Adisa Banjoko profile picture

Adisa Banjoko

The books were extremely old, yet as I opened each volume I had a sense of new discovery. - Baiyun

About Me


My name is Adisa Banjoko, and I am an author and lecturer dealing with the issues of politics, Islam, spirituality, chess and Hip Hop. I have written 2 books, Lyrical Swords Vol. 1: Hip Hop and Politics in the Mix & Lyrical Swords Vol. 2: Westside Rebellion . Both are part of a series of books I'm creating dealing with various issues and solutions pertaining to communities of color. They feature interviews with Russell Simmons, Nas, Paris, Dilated Peoples, Frontline & EA Ski, Shamako Noble, Ray Luv, GZA, Afrika Bambataa, Balance, RZA, Chess Grandmaster Maurice Ashley, DJ QBert, DJ Muggs, Tajai, Casual, Del, Imam Zaid Shakir and many more. I have lectured at various universities and institutions, including The Commonwealth Club, Harvard, Brown, Stanford, U.C. Berkeley, and Dickinson College.
On a non-related note, ladies who try to get at me through myspace get deleted QUICK STYLEEE 'cause I'm married. Please know that coming through the door, and God Bless.  
To download or purchase a book today, please visit www.lyricalswords.com

My Interests

This is me working for Black and Brown unity at San Quentin Penitentiary. I want peace in the prisons, on the streets and in the schools for all people.

 
I'm into nonviolence, chess, Hip Hop, politics, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, all martial arts styles, yoga, chess, grilled salmon, sushi, salad, military strategy, judo, eastern philosophy, marriage, enriching the lives of children, making tea, reading, public speaking, zen gardens, harps, bamboo flutes, lecturing, philosophical and theological discussion. And...did i mention chess?

I'd like to meet:

If you believe in peace, interspiritual, racially balanced, multicultural solutions to problems in these troubled times, then hit me up. Anyone who loves Hip Hop, authors, poets, music, reading or any of the other things I have addressed then please reach out...
Also, if you're interested in Public Relations then please check us out at www.shinkenpublicrelations.com . PR is a must for many music artists, and various companies (not all rap related). If you are looking to have your product fall in the right hands, hit me up. We have been doing PR for over 10 years. I can get a portfolio to you to view if you're interested.

Music:

ALL WEST COAST HIP HOP, ALL SOUTHERN HIP HOP, Public Enemy, Nas, Ice Cube, Paris, King Tee, Mix Master Spade, Early Dr. Dre, John Coltrane, Last Poets, Luda, Common, Immortal Technique, Bob Marley, Israel Vibrations, Lil Jon, Geto Boys, Burning Spear, H.R., Bad Brains, Slayer, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Stevie Wonder, Rage Against the Machine, Ricanstruction, Prince, Dilated Peoples. M-Team, Kumasi, Self Scientific, DJ Muggs, DJ Vlad, Casual, DJ Rob Swift (everybody buy "Wargames" today!) T-Kash, Conscious Daughters, Kam, MC Ren, The Coup, The Last Poets, The Lost Children of Babylon, Encore, Linkin Park, 24/7 Spys, Kid Capri, Mix Master Mike, Qbert, Apollo, Yogafrog, Mike Relm, Quranic readings, Bach, Vivaldi, Beethoven, Bambaataa, Balance, RZA, Lynn Collins, James Brown, Black Eyed Peas, B-Legit, Fanatik, Peanut Butter Wolf, Outlandish...and the ONE and only Shamako Noble (he can kill most battle emcees in under 16 bars)...

Movies:

HERO, Kill Bill, Crouching Tiger, Friday, Freshest Kids, Collatoral, 8 Mile, American History X, Malcolm X, Glory, Cry Freedom, Shark Tales, Finding Nemo, Osmosis Jones, Bound, House of Flying Daggers, Snatch, Matrix (the first one mostly), Eyes on the Prize, Unforgivable Blackness, Muhmmad: Legacy of a Prophet, Say It Plain.

This is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu match from a few years back. I'm on the bottom, choking my opponent on top.

Here are two clips of my lecture at Dickinson College on the Beauty of Non-Violence:

This is a clip of my lecture at Brown University about the weakness of the concept of Islamic Reform:

Television:

Distortion2Static, UFC, PRIDE FC, Codename Kids Next Door, Samurai Jack, Meet the Press, Static Shock, Everybody Loves Raymond, South Park, Animal Planet, CNN, Fox, Little Bill, Fatherhood, Kipper, Hardball, Yes Dear, My Wife and Kids, Life According to Jim, Family Guy and American Dad.

Books:

Lyrical Swords Volume 1, Lyrical Swords Volume 2, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Musashi by Yoshikawa (this book had a profound impact on my life), More Philsophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey, The Isis Papers, Message to the Black Man, Chrsitianity BEFORE Christ, Jihad: A Commitment to Universal PEACE, The Sacred Scriptures of Konkoyo, Art of War, Art of Peace, Secret Tactics, Can't Stop Wont Stop, The Gracie Way, Mastering Ju Jitsu, Golden Age of the Moor, African Presence in Early Asia, African World Revolution, the Bible, the Qu'ran, the Torah, Buddhist texts, Confucian texts, Toltec Philsophy, Country Fried Soul, Rakim Told Me, Apocryphal texts, Classics of Strategy and Counsel and various books on military strategy.For the latest news on YinSumi Press upcoming projects go to http://yinsumi.com

Heroes:

Allah (SWT),Gutenberg, Prophet Muhammad (SAW), my parents, my wife, my children. Dr. John Henrik Clarke, The Gracie family, Hamza Yusuf, Jigoro Kano, Abdullah Bin Bayyah, Cael Sanderson, Rosa Parks, Kimura, Count Koma, Assata Shakur, Alexander Karelin, Rulon Gardener, Mifune, Angela Davis, Nikki Giovanni, Huey Newton, Stanley Tookie Williams...Dan and David Camarillo, Jeff Monson, Carlos Newton, Kevin Randleman, Fedor, Mark Coleman, Matt Hughes, Lil Evil, Mirko Cro-Cop,Rumina Sato, BJ Penn, Mario Sperry, Tito Ortiz, Bob Sapp, Herb Dean, Quinton Rampage Jackson, Vanderlei Silva, Jacare, Leo Libiran (he's done things I'll never do- whut a G).

My Blog

Goliath Bleeds Deep: Police Brutality, war and more

 Holla at a Scholar!  ...
Posted by Adisa Banjoko on Mon, 11 Dec 2006 12:32:00 PST

What you know about Romanian Hip Hop?

  A Look at Romanian Hip Hop w/ DJ KIN Pt. 1 AUDIO: Hip-Hop, Hyphy and Politics at the Commonwealth Club (feats. F.A.B. and Traxamillion) Nobody Cares...But I'm still going to say it...  ...
Posted by Adisa Banjoko on Mon, 04 Dec 2006 07:01:00 PST

Kim Osorio KO's Benzino and Dave Mays

EXCLUSIVE: Adisa Banjoko interviews Kim Osorio Holla at a Scholar, Adisa...
Posted by Adisa Banjoko on Sat, 02 Dec 2006 08:31:00 PST

My Favorite Military Quotes & Images

My Favorite Military Quotes, Fights and Photographs  ...
Posted by Adisa Banjoko on Thu, 30 Nov 2006 06:20:00 PST

A lot of bloggery I forgot to post

10 Questions for Bill Cosby The Black Hair Matrix: How Jada Pinkett Saved My Daughter  ...
Posted by Adisa Banjoko on Thu, 30 Nov 2006 05:37:00 PST

My Thanks to Kramer: America Need Him!!

My Thanks to Kramer: America Needs Him!! Holla at a scholar, Adisa...
Posted by Adisa Banjoko on Wed, 29 Nov 2006 12:03:00 PST

My blog is moving to the SF Chronicle site...

I know I've been posting very little. Really, I've just been setting up to move the "Holla at a Scholar!!" blog to the SF Chronicle About 11 AM PST it should be up. Look for new EXCLUSIVE in...
Posted by Adisa Banjoko on Mon, 13 Nov 2006 12:16:00 PST

Tai Chi vs. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu A True Story

This might be a repost. This is from my brother from another mother, Billy Ray, of www.stonecoldbillyray.com . This story is about what happens when an arrogant Tai Chi Master, offends an honorable B...
Posted by Adisa Banjoko on Mon, 06 Nov 2006 08:49:00 PST

We Can't Give What We Don't Have: Peace

We Can't Give What We Don't Have: PeaceBy Adisa Banjoko www.netweed.com/lyricalswordsThe savage murder of Nick Berg has shocked and horrified many Americans, regardless of their stance on the war. For...
Posted by Adisa Banjoko on Sun, 22 Oct 2006 06:10:00 PST

HEAR: Adisa Banjoko & VIBE'S Danyel Smith on Pac

Listen to a very deep conversation on 2Pac's legacy....It was aired on KPBS in San Diego....Check it out and pass it on... www.netweed.com/lyricalswords -Adisa...
Posted by Adisa Banjoko on Fri, 15 Sep 2006 04:58:00 PST