Archive for the ‘Blipsters = Hipsters’ Category

Who Walk In Brooklyn…

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

red hook

Editor’s note: The pic above was sent to us from the intrepid BK journalist Willis Still Sunsweet, from WhoWalkInBrooklyn, who attended the DJ Premier x DJ Scratch performance hosted by CityParks in Red Hook. Willis was with us at the BlackMoon Boot Camp show in Crown Heights as well. The scene in Red Hook looks a lot different from the outset. Folding chairs at a Hip-Hop show? Brooklyn, no actually Red Hook, stand the fuck up! I’ma let Willis Still Sunsweet tell it…

Peep Evil Dee at left getting his photo taken with mad Asian crate diggers… The scene was okay, mix of ‘hood, Asians, white beat kids and curiosity seekers but you know how these things are– not the most compelling musical experience.

Danny Castro brought up some cat from Detroit, Niles Davis (?!) before who did a L-O-N-G “Phantom of the Opera” rap over symphonic bluster. It was ok but hard to get hold of tho’ he did take off his fisherman hat a lot.

Danny Castro had his history mixed up a bit, saying we’d all get shot 10 years ago, which ain’t true at all. 20 years ago Red Hook was a rough place but mostly on ladies of the night who didn’t make enough paper for their pimps…

Best part of night is stopping at Fairway for crab meats…

Fairway fun fact: that used to be a police impound yard in mid-late ’90s. Do you remember when ODB was all in the news here with his alleged shoot-outs, traffic accidents, etc? That was also last visible gasp of mafia killings– an “associate” thrown out bleeding from car by Grand Army Plaza, BODY FOUND IN TRUNK of car at impound yard, etc.

Brooklyn, MAKE SOME NOISE!

1 World x 1 Love x 1 Mic…

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

messengers

It is often the artists from the most disenfranchised, impoverished nations that can speak to the true nature of Hip-Hop. To combine all music, art, culture and people into one is the essence of Hip-Hop. With the use of the drum and the voice.

A few weeks ago when J.Period was working on the Bring Your Own Blogger BBQ mixtapes he told me of this project to combine the sound of K’Naan with some of the world’s most respected musical messengers. K’Naan hails from Mogadishu, Somalia. A region that has been embroiled in violent conflict for the past two decades. So many rappers fantasize about their communities as warzones but few have survived in one and even less speak of the peace, justice and love that our world needs right now.

With this idea in mind J.Period and K’Naan began crafting this project. A mashup mixtape with music honoring the great FELA KUTI, BOB DYLAN and BOB MARLEY. The project sounded too monumental from the outset. I’m glad J.Period was able to pull it off.

The full 3-part project is set to be released on September 1st over at J.Period’s website. Here’s a preview of what J.Period is calling ‘The Messengers’ featuring K’Naan in tribute to FELA KUTI, BOB DYLAN and BOB MARLEY.


‘Let’s Start’ (Fela Kuti Tribute)


‘Relationship’s Lay’ (Bob Dylan tribute)


‘Belly Full’ featuring Kardinal Offishall, Steele and Bajah + Dry Eye Crew (Bob Marley tribute)

The Cipher Is Complete…

Friday, August 14th, 2009

bcc

The Boot Camp Clik performed their ‘A Tribute To Classics’ show on Wednesday night in Brower Park. In the heart of Crown Heights they did classics from ‘Enta Da Stage’ and ‘Dah Shinin’. This is the the very neighborhood that birthed these artists. I can’t imagine any other place that this show would be more like a homecoming. We’d have to be on the Franklin Avenue shuttle maybe. I don’t know how we’d get the whole band on the train though.

The Boot Camp Clik is what backpacker rap is all about for me. My Jansport knapsack with the sueded bottom held my Sony walkman cassette player, my Garcia y Vegas, and a boxcutter for whatever whatever. The Boot Camp Clik defines that era succinctly. Even to this day they remain independent artists that haven’t sold their souls, or their publishing, out to the lowest bidders. The Boot Camp Clik has taken the high road in Hip-Hop(literally and figuratively) and this is why they are so important as artistic role models.

Salute these brothers when you see them on the streets.

Hip-Hop Karaoke 08.15.09.

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

hhk

What?!? FREE?!?

I am sooooo in there.

I’m signing up to sing ‘Shimmy Shimmy Ya’.

Kill yourself if you don’t come out to this Hip-Hop family event.

Coup D’Etat BK > Dumb Emcees…

Monday, August 10th, 2009

dum mcs

Coup D’Etat BK is a lifestyle brand where the lifestyle is all about creating the life you imagine for yourself.

I chatted up RASU and DAOUD who founded the brand and we also politicked with a few other BK heads during a beautiful night in Prospect Park.

Peace to Lyricist Lounge & Danny Castro, Brian Deka Paupaw, legendary emcee Craig G, John Black, Nat Dixon, Myanta, all the internets and of course, Brooklyn.