Havoc, G3, Big Twins & Big Noyd - Tor'cha (produced by Bear-One)
Off the soundtrack to the novel Tor'cha. 2008
Todd Craig's novel, tor'cha hit bookstands, car trunks, community centers and libraries in 2008. It's a book that he calls -- a novel about the hood, not a hood novel. While prepping for the tor'cha Boston launch party, he breaks down his thoughts on hood novels, and why this book is a bit different:
"I think a lot of these hood or street novels that we see out these days glorify this life of crime. I wanted to engage my people in using their brains, because I think a popular misconception about the hood is that we don't use our brains. But it is so untrue, because there are so many unfound geniuses in the hood, and it's sickening that they're caught up in some of the nasty elements of street life. I wanted my novel to engage learning. Some of these 'hood stories' give kids an unrealistic view about street life. Instead, I wanted to act more like a reporter. I cannot deny that these things take place, so there are those elements within the stories. However, instead of glorifying these elements, I place them in a spectrum of choice -- hopefully readers will see that there are indeed other choices that can be made, various choices. We just have to be strong enough to know what they are, and maybe even make different choices than some of the ones we see in these hood novels."
Let me give you a little preview/teaser. tor'cha tells the tale of 3 brothers in the hood that are confronted with certain choices that have them questioning themselves. The book digs deep into their lives. Namely, Emil (a stick-up kid turned musician), Damon aka Abdullah Zahir (incarcerated felon turned Muslim) and Christian (escaped the streets via education). While they struggle with what is right vs. what is easy, they are faced with the breaking the Ten Commandments and the morals from Supreme Mathematics, an Islamic concept that originated from the Nation of Gods and Earths.
"For me, it's important that our youth in urban inner city communities really and truly know that knowledge is power. There's an old saying that goes: "you want to hide something from a black person -- put it in a book!" It's scary, but the climate we live in shows this to be true. For youth these days, it's cool to be "stupid" in a sense; instead of being in school, getting an education, and making the long-term commitment that leads to a better life, these kids have been brainwashed to think that it's cool to be out selling drugs, getting shot or shot at, and even more -- going to jail. I wish someone would tell me what's cool about jail! Ask anyone in jail, they'll tell you they don't want to be there. Check the drug dealer on the corner that's been caught in that rut, he'll tell you it's not poppin' at all. A lot of my friends as we grew up have told me how they wish they would've stayed in school, so that maybe they wouldn't be stuck in the cyclical trap the hood orchestrates for keeping people locked in."
In addition to the brain food, readers will get some ear candy courtesy of the tor'cha soundtrack that comes with every book. The soundtrack was made for the book and sets the vibe for each chapter. It includes songs by artists like Mobb Deep, Big Twins, Truck North, Big Noyd, and production from various talents like Havoc, Bear-One, and Mr. Len.
To find out more about Craig or pick up the book/soundtrack combo for yourself, check out: http://www.blackerinkwells.com/writings/
