Nice shot of DJ Sep who runs a weekly in San Francisco called Dub Mission. The party is held at the legendary Elbo Room and is now running 16 years strong….!
When she books an act she lines up interviews with the local press, radio appearances, citywide promotion and I am even working on a new Riddim series for her. The great Dr Israel has already submitted his version.
ATTN: ‘BRO’ promoters who say “it’s all about the draw of the artist”. You spend your college fund to book a big name, and then STILL have them playing to an empty room… You are HUSTLING BACKWARDS…lol Take notes, because this young lady is kicking your ass.
I have to be honest… I have not seen the value in attending music seminars for a long time. To me it’s really a lot of sales pitches, or panels about what COULD be.. rather than deciding on actionable ideas.
I see so much lateral thinking among music industry people… It’s like the quarterback running side to side but never throwing the ball. I’m happy to say a number of conversations I had in New York show that people share the same sentiment. As the standard music industry crumbles, many of these people are the ones who will reconstruct it.
I also got to introduce several excellent acts, (at a few APAP related functions), then Sunday night raised some hell at the GlobalFest afterparty.
VIDEO: Call Red Alert – MC ZULU @ The GlobalFest After Party with DJ Warp And DJ SoundCulture. Courtesy Of Ankur Malhotra (Amarrass Records)
NYC’s APAP conference, along with a concurrently running festival, GlobalFest have emerged as top tastemakers in Music industry booking circles. One of the main conversations I had with organizers is that electronic music could be given more consideration.
CROWD FOOTAGE Courtesy Of Marissa Neff: Call Red Alert
You definitely do NOT want to phase out the masters and virtuosos in favor of the local 13 yr old DJ/Producer with a World Beat sample pack… (that’s what the rest of the festivals are doing) but I believe there should be more of a balance. The simple fact is people all over the world are now making music electronically. That needs to be acknowledged.
VIDEO: Spanish Vocalist/Rapper “La Shica” is classically trained in the art of Flamenco dance and music.
The thing that has strained this argument before is because everyone was trying to RAP like Americans. As it stands today however, people have incorporated their indigenous feel into both electronic production and vocal delivery. There is no longer any pressure to sound like Tupac. Critics and consumers alike realize it’s not being done WRONG, it’s a different point of view.
VIDEO: Representing Electronic interests on the World front, A Tribe Called Red @ GlobalFest
True self-expression has entered into the picture. This is the same life cycle that Reggae/Dancehall followed. Once it evolved into something more than pale imitation, it caught fire on its own.
This is the great thing about being a “nobody”…lol Every so often you can pull an “espionage” move and slip in where you don’t belong. So I submitted my project “Electro Track Therapy” for Grammy consideration in the “Best Reggae Album” category… just because I’m audacious like that. Out of the thousands of submissions the list was cut down to a “Top 50″, which my album was on!
I didn’t get nominated, but still… let me tell you why it makes me happy. I have never had a full project released by a record label, other than my own. Some “larger” artists in my Reggae-influenced, Global Bass genre have done the best they could to sweep my projects under the rug, while taking my ideas. I know you don’t believe that…., but such is life.
This small validation puts me next to great artists like Vybz Kartel, Busy Signal and Mr. Vegas, without having ANY of their connections. If Grammy music is judged primarily on how it SOUNDS….. then I’m on the right track, even as a DIY nomad.
I was quite sure the Grammy people would not even LISTEN to the album, but I sent it anyway… because I am not one to shy away from a worthwhile challenge. Making the provisional list gives me the confirmation to go swinging right back at them with my NEXT album “Love Machine”. Thanks, to all the sites that carried that brief news and CONGRATS TO THE NOMINEES!
You will see me again
Full List of Reggae “Provisionals”…lol
-
Freedom Fighter
(Anthony B)
Dust and Dirt
(The Black Seeds)
Catch Me If You Can
(Sophia Brown)
Reggae Music Again
(Busy Signal)
Rebirth
(Jimmy Cliff)
The Invitation
(C-Sharp)
Can’t Stop Loving You
(The Billy David Band)
Krazy Love
(Da’Ville)
Easy Star’s Thrillah
(Easy Star All Stars)
Love and the Human Outreach
(Echo Movement)
Gimme What’s Mine
(Chantelle Ernandez)
Diversity
(Gentleman)
Reggae Music Lives
(Gramps Morgan)
Ways and Means
(The Green)
Building an Ark
(Groundation)
Crying to The Nation
(I-Octane)
Life Teachings
(I-Wayne)
In Another Time
(Irie Time)
From Letters to Words
(Courtney John)
Mental Maintenance
(Konshens)
Dancing Shoes
(Malijah)
Electro Track Therapy
(MC Zulu)
In Awe
(Midnite)
Sweet Jamaica
(Mr Vegas)
Miracle
(The Original Wailers)
Tomahawk Technique
(Sean Paul)
Journey of 1000 Miles
(Perfect Giddimani)
Plays The Ventures
(Dwight Pinkney and DP Band)
Break Loose
(Prophecy)
No Fear No Man
(Anthony Que)
Regular
(Ram Ramakar)
The Next Chapter
(Delly Ranx)
Peace of Mind
(Rebelution)
Time
(Bunny Rugs)
Warrior of Jah Army
(Singer Jah)
They Call Me Mr Melody
(Singing Melody)
The Chant
(Sizzla)
In Gambia
(Sizzla)
New Legend — Jamaica 50th Edition
(Sly and Robbie and the Jam Masters)
Strength to Survive
(SOJA)
Children of Humboldt
(Jade Steel and Emerald Triangle)
Judge Not
(Ton-A-Hope)
Reggae Got Soul: Unplugged on Strawberry Hill
(Toots and The Maytals)
The Hit List Vol III
(Various Artistes)
Jah Golden Throne
(Various Artisets)
Overproof Riddim — Full Strength
(Various Artistes)
Reggae Gold 2012
(Various Artistes)
The Ultimate 2012
(Various Artistes)
The System
(Romain Virgo)
Pon Di Gaza Mi Sey
(Vybz Kartel)
Tell Me How Me Sound
(Warrior King)
Masterpiece
(Glen Washington)
Land Of The Free
(Martin Zobel and Soulrise)
This is Guerrilla film making at its finest…
I met the group Gato Preto for the first time at a party at hit-making producer The Bumps’ London flat. Prior to that I sent them a verse for this song, but we had only pretty much corresponded on Facebook. The day after Bumps’ party we did the best we could to meet at the Notting Hill Carnival to shoot scenes for this video (with the crowd)… It almost didn’t happen.
After 3 hours of trying to link up… what we were able to get was me lip synching a verse, right when everyone was leaving, in the fading sunlight, while the police were telling us that we had to clear the street. There was also the frustrated resident of Notting Hill who threw everyone’s personal belongings into a mound of garbage. (If you’ve ever been you’d know…) Anyway, I have to thank Lidia Winestone and Domenik Broich for their patience, stellar camera work and editing.
Gato Preto is comprised of producer Lee Bass, and Gata Mysteriosa. She is one of the most charismatic onstage personas I have seen in quite some time.. We performed together later that night at Bumps’ monthly “Club Popozuda” DJ night, and she is brilliant. The rate at which this duo turns out work is quite impressive. They have also done several European dates in a short period of time.
My impression, given Lee Bass’ sense of urgency (and finesse) with which he enlists producers and vocalists for these projects, is that if an opportunity to do something great comes along they will be in a prime position to seize it. Get the above EP as a Free Download by visiting the Gato Preto BandCamp page and get acquainted early. I have a great feeling about them.
I wanted to re-introduce this track after watching “The Cannibal Warlords of Liberia”, thinking about Chicago streets, and more unrest in the Middle East. It seems CORRUPT POLITICIANS are at the heart of everything. These situations all have that in common.
“Streets Of Hell” was a track I made with Liquid Stranger for his Arcane Terrain project. It started off as this aggressive kind of Dubstep. Somehow he got the idea that Reggae Dub would be a better fit, and remixed his entire album in a matter of weeks. (Don’t doubt the mad skillz) It stayed at Beatport Reggae’s Top Ten for more than a year.
Anyway, this song was eventually remixed into “Vigilante” which was..OK… but this was my original vision…. Aggro, Anti-Gun-Violence anthem.
In the West we really have no concept of how others are living around the world. Adolescent heroin addicts, child soldiers, underage sex workers… abound in Liberia, a country the United States set aside for slaves returning to Africa.
The thing is the slaves didn’t just return. They brought their slave mentality with them. The end result is what we have today. Can things be any different anywhere in the world? What’s to stop YOUR city streets from becoming this way if you let YOUR mind become enslaved?
===-===-===
Lyrics
===-===-===
Me a tell you fi real..
It’s like The gun man out a road a shot down the innocent people all the while.
Me nuh wan rush to judgement you know? But still, if dem nah have no regard
fi de innocent only one way fi deal with dem. Send dem straight down a Hell
Real Talk
Gun Man Search For Glory, People dem feel the pain
Life in the wrong direction, Everyone else to blame?
In judgement you stand before me, You nah see the morning light
I am sending you to tell your story, Inna the streets of hell tonight
-
Corrupted politician next to go. People dem fi carry heavy load.
Tell me if a better way to roll. Don’t really want to know
BANG … Run It…
A so we stay. This is the retribution episode
-
Think you hard? In that regard you’re not alone, but nobody want civilian terror zone.
Devil we a go send you home.
Take up your cause, plead the case to the Vampire jury. Feel the fury.
Executioner future waiting.
Gunman report to the Vigilante Gun Court. I’d rather peace inna the streets.
The corrupted official and the money dem shouldn’t accept it.
The life of innocent dem should not take it…. check it.
I recently made a post about going to the polls dressed as a Black Panther, speaking in a thick African accent… or some craziness I described. Most people saw it for what it was. A JOKE.
Really, I went to the polls with my kids, voted (even for a few Republicans) and went home to cook dinner (yaaawwn); Meanwhile online I was being subjected to a LITANY of verbal assault from several conservative, racist-trash individuals, who although they are NOT even connected to me on social media… (Thanks Facebook Security) all read the post and decided they should “pray for me and my children”, because “I’m what’s wrong with this country today”…… you insolent SWINE.
Ultimately they removed their posts… COWARDS.
Just to show you all I am NOT afraid of any of you… I wanted to give you my current snapshot of AMERIKKA in 2012, as I see it. In fact, to commemorate Barack Obama’s 2nd election, and ALSO in the hopes that we can finally get this shit right, let’s put EVERYONE ON BLAST today!
The Top Two DREGS Of Society Right Now
RACIST WHITE MALES:
Beyond your WHITE vote, Mitt Romney does not give TWO SHITS about you; nor does Barack Obama. If your only worldly possessions are a bloodhound and a shotgun, There IS NO MONEY for the government to take from you! I have more news for you. The only reason your makeshift, meth lab has not been raided is because the ATF is afraid of blowing the entire trailer park sky high.
All you guys in the boardrooms, If you’re wondering to yourself… Am I a racist? I will tell you the one dead giveaway. If the only two emotions you feel on a daily basis are: 1. Fear and 2. Anger, then Congratulations… You Are The Oppressor.
SELLOUT BLACK MALES:
Are you out of your G*Damn mind? Pissed off at George Zimmerman but shooting up your OWN neighborhood? The few of you who ARE employed will KISS the WHITE MANS ASS one day, and then BEAT THE HELL out of a Black Woman on the next. Check YouTube for the evidence. Every time Whitey had a slave whipped, that whip was swung by YOUR Boot Lickin’, “Step ‘N’ Fetch It” azz… You did the dirty work while “boss” drank lemonade in the shade.
Fast Forward to 2012 and things have not changed one bit…. “Gangsta”. Got your GUN out to shoot-a nigga? Ridin’ Dirty to go make more babies you won’t support? 47 years old under house arrest at your grandmothers place…. working on that RAP album with no other form of income; Keepin’ it REAL, huh Dawg..?
P.S. If she’s a Hood Rat, it’s because of how you have treated / neglected her. ESPECIALLY if you are her father.
………Who’s Almost There?
LATINOS:
While the debate over whether you BELONG in the USA rages, here’s something to consider.. THIS IS YOUR G*DAMN country!! You were here FIRST! You are the Native Americans who crossed the Bering Straight! This is why I support naturalization. The problem is that the ESTABLISHMENT has been against your progress, and far too many of you think that by hating Blacks, you’ll SOMEHOW be accepted by Whites… Scroll up to see how that turns out.
So many Latinos are hard working citizens whose children are poised to become true leaders in society, while a few have become ruthless wannabe drug lords #nobueno
They Play Us Against One Another
In the U.S.A. while the Super-Rich, FACIST press corp pretends that there is some war with Blacks, Whites and Latinos… Blacks right now are in a CIVIL WAR. Whites are beginning to see the game for what it is. The Latino community has also become more educated, cultured and vibrant. We need to stand strong and resist what has happened with class warfare in the past; continue the progress we have made in recent years and move away from the streets, into the colleges.
David Bowie/Nine Inch Nails – I’m Afraid Of Americans
Who’s Getting It Right In America?
ASIANS:
Many of the top Singers, Rappers, Dancers and Actors right now are of Asian decent. But THEN AGAIN, so are many of the top STUDENTS. What’s the big difference you ask? Asian parents are USUALLY in the picture!! These kids by and large will never disrespect their parents. Their parents in turn HELP THEM to become whatever they want to be… then their COMMUNITY supports them! If it’s anyone close to living the “American Dream”…. it’s people from Asia.
GAYS:
You should know first of all that most Reggae singers do not give a damn about what consenting adults do in their bedroom. Also the way I feel about it, you should be able to marry your fkn CAR if you want to. Personally I have LOVE IN MY HEART for every human being… (From the waist down I deal with strictly ladies, but hey.. that’s MY thing.) Respect MY boundaries / I’ll respect YOURS! Also anyone at my concerts/parties/etc. have a problem with gay people being there… I would rather THEY leave instead. BULLIES ARE NEVER WELCOME.
WOMEN:
WOW… Did you EVER Kick Mitt Romney and his cohorts IN THE BALLZ for 2012!! Many women I spoke to were on the political fence over the economic issues facing this country, and rightfully so. If the presidency were a purely financial argument I would want a multimillionaire to run things also… but it’s not is it? The minute Republicans started in with their “Religious Caveman Approach to Modern Motherhood”, it was all downhill from there. You showed them exactly who the hell is BOSS.
WEED HEADS:
It’s HAPPENING!! Starting with COLORADO, Marijuana is slowly becoming LEGALIZED, which is GREAT for the economy! So many JOBS will be available now because you guys will NEVER take your baked-out asses to work on time Let’s not even TALK about the financial boon to the “snacking industry”! AND the air is thinner…….. I might just quit all this, and open up a chain of 7-11′s in Boulder somewhere.
America’s New Gold Rush… A bag of Doritos at 10,000 ft…!
I could go on, but you get the point.
Of course, like every rule has an exception: for every shining example within a community there are complete and utter disappointments (and vice verse). What we need to do is learn how to live together as a PLANET! Your heart has GOT to expand beyond the borders of your country, rise above the color of your skin. There is no such thing as YOUR OWN KIND! See every living thing as a part of you. This is how you embrace The Universe and grow closer to GOD… NOT by dividing.
Get it together and do not question MY wisdom, Heathens.
Storyline conceived and directed by Q Hefna from Writer’s Wednesday. Secret agent/mercenary types (Played by Searchl1te and Jeekoos) will stop at nothing to find and disconnect “The Frequency”… operated by yours truly.
Then they almost get “mean mugged” to death…lol
Actually the Special Effects person took another job, from what I understand. Post production was taking quite a while, so rather than wait longer we just dropped what we had. No “perfection paralysis” here, dammit.
Partially shot at 89.3FM WNUR (Northwestern), where we record our weekly show PTS Radio
// Always be ready to do without those people who won’t help you.
The only power someone has over you is when they have something you want. Most people are proactive and seek to do business with others. A few are generous and offer to help others…. but you have to take into account that SOME people are either lazy, or sadistic. You will get nothing from them.
When these people have what they think you want, something inside them clicks. They immediately withdraw or inexplicably take a defensive position. You should not be angry. This is simply an infantile power trip. When you notice these things, if it’s not a matter of life and death, consider a re-route. Completely turn your back and look for other solutions. Why give that much power to another person?
Will this be easy? Not always… But it will be three times more rewarding when you have managed to make things happen without another person’s money, influence or anything else they want to hold over your head.
Later you might even find that they are in fact seeking YOU out. That’s when the ball is in your court. This has been my biggest secret to success over the last decade.
Please Note: It is very important at that point that you NOT continue the cycle. You will, however have a much stronger bargaining position, which you should take SOME advantage of. Otherwise they will not learn. So you do this… essentially for THEIR benefit.
In short: Find an alternative and come back stronger. The price of doing business will increase dramatically in your favor, as it should.
As part of the FEx Events’ new LIVE series, we played host to soul music legend Clarence Reid, aka Blowfly; at Reggies Rock Room.
Also in attendance were The Velcro Lewis Group playing a raucous Rock/Blues set, and Chicago Freestyle Killer The Dirty MF with his band The Smoking Sextion.
During Blowfly’s performance of Rap Dirty it was a must that dirty and I jumped on stage. It was pretty much at my insistence… I admit it. But it was a direct connect to my childhood. Things like that don’t happen everyday
Just random pix taken around Maui.. in between heavy rain showers, and yes… I STILL take nerdy azz MySpace photos. What else you gonna do when you roll out solo?
#nobueno
Let’s not even TALK about the financial boon to the “snacking industry”! AND the air is thinner…….. I might just quit all this, and open up a chain of 7-11′s in Boulder somewhere. 
