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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 29, 2004)
December 29. 2 0 0 4 Œ1’1 |Jo rtlax tò (©bseruer PageA9 Rapper Combines Beliefs with Music Uses his rhymes to praise Allah, criticize Iraq war (A P )— When David Kelly — aka “Capital D” — raps, he doesn ’ t follow the mainstream mantra of women,cars and jewelry. Instead, the Chicago rapper uses his rhymes to dish out praise for A l lah, criticize the war in Iraq and blast corporate America. D avid Kelly Kelly is among a new group of Muslim rap artists gaining popularity “Muslims in the United States are among Muslim-Americans l<xiking for not going away. T hey’re part o f the entertainment that reflects both their culture, but they’re not creating their mainstream tastes and religious be own culture,” Kelly said. “I try to show liefs. them that you can be creative, artistic. Dear Deanna! I am single and tired o f being alone. I’ve decided that in 2004 I want to get with som eone and have a baby. I ’m not looking to get m arried or any thing I just want a baby so 1 can have som ething in my life and som eone to take care of. Is it norm al for me to feel like this? — Vickie M.; O rlando, Fla. Dear Vickie: R eal P eo p le, R eal Advice An advice column known fur its fearless approach to reality based subjects! Hold up. W here’s the “ Baby D addy" going to com e from ? You have issues with your self that need to be handled before bringing a baby into the mix. Seek som e psychiatric help to see w hat’s making you feel so alone and pinpoint w hat’s causing this big void in your life. A s for w anting som ething to take care of, start with a plant or flow er and then get bold and work up to a dog before thinking about having a child. Dear Deanna! I m ake New Y ear’s R esolutionsevery year to lose w eight but I fail and break it every Happy Birthday Ozzie! Celebrate the world-fam ous otter, O z’s fourth birthday on Monday, Jan. 3 at the Oregon Zoo. Oz was the first Southern seat otter to be con ceived, bom and raised by his mother in captivity. Festivities include ice treats for Oz and cupcakes for guests. Folk for Folks Portland’s largest annual folk music- event, W interfolk XVII, is at the Aladdin Theatre at 7 p.m. Feb. 5. This event celebrates Sisters of the Road’s 25lh yearof service to Portland’s home less community. Tickets are $23 in advance and $25 at the door, avail able at Aladdin Box office and Mu sic Millenium. tS U U M happy and still be Muslim.” Islam is not new to rap. The Nation of Islam and other non- traditional sects like th e “ F iv e Percenters” have in flu e n c e d h ip -h o p through lyrics and im ages since the late 1970s. And Nation of Islam leader L ouis Farrakhan has been m e n tio n e d an d sampled in many raps. But this new wave of M uslim-influ enced music seeks to convey m es sages and images more in line with orthodox Islam. Kelly recently perform ed before a crow d o f about 80 people on Chicago’s South Side as part of a monthly event organized by the Chicago-based Inner- City M uslim Action Network. Audience members sipped on tea and sm oothies as Kelly performed sev eral songs from his latest album, “In som nia.” For religious reasons, Kelly perform s only in venues that don’t serve alcohol when he is on stage. Kelly said his music hasn’t always been politically charged. Before con verting to Islam fouryearsago, Kelly — who was raised Catholic — said his music lacked a seriousness and disci pline. “ Now, I have a different agenda," he said. " If I am going to put an album out, I have to say som ething.” time. After about 2 m onths, 1 c an ’t take the dieting no .-lore and I end up eating like crazy and gaining more weight than before. Now my wife is cal 1 i ng me a pig and saying I d o n ’t have discipline. —A nonym ous M ale; Pittsburgh about 2 or 4 movies. W hen the clock strikes 12 th at’s when I plan to start deleting e- mail, blocking calls and kicking them all to the curb. Any suggestions on getting no good people out o f your life? -K e llie ; Phoenix, Ariz. Dear Anonymous Male: Dear Kellie: Forget the New Year. If this were som e th in g you really w an ted to do, you w ouldn’ t plan it around a calendar, society or a holiday. You w ould get o ff your butt and m ake it happen. No, you d o n ’t have discipline, because like learning a bike, you fall and get back up until you can do it. M arch yourself to your physician and get his help so next year you can blow a resolution on som ething else. Baby— you need Jesus. The problem isn’t with your friends— it’s with you. As hu mans, we attract what we project. Sounds like y o u ’re mad right now because things aren’ t going your way with men or women. If you really want to get rid o f them — go to church. If these people are as bad as you say they are, th ey ’ll hide as you run to the altar and definitely w on’t join you as you jam for Jesus! Dear Deanna! Ask Deanna is written by Deanna M. Write As the New Y ear com es in. I’ve m ade up my m ind to m ove a bunch o f back stabbing fem ales and no good cheating men out o f my life. I had enough dram a in 2003 to write Ask D eanna! Email: askdeannaI @yahoo.com or 264 S. LaCi'ene/pi Blvd. Suite 1283Beverly Hills, CA V02II. Website: M Let the Max or a TriMet bus cart you around after a night out on New Year’s Eve. All rides are free after 6 p.m. with extra bus service. Fortripplanning, visit www. tri met.org orcall503-238-RIDE. Love a Drama Love can be a drama with the Nappy Roots production of "Tangoing with Tornadoes” at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center from Jan. 28 through Feb. 5. For more information, call 503- 381-9088. w ww.askdeanna.coin ■M H M M aanH U M DinnerGrrls P A Safe Ride A d v e rtis e Jo in th e DinnerGrrls at Stacatto G elato from 6:45 to 9 p.m. Jan. 15 at Hom o f Africa for professional net working and female empowerment. w w w .e v ite .c o m / RSVP to portland@ dinnergrrls.org/jan()5guest ore-mail portland@dinnergrrls.org for more information. Gypsy Classes Caravan Studios offers classes in belly dance, African dance and more. Visit w w w .gypsycaravan.us. The Land Civilization Forgot The simulatorthrill-ride Dino Island: The Land Civilization Forgot has returned to the Oregon Zoo by popular demand. Riders become part o f a scientific team whose mission is to explore a newly Reel Music and Cinema form ed island that has The Reel Music Festival, featuring mu baffled scientists around sic cinema, is from Jan. 7 through Feb. 13 the world. For more infor at Guild Theatre, 829 S.W. 9 Ave, and mation call the zoo at 503- Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 S.W. Park. 220-5716 or check out the For details, visit www.nwfilm.org. website oregonzoo.org. Contributions Remembered co n tin u ed with diversity in u |JnrtIatib (Obsmiev Call 503-288-0033 adstn p, iitlandob server.«* >m KMHD’S VALENTINE’S DAY FUNDRAISER EXTRAVAGANZA Featuring Valerie Day & The Knights of Swing w/special guests... M onday F ebruary 14, 2005 7 pm — 11 pm D oors open at 6 pm T he M arriott H otel 1401 SW N aito P kwy • • • • • ••1 ■ VAlHtlE DAY AND THE KNIGHTS Of SWING D ance per couple : $50 D inner B uffet & D ance per couple : $115 D inner , D ance & R oom per couple : $230 VIP LEVEL ROOM INCLUDES ROSE BUDS AND CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES T ickets A vailable at M illennium E ast or W est or call 503.491.7271 fr o m A 7 M acD re- W est coast rapper who made his rap debut in 1989 with the Young Black Brotha EP; died Nov. 1. Samuel L. Gravely Jr. - The Navy ’s first black admiral and the first African American to serve as a fleet com mander; died Oct. 22 Edgar Toppin Sr. - Nationally known expert on black history who was key in establishing Black History Month; died Dec. 8. We are a gra p h ic design L L C s e r v in g c o m m e r c ia l a n d residential custom ers in the P o rtla n d M e tro po litan area. Personal & Group Photo Collages • Company Identity (Logos, Photo Retouch & Restoration Business Card&Letterhead) Photo Colorizing . Brochures, Flyers & Programs Commercial & Ad Design • Desktop Publishing Contin t M a r k Leggett Office 5 0 3 -2 8 1 -3 5 5 2 C e ll 5 0 3 -4 7 5 -6 6 9 9 E m a il zyxzl@ netzero.com ■ iA L L O O S U OS) tf& O & W ' S, (503) 331-1101 Elvin Ray Jones - Renowned jazz drummer; in John C oltrane’s quartet; died May 18. K iliin g s w o r th S t. J o h n s L o m b a r d Your Care Our First Priority G et 10% o f f w hen you m en tion th is ad WW w .b a llo o n sin flig h t.c o m in fo @ b a llo o n s in flig h i.c o m Little Chapel o f the Chimes Family Wishes You Dr. Marcelitte Failla Chiropractic Physician Call for an appointment! (503) 228-6140 Happy Kwanzaa We are located at 1716 N.E. 42nd Ave., Portland, OR 97213 (Between B ro a d w a y a n d S a nd y B lvd .) 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