Artist(s) That You Need To Hear: Asheru

               Asheru, although unknown to the mainstream public, has been an outspoken proponent of literacy and intelligence in the hip hop community. While he started out in the hip hop group, Unspoken Heard, his career has allowed him to work with television shows like "The Boondocks" and start his own educational programs. He released two classic albums with college friend and rapping partner, Blue Black. 2001's "Soon Come" and 2003's "48 Months" the duo of Asheru & Blue Black released two classic albums. These albums cemented Asheru and Blue Black's place in hip hop lore, along with other emcees from the Unspoken Heard. His music inspired many hip hop heads, including Aaron McGruder, creator of "The Boondocks". McGruder came to Asheru when he was adapting his comic strip into a cartoon. He asked Asheru to do the introduction theme to the show and Asheru obliged. The two would collaborate on future episodes of the show, including the infamous "Return of the King" episode. That episode had an alternate history in which Martin Luther King was wounded but not killed by the gunshot, went into a 30 year coma, and awoke during the 2000 election campaign. At the end of the episode, King delivers a controversial speech to a black audience. The speech was adapted from Asheru's song, "Niggas". While this was the most controversial part of the episode, McGruder, not Asheru, took most of the heat for this.

               Even before his work on the Boondocks, Asheru had been a teacher in the Washington D.C. area. He has a Masters degree in education from National-Loius University and has many ventures in educational hip hop programs. One of those is H.E.L.P. (Hip hop Educational Literacy Program), which uses hip hop lyrics to educate the youths on issues discussed in some songs.

               Although he is rarely seen, Asheru still lets his voice be heard and has used his music as a pathway to other endeavors. His music will still be a major part of all his future jobs, so let's hope that he'll continue to make more.

Songs That You Need To Hear: Asheru Edition:
Asheru & Blue Black- Soul
Asheru & Blue Black ft. J-Live, & Grap Luva- Trackrunners
Asheru & Blue Black- Truly Unique