Breakdown FM :: Interview with K'naan

Davey D is hands down my favorite journalist in the world.

In this interview with K'naan they go deep about the Somali Pirates, the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia, as well as you know, music... it's an important interview. K'naan you said it so well and make us all proud brotha, thank you.

Listen to the Breakdown FM Interview w/ K'naan by clicking the link below:

http://odeo.com/episodes/24382570-Knaan-is-in-the-Building-make-Room-at-the-Table

Davey D's "25 Joints To Get U Throo..." Intl' Womens Day Edition!

25 Joints to Get U Through the Day #11
Sista's on Point-Like There's No Tomorrow-
Unbrought and Unbossed

Catch this weeks show by clicking the link below:
http://odeo.com/episodes/24282588-25-Joints-11-Sista-s-On-Point

In celebration of International Women's History Month we decided to highlight the voice of many who are often overlooked, taken for granted or forgotten about. Those are our sisters in Hip Hop. Women have always been on point from day one when it comes to architecting this culture called Hip Hop. We can start with Cindy Campbell-the sister of Hip Hop's father Kool Herc. had it not been for her suggesting and ultimately setting up the now landmark party on 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in August of 1973, we might not be on the mic, yes yes y'alling at all today in 2009.
During the pioneering years we had stellar emcees like Zulu Queen Lisa Lee who was down with Afrika Bambaattaa, Pebbly Poo of the Masterdon Committee and Sha Rock who was down with DJ Baron & Breakout-Funky 4 Plus One More.. Of course we have to tip our hats to the one and only Mercedes Ladies-the first all female Hip Hop Crew.. We have an interview with original member Shari-Shar about to drop real soon-so be on the look out..
Over the years lots of women have blessed the mic and left their mark from Salt-n-Pepa to Roxanne Shante to the Real Roxanne to Queen Latifah to MC Lyte.. The list goes on.. Sadly we've had a situation within the music industry that had decided that women artists are not marketable. The conventional wisdom has been that the average listener can't distinguish their voices. Hence its always been situation where you always find maybe one or two females at most on a major label with them being released and marketed at different times.
Of course here at Breakdown FM, we see it differently. There's a world of difference between MC Lyte and Queen Latifah, just like there's a world of difference between Chuck D and KRS or 50 Cent and Ice Cube. Different looks, rhyme styles, subject matter etc. So much for industry wisdom
This week we went and dug deep and highlighted some folks you need to check for.. We kick things off with Seattle sensations Canary Sing and their dope new song 'Heroines'. We proceed their cut with a short tribute to Shirley Chisolm who kicked down the doors for both Jesse Jackson and Barack Obama-She was the first to run for President back in '72 around the birth of Hip Hop.
Also out of the Emrald City which has plethora of female emcees. To be honest we could've done a 25 Joints just with Seattle women-that's how deep they're rolling. Artists like Toni Hill, Felicia Loud, Southern Komfort, Sis Moni Tep, Beyond Reality, Cristina Orbe are just a few of the many. On this 25 Joints, we feature DJ B-Girl and her cut 'Murder She Wrote' featuring Julie C and Sista Hailstorm. We also have pioneering emcee Laura 'Piece' Kelley and her classic song 'Soundwave'.
Right next door to Seattle is Portland which has a wealth of talent in the form of groups like Siren's Echo. We featured Queen Nasim who has been doing her thing for minute with a song called 'I'm Original'. It has that old school sound and feel. Because of Seattle and the NW's deepness in talent we'll probably have to do pt2 on the all female 25 Joints. So stay tuned.
The midwest came hard as we drop gems from artists like Invincible out of Detroit with her song 'Regonize'. her album 'Shape Shifters' is what Hip Hop should really be about. We have Nefertiti and with her slamming joint 'Addicted' and San Jose transplant to Grand Rapids Brazen who has a wonderful spoken word song called 'Grand Plight'. Not to be missed is TMD who we'll have to highlight next go round.
Also out the midwest and holding down Minneapolis is Maria Isa who we featured last year. Her piano laden Latin flavored joint 'Die Not Kill' is pure butter.
Lastly we have Chicago native Lah Tere from the group Rebel Diaz. She's currently working on a solo project. She laced us with a head nodding cut called 'You Are'
Mystic blessed us with an exclusive cut that will be a cornerstone to her upcoming album bearing the same title 'Beautiful Resistance'. This Grammy nominated artists has serious fire and deep insights to our minds and souls. Don't sleep on her.
In the same vein is Pittsburgh native Kellee Maize who recently was cited as one of the best in the city that now calls itself 'Sixburgh' because of the Steelers 6 Superbowl wins. Last year Kellee hit us over the dome with an album called 'Age of Feminine'that centered on Women's empowerment and spirituality She returns with a new song called 'Third Eye' which takes us deeper.
Chuck D of Public Enemy has been backing an all female crew called Crew Grrrl Order. They came hard with a new song that pays tribute to the First Lady Michele Obama. Longtime producer Johnny Juice does a nice remix which accenuates these sister's flows and lets us know that they will be around for a minute. he also gets busy cutting in excerpts from Michelle Obama
Like Seattle the Bay Area comes deep with female talent. We have Mystic who we highlighted along with Jennifer Johns who is on fire. The Conscious Daughters of course who we'll feature on pt 2 are the best known names. But the Bay has a lot of folks like Aya De Leon, Joyo Verlarde, Kofy Brown, Goapele are just a few of the other names that are stellar in talent and presence.
On this 25 Joints we bring the spot light to Queen Deelah who comes out of East Oakland the the Silence the Violence Movement. She's part of a larger collective of artists who have dedicated themselves and Hip Hop to stopping the carnage that plagues the mean streets of Oakland. Deelah's song 'Mind Yours' is dope and captures that vintage Bay sound.
Another up and coming talent starting to make noise is Kenyanna Bean. Her new song 'Good Wit Me' is also popping. Like Queen Deelah Kenyanna is also out there making noise in the community trying to make a difference. Big shout out to Simone Nia Rae who could've also been on this episode if we had more space. She too is also a part of the new school of Bay talent. Her new song 'Jealousy' has been featured on local radio stations in nearby Stockton. We'll be rocking her in upcoming 25 Joints.
As we close out we'd be remissed not to acknowledge the Queens from the Big Apple who are seriously on point. If you never heard of Tiye Phoenix you're slipping. her joint 'Nicewitis' lives up to its name. When her project finally drops, I guarante she'll be turning Hip Hop upside down. She's joined by Jean Grae which whom no all female showcase would be complete without her in the building. Grae can do no wrong when she touches the mic. Her song Supa Jean makes you wonder why people have been overlooking her.
Eve, Queen Latifah Isis aka Lin Que hold us down with some classic joints from their catalogue. We also have a dope joint from Hip Hop MC Lyte produced by DJ Premier called 'Wonder Years'. That song which dropped in 07 is vintage on Breakdown FM. Medusa is also a pioneering figure from the west coast who is still snatching heads when she gets on the mic. She's blesses us with a new song called 'Cali Fame' which proves that assertion.
Zulu Queen Rha Goddess and Sarah Jones show us just how potent spoken word can get. The lyrics to the songs 'Revolution' and 'Immaculate Conception' will make a whole lot of artists step up their lyric game.

Catch this weeks show by clicking the link below:
http://odeo.com/episodes/24282588-25-Joints-11-Sista-s-On-Point

Here's the playlist

01-Canary Sing 'Heroines' (Seattle)
02-Kellee Maize 'Third Eye' (Pittsburgh)
03-Isis 'Rebel Song' (NY)
04-Jean Grae 'Supa Jean' (NY)
05-Eve 'Life Is So Hard' (NY)
06-Mystic 'Beautiful Resistance' (Bay Area/ LA)
07-Laura 'Piece' Kelly 'Soundwave' (Seattle)
08-Nefertiti 'Addicted' (Grand Rapids, Mi)
09-DJ Vadim w/ Sarah Jones 'Revolution' (NY)
10-DJ B Girl w/ Sista Hailstorm & Julie C 'Murder She Wrote' (Seattle)
11-Queen Latifah 'Latifah had It Up To Here' (NY)
12-Rha Goddess 'Immaculate Conception' (NY)
13-Invincible 'Recognize' (Detroit)
14-Crew Grrrl Order 'Official First Lady (Johnny Juice Remix)
15-Macy Gray w/ Mos Def "I Committed Murder' (gang Star rmx)
16-Tiye Phoenix 'Nicewitis' (NY)
17-Mala Rodriguez 'Ajierro' (Spain)
18-Queen Deelah 'Mond Yours' (Oakland)
19-Bernice King & Sister Souljah meet the Rhondo Brothers (interlude)
20-Medusa 'Cali Fame' (LA)
21-Jennifer John 'Painting on Wax' (Bay Area)
22-Queen Nasim 'I'm original' w/ Rosa Clemente (Portland)
23-Maria Isa 'Die Not Kill' (Minneapolis)
24-Lah Tere 'You Are' (Chicago/NY)
25-Brazen 'Grand Rapid' (San Jose/ Grand Rapid)
26-Kenyanna Bean 'Good Wit Me' (Oakland)

-- Davey D

Breakdown FM w/ Davey D :: 25 Joints to Get U Throo...

this is from Davey D's blog... i just got to see him teach a class last week too! check this out...

25 Joints to Get U Through the Day #9
No More Tears-No More Shame-No More Violence



01-PSAStop Domestic violence
02-Tabb Doe 'Sleeping w/ the Enemy' (San Francisco)
03-MC Hammer 'Big Man' (Oakland)
04-Poetess w/ Def Jeff, Kool G Rap, Almighty 'Love Hurts' (LA)
05-Brand Nubian 'Sincerely' (New York)
06-KRS-One 'Brown Skinned Woman' (New York)
07-Bridget Gray 'Letter to Hip Hop' (LA)
08-Amir Suilaman 'How Beautiful' (Oakland)
09-Hard Knock 'Hands of a Stranger' (New York)
10-Sister Souljah 'Relationships' (New York)
11-Paris 'Assata's Song' (San Francisco)
12- J Boogie w/ Zumbi 'For Your Love' (San Francisco/Oakland)
13-Michael Franti & Spearhead 'Hey World' (San Francisco)
14-Urban Ave 131 'Heaven Help Us' (Washington DC)
15-X-Clan 'Wiz Degrees' (LA)
16-Bambu 'Nicole' ft Micah (San Francisco)
17-Desdamona 'Faulty Fuse' (Minneapolis)
18-NY Oil 'You're A Queen' (new York)
19-M-1 'Love You Can't Borrow' (New York)
20-Gabriel Teodros 'Warriors' (Seattle)
21-Public Enemy 'Revolutionary Generation' (New York)
22-Queen Latifah 'Nature of a Sista' (New York)
23-Kofy Brown 'Just a Woman' (Oakland)
24-Michael Franti & Spearhead 'U Can't Sing R Song'(San Francisco)
25-Jennifer Johns 'Afraid of Me'

This week we were disturbed by the domestic violence incident that is swirling around singers Chris Brown and his now former girlfriend Rhianna. Its been the topic du jour. Sadly this is an industry where such occurrences are not unusual. If anything this industry actually celebrates and handsomely rewards those who have been accused of committing acts of violence against their partners. Some think its funny. Others think its no big deal. Way too many think the person on the receiving end deserved what they got. We see that happening now with the Chris Brown situation. Far too many comments along the lines of she may have gotten what she deserved. And that's coming from both men and women.

So this week we went and found some songs that address the various issues around domestic violence with a message of hope, upliftment and healing.

Among the cuts we got hold of include a new joint from Brother J and X-Clan called 'Wiz Degrees'. Its a nice song about love and his appreciation for his partner and what she means to him. Its off the new album 'Mainstream Outlaw' which is banging.
Desdamona out of the Twin Cities has a searing song that'll make you pause and think called 'Faulty Fuse'. We also hit you upside the dome with new music from Michael Franti called 'Hey World' which will definitely touch you.
Two of my favorite songs addressing this issue comes from MC Hammer and Brand Nubian. Hammer's track 'Big Man', off the Family Affair album hits a homer as he reminds folks the harsh consequences of such behavior.
Brand Nubian's song 'Sincerely' was completely overlooked when it was released on the 1st anniversary of the Million Man March'. You will be asking yourself, why wasn't this record being exposed to the masses? It's an incredible song.
two other songs to check is Bridgette Gray's heart wrenching Letter to Hip Hop. She lays out some serious questions that still have yet to be adequately answered. We follow that up with a piece from fellow spoken word artist Amir Suilaman called 'How Beautiful'. here he addresses the painful topic of rape.
Anyway there's lots of joints to get you thinking. Enjoy, reflect, pass along and most importantly Try to make a difference help bring about a world where the horrors of domestic abuse no longer exist..

Listen to 25 Joints by clicking link below:
http://odeo.com/episodes/24083600-25-Joints-9-No-More-Tears

-- Davey D

An Open letter to Barack Obama from Rebel Diaz

i've been having a hard time saying this... RodStarz from Rebel Diaz says it really well in this cut tho... peace to Davey D for posting it up! listen.



An Open letter to Barack Obama from Rebel Diaz

Breakdown FM with Davey D: An Interview w/ Gabriel Teodros

so i spent some time in Las Vegas this summer to attend the National Hip Hop Political Convention where i did a workshop, dj'd on a rooftop, met some amazing people, heard people like Dhoruba Bin Wahad & Dr. Marc Lamont Hill drop knowledge, and even ate at my uncles restaraunt with Jeff Chang! i also got to catch up with my hero in radio journalism, Davey D... he did this interview with me... check it out! also, Davey D might have the most important website regarding hip hop culture & politics there is... subscribe to his blog if your gonna subscribe to any! word. -- gt

From Ethiopia to Seattle-Hip Hop is Worldwide
An Interview w/ Gabriel Teodros

by Davey D

Listen to Breakdown FM Interview by clicking HERE:
http://odeo.com/episodes/23149533-Interview-w-Gabriel-Teodros

When you talk about Hip Hop in the Emerald City (Seattle), you will lose all credibility if you don't give props to Gabriel Teodros. This Ethiopian/Scottish/ Native American emceee is a fixture in the scene who has made his mark first as a member of the group 500 Years and later as a member of the group Abyssinian Creole. His solo album 'Lovework' is considered a masterpiece and one of the tightest albums to ever bless the city who's Hip Hop scene was once only defined by Sir Mix-A-Lot.

During our interview Gabriel talked about the way his Ethiopian culture has influenced his music. He noted that his family did not approve of him rapping. They felt he was behaving like an 'outsider', but a conversation with his grandmother revealed that the Hip Hop and certain aspects within the oral tradition of East Africa were very similar.

Gabriel explained that he has recently embarked upon a new project called Andromeda: The Chronicles of Blackopia, Volume 1 which has allowed him and fellow Ethiopian artists to further explore their cultural roots. He said he's been learning his native tongue and starting to flow over the rhythms most associated with East Africa. He also noted that it was important to break out of the 4 count beat matrix Hip Hop has been traditionally locked into..

During our interview we talked about Gabriel's activism. He noted that nowadays it's hard to just be a rapper in Seattle. He revealed that everyone is part of an organization and involved within some sort of activism. Just being a rapper is not enough. Everyone expects more from you.

He elaborated by talking about the his experiences during the infamous WTO (World Trade Organization) demonstrations-The Battle in Seattle and how Hip Hop although not often highlighted played a role. He talked about how people from his 500 Year Collective were among the first to get hit with tear gas and shot with rubber bullets. He noted that many folks were knee deep into the demonstrations and that it unveiled some ugly truths about this supposedly pristine and liberal city.

He talked about the brutal nature of the police and how the WTO along with two highly publicized and suspect cases involving two Seattle Hip Hop icons DJ DV One and spoken word /artist /teacher Rajnii forever politicized Seattle's Hip Hop community. The case against DV One was especially chilling because it involved Seattle police man handling DV's young pre teen daughter and DV getting tasered and beat up by the police when he went to help. The police officers straight up lied on the stand and DV who was facing 5 years was found guilty. Although he didn't have to serve the time, this Hip Hop icon now has a police record and scars of an unprovoked beating and even harsher memories of the police hitting his little girl for not moving fast enough.

With Rajnii he would up getting brutalized and arrested by Seattle police when he came upon one of his students being arrested forlittering. He asked the cops if the parents had been notified after identifying himself as a teacher which unfortunately enraged the cops who came after him in front of his students. He was later found Not Guilty with prejudice, meaning the jury found the cops crossed the line, but those two incidents which happened back to back underscored the need for artists to also be activists.

Gabriel concluded by talking about his albums including the the classic 'Lovework' and how its important for him to deliver compelling social and political messages.

Return to Davey D's Hip Hop Corner