EMERGENCE

Video directed by Waajeed.
Buy the "Detroit Summer" 7"

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.

You can now pre-order the Invincible + Waajeed "Detroit Summer" 7". These are limited to 1,000 pressed so pre-order to guarantee one for your collection. Each 7" comes in a custom hand screenprinted sleeve and includes a free digital download of the two-song single. The vinyl is now being pressed and we estimate August 10, 2010 as the shipping date for pre-orders.

BONUS: Pre-order the 7" and get a FREE Invincible + Waajeed sticker pack with die-cut images that match the cover. Use the stickers and customize your 7" sleeve!

We are in the midst of redesigning our onine store, so the deal for now:

GO HERE TO PRE-ORDER THE 7".

GO HERE TO BUY OTHER EMERGENCE PRODUCTS AT THE OLD STORE.

Excerpt:

JT JOHNSON: How did you come to be a part of Can A Sista Rock A Mic?

INVINCIBLE:  I first met Kimani about 10 years ago. There was a mutual friend of ours named Yejide the Night Queen, and she was throwing a women in hip hop event every month, and he came out to one of her events.

Then about four years ago, my friend, Stacy Epps. came out and did Can A Sista Rock A Mic? and I came out and performed a song with her.

So I always knew about the festival and, then, this year they asked me to be a feature at it, and I’m just honored to be part of this legacy of DC supporting women in hip hop, and bringing out of town artists to connect with the local DMV movement.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW AT EXAMINER.COM

Excerpt:

Invincible, a fiercely talented hip-hop emcee from Detroit, submitted a music video for her song "Ropes" to mtvU, the MTV channel that targets college students. If aired, it would be an especially prominent platform for any indie artist, especially one who -- as a gay Jewish woman from the Midwest -- eschews the stereotypes of her genre. Invincible was told that her video had a high likelihood of being accepted and was asked to send a reformatted version. She did -- at a cost of several hundred dollars. Just a couple weeks later, though, in mid-March, Invincible received an unusual email: MTV's content department officially approved the video for airing, but the standards department rejected it. She was advised that "Ropes" was "too problematic" with its "suicidal undertones."

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT SALON.COM