Flatbush Hall of Famer Talib Kweli on the future of Brooklyn

Talib Kweli, a Brooklyn native, has continued to provide commentary on his city. Along with Mos Def, the duo most known as Black Star collaborated on Def's album The Ecstatic for the track “History” with each giving their own chronicles of life in the big city. Read more

Flatbush Hall of Famer Wyclef is no fool sayz school is cool

Rappers aren’t known for touting education, but Wyclef Jean wants to send a message that - gasp! - school is cool.

The Grammy-winning rap star and former Fugee has spent the last semester working toward a diploma at Berklee College of Music, where he is studying ear training, theory, improvisation and guitar. Read more

FHF-Full Force

Our next inductee into the Flatbush Hall of Fame is non other then Flatbush's own Full Force. The six men R & B, producers and actors are one of a kind which is very unlikely to be seen again. You may remember Full Force from the House party movies. With memorable lines like "I smell..." And "were gonna kick freaking...". But they are the producers and song writers behind some of the greatest hits in music. Including the hip hop classic that they did with UTFO (also from Flatbush) Roxanne Roxanne. Full Force also assembled, produced and wrote for Lisa Lisa and the cult jam. In this video you can see them as the background dancers and singers. For more about Full Force go to their official website here. For all these reasons Full Force are the next Inductees into the Flatbush Hall of Fame.

FHF-Special Ed

The next inductee into the Flatbush Hall of Fame is non other than legendary rapper Special Ed. At the golden era of hip hop in the early 90's, Special Ed was one of the most creative lyricist and performer in Hip Hop. His metaphors and delivery were second to none. Special Ed uses his charm, creative delivery and flow to describe the sights and sounds of Flatbush throughout his career. His Biography is all too well known and personifies Flatbush. Born in Brooklyn, to Jamaican parents, Special Ed was the youngest of 5. Thoughout his music one cannot help but notice the influence that Flatbush Brought. In addition to his performing career, Special Ed owns and runs Dolla Cab Lab, a recording studio in Brooklyn. The studio's name is inspired by non other than the Dollar vans that run though Flatbush. The choice of Dolla Cab Lab was name because Ed believes that the Dollar Vans offers an alternate choice of public transportation just as Ed's "Lab," opens doors for local talent. The Lab reflects his ambition to remain close to his neighborhood while boosting his career, and to make music independent of interference from heavy-handed label executives. The studio makes use of a 32-track digital recording set-up and is frequented by talented young artists who look to Special Ed for not only creative guidance, but also business know-how. For all These reasons Special Ed is our next inductee into the Flatbush Hall of Fame. This Video (a true classic that is one of the greatest hip hop videos of all time) shows Special Ed kicking major ass Flatbush style. This is when Hip Hop was truly great. It should be news to Special Ed that according to certain Real Estate Brokers that the "creative types" are NOW starting to move into Flatbush.

FHF-African Dude

The Fourth inductee into the Flatbush Hall of Fame is African Dude that sells Bootleg CD's and DVD's at that spot that shall go nameless. African dude has been selling hot CD'd on Flatbush for years. He is now a staple. A fixture in the Flatbush experience. He always has the latest DJ Clue, Big Mike and the newest hottest G unit radio mixtapes. As well as the latest Reggae hits. All for 2 for 5. Always looking out for po po, African dude that sells CD's has always had the hottest CD'S DVD's on the hottest block on Flatbush, at the spot all true Flatbush heads already know about. For all these reasons. African dude that sells 2 -4- 5 cd's is the 4th inductee into the Flatbush Hall of Fame.

FHF-Wyclef Jean

The third inductee into the Flatbush Hall of Fame is Wyclef Jean. Clef's life personified a story well too known about families living in Flatbush. He came from Haiti while he was 9. He lived for a short time in Corney Island at the Marlborough Projects until his family moved to Flatbush. Wyclef often drops lingo's about flatbush in his lyrics. He often refers to places and things about flatbush that only a true Flatbush head would be able to pick up. Like Temptations, Maxines and the seven-o. In one of his lyrics he personified the depth and strength of what flatbush is all about. In his song "Jaspora" (which was Howard Deans favorite song btw) He raps in Creole about walking down Flatbush as a young kid and having his new Fila Sneakers stolen. His friend asked him if he shot the robber. Clef replied no because he was reminded of a psalm that his father (who was a preacher) taught him in which people need to "chache bondye" (Search for god) or spiritual redemption. Aside from being a great musician Wyclef is also a humanitarian. His non for profit organization, Yele, has helped numerous children and adults in his native country of Haiti.

Talib Kweli Greene

The second inductee into FHF is Flatbush native and critically acclaimed rapper Talib Kweli and family. They personify what flatbush is all about. Both his parents were educators. He grew up very humble and it shows in his music. Talib's rap style is as flatbush as it can get. It makes you think, get mad, have passion, be happy with what you got and always strive for perfection at the same time. Talib's star status in flatbush might be in grave danger of being upstage by his younger brother, Jamal Greene. He is Yale law school grad who has a very perceptive paper that was publish regarding the death penalty. Jamal also clerked for Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens in 2006 (which is nothing to sneeze at). Looking forward to allot of great things from Jamal. For all these reasons Talib Kweli Greene and Family is the second inductee into the Flatbush Hall of Fame.

First Inductee

I've decided to document the great things, places, people etc that makes Flatbush so great. The first inductee into the Flatbush Hall of Fame is the Dollar Van. As previously noted it is the life line of Flatbush for those of us who don't have a car. It will be even more valuable once the new Target mall sets to open this year.