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some Refinery fuel...

some Refinery fuel...

20110526

you've got to be kidding me...


i have been living in the Illadelph area since the early '70's & in the Illadelph proper since '87. would you believe i've never seen DJ Jazzy Jeff spin live?


of all the live performances i've witnessed so far, you would think that i'd have seen the Magnificent on multiple occasions...has yet to happen! so far it's been like having a picture of me on stage at 1 of my 4 graduations. nada...

last night has to be the most bugged reason yet for me to miss 1 of these live sets:

no footwear

SMGDH! yes, i have to cop some new shoes...

the venue is this new spot called Whisper & they have the typical Center City (CC) dress requirements. i'm good w/everything but the shoes. since i like to see what different spots look like & how they vibe, this event would have been solid 2X. make that 3X because there was no cover!
yes, it was a free event! [see post title]

i suppose this is what happens when you find out about things the night before.

itiswatitis...

instead of sweatin' it, i hit the streets to get my stick & photograph on...


1 day i will catch a live set of this Illadelph creative. you can bet that!


PEACE
...be calm...

20110520

a strict adherence to the best policy?


a little bit of honesty can make a long day
a whole lot of it may keep people away...

NSCENE ©110520

cats say things that they don't mean in various lights of mood. i have never been like that. whether angry or calm, i speak truthful sentiments. in many cases i have to work quite hard to STFU.

why?

because many if not most cats do not want to hear or deal w/truth.

watsatallabout?

i don't do phony smiles & comments like i dig watswack. i'm that honest. it makes for challenging social interactions at times.

it's hard...

you're not supposed to be critical of the work of others, but if that's the case, how do we decide what we like & what we don't? taking it further, if you keep that to self, how do you warn your people not to get something that could harm their sense of art? how do you regulate mediocrity?

my current solution is to just provide props to watidig. this is ambiguous though. if i don't mention something, does that mean it's wack or that i just haven't checked for it yet?

i can't worry about that. until cats learn to embrace honesty more, i'm going w/the current MO.

to self i apply a harsher standard. perhaps this is why i never got into battling as an emcee. lyrically talking shit about the next just doesn't motivate me like that. it's not about me being doper than you. it's about me being doper than me. that simple. when it comes to Refinery fuel it's the same simplicity. my shit needs work. everything i do needs work as i see it. better is always the goal.

i can see how it might be offensive to some that i am not motivated by the concept of being the best. i can't control the movements of the minds of others (influence is another story). the movement of self mind is always primary & imperative.


that said, the fuel reserves are being worked on. improving my technical proficiency w/mixing, arranging, & music theory are current priorities. i share what i feel, but that doesn't mean i'm completely satisfied w/what i've made available. for the most i share Refinery fuel to catch feedback & stimulate building activities. the work continues...

get at me!

PEACE
...be calm...

20110516

books everywhere...


i dig going out. there are those who might suggest i've been on the planet too long to still enjoy such things. i can't relate...

Saturday i returned to Shakedown. missing 2 events in April wasn't planned. i'd like to go to most of the events i seem to get invited to on facebook, but that's like me copping every piece of vinyl that i want when i want it...

unrealistic...

back in reality i was introduced to an unusually refreshing new venue/space thanks to Shakedown.

imagine a space filled w/books...

obviously you're going to have shelves. it's probably reasonable to expect some tables & a few boxes. now take that & throw in a couple of full sized cars, several sofas/chairs, art, toys, & some other odd but interesting objects. how about i didn't have to imagine this place? i actually experienced it. it was like having a jam at the library.

how dope is that?


click on the image above or the following link to learn more about Bookspace...

there are only 2 other things i can readily think of that i dig on the level of sounds & books. eating...

PEACE
...be calm...

20110513

creation building...


last night i hit Dowling's Palace for Jus' Words. i almost didn't go & got out of the rest far later than what i would have liked. by the time i hit the sub it was already 11P. i was mildly concerned that i would arrive & everything would be wrapping up. i got off the sub at Girard & was pleasantly proven wrong upon my arrival at the venue.

this was my 1st visit to Jus' Words, so i did not have any particular expectations. the energy of the crowd & the vibe of the venue were mega solid. the crowd was thick by the time i came in, so i posted at the bar & prepared to absorb the + vibes i was sensing.

as always, creation inspires. the performances were excellent. the house band was catching grooves w/the artists & the crowd was clearly feeling it. performers were coming off stage & getting their mingle on while the crowd would still be singing the last groove. the perfromances varied from spoken word to vocalization to comedy. it was a beautiful thing to see/feel/experience.


i was particularly moved by the spoken word performance of special guest Taalam Acey. this creative gets the words out w/a force that is unmistaken. i copped his current CD titled Optix. i highly suggest getting familiar w/this creative's expression.

Jus' Words is also highly recommended. every Thursday at 9P w/a $5 cover. congratulations & continued success to Reynald Williams for being 8 years strong. i will clearly be returning to Dowling's Palace in the future...

PEACE
...be calm...

20110510

the pursuit...


it's been over 2 decades since i decided to begin to pursue what i wanted to do creatively. in that time frame i have had to deal w/a lot of bullshit. as i am an extremely honest human being, the majority of that bullshit has admittedly resulted from user error. in many cases, such error has resulted in the pursuit of my creative goals being obscured.

the greatest challenge for me has always been to create & maintain a source of reliable funding. i never thought it was a solid idea to try to make a living solely as a creative. it isn't that it can't be done so much as it is extremely rare. i was not interested in becoming a bitter old creative who gave up because the $$$ never came to embrace the creative energy/output. i was similarly disinterested in having to either sell my creative soul &/or dilute my expression in order to attract those who had $$$, but no respect for the creator, the creations, &/or the creative process.

these ideas are still part of my pursuit, but so is the lack of funding. for various reasons, i have yet to establish consistent non-creative oriented funding to the extent that it fosters greater creative functioning of self. for a few years i stepped away from being creative because i thought it might benefit me to work more on establishing said funding. this has not proven to be beneficial overall. the funding continues to be an issue & it would appear to some that i have just recently begun to pursue something that i have been working at for years.

is it frustrating? hells to yup! but itiswatitis...

i don't have time to be mad or complain. i have too much work to do. 1 of the user errors that i have been profoundly guilty of is not P-R-A-C-T-I-C-I-N-G. this lack of practice is partially due to being preoccupied w/the effort to establish/maintain funding, & primarily due to user error.

imagine that...

1of the things i have continued to do throughout everything is write. i have also continued to indulge my creative essence when/however it seeks to be released. what i have to do now is be more mindful of the people & things that do not contribute to the + pursuit of the intended goal(s). these matters are far too costly to be ignored...

more user error...

the most important thing about user error is learning from it. in some cases it has taken a while, but i'd rather take a while than not learn at all. i've seen way too many cats do the same things repeatedly & hold all parties responsible like the party in the mirror is a non-event.

no thank you to that invitation...

PEACE
...be calm...

20110508

creating some freedom for the mind...


i hopped on the C earlier today to clear the dome. it wasn't really in the budget, but i thought i might hit a grub spot on South. i decided i'd head to the Percy Street Barbecue & see watwaswat...

i got off the bus at South & walked all the way to the South St. bridge w/o stopping for any vittles. i figured to just chill there & enjoy the view for a few. there were a number of creatives on & around the bridge working to move their respective crafts. after standing there for a couple of minutes i recognized 1 of them as 1 of the cats i knew from Job Corps.

Darryl is 1 of the few Job Corps alumni from the Illadelph that i maintained some contact w/after we all graduated. i hadn't seen him for several years before today. it turns out it was his born day today. i thought it was kind of bugged that i never knew all these years that he was also a Taurus.

he was working his craft creating portraits for those who found his skills to their liking. we had a solid conversation between clientele. i showed him some of the Refinery's visual expressions & he put me on to some ideas that may help them move. as is often the case when i spend time around other creatives, i felt energized & pleasantly inspired.


sometimes it just takes a change of scenery...

2 tokens & no vittles: not too much of a hit on the budget...

PEACE 
...be calm...