MK-1 PRESENTS MALIKA

Latest Mixtape by MK-1 is an eclectic that covers some serious musical ground from Soul to Hip Hop, Disco, Funk & even Spoken-Word pieces from; Soul II Soul, KRS One, Dead Prez, Kool & the Gang, Steve Miller Band, Marlene Shaw, Erykah Badu + a stack more.

Available to download Here

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UNIVERSAL ZULU NATION SYDNEY CHAPTER LIVE IN CONCERT 2010

#2 – WHAT IS SUCCESS? by Zulu Akhi MK-1

Feb 15th 2010

To be successful we must first understand that we are already great. No matter what you think of yourself right now, know that you are great. You have been born into this world in the image of God. God is great, God is the greatest and God is embedded in each and every one of you. The Key to true success is unlocking that greatness God has graced you with.

Although we are all made in the image of God the vast majority of us measures success in a different way. Some measure it by how much money or material goods we possess. Others measure it by their career choices.

True success itself comes in many forms. It is measured by the state of our emotional, spiritual and physical well-being. It can be found in some families, through the constant pursuit for truth and through the unity and empowerment of individuals, communities and all of humanity.

How we utilize the material world is a very important key factor in achieving True Success. Whatever role we play in society it is important to use that position we hold to help one another grow.

People you make contact with may only come in your life for a minute, a day, a week, a year and some for eternity. Through our journey in life it is important that we interact and do our best to be a positive influence and share the knowledge we have gained in our own personal journey to see that those individuals we meet are on the road to true success.

Society has prevented us by reaching our full capacity of success by attacking the one thing that our success is based on, that is our values. This sinister agenda will ultimately hinder our ability to reach true success and share with those the fruits of our enlightenment.

Our values are under constant attack though our main forms of communication; being television, magazines, the internet and music. We don’t have to go out to look for it, the enemy is already in our home subliminally and sub consciously re-programming our minds to ultimately replace your values for fictitious desires. Our common enemy is force feeding self destruction and teaching us to thrive on it.

Television sitcoms like desperate housewives, or sex in the city place their values on deadly sins such as gossip, jealousy, envy and lust. I cant recall the last time I watch a sitcom that depicts a healthy family unit. The news does nothing but pump fear into us, so that governments can introduce new policy’s for our ‘well being’. The sale of bottled water is prime example how society has bought into the fear industries have created. Access to clean water is our God given right. And yet we are sold back what God has graciously provided for us all. If we do not take a pro-active approach in fighting for our God given rights we are allowing our youth to be born into a world where injustice and an arrested development is the norm and true success a mere myth.

To allow those who wish to distort the greatness bestowed upon is to give up our pursuit for success and transform us into slaves. The ones that are most affected by this are our youth. This is the same youth that will one day be our future……..a future of slaves. Think about it!

In conclusion I would like to share with you a quote I believe sums up true success.

‘At some stage in an individuals life, most people come to realize that inner peace and soul-deep satisfaction come not from fame and fortune, but having lived a life based on integrity and noble character.’ Dr. Katherine T. Smith and Dr. L. Murphy Smith. January 2009.

That’s Whats Up

One Love, Zulu Peace and Empowerment for all

Mista Killa

Zulu Akhi MK-1

DJ / Journalist / Theologian / Sound Designer / Teacher
Universal Zulu Nation – ZULU 61

For comments please email Mista Killa on mistakilla@hotmail.com.

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#1: What is a Hip Hop Deejay?

Mon 11th Jan 2010

There is no doubt that ever since the early days of hip hop culture Hip hop has been tainted by commercialization and corporatization, washed down and regurgitated to the masses into something far from its roots. It seems that the today’s larger makeup of the Hip Hop community has failed its youth in providing them with the guidance and understanding of hip hop culture and the knowledge to distinguish those who aim to preserve and up lift the culture and those who are just in it purely for fame and notoriety. Hip Hop Dj’s being a central figure in the global Hip Hop community have a significant role in shaping peoples understanding and perceptions of Hip Hop culture. Unfortunately we have reached a point where the new generations of Hip Hop DJ’s have failed to acquire the knowledge bestowed upon them resulting in a distorted representation of Hip Hop Culture.

As I gaze at the youth today I cant help but feel an overwhelming concern for the current state of Hip Hop. Part of this concern stems from what I see as peoples confusion as to what really is a Hip Hop Deejay. Is it that person you see behind the decks at your favorite club spinning the music you are familiar with courtesy of your television or radio or is it that person you love to hear because they are playing countless anthems from the Golden years of Hip Hop. The answer is neither.

I remember as an adolescent going out to hear my favorite Hip Hop deejays play the clubs around Sydney. The clubs seemed to have an amazing ambience that wasn’t created  by the interior design of the club or the dress code, No! The people that came to hear the DJ play music and most importantly the DJ him/herself created the ambience.

People regardless of age or socio economics came to Hip Hop nights to participate in what can best be described as a tribal ritual entranced by the rhythmic compositions of the DJ. The DJ him/herself in their own zone brought people to experience multiple climaxes throughout the night not by playing club anthems or anything the crowd was particularly familiar with but by the sheer mastery of musical selection and timing. This recount for most might seem almost mythical in today’s day and age but the true Hip Hop DJ has an amazing ability to connect with his/her audience similar to their resonant ancestor, the Shaman.

Hip Hop Deejays regardless of where they are from have a detailed understanding of the history and culture which has enables them to carry on the tradition, methodologies and ideologies of those pioneers that have paved the way.  They have no concern for the genre of records played, his/her only thoughts are their effectiveness on the dance floor or wherever the music is being played.

Hip Hop DJ’s play music from around the world; beats and breaks, signed or unsigned, old or new all which is tossed into a musical melting pot that is mixed, blended and cut up for audience satisfaction.  These Deejays expose their audience to a variety of music. It can be rock, jazz, funk, soul, go-go, electro etc. the key is how the DJ manipulates that music through the turntables that makes what comes out of the speakers Hip Hop.

Hip Hop DJ’s utilize their skills to help break in new artists into the scene. Hip Hop came from the streets therefore its music from the streets made by people of the streets. By saying this Hip Hop DJ’s have access to music by up and coming artists long before they are signed to a label therefore are the first to introduce the artists music in a commercial setting.

Hip Hop DJ’s have full control of the tracks being selected they are not subjected to ‘Payola’. When people pay to witness a Hip Hop experience it’s the DJ they usually pay to hear. It’s the Hip Hop DJ that the people have invested their trust in to keep them on the dance floor. Hip Hop DJ do not slave to patrons requests and or what’s hot and what’s not that’s dictated the national or international charts.

Finally Hip Hop DJs are able to work back and forth with an MC making the crowd respond spontaneously to what is being played and said.  This partnership between the Hip Hop DJ and MC enables the audience to interact and engage in the music opposed to just dancing to it.

Hip Hop Deejays Started in the streets and uplift their people.

That’s Whats Up

One Love, Zulu Peace and Empowerment for all

Mista Killa

For comments please email Mista Killa on mistakilla@hotmail.com.