NYC – August 1st 2007 – – The first organized Hip-Hop concert to utilize
solar energy took place in Atlanta this June 30th 2007 against the backdrop
of the premiere United States Social Forum where an estimated 15,000 people
converged to chart a progressive course for America’s future. The
participants comprised of both social activists and social entrepreneurs
from all over the nation representing a diversity of social backgrounds.
The concert organized by an emerging coalition Hip-Hop Sustains crystallized
the growing environmental consciousness amongst the Hip-Hop generation (ages
ranging from 15-40) concerning issues such as global warming and developing
a sustainable world. Concert organizers connected these issues to the
serious crisis of unemployment and incarceration in urban centers especially
amongst Black and Latino working class communities.
"For far too long, incarceration rates in communities of color have been
driven by poverty and unemployment as industrial capitalism has arrived at
the limits of its growth," said Vanessa Nisperos, concert organizer and
Hip-Hop Sustains member. "The world climate crisis provides poor and working
class communities with a historic opportunity to develop new sustainable
community-based economies."
Musical talents MC’s Rebel Diaz, Ishues, Grime, Julian B, Kahlil Almustafa,
Readnex Poetry Squad, the Foundation Movement, DJ Chela and DJ Oja provided
the backbone of the concert itself. Many of the artists are committed
cultural activists providing their artistic services pro bono or working as
community educators. The concert also fulfilled the need to demonstrate
concrete steps towards utilizing renewable energies for the urban performers
moving beyond political rhetoric.
DJ Chela, a leading female mixtape DJ whose turntables were solar powered
commented, "the Solar Hip-Hop Concert made a huge statement symbolically and
concretely; as the U.S. government entangles with foreign powers to secure
energy sources, young Hip-Hop artists and activists in the U.S. harnessed
the power of the sun to fuel our resistance and expression."
"This concert reflected the essence of Hip-Hop which continuously pushes to
seek a power beyond government, nation, cultural tradition, ideology,
religion and race to receive true credibility," said Kahlil Almustafa, award
winning spoken word poet and cultural activist. He concluded that the solar
concert "was a powerful moment that marks the evolution of a Hip-Hop
generation that chooses to grow up regardless of whether or not America
chooses the same."
The Solar Concert organizers are using the first U.S. Social Forum to build
new ties and alliances in order to duplicate their efforts throughout the
country with community based organizations – especially in urban settings.
Expanding on this point Chong Kim, an organizer with Hip-Hop Sustains
believes in designing basic projects that low income people can utilize to
bridge the green divide. "Most poor and working people don’t have the
finances to afford solar panels or even a home, but they can get involved in
affordable efforts such as home composting and urban permaculture to
building food co-ops which turns the liability of poor and working people
into a sustainable advantage." He added, "We believe that Hip-Hop Sustains
can prove to be an innovative project that can spread an eco-friendly
message to working class audiences in order to address the green divide."
Supporting organizations included Soul Survivors, Hip-Hop Media Lab, 5th
Element, Project South, MyBloc.net, National Hip-Hop Political Convention
and Design Studio.
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About Hip-Hop Sustains
Hip-Hop fusion culture has defined a generation and has developed into a
phenomenal cultural medium of choice in working communities throughout the
U.S. and the world. Hip-Hop Sustains is a new Coalition to bridge the "green
divide", raising awareness about global warming and sustainable development
with Hip-Hop organizations that are rooted in working class communities.
About Soul Survivors
Soul Survivors’ mission is to combat the nexus of poverty and environmental
degradation by providing the unemployed with multi-media education towards
the development of sustainable ventures. Soul Survivors is initiating
Hip-Hop Sustains to bridge the "green divide", raising awareness about
global warming and sustainable development with Hip-Hop organizations that
are rooted in working class communities.
http://soulsurvivors.ws/
Press Contacts:
Terry Marshall - 617. 412. 7246 hiphopmedialab@gamil.com
Vanessa Nisperos - 917. 620. 8197 vanessanisperos@yahoo.com
Orlando Green - 347. 262. 6385 orlando.green@gmail.com
