Award winning artist Christopher Johnson to perform at La Soul Renaissance Saturday Oct 25th

No stranger to La Soul Renaissance  internationally recognized and award winning spoken word poet Christopher Johnson will be performing at La Soul Renaissance’s “The Harvest of the Soul” celebration of the 10th Annual Connecting for Change  Saturday October 25 in New Bedford.  Christopher has been performing at La Soul Renaissance since as early 2003.

Christopher has slammed on many National Slam teams and competed in five individual world poetry slams never ranking less than top 30. In 2007 Christopher won the spoken word category in the Famecast.com international competition beating out over a thousand poets from around the world for a top prize of $10,000 dollars. Of his most recent accomplishments, Christopher was commissioned by Brown University to write and perform the inaugural poem of it’s 19th President
Known mostly for his constant evolving style Christopher Johnson without complaint, combines the experience discord of his past, the wisdom of now and the hope of the future to give voice to a universal message of human spark that connects us all. Using the intricate combination of academia, hip hop, traditional story telling, theater, and just plain old common sense, Christopher provides a soulful uplifting experience guaranteed to move his audience through several states of equilibrium, challenging the listener to remain in an emotional stagnant state. When asked to describe himself, he uses one word; Entropy.
Christopher resides in Providence Rhode Island where he organizes Spoken word events, gives workshops on writing, performing, as well as growth and empowerment through words. He has been an active community member of Brown University’s student spoken word/poetry organization “Word!” since it’s second year of conception, 2004. In 2010, Christopher was commissioned by Providence’s Department of Art Culture and Tourism to write the poem “Providence Divine” to commemorate the city’s 375th birthday.

Christopher Johnson

Chachi Carvalho at La Soul Rennaissance Sat Oct 25th 10th Annual Connecting for Change

La Soul Renaissance is extremely excited to announce that the award winning Cape Verdean American educator, activist, and hip hop artist Chachi Carvalho is going to perform at La Soul Renaissance “The Harvest of the Soul”  celebration of the 10th Annual Connecting for Change Conference on Saturday Oct 25th, 2014 downtown New Bedford.

Charles “Chachi” Carvalho is a multi-talented performing artist, emcee, poet, and songwriter. He is a first generation Cape Verdean/American born and raised in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He comes from a long line of musicians and singers. Chachi is a dedicated father, youth advocate, teacher, football coach, writer and entrepreneur. He is founder and co-owner of Beat Box Studio located in his hometown Pawtucket, RI. Chachi is consistently recreating himself as a man and as an artist. His brain is an engine for creative thought and inspiring ideas. It is evident in his songwriting and clearly displayed on his critically acclaimed release “In Dust Real Evolution”.  Audiences all over the world have embraced his latest album release, “Cape Verdean In America”.   This album is a unique blend of hip-hop, Afro house, rnb, zouk, and world music.  He truly stepped out of his comfort zone and created something original to add to his already impressive catalogue.  Chachi is an humble spirit who is proud of his accomplishments. He would rather count his blessings than count his problems.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXPTtnFsQoA

Chachi Carvalho

10 years ago La Soul Renaissance Oct 2004 “Tearing Down the Walls – Bridging the Gaps” Conference

 

On October 13, of 2014  Erik Andrade of La Soul Renaissance and Activist Andrea Armandt were interviewed on “IN FOCUS” at Bridgewater State University by Dr. Jabbar Al-Obaidi regarding the “Tearing Down the Walls: Bridging the Gap”  Conference. The Intention of the conference was to connect progressive people from all backgrounds and generations. The event featured poetry from Black Arts Movement Professor and Poet Everett Hoagland, and a panel featuring Civil Rights Icon Jibreel Khazan of Greensboro 4, Eroc Arroyo-Montano of Foundation Movement, Activist Gloria Clark, Activist Organizer Camilo Viveiros, and educator Ross M. Grace Jr.

The panel was followed by break out workshops and the day was capped off by La Soul Renaissance  “The Spoken  Soul Poet-tree Show” featuring the Egalitarian Ensemble ( Erik Andrade, Simon Desjardins, Royal Hartigan, Andy McWain), Christopher Johnson, Black Mozes aka Stan LeeCedric Josey, Job Anonymous, Nick Pelletier and many more during the open mic.

335063_3065637645648_1992282706_o

Flyer designed by Stanley Dominque for La Soul Renaissance

The event was organized by La Soul Renaissance, Youth Empowerment Program at Treatment on Demand, The Progressive Student’s Alliance, The Frederick Douglass Unity House, UMD Labor Studies Department, NB CEDC, and United Way of New Bedford Mini-Grants Program .

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Poster designed by Stanley Dominque for La Soul Renaissance

 

La Soul Renaissance working on getting Afrika Rainbow to “Harvest of the Soul” Saturday Oct 25th

Afrika Rainbow 2

Fresh off their successful tour of their mother land of Cabo Verde promoting their debut album “Identidade” Afrika Rainbow and La Soul Renaissance have begun conversation about the possibility of the award winning  Cape Verdean Roots Reggae band potentially performing at the October 25th “Harvest of the Soul” celebration of 10 years of Connecting for Change.

Fingers crossed hoping the stars are aligned and we can make this possibility a reality for October 25th. Afrika Rainbow is super talented, spiritual band of artist using music and art  to make a positive cultural shift in the world.  Check out their music below. Good sounds and great vibes.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/167889486″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Afrika Rainbow

La Soul Renaissance featuring Caliph Sat. Oct 25th at Connecting for Change Conference

photo by Michael Jo Santos

photo by Michael Jo Santos

La Soul Renaissance is honored and excited to announce that Senegalese hip hop artist Caliph has just agreed to perform at La Soul Renaissance’s “Harvest of the Soul” at the 10th Annual Connecting For Change Conference on Saturday October 25th, 2014.

No stranger to La Soul Renaissance Caliph has blessed several shows and radio interviews with our team, and where are honored to have him on the line up of this amazing show at the intertnational Connecting for Change Conference.

Caliph is amazing talented lyricist, producer, and performer and founding member of Good Karma Music. His debut album “Heart in Mind” chronicles his journey as Senegalese immigrant growing into adulthood in the inner city of New Bedford. Deeply personal Caliph’s music brings voice to the all to often voiceless struggles of immigrants and youth growing up in a harsh and cold reality. And yet the listener is left inspired as you journey through his audio autobiography.

For a preview of the magic to come, take a minute to enjoy some video from Caliph’s performance at La Soul Renaissance’s Harvest Showcase of 2014.

 

Or read this excellent article about his journey written by journalist Simon Rios:

Senegalese rapper spreads the message of hope

Caliph’s debut Album “Heart in Mind” & “Go” music video

Caliph is currently working on his highly anticipated sophomore album which is scheduled for release in the Spring of 2015.

The show will also feature internationally acclaimed Climbing PoeTree, Erik Andrade, the Overflowing Cup Project and more to be announced. 

Admission is FREE for conference attendees and $10 for general public. Please remember your badge to ensure admittance.

If you don’t have your conference ticket yet? PURCHASE YOUR CONFERENCE TICKET TODAY!

http://connectingforchange.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4d069429a89b4e21e3fb9519&id=2a9376a4c7&e=6c4e243c7d

Date: October 25, 2014
Time: 6 – 10 P.M.

Location: Connecting for Change, New Bedford, MA

La Soul Renaissance featuring Climbing PoeTree Sat. Oct 25th at Connecting for Change Conference

Climbing PoeTree

La Soul Renaissance is honored to be organizing a special spoken word poetry & music celebration at the 10th Annual Connecting For Change Conference on Saturday October 25th, 2014.

The show will feature Climbing PoeTree. Climbing PoeTree is the combined force of two boundary-breaking soul-sisters who have sharpened their art as a tool for popular education, community organizing, and personal transformation. Poets, performance artists, print makers, video and graphic designers, muralists, and new media architects, Alixa and Naima create compelling works at the service of their vision for a more just and livable world.

Climbing PoeTree’s award-winning performance is composed of dual-voice spoken word poetry, hip hop, and multi-media theatre that challenges its audiences to remember their humanity, dissolves apathy with hope, exposes injustice, and helps heal our inner trauma so that we may begin to cope with the issues facing our communities.

Over the last 10 years, Climbing PoeTree has performed for thousands of people across the U.S. and abroad from Mexico to the UK, South Africa to Cuba, alongside visionary leaders and artists such as Cornel West, Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys, Angela Davis, Alice Walker, Saul Williams, Amiri Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, Danny Glover, The Last Poets, and Dead Prez.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCx8Anb03Fc


The show will also feature Erik Andrade and the Overflowing Cup Project Band and more to be announced.

Admission is FREE for conference attendees and $10 for general public. Please remember your badge to ensure admittance.

If you don’t have your conference ticket yet? PURCHASE YOUR CONFERENCE TICKET TODAY!

http://connectingforchange.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d4d069429a89b4e21e3fb9519&id=2a9376a4c7&e=6c4e243c7d

Date: October 25, 2014
Time: 6 – 10 P.M.

Location: Connecting for Change, New Bedford, MA

 

 

“Just Be You” by Erik Andrade for Manny Pay$0 Album

Just BE You

Girl

don’t get caught up

playing

follow the followers

following

trend setters

false image

of tomorrow

or borrowers

forgetting

the power is

in your inside

no longer

caught up in

ego’s insecurity

that pretend lie

unaware try

to defend

pride

but my dear

you should not care

your pretty

resides within

beautiful beneath

what hides your skin

when you wake up

don’t cover up

with make up

cuz under cover

your defined by

a divine design

so one of a kind

a work of art

worth more

your heart

your mind

then all the

diamonds

they mine

combined

your shine

I don’t mind

and it don’t

matter

if they do

we’re just fine

trust me

its true

ill just be

ME

and you can

just be

YOU

written by Erik Andrade of La Soul Renaissance

 

“Spiritual Evolutions” by Erik Andrade

spiritual evolutions
inner revolutions
Eden this sinner
retributions
where in the end
we seek solutions
see beyond the filter
of satan sick pollutions
Mother Earth
self abusing
confusing
the differences
of service
and pure using
America
it seems
we are losing
our grip on

our reality
far too often
tripped up
by abnormal con-formality
behavior
shaped by what
we call salary
selling soul
for the goal
of getting the gold
spirit sold
for comforts
we hold
more important
than mere
morals1270480_4975353235446_2011924373_oWritten by Erik Andrade of La Soul Renaissance on September 29, 2014