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?UESTIONS: Abdur-Rahim Muhammad

President of the Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute in Washington D.C. Abdur- Rahim Muhammad runs a non-profit Kung Fu school. Dedicated to local youth, the institute develops physical and emotional strength, building an ethical and moral base for the students who join. 


The school teaches free Kung Fu, Chinese Lion Dance, Chinese Thunder Drumming to schoolchildren during the summer as well as trips to historic locations. The institute runs an annual gala at the Historic Lincoln Theatre which has presented world-renowned artists –activist such as Dick Gregory, Rita Moreno, Spike Lee and Common. 

What makes you happy and thankful?

Whenever I remember my parents, who have both passed along with other relatives and friends with whom I've shared this journey, for an instant I feel a jolt of sharp pain and sadness. This is quickly removed by a strong feeling of joy and happiness and great love for knowing how grateful I am for having these relationships and knowing and loving them deeply. The pain is just a reminder of how strong the bond and connection and I hope and doubt it will ever subside. Simply what makes me happy and thankful is my journey and the people and relationships I’ve made long the way.


What message do you want to give others?

Regardless of your wealth or occupation compete only with yourself. Study the success and paths to great achievement of others but understand that you are unique as an individual, no duplication in the world or history so whatever comes out of you is authentic and original. Everyday strive to be the best you and the world will witness something wonderful, authentic and original.


Who or what gives you your superpower?

I admire many of the great men and women who came before me. Paul Robeson is one and Harriet Tubman is another. However, the person/power/entity that gives me the most strength to persevere seeking to achieve beyond my current situation is the person I speak to intimately many times each day.


This is during the time when I’m speaking to my inner self urging and prodding me to be better, stronger, smarter, more strategic, more compassionate and considerate. I attempt to pull from the great spirit and internal/eternal source of power which resides and empowers us all and I take that very seriously. Yet not in any magical or spooky sort of way.


What in nature inspires you?

The vastness, power and mysteries of our universe. We will have to increase our present knowledge and technical capabilities beyond our current imagination to become the planet species we’ll need for human survival. To know that brave men and women are already risking their lives in the area of deep space exploration is extremely inspiring. It demonstrates that the spirit and presence of the human species like our imagination cannot be contained. By our nature we are wanderers, explorers, seekers of truth and knowledge and most importantly survivors.



Tell us about yourself and your community project?

Exploration and investigation is key to describing my journey in life and the arts. From a young age I’ve looked at what I thought was attractive and interesting and tried to understand its form and function. I looked at Kung Fu and the art of lion and dragon dance and wanted to explore it at its source so I went to China. I went to Africa to explore the culture close up. Becoming a Muslim, I had to experience Mecca so I made Hajj. The things that I think are important in life I've always wanted to experience and not just read about. These traits moved Me towards a better understanding of the world and the plight of Black people especially those from my USA community of people descended from the institution of slavery.


Now everything I do is to further the upliftment of my community as we seek justice, not just legal justice or civil rights but economic justice in the form of reparations. I express this through art by projecting images, programs and messages that empower and enlighten children and youth especially Black children and youth. What we do is also inspiring for adults if they will listen and pay attention.


Our programs at HTCMLI range from free Out of School time programs for children and youth in traditional African and Chinese Cultural Arts to our STEMAC program which is STEM + Art + Culture. We also produce the Paul Robeson “Here I Stand Award” Gala which has featured in the past such luminaries as Harry Belafonte, Dick Gregory, DR. John Hope Franklin, Rita Moreno, Judith Jamison, Spike Lee, Common and Chuck D of Public Enemy.


We have published a book for young people: Dragonz Rizing: Reclaiming My Time While Wandering Through The Valley with “The Legend of Jow Lung” Vol I and Vol II, coming out this summer.  A book compiling all the Here I Stand interviews, including performances and beautiful photo’s will be available next year. 


CLASS!C: Gloria Ann Taylor

American R&B and soul singer, Gloria Ann Taylor began singing in clubs in the early 1960s. While performing, she was discovered by Walter Whisenhunt who became her manager and husband. From ballads to disco, Gloria's enchanting vocals are combined with psychedelic guitars, strings and layering that adds intensity to each track. Gloria's talent was ahead of its time and the records where not successful back in the 70s.


Over the years her recordings have become sort after by collectors and in 2015 many of her recordings were re-released on 'Love Is A Hurtin' Thing'. Gloria Ann Taylor is a hauntingly beautiful singer, each one of her songs will leave a sublime taste.


Love Is A Hurtin' Thing is available worldwide at Honest Jon's: https://honestjons.com/shop/artist/Gloria_Ann_Taylor/release/Love_Is_A_Hurtin_Thing



?UESTIONS: DJ Raphael

From early Morning through to late Evening - DJ Raphael has a mix to relax, uplift and inspire! Jazzy, soulful, funky tracks from known and hard to find artists, each collection takes you on a musical journey.


A music connoisseur, it's no surprise that DJ Raphael has a huge internet following, with listeners eagerly awaiting the next uploaded mix.


How do you find all of the amazing tracks that make your mixes?

A lot of listening! I spend a lot of my free time just listening to a whole bunch of music. It could be from online radio shows, social media, online streaming services and pirate radio. I’ve always found the process of listening to and discovering new music just as joyful as making mixes, it takes some time and patience but it's always worth it in my eyes.


What is it that makes a good song stand out to you?

There are a few things I think, production has always been something I value along with lyrics and the message of the song. Most importantly though I think it's a feeling, I want music to make me feel something when I listen to it. It can be any emotion but if it moves me, I want it to have the same effect when other people listen.


It's hard to pinpoint because everyone’s different, but for me I would say its soulful music that makes me feel something. I value artists with their own voices that aren’t afraid to push boundaries as well, originality and uniqueness are also key in my opinion.


Who is your favourite artist past or present? What inspires you to create?

I don’t think I can narrow it down to one artist, there’s too many to mention! There’s so many that I feel have subconsciously influenced what I listen to and what other artists create. I have to mention J Dilla, Erykah Badu, Roy Ayers, A Tribe Called Quest and probably Robert Glasper as some of the major artists that first paved the way for me when I was younger and then through them, I’ve discovered a whole lot more. There’s so many more I could mention though!


In terms of inspiration to create, I think for me it's just trying to share that feeling of a new discovery or a recent pick up that blew my mind. I’ve always been a creative person and these mixes have been a great way for me to communicate and express myself outside of the everyday.


What is your process to making a mix?

There’s no real set process I don’t think, its often quite spontaneous and again based a lot on what I’m feeling at the time of making a mix. I usually spend a while compiling tracks I want to use and then begin the process. I usually record everything even if I’m messing around because it might capture something in the moment. I have to be in the right mood to make a mix as well. If I’m not feeling it, the mix is usually ends up being bland and empty.


You are a well-known DJ who is rarely seen in person – is this intentional? – What is your philosophy behind it?

It was never really an intentional thing and there wasn’t much of a philosophy behind it either. To begin with I just liked the idea of being fairly anonymous because I wanted the music to do the talking and be the focus. I also didn’t want to have my face everywhere until things got a bit more serious. I sort of liked the idea and the mystery of it.


I also haven’t had the opportunity to play out live as much as I would like, which I’m hoping will change in the near future. Recently though, I want to start giving people a face to put behind the mixes.


What would the world be like without music?

Unimaginable!


Do you have a favourite mix you have put together and why?

This is another tough question! Each mix is almost like a diary entry of my life and a timestamp of where I was and what I was doing when I made the mix. I always love my first ever chilled hip hop and neo soul mix I released on YouTube, it's so raw and I thought no one would listen to it but it ended up being one of my most listened to mixes. I also really enjoyed making the soulful house mix #10 and people seemed to like that one too. There’s a few others that stand out as well but I love them all in different ways and for different reasons.


 If you could pick one song which embodies your spirit what would it be?

Again, so many to mention! I feel like this often changes depending on what mood I’m in and where I am. I always find myself going back to the same tracks though, one of them would definitely be ‘Chill Pill’ by Hawk House, another ‘Little Boy’ by Omar and the other is probably ‘Piece of Mind’ by Idris Muhammad. A fairly varied selection but they’re definitely tunes I could listen to for a while and that generally embody my spirit.




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