Russell Simmons at Ferebee Hope Community Charter School

Many celebrities talk about giving back to the community but you never see them or the works they claim to do.
Well, Russell Simmons is really walking the walk.
He walked into Ferebee Hope Charter School in SE Washington DC with little to no security. He walked around stopping in class rooms to speak to students before settling into the library to speak to a group of parents and teachers about meditation & financial literacy.  Initially, I was like “Oookay, what in the heck do meditation and money have to do with each other?” but as soon as he begun to speak it made total sense. He started off saying how he would like to see meditation in schools and that he was on the advisory board for Community In Schools Charter Schools. He believes that teaching children abundance will enable then to achieve more in life and that if children “believe they have everything they will be able to get anything”. This really struck because we so often act from a place of not only lack but starvation. Our children see things on television and when they can’t get them they immediately whine and cry about how so and so has this toy and object and why can’t they have it?  But as Russell  was saying if we teach our children to be grateful for what we have and how blessed we really are then they will be happy and operating from a happy place is what brings wealth.
I know this all sounds a little kooky to some folks, but honestly what miserable unhappy person do you know that has achieved real success? I personally don’t know any.
Russell’s short but timely talk was very inspirational and motivating. It was good to see him reaching out to the community and promoting change in real, tangible ways.

Russell Simmons is a fashion and music icon and the author of the book; Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

Mos Def is hands down one of the best hip hop artist of our time. His first release with Talib Kweli under the group name Black Star was packed with soulful jazzy beats and poetic lyrics it quickly became an instant classic. Years later, Mos Def dropped his first solo album, Black on Both Sides which was just s good if not better than the Black Star album. Mos Def is known for touching on spiritual and political issues with deep sympathy and humor. In addition to being a hip hop genius he has bona fide acting and vocal skills. The boy got talent! So, when I heard about him performing at the Kennedy Center with a full orchestra my emotions went from shock to pure delight. It's about time Mos Def got recognized for what he is; an amazing artist.

Catch Mos Def at The Kennedy Center September 21, 2008 at 7PM.
I know this show is months away, but trust me you want to get your tickets as soon as possible!
Tickets range from $20-$50.
For more info and to buy tickets visit www.kennedy-center.org

The Street Phenomenon

I’m sure many of you have heard about or seen the hip hop exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery. I went to go see it and heard David Scheinbaum speak about his photography and his personal experiences with hip hop, and how he was so surprised at the love that he received in the hip hop community, blah, blah, blah. As a self proclaimed hip hop head, I can’t say I was impressed with the exhibit or Scheinbaum. The exhibit seemed a little patronizing. Hip hop has been around for years; it’s one of the most influential art forms in the modern world. Music, dance and visual art have all been affected by hip hop in some way shape or form. So, I don’t get this new fascination with it or everyones late recognition of it, hip hop and urban art has been around for over twenty five years!

The Washington Project for the Arts is hosting a talk at the Katzen Arts Center with Sara and Marc Schiller discussing the influence of “street art” on the modern art movement. They are also giving a visual lecture on graffiti. No, they're not graffiti artist, Sara works in real estate and Marc does digital marketing. They're the creators of the Wooster Collective; a site “dedicated to showcasing and celebrating ephemeral art placed on streets in cities around the world.”

Ya’ know shit like this doesn’t make me think “street art” or urban art has arrived, it makes me nausea. Yet another art form that is sacred to the artists that make it is being exploited, being pimped harder than one of Goldie’s hoe’s to the mass media.

I am interested to see what you, dear reader, think about all the commercial recognition that hip hop and urban art is getting. Email your comments to ChocolateMilkDC@gmail.com

Little Brother @ The Black Cat

Phonte and Big Pooh of Little Brother bring you back to a simpler time in hip hop, before gold diggers were getting down and murder music. The North Carolina natives debuted their first album, The Listening in 2003 after touring the underground North Carolina hip hop circuit before that they released a prior single in 2001 entitled, Speed. Little Brother originally consisted of three member; Big Pooh, Phonte, and 9^th Wonder, however 9^th Wonder did not participate on Little Brother’s latest release, Get Back. Even though the group is short a member they do not fall short on conscious lyrics and jazzy beats.

See Little Brother perform at The Black Cat Saturday December 1, 2007, along with Evidence (of Dilated Peoples), and Reef the Lost Cause.

Walk for J Dilla (Jay Dee)

James Dewitt Yancey better known as, JDilla embodied and pretty much created the sound that we call "neo-soul". Whether you like neo soul or not you can't deny J Dilla's impact on music. He made beats, produced songs and albums for some of the biggest names in hip-hop and soul such as; Erykah Badu, Kanye West, Pharrell and so many others. He died an untimely death at the age of 32 from complications of a rare blood disease. Prior to his death he was also diagnosed with Lupus.

Join the Walk for Dilla (J Dilla Project) to support doctors and researchers find a cure for Lupus.

November, 3 2007 WALK FOR DILLA (Lupus Charity)

National Mall, Washington DC

Check in begins at 9:00 a.m. Walk begins at 10:00 a.m. Rain or Shine.

Distance: 5k (3.1 miles).

For more information visit the JDilla Project