The Story Behind A Touching White House Photo
Find Your Swimsuit Confidence
What is your name, and what do you do?
My name is Albert Phillips. I'm a college student, activist, poet, writer, Hip Hop artist, manager of Reality Speaks Bookstore and Media Center (www.realityspeaksbookstore.com) and a person that cares about the movement of black culture. I'm a very blessed member of the LGE Movement Management Team that has helped create Watoto From the Nile. I am a lot of things but most of all I am a young man geared to take back what was once lost. Being only twenty one years old, I know and understand the power of the youth and how revolutions can be started by only a few good people. I am one of those good people.
Your video about Lil Wayne took the world by storm! What's it been like to have that much reach in such a short period of time? Has it helped your business?
Well, honestly we didn't expect it to reach the world as fast as it did. We would have been happy with maybe a few thousands hits and would have took it from there but it did much better than that. According to my last check, we had over 95,000 views on YouTube and over 90,000 on World Star Hip Hop. Regardless of what the comments say, we know that these numbers and the endless blog responses mean something. We LOVE what we do. We are not focused on the money that's really surrounded with it all. We know that may or may not come but the publicity is what we want. The more exposure we get the more exposure the LGE Movement gets. By the way, the LGE Movement stands for "life giving energy." We are from an organization called Solvivaz Nation and our emblem or seal is the "Ka" which is taken directly from Egypt. It is a sign of arms extended, and its energy has moved us tremendously.
Why did you make the video about Lil Wayne? What message are you trying to send Wayne and the community?
We made the video to put a stop to the madness we are experiencing everyday. This video won't change the world... yet... but it will open up the door for more possibilities by youth in music. It's not just about Lil Wayne or any rapper really. It's about a movement for our people to gain from what we create. We want only the best manifested and promoted. The African diaspora needs to wake up today! We are not promised tomorrow by any stretch of the imagination. People are dying, and we are acting like everything is okay. We are sure by now Lil Wayne or somebody in his crew has probably heard the song by now. Its virtually everywhere... well almost, lol. We want them to know we love their creativity and sick metaphorical and rhyme twisting and bending abilities, but their message is non productive. We deserve more, and we are takin' it today!
Tell us about the girls? What are they like educationally, spiritually and otherwise? Are they sisters?
The girls LOVE you all by the way. They have not read everything on the Internet but they are happy to be a part of this movement. To us, they are the real stars. I'm an artist, too, and my material is in the making, but I want them to be in the forefront much more than me. They are my future. They are just in elementary school right now. The youngest is attending pre-K and she is the greatest little kid someone can ask for! They all are! They got a surprise today in class when their video was played on the TV, and some of their class and teachers saw it. They were supeeeeeeeeer excited. They are all sisters as you can tell by the resemblance. Their father, Jabari Natur, has been pushing them really hard to be great, and it is paying off. Their mother is also a great woman with strong motivational power. It's a family of revolution if you ask me!
What do you have to say to other parents who wish to raise intelligent and conscientious children themselves?
Do the best you can with what you have! We must raise our children like they are the last on earth. This world is nothing without the future. Parents know what to do. They must now show and prove!
Is there anything else you'd like to share with our AOL Black Voices audience?
We want you to know that we are far from over. This video is not just a marketing strategy or gimmick of some kind. We are working hard and we have a lot more in store for all our fans and supporters. Please be on the lookout for some more GREAT music that's in the making. We live by the code of "Unify or Die." If we as a people don't begin to stop the pain and start loving, we shall all be doomed to defeat. It's that time... now the world will see.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the bookBlack American Money To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. To suggest a subject for a Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight, please click here. To follow Dr. Boyce on Facebook, please click here. 
Comments: (17)
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By: pcblst on 3/07/2011 8:19AM
Beautiful! Just beautiful! I hope he spurs the movement of love and unity so that we can advance.
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By: pcblst on 3/07/2011 8:25AM
Beautiful! Just beautiful! I hope he spurs the movement of unity and love so that we can advance as a people.
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By: ICDATRUTH on 3/08/2011 9:11AM
I often wondered about the brother's (Lil Wayne) motives at times. Why diss sisters and you have a young daugther yourself? Why do you rep New Orleans and than write a song for Green Bay biting off of Wiz Khalif's "Black and Yellow?
Personally Im glad someone that might actually get heard will hopefully get to some of these brothers ears. Unfortunately, the record labels are just as much to blame for the "labeling" of our beautiful sisters as the rappers themselves. Until we as people quit feeding into this madness, people from all over the world will stop looking at all us as a bunch of buffoons robbing and stealing from each other.
hopefully he will see the light before he sees HIS daughter acting out what he raps about on a strippers pole
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By: noneya on 3/10/2011 8:11AM
I do hope the video and this article makes more parents think twice about the music they allow their kids to listen too. Also that some of these very talented artist will realize that they don't need to degrade women or anyone to make it big. That talent will win out.
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By: ooozzzzz on 3/07/2011 10:25AM
It's a very good thing that this young girl rap group called Watoto put their energy and efforts into questioning why Lil Wayne has decided to make a career out of degrading black women and chasing corporate greed over creating music that is socially responsible and capable of uplifting a community that is dying by the second and yes it will get people's attention but the thing that disturbs me is that the "young girls" of Watoto's generation are the off-spring of the very mothers and fathers of the hard core par/hip hop generation that were born into, immersed in, mentally conditioned and raised in the very misognistic culture that it represents and will/have already passed on to their children as an the appopriate culture & lifestyle since that's all that they know.
And that "open letter" sent specifically to L'il Wayne should have been also sent to the numerous rappers and corporate music executives that over a 30+ year period, who have already done the damage and planted the seeds in the minds of these then rabid, rap/hip hop fans who are now the parents of these young girls and boys who now even as responsible parents, still view, consider and call themselves "bitches and ho's" today in a loving manner the same as they did prior to any parential responsibility and who now have the task of setting that example for their children who have as a part of their mental DNA, that misognistic and degrading view of themselves as a badge of female honor and kinship in the world of rap/hip hop.
And especially for the female parents of these young children, this is now they see themselves physically complete with the "package deal": tattoos, grills, language, stripper attitude, booty shaking, dress, drugs, alcohol, sexual aggression etc.
Sending a letter to L'il Wayne?
Also send a letter to Diddy, Master P, I'il Jon, 50 Cent, Suge Knight, Ice Cube, Ice-T, Nelly, Ludacris, Ying Yang Twins, Snoop Dog, Rick Ross etc and especially the women who carry on the tradition of continual women degrading like I'il Kim, Nicki Manaj, Beyonce, Rhianna and many others who embrace and promote misogyny everyday in their careers for the almighty dollar.
These women are also bearers to the throne and are just as bad as examples as the male rappers and hip hop artists who have also religiously sold their souls and accepted the "bitches and ho's identification badge for themselves for in order to achieve success and to render profit.
Don't put it all the responsibility on L'il Wayne and not forget the others in the past who did their damage and have moved on (example Ice-T & LL Cool J) and the present day offenders....and especially the women past and present, who also fully embrace and carry the mantle without any shame what so ever.
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By: MJ on 3/07/2011 11:29AM
Although I understand this young mans's motivation, I question his judgment in using little girls to check a grown man like Lil' Wayne. In my opnion, little girls such as this should not be out in the forefront "battling" hard-core misogynists. That is the job and responsibility of GROWN MEN.
Where are the fathers, older brothers, cousins, uncles, etc. of these young girls and countless others to stand up to black woman hating losers like Lil' Wayne? Why is the job of defending black womanhood/girlhood left on the shoulders of little black girls? It's fine to teach young girls to respect themselves and not allow anyone to call them out of their names. But it is NOT the responsibility for little black girls to confront, shame, battle, or check grown ass men-- that is the responsibility of MEN.
When I see Black men come out and publicly and loudly denounce other Black men who disrespect, insult and degrade Black women (like Lil' Wayne and his ilk) then I'll applaud this young man's efforts, but until then I don't see the value in this, other than it socializing little black girls to believe that no one will defend their honor but themsleves.
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By: westfall on 3/07/2011 5:30PM
Well said. It would be nice to have black men stand up for our women. Black women have so much to fight about that it would really be a relief to be taken up for. Also Lil Wayne has said so much more and done so much more damage by pollinating numerous women with his offspring. This is shameful.
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By: Blacqbody on 3/07/2011 3:56PM
"And that "open letter" sent specifically to L'il Wayne should have been also sent to the numerous rappers and corporate music executives that over a 30+ year period, who have already done the damage and planted the seeds in the minds of these then rabid, rap/hip hop fans who are now the parents of these young girls and boys who now even as responsible parents, still view, consider and call themselves "bitches and ho's" today in a loving manner the same as they did prior to any parential responsibility and who now have the task of setting that example for their children who have as a part of their mental DNA, that misognistic and degrading view of themselves as a badge of female honor and kinship in the world of rap/hip hop.
And especially for the female parents of these young children, this is now they see themselves physically complete with the "package deal": tattoos, grills, language, stripper attitude, booty shaking, dress, drugs, alcohol, sexual aggression etc."
WELL STATED. THESE PARENTS ARE LAUGHABLE...REALLY AND HAVE NO CONCEPT OF HOW TO AFFIRM THEMSELVES OR VALIDATE THEIR OFF-SPRING.
I SAW THE WHOLE NEW "LOW" WHEN GIRLS AND WOMEN REFERENCED AND ACCEPTED THEMSELVES AS "HO'S AND BITCHES." THIS IS NOT THE RITE OF PASSAGE FOR OUR SISTAS.
WHERE ARE THE BLACK MEN TO DEFEND BLACK WOMAN-HOOD? ANSWER: LOOK AT WHAT MANY SISTAS ARE "RAISING" AND THERE YOU WILL FIND YOUR ANSWER.
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By: MJ on 3/08/2011 6:26PM
Where are the Black men in the raising of our young "sistahs? Excuse me but it was my understanding that it took a mother and a father to rear healthy well-adjusted children. It amazes me how easy it is for some black people particularly Black men, to constantly and consistently blame Black women for all that ails the so-called black community, up to and including Black men who debase, abuse and degrade Black women for money.
Again, my question stands, where are black men to defend Black women and girls when they are being abused and degraded by men, especially other Black men?
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By: Athena on 3/07/2011 4:41PM
I am a woman and Lil Wayne's lyrics do NOT offend me. Why is it that people always have to focus on negative things and point them out in other people? Its just music. Children that young should not be listing to it if they dont understand its just music. I can see how woman would feel that his words are discriminatory, but its not like hes in your face calling you names. I'm not offended because I have enough respect for myself and I know who and what I am. Anything that can be considered discriminative isn't directed to me or any other woman. Lil Wayne is one of the best artiest alive today. I love his music. Leave the man alone and let him do his thing! If I can understand this than others should be smart enough to.
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