Spike Lee's Chiraq Release Date: 04 December 2015

Check out the movie trailer for Spike Lee's new film, Chiraq (release date: December 4, 2015). The film is an interpretation of the Greek comedy, Lysistrata. However, don't mistake Chiraq as a comedy. It is a satire that we should take seriously.

Must-See Video: State of Grace by Talib Kweli (2014)

Talib Kweli feat. Abby Dobson - State of Grace (Official Music Video) from dreambear on Vimeo.

[LISTEN] Interview with Hip Hop Artist, Akua Naru

Akua Naru is the premiere female Hip Hop artist in Europe. She's from the inner-cities of the U.S., and she travels the world telling stories of reality and justice that we all can relate to. I am sharing this video because for street lit / urban fiction readers and fans, it's important that hip hop - authentic, original, cool, gritty, jazzy, hip hop, is still alive and well. Akua Naru's work definitely fits that bill. Listen to her 10-minute interview to learn more about her work and why she does what she does - as an American woman traveling the world telling her story. Where in the world is Akua Narua (right now)? Lagos, Nigeria.

Post by underyourskin.

Trailer for Zetta Elliott's New Release: The Deep (2013)

WORLD PREMIERE: "For Colored Boys" A web series written and directed by Stacey Muhammad

PREMIERES SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013, 7:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME.

WATCH.SUBSCRIBE.WATCH.SUBSCRIBE.WATCH.SUBSCRIBE.

Ice-T Presents: Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp (Official Trailer)

Here are some early reviews of the film:
-- Michael A. Gonzales, via Ebony.com
-- via Vibe Magazine
Official Website: IcebergSlimMovie.com

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VIDEO: "The Block" by Akua Naru feat. Drea D'Nur

Every once in a while I post music that tells the stories of the streets because street lit and hip hop inform one another quite intimately. Hip hop artist Akua Naru's piece, "The Block" paints a hauntingly vivid picture of the harsh realities that happen on "The Block". Enjoy and share this video with adults and teens at your library and in your classrooms. They will love Queen Akua Naru; they will hear her call.

VIDEO: Streets Is Hard (Music video)

Hi all. I have been coming across some really interesting and well done videos lately. Please enjoy this hip hop music video, Streets Is Hard. The artist's name is Herricane. She's based in Philadelphia, PA. I wish her the best in her endeavors.

VIDEO: The Hunted and the Hated: An Inside View of the NYPD Stop-and-Frisk Policy

For the full story, visit:
http://www.thenation.com/article/170413/stopped-and-frisked-being-fking-mutt-video

VIDEO: "Young and Homeless" (2012)

New York Times: "Young and Homeless" DECEMBER 10, 2012 By Sean Patrick Farrell The Times’s Susan Saulny reports from Seattle where she talks with young adults who are struggling with homelessness as a result of the recession.

The New York Times is not willing to share this video as an embedded object. So please click picture above, or the following link, to access the video: http://www.nytimes.com/video/2012/12/10/us/100000001943161/young-and-homeless.html

VIDEO: YA Urban Fiction Featured on FOX News in Chicago

Urban Fiction gets African American teens excited about reading
: The story and characters don't have to be familiar for a reader to get lost in a good book, but everyone likes to see their experiences in a story.

VIDEO: The Stories Are Real & Worthy To Be Told

VIDEO: Connecting Street Lit in the Classroom

Library Media Specialist, K.C. Boyd, from Chicago, IL, published a student-run video newsletter for her school, Wendell Phillips Academy High School. In this installment, there is a segment that shows how street lit is used successfully in the classroom. Time: 07:23 //

"Behind the Paws" - S1 E1 from WPAHS Video Page on Vimeo.

K'wan's Masterpiece: Animal (2012)

K'wan. 2012. Animal. NY: Cash Money Content / Simon and Schuster. ISBN-13: 978-1936399253. $14.99 US. Paperback.

K'wan is the author of over a dozen books, and upon reading his latest release, Animal, you start to realize that all the stories K'wan's told up to this point, was to prepare you for the story of Animal.

Animal is a redemption song. Animal is a love story: love rediscovered between lovers ... friends ... and family ... in the hood.

We first meet Animal in K'wan's Hood Rat series as a ruthless killer who extinguishes people with no remorse. Animal is a vigilante of sorts who metes out justice in ways that garner him as a force not just to be reckoned with; but to be deathly feared. The equalizing factor to his dark existence is his love for his woman, Gucci. Gucci loves Animal just as he is. In a series of stories they go through many ups and downs. In this story, Animal's story, they may have finally come to peace with one another, if Gucci can survive the war on the streets. In Animal's own story, here in this novel, we learn more about why Animal is the lonely soul that no one seems to be able to fully understand, but everyone fully fears. His redemption comes as a surprise to even Animal himself, but the redemption is a prodigal journey that has the potential to soothe the infamous assassin, once and for all.

A must-read for all street lit fans. This is street lit at its best. Add Animal to the pantheon of class street lit titles like The Coldest Winter Ever, True to the Game, Flyy Girl, A Street Girl Named Desire, and now ... Animal. Do not let the 400 pages deter you. Street Lit / Urban Fiction readers will read this novel as it is fast-paced action that doesn't stop. Buy multiple copies for your library as some of those copies will not be coming back. School library media specialists: this novel is appropriate for high schoolers.

In this video, K'wan explains his characterization of Animal:

K'wan is on social media at:
Twitter: #TEAMANIMAL

Facebook: #TEAMANIMAL

Facebook Group: K'wan's Readers 

Baltimore: Anatomy of an American City - Fault Lines - Al Jazeera English

Baltimore: Anatomy of an American City - Fault Lines - Al Jazeera English

Sorry, I could not embed the video. However, I do hope you click over to this story. It is an important read. The comments on this story are worth a look, also. Note: the video is 24:11. Worth the time.

Short Film Debut: REDEMPTION, For Colored Boys

If you are a fan of "The Wire" you will love this short film series by award-winning filmmaker, Stacey Muhammad!

You can purchase the film plus a bonus film for just $10 USD via PayPal at: http://www.staceymuhammad.com/.

This film would be a great addition to any library video collection. Enjoy!

Introducing: Tracey Syphax, Author of From the Block to the Boardroom

Syphax, Tracey D. From the Block to the Boardroom: As Told to Detric "Qadiriyyah" Goss. NJ: From the Block to the Boardroom, LLC.

ISBN-13: 978-0-9850295-0-0 

$14.95 USD (Paperback); Kindle: $7.95 USD

I am happy to introduce you to Mr. Tracey D. Syphax, author of From the Block to the Boardroom (2012), a memoir chronicling his journey from a street lifestyle to becoming an award-winning multi-millionaire entrepreneur. 

Syphax reveals a roller-coaster account of his ups and downs as he sought to conquer the streets of Trenton, NJ, and break his relapse stints in the prison system. Today, he owns successful businesses in the construction and real estate sectors. Mr. Syphax states that the purpose of his book is to "empower ex-felons, encourage youth and adults to become entrepreneurs and to create opportunities to give back to the community".

From the Block to the Boardroom is a unique memoir because in addition to telling his life story, Tracey offers advice, tips and instructions to educate readers on how to strategically (re)shape and (re)claim a path of civic empowerment.

Syphax, also a community activist and motivational won the Princeton (N.J.) Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2011, becoming the first African American so honored.

Independently published, From the Block is available on Kindle, and in paperback/hardback from his website. Mr. Syphax is on social media via Facebook.

Enjoy this music video for From the Block to the Boardroom:

Chicago Teens Use Nooks to Read Street Lit Books

Chicago Librarian Media Specialist, KC Boyd, has a book club of high school students who read Street Lit. As part of a grant project, KC has introduced the teens to reading their books on the Nook. The video below shows the students talking about their book club and reading experiences. Enjoy!

Kia Dupree, author of Damaged, speaks at the 2011 National Book Festival

RA Guide to Street Literature Wins Award!

Happy New Year to you!

StreetLiterature.com is happy to announce that Librarian Educator, Vanessa Irvin Morris, is the 2012 recipient of the Zora Neale Hurston Award, conferred by the Reference & User Services Association (RUSA) of the American Library Association (ALA), for her book, The Readers Advisory Guide to Street Literature.  Get your copy today!

Notes:

~ The Readers Advisory Guide to Street Literature has a 5-starred review status on Amazon.com!

~ The Readers Advisory Guide to Street Literature is available on Kindle!

~ The Readers Advisory Guide to Street Literature is available on Nook!

~ You can keep up with the latest announcements about The Readers Advisory Guide to Street Literature on Facebook!

VIDEO: Vanessa Irvin Morris speaks about what Street Literature is and its appeal to readers: