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West Coast Hip-Hop Unites at the Welcome to the West Festival

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The festival celebrated its illustrious artists while also highlighting the up-and-coming. Rap artist, Dom Kennedy, has been making waves on the west coast since he debuted in 2008 with the mix tape “25th Hour.” Kennedy stated by virtue of HipHopDX: “If anything, and I can only speak for myself, I think that I’m trying to do it like DJ Quik did it, or Ice Cube did it, but this is just my way of doing it therefore I guess it’s natural. But I’m not trying to do anything, you know, different or to say, ‘This is new.’… I set out to do it the way they did it, just in my own way.”

Published

5 years ago

October 4, 2019

Oakland Post

Cobby Supreme (Left), Jroc (Middle), J-stone (Right) Pay Tribute To The Late Nipsey Hussle. All Money In! (Photo by: Bertram Keller | L.A. Sentinel)

By Bertram Keller

Saturday night, September 20, the 2nd annual Welcome to the West Festival showcased among the most outstanding west coast artists to date. The festival united established legends and new-era contemporaries; such as, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, G Perico, Joe Moses, J-Stone, Dom Kennedy, Suga Free, DJ Quik, Roddy Ricch, Ice Cube and many more.

West Coast Hip Hop patrons materialized at the grandiose Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA. The jubilant audience gathered in support of the music that represents the region’s opulent style.

The festival celebrated its illustrious artists while also highlighting the up-and-coming. Rap artist, Dom Kennedy, has been making waves on the west coast since he debuted in 2008 with the mix tape “25th Hour.” Kennedy stated by virtue of HipHopDX: “If anything, and I can only speak for myself, I think that I’m trying to do it like DJ Quik did it, or Ice Cube did it, but this is just my way of doing it therefore I guess it’s natural. But I’m not trying to do anything, you know, different or to say, ‘This is new.’… I set out to do it the way they did it, just in my own way.”

Dom Kennedy Donned All Money In Shirt In Honor Of The Late Nipsey Hussle. (Photo by: Bertram Keller | L.A. Sentinel)

The difficulty of career longevity within the Hip-Hop industry is quite common; aside from Kennedy’s mentioned west coast predecessors, Ice Cube and DJ Quik, among a few others lasting success has been unprecedented. In this way, up-and-coming west coast artists have much potential to learn from the blueprint of previous generations, in which is justifiable to celebrate new-era acts along with their genres predecessors.

After the untimely death of the legendary artist Tupac Shakur, many have associated the West Coast Hip-Hop climate as incapable of uniting, in which has incited a forlorn battle that points to a history of gang violence. Last year, the 2018 Welcome to the West Festival’s headliner was the late Nipsey Hussle. Tragically, in late March 2019, the prolific artist was shot and killed in the parking lot of his store, Marathon Clothing located in South Central LA.

He was the deplorable victim of a senseless act of violence; however, Nipsey leaves a legacy as being one of the first West Coast artists to advocate against gang violence. He is commonly recognized as the first crip-gang affiliated artist to willingly produce music with rival gang affiliated artists. Allocating his personal aspirations to inspire unity throughout Los Angeles, Nipsey’s contagious entrepreneurial spirit, and his continuous incite for Black-owned businesses, continues to inspire posthumously.

Spectators and performers alike could feel the energy in the building. At the time of entrance, the building was filled with smiles and an essence of kinship; safe to say, everyone was there for the music.

Nipsey’s untimely death was certainly felt by each of the performers Saturday night. Performers were certainly mindful of the festival’s significance, in which every performer shouted out variations of “R.I.P Nipsey Hussle!” or “Let’s do it one time for Nip!” Subsequently, the crowd reciprocated the energy in the room chanting ‘Nipsey!’ to commemorate his prolific life.

Notable performers included long-time friend and Nipsey Hussle’s All Money In label-mate J-Stone, who took the stage wearing a symbolic blue bandana around his forehead; further, performing his tribute song entitled, “The Marathon Continues,” along with several other songs he wrote with Nipsey. The beginning of the song features a sound bite of Nipsey and Stone celebrating the release of Nipsey’s only studio album “Victory Lap.”

Ice Cube Rocks Raucus Crowd (Photo by: (Bertram Keller | L.A. Sentinel)

Festival Disc Jockey, DJ VIP, guided fans through the experience shouting, “Let’s honor a legend, my man Nipsey Hussle!” Followed by various visuals of Nipsey’s cycled on the arena’s giant-screen. In tribute, fans stood in the audience for the duration of the segment while DJ VIP played Nipsey’s most celebrated songs, including “Grinding All My Life,” “Checc Me Out,” and “Rap N******” as spectators recited the lyrics in unison.

Introduced as “legends in the building,” Bone Thugs-N-Harmony gave a classic performance, kicking off with “East 1999.” During their set, family and friends lined the stage as Wish Bone did most of the speaking and MC duties. The groups set close out with “Tha Crossroads,” and the group led the audience in a “Real, Hip Hop” chant, reminding attendance of the night’s purpose.

The stage was then cleared to welcome the headliner Ice Cube, who was accompanied by long-time hype man and friend, WC of the Westside Connection; both dressed in similar khakis suit attire. As the crowd simmered with anticipation, a raucous “Ice Cube” chant echoed throughout the arena. Cube rushed to the stage performing “That New Funkadelik.” And went to perform favorites like “Bop Gun (One Nation),” “You Know How We Do It,” and ultimately closing out the night with “It Was A Good Day,” before shouting-out Nipsey one final time.

The Welcome to the West Festival enabled various artists from the same region to demonstrate possible awe-inspiring moments of unity through music, in which many new milestones were commemorated for new west coast artists. Creating an incredibly intimate setting for a sold out show, which may one day be remembered as a historic moment for the West Coast.

This article originally appeared in The Los Angeles Sentinel.

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IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, activist Ramona Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.
The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Once upon a time, Black Americans were simply known as colored people, or Negroes. That is until Ramona Edelin came along. The activist, renowned for her pivotal roles in advancing civil rights, education reform, and community empowerment, died at her D.C. residence last month at the age of 78. Her death, finally confirmed this week by Barnaby Towns, a communications strategist who collaborated with Dr. Edelin, was attributed to cancer.

Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.

Edelin’s contributions to academia and activism were manifold. She was pivotal in popularizing the term “African American” alongside Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in the late 1980s.

Jackson had announced the preference for “African American,” speaking for summit organizers that included Dr. Edelin. “Just as we were called Colored, but were not that, and then Negro, but not that, to be called Black is just as baseless,” he said, adding that “African American” “has cultural integrity” and “puts us in our proper historical context.”

Later, Edelin told Ebony magazine, “Calling ourselves African Americans is the first step in the cultural offensive,” while linking the name change to a “cultural renaissance” in which Black Americans reconnected with their history and heritage.

“Who are we if we don’t acknowledge our motherland?” she asked later. “When a child in a ghetto calls himself African American, immediately he’s international. You’ve taken him from the ghetto and put him on the globe.”

The HistoryMakers bio noted that Edelin’s academic pursuits led her to found and chair the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University, where she established herself as a leading voice.

Transitioning from academia to advocacy, Edelin joined the National Urban Coalition in 1977, eventually ascending to president and CEO. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives such as the “Say Yes to a Youngster’s Future” program, which provided crucial support in math, science, and technology to youth and teachers of color in urban areas. Her biography noted that Edelin’s efforts extended nationwide through partnerships with organizations like the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education.

President Bill Clinton recognized Edelin’s expertise by appointing her to the Presidential Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1998. She also co-founded and served as treasurer of the Black Leadership Forum, solidifying her standing as a respected leader in African American communities.

Beyond her professional achievements, Edelin dedicated herself to numerous boards and committees, including chairing the District of Columbia Educational Goals 2000 Panel and contributing to the Federal Advisory Committee for the Black Community Crusade for Children.

Throughout her life, Edelin received widespread recognition for her contributions. Ebony magazine honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans, and she received prestigious awards such as the Southern Christian Leadership Award for Progressive Leadership and the IBM Community Executive Program Award.

The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

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Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.
The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Tennessee State University (TSU), the state’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU), faces a tumultuous future as Gov. Bill Lee dissolved its board, a move supported by racist conservatives and MAGA Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly, who follow the lead of the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, alleged sexual predator former President Donald Trump. Educators and others have denounced the move as an attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and a grave setback for higher education.

Critics argue that TSU’s purported financial mismanagement is a manufactured crisis rooted in decades of underinvestment by the state government. They’ve noted that it continues a trend by conservatives and the racist MAGA movement to eliminate opportunities for Blacks in education, corporate America, and the public sector.

Gevin Reynolds, a former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizes in an op-ed that TSU’s financial difficulties are not the result of university leadership because a recent audit found no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.

Reynolds noted that the disbanding of TSU’s board is not an isolated incident but part of a broader assault on DE&I initiatives nationwide. Ten states, including Tennessee, have enacted laws banning DE&I policies on college campuses, while governors appointing MAGA loyalists to university trustee positions further undermine efforts to promote inclusivity and equality.

Moreover, recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.

The actions echo historical efforts to suppress Black progress, reminiscent of the violent backlash against gains made during the Reconstruction era. President Joe Biden warned during an appearance in New York last month that Trump desires to bring the nation back to the 18th and 19th centuries – in other words, to see, among other things, African Americans back in the chains of slavery, women subservient to men without any say over their bodies, and all voting rights restricted to white men.

The parallels are stark, with white supremacist ideologies used to justify attacks on Black institutions and disenfranchise marginalized communities, Reynolds argued.

In response to these challenges, advocates stress the urgency of collective action to defend democracy and combat systemic racism. Understanding that attacks on institutions like TSU are symptomatic of broader threats to democratic norms, they call for increased civic engagement and voting at all levels of government.

The actions of people dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusivity, equity, and justice for all will determine the outcome of the ongoing fight for democracy, Reynolds noted. “We are in a war for our democracy, one whose outcome will be determined by every line on every ballot at every precinct,” he stated.

The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

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Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy

May 24, 2023 – Walker West Music Academy gets an early start on expansion. Join us for a Wednesday episode of The …
The post Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.