Thinking about Drexicya and new digital music (part one)

Today I was speaking with a colleague about connections among the narratives of enslaved Africans in spirituals and folklore to other black popular musical performances over time that have utilized space metaphors to connect to concepts of freedom. My favorite example to share in my Black Onlne: Cyberspace, Culture and Community course is the resurfacing of "Swing Down Sweet Chariot" from spirituals to Parliament to Dr. Dre. As I perused the web to find fun clips ranging from Sun Ra to Juan Atkins on sites like Youtube, I came across this nice interview with James Stinson:




There is also a tribute mix posted on this blog:

http://my.opera.com/bigloada/blog/2007/09/02/james-stinson-tribute-mix

My students have probably heard me speak often about his work with Drexicya, because he brought these metaphors home. The map of diaspora and use of science fiction narrative to educate about the liberation work still to be done continues to move me. While the masses obsess over Kraftwerk, Daft Punk & now Digitalism, I still can't let go of the effect of art from acts like Drexicya, Cybotron, etc. Don't get me wrong-- I have Kitsune Tabloid on my ipod and I enjoy running to it, but the roots and the reality of these earlier works are not yet fully excavated in my opinion. There is still love & liberation to be uncovered in the analysis of these pieces, and there is also important critique to be executed.

((Btw, I can't wait for Mr. Daniel Zarazua to come lecture on Detroit techno in my course!!!))

def professor talks to Davey D about Chuck D

This is an excerpt from an impromptu interview with me by Davey D regarding what Chuck D has meant to me (and the people I work with in my communities). Chuck D is not only a pioneer artist and creative guru, but he is also a compassionate and inspirational political character whose ethical concerns and moral convictions continue to push me to work harder to secure social justice. Knowing him has had a profound impact on my pedagogy and research practice as well as my personal life. I am a bit exuberant here, but, trust me, it is well deserved. In my opinion, there is no other Hiphop artist who is as accomplished and ethical as Chuck D.



[[Editorial Note: SFSU’s Africana/ Black Studies Department was most likely not the FIRST academic site of study for peoples included in the African-Diaspora on planet earth (think Timbuktu & centers in ancient Egypt, for example). However, it is the FIRST modern academic department in a United States university. Prior to the student strike of 1968, there were not departments of Black Studies/ African American Studies/ Afro-American Studies/ Africana Studies as we know these departments to exit today. Such departments were founded by students with a unique curriculum that is simultaneously activist- and community service-oriented while being anchored in theory and research that serves to improve the lives of all human beings.]]

def professor joins Boze

The def professor joins Boze (co-founder of Club Knowledge & producer with Hairdoo) and hosts of the TalkBack show on PCTV (Peralta Community College Television) to talk about Club Knowledge's Malcolm X Critical Consciousness Conference, the def prof's Hiphop courses taught at Laney College, Hiphop scholarship and culture, the Hiphop Archive as an academic resource and gender equity issues in Hiphop. This show was taped in early April of 2005.

The def prof was a faculty advisor and member of Club Knowledge, which was a unique student organization with a community-based organizational component. In addition to hosting the annual conference, the organization met at people's homes in the Oakland community to discuss and plan action to solve community problems and community pains.

Club Knowledge was conceptualized by Miesha Hillard, who is now a practicing nurse in Oakland. Other very active founding members who came after Ms. Hillard include Curtis "Boze" Riley and Danae Martinez as well as many others. Ms. Martinez is the person who conceptualized the first Malcolm X conference, and she will soon complete her BA in Africana Studies at SFSU and plans to obtain PhD in the field. These students and many more put their hearts and souls into imperative community organizing that has left a lasting impact on the memories of Bay Area residents. There will be another post about Hiphop courses at Laney & the Club Knowledge work.