Hip-hop artists spread word on vegetarian, vegan diets in black community

By Leslie Fulbright
KRT News Service

Published July 2 2004


SEATTLE -- There are some hip-hop artists who don't drink Tanqueray and Alize and want no part of the late-night trips to the BK.

Take the socially conscious rap duo Dead Prez, whose song "Be Healthy" includes the lyrics: "I don't eat meat, no dairy, no sweets - only ripe vegetables, fresh fruit and whole wheat."

In recent years, hip-hop artists have started publicly denouncing the unhealthy diets some of their counterparts have long embraced. They are pushing the benefits of holistic health in the black community, where high blood pressure and cholesterol are common problems.

Singer Erykah Badu, an active promoter of the vegan lifestyle, has been known to stop by Seattle's Hillside Quickies Vegan Sandwich Shop, where the Howell family serves up Tempehstrami Subs and Macaroni and Yease to the tune of hip-hop, dance hall and reggae.

"We get a lot of artists that come through here," said Ayinde Howell, a 25-year-old vegan and local rapper/poet, "the ones who take care of their bodies."

The low-key vegan/soul-food cafe has hosted the likes of The Roots, Saul Williams, Black Anger, Blackalicious and the Lifesavas. Howell opened the business five years ago, inspired by his mother, who has prepared wholesale vegan foods for years. Howell began working for his mother as a teenager, delivering vegan products to stores.

Sister Afi, 29, came to help a couple years ago at Quickies, where she now handles all of the vegan desserts, including cookies, cakes, pies, bars and vegan soy cream.

"There has always been cooking going on in our family," Ayinde Howell said, "so we may as well make money."

Seattle has strong vegan and hip-hop communities, and Howell is part of both. They don't often intersect.

"Hip-hop is largely black people and black people are not largely vegans," Howell said. "With hip-hop, there is a little bit of machismo, so 'Save the Animals' is not the most popular slogan.

"But now that the big artists are coming out, they are having some influence."

At the forefront is rap mogul and entrepreneur Russell Simmons, a strict vegan who is active in People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Simmons has, among other things, signed on to PETA's anti-fur ad in Women's Wear Daily, recorded a radio public service announcement promoting vegetarianism and participated in the PETA Celebrity Cookbook.

The late Notorious B.I.G., who famously indulged in "T-bone steak, cheese, eggs and Welch's grape" in his classic single, "Big Poppa" - and evidenced by his hefty frame - is probably rolling in his grave.

But the benefits of going veggie are taking root. A recently released DVD, "Holistic Wellness for the Hip-Hop Generation," speaks to young people about diet and health. Created by filmmaker Supa Nova Slom, the 110-minute documentary features appearances by artists Badu, rapper Common and Stic.man from Dead Prez.

To read the rest of the article, go here...

http://new.blackvoices.com/entertainment/music/bv-ent-veganhiphop070204,0,1732912.story?coll=bv-entertainment-music-feat

This is great! It's wonderful to hear that influential artists are setting examples for others. Especially with kids, that's who they listen to much of the time.

I appreciate the post, brother.

Anyone know if they released this documentary yet. I can't find a place to order it anywhere. I think it's cool to eliminate meat. I think they are setting a good example and fighting all the ignorance and self-destructive eating habits that are becoming more and more common.

Peace,



Glad you enjoyed it Gempis. Kente, go right here..... http://www.dvdempire.com/Exec/v4_it...6560366&redir=1

Thanks man. It was on there. I'm going to order it now. :shades:

GO VEGETARIANISM!!!!!!!! lol

People like Erykah Badu, Andre 3000, and Dead Prez inspired me to make the switch. Also, there is a growing Black Vegan/Vegetarian community here in Atlanta, which is a BIG help when you know you aren't by yourself!

Now if those hip hop artists would just spread the word on the demoralizing effects of many hip hop lyrics upon our people, things would sho nuff git betta. :shades: For that, like white milk, can also be bad for ya.

Peace,




Uhm Joyce, those same hiphop artists who speak of healthy eating do rap about positivity. Artists like Common and Dead Prez speak on the problems in our community and in todays rap music. The thing is, people like them don't get any real air-play because they don't promote the self-destructional lifestyle that many rappers do today. Today's poison is hiphop music is a fad. Conscious artists in general is what we need to see on television.


Sista Triniti, might I add........ SAVE THE ANIMALS....lol

That's great, that they are spreading positive things among our people. Some others are Grits, T-Bone (these are actual folks) and B.B.Jay, etc. And like you said, they don't get the air play that the porn rappers do, but at least they can feel good about themselves and what they are doing. Sometimes, it ain't all about being popular, but rather choosing to do the right thing.

~j

Joyce...... I figured you're into christian rap...... What do you think of Kanye West?

lol @ save the animals lol indeed brotha indeed :)

Hip Hop is a fad? Wrong my brother they have been saying this since it came out and it's still growing strong. Common is a positive brother and I do love his style but just any other form of music u have the Good the Bad abd the Ugly, Hip Hop is the product of innsr city living from inner city kids so what u hear is what they live and dream of. Positive artist give the others a dream and ideal to look twards for a change it's a message that's being heard and understood all around.

Peace,




Uhm Joyce, those same hiphop artists who speak of healthy eating do rap about positivity. Artists like Common and Dead Prez speak on the problems in our community and in todays rap music. The thing is, people like them don't get any real air-play because they don't promote the self-destructional lifestyle that many rappers do today. Today's poison is hiphop music is a fad. Conscious artists in general is what we need to see on television.


Sista Triniti, might I add........ SAVE THE ANIMALS....lol

That documentary was on point! I got it in the mail a day after I heard Queen Afua speak on the radio here in ATL (synchronicity in full effect). This is a must have for those of us who are striving to eat to live and not picking dry the bones of hogs, cows, etc. I'm now disgusted at the thought of animals rotting inside of my body(temple). Eat living things and you will live!

P.S. You can order the video at www.queenafuaonline.com

Pharoah,

I do enjoy the art of hip hop when it is done right. People like Lauren Hill really impress me because they have a real vocabulary and know how to use it effectively and deeply without the use of expletives. It takes a deep mind to do that and we have few of those in the world today. I admire them and support them financially. I don't burn...I purchase...and gladly at that.

However, I'm mostly into Urban Contemporary gospel. Folks like,
Men Of Standard
Trinity
Out Of Eden
Yolanda Adams
Hezekiah Walker
Kirk Franklin
Fred Hammond
and on and on..... Who is Kanye West?

~j

Oh my goodness.

Hip Hop is a fad? Wrong my brother they have been saying this since it came out and it's still growing strong. Common is a positive brother and I do love his style but just any other form of music u have the Good the Bad abd the Ugly, Hip Hop is the product of innsr city living from inner city kids so what u hear is what they live and dream of. Positive artist give the others a dream and ideal to look twards for a change it's a message that's being heard and understood all around.



Peace,


I'll let you have your opinion but peep. What today's inner city dream of is due to the negativity in our community. Now you have these clowns in these videos glorifying that type of lifestyle as our youth look of to that so of course this "bling-bling" is going to be the inner city "dream" and there is no excuse for such ignorance considering that these rappers have a gift which should be used to uplift. I often hear the tired excuse, "this is all we know", c'mon it's not that hard to pick up a book. Positive artists also grow up in the same enviroment but they seem to have their heads on straight so there is no excuse. HipHop started off addressing the problems of our community with artists like Grand Master Flash, Rakim, Public Enemy, KRS-1, Tribe Called Quest and so on. Knowledge was once (and even in the begining) an important factor in HipHop, nowadays "Self-Destruction" is glorifyed. Today's comercialize-hiphop is a fad in my opinion and hopefully it will blow over (I doubt it) but untill then, I'll stick with underground artists.

Pharoah,

I do enjoy the art of hip hop when it is done right. People like Lauren Hill really impress me because they have a real vocabulary and know how to use it effectively and deeply without the use of expletives. It takes a deep mind to do that and we have few of those in the world today. I admire them and support them financially. I don't burn...I purchase...and gladly at that.

However, I'm mostly into Urban Contemporary gospel. Folks like,
Men Of Standard
Trinity
Out Of Eden
Yolanda Adams
Hezekiah Walker
Kirk Franklin
Fred Hammond
and on and on..... Who is Kanye West?





~j



Peace,



Kanye West is a somewhat conscious artists who has a single called "Jesus Walks". I was wondering if you might have heard.....

I agree with you on Lauren Hill, she's unique and creative. Today's artist don't have much of a imagination. This is why I only listen to underground hiphop and Neo Soul artists because they take it back to the essence. Artist like Anthony Hamilton bring substance to today's music. The brotha is what I call SOul music. I also admire the likes of Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond and Donnie Mc Clerk (yeah I enjoy some gospel). I could actually relate to some of Donnies songs. This brothas music speaks to everyone.

Peace,



Kanye West is a somewhat conscious artists who has a single called "Jesus Walks". I was wondering if you might have heard.....

I agree with you on Lauren Hill, she's unique and creative. Today's artist don't have much of a imagination. This is why I only listen to underground hiphop and Neo Soul artists because they take it back to the essence. Artist like Anthony Hamilton bring substance to today's music. The brotha is what I call SOul music. I also admire the likes of Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond and Donnie Mc Clerk (yeah I enjoy some gospel). I could actually relate to some of Donnies songs. This brothas music speaks to everyone.

I love underground hiphop also. Hopefully, one day, they will come from "under" the ground to reign on top of it...but then being underground has such a sense of power about it, because they are who they are without the influence to be trashy. They are their own person...much respect for them.

Yes...I must admit, I was shocked by this...I also admire the likes of Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond and Donnie Mc Clerk (yeah I enjoy some gospel). I could actually relate to some of Donnies songs. This brothas music speaks to everyone. WoW! You said this.

I'll have to get this documentary for myself.. whenever I get some spare cash, anyway. I'm moving away from mainstream music and listening to more "neo" soul, jazz, and reggae. Knowing that some of my favorite artists live the lifestyle that I'm slowly switching over to is a big plus. Now if only I could find a large, vegetarian, Black community in Michigan........ I have got to move out of this state!

Man I want to go back to veganism so bad. But the lifestyle is expensive. I have to wait until I get a job. My body doesnt like dairy products,eggs or chicken or beef, I DONT EVEN LIKE SWEETS :puke2:, im learning about my body..its very sensitive to everything i put in it..medicine..food..drugs..thoughts..messes my body up big time. I cant wait till I get another job. VEGANISM I SHALL RETURN