The Top 10 RDACBX Moments of 2012:
10. The Space Looks Dope!
Anybody that has visited us at The RDACBX knows that we always change the space
around and keep it fresh and new. This year our Space Committee was out there working
in full force! They completed the building of the Nuestra America Media Center,
changed the front area by building The RDACBX store and also building a storage
room. By building a storage room in the front, we were also able to open up
space in the back for Studio B,
which is a smaller pre-production studio room. In 2013, we look forward to
having the RDACBX store in full motion, as we look to increase self
sustainability and provide our peoples with all The RDACBX clothing and
merchandise they need. We will also have all of our artists music available at
the shows. The Nuestra America
Media Center is referred to by many as our “War Room,” which is where we meet
every Monday, where folks can do individual media work and where our Media
Workshops will be going down in 2013.
The work put in in 2012 in our space sets the stage for a much improved
RDACBX in 2013. Big Shouts to G1, DJ Charlie Hustle, Dj Illanoiz and the rest
of the crew for putting in that work.
9. YC the Cynic and RodStarz of Rebel Diaz win BRIO Awards:
Bronx Recognizes Its Own Awards!
We are proud to say that since we have been around as an organization we have always
had an RDACBX member win The BRIO Award. The BRIO Award is an annual award and
$3000 grant given out by The Bronx Council on The Arts . The categories include
Literary Arts, Media Arts, Performing Arts and Visual Arts. In years past, we
had Patty Dukes, June from WACO
Division, and Dasic Fernandez all win the award. This year we continued that
tradition but we raised the bar a bit. We had 2 winners from the crew. We first
got word of YC the Cynic receiving notice that he had won. I myself had
submitted for the 3rd year in a row and was convinced I didn’t stand
a chance. However, I got the call a couple days later, that I had also won. So Pow! Lets see how many we get this
year. We hope to keep the streak alive.
8. Residente Calle 13 wears the No Human Being Is Illegal T
Shirt while performing at Celebrate Brooklyn in Prospect Park…
This is a classic example of how art can travel thru many
worlds. In this case we had the No Human Being Is Illegal mural done on the
roof of The RDACBX by muralist Dasic Fernandez and the RDACBX crew go from a
wall to a t-shirt to The New York Times. Rebel Diaz had the chance to perform
with Ana Tijoux before Calle 13 at The Celebrate Brooklyn Festival at Prospect
Park. The show was packed to capacity with more than 8000 people in attendance.
We were backstage after our set and Calle 13 strolls in with his massive 50
person entourage. I had planned this moment and had his medium shirt ready to
go, as he strolled past me, I reached around his 6ft5 bodyguard and tapped him
on the shoulder. His bodyguard immediately stopped me, but Residente was cool
and told him it was cool. I told the brother his music was dope and that I
thought he would like the message on the shirt. He was cool I gave him the
shirt and a pound and kept it
moving. 5 minutes later he hits the stage rockin' the No Human Being Is Illegal
t-shirt. The crowd goes wild! The
show was epic and the next day there was a write up on it in the NY Times. The
first line in the article said…”No Human Being is Illegal read the t-shirt worn
by Residente..” Pow. From a rooftop wall in The South Bronx to the NY Times
Headlines our message was getting out there.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/16/arts/music/calle-13-at-the-latin-alternative-music-conference.html
7. YC the Cynic performs at Duck Down Summerstage show in
Brooklyn..
One of the illest memories I have of this summer is when the
whole RDACBX camp went out to support our brothers YC the Cynic and DJ Charlie
Hustle. The weather was crazy that
day and the night had the ill rainbow.
Maybe the weather gave us a hint that this wasn’t going to be your
everyday normal Summerstage event. It was like a family BBQ, with the free hot
dogs and burgers to go with it. A family Hip Hop event in the heart of
Brownsville, in the hood that most of the legendary Duck Down roster grew up
in. I found myself standing next to Buckshots family, and Rockness Monsta from
Heltah Skeltah’s mom. YC opened up the show and killed his set. Blog writers
would later talk about how he had his whole hood there. Truth be told he really
did. We were mobbin'. ProEra rocked next and little did many of us know it would
be the first and last time we saw Capital Steez (RIP) perform along with
quickly rising MC Joey BadA$$. Sean P came next and killed it talking bout how
he don’t like the kids! Haha. Next was the whole Bootcamp Click roster, Smiff n
Wessun rocked as usual, and then Buckshot with his daughter on his shoulders
followed by Masta Ace who came out
for Crooklyn Dodgers to top it all off. The show was dope! Of course, since we were 25 deep we had a
run in with the police on the way out. We felt like The Warriors on our long
journey home but that night brought the whole crew together closer as fam.
6. The New Membership: 2012
Imani
Phoenix
Kay Kay
Chief 69
Dayv Cino
6. The New Membership: 2012 was the year that the RDACBX has
gained its most members. We more than doubled in size this year. We brought in
10 new members!!!! All of them very unique and talented and bringing different
elements and skills to the table. The crew got stronger. Lets introduce them:
Grammy Luss
Kay Kay
MC Elijah Black
Imani
Philoz
Dayv Cino
Phoenix
Shell Sneed
Chief 69
Lu Medina
Grammy Luss, Shell Sneed, Philoz, Vithym and MC Elijah Black
5. Student Power Convergence in Columbus, Ohio_
From Aug11-14th,
the RDACBX invaded the city of Columbus Ohio to take part in the National
Student Power Convergence. The student gathering was inspired by the student
movements going on from all over
the world to here at home from Chile to Montreal. There was thousands of
students from all over that came together to unite struggles across borders and
have a broader movement for peace and justice. We went out there like 15 of us
and performed and participated in workshops. We played basketball, performed,
shouted out our political beliefs during a reform oriented workshop, and took
care of the cultural component by rockin out Saturday night. Grammy Luss had
the crowd doing the Soul Train line, Philoz and VI had the crowd jumpin up and
down, and we had the crowd rockin out with us to end the set. Dj Charlie Hustle
and DJ Illanoiz kept the party going until late as the students had fun after a
long weekend of workshops and panels.
4.Occupy The DOJ for Mumia
Abu Jamal in Washington DC:
In April of this year we
were invited by Occupy The Hood to perform and participate at The Occupy The
DOJ event and Birthday Celebration for long time political prisoner and freedom
fighter Mumia Abu Jamal. I remember speaking to Malik from OTH and he kept
asking me if I was sure I was gonna bring 15 people, I told him I was sure and
next thing we are 15 deep at the bus stop in Penn Station with Chief 69
breakdancin on the sidewalk and all of us cheering him on. We took that Bronx
energy to the nations capital and rocked out for Mumia Abu Jamal. 
After performing for the people and crowd we hit the streets demanding Freedom For Mumia Abu Jamal. We will never forget marching in front of the White House with M1 of Dead Prez and Chuck D of Public Enemy with us chanting “Obama Come Out We Got Some Shit to Talk About!!” Powerful stuff.
3. RDACBX at The DNC in Charlotte, North Carolina
This year we traveled more
than any other year as a whole collective. Our last trip was out to Charlotte,
NC for the Democratic National Convention which ironically is the home of Bank
of America. The protests were called a March on Wall Street South.
We were invited there to
perform by The Festival Liberacion which was a dope gathering which consisted
of workshops, panels and performances. It took place at Area 15, which is an
amazing collective art space in Charlotte. This is also the time we caught all
the heat for our Fidel Castro shirts which the comrades from MalaandMental designed.
It was powerful to march with the people, especially the Immigrant youth and
families who later were arrested. Besides how could we not include this event
just off the memory of 6’4 Shell Sneed walking over to a 6’3 Charlotte cop and
defiantly looking at him face to face, sizing him up, takin a step closer while
he takes off his hat and saying: im taller than you. Can we include this on
this list. Classic.
2. Boogie Mics 1 Year
Anniversary: Say Boogie Mics!!!! Every 1st Friday for the last year at
The RDACBX, John Mega and Warren Britt scream that out to what now has become
about a steady 100-150 kids a month. Could we have the illest open mic in the
city now???? Who knows? But what we do know is that kids are hungry to perform
and rhyme and we are still able to provide a safe space for them to do that. We
have seen artists grow from inexperienced youngins to seasoned performers. We
saw the 3 award sweep by Deshawn Supreme, the rise of The Appolyions, or young
teenage upstarts like Tony Vegas. Its our strongest and steadiest event and we
only hope to keep makin it better. Shouts to DJ Illanoiz and Dj Charlie Hustle
for holding down the 1s and 2s.
1. South By South Bronx: SXSBX Hip Hop Festival
1. South By South Bronx
Hip Hop Festival : SXSBX
SXSBX is the largest event
RDACBX has ever put on. Looking back, to quote my brother Vithym, EPIC. Are you kidding me? DJ Kool Herc
and Cindy Campbell. Afrika Bambaataa. DJ Grand Wizard Theodore. Grandmaster
Caz, Sadat X, The Workshops!, Flaco Navaja , la Bruja, Circa 95, The
Workshops!!! The BBoys, The BGirls, Lava 1 and 2 doin our backdrop. C Rayz
Wallz holding Baby Bronx and performing Craazy with us. So many dope moments!
RDACBX lookin like a Young Wu Tang mobbin on stage. The Workshops!!! It was a 2
day Hip Hop Festival for and by the people. Guess what?? Pt. 2 Coming Next
Year!!!!! We sayin it now we are tryna get KRS ONE!!!!!! So fingers crossed and
until next year yall !!! Peace.
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