Time To Celebrate ‘The Other Side Of Newark,’ Local Artists Say

NEWARK, NJ — When New Jersey’s largest city makes news headlines, it often revolves around violence, crime or other struggles that are common to urban centers across the world. But it’s the “other side of Newark” – the artistic side – that deserves to get more press, advocates say.

Recently, Wonda World CEO Jerry Wonda, Mayor Ras Baraka and other community leaders teamed up to launch a campaign they’ve dubbed “The Other Side of Newark.” First announced at the MTV Video Music Awards – which took place in the Brick City for the second time last summer – the campaign seeks to showcase the “unheralded and underappreciated faces” of a storied artistic community.

So far, the effort has included live events such as an official listening party last month at Newark’s historic Grammy Museum. More is on the way, including an upcoming full album release and a docuseries.

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Several Newark-based artists have contributed to the cause, including Haze, Kellz, DangerousMBK, Fateema, and Mo’Nique the star. Contributing local artists also include Newark City Councilman Dupré Kelly, a founder of the Lords of The Underground.

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Wonda and Baraka – the son of legendary writer Amiri Baraka and a poet in his own right – have said that most pop culture enthusiasts and music lovers don't realize the legendary artists and leaders that hail from the Newark area. The list includes household names like Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, Shaquille O'Neal, Paul Simon, Joe Rogan, Joe Pesci, Ray Liotta, and Wyclef Jean and The Fugees.

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Wonda, who has produced records that have accumulated more than 200,000,000 in recorded music sales and equivalents since his introduction to the industry with the legendary Fugees, has been a longtime Newark resident and producer of local talent.

The latest effort to create some positive buzz is making people take notice of the Brick City again, he says. And it’s also making people remember that above all else – they’re neighbors.

“In Newark there are five boroughs and most of them have generational conflicts with each other,” Wonda said. “With ‘The Other Side of Newark,’ we were able to unify the five boroughs and create relationships across the communities.”

“At the end of the day, we want everyone to realize ‘Newark is Newark … One City,” Wonda added.

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