Sometimes the entertainment just finds you, this was the case last Saturday. I wasn’t feeling well, I didn’t want to do much of anything, but after a short walk to the STOOD ( SUNY Purchase’s Student Center) I found myself at one of the hottest shows in NY.

O.A.P.I.A ( Organization of Afrikan Peoples in America ) organized an incredible show for the 7th Annual Dispora Day

First up was U.R.I (Under the Rasta Influence) By far one of the most killin’ it college reggae bands out there. Donovan, the lead singer & composer has star quality, you will be hearing about them- mark my words!

Check out the video below of U.R.I featuring Adrian McDavis ( another rising star)

Pure Elements, Faro Z feat Chen Lo & Akua all gave very uplifting performances warming up the crowd for: BRAND NUBIAN, who did one of the best hip hop shows I’ve seen in a while. It was a pleasure to be there, I don’t know if all the 18 year old kids in the crowd knew who they were, but the one’s who did were going crazy, & by the 2nd song so were the kids who were clueless. It was a little hard to hear what Grand Puba was saying sometimes, but it didn’t matter-(he’s got the swagger- and he really looks like a big teddy bear, you just want to hug him). They are getting older but these guys still have a hop in their step, thats fo sure.

A little taste:

Last but not least was M-1 of Dead Prez, you can say he toned it down for the primarily white audience- but their was a whole lot of “Fuck the Police” going on up on the stage. It was surly edu-tainment to say the least. He was rocking aNYthing hoodie, and was wearing a funky long jacket. He’s a cool cat- who left off saying fuck the school system teach yourself, he may have a point.

It’s war that’s for sure

Much love,