We got nuttin' but love for you, Heavy!

Since last night and through this morning I've been contemplating the words, "I can't breathe. I can't breathe." Reportedly, those were the last words of the iconic Heavy D. It is said that he was in distress before he died yesterday afternoon.

My heart is filled with sadness for his family and friends. I've been pausing periodically to send them my love through prayer. It all seems so unfair. Too final. Abrupt.

The first person I called when I got the breaking news from allhiphop.com was Timothy Jones. Tim and I headed the hip hop conference at Howard University (1991-96) and it was the hip hop conference that served as background for me having met Heavy D in the first place, 20 years ago. I was president of the conference and Heavy D was one of the biggest names in hip hop. We dedicated the conference to the several people that tragically lost their lives at the City College basketball game that Hev and Sean Combs promoted (Diddy was known as "Puffy" at the time). I remember Hev being consistently gracious. A gentle giant.

I didn't know Heavy D, I only met him. I loved what I saw, though: warmth, skill, talent, adaptability, a bright light, and some serious dance moves, LOL! He was fun and kind. A peer, he was my generation's version of "Mr. Big Stuff," and he was also my generation's version of Mr. Good Stuff. Meaning, Heavy embodied a spirit that reminded us to have fun and to dance, but without being silly or mindless or irresponsible. And to be cool at it.

Life has an unapologetic way of reminding us what's not promised. Death can come at any time, whether you do good work or not. Whether you pray, meditate, work out, eat healthy, tuck your children in at night, give tithes, meet your deadlines at work, call your loved ones just say "hi," go to yet another meeting, catch up on your reading, say a kind word, vote, protest, boycott, fight back...or not. Death is the victor every time so how we live our lives matters. Abrupt transitions like this give pause to the living.

I'm reminded of the book of Ecclesiastes from the Bible. It is one of the sacred text that I turn to when things seem out of order. In it, Solomon contemplates the meaning of life. He takes a mental journey that is profoundly philosophical. In the end, we are reminded that, when all things are surveyed, it's best to live happy, enjoy work, and to have faith. And there is no way to have enduring faith without doing the work - be it spiritual work, intellectual work, political work, and the heavy-lifting work that is required to be women and men of good character.

Because I know that the sun shines on both the oppressed and the oppressors, my life is committed to preventing love deserts in my family and in my community. It's complex and it's hard work, but I'm not here to do much else.

Public Enemy at work. Heavy D at play. Bididilly-bididilly-didilly-didilly dee...or however you spell that thing he did. Hip hop heads know what I'm talkin' 'bout, LOL!

Thank you, sir. Thank you for sharing your talents
with us and reminding us, in your last tweet, to "be inspired."
We totally are. We got nuttin' but love for you, Heavy!

We wish you a peaceful journey.

Dwight Errington Myers aka Heavy D

(May 27, 1967 - November 8, 2011)

A few of my fav Heavy D videos are posted at

www.Facebook.com/AprilRSilverUnlimited

"And if you cannot work with love..."

We're in the last quarter of 2011 and I can't believe how turbulent it's been. In this 9th month, I'm looking back at months of loss, death, fatigue, mistakes, and worst of all betrayal by people who I thought were compassionate human beings. I feel as though I was born all over again, at 43; as though I just arrived on planet earth; as though I was made to learn some of life lessons from scratch, like a new born.

 

And most of the turbulence this year has been centered around work - or from people at work, or from the fact that there is so much work, that I can't ever seem to get a break from work, or that people don't want to pay for work, or that people disrespect my work. Rarely a minute to exhale. I do understand why some people seek refuge. Some do it by partying, with addictions, through seclusion. We all need exit routes.

 

But then Khalil comes to mind. He has been a source of clarity since I was introduced to him by my father in my teenage years. I hope this excerpt from The Prophet helps you as it did me this morning.

...Speak to us of

Work.

And he answered, saying:

You work that you may keep pace with

the earth and the soul of the earth.

...

You have been told also that life is darkness, and in your weariness you echo what was said by the weary.

And I say that life is indeed darkness save when there is urge,

And all urge is blind save where there is knowledge,

And all knowledge is vain save where there is work,

And all work is empty save where there is love;

And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to one another, and to God.

...

Work is love made visible.

And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.

For if you break bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man's hunger...

-- Khalil Gibran

Lebanese Poet, Philosopher, and Artist (1883 - 1931)

“Sing Your Song”: Harry Belafonte on Art & Politics, Civil Rights & His Critique of President Obama

Rev. Al Sharpton and April R. Silver Endorse Rhymefest for Alderman

"We are asking them to get involved and give back.  Che is doing that. I am here today because I support Che "Rhymefest" Smith. If he was a negative force, I would not be here today.” 

~ Rev. Al Sharpton

"Hip hop culture at its best teaches us love of self, love of family, and love of community. It teaches us to be pro-active and to ignite positive change. Che "Rhymefest" Smith's run for Chicago's 20th Ward Alderman is a great symbol of hip hop as a tool for change.

His candidacy also represents the kind of dedication we all should have to our communities. What I respect most about Smith is that when he got 'sick and tired of being sick and tired' of the injustices in his community he decided to do something about it. He didn't get stuck complaining, or being apathetic, and or being indifferent. He decided to stand up and give of himself. I applaud him for that and I encourage people to support his important campaign in any way that they can."

~ April R. Silver
Editor of the anthology Be a Father to Your Child: Real Talk from Black Men on Family, Love, and Fatherhood (featuring Che "Rhymefest" Smith)

The run-off election is Tuesday, April 5, 2011.

Please vote. For more information, please visit www.FriendsOfRhymefest.com

Walter Mosley, A Discussion, Reanding & Book Signing (Free in Brooklyn)

An Afternoon with Walter Mosley
Discussion, Reading and Book Signing

Sunday, March 20, 2011

1:30 p.m. Dweck Center

at the Brooklyn Public Library
10 Grand Army Plaza
Brooklyn, NY 11228

FREE & OPEN to the public.

Best-selling author Walter Mosley, creator of the Easy Rawlins mystery series, and the novels Walkin’ the Dog; Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned; The Man in My Basement; and the recently published The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, will be the special guest for an afternoon reading and book signing presented by the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College, CUNY and the Brooklyn Public Library. For more information, please call:
the Center for Black Literature at 718.804.8883, www.centerforblackliterature.org;
or the Brooklyn Public Library at 718.230.2100, www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org.

Quote of the Week (from The Wiz)

"...and the world has got no shame..."

Quote of the Week: Immortalize Yourself

"We only live once. Since we are given the gift of life it should be our persistent endeavor to immortalize ourselves. No matter what field of endeavor we choose." ~ Michael Jackson.

Quote of the Week: Sekou Sundiata

"Good things come to those who wait.
Better things comes to those who don't."
~  Sekou Sundiata

[From Put On BLAST!]: Guru (of Gangstarr) Passed Monday, April 19

If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view the online version

Known to most as Guru of the legendary hip hop duo Gang Starr (with DJ Premier), Keith Elam passed away Monday, April 19, 2010. He was 43. According to reports, he had been battling cancer for some time. Guru's classic contributions to hip hop music include the albums Step in the Arena, Jazzmatazz, and many other great works. For those who may be unaware, Guru, who came to the hip hop scene in the late 80's/early 90's, receives a great deal of credit for fusing hip hop and jazz in his music and for being a gifted lyricist. May the Creator keep him and bless his family.

[From Put On BLAST!]: "Arts and Activism on the Air" A Success!

If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view the online version

Earlier this year, we launched a radio show, ARTS and ACTIVISM on the AIR, on a new media outlet you should know about: www.blogtalkradio.com/AKILAWORKSONGS We Broadcast Every Last Sunday of the Month on the Internet. Tune In To Our Next TWO Episodes: THIS SUNDAY! APRIL 25, 2010 Special Guest: DJ Kuttin Kandi Topic: Hip Hop as a tool for Social Justice … SUNDAY, MAY 30 Special Guest: William Jelani Cobb, Ph.D Topic: A Semester in Russia, and His New Book "The Substance of Hope: Barack Obama and the Paradox of Progress" (due May 25, 2010) DOWNLOAD OUR FIRST TWO SHOWS (click the microphone): Feb. 2010: K. Mensah Wali on "When Fela Came to Brooklyn!" Mar. 2010: Donna Walker-Kuhne on marketing. All shows hosted by APRIL R. SILVER and are archived at www.BlogTalkRadio.com/AKILAWORKSONGS "Arts and Activism on the Air" Executive Produced by AKILA WORKSONGS, Inc. Produced by Drake R. Holliday ¦ 917.334.6383

Put On BLAST! c/o AKILA WORKSONGS | PO Box 250553 | Brooklyn, NY 11225 | US

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A Fundraiser for RAS BARAKA

Let's Go HU!



The "HU for RAS BARAKA" Committee
(Matt Middleton, April R. Silver, Kamal Harris,
Christa Miller, and The Legendary Chris Washington)
invites you to the

BIGGEST FUNDRAISER TO DATE!
SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010
6:30pm - 9:30pm

SEVENTEEN BELOW
Restaurant and Lounge
2163 Frederick Douglass Blvd.
Harlem, NY 10026
(between 116th & 117th Streets)

Ras Baraka is Running for Office in Newark, NJ (South Ward Councilman). So if you remember The '89 Protest, The Rooftop, The Cultural Initiative/Hip Hop Conference, HUSA, The (old) Punchout, The Yard, and many other memories, then you need to be at SEVENTEEN BELOW to support Ras. And You Need To Bring CASH!! *

Join us for Great Music • Hors d'oeuvres • Drink Specials • Good People, and a Great Cause!

Suggested Donation: $50
To buy your "HU for RAS BARAKA" $50 event ticket, CLICK HERE
or pay at the door. If you can *not* attend, please donate online at www.rasbaraka.com. For more information, call 718.756.8501 or email pr@akilaworksongs.com

www.rasbaraka2010.com • www.seventeenb.com

Election Day is Tuesday, May 11, 2010!

* Non-Howardites welcome :-)

Yes, I *WILL* Be Watching!

The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty.

This Sunday at 9:00 pm on A&E. I grew up loving these men and I still do! Click the blog title to see a clip.

Quote of the Week: "On Children" by Khalil Gibran

Khalil Gibran is a poet, philosopher, and artist...born in Lebanon (1883 - 1931). He is one on my favorite poets. My father introduced me to him when I was a child.

On the ocassion of Byron and Kenya's baby shower today and because they asked me to offer a blessing or a prayer, I hope to share this poetic prose from Gibran at the gathering. It is from "The Prophet." The Prophet of God, Almustafa, left these parting words of wisdom for the people of Orphalese before he returnd to his homeland :

"And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of Children.
And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's long for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from wich your children as living arrows are sent froth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swit and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

I'm Sweatin' Youssou N'Dour

I'm embarrassed. Saturday night was the first time seeing Youssou N'Dour perform. I knew him by name, knew he was famous, knew he was widely respected, and that he played in Brooklyn and/or NYC often. I also knew that I would, one day, check him out. That was it.

I caught his show at BAM (along with the other 2,100+ fans) and it was AMAZING! I'm officially sweatin' him now!! Before the show, the organizers screened the upcoming documentary: "I BRING WHAT I LOVE." It chronicles him recording and touring his GRAMMY award-winning album, "Egypt" (2004). Watch the trailer at www.ibringwhatilove.com. If you're new to him like I am, the film will prove to be very insightful.

After the show, I went straight to the gift shop. Bought the "Egypt" CD and a tee-shirt. It's beautiful.

Learn more at www.youssou.com and www.ibringwhatilove.com

ars.
ps - The CD features traditional musicians playing in Dakar (Senegal) & in Cario (Egypt). As alluded to at the show: "Youssou N'Dour in USA (Brooklyn) and Obama's speech in Cario...what a great weekend for Islam!"

Quote of the Week: Sonia Sanchez on Writing

"...I write to keep in contact with our ancestors and to spread truth to people."

In Memoriam: Odetta

From Yesterday's Put On BLAST!(December 3, 2008)


Dear POB! Family,

I'm sorry to share this news: Odetta, respected around the world as the "voice of the civil rights movement," has passed. Sonya White was the first person that I know of who shared the news that Odetta was in the hospital (that was a few weeks ago). Around 2 am this morning, Sonya sent word that Odetta had passed Tuesday night.

I've spent the last two hours reflecting on and listening to the words and music of this wonderful woman. I also watched the New York Times' THE LAST WORD, a 20 minute video interview. There, Odetta re-affirms, in a profound and intimate way, the importance of allowing music to be more than entertainment.

Odetta is not "a long way from home" now. May The Creator bless this great woman's journey during her transition.

~ april

Quote of the Week: Audre Lorde

"Poetry is not only dream and vision; it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before."
~ Audre Lorde
writer, activist

One of the 99 Million Reasons I Love Prince!

Here are lyrics to one of my favorite Prince songs. I first heard this about four years ago and have owned it for three. Shout out to Basir on WBAI Radio FM (Pacifica Radio) where I heard it first on his show (non-commercial radio is the best)! After that, I was a woman on a mission trying to find this song. It took me forever...until Mo Beasley show up with it. Thank God for Mo! Thank God for Prince!

--
CHORUS:
When will we be paid 4 the work we've done
When will we be paid 4 the work we've done

We fought in your wars in every land
2 keep this country free, y'all, 4 women, children and men
But every time we ask 4 pay or a loan
That's when everything seems 2 turn out wrong
We been beat up, called names, shot down and stoned
Every time we do right, somebody say we're wrong

Tell me...

CHORUS

Listen...
We worked this country (Say it!) from shore 2 shore (Well)
Our women cooked all your food (Food) and washed all your clothes
We picked cotton and laid the railroad steel (Said we laid it)
Worked our hands down 2 the bone at your lumber mill
(At your lumber mill)

Tell me...

CHORUS

Will we ever be proud of "My country, tis of thee"?
Will we ever sing out loud, "Sweet land of Liberty"?
When will we be paid (Tell us) 4 the work we've done? (Well?)
I wanna know {x2}
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna know (When, when, when, when)

(CHORUS) {x2}
Why can't we be paid?
Oh, oh when, when will we be paid?
We've given up our sweat, now, and all of our tears
Stumbled through this life 4 more than 300 years
I, I wanna know, the work we've done

Quote of the Week: James Baldwin

"I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually."

LEARN MORE about JAMES BALDWIN, a masterful writer.