Harlem News Group CIRCA 95 and Friends at Pregones Theater

HARLEM . QUEENS . BROOKLYN . BRONX

BRONX

By Howard Giske

he Circa '95 and Friends concert began with DJ Polarity playing hip hop records, and the distinctive scratching sound and rhythmic mixing of audio tracks told me that I had entered Hip Hop land. The audience was about to get a crash course at the Pregones Theater in downtown Bronx. Circa '95's Reph Star came out to introduce the event, thanking Pregones for letting him use their beautiful performance space. Circa '95 (Reph Star and Patty Dukes) recently had a stint at the "Pop-up Shop" at Whedco's Bronx Lab at 1303 Louis Nine Blvd, and have been hip hopping hard. Reph Star promised the audience the whole hip-hop experience, from rapping to music, and acrobatic dancing "B-Boys," to film clips. Out came the Floor Royalty Crew (FRC) with Chief'69 doing some wild b-boy (break dance) routines to the tune of "Funky Nassau." When b-boys dance on their heads, shoulders and whatever, they get your attention like tight-rope walkers. Then, Reph Star introduced Luss, an arresting and dramatic

singer, and a discovery of a program that promotes new talent in the Bronx. Luss opened with his signature song "Nothing in my hand, but I'm worth much more than a dollar." Luss's voice is impressive, going from low register notes to high levels, in a series of songs dedicated to everyday people. Another song "Desperado" conjured up visions of a lover betrayed, battling with the temptation to use a gun against his girl, based on imagination only, Luss assured the audience. The artist "YC the Cynic" has been a friend of Patty Dukes going back to her days of working at the Point Community Center. YC fired off raps like a machine gun, starting with basic and amusing stuff like "I split Adam and Eve, before the apple was outta the tree" and he went on to a rap about Superman. Next, was the ultimate Bronx-based duo, Rebel Diaz, rappin' about "people power" and freedom. They are 2 brothers that run a Bronx hip hop community space, because they don't want to be only "studio rappers." Their surprisingly

deep rap-thoughts go from opening with "stop the war," to asking "What's your motivation?" Rebel Diaz knows it's tough to fight the system and make a living at the same time. They know what it's like to face "My people like whatever, trying to get the cheddar," what the Soledad Brothers and their song title calls the "Radical Dilemma." Circa '95 joined Rebel Diaz on stage for a premiere performance of "We Live It," or as Patty Dukes rapped, "I live it, I love it, I love it a lot." At this point, the crowd was wowed by Circa '95 finally coming out to do their album "Free Lunch." The hip hop really flowed from English to Spanish, with the plaintive plea of "All we need is love and a little understanding," in the paradoxical state of "too white to be black, too black to be Spanish." My favorite is the chaos of their rap about the "Public School Kid." Nothing hip hops like a tale of a food fight in the school lunch room.
Photos above top-bottom: 1. Reph Star. 2. Patty Dukes. 3. B-Boy dancing.

Bronx BP Diaz Celebrtes National mentoring Month with Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC
orough President Ruben Diaz Jr. joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC (BBBS of NYC), the nation's first and New York's largest youth mentoring organization, in celebrating National Mentoring Month by declaring January 28th "Mentoring Day" in the Bronx. The Borough President presented a proclamation to Big Brother Jermaine, Little Brother Josiah and representatives of BBBS of NYC at Borough Hall "Young people face so many challenges growing up today and the presence of a mentor can make all the difference in overcoming these obstacles and becoming a successful adult," said Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. "That is why I am proud to declare January 28th 'Mentoring Day' in the Bronx. I salute Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC for its work to ensure every child in this city has a positive role model, and I urge caring adults throughout the Bronx to volunteer today to make a difference in someone's life." As part of National Mentoring Month, which is celebrated each January, Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC launched its 2013 mentor recruitment effort, intended to attract more caring adults from the Bronx and throughout the

five boroughs to volunteer to be positive role models to the city's youth. "National Mentoring Month provides us with an opportunity to celebrate our incredible mentors and the proven impact they have on young people through our programs," said Hector Batista, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC. "As New Yorkers, we all share a responsibility to help assure brighter futures for our young people and we encourage adults in the Bronx to do their part in 2013 by giving the gift of mentoring." In honor of this year's National Mentoring Month, BBBS of NYC hosted a number of recruitment drives, workshops, service projects and fundraisers, as well as the Fifth Annual Tournament of Champions Pong on January 24th at Grand Central Terminal - a highly anticipated table tennis tournament that raised money to support the organization's mentoring programs. Public officials also participated in special events throughout the month in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City. In addition, the Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC Center for Training and Professional Development offered educational seminars intended to help equip

Harlem News Group January 31, 2013

non-profit professionals throughout the five boroughs to develop their own mentoring programs and capabilities. Through this campaign, BBBS of NYC intends to inspire adults throughout New York City to volunteer as mentors to children in need of positive role models. Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC currently serves more than 3,500 young people every year through a number of specialized volunteer mentoring programs, with a growing list of hundreds more children waiting for a Big Brother or Sister to give

them this invaluable gift. Mentoring is open to adults 21 or older, residing in the five boroughs, and it is free to volunteer. To become a volunteer mentor, donate, or learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC and National Mentoring Month, please log onto www.bigsnyc.org or call 212-6862042. Businesses interested in joining the more than 45 corporations that already have Workplace Mentoring Programs can also email wmc@bigsnyc.org.