We’ve got a new layout!

That’s right, do not adjust your televisions or laptops. 99problems.org is just over one year old and to celebrate we got ourselves some new digs!

Fancy, right? Lots of space to bring you the action oriented news you’ve grown accustomed to. In the year that we’ve been around, a lot has happened at 99problems.org. We’ve seen our staff of writers grow along with traffic to the site and we are absolutely thrilled to be here in 2010, sure to be an epic year for all the artists and activists who make up the 99problems community.

Like what you see? Think something is missing? Let us know! Hit us up on our Contact Form at any time.

Your involvement is what gets us out of bed in the morning. Thank you.

Posted by:

The Editor

Son, you’re not a big boy yet

Alright, LISTEN. I’m man enough to admit it.

Sometimes I read Fox News.

Mostly for the lolz. And ’cause you and I both know, if you wanna get the scoop on freaky actions perpetrated by the cream of the crazy crop, Fox News is like…the Wal Mart of low, low prices taste.

But the following story – jacked from Fox – isn’t distasteful. It is, however, about extra-small condoms for little Swedish boys whose bodies are telling them yes yes yes and brains are telling them no no no to wrapping that ish up! So you might be offended.

I quote:

A leading condom manufacturer in Switzerland has created extra-small condoms for boys as young as 12 years old, the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph reported.

The condom, called the Hotshot, was produced after family planning groups and the Swiss AIDS Federation campaigned to have the condoms made following several studies that showed adolescent boys were not using proper protection when engaging in intercourse.

Uhh, what?! I’d score this as follows:

… Continue Reading

Posted by:

Sam Patton

Baby, I got your money!

BROOKLYN!

Need a job? How about one with a good wage, flexible schedule, that serves a good cause and includes paid training. Sounds pretty good, right? Too good to be true? Not so much. Turns out Brooklyn is desperate for census workers.

According to Brokelyn.com, a tipster informs them that there aren’t enough people in their database to fill all the jobs that are open.

“…the local office based on Fulton St, which covers the neighborhoods reaching from DUMBO to Clinton Hill & Prospect Heights—Red Hook to Sunset Park (and everything in between) is currently facing a shortage of applicants.”

So get at it, and do it soon. Most jobs are paying $18.75 per hour, part and full-time schedules, evenings and weekends available.

“All people have to do is call 718-360-5150 to schedule to take the test. Or, show up at the Big Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza between 1:30 and 1:45 this Sunday, with two forms of ID (Photo – Passport, License, State ID plus a Social Security Card, or Birth Certificate.) It’s that simple. Due to the shortage, just about any passing score will net a job.”

And while you’re out there doing the job, you’ll learn more about our beloved borough and its rich diversity. Again, from the source:

“I’ve been working for the Census on and off for a while, and it’s an interesting job. I highly recommend it, especially for people who are interested in Brooklyn and people.”

So what are you waiting for?

For more info about the census and why it’s the most important 10 minutes you can spend this month, check our new video.

And don’t forget to get that Numbers Don’t Lie Mixtape from DJ Willie Shakes. Take our census pledge and get your free download here!

See that, giving you free music and job hookups. Who loves you? Pledge today.

Posted by:

Sean Gardner

Shakes On A Plane: Numbers Don’t Lie — Census Web PSA Promo #1

99problems.org’s DJ Willie Shakes is hitting the streets of America to talk to folks about Census 2010. Check out our promo of his trip to Philly and Pittsburgh. Census forms hit your mailbox (not your inbox) in March!!! It only takes 10 mins to fill them out. Do it! It’s super important.

Posted by:

The Editor

Sitting Down with some of the Ladies of “She’s So Fresh III”

The women of last Thursday’s She’s So Fresh show aren’t just dynamic onstage. Check the conversations I had the pleasure of engaging some of them in before their sets

Dante. I asked the fly Ms. Dante about her take on today’s youth and her message especially now given the state of our youth’s education and economic crisis.
The one question that I asked that stuck out: How do you feel about Obama?
Her Answer? “Change takes Time.” Dante alluded to the fact that all good things come with time, elaborating on how our country didn’t get messed up overnight so it sure can’t be fixed overnight, stating you have to wait. Coming from a personal place she touched briefly on the violence that today’s youth face and believing kids need an escape from all the negative constantly surrounding them Dante said she tried to focus on the positive making uplifting “feel good music.” Those are words we can all get behind!

Anomolies. Established in 1995, these women have been vibing together for 15 years! Fifteen years ago I was 11. SO my question is, How in the world do these ladies manage to still look so good? Anomalies broken down is “No Mo Lies”. (Word!) They told me that their group was formed out of a need to see more of them and their voice reflected in the art form they loved. I got into hip hop five years after Anomolies was founded. I remember being sixteen and going to shows where there was hardly a female base-but there were a few female emcees holding it down here and there. I can’t imagine what it was like for these young ladies imagining the number to be drastically slighter when they started. Seeing the same few faces every show, they naturally gravitated towards each other and over the years have been refortifying and nurturing each other’s solo interests and projects with astounding success. They even started out rocking in one of my school’s building’s – Parson’s! The order of appearance? Tara who held it down as an attendee of  the New School, then Helixx Armageddon, followed by Kuttin Kandy, Pri and lastly Invincible.
Some things from our conversation that stood out:
The Anomolies consider their selves to be more of a collective than just another group. they all embrace solo projects and see this collaboration as an invaluable opportunity to pool resources and give support. Holding it down for fifteen years, you could add that they are community. They have been around since 90s hip hop evolved from many different genres with a voice to the formulaic after industry got involved and took it over, destroying a huge part of the art and voice that created the form. This shift contrary to silencing hip hop drove many underground where that voice and those genres still flourish today evidenced by my young love of underground hip hop to the youth that you will still see going to shows all over the world today. Having worked with kids they know that Apathetic Youth is a misconception. If they could see anything given to the youth? 1) mentors 2) Opportunities to open their eyes and expand their worldview 3) More avenues for them to use. Pri the Honey Dark knows firsthand how valuable these tools are in an education system that is consistently failing and giving up on kids. Having fought with the school board about the “Certificate of Completion” that NY appears to  hand out liberally to students that teacher’s can’t be bothered to teach, Pri knows that many of these children can learn. Her son is a beautiful shining example of  that face. Having been diagnosed with Autism, Pri’s son was destined to be yet another victim of this certificate. But she fought back and schooled her son at home, allowing him the inalienable right to learn and become everything he can be. Her son has since graduated and is looking forward to college. You can hear more about this inspiring story in the following article written by Pri herself : Pri’s Words
For more info about the She’s So Fresh Showcase I attended check this: Where My Ladies At? She’s So Fresh III!

Posted by:

Moni'ca Brown