Hollywood heavyweights Jasmine Guy, Giancarlo Esposito
and Keith David have collaborated with Canadian music
personality Raoul S. Juneja (a.k.a. Deejay Ra) for a
series of Black History Month themed audio PSAs for
Lyrical Knockout Entertainment’s ‘Hip-Hop Literacy’
campaign.
Juneja launched the ‘Hip-Hop Literacy’ campaign
February 2004 with support from American literary
legend Elmore Leonard. An April 2005 ‘VerveGirl’
Canadian youth magazine profile of the campaign took
Juneja’s reading list and writing workshop elements
into classrooms for the first time, with VerveGirl’s
180,000 bilingual student readers taking part in a
poetry contest across 1,600 Canadian schools,
sponsored by Canada’s Indigo-Chapters bookstores and
Juneja’s award-winning Lyrical Knockout Entertainment
label.
The following year saw the ‘Hip-Hop Literacy’ campaign
focus on live events, with Juneja’s readings and book
giveaways being featured at the Nelson Mandela
Children’s Fund Canada and CapAids ‘HipHop4Africa’
February 2006 benefit. In December, the campaign
continued its classroom programs with Toronto’s Nelson
Mandela Park school acting as a backdrop to Juneja’s
lessons, spanning from rap icon Tupac Amaru Shakur to
world leader Nelson Mandela.
Recent spin-offs to Juneja’s ‘Hip-Hop Literacy’
campaign have included a comic themed endeavor with
"Spider-Man" creator Stan Lee, as well as civil rights
themed initiatives with the support of Malcolm X’s
daughter, author Ilyasah Shabazz, and Nelson Mandela
comrade, author Mac Maharaj.
"Start reading what you love first, then you will
begin to learn and retain information in a fun way,"
writes actress Jasmine Guy in her ‘Hip-Hop Literacy’
endorsement letter. Jasmine’s former co-stars in over
75 productions since 1988 have included Laurence
Fishburne, Jada Pinkett, Wesley Snipes, Halle Berry,
Robert Forster, and most memorably comedy legends Red
Foxx and Richard Pryor in Eddie Murphy’s Oscar
nominated "Harlem Nights" film. In addition to
recording a self-titled debut album in 1990, Jasmine
published a book in 2004 of her conversations with
civil rights leader Afeni Shakur, mother of
best-selling rap musician of all time Tupac Amaru
Shakur, entitled "Evolution of a Revolutionary".
"Please keep reading, whether it’s Muhammad Ali or any
biography from your favorite movie," explains actor
Giancarlo Esposito in his PSA recording with Juneja.
In addition to playing Cassius Clay Sr. opposite Will
Smith in Michael Mann’s Oscar nominated "Ali" film,
Giancarlo’s former co-stars in over 100 productions
since 1984 have included Ossie Davis, N’Bushe Wright,
Yaphet Kotto, Pam Grier and Mario Van Peebles among
others.
"Reading is fundamental whether it’s Jam Master Jay,
Lisa ‘Left’ Eye Lopes, or any book about your favorite
musician," adds actor Keith David in his PSA recording
with Juneja. Keith’s acclaimed roles in over 125
productions since 1986 have included portrayals of
Charlie Parker’s mentor Buster Franklin in Clint
Eastwood’s "Bird", and of Tiger Woods’ father Earl in
Levar Burton’s "Tiger Woods Story". In addition to
narrating Ken Burns’ 2001 "Jazz" TV series, Keith won
an Emmy Award for his narration of Burns’ 2004
documentary about Jack Johnson, the first
African-American Heavyweight Boxing Champion.
For more about Jasmine Guy or Deejay Ra visit
JasmineGuy.org and LyricalKnockout.com respectively.
And be sure to check out Giancarlo Esposito in Tom
Fontana’s "Homicide: Season 7" home video release, and
Keith David’s narration of the "Beef 2" rap
documentary by director Peter Spirer and producer
Quincy Jones III (QD3).
Press Contact: holla@lyricalknockout.com
