GZA “PRO TOOLS” LISTENING PARTY TONIGHT

YAMASUKI BADU

Listen up! I love that Badu samples from this (French?) Japanese record…

THE SAMPLE - YAMASUKI

THE SAMPLER - ERYKAH BADU (THE HEALER)

BIG POPPA IN BEIJING

Via Oh Word blog

Sach O from Oh Word.com offers an informative and educated view of the Olympics and Beijing street art. Read up on it here.

IT’S LIKE WAH!

Gotta give it up to one of my favorite hip hop zines dedicated to girls! WAH magazine out of London puts it down…and you can download it for FREE, back issues too son!

LA HAINE: DJ CUT KILLER

One of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies, LA HAINE. “Nique La Police!”

LIGHT AS A FEATHER

If I was a superhero, this would be my cape of choice. By Jovani. 

OBEY PUBLIC ENEMY

I’m usually cool on Obey, but I gotta admit these earrings are ILL. I’ve been looking for them for a minute, but have had no success. 

SOUL AND UNITY

Before Hip Hop became what it is today, it felt different, it looked different, and it acted different. With any growth you must have change. And with change, comes the new. Out with the old, in with the new, right. I’m just taking a trip down memory lane for old times sake! 

This is some great old footage of some ill hip hop dancing–back then it was called it “housing.” Brown, yellow, black, and females all doin’  the damn thing. Peep the ill sister at towards the end, she got skillz. What I wouldn’t do to go back in time for just one day. Before kids got cool, and everybody’s salty girlfriend came on the scene…

Hip Hop is still alive today, but the essence is really what’s been lost. Hip Hop was more about the culture, commradery, building with one another, and UNITY. It wasn’t just about repping the style, being an “artist,” or being a “producer,” or world famous DJ–or just hanging with the celebrities or artists that created and cultivated it. The movement was less ego driven back then. It was raw, real, organic, and it was the only thing that kept some of us alive that didn’t have better or safe foundations and privileges. Some of us didn’t have cameras to snap pictures of what was going on, let alone a place to stay. Most were not privileged enough to go to art school, let alone finish general school courses. Of course I give thanks every day that Hip Hop is still around, and has the power to influence Target and Twix commercials and mainstream society–however I do like to share my perspective and point of reference. 

This is an old Unity flyer. On the bill you see Jungle Brothers, Erule, and Xzibit.

REST IN PARADISE BILL aka BIGGA B.

There were iller spots even before UNITY, but UNITY was probably some of my favorite times for LA Hip Hop. I was at every UNITY because Bill always had passes for me, and it was better than getting yelled on at home. Rudebwoy Lounge, Graveyard Shift, Wee Hours Afterhours, all the 33 1/3 Malathion events…those promoters really represented Hip Hop to the fullest. And now that they are gone, I can fully appreciate them even more than ever. You never know what you got till it’s gone…

WHO’S ON THIRD?

Rest in Paradise Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes….who’s next?

This man will truly be missed. His contributions art and culture made him an icon.

2008 OLYMPIC OPENING CEREMONY

The opening ceremony for this years 2008 Olympic games held in Beijing was absolutely stunning. Talk about eye opening. China held it down. My peoples thoroughly impressed me with their extreme showmanship of what I call next levelness! I had planned to Tivo and watch later, but I’m thankful I tuned in to all the amazing performance art and anti-gravity acts of God. The attention to detail and precision were super ill and inspiring, a feeling I’ve been missing. You really get a scope for how forward thinking and innovative the people and culture are. With the entire world watching, China came through with magic and mysticism to woo the eyes of entire nations.

Not to be overlooked (and very much like the U.S.), it’s important to pay attention to known issues and challenges with resources and the envoirnment, as well as China’s connection to the Darfur Genocide. Some of China’s major environmental challenges include issues like water polution, land desertification, greenhouse gasses, and poplulation/development issues which affect the U.S.—and the entire world. Read more at the Council on Foreign Relations Org site.

 

YAY…8-08-08

Give Thanks y’all. Today is a amazing day. This eighth month, eighth day, and eighth year mark the 220th day of the year (221st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 145 days remaining until the end of the year.

This day also mark OLYMPIAN EQUALITY for women! This years olympics will start in Beijing, China. It was only about 100 years ago that women gained the right to participate in the Olympics. Even then, it was a confused effort and women could only compete in select “leisure” sports. Historically, women have never had as many events as men and they have always had less participants. Few years back, in Athens, women made up 40.74% (4306 participants) while men were 59.26 (6262 participants). Those numbers are improving every year!

LIVE MECHANICS GIVES THANKS

I received a unexpected and unusual email from my peeps at LIVE MECH, but I’m glad to see they are about spreading the word and giving thanks. Seems like it’s not only everyone goin “green” but people are tuning to the G-O-D. 

GREG CARROL: THE DAILY DOSE

GREG CARROL from Empire Distribution sends out the “Daily Dose,” daily inspiring quotes, stories, excerpts, and writings based on the idea that P.ositive E.ducation A.wakens C.oncious E.xcellence–hence you have the P.E.A.C.E. Academy. I really enjoy receiving them, and when I see them in my inbox I always read them and never delete them. 

Here’s today’s “Daily Dose.” Visit The P.E.A.C.E. Academy for more info. 

TAKING THE RISK
Permission To Be Real
Most of us are familiar with the idea of keeping it real and have an intuitive sense about what that means. People who keep it real don’t hide behind a mask to keep themselves safe from their fear of how they might be perceived. They don’t present a false self in order to appear more perfect, more powerful, or more independent. People who keep it real present themselves as they truly are, the good parts and the parts most of us would rather hide, sharing their full selves with the people who are lucky enough to know them. Being real in this way is not an easy thing to do as we live in a culture that often shows us images of physical and material perfection. As a result, we all want to look younger, thinner, wealthier, and more successful. We are rewarded externally when we succeed at this masquerade, but people who are real remind us that, internally, we suffer. Whenever we feel that who we are is not enough and that we need to be bigger, better, or more exciting, we send a message to ourselves that we are not enough. Meanwhile, people who are not trying to be something more than they are walk into a room and bring a feeling of ease, humor, and warmth with them. They acknowledge their wrinkles and laugh at their personal eccentricities without putting themselves down.

People like this inspire us to let go of our own defenses and relax for a moment in the truth of who we really are. In their presence, we feel safe enough to take off our masks and experience the freedom of not hiding behind a barrier. Those of us who were lucky enough to have a parent who was able to keep it real may find it easier to be that way ourselves. The rest of us may have to work a little harder to let go of our pretenses and share the beauty and humor of our real selves. Our reward for taking such a risk is that as we do, we will attract and inspire others, giving them the permission to be real too.

 This message was sent by: P.E.A.C.E. Academy Inc.,
 www.PeaceAcademyInc.com

 

RITZY P NEWSLETTER

Biggup to all independent female artists out there. Big love goes out to Marisa E aka Ritzy P for flowing me some of her fresh shirts to rock and featuring me in her newsletter. Ritzy is an independent graphic designer, painter, and woman of substance and culture! Check her out.

IMIX BOOKS & KNUCKLEUPSHOP.COM

“Hard Knock Life” (Front)
 

“Hard Knock Life” (Back)

Burberry “Knock Off”

Berry “Knock Off”
 

“Naut”ica Knock Off

Get your hand screened, limited quantity, “Knock Offs” series of totes and bags by yours truly, Xiao Xing a.k.a. Dame Ash, a.k.a. Ashknuckles! Visit IMIX BOOKS in Eaglerock to cop somethin’. 

Also, introducing the temporary website to Ashknuckles hand screened goods, KNUCKLEUPSHOP.COM! Get yours.

FLEATHERS

  

Feather Shapes + Leather = Fleathers! Fresh to death Fleathers is killing it on etsy.com…

OH NOOOOO

CHINA TO FUEL WAR IN DARFUR…

BOGUS LOTUS :o(

Unfortunately, there was a lack of expected blooming Lotus flowers at this years Echo Park lake festival. Families and festival goers enjoyed the live cultural dance shows, shopping, and attractions–but an undertone of curious disappointment could be felt throughout the day as young children looked on searching for signs of Lotus Life. Global warming? Toxic waters in Echo Park? Maybe a combination of both. Check out To the Curb blog for more info.

ANNUAL ECHO PARK LOTUS FESTIVAL

The 31st Anniversary of the ECHO PARK LOTUS FESTIVAL is finally here this weekend July 11th-13th. The festival dates coincide with the anticipated blooming of the Lotus Flower which is pretty fresh if you happen to catch it. 

ECHO PARK LOTUS FESTIVAL MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of the Lotus Festival is to develop, promote and create an atmosphere of understanding in which Asian and Pacific Islander communities in Southern California are brought together for one (1) evening and two (2) days of cultural sharing. The Festival also seeks to preserve and enlighten the public with a sampling of distinctly different and unique Asian and Pacific Islander culture and traditions through displays, art, music, dance and food.

I scooped this this Philippine belt a few years ago. 

NAS & DJ GREEN LANTERN: THE N*GGER TAPE

NAS & GREEN LANTERN: THE NIGGER TAPE

XLR8R TV: CRATE DIGGIN’ WITH KON & AMIR

XLR8R has a great video on “CRATE DIGGIN’ WITH KON & AMIR.” Your boy A PYREX SCHOLAR has posted it on youtube.

COLOR-BORED…

CAN’T STOP THE CROOKS

ACAPULCO GOLD MIX…( ( (FRESH) ) )

( ( ( LISTEN ) ) ) 

BIG(UPS): DEADLY DRAGON SOUND

Bigups to DEADLY DRAGON SOUND….always lace me with mad love packages…respect every time J

DeBeck! Thanks for the love…! 

My favorite T…got this one in Light Green too!

ACAPULCO GOLD…A sunny place for shady people…Always strong never wrong!

BARAK OBAMA COCOA TEA…WHAT?!

LIFE AND DEBT…the ILL flick!