bronx – Street Line Video

A Beacon of Hope in the Bronx: Madeline “Maddie” Marinez’s Selfless Mission

In the heart of the Bronx, where the streets are lined with resilience and determination, Madeline “Maddie” Marinez has dedicated her life to serving the city’s most vulnerable population. As the founder of BOOTS ON GROUND, Maddie, as she’s affectionately known, has made it her mission to feed, clothe, and uplift the homeless and those struggling with substance use disorder.

Every Saturday, Maddie and her team – which includes her two daughters and a group of dedicated volunteers – set up tables on the corner of 149th Street and 3rd Avenue, transforming a bustling street corner into a haven of hope. With their own resources and the generosity of donors, they provide hot breakfast, clothes, hygiene items, and shoes to those in need.

But BOOTS ON GROUND is more than just a charity; it’s a lifeline. Maddie and her team go beyond the basics, offering resources and support for substance use treatment, housing, and employment. It’s a holistic approach that addresses the complex needs of the community, and it’s making a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most.

Maddie’s passion is palpable, and her love for the people she serves is evident in everything she does. “I love the work that I do here,” she says with conviction. “These are my people. I love them all.”

In a world where it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of social issues, Madeline Marinez is a shining example of what can be accomplished with compassion, determination, and a willingness to get her hands dirty. She’s a true pillar of the community, and her work is a testament to the power of grassroots activism and community-driven change.

A Beacon of Hope in the Bronx: Madeline “Maddie” Marinez’s Selfless Mission

Reynaldo “Rey Rey” Cordero Jr. – The Rising Star

Reynaldo “Rey Rey” Cordero Jr., a seven-year-old Bronx native, is set to make his mark in the entertainment industry by starring in the upcoming comedy/horror movie “The Legend of Johnnie Shepherd.” This film, written and produced by Director Vera Edwards, is scheduled to start shooting in the summer of 2024 and is expected to be released in 2025.

A Peek into Reynaldo’s World

In a recent interview, Reynaldo shared his thoughts on the project, revealing his fears of ghosts and zombies. Despite these fears, he expressed his determination to overcome them by immersing himself in the horror story. Reynaldo’s courage and enthusiasm for taking on this challenging role at such a young age are truly commendable.

From Child Model to Movie Star

Rey Rey has already made a name for himself as a child model, often seen sporting hip-hop clothing that represents his beloved city of the Bronx, New York. His vibrant personality and unique style have caught the attention of many, paving the way for his transition from modeling to acting.

The Legend of Johnnie Shepherd: A Bronx Tale

Set in the Bronx, “The Legend of Johnnie Shepherd” promises viewers a thrilling experience filled with unexpected twists, laughter, screams, and an underlying positive message. The film’s local setting adds an authentic touch to the storyline, making it relatable to audiences familiar with the vibrant culture of the Bronx.

Conclusion

Reynaldo “Rey Rey” Cordero Jr.’s journey from child model to budding movie star is a testament to his talent and determination. As he prepares to take on his first major acting role in “The Legend of Johnnie Shepherd,” audiences can look forward to witnessing his growth and potential unfold on the big screen.

Director Vera Edwards honored with Citation

Vera Edwards (March 4, 1966) is an American director, screenwriter, producer, and actor. Born and raised in the South Bronx, New York City, Edwards began her career as an author and then graduated to write, direct, and produce television shows on a cable channel called Bronxnet. The show was titled “Street Line.” It was an entertainment show that not only showed what was happening in the streets, but showed celebrities as well as up-and-coming artists, dance, hip-hop, businesses, current events, and politics. The show revolutionized the urban community. In 2009, Edwards and her son Ricardo Cordero (director of photography) received several Beta Awards for their contributions to television.

In 2011 Edwards published her first book titled “BAND OF GOLD,” which was written by Vera Edwards herself. This was the start of her writing career which jumped started her in the direction of making movies.

One of the first female independent multimedia film director and producer in the Bronx, Edwards has captured the essence of urban life by utilizing members of the community by taking real-life experience and turning it into art. She has become a true pioneer in hip-hop culture and urban day living.

Edwards wrote, produced, and directed with her son Ricardo Cordero her first underground independent feature film, Chicken (2013); The film was an urban drama. The entire cast was first-time actors. The film received worldwide praise from parents, children, teens, and several educational institutions ranging from different fields of study that implemented different story elements into their own syllabuses. It was a scripted reality show at its finest. Chicken showcased unfortunate realism that many individuals face in urban communities even to this day. The movie Chicken sold-out not only at the theaters but also sold out as DVDs in stores. It became one of the most sought out underground urban movies till this day.

Her second film was a romantic love story titled “Waiting for 4 Mr. Wright” (2015), which won a Bronxnet Beta Award. It too had first-time actors, Anabel Castillo, and Hip-Hop artist, Mighty Mike C (Michael Clee), from the legendary hip-hop group, The Fearless 4. The film received a standing ovation which was played at the iconic Mist Theater in Harlem, New York; It also was a DVD hit.

This was followed in 2015 by Edwards’s first novella “Perate,” a movie drama that starred Artie Cordel and hip-hop legend Wilfredo “Tito” Dones, of the legendary group The Fearless 4. It was a challenge for Edwards to write and produce the life of a Hispanic dysfunctional family. Her daughter Bobbi Cordero(writer) helped create the movie, which won Edwards another Beta Award. The movie Perate also played in the iconic Mist Theater in Harlem, New York City.

In 2015-2018, Edwards directed her first web series that started out as a small pitch that led to a bigger series of its own name and a powerful relationship drama, “Rodent,” starring Seven and Antoinette “Toni Styles” Vereen. This was a drama that identified with personal relationships amongst friends and family. The web series had twists and turns. Rodent was in high demand on the internet but ended abruptly because of ‘unsettling’ events created only amongst actors based off their newfound popularity that was developed from the success of the Rodent series.

In 2016, Edwards produced and directed “PPRESSED,” based on the everyday life of battle rappers. The movie starred Karine “Sho-Time” Thornton and Michael Deering (Mikey D) from the legendary group, “Main Source.” Since its success and debut, it has become the anthem and blueprint of videography used in today’s hip-hop rap culture within television and feature digital movie format.

Edwards wrote, produced, and directed “A Teenage Story” (2020) starring LA Sunshine (Lamar Hill), from the legendary group The Treacherous 3, DJ and creator of scratch, Grandwizard Theodore (Theodore Livingston), Stevie D (Stevie Lundy), from the legendary Force Mds and first-time actor Justin Hines. The movie was shot during the COVID pandemic and was set for the theaters, but due to the worldwide COVID restriction lock-downs, the 1:49-minute movie was released on YouTube and generated over 800,000 views.

When asked in a recent interview on the podcast “SHO-TIME TV PODCAST,” the interviewer asked Edwards “How were you able to create so many hit movies in such a short time,” Edwards replied” I couldn’t have done it without my son Ricardo Cordero. He is an excellent cameraman. He and I work great together, I know him, and he knows me. He knows my vision. I leave all the camera work to him, and he makes it happen. I think he is the best director of photography I know. To be able to create and share time as a mother and son is priceless. I enjoy those moments”.

On March 26, 2023, Edwards was honored with a Citation by Senator Cordell Cleare for her work with the community as a Film director.

Reflections of Hip Hop

When Hip Hop was born I was only 6 years old living in Marlboro projects in Brooklyn New York. As I got older, I would write rhymes and perform at the skating rink. When I was feeling down I could always count on Hip Hop to lift me up. I would go to all the shows and sneak backstage to meet my favorite artists. In Brooklyn, In the 70’s we we’re listening to James Brown, MFSB, Chic, and other soulful artists before Rappers Delight hit the world by storm in 79′. After that it quickly became a “Domino effect“, everybody wanted in. The rest is history. The first Hip Hop song I fell in love with was Planet Rock, I got lost in those drums. I played it over and over and my mom use to scream at me “Iris, turn that sh** down!!!!” I remember like it was yesterday. The first years of Hip Hop were the best years of my life with park jams, skate jams and parties. Hip Hop brought everyone together and formed a bond that can never be broken. After 44 years Hip Hop is still in my blood and always will be. I can go on and on but I’ll leave it as “Long Live Hip Hop!!!!”

Jadakiss takes over the Bronx

“SummerStage”? Well, over 7,000 park goers and residents from the Bronx can. Sunday, August 6th, 2017 in Tremont park in the Bronx, the weather was mellow, the people was eager. Originally, the concert was suppose to take place in Crotona park at the Amphitheatre in the Bronx, but was moved to a bigger stage a few blocks down the street. Signs were posted “Jadakiss concert moved to Tremont west Crotona park.” People scurried and packed up their chairs and ran over to the other side of the park.

It was old timers day and everybody was there – old, young, family and friends. This was the day every year when people got together from different states or different boroughs. They came from everywhere just to see one another. Crotona park was packed. At 4pm, park goers got the word that the Jadakiss concert was being moved to the Tremont. Why? The Amphitheatre that was going to hold the concert wasn’t big enough to handle the massive crowd. It was already 4pm on the west side of Tremont of Crotona park – a packed crowd of about 5,000 was already there. Jadakiss was not even on stage so it made sense that they moved the concert to the other side of the park especially with all the cookouts and parties that was happening on the other side of Crotona Park. The crowd was still gathering, the DJ spun music for the crowd to dance and cheer to the music. The concert started a little after 6pm. A 14 year old rapper from the Bronx took the stage and turned the crowd on. He was the opening act. Now, the crowd needed some exercise – a local workout group call Bartendaz came on stage to explain how important physical fitness was.

Jadakiss got on stage and the crowd went wild. The rapper brung out his special guest to perform BlackJunior M.A.F.I.A performed some of his greatest hits. The mini concert was like being at Madison Square Garden. Jadakiss began performing his top hits. The crowd rapped along with him. This was a great day for the Bronx Thanks to SummerStage.

Meet Director/Producer Rich McKeown

Meet Director Rich McKeown, a film producer from the Bronx. Mr. McKeown was selected to show his film,“American BeatBoxer“, at the 2017 Hip Hop Film Festival in Harlem. The movie is mainly about the art of beat boxing and its importance in Hip Hop. Mr. McKeown explains shooting and creating content has always been his passion. He recorded the movie on a budget of none – guerrilla style was the way to shoot his film. It help capture the true essence of Hip Hop and its creativity that has impacted people all over the world. Using two video cameras and the rest DSLR, McKeown managed to get the 88 minute movie accomplished with the help of local rappers with guest appearances by Legendary Hip Hop Icon MC Jarobi White from “A Tribe Called Quest“ with other guest appearances from other Hip Hop icons help make the movie become authentic. McKeown, also being a musician, created the soundtrack by using royalty free music and, of course, his own personal talent.

As of now, Director McKeown is looking to pitch his movie as a reality show. His movie, “American BeatBoxer“, can be viewed on the urban movie channel.

Hip Hop Film Festival 2016 🏆

I’m still completely amazed and lost for words about the hip hop film festival that took place in Harlem at the National Black Theatre yesterday. So many people were there, so many things I’ve heard and learned and so much has happened to the point where it’s almost a blur and a rush. It felt like I blinked my eyes once and I was there and blink again, I was back at home in the Bronx. It felt like a Cinderella story except a hip hop version where I was home all the time with ambitions and crazy big dreams of doing things for the hip hop community and when I finally got that chance too, I was decked out in the flyest b-boy, 80’s hip hop gear and then BOOM, I’m back home, it never happened. The part about the location sounds like I’m just repeating myself after doing interviews with people yesterday too. LOL! So I get there and automatically fell in love with the place because of it’s hip hop aura, vibe and spirit. It was almost like being backstage at the years biggest hip hop awards and I was V.I.P. I continue to scope out the place and get used to it more and I was completely scared and nervous but I played it off. The very first person I interviewed was the lovely Ms. Dedra Tate. I don’t really remember everyone’s position there at the film festival because everything happened so fast but she knew it was my first time, she knew I was a little nervous and she made me feel really comfortable. I also interviewed another nice lady whose name I forgot and then Ms. Lisa Cortes, she’s the woman behind movies like “Precious.” She also made me feel comfortable and she even gave me advice about how to interview people. I felt loved, I felt like everyone was planting these seeds in me that would eventually make me as big as them someday. I felt important to be in a space about my true love, HIP HOP. Then there are the panels. The panels are when they discuss all types of projects like movies and documentaries and the people who were involved tell us the people who are there what they’re experiences was like and how did their ideas come about to making these things happen. People like filmmakers, actors, Ralph McDaniels, Do It All Du from the legendary hip hop group Lords of the Underground, and even Monifah was there as a surprise for one panel. Out of all the people I met, I was mostly excited about Monifah and Ralph McDaniels because I grew on Monifah’s music, especially her first two albums, the classic “Moods… Moments” in 1996 and her sophomore album in 1998, “Mo’hogany.” I just remember my mom playing her songs “You”, “You Don’t Have to Love Me”, and my all time favorite “It’s Alright” but I always bothered my sister with the song “Peaches & Cream” from her underrated 2000 album “Home.” Before I could meet Ralph McDaniels for the second time, he was already gone. I wasn’t upset about it because I knew for sure I was gonna come across this man again sometime. I almost forgot to mention that I met the lovely MC Debbie D from the “Beat Street” movie, one of my all time favorite movies. After being underneath that freezing cold air conditioner all day, had a good bite to eat at Applebee’s and then went back home. I originally went to meet the legendary Roxanne Shanté but I went home, I was tired. To have an experience like this makes me even more and more appreciative about hip hop and it also made me open my eyes to the fact that hip hop comes in many different forms, not that I didn’t know that already but still. There’s conscious rap, party/happy rap, trap rap, there’s ratchet stuff too and I realize that even though certain types of rap music is not for me, it’s something that others appreciate and we can’t talk down on others for liking what they like. After all, hip hop is about having fun but it’s also a political statement, a Scarface movie and a ratchet thing too.

Written by Jay- Dogs