1. 16:46 19th May 2013

    Notes: 1

    Tags: TPJsHip HopHip Hop MentalityThe MindHip Hop CultureSocial ResponsibilitySocial RolesTrue School Hip HopCommonBilalThe 6th SensePeaceLoveUnitySafe FunThe Precious JewelsBuild

    Let’s Talk About The Mentality

    “… I started thinkin’, how many souls Hip Hop has affected? How many dead folks this art resurrected? How many nations this culture connected? Who am I to judge one’s perspective? ” – Common feat. Bilal – The 6th Sense

    Peace, brothas and sistas…

    I thought I’d start this off by quoting from on e my favourite hip-hop songs of all time. I’m sure we all know that song, but I want you to go back to it and listen carefully to Common’s rap there – in fact, I’ll give you the links for both the lyrics and to listen to the song.

     Now, I’ve got a question for you…and I also want you to ask yourself and those around you this very same question: 

    What is YOUR role in the culture?

    Just take a minute, think about this…. What is “having a role in the culture”?

    I often meet people who believe that “loving” Hip Hop or being Hip Hop means that one has to rap, break, deejay, tag, make beats or any of the physical elements and extended elements associated with Hip Hop. What many don’t get is that Hiphop is a mentality, a state of being and also a train of thought AND, Hip Hop is our KULTURE. This implies that one doesn’t actually have to partake in the “physical elements” (lack of a better word) to BE Hip Hop or to LIVE Hip Hop.

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  2. 16:03 28th Apr 2013

    Tags: sunset in Hout BayCape TownSouth AfricaThe Precious Jewels

    image: Download

    Learning to recognize the extraordinary in the ‘ordinary’ The everyday signals ambiguity. The everyday refers to those things we see everyday. But it also refers to those things that we don’t see, those things that we dont take any notice of, those things that are so much a part of our lives (directly or obliquely) that they somehow just blurr into the background of our lives unnoticeably as we continue living our lives. The man at the fruit stand in the corner, the car guard and so on. Even sunset. Its only at some odd moment that we sometimes take the time to ponder the stories, the histories of these ordinary human beings. And when you do take time to talk to one of these people you find that they are extraordinary people with extraordinary stories. When you take time to think of something as simple as a sunset, a sun that has set over the horizons for thousands and thousands of years, it is amazing! The lives we lead today make those moments impossible or at best too far in between. For everyone, rich or poor, is caught up in the rituals of daily living, the hustle and bustle, the stress. So many things demand our attention, our focus. Purpose is a dynamic and ever-shifting concept, slippery yet there. We all have some broad idea of what our purpose is in life but how to accomplish it is a matter of one’s own imagination. We live in a world of opportunities and possibilities but also one of many foreclosures. In South Africa economic inequality nags at us everyday and we try to shake ourselves free or look away. We are implicated in it nevertherless and maybe that is why we ignore it. People talk about it, but that’s it, somebody else can sort it out its not their business they just out there making a living. “Life is not getting any easier but we gotta keep on living” thats what The Good Brother Lazarus advised us in “Keep On”. But how are we supposed to keep on? How are we supposed to keep on “living” most especially? Because I believe that for most of us we are dead. Our hustles and bustles, our being ‘caught up’ has totally numbed us. We dont hear each other’s extraordinary stories, we have become narrow minded in our focus and purpose and can’t see beyond ourselves. We have become disspasionate and incompassionate human beings. Nature has become totally mechanised and so have our relationships with each other. What is meant to keep us living? When was the last time you looked at a sunset? Its an extraordinary thing! It makes you feel alive, you are overwhelmed by a feeling of awe. You begin to ponder God, creation, purpose. Its extraordinary! Its particularly at that moment that all your senses are revived and you are totally alive. Yet its an ordinary everyday thing. And the extraordinary is around us everyday, we are surrounded by it everywhere. Its in the stories waiting to be heard from the people we encounter everyday with just a greeting or a nod. People have extraordinary stories waiting to be heard, extraordinary journey they have been through. For some just going to town to sell at a fruit stand has behind it an extraodrinary history. That’s what keeps us moving on. Realizing that we are extraordinary people in an extraordinary world that God has made for us. We have power to change so much about ourselves and our world. There is still so much more to be discovered in this everyday world we think we know so much about. Peace to The Good Brother Lazarus Brother Eleyejah of The Precious Jewels

    Learning to recognize the extraordinary in the ‘ordinary’

    The everyday signals ambiguity. The everyday refers to those things we see everyday. But it also refers to those things that we don’t see, those things that we dont take any notice of, those things that are so much a part of our lives (directly or obliquely) that they somehow just blurr into the background of our lives unnoticeably as we continue living our lives. The man at the fruit stand in the corner, the car guard and so on. Even sunset. Its only at some odd moment that we sometimes take the time to ponder the stories, the histories of these ordinary human beings. And when you do take time to talk to one of these people you find that they are extraordinary people with extraordinary stories. When you take time to think of something as simple as a sunset, a sun that has set over the horizons for thousands and thousands of years, it is amazing!

    The lives we lead today make those moments impossible or at best too far in between. For everyone, rich or poor, is caught up in the rituals of daily living, the hustle and bustle, the stress. So many things demand our attention, our focus. Purpose is a dynamic and ever-shifting concept, slippery yet there. We all have some broad idea of what our purpose is in life but how to accomplish it is a matter of one’s own imagination. We live in a world of opportunities and possibilities but also one of many foreclosures. In South Africa economic inequality nags at us everyday and we try to shake ourselves free or look away. We are implicated in it nevertherless and maybe that is why we ignore it. People talk about it, but that’s it, somebody else can sort it out its not their business they just out there making a living.

    “Life is not getting any easier but we gotta keep on living” thats what The Good Brother Lazarus advised us in “Keep On”. But how are we supposed to keep on? How are we supposed to keep on “living” most especially? Because I believe that for most of us we are dead. Our hustles and bustles, our being ‘caught up’ has totally numbed us. We dont hear each other’s extraordinary stories, we have become narrow minded in our focus and purpose and can’t see beyond ourselves. We have become disspasionate and incompassionate human beings. Nature has become totally mechanised and so have our relationships with each other. What is meant to keep us living?

    When was the last time you looked at a sunset? Its an extraordinary thing! It makes you feel alive, you are overwhelmed by a feeling of awe. You begin to ponder God, creation, purpose. Its extraordinary! Its particularly at that moment that all your senses are revived and you are totally alive. Yet its an ordinary everyday thing. And the extraordinary is around us everyday, we are surrounded by it everywhere. Its in the stories waiting to be heard from the people we encounter everyday with just a greeting or a nod. People have extraordinary stories waiting to be heard, extraordinary journey they have been through. For some just going to town to sell at a fruit stand has behind it an extraodrinary history.

    That’s what keeps us moving on. Realizing that we are extraordinary people in an extraordinary world that God has made for us. We have power to change so much about ourselves and our world. There is still so much more to be discovered in this everyday world we think we know so much about. Peace to The Good Brother Lazarus

    Brother Eleyejah of The Precious Jewels

     

  3. 10:05 19th Apr 2013

    Notes: 2

    Tags: The Good Brother LazarusMC LazarusHip HopTrue Skool Hip HopThe Precious Jewels

    image: Download

    Ras Milliahn with The Good Brother Lazarus

    Ras Milliahn with The Good Brother Lazarus

     

  4. 17:20 17th Apr 2013

    Notes: 1

    image: Download

     

  5. 17:15

    Notes: 1

    Tags: MC LazarusSouth African Hip HopLazarus SpeaksThe Precious Jewels

    Peace to The Good Brother Lazarus

    We stretch out our hearts to the family of The Good Brother Lazarus who passed away last week. As you know, The Good Brother was a contributor to TPJs, a person with acute and profound insights about not only hip hop but society in general. It is said that The Good Brother was fatally stabbed in his hometown of Umthatha but we are not yet sure about the circumstances that led to that event. Whatever they are, we feel that it is a great unfairness to the world to be deprived of such a great social commentator on the culture of true school hip hop. A person with profound and unique insights, an engaging and honest personality.

    Peace to The Good Brother Lazarus, the Cipher Continues

    One Love King!

    Brother Eleyejah

     

  6. 16:53 19th Feb 2013

    Tags: Black History MonthHip Hop CultureHip Hop MentalityFebruaryTPJsAfricaRace

    BLACK HISTORY MONTH:HIP HOP CULTURE AND PERFORMING BODIES GUIDE AGAINST FORGETTING. By: Ras Jah Xolani

    We ought to honor the entire African American heroes that have made positive changes to our society from the time of slavery till the time right now. Those black individuals made a hole through our hearts because so many of them got sent away from their parents and having a month stand out for this purpose sheds light and opens eyes to those who think indifferently about the people of color. Much of the technology and conveniences we have still today were developed by  the African Americans and it needs to be acknowledged just like anyone else on this planet that has made strides for the human RACE in general. Black history month also conveys the injustices that were done during slavery and the many that stood together to overcome that. I think Martin Luther King Jr. was a good role in Black History Month because he was the one who said “Fight hate with love”. We should remember to honor and respect those heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives for millions of black man and women to have freedom of movement, freedom of speech and freedom to be black without any apology.

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  7. 12:50 12th Jan 2013

    Tags: dutyhealingself transformationsocial transformationtrue school hip hoprebirthTPJsHip hopperHiphoppaHip Hip CultureCulutreHip Hop

    The call to be a true school hip hopper (Hiphoppa)

                There is no old school, no new school. Just true school-The Precious Jewels

    Like we have always believed as The Precious Jewels, being engaged in any one of the four elements of hip hop (graffiti, DJing, emceeing and breaking) is a calling. It is the realization of something bigger than yourself. It is something akin to the religious calling that many great religious icons have experienced. Let me give just three examples involved in being a true school hip hopper (or Hiphoppa)

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  8. 13:47 26th Dec 2012

    Notes: 4

    Tags: UnityUmojaKwanzaaCelebrateFamilyHip HopAfricaCultureHip Hop CultureTPJs

    Day 1 of Kwanzaa Celebration…. Umoja - Unity

    One Love…

    As You will find in the post before this one, Matunda Ya Kwanzaa is an annual celebration amongst Afrikan around the world. Today is the first day of the 7 day celebration. The first principle of the Nguzo Saba (7 principles) is:

    Umoja (oo-Mo-jah) - Unity.  

    On this day, all are urged to to strive for and maintain UNITY in the family, community, nation, and race. What we have to really have to strive for is carrying out the Kwanzaa principles beyond this 7 day celebration. Umoja should be observed and practiced daily. This principle is almost like the foundation of it all, why we say this is because without Unity, there can never be communal building and there can never be a common ground. We need to unite, not just for Kwanzaa, but also for / as Hip Hop; as brothas and sistas; as human-kind; as One Nation.

    Look closely at the symbol for Umoja. What does it say to you? What does Umoja (unity) mean to you?

    Heri za Kwanzaa (Happy Kwanzaa).

    Peace and Unity to you and your family.

    Brotha Hakeem. S

    (@djsupreme7)

     

  9. 12:51

    Notes: 1

    Tags: KwanzaaUnityAfricaCultureIdentityHistoryHip HopLoveTPJsDr Maulana KarengaFirst FruitsBlack History

    Matunda Ya Kwanza (First Fruits) - Kwanzaa Celebration

    Peace, brothas and sistas…

    Let me share this with you, I know its quite likely that many are not really aware of this celebration.  (26 December - 1 January)

    image

    So, what is Kwanzaa? The word is taken from a Swahili phrase (Matunda Ya Kwanzaa) meaning “First Fruits”, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Afrika. The celebration begins on 26 December - 1 January (annually) and was founded by Dr Maulana Karenga. The main purpose is to re-instill, reaffirm, re-enforce and restoring culture, particularly Afrikan culture among Afrikans. Our culture, identity and history as Afrikans has been distorted and to a large extent  lost and forgotten. There are many reasons that contributed to this: the Diaspora; westernization; colonialism (to name a few). We all have our own ideas and explanations serving to explain how all this came to be, but what we all know is that Afrikan culture; identity and history does need to be reaffirmed and restored.  

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  10. 09:15

    Notes: 2

    Tags: TPJsHip Hop

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