- Welcome global citizens, brothers and sisters, kings, queens, and in-betweens, to the "Concert of Colors" on Detroit PBS.

This is the Motor City's biggest multicultural music festival, brought right to your screen.

We'd like to take a moment to thank WDET Detroit and Detroit PBS, and all our other funders and supporters.

This is the "Concert of Colors" on Detroit PBS.

- [Announcer] Support for this program is provided in part by the Kresge Foundation, the Gilbert Family Foundation, the DTE Foundation, Zingerman's Delicatessen, the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, Mark Bernstein and Rachel Bendit, and by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you, thank you.

♪ Thank you for letting me be myself again ♪ ♪ Oh yeah, yeah - This next group was formed in Washington, DC by Ethiopian expats in the 1980s.

And they blended, of course Ethiopian traditional music, but there was jazz in there, and reggae, and every other kinda music you could imagine, and they created a sound that was ahead of their time.

They released an album called "Sons of Ethiopia" that got rediscovered and then led to critical acclaim, and they deserved it.

The original lineup has never performed the "Songs of Ethiopia" live.

They have never performed this project live, but the band's reissue drew so much attention that that's happening now.

They're currently in the midst of a huge tour, but they decided to make a stop here in Detroit for the "Concert of Colors", and the performance of AfroFlow from Detroit to Ethiopia.

This is a big deal.

(audience applauding) It's so exciting that they decided to stop here, and we're very grateful to them.

So please welcome these Ethiopian music legends, celebrated musicians, composers, producers, and educators.

Please put your hands together for AdMas.

(audience cheering) (bright percussion music) (musicians chattering) - [Musician] One, two.

(hypnotic rhythmic music) (lively rhythmic music) (hypnotic rhythmic music) (lively rhythmic music) (hypnotic rhythmic music) (lively rhythmic music) (hypnotic rhythmic music) (lively rhythmic music) (audience cheering) - Greetings Detroit, greetings, greetings.

We are AdMas, AdMas means horizon in Amharic.

Horizon.

This is our offering of musical love to the "Concert of Colors", and Mr. Ish, and everybody involved.

(audience applauding) African music, world music, what a beautiful institution.

Thank you Mike Ellison of AfroFlow for including us in your glorious offering.

When you came to Ethiopia, we gave you the love you are giving us now.

In our own ways, we all went full circle.

The connection creates great potential for possibilities which run wide and deep, one love.

(audience cheering) (bright thoughtful music) (bright thoughtful music continues) (upbeat funky music) (bright thoughtful music) (bright thoughtful music continues) (bright thoughtful music continues) (mellow jazzy music) (audience cheering) (scene whooshing) - It is showtime.

How are you guys doing, you enjoying the show so far?

(audience applauding) We wanna put our hands together one more time for AdMas, and making their travels from Ethiopia to Detroit.

(audience cheering) Now we're gonna continue that journey, but by a different artist.

He is an actor, a recording artist, an Emmy award-winning producer.

Actually, if I read his resume, you'd never hear a song.

He was born in Ethiopia, then lived in Virginia, and became a multidisciplinary artist right here in the Motor City, as many people do.

He's an actor, he's done theater, television, "Chicago Fire", "Chicago PD", and the film, "Batman Versus Superman: The Ides of March", multiple appearances on HBO's "Def Poetry", and founded AfroFlow, the Music Saved My Life tour's partnership with the American Cancer Society.

This artist has done all the good things the right way for decades now, and with all of this incredible artistic history as a multidisciplinary artist, he returns to his Ethiopian roots tonight by revisiting the spirit of AfroFlow.

I have seen a lot of artists, Mike Ellison, MIKE-E is incredible, ane of the most dynamic performers I've ever seen, and you are in for a real treat if you've never seen him before.

Absolutely you guys, those of you who know, know.

But tonight is more exciting than ever, because he's returning to the music of AfroFlow.

You are going to love this next performance and all of these great musicians behind him.

You should put your hands together for them now.

They are a stunning group of artists, (audience cheering) and they are led by MIKE-E, please welcome AfroFlow.

(audience cheering) (bright percussion music) (lively funky rhythmic music) ♪ Ah ee, ee (lively funky rhythmic music continues) (MIKE-E speaking Amharic) ♪ Oh ♪ Let's go, oh ♪ Oh ♪ Are you ready, are you ready (audience cheering) Come out, I hope y'all ready.

This is an interactive show.

This is not a demonstration, this is a participation.

(speaking Amharic) I greet you with the limited Amharic, the language of Ethiopia, that I know.

My name is MIKE-E, and this is AfroFlow.

Salaam means peace, (speaking Amharic) is all of you.

And if gratitude is the attitude, then here's what you do.

(MIKE-E and audience speaking Amharic) - Y'all got it.

Now of course you know in Detroit there is but one proper way to say hello.

- What up, dog?

- What up, dog.

- Let's go.

- What up, dog?

- What up, dog?

- For decades Detroit has been depicted as the domestic poster child for poverty and degradation, as opposed to one of the cornerstones of American wealth and innovation.

(audience cheering) Similarly, globally, Ethiopia has been depicted as the poster child for poverty and starvation, as opposed to one of the cornerstones of all civilization.

(audience cheering) A proud nation has never been colonized, and quite possibly, probably the birthplace of all mankind.

So if you would all be so kind, raise your right hand high in the sky like this.

Make this one finger, one thumb, and in the spirit of Bob Marley, somebody say one love.

- One love.

- Everybody say one love.

- One love.

- One love.

- [MIKE-E] Showtime, this is on you, bro.

♪ I'll take it all the way back ♪ ♪ I'll take it all the way back ♪ - If we wanna get back to the truth- ♪ I'll take it all the way back ♪ - Then we gotta get back to the roots.

♪ I'll take it all the way back ♪ ♪ I'll take it - Seeing ain't enough.

♪ All the way back - If we wanna get back to the truth- ♪ I'll take it- - You gotta go back to the roots.

♪ All the way back ♪ I'll take it all the way back ♪ ♪ I'll take it all the way ♪ Beats, rhymes, bodies, cash ♪ 15 minutes of fame don't last ♪ ♪ Fail to plan, y'all plan to fail ♪ ♪ Come heaven or hell, we shall prevail ♪ ♪ Beat, lives, knives, blast ♪ Black men die, executive plan ♪ ♪ Bear by the man, but fail to make bail ♪ ♪ Living like the devil when they giving us hell ♪ ♪ Enemies real, talk behind us ♪ When I see 'em, I'm gonna kill 'em with kindness ♪ ♪ Money don't bind us, you will never find us ♪ ♪ Robbing the poor to get paid on tour ♪ ♪ Whatever y'all do, bit or small ♪ ♪ Do it well, or don't do it all all ♪ ♪ Never slinging crack, never playing the gap ♪ ♪ 'Cause I know that God gonna guard my back ♪ ♪ Like, I'll take it all the way back ♪ ♪ Like this, all take it all the way back ♪ ♪ I wanna hear y'all say ♪ I'll take it all the way back ♪ ♪ Let's go, sure ♪ I'll take it all the way back ♪ ♪ Over here, let's, let's go - Y'all ready?

We have to get back to the roots.

♪ See they took the diamonds, stole the gold ♪ ♪ Raped the land, can't take the soul ♪ ♪ Took the diamonds, stole the gold ♪ ♪ Raped the land, can't take the soul ♪ ♪ Took the diamonds, stole the gold ♪ ♪ Raped the land, can't take the soul ♪ ♪ You know they took the diamonds and they stole the gold ♪ ♪ Raped the land, but can't take the soul ♪ ♪ Sold meat for rum, home with your gun ♪ ♪ Nowhere to run, I'm holding my drum ♪ ♪ Sold meat for rum, holding a gun ♪ ♪ Nowhere to run, body on the drum, come on ♪ (lively rhythmic music) ♪ I'll take it all the way back, like this ♪ ♪ I'll take it all the way back, I can't hear ♪ ♪ I'll take it all the way back, let's sing ♪ ♪ I'll take it all the way back ♪ ♪ That brother, Ahmed Ra ♪ That brother, Ahmed Ra ♪ That brother, Ahmed Ra ♪ That brother, Ahmed Ra, let's go ♪ ♪ That brother, Ahmed Ra, y'all know ♪ ♪ That brother, Ahmed Ra ♪ That brother, Ahmed Ra ♪ That's my brother, Ahmed Ra, let's go God ♪ (lively rhythmic music) ♪ Let's go (bright thoughtful music) ♪ Took the diamonds, stole the gold ♪ ♪ Raped the land, can't take the soul ♪ ♪ Took the diamonds, stole the gold ♪ ♪ Raped the land, can't take the soul ♪ (audience cheering) - I wanna ask Haleem Rasul, better known as Stringz, to come to the stage and do his thing.

Detroit's number one B-Boy, and preserver, performer, practitioner of Jit, is about as hardcore Detroit as you can get.

♪ Hardcore ♪ Hardcore Detroit ♪ Hardcore Detroit ♪ Hardcore Detroit ♪ Hardcore Detroit ♪ Hardcore Detroit ♪ Say Hardcore Detroit ♪ Hardcore Detroit, let's go (lively rhythmic music) ♪ Let's go (lively rhythmic music continues) ♪ Let's go ♪ Hey, hey ♪ Let's go, let's go ♪ Say Hardcore Detroit ♪ Hardcore Detroit ♪ Say Hardcore Detroit ♪ Hardcore Detroit (audience cheering) Haleem Rasul, better known as Stringz.

(graphic whooshing) If y'all got the stamina, everybody raise your hammer like this.

We gonna address the topic now, y'all follow me, and y'all drop it When we drop it.

♪ Flash the bright lights, click the cameras ♪ ♪ You got a swag son, but you ain't got the stamina ♪ ♪ Can't handle us, ain't man enough ♪ ♪ You got the swag son, but you ain't got the stamina ♪ ♪ Drop your hammer ♪ Drop the hammer ♪ You know what G, I'm in a good mood ♪ ♪ The bomb bass is quite amazing ♪ ♪ I'm a good dude, although my patience ain't the greatest ♪ ♪ I got good news, it's finally time to do away with ♪ ♪ All the hatred in the streets ♪ ♪ At least I came to say my piece ♪ ♪ Imma toss it with the caustic ♪ ♪ The lying, greed and killing ♪ I inspire, hope I mislead a million ♪ ♪ Some respect the fool flash, and I support families ♪ ♪ I respect the dude who sacrificed for his family ♪ ♪ Some respect the thieves, stealing joy and leaving greed ♪ ♪ I respect those around the glove promoting peace ♪ ♪ Some respect the thugs willing to kill for the streets ♪ ♪ I respect the ones willing to live for their beliefs, now ♪ ♪ Flash the bright lights, click the cameras ♪ ♪ They got swagger dog, but you ain't got no stamina ♪ ♪ Can't handle us, ain't man enough ♪ ♪ You got swag son, but you ain't got the stamina ♪ ♪ Let me see you drop the hammer, come on ♪ ♪ Let me see you no, let's go ♪ We warming up now, let's groove G ♪ ♪ I paid my own dues, so Mike'll fight his own battles ♪ ♪ We making bold moves, and we don't hide in no shadows ♪ ♪ Make my own rules, the path we travel is narrow ♪ ♪ We don't follow no motto, got my hand on the throttle ♪ ♪ Got the present in my pockets, got the pastor for my back ♪ ♪ I've got tomorrow on my tongue ♪ ♪ And told the future I'll be back ♪ ♪ I don't attack other rappers in this biz ♪ ♪ Africa's catching enough flak just as it is ♪ ♪ An eagle need not convince the people it can fly ♪ ♪ When you see them birds chirping all the time ♪ ♪ Y'all know why ♪ My third eye is optical, and I got you in the call set ♪ ♪ Kicking over tables like Christ, you can't floss him ♪ ♪ Flash the bright lights, click the cameras ♪ ♪ You got swag dog, but you ain't got no stamina ♪ ♪ Can't handle us, ain't man enough ♪ ♪ You got swag son, you and me got stamina ♪ ♪ Let's go, Duke ♪ Let's go (lively frenetic music) Dumanita Pours, y'all.

(audience cheering) When I say (singing in foreign language), y'all say.

(musicians singing in foreign language) - And y'all say.

(musicians singing in foreign language) - This is a full circle moment for AfroFlow, flowing from Africa, the roots of hiphop and humanity.

This is not a concert, it is a concept, that was inspired by the great Fela Anikulapp Kutì, the creator of AfroBeat, no S, there was a distinction.

The most enduring image of Fela, with his hands raised in the air, was taken not far from here, right here in Detroit, by the great Lenny Sinclair.

(audience applauding) In fact, when the Fela musical came to town, we connected Lenny with Yene Kuti, and they honor her, and brought her to Nigeria for the Fela-Bration, that's right.

So for us to have the opportunity to prepare the atmosphere for Femi Kuti, a great man, messenger, a musician in his own right, is indeed a huge honor for us tonight.

(audience applauding) Now any of my Nigerian family will forgive my pronunciation, but my brother Ayo years ago taught me this phrase that you've heard, it goes.

(singers singing in foreign language) Y'all say.

(singers singing in foreign language) - Y'all say.

(singers singing in foreign language) - Now I was told that essentially means to respect and fear the king, as in the King of Kings.

But I know spiritually, we all believe many different things.

But my brother Teddy from the AdMas band, did y'all enjoy them?

(audience cheering) Now my brother Teddy from AdMas band taught me something.

He said, "Brother, each moment is its own king."

And what a moment this is to sing.

Say (singing in foreign language) Y'all say.

(singers singing in foreign language) - Y'all say.

(singers singing in foreign language) And (singing in foreign language), y'all say.

(singers singing in foreign language) - Y'all say.

(singers singing in foreign language) - Y'all say.

(singers singing in foreign language) - Y'all say.

(singers singing in foreign language) - Y'all say.

(singers singing in foreign language) - We all say.

(singers singing in foreign language) ♪ Get into this, hit it ♪ Can my people say get into this ♪ ♪ Everybody say, I hear 'em now ♪ ♪ Can my people say, get into this ♪ ♪ Let me tell something ♪ When you see G is he cool or is he calm ♪ ♪ Or he is Muhammad Ali when he refused Vietnam ♪ ♪ I'm talking about conviction ♪ I ain't talking about fiction ♪ ♪ It's stupid, it's smooth ♪ My dude is proving there be friction ♪ ♪ Listen, we doctor dollars ♪ Holler for death before dishonor ♪ ♪ I gotta honor the dead, they bred my persona ♪ ♪ I'm a water sign, slow to rhymes, Addis Ababa ♪ ♪ That's the homeland, grown man, Don got a Mama ♪ ♪ I made you proud, look now, we on the way ♪ ♪ The future looking more beautiful, Enola Gay ♪ ♪ Ain't no other way that I know, we just some big kids ♪ ♪ Trying to be what Biggie was, before we go with big edge ♪ ♪ Now let's get into this, get into this, get into this ♪ ♪ Let's get into this, get into this, get into this ♪ (singers singing in foreign language) ♪ Hiphop debates about the greats create hype ♪ ♪ It ain't too late set it straight, the best to rock a mic ♪ ♪ It's not who you think, it's gotta be Dr. King ♪ ♪ 'Cause nothing that a rapper dropped ♪ ♪ Has yet to top I Have a Dream ♪ ♪ I have a team, and the dream is astounding ♪ ♪ Plus we get down with all these hype men around me ♪ ♪ Now how you gonna clown me when my sound is so different ♪ ♪ The value most efficient, plus we coming out ripping ♪ ♪ Like microphone check, three, four ♪ ♪ We don't want to no more ♪ Every time we perform, we gotta do more ♪ ♪ Dog, we been doing more to make people shake their booty ♪ ♪ Before I got put on to the great Fela Kuti ♪ ♪ My duty is to move you to step towards intelligence ♪ ♪ And I've been moving through the depth of my ignorance ♪ ♪ A singer sentenced to send us a different message ♪ ♪ The sinister senators mix the messages to mess with us ♪ ♪ Now let's get into this, get into this, get into this ♪ ♪ Let me hear you say, let's get into this ♪ ♪ Get into this, get into this ♪ Everybody now, let's get into this, come on ♪ ♪ Get into this, let's go, get into this ♪ ♪ Let's go, let's get into this, come on y'all ♪ ♪ Get into this, get into this, yeah ♪ (singers singing in foreign language) (audience cheering) - Somebody say AfroFlow - AfroFlow.

- Act like you know.

- Act like you know.

- Was not loud enough.

AfroFlow.

- AfroFlow.

- Act like you know.

- Act like you know.

- Y'all wanna go back to the motherland?

I said, do you wanna go back to the motherland?

(audience cheering) This is participation, not demonstration.

D Love, let's get it.

(bright thoughtful music) - Where's Sato, where's Sato?

Where's Sato?

♪ Kuda can you come next ♪ From the meadow to the ghetto ♪ ♪ From the ghetto to the meadow ♪ ♪ Imma step it up a level, tell my people never settle ♪ ♪ Spit it and I living, I gotta get a gimmick ♪ ♪ Ain't tripping off of credit, my people gonna feel it ♪ ♪ My lyrics, my spirit, my mission, my vision ♪ ♪ Delivering the rhythm, and the people gonna feel it ♪ ♪ When you see me on the microphone, check my backbone ♪ ♪ Had to take it back home, now come on ♪ ♪ Can you clap your hands to the beat ♪ ♪ Can you clap your hands to the beat ♪ ♪ Can you clap your hands to the beat ♪ ♪ I need everybody up on your feet ♪ ♪ If you glad to be alive make noise, hey ♪ ♪ If you glad to be alive make noise, hey ♪ ♪ If you glad to be alive, I'm glad to be alive ♪ ♪ Everybody, hey ♪ From Africa to Canada, America to Panama ♪ ♪ Got 'em standing wall to wall, yo, yo ♪ ♪ From Monaco to Mexico, United Kingdom, let it go ♪ ♪ We 'bout to blaze, ages of, you know ♪ ♪ It's the red, the green, the green, the gold ♪ ♪ I'm letting people know that you complete me to my soul ♪ ♪ You listen to my heart when you listen to my art ♪ ♪ When you listen from the start, we ripping microphones ♪ ♪ My lyrics, my spirit, my mission, my vision ♪ ♪ Delivering the river man, the people gonna feel it ♪ ♪ When you see my on the microphone, check my backbone ♪ ♪ Had to take it back home, now come on ♪ ♪ Can you clap your hands to the beat ♪ ♪ Can you clap your hands to the beat ♪ ♪ Can you clap your hands to the beat ♪ ♪ I'd like everybody up on your feet ♪ ♪ If you glad to be alive, make noise, hey ♪ ♪ If you glad to be alive, make noise, hey ♪ ♪ You glad to be alive, I'm glad to be alive ♪ ♪ Everybody make noise, come on, come on, hey ♪ ♪ Come on (upbeat lively music) ♪ We're gonna get it (audience cheering) - Yeah, yeah.

You might as well stay standing up.

You know why?

♪ 'Cause when I say bat 'em up, y'all say ♪ ♪ When I say bat 'em up, y'all say get 'em up ♪ ♪ Bat 'em up, get 'em up ♪ Bat 'em up, get 'em up ♪ I say bat 'em up, my brothers gonna get 'em up ♪ ♪ Bat 'em up, get 'em up ♪ Bat 'em up, get 'em up ♪ Bat 'em up fam, get 'em up ♪ Now let me tell you about my band, look ♪ ♪ They true to what we do ♪ We ain't new to none of this ♪ We might be new to some of you ♪ ♪ Moving through, the coup so incredible ♪ ♪ This AfroFlow, they better act like they know, bruh ♪ ♪ Ya, and my percussionist be crushing it ♪ ♪ G Ahmed Ra, tell 'em who we are, let's go ♪ ♪ A lot of us watching the game ♪ ♪ Never think if it's a game, so we must get played ♪ ♪ So I learned to guard my cards ♪ ♪ Watch nervous cats fold them like Texas Hold 'Em ♪ ♪ Now ya, we keep our ace in the hole ♪ ♪ We independent artists though ♪ ♪ All this work make them whole ♪ ♪ So we don't follow charts and trends ♪ ♪ I only got 'em on the wall to throw darts at them ♪ ♪ When I say bat 'em up, y'all say get 'em up ♪ ♪ Bat 'em up, get 'em up ♪ Bat 'em up, get 'em up ♪ I say bat 'em up, Detroit, get 'em up ♪ ♪ Bat 'em up, get 'em up ♪ Bat 'em up, get 'em up ♪ I say bat 'em up, my brothers gonna get 'em up ♪ ♪ Bat 'em up, get 'em up ♪ Bat 'em up, get 'em up ♪ I say bat 'em up, Parte, bat 'em up ♪ ♪ Let's go (singers singing in foreign language) ♪ Is it possible 'pon the gem ♪ They to make funds to build hospitals like the Chem Bay ♪ ♪ Mtumbo, we confident but humble ♪ ♪ I've seen men with no legs beg, how can I stumble ♪ ♪ I walk it out ♪ A lotta conscious brother stuff to talk about ♪ ♪ Revolution offer no solution, what they all about ♪ ♪ I probably get booed up in the club ♪ ♪ We make to much sense, there's too many thugs ♪ ♪ And wannabes, suckers get from in front of me ♪ ♪ This is what listening to Chuck D has done to me ♪ ♪ Now what you want to see power to the people ♪ ♪ The cowards telling evil ♪ I need you, what's it gonna be ♪ ♪ Nah, I ain't no positive rapper ♪ ♪ I'm simply positive, a lotta heads are back ♪ ♪ And y'all don't even listen to rhymes ♪ ♪ Unless we tricked out behind, to get to your mind ♪ ♪ When I say bat 'em up, Detroit ♪ ♪ Get 'em up, bat 'em up ♪ Get 'em up, bat 'em up ♪ Bat 'em up, get 'em up ♪ I said bat 'em up, this side ♪ Get 'em up, bat 'em up ♪ Get 'em up, bat 'em up, get 'em up ♪ ♪ I said bat 'em up to lead a boogie ♪ ♪ Get 'em up, bat 'em up, get 'em up ♪ ♪ Bat 'em up, get 'em up ♪ I say bat 'em up Parte, get 'em up, let's go bro ♪ (singers singing in foreign language) (bright rhythmic music) (audience cheering) - Parte, should we take them back to Senegal, brother?

How many of y'all know the great Parte Jahseh?

(Parte speaking in foreign language) - Let's take them to Senegal.

(singers singing in foreign language) (singer singing in foreign language) (singers singing in foreign language) - Let's go.

(singers singing in foreign language) (audience cheering) - Parte Jahseh.

Grandmaster Kofani, y'all know Baba Kofani, living legend.

(graphic whooshing) A year ago about this time, on this very stage as a matter of fact, I had the pleasure and the honor of playing with Don Was and his incredible band.

(audience applauding) And so we paid tribute to a an icon, and we didn't realize how important it was to give that man his flowers at the time, because he would soon go on to join the ancestors.

And I'm talking about the pioneer, forward thinking Sly Stone.

(audience cheering) How many of y'all were here for that last year with Don Was?

(audience cheering) And so we wanna thank you Sly, for everything you gave us.

All the people you inspired, it's a continuum.

People talk about generations.

I use the term too, but we're really part of a continuum.

And so when we did that song, I was also, I also had the pleasure and opportunity to work with some incredible artists.

These ladies, I don't know how they do it.

They balance motherhood, and sisterhood, and auntie hood and work and artistry.

Like, they just make it look easy, but we know it's not easy.

And they've done something that they usually say Black women and artists in Detroit can't do, and that is, they work together in love and harmony.

Now you know, y'all should have clapped for that, but that's all right.

(audience applauding) I'm not past back and forth compliment.

They work together in love and harmony and their music when they get together, they're great individually, when they get together though, their music and their harmonies are medicine for the soul, and that is in fact the name of the band, Soul Shades of United Ladies, can you please welcome them to the stage?

(audience cheering) You know, these days it seems the hardest thing to be is yourself, because somebody's always trying to make everybody walk, talk, think, act, and be like somebody else.

So we have a beautiful proposal for all the beautiful people in the D, and the world for that matter.

How about I let you be you and you let me be me?

(audience cheering) And she, and she.

So I'm gonna tell you my story, my journey from Ethiopia to Detroit and back over this Sly Stone song.

And then when the chorus comes around, y'all feel free to sing along.

(bright funk rhythm music) - Okay.

- You ready, ladies?

♪ Came to the Motor City ♪ A young Virginia man ♪ Trying to make a living ♪ Didn't have a plan, I ain't have no plan ♪ ♪ No one I call family, yeah ♪ Not too many friends ♪ Now look where I'm standing ♪ With Soul, Rain Man and the band ♪ ♪ Come on fam, come on ♪ I wanna thank you for letting me be myself again, ooh ♪ ♪ Thank you for letting me be myself again ♪ ♪ Let me tell you more about my story ♪ ♪ See, I was born in Abyssinia, brought up in Virginia ♪ ♪ I passed through the apple, slid up in the mitten, bruh ♪ ♪ Rode up in the Motor ♪ Then woke up from my creative coma ♪ ♪ Owed to the GOAT-est composers and dopest glowers ♪ ♪ Soldiers with the shoulders like Moses upon Dakota ♪ ♪ Struggle and hustle, and muscle lovers devoter ♪ ♪ I know the greatest poets ♪ In places where they be making mocha ♪ ♪ They only show their thoughts ♪ ♪ With baking soda baking over ♪ You know the media's bogus, we need to focus ♪ ♪ Ah, the D promoted automotive ingenuity, uh-huh ♪ ♪ Freedom, peace, and unity ♪ Is soon to be the new big three, for sure ♪ ♪ I said, freedom, peace, and unity ♪ ♪ Is soon be the new big three, uh-huh ♪ ♪ And if y'all agree with me, here's what you can do for me ♪ ♪ Hit me know, sing it loud if you're proud, come on ♪ ♪ Thank you for letting me be myself again ♪ ♪ I know Detroit better sing this song, come on ♪ ♪ Ooh yeah, thank you, what ♪ For letting me, come on ♪ Be myself again, yeah yeah - Y'all sound so, you know, we have allowed bots and algorithms, not our rhythms, but algorithms, to augment division and hatred in this nation.

But Wynton Marsalis reminds us, the beauty of music is that it requires listening and cooperation.

You see, if we cooperate, then we can collaborate.

If we can collaborate, we can create harmony, and we can elevate.

And if you wanna elevate, then I'm gonna ask the Shades of United Ladies to please demonstrate.

Buddy Brown.

♪ Thank you for letting me be myself, hey ♪ ♪ Thank you for letting me by myself, oh ♪ ♪ Sing it now, sing it now, come on, come on ♪ ♪ Thank you for letting me be myself again ♪ ♪ Up top, in the back, let's go ♪ ♪ Thank you for letting me be myself again, yeah ♪ ♪ Thank you for letting me - Now you know, you can gaze way overseas, or you can simply look across the street, and you will see people, especially children, in desperate need.

All this conflict and all this killing, all these politics and all this division, when it's all said and done, it all falls on the children.

Beautiful, innocent children.

Detroit's Poet Laureate, the great Jessica Care Moore, (audience members cheering) said something so simple, yet so profound.

You know what she said, ladies?

- What she say?

- She said, we the ones.

- We the ones.

- She said, we the ones.

- We the ones.

- That means if we truly want peace and love, then we the ones.

- We the ones.

- We're not waiting on somebody else to create it, 'cause we the ones.

- We the ones.

- This side of the side, it you would be so kind.

♪ Everybody say we the ones, we the ones ♪ ♪ Say we the ones, we the ones ♪ Say we the ones, we the ones ♪ Come on, we the ones, we the ones ♪ - This side, if you too would be so kind, ah, ah-ha.

♪ Say peace and love, peace and love ♪ ♪ Say peace and love, peace and love ♪ ♪ Come on, peace and love, peace and love ♪ ♪ Give me peace and love, peace and love ♪ - And since we have the Shades of United Ladies, and they got soul forever, I kindly ask the ladies, would you lead the people as we put it all together?

- Sure enough.

- Of course.

- Would you do that for us?

- Oh, yes.

- Of course.

- Okay, Buddy Brown.

♪ We the ones, peace and love ♪ We the ones, peace and love ♪ We the ones, peace and love ♪ We the ones, peace and love ♪ We the ones, peace and love ♪ We the ones, get up, peace and love ♪ ♪ Get up, we the ones, get up for peace, peace and love ♪ ♪ Get up, we the ones, peace and love ♪ ♪ All the conflict and the killing ♪ ♪ Is anybody thinking about the children ♪ ♪ All the conflict and the killing ♪ ♪ Is anybody thinking about the children ♪ ♪ And not just my kids, all the children ♪ ♪ And not just your kids, all the children ♪ ♪ What happened to compassion for the children ♪ ♪ What happened to compassion for the children ♪ ♪ What happened to compassion for the children ♪ ♪ We gotta have compassion for the children ♪ ♪ What happened to compassion for the children ♪ ♪ We gotta have compassion for the children ♪ ♪ Come on, thank you for letting me be myself again ♪ ♪ Let's go Detroit, let's go, yeah ♪ ♪ Thank you for letting me be myself again, oh yeah ♪ ♪ Thank you for letting me be myself again, oh yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Thank you for letting me be myself again ♪ ♪ Thank you for letting me be myself, oh ♪ ♪ Thank you for letting me be myself, yeah ♪ ♪ Thank you for letting me be myself, oh ♪ ♪ Thank you for letting me be myself, yeah ♪ ♪ Thank you for letting me be myself again ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, thank you, hey ♪ Oh yeah (audience cheering) (graphic whooshing) - I can't leave without doing "Warrior's Rhythm."

Let's go, D Love.

Let's move, everybody get up, get up.

Move the side to side like this.

♪ See this is a rhythm, a warrior's rhythm ♪ ♪ Victorious rhythm, a glorious rhythm ♪ ♪ Say ya ho, ya ho ♪ Say ya ho, ya ho ♪ You hear it, you feel it ♪ It's there when the spirit is there ♪ ♪ When the lyric don't ever compare ♪ ♪ But say ya ho, ya ho ♪ Ya ho, ya ho ♪ It's the beat of the cradle, the beat of the label ♪ ♪ The people are able to eat at the table ♪ ♪ Now ya ho, ya ho ♪ Ya ho, ya ho ♪ Divided by cheddar, we gotta get better ♪ ♪ United together, we tighter than ever ♪ ♪ Now ya ho, ya ho ♪ Ya ho, ya ho ♪ Forgotten, forsaken, forever mistreated ♪ ♪ Debated, disputed, but never defeated ♪ ♪ No hate, no more venom, straight with the rhythm ♪ ♪ Celebrate rhythm, we elevate rhythm ♪ ♪ Beautiful rhythm, powerful rhythm ♪ ♪ We chant to the rhythm, the beautiful and the powerful ♪ ♪ And we chant, and we go like this y'all ♪ ♪ Side to side, put your hands high ♪ ♪ Side to side, pick it up, pick I up, pick it up ♪ ♪ Like this y'all, side to side ♪ ♪ Put your hands high, side to side ♪ ♪ Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up ♪ ♪ Get low, get low, get low, get low ♪ ♪ Get low, get low, get low, let's go ♪ ♪ Let's go, whoo ♪ This is the rhythm, a warrior's rhythm ♪ ♪ Victorious rhythm, a glorious rhythm ♪ ♪ Now ya ho, ya ho ♪ Ya ho, ya ho ♪ You hear it, you feel it, it's there in the spirit ♪ ♪ There in the lyric, don't ever compare it ♪ ♪ Say ya ho, ya ho ♪ Ya ho, ya ho ♪ The beat of the cradle, the beat of the label ♪ ♪ The people are able to eat at the table ♪ ♪ Say ya ho, ya ho ♪ Ya ho, ya ho ♪ Divided by cheddar, we gotta get better ♪ ♪ United together, we're tighter than ever ♪ ♪ Now ya ho, ya ho ♪ Ya ho, ya ho ♪ Forgotten, forsaken, forever mistreated ♪ ♪ Debated, disputed, never defeated ♪ ♪ No hate, no more venom, straight with the rhythm ♪ ♪ Celebrate rhythm, we elevate rhythm ♪ ♪ Beautiful rhythm, powerful rhythm ♪ ♪ The powerful rhythm, the beautiful and the powerful ♪ ♪ And we jam, and we dance like this y'all ♪ ♪ Side to side, put your hands high ♪ ♪ Side to side, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up ♪ ♪ Like this y'all, like that y'all ♪ ♪ Like this y'all, pick it up, pick it up ♪ ♪ Like this y'all, like that y'all ♪ ♪ Like this y'all, pick it up, pick it up ♪ ♪ Like this y'all, that y'all ♪ Like this y'all, pick it up, pick it up ♪ ♪ Come on, G (lively percussive music) - Whoo.

- Come on, G. Come on.

Whoo.

(lively percussive music continues) This side, stay here, are you ready?

This side, are you ready?

Over here.

♪ Say ya ho, ya ho ♪ Say ya ho, ya ho ♪ Say ya ho, ya ho ♪ Come on ya ho, ya ho ♪ This side say ya ho, ya ho ♪ Come on ya ho, ya ho ♪ We say ya ho, ya ho ♪ Come on ya ho, ya ho ♪ Ya ho, come on, ya ho ♪ Over here, ya ho, come on, ya ho ♪ ♪ Say pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up ♪ ♪ Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up ♪ ♪ Say pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up ♪ ♪ Pick it up, pick it up ♪ Say ya, with your hands high, side to side ♪ ♪ Put your hands high, side to side ♪ ♪ One's up in the sky, side to side ♪ ♪ Come on Detroit ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh (audience cheering) ♪ Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up ♪ - Shades of United Ladies, y'all.

Can y'all give it up for my brother from the AdMas fam?

(audience cheering) - [Announcer] Support for this program is provided in part by the Kresge Foundation, the Gilbert Family Foundation, the DTE Foundation, Zingerman's Delicatessen, the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, Mark Bernstein and Rachel Bendit, and by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you, thank you.

(bright thoughtful flourish music)