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While watching markets collapse and commentary on American, European, Japanese and African channels, two consistent themes emerged. From the perspective of the West, comparisons to the financial crisis of 2008 were irresistible and a consensus – though vague and fleeting in nature – emerged over the place of Africa, with the suggestion that many investors could seek growth there as equities in America and Europe declined. From Africa, we heard concern, the idea being that risk averse investors abroad will see the continent in broad brush generalizations (with no distinction or differentiation within the international ‘emerging market’ category) and too challenging to navigate in coming days.

In reminding us all of the principles contained within the Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s 55-year old words (”Everyone loves good for self: then should he not love the same for others? If such love were practiced, there would never be a need for an army, neither a police force.”) Star has forced us to admit the dilemma we all face and the burden we all share because we do not – as a community - practice the Golden Rule enough to not have a police force.

The ‘CedCinema’ Movement was founded in 2010 not to recognize merit or talent but to improve Cedric Muhammad’s Hollywood-related business skills after entering the world of Independent Film Finance (quietly receiving capital raise requests for projects of $5 million or less). On a personal level, the Movement is about Ced’s quest for movie intelligence and relaxation.

“I’m not really sure I can do the show I want to so I won’t commit to that until I see something in the audience and feel something in my heart.”

To have a Black political independent – who has voted Democrat, Republican, Socialist, Conservative, Libertarian and Green and who has friends in the Republican Party’s economic growth wing and those on the radical, activist Left – say that economics matters more than partisan politics makes for something very interesting.

On June 15th, “The Cedric Muhammad and Black Coffee Program” will return with a Special Broadcast dedicated to a focus on African Capital Markets and Economic Developments – a groundbreaking Internet Broadcast. The Show continues its 4-Element Brand: Economics, Geopolitics, Music and Motivation.

My interpolation that Jay-Z’s emergence as an art collector has powerful implications for race and class is one that many will dismiss as wishful thinking. That he has the potential to spark a cultural revolution, for many, borders on blasphemy.

Listening to those stations and the DJs on them like Frankie Crocker; Davhed Levy, DJ Red Alert; Chuck Chillout and Mr. Magic and Marley Marl is where I first saw the emergence of this intersection between Hip-Hop, Reggae, Soca, Calypso, Dancehall, Ragamuffin from a street, mix, and radio playlist standpoint. And of course an artist like KRS-One took it to a new level, from the rap side. To me, his ability to fuse different genres and sounds of the Diaspora is one of his greatest and overlooked contributions.

All of us, in different ways, entertain, debate or ponder the question of just what is appropriate lyrical content in rap music? and the question of whether it is the duty of Hip-Hop artists to popularize knowledge, understanding and wisdom? Some of us have clear answers on these questions while others say it is [...]