Alert: Human Sex Trafficking!
Public service announcement!
Good morning to you all, I wanna do a little something different, something to bring attention to what’s costing our young girls and women their lives here in the Bronx. So I’m up early, as usual, scrolling through my Instagram and I see about three or four posts in a row about kidnapping and human sex trafficking that’s going on in the Bronx. They mentioned that this is going on in Riverside. The point is that to all you young girls and women out there in the Bronx, please careful. If you’re walking down the street by yourself, please be super aware of your surroundings, either turn your music down in your headphones or don’t wear headphones at all. They’re catching these girls by randomly calling their phones and telling them that they’re being recommended for a job. BLOCK THAT NUMBER IF YOU GET THIS CALL! Then they’re telling these girls someone else’s full name that they know and then asking them to come in for an interview, DO NOT DO IT! That’s just they’re way of capturing these girls. Once again, ladies please be safe, stay aware and be careful.
Some recent stuff with a new twist on it and of course some old school too and rappers come to the reunion to perform and show love. Kool Moe Dee and L.A. Sunshine are the main ones who be at the reunions. To those who don’t know about L.A. Sunshine, he was a part of the hip hop group The Treacherous Three along with Moe Dee and DJ Easy Lee. They had joints like “Feel the Heart Beat”, “Action” and another joint they did with Spoonie Gee called “The New Rap Language.” Doug E. Fresh comes to the reunion sometimes too. When I met Moe Dee four years ago, he was extremely cool, like I expected and at that time, I wasn’t rocking a high top fade and a vintage/retro look, I was slowly getting to that point but not until a year after that. I loved going to those reunions growing up but lately it hasn’t been the same for the simple fact that it feels dead and doesn’t have the same exciting energy it used to have also, gentrification. All of these out of town white folk moving into the neighborhood are calling the cops at 8 or 9 o’clock at night when everyone is still rocking and having fun. They call the cops on us to stop the music because we’re “making too much noise.” Maybe I’ll be returning to the reunion this year just to see what’s it like and maybe I’ll run into Kool Moe Dee again, that’ll be dope forreal!
, 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.
ing under the same roof. Here, where artists can display their art or quirky crafts under their own store fronts, there appears to be a lot of freedom as to what sellers decide to sell. From drawings to hand-crafted soaps, Artegon offers a variety of items that you will not find in your average mall. There were stores dedicated to boomerangs, hammocks, and even jerky (all three separate stores!)! While wandering, I even stumbled upon a temporary but cool high school art exhibit.
nting (the store is home to a Pokéstop and a Pokémon gym). The Pokestop had an ongoing lure that certainly baited customers inside. Gods and Monsters is one of the largest spaces I have ever seen dedicated to a comic book shop. This comic book shop, unlike many I have gone to in New York, even offered a lounge with alcoholic beverages. While your mileage may vary, my own experience was not entirely positive as the bartender appeared rather overwhelmed and kept forgetting my order along with my neighbor’s. A tiny bit of research revealed that the shop is relatively new, which may explain some lacking memorabilia or unique offeri
ngs. Overall though, it was a positive experience and cannot wait to return to see some growth Artegon apparently has existed for a few years now and seems to be moderately popular, despite the dozens of outlet malls littering the area. With some hope, its hipster atmosphere could attract more millennials and hipsters and spread more similar malls along the East Coast. Otherwise the next time I am in Orlando, I will ensure I set aside an entire day to spend in Artegon!
This years “Tools of War” events that took place in my neighborhood in Crotona Park were really on another level to me compared to last year’s that I went to. For those who don’t know what “Tools of War” is, it’s a hip hop park jam event where people from all over New York or the world come to enjoy good music, including classic hip hop, soul music, funk music and even house music, the kinda house music they played at hip hop parties back in the 1970’s and 80’s. A lot of people always come to these events because it gives people a sense of nostalgia and it’s a lot of fun. For me, being at “Tools of War” is like living a world like it’s the 70’s, 80’s again, sometimes the 90’s, depending on the DJ. So many people in the community come together with their chairs, water bottles and drinks and they sit or stand up to dance along to the music, people come through their freshest hip hop gear on like Kangol hats, Adidas, Pumas, Nikes, Reeboks, Clarks, gold rope chains, or anything that’s fashionable in hip hop. Breakdancers from all over New York or the world come through to show off their skills and hype up each other with their fresh gear too. There are camera men everywhere taking pics of the event of everything that’s going on including the people with their fresh gear on and dancing and having a good time and then handing out flyers to help promote themselves, just in case anyone wants to hire them for events. Grandmaster Caz, whose a hip hop legend, MC’s the event, he’s selling hip hop t-shirts, he’s calling out the raffle ticket winners at the end of the event and gives out prizes to the winners while his grandson Cazmere walks around the park handing out prizes and collecting the tickets. Then there’s the very nice and cool Christine Z-Pabon. Christine is the wife of legendary hip hop breakdancer, b-boy and master pop locker, Popmaster Fabel. She walks around the park making sure things are alright, handling business, and I believe she helps to make “Tools of War” happen. I actually spoke to her for the first time yesterday when I ran into my friend Damian and we both had a really cool but short conversation about the state of hip hop culture today, how the community can come together to collaborate to keep our streets and communities a much safer place for the youth and of course “Tools of War.” The best part about “Tools of War” are the hip hop legendary artists and DJ‘s who come by to show love and actually DJ for everyone. It’s the greatest thing in the world to me because I don’t have to pay a penny or travel far to see these kinda things happening; it’s right up the street from my building. Last week and yesterday, it was Kool DJ Red Alert, DJ Scratch, Lord Finesse and I happen to see of course, the father of hip hop himself, DJ Kool Herc and L.A. Sunshine from the legendary hip hop group Treacherous Three, who came by and show love too. Of course I forget about DJ Jazzy Jay and DJ Johnny Juice, they definitely did their thing too. I was very happy when I got my pictures taken with DJ Scratch last week and Lord Finesse yesterday. These men were very cool and I went home at the end feeling very inspired and happy to have meet more hip hop legends. Yesterday, I happen to notice someone else too, this guy was very popular amongst my generation because of the “Get Lite” movement 10 years ago. It was Mr. Voice of Harlem himself. I asked if it was really him and he said that it was, I got my pic with him and then he told me to tag him on Instagram and that’s how my night after “Tools of War” ended. So much can happen in 4 hours in my own neighborhood more than anywhere else to me. I’m just grateful to be able to witness hip hop greatness for the past 2 years like that, even though “Tools of War” been happening for 14 years. Of course they do it all over New York but I only attend the ones in my neighborhood in July every Thursday. I can’t wait for next year….
Yesterday was definitely the most uplifting, inspiring and most powerful experiences I’ve ever had in my life. There was a “Stop the Violence” protest march that happened on Hunts Point and ended p on Longwood Avenue in front of the 41st Precinct. My friend tagged me on the post about it the days before it happened and I was honestly the most terrified I have ever been in my life. I was feeling so terrified about the march at first because these crooked ass cops out here are really no joke when it comes to their guns and of course, I thought of the worst case scenario but of course I was completely wrong and it’s just like what they say – what you’re mostly afraid of can possibly change your life if you be more open minded and that’s exactly what happened. The march started at 4 but of course, I didn’t leave my house until 5 because it takes me a while to get ready but anyways, I walked all the way to Hunts Point with an open mind, a half frozen bottle of water, and a positive and fearless attitude. I finally get to Hunts Point and I see a crowd of people standing around with picket signs, camera people and a couple of NYPD vans. I finally caught up with the crowd and see a couple of my homies in the crowd, including my close friend who told me about the march in the first place and another good friend from high school too. We embrace one another, ask each other how we’ve been and stuff and of course as usual, everybody is good and then we continue walking. As we’re walking we’re chanting “What do we want!? JUSTICE! When do we want it!? NOW!” and “If your mama don’t get it!? SHUT IT DOWN!” and all other kinds of chants that was led by this powerful guy who goes by the name of Rodstarz whose one 
half of the political conscious and raw hip hop group hailed from Chicago named Rebel Diaz. I knew these guys about 4 or 5 years now and they’re always active in their communities by spreading knowledge and positivity through hip hop shows and protests like this one. To be around these guys is always a pleasure because I someday hope to be a hip hop artist just like them. Their brave and bold spirit to attack issues in our communities without any apologies is always so amazing to me. We ended up at the 41st precinct on Longwood Avenue, right up the street from the 6 train station and the BX19 bus stop. Rod is on the mic still preaching in front of the cops who happened to be standing around outside the precinct about what kind of injustices are going on around the world and what kind of impact they’re having on both Black and Latin communities all over America. He continued by having everyone grieve the ones who were wrongfully murdered by police brutality, calling out their names, saying “I can’t breathe!” 11 times in honor of Eric Gardner, and then after all that, they played both classic hip hop records “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy and “Sound of Da Police” by KRS-One out loud on this huge speaker. The march was pretty much over and everyone went their separate ways but when I left with 2 of my high school friends, we spent the rest of the day just talking about the march and reflecting on it. I have never felt so empowered in my life. It gave me a totally different and larger perspective on things and it even gave me creative ideas for music and image way in the future when it comes my time to finally make music. I could definitely use that experience and the social injustices that’s going on in America in my music someday, just like Kendrick Lamar, Public Enemy, KRS-One, Beyoncé and even the X-Clan.
s Foundation Summer Stage has done it again! Date Thursday, July 14 2016. Time 7pm. Where? St. Mary’s park on 146 street St Ann. The park was full of concert goers eagerly waiting for Tito Rojas and his live band to take the stage. One woman was screaming “Viva Puerto Rico!” as the crowd enjoyed latin music that echoed through the park. The announcer introduced Tito Rojas as the crowd waited patiently. He begun his introduction by greeting the crowd. The massive crowd yelled back with flags and cellphones out. One man went on Facebook live and reported to his social media friends to get down there. “I’m running 
out of battery!” Tito Rojas had a band with every instrument you can imagine. He begun by singing his classic songs that made him a hit. The place was so packed you could not even move. Some concert goers managed to get in the spirit and dance. Everyone was either eating, singing or dancing. One man walked up to me and said this is better than the Puerto Rican Parade. There was no fighting no pushing – just love. As the band played, Tito Rojas interacted with the audience, making them wanting more. At one time, the audience sang so loud it almost ended up drowning out the singer. His response back to the crowd was that he loved them. Body to Body, shoulder to shoulder, there was little space to move. Fathers had their children on their shoulders while the rest who were old enough to manage learned the history of their people.
Written by Vera Edwards
ew Yorkers eye. It surely caught mine and every year, I’m always surprised at the different events that the City Parks Foundation provides for us.
everyone could have a chance to understand the lyrics. For the lyrics that I couldn’t understand, the instruments touched my heart and the music felt more universal than anything.
Written by Bobbi Cordero