Toni Blackman

Last updated

Toni Blackman
Music Artist Toni Blackman performs during the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative Launch (53220585864).jpg
Background information
Also known asMiss Blackman
T-lala
Virgo One
Born Pittsburg, California, U.S.
Origin San Francisco Bay Area, California
Genres Hip hop, hip hop soul, global hip hop, spoken word
Occupation(s) Rapper, lyricist, MC, freestyle MC, songwriter, poet, educator, author
Years active1992–present
LabelsIndependent Ear
Website http://www.toniblackman.com

Toni Blackman [1] is an American rapper (specializing in freestyle hip-hop) and writer who was the first hip-hop ambassador to the U.S. State Department. [2] Additionally, she was selected as a 2006 Rhythm Road touring artist and subsequently served as on the selection committee for American Music Abroad (formerly Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rhythm Road) with American Voices. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Life and career

The first Hip Hop Cultural Envoy to travel with the State Department, Blackman served in Senegal, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Botswana and Swaziland where she also delivered lectures on hip hop music and culture. [6] Toni has also travelled throughout Europe, Angola, Brazil, Canada and toured Southeast Asia (the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan) as a part of Jazz at Lincoln Center Rhythm Road Abroad program, working in the world's most war-torn countries to promote reconciliation and rehabilitation to those regions. [7]

Blackman was founding director of Freestyle Union, a cypher workshop which uses a freestyling as a tool to promote social responsibility, was awarded, two prestigious fellowships. Blackman served as a fellow with the Echoing Green Foundation and as a fellow with the Open Society Institute (Soros Foundation) through which she launched Rhyme Like A Girl formerly known as ADI. A hip hop theatre pioneer, she founded the now-defunct Hip Hop Arts Movement (HHAM) while at Howard University in 1992. She has featured in the Hip Hop Theater Festival and she co-authored Hip Hop Nightmares of Jujube Brown with Psalmayene 24 as an ACT-Co presentation at ARENA Stage in Washington, DC. She is also a member of the Spoken Word Committee of the New York Chapter of the Recording Academy. [6]

Blackman has performed alongside Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Guru, The Roots, Wu Tang, the Lilith Fair, Def Poetry. [4] She performed in a host of venues including the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and at Lincoln Center in New York.

In 2009, Blackman spoke at the Pio Manzù International Conference in Rimini, Italy, and in 2010 facilitated a groundbreaking artist residency at Jefferson Arts Center with girls from Liberia, Sudan, Somalia, and the United States. She also spoke at Harvard University as a part of Bakari Kitwana's Rap Sessions Series collaborated on and performed a song along with Azerbaijani rap group Dayirman, dedicated to victims of Khojaly massacre [8] [9]

An interview with Blackman is featured in a scholarly article about girls and "bad bitches" in hip-hop online video culture written by ethnomusicologist and social media scholar Kyra Gaunt in the Journal of Popular Music Studies (2015). [10]

Music

  1. Walking Through The Fear Feat Zo And Toni Blackman [11]
  2. Walking Through The Fear – GUIDED MEDITATION [11]
  3. Walking Through The Fear – AFFIRMATION MEDITATION [11]
  4. The F Word – a Hip Hop Meditation on Forgiveness – Toni Blackman [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LL Cool J</span> American rapper (born 1968)

James Todd Smith, known professionally as LL Cool J, is an American rapper and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roxanne Shante</span> American rapper (born 1969)

Lolita Shante Gooden, better known by her stage name Roxanne Shante, is an American rapper. She first gained attention through the Roxanne Wars and was part of the Juice Crew. The 2017 film Roxanne Roxanne is a dramatization of Shante's life.

<i>Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star</i> 1998 studio album by Black Star

Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Black Star, composed of rappers Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey. The album was released on September 29, 1998, to critical acclaim. The title is a reference to the Black Star Line, a shipping line founded by Pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey. The album deals with modern-day issues, philosophical ideas, and life in Brooklyn, New York City as the two artists know it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fabolous</span> American rapper (born 1977)

John David Jackson, better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper. Raised in Brooklyn, he first gained recognition for his ability upon performing live on DJ Clue's Hot 97 radio show. Jackson then signed to Clue's record label Desert Storm Records, in a joint venture with Elektra Records. He rose to further prominence with his debut studio album Ghetto Fabolous (2001), which spawned the hit singles "Can't Deny It" and "Young'n ." Adopting a further commercially-oriented approach, his second album, Street Dreams (2003), was supported by the singles "Can't Let You Go" and "Into You" —both of which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foxy Brown (rapper)</span> American rapper (born 1978)

Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand, better known by her stage name Foxy Brown, is an American rapper. Upon being signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1996, she released her debut studio album, Ill Na Na, in November of that year to critical and commercial success. It peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200, received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), sold over seven million units worldwide, and was supported by the Billboard Hot 100-top ten single "I'll Be".

<i>Beat Street</i> 1984 American drama dance film

Beat Street is a 1984 American dance drama film featuring New York City hip hop culture of the early 1980s. Set in the South Bronx, the film follows the lives of a pair of brothers and their group of friends, all of whom are devoted to various elements of early hip hop culture, including breakdancing, DJing and graffiti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Q-Tip (musician)</span> American rapper and producer (born 1970)

Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American rapper, record producer, singer, and DJ. Nicknamed the Abstract, he is noted for his innovative jazz-influenced style of hip hop production and his philosophical, esoteric and introspective lyrical themes. He embarked on his music career in the late 1980s, as an MC and main producer of the influential alternative hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest. In the mid-1990s, he co-founded the production team The Ummah, followed by the release of his gold-certified solo debut Amplified in 1999. In the following decade, he released the Grammy Award-nominated album The Renaissance (2008) and the experimental album Kamaal the Abstract (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trina</span> American rapper (born 1974)

Katrina Laverne Kearse, known professionally as Trina, is an American rapper. She rose to prominence in the late 1990s for her collaborations with Trick Daddy on the singles "Nann Nigga", "Shut Up", and "Take It to da House". In 2000, she released her debut album Da Baddest Bitch. Afterwards, she made an appearance on the remix of "One Minute Man" by Missy Elliott and Ludacris. In 2002, she released the Kanye West-produced single "B R Right" featuring Ludacris, from her sophomore album Diamond Princess (2002).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Budden</span> American rapper and broadcaster (born 1980)

Joseph Anthony Budden II is an American broadcaster and rapper. He first gained recognition in the latter occupation with his 2003 single "Pump It Up", which peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and preceded the release of his eponymous debut studio album (2003). Met with critical and commercial success, the album peaked within the top ten of the Billboard 200, although it served as his only major label release for Def Jam Recordings; he thereafter released seven albums independently to continued critical praise. While doing so, he performed as a member of the hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse, which were signed to Eminem's Shady Records in 2012; the group released two studio albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Star (rap duo)</span> American hip hop duo from New York

Black Star is an American hip hop duo formed in 1996, from Brooklyn, New York City. The duo is composed of rappers Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli. The duo is named after The Black Star Line, a shipping company founded by Marcus Garvey. Their critically acclaimed debut album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star was released on September 29, 1998. After decades of only releasing singles and appearing on compilations, Black Star released their sophomore studio album No Fear of Time May 3, 2022 on the podcasting platform Luminary.

<i>The Album</i> (The Firm album) 1997 studio album by The Firm

The Album is the only studio album by American hip hop supergroup The Firm. It was released on October 21, 1997, by Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The project was created by rapper Nas, his manager Steve Stoute and producers Dr. Dre and Trackmasters, who came up with the idea of forming a hip hop supergroup. The original line-up included Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown and Cormega who were all featured on the song "Affirmative Action" from Nas' album It Was Written (1996). However, Cormega later left the group due to artistic differences between him and Nas, as well as contract disagreements with Stoute. He was replaced by Nature prior to recording of the album. The Album is a concept album that revolves around the themes of mafia and "gangsta" lifestyle. The songs on the album were mainly produced by Dr. Dre, Chris "The Glove" Taylor and Trackmasters, and feature guest vocals from Pretty Boy, Wizard, Canibus, Dawn Robinson, Noreaga and Half-a-Mill.

"Bitches Ain't Shit" is the final song of Dr. Dre's 1992 album The Chronic. Though never a single, it was an underground hit that contributed significantly to the album's sales. In addition to Dre's verse, "Bitches Ain't Shit" also features Dat Nigga Daz, Kurupt and singer Jewell. It proved controversial due to its prevalent themes of misogyny.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pump It Up (Joe Budden song)</span> 2003 single by Joe Budden

"Pump It Up" is a song by American rapper Joe Budden. It was released on March 24, 2003, as the lead single from his first album, Joe Budden (2003). The song peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number 13 in the United Kingdom.

Dayirman was the first Azerbaijani hip hop group, based in Baku and was founded in 1996 by four friends. The word Dayirman means windmill in Azerbaijani language. The group fuses hip-hop with elements of traditional Meykhana poetry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stalley</span> American rapper from Ohio

Kyle Alfonso Myricks, better known by his stage name Stalley, is an American rapper from Massillon, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rack City</span> 2011 single by Tyga

"Rack City" is a song by American rapper Tyga. First released on December 2, 2011, the song served as the third single from his second studio album, Careless World: Rise of the Last King (2012). It was produced by DJ Mustard and Mike Free. It reached a peak of number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 53 on the Canadian Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lega-C</span> American rapper

Danielle McLean, better known by her stage name Lega-C, is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is known for her viral YouTube video "White Girl Raps Fast" (2011) and her remixes of "She Will" by Lil Wayne and Drake and "Worldwide Choppers" by Tech N9ne from her mixtape Who Got Tha Heater (2011).

Def Dames were an American female rap duo from Bakersfield, California. The duo consisted of Marilyn Smith, known as "Kandy Kane" she also goes by her Sacramento alias "Touch," and Yolanda Sugart, known as "Special T" or "The Ace Senorita." She was replaced by Petrina Walker known as "Larissa" in 1991, now residing in Las Vegas, Nv. The Def Dames are best known for their first album, 2-4-The Bass, and their three top singles: "976 Boom," "Set it Off," and "The King of Romance," from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyra Gaunt</span> American ethnomusicologist, activist and academic

Kyra Danielle Gaunt is an African American ethnomusicologist, Black girlhood studies advocate, social media researcher, feminist performance artist, and professor at the University at Albany in New York State. Gaunt's research focuses on the hidden musicianship of black girls' musical play at the intersections of race, racism, gender, heterosexism, misogynoir, age, and the kinetic-orality of the female body in the age of hip-hop. Her current research focuses on "the unintended consequences of gender, race, and technology from YouTube to Wikipedia."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catch Me Outside</span> Single by Ski Mask the Slump God

"Catch Me Outside" is a song by American rapper Ski Mask the Slump God, released on June 13, 2017 as the third single from his second mixtape You Will Regret (2017). The song is a freestyle over "She's a Bitch" by Missy Elliott, produced by Timbaland.

References

  1. ↑ "powerhouse books announcement". Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Freestyle Cipher Workshop w/ Toni Blackman | Jefferson Center". www.jeffcenter.org. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  3. ↑ "MC & Host Toni Blackman". Archived from the original on September 9, 2012.
  4. 1 2 "US Department of State. Toni Blackman: First Hip-Hop Envoy". Archived from the original on March 5, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Toni Blackman: Rap Lyricist, Vocalist and Writer". www.africaresource.com.
  6. 1 2 "Toni Blackman. About". Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Toni Blackman". washingtonart.com.
  8. ↑ "Azerbaijan presented a clip dedicated to Khojaly Genocide". Today.az. February 24, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  9. ↑ "US singer Toni Blackman presents her music video on Khojaly tragedy". News.az. February 24, 2010. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  10. ↑ Gaunt, Kyra D. (January 1, 2015). "YouTube, Bad Bitches, and a M.I.C. (Mom-in-Chief): On the Digital Seduction of Black Girls in Participatory Hip-hop Spaces". In Gosa, Travis; Nielson, Erik (eds.). The Hip Hop & Obama Reader. Oxford University Press. pp. 207 ff. ISBN   9780199341818.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Toni Blackman Audio and Music". SoundCloud. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.