Category Archives: Press Release

Weapon of Voice

1415591129485

A New Release by Renaissance the Poet

 

After going through a very dark period in my life, this is what emerged from the internal struggle that nearly claimed my light:

A challenge to the established order of things. A refusal to remain reticent while injustice is spreading like a cancer throughout the planet. A recognition of the challenges that faces any person concerned with addressing social concerns, namely, the power structure set in place to maintain the status quo. The acknowledgement that the status quo would not need to be challenged if, neither the planet, nor the people who inhabit it were not dealing with injustices. And a declaration that these injustices will not persist unchallenged.

 

Other Useful Links:

http://soundcloud.com/renaissance-the-poet/

https://www.facebook.com/renaissancethepoet.official

Rappers Equal Nerds

Press Release, Rapolitic, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Rappers = Nerds

 

“The Real World”

 

“Collegiate Rapper”

 

I took a hiatus from making music while I became acclimated to life at the University of Washington, but the wheels are up and I am taking off!

What I have been learning has influenced the creation of a new project titled “Rappers = Nerds.” The premise underlying the project is that anyone can achieve success, regardless of where they have come from or where they intend to go.

My hope is that I will be able to share with people, especially teenagers and young adults how success can be achieved in high school, college, universities or the professional atmosphere of careers. Furthermore, by using the prestige I have earned as an accomplished emcee and poet will help to grab and hold their attention long enough to be a positive influence in their lives and the decisions they will make.

To achieve this, I will be using Hip-Hop and Spoken Word as the initial means to transmit these messages because they are the mediums that people both enjoy listening to and learning from. This seems to be a very likely way to bridge the gap between academia and success, and those who believe that college and a professional life is not for them. In addressing the issue of being successful, several of my songs seek to shatter many of the stereotypes that face minority groups in the United States of America.

“RappersEqualNerds” is part of a campaign to change the paradigm of what Signithi Fordham and John Ogbu termed “Oppositional Identity,” whereby it is not cool, or right for minorities, especially those who are indigent or poor to be intelligent and to excel in academic or professional environments.

I am hopeful  that teachers and mentors will be able to use this material to break through the communication barriers they confront with adolescents that are difficult to reach. If and when, teachers and mentors find that words and speeches in classrooms and mentoring sessions alone are inadequate to transmit the message that success is both possible for their students and that they deserve it, then maybe a hip hop song or spoken word piece can.

The album will be featuring such artists as K.O. Nikkita, the renowned spoken word and slam artist, and host of the infamous The Seattle Slam; Ready Ron of the Impossiblez; Mark Hoy; Project RZ; Edward Lamar Hoey Jr.; Mamma Nikki of Over Mediocre, DJ Rise and many others.

All of the music created for this project will be distributed free of charge and are available for streaming live on SoundCloud and Reverbnation. I do not believe that this type of beneficial information should come at a cost to anyone.

The final component of this project is creating a curriculum of seminars and workshops  to be brought into schools and mentoring programs. For an example of the type of material that will be covered in these discussion please take a look at the background Renaissance has prepared for his song titled, “Turn the Day Into the Night,” at the following link:

I encourage any and all teachers, mentors and even parents to draw from this material when you are finding it difficult to reach and inspire an individual or group you are working with. You are welcome to use any materials that I have posted, which includes the essays or photographs, if the intention is to benefit those you are working with and the is not a profit associated with its use. You may even send me a request on my Facebook Page to come and speak to the people you are working with.