Hip Hop Appreciation Week Listing of Tri State Events May 15 -22
Founders of Hip Hop Appreciation Week
Siadeh Page Brown
Saideh Page Browne grew up when Hip-Hop was building momentum; Kurtis Blow, Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh
Crew were popular, Queen Latifah made the ladies proud, and Hip-Hop life in New York City was good. By 1989, Saideh was forced
to deal with a teenage pregnancy. Through the 90’s Saideh ran an urban marketing firm.
After moving to Atlanta in 2001, Saideh began to explore the many facets
of spirituality and what it truly meant to have a peace filled life. During her search, it seemed as though she would be forced
to abandon her Hip-Hop lifestyle, but through diligent prayer, research and study, she has been able to continue to bloom
in the culture in which she grew up, while embracing the spiritual tenets that guarantee everlasting
life. Having worked closely with KRS-One, Afeni Shakur and other respected elders in the Hip-Hop
community, Saideh has come to learn that it is okay to love God and still proclaim, “I
AM HIP-HOP.”
Saideh is proud of her
college degree as well as all of her honors and achievements, but her true happiness is found as a wife and loving
mom to her two sons. Saideh's first book FROM HIP-HOP TO HEAVEN was released in October 2004 and Part 2 will be released the Summer of 2005. She is affiliated with Hillside Chapel &
Truth Center, World Changers Church NY, Bethel AME Church, Passaic and is a featured speaker for the International Gospel Speakers Bureau.
Dee Dee Cocheta-Williams
Dee
Dee Cocheta-Williams, is a native of the inner city of Portland, Oregon and indigenous to the Yakama tribe (Washington
State). A Marketing graduate of Clark Atlanta University, she spent two years in Radio before departing as a Marketing Director
from Radio One in 1999 to create her own PR/Marketing Agency; A Black Clan Associates in Atlanta, Georgia. She has represented
a diverse roster from Prof. Griff, Chaka Khan, KRS ONE and Tony Terry to the Spoken Word Artist Georgia Me (now traveling
with Def Poetry Jam's Broadway Play). But it is her soulful commitment, humble sister spirit, and straightforward integrity
that allows her to be the balance between Corporate Realists and Hip Hop Visionaries while remaining fundamental in Hip Hop
Activism; "street to corporate."
Additionally, she produces Special Events for the Temple of Hip Hop and serves as the Atlanta
Action Coordinator for NABFEME (National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment). Dee Dee's
passion is freelance writing and speaking on social, Hip Hop and Entertainment issues that will clearly make a positive change
in peoples lives. Dee Dee's love for her seven children, her husband of 15 years, her mentor, THE MOST HIGH and people period
leads her through each day.She Can't Stop & Won't Stop!
MESSAGE FROM THE TEACHA (KRSONE)
May 15th - 22nd marks the 8th Annual Hip Hop Appreciation
Week. Our theme this year is Freedom. Different from Liberty which has to do with moving freely about one’s environment,
freedom is a condition that is experienced within one’s self. You must Feel free in order to actually Be free. Are you
free? Or are you waiting to be freed? Most people have been freed; they are not free. Most people are waiting for some thing
or some one outside of themselves to give meaning and/or movement to their lives. Are you free? Do you think for yourself?
Or does outside opinions and conditions constantly making up your mind for you?
This year’s Hip Hop Appreciation
Week May 15th - 22nd 2005 will be a time set aside for all true Hiphoppas to meditate upon the question of freedom. Are
we really free? What does it take to be free? What does freedom mean to us? Is freedom even important to us? Even beyond the
concept of freedom for political or social point of view, spiritual point of view rooted in the universal desire to be unrestrained
and fully developed.
In addition, as a (Hiphop) community let us come up with clever ways to actually free each other
from the bondage that we face everyday. Let us find ways to relieve one another and free one another from mundane routines
of life. Let us free each other from debt through charity. Let us free each other from guilt through forgiveness. Volunteer
your time to a parent that can really use a break from kids. Let us free each other up! Only those that think and feel free
can even attempt to free someone else. How can you aid in someone else’s freedom if you are not free yourself?
These
questions point to the essence of one’s character. Regardless of how much money you many have, or how popular and/or
successful you many be; are you truly free? How dependent is your sense of well-being upon external things? How free are you
really? During Hip Hop Appreciation Week May 15th-22nd let us create events and discussions around the concept of freedom.
Any Hiphoppa with exceptional organizing skills and a love for Hiphop can promote Hip Hop Appreciation Week within
his/her city. But most of all; let us evaluate our own levels of personal freedom and seek ways to relieve the bondage of
others. God has already blessed us. I’ll see you at the Temple.
The Teacha, KRS-ONE
This is the 8th Annual Celebration of HIPHOP APPRICIATION WEEK.
The Kulture of HIPHOP brings great meaning and purpose
to all of our lives. For the past 8 years we the true HIPHOPPAS we have set aside the 3rd week of May to celebrate and speak
out about the truth of HIPHOP. To decriminalize HIPHOP in the eyes of ALL people. To build the movement Internationally. We
as HIPHOPPAS need to build the image of HIPHOP by having it reconized publicly with upliftment, empowerment and productive
growth.
As the Teacha has pointed out, our theme this year "FREEDOM," holds great power with-in all of us. Sometimes
it is confused with "Liberty". Liberty means moving freely about one‚s enviroment. FREEDOM is a condition that is expressed
within one‚s self. You truely must feel free with-in yourself to be free. You have to be true to yourself and your conditions,
make your Own desicions. There are quite a few people who are waiting for something or someone outside themselves to give
meaning and or purpose to their lives.
This year during May 15-22 2005, all true HIPHOPPAS will set aside for time
for meditation upon the question of "FREEDOM". We need to look beyond just concepts of freedom from political or social points
of view and enviroment and widen our views and explore what freedom means on a more personal and spiritual point of view,
what person, place, thing are you addicted to? Is it helping you?
Here are some questions for Self reflection or
group disscusion as well as some suggestions of what you can do to help your fellow HIPHOPPAS free themselves.
Are
you Free? Or are you waiting to be Freed?
Do you think for yourself? Or does someone make ALL of your desisions?
What
does Freedom mean to me? What does it take to make me Free?
What does Freedom mean for us as a HIPHOP movement?
Regardless
of finances, popularity, or success are you truly free?
These questions point to the essence of one‚s character.
What you can do?
We need to come together and discover ways to help free each other from the bondage
that we face on a daily basic. We need to look at ALL aspects of helping each other to be free from our everyday routines.
We need to relieve debt through charity, not just financial charity by the charity of knowledge, of love, of patience. Let
us free one another from guilt through forgiveness and respect. Let us create events and discusions around the concept of
"FREEDOM."
Any HIPHOPPA with exceptional organizing skills and love for HIPHOP can promote HIP HOP APPRICIATION WEEK
within his/her city. But most of all; let us evaluate our own levels of personal freedom and seek ways to relieve the bondage
of others. God has already blessed us all.
A Special Thanks to Pastor Linda
Ellerbe & Bethel YPD
MAY 13-22, 2005
* * SPECIAL EVENT: THREE THE
HARD WAY * *
The evening will feature captivating
photos, some making their gallery debut, the sounds of pioneering DJ’s Tony Tone and Charlie Chase of the legendary
Cold Crush brothers, eats, and drinks, all in a chic, lounge-style atmosphere promising a memorable evening. Opening night
will also feature filming for the documentary “1 LOVE.” “3 THE HARD WAY” is the perfect celebration
of a time when “fresh, wild, fly and bold” wasn’t just a hit record, but a way of life. These timeless
photos reflect the voice of a cultural revolution and the blood, sweat and years of 3 men who’ve sacrificed much to
bring the beauty of urban culture to the world.
FEATURING: ERNIE PANICCIOLI,
author of “WHO SHOT YA?”
THREE DECADES OF HIP HOP PHOTOGRAPHY
and the forthcoming “I SHOT
YA!”
JAMEL SHABAZZ,
author of “BACK IN THE DAYS”
and “A TIME BEFORE CRACK”
JOE CONZO,
soon to release his first book,
has been called by many luminaries “the first Hip-Hop photographer” and has also documented some of Latin Music’s
biggest pioneers.
Jan Larsen Fine Art: “3 THE
HARD WAY”
Date: May 13–22 2005
Opening: Friday May 13th,
7pm – midnight
Venue: theXpo at gallerie,
63 Pearl Street, New Tribeca, Brooklyn NY 11201
Time: 3pm