The Bronx – Street Line Video

Lorraine Hansberry

On this day, in 1959, Lorraine Hansberry’s ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theater in New York City with Sidney Poitier and Claudia McNeil in the lead roles. The play ran for 530 performances, becoming the longest running Broadway play written by an African-American. This was also the first Broadway drama written and directed by an African-American woman. In 1961 ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ was made into a movie, again starring Sidney Poitier as the chauffeur Walter Younger. Hansberry’s landmark career was cut short when she died of cancer in 1965 at the age of 34.

Written by Dianne Washington

Hip Hop and…… Me

I fell in Love with Hip Hop in 1985. I was only six years old. My mother took me and my brother to see the movie Krush Groove. The person who has inspired me the most in Hip Hop is Mr. Shawn Corey Carter better known as Jay Z. Jay Z makes music that I as well as others that live in urban communities can relate to. I hear verses and be like oh hell yeah. He’s talking to or about me. Jay Z raps about the struggle, about loyalty, family, hurt, pain and fears and those are things that all human beings can identify with. Hov raps about hustling but kept it real about the negative aspect of the game. He didn’t glorify it. He admitted that he did it. He also made it clear to the world that this was something that he felt he had to do. He proved to society how poverty is directly correlated with crime. He also proved given the right opportunity that anyone can change. Jay Z encourages through his music. He advises his listeners to educate themselves and stay informed. Jay Z really is dope. He brought Michael Jackson out in Summer Jam. He had Oprah Winfrey come to Marcy Projects in Brooklyn, New York. He also has a close personal relationship with former president Barak Obama. He is a musical genius. He fused Hip Hop and Broadway with his hit Hard Knock Life. Today Hip Hop is changing. These mumble rappers are popping mollys, perks and Xanz. They’re drinking lean and partying like rock stars. Everybody is wearing designer clothes, chasing bags, hustling and bagging hotties and thotties. It’s sad because I think about how young and impressionable I was at six years old and fell in love with Hip Hop. I pray for Hip Hop every single day. I ask God to send some really dope artist that will bring substance back to Hip Hop. Bring back artist that are active in the communities. Give us artist that will give back by helping others. Let there be more teachers, leaders, advocates, and activist in Hip Hop. Let all of Hip Hop unite and become a mighty driving force in the world. People tend to forget that Hip Hop is the biggest and strongest culture in the world. It us the only culture the units every race, color and religion. I thank my mom for introducing me to hip hop. I love hip hop and I always will.

Written by Regina Alston

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.

SUMMERSTAGE 2017: Jadakiss

Summerstage had yet another incredible and dope show. Jadakiss with guests Lil’ Cease, Black Thought and Tek from Smif-N-Wessun. A scattered crowd that quickly turned into a frenzy with hip hop and hardcore Jadakiss fans bum rush to the front with excitement and their phones in their hands as Jadakiss approaches the stage and his raspy voice is clear and loud on the mic. DJ Technician on the 1’s and 2’s, gives us a medley of old school hip hop classics back to back as he spins, reminisces on the glory days of hip hop. Lots of energy and excitement, everyone has their phones out, going live for Facebook, recording for the Gram and getting as many pics as possible. Jada gives us a lineup of his hits including “Why” and “We Gon’ Make It.” Lil’ Cease then comes out and does his version of “Crush On You”, Black Rob comes out and does his classic “Whoa!” and Tek comes out to do gives us a classic or two as well. Can’t forget about the over excitement after the show of the people hopping over fences and banging on the car windows as the legends make their exit. Another incredible and exciting show for the people. The Bronx always knows how to represent. After all, Jada did say that The Bronx and Yonkers are cousins, well Yesterday let us know that Jada is definitely that cool cousin who when he comes to town, it’s a frenzy.

The BXtraordinary One: The Introduction of Alex Villafaña

Refreshing, ambitious, someone with actual talent, not the usual thing that you hear everywhere else and definitely an extraordinary one with a voice that represents hunger, wanting to succeed, but also being thankful and showing love to those he appreciates. Not forgetting where he comes from and where he is going. Alex Villafaña is a dope upcoming artist from the Highbridge section of The Bronx whose also a current Hostos Community College graduate. I personally had the honor of meeting this dude over a year ago when we were in the same Linguistics class. Of course, his image makes him noticeable and hard to ignore but with a voice over a fresh and polished hip hop/trap beat, Villafaña keeps your attention. The homie who you can definitely sit down and actually have a discussion with about hip hop, a Jay-Z or a Nas album two, he’s definitely what I would call, according to one of his songs, the “BXtraordinary” one. His mixtape “Looking For The Title” explains it all. It’s a body of work that’s about a young man whose trying to find his way and who is on his way to the top at the same time. Taking and learning from what life is giving to him, not forgetting where he comes from, using that to make him both a better person and artist. His latest single, which is a freestyle joint called “Nas Album Done”, is something just a little more dope though. So short, so simple but straight to the point. Love to witness dope talent from my hometown. More reminders that not all rap is wack, especially ones who can actually rap. To check out his music, his SoundCloud is Alex Villafana, add him on Facebook at Alex Villafaña and follow him on Instagram @villianhustle.

Bronx Festival 2017

For the first time ever, I had the opportunity to witness my very first experience at the Bronx Festival this year at Mosholu Parkway. I walked around and saw lots of people of course, bought me a really dope hip hop t-shirt in honor of one of my favorites hip hop artists, who I ended up actually seeing live and met later in the day, saw the parade and enjoyed some really dope performances too. Celebrating hip hop culture mostly with performances from Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick and a bunch of other performances by really dope talented people. The best part about it all was meeting and interviewing the very cool and humble Bronx borough president himself Ruben Diaz, Jr. This man is actually someone who I admire for not only his great personality but the way people loved and respected him and how connected he is with the people of all backgrounds. He actually interacted with the people, took some pictures, shook hands, shared hugs, and danced and had a good time with us too. Not a stuck up person at all. His vibe is extremely positive; you can’t help but to respect him. The parade is where I first saw all those different types of backgrounds and cultures. So many different looks, languages, music, the food, everything. Even with all the different schools and programs, seeing all the little kids with their families and loved ones and all kinds of other stuff, it was all positive stuff. Such an amazing day with lots of fun, culture and love. No fights, no arguments, no altercations, no drama, even the security and cops were laughing and enjoying their time too. This Bronx Festival only proved how positive the borough is as a unit. Everybody there were mostly born and/or raised here in The Bronx and we all came together from different areas in the borough. It shuts down all of the negative stereotypes and false pretenses that people make up about the borough that I hear about a lot, it can be annoying but this festival proved otherwise and I’m just very happy and glad I got the opportunity to be a part of it. As the saying goes, like KRS-One once said, “The Bronx keeps creating it.” This one’s for The Bronx. This one’s for hip hop, the people, the incredible Bronx borough president Mr. Ruben Diaz, Jr. Thank you sir! Peace and Love!

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.