Monday, October 19, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
CUTDROP | drops 10/19 out of NYC
Yo, these are my people bringing the fashion game to the masses w/ a little consideration for the little people.
If you are into fashion but don't have the chips to afford to stay fly, CUTDROP ( http://www.cutdrop.com ) showcases the great labels for discounted prices but portions of the proceeds go to charity.
((READ ON))
Cutdrop.com is an online pop-up boutique that offers contemporary women’s and men’s apparel and accessories from a weekly host brand at low prices. Cutdrop will exclusively serve as the storefront for one participating brand each week and sell its goods on consignment. What differentiates the site from others like it is that a portion of the proceeds benefits a charity of the brand’s choice.
It is a digital offshoot of the long running, New York City nightlife event Taco Tuesday, in which employees from renowned fashion and media companies guest bar tend to benefit charities. Participating companies have included Barneys New York, Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, W magazine, Levi’s and Adidas. So far, Taco Tuesdays has raised $15,000 for participating charities, which have included Council of Fashion Designers of America, Fresh Air Fund, American Cancer, Society and Art Start
It's like GREEN Couture!
The site is completely viral, no real ads, completely word of mouth so do tell a friend and support beginning OCTOBER 19th!
(((dG)))
If you are into fashion but don't have the chips to afford to stay fly, CUTDROP ( http://www.cutdrop.com ) showcases the great labels for discounted prices but portions of the proceeds go to charity.
((READ ON))
Cutdrop.com is an online pop-up boutique that offers contemporary women’s and men’s apparel and accessories from a weekly host brand at low prices. Cutdrop will exclusively serve as the storefront for one participating brand each week and sell its goods on consignment. What differentiates the site from others like it is that a portion of the proceeds benefits a charity of the brand’s choice.
It is a digital offshoot of the long running, New York City nightlife event Taco Tuesday, in which employees from renowned fashion and media companies guest bar tend to benefit charities. Participating companies have included Barneys New York, Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, W magazine, Levi’s and Adidas. So far, Taco Tuesdays has raised $15,000 for participating charities, which have included Council of Fashion Designers of America, Fresh Air Fund, American Cancer, Society and Art Start
It's like GREEN Couture!
The site is completely viral, no real ads, completely word of mouth so do tell a friend and support beginning OCTOBER 19th!
(((dG)))
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Derrion Albert
My man Kaleem (www.colderthanaratsass.blogspot.com) hipped me to this. HE spoke about how disgusted and sick it made him feel. He said he wanted to jump through the screen.
I finally watched it and I have to say I echo the same sentiments.
I am also caught in a strange place being mad that something so senseless and so violent can happen and sad that something like this happens in every city throughout the U.S. and the people participating in it are so desensitized to it all that they don't recognize it needs to stop.
I think about the youth in my City (Oakland) and I see a lot of them in this video clip. The notion is (in opposition to being the stronger man and not participating) that it is 'kill or be killed' and 'you have to do what you have to do'. That is the only rational.
Apart from all this is the voluntary participation in such a barbaric act seems to give off some sort of feeling of liberation, strength, power...Watch the video; I'm sure some of them are angry, but it also seems like some of them are in it for the thrill, not because they hate their opposer for any real reason.
There are no other outlets (apart from sports, I guess) that give these teens that feeling. The Euphoric feeling of accomplishment, success, respect, and self-worth. As a result, now these same teens are about to be convicted of 1st degree murder and have the rest of their lives screwed up all because they did not make the right decision. This sounds drastic but I think it would be better to kill these four teens than to have them spend x-amount of years in jail rotting, and then have them get out and have to participate in 'society'. It's a waste of life.
Granted, these boys had a choice, but when you do not educate and give these kids hope and confidence in themselves what sound decision can you really expect them to make?
Derrion was what, 14? life. ended.
These other boys are no more than 19 years old: life. ended.
Man it's awful no matter how you turn the situation.
This is a result of what is going on in the United States. The dumbing down of people and moreso w/ people of color. And it sucks. You can be mad at these boys for participating in some stupid ass act (and it really was dumb as shit), and for not having any regard for life, but you can only be but so mad at them. When you look at the amount of money being dumped (if that word can even used to represent how much is NOT being placed) in low income communities. It's just squalor and more squalor and all it is doing is getting worse and worse. Compounding on itself.
This is a deliberate move by people in power and it upsets me beyond words.
My heart goes out to the Albert family and to the young men (and their parents) who have been and will be arrested and charged in this murder. It just doesn't have to be like this.
I'm not going to post the video just out of respect. Every time I see it it makes my stomach knot up.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Do I Do (rant)
Damn.
I was over at a buddy of mine's house catching up and randomly watching TV. And this video came on. Now I don't know if I have NEVER seen this thing before. I do think it is more that I have not seen it in a really long time but all conversations ceased and I was captivated by this video.
I suppose I'm still reeling from Michael Jackson's Motown performance and the dynamic of people actually dancing and getting into the 'party' of it all. I love when Stevie is in the midst of the dancefloor and all the people are dancing around him. If you catch some of these people they are gettin' it! We don't really dance like this anymore.
Seeing the people dance reminds me of being younger when my mother would go out and party with her girlfriends. They would dress up, and actually DANCE all night. I'm sure they drank, I'm sure they posed a bit, met guys, but the primary focus was to dance. I suppose she is where I get that from. I say almost every time I go out that I'm trying to 'shake my ass tonight'. I don't care so much about drinking, who's there, and what people are wearing. I love to see people getting down.
It brings up the way people danced. It's modern dance but more than modern dance I look at it as 'Free Form'. Moving to the rhythmic patterns, the syncopation and making it work together. My mom came out to one of my nights when I dj'd in LA a couple years ago and she and I got on the dance floor. She was doing some simple moves that had me trying to emulate her. It made me feel then that she still has it and that we as the second and third generations are losing it. To me, the last real era of good dancing was the golden age of hip hop. Everyone was doing the Troop, Roger Rabbit, RoboCop, Running Man, Cabbage Patch, cats were Housing in that era and in the mix of the choreographed dance steps people still got loose on their own.
Now, you get to the club and all everyone does is Freak's. If they're not Freakin' then they're posted up with a drink or in a circle breakdancing (or watching some asshole clog up the dancefloor while HE breakdances).
What am I saying? Overall I guess I feel like we've gotten too complicated yet we are dumbing down as all the new technology and messages come across the airwaves, video and computer screens that have us focusing on what THEY want us to pay attention to. I feel like we have relinquished our power, gotten away from who we are and who we are supposed to be. We don't have time to dance anymore. 'I'm trying to go to the club, drink, see/be seen, and take someone home and do it again tomorrow.' I feel like we're searching for something these days. I cannot put my finger exactly on what it is. Maybe it is family, community, love. Maybe all this new technology and other ways to stimulate one's self has gotten us away from life's simple pleasures. And while the computer, internet, and all these things are really amazing, we have not learned how to make the adjustment. Maybe we have not learned how to incorporate it into the simplicity of living. I'm convinced life, as complex as it is, really is not that complex. There are some baseline values and inherent things embedded in our DNA that we need and want. All this other stuff is posing like it can get us to our inherent wants/needs when it really cannot. It just confuses things. If we could get back to baseline and burn away all the dross in our lives I believe a lot of people would have peace (read: stability) in their lives.
...and be able to dance like these people again.
... back to the video, I could watch this over and over. It is a beautiful video. I love to see Dizzy getting down too (3:30).
I was over at a buddy of mine's house catching up and randomly watching TV. And this video came on. Now I don't know if I have NEVER seen this thing before. I do think it is more that I have not seen it in a really long time but all conversations ceased and I was captivated by this video.
I suppose I'm still reeling from Michael Jackson's Motown performance and the dynamic of people actually dancing and getting into the 'party' of it all. I love when Stevie is in the midst of the dancefloor and all the people are dancing around him. If you catch some of these people they are gettin' it! We don't really dance like this anymore.
Seeing the people dance reminds me of being younger when my mother would go out and party with her girlfriends. They would dress up, and actually DANCE all night. I'm sure they drank, I'm sure they posed a bit, met guys, but the primary focus was to dance. I suppose she is where I get that from. I say almost every time I go out that I'm trying to 'shake my ass tonight'. I don't care so much about drinking, who's there, and what people are wearing. I love to see people getting down.
It brings up the way people danced. It's modern dance but more than modern dance I look at it as 'Free Form'. Moving to the rhythmic patterns, the syncopation and making it work together. My mom came out to one of my nights when I dj'd in LA a couple years ago and she and I got on the dance floor. She was doing some simple moves that had me trying to emulate her. It made me feel then that she still has it and that we as the second and third generations are losing it. To me, the last real era of good dancing was the golden age of hip hop. Everyone was doing the Troop, Roger Rabbit, RoboCop, Running Man, Cabbage Patch, cats were Housing in that era and in the mix of the choreographed dance steps people still got loose on their own.
Now, you get to the club and all everyone does is Freak's. If they're not Freakin' then they're posted up with a drink or in a circle breakdancing (or watching some asshole clog up the dancefloor while HE breakdances).
What am I saying? Overall I guess I feel like we've gotten too complicated yet we are dumbing down as all the new technology and messages come across the airwaves, video and computer screens that have us focusing on what THEY want us to pay attention to. I feel like we have relinquished our power, gotten away from who we are and who we are supposed to be. We don't have time to dance anymore. 'I'm trying to go to the club, drink, see/be seen, and take someone home and do it again tomorrow.' I feel like we're searching for something these days. I cannot put my finger exactly on what it is. Maybe it is family, community, love. Maybe all this new technology and other ways to stimulate one's self has gotten us away from life's simple pleasures. And while the computer, internet, and all these things are really amazing, we have not learned how to make the adjustment. Maybe we have not learned how to incorporate it into the simplicity of living. I'm convinced life, as complex as it is, really is not that complex. There are some baseline values and inherent things embedded in our DNA that we need and want. All this other stuff is posing like it can get us to our inherent wants/needs when it really cannot. It just confuses things. If we could get back to baseline and burn away all the dross in our lives I believe a lot of people would have peace (read: stability) in their lives.
...and be able to dance like these people again.
... back to the video, I could watch this over and over. It is a beautiful video. I love to see Dizzy getting down too (3:30).
Thursday, July 16, 2009
One of the Greatest performances I've ever seen in my life. Absolutely.
I know. I just know people are tired of hearing Mike songs and hearing about him, but this has to be the biggest Icon in the last say... 200 years. I don't know why I say 200 years because I think as far as immediate WORLD notoriety nobody is touching how big this dude was.
I can't even believe it.
Since his death I have really been taken aback trying to figure out what one person is larger than this guy.
I have yet to figure one out.
What I cannot believe is the idea of yet another (and rare) absolute. I tend to stay away from absolute statements because I think, 9 times out of 10, there is going to be an exception to a rule or statement, but there is no one person bigger than Michael Jackson. absolutely. and by bigger let me clarify that I am referring to the idea that a lot more than half of this planet knows who this guy is and not just knows of him but can tell you something about his person. Not only that, this one person has single-handedly changed so many elements of culture and values.
And I am not comparing him to Jesus Christ. I think Jesus is way different (*sidebar: take some time to read the previous entry and email your thoughts about Black Jesus ;) *) in that when he was alive no one really knew who He was except for his immediate (and surrounding) region. But people in Europe and the southern tip of Africa did not know who He was. It was not until his death that news of His life and teachings actually set the world on fire. Of course, this also begs the nod to the discussion about media and the transfer of information.
yadda yada...
But let me say quite clearly that 2,000 years from now people are not going to be speaking about Michael Jackson.
...so anyway, I'm blown away that a black man (I'll play the race card) was as big as can be on a world level. I just cannot fathom the idea that someone can cause excitement, or a stir, or make someone faint (!) at the sight of him. I'm not going to comment on the fainting issue because I personally don't understand it. I think it is really corny and that people who faint at the sight of this cat are playing themselves. But it does speak to the impact he had on people, black, white, asian, indian, middle eastern, south american, etc. And that is simply amazing. How can a musician (a MUSICIAN!!!) have THAT much of an effect on lives. I read an article how he went to visit then President Reagan how the White House staff was star struck and acting like little groupies.
I have a lot more to say and I realize this is my blog so I can write however long I wish but I am writing this post because one of the greatest performances i've seen in my life happened when I was 5 1/2 / 6 years old and I remember its impact quite vividly. I've been waiting to post this clip because it is so ridiculous. I have not seen the whole performance in its totality probably since the first time I witnessed it ( I stopped watching the clip to write this post - so i'm anxious to finish it). It is most interesting now, since Michael Jackson is dead, to observe a couple things; 1. the way everyone responds to a. the song, b. him, and c. his performance, then 2. watch the nuances of his face knowing how shy, sheepish, and self conscious he was. It is interesting to watch where he looks during the performance. Peep how unpolished his (now) signature moves are. Also notice (I have to say this just to be an asshole) that he's performing to a track (not singing live). Okay, to save face, if that were me and I knew I had all that dancing and prancing to do I would have lip-synched it too.
I don't think I'm going to critique the whole performance but these are a few things that jumped out at me in the first two minutes.
Peep how smooth he flings the hat, combs his hair, puts the comb in his pocket, and then picks up the mic. ...that's cold, son...cold blooded.
And FEEL the excitement from the crowd. Everyone is excited, screaming, no, shrieking waiting to see what this cat is going to do. People are on their feet going with him. I note these things because performances don't have this sort of energy anymore. No one dancing like this, singing like this, and has this type of (artistic) swag.
*notice, going into the second chorus how there is a patch of people sitting in the middle section right in front of the stage not even nodding their heads (!) ... haters. before the term was even solidified.justkidding*
The only thing I'll comment on re: the moonwalk is with regard to the response of the people having never seen or imagining it before (on a broad level). Think about how excited people were and that air of expectancy. To hear that response after they witnessed it: the gasps, the shrieks, and the shouts with typical late 70's jive telling Michael to get down, people were really awed.
...when's the last time you were awed?...
okay, I guess i'm going to analyze the whole damn performance: I'm watching this and i'm seeing how many times he messed up. This performance was really just a bunch of improvised steps. Maybe he loosely choreographed it. after the moonwalk he goes REALLY out of synch with the track. The ad-libs and runs that we all know were new to him and it is apparent. I think he played himself with the second moonwalk (which he actually does for more longer than the first). Knowing what I know now I wished he hadn't tried to do it again, but that's what I mean about improvised. If he had known that moonwalk was going to change his career I know for sure he would have only done it once.
I now understand why I heard he cried after this performance. But what's crazy is his minor failure turned out to be his defining moment (MESSAGE!!!!).
*(yet another) sidebar*
my favorite part of the performance is from 3:29 (right at the cusp of 3:30) until 3:39. God, that is classic! (Hee! Whoo!!). But what's classic (and I'm going to catch some serious flack for this) is how he slides over to his first 'Hee', the whole finger point to one side on the 'Hee' and the finger point to the other side of the stage on the 'Whoo', and then his little movements right up until 3:39. It looks like how you used to do it during the family reunions growing up. You know when all the uncles and cousins would stand around and egg you on to do Michael Jackson. That's all you knew (which is hilarious but makes another point about his effect on culture - you couldn't dance for shit at that age but you knew how to dance like Michael Jackson).
What I'm struck by overall is how Un-polished he looks. I'm so used to seeing him after he became MICHAEL JACKSON (bold font, caps, size 16 letters) and had perfected his swag/dance style. Here he is still vulnerable, clumsy, and insecure. It's beautiful to see, because in all his sloppiness he floored the whole World (myself included) with this performance.
I always wonder what his brother's felt. I mean at this point (in his career AND the show!) it's like, 'The Jackson who??'.
just some thoughts...
*on a funny production humor tip: for you stage managers, video/film cats, sound engineers, and theater people: peep the gentleman in the back (upstage right side) clapping and enjoying the performance beginning at 1:29 but then just about 1:59 it's like the producer gets on Gary's radio and tells him to stop watching and pay attention to what he's being paid time and a half + a video rate to do.
*for my musicians (and also people with soul) check the girl in the green dress (eventually) clapping on 1 and 3. I don't know what she was clapping to right before that though.
I can't even believe it.
Since his death I have really been taken aback trying to figure out what one person is larger than this guy.
I have yet to figure one out.
What I cannot believe is the idea of yet another (and rare) absolute. I tend to stay away from absolute statements because I think, 9 times out of 10, there is going to be an exception to a rule or statement, but there is no one person bigger than Michael Jackson. absolutely. and by bigger let me clarify that I am referring to the idea that a lot more than half of this planet knows who this guy is and not just knows of him but can tell you something about his person. Not only that, this one person has single-handedly changed so many elements of culture and values.
And I am not comparing him to Jesus Christ. I think Jesus is way different (*sidebar: take some time to read the previous entry and email your thoughts about Black Jesus ;) *) in that when he was alive no one really knew who He was except for his immediate (and surrounding) region. But people in Europe and the southern tip of Africa did not know who He was. It was not until his death that news of His life and teachings actually set the world on fire. Of course, this also begs the nod to the discussion about media and the transfer of information.
yadda yada...
But let me say quite clearly that 2,000 years from now people are not going to be speaking about Michael Jackson.
...so anyway, I'm blown away that a black man (I'll play the race card) was as big as can be on a world level. I just cannot fathom the idea that someone can cause excitement, or a stir, or make someone faint (!) at the sight of him. I'm not going to comment on the fainting issue because I personally don't understand it. I think it is really corny and that people who faint at the sight of this cat are playing themselves. But it does speak to the impact he had on people, black, white, asian, indian, middle eastern, south american, etc. And that is simply amazing. How can a musician (a MUSICIAN!!!) have THAT much of an effect on lives. I read an article how he went to visit then President Reagan how the White House staff was star struck and acting like little groupies.
I have a lot more to say and I realize this is my blog so I can write however long I wish but I am writing this post because one of the greatest performances i've seen in my life happened when I was 5 1/2 / 6 years old and I remember its impact quite vividly. I've been waiting to post this clip because it is so ridiculous. I have not seen the whole performance in its totality probably since the first time I witnessed it ( I stopped watching the clip to write this post - so i'm anxious to finish it). It is most interesting now, since Michael Jackson is dead, to observe a couple things; 1. the way everyone responds to a. the song, b. him, and c. his performance, then 2. watch the nuances of his face knowing how shy, sheepish, and self conscious he was. It is interesting to watch where he looks during the performance. Peep how unpolished his (now) signature moves are. Also notice (I have to say this just to be an asshole) that he's performing to a track (not singing live). Okay, to save face, if that were me and I knew I had all that dancing and prancing to do I would have lip-synched it too.
I don't think I'm going to critique the whole performance but these are a few things that jumped out at me in the first two minutes.
Peep how smooth he flings the hat, combs his hair, puts the comb in his pocket, and then picks up the mic. ...that's cold, son...cold blooded.
And FEEL the excitement from the crowd. Everyone is excited, screaming, no, shrieking waiting to see what this cat is going to do. People are on their feet going with him. I note these things because performances don't have this sort of energy anymore. No one dancing like this, singing like this, and has this type of (artistic) swag.
*notice, going into the second chorus how there is a patch of people sitting in the middle section right in front of the stage not even nodding their heads (!) ... haters. before the term was even solidified.justkidding*
The only thing I'll comment on re: the moonwalk is with regard to the response of the people having never seen or imagining it before (on a broad level). Think about how excited people were and that air of expectancy. To hear that response after they witnessed it: the gasps, the shrieks, and the shouts with typical late 70's jive telling Michael to get down, people were really awed.
...when's the last time you were awed?...
okay, I guess i'm going to analyze the whole damn performance: I'm watching this and i'm seeing how many times he messed up. This performance was really just a bunch of improvised steps. Maybe he loosely choreographed it. after the moonwalk he goes REALLY out of synch with the track. The ad-libs and runs that we all know were new to him and it is apparent. I think he played himself with the second moonwalk (which he actually does for more longer than the first). Knowing what I know now I wished he hadn't tried to do it again, but that's what I mean about improvised. If he had known that moonwalk was going to change his career I know for sure he would have only done it once.
I now understand why I heard he cried after this performance. But what's crazy is his minor failure turned out to be his defining moment (MESSAGE!!!!).
*(yet another) sidebar*
my favorite part of the performance is from 3:29 (right at the cusp of 3:30) until 3:39. God, that is classic! (Hee! Whoo!!). But what's classic (and I'm going to catch some serious flack for this) is how he slides over to his first 'Hee', the whole finger point to one side on the 'Hee' and the finger point to the other side of the stage on the 'Whoo', and then his little movements right up until 3:39. It looks like how you used to do it during the family reunions growing up. You know when all the uncles and cousins would stand around and egg you on to do Michael Jackson. That's all you knew (which is hilarious but makes another point about his effect on culture - you couldn't dance for shit at that age but you knew how to dance like Michael Jackson).
What I'm struck by overall is how Un-polished he looks. I'm so used to seeing him after he became MICHAEL JACKSON (bold font, caps, size 16 letters) and had perfected his swag/dance style. Here he is still vulnerable, clumsy, and insecure. It's beautiful to see, because in all his sloppiness he floored the whole World (myself included) with this performance.
I always wonder what his brother's felt. I mean at this point (in his career AND the show!) it's like, 'The Jackson who??'.
just some thoughts...
*on a funny production humor tip: for you stage managers, video/film cats, sound engineers, and theater people: peep the gentleman in the back (upstage right side) clapping and enjoying the performance beginning at 1:29 but then just about 1:59 it's like the producer gets on Gary's radio and tells him to stop watching and pay attention to what he's being paid time and a half + a video rate to do.
*for my musicians (and also people with soul) check the girl in the green dress (eventually) clapping on 1 and 3. I don't know what she was clapping to right before that though.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Black Jesus
Not only is this genius on a comedic level, I am intrigued by it as a social commentary.
A lot can be said as to how people view Jesus and I think these sketches exemplify that. His sole purpose (as the man states himself!) is to spread love and do what's right.
A lot can be said as to how people view Jesus and I think these sketches exemplify that. His sole purpose (as the man states himself!) is to spread love and do what's right.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Welcome!
So finally, after many years of my himmin' n' hummin' I have taken the time to actually create my blog spot.
I'd like to first apologize for the web address. I did not mean to say 'THEE?" but some idiot has "THE?" *with one E* but hasn't touched his site since February. I had to fiddle around with the name so as not to be too too corny.
Through this blog I will reach out to the masses with a variety of clips, music, links, and the random banter that passes through my mind throughout the days. I would like to advise you not to take me too seriously but the truth of the matter is there are points in which I will be really real (say word, son! Keep it real. Keep it REALLY real!). That means i'm going to be laying it down quite flat and hitting you with the truth as you've never heard it. That's just how I roll.
...stay tuned.
...or better yet; tune in so you can stay tuned.
but i suppose you're on my page so you are tuned in...
*shit*
I'd like to first apologize for the web address. I did not mean to say 'THEE?" but some idiot has "THE?" *with one E* but hasn't touched his site since February. I had to fiddle around with the name so as not to be too too corny.
Through this blog I will reach out to the masses with a variety of clips, music, links, and the random banter that passes through my mind throughout the days. I would like to advise you not to take me too seriously but the truth of the matter is there are points in which I will be really real (say word, son! Keep it real. Keep it REALLY real!). That means i'm going to be laying it down quite flat and hitting you with the truth as you've never heard it. That's just how I roll.
...stay tuned.
...or better yet; tune in so you can stay tuned.
but i suppose you're on my page so you are tuned in...
*shit*
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