Music
Press
By Workers World Denver bureau
Published Jul 12, 2005 9:03 PM
On July 11, Black and Latino community members and leaders held a protest at police headquarters in Denver. Those gathered had come to remember Jamaal Bonner, Paul Childs, Frank Lobato, Greg Smith, Deniece Washington, Harrison Owens, Ishmael Mena and others who have been killed by Denver and Aurora cops.
The crowd, nearly 30 people, listened to embattled anti-racist activist Shareef Aleem, Fight Imperialism Stand Together activist Larry Hales and the hip hop act The Strugglas. FIST activist Melissa Kleinman led the crowd in anti-cop chants.
When two Denver cops approached those gathered and asked them to leave, saying their presence was dishonoring a nearby cop memorial, people in the crowd asked where the memorial was for those unjustly killed by cops.
The cops left when the protesters vowed to continue the protest. The rally and speak-out continued, gathering momentum as passersby stopped to join.
The rally ended with a call to unite the struggle against racism and police repression to the anti-war struggle.
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- By Workers World Denver bureau
Discography
1999: The Bonus Tracks.
2006: Bounce Back
2008: Force Entry MixTape Vol.1
2008: Force Entry MixTape Vol.2
2009: Holla Back,,,,Coming Soon !
Photos
Bio
BIO BEGIN----------
There is a lot more to Denver The Mile High City than the Broncos, majestic mountain views and guaranteed winter snowfall.
If you dig deeper, past the high rise buildings, overpriced restaurants, grungy dive bars and suburban sprawl, youll find a flourishing Hip Hop music community featuring a couple of rising stars calling themselves The Strugglas.
Led by longtime Denver Hip Hop players Mz. Neeq and Big Smurf, the duo collectively has, as they say, been putting it down together for a number of years. The it they refer to is a slamming hella live show they perform together in and around the Denver Hip Hop scene at places like Cervantes and Club Deep.
Formed in 1998, the duo (who are also husband and wife) became first-time parents, which put the music of The Strugglas on hold for a brief period until re-grouping later to record and release the appropriately titled Bounce Back. The Strugglas promoted themselves to keep their name fresh and performed at a number of local shows. With a good buzz from the album providing momentum, they were ready to move forward and capitalize on success. Life, however, had other plans for the musical husband and wife, and they ended up becoming parents again, which they say they were prepared for the second time around.
The Strugglas stayed in the public eye, playing more shows and promoting the music. Their efforts paid off with the completion of their new album "Holla Back, a 14-track album featuring some of the sweetest, smoothest grooves and beats on either side of the Rocky Mountains.
Mz. Neeq, says the music on Holla Back is conscious music.
We have an automatic stage vibeits like fire to a match! she says. Were here to inspire, to give back to the community and to stand for something.
For Mz. Neeq, standing for something comes down to a simple motto: Each one, teach one. She says their music represents all people regardless of color or religion, and that The Strugglas stand for justice, for peace and equality for everybody.
Big Smurf likens their songs and real-life lyrics to an undeniable and motivational force, with a beautiful splash of energy.
With his wife and best friend, Mz. Neeq, at his side, The Strugglas are sharing their witty, energetic, fresh alternative Hip Hop as a family with the musical family of man.
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