The official birthday of the Universal Zulu Nation is November 12, 1973.
The official birthday of Hip Hop is November 12th, 1974.
With consideration to the above mentioned dates, nothing makes more sense than to celebrate Hip Hop culture and it's history during November, which is exactly what the Universal Zulu Nation has been doing for over 27 + years. November is also significant in the fact that it kicks off the "indoor jam season". The Hip Hop community jams, enjoyed outdoors in the parks, throughout the Summer, had to move indoors for about 7 months to community centers, gymnasiums, schools etc. for the Fall and Winter seasons. The Hip Hop World should recognize this month and pay tribute to those who laid the foundation and paved the way as well as to those who continue to preserve the rich tradition of the culture.
Of course, The Zulu Nation appreciates all efforts to preserve the whole of Hip Hop culture, including any days or weeks set aside to conscientiously appreciate Hip Hop, but would rather that all of these days and weeks combine to celebrate in unity every November as the tradition has been since the beginning of this culture. Founded by the godfather of Hip Hop himself, Afrika Bambaataa, The Universal Zulu Nation is the world's oldest, largest and most respected grass roots Hip Hop organization. It's members and supporters are Hip Hop's most famous and legendary artists. True school enthusiasts travel from all around the world to be in New York City, in November, for the annual Zulu Hip Hop Anniversary, the only true Hip Hop Anniversary since the beginning. The Anniversary hosts a positive Hip Hop community coming together from all walks of life to celebrate the true essence and excitement of what Hip Hop was meant to be. Many artists who have donated their performances to help raise funds at Zulu Hip Hop Anniversaries have gone on to become legends and many of these legends continue to return to NYC, in November, to give back to the core community who supported them since their careers began.
A Little Background Information: In the early years of the culture, the movement went untitled until Afrika Bambaataa, started calling it "Hip Hop", a term originated by Lovebug Starski. In the 70's, ten years prior to it's gaining global recognition, Hip Hop was a celebration of life gradually developing each of it's elements to form a cultural movement. Due to it's energy, dynamics, and momentum, Hip Hop culture has become, ultimately, a key to upliftment and reformation, as well as a billion-dollar industry.
From the 80's on, the Rap industry and media have helped to make the terms "Hip Hop" and "Rap" synonymous, leaving out the other elements included in the culture. In light of this enormous oversight, the Zulu Nation promotes the "5th element" of Hip Hop, which is KNOWLEDGE, and actively tries to educate the masses about the history and foundational elements of true Hip Hop culture. Bambaataa declared: "When we made Hip Hop, we made it hoping it would be about peace, love, unity and having fun so that people could get away from the negativity that was plaguing our streets (gang violence, drug abuse, self hate, violence among those of African and Latino descent). Even though this negativity still happens here and there, as the culture progresses, we play a big role in conflict resolution and enforcing positivity."
Hip Hop is the Vehicle to Deliver Innumerable Lessons! Afrika Bambaataa doesn't believe that Hip Hop heads should just have knowledge of Hip Hop. He promotes and proves that Hip Hop can be used as a vehicle for teaching awareness, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, freedom, justice, equality, peace, unity, love, respect, responsibility and recreation, overcoming challenges, economics, mathematics. science, life, truth, facts and faith.
The Elements: Hip Hop culture is defined as a movement which is expressed through various artistic mediums which we call "elements". The main elements are known as MC'ing (Rapping), DJ'ing, WRITING (Aerosol Art), SEVERAL DANCE FORMS (which include Breaking, Up-Rocking, Popping, and Locking) and the element which holds the rest together: KNOWLEDGE. There are also other elements such as Vocal Percussion/Beat Boxing, Fashion, etc. Within the past 20 years, Hip-Hop culture has greatly influenced the entertainment world with its creative contributions in music, dance, art, poetry, and fashion.
Due to their lack of knowledge about the whole of Hip Hop culture, many of our world's youth are mistaken in thinking that activities such as: smoking blunts, drinking 40's, wearing a designer label plastered across their chest, carrying a gun, or going to strip clubs, are "Hip Hop". Hip Hop is being portrayed negatively by many artists who work in the element of Rap (emceeing), and this negativity is usually instigated and promoted by the record industry and various other corporations who exploit the culture at the expense of the youth's state of mind and morality. The Universal Zulu Nation believes there is a difference in speaking out about negativity (activism) and promoting it as a desirable lifestyle. Gangsters, pimps, playas, hustlers, niggers, spics, and many other derogatory words once used against us are now self employed in our everyday vocabulary. Our ancestors who have fought and died trying to free us from these sicknesses and slave mentality are probably turning over in their graves! Bambaataa asks you to just think about this, "How in the hell did we turn from gods to dogs?"
Afrika Bambaataa encourages you to do more research about our story, his/her-story, and what you think is your mystery is actually your history. Where are our Hip Hop thinkers, lawyers, holistic doctors, scientists, agriculturalists/herbalists, revolutionaries, politicians, judges, researchers, teachers, police, army, accountants, anthropologists, etc. Where is our own Hip Hop Museum? Many talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Many straight out sell-out to the liberation of our people as well as to all humans on the planet so called Earth! He also encourages you to do research on any Hip Hop organization that deals with consciousness and the upliftment of all people. To all those who purposely make up your own history and lie about the culture- DO YOUR RESEARCH!
You can contact the Universal Zulu Nation at their main website WWW.ZULUNATION.COM and to explore links to other Zulu chapters and websites.
Thank you in advance for forwarding this announcement to everyone you know!
Peace and Blessings Afrika Bambaataa & the entire Universal Zulu Nation.
As we say in Zulu - respect the many universes and especially mother earth - cause if you don't she will spit your asses out!
PS: If you are planning any events in honor of Hip Hop History Month in November please feel free to write to the webmaster at ZuluNation.com to keep us up-to-date!
Your mans "P" invaded KDVS 90.3FM the other day and dropped a TON of new and exclusive Hip-Hop on Riff Raff's Global Underground Rundfunk Show... Much love to everyone who checked in on me while i was live in the mix, and big up to my man Riff for letting me come thru and invade his show.. Now click play and if you dig it feel free to download it and pass it to your local Hip-Hop head...
Japan clothing company Sasquatch Fabrix's has teamed up with NEW ERA to create this 59fifty fitted baseball cap. Using the dog ear silhouette, Sasquatch used a Black melton wool crown with fake rabbit fur on the dog ears. Yeah it's fake rabbit, but the looks you will receive on the streets will be priceless.. Straight B-Boy shit is you ask me...
Vestax and Carhartt got a colab going down.. Checkout the Vestax Handy Trax USB Turntable.. It features a tough plastic casing and the capability to operate at angles of up to 90 degrees... On top of this, a stereo line-out makes hooking it up to your hi-fi system at home easy and a mini line-in jack also allows you to connect external devices such as MP3 players. If you prefer to listen to your music digitally but own a large analogue collection, you can easily transform your vinyl into binary code via the newly integrated USB port.
Peach Jacobs beat maker and up and coming artist just dropped a new podcast.. I checked the tracklist and it did have a couple of interesting joints on it.. Most of them you might be up on, but some of them you just might not be up on.. He even slipped a few of his own personal tracks.. Check in on the tracklist and if it's your cup of tea then you already know what to do...
Sup party people just giving you a heads up on some Hip-Hop shit.. Your boy "P" is going to be invading DJ Riff Raff's Global Underground Radio Show on KDVS tonight at 10pm-12am on some high power Hip-Hop shit... If your in the northern California area then you just might want to turn your dial to 90.3FM and get in where you fit in.. If your not in the northern California area then i suggest you check in via internet and get plugged in.. It's a live Hip-Hop radio show so if you feel the need to call in and crack some jokes please feel free.. I got a TON of exclusive Hip-Hop im going to be dropping special for this show as well as doing a on air interview that you won't want to miss!
DJ Eclipse did a sub last week on DJ Premier's Live From Headquarters.. On this show Lord Finesse and the Beatnuts check in live on the show, a gang of new music is being played, and some phone calls are going down.. Oh yeah and you know Eclipse is going in with all them doubles to make for a complete show.. Now check the tracklist and if you are digging it you already know what to do!
As a added bonus here is a link for last weeks show from DJ Eclipse's "Rap Is Outta Control".. On Eclipse's show he had Bekay and Diabolic in the place promoting Bekay's "Hunger Pains" and D's upcoming album as well as had them kick some freestyles.. Now check the playlist for last weeks show and if you are digging it then you already know what to do!
Like always it's Monday morning and if you check the blog you should be expecting some type of music to get your thru your Monday morning work day.. I know just like everyone else after getting back from the weekend Hip-Hop Fiesta' it's hard to go back to the desk and start your work week off on the good foot.. So like always, P's going dust you off real quick, and get you back in the game... 
9GRAND and NEW ERA are rolling out baseball caps after a brief break. The Wings & Things 59Fifty fitted returns in three color ways including our favorite Teal/Orange combo. A new design added to their collection is the Ivy League cap, which features a plaid under bill. Both are available at HALL OF FAME in store and online
It's yet another edition of "Coo Pics" why?? Cause it's a "Coo Pic".. This weeks Coo Pic is once again brought to us by my brother Refa 1 from the UZN Northstar Wahset Chapter.. He posted this one up on his facebook profile this morning and I just had to share it... So instead of me talking about it, I figure I'd let him tell ya, take it away my brother... 
Sup cyberspace?!?! I'm finally back on the saddle much love for checking in on the blog.. I know I been lacking updates I'm still away from my computer so please bare with me.. It's going to be like this for the next few weeks or so.... But like always if you believe in P, then P is going to continue to give you those updates you all grown to love.. I dropped a gang of new posts yesterday dedicating it to getting you through your work week, so hopefully that will hold you over till I return.. This week im going to be once again out of the office for a few days but before I cut I wanted to leave you with this exclusive footage I took of Raekwon tearing it up at this low-low disco me and my mans at Battlefield got invited to for a proper check in.. This happened a few nights ago, and what a night it was.. Instead of me writing another story about this jive ass night i just figured i'd let my mans at Battlefield tell you how it all went down....
Kon and Amir are back at it again with yet another edition of there monthly Radio Show hosted by Spine Radio.. If you are up on these 2 cats then you already know what to expect.. But if you are not, what you can expect is nothing but straight soul power with a grown folks twist.. These two brothers go in real heavy when it comes to the frequency's ... Not your average sap would be up on these joints.. Do yourself a favor and check, check, it out..
Bobbito aka Mr. Cucumber Slice invaded a Europe radio show for a quick interview soon as he touched down from N.Y. On this show Bobitto goes in on some straight latin jazz soul power, throwing all types of joints in the mix and keeping it oh so funky.. D yourself a favor and check in on this one..
Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth invaded the Dan Green Peace Radio Show and dropped a gang of never heard before tracks, remixes, some classics, and a few exclusives to gear the fans up for their reunion tour.. Not only do they keep the whole show Pete Rock and C.L. Dan even gets a real nice interview with the two bash brothers.. If you are a fan of this classic super duo then this is your sure shot! I promises you wont be disappointed...
Here is something for all you beat nerds out their in cyberspace.. The Switzerland producer The Chief just released his new project entitled Colabo Collection.. This project features his works from 2005-2009 with some emcee's you just might be familiar with.. As for his production it's on some grown folks shit... You can throw this one on and just vibe out and appreciate some good production on a positive note.. Do yourself a favor and check in on this on it does have a few on it that you just might dig...
Here is something interesting for all you Hip-Hop cyber junkies.. Checkout these wood turntables with full on working parts so you can get your spin on in a whole other level.. I don't think these would be cool in the club, but they sure would look sick in the living room on some swagged out shit... If you are feeling them check in on audiowood.com and get in the know...
WIP and HAT CLUB have launched another Pac-Q exclusive for the month of November. The Pac Q Teal release takes on similar design cues of the Pac Q Crimson cap which dropped in October. The two tone release comes in an all Black dome with a teal bill. The eyelets, button, Wip and Flagship logo all accent the cap in teal as well. The Pac Q Logo is teal with hints of Gray. While the caps ghosts bring the cap together with Teal, White and Gray tones. Only available at www.hatclub.com.
Here is a LIVE funk mixtape done Dam Funk (if you aint up on him i suggest you Google him and get in the know) This mix was rocked at a club in Floss Scandalous (Los Angeles) and handed out at the new CLAE store grand opening in Floss Scandalous (Los Angeles) as a little bonus for checking in with the store...The mix features some real ill Cameo type funk...When I checked in I was really inpressed with what I was hearing, and i noticed the sun was coming out for a real nice day.. Check in on this one it delivers...
Last week or so i got a email that DJ Premier was going to be invading DJ Skratch Internet Radio Show so of course I'm going to go in and peep the show.. As i watched/listened to the show live all i could think about is hopefully they release this show as a archive, cause Premier was doing his thing-thing on the Ziggah Ziggah's... Then last night I surfed around the cyber world and yup there it was, so here is the link to that show! Do yourself a favor and check in on this one.. Premier drops a lot of new heat, some new Pete Rock tracks, slips in a few classics and of course rocks them doubles..
Karriem Riggins sat down with Benji B from BBC 1Xtra for a real nice interview.. Not only does Benji jam him up with some nice questions for all the fans.. Karriem even goes in with a live mix and drops a gang of his production featuring new music and some exclusive tracks to be on the look for.. Also don't get it twisted Benji is no fool when it comes to the heaters him damn self he plays all types of flavor to gear you up for a really great 3 hour long show.. Do yourself a favor and do the right thing and snatch this one up you wont be disappointed..
Rakim sat down for a interview on U.K's own Hip-Hop Conspiracy Radio with Menace and Montana.. Not only do they ask Rakim some really nice questions they drop some new joints, some new U.K joints, and host a gang of special guest interviews on the show.. One of the main highlights of this radio show are all the special guest they have on the show.. Each week they feature at least 4 different heavy hitters and really jam them up with questions that only fans would ask... Do yourself a favor check in and take a look at some of there past shows you just might be real surprised on what you see/hear..
It's about that time for another edition of 'Coo Pics" why cause it's a "Coo Pic"... This weeks Coo Pic is brought to us by the UZN France Chapter.. This ill production was done in celebration for their anniversary, and celebration for November being Hip-Hop History Month. Do yourself a favor and click the pic to get a closer look at this one! Funkwhatyaheard salutes you UZN France...
Natraid latest New Era fitted baseball caps feature pull-down ear flaps to keep your ears warm. This style comes in Grey, Black, Navy and Brown. Nitraid’s “N” logo is embroidered on the front panel of the cap, while Nitraid’s text logo is embroidered on the back. This impressive and cold weather functional 59Fifty cap is available now at Nitraid
You know what it is.. We going on the air tonight.. We got a good show lined up with some special guests in the house as well as some NEW Hip-Hop music.. If you watch the show then you already know how we get down.. If you don't then we suggest you check in you just might like what you are hearing /seeing
Check out this download of Afrika Bambaataa rocking his show " True Skool Radio" live last night on WHCR 90.3FM.. In this show Bambaataa goes in heavy taking the listener on a musical roller coaster of classic sounds.... Then again what can you expect from the Master Of Records.... Not only is he throwing down the classic joints he also grabs the mic, drops jewels, gears everyone up for Hip-Hop History Month, and invites everyone to attend the 36th UZN Anniversary... 
Montana is doing a colab with Battle Of The Year to celebrate their 20th Anniversary.. So to help them celebrate Montana just released 500 limited edition collectors can.
It's Monday morning and most likely you went in real hard for the Halloween weekend.. So to help you decompress from your weekend and get you back in the game, here is a nice real vibed out blend of beats MIXED by Phoreyez.. This is a mixtape that any mature hip-hop listener or just music fan would appreciate.. Phoreyez goes in real heavy with the selections and takes you on a musical Whoo-Ride.. Just when you think you got him figured out on the selections he goes another route.. From some vibed out remixes, to some Dilla sneak in action, all the way up to some zoned out salsa tracks..
It's about that time another edition of "Coo Pics", why??? Cause it's a "Coo Pic"... This weeks "Coo Pic" is a burner my Ahki Refa 1 from TNS/TCB is working on.. This burner is at a local school in Oakland CA. around the subject of Eating to Live... The characters represent the Ghoulish FDA and there attempts to Biologically engineer all of our food. "You are what you eat".... Now click the pic for a close up!
Checkout this massive Super Mario Brothers Lego sculpture by Dirk VH, who is a part-time LEGO sculptor... Dirk has built the world’s biggest LEGO Mario and is auctioning it off for charity on EBAY. The 40,000 bricks that make up this model weighs a whopping 110 pounds! Damn throw that mug in your living room and see what happens... WOO!
The Zero Fighter NEW ERA 59fifty fitted baseball cap is the latest from JP STAR. The cap features JP Star zero logo embroidered in Black/Gold on the front of the Black crown. The underbrim takes inspiration from the A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders cover. Giving you two colorways to choose from, you can head over to ONSPOTZ to score yours today...
