The following originally aired on KCBS.

By Deyante Newson

An innovative genre of music has now become watered down pop music. Hip-hop has taken a turn for the worst.

Nowadays, instead of rappers putting meaning into their music, many songs deal with how much money you have or how “tight” you are.

Back in the day originality and a social message was what made a song good. We had groups like Wu-tang and Outkast. They put out music that teaches or that touches you. In the song “C.R.E.A.M”, In Spectah Deck raps “It’s been 22 long hard years and still struggling/survival got me bugging, but I’m alive on arrival”. This song makes me think of daily life. Deck is letting us know that we shouldn’t give into our circumstances.

Nowadays we have artists like the New Boyz. In their first single they just repeat the phrase “You’re a Jerk” over and over.

The type of music you listen to defines what type of person you are. I want to be the type of person who is defined by music containing morals, intelligence, and wisdom, but that’s just not as available from many artists today.

In the past months, the Remix Your Life Project has grown into a Youth Radio staple, with a steady flow of youth participants making their way up the stairs, and onto the third floor 3 days a week, often at the end of a long day of work and school. The dedication and talent demonstrated throughout the project, and highlighted by the quarterly open mics which Youth Radio hosts, reinforced our commitment to Remix Our Community and through performance opportunities and free community events, remix how the Oakland community views both its youth and itself. In order to achieve our goal, we knew we would need a fiscal sponsor who truly understood youth leadership, the importance of uncensored self-expression and the Oakland community.
On March 29, 2011 we were ecstatic to learn that we had been selected to receive the Oaklandish Oakland Innovators Award. We knew that the “from Oakland, for Oakland” clothing company would be an amazing partner and we have every confidence that this partnership, and the generous support from Oaklandish, is a key piece in realizing this project’s potential.

SUB, a local hip hop artist in Oakland, CA, worked in conjunction with composer and producer Howard Egger-Bovet to produce a music video about the 10-year-old Oakland boy who was shot in 2008 while playing piano at the Oakland music school. The music video is sponsored by the San Francisco Film Society. Howard spoke with Youth Radio about the video.

1) What is the process like? 

The way we work is collaboratively. So, I determine the topic for each of the films. Then I create a poem and basic melody and hook for the song. Then, I meet with G-Koop who arranges and builds upon the basics to create the final composition.  With the musical portion of the song completed, it is turned over to SUB who takes the poem and the melody/beat and transforms it into the song's lyrics that he performs.

 2) Why was it important to include the young boy that was shot while playing the piano in your video?

The cast and crew were grateful to have Christopher Rodriguez appear in the video. He grounded the film in reality. Shooting a gun can have tragic consequences, never intended. This fact couldn't be more clear when you think of what happened to Christopher Rodriquez that day at the music school, in 2008. In addition, G Koop's friend, Dewey Tucker--a musician, was shot and killed on [Highway] 80 in 2010.  Dewey Tucker also "appeared," through photos, in the film and his presence was integral in moving the story of the video along. Lastly, SUB's friend, Robert  Walker, who appeared in the film, was shot in the leg.

By Jaylyn Burns

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Rap artist Mac Reem from West Oakland is an up and coming artist with T-Rex productions, and he is becoming popular throught out the Bay Area. He just won a KMEL.com contest with his song, "Quit Lyin In Your Raps." He has an album coming out on March 16th called, "Successful Failure." The album has 14 tracks on it that feature various artists including Fabolous, Scarface, and other artists. Mac Reem's real name is Karamon Harbin, and he is 35 years of age.

Something that makes Mac Reem unique is that he is using music as a pathway to reach his overall goal of making movies. Also, he doesn't confine himself to rap - he experiments with other types of music. He is currently working on a rock song. It's something new for him, but he is excited about the anticipated outcome. Listen to a Youth Radio interview with Mac Reem above.

Since I was 11 years old, dancing has meant a lot to me. Dancing is my passion. I like to use my body movements to express myself. It takes total control of my body. It’s my everyday responsibility. If I don’t dance, I don’t feel like myself. I want to entertain the audience and to lure them to the craziness and intensity I’m giving out.

Skkkuuurrrt! *Park* Well well, isn't this a positive day ADP fans. It's almost too cheesy but screw it. We bloggers are always down to post violent and overly sexual videos, maybe we can get a little equality around here with Asher Roth's help. So here's to ADP and Asher's new video Luke Skywalkers for bringing some balance to the force.*Turning the key* VavavaFrooom!

 *Recklessly driving into a blog* Skkuurrr! So if the Escape to Plastic Beach Tour wasn't crazy enough, now NERD is on the bill. So that means De La Soul, The Gorillaz, Little Dragon, Bobby Womack, and NERD in one tour whoa. Gods of Hip Hop Alternative, how have we pleased you? Tell us so that we can also have another Lupe Fiasco album. Sacrifice your comments to the mighty ADP and perhaps it will grant you another blog post! Furrrrrrooom! 

Previously: Gorillaz’ "Plastic Beach" Album Artwork & Tracklist

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Skurrr! APD is all up on your hood with the first two episodes of the Spirits in the Basement web documentary. This series is directed by Angelita Mireles and follows the emerging careers of the most talented dark horses in the Bay Area music scene. These fools are going to be bigger than the Bible so check it out you losers and comment in that box or else! *Doing donuts* Froom!

EPISODE 1

EPISODE 2

by Dion Rabouin

ACCRA, GHANA -- On an unpaved road in Accra, Ghana, near the rapidly expanding West African capitol city’s center, Kwame Baah-Boakye pulls into his driveway in his mother’s 2008 Volkswagon Toureg. It’s got kente cloth seats with kente trim throughout the freshly cleaned interior.

Once inside his home, Baah-Boakye turns on the high-definition, big-screen TV in his living room to watch a soccer game he recorded on his DVR earlier – Manchester United against Newcastle. He sits down on a couch lined with another African cloth, surrounded by African statues, tribal and animal print pillows, jembe drums and other African artwork.

“My mom loves Africa,” he says with a smile.

His family may love Africa, but Baah-Boakye is not exactly a typical African. His father was an ambassador to the U.S. and he’s spent his life traveling back and forth between the two countries.

“I used to go to the states almost every vacation,” he says. “I would stay with my Godmother and my aunts in Virginia, California, sometimes in Houston. I had perspectives on both Ghana and the U.S.”

While Baah-Boakye represents a small minority of Ghanaians that have actually seen our shores, much of American media, style and music are currently shaping Ghana’s popular culture.