#akhe abdullah

ELEMENTZ Digital Newsletter (Spring 2013)

Our non profit organization, ELEMENTZ, has continued to make strides with inner city youth through urban arts so far this year.  The following is a short video that my team and I produced that highlights our recent great stories which we call the "Digital Newsletter."   

Stories include youth of our STARS program taking a road trip for a fundraiser in Strongsville, big success at the Elementz 8 year anniversary, and the Macy's Arts Sampler. Also don't miss the Elementz Harlem Shake at the end of the video!

Video Credits

Executive Producer - Abdullah Powell

The following is a picture video that I created for an instrumental that I produced entitled "Questions & Answers" which is from my recent instrumental album, JOURNEY: The Sound of Life.   

The photography was taken by my wife, Nazeerah Abdullah, and arabic calligraphy in the 2nd picture of the video was created by Isa Abdul Wali. The calligrapy is from one of the most renowned chapters of The Qur'an entitled, Surah Ikhlaas, which is a short declaration of the absolute oneness of God. 

In 2013 be on the look out for other music video's from my album, JOURNEY: The Sound of Life, here at JourneyOnAkhe.com/music and on my YouTube page.

The Elementz Digital Newsletter for Fall of 2012 is finally here.  The team and I have put together another entertaining and informational video to give our supporters an inside look at a few of Elementz most recent great stories. Elementz personality, R. Streetz, hosts the entire video which focuses on the following stories: 

Elementz Moves to New Location & Hosts Welcome Reception  

Focus on the S.T.A.R.S. program merging into Elementz

The Pass the Mic Hip Hop Concert at the 20th Century Theater

City Officials invite S.T.A.R.S. artists to perform live R&B and Hip Hop on Fountain Square

ELEMENTZ Digital Newsletter Fall 2012 Credits

  EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Akhe Abdullah

VIDEO & EDITING: Craig Bock, R.Streets

HOST: R.Streetz

I recently was the feature artist in the Music Section of the Cincinnati CityBeat in an article called "Pastime Paradise" where I discussed my instrumental album Journey: The Sound of Life, and the influences that helped shape my ear for production.  I am especially pleased to have had the opportunity to talk about my artistry on an established media platform in Cincy such as the CityBeat and to have had it written by one of our city's most talented journalists, Mildred Fallen.   This article came roughly a year after I had been featured in another established newspaper in Cincy called the Cincinnati Enquirer in an article which focused on me being one of Cincy's "Emerging African American Leaders."

"Pastime Paradise" came right on time in my opinion as I was looking for a way to give my album a second promotional push after its release earlier this spring.  You can pick up a free copy of the CityBeat in various locations throughout Cincy and of course you can read the article on CityBeat online at  http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-26098-pastime_paradise.html

Listen to and/or purchase my album,  Journey: The Sound of Life below

Its been a little over a week since the Holy month of Ramadan began.  This is my eighth year of fasting since I became a Muslim in the summer of 2005.  For those that do not know fasting is an essential part of the Islamic faith and thus Muslims are required to fast once a year during Ramadan from just before dawn until sunset.  During our fast we refrain from food, drink and sexual relations with one's spouse (if married). Muslims are also encouraged to practice controlling their anger, and straying away things that would be distracting from one's fast like TV, music, & entertainment.  Ramadan is a month that carries so much benefit for the one who sincerely fasts and does good deeds solely for the pleasure of Allah.  The reward for our deeds are multiplied numerously and the result of a successful fast is that one develops excellent habits that carry on beyond Ramadan.  These habits may include a more healthy diet, becoming more generous, and most importantly performing more acts of worship which all, ultimately lead to having a closer relationship with Almighty Allah.  

Last year I experienced the best Ramadan to date and it was because I set goals for myself, which helped me to maintain a strong spiritual program and increase my level of worship gradually throughout the month.  I also remember being inspired by the news that my wife and I would have our first child.  Last year's fast was such an inspiring experience for me that I even wrote a journal entry called My Ramadan 2011 which can be read by clicking here.

It is our belief that Allah began to reveal the Holy Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad (Gods Peace be Upon him) during the holy month of Ramadan. 

Thus Muslims are encouraged to spend much of their time engaged in reading, understanding and memorizing the Qur'an during Ramadan. This is a picture of me reading one of my favorite chapters of the Qur'an entitled "Ya Sin."