Elizabeth Mendez Berry, is a journalist with an incredible diverse field of expertise. She has written for several hip hop magazines (Vibe, Source), well known newspapers and is currently working for TIME Magazine. In our film we speak with Elizabeth about why she decided to take her literary fire beyond the music and entertainment scene, and into the world of public policy. At the time of production, she was working for for the Drug Policy Alliance, conducting research and advocating for reforms in the New York State Drug Policy. In the intimate atmosphere of her Manhattan office, Elizabeth opens up and discusses her famous interviews with hip hop legends Nas and Jay Z, battling misogyny as a musical critic, political landscapes in her homeland of Columbia, and what is being done to challenge the current drug policy and its effects on young communities of color. Since the completion “Art of Love and Struggle” Elizabeth moved to time magazine. Her work was mentioned on this months cover.

In our film Elizabeth reads from her article “Love Hurts: Rap’s Black Eye” which discusses the unspoken relationship between hip hop music and domestic abuse. You can also check out her work for the Village Voice “Jay-Z leave Hip Hop With Something to Remember Him By-The Black Albumn, With Matching sneakers”

Tony Blackman has accomplished incredible feats as Hip Hop Ambassador, traveling throughout Europe, Africa and the United States! In 2001 she was appointed as a cultural ambassador through the US State Department and she began her difficult work of representing the hip hop community through lectures, workshops and performances. In our film she discusses how hip-hop is perceived around the world and shares stories of her global experiences. Sister Toni Blackman is the founder of Freestyle Union, and a respected scholar and lyricist within the hip hop community.

You can read excerpts from of her newly release book entitled “Innercourse” and learn more about her work by visiting:

Amazon.com

Traveling to Philedelphia

Hip-Hop Ambassador: Meet Toni Blackman

These women are featured in the upcoming EyesInfinite Production “The Art of Love and Struggle”

TONI BLACKMAN–FREESTYLE UNION

ELIZABETH MENDEZ BERRY–TIME MAGAZINE &VIBE MAGAZINE

AMANDA DIVA–MTV2 & DEF POET

BOBBI WILLIAMS– PERFORMING AS SMOKIFANTASTIC

ROSA CLEMENTE–KNOWTHYSELF PRODUCTIONS

RAQIYAH MAYS–HOT97 & THE AVE MAGAZINE

DENISE DE LA CRUZ– REGGAE SONGSTRESS

CLAUDIA ALICK–SMOKIN WORD PRODUCTIONS & DEF POET

HELENA D. LEWIS– PLAYWRITE AND DEF POET

VISTA SOLO- PERFORMANCE ARTIST & PHOTOGRAPHER

KYANA BRINDLE- PLAYWRITE AND POET

Contact eyesinfinte films (info@eyesinfinite.com) if you want to be invited to the premier screening of t THE ART OF LOVE AND STRUGGLE

Click here to view the trailer!
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