[Ppnews] Kamel Jacot-Bell - Three more hip-hoppers who fascinated in 2005

[Political Prisoner News]

Posted on Fri, Dec. 16, 2005
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http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/entertainment/13421134.htm

Three more hip-hoppers who fascinated in 2005  (scroll down)

Davey D

In my last column (Dec. 2), I started counting down my list of the 10 
most fascinating people in hip-hop during 2005. The list included (at 
No. 10) Grammy nominee Kanye West, (9) Mississippi rapper David 
Banner and (8) local rapper-activist Shamako Noble. Here are my next choices:

7. MC Lyte. I salute this pioneering Brooklyn-born MC for going the 
extra mile in 2005. First, she published a book of poetry and 
inspiration, ``Just My Take,'' for young women. Next, she teamed up 
with rapper-turned-filmmaker Nefertiti to do a documentary on women 
in the music industry. And she collaborated with longtime rap artist 
Yo-Yo to help relaunch the Intelligent Black Woman's Coalition.

What really caught my attention, though, was when Lyte helped the 
women of Atlanta's Spelman College tackle the misogyny and negative 
images of women in hip-hop by spearheading a Hip-Hop Week on campus, 
which included free workshops, forums and panel discussions.

Lyte used her influence to make sure this important discussion was 
all over radio and local TV stations. She also brought in luminaries 
Chuck D, Da Brat, Salt from Salt-N-Pepa and Yo-Yo, as well as actor 
Malcolm-Jamal Warner to participate. The results were overflowing 
crowds and renewed commitment to and strategies for dealing with 
these issues. On top of all this, she has just released the slamming 
single ``Juke Joint'' and has opened a women's boutique in Los 
Angeles with merchandise that's actually affordable.

6. K'naan. The Somalian-born rap star, who now lives in Toronto, is 
well-known in Brazil, South Africa, Kenya, Cuba, the United Kingdom 
and, of course, Canada, whose Urban Music Awards recently named him 
hip-hop artist of the year. His fans are keenly aware of the ideas 
that motivate the Dusty Foot Philosopher, which is not only his 
nickname but also the title of his album.

Hits such as the controversial ``Soobax'' (about warlords in Somalia) 
and ``What's Hardcore'' (about the meaningless quarrels within the 
hip-hop community) have earned K'naan not only respect but also a 
huge international following.

He can rock a crowd while teaching listeners that Somalia is home to 
the Battle Poets, who believe words can be weapons in war. K'naan was 
shooting a rifle at the age of 8 in war-torn Somalia, where his 
father was a major political figure and a skilled Battle Poet.

K'naan's business partner and manager, Sol Guy, notes that K'naan's 
message is relevant globally. His political and social ideas are 
presented in their popular documentary series ``4 Reel.'' So far, 
they have chronicled the hip-hop and political scene in Venezuela, 
Brazil, Peru, South Africa, Kenya, India, Spain and Britain. Now they 
are en route to Djibouti to make another documentary. If you don't 
know K'naan yet, you will by the end of 2006. He's truly a world 
hip-hop superstar.

5. Kamel Jacot Bell. If you've attended a concert by dead prez, 
Blackstar or Mos Def, among others, you can thank this 26-year-old 
Oakland native and his company, Ankh Marketing. Several years ago, 
Kamal noticed that hip-hop artists with important messages in their 
music, as well as some of the community's grass-roots organizations, 
had no marketing vehicle. Over the past four years, Kamal filled that 
void, and now he's presenting concerts not only in the Bay Area but 
also in New York and Philadelphia.

In a recent interview, Bell said he was motivated by two factors: the 
need to make hip-hop a tool for social change; and love and concern 
for his father, former Black Panther Herman Bell, who has been 
imprisoned for almost 33 years.

My Dec. 30 column will wrap up my list of the year's most fascinating 
people in hip-hop.

Davey D's hip-hop column is published biweekly in Eye. Contact him at 
<mailto:mrdaveyd at aol.com>mrdaveyd at aol.com.




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