“Hip-Hop is the dream and the freedom that the children of the ghetto inherited after the Civil Rights Movement died.”
This February, for Black History Month, MMXLII will be receiving posts from a very special guest contributor — Bonz Malone. As a writer, journalist, actor, poet, philosopher, and hip hop anthropologist, Bonz Malone has been called the “Hunter S. Thompson of Hip Hop.” Born in the Bronx, Bonz co-wrote and starred in the film Slam, which won the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Grand Jury Prize for a Dramatic Film at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. Below he breaks down his approach to celebrating Black History Month.
“Ever since the 2nd grade, February’s been all about Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglass, Langston Hughes, Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King, Jr. But these aren’t the only names that deserve to be honored during “Black History Month” nor is the Civil Rights Movement the only one that has brought about change in the black community. For 28 days, I’m going to post the dopest hip hop records ever made, by the heroes who’s contributions are immortal in our culture. I’m tired of waiting for new names to be added to an ancient list. We have degrees, awards, been inducted into various Hall(s) of Fame – and through Graffiti, Breaking, Mcing & Djaying – have created the longest running renaissance in the history of the world. Whoever cannot recognize that, cannot celebrate the greatness that was once rap. #blackflyday”
- Bonz Malone
Read More
