“Although it seems heaven sent, we aint ready to have a black President” – Tupac Shakur
When Tupac made that statement on his song “Changes” on his greatest hits album, I was all of 11 years old at the time and at that moment, believed what Pac said in that record would remain true for the duration of my lifetime. But lo and behold, we have defied that statement (sorry Pac) currently have the first African-American President, Barack Obama, about to make a run for his second term in office. So, that got me to thinking..would it be possible to see a day where we could have one of our beloved Hip Hop artists as the leader of the Free World?? PDS Guest Blogger and Recording Artist himself, Awkword, takes a crack at it and tells us who we should vote for on our ballet’s.
Shout out to DJ Benhameen and the whole team over at PleaseDontStare for publishing the piece.
Click here to find out who AWK picked for the full presidential cabinet, and why.
This Sunday, July 15, AWKWORD will appear live on The Artist Lounge with poet and radio show host Jill Delbridge. An affiliate of the Inner Child Radio Network, The Artist Lounge is the #1 artist group on Black Planet, providing a platform for emcees, poets, other artists and interested listeners/participants, “empowering your voice to be heard.”
To join the conversation, click here for all the details. And if you’re on facebook, be sure to let the host know if you are “going.”
Its not uncommon for someone to suggest I check out mc so-and-so or dj whats his name. So about a year and a half ago I got word to check out a video (“The Peoples Champ”) by a rapper that goes by “Awkword”. Revolt Radio put it best, “AWKWORD’s ethic and motive is simple. He raps for the everyman and everywoman.” After a trail of emails and stale mates I got it done! RenegadeTheMagazine.com finally caught up with east coast rapper Awkword for an interview.
Excerpt:
RENEGADE: You have collaborations with numerous hip hop legends. How is it knowing you have that kind of support behind you?
AWKWORD: For a concept and an album like this, you need that support. That’s what this is all about. Fuck a co-sign. If this were a solo project, none a that would matter to me. But this is more than a solo project. When the album drops, it will be a monumental moment in our culture’s already incredibly glorious history — connecting us, across every continent, through Hip Hop music and the power of words.
There is literally nothing better then finding a new artist who ticks all the boxes.
Chatting with east coast rapper AWKWORD, his character shined through, and it was evident that he has a lot more to offer than just a great portfolio of music.
He has a very intriguing image, as a result of his slightly gangster exterior which collapses when you start talking to him. This guy is smart, intelligent with a great story… plus he’s good looking! Line up ladies!!
Growing up, he was a straight-A-student running from cops, and getting suspended from school for fighting. Luckily, AWKWORD learned to filter his anger and his (awkwardness) as a result from his alienation and did it through spoken word and his music. AWKWORD’s ethic and motive is simple. He raps for the everyman and everywoman.
Fittingly, on May Day, a day after the release — to critical acclaim and great fanfare — of the video for AWKWORD’s World View single “Bars & Hooks”, The Village Voice’s Sound of the City blog drops its interview with the Activist Rapper…
N.W.A.’s “Fuck Tha Police” burst into Awkword’s life thanks to his baby-sitter. The Manhattan-based rapper visibly remembers the day when his part-time watchdog turned up with a copy of Dr. Dre and Ice Cube’s anti-establishment rant; hearing the song kick-started his first forays into writing his own raps. True to that song’s sentiment, today Awkward is as much an activist as an artist, channeling the idea of conveying a message and a viewpoint through rhyme and attempting to cause a change in the world around him. His upcoming World View project is the next stage in his mission, with all profits from the project going towards the Guns 4 Cameras (Aim To Live) anti-street-violence organization.
With the Occupy Wall Street movement set to snag more headlines today, we checked in with Awkword to speak about the potential for instigating social change through music, the dynamics of organizing a successful protest, and how his music is equally as inspired by Ill Bill as The Beatles.
It’s in the name itself: World View is all about the global connections we make through Hip Hop music x culture. So, it should come as no surprise that we considered every continent when looking for the person/team to mix & master this important project. We went no further than Switzerland’s Vinyl Digger.
scratchin, blendin, cuttin, jugglin. remember hot 90s mixtapes? dats how i do!
And it doesn’t hurt that Vinyl Digger has the co-sign of two trustworthy World View participants, emcee Tenacity and Brown Bag AllStar-affiliate producer Tranzformer, each of whom describe Vinyl Digger as, simply, “dope”.
AWKWORD has a lot on his mind these days. He has been very busy pushing his music from the forthcoming album, World View. He has released single after single building the buzz for his 100% for charity project, letting us know, it’s not all about the Benjamins.
AWKWORD is a social advocate and a musician. With each release he puts out it becomes more and more apparent that his name deserves to be recognized for the talent he possesses. But more than that, Awkword is a son, a son who lost his mother earlier this year. He talks below about the special relationship he shared with his mother and his music. Enjoy…
AWKWORD joins KRS-One, Kool G Rap, Common, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Homeboy Sandman, Sadat X, Evidence, Mr. Muthaf*kin’ eXquire, Madlib, Mikkey Halsted and more on Gee-O’s THIRD AVE & 138TH STREET Podcast, released January 30, 2012, via Juggernaut Promotions.
Mr. Muthaf*kin’ eXquire ft. Goldie Glo - The Bear Trickz (Mishka Way Of Life)
Mikkey Halsted ft. Sincere – My City (Chicago) (prod. No I.D.)
Gangrene ft. Evidence & Roc C - Dark Shades
DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles - We Are At War
Blacastan ft. Emilio Lopez, OuterSpace & V-Zilla - Sand Storms
Damu The Fudgemunk - What’s Next (Early Mix)
Skillz - With You
Fokis ft. Sadat X - #Justsayin’
The BenchWarmers Clique - Droppin’ Bombs
BURNTmd ft. Phil The Agony - GTDMIB: Phil Mad Burnt Anthem
AWKWORD ft. KRS-One, Dug Infinite & Brimstone127 - Radio 2.0 (prod. Vice Souletric)
Spit Gemz - Highlight Real
Homeboy Sandman - Angels With Dirty Faces (prod. J57 [Brown Bag AllStars])
Mndsgn - Like
Madlib - On A Mission
FreshNerd of 100 Akres - Soulterlude #4 [Ross Munroe]
Raekwon ft. Chip Banks, Ghostface Killah, Killa Sin, Polite & Trife - Cuttin’ It Up (Gee-O Remix)
Madvillain - Papermill
Elephant Man - Show Them How Fi Dance
Damu The Fudgemunk - Faster Rhyme For Self
Mndsgn - brgundy
Peoples Logic ft. Chinch 33 - Breakin
Mobb Deep & Kool G Rap - The Realest
FreshNerd of 100 Akres - Soulterlude #3 [Alex Kidd]
Detin8 ft. Sic’Nis - Gonna Cry (prod. Sampai)
Mavado ft. Raine Seville - Cheating Game
Wayne Marshall ft. Bounty Killer - Be on The Alert
Click here for more on AWKWORD’s World View single “Radio 2.0”, featuring the legendary KRS-One, Dug Infinite & Brimstone127, produced by Vice Souletric.
A week ago, Thursday, February 9, Buck Marley XXX world premiered “Rainy Daze”. The newest single off AWKWORD’s DJBooth.net-sponsored 100% for-charity global Hip Hop projectWorld View, “Rainy Daze” features guest 16s from Main Flow of Mood, You Heard That New freestyle alum Rickie Jacobs and Dujeous frontman Mojo the Cinematic, backed by beats from ASCAPlus Award-winning production team The Aqua League.
Download (highest-quality [.wav] sound file) — and donate 100% to World View’s charitable recipient Aim to Live, a 501c3-registered nonprofit dedicated to ending street violence through the Hip Hop-inspired education of at-risk youth.
This track is too Dope! NYC hip-hop artist “AWKWORD” drops “Rainy Daze” featuring Main Flow, Mojo (of Dujeous), and Baltimore’s Own “Rickie Jacobs”. The word was passed that this song will be featured on Awkword’s project called ‘World View’. And guess what, Every last bit of the proceeds will go to charity. Now how trill is that? This is the first I’ve heard of someone doing so. Big Shout out to Rickie Jacobs for being apart of this historic masterpiece.
This is the latest single from AWKWORD’s World View project, and it features the Bmore boy Rickie Jacobs (who also sorted out that Charlie Brown-tinged artwork) and others. BuckMarleyXXX got the world premiere on this, and I’m just hoping I avoid the rain. Or snow. I think it’s going to snow. This might actually be something dope to watch snow fall to. Fly shit.
Another banger from AWKWORD! This time he enlists the help of Main Flow (of Mood), Rickie Jacobs, Mojo (Dujeous frontman) and the production of The Aqua League for the single “Rainy Daze.” You will be able to find the single on the upcoming DJBooth.net sponsored, 100% for-charity global Hip-Hop project from AWKWORD entitled World View.
Fresh off earning reader plaudits for Radio 2.0, the third release off his DJBooth-sponsored, 100%-for-charity mixtape, AWKWORD returns to our pages with leak number four off the highly-anticipated project. On Rainy Daze, The Aqua League serve up a cinematic, string/piano instrumental as the Big Apple underground spitter trades lyrically on-point bars with Main Flow (of Mood), Rickie Jacobs and Mojo the Cinematic (frontman of Booth-approved crew Dujeous). World View has yet to receive a drop date, but those who like what they’re hearing can keep it locked for more fresh tunes off the project.
EXCLUSIVE NEWS:
There is a Rainy Daze Part II. It features AWOL One, Bisc1 a.k.a. Bisco Smith & broke MC. It is produced by Cletus a.k.a. Romablaster of Rome, Italy. It will be available on World View, ONLY VIA DJBooth.net. Stay tuned for more news. Album drops 2012.
The newest AWKWORD x World View single, “Radio 2.0”, features guest verses from KRS-One, Dug Infinite & Brimstone127, over production from Vice Souletric.
As noted here, DJBooth.net world premiered the cut January 19, 2012.
Welcome to the Booth’s Top Independent Chart! As always, your feedback has determined which songs made the cut. Each chart’s lineup is calculated using a special DJBooth Formula that takes into account member ratings and reviews as well as features’ overall popularity.
Check out the newest single off AWKWORD’s 100% for-charity global Hip Hop project ‘World View’, a DJBooth.net Top Song of the Week (see below), produced by Ohio’s Vice Souletric, and fittingly featuring KRS-One, the legendary Bronx emcee behind the Stop The Violence movement, Chicago’s iconic rapper/producer Dug Infinite and fellow Jewish emcee/activist Brimstone127 of Miami.
Download (highest-quality [.wav] sound file) — and donate 100% to Aim to Live, a 501c3-registered charity for urban youth.
Youtube Slideshow Video
Special Shout Out to DJBooth.net for WORLD PREMIERING “Radio 2.0” last night. Click HERE to read the great song review and show support by rating/commenting!
![renegadethemagazine.com [RENEGADE]](http://awkwordrap.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/renegadethemagazine.jpeg "renegadethemagazine.com [RENEGADE]")
![#Requiem THIS week…[ ]==|==|==|==|==|==|==[]>—————
New Single Cover Art by Andreis Costa for SweatShop NY.
AWKWORD Soundcloud followers [click here, then click the ‘follow’ button] can hear “Requiem” NOW:
AWKWORD ft. SoulStice, Ess Vee & CuzOH! Black - “Requiem” (prod. ATG)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m12j7ow3qr1rop7m6o1_500.jpg)
