Evan Ginzburg.com

Evan Ginzburg and Legends Radio Presents at Gizzi’s 16 W 8th St. NYC (www.gizzisnyc.com ) THIS WEEK-
Get away from the computer/TV and support great live entertainment and network with industry insiders!
Monday Jan. 9- 8PM- Edwin Vazquez Latin Jazz and more 7PM Spoken word artist BE opens & networking event
Tuesday Jan 10- Early show – Open Mike/Networking event 6:30 Sign up 7-9 performers- we welcome musicians/poets/writers/filmmakers (shorts)/comedians & more 9PM Blues Open mike/jam w Mark Pressman
Friday Jan 13- 7:00 PM Gabe Klavun film night- great short films, coming attractions, live music and celebs!
No Cover $10 Minimum at tables

Friday Nov. 25
8PM- Jennifer Baron

http://www.myspace.com/jennabaronjungle

http://www.myspace.com/vaivaiven

9PM- Ja’Nae Wilkerson R&B www.facebook.com/janae.wilkerson
10PM- Toni Hoffman http://www.myspace.com/tonihoffmann/music
Monday Nov. 28 Edwin Vazquez Residency
Tuesday Nov. 29 -Final SoSoon Residency www.sosoonmusic.com
FINALLY I will be ending my residency on Novemeber 29th; fitting as it is the day after my 29th birthday!
To celebrate, I will be having a Name Dropping Concert. For those unaware, I have released a new song
in collaboration with several of my favorite artists for the last 14 weeks and counting. So what
better way to experience the music then to see the songs performed live!?!

When: November 29th, 7-10:30pm

Upcoming NO COVER events at Gizzi’s Cafe 16 W 8th St. NYC
Booked by Evan Ginzburg- (Generally) hosted by Evan Ginzburg
Monday August 22 8PM
Joe Whyte, Rod Picott
Combining equal parts country, folk, rock and Americana, NYC area
singer/songwriter JOE WHYTE’s songs have been described as “alt-country
pearls that shimmer with simplicity and effectiveness” and “beautifully
crafted, melancholic Americana.” Dubbed, “The King of NYC Americana” by
music blog Twangnation, Joe released his latest stripped-down,
acoustic-based EP, WHEN THE DAY BREAKS, in June 2010 to rave reviews.

Nashville singer-songwriter ROD PICOTT’s world weary songs glow with both
self awareness and humility. WELDING BURNS, Rod’s new collection of songs,
reflect the realities of the time we live in, and they contain hard
truths. The songs are both beautiful and disturbing, and are the work of
an artist who deserves to be heard. some of the most hard-hitting,
eloquent, authentic depictions of blue collar life to be heard in the USA
today

Tuesday August 23
Songwriters and Poets Vol. 1 Featuring Marc Raphael 7-9PM
Marc Raphael will be hosting VILLAGE COFFEE HOUSE Tuesday, August 23rd from 7 – 9 pm at GIZZI’S CAFÉ.
Singer/songwriter Marc Raphael is thrilled to be back at Gizzi’s for his 8th appearance this year with music and poetry in the manner of the coffee house scenes of the past. He’ll be playing his contemporary folk tunes and story songs that reflect the longings, hardships and passions of the American landscape. Marc will perform three new songs from his upcoming RAD (Recording Artists Development) recording, including the new anti-war ballad, “Hey There Billy.”
Guest Artists who will be joining in include Kelly Champion singing Ian Tyson’s folk classic ‘Some Day Soon” and the evocative “Sally Gardens” with words by Yeats. Alexander Peck will play on violin the beautiful and haunting theme from Ken Burn’s The Civil War, “Ashokan Farewell.” Actor Brian Sloan will be performing Shakespeare’s ageless speech from As You Like It, “The Seven Ages of Man”. For you Poe fans, Edgar Allan Poe’s great poem The Raven will be read by actor Doug Bradford. Marc will also perform “Annabelle Lee,” another great one by Poe that he has set to music.
Come and join us, have some java or a glass of wine and sit back and listen to the songs and timeless poems. It promises to be a fun evening. raphael.marc99@gmail.com
James “SoSoon” Gantt Residency Special late set 9PM
Spoken word/R&B/jazz/hip hop meets music of all genres

Friday August 26
7PM School ov Thought
8PM Valerie Mize
Earthy yet educated, simple yet soulful, funky and fun; Valeries music is immediately appealing to the eclectin in everyone. With influences ranging from Hometown to Motown, this Oklahoma born, NYC based songwriter, signer, and multi-instrumentalist rubs some rootsy Red Dirt on her classical ubringing.
After earning her degree in music, Mize moved to NYC to build a band and further her musical endeavors. Backed by the rock solid rhythm section of drummer Tomo Kanno and bassist Antar Goodwin (Patty Smyth, Lauryn Hill), Mize recently teamed up with cellist Ward willaims (Vienna Teng, Brandi Carlile), multi-instrumentalist Greg Mayo, and producer/engineer Robert L. Smith (U@, Imogen Heap, Lady Gaga) at Defy Recordings to record her recently released debut EP, “Auspices.”
9PM Ja’Nae Wilkerson R&B
10PM TBA

Sunday August 28
7PM Edwin Vazquez

Edwin Vazquez Musica- great LATIN JAZZ

www.myspace.com/EDWINVAZQUEZ/MUSICA

“If you can imagine the combination of the flare of Elvis Presley, the contortions of Joe Cocker, and the charm of Enrique Iglesias, you have Edwin Vazquez.  I can only describe Edwin’s performance as vibrant, energetic, and extremely animated. In one word I’d have to describe his performance as WOW!  The audience greeted him with woops and hollers, shouting out otra, otra, otra, at the end of his set.  It was quite electric to say the least”.

> Johnny Cruz PUERTORICAN .COM

8PM Ebonie Smith
Ebonie Smith is a singer-songwriter/music producer and creative entrepreneur based in New York City. She has performed at a number of NYC’s premiere venues including: SOB’s, Webster Hall, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She has also performed abroad à Le Centre Culturel Francais in Cameroon, West Africa. A skilled beat-maker, Ebonie has crafted songs for artists based all over the world, most notably Israel’s African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem. She has also worked alongside soul legend Nona Hendryx of Labelle to coordinate Unfiltered Music, an arts collective for independent musicians. At the age of seventeen, Ebonie left her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee to pursue her musical aspirations in the entertainment capital of New York City. In 2004 Ebonie discovered her love for music production and began using her baby-sitting money to finance her own project recording studio. While an undergraduate student at Barnard College of Columbia University, she began making beats for aspiring artists and establishing herself as an up-and-coming producer/engineer. This initial interest in recording and music technology set Ebonie on a path to discover new and interesting ways of merging her love for music production with a sincere desire to impact social consciousness through musical exploration and education.
9PM Coole High
Being a product of Brooklyn, New York, Coole High’s style cannot be summed up in just one word. It’s a mixed bag of flavor for your ears. The music: Hip Hop, Jazz, Funk. The lyrics: hardcore, underground, intellectual. Coole High’s songs cover everything from poltics of the world to the politics of the music industry. He raps about the effect of the drug trade in the hood and its correlation to the corporate world. But there are also several sides to “Mr. High.” His tracks reflect the music he loves and has been inspired by – a combination of laid back, funky, jazzy, hardcore, and soul. His lyrics reflect the issues and times. Naturally artistic. Since 2001 ReddOktoba Productions has hosted showcases in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn and the Lower East Side, NYC.
In 2009, he surprised his fans by releasing a smooth jazz album titled, “Casual Attire.”

Monday August 29
7PM Max Jared
Max Jared, born December 15th, 1987, is an American musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, philanthropist, and social entrepreneur. Raised in Dallas TX, Max attended the Episcopal School of Dallas. He then attended Indiana University in Bloomington Indiana before returning to Texas to continue his music and social action endeavors. Max began his musical journey as a drummer, later developing his percussive interests with melody on an acoustic guitar he bought three years later.
Jared began his career performing mainly acoustic rock, influenced heavily by artists like John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, and John Butler, but gradually began a transition towards pop, rock and electronic music after collaborating with renowned songwriter and producer, Tom Prasada Rao on Jared’s debut album, in early 2011.
Jared’s career pursuits have extended to include work as an environmental activist, interfaith progress initiatives, and social action projects in communities around the world, as well as in the Texas area. He currently lives in Dallas TX, and anticipates the release of his album ‘Thoughtless Sounds’ November 2011.

8PM Elizabeth Grimes

Elizabeth Grimes is an Army Veteran and now works as a pianist for the New Jersey Ballet. She is a singer/songwriter and performer, winning 4th place in a National Song of the Year competition. She toured nationally as a musician with the Army Soldier Show, and has played at landmark venues such as Lincoln Center and the Broadway Comedy Club. Her original, full length album with Modern Vintage Recordings will be released this fall.
9PM Cheryl Pyle Jazz Flutist

“I asked the talented flutist Cheryl Pyle to nail some moody and melancholic parts for two different projects within the metal genre and I really must take my figurative hat off to her professionalism and musical diversity. She has proven to possess a more than outstanding ability to dive into the right spirit and atmosphere of the songs handed to her, which I consider a rare quality in a musician these days.” Martin Meyer Mendelssohn Sparvath (Altar of Oblivion & Lords of Triumph)http://www.myspace.com/altarofoblivion

Tuesday August 30 James “SoSoon” Gantt Residency
Spoken word/R&B/jazz/hip hop meets music of all genres
7PM TBA
8PMMarianne Osiel
Of Marianne as a musician/composer, David Darling (Music For People) says:

“Marianne Osiel is one of the most talented and inspirational musicians that I have ever met. Her versatility as a singer/songwriter and classical/ jazz composer oboist is world class. Her virtuoso soaring and inventive oboe performances both live and on her remarkable CD’s are world class and puts her in the category as one of the best on the planet.”

Stuart Dunkel, international oboist and reedmaker says:

“[Marianne's] cd is terrific and i’m really amazed at the ability to improvise so fluently…like mozart, the music must just flow. I hope there will be more in this series of improvs. The rest of us torch bearers are very impressed and look forward to the expanding of the traditon. brava!”

9PM SoSoon residency

Gizzi’s Cafe 16 W 8th St. NYC- NEVER A COVER…

Monday August 1 Women In Music Festival
7PM Miriam Mendelson
8PM Glenna Bell
9PM Sonia Montez

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/radianrecords/sonia-montez-2011-album-project

http://tiny.cc/soniamontez

“In the age of autotune and assorted other ‘special effects’ added to artificially sweeten music, I’m finding it’s artists that capitalize on the ‘less is more’ principle that catch my ear these days. The beauty about Sonia Montez is that she doesn’t, hasn’t, and never will need added effects to win you over. All she needs is a couple minutes to sing you a song.” Blissfully Domestic, November 2009

“In brief, Sonia Montez is a New York folk artist in a city of many folk artists but with a little ‘je ne sais quoi’ that leaps and bounds, and with freshness I love.” Luz Ruidosa Music Blog, France
“Her music is diverse soulful and clever weaving rich and textured chords and bass lines with profound and poetic lyrics that touch the heart and lift the spirit. Sonia’s music makes one feel like anything is possible and that the world is full of Optimism.” The New York Optimist, December 2008

Tuesday August 2 James “SoSoon” Gantt Residency
Spoken word/R&B/jazz/hip hop meets music of all genres
www.sosoonmusic.com
Tinyurl.Com/SoSoonmusic
www.reverbnation.com/SoSoon
www.twitter.com/SirSoSoon
7PM Jon Winell, Evan Ginzburg, Dorothy Friedman poetry/lit readings
8PM A Lyric has confirmed as well. She’ll be from 8-8:30pm followed by Omni Blaze till 9pm
9PM SoSoon Residency

Friday August 5
7:30 PM Susannah Conn
9PM Lace Lavon R&B
10PM Samuel R. Saffery From New Zealand

Monday August 8
7PM Marc Pressman(CD Release) Blues
8PM Sally featuring Jordan Cooper eclectic pop/rock/alternative
9PM Chad Douglas

Tuesday August 9 James “SoSoon” Gantt Residency
Spoken word/R&B/jazz/hip hop meets music of all genres
7PM Stacee Mandeville blues/jazz
8PM SoSoon Residency
9PM Omni Blaize
There are few artists that display a chameleon-like versatility when it comes to music. OMNI Blaize displays such ability through playing various instruments (guitar, bass, keyboard) as well as his most powerful musical tool–his voice. With the combination of a church-singing background as well as frequenting various emcee competitions and showcases, he has emerged as an impressive fusion of soul music and hip hop.
Not only has his talents provided him with numerous showcase opportunities in New York (Best Buy, Sullivan Hall, Apollo Theatre), they have also taken him around the world and back. In February 2009, OMNI was part of a hip hop/R&B collective, Vice Verse Allstars, that was sent by Jazz at Lincoln Center to be musical ambassadors to countries in West Africa, including Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, and Mauritania where he collaborated with several local artists.
His original sound strives to carve out its own lane in music, creating a pangea of styles.

Friday August 12
7PM Billy Likitsakos Jazz
8PM Ron B and Mandola Joe
9PM Matthew Streppone
10PM Felix Cabrera and Robert Ross blues

Sunday August 14 Adam Schlacter Film Night BOOKED

Monday August 15
7PM Live classic concert footage on our giant screen
8PM ROGER ORTEGA
*Facebook/Roger Ortega
*Twitter/RnBPoPWrytr
*MySpace/Roger Ortega
*Youtube Channel/RnBPoPWrytr
Links/http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Roger-Ortega/191774214211771

http://www.myspace.com/rogerortegarogelio

“Step”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09WNCdW_2kM

9PM Kiernan McMullan
Not really being from anywhere has it’s benefits. There is a refreshing perspective that comes when there is no one place you call home.
Born in Hong Kong and having grown up between Ireland and Boston to an Irish father and Australian mother it really isn’t surprising that he finds it hard to stay in one place for too long.
In 2008 Kiernan signed his first record deal with Warner Brother’s sub label 111 records. The record was released in November 2008 during a time when the music industry’s financial crisis was in full swing.
“All i needed was a plane ticket over. I had no van yet so I spent the first 3 months on greyhound buses and hitchhiking. Let’s just say every day was it’s own story”
With nothing but a hiking bag and his guitar he hitched and bussed the length of the east coast and parts of the midwest playing shows every other day.
Fast forward to now and you find Kiernan with a van and an impressive musical resume. Having shared stages with everyone from Sheryl Crow, Colbie Callait and Sublime to Meg and Dia, Lisa Hannigan and The Proclaimers to name just a few.
It would appear that this is only the beginning. With his full length record “Perfect People are Boring” and his more recent acoustic E.P. “The Best Part” both released to a very enthusiastic grassroots following, the anticipation is building to here his newest record “Two Years” recorded in Ireland this year.
“It’s my best attempt to take ten songs and try to tell the story of the last two years from me. There have been some of the highest highs and lowest lows of my entire life within this 730 day adventure from November 2nd 2008 to November 2nd 2010.”
It looks like this is just the prologue of a bigger story that is far from over.

Tuesday August 16 James “SoSoon” Gantt Residency
Spoken word/R&B/jazz/hip hop meets music of all genres

7PM Edwin Vazquez
8PM Karen LeVine
9PM SoSoon Residency

Friday August 19
7PM Jazz Underdogs
8PMAngie Atkinson
9PM Hot Club from Hell’s Kitchen
10PM Curtis and the Dilettantes

Monday August 22 BOOKED-
Joe Whyte, Rod Picott and Amanda Shires Schedule TBA

Tuesday August 23 BOOKED
Songwriters and Poets Vol. 1 Featuring Marc Raphael 7-10PM
James “SoSoon” Gantt Residency Special late set 10PM
Spoken word/R&B/jazz/hip hop meets music of all genres

Friday August 26
7PM
8PM
9PM Ja’Nae Wilkerson R&B
10PM

Sunday August 28
7PM Edwin Vazquez
8PM Ebonie Smith
9PM Coole High

Monday August 29
7PM Max Jared
8PM Elizabeth Grimes
9PM Cheryl Pyle Jazz Flutist

Tuesday August 30 James “SoSoon” Gantt Residency
Spoken word/R&B/jazz/hip hop meets music of all genres
7PM
8PM Marianne Osiel
9PM SoSoon residency

Gizzi’s Cafe 16 W 8th St. Never a cover
Great ambiance/food/desserts/alcohol/coffee/nice folk

Sunday July 17
7PM Jennifer Baron
8PM Jenn Constantine
9PM Coole High

Monday July 18
7PM Mike Sheehan and Michael McHugh poetry set
7:30-8:30 Glenna Bell
8:30-9:30 Mike McHugh poetry set and Evan reads from Apt. 4B, Like in Brooklyn
9:30-10:30 Eddie Wiernik keyboard/sax/vocals

Tuesday July 19
“Kevin Marin Presents”
Kevin Marin is thrilled to have had the opportunity to book talent at Gizzi’s Café, in collaboration with Evan Ginzburg. He has performed Off-Broadway in Erosion: Life on Life’s Terms (The Producer’s Club); The Patient’s View (American Theatre Of Actors); Don’t Tell Her (Beacon Theatre); and If I Had My Way In Life (The Director’s Lounge). Kevin Marin has written, produced, and directed his own Off-Broadway production entitled O.M.G at Peter Norton Symphony Space. He has also directed and coordinated a Benefit Concert at the Clark Studio Theatre within the Lincoln Center Complex.
Corey Sky singer/songwriter www.coreysky.com.
EdwardInNY . From Russia- Edward specializes in re-mastering instrumental covers of popular songs from the early 1950’s to the present time . www.wix.com/edwardn4/edward.
Elizabeth Grimes singer/songwriter and pianist living in the NYC area www.elizabethgrimesmusic.com.
Madeleine Twyman The mysterious and inspired songwriter laid her roots in NYC to study dance at the prestigious Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Madeleine’s love of poetry and words helped find her voice at a poetry café in the lower east side. She soon began recording under the mentorship of reggae musician Donny Marshall and later with Sidney Mills of Grammy award winning band Steel Pulse. Madeleine’s unconventional outlook and experiences deliver her captivating blend of singing, rapping, and dancing with a rebellious live show. Her compelling performances are a costume clad visual collaboration featuring a troupe of ballerinas, dancehall queens, and pop dancers aptly named “The PopBellaHall Divas”. To learn more about upcoming performances, please visit www.madeleinesworld.com.
July 22
7PM Jazz Underdogs
8PM Annie Dinerman
9PM Jordan Cooper
10PM Edwin Vazquez Musica

Monday 25 “Kevin Marin Presents”
Featuring Cheryl Pyle Jazz Flutist & TBA

Tuesday July 26 Women in Music series Vol. 1- HOSTED, BOOKED, AND STARRING LUANNE SURACE

July 29
7PM Felix Cabrera/Robert Ross blues duo
8PM Marc Raphael
9PM Ja’Nae Wilkerson
10PM Stacee Mandeville

July 31
7PM Johnny Valiant (tentative)
8PM Tohm Lev
9PM Timothy Douglas (jazz)

Friday May 6- Gizzis Café 16 W 8th St. NYC No Cover! Great food/ambiance/alcohol/dessert/coffee/nice folk- An eclectic musical stew
7PM Mark Pressman/Country Blues
8PM George Mandel Jazz group
9PM Luanne Surace Americana/blues
10PM Jordan Cooper pop/rock
Plus Ja’Nae Wilkerson, poet Jon Winell, Evan Ginzburg- host

Friday May 13—
RAD RECORD NIGHT IV- Hosted by Luanne Surace
7PM Marc Raphael
8PM Peter Braun
9PM Kalen
10PM Luanne Surace and her Bleecker Street Band

Friday May 20
7PM billy likitsakos
8PM Debra Griner
9PM Ned Massey
10PM Useless Beauty

Friday May 27
Poet Jon Winell’s 50th birthday celebration
7PM Ari Jacobson
8PM Curtis and the Dilettantes
9PM Felix Cabrera and Robert Ross blues band
10PM Stacie Mandeville w Robert Ross

June 3 Alex Montanez CD Release party
7PM Samuel Rubin Saffery
8PM Luanne Surace
9PM Alex Montanez
10PM Daryl Stewart [dstewartlive@gmail.com]

June 10 RAD Records night V- BOOKED

June 17
Clive Unger’s Madame X film celebration night at Gizzis
Featuring music appearances by
Michelle Mupo & TBA

June 24
7PM Marc Raphael
8PM Kim Cameron Jazz
9PM Glenna Bell
10PM Jordan Cooper

Evan Ginzburg is the Associate Producer of THE WRESTLER, Co-Producer of the upcoming films Theresa Sareo- Alive Again and Tiger Khan- Fire In The Blood, his new documentary WRESTLING – THEN & NOW THE MOVIE is now available and he is a DJ, talent agent, publicist, writer/editor & educator based out of NYC…

STICKS AND STONES

Political writer Malcom Lagauche (www.malcomlaguache.com) interviews author/radio host Evan Ginzburg

When U.S. kids first attend public school, they meet people from various cultures, races and religions of which they have never encountered. Invariably, ethnic slurs come forward. Words such as “nigger,” “spic,” “beaner,” “cracker,” “Christ-killer” and many others are uttered in the playgrounds of U.S. elementary schools. Usually, after the first confrontations and a lecture from the teachers, most of the kids then get along.

When I first attended public school and someone called a student a “greenhorn” (derogatory term for someone of Portuguese descent in New England), the teacher reprimanded the name-caller and told us a little ditty: “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” In other words, if someone denigrates you, ignore it and soon the hurtful words will stop.

Today’s U.S. is totally different. Names galore are used to ridicule people. Unlike in the old days, however, there are double and triple-entendres for the offending names. Sometimes, they are meant to be derogatory, while, at other times, they are used by the group who was meant to be offended.

Recently, Don Imus, a radio talkshow host for decades, was fired for calling the female basketball team at Rutgers a bunch of “nappy-headed hos.” (Hos has become a commonly-used word in today’s U.S. culture for “whores.”)

For a couple of days, the press was anti-Imus. He was racist and sexist. Then, things began to turn around. Some people mentioned a double-standard in which black Americans can call themselves “niggas” and “hos,” but if a white person does, all hell breaks loose.

Rap music today is laden with the terms “nigga,” “hos,” and “bitches.” They make Imus’ remark seem palatable. Coincidentally, many of those songs that utter the racial and sexist epithets are performed by African-Americans.

I recently spoke to Evan Ginzburg of New York about the quandary. He has taught English as a Second Language (ESL) for 17 years to immigrants. Also, he had an arts show on WBAI-FM Radio in New York for 15 years. However, he has found a new home for his show, called “Evan Ginzburg’s Legends Radio”. Let’s see what Ginzburg has to say about the subject that has encompassed the nation.

ML: Evan, we all know of Imus’ remarks. But, from what I hear, the subject of racial slurs against African-Americans was brought up in New York before the Imus broadcast. Please explain.

EG: This has been going on for several months now in New York. In the February newspapers, stories told of various politicians who were fighting to ban the “n” word, so this certainly pre-dated the Imus controversy.

ML: Were these politicians looking to score political points?

EG: My gut instinct is that it’s sincere. I’m sure this is something that disturbs them.

ML: What messages are the current slate of rap artists who have no boundaries in their songs sending the public?

EG: There’s such a permeation as far as BET, MTV, Vibe Magazine and so on. In the current issue of Vibe, you have a photograph of Lil Wayne, the rapper, with a gun on his lap and he’s dripping in bling (jewelery). I don’t see this as a positive image. The rap industry and the media I just mentioned have put out such a bombardment, literally a bombardment, of negative images that I don’t think the average 12-year-old kid can distinguish between what is entertainment and what is reality. They look up to these guys. These are role models for them, whether they claim to be or not. A lot of rappers say, “I’m not a role model,” but, at the same time, whether they want to be or not, these kids look up t them.

ML: Much of white society seems to be blaming rap music after the Imus incident. The rappers can use racial denigration, yet if a white person does, it’s out of bounds. Is the message contradictory?

EG: You have white record executives and black record executives. It all boils down to the artist who has a choice. I recently interviewed Grand Master Mele Mel who has put out positive rap music. I just interviewed a young rapper called Paradise who reminds me of Gil Scott Heron and Oscar Brown Jr,. who’s put out positive messages.

This is a choice. They aren’t selling as many records as the gangsta rappers, but they choose to put out a positive message and they’re proud of their people and their culture. They’re not talking about “bitches” and “hos.”

I have a friend who directs rap videos and he says the record company specifically tells him, “We want plenty of hot women. We want the souped-up cars. We want plenty of bling.” This is what the executives are saying. But, as an artist, you do have a choice. You could put out something positive like Public Enemy. Something relevant. Something important.

There’s a lot of hypocrisy about this. You have Mims, with the number-one record in the country, talking about hos and what a pimp he is. R. Kelly, on his hit record, is talking about hos and what a pimp he is. Millions and millions of people are buying these records, yet what Imus said is taboo. I think what Imus said was disgusting. It was horrible. But, why is it less horrible when these guys say it?

ML: Is money the driving force?

EG: Absolutely. Money, greed and materialism. That’s the ugliness of it all. One never knows with Imus if it’s from the heart or just to purposely shock people because that’s what makes money for him and the station. Barak Obama was on his show promoting his book. Many powerful people, black and white, have been on that show. Once the heat was on Imus, a level of hypocrisy came forward. There are other people making money off these negative images and stereotypes.

ML When rap first came out, it was very creative. How can the current state be changed?

EG: Like anything else, if you hit people in the pocketbook, it will turn things around. I don’t believe in censorship. You have a choice not to buy the CD. You have the choice to turn off the station if it offends you. You have the choice to write and speak against something you disagree with, but at the same time, the artist has to take responsibility for what he/she is putting out.

Jesse Jackson once referred to New York as Hymietown. Now, he comes here and is talking about the ugliness of racial slurs. Right there is a certain level of hypocrisy. When I was 12 years old, I thought professional wrestling was real. When I was 14, it suddenly hit me that this wasn’t on the up-and-up. Having taught kids, I’m telling you for a fact that some can not distinguish between what is an what isn’t real. When you have a picture in Vibe magazine with Lil Wayne with a gun in his lap, dripping in jewelry, this is not a positive image.

ML: What do these guys think when they call each other “nigga” and when a white person says it, it’s not okay? What kind of message are younger people getting?

EG: Dave Chappel was on a recent show with Maya Angelou. He was saying that by using the “n” word so casually, it defuses the word. Richard Pryor said the opposite and said it was harmful. Like anything else, different artists have different opinions. Media are saying that as a wealthy white male, Imus did not have the right to do this, whereas, some media are saying that as far as the rappers, it’s freedom of expression.

I cringe when I see the materialism of these videos, where if you don’t have a fancy car, if you don’t have that bling around your neck, if you don’t have that Rolex, you’re a nobody. That’s a horrible message to send out to the youth of America. Some kid who’s working two jobs and going to college sees these guys glorifying drug dealers.

I once interviewed author Davis Miller who wrote The Tao of Mohammed Ali. He said that one of the things that really disturbed him with rap music is that they portray everyone as being hard. Cold. Ruthless. You look at the photos and they’re never smiling. It’s like sensitivity is a weakness.

The same rap director I mentioned earlier told me that the majority of the big rap stars live out in the suburbs and give nothing back to the “hood.” The vast majority are trying to be “street,” but by this time, they are far removed from it and they give nothing back.

ML: Please tell us about your recently-published book, Apartment 4B, Like in Brooklyn.

EG: In my book, I have a chapter called “That Word.” I grew up as a white minority in the predominately black East Flatbush Brooklyn of the 1960s and 1970s. The book is a short story collection about the good, the bad, and the ugly of, for the most part, racism.

When the first Hispanic family moved on the block, they faced racism. When the first black family moved onto the block they faced racism. Eventually, the whites were in the minority and they faced racism.

I have a chapter in which I address all the racist slurs, including “honky,” “white boy,” “Jew boy,” and so on, and the pain those words caused. Whether it’s the “n” word or the words I just rolled off, these words cut like knives.

ML: Tell us about other stereotypes that should be addressed in this country.

EG: Ageism. You see performers in their 60s or 70s, like Little Anthony or Johnny Maestro, who still sound as though they are in their prime. Then, the newspaper reviewers mock “blue-haired” old ladies in the audience. Why is that acceptable. We hear the terms, “He’s old,” and “That’s old,” used like a slur.

As someone who teaches ESL to a mostly immigrant audience, I’m horrified at the anti-immigrant dialogue going on in this country. There’s such an outcry against immigrants. There’s always the assumption they’re illegal or collecting welfare. I’ve taught thousands of immigrants in my 17-year teaching career and the vast majority of the people are hard-working and honest.

Why is it okay to denigrate old people? Why is it okay to denigrate immigrants? As a Jewish person, I get tired of hearing “All Jews are rich. All Jews are cheap.” Anytime the word “all” is used, it is ridiculous.

My grandfather was a butcher. When he died, he left me his bank account. It had $16 in it. My father was a taxi driver. When he died, he left me $850. He never made more than $25,000 a year in his life.

I’m the first person from my father’s side of the family to graduate from college. To say that all Jews are rich and cheap? My father was the most generous guy you’d ever meet and my mother would give you her last dollar.

These stereotypes are perpetuated. How about becoming outraged for all groups that are denigrated? Instead of talking about “race,” why don’t we all become the human race?

(Evan Ginzburg’s book, Apartment 4B, Like in Brooklyn, can be ordered from Evan Ginzburg at P.O. Box 640471, Oakland Gardens Station, Flushing, New York, 11364. The cost is $14.95 plus $2.00 shipping and handling. Online, it is available at www.allbookstores.com)