I'm not sure words can complement music this good. Amazing. Two quality albums in two years.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
White Lies - Bigger Than Us
A while back, I wrote for an internet magazine called Mstation.org. While I was there, I interviewed a band called the White Lies. The band has only taken off since then - like hard core. This video is absolutely brilliant - so well done on their part.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find the article - I found a whole bunch of others like it but not that one.
The video seen above is most brilliant for its interplay with the child in the hospital. I love how he is singing the lyrics of the song - very impressive.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find the article - I found a whole bunch of others like it but not that one.
The video seen above is most brilliant for its interplay with the child in the hospital. I love how he is singing the lyrics of the song - very impressive.
Kenan Bell - One Million Miles
I'm of course a big supporter of Kenan Bell - I absolutely love his work. However, it looks like I have posted all of his material. Only 167 views on this one - he deserves much, much more.
Download some of his music through this link too:
Monday, July 29, 2013
Brother Ali's Advocacy
I really want to show the positive in the hip-hop world with this blog and who better for that than Brother Ali:
Really warm gathering at Sergio's house for Occupy Homes MN's fight to halt Chase Manhattan's unlawful eviction of the family. Saw a lot of new faces and I thank you for coming through. I hope you stay engaged. Love!
Blackalicious - Make You Feel That Way
Classic material. Hard to believe this was 11 years ago.
Five Things I'd Love To See In 'Star Wars: Rebels'
When I started this blog, it was a music blog aimed at mostly hip-hop. Hip-hop, admittedly however, is a genre that is on the wane. I don't think it will have the same influence in coming years as it did when it started. (However, I think the hip-hop we will see in coming years will be better and more artistically, instead of profit, driven.) We have had several successful articles about authors and individuals working outside of the music world - reviews of films like Fruitvale Station and spotlights on books like Tanya Taimanglo's Secret Shopper. I hope that explains the presence of an article like this one, which may seem like an abrupt departure from what we usually do here. Remember - the title "Blood Is One" doesn't mean anything violent - it means that all us, in the blood that drives our bodies, are one and the same. There is no segregation between people - so there shouldn't be in entertainment either.
I've written here before about how much I love Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Despite alot of cool characters, great music and some great moments, the Star Wars prequels as a whole disappointed in their ability to hold an audience emotionally in the way that the original trilogy did. Despite alot of success, the series now seems to be over - brought on by the sale of Star Wars to Disney.
Alot of important characters were created for the world of The Clone Wars, however - most important being young Jedi Ahsoka Tano. Ahsoka has probably gained the emotional appeal of fans in a way that no Star Wars character has in nearly twenty years. The Clone Wars was brilliant in pulling in even unpopular characters like Jar-Jar Binks and making them work in a very entertaining way (one of my favorite scenes is Jar-Jar enraging General Greivous by impersonating Gungan leader Boss Lioni).
It isn't all coming to an end, do not worry! A new series called Star Wars: Rebels is coming out soon. And with the new series are characters I would personally like to see:
5) DARTH VADER: The animation style that was in the Clone Wars show seems to be gone - all word is that the creators plan to actually base the animation on the original storyboards that Ralph McQuarrie drew up for the original Star Wars all the way back in the 1970s. That means a Vader that will look like this:
Vader will obviously be a staple in the new series, which is why I put him at the beginning of this list. He is guaranteed to be in the series. Anakin is the main character in the whole galaxy wide mess that is Star Wars. He is in every single movie and every single TV show to some degree. The storyline is driven by him and his personal choices - arguably more so than any other character. A leaner, less stiff Darth Vader will look alot more like the Anakin of the prequels and the animated series. It would be wise, if it's possible, for the Dave Fiolini and the team behind Rebels to try to temper down the computer animation at least as the main characters are concerned - imagine Star Wars as a template in which drawn characters are juxtaposed with a computer animated background.
4) EWOKS - I know this one might seem weird - especially as Ewoks are sort of ridiculous characters and probably some of the most unbelievable the series has provided. However, one of the strengths of the Clone Wars series, in my view, was stories such as the one that drove the beginning of Season Four - where the Gungans (Jar-Jar's species) and the Mon Kalimari (Admiral Ackbar's species - Yeah, I know - Star Wars species names can be ridiculous at times) team up to defeat General Greivous and Count Dooku. It's a great expansion of these species and makes the galaxy seem more real and engaging. It would have to be in a way that works, though, and that would take some creativity.
3) THE IMPERIAL ACADEMY - This one is a deep cut for hardcore Star Wars fans. Back in A New Hope, Luke Skywalker is heard talking about how much he wants to join up in the "Imperial Academy," seeing it as an excuse to leave Tattoine. In the amazing radio adaptation that National Public radio did for Star Wars, Luke is heard fantasizing out loud while listening to advertisements for enlistment in the Imperial Academy.
The Academies were obviously never seen in the prequel trilogy because there was no Empire until the very end. However, whatever the Imperial Academies look like should be explored in the new "Rebels" series.
My own suggestion - have the Imperial Academy be a replacement for the Jedi Temple. Have it located in Coruscant in the very building that the Jedi Temple once was in. Have it be started by Palpatine purposefully to find Force aware younglings and train them to love the Empire and the Sith so that the Jedi will never be reborn. Have Vader lecturing young Academy cadets personally as to why the Empire is better than what was before. Even have many of the new Rebels be dropouts in the Academy - people who realized how sinister the Empire is.
2) ROGUE JEDI - The Clone Wars muddled the Star Wars universe by having Force sensitive characters who didn't actually fit directly in to the Sith and Jedi order at all - Savage Oppress, Asajj Ventress, etc. In the original movie A New Hope, every character seemed aware of the Force and Jedis but seemed to disregard them as "simple tricks and nonsense" (Han Solo) and "old wizards" (Lars Owen). Obi-Wan only ever told Luke that Vader helped destroy the Jedi Knights, who were all agents of the Jedi Order. With Ahsoka Tano still alive after the end of Clone Wars," there is no reason why Star Wars shouldn't see characters with knowledge of the force who use it for their own ends.
1) ALDERAAN - In the original Star Wars movie, A New Hope, we only see Alderaan briefly - right before it is destroyed by the Death Star. In the last two Star Wars movies, Alderaan senator Bail Organa (played by Jimmy Smits) is a driving character - there were several deleted scenes for Revenge of the Sith where he is seen collaborating with Padme (played by Natalie Portman) in forming the early Rebel Alliance.
We only ever see Alderaan once in the prequels - at the end of Revenge of the Sith, when Bail Organa and his wife are holding baby Leia. It wasn't explored in the Clone Wars show at all - which is really strange, seeing as the show is powered by Star Wars fanboys. If "Rebels" is going to be about, well, "Rebels," I think it would be ideal to have much of the show actually take place on Alderaan. Have the Rebel Alliance based out of Alderaan, the way the Jedi Council was based on Coruscant. The shot I found in research of Alderaan above looks the most like our own world of any of the planets created for Star Wars - the potential for character development with this world is very strong. This would not only enhance the movies by demystifying Princess Leia's home planet - it would also give a backstory and motivation to why the Empire decided to destroy Alderaan in A New Hope.
The article "Five Characters We Want To See In Star Wars: Rebels" by Eric Diaz is a great sojourn in to how The Clone Wars should continue - better suited than what I've provided above, I imagine. I'm a hardcore Star Wars nerd so I'll watch no matter what!
I've written here before about how much I love Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Despite alot of cool characters, great music and some great moments, the Star Wars prequels as a whole disappointed in their ability to hold an audience emotionally in the way that the original trilogy did. Despite alot of success, the series now seems to be over - brought on by the sale of Star Wars to Disney.
Alot of important characters were created for the world of The Clone Wars, however - most important being young Jedi Ahsoka Tano. Ahsoka has probably gained the emotional appeal of fans in a way that no Star Wars character has in nearly twenty years. The Clone Wars was brilliant in pulling in even unpopular characters like Jar-Jar Binks and making them work in a very entertaining way (one of my favorite scenes is Jar-Jar enraging General Greivous by impersonating Gungan leader Boss Lioni).
It isn't all coming to an end, do not worry! A new series called Star Wars: Rebels is coming out soon. And with the new series are characters I would personally like to see:
5) DARTH VADER: The animation style that was in the Clone Wars show seems to be gone - all word is that the creators plan to actually base the animation on the original storyboards that Ralph McQuarrie drew up for the original Star Wars all the way back in the 1970s. That means a Vader that will look like this:
Vader will obviously be a staple in the new series, which is why I put him at the beginning of this list. He is guaranteed to be in the series. Anakin is the main character in the whole galaxy wide mess that is Star Wars. He is in every single movie and every single TV show to some degree. The storyline is driven by him and his personal choices - arguably more so than any other character. A leaner, less stiff Darth Vader will look alot more like the Anakin of the prequels and the animated series. It would be wise, if it's possible, for the Dave Fiolini and the team behind Rebels to try to temper down the computer animation at least as the main characters are concerned - imagine Star Wars as a template in which drawn characters are juxtaposed with a computer animated background.
4) EWOKS - I know this one might seem weird - especially as Ewoks are sort of ridiculous characters and probably some of the most unbelievable the series has provided. However, one of the strengths of the Clone Wars series, in my view, was stories such as the one that drove the beginning of Season Four - where the Gungans (Jar-Jar's species) and the Mon Kalimari (Admiral Ackbar's species - Yeah, I know - Star Wars species names can be ridiculous at times) team up to defeat General Greivous and Count Dooku. It's a great expansion of these species and makes the galaxy seem more real and engaging. It would have to be in a way that works, though, and that would take some creativity.
3) THE IMPERIAL ACADEMY - This one is a deep cut for hardcore Star Wars fans. Back in A New Hope, Luke Skywalker is heard talking about how much he wants to join up in the "Imperial Academy," seeing it as an excuse to leave Tattoine. In the amazing radio adaptation that National Public radio did for Star Wars, Luke is heard fantasizing out loud while listening to advertisements for enlistment in the Imperial Academy.
My own suggestion - have the Imperial Academy be a replacement for the Jedi Temple. Have it located in Coruscant in the very building that the Jedi Temple once was in. Have it be started by Palpatine purposefully to find Force aware younglings and train them to love the Empire and the Sith so that the Jedi will never be reborn. Have Vader lecturing young Academy cadets personally as to why the Empire is better than what was before. Even have many of the new Rebels be dropouts in the Academy - people who realized how sinister the Empire is.
2) ROGUE JEDI - The Clone Wars muddled the Star Wars universe by having Force sensitive characters who didn't actually fit directly in to the Sith and Jedi order at all - Savage Oppress, Asajj Ventress, etc. In the original movie A New Hope, every character seemed aware of the Force and Jedis but seemed to disregard them as "simple tricks and nonsense" (Han Solo) and "old wizards" (Lars Owen). Obi-Wan only ever told Luke that Vader helped destroy the Jedi Knights, who were all agents of the Jedi Order. With Ahsoka Tano still alive after the end of Clone Wars," there is no reason why Star Wars shouldn't see characters with knowledge of the force who use it for their own ends.
1) ALDERAAN - In the original Star Wars movie, A New Hope, we only see Alderaan briefly - right before it is destroyed by the Death Star. In the last two Star Wars movies, Alderaan senator Bail Organa (played by Jimmy Smits) is a driving character - there were several deleted scenes for Revenge of the Sith where he is seen collaborating with Padme (played by Natalie Portman) in forming the early Rebel Alliance.
We only ever see Alderaan once in the prequels - at the end of Revenge of the Sith, when Bail Organa and his wife are holding baby Leia. It wasn't explored in the Clone Wars show at all - which is really strange, seeing as the show is powered by Star Wars fanboys. If "Rebels" is going to be about, well, "Rebels," I think it would be ideal to have much of the show actually take place on Alderaan. Have the Rebel Alliance based out of Alderaan, the way the Jedi Council was based on Coruscant. The shot I found in research of Alderaan above looks the most like our own world of any of the planets created for Star Wars - the potential for character development with this world is very strong. This would not only enhance the movies by demystifying Princess Leia's home planet - it would also give a backstory and motivation to why the Empire decided to destroy Alderaan in A New Hope.
The article "Five Characters We Want To See In Star Wars: Rebels" by Eric Diaz is a great sojourn in to how The Clone Wars should continue - better suited than what I've provided above, I imagine. I'm a hardcore Star Wars nerd so I'll watch no matter what!
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Destro Destructo "Filthy" Ft. JFK
I heard someone at JFK's last show tell me that they're from Portland and that there's no hip-hop scene in Portland. I was like "WTF?"
There is an underground hip-hop scene EVERYWHERE - the island of Guam had one when I was there, for Goodness' sake. Portland hasn't had its own Macklemore yet but Destro Destructo, one third of the group Boom Bap Project, is a Portland State alum and has put out some really solid rap music. Check out his album "Day Of The Dead" and this song "Filthy."
Destro puts his soul in to his music - it's all about his struggles, not shooting guns or wearing jewels or whatever. Really solid, empowering stuff.
Here's a little more from Destro - really honest rapping, "If you can download it for free, why make the register break?"
There is an underground hip-hop scene EVERYWHERE - the island of Guam had one when I was there, for Goodness' sake. Portland hasn't had its own Macklemore yet but Destro Destructo, one third of the group Boom Bap Project, is a Portland State alum and has put out some really solid rap music. Check out his album "Day Of The Dead" and this song "Filthy."
Destro puts his soul in to his music - it's all about his struggles, not shooting guns or wearing jewels or whatever. Really solid, empowering stuff.
Here's a little more from Destro - really honest rapping, "If you can download it for free, why make the register break?"
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Lenny Kravitz, Mos Def and More Jam for Gulf Aid
I think this one might actually be old but here it is anyways.
Jazz And Hip-Hop: The Intersection Part Three - Pete Rock
In the first post in this series, I wrote about jazz and hip-hop here at Blood Is One, I wrote a lot about Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Before hip-hop devolved in to Soulja Boy, 50 Cent, Gucci Mane and trivial music like that, it was really the territory of guys like Pete Rock and DJ Premier. Their work with CL Smooth and Guru, respectively and in that order, translated directly from where jazz was at that point. Jazz had become all about improvisation - with a drum machine replacing the live drums and some poetry taking over for the vocals, Pete Rock and CL Smooth jumped right off from where Miles and Coltrane were already at on songs like "They Reminisce Over You" and "It's Not A Game."
The sample from "T.R.O.Y." is literally ripped from a bebop as hell track - Tom Scott & The California Dreamers' "Honeysuckle Breeze." There's actually about a thousand horn riffs in that song alone - Pete Rock showed exceptional skill to be able to take one of those, isolate and make his own music from it.
(Pete Rock is the strongest when he uses horns - he does it again on "It's A Love Thing.") That sort of beat production is almost more like computer programming than what older folks may be used to in creating music - but it is a skill and art unto itself. Pete Rock's soul/jazz sound continued in to other projects - while his work with rapper InI was nowhere near as raw as CL Smooth's flow, it fits with Pete Rock's solid, soulful sound. It's really no wonder that, even though his health was declining and he was on his way away from this world, Miles Davis was willing to jump in to the world of hip-hop.
I'll admit my ignorance, in preparing this piece, I actually listened to "It's Not A Game" by Pete Rock and CL Smooth for the very first time. (Pete Rock and CL Smooth produced a bunch of videos for the work they did together - I saw and heard the excellent "I'll Take You There" for the first time while I was writing this.) I thought I was a hip-hop expert but apparently not. The unfortunate elements of the genre are present, of course, in this song, which was made twenty years ago - CL Smooth delves in to materialization when he is seen rubbing 20s and 100s up against his face and getting high on power when a Mack 11 is in his hands. In context from where folks like Rock and Smooth came from, it makes sense, when now wealthy rappers like Jay-Z romanticize guns in a country where elementary school kids have tasted the blunt of a Bushmaster rifle carried by a madman, it's a bit more sad and creepy.
More Pete Rock & CL Smooth worth listening to - "I Get Physical."
The sample from "T.R.O.Y." is literally ripped from a bebop as hell track - Tom Scott & The California Dreamers' "Honeysuckle Breeze." There's actually about a thousand horn riffs in that song alone - Pete Rock showed exceptional skill to be able to take one of those, isolate and make his own music from it.
(Pete Rock is the strongest when he uses horns - he does it again on "It's A Love Thing.") That sort of beat production is almost more like computer programming than what older folks may be used to in creating music - but it is a skill and art unto itself. Pete Rock's soul/jazz sound continued in to other projects - while his work with rapper InI was nowhere near as raw as CL Smooth's flow, it fits with Pete Rock's solid, soulful sound. It's really no wonder that, even though his health was declining and he was on his way away from this world, Miles Davis was willing to jump in to the world of hip-hop.
I'll admit my ignorance, in preparing this piece, I actually listened to "It's Not A Game" by Pete Rock and CL Smooth for the very first time. (Pete Rock and CL Smooth produced a bunch of videos for the work they did together - I saw and heard the excellent "I'll Take You There" for the first time while I was writing this.) I thought I was a hip-hop expert but apparently not. The unfortunate elements of the genre are present, of course, in this song, which was made twenty years ago - CL Smooth delves in to materialization when he is seen rubbing 20s and 100s up against his face and getting high on power when a Mack 11 is in his hands. In context from where folks like Rock and Smooth came from, it makes sense, when now wealthy rappers like Jay-Z romanticize guns in a country where elementary school kids have tasted the blunt of a Bushmaster rifle carried by a madman, it's a bit more sad and creepy.
More Pete Rock & CL Smooth worth listening to - "I Get Physical."
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Kidd Kidd - Life Up [Trayvon Martin & Ahlittia North Tribute].
Kidd Kidd is G-Unit family. G-Unit is, obviously, 50 Cent's record label and group. I don't need to tell anyone reading this that 50 Cent glorifies violence and in particular, gun violence.
There have been alot of conscious black rappers, from Talib Kweli to Public Enemy, but I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone as brutally honest as this. Maybe Trayvon Martin's loss of life will pave the way for something better?
There have been alot of conscious black rappers, from Talib Kweli to Public Enemy, but I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone as brutally honest as this. Maybe Trayvon Martin's loss of life will pave the way for something better?
Jazz And Hip-Hop Part Two: Improvisation
Jazz is improvisational music over a set rhythm - just like hip-hop! When jazz was at its height, it was much more formulaic and designed for a more mainstream audience - swing - when jazz started to become less popular, the music that was produced in the genre was much more esoteric and experimental. Stuff like this work by John Coltrane or Stan Getz, which sound so complex that only a professor or academic could really appreciate it:
That was Stan Getz, here is some Coltrane:
On "Stardust," Coltrane takes an old swing song and just takes it in one hundred different directions. It's definitely not for the average music listener or the faint of heart. I think that, as a whole, hip-hop may go in a similar direction. Alot of very bad things came out of hip-hop when it became mainstream - gangsta rap was not a productive or fruitful mode of expression and hurt alot of people. The genre as a whole, however, is still viable and I think that people like ?uestlove, Madlib, Mos Def and others represent the jazz core at the center of hip-hop.
Our own Kenan Bell is definitely in the jazz ancestry as well - his music often takes samples not particularly known for hip-hop and moves them in new directions. He has sampled the soundtrack for the Watchmen as well as Neil Young, very different samples than the standard 1970s soul samples most rappers like. Music like his may not end up having the audience that Tupac, B.I.G. or Eminem got in their heyday, sure but it may sound alot smarter and leave a better mark on music.
That was Stan Getz, here is some Coltrane:
On "Stardust," Coltrane takes an old swing song and just takes it in one hundred different directions. It's definitely not for the average music listener or the faint of heart. I think that, as a whole, hip-hop may go in a similar direction. Alot of very bad things came out of hip-hop when it became mainstream - gangsta rap was not a productive or fruitful mode of expression and hurt alot of people. The genre as a whole, however, is still viable and I think that people like ?uestlove, Madlib, Mos Def and others represent the jazz core at the center of hip-hop.
Our own Kenan Bell is definitely in the jazz ancestry as well - his music often takes samples not particularly known for hip-hop and moves them in new directions. He has sampled the soundtrack for the Watchmen as well as Neil Young, very different samples than the standard 1970s soul samples most rappers like. Music like his may not end up having the audience that Tupac, B.I.G. or Eminem got in their heyday, sure but it may sound alot smarter and leave a better mark on music.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Kinsey Untold Stories: Talib Kweli/ Family First
Whoa. Well here is something different - a PSA on the value of family starring Talib Kweli and sponsored by Wells Fargo! That's different. And in a good way.
Big Bank Hank Remix - Meta
More Pacific Islander hip-hop efforts. Sabzi of Blue Scholars actually did the beat here!
Down for the Movement - Willa | Meta | dåko'ta (ARKiology EDUtainment)
More Pacific Islander hip-hop music. At its core, without the ridiculousness of violence glorification, hip-hop is something that can very much appeal to Pacific Islanders. I think much of the continuation of the culture will be from "outsiders." Thanks to Jason Datuin for recommending this.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
The Loss Of Guru
Hip-hop, unfortunately, has glorified and magnified alot of the gun violence that plagues this society. A friend posted this picture of DJ Premier holding Guru's ashes. I think it's significant in the pain you can see in Premier's eyes and a healthy reminder of the reality of mortality. Guru died naturally but his loss certainly reflects a society tormented by violence.
Jason Datuin's DFRNT Take
With Sonny Bonoho, JFK of Grayskul and my article of Tanya Taimanglo's book Secret Shopper, there has been alot of coverage here of the efforts of Southeast Asian and Pacific Islanders in hip-hop and other creative outlets.
I lived on Guam for about four months. I experienced a nervous breakdown there so my community ties from there are moderate and not too significant at this point. It's not because of me personally that I post so much on Southeast Asians - they are a very significant part of hip-hop as it continues as a cultural entity. The creative entrepreneurship certainly abounds with my friend Jason Datuin, who is a Chamorro entrepreneur and creator of the clothing line DFRNT.
Because of how far out there it is geographically, not all clothing enterprises from the States end up coming to Guam at all. It's very common for folks like Datuin, who grow up there, to create their own line of clothing. DFRNT is a great clothing company - Datuin takes the hip-hop aesthetic but definitely models it in to a style that is very much of his own culture.
I had meant to post on Jason for a while and he finally gave me an excuse to do so with this mix of Dr. Dre he created for his friends. I'm not sure if Blood Is One will produce another mixtape at any point - this may have to do for now.
I lived on Guam for about four months. I experienced a nervous breakdown there so my community ties from there are moderate and not too significant at this point. It's not because of me personally that I post so much on Southeast Asians - they are a very significant part of hip-hop as it continues as a cultural entity. The creative entrepreneurship certainly abounds with my friend Jason Datuin, who is a Chamorro entrepreneur and creator of the clothing line DFRNT.
Because of how far out there it is geographically, not all clothing enterprises from the States end up coming to Guam at all. It's very common for folks like Datuin, who grow up there, to create their own line of clothing. DFRNT is a great clothing company - Datuin takes the hip-hop aesthetic but definitely models it in to a style that is very much of his own culture.
I had meant to post on Jason for a while and he finally gave me an excuse to do so with this mix of Dr. Dre he created for his friends. I'm not sure if Blood Is One will produce another mixtape at any point - this may have to do for now.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Jazz And Hip-Hop: The Intersection
A while back, I made a post about Miles Davis where I played "Doo Bop Sound" - I heard that song for the first time when I was in high school, I think. I had no idea that that piano loop was actually a Gang Starr / DJ Premier beat. Gang Starr is comprised of Guru and DJ Premier - Guru has since passed away but Premier is still a producer. He is well known for producing beats for everyone from Nas to Royce da 5'9. This is the Gang Starr version:
Here is the Miles Davis version:
Hip-hop can go in alot of different directions - some really good and some really bad, like any genre. I would argue that Premier's turntable scratching is as head nodding as Miles' trumpet. It may never be as intense and raw as it was when Tupac, Biggie, Eminem or 50 Cent were the most popular but hip-hop is a very enduring genre and will always be a part of the music mosaic.
Here is the Miles Davis version:
Hip-hop can go in alot of different directions - some really good and some really bad, like any genre. I would argue that Premier's turntable scratching is as head nodding as Miles' trumpet. It may never be as intense and raw as it was when Tupac, Biggie, Eminem or 50 Cent were the most popular but hip-hop is a very enduring genre and will always be a part of the music mosaic.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Fung Bros. On "Things We Learned From Rap"
If you guys haven't, please check out the Fung Bros. These guys are amazing and break down alot of cultural stereotypes. I personally think them being Asian makes this video a bit stronger.
What's Up With Kenan Bell??
More awesome, incredible amazing work from my friend Kenan Bell - this one is called "Fire Extinguishers."
It's been roughly about two years since we really collaborated with Kenan and produced some music with him. Alot has been going on with him in the interim. It's hard for a musician to really make much in the way of money in this modern environment - however, Kenan's been doing promotional work like working with Vans skateboarding shoes as a "Custom Culture Ambassador." Here's what that looks like:
Also, Kenan has been working with Carl Roe. I think Blood Is One may actually have been responsible for that hookup, though Twitter certainly played a role. Roe did the engineering for the song "Supersonics" - check that out here:
It's been roughly about two years since we really collaborated with Kenan and produced some music with him. Alot has been going on with him in the interim. It's hard for a musician to really make much in the way of money in this modern environment - however, Kenan's been doing promotional work like working with Vans skateboarding shoes as a "Custom Culture Ambassador." Here's what that looks like:
Also, Kenan has been working with Carl Roe. I think Blood Is One may actually have been responsible for that hookup, though Twitter certainly played a role. Roe did the engineering for the song "Supersonics" - check that out here:
Kenan Bell - Life On Mars
I've been posting more material from Kenan Bell in the build up of some of the work he has been putting together. Kenan was nice enough to send me several songs that are rough cuts at this point - he is really good at taking songs that use samples not traditionally used in hip-hop and reworking them with his own concepts and ideas. This one - "Life On Mars" - is just fantastic. Great work, Kenan, keep it up.
There will be more to come.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Worried About Urban Riots?
It's not often that there is overlap from Dagblog, where I contribute, and this blog but almost everyone that I know of are am connected to in the hip-hop world has been talking about the Trayvon Martin case. This was written by Michael Maiello over at Dagblog:
Dear White People,
I understand through the Internet and mainstream media that some of you are "deeply concerned about urban riots," as the Zimmerman verdict approaches. Please, white people, keep this deep concern to yourself. Your concerns sound quite patronizing to the, um, no doubt multicultural assemblage of rioters that you imagine is gathering informally on the streets of Miami.
I suppose that people might erupt into riots at pretty much any time. I'd just point out that the people interested in seeing George Zimmerman stand trial for the shooting of Trayvon Martin didn't riot when Zimmerman wasn't arrested and didn't riot when it looked like he wasn't going to be charged with anything.
All in all, Zimmerman's fellow citizens have been calm and eager to work within the confines of the law even knowing that Florida's laws make the guilty verdict that some people are hoping for an unlikely outcome.
Fretting about riots that haven't happened is talk of too low a frequency to count as a dog whistle. Stop it. My prediction, if Zimmerman is acquitted, is that there will be demonstrations over Florida's gun laws and its self defense laws and then we will have to see if those demonstrations are accorded the same respect that Occupy Wall Street got, or if they are talked about as if they are scary riots by, you know, "those people."
Until somebody riots, let's cool it, okay?
-Mike
Xperience's Grind Pays Off
Xperience is a great rapper. He's definitely a part of Seattle's massive Oldominion collective, which is in many ways the core of Seattle hip-hop as an entity. I'm not sure when he started - I could be very ignorant - but I first became aware of him from two local Seattle projects - an Oldominion album called The Gigantics and an entire album that Xperience recorded with Grayskul called Facefeeder.
Xp (I hope he likes that nickname) did indeed pay off with his grind. Grayskul is fairly well known but Xp is now being featured on Macklemore's albums. His potential is very high - I think his new project Th3rdz could certainly be the start of something spectacular.
Xp (I hope he likes that nickname) did indeed pay off with his grind. Grayskul is fairly well known but Xp is now being featured on Macklemore's albums. His potential is very high - I think his new project Th3rdz could certainly be the start of something spectacular.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Blood Is One Flashblack - Kenan Bell: Watchman
"You know, mankind's been trying to kill each other off since the beginning of time; now, we finally have the power to finish the job."
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
A Little Bit About Jay-Z's "Crown"
I got an early glimpse at Jay-Z's new album via Keith Ancker, my former editor at Seaspot Magazine and a contributor here at Blood Is One. I was pretty impressed - Jay-Z and Kanye West are obviously friends going back a decade and it makes alot of sense that their sounds have evolved alongside one another. The lyrics and attitudes are pretty similar to Kanye's - talk of being a God and bragging about how famous he is. His vulgar braggadocio is offset by the fact that Jigga drops some brilliant one liners - stuff like "Fear is your only god, fearing me is your only job." One thing I like about Jay-Z is that he is able to make his haters - and we all have them - look deranged and stupid in comparison.
What's really amazing is this beat. Wow! I think the evolution of hip-hop, the birth of Dub Step and a more complex songmaking process for one of the most significant rappers is on display here. Alot of people still say hip-hop is dead - which is bizarre in that there at least as many acts, if not more, than ever before. It is just evolving as you would expect any genre to do.
Yeah, that beat for "Crown" is amazing right? What if I told you it was actually written by a 16-year-old Canadian black female producer named Wonda Girl (real name is Ebony Oshunrinde). There isn't alot of information about her up - it may have been her first real break in to mainstream hip-hop/music production. It's definitely worth looking out for her - this is some very original, skillful work.
Haze Brown - Bright Light, Dim Minds
Heathen Miller is a really awesome top notch guy who was not only down with my Blood Is One project when I started it two years ago - he joined back up as soon as I started again. He hails from New Jersey and has several artists he himself is working with - Haze Brown is one of them. Please take a listen and support both of them to whatever capacity that you can.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Haze Brown "R.E.B.E.L" (Official Music Video)
Thanks to New Jersey artist and Blood Is One family Heathen Miller for turning me on to this one.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Asians Eat Weird Things ft. AJ Rafael (MUSIC VIDEO) - Fung Brothers
This is sort of incredible.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Kenan Bell - Solitary Man remix
A little more on the Kenan Bell tip - this great song is a remix of "Solitary Man" by Neil Diamond. (Johnny Cash also did his take of this song.) Kenan is brilliant and this song resounded well - over 400 views! Kenan and I are in contact so hopefully you will see much more of him here.
$PACE (IVAN OOZE) - COKE
New music. Thanks for reaching out, Ivan.
Kenan Bell - Chinese ¥en
Kenan Bell did some music for Blood Is One before I had my breakdown. It is almost two years since he produced music for the site and he has produced more music but... songs like this one, which is absolutely brilliant, only have 32 views. Like Neema said in our interview, it is so hard to get discovered - Kenan deserves so much better than 32 views. Please help support him and take care out there.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Sleeping With The Enemy - Krizz Kaliko - Insidious Flow
I picked a physical copy of this song and a few others up at Silver Platters Someone in the Insidious Flow camp must have dropped off some copies because further research showed that Flow is located in the Northwest. This is really solid, well produced and lyrically conscious stuff - definitely worth supporting.
The Value of Tangibility
We live in a very digital world now - where a quick Google search can result in a free copy of most of the music ever recorded on this planet. So it seems strange that an individual would value any music record at all, right?
That's not the case, at least for me. Despite all of the chaos in my personal life, I have kept and secured a copy of German-American musician Jessie Evans' Is It Fire? The packaging is not that amazing - it's the same sort of paper case that most promotional CDs come in. Here's a music video for one of the tracks on Is It Fire? - "Let Me On:"
I got the album back in 2007 - at the time I was writing for this internet magazine called Mstation.org. The editor wrote a piece on Evans (he is based in Europe) - who had been doing this strange sort of Afro/Latin blend while living in Germany, of all places. I didn't pay for it - it was free. I'm not sure if digital music or physical music is better. If I'd lost Evans' work a couple years ago, I could easily have just obtained it all over again through a quick Google search. It's a miracle that I have a physical copy still six years on.
With the documentary on the Seattle rap scene that my friend Dyllyn Greenwood and I are working to produce, I really do hope that we will be able to generate a physical copy i.e. a DVD. I want to have liner notes and everything - though all sorts of economic and logistical reasons and factors may end up making that really difficult. If people were to really like what we produce, I think having a physical copy of something they enjoy will really impact people and make the experience a lasting one.
I got the album back in 2007 - at the time I was writing for this internet magazine called Mstation.org. The editor wrote a piece on Evans (he is based in Europe) - who had been doing this strange sort of Afro/Latin blend while living in Germany, of all places. I didn't pay for it - it was free. I'm not sure if digital music or physical music is better. If I'd lost Evans' work a couple years ago, I could easily have just obtained it all over again through a quick Google search. It's a miracle that I have a physical copy still six years on.
With the documentary on the Seattle rap scene that my friend Dyllyn Greenwood and I are working to produce, I really do hope that we will be able to generate a physical copy i.e. a DVD. I want to have liner notes and everything - though all sorts of economic and logistical reasons and factors may end up making that really difficult. If people were to really like what we produce, I think having a physical copy of something they enjoy will really impact people and make the experience a lasting one.
DJax - "Press Play" And "My Thang"
In my last post here, I posted a song by my friend Dominic Jackson - rap name DJax - and the cover of his upcoming mixtape. Dominic has dropped the first song off of it. Download it and help support his creative efforts. Strong stuff is on the way.
A little update to this post - Dominic and I are more of social friends than music associates at this point so I never really heard all of his discography. About a year ago, he put out this track called "My Thang" that is just dope as hell. Wow.
A little update to this post - Dominic and I are more of social friends than music associates at this point so I never really heard all of his discography. About a year ago, he put out this track called "My Thang" that is just dope as hell. Wow.
Talent Of A Friend: Dyllyn Greenwood
Dyllyn Greenwood is not just a good friend of mine - he is a good friend of Blood Is One and a colleague that I am very happy of and appreciative of to have in my life. Not only can he rap and produced beats, he is determined to make his way also as video producer. He did all the camera work on our video interview with Neema Khorrami and he has posted some of his own work on YouTube:
Check out some of his music as well, if you haven't:
Check out some of his music as well, if you haven't:
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
DJax - The Cloud 9 Tape (Cover Artwork)
My friend and Seattle rapper Dominic Ezekiel Jackson is prepping his mixtape launch for late in July. The first song "Push Play" will be released on Friday. He was kind enough to provide the artwork to me. Be sure to check back here for a link to the album.
Monday, July 1, 2013
The Amazing Video For M83's Lower Your Eyelids To Die With The Sun Plus An Incredible Performance On Jimmy Kimmel
Nothing is really extravagantly changed about M83's song "Lower Your Eyelids To Die With The Sun" in this video but the visuals - Wow, right?
Also, watch out for the amazing performance M83 did when they appeared on Jimmy Kimmell's show. Electronic music isn't usually emotionally engaging to watch being performed live - I think M83 just broke that rule.
Also, watch out for the amazing performance M83 did when they appeared on Jimmy Kimmell's show. Electronic music isn't usually emotionally engaging to watch being performed live - I think M83 just broke that rule.
Introducing Ripynt
Thanks for Dyllyn Greenwood for turning me on to this guy. Like most of the folks we spotlight here, Ripynt (apparently pronounced "Repent") is a Seattle area artist. Definitely sounds promising.
Deltron 3030 "City Rising From The Ashes" Converse Represent SF
I already shouted out to Blood Is One fam Jason Datuin for his music taste - well, now he just sent me a link to new music by Deltron 3030. Deltron started in 2000 as a project between Del the Funkee Homosapien and Dan the Automator. Deltron 3030 is on point material. They are the best and it looks like that hasn't changed.
As someone who lived in the area, I also like all the pictures of Oakland, CA. Oakland is where Del is from, if I'm not mistaken. Also, this video is being distributed by Converse - the shoe company, yes. It is not easy to make money in modern music, much less hip-hop, it's very wise of whoever is managing the business end of this new Deltron project to go the sports martketting route. Sports and hip-hop usually mesh pretty well.
Thanks again, Jason, for this link, brother.
As someone who lived in the area, I also like all the pictures of Oakland, CA. Oakland is where Del is from, if I'm not mistaken. Also, this video is being distributed by Converse - the shoe company, yes. It is not easy to make money in modern music, much less hip-hop, it's very wise of whoever is managing the business end of this new Deltron project to go the sports martketting route. Sports and hip-hop usually mesh pretty well.
Thanks again, Jason, for this link, brother.
KP ft. Chief Keef - "Choppa Go Bang" | Shot by @DGainzBeats
Thanks to my friend Jason Datuin of DFRNT Clothing for turning me on to this song.
RYAN TAYLOR: "JAMES BOND" OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO (PROD. BY DYLLYN GREENWOOD)
More good work by way of my friend Dyllyn Greenwood (who did the production on this song).
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