As our readers are aware, PinBoard has been celebrating the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day 2011 in Brazil for the Bollocks To In Equality/Equals campaign. Our journey into exploring the gender issues of this land have pried open unfamiliar eyes to a social climate steeped in complexities.

With all of Action Aid’s work across international poverty stricken communities focused heavily on women’s rights to power, money, protection from violence, access to education and healthcare, our roles here as observers/thinkers/commentators (bloggers) have been to examine the amazing work highlighting and fortifying such fundamental liberties by AA’s partnership organizations.

Often this drive to change has to navigate the tricky terrain of long-standing cultural beliefs and practices: amplified during our visit to the remote rural town of  in the Northern Brazilian district of Para situated a stones throw from the Amazon. Often where poverty is rife and education scarce, moral interpretations (frequently stemming from faith culture’s strongholds) can serve up opposition to the progress of modern living. As one of the poorest communities in Brazil, social awareness in the past has been handicapped by a lack of accredited guidance. Abortion, itself, is outlawed throughout the country unless under the circumstance of rape, incest or risk to mother’s life- the result of which are felt worst in deprived zones where information about contraception is scarce and women submit their bodies to unsafe methods of resolve fearing severe stigmatization.

Local partner organization IPAS however have been working towards a change in attitude by realizing that their greatest instrument is the voices of the young. Their youth group GADA formed over a year ago and is comprised of some of the most dynamic and charismatic young people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting anywhere I’ve travelled or worked before. These volunteers received vital training by IPAS in key areas such as sexual health, access to abortion, freedom from gender violence and are now armed with the knowledge to revolutionize their community: fresh faces of change. Meeting 18 year old Lucas Gomes for example, one can instantly sense from his magnetism that he is one of a pending generation of leaders and the perfect intermediate champion needed to speak influentially to the younger and be heard credibly by the older.

It’s fair to say the continued success of International Womens Day will always be very much reliant on the younger age bracket of both men and women supporting forward thinking developments throughout the communities of the world. In Santarém, you find that hope.

Photos by Eduardo Martino / Documentography / ActionAid.

Three days and five flights into our Bollocks To Inequality mission here, London appears like a molecule in the mind. We are fish out of water and the culture’s as dense as the land it’s perched proudly upon. In trying to investigate poverty and gender equality, we’ve had to expose ourselves to seeing some difficult things. A welcomed challenge to the mentality of a Brit born and bred blogger; admittedly it’s also made me question the capacity of hardship we experience in the UK compared to what some of these people here are going through. I guess it’s all about context & circumstance with variable levels of coping dependent on where & what you’re born into.

The car ride from the tourism saturated Copacabana Beach to the raw reality of Maré Favela is a gradual descent: from palm trees lining pathways for the pretty, to parasitic grounds segregated for the poor. The seemingly rich and developed vibe that Rio de Janeiro wears as its bronzed face is a mask to conceal the hidden cities within the city. We’re all familiar with the fantasies of this glamorous town, leaving us in receipt of shock when discovering the favelas (slums) here are as ‘third-world’ as any politically incorrect term should rightfully suggest.

With 180,000 inhabitants spread out across 16 communities (8 government-built, 8 self-sprung), these long-time settlers survive in the most polluted district of all Rio. Warring factions divide the Maré complex territorially; drug gangs such as Red Command and Third Command aswell as bizarrely those known as militia (ex-officers of the law now operating as racketeering squads) have created their own dictatorships and fear-mongered inhabitants into abiding under their imaginary frontiers. How is this permissible in a democratic country? Somewhere in the political pyramid there is a bureaucratic stink.

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Last Tuesday evening, PinBoard Blog were invited back onto the biggest radio station in the UK again (first time since the ‘epic’ debut at the end of last year, lol).

The O.G. our mother Earth has come to know as Speeakz (don’t watch the government name bait-up) represented for the clan. Strictly modest scholar flex (I see you fam) as he sat down with the true airwave brahmin Nihal, beautiful spitter Mz Bratt (recently signed to Atlantic) and fellow Radio 1 badman DJ Dev to chew the fat over a selection of tracks (including new Jamie Woon ‘Lady Luck’).

Listen In Full Here: BBC Radio 1 – Nihal’s Review Show

A massive look for our sector of the music industry. Three years ago, we were just mere blogs and bloggers… now we’re ever effective and proven legitimate MUSIC OUTLETS. Really proud of our man and how far we’ve come. This one’s for all UK blogs, we rep for our class of music commentators and tastemakers.

Respec’.

In 10 days, Prince – my musical messiah – will be releasing a brand new album, for free, entitled 20Ten via the Daily Mirror. In celebration I will be posting something (in no particular order) Prince related everyday for the next 10 ten days in a new feature called quite simply ’10 Reasons Why I Love Prince’, all leading up the the new LP.

I’ve been a long standing stan of The Purple One for years and so along the way have discovered many videos, interviews, live performances, pictures etc that many people haven’t seen before or just didn’t know existed (you’d be forgiven, Prince runs this internet ting) – and so with the new album on the way, I thought what better time to share these things than now? So, let’s kick things off…

Reason #1

Prince’s ‘Partyman’ video – so many people forget or don’t know that Prince provided an incredible original soundtrack for the 1989 “Batman” movie. While the film was somewhat questionable, the OST was superb – a brave move on everyones part to ‘allow’ Prince free reign on a big blockbuster movie soundtrack, but as part of Warner Bro’s contact with him the risk paid off. The album hit the top spot on the Billboard album chart and stayed there for 6 weeks and old over 3 million copies in the States.

‘Partyman’ sees Prince – half genius, half Joker – get down and rock out in Gothan City. He ain’t playin either. Backed by his full band Mr Nelson lets loose and goes all out this is sexy and rather odd video. The track is straight fire too.

In part 2 of our MJ tribute some of the PinBoard team recall their earliest and fondest memories of The King of Pop on the 1 year anniversary of his untimely death. An incredible man and an extraordinary talent, the Michael Jackson remains as musically relevant today as he did 30 years ago – offering us a lifetime of memories. Follow us after the jump to see what we had to say about Michael Joseph Jackson and to share some of you’re own memories of him…

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Written by Felicia Okoye

Dear Michael,

Something tells me, you’re in agreement that we’re all immortal. That we live, even after we’ve been committed to the soil, and that the legacy we leave is testimony to that. You, Michael Joseph Jackson, have left quite the legacy and it’s cellophane clear that you’ll remain in the hearts of many…like a murmur, but nicer, much, much nicer. That’s the thing with iconic status; it transcends the barriers of reality and fantasy. I didn’t really know you, naturally, but I knew you. We all did. There’s something very powerful about that sense of global collectiveness. An international unification that very few music artists have nor will be able to achieve ever again. Many passages of my childhood were adorned by the Michael Jackson movement, and what a movement it was! Spending hours practicing standing on my tippy toes, attempted groin-grabbing, “heal the world” chanting, one glove, white sock lovin’; you were a welcomed mystical sort of creature. And for this generation, knowing you through your music was a beautiful experience.

I can’t pinpoint the first time I heard you, no clear recollection of an MJ initiation. Rather, for me at least, it’s like you’ve always been. ‘Dangerous’, ‘Bad’ and ‘Thriller’ all lay in a haze of kiddish splendour, sequins and leather. I was too busy perfecting your leg-flick/point-to-the–sky move to note the cloud of controversy around you.  I’m glad I experienced you when I did. The concept of musical innovation seems pre-historic now, as regurgitation prevails. In an age where we’ve boxed up artistry, and are all programmed to being Keyboard critics, casting judgments and sentencing upon artists’ every move with the touch of a screen, I do look fondly at the time when being 4 or 5, I didn’t have the refinement of judgment. I didn’t care what you’d done to your face and as for your Neverland Rach…pssshhh! Having a theme park/zoo/circus/waterpark in your house was such an admirable spectacle…the epitome of bad, real bad.

You were the true definition of the fantastical, Michael. Look at the way you quite literally revolutionized visual arts through your incredible music videos. No one can touch that. I want you to know that ‘Black or White’ will forever be my shit. From the audaciousness of that ‘Home Alone’ kid bass blasting his dad into outer space, to the majestic serenity of the Fawn Leb Thai women; that video was all kinds of wonderful, and now that I can appreciate more of the political intonations, it’s even more so. You represented possibility, expansion and magic… pure magic. For any budding creative, with a wild imagination, that’s a huge deal.

The Moonwalk, Michael! It could all be summed up with the Mooonwalk.  I know I’m idealizing your heyday. That era was some 10-15 years ago. I’m not mentioning…y’know… the other stuff, the bizarre surgical mask and sordid allegations, that Martin Bashir documentary, which I wish you never did because it was really fucking creepy.  I won’t dwell on those things because I’ve decided to denounce them all. The benefit of retrospective rose tinted glasses, is that I can formulate your legacy subjectively.  It couldn’t have been easy being you, though. Fame is a poisonous game, and very few before you had reached those dizzying heights. I guess you can’t breathe the same air up there and so you crashed. Musically at least, you were always the companionate kind. Case and point: “Annie, are you OK? so, Annie are you OK? Are you OK, Annie?…” Aaah, always thinking of others. And today Michael, on the 1 year anniversary of your passing, we think of you…most fondly.

Look out for more PinBoard Tributes throughout the day.

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Please note: we had some technical issues w/ sound, it gets better a few seconds in.

Live music and long summer evenings have always gone hand in hand, which is why today, PinBoard is excited to announce an exclusive new feature, in partnership with Music is Remedy; “PinBoard Presents: Remedy Rehearsal Rooms” which will be available right here on PinBoard.

Something magical happens when you put a band like the Remedies and a group of talented artists into a small rehearsal space and watch them play. An experience that we felt needed to be shared with you, people who love live music as much as we do. So, PinBoard has joined forces with Music is Remedy, to capture the rehearsals for ‘Remedy Live’ – an event focused solely on talent and live music.

As always, Music is Remedy has got the music side covered and PinBoard has the visuals on lock – so today, we launch our first collaborative effort.

Featuring London born Soul and Funk singer Kaana Ellie, we pressed record and watched the soul fly as she and the Remedies did their thing. From this rehearsal clip alone, you can see what this talented lady has to offer. Packing powerhouse vocals and endless energy, she tears the roof right off. Share the experience; press play and let the soul soak in.

Stay tuned for our release of “PinBoard Presents: Remedy Rehearsal Rooms with Ed Sheeran” which will be available on PinBoard  from tomorrow.

This is an on-going collaboration, so expect many “PinBoard Presents: Remedy Rehearsal Rooms”, featuring all kinds of great artists, in the coming weeks and months.

‘Remedy Live’ takes place tomorrow, Thursday 17th June 2010, at Rhythm Factory (16-18  Whitechapel Road, E1 1EW) and features Ed Sheeran, Kaana Ellie, XO Man, Dean Atta, Sharika Medla & Wilson Attie. More Info go to musicisremedy.co.uk

Be There.

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Words by Felicia Okoye

Yesterday (May 19th) marked the birthday of Alhajj Malik Shabazz, better known as Malcolm X. (R.I.P). A revolutionary of his time, Mr X continues to be heralded in hip hop culture, more so than any other civil rights leader in history. A man determined to stand up for his beliefs and give a solid up- middle- finger to the institutions that he saw as grossly discriminatory. A bit like Scarface and Tupac Shakur, X represents the hyper masculine, non-conformist rogue (I’m not seriously comparing X to Scarface, promise). The main difference between Malcolm X and other socio-political popular culture figures like Che Guevara or Angela Davies, is that X was initially part of the Nation of Islam, a devout Muslim till his death.

Yet, we have another rising outspoken figure in the world of hip hop who too coincidentally has Nation of Islam ties- rapper & boo to Erykah Badu- Mr Jay Electronica (Jay ElecHannukah…). I watched a recent video interview he did with The Most Influential, where he talked about his spiritual beliefs . For Jay, it’s not so much a case of representing a religion, but more so spiritual awakening. He mentions in the interview that he no longer identifies with a particular religious organization because it causes divide. Still, while hip hop has been used for a tool to voice many injustices and social standings, from gentrification to the welfare system, addiction, racism and sex, it seems to be only a matter of time before outwardly religious music becomes the mainstream. And why not? Since every other aspect of human existence are ingrained in music.

Sure, there are already other Muslim rappers of high standing including Mos Def and Lupe Fiasco (plus even more self determined Christian rappers) but not many of them  have dropped “Muhammad Asalaamica Rasoul Allah Supana Watallah” in a 16-bar or proclaimed they want to  “… be a servant to the human families of the planet earth” via Twitter in the way that Jay Electronica has. Of course niche rappers voice personal beliefs, but its pretty apparent that Jay will soon catapult out of the underground. This could be the shift into a new era.

Hip hop culture is (was?) the pseudo religion of many; with rappers probably have more sway in youth culture than pastors do. In a climate where (as Fiddy Cent recently outlined in an MTV interview) conscious rappers of yesterday are the hipster rappers of today. Perhaps the new ‘conscious’ minded music artists will move towards a more pronounced depiction of spiritual views, lead by the likes of Jay Electronica (followed by fundamentalist illuminati accusers, obvs).  Malcolm X with his unapologetically outspoken nature allured many young African Americans towards The Nation of Islam. He encouraged pride, strength in knowledge, the power of truth and honour.  I feel a resurgence of that sentiment, whether propelled by religion or not. This really excites me. Not because I’m advocator of Islam (I’m not), but because it’s encouraging to think the days of hollow hip hop are dwindling. Bring on the renaissance!

I’ll leave you with a bit of Malcolm:

…Speech made after his pilgrimage to Mecca.