Story Archives 2012

Hello Krip-Hop Folks,

These last three days have been off the wall.  My email accounts has been hacked, Yahoo.  Fuck! I just realized that when my email account was Hacked that they took all of my email addresses yes they wiped out my yahoo address book! So please send me your email address at kriphopnation@gmail.com. Yes I'm finally slowly leaving Yahoo. This happened to me before time to move on.

If you got this email, don't reply to it because it is spam.

SPAM EMAIL COMING FROM MY ACCOUNT PLEASE DON'T REPLAY IT IS SPAM BUT IF YOU DID REPLAY THEN CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD ASAP

I really hope you get this fast. I could not inform anyone about our trip, because it was impromptu. we had to be in Manila Philippines for a program. The program was successful, but our journey has turned sour. we misplaced our wallet and cell phone on our way back to the hotel we lodge in after we went for sight seeing. The wallet contained all the valuables we had. Now, our passport is in custody of the hotel management pending when we make payment.

I am sorry if i am inconveniencing you, but i have only very few people to run to now. i will be indeed very grateful if i can get a loan of $2,000 from you. this will enable me sort our hotel bills and get my sorry self back home. I will really appreciate whatever you can afford in assisting me with. I promise to refund it in full as soon as I return. let me know if you can be of any assistance. Please, let me know soonest. Thanks so much.

Leroy F. Moore Jr
Founder of Krip-Hop Nation

On November 14, 2012, I spoke before the Berkeley Unified School District on behalf our contingent McKinney-Vento. Families and students at BUSD demanding that services at BUSD not be cut. My daughter and a BUSD employee asked me why I spoke with so much anger, as poor and an African-American parent, the District see us as invisible. They make plans for us, about us with consulting us.  Many times this plans are ineffective, inefficient and to quote my daughter “stupid”.  Power concedes nothing without a demand, and this demand better be load and unequivocal or they will pat you on the head like a poodle and send you on your way.

         On September 19, 2012, I spoke at a BUSD Board Meeting in the public comment portion of the meeting about the continuing decrease in McKinney-Vento Act funding over the past three years from $45,000 to $17,000. The Board requested that the District explain this at the next meeting on October 24, 2012. The District Staff postponed their presentation until November 14, 2012. However, me, my daughter Iris Stegman, Don Kwon (a McKinney-Vento Parent), and Irma Parker (the Parent Liaison at BHS) spoke on the inadequacy of the services provided by BHS.  The Co-Interim Superintendents in their informed the Board that assistance was not being cut. Even though the funding for McKinney-Vento position at the District Office Central Enrollment was reduced by more that 50 percent.
 
        The Staff at BUSD has performed that classic bureaucratic disingenuousness manner. First they act as if they don't know what you are talking about, then they lie and they try to confuse the rules and regulations, and then they put this veneer of expertise while violate our right to free and quality education.

        Before the November 14, 2012, Board Meeting the District Staff presented a proposal that  no longer spouted that lie they weren't cutting funds. Now the District was “decentralizing services’.  They proposed to hire a new full-time counselor at BHS to assist 394 the McKinney-Vento Students and Families at BHS and the 130 students at BHS that were at identified as disruptive students.  According to Western Association School and College (WASC) BHS Self Study 130 students accounted for 40 percent of the all-incident reports at BHS.   

        This would create not just unrealistic but also an unsustainable caseload for that position. If this were truly a half time position, individual performing these duties would be only able to meet with each of these student a half an hour per month.

        In addition, the Counselor would be assigned to provide McKinney-Vento eligible 394 students and families. The position was created to satisfy (WASC) because the BHS is in danger of losing their accreditation for its failure to serve it most needy students. The creation of the large caseload with students with diverse needs is unrealistic to expect our children receive the assistance they are entitled to under the McKinney-Vento Act.

        The BUSD’s proposal is unlawful. The McKinney-Vento Act specifically prohibits the segregation services at any school site.  The combining of services with this one position stigmatizes McKinney-Vento families and students which is also unlawful.   More than 10 percent of students at BHS are eligible for assistance under the McKinney-Vento. Many of our kids are just like other students. Some are high performing, other low performing and other in the middle.  So why are they sending our kids to the Counselor for the disruptive students?   

        As a low-income, African-American parent sometimes I wish I could tell when bureaucracies were just plain negligent or incompetent, or whether the actions are because of their white supremacy and/or discrimination against poor folks.  As it pertains to its obligations under the McKinney-Vento the BUSD Staff proposal is lacking.  The Act states that School Districts can’t stand idly by wait for McKinney-Families to walk into the District Offices for enrollment. Districts must conduct outreach. The BUSD proposal has no plan for outreach.

        In addition, District Staff proposes Family Engagement Coordinators dispenses McKInney-Vento services at the elementary school. Yet, they fail to mention that out of the 11 elementary school only 6 are assigned a Family Engagement Coordinator who works part-time at each school site; and that the Family Engagement is currently a two-year pilot program and just began two months ago. The BUSD wants to shift many of the McKinney-Vento Act responsibilities to already overworked Middle Counselors after a brief training. This proposed decentralization by the BUSD is a lessening of the services. Again, the Act mandates that School District enroll students immediately. One more aspect of the Act is that they are to educate parent of rights under the Act, and give them immediate services.  Without trained staff at the District Office this is impossible.

        The proposal is full is unlawful propositions and inadequate services to the McKinney-Vento students and families. The issue of the Achievement Gap and disparity performance BHS is an injustice. Yet, Berkeley High School is not just the teacher, principals or counselors, nor is it the just the BUSD Staff, or the students and parents.  It is all of us, and we all of play a part.

        However, do you think if sons of middle class white families were performing at a level in any academic quantitative metric, someone at the school would get terminated?  An emergency session would call and plan and would construct with input from the parents, because middle folks know what is the best interest of the kids but not us because we are poor.  The plan by the BHS is a top down. If WASC had not called BHS to task for lack of services to those disruptive students would the BHS Staff and District Staff come with any plan to service those students? We can only guess what is the racial and ethnic make-up of those disruptive students, I am assuming that many of these students are low-income and/or students.  I referred to the District’s Plan as doubling down on mediocrity, because Black, Brown and low-income students are receive mediocre service. Until, District and School views the parents of equals and stakeholder in their solutions, and look what policies and procedure have negative impact on low-income students and students of colors  

        As poor people we used to having service that are inadequate and having are rights violated.  The BUSD District plan does this it violates our families and us right to privacy, and stigmatizes our children. We know that this Counselor position will not have the necessary time to serve our community.  As the old saying goes “you a put lipstick and wig on a pig, but its still and pig”.

        Most Board Members have been respective to our message and in its wisdom that ordered that the District Staff meet with McKinney-Vento families and students and discuss how this McKinney-Vento Act families and students. We are organizing groups of parents and students to inform the District Staff what are our needs.  In additionally, we have made contact several law firms and nonprofits have informed us that they District proposal is unlawful and will assist in our fight.   

        It has been said that the American Educational system is serving a pipeline to the penal system for our children.  It has also been said that one can look at a student’s zip code to predict their academic achievement.   This has created a Caste System in the BUSD, in which we can look at a student’s race an effective predictor of a student’s academic achievement. Like America, the City of Berkeley has too much and many resource to continually under serve it low-income students, but do we have commitment.   On December 12, 2012, at 7:30pm at 2134 Martin Luther King Way, Berkeley, here will be a school board meet to discuss this issue.

       

       



      

Twas the mic before Kripmas and all through the spot

Every Krip Hopper was rapping the mic they had rocked

The chrome was shining on every wheelchair

In hopes that Krip Nations all over would soon be there

The crowed was just watching their necks bombing heads

While visions of Krip Vixens danced making them sweat

With mirages of Nicki I turned my cap to the back

I rolled up to her and she fell on my lap

When out of the crowd I heard a big scream

KRIP NATION FOREVER AND EVER WE DREAM

Closer to the yelling I rolled to the fans

Tore off my chest strap and dived in their hands

The moon on my face as the passed me like Dro

Once back on the stage I sat lit up with a glow

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

Back comes Nikki Minaj with 8 Halley Berrys around my chair

With me as the driver I hit my joy-stick

Dropped the mic and watched it smoke up the air type thick

More rapid than eagles my verses they came,

As I hollered and shouted calling my Krip Nation by name

Now Jahid, now Pete-Ski, now Skandoe, now Harris

Come Malcolm, call OUTTHERE we meet Leroy in Paris

To the front of the plane, first class we booked

We wrote rhymes, and verses , the chorus and hook

The Stewardess spiked my drink before I sipped it down

The pilot both vixens dressed in all white gowns

Flight took 12 hours and some minutes

6 hours with 1 then 2 before the landing was finished

But then on the runways the tires heard screeching

Masked out the sound of the pilots both screaming

When the bus pulled us in I came through the door

I never let the flight go off course any more

I was dressed in fatigues from my head to foot

Jet lag set in from all that time we took

Mic cord plugged into my battery pack

Over the airport's speakers I started to rap

My voice heard throughout to the baggage check

I nominated Leroy our President

As he came in the spot limousines outside

His Lex, min Cadillac chromed riding side by side

We rode to the tower taking up the streets

Oui Oui ladies yelled c'est la vie

We got  out the limos awaits a red carpet and confetti

Happy New Years they cheered heard all over the city

Leroy plugged in the mic to the tower's intercom

Paris was amazed by this legend phenomenon

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know hip hop wasn't dead

A poet he is and spoke for a while

Had the ladies sitting down Indian style

Pulling out his back pocket a long stem rose

Brought smiles on their face tears dripping of nose

Back to the limos, to the team gave a halla,

Watch the towers light up from night til tomorra

I heard Leroy exclaim, ere we drove out of sight,

Krip Hip Hop to all, and to all a Krip Night

Professir X  of New Jersey USA

A Suicide Bomber takes over the streets in the Middle East none knew his identity all they know is he left a note saying this..

Am just a young man who life was taking away,

standing in the middle of crater trying to understand the sadness and hate that brings tears of pain,...just yesterday i praying to my god..given thanks for letting me and my family survive...and now am standing in the middle of crater picking up rocks full of blood knowing nothing can go back...praying to my god to give me the strength to go and fight back..

 knowing am helpless, i fell on my knees as let my tears fall off...

knowing that theres nothing in the world to make me survive,

knowing i lost blood my only reason to be alive, and knowing the tomorrow none will call me son because my mother and father are gone..

and i wish, i was with them so i wouldn't be feeling this pain...what am really saying is that i wish i was dead...

but i know as i wrote this note the revenge will hit them hard and showing two grenades inside my pants thinking to my self i wont pull back, i will get really close to the checkpoint or the end of my life..

i hope my hands don't get sweaty inside my pants as i hold the rings the hold my life...and thinking about my family knowing they are gone..and knowing the revenge will unite us one more time as i get to the checkpoint i will pull the rings out my pants and four seconds will be the distance of seen my mom and my dad...

Collateral Damage..Bombs that fall from the Sky...

Silent Night

like every night

lonesome halls

empty walls

no one to talk to

that would really care

to know the sadness

that breathes in the air.
There's no heavenly peace.

There

is no

heavenly peace.
Silent Night

Lonesome Night

Nursing Homes

are not homes

Let us remember

the ones we forget

Let us remember the ones who were left.
There's no heavenly peace.

There is

no

heavenly

peace.
(Maria R. Palacios -Christmas 2009)

Here comes Santa Krip

Here comes Santa Krip

Here comes Santa Krip

Rolling down Santa Krip lane

Delivering all his gear,

Braking on the wheels

ABs scatter, crutches clatter

All is lame in the night

He yells what ABs don't care to hear,

The Krips will keep up the fight.

Here comes Santa Krip

Here comes Santa Krip

Rolling down Santa Krip lane

With his bag of accessible toys,

With fist in air showing power

To all the gimpy boys & girls

Hear his wheels squeak & rattle

Oh what a Kripple sight

He'll always show the world

The Krips will keep up the fight!

Have Yourself A Mighty Little Kripmas

Have Yourself A Mighty Little Kripmas

Let your Krip pride show

Like always

Our struggles will grow

Have Yourself A Mighty Little Kripmas

Ignorant views we must resist

Like always

Our troubles will persist

Here we are in troubled days,

Trying to change them forever more.

Future generations of Krips

They won't fight like us before.

Through our history

If stars align somehow

 By Karyn Laura

Dec 8th 2012

There are many reasons why these wite children and adults are killing each other. My Black Indian Mama Dee used to say, wite supremacy and capitalism isn't good for any human, even wite people. People have talked about the proliferation and glorification of guns to all young people through mass media, as well as the deep wounds of the cult of independence on a human's psyche, not to mention the gutting by republicrats of the mental health system. But  one of the deepest ones that I see is the factory schools themselves, the separation of youth from elders wisdom and the ways that our children no longer even vaguely understand the respecting, honoring and necessary reverence of their elders. How in this society we are taught the opposite. We are taught how to ghetto-ize and separate our elders from our children in as many ways as possible. this separation and lack of reverence is valued in capitalism as it sets up more products and capital to trade on.

This mama prays and send so much love and strength to all of these families who have lost their babies and now to these Connecticut families and little ancestors to help their still living families decolonize from this myth of separation and capital-inspired death so their may be healing for them.

From this moment and so many more like it, I am drawn to believe that when people like me and my mixed race family in poverty die, we deserve to. My hope and vision is that with this moment of so much sorrow for the families in Connecticut, perhaps the resources and power of these middle-class wite people will make a difference in the ridiculous proliferation of deadly weapons in all of our communities and perhaps the oddly democratizing impact of death will free us all from the unspoken but clearly existent concept that some of us deserve to die and awaken us all to the real-ness that none of us do.

--

Krip-Hop Nation (KHN) color:black"> – Lachi, wow, just found your music and story and I love it!  Lets go back to your roots in Nigeria, Africa.  Tell us, what is it like for women and Blind people/musicians in Nigeria and why your family moved to the US?  Have you gone back?

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Lachi:  My parents came to the U.S. in the late seventies for educational opportunities.  I was born here in Maryland, though my older sisters were born in Nigeria.  I have gone back on several occasions allowing me to see just how much I take for granted every time.  Women and people with disability are not given nearly the same opportunities as they are here in the U.S, but there is a sense of contented happiness and zest for life back in the home land that we who continue to want more and more can only dream to have.

KHN:  Anybody in your family into music and if no how did they support your talents?

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Lachi: I along with my mother participated in the church choir, my two brothers explored the drums and guitar, and my four sisters had a small dance troop when they were much younger.  I, however, was the only one who took it not only to an academic level at UNC and NYU, but also to full-fledged performance and recording.  My family has always been supportive and has done a great job at keeping me grounded.

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KHN:  Now you’re living in New York.  Tell us your experiences in NY as a woman/a blind woman from a different country striving with your music.

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Lachi:  The driving force of the Faits brought me to NYC, and upon moving here from North Carolina, it’s been a crazy, intense, but overall great decision to come to the big city.  There is a constant life-pulse, a moving wave of the type of genuine authenticity many people are not and may never be ready to delve into.   A place where you move to in order to experience the struggle, as success in NYC lies within the struggle and the constant push.  Being a blind female that was not coddled growing up and encouraged to be independent, NYC is perfect for me.  A place where a place where a cop, a Crazy, a businessman and the governor can sit next to each other on the subway….all just trying to get home from a hard days work.

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KHN:  Throughout my years of researching disabled/blind musicians from Blues to Hip-Hop I always come across a lack of disabled/blind musicians who are women.  Tell us about your group and your work with Visionary Media.

Lachi:  Being a blind female isn’t easy…but I’m sure that everyone has their “thing” that makes life difficult in some ways for them.  Part of the problem for blind female musicians is the self-motivation and drive needed in todays (non record label coddling / DIY) market.  Today you have to be a business woman, tour manager, booking agent, producer, songwriter, publicist, social media guru, and investor for your own project.  That’s hard enough for someone with no odds against him or her.  But with set backs such as, not being able to drive, not being able to read physical social cues, it being hard for females, blacks and disabled people in general to land a job, let alone someone with all three…it makes for not the easiest of winding roads.  However, again the struggle is always worth it.  When I get off the stage of a big successful show we put together, and someone in the audience says to me, “wow what a great show!”  It makes the entire struggle worth it, and makes for a much greater personal reward, knowing the odds I had that were stacked against me.

KHN:  I LOVE your storytelling that your songs provide.  I’ve been waiting for a storytelling song about the hidden history of blind women in music.  Hint hint but how do you write your lyrics?  Is it a story first then a song or other way around?

Lachi:  The way I write songs differ per song.  I’ve heard two Asians speaking in their melodic language on the subway, and borrowed a melody from them.  Or I’ll hear a series of car horns go off in a barrage of interesting intervals and turn that into a repeating guitar riff.   In terms of lyrics, sometimes I will borrow from my existential musings on life and personal experiences or unanswered questions.  For example, I’d recently wondered…Why is it that we laugh? Is it just because something is funny?  Upon my quest to find a true resonating solution, I wrote a song to help me shape the question and find the answer called, “Sweet Agony,” because after all, laughter is a good-natured defense mechanism.  When going through hardships, I often find myself confiding in my piano or gossiping to my guitar….and voila!  Another song is born.

KHN:  It seems from your albums you straddle various types of music.  What was the inspiration behind the Jazzy song, Jazz Trip,?

Lachi: Jazz Trip is just that…a trip down Jazzy lane ripe with full paragraphs of idioms in the language of scat, and fun jazz chord progressions.  My girls Lady Day, Ella, Eta, Nina and my boy Louis, have always influenced me.  Part of me secretly wants to keep jazz (especially the awesome element of scatting) alive, so more often than not, you will find small slivers of scats even in my rock and pop songs, i.e. in the introduces of my rock tunes “Dear Happiness” and “Ugly Beautiful.”

KHN:  What flavor is the new CD?

Lachi:  The new CD is an accessible mix of Rock and Pop with elements of Urban and Dance.  For me it’s always about the melody and lyrics and being able to make music that moves on a subconscious level…that celebrates truth and realness….positivity and inner strength regardless of genre.

KHN:  Your band is off the hook.  Tell us about the members and how you all meet and explain the name of the band.

Lachi:  Lachi is my middle name, short for Ulachi.  Ulachi in Igbo (one of many Nigerian languages) means Ring of God.  My mom named me that as my second middle name, since because I was legally blind, she had to carry me everywhere with her when I was a baby, like a ring.  But I feel, we are all rings of God since all being, and everything in existence far beyond what we can see in this universe combines to form It that is God.  And because we are all just infinitely small rings of God, we should celebrate who and what we truly are inside, and try our best to be real, honest with ourselves and those around us, and to encourage others to do the same.  The best way I can do that is through music.  I currently play with a group of guys that are super talented and amazing!  We’re great friends along with being band mates.  Even long hours of rehearsal are a great time!

KHN:   I saw on YouTube that you did a song for President Obama.  Tell us why you did that song and do you like writing political songs and if so can you share a chorus?

Lachi:  During Obama’s first run for presidency, I was very active in trying to get the word out for people to vote for O!  This included the fun little song I’d put together.  I am, however, not into writing political songs, at least not for the sake of politics.  I am more into sociopolitical songs…songs that don’t necessarily sing to how the government needs to change, but to how we as individuals need to be the change we want to see…need to stop pointing out others flaws and start changing people by living better and having others see that and want to change.  There is one universal issue that all humans relate to (not break ups, not problems with the government, not longing), and it’s dealing with insecurity.  That’s what I tend to write about.  Here’s a verse from a song “Make Who You Are” that will be coming out on the new album, “Make Some Noise,” in early 2013

“See we all have big big dreams to be astronauts and use big machines

But we fall off track torn at the seams with responsibility.

And then we get all grown up, and we’ve had enough

And it gets real hard to trust, and it gets real hard to love, and easy to give up.

But you are the only one with your face

And no one in the world can take…..your place.”

KHN:  Can you explain the song, Ugly Beautiful,?

Lachi: Sometimes it is the things we (or society) feels is the most ugly thing about us that makes us beautiful.  I often would wonder what life would be like if I were not legally bling, if I were this or if I were that.  Would I have embraced and honed my musical talents?  Would I have moved to the city? Would I find so much internal pride in my successes?  I don’t believe so.  I have also often found that people who go through very difficult hardships, or bullies who learn there errs of their ways  in a grand fashion, or someone who’s experienced deep loss, they end up being some of the most beautiful people you will ever meet, despite the past ugliness…in fact, because of the past ugliness.

KHN:  I saw a YouTube video that you were doing a song with somebody who was rapping.  Would you ever collaborate or do your own Hip-Hop song?

Lachi:  YES!  Stay tuned for the upcoming album.  There are some awesome hip-hop collabs that I won’t give away yet.  But the short answer is a resounding yes.  I’ve always been a fan of the marriage of angst rock and hip hop i.e. Linkin Park / Jay Z or even pop and urban like BOB and Haley Williams.

KHN:  What do you think about all of these music contest television shows like the Voice & the X Factor etc.?

Lachi:  I think they are entertaining for those who like reality contest shows, and I also feel they can be a good stepping stone for artists who do not have the faculty to be their own machine since it is very difficult these days.  I don’t believe in the concept of corporate sell out, as selling out is something that happens inside your heart.  You can still be true to yourself and your goals even if you perform on those shows, so more power to ‘em.

KHN:  What is in your future?

Lachi:  No matter what happens, I plan to continue to write, produce and perform music.  I do have a good ol’ fallback day gig, but I am a musician and always will be, no matter what.

KHN:  As a poet, some of your songs fit into like an open mic.  Have you ever worked with poets?

Lachi:  I have not yet, but it’s not something I’m opposed to…could be an interesting foray.

KHN:  As we all know there are so much isms in the music industry, as a blind woman of color what can you say about that and advice to other disabled/blind women of color who wants to break in music?

Lachi:  Try your best to know how to do everything on your own, this way it’s hard for you to get cheated.  Music is a business, so be the CEO!  Be confident, alert and knowledgeable, and always continue to hone your craft.  But most importantly…be good to people.  If someone hurts you, even if on purpose, be the bigger person…it will get you a very long way.

KHN:  Will you and your band do a tour anytime soon?

Lachi: We are working on putting together 2013 dates now.  Stay tuned to www.lachimusic.com, twitter and Facebook to see upcoming dates!

KHN:  Is it hard to be the front person in a band as a woman and will you ever do a solo album?

Lachi: Maintaining a band has its ups and downs, but the energy is always great, especially when you play with a group of people you love and respect.  I have been throwing around the idea of a solo album…though it wouldn’t be solo at all…it would be a duet between me and a piano.  It will happen.

KHN:  Any last words and how can people reach you and your band?

Lachi:  People can find out more about all things Lachi at www.lachimusic.com, where you can join the mailing list and receive a free track! Twitter.com/ulachi and facebook.com/lachimusic, as well as YouTube, soundcloud, iTunes…all the usual online portals.  Stay tuned for the upcoming album in first quarter 2013!  And, of course, thanks much to Krip-Hop Nation for such an insightful and fun discussion.