Wednesday, August 6, 2008

"Invincible", female emcee (rapper) uses her art to address Detroit's issues


Click on the above image to read this month's Metro Times article on Invincible and her remarkable work as an activist/artist. Also be sure to check out the music/documentary video for "Locusts" at the bottom of this post, which addresses the unseen and many times ugly side of urban development.

I first met Invincible back when I was attending UM-Ann Arbor, somewhere between '97 and '98. We hung out with a lot of the same crowd, went to same parties, that kind of thing and she was "flowing" (rapping) even back then. Since then, she has obviously been doing some truly AMAZING things in both the worlds of activism as well as Hip-Hop. If you think you know what Hip-Hop is, no matter whether you are a fan or a critic, think again!

Excerpt from the linked Metro Times article:
Here's the deal: Invincible is one of the best emcees in the country, as many will tell you, gender notwithstanding, though the odds are stacked against her: 1) She's a woman working a male-dominated genre 2) She's gay and 3) She's overtly political — her sympathy for the Palestinians, for instance, flies in the face of many of her Israeli family members' (and this country's) principles. Politicking in a pop world often spells fiscal failure.

She's dedicates much of her life to grass-roots activism for community change — mainly through the nonprofit group Detroit Summer — from workshops inside Michigan schools to a federal prison in California, from a juvenile center to a West Bank group tour.

4 comments:

(Laura) said...

I know folks have a short attention span in the internet age, but this article is well worth the read - what an inspiration. I can't wait to hear her new record!

Anonymous said...

Quite an inspiration...we need more people like her to speak up and let their voices be heard.

Anonymous said...

Invincible's work is a potent example of the intimate relationship between the artist and the imperative to create a world that is humane and has the capacity for joy. I can't wait to listen to her new record!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting “Invincibility”. Great story and a great sound!