No Life Without Roots CD release party, April 17, 2009 - click for larger version
I showed the photo above to my good friend Vladimir (Che-ish guy looking to the left) the day after taking it at The People’s Poets April 17 CD-release party at The Artery in downtown Edmonton. He was ecstatic: “that looks way better than the show actually did!” I don’t know about that, but I love showing people a photo that they love. The good news is I probably have 50 more photos they will LOVE. And I love sharing the love.
About the People’s Poets: The people’s poets are three Edmonton MCs who rap about social justice issues, local and global. rosouljah, 4 Life and solidario joined up in the fall of 2006 with the intention of making critically conscious hip hop. They then hooked up with Edmonton’s renowned cut artist DJ Dice, who has over two decades of experience in contributing to the local Hip Hop scene. Representing their Latino refugee roots from Chile and El Salvador this hip hop colectivo mixes rhymes about life experiences with social and political commentary. The people’s poets performed at over 20 events in Edmonton and Vancouver in 2007. The people’s poets are committed to building and networking at a community level for social change and development. These RAPTIVISTS are involved in a variety of issues and movements such as affordable housing, labour education, and youth empowerment. “We be the people’s poets and we believe another world is possible.”