You are currently browsing the monthly archive for February 2009.
[CLICK PICTURE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD!!!*]
HUGE respect and thanks to Adriel “Drizzletron” Luis of iLL-Literacy for hooking up the download link w/illshare!
*you may also right-click and “save as” on each track name, below if link isn’t working at any time.
This is where my head is at in the winter of 2009. I’ve decided to take some time to reevalute and reexamine my identity (for the umpteenth f*ckin time!). This album is for everyone who resides on borderlines, be they race, class, religious, gender, etc. Here’s to being a bridge between worlds but also remembering to not let the bridge your peoples walk over, be your back.
[Senbei - Shikata Ga Nai 2009]
This is for my Bachan – my SHERO (R.I.P.). Shikata Ga Nai in Japanese means quite literally, “it can’t be helped,” or “nothing can be done.” From my frame of reference, the internment of Japanese Americans has done a plethora of (often hidden) damage to the psyches of my Nikkei bretheren, and can play out many times, in a defeatist/fatalistic attitude where we hope for the best, but always expect the worst. To me personally, Shikata Ga Nai is about a feeling of isolation and solitude. As Asian Americans the one true thing we all have in common (except for Japanese Americans) is a healthy distrust (and many times hatred) for the Japanese people due to their history of a capitalist, imperialist and colonialist mentality. To be interned for being an “enemy alien” in the land of your birth, while other Asian Americans wore buttons stating, “I am NOT Japanese” MIGHT just send you the signal that nobody has your back. I fight these feelings of isolation passed down from my grandparents and father (unknowingly & unwillingly) on a daily basis, and to top it off, even within my own Japanese American community, I’m not “pure.” …Shikata Ga Nai, indeed.
Like many, I tend to spend way too much muhf*cking time feeling bad about myself, wallowing in self-hatred and despair (America! F*ck yeah! =P). This song is a testament to my knowing that I serve a righteous purpose in this world and just like Chris Martin states, “just because I’m losing, doesn’t mean I’m lost…”
This one’s pretty self-explanatory:
1. Broken Halos is fly as f*ck and we’d like to tell u just why that is.
2. We wanna fly away from all this f*ckedupededness (gaza, oscar grant, iraq, halliburton, kkk, fbi, cia, prison industrial complex, schwarzenegger, etc.)
As an American male of Asian ancestry, its not often that we get an opportunity to brag and boast about how good we feel about ourselves. Hip-Hop (at its best & when used correctly) is a wonderful platform to explain just exactly how f*cking proud you are of yourself for overcoming the obstacles life throws at you and how much you love being yourself.
This is for all my folks who wear different hats and possess the ability to connect deeply with people from a vast array of walks of life. IE: One of my childhood best friends went to Harvard after High School, another went to San Quentin penitentuary. I can name the cast of characters in the Wu-Tang Clan, and the TV series “Friends.” Some of my best friends are queer womyn of color who can have difficulty trusting that any hetero white and/or male person could be capable of thinking a single, solitary righteous thought, and I love them because they tend to teach me something new and life-changing everytime I speak to them. Some of my best friends are alcoholic, pothead pill-poppin’ cats whose sole mission on a Friday night is to find a woman and f*ck her and I love them because they love me and with a little less resource and a few different decisions, I could have been one of them myself. Due to where, when and how I grew up I am blessed to be able to see the beauty in ALL my homies, their vast potential as well as the ways in which they were setup by this country/world to be the way they are. This song is about my ability to blend into and fall in love with any crowd, whilst trying to not forget to be me and “show my true colors.”
[Senbei - California (feat. eM)]
This one is special to me because its the first time I’ve done a song wih eM since our wedding last summer. eM is so f*cking talented its scurry. This is us reminiscing about growing up in the Yay. Eastbay Senbei + Frisco eM = match made in 41510. When I’m not caught up in my madness, I sit back, smile and remember that eM is my life partner and that I am the luckiest jerkface on the face of the earth.
[Senbei - Mixed President (feat. Slavename)]
First off, Slavename is one of my favorite rappers because of the mere fact that who he is on the mic is the same person I speak with when I see him. I’ve been working my ass off since I started rapping 8 years ago to connect “Senbei” and Colin Masashi Ehara. I am just now feeling like we are becoming one and “Senbei” is not relegated to an alter-ego. Almost every f*cking rapper you know does it. I just decided to own up to it.
This song is about Barack Obama. I already did a huge post on this song so check HERE if you haven’t seen it already.
[Senbei - Social Tool (feat. Jeimil & Drizzletron of iLL-Literacy)]
I f*cking LOVE this song. If you recognize the chorus, I salute you. It was taken from the hook of Green Day’s “She” off of their first HUGE album, Dookie. It seems that a lot of Hip-Hoppers don’t pay Green Day much attention because they are, well…hella white. If you are a Hip-Hopper of color who has been hurt by racism enough to write-off white people completely (or a white Hip-Hopper who has self-hatred for white people – they do exist!), I would highly recommend checking out Green Day for their mere artistry, not to mention the fact that Billy Joe Armstrong is one of the greatest punk rock singers/writers who ever lived. Oh yeah, they’re from OAKLAND!
With that said, this song is dedicated to Oscar Grant, my brother from another mother: Jahmari Butler and a plethora of other young people who are having their lives played out and decided for them. Adriel “Drizzletron” Luis of spoken word super group iLL-Literacy did the DAMN thing on here, and Jeimil as most of you know already, always almost brings us to tears with his vivid imagery of the grief wrought by oppression. Church.
——-
Are you locked up in a world that’s been planned out for you? Are you feeling like a social tool without a use? Scream at me until my ears bleed. I’m taking heed just for you…
LOVE.
Senbei
[It's been a long time. We shouldn'tah left you...]
[Halos...Dey Know.] done
[Jeimil - Sideshow]
Holy fresh to f*cking def Friday, Batman! That was hella fun. Wanted to thank all the homies and family that came thru to watch Jei and I open for DJ Vinroc and Baba Zumbi of Zion I on Friday. Big ginormous UPs to Ronostalgia of Reignforrest Collective for hosting us and throwing a stupendous party, as always. 707-ValleyJoe like yee.
[Feelosophy is incredible.]
Cedication.Crimes & Xariusound were killing it all night on the wheels of steel, RnB/Funk/Rock band Feelosophy’s grooves had everyone feelin’ theyselves and u already know Vinroc & Zumbi tore it the f*ck down.
[Jenasis (of American Idol =P) & Zumbi]
GOOD TIMES.
Senbei
p.s. Cop that new Zion I, IMMEDIATELY.
p.p.s. The huge Obama/Lincoln poster that was behind us on the stage was hella problematic. Plz don’t get it twisted:
1. Lincoln “freed the slaves” because he wanted to win a war and control the power of an American economy, not “out of the goodness of his heart.”
2. While the northen states were largely industrial and required paid laborers, the south’s economy/industry was all based on plantaion/slave labor. Lincoln knew that ending slavery would cripple their economy and render their military inept and useless.
3. Internalizing an idea that Lincoln “freed” enslaved Americans of African ancestry, perpetuates an idea that it was the decision of white authorities to allow this freedom to happen; and therefore disregards any and all attempts of self-liberation that Americans of African heritage made themselves.
4. Barack Obama is far sexier than “honest” Abe.
5. F*ck white supremacy (WASP/European heritage homies, plz don’t confuse this statement to mean ‘f*ck white people’ – it means f*ck the idea of your being superior. there is a huge difference and it’d actually be dope for everyone if u believe in this statement too!).
6. My brain/country stresses me out on a daily basis.
p.p.p.s.
Shikata Ga Nai vol. II will be dropping this Wednesday, February 25th for FREE, right here. I produced the whole thing (it’s been a minute) and it features new music from yours truly, Jeimil, eM(!), Slavename and Drizz of iLL-Literacy.
[Available for FREE download on 2/25/09!]
If u aint knowing, Little Dragon (and their lead singer, Yukimi Nagano in particular) GO hella f*ckin hard.
[Little Dragon - Twice]
This song makes me feel like I might if the world were about to end, but it meant that this fact made everyone set aside all the bullsh*t and treat each other with decency for the last 24 hours. Beautifully absurd.
[After the Rain]
[Constant Surprises]
(not that others don’t, but) MIXED PPL GO.
senbei
So due to our ridiculously busy schedules (me in school and Jeimil working in the city, full-time), I was on the verge of having to do a “Where They Be At?” post on Broken Halos (f*ck it, I still will).
To our great surprise, the homie Ron of Reignforrest Collective asked if we would help celebrate the 2 year Anniversary of their fresh-to-mothaf*ckin-def Party, Listening Lounge at the MINNA GALLERY located @ 111 Minna at 2nd st. in San Francisco (aka the sucka-free, the sco, frisco, the sh*tty, the city).
Performances will include:
[Zumbi (of Zion I) + DJ Vinroc]
LIVE(!) Jazz/Funk/Rock Band: FEELOSOPHY
Resident DJs: Xarisusound & Cedication.Crimes
Guest DJs: Dose, Pastense & Choco
& the best rappers you’ve never heard of: Broken Halos
["I want my 40 hours back..."]
Happily, I was able to record a (sort of) brand new song with my brother and partner in (c)rhyme, Jeimil Belamide. It’s entitled “Sideshow,” was produced by longtime friend/brother/ally Dacourey “DJ Dahi” Natche and goes a lil sumpin like this…
[Jeimil - Sideshow (Right-Click HERE and "Save Target As" for FREE download)]
It’s been a hot minute since the last time we performed and we will work our asses off to make sure we aint a hot mess on stage that night (esp. when blessed with the opportunity to warm sh*t up for MC Zumbi and Vinroc!).
Be sure to hit up Going.com and RSVP for a reduced rate!!!
Hope we see y’all there blud!
Senbei
p.s.
[Broken Halos - 40 Hours]
If you read this post, you may recall that xenophobia and wiggity-wackness on the behalf of some Berkeley residents is causing much stress in the East Bay Thai American community. If forced to end their weekly food service (for which they do not charge the community, but accept donations), the Berkeley Thai Temple may be in danger of having to close its doors.
If you are in anyway able, please come to the hearing in Berkeley to show your support for this histroical Bay Area landmark. There is truly power in numbers and the more people standing in the courtroom, the more the judge will have to think about what descision s/he will deliver.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
In solidarity,
C
(This is written as part of the Youth Media Blog-a-thon, sponsored by Youth Outlook and WireTap.)
In case you aint heard, President Barack Hussein Obama is multiracial/ethnic/cultural. Wrote a lil song about it, and now here it go…
[Senbei - Mixed President (ft. Slavename)]
Senbei:
Allow me to reintroduce myself my name’s / Barack, but u can call me Mr. President, its evident my cleverness’ commensurate to hella sh*t / a Kenyan Kansas kid from Oahu, Indonesia, who landed in the Chi from Cambridge – “jungle fever” / my mama loved them brown men so she made one too, Obama love goes down friend: dreams may come true / I f*ck with Ray Romano and I f*ck to Stevie Wonder, I struck their hatred pronto and with luck I’ll free Rwanda / hope to take this place far, no killing hate with hatred, and I don’t play the race card cause this really aint a game kid / connected to the world in a way u prolly never seen before, and I’m fresh to def, adored in a place that’s hardly never seen a war / oh beautiful for spacious skies, its crucial ’cause of blatant lies, but true enough to make us rise to usefulness and wake to life / a lot gon’ change tomorrow stepped ahead of the game, Barack Hussein Obama – best remember the name…HOOK:
My president is mixed, Slavename is too, and I’ll be gotdamned if my kids aint too / My President is mixed and my Camry is tan, so I hop up in my whip, turn it up and let it jam! / My President is is mixed and Senbei’s too, and ill be gotdamned if his kids aint too, my president is mixed and my Honda coupe is black, audacity is dope my man Obama’s proof of that…Slavename:
My President is mixed, now everybody on his d*ck, first he wasn’t Black enough, look how quick they all switched / my President is mixed, guess I’m Mr. Me Too, I’ve been hated all my life, now everybody think it’s cool…f*ck. / Now how the f*ck I’m supposed to deal with that? All my life people saying that I “wasn’t really Black” / I don’t fit into a box, now I fit in with Barack, Barack, Barack President Barackdaimean?! / I don’t fit into box, so I guess you can’t trap me, “so man, what are you?” that’s what everybody asked me / well actually I was never down with being fractionally divided, plus you don’t ever just see the half of me / half white, half Black, half that, it’s all crap. whole human being here to fill the gaps / now you can talk “this” and haters can talk “that” but my President is mixed and homie that is all fact…HOOK
Senbei:
(acting a cotdamn donkeyarse…)HOOK 3X
I am more than fully aware that we live in a society where people are racialized into monoracial groupings. This is due primarily to white supremacy and the oppression of poor and working-class people in efforts to ensure that different groups of people of color and poor whites never see eye to eye. With that said, the homie G-Mitch aka Slavename and I have had a plethora of discussions about President Obama and the ways in which his “Blackness” stood in question amongst many until now. I tend to find that many times amongst people of color, when a person of a particular group is biracial (especially with one white parent) their authenticity comes into question. Many people of color as well as white people see the mixing of races as a “dilution” of purity, that somehow renders them not truly “(insert racial and/or ethnic classification here).”
What I find interesting (as well as particularly disturbing) is the tendency of monoracial people to change their minds about the acceptance of mixed heritage people, only when these “inauthentic” people accomplish something particularly special. I specifically remember having my Asian/Japanese authenticity questioned throughout my life, but when I became the only person NOT of Black American heritage to make the El Cerrito HS basketball team, I suddenly became “the only Asian on the hoop squad.” I was given the name “Senbei” from kids at my Japanese American Buddhist temple because I was a “Japanese Cracker,” but last year when I released my first solo Hip-Hop LP The Literary Ca(n)non, I found my name/album in the local Japanese American newspaper, the Nichibei Times (for the sake of argument, the writer who interviewed me was mixed race too =P).
Now if I ever dreamed of comparing myself to our new President, I would wakeup and apologize. However, his achievements being taken pride in by those who may have previously questioned his “authenticity” is what came to my mind while I was at the Presidential Inauguration in DC. Barack has his “Blackness” brought into question throughout his entire life (read Dreams From My Father) and the second he steps into the white house, becomes “America’s first Black President!”
Now I am not in anyway claiming that all mixed race people experience the same lives/lifestyles. Myself and Slavename have a plethora in common as mixed race men of color, but we also view the world through tremendously different life experiences. I realize that had both of my parents been people of color, that my life would look very different. If I had been born a woman, my experience would vary vastly from what it is now. If my mother had been Japanese American and my father Anglo, my identity would have undoubtedly differed from my lived experience of growing up with an Asian American male role model.
In the long run, I think the fact that so many Black Americans are embracing our new President is absolutely wonderful and due to the “one-drop rule,” there is little to zero doubt in anyone’s mind today that he is not the first ever African-American leader of these United States. The symbolism of this moment in time makes me wakeup each day, thinking that I was only dreaming and I have to f*cking pinch myself.
In no way do I wish to deflate the joy in this moment of revelry for any Americans of African ancestry. Where my multiracial “spidey senses” begin to tingle is relegated to a question of having to prove your authenticity in almost every circle you enter as a mixed race person in America. It sucks uber f*cking visciously to me that he was asked by many Black Americans to prove how “Black” he was, while at the same time ensuring he did what he needed to do to avoid stimulating the internalized racist thought patterns in white Americans, thus frightening their votes away.
With all this said, I believe personally:
-Obama’s being “half white” eased the fears of middle-America whites and had he been raised by two Black parents, he would NOT be in the white house today.
-His being married to Michelle boosts his “Black credibility” and had he married an Anglo, Jewish, Latina, Arab and/or Asian heritage woman, things would look very different.
-He would not be the person he is, had he not viewed life through the lens of a multiracial/ethnic/cultural Black man in Hawaii, Kansas, Indonesia, Chicago, Boston and Washington D.C.
[Senbei, Slavename & a womyn who loves to hang with brilliant/confused mixed people who go stueykablooey.]
My President is Black, in fact he’s half white so even in racist’s mind, he’s half right…
-Jay-Z
Bless.
SENBEI
p.s. Speaking of “Regime Change”… I think I’m finna hella heart RAP in 09!
[Jay-Z - Black President (remix)]
[CLICK PICTURE FOR THAT (FREE!) HOT FIRE]
So I am truly a jerkface award winner. Apparently I live in a cave now that I’m in school, but I finally got around to listening fully to my brother from another, Olatunji “Tunji” Balogun’s group, Inverse’s new EP aptly titled So True. Him and Toby have been going dummy hard for way too long now and I appreciate and respect the sh*t out of their hustle and grind. On their 100% Grizzly Adams for real, for real. Brilliant beats? Check. Uber swag/flow/wordplay? Check.
[Young Tunj aka Africa Black - Church.]
On a sidenote, I remember this kid Tunj when he was a teen who had never touched an alcoholic drink before and now he’s a grownass beastman, beastinout with his (*ahem*) out. Fanf*ckingtabulous. I knew you was destined for greatness brotha. Keep gettin it in.
[Inverse - Rise & Shine]
So True,
Senbei
