What Does Black August Mean To You?

M-1: Black August is a revolutionary institution and tradition inside our community. It is evidence of the fact that our movement is alive and kicking and moving in and around the hearts of youth and hip-hop represents this. In New York, Black August has manifested itself in a phenomenal way in the form of a hip-hop concert that has been going on for 10 years. It is the extension of the highest dreams and aspirations of Field Marshall George Jackson and our esteemed "shero" Assata Shakur and our political prisoners and prisoners of war who have been suffering behind enemy lines for 30 and 40 years. It is a tool to fight back against the oppression we endure right now.

DJ Scratch: Black August is important for Black awareness. As far as hip-hop is concerned we are the new Martin Luther Kings and Marcus Garveys. We are the new leaders so we have to take responsibility for that and preach to the kids just like Run DMC preached to me. X-Clan preached to me. When somebody is in church and they say, “Don’t do this. Don’t do that,” the youth don’t listen but we can reach them through our music.

Rodstarz (of Rebel Diaz): Black August is an affirmation of a necessity to stand up against the system and honor our freedom fighters. As far as this specific event (Black August Concert) it brings artists that stand for something together all in one big concert to raise funds and bring awareness about our freedom fighters so we can get them liberated. This is a wake up cal for hip hop and the fact that we are doing this here in Times Square is a big thing because we are giving a medium of space for our freedom fighters to speak.

Why do you think it is important to use hip-hop as a tool to spread the message of Black August?

Saigon: It is very important. When you hear my album you will understand how much I try to do it with my music. It’s important because music is a weapon and rappers are leaders right now whether they want to be or not because the record companies are targeted towards the kids. Whoever controls the minds of your children, controls your future. I feel we have to use this music as a tool to empower the next generation to become strong Black men who will take care of our women, take of our kids, take care of our households. A lot of the music that is out there is the exact opposite talking about robbing, stealing, and drug dealing. It is detrimental.

Rodstarz: Hip Hop speaks for our youth. Our youth a lot of time always have a problem with authority figures such as teachers, police, and army recruiters talking down to them but hip-hop speaks directly to our youth. Hip-Hop has its origins in the streets. It comes from the conditions of poverty and it needs to be brought back there. This show is definitely a sign that hip-hop is still alive and well. Hip Hop is going to become a form of resistance. It already is a force of resistance internationally and why not here the very birthplace where it came from. Continued on page 4 »