Luke Cage – Photo Credit Instagram: @marvel

Luke Cage is a superhero, he is Black and hip-hop AF! Netflix new series is the latest binge worthy show the streaming service has offered up to the masses. Luke Cage was created by Archie Goodwin, John Romita Sr and George Tuska and is published by Marvel comics.

A portrait of a crown wearing Biggie stares ominously in the background as the story unfolds. Each season is named with a title of a song from the legendary group Gang Starr. The score is brought to you by Ali Shaheed Muhammad from A Tribe Called Quest. WuTang’s Bring the Ruckus” plays in the background as Luke Cage follows the instruction of the song.

The birth of Luke Cage and the birth of Hip Hop happen almost simultaneously. The first issue of the comic appeared in 1972. Although hip hop does not have a cemented date of birth it is well known that it was born in the 1970’s in the ghettos of New York City. The marriage of Luke Cage and hip hop makes sense. They grow together in sensibility with the worlds issues at the center of the show. The overarching theme of the series is the unlimited power of the Black man. This is a theme that was skewed with the advent of Blaxplotation films that portrayed criminals in Black skin as heroes of the community, as they peddled drugs, guns and women.

Cage represents the opposite of this and uses his strength to turn the page on the perception of who he is and who the Black Man can be. A few well placed lyrics and cameos strengthen the authenticity of this narrative. One of these cameos (no spoiler) says “There is something powerful about a Black man being bullet proof and unafraid.”

In 2016 as a Black man it would be amazing to be bulletproof considering we are being shot down with no mercy or consequence. The real superpower is developed when we realize this inner strength and move without fear. How will this Black Super Hero affect the mass? I’m not really sure, but it’s good to have the representation. One thing I do know for sure is that Luke Cage is hip-hop AF and it’s dope.

Buy/Listen to “Speak Life”

Chicago’s very own singer songwriter Koku Gonza offers up her video for her latest single “Conveniently Rolling”. The video is set inside of the Stony Island Arts Bank. The bank houses the Johnson Publishing Archive that serves as a backdrop for the video. The rhythm is arresting and colorful. The video is vibrant and electric. Press play and enjoy.

This is the lead single from Precise’s upcoming project “Man of the Ages”

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The 60th anniversary of Emmett Till’s murder just passed this previous weekend. I have the honor of sitting with and listening to the parents of slain youth throughout the United States. One thing that stood out when I asked the question what is your capacity for forgiveness. I got many different answers. One stood out particularly. One of the parents mentioned that she knows in her heart that she must forgive and that she is a Christian and the reason that she feels as though she should forgive is because she was to go to heaven. That struck a chord in me. Right now I was just listening to a radio station that mentioned that the Pope is currently passing a law among the Catholic Church where absolution and mercy will be granted to those who seek forgiveness for abortions. Why do we search outside of ourselves for forgiveness? Who has the ability to forgive ourselves better than ourselves? I asked this question not out of judgment but for pure concern.

It concerns me that an organization feels as though they can grant you forgiveness from the creator. We are directly connected to the creator anything and everything that we seek to know that we seek to receive or share with the creator can be done with ourselves. Now don’t get me wrong when I say this of course I acknowledge the importance of communicating with other individuals who live among us but ultimately this connection that we have to the creator is all we really need to clear up minds and forgive ourselves. I reject the notion that anyone has the authority over my connection to the Creator. And I guess I say that selfishly because I speak of it as something that belongs to me and only to me. It does in the sense because the relationship that I have with the creator can only be mine because it comes from me and I have the ability because of what the creator has blessed me with to achieve and accomplish anything that I set my mind to. I believe this. I know this. So to the young mother who believes that she needs to forgive because she won’t get into heaven let me say this. First of all when we forgive others we do it for ourselves so that we don’t allow a chain of presents and pain to keep us connected to something that will keep our vibration low and keep us in a state of sadness. When we forgive ourselves we do it for ourselves to do the same thing release the shackles of resentment hate doubt and fear.

We must not forget where we come from the connection that we have and what we can accomplish the moment we recognize that there is a power greater than us that is been given to us to do the greatest thing possible.

Stay focused positive and productive.

-Precise

Check out Ladies Love Mixtapes http://precise.bandcamp.com