The Wordz From The Street

Peace from Lil Drawz...

Richard Shaw talks with rapper Lil Drawz about life on the street and in the projects, discussing how they met through The Words... and even Obama.

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You can download The Wordz From The Street Podcast episode #4 here.

The Last Poets: Abiodun Oyewole, Umar Bin Hassan, & Alafia Pudim with percussionist Linaja. Photo: Doug Harris, 1969.

Producer Lee Cantelon celebrates hip-hop pioneers The Last Poets, telling their story and discussing their role in The Wordz project. Not only are we honored to work with them, they continue to give us deep spiritual inspiration. And now they are part of the family.

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You can download The Wordz From The Street Podcast episode #3 here.

The Wordz From The Street Podcast, Episode #2

Producer Lee Cantelon describes the discussions and situations --the spiritual thirst-- that catalyzed the creation of his book, The Words. It's an idea so obvious, that he originally just went to the bookstore to buy a book containing only the words of Christ --as they are, outside of the context of the Bible. Once he realized that said book did not exist, he grabbed the scissors and a few Bibles, and began to paste it up himself.

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Download The Wordz From The Street Podcast episode #2 here.

layzie reading the words

It was an unlikely setting to begin a project that was focusing on the message, even the revolutionary message, of Jesus Christ. "Jesus Christ" shows up in rap lyrics often enough, but not in the context of what we were about to do. I had printed out a chapter from the book I had published on Christ's words (The Words), called "The Blessings." When Warren Holden had suggested that Layzie Bone, from Bone Thugs N-Harmony, wanted to do the first track, this is the one I selected. We drove to Reno, Nevada from Los Angeles. Bone Thugs N-Harmony were there performing with DMX. By the time we got to the hotel and got settled in, it was already too late to record. Warren, Rick, and I went to sound check and then Rick and I went on stage and captured the concert on high-def video and in still photos. Afterwards, we made our way back to the hotel where BTNH were staying, to a chaotic after-concert atmosphere. The suite was overflowing with well-wishers, since it was Layzie's birthday. There were gifts, flowers, and a everyone was having a great time. Finally, I got to talk with Layzie about the subject for the track we were going to record. Turned out that we had both chosen the same chapter to use without communicating. There was this huge body guard in the room, and he was staring at me, and I got the idea he was thinking that my "words of Jesus" thing might be disrupting the fun of the moment. I could not have been more wrong. Dreghost set up the microphone and set levels on his laptop. Layzie asked everyone for silence. And then, just before we recorded "Blessed Are You," the bodyguard asked if could say a word. This turned into a prayer, and it went something like this, "Dear God, You have brought us all through many trials and hardships. We have had highs in our lives, and we have all had major lows. We've lost family and friends along the way, but you have brought us all, everyone in this room, all the way to this moment and for this reason. Want to give you thanks for that." Then everyone applauded and there was shouting and joy in the room. Layzie opened the book and the started out, "Blessed are you that hear the word of God, and follow it!"

Now, looking back, we can all see how God has carried everyone this far, brought us together as a family, and started a movement to write a Testament that is based on the words and on the daily words that are written, the stories of the lives involved. Later, Oblivion put it so well; "You put a format where I said 'Be blessed.' The book speaks freedom, but you're slaves to the text."

We have the words of Christ to look to for guidance, and to motivate us towards good. But we also have to make these words real in what we do. In this way, we are asked to write a new chapter to the book, one that will be read by those who witness our lives.

Earlier, last winter, Oblivion collaborated with Layzie Bone and Bizzy Bone on his original track, Disciples from the Concrete. These lines were delivered in a freestyle manner, without written lyrics. Some of the lines express clearly the intent and message of Wordz from the Street.

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The Word comes out your mouth, there’s fear in your feet,
You cheat him of praise, and halve what you eat,
The temples of full argument, the simple have an audience,
They glimpse the one who "Argue" meant,
what doctrines could hear your cries,
And what Scripture could dry your eyes, was I not there?
What really made you pull your nine, and kept death one step behind?
I was right there, cornered me in private, called out to me in silence,
Ashamed of what? I’m the one with the coward child,
Who would love me, but not out loud. What is this I see?
I left you with visions and dreams, yet you memorize words
And a story of me. And I am not who wrote, I am He who shows’ya,
You can taste my voice when your book misquoted,
You have been a format where I said "Be Blessed"
The books speaks freedom yet you’re slaves to the text.

- Original words by Oblivion, c. 2007

Abiodun wrote the poem that became the central lyrics for The Living God

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I ain't Jesus, but I understand where Jesus was comin' from
I can feel his passion because it is mine
To be blessed in the womb of this earth
And nurtured by the trees, the animals, the sun, the moon, and the stars
To be touched by them, and dance in the rhythm of nature's flow,
Oh what a joy! I ain't Jesus...
But I too am displeased with man's inhumanity to man,
With the very thought of taking a life,
Turning and twisting it into a calloused plant,
That hides from the sun and curses the stars at night,
The wicked howl, and madness finding residence in our souls,
Makes the dark side bright and desirable...
No, I ain't Jesus, but I love a good song, fried fish on Friday,
Some real poetry of great basketball game,
Watching black people rise and take charge of their lives,
And cherish the ancestors and children we see every day,
And recognize even a fool, may have something wise to say.
And I'm working on my freedom, working on my freedom every day.
No, I ain't Jesus, but I know I can be an angel.

- TEXT BY ABIODUN OYEWOLE, ALL RIGHTS PROTECTED

The Wordz Podcast #1

Richard Shaw, Director of The Words From The Street film and music co-producer, narrates the entrance of The Wordz project into the hip hop community, with all its synchronicity and fortuitous interconnections with artists like Bigg Slice, DJ Dreghost, Layzie Bone, The Last Poets, and many others.

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Download The Wordz From The Street Podcast episode #1 here.

Krayzie, Layzie, Bizzy, Flesh, and Wish Bone.

As one spectacular event passes, another is announced.

Just last week... December 1st, 2008, all five members of the legendary hip-hop team Bone Thugs N Harmony performed live on stage together for the first time this century. The event at Club Nokia in Los Angeles was sold out and thousands of fans listened to the group perform memorable songs from several of their albums, including unreleased music.

Later that night on Bone Thugs N Harmony's MySpace page, a bulletin press release was posted, finally announcing the official release date of their new album project - Uni5. It is slated to hit the shelves on June 30th, 2009.

"Bone Thugs-N-Harmony coming together for the "Uni 5" album is a monumental movement for hip hop and family life in general. It shows that any obstacle can be overcome, and unity, love, and harmony are the best remedies; hence, the "Uni 5." The Bone legacy is here to stay!"

Get the full story here.

The Wordz Project tells many stories inside of an hour: that of Layzie, Krazyie and Bizzy coming together as a family who, despite tough times and bad luck and trouble, remain fiercely devoted to one another and to the fourth brother, Flesh-N-Bone. This historic footage lays it out straight and true when they go to pick him up upon his release from a California penitentiary after serving 10 long years. It’s the end of a sentence and the beginning of a new life, not only for Flesh, but for the reunited Bone Thugs. It’s history in the making y’all; the tape don’t lie; it’s the real record you won’t ever find on MTV or BET.

If you'd like to organize a screening of The Wordz From The Street in your local community, please feel free to contact us directly. Let's do it!