Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, December 29, 2004, Page 9, Image 9

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    December 29. 2 0 0 4
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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 .)
SendingBalloons • Created Big Balloon Bouquets (16 balloons)
Bulk Orders • Assortment of Colors & Sizes
Mylar's • Balloon Drops/Balloon Releases
Baby Showers * Helium Rental/Uninflated Balloons
Confetti Cannon/Exploring Balloons * Delivery Available
O re y 'jti'-jT Z E i
rr-i-i to A ll...
r'jr mt/rs inforrrtatkiri call 593.237.9557
/vww.highlartîl rriinJstriss.org
Balloons fo r all occasions & events
6207 N.E. 15,h Ave.
Monday-Saturday 9a.m. to 5:30
Same day delivery ifordered by 12p.m.
~ ^ t i- r-:4 Portland,
We specialize in:
Automobile accident injuries
Chronic headache and joint pain
Workers Compensation injuries
and
Happy New Year
Little Chapel of the Chimes
430 N. Kiliingsworth Street
Portland. Oregon
(503)283-1976
i