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[Mos Def - Quiet Dog Bite Hard (right-click and "save-target-as" to DL)]
Black Dontae’s latest album, The Ecstatic is real smoove-like. As much as I think he’s a talented singer, I’ve missed his lyricism since Black on Both Sides, something awful. This is just a little sample of his latest freshness to 2-step to on another manic Monday.
U stay classy(?) internets,
senbei
[2009 BET Hip-Hop Awards - DJ Premiere conducts "The Cypher"]
Talented lyricists are an endangered species.
[Pharaohe Monch - Welcome to the Terrordome]
Troy Donald Jamerson > most.
SEN
p.s. For the youngsters out there (damn, I thought I’d never be this dude =P), this is a remake of Public Enemy’s classic from the LP, Fear of a Black Planet.
I’ve have GOT to think up a way to get out of my Public Policy seminar from 4-7pm, because Wednesday, November 4th, SFSU will be providing FREE screenings of ridculously talented filmmakers, Tadashi Nakamura’s “A Song for Ourselves” (about revolutionary Japanese American artist, activist, & educator Chris Iijima) & Eric Tandoc’s “Sounds of a New Hope” (about O.G. LA/BAY Hip-Hopper, educator, cultural worker, activist, Kiwi Illaphonte). Know about MassMovementTV!
Hoping I won’t be stuck in class,
C
p.s. If you are a student in Dr. Ueunten’s AAS335: Japanese American Personality course, you can get extra credit for attending the screening and writing about these films! Holler at me in class for details.
[Click Pic for FREE download!!!]
[iLL-Literacy feat. Passion - The HereNow]
According to the relativity of simultaneity, it is impossible to say in an absolute sense whether two things can happen at the same time if they are separated by space. However, the band of funky fermions known as iLL-Literacy insists that everything and everyone share a single moment – that we are all logged into a grand social network known as the HereNow. It is the central hub where our avatar souls bend time in hopes to save the day, and where our common date with Destiny is to avoid becoming dated. As coy fishes in the flow of time are poisoned with mercury, and Pluto is denied planetarianship, it seems that our moments (like all other natural resources) are plundered not with consideration for the Now, but fear of the Future. By way of syllogism, the question then becomes: when frozen in time, can thou keepest it cool? Indeed, where the electron is negative, iLL-Literacy’s spin is positive. And positively charged thou shalt be with another single from their debut project iB4the1.1. Fusing their talents with the vocals of the photonic phenom known as Jeremy “Passion” Manongdo, the iLLs beckon thine to come hither and join “The HereNow”–a P/G-Funktified ode to being present. Lean in for the moment.
This is the second single from the iLL boyz of iLL-Literacy off their forthcoming authoring of authentic awe-inspiring audio artistic awesomeness. The first chapter to their album iB4the1.1 comes out Saturday, November 17 (tomorrow!) and promises to bang, slap, knock, and funk your earbongos the funk up to the fullest extreme.
Soulclap!
C
Following the recent devastation caused by Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) on the Philippine Islands, Members of the Bay Area’s talented creative community are lending their time & talents to aid the people of the Philippines through these difficult times. We encourage you to join us in solidarity and donate what you can, Whether it be monetary, food, clothing or medicine. Every little bit helps and it is instrumental that we look out for those less fortunate than us.
“Rebuild”
Friday October 16th @ 111 Minna Gallery
5pm-9:30pm
(in the Zappa/Stage Room)*Donating 100% of the proceeds & collections to those in need
*Sponsored by:
111 Minna Gallery
Manilatown Heritage Foundation
Filipino Community Center, Nomi
SF CHRP
DiAnne Tana Bueno
Randall Rufino of Blufizz
James Donato
Reignforest Collective*Uplifting DJ sets from:
Donnell De Leon (Dose)
Paul Abadilla (Choco)
Allan Perez (Skelator)
Cedric Nodado (Cedication.Crimes)
Noel Bacani (Xariusound)Lyrical performance by
Colin Masashi Ehara & Jeimil Belamide (Broken Halos)*Let’s do our part in helping a humble nation rebuild & endure the storm
It’s been a while now since Jei and I performed (and I’ve been going through a lot of internal debates about my own place in Hip-Hop’s practice), but we couldn’t say ‘no’ to something like this.
Please come through after work! ALL (100%!!!) of the proceeds go to help our brothers and sisters on the other side of the globe.
In solidarity,
C
[Nas on CNN: "Open Letter to Young Warriors in Chicago"]
16-Year-Old Honor Student Derrion Albert Beaten to Death in Roseland
By Kristen Mack and Stephanie Banchero
(via Chicago Tribune)
The Agape Community Center in Roseland has long been a sanctuary, a refuge for students who want to finish their homework, take Bible study courses or simply escape the chaotic streets in their Far South Side community. Read Entire article.
——-
Albert’s being beaten to death was caught on videotape and sh*t still seems to be perpetually hitting the fan. Our democracy is broken when babies are being killed by their elders and/or each other. But if you took the time to read this post, you probably already knew that. I am working to acknowledge that much of the relative safety from threat of violence I possess today came through certain degrees of unearned privilege.
Derrion Albert, Oscar Grant, my childhood best friend J, my homeboy’s big sister, my homegirl’s boyfriend, 3 of my former students, and countless others remind me to examine and interrogate my positionality in efforts to redistribute resources. The more I’ve studied this country, the more blatant it appears that we are all setup from birth to occupy positions that are literally destined for us. This doesn’t mean those who are middle-class or wealthy didn’t/don’t work hard, but at the same time, SAT scores can be directly relegated to one’s income.
While “rags to riches” stories from Jay-Z, Oprah, and even Obama fly at us through the window of pop culture, I can’t forget that these are all exceptions to rule. Derrion Albert was an exception to the rule himself as an Honor Student and undoubtedly headed to higher education. Despite “pulling himself up by his bootstraps,” his environment in America as a working-class American of African heritage still destroyed him. What also f*cks with me is whether this would have gotten any coverage whatsoever, had he not been an “honors student.” Does a childs ability to succeed academically make them a higher priority in our conscience than those who don’t? I am unclear how much more of this madness needs to happen before our government steps in (as it did with predominantly white/middle-class Columbine HS) to say, “enough is enough.”
I am thinking almost constantly these days about how to best support white people (and myself) in acknowledging privilege and moving past guilt, to redistributing resources; and how to best support Asian Americans (including myself) in examining how the “model minority” myth is a direct attack on Black and Latino Americans, as well as poor/working-class Southeast Asian, Pacific Islander, East Asian, South Asian, and white Americans. This is and has been at times a very painful process, but as I watch the violent and morbid internet videos of Derrion Albert and Oscar Grant from my cushy chair, my pain seems to literally “pale” in comparison.
Democracy inaction,
C
p.s. As I’m writing this just now, my dear homegirl is texting me to tell me that her boyfriend (a Black man) was just pulled over handcuffed and had an assault rifle pointed at his head by Police who thought he “fit the description of two Mexicans in a silver car.” FUCK.FUCK.FUCK.FUCK.
I am blessed to know some truly incredible people…
The homie Patrick “DJ P.Sani” San Juan works for AACE TS in San Francisco.
AACE TS is a program that identifies, selects and assists low-income youth ages 11 and older that have the potential to be the first generation in their family to attend college. We support middle school and high school students to continue their education and encourage high school students and adults to enroll in a 4-year institution or postsecondary program.
Celebrate with us the AACE-TS 30th Anniversary fundraiser event @ Poleng Lounge (1751 Fulton St, SF), Thursday, August 27th, 6-10 pm
There will be:
* Performances: Mighty Joe and Broken Halos (UCSC alumni) and DJs spinnin’ all night:
- j fish
- p.sani
- jocson
* Free food, Light appetizers will be served!
–>Grilled edamame, wings, etc.
A percentage of the bar tab will go directly to AACE TS.
Donations are also highly encouraged.
Come through and support good people working to close the OPPORTUNITY gap in Public Education!
_______
My homie Xandra “lachicaboom” Ibarra is an amazing/brilliant artist, scholar, and pedagogue and her organization, Kaleidoscope is doing some truly revolutionary and groundbreaking expression.
Kaleidoscope’s mission is to entertain and cast light on the knowledge, actions, and transformations that pertain to people of color performance and race-positive sexuality. The broad range of performances from drag to burlesque, song to aerial art, promises to be erotic, sexy and witty! Join us on September 26, 2009 at 8pm at the Brava Theater on 2781 24th Street in San Francisco as we represent and transform burlesque as it is and was. Kaleidoscope entertains, inspires, and arouses. Enjoy the nation’s best in burlesque and buy your tickets now at www.brownpapertickets.com.
Xandra writes:
For the past two years, Kaleidoscope has brought together women, men and trans performers of color from Venezuela, Mexico, Canada, Los Angeles, New York, Detroit, San Francisco, Seattle, Tucson and Atlanta. Kaleidoscope is an annual national people of color cabaret and festival. It is the first of its kind in burlesque specifically because it is dedicated to showcasing performers of color.
Kaleidoscope’s mission is to entertain and cast light on the knowledge, actions, and transformations that pertain to people of color performance and race-positive sexuality. It is
about the politics of a people of color performance movement, about how people of color define and shape our liberation in an art form that has traditionally used our bodies as props and our images for profit. This show is a platform for us to reclaim our images and our sexualities, our goal is to politcize and enrich the neo-burlesque movement.
In the past, Kaleidoscope has been sponsored by Communities Against Rape and Abuse, INCITE!, Northwest Network for LGBT Survivors of Abuse, Seattle Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, and EntreHermanos. This year we are honored to be fiscally sponsored by Communities United Against Violence. With the support of these organizations Kaleidoscope has flourished and become a venue for discussions that complicate desire and use burlesque as a tool to embrace the liberating possibilities of sexuality.
Now to be perfectly honest, when I used to think of burlesque, I imagined Grandpa Simpson headed to the old saloon in Shelbyville to watch skinny white women show him their knickers.
This isn’t the first time my homie X has flipped the script on me/the world and made us all think deeper and differently about power, self-determined liberation, and what honest expression in art can look like.
On September 26, 2009, be in the Sucker Free City and check out some mind-blowingness of incredible proportions HERE.
_______
Un Mundo Mejor Es Posible,
C
[CLICK PIC FOR FREE DOWNLOAD!]
Thanks to Professor Wei Ming Dariotis of San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies Program, I was given the opportunity to put this mix(ed)tape together specifically for her Asian American Studies 550: Asian Americans of Mixed Heritage course. Words can’t do justice to how much of an honor this is.
To the students of AAS 550 &anyone else who happens to download it), I’m truly humbled & I hope this mix of songs and Dr. Dariotis’ groundbreaking class affects you in some way, shape, or form, however it may be.
Tracklist:
1. Senbei – Mix(ed)tape Intro2. Senbei – Misunderstood (remix)
3. Senbei & Dynamic Souls – Paper Bullets
4. Little Dragon & Senbei – Constant Surprises (remix)
5. Senbei & Dynamic Souls – Kindred
6. Senbei feat. Slavename – Mixed President
7. Senbei feat. Jeimil & Drizzletron – Social Tool
8. Lalin St. Juste feat. Senbei – Our Way
9. Senbei & Dynamic Souls – Things Fall Apart
10. Senbei – Masterpiece (prod. Akiyoshi Ehara)
In deep gratiude,
Colin Masashi “Senbei” Ehara
[Maya Angelou talking about when she met 2Pac]
One of my mentors told me about this video and it is truly moving to me. To know that she met Tupac in the midst of him being involved in an altercation is one thing, but to know that her speaking sweetly to him made him weep openly and uncontrollably is an incredible reminder. It is a reminder that there are hundreds of thousands of young men of color who are capable of remarkable greatness, being lied to and being led to doubt their sense of self-worth. Some reading this won’t require that reminder because of the world they operate within daily, and if this is the case, I hope these videos serve as a testament to the strength and resilience of youth and the wisdom and brilliance of elders.
[2Pac's Malcolm X Dinner Speech, circa 1992]
“I’m so ahead of my time, my parents haven’t met yet…”
Rest In Power,
C
