High School Hip Hop Culture Class Kicks Off 10th Year As a UC/CSU Approved, College Prep Course

Los Angeles, CA, September 2017 – One of the nation’s first high school based Hip Hop culture class is kicking off the 2017-2018 school year as a UC/CSU approved course. After a successful nine year run empowering hundreds of Los Angeles students, 2017 marks a new chapter for Global Awareness through Hip Hop Culture (GATHC) as it is now officially offered as a college preparatory elective course. University of California and California State University both require incoming freshmen to complete specific high school courses and GATHC will now help students get one step closer to college.

GATHC’s creator, Sebastien Elkouby, a writer and former music industry insider, started using Hip Hop culture back in 2000 to expose students to the culture’s rich artistic history as well as to teach them media literacy, social studies, and music production. In 20006, he was tapped by the Kanye West Foundation to develop a Hip Hop program for middle school students. A year later, Elkouby established GATHC, at the time one of the only Hip Hop culture classes in the country offered to students during regular school hours. Elkouby remembers, “When I was a teen in the late 80’s, Hip Hop culture was empowering and much more balanced than today. Rap music from artists like Public Enemy and Queen Latifah helped shape my worldview and gave me a sense of awareness I never learned in school. So I set out to develop a Hip Hop based educational program to teach students what I wish I would’ve been taught…and it’s been an amazing journey.”

In the last 10 years, GATHC has welcomed Hip Hop icons MC Lyte and KRS-One as special guests, collaborated with the Red Bull Music Academy, Interviewed legendary DJ Premier for the school newspaper, and been featured in various documentaries. This school year, GATHC will welcome students with a brand new, professional recording studio built right into the classroom, a generous gift from the school to its deserving students. In 2017, GATHC looks forward to partnering with new organizations and welcoming new and established Hip Hop artists interested in sharing their experience with a new generation of students…and maybe even recording a song with them!

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Contact

For questions, interviews, or to schedule a visit:

Sebastien Elkouby

sebastienelkouby@gmail.com

310-654-1681

www.SebIsHipHop.com

Will You Accept Trump as Your King?

I believe Trump is meeting with people like Steve Harvey, Jim Brown, Kanye West and Martin Luther King Jr. III (Dr. King’s son) in a desperate attempt to prove to Black people that he’s going to do great things for the community. Of course, this shouldn’t be surprising from someone who gave the trashy gossip site MediaTakeOut.com first dibs unveiling his administration’s vague 10 point plan for Black America. Sadly, probably as a result of these simple PR stunts, many seem to be warming up to to the pussy-grabbing president. Trump will likely end up investing millions into “inner-city” programs which will earn him brownie points from those who were initially skeptical of a Trump presidency. The companies he owns and refuses to divest from will undoubtedly be tasked with rebuilding those inner-cities he regularly refers to as disaster areas with no jobs or education and where people get shot walking to the store. Maybe, he’ll even fulfill the wishes of Dr. King’s son by implementing a voter ID card. This may prove to be just enough to distract his opposition from spending too much time focusing on his many lawsuits and rape accusations while he and his billionaire cabinet members leverage their position of power and influence to negotiate the biggest business deals of their lives. After all, Trump and his team of Exxon/Goldman Sachs/Amway execs are business people first and foremost.

Folks will be so easily impressed with the monetary crumbs Trump is generously giving away that they’ll say things like, “See, he isn’t that bad after all.” Many who voted for him but now regret doing so, either because they’ll lose their health care or because he won’t ever really build that wall, will march in protest and eventually be met with the same abusive police force they so passionately defended when it was only Black bodies being brutalized. All Lives Matter will not be there to stand up for them (because it doesn’t exist) and they’ll just have to “get over it”, the same way they expect Black people to just get over the murders of Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Philando Castille, Rekia Boyd and Tamir Rice. But as the last two years have proven, their xenophobia and racism will trump their own best interest as they eventually help re-elect a man who consistently appeals to their lowest nature by making more empty promises. With four more years to further distract the nation while he and his team continue to strengthen their multinational operations, America will have become the laughing stock of the world. But Trump supporters, blinded by their limited understanding of foreign affairs, geopolitics and world history, won’t even notice how the nation is increasingly isolating itself from the global community. Various wars will continue to be fought across the world for reasons we never really understand, with Russia, China, North Korea and the Middle East always in the news for even more reasons we don’t fully understand, but few will truly worry since it’s happening far, far away from us to evil people who hate us for our freedom.

Twitter, which his kids will have now invested in, will have become an accepted method of communication for an elected official and he’ll continue to attack anyone who dares to disagree with King Trump. After all, this is a man who modeled his New York penthouse after the Palace of Versailles, a level of gaudiness only someone suffering from epic delusions of grandeur would even want to replicate. As always, to exploit and capitalize on the average Joe’s fascination with the bizarre and sordid, A&E or Fox will produce a show that chronicles Trump’s day to day affairs, which will go on to make history as the most watched program in the world. He’ll have lived out his dream of being the star of the most successful reality TV show since the invention of television, feeding into his psychopathic and severely narcissistic hunger for attention. More celebrities will be invited to meet with him and eagerly jump at the chance to rub elbows with a president and TV star. In the meantime, the policies his cabinet will push and the lives they’ll destroy will tear at the fabric of the nation just enough to get people posting about it on social media and through symbolic marching but not enough to pry the masses away from their shiny new iPhone 10, football/basketball/baseball and Keeping Up With the Kardashians Season 128.

White supremacy will have grown exponentially. Hate crimes will be a daily thing. The rich will continue to get richer, the middle class and poor will get poorer and the average person will be left to fend for themselves. By then, HUD Secretary Ben Carson will have resigned after realizing that his inexperience in housing and urban development was strategically exploited to give real-estate-mogul-turned-president Trump’s secret companies first access to construction bids and contracts. Aspiring politicians who are even less qualified for office than Trump and his cronies will have been emboldened by his presidency and anyone with a pulse will campaign for the position. Celebrities, Klan members, Fortune 500 CEO’s and Kanye will jump in the race and billions upon billions of dollars will be spent campaigning while poverty rises more than ever before. Independents and Green Party candidates will once again have been overlooked as they cannot compete with celebrities, lack meaningful resources and struggle to even get 5% of the nation’s support.

The same old, broken two party system will go back and forth for months, using the kind of smear tactics that will make Americans miss simpler times when you still weren’t completely sure whether or not a candidate was racist and threatening to lock up an opponent was just one of those silly things you say during a heated debate in order to gain support from testosterone-crazed fans. Candidates will promise to make America “really great this time” and folks will eat it up and line up to vote for the person who vows to build the tallest walls, fully equipped with weaponized drones at both the Mexican and Canadian borders…because why not. And a wrestler, a D-list actor or the CEO of Corrections Corporation of America will win the election, courtesy of the Electoral College, and America will get mad once again…but not enough for celebrities to turn down a meeting with President-elect David Duke who promises to rebuild the inner-city because 8 years of Trump wasn’t as great as everyone hoped…but we need to give the new guy a chance, because…things will be different this time. Until one day, they no longer need to pacify us with the illusion of choice and the only thing they rebuild in those “dangerous” inner-cities are internment camps designed for anyone who isn’t willing to make America great again, again.

Updates

Check out Take No Prisoners Radio – Real talk on Hip Hop culture and social justice. Hosted by Camille H and Seb, TNPR doesn’t hold back when it comes to tackling current events, racism, corrupt politics, the music industry, wack rappers, and everything in between. If it’s hot in the news or social media, we’re probably talking about it! And in the midst of it all, we play the best new indie and underground Hip Hop. Tune in to the live broadcast every Saturday at noon EST on Orlando’s The Wire 98.5 FM, streaming at www.TheWire985.com, on the TuneIn Radio app, or get TheWire 98.5 app for your iPhone or Android device.
Connect with us:
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Justin Timberlake Isn’t “N’Sync” with Reality

Dear JT,

I’ll make this quick. I’m sure you’re still busy trying to clean up your Twitter mess. If only you would’ve called it a night after kindly complimenting Jesse Williams on his amazing acceptance speech, you’d probably have awakened this morning, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

But the force that is #BlackTwitter was not going to let you ignore the fact that many of the issues Williams brought up in the very speech you congratulated him on are partially about folks like you. The cornrows, overall swagger-jacking, and leaving Janet high and dry when it was convenient instantly come to mind.

Truth is, there isn’t much you could’ve said to justify your history of cultural misappropriation but the condescending tone with which you chose to reply represents everything wrong with this colorblind fairy tale so many “well-meaning white folks” subscribe to. Your response is vomit-inducing.

Oh, wise one, please enlighten us with your superior knowledge of racial equality and justice for all.

GTFOHWTBS!

Your arrogance is out of this world. What planet are you living on? What did Jesse Williams’ speech actually inspire you to do? Whitesplain to Black people how they should feel about race and then shut down the conversation with a dismissive “Bye”? Did you really think you were going to walk away from this exchange unscathed? I’m glad Twitter jumped on your ass with a quickness. And then…

Oh, you sweet soul, feeling misunderstood. So sad. Look here JT, why don’t you go cry a river of white tears to your fans? You have plenty of supporters who undoubtedly feel just as misunderstood as you do. That’s a legion of people from all walks of life, teachers, doctors, lawyers, police officers, and other folks we interact with everyday, who don’t see anything wrong with what you said and use colorblindness as a way to deny/ignore people’s experiences and identities.  You’re right, you probably shouldn’t have responded.

Damn it, Justin! You must’ve been listening to a speech by some other Jesse Williams. The Jesse I heard on the 2016 BET Awards delivered a no-holds barred critique of systemic racism, white supremacy, and cultural appropriation while praising the strength of Black women and the work of community organizers who tirelessly fight against racial inequality. Nowhere did I hear Williams deliver some Kumbaya, we’re-all-the-same, feel-good speech. Yes, we’re all part of the human race and should be living in peace with one another. I know it, Williams knows it, and his mom knows it. But we’re not all living in peace. That’s the problem people like Williams are boldly addressing. You confused a Black Lives Matter message for an All Lives Matter moment and that makes you the type of person Williams was talking about.

To quote the very speech you obviously misunderstood: “If you have a critique for the resistance, for our resistance, then you better have an established record of critique of our oppression. If you have no interest in equal rights for black people, then do not make suggestions to those who do. Sit down.”

– Jesse Williams, BET Awards 2016

I’m glad you decided to stop digging your own grave any further and finally apologized, the same way I’m sure you eventually apologized to Janet, right? But at the end of the day, you’re just an entertainer, no more, no less. I shouldn’t really expect you to be an expert on social justice, institutionalized racism, and every other overlapping issues beyond the scope of your comprehension. I just figured that a white artist who’s established a career as an R&B artist with a significant Black fan based would have learned a thing or two about the very real, ongoing legacy of racism in America.

One thing’s for sure, and I’m sure you’ll agree with my advice, the more you acknowledge how little you understood about Jesse Williams’ speech, the more we can have a conversation.

Bye.

Something Ain’t Right About Bill Clinton Eulogizing Muhammad Ali

When I first came across a Facebook post stating that Bill Clinton would give the eulogy at Muhammad Ali’s funeral, I thought this to be no different than the many other unsubstantiated rumors people tend to mindlessly spread on social media. Surely, the former president of the United States who shamefully admitted his policies contributed to the unjust mass incarceration of countless Black men and women, couldn’t possibly be eulogizing a bigger-than-life icon whose life was dedicated to freedom, justice, and equality for Black people in America and abroad. Sadly, a quick Google search resulted in articles from Time, ABC News, and a dozen other mainstream outlets confirming what initially sounded like a bad joke.

What made Muhammad Ali a true giant wasn’t his undeniable athletic prowess but his unwavering stance against white supremacy and the system that supports it; the very system Clinton and his cronies have always benefited from. How could Clinton, who in 1992 publicly called out artist/author/activist Sister Souljah for boldly speaking out against racial Injustice, eulogize a man whose unapologetic Blackness made him a living legend? How could a man, who just a couple of months ago, attempted to trivialize and silence the voices of Black Life Matters protesters in a disgusting display of unfiltered condescension, simultaneously honor the life of a man who jeopardized his career and heavyweight title to stand up against the same type of systemic oppression those BLM members protested?

Politicians have always been skilled at revising or ignoring facts and history when it suits them. For example: Dr. King’s message has often been hijacked and reinterpreted to fit the agendas of Democrats and Republicans alike, who use his famed but safe “I Have a Dream” speech as a way to paint themselves compassionate and “of the people” when their politics oppose everything King truly stood for. Clinton himself was able to overlook facts and history in order to eulogize Senator Robert Byrd in 2010, a former recruiter for the KKK in the 30’s and 40’s whose alleged regrets about his racist past didn’t stop him from using the n-word on national TV, just nine years before his death. Clinton, a man willing to pay tribute to a former Klan member who also opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the very year Ali won his first heavyweight championship, will soon be doing the same for a former member of the Nation of Islam and one of the world’s most loved freedom fighter.

I understand Clinton and Ali were friends, and according to a family spokesman, this is what the Champ wanted. I appreciate a man’s final wishes being honored and I admit I’m the one with the issue here. The irony of it all leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. A day after Ali’s death, while on the campaign trail with his wife, Clinton shared his thoughts about the passing of his friend. “You want to be better than your publicity, not worse,” Clinton said referring to Ali. Then looking towards Hillary, he stated, “She’s that kind of person. Hillary’s always going to be better than her publicity.”

It’s hard to ignore how absolutely opportunistic this looks. A known slick talker who along with his wife has made a career out of pandering to the Black community whenever necessary isn’t above exploiting a tragedy to help the Clinton brand garner support and Black voters, smack dab during a presidential primary season that could put him back in the White House. How convenient.

You can also read this article at http://raprehab.com/something-aint-right-bill-clinton-eulogizing-muhammad-ali/

Take No Prisoners Radio, Ep # 8 – 6 Reasons Why You’ll Never make it as a Rap Star

On Episode 8, the Take No Prisoners crew shares the “6 Reasons Why You’ll Never Make it as a Rap Star”. Based on an article of the same name written by Seb back in 2013, Camille H and Seb talk their usual trash about why most aspiring rappers will never blow up. Meant to motivate as well as piss off listeners, Seb and Camille tell it like it is..for better or for worse! And as usual, check out new music by Add-2, Finale, Jay Electronica, MF Doom, Rapper Big Pooh, and XL (Sadat X & El Da Sensei. Shout out to our sponsors D1 Athlete (www.d1athl.com)and Art By Teressa King (artbyteressaking.weebly.com)as well as our supporters who have contributed to our Go Fund Me campaign (goo.gl/PAbH4g). Thanks for the support and please share the show on your social media platforms.
@SebIsHipHop on Twitter
@_CamilleH on Twitter
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“6 Reasons Why You’ll Never Make it as a Rap Star”
goo.gl/8qYvEV

Take No Prisoners Radio, Ep. # 7 – Ladies First

Episode # 7 is live as we’re joined by Hip Hop artists Ill Camille, Hip Hop publicist DeeDee Branch, Associate Director of Urban Talent at ASCAP Mir Harris, and 14 year old aspiring rapper Page Stevenson. This all-women panel discusses everything from Hip Hop culture and the music business to community activism and social justice. They went deep, spoke truth, and had fun doing it! Also, check out new music by Ill Camille, Akua Naru ft. Dynasty & Sa-Roc, Priest, and Sean Price(RIP). And don’t miss our young MC who spits a dope verse over a classic beat. As always, you can contact both hosts on Twitter at @SebIsHipHop and @ or on InstaGram @TakeNoPrisonersRadio. Spread the word!

Take No Prisoners Radio Fundraiser

Take No Prisoners Radio is a monthly podcast about Hip Hop culture and social justice. Recorded at the Home Grown Radio studios in Inglewood, CA, and hosted by Camille H and Seb, TNP Radio doesn’t hold back when it comes to tackling the music industry, Hip Hop, current events, racism, corrupt politics, wack rappers, and everything in between. If it’s hot in the news or social media, TNP Radio is probably talking about it! And in the midst of it all, TNP Radio plays the best in new Hip Hop. Past guests include Paul Porter, founder of RapRehab and former BET program director, legendary Hip Hop artist Masta Ace, and Ferguson community activist B-Gyrl.

But the show isn’t free to produce. While we have had sponsors to cover the cost of studio time, it’s difficult to find reliable sponsors who can advertise month after month. This is where you come in! If you value thought-provoking discussions about Hip Hop culture and the state of the world, we need your help.  Your donations, small or large, will help us keep the show going, whether or not we get sponsors every episode. Anything from $5 to a million (doesn’t hurt to aim high!!) will allow TNP Radio to continue giving listeners what they’ve come to expect: unapologetic social commentary, humor, and dope Hip Hop music!

All donors will be shouted out on the show (unless they choose to remain anonymous) and will contribute to keeping independent media alive and free from corporate dollars. 

DONATE HERE: www.gofundme.com/tnpradio

WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

Listen to past shows here:

 

Have Outside Forces Hijacked the Movement for Social Justice?

In this exclusive episode, B-Gyrl, Hip Hop activist and founder of HandsUpDontShoot.com reveals how the movement for social justice, from Ferguson to Baltimore, was exploited and co-opted by outside forces. During the first part of the show, she describes the tension in the streets of Ferguson the first few hours following Mike Brown’s murder. B-Gyrl then shares insight into how this grassroots movement against police abuse is being hijacked and funded by wealthy donors and special interest groups in order to shift the movement’s original goals. This is a revealing discussion that explores who the key players are and what they aim to gain from destabilizing the movement. Think mainstream media’s been telling you the truth? Think again! This show is so jam-packed with information we didn’t play any music this time around. So find a quiet place to yourself and tune in for almost 90 minutes of eye-opening information.
Feel free to share your thoughts with the hosts via Twitter at @SebIsHipHop and @_CamilleH.

Take No Prisoners Radio # 5 with Masta Ace

Episode # 5 is on fire as Camille and Seb discuss Baltimore, civil unrest, institutionalized racism, and Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. Iconic Hip Hop artist Masta Ace also joins Take No Prisoners Radio to talk about his journey in the rap game, his classic verse on the Symphony, his impact on the culture, and his latest album with EMC. Also, check out new music by Smoothe Da Hustler, Rapsody, Oddisee, Bad Lucc and EMC. Special shout out to sponsors: RapRehab, Makena Electric, Platformz and Maseed Productions. Feel free to share your thoughts with the hosts via Twitter at @SebIsHipHop and @_CamilleH. Don’t forget to share this episode! Peace.