HOUR OF LEGACY: TUPAC AMARU SHAKUR

The Vatican has released its list of favorite songs for MySpace’s new streaming service MySpace Music, which launched today (December 3).

Surprisingly, one of the 12 tracks is Tupac Shakur’s song “Changes,” which was released in 1998 on Shakur’s Greatest Hits album, which was released in 1998.

“The genres are very different from each other, but all these artists share the aim to reach the heart of good minded people,” The Vatican wrote on its official MySpace Music page.

The list was compiled by Father Giulio Neroni, artistic director for St. Paul’s Multimedia, a church publisher. TELEGRAPH.COM UK

We see the legacy of tupac continue, with prophetic influence. We see the weight of his words move through socio-political and spiritual forums. Many look to tupac's mantle of influence, because he exemplified more than the shining lights of fame, but his views challenged pollitics, industry and the very hearts of men. A late 90's interview in the death row corporate offices shows the mind of tupac..his answers speak for themselves..thus we are in 2g10..R.I.P. soldier.


THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP

THE PENDANT: EDUCATION

-Z.A

A philadelphia based educational/self-improvement program, located in temple university, has served and helped the community for close to 33 years. Monday feature highlights not just through the ladder of academics, but consciousness of self, environment and world. A program i attended, and that mentored me at a pivotal time of my youth, still exemplify a light of progressive movement in the community. The feature is a two part tutorial and introduction and guide to P.A.S.C.E.P. Pan-african studies continuing education program. Peep the very corridors i walked, as well as many who had their life enriched in some way by this program. On the flip we have a behind the scenes from one of hiphop's scholar himself.. the student of truth..talib kweli and the movements of reflection eternal.






THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP

STREET'S CONSCIOUSNESS

Hip-hop music is consistently portrayed in the media as a monolithic expression of urban moral and ethical decay that has seeped
past the city limits and threatens the very fiber of "American" youth. From the gansta genre popularized by West coast rappers to
the classic booty-shake tracks made famous by groups like Too Live Crew, the most recognizable face of hip-hop culture is weed
smoking, crack selling, gun toting, and baby making. Despite this public persona, are we to assume that hip-hop culture is without
any moral or spiritual foundation? The purpose of this course is to map out a tradition of a broadly-defined spirituality within
hip-hop culture. Over the course of the semester, students will read and hear material that outlines some of the cultural roots of
hip-hop's often virulent reaction to organized religion. At the same time, we will examine how certain faith traditions,
particularly the Nation of Gods and Earths (Five Percenters) and Christianity, have utilized the art form to propagate their message
to the masses of urban youth. Finally, we will explore the various ways some hip-hop artists represent a prophetic tradition rooted
in an electric spirituality that seeks wisdom from various faith traditions.
www.indiana.edu
Z.A-
On thursday we close the week, with a growing outcry of the soul in hip-hop culture; spirituality. Despite the ills of urban environments, the class system, political matters in relation to streets, middle to poor class experience a "revival" so to speak. Brothers and sisters conscious of the ills of the environments as well as see and visualize the positive, and communicate the spiritual consciousness, the very faith we keep. Coney island's franchise liaison, who communicates the corridors, and pitfalls of the "hoods" gangsta nostalgic, takes time to elaborate his views on "its not okay". Next up is washington DC's oddisee, who brings a conscious view to relevant and personal situations. FRANCHISE LIAISON
ODDISEE


THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP

THE GENERATION: M.L.K JR 2010

Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the African-American civil rights movement. His main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the United States, and he has become a human rights icon: King is recognized as a martyr by two Christian churches.[1] A Baptist minister, King became a civil rights activist early in his career.[2] He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president. King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. There, he raised public consciousness of the civil rights movement and established himself as one of the greatest orators in U.S. history.
In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means. By the time of his death in 1968, he had refocused his efforts on ending poverty and opposing the Vietnam War, both from a religious perspective. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and Congressional Gold Medal in 2004; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. national holiday in 1986.-SOURCES WIKIPEDIA
________________________________________________
Z.A- One of he greatest human figures in U.S history, One the greatest souls to walk the planet. The world understands the principle of sacrifice through the life and times of Martin. Most of us know the story, actions and words he burned in the conscious of 20th century america. In the blog feature this particular speech sums his life mission and purpose up in a nutshell. In the flip we see an example of 21st century america, told by my comrade hell razah, wu tang affiliate/sunz of man/GGO. In "hood love" he illustrate the call for higher standard, specifically in our american cities.





THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP

THE PASSAGE: POETRY IN MOTION

Z.A.-
Spoken word is a natural way of life..spoken is is the very reflection of life. We jump monday off with the finest of new york's up and coming spoken word/poetry/slam poetry finalists, who have since launched careers, and have made lasting impressions every where they performed. Meet Aja-monet.. and Kesed..Iam.

Aja-Monet is a Cuban-Jamaican poet originally from East NY, Brooklyn, residing in Chicago, IL. At 22 years old, she is currently the youngest Grand Slam Champion of the Lower East side's legendary Nuyorican Poet's Café. Her work is classically surrealist, engaging altogether Hip Hop, Soul, and literary audiences. She dedicates her time and energy working with inner-city adolescence, providing performance poetry workshops and opportunities. Aja-Monet received her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and is currently working on her MFA in Writing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

www.myspace.com/aja_monet

AJA MONET

_____________________________________________

KESED RAGIN (KESED I AM)

Article by Yoon Yung Sim
Photographd by Yoon Yung Sim

While in the 4th grade, Kesed Ragin's teacher gave him a book of poetry written by the great Dr. Martin Luther King. This work reshaped his preconceived notions of the rigidity of poetry and ignited a poetic flame within him that has yet to go out.After seeing SLAM starring spoken word phenom Saul Williams, Kesed knew exactly what he wanted to be. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Kesed expresses the difficulties of feeling at odds with his environment. Hurling himself into the spoken word scene, he has staked a claim as a performing activist "trying to reach people who don't know what they're up against." He was a member of the 2005 Urban Word Slam Team and Brave New Voices National Slam Champs.

Kesed exudes confidence and rightfully so, performing with the likes of Dead Prez and Arrested Development. Kesed's poetry offers an in depth look into the thoughts of the poet, taking the reader on a journey "from where I've been to where I [Kesed] am now". Grasping inspiration from all around him, fans can count on reading and hearing more from Kesed.

KESED..I AM

www.myspace.com/kesediam

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP

UNIVERSAL: THE LANGUAGE OF ONE

In America, hip-hop music may trumpet the virtues of wealth, fame, and power, but in South America, it's the voice of the disenfranchised, a genre of music embraced by the underclass. Tom Feiling's documentary Resistencia: Hip-Hop in Colombia profiles the rise of hip-hop in the slums of Colombia, where the music was first introduced to the culture in the 1980s by transients who would travel to the U.S. and return with bootleg cassettes. Now, it's a thriving subculture, featuring such outspoken artists as Poetas de la Oscuridad and Asilo 38. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide

-

Z.A-
A film realeased in 2002..Below is the trailer to give a picture of even now the widespread international influence of hip hop culture. The movie is a strong depiction of how a culture can uplift and sustain a people..even in hard times.
Every experience must own a voice..peep the face of hiphop in south and central america with Domenican republic's "Lo correcto", my brothers.





THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP

N.Y UNDERGROUND P.III

"keep rising to the top, and my moms like give it all you got, give it all you got give it all"-

DA GIF

WELCOME TO P.III of NY UNDERGROUND..SHOWCASED THIS THURSDAY ARE NY BASED ARTISTS AND ABROAD..WE START OFF WITH QBORO'S OWN SOSH BACARDI..HEAD TO OHIO'S PROPHET.. AND CLOSE WITH BROWNSVILLE BROOKLYN'S STONES..

SOSH aka B.Cardi for his 151 proof flow. Born and raised in Jamaica, Queens. Has numerous collaborations with established artist from Busta, Graf, Scarface and Quan-just to name a few. SOSH is a slick talkin' wordsmith with a hustlers swagger influenced by the streets, with a song catalogue of more than 300 songs, or should we say 300 hits.. -SOSH BACARDI

Sosh Bacardi was born and raised in Jamaica Queens, amongst influences like Run-DMC and LL-Cool J. SOSH discovered a love for Hip-Hop at an early age, developing his confidence and swagger as an MC.

www.reverbnation.com/soshb

______________________________________________________________________
I am a Gangster!! When I use the word gangster I not talking about killing, selling dope, or a thug. A gangster has a set a values and beliefs that he live by and will not bend or break them for any one even if it cost his life. A gangster will never snitch even if he faces 100000 even if he was snitched on. A gangster will never cross any one he is close to for no amount of money. A Gangster is respectful and demands respect and non gangsters are disrespectful and only respect who can do somthing for them or who they admire or fear

-PROPHET


PROPHET "The Heart Of Toledo" is CEO of Block Musiq Entertainment as well as an undeniably talented artist/songwriter. PROPHET brings something other artists lack….uncut realness. With a raw and uncut voice which has universal appeal, his music paints vivid pictures of everyday living in urban America. PROPHET exclaims "I am an artist who paints pictures of my life, thoughts, and where I come from. I want to touch the hearts of the people with my music" and indeed he does. In a time when one hit wonders have become an industry standard, PROPHET intends on emerging as a force to be reckoned with. The album "Rap 2 The Top or Back 2 The Block" is scheduled for release in 2008 and is assured to have great success.

www.myspace.com/prophettheheartoftoledo



____________________________________________________________________________

David Blake, better known to many by his stage name, Stones was born July 31st 1988 in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York. Stones is the cousin of Kenyatta Blake aka Buckshot who is a fellow Brooklyn emcee and Co-CEO of the extremely successful independent hip hop label, Duck Down Records. Stones has many monikers/ aliases such as, S.t., S.t.ones (Stack Them Ones), Rollin Stones, David Blake The Great, The Ressurection of Perfection, S.t. The Legend Before The Legacy and many more. Stones credits his extensive list of "a.k.a.'s" to Wu Tang who he is a big fan of and is known across the globe for having many aliases.

Rapping was a hobby Stones claims to have picked up from watching the Black moon frontman, Buckshot as well as many other emcees from Hip hop's "Golden era". “I use to just sit down and listen to Wu-Tang; particularly Meth all day to study how he would put words together and then formulate my own rhymes with that same structure until I got down the basics and started to develop my own style" sais Stones. When asked about Buckshot's influence on his career choice Stones had this to say, "Buck was the one that let me know it was real because I use to think rappers were some kind of super human’s beamed down from the sky [laughs] but, he was someone I actually saw in the flesh often and saw on T.V. too so that made me believe that I could do it too".





www.stonesmuzik.com

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP

COLD GROUND: HOMELESSNESS

Homelessness (UK: sleeping rough) is the condition of and social category of people who don't have a regular house or dwelling because they cannot afford, pay for, or are otherwise unable to maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or they lack, "fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence" [1] The actual legal definition varies from country to country, or among different entities or institutions in the same country or region.[2]

The term homelessness may also include people whose primary nighttime residence is in a homeless shelter, in an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or in a public or private place not designed for use as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.[3][4]

An estimated 100 million people worldwide are homeless.[5]

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines a "chronically homeless" person as "an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has either been continuously homeless for a year or more, or has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years."[6]-
SOURCES WIKIPEDIA

Specifically in urban inner city's the statistics show. Though the many cases differ for the reasons of homelessness, its good to stay conscoius of the situation, and consistent programs should be developed to prevent it. To witness young and old suffer from it, though its common, it should not be ignored. Food , clothing and shelter are basic nessacity's. Peep brooklyn artist's Kel spencer's take..


THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP