Hip Hop Congress

Interview with HHCF Co-Founder Adisa Banjoko [Shamko Noble]

You can view the rest of the interview and other South Bay articles at www.siliconvalleydebug.com

Adisa Banjoko is serious. He’s serious about religion, martial arts, military strategy and chess. He’s serious about his family and his soccer team. And he was serious about this interview.

Recently Adisa has been riding the wave of support that has come off the heels of developing and launching the worlds first Hip Hop Chess Federation. With RZA and Josh Waitzkin on board, Adisa and his partner Leo Librian have been sky rocketing towards success. We sat down with Adisa to dig into the mind of the man behind the boards, and see what’s really crackin.

SN: So my first question is this: This whole Hip Hop and Chess thing has taken off way faster and way harder than could have been previously imagined. To what do you credit such a rapid climb?

Adisa: The HHCF has indeed taken off fast. Much faster than I ever could have anticipated. We just opened up an office in Romania! We have offers to come out to Spain and Malaysia…But, to answer your question, I think timing is right. Hip Hop, chess and the martial arts communities have all matured to a point where so many can see the connections.

At the same time, people are tired of the violence being reflected in the youth and folks want answers. The HHCF is not a cure-all for all of societies problems. But we can, and do make an impact where we can.

SN: What do you think the HHCF contributes the Hip Hop and the Chess landscape that it was lacking before your existence?

Adisa: The HHCF was able to dispel two negative stereotypes about both subcultures. For the Hip Hop community, we crushed the stereotype of the ignorant, dumb rapper. We showed an authentic intelligence within Hip Hop that always existed and did not have a political or religious dogma attached to it. So that’s beautiful.

On the other side of the coin, we have the stereotype of the eternal chess nerd. People always wanted to act like chess players have no flavor, no personal style. We broke barriers on that one as well. The destruction of stereotypes is key to creating intercultural communication. That’s what our organization facilitates. Its something hard for people visualize, so just peep:

SN: You’ve been chronicling the Bay Area experience for many years now. Tell me, how would you summarize the changes that you’ve seen, and what are some of your predictions for the next 3-5 years?

Adisa: The Bay went from being on the verge of a new global explosion with hyphy, to being back on solo with no promo. I hate it too, because I feel like the majors killed hyphy off prematurely because they did not understand it.

At the same time, one of the problems in exporting hyphy was the car culture. All through the Bay sideshows evolved over the last 20 years. But in Colorado or NY, cats will catch serious felonies trying to ghostride anything. When so much of the music was connected to things other folks were not able to do-it made it harder for hyphy to grow…That’s why I suggested in Lyrical Swords Vol. 2: Westside Rebellion that they LEGALIZE the sideshows….But, cats thought I was trippin’. I was trying to set up the export of the car culture so the whole Bay could blow.

It does not matter really. The Bay is so raw. There is so much MC, DJ, b-boy/b-girl, graf and journalism talent that we will always be a factor in the game.

SN: All right, so this is an obvious one: Who are you supporting for President? What other races, if any, will you be watching closely?

Adisa: Well, it USED to be obvious. I was 100% for Obama. Then he got all silent on the Jena 6 issue. I thought he was supposed to be the NEW ERA politician. If that’s the case then why the silence?

So, now I’m reconsidering Hillary. She’s always hardcore. Plus, the idea of having Bill anywhere near the Oval Office again hypes me up. But I do respect Hillary on her own merits. At the same time, it’s SO hard for me to get passed the fact that she voted for the war. It really bothers me. So, I don’t know.

I am a registered voter, and I vote as often as I can on everything I can. But I do not believe in one approach to politics. I think you have to vote, march, write letters, sign petitions, protest peacefully and switch things up to force change. There is too much bureaucracy in today’s government. That’s why I believe in donating time to kids. Beyond the HHCF I coach soccer, and I just love kids. I love inspiring kids to believe in themselves. I believe in donating my time, and my mind to the kids. I’m becoming less faithful in politics (but staying political) and putting more time in trying to pass on positivity to the youth.

SN: What were you’re thoughts on the Jena six situation and the general response to it? Where do you think this whole scenario is headed?

Adisa: I am happy to see how it motivated the Hip Hop community to action. At the same time, it’s going to take a lot more than a big march and a few rappers showing up to change the overall situation. I can’t say where it’s all headed because the sincerity of everyone at the top has not been determined yet. The bottom line though, is that America is far off from having solved her race issue. Hopefully, now we can have more serious, honest dialogue as a Nation.

SN: You’re at the nexus of the conversation about Hip Hop and Islam. What role do you think religion and spirituality has played in Hip Hop in general (Abrahamic faiths and others) and what role has it played for you personally?

Adisa: Indeed, I was one of the first people to actively document the relationship between Hip Hop and Islam. I think the only other person to take it seriously was Harry Allen. He did a great piece for BBC Radio called “The Mic, The Star & The Crescent”. It was very powerful. But both of my books in the Lyrical Swords series have chapters that deal with Hip Hop & Islam. Personally, I was on a self-destructive path before Islam. My parents were Christians, but they opened the door for me to observe all faiths. They planet the seeds, Hip Hop watered the soil.