Mutulu Olugbala (born Lavonne Alford, July 25, 1975), better known by his stage name M-1 (sometimes stylized as M1), is an American rapper, songwriter, and activist from Brooklyn, New York. He is best known for his work as one half of the political hip hop duo dead prez with stic.man.
M-1 | |
|---|---|
 M-1 in New York City in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lavonne Alford |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | July 25, 1975 |
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | Dead Prez |
Career edit
M-1's first solo album, Confidential, credited to "Dead Prez Presents M-1," was released on March 21, 2006, through Sotti/Koch Records.[1] Following Confidential M-1 worked on the album Can't Sell Dope Forever by Dead Prez & Outlawz.[2]
M-1 had the lead role in Broken Rhyme, a 2006 American 90-minute feature film and drama directed and produced by Detdrich McClure about a disillusioned rapper who goes to Japan to shoot a video there and encounters a mysterious Japanese woman who leads him on a spiritual journey and the heavy price he has to pay for turning his back on the forces that run the hip-hop music industry. The film premiered at the Filmlife and HBO American Black Film Festival in June 2006 as an Official Selection.[3]
M-1 is also featured in the UK documentary, Guilty or Innocent of Using the N Word.[4]
M-1 is also a political activist for many black and left-wing causes.[5] In July 2009, M-1 accompanied the Viva Palestina convoy, delivering humanitarian supplies to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.[6] In 2010, M-1 was featured on British-Palestinian rapper Shadia Mansour's single "Al Kufiyyeh 3arabeyyeh" ("The Keffiyeh is Arabian") in her response to the "Israeli Keffiyah", an attempt by Zionists to rebrand the garment as an Israeli attire.[7][8][9] M-1 is a co-founder of Urban Aroma,[10] "a platform for cannabis, art, activism and social equity with editorial and charitable commitments."[11]
Discography edit
Solo albums
- 2006: Confidential
Collaboration albums
- 2011: AP2P – All Power to the People (with Bonnot)
- 2013: Evolutionary Minded (Furthering the Legacy of Gil Scott-Heron) (with Kentyah, Brian Jackson & The New Midnight Band)
- 2016: Between Me and the World (with Bonnot)
Filmography edit
- 1999: Whiteboyz
- 2001: Brooklyn Babylon
- 2006: Guilty or Innocent of Using the N Word as himself (documentary)
- 2006: Broken Rhyme as himself (feature film)[12]
- 2012: Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal as himself (documentary)
Videography edit
- 2006: "Till We Get There" feat. Stori James and K'naan
References edit
- ^ Interview by Henri Adaso in About.com: A 'Confidential' Conversation With M-1 of dead prez
- ^ Can't Sell Dope Forever Album on Discogs
- ^ Filmlife and HBO American Black Film Festival official website
- ^ Guilty or Innocent of Using the 'N' Word on IMDB
- ^ Africana Media Project: About M1 / Interview with Russian Television RT
- ^ A day in Gaza | SocialistWorker.org
- ^ The Arab League of Hip Hop | The Middle East Channel
- ^ "Shadia Mansour & M1 demand "El Kofeyye 3arabeyye" in latest video". MideastDynasty.com. October 2, 2011.
- ^ ""Existence is Resistance": We spoke with Shadia Mansour, the first lady of Arabian hip hop". Noisey. September 20, 2017.
- ^ Aroma, Urban. "Urban Aroma Partners with Mission Green to Launch A $30,000 Giving Campaign for Inmates Serving Life Sentences for Cannabis". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved November 9, 2021.
- ^ "Urban Aroma". urbanaroma.com. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
- ^ IMDb: Broken Rhyme with M-1 in a lead role in the film
