you do because it’s your work, it’s your creation.
HD: As it should be, yes! You hear all these horror stories from cats who were making records sixty years ago and it still happens. I was a victim of it basically, because I signed my first record deal in ‘85’ or ‘86’, so the practices haven’t changed that much since. Now, a lot of new guys come from the streets with their street mentality of ownership, which works wonderfully. They legalized themselves and made an empire. It’s interesting because you don’t have to sell a whole lot of records to make a whole lot of money when you own your own stuff. LH: I’m learning that the industry, like you say, is all about the industry. It’s not about the artist, so the artist has to get smarter.
fought for the vision all the way through. Look at the artist you named; Jodeci, Mary, myself and Puff, even though, I brought Puff to Uptown. Andre groomed Puff. Alot of that credit goes to Andre Harrell and just to my own vision of where I see myself. For the most important thing is that Andre taught me that if Heavy D liked it, then it’s a Heavy D thing. It’s a Heavy D record. A Heavy D movie or play. He said, "if you like it, it’s something you should do." He made me realize that I fit into a unique category of you don’t quite know where to place me. Only I really know, because, if I pitch you an idea, you go, "Hey whatever! If I do it and deliver, you go, "Oh, I get it!" This was a motto that I learned from him early on and I stuck with it. Sometimes they’re hard battles, because it’s really just you against a million people. Everybody’s saying no and you’re the only one saying yes .So you’re going, I’m not that smart, come on, somebody else have to see this. LH: But that’s what they saw in you.
HD: The industry…it’s dissipating as we speak. More and more artist are coming in with not just regular record deals. They’re coming in with wanting ownership as they should. You know, with the internet, you see a lot of these companies folding. The creativity diminished alot. Things have to get worse, like drug addicts. They have to hit rock bottom before they can pick themselves back up. My perspective is…the creativity needs to be challenged and the bar needs to be raised.
HD: Right! So that’s what makes me different. Then I started looking at not comparing myself now, but looking at people like Prince, Stevie Wonder, like…the What’s Going on album and Barry Gordy forbidding Marvin Gaye not to do that album.
LH: I know you’ve probably been over this many times, but I would like to ask. In July of 1990, the tragic death of your friend, Troy Dixon during a stage performance shocked and pained not only the Hip Hop World, but even millions that only knew him as a part of the group. What do you say to someone else when trying to find the peace and strength to move on from such hurting times?
LH: No, I did not know that.
HD: Well, I don’t talk about that much. I’ve lost two brothers of my own, tragically. What I’ve realized is that you have to accept that it is what it is. There’s a certain level of carelessness that goes along with
19
LH: For real! HD: Oh yeah! I don’t know if you know that story or not.
HD: Yeah! Barry said it himself. There’s a wonderful documentary…it was on where he talks about this album will not sell. And sure enough…shocked the world. If you’re an artist, it’s your responsibility to be true to yourself first. The minute you start listening and following people, it’s the death of an artist; not physically, but the death of the artist within the artist. It’s very important that you don’t make art to please people. It’s weird to say that, because that’s what we do eventually. That’s what’s been happening. It’s your
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
”
thought and vision that people are responding to, not what the round table suggests. Art should never be by committee. Here’s what I have. Honestly, if you go back into time and all your greatest artist from Prince to whomever. If you look at it, go back into time. You will see that there was probably one person, one person that believed in a Ray Charles, a Stevie Wonder, a Marvin Gaye…one person. That one person had the power to convince hundreds of others to get behind the product. I remember when I was doing Soul for Real’s album. I don’t know if you remember them. LH: Yes, I do as a matter of fact. HD: There was a record called Candy Rain. And a great friend of mine who used to work at Uptown Records, Lewis Tucker, was like the radio promotions guy and he didn’t understand the record. We were friends first and he was a guy that I kind of looked up to and admired. He was like, "I don’t know man, I don’t think we should put this record out." Something in me was like, "Dude, just trust me," and he left it alone. I don’t know if it was the passion I said it with or whatever. He left it alone and he trusted me; that record blew up, sky rocketed. He didn’t understand. Later on, Doug Morris who I idolize as well, I idolize my dad, but who I have a tremendous amount of respect, love and honor for, told me, "No matter what you do, you pick the record and then you give it to the people promoting radio. Just because they promote radio doesn’t mean they know how to pick records. Don’t let them tell you what to pick! Give them the record and you make them work the record." LH: Now you wrote that yourself. I mean, you actually produced it? HD: Oh yeah! That song was written by myself, Terry Robertson and Track Masters. The whole album was a wonderful collaboration. LH: Looking back on your music, (Albums) Living Large, Big Tyme, Peaceful Journey, Blue Funk and Nuttin’ But Love, all hit from 1 to 10 on the R&B Charts, placing you with three platinum and one gold albums out of five. In 1997 and 1999, Heavy D, popped the top ten again with Waterbed Hev. Not excluding the great ratings on the pop charts. With that came 22 singles. How did you guys handle all the immediate success? HD: We were young boys being led by smart people and growing into our own creativity as we went along. By the time we probably got toward the end of the Big Tyme album, we went into Peaceful Journey and Nuttin’ But Love. Those were when we got a handle on who we were and what we were doing. The early stuff, Living Large, if you noticed we were in sweats. From the second album, which was Big Tyme, we were in suits, that was Andre. Andre was always ghetto fabulous, dress up, be fly, just hang out, you know with the fly people. "Ghetto fabulous," he even invented that. I say this all the time, You do not know that you’re making history while you’re making it. If you set out to make history, you’ll never make it. You don’t know that you’re doing it to that degree, to where I’m at. I made a record just so I could hear it on Mr. Magic Show in New York. I had no idea that I’d be traveling after that or that I’d be moving the dining table in my mother’s house all the way against the wall so that the three of us could try to make some dance steps. LH: Now who was the choreographer, was that you? HD: No, that was all of us. It was a community, it was just what the hot dances were. You know the Whop was poppin’. I think the
20
Photographer: Robert Zukerman
Cabbage Patch might have been popular. We just incorporated it into what we were doing and I think our first official choreographer was Rosie Perez. LH: Prior to the album, "Nuttin’ But Love," you became interested in an acting career which prompted doing several TV Shows or plays. What stirred your interest in acting and what were some of your projects? HD: The thing that caught me was…well, you know you hear that thing, "Got bit by the acting bug," was when I did an episode of a Different World. We were just supposed to go on there as Heavy D & the Boyz to perform and they gave me some lines and that was it. I was like, I love this. I had to interact with people and it was like, that’s what I want to do. It became a priority for me and I’ve been chasing it. I’ve learned to act by falling and getting up, being horrible in auditions and not knowing how to act; just having the tenacity and the passion to be like, "I love this thing," and I remember moments clicking in certain auditions. I’d be like, "Yeah, that was a good one! I learned something there!" I remember those moments. LH: I want to talk about one movie in particular, the movie "Life," I have to say was one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen. The scene with you at the cemetery, I found that it was good, interesting, but sort of a sad story. What do you think about that? HD: Well you know. Yes. It was supposed to be a pouring in film. Ted Demme, God bless him, who’s passed away, was the director of that. Ted Demme was a good friend of mine. Ted Demme started Yo! MTV Raps. Ted Demme was the nephew of Jonathan Demme and Jonathan is a genius director. He directed Silence of the Lambs, just to name one huge thing. Ted was a bright fellow and he ended up directing Blow with Johnny Depp. He was coming into his own. He called me out of the blue to do the movie. I’ve been friends with Eddie for twenty years and I’ve been friends with Martin for fifteen years or so. LH: Are you half as crazy as they are? HD: They are brilliant…man brilliant! Eddie is one of the smartest people I know. He’s highly intelligent, but most comedians are. Most of the great comedians, it’s a lot of intellect that goes
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
“
I’m taking it from the craft first, not the fame first.
into that. The movie itself was just a great experience. It was shot in Sacramento. I got a random call from Ted. He said, "Hey man, I got this little part. You want to come play?" I was like yeah! It was like the book ends with what was going on. It wasn’t a huge part, but it was something that was fun to do and I had a ball doing it. Also, I knew Bernie Mac then. During the day when we weren’t shooting, we were just hanging out playing cards or Dominos. LH: The thing with Bernie Mac came so sudden. HD: Well, he had been sick for a while. LH: Ok Heavy, I wanna talk Jamaica. You’ve presented the rebirth of your reggae roots in your brand new CD titled "Vibes," that just entered all major record stores. You have been nominated for a Grammy for The Best Reggae Album. This came with "Vibe" being under your own label, "Stride Ent." Tell us about this very tasteful new project of yours and what was it that pushed your new musical style into top Grammy material? HD: Again, it’s passion. I loved it enough to believe in it and I set forth to do something and it worked. LH: For a man with as many accomplishments as you already have, I know there’s much more to come, what’s next for Heavy D? HD: My acting first, seeing this album all the way through, toying with it and raising my beautiful daughter who honestly gives me the spirit and the energy of life. When I see her, I know I have a purpose outside of whatever else I’ve been doing over the years. My daughter’s with me probably five days a week most times. To me, there is nothing more gratifying, absolutely nothing. Brett Ratner, the director, I wrote a script with a friend of mine name Avery Williams. I mean you’re talking about two guys that wrote a script then had to wait for years to get it done. Brett Ratner just confirmed that he’ll produce it.
”
thought that way, that’s the way I would live. I figure, "Hey they don’t see it." It’s something that’s special or something that’s different. Sometimes it takes people a long time to notice it, because they are so used to what’s in front of them. LH: If you every want to play a star role, I’ve got a story for you. HD: That’s what made me write my own material. That’s why I wrote my own script. It’s produced for me to star in it. And I’ve learned under great people. I’ve done off Broadway with Lawrence Fishburne. I’ve been directed by Delroy Lindo who is one of the great actors. I’ve worked with Charles Dutton and Miss Ella Joyce. I aspire to be what the Black actors that came up in those old Negro Theatres were and who learned under the great Lloyd Richards. That doesn’t exist anymore. Those are the actors that I seek out for advice and to sit in front of for hours and get tutored and learn techniques. I’m in a great place when it comes to that. I’m taking it from a totally different perspective. I’m taking it from the craft first, not the fame first. I’ve been famous. I can take it or leave it. I like the attention, I won’t lie, but I love the art first. LH: We’ve covered a lot, but I know you want to probably say a little more about your CD. HD: My only advice is, listen to it with an open heart, an open mind and enjoy it. LH: Before concluding our interview, it there anything that you would like to say in regards to Consciousness Magazine at this time? HD: I’m happy to be a part, this is my introduction to Consciousness Magazine! LH: I want to say God Bless you my man, keep your head up. HD: We’ll talk soon, this was great to me. Thank you!
LH: For an artist as well known and structured as yourself, definitely, didn’t get there by being selfish and by not helping others in life. What advice do you have for struggling artist out there that have either had doors slammed in their faces or just didn’t know which way or direction to go to get their work recognized? Also is there any information you would like to leave for your fans to view your many works? HD: There are no directions, you just have to keep going. You’re going to get more no’s than yes’s. If everybody got a yes then everybody would be doing it. You have to believe beyond the no’s. Like me as an actor, I’ve been chasing it for a long time…fifteen, sixteen, seventeen years. I’m not where I want to be with it, but I‘ve been fortunate enough to end up with some good products. Like you said, "Life," I was in "Cider House Rules" as well. I worked with great directors, great people, but I’m not where I want to be because I hear no more than I hear yes. It’s easy for me to go, "Nah! Man this isn’t for me! I’m never going to be the leading man. I mean look at me, I mean I’m a big guy, I got a lazy eye, How can I be a leading man?" If I
21
Heavy D has really been an inspiration to millions of fans over the years. Proving not only to the world but most of all to himself that God just doesn’t bless us with one thing if we reach deep within ourselves. With the talent to perform, produce and write music his own way that can be distributed through his personal record label is an explosive highlight in Heavy’s life. The acting career that seemed very small at one time has grown wings over the years and the star role for this very talented and highly motivated actor as he said himself is already in the making of becoming a reality. There are two things Heavy D does that I really feels speak to the entire world is the way he loves and cares for his eight year old daughter and that we have to stop trying to give the world what we think they want, just be yourself and give it your all. I have also found that Heavy D is extremely brilliant and through the low-key life style he has led with much respect for others along with his inspiring deeds, carry an impact of greatness that will be hard to compare. Heavy D will remain a household name for many years to come. Keep your ears open for a Heavy D motion picture on a big screen near you! Pick up your personal copy of the new CD "Vibes" at all major stores and on Heavy’s website and allow Heavy D to take you on a journey to his Explosional Reggae VIBES of Jamaica. For more information, please visit www.myspace.com/heavyd
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
Photos: courtesy of 7 Grand Records
GURU & SOLAR “Gettin’ Jazzy” By Russell Norman: Special Correspondent
I
keted and pushed to us by greedy label execs operating on behalf of the gluttonous corporate machine one million times removed from the culture. Thus, creating another mindless slave to the system perpetuating the usual negative stereotype along with touting the most ignorant and irresponsible behavior in the most sickly fashion.
n this current age of Hip Hop, in what some would say is the art forms 30th year in existence; we seem to have come to a crossroad of sorts, a vital point in which the very integrity and soul of the music itself seems to hang in the balance. A little dramatic, well not if you ask the generation affected by this "Epidemic." You would undoubtedly find it hard to miss the growing number of disgruntled purists with lamentations of the deceased genre. In addition, the endless barrage of processed and pre-packaged material of questionable artistic value funneled to the masses through the countless radio stations, music video networks, via the internet, motion pictures, etc.
It became so transparent it’s almost comical, besides the fact, these elaborate tales of crack dealing, drug abuse, alcoholism, misogyny and homicide arguably promotes and glorifies not just black on black crime but the outright destruction of the race. Driven by this genocidal mind state and the grotesque worship of the "almighty dollar," who could blame any fan or artist for recognizing the future indeed looks grim. A far cry from the days-of-old where creativity and individuality was the norm and credibility was established by simply putting out good music, not how much hype could be generated through trendy gimmicks, make believe personas, and you guessed it, more drama!
In turn, this tasteless, yet ridiculously lucrative formula provides us with more incessant droning of the industry’s next socalled gangster/thugged out/ pimping rapper façade. Mix this with a simple, catchy, bass heavy, gunshot laden track and include any whiny plastic prima donna attempting to sing beautiful about stories of murder and dope. In today’s market, oddly enough, you just might have a hit.
Enter GURU, esteemed rap veteran, formerly one-half of the legendary Hip Hop
This of course is being manufactured, mar-
22
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
group Gangstarr (Hard to Earn, Moment of Truth, The Owners) and his new partner in rhyme Solar, the passionate and gifted upand-coming super producer. Together, with a skill only rivaled by their aim to be a definitive force in true Hip Hop music, they released their CD, JAZZMATAZZ Vol. 4. The Hip Hop Messenger: Back to the Future" on their newly formed record label "7 GRAND RECORDS." This album is an outstanding effort chock full of a new type of organic funk, laced with a wonderful blend of that Jazz/Hip Hop fusion, as well as those witty and thought provoking lyrics we’ve come to know GURU, A.K.A. Baldhead Slick to put down for about two decades now. A while back I had the opportunity to catch up with Guru and Solar while promoting their album "JAZZMATAZZ Vol. 4," as well as their new record label "7 GRAND RECORDS." We spoke of these new and exciting business ventures, their roots, and what goes on in today’s Hip Hop movement. More importantly, what lies ahead for the future? Among other things, they were pleased to tell me how they planned to be a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stagnant climate and a beacon of hope for a culture in desperate need of light at the end of the tunnel.
CM: What’s your mission statement? GURU: Well it’s our goal to get in touch with the new press, the smaller press so to speak and to really get them in line with what we’re trying to do at "7 GRAND RECORDS." Obviously, it’s a very daunting task to bring credibility back to New York hip hop and just back to the game with where it all started. You know hip hop started here in N.Y. It started off very intelligent, a very powerful medium that was all inclusive that everybody could get involved in. Of course, it was music for people first and then became music for the world. That’s our mission statement there. CM: When did you start "7 GRAND"? GURU: Approximately four years ago. CM: So how did you guys meet? GURU: Solar and I were introduced by a mutual friend a little over 6 years and we hit it off. We became friends and started hanging out and everything. Solar was around during my last dealings with my last group and the major label I was on. He was privy to a lot of frustrations A&R’s telling me what to do creatively…this and that, and other execs who weren’t from the coast or from the hood so to speak. I expressed my frustrations to Solar and he
“
GURU. A new sound for GURU to take things to the next level, the next phase and everything came together almost spontaneously. SOLAR: We both realized there was chemistry there. I’m prolific when it comes to making music, just because I love it so much. It’s something I’ve always done out of love. I never have seen myself making a livelihood out of it. Jazz has always been a passion of mines. I just do that to keep myself complete, whole or sane. I could say the same with hip hop. I’ve done well for myself before I even met GURU, but I’ve always done music. It’s just part of my culture, part of my strength and part of my social structure. It’s always something I did ‘til this day. I can say I love being in the studio. When I have the choice between the studio and being in N.Y. in a night club, 9 out of 10 I’m in the studio. I love it! CM: You spoke of being well-off before you met GURU. What else do you do besides the music? Tell us about that. SOLAR: Well, basically just so your readers know, I grew up in N.Y. in the streets. I was able at a young age to take what I learned in the streets; my navigational skills for survival…I was able to parlay that into various business ventures. I’m not
with the U.N., I look at Bono and I look at Oprah and her venture in Africa with the school. So alot of my drive to be successful is just that; to be a mode where I can make a positive change in the world. CM: Tell me what got you into hip hop and what borough are you from? SOLAR: Ah, Brooklyn my brother. Yes indeed! I lived in B.K. but went to school in Harlem. So I was there pretty much when it all popped off; Grand Master Flash, Theodore, Disco 3...I was there. I was a baby, but I was there. That’s what happened. I loved it. I’ll never forget the first time I seen somebody get on their head and spin around. I said, this is it right here, this what’s poppin’ Daddy! CM: Now GURU, you came up in Boston, correct? GURU: Yeah! Roxbury and Dorchester. Then I made my pilgrimage to N.Y. early 84...late 85 with $1500, a duffle bag and a dream. CM: $1500, a duffle bag and a dream! What was that dream? GURU: Well, hip hop was in Boston but it was local. I wanted to be more than just some local Yokel. Everybody there was
So alot of my drive to be successful is just that; to be a mode where I can make a positive change in the world.
was like, "You’re an icon you should start your own label. This guy did it, that guy did it! If it’s that bad why don’t you start your own label?" I was like Hhmmm! Then I gave him a call and told him I’m thinking of starting a label and I want you to get down with me. He laughed and was like, "I said you start a label! I didn’t say anything about me," but we worked it out. We put things together in a very methodical way. We put the label structure together and then started working on tracks. This was like two years after knowing him as a friend that I started hearing his music and I was like…Wow! He read my mind because I was looking for a futuristic sound for
23
ashamed to say legal ventures. I was able to make some good investments and get in with some good people. By the time I met GURU, I was pretty much almost retired. I was working with homeless children. That was my big thing! It’s still a very pressing problem in America. Most people don’t realize the homeless population in America is growing. CM: So you have an organization or a charity? SOLAR: Yes we do. We have a non-profit called Each One Counts. So you know the music has given me a whole ‘nother outlook. I look at Angelina Jolie and her work
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
”
just doing it for fun and I was like I want to touch the world with this. CM: Do you think Boston has a strong hip hop scene? GURU: Yeah they do. There’s a lot of talent but it’s still the situation…not a lot of outlets. CM: And most people know of course, Almighty RSO, BEZINO… GURU: I mean, BEZINO’S from my old block, you know. He came up with another crew. I use to see them back in the day coming up. Big ups to them, I know ‘em.
important. People should really take a look at what’s going on here. This is not uncommon in any music from when you have two great people. Those two people are going to burn out on each other and burn out on their situation. It’s much wiser to take the mature path that GURU’s and D.J. Premier have taken. Those guys are not going at it. They’re not disrespecting each other. You’ll never hear me say a bad word about Premier and you’ll never hear Premier say a bad word about me or GURU. That’s how it should be done. That should be applauded!
CM: And Ed O.G. & The Bulldogs! GURU: Same here, he’s from Roxbury. His crew…we all use to kinda battle and do shows, but it wasn’t any beef though. It was always love. CM: No doubt. Now you’ve been dropping the JAZZMATAZZ albums for years now. What got you into the Jazz music scene? GURU: Well, I started doing my work with Gangstarr at a time when everyone was sampling Jazz. We were some of the first that did that; if not the first. Then I said, "I want to do a solo project back in ‘93 and take it to the next level and actually get with the cats we sampled." One of the first people we talked to was Dr. Donald Byrd, and he was with it. Right away he opened up the idea and he put the word out about me in the JAZZ arena to the other Jazz cats…Roy Ayers and Lonnie Liston Smith that I was working with. That’s how it all came about. Then I wanted to get some of the greatest vocalists involved. So the initial concept was to get the jazz cats we sampled and to get them to play line hip hop beats and grooves.
CM: It definitely should be. Now tell me how did you guys come up with the name "7 GRAND"? GURU: Ha Ha! You just keep the good questions rolling, don’t you? That’s what’s up! CM: Thanks! That’s good to know. GURU: I’ll let Solar do that one. SOLAR: Well you know, 7 GRAND… 7 is a very instrumental number in popular culture here in America. 7, of course is a socalled lucky number and also a powerful number. The seventh letter in the alphabet some interpret as GOD. Also, in various countries around the world in various cultures, 7 is considered a very lucky, fortunate or blessed number. We see it as the perfect number. So that number automatically came into play…7, and then GRAND is larger than life. It’s kind of like bigger than itself so to speak; the Grand Royale, the Grand Extreme, the Grand Finale. So we looked at Grand and 7 as something perfectly larger than life, something big, omnipotent, omnipresent… you know, 7 GRAND.
CM: So is The Owners the last album for Gangstarr? Is that it? GURU: Yes. With that I reached my peak, my pinnacle with that. That was the sound for that era; a legacy and I want to leave it as that. But at the same time, I wanted to re-invent, recreate and move on. What I’m doing right now, it’s not about GURU doing a solo project. It’s about GURU and Solar and the hottest new label in the game "7 GRAND RECORDS," a new voice for N.Y.; a new power base. SOLAR: And we‘re distributed through Sony, so we‘re taking it up a notch. Now we have major distribution worldwide and have major corporations behind us that definitely give us the impact we‘re looking for, so we can even up the playing field. At the same time what GURU is saying is
CM: Before we conclude, is there anything at all you’d like to tell the "CONSCIOUSNESS" readers? GURU: To keep supporting magazines and publications such as yourselves. Open up
24
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
intelligent dialogue and not to be afraid of intelligent dialogue and intelligent creativity in hip hop, because that’s what’s going to save hip hop. SOLAR: I would say very similar, you know, to access independent media. So my last statement would be like, I give big props to you my brother, because I know this isn’t the path that leads to the big pot of gold. You cats are very important to keeping hip hop alive. You know, keeping the real elements of hip hop alive, so that we are able to communicate various ideas, various musical techniques; various political and social economic positions are all forwarded through independent media. If we look at other more mainstream media, they’re basically just selling. It’s just like a big advertisement. Everything inside is geared really towards selling and people are going to access independent media. You guys will become the future of hip hop because the internet is becoming stronger and stronger. So again, I say to the average hip hop head, there’s nothing wrong with plugging into the latest hottest junk food that’s out there. Whatever "they’re" pushing at any given moment and that’s cool. At the same time look at it like fast food. You’re going to go to McDonalds and grab the Big Mac; you’re going to grab the Whopper, whatever! You know what I mean. Look at "7 GRAND" as the salad! So pick up that "7 GRAND" CD. CM: Well, GURU, Solar! I, on the behalf of the "CONSCIOUSNESS" readers, I would like to thank you for this privilege. It’s been our pleasure. Thanks again.
And log on to: www.myspace.com/therealrussoul Email: rssllnorman@yahoo.com
Interviewed by Aaron Robinson with Tocarra Eldridge
Shaq, Deion Sanders and Roy Jones Jr. all proved to the world that they are more than just athlets. These icons became successful at several endeavors. Moreover, some fell by the way-side. Searching for the next multi-talented athlete and musician, I had an opportunity to meet Chicago Bears, Brandon Lloyd (a.k.a. B. Lloyd). After hearing his music, I decided to contact B. Lloyd to see if he would be up to doing an interview, and he was open to the offer. When we met, he was very laid back, cool and excited about life as we conversed about his career as a rap artist. AR: Who is the multi-talented individual we all know as Brandon Lloyd? BL: Ummm! I’m a father (laugh)…you know, football player, a brother and son. That all kinda makes me who I am. That’s really who I am! And I’m an artist as well.
AR: Tell me a little about your childhood? BL: People always ask me that…I’m the last of seven children. I have 3 brothers and 3 sisters. My parents were married for 50 years as of August. So people always expect a hard-knock story…but I don’t have one. (laughs) At one point my dad worked two and three jobs and my mom worked two jobs. They worked very hard to move us to the suburbs. They set a really good example for us. All of my brothers and sisters went to and graduated from college. I grew up a very happy person. AR: At a young age, how did you determine that being a rapper or playing football was something you wanted to do? BL: I always knew I wanted to rap. I was in the choir from 7th grade until I was a senior. As a kid I was always writing lyrics…country, pop, rap and R&B. I always had a passion for music. I knew I wanted to rap after I heard DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince and Master P’s album “Tru 2 da Game”. It’s always been a passion for me, but that was the most pivotal moment in my life. The album inspired me to do what I do. AR: How do you balance your music career from your football career? BL: I do all of my recording in the off-season. I used to think recording was the hardest part, but now I’m figuring out that promotion is the hardest part…doing interviews face to face. During the season, Tuesday’s are my media days, because that’s my off day from football. People in the football world think music is a distraction, but now that my career is taking off, no one is complaining anymore. This is the most exposure and the most successful that I’ve been. The more I get into it, the easier it becomes to balance the two. AR: Is there a different type of energy you have on the field verses being on stage? BL: Umm! I think I’m still developing my stage presence. I just kinda do what I feel. I just be me. I’m not trying to pretend to be some hip hop star. I’m a lot more aggressive on the football stage. But it’s the equal
25
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
amount of focus for both. As an artist I need more practice, just as I need to always practice on football. AR: Where do we begin to break the stereotype that our black male youth are perceived as wanting to rap or play sports? BL: I don’t think we do break the cycle. I think we embrace it and just let people know who you are. As black people, we are creative, athletically gifted…we inherit these gifts. As long as my music is embraced, I’m going to continue to do it. AR: You have worked with talented artist such as Bobby Valentine to Ludacris. How do you decide who you want on your album? BL: It’s tough. Alot of the times I don’t get to make the decision. Alot of major artist won’t work with unsigned talent. They either knock me over the head with money or they just decline. The producer of my album Jiggolo knows Bobby Valentino’s manager and fortunately Bobby was not signed at the time and accepted the offer. It blessed me with an awesome single. AR: I read where you work with children with disabilities. What inspires you to do this? BL: What I do is, people contact me and I just do what inspires me. It’s really that simple. I do whatever I feel is my calling. It’s fun. AR: Is there anything else that you’d like to add or say to your fans before we close? BL: Just visit my website www.blloyd.com And it’s going to be updated really soon. It’s going to be really huge and interactive. It should be really fun.
Keith Murray
"Nobody Does It Better"
Interviewed and written by Aaron Robinson
R
ap legend Keith Murray has always giving his fans something exciting and thrilling to listen to, as he verbalize his innovative rhymes and intellectual vocabulary over hardcore tracks. Due to criminal acclaims, Murray has been able to sustain success as a recording artist. Today, he will be sharing with us some aspects of his life and career and the ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ in the music industry.
and the places on the corner. I just stood out because I kept on doing it and kept doing it. I felt self-promotion was my best promotion; just advocating myself. I didn’t even have a demo or anything. It just was me running around involved in the streets and being involved in what’s going on out there. Naturally, my talent came to life. AR: What effect do you think hop-hop songs have today in society verses a decade ago? KM: Before, there were songs of meaning. Songs were positive, and songs were uplifting and encouragement. Now it’s all about material listed items and money controls everything. If you don’t have any money you don’t have nothing. Forewords, if you don’t have the positive mind state or spirituality mind state you don’t have anything! Its more materialistic now. Its making kids get into the music industry for the wrong reason. I know that everyone want money, but…you got to do it for the right reason I feel!
Aaron Robinson: First of all, can you tell us a little about yourself? Keith Murray: Keith Murray! I’m a member of the crew Def Squad with Redman and Erick Sermon. I broke with the likes of R. Kelly, Mary J Blige and LL Cool J. My first record was The Most Beautifullest Thing In the World. It’s a good thing I have moderate success and just blessed to be a recording artist since 1994. AR: Can you give us some brief history about your childhood? KM: Well you know (Pause). From years of a black youth growing up underprivileged in America, I was from a struggling family that made the best of what we had; just being positive. On that note, I had an opportunity to be blessed with just making a record.
AR: I can recall listening to you every morning on my walkman before going to school in the morning. Your lyrics and metaphors have always kept me on the edge of my seat. Can you tell your fans what goes on in Keith Murray’s head when he writes a song? KM: Well. When I write a song it’s basically a conversation that I’m having. In my mind I always point toward the opposite thing. BE DIFFERENT! Don’t stand next to the person who have on the same shirt and the same sneakers as them. Stand out. DO THINGS DIFFERENT…THINK DIFFERENT! Add something to the game that’s not there. Don’t be a clone. Make people think and wonder what does that mean. Make people wonder how did you
AR: What first led you to pursue music? KM: My uncle T-Roy was always into Hip-hop. So, growing up in the same house as him, I gradually took it on and then I became that. AR: I know you were discovered by KSolo and Erick Sermon. Can you tell us what type of promotions you were doing to get on? KM: I was just a kid in the neighborhood that gradually got into the talent shows
26
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
come up with putting those two words together. I’m always going against the grain, that’s my main thing when I write and think. Go against the grain; THINK! Keep it as simple as possible when it’s time to deliver the punch-line. It’s cool to be intelligent! AR: What advice would you give someone who’s considering music as a career? KM: It evolves __because at the end of the day it’s a difference. And who ever signs you is trying to make money off of you. Yeah… the scene its cool! Yeah… you get the accolades as far as money that comes in. Make sure you understand the business. At least strive to get that book so you can know what’s going on about the music industry and so that you can be aware of your intellectual property: that is what you make up in your mind that the work that you do. Make sure you understand things so you can reap full benefits, because they out to get you! They don’t care! The labels don’t care! You just another number to them. As long as you earning they like you. When you stop earning, they don’t like you; they on to the next person. Don’t be fooled. Don’t just get in the music business and be like "Yo I’m gonna do music for my life." Ten years go by and you don’t acquire any skills for anything else and your music doesn’t work… then what are you going to do? AR: I notice a lot of artists made their money the first year and struggled just to get back on. KM: Yeah, they lack the experience like that! Every single we doing something, we only doing it from based on our own knowledge. AR: What makes the Rapp-MurrPhobia album different from any
other you put out?it many times before, I’m going detected… at AR: guys like you thatIkept me outthe of You'vealbum probably heard but to it'sbethe andnottorealizing ask yourself thisIts question, "Am chasing KM: I didn’t come difthatmemthese people used me as an trouble when I of was Forwe thedon't fact sameWell, advice I giveeven all ofreally my clients, friends the andtime family money?" Sometimes in the design ouryounger. websites ferent then what I wanted to keep "You realize know, ya’ll that, I websites can play your music and I don’t bers when theyI done. ask me how I've made example. so much They're money like, even that we create to "get the money" but it and make as potent I can to my blackdecide dudes in hip-hop think ya’ll have off to by be the out appearance there on the streets doing online. I tellitthem, stopaschasing the first money. young Once you our customers are turned and are not couple albums, the which was the innovatcan come do whatever! Wethe advertising anything negative. to stopofchasing money and actually do what youaround love, and fooled by all of links and banner ads dised the hard drums, hooks can put this to an end; played and I don’t advise KM: Just like Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, thevocabulary money willwith follow! all over the website. and catchy stuffalllike that.talk I about you rapping." The moral ofTake my situation, helpedand me determine through thatif hard time in I know hooks you'veand heard of the turning your a look at yourthey website you were a stayed my original work easy instead I learned valuable and I iflearned life and then I become a rapper. hobby close into atobusiness or how it is these daysa to quit lesson customer would youmy purchase or actually spend any They time of trying and moving out tobut I'm that talking people can take things it in the Mostdid that forwill me,spend so I put my lifewhere on the they line. your day new job things and work from home, about on and yourput website. people money another area just that people nottalking familiarabout with simply mediaallowing and exaggerate the comfortable, truth. If you can Ihave put that out there. I encourage more than that. I'm the are fun situation and will return often. Most of anymore. see that me, then worldtell a negativity, because negativeincomes enjoyment of doing what you love to be thedon’t reason you against get them willtheeven friend. Keep your after customers mind will a positive up in the morning and not the paycheck at thethink endit’s of true. the I’mand not theperson money. the positive. If you just concentrate on the AR: and I believe in God and Personally that. I put my positive feed inthe a negative then day. What other up-and-coming projects I've given up chasing money. situation I've concenare you on? hundreds of dollars trying records out forout my fans and more peopleonthat positive come. Asolot of people For working years I spent to figure trated payingthe forward thewill assistance many in my KM: I got and the Def Squadonline album.get I’mrich rip-quickunderstand and Ilove it, and takehave care given of don’tand really like atoPHILANthe latest greatest schemes.itYes, network me notknow howthat I'mI’m going pay my ping my L.O.D and my little brother DI havemytried family. Noall. way I trying be this of my THROPIST MAN and (pause)! I’m consultthe one said on it...schemes...get rich schemes. them I I’mlight bill. to Because vast expertise the valid Murray who’s produced by Erick Sermon. person that the Medias going at or on that who goes to these "detention things"I tried to figure out all of the ways to quickly make money ant services I provide the money has followed. So again, in any negative way. Then people places and kids at riskand and online, how to become an overnight success, how to make will there’re offer you my freeunderprivileged advice. Stop chasing the money AR: Would you like to sayspending anything a in dime, that willtotry sue youdo forwhat money. just give it to them real. I take my time. my websites sale without how gettothe youOnce love. closing? I know lot and of negative is involved, That is on my mind. I’m not going out biggest bang for it’s my abuck so on and money so forth. Believe a whole bunch of negthings there about youI've buttried I don’t ativity comes. Like Biggie said, "More here seeing who’s a victim, or seeing who me, if out it was out there it. want to get Money, Problems." The littlest thing I can disrespect or who I can hurt next. Dointo youthat. know what finally happened? I gave upMore because KM: Go ahead, saymore. it! I gave up becausegets blownmaking out of proportion. My mind is on the youth and being a it wasn't fun any I wasn't prime example of the age that I came up in any money online. I gave up because it was too time conAR: Just to from the readings…the thing accounts AR: I know so they can have a choice. suming manage all of the jail different here you andhad a rough childhood or whatever it mayI be, the negative because parents passed away at a there. Of course, hadormade sales. At the point your where I things in thestill media... from age? AR: That’s where we come in; to shine closedthat mypeople doorsput I was ahead of theyounger game in online listening to your music, figure that you owners KM: I’m not saying positive on an individual so that we can sales standards. ManyI online business make only like I had it the worst. are a positivesales, person. I know millions capture a whole different side of a person occasional while I had a constant revenue stream.ofI people just like me. I’m KM: Yeah! It’shundreds good to hear that. I from have my not patting myself people may not see. was earning of dollars online sales, but on the back or saying beenmoney getting Inegative press. was The jail thing thatthe I deserve because I been KM: Yep! Good writing and media people the was making a far cry from amount anything, of happened fromshelling when I was That’s througheven. that. So I look battles the negative ones. Who’s to say its money I was out.inI 1995. wasn't even breaking I around and a lot of whenclosed I was the firstdoors coming themy street. I people livesup. are worst than mines. That’s right or wrong, it’s all media. just to off all of websites and gave got tied up. I had a lot of friends. And back who I rep for. I seen ya’ll been through The funny thing is as soon as I decided to give up and then, we wasdoors; like a street-team: group ofrollingthis been that. So people that AR: That concluded the interview unless close the the moneya began in.and One of through the guys who gave ourselves and got it that don’t have a voice, the you want to say something else. things I hadn't expectedatoname happen is that Ibeen had through unknowingcaught a show leaving Connecticut. privilege or the opportunity that I have, KM: Yo! Go get the album Rapp-Murrly builtup a at considerable sized network around me. My netWe got into some fights and some dudes can feel like they can go after it and get in Phobia. It’s doing well. So support Keith work continued coming to me for assistance and guidance got hurt. I’mmarketing no strangerefforts. from being too. Know what I’m saying. That’s really Murray on this entity as one. I’ll be in a with theirNow online incarcerated. havepeople a little indirect what I’m herelater for. I’m like the sacrificial town near you. Promoters out there, if It was Ithe my history network, people who from beingmy on clients the streets; know little lamb! my For advice, those that come after me __got y’all need some dope shows, I do a great became thatyou emailed me, seeking petty crimes and stuff like that. This parup, and be aware of what’s out there. show. I’m in and out with a nice smooth asking search engine optimization questions, online marketticular time, I gotwebsite accused content of a guy being environment. Call your boy! You hit me ing questions, questions, niche creation hurt. So I’mand likepay Yo, Iper didn’t hurt this per- questions. AR: I supported you since day one, since up at www.myspace.com/keithmurray questions click advertising son!Soon I can Igo to courtthat honestly, there youradvice. first album hit mainstream. realized I wasstand giving away free I also and say I that didn’tfor hurt this in person. God AR: Keith we appreciate you! realized once a very long time IKM: was That’s havingwhat’s fun up! Obviously it’s knows II didn’t do anything to anybody. So I was working on webthe people that need to be KM: Yeah! No doubt! again. was having the time of my life. reviewing affected. sites. I was coming up with exciting new ideas. I was thinking. I was brainstorming. I had absolutely no overhead and I was having a darn good time, so what did the money matter? Eventually, I created another website to offer my services, but most of my new clients are still referred to me through my vast network of clients and friends. I also feel better about myself and my services now as I offer a free website review service on my website. The free service allows potential customers to discuss their business, receive vital feedback about their website, obtain and find out exactly what I can do for them before they even spend a dime. If you are an online business owner I challenge you to take a very close look at your current business practices
27
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
R
edstorm The Poet Rejuvenation of A Sole
By SirRocco Kimosabee
HBO Def
Poet, motivator, speaker, author, and performer Darren "Redstorm" Redmond, has not only overcome the street life, but started a movement. Since isolated from society in 1989 doing 13 years in prison, he has rejuvenated himself in hopes of waking up the lost souls on the streets. Consciousness Magazine had a chance to catch up with the Truth Award Winning Poet, hoping the street philosopher can share some of his views on life.
Redstorm: Any strong voice there was…check your history! They come up dead. That’s a reason. It’s always a need. But understand that when you have a strong voice that can move the masses, the 10% get nervous of an UPRISING! CM: One of the biggest influences in the world is Hip-Hop/Rap. Can you elaborate on the statement that Hip-Hop is dead? Can it be resurrected? Redstorm: Hip-Hop is DEAD…rap is ALIVE! Yes, it can be resurrected only by the resurrected. Remember the industry is ran by the 10% of America that owns 90% of the wealth. So you think they want me stopping their hustle? That’s why Chuck-D is not mainstream anymore. He was trying to wake the masses. They had to switch the game or it wouldn’t be anyone to fill their prison’s, nor be anyone to sell their drugs CM: If you had the power to change a situation or a circumstance in the world what would it be, and why? Redstorm: The rate that brothers go back and forth to jail and the drug abuse situation in the country. Those are the people that are lost and caught up in what society (The 10%) has laid out for them. Give all to me and I will change the way they think. CM: What inspires Redstorm? Redstorm: To leave a mark in this world, to make my family and friends proud of me and to show that the dead can be alive again. That gives hope to the lost. CM: Are you where you want to be (meaning have you reached a level of success that you desire? If not when will that point be accomplished)? Redstorm: NO! Who knows! I’m trying to learn how to get out of my own way and let it be what it’s going to be. CM: Are you on the road to fortune and fame? Redstorm: Maybe, maybe not! as long as I’m not living the LIE I was. In the world you need Capital to play in the arenas where you can promote yourself. Money does make that happen. I’m not a rapper though. I speak for other people and for the lives of other people. Now in this day in age, nobody wants to Promote that; especially don’t want to PAY for it! Who want to pay to get woke up? Think about it? Being
CM: Who is Redstorm? Redstorm: Redstorm was just created in 2002. I’m just a regular dude with a gift; but through that gift, I could be Moses. CM: What is your job/purpose? Redstorm: To speak for the unspoken…to wake the 90%. I can change a lot of people if I’m put on the right platform. The jail situation would change and the drug addiction in the streets would change. That means the STREET HUSTLE MENTALITY would change to LEGIT HUSTLE…but from the mind of a STREET HUSTLER. If you wake the masses of dreamers and show them reality, they’ll go from flippin’ rocks to flipping’ stock. And the 10% of America that owns 90% of the wealth don’t want that. CM: Speaking of African Americans, we really haven't had a voice and a movement since the Civil Rights. Why is that? Is there a need for one today?
28
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
awoke is hard work. CM: On the road that you are traveling (life), what is your most remarkable accomplishment? Redstorm: Being on Def Poetry the first time, only because I told the cats in jail that I would be on that show. I wanted them to know you could come up from your given talents. CM: If Redstorm never existed what would the world be missing out on? Redstorm: That a man can redeem himself after a life of hell. The rest has yet to be seen. I still have work to do! CM: Its been said that people from Chicago that have been deemed as "successful" in the music/ entertainment industry, do not reach back to the city to put the next person on. Is this true? And if so why? Redstorm: No comments! That’s how bad it is! Like I always say. "I’m a TEACHER not an ENTERTAINER." And I know curiosity still kills the cat and THEY (The 10%) KNOW THAT. That’s why people are on drugs and in jail…CURIOSITY! I can change it if I’m put on the right platform. I can move a nation of lost souls. If I do that…PRAY FOR ME, cuz the powers that be won’t like me messing with THEIR HUSTLE…Remember! We are THEIR HUSTLE. They make money off our souls. We need to flip THE HUSTLE.
To receive more information on Redstorm visit: www.redstormthepoet.com www.myspace.com/rdmu For booking: (773) 818-3219
Professor and author
Lance Freeman “There Goes the Hood” Interviewed by Tocarra Eldridge
Professor Lance Freeman teaches courses on housing policy and research methods at Columbia University in New York City. In his book, "There goes the Hood," he shines light on two long-term predominantly black neighborhoods, Harlem and Clinton New Hill. Consciousness Magazine had a chance to catch up with Dr. Freeman to ask him a few questions about his book, nonetheless, gentrification. CM: Can you tell us a little bit about "There Goes the Hood?" LF: The book is about gentrification, how black residents in two inner-city black neighborhoods feel about gentrification. It gives their experience. CM: What are the positives and negatives of gentrification? LF: It is a double edged sword. Negative gentrification tends to push up housing prices so the neighborhood becomes unaffordable for low income individuals, therefore, they cannot find housing in their neighborhood. This changes the character of the neighborhood, leaving residents feeling that their home is being taken away. This usually consists of increased police harassment, because the middle class people moving in demands the police to clean up the streets, which usually results in the harassment of black men. Positive gentrification brings in services, stores and more investments. Before gentrification, a lot of residents did not have access to many basic services and amenities. With gentrification, individuals benefit from the new amenities.
Tim
CM: What are some solutions to gentrification? LF: Although, some conflicts are unavoidable, many neighborhoods lack expertise and community infrastructure. People living in gentrifying neighborhoods need to organize themselves and have a strong community based organization. As a result, a strong social infrastructure would be present already before the new comers move in. Therefore, when the new associations come in, they won’t feel like they can dictate what is happening in the neighborhood, because the existing associations in the neighborhood will be able to refute the changes that new comers are trying to make. CM: What are some examples of these solutions? LF: For example, when the Neighborhood Housing Association (NHA) called a meeting to stop black men from congregating on the corners…residents from existing associations in the neighborhood could have refuted the NHA by telling them that the men are not doing illegal things, because police had no evidence of the men doing illegal activity. Law enforcement acted blindly and assumed the men were up to no good. The neighborhood associations could have suggested that instead of police harassing the young men, instead, provide activities for members of the neighborhood to engage in. This concludes our interview with Dr. Freeman. Overall, I think the book is a must read for those who are interested in gentrification and communities of color. The book is well written, very clear and straight forward, providing a historical look at both Harlem and Clinton Hill.
Teen/College Spirit Section
anageme eM
College students have a hard time juggling studying, working, meals, sleep, exercising and extracurricular activities. Here are some tips for time management. 1) Schedule your classes during the time when you are most alert: morning afternoon or evening. 2) Use your planner. Schedule in due dates and deadlines (tests, social, work, travel, vacations, etc.) 3) Make a weekly schedule of your workload and activities for the week. 4) Make a daily to-do list with the most important things on top. 5) Be on time and beware of time wasters, such as procrastinating, watching TV, and surfing the net.
nt
Actress, Author and Mother Bern Nadette Stanis
“Enjoys the Good Times” The TV Series, “Good Times,” was one of the primary reasons for viewers getting a good night sleep after having an evening with James, Florida, Michael, JJ & Thelma. Since the canceling of the show, the Evans Family has had to return to their natural lives. There have been other acting jobs for the members of this very funny and popular family of the seventies, but after having a very interesting interview with Bern Nadette Stanis, I realized that she will always in many ways be, "Thelma." Lee Harris: Hello Bern Nadette. How are you doing today? Bern Nadette Stanis: Oh, I’m doing wonderful Lee, how are you? LH: I’m doing lovely, just lovely! Miss Stanis, could you please tell us a little bit about the person we all know as Miss Bern Nadette Stanis? BS: (Laugh) Wow! That’s a different question! People never ask me about myself like that. Well let me see now, I am a, huh! LH: There’s a difference between you and Thelma! BS: Ah yeah! (Both laugh) Well I am a mom. I love to write poetry. I love to write and I love to dance, which is what I’m getting back into very soon. Also, I love to paint. Actually, I do oil paintings and I am now in a class for water colors. My mother and I, we’re taking a class for that. Those are the things that I do outside of being an actress and being Thelma. LH: Can you explain the feeling you had after being confronted about becoming an actress after doing the play titled: "The Three Faces of Eve?"
change their name. (Laugh) LH: You still remain a mega star from your role as Thelma. The TV series, "Good Times," apparently ended much too soon, at least for the viewers. How did you feel the day you knew for certain that Thelma was a person of the past as far as TV was concerned? BS: It was like leaving a marriage or something. It was like a divorce and it was very saddening. LH: Um! (Pause). I understand that prior to the series ending, John Amos, "James Evans," left the show by dying in a traffic accident. What were the immediate thoughts of the rest of the cast pertaining to the team being broken up? BS: SHOCK! (Pause) It was a shock because we found out all together. He was there one day and the next day the reading said he was dead. It was like somebody really did die. LH: After calling Esther Rolle, "Ma," for so long, Jimmy "Din-o-mite" Walker "Toothpick," Michael, Ralph Carter, "The Brain," and John Amos, "Daddy," was there ever a time that you truly felt them as flesh and blood?
BS: Oh yeah! I did that because I was in a class. It was an English class and I got like a ninety-eight. I was doing, “Three Faces of Eve,” the audience I had at that time to practice with, was my mom. She thought it was very good, so I went up there with all this confidence and I did it.
BS: Oh absolutely! They were my family. They were my family for five years, every one of them. We were just like family for real, for me anyway.
LH: I’d like to ask you about the immediate response from you today, when the public accidentally call you, "Thelma?"
BS: Yes we do. We really do.
BS: I tell you. I don’t have a response but to say, ah! Of course! I’m Thelma, because that’s all they know me as! They know my name, but they love that Thelma thing. They just say, "You know it’s just like knowing you all like a family member or something." I’m like in their living room. They know me like that. Imagine having a family member, and you know them all your life, and all of a sudden they
30
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
LH: Do all of you still stay in touch? I know about the passing of Esther Rolle.
LH: Since Good Times, you continue to keep busy. I understand that since you’ve appeared in other shows such as, “The Wayne Brothers,” that writing has become a passion for you. Could you tell us about your two books including book signings and appearances? BS: Ok, I have a book called, "Situations 101, Relationships, The Good, the Bad & the Ugly. I have a hundred and one situations and my response
don’t have children. You don’t have a full life. I think in order to be good at anything, there has to be a balance in your life, if possible. If you’re not, you put too much emphasis on one thing and it throws it off balance. LH: It was a part of that you meant to fulfill regardless to the business, because the business did come last for sure.
Cast: James Amos, Bern Nadette Stanis and Esther Rolle
to them. I just gathered information from traveling, you know…different things about different situations that I’ve seen in my own bad circle. Sometimes you see people repeating the same mistakes over and over. You just want to sort of help them if you feel that you know something or a little bit of something that can help them. That’s why I wrote that book, so that it can probably give somebody some help. LH: And the book is available in… BS: You can email me at GoodTimesThelma@aol.com. You can get the book there! You can get it also when you visit my MySpace, Thelma of Good Times. LH: So you are Thelma? BS: Well, I just use that because people recognize it so, and it’s easy to read it. LH: Your life has been very blessed to you starting with the blessing of marriage and children. Would you care to tell us a little bit about the beauty of all that? BS: Well, I’m glad that I did not let the business stop me from living my life. A lot of times you put the business ahead of you and relate all your time to the business. You run out of time and you don’t get married and
BS: Absolutely. To me, it’s a job. I love it, and I thank God for it. It’s my means of making money and it’s my lively hood. It’s not all of my life. I have other parts of my life
any subject at all? BS: (Laugh) Well, I tell you, I love to talk about different things, relationships and about children. If they have questions or they want to talk to me about anything in particular, personally, or whatever, they can email me at my website and I will get back to them. It won’t be probably for a week or two, but I will cover that, talk with them about it or help them as much as I can. They can always get my book. I have a lot of information in that book. LH: Very good. Once again, your email?
LH: What’s next for Bern Nadette Stanis? BS: Well, more television is coming, and movies. I’m doing some movies and I will be doing more writing of course. LH: Do you see differences with young actresses today than it was in your era? What advice would you like to give to today’s actress?
BS: GoodTimesThelma@aol.com, and of course, the MySpace is www.myspace.com/thelmaofgoodtimes. LH: Anything you would like to say or contribute to Consciousness Magazine at this time Miss Stanis? BS: Success to your magazine.
BS: Stick with your skills and make sure you’re good at what you do. You don’t have to compromise your morals to get anywhere. You really don’t! People do that, because, today it seems that you have to do a lot more to get a whole lot less. Really! I’m kind of saddened for them. I was fortunate to be in like the old school thing where we were taken care of quite well. They would look out for you with your pension and your future. You were set. You know what I mean? I don’t know if they have that anymore these days. It’s kind of sad for the younger actors and actresses, unless they get a really big show.
LH: I appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to talk with us. Thanks to Mr. Kevin Fountain who has been very great for me to work with to get this interview done. From myself and Consciousness Magazine, we wish you and your family the very best. May God push the sales of your books and may He bless you in everything you attempt to do. Thank you so much Miss Bern Nadette Stanis! I’m sure the fans will enjoy reading this and letting everybody know that everything is still lovely with Thelma.
LH: Before we end this, is there anything in particular that you would love to say to the readers or to the fans, or anything that you would want them to know on any topic or
LH: You have a blessed day Miss Stanis!
BS: (Laugh) Thank you! Oh thank you! That is a blessing to me. Thank you Lee! BS: Ok you too! -By Lee M. Harris eternalchoice2@yahoo.com
Know Your Rights! DID YOU KNOW: If you are stopped for questioning by the police… 1. It's not a crime to refuse to answer questions, however refusing to answer a question can make the police officer suspicious about you. 2. If the police suspect a concealed weapon they may "pat-down" your clothing. Don't physically resist to their search, but make it clear that you don't consent to any further search. 3. You have the right to ask if you are under arrest. If so, you have a right to know why. 4. If you believe what is happening is unreasonable, do not bad-mouth the police officer or run. That could definitely lead to your arrest. 31
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
QUEST FOR TRUTH:
Photo: Erik Greene
Legendaryy Singer Sam Cook ke, satisfied th hru Neph hew Erik k Greene
C
ontroversy continues to surround and haunt the family, friends and loved ones of the late great singing legend, Sam Cooke. Having to read, and hear many of the said untrue versions as to what kind of person Sam Cooke was and the activities leading up to his very questionable murder, has truly angered the family, equally Sam’s Great Nephew, Mr. Erik Greene. Mr. Greene is on a life long mission to not only tell the world the truth about the murder of his beloved Uncle Sam, but also share the voices of his family and friends that knew him as a person better than anyone other than God Himself.
and Asian, and the fact that alcohol was involved. It’s real easy to see or to put together the scenario of someone like Sam using their influence as an advantage to take the advantage of this so-called innocent victim, which it was a fact that that wasn’t the case. He wasn’t the type of person to take advantage of a woman. There was never a case where he had to force himself on someone. The whole circumstances surrounding his death never made sense to the family, nor to the public. I just wanted to expose some of the things that weren’t talked about around the time of his death.
Lee Harris: Before we get started Erik, would you please tell the readers about who you are and a little about your family.
LH: You wrote the book, Our Uncle Sam, "The Sam Cooke Story," from his Family’s perspective and I understand that you had to research due to the timing of your birth. In your own words, tell us about Sam. What kind of person was your uncle?
Erik Greene: Well, my name is Erik Greene; I am the Grandson of Sam Cooke’s oldest Sister Mary. The family moved to Chicago from Mississippi in the early thirties when Sam was about two years old. Sam grew up in Chicago and most of his family still resides here in the Chicago area. LH: At one point in your life you were a young guy, walking around home with family and friends. Tell us how you were introduced to your Uncle Sam’s music during that time. EG: My mom would clean up the house on Saturday mornings and she would play Sam’s music. As a young boy, I would find myself singing along with a lot of his hits. As I got older, she began to tell me more about my uncle and his impact on the music world and also on the family. He was a family favorite and that probably would have been the case even if he wasn’t a music superstar. LH: There was something that triggered you. It is evident that you have had enough of the untruths and the attitudes that had been taken against your uncle and his legacy. What was it? EG: The reason I had a problem was, because it was so easy for people who didn’t know what type of person my uncle was. If you just picture in your mind an aggressive singer and a so-called innocent young victim, then you must take into consideration the fact that he was Black and she was mixed with European
EG: My uncle was an extremely generous and giving person. He was very out going by nature, and he was the type of person whose charisma preceded him. He was the type of person who could walk into a room and all attention would immediately go toward him, simply because he had that type of dynamic character. Women wanted to be next to him and men wanted to be his friend. LH: I understand there were times when Sam would get with the family and not necessarily close the doors in other areas to other people, fans and all, but he paid close attention to the time that he shared with his family. Can you tell us a little about it? EG: There was a story that I included in Our Uncle Sam, in which Sam went to an outdoor picnic with his family and some of the people in the park started gathering around saying, "That’s Sam Cooke, that’s Sam Cooke over there!" They came up and everyone wanted to meet him. Sam took time and spoke to everyone, shook a few hands and snapped a few pictures. After all of that was done, he says, "Ok, I want to spend time with my family now," so what he did was he placated the fans. LH: December 11, 1964 was a very shocking, tragic day for the Cook Family and millions of fans and friends all over the world. Even today,
32
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
millions of people are convinced that there was an injustice and murder that took place and it disgraced the good name of Sam Cooke. What really happened that day in Los Angeles? EG: Well Lee, being that I wasn’t there, I really couldn’t tell you what happened. After research and talking to various individuals around that time period and being introduced to others in the know, there were a lot of things that weren’t consistent with the official story told. Most notably is the fact that his body was badly beaten and the fact concerning everything that was going on in his business life. A lot of those never came about because he died a few days short of the New Year; due to the fact that he was looking to divorce his wife, he was looking to make changes in his business associates, and he had discovered that the ownership of his businesses was not as he had previously constructed it. That bothered him. He was going to make some changes for the upcoming year. LH: Would it be fair to say that there is a possibility that someone was aware of these things and this situation with his death could have possibly played into the hands of that? EG: Yes, absolutely. He wasn’t the type to just sit on his hands. There was a good chance that he let his displeasure be known. He was known to speak his mind and if something upset him, he wasn’t the type to bite his tongue. It’s possible that his business associates knew that their time was nearing an end. I’m sure his wife knew that their time was nearing an end. So yes, all of those things are quite possible. LH: Is there anyone really searching today for the facts in this murder and what kind of evidence would be needed to reopen this case? EG: As far as I’m concerned, as far as I’m aware, there is no one actively looking to open the case. There had been a new District Attorney in Los Angeles. One of Sam Cooke’s fans notified me and said, "He had requested that this new District Attorney opened up the Sam Cooke Case, and the guy refused." A lot of the evidence that was from that case no longer exists anymore. I think that that’s one
thing that’s hindering the opening of the investigation. As far as exhuming the body, that permission would have to come from his wife more than likely. I don’t know if she is willing to go through that. LH: Sam Cooke was not only talented, but a very business minded person, especially, for a man of his age. What were some of the things that he bought fourth during his era as far as being business minded and the things he actually accomplished that was either before others, or things that others hadn’t done that would end up in his favor? EG: He was the first to actually step out and do a lot of things. Most notably, he was the first Black Artist to start his own record label. He also took steps to protect his career, because he wrote a lot of songs. He stepped out and made sure that he owned the song writers royalties for his hits. That was something that very few White Artist were doing and virtually no Black Artist was doing. They just accepted what the
that credit for being that influence in his life. LH: What are some of the things you’re doing with your book promotion to possibly convince authorities to not keep this case swept under the rug? EG: First of all, elaborating on the impact that Sam Cooke had on the music industry and bringing new information to those who have always questioned the manner in which he died. It creates a groundswell of Sam Cooke fans who wants to see justice done. I think that my first and foremost priority is to bring that awareness to the public. LH: Erik, I know you truly love your Uncle Sam. What is the feeling you get when reality sets in sometimes, that this great man of love and music was indeed your flesh and blood? EG: Well, it’s mixed emotions Lee. First of all, there’s a sense of pride, there is a sense of fear as well, because my uncle was taken from me
cert in Memphis in 1961. Because he took such a bold approach, he let people know that he meant business. LH: Before closing, is there anything that we may have missed that you would like to say concerning where your book can be purchased or if you’re available for engagements? EG: I am available for public engagements by arrangement. I can be contacted by going to my website and my book can be purchased from my website which is simply www.ourunclesam.com. I do sale other merchandise on my website and I do personally autograph the books that I sale to my customers. LH: Is there anything else that you would like to say in reference to your great Uncle Sam? EG: I just want everyone to know that the circumstances in which my uncle died has always been in question. With the things that I’ve discovered since I’ve began writing this book
“Sam looked out for his friends and especially his family” record companies gave them. For the most part, they held onto the masters and the rights to those masters and that’s where the true money would generate. Sam didn’t want that, Sam said, "I wrote these songs, I should have ownership of my publishing rights." That opened the door for a lot of artist benefiting financially from the fact that they owned their masters and their masters are not owned by the record labels. The idea from Sam’s standpoint was to identify Black Talent while it’s still in the neighborhood before it goes to the offices of Hollywood and try to seek a record contract. That way, from Sam’s standpoint, he was able to harvest the raw talent before it got to the Hollywood Offices. If he saw some talent there, he could sign them to his record label, rather than having them go to traditional recording labels. It was innovative things like this that put Sam at the forefront of conscious thinkers. LH: I spoke with Mr. Cauley (The Bar-Kays), the only survivor in that plane crash. He was telling me that during the time right before the plane crashed, he and Otis Redding were laughing and joking on the plane. He can remember Otis Redding saying that Sam Cooke was his idle. Did you know that Sam was Otis’s idle? EG: It’s evident in a lot of Otis’s recordings. He covered a lot of Sam’s music, including Try a Little Tenderness and Cupid. He had his own twist on Sam’s songs, but he recorded a lot of Sam’s songs and Sam’s influence is definitely evident in a lot of Otis’s career. It’s not a surprise at all. He was an aviate follower of Sam in his music and was not hesitant to give Sam
33
before I even had a chance to meet him. What that does is that makes me even more pronged to finding the truth to identifying who he was as a person, what his legacy was all about and why he’s not here with us anymore. That kind of gives me an extra emphasis to speak for a man who can no longer speak for himself. I think his legacy is important enough to be told in the correct light so that he’s given the proper respect he deserves. LH: Sam had this thing about Racism and Segregation to the point that there was something that he would do when he walked into a place and the scenery wasn’t right. Could you tell us a little bit about that Erik? EG: He was very aware that he had a substantial following, as well as the Black followers. His core audience was his Black audience, because they were the ones that were around from day one. He never wanted to slight his Black audience in favor of his White audience. If he ever went into a concert for example and people were being divided by race, then Sam would refuse to perform. He was the first Black Artist that refused to sing to a segregated audience. He would tell the concert promoters, "Look, give the people their money back." He stood behind what he said and changed history as a result of it. LH: And I would imagine there were times when he would probably have a little problem with the authorities concerning that? EG: Oh absolutely. He was threatened to be arrested; he was even threatened to have his car impounded or confiscated at a con-
CONSCIOUSNESS Exclusive
have only emphasized that doubt. The fact is that Sam Cooke was a hero and he died holding on to what he believed in. I think that’s the true story. LH: Sam sounds like a wonderful person, nothing like what had been read or talked about in reference to him. The same thing happens today where our names are ran through the mud and the first thing that comes out is what sticks in the minds of others for the rest of their lives. It’s very unfair, but I find it very great for Sam to have you as a relative, for you to have the will and the motivation, and to come out and spread what you know as the truth about your uncle, so that his legacy is not as damaged as it has been in the past in a situation like this. I just think it’s great that he has you as a nephew and I’m sure that he’s grateful to that regardless to where he is at this time. On behalf of myself and Consciousness Magazine, I wish you extended success on your book sale and most of all, your quest to share the truth about this great legend and relative, Sam Cooke. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to share your story with our readers. Thank you Mr. Greene and God Bless you and the entire Cooke Family. EG: Thank you Lee, I do appreciate it!
-By Lee M. Harris Email: eternalchoice2@yahoo.com