DJ Reborn
January 31, 2008
DJ Reborn is the first DJ to be featured on the U People Mixtape Download card for January 2008 and rightfully so. She has made an amazing mark on the NY scene as 1 of teh 3 DJ’s of Ubiquita NYC. Check her bio, a snippet of her mix for U People with tracklist. Get your U People Card here.
Chicago native DJ Reborn has been pleasing crowds for over a decade with her mellifluous blend of Soul, Hip-hop, Reggae, House, Afrobeat and more. Now residing in Brooklyn, NY, this creative soul is not just a party DJ. Her sounds have been heard everywhere from corporate gatherings for Armani and Calvin Klein, to MTV’s post awards party for Lauryn Hill, as well as a private birthday bash for Maxwell.She has worked with The Bronx Museum and is a resident DJ for “Uptown Fridays”, a popular monthly event at The Studio Museum in Harlem. Throughout her career, Reborn has been the opening DJ at live shows for such renowned artists as The Roots, India Arie. Common, CaronWheeler, Talib Kweli, Saul Williams and most recently John legend. In the summer of 2003, she provided the music for the Russell Simmons annual Art for Life benefit. A highlight of the year was being selected as the DJ for the 2004 Urban Word Teen Poetry Slam Competition in New York, hosted by Kanye West. Another highlight has been Reborn’s four appearances on BET’s Rap City.
She has been featured in SCRATCH,TRACE, URB and NRG magazines. Reborn was the Musical Director and live onstage DJ for the Off-Broadway Hip-Hop Theatre hit, Flow, starring Will Power. Flow continues to tour around the US and abroad and has been so successful that an excerpt from the production was featured on NBC’s Carson Daly Show. In March 2004, Flow won the Best Theatre award at the prestigious HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen. While on hiatus from Flow, Reborn was the 2004/05 international tour DJ for Russell Simmon’s DEF POETRY JAM.
Reborn’s strong belief in community is what motivates her to continue her work as an educator. She facilitates creative writing and DJing workshops for New York City youth and other teens while on tour. DJ Reborn also lends her various skills to many non-profit organizations and their events. DJ Reborn’s musical versatility and enduring reputation is what makes her one of today’s most respected and sought after talents.
Track List for U People Mixtape Card January 2008 w/ DJ Reborn
FIGHTING RIGHTS TOGETHER- CLIP
FOREVER-LITTLE DRAGON
IS LOVE THE REASON? -TOSHI REAGON
SOUL SPACESHIP-ME’SHELL
ROSES-MARY J
COMPROMISE-SKIN
WE ARE THE LIGHT-HANIFAH WALIDAH
EARN MY AFFECTION-AMEL LARRIEUX
ICE COLD-JADE ROSS
DO YOU MIND-HANIFAH WALIDAH
LOVELY LOVELY-ME’SHELL
HONEY-ERYKAH BADU
PASSING-CLIP
AFTER THE RAIN-LITTLE DRAGON
GROWN WOMAN-KANDI COLE
WORK THAT-MARY J
HOLD YOU DOWN-HONEY LAROCHELLE
MESSAGE FROM A SOUL SISTA-VICKI ANDERSON
LATIFAH’S HASD IT UP TO HERE-QUEEN LATIFAH
PULL UP TO MY BUMPER-GRACE JONES
ENCORE-CHERYL LYNN
BLACK GIRLS-SHELLEY NICOLE/BLACKBUSHE
GIVE ME YOUR LOVE-SYLVIA STRIPLAND
I NEED YOUR LOVIN-TINA MARIE
CONSTANT SUPRISES-LITTLE DRAGON
SEE-LINE WOMAN-NINA SIMONE
3 Questions: Red Summer
January 30, 2008
3 Questions is all you need to ask of artists who move us:
I first met Red Summer at Sistafest in 2004. I thought she was barely over 21 and come to find out she is a mother, grandmother, teacher, poet and fellow sister on the grind. Over the years our friendship has grown as she maintains her place on my short list of poets who do it for me. She flew all the way from Chicago just to help out on the set of my music video Make A Move and subsequently found herself in the U People documentary. She then donated the song “Stillettos” to the U People soundtrack and has sealed her place in my life as sister and peer. So it was my pleasure for her to be the first to answer the following questions:
1. When was the first time you experienced the sensation of love (outside the context of a lover); when was it defined for you?
my grandparents seemed, to me, to have a marriage of convenience. i never saw them argue or fight, but i never saw them kiss or hold each other either. when my grandmother was recovering from cancer treatments, she was very weak and the chemo left her skin in a dry, flaky state. the top layer would crumble under your touch. my grandfather came to the hospital and rubbed handfulls of eucerine cream into her skin each day to soothe her. one day, while watching him dutifully tend to my grandmother, i burst into tears. i realized that love is not what i thought it was at all. their love had embodied the vow we so readily take for granted. they took care of each other until death parted them.
2. What is the heaviest thing you ever carried and when did you put it down?
the heaviest thing i ever carried was obligation. i did so many things in my life because i believed that was what i was supposed to do if i was good or nice or worthy. i did things because my parents wanted it, my teachers or principal wanted it, my religion dictated it or i thought that as a woman, i was supposed to do it. putting it down has been a struggle that has lasted almost 10 years. in 1999, i refused to go into a new phase with antiquated notions and live another year unhappily or untruthfully. so, slowly but surely, i’ve been unlearning all of those ideas and creating my own reality.
3. When did you accept the title artist and how have you defined that for yourself?
i was raised to respect art. my mother surrounded me with musicians and singers and actors my entire childhood. i wanted to be… a school teacher. it wasn’t until i really started going to open mics and reading my poetry, that i began taking my writing seriously. i took my first summer off from teaching and traveled around the country doing open mics. then every summer after that was dedicated to giving myself back what i had been giving my students. my art is my therapy, it’s my testimony, it’s my confession and my revelation. i don’t know how else i would have been able to define who i am if it were not for my body of work.
[audio:stillettos.mp3]
Contact Red Summer at http://www.myspace.com/redsummer
Stillettos: U People Episode #13: “Tea-licious!”
January 29, 2008
Hanifah and Olive sit and sip tea with the tea lady herself Jennifer Jackson of NotJustTea.com. While sipping tea they recall when Olive almost stood Hanifah up on their 2nd anniversary, the controversial art of Kara Walker and the per usual lesbianonic chit chat over astrology. Gloria stumbles upon one U People story of a woman and her battle royal in a San Francisco ladies room. A few more days to the U People Screening at Solomon’s Porch, Saturday Feb 2nd . More info and tickets here.
U People Episode #12: “Tassels and Twirls”
January 22, 2008
Hanifah and Olive welcome burlesque dancer Ms. Tangerine Jones to the show. Its an episode of laughs, giggles and silliness (per usual) as Ms. Tangerine shows them how to twirl a tassel with your tah tahs! They also some how manage to squeeze in the memory of MLK. Check out a U People story courtesy of the Chicago police department and of course another U People deleted scene featuring the women from the movie. Get your advance tickets for the Brooklyn screening of U People at Solomon’s Porch Feb 2nd. Limited seating!!
Buy Ticket’s Here
$12 in advance
U People Episode #11-”Lipstick and Boxers”
January 15, 2008
Olive’s princess, Hanifah, is sick but both still manage to talk about what we see in eachother. Whether you are a woman more prone to wear lipstick or one to wear boxers, what is it that we find attractive about eachother? You may be surprised. The last NYC screening of U People, until the fall, will be February 3rd at Solomon’s Porch. Join us for dinner and a movie. The February U People Mixtape DJ is announced.
U People Episode #10 – “But I Bought You Flowers”
January 8, 2008
Not everything runs smooth in a relationship when working together. Olive and Hanifah manage to overcome a recent challenge with laughter, poom poom nicknames, Ruby Dee quotes and orchids.
$50 donations of more are tax-deductible. Fiscal Sponsor: Women Make Movies
(scroll down to the “U” titled movies on Women Make Movies donation page)
A $20 or more donation we will mail you your own U people Mixtape Download Card.
A new mix of independent women’s music spun by women DJ’s every month!
When making your donation please include your shipping address.
U People Mixtape Download Card Jan 2008
January 7, 2008
U People Mixtape Download Card Jan 2008
Get Yours!
Thank you all who are supporting us by purchasing the U people Mixtape Download Card. Every month expect a new mix by a new Woman DJ spinning the music of independent women musicians and your favorites. Discover new music and enjoy what you’ve come to love along with sound bites from the movie!
For only $20 you can receive this card in the mail and also know you have supported a wonderful film in the process. Purchase your card here.
The first mix of the year is by DJ Reborn of Ubiquita NYC.
Check the track list below
FIGHTING RIGHTS TOGETHER- CLIP
FOREVER-LITTLE DRAGON
IS LOVE THE REASON? -TOSHI REAGON
SOUL SPACESHIP-ME’SHELL
ROSES-MARY J
COMPROMISE-SKIN
WE ARE THE LIGHT-HANIFAH WALIDAH
EARN MY AFFECTION-AMEL LARRIEUX
ICE COLD-JADE ROSS
DO YOU MIND-HANIFAH WALIDAH
LOVELY LOVELY-ME’SHELL
HONEY-ERYKAH BADU
PASSING-CLIP
AFTER THE RAIN-LITTLE DRAGON
GROWN WOMAN-KANDI COLE
WORK THAT-MARY J
HOLD YOU DOWN-HONEY LAROCHELLE
MESSAGE FROM A SOUL SISTA-VICKI ANDERSON
LATIFAH’S HASD IT UP TO HERE-QUEEN LATIFAH
PULL UP TO MY BUMPER-GRACE JONES
ENCORE-CHERYL LYNN
BLACK GIRLS-SHELLEY NICOLE/BLACKBUSHE
GIVE ME YOUR LOVE-SYLVIA STRIPLAND
I NEED YOUR LOVIN-TINA MARIE
CONSTANT SUPRISES-LITTLE DRAGON
SEE-LINE WOMAN-NINA SIMONE
U People Podcast – Episode #9 “The Morning After”
January 2, 2008
Hanifah and Olive are just in from celebrating New Years and their 2nd year anniversary. Somehow they muster the brain power to reveiw the blow out show at Solomon’s Porch for those who missed it!
This is a special 23 minute episode!
$50 donations of more are tax-deductible. Fiscal Sponsor: Women Make Movies
(scroll down to the “U” titled movies on Women Make Movies donation page)
A $20 or more donation we will mail you your own U people Mixtape Download Card.
A new mix of independent women’s music spun by women DJ’s every month!
When making your donation please include your shipping address.
