Tonight at 6pm, the Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture will be hosting the Half and Half Panel discussion on exploring Dominican and Haitian identities. The discussion sounds like it will be pretty interesting and it will bring up some fiery topics that exist between the two nationalities. Race, economics, politics and colonial legacy will all be on the agenda. It’s a free event so if you can make it out.

Directions, and other details can be found below.

I definitely have to give credit where it’s due. CCCADI continues to put together some great events. Tonight, they’re set to launch their truly unique art exhibition for Women’s History Month. Check out the details below…

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) is pleased to present “Wearing Spirit: Aesthetically Personifying the Feminine in African Sacred Traditions” a multi-media exhibition of paintings, sculpture, photography, textile art, video and installations honoring the power of the Feminine present in African Sacred Traditions.

While African Sacred Traditions exist within a context of gender duality of masculine/feminine, this exhibition specifically explores the complex fabric of female personalities in indigenous African spirituality. Work in the exhibition captures the essence and power of the female deities, priestesses, and prophets that have served as instruments of balance and grounding within indigenous African spiritual systems and their derivatives.

Artists attempt to answer such questions as: Who are the gatekeepers of the spirit and physical realms? Who are the most prominent female divinities? What are the roles of female priestesses and prophets in a contemporary context? How is feminine energy shaping the future of these traditions?

This show is an awe-inspiring reflection of the universal essence that is cosmically feminine. It also highlights the traditional West African systems of Akan, Vodun and Yoruba and their Diasporan counteparts along with other rituals and rites-of-passage ceremonies.

In 2010, people are still being persecuted for their devotion to these indigineous belief systems. Most recently, there are reports of Haitian earthquake survivors being denied food and assistance as well as having their temples and altars desecrated and destroyed by evangelical Christians, simply for their practice of Vodun. Additionally, there needs to be a resurgence of earth-based practices during times of environmental disintegration. These traditions must be preserved and celebrated and this exhibition further educates the general masses to the cosmic energy that is Feminine and Sacred.

Opening Reception:
March 11 6 - 8:30 p.m.

On View:
March 12 through May 21, 2010

For more info on the event, click here.

Check out a full listing of the artists involved and a video interview with Imo Nse Imeh, Ph.D as he discusses his piece “Mechanisms in Uyai,” after the jump…

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It’s that time again. First Fridays at the Bronx Museum with Asho, celebrating Women’s History Month. Check out the details below…

First Fridays! At The Bronx Museum Presents:
KALALU Femme Edition: A lyrical stew for wordsmiths of all walks
Celebrating Women’s History Month
FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2010, 6:00pm to 10:00pm
South Building – Lower Gallery
Admission: Free!!! No Cover!!!

Back by popular demand and following the success of last year’s all
female line-up performances, First Fridays! will celebrate Women’s
History Month with a program fully composed of words and sounds by and
for women.

KALALU is a signature event of The Zol Lab, a creative laboratory
where arts and media meet social justice.

Curated and Hosted by The Zol Lab.
Performances by Aracelis Girmay, Atiyya, Lah Tere, Lorelei Williams & Alkebulan Aya.

Beats By DJ Laylo
Live Painting by Crystal Chaparro.

illustration courtesy of Toofly. www.toooflynyc.com

Flyer Design by Cissa Paz www.weweproductions.com

The Bronx Museum of the Arts
1040 Grand Concourse at 165th Street • Bronx, NY 10456
Or visit www.bronxmuseum.org.

Subway Directions: Take the “D” or “B” to the 167 Street/Grand Concourse station. Exit at rear of station, walk south along Grand Concourse two blocks. Or take the “4” to the 161 Street/Yankee Stadium station. Walk east three blocks to the Grand Concourse, then walk north four blocks along Grand Concourse to 165th Street. Via Bus: Take the Bx1, Bx2, or BxM4 Express to 165th St. and Grand Concourse

SHOW TIMELINE

6:00 pm Doors Open/ DJ Laylo Spins on the 1’s & 2’s

7:30PM Opening Remarks by Marinieves Alba/The Zol Lab

7:35 PM Performance by Lorelei Williams

7:55 PM Mari Intro/Aracelis Girmay

8:20 PM Marinieves Alba announces Crystal’s Work in Progress/Atiyya Intro

8:25 PM Performance by Atiyya

8:50 PM Performance by Lah Tere

9:15 PM Performance by Alkebulan Aya

9:40 PM Closing Remarks by Marinieves Alba/The Zol Lab

For more info on everything, check out The Bronx Museum’s official site.

Just wanted to give folks the heads up that the legendary Gil Scott-Heron will be bring his live show to New York’s fabled Blue Note Jazz Club next week.

Gil will play a two-night engagement as celebration of the release of his new album I’m New Here , which Dom detailed a couple of weeks back.

To purchase tickets to either the March 2nd or March 3rd show, click here: Blue Note New York: GIL SCOTT-HERON & FRIENDS: CD RELEASE SHOW FOR “I’M NEW HERE” - 2 NIGHTS ONLY!.

I caught the promo for Rise up, a documentary about Reggae music on Large up. The screening of the documentary will take place at the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center on February 25th. Below is the trailer for the movie.

The new video and first single from The Land Of Make Believe, dropping everywhere on March 9th. Check it out below….

Also, check out the dates for the Crowd Control Tour, featuring 88 Keys, Donnis and Izza Kizza, after the jump…

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Our peoples over at Fresthetic are at it again tonight, with their 3rd installment of Bullets & Love. Check out the details below…

We are very excited about this year’s Bullets & Love show, it plans to be bigger and better than ever!!! We have a really dope roster of artists contributing this year. We also have a very delicious h’ordeuvre selection by our homies at ELOTE.

ELOTE is a very yummy Mexican cantina style restaurant that also has a world collection of Tequila.

BULLETS & LOVE 3
Its 3rd Annual Mannequin ART Show
February 11th – March 9th
Opening reception Thursday, February 11th, 2010

7-10pm

Music by DJ Trixter

H’ordeuvre selection by ELOTE

Featured Artists:

M.Tony Peralta • Destroy & Rebuild • Sylvia Ortiz • Kevin Champeny • Zees & Ms Mensen • See One • Leo Tecosky • Margauxtron • Josh Diaz • Juan Doe • KA • Marthalicia • Nelson Caban • Rob Fokused • Munish Asnani • Sofia Maldonado • Savior ElMundo • CEKIS • SALO • Made in BKLYN • Bonafide Rojas • Mincho Vega

Red “What is that, Velvet?” Cupcakes and Sangria By E.SOTO

For more info on everything, check out the FB Invite here: BULLETS & LOVE 3 MANNEQUIN ART SHOW.

This coming weekend at The Bronx Museum will host a special tribute to the late, legendary hip-hop producer J Dilla as part of their monthly First Fridays series. As usual, everything is curated by out peoples, Asho. Check out the info below…

First Fridays! @ The Bronx Museum presents:
Looking for the Perfect Beat: A Tribute to J Dilla
Celebrating Black History Month.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010, 6:00pm to 10:00pm
Free!!! (No Cover)

Hosted by Black45 from MTP Jersey

Music by DJ Meltplus
& Sucio Smash.

Performances by
John Robinson,
El Da Sensei, Illmind,
Daniel Joseph
Yahzeed + DJ Preservation ( Mos Def’s DJ)
+ Many More Special Guests.

Co-presented by:

MTP Jersey: myspace.com/mtpjersey
Brooklyn Bodega : www.brooklynbodega.com
Fat Beats: www.fatbeats.com
High Water Music: www.highwaterismusic.com

J Dilla Portrait Courtesy of Vanessa Chakour www.vanessachakour.com

About J Dilla:

James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006), better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American Grammy Nominated record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan. According to his obituary at NPR.org, he “was one of the music industry’s most influential hip-hop artists, working for big-name acts like De La Soul, Busta Rhymes and Common.” Yancey’s career began slowly. He has now become highly regarded, most notably for the production of critically acclaimed albums by Common, Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest, and The Pharcyde. He was a member of Slum Village for their acclaimed debut album Fantastic, Vol. 2. In the early 2000s, Yancey’s career as a solo artist began to improve; A solo album Welcome 2 Detroit was followed by a collaborative album with California producer Madlib, Champion Sound, which catalyzed the careers of both artists. Just as his music was becoming increasingly popular, Yancey died in 2006 of the blood disease TTP.

About MTP (Meet The Producers)

MTP (Meet The Producers) is a monthly beat battle held in Newark, New Jersey. It was established in March 2005. MTP (Meet The Producers) was created for the sole purpose to showcase men and women creative ability’s behind the art of music productions and beat making. MTP (Meet The Producers) was created by Black45, DJ Max Jerome, and DJ Priority, with the departure of Max Jerome in 2006, Black45 and DJ Priority have strength their business chemistry and push the movement of the MTP (Meet The Producers) to the next level.

For more info on everything, see the flier above or check out the museum’s official site.

Also, if you’re in the mood for more Dilla, be sure to make it out to the 4th-Annual Donuts Are Forever party in BK on Saturday. Click the image below for more info on everything….

For this year’s Bob Marley Music Ffestival and Food Drive, the show’s offical DJ, Walshy Fire has put together this mix showcasing the artists set to perform. Included are tunes from Bob, Julian and Damian Marley, Shaggy, Capleton, Tarrus Riley, and Spragga Benz. Check out the details below…

Intro
Bob Marley – Crazy Bald Heads
Damian Marley – Me Name Jr. Gong
Damian Marley – All Night
Damian Marley – For The Babies
Damian Marley & Stephen Marley – Mission
Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, & Buju Banton – Traffic Jam
Stephen Marley – Let Her Dance
Stephen Marley – Hey Baby
Damian Marley & Julian Marley – Kaya Now Live
Julian Marley – Lion In The Morning
Tarrus Riley – Getty Getty No Wanty
Tarrus Riley – Far Away
Tarrus Riley – Shes Royal
Shaggy – Church Heathen
Shaggy & Sean Paul – Sexy Lady
Shaggy & Tessane Chin – Never Let You Go
Shaggy – Wild Tonight
Shaggy – Oh Carolina
Shaggy & Rayvon – Big Up
Shaggy – Pose Off
Shaggy – Hot Gal
Capleton – Good Her Clothes
Capleton – Crazy Looks
Damian Marley & Bobby Brown – Beautiful
Damian Marley – The Master Has Come Back
Damian Marley – Jamrock
Damian Marley, Bounty Killa, & Eek A Mouse – Khaki Suit
Damian Marley – Not Goin Give Up
Capleton – Small Sound (Black Chiney Dub)
Tarrus Riley – Kung Fu (Black Chiney Dub)
Capleton & Damian Marley – It Was Written
Cedella Marley – Redemption Song

Download the mix here: Walshy Fire – 17th Annual Bob Marley Fest Mix CD.

…via HigherLevelSound.

A few of our friends are putting together a charity event going towards the relief efforts in Haiti tomorrow night. For more info on the event, click here.