The Benny Negro Show.. Friday May 8th, 2009 @ 7:30 Live

April 10th, 2009 Manolo & Chichi of Scarface

Tha Heights April 24th, 2009

Diva Kyra May 1st, 2009

Choclatt May 1st, 2009

Dizciple May 1st, 2009

Xaviera Sparks May 1st, 2009

Grafh & Black Hand Entertainment May 1st, 2009

Model KC & DJ Knuckles May 1st, 2009

Da Whole Damn Show May 1st, 2009

Fella May 1st, 2009

TBA - The Line Up of Artist & Hosts for May 8th, 2009

	Frankie Bonez / Co - Host






Miss "M" / Co - Host	Hollywood Matt / Co - Host	Natasha Foxx / Co - Host

Benny Negro Bio

BLACK STAR NEWS INTERVIEW:

Kiss the blues goodbye because Benny Negro has that mix to bounce you right back and he's bringing it to you every Friday evening with NYC Hip Hop TV. Radio and TV personality, night promoter for Videocity TV, model scout, poet and producer, Benny Negro is dominating entertainment and sky’s the limit for this sizzling don of the nightlife. I happened upon Benny Negro while perusing Facebook, for which I do not deny my voraciousness. Benny’s sparkling enthusiasm and zest for his craft became allure to this reporter. Access granted for a one-on one with Garifuna extraordinaire, Benny Negro.

BSN: Hey Benny! Thanks so much for taking the time to share some insights with us.

Benny Negro: No doubt, Brenda. It is my pleasure.

BSN: Let's start at the root, Benny. Where are you from?

Benny Negro: I was born in Harlem, New York. My family is from Honduras/Belise.

BSN: What inspired you to get into the entertainment industry?

Benny Negro: The Celebration is what inspired me to get in the industry. As a second generation from the Garifuna community, I am accustomed to big ballroom parties with live bands playing live music. As I got older, I realized my passion for music. To make a long story short, I started giving out flyers for one of the first Black female promoters, by the name of Maria Davis who in 2000 became an AIDS activist. You can Google her. I was hurt when I found out she contracted the disease thru someone she was going to marry. She has a long resume and history in the industry. She is on Jay-z's first album, “Reasonable Doubt.” She has an intro on the song, “Twenty Two Two's,” Notorious B.I.G, Diddy, Brandy, Ray J, Mase, Fat Joe, Lil Kim, the list is long. Notable Clubs in the city HoneySuckle West, Country club, Club Essos, Bar 85....

I felt like I was in Heaven to be amongst all the elite music industry players ya dig? I knew then I wanted to be in this circle for good.

BSN: How did you get started?

Benny Negro: I got started helping one of the pioneers in Hip Hop, Mr. Kool DJ Red Alert. I used to carry his crates to all the major parties where he was booked to go DJ. He gave me my very first break into the industry. Then Maria Davis was a blessing from God. My cousin, Mateo put me on to her my senior year in high school (1994) and while I was attending college at Long Island University in Brooklyn, I was her right hand man.

BSN: What are some of the struggles you face in your industry and as an entrepreneur in general?

Benny Negro: Being a TV personality for nycHipHopTV.com is not easy I have to book the talent, I also have to make sure that my photographers are available, send out a blog and promote who I have on the show for that week and dealing with family life its not easy I wish I had a twin. Its not enough time in a day to do what I do. I guess my struggles are not that bad. I just have to prioritize. (Laughs)!

BSN: Benny, please discuss Garifuna culture from your point of view.

Benny Negro: The history of the Garifuna (or Garifune) begins before the year 1635 on the island of St. Vincent in the eastern Caribbean. St. Vincent was inhabited by a tribe of Indians who called themselves Arawaks. The Kalipuna tribe from mainland South America invaded St. Vincent and conquered the Arawaks. The Arawak men were all killed and the Kalipuna warriors took the Arawak women as wives.

The inhabitants of the island were then the union of these two tribes. The word "Garifuna", which means "cassava eating people", is probably descended from "Kalipuna." The Spanish called these people "Caribes" (Caribs) which means cannibals and that is the word from which "Caribbean" is descended.

In the year 1635 two Spanish ships carrying Nigerian slaves shipwrecked on the island of St. Vincent. At first, the Spanish, Nigerians and Kalipuna fought one another. But eventually, they learned to get along and intermarried, thus creating the Black Caribs. At that time, St. Vincent was a British colony and the Caribs tried to establish independent control of the island. The French supported the Caribs and there were many battles between the Caribs and the British. The greatest battle took place in 1795 and both sides suffered great losses. In 1796, the Caribs and the French surrendered to the British.

The British now had a problem. The Caribs were free men with black skin and St. Vincent was populated by slave-owning Europeans. The idea of a group of free Black men living among them on the island was unacceptable so the British decided to deport the Caribs. The British hunted down and rounded up the Caribs, killing hundreds in the process and destroying their homes and culture. The remaining 4,300 Caribs were shipped to Balliceaux where half of them died of yellow fever. In 1797 the surviving Caribs were shipped to Roatan Island off the coast of Honduras. Along the way, the Spanish captured one of the British ships which was taken to Trujillo where the captured Caribs did well.

Later, the Spanish captured Roatan Island from the British. The Spanish rounded up 1,700 Caribs on the island and brought them to Trujillo where laborers were much needed. The Spanish were not good farmers and Trujillo suffered accordingly. On the other hand, the Caribs were very skillful at farming so they went to work and did very well in Trujillo. Some of the Caribs were conscripted into the Spanish army where they served with distinction. The first Caribs to arrive on the coast of Belize were brought there as woodcutters by the Spanish in 1802. They were put ashore in the area near Stann Creek and what is now Punta Gorda. At the time, Belize was held by the British and was called British Honduras. The Caribs continued to serve the Spanish army with distinction, earning medals of valor.

At one point, the fortress at San Felipe (El Castillo de San Felipe) was commanded by a Carib. Gradually, more Caribs moved to the Stann Creek area in British Honduras. Because of their alignment with the Spanish, the Caribs found themselves on the wrong side of the political fence when Central America achieved independence from Spain. Those Caribs in Trujillo found themselves in the new country of Honduras where sentiments against Spain were strong. Large numbers of Caribs fled to the coast of Belize where other Caribs already lived in numbers. It is this migration that is celebrated annually as Garifuna Settlement Day. This is a major holiday in Garifuna communities celebrated on November 19th. Gradually, the Caribs spread up and down the coast of Belize. During this century, some Caribs served on US and British merchant vessels during World War II and travelled the world. As a result, there are now small communities of Garifuna in Los Angeles, New Orleans and New York City.

The Garifuna culture is very strong with great emphasis on music, dance and story-telling and with its own brand of religion consisting of a mix of Catholicism, some African and Indian beliefs. Because of their difference and independence, over the years the Garifuna have been feared and discriminated against by Guatemalans and variously accused of devil-worship, polygamy, voodoo and speaking a secret language. In 1996, Garifuna Settlement Day was especially important. The government of Guatemala officially recognized the importance of the Garufuna culture.

BSN: What message would you like to convey to people who aspire to reach their goals?

Benny Negro: Believe in God. Hard work & determination will overcome any negative forces you might encounter. My Motto is to keep positive energy around me always and positive things will happen.

BSN: What's next for Benny Negro?

Benny Negro: I'm looking to conquer the entertainment media/TV & radio world and become the most influential Garifuna powerhouse in this industry. By the way -- I need some sponsorship for my TV show nychiphoptv.com. (Smiles) I had to throw that in there, that's my shout out. (Smiles)

Benny, that certainly was an interesting history lesson about Garifuna and a most inspiring discussion. Thank you so much for taking the time to shed light.

Benny Begro: No doubt, Brenda. It was a pleasure.

With the "Everyday is Friday" mentality, NYC Hip Hop TV is the refreshing, worry-free entertainment you need to keep you sane at the end of a hard day.

Let loose and let every day be Friday!