When Thugs Cry: An Unknown Tupac Story

Recently the internet started buzzing because of a cool conversation between legendary rapper Talib Kweli and Public Enemy front man Chuck D pm People's Party Podcast. They were talking about a story where Chuck D made Tupac cry one night. The video of the conversation is HERE

The story below, is the article I wrote that sparked the conversation: As told to Okayplayer by acclaimed author + founder of  the Hip-Hop Chess Federation, Adisa Banjoko.

[It was] October 20th, 1991 [and] the hills of Oakland caught fire. What started as a small brush fire quickly burned down large a part of the city. Ashes floated downwind as much as 30 miles away. Depending on where you lived in The Bay, the sun was orange from all the smoke. That wasn’t the only thing burning however.

Racial tensions across America were red hot. A few days before, Tupac Shakur was approached by Oakland Police Department for allegedly jaywalking. Apparently, when he told them his name, “Tupac Amaru Shakur,” they laughed. They mocked his mom for naming him Tupac. ‘Pac got upset and he yelled back at them. He was beaten by the police pretty severely that day. He would later sue the city and win $42,000.

I called ‘Pac to interview him for the newspaper [I was writing for] shortly after.  At the time, it was for The Commemorator. It was a newspaper founded by the O.G. Black Panthers. One of the founders was Bobby McCall, as in the father of Money B of Digital Underground. He gave me my first regular writing gig at The Commemorator. My column was called “The Bishop’s Baseline” and I had called Tupac the day after the incident to get a quote from him. He was too angry and still healing to really do an interview with me.

The evening as the firestorm raged on, Public Enemy and Anthrax were doing a show in town. With all of the political and racial tension rooted in the Bay, this show was going to be really wild! Some were already saying that the burning taking place in Oakland was happening most in the hills—where most of the rich whites were living—and was karma of the city’s abuse of black people. I was also writing for The Source and Rap Pages around that time, too, so I had to go to this show. Chuck D and I had met a year or two earlier through a rapper named AK Black. I left for the venue super early because I was afraid that the bridge might get shut down or the officials of the city might tell people to stay indoors.

When I got to the venue, as I said, it was super early. People were still setting up the stage. I was told that Chuck D and activist/educator Harry Allen were upstairs. When I got there, Chuck was asleep on this super-narrow orange table, dressed in all-black with a yellow-and-black Pirates hat. Where he was laying was connected to the wall with this long, vanity mirror. It was just as wide and as long as Chuck was. The lights were on bright and his hat covered his face as he was lying there like King Tut. Harry was also in the room in all-black, sitting at a black card table set up in the center of the room wearing this baby blue kufi. His head was resting on his hands which were palms down on the card table. Other than them, the room was perfectly empty and perfectly silent.

The first thing that struck me was that there was no security, no S1W‘s or Fruit Of Islam at the the door, in the room, or even in the hallway. It seemed dangerous for them to be unprotected during these times, so I stood at the opening of the door for about 30 seconds. I was contemplating leaving or sitting in the hallway to just let them rest. Right then, Chuck’s spidey sense went off. He took the baseball hat off his head and he looked toward the door where I was.

Recognizing me instantly he put the hat back over his head laying back casually, and said, “‘Sup Bishop?” he said sleepily. “Ain’t you supposed to be putting out fires around here?”

Harry sat up with his eyes wide open trying to reorient himself from his slumber.

We talked for bit about the fire and then Chuck asked me about Tupac. I told him I just talked to ‘Pac and that he was injured, mad and sad over what had happened to him with the police. All three of us spoke about how the pattern of being beaten by police unprovoked was getting out of hand.

He sat up on the orange table and said, “Listen Bishop, I’m gonna dedicate a song to Tupac tonight.” He went onto say how he had love for him and he felt his pain. “If you see him, tell him [that] PE got his back.”

I responded with “OK,” and then I left them to go rest up before the show.

Slowly, but surely the venue became jam packed. It was then, right before the show started [that] I saw ‘Pac. His eye was still swollen and shiny. If I recall, I think he had a shoulder brace on or some kind of arm bandage. There was about 25 people between us. We could see one another clearly, but the music was playing super loud.

I said to him, “Hey, ‘Pac, I saw Chuck and PE’s gonna do a song for you tonight!”

He yelled back, “What?!”

I repeated myself two or three times. Tupac pointed to his head and shook it, smiling as if to say back to me, “I can’t hear you man!”

I nodded. Soon after, I think Young Black Teenagers took to the stage. After them, PE came on and in the middle of their set, as promised, Chuck D stopped the music. He talked about the firestorm that was raging not too far from us outside, about the police brutality going on in the streets and talked about how PE had love for ‘Pac.

I actually don’t remember what song they performed. In my head, it was “Shut ‘Em Down”. However, what I do remember is the energy in the room more than the music. I turned to Tupac to scream, “That’s what I was trying to tell you!!” There was a visual symphony of bodies jumping, fists pumping and people yelling cries into the heavens for justice right before my eyes. I scanned the crowd looking for ‘Pac. I couldn’t see him. Then I caught his eyes amongst the swarm of people.

In this sea of pulsing movement one man stood still. It was Tupac. The ocean of bodies pulsing were shoving him back and forth, but he was still. Perfectly still. Almost stone-cold stiff. His eyes were fixed on the stage. Slow tears fell from ‘Pac’s eyes as the Prophets of Rage tore the stage down. My eyes moved between ‘Pac and PE. I can never explain the power of being present in that moment. I can only say that it was a sacred moment to witness. One of the many things [that] I will never forget about my homey.

Be sure to check out + cop his latest book, ‘Bobby, Bruce + the Bronx’ by clicking here.

LISTEN to Bishop Chronicles Episode 106 about how Tupac used The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli to become MAKAVELI and wage war like never before

Broken Rhythm: Bruce Lee, Musashi & Music

Broken Rhythm: Bruce Lee, Musashi & Music

By: Adisa the Bishop

                       Legendary scene in Return of the Dragon starring Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris

No one debates the cultural impact of Bruce Lee. This is especially real inside the Hip-Hop subculture. His roles as a martial artist and philosopher ensures  his status as possibly the most legendary martial artist ever. However, one of the most fascinating things about Bruce Lee is really not his fighting. It is his dancing. More than that though, it is valuable to look at how his dancing impacted his approach to fighting. Futhermore, it is powerful to study how this fusion of dancing, fighting and music seem to be eternally connected.

Bruce Lee was a champion Cha Cha dancer. In fact, his first job in America was as a dance teacher. This may appear boring on the surface to some people. However, for those who are authentic lovers of music (especially Hip-Hop) it makes the man even more fascinating. The first movie I saw that had Bruce Lee in it was Return of the Dragon. Even then, it showed  a glimpse of his love of shrouding devastating attacks hidden in rhythm. In the final fight scene, Lee fights Chuck Norris at the Coliseum in Rome. Chuck remains formidable as an opponent as long as Bruce stays within the traditional scope of kung fu and karate. However, once he starts hiding his attacks in a boxers rhythm (a la Muhammad Ali) Chuck cannot follow Bruce’s form and soon loses the battle. Few knew his ability to find and break rhythm was rooted in his Cha Cha background. But this connection goes much deeper than one film or one man.

Fast forward to the 2004 martial arts thriller, Hero. Jet Li plays a character called Nameless. In one scene Nameless has a powerful sword fight at an outdoor chess house in the middle of a rain storm. It is a soul stirring exchange of movement, music and strategy. As they unsheath their weapons an elderly blind man plays a sad but beautiful song. The old man plays in the rain slightly exposed to the elements of nature . Before he dives into battle, Nameless reflects on the idea that “Martial arts and music share the same principles. Both wrestle with complex chords and rare melodies.”

Nameless and Sky clash physically and mentally at  the outdoor chess house in 2004 classic Hero.

A few years ago I was given a book called The Straight Lead, by Teri Tom. The Straight Lead was Bruce Lee’s favorite and arguably his most powerful punch. In the book, Tom makes a compelling case for the connection between music and martial arts. “The way fighters play with time is very similar to the way musicians interpret time. You can play behind the beat, on the beat, or syncopate. Staccato or Legato. You can chose to play or let the rhythm section pass you by. The tempo may vary from adagio (slow) to allegro (quick). To the time, you can then add dynamic variations- pianissimo (soft), mezzo forte (moderately loud) or fortissimo (very loud). Fighting has analogous variables. “ The connections between music and martial arts is hard to see in today’s times. This is mainly because in the modern technology wave of mind numbing Worldstar and Instagram knockout clips, the art in “martial arts” has largely evaporated. Nevertheless, it is not gone altogether.

I cannot say for sure that Mayweather studies dance. But when I look at his footwork against McGregor’s mummy-like movements in the first round (although McGregor does appear to use the straight lead with some effectiveness in the first few rounds), Mayweather does move like a seasoned dancer. Not just that, the patterns with which Mayweather strikes his opponents have rhythmic patterns. This was something on my mind as I watched the flight. The more I watched, I saw how the flow of his footwork was levels above McGregor. They say Mayweather pulled McGregor into “deep water”. Water, like dancers and fighters, has to flow. McGregor was drowned in the flow.  

Legendary undefeated self-taught swordsman Miyamoto Musashi is celebrated by martial artists and entrepreneurs the world over for his book The Book of 5 Rings. He killed his first opponent at the tender age of 13. In The Book of 5 Rings he talks about the importance of understanding the rhythm of battle when dueling with swords. It is broken down into several sections: the Earth Scroll, Water Scroll, Fire Scroll, Wind Scroll and the Void Scroll (also known as the scroll of emptiness). Each is admired for having its own sense of rhythm. But more than rhythm, like Teri Tom, he focuses on timing:

Timing is important in dancing and pipe or string music, for they are in rhythm only if timing is good. Timing and rhythm are also involved in the military arts, shooting bows and guns, and riding horses. In all skills and abilities there is timing.... There is timing in the whole life of the warrior, in his thriving and declining, in his harmony and discord. Similarly, there is timing in the Way of the merchant, in the rise and fall of capital. All things entail rising and falling timing. You must be able to discern this. In strategy there are various timing considerations. From the outset you must know the applicable timing and the inapplicable timing, and from among the large and small things and the fast and slow timings find the relevant timing, first seeing the distance timing and the background timing. This is the main thing in strategy. It is especially important to know the background timing, otherwise your strategy will become uncertain.

While it is simple to just passively look at that idea as just an odd relatable tidbit of information, it is not something easily done. While doing some research on his life, you can find an old scroll about his life called Busho Denraiki. Muashi did not write about himself much. He wrote about swordsmanship. But in the Busho Denraiki you learn that Musashi was not just a swordsman, he was an accomplished painter as well. Further, Musashi was also accomplished in the highly regarded Japanese tradition of Noh dancing. William De Lange’s Origins of a Legend: The Real Musashi notes that Musashi adopted a son named Iori. He notes that, “Irori was taught the Noh dance in plain clothes, it seems Musashi was a keen practitioner of the art.”

Nowhere in De Lange’s work does it attempt to explain how this unequalled swordsman found the time to learn let alone teach Noh dancing. However, the fact that he did know the art of Noh well enough to teach speaks volumes about how the role of rhythm in battle came so natural to him as a fighter.

Currently African American MMA fighter D’Juan Owens spends time in Kampala, Uganda and Dakar, Senegal teaching both b-boying and martial arts to kids. He teaches them the connectivity in both. RZA of Wu Tang Clan teaches a lot about these elements not only in his books, but the entire discography of the Wu Tang Clan is an embodiment of that concept.

Khnum Muata Ibomu aka stic.man of Dead Prez is a respected rapper, archer, vegan health advocate, activist and dedicated martial artist. Songs like Way of Life and Back on my Regimen are excellent examples of how music and martial arts connect in contemporary Hip-Hop. His knowledge of martial arts, music and strategy are so deep I had to ask him his thoughts.

“Practice is the way we get better in the application of rhythm” he told me. Stic said he feels that there is “Some science but it is also art. Self expression is required. My studio is a sacred space just like a dojo for experimentation and practice. Lyrics are precisely chosen and placed just like strikes and footwork.” Finally he notes that both music and martial arts are used “to serve a greater good.”

Jeet kune do, bboy/bgirl dancing, boxing, ballet, brazilian jiu-jitsu, capoeira, noh dancing, swordsmanship - all styles, all contain rhythms. Outside of the practicality of each art, each style speaks to us on an artistic and internal levels. Does every martial artist need to study dance in order to be a better practitioner? Maybe not. However, to totally ignore the importance of dance within the fighting arts is to cut oneself off from new insights and opportunities for victory.

LISTEN to this this episode of Bishop Chronicles Podcast on Bruce Lee and his love for dance and how it informed his fighting. 

Adisa, The Bishop is the Founder of the Hip-Hop Chess Federation and host of Bishop Chronicles Podcast. He is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Heroes Martial Arts and author of The Iron Hook Scroll and Bobby, Bruce & the Bronx: The Secrets of Hip-Hop Chess available on Amazon.

Adisa Banjoko Hosting Talk on Hip-Hop & Martial Arts June 30th 3-5 at Oakland Museum!!

Saturday, June 30, 2018, 3–5 pm

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In Hip-Hop culture, the barbershop is known as a community hub for news and debate. Inside special exhibition RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom, gather around the Barbershop space inside the gallery to learn from guest speakers focusing on new topics each month. Explore unexpected aspects of Hip-Hop culture. This month’s theme is Hip-Hop & Martial Arts, featuring Gene Ching, Publisher of Kung Fu Tai Chi & kungfumagazine.com, and Adisa “The Bishop” Banjoko, Founder and Executive Director of Hip Hop Chess Federation. 

Included with special exhibition Museum admission. There is an additional $4 charge for special exhibition RESPECT. Advance online tickets are available; choose your date and desired hour of entry.
» Buy tickets

We also have some other special guests coming through....Don't miss this one!! 

Get Better at Chess with this Endgame Lesson!!

Josh Waitzkin always said you start by understanding endgames. I thought this was so weird at first. Over time, I saw its genius. Most people jump into things without really knowing what they want the ending to look like. This can be in chess, or in life.

I think learning endgame concepts is crucial in chess and in life. Enjoy!!

HHCF Teams w/ Deus Fight Gi's for The Oakland (Silver and Black) Gi.....

HHCF Teamed up with philanthropic jiu-jitsu brand Deus Fight for a new line of gi's. The Oakland gi, is made in the warrior tradition of the Raiders as well as a reminder that Public Enemy's It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back had a Silver and Black side to the Album....Proceeds from the sales of the gi will benefit the HHCF Chess and Jiu-Jitsu Initiative. Get one today at www.deusfight.com  Special thanks to BJJ Legends Magazine for connecting our orgs for the greater good of our children. When we say our children, we mean all children. PEACE! 

Latest Emergency Fundraiser Update

Hi Everyone,

Due to the injury sustained by the Programs/Camp Director (who happens to teach our Performing Arts, a few chess programs, Cheer and Dance programs), we have moved forward on looking for a replacement as stated in our Fundraising Efforts page.

We have placed an add in hopes to find someone who can be the perfect assistant to our Director. Someone who can be the hands-on teacher that our Director can not continue to be. We hope for her speedy recovery, but we are putting your funds to work to keep the programs running.

Once we have found her replacement (assistant), we will be sure to announce to everyone.

As stated, we are also working on replacing the damaged supplies. We have placed orders for replacement boards and pieces that were destroyed in the accident.

We still have a long way to go, so please share our fundraiser page http://www.gofundme.com/hhcfhelp

Thank you & Have a wonderful New Year!

The Hip-Hop Chess Federation Family

Thank you! There is still time to help us

Thank you very much for those who have donated to the HHCF during this challenging time. The HHCF Founder is currently using public transportation to keep the program doors open. This typically means a 4:30am start to get the doors open by 7:50am. Many area's in California do not have the best public transportation available. But the goal of the HHCF is to serve the families and youth we have committed to.

A Few of Our Youth Girls Winter Camp Dec. 27

With us being able to keep the doors open, we are able to serve at least 60% of the youth for this weeks camp. Sadly without raising all the funds as of yet, we are not able to pick up and drop off the youth who's parent(s) are unable to transport their kids to the camp facility, nor are we able to replace all the supplies destroyed in the accident.

Our community has been supportive by helping some kids with rides where they can.

Many have asked about the insurance company of the party that crashed into the HHCF vehicle. They have been very slow to move forward, as of today their official statement is "They need to assess all the damages and their investigation can take 30-60 days more". We are working hard to get the right parties involved to make sure the insurance companies fulfill their obligation but the organization can not continue to run while we "wait and see" what they do.

This is why your donations are so very important. They will allow us to continue to serve the youth and provide a safe, healthy and positive environment for all.

We have reached 30% of our goal and hope with your help to reach the full amount as soon as possible. As of today, we are scheduled to cancel our Winter Youth Sessions scheduled for Dec. 31-Jan. 4th. Each week we fail to meet our goal, we will continue to have to cancel After-School Chess, Anti-Violence, After-School and Weekend Life-Strategy and Performing Arts Programs.

Please be sure to share our donation page http://www.gofundme.com/hhcfhelp with friends, family, business & industry leaders and anyone else you believe is interested in helping a program that keeps youth safe, happy and headed on a positive life path while exploring their creative minds and keeping fit.

Remember the HHCF is a 501(c)3 organization recognized by the State of California and the Internal Revenue Service. Your donations (either cash or in-kind items: computer, vehicle,etc) are tax deductible. The year is ending and this is a perfect time to get an extra TAX DEDUCTION on your taxes while helping a great group of kids.

Truly yours,

Adisa & the Hip-Hop Chess Federation Family

Hip-Hop Chess Federation Emergency Fundraiser

Accident leaves HHCF in need this Holiday Season. TheHip-Hop Chess Federation is the worlds first non-profit to fuse music, chess and martial arts, to promote unity, strategy and nonviolence. We've teach chess, anti-bullying techniques and the importance of keeping mind body balance to kids all over SF Bay Area. In addition to these programs, we offer a performing arts division which has a Cheerleading, Dance and Acting program. Our performing arts programs cheerleaders and dancers are proud holders of 4 National/International Titles and 1 Division Championship. Our organization has been seen on the over of Chess Life and featured in NY Times, Forbes.com, Good Morning America and SJ Mercury News.

Sadly, last week the only vehicle the organization has was struck from behind while sitting in stopped traffic on the freeway. In the backseat sat the three children of the founder (ages 3, 11, 14). The back portion of the car was crushed and considered to be a totaled vehicle. Miraculously none of the children suffered any serious injuries.     

The Director of the Performing Arts and Head Coach of cheerleading suffered severe back injuries as well as nerve damage to her shoulder. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital and is recovering at home with her family. 

We are working hard with the insurance companies in hopes of a fast recovery. However, the at fault party's insurance company is less than proactive in helping the HHCF get back on its feet, so we are turning to you, our supporters and the community. 

The HHCF is responsible for Winter Camps, where we help kids of all social and economic backgrounds (many of our kids are on scholarship paid personally out of the pocket of the founder of the HHCF). The vehicle that was totaled was used to transport supplies, pick up students who could not afford to travel to the camps, pick up lunches and other needs of our camp families. It is also key in providing transportation for our camp supervisors and instructors. Without this transportation, we will be forced to cancel all the camps for the reminder of Dec and January. This will leave countless children with no supervised care and education, plus parents with no one to keep their children active and safe during their school breaks. 

How can you help?

- The HHCF needs a vehicle that can seat no less than 6 people at a time. We believe we can purchase a low price, used vehicle for roughly $9,000 if we chose a low end, high mileage used car. We are no looking for luxury. Just safety that can get our teachers, students and sometimes parents to and from the training facility. A vehicle that will have room to transport all the supplies we need for teaching as well.

- 3 HHCF Computers were destroyed in the accident. All computers were used as part of our Chess Lessons, Performing Arts, Entrepreneurship Youth Programs. These laptops and the programs on them value is between $528-$988 each. Our dream is to get all three replaced but would be elated is we could replace at least 1 of the computers before our camps resume on December 26 (camps can ONLY resume, if we are able to secure a vehicle). 

- Chess pieces. Large bags of chess pieces were broken up in the crash. These pieces were enough to cover at least 5 chess boards. 

- Teacher replacement: Due to the accident our lead Camp Director and Performing Arts Choreographer has been injured to the degree of being unable to teach all of her assigned programs. The HHCF must recruit/hire a replacement/assistant Teacher to take over some of the roles our Director can no longer fill. If we are lucky we will be able to find a volunteer to fill this role, but if we must hire someone during her recovery we will need at least $3,200 (this will cover the expense of the teacher/coach over the 6-12 weeks we have been told our Director needs to recover). 

We are a IRS recognized 501(c)3, any donation you make is tax deductible. If you own a Car Dealership or Manufacturer and you donate the car to the HHCF, you can write this off on your 2012 taxes. Anything you give will allow the HHCF to fulfill its obligations to the community we serve. 

Please understand our goal is to secure these items before we are forced to cancel another day of our winter programs which resume on December 26th. Every day we do not have these items is another day we must call and tell all our families we serve that they will have to seek other resources for their children during the break. 

Please share this will all our friends, family, local business, politicians, anyone whom you believe can help the HHCF fulfill its duties. We have never failed our families before and we will do what ever it takes to continue to help our children have a safe and happy place to go while their parents are hard at work.

We appreciate your kindness in these hard times. 

HHCF Makes a Move for Autism!!

HHCF 4 Autism
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