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.