The Chronicles of Chess Grandmaster Maurice Ashley

It’s no secret, to be successful in life employing strategy is imperative. More than proving to be a formidable tool against those inevitable obstacles, it offers organization amidst the ever-present chaos. For context, let’s consider the discipline of a chess strategist/player. The absence of emotion veils the calculations of the mind; that strategic design that is ultimately disclosed upon the surface of a mere checkered pattern with monarchical pieces. For all intents and purposes, the game of chess is life’s simulator. By way of opponent intent and the assessment of it, your willingness to enforce strategy supports self-sustainability, and if executed correctly, triumph over your worthy adversary. Just ask Maurice Ashley – chess strategist/aficionado and the first African American to receive the “Grandmaster” title from the World Chess Federation, FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs).

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On this episode of TCOHHL (The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend) Radio, D.D. Turner, C. Stats, and DJ Jay St. Paul kick it with chess Grandmaster, Maurice Ashley. With him, the crew discusses his journey towards becoming a world renowned chess player, his effort to continue to increase the game’s exposure, and why everyone should consider the game and its inherent strategies as a tool to help navigate life’s obstacles.
And as usual, DJ Jay St. Paul entertains us with a mix that effectively highlights the game of chess’ reference in Hip Hop music. Click below to listen.

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The Chronicles of An Eyedea with Kathy Averill

A Mother’s love is immense. It is pleasantly unrelenting and as boundless and beautiful as a starry night Montana sky. In Hip Hop, we’ve experienced a Mother’s love; wonderfully displayed by those Mother’s that have suffered the untimely loss of their iconic son or daughter. Consider the late Afeni Shakur. Consider Volleta Wallace. Consider Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey.  And consider, Kathy Averill – Mother of lyrical titan, Eyedea. It’s been because of the fierce Motherly love of these Women that the legacies of their lyrically inclined, Hip Hop celebrated sons have sustained beyond their passing.

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On this episode of TCOHHL (The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend) Radio, D.D. Turner, C. Stats, and DJ Jay St. Paul kick it with Kathy Averill – Mother of legendary Emcee, Eyedea. During the conversation, Kathy’s graciousness provides perspective on Eyedea’s ascension into the realm of “Legend,” as well as his desire for his music to serve as a voice for the voiceless. The conversation proves insightful and reinforces why the life and music of Eyedea continue to garner praise and celebration six years after his passing.

And as usual, DJ Jay St. Paul entertains us with a mix that appropriately pays homage to Michael “Eyedea” Larsen. Click below to listen.

 

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The Chronicles of The Legendary Masta Ace…

On this episode of TCOHHL (The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend) Radio, D.D. Turner and C.Stats welcome back to the show, Masta Ace. This time, the conversation provides an in-depth look at the making and intent of Masta Ace’s latest album release, The Falling Season; a concept album that offers fans/listeners access to Masta Ace’s formative years as a teen growing up [in the early 80’s] in Brooklyn, NYC. Hip Hop heads…This is an episode that you don’t want to miss!

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And regarding the playlist? Let’s just say that DJ Jay St. Paul blesses us with a mix that reminds us of Masta Ace’s dynamic career and why he is appropriately regarded as a legend.

Click below to hear the episode.

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The Chronicles of Kulture-Future-Kids (KFK) in Kampala, Uganda…

It’s undeniable that Hip Hop [used as a tool to effect social change] has become a globally accepted culture. Beginning in The Bronx – New York City and making its way to the furthest corners of the Earth, a multitude of ethnicities/cultures that are supported by varying and opposing religious ideals are likely to have derived a respective iteration of Hip Hop while strictly adhering to the culture’s core principals. This is especially true for Kampala, Uganda – Africa based Kulture Future Kids (K.F.K.) – a Universal Zulu Nation supported local organization that looks to teach and inspire the youth of Uganda by using Hip Hop’s celebrated values and elements.

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On this episode of TCOHHL (The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend) Radio, D.D. Turner and C. Stats kick it with the organizers of the K.F.K. program to discuss life in Uganda, the intent of their community based social initiative, and the country’s local Hip Hop scene. And as usual, the #TCOHHL Team takes you on a journey of Hip Hop’s glorious history by way of the strategically constructed playlist.

Click below to hear the show.

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The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend (#TCOHHL) Launches New Marketing Image – Paying Homage To The Classic Hip Hop Illustration

The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend has released a new marketing image that looks to further reinforce the brand’s intent of becoming the preeminent source of content for all things related to Hip Hop culture.

Roughly two years have elapsed since the launch of its Radio/Media counterpart, TCOHHL_Radio, and already the effort has amassed several dozen interviews with some of Hip Hop’s more celebrated contributors with more on the way. In addition, TCOHHL boasts an array of guests [from a Champion Chess Grandmaster to a Super Bowl contributing classically trained Musician] that support the lesser known 5th element of Hip Hop culture being, “Knowledge.”

From books to radio, The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend’s approach has proven unorthodox but refreshing in a manner that undoubtedly positions itself as a contemporary Subject Matter Expert for all things pertaining to the culture.

Stay tuned. TCOHHL has only just begun. Word is born!

Visit mixcloud.com/tcohhl_radio to listen to the TCOHHL Radio show archives.

Visit tcohhl.bandcamp.com to download the entire 1st book in The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend literary series.

The “Fran Lover and I’m From East New York – Brooklyn” Chapter…

On this episode of TCOHHL (The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend) Radio, D.D. Turner welcomes his older, Corey Turner, Esq. to the TCOHHL experience and together they kick it with celebrated DJ, Music Producer, Documentarian, Hip Hop purveyor/protector, and Host of the Fran Lover Show, Fran Lover. With a relationship that goes back more than 30 years [with origins firmly planted in the Linden Housing development located in the East New York section of Brooklyn – NYC], the discussion unfolds in a manner that proves familiar, insightful, nostalgic, and entertaining.

And regarding the playlist? Let’s just say we appropriately explore Hip Hop’s Rap music timeline through an unfiltered and undisturbed East New York lens.

Click below to hear the episode.

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TCOHHL Radio / The “Houston Housewives of Finance” Chapter

Since the beginning, Hip Hop culture has always rested firmly upon the premise of education and the need thereof.  Submitting to the idea of education serving as the basis of honing a discipline was always integral to the success of Breakers, Graffiti Artists, Lyricists, and DJs/Producers/Beat Makers alike. The idea was simple – without a devotion to learning the craft, one would likely be considered a fraud; a Half-Stepper according to the assertion of the legendary Big Daddy Kane.

But as Hip Hop progressed, these skilled and educated Hip Hop Artists began to gain more monetary success for their talents, creating some extremely comfortable lifestyles in the process. But when the money comes in fast and regularly, the pace of the financial education needed to act responsibly with it is often not commensurate.

As minorities, we generally lack education in personal finance.  From Vehicles to Homes, we often make purchase decisions using the desires of the heart and ego and not the pragmatism and rationale of the mind, thereby resulting in the stress heavy experience of living beyond our means; a problem that also confronts our White counterparts but often goes undiscussed and unconsidered within the confines of Black and Brown communities. And why should it? The responsibility of rectifying instances of educational and financial disparities should never rest with those that cause the disparity, but instead, those that are disparaged, for the purpose of fulfilling the desire to be better and tapping into the inherent greatness that resides within begins with introspection and self-initiative, resulting in self-betterment or perhaps even, the realization of self-purpose.

So, being devoted to Hip Hop and also having a genuine concern for the education of our people, we found it necessary to leverage the culture’s 5^th and perhaps most unexplored element of ‘Knowledge/Education’ as a tool to impart some enlightenment on the matter of Personal Finance. To facilitate this, on our next episode of TCOHHL (The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend) Radio, we’ll be speaking with the wonderful, LaShonda Johnson of the Houston Housewives of Finance; a national organization [with a growing list of chapters] that successfully empowers individuals with the tools necessary to arrive at a place of effective financial literacy. From credit cards to the dreadful Student loan(s) to the selection of the appropriate life insurance policy, LaShonda graciously schools us on various aspects of personal finance while dispelling some of the long-standing misconceptions and circumstances of financial miseducation that so many of us have fell victim to – like my severely misguided and uninformed decision to purchase a $600.00 leather Avirex jacket [back in 1997] while being a full time College Student with part-time employment.

Taking notes while listening to this episode is recommended – Class will be in session!

________________

By: D.D. Turner, Founder/Executive Producer/Host
TCOHHL (The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend) Radio
Twitter: @TCOHHL_Radio/@HipHops_Wizard
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TCOHHL Radio / The “James ‘Kraze’ Billings aka The King Of Content” Chapter

On this episode of TCOHHL (The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend) Radio, D.D. Turner and C. Stats kick it with the King of Content, James ‘Kraze’ Billings. During our conversation we discuss his Long Island – New York roots, his journey towards becoming the King of Content, his past projects with FUBU and Audi, his Industry Muscle website and brand, his upcoming projects [including a documentaries on Hip Hop lyrical legends, Rakim Allah and Biz Markie] and a truly riveting discussion on Hip Hop’s cultural appropriation.

And regarding the playlist? Not only do we open the show with a gap-bridging event, we satisfy your appetite with a pure and authentic Hip Hop experience.

TCOHHL Radio / The “Greg Burnham and Marcus Williams – Tuskegee Heirs” Chapter

On this episode of TCOHHL (The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend) Radio, D.D. Turner and C. Stats kick it with the creators of the Tuskegee Heirs animated series, Greg Burnham and Marcus Williams. During our conversation, we discuss their respective roots, the artistry of animation, their amazing animated series, and the unparalleled history and courageousness of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Also, to celebrate the life, legacy, and genius of the legendary musician, Prince, we open up the show with a self-authored poem by TCOHHL Radio co-founder, Ishmael Street, followed by a review of why Prince will forever be regarded as an icon. And don’t worry, you appetite for a pure and authentic Hip Hop experience will be thoroughly satisfied.

New Apparel Line, 80’s University, Offers Classic Nostalgic Themes That Boast A Unique And Colorful Twist.

Imagine the revered 80’s Autobot leader, Optimus Prime, serving as a symbol of American pride and patriotism. What about a rather large, pixelated image of the classic video game persona, Dig-Dug, emblazoned across a shirt with arrows drawn? Does this evoke a sentiment of nostalgia yet? At its core, this is what 80U looks to accomplish; apparel that represents the fond memories of youthful indulgence without the compromise of quality and style. Additionally, with its contemporary creative iteration of classic themes/entertainment, 80U looks to become the preeminent brand that successfully bridges the generational gap.

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For its maiden voyage, 80U released the Brooklyn Pack; a colorful and stylish pairing of his and her shirts that brandish the celebrated lyrics of Brooklyn’s home town hero, Notorious BIG and his voluptuous Protegé, Lil Kim. These items are currently available for purchase at weare80u.com at a comparable industry price point. For an additional discount, use coupon code: SPRINGCLEANUP.

Very simply, 80s University’s long term goal is to become a brand that provides quality and stylish novelty fashion options for the consumer that is looking to revert back to an era where some of their life’s most fond memories were created. And in doing so, bring awareness to those themes that were seemingly lost in time.

So consider this a first class boarding pass onto the 80U train. Our destination? An unexplored location within the fashion universe that grants one wish; an opportunity to, Brand New Your Retro.

For more information on the history of 80’s University, click on the image below. Also, to hear our interview with the Founders of 80U, click on the mixcloud link below.