Dead Prez, is a hip hop duo composed of Stic. Man and M-1 formed in 1996 in New York City. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice and Pan Africanism. The duo maintains an ethical stance against corporate control over the media, especially hip hop record labels. AfroStyle Magazine’s Creative Director Jason Maddox and a huge fan of the group, spoke to them find out more about their passions in music, social justice and most important….their love for and connection to Africa.

ASM: - There are tones of social justice, community development, cultural appreciation, and the drive towards a truly democratic balance of power noted in your work. Is that fair to say?
DP(M1): - We make music for a collective of free thinking people. It is music for a movement of political and social liberation that we feel a part of. We are from the best sons and daughters of our “movement;” We just try to address what we believe can be solutions to unhealthy conditions, because the world is constantly changing, we are too.

ASM: It sounds like your point of inspiration may have been the Pan African Movement of the 1950’s and 60’s. Has it changed or grown broader in some way?
DP(M1): We salute in many ways the influence African liberation movement has resonated through the United States. As much as it may have emerged from the Pan Africanist point of view, we look at it as a development from an International point of view bent on the liberation of all peoples, but specific, we have learned a lot from the Uhuru Movement which is a revolutionary political organization based in Florida. So being informed as young Africans who were trying to change the world; impacted by the Capitalist system which was an issue by which the oppressions happened and we came in contact with it but we fought our way outward that way. Once things opened up, we incorporated the tools we picked up or learned from along the way.

ASM: You mention growing up in the Western Capitalist Traditional System; yet it seems you personally immersed yourself in Africana thoughts. Can you describe how that thought process began- Was it a sudden, natural or a gradual development?
DP(M1): There is something obvious about being an African in the United States. There’s no coincidence why the darker people experience oppression in similar kind of ways. It’s almost like the darker one is, the more oppressive it has been. That has been the scenario in the United States- North, South, East and West. Whether it is in-covertly or overtly, it has officially just been the experience. As it happened for us, we realized who we are in the process. Also there’s that light bulb moment when we had to ask ourselves, “What’s our purpose in this place?” For some people, it happens at different stages, for me at least, it happened by just learning who I was. Now there were people along the way who were instrumental in giving me advice. There were books; not so much my parents because people automatically thought my parents were members of the Black Panther Organization but to the contrary, they were working class subjects. Even with my middle class Muslim background, they were not revolutionary at all; it was the other way. They are concerned about being about being a part of the system so that we could come up. At the end of the day, a lot of it came from political activities I saw at the ages of sixteen, seventeen, and spirituality such as Islam and Five Percent Nation; encountering elders who went through similar experiences at my age years back in the fifties and sixties. So it is at the age of seventeen I learned about organization in order to really encounter change. With all the information provided, I learned to organize and become a student of the people. I became a member of the African Liberation Movement that survived the sixties, seventies and eighties; understanding and picking up the pieces of the brutal defeat of the Black Power Movement and carry on the stories of those who went before us.

“…we toured Botswana, Soweto, Johannesburg, Orlando West and I remember how amazed I was to see the greatness of the cultures and how these people reminded me so much of my family and friends back home in Florida...

ASM: Stik, we know you are from Florida, so when did you tune into the African-esque consciousness?
DP(SticMan): I am still tuning in now. Consciousness is an ongoing process and I think before I was even called African, I have learned a lot about consciousness. We called it that but a lot of it is I call reactionary. It is another condition in terms of how we see ourselves, how we see the world; the isms, the theories, the political ideologies that shape our thinking. We tend to become dogmatic in those areas so I think, what the African culture did (before it was called that) was to allow human beings to bond with others and their environment that allowed different perspectives. So when I honor the African in me, I don’t just honor the African that was defined by politics, but the African before we had language. In terms of my consciousness of that, ever since high school, I had been looking and searching to find identity. Also, want to make the distinction as well in saying that that circumstances and conditions I was in in Florida, made me really react and fight in black community for education, economic development and so on.

ASM: When was the first time you traveled to the Continent of Africa and what was it like for you?
DP(SticMan): We went with Black August a movement that celebrates black revolutionaries, freedom fighters and the revolutionary struggles in the month of August. It was started by George Jackson when he was incarcerated and it’s a time for fasting, physical training. We were there with the Malcom X Grassroots Movement, The Roots, Talib Kweli and Mos Def. We toured Botswana, Soweto, Johannesburg, Orlando West and I remember how amazed I was to see the greatness of the cultures and how these people reminded me so much of my family and friends back home in Florida.

ASM: Have you come across any African-esque sensibilities? Things that feel like they come from somewhere else; from your DNA or perhaps your sense of history from the continent that could counter act the indoctrinated system we have here in the West? An African Alternative…?
DP(M1): In theory, what we call Socialism is of Classical African influence. For me, it makes sense because when I lived in a socialist cooperative society and we shared together responsibilities of political collectives by sharing personal and political workspace, I began to see these types of characteristics where we shared our responsibilities to eat, to work and more. It was later on when I was in some Africa Countries from South Africa to Botswana that it dawned on me the similarities. It brought about fear on the Capitalists because it provides for everyone. This is how I found the Africa-esque sensibilities you mention. It is not perfect but this was my first introduction to Africa before I even reached the soil.

ASM: I am glad you mentioned socialism because many African Countries upon becoming independent adopted socialism before the permutation of more militaristic forces controlling things in a hyper capitalistic way. A lot of people associate this with movements that are considered African and Pan African. They associate militarism with our identity. You seem to see this as a more organic process based on networking, sharing and collective development. Have you found any perspective on why that type of period might have occurred- as in the strong arm of dictatorship people in the West tend to think of when Africa comes to mind?
DP(M1): Just as the Father of Afrobeat, Fela Anikulapo Kuti said, it is all Colonial Mentality. The reason why I say so as opposed to any other is because if you introduce the principle of Socialism but if you are looking to remedy the situation just from a materialistic stand point, one is putting the materialistic side of things above any other aspect of wealth. So the socialist is a material socialist because the conscious focus is on who will be in control of the land’s resources such as war lords and so on; hence leading to the Colonial mentality. And if you look at examples before organized Socialist Africa such as the classic model in Russia, there is the same colonial mentality but only in that European country itself- it would be called the Fascist mentality. You have the main oppressors, war lords above the working class who were called the socialists but who these socialist shared the needed resources amongst each other. That was the same mentality pervasive in Africa where the people regarded themselves as the resources because they are the ones that put in their time and efforts into the land but share all they have amongst other in a harmonious way. It is terrible that socialism has gotten quite a bad reputation especially here in America. There are people upset about the socialized healthcare that President Barack Obama has put in place; however, this healthcare concept has been talked about long before he came into office. It has been talked about all over the globe and from Clinton to Bush, it was talked about in a socialized way but it has been considered a nasty thing because it is a socialist word being adopted within a Capitalist model.

“…In theory, what we call Socialism is of Classical African influence. For me, it makes sense because when I lived in a socialist cooperative society and we shared together responsibilities of political collectives by sharing personal and political workspace…”

ASM: What is your hope or would you dream of when this perversely struggle is done? Or is there some kind of constant struggle?
DP(SticMan): That is a great philosophical question. If you think about the power and the word struggle and it shapes our abilities to solve things that can become a trap in itself. There is certainly work to do, there is definitely action and service to give; but there’s also a paradigm that comes with the word as well; which makes it a dynamic against success. So if one is always in a struggle, one can never be in success. I think you have to shift and radicalize the language in every aspect so that we can realize that we are not here to be in a perpetual struggle and resistance. That is an unnatural state of being- it is a reaction to something that needs to be resolved. I do not think it’s healthy to identify ourselves to that in that short span of time. It is necessary to act but it is very important that we let go of that identity- that is the greater struggle. The greater struggle is awakening to our inner power which is universal; and applying that to our reality. Sometimes it may not be the dogmatic, political stance or point of view but I’ve found that in my experience working in this movement that there is something missing from the dry political conversation as it relates to the human psychology and nature.

ASM: Have you found tools in the arts for moving beyond the political dynamic? Is there something in being an artist that you might have developed the sounds that has helped you transcend and could help others transcend this sort of frictions?
DP(SticMan): I think meditation is one of the best tools because it gives you the chance to be aware of yourself, training, running; and beware of some of the things that we pick up and to let go. And as I do so, I try to detach myself from the isms, stigmas and dogmas.

ASM: In your personal travels to Africa, were you were able to spend time to soak up the environment? If so, were you able to experience in the exchanges with the people a hope that would bring people together in a humane type of way?
DP(M1): Definitely so. I have been fortunate to travel to Africa as often as I possibly can because I get to research and offer the world what I have be taught and groomed to do. I get to re-examine the world from Africa’s perspective. We started in South Africa many times to understand and grow the kinship and relationship and has deepened since the passing of Madiba- a powerful great man. From the Southern region, we went to the Eastern countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and also got to travel to the West studying countries such as Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Nigeria; making it up North to Egypt, and to part of the Middle East which I consider as part of Africa such as Palestine and Israel. So it has been a blessing to see, meet and learn from the a Continent that is a Jewel to the world.

ASM: So what projects are we to look forward to seeing from you? What do you both want to draw attention to both personal and as a group in 2014 and 2015 in music and more?
DP(M1): I’ve worked with Tony Allen who is the practitioner of the AfroBeat Drum for a remake of his song AfroDisco Beast 2013 from the Red Hot & Fela Live Series. We have also worked together on some cuts on my solo project as well which is out already. We’re working on some festivals in Africa that are focused on bringing the arts. Countries such as Mali were we’re collaborating very talented artists such as guitarist Rakia Traoré. Also, Afel Bocoum from Northern Mali whom I was introduced to by Damon Albarn of The Gorillaz who did a fantastic project called the African Express- a film coming out that features various African Artists across the Continent and the Globe. I also have a fashion store in Brooklyn New York called Harriet’s Alter Ego which is a fusion African Couture with a Brooklyn and Hip Hop Sensibility; started with a gentleman by the name of Femi Olu. Also Dead Prez is consistently working on new projects so people can continue to follow us to know what we have coming up.
DP(SticMan): I have a project that is the second installment of the workout album. It is an album filled with affirmative positive lyrics and energy for martial artists, yoga students, runners- people who are into living an active healthy lifestyle. It is furthering a promise I made to myself and the community to advocate good health in hiphop. Due to the lifestyle that tends to be associated with hip hop and where we come from, we have lost a lot of our own to heart attacks, seizures, strokes and many other things associated to poor health. Therefore, I want to try and make a great impact by continuing to advocate for healthier lifestyle. The RGB Fitclub is the headquarters for this and we have a program called A Million Mile Movement. We are trying to collectively accomplish million miles in movement worldwide and so far we are over eight thousand miles in; and that is through running, cycling, walking amongst other activities. Another project is a book I am working on with my trainer and wife on muscle gain. We are experimenting on gaining muscles with no supplement, pills, and steroids but with organic whole foods, weight training and running. I am a few months in and I see a difference- it is working out well. We also have a line that in which positive and affirmations slogans are printed to encourage healthy lifestyle and that is doing really well.

ASM: Thank you very much for taking the time to chat with us. We love the fact that you have taken it upon yourselves to approach this celebrated genre of music from a spiritual and active point of view hence celebrating both Hip Hop and Africa as well.
DP: It is a pleasure. One thing that people do not know about the African culture and the hip-hop world is how similar they are. The five elements of hip-hop consist of The DJ, The MC, The Graffiti Artist, The Dancer and The Knowledge are the same core elements in Traditional culture. The DJ is the Drummer, the Graffiti Artist is the Painter, The MC is the Storyteller and the Dancers are the Dancers or Warriors and the Knowledge is what has been carried on and passed down from one generation to the next. So when practice Hip-hop, we are practicing our roots, our Africanisms. We salute you on the magazine and the ability tell our stories through fashion- that is a powerful thing.