Entertainment
Celebrating Women in GoGo
THE AFRO — The live performance review and GoGo honorarium, “The First Ladies of GoGo,” took place Sept. 19 on the rooftop of Eaton Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. Featuring female pioneers in the GoGo music genre, the event was one of many GoGo themed events put up this year by music activist group “DontMuteDC.”
By Nyame-kye Kondo
The live performance review and GoGo honorarium, “The First Ladies of GoGo,” took place Sept. 19 on the rooftop of Eaton Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. Featuring female pioneers in the GoGo music genre, the event was one of many GoGo themed events put up this year by music activist group “DontMuteDC.”
Backed by the GoGo band Sirius and Company for the entirety of the night, “The First Ladies of GoGo” featured live performances by a handful of important female singers within the genre, including a rousing performance by Chrystian B, of GoGo band TCB, who sang a medley of ballads by D.C. native Ari Lennox. GoGo pioneer, Maiesha Rashad, lead singer of 90’s GoGo band Maiesha and the Hip-huggers was honored for the role she played in carving out a space for women in a male-dominated genre, where there had been none. The Hip-huggers started out as an old school cover band comprised of the legendary Sugarbear, Ju Ju House, and Sweet Cherie Mitchell.
Providing middle aged GoGo lovers with an outlet, and women with a new voice, Rashad was affectionately titled, “First Lady of GoGo,” and the GoGo subgenre she and her band created was called “Grown and Sexy.”
Sitting at the front of the stage, Rashad jammed to the performances and humbly accepted her praise.
KK Baby, the daughter of Chuck Brown, and one of the current members of “The Chuck Brown Band’ performed her fathers 2006 hit, “Chuck Baby” all the while memorializing Lil Benny, of Little Benny and The Masters. Continuously uttering the refrain “We still cranking,” KK Baby, made it a point to talk about Rashad bringing her feminine energy to the often times misogynistic Go-Go scene. “I appreciate your courage, your example, your feminine energy you brought to Go-Go culture,” KK Baby said.
Recently undergoing knee replacement surgery, and having limited mobility as a result, Rashad performed a brief but lively snippet of her band’s rendition of The Jackson Five’s, “I want you back.”
Facing the audience, her bright, red hair shining vibrantly before the audience, Rashad’s voice resonated raspy and strong as she used call and response on the audience, “D.C, I want you back! Lil Benny, I want you back!, Chuck Brown, I want you back!”
This article originally appeared in The Afro.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of May 22 – 28, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May May 22 – 28, 2024
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Arts and Culture
Third Annual Town Up Tuesday Lifts Oakland’s Community, Culture and Joy
Urban Peace Movement announced Town Up Tuesday, a free community music and social awareness festival dedicated to the people of Oakland to celebrate Bay Area culture and create safety by fostering connection and belonging. It will be on Tuesday, May 21, at Edoff Memorial Bandstand at Lake Merritt from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
By Kyung Jin Lee
Urban Peace Movement announced Town Up Tuesday, a free community music and social awareness festival dedicated to the people of Oakland to celebrate Bay Area culture and create safety by fostering connection and belonging.
It will be on Tuesday, May 21, at Edoff Memorial Bandstand at Lake Merritt from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The event will feature local Bay Area legends and rising stars home-grown talent that will include 10 performers: 1100 Himself, The Conscious Daughters, Michael Sneed, Trunk Boiz, 3LISE, The Animaniakz and Ms. Bria.
Too $hort is a special guest and there will also be a surprise legendary Oakland artist. The two DJs are Emelle & Dahge, and the two hosts are Dnas and Mystic.
Past performers have included: Kamaiyah, Yukmouth, Stunnaman02, Symba, Lil Kayla, Grand Nationxl, Jane Handcock, and D Smoke, among others.
“Oakland is a historically Black city and one of the most diverse and progressive in the country — a city rich with culture,” said Nicole Lee, executive director of the Urban Peace Movement.
“At a time when we are being scapegoated for political gain and negative narratives of Oakland permeate the press, we’re uplifting who we truly are and all the things that make this region so special.”
About Urban Peace Movement: Urban Peace Movement (UPM) is a racial justice organization working to end mass incarceration and the criminalization of Black and Brown communities in Oakland. https://urbanpeacemovement.org/ @urbanpeace510
Kyung Jin Lee is the media representative for the Urban Peace Movement.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of May 15 – 21, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May May 15 – 21, 2024
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