get down!

Check out this flute Beatboxing my boy Matt shared with us...Dudes name is Nathan "Beatbox" Lee.

Speak, Memory

One of the most exciting things about being in graduate school is the books that fall into my hands simply because I'm surrounded on all sides by artists of all types, shapes, colors and backgrounds. Nabokov's Speak Memory is the latest in this long string of books and novels that I sadly haven't had time to blog about.

Nabokov's (most famous for his epic novel, Lolita) autobiography is unique for this reason; at the age of 66, he sat down and patiently took the time to retrace his entire life, moment by moment, and put it all down in this uniquely crafted collection of observations and musings. He reaches further back into his memory than most of us ever think possible, as a sort of intellectual, almost psychological exercise, and finds himself lost in a vast, intimate world of senses, feelings and emotions.

I find that by simply reading his thoughts (and they're detailed), my own memory is sparked, and my mind unconciously begins to move in the same sort of inward direction, into the past. Every time i put down Speak, Memory, memories of my own come back to me, things I haven't remembered in years! I dont know why that happens, and I dont really question it either. I simply enjoy it. I enjoy how one artists personal experience can relate to anothers, across borders, time, language, and origin.

To share the experience seems like the natural thing to do.

So if you're looking for a good book this summer, a different type of autobiography, I'd recommended this.

Homecoming

We all think about a place better than here sometimes. A place where we can kick back, relax, breathe easy, chill. A place that is familiar and warm, non-threatening and engaging. Nigerian-born singer, Siji, takes us there with his new video, "Yearning for home". The self-taught piano, percussion, and acoustic bass player makes nostalgia feel so right, so honest, so true with this new cut. A lover of Afrobeats and Brazilian rhythms myself, it was very refreshing to find this video and this artist. I believe he makes art, like this video, that many will be able to identify with, no matter where you are from. Check it out and see what you think.

You can find more information about this artist at www.sijimusic.com

Alas, enjoy..."Yearning for Home".

Snippets of todays headlines..

"The gunman responsible for the deadliest crime in Alabama's history worked briefly as a police officer in the small town of Samson, which was hardest hit by Tuesday's deadly rampage, authorities said Wednesday.

By the time it was over, McLendon had shot and killed at least 10 people -- including two children -- and wounded at least four others before he killed himself, officials said.

But they still have no idea of a motive."

full story here

and abroad,

"Germany is in shock after a heavily armed 17-year-old opened fire on pupils and teachers at his former school in a killing spree in which 15 people died."



full storyhere



my question, honestly. WHY ARE FIREARMS LEGAL?????? comment away, because I'm confused, and have been on this issue for quite some time.

Party All the Time!

RIP Rick James!

For the Ladies

So March marks the celebration of the female gender with "Women's History Month". BIG UPS TO ALL WOMEN! Um, no, I am not a woman but I sure do love 'em. And no it's not because of what they have between their legs, or their curves, or their smiles, or their decidely superior wit than us men. While these things are all attractive, I am bigging up women because they complete us, balance us, nurture us, support us. We would not be here if not for women...literally. "So I wonder why we take from our women, why we rape our women, do we hate our women?," as the late-great Tupac Shakur stated and asked. It's true: we men need to take more responsibility for the way women are treated. Women are degraded, abused verbally and physically, mistreated by so many of us for so long that we think it is the norm. But it's not. Do your research and you will find women rulers of ancient kingdoms from the continent of Africa to the shores of Asia. Look around now and you will see women in numerous leadership positions, controlling revenue, managing employees, deciding policies. No, women are not inferior. They are our equals and should be treated like it. We are in a time of progress in both America and the world, I believe. So, like the previous post stated, let's progress...please. While it shouldn't take an arbitrary month to recognize and celebrate women, just like Black History Month, it is still needed today to shine light on issues that go unnoticed by far too many. So take time to appreciate the "other" gender this month. Don't do it because I said so. Do it for your mother, your sister, your third grade teacher, your first crush, your current lover. Do it because you know it's right and it's needed and it resonates with your spirit and being.



There are plenty of events supporting this cause this month. Check your local newspaper to find out what they are and where they are. Also check out the V-Day Movement and the National Women's History Project. Better yet, just acknowledgethe plight of the female race by random acts of kindness, reading up on women leaders, and/or spreading the word about us men adjusting our attitudes towards our lovely partners. Let's show them that we care.

Luv ya ladies :)


Keep Your Eyes Open! from Katie Cappiello on Vimeo.
(Video streamed from www.theartseffectnyc.com)

The Irony of Progress

I AM SEAN BELL, black boys speak from Stacey Muhammad on Vimeo.

Sean Bell, Amadou Diallo, Oscar Grant, ...all excessive incidents of police brutality towards unarmed young Black men.

Don't worry...my fist isn't raised up in the air, nor am I claiming that everybody in positions of authority are corrupt. Its never that simple. I just want to make sure we're all aware of what's going on. A 22 year old man with a four year old daughter rides the subway a few blocks from my home, is accosted by police, and ends up SHOT, close range, in front of a crowd of bewildered Oakland residents, many of them filming the incident on their cell phones? Wow. I'm saddened by the fact that I even have to write this. Saddened by the fact that instead of happy, healthy, lives, these individuals have become mere names in a song, postings on a blog, or a one minute segment on the nightly news, a tragic story told just before moving on to the weather, or sports. I try and let it go, but I can't. Not when I see the images plastered all over Oakland, hear the helicopters above keeping a close eye on protesters. Change and Progress are such poetic words, but all I see around me is Pain and Anger. And the image of this face.



Truth be told, I hate talking about race. Like many of us, I've evolved beyond the dated concept, and moved on into more important issues; the pursuit of happiness, self fulfillment, careers, family, God, Love. But every once in a while (in this country, approximately every year), something like this happens, and reminds us how closely race and social class are intertwined, especially in this United States of America. It reminds me that as the most feared minority group in this country (some would argue with this, post a comment and lets talk), it is unsafe for me to walk the streets of my own neighborhood, because clearly, my life can be taken at any time, irregardless of my family, friends, past and future. All it takes is a slight misinterpretation and a run in with someone with the authority to abuse power.

I'm grateful to all those who are the change they wish to see, who have taken steps to erase racism, transcend borders and stereotypes. I pray for those who for some reason, fail to see how precious a human life is...regardless of age, color, background, sex, sexual orientation, political class, people are people.

Lets Progress...please.

the role player-a study of miss Vinia Mojica

role player
n.
1. One who assumes or acts out a particular role.
2. One who engages in role-playing.
3. Sports A team athlete who plays mainly in specific situations.

Vinia Mojica has been singing background vocals on hip hop and soul records for the past twenty years, and she's somehow managed to remain relatively unknown. You know how in sports, every championship team must have their one or two all stars? Its the same with music. Artists like Vinia Mojica remind us all that sometimes role players are just as crucial to success as the stars themselves. Role players doing their jobs humbly are often the reason why the stars get to shine so bright.

Much like early JayDee (J-Dilla) productions, her songs are the types that people listen to and immediately like but never can pinpoint why. Her workings are subtle, entrancing, and incredibly melodic. From her contributions to the early Native Tongues to her recent delving into downtempo and experimental grooves, I'm sure you'll find the sounds of Miss Mojica as enchanting as I do.

(humming BlackStar's "Knowledge of Self Determination" as we speak. Yes, thats her singing Minnie Ripperton on the hook..)

Download the mixtape here.




a few of her more commonly knowns....

“Time Traveling (a Tribute to Fela)” from Common's Like Water For Chocolate.
-On this classic album from the brother Common Sense, Vinia’s voice opens up the first track, chanting Yoruba style, setting the mood, establishing the groove.

“KOS Determination” from Black Star's epic, Black Star

“Climb,” - Mos Def "Black On Both Sides"
-This record sounds like the soundtrack to the long ride home. You’re half-asleep and half-drunk and half-considering calling that ex-girlfriend or boyfriend who would really rather not hear from you – especially not at three-thirty in the morning. Looking out of the car window, you see the telephone poles and houses floating backwards through the night. The street lights looking all hazy. (courtesy of Mtume ya Salaam)

De La Soul – “A Roller Skating Jam Named ‘Saturdays’” – From De La Soul Is Dead (Tommy Boy, 1991)
-click here for the video.

Hi-Tek feat. Mos Def & Vinia Mojica – “Get Ta Steppin’” – From Hi-Teknology (Rawkus, 2001)

A Tribe Called Quest – “Verses From The Abstract” – From The Low End Theory (Jive, 1991)
-One of my favorite tribe albums...with legendary bassist Ron Carter on the bass. So innovative for hip-hop.

enjoy!


*PS....just found this track of hers, "Idols"!!! soundtrack to my day. check it out.

War and Peace

Life can be stressful. There is work, play, bills, relationships, wants, needs, etc. that can get us tight about how to move on with our lives. Through the madness and trying to find balance in it all, sometimes we loose focus, we forget our intention, and we become stressed. My life has been flirting with this scenario lately. How do I deal with all of my responsibilities and still remain poised and calm? Speaking to a friend last night, getting stressed about another task I had to accomplish but hadn't been done yet -- post on this blog -- I remembered a book I read last year that shone a bright light on this topic. It is called Way of the Peaceful Warrior and I am recommending it you you.



"Way" was written by Dan Millman. Millman, a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor, provides insights on how to manage your daily workload while still cultivating your life's purpose. He reminds us of the simplicities of life and the grandness of our spirits and resolve. His teachings, semi-autobiographical in nature, demands that we practice cultivating our crafts and talents, not just do them. They urge us to keep on when times get most challenging, stating "A warrior does not give up what he loves, he finds the love in what he is does." Peacful Warrior is full of wisdom and insights about becoming your best you...and the terribly strenous path of getting there. It is a contradiction of sorts: being at peace but working so hard to maintain it. Yet it makes perfect sense once you are in the moment.

I will not spoil the book by telling all of its secrets. Just go buy it and read it. There is also a movie about it that is pretty good. Check the trailer below. Ultimately, I am recommending this book because of its depth in truth and clarity in reflection. Life is tough these days managing a heavy workload, but through sacrifice, hard work, spiritual development, and faith I am refinding the peace in the war I am fighting for a better me, a better tomorrow, a better life experience for all.

On that note, I'm out. Peace.

A Delicate Balance

So last night, in my ongoing attempts to stay current and support independent theatre, I checked out a local San Francisco theatre house's production of Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize winning play, A Delicate Balance.

I hate to say it, but it was pretty weak.

Okay, so an upper middle class family spends an hour and a half of my time boasting on and on about the loneliness of their quiet lives of privilege out in suburbia somewhere. Fine. The play is salvaged by the few moments of truth that come from the blithe, diva-esque, alcoholic sister who butts in on every serious conversation and forces people to stop dancing around the truth and say what they were actually feeling. Good. Now, the "dramatic peak" in the play is when the family's best friends arrive unannounced and lock themselves upstairs in their daughters old room with no intention of leaving. Interesting. This leads them into a procession of elaborate monologues between husband, wife, alcoholic sister, and spoiled daughter, the theme of keeping a balance revisited every now and then, if you cared enough to listen carefully.

I wish I could say I loved it, because I generally love the live theatre, but the truth is that at no time during the entire production did I feel an ounce of sympathy for any of the characters. Their plight seem flighty and unbelievable. Their monologues overly wordy and full of moments of indecision.

The only character I felt bad for was the one Black actor in the play, Harry, who played a shy, stuttering, relatively one dimensional character who spoke like he was a servant happy to be in these folks home. As articulate as all these characters were (and they went over the top...the types who would say ''i wholeheartedly concur" instead of "yea i see your point" ), why is it that the one Black character, who had several lines, cant manage to have more than a monosyllabic word written into his script?

Now...maybe its because I was the only Black person in the audience, maybe. Maybe its because I'm taking an African American Lit class right now thats opening my eyes up to these sorts of things, but it amazes me how Bamboozled African American actors still are, even today.

Sorry to Hate, but Not Recommended.

Concentrate

Concentration is the ROOT cause of all the higher abilities in man. - Bruce Lee

Just Tell your story!

Okay, so I may not be Brett Ratner's biggest fan (he directed Rush Hour 2 and 3), but I really like his philosophy on how to get started in whatever it is you love. Just DO IT! check it out...

Let the Right One In

I'll admit I was never much into Vampire flicks, but this one wasn't too bad.

"Let The Right One In" is a Swedish film about a young boy who falls in love with a young girl who happens to be a blood sucking vampire. Along the lines of the widely acclaimed Twilight series, what makes this movie remarkable (its won tons of awards) is how well the writer John Ajvide Lindqvist and director Tomas Alfredson evoke sympathy out of the audience. Halfway into the film, you forget about the body count she's left behind her and instead sympathize with her tragic fate; She wants more than anything to be human, but she can't deny her insatiable thirst for blood. What's a vampire to do?

Recommended, if you don't mind subtitles. Check the trailer below.

good graffiti

Graffiti artist in Colombia are so creative with it. I love this image.

Hang Loose

This particular video always inspires me when I watch it. This is a great band from the 70s, headed by a group of brothers and multi-instrumentalists from Brooklyn, NY by way of Panama. Their fusion of funk, rock, latin, african, r&b, and jazz made them a distinct sound and presence during their time, receiving the attention and admiration of many stars from then and now. I think their style and groove is a good example of what can be accomplished through the coexistence of teamwork and individuality. This is Mandrill Hang loose.

Make it reign

This video may not be that new to some, but it will be new to others. This guy is a sensation for his simplicity, a hit because of his honesty. As thrown off as you may be by his style, his message makes sense...and maybe that's all that matters.



I decided to post this in honor of the Obama Inaguration coming up. Indeed it has been a long road coming, and there is still so much farther to go. Let us reflect on the journey and move forward. Be present...especially for this particular moment. "History [is] quickly crashing through your veins."

book review: Nami Mun-Miles From Nowhere

Nami Mun is the author of a wonderful book entitled Miles From Nowhere. I picked up this book randomly at a independent book seller down on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and from the moment I opened it, I knew I was holding something special.

Her style of prose is imaginative, light, flows freely and yet has poignant and well defined characters. It deals with a young Korean girl born in the Bronx who runs away from an alcoholic father and a emotionally defunct mother to living on the streets in the 80s and going through a series of random adventures with a variety of street personalities along the way. As with most good novels, its just as much about the way in which she's writing as what she's actually writing about.

Its always nice to experience new and unique voices, both abroad and here in the States. Mun, a Korean American immigrant writing about the harsh realities of life in a modern urban environment, certainly fits the mold. She also has this quiet tendency to evoke the deepest of emotions out of everyday situations and put them into poetical form. Needless to say, when you read her work, you're in her world.

I consider Nami Mun's Miles From Nowhere one of those books you only get every so often. A gem. I'm honestly lucky to have happened to wander into that particular book store after my lunch with Rios at cafe havana, lucky that one of the avid readers who worked there recommended this novel as one of the staff picks, and lucky that all but one had disappeared off the shelves before I stumbled in there and got my hands on this copy. Great read. Highly recommended.

Lovely Standards

If you listen closely to Amel Larrieux’s voice, you’ll discover why she has such a loyal fan base. Her music to me is like meditation, not to mention that there’s something to be said about music that not only entertains, but heals.

Think Norah Jones Norah Jones meets Corinne Bailey Rae, a touch of Dinah Washington, and a dash of Cassandra Wilson. Perfect for late afternoons with tea and dim lights. Enjoy.

click here to download!

And for those not familiar with her stellar body of work, follow the link to watch Groove Theory's classic 90s throwback, "Tell Me".

Words of Encouragement

"To have faith requires courage, the ability to take a risk, the readiness even to accept pain and disappointment. Whoever insists on safety and security as primary conditions of life cannot have faith; whoever shuts himself off in a system of defense, where distance and possession are his means of security, makes himself a prisoner. To be loved, and to love, need courage, the courage to judge certain values as of ultimate concern - and to take the jump and stake everything on these values.
-Erich Fromm

The end is not near

...it's here.

Found this a bit interesting when seeking inspiration for the new year. And what did I find? The New Year.



Here's to a new beginning.

Happy New You

Happy New You!

Today is special for a number of reasons. For one, we woke up today and we are still living. Secondly, we are in a season of change, experiencing cultural and spiritual shifts throughout the world, as well as a new year on the calendar that we follow. This means new possibilities and opportunities are on the horizon. There is hope. Yes, we can. And lastly, Ed Ntiri and Chike Nwabukwu have joined forces after years of talks and separate walks to lead a movement aimed at developing the self while supporting the community. Today we begin that journey together, individually contributing for the collective good.

I won't elaborate much more. Just stay tuned and visit us often. You may be just as surprised as we are by the dopeness this blog has to offer.

Peace, progress, and prosperity. See you soon.