I Am Hip Hop

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

LONDON

N째 1

AUTUMN - 2012

TONY LEE

FIGURATIVE ABSTRACT & MYSTICAL

RE-EVOLUTION POETRY UNITED NATION

PEACE OR DOMINATION?

I AM TRAYVON EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

J THE EXODUS KNOWLEDGE IS POWER NO BOUNDS | I AM HIP HOP

CONTENT

Issue In This

4 The Art Of Tony Lee A journey into a Figurative, Abstract and Mistical mind.

8 United Nation:

Peace or Domination?

An inside look on the worlds most influential organizations

Plus

6 Lesson To Learn From Indigenous People

Listen to the silent cries of cultures that defy the modern times.

12 Essencia Street Art Festival

Explore art as a tool for social transformation and empowerment.

20 Civilization Facts: We Hope You Can Remember!

22 Re-Evolution Poetry

By Azad Kamall

14 Interview: J The Exodus

One of the most prominent hip hop artist of London.

27 Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust

Get to know this trust that was created 1998 by Stephen's parents to ensure future young generations enjoy the opportunities denied to Stephen by his senseless murder.

--SHOW YOUR SUPPORT--

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24 Healing Foods: Pine Pollen

16 Rise Of The Revolutionist Rapper

By Rishma Dhaliwal

Learn about the many jewels mother nature provides.

28 I Am Trayvon

By Amma Mante

31 Stop N Search: You Have Rights!!!

18 Documentary:

Hip Hop REVOLUCION

One of the world’s most epic experiences to be had this year.

EDITORIAL

Readers, Dear

W

e welcome you to issue one of No Bounds publication ‘I AM HIP HOP’.

The No Bounds organisation is a collective of social enthusiasts, seeking to share knowledge through the most creative way we know how- the arts!

Whilst many of us identify Hip Hop as just a genre, our magazine venture ‘I AM HIP HOP’ seeks to go way back to the roots of one of the most notably powerful movements of our time, focusing on all the fundamental elements from music, street art, poetry, knowledge and social politics.

We bring you features on music, film, visual arts, poetry, ecology and sustainability, and how to maintain a healthy body and mind. We seek to provide a platform for individuals who use their talents to

voice an international struggle, ‘I AM HIP HOP’ is a constructive outlook on social change for young people in London.

Our ethos is to educate, inform and provoke the minds of London’s youth by promoting positivity, culture and social awareness. This one’s for the streets, it’s time to expose the conscious arts scene in London! We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed creating it.

No Bounds will be working on various projects across London, and we want to keep you informed and involved, so watch this space…As Dead Prez said ‘It’s Bigger Than Hip Hop...’

Happy Reading!

Respect, peace and love,

The No Bounds Team

NO BOUNDS | I AM HIP HOP

3

ART/CULTURE

tive, abstract & mystic a r u al Fig

Tony Lee THE ART OF

By Maria Nemcenko

L

ee’s bizarre characters emerge to us, speaking of the unconscious visions that are somewhat in between the figurative and the abstract, the earthly and the distantly mystical.

A recognisable human form becomes an inseparable part of the complex image, while suggesting the relationship amid the familiar urban landscapes and their inhabitants. His works unlock the hidden and the extraordinary sole on which, from the first glance overlooked, the mundane city is built. Whilst interconnecting contemporary and ancient elements, Lee reveals the ritualistic and the tribal beyond the urbanized surface. Whilst observing the prints the civilized city, as well as the civilized man, appears to be hiding the inner-self that can be traced back to the indigenous people, inducing wild and childish, yet frightening feelings..

The ornamental masks, which demonstrate a variety of happy, angry, sad and cheeky faces, offer 4 I AM HIP HOP | NO BOUNDS

an insight into the artist’s knowledge and interest in world cultures, meanwhile, the bright and rather raw colours speak of a culture that is distant to most of the western public.

Sketchbooks

ART/CULTURE

Once the image grabs one’s attention it is easy to get lost in the depth of Lee’s work - it takes one right back to the bottom of their consciousness.

Tony Lee’s elaborative works unquestionably evoke a sense of humour to the viewer as soon as the prints are glanced at.

A decorative and eye-catching touch belligerently gives a sensory experience, which, in contrast to the predominant and restrained tones used within the contemporary western world as well as art, awakens the primitive feelings from beyond the consciousness.

Lee reveals the ritualistic and the tribal beyond the urbanized surface.

Tony Lee’s works tends to fight the prevalent ‘chromophobia’ - a synonym for an attempt to devalue colour, to take away the power that raw colour possesses. Bright notes underpin the variety of religious and spiritual symbols whilst forming the divine and demonic imagery. It becomes a monument for the power of the spiritual, for the power of the primitive that could be found within the archaic, as well as urbanized worlds.

“Apathy is the glove into which evil slips its hand.”

Bodie Thoene

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5

ROOTS

Lessons to learn From

Indigenous People

By Amy Wooddrow Arai

Artwork by: Shalak From: Canada Location: Niterói - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

T

he word ‘Indigenous’ is widely used to describe the original inhabitants of a specific area or region. As many Indigenous cultures have a very different relationship with their territories from the Western notion of land ownership, ‘Indigenous’ can also describe the traditional custodians of the land and tribal and nomadic peoples. It also describes the First Nations peoples that existed before colonisation. According to the UN statistics, there are more than 370 million Indigenous peoples in 90 countries.

The situation of Indigenous peoples in many parts of the world continues to be critical. Indigenous peoples continue to face systemic discrimina-

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tion and exclusion from political and economic power and they continue to be over-represented among the poorest. They face racism and the erosion of their traditional knowledge and cultural expressions. They are displaced by wars and environmental disasters and their lands are being increasingly encroached upon for the extraction of natural resources. Today, Indigenous’ land grabbing for mining by corporations and governments is increasing at an accelerating rate, driven by an escalating global demand for energy, metals and minerals.

Due to their interconnected relationship with the land, many Indigenous peoples are at the forefront

ROOTS

of climate change. This is one of the cruellest threats for the survival of Indigenous livelihoods because the Indigenous way of life has traditionally cared for Nature in a mutually enhancing way, successfully safeguarding some of the world’s most critical ecosystems for millennia.

We in the industrialised and urban world have much to learn (and re-learn) from Indigenous perspectives. We forget that our way of life is only 200 years old. Our young, modern, globalised culture has removed us from our source of life - from Nature. The fact that Indigenous ancient traditions still exist after thousands of years of adaptation is testimony to their

resilience. This stands starkly against the industrial system, which in just 200 years has radically undermined the biosphere, created global warming, and is now collapsing into itself.

In the present context of climate instability, Indigenous traditions have the greatest ability to adapt because they have an intimate relationship and knowledge of Nature. In evolutionary terms, a species’ survival depends on adaptability and diversity. If we are to tackle our global challenges we must embrace cultural diversity, we must listen to, and learn from Indigenous teachings, and as inhabitants of a shared planet, we must work together for our collective future.

The existance of ancient traditions after thousands of years of adaptation is testimony to their resilience

“I am a citizen, not of Athens or Greece, but of the world” Socrates

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CONTROVERSIAL

United Nations

Peace Or Domination?

By Kieran MacManus

T

he term “United Nations”, for most people is very familiar. It’s the organisation that tries to solve conflicts through negotiation and agreement. Surely the idea that the United Nations is a force for good is beyond challenge? But is this so?. What do we really know about this often misunderstood organisation? With this in mind, I have placed aside all the normal hype, and set out to discover the real United Nations.

The date is the 12th of October, 1960. Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev grabs his shoe and angrily bangs it on his table. Khrushchev, being a strong and loud character, was never out of the limelight at the United Nations. Many of the other delegates present at the meeting viewed Khrushchev’s latest antics as highly embarrassing.

They indeed were.

But Mr Khrushchev after all was famed for his unpredictable behaviour. He was proud of it! But all in all, the delegates present on that day knew one thing for sure, this was nothing out of the ordinary, just a regular day at the United Nations, all the usual passion and determination present as usual.

Khrushchev’s shoe banging incident is probably one of the most famous acts associated with the

United Nations. But what do you think of whenever you hear the term “United Nations” mentioned on the news or if you read it in a newspaper? Peacekeeping? Controversial speeches? Good charity work all around the world? Or perhaps even an organisation which is not really very good at anything? For me, one of the most memorable United Nations moments of recent years is the famous 2003 speech

by Nelson Mandela, claiming that the foreign policies of the George Bush led American government will lead to a new kind of world Holocaust (Mandela, Oil and Holocaust, 2003). It really hit the nail on the head, and you could tell the majority of the delegates agreed!

But placing controversy, passion, belief and the absurd to the side for a second, what do you think the average person actually knows about the United Nations and the way it works? I would hazard a guess in the direction of very little.

Does it for example, work for common good in the world? Do all its members get a fair say in all matters? Is the U.N very much a democratic club of countries, or is it controlled by a handful of the powerful? After a bit of reflection, I decided to do some investigation work myself.

George Bush led American government will lead to a new kind of world Holocaus

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CONTROVERSIAL History of the

United Nations

O

ur United Nations of today was established in 1948, in response to the horrors of the second world war. The idea was, if everyone was in the same club, then there would be no need to fight. Surely, nations could talk out their problems like responsible adults, and not fight them out like badly behaved children? A simple enough idea. But, are you thinking what I’m thinking? This was tried before! After world war one, something called the League of Nations was set up to “prevent war and destruction”. And what happened? It failed to go off like a damp squib, in other words, it was utterly powerless to stop world war two.

Hitler got his little mad dream for a few years and the world paid the price! But I will give credit where it is due. The old League was very simplistic, like a “gentleman’s club”: drinking, smoking and “peace”, or, in my view, a way for powerful countries to control the less powerful ones.

Right from the beginning, the U.N was an altogether more serious matter. The way it was organised was far better and it had a much clearer

goal, i.e. to promote peace, justice and brotherhood.

A special charter of rules was drafted. This is known today as “The U.N declaration of human rights”.

The idea behind it was to get all countries to agree to stop things like torture and to do more for the millions of poor in the world. At the time everyone was very excited. Perhaps the United Nations would work? Maybe this was a new beginning for humanity? The feeling of the times can be best described by Former Vietnamese president Tran Duc Luong: “Humanistic values of equality and equal rights for all nations and individuals as crystallized in the principles of the United Nations Charter are mankind’s great achievements in the 20th century.”

Tran Duc Luong.

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9

CONTROVERSIAL

SecurityorDomination?

S

ounds great, doesnt it? I think so. If the U.N was clearly working for this, I’d say I would get involved in some way as soon as possible.

First of all though, even if there are those at the U.N who believe in equal rights for nations and individuals, the U.N as a whole doesn’t appear to have done a very good job of making it happen. The history of the U.N is one of failed peacekeeping, lots of talking and even more of nothing much! And I think that one of the reasons for this is down to the way it is structured, and of course the reason as to why it is structured the way it is.

At the U.N there are three main arms of organisation, the secretariat, which is mainly for research, the General Assembly, made up of all members, and

of course the Security Council, a club of the world’s most powerful and populated nations, those being the U.S, Britain, France, China and Russia (formerly U.S.S.R).

It is the job of the general assembly to vote on all matters that are introduced, whether by one country or a group of countries. They are then put to a vote and if there is a majority, a recommendation is formed. This is all very well, but a recommendation has no power whatsoever until it is passed by the Security Council. Simply, nothing happens at the U.N without the worlds most powerful. Officially, the reason is that the security council countries have the most people, and without it, the fate of most the world’s people would be decided by a minority.

Power A question of

“It is not just for a few states to sit and veto global approvals” Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

I

am very cynical. While I can see the sense behind the idea of stopping a minority making decisions for a majority, it seems only fair to think that the Security Council members are mainly just looking out for themselves. It’s common sense. They are part of an economic system which favours the wealthy instead of the poor and underdeveloped.

Of course, this doesn’t just apply to the “west” as I’m sure France, Britain and the U.S were clenching their fists and snarling wildly when they realised that the Soviets and the Chinese had to be included in the Security Council. But these two countries, despite saying that they supported the poor all around the world, were and are just as self interested as the “western nations”. It simply is not true that the security council must exist.

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There are plenty of other ways of doing things.

I see the Security Council as a very old-fashioned idea, something from a time when the powerful did not need to hide their intention to control poorer countries. And remember, the world would have been very different without the Security Council.

If it did not exist, and issues were decided on pure majority, the economic embargo on Cuba would not exist and neither would any illegal Israeli settlement for example. Most U.N members want these things to stop but all moves to stop them have been voted down by the United States. I’m not saying that I’m sure that the Security Council was created deliberately so that the powerful could stay in control, but it is obvious to me that this has happened in the real world. Is this accidental? I will let you decide.

CONTROVERSIAL

A world of

Alternatives

S

o, what are the alternatives? I discovered that at the moment there is in existence an organisation called the “Small States Network for Economic Development “(S.S.N.E.D.). This was an organisation designed to address the particular problems of smaller poorer states. Sound good?

Well, unfortunately the S.S.N is heavily influenced by the world bank and its Neo Liberal ideology. Neo Liberal simply means letting businessmen invest where they want, do almost everything they want, regardless as to whether the system actually works and ignoring the effect on the poor. This same idea influences several, if not all, Security Council members.

If you, like myself, think that all nations, particularly underdeveloped ones, have the right to follow whatever economic ideas benefit the majority of their people, (i.e. economic independence), then you must recognise that the S.S.N.E.D. does not grant them this right.

So, are poor nations doomed forever in their misery? What about the political ideals of peace and co-operation? Are they just an illusion of childlike minds? I don’t think so. Not only are alternatives to the U.N and the S.S.N.E.D. possible, but they exist right under our noses. For decades, the Non Aligned Movement has brought together many countries under the banner of peace and brotherhood, and done so successfully. Also, at the moment, developing countries such as Cuba, Venezuela and

Artwork by: Devlanko

From: Spain

Iran co-operate economically by sharing technology and work together by doing whatever is good for themselves and their people. The prospects for developing nations, far from desperate, are very exciting indeed! All in all, it is important to remember that the United Nations, despite its aid efforts which have saved millions of lives and the opportunities it does give to poorer countries in terms of making themselves heard, is very much flawed in favour of powerful Security Council members. Whether this is accidental or not is open to debate.

What I have discovered though, is that the worlds smaller, under developed nations do have the power to bypass the U.N and co- operate with each other to help achieve higher living standards for their people and work for a more peaceful world.

But it has to be remembered that this requires bravery and determination on the part of the states involved, as investors and western governments will seek to punish those that don’t want to follow Neo Liberalism, by whatever means they possibly can get away with! They have a very hard time ahead of them. Bravery and determination! Those are the essential qualities for a more “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the peaceful and present controls the past.” just world!

Bravery and determination!

The qualities for a more peaceful and just world!

George Orwell

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INTERNATIONAL

The Essencia Of C

Stre Fes

E

ssencia is an independent collective of artists from different backgrounds. Their aim is to Essencia uses art as a means of communication and education, exploring diverse issues and themes that impact our daily lives. Their collective energy unite artists from around the world using art in their own communities, with the aim of learning and teaching through the exchange of colours, music, dance, photography, performance and the infinite possibilities of creative expression.

Essencia now is a Street Art festival; its roots come from the ‘’essence’’ of street art, graffiti, and hip-hop culture, and the values that these art forms manifest.

Essencia works through community workshops with youths, using the power of art to break borders, overcome taboos, promoting understanding about important matters that affect our daily lives and

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global community.

Each year the Festival unites artists from across the world in an annual nomadic meeting. So far artists from Canada, Brazil, Chile, Senegal, France, the USA, Australia, Peru, Philippines and Tunisia participated in its workshops, exhibitions and public events.

The first Essencia Festival was launched in Montreal and Toronto (Canada) in September 2010, celebrating the four elements of the Earth, the four Cardinal directions, and the four elements of Hip Hop culture Their objectives were to gather various artists from around the world and bring a different vision to their own communities of how graffiti and

INTERNATIONAL

Community Empowerment

eet Art stival

By Elisa Monreal

“Your mind is like a parachute.

It only works when it is open.”

Frank Zappa

child poverty.

hip-hop was being used in other parts of the world, as a tool for social empowerment.

In March 2011, five Essencia Collective’s artists were invited to Senegal to perform at the 2MGraff festival, which also uses art as a tool of education.

This delegation included three street artists, Shalak, Fiya, Aishaa, MC Meryem Saci, and photographer Mariel Rosenbluth. They painted various artistic and community murals and, through workshops,

Recently, the Third International Essencia Festival took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This year’s festival united over 80 artists from five continents of the world to use art as a tool for community empowerment in five different neighbourhoods of Sao Paulo, the main team: Mother Earth. Over 400 youth and children from the “periferias” (underpriveldged communities) participated in educational art workshops.

Artists from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Senegal, and the USA, participated in the final Essencia Art Exhibition at one of Sao Paulo’s most popular artistic spots, the Matilha Cultural Gallery.

The success of this year’s festival was enormous and Essencia is now embedded into the hearts of its many participants, artists, and collaborating organizations. Essencia Collective keeps on growing and it is proof that art and culture can make a positive difference and impact on our daily lives and global community. Next year’s festival will be returning to Canada with positive and booming energy from around the world!

40 children and youths of the community actively participated in discussions exploring ways to resolve NO BOUNDS | I AM HIP HOP 13

GE D E L KNOWPOWER IS eha

By Ja

14 I AM HIP HOP | NO BOUNDS

Jeong

Where is your name from? Do you have any stories behind it?

The name J The Exodus was actually given to me by a friend that I used to go to school with back in the day! What was unique about it is that it personally related to me, my experiences and perspectives. So to me “J” - is my actual birth name initial and “The Exodus” stands for being a modern day leader that will guide and “Exodus” the people’s minds out of the traps that they are mentally and physically bound by.

What is the background of your hiphop life?

My history with hip hop spans back as far as 20 years ago, as soon as I heard it, it resonated with me. To be honest as a very young child I was very much into really commercial rap like MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice for example. By the time I was around 9-10 years of age I started to really get into some really respectable rap icons like LL Cool J, Pharcyde, Coolio,Tupac and

What is the main message you are usually trying to deliver to the public?

Thank you!, well I wouldn’t say that every song is intentionally trying to send a message, I would say that I am just expressing myself and give my listeners my perspective through my music, its then up to them to experience it and interpret it as they please. The mixtape is a free download.

Tell me more about your involvement in this special short film ‘Illegal Activity’. How did you get involved in the sound track?

Illegal activity is a short UK film directed by a young and talented director - Sebastian Thiel.

As far as my track “Knowledge is Power” being the soundtrack to the film, it was all down to him taking a particular liking to the the song itself long before we actually shot the video in Feb 2012. So once he wrote elements of the film, alongside ‘Kingdom Visions’, he hollered to shoot the vid. It then got coverage by some respectable

"Well I wouldn't say that every song is intentionally trying to send a message, I would say that I am just expressing myself and give my listeners my perspective through my music. It's then up to them to experience it..."

Biggie Smalls.

I am sure you are listening to loads of old hiphop tunes as well as funk music from back in the days since you have nice samples of all of your tunes.. who are your main influence and inspiration for your music?

My musical influences are made up of a wide spectrum - In hip-hop Nas, Jay Z, The Fugees, Lauryn Hill, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, D’angelo, Erykah Badu, Rakim, Krs one, Lupe Fiasco, Busta Rhymes and so on! I’m a big fan of Motown/Soul and Reggae which I was raised on so the likes of - John Holt, Bob Marley, Curtis Mayfield, Otis Redding, Dennis Brown, Garnett Silk, Buju Banton, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Billie Holliday and the list goes on and on too!

I really enjoyed your mix tape “360 full circle”, released in 2010. I liked the message that you deliver in it.

blogs such as; SoulCulture, Jump off TV, We Plug Good Music, I am the Nu black, All About Good Music, Music is Remedy to name a few.

Tell me about your latest works. Any plans for the new album in the future?

At present I am just applying the icing and finishing touches to my forthcoming E.P called “From Darkness Came Light” which will be out during Summer 2012. I’m also in the very early stages of working on a 2013 album. I will be adding a new element to my 4-piece band Soul Clef which I won’t reveal yet! I also have a 2-part Mixtape, EPK, and a couple of videos scheduled to drop before “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as the release you do not stop.” of my E.P. Confucius

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MUSIC

The Rise Of

Rapper The Revolutionist

By Rishma Dhaliwal

Immortal Technique

H

ip Hop was a product of an extremely political era, however the strong and opinionated narratives that are rooted in some of our earlier favourites somehow disappeared and over the years got outshined by what I like to call Hip Pop… But could there be a change? I’ve noticed that there is yet again an appreciation for rappers with substance, knowledgeable dialogue, and who just give a damn about what is happening in the world.

While we have always had our political rappers like Immortal Technique, who choose not to opt for the commercial following, conscious rapper Common’s

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2011 comeback was huge, and exemplified Hip hop fans need for intellectual lyricism. The appreciation of Rappers like Pharoahe Monch, Talib Kweli, Common, and the more recent Kendrick Lamar, who received a lot of love in 2011, takes us back to the earlier days of the genre, and reminds us of just how important of a tool music is when it comes to expressing our views.

Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Section 80’ has got to be one of my personal favourite albums of last year, and a favourite of many judging by its digital chart success.

MUSIC Lowkey

“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.”

Bertrand Russell

His social commentary and deep lyrics addressed the issues and hardships of a struggling generation.

In the U.K the political sounds of Lowkey and Akala, has given their music a passport to travel overseas. Lowkey who is also a political activist, often appearing in the media voicing his opinion on current affairs, uses his music as another platform to convey his conscious views. His 2011 album ‘Soundtrack to the Struggle’ was not only quality hip hop, but was an intellectual account full of facts from 16th century colonialism to today’s occupations, identifying his need to inform his listeners and urge them to think as an activist. Having collaborated with like-minded prominent international rap artists like Immortal Technique and M1, Lowkey’s overseas following has allowed him to be a strong representative from the UK in the conscious rap scene.

Should the remainder of 2012 bring us another year of the corruption, invasions, riots and revolutions that we witnessed last year, it’s good to see more appreciation for the rappers that seek to kick some serious knowledge.

Kendrick Lamar

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MUSIC

Documentary:

HipHop Revolucion

E

arlier this year, No Bounds had the privilege of interviewing film makers and political activists Jody McIntyre and Pablo Navarrete who had recently returned from Venezuela where they filmed their new documentary ‘Hip Hop Revolucion’ in November 2011.

Hip hop has historically been one of the most powerful forms of music and has managed to transcend global boundaries. All over the world hip hop has typically been used as a form of social and political expression by people who are not given a voice via other means.

people who are into hip hop but are also supporters of the political process that is currently underway in Venezuela under the Chavez government, which has been in power since 1999 and is often deceitfully demonised in Western media. Hip Hip Revolucion works closely with diffeent people in low income neighbourhoods surrounding Caracas and other cities in Venezuela. They have done some truly inspirational work politicising the youth and getting them more involved in the political process. They have currently set up 31 hip hop schools for young people, and organise various hip hop festivals around the country.

Hip Hop is one of the only forms of music that has managed to transcend global boundaries.

In Venezuela, and Latin America generally, we are seeing progressive anti-imperialist movements coming into political power, and doing a lot to empower the poorer members of society. It was by means of unity and revolution of the people that Venezuela’s curent government came to power.

Whilst in Venezuela, Pablo and Jody met up with an organisation called Hip Hop Revolucion.

Hip Hop Revolucion are a collective of young 18 I AM HIP HOP | NO BOUNDS

This eagerly awaited documentary talks about the social and political environment of Venezuela, and teaches us some of the lessons that can be adapted here and in other parts of the world. It also informs us about the inspiring work being carried out by Hip Hop Revolucion, and includes performances by well known UK hip hop “Everyone should be artist Lowkey. Be respected as an individual, sure to check it but no one idolized.” out!

Albert Einstein

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Facts Civilization

We hope you can remember!

The military expenditure of the USA accounted for just under half of the world total, at 43% in 2010. Just the defense budget in 2012 for the war in Afghanistan costs the United States close to 300 million dollars a day.

According to Dr. Gideon Polya, a professor in Victoria, Australia, the 1943-44 famine that killed an estimated 3.5 to 5 million people in Bengal was “man-made”. Dr. Polya says that “the British brought an unsympathetic and ruthless economic agenda to India” and that “the creation of famine” was brought about by British “sequestration and export of food for enhanced commercial gain.”

Elizabeth Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland, and her husband George Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland, conducted brutal clearances between 1811 and 1820 (second phase of the clearance).Evictions at the rate of 2,000 families in one day were not uncommon.

Many starved and froze to death where their homes had once been. The Duchess of Sutherland, on seeing the starving tenants on her husband's estate, remarked in a letter to a friend in England, "Scotch people are of happier constitution and do not fatten like the larger breed of animals."

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From the 1490s when Christopher Columbus set foot on the Americas to the 1890 massacre of Sioux at Wounded Knee by the United States military, the indigenous population of the Western Hemisphere have suffered the biggest genocide in history, 100 million indigenous people’s deaths are attributed to the colony.

It is argued that in 1845 to 1850,the British government pursued a policy of mass starvation in Ireland with intent to destroy in substantial part the national, ethical, and racial group commonly known as the Irish People. Huge quantities of food were exported from Ireland to England throughout the period when the people of Ireland were dying of starvation. Ireland remained a net exporter of food throughout most of the five-year famine.

“Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.” Pericles NO BOUNDS | I AM HIP HOP 21

POETRY

RE-EVOLUTION POETRY

By Azad Kamall

So far this “global recession”, has led to a relatively interesting era.

Whilst most governments are cutting public spending, a revolution has been getting even nearer.

But will these protests actually change anything? And if so how long will the change last?

Well in order to predict where the future will take us, firstly we need to look into our past.

The last time this happened was in the 18th century, and it all kicked off back in France.

They call this the age of enlightenment, and as a result our freedoms were enhanced.

At this time the printing press had just emerged, and at first it was completely unrestricted.

Such freedom of speech led to mass revolution, the scale of which no one would have predicted.

Simply from listening from one another we realised, that we all wanted a complete change of scene.

We were all fed up with living as peasants, under the oppression of a King or a Queen.

And that was the end of our feudalistic society, and a capitalist one was born in its place, This gave us all the chance to earn our own money, in a competition that some now call the rat-race.

But now capitalism has gotten out of hand, with such a huge divide between the poor and the rich, And now that the printing press has been completely monopolised, freedom of speech no longer exists.

But today a new media has come to our aid, and it’s still relatively unrestricted.

This internet has potential to bring a revolution, just like the rise of the printing press once inflicted.

But what’s the next stage after capitalism that will come about as a result of this new revolution?

Well throughout history it seems that these conflicts are just baby steps to our ongoing evolution.

You see way back in the start we lived in small groups, back when humans used to live in small tribes, Back then we lived together as a community, and we did what was needed to survive.

Private property and class difference didn’t exist since all the tribesmen had the same role, They all had to be hunter gatherers, but then the best ones soon took control.

After this several of these tribes merged, either by agreement or by military forces, Hence a city was formed, and the King of this city owned all of the land and resources.

But threats to the King from other groups means that for him it would make common sense, To give some of his land to any people who can provide him with soldiers for his defence.

Doing this then in turn gave rise to, a brand new type of society, A wealthy minority would now own all the land, in this land owning aristocracy.

This society was known as feudalism, where the land owners were the ruling elite, They used the peasants to work on their land, and they even sold them the food that they eat.

Gradually food and goods were produced in excess, which gave rise to industry and trade, And it is from this practice of trading that a new class of merchants were made.

These traders got richer and richer, but that didn’t stop them from still wanting more, They eventually demanded political power, which then led to a revolutionary war.

This war started in France but spread throughout the West, and as a result of this famous social clash, All land and resources would from now on be owned, by the person who could bid the most cash.

We refer to this stage as capitalism, and it’s the stage that we now currently live in, It seems that this society revolves around taking, but rarely considers the concept of giving.

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POETRY In such a system that revolves around chasing money, it’s no surprise that it gradually became corrupt, I guess the system works well if you’re born into money, but if you’re not then you’re pretty much fucked!

We now have bankers who are paid massive bonuses, when all they do is make wealthy people more rich.

Whereas doctors don’t get paid nearly as much, even though they’re the ones who cure us when we’re sick.

We all know that the majority of our tax money, goes towards these ongoing military operations, And yet there never seems to be enough money to fund, our human right to a free education.

Now that recessions kicked in the government needs cash, yet they still spend most of our tax on their war, Instead they cut education and our national health service, which is terrible news for us all.

Because regardless of your class, gender, age, or your race, these services are our basic human right.

So if our government takes them from us then we must let them know, that we will not give them up without a fight.

We do all of their labour and pay all their tax, so we must insist that they listen to our demands, When we come together as one they’ll have to give us our rights, divided we’ve fallen but united we’ll stand.

This revolution will by no means be easy, but this revolution will eventually transcend, This revolution will certainly be a long one, but this revolution will be worth it in the end.

Artwork by: Devlanko

From: Spain

“If... the machine of government... is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law.”

Henry David Thoreau

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HEALING FOOD

Pine Pollen

Motivation, Drive, Energy, Testosterone

Testosterone levels are at the lowest they have ever been right now in human history. Not just for men but also for women. Many of us over the years have come to see testosterone as a caveman molecule. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I

n fact testosterone is the molecule that gives you your motivation and your drive.

When you have... high testosterone levels you have a desire to achieve goals. A lot of people today feel lazy and feel tired because their testosterone levels are low and their oestrogen levels are really high. This happens

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for several different reasons. Some of them include the plastics we have been exposed to since we were children. Soft plastics contain BPA which acts like oestrogen within our body and actually affects our hormone levels.

There are a lot of plants out there we know that have oestrogen or oestrogen like com-

HEALING FOOD pounds. These are called phyto oestrogens.

They are in a lot of the seeds and plants we eat. But there are not a lot of plants that contain actual bio identical testosterone. The only thing that has it in any serious quantity is the pollen that comes from pine trees.

Not only does pine pollen contain testosterone it also contains other androgens, such as androstenedione and DHEA. These are the kind of substances people are using in the world of body building to increase the robustness of their structure and in longevity practices to increase their lifespan. This boost in testosterone and the other androgens is fantastic for men reaching andropause and women during menopause also benefit greatly from the increase in testosterone.

kind of carrier, herbal tincturing is an excellent way of extracting the testosterone.

Simply fill a jar with the male pine catkins that emerge in spring when they are full of pollen.

Cover with a distilled alcohol such as vodka or brandy. Put in the freezer overnight to crack open the cell walls releasing more of the medicine. Then allow to steep for 2 weeks in a cool dark cupboard before straining the liquid extract to use as medicine and throwing away the used male pine catkins. To get the most testosterone from the tincture it needs to be absorbed through the mouth and straight into the blood otherwise the testosterone is broken down by the digestive system, so you should rinse your mouth and the underside of your tongue with the extracted tincture for at least a minute.

It is also fantastic for anyone who is experiencing a lack of energy, will power, motivation and ability to achieve goals. These are symptoms of low testosterone in both men and women. Because testosterone is essentially not digestible without the presence of some

Photography by: Guache

Artwork by: Charquipunk

“Under Capitalism we are not human beings but consumers.�

Evo Morales

From: Chile NO BOUNDS | I AM HIP HOP 25

Get

LONDON

No Bounds Publishing Email iamhiphopmagazine@gmail.com Web http://www.iamhiphopmagazine.com

Editors: Rishma Dhaliwal Carlos Papi Diana Aramayo

Designer: Freddy Castro Soruco

Cover: Designed by: artspaceproject@hotmail.co.uk

Contributors: Amy Wooddrow Arai Sally Harte Jaeha Jeong Maria Nemcenko Elisa Monreal Azad Kamall Kieran MacMamus Marcelo Rodriguez Amma Mante SILK Magazine Special thanks to: Harvie Brown, DJ Cal Jader Movimientos, Big Cakes, Attika Choudhary

S

Involved!

o now that you have finished reading issue 1 of the No Bounds ‘I AM HIP HOP’ Magazine, what did you think?

Identifying the relationship between conscious arts and the youth, the I Am Hip Hop magazine’s primary aim is to educate, inform and provoke the minds of young people in London; promoting positivity, culture and social awareness. Our ethos is to integrate politics and art to try to provide an alternative to mainstream media by allowing the voiceless to be heard.

Now that we have brought you with this new form of edutainment, we want to take it one step further.... I AM HIP HOP wants to get YOU involved! We want young people to be able to use this publication as a means of expressing their views on society and as a platform to develop their skills and talents.

Going back to the fundamental roots of Hip Hop, its emergence was not only to bring politics and awareness through various forms of the arts, but it was also to build a strong community that together would work towards social change.

I AM HIP HOP seeks to evoke this sense of unity, inspiration and creative freedom; this is a publication for the community, and one that welcomes and urges the contribution and involvement of young people.

Whether you have an idea, a skill or would like use I AM HIP HOP to gain experience in the media and arts, we want to provide you with opportunities that could help benefit your future.

I AM HIP HOP IS LOOKING FOR: Writers (Feature writers, Reviewers, Interviewers) Artists (Illustrators, Street arts, Graphic designers) Filmmakers (Cameramen, Editors) If you would like to undertake an internship in any of the above sectors then please do get in contact. OR If you are involved in the conscious arts scene, as a rapper, poet or an artist and would like to be featured in the I AM HIP HOP Magazine then get in touch today!

@ iamhiphopmagazine@gmail.com f http://www.facebook.com/noboundshiphop t https://twitter.com/i_am_hiphop_mag Or scan the QR code to be redirected to our website!

I Am Hip Hop magazine content is licensed under: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.

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Youth Organization

Profile Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust Who are they ?

How can they support you?

The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust was established in 1998 by Stephen’s parents, Doreen and Neville Lawrence. They wanted to ensure that future generations of young people would enjoy the opportunities that were denied to Stephen by his senseless murder. Tragically, at the age of 18 on 22nd April 1993, Stephen was murdered in an unprovoked racist attack. He didn’t know his killers and his killers didn’t know him. To this date, no-one has been put in prison for his murder.

In 2007, the Trust moved into its brand new home in Deptford, southeast London and since then, thousands of young people from all over the United Kingdom have attended programmes ranging from evening music courses to long-running basic skills training.

The Trust’s first programme, which continues as our flagship work to this day, is the Architectural Bursary Programme. To date, more than a hundred aspiring architects from the UK, Caribbean and South Africa have received financial assistance and mentoring during their studies. Ten of those students have gone on to become fully-qualified, with many more well on their way. In addition, the trust delivers a community programme, called Smarter Communities. Its targeted at developing the skills of local people in Lewisham, Greenwich, Southwark and Tower Hamlets.

Upcoming activities

“The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point, however, is to change it” Karl Marx

All the trust’s activities are advertised on their website. Please visit www.stephenlawrence.org.uk, facebook and Twitter (S_LawrenceTrust). You can support the Trust’s work by making a donation. Text SLCT18 and the amount you want to give 70070 or online at Just Giving Justgiving.com/slct/donate

Artwork by: Carlos Martyn Burgos From: El Salvador NO BOUNDS | I AM HIP HOP 27

INTERNATIONAL

Trayvon I am

By Amma Mante

(Contribution by Slik Magazine / Stephen Lawrence Foundation)

Artwork by: Carmelo “Snow” Sigona, Joe “JOE 01 Iurato and Luis “2TEK” Mejias From: New Jersey

“Every step towards the goal of justice requires…the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

M

illions worldwide have signed the petition to seek justice for the killing of 17 year old Trayvon Martin. He was killed in Sanford, Florida by George Zimmerman, a 28 year-old self appointed neighbourhood watchman who decided that he should play judge, jury and executioner of an unarmed teen because he thought Trayvon looked “suspicious”.

Trayvon armed with “Skittles and Iced Tea” was walking through the gated community on his way home when he was shot and killed by Zimmerman, who initially walked free under the Authority’s interpretation of Florida’s self defence laws. The news of his death, and how Zimmerman had not been arrested, sent shockwaves throughout America and beyond.“I am Trayvon” has become the rallying cry at protests and various congressmen and celebrities have donned “hoodies” in solidarity.

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Following the global outrage and weeks impassioned campaigning, Zimmerman was arrested and charged with second degree murder. However, Civil Rights veteran Rev Al Sharpton said: “Without the pressure there would not have been a second look [at the case]. This is a not a night for celebrating, this night should not have happened in the first place.”

At a time like this, it is vital to consider what can be learned from such tragic circumstances. What we learn from this, and the way we combat the racist discourse we have been assaulted with from the media, is crucial, so that we can work towards change, as we step out from under this canopy of injustice into brighter and more hopeful days.

A rather myopic analysis of events is that Zimmerman was merely an overzealous individual whose ill thought out actions resulted in the death of a minor. Ultimately Zimmerman is responsible for his actions which were contrary to the instructions

INTERNATIONAL given by the Police Dispatcher he called whilst following Trayvon. However, as uncomfortable as it is for many, it is important to throw the net of culpability wider and view this tragedy against a backdrop of wider societal and deep rooted injustice.

Some have tried to create an artificial division between his actions and the thought process leading up to this, condemning the vigilante act of shooting, yet legitimising the fear and suspicion upon which he acted. This was best illustrated by Fox News commentator Geraldo Rivera, who urged young blacks and Latinos to stop wearing hoodies in order to avoid Trayvon’s fate. Implicit in this paradigm is an uncritical acceptance of profiling and negative stereotyping. This case goes way beyond gun control laws and Florida’s interpretation of self defence laws although these were tools used to facilitate this injustice.

As Britain gets ready to point a smug finger of accusation across the Atlantic, it would be salient to highlight how US events are mirrored here in the UK. We are facing a huge problem with stop and search. According to the London School of Economics and Open Society Justice Initiative, black people are 30 times more likely to be stopped and searched under Section 60 powers. This is linked to racial profiling – the same profiling which would have ultimately led Zimmerman to kill Trayvon.

While there was understandable delight at the convictions for the killers of Stephen Lawrence, it took 17 years to achieve any sort of justice for the Lawrence family. More pertinently, it would not have happened without the persistence and unrivalled determination of Doreen and Neville Lawrence who fought, and still are fighting, for justice. The fact that three of the five killers are still walking free is a blight upon the Justice System. The numbers of deaths in custody remain at an unacceptably high level and we have witnessed, in particular, a sharp rise in the numbers of black deaths in police custody in recent years. The circumstances which these men have died in are suspicious, and the reasons for death put forward by police lack credibility in the eyes of many. The United Friends and Families Campaign has been formed in response to this.

These acts of aggression are all on a continuum; from the policeman who stops and searches, to the one who kills the unarmed black male because he

“Better to die on one's feet than to live on one's knees.”

Jean-Paul Sartre

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INTERNATIONAL decides he is a threat, to the system that is slow and unwilling to bring justice. Each method of control, humiliation, and subjugation is held up by the other, inextricably joined together in an ugly coalition of prejudice and fear.

The eyes of America, and indeed the world, are closely following the developments in the Trayvon case. While Trayvon’s death has received the media coverage that it deserved, others in America have not. Ramarley Graham, a drug suspect shot dead in his mother’s apartment, and Rekia Boyd, shot dead by an off duty police officer, were both young, unarmed and black. 15 year old Asperger’s sufferer Stephon Watts was regarded as such a threat when he approached officers with a butter knife that they shot him dead in his parents’ house.

If this case teaches us anything, it is that a guilty until proven innocent approach is untenable. If someone is engaged in criminal activity, real or imagined, due process must be followed.

President Obama has urged that America does some ‘soul searching’ following this incident. As MLK Jr said “Every step towards the goal of justice requires…the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” As a rainbow coalition of people from all walks of society, stand together in taking action against this affront to justice and humanity, we have seen progress made in a short time. The journey has opened with dialogue, however Trayvon’s legacy will be more than words alone..

“Truth is on the side of the oppressed.”

Malcolm X 30 I AM HIP HOP | NO BOUNDS

STOP &SEARCH You have rights!!!

Solicitor with relevant experience Bindmans 020 7833 4433 - Birnberg Peirce & Partners 020

Remember: You don’t have to give your name and address if you are stopped and searched by the police, except if you are: • the driver of a vehicle on the road (and date of birth) or if involved in accident or road traffic offence whether in a car, on a bike or as a pedestrian.

• suspected of anti-social behaviour (reasonable grounds to suspect have caused, or are likely to, cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons – can include police – higher threshold) under s50 of Police Reform Act 2002.

• The police wish to summons you or issue a fixed penalty notice (sec 25 PACE)

Before any search you should be told: • officer’s name and police station (or at least the station) • that you are entitled to a copy of the search form (police can decline to give on the spot if not practicable to do so) • object of the proposed search ie. the legal power being used and what they are looking for • grounds to suspect you (if required for the legal power) • You can be arrested if you refuse to be searched and they can use reasonable force to search you.

• You are only required to take off hats, coats, scarves, gloves but no other clothing eg head gear, shoes, unless you are taken to somewhere that is screened off from the public and for certain clothing need same sex officer.

• The police don’t need any grounds to search you if the search is under sec 60 POA or under sec 44 Terrorism Act (these are blanket search powers which must be approved by a senior officer in a specific area for a specific period of time ), but need ‘reasonable grounds to suspect you’ if search is under sec 1 of PACE and sec 43 Terrorism Act. So ask what act you are being searched under and if its sec 43 or sec 1 ask what grounds they have for the search.

The police can only search and seize specific items under their search powers: • s1 PACE, search for articles that might be used for burglary/theft, stolen goods, offensive weapons, bladed articles, items that may be used for criminal damage. Police not entitled to read or record personal info.

• s43 Terrorism Act 2000, police need reasonable grounds to suspect that you are a terrorist (use or intend to use violence/cause serious damage to property to influence government or intimidate public to advance a political, religious or ideological cause) and can search anything that may be evidence you are a terrorist, including computers, cameras, personal papers.

• s60 Criminal Justice Act, to search for offensive weapons and dangerous instruments. The police are not entitled to read and record personal information.

• s44 Terrorism Act 2000, search as for s43 above (in force on railways, underground and in London all the time).

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