Social consciousness

Hip-hop at 50: how the sights, sounds and moves of the music spread across the world

Retrieved on:

Friday, August 11, 2023

Herc’s party represented a coming together of music and the start of something new.

Key Points:

Herc’s party represented a coming together of music and the start of something new.
The Bronx crowd did not want the dancehall sounds Herc had begun to play.
Over the next three years, a swathe of disco-oriented rap records followed, solidifying hip-hop culture through the medium of vinyl.

Hip-hop’s development

The six years between 1973 and 1979 are hugely significant to hip-hop’s development.
MCs and rappers, such as Coke La Rock, Grandmaster Caz and M.C.
While all of this thrived in the US, it was almost a decade until hip-hop culture reached other shores.
Hip-hop’s identity was transported globally, however, by the visuals in punk impressario Malcolm McLaren and World’s Famous Supreme Team’s Buffalo Gals music video.

Message making

Breaking was labelled passing fad that kids would grow out of, like yoyoing or jumping on pogo sticks.
Yet, here we are, rejoicing in a cultural movement which continues to develop.
Through the practices of the elements, hip-hop adopters learn new ways of making art.
These mainstream artists are cut from the same cloth as the more underground rappers like Roughneck Jihad and Worms Ali.
Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays.

Hip-hop at 50 – how the sights, sounds and moves of the music spread across the world

Retrieved on:

Friday, August 11, 2023

Herc’s party represented a coming together of music and the start of something new.

Key Points:

Herc’s party represented a coming together of music and the start of something new.
The Bronx crowd did not want the dancehall sounds Herc had begun to play.
Over the next three years, a swathe of disco-oriented rap records followed, solidifying hip-hop culture through the medium of vinyl.

Hip-hop’s development

The six years between 1973 and 1979 are hugely significant to hip-hop’s development.
MCs and rappers, such as Coke La Rock, Grandmaster Caz and M.C.
While all of this thrived in the US, it was almost a decade until hip-hop culture reached other shores.
Hip-hop’s identity was transported globally, however, by the visuals in punk impressario Malcolm McLaren and World’s Famous Supreme Team’s Buffalo Gals music video.

Message making

Breaking was labelled passing fad that kids would grow out of, like yoyoing or jumping on pogo sticks.
Yet, here we are, rejoicing in a cultural movement which continues to develop.
Through the practices of the elements, hip-hop adopters learn new ways of making art.
These mainstream artists are cut from the same cloth as the more underground rappers like Roughneck Jihad and Worms Ali.
Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays.

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Rainbow PUSH Coalition Founder and President, Moves to Emeritus Status and Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III Appointed as New President

Retrieved on:

Sunday, July 16, 2023

CHICAGO, July 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomorrow, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition will officially transfer leadership as Reverend Jesse Jackson transitions to emeritus status and Reverend Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III is welcomed as the organization's next president. Rev. Dr. Haynes will be formally introduced during the Rainbow PUSH Coalition's 57th annual conference during an event with Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday, July 16 at 2 PM CT.

Key Points:

CHICAGO, July 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomorrow, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition will officially transfer leadership as Reverend Jesse Jackson transitions to emeritus status and Reverend Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III is welcomed as the organization's next president.
Dr. Haynes as my successor," said Reverend Jesse Jackson, Founder and President of the Rainbow Push Coalition.
Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III, incoming President of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Jackson worked directly with the chairs of the four Rainbow PUSH organizations – including Rainbow PUSH Coalition, PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), PUSH Excel, and the Citizenship Education Fund – to select Rev.

University of Cape Town Joins Global edX Partner Network with Launch of New Courses and Professional Certificate Programs

Retrieved on:

Monday, June 26, 2023

Learning, Partnership, University, Education, Marketing, 2U, Built environment, Teaching, CAPE, TWOU, Student, Engineering, Social consciousness, Knowledge, UCT, EdX, University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, Nursing, Tutoring

CAPE TOWN, South Africa and LANHAM, Md., June 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- edX, a leading global online learning platform from 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU), today announced that the University of Cape Town (UCT), Africa's leading university, is the newest member of the global edX partner network, joining hundreds of universities and institutions in expanding access to the world's best education. Additionally, UCT is partnering with edX to create 15 new courses and five new professional certificate programs, with more content launching throughout 2023.

Key Points:

Additionally, UCT is partnering with edX to create 15 new courses and five new professional certificate programs , with more content launching throughout 2023.
UCT's partnership with edX will further strengthen the University's online footprint, allowing it to continue providing transformative educational opportunities to more people worldwide.
"We are thrilled to be joining the edX global community of universities," said Professor Harsha Kathard, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at the University of Cape Town.
"Our partnership with 2U revolutionized the way we deliver education, bringing UCT's unique blend of academic excellence and social consciousness online.

Emerging environmentally-conscious menswear brand Cavia showcased Spiber's Brewed Protein™ materials at the "S|Style sustainable style" exhibition at Pitti Immagine Uomo

Retrieved on:

Thursday, June 22, 2023

This renowned exhibition brought together ten handpicked emerging brands which exemplify a harmonious blend of social consciousness and environmental responsibility while maintaining creativity and design.

Key Points:

This renowned exhibition brought together ten handpicked emerging brands which exemplify a harmonious blend of social consciousness and environmental responsibility while maintaining creativity and design.
The brand unveiled an exclusive knit top and pants set collection crafted from Brewed Protein fibers for the first time.
The collection will also be exhibited at Pitti Immagine Filati at Spiber's booth Q/11 in the CustomEasy area from June 28–30.
In 2013, Kering created the Material Innovation Lab (MIL), which is dedicated to the sourcing of sustainable materials and fabrics.

Emerging environmentally-conscious menswear brand Cavia showcased Spiber's Brewed Protein™ materials at the "S|Style sustainable style" exhibition at Pitti Immagine Uomo

Retrieved on:

Thursday, June 22, 2023

This renowned exhibition brought together ten handpicked emerging brands which exemplify a harmonious blend of social consciousness and environmental responsibility while maintaining creativity and design.

Key Points:

This renowned exhibition brought together ten handpicked emerging brands which exemplify a harmonious blend of social consciousness and environmental responsibility while maintaining creativity and design.
The brand unveiled an exclusive knit top and pants set collection crafted from Brewed Protein fibers for the first time.
The collection will also be exhibited at Pitti Immagine Filati at Spiber's booth Q/11 in the CustomEasy area from June 28–30.
In 2013, Kering created the Material Innovation Lab (MIL), which is dedicated to the sourcing of sustainable materials and fabrics.

How hip-hop learned to call out homophobia – or at least apologize for it

Retrieved on:

Monday, June 5, 2023

Addressing claims of homophobia, the rapper wrote on Instagram: “I didn’t write the line about gay people.

Key Points:

Addressing claims of homophobia, the rapper wrote on Instagram: “I didn’t write the line about gay people.
… I got love for all people.” He continued: “To me [by] ‘queer’ I don’t mean someone who’s gay.
As rap music approaches its 50th anniversary in August, I believe it is increasingly embracing challenges to – and debates about – homophobia.

The history of homophobia in rap music

Indeed, throughout the 1980s and 1990s, high-profile rap groups such as N.W.A and artists like DMX similarly used pejorative language against members of the gay and lesbian community.
Perhaps the most famous rapper using homophobic lyrics is Eminem.
Throughout this controversy, there was only a muted response from the rap community itself.
Indeed, researchers who studied the link between rap music and resistance among young men of color to coming out found that it influenced some gay men’s decision to conduct any same-sex practices on the “down low” to avoid revealing their sexuality.

The start of change in rap community

For example, in 2005 Kanye West apologized for his past homophobia and even urged fellow artists to cease using lyrics that degrade the LGBTQ+ community.
These individual actions did not end anti-gay expression in rap, but it does, I believe, show progress among those in the hip-hop community.
However, many present-day male rappers wear tight-fitting clothes – a fashion choice once considered “gay” and therefore demeaned in the rap world.
Moreover, such outfits are created by gay fashion designers, a point that Offset acknowledged while defending himself against claims of homophobia.

Out of the closet and onto the mics

Even more telling, I believe, is the growing number of mainstream LGBTQ+ rappers.
Over the past decade, there has been a rise in the number of successful gay and lesbian emcees.
Albeit the music of openly gay Lil Nas X is more pop than rap, it has sold over 1 million copies.
Even 50 Cent, no stranger to homophobic lyrics, praised her on Instagram: “Young M.A the hottest s*** out right now.

Still room for growth in rap music

But it does show that hip-hop has evolved to a point at which self-reflection and conversations are taking place on past and present instances of homophobia.
That’s not to say that anti-gay beliefs don’t persist in the music of some.
And at least for now, rap artists are called on it – increasingly by members of their own community.

The Atlanta Business League Honors John Hope Bryant at 44th Annual CEO Awards Luncheon

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

ATLANTA, May 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Atlanta Business League (ABL), the nation's first and oldest minority business development and advocacy organization, recognized and honored Operation HOPE Chairman, Founder, and CEO John Hope Bryant with its 2023 Distinguished Service Award. More than 500 business, civic and community leaders attended the 44th Annual CEO Awards luncheon at Atlanta's historic Hyatt Regency Hotel on May 16th.

Key Points:

ATLANTA, May 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Atlanta Business League (ABL ), the nation's first and oldest minority business development and advocacy organization, recognized and honored Operation HOPE Chairman, Founder, and CEO John Hope Bryant with its 2023 Distinguished Service Award.
More than 500 business, civic and community leaders attended the 44th Annual CEO Awards luncheon at Atlanta's historic Hyatt Regency Hotel on May 16th.
The "Distinguished Service Award" recognizes an individual who has a longstanding record of making a true impact in Atlanta and across the nation.
In addition to Bryant, this year's honorees included Albert G. Edwards, Founder & CEO, CERM; Dr. Lakeysha Hallman, CEO & Founder, The Village Market; David Tann, Founder & CEO, Tantrum Agency; and Carol B. Tome', Chief Executive Offer, UPS.

Santa Clara University’s 10th Annual Day of Giving Raises Record Amount to Benefit Student Well-Being, Educational Accessibility, and Inclusive Excellence

Retrieved on:

Thursday, April 13, 2023

It was another record-breaking year, as Broncos from across the country came together to support Santa Clara University’s 10th Annual Day of Giving (DoG).

Key Points:

It was another record-breaking year, as Broncos from across the country came together to support Santa Clara University’s 10th Annual Day of Giving (DoG).
The Student Red Cross Club co-sponsored an American Red Cross blood drive that saw nearly a dozen volunteers and 45 blood donation appointments.
The Division of Mission and Ministry also sponsored a food drive to benefit the Bronco Food Pantry.
“The energy and enthusiasm that this milestone Day of Giving generated is worth many times the money we raised.

Helzberg Diamonds debuts rêve Certified Sustainability Rated lab grown diamond collection

Retrieved on:

Monday, March 27, 2023

Science, Beauty, Gold, Collection, Diamond, Helzberg Diamonds, Social consciousness, CS, Gemstone

KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on its leadership in lab grown diamonds, Helzberg Diamonds® announced today the launch of rêve™, a lab grown diamond collection that is 100% third-party rated and certified for sustainability. Helzberg Diamonds is now the first national jewelry retailer accredited by SCS Global Services to offer diamonds certified under the strict SCS-007 Jewelry Sustainability Standard.

Key Points:

KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on its leadership in lab grown diamonds, Helzberg Diamonds® announced today the launch of rêve™, a lab grown diamond collection that is 100% third-party rated and certified for sustainability.
rêve lab grown diamonds provide environmentally conscious purchasers with a new way to shop for and enjoy real diamonds.
"As the first national jewelry retailer to offer lab grown diamonds in 2017, Helzberg Diamonds has a longstanding commitment to providing diamond purchasers with a world-class shopping experience and expertise to help them choose the best diamond for them," said Julie Yoakum, president of Helzberg Diamonds.
"The SCS-007 certified rêve lab grown diamond collection offers sustainability-minded customers with a new choice in diamonds that meets their expectations."