Entertainment

FREESTYLE: Stop Complaining, More Campaigning, Says Mistah FAB

Published

11 years ago

August 27, 2013

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Along with Too-Short and E-40 to Mac Dre and Keak-Da-Sneak, Mistah FAB (born Stanley Cox) has played a role in the Bay Area music scene.

A proud native of North Oakland, Mistah FAB talks about the good, bad, and ugly he encountered growing up. But unlike many of today’s youth, he made it out. The senseless killings, the lack of hope, and the need of leadership, has forced the self-proclaimed “real mayor of Oakland” to speak out.

“When there is a lack of opportunity, violence is highly indulged in. The mind state of the average adolescent [in Oakland] is I’m 12, but I have the stress of a 30 year old,” said Mistah FAB.

He says the statistics support the crime and violence in Oakland today. Murder rates soaring, incarceration at an all time high, and with kids dropping out of school, the perception of success isn’t evident in the community.

“All things that are woes in our community are rising,” he added. “People don’t appreciate life.”

At a young age, Mistah FAB learned to appreciate life because of his mom. She showered him with love, and like many single mothers, she worked 3-4 jobs to make sure she could provide for him. She was his hero.

His mother passed away a few years ago after battling cancer, but he still credits his ambition and success to the foundation his mother put in place.

According to Mistah FAB, that foundation made him stay focused. He moved away from street life and made the decision to seek individuality and do things his own way.

He’s from the hood and his music talks about “hood things” but he says that doesn’t define him as a man.

“My job is to go out, make music, about things I have lived. That’s all my music is about,” said Mistah FAB. He wants his philanthropic actions to speak for him.

Last weekend, he held his 8^th Annual Backpack Giveaway in Oakland providing 2,000 backpacks to kids. He also holds a toy drive each year during the holiday season to bring a sense of hope to the community that he holds close to his heart…. something he isn’t sure Mayor Jean Quan is doing.

“I can say she got in position, and she took care of her people, and she did a good job doing it. She made sure Chinatown was taking care of,” he said. “I don’t think the Black and Latino community are her biggest concerns. “

District 1 councilman Dan Kalb isn’t showing any interest as well, according to Mistah FAB. He says he has reached out numerous occasions to meet with him but has not gotten a return phone call.

Even with the lack of leadership, Mistah FAB says it isn’t an excuse for the violence in the streets. As a father – with the recent string of children caught in the crossfire –he feels it is time or the community must become to take more responsibility, to speak out to bring about the needed change.

“You complain about the liquor store but what you drinking for? You complain about the legal system but why isn’t anybody going to school to be lawyers or judges?” He asked. “We spend more time complaining than campaigning.”

Mistah FAB will also co-host the 2nd Annual “Hiero Day” – Oakland’s biggest Hip Hop Festival – on Sept. 2nd at Linden Street Brewery. For more info, visit the event’s Facebook page.

The “FREESTYLE” column will feature popular artists as they voice their opinion on national and/or community based issues in the Bay Area.

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Arts and Culture

Promise Marks Performs Songs of Etta James in One-Woman Show, “A Sunday Kind of Love” at the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley

“The (show) is a fictional story about a character named Etta, aka Lady Peaches,” said Marks. “She falls in love with Johnny Rhythm, leader of the Rhythm Players Band and headliners of Madam G’s Glitta Lounge.” Marks channeled the essence of Etta James, singing favorites such as “Sugar on the Floor” and “At Last.”

Published

10 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Photo Courtesy Of Promise Marks.

Special to the Post

It was “A Sunday Kind of Love” at the Black Repertory Group Theater in Berkeley on Saturday night, Dec. 7. The one-woman musical based on the music of Etta James featured the multi-talented singer Promise Marks

Marks, who wrote and directed the musical, also owns PM Productions.

Marks channeled the essence of Etta James, singing favorites such as “Sugar on the Floor” and “At Last.”

In between her soulful songs, Marks narrated impactful moments of the love story and journey of blues and forgiveness.

Marks sultry voice carried the audience back to an era that echoed with the power of Black music and a time of great change.

Marks said James shared love for the Black community by singing at gatherings during the Civil Rights Movement uplifting the people.

“She spoke to the movement, spoke to the people, and let her music speak for itself,” Marks said.

Backing the musical’s monologues, images and videos of Etta James are projected for the audience to view. While the production is fictional, Marks infused script with the unfairness and heartbreak James experienced while performing.

Marks performed gospel artist Donnie McClurkin’s “We Fall Down” as she narrated acts of reconciliation and forgiveness among the characters at Johnny Rhythm’s deathbed.

Marks, who regularly sings for the Miss America Pageant, was asked to perform as Etta James last year. “(At the event) a lady yelled out to me: ‘You’re Etta James!’ And then the audience went crazy. I said to myself, ‘I may have something here,’” she said.

Within 12 months, Marks created the musical production, which featured a dozen songs honoring “the great legacy of Etta James,” she said.

Marks says she was saddened to see how Etta James was often judged by the struggles in her life and wanted to offer attendees a more layered view.

“Etta’s life was so big. I want people to know that she was more than her drug addiction,” said Marks. “We can’t make that her legacy. Her catalog is too amazing. You can’t just be that and have the catalog that she (created). I don’t want the addiction to be the focus: I want her music, her element, her sassiness, and what she brought to be the focus – her woman-ness, that she was strong, and I wanted to honor that.”

Set Designer Nora Burnette says she created the set segments to mirror James’ life story. A set designer for BRG since 2016, she explained that her process of researching the scenario and the character serve as her inspiration for her design.

“I try to design a set as close to real life as possible so that the actress can deliver the performance sincerely,” said Burnette. “By creating the right setting, it helps the actors release the true essence of a character.”

The set brought the story to life and absolutely floored Marks. “Once Promise (Marks) saw the actual set, she understood my vision: ‘Wow, you get me. You get it,'” Marks told the designer.

Born Jamesetta Hawkins, Etta James, began her career in 1954 and gained fame with hits such “At Last” and “I’d Rather Go Blind.” She faced a number of personal problems, before making a musical comeback in the late 1980s with the album “Seven Year Itch.”

Co-producer and BRG Development Director, Sean Vaughn Scott, works with Overseer Production. According to producer Pamela Spikes, “Marks talent truly does Etta’s life story justice.”

Pam Jacobs of Hercules, a friend of Marks’ mom, Jackie Smith, said, Marks “was fabulous and sang all of those songs flawlessly.”

“I’m so proud of my daughter,” said Smith.

Marks, who has served as an instructor for BRG, will return on Feb. 21- 23 for an encore run of the musical.

“It’s an honor to be a part of the BRG (Black Repertory Group) family and continue our executive director Dr. Mona Vaughn Scott’s vision for the Black Repertory Group theater,” said Marks.

The Black Repertory Group Theatre is located at 3201 Adeline St., Berkeley, CA 94703. For information, visit: BlackRepertoryGroup.com

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Oakland Post: Week of December 11 – 17, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 11 – 17, 2024

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5 days ago

December 13, 2024

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Activism

Black Talk Radio Network’s Recent Podcast Offers Perspective on Nov. 5 Election

“Time for an Awakening” is a Black Talk Radio Network program that runs on Sundays from 7-9 p.m. According to the program’s website, past guests have included Dr. Molefi Asanta, BaBa Ashra Kwesi, BaBa Runoko Rashidai, Dr. Leonard Jeffies, Michelle Alexander. Boyce Watkins, State of Black Farmers series and many others.

Published

1 week ago

December 8, 2024

Oakland Post

Dr. Gerald Horne, left, Obi Egbuna Jr., right. Courtesy image.

Special to The Post

University of Houston Professor of African American Studies Professor Dr. Gerald Horne and renowned speaker and advocate for Pan-African unity, Obi Egbuna Jr, were in conversation on the podcast “Time for an Awakening” hosted by Bro. Elliott and Bro. Richard on Dec. 1.

“Time for an Awakening” is a Black Talk Radio Network program that runs on Sundays from 7-9 p.m.

According to the program’s website, past guests have included Dr. Molefi Asanta, BaBa Ashra Kwesi, BaBa Runoko Rashidai, Dr. Leonard Jeffies, Michelle Alexander. Boyce Watkins, State of Black Farmers series and many others.

With the election in the rearview mirror, Horne, a historian, and author of “The Apocalypse of Settler Colonialism” and “Jazz and Justice: Racism and the Political Economy of the Music,” raised the idea of a Black International Front Conference.

He described proposed locations and the need for independent political organizing in Black communities across the country, with a focus on local elections and alternatives to the direction of Black political leadership.

Joining the conversation in the second hour with valuable information was the External Relations officer to the Zimbabwe-Cuba Friendship Association, and former correspondent to the Herald, Zimbabwe’s national newspaper, Obi Egbuna Jr. A poet and playwright, Egbuna is most known for his passion in creating ties within and among the people and nations of the African diaspora.

He has organized chapters of the Pan African Student Youth Movement in St. Louis, Missouri, Seattle Washington, Charlottesville Virginia and Chicago, Illinois, Egbuna has also written several Resolutions to the United Nations covering a wide range of issues, including HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe and Police Brutality issues in the United States.

To listen to the podcast, please go to https://timeforanawakening.com/?powerpress_pinw=111154-podcast.

Sources for this story include Wikipedia and Time for an Awakening media.