(AllHipHop News) The non-profit organization Hip-Hop Chess Federation is set to release its first official mixtape. Street Games Vol. 1 will be a curse free compilation that showcases HHCF’s mission to fuse music, chess, and martial arts to promote unity, strategy, and nonviolence.
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Street Games will feature songs from Rakaa Iriscience of Dilated Peoples, Sunspot Jonz of Living Legends, Zumbi of Zion I, Black Knights, Quadir Lateef, Jasiri X, Rahaman Jamaal, Asheru, and Tajai from Hieroglyphics. Production will be provided by DJ Rob Flow, Ronnie Lee, Mike Relm, and Rhapsodist. Hieroglyphics’ A Plus will serves as host for the tape.
The free project will also include words of wisdom about the power of chess, martial arts, and the Hip Hop community from authors Jeff Chang and Dr. Joe Schloss, Jiu Jitsu master Ryron Gracie, Women’s chess Grandmaster Jennifer Shahade, and other leading voices.
The website Rap Genius is hosting a Street Games Vol 1 contest as well. None of the participants involved in the project will receive any payment for their contributions.
“This compilation is a testament to the power of art over aggression. In it we illustrate life strategies through chess, illustrate triumph of patience through the pain and a showcase a wisdom beyond war,” says HHCF Founder Adisa Banjoko. “We are thankful to all the artists, martial artists and educators who helped bring this idea to reality. It was orchestrated with the hope that teens and young adults trapped in American urban war zones will be inspired to actualize their potential.”
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Street Games Vol. 1 will be available for free download on November 15th at www.hiphopchessfederation.org.
Check out the songs “64 Squares in the Cipher” (Sunspot Jonz, Zion I and Rakaa Iriscience), “One Big Chess Game” (Adisa The Bishop, Rahman Jamaal & Asheru), and “Chess Clock” (Quadir Lateef and Jasiri X) below.