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Rebuilding Newark, Brick By Brick…

Friday, September 18th, 2009

I have a special connection to Newark, New Jersey. I feel this city as if it were my home. The architecture of downtown Newark is so familiar to me. This was how NYC looked before all the steel and glass mirrors started to hide the fact that NYC had lost its soul sometime around the GIULIANI regime. Newark was like Detroit to me because it still retained it height and magnificence even through its depression.

The Newark Museum of Art was the first museum to embrace the Internets Celebrities. They cited our film ‘Bodega’ during their prestigious if not overcrowded Paul Robeson Awards ceremony. Newark retains a blue collar aesthetic the same way Philadelphia does. It is no small wonder to me then that Dice Raw of the legendary, hardest working band of all time Roots crew was tabbed to compose the theme to the Sundance Channel’s documentary about the rebuilding city’s inner struggle.

Dice Raw & Khari Mateen – ‘Brick By Brick’

The Brick City documentary mini-series features some of Newark’s soldiers from the young mayor CORY BOOKER, to the police chief to Blood and Crip and Blood gang members who are on the frontlines of the poverty and desperation within Newark’s ghettos. I’m hype for this program as the alternative to all the talk that ‘The Wire’ had generated in examining and exposing the urban phenomena created by capitalism over the past 40 years. Since the murder of MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr. the urban center has been abandoned by industry and the government. The story of Brick City is no different than that of Philadelphia, Baltimore, East St.Louis, Detroit and ALL of Ohio.

Those of us born into the full threshold of urban decay are now old enough and strong enough to progressively change our environs. The process is lengthy and arduous but we must rebuild our cities with our own hands. Brick by brick…

Posted in 5 Elements, Black Bullshit, Hollyweird, Ninjas, Politricks, Social Upheaval | 13 Comments »

Panem Et Circenses…

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

vma

“Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man, the people have abdicated our duties; for the people who once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office, legions — everything, now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses.” -Juvenal, Roman poet circa 200 A.D.

“I want my MTV!” -Sting, rock musician circa 1985

Dire Straits – ‘Money For Nothing’

Nearly thirty years ago, in 1981 to be exact, the Music Television channel changed the soundscape of American music by broadcasting music videos. These videos weren’t simply montaged clips of artists holding their instruments while ain a studio recording session, they were shortform musical narratives. Back then some of the videos had million dollar budgets capable of bankrupting today’s independent music labels (Koch Records, er, E-1 Entertainment). This was because music videos became the primary promotional tool for records. That’s a dangerous game to play though when you use something visual to convince your ears it is worth your time and engagement. The racket worked for Music Television up until recently.

If videos killed the radio star then the internets killed the music channel. For Music Television to retain the attention of the vaunted 14-24yr old demographic (i.e.: people living in their parent’s homes spending all of their income on material shit) they are going to have to get more modern, not cooler, but hipper. The old people that sit in the offices of Music Television still think that choreographed stunts will keep them as the apple in the eye of the youth. Don’t you ever think for a minute that when Justin Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson’s horrifying breastring at the same exact moment his ‘Rock Your Body’ verse stated “cause I gotta have you naked by the end of this song” that moment wasn’t choreographed? This is the shit they do now. Madonna tongue kissing Britney and Cristina is also their design. Sasha Baron Bruno’s ballsachs on Eminem’s chin is on their resume also.

As the music industry has been transformed by the internets so has Music Television. Viral video clips have replaced programming so instead of producing a themed show the producers at MTV are busy trying to craft a viral video moment. If ou think the exec that liberated Janet’s tittay wasn’t promoted when the smoke cleared you don’t understand the entertainment industry. MTV wants your eyeballs so bad they would do anything. In the high stakes game of dwindling advertising monies I won’t put them above staging anything. Their offices are on BROADWAY for crissakes!

The desire for Music Television is for the spectacle that has responsible people discussing these moments long after their value. One of the main reasons I don’t have cable television (aside from the fact that I can’t afford it) is that I don’t want to hypnotized by Music Television’s vacuous programming. This includes all the MTV substations like MTV2, Vh-1 and B.E.T. Sometimes I have to laugh that Black Entertainment Television is kept in the Viacom’s virtual slave quarters. They receive only the slave portions of programming. Pig’s feet amd chitterlings. B.E.T. recently fired their online editor Andreas Hale. I wonder if it was because he failed to be the company man that Viacom demands, especially of their Black employees.

Look at the Black people that work at MTV as an example. Other than generating lists that relate to rap as well as a Vibe list might they at least have the good sense to forego any individual acclaim. They are called the ‘Brain Trust’ which is certainly an oxymoron in itself, but recently they have renamed themselves the ‘1515 Boyz’. This is hilarious to me since I know that 1515 Broadway is the address of MTV’s headquarters. Since 1515 is the building’s house number aren’t these MTV employees actually referring to themselves as ‘house boys’? Let the internets SMH in unison. There is nothing good that will come from Music Television. Nothing but a choreographed circus.

Hip-Hop isn’t dead, but MTV is.

Posted in 5 Elements, Black Bullshit, Ho Sit Down!, Hollyweird, Ninjas, No Boutros Boutros... Ghali | 3 Comments »

Tuesday Is The New Friday…

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

mtn dew

This has been a recurring theme as of late. NYC pisses me off when they make all the awesome shit on one night. There was an obama* at the Chelsea hotel that my homey was going to (after we both agreed to connect.politic.ditto @ this other spot). There was the official issue album release party spaceship thrown for Kid Cudi’s debut disk. Lastly there was the Roots Jam Session @ The Highline Ballroom which can be an obama x buffet if I get the golden ticket (Thx G).

*Are we all still clear that when I say “obama” I am referring to an event with an open bar?

So I was making my way to the first obama in SoHo. I cut through Grand Street from the D train stop to the westside by walking in Little Italy. The San Gennaro feast is just getting underway. That is the technical last rites of summer jumpoff. I’m getting ready for the new year. I want to do something new next year. I want to do the good things all over again. Tonight was going to be fun like opnly New York City can be. The first stop was the Etnies showroom.

Etnies exists in my mind as a streetwear brand that never really had any hardbody edge. I’ve seen the brand everywhere and I still couldn’t tell you where to copp their shit. T.J.Maxx maybe. I love that place. Anyhoo, etnies makes sk8boarder kicks with the best of them. Definitely on par with DC. The just stepped their gear game up to 100 with a New Era collabo and some graphic tees that were dope. A bunch of folks at etnies get it now so we need to keep an eye on their 2010 grind. Right now the etnies showroom is acting as an art gallery for this shit my peoples at Mountain Dew put together. Graphic artists have designed six(6) slick aluminum cans for the Green Label Art project.

Internets, link up with me this Friday @ etnies showroom for the STEPHEN BLISS live exhibit where we will paint with the dude who created the artwork for Rockstar games Grand Theft Auto series. Plus we will drink as much MTN DEW as we want and possible enjoy more free prosecco or at least beer. You wanna go on Friday too to come up on a set of the limited edition cans. After I finish the MTN DEW inside I will have an awesome can to use tio hold my dreams or my nightmares. Speaking of dreams and nightmares…

The Kid Cudi listening party was effin’ bananabread soaked in Grey Goose with cranberry x pineapple juice. Bad behavior, music industry mogulatry, and dancing while standing on couches were all included. This joint was off the meatrack and that is saying something too since the hotel was in the meatpacking district [ll]. I was actually saved by pre-gaming at the etnies showroom. If I had been drinking vodka for four straight hours I would have been a wild manimal. I see you Peso.

But how could it stop there? It couldn’t stop, because this is New York City and it doesn’t stop. I walked past the old site for Mars which was the home of the legendary Trip parties from the early 1990s. There is a vacant lot there now which will soon be some high rent hotel fuckery. God bless the Liberty Inn across the street and their hourly rates. The Liberty is the classic spot to take your Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend jumpoff to, or anything you are lucky to come up on for that ‘hit it and quit it’ maneuver.

That ain’t the move tonight for me though. I am making a beeline to the Highline. I’m like a moth and Roots crew has the light. Put ya’ lighters up party people. Dice Raw, DJ Marley Marl, Craig G, Lords Of The Underground and Jay Electronica all touched the microphone. Black Thought did the usual move where he gets in the pocket and shreds the speakers with his speaking. Raheem DeVaughn came through and blew a little beautiful into the mic speakers too. The Roots Jam Session is my mental state health insurance plan. The $10 is the co-pay.

Roots @ Highline Ballroom: if you haven’t already.

Posted in 5 Elements, Blipsters = Hipsters, Fanboy Ish, iNternets Celebrities, Marvelous, Ninjas, Sneaker Fiends United, T.O.N.Y. | 4 Comments »

Blame It On The Alcohol…

Sunday, September 13th, 2009

ye vma

So ‘Ye Tudda interrupted MTV’s flagship awards program to say that the ‘Single Ladies’ video was one of the “best of all time”. KanYe ain’t neva lie. Especially not after killing a bottle of that brown ‘truth juice’.

This latest KanYe West award ceremony outburst has the TWittter streets all aflutter tweeting. The truth is that KanYe’s statement was on point. BeYonce’s ‘Single Ladies’ video is well designed and choreographed to the tee oh pee. I’m sure the Taylor Swift video has good visuals too, but BeYonce is a fux’n specimen. KanYe and his muse lady Amber Rose were reportedly escorted from the building after his outburst. Who knows? And at the end of the day who the fux cares?

What I did want to talk about was the bottle of brown truth juice that KanYe is advertising on the VMA red carpet. Since ‘Ye Tudda is the Louis Vuitton Don and since Louis Vuitton is the owner of Moet (mo-way) and Hennessy I think it would be naive of us not to think that there wasn’t a corporate placement for this shot. I mean, a man of KanYe’s tastes and means would surely prefer Martell to Hennessy, no?

I was chopping it up on FaceBook with a fellow Commissioner, Jamal7Mile, when the homey pointed me to his weblog site – You Damned Right I Farted!!. By the way, J7M that is the funniest name of all time for a website, kudos. The homey’s latest drop talks about the state imposed timeout he is starting later on today. That is some pill to swallow when you know you are gonna be on lockdown. Your mind goes over all the shit that you could have done to not be in the position you are facing.

I think Jamal7Mile is already on the right path to getting his mind right in the long run. I wish I could say tha same for myself. I am an alcoholic. This doesn’t mean that I get drunk all the time because I don’t, but it does mean that I will seek out opportunities to be intoxicated and make decisions based on those opportunities that affect me long after I have placed down the bottle. I’ve dealt with counseling and rehab before for drugs and drinking. You learn that addiction is a lifelong process. You also learn that you have the power within yourself to overcome your demons.

I wish Jamal7Mile the best on his journey. He can definitely overcome this. No matter where you go brother there YOU are. Keep believing in yourself and keep your head to the sky. Peace.

Posted in BeYONCE's Hair, Black Bullshit, Crappers, Fashion Faux Pas, Ghetto Celebs, H.A.M., Lust = Love, Ninjas, No Boutros Boutros... Ghali, Sneaker Fiends United, T.O.N.Y., Talking Shit, Wig Owners | 24 Comments »

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