Kiss
the blues goodbye because Benny Negro has that mix to bounce you right
back and he's bringing it to you every Friday afternoon with Caliente Hitz Mix. 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 radio personality for Calientehitzmix.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 sponsorship for my radio show Calientehitmix.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.
Caliente
Hitz Mix is an internet radio show hosted by Mago, Co-Host
Benny Negro which is streamed live globally on
audio and video. The musical programming consists of hit songs from
a diverse list of genres such as hip-hop, R&B, merengue, salsa,
bachata, pop, reggaeton, reggae, and more. Calientehitzmix.com also
caters to new independent artists who know that they have the next
Caliente Hit.
Caliente
Hitz Mix features dance companies, models and singers along with
interviews to make the show a truly intense experience that has
never been seen on any tv or radio show before. Mago and Benny Negro give the
show a comedic, energetic and down to earth approach that keeps you
entertained.
With
the "Everyday is Friday" mentality, Caliente Hitz Mix 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! Watch Caliente Hitz Mix !!
Here’s
the official lineup for the
official line up for this friday [TODAY!!!] March 13 @ 4:00 pm :
CELEBRITY
GUESTS for Friday, March 13: Hip Hop Legend Grandmaster Caz, Famous Celebrity Guest Model
Chrissy,Models Favorite Photographer Da Famous Lloyd Parks Just Added
Spanish Hip Hop Recording Artist Tali Y Messiah And Da Whole Show Damn Show
Entertainment, Big Cuzin Ent. Recording Artist Brava Man. For info on each of the artists mentioned above, visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=80283048312 .
Brenda
Jeanne Wyche is Managing Editor of The Black Star News and Harlem
Business News. If you have a solution, email brenda@blackstarnews.com
. Maybe we'll talk.
