Everyday is Black History

by soulbydapound

The host and executive producer of Soul Train has died. The Los Angeles police department is reporting that Don Cornelius was found dead at his home in Los Angeles this morning from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“The hippest trip in America,” as Cornelius called it, aired every Saturday morning. Soul Train brought a weekly update of music, style and dance moves from some of the top black artists of the 1970s and ’80s. The show, which invited R&B and soul musicians, like Al Green, Marvin Gaye, James Brown and Aretha Franklin, to perform their hits in front of a live — dancing — audience, began as local program in Chicago in 1970. By the end of its second season, it was picked up across the country.

Cornelius owned Soul Train, making him the first black owner of a nationally syndicated TV show. Though its audience was primarily African-American, the show had a tremendous cross cultural impact. Cornelius relinquished hosting duties in 1993 andSoul Train went off the air in 2006

Fela Fela Fela

by soulbydapound

Lets take some time out to appreicate the legend and art of Fele Kuti. Today is his Birthday why not pay homage to someone who was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of Afrobeat music, human rightsactivist, and political maverick. he formed the band Koola Lobitos, playing a fusion of jazzand highlife.

In 1967, he went to Ghana to think up a new musical direction. That was when Kuti first called his music Afrobeat. In 1969, Fela took the band to the United States. While there, Fela discovered the Black Power movement through Sandra Smith (now Izsadore)—a partisan of the Black Panther Party—which would heavily influence his music and political views and renamed the band Nigeria ’70. Soon, the Immigration and Naturalization Service was tipped off by a promoter that Fela and his band were in the U.S. without work permits. The band then performed a quick recording session in Los Angeles that would later be released as The ’69 Los Angeles Sessions.

After Fela and his band returned to Nigeria, the band was renamed The Africa ’70, as lyrical themes changed from love to social issues.  He then formed the Kalakuta Republic, acommune, a recording studio, and a home for many connected to the band that he later declared independent from the Nigerian state. Fela set up a nightclub in the Empire Hotel, named the Afro-Spot and then the Afrika Shrine, where he performed regularly. Fela also changed his middle name to Anikulapa stating that his original middle name of Ransome was a slave name. The recordings continued, and the music became more politically motivated.  Fela’s music became very popular among the Nigerian public and Africans in general.

Salute The Mother of Hip Hop

by soulbydapound

Of course we always pay homage to Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin but, when you rewind a few years earlier Sylvia Robinson was a pioneer of Hip Hop who didn’t receive much praise.

A singer, songwriter and record producer who formed the pioneering hip-hop group Sugarhill Gang and made the first commercially successful rap recording with them, passed away Thursday.  She is credited as the driving force behind two landmark singles in the genre. The first was “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang, which was the first rap song. The second was ”The Message” by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five.

Robinson is the mother of modern hip-hop. The song “Rapper’s Delight” brought rap into the public music arena, and revolutionized the music industry as it introduced the idea of re-using existing compositions, a practice that later became known as “sampling.”

Sights Of Howard U | 1946

by soulbydapound

Student in the library

The art of Jazz. This is when it was fresh!

Chem Major handling her business

Gym Class taking place

Homecoming events

Howard Cheerleaders

Howard Rugby team

Howard’s women swim team

Are you ready for some football?

Prof in class

So about two hours ago I was waiting for “Entourage” to come on while updating my tumblr and listening to Nicolay instrumentals. I ended up coming across a picture of the Howard’s women swim team from 1946 so I decided to look into it just a tad more. Life magazine did a spread back in the day which are a few of the pictures you see above. Looking back into history is always time well spent. Just the style, scenery and the interaction gave you a great view on the unity of life. I did however miss “Entourage” but it’s not going anywhere especially with all these internet sites we have these days!

14 Years Strong

by soulbydapound

“Ready to die tell God I said Hi.” 14 years ago we lost someone thats still relevant in todays hip hop game. From samples to old verses on new beats. It’s crazy that Big’s 14 year old verses are better then most rappers tracks these days. Wallace was able to both glorify the upper echelon and make you feel his struggle. Wallace would occasionally vary from his usual style. Wallace was known to compose lyrics in his head, rather than write them down on paper. Does that sound like a rapper you know still spittin’ today?

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Biggie talking about a nation brother trying to lure him to the mosque

 

The Other Side Of Bob Marley

by soulbydapound

Bob Marley, the world renowned musician, but what about Bob Marley the football(soccer) player. You’ll always see an image of Bob kicking ball or just somewhere along the football field. Natty dread who could touch every soul in the world use to sport addidas soles on in feet when it came time to play some soccer. “We see a person focused yet loose, an athlete who truly had a passion for the game, and a man totally at ease with himself.  By all reports he was quite skilled with the ball, and could pass and score with equal proficiency.”

In America soccer isn’t our main sport as it is in other countries. At least 65% of Americans only tune in soccer when it’s World Cuo time. Usually in countries where the people are under oppression, live under a corrupt system, and struggle just to get by.  Marley’s music and life story make him a natural advocate for the oppressed– and to this day, his image is a top-seller on many a t-shirt the world over.

Happy Bornday Jean Michel Basquiat

by soulbydapound

Beginning in 1976, Basquiat and friend Al Diaz began spray-painting graffiti on buildings in Lower Manhattan, working under the pseudonym SAMO. The designs inscribed messages such as “Plush safe he think.. SAMO” and “SAMO as an escape clause.” On December 11, 1978, the Village Voice published an article about the graffiti.^[11] The SAMO project ended with the epitaph “SAMO IS DEAD,” inscribed on the walls of SoHo buildings in 1979.

In 1979, Basquiat appeared on the live public-access cable show TV Party hosted by Glenn O’Brien. That same year, Basquiat formed the noise rock band Gray with Vincent Gallo, Shannon Dawson, Michael Holman, Nick Taylor and Wayne Clifford. Gray performed at nightclubs such as Max’s Kansas City, CBGB, Hurrah, and the Mudd Club. In 1981, Basquiat starred in the independent film Downtown 81. The film featured some of Gray’s recordings on its soundtrack. He also appeared in the Blondie music video “Rapture” as a nightclub disc jockey.

In June 1980, Basquiat participated in The Times Square Show, a multi-artist exhibition sponsored by Collaborative Projects Incorporated (Colab) and Fashion Moda. In 1981, Rene Ricard published “The Radiant Child” in Artforum magazine,which brought Basquiat to the attention of the art world.

The Man Behind the Allitigator

by soulbydapound

Sporting a lacoste sweater during class recently my classmate couldn’t help but browse over and glance over at the alligator sewn on to my wool exterior. A question which was purposed that had me stuck. “Who made lacoste chap?” My response I really don’t know but I’ll let you know by our next class for sure. Unlike when you say you’ll hit somebody up and never do I actually wanted to know myself!

Jean René Lacoste was a French tennis player and businessman. He was nicknamed “the Crocodile” by fans because of his tenacity on the court; he is also known worldwide as the namesake of the Lacoste, which he introduced in 1929.

Lead In Style

by soulbydapound

Normally when you glance over to the sideline sweatsuits, jerseys and pinstripes are all you see.  In 1960, he became the first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and stayed for 29 seasons (1960–88). Sporting fedoras and fitted suit Tom Landry brought style to the NFL. Most coaches keep it basic with a tie and suit but, Landry took it one step further with his hat collection.

Music Dynasty Ends

by Advanced Placement