With the release of Nas and Damian's collaborative album Distant Relatives approaching, the two will be organizing and hosting a panel discussion on hip hop's and reggaes global impact on society here in DC. The panel will be moderated by MTV's Sway Calloway and will include legends such as DJ Kool Herc, DJ Red Alert,Reggaes Daddy U-Roy and King Jammy.
The event will take place at the "National Geographic Live" building on December 12, 2009 at 7pm. The discussion will be featured on a future documentary and broadcasted live at natgeomusic.net. The tickets are $25 each at NGL's box office so get your tickets FAST!!!!!
OK, so now that I made the PSA, here is my concern.....why do I have to pay to speak or LISTEN to what others feel the state of hip hop is in current society? I understand a donation but the mandatory cost personally makes me feel that the message, especially for the young, is not as important. I know it's a business at the end of the day but they both make enough money to invite individuals to hear the discussion for free.
Hip Hop is great but what's even greater are the artists that's never heard! We should be discussing it's positive impact but also the negative impact that it's having on our community and how we can all contribute to the change by supporting artists with a positive or more artistic approach. Dj's, radio stations, labels, etc all have a hand in what we hear and digest into our thoughts and that contributes to who we are. Feed us love, life, inspiration, and hope....we all know the struggle but let us see the light of that struggle as well (without the bling bling and fast cars and the disrespect of who I am...A WOMAN)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, I complained enough....it would be interesting to see what they will be discussing and after all, it's taking place in our home DC.
For more information please visit: http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/special-events/2009/12/12/distant-relatives/
Posts
30 comments:
U have a great point Freedom...Its all a gimmick to act like they are concerned. Nas is a wack. Hip Hop is wack...Real heads aint checkn for them. Nas is such a hypocrite. Nat Geo uses this stuff to make themselves look relevant in mine eyes. Fuck a discussion. Just make music. Word to the fat back queen with the sugar hills.
I should be splicing verses without the payment of a dollar bill
Queen you makin perfect cents....oops...no pun......
I am with yall. Not worth my time.
This is cute; I boycotted nat geo a long time ago when I went to a show there and I was told to take my hat off. Nat Geo; 4 thumbs dooooown. I am a girl for crying out loud. Was one of those days[
The more you all discuss the more they will say "at least people are talking about it". So in a sense they did there job. Silent ninja rule!!!
comedy!
Amen(Ra), Freedom. The price alone lets you know who this is for and not for, respectively. Reminds of a great quote I came by wah day.
"The route to power was not via opposition to the existing power structure but through mastery of the minutiae of art and music scenes." – Co-Creation And The Cooptation Of Subversion
Let's all (everyone including myself) share this space for ideas but with respect. We have enough disrespect in our life, so lets make this a forum to share and create positiveness within our lives. From health, go music, and even some issues that we may not agree on but the goal is to share love......let's not forget:) God Bless
I am in BAMAKO, MALI and this is disappointing seeing all this. Fight for peace and not ego. U all have freedoms we do not have and its sad that u all are carrying on on this blog like this. The people that contribute to this blog have helped me and my life a lot. I may not leave a comment but I check it everyday. There is always something new and to learn here, outside of the other blogs. But people starting a ruckus is small minded and immature. DJ Underdog I met in DC at a party this summer. Whoever left that last comment has a lot of time on hand. I hope your karma as bad as that.
I am not a fan of Nas but would like to hear Damian speech on world issue. You people are lucky to have this luxury. 1 Love.
I am going to this show. Thanks for the update.
Good Points
How old are yall? Be Peace and not grease!
booooooo hew!
Freedom, you brought up a lot of points I had not thought about this event. I was just impressed that National Geographic had invited this panel in the first place. I also know that Damian is paying for a large amount of this event out of his pocket, of course with the help of Nat Geo and Vtech. No one is making dough off this event, and the 25$ is covering costs.
People are still spending $50 dollars for shows with no knowledge and thousands on bottle service. 25$ for good content and a show doesn't seem unreasonable.
Also notice that NO press on this event has gone out. No traditional marketing has even begun. Take a look at which blogs and communities have been reached out to first, before making a judgment on " WHO" this event is for.
It is important to know details before making judgment.
C.
I agree with the last comment. Free will yall! Good Debate>>>
The demo from which I heard about this event is affluent. Not pretentious affluence but opulent affluence. A price tag of $25 makes this restrictive to lower income individuals and families, y'know the communities from which both of the cultures and most of the featured panelists hail.
To my knowledge, one "Jr. Gong" runs a foundation named "Ghetto Youths." Is it fair to wonder how many of these said ghetto youths will be in attendance?
"People are still spending $50 dollars for shows with no knowledge and thousands on bottle service. 25$ for good content and a show doesn't seem unreasonable."
That is a great observation, but nonetheless, a red herring fallacy having nothing to do with points being made. Not to mention the extreme breadth of generalisation in the above comment.
The assumption or assertion that "no one is making dough of this" is either mis-leading or asinine. Nat Geo has not survived the last umpteen decades by a poor business model. This is the last quarter of the fiscal year and any other "costs" that needed covering could easily been underwritten.
And this all without begging the question, "Why no woman on the panel?" Carolyn Cooper would have been a great asset to such an event.
Jus food for thought. *no shots*
"C" there is truth to your comment but I am going with the marketing tools that have been provided thus far on NatGeo's website,allhiphop, xxl, and all other media outlets that has promoted the event thus far. I am very familiar with marketing campaigns and one of the main components is branding. With that being said, I would assume that they would have branded this as being for the youth with something along the lines of "for teenagers 18 and younger, tickets are $10" or "Girls and Boys Scouts of America is sponsoring the first 50 kids to come into the panel for free." that would make sense to me. As a contribution and not as criticism, would you be able to suggest sponsorhip for lower income youth or a price reduction for those families that can present a medicare card or foodstamp card? I think that would be great! New Yorkers and other states receive free programs and and panel discussions for the youth all the time. Our youth in Washington, DC and Prince George's county could use a FREE or low cost event to inspire them. I am not one to pop bottles in the club I think that would be most on this blog but I am referring to those who mainly need it....the youth! There are a lot of folks that need to experience new ideas (why we work so hard on this blog, thank you underdog and all the wonderful contributors)to stregnthen our communities. sorry if I don't have all the facts, I have all that have been presented!
Thank you everyone for sharing your ideas, it's good for the expansion of knowledge!!!!
I appreciate the solution oriented nature of the last comment and the solutions suggested. Harambe!
Freedom,
They just donated 20 tickets to Boy and Girls clubs and I am working to get some other youth groups to have viewing of the broadcast. Thanks for the suggestions :)
C
Interesting.
Who runs this blog? I have never seen such a debate about a hiphop artist and this was interesting. Please email judydraslo@CNN.com . ASAP! We want to do a story on the contributors and there ideas on HipHop.
HAHAHA... Not the 24/7 News Network! I think she thinks we speak well and read good. LTM
CNN is gettn at yall? Put your shackles back on and prepare to lay in your own feces.
I am glad "C" that we have been able to help. The current generation of youth need all the help they can get. My fear is that when I become old, who will care for me? I want them to get all the help they can. Thanks a lot! Any way that I can help, I will. Keep us posted. How will they pick the children and how will it be promoted to them? Please let us know how we can contribute! thanks:)
Hi Freedom, I think it is up to the Boys and Girls club who comes. As far as the broadcast, it is being broadcasted live on the website, so I am trying to get youth groups with the capability to show it live to their students.
Youth Radio in the bay area will be hosting a viewing and asking their kids to report on it after. I would love to have more viewings like this going. If you know of any youth organizations or schools who have these capabilities please let me know or organize a viewing your self.
It would be great if more could be done or more youth could attend. It is last minute, but I am trying to make the most of it. Please let me know anymore suggestions.
peace,
C.
This program was created to reach a broad demographic, and it is doing just that. People were given the option of purchasing tickets and coming to see the panel, or streaming it online, for free.
None of the individuals or organizations were or are profiting. National Geographic is an non-profit organization and they provide an international platform for a discussion on this topic. When is that ever bad or wrong?
It's wonderful to see so many people interested and equally disheartening to read so many negative comments, especially those based on ignorance.
If no one was interested, no one would be blogging about it. Maybe we should all just take a breath, step back and say, "there is something to learn here."
I am going to watch online. I hope you do, too. Then and only then, can I comment on the content. But not really, because I am not an expert just a fan.
Since I don't know anyone involved, I am unable to comment on their intent or motivation. I just hope there is more of it.
Peace.
Someone "involved" may want to look at using uStream to allow online interaction while streaming. Folks can comment and ask questions via uStream's twitter integration. It's simple and str8 forward.
Last Comment>>>I wasn't feeln the event. The vibe was kinda interesting. Just felt a little forced. I went on the rebuddles but hey, cant please everyone. Just thought I would be you all in.
1L
Post a Comment