Chess and Balances
Everyone has the same list--you know the one: that list of people you’d really like to sit down and chop it up with given the chance. Now, where our road forks is who makes the cut on our lists.
Some go for the famous, the inaccessible, the dead, the esoteric, the trendsetters, the all-powerful…
I was checking my list of people I’d like to interview and realized something: I actually know some of the people on my list. So what I’m gonna do for the rest of the year, is bring you as many interviews as possible. They’ll comprise folks in business, entertainment, social activism, “around-the-away” folks who I believe are just worth talking to—who have stories or events to share.
If they have anything in common, it’ll be their desire to change stuff. Some will be doing it on really big levels—CEOs, national stuff; but others again, will be people you wouldn’t think doing it where they can as best as they can.
With that said, I present my first KTH interview:
CHESSBOXING WITH THE BISHOP, ADISA BANJOKO, PT. 1
By: Hadji Williams/KTH
Adisa Banjoko is a pioneering hiphop journalist, having written for some of the top hiphop publications around, including THE SOURCE (back when it was great), SF Weekly and more. He's a noted speaker, columnist, author (Lyrical Swords, Vols. 1 & 2.)
But it's his community work that he's most proud of, namely his involvement in the Hiphop Chess Federation.
KTH: HOW LONG HAS THE HIP-HOP CHESS FEDERATION BEEN AROUND?
AB: The Hip-Hop Chess Federation has been a vision of mine since 1988. It was back then that I took on the name The Bishop of Hip-Hop. My first column for the Black Panther Party paper The Commemorator” and a chess piece with an ankh (Egyptian/kemetic symbol) on it.
It was really just a matter of me taking the time to formulate all the authentic connections. But the hard work towards actualizing it came about 3 years ago after I held a chess battle after a Hip-Ho lecture in juvenile hall.
Two years after, I interviewed Maurice Ashley (the first Black Grandmaster) and I asked him if Will could beat GZA. He said though GZA was off the hook, that he believed Will had a more polished game. I told my son's chess camp instructor I wanted to do it. He said he’d help me if I ever wanted to make it happen.
In the meantime, Lyrical Swords Vol. 2: Westside Rebellion dropped. I had a whole chapter on chess. I started working on a documentary with Mike Relm, but then he took off to DJ for the Blue Man Group.
I was talking to my man Leo Libiran about all the potential ill matches. He was like “Yo man, we should just start a federation”. The next day we were up on MySpace setting stuff up. Our first event was in Feb. 2007. Our last event was May 19th. We just got an offer to do it in Cordoba, Spain or in Malaysia. So, it’s kinda growing fast.
KTH: So this is going global like hiphop.
AB: Yeah, exactly.
KTH: BESIDES THE OBVIOUS WU-TANG CONNECTS, WHY SHOULD HIPHOP AND YOUTH AT LARGE CARE ABOUT CHESS?
AB: Because first, it’s a game that African Muslims brought into Europe. So right there, the Black man, has a cultural obligation to soak it up in my opinon. But the beautiful truth is that nearly every culture on the planet has had a hand in the growth or innovation of chess.
It is a tool that teaches patience, how to think through problems, it helps people understand mathematics and raises reading comprehension skills. The American school system is failing- especially the poor. The children used to get ideas about patience, critical thought set. From the Church, the Synagogue or the Masjid. But those places rarely have kids in them.
There are moral lessons from chess free from religious dogma that young people can learn and employ immediately.
KTH: TELL US ABOUT THE HIPHOP CHESS FEDERATION EVENT? HOW WAS THE TURNOUT?
AB: Crazy. RZA, due to weather problems, was like 2 hours late. We had about 200 folks when he showed up. We did the panel, and then some broke out. I count the crowd based on all the ChessMaster X, games we gave out. (Peace to Ubisoft.) I had 300 games. I have half that now.
But the gaming itself was off the hook. Josh played chess for the first time in 3 years. That’s like Jordan playing at your 3 on 3.
Cats really got down. I was so honored. When it was over, I saw RZA destroy a cipher. I mean, he blew my mind. I saw kids play with adults. I saw OG’s kick it with high school teachers. It’s a very hard thing to explain… You really need to see it, to fully feel its essence. I hate to sound too esoteric. But, it’s a powerful thing to bring those three paths under one roof.
KTH: YOU HAD SOME HEAVY HITTERS AT THE HHC EVENT IN FRISCO: CASUAL FROM THE LEGENDARY HIEROGLYPHICS CREW, KEVVY KEV, DJ QBERT (A PIONEER OF NEW SCHOOL TURNTABLISM) AND THE FOUNDER OF THE WU TANG, RZA. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
AB: That’s like asking what it was like to see Ali knock out Frazier. HHCF “Hip-Hop, Chess & Life Strategies II” was amazing. We had a panel with chess Icon Josh Waitzkin (see the film Searching for Bobby Fischer) QBert, RZA and Kevvy Kev. It was in all honesty, an eye opening experience for all.
That’s because when you blend Hip-Hop, chess and martial arts- no one holds all the keys…There is a place of humility and open-mindedness that everybody has to reach the more sublime truths.
KTH: SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS AN AMAZING THING. SORRY I MISSED IT. SO TELL ME, WHAT WAS THEIR (THE CELEBS, THE PARTICIPANTS) CHESS ACUMEN LIKE? WHO SEEMED TO REALLY KNOW THE GAME?
AB: Umm, everybody. Chess is a game where someone who might not be that good overall, can employ s specific tactic to undo seasoned cats. But then the tried and true G’s always bring the wrath.
There was a chess author by the name of Orrin Hudson. He did a great talk to the kids about life and how to stay positive. He’s got some skills. But in a speed chess round against DJ Qbert, he came up short.
DJ Kevvy Kev is hard. So is Kevin Epps, Monk and Rev from the Wu… There is no shortage of talent in the Hip Hop community.
KTH: WHAT WAS JOSH WAITZKIN LIKE? FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, TELL US WHY HE'S IMPORTANT TO CHESS?
AB: Josh Waitzkin is a chess prodigy. The movie Searching for Bobby Fischer was based on him. It had Lawrence Fishburne in it.
After the movie came out, he left the country and went onto become a two time Tai Chi Chuan World Champion. His latest book, The Art of Learning is about that transition, and the relationship between martial arts and chess. He also studies Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. So, he has a special body of wisdom.
[legends, RZA and Grandmaster Josh Waitzkin]
KTH: WHAT'S YOUR GOAL FOR NEXT YEAR'S EVENT?
AB: The next event is actually in August. It’ll be here in the Bay. It’s a toss up between Sacramento, Oakland or Vallejo. I hope to have the venue secured in the next few days.
KTH: WOW, SO THERE’S ANOTHER EVENT COMING THIS SUMMER? NICE. WHO’S COMING OUT FOR THIS ONE?
AB: I got some heavy hitters lined up to come through. But nothing is sealed so, I won’t jinx it. We always keep the www.myspace.com/hiphopchess blog updated. Also, you can get a smidgen of the flavor by checking out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwQxeVI4UVE but there is still more footage to come.
My main thing is I want to get GZA or Will Smith to go head up with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He plays chess….
[Heiro's Casual vs. Balance]
KTH: Don't get me started on my new governor...
AB: LoL!
KTH: OUT OF CURIOSITY, ARE THERE ANY EMERGING CHESS CHAMPS FROM THE HIP-HOP COMMUNITY? ALSO, CAN YOU THINK OF ANY BLACK CHESS CHAMPS ON THE RISE?
AB: There are tons of Black chess champs all over the place. If you check out my man Daaim Shabazz’s site THE CHESS DRUM(thechessdrum.net) you can see all the Black chess champs the world over.
That site is a pan-African chess site and the history there is amazing. I encourage everybody to check it out.
KTH: Deep. So ultimately where do you see this going? How far do you think Chess & Hiphop can go?
AB: I wanna use chess to bridge cultural, spiritual and social gaps. We’ll see how it pans out. All I know right now is that I got folks from Philly to Sweden checking for the HHCF. Its just growing so rapidly. I’m honored by the opportunity to promote chess to the youth through Hip-Hop and martial arts.
Part 2 of the interview coming next week.
