RezaRitesRi.com

5th Annual Winter Soiree & Silent Art Auction:
Rhode Island Young Professionals Celebrates Five Years of Service to the State

(Photo by Rufus Abdullah)

The Rhode Island Young Professionals will be joined by a growing roster of the state’s Leading Business & Community Leaders. Painters, photographers, and other up-and-coming and established artists who wish to donate artwork for the Silent Art Auction must do so by 6:00 PM on January 23. Artist Inquiries to: Reza C. Clifton, 401.497.5246. Ticket Inquiries to: Camila Crews, 401.439.4102

Providence, R.I. (January 9, 2008) – Rhode Island Young Professionals (RIYP), an auxiliary of the Urban League of Rhode Island, will host its 5th Annual Winter Soiree on Saturday, January 26, 2008 at the Providence Hilton at 6:00pm EST. Building upon the event’s theme: Drawing from our Past, Securing our Future, the Winter Soiree will include a night of dinner, dancing and art to benefit RIYP’s work in the community. As in previous years, the event attracts business, community and civic leaders from throughout the State and will showcase the work of nationally and locally acclaimed artists. All artwork will be auctioned off during the Soiree.

“Rhode Island has long been known for its vibrant artistic community, and this year’s Soiree pays homage to this history,” said Raymond L. Watson, president of RIYP. “As the State’s leading organization supporting young professionals, we felt it important in our fifth year to salute our State’s rich cultural tapestry as well as its thriving business and philanthropic communities. As its stewards now and into the future, our members, sponsors and partners continue to contribute their time, talents and efforts to bettering our State; the Winter Soiree is our opportunity to recognize and celebrate their collective achievements.”

Sponsored by Lifespan, Bank of America, MetLife, Providence American and the Providence Black Repertory Company, the 5th Annual Winter Soiree will bring together professionals from many of Rhode Island’s leading enterprises and community organizations, including Master of Ceremony Michael Van Leesten, president of the Van Leesten Group. E. Ramone Segree, president of Segree Associates, will deliver the night’s keynote address. Mr. Segree is a veteran philanthropic consultant, working with several of the State’s largest non-profit organizations.

Among the artists being showcased at this year’s event are Rob Buco (www.rjbuco.com) – whose eclectic masterpieces have appeared at the Gallery at Providence City Hall and in local films – and Lucas Foglia (www.lucasfoglia.com) – whose compelling photography has appeared in The Providence Journal, The Chicago Tribune and Artweek and are included in permanent collections at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art and the Newport Art Museum. Other artists participating in the event include Nilton Cardenas, Clara ‘Angelina’ Diaz, Craig Dolcy, Sidney Tillet, Anna Koon, and Reza C. Clifton.

Tickets for the 5th Annual Winter Soiree are available by contacting Camila Crews at 401.439.4102 and will include free entry into the Providence Black Repertory Company following the Winter Soiree. In addition, advertising opportunities are available. Art and business donations for the silent auction are also being accepted. All proceeds from the event will directly benefit programs and services offered by the Rhode Island Young Professionals, a 501(c)3 organization.

About Rhode Island Young Professionals
Rhode Island Young Professionals (RIYP), www.riyp.org, is a member-based non-profit serving Rhode Islanders between the ages of 21 and 40. Founded in 2002, the organization is an auxiliary of the Urban League of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island chapter of the National Urban League Young Professionals. RIYP serves the League’s movement toward social and economic equality by providing a diverse membership with networking opportunities, workshops and resources aimed at nurturing personal and professional development. An active part of the Rhode Island community, RIYP is dedicated to offering and promoting services and programs that encourage meaningful participation in civic life. General body meetings are held the first Thursday of the month, 6:00p to 8:00p, at the Urban League headquarters, 246 Prairie Avenue, Providence, RI 02905; meetings are open to the public. For more information about RIYP, visit www.riyp.org.

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More info about The Winter Soiree on 93.3 WSNE - The Coast
This past Sunday, January 20, Reza Corinne Clifton of RezaRitesRi.com - and immediate past Vice President of RIYP - was a featured guest on Minority Monitor, talking about RIYP’s Winter Soiree. Visit www.rezaritesri.com/audio/RezaRites%20on%20Min%20Monitor.mp3 to listen to the interview.

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Greetings,
Taking a look at event listings and calendars, January and February are definitely busy. That’s a good sign for 2008. It means that groups are fighting, individuals are making change, and voices are shouting – and being heard. On the matter of voices being heard, here are a few updates about where you may have heard some RezaRitesRi voices lately.

Sunshine and laughter,
Reza Rites

90.3 FM, WRIU – “Voices of Women”
Every Saturday from 9 AM – 11 AM, WRIU, a service of the University of RI, broadcasts a show called Voices of Women – an eclectic mix of folk, jazz, pop and rock featuring women artists. Organized by a team of 3, I have just become the fourth and alternate co-host and co-producer. I will be posting updates on the days that I go up to the studio for anyone interested in my mix; imagine Jill Scott, Aaliyah, Bjork, Sade, Billie Holiday, Ivy Queen, and Rita Marley. For more info, visit www.wriu.org/voicesofwomen/index.html.

90.3 FM, WRIU – “Blade Connex Radio”
Every Saturday from 11 AM – 2:15 PM, WRIU broadcasts a reggae show called Blade Connex Radio with DJ Blademon. Specializing in Caribbean music and catering to those interested in Island culture, the show also features a weekly community calendar, contests for listeners, and regular visits by local and international artists, promoters, and community leaders. For more info, visit www.wriu.org/world/index.html or visit www.myspace.com/blademon.

93.3 FM, WSNE – “Minority Monitor with George Castro”
Every Sunday at 6 AM, WSNE broadcasts Minority Monitor with George Castro, a staple program for New England’s communities of color. This past Sunday, January 20, I was a featured guest on Minority Monitor, talking mostly about RIYP’s Winter Soiree coming up on January 26. Visit www.rezaritesri.com/audio/RezaRites%20on%20Min%20Monitor.mp3 to listen to the portion of Minority Monitor featuring Mr. Castro’s conversation with me.

1290 AM WRNI - “The Cultural Roundtable”
I’m not the only one making appearances in the media lately. Click on this link - www.wrni.org/wrninews/archive/080117-culture.asp - to hear Black Rep Artistic Director Don King during his January 17 appearance on RI Public Radio – on WRNI’s Cultural Roundtable. He talks about supporting art in Providence and the evolution of The Providence Black Repertory Company.

www.blackenterprise.com
Check out Blackenterprise.com or use this link - www.blackenterprise.com/cms/exclusivesopen.aspx?id=3996 - to see my article, called “African Americans Crowd the Stump: Lobbying clout increases with Democratic majority.” The article examines the participation rates of African Americans in federal lobbying, how to find success in lobbying, and what factors contribute to a rise in Black lobbyists. Below I’ve provided a small taste from the article for your reference.

“‘There are millions of Americans who believe that people in Washington, D.C., are working on their behalf to make their lives better, and anything I can do to make that statement always be true is what I’m going to keep trying to do.’” – Paul Braithwaite.

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Providence Black Rep reopens after disastrous ceiling damage

The Black Rep recently reopened thanks to support from the community and a generous grant from the Citizens Bank Foundation after being temporarily closed from December 27, 2007 to January 11, 2008. The two-week closing occurred after a portion of the building’s ceiling collapsed. Although now reopened, the Black Rep has suffered a loss of more than $25,000 of revenue from the sudden closure. In addition, insurance will not pay for all of the expenses involved in the repair and cleaning. In responses, the organization has created a “Save the Ceiling Fund” for collecting donations, which prompted the contribution from Citizens. Contributions to the fund can be made to the following address:

Providence Black Repertory Company
276 Westminster Street
Providence RI 02903
Attention: Development

To hear Black Rep Artistic Director Don King during his January 17 appearance on RI Public Radio – on WRNI’s Cultural Roundtable – visit www.wrni.org/wrninews/archive/080117-culture.asp.

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Speaking of Black Rep, scroll down or click here to read The Big East Music Entertainment (BEME) press release highlighting Saturday night and Monday night host Chachi Carvalho. Earlier this month, Chachi won a contest on cable television’s Black Entertainment Television (BET) – on their WOW contest during the program 106 and Park. Below the BEME release, check out archived photos and articles about this Cape Verdean-American’s past projects (link). While you’re on the site, make sure to view the listings section to hear about his event coming up on Monday, January 21 – MLK Day.

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Speaking of Cape Verdean Talent, check out the music of Ka Cabral an artist listed on Showcaseyourmusic.com, a site that “showcases your music for the Music Industry.” He describes his sound as World, Reggae, and Easy Listening. I describe it as melodic zen and harmonious tranquility. Click here (http://www.showcaseyourmusic.com/kacabral456) to listen.

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SPEAK THE TRUTH:
Click here or scroll down to see the video and hear the song put together by RAS, RI’s top rap duo. It was inspired by the movie, THE GREAT DEBATERS - a film about the achievements and struggles of an all-black debate team during the 1930’s. The RAS video is in honor of the songs that go unsung, the heroes that go unappreciated, the stories that go untold and the struggle that continues…

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Want to see the work of another RezaRitesRi-featured artist? Visit www.famecast.com/backstage/artist.php?artist_id=5341&backstage=1 to check out a video of poet / spoken word artist Christopher Johnson, a/k/a Tranzit Thawt, whose work is on Famecast, an Austin, Texas-based online competition “designed to find America’s best new talent.” Famecast offers “artists a real opportunity to connect to a worldwide audience and compete for real prizes: $10,000, national exposure, industry opportunities and a trip to Austin to perform live in front of industry experts.”

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Below, I’ve included a few updates and excerpts from new posts on RezaRitesRi.com. Many of the posts come from the various sections of the Listings page, which I’ve finally updated! You’ll see that the “From RIYP” section has recent editions of the organization’s newsletter while the other sections have information from The Providence Black Repertory Company (Blackrep.org), Just A Step Productions, The Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies - at URI, Making Access (makingaccess.com), UNITY: Journalists of Color’s 4th Quadrennial Convention, the Providence Dept. of Art, Culture + Tourism, and RImix Weekly Updates.

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FROM LISTINGS - “Artist, Community and Volunteer Opportunities”:

Volunteer At AS220 - Sometimes, they have amazing posters that need to go up and around town. In this case, they may need some kind folks to do that.

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Latino Artists Directory of Rhode Island Sign Up - The Hispanic Heritage Committee/Rhode Island is updating and expanding their existing data base of Latino artists of Rhode Island to include artists from around New England.

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FROM LISTINGS – “Events From Reza Rites”

FUNDA Fest: A Celebration Of Black Storytelling

January 20 - 27
Time & Locations Vary
Admission Price Varies

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MLK Day Woonsocket: A River of Dreams, A City of Hope

Monday, January 21, 2008
9:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Woonsocket High School
777 Cass Ave.
Woonsocket, RI

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Chachi Carvalho Lights Up MLK Holiday with Polyphonic

Monday, January 21, 2008,
Providence Black Repertory Company’s Xxodus Café
276 Westminster Street
9:00 PM

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The Manton Ave Project Presents:

It Was A Cold January-y Night

January 25 at 7pm,
January 26 at 3pm & 7pm,
January 27 at 3pm

Media And Arts Center
The Met High School, Public Street Campus
325 Public Street
Providence, RI

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Rhode Island Young Professionals
5th Annual Winter Soiree & Silent Art Auction:
“Drawing from our Past, Securing our Future”

Saturday, January 26, 2008
6:00pm at the Hilton Providence
21 Atwells Avenue,
Providence, RI
Tickets include free entry following the event the Black Rep

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The Bluest Eye

February 2 - March 9
Providence Black Repertory Company
276 Westminster Street
Tickets Are $20 For Adults, $10 For Children & Seniors.

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Thirteenth Annual Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading
(Part of RISD Museum’s Black History Month Events)

Sunday, February 3, 2008
1:00 pm
The RISD Museum
224 Benefit Street in Providence
Admission Is Free And Open To The Public

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Artist Simone Spruce-Torres Presents

“Reflections”

February 1 - February 29, 2008
Warwick Public Library
600 Sandy Lane
Warwick, RI 02889
(401)739-5440

Hours:
Monday - Thursday (9:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.)
Friday & Saturday (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
Sunday (1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.)

Reception:
Thursday, February 14, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

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COMMUNITY ACCESS CHALLENGE

Calling ALL Community Leaders, Organizations and Business Professionals to participate in the Access Challenge, An educational program designed to educate nondisabled people about the importance of handicap accessibility in public places through hands on experience.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008, 8:30 AM – Thursday, February 21, 2008, 6:00 PM

Starting and ending at Westfield Lofts Community Room
230 Dexter Street
Providence, RI. 02907

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FROM LISTINGS – “Job and Scholarship Opportunities”

Providence Youth Student Movement
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Position Title: Women’s Group Coordinator
Starting Date: February- March, 2008

To apply, email cover letter and resume to Ammala at womensgroupprysm@gmail.com

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DARE is currently seeking a full-time Development/Communications Coordinator to increase the organization’s fundraising capacity, through the following work:

Foundation Fundraising
Grassroots/Individual Donor Base Development
Communications
Organizational and Staff Development

To apply, send a resume, cover letter, writing sample and three references to sara@daretowin.org by February 8, 2008.

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Providence Alumnae Chapter,
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Currently accepting scholarship applications from High School Seniors and College Students (Soph/Jr).

Applications Available online at www.dstprovidencealumnae.com or visit a school guidance counselor.

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Community Outreach Committee of PPAC 2008 Arts Scholarships.

Applications for the ARTS Scholarships 2008 program will be accepted through March 7, 2008. ARTS Scholarships 2008, sponsored by Textron, Inc. and the PPAC Annual Fund Donors, will provide 25 scholarships valued at up to $500 each to qualified, talented Rhode Island students (student must be aged 11 - 14 by June 1, 2008). These scholarships offer young artists an opportunity to attend local, summer arts education programs that will broaden their experiences in a chosen area of study. For more information please click here or call 401-421-2997.

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Rhode Island Young Professionals Invites Submissions to 5th Annual Winter Soiree & Silent Art Auction

Artist Inquiries to:
Reza C. Clifton,
Rhode Island Young Professionals
401.497.5246
rezaclif@gmail.com

(Photo by Rufus Abdullah)

The Rhode Island Young Professionals, who celebrates five years of Service to the State, will be joined by a growing roster of the state’s Leading Business & Community Leaders. Painters, photographers, and other up-and coming and established artists are encouraged to attend and invited to donate artwork for the Silent Art Auction by January 23.

Providence, R.I. – Rhode Island Young Professionals (RIYP), an auxiliary of the Urban League of Rhode Island, will host its 5th Annual Winter Soiree on Saturday, January 26, 2008 at the Providence Hilton at 6:00pm EST. Building upon the event’s theme: Drawing from our Past, Securing our Future, the Winter Soiree will include a night of dinner, dancing and art to benefit RIYP’s work in the community. As in previous years, the event attracts business, community and civic leaders from throughout the State and will showcase the work of nationally and locally acclaimed artists. All artwork will be auctioned off during the Soiree.

“Rhode Island has long been known for its vibrant artistic community, and this year’s Soiree pays homage to this history,” said Raymond L. Watson, president of RIYP. “As the State’s leading organization supporting young professionals, we felt it important in our fifth year to salute our State’s rich cultural tapestry as well as its thriving business and philanthropic communities. As its stewards now and into the future, our members, sponsors and partners continue to contribute their time, talents and efforts to bettering our State; the Winter Soiree is our opportunity to recognize and celebrate their collective achievements.”

Sponsored by Lifespan, Bank of America, MetLife, Providence American and the Providence Black Repertory Company, the 5th Annual Winter Soiree will bring together professionals from many of Rhode Island’s leading enterprises and community organizations, including Master of Ceremony Michael Van Leesten, president of the Van Leesten Group. E. Ramone Segree, president of Segree Associates, will deliver the night’s keynote address. Mr. Segree is a veteran philanthropic consultant, working with several of the State’s largest non-profit organizations.

Among the artists being showcased at this year’s event are Rob Buco (www.rjbuco.com) – whose eclectic masterpieces have appeared at the Gallery at Providence City Hall and in local films – and Lucas Foglia (www.lucasfoglia.com) – whose compelling photography has appeared in The Providence Journal, The Chicago Tribune and Artweek and are included in permanent collections at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art and the Newport Art Museum. Other artists participating in the event include Nilton Cardenas, Clara ‘Angelina’ Diaz, Craig Dolcy, Sidney Tillet and Anna Koon.

Tickets for the 5th Annual Winter Soiree are available by contacting Camila Crews at 401.439.4102 and will include free entry into the Providence Black Repertory Company following the Winter Soiree. In addition, advertising opportunities are available. Art and business donations for the silent auction are also being accepted until Wednesday evening, January 23. To donate art or business merchandise for the auction, call Reza C. Clifton at 401.497.5246 or email rezaclif@gmail.com. All proceeds from the event will directly benefit programs and services offered by the Rhode Island Young Professionals, a 501(c)3 organization.

About Rhode Island Young Professionals
Rhode Island Young Professionals (RIYP), www.riyp.org, is a member-based non-profit serving Rhode Islanders between the ages of 21 and 40. Founded in 2002, the organization is an auxiliary of the Urban League of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island chapter of the National Urban League Young Professionals. RIYP serves the League’s movement toward social and economic equality by providing a diverse membership with networking opportunities, workshops and resources aimed at nurturing personal and professional development. An active part of the Rhode Island community, RIYP is dedicated to offering and promoting services and programs that encourage meaningful participation in civic life. General body meetings are held the first Thursday of the month, 6:00p to 8:00p, at the Urban League headquarters, 246 Prairie Avenue, Providence, RI 02905; meetings are open to the public. For more information about RIYP, visit www.riyp.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 2008 Press Release

PROVIDENCE, RI - Chachi Carvalho has started off the new year with a BANG! He was voted one of the top 51 emcees on Myspace.com by VIBE magazine in the December 2007 issue. He followed that accomplishment by performing at the 2007 Blaze The Stage Invitational showcase at the world renown Peter J. Symphony Space in Manhattan on Broadway in New York City. Chachi performed alongside and for some of today’s biggest stars including Fat Joe, Cassidy, Lorianne Gibson and Ryan Leslie. This was a major steppingstone which led to a major milestone shortly after the ball dropped.

On January 2nd, Chachi Carvalho took stage for the first time on national television on BET’s hit show 106 and Park. At the end of the day Chachi was crowned the first winner of the 2008 season on the Wild Out Wednesday competition by earning 52% of America’s votes. He has been receiving praise and press from all corners of the world. He has already established a solid base of fans within the New England region and the world wide web is helping Chachi establish a buzz all over the world. Due to the efforts of one dedicated fan and friend Raymond Jackson who happens to be serving in the military on his 3rd tour of Iraq, Chachi’s music is being heard and he is becoming a favorite among soldiers serving our country overseas in war.

Chachi is a first generation Cape Verdean American. Word of mouth travels far and wide so his recent accomplishments have also been noticed in the Cape Verde Islands. He has been receiving press through various websites such as FORCV.COM, NOBIDADTV.COM and CVMUSICWORLD.COM. He was also featured in the weekly newspaper “Jornal De Semana” prior to the BET performance and a follow up was recently pressed notifying the islands about the victory. His music is also in rotation at numerous radio stations in the islands such as Morabeza Radio, Praia FM, RCV Mindelo National Radio, Radio Nova and Radio Criola.

On behalf of all the staff at Big East Music Entertainment, we thank you for the continued support and please stay tuned for much more to come from Cape Verde Islands own “Gilligan”… Chachi. His Debut album “ABOUT TIME” will be released independently in 2008. It’s a Classic!

Acoustic Guitars, Rap Duos and more at SAM Fest

Photos and Article by Reza Corinne Clifton
(Originally posted on Friday, November 17, 2006)

1st photo: Big John Tierney and Charles Chachi Carvalho perform together at the Living Room. 2nd photo: DJ Therion spins hip hop for the audience. Click here to see more photos from the night

PROVIDENCE, RI - One man’s mission to address youth violence became another opportunity for both established and up and coming artists, performers and athletes at a recent event called the Sports Art Music Festival—or SAM Fest. Organized by Big East Music Entertainment, LLC (BEME) and the self prescribed Hip Hop Mayor of Providence, Charles Chachi Carvalho, SAM Fest brought together artists of the hip hop elements—rappers, dj’s, visual artists and breakdancers—and skateboarders, who all converged at the Living Room on Saturday night, November 11. The event was also in honor of Randy Hien, who was the longtime owner of the Providence local music headquarters, the Living Room, until his recent death on September 25.

The multitude of local artists who showcased their talents at the November 11 event included photographer Owen Muir; reggae and hip hop turntablists, respectively, DJ Therion and DJ Blademon; and members of the breakdancing troupe, Case Closed. But also front and center was Carvalho himself and his fellow hip hop emcees—19 year old female prodigy, Wande, and her co-performer that night Lah-Young Wahmu.

Click here to keep reading

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From the November 15, 2006 RI Rap Remembers Randy Hien event

** Special Note: Photo by Corey Taylor **
From the November 17, 2006 Grand Tracks event at the Black Rep

Photographer Corey Taylor, aka (reggae) DJ, “Blade Mon” captures a self-portrait alongside hip hop artist, Chachi Carvalho.
From the June 23 2007 Juneteenth Concert at RISD Museum.

PROVIDENCE, RI - In December, RAS, RI’s top rap duo, were given free passes to preview THE GREAT DEBATERS - a film about the achievements and struggles of an all-black debate team during the 1930’s. Going undefeated for 10-straight years, the Wiley College debate team was one of the first in the country to debate against white opponents. The film stars Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker and some extremely talented, up-and-coming young actors. Inspired by the performances and overall theme of the film, RAS put together a song entitled ‘SPEAK THE TRUTH’ in honor of the songs that go unsung, the heroes that go unappreciated, the stories that go untold and the struggle that continues…

If you like this song/video, please… SPREAD THE WORD! And to read a 2005 review of their CD from the RezaRitesRi archives, scroll down or click here to read “ABOUT RAS: From the RezaRitesRi Archives.”

Local Music Group Takes You on an uplifting Ride on their First CD

By Reza Corinne Clifton

(This article originally appeared in the Providence American Newspaper)

For those of you who haven’t had a chance to listen to the CD yet, there are two ways to listen to “Everybody Dig”, the new full length album from RI-based hip hop-soul group, Riders Against the Storm. One way of listening is by simply unwrapping and opening the case, removing the disk, and inserting it into a player with no regard to the jacket and its details. The other way to enjoy it occurs after peeking at the jacket; you will listen to it, and unless you are in the car, you will clutch the case the entire time as you will be drawn to periodically glancing inside at the details in disbelief.

Everybody Dig is an astonishingly mature freshman album by Riders Against the Storm—the then two person team of Ghislaine Jean and Jonathan Mahone—with production assistance exclusively from multitalented musician Abdul Mateen and highly active RI- to NY-based producer Moon. It is a fourteen-track album that blends originally written hip hop, poetry and comedy with instrumentals dominated by the bass and a variety of percussion. It is also a multifaceted ode to righteousness, a healing guide for those ever afflicted by self-hatred, and a direct attack on the racist and misogynistic establishment that purges Black people of self-love.

How do such strong messages emerge on an album that does not date back to the 1970’s? Consider what you first hear upon pressing play: an adult male voice teaching a group of youth performance techniques as he invites them to participate on the album by chanting a chorus of Justice…Freedom. The third or fourth chant in and the album begins full force with instrumentals, melody, etc.; yet the simple humanity and tenderness of the brief “Intro” will remain on your brain as you listen.

These sometimes original, sometimes borrowed speaking moments interwoven throughout the CD provide listeners with a glimpse at the spiritual souls and social politics espoused by Jean and Mahone. Take “Hair Piece”, a poem written by Jean with a musical dénouement at the end: it is a chronology and biography of the pride and shame, abuse and embrace, and changing politics of Black women and hair. But with references to the classic “Coming to America” and to a string of beauty products that every black woman has used, bought, or actively rejected, it avoids being over-preachy, artistically untouchable, or belligerently militant. Instead, if you do not already know Jean, the moments of passion, despair, and comedy reveal a woman that anyone could truly sit with to seriously yet with familiarity discuss this common, sometimes mini sometimes large crisis.

With so much original material—every track was written, performed, and when needed, accompanied by Mahone and Jean—it nonetheless has to be noted that even the borrowed material demonstrate their deep-rooted devotion and dedication to heritage. Track number 6 for instance, “Mama Said” includes an interlude sampled from Afrika Bambaataa. Bambaataa is one of the godfathers of hip hop, a teacher and really a spiritual and cultural leader of a multi-decade movement in hip hop that repeatedly retransformed the sound and celebrated the African roots inherently borne to hip hop.

Unbreakable and essential roots to Africa was also a major theme of Marcus Garvey, the Jamaican, Pan-African leader who, on a platform that included repatriation to Africa, self-improvement, and Black pride through his Universal Negro Improvement Association, is credited with the largest mass movement of Black people in American History. Commonly referenced and revered in reggae music—presumptively also because Garvey was Jamaican—Jean and Mahone do not miss an opportunity to introduce or reacquaint listeners to the words of this important, historical Black leader.

Yet focus not too heavily on the content and message lest we forget about the music. As I began suggesting before, the sound and production quality of the CD is impeccable. No need to worry, then about a drop in the vocals, overpowering instrumentals, or abrupt song ends.

And for those of us who can not get enough of the live music background—commonly associated with hip hop group The Roots—or those like my mother who often cannot get beyond the common-to-hip hop loop—playing the same few bars repeated over and over behind sometimes lively sometimes overly mellow rhyming—Riders’ sound is live, seemingly originating from a diverse stock of instruments, not a keyboard, computer, or manipulated old record. On song number 5, you hear percussion that sounds similar to the tympanis or specifically tuned bass drum, song number 6 is accompanied beautifully by a flute, and on song number 10, present is what sounds like water dripping, which could be a sound effect, but, knowing the integrity of the musicians, is probably an exotic percussion instrument.

Significant to those instrumentals and the vocals on this CD, as opposed to that of many other local hip hop albums—and why soul and funk are likely to be common adjectives when describing it—is the presence of melody, harmony, and, well, good sounds. The water droplet sounds on number 10 are not part of an abstract, where is the head bobbing rhythm epidemic taking over non-commercial hip hop. It is something added for musical diversity by experienced musicians.

And the vocals? Mahone is generally smooth and laid back with a style reminiscent of the Camp Lo guys, Blackaliscious fellows, or Digable Planet dudes—simple but ample note range, and slower pace. Other times he is passionate and persistent, sounding a bit like a Talib Kweli or Common when they are making important points. Yet it is Jean who will invariably make you feel it in the pitt of your stomach and effortlessly in your diaphragm.

An actress and performer as well as singer, Jean has doubtlessly mastered the art of intonation and manipulation by her voice, a skill we see in the black nationalist meets ghetto fabulous comedic skit “Willis and Tameka” and the Afro-centric empowered lesson—or review depending on whose listening—“Colors have meaning” spoken interlude. Nevertheless, this vocal chameleon prowess she displays is not limited to her speech.

Her emceeing style sprinkled throughout is infectious and at times rapid and staccato similar to the well-celebrated Busta Rhymes, and at other times languid and deliberate like Ursula Rucker, but it is really when she is singing that the listener is likely to be most taken. Jean moves effortlessly from a kind of reflective yet assertive style similar to Lauryn Hill’s—on the track “Mama Said”—to the alternating soft to emotionally emphatic you might hear on a Dionne Farris track (pick up the “Love Jones” soundtrack to see what I mean). There are even tracks or moments on some of the tracks when she plays with notes, pitch and delivery a little how trip hop performer Portishead might or similar to how older R&B voices might be altered or updated for a hip hop refrain or loop a la Kanye West. Mostly, though, Jean’s vocals are clear, flawless, and, quite frankly, addictive and infectious.

I could go on and on telling you about this CD, because let’s face it: one, I really love Riders’ take on hip hop, R&B, and message content; two, I know Mahone and Jean, and they are both these lovely people who fuse rare intelligence, spiritual virtue, and bold talent with social altruism and a prolific sense of community; and three, I had hoped to finish writing this review two weeks ago. You really simply must buy it yourself, though, to support this confluence of rare talent, globally appreciable rhythms and genuinely empowering lyrics.

To learn more about Riders Against The Storm and to purchase their CD, visit www.againstthestorm.com or call 401-952-8711. Reza Corinne Clifton is a community organizer for RI Children’s Crusade for Higher Education on a four year High School Reform project. She is also a freelance writer whose articles can be seen in “The Minority Family Perspective” the Providence American Newspaper and at www.rezaritesri.com. To contact Reza, email rezaclif@aol.com.

Since 1970, Black Enterprise [magazine] has been the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. It reportedly attracts 3.9 million readers every month while it’s online companion, blackenterprise.com has 200,000 registered users and more than 450,000 visitors each month.

Why do mention all of this? Because it’s official: Reza Rites has gone national. Check out Blackenterprise.com or use this link - www.blackenterprise.com/cms/exclusivesopen.aspx?id=3996 - to see my article, called “African Americans Crowd the Stump: Lobbying clout increases with Democratic majority.” The article examines the participation rates of African Americans in federal lobbying, how to find success in lobbying, and what factors contribute to a rise in Black lobbyists. Below I’ve provided a small taste from the article for your reference.

“‘There are millions of Americans who believe that people in Washington, D.C., are working on their behalf to make their lives better, and anything I can do to make that statement always be true is what I’m going to keep trying to do.’” – Paul Braithwaite.

Like this Black Enterprise piece, much of my work recently has been for outside publications, and has been on a number of topics. In the publication, Black Notes, a sister publication to the Providence Black Repertory Company, I wrote a piece entitled “Playing Politics in Jamaica: Still Not a Game” about the role that violence has played during each election season the country has had for decades, and about the work and advocacy that reggae musicians have played in politics and social activism. Access the article by visiting the Black Rep’s homepage – www.blackrep.org – and clicking on “Black Notes” on the left-hand side or by using the link, www.blackrep.org/images/Black%20Notes/BlackNotes_4.pdf.

Another place my work has appeared recently is in the publication, She Shines, out of YWCA Northern Rhode Island. My latest article there will allow you to know more about what’s happening in the (RI) real estate market and whether this is the time to buy, sell, or rent: www.sheshines.org/content/view/333/330/. While you’re there on the She Shines website, make sure to check out the Student Speaks article, entitled “thoughts on hearth and home,” by my friend and colleague in the business, Kalyana Champlain (http://www.sheshines.org/content/view/342/329/). As a writer, scholar, and spoken word poet, Kaly as we like to call her, pens a powerful and moving tribute to mothers of every ilk. You’ll want to share this one, for Kaly is truly a rising star.

There’s more work and more info coming soon to RezaRitesRi.com. Make sure to check back soon. In the meantime, Happy New Year and thank you so much for all your support.