Alternative Media
MUSIC
Arrested Development/Speech: Their 1992 Grammy Award-winning album, 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of, was a groundbreaking album that sealed their status as one of hip-hop’s most conscious and influential groups.
Blackalicious: From Northern California, The Gift of Gab and Chief Xcel make up Blackalicious. Their music is a soulful, hip-hop with lyrics beats that really matter.
Common: (Like Water for Chocolate) A prolific lyricist and a conscious black man that is a one of hip hop’s best.
Cross Movement: (Human Emergency) This is a “rap christian group,” and all of the members are a part of a non-profit ministry called “Cross Movement Ministries, Inc.,” so if you’re in the mood for some religious hip hop, this is it.
Erykah Badu: (Mama’s Gun) Her music is like medicine, and just shows that she is a beautiful, spiritual, and soulful woman.
Freestyle Fellowship: (To Whom it May Concern) These underground hip-hop classics from LA show inspiration, insight and energy; if you love underground music your collection is not complete without this group.
The Fugees: (The Score) Remember the song Killing Me Softly? This trio is talented and have a simple reggae, hip hop vibe.
Gangstarr: (Moment of Truth) Much loved because they are talented and always have something to talk about.
India Arie: (Acoustic Soul) Her lyrics ‘I’m not the average girl from your video’ say it all. Her soulful sound with a touch of folk and hip hop are refreshing.
Jill Scott: a strong black woman who isn’t afraid for people to know it. Oh yeah, she can sing too.
J-5: (Quality Control) They have a positive message and don’t talk about the regular things that we hear daily on mainstream radio.
Kardinal Offishall: (“FIRESTARTER Vol.1-Quest for Fire”) He made the song “Bacardi Slang”, and is one of Toronto’s finest; if you want to listen to something new get this. His goal is, “to bring some meaning and consciousness back to the music (and) to bring back that energy and drive that inspires people.”
L.A. Symphony: (Broken Tape Decks) This Christian hip hop group’s latest “Call It What You Want” has a unique sound and quality; they are as honest as they can be to connect with their listeners.
Lauryn Hill: (The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill) One of (if not) the best female hip hop artists and lyricists around; she started her career with The Fugees and is even better by herself.
Michael Franti and Spearhead: (?¨Stay Human) Conscious music for the masses.
MOS DEF: Always positive, with a passion for hip-hop, his community, and consciousness.
Mystic: (Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom) A Bay Area female emcee that paints a picture of pain and reflection in her lyrics on her newest LP.
Public Enemy: One of the most influential hip hop/rap groups ever. Their ‘fight the power’ attitude and sound still exists despite efforts to drown them out.
Tupac Shakur: A martyr in many peoples eyes, responsible for a lot of the sounds in hip hop that we hear today.
Senior Year Soundtrack: These artists are on the soundtrack and have a unique style and message. Check them out! Ani Di Franco, Phil Ochs, Anna Waronker (formerly of That Dog), Slowrider, The Coup, Rakaa Iriscience (from Dilated Peoples), Jerry Quickley – spoken word artist, Ozomatli, Sheila Nicholls, Medusa, Unity Lewis, Lisa Germano, Lysa Flores, Tara Ellis, East LA Sabor Factory, Oscar Brown, As One.
The Roots: (The Roots Come Alive) They combine live instrumentation, jazz and rap. The group stands out with their lyrics and unique musical style that makes them different than a lot of hip-hop we hear.
Talib Kweli & HI TEK: (Reflection Eternal) Not only are they intelligent black men but they both sound good separately, and even better together. As Talib Kweli & Hi Tek set out to give hip-hop an attitude adjustment, they remain modest…
POETRY
Youth Speaks is a non-profit that brings young people together across community, school, and neighborhood lines through the written and spoken word.
Sarah Jones is an intelligent and strong spoken word performer. Very talented.
BOOKS
Einstein’s Dreams (Alan Lightman): An easy to read book of short stories that forces you to open your mind.
Devil in a Blue Dress (Walter Mosley): A black detective that is hired to find a white man’s lover and becomes on of the prime suspects. Denzel Washington stars in the movie.
A Lesson Before Dying (Ernest J. Gaines): A sad but real story of a teacher in Louisiana who starts to educate a man who is sentenced to death, in the end they both come to understand the meaning heroism.
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul 1,2,3 and Journal (Jack Canfield, and Mark VIctor Hansen): An uplifting book of stories about teens experiences.
Nappily Ever After (Trisha Thomas): A book about the pains of black woman and their hair, and the effects that it has on our lives.
Malcolm X (Malcolm X as told by Alex Haley): Describes the life??s, beliefs, and achievements of the Muslim leader.
Architects of Peace (Edited by Michael Collopy): A book about the peace builders of the 20th century it features Cesar Chavez, Maya Angelou, Coretta King and Mother Theresa.
Body Outlaws (Edited by Ophira Edut): A book that is in essay form with 28 women talking about body mage, race, sexuality and other things. It’s interesting, and every female, teenage or whatever age should read it.
Skin Deep (Kathleen Cross) A book about a black women that looks white and all the complications and problems that comes with that.
What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day (Pearl Cleage): After living the high life, Ava Johnson returns to her hometown in Northern Michigan where she grew up. But what Ava perceives as an end is only the beginning, because there is too much happening in her small hometown to ignore.
Coffee Will Make You Black (April Sinclair): The coming-of-age story of a black girl in 1960s Chicago and it follows her as she figures out herself what she wants out of life.
The Coldest Winter Ever (Sister Soulja): A streetwise story about the teenage daughter of a Brooklyn drug kingpin that has to deal with being on her own as her family breaks down.
The Matter is Life (J. California Cooper): A collection of short stories that deal with a lot of matters in life from drugs, friends and lessons on how to get rich.
MOVIES
Bamboozled: A film about stereotypes in the media about blacks. The cast includes Damon Wayans, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Tommy Davidson.
Higher Learning: People from different backgrounds, cultures, and countries are forced to integrate when they all enroll in Columbus University. The cast includes Omar Epps, Kristy Swanson, Tyra Banks, and Ice Cube.
Poetic Justice: In this film you see the world through the eyes of an African-American poet, Justice and what happens when a mail carrier comes into her life. The cast includes Janet Jackson, Tupac Amaru Shakur, Regina King, and Joe Torry.
Boys Don’t Cry (Kimberly Pierce): The story of Teena Brandon a girl that fronts as a boy, Brandon Teena, how she falls in love and because of this gets murdered. The cast includes Hilary Swank, Chloe Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard, and Brendan Sexton 3.
Baby Boy (John Singleton): A story of a streetwise and jobless 20-year old Jody (Tyrese Gibson) who is trying to find a balance and have some direction in his crazy life. The cast includes Taraji P. Henson, Ving Rhames, Omar Gooding, and Adrienne-Joi Jackson.
Boys in the Hood: (John Singleton) A classic. The tale of life and crime in LA. The cast includes Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut, Cuba Gooding, and Angela Basset Laurence Fisburne.
Rosewood: (John Singleton): Set in a black Florida town in 1923 that was burned to the ground, it??s people murdered because of a lie. The cast includes has Jon Voight, Esther Rolle, Elise Neal, Ving Rhames and Don Cheadle.
Weapons of Mass Deception (Danny Schechter): A documentary that deconstructs the mass media’s compliance and passivity in it’s investigations and reporting of the war in Iraq.
MAGAZINES
Bust: A smart, alternative, funny and feminist magazine for young women. They’re website is just as good.
Teen Voices: This magazine is written by teen women, it is all about females being themselves and realizing their own potential.
Trend Magazine: Their mission is to be the resource of quality reporting and analysis of contemporary trends that impact everyone.
YO!: A monthly publication about young people in The Bay that have stories. Has essays, comic strips, and poetry pages.
RADIO
Pirate Radio stations: Stations that are unlicensed broadcasters, and they operate in defiance of FCC rules. Here are a few
Atomic Frog
Car Show
Country Frog
Down East Radio
Crazy Wave Radio
Defiance 90
Friday Radio
Free Hope Experience
YOUTH PRODUCED MEDIA
Bamboozled: A youth produced vehicle for an alternative presentation of teens, combating the stereotypes of mainstream media.
LA YOUTH ‚ About Teens by Teens
Listen Up! ‚ Messages From America’s Youth
WireTap Magazine ‚ Youth in Pursuit of the Dirty Truth
Youth Communication ‚ Stories That Make a Difference
Youth Radio: Youth Radio promotes young people’s intellectual, creative, and professional growth through training and access to media.
Compiled by: McKenzie Charles
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