(Thurs. July 31, 2008) FORUM: Hiphop and Politics: Can the two work together for the good of the people?

 

HIPHOP & POLTICS*:
Can the two work together for the good of the people?

Join us on Thursday, July 31, 2008 for the forum "HIPHOP AND POLITICS: Can the two work together for the good of the community?" This will be held at the Jackson Enterprise Center (931 HWY W. * Jackson, MS),6-8p.m.

Panelists include recording artists Eddie Wright, Big Pap, Jokah the General, radio show host Berlinda White, community activists Valencia Robinson and Shontale Watson, Attorney Martin Perkins and more!

Issues to be discussed include 1) Should we care what entertainers think about issues if we are to separate what they say from what they do? 2) How can the hiphop community best use their influence for the good of the community? 3) What can elected officials do to encourage the hiphop community's support? 4) Is the voice of the hiphop community incorrectly swaying perception about the Presidential candidates and their positions? 5) At the end of the day who should have more influence, the leaders of the hiphop community or the head of the household?

This 4th installment of discussions is brought to you in part by The Hip-Hop Chronicle, The Street Life Series, YoRaps.com, The Hype Magazine and focuses on the power of Hiphop. It will be moderated by Hiphop and Books Founder C. A. Webb. Admission free.

For more information, contact Berlinda White at 601.307.1851 or Cyrus A. Webb at 601.896.5616. You can also reach Webb at cawebb4@juno.com. Additional information can also be found online at http://www.thebestbookclub.info and http://www.hiphopandbooks.com

Rapper Ice-T's son-in-law blazes own trail, supports "Hiphop & Books"

In a time where the relatives of celebrities count on their famous connections to get by in life, 28-year old Kut Supreme of Mississippi wants his own talent as an emcee and artist to speak for itself.

One-half of the group The Blak Circle, Kut Supreme is also a solo artist and grew up in Yazoo County in Mississippi. He told Conversations that music has always been a part of his life, and now he is able to make a name for himself on his own terms.

"When I get in the booth or on stage I am telling the story of my life, or our life," says Kut. "I rap about the experiences I have seen, but I also like to give the people fun music they can ride to, dance to or just chill to."

As far back as 2005, Kut Supreme could be found performing in clubs across Kentucky. He's been featured on two compilation albums (THE BLAK CODES ENTERTAINMENT CHAPTER 1 and THE UNDERGROUND EVOLUTION PAGE 1) and has had the pleasure of performing with artists not only in Mississippi and Kentucky but in Alabama and Georgia as well.


In April 2008, Kut Supreme took a big step in his career: becoming the first artist signed to the Dayton Family South label, founded by Ira Dorsey (aka I.D. and Bootleg) and Mississippi's own Stanley Clark (President of For The People Production).

"I'm just ready to take this music game and my career to the next level," says Kut. "I've put in work over the years, and it's beginning to pay off for me big time. I'm ready for it all."

Kut Supreme will join fellow Mississippi artists in the history-making "Hiphop & Books" Youth Rally that will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2008 in Jackson, MS. The event will kick off the 25-state tour that will criss-cross the country promoting reading and the importance of staying in school among lovers of the hiphop community. (Details can be found at http://www.hiphopandbooks.com.)

"When I heard about the "Hiphop & Books" event, I knew I had to be a part of it," Kut explained. "I want people that enjoy my music and that of other hiphop artists that we are more than just entertainers. We are intelligent human beings as well. Education is important, and reading opens the mind. Anything dealing with helping others help themselves is a good thing."

To find out more about Kut Supreme, visit www.myspace.com/kutthesupreme. You can visit Dayton Family South at http://www.daytonfamilysouth.webs.com.

"HipHop & Books" Youth Rally Slated for April 2008 in Mississippi

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"Hiphop & Books" Youth Rally slated for

April '08 in Mississippi

Conversations Book Club and TRU Publishing, in connection with their literary partners*, are pleased to announce the 1st "Hiphop & Books" Youth Rally of Mississippi! This will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at the Smith Park in Downtown Jackson beginning at 1p.m. and ending at 5p.m.

 

 The purpose of the event is to unite and entertain lovers of hiphop music with a family-friendly show as well as bring attention to the problems of illiteracy and school dropouts. Conversations believes that by showing that the hiphop community is about more than just the glitz and glamour portrayed through television and music that it can serve as a wakeup call for young people to still strive for the best possible life they can get through a good education and positive role models.

 

The days events will feature space jumps for the kids provided by Inflatable Kingdom, concession-style food and performances by Mississippi's own Ondrea Nicole, Trill, G-Money(seen above), Britt, Jacktown Slim and Jack Squad. Our special guest for the rally is Lil Half Ounce aka HollywoodHalf whose album SMALL TOWN HYPE features Fiend, C-Murder, Lil Cali, Pearlie Mac, Savage of Trill Ent and more.

 

To encourage school participation, Conversations & TRU are presenting this contest: The school that has the most students that attend the rally will receive $1,000 in brand new books for their school library donated by Conversations & TRU! (In 2007, Conversations & The Jackson Advocate donated over $500.00 in brand new books to the Shady Creek Trailer Park in South Jackson.) At the close of the event there will also be a historic, special announcement made that you want to be present to hear!

 

Admission is free, however, vendors including Krooked Ledda Clothing and others will be on hand with merchandise. For more information, contact Robin Gardner at 601.664.8805, Stanley Clark at 601.559.3463 or Stephanie Mitchell at 601.500.8950. Also visit http://www.hiphopandbooks.com.

 

*This event is brought to you in part by Shadow Play Entertainment, For The People Productions, S. M. Productions, C. O. D. Records, Off Da Chain Entertainment and Jaia Productions

Are You "Grown & Gangsta" Enough? Enter our special contest today!

Do You Have what It Takes To Be GROWN & GANGSTA?

TRU Publishing & Conversations Book Club, in connection with our partner BeBop Record Shops, want to put you to the challenge! Purchase Jacki-O's book GROWN & GANGSTA today through Bebop Record Shop, mail in proof of purchase along with a song in which you are featured for a chance to win the honor of recording a song with the "Madam of Miami" Jacki-O & the Founder of TRU Publishing C-Murder!

 

GROWN & GANGSTA can be purchased by calling BeBop Record Stores in the Maywood Mart Center (601.981.5000) and 3887 Metro Drive near Metrocenter Mall (601.969.3181) for only $12.95 plus taxes and handling. Credit/debit cards and money orders are acceptable forms of payment. Each store can provide their mailing address and the total to be mailed in for the purchase of the book, however, proof of purchase & cds should be mailed to the following (NO ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS!):

 Tru Records * 3154 B. College Drive #534 * Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808

Include your name, mailing address, phone number and email address.

Deadline for all submissions is July 4, 2008. The winner will be announced July 19, 2008.

 

C'mon. JOIN THE ADDICTION: Get hooked on books!

http://www.trupublishing.com    http://www.thebestbookclub.info

Rapper/Author Jacki-O's visit to Mississippi: MISSON ACCOMPLISHED!

Thank you to everyone who made the beginning of Jacki-O's "Grown & Gangsta" Book Tour a resounding success. When we began the journey on Tuesday, March 4, 2008---after just 10 days of promotion---we had no idea what to expect. To our surprise and excitement, hundreds of her fans and even some interested parties came out to support her visit to Mississippi---and this online photo album tells the story. http://www.esnips.com/web/Jacki-OBookTour














Conversations Book Club and TRU Publishing wish to thank all of our literary partners that made the weekend a history-making event that none of us are soon to forget:

* Robin Gardner, Angelsbowb4him.com & Conversations Book Club
* Crystal Springs High School (Ms. Jones, Principal & teachers Mr. Bradford and Ms. Crisler)
* Snapman
* Mista, Tambra Cherie and Misha Wilson @ Hot 97.7FM
* Comfort Inn & Suites (North Jackson)
* Stax of Official Blockwear
* Eddie Robinson & the entire staff of Wal-Mart (HWY 18) in Jackson, MS
* Stanley Clark of For The People Productions/Style & Class
* Quality Inn & Suites (Airport Road) in Pearl, MS
* Ms. Debra Gilbert of Richard Wright Library (Jackson, MS)
* Jack Squad
* D. J. Downsouth
* Trill
* PRIME
* Ondrea Nicole
* J Money
* Berlinda White of "Naked Conversations"
* Phyllis Robinson of PEG Network, Channel 18
* Leon Collier of KrookedLedda.com
* Gail Ambeau of Ambeau's Chapeau
* LaBella Models
* Pearl Public Library

And to all who came out to show your love for the work we are doing in the state, we appreciate you and look forward to many more literary endeavors.

Conversations Launches www.hiphoploversread.webs.com

On Wednesday, February 27, 2008, Conversations Book Club launched what is considered a groundbreaking project to unite the hiphop community & the literary community:

HIPHOP LOVERS READ!

(http://www.hiphoploversread.webs.com)

It is the hope of Conversations that www.hiphoploversread.webs.com will do much to show that the Hiphop community is about more than a way of dressing, talking or even music. For many, it is a lifestyle and if we want to communicate with it we have to meet the community halfway.

 

Moderated by Conversations Book Club Founder Cyrus A. Webb, the site takes the interests and concerns of the Hiphop community and matches it with authors and books that coincide with it. It is our hope that visitors to the site will make it theirs by taking ownership of the message boards and suggesting your own books to read.

 

Visitors are invited to sign the guestbook as well tell others about what will become the new haven for lovers of urban literature. For more information, contact Cyrus A. Webb at 601.896.5616 or cawebb4@juno.com.

 

C'mon. JOIN THE ADDICTION: Get hooked on books!

Conversations Book Club Founder Expands His Organization

Conversations Book Club Founder Expands with New Partnerships, Opportunities

 

 

 

Since the first time his name was in print back in 1999, Cyrus A. Webb knew his life would never be the same. Nine years later he is an accomplished visual and literary artist/radio and television show host, newspaper columnist, magazine founder and editor as well as the President of the nation's largest interactive literary organization. Additionally, he is the President of the Rankin County Arts Alliance and the Chief of Staff of the public relations firm For The People Productions. All of this, and he has yet to celebrate his 33rd birthday.

 

With all of his accomplishments, Webb is constantly looking for ways to further his brand and do his part to contribute to the literary scene.

 

Beginning Saturday, March 1, 2008 he will add another slash to his resume: book reviewer for the State of Mississippi's largest daily newspaper! His weekly column that will be found in the "Rankin Ledger" section of the newspaper every Saturday will allow him to give an honest review of the books that he is currently reading and recommending to others. This is just one other way that Webb's brand will introduce him to people all over the world. (Thank you to the Editor of the Rankin Ledger for making this possible.)

 

Currently Webb is contributing articles to the Jackson Advocate Newspaper, Books2Mention Magazine, Blagazine and RAWSISTAZ---with the focus being on reading. It is his hope that this new endeavor will help others to appreciate books and look at them in a whole new way.

 

To submit your books for review, email cawebb4@juno.com. You can also contact him at 601.896.5616.

 

C'mon. JOIN THE ADDICTION: Get hooked on books! http://www.thebestbookclub.info.