/24-7PressRelease/ - OAKLAND, CA, January 18, 2006 - Spoken Word Artist Omekongo Dibinga, also known as 'Mr. Culture' whose commitment to writing and performing thought-provoking prose through his educational programs, spoken word performances and the poetry that he writes poetry and his collaborations with the Alvin Ailey summer camp series, the Maryland County Correctional Facility (MCCF) and numerous other programs designed to inspire children and adults to embrace poetry, has just released 'Bootleg' a rap cd in partnership with producer, rapper and activist Bomani 'D Mite' Armah. 'Bootleg' is being released on Martin Luther King's birthday to honor his legacy. While the cd is not a civil rights message, it does capture a rich, youthful sound to its rap selections, and manages to caution listeners about amassing consumer debt, bemoan the current political climate both nationally and internationally and to keep families close without nary a foul word or intimation of 'keeping in real' through drug use and coveted prison sentences. In stead, Omekongo's brand of rap music closely mirrors the poetry he's produced over the years by staying true to his own values.
"Bottom line is, I create my poetry and music which are born out of my own personal experiences and the experiences of my immediate family and others before them. For me that equates to academic achievement,
perseverance, and self respect, all important messages that resonate with everything I've ever read about Dr. King" Omekongo said. "Others have their own ideas about what 'keeping it real' means in the rap music industry and in many cases that's about idealizing failure or the gangsta lifestyle. While I don't judge what others do, I try to stay focused on my creative process and quite frankly, I'm overjoyed at the prospect that not only am I creating and expressing myself through my lyrics and music, but that I'm sharing them with folks who just might appreciate the messages that inspire them to go the extra mile where managing finances, working hard in school, and staying committed to family are concerned. "Omekongo is a living testament to the lyrics he writes and performs and is currently a PhD student at the University of Maryland where he is working on his PhD in International Education Policy.
"This cd really does nicely complement the poetry I've written and the performances I've delivered worldwide, my hope is that my particular style and content of rap lyrics will be embraced and appreciated so much that other artist will be inspired similarly," Dibinga added. Copies of 'Bootleg' may be purchased directly from Omekongo Dibinga's website at http://www.omekongo.com
About the poet:
Omekongo Dibinga http://www.omekongo.com is an activist, educator, spoken word artist and Founder and CEO of Free Your Mind Publishing in Boston. Omekongo is a first generation Congolese-American who writes and performs poetry in English, French and Swahili and has occasionally used Wolof in his writings. In addition to his new rap CD: Bootleg, he has released two spoken word CDs: A Young Black Man's Anthem: Love, Afrika and Revolution Revisited; and Signs of the Time. Omekongo is the recipient of the 2003 Cambridge Poetry Award for best CD. He has performed extensively throughout the United States and within in numerous African, European, and South American countries. Omekongo has also performed on stage with Amira Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, and Dennis Brutus and has appeared on television and radio stations broadcast to 30 countries. His first book, 'From the Limbs of My Poetree' was released in November 2004. His second book, an anthology of middle school students entitled: "Poems from the Future, Poetic Reflections from the Next Generation," was released in August 2005.
From the Limbs of My Poetree
By Omekongo Dibinga
Free Your Mind Publishing
ISBN: 0-97 60056-0-3
Publication: November 2004
Black Goddess Communications, http://www.blackgoddesscommunications.com is a full service Strategic Communications and Public Relations firm based in Oakland, California; contact the firm at (510) 710-5951.
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