Archive for March, 2012

Neighborhood in Transition (part 12)

Saturday, March 31st, 2012

Forman Park, Under Construction

Activewear

Friday, March 30th, 2012

1,000,000 Hoodie March, Armory Square

More than 1000 people made a fashion statement for justice tonight as they walked through the streets of downtown Syracuse as part of the One Million Hoodies March.  The event, which was inspired by the murder of 17-year old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, FL, was organized by Ciara Richardson, Ashley Miller and Yaschia Kinsey.

1,000,000 Hoodie March, Armory Square

1,000,000 Hoodie March, Armory Square

1,000,000 Hoodie March, Armory Square

1,000,000 Hoodie March, Armory Square

1,000,000 Hoodie March, Armory Square

Pre March Rally

1,000,000 Hoodie March, Armory Square

1,000,000 Hoodie March, Armory Square

Hip Hop for the Horn

Tuesday, March 27th, 2012
Abdul Karim Abdullah, a 2010 SU grad, and Cassandra, members of Be Great Foundation, address the students and crowd during the Save the Horn concert.

Abdul Karim Abdullah, a 2010 SU grad, and Cassandra, members of Be Great Foundation, address the students and crowd during the Save the Horn concert.

Here are some photographs taken during the Save the Horn concert at Syracuse University on Friday. Below find an interview with the concert organizer Kwaku Brown-Bonsu, a student at Syracuse University.

Kwaku Brown-Bonsu by SIF

Guy Harrison and Cartter Sims perform on stage at the Save the Horn concert.

Guy Harrison and Cartier Sims perform on stage at the Save the Horn concert.

Fans cheer for Fabolous

Fans cheered and danced during the show intermission.

Cassidy

Cassidy

Fabolous

Fabolous

World Be Free opens the Save the Horn concert wearing a hoodie.

World Be Free opens the Save the Horn concert sporting a hoodie.

Aziza, the wife of MC World Be Free, gives out information about promoting health, education and empowerment in the Horn of Africa

Aziza, the wife of MC World Be Free, gives out information about promoting health, education and empowerment in the Horn of Africa

Singer Erika Lovette rocks the mike during World Be Free's set at Save the Horn.

Singer Erika Lovette sings a few bars during World Be Free’s set.

Eight is never enough

Saturday, March 24th, 2012
Syracuse MC World Be Free performs the SU Men's Basketball theme song at the Save the Horn Benefit Concert last night.

Syracuse MC World Be Free performs the SU Men’s Basketball theme song on the eve of the team’s Elite Eight game against Ohio State.

To the delight of a capacity crowd of students and members of the community, Brian Freeland, aka World Be Free, performed the SU theme song last night during a benefit concert that also included Cassidy and Fabolous at Goldstein Auditorium.

For one song Be Free shared the stage with soulful singer Erika Lovette. He also got a rousing response during a song called “Dear Music.”

World Be Free, his wife Aziza, and his manager Maestro

World Be Free (left), his wife Aziza, and his manager Maestro

Rev. Joe

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012
Rev. Run speaks about race in Hip Hop at Syracuse University

Rev. Run speaks about race in Hip Hop at Syracuse University

Rev. Run, spoke last night at Syracuse University in a forum about race, religion and Hip Hop. He was joined by fellow panelists Hasan Stephens (aka Maestro) and Don Sawyer, III.
As an elder statesman in the culture, Run said his job was certainly not to criticize new voices in the genre. He pointed out that artists, like people, evolve and grow.
Hasan Stevens (aka Maestro) dialogues with Rev. Run about radio programmings influence on popular taste during the forum.

Hasan Stephens (aka Maestro) dialogues with Rev. Run about radio programming’s influence on popular taste during the forum.

Here is a sample of Run talking about his transition from Run to Rev and how he can’t be one without the other.
My Addidas, Rev. keeping it Run (rocking sneakers with the collar)

My Adidas: Rev. keeping it Run (rocking sneakers with the collar)

Hoop Dreams

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012


A week before the Big Dance,  we got to see two action-packed games during the BBBL (Baby Boomers Basketball League) Final Four.

The league is going strong after 15 years, and now includes about dozen teams.

We asked one of the players after the first semi-final game, which went down to the final possession (his team was favored), Why didn’t you guys pull that one out?

“Sometimes it just wasn’t meant to be,” he said.  “That’s why they call it March Madness.”

This weekend’s Finals showcases team Tighten Up with Bernard Blunt (formerly of St. Joseph’s–PA) versus  B&B Lounge with (former SU point guard) Lazarus Sims.

Battle for the Cuse

Monday, March 12th, 2012
CNY Martial Arts Experts El Java Qadir and Carlos Tearney do battle at last weekends SMAC tournament in Niagara Falls.

CNY Martial Arts Experts El Java Qadir (left) and Carlos Tearney do battle at last weekends SMAC tournament in Niagara Falls.

The Road to New Orleans

Thursday, March 8th, 2012

NBA Insider Stephen A. Smith visited Syracuse a few weeks ago and gave his thoughts on SU Basketball and their chances during the NCAA Tournament.

30 for 30

Saturday, March 3rd, 2012
CNS center Breanna Stewart goes for two of her 30 points on FRiday in the Carrier Dome.

Cicero-North Syracuse center and one of this week's Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd Breanna Stewart goes for two of her 30 points on Friday in the Carrier Dome. CNS defeated West Genesee High 69-33 for the Section III Class AA title.

Hi There

Thursday, March 1st, 2012
Actor, director, writer Lawrence Hilton Jacobs speaks at Syracuse University on Wednesday.

Actor, director, writer Lawrence Hilton Jacobs spoke at Syracuse University on Wednesday.

Lawrence Hilton Jacobs, aka Cochise, aka Papa Joe, aka Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington, aka Larry FORD (friend of Richard Dubin) was the latest celebrity to participate in the Conversation on Race and Entertainment Media at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School.  During the more than 1 hour talk, Dubin and Jacobs reminisced about their days as actors in New York City, 70s sitcoms and blaxploitation flicks.

Jacobs has starred in film, television and on Broadway in his over 40-year career, from The Jacksons to Welcome Back Carter and Cooley High.

Both men dropped pearls of wisdom for the students.

“You have to have raw nerve. There is no easy road.” Jacobs said. “Acting is a business. It’s a craft, it’s work. ”

Dubin added that Hollywood is not a place where you go to apply for a job, but rather somewhere where you use entrepreneurial skills to create opportunity for yourself.

It’s hard to believe this series has been running for over a decade. The last Conversation I saw was with Chappelle Show Director Rusty Cundieff a few years ago.