Might bring a tear to your eyes, but do not sleep on this...
Try to keep it together. What a feeling.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
DAM! Palestinian Hip Hop in Austin and Houston!
May 8 & 9
Hey y'all,
Sorry for the mass email but I need to reach out to ALL of you with the quickness. I have a huge and very special event coming to Austin and Houston May 8th and 9th and I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP GETTING THE WORD OUT! I wouldn't stress if I were just doing a normal rap show, but this is some crazy shit.
I, in association with Hadeel Assali and the good folks at the Palestinian Film Festival, am bringing the PALESTINIAN HIP HOP GROUP - DAM - for their first shows ever in Texas. I know they were at Sundance for the premier of SLINGSHOT HIP HOP - an incredible film about hip-hop in Palestine (and much more!) - but I don't know if they performed. I know M1 of dead prez and Chamillionaire met up with them, and I also know that they are amazing, outspoken, radical and extremely important.
Anyway, if you can't think of an angle for a story about these dudes coming to your town for the first time, holler at me, lets brainstorm, but I need FEATURES! And you know I normally don't get pushy with my events, but everyone who is receiving this is a friend of mine in the media or in music and I need y'all to help get the word out (flights from Palestine to Texas AIN'T CHEAP!). We are taking a huge risk with this one.
Anyway here's the details:
Thursday May 8th - Austin, TX
Venue - The Scoot Inn (aka the new Liberty Lunch fuck what a hater say)
Doors at 7 p.m.
Show at 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. outside stage
DAM from PALESTINE, Southbound from Austin, TX, DJ Rhythm and MORE TBA!
11 p.m. - 2 a.m. - After Party Meet and Greet with DAM - DJ Rapid Ric and DJ Rhythm on the tables.
Friday May 9th - Houston, TX - In Association with the Palestinian Film Festival
Venue - Warehouse Live Studio
Doors at 10:30 p.m. Show at 11:00 p.m. (There's an event earlier in the night)
DAM from PALESTINE, DJ Rhythm and special surprise guests TBA
Then they head off to San Francisco, New York and Toronto - BUT TEXAS GETS THEM FIRST!
Seriously, this event means a lot to me. I wouldn't do it if it didn't. I REALLY need your help in the press, we need radio interviews if possible in advance on the phone. I need you to forward this email to people you may think be interested in this. I need to build a buzz cuz time is running out and well, I can't bring all these cats from Palestine to an empty house!
Any artists who could lend their time to maybe host, or possibly mention this show in some sort of interview would be very much appreciated as well. I personally feel as though it's very important that the kids in the streets over here start to learn about the kids in the streets in places like Palestine. I'm on a mission here to widen the scope of some of these young hip hoppers. And that is real.
Here's some info and links on the group, plus a photo you can use.
Website:
http://www.dampalestine.com
Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2390787321
Myspace page:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=25392149
The song that put them on the map:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqbDiN2uYcQ&mode=related&search=
PEACE and THANKS IN ADVANCE!
ALSO BE SURE AND SEE THE FILM SLINGSHOT HIP HOP! I MAY SHOW IT AGAIN BEFORE THE SHOW IN AUSTIN AND IT IS PLAYING AT THE PALESTINIAN FILM FEST IN HOUSTON!
Sorry for the mass email but I need to reach out to ALL of you with the quickness. I have a huge and very special event coming to Austin and Houston May 8th and 9th and I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP GETTING THE WORD OUT! I wouldn't stress if I were just doing a normal rap show, but this is some crazy shit.
I, in association with Hadeel Assali and the good folks at the Palestinian Film Festival, am bringing the PALESTINIAN HIP HOP GROUP - DAM - for their first shows ever in Texas. I know they were at Sundance for the premier of SLINGSHOT HIP HOP - an incredible film about hip-hop in Palestine (and much more!) - but I don't know if they performed. I know M1 of dead prez and Chamillionaire met up with them, and I also know that they are amazing, outspoken, radical and extremely important.
Anyway, if you can't think of an angle for a story about these dudes coming to your town for the first time, holler at me, lets brainstorm, but I need FEATURES! And you know I normally don't get pushy with my events, but everyone who is receiving this is a friend of mine in the media or in music and I need y'all to help get the word out (flights from Palestine to Texas AIN'T CHEAP!). We are taking a huge risk with this one.
Anyway here's the details:
Thursday May 8th - Austin, TX
Venue - The Scoot Inn (aka the new Liberty Lunch fuck what a hater say)
Doors at 7 p.m.
Show at 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. outside stage
DAM from PALESTINE, Southbound from Austin, TX, DJ Rhythm and MORE TBA!
11 p.m. - 2 a.m. - After Party Meet and Greet with DAM - DJ Rapid Ric and DJ Rhythm on the tables.
Friday May 9th - Houston, TX - In Association with the Palestinian Film Festival
Venue - Warehouse Live Studio
Doors at 10:30 p.m. Show at 11:00 p.m. (There's an event earlier in the night)
DAM from PALESTINE, DJ Rhythm and special surprise guests TBA
Then they head off to San Francisco, New York and Toronto - BUT TEXAS GETS THEM FIRST!
Seriously, this event means a lot to me. I wouldn't do it if it didn't. I REALLY need your help in the press, we need radio interviews if possible in advance on the phone. I need you to forward this email to people you may think be interested in this. I need to build a buzz cuz time is running out and well, I can't bring all these cats from Palestine to an empty house!
Any artists who could lend their time to maybe host, or possibly mention this show in some sort of interview would be very much appreciated as well. I personally feel as though it's very important that the kids in the streets over here start to learn about the kids in the streets in places like Palestine. I'm on a mission here to widen the scope of some of these young hip hoppers. And that is real.
Here's some info and links on the group, plus a photo you can use.
Website:
http://www.dampalestine.com
Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2390787321
Myspace page:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=25392149
The song that put them on the map:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqbDiN2uYcQ&mode=related&search=
PEACE and THANKS IN ADVANCE!
ALSO BE SURE AND SEE THE FILM SLINGSHOT HIP HOP! I MAY SHOW IT AGAIN BEFORE THE SHOW IN AUSTIN AND IT IS PLAYING AT THE PALESTINIAN FILM FEST IN HOUSTON!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
It's Our Anniversary
Alright it's the 19th anniversary of the first show I ever put on and promoted. April 9th, 1989, me, my boy Mike and my boy Rich brought Laughing Hyenas, Knifedance and Lost to the Continental Ballroom in Erie, Pennsylvania. I was 17 years old and caught the fever right then. I'll try to write the full story later, or maybe I'll wait till the 20th anniversary next year.
If any of my old school friends from Erie are reading this and have copies of the flyers please send me the jpgs. All my stuff is in storage.
Anyway, it's a big day.
R.I.P. Larissa Strickland
R.I.P. Scott Eakin
R.I.P. Danny Perry
If any of my old school friends from Erie are reading this and have copies of the flyers please send me the jpgs. All my stuff is in storage.
Anyway, it's a big day.
R.I.P. Larissa Strickland
R.I.P. Scott Eakin
R.I.P. Danny Perry
Monday, April 7, 2008
The Calm After The Storm
Bavu Blakes called me today to tell me that he was removing my blogs from his bookmark list and just giving up on me altogether.
I don't know what it is. Maybe it's the fact that I have a real job now and can't stare blankly at my screen till something comes to me anymore. Maybe it's cuz I have a real job and live on the far north side of Austin, so going out isn't really all that appealing anymore, therefore kind of killing my inspiration. Maybe it's because said job provides me with a steady income so I don't have to hustle up gigs out of the country anymore.
Maybe it's because gas prices are so high that the overseas promoters don't want to take a risk on the type of acts I book because the plane tickets are more than double what they were last year.
Maybe it's because the computer is in the bedroom/office of my mother in laws house and I rarely get a minute in here alone when I do happen to be home. Maybe it's because we go and look at houses everyday and Austin is an overpriced, over populated mess of homes that are too small to even stand up straight in for almost $300,000 on the fucking east side. Maybe the festival floored me a little bit and all I want to do right now for the moment is sit quietly and read things.
Maybe I'm just making excuses. Not sure. Probably just excuses, cuz as a wise man once said (Joe Scavone, to me anyway) "Writing is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration." That stuck with me pretty hard, but I still don't write enough.
One thing that I truly need to write about though is the new Bavu Blakes EP - Extra Plair. Self-released and available exclusively at bahvoo.com for 8.99 including shipping.
Two songs (smiley faces, lead us not) available free 08issogreat.com (though you should still buy the thang), this lil 5 song banger features production mostly from S-1 who from what I can gather, should have quite a year. Also Picnic is killing it as well.
I stupidly sat down to write this, and left the CD at work (of all places of course!) and can't find much info online, but seriously, he goes hard as hell on this one. Real life lyrics from a down south intellectual who's not afraid to balance the city and the country with the oceans and the Heaven's. Seriously. "Lead Us Not" is like a call to God to save us all from the foibles of life. It's not your typicall "Hi I'm a gangsta rapper and this is my ode to Jesus," song. It's a heartfelt ode to what we really need to be focused on in life.
"Smiley Faces" features Pikahsso of PPT (spitting that Denglish you may or may not know about) and kind of follows a similar path in that it's more of an observation than some preaching or whatever. You'll get the preaching references when you hear this brilliant piece of work. Anyway, dude has a lot to say and he can rap. Been telling y'all this for a long time now.
"Smiley Faces" makes me think about some of the more pestering rappers in Austin. Not the cool ones, the incessant pesterers. There's a few out here. Soul suckers but fuck it.
Anyway, one thing that has been enhancing my soul rather than sucking it dry, I mean two things, or three, or however many, is my family. In the weeks leading up to SXSW I really didn't get to see a lot of them, now we are making up for lost time, camping and trying to see EVERYONE. Here's a few shots from my last few weeks.
Here's the obligatory shot of Eva, Elena and their cousins Layla and Jude in their Easter outfits. This was a couple weeks before Easter, my wife took a series of shots in hopes of making an Easter Card I guess, but then the idea got scrapped.
Easter weekend we actaully went camping at Pedernales Falls State Park, just about a 45 minute drive west of Austin off of 290. I should get my travel writer on and really go into detail, but not tonight.
Suffice it to say it's pretty amazing there and I should have taken more photos. Beautiful river, and we hiked for miles. With two kids. I don't suggest this for everyone, but we had a great time.
These deer were neva scared of us. Came right up to the campe site.
I also heard coyotes, owls and a bunch of other critters as I lay awake at night.
I'd really prefer tolive in one of these full time somewhere far away than to spend almost $300k on some 1200 sq. foot shithole in Austin, but whatever. I'm just being salty. I can't be a suburb dweller, so this house hunt thang ain't easy in Austin. City proper is out of fucking hand. Just so you know, don't move here.
My pretty, pretty ELENA!
She get it from her mama.
Eva would not swim with me.
It was like 62 degrees in that water but I didn't really care. I need more swimming in my life (as evidenced by my gut).
Of course, this was the headlining event of the weekend.
Then on Easter we headed to San Antonio for Easter at my dads with my Sister and her kids.
Seen here. My lil brother Chance, Niece Sara, Nephew Jacob, Eva, Niece Katy, Elena
THEN My mom came to visit this past weekend with Roger (told you we have been making up for lost family time!) and we went to New Braunfuls and stayed in a cute lil cabin just a couple blocks off the river and right downtown. We ate German food, watched the kids dance to polkas at the Freisenhaus (also the Chicken Dance), drank a lot, hiked, um, ate alot of food, and just kind of relaxed in the sleepy lil German town.
Such a beautiful place.
And of course I got in the cold ass water again. How's the saying go? Lead a monkey to water?
Eva reading the People Magazine, disgusted by the display of ignorance in Hollywood.
This is either my mother or my sister. I think it's my sister.
Roger.
This is what kids look like after a day on the river. We need more days on the river.
And this is lil nephew Jude, the newest addition to the clan.
And yesterday lil Layla turned TWO!
So yeah man. I have been kind of avoiding the clubs and planning my plan of attack for the summer. Which should provide for lots of good shit for this blog. But I don't know how much international travel as President Bush and his Oil Baron buddies have us all in, how you say... a quandary. I guess that's as good a word as any for it. We are currently in a quandary.
And I'm tired of it. Music shit coming soon, I SWEAR!
I don't know what it is. Maybe it's the fact that I have a real job now and can't stare blankly at my screen till something comes to me anymore. Maybe it's cuz I have a real job and live on the far north side of Austin, so going out isn't really all that appealing anymore, therefore kind of killing my inspiration. Maybe it's because said job provides me with a steady income so I don't have to hustle up gigs out of the country anymore.
Maybe it's because gas prices are so high that the overseas promoters don't want to take a risk on the type of acts I book because the plane tickets are more than double what they were last year.
Maybe it's because the computer is in the bedroom/office of my mother in laws house and I rarely get a minute in here alone when I do happen to be home. Maybe it's because we go and look at houses everyday and Austin is an overpriced, over populated mess of homes that are too small to even stand up straight in for almost $300,000 on the fucking east side. Maybe the festival floored me a little bit and all I want to do right now for the moment is sit quietly and read things.
Maybe I'm just making excuses. Not sure. Probably just excuses, cuz as a wise man once said (Joe Scavone, to me anyway) "Writing is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration." That stuck with me pretty hard, but I still don't write enough.
One thing that I truly need to write about though is the new Bavu Blakes EP - Extra Plair. Self-released and available exclusively at bahvoo.com for 8.99 including shipping.
Two songs (smiley faces, lead us not) available free 08issogreat.com (though you should still buy the thang), this lil 5 song banger features production mostly from S-1 who from what I can gather, should have quite a year. Also Picnic is killing it as well.
I stupidly sat down to write this, and left the CD at work (of all places of course!) and can't find much info online, but seriously, he goes hard as hell on this one. Real life lyrics from a down south intellectual who's not afraid to balance the city and the country with the oceans and the Heaven's. Seriously. "Lead Us Not" is like a call to God to save us all from the foibles of life. It's not your typicall "Hi I'm a gangsta rapper and this is my ode to Jesus," song. It's a heartfelt ode to what we really need to be focused on in life.
"Smiley Faces" features Pikahsso of PPT (spitting that Denglish you may or may not know about) and kind of follows a similar path in that it's more of an observation than some preaching or whatever. You'll get the preaching references when you hear this brilliant piece of work. Anyway, dude has a lot to say and he can rap. Been telling y'all this for a long time now.
"Smiley Faces" makes me think about some of the more pestering rappers in Austin. Not the cool ones, the incessant pesterers. There's a few out here. Soul suckers but fuck it.
Anyway, one thing that has been enhancing my soul rather than sucking it dry, I mean two things, or three, or however many, is my family. In the weeks leading up to SXSW I really didn't get to see a lot of them, now we are making up for lost time, camping and trying to see EVERYONE. Here's a few shots from my last few weeks.
Here's the obligatory shot of Eva, Elena and their cousins Layla and Jude in their Easter outfits. This was a couple weeks before Easter, my wife took a series of shots in hopes of making an Easter Card I guess, but then the idea got scrapped.
Easter weekend we actaully went camping at Pedernales Falls State Park, just about a 45 minute drive west of Austin off of 290. I should get my travel writer on and really go into detail, but not tonight.
Suffice it to say it's pretty amazing there and I should have taken more photos. Beautiful river, and we hiked for miles. With two kids. I don't suggest this for everyone, but we had a great time.
These deer were neva scared of us. Came right up to the campe site.
I also heard coyotes, owls and a bunch of other critters as I lay awake at night.
I'd really prefer tolive in one of these full time somewhere far away than to spend almost $300k on some 1200 sq. foot shithole in Austin, but whatever. I'm just being salty. I can't be a suburb dweller, so this house hunt thang ain't easy in Austin. City proper is out of fucking hand. Just so you know, don't move here.
My pretty, pretty ELENA!
She get it from her mama.
Eva would not swim with me.
It was like 62 degrees in that water but I didn't really care. I need more swimming in my life (as evidenced by my gut).
Of course, this was the headlining event of the weekend.
Then on Easter we headed to San Antonio for Easter at my dads with my Sister and her kids.
Seen here. My lil brother Chance, Niece Sara, Nephew Jacob, Eva, Niece Katy, Elena
THEN My mom came to visit this past weekend with Roger (told you we have been making up for lost family time!) and we went to New Braunfuls and stayed in a cute lil cabin just a couple blocks off the river and right downtown. We ate German food, watched the kids dance to polkas at the Freisenhaus (also the Chicken Dance), drank a lot, hiked, um, ate alot of food, and just kind of relaxed in the sleepy lil German town.
Such a beautiful place.
And of course I got in the cold ass water again. How's the saying go? Lead a monkey to water?
Eva reading the People Magazine, disgusted by the display of ignorance in Hollywood.
This is either my mother or my sister. I think it's my sister.
Roger.
This is what kids look like after a day on the river. We need more days on the river.
And this is lil nephew Jude, the newest addition to the clan.
And yesterday lil Layla turned TWO!
So yeah man. I have been kind of avoiding the clubs and planning my plan of attack for the summer. Which should provide for lots of good shit for this blog. But I don't know how much international travel as President Bush and his Oil Baron buddies have us all in, how you say... a quandary. I guess that's as good a word as any for it. We are currently in a quandary.
And I'm tired of it. Music shit coming soon, I SWEAR!
Monday, March 31, 2008
New York Hipsters for Obama UNITE
Word to Witnes
And Ka-Jillionaire.
Gotham Obamans want you to Barack what your momma gave ya! Head to Sapphire Lounge on Wednesday, April 9 for the exclusive, first ever, muy caliente edition of Freedom Funk, a new Obama fundraiser that's sure to put the sheen in your fro and soul in your glow!
Fifteen dollars gets you past the bouncer and goes directly to Obama's campaign. DJ Morsy of Brooklyn's Nanachill will spin his signature blend of disco funk, while Witnes, back from his jaunt to Miami's Winter Music Conference, will get the dance floor nice with '60s soul grooves and stomping Motown beats.
We've also got drank—Bamakazee shots—that will sock it to ya all night long! Arrive early and we'll also treat you to two for one well drinks, 10-11pm.
Sound like a plan? Meet us there!
Can't make it? You can still help the Gotham Obamans reach their contribution goal.
Donate now at:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/GothamObamans
Remember to click on the meter!
Gotham Obamans present:
Freedom Funk Vol. 1
Where:
Sapphire Lounge in the Lower East Side
When:
April 9, 10-2/3am
Who:
DJ Morsy
Nanachill.com
Witnes
Quickwits.blogspot.com
Dress:
To impress.
Why:
To keep hope alive!
$15 MINIMUM donations taken at the door.
NO RSVP
21+ ONLY
Bamakazee shots all night!
Gotham Obamans want you to Barack what your momma gave ya! Head to Sapphire Lounge on Wednesday, April 9 for the exclusive, first ever, muy caliente edition of Freedom Funk, a new Obama fundraiser that's sure to put the sheen in your fro and soul in your glow!
Fifteen dollars gets you past the bouncer and goes directly to Obama's campaign. DJ Morsy of Brooklyn's Nanachill will spin his signature blend of disco funk, while Witnes, back from his jaunt to Miami's Winter Music Conference, will get the dance floor nice with '60s soul grooves and stomping Motown beats.
We've also got drank—Bamakazee shots—that will sock it to ya all night long! Arrive early and we'll also treat you to two for one well drinks, 10-11pm.
Sound like a plan? Meet us there!
Can't make it? You can still help the Gotham Obamans reach their contribution goal.
Donate now at:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/GothamObamans
Remember to click on the meter!
Gotham Obamans present:
Freedom Funk Vol. 1
Where:
Sapphire Lounge in the Lower East Side
When:
April 9, 10-2/3am
Who:
DJ Morsy
Nanachill.com
Witnes
Quickwits.blogspot.com
Dress:
To impress.
Why:
To keep hope alive!
$15 MINIMUM donations taken at the door.
NO RSVP
21+ ONLY
Bamakazee shots all night!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
YouTube Videos from SXSW ROUND 1
And way more to come...
Bun B and Dizzee Rascal do "WHere's Da G's" Live at SXSW!
"Where's Da G's" Video!
10 minutes of the Bun B show courtesy of Luxury Mindz (Hope you like bass)
Them boys MDDL FNGZ!
Devin the Dude and the Coughee Brothaz Live at SXSW!(But who the hell is the DJ that pops up???)
Team Facelift at Red Bull Party SXSW
Dizzee Rascal Live at SXSW
Dizzee Rascal does "I Love You" at SXSW
B-Boys including Nosaprise and members of Havikoro Dancing on stage with Dizzee (Pussyole video was filmed at B-Boy City in Austin BTW)
Bushwick Bill freestyling while EL-P Beatboxes at SXSW (WORD TO MR. DIBBS!)
El-P Live at SXSW
Del on the big stage at SXSW
I'm a Billy Bragg Fanatic. Seriously.
Billy Bragg and Kate Nash Live at SXSW!
Clipse at Rhapsody Party SXSW
Chromeo at the Scion Event!
Kid SIster LIve at her Friday SXSW Show at Volume
David Banner did this Fader Party instead of the panel we planned for him, but whatever, he got on BET for it. And the show that night slayed.
Thurston Moore at SXSW
Thurston Moore more
Very important jam here - Billy Bragg - "I Keep Faith"
MURS went off. CRAZY SHIT!
Sparkdawg at SXSW
WING Live at SXSW
Hope you enjoyed all this. I'll be posting way more in the days to come!
Bun B and Dizzee Rascal do "WHere's Da G's" Live at SXSW!
"Where's Da G's" Video!
10 minutes of the Bun B show courtesy of Luxury Mindz (Hope you like bass)
Them boys MDDL FNGZ!
Devin the Dude and the Coughee Brothaz Live at SXSW!(But who the hell is the DJ that pops up???)
Team Facelift at Red Bull Party SXSW
Dizzee Rascal Live at SXSW
Dizzee Rascal does "I Love You" at SXSW
B-Boys including Nosaprise and members of Havikoro Dancing on stage with Dizzee (Pussyole video was filmed at B-Boy City in Austin BTW)
Bushwick Bill freestyling while EL-P Beatboxes at SXSW (WORD TO MR. DIBBS!)
El-P Live at SXSW
Del on the big stage at SXSW
I'm a Billy Bragg Fanatic. Seriously.
Billy Bragg and Kate Nash Live at SXSW!
Clipse at Rhapsody Party SXSW
Chromeo at the Scion Event!
Kid SIster LIve at her Friday SXSW Show at Volume
David Banner did this Fader Party instead of the panel we planned for him, but whatever, he got on BET for it. And the show that night slayed.
Thurston Moore at SXSW
Thurston Moore more
Very important jam here - Billy Bragg - "I Keep Faith"
MURS went off. CRAZY SHIT!
Sparkdawg at SXSW
WING Live at SXSW
Hope you enjoyed all this. I'll be posting way more in the days to come!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Still Haven't Written...
Still Haven't Written... my SXSW wrap up. Also, disregard what I said in the earlier post. I'm not gonna just go nuts on DJ Coalitions. I'ma talk about the whole industry at some point this week. And the main problem that I see with it today.
And that's everyone trying to chase the same dollar.
I always get real introspective and start questioning the industry hard after SXSW. My mind just races when it is set free from the shackles of the day to day grind, which it hath been for the next few weeks.
So I'ma get back to being a wildman on the mic, I mean with the pen, I mean on the PC. It's about to go down.
Also Bun B's album comes out in one month and 2 days.
Also if you don't have Bavu Blakes'ses Extra Plair EP, you must do yourself a favor and go to find one somehow someway. It's quite nice.
And that's everyone trying to chase the same dollar.
I always get real introspective and start questioning the industry hard after SXSW. My mind just races when it is set free from the shackles of the day to day grind, which it hath been for the next few weeks.
So I'ma get back to being a wildman on the mic, I mean with the pen, I mean on the PC. It's about to go down.
Also Bun B's album comes out in one month and 2 days.
Also if you don't have Bavu Blakes'ses Extra Plair EP, you must do yourself a favor and go to find one somehow someway. It's quite nice.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
K-Rino - Holla At Me - NEW VIDEO
Now see y'all, the following video also represents and personifies exactly what I was speaking on below. While the press chased the pink pants/bicycle hat wearing fruitcakes thru the streets, some of the realest rappers EVER were representing up in that South By Southwest.
Including of course, K-Rino and the South Park Coalition. I don't know why so many people have forgotten about reality rap, but I'ma tell you right now, when the pink pants boys fall the fuck off and disappear, my dudes will still be here.
HOLLA AT ME!
Capisci?
Including of course, K-Rino and the South Park Coalition. I don't know why so many people have forgotten about reality rap, but I'ma tell you right now, when the pink pants boys fall the fuck off and disappear, my dudes will still be here.
HOLLA AT ME!
Capisci?
My wife sent me this link
And it backs up what I am talking about below.
On a whole nother level of the damn game.
Also, DJ Coalitions are some bullshit. I'ma speak on that shit soon as well. Soon all will become clear.
THAT'S JUST HOW I FEEL!
And it's real.
On a whole nother level of the damn game.
Also, DJ Coalitions are some bullshit. I'ma speak on that shit soon as well. Soon all will become clear.
THAT'S JUST HOW I FEEL!
And it's real.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
What Was to be my SXSW '08 Wrap Up
(Is really just part one of an on going series, as I am still a lil braindead and can't put it all into one post. I'm not one for brevity you see...)
------------------------------------
“We’re about to crash into the sun. All of us! And that’s very bad.” My daughter Eva just screamed that from the bathtub as I sat down to write this, my SXSW ’08 wrap up. If she would have sent that warning two weeks ago, I might have run outside and welcomed the impending explosion with my arms wide open and my eyes tightly shut, but now that SXSW ’08 is all said and done – and hath been a smashing success – I’m going to hope that her five-year-old mind is just making things up.
For the past two years, I haven’t been able to write shit about the conference/festival I now call home for 12-14 hours a day between December and March, but this year I feel as though I have to. Generally, after the four day bacchanalia fest, I’m so wiped out that I really can’t muster up the energy to sit and actually think about what just went down. I also had to um, well, move along to the next hustle as my checks up until a few months ago were anything but regular.
But now, my life is on a different course. I’m duly employed, doing something I love and have loved to do on the side for some years, and yeah, things are a lot different.
Below you can see a ton of photos, just like you can see from years past if you click the archives over at HoustonSoReal. And from those photos – which many say are worth 1,000 words a piece - you can get an idea of the magnanimous undertaking that SXSW really is. It’s no mean feat, it’s no simple task, and this year, after eight years of having no real job to speak of, I immersed myself in it full bore. All the way. No turning back.
SXSW looks a lot different from the inside looking out. I liken it to any machine. Unless you take the machine apart and really study its mechanisms, you’ll probably have no idea how it works. That’s what bothers me most about SXSW’s critics. SXSW is the biggest and most useful and constructive party anyone has ever created in the history of the music business. It’s a complex puzzle put together by a relatively small group of individuals whose passion for the music supersedes their needs for sleep, and there’s haters out there who just love to talk shit about it.
I don’t normally take shit talking in stride, but as stated above, I’m an employee of this business now, and can’t take my personal feelings out on the nutsacks of the wieners who wanna whine about an event that drops more music, free beer, bar-b-q and opportunities on this two horse town for a few beautiful days every March than any other organization in the world.
But this is AustinSurreal, so I can talk a little shit, fuck it. (R.I.P. Pimp C – thanks for the inspiration brother).
First people I want to talk about are the critics who say “SXSW is no longer about new music and unsigned artists. It’s the big bands now who rule the roost.”
MOTHERFUCKER WE HAD 1,800 BANDS THIS YEAR! Are there even 1,800 bands signed to major labels in this world? Do you want to try and coordinate 1,800 bands on 80 stages over 4.2 nights? No, you don’t.
You also don’t seem to want to cover any of the indie/unsigned/new/local bands either. Every fucking writer that hit me up about this shit had the same questions. They weren’t asking things like “What’s the deal with these Norwegian rappers you are bringing?” “Who’s SouthBound and Ryno & Slim Gutta? Are they cool?” No they asked me how to get in touch with Ice Cube, Clipse and Bun B. They barely even gave a shit about Dizzee Rascal or Devin.
Then I sit and read the blogs and the papers and the magazines and it’s all about all the bands you would expect them to be about. It’s sad, cuz when I was growing up we had about 1/10th of the magazines, 1/16th of the radio stations, no internet, no satellite radio, and I think back then more music got thru to the masses than is getting through today. You can challenge me on that if you want to, but I pay attention and all I am seeing is a bunch of copy cat lazy ass motherfuckers all clamoring for the same thing.
It’s some bullshit (shout out to those who stick their necks out for the new shit. Please send me some links cuz I’m having trouble finding you.)
That my friends, is my biggest beef. The lazy ass media.
I feel like going off on some of the other critics (local Austin whiners who don’t like money being dumped on their city by the bucketful and who go and start mini “festivals” that run at the same time as SXSW…) never mind I’m not getting into that.
But “xxx,” I know who you are.
Fact of the matter is, I am not better than them, because instead of focusing on all the great things that came out of my SXSW experience, I’m complaining and honestly right now, at this moment, I have nothing to complain about. Except for the fact that I didn’t see Dokkebi Q play cuz I was caught up in craziness for most of Saturday. That’s it though. Wait, actually I’m also extremely annoyed that David Banner didn’t show up for his panel. But he did come out and rock his show, so whatever, I can’t complain too much.
And I won’t, in fact, I’m going to end this here, have a few beers and chill out and start working on my play by play run down in a separate post. People who hate complainers have probably already tuned out, and honestly, all the great things that happened last week deserve their own post.
And it was a great week. All that business about wanting to crash into the sun, went right away once the festival swung into full swing. The days approaching the fest, were some of the most stressfull, and nerve racking days I have ever spent, but that’s really only because I am a worry wart and have no faith in much of anything. Next year I have to remember that there’s really not so much to worry about.
SXSW went down, it goes down every year, it has for 22 years, and it will go down for years to come. And this my friends, it what really matters.
------------------------------------
“We’re about to crash into the sun. All of us! And that’s very bad.” My daughter Eva just screamed that from the bathtub as I sat down to write this, my SXSW ’08 wrap up. If she would have sent that warning two weeks ago, I might have run outside and welcomed the impending explosion with my arms wide open and my eyes tightly shut, but now that SXSW ’08 is all said and done – and hath been a smashing success – I’m going to hope that her five-year-old mind is just making things up.
For the past two years, I haven’t been able to write shit about the conference/festival I now call home for 12-14 hours a day between December and March, but this year I feel as though I have to. Generally, after the four day bacchanalia fest, I’m so wiped out that I really can’t muster up the energy to sit and actually think about what just went down. I also had to um, well, move along to the next hustle as my checks up until a few months ago were anything but regular.
But now, my life is on a different course. I’m duly employed, doing something I love and have loved to do on the side for some years, and yeah, things are a lot different.
Below you can see a ton of photos, just like you can see from years past if you click the archives over at HoustonSoReal. And from those photos – which many say are worth 1,000 words a piece - you can get an idea of the magnanimous undertaking that SXSW really is. It’s no mean feat, it’s no simple task, and this year, after eight years of having no real job to speak of, I immersed myself in it full bore. All the way. No turning back.
SXSW looks a lot different from the inside looking out. I liken it to any machine. Unless you take the machine apart and really study its mechanisms, you’ll probably have no idea how it works. That’s what bothers me most about SXSW’s critics. SXSW is the biggest and most useful and constructive party anyone has ever created in the history of the music business. It’s a complex puzzle put together by a relatively small group of individuals whose passion for the music supersedes their needs for sleep, and there’s haters out there who just love to talk shit about it.
I don’t normally take shit talking in stride, but as stated above, I’m an employee of this business now, and can’t take my personal feelings out on the nutsacks of the wieners who wanna whine about an event that drops more music, free beer, bar-b-q and opportunities on this two horse town for a few beautiful days every March than any other organization in the world.
But this is AustinSurreal, so I can talk a little shit, fuck it. (R.I.P. Pimp C – thanks for the inspiration brother).
First people I want to talk about are the critics who say “SXSW is no longer about new music and unsigned artists. It’s the big bands now who rule the roost.”
MOTHERFUCKER WE HAD 1,800 BANDS THIS YEAR! Are there even 1,800 bands signed to major labels in this world? Do you want to try and coordinate 1,800 bands on 80 stages over 4.2 nights? No, you don’t.
You also don’t seem to want to cover any of the indie/unsigned/new/local bands either. Every fucking writer that hit me up about this shit had the same questions. They weren’t asking things like “What’s the deal with these Norwegian rappers you are bringing?” “Who’s SouthBound and Ryno & Slim Gutta? Are they cool?” No they asked me how to get in touch with Ice Cube, Clipse and Bun B. They barely even gave a shit about Dizzee Rascal or Devin.
Then I sit and read the blogs and the papers and the magazines and it’s all about all the bands you would expect them to be about. It’s sad, cuz when I was growing up we had about 1/10th of the magazines, 1/16th of the radio stations, no internet, no satellite radio, and I think back then more music got thru to the masses than is getting through today. You can challenge me on that if you want to, but I pay attention and all I am seeing is a bunch of copy cat lazy ass motherfuckers all clamoring for the same thing.
It’s some bullshit (shout out to those who stick their necks out for the new shit. Please send me some links cuz I’m having trouble finding you.)
That my friends, is my biggest beef. The lazy ass media.
I feel like going off on some of the other critics (local Austin whiners who don’t like money being dumped on their city by the bucketful and who go and start mini “festivals” that run at the same time as SXSW…) never mind I’m not getting into that.
But “xxx,” I know who you are.
Fact of the matter is, I am not better than them, because instead of focusing on all the great things that came out of my SXSW experience, I’m complaining and honestly right now, at this moment, I have nothing to complain about. Except for the fact that I didn’t see Dokkebi Q play cuz I was caught up in craziness for most of Saturday. That’s it though. Wait, actually I’m also extremely annoyed that David Banner didn’t show up for his panel. But he did come out and rock his show, so whatever, I can’t complain too much.
And I won’t, in fact, I’m going to end this here, have a few beers and chill out and start working on my play by play run down in a separate post. People who hate complainers have probably already tuned out, and honestly, all the great things that happened last week deserve their own post.
And it was a great week. All that business about wanting to crash into the sun, went right away once the festival swung into full swing. The days approaching the fest, were some of the most stressfull, and nerve racking days I have ever spent, but that’s really only because I am a worry wart and have no faith in much of anything. Next year I have to remember that there’s really not so much to worry about.
SXSW went down, it goes down every year, it has for 22 years, and it will go down for years to come. And this my friends, it what really matters.
Monday, March 17, 2008
The Summit, The Pinnacle, SXSW '08
I'm bruised, scraped, scratched and sedated. The week we've been waiting for hath come and gone, and in my assessment, SXSW '08 WENT THE FUCK DOWN. Haters sit down now.
Anyway, YOU CAN CLICK HERE to see a bunch of footage on AllHipHop.com
and YOU CAN CLICK HERE to see a bunch of footage on USTREAM. Check the Panel footage, like whoa.
CLICK HERE to read NEKESA MUMBI MOODY's story on SXSW Hip-Hop. She's with AP so the story got all over! Like 200 Papers. I love you Nekesa!
Also CLICK HERE check out the man ICE CUBE live in concert from Auditorium Shores.
I'll write an entire synopsis on this tomorrow (I swear and also realize I haven't in the past couple years), but for tonight let the pics and a few words here and there suffice.
I started off MY SXSW experience by rolling over to the Scoot Inn to check out my homegirl, the First Lady of Sabbathe in the Park...
Maggi Horn!
Killin' it.
My man Mike was feelin' her.
Chalie Boy killed it at FUZE!
DJ Bull
Public Offenders outside Fuze after their killer set.
These a couple of Hustlers in ATX whogo 24/7 and such
Bankroll Jones
Bushwick Bill rushed at the very least 50 stages at SXSW throughout the weekend. He rapped with bands, introduced bands, rappers, everyone.
Shit was insane. Flavor of Love was cool, but follow this dude with a camera and you'll have 15 seasons of money to be made.
Bun B came out and killed it for sure. (Like I say, more of a review coming soon, not tonight)
Thursday I was able to see ONE artist who I wanted to see that I was not responsible for.
El Remolon on the Zizek night at 90 Proof.
JAMMIN'!
Deuce of Hot 93 interviewing Da COD live on the air from FUZE!
El-P, Del the Funky Homosapien
Perseph1, El-P
Devin & the Coughee Brothaz Killed It!
Domo
E-Rock of the 5th Ward Boyz
Jugg Mugg
Rob Quest
ODD SQUAD!
QUEEN MAJESTY!
Mark Sound
Lone Star waqs not an official sponsor but up in the Scoot it officially sponsored my Friday hangover.
Which really wasn't that bad.
JAMMER!
NEWHAM GENERALS!
DIZZEE RASCAL!
Aaron LaCrate DJed for Dizzee
Dan Tobin, Flamin' Hotz
Me & El-P
Me and Jesse from Def Jux
Rad Rich was dressing like that waaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy before the Cool Kids
Shina Rae, Me and Crystal
Scavone
Spinna of Dollaz and $ince
Austin's Kriminals killed it
As did Da C.O.D.
DJ Knowledge
Dirty Wormz
Tech N9ne fucking destroyed it!
Kidz in the Hall
Josh Martinez and Sleep!
Nick Cachdubs & Naledge
A-Alikes, M-1, Grouchy Greg +
A-Laget came thru from Norway with Lars Vaular. I can't believe I didn't get a decent pic of Lars!
A-Trak
Kid Sister of course killed it.
Kathryn Frazier & Dana Meyerson of Biz 3 Publicity, and I SWEAR I didn't realize that Perry Farrell was the dude in the pic till I looked at it today.
Know'm Sayin'?
I followed Kid Sister up onto the roof of Emo's...
Shannon is a prominent Sculptor in Austin
Dave 1 of Chromeo
P-Thugg of Chromeo
My wife saw Ice Cube roll into Emo's on Friday night for the Biz 3 show and said he wasn't letting anyone take photos. But then I saw Draper and decided to move in for it.
ICE CUBE, TONY DRAPER, CLIPSE and WC AT EMO'S!!!!!
Me and Southern Rap Pioneer Tony Draper
World Trade rocked the Carver Center! Bavu Blakes.
Bavu Blakes & Rochelle Terrell
Element 7D - World Trade
The panel was actually really informative. WATCH IT HERE!
Soren Baker, Tech N9ne, Tomar Williams
Davey D, Grouchy Greg
Cingo Bling
Pikhasso in the house!
Saturday night atthe Music Hall, Pimpin' Pen got up and killed it.
Murs
Question
Michael Watts and Eddie Deville seriously killed the show at the Music Hall Saturday!
Seriously.
Rob G and SWAT as well
Dolemic & Rob G
Cooda Bang, Archie Lee & Big Red
And David Banner showed them how it's supposed to go!
This did not come from me.
Then on SOnday ti really went down.
SABBATH IN THE PARK!
Sabbath Security Scavone, Cosmo Baker, Me and Maggi Horn aka THE BOARD!
The Queen was up in the piece.
The beginnings
Jeanette Live in Austin! Norway in fool effect. SABBATH IN THE PARK!
As seen with Scavone Sabbath Security
Mike, Skratch Bastid, Jazz & Jill
Sun Jue in the spot
Dan Tobin & Casi G. - Flamin' Hotz Records.
Curtis Vodka in from Alaska
ROXY AND QUEEN MAJESTY UP IN THE PLACE!
Serg & my favorite DJ Stef!
Tami & Her Husband
DJ STEF!
My wife Melissa brought the Radio Flyer and got the party really started.
Michelle Frost even.
NORWEGIANS!
Know'm sayin'?
Kasia made a beautiful headband out of REAL FLOWERS for my girls. Crafts are encouraged at Sabbath in the Park.
Ian Meyer - OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER AND ARCHIVIST OF SABBATH IN THE PARK, LLC!
Tierney was not feeling the paparazzi
Jill, Jazz
And then in this next series, names have been omitted to protect the identities of the partakers of that apple bowl.
Know'm sayin'?
Anyway every inch of Austin was crunk for every second of every day and night from like what, March 12th to the 16th and it's already goin' down today on that St. Patrick's Day!
Anyway, blanks will be fillded in.
Check out the UStream of the panel!
Anyway, YOU CAN CLICK HERE to see a bunch of footage on AllHipHop.com
and YOU CAN CLICK HERE to see a bunch of footage on USTREAM. Check the Panel footage, like whoa.
CLICK HERE to read NEKESA MUMBI MOODY's story on SXSW Hip-Hop. She's with AP so the story got all over! Like 200 Papers. I love you Nekesa!
Also CLICK HERE check out the man ICE CUBE live in concert from Auditorium Shores.
I'll write an entire synopsis on this tomorrow (I swear and also realize I haven't in the past couple years), but for tonight let the pics and a few words here and there suffice.
I started off MY SXSW experience by rolling over to the Scoot Inn to check out my homegirl, the First Lady of Sabbathe in the Park...
Maggi Horn!
Killin' it.
My man Mike was feelin' her.
Chalie Boy killed it at FUZE!
DJ Bull
Public Offenders outside Fuze after their killer set.
These a couple of Hustlers in ATX whogo 24/7 and such
Bankroll Jones
Bushwick Bill rushed at the very least 50 stages at SXSW throughout the weekend. He rapped with bands, introduced bands, rappers, everyone.
Shit was insane. Flavor of Love was cool, but follow this dude with a camera and you'll have 15 seasons of money to be made.
Bun B came out and killed it for sure. (Like I say, more of a review coming soon, not tonight)
Thursday I was able to see ONE artist who I wanted to see that I was not responsible for.
El Remolon on the Zizek night at 90 Proof.
JAMMIN'!
Deuce of Hot 93 interviewing Da COD live on the air from FUZE!
El-P, Del the Funky Homosapien
Perseph1, El-P
Devin & the Coughee Brothaz Killed It!
Domo
E-Rock of the 5th Ward Boyz
Jugg Mugg
Rob Quest
ODD SQUAD!
QUEEN MAJESTY!
Mark Sound
Lone Star waqs not an official sponsor but up in the Scoot it officially sponsored my Friday hangover.
Which really wasn't that bad.
JAMMER!
NEWHAM GENERALS!
DIZZEE RASCAL!
Aaron LaCrate DJed for Dizzee
Dan Tobin, Flamin' Hotz
Me & El-P
Me and Jesse from Def Jux
Rad Rich was dressing like that waaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy before the Cool Kids
Shina Rae, Me and Crystal
Scavone
Spinna of Dollaz and $ince
Austin's Kriminals killed it
As did Da C.O.D.
DJ Knowledge
Dirty Wormz
Tech N9ne fucking destroyed it!
Kidz in the Hall
Josh Martinez and Sleep!
Nick Cachdubs & Naledge
A-Alikes, M-1, Grouchy Greg +
A-Laget came thru from Norway with Lars Vaular. I can't believe I didn't get a decent pic of Lars!
A-Trak
Kid Sister of course killed it.
Kathryn Frazier & Dana Meyerson of Biz 3 Publicity, and I SWEAR I didn't realize that Perry Farrell was the dude in the pic till I looked at it today.
Know'm Sayin'?
I followed Kid Sister up onto the roof of Emo's...
Shannon is a prominent Sculptor in Austin
Dave 1 of Chromeo
P-Thugg of Chromeo
My wife saw Ice Cube roll into Emo's on Friday night for the Biz 3 show and said he wasn't letting anyone take photos. But then I saw Draper and decided to move in for it.
ICE CUBE, TONY DRAPER, CLIPSE and WC AT EMO'S!!!!!
Me and Southern Rap Pioneer Tony Draper
World Trade rocked the Carver Center! Bavu Blakes.
Bavu Blakes & Rochelle Terrell
Element 7D - World Trade
The panel was actually really informative. WATCH IT HERE!
Soren Baker, Tech N9ne, Tomar Williams
Davey D, Grouchy Greg
Cingo Bling
Pikhasso in the house!
Saturday night atthe Music Hall, Pimpin' Pen got up and killed it.
Murs
Question
Michael Watts and Eddie Deville seriously killed the show at the Music Hall Saturday!
Seriously.
Rob G and SWAT as well
Dolemic & Rob G
Cooda Bang, Archie Lee & Big Red
And David Banner showed them how it's supposed to go!
This did not come from me.
Then on SOnday ti really went down.
SABBATH IN THE PARK!
Sabbath Security Scavone, Cosmo Baker, Me and Maggi Horn aka THE BOARD!
The Queen was up in the piece.
The beginnings
Jeanette Live in Austin! Norway in fool effect. SABBATH IN THE PARK!
As seen with Scavone Sabbath Security
Mike, Skratch Bastid, Jazz & Jill
Sun Jue in the spot
Dan Tobin & Casi G. - Flamin' Hotz Records.
Curtis Vodka in from Alaska
ROXY AND QUEEN MAJESTY UP IN THE PLACE!
Serg & my favorite DJ Stef!
Tami & Her Husband
DJ STEF!
My wife Melissa brought the Radio Flyer and got the party really started.
Michelle Frost even.
NORWEGIANS!
Know'm sayin'?
Kasia made a beautiful headband out of REAL FLOWERS for my girls. Crafts are encouraged at Sabbath in the Park.
Ian Meyer - OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER AND ARCHIVIST OF SABBATH IN THE PARK, LLC!
Tierney was not feeling the paparazzi
Jill, Jazz
And then in this next series, names have been omitted to protect the identities of the partakers of that apple bowl.
Know'm sayin'?
Anyway every inch of Austin was crunk for every second of every day and night from like what, March 12th to the 16th and it's already goin' down today on that St. Patrick's Day!
Anyway, blanks will be fillded in.
Check out the UStream of the panel!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
