Balance campaign (10 point program)
We the people of planet Earth want:
1.) A balance on the air waves of old school, new school and contemporary music.
2.) More variety of musical genres, artists and content on the radio stations.
3.) Radio station directors, programmers and deejays to be held accountable for what is played on their radio stations.
4.) The FCC to do more to regulate the radio stations which continue to play negative songs with violent/sexual content during times when children and minors are most likely to be listening---daytime, before and after school.
5.) Radio stations to reflect more diverse cultural and political views of the community and not the commercial interests of the big multi-media corporations.
6.) A certain amount of time dedicated to local news, important events, issues and concerns that affect the communities in which the radio stations are suppose to serve.
7.) A certain amount of time dedicated to local artists who put out quality music in their regions.
8.) A breakup of the monopoly of the air wave band frequencies--No big corporation should be allowed to own/control several different radio stations under different names.
9.) A balance on the video stations---more positive images of women and the urban experience which are free of the stereotypical images that assault the minds of our youth.
10.) Use the radio, video and any other form of communication to educate, enlighten and entertain and not to control, exploit and manipulate the masses.
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Artists, use this to record a drop for my radio show! Breakdown FM
Say your name, my name: "Paradise" and Breakdown FM in the drop.
Music
XClan, Professor X, YZ, ISIS, Queen Mother Rage, Unique & Dashan, Public Enemy, Paris, NAS, KRS-1, Bob Marley, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Ice Cube, Mr. Scarface, NWA, The Coup, Dead Prez, Talib Kwali, Mos Def, Black Star, Poor Righteous Teachers, Wu Tang Clan, Queen Latifah, 2 Kings In A Cipher, Lakim Shabazz, Def Jeff, The Last Poets, Gil Scott Heron, George Clinton, Parliament, The Ohio Players, Rick James.
Movies
The Education Of Sonny Carson, Dune, Kung Fu Movies, Sci-Fi, They Live, Highlander, The Matrix series, Big Trouble In Little China, X (Spike Lee), Ali, Equilibrium, The Spook That Sat By The Door.
Television
Books
Enough Is Enough! - Jasiri X
Heroes
My Mother and Father, God, Jesus, The Prophet Mohammad, Moses, Sonny Carson, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X, The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, Martin Luther King Jr., Assataa Shakur, H.I.M. Selassie I Jah Rastafari, Imhotep, Marcus Garvey, Muhammad Ali, Father Allah, Harry Belafonte, Hank Aaron, Africa Bambaataa, Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, Jazzy J, Disco King Mario, CC Howard, Pete DJ Jones, The Grand Imperial DJ J.C., Grandmaster Flowers, Grandmaster Mele Mel, Jam Master Jay, Jazzy J, Bruce Lee, The Black Panthers, Nelson Mandela, Clarence 13 X Smith, Rosa Parks, Nobel Drew Ali, Charles Earl Gray, Jam Master J, Tookie Williams, Nat Turner, - etc.....
Paradise Gray was raised in The South Bronx during the days of Reaganomics, the trickle down theory was in full effect.
With live entertainment being financially inaccessible, the young people began to create their own forms of entertainment.
This raw, new music scene crafted in the inner cities of New York is now affectionately known as "Hip-hop". The voice of the ghetto that has grown to become a Multi-Billion Dollar industry that has in recent years out-sold all other forms of music in America.
Paradise was a young street D.J. mentored by some of Hip-hop's Legendary founding DJ's: Disco King Mario (R.I.P.), Pete DJ Jones, The Grand Imperial J.C., and D.J. C.C. Howard. Paradise earned street credibility as a D.J., Rapper and Break-dancer. Paradise jokes: "I never liked getting paint on my hands and clothes, so I was a horrible Graffiti artist".
Paradise is also a writer and photographer with articles and photographs appearing in The Source Magazine, XXL, Right On! Magazine, YO!, Wax Poetics, Big Red News, VH1's 30 Years Of Hip-hop History TV Special, "It's Like That" (Run-DMC's Autobiography) by Bill Adler and many early Hip-hop magazines including The Hip-hop Hit-list and Rap Masters.
An archivist and Hip-hop Historian with a great Hip-hop memorabilia collection: (The Paradise Collection), Paradise has been a photographer, writer, producer, promoter, artist, activist, and manager of entertainment for The Legendary Hip-hop Club "The Latin Quarters".
The Latin Quarters was the incubator of "The Golden Era" Of Hip-hop where Over 80% of the legendary artists honed their skills and made their connections. Some of those artists include: Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, KRS 1, Public Enemy, Nice & Smooth, Salt & Pepa, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, Chris Rock, Slick Rick, Heavy D & The Boys, EPMD, LL Cool J, X-Clan and many others..
In 1987-88 Paradise helped Lumumba Carson form The BlackWatch Movement that spawned the groups: The X-Clan, ISIS, Queen Mother Rage, Unique & Dashan and Professor X himself as an artist. The BlackWatch Movement was critical to the grassroots consciousness of New York City's youth and was instrumental in changing the face of Hip-hop to one of Black Pride in the late 80's to early 90's.
Both of The X-Clan's albums: "To The East Blackwards" and "XODUS" are considered Classics and are a must listen to for anyone into Black Conscious music. Dubbed "The Grand Arkitech Traxtitioner Paradise" Mr. Gray was a member of the groups production team that included Jason Hunter (The Grand Verbalizer Funkin-Lesson Brother J), Anthony Hardin (The Rhythm Provider Sugar Shaft), And Lumumba Carson (Professor X The Overseer). The X-Clan were nominated for an NAACP Image Award.
From 1999-2003 Paradise Gray was the executive director of urban music at the infamous Internet music company MP3.COM, the company that invented the Online Music Revolution and was last big IPO in the Dot.com boom era. MP3.COM was the precursor to all the music downloading companies and controversy.
Paradise C0-Hosted and organized The 2007 and 2008 Pittsburgh Hip-hop Awards, The 2007 Central PA Hip-hop Awards and The 2007 Philly Hip-hop Awards as a consultant for 360 Entertainment.
Mr. Gray owns and operates two small businesses in Pittsburgh PA: A Recording Studio and "The UndaGround Lounge" (A Hip-hop Art Gallery, local music, custom t-shirt retailer and live performance/party rental space).
A community activist with a deep love for people, Paradise served as the Director of "Almost Home" for 3 years. (a program that feeds 60 kids twice a week and offers mentor programs, free internet usage, home work assistance and guitar, voice and drum lessons, "we allow children to play video games and socialize, learn and have fun all in the same place, it at least keeps them out of the streets during a critical time of day"). - Paradise
Paradise works with the "Ministry Of Art's And Sciences" of The Millions More Movement Pittsburgh LOC. He also works with The National Hip-hop political Convention's Pittsburgh LOC. Mr. Gray's community service does not end there, as he as serves on the board of a newly formed coalition formed by Blackmen who head community service programs in Pittsburgh "One Hood". One HOOD was created to promote unity among young men, to strengthen and support each individual members programs and to promote peace in local Pittsburgh neighborhoods and across America.
One HOOD was honored to receive the "2007 Peace Partner Of The Year Award" from The Center For Victims Of Violence And Crime/Pittsburgh Mediation Center.
Paradise Gray was recently honored with the 2007 "Communicator Of The Year Award" by the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation.
"Breakdown FM; Hip Hop Responds to the Ongoing War on Terror-Police Terror"
powered by ODEO
Who I'd like to meet: God, but I'm in no hurry
"Free The Jena 6" - by Jasiri X
Http://www.myspace.com/jasirix
Paradise is available for speaking engagements at cultural functions, festivals, schools, youth programs etc.. Serious inquiries only. "The Paradise Collection" is one of the largest collections of Old School HIP-HOP photographs, flyers, Memorabila that exists. I can bring an authentic old school Hip-hop electronic or physical presence to your event. I am considered a Hip-hop Pioneer, an Archivist and Historian. Hear stories about Old School Hip-hop from someone who was actually there in the South Bronx actively participating in hip-hop culture from the very beginning!
The collection is growing! I have commissioned a series of paintings of Hip-hop culture and personalities. My good friend and Elder George Gist will be the lead artist on this historical project. Our own stories, from our own lips = A better Understanding of our own place in History. - Paradise - -
Hit me up by email.
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