We talk with long time journalist, Dominique Diprima about her long tenure in Hip Hop music and Culture. We talk about her ground breaking multi-Emmy Award winning Hip Hop Show Home Turf. We talk about the impact her famous parents, poet Amiri Baraka and Donna Diprima had on her politics and approach toward art..

HKR- (04-19-23) Hip Hop is 50 : A conversation w/ Dominique Diprima

We sat down with Omar Akbar aka Labtekwon for an insightful interview focusing on both his long tenure in Hip Hop.. he's 40 albums deep.. Yes you read that right he's 40 albums deep in the game and has for most part kept in independent..

He's a fixture in City of Baltimore which has long and rich history, much of which he lays out in the first part of our interview.

We talk about Baltimore being one of the first deejay/ club cities in the country, we're talking pre-hip hop. We also compared and contrasted B-More with its neighboring city Washington DC.. Omar gave a serious history lesson on that city.. 

We talked about the recent trilogy of albums Omar released including;  NEXT: Baltimore Basquiat and the Future Shock (State of the Art-Part 1)which pays tribute to the late artist Basquiat. 

 Hardcore: Labtekwon and Evolutionary: The Omar Akbar Album/State of the Art  is the second album and pays tribute and refines what many call 'Knowledge Rap'..Here Omar talks about how he was greatly influenced by KRTS-One and the Last Poets 

His latest album Evolutionary: The Omar Akbar Album/State of the Art takes us in new creative directions for Hip Hop.. 



HKR: An Epic intv w/ Labtekwon-The Swordsman Cometh pt1

Davey D speaks with author/journalist Mark Skillz about Hip-Hop pioneer Grandmaster Flowers (born Jonathon Cameron Flowers) was a DJ from Brooklyn, New York. One of the earliest DJs to mix records together in sequence, Flowers was one of the earliest pioneers of disco. Flowers was involved in the hip hop and funk scene and had a "formative influence" on hip hop DJs such as Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa in the mid-1970s. Although respected by those he influenced, Flowers himself never attained the heights of his successors.

(HKR) 07-14-23 Intv w/ Grandmaster Flowers w/Beats

I Love The Funk Vol 1

Saturday Night House Party w/ Davey D

We talk with DJ Sake1 and producer Excentrik about their new solidarity mixtape that sheds light on the genocide in Gaza and the falls for resistance... We talk about the importance of solidarity and how its personified with Sake1 a long time activist of Jewish descent and Excentrik a long time activist and musician of Palestinian descent

HKR 12-21-23 DJ Sake 1 and Excentrik Talk About their Solidarity Mixtape

Mos Drake pt1

Our conversation revolved around a proposed Arizona law that could allow elections to be overturned, which was viewed as a power grab and compared to segregation-era tactics. Dr Taylor discussed the political landscape, focusing on the strategies and motivations of people in power. The conversation ended with a discussion on the concept of democracy in America and the issue of "selling out" among minorities.

HKR-02-06-24 Educator Chris Emdin and Electronic Intifada

Its Mind Control

Late Night Sessions #9 Bright Sun Shiney Day

I Love The Funk Vol 5

First Friday at the Miranda March Edition

I Love Hip Hop #7  Weekend Vibez

Late Night Sessions #10  Travel Through The World Of Soul

I Love Afro Beats And Amapiano

SF State Jam

Late Night Session #13  Jazzy Soulful Chill

We speak with two Hip Hop artists from Gaza about what is going on in the region and the role music plays in helping heal and build bridges..

KPFA

HKR-03-26-24 Hip Hop, Gaza and Genocide.

In a recent dialogue on Hard Knock Radio, Davey D, the show's host, joined forces with educator Cesar Cruz to shed light on an ambitious project: the Freedom School, nestled in the heart of East Oakland. This initiative, which sprung to life approximately a year ago, is the fruition of nearly two decades of painstaking planning, enriched by extensive community engagement and careful execution.

The discussion, ripe with insights, unveiled the myriad initiatives that have since become the school's hallmark. Among them is the Love Package team, dedicated to delivering food to those in need, a farm that pays homage to Fannie Lou Hamer's legacy, and the efforts of the Homies Empowerment organization.

Davey D and Cruz delved deep into the nuanced challenges of providing education to underprivileged communities. They underscored the critical nature of fostering programs centered around the community, maintaining small class sizes, and ensuring personalized support. The dialogue touched upon contentious issues, including the censorship of certain topics, pervasive systemic inequalities, and the pressing need for education that embraces a more holistic perspective.

Amidst growing concerns over the shortcomings of the prevailing education system, the duo advocated for innovative alternatives. Their vision includes the establishment of the Freedom School Institute and forging strategic partnerships aimed at nurturing future endeavors. This conversation not only highlights the ongoing efforts to redefine educational paradigms but also serves as a beacon of hope for communities striving for change.

HKR-03-28-24b An Interview w/ Dr Cesar Cruz

I Love Latin Freestyle Music..from Back in the Days Vol 1

Davey D Party Rocking Vol 1

Late Night Sessions #15 Hip Hop Flavas

In a recent episode of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D was joined by Kali Akuno of Cooperation Jackson to discuss pressing issues surrounding a Supreme Court ruling that could drastically limit, or even effectively outlaw, the right to protest. They delved into the implications of this potential limitation, touching on how it represents a chilling threat to civil disobedience and democratic principles. The conversation also covered Jackson, Mississippi's own unique challenges, including a dual system of courts and policing, and a severely underfunded water system, emphasizing how these issues reflect broader national political influences on local governance.

Furthermore, the discussion broadened to the repressive measures targeting groups supporting Palestine, underlining the serious consequences for global human rights advocacy. The episode concluded by connecting environmental challenges with broader social justice issues, particularly focusing on the ongoing situations in Palestine and the significance of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. This comprehensive conversation highlighted the intersections of local and global struggles for justice and the role of community-led initiatives in facing these challenges.

HKR-04-22-24 A conversation w/  Kali Akuno

Late Night Session #17 New Wave Is My Life

A panel discussion called Down with the Brown chronicles Bay Area Chicano Youth Activism in the 90s..

HKR-04-29-24 Chicano Youth Activism In The 90s

Today on Hard Knock Radio, Davey D brings together a diverse group of students and activists from across the country to discuss the Palestinian Solidarity Encampments. The participants delved into the recent nationwide protests supporting Palestine, highlighting the intense police reactions and the inaccurate media portrayals of the protesters. 

They also shared their personal experiences with police brutality, the noticeable absence of police during student protests, and the ongoing campaigns for divestment from companies complicit in the Israeli occupation. The conversation concluded with an exploration of the potential role of faith-based institutions, the possibility of creating a third political option, and the importance of self-care for those committed to the long-term struggle for justice."

Guests included Pastor Cue from UCLA, Melina Abdullah from CSLA, Aboud Ashhab and Gabriela Venegas-Ramirez from Brown University, and Carmen Llanes Pulido, a community organizer from Austin, Texas. They offered insights into the evolving nature of these protests and the challenges they face.

HKR-05-02-24 Campus Protests & Solidarity Encampments For Gaza Final Edit

Tune in to Hard Knock Radio for a compelling discussion with host Davey D, featuring AROC members Wessim Hage and Rayan El Amine from SF State. The conversation delves deep into the ongoing crisis in Palestine, focusing on the need for global attention amidst escalating violence that many are calling a genocide. Wessim and Rayan update us on the critical situation, advocating for an immediate ceasefire, the lifting of the Gaza siege, and urging an end to US support for Israel. The episode also highlights AROC's proactive steps, including organizing a May Day rally, a march, a rock concert, and a significant action to shut down the Port of Oakland, responding to a call from the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions. Additionally, the guests discuss AROC's legislative victories in the Bay Area and the national challenges posed by the American Israel Pact's influence in Washington, DC.

Later in the show Davey D and Jose Malvido talk about the Peace and Dignity Run that will kick off in Alaska and end in Columbia

HKR-04-30-24 Aroc Port Shut Down |Peace & Dignity Run

A number of Berkeley Unified School District Teachers spoke out about the pressure and harassment they have been under and receiving from the ADL who is accusing them of being anti-semetic bc they included lessons on Palestine..

HKR-05-06-24 Berekely Teachers Speak out

Mac Bday Mix

New Breath part

New Breath Eddy Zang Party 24 Pt1

Victory Hall jam.. Giants Vs Dodgers

Davey D, host of Hard Knock Radio and Dr Jeremy Levitt.. discuss various issues including former President Donald Trump's legal situations, the impact of his presidency on issues of race, and the exploitative aspects of the music industry. They also touched on the importance of utilizing diverse sources for research, the potential for misinformation on social media, and the need for better communication and understanding of policy issues by politicians. The discussion also highlighted the challenges faced by individuals in the music industry, particularly young black men, and the potential consequences of desperate actions taken to advance one's career or achieve fame.

HKR - 05 - 03 - 24 Jeremy Levitts And Trump Trial

Davey D speaks with author Adam Shatz about his new book, The Rebel's Clinic: The Revolutionary Lives of Frantz Fanon. In this searching biography, Adam Shatz tells the story of Fanons stunning journey, which has all the twists of a Cold War-era thriller. Fanon left his modest home in Martinique to fight in the French Army during World War II; when the war was over, he fell under the influence of Existentialism while studying medicine in Lyon and trying to make sense of his experiences as a Black man in a white city. 

Fanon went on to practice a novel psychiatry of dis-alienation in rural France and Algeria, and then join the Algerian independence struggle, where he became a spokesman, diplomat, and clandestine strategist. He died in 1961, while under the care of the CIA in a Maryland hospital.

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