I am a rapper and a spoken word poet.  I also write plays and short stories.  I’m a storyteller.  It’s all the same.  Different mediums but we’re all taking it back to the storytelling days.  The spoken word proceeded the written word.  Every culture had its storytellers.  We transmit and create reality through our stories. 

I will be speaking at Latino College Day events in Durango, CO and Farmington, NM this week, in addition to performing at the 3rd annual Real History of the Americas celebration at Fort Lewis College (an alternative event to Columbus day). 

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SOULAJU spent some time in Trinidad, CO in May and June working with a group of young people connected to a criminal justice “Diversion” program.  Good kids, smart and conscious of their surroundings, who got in some minor trouble and luckily evaded more serious problems like juvenile incarceration.  These youth meet weekly and have to satisfy a number of requirements to complete the diversion program, including weekly meetings and community service.  We had worked with Tony Diego, the diversion program director, on other youth programs through an organization called OYE (Organized Youth for Empowerment).  He had an idea for a youth video project with flip cams.  We had limited time and funding was also limited, but this is what we came up with after a few trips down to Trinidad: a documentary about youth culture in Trinidad, Colorado:

“Trinidad Undaground”

Our main goals in working with these young people were to empower them to tell their own stories and engage in a process of creating their own media.  Before we put cameras in their hands we ran some workshops with them, talking about their experiences, identity, their dreams, life beyond Trinidad, getting them writing their thoughts on paper.  The following video is a “making of” look at our work with this group of youth.

The Making of “Trinidad Undaground”

After many hours of learning pains and frustration, offset by a good dose of  inspiration, we present an edited short film documenting the SOULAJU Youth Jam and Youth Climate Justice workshop, organized w/ Josh Watkins and Jennie Nevin in conjunction with Green Spaces Denver.  The event took place on January 15, 2010.  We look forward to hosting future green events in the mile high city, fusing art and music with conscious and sustainable living.  Enjoy!

For more info on the event, click here.

I’ve never been more actively involved in the creation of Hip-Hop, but I’ve never identified less with the “dominant” paradigm in rap music.

I’m not alone.  Listeners of Hip-Hop are growing tired of the violence, misogyny and hyper-masculine antics in commercialized rap music.  Byron Hurt’s Beyond Beats & Rhymes is one prime example of this discussion.

What I want to focus on is intelligence within Hip-Hop, ‘cause we are geniuses.

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Music by Mannequin Rituals

On July 4th, 2009 CHiTT Productions released My America—a benefit CD for Papers the movie.  Molina spent months compiling music for the project, which features artists from across the United States, including Denver, Albuquerque, Oakland, Harlem, and Minneapolis.  The CD is raising awareness about immigration and racial justice issues, and it is steadily bringing in funding to support the Papers movement.  Special shoutout to the Tru Ruts collective out of MN for contributing almost one half the music on the album.  WireTap Magazine recently wrote about My America.  The story ran Thanksgiving Day. 

Paper Chase: Hip-Hop for My America

By Geoffrey Dobbins, November 26, 2009

Read the article:  http://www.wiretapmag.org/arts/44697/ 

Purchase the cd: http://papersthemovie.com/myamerica.html

Molina Soleil & Aju are proud to have contributed to the making of Papers—a film by and about undocumented youth.  Papers is now screening nationally!  For more on Papers, including information on how to bring Papers to your community, visit http://www.papersthemovie.com.