‘Real
World’ personality gives hip-hop book signing
By Monica Levette Clark
On-line Forty-Niner
Hip-hop
culture is believed to be the dominant culture
of America’s youth since it began in the
1970s.
 Hip-hop
has influenced the life of author, activist,
poet, historian, journalist and public speaker,
Kevin Powell, whose appearance on the MTV
series, “The Real World: New York City,”
catapulted him into the mainstream limelight.
Powell will be on hand Thursday at 2000+
Bookstore at 7 p.m. to sign copies of “Who
Shot Ya? Three Decades of Hip-hop Photography.”
The book, which he edited, features the
photographic works of famed American Indian,
hip-hop photographer, Ernie Paniccioli.
Powell was one of the founding, senior writers
for Vibe magazine, where he profiled public
figures like Secretary of State Colin Powell,
Spike Lee and Tupac Shakur.
Harper Collins, publisher of the book, said
it has the distinction of being the first
major pictorial history of hip-hop culture
compiled by one photographer. Comprised
of over 200 images, the book includes the
essay, “Notes of A Hip-Hop Head,” and an
as-told-to-account of Paniccioli’s life
and long-term relationship with hip-hop,
both written by Powell.
Q:
Why is “Who Shot Ya?” so important to the
hip-hop culture?
A:
“The book represents a look at hip-hop over
three decades. It is clear that hip-hop
music and culture is at a serious crossroads
and in a state of arrested development …
Now we know that [hip-hop] music has always
talked about sex, violence and material
things, but the difference today is two-fold.
There were no music videos around
back in the day, to reinforce and perpetuate
the images being rapped about the way there
are today. And there was diversity
to the music back then … Rap artists who
are trying to be creative, who are trying
to push the art form, are not encouraged,
supported,or marketed properly, if at all
today … What is missing are [record labels]
encouraging artists to grow, to push the
envelope, to see long-term careers instead
of one-hit songs for the moment … So, [this
book] is about reminding people where this
culture came from, all that [hip-hop] has
created up until now, and why we are at
such a standstill.”
Q:
What people and events have specifically
prompted you to want to do a book like this?
A:
So there is no one event, artist or group
that inspired this book. It was really about
making sure Ernie, a photographer of color,
had his work documented while he is still
alive to get the respect he deserves. Also
to make sure that young people of color
and [those] who are supporters of hip-hop
and black culture in general see that people
of color can be and are qualified to document
this lifestyle, from our unique perspectives.”
Q:
This semester the Black Studies department
at Cal State Long Beach brought a new course
focusing on hip-hop culture, into its program.
What are your thoughts on the relevance
of hip-hop culture as an intellectual study,
and how important is it for the youth today?
A:
“To me, [African-American] culture in general,
is an intellectual study - blues, jazz,
slave narratives, our dances, our visual
arts, our language and vocabulary. [People]
short-change [African-American] humanity,
what we have been through in this country
and our future, by viewing our culture as
anything less than genius against all odds.
Hip-hop is just the latest manifestation,
and the really sharp professors understand
that, which is why you see hip-hop classes
popping up all over the nation….When I say
I am a hip-hop head, I mean that I speak
hip-hop, I dress hip-hop, I walk hip-hop,
I think out of the box, like hip-hop and
as KRS-One famously said. I am hip-hop …
Hip-hop is, at its core, a call out for
help [African-Americans] making something
out of nothing, trying to be seen, heard
and felt.”
2000+ Bookstore is located at 309 Pine Ave.,
in downtown Long Beach. For more information
on the free book signing, students can call
(562) 435-1199.
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