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Josh Baze Blazing A Trail From Brooklyn To Hollywood

MC talks about his upcoming EP and why Hype Williams signed on to direct his debut video for ‘We Made It,’ in Mixtape Daily. By Steven Roberts Josh Baze Photo: MTV News Fire Starter: Josh Baze The name Josh Baze may not ring any bells. He’s not attached to any big-time artists or an underground movement, nor does he have the backing of a major label. But in spite of his low profile, the Brooklyn-born MC is gearing up for the release of the Hype Williams-directed video for his first official single, “We Made It.” The collabo with Hype puts Baze in good company, as Williams has directed debut videos for Missy Elliott, the Wu-Tang Clan and Busta Rhymes, among others. And while only time will tell if Baze will be one day be mentioned in the same breath as those stars, he sure hopes so. The 21-year-old told Mixtape Daily he started rapping in his teens and always had a passion for the mic. “I started off on the desks in my elementary school. I started getting into the studio around 16. After I learned how to do a track, and I just laid down my first 16, it was a wrap,” Baze said. “My dad was a DJ, so just having him around and watching music get built inside of my house, it was a blessing, because I got to learn so much, man.” Baze ( rhymes with haze ) grew up listening to and idolizing fellow Brooklyn MCs the Notorious B.I.G and Jay-Z because of their ability to lyrically depict their neighborhoods and day-to-day struggles. He hopes to do the same on his debut EP, which is aptly titled The EP and slated to drop in September. ” The EP is basically 21 years of my life. It’s basically about stories of relationships, ex-girlfriends, family members; the good, the bad, the ugly, whatever,” Baze explained. “I just really want to give people a journey of where I came from, which is Brooklyn all the way to Hollywood.” Baze linked up with Hype after the rapper’s manager, Griffin Guess, played the famed director some of his music, piquing Williams’ interest. “I grew up watching this guy direct and make dreams, so it was really inspiring just to have him shoot my first video. It’s a blessing to have a hip-hop pioneer direct my first video, and he’s so cool and humble,” Baze said. “It’s not even just as a director but as a real friend, and just building that relationship conquered a lot.” Baze promised the album will feature some unique sounds, which isn’t surprising considering he’s working with acts like Jamie Foxx and deadmau5. For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines . Related Artists Jay-Z Missy Elliott

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Josh Baze Blazing A Trail From Brooklyn To Hollywood

Earth Day 2011: Environmental Justice For Black Communities?

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This week marks the one year anniversary of the Gulf Oil Spill disaster and the day to honor the earth, April 22nd, Earth Day .  These events brings awareness to the question, what is the future for environmental justice for black communities? Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, shares his thoughts about environmental justice with his article, A Black America Earth Day: Let’s use Earth Day 2011 as an opportunity to raise more awareness in our communities about the importance of environmental concerns and issues.  We have to connect the dots.  The health of our communities is impacted by the environment of our communities.  Did you know that many of the growing lists of so-called “learning disabilities” that affect too many of the children in the Black American community maybe environmentally related to exposures from lead poisoning and other toxic substances laced in many of our neighborhoods?  The overall quality of life in Black America can be and should be improved if we all become more conscious and involved with understanding the importance of demanding and adhering to environmental justice. (Read the entire article) Will.i.am has together with DipDive just released this  video titled “Take Our Planet Back” which focuses on energy, climate and environmental issues and topics. The video calls for citizens and their leaders to deal with the serious environmental problems that our planet faces. The video features clips of Al Gore, montages of the various environmental challenges we face, and will.i.am singing. Watch it: Below you can find the lyrics for Will.I.Am’s music video “Take Our Planet Back”: Al Gore: Today, I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100% of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years. Calling all the leaders to lead us out the hole Asking all deceivers the things I want to know If we’re so technological Why’re we still burning oil ‘Cause I got a car you plug into the wall that’s faster than a GTO We shot for the stars, put rovers on Mars, make planes like UFOs So why are we borrowin’ money from China to buy oil from the Gulf and destroyin’ the world Al Gore: Every bit of that has to change… Now that’s got to change Now that’s got to change (Chorus x3) We’ll stand up We’ll stand up and take our planet back You and me We’ll stand up We’ll stand up and take our planet back Talkin’ ‘bout we Talkin’ ‘bout we Talkin’ ‘bout Calling all the citizens (Al Gore: Citizens…) Citizens of the land Ask you your politicians (Al Gore: Political Leaders…) All these questions If we fight another war on terror Why aren’t we fighting for the environment We spend a billion dollars on wars in foreign lands But nothin’ on education Nikola Tesla turned the Niagara Falls into energy way back when (Al Gore: Energy…) And we’re still burning coal (Al Gore: Coal…) When you can make electricity with solar and wind (Al Gore: Solar and wind…) Now who’s getting played? You and me And who’s getting paid? (Chorus x3) We’ll stand up We’ll stand up and take our planet back You and me We’ll stand up We’ll stand up and take our planet back Talkin’ ‘bout we Talkin’ ‘bout we, we, we, we I’m askin’ all the citizens to take action (Al Gore: Citizens…) Take action and take back the government Tell the government to start taxin’ pollution Makin’ laws ‘cause that’s the solution It should be against the law to make pollution So if they make products that do what the other products do But they didn’t pollute, what are you gonna choose? Al Gore: We should tax what we burn, not what we earn. To those who say the challenge is not politically viable I suggest they go before the American people and try to defend the status quo And then bear witness to the people’s appetite for dramatic change The time is now. Please leave your comments below to let the Elev8 community know what will you do to help the environment?  Are you doing anything now, to create a better world for future generations? Sending positive vibes to Elev8 – Robin Downes Related Articles: World Water Day: The Importance Of Freshwater The Spirit Of Earth Day Water, Consciousness And Intent

Earth Day 2011: Environmental Justice For Black Communities?

Uncle Luke Officially Joins Miami Mayoral Race

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Luther Campbell , aka Uncle Luke, has officially joined the race to become mayor of Miami-Dade County. Campbell recently filed the necessary paperwork to run for mayor. “I’m dead serious,” Luke told reporters in Miami who doubted the sincerity of his political aspirations. “That’s a question [they have] been asking me since I put in my first document: am I serious? I am serious, this is no joke.” Check out Uncle Luke’s campaign platform below, as obtained by BallerStatus.net ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT We will revitalize the small business environment that supports existing enterprise, recruits new business and creates incentives to help meet long-term economic objectives. We will accomplish this revitalization through: · Responsible Growth and Development · Small Business Expansion · Attract new businesses · Generating new revenue sources for our county · Job Creation Redevelopment – we will take the opportunity to enrich our landscape by refocusing, restructuring and rebuilding to achieve the ‘highest and best use’ of our commercial and residential resources to: · Stabilize neighborhoods · Stop blight · Attract new residents · Uphold the cultural values of our diverse community Beautification – Enhancing the “look and feel” of our neighborhoods is central to improving its economic outlook. We will seek to improve the quality of life by: · Improving the visual impression of our county · Instilling a sense of community and neighborhood pride · Fulfilling the vision of Miami-Dade County as a Tourist Destination PUBLIC SAFETY Every citizen has the right to expect a safe environment. We will work with the various stakeholders to implement results-oriented practices that provide protection, prevent loss at work and at home and enhance the well-being for our constituents. · Restore public trust · Build stronger bonds between law enforcement and community · Enhance current public safety and crime prevention programs · Increase patrolling to industrial and neighborhood areas · Support neighborhood watch and other preventative programming · Solicit feedback and suggestions, study trends, apply best practices AFFORDABLE HOUSING Thriving in property and housing opportunities, Miami-Dade County has a responsibility to ensure that every citizen has access to safe and affordable housing. We will work to: · Redesign the current public hosing model · Remove blight from areas such as Liberty City and Overtown without gentrifying the neighborhood COMMUNITY Community is the sum total of the cultural, social and economic make up of Miami-Dade County. It includes the cares of our citizens and stakeholders as much as it reflects a specific a neighborhood, leader or institution. Our community is about us, who we are and what we believe in. It also dictates what we must do to preserve our most precious values. We will improve the conditions of our communities by: · Engaging our youth · Caring for our seniors · Strengthening families · Support networks of community and faith-based resources to serve the needs of our communities Source: BallerStatus.net RELATED: Uncle Luke Running For Mayor Of Miami RELATED: Uncle Luke Lands Assistant Coach Job At Miami High School

Uncle Luke Officially Joins Miami Mayoral Race

Weather worsens Mexico City’s water shortage

I wish people cared as much for this as they do about legalizing drugs there. Excerpt: This megacity — which was built on the bed of a lake — may be close to running out of water. One of the principal reservoirs that feeds Mexico City, the Cutzamala dam system, is nearly half-empty and continuing to drop

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Weather worsens Mexico City’s water shortage

Plant a Tree for Love

I thought this was an interesting initiative in Indonesia. To help repopulate the local forests that have been the victims of deforestation, couples must plant 10 trees in order to get married, and 50 trees in order to get a divorce. Not only is it beneficial in reducing CO2 in the country, but it also helps avoid the monoculture problem that many deforested areas have. Couples are planting trees that they want to see around their neighborhoods instead of what grows the fastest and can be cultivated the quickest. Maybe we should look into that over here in the states, instead of charging for marriage licenses.

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Plant a Tree for Love

Walt Whitman on Nature

“After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality, and so on – have found that none of these finally satisfy, or permanently wear – what remains? Nature remains. ” Walt Whitman

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Walt Whitman on Nature