Wasted!

'I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke but here am I to speak what I do know' becomes 'It ain’t no lie that we’re dying in our endz but here we are to speak what we do know to keep us alive' in a new play inspired by Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

In Wasted!, aspiring young actors work alongside professionals to create a piece of theatre that explores friendship, loyalty and rivalry. Full of energy, humour and pathos, the play was devised by London’s Intermission Youth Theatre members. Darren Raymond, Artistic Director of Intermission, has taken their living language in an engaging way to create an unmissable piece that Shakespeare himself would be proud of.

Jay Caesar is a highly popular school kid from Harvey Nicks School; for reasons uncertain he is forced to leave his school and join the rival school, Harrods High.

On arrival he is greeted with mixed emotions; many are against his presence, with the exception of his close friends Brutus and Marc Anthony.

His decision sparks a secret revolt led by Kassie (Cassius), but can she convince Brutus and the rest that Caesar must perish…

Link: Intermission Youth Theatre

KRS-One’s Gospel of Hip Hop

The Gospel of Hip Hop, written by KRS-One, claims to be a life-guide for members of “hip hop culture”. Combining philosophy with faith and practical knowledge, it proclaims hip hop as a life path.

Also known as “The Teacha,” KRS-One developed his outlook as a homeless teen in Brooklyn. He discusses the origins of hip hop culture and describes the ways in which “hiphoppas” can change their circumstances to create a future that incorporates “Health, Love, Awareness, and Wealth (H-LAW)”.

“It explores the spirituality of Hip-Hop, the divinity of Hip-Hop. I’m suggesting that in 100 years, this book will be a new religion on the earth,” KRS-One claimed. “Now you talk about controversy, there’s some Christian ministries if you go online, look up some ministers, they dissing right now. 'Who the hell does he think he is?' Well, I think I have the authority to approach God directly, I don’t have to go through any religion or train of thought. I can approach God directly myself and so I wrote a book called The Gospel of Hip Hop to free from all this nonsense garbage right now. I respect the Christianity, the Islam, the Judaism but their time is up.”

Link: The Gospel of Hip Hop at Amazon.com
Link: The Gospel of Hip Hop at Amazon.co.uk

Asher D — Rapper to Role Model

Ashley Walters was jailed for possession of a gun at the age of 19, when he was better known as Asher D, a member of grime music pioneers So Solid Crew. He has gone on to become one of the finest actors of his generation.

"Since 2002 when I came out of prison I've made it my life's work to stop people taking the path I took", says Ashley.

"My father was never there. I grew up with my mum. It made me angry for a long time, but I didn't have a clue who to be angry at. It's the same with a lot of kids these today. They don't have respect for their elders, people in the street. It's about feeling separated, segregated, not part of society."

"A lot of their ideas of what the male should be come from TV or what the local drug dealer is doing rather than their own father. And that means that it comes down to being hard, tough, fighting fire with fire."

Born and raised in Peckham, south London, Ashley knows first hand the impact of street life and its potential for leading people astray. With many acting roles under his belt he has been able to experience the benefits of using talent as a power for good, and is now a patron of the Damilola Taylor Trust, which works in the community to help bring about change for the better.

Link: Asher D — Climbing to the Top