Boston’s progressive record label gives ‘EmPOWERment’

Dave Hadden

There is nothing uncommon about the continued critique of mainstream rap music’s negative influence on youth culture. There is however, something a bit more uncommon when a group of dedicated young people organize to offer an alternative.

That group is Project: Think Different, a local non-profit group using media as a tool to inspire social change. On Nov. 17, they release their first compilation album of local and regional artists entitled the “EmPOWERment CD”.

Thursday, Nov. 17 also marks the date of the EmPOWERment CD’s release party which will be held at the Embassy, where the artists featured on the disc will be performing live starting at 6 p.m.

In fact, because Project: Think Different’s various projects involve a variety of media forms, they have created their own label on which to release music, Empowerment Records. This release further advances the label as a platform for Boston artists looking to use their music to stimulate both social reflection and action.

Since the first time Elvis shook his hips on television, popular music has continually tested the boundaries of accepted morality. However, when 50 Cent’s “The Massacre,” and Game’s “The Documentary,” among two of rap’s biggest selling albums in the past year, both feature album art littered with guns, one can’t help but conclude that there is a profound gap of priorities between the recording industry and those invested in the health and future of their community and the streets where hip-hop was born.

According to Melissa Krodman, program manager of PTD, the objective on the EmPOWERment CD is not to preach, but simply put out better, more inspired music. “People are going to think this CD is good, not just because these are ‘feel good positive songs’, but because the tracks have sick beats and clever lyrics.”

And to those who look back with a smile at eras when artists like Public Enemy, Grand Master Flash and Marvin Gaye asked the questions important to us, the release couldn’t come at a better time. “When you think about it, we so rarely hear the voices of the people in our communities,” Krodman says. “ When do we hear local artists on 94.5? I think a lot of music, while it often critiques society or highlights issues of importance, forgets to provide a solution as well. That’s what the ‘EmPOWERment CD’ aims to do.”

While the bulk of the album is inspired by hip-hop, there is certainly a wide genre representation, both local and national in scope. Contributors include Boston Music Awards nominees for Best World Music Act Soulfège, emcees Lyrical, Shuman, Bio and Mingo, reggae artist Bounty Killer, legendary punk icon Roger Miller, as well as 16- year-old spoken word artist Sophia Snow.

Since 2002, Project: Think Different’s many projects have revolved around the belief that social justice and progress is possible through people taking control of the messages around them. If the mainstream media is not capable of raising consciousness, then that role must be up to the community itself. For this reason, PTD has been offering assistance to anyone trying to cultivate their voice through video and music.

Iconic feminist revolutionary Emma Goldman once said, “If I can’t dance, it’s not my revolution.” She would be happy to know that the slogan of Empowerment Records is “Entertaining Change.” For tickets and information contact: Amelia at 617-557-9200 or amelia@projectthinkdifferent.org.