Adisa Banjoko Removes Afrika Bambaataa from Book Cover, Changes Title

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Author Removes Hip-Hop Pioneer Afrika Bambaataa from Book Cover and Changes Book Title Amid Abuse Allegations

Controversial Rap Author Stands with Accusers

Oakland, CA 6/09/16-  Three Lions Press is proud to announce that the author has chosen to take Afrika Bamabaataa’s name and image off the cover of the book originally called  Bobby, Bruce & Bam: The Secrets of Hip-Hop Chess. The new title is  Bobby Bruce & The Bronx: The Secrets of Hip-Hop Chess written by Adisa Banjoko, aka The Bishop. It is for sale  on www.amazon.com right now. 

“While not being charged formerly by the police, the avalanche sexual abuse allegations against Afrika Bambaataa and the poor leadership of the inner circle inside his organization, Universal Zulu Nation (UZN)  made my decision easy” stated Adisa Banjoko. “Hip-Hop is an art  for the youth, by the youth. If they are not safe, then Hip-Hop itself has been threatened. I will defend the youth above any alliances with any adults who might act to the contrary. My new title is meant to celebrate the power of the youth  in The Bronx. It was a nightmare for me as an independent author and fan of his previous work to change everything. Nevertheless, it could never compare to the pain of his accusers. ” 

Adisa Banjoko was one of the first members of the Universal Zulu Nation in San Francisco back in the early 1990’s. After assessing the allegations against Afrika Bambaataa he wrote the first public UZN resignation letter. It outlined why he was  leaving the organization and his thoughts on  its many organizational and moral  failures.

Adisa’s first public discussion of the book cover change happened at Google Headquarters during a  Google Author’s Talk. Over the years the author has campaigned on the impact of this blending of art and logic at Harvard, Stanford, U Conn, Oberlin and many other universities. 

 Bobby, Bruce & the Bronx: The Secrets of Hip-Hop Chess is  extraordinary book that outlines how the  of rise of Bobby Fischer, Bruce Lee and the emergence of Hip-Hop unintentionally converged and influences Hip-Hop, chess and martial arts in America and the world in unexpected ways. It includes a workbook teaching the first 12 lessons teens and young adults can use to embrace chess as a life strategy tool. These lessons can be applied in your personal life, or business ventures. Get the book now at www.amazon.com The book serves as a disruptive blueprint that helps urban kids shift their approach to education, entrepreneurship, and life’s possibilities. 

“The  book is a celebration of the cognitive, physical and creative attributes of Hip-Hop. We also address the impact of violence on young learning minds. Many American children have PTSD and remain undiagnosed and untreated vets of urban war zones.  I saw this on the frontlines and my book is meant to be one of many solutions we can use to help American youth.” 

Adisa Banjoko, aka The Bishop is a respected disruptor in the space of education innovation. Adisa began his journalism career while still a high school student interviewing Eazy E shortly before the formation of NWA. Adisa  went on to become one of the first west coast writers for The Source, RapPages and VIBE among others. He broke some of the first profiles on artists like Tupac Shakur, Del, Mixmaster Mike, DJ Qbert, Hieroglyphics, Master P and many others in the rise of west coast rap in the early 1990s’. Adisa Banjoko is a powerful speaker who has lectured at many universities across the country including Harvard, Lehigh, Oberlin College, UC Berkeley and others. His ideas on chess, rap and martial arts have been seen in Forbes, Good Morning America, Black Enterprise, Ebony and the cover of Chess Life Magazine.

In 2006 after visiting incarcerated youth in San Francisco he created the Hip-Hop Chess Federation (HHCF). The HHCF is a 501c3 non-profit that fuses music, chess and martial arts, to promote unity, strategy and nonviolence. in 2015, the HHCF was invited to teach the staff at the World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis on the connections between Hip-Hop and chess. The result was the Living Like Kings exhibit (which broke attendance records surpassing Bobby Fischer's). He and RZA of Wu-Tang Clan (who now serves on HHCF’s Board) spoke to high school youth and incarcerated youth in St. Louis during all off the rage and chaos after the death  of Mike Brown. Their efforts illustrated a nonviolent narrative largely overlooked by both mainstream media.

Bobby Bruce & The Bronx: The Secrets of Hip-Hop Chess outline how this unique fusion came to pass and the lives Adisa Banjoko has been able to change through it. The book highlights his his experiences while  in teaching kids in St. Louis  with Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, his experiences fighting inner city school violence in The Bay Area and how rap music celebrate chess more than any other form of music on the planet. For more information on Adisa Banjoko and the Hip-Hop Chess Federation summer camps, events and activities visit www.hiphopchess.com !

                                                                      NEW COVER!!!!

   The old cover with Afrika Bambaataa on it. The allegations of child abuse by Bambaataa made headlines around April 8th 2016. The book dropped on April 10th 2016. 

Walking Away from The UZN: The Endgame

“It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles”. - Niccolo Machiavelli

Hip-Hop is an art for the youth, by the youth. If they are not safe, then Hip-Hop itself is not safe. This is an art that comes from the streets. I do not expect angelic behavior from all of its participants. If anything Hip-Hop teaches you about your own moral compass. Language and actions that you might think are unacceptable, I may not worry about or vice versa. Ultimately I believe that if the elders in Hip-Hop have the title of leaders, teachers, mentors and protectors of the community at large we have a duty to the youth that is greater than other alliances with adults. That is the case here. I don’t like Bill Cosby, but I love comedy forever. I don’t know what is going on with Afrika Bambaataa, but I will love Hip-Hop forever.

Today I want to formally resign from the Universal Zulu Nation (UZN). If you don’t know what the Universal Zulu Nation is I can only say: It is an organization that founded and organized what you know now as Hip-Hop. They have been the keepers and the custodians of the subculture since the early 1970’s. They have united many people across the world under the banner of Hip-Hop and they have been instrumental in negotiating peace treaties between rappers and other street organizations. It is impossible to quantify their value to the world of music, dance, art, or fashion- let alone the rap industry. So much of what you know, or what you think you know about Hip-Hop simply does not happen without the UZN. The founder of the UZN is Afrika Bambaataa. He is also known under the title The Amen Ra of Hip-Hop.

Recently many allegations from various individuals have named Afrika Bambaataa as a sexual predator. The things he has been accused of are not anything I plan to repeat right now. You can look them up for yourself.

I have been a public supporter and member since the early 1990’s. I have learned a lot from the UZN and been helped by the UZN on various levels over the years.

For the record, I do not know for sure that he is guilty of the accusations made against him. Anyone following these accusations against him can tell you it is very painful, bizarre and sad on many levels. It is also evolving in sporadic jumps and it is hard to keep track of things. As someone who runs a youth organization (the Hip-Hop Chess Federation Inc.)  I must err on the side of protecting the youth even if I am not 100% certain Afrika Bambaataa is guilty. I want parents and children to know that I will always stand with them. They will always have my ear first. Virtually every cultural and spiritual tradition makes it a point to acknowledge the innocent and sacred nature of children. As someone who has worked with the youth for well over a decade, I cannot watch this in silence and consider myself a man of the people.

In April I dropped  a book called Bobby, Bruce & Bam: The Secrets of Hip-Hop Chess. It is a book that highlights the connections of Hip-Hop, chess and martial arts as tools for self discovery and self mastery. I highlight a lot of other topics such as kids suffering from PTSD and how we can help them heal through music and chess.

Bobby Fischer, Bruce Lee and Afrika Bambaataa have stenciled images on the front cover as symbols of the roots of the fusion of the three art forms. I felt it was an honest tribute to their contributions to each art/sport. My book is the product of more than ten years of research and five years of direct work with at-risk, gang impacted and gang intentional youth in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and St. Louis.

He has personally helped me and I don’t want to be ungrateful, but I do not want to defend a child predator. That is what makes my separation from UZN painful but mandatory work.

I once interviewed Bambaataa for my book Lyrical Swords. I was on a panel with Afrika Bambaataa at Harvard University in 2001. About five years later I had a situation with KRS-One that almost led to a physical altercation at Stanford University. It got very intense on both sides. Were it not for the efforts of Shamako Noble, Davey D, Popmaster Fabel and the direct intervention of Africa Bambaataa the chances of one of us, or both of us getting hurt or worse was pretty certain. I have to say as a matter of record that I have spoken with Afrika Bambaataa on the phone only about 3-4 times. I have been in his presence about 2-3 times. There is nothing in any of my interactions with him that would lead me to believe that he has done the things he has been accused of. At the same time I have to admit that I never had enough consistent contact to know him on a deeper level. I am not mentioning these things to give you for more compassion for him. I just want you to see the complexity and enormity of what I had to personally reflect upon when making this decision to step away.

Right now, my 501c3 nonprofit organization, The Hip-Hop Chess Federation works with kids across The Bay area and we are expanding. We pride ourselves in creating safe, clean affordable spaces for young people to enrich their minds and build their physical skills with us. We have been around for ten years now and our work has been authentically impactful. We count on the trust of parents and teachers and school administrators to do all that we do. Their trust in our work is what makes our impact possible.  

Looking at all of the allegations against Afrika Bambaataa I must say that all of it is deeply troubling. I have worked directly with a lot of teens who have been abused by trusted adults. I have seen the damage first hand. I cannot pretend to know exactly what is happening inside the UZN. However, something seems to have gone deeply wrong with Afrika Bambaataa and some of the top tier leadership.

That said, I want to say that I will no longer associate myself with the Universal Zulu Nation. I no longer consider myself a member. The father in me, the teacher in me, the protector of the youth that I strive to be cannot be in the proximity of the allegations made against Afrika Bambaataa and top tier leadership of UZN.

Further, my book will have a new title and new artwork. I am working now to change the title to Bobby, Bruce & The Bronx: The Secrets of Hip-Hop Chess. As an independent author, this is going to be costly for me and time consuming but I should have the new site and cover art complete within 60 days. Quite frankly I don’t have the money to make the changes, but I will find a way to get it done.

Moving forward I'm sure there will be many necessary conversations about what these accusations against Afrika Bambaataa mean. We will have to talk about Hip-Hop in many new ways. These accusations against Bam are forcing a lot of new conversations to happen that have not been happening. They will be excruciating for many of us. However, I think we may be looking at a purging of some of Hip-Hop’s toxic elements. Getting rid of them will refine the art form for future generations. Making that happen is more important to me than anything else.

Much Respect,

Adisa Banjoko aka The Bishop

Founder, Hip-Hop Chess Federation Inc.

HHCF Hosting Speed Chess Tournament in Union City, CA June 27th at Mighty 4!!!!

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HHCF will be hosting a speed chess tournament at Mighty 4 in Union City, CA on June 27th!!! Come out and enjoy this all ages event. LISTEN to Mighty 4 Founder Paulskeee talk about the history of Hip-Hop in the bay and how it helps young people find themselves http://www.bishopchronicles.com/podcast/2015/6/3/37-hip-hop

The Chinese Connection: Hip-Hop and Martial Arts Pt. 1

 

The Chinese Connection: Hip-Hop and Martial Arts Pt. 1

By: Adisa Banjoko

The HHCF’s fusion of Hip-Hop, chess and martial arts has always been about the blending of art, science and subcultures. A lot of people laughed at us in the beginning. But after hosting the biggest opening exhibit at the World Chess Hall of Fame this October with RZA, our impact was undeniable. In the streets, juvenile halls and colleges, our method is working and the demand is growing across the planet.

As our organization got on the radar of various news and education outlets, our calls to promote STEAM over STEM began to gain a following. My obsession with these three arts and sports were built on a previous foundation.

The two most influential people on my approach to writing are Dr. John Henrik Clarke and Joseph Campbell. Dr. Clarke was great at being able to say in a sentence, what many folks need paragraphs to write. Joseph Campbell taught “perennial philosophies.” It is defined as “a perspective in the philosophy of religion which views each of the world’s religious traditions as sharing a single, universal truth on which foundation all religious knowledge and doctrine has grown.” While my work to date has not been as concise as Clarke or expansive as Campbell, this is my ultimate intent. The goal of this piece is meant to show how the Asian Kung-fu Cinema impacted African-American culture deeper than other minority groups.

Bruce Lee’s logo for his innovative art, Jeet Kune Do

August 17th 1973, Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon opened in NYC. On November 12th 1973 a gang leader from The Bronx unified the street arts of rap, DJ’ing, graffiti and various forms of dance as Hip-Hop. He founded the Universal Zulu Nation that year to preserve and maintain the subculture on a global scale. A year before, Brooklyn’s Bobby Fischer beat Russia's Boris Spassky in a game of global importance. In September, a new film called Pawn Sacrifice will drop about that chess match and everything that was at stake culturally and politically. These three moments of the early 1970’s impacted American chess, martial arts and Hip-Hop in ways none of us understood at the time. Today we are still discovering its impact. Unveiling these connections are still a beautiful work in progress.

The original logo of Mixmaster Mike (of the Beastie Boys) was based on Bruce Lee’s logo for Jeet Kune Do

While exciting entertainment to many, for African American males, Asian Kung-Fu Cinema opened a new door to the Black mind and spirit. Having had our warrior culture removed from us during the transatlantic slave trade though our experience in America, these films gave Black people new ideas and a new ways to reclaim what had been lost 400 years before. Outside of Bruce Lee’s movies films like Shogun Assassin, 36 Chambers of Shaolin, Master of the Flying Guillotine, Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang, and Drunken Master had immense impact. The David Carradine show Kung-Fu (while riddled with many racist elements) also gave weekly wisdom in prime time to those who were smart enough to pay attention.

It is hard to say how many of the African-American’s embracing these films really understood the cultural differences between Chinese and Japanese culture. Obviously on some level this surface understanding could lead to huge generalizations. On the other, this lack of cultural clarity created a space where all of it was taken in, accepted and appreciated. Those that were sincere, took the time to learn the truth. Over time those numbers grew.  

Though many of the movies by Bruce Lee and the Shaw Brothers were not of the highest production quality, the wisdom shared was on point. Despite whatever flaws may have been in the overdubbed voices or the corny outfits at times, these films became an obsession in Black America. It appears the ancient wisdom, the discipline and the quest for universal truth all filled a hollow space in many African American hearts, minds and bodies. It is hard to imagine the rise in Blacks practicing Buddhism, the number of Blacks doing yoga and all of the Taoist references in Hip-Hop without Kung-Fu films. It is also hard to envision the rise of the vegan movement in Black America without the rise of Kung-Fu films. These movies changed minds, bodies and spirits. Rappers, DJ’s, Bboys and graffiti writers were all affected and reflected the wisdom in their artistic expression.

I don’t think anyone at the time, knew what a benefit these movies would be to Black America. It’s hard to say if Black America itself knew what was taking place and why they were drawn to the films so deeply.

RZA, actor and rapper of the iconic Wu-Tang Clan explained the NY scene in the early 1970’s “In Manhattan on 42nd street they had movies. They had a whole slew of shows. We would watch them every weekend. That was around the age of nine. By the time I was twelve or thirteen I started getting fascinated. I would go into Chinatown buying everything. Kung-fu books, slippers [the flat black shoes made famous by Bruce Lee). You name it, I was on a mission.”

RZA of Wu-Tang Clan showing Kung-Fu skills in Man With The Iron Fist

Reflecting on the impact of the films he says “The good thing for me was growing up in America, there wasn’t much history, outside of the 400 years that I was taught. The only thing they told us back to was Greek mythology, the colonial days, or cowboys and Indians. But I had a chance to watch the martial arts films.  You get to see stuff from the Tang Dynasty, Sung Dynasty, you are seeing 1500 years of history. It kinda opened my mind to a whole new world.... It kinda changed my whole philosophy on life. I started buying books on Buddhism and Taoism. Plus I was studying Christianity, and Islam at the same time. It all translated into my music.”

In the early era of Hip-Hop the teens and young adults gave themselves titles like Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster D and so on. It is still unclear if these were names that were inspired more by Kung-Fu films, or chess, but something new was happening. Rap crews named themselves the Wu-Tang Clan and DJ’s like Mixmaster Ice (of U.T.F.O. towering on stage above the rappers in a ninja outfit. It was all very hard to ignore, and hypnotic to almost anyone who saw it. Other Hip-Hop artists out there notable for showing an influence of martial arts philosophy and culture include Andre Nickatina, Jeru The Damaja, Afu-Ra, DJ Q-Bert and Beastie Boys DJ Mixmaster Mike.

Rap crew U.T.F.O. with Mixmaster Ice in front rocking a ninja suit, 1985.

Chess, first and foremost in many people's minds is about strategy. The word strategy comes from the Latin root word strategos meaning “leader of the army”.

The logo for revolutionary rap group dead prez is the I-Ching. The I-Ching (The Book of Changes)  is an ancient divination text going back to 1000 BC. It is  a book of various symbols that have rich meaning and various interpretations. The Dead Prez logo is of  hexagram, shi, meaning “Leader” or “the army”. Each hexagram is composed of “inner” and “outer” trigrams. The inner trigram represents water and the outer represents earth.

This idea of being grounded like earth, but flow like water was made popular in America by Bruce Lee. Within the world of jiu-jitsu, they have positions known as closed guards and open guards. In chess, there are positional developments known as open and closed games. In both arts, one must be clear about the differences and understand the importance of how and where to be strong and how and where to flow. These are continuous themes within martial arts and chess.

In part two, we will look more into this relationship between Hip-Hop and martial arts.  We have much more to explore.

Adisa Banjoko is Founder of the Hip-Hop Chess Federation (HHCF). The HHCF is the world's first non-profit 501(c)3 to promote music, chess and martial arts to teach nonviolence at-risk youth. RZA is the organization's HHCF Chess Champion and Director of Outreach. For more information visit www.hiphopchess.com .

Feb 9th HHCF & San Jose Universal Zulu Nation Come Together

HHCF & Step Up Revolution Join for Dance Battle!

For Immediate Release
PR Contact
Meek Gaborski
memg@hiphopchessfederation.org

Hip-Hop Chess Federation Teams with Step Up Revolution Movie for Hip-Hop Dance Battle

July 6th 2012, San Jose, CA- Hip-Hop Chess Federation (HHCF) is proud to announce that it has teamed with Step Up Dance Revolution to  host one of the biggest Dance Battles and Step Up Revolution movie events on Sunday July 22, 2012 at the Alum Rock Youth Center in San Jose, CA (137 N. White Rd. in San Jose). There will be cash prizes, and a trophy award given to the winner of the battle provided by the creators of Step Up Dance Revolution. The event is called Your Own Step.

“Our organization believes that all elements of Hip-Hop (DJ’ing, rapping, graffiti and dance) are nonviolent forms of social empowerment “ said HHCF Founder Adisa Banjoko.” Step Up Revolution shows how young people can take their artistic passion and better their communities. The California Dance Community is overflowing with talent and we expect a huge turnout. Every minute young people are with the HHCF is another minute we keep these wonderful kids off the streets. San Jose is known for its club and dance scene. Its going to be powerful.”

Dancers with hip-hop, b-boy, b-girl, crumping, stepping, turfing and jerking dance skills will participate in this historic event.  Your Own Step dance event and competition is open to all ages. Registeration is required, for information on how to register visit http://idcmag.com/stepup_comp.html .  Step Up Revolution movie drops in theaters July 27th across the country. 

HHCF Founder with a video with WeTheWest.com!

HHCF Philosophy: Sacrifice to Success Ratio

A new life strategy video I did with my good friends at www.WeTheWest.com (kids get your parents permission to view anything other than MY VIDEO!!).

HHCF & Universal Zulu Nation Gather Hip-Hop,Chess & Old School Zulu Bay Area History

San Jose Zulu Nation Chapter with Adisa Banjoko after a Live The Game Q&A session !! Much respect to UZN members worldwide...

"My first experience listening to Adisa speak was around 95 about the origins of Hip Hop music. It left such an impact on me that I felt it was very important to create that same opportunity for the community today."

Kenny May
Chapter Leader
Universal Zulu Nation- San Jose Chapter


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Few realize the significance of what it meant for me to speak with the SJ Zulu chapter. You see, I'm  from the original UZN Bay Area chapter.....The first one....BEFORE Alafia Chapter.....I'm talking about Alex Aquino, DJ Marco Polo, DJ Pause, Qu'wwam Ullam, Johnny and a few others....Much respect to Leo the Lion to......If you don't know them, you don't really know about UZN in The Bay....Its good to be with my brother Kenny....And much thanks to the founder of UZN Afrika Bambaataa....He set so much in motion and its no where near over....

MAY 19th HHCF & Universal Zulu Nation UNITE in Shark City!!

To say I'm honored is a HUGE understatement. Please support ALL the sponsors who helped make this happen. #UZN