No Longer Banned: "Ropes" by Invincible

Back in early 2009, Invincible sent mtvU her video for the song featuring Tiombe Lockhart, “Ropes,” off her debut LP ShapeShifters. The song was written to help bring awareness to issues regarding depression and mental health, and the accompanying music video directed by Mr. Complex is a strong cinematic statement that should have made “Ropes” a shoo-in for getting placement on mtvU. Shortly after submitting a final version of the video, the folks at MTV let Invincible know that her video was approved to air. Unfortunately, MTV's Standards Department stepped in and rejected the video at the last minute on the basis that the video was "problematic" and had "suicidal undertones."

Invincible responded to this rejection, quickly shooting a viral video outside of the MTV's Times Square headquarters, asking viewers what they thought of the video being censored and whether they believed it was "problematic" to speak openly about depression, mental health, and suicide.

The video went on to garner tens of thousands of views on online video-sharing websites. The mtvU rejection became a story in itself as media outlets such as Salon, True/Slant, and All Hip Hop blasted MTV for their decision and Invincible's supporters sent personal letters to MTV demanding that the video be played. It's taken some time, but nearly a year and a half later, "Ropes" is premiering on mtvU. The video found supporters at Half Of Us, a project housed within MTV that confronts issues of mental health on college campuses. Half Of Us joined the chorus of people championing "Ropes," leading to a resolution with MTV: the Standards Department lifted their ban and cleared the video for airtime, and now "Ropes" is airing on mtvU and mtvU.com as part of the Half Of Us campaign.

Read More @ EmergenceMedia

Official Video: Invincible & Waajeed – Detroit Summer

Invincible + Waajeed - "Detroit Summer"/"Emergence" from EMERGENCE Media on Vimeo.

Invincible and Waajeed: The Making of 'Detroit Summer'

Invincible + Waajeed - The Making of the Detroit Summer Video from Waajeed on Vimeo.

As anticipation boils over for the release of Detroit Summer/Emergence, the collaborative 7” project by Invincible + Waajeed dropping on August 10, the duo have once again created more video work to accompany the release.

The full music video for "Detroit Summer/Emergence" by EMERGENCE in-house director, El Iqaa, is coming next week. In the meantime, check out exclusive behind the scenes footage shot, directed, and edited entirely by Waajeed himself. The forthcoming music video is on the serious side, lyrically and visually showcasing the vibrancy of Detroit that most people don't see. But Waajeed's behind-the-scenes footage balances that out with plenty of humor and hijinks, and also shows the process of what it is like to make a video in Detroit.

“I think I was able to capture the obstacles that we went through just making the video,” Waajeed says, “from being harassed by the cops, almost drowning in a boat, etc., but despite the adversities – just like the city of Detroit itself – regardless of what we face, we keep going.”

The behind-the-scenes video is also the first time we get to see video guru El-Iqaa on the other side of the camera. Once the "Detroit Summer/Emergence" music video is released next week, his directorial skills should get the nationwide attention they deserve. Keep this in mind: Invincible + Waajeed decided to make one powerful video for the single's title track "Detroit Summer" and the B-side single, “Emergence.” That's not an easy task, but Iqaa collected iconic images of Detroit in the summertime – in the midst of the historic Allied Media Conference and U.S. Social Forum – and then pieced together critical cameos from Detroit activists and music figures to create a video that truly is Hip-Hop art.

And stay tuned for the full music video and Detroit Summer/Emergence in both limited edition 7" vinyl and digital format dropping August 10. All vinyl purchases come with a digital download code as well.

Detroit Summer/Emergence is a prequel to the full length album from Invincible + Waajeed dropping in 2011. Neither of these songs will be on that album so get yours now. Stay plugged in to EMERGENCEmedia.org for updates and to pre-order the 7″.

Support the work of the organization DetroitSummer.org featured in the video.

Rap Sessions: Does Hip-Hop Hate Women? @ Dartmouth College, May 26, 2010

Rap Sessions: Does Hip-Hop Hate Women?

A Community Dialogue and Panel

Dartmouth College

Filene Auditorium

6:00 pm

Featuring award-winning author Joan Morgan; Detroit rapper and activist Invincible; rapper Blitz the Ambassador; Duke Professor Mark Anthony Neal; and moderated By Bakari Kitwana, journalist, activist and political analyst.

Sponsored by Special Programming and Events Committee, the Center for Women and Gender, Institutional Diversity and Equity, Departments of Music and Sociology, the Women's and Gender Studies Program, Sigma Delt, TriDelt, Psi U, Lambda Upsilon Lambda, and the AAM.

Contact: Cristen Brooks, 603-646-2722