Reggae Vibes. Vol. 1.

It’s going down!

News you can use.

I came across this great article that explains clearly why banks are quick to hit you with over draft fees but are slow to credit your account after a deposit.

Also, many people like Ike find this site looking for more information about the Hip Hop Illuminati (which I last spoke of here and here). I’ll personally be keeping it light on the subject for the moment, but Ike check this site for more on the topic.

Unless of course you want to give some serious thought into Jay-z’s new connection with the richest man in Russia. Will the Jiggaman cash out and leave his stake in the team or will he stay aligned with the billionaire and continue to increase his wealth and stature? Will the new ownership encourage Lebron and basketball fans alike to put their pyramids diamonds in the sky for the New Jersey Brooklyn Nets? Hmmm…

Moving along..

Speaking of world figures.. who knew that Libyan leader Moamar Khadaffi was such a firm believer in women’s equal rights? Why else would he keep a mob of female security guards around him?

Street Fighter 2 fan maybe?

Nothing moves but the money.

We’ve all heard the ramblings over the years from Wutang members about getting short changed by the RZA. Most notably Rae, Ghost and Ugod but Rza wasnt the only one holding back c.r.e.a.m. (pause).

Remember the song that Ghostface did with De La Soul? No?

Pretty good right? How did you feel about his De La Diss after not getting paid for said track? Classic!

I originally heard the songs in reverse order not knowing why Ghost was spitting so much venom. I believe Kel Dogs broke it down for me or was it Tenz?

Anyway,  this time Pretty Tony got his doe! He won his lawsuit against the Rza and got paid for back royalties. $158,255.18 at that. It sucks to hear about internal WU lawSUits, but at least they are still able to work together. Cash Rules!!

You can check out all the info and legal doccuments here.

Deez Nuts! Corona Queens.

My boy Scram is notorious for baiting you with conversation about people, until you instinctively ask the question “Who”? With the response coming through the phone, text or instant message being… “Deez Nutssss“!

Anyway, peace to Corona Queens. The neighborhood was known for many things in the past, (Kool G. Rap, Whore Houses, 3CF, 7 Train, Cops robbing drug dealers, The Outsiders, Junction Blvd., 103rd St, etc.) Though I’m not sure what it’s know for now. Mexicans I guess?

Relive the good ol’ days of Corona during Sacha Jenkins’ play staring classic rap group,The Beatnuts.  Tickets are 25 rocks as in $25.00 usd, silly.

Peep the synopsis:

DEEZ NUTS: A Musical Massacre starring the Beatnuts.

Deez Nuts, birthed by Hip Hop Kings from Queens, explores the rich, people-bred traditions that boomed in late 1980s Corona, Queens. Legendary rap group The Beatnuts came of age on these mean streets–a town smack dab in the middle of the most ethnically-diverse borough in the world. Deez Nuts is a re-telling of this emergence by the Beatnuts themselves, with support from their superior catalogue of music, a bad DJ (“bad” as in good), fine thespians and dancers alike. At center of it all is a young journalist who is passionate about understanding how music and dance and the visual arts (graffiti) came to power in a land where immigrant parents raised their substantial families with money earned from driving cabs or working fruit stands; how the sons of these immigrants cultivated their own special fruit (rap music) and distributed it to beat nuts around the world.

October 1st -3rd at 9:00PM

at Ohio Theater
66 Wooster St
New York, NY 10012
In SOHO – between Spring and Broome
Take the 6, N, R, C, or E

For more info click here please, but stay off these en you tees.

Introducing the Ghost Face Killah.

Tony Starks the Rap Super Hero drops jewels on you foowells.

So I’m guessing Clyde Smith and Curtis Jackson no longer have beef? Cool.

On Blast: Is it a Forrest Hills thing?

Don’t sell out. Or Jerms will put you on blast.

JS1 had some nice pieces rocking at Franklin K. Lane HS in the mid 1990’s. Glad to see his development as a true dj.

Watching this video, I caught the crazy flash back of graff writer VE One (RIP). We met during the “mandatory” writers bench aka community service many moons ago. Opinionated wasn’t even the word for him. He wore his thoughts and views on his sleeve.

At the time I hadn’t yet heard of him, but he was blabbing about who was good and who sucked, who was a jock and who was cool. I was like who are you?? lol.  About a week later, I found out as he went on a citywide  tear with his crew.

Peace to the kid, his memory lives on.

If the video doesn’t show,  you can view it here.

DJ Roc Raida Rest In Power.

Rest In Power to Roc Raida an original Xman and one of the greatest dj’s ever. Rob Swift and Roc Raida are major influences and inspirations of mine. I seriously feel the void that losing Raida leaves. I’m hard pressed to remember the last time that I shed tears for someone not in my family but it was impossible to hold them back. I feel the loss of Jam Master Jay and Roc Raida way more than I could for Biggie and Pac.

The man leaves an amazing legacy that will be celebrated for ages. He was such a fun guy that used his ability on the turntables to bring happiness to others. He was very talented but his personality made it ok to marvel at his mastery without feeling like a jock.

The last time that I saw him in person was when I went with Doug to his Gong Dj Battle. I had a great time and was honored to be there since I haven’t been around turntablism in ages. I used to be involved in a monthly dj event called “Table Turns” at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe many years ago. I was the guy standing on the speaker working the video screen thing. Shout out to Rocky, Kinetic, Rich, Alex, Bernard, Ashley and Tck krew.

I think the first time that I saw Raida in person was either an old Rocksteady Anniversary or maybe even earlier at those Phillipino parties that I used to hit up with Doug in Queens. Shout out to Total Eclipse, Kuttin Kandi, Daddy Dog and Rholi.

Peep these videos below which briefly show what Raida meant to me. I’m sure all of his battles will surface, but his quirky sense of humor along with his talent are what made him one of my favorites.

Roc Raida DJ 101

DJ Qbert Trying to ’scratch’ Raida back to good health. It didnt work, but I truly wish it did.

Gong Dj Battle.

Jamrock Pt. 1.

The sound track for the first part of my trip to Jamaica.

Artist Vybz Kartel’s “Love Dem”.

My first task upon landing in Jamaica was figuring out what the hell was “Gaza vs Gully”.  Before leaving NY I had been aware that there were supposedly two parts of the island that didn’t quite get along. One was called “Gaza” and the other was “Gully”. For an intellectual break down check here.

The beef seems to revolve around a dispute between current Reggae musicians  Mavado and Vybz Kartel. When things got territorial, fans were left to choose sides.

I’m far from an expert on current Dancehall artists or songs but I did come down to Jamaica a big fan of Mavado and had recently picked up the 45 inch single for his smash hit “So Special”. My cousin Smokey had put me on to his music about a year ago.

My “vibes” towards Vybes Kartel were a bit different. Once I heard that he beat up one of my favorite entertainers, (the original front teeth-gold teeth-gun pon teeth-don gorgon Ninja Man) years back at Reggae concert STING, I haven’t really given his music a chance. He also had a recent war of words over his raunchy song “Rampin Shop” with female reggae star Queen Ifrica.

Lo and behold, after landing in Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, I ended up staying in the parish of  St. Cathrine, Jamaica in a place called  Portmore aka THE GAZA STRIP!

Considering that I had some reservations, I must say that my stay in Portmore was really nice. The people were very relaxed, had tons of jokes, smiled and laughed easily and seemed to get a kick out of my enjoyment of Jamaica.  When asked about the violence, I was told that it happens mainly during election times but because of the economy, most of the youths are just trying to get jobs to help with bills and things of that nature.

During my time in Portmore, I heard Vybz Kartel on the radio often and realized that his lashing out at Ninja Man wasn’t a strike at his elders, but more of a bottled up energy exploding as he tried to represent for the youth. STING is held in Portmore and performing in front of the hometown crowd means a lot.

So with this first part of my Jamrock series, I’d like to say thanks to all of the entertainers for creating the music that helps you actually feel the pulse of the island. And thanks to my new found family in Jamaica and especially in  St. Catherine. The heat was HOT but the hospitality was wonderful. Thanks for the delicious boiled and fried dumplings, callaloo, breadfruit etc. Thanks for all of the rich history.

Big Up!

AZ Burning.

Peace my man Blame Tck for sending me all of his recent walls with this being the latest.

I’m still waiting for good pics of the Star Wars wall he did out there a few weeks ago.

Constantine.

Criminology 101

Ghost and Rae at 106 and Park. The real streets, not the teeny bopper show!

The Hall of fame is a lil gentrified now, but the history is there!

Do the knowledge God.

spotted at what u write.