STREET LINE VIDEO – Page 3 – Street Line Video

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.

Panorama Music Festival 2017: A Tribe Called Quest

Yesterday, I was fortunate to have experienced yet another great show. It was the show I’ve been waiting to attend for a while now and I finally got that. For about two years now, I’ve been a heavy A Tribe Called Quest fan and I got the chance to meet them exactly two years ago at a clothing shop downtown. Then, unfortunately, Phife Dawg passed away eight months after I met them and it was very devastating and hard for me, then there was the memorial for Phife a month after that, then there was the street name dedication for Phife and the pop up shop last year in November. Attending all of these things have led up to finally seeing them live on stage, thanks a good friend of mine who had an extra wristband for me to go. I feel dumb now having doubts about going now thinking that the place was too far for me to go but I’m absolutely grateful and thankful to have one of my biggest dreams come true. At the Panorama Music Festival 2017 yesterday, there were people everywhere, food, concession stands, restrooms on wheels, loud music and of course the fans. Fans came out there, including me and my friend, representing with our gear on. A Tribe Called Quest didn’t come out until 7:30 that evening. When they finally came out, the crowd went crazy. It was Q-Tip, Jarobi, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Consequence. Song after song, classic after classic, these guys were amazing. It was a dream come true for me. I’m still numb and in shock from seeing these guys literally on stage in front of me, I just wish I was closer to the front of the stage but I still had an amazing time. Phife Dawg‘s Face was on the screen the whole time too while his verses came on on the songs. I left that show on a different kinda high I never experienced before. It was something powerful that the guys left in me. Something that may spark a new kinda motivation for me to want to be the one on that stage making and performing dope, timeless music. ATCQ forever! Rest In Peace Phife Dawg!

Barbecue Etiquette: Do’s and Don’ts

The weather is getting nice out as the summer approaches. This is my favorite time of the year. If you are anything like me than you love a good barbecue. There is nothing better than family and friends gathered around for some great food and a great time. There are some things that can are certainly inappropriate for barbecues and there are some things that will definitely go without saying.

The first rule of barbecue etiquette is do not come if you are not personally invited by the host. It does not matter if it is family or a close friend. If you were not invited stay home.

If you were invited that does not make you entitled to invite others with you. Ask permission from the host or hostess.

It is rude to show up at a cook out empty handed. You should always ask what can you bring. In the case that you are told you don’t need to bring anything bring something anyway. A bag of chips, soda, napkins, paper towels and paper plates are all things that you can never have to much of. Remember that anything that you contributed is to be left there when you leave. Please do not think about wrapping up a take home plate if you have not contributed to the barbecue.

It is not necessary to pile plates up with food that you are not going to finish. Please finish the beverage that you are already drinking instead of allowing it to get warm and then going to get another one.

Remember when you bring your children to a barbecue that they are your children. So not expect others attending to watch your children. There are so many ways that children can get hurt at a barbecue so parents please be aware.

With these bases covered we are officially ready to barbecue. Enjoy your summer.

Written by Regina Alston

AIDS WALK NYC 2017. WALKING FOR A CAUSE.

On Sunday, May 21st in the heart of New York City’s greatest landscape, Central Park, GMHC hosted it’s annual AIDS WALK. Every year for the past 17 years, GMHC has sponsored the NYC AIDS Walk. GMHC is the world’s first and leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy. Building on decades of dedication and expertise, they understand the reality of HIV/AIDS and empower a healthy life for all.

My personal journey with HIV/AIDS started 25 years ago. At the age of 18 my Beloved mother Destiny Michelle Portier broke the news to our family that she was indeed infected with HIV. After the initial shock and all the tears were cried, the fact remained she was HIV Positive. My mother was 42 when diagnosed, we never knew how long she was infected before her actual diagnosis. For the next three years there were ups and downs in her health and emotional state, through it all I wondered why her, she was a great mother, provider and teacher. What did she do for God to punish her in this fashion? Note that My mother Michelle, stop using intravenous drugs 2 plus years prior to her diagnosis. It was a lot to handle as a 18 year old young man who basically was the man of the house with 4 minor children to look after. When she succumb to the illness which was documented on her death certificate as Pneumocystis pneumonia, at the time I had no idea what it was or even how to pronounce it. Now, years later and better informed with NYS certification on HIV/AIDS I am now qualified to teach classes and groups about HIV health and prevention. I take solace in knowing because of my mother’s addiction and illness I learned and can help others who may be dealing with the virus and I can educate people on what steps to take to keep from being infected.

The AIDS WALK has been established to help promote awareness of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. It also assist with support and encouragement to those who are living with the disease as well as family members and friends of people who are infected. To date, over 100,000 New Yorkers have died from AIDS-related causes. HIV is the third leading cause of death forNYC residents ages 35 to 54. In NYC, 68% of new HIV diagnoses were among men who have sex with men (MSM), a group that has always been heavily affected by HIV/AIDSand remains at high risk.

This year, the weather was perfect for a walk in the park. The sun was waving from above as the breeze wrapped around one like a blanket, it was a perfect combination. The diversity of individuals were wide and far. LGBTQ, heterosexuals and gender fluid individuals as well. The walk starting point was at the 59st and 5th avenue entrance of Central Park. The route stretched upwards to NYC’s famous section, Harlem and 110st. Participants then crossed from Lenox Avenue, Malcolm X BLVD to Riverside Drive and worked their way back to the 79 st entrance of Central Park.
There were performers stationed along the 6.2 miles that stretched the walk route. Singers, African Drummers, Modern Dancers, jazz bands and of course live DJs spinning feel good music to help the participants get through the walk.
That day was one of solidarity, everyone there may have been there for different reasons but everyone was there for the same cause. BRING AWARENESS & TO FIND A CURE.

The different teams were many, however it was a camaraderie amongst the walkers. There was personal teams such as The Dream Team, The Frederick Walkers, In memory of Destiny Michelle and many more as well as non profit organizations and what seemed to be a whole church congregation. As people walked in memory of or support of the sea of red was a beautiful sight for a beautiful cause. It is estimated the NYC AIDS WALK raised 3.6 million dollars. These funds go towards finding a cure, assisting people living with HIV/AIDS and a sleuth of other causes connected to HIV education and services.

I ask do not take this one day for granted, please continue to educate yourself and others about this illness that can be stopped if we are educated and protect ourselves. #safesex #sterileneedles

Written by Sugarhill Sky.

for all write ups, event coverage, reviews and interviews sugarhillsky13@gmail.com

#BEUNSTOPPABLE

The Ever Failing System

A considerable amount of American citizens live a life of poverty. Some are impoverished due to unemployment, some are disabled, others earn low wages. They are all impoverishment none the less. The American government created social service agencies to assist these vulnerable citizens in life or at least that is the claim.

In New York State The Department of Human Resource Administration is the agency that was appointed to assist low income families that are living in poverty. This is a system that is failing miserably. Let me explain further.

The ultimate goal of the Human Resource Administration is to provide temporary assistance to needy citizens of New York State. This hardly ever happens. Instead HRA creates dependency for some.

The Back To Work program is inadequate! The program does work for some but the reality is that very few public assistance recipients find work while attending the Back To Work program. In my opinion the purpose of the Back To Work Program is to justify the modern day slavery that is called the Work Experience Program or WEP.

The Work Experience Program does not benefit the public assistance recipient. In fact the recipient skills, qualifications, certifications and interest are never evaluated when issuing these WEP assignments. A computer randomly picks an assignment in a location that is not more than an hour away in traveling time.

When a public assistance recipients is fortunate enough to obtain employment they are deterred. The Human Resource Administration makes returning to work inconvenient. A person who is recently employed must now take days off from work to respond to mandatory appointments. If this is not enough child care sometimes lapse for working parents because someone neglected to file the paperwork properly. Even worse than that a working person can have issues with housing due to departmental errors.

This is bureaucracy intended to keep the impoverished depended on a failing system.

Written by: Regina Alston

THE PRISONER’S FAMILY

Being an inmate in a city jail, a state prison or a federal penitentiary is hell to any person that is confined in these trying circumstances. Prisoners are sometimes subjected to violence. They are made to eat less than desirable food. They work for very little pay. The inmates are disrespected by corrections officers. Prisoners are treated inhumane.

This is a sad situation for any human being to endure. What is worst than that is the strain that an incarceration can put on the prisoner’s family. It is like the family is being punished for the crime that their loved one committed.

The visiting process is enough to make any loved one feel violated. Being searched to enter a facility feels like a complete violation. Family members tend to feel degraded when we are asked to remove socks and shoes, shake out our bras and then wait until the loved one is produced which can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Sometimes these visits can be as short as an hour. Exiting the facility and leaving your loved one behind is a very painful feeling.

Although inmates are allowed to communicate with loved ones by phone, mail and email the communication process is still not adequate. Inmates are at times restricted from using the phones. Loved ones of those incarcerated are in need of constant communication. The communication is what eases the fear that we have of the unknown.

Not only is having a loved one in prison emotionally draining, it is a financial burden. We have expenses and bills to pay. Now we are faced with depositing money into commissary accounts and sending off packages.

Still the realest victims are the children. Parents are missing precious moments and milestones. Although this is rough for an incarcerated parent it is even more painful for the child. Children suffer from feelings of fear, separation anxiety, loneliness and depression when a parent is incarcerated.

As adults we must be aware of our actions. We must be mindful that our actions affect other people. This is the world according to Regina.

Written: Regina Alston

What A Good Look. Kim Goodlook Seabrook

*ALERT*MEDIA*BLOG
It is said that laughter is good for the soul, so when I was invited to a comedy show to hear a Spoken Word Artist, I thought, hmmm this will be different. I had know idea how different…

The Black National Theatre of Harlem housed What To Do Ent. comedy show hosted by JC Best in conjunction with comedians OC the Bus Driver and Kenny Woo.

The opening act was a Spoken Word artist by the name of Kim Goodlook Seabrook. Seabrook is a Bronx native Spoken Word artist and radio personality. You can find her weekly on one of New York City’s budding internet radio stations, I AXIS Radio. With her show Keepin’ it 100 with Kim and Della.

As the night got on its way and following her introduction from JC Best, Kim seemed to float out onto the stage, very poised and confident. She immediately surveyed the crowd and attached with the audience. Kim performed three pieces that night, Cocaine, A Woman’s Identity and Got Dam. The three pieces were very different in content but the same in rawness and reality.

The first piece, cocaine, as u would guest was creative writing about the opioid drug. It spoke of how it seems to be your friend in a time of despair however, just like all fairweather friends it let’s you down in the end. The twist and metephores GoodLook used was so vivid, at one time I literally felt chills as she performed. The second piece was dedicated to all woman kind. Kim relayed the message of don’t lose yourself being a wife, a mother an employee or whatever capacity it is you’re in day to day. The message was always remember to keep your identity as a woman first.
Ms.Seabrook did not forget about the men who was in attendance, she delivered a bold piece titled Got Damn, which focused on the struggle of the Black Man. Seabrook spewed so many truths and nuances about being a Black Man in America it received a standing ovation when it was over. This piece touched on nagging baby mothers, police harassment and much more, not to give too much away, this piece touches and goes into the depths of trying to survive in Amerikkka as a Black Man. Got Damn!
Once Kim bowed out from her performance, there were murmurs in the audience of wows and she’s deep along with she was a show all by herself. Sitting in the audience and to hear and see people’s genuine reaction to her tells a truth I couldn’t make up. Kim Goodlook Seabrook is a force to be reckoned with in the spoken word realm. Her sensual voice her command of tje stage and her piuse and cadence is unmatched. She is a humble person who exudes great energy. I recommend everyone see her live performance, you will not be disappointed. Until you get a chance to hear her live, listen to her pieces on SoundCloud…

Written by Sugarhill Sky.
*No funds were given or services bartered for this write up.
For event coverage, write ups, reviews etc…
Sugarhillsky13@gmail.com

FEELING THE FORCE WITH THE LEGENDARY FORCE M.D.’s

Have you ever had your partner say “Baby Let Me Love U”? Well, there is a group called The Force M.D.’s, which is an American R&B vocal group that was formed in 1981 in Staten Island, New York. Although the group has old school hip hop roots, it is perhaps best known for two tunes that are widely considered 1980s quiet storm classics, “Tender Love” and “Love is a House”. They are considered major forerunners of the new jack swing. The band was originally named The L.D.s, and then became the Force MCs, but ultimately preferred the name Force M.D.’s, which stood for Musical Diversity. Though the group was not quite always as recognizable as other New York R&B acts when it first started, they were among the first R&B vocal groups to intermix doo-wop-affected singing with and sometimes over hip-hop beats. The group was composed of brothers Stevie D., Antoine “T.C.D.” Lundy, and Rodney “Khalil” Lundy, along with their uncle Jessie Lee Daniels. (Later, friends “Trisco” Pearson and Charles “Mercury” Nelson from the Marines Harbor projects in Staten Island, NY joined the group.) They performed at different venues such as BB Kings, and the Eve Ultra lounge until this day their hit songs are still being played on the radio. Three of the group’s members died within five years of each other: Nelson suffered a fatal heart attack in 1995; former collaborator DJ Dr. Rock died suddenly of natural causes in 1996; and in 1998, Antoine Lundy died of Lou Gehrig’s disease. Trisco Pearson died on September 16, 2016, of an undisclosed illness. But that does not stop the group from performing worldwide. The Force M.D.’s are still standing strong after all these years; you can see them at an up coming performance in June at BB Kings in Manhattan. Did I tell there is new music on the way? Check out their new single Don’t Rush now available on iTunes. May the Force be with you.

Written Jewels 78

Aubrey Williams Is No Ordinary Joe

Meet Aubrey Williams. This man possesses so many talents. He is an actor, director, videographer and a chef. I had the opportunity to sit with Aubrey Williams and talk to him. First let me begin by telling you that Aubrey Williams stars as the character Pretty Tone In the hit web series #848 created by author Antoine Inch Thomas. Pretty Tone is the second in command of the Clean Up Crew, a drug organization out of the South Bronx. His character in the show was diagnosed with cancer and successfully beat the horrible disease. Not only did Aubrey Williams bring cancer awareness to the viewers through the show he also supports cancer awareness in real life. I inquired about his passion to bring cancer awareness. Sadly he informed me that he loss his mother to cancer. Aubrey Williams is a huge supporter of cancer awareness. In fact he participates in the cancer walk every year where you can catch him wearing cyst designed #848 gear. Yes he does that too! In fact Aubrey Williams along with his #848 cast members put on the first annual #848 Fashion Show at Barcelona Bites. At the fashion show mode ls show cased new #848 gear that is available for purchase. The fashion show was hosted by the cast of the #848 web series. The show also included guess performances by Songlist and Medallion Drew. To add to the list of accomplishments Aubrey Williams brought home the award for Best Visual Effects at the first annual Urban Web Series awards. Williams’ role in the web series is not just the character Pretty Tone. He is also the director and videographer for the hit show. Williams explained that he has the freedom to be creative with the series. I asked him what professionals he would like to work with in the future. He listed a host of phenomenal people in the entertainment industry including Denzel Washington and Steven Spielberg. Just when you thought he is done he is only getting started. Aubrey Williams is also a chef. A professional caterer that is easy to Google Food By Chef Aubrey is his local catering business for all occasions. Williams informed me that he made his very first Thanksgiving speed at the age of twenty years old. With all of this to add to his list of great qualities is his great personality and humble spirit.

Written by Regina Alston

Project Heat Presents The First Annual Urban Web Series Awards

The first annual urban web series awards will be held this Friday, January 20th. I had an opportunity to meet with Mr. Tiffan Dunn better known as Pop from the hit web series Project Heat. We spoke about the first annual web series awards and what’s up next for Project Heat.
For those do not know Project Heat is a web series about life in the projects in Brooklyn. As the show opens up while the theme song is playing a news article appears showing the article of the man shot by a rookie officer in Brooklyn’s Pink Houses. Dunn described the murdered man as a very great individual. Although Project Heat was already coming to be Dunn decided to add that article so that the young man’s legacy would not be forgotten. This story was used to open up the first season and first episode of the web series. In fact that is what Project Heat is all about. Dunn confirmed that Project Heat is stories from his life as well as others that he knows that will never get to tell their story. Dunn mentioned that the theme song to Project Heat is performed by Mona better known as Ma Barker who happens to be Kool G. Rap’s baby mama.
Dunn went on to create Project Heat Atlanta in 2016 with the first episode dropping on Thanksgiving Day. The Atlanta version of Project Heat is a collaboration between Pop and the gentleman that plays his cousin Stuff who is very well known in ATL. The stories in Project Heat Atlanta actually collaborates with the stories from Project Heat New York. Dunn confirmed that he will be doing Project Heat Houston and Los Angeles in the near future. Dunn also spoke about another series he will be working on called Back Page. Back Page will be focused on the issues women face in day to day life. He will also be putting out a movie titled A Dangerous Love Affair.
Dunn described his character Pop in Project Heat as the quiet guy that moves into the projects that gets caught up in all kinds of things that was not happening before he got there. Pop gets caught up and ends up taking over the caveman side in the absence of his partner who had been recently imprisoned. As leader of the caveman side Pop ends up in beef with the Selwyn boys out of the Bronx. He also has beef with the Hollywood side which is right on the other side of the projects.
As far as the Urban web series awards goes Project Heat has laid the foundation for this triumphant event that will celebrate the men and women who have worked so hard to bring a new form of entertainment to the world. Due to the fact that Dunn is the founder of the web series awards Project Heat was not eligible for a nomination in the award show. Instead, they will be receiving an acheivment award tobrecognize the hard work and dedication that they have put forth. This action was taken to avoid biases that could have possibly come about. The urban web series awards will be hosted by comedian Ray Dayjon and the awards will be presented by the ladies of Project Heat. There will be performances by Phresher, M.O.P and Smith N Wesson. There will also be a performance from a surprise artist that has a hit single out right now.
Written by Regina Alston

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