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<font size=3>Posted on Fri, Dec. 16, 2005
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</a>Three more hip-hoppers who fascinated in 2005
</font><font size=4><b><i><u>(scroll down)<br><br>
</u></i></font><font size=3>Davey D<br><br>
</b>In my last column (Dec. 2), I started counting down my list of the 10
most fascinating people in hip-hop during 2005. The list included (at No.
10) Grammy nominee <b>Kanye West</b>, (9) Mississippi rapper <b>David
Banner</b> and (8) local rapper-activist <b>Shamako Noble</b>. Here are
my next choices:<br><br>
<b>7. MC Lyte. </b>I salute this pioneering Brooklyn-born MC for going
the extra mile in 2005. First, she published a book of poetry and
inspiration, ``Just My Take,'' for young women. Next, she teamed up with
rapper-turned-filmmaker <b>Nefertiti </b>to do a documentary on women in
the music industry. And she collaborated with longtime rap artist
<b>Yo-Yo </b>to help relaunch the Intelligent Black Woman's
Coalition.<br><br>
What really caught my attention, though, was when Lyte helped the women
of Atlanta's Spelman College tackle the misogyny and negative images of
women in hip-hop by spearheading a Hip-Hop Week on campus, which included
free workshops, forums and panel discussions.<br><br>
Lyte used her influence to make sure this important discussion was all
over radio and local TV stations. She also brought in luminaries <b>Chuck
D</b>,<b> Da Brat</b>,<b> Salt </b>from Salt-N-Pepa and <b>Yo-Yo</b>, as
well as actor <b>Malcolm-Jamal Warner </b>to participate. The results
were overflowing crowds and renewed commitment to and strategies for
dealing with these issues. On top of all this, she has just released the
slamming single ``Juke Joint'' and has opened a women's boutique in Los
Angeles with merchandise that's actually affordable.<br><br>
<b>6. K'naan. </b>The Somalian-born rap star, who now lives in Toronto,
is well-known in Brazil, South Africa, Kenya, Cuba, the United Kingdom
and, of course, Canada, whose Urban Music Awards recently named him
hip-hop artist of the year. His fans are keenly aware of the ideas that
motivate the Dusty Foot Philosopher, which is not only his nickname but
also the title of his album.<br><br>
Hits such as the controversial ``Soobax'' (about warlords in Somalia) and
``What's Hardcore'' (about the meaningless quarrels within the hip-hop
community) have earned K'naan not only respect but also a huge
international following.<br><br>
He can rock a crowd while teaching listeners that Somalia is home to the
Battle Poets, who believe words can be weapons in war. K'naan was
shooting a rifle at the age of 8 in war-torn Somalia, where his father
was a major political figure and a skilled Battle Poet.<br><br>
K'naan's business partner and manager, <b>Sol Guy</b>, notes that
K'naan's message is relevant globally. His political and social ideas are
presented in their popular documentary series ``4 Reel.'' So far, they
have chronicled the hip-hop and political scene in Venezuela, Brazil,
Peru, South Africa, Kenya, India, Spain and Britain. Now they are en
route to Djibouti to make another documentary. If you don't know K'naan
yet, you will by the end of 2006. He's truly a world hip-hop
superstar.<br><br>
</font><font size=3 color="#0000FF"><b>5. Kamel Jacot Bell. </b>If you've
attended a concert by <b>dead prez</b>, <b>Blackstar</b> or <b>Mos
Def</b>, among others, you can thank this 26-year-old Oakland native and
his company, Ankh Marketing. Several years ago, Kamal noticed that
hip-hop artists with important messages in their music, as well as some
of the community's grass-roots organizations, had no marketing vehicle.
Over the past four years, Kamal filled that void, and now he's presenting
concerts not only in the Bay Area but also in New York and
Philadelphia.<br><br>
In a recent interview, Bell said he was motivated by two factors: the
need to make hip-hop a tool for social change; and love and concern for
his father, former Black Panther <b>Herman Bell</b>, who has been
imprisoned for almost 33 years.<br><br>
</font><font size=3>My Dec. 30 column will wrap up my list of the year's
most fascinating people in hip-hop.<br>
<br>
<i>Davey D's hip-hop column is published biweekly in Eye. Contact him at
<a href="mailto:mrdaveyd@aol.com">mrdaveyd@aol.com</a>.</i> <br><br>
<br><br>
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