Aprill 18.09
Columbia Heights Community Center
Washington, DC
Words, Beats & Life, inc. with a host of sponsors, dared to ask, "What happens when a pawn knows he or she can be more, and sees for the first time that they can ultimately be the most powerful player on the board?"
For the fourth year, Bum Rush the Boards - WBL Chess Tournament has harnesed the power of Hip-Hop culture and the stratagies of chess to open the minds of a generation to a host of new options and opportunity.
I remember watching WuTang Clan members play chess back in the ODB era. I probably should have jumped in...
There is no question Chess helps you develop skills to strategically maneuver the game of life. Words, Beats and Life's fourth annual chess tournament was bigger than ever this year, with more than 165 competing and around 120 taking part in the various workshops. The event was free for all and there was even a cookout with veggie and non-beef options.
The Remixing the Art of Social Change: A Hip-Hop Approach teach-in is a convening designed to outline the tools and resources necessary to develop curriculum, programs, and work (artistic and scholarly) based in hip-hop culture. The teach-in will also address how to retain and attract high caliber hip-hop artists, scholars and educators by building sustainable organizations....read more
BUM RUSH THE BOARDS - 4th Annual Hip-Hop Chess Tournament - Photos: Teri
Memlolo
Check out the chess-themed single, " Clock's Ticking" featuring Raheem Devaughn, Yu, Laelo Hood, Oddisee, Tabi Bonney, Grizz, and Draus:
Bumrush the Boards Official Event Mixtape, (Produced / Compiled / Arramged & Mixed by: DJ R.B.I.) Is a compilation of DC's Hottest MC's and vocalists. Special guests include: DJ Heat (WPGC-FM 95.5), MC Lyte, & Raheem Devaughn.
Words Beats and Life was founded as a hip-hop conference at the University of Maryland, College Park in the fall of 2000. The brainchild of Mazi Mutafa, Executive Director, WBL was developed and researched at the University of Maryland with two fellow students. Words Beats and Life is now a vehicle to transform individual lives and communities through hip-hop. In 2003, WBL was officially incorporated as a nonprofit organization with 501c3 status in the District of Columbia and began developing the Urban Arts Academy... Visit www.wbli.org
Over the last few years I have been lucky enough to work with the wonderful organisation Words, Beats, & Life on their original Hip-Hop Chess Tournament Bum Rush the Boards. WBL is an organization in Washington DC that runs various programmes for young people – from MCing to Photography – and they established Bum Rush the Boards to highlight the connection between the strategies of Chess and Life. I came onboard for the 2nd annual competition when I was asked to write a song about chess....read more
