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Hundreds of mourners convened over the weekend to celebrate the life of Professor X of the conscious Hip-Hop collective X-Clan.
The rap artist, born Robert "Lumumba" Carson, was funeralized at Antioch Church in Brooklyn, New York, in a Friday service that included a bevy of community and religious leaders, local politicians and luminaries, including Rev. Al Sharpton, rapper Kurtis Blow and Afrika Bambaataa of the Zulu Nation.
"He made a difference. There is no doubt in my mind that the angels in Heaven are saying 'Welcome home. You fought a good fight," said Rev. Gaddy of Friendship Baptist Church.
Carson died in a Brooklyn hospital March 17 after a bout with meningitis. He was 49. As a founding member of X-Clan, Carson evoked Black Nationalism, pride in African Americans and sought to unify the community.
The funeral was a somber, yet commemorative event that yielded Hip-Hop performances with traditional African drums and a band, in addition to a plethora of motivational speeches that paid homage to Carson. Original paintings and photographs were on display in the cathedral.
Backed by the live band, MC Supernatural performed a rousing original song that animated the service attendees.
"Listen close/ you know what I mean/ Lumumba's still protected by the Red, Black and Green," rapped Supernatural, who is revered for his ability to freestyle unwritten rhymes.
Hip-Hop pioneer Kurtis Blow spoke fondly of Carson, who he considered "an extension of greatness," because he father was the renowned Brooklyn community leader and activist Sonny "Abubadika" Carson.
He urged the crowd to rejoice in Carson's exemplary life, which extended beyond his work as a rap artist.
"I know that Lumumba would not have wanted people to be sad. He would not want you to be upset and angry," said Kurtis Blow. "[He] believed in Africa and Africans, those at home and those abroad. He believed in Black Power." An activist, Carson also formed the Blackwatch Movement, an activist group that centered on the arts.
Blow made the crowd laugh when he referred to Carson's staple phrases like "Vanglorious" and "Sissies." "All you sissies stay away from me," Blow quipped.
Unlike Blow, many of the speakers did express a level of anger and frustration at the state of the Black community.
"The plague, the illness, the sickness is taking too many of our Black men," said one speaker who pleaded for the community to change.
Other speakers included Council Members Charles Barron and Evette Clark, X-Clan lead rapper Brother J and Al Sharpton, who delivered a poignant eulogy.
A statement was read on behalf of Afeni Shakur, the mother of Tupac Shakur.
"[Carson] did his work. It is complete. What we must do is follow the directions he has left," one speaker concluded.
X-Clan released a pair of lauded albums, To the East, Blackwards (1990) and Xodus (1992), but the Brooklyn-based collective broke up shortly thereafter. In December 2005, X-Clan announced a return to rap, but Professor X was not party to the reunion.
Source: allhiphop.com
The rap artist, born Robert "Lumumba" Carson, was funeralized at Antioch Church in Brooklyn, New York, in a Friday service that included a bevy of community and religious leaders, local politicians and luminaries, including Rev. Al Sharpton, rapper Kurtis Blow and Afrika Bambaataa of the Zulu Nation.
"He made a difference. There is no doubt in my mind that the angels in Heaven are saying 'Welcome home. You fought a good fight," said Rev. Gaddy of Friendship Baptist Church.
Carson died in a Brooklyn hospital March 17 after a bout with meningitis. He was 49. As a founding member of X-Clan, Carson evoked Black Nationalism, pride in African Americans and sought to unify the community.
The funeral was a somber, yet commemorative event that yielded Hip-Hop performances with traditional African drums and a band, in addition to a plethora of motivational speeches that paid homage to Carson. Original paintings and photographs were on display in the cathedral.
Backed by the live band, MC Supernatural performed a rousing original song that animated the service attendees.
"Listen close/ you know what I mean/ Lumumba's still protected by the Red, Black and Green," rapped Supernatural, who is revered for his ability to freestyle unwritten rhymes.
Hip-Hop pioneer Kurtis Blow spoke fondly of Carson, who he considered "an extension of greatness," because he father was the renowned Brooklyn community leader and activist Sonny "Abubadika" Carson.
He urged the crowd to rejoice in Carson's exemplary life, which extended beyond his work as a rap artist.
"I know that Lumumba would not have wanted people to be sad. He would not want you to be upset and angry," said Kurtis Blow. "[He] believed in Africa and Africans, those at home and those abroad. He believed in Black Power." An activist, Carson also formed the Blackwatch Movement, an activist group that centered on the arts.
Blow made the crowd laugh when he referred to Carson's staple phrases like "Vanglorious" and "Sissies." "All you sissies stay away from me," Blow quipped.
Unlike Blow, many of the speakers did express a level of anger and frustration at the state of the Black community.
"The plague, the illness, the sickness is taking too many of our Black men," said one speaker who pleaded for the community to change.
Other speakers included Council Members Charles Barron and Evette Clark, X-Clan lead rapper Brother J and Al Sharpton, who delivered a poignant eulogy.
A statement was read on behalf of Afeni Shakur, the mother of Tupac Shakur.
"[Carson] did his work. It is complete. What we must do is follow the directions he has left," one speaker concluded.
X-Clan released a pair of lauded albums, To the East, Blackwards (1990) and Xodus (1992), but the Brooklyn-based collective broke up shortly thereafter. In December 2005, X-Clan announced a return to rap, but Professor X was not party to the reunion.
Source: allhiphop.com