Jasiri X after performing at the historic Apollo Theater (Photo by Paradise Gray)

It’s been a great last few weeks for fans of conscious Hip-Hop music. Nas just dropped “Life is Good”, which is universally being regarded as a modern day classic.  Killer Mike’s “R.A.P. Music” made several mid year lists for best album of the year so far. Plus with projects on the way from Brotha Ali (who makes a guest appearance on my new album), Lupe Fiasco, a DJ Drama hosted “Focus Tape” from the homie Dee-1 and of course yours truly, fans looking for more than money, designer clothes and murder have a lot of good music to occupy space on their ipods.

I’ve had a couple of eventful weeks myself, from performing at the Apollo Theater for radio host Michael Baisden’s anniversary showcase alongside Angie Stone and Johnny Gill, to being featured on two national cable TV shows. The first one was a taped appearance on “Our World with Black Enterprise” hosted by Dr. Marc Lamont Hill. I discussed the current state of Hip-Hop and it’s future with Hip-Hop artist Pharoahe Monch and Dr. Tricia Rose chair of the Department of Africana Studies at Brown University.

The second appearance was on the “Rachael Maddow Show”, guest hosted by Melissa Harris-Perry. During a segment on the Bay Area adopting NYPD’s racist Stop and Frisk policy, she showed a clip of my latest video (go to the 3 minute mark), directed by Elon James, “#10FriskCommandments“. And since me and my label Wandering Worx are wrapping up the final preparations for my new album “Ascension”, they just released an exclusive interview (embedded above) I did when I was in Los Angeles. Life is Good!