Blood Of A Slave Heart Of A King

WHILE I'M SLACKIN' JAY'S BACK TRACKIN'...

2010-11-16T18:58:00.007Z

(Why does Jay look like a black Will Ferrell to me? Gotta be the wrinkly forehead)

Ok, so I am slacking with any meaningful content recently, so anyone that keeps up with me trying to keep up with the world on this blog will just have to cope with this minimalist approach for now. Expect small update and wifey material posts in abundance. With various other work, assignments and business going on, there has been no time to ruminate over anything recently.

Back to the topic (by the way, J absolutely murders that 'back to the topic, actually forgot it..' line in the last verse), a track caught my attention yesterday for all the right reasons. The beat is nice, with a jazzy hook that's oh so familiar - I'll try and track down where the sample is from - word on the forums is it's a Pete Rock beat so it's bound to be some obscure 50s song.

I'm referring to Jay Electronica's 'Shiny Suite Theory' featuring a guest spot from that man Jigga. Jay Elec's voice and flow is buttery-smooth as always. I explained HERE how he's able to do this (10 paragraphs or so down).

Jigga takes it back with his flow on this one. Maybe it's the slight cassette-sounding quality to the mic he used, but it seems like '96 just rolled up in this song and overcame Jay's verse. The outcome is dope so lets not even dwell on what came over Jay and just enjoy this moment/track for what it is.

Jay Electronica - 'Shiny Suit Theory' Feat. Jay-z & The Dream

Oh I'm sorry, were you expecting some comment on Jay Elec's signing to Roc Nation? Well, ignoring the fact that if you are reading this, you're most likely a blog addict anyway so are already well informed. Phil already tied it up pretty nicely HERE.

COLIN COWHERD TELLING EVERYBODY WASUP....

2010-11-06T11:19:00.003Z

I'm laughing as I type this one. Basically just had to get this out there, John Wall that cocky guy from N.C that was blowing up hoop mixtape and ballislife videos a few years back on the high school basketball scene.....Colin breaks down how he won't ever do anything serious in the NBA. If you haven't already done so, check out that dance Wall does and especially peep the comparisons between Iverson and Marbury in this vid below.
Dead, at the end of the video when Cowherd pauses after saying: "It is a thinking mans' league.......John Wall"
Brilliant.

SO CALIFORNIA'S ABOUT TO LEGALISE WEED, AND YE IS DROPPIN' HEAT ROCKS...

2010-11-01T20:24:00.029Z

(Mexico's biggest drugs bust in history. The police captured and set ablaze - no pun - 105 tons of marijuana)

It's songs like this that make me wish I had a driving licence and a car to drive. It's songs like this that also make me wish I smoked weed.

Yes you read the title of this post right, Cali could be on the verge of legalising that Buddha. Californians are set to vote tomorrow on Proposition 19 (the legalising of weed to you and me), a vote that coincides with the midterm elections vote.

This has been a long time coming for America. The U.S economy is still showing little sign of any serious recovery while tobacco and alcohol sales just won't cut it anymore. Legalising marijuana can kill a few birds with one stone. Marijuana sales could generate huge revenue for the economy, whilst simultaneously relieving the state of spending thousands on arresting and incarcerating inmates with distribution and possession charges.
Though the thought of official stores stocking up on the green stuff might seem weird at first, I'm sure eventually Coca-cola or Starbucks will venture in to the weed market and package it up like all their other products. Before you know it Tiger Woods will be on T.V getting his career back on track, starting with a series of weed commercials. Can't you just picture it now? Tiger driving a golf ball in to the atmosphere with a blunt hanging precariously from his lip before turning to the camera to say: "Nike. Just do it."

If you bothered to pick up any newspapers this morning (even the free joints!) you would have noticed the onslaught of surveys proving that marijuana is less harmful to society than many of its legal counterparts. What does this tell us? That our news publications have become overrun with blunt smoking, high-as-hell journalists, who are intent only on writing about weed in a good light? Well as much as I'd like to think that is true, it's most likely not, and the facts they are spewing at us are in fact most likely valid.

Mos got the ball rolling a while back appearing on the Bill Maher show fighting his case: " What's wrong with a little weed!"
Since then, many celebrities and intellectuals have come out of the heavily smoked-out closet to protest in support of their favourite plant.

On a more serious note, another bird America could potentially kill with that stone mentioned above, is the huge crisis taking place in Mexico right now. The country is ravaged by violence. Stuck in a vicious cycle of gang murders, witnesses fear for their lives and corrupt officials are on the side of the criminals. Even an illegal crossing to America - for many families, their only chance of escape, is something that often ends up with their murder out in the Mexican desert - is run through the very gangs controlling the drug smuggling to the States. All in the name of American suburban college kids getting a small kick out of smoking an illegal drug in college and at the weekends. However, despite all this, I doubt concerns over the safety of Innocent Mexicans is at the top of the U.S agenda when considering reasons for legalising marijuana. It is far more probable that continued Mexican immigration to the States could sway U.S politicians in favour, if violence in the land south of the border continues.

Pulling away from all this and back to the music, kick back and relax to this here joint. If you've got weed, roll it up good sir.
If a Pete Rock beat fused perfectly with a classic soul sample can't soothe your soul, then lord help you. Even a Jay-z verse can't ruin this one!

Soul Samples in Hip Hip = possibly the greatest invention to date.

Peace

BEWARE OF THE NEWS WRITER

2010-10-29T23:38:00.007+01:00

I feel for any intelligent and opinionated journalist that finds his/herself reduced to news writing. It's somewhere every young journo will undoubtably start out, writing small news stories for what ever publication it happens to be. However the mechanical and uniform structure of a news story allows no room for creativity, personal opinion or even intelligent input.

It could be argued that people want none of the above when being fed the news they read. That is most likely true to an extent, opinion and in-depth commentary is usually reserved for features. This is exaclty the reason I sympathise with news writers. They are virtually brainless writers who formulate words in to the 'correct' order, from a brief shoved under their nose. Though I don't for a second blame them, most are young and eager for experience, if not then it would only be right to assume the money is good. Hey, if the money's good then who's complaining? Possibly those with a little more integrity and pride in their writing, or is that just hubris?

The news writers' one chance for any type of self-expression comes with adjectives. Probably the only time at which a subtle word in a news story can reveal the writers true feelings towards what they are writing about. Since of course, any outright bias or opinion would immediately be edited out.

Another beef I have with this whole journalism game and more specifically news writing, is a news writers ability to sound like he/she knows exactly what they are talking about when they don't. A valuable skill to have in life. A skill that will come in use during interviews, business meetings and everyday life in general, when faking knowledge can get you a step-up. But pretending you know what you are talking about can come back to bite you in the ass, hard. Often news writers are given briefs on subjects they hold no previous knowledge of, be it economics, a specific sport, politics and whatever else. This is when adjectives can hurt you.

Overindulge in positive words when describing an event or performance, and you can be sure experts in such an area will gravitate to that comments box or email address and let you know what should have been written. Personal experience has told me journalists will be ruthless in defence of their uninformed opinions.

Think of a subject you feel most passionate about, one you know you hold a vast amount of knowledge on. Now imagine someone who you know can't possible - for whatever reason - be as well informed as you in such an area. Think how it would feel to have that person try and force their opinion on you and others. That would bug you right? Because you know they're wrong, and they are potentially changing the views of others to suit their own. They're spreading the misinformation. You may tell them, yet only after a lengthy defence of their claims will they back down, finally recognising your superior amount of knowledge on the subject. That is how confident, cheeky and ceaseless journalists can be when trying to defend a view they have, on a subject they know nothing about. And people wonder why things they read in the papers are ultimately found to be untrue or greatly exaggeratted. It's not always a journalist trying to create a more dramatic story, sometimes they just simply have no clue what they're on about. They are to write and express a specific opinion, not to question that opinion.

So be weiry of journalists and new writers in particular. Take note of the name at the bottom of that article and question it's integrity. There is this view that much of what is written in respected publications must be at least partially true. Though lets just say, not everything being written is done so by an expert in that specific field. Just because words are spoken or written with confidence, doesn't mean the person spewing them out has the faintest idea what they are banging on about.

'SHE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THIS IS ABOUT THOUGH..'

2010-09-09T16:15:00.005+01:00

In the usual laid-back, non-chalant manner, me, sag and a couple of guys rolled up to South Bank later than the allocated brick-giving-out time haha! This was much to my disgust when 'bitch-ass women' - who had no idea what the project was about but got caught up in the brick heaven hype - were seen walking the streets of south London with Project Morrinho bricks poking from their hand bags. To add to the disgust of casual passers-by making haste with all the fly, designed bricks, we also missed the free 'Brazil Festival' re-usable bag give away. To a group of young, ethnic London men, seeing snobbish yuppy types sipping on their lattes and over-priced orange juices whilst clutching on to their man-bags and now 'Brazil Festival' bags, was pretty annoying. We contemplated going on the rampage and snatching everything in sight with the 'Brazil Festival' emblem on it. This included, bags, deck chairs and a whole host of nailed-to-the-ground things. However after this quick rush of blood we simply picked up a couple bin bags, salvaged a few bricks from destruction and made our way downstairs to see what entertainment lay in wait on the bank of the Thames. With two of us having bin bags slung over our shoulders....yes we did looked like tramps.

I forgot my camera this day. One of my boys took a few snaps on his blackberry but until I can retrieve those you'll just have to put up with these below. I recently redecorated my room and while I was hoping to pile a mass of Favela bricks in one corner, the measly few we managed to take are currently taking up the corner of my desk instead. Still working on the positioning.

And yes we did swipe that piece of astro turf also.

Peesh.

THE BRASIL FESTIVAL SOUTH BANK....

2010-09-09T13:15:00.010+01:00

Well as with the way most things are going on this blog, I was supposed to post about this ages ago. A friend and I visited South Bank to see what the haps was before I ventured to North Africa, therefore what has stopped me from uploading these pics over the past month is any body's guess.
I missed most of the events included in the Brazil Festival due to being away for that month but fortunately I was still able to witness the progress of this little work of art. If coloured bricks mounted on sand seems a little confusing to you then allow me to explain. Well actually lets allow the good people at Project Morrinho, who run the making of these vibrant installations, to explain:

"Project Morrinho is a social and cultural project based out of the Pereira da Silva favela in the wealthy Southern Zone of Rio de Janeiro. Our aim is to bring positive change to our local community, as well as challenge the popular perception of Brazil’s favelas. The belief that favelas are merely dominated by drug trafficking and violence is not all encompassing. Through our work within Brazil and abroad, it is our hope to improved popular perception of all favelas."

For more info on the project be sure to hit up their site HERE.

The project it's self is usually encourages the involvement of local Favela residents. Therefore for this special London edition not only were kids from the Favelas of Rio De Janeiro involved but also children from an estate in Lambeth South London. It may seem strange at first, the fact that third world bricks (haha sorry I call orange bricks with 4 or 6 square wholes in 'third world bricks,' they're stacked up everywhere in developing Tunisia and not to my surprise i saw them all over south America too) are crakced and coloured in order to create something that vaguely resembles a Favela. Though for anyone who's actually seen a Favela, these huge models do bear an uncanny resemblance to the real thing. Here's a couple of shots of past projects:

Me and Sag headed down to check out the action way before a certain magazine reported on this. Nah I'm playing, Jungle Drums is one of my favourite magazines, check it out for all-round dope info on all that's Brasilian in London. Here's a few flicks of our day checking out the progress...

Sag can read.

At the climax of all this brick-laying there was to be a brick-giving-away bonanza on September 5th. Peep what happened there in the next post.

SHA-DAMN...

2010-09-09T01:02:00.002+01:00

My bad on the lack of posting of late. I've been fairly busy but if I'm being honest, not so busy that I couldn't have found time to drop some post material. Weird thing is, I've actually been sitting down and writing a lot of things to put up here, the time has just never emerged to actually put finger to keyboard.

For the few that actually check this blog every other day or so. My bad, descuple, desole, triste and any other language I missed out.

If not good, big, if not big, alot of things on the way tomorrow.

Peace King.

BILLIE AND BLU

2010-08-23T20:59:00.009+01:00

What I love so much about Blu on joints like this is, they just have so much soul and style. Even the way Blu is dressed in that pic featured in the vid, I'm really starting to dig that musician-type unique fashion. Same type of guys that walk around with an instrument and are found in backstreet jazz cafes can be seen wearing such hats and sporting such hair-styles and simple clothing. The style is of a similar mold to that carried by Akil and Adeline. If you're not too sure who either of them are, you're in for a treat pretty soon when I put you up on them.

This song in particular fills my mind with images of a 1920/30's-esque New York apartment window overlooking the city on a rainy day. I would most def be zoned out in my converted warehouse apartment, working to the sounds of Blu. Of course the scene is black and white and the silhouette of a grand piano can be seen blocking the light from the tall, grid leaded window, stained with rain drops. The people walk briskly down below with their black umbrellas or jumping inside their ford automobiles.
Papers filled with writing are sprawled across a workspace that includes a smoldering cigar, the smoke just about still rising.

This is the type of joint I love to hear while working and a song that would instantly add a style and sophistication factor to any apartment if I heard it upon entering. The owner would gain automatic respect from me. It's also the sort of vibe I would hope could be found in a Jazz or Blues club. It's actually a slight goal of mine to visit a Blues/Jazz club and sit in a dark corner observing the dark smokey scene, absorbing the ambience. All whilst quietly and slowly puffing on my over-sized cigar, and I don't even smoke. I hear there's a dope club in Barcelona, if you've heard about that one, get at me!

'Below The Heavens' assured that Blu is virtually a legend in my eyes, nah F that he is a legend! Blu is too exclusive to be considered 'hot' or similar adjectives. He assumes legendary status simply because he goes about doing his thing quietly, rarely being seen and cooking up absolute crack that, for the first few years usually goes largely unnoticed.
Blu actually has 1920's/30's inspired videos, but this is my 2p and Blu is someone that there need not be written a biography for, he's that legendary.

Blu and Billie, now that's swagger. All these fools out here talking about swagger but this is real swagger. These guys are the real cool cats. More laid back than the biggest weed head you know and runnin' with more style than than any of these fashion 'aficionados' out here today. Ride it out Blu...

Peace.

FIBA AND GLAMOUR

2010-08-22T20:27:00.014+01:00

The Fiba World Championship is about to start real soon, therefore it's only appropriate that a little something is dedicated to ballin'. The USA has a pretty strong team this year so despite their being seeded 2nd behind Argentina, expect them to dominate. I've strayed away from basketball over the past year and in some way that may be partly due to my association with Hip Hop. It bugs me a little that ballers try and adopt this 'cool' and 'down' image through Hip Hop. No doubt the culture had a big influence on basketball as a sport. Baggy shorts and the swagger every player attempts to walk and talk with comes as a direct result of the Hip Hop culture. I think someone once said something along the lines of 'every basketball player secretly wants to be a rapper.' That may be a slight exaggeration but the sentiment is to some extent true. I'm getting tired of seeing ballers use this whole inner city, 'cool', 'hip' culture as a means of marketing, especially when many of these guys derive from the burbs just like everyone else. Don't get me wrong I'm a big fan of many Nike ads and Nike clothing in general but, it bugs me when guys try and force a certain swagger on themselves just to come across like a cool cat. Marketing campaigns or ads that force a Hip Hop swagger on to a player purely because he's black will rarely come off authentic. I guess what I'm trying to get a here is that, most emcees in their youth wanted to be ballers. Yet once they make the big time as a rapper, that's it, they're content. Whereas most ballers that make it to the league, still idolise big time rappers, heck some of them go to the extent of making albums (no need to name names). The fact that all their money can build them a studio, doesn't equate to them producing a 5 mic album, unfortunately for them. I just think ballers in general need to pay more respect to a culture (hop) that gave the league it's street etiquette and cred. It added style and smoothness to the game, style that most players seem to think they were raised with or even created.

I know a couple of serious ballers and they seems to think it's their right to walk, talk and dress a certain way purely because they are basketball players. They may even from time to time look down on someone of perhaps a different race or stature to them, when in fact that person knows more of Hip Hop culture and 'swagger' than they do. I just don't understand why. If they don't know jack about Hip Hop as a musical outlet or culture, then why in the hell do they feel they have to act 'cool' 'laid-back' and 'down' with Hip Hop fashion? What because they're Black or Latino? They'll never be as 'cool' (I've used that word a lot here) as their favourite rappers. Maybe they should just stop acting like groupies and do themselves since a whole bunch of young men and women look up to them. Hip Hop is a movement all on it's own, and all though I think to an extent it's ill that basketball has assimilated Hip Hop elements in to the sport both on and off the court, it's just merged a little too much for my liking. To the point where basketball players who are doing quite well for themselves, I'm talking college players etc.... think they can converse with me, or even try to school me,on a Hip Hop level. Fall back, a ball and some baggy shorts won't tell you the difference between Lupe and Lil Jon. Shout outs to all the honest Hip Hop head ballers though!

For The Love of The Game from Nice Kicks on Vimeo.

I was once the kinda guy that would be right up on videos like these. Shot nicely with a quality (in this case HD, goddammit I need one) camera and with the cleanliness that only comes with a Nike styled commercial. New York City is usually the perfect setting and the music is always on point if not inspirational. Yet this type of layout seems to be wearing a little thin. It's tedious to hear players constantly talk about how they 'made it,' especially when quite often there's some huge glamourisation occurring. 'The basketball court was my escape' is a favourite or, 'Practice would finish, but I'd stay behind to run suicides' another. This is all well and good and I may be coming across like Uncle Pessimistico here but I feel, to a certain extent kids are being misled. Sure when you reach the final stages of basketball (or any sport's) adolescence - that time when you have to decide if you're going to pursue this as a career - that's when things should start to become really serious. For me, if you're not walking around with a ball everywhere, constantly playing in the house and literally playing (unwittingly practicing) all the time, then the sport isn't for you. You won't make it. What D.Wade and Melo are describing in their up-bringing is not a tenacious work-ethic (although in certain player's cases it is), it's a love for the game matched by few others. Constantly going out to the courts wasn't done in an attempt to 'get better,' at least not until they were way in to their teens. No, at first this was just subconscious love for basketball. Too many kids believe that if they go out and shoot so many shots a day then they can really make it. That mentality is a bad sign already. Fact of the matter is, if you have to consciously think about going to a court and shooting at such a young age then you could be destined for failure. It's impossible to continue and exceed at something you have to force upon yourself. Unless you're born 8ft tall, it's likely you'll need to really love this game in order to pursue it as a career. However this leads on to understanding whether you really do 'love' the game. If a basketball movie or clip inspires you to go out and play, you know those 'Ahh I feel like playing now, man' moments you get because you just watched some of the best in the business? Yeah that's not a good sign. Most athletes would actually be annoying the person they are watching the film with because the movie actually made them feel like bouncing or kicking a ball around, while it's still playing.
Moreover on the subject of being mislead. Adverts make courts and pitches look so fresh. Documentaries make childhood courts of and towns of the superstars appear so nostalgic and dope. Yet these shorts films and still frames can't depict the less alluring aspects to such venues. Michael Jordan's boyhood backyard court is a great example. MJ grew up playing there right, so I bet a bunch of people would love to have had such a court after seeing the tattered yet mesmerising hoops on 'Michael Jordan To The Max' and 'Come Fly With Me.' People forget about the wind that would have graced that out-door court. The untrue bounce they would have received from the grass. Oh these things hit home when people venture to such places and realise it's the same as any other court, so they get pissed off. 'The movie made me wanna play but the skills I tried to re-create didn't look anything like the movie....crap!' Don't think playing on such a court is what made MJ so great. Your skills on the same court would develop very differently to his because at the end of it all, you are two different people. Similarly don't think playing at Madison Sq. or Rucker Park will automatically raise your game. There's still a 10ft high ring, backboard and 23 somthin' feet 3 point line.

So to conclude this awful ramble; this whole basketball-inspirational-glamourisation type thing that's been going on in advertising for a good while now is somewhat scarily misleading to young kids. Yes it's great to hear success stories of players working hard for their dreams but that's just it, 'their' dreams. They were lucky enough to have a passion as a youth that pays a ridiculous amount of cash-money as an adult. If it's your passion fair enough, work to get it, but look deep down and discover whether it really is what you love doing, or simply like doing and continue to do so because that's what you always have done. If you have a mind and actually have interest in discovering other things in this world that stray from the path of basketball or football or tennis, then maybe you should follow that calling. Professional sports are often such that, until you make it and create some time for yourself, there's no time for other hobbies or serious interests. Many will argue that this is why football players and ballers are usually a little on the dopey side. A knowledgeable mind (not intelligent, the most intelligent person on Earth could have litte knowledge whatsoever) is a curious mind. From my experience, not a good trait if sports is your thing. Focus will inevitably be lost when it's discovered that there's more to the world than the rectangular piece of asphalt you stand on and the 'Spalding' engrained leather in your hand.

Remember that sometimes players like to make a fuss and story over exactly how they 'made it' because sometimes it's hard to just state that 'I made it' plain and simple. Notice how a number of famous figures do this kind of thing. It's almost as if they try and make out like they're more special than they actually are. 'I was always trying to find out exactly how things worked,' or ,'He used to sit all day and write comics and feature length movie scripts,' or 'Basketball was my escape from the streets.' Those type of sayings are all well and good, perhaps some are even 100% true. However they mislead the young in to thinking these folks had no normal upbringing, as if they were never just normal kids once. They'd rather give some little anecdote about how they're mother or father instilled in them life lessons that got them where they are today. Many parents do such things. Instilling work ethic and drive in to children is common among all good parents. So don't go constantly looking for these movie-romantic, Hollywood moments in your life in the hope that you can one day talk of similar stories. Life a is lot less glamourous in the present than when it is being recounted in the future, so be thankful for what you have and do what you love. If it leads to fame and fortune, then and only then, can you come with the bullshit stories of the blog being your escape from reality, photographing dramatic stills of a solitary chair in a room with a single computer hiding the less enchanting aspects to the room itself.

Well that was a tad depressing. We need a mood lightener next.

SABADO DOS BRASILEIROS....

2010-08-21T16:35:00.015+01:00

This Saturday forth shall be known around these parts as 'Saturday of the Brazilians' or 'Sábado dos Brasileiros.'

Basically what I've been running across lately is crazy number of Brazilian tracks that are just too dope, funky, fresh and every other positive adjective in the book. So fly are they, that I feel compelled to share these tracks with the world. Just the other day I rediscovered some of this year's Samba tracks that were the soundtrack to individual Samba schools at the Rio Carnaval. Although those songs and chants hold personal memories of my visit to Rio, I think many will agree on the overall 'head-nodding' and 'crowd participation' desire brought upon any listener. Hearing those catchy chorus' and infectious drum beats is a great way to wake up on a Saturday morning. Those tracks will get their play at some point but to start things off, I'm actually gonna come at you with something a little more mellowed out. I did a short piece on the Singer/rapper Curumin and his backing band just over a week back. UK readers and football fans will most likely recognise his song, 'Gurreiro' from one of the many Nike 'Joga Bonito' adverts.

Anywho, this song right here is entitled, 'Vem Menina.' My Portuguese is no where near perfect or even good, I can't pick up on most of the lyrics however I can pick up on the fact that it's about a girl. 'Menina' is a girl and 'Vem' is to come. In a nut shell the girl is putting him through a spot of trouble and hassle, meanwhile he's telling her things he wants to do with her.

The thing I'm really diggin' about the track is the little guitar rift. Simple guitar rifts are apparent in a lot of Brazilian music. I hope to be able to produce ill rifts and interludes like that one day, seems like something that's just cool to know how to do. Being able to pick up a guitar and sporadically churn out a little rift like that automatically brings a smile to people's faces and adds a little rhythm to the room.

What's more, the verse Curumin spits after the listener becomes accustomed to his soft-spoken, smooth lryics, is somewhat of a surprise. Though his flow is ill and the verse eventually turns out nothing short of dope. I've got a thing for how a singer or emcee re-enters a track after an instrumental interlude, it can either turn out brilliant or horrible. The artist has to latch back on to the beat and ride it out perfectly. Freddie Gibbs does it well at the start of his 'Flamboyant' freestyle while Biggie was a master of the craft. Curumin pulls it off well here at around the 3 minute mark. Let me stop talking now and proceed with the audio.

Curumin - 'Vem Menina'

Be sure to check out the album this track derives from, 'Archados e Perdidos' for more dopes sounds from this man and his crew.

A NEW CHAPTER....

2010-08-21T14:27:00.008+01:00

Probably should have titled this post a new book, since my writing is now going to be on display in a completely different place and format to what I have going on over here. What I'm mean by that silly attempt at some metaphorical blah blah yackidy smackidy, is that my (up to date) musical and Hip Hop inclined posting can now be found over at www.thewordisbond.com
Jose and the guys over there have got a great thing going on already which hopefully I can add to in some small way. The blog itself is somewhat of an underground Hip Hop specialist blog, though don't be too surprised to see other mediums and genres thrown in the mix. I challenge you to feast your eyes upon the first page and kick-back as you gradually and unknowingly get drawn in to reading 5-10-20 pages deep. It's pretty damn addictive. In the short time frame of the blogs existence and my reading of it, the number of artists the folks over there have put me on to is somewhere in double figures. There's plenty of lesser known great music out there that may be a little difficult to find. These guys are here to point you in the right direction.

Make sure you check it out, you never know, you may discover your favourite artist of tomorrow.

PICKING UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF.....

2010-08-20T19:28:00.009+01:00

The past few days have been a little hectic to say the least. I know I promised some post material on Tunisia while I was out there but I decided early-on that it would most likely be easier to accumulate everything and present it once I got home. If I'm being honest, I'm actually fairly annoyed at myself. I enjoyed my time out there seeing fam and just taking everything in. It's always a healthy break from life and western culture in general. Though what has annoyed me is my not taking opportunities that were clearly presented to me. There were so many ill pictures to be taken but I flopped. The fact that I'm runnin' with part Tunisian blood and brown skin means that I can easily pass as a local. Therefore I (stupidly) become a little embarrassed when it comes to taking pictures of locals, landmarks and views. Over the past few years I've become somewhat of a regular visitor anyway, so maybe it's that fact lingering in the back of my mind that stops me from acting like a complete tourist. You could say in the same way that we as natives of our respective cities, don't go around taking pictures of domestic landmarks. I've seen Big Ben a whole bunch of times though have never been compelled to have my picture taken with the big guy.
Alas, it shouldn't be too long before I'm back in the South of Tunisia (which I'd like to add is far more beautiful than the North, both the people and the landscape) again. It's been decided already that a face project is to be conducted. Tunisia is such a mixed country. Near enough every civilization has been through that small land at some point. With the exception of the East Asians and Natives of the Americas, the likes of the Egyptians; Romans, Greeks, Nubians, various West African kingdoms, the Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese and more have graced Tunisian soil. The people themselves reflect this wide mix of genetics in a similar way that Brasilians represent such genetic variation. Tunisians all appear slightly different. Some with curly hair, some afro, some more asian in appearance with straight hair, some middle eastern looking. Therefore I found it captivating just people-watching at markets or on the beach. Old men with straw hats and faces leathery from decades exposed to the African sun sit playing chess or drinking coffee. These guy's faces would just make for some fresh black and white photos, unique in appearance, I can picture the results now. Seeing the troubled faces and searching expressions of the guys sitting behind counters with bodies of animal meat racked up above them. Men grouped under trees that serve to shelter them from the heat reigning down on them. All fascinating stuff that I plan to capture on my next visit. Hopefully if my French improves then i can actually explain to people what the hell I'm doing.

So you can expect to see over the next few posts, a little information on local customs and people. Though I'm going to try and stay away from talking about the country itself too much, as any info I give can most likely be found on our good friend Wikipedia.
Let me adjust back to this English keyboard, weeks on a jumbled French keyboard has messed with my fingers. Apologies in advance for any typos I don't spot. Let the posting commence!

FAVELA PT.1

2010-08-17T00:37:00.007+01:00

The Favela is a major part of Brasilian cosmopolitan culture whether Brasil's wealthier natives like it or not. The people, sounds and creativity that the hillside and outskirts shanty towns exude in abundance add a different dimension to the great cities of Brasil.
I'm going to talk about the Favelas of Rio De Janeiro in particular here, simply because that's where my experience lies.

Upon arrival in the 'Cidade Maravilhosa' (marvelous city), it's hard not to notice - especially when taking the 'REAL' bus from the airport - the slums that surround the 'jewel' of South East Brasil. These are perhaps the worst of all Favelas in Rio receiving less attention from the Government and police forces. This is in large part due to their being out of sight and touching distance from the hoards of tourists that grace the wavy tiles of the Copacabana and Ipanema strips each year.

Hey asshole! Read some more...

I arrived in the Rio at around 11pm. An hour at which most tourists and even backpackers (a term that probably suited me far better) would choose the option of taxi over bus. Especially in a strange-new, somewhat infamous city far from home. Any traveller to Rio has probably heard the horror stories of Gringos, being driven by taxi drivers in to a Favela where a band of miscreants await to free them of there possessions. However, if strapped for cash, or in my case, after much banter - in Portuguese I proudly add - with the taxi drivers, a reasonable price still can't be agreed upon, a bus becomes the only option. Which isn't so bad, it's all part of the spirit of adventure and cultural experience. Besides, 5 Reais was just too damn irresistible when the guys in the yellow cars were offering 60-80 Reais at best.

Back to the matter at hand. Whilst riding the REAL bus with my rucksack firmly wedged against my face after a chubby German girl insisted on sitting next to me, I pondered over why it is that this bus journey is so cheap. Maybe an answer lies in the fact that, as opposed to taking the motorway routes into central Rio, it takes the outskirt favela route. The bus driver chose to cut the lights out on the bus at certain intervals throughout the journey. It was then that I recalled something I read before left, lights are promptly switched off, 'so as not to advertise to the more...opportunistic slum resident, the mass of foreign arrivals inside.' Bus hi-jacking is frequent, apparently. Comforting!

Upon entering central Rio and Zona Sul (the tourist strips), it is damn near impossible to miss the lines of tiny houses scaling the hillsides. Precariously placed as if on the verge of toppling off, Favelas such as Vidigal and Rocinha are within walking distance. Vidigal's claim to fame is the jaw-dropping opening shot and scene from 'City of Men.' While Rocinha has the title of 'largest slum in Brasil' and arguably South America (competition from a certain Colombian slum is fierce).
Now before I get on to my experiences in Rocinha and the experiences of friends in Vidigal, let me first quickly break down exactly what a favela is. After much research and interest in the subject before I left, I thought I knew pretty much all there was to know. However only after visiting and talking to the right people, did I really begin to get an image of the history and infrastructure of the 'Favela.'

Favela's only really came in to being after the emancipation of Slavery in 1888. There was a mad dash by the freed slaves to leave the rural plantation behind for the big cities of the South. Cities that represented hope and opportunity through employment. Though upon arrival the Black and Mulatto ex-slaves discovered that jobs were scarce, forcing them to join the thousands of ex-soldiers left with no place to live but the hillsides surrounding the city.
Further rural exodus occurred during the 1940's and 70's forming the modern favelas that can be seen today.
Brasil is one of the most economically unequal countries in the world. With a flick of the keys on Google one can find such juxtaposing and contrasting pictures of lavish hotels bordered by inhumane slums. Roughly 34% of Brasileiro's live below the poverty line and 50% of the countries wealth is shared by just 10% of the population. (Them be my Immortal Technique bars).
The term "favela" comes from a plant, a small shrub that grows all over hillsides. This is an appropriate metaphor for the settlements of the same name because the miniature houses spring up all over the hills as people move from rural areas into Rio in search of economic opportunities. Technically, the residents themselves don't refer to the communities as 'favelas,' but for namesake here we're going to.

Not so long ago it was common for the residents of favelas to have no official registered address. After all, who was to go about naming and numbering the slums? This seemed convenient for everyone. The residents didn't have to pay taxes and the government didn't have to care since these people were not technically registered citizens. Therefore with no real addresses, an autocratic style of governance could be in place. Only the wealthy were able to vote meaning only the wealthy could run for election and ultimately only the wealthy could control politics. This has all changed recently though. Most inner city favelas now have addresses enabling the residents to vote and Brasil to have a true democratic system. The working class residents of Rio are now assured of a political voice come election time. This has been vital in ensuring that the plight of the favelas stays at the forefront of Brasil's political agenda.

(President Lula, left, put social projects at the forefront of his presidential ideas and helped build Brasil's economy in to one of the largest in the world today)

Most modern inner-city favelas today do have access to basic amenities such as running water and electricity. Though often this is due to the creativity and resourcefulness of the residents themselves as opposed to government efforts. I can't help but laugh at the way we westerners think of pirated goods as VHS and dodgy DVD copies from that Chinese guy hangin' around Leyton Megastore. Yet for the Third world, pirated can literally mean anything. From water supply to eletricity. If you got it, these guys will find a way to jack it. By connecting a pipe or wire to yours, you best believe everything's available....

(Electrical madness spotted at the heart of most favelas)

On the face of it, favelas don't seem like great places to live. Often described as crime-ridden, many favelas contain open sewers, the obvious over-crowded housing and shocking infant mortality rates. Many will try and tell you that all favelas are controlled by drug-lords or various gangs etc...This is simply not true. Though there's no denying that a large number are and will continue to be so long as there remains corrupt police to bribe and steady flow of guns and drugs in to the favelas. Many gangs actually bring stability and relative peace to the favelas. Understandably, the gangs don't want police prowling around their turf. Therefore if any resident is to commit crimes within the favela, no matter how petty, they are dealt with swiftly by the gangs and made a stern example of. This therefore limits violent crime in the favela, other than that inflicted upon rival gangs and the police. Infact some would even say a white tourist is safer in the favela than walking late down Copacabana or any other heavily populated tourist spot. I would say, while this may be true for many inner-city favelas, I certainly wouldn't want to be the blonde haired tourist caught in the outskirts of town where the people are even poorer, the gangs even rougher, and the areas even more devoid of police presence. It turns out that the only tourists I met that had been jumped or simply robbed of their money all said it happened in quite wealthy neighbourhoods or obvious tourist areas.

It's standard that the drug gangs strong-hold is the summit of the hillside favelas and you don't need to consult your rarely-used copy of Sun Tzu's 'Art of War' to know why. Obviously the highest housing allows for more privacy, harder access for unwanted authority and a view of who comes in and out of the favela. There's actually quite an intricate chain of command that goes in to the running of a successful drug cartel. The lowest of the low are the look-out boys who use their kites as means of communicating whether the police have entered the favela. Films such as 'Cidade dos Homens' and 'Trope De Elite' depict these ranks of command in much more detail whilst also portraying the plight of specific individuals. These Films do well to depict the fear many residents live in though it has to be said, 'Cidade dos Homens' has given birth to a succession of 'day in the life' favela films so. Though if you really want to get a grasp of the politics and economics of a favela, a good place to start is the documentary featured on the 'Special Features' of the 'Cidade dos Homens' DVD. It's named 'News from a Personal War' and is now on youtube in it's entirety. Moreover, the amazingly dope and insightful British channel 'More4' has featured a few great favela docs over the past few years. In some ways I prefer to documentaries to the films. Don't get me wrong the films are great, some, straight art-house classics.

Though due to the abundance of favela movies now, it's hard to find ones as unique as those mentioned as well as the likes of 'Pixote' and 'Ônibus 174.' You know, no matter how crappy it turns out to be, with a documentary you're going to get realism. The residents can give you insight like no other. One insight that always sticks in my mind relates back to the peace and control I said some drug gangs bring to the favela. A middle-aged lady backed up by her family stated in one doc that the drug gangs having guns has limited violence somewhat. She went on to say that the police not longer come in all guns blazing, shooting anything that moves, including innocent citizens. Due to corruption and gangs being as well armed as them (if not better) they now have to approach cautiously, something that proves a silver lining in a dark cloud over the average slum dweller. Without wanting to overpower you with name drops, I actually attended the Brasilian film festival last year in London and two mesmerising docs spring to mind that are must-watch as far as I'm concerned. 'Jardim Ângela' (look out for the tales of Washington, one kids who's seen more in life that your average 100 year old) and 'Only When I Dance' are just dope, check em out, I know the second of those is out on DVD.

Watch out for Part.2 exploring the brighter side to favela life and some personal experiences.

Peace.

CURUMIN

2010-08-10T10:35:00.007+01:00

The writing of other post material and certain undercover work is moving slow today so forget the reading and writing for a second and press play. 'Malandro', to the best of my knowledge, is like a trickster, little rascal or rebel, however you want to put it. 'Tudo bem' is of course 'alright,' 'you good' etc..

Curumin - 'Tudo Bem Malandro'

DID I JUST BUST A LIL....

2010-08-10T08:45:00.009+01:00

While the ungratefuls complain on Twitter, Lupe is giving the fans what they want regardless of label bitchassness. Well at least a snippet of what they want. I feel for the man somewhat. He could have what turns out to be another 'Food And Liquor' case on his hands, and I would hate to see the watering down of this forthcoming album just to satisfy some business folk.

Lupe Fiasco - Go To Sleep

WIFEY MATERIAL PT.2

2010-08-07T21:20:00.017+01:00

I'm feeling a trend continuing here from the original Janelle Monae post. What this title and post will now be dedicated to will not necessarily be the most 'beautiful' women on Earth. Instead, it will be following suit of my like for Janelle Monae. That being a Woman's style, intelligence, uniqueness and god damn cutie-pieness. All that, deems them wifey material upon picture-proof only. No 'damn she's sexy' chicks here. Simply 'damn she looks like marriage material' straight off the bat without even talking to her. From this post onward, posts like these require no further explanation. If you can't understand why I have chosen a particular lady for this accolade to top all accolades, research her a little and find out why before complaining.

I digress. So now I proceed with, Allyson Felix.

Peesh King.

WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT. IT'S ANNOYING...

2010-08-07T15:10:00.016+01:00

Well dam, ha ha, my god. Tyson most definitely won that battle.

Some say I'm a hater for not jumping on the whole Usain Bolt is King bandwagon. Here's what i have to say:

I don't not like Bolt. I just want Asafa to win the major championship he has always deserved to win. Plus I don't like the fact that all of a sudden, everyone is a bolt dick-rider and loves Athletics now just because he's in it. The 100m has been exciting from day 1 before bolt came along. All the batty-oles comin' up to me saying crap like 'It's so weird man, Bolt just came outta no where'....not really, he went to Athens where he was knocked out in the first round. He went to the 2007 world champs where tyson kicked his ass in the 200 and won the double PLUS he had to work his way up the Jamaican schools National Championships....basically, he put in work, don't act like he grew up on a farm and was retardedly running after a chicken one day when an olympic coach happened to walk by and say, 'Hey son, you're pretty fast' next thing you know he's in the bloody olympics. I'm sick of retards man, people in general, they don't read or look in to anything before they open their mouths. If some one's gonna try to enlighten me on athletics or football or basketball or America or Palestine or Africa, please make sure you've actually read up on it before trying.

Athletics is best viewed live. More so than any other sport. When you see these athletes up close you actually begin to comprehend just how quickly they're moving or how high or far they're jumping. Only one youtube clip, that I'll link to at a later date, has ever given just a glimpse of this speed across ground. The T.V does the sport no justice at all. Everyone has pre-conceived ideas based on their own ability. 'Sure these guys are fast but I mean, they're not going to be light-years faster then me as, I'm pretty quick.' No. Trust me. These guys are professional athletes for a reason. Some 6 and a half billion people live on the face of this planet and those 8 who stand before you made it.
It bothers me that people act as the mainstream media does and simply only take the sport at face value. If Usain Bolt and the 100m has interested you that much, watch it more often. Don't be an idiot and say you don't like athletics, that's ignorant. It's those same type of people who will do the same thing to a sport or activity you love. I know it annoys certain basketball players when people get caught up in the Jordan or Lebron hype, rockin' the clothes yet knowing nothing of basketball. Same thing. Just dig a little deeper, you may surprise yourself and actually like what you find and see.

People aren't interested in gaining more knowledge or information on a particular subject that's out of their comfort zone. They just wanna see ill shit and move on. If what Usain or any other athlete did is that ill it makes you wanna; rock the t-shirt, become a member of the facebook group, like the facebook fan page and talk about it the next day at school, uni or work, then why not follow the sport a little?...Instead of being someone that claims knowledge on a subject or simply hops on the hype and fad surrounding Usain Bolt.

THE THROWN IS OPEN...

2010-08-07T10:25:00.007+01:00

The last few Athletics seasons have been mind-blowing for any long-term fans of the 100m. Maybe not as exciting as previous seasons including the likes of Carl Lewis and Maurice Greene along with their rivals. Though nobody can deny from a stop-watch perspective, there's never been better.
I've wanted to do a post on Athletics since I started this blog and I even touched on the sport at the beginning. Though it comes today almost as a direct result of Tyson Gay defeating Usain Bolt in Stockholm last night.

What this pic doesn't show is the comfortable distance Tyson won this race by

It was bound to happen sooner or later, although it may come as a shock to people who don't follow the sport dead regularly. Let me try my best to break this down quickly, since these things (me) always have a habit of going on and on....
What we have this year is the Diamond League. Very similar to the Golden league which was the usual off-season money-earner for athletes. What this competition consists of is a number of event across the globe in which athletes will race for points. Therefore losing one race is no biggie if you happen to have won a few others already. The winner from each event, being the person with the highest number of points, will get a cash prize and a diamond come the end of the season. For exact details if you're that fussed, just consult the Diamond League website.

This is no major championship. What's more it has caused an annoyance amongst athletes who were hoping after the World Championships last year that this year could be some what of a rest. This is pretty much the case of Usain Bolt, who peaked tremendously last year destroying two WR's. Just looking at Bolt this season it's easy to tell he's out of shape. He doesn't look as powerful physically (in stature) and when bursting out of the blocks. What many don't understand is that these guys are finely tuned athletes. Their bodies are pushing on 90-100% of their capabilities. Therefore, to miss even a few weeks of training will have adverse effects on performance. This is a reason why some people may be baffled as to why one week Tyson Gay may win a race against Asafa Powell, yet a few weeks later may lose to Powell.

At the start of this season, Asafa looked in possibly the best shape I've ever seen him. He'd lost some of the bulk, looking leaner and more sprightly than ever before. He ran a very quick, slightly wind assisted, time that still hasn't been matched this year. However it's remains unknown whether he can perform in any kind of major championship. Foolishly he handed Tyson a win in Gateshead the other week because he simply slowed to much approaching the line.

My sympathies went out to Tyson last year. Only just recovering from a major injury he ran the race of his life in coming second to Bolt and clocking 9.69, the second quickest of all time. If anything, immediately after that race I showed more excitement for the seasons to come. What could Tyson do when in shape?
A big fan of Asafa when he burst on to the season to say I didn't like Gay much was an understatement. Powell, at the time was more talented, it seemed like Gay robbed him of his World Champs in 07. But Tyson has risen rapidly in my estimation. It's evident he has much more of that thing called heart than either Bolt or Powell. Tyson is driven by someone being in front of him, unlike Powell who simply shuts down. Gay is a competitor. If Bolt never came along then I doubt he would have progressed as much as he has.

Tyson has one of the quickest, if not thee quickest foot speed ever seen in pro Track and Field. In case you're thinking, 'hold up a minute, does foot speed not equate to speed and time? Would that not make Tyson the fastest man who ever lived?' Simple, no. Usain is 6'5 with long legs. His legs don't need to move as fast for him to be able to cover as much ground as shorter athletes. In addition, strength comes in to play. Bulky, strong athletes may be no where near as quick as skinny wiry athletes, yet they storm their way down the track through virtually ripping bone from muscle. Watch Tyson's legs when he next runs.....observe the blur and you'll see, or not see in this case.

Usain is without doubt (I've used that term a lot recently) the most naturally talented and blessed athlete there has ever been in this event, some would even say athletics in general. Without going in to the science of his anatomy, just know that he has the fibres, bone structure and tendons necessarily arranged to allow him to run with the terrible crappy form/technique that he does and still dominate. He could most likely run arms flailing like Phoebe and still win. Though he's proving this year to all his beloved fans - who blindly added him as a 'like' on facebook knowing only that he broke the WR last year and he's Jamaican - that he's not invincible.
Do I still think when he's fully fit he could take Gay, you best believe yes. But Gay won't make that easy. I used to think we'd seen the full potential of Gay, yet with that final last year he really shocked me. Now we can look to both Powell and Gay, neither of whom have fulfilled their full potential time-wise, to make next season really interesting. And you know Bolt isn't going anywhere slow.

The Thrown is now open.

Peace.

YE RETURNS...

2010-08-05T11:24:00.013+01:00

Word on the title. It's funny how in Hip Hop circles Kanye is more often than not referred to as Ye. Whereas among the commercial fans and 'Rap' websites he's known as 'Yeezy'....Yeah, we didn't jump on that whole 'eezy' hype being added on to names. Snoop made it big, you just killed it.

Kanye's latest offering is set to drop sometime in October, but who really knows when it comes to this guy. I'm not really a fan of the obnoxious idiot. It bothers me that he thinks he's the only person that puts heart and passion in to his music. It bothers me more, that rather than just bragging about being great like most rappers do, you can honestly tell this man thinks he's only a hop-step and jump away from God himself.

However, all that being said, I am a fan of the man's music. The title of this post wasn't aimed at highlighting the fact that Kanye is back with a new album. Instead it was meant as reference to Chi-town's beat aficionado returning to his style of old. That being, heavily soul-sampled beats with straight forward lyrics, at times heartrendingly emotional, at others blatantly arrogant. A style that Ye has made his own. No Kanye's not the best lyracist in the game -there's even rumours of ghostwriters - nor on the whole does he make the best albums. Though his powerful beat selection is always ill and when accompanied by raw passion (in abundance), there's no denying the classic Hip Hop sound of his music.

Word is filtering through that this year he may be joined by RZA, Pete Rock, and DJ Premier on the producing side of things. If that's the case, someone tell this man to pass a note to Nas instructing the idiot to follow suit. Hopefully what that line-up also means, is that the electro/techno sounding beats he's been using over the past couple of albums are now dead. For me, that totally ruined his music and the music of others that blindly followed the trend (Usher), 808's was just horrible. Not Hip Hop at all. A statement you may reply to with, 'There's more to music than just Hip Hop you know!' Yes, you're right there is. But I look to Kanye for Hip Hop. If i wanted alternative or electro, I'd look elsewhere. Think Anthony Hamilton trying to rap when there's already millions doing it better.I know Ye was being creative and 'ground-breaking,' trying to push boundaries, but the bottom line is, the music was type turd.

It's a joke that Jay-Z made a song called 'Death Of Auto-Tune' co-produced by Kanye, the King of using auto-tune. Many people don't know this but the pair actually made an auto-tune song together until Kanye came up with the idea of doing an 'anti' auto-tune song. This was furthered by removing all auto-tune tracks from Blueprint 3. The fact that he even had them on there just shows you Jay-z's lack of integrity. And I like Jay some what, but he has lost all integrity as an artist. He's a business man, not a musician. If he thinks going against the grain (current trend) like that will gain attention and make him a quick buck, he'll do so. But then he'll go straight to using an auto-tune song on his next album, that's what he's like.

Despite being based on that ridiculous egyptian chain he rocks,
this is live.

Anyway, there's been much debate about the covers. Personally I think the two I've pictured here look real clean and fresh. They would transcend time, still looking dope in decades to come. But unfortunately there have been other images noted as possible selections. Though those look a little photoshop cartoony or straight up corny. I like the faded minimalist approach to colours on these ones here.

I hope Kanye's fans way back from College Dropout and Late Registration days, love this album. I hope it caters to them. Ultimately I hope fans of 808 and wack Hip Hop in general hate this album. Infact it would bring me great pleasure to know that they do. However with losers like Drake featuring (must be hard when you know Kanye's only featuring you to raise publicity. Ha! you know Drake's the type of guy Ye would have cursed out back in the day) along with Niki Manaj, it's sure to appeal to the lame crowd also. The track list I've seen looks a little disappointing. He's doing that thing I mentioned before that i hate, which is including a million featuring artists on you're own album. I bought you're album to hear you, not them. Take heed from Illmatic and only use one, at most two features. That being said, Mos Def, Common and Phonte look set to feature so, that may just counteract the onslaught of 'ewww' we'll hear from those previously mentioned.

Am i expecting any less hedonism, hubris, extravagance and overall egotism?.......Of course not it's Kanye.

Some videos just leaked of 'the making of power' and the album itself, go google.
EDIT: I discovered during the writing of this post that those two covers were made by 'Casso,' a kanyelive forum member. Good shit sir.

Peesh.

GOLD!

2010-08-04T20:02:00.026+01:00

This post links to the last in that I heard iFFy did a freestyle over the 'Starstruck' beat! But I can't find that shit anywhere, which is annoying coz that beat is just ridiculous.
The production to it and the song itself comes from the self-titled album of my latest infatuation, Santigold (formerly Santogold, I know right, I barely noticed either)...

Click read more for tracks and info...

I'm so late on this one I feel like an ass. If she was a full on Hip Hop emcee I would be ashamed. My ass has been saved by her music being labelled by wikipedia (which is never wrong) as 'New Wave, Dub, Alternative Fusion, Alternative dance.' I'm allowed to be late on non-Hip Hop ish. Can't lie though, I'm pretty pissed I wasn't up on this earlier having only discovered her music early this year. This is the track i briefly mentioned. Just listening to the beat I can tell iFFy must of ripped this:

WARNING! PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!

[Warning, play only in decent headphones or from decent speakers. This beat is hard, i repeat hard! It won't sound right spewing from your crappy mobile in-ear buds,ipod headphones or your computers shitty built-in speakers. Give the music the quality it deserves please and thou shall be repaid through dopeNESS]

'Starstruck' -

Santi's debut was released in 08 and she's been quietly doing her thing ever since. Fans of 'Gossip Girl' should recognise her album tracks 'LES Artistes' and 'Creator' used in the the promo and soundtrack to the show. Not that I would know.
Not known the world over, her fan base isn't humongous. However what she does have is a set of loyal fans and a reputation for quality performances, as well as an utterly unique sound. If I was a musician in today's market, then that's the exact level of popularity and stardom I'd want. Known for doing her thing, Santigold gets invited to perform at more events than you'd expect. She's down with the 'cool' and 'real' folks within the industry and maintains a distinctly 'un-ordinary' fan base who match her unique sound with their own unique style. The point I'm teetering around here, is that MTV or Nike, for one of their big broadcast events or adverts, would use an artist like Lil Wayne or 'weirdo of the moment' Drake. They have an image to uphold, they of course therefore have to use the biggest (notice lack of the words that would commonly follow, 'and best') names. However, for local events such as new trainer (sneaker) releases, city concerts or simply company celebrations and anniversaries, they use actual dope artists such as Santi. Ok she didn't perform here (no one did) but Nike's 'Back To The Block' event is an example of the type of cool, cultural events that ill, alternative artists like Santi would be asked to perform at. (Peep the Madbury link, click back to the block).

Many a person comes at me with, 'oi, M.I.A is sick you heard that...' To which my only choice to respond has become 'Pffttt M.I.A, it's all about Santigold brav!' This intelligent conversation is usually capped off with me depicting how M.I.A's (who i just found out is 35!) style seems a little forced. For example the way she talks and dresses can appear to be exaggerated and O.T.T at times. The Asian sensation does however, get much respect for her Fine Arts degree at St. Martins and her continual stanning of Nas over Jay despite working often with Jay. She knows her Hip Hop history as well as that important fact. The two (Santi and MIA) are apparently good friends though and there's no doubt about it, they are both unique characters in a saturated copy-cat industry, so it's all good.

Speaking of Jay-Z, I have a friend who's a great fan. Loved 'Reasonable Doubt'. Supported most Jay albums, even the ones he admitted lacked quality. Was pleasantly surprised at 'American Gangster.' You could say he fiends for the lyrical monster to come out in Jay every once in a while like i do with Nas. Bearing all that in mind, his usual bias opinion towards Jay told me the Blueprint 3 was straight turd. J.Cole spit a hot verse but other than that, it was a return to the sucky freestyle nonsensical Jay with a horrible flow and lyrics to match. But that tangent is for another day.
What my good man did state though, was that there was a supremely hot beat from Bp3 on the track 'Brooklyn We Go Hard.' My instant response was to ask if the track was backed by a reggae-ish sound and a woman shouting 'Brooklyn we go hard.' He said yes, and well......we have another Santigold fan.
'Shove It' -

Ha ha, it's sad how, although it's easy to rock out to the hollering of 'Brooklyn we go hard', my favourite part to the song is the 'We think you're a joke, shove your hope, where it don't shine!' chorus. I can just imagine myself today saying 'We think you're a joke' just as she does in that childish voice, to a bunch of losers I know. Or as a kid with a red lolly in my mouth and my lips and cheeks smeared with red as a result, saying that to a rival kiddie crew. Listen to that part of the song and you'll probably still not understand, but then, maybe you will.

Working frequently with Diplo, a guy who up until an eye-opening night in Leytonstone Tescos, I didn't know the name of, it's no surprise much of Santigolds music has a dubstep/club music type feel.
The majority of her tracks have me zoned out and her music sounds as though it should be played in a movie. Possible when someone is in a trance-like state, stumbling around ready to faint or die whilst people and cars rush past them. I've begun to do this recently. That is, make film scenes in my head, inspired by tracks I hear, especially on my walk to and from the gym. The current idea is a London 90's type film set in East and backed by a soundtrack of Klashnekoff 'Zero,' but more on that another day. 'Starstruck' would be used for a sports type scene. Maybe Boxing or Athletics, whereby it's a grudge match or final. The opening hard Bass line beats would be perfect for a Boxer entrance or a Maurice Greene swagger on to the track whilst simultaneously staring down his nearest opponent.

All these reggae beats and electro vibes I spoke of to begin with that Santi utilises maintain that all of her music sounds different. Pop music at it's finest, she creates catchy songs that anyone can vibe out to in a club or wherever they happen to wanna vibe out at.
Swagger, is not a word I like. Moreover it's not a word I would apply to many, especially in London '10 whereby the word has become over-used to the point of extinction (I hope soon). Though I would gladly apply this word to Santigold. She represents the swag that only a female can embody. Yeah males are usually seen as 'cooler' but when females are unique and 'cool,' by GOD they're 'cool'! Santi can switch up outfits and styles to suit her mood. People like this, not the trend hoppers and followers of today, should gain the respect of all in regards to style and how they carry themselves. People like her and Janelle Monae are paving the way for girls right now. These are the real innovators, the people you copy.

I heard so from an insider that she outshone M.I.A and others when she supported her at Manchester in 2009. One way to tell if someone's really talented is to see them live. Drake proved that on Jay Leno and Santigold is proving that, with these performances, she's as talented as she is creative. Should be hearing big things, if not, atleast dope things from her in future. Join the movement...

Props to Kelly from the Madbury family for puttin' me on.

Peace.

Feelin' iFFY...

2010-08-04T09:52:00.023+01:00

I stumbled across an iFFy (formerly known as feRRis Lo) song accidentally late last year and have been bumping it ever since. It only occurred to me a few months back that I should probably try and look in to his music to see wasup. He seemed to fit the kind of 'alternative music' trend my ears have been taken to of late. Here's the track that had me hooked. You may recognise the dope beat from the N.E.R.D song 'Thrasher' of 'Fly or Die.' Pharrell and the team ripped that joint but iFFy more than does it justice. Hint, bump it loud for full effect.
iFFy - 'Feelin' iFFy'

N.E.R.D - 'Thrasher'

iFFy has been making waves for some time now through his work with Vans and the singles he drops every now and then. Putting out freestyles here and there has made sure his fans stay hooked right at the point of deserting him. My bad on the throwing of links at you, but I just downloaded this joint right here that proves his versatility and overall illness reaches far beyond just rhyming and hot beats. He can sing too, and make songs with substance that everyone can relate to...
iFFy - 'It's Not Meant To Be'

So while I was away travelling I got wind of the album 'Songs of Love and Madness' that iF finally got around to releasing. Listening to it now, it has got some nice cuts, though you'd be wrong to expect the entire album to sound like that 'Feelin' iFFy' track. On first listen, it sounds like good background music for chillin' and working. There's definitely some nice beats on there such as the '1+1=2' piano loop. I think I'm right in saying he produced everything himself on this album. That seems to be the way a lot of up and coming artists are going nowdays, no surprise really, shit is cheap! However, his producing skills are equal to his rhyme skills and no one would know the skills of a 'big name' producer haven't been acquired. iF makes use of some nice samples, peep the 'Fifth Dimension' Sunshine and Reakwon beat in particular.

I'll revisit this after i've had a thorough listen but overall right now, I'm diggin' this. Most def worth a download, especially when it was released for free in the name of good music and your listening pleasure.

DOWNLOAD

Peace, peep the post to follow this one.

EVERYBODY'S CRAZY...

2010-07-31T09:45:00.015+01:00

ODB (The only crazy that's acceptable)

Seems that some real strange goings-on have been occurring of late. The Hip Hop world and the world in general for that matter, just seems to be going crazy. Wyclef could be running for President of Haiti, Jay-Z thinks he's cracked the triple entendre, Drake has no concept of the English language, Nas reads to many books and that 'Wocka Floka wtf was I thinking' guy says there are too many dictionary rappers in the atmosphere.

I heard through the grape vinery that Wyclef may be running for President of Haiti. Say what!? Why in the hell would he think he could do that. Is he that obnoxious to think he, a popstar with fame and fortune, could have the answer to Haiti's problems?
Everyone can be a politician from the comfort of home, yes Bush was a dummy and Tony Blair made mistakes. But to actually get up and give it a go for yourself, as a complete novice, in a country as torn apart as Haiti....boy that one's on you. What's that I hear you say? 'The Terminator' is currently Mayor of C.A. Yes he is. Yes he has a University degree, unlike Wyclef, but that doesn't really matter, don't bring me that crap coz Cali's fucked up right now anyway! However, Clef is clearly passionate about his homeland, in a recent Daily Mirror interview he stated:

"Haiti still needs our help -- more than ever. People around
the world made lots of promises, and we want those promises to be kept.
My wife Claudinette and I are passionate about rebuilding Haiti. We've seen the situation with our own eyes, and we've been listening to others.

Rebuilding has been delayed by land disputes, bureaucratic roadblocks, customs problems, differences of opinion about strategy and even delays in getting the actual pledged money to Haiti. I'm a warrior and can't stand by quietly while promises aren't kept. I won't ever surrender."

Fair enough, but he was also quoted as saying, "N G O s. Alone will not Rebuild Haiti, We need Business and Private investment." Right....so turning Haiti in to a money hungry capitalist machine whereby every banker and investor fights for himself will surely turn things around. Coz I mean, it's not like those same attitudes weren't what sucked America and the rest of the western world in to this black hole of a depression.

- Jay's triple entendre woes.

In all honesty, I don't have to speak much on this topic. Google it for yourself and you'll quickly see the slight embarrassment Jigga managed to bring upon himself. Infact, let me provide you with some linkage,
http://blog.grownmantv.com/2010/06/04/jay-zs-triple-entendre-explained-from-drakes-light-up/
http://smokingsection.uproxx.com/TSS/2010/06/jay-zs-triple-entendre

Here's the line from Drake's 'Light It Up,' that had literary 'in-the-know' folks scratching their heads and then chuckling:
“OWww, hoes turn they heads like, OWls/I’m the man of the hOur/Triple entendre, don’t even ask me hOW”

Hmmm, words that sound the same but differ in meaning....isn't that a homophone?
As opposed to a single phrase being understood in 3 different ways e.g a double or triple entendre.
But in the words of my good friend Demitri on the state side of things, 'Damn you'd think the nigga was rappin' in binary the way ya'll try to decipher some of his shit.' It's true! I may just have to dedicate a whole post to the Jay-Z stans that view Bp3 as his best effort, or at least close to. It seems they lost the meaning of intelligent rap somewhere between the words witty and pun. Fail of epic proportions Shawn, but what do you care when you earn more dead presidents than most have ever even seen.

- Drakes lack of understanding summed up below...

- 50, 'you had a spark when you started but now you're just garbage.'

'Nas is a really smart guy. He reads books constantly. We were around him on the Nastradamus tour. He was almost weirder than me ’cause we would go to breakfast and he’d be there reading a book....He’s feeding you too much information in the music and they don’t actually want it. He’s like a teacher.' - 50 cent

That XXL quote may be a little old, but it shows the direction I'm going in here. It's funny what he's saying (50) coz, most of Nas' fans will tell you that he actually dumbed it down a lot post 'It Was Written' and possibly 'Stillmatic.' If anything 50 should of spoken on how Nas used to kick wisdom through metaphorical and abstract methods. Since all he does know is straight forwardly say what he wants to get across. I like the Distant Relative album, but it's a perfect example of how Nasir now feels he has to talk blunt and direct in order to make people understand. The 90's Nas would never have released a song, or maybe dropped a line, like 'Africa Must Wake Up.' No, if he was going to do something like that he would have flipped it in an obscure metaphor or with some other poetic technique or concept, much like Lupe does today. So in once sense, 50's almost right. But he needs to fuck outta here with that crap about reading too much.

- Woka

'People don't wanna hear that dictionary rap..." says southern rapper Wocka Floka Flame in a recent interview.'

Prince Ea already roasted him on this one so I don't have much to say. Hip Hop was always all about intelligent, lyrically motivated songs with real cultural and sociological substance behind them. But, it was also about 'feel good' party music. There's a time and place for club music that this sorry excuse for an emcee (Flocka) clearly can't comprehend. Some people just don't want to try and recreate the club scene with it's gimmicky, repetitive dance hooks and phrases (perfectly suitable for the club), in the comfort of their own home or whilst driving.

Check out that Prince Ea video and expect some reverberations of that Jay-Z topic in posts to come.
I challenge you to put aside a couple of hours in search of new music from your favourite genre. Delve in to the blogosphere and various forums, it's easy to get sucked in onces you get going and one link leads to the next. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the talent you never heard about before but would always have loved. Please don't just sit there and let MTV and the likes tell you what you should be listening to.

(It's bad that I continue relate post titles and meaning to Nas songs, go figure).

Peace

L-BOOGIE...

2010-07-30T21:31:00.016+01:00

I feel I should probably speak on that newly released Lauryn Hill song that dropped this Monday just gone. If only for the reasons stated in the post below.

Now no one's really sure if this is a new track from Lauryn, or just one that was previously unreleased. From the whole 'Miseducation'-era type vibe I'm getting from it, it seems like the later maybe be true. However for music's sake lets hope not. Lauryn is on somewhat of a comeback this year after a God knows how long hiatus from the game, only popping by to stick her head around the corner every now and then. She's performing at the Rock the Bells concerts and rumours are circulating of a possible forthcoming album.
Yes Ms. Hill went a little psycho with the make-up in more recently released images of herself. She better resembled a clown than the undisputed Hip Hop Queen emcee that we all know and love. However I don't believe it true for one minute that she had the psychological issues suggested. Just because someone chooses to relieve them self of the spotlight, does that make them crazy. Dave Chappelle's running away to Africa and then coming back to explain on 'Inside The Actor's Studio' is probably the best example out there.
Anywho, after robbing us of more sure-to-be classic material post-'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,' lets hope she's back to stay. This track is dope.

Lauryn Hill - Repercussions

IT BOTHERS ME / YOU'RE LATE....

2010-07-30T20:51:00.013+01:00

For some reason, it really bugs me when people are late on all things music. Unless it's one of those odd times that you sleep on an artist or you purposefully avoid them because their whole aura just seems wack, there's no excuse. If you're passionate about music, which I'm sure you claim to be, why shouldn't you know who say, J.Cole is?

What's even more annoying is when I persistently tell someone to listen to a certain artist, yet they still let him slip on by. In fact, that's not actually the most annoying part in this whole, repetitive predicament. What's even more annoying, is when that same person, a year or two later comes along, be it on their facebook status or just in life generally, and hollers that artist or group's name from the rooftops. First and foremost let me say this, YOU'RE LATE.

Secondly, let me make a little comment about why you're an idiot for being late. This music thing (in my case Hip Hop, but any other genre as well) is a movement, culture and passion. It's lame to be late, and even lamer to be late when you've missed out on one of the best artists in the game right now. When i know you're someone that gets excited over gimmicky music, re-cycled beats and an auto-tune voice changer (T-pain bullshit), don't come at me stating that, ' You know what, this blu (or J.cole or any other dope new artist) guy is pretty good, much better than Drake or Lil Wayne, or gucci man or wocka flocka wtf kinda name is this.'
YES, this is what i told you....*configures numbers in head*....645764547468065 years ago!
Is it any coincidence the rappers you stated my guy to be better than have a fan base that consists solely 12 year old girls?
Is it also any coincidence that you're favourite artist most likely sounds horrible live?

Thirdly, at least give the music it's respect. If you claim to love music so much, how come you know nothing of the up and coling artists or albums to be released? How come you spew out false facts on your status', bbm's and facebook walls? No that wasn't his first album, it wasn't even his first mixtape, he hasn't even released an album yet you retard. What's some of the mixtapes are see you bumping are fan made, people on forums put those compilations together, it's not even an official mix.

Step it up people. I make a point of not just sitting here posting new music, there's plenty of other blogs you can go to for that. Blogs that are more exclusive and have industry connects which gains them access to leaked music. I'd rather actually give more detailed facts and opinion, journalism. Don't make me have to revert to those ways i just mentioned in order to keep your slow asses up- to-date. Lauryn dropped a nice new little tune a couple of days back, expect me to talk on that in a day or two.

'If i don't like it I don't like it, it don't mean that i'm hatin'.' - Common 'Sixth Sense'

TO ADD TO THAT...

2010-07-30T17:39:00.012+01:00

I wasted my opportunity to take a ton of photos on the subject of football in Rio De Janeiro. Everywhere I went on a bus or in a taxi, I spotted perfect examples of small street football courts and promised myself I would venture back to find. This pathetic excuse of inauthentic imagery you're about see will tell you that I never got around to doing that.
But, in continuation of the last post, hopefully these photos go some way to explaining what I tried to in my eventual conclusion.
When courts and tiny homemade goals like those below are being played on across the globe.....

....is it any wonder these kids grow up to dominate when what they have to aim at, eventually becomes this...

I witnessed small homemade wooden goal frames (like the ones seen in picture 2) all over South America. Perhaps it's time we think about bringing them to the UK.

THE U19 EUROPEAN CHAMPS....

2010-07-29T13:37:00.021+01:00

First of all let me begin by revealing how annoyed at myself i am. I was rather oblivious to the start of this tournament and as a result have missed most of the games up to this point. The last U19 Euro's and youth World Cups all held me captivated not only as great matches ensued, but as the stars of the future exposed their talents and - perhaps more in importantly in this day and age of consumerism - names to the world.

Before i go on, let me quickly mention that if you missed Calvente's penalty against Italy, do yourself a favour and give this piece of genius and confidence the attention it deserves.

Now then, England. England, England, England.
This post comes as a response to my homelands well deserved 3-1 loss against a silky smooth Spanish side.
Yes the year group competing in this years competition is actually my own. I know a few of the players in the team on a local level. Therefore i also know that this group of players is, to be blunt, nothing special. It's years like these that make me rue the fact that I quit the beautiful game. I was a technical player who literally grew up with a ball at his feet. Alas, i lost confidence at a crucial age so I have no one to blame but myself really. What can i say, maybe i should have attended a continental academy such as Lille or various other Spanish and French centers because it seems that, to grow up in England as a technician of the game, is virtually impossible.

Anyway this isn't about me. This is about England's lack of ability to produce a quality team and great players. I was one of the loudest voices post-World Cup in suggesting that there are fundamental problems in England's coaching and academy system. Problems that are halting the Junior, and more importantly Senior teams from lifting the World Cup once again. The 'get your foot in' and 'long ball culture' that has become ingrained in England's attitude towards the game is really beginning to expose us as a talentless nation. Especially i hasten to add, in a day and age when the speed of the game has increased to a rapid rate. The one touch football, quick feet and speedy counter-attacking school of thought perfected by Barcelona, seems to be the general direction the game is heading in. After all, it is the superior tactic, be it a tactic that requires much technical ability and intelligence. Slower less skillful teams and Nations are being left behind, unable to compare when it comes to actually getting the ball down and playing. Speed and strength will never out-do creativity, intelligence and skill. Skill that can only be learnt from playing the game at a very early age, all day everyday.

To relate back to the title and theme of this post, Spain's U19's really gave England's team of the same age a masterclass in how the beautiful game should be played. What's more, the second goal scored was a good shout for one of the best goals witnessed this year. This being a World Cup year, that's saying a lot.

The inspiration for me to make this post came in the form of a quote from The Guardian Newspaper's website. Perfectly depicting the game and England's lack of 'game' in general, Owen Scrivens had this to say:

"All game I've just been thinking that the English have picked a squad
of athletes and roughly organised them into a football team. In comparison
the Spanish are not especially big, strong or fast, but they look like they
have been playing football all their lives. In fact this sums up the problems
in the English league's youth systems, scouts favour pace, strength and organisation
flair and technique."

Re-read that quote, but this time bear in mind that English press actually hyped this team up as a possible surprise bet to redeem the efforts of the Senior team earlier this Summer. Ridiculous.

I grew up playing alongside a young man named Anthony Edgar. I say that not as a name drop, but to give credibility to what i'm about to say. Anthony is in the West Ham Reserve team. For a skinny short kid, that's further than most his size could ever achieve in the English system, even if they do happen to be cousin to Tottenham player and England International, Jermaine Defoe.
From the age of 6/7 it was already clear that Anthony was ahead of the game. He could do more kick-ups than any other kid his age and dribble past a whole team with ease. It seemed as if he could do no wrong.
I actually recall one time as 7 year olds we were 5-0 down at half time. Anthony arrived late, came straight on in the second half and banged 5 goals in one after the other. He quickly drew the attention of West Ham who snapped him up that same year. Having the pleasure of playing against him years down the line at various school matches and trials for England's youth team, i was able to witness the progression in him as a player. Not standing for his greed on the ball, West Ham forced him to pass or face not playing. Eventually, he managed to evolve in to one of the best passers of the ball i've ever seen. His game had matured. At 16 he was looking like a young Fabregas with vision surpassing any other of his age.

What I'm trying to get at here is, why the hell is our National team not packed with players like Ant? As opposed to these fumbling idiots who look like they've only been playing the game a few years, if that. Any decent footballer can tell how experienced another man is with the game within seconds of seeing him play. The majority of the current England U19 squad control the ball with a hesitation and uncomfortable nature that betrays their lack of playing years. The elite players; the Ronaldo's, Messi's and Zidane's all had a ball at their feet virtually since they could stand on their own two, and it shows. Rarely, if ever, will you see a Spanish or Brasilian player tripping over the ball or getting caught in possession with the ball trapped under his feet. Their technique and touch is such that they create time and space for themselves through their fundamentals.

The solution. Well in my opinion that comes in the form of culture and training. Watching a few of the World Cup matches with my friend's 'typically English' family, it's easy to see that the English attitude of calls to 'hoof it!' or 'kick it keeper!' need to change. In England the 7 a-side game is played until the age of 11 at which point the youngsters move to the standard 11 a-side pitch. This needs to change. In most continental and Latin countries football is played in the streets on small 2 a-side goals, and in the school and club systems 7 a-side is played until the ages of 16 in some cases. This teaches quick feet and short passing in a small confined spaces with limited time availability. This system and culture aids in greatly advancing a player's technical ability.
Football needs to be played more widely on a street, local level. Everywhere i went in Brasil, the nation was obssessed with fiddling around with a ball at their feet. If we could turn football in to a city game like basketball is in the States, increasing the number of PowerLeague and other specialised football courts dotted around, then we're in business. A culture of street football will, eventually, breed a culture of fast paced technical players. This, i think is the solution, not their hair brained government schemes, constantly given air time on the BBC, about increasing competition in school sports. That can and most likely will, work for sports such as Athletics. Increased inter-school competition and school pride out on the track will give birth to more interest in track events. The proof there is in Jamaica. Though with a sport so culture orientated as Football whereby, the best teams are more likely club teams than school, increasing competition in school will do little to increase quality outside of school.

That's just my humble piece of opinion on the quality and nature of football being played in England at the moment. I may have to come back and add to this ramble as and when i see fit.

Feel free to comment about anything football related.

GIBBS!

2010-07-29T12:47:00.004+01:00

It has to be said, artists such as Blu, J.cole and Lupe were the newcomes who really wet my Hip Hop-attuned taste buds last decade in terms of musicianship and straight lyrics. Though it was Freddie Gibbs at the end of the 00's that got me most excited for reasons i'm about to explain.
In this current age of watered down Hip Hop, recycled beats and the emergence of college rappers, a firm 90's head like me needs some hard beats, street talk and dope lyrics every now and then.
When trying to fulfil this daily quota of aggression or at least street politics, i turn to Freddie Gibbs.

Call me a dreamer but i hope the day comes when Freddie really blows up and gives the industry a piece of his mind. I wouldn't blame him for doing so, but he seems like the kind of character that will never switch up his style in the name of making paper like say B.O.B has done to great effect.

The reason i made this post on our guy in Gary (since i already made a post on him) is to showcase his latest video and his new EP.
The HD camera is lookin' so fresh and the concept is ill. Not to mention the beat is too hard and his slow lethargic flow is just off the hook.

Download the EP HERE.

THE FATHERLAND

2010-07-21T19:15:00.006+01:00

So an arrangement was rather hastily made for me to go visit the pops in North Africa. Tunisia to be precise. This all happened rather quickly so give me a little time to formulate some post material and in a few days info on the local peoples and customs should be vast. My camera decided to tag along for the journey so expect masses of visuals. I'm here for a Month so the experience should be dope.

To be continued....

O BRASIL

2010-07-17T19:31:00.006+01:00

My love for the beautiful country of Brasil has become unwavering over the past year or so. What was originally a casual interest in the nation from the early days of my youth involved in football and watching the cult classic 'Ciadade De Deus' (The City of God), has developed in to a blossoming relationship. Maybe i'm personifying the country a little too much but if anything, that should display my compassion for the land that columbus called a 'paradise' when he first ventured there.

Without travelling there yourself it's hard to imagine and to put across just how idyllic this land appears to me. Sure it does have vast amounts of people living below the poverty line and possible inclinations of racism in the upper eshelons of politics. But show me a nation more racially harmonious than Brasil and i'll eat my 100% cotton white tee right this moment!
I would delve in to the ins 'n' outs of why Brasilians are so at one with themselves and eachother racially, but i don't want to bore you to death (i'm sure one day i will venture in to such a topic, be prepared for a full 5 page spread!) All reasons date back to slavery and the interracial breeding that was encouraged between the Portuguese, Indeginous natives and of course the African slaves. Throw in some huge migration from the Japanese and few other nations and what do you have....beautiful women, AND.....the best culture and society you could possibly hope to be raised in.

To be quite frank, i've just this moment decided to do a Brasil special. This was a post originally intended to be about Brasilian football so i could showcase one of my favourite docs ever produced on the subject of the beautiful game. So therefore i'll just wrap this up real quick and get to providing the link. Anyone with even a vague passing interest in the game make sure you peep the video at the bottom of this post.

I actually made something on this documentary a few years back in high school, here's the intro i wrote (covering my ass incase what you're about to read sounds copy n pasted or just overall wack):

Coming from the makers of the 'City of God' and the 'City of Men', ginga provides an in depth look in to the the lives of various Brasilian youngsters all of whom have differing dreams that include the same means, 'futebol.'
The doc is a refreshing look at the lives of rich and poor. Many sports and activities claim to break racial and social barriers, however over the years such caims have been exposed not to be true. Class divides are prevalant in cities all over the world. Yet within Brasil, and 'Ginga', there does seem to be a genuine bond and common goal between the rich and the poor alike. Paulo, one of the wealthier characters lights up the camaera not only through his skills with a football but also through his passion for life. A passion that is shared by Romarinho who, despite living in squaler conditions within the notorious Rio favela Rocinha, seems perfectly happy so long as he is able to play the beautiful game. I visited Rocinha early this year and i have to say it was one of the best experiences of my life. The people were ultra friendly compared to those met on the Copacabana strip or any other heavily tourist populated/wealthy area. More to come on this story in the next part of this Brasil series.

Overall a great doc that any football fan, Brasil fanatic, or simply anyone with an hour to spare, should watch!

This doc has an absolutely bangin' soundtrack, expect more on that and other Brasilian music in following parts to this series.

Much props goes to Catherine for some of these images, oops! I didn't ask but i'm sure she won't mind as long as drop a link to her blog.
http://www.caterpillarpen.blogspot.com/

Peace.

CURREN$Y

2010-07-14T00:56:00.005+01:00

This one should be interesting. Rarely do i choose to write about any emcee before I've actually shoved his tape in the deck. It's an even rarer occurrence for me to do so without hearing any previous work be it even a snippet. I've become excited to the point of picking up a pen in the middle of the night and writing my opinion on debuts such as Fashawn's 'Boy Meets World,' but that was a always a spur of the moment, 'Damn this kids good!' type thing.

No, the reasoning for this latest post is quite simply the hype. Yes Flav told us not to believe in any such business, but Hip Hop heads across the globe have been banging on about this kid for a while. I've been aware of the hype over this guy on the blogosphere for a long time now but always seemed to avoid videos and links much the same as i am currently do with Theophilus London (he's frickin everywhere!). Underground heads have a rep for amping new comers that don't deserve the attention. Yet for any of you who know of a hardcore head or are one yourselves, you'll also know that we are notoriously hard headed. We're a close-knit community and we like it that way. We stick to our tried and trusted artists and only allow others in, upon the recommendation of tried and trusted friends, or through that odd night in the month when you scoure the net in search of an obscure dope emcee.(Don't you just hate it when that friend that always thinks he has your style of music taste down, attempts to recommend wack ass songs to you!? Overloading your inbox or 'wall' with links.) So yes, only with a recommendation from someone that keeps as high a standard as I, when it comes to this Hip Hop ish, did i sit up and pay attention. His exact words were 'Are you serious?..Everything this kids touches is dope!' And from a Hip Hop nerd who views Illmatic on par with words from God himself....that's about as good a 'put on' you're gonna get.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned before but yes, I am an avid Nas and 90's Hip Hop fan. I made some mistakes in the past of limiting myself to only that east coat hardcore,dry style of rap. I no longer expect every emcee to sound like Nas, Az, Mobb Deep and the likes. However i do expect a similar level of skill, wittiness, depth and substance. I loved 90's beats, soul samples were my jam, were THEE jam! But I've realised times are changing, getting creative with it can be a great thing, yet i still believe heading too far in the other direction is what led to auto-tune and the electro/techno type production we are seeing all over the gaff today. Don't even get me started on certain Kanye and Usher (recent) songs. I think I'll always have love for emcees that spit as if telling it from their project window. I can handle gangster rap, i can stand braggado in songs (also known as, the ability to listen to any given Jay-Z album) and i can just about take the odd obnoxious statement here and there. But what i dam near can't stand is an emcee who acts too involved. It's a well known fact that real gansgters/hustlers don't rap. They don't have the time to. Yes some insiders knowledge and perspective is good (see the Clipse,) though, you spending the best part of a 4 minute song trying to convince me you're the undiscovered Pablo Esobar just aint gon cut it. No, me, I much prefer the intellectual approach of depicting the sociological, economic and street politics that take place in the area at hand. Taking it back to Illmatic, Nas does this with such ease. Almost without meaning to he makes social statements in quick snap phrases or with few words such as 'black rats trapped,' this short but elegant metaphor perfectly depicts the predicament of the African American population residing in Queensbridge and greater America.

Moving hastily on before i go off like Charles Dickens on a tangent. I could give you a nice little piece of background information on our man in question here, but as i said above, i no nothing, so lets get on. The first track hit me with a little surprise. The heavily synthesized sounds, baseline and strings gave the essence of a comeback track, an intro to a comeback 'fuck the world' type album. Curren$y enters the track with an abstract approach similar to that of Mos Def, listing words and thoughts sporadically. The track eventually gains more direction and if this was a sign of things to come, it was definitely a good one.
Listening to this album for roughly the 3rd time, as i type i am again pleasantly surprised, this time at the sugary smooth vibe to Curren$y. He manages to encapsulate that west coast flow whilst remaining true to his section (ok so i know a little, he's from the south!)
'Chilled Coughee' and the recruiting of Devin the Dude only serves to add to the smoothness and laid back feel to the album thus far. As well as being good background music Curren$y proves that he can capture our attention with good humour and funky beats that would feel at home on any Outkast lp.

This kid can seriously mix things up. We've all had our fair share of shots at the South somewhat unfairly in most cases. But what is totally undeniable (i just won't stand for anyone who thinks otherwise,) is the knack our peoples down there have of producing some of the hottest, catchiest beats ever to bless the pinewood of my speakers and the fibre in those ridiculously over-priced headphones we all seem to wanna rock. Growing up in E11 to E5 LON (that's basically East London for those that aint hip to it,) steel pans have been an ever present sound. Notting Hill carnival and the abundance of Caribbean peoples in Hackney and Brixton made these instruments literally impossible to miss. My own sister can even bang on them there pans pretty good. Therefore when a beat like the one on 'Audio Dope II' drops, I can't help but bang my head in appreciation for the producers effort. The perfect soundtrack to some sort of Caribbean street scene, one word, Gully. So gully he even takes a shot at one of the greats since he's 'Came a long way but i don't got time to be, sittin' at the dock of the bay'...dope. I was kidding with the 'shot' thing though. Peep the shout out to Hines Gregory also.

'Audio Dope II' -

The track 'Seat ft Snoop Dogg' does bring light to a weakness evident in a few other tracks. That being that Curren$y's flow is lacking on occasion, i know the track is fairly laid back and slow yet a better emcee may take that chance to produce something much smoother and poetic. A broken up flow can be a technique, well if it is, it's not one i like all too much. The rhythm of songs should not be sacrificed unless for the most exceptional of all lyrics. After all, this is music and we are talking songs.

However lyrics are what we are blessed with on the track named 'Breakfast featuring Mossy Mos's vocals and production (not even worth a 'feat.' really.) I don't like to give away too much on lyrics. There's no point in me breaking them down when an album has just been released. That's for you to do and for us to discuss later. I think we all agree things are more satisfying when achieved through our own minds. I'll come back to this one with a breakdown and points to raise. However it is this track that seems to be catching most attention in Hip Hop circles and forums across the web. What we have here are some beautiful horns, laced over an exquisite flow that not only enlightens us on Curren$y's views towards certain aspects of the industry but provides some witty lines in the manner of good 'ole braggado rap.

As i mentioned previously this album does well as background music though i can't see it getting massive amounts of replay from yours truly. A consistent laid back vibe is continued throughout the album with 'Skybourne' and 'Hangover' however one wouldn't be to wrong to state tracks like these are the 'fillers' that every album seems to be packing nowadays. Also instantly noticeable is the featuring artists on 8 of 13 tracks. Being very much a fan of artists performing solo the majority of their album, after all it is their album, it's hard to approve of this. I hate to stan on Nas even more but to me, he did it perfectly with Illmatic. If you have to have a featuring artist make sure he/she is something spectacular. Bring something new to the table. Too many today, feature artists in order to promote their album. Notice how everyone wants to be on a track with Drake at the moment? Is that because Drake has an astounding voice and lyrics Rakim himself couldn't write? I highly, yes highly, doubt it. Don't allow me to portray Nas as some Godsend though, he's done it too on later albums (Wayne stepped it up on Distant Relative though!) That being said, the featuring artists don't overshadow Curren$y in anyway. Nor do they change the atmosphere and vibe of an album that isn't theirs to do so.
I would have been pleased to see only the two artists featuring in the last song. Jay Elec just reminded me of why i have become the biggest advocator of his music this side of the pond. That being his flow is just too ridiculous. I can't get enough of it, and you know when it's about to go off too! He has this way of of carrying sentences further than they're supposed to go if you catch my drift. The proper literary technique for those that care is 'enjabment' (said with a french accent, en-JARRB-ment). The bar is coming to an end, his breath is too, yet he manages to ride it over to the next bar with a smoothness of gab that can only come when short of breath. Words just roll of this guys tongue, and we aren't even getting started on his disgustingly ill lyics, neither are we going to.

This is a ill effort from $y (we're calling him that from now on to give my fingers a rest). The only thing that concerns me is; as ever has been the case in Hip Hop, a first album is more often than not an emcees greatest attempt. It's when he's at his rawest and most passionate. Fresh ideas are flowing and he brings something new to the game. Therefore with this album falling on the 3.5 to 4 mic scale of things in my eyes, are we likely to witness $y improve in albums to come? I sure hope so. Lesser rappers have proved it possible, so let's just kick back and enjoy this joint in anticipation for what $y produces in the future.

Did i mention his obsession with weed?
Or the overly nang (gotta bust the London words from time to time) album artwork by David Barnett that i have just witnessed in the booklet? Go cop.

THE DREAM IS OVER...

2010-07-12T12:05:00.004+01:00

I was almost fighting back the tears last night when the realisation began to hit me...
The World Cup was coming to an end. Yes, as many have been stating already in newspapers, blogs and digital magazines, it hasn't been the best World Cup ever, infact it hasn't even come close. South Africa put on a great show, provided a great atmosphere (despite the sometimes annoying vuvuzelas), I just feel slight disappointment that the players couldn't provide the world and South Africa the entertainment and quality they deserved.
The tournament has always held a special place in my heart and never ceases to fill me with nostalgia every 4 years when it blesses our screens. For me, the greatest show on Earth takes me back to a time when my father was at home and my love for football was unmatched. A time when some of the greatest players ever to touch a ball were in their prime. Ronaldo was re-inventing the meaning of No.9, Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos were tearing it up in their own their own right whilst Zdiane was fast establishing himself as the greatest midfielder of all time. Not to mention the up and coming talents of Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry and a whole host of midfield and forward talents. Watching the 98 World cup with my father and sister is one of my happiest memories although i doubt they know this and would most likely not believe it if i told them.

That was back in the day when i didn't even focus that hard on the games, i would begin watching Italy, Germany, Brazil and quickly become inspired to start kicking my soft, spongy house football around the living room. One thing is for sure i know my mother is pretty glad that phase of my life has passed because an estimate can surely not be made on the number of ornaments and pictures frames i smashed.

The World Cup is what gave me that inspiration and love for the game. However sometimes i ponder over whether it be nostalgia that ties me so much to International football in the 90's. A post i'm about to make in the near future explores the possible implication that nostalgia is what causes everyone to say Hip Hop was better 'back in the day'. Because after all, everything was better back in the day.....wasn't it?

Maybe my excitement as a youth and a faded memory (from those times) as now a young adult deceives me in believing football was so much more magical back in those times. Players and nations seemed to mean so much more. My Father worked abroad a lot, therefore he always brought cultural knowledge and understanding to teams like France, Germany and Italy. He knew of the rivalries, local customs, the way each country liked to play etc..This gave everything so much more substance. I began to become a fan of the beautiful game without caring who was playing. Friends i have today expose this difference in our upbringings and attitudes towards football by immediately switching off once England are eliminated from the tournament. Going in to this tournament, i knew England had little chance of winning, therefore it was somewhat of a relief once they were finally knocked out as i could now focus firmly on enjoying the football that was being played. My mixed heritage as well as my family's and my own expansive travel also allows for a neutral mentality not found in many East London kids. Most have rarely left East London and if they have it will only have been on family holidays to Spain or Booze holidays to Napa, Ibiza, Magaluf, Malia and the likes. Though i fell in love with the artsy, sofisticated arhitecture and set up of cities like Paris, Rome and Barcelone long before the kids of London's art school became fascinated with the art culture in such cities. The image of mediterranean kids playing street football on cobbled, narrow meandering Italian alleys/street was my idea of football heaven. That stereotypical image, with the clotheslines hanging from side to side (yes you know the one i mean) and a 'Mama' shouting from the balcony for her son to come in for dinner or to stop smashing up the neighbours windows...playing in courtyards...ah so much nostalgic imagery. I know there was a car or credit card ad that was set a that kind of setting, dang, if i find it i'll be sure to post it.

So anyway, before i digress you in to a deep sleep (i may have done that already) lets get back to this current World Cup. The Brazilian samba was not in effect, the French and Italians as many predicted, were none existent. So this left the door open for many of the worlds mediocre teams to progress to heights never achieved before or in the case of Uraguay, for many years. Despite most saying the talent of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo didn't turn up on this occasion i have to disagree. Messi created numerous chances for himself and others, sure he wasn't completely on top of his game but he still entertained me. As for Ronaldo, I'm the first to say straight up i don't like the man, he dives, he asks for others to be carded and has an over inflated image of himself and his role in any team. However, on this occasion i do feel he was hard done by. Trapped inside a team thats only real concern was protecting their goal, Ronaldo found no help when attacking and was stuck with a coach intent on defending to win games. This tactic was successful in getting them out of the groups, however it became obvious when the time came to play a really good team such as Spain, they would faulter.

Rooney, is overrated anyway so i have nothing to say there.

No there were no real stand-out players (if my opinion were more respected Iniesta would certainly be up there, but alas....) But there was a selection of good players who made this World Cup enjoyable. They include; Forlan, Iniesta and Xavi, Suarez, Klose, Oezil, Mueller to name a few.
Germany certainly played exciting football (for a change,) shedding their ever present tag shared with the Italians of most defensive boring teams ever! They played efficent football, almost one touch play up the pitch to a one touch finish. This style contrasted patient style of Spain who preferred, sometimes to their detrement, to wait for the perfect opening to be exposed. Nobody really backed Germany during the run-up to this World Cup, classified as too young and inexperienced people should have known better, that a German team will always come with organisation and committment (unlike a certain England team i know.) After the group stages everyone was questioning whether Germany could take this emphatic style to a higher seeded team. They answered back with a resounding yes, they certainly could. Exposing the weaknesses in Argentina's defense and simply making England look like school boys.

However even from Spain's first match loss to Switzerland, it became clear in my mind that they could go the whole way if they could just find more attacking prowess up front.
They pass the ball better than any other team i've seen with the exception of Barcelona who, for those that don't know, contain most of the spanish internationals anyway. Xavi and Inesta is the best midfield partnership possibly ever witnessed, Allen Hansen will back me up on that one. Iniesta can sometimes be said to be the Steve Nash of football. He has so much talent when it comes to passing, that's obvious, but what is becoming more and more apparent is his astounding dribbling ability and quickness of feet. Sometimes he could just go it alone and bang in goals galore. Though a few times his hesitation to just go for it has hurt him. A few times in that final game he could have scored had he just been willing to use his left foot or just take one last man on.
Yet after their first game, the media had a ball. Writing Spain off and slating individual players was on the menu for tabloids across the Globe. The media have a knack for doing such things. Though it has to be understood that they do it to sell papers rather than to paint a realistic picture and portray an actual opinion. To exaggerate Spain's faults to reflect the score rather than to touch on their obvious positives was typical. Not surprisingly also, the football pundits and commentators followed suit. Most not wanting to appear stupid by tipping Spain to still go on and win it when they could have infact tumbled out at the group stages.

As for Holland, well, I have a couple of Dutch friends who share probably as much knowledge on football as i do. They agreed that Holland performed badly in all of their games leading up to the final with the exception being the second half against Brazil. Despite their constant praising of Sneijder as the saviour of the Tournament, i think they knew deep down, the dutch weren't on top of their game and for a team to win the world cup without any convincing performances, would be bad for football. Robben was the only player with a spark of creativity about him and i always knew the likes of Van Persie and Van Bommel would resort to typical dirty dutch tactics when faced against Spain. Not being able to get the ball back is one of the most frustrating things that can happen to a footballer, especially one that performs better with the ball at his feet. A team that should have received as many red cards as Holland in that final, do not deserve to win.

The last thing i have to say on the topic of the final is, if Spain had more active Strikers who made more energetic and creative runs we surely would have seen nothing but goals from them. Xavi and Iniesta (Alonso also) can thread a pass through the eye of a needle and see movement that even the replays can't catch so, the possibilities would have been endless. People complained of an anticlimactic final but in all honesty, what do you expect. It's such a tense match, nobody wants to make the mistake of costing their nation the World Cup. The pressure is enormous. But, that being said, i still thoroughly enjoyed the tension of the game and movement of Spain. Thinking back to recent past finals, when have they ever been as good as certain group games. 98 was tainted by Ronaldo's bad health and his teams worry for him. 02 was an easy win for Brazil though i found that tourney real entertaining. 06 was tainted by Italy being crap and Zidane's headbutt (he became even more legendary for that one in my eyes).
Anyone that has played football at a high level would have loved watching the offside line in anticipation for through balls and runs in this particular final. It's what's happening off the ball often that is most riveting. It was definitely a game for the purists if not for the ages.

See you in one of my other homelands in 4 years time.
Brasil, i'm coming baby!

THE BALL DONE GOT DROPPED.

2010-06-26T02:50:00.002+01:00

My bad on the lack of posting recently. I've become rather sidetracked by keeping up with my world cup schedule among a host of other things that have occupied my life recently. Moreover, the arrival of the Madbury Club has held me captivated and taken up all my Internet viewing hours over the past week or so. Phil and the crew deserve massive credit there, never have my eye balls felt so tired and appeared so red, all as a result of these young men taking over near enough every aspect of the game.

So basically, the posting this weekend and coming week will be onwards on upwards. As per usual there was a lack of photo taking during the past few weeks of excursions so we're just going to have to hope my words paint the perfect picture....and, before you tune out for the rest of the week fear not! I'm sure there's some visuals I can find for your viewing please.

Excurions included two art exhibitions, one being my boys end of year exhibition at his Art Uni down in Peckham, Camberwell. The other was an exhibiton of that boy's brother who finished Uni last year. That one was down at the ever interesting Brick Lane, East Side!!! (sorry i couldn't resist.)

I actually did a lot more during those two weeks as well as play football near enough everyday but in all honesty, I've re-visted this post and am writing this in a week or so later than the original post so...i've forgotten most things.
My bad.

Peesh.

(bumping Midnight Marauders)

SAY NO TO MALARIA

2010-06-08T22:44:00.000+01:00

As i mentioned at the beginning of this humble blog, i recently went exploring in what Europeans came to define as South America. This included exposure to all types of undesirable diseases and animals in the wilderness of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. I'm not usually one to get bitten easily but when (pause to appreciate Nas verse on 'Verbal Intercourse' bangin out of the speakers)....but when Malaria is the disease in question, i aint taking no chances. I mean can you blame me, these annoying insects could be carrying all types of nasty diseases.

If one wants to go about avoiding such nastyness then they must part-take in a course of Doxycycline capsules, or Malarone if they were born in to wealth. The newspaper cuttings at my local travel clinic were enough to scare my punkass in to buying a whole bunch of Doxy for my short stint in the jungles of Ecuador. Not to mention the seemingly sweet little nurse who clearly held the belief that it was her job to scare the living Muhammad (lol) out of me. Insistent that the majority of people who travelled to South America, Africa or South East Asia contracted Malaria she appeared to lack a sense of humour and basic social skills.....'what a solemn ass bitch,' were my thoughts. I went back a week before my trip to collect some things and she turned out to be a lot nicer, probably got some.
.

As i was sadly not born in to wealth, i would have to be taking these things for 4 whole weeks after arriving home, something which i proved to suck at doing.

My course started out like most things in life, filled with avid enthusiasm, i became actually excited to take a capsule each evening. However the novelty of swallowing a capsule filled with toxic tasting powder (no innuendo or homo) soon wore off and upon my arrival home I quickly forgot about the whole thing. Though the novelty side effect of strange magical dreams and nightmares definately did not wear off! I just took my last capsule and although I'm glad to be rid of the annoying packages clogging up my beside table for weeks, it just occurred to me the enjoyment throughout the night Doxy has been providing me. Just the other day i had a dream filled with stories of murder and escape. These things have my adrenaline pumping in my sleep as i enact certain stories in my mind. Then comes one of the best parts if the dream happens to be a nightmare, that part right before you wake up, when you realise it's all a dream and you're not actually running from anybody or lost in a strange place. That's the point where you can really enjoy the dream and pay attention to detail. I know I'm sounding real crack-headish right now. However since arriving at a new level of consciousness you become sure that this predicament can not last much longer and you start to awaken, pissed off at yourself for having started to work things out.

I wish i could remember some of the things i dreamt of while away in strange beds and hammocks and whilst in the comfort of my own bed. I'm pretty sure most of the dreams included whatever environment and whoever the people around me were at the time.

I've never had dreams so real and exhilarating. But all i can say is ahh well, because I've come to the end of my relationship with Doxycyline.....it's been fun.

L-BOOGIE AND ATCQ TO PERFORM AT ROCK THE BELLS

2010-06-08T21:24:00.001+01:00

The line-up list below isn't lying folks! You read right, Lauryn Hill is going to be performing at Rock the Bells (yeah that thing i was so close to making last year). She's back from a long, long leave of absence although she has been making some small waves on the underground with various performances here and there. One of those performances being on Def Poetry Jam where she set conspiracy theorists alight with her vicious attack on 'the system.'
Hill is alleged to be performing a set featuring songs from the classic Miseducation of Lauryn Hill among other work including tracks with the Fugees.
Another surprise is the inclusion of A Tribe Called Quest who will be performing their legendary Midnight Marauders, if your not familiar with that album then sorry you're just not familiar with Hip Hop.

Dates: 8/21/10 - Nos Events Centre, San Bernadino, CA
8/22/10 - Shoreline Amphitheatre, San Francisco CA
8/28/10 - Governor's Island, New York NY
8/29/10 - Merriweather Post Pavillion, Washington DC

THE ALCHEMIST

2010-06-08T16:26:00.001+01:00

Not the Alchemist people may have been expecting, thinking of the other one has just given me an idea for a post, soon come.
No the title of this post refers to the book i copped a few posts back along with a promise to come back with some form of a review. Well i finished the book with relative ease, the fact that it has been translated makes for simpler language than Paulo Coelho originally intended. Therefore it's an easy enough read that anyone should be able to get through it in a few days being only 160 somethin' pages.
One of the main criticisms the book receives from online reviews is that it is a failed attempt at a fable-like tale. The setting, characters and nature of the novel all resonate a philosophical, fable, meaning of life type feel. However, Coehlo manages to address some deep topics without sounding too cliché. The book deals with themes such as chasing one's destiny, the universe, dreams and all manner of metaphysical happenings, similar to that shit you might expect in a Rakim lp. The biblical type setting in southern Spain and the deserts of Arabia heighten the sense of mystery and supernatural throughout the book. Yes at times how the morals and goals in the book are presented does appear simple. Though i think those that criticise the author are failing to relate certain aspects of each lesson learnt by our protagonist to their own lives. When reading only at the surface level it is easy to think 'yeah, yeah, chase your dreams, never give up all that crap we're fed by celebrities etc..' However it is the smaller, less obvious quotes and events that prove more insightful. It was most likely these inspirational features of the book that drove Will Smith and many others to bang on about this book so much. It's a simple tale, but it's lessons are timeless and should not be taken for granted.
Our protagonist, Santiago, is someone we can all relate to in that he toils over questions in life familiar to all of us. Love, work and life play center stage in his mind. A shepard from humble beginnings he wants to see the world but his heart becomes curious at the thought of there being more out there for him, a destiny, a treasure.
Ultimately this is an enchanting novel that has developed a mighty following all over the globe.....so why don't you go see what all the fuss is about!

This is not a proper review and although i could unload a million of those 'inspirational quotes' on you, I'm not going to. I would highly recommend checking the book out, although i would also suggest that you check out Will Smith's (youtube) rants on the book as a supplement before you read so you know just what to expect and get out of the book. What's more it's cool to see someone who really took the lessons of the book to heart and applied them to his own life......who are we to say it didn't work for him!

SONS OF CUBA

2010-06-08T00:19:00.002+01:00

Director: Andrew Lang

I've been meaning to write a post about this doc/film for a while now. Ever since i saw the PBS documentary that this feature length film derived from i was pretty sure it would turn out to be a must see.
Cuba has dominated Olympic boxing for well over 20 years now, a fact that is no coincidence. Boxing is to Cuba as football is to Brazil, Boxing rings are to Cuba as Basketball courts are to inner-city America. The country has developed a passion for the sport only equalled by the passion they have for their leader, Fidel 'Commandante' Castro. The success of Cuba's Olympic Boxers is due in part to the fact that professional sports are deemed out the question in the land of socialism. Therefore what, for many Cuban boxers, would be a life of fame and fortune in the United States, turns out to be a life of very modest wealth and pride for ones country in Cuba.
The film follows the lives of three young boys as they train for eight greuling months at the prestigious Havana Boxing Academy in the hope of being selected to compete at Cuba's National U12's Boxing Championships.
The two stand-out characters in the film for me were Cristian (pictured above) a bright eyed kid, clearly the pride and joy of the academy and Santos (second from the left below). Crisitan seems suprisingly mature, despite the tears he conducts himself very sincerely with regard to training and seems to view Boxing as his duty in life as opposed to his passion. Santos is rather the opposite, much smaller than the other children (though with no less the talent) he struggles to keep up with the tough training regime which includes his greatest annoyance, dieting. However, despite such contrasting characters it's easy to see a little bit of us in each of these characters. The work ethic and heart of Cristian and the cheekyness of little Santos. Very early in the film you'll find yourself rooting for the boys already, as they win you over with that childhood charm that seems only to be heightened by them being children of the revolution.

The film deals with a variety of issues that you might come to expect of a film set in a socialist country that deals with abject poverty on a daily basis. Poverty is of course a main theme in regards to each child's family. Even so in the case of Santos and Cristian both of whom share the fact that their fathers were once championship boxers, (Cristian's an olympic gold medalist) this counts for nothing in the present. A present which involves a country's people living from food provided to them by their government. Socialism plays another pivotal role in the film and the young boy's lives. Scenes of propoganda and socialist chants are slightly uneasy. It is left up to the viewer whether the ideals and philosophy being presented to the children are in truth being presented, or forced upon them.
The theme that most stood out to me however was never actually addressed in the film, the theme of race. Cuba's most prominent figures including Fidel Castro and Ernesto 'Che' Guevera, have in the past made some fairly bigotted remarks despite Cuba's huge Mulatto and Black population. As someone with an interest in society and race relations I identified almost instantly that, 99% of, if not all of the young children at the academy, were black. White children were only spotted when the children attended school during the day. This begs the question, are Cuba's black children being led down a path of sports whilst Cuba's lighter population are nudged towards education. After all Che Guevara did make the comment that White people are more 'forward thinking' than their Black peers. This is a little off topic and the film in question is no where near aimed at addressing the subject. Therefore it would be unfair to make judgments based on the small amount of footage that relates to such a topic. Although one thing i will point out is that, (from a coloured perspective, yellow in this case) at points in the film, there does seem to be a certain amount of sidetracking going on. The young black boys (as well as the millions of other black boys all over Cuba) feel as though they are doing what is best for their country. They display such adoration for their leader that at times it seems as though they are being side-tracked from education and other sociological issues within the country. In a way ( i hate to put it like this) like a house slave (slavery days in the U.S, keep up!) conveying love and affection - through blind stupidy - at the master that enslaves them.

Though lets get off that topic as i am in no way comparing Cuba to modern day slavery nor am i suggesting that the boys in the Academy are all black for a reason. Cuba has the best literacy rates in the world. What Castro has done for that country is nothing short of amazing and i sincerely believe that if America and all her bitch ass minions were not enacting this trades embargo on Cuba, it would be one of the strongest economies in the world.
All in all, this is a heart warming, thought-provoking Film that Arthouse fans especially, will love.
At a time when the country is in slight disarray at the future of it's politics and beloved 'Commandante,' Lang manages to focus the plight of 3 young boys trying to do what so many have done before them. Will they make it?

A must see for all fans of; Boxing, Cuba, Latin America, Sociology, Arthouse films
To catch up with where the boys are now (once you've seen the film you will want to be doing this) check www.sonsofcuba.com/blog/

See below for some familiar faces:

MASH RANT.

2010-06-07T17:49:00.000+01:00

So i got a little heated after a visit to Mash Oxford St. American readers you may not completely understand my pain so you may have to take the L on this one but here's a small piece i wrote a while back regarding my views on those who dwell at Mash. Don't take this to negatively though, Mash has got some real peoples.

Boredom = note/rant....Mash

Mash has actually got some nice clothes but the people that work in there are startin to piss me off, actin like some kind of fashion elitists with that 'shit hop' they bang out of their boom boxes and jeans that hug their D's like nobody's business. I don't wanna see the outline of heads pressed up against high tension denim.
I could sit in there all day and laugh at the nobs upstairs who stand there doing their best to look cool as you pass them by to reach the stairs. With their HUGE space boot trainers that look like something Kanye West rocks, that alone says enough.
These guys can feel free to dress and act in such a manner, but why relate it to hip hop? I mean really why? They barely even like the music but they'll sit there and steal all fashion, style and essense from it. To be quite honest if you wanna really take it back, the kids that like hip hop in the first place aint got the money to be dressing like these fruit loops (remember those fruit loop polos though...tasty shit). Therefore the fact that they try and market all these stores and sets of clothing as being geared towards the hip hop generation is a joke.
Askin me 'can i help you,' ' nah man i'm broke' is what they got.
I have two items from mash and lord knows i saved a while for those and was near dead broke after i got em.
Just to paint a quick picture of the guys im talkin about here, they're the type that will buy theee NICEST skateboard, theee NICEST headphones, theee NICEST bike, theee NICEST boom box etc....and they don't even do/use any of that shit!!!!
That just wanna stand there with the whole look as if they can skate. Art students (not you sag) breadin off hip hop culture coz they think it's cool and funky without knowing a damn thing about it.
SMH i felt like testing the two fools upstairs as they proceeded to look down upon everyone who walked through the door. Hip Hop 101 for the lil douche bags.
Sizing you up as you browse the store, (see phonte 'last day/day after,' browsers piss me off too but i wanted to be the perpetrator for a change) checking out your nikes, your lrg geans and your 'only new york' tee. Bitch i wear these nikes coz i like em, not coz im trynna recreate the colourful 80's and pretend like i was in to De La Soul and a Tribe Called Quest!!! (although i was). I wear these jeans coz they're a nice colour and i respect Lrg's movement and intentions not because they hug my balls like they're giving CPR. And (yeah piss off you can start a sentence with 'and' i saw it in 'finding forrester' (good flick by the way go watch) and yeah that was a bracket within a bracket) i wear this tee because i like the style, colour and what it represents. Plus it's from a small company started by a young designer in New York (support small designers! lol) representing real grass roots hip hop.

It's fine though if you wanna wear the same clothes as New Yorkers such as your supreme hats, vans, checkered shirts and listen to your frat boy rappers like asher roth, Wale and all the others that i don't have the heart to know of (B.O.B is progressively becoming involved in this group). Just know that alotta new yorkers wear them clothes for a very different reason to you. Don't ever go laughing at the boy in the saggy white tee, saggy jeans and old pair of plain air forces on, coz he spawned what you're wearing right now......ha ha he basically created you, he fathered your whole style, he owns you. He's probably got more knowledge than you too. Look at the designers and creators of the clothes you wear dirk heads - look at their musical tastes and lifestyles - and find out they weren't made with YOU, in mind.
Asher Roth may be the future of rap music, but he aint the future of hip hop (that culture you keep bitin off).

Session over, boredom expired.

SLEEP.

2010-06-05T01:43:00.005+01:00

You know one of those times when friends have clearly either out-stayed their welcome, or are taking advantage of their welcome just a lil bit too much? This was one of those times. 2am, i got shit to do tomorrow, not really anything important, a gap year is assuring my life is decidedly un-important right now, but i got shit i wanna do! Now when someone turns the computer on at 2am, you know they're gonna be there for a good while. And when that same person took a prolonged nap at 6pm, you know damn well they could be squinting at that screen all night. Music, basketball, all shit you don't wanna be hearing when your trying to sleep. That being said, the light on and a squeaky chair aint too desirable neither.

But you know what, it's joey and she's a cutie pie so we'll let her get away with it.

Peace.

(that Wild Style joint was done at the age of like 13 and i still to this day don't have the heart to finish it....re-decorating needs to come soon).

SCRATCH OFF THE RUST, REVEAL THE SHINE!

2010-06-05T01:11:00.000+01:00

Haven't done some sketching in a while now. I think my final year of High School (last year) proved to be a worthy dose to cover me for the next few years. However i decided to pick up a pencil a couple days back and just free hand some simple lettering. I'm more of an intricate artist really, i like drawing detailed pencil joints that are either detailed through shading or imagery. Paint aint really my thing to be honest and neither is that abstract type bullshit. Anyway maybe i'll up some of my High school pieces at some point. Rulers and color appear to be my enemy. I often feel color just ruins a beautifully detailed pencil drawing and rulers.....well there's no explaination for that one. Although thinking about getting a tad more serious in the game i'm gonna fast have to start using em. More joints on the way, of better quality i promise.

THE MADBURY CLUB

2010-06-04T21:35:00.002+01:00

I've fast become a loyal reader of a senhor Phillip T. Annand's blog of late. I like what he represents and how he goes about his business. He is the creator of The Award Tour clothing line and all around fashionista entrepreneur. What i like most about Phil is that he has knowledge of the history his style represents. There's far to many 'hipsters' walking the streets nowdays with; vintage jordans, colorful clothing and all kinds of Hip Hop orientated styles, without knowing a damn thing about Hip Hop culture or paying any kind of credit to the elders who paved the way. Above all that though, my man just has an infectious writing style that manages to captivate you in to reading posts dating back to 06.
So on his latest entry (check him out on hypebeast also) he has called for everyone to pass on this video, which i will no doubt do. In part for all the reasons stated above and in another completely different part, to distract from the horribly layed out post below this one.....that shit just wouldn't work out.

The Madbury Club! from The Madbury Club on Vimeo.

Peace, peoples.

.

THE GRAMMATIC EXPLOSION

2010-06-02T11:31:00.001+01:00

Nasir bin Olu Dara, visque Allah....From Nasty to Esco to the cult icon that he is fast becoming today, that guy Nas from Queensbridge Projects has had me hooked. So hooked in fact that, as i write this with Illmatic blasting out of my stereo, i continue to let it do so despite the skips and jumps, a result of years worth of collective scratches and marks on that there classic CD. Illmatic provided so many quotables, many of which are only becoming fully appreciate today. However I'm sure you've all heard the whole Illmatic goatness talk and have read first hand just how much this album means to so many people so....What I've decided to do is put together a collective of some of the dope Illmatic articles and breakdowns I've come across over the years. Normally i wouldn't want the to fall under the label of just another copy n paste blogger, but to be quite frank, you've this all before. Me giving my personal stan biased review of Illmatic and Nas in general would only cause irritation. So instead why not see some dope interviews, inside information and rare pics on the man and album...

Without further ado here are some links to everything Illmatic:

(click to enlarge images)

This one comes courtesy of those over at thimk blog
who are just straight buggin out with their relentless uploading of all Hip Hop related magazine's back issues. Good shit, keep up the good work guys and props for this one.

In one of Hip Hop's greatest years a magazine named Ego Trip ran an article introducing that ill emcee straight outta Q.B. I like the way they approached the whole situation,unlike many 'Urban' magazines now days Ego were able to give casual interviews asking questions that you actually wanted to know the answers to. Too many interviews today are conducted with the same boring questions that give the artist no choice but to answer in a certain way (of course they're not going to say the fans won't like it or they didn't enjoy working with so and so..). However, with interviewers that make use of the same slang and four letter words as the artists themselves, you just know you're about to read some shit. Reading an interview like this is like watching Nas converse with another Q.B resident as he keeps the language and topic strictly local. This insiders perspective and nitty gritty style interviews is something Hip Hop mags of today are most def missing.

XXL ran a 15th anniversary special on Illmatic featuring Hi-Res classic images and words from some familiar names giving their take on the undisputed classic and the emcee behind it. Enjoy.

And finally after this onslaught of scanned images, i present to you, probably one of the best break-downs of Illmatic I've ever seen. Courtesy of Dan Love over at ohword blog here is his own 'Deconstucting of Illmatic'.

Oh and if ya'll are thinking 'Oh Snap!' He didn't even include the obvious Source 5 mic review.
That's right Timmy I didn't. And there's a very good reason why. That review is perhaps the most read, most easily accessible Source review in history. Google is your friend, and if you're that desperate I'm sure as a friend he will be willing to show you (fairly swiftly i might add) just exactly where to find that review.

Peace ya'll.

TOILING OVER DREAMS, ASPIRATIONS AND LIFE...

2010-05-28T21:26:00.001+01:00

So the past few days I've been thinking quite deeply. I think everyone can relate in saying that we all dream, but we often don't best map out the route to attain our dreams. I've been thinking recently about a few of the aspirations I have. One being to get more involved in this whole online ish learning skills such as photoshop and flash along the way. My design skills on paper are pretty solid but I need to learn how to take that shit to the next level and the next level is on the screen digitally.
With university fast approaching i need to gear my mind towards journalism a little more. Therefore whenever, if ever, i attain money I'm committed to buying a different newspaper everyday and really getting to know what goes in to the putting together of each one. I read in a book sent to all journalism students attending City University, that interviewers will frequently ask the question 'who is your idol,' meaning your favourite journalist. I already hold massive amounts of respect for Jeff Chang after not only reading his body of work (Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History Of The Hip Hop Generation, go cop), but also his life story of working his way through the ranks of the industry. What's more the likes of Riggs Morales and Bobbito Garcia impress, if only through passion and enthusiasm alone. However, to back up such claims of being passionate about Hip Hop i think it best that i also display my knowledge of Broadsheets and Current Affairs writers. Probably a good idea for any aspiring journalists.

Anywho all this thinking has only been further fueled by my purchasing of that famous book entitled 'The Alchemist' (Paulo Coelho). It's a short read so I'll probably be able to come back in a day or so with a short review but from what I understand so far the novel is all about life and chasing one's dreams. It reads almost like a mystical old fable that beholds great wisdom. I love the fact that most cultures outside of Western Society prove to be highly philosophical. When travelling North Africa or Asia for example, random people in the street can recite great stories or annecdotes of wisdom providing inspiration and insight in to life itself. They're all so deep!
So this one is set in Spain and North Africa and discusses the human traits of accepting fate instead of chasing your passion in life. To be honest Will smith probably explains it best in this video:

In my humble ass opinion, Smith is fast attaining goat status. Dude is just taking over every section of the game. He wins at life.
If there's two videos that i would strongly suggest you watch today they are these two right here, people like Smith and Lupe are sending the right message to these kids out here. Both these dudes can pull of being cool and smart. I just hope the right kids are watching coz as is so often the problem, it's the kids that don't really need help that are targetted with such inspirational opportunities...

Ok now i'm sure you're all video'D out and those of you with krumped out computers are now rueing having come to this blog whilst simultaneously clicking the 'End Now' button on your task manager.

Just a couple extra kb's just to piss ya'll off a tad more....
I also copped that Nas, Damien Marley today to show my support and that old Lupe joint. I may download, but i'll always go back to support whenever the cash money comes my way to do so.
The physical form is so much iller than the digital one. The record store experience aint dead....at least not in my eyes.

Oh and R.I.P Gary Coleman, I thought about doing a little tribute post but you've probably seen a million of those already and I'm not the best equipped person to be making one. Despite all the wise cracks on son's appearance, i really liked the man, a real nice guy. I grew up watching Different Strokes and it seems the man was just dealt a bad hand after that so.....nothin' to say but R.I.P to a semi-legend.

Peace King!

SUNN.Y.

2010-05-27T00:46:00.001+01:00

His name sun and he's here to son it.
Come on, ya'll remember sun.N.Y don't ya?!?
Freestyle Friday champion a good 7 weeks in a row?

....Yeah i thought so, seems like the rest of the world forgot about him too. New York is making a bad habit of doing this, a fresh (in all senses of the word), young, ill emcee comes up in the game, gains a lil publicity and then just completely drops out of sight. This dude came mad nice with freestyles and a couple mixtapes here and there but NY just didn't want to know. Then they go complaining when the south and Chicago start taking over. There are still dope NY emcees but maybe all they need is a hand up in the game.
It may be too late for SunN.Y. to force his way back in to the game so just in case, i'll drop a couple joints to sprinkle a little bit of heaven for your ears...

Peace as always.

WIFEY MATERIAL

2010-05-25T13:47:00.003+01:00

(Janelle Monae)

That is all.

.

OLD FACES BRINGING NEW LIFE TO OLD DREAMS.

2010-05-23T12:07:00.003+01:00

In connection with my last post some strange thoughts have been bugging me since I went down to the track that evening. As I was going through my warm ups I spotted some guys playing football towards the end of the field, in fact they can just about be seen in that second pic (previous post). Having played football at a pretty high level as youngster I pretty much know who's who of the up and coming young players in the whole industry. Therefore as I began to run laps I was pretty sure that if they were a decent bunch of players then I would most likely know one or two of em.
Turns out there was a couple i knew, one in particular was a guy i met in my last couple years of high school (my school was a football and basketball academy). He approached me as I was running so i pulled down the headphones (i know i said i hate people interrupting my training but i was almost done, he had just finished his own session and he's an old friend anyway so hush up) and we caught up a little. But as with any conversation with an old friend/footballer, it usually dominated by who's made it, who's on the come up and who's still striving.
I gave up ballin a long time ago, a few years back to be precise, i was actually real good in my younger days playing on par with some names you may recognise cropping up now. Had a few professional clubs asking about me, but due to parental guidance i didn't end up attending any of the trials offered to me, instead being told to wait until i was older. So the story goes, i lost interest a little, things became way to serious way to early, the enjoyment was sucked out, alotta politicin' involved and i eventually packed it in.
However since visiting the Mecca of football (Brasil) i can say with some caution, that my passion for football has been re-kindled. Well at least a little. Seeing how relaxed and fun the Brasileiro's attitude to the game is reminded me of how it should be played. I met little kids with so much talent and technical ability that were they to be in England, even at such ripe ages as 8 and 10, they would still be snapped up by pro clubs.

I've digressed quite a bit here from what i intended to talk about which was meeting that old friend. So, this guy to say the least didn't impress me much on our last meeting, he flopped at school, didn't bother with uni and had a somewhat non-existent football career. That was the impression i gained last summer when coming across him doing some pre-season training, he looked flabby, slow and overall way outta shape. But i must say after speaking to him this time round, he'd lost weight, he appeared motivated and he even went as far as providing me with hope.
Even though this guy currently earns a decent wage web designing he admitted to me straight away 'i'd rather be out here though.' I was surprised, my mother basically made it out to me like 'if a pro club aint picked you up by 16 then it's probably not going to happen.' Yet here this kid is, still trying at 20, and we even spoke about the numerous people that made it after 20, most notable being the famous Ian Wright.
So my boy here has been picked up by Nike's academy team whereby they recently went to Barcelona to play their youth team. Despite being smashed 6-0 it would have no doubt been a great experience. I also don't doubt that the quality of that Nike team is nothing special (of course with all the best players playing soley for their pro club teams) but still, the training will be of a high standard and it's still a stepping stone.
My man had so much confidence and determination in the way he was talking to me that it would do nothing but surprise me if he doesn't now go on to make it somewhere in this world of football. He's seen the 'normal world,' a '9 to 5' and now i think it's really hit home, son is gonna run, eat right and do drills everyday to attain his dream. Moreover he has inspired me to reconsider my future, maybe a degree in journalism isn't for me, heck i love sports more than anything, it would be a dream to play a sport that i love everyday such as football or coach elite athletes everyday on the track.
I think I'm gonna find a team or group to start training with to see if my feet still have it in em. I tore up the local 7 a side courts the other day but now i think it's time to start playing with the big boys and see if i can still do my thing amongst those of a similar standard to me. If i can stay away from those OVER serious coaches and maintain confidence, then shit....i'd loved to play this game for the rest of my life.

It may sound clichè but it really is never to late to give up on your passion. Well it's at least later than you think (50+ year olds don't be trynna make the NBA draft now). If everyone in the world managed to find their passion instead of just accepting a certain route, a certain career path, then i'm positive we would have a world of experts. It hit me that I was so good at football when i was younger because I didn't even realise I was honing my skills practicing all day everyday. If you asked m opinion then, I was just having fun, doing kick ups all day, trying to kick a ball in to cupboards from the other end of the house. Without even realising I was moving way ahead of my class. So when the passion went so did the playing in the house, going everywhere with a ball at my feet etc...
It's like I said to my Girlfriend who play's basketball for the U 20's national team, if you aint bouncing a basketball near enough all the time, if you don't wanna play near enough all the time, then maybe this game aint for you. None of this 'I feel like playing today let's go down to the park' bullshit, it's gotta be subconcious. Way too many people try to force it. Making themselves go down to the park and shoot 100 shots without actually wanting to do it. If it aint fun for you anymore then, sorry to tell ya but it is most likely no longer your passion. The best players in any endevour all had passion for what they did. Therefore they subconciously repeated the task or activity time and time again without realising they are actually practiving. Once you realise you're practicing, then it becomes work.

The hardest thing in life isn't the becoming good at something part, it's the finding that special something that you love part, once you find that, your set!

Find your passion, and do it everyday. It may not make you a million bucks but it'll give you a life time of happiness and make you the best and whatever your passion happens to be.

Peace.

Lukas the star to be born (Rio De Janeiro)

SHAPE UP OR SHAPE OUT

2010-05-23T10:34:00.001+01:00

The training spikes it out!

The stage is set!

And we aint leavin till the moon is shinin!

That's right i decided about a week back that it's finally time to get back in shape. What's more the track season getting well and truly underway in the past week served as my inspiration. Tyson, Usain and Asafa running some truly amazing season opener times has promised this season to be one of the best ever. Track has evolved to a point somewhat like the premiership. You have to come out with a bang, gone are the days of early season rustiness. Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man U know that in today's climate you can't afford to drop any points even at the very beginnings of a new season. It would seem track athletes are beginning to follow this trend. Running sub 10 as a season opener would once have been viewed as phenomenal, but as peaks are beginning to be pushed higher and higher an athlete can't afford to be one step behind the pace. It would surprise me if any athlete, in hope of catching Usain Bolt's astonishing raising of the boundaries of human limits, is taking a post-season break.
Track is a funny old sport. Coaches have to try and pin-point exactly when their athlete is going to peak and make sure this point falls exactly on a major championship like the olympics or world champs.
Anywho, my training at the moment is consisting of a little edurance just to get fitness back, boy i zoned out the other day with Distant Relatives (cop that shit) on the ipod and ended up running around 6 or 7 miles. On other days I'm working on trying to get my speed back with short sprints and reaction starts. As you can see in the pictures i prefer to run on grass for a couple of reasons but the main one being that it's not where nearly as crowded as the track on track nights. People clogging up the track and trying to talk to you as you train can get annoying. Plus the field behind the track is a little more peaceful (despite being right next to a motorway!) without the flashy 'look at me 'isprint' with all my nike shit on' type people. Many top sprinters actually train on grass anyway and in a way i think it does good to get used to a slightly bumpy, more shock absorbant surface so that when you do get on a perfectly flat, springy track, you find shit a whole lot easier.
Body fat needs to come down for Summer certification of approval, so the diet needs to get on point which is gonna be a tough one. A gym membership will hopefully be in my possession within a week or so that the bulking can be unleashed. The final part of that plan, once I'm swole and toned to shreds, is to purchase the black hoody and intimidate suburban folk on the train hahahaha!

Before all that jus chill and peep my man over at ibsprintin's latest track mix, take a quick look at his other shit too coz son has shown alotta progression as an editor and is just too nice with this shit.

FREDDIE GIBBS

2010-05-20T16:56:00.002+01:00

Now before anyone attempts to call me late on this one, I'd first like everyone to know......I was one of the first people up on (complimentary no homo) Freddie Gibbs. I discovered him myself a little over a year ago while skimming through mixtapes. One in particular caught my eye, borrowing a cover from THEEE most prominent female emcee period. That of course being Lauryn Hill and the album of course being 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.' Gibbs replaced L-boogie's face for that of his own and aptly renamed the title. 'Bold move!' Was my intial reaction. If you're gonna follow one of the greats like that then you best bring the heat.
Maybe it was bad of me to pick up this mixtape based on the cover (we all know the saying). But when your sifting through underground tapes that are all trying to bring something different and be original in their own right, they can often come off as corny looking real unprofessional and cheap. Half the time we only judge the appearance of those trying to make it in to our tape deck (cd/mp3, whatever). I can usually - not always - tell what a rapper's gonna rhyme about and what his overall sound is gonna be, just by looking at his portrait. Therefore when i came across this street wise looking kid I thought why not, i'll give it a spin.

A lot of young cats come in to the game with too much confidence, reminiscent of a young 50 cent entering the game with 'How to Rob,' a track that goes at just about everybody in the industry, even Em! But Freddie manages to pull off both confidence and credibility in way that's totally refreshing. Dropping straight fire over some familiar classic beats. No watered down shit, no Kanye West (post graduation) new-wave bullshit, no college frat crap, just pure uncut street poetry. His genuine, blunt approach to street realities may have been what the market was saturated with back in the 90's, but in 2010 it comes as a much needed change to many Hip Hop heads form all over.
Gibbs brings credibility that resonates that of those few actual gangsters that tried their hand at spitting but where ultimately gangsters not rappers. Yet he also manages to bring a wisdom and knowledge that adds an Ali Vegas/Nas type feel to his raps. Without forcing his rep like say a Juelz or Cam, Gibbs comes witty and smarter than your average hood cat, never over indulged in the streets as would come across ridiculous.

Peep his flow over this Stretch and Bobbito 95' Beat - Ghetto

Flamboyant Freestyle - featured on the Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs Mixtape

Find the latest drops at www.myspace.com/freddiegibbs

Feel free to let me know what you think.

ONLY NEW YORK

2010-05-20T14:27:00.000+01:00

Here's some pics of a few ONLY. NY tee's i picked up recently. Pretty nice collection they got up. Anyone in to anything New York culture related/graffiti/art housey type shit should check out the shop on their site. They fuse an 80's and 90's Hip Hop vibe quite nicely in to a modern age look.
ONLY NY is a small independant brand based in West Manhatten. I'm not to sure but i would pass a guess that the deigners are pretty young and most likely fresh outta college. I know one of them is called Micah but, i'll be damned if that's of any use to you.

That last joint i copped in white but i guess they don't have that colour left online. The colourway on the white tee is orange 'NY' and blue 'don't sleep!'...looks fresh.

They don't produce many copies of each item so the majority of their lines are real exlcusive, ie don't expect to be walking down the block and seeing anybody wearing the same shit you are.
At the moment their banging out the hat releases, some of which are just digustingly fresh.
Check it out for yourself HERE.

THE GRIND NEVER STOPS

2010-05-19T23:59:00.001+01:00

Summer is almost here and like most, i need money to play with. Just arriving back from South America, living it up at the Rio carnival (and taking a quick snooze). I need to get back on the grind, which means; possibly getting a job (take note of 'possibly'), coming up with a money making scheme (hate to say, coz i mean i don't even like money but at this particular moment in my life C.R.E.A.M), catching up with the goings on in the Hip Hop world and finally, dedicating a chunk of my summer to the World Cup and Track season. Not to mention preparing for university this september where a wonderful course in journalism awaits me! Why journalism? Not a damn clue! I was pretty good on the whole pencil drawing/graphics tip in school, maybe i should have gone in to that, dabbled with professional football (the real football, futèbol) as a youth, but no i chose journalism. Could prove to be a stupid choice, especially since i had the grades to do pretty much what i pleased centered around English/writing and art.
Maybe I thought i could have an effect on the music industry, change peoples attitudes and opinions and whatnot....

Ahh well, didn't nobody say i gotta do journalism when i leave uni. Time to expand my mind, get in shape and prepare for summer lovin'!

Peace