Michael Concepcion, Sherman Oaks, California, is a founding member of the Crips criminal street gang. In the 1980’s, incarcerated, and confined to a wheelchair after a bullet crippled him, he turned his life around – committing himself to earn a livelihood as a responsible citizen. With hard work, Mr. Concepcion achieved great success throughout the 1980’s and 90’s in production of music, T.V., and film. During his career, he has worked on projects with musicians and bands including: Michael Jackson, Dr. Dre, Teddy Riley, Bobby Brown, Kendrick Lamar, The Rolling Stones, and U2, and actors Michael Douglas and Warren Beatty, amongst others. He was an executive producer of “We’re all in the same gang” which was an album where West Coast hip-hop artists (including Dr. Dre, MC Hammer, and Ice-T) assembled to promote an anti-violence message. In 1991, the album’s featured song “All in the same gang” was nominated at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance by a duo or group. Today, he continues to consult with heads of music, film, and television companies.
Mr. Concepcion is passionate about working with at-risk youth. During a recent radio interview - when asked what he enjoys most in the entertainment business, he responded “The most fun thing I like doing is not the entertainment; it’s me talking to kids and trying to get kids to respect their parents.” He is a strong advocate of education and believes that there is too much emphasis on inner city youth achieving success in music or sports, rather than working hard to develop careers as a lawyer, doctor, dentist, etc. He has traveled throughout the country to speak to at-risk youth and promote peace amongst criminal street gangs.
WHEN & WHERE:
Thursday, September 22nd .
- · 1:30p.m.-3:00p.m. Douglass Mid-High School, 900 N. Martin Luther King Ave.
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