Happy Kwanzaa!

A group of young dancers performing in front of students and community members at the John D. O' Bryant African-American Institute Annual Kwanzaa celebration on Friday, December 3, 1999. (Photo Credit: Shad Hargrove, Freelance photographer) An International Turkey Day

By Chhavi Sach dev to the ISF dinner for "a little bit of a Morocco , Poland, El Sa lvado r, Spa in, Onyx Staff warm up for Thursd ay." Arme nia, Brazil, Iran , Taiwan , Many student s sa id the main Trinidad , Jamaica , India, Bahrain , and Ove r a hundr ed students from reason they had come was to meet of course , the USA . A number of the arou nd the world gathered for a other International students and feel Americans presen t belonged to Thank sgiving Dinner at the like orga nizations like the Internationa l Intern ational Student Office on they belonged . Business Club an d the SGA. Tuesday , November 23. Sona m Dorje e and Decen Eno rmou s quantitie s of turk ey, Wangmo of Bhutan agree d that Karryann Dri scoll of Ashland, MA stuffing , bunernut squash, beans, they were there "to get around and and Courtney Mitchell of Belchertown , and mashed potatoes were doled know the other internat ionaJ stu- MA both o~the SGA and came "to out to the guests by members of dents . Dorjee an d Wangmo also said show support and have dinner." International Student Forumm embers at the Interna tional Student Forum the door fee was going to help Toward the end of the meal , ISF dinner. (Photo Credit: !SF website.) $1 .00 (ISF.) a sick child in El Salvador , a good President , Tien Lam , recounted the aspect of American cultur e. Jong , a A lthough a few of the international reaso n to come. history behind Thanksgiving Day. The stud ents had experienced Thanksg iv­ fres hman wh ose parents are from Asked what she thought of the evening conc lud ed with a raffle -type China , explained that his family never ing before , man y looked forward to effort , ljeo ma Nwankwo of N igeria quiz and hot apple pie. their first turkey meal ever. And for celebrates Th anksgiving despite hav ing rep lied, "I think it's great. Most of us The dinn er is tradi tionally held the many who had had a trad itional lived in America for many years. This don't have our fam ilies here ... [this] is Tuesday befo re Thank sgiving an d is Thank sg iving before, this was their year, he deci ded to "celebrate it for a way to feel a part of a famil y in a open to all members of the NU once." first time at an !SF- hosted dinner. way, to feel a part of something ." com munity , espec ially those w ith no Jamaican gra duate stud ent, Jun e Ma nas Adhikari from Nepal has Some of the other co untri es place to go on Turkey day. You can ce lebrated Thank sgiv ing with his Cowar d-Fe ron , ''[didn't) know w hat to represe nted at this dinn er were: find more information at: expect" but was ready to enjoy this cous ins in the States before, but came Romania, Co lombi a, Italy, China , http: //www .dac. neu.edu/isfl s. What's E-NUFF, page 2 AIDS in Africa, page 4 "My Soul, My Life" page 7 Black yo uth evange lism on Read how AIDS affects childr en on Check out up-and- coming R&B Inside... Nort heas tern 's camp us the continent artist,J-Shin E-NUFF says God is enough

By Jamila Hill Onyx Staff

At a time when Americans are language patl1ology and audiology major, embracing Spiritualism in every facet of and vice president of E-NUFF. their lives, a group of young people are "We thought we could reach a lot bringing "church" to Northeastern. more minority brothers andsisters . .. in a Members of The EvangelicalNorth ­ lot of these Christian groups, youdon 't eastern University Fellowship Forum sec too many," said Whilby. (E-NUPF) are detennined to show NU E-NUFF is not an official Nortl1east­ students thatGod is enough. em Universitys tudent groupbut they do According to Clifton Whilby.a senior hope to put together a charter soon. electrical engineering major at NU and They are, however, still active on a founding memberofE-NUPF, there is campus. Members meet every week to a strong need for groups like E-NUFF fellowship and support each other, Left1 0 Right: Shani Parrish. vice presidentand Clifton Whilby, president ofE-NUFFat to exist. E-NUFF has put on functions in collabo­ Chez Yous a rollerskating riinkin Mallapan.. (PhotoCredit : JamilaHi ll, Onyxs taff) "This generation weli ve in, there's a ration withot her student groups, and great lack of morals. Everyone's looking after Easter, they will participate in Jesus out for selfbut at this pointin time, week. E-NUFF is also planning on SoulClap: Annual Black people have tolook ,vithout, not within setting up a Bible study center in the and start recognizing the authority, of John D. O'Bryant African American Homecoming inBoston God," said Whilby. Institute library with different references. In order to help studenlS"recogn ize Currently, E-NUFF has 18 members the authority for God," E-NUFF uses on paper and five executive board ou ap to e I e e omecommgs o evangelism to spread the gospel on positions that include president,vice Historically Black Colleges and campus and into the community. president, treasurer, and two campus Universities but with a New England According to Whilby, E-NUFF wanlS liaisons. A young woman and man arc 0avor. everyone to know about Jesus so they E-NUFF hopes to grow and to do sitting in a restaurant.The scenario,it' s "The New England Oavori s that can lead good lives and help others do more. As ,vith many faith-based groups, the couple's first year anniversary.Th ey it's here. A lot ofininority studenlS here the same. however, there are stigmas that have are celebrating at Legal Seafood. l'h e are from New England, likeRhode "It's about living right and being been anached to them. first part of the conversation goes as Island, New York, or what have you, right,thinkingright andspreading th e There are rumors that E-NUFF is a follows: and anything produced herei s going to Word. One of the most importantthin gs radical group but Whilbybe lieves that MAN: Wh at arc you gening? extract from that navor," said White. is to spread the Word and that's those who think that have never gone to WOMAN: I want the lobster. TI1eevenlS were both educational evangelism," said Whilby. a meeting and ,viblessed the group for MAN: That's kind of expensive,h ow and entertaining. Among the programs According to members of E-NUFF, themselves. about a sa lad. was a forum on the state of the Black there arc many faith-based groups at "All we do is lift up the name of Jesus WOMAN: It's our first year anniverary. man, the SoulClap Comedy Jam which Northeastern but many do not have a and try to better ourselves and be a MAN : lf iliat's the case, why couldn't featured comedians from BET's Comic real minorityco nstituency. blessing to those around us," said we have just stayed home? view and HBO's Def Comedy Jam, an While E-NUFF is open to having Whilby. WOMAN: We need to talk about this. the Black & Gold Ball/Miss Black & people of all races as pan of their "All of those arc positive things," he You never spend any timew ith me. Gold Pageant. Unlike black colleges foi:um, they concentrate on making sure said. This is a sample of several skiis put where homecoming is held on that that black studenlSarc aware of E-Nuff E-NUFF meelS every Friday at on by audien ce members at Black particularcam pus, SoulClap evenlS and what they stand for. 7:00pm at The John D. O'Bryant Relationships 2000, a discussion on were held at various colleges inth e "I was already pan of Campus African-American Institute at Northeast­ gender roles, expectations, an d stereo­ area. Crusade for Christ but I wanted to be a ern University.For more infonnation, types, on November IOa t th e North­ "There are not as many black part of one that had more minorities," contact Shani Parrish at 617-377- 1319. eastern University John D. O'Bryant studenlSin New England colleges as th said Shani Parrish, a sophomore speech African-AmericanIn stitute. Historically Black Colleges. In order to This program was one ofa series reach as many of them as possible, we of programs heldduring the week of held evenlS on various campuses. November 8 as part of The Annual Another reason is that the Alpha Phi Pretty Brown Eyes SoulClap College Fest put on by the Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated - Sigma Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorpo­ Chapter is a citywide chapter," said rated-Sigma Chapter. Beginning witl1 White. a discussion on Black economy at This year marks the thirdAnnual Boston University and culminating with SoulClap College Fest. The Alphas had the SoulClap MegatonParty at Roxbury high expectations and agreethat Community College, the Alpha's de­ things went well. Next year, they plan o scribe SoulC lap as the city of Boston's making SoulClap even bener. first Black Homecoming. "The first SoulClap was a party. "There are so many students of The second one was like this year's," color in New England and SoulClap was said White. designed to tap into that," said "Every year it's gro,ving and next lsaya Sekou White. organizer of this year we definitelyplano n making it year's SoulClap. bigger,"he said. According to White, they wanted

Elizabeth St. Brice daughterof Hillary Gabbidon.a 1998 graduate of Northeastern University.at the InnerSt rength GospelC hoir concen al Boston Universityon Friday. November 19. (PhotoCredit: J amila Hill) December 1999 , The On yx Informer 3 ___1_>~a:rii Bi-Coastal Rapper

By Kerrita McClaughlyn OnyxSlaff

Damani Washington is an emerging rap anisl who hopes his bi-coastal sound will set him aparl in a c utthroat indu stry. He raps under the name Damani. The 20- something, Inglewood, California native, is living in Waltham and working on his music. The Onyx spoke lo him recently.

Onyx: What brou ght you to Bos­ money I make, whether I would go ton, all the way from Inglewood? back or nol. Damani: I got a friend who was drafted Onyx: What do you talk about in to the Celtics during the 1998-1999 your music? season that lives out here, I came out Damani: I talk about West Coast slang here to stay with him and work for a with an East Coast style. I write about year on my music. I figured I could life topics: girls from a guys point of travel to New York to work on my view, I make references to money, girls DamaniW ashington, Inglewood, California native and emergingrappe r. (Pholo Credit: cheating, homies being shot. music since that's where the industry is. Tony Strickland, Damani's manager) Onyx: Who is your fri end? Onyx: Have you seen an impact in Onyx: Who were some of you influences Onyx: Hove you done any shows in the your mu sic fromliving on Damani: I don't want to mention. I don't both musically? area? want people to think I'm riding on his coasts? Damani: I was definitely influenced early on Damani: I'vedone aboul eight shows in name. We grew up together. We Damani: Living on both coasts has by BigDaddy Kane, Doug E. Fresh and Bo ston and New Hampshire. I was surprised played high school ball together. influenced my music. I wanted to be on N.W.A.Outs ide of rap, I listen 10 Teddy becauseth eir hasn'I been that many black Onyx: Did you pursue hoop the East Coast to work with different Pendergrast and I love me some Rachel people at the shows. I'm opening up for dr eams? producers and di fferenlso unds. I didn'I Frurelle. Camp Lo at Estelle's onD ecember 16th. Damani: I went to a small school in want to have a typical West Coasl sound. Onyx:How wouldyo u describeyoursound? Onyx: Whatelse ha ve you done? Arizona for a year but I just lost Onyx: What's Bostonlike for you, being \Vho in the industryh ns a similar style? Damani: I've donea commercial.It 's fora Damani: I thinkI havem y own style. I urban clothings tore and I did ii with K.T. interest. I still love basketball but I from Cali? Damani: It's different.I'm couldn'tcompare myself to anyone else. He's a local Boston rapartist. The commer- didn't want to play everyday. I wanted a very outgoing person and I like 10 mingle bu1whe n I go1 Someone else, a critic ro something, would cial is running on BETand Fox Sports, look to go back to here, people weren'I friendly. Blacksh ere have to give tha1d escription. forit during Celticgames. my first love, which is music. are jusl divided. Usually when I go 10o tlter TonyStrickland(Daman i's manager): He Onyx: Yousa id you were goingback toCall Onyx: Do you have any plans to cilies, I try lo find 1he black people.Here I doesn't sound like anyone else, bul if I was in December, whalwilly ou be doing and return to school now or in th e go1n o love. I actually feel moreco mfort­ to comparehim to anyone, I would say he will you come back? future? able livingo ut inWa ltltam than being in sounds like Jay-Z. He doesn'I copy Jay-Z, Damani: I'm going 10be jumping rightinl o Damani: I'm focusing on my music Boston. bul just likeh ow Jay's a stol)l1eller, he says my music. I'mworking with a producerfro m right now. It depends on how much things that eveiybody thinks bul nobody the Alcoholik's. I definitely plan oncoming else would ever say and he makes you back to the East Coast. laugh at things.Oamaniis like tha~ the Onyx: Whaldo you do forfun? things hesays, you can't believe he said Damani: I liketo go out to restaurants.I like that sh•1. to eat. I like watchingT. V.I go ou1bu1 I 'm Onyx: Doy ou have any singles out? not really a big club person. Damani: I have one called " Dark Skin Is In". Onyx: ls their anyone in your life right It's me braggingo n myself. It's a fun conceit now? thing. It's my real personality, I really am Damani : I don't have a girlfriend. My music vain. I put my personality outthere . When i s my girlfriend. you meetme , rm exactlylike m y music. Readers interes1ed in findingow more ::r ~ Onyx: Have or will you released anything about Damani and his music can contac, :s i:: else? his manager. BMG Northeast College Damani: The other single is "That Nigga"I Representative, Tony Strickland Phone travel a lot and I see people in other places number. 617-1 /6-6998 or pager 617-703- ~ and they're alwayslike whol are you doing 6008. 0 here, didn'tI see you in some other place. That's why I wrote the song. Onyx: Wheredo you write? Damani: I writea t home. I finda beatt o match what I'msay ing. I do some producing also. I have another friend-that lives in Waltham who hasa studio in his house. I've been working there. Onyx: Whal ore your plans for the future? Maximize Damani: I wantto buy my mama a house and supporteveiybody in my family. I wanl to get eveiybodyup even ifi t ain't through vour rap. That's mygoal. Onyx: What are your plans for the immediate future? exposure! Damani: I hope to gel signed. I didn't want to go the independentroute . I'm usingth e singlesth at are being played to shop around for a deal. I'min discussions with a Advertise in label righ1 now, although Ican't mention The Onyx Infonner their name? Onyx: Can readers pick upy our singles in the store? Call 617-373-2250 Damani: No butthey canh ear i1on the radio. The singlei s being playedo n 88.9(WBRS), Or send us an e-mail at 94.5,104 .9(WRBB)andmyinterviewwith Lyrically Bostonon SundayNights with 94.S [email protected] airedonDecemberSat11 :30p. m. December I 999, The Onyx Informer 4 Around The World World AIDS Day Focuses on the Disease's Orphans

By Maggie Farley (c) 1999, Los Angeles Times

UNITED NATIONS - A ndrew Clinton, Henry Belafonte and Magic important differences for the survivors. At the conference , Khomsan Sa ng­ Jackson Okurut, a 13-yea r-old from Johnson to remember the more than " While war orphans receive gratitude sue-moon, a 14-year-old orphan from Uganda, can't remember his fathe r, 11 million children who have been and sympathy from everybody, AIDS Thailand, represented the next who died from AIDS compl ications orphaned by the pandemic. But his orphans receive little sympathy," he wave of A IDS orp hans expected in when Andrew was 5 months old. So case is all too common: A report by said. " They bear part of the 'fault' or Asia. And Paris Lane, a 17-year-ol d before his mother was struck down by two U.N. agencies shows that 95 the stigma and receive someti mes on ly from New York who also lost both the same disease in September, she percent of the orphans , like him, live in pity, if they are lucky." parents to AIDS, reminded people that put together a · 'memory book" of sub-Saharan Africa. The conference ended with a " call it is not only a problem of the develop­ photos and writing so he wouldn't The disease has unrave led decad es to action" urging coun tries and com­ ing world. forget her too. of social advances, the report by munitie s to educate young people to His father, who was in and out of " She used to be very fat," he said, UNAIDS and UNICEF says. The make sound decisions about their jai l throughout Paris' childhood, died slowly paging through the book. orphaned c hildren often are thrown relation ships and to practice safe sex. six years ago . His mother, a drug user, " Then she got very thin, and even her from poverty into destitution as The U.N. agencies also encouraged went into rehabi litation so she could handwriting changed. I knew she had grandparen ts and their commun ities special emphas is on education for care for her children but died five AIDS, but I didn't think she would die become overburdened and can't care girls, who tend to be pulled out of months ago. too." for them. school first when money is tight or " That's when I lost all faith in Andrew spoke Wedne sday, Decem­ Many, espec ially girls, must drop extra hands are needed at home, but everything ," he said. ·' I couldn't ber I, at the United Nations on World out of school , and, without parental who can also have a g reater impact on understand why God wo uld take away AIDS Day to help the world remem­ protection, some are sexually abused family finances and lifestyle whe n someone who was try ing to make right ber some important faces often or exploited. More than half a million better educated. from wrong." His message to others in forgotten in the global crisis : the children have been infected with HIV Finally, the agencies asked for help to his situation: " Your life is not over children left behind when their parents by their mothers at birth or through make medicine more affordable and to when your paren ts have AJDS. You die. breast-feeding. speed research on an AIDS vaccine. have to go on." Dressed in a new black suit with a Noting that more people have died Dr. Peter Piot, executive director of If readers want to help, they can boy-sized bow tie, Andrew seemed of AIDS than have be en killed in wars UNAIDS, said an effective vacc ine for contact Jim Carmichael at UNAIDS in specia l as he implored an audience this century , Urban Jonsson, UNICEF's the virus is at least five years off," and, New York: jc armichael( at)unicef.org that included first lady Hillary Rodham regional directorin Africa, highlighted I'm afraid, much longer." or (212) 824-6644. A Tribute to Black Musicians and Poets Students from various colleges and commu­ nity members listening to a jazz performance by musicians from Berklee College of Music. The event was hosted by the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Chi Chapter at the John D. 0 'Byrant African -Amer ican Institute last month. (Photo Cred it: Jamila Hill) Battered Honduras still cursed by 1998 hurricane By James Crombie Meanwhi le, North American economy shrinking by 3 percent thi s said it would take up to seven years to ©REUTERS entrepreneurs plan to spend almost year. get the country back to normal. But twice Honduras' Gross Domestic Mitch, the mo st powerful Atlantic Presidential Chief of Staff Gustavo TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Sewers Product on a luxury floating metropoli s storm in two centu ries, rippe d through Alfaro warned: ·· As long as we don't are readyto explode in the dirt-poor that would be the bigge st ship ever. Centra l Amer ica in October 1998, have sufficient resources, we cannot republic ofHonduras and the government Extremes abou nd in this quintessen­ killing an estimated 9,000 people . It restore the country once an d for all to ispromoting frog farming to try to generate tial " banana republic" that would be wrecked up 70 percent of Honduran the state it was in before Mitch ." cash. hilarious if its predicament were not so crops -- mainly bananas , coffee ONE OF EARTH'S MOST In the ramshackle center of tl,e capital, dire. and sugar -- the mainstay s of the CORRUPT PLACES? Tegucigalpa, where shells of buildings Still waiting for $5 billion in prom­ economy, causing $5 billion in losses. Corruption watc hdog Transparency flank ruined roads,officials brush off ised aid to heal deep wounds inflicted On top of that, world prices for its Internationa l, in an annual survey accusations that this Centra l America n by Hurricane Mitch, Honduras is main products slumped while rising oil published in Octobe r, ranked Honduras country is one of the most corrupt on saddled with around $4 billion in debt, prices hiked production costs. the most corrupt country in Latin Earth. is mired deep in recession and sees its Finance Minister Gabrie la Nunez See Hondura s, page 6 December 1999, The .Onyx Informer S The OnyxInformer EDITORIAL

EDITORIALBOARD WRITERS Kami-Leigh Agard, Maurice Archer, CO-EDITORS Byron Calamese, Alithea Casimir, books,et c. . We would also liket o do a story ideas, and readership. Last but Kerrita McClaughlyn Christine Dela Cueva Jamila Hill, D!:fonner hasal ways strivedo~::::~1 0 providea- few profiles on them once in a while. not least,thanks to our loyalNU read­ Jamil a Hill Andre Jean-Franco is, Philip fonnn wherothevoicesofminoritystu­ Santa, we don~ thinktha t's too much ers. Their suppon, criticisms, and Kasiecki, Kcrrita McC laughlyn, dents are heard. We believe we've ac­ to ask for. Here is our phone number feed back has been beneficial. COMMUNITYEDITOR Kafui Tsaku oomplishedtha t this yearand we hope Santa, maybe you can pass ii on: 6 17- 8) Sanln, wewish for co-editors to Byron Calamcse weareonyo urGood List.No need to 373-2250, ask for Jamila or Kcrrita. lnkeovcrthepaperin Man:hwhen PHCYl'OGRAPHY check it l\vice,bei ng thegood j ournal­ 6) Santa, we wish for slTength to our tenure ends. We don' t want WEBSITEEDITOR Shad Hargrove, Jamila Hill ists that we are, we've already done it continue. (Weare burnt ou~ Kerrita The Onyx to die after all the work, Eric Esteves for you. Enclosed is our wish list. is in school and works part time at love,blood, sweat and tears we ADVERTISING I) We wish for a staff for the New night at the Globe plus co-edits the have invested in it Minority Kami-LeighA gard, Jamila Hill Year. (four people cannot continue Onyx; Jamila is on coop at the Globe, students need a voice on this to put out a paper. We are students in The Unity Ensemble and also co­ campus and The Onyx has to be too and we are ju st as busy with edits the Onyx. We are both seniors that voice. We would like to expand Commentaries, letters to the editor, The Onyx lnfonn er reserves the school as everyone else. We des­ who have not found the time to take to include all minoritygro ups, not d any other writing submitted to 1l1e right to edit all submissions for con• perately need some supp ort.) our GRE's, apply to grad school, just Blacks and Latino's. We want nyx Informer may be sent: 111c Onyx tent. size, and clarity. No submissions 2)WcwishforasmlJfortheNewYear. apply for real jobs, take senior pic­ this paper to be a reflectiono f this nfonn cr. Northeastern University, wilt be returned. (This is not a typo Santa,we are des­ tur es . o r do se ni or clea rance. campus.We have been lacking in 60 Hunt ingto n Avenue, 430 Curry perateso we're listingth is one twice.) ?)Thank youSanln forth esmlJw edo representing Internacionalstudents, tud enl Center , Boston, MA Northeastern University 3)We wish forsupportSanlB {wehave have.ThankyooforKami -1...eigMg;ud, but it has not been from a lack of 2 11S .Blectronic mail can also be sent 360 Huntington Avenue fur desireb ut from being understaffed. o us at [email protected]. 430 Curry Student Center spent 100 many weekends doing for staying on to write for us after re­ All opinion pieces and letters must Boston, MA 02 115 layout Wehavenopersonalli ve,;,wh o signingasCO

By Andre Jean-Francois Column Onyx Staff

Maxamillion -Shell Crawford. Thanksgiving is known as the time Moise. it was a good turnout and that a lot of Latin American Student of yea r when families an d friends Moise also added that HSU is a peop le came out to supp ort HSU. Organization come toget her 10 ce lebrate and give community service organizat ion trying In addit ion lo the food, there was thank s for what they have. Many to have fun, and willing to work with also music provided by OJ Duke of Dear Student Leaders, co llege students who move can 'I go other organizations. Supe r Plus Movement. They prov ided Hello, let me first introd uce home for the holid ays don 't get the What do du riz cole avec pois (rice free CD's to p_eople who cou ld myse lf. My name is Maxami llion­ chance to celebrate Thanksgiving. and beans), salad pomme de lerre answe r questions about Hai tian Shell Crawfo rd (Max ine) and I am With the help of the Haitian Student (pota to salad), and banan e peze (fried Culture and music history. currently the Pres ident of the Latin Unity (HSU) group, Northeastern plantain) have in common ? All three Tabitha Forde Sophomore Soc iol­ Ame rican Stude nt Organization. I Univers ity, students who co uldn 't go were found during the dinn er. ogy major said "this was one of the am writing you all because I want home for Thanksgiving were give n a The dinn er illustrated the unity, nicest thing s I've seen this year , yo u lo know that l know how chance to celebrat e with friend s here friendship, and love amo ng stude nts in becau se of the atmosphere whe re frustrating it is to be a student at NU. HSU hosted it's first annual the Cab ral Cente r. peop le came 10 unwind and relax." leader. Thankg sgiving dinner on Tuesday, " I felt Kenny did a goo d thing , The overall opini on of those who II gets hard, especia lly when Nove mber 30 at the John 0 . O'Brya nt students groups shou ld do this more attend ed was 1ha1 HSU did somet hing you want to see the end results of Afr ican American lnstitute' s Cabral ofte n", said Mariyha nna Jones a differe nt from other organ izations your hard work, but I must remind Sophomore Business major. becau se they prov ided students with you the hard work we put in now, Center. HSU Preside nt Kenne th R. Moise Peop le who atte nded the event had something a forum in which people will not benefit us. The studen ts of says the dinner was organized for positive react ions towa rds it. Many could get to know each othe r. the past broke down the barriers for seve ral reasons. people felt that the event was some­ HSU membe rs added that their us and now we must do the same " It was a unity dinn er to unite other thing that they could get used to. organization is All About Unity, and for the future Northeastern Unive r­ organ izations and for students who Belinda Ancion a Sophomore Hum an that's what they wanted lo convey to sity students. co uldn 't go hom e for the holiday", said Resou rce Management major , felt that everyo ne. Why am I telling you all this? Well, I ju st want to say, don't gel discouraged. It's sometimes easier Honduras, from page 4 to throw in the towel and not care about the issues on campus , but America. It was placed 94th out of99 external funds, neither loans nor tax-free floating island that will circum­ have you eve r wo ndered what countries tracked worldwide, four slots donations, excep t $30 million from navigate the globe to give inhabitants would have happened if our parents lower in the honest¥ leagues than its Kuwait, to dredge the rivers." perpetua l sunshine, ·· an ideal place to stopped caring? Then again, don't nearest Latin American rival, Paraguay. live or run a business ·· a friendly, safe 11 kill yourse lves. I mean, the " We consider the rankin g unfair . This BANANAS,C OFFEE ,EVEN and secure community. ··s trugg le" will always go on. but gove rnment has been making great FROGS OFFER HOPE The huge vesse l, 4,320 feet long, what good would you be if you efforts to elimina te corr uption," Alfaro Banana , coffee and shrimp output is 750 feet wide and 340 feet deep, will worked yourself to sickness. Relax, said. He also qu estioned the integrity of seen recove ring next year, Agric ulture house sports centers , parks and take care of yourself and learn to the survey, say ing: · 'This is not the best Min ister Guillermo Alvarado said. theate rs. Five times longer than the 1 lean on each other. mechanism. ' " Banana was the crop most affected. biggest cruise liner now afloat, able to Con Amo r A lack of money to repair hurricane-­ However, we expect to recover pre­ carry 115,000 people and land j ets on dama ged infrastructure has left Hondu­ Mitch levels in 200 I," he said. its top deck, it will cost $8.5 billion. ras vulnerable to floods and disease as Honduras , which used to produce .. Some peop le think it's not going to brimful and shattered sewerage systems 40-45 million boxes of bananas, will happen but, hey, it's an idea, we 've got Calling leak and threaten to burst. export ju st 6 million this year. Coffee to give it a try," Mossi said. ·· It's rea lly dangerous because the produ ction is expected to jump to The U.S. Embassy in Teguc igalpa sys tem is very damaged," said Pedro around 4 million I 00-pound bags this views the project as large, ambit ious all Ortiz, head of the nation's sewers. seaso n, up from 3.3 million in 1998. but nonetheless serious. Feca l matter and urine have been Shrimp outpu t is expected to " Th ere are ser ious discu ssions ... running openly throu gh city stree ts for rebound lo 8,000 tons, compared to we consi der it a legitimate business month s. Some$ I 2 1 million is needed to 4,000 tons in 1998, when one of the venture ," said embassy spokeswoman maJors repair damaged pipes and water two annu al crops was comple tely Marti Este ll. "'We'll have to see treatment plants and Ortiz said only destroyed . whethe r they can pull all the various $ 14 million was on the horizon, a In a quest for new sources of compone nts toget her 10 make it a The Onyx needs possible donation from the Italian income , the mini stry is promotin g frog reality." govern ment to repair a small pan of farming and expects Honduras to start At $ 138,000 to $44 milli on per writers , the network. commercial produ ction in 2000. condominium , the boat will be beyond · 'Since there's so much destruction in " The aim is to offer differ ent foods, the reach of most Honduran s, whose photographers, many areas ·· roads, farms, schoo ls •• divers ify income sources and generate minimum wage is j ust $70 a month. we're all asking for money from the dollars," said Elias RomJ:ro, spokes­ Trade Mini ster Reginaldo Panting said business managers, governmen t, but I don'! think ii has man for the Mini stry of Agricu lture . he expected a tourism boom as cl ienls enough lo give to everyo ne," Oni z said. He said Hondur as would target the flocked to see their mobile homes in advertising .. In summer it will smell very bad," United States and Europe - a market the making . Some 9,00 0 job s cou ld be epresentatives , anc he added. for 13,000 tons a year --with its home­ generated around the Caribb ean port Money is also urgently needed 10 grown edible bullfrogs. off rujillo. editors. dredge rivers and avert deadly floods. Dirt-cheap labor was one of the But Honduran s, most of whom Many countries promised billions of main reaso ns U.S.-based Freedom seem to greet visitors with an warm dollars in disaster aid , but most is nol Ship Inc. picked Hondura s as the and hon est friendlin ess that belies their due unti l late 2000 or later. pro spective birthp lace for an improb­ impoveri shed state, expect this festive Please call us at Floods in Honduras since mid­ able floating city. " If things work out seas on to be frugal at best. 617-373-2250 or stop September , which ruined hou ses and the way we want, we should be " We used to have parties, buy things. farmland , forced thou sands from their starti ng in Janua ry," said Mario Mossi, there washappiness ; now there's nothing by Room 430 Curry hom es and killed at least 35, were a the local agent for the Florida-ba sed like tha~"taxi dri ver OscarMali said. hangover from Milch since the ground firm. But Alfaro, from his plainly furnished Student Center winter was still saturated and rivers over ­ offices, denied that all was gloom and quarter flowed , Chief of Staff Alfaro said. TAX-FREE FLOATING doom. " We have found Mitch 10 be a ·· A small amount of water produces ISLAND door to new opportunities," the presiden­ floods. We have not been able 10 get Freedom Ship says ii wants to make a tial chief of staff said. December 1999, The Onyx Informer 7 My Soul, My Life

By Bolivar Geraldo Onyx Staff I must say, the R&B music scene good production and keepsa mid-tempo sure took a nose dive in the past few R&B sound. years. However. it's slowly getting Occasionally, J-Shin breaks it up back on 1rackwith solid releases from with a slow jam or two; namely "Sex ls some of the best in the game. One of Not". This works great as a listener tl1ese solid releases is newcomer J-Shin can play the album straight through with of the famed Slip-N-Slide camp. Al lhe out skipping a track. As I said before, young age of 22, J-Shin prepares to J-Shin hails from theS lip-N-Slide camp release his solo album "MY SOUL, MY which is also home to Trick Daddy. so LI FE"and it definitely has lots of soul you know he shows up on the album. and life. As shown by the current Unlike a lot of R&B artists out there, J­ single "One Night Stand" featuring Shin keeps his rap cameos to a mini­ Latocha Scon of Xscape, the album has mum and when they do appear, they fit a very sensual feel to it. and sounds just right. different from all of the other artists out "MY SOUL, MY LIFE" is a great there. album and definitely worth picking up. One of the things that listeners J-Shin 's voice, sexy lyrics, and good will notice is tliat this guy can sing, but production will definitely have the ladies he has a soft voice and doesn't try to open and the fellas banging it when a over do things to impress listeners. J­ shorty is over the crib. This man is Shin simply lets his voice shine on songs doing his thing. Pick up J-Shin 's "MY like "I'll Do it", Treat YouB etter", and SOUL, MY LIFE", it's slated for a J-Shin, R&B recording artist whose debut album, ''My Soul, My Life 11 hits Boston stores "Pony Ride". Most of the album has Mid-January release. in Mid-January.(Ph oto Credit: BolivarGeraldo) TbT, from page 8 into thisjoint They fromth e on at least one track. this shit israw, comin phat endin' of this album. He evens houts Prahjos-prahjos(projeets)as Rae would Tuck 15: Probablymy favorite track on at your door. .. " chants Rae onthe hook to to all his Wu familyin his lyrics in the say, in thisso ng as a matter of fact here besides thenext joint is 'The Table" another CreamTeam colabo. I'm not really beginning ofth e song. I likethis. Another speaker necessity. featuring my newest favorite member of feelin the beat but you Tuck 21: The last track is a man Track II: Skit #2 is Rae and his boys the Wu, Masta Killa_He 's deep. You gona gona love Rae. He justso unds exactlyth e cheekingup on his son that lives with his laughinat eachother.It 's kind offimny be from around the way to see the deej>­ same as he always does. Keepin it real is a mom. Rae's sendin out a positive message thoughcause they talkin about one of ness in his rhyme book/brain. Anotherslow must forproject ni @@as. It's a'ight,but and we allneed to listenclose . Take care them having fake 1im's. Rae was like heavenlysounding beat wita thumpin' ass nothin' special. of your kids. They gonnaend up in society "yo,you got a bag-a-weed onthe side of group ofpercussion . This isjust a old school Track 18: I heard in amagazine that "Pop representin' you, so guide them properly. your tim 1s" intseadof the, as we know, Wu fan's dream come true. Don't sleep Shit" wasa Swizz Beatz wanna-be beat Just because it was Raekwon, I paid usual 1imtree. I was dying and so was y'all. When I heard itfor myself, Ico uldn't front, $13.99 for this ed. I would giveita$l2 .99 the catsthat were in the background. Track 16:Bringing a presence similar to it did have thatsame theme to it I wasn't rating( out of$I 4.99for the unexperienced) Tuck 12: Live-live, live-live,live live, a Premier effect is big Pete Rock doin ' really feelinit that much. The lyrics werenlt though. Hel ost two dollarsbecause th ere "Live fromNewYork" isthe new, old Rae a track for Rae. lt 'scalled "Sneakers" nothin' impressive to illoutabout wasno Ghost and therewere like2 or 3 again. This is my sh•~and if yousee me so take a gue ss what this sh$t is about. Track 19: "Heart to Heart" uses a beat tracks I wasn't feeling. It's a good bopin' my head, I'm probably listening to Rae goes through all the brand names from an oldsc hooljoint I can't put my comeback for Raethough . Everyone tries this. The deep piano keys goperfectly and the memories that went with some finger on, but Nas made soa ng called toavoidthe sophomore jinx, and Rae did a with the deep street beats. I don't know of them for us. A classic track for Rae to Understanding to the same beatBoth of goodjob ofkeepin' shit thorough. You can what tosay. Thi s is for the oldsc hool Rae throw under his veteran belt. Pete laces them are phat rhymes over the same phat see the quest form ass appealon this appreciators. Where Staten lise at? it with the cuts. He scratches Prodigy, beat I guess ni¾¾as that chill together, album compared toCuban Linx. lfyou're Tuck 13: Rae made the second half of Nas, old Rae records, and other Rae thinkalike. Just some chill wityour boys a Rae/oldsc hool Wu fan, you his album forth e old, traditional Raefans. affiliates all through the hooks. His cuttin s¾it Another really felt track.I li ke the should feelthis album. Sh*thas changed The short "My Favorite Dred" lltes a skills are ridiculous on this joint. I was second half of the album much morethan but it was for the better. It's good to see quick, leave you lookingfor more, taleof like, "Damn, he's crazy wit his." This has the first The old Raefans are happy at this cats gettindoe , even ifit takes awayfrom the exploits of adrug dealer. There's not to go on a tape now so I can bump this in point some of the music. As long as there are too much to say on these tracks because every f@ckin radio I see. Pete evens Tuck 20: "Forecast"i s a run through of the tracks fortl1e real catslike yours truly, I they're mostly new phat beats andthe deads the beat at the end and brings it the countriesI think Rae has traveled to. can only respect moneyc hanges my same old Rae repin' byhim self. back real quick to tease ni&&as. The Except he doesth at sh-t in a very strategic ni¾¾as go through. Keep supportinhip­ Track 14: "Friday"was one ofth ose, "I'll best joint on here in my opinion, along wit rhyme style of his own. Anotl1ers peaker hop yo, this is the sh¾t that saved a lot of skip this one" type of tracks. The beat was "the table" and''heart toh eart" "live from kiUin' beat tlirown by his man Triflyn. All the us fromtl1i s world of misery.Where alltl1 e horrible in my eyes because ofth e fast ny" and a couple of others. cities and areasthey 've performed in, get real Queens hidin' at in Boston? Keep it as speed and thiso ne makes me miss Tuck 17: "Raw" uses alin e from "Winter shouted on this track. An additionto the real as you can. One! Ghost's presence.H e should have put him Warz"from Ghost 's album, lronman. "Yes, Profile of a Great Black American James Weldon Johnson As a precursor.participant, and his brotl1er, Rosamond,as a composer. wrote thee NAACP's fronllllatlacks on pursue a tl1eatricalcareer. historianof the Harlen, Renaissance. and staged musical comediesand light operas segregationand discrimination, organizing Campaigning for TeddyRoosevelt's suoce,s James WeldonJohnson had as much to do from 1901to 1906,producingsuchenduring the 1917s ilent protestparade in Ne" York ful presidential bid in 1904earned Jolmso, with die nse oftlmt culturalmovement as songs as "Since You Went Away" and"Li.II City that condemned die massacre of an appointment as U.S. Consulto Venezu any oneper..on. Every Voice and Sing," now widely adopted African-Americansin eas1St. Louis.and ela ( 190(,-S) and Nicaragua (1909-12).h lnde.->d,he was tl1eepitome of the as the Alhcan-Amencan national anthem .. fighting forpa,,sage oftl1e 1921Dyer Anti­ 1913 he returned toNe\\ York andplunge< classic Renaissanceman himse1t:...poe1. llli s remarkably ve~ti le man crowned Lynchingb ill. during 144yean.ofNAACP intocu lturallife there by writing God's Trom compoi.cr.autl1or. govemment official. llis contributionsto societyby becomingfield serviL'e. b(me:s:Seven NegroSem1ons in Ver..ean< teacher.and influentialc ,vilrighLsactivist. secretaryfo r the fledgling NAACP in After boco111ing die firstA fiican­ The Book of America n Negro Poetry Johnson's mothersparked his early 1916. As a sociald1inker. Johnson wasa n Americanman to beadmiued to tl1e bar( in Johnson was a literature instructorat inten.>stin drawing,lit erature. and early advocateof Booker T. Waslungton's 1897)too practicelaw in Jacksonville. Fisk University inTennessee when he dioo music.Cornequently, Johnson, as lyri~istand self:help philosophy. But helater supported FloridaJ1emovl!d to New YorkCity to in an automobilecrash in I 938. - December 1999, The Onyx Informer 8 Hi12:JJ0Track By Track ------_-4 =::,,~~ -

ALBUM REVIEW Raekwon's Immobilarity

real hip hoppers about their music with tocome. boys that go by the name of The always-proper language. That ain't how Track 2: "Damn!" That's what I said American Cream Team. This colabo is we speak, straight up. At least, we when I first heard this track. I thought it for the ni&&as on the comer. A cypha don't in the hip hop community I grew was gonna be off the hook bein' that it's of cats and a beat make up the up in(what up to the QU). When I chill, the first set it off song, but it was kind of thoughtfully created ''Power". Fast Maurice"Moe " Archer I don't want to have to worry about a disappointment Titled "Yae Yo" (the rhymin all around the crew. Tritlyn on OnyxSmff always usin • the right form of a verb at real cats know why), the beat was soft the beat again. r eel the family bond Yo, life is mad good yo_I hope y'all a certain time. I save that for work and for a Wu beat. Rae has been on some with these cats. enjoyin' iLll1i s sh*t is too short forni¾¾ as responsible business matters. When the soft sh*t, beatwise, lately. I guess that Track 7: Skit # I is Rae talkin to his to be bullsh*tin' _Hiphop is always here to beats is bumpin' though, Iju st bop my would explain why he started off wit moms. His moms sounds like it's really keep sh*t real though, so everybody's fa­ head and build wit my cats.(maybe slide this. He shows his goal of more mass his mom and not some actress or guest vorite Wu ni&8ui is back wit a new album. to shorty crib afta, ha ha) A' ight, back appeal on this one. He still does his little voice. They talkin about meetin to look Raekwondecided he didn't want my man to "lmmobilarity". Rae came back on thing-thing on the m-i-c, but a soft at some house. There's no beat. Ghostface to representw it him on this trip. some welcomed real sh"t. Mad knowl­ entrance for a cat wit a rep in the game They're just talkin' over the phone Ghootwasn'ton notracksandtraditional Wu­ edge, phat beats, street fables, and even already. I love the story explained about some real sh*t. It was nice to beat originator, Rzawas found on no pro­ touchin' your heart sh#t. Yo, let me not though. Only Rae tells graphic stories the see a rapper give props to his or her duction credits; at all! The sh*t is that al­ keep y'all. Here go trackone. One! way he does. I like that he made it short moms. though these changes have taken place, ... (< ya like that) though. Track 8: The touchin track for this Track 3: "Casablanca" is just typical album is also very appropriately titled THE SH$T IS STILL PHAT!I guess you Track I: To tell y'a ll the truth, this intro can count on the real niggas through any­ Raekwon. Rhymin about the criminal life "All I Got Is You Pt.II". He says with a reminded me of the beginning of Cuban and the unique style that shows the new sounding care in his voice, "yo thing to put some head-noddin Linx, except, instead oftalkin to Ghost, musak(spelled that way on purpose)out shaolin in him. It's a' ight, but notl1in' Ghos, I lah you man!" because this is he talkin 10 this other cat. If you don't on the streets. Oh yeah, for everyone really new or trance enhancing. Track 4: part two to Ghost's "All I Got Is You". know what Cuban Linx is, then put this He seems to be hookin' some cat named The beat is very heavenly soundin'. readin' thissh*tsaying, "damn,hisEnglish down and study your history some is horrible .. . " or some sh!t like that, Triflyn up wit mad production time. Listen and see if you can feel the more. No rhymin',jus~buildin' on life's Triflyn does a lot of the beats on this heavenly part. Positive soundin sh$t understandthis. Hip hop has a language ill situations to a slow, phat beat. It because it's a culture. I can't speak to the album and "I 00 Rounds" is no exception. comin' from some hardcore cats. It's definitely had me anticipatin' some sh*t Another traditional Rae joint. It sounds good to see that happening in these real like he tryin' to let ni$$as know he can a$$ days. rep without Ghost. I missed Ghost Track 9: Another track that stuck out though. They was one o~the illest tag while my head started really bopin'. teams in hip-hop. We'll probably hear Another lesson from the street book is them together again though, so don't "Jury". It's a new set ofbe atrnakers to sweat it. They still give mad love to each get used to, but once you do, you'll be on their albums, so whateva. An average carrying this tape everywhere you go. track still. Phat track to bump in the wip.Speakin Track S: As I role up another du ..., this of those .. .. was the first track to strike me. Appro­ Track 10: Mr. Mef makes a guest priately titled "Real Life" makes Rae appearance for my joint "F>ck Them". sound like a 2G version of the old Rae The cat playin the keyboard is mad instead of just a 2G version. The beat is nice. J was surprised that Tica! actually dark and street bumpable. A short story brought a hardcore effect to the album to a phat beat tellin ' about the real street instead of his late "commercial" effect life. That's what the l"/ock (wanna hear. (whateva that means). I was really Track 6: Rae's tryin' to bring up his See TbT pag e 7 control and a cat that is mad hungry for Divine Styler props made this album a definitely jewel. 754 Huntington Avenue He lost 49-<:entscause one of the tracks .Track was a'ighL Boston, MA 02115 Dr. Dre "Chronic 2001" Sll .99 617-232-1380 PharoaheMonch "lntemalAIJain" I gave tl1is11. 99 cause I didn't get a $14.50 good listento it yeL I heard some phat My ni¾¾a Pharoahe is repin' for joints and y'all know about HOURS: my boroughand the undergroundto the "Still Dre" wrinen by Jay-Z.The tracks I fullesLThi s Queens native usedt o behalf heard were all good but I'm expecting Tuesday- Friday 8am - 6pm of the OrganizedKon.fusion underground some of the tracks to be a group.Now, on hisow n, he kills listeners linle too west coast for me, thus the Wednesday 8am - 8pm with sick lyricsandill metaphors.l11e beats reason for the 3 dollar loss in rating.Go Saturday 7am - 3pm are off the hook too.Don' l sleep on this cop it tl1ough. It wasgood from what I cal This is one of the phatestalbums I've head so far. Kurupt came out with a new heard in a long time. Speakershakin ' beats album too. He's on Dre's album too. that will have your head going out of Wortl1lookin into .