Krip-Hop News Issue #2

by Leroy Moore

Welcome to Krip-Hop News, a brand new concept where I and other writers will keep you informed about what is going on for Hip-Hop artists with disabilities and other disabled musicians. This is our second issue and introductory issue and we are asking you to contribute your news, topics and suggestions. Krip-Hop statement is as follows:

Artists with disabilities are in the music industry from Blues to Hip-Hop. From Blind Willie Johnson to Blind Rob and Cripple Clarence Lofton to 4Wheel City, our music has helped shape the world we live in. Krip-Hop continues this legacy with many voices from the US, UK, Spain, Africa, Haiti and more rapping not only to the Hip-Hop generation, but also to society and the world as a whole about the talents, politics and sexuality we embody while at the same time fighting against the discrimination that isolates us from one another.

Krip-Hop displays the beauty and strength of collaboration and disabled music history, present and future. Our aim is to get the musical talents of hip-hop artists with disabilities into the hands of media outlets, educators, hip-hop, disability and race scholars, youth, hip-hop conference coordinators, and agents and to report on the latest news on musicians with disabilities.

Krip-Hop News would like to invite you to help build or continue to build a present in the Hip-Hop Journalism industry. Krip-Hop News knows that there has been many individual disabled Hip-Hop artists that have been showered by the Black ink of Hip-Hop journalists’ pens including DJ Boogie Blind, MF Grimm and Bushwick Bill to name a few. However nine times out of ten, news of Hip-Hop artists and other musicians with disabilities don’t make it in high glossy magazines, journals and books but can be found in bits and pieces on myspace.com and other underground media outlets.

If you don’t have the time and resources to research these underground outlets than you miss news, CD release, documentaries, merchandise and events of disabled musicians. This is why I would like to help provide this news and hope it will take off with many writers on the internet and some time in the near future become a full fledged magazine in your local independent bookstores, but it is all up to you. At this point in time Krip-Hop News will be hosted on www.poormagazine.org and at leroymoore.com and will be in a blog form on cripmoore/myspace.com. In the near future the Krip-Hop Project will be on its own website.

Now Krip-Hop News Issue 2

Our fist issue was popping with news that’s not in Hip-Hop magazines or any other publications for that matter. We covered some new CDs, books and other merchandize from Hip-Hop artists with disabilities like MF GRIMM’s new book. (See below for a full interview with MF GRIMM). We let you know of Keith Jones and his exploration of running for political office as a Black disabled activist and Hip-Hop artist. Krip-Hop News sat down with Mr. Jones to talk about his run for US Senate. And, of course we gave you some insight of the new Krip-Hop Mixtape Vol.2. Vol. 2 just arrived in the mail from our new label 2THA Point Entertainment of Preechman from NY. Krip-Hop News is not only Hip-Hop but all music.

In this issue, we will look at the new book and work of Kenneth Tyson who has his own record label, 2nd Generation Records, and an entertainment center in Detroit. We will look at the October \November issue of XXL Magazine, which had an article featuring 4Wheel City. We could not leave you without telling you what new CDs, books and movies coming out by or about musicians with disabilities. So let do this!

I’ve been following MF GRIMM’s career since he became disabled in the early nineties. This will be my third article on MF GRIMM but it is the first time I had a chance to interview him about his new book, Sentences: The Life of MF GRIMM. My fist article on MF GRIMM was in 2OO5 published in the San Francisco Bay View newspaper. Back then I wrote about the violence in Hip-Hop that made another Hip-Hop artist from Detroit, Blade Icewood, a wheelchair user for a year before he was shot to death in his wheelchair. Very few artists survive the violence of the streets, Hip-Hop generation and accidents to write about it. Well finally MF GRIMM joins his counterparts in Soul music who are wheelchair users and are still cranking out hits or producing like Teddy Pendergrass and Kenneth Tyson.

All three, Teddy Pendergrass, Kenneth Tyson and MF GRIMM are in the music industry, all are wheelchair users and all have penned their stories in books. From my research, MF GRIMM’s book is the first “mainstream” book by a disabled Hip-Hop artist and because of that reason I bought two copies for my growing Black\Brown disabled library. Before we get into a very short review of Sentences, let’s hear from the man himself, MF GRIMM.

Kip-Hop News with MF GRIMM: New Book, Upcoming CD and…

Krip-Hop Where were you born?

MF GRIMM The Bronx

Krip-Hop: Tell us how was Hip-Hop when you were growing up in NY?

MF GRIMM It was more about battling styles and street corners. You were in a battle on The Street corner and people keep walking and don't stop to listen then you were kind considered wack but on the other hand if you caused giant crowds on the corner while you rhyme then you were considered worthy.

Krip-Hop: How long have you been in the Hip-Hop industry?

MF GRIMM: Since I was about 14 years old.

Krip-Hop: First a triple CD and now a book. What is next?

MF GRIMM: Films, and Animations, Television programming as well.

KRIP-HOP: Why did you write Sentences?

MF GRIMM: To explain to people that although you might make mistakes or even counted out, it's never to late to change your ways, and never give up hope of making something out of your life no matter the circumstances.

Krip-Hop: Give a brief description of your book

MF GRIMM: It's about my life from basically 5 years old until now and all the situations I put myself in that could have been avoided.

Krip-Hop: You have been on the big screen and in wrongly incarcerated. Tell me is there a real community in Hip-Hop or is everybody out for themselves?

MF GRIMM: There's a community, you just have to reach out and also allow those that's willing to help to help. As for wrongly convicted, I don't see it that way, I knew what I was doing and knew the repercussion of my actions and I served my time for it.

Krip-Hop: Do you think there is a dumbing down of lyrics in Hip-Hop these days?

MF GRIMM: No.

Krip Hop: Now you’ve been in the music and publishing industries. What are the pitfalls for artists?

MF GRIMM: Not knowing the legal aspects of the music business.
Krip-Hop: When you first approach the music industry after you became disabled what were the reactions towards you? And have things changes?

MF GRIMM: Yes, They felt I wasn't marketable because I was in a wheelchair...Things changed now I'm marketable.

Krip-Hop: Tell us the characters in your book. Who are they and where did they come from?

MF GRIMM: The characters are friends, family and enemies they're all real.

Krip-Hop: You know in my point of view you’re the only disabled Hip-Hop artist that have publish a book and got into Hip-Hop Magazine. How can other disabled hip-hop artists learn from you?

MF GRIMM: That's exactly what the book is about to never give up hope have faith in your self, but also learn from my mistakes. You don't have to sell drugs, and shooting people don't make you a man. And getting shot don't make you a better emcee.

Krip-Hop: What is your experience being a Hip-Hop artist using a wheelchair and do you think the Hip-Hop industry is ready for Krip-Hop AKA disabled hip-hop artists?

MF GRIMM: They don't have a choice, bring it to their face. don't let others decide if your worthy because they can walk, BE WHO YOU ARE.

Krip-Hop: As a CEO of an Entertainment business do you have totally control over your music and artists?

MF GRIMM: I have total control of all my projects. I don't control my artist. They have control over their projects.

Krip-Hop: Will you write another book?

MF GRIMM: Yes, several books and graphic novels.

Krip-Hop: Tell us more abut Sentences

MF GRIMM: The artist name is Ron Wimberly artwork is just as important and it's incredible, and Mr. Casey Seijas (editor at Vertigo/DC Comics) is the person who had the faith in me to help me turn this into a reality.

Krip-Hop: How can people contact you?

MF GRIMM: WWW.daybydayent.com

Krip-Hop: Is there going to be a book tour? If so are you coming to California?

MF GRIMM: Yes, I'll keep you updated.

Krip-Hop: Tells about your next CD

MF GRIMM The Hunt for the Ginger Bread Man released SEPTEMBER 25, 2007.

Krip-Hop: How can people get you book?

MF GRIMM: All book stores, and if it's not there then make sure they get it.

Krip-Hop: Any last words?

MF GRIMM: It's time to get out of these wheelchairs and stand up! It is mind over matter, never forget that.

MF GRIMM gives support and love to Krip-Hop Project:

“I love Krip Hop. What you're doing is very important, it's needed for the young children, dealing with any type of disability, to know that there's nothing on this planet that can stop them all they have to do is believe. You always support me, and I need to do the same for you. I admire and respect you for the great things you've done not for just people in wheelchairs but for humanity. We have a voice and it's our obligation to speak for those who don't have one and fight and defend those who can't defend themselves against all forms of discrimination injustice and oppression. Keep fighting my brother and tell all the disabled brothers and sisters I said "it's time to rise up!!"

Percy Carey AKA MF GRIMM

Krip-Hop News would like to thank MF GRIMM for his time and support!

Sentences: The Life of MF GRIMM Krip-Hop two cents Part 1

First of all, I have been waiting for this book since my first article about MF GRIMM back in 2005. So, when I finally got my own copy, I ran through this book like I was Carol Lewis. In two days I finished Sentences. As in the interview MF GRIMM corrected me on his arrest and his upbringing, the same education took place in his book. I had assumptions of MF GRIMM’s arrest and his life as a wheelchair user and as well Sentences burst my bubble and constructed the real image by the author’s own pen. There are many reviews of Sentences on the internet and the beautiful illustrations by Ronald Wimberly but for me and Krip-Hop News we’d I like to focus on the book’s story after MF became disabled.

To be continued….

Hip-Hop has always been political but now Hip-Hop artists are entering the political arena like Kevin Powell to disabled Hip-Hop artist, Keith Jones from Boston. Like MF GRIMM, this will be my third article on Mr. Jones but in this interview Jones makes it public that he is running for the Senate in the next Congressional race. Krip-Hop talks to him about his political views and his campaign along with his cultural work as a Hip-Hop artist. In the last election Massachusetts broke barriers by electing the first Black Governor. Now Keith Jones is on the campaign road to topple Kennedy’s seat in Congress. See http://poormagazine.org/index.cfm?L1=news&category=2 for the full interview.