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20100131

100131 freestyle...

i've been writing thoughts, making up strange song lyrics, & vocalizing tunes since i was a little kid. i started writing rhymes because of the way i got into hip-hop. i did not have the $$$ to cop DJ equipment & i don't dance like that. i'm glad i had the sense to move into writing instead of just stepping off & saying "i guess i'll just have to be a fan."

there may be some contention as to what a freestyle is, but i'd say there are basically 2 kinds:
  1. written
  2. off the top
i do both. i'm not a braggadocio type. i do what i do. i'd have to say i prefer my writtens, because when i spit off the top i don't remember what i said unless i record it & listen later. i'm like stream of conscious w/it.

i've been posting some of the writtens on FB lately & i decided to put this 1 up here...peep it:

dangerous w/pen
when i put it to pad
keep the 3rd on focus
now even when mad
loss of the view
in the face of evil
puts me in the place
of just those people
i usually find myself
standing facing 'gainst
i skip the spin
just to hit the rinse
right after wash
can't stand the soil
fluid on thought
to disperse the oil
solved w/the vent
intent on the smash
to lift w/the gift
& to get the cash
gotta fund the effort
can't record for zip
i can write for free
& even run my lip
but if i wanna move
& make this known
the drive on the grind
is requisite shown
removed on the path
finds effort's waste
& i don't wanna see
progress erased

NSCENE ©100131
 
PEACE
...be calm...

it's almost time to Get D's...

questions are an important part of the human interaction process. communication is an educational tool. i have a big problem w/any person, institution, agency, government, etc. that tries to stop questions from being asked.

DFProductions will be producing a program where i essentially ask questions that will make people uncomfortable. this vid isn't an installment of the program, but it falls in line w/the idea of the program.

if you know anything about SEPTA, or CREPTA as i like to call them, there are funding issues w/the agency essentially every fiscal year. the transit agency is a legal monopoly that is subsidized by government funds on a state & federal level. fares are always going up & customer service is usually questionable at minimum. there are times when you can stand at a stop & no transit vehicles are ever seen in a time frame where a patron should see 3 or 4 vehicles coming to take them where they need to go.

in an urban setting such as the Illadelph, this can be the difference between getting to work on time on a regular basis & having to be unemployed. there are employers that will not even consider you for employment if they know you use public transportation (PT).

why?

PT is not considered a reliable means of travel.

so, w/all that in mind, where is the $$$ that SEPTA got for allowing Bud Lite to become the mascot of this train car?

there is a point being made here...Get D's...

PEACE
...be calm...

20100127

the world is filled w/weirdos...


i'm proudly 1 of'em, but there are others i do not wish to consort w/at all...

some knuckle tried to add a comment to a post that linked to some nude Asian models...WTH?

or better yet, WTF!

whoever it was must not have been aware or did not read the info that accompanies this blog...c'est la vie...

onward to the light!

i'm still working on the '00-09 list of hip-hop releases. the list is over 100 releases long so far & i've only been working on it since last night. i'm using discogs & allmusic as references.

it's really interesting to see how some albums are completely missing from either site's discography. what's even more interesting to me is the number of albums that have been released that have apparently not been promoted/marketed to the general &/or hip-hop aware public.

the last 4-5 years has forced me to refocus on underground hip-hop & working on following/supporting artists who create viable hip-hop music.

the media nor the industry is going to perpetuate the culture. those of us who are artists &/or fans have got to be more active. this is especially true of the fans. i'm saying this from a personal perspective as a fan who is a creator as well...

BE MORE VIGILANT PEEPS!

support the culture if you really dig it...remember, we live in a capitalist society...

PEACE
...be calm...

20100126

artistic self aware yes...

my endeavors in hip-hop began some time between junior high & high school. by my 1st years in college i was trying to find collaborators (DJ's, producers, other MC's, etc.). although these relationships rarely turned into completed contributions to the culture, i have maintained my efforts to perpetuate the culture in any way i possibly can.

this includes educating other humans on the aspects of the culture, shining light on the culture that lives outside of mainstream media channels, buying the albums of artists who respect the culture, going to shows of these artists, etc. in addition to these activities i have always continued to do 3 things to facilitate my contribution to the culture:
  1. study (any info i get my senses on)
  2. write (lyrics, poetry, prose)
  3. pursue the necessary body of knowledge to create audio
i study as often as possible. i read a lot, but reading is useless if you are unwilling or unable to convert words to actions. theories are only useful when they explain observations & are used to determine what to do next. to my knowledge no one observes actual thought. everything we do as humans is w/consideration of some action to take place, or analysis of some past action.

i use this perspective to approach my artistic goals. the recording industry is a strange thing. it is facilitated by artists, but often operated by individuals who have little knowledge of or regard for the artistic process. it has apparently been this way for quite a while. in my observation & personal analysis, the most likely way for such a dynamic to change is for artists to become more business oriented. those of us who create have to become the operators of the industry.

the key seems to be to not forget the artistic process while at the same time being as aware as possible of the workings of the media industries. artists have to take control...

as w/most things worth fighting for in life, this is easier said than done.

now, back to the fight for me...

PEACE
...be calm...

20100121

there is madness to my method...

i have to do some extensive digging, listening, & research, but i'm going to get to it & post up some hip-hop albums that have been released from '00-'09.

this listing will consist of albums released by artists that i know & have heard of. it is by no means all inclusive. if anyone has any other suggestions, feel free to provide commentary.

this list is unranked. it is a statement as to the continued viability & growth of the musical aspect of this culture globally recognized as hip-hop...

if you find that you are unfamiliar w/any of the selections on the list, do self a favor & check them out. cop what you dig & support the artists' efforts. gear, travel, studio time, duplication, mastering, promotions, etc. are not free.

perpetuate the culture.

PEACE
...be calm...

20100119

the process...

1 of the reasons i do still watch some TV is because of the discovery process.

i am always open to any new artist that is able to move me w/their creativity. i listen to anything that moves & doesn't come off to me as being straight foolish.

all music influences my creative process.

caught these cats for the 1st time ever on Dave Letterman's show...

time to check out a new for me artist...The Heavy - The House That Dirt Built

PEACE
...be calm...

20100115

the dubdime in line...

i'm using the 1st few days/weeks of this year to buckle down & organize my operations. i feel it is needed at this time in order for me to be most efficient & productive.

being creative is something i'm apparently able to do w/ease. i appreciate the universe's blessing in that respect.

that said, i feel i have to do all i can to allow myself to be most productive in my creative capacities. equipment isn't cheap or free. software & hardware do not fall out of trees or grow in my front yard.

i have to consistently grind in order to truly shine.

this society we live in often seems built to throw dirt & darkness. i am determined to perpetuate the opposite in words & deeds as much as humanly possible.

for that i need to be mad organized, so no new fuel for a few weeks...

the good thing is i've been fleshing out the '06 & '07 Diesel Funkin' catalogs. the '06 & '07 work should be enough to satisfy my audio habit...

i will also be selecting the tanks that represent Raw Fuel Tank II from the '09 Diesel Funkin' catalog.

Pipeline is likely going to stay the way it is for a few weeks...

get at me at your leisure.

PEACE
...be calm...

20100111

the return of the funk philosopher...

if you ever want to get my attention, just say FUNK.

i respond to that word like most peeps respond to FREE, or MONEY!

i'm a funk fiend. i dig the various types & styles of funk. the nasty, hard, disgusting kind is my most treasured, but i can get down w/the smooth mainstream friendly funk too.

most of the hip-hop artists/producers that lean toward funk are going to be of interest to me. especially this dude:

i saw Red live w/Meth & EPMD a little over 10 years ago. i rarely go to see peeps perform live more than 1 time. i figure usually the show doesn't change but so much. [NOTE: this does not apply to artists like SADE!] that said, i'd likely go see another Redman show. the energy & wordplay would make it worth it...

i'm looking forward to some tight HIP-HOP albums this year...the forecast is looking real sunny from these reports coming in...

PEACE
...be calm...

20100106

this guy is standing up to make it...


Charlie Murphy's book is not only humorous, but quite interesting.

understanding symbolic language adds a whole other level to message comprehension. i consider it a reflection of abstract thought. i suppose it is akin to critical thinking in that face value meanings are not the only meanings derived from media.

when i really began to understand the depth of layered symbolic communication i was not able to go back to the old way of experiencing media. everything i come across is analyzed to determine what the symbolic meanings are in addition to the apparent literal meanings.

in reading the memoirs of other humans, this becomes quite useful. if one is able to derive these types of messages in general, a very noticeable similarity begins to be revealed in such readings.

i call many of these similarities the truths of the universe. they tend to be presented repeatedly from many different sources. when tested, they tend to stand on their own. if you pay close attention they can be found all through human history as well.

you may not think anything so "deep" would be found in a Charlie Murphy memoir, but i would strongly discourage such a thought...

we can all learn from each other...some more than others...

PEACE
...be calm...

20100104

waup w/tech difficulties...

it would appear that there is some issue w/either youtube.com or this blog.

problem solution:

this is the vid that was supposed to be in the last post...

check it out & don't let the initial shock stop you from getting the message.

i have family that is illiterate...

PEACE
...be calm...

20100101

HNY2010!

there's a video i wanted to share, but blogspot & youtube don't seem to interacting in a polite fashion.

since i strive to KIM & ABB, this is the current post. when i figure out what's going on, i'll up the vid. i will say it is quite filled w/humor...

stay up folks. new year or not, the hustle goes on w/or w/o you...

not much of a choice huh?

i made my choice a few months ago. 2010 is action instead of words time...

let's get this moving & keep it moving...

PEACE
...be calm...