According to OWN’s Youtube channel:
The official music video for Dr. Maya Angelou’s “Harlem Hopscotch.” Dr. Angelou’s inspiring song is featured on the newly released album “Caged Bird Songs,” produced by RoccStar and Shawn Rivera of the R&B vocal pop group Az Yet. The song is about encouraging everyone, especially young people to persevere through life despite any obstacles! The game of hopscotch is symbolic of the difficulties of life and the obstacles that some face, whether they be wealthy or poor. The music video was directed by and features choreography from Emmy award-winning duo Tabitha and Napoleon Dumo, a/k/a NappyTabs, best known for their work on the hit television series “So You Think You Can Dance.”
“Harlem Hopscotch” was shot on location in Harlem, New York, and several Los Angeles locations, including the studios at YouTube Space LA, Venice Beach and downtown Los Angeles. The video features appearances by actress and singer Nia Peeples (“Fame”, “Pretty Little Liars”), dancer/choreographer Derek Hough, actor Alfonso Ribeiro, actress/singer Zendaya, dancer/choreographer Ian Eastwood, Quest Crew and dancers from “So You Think You Can Dance” and “America’s Best Dance Crew.”
Dr. Maya Angelou, an iconic American writer, poet, actor, dancer, director, composer, lecturer, civil activist and one of the most renowned and influential voices of our time, worked on this album prior to her death on May 28, 2014. “Caged Bird Songs” is a unique musical collaboration produced by RoccStar and Shawn Rivera, that thoughtfully blends the iconic poet’s words and vocal performances with contemporary hip-hop beats.
Dr. Angelou’s grandson, Colin Johnson, reminisces that music was such a huge part of his grandmother’s life. “She loved everything, from pop to country and, of course, hip-hop. With her dedication to social activism and how she illuminated the struggles and injustices of the urban experience through prose, there’s a direct correlation to hip-hop today. She was really excited about her street-wise commentary being presented in this way.”
For more information: http://cagedbirdsongs.com/ andhttp://facebook.com/cagedbirdsongsoff…
