guerilla busfare

We've Moved!

2010-06-09T13:55:00.001-07:00

Shirt The Kids: San Diego feat. Kiwi, Zion-I & Yours Truly!

2010-05-18T21:45:00.000-07:00

Shirt The Kids - Fresno May 11th

2010-05-10T09:36:00.001-07:00

My first time performing in Central California. Come through!!!

Swag'r Jak'n Bay GRL RMX feat. Talia Taylor

2010-04-30T16:34:00.000-07:00

Download the track for FREE at 2DopeBoyz.com

I know it's been a minute since I've posted; between working on my latest music video (heyyyy) and traveling up and down California, I've been putting a lot of new projects in the works just for all of you! Here is my latest: a special RMX I requested from Bay Area's most hustlin' MC, Balance, that he dutifully sent on request. And a sista named Talia Taylor was gracious enough to hop on the track and debut it before my appearance at Hip Hop in the Park.

I hope you enjoy.

BTW we're working on moving Guerilla Busfare to a more centralized location (www.rockyrivera.com) and I will be (joining the kiddies lol) and getting a Tumblr site real soon. Guerilla Busfare will neva be ovah...just faster and updated more regularly for you :)

Love and respect,

Rocky

Call for Food Sponsors for my next Video

2010-03-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

Greetings Friends & Family! I am so humbled to share my journey as an independent artist with a very special community of talented individuals. My debut album, Rocky Rivera, dropped on February 2, 2010, and I've had the honor of being the meeting point for ambitious young filmmakers, photographers, promoters, and influential tastemakers.

On April 17th & 18th, we are shooting a video for my song "Trick Habit" with an award-winning team Kid Heroes/Xylophone - the awesome people behind APL de AP's "APL Song", Bambu's "Crooks & Rooks", and most recently, Hopie Spitshard's "Yummy" video. We are looking to feed a crew of 25-30 people for 1.5 days (5 meals), which is no easy feat! But we'd love to find food sponsors to sustain the hard work and dedication this team is donating to my music video.

Bambu "Crooks & Rooks" Music Video (Uncensored Short Film Version directed by Patricio Ginelsa) from Kid Heroes on Vimeo.

"Crooks & Rooks" by Bambu

Check out all their videos HERE

What we need:

1. Minimum one food sponsor per meal, per day, to donate their delicious food. The shoot will be done in the Bay Area, so we can pick up the meals beforehand to bring onset to Fremont, or if you're local, we can cook it on the spot!

What we can do:

Your company, and your food will be featured in the Behind-the-Scenes Video that Kid Heroes/Xylophone creates along with every video, to help promote your company nationwide and also build your network of clientele. We can also be of resource to you if you'd like to inquire about creating promotional material - including commercials, viral clips, and video editing, and I will be offering my media and writing consultation in exchange for your partnership.

Behind the Scenes of Hopie Spitshard "Yummy" from Xylophone Films on Vimeo.

If you are interested in participating in my upcoming video, please send your company/catering information to info@rockyrivera.com. This is the most important role that anyone can have in this video, and we are grateful for your consideration!

Love and respect,
rocky

i die...

2010-03-16T16:43:00.000-07:00

From Jak&Jil

HEART (Lyrics)

2010-03-11T12:06:00.000-08:00

Left him on a Tuesday
Found him on a Sunday
Cried when I saw my
Hankerchief in his suitcase
Letter folded neatly in his pocket
With my perfume
Knew that he was lying when he
Told me he’d be back soon…
I couldn’t sleep the night
He left me with a promise
That he’d always keep me close
When the struggle got the hardest
So I…wiped the tears
Tied the hankerchief around me
Rallied up the troops
So we could
Find the Spanish army
It was time to stop the cryin’
Time to start the fightin’
Love was the beginning
But my people steady dyin’

…
And so I promised him the same thing
Gabriela blast in the name of the Philippines

I could hear em in the back of my mind
They said “Please don’t break my heart”
It could only be a matter of time…

Studying overseas
When I heard about the blast
And I knew the little girls
Who were killed in Alabama
It was Carole, Addie Mae
Cynthia & Denise
The Klan got away
In cahoots with the police
Knew that it was coming
When the Panthers started forming
So I booked the first flight to the states
In the morning
To show them my solidarity
Tightened up my afro
Books in my hand
Revolution in my heart
So I used my education
To combat the injustice
It was more
Than Malcolm X and Martin Luther
In the trenches

Sistah soldiers put ya rifles up
Angela Davis ride when the Klan try to light us up

I could hear ‘em in the back of my mind
They said
“Please don’t break my heart”
It could only be a matter of time they said

It was modern day slavery
Livin’ in the Valley
Stockton, California
Pickin’ grapes with my family
And my people broke they backs
Just to make a couple bucks
While the whiteys in the town
Ridiculed us in they trucks
So I
Picked up the megaphone
Shouted to my people, El
Pueblo Unido
Jama Sera Vencido
…Told em to stick together
Demand to be treated equal
Otherwise
These fucking crackas
Will continue to abuse us
Threw me in the slammer
20 times and some change
Yeah they broke a couple ribs
But the spirit remains

Do it again in a heartbeat
Para mi gente
Dolores what they call me

Unbreakable

2010-03-11T11:47:00.000-08:00

It's not easy to get 5 shot-calling women in one room. Some of us have graduate degrees. Some of us have white-collar jobs. And some of us have kids. But in the 10 days that I was in Hawaii with Roza, Elayne, Arlene, and Nani, we forgot about our individual accomplishments, struggles, heartaches and proceeded to one-up each other with dirty jokes, unabashed honesty, and our own rendition of the Twerk Team. (One that you'll never see, ha).

I'm proud to say that all of my best girlfriends are equally bosses in their own rite. We've all come from backgrounds that could cripple the strongest men, yet somehow survived to grow closer and more loyal to the ones that made it out.

Thank you Carol, another amazingly strong woman, for documenting this trip. Here's to another 20 years of friendship, fobkeys, and Jah-vayan music.

Nike Sportwear Pacman Destroyer Jacket

2010-03-10T01:41:00.001-08:00

Nike Sportswear develops a new jacket for one of its most prized endorsers, Philippines star and Welterweight Champion boxer Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao The jacket, a one-of-a-kind piece, features traditional Filipino color usage with beautiful embroidery throughout, all marking the journey of Pacquaio’s iconic status in the world of boxing and athletics as a whole.

Read about it on Hypebeast

(sidebar: isn't Nike one of the biggest sweatshop child laborers in the Philippines? Just a thought. You may continue with your consumption.)

Rocky Rivera, DJ Roza & Irie Eyez

2010-03-08T14:43:00.000-08:00

photo by Carol Tagawa

(more flicks to come soon!)

Rocky Rivera and DJ Roza LIVE in HONOLULU

2010-02-26T10:56:00.001-08:00

Praise you like I SHOULD

2010-02-12T14:25:00.001-08:00

As much of an "editor" I am in real life: I edit other people's twits, I edit poorly translated Asian menus in my head, you name it, I will find a way to EDIT the hell out of it! But every editor needs another pair of eyes and this is also the case for me.

I omitted two MAJOR people in my album credits that I couldn't have started my music career without: MY FREAKING DJS!!!!!! Major FAIL on my behalf :(

DJ CELLSKIII - Thank you for being such an inspiration in the Hip Hop community, you are a strong Pinay that I look up to, and have the honor of gracing the stage with. Thank you for being another example that women (DJs) can do anything MEN do, and with grace & style :) We've made it a better place for both Miles & Kahlil. Love you sista.

(Cellskiii is the lovely lady behind the cuts on the first track of the album)

DJ ROZA - I couldn't have found a better DJ to take Celskiii's place in Los Angeles. You are a rider and my homegirl, and I'm ready to take this act on the road. We are on a mission to take Bambu & DJ Phatrick out of the game completely and I think we are the perfect pair to do it ;) Thank you for your commitment and of course, your spontaneity! The FEED Por VIDA! xoxo

Next album, we're doing something special, I promise! LOVE YOU GALS!

Teamwork makes the DREAM WORK

2010-02-08T20:15:00.000-08:00

I'm lucky to have more than one stylist in my immediate circle, and before the show, my very fashion-savvy homegirl, Elayne, put together this storyboard for the album release night. Since I already owned the sequined shorts from NYE and the JCs from my birthday, all I needed to find was some hot tights, a blazer and a rhinestone 2-Finger ring. The only thing missing was the rhinestone pout, but we'll always have next time ;)

Jeff Chang reviews Rocky Rivera

2010-02-05T09:50:00.000-08:00

First off, I'd like to say that I am incredibly humbled that such a prolific Hip-Hop scribe like Jeff Chang was able to review my album. He is the author of "Can't Stop, Won't Stop", which chronicles the history of Hip-Hop up until the present day.

I've decided to post the review up in its entirety as his letter to me....

krish,

i've been listening to the lp a ton since last week and it gets better with every listen. krish, you're incredibly versatile and i love your cool casual knowing flow, it makes an old head like me think of slick rick at his best. but your p.o.v. is all you...and all new (at least in the context of the narrowing world of hip-hop).

for me, the lp sounds a lot tighter than the married to the hustle mixtape. you were much more discerning about choosing beats that fit your flow. it also feels like you've been working a lot on editing your lines, tightening your concepts, and sharpening the persona you want to present. the lp is more controlled. perhaps the next challenge is to find a balance between cutting loose and reining it in. but right now, you're sounding confident, sure, like you're exactly where you want to be. fyi the tracks i'm feeling the most are "ride out", "heart", "trick habit", "grimy", and of course "mrshmlo". i think "girl like me" should be blasting on hawaiian radio right now.

my whole career has been about getting people to hear the stories that need to be heard, and i think your story really needs to be heard. you're making it easy for folks to love. krish, it's an amazing work, congratulations!

with much respect,

jeff

Get my debut album NOW on CD Baby and iTunes!

2010-02-04T16:14:00.000-08:00

Get the limited-edition matte black digipak at CD BABY

Or download the album on iTunes!

Don't forget to leave a review :)

Rocky Rivera Album Release Party

2010-01-22T08:49:00.000-08:00

Be there.

My album is finally HERE!

2010-01-21T09:39:00.001-08:00

My album has been nearly two years in the making, and yesterday I was finally able to see it materialized. I've been poring over every detail of it sonically, aesthetically, financially, and emotionally and I hope that you feel it when you buy the cd. There's something different about downloading it off the internet and holding an actual copy in your hand - you can learn all about the people who were involved, get a sense of who I am and feel closer to me as an artist (aww warm squishy feeling).

And I'm saying this because it's the same feeling when I write an article in print, walk to the newstand, pick up a copy and flip to the page: there it is, my hard work for all to see.

I'm also saying this because it's important that people go out and support artists, especially the independent ones. I can tell you right now that every penny goes straight to my bank account and feeds my family. Of course, I can't say that I've never bootlegged an album, but what I can say is that I know plenty of independent artists, including my man and I, who don't take it as a pet project and who supplement their income while at the same time, adhering to principles of integrity that keep us from getting that mainstream $.

Also, to my homies that are expecting a free copy, shame on you! Unless you were directly involved in the project, I encourage you to scrounge up $10 from the couch cushions and support your girl for all her hard work! Just know it goes back to paying all the lovely and talented people that lent their artistic visions to my project and that a little $ goes a long way for their hard work. I will do the same for you, I promise :)

Thank you all for sharing this...February 2nd is right around the corner so let the madness begin!

xoxo
ROCKY

Save the Date: February 3rd @ MILK SF

2010-01-19T10:16:00.001-08:00

I can't wait to celebrate the release of my debut album with you, Bay Area. Your prodigal daughter returns!

New Mixtape Exclusive: "Feelin' My Shh"

2010-01-13T09:31:00.000-08:00

Download the MRSHMLO Rmx by 6Fingers at the Smoking Section

Download "Feelin' My Shh" at 2DopeBoyz

You The White Man's Bitch - Aisha Sekhmet

2010-01-07T13:55:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I love it. Is she lying?

Every F_____ Day of My Life (HBO)

2009-12-15T10:33:00.000-08:00

In 2005, Wendy Maldonado smashed in her husband's skull with a hammer, while her 16-year-old son assisted with a hatchet. The documentary Every F—-ing Day of My Life explores what led the Maldonados to commit such gruesome acts.

The attacks on Wendy Maldonado were ferocious and brutal. Outside of what the children and neighbors describe, the Maldonado home was full of holes in the walls, holes by Aaron ramming his wife into surfaces and doors. When he was gone, she would cover the damage with pictures that the children drew.

When conversations of domestic violence surface, people tend to wonder why women don't just leave. But as is made clear in the above clip, Aaron Maldonado made it clear that if Wendy ever left, he would begin to kill her family members, one by one, until he found her or until she returned.

According to the resource guide included on the HBO site:

*On average more than three women a day are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the United States.

* Nearly one in four women in the United States reports experiencing violence by a current or former spouse or boyfriend at some point in her life.

* Women are much more likely than men to be victimized by a current or former intimate partner.

[Source: Jezebel/HBO]

Gingerbread Digs

2009-12-12T17:25:00.000-08:00

Ooh la la..modern!

Yes, that's life-sized

Gingerbread White House

And the big finale

Nomz

2009-12-05T18:28:00.000-08:00

(No drawing, just batter & timing)

Now stop drooling all over your keyboard and check out the rest at The Pancake Project.

This Is TOO MUCH of a COINCIDENCE

2009-12-03T17:25:00.000-08:00

Guerilla Busfare gave you a sneak peek of the upcoming album cover back in October, but due to unforseen circumstances *cough, BITERS, cough* it probably won't pan out in that way and it's back to the drawing board. To all the fans and peers who have become emotionally attached to the upcoming album cover, I promise that the new one will be bigger and better. (The irony is that I've jocked Mary's hair for years, but this time, she's the tardy one. It's all good, MJB, I got plenty more where that came from!)

A Rose By Any Other Name...

2009-11-30T21:21:00.000-08:00

When I was 10 years old, I asked my mom if I could change my name to "Kristy". Partly because I loved The Babysitter's Club, and partly because I was tired of being different. (Who the hell spells their name K-R-I-S-H-T-I-N-E?) Needless to say, she said no, and I was forced to correct everyone, every year after that: school administrators, pastry chefs, condescending adults who would cock their heads to one side and say, "Hmmm that's an unusual spelling."

In high school, I told everyone the "H" was silent and kept it moving. Even my own grandmother calls me "Krrrristina!" and every year at Christmas, I'd be lucky to get a card that had the correct spelling.

But when I got to college and found myself in the same circle as two other "Christines", the "H" finally came into play. People called me "Ish", and I reveled in this distinction where the "H" was silent no longer. And as I grew older and learned to appreciate being different, I saw how extraordinary my namesake was and what a revolutionary act my father engaged in in a country where a vast majority of the population was finding leadership in the Lord. Guilt spared, I finally began to let that define my identity.

I took on the MC moniker "EyeASage" as an appendage to "ISH" (I-S-H...get it?) and aspired to be A Sage:

sage
–noun
1. a profoundly wise person; a person famed for wisdom.
2. someone venerated for the possession of wisdom, judgment, and experience.

And like many other post adolescent yout, reggae music defined my identity in college where it was the only medium of music that had a powerful message along with all the booty-poppin'. The term "I and I" represented an identity that was connected to the people.

I and I is a complex term, referring to the oneness of Jah (God) and every human. Rastafari scholar E. E. Cashmore: "I and I is an expression to totalize the concept of oneness, the oneness of two persons. So God is within all of us and we're one people in fact. The bond of Ras Tafari is the bond of God, of man. But man itself needs a head and the head of man is His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I (always pronounced as the letter 'I,' never as the number one or 'the first') of Ethiopia." The term is often used in place of "you and I" or "we" among Rastafari, implying that both persons are united under the love of Jah.

But after doing a mixtape and many, many shows under that moniker, I learned that Hip-Hop, my chosen medium, was not that deep and I was, once again, at the mercy of a complicated spelling, this time, deliberately welcoming another lifetime of corrected pronunciations.

So this year, I made another choice: to become ROCKY RIVERA. This other namesake of mine is actually a character in Jessica Hagedorn's book "The Gangster of Love", and thematically, it just made sense. I based an entire album on the concept: love, war, the rules, the casualties, the high points and the person - one who embraced the contradiction in being a warrior of love, and as a woman, ready to defend the battlefield that is her body and her personal integrity.

And as the last chapter of my identity closes and ushers in a new one, I still cannot guarantee that one moniker (other than "Krish") would encompass all of my progress in the years to come (c'mon y'all it IS Hip-Hop).

But for now, I'd like to formally introduce you to Rocky Rivera, a portrait of the artist as a young woman, right here, right now. Glad to meet you.

(P.S. It's my birthday, biaaatch!)

Street Art

2009-11-28T11:43:00.000-08:00

Sistas on the Move

2009-11-26T09:53:00.000-08:00

Here's some of that new new from my girls Jaq and Alex aka Nola Darling

And a new artist I was introduced to by my girl Randi over at MISS

Priscilla Renea (she's a doll, ain't she?)

Turkey Day (History Repeating)

2009-11-25T16:59:00.000-08:00

It pains me to see Sarah Palin in the news again, but with every dumbass appearance she makes, I can't help but LOL at the postergirl of assbackwards Conservatism at its finest.

A new Mama Feel Good Episode from DJ Celskiii

2009-11-18T11:06:00.000-08:00

Sweet Sister Funk...I made this funkin' around in my (bedroom) studio using some of my favorite breaks...I recorded this the oldskool way via tape deck, with help from a friend--converting it into a mp3 right before Christmas as a gift for my dance partner Rhea (we had dreams of becoming Bgirls). This was before I had any protools skills. It's not a super clean break mix that you may hear from the super duty tough style Break Deejays like Jus Jones (my king x inspiration to step my game up) but--I think you can hear all the fun I was having when I made it. So I want you to have fun, listening to this while you're in traffic, doing chores, baby sitting, running a mile, flying on an airplane, painting, or practicing your six step!! Records I used included Artists: WAR, JBs, Lonnie Liston Smith, Roy Ayers, Aretha, AWB, Frank Zappa, Pretty Purdie, KC & the Sunshine Band, Bozz Scaggs, Cymande, Tower of Power, B.T. Express & more.
"If you will suck my soul, I will lick your funky emotions...."

Click HERE to HEAR :)

break it down shawty

2009-11-17T12:22:00.000-08:00

Not My Daughter

2009-11-16T10:50:00.000-08:00

Can someone tell me why the f*ck this two year-old babygirl has ACRYLIC NAILS?!

[Source]

Pac Div - Whiplash/Young Black Male

2009-11-13T16:51:00.000-08:00

YBM is my favorite track on "Church League Champions" next to "Back". I hear the guys are working on a new mixtape, "Don't Mention It", and you better believe I'll be trying to get my hands on an early copy!

To Sammy aka Bong

2009-11-13T15:00:00.000-08:00

When I was as senior in high school, I got a letter from a boy named Sammy who I'd seen around school. He was the quiet type and when he found out that me and my boyfriend broke up, he gave a letter to our mutual friend, Rob, to give to me. Inside was nothing special, persay, except for his confession that he'd always had a crush on me and wanted to find a way to tell me since he was "shy around girls he liked". Now mind you, I was pretty popular and didn't lack in the dating department, so even though I wrote him back and gently told him that I wasn't looking for a relationship, I kept his letters. I knew how much of a risk he took writing them to me, considering that our mutual friends would surely make fun of him if they read the contents of his message.

At that age, I couldn't imagine how much of his heart he poured out into this letter, his only meanings of communicating how he felt about me.

This morning, I got a message that he committed suicide. This is the first person I have ever known to do this. From what was speculated, it was a self-inflicted gunshot wound over a woman he was seeing, a woman who helped him get over his mother's passing 4 years prior, and meant everything to him. And when I called our friend to find out more, I couldn't believe that it took something this tragic for me to reconnect with them after all these years. I might not have known him well then or even now, but when I looked through my things and found his handwritten letter once again, the emotion was too much to bear.

Sammy, I'm so sorry about what happened. I know that you and Xander and Rob were supposed to go fishing today and I have a confession to make: I showed Xander your letter even though you told me not to show anyone. But I always thought it was sweet and caring, something I needed at that chaotic time in my life. I wish I could have done something to remind you of this sentiment, but now it's too late. I can only hope that you read this now and know that I'll always remember you this way. Thank you for sharing a piece of yourself with me. I'll never forget you. Rest in Peace.

Love,
Krish

How Do You Draw Asian Women?

2009-11-12T17:03:00.000-08:00

Looks like any other shitty cartoon to me. But that leaves me with one question: where's her gold teeth?

Yumm...Blogsilog

2009-11-11T11:22:00.001-08:00

If you wanna get started on a blog and need some pointers, come check out my homie Ninoy Brown of FOBB DEEP's blogging workshop at the Liwanag Kultural Center in Daly City tomorrow!

"Shopping while Arab" on ABC News

2009-11-09T16:58:00.000-08:00

Hi. Larious.

2009-11-06T10:38:00.001-08:00

For those of you that got the Married to the Hustle Mixtape, you know that I used Anjelah Johnson on my "Sco Nails" intro with her ah-mazing rendition of the Vietnamese nail lady. Well, here she is again as Bon Qui Qui - kudos to this funny lady!!! (Let's get on a track, Bon Qui Qui!)

What Exactly IS a "MRSHMLO"?

2009-11-05T10:57:00.001-08:00

Since my first single dropped, people have been asking me "What is a MRSHMLO, and why have you never been one?" Of course, if you can guesstimate what it means to be a MRSHMLO, it means to be soft, cute, fluffy, and not as dangerous as the big guy in the flick above. When my producer 6Fingers sent the beat over to me, it resonated with me for a couple of reasons a.) because of E-40 and his amazing slanguage b.) the beat was so knockin' c.) it was a great "radio" and "crossover" first single d.) because FRISCO _____ ain't no punks!

But actually, it came from an incident where a producer friend of mine, one who had never really heard my music, went through his catalog of beats for my album and proceeded to give me all of the "softest beats" he had. Uh ok. It took a lot for me to bite my tongue and not ream him for his ignorance about "female MCs" and my taste in music, but it's probably a misconception that many people have: that as a woman, we're going to gravitate towards softer, R&B-friendly hits. The truth is, male or female, good music is good music, so if you don't have range in your beats for any MC, then that probably means you're not that skilled a producer.

We haven't forgotten about you...

2009-11-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

[Taytay, Philippines; November 2. Image via Getty/AFP PHOTO / Jay Directo]

A child walks on a street flooded by Typhoon Mirinae in Taytay, east of suburban Manila on November 2, 2009. Mirinae slammed into the Philippines' main island, Luzon, killing 16 on October 31, 2009 dumping heavy rain and bringing strong winds just weeks after two other major storms left about 1,100 dead and tens of thousands homeless. AFP PHOTO / JAY DIRECTO

Please continue to donate to local Philippine relief efforts, and demand to know how the proceeds will be reallocated from the Philippine/American Red Cross if you've already made your donation.

"This Year, Halloween Fell on a Weekend..."

2009-11-02T08:27:00.000-08:00

Me as Sookie Stackhouse

KB as Run DMC

I think the blonde wig made my boobs bigger

"Best Costume Ever" - rich hipster dad in Silverlake

Amanda Lopez shoots Los Rakas

2009-10-20T01:20:00.000-07:00

I first met Dun Dun (formally known as Panama) when he was 16 years old making his rounds as a solo artist as part of the Bump Project in Oakland. His unique sound - a blend of hip hop, dancehall, & plena - was at once familar and unfamiliar, but don't dare call it reggaeton. The kind of music that this duo makes they refer to as Panabay Twist, and they've been lighting up the stage and television ever since, while the rest of the young world patiently awaits their debut album.

The exciting news is that Dun and I have already collaborated on Rocky Rivera, and he is one of the only features on the album on a song that I guarantee will be a slapper when it drops. And although it is entirely in Spanish and I mustered up whatever basic Español I retained in high school to decipher it haphazardly, my girl Amanda was dear enough to translate the verse to me (lol), which didn't disappoint. Big ups to Los Rakas, some of the hardest working artists in the Bay, and as the ladies noticed, not too bad on the eyes. Make sure you check out their music here, and the rest of the shots on Amanda Lopez's blog, La Vida Loca.

It's good to be back home

2009-10-19T15:20:00.001-07:00

flick courtesy of jonuts.com

I've been on the road for 4 out of the past 6 weeks and finally, I am HOME! First of all, I'd like to say "THANK YOU!" to all the folks that came out to my Seattle show. My homie, Nam, says that Seattle gives the most love and I'd have to agree. A special shout out to all the homies from Silverdale that I hung out with 11 years ago that were able to make it out, and all the folks that came from Eastern Washington and Vancouver. I hope you enjoyed the show, and from the looks of it, I'll be coming back real soon *wink.

L-R: me, Nam, Hoven, & Carol

My road dawg, Carol, documented some of our adventures on her blog, so make sure you peep for all the details. (All I gotta say is that Shell station that sells catfish is THE SHIET).

Kerolos!

And if you want to know what the "B"IZNESS is, stay tuned to the homie, Jonas's blog, JONUTS.

SEATTLE! I'm BAAAACK ;)

2009-10-08T11:04:00.001-07:00

No, I've never performed in Seattle before (this is my first!!!) but those of you who know me know that I lived in Washington my sophomore year of High School and I have a special place in my heart for the Pacific Northwest. So if you're in town, please stop by and see my show!

808/OOF Tour 2009

2009-10-04T22:56:00.000-07:00

2009 can call itself lucky: I've been to NY and Hawaii twice this year, but the last trip to "Da Rock" (No Frisco) was more than recreational...it was my first trip as EyeASage! Now mind you, I tagged along with Bam with no particular motive except to hop on a show or two and show the folks how Baywaii really gets down, but luck would have it that I was able to convince the homie (and acclaimed filmmaker) Tad Nakamura to put me on the bill for his Honolulu premiere of "A Song For Ourselves". But in the days that followed, I learned a lot about life on the road as a touring MC (boys club, gay jokes) and what it takes to survive (making it to soundcheck, an awesome green room, and MERCH). Thank you, Hawaii! I'll be back sooner than you can say howzit.

The crowd was live!

Some of the good folks who approached after the show...

Aaron Yoshino, Phat, Carol, Bam & Eye

The Yin to their Yang (Chera, Chel, me, & Carol) Three C's and K!

Creed Chameleon, Geologic of the Blue Scholars, and Bambu

My road dawg and future tour manager :)

Bee who showed us macrobiotic eating, meaning he caught the fish and we ate it.

(It was soo good!)

Geo & Bam at Giovanni's (overrated)

Me at Matsumotos (also overrated)

The guys, volleying each other's balls

The awesome spread in the Rockstarz green room in Kona

Bam pontificating life...

Offroading!

(look at that water!)

Me and Sookie Stackhouse on the beach. (yes that's beef jerky)

For booking inquiries...HIT ME UP IN THE COMMENTS! (lol)

BayWaii Part 3: EyeASage performs in Honolulu on 9/24!

2009-09-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

For presale tickets and more info, please visit the site HERE

Eat Your Heart Out

2009-09-19T15:45:00.000-07:00

I was perusing my iPhone Photo Library the other day and was astonished at the amount of food pics I had compiled over nearly a year - brunches, holidays, birthday parties, vacations - and have acknowledged myself a righteous foodie. Now I've never been the religious type, but I've noticed myself partaking in a snapshot before I dig in (my own way of giving thanks) while simultaneously keeping a running tab of the indulgences that I probably shouldn't be making so frequently. In either case, I hope you enjoy...

Patio Filipino: Sizzling catfish sisig

Cuban Chicken (Harlem)

Homemade: Tocino, Longanisa, garlic fried rice & steamed crab

808 Favs: Ahi Poké & garlic chicken

LA Favs : KyoChon Korean Fried Chicken & rat dog

Can't forget Pinkberry!

Foreground: Fried Oyster Po Boy with smoked yam mash

SF Favs: Chicken N waffles, Little Skillet-style....

Roxie's smoked turkey on dutch

Sourdough French Toast

Bon Appétit!

Spotted! Raekwon in LA

2009-09-15T19:15:00.000-07:00

I was able to finally hit the town for business after a long hiatus locked up in the studio, and the first spot I hit was Cashmere Agency's party for Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2. I met Raekwon two years ago when I interviewed Wu Tang for their "8 Diagrams" release, and he was the most engaging and insightful of the crew in my own journalistic opinion. So, naturally, I was gassed when he remembered me sincerely, since writers hardly ever get to hear positive feedback about their pieces, much less, be acknowledged for their hard work. A great night, and a pleasant reminder why writing will always be my first love...

My Next Show: LA - STK/FPAC Afterparty

2009-09-10T14:46:00.000-07:00

Interview with Hard Knock Radio

2009-09-09T17:54:00.000-07:00

It's funny how things work out. Earlier this year, I first met Weyland Southon through our mutual friend, Jason Mateo, and we kicked it nearly every day I was in Oahu while they were in town organizing their first annual Hip Hop Convention in the 808.

Now mind you, there were plenty of people in town as well for the Erykah Badu/Goapele concert, but somehow the ragtag crew stuck, thanks to Weyland's room key and our all-too-eager wish to make use of his pool while the two were away all day at the convention. And although we all carried respectable titles back home in the Bay, this trip (and the madness that ensued) amalgamated a friendship that, according to our overlapping social networks, should have been established quite a while ago.

So it was a little disconcerting to finally see Weyland put his Executive Producer hat on when he interviewed me for Hard Knock Radio this week; the jovial, island bwoy who was down to roll with a bunch of loud girls suddenly put on his Casey Kasem and got down to business. Word. And me, freshly-blazed, trying my best not to do what I always loathe about rappers, and unload their life story onto a journalist within the first questions, did exactly that. Thank God for editing.

It was this amiable beginning that allowed him to ask thoughtful questions and get person - not to mention, be the first radio station to actually bump my shit!!! So if you haven't had a chance to listen, you can listen to on their program, Hard Knock Radio, for the next two weeks and imagine the difficulty in us keeping a straight face. Enjoy!

Listen HERE

(A BIG Shout out to all the listeners that tuned in and checked out the blog!!! Thank you!!!)

WORLD PREMIERE: "MRSHMLO"

2009-09-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

MRSHMLO from Mikhail Shapiro on Vimeo.

MRSHMLO drops September 1st

2009-08-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

Here it is folks, the official flyer for debut single and upcoming video, "MRSHMLO". It drops Tuesday, September 1st, so please stay tuned to GB and MISS for special behind-the-scenes videos, interviews and more!

xoxo
EyeASage aka Rocky Rivera

LA: Come out to Little Tokyo tonight for the Next Generation Remix concert!

2009-08-22T11:00:00.001-07:00

(Not sure why they used my gun-wielding picture for an all-ages event, but hey, whatev)

Another Reason for a Militant Global Women's Rights Movement

2009-08-21T01:01:00.000-07:00

An excerpt from the NY Times article "Truck Stop Girls" by By M. CATHERINE MATERNOWSKA:

I met eyes with a 16-year-old named Mbali. She was thin, with close-cropped hair and a beautiful smile. I offered her a packet of crackers, which she ripped open with her teeth. After wolfing them down, she looked at me and said, “I hate having sex.” Her parents were dead; she was unable to pay her school fees, had been abused by an overburdened aunt — and now, like many of the girls, she was a runaway. Nearly one in four Swazi girls is H.I.V. positive, and Mbali is one of them. Her treatment options are limited. “I have nowhere to sleep unless I find a man,” she said. “Sometimes I don’t have money and food for two days. A man without a condom will pay more, so obviously I say O.K. because I need money.”

She continued: “I am so tired. These men are so rough.”

I’ve been working with women and girls for over two decades now — in Haiti, in Zimbabwe, in Tanzania and in Kenya — and I have heard this story often. But this one, deep in the forest of Swaziland, seemed so desperate. I was as surprised as she was when I suddenly burst into tears.

Mbali held my face and said, “Don’t cry!” She hugged me. How absurd can life be? A 16-year-old, H.I.V.-positive orphan was comforting me while I wept. It was a strange way to carry on an interview, but that’s what we did. I asked her what she needed most. “Someplace safe,” she said. “Someplace to be a girl. Someplace where I won’t have to have sex with men anymore.”

The driver of our car appeared, carrying takeout food from a nearby bar. I could hear trucks speeding along the highway through the forest. I kept thinking about what Mbali asked for: a safe place to be a girl. How strange. How simple.

Los Angeles: My FIRST SHOW is this Saturday 8/22

2009-08-18T18:40:00.000-07:00

Here's the trailer, courtesy of Tad Nakamura.

Blue Scholars' New Video - HI 808

2009-08-10T14:54:00.000-07:00

Make sure you cop that new EP "OOF!" from our good friends, the Blue Scholars.

2 Twitter Videos, 2 Different Ways

2009-08-06T21:34:00.000-07:00

Both solid artists, one of the hyphy persuasion, noticeably toned down from the Technicolor Thizzcoat he was initially known for, and the other, of the Timb and Yankee cap persuasion, struggling to keep NY Hip Hop relevant with his Slaughterhouse brethren. On the real, I delayed watching the video for "Hit Me On Twitter" by Fab cuz I couldn't bear for it to be corny. I'm sensitive about my Bay shit. I was relieved to find out that it was fun and lighthearted, like a song dedicated to a social networking phenomena should be.

And Joell Ortiz's was highly-entertaining and made the most for its low budget - which is smart nowadays since we're not into seeing all that money wasted in a recession on another played out rap video. Speakin' of played-out, "hollering" at "Hip Hop" like she's a beezy from around the way that got broke down and crackpiped has been done. What you gon' talk about in 10 years - the results of her paternity tests on Maury Povich? Man...

It's no "I Used To Love H.E.R." but because Joell is such a natural lyricist, it was entertaining and enjoyable.

I hear you, sister.

2009-08-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

Goapele - Milk & Honey

2009-08-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

Milk and Honey - Goapele from goapele on Vimeo.

Here's Goapele's latest offering, "Milk & Honey". Peep her bottoms, tho! Keepin' it Oakland.

Destination: Jember Fashion Carnival in Indonesia

2009-08-03T15:28:00.000-07:00

Over 400 people participated, and those that want to join are given mandatory training, which makes the event not only entertaining, but educational for those involved. The contestants are not professional models or designers.

The Carnival focuses on the "4-Es: Education, Entertainment, Exhibition, and Economic Benefit.

Other training sessions include Fashion Runway, Fashion Dance, Dance, Singing, Fashion Trend, Make-Up & Hair Style, Accessories, Presenter/Broadcasting Skills, Majorette, & Event Organizer.

Read more on Jezebel

First Look: The MRSHMLO Shoot

2009-07-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

It was a productive 5 days back Oakland, Cali-For-Na-Ay, as I prepared for my first official video shoot. It's been nearly 6 months of planning, preparing, writing, and financing, so when the day finally came, I let go over my overzealous attention to detail and put it all in the hands of my team - namely Director Mikhail Shapiro and Producer Ariel Nunez of Distortion2Static.

Simultaneously, my homegirl and soon to be famous photographer, Amanda Lopez, shot some flix for the album cover/inserts as well as exclusive behind the scenes for the MISS site. And of course, the fabulous lady behind my hair and makeup, Jaydee (my sis!) and homegirl, Elayne, for being my unofficial stylist!

The video and trailer should be out in the coming weeks, but I'd like to extend a thank you first and foremost to the people that lent their time and expertise to the shoot. Also, I can't forget my partner, Bambu, for staying up late with me writing the treatments and conceptualizing the video. It was a team effort on all parts, and I'm so happy I have people that believe in my music, and my work. This is the calm before the storm, and I hope you guys are ready for the fucking awesomeness that IS the MRSHMLO Video!!!

(Shout out to the lovely Nina Parks for the flicks. Stay tuned to GB for new flicks from the shoot in the weeks leading up to the official release! It'll only get more fly...)

My newest interview: TWISTA

2009-07-15T09:24:00.001-07:00

Click the image to read the entire interview

Everyone’s favorite Chi-Town motor mouth, Twista, is back again with his latest release, Category F5, and is bound to shake things up with his clever wordplay and signature speed. Since word of his album came out, so far, there have been leaks galore, including “Billionaire” with Busta Rhymes, “On Top” with Akon, a video “America Gangsta” and the iTunes bonus track “Alright” featuring Kanye West and No I.D. Although his career spans over a decade, peaking with his 2004 release, Kamikaze, Twista plans to stay in rotation with upcoming collabs with Krayzie Bone and another tongue twister of multi-syllabic proportion, Tech N9ne. And despite the minor tiff, he’s back with the Legendary Traxter on F5 to give you some of that fiyah for the summer that is guaranteed to hit the charts and stay recession-proof.

I'm Krish. I went to Bal. *waits for eyebrows to raise

2009-07-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

For those of certain age, high school tells all
from Carl Nolte's Native Son column in the Chronicle

This is the way San Franciscans of a certain age recognize other San Franciscans; the password, the secret handshake. It tells everything: class, status, maybe religion, who your family is and who your friends are.

If the person says they went to Lowell, then you know quite a bit about him or her. Lowell is a premier school. The graduates are thought to be smart, went on to a good college, probably came from a family with money, maybe old money, and could be Jewish.

Other answers include a whole list of public schools from the Mission (old time Mission district kid, probably started out poor), Bal (for Balboa), someone from the Excelsior or Outer Mission, also of fairly modest means. Lincoln? From the Sunset district maybe, knows a lot of people from Lowell, too. Washington? Grew up on the other side of the park, in the Richmond. Lincoln and Washington folks are middle class, went to Cal or maybe S.F. State.

I am a San Francisco public school kid through and through. My pedigree: Treasure Island Elementary. Potrero Hill Middle School (RIP), Philip and Sala Burton Academic High School (hated it), and Balboa High School (made me). My girl Elayne forwarded me this article as another SFUSD kid, which reminded me that we are not the only ones who judge other "San Franciscans" by their answer to the following question: What school did you go to?

Depending on their answer, we could judge their street cred, whether their parents were loaded, and most importantly, if they were lying about their SF roots. It was less about xenophobia, and more about pride for making it out in one piece. SF public schools are no joke. My sister Ruth went to MLK middle school, then Lowell, then Gal, then dropped out. My sister Jaydee went to MLK also, then Gal, then numerous other schools before she also dropped out. So when I set my academic career off with Potrero Hill Middle School, one of SF's most notorious because of its proximity to Hunters Point and Double Rock Projects, it defined who I became and what I would survive. When it was reconstituted, as many troubled schools are in attempt to wash the stigma away, my history in its halls was wiped clean with it.

When it was time to choose a high school, I tried to change my stripes for my parents' sake, and was accepted to the "prestigious" Philip Burton. It was the worst experience of my life, with the most amount of "hate" for a 14-year old girl and the highest amount of pretentiousness. I just didn't get along with the private school kids (that came from Epiphany to Burton), who were obsessed with status, drama, and the latest pair of Jordans.
I finished off my final years of high school at Balboa - much to my initial disdain - after applying to School Of The Arts and Lincoln High to stay out of trouble. I was rejected. Balboa was notorious for breeding convicts and killers, teenage moms and gang leaders. Although the majority of the friends I made also dropped out later in the year, I thrived, thanks to progressive curriculum such as Law Academy and teachers like Ms. Safir, Mr. Medina, and Mr. de Guia.

I'd always thought I'd want my son to go to public school to earn his "street smarts", but the margin of failure is so wide, and we all would like to provide a better life for our children than we had. So while he definitely won't go to private school, he will go to a progressive public school, and we will make it back to SF one day. I promise.

Bobby Ray in "Put Me On"

2009-07-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

Here's a video to Bobby Ray's remix of "Bonita Applebum" off the Reebok Classics Series Album. I don't think I've EVER copped a pair of Reeboks but I will enjoy the music :)

"B"United and it feels so good

2009-07-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

Me and my BFF from WA, Jonas Amos, catching up at the Kawali Grill on my last day in Seattle.

Brian, Bam, Myself, and KB.

And while we're on the subject of Jonas, here is his pre-puke drunken freestyle 2 days prior. Aren't my friends cool? Make sure you check out his super-funny blog!

Ronald/Seattle 2009

2009-07-08T23:35:00.000-07:00

View from the plane (Mt. St. Helens in the foreground)

Apparently, there was a 60s/70s dress memo for my mom's shindig that no one got
(including me)

Kahlil, Maya, and her pet turtle

Wolfe/de Leon/Gemoras

de Leon - Deocampos. (Funny lil' guy)

Twins! Me and Uncle Terry xoxo

Rock throwing skills, log chucking skills...

Sea-Town, Here I Come

2009-07-03T23:04:00.000-07:00

I'm headed up to Washington State this weekend, folks, to celebrate my mom's 60s Birthday. I lived there for my sophomore year of high school - such a pivotal time in my life - and it grounded me when all I cared about was my first love, blaming my parents for forcing me to move, cutting school, and embracing my "ghettoness" to a fault. Up there, I made my first white friends (lol) realized that not all public schools were crappy, and that city girls could appreciate nature too.

Now, I'm coming back, family in tow, to spend a weekend in the wilderness and reconnect with old friends. I hope you all enjoy your holiday weekend as well! Be safe and please don't drink and drive!

Pretty Much.

2009-07-02T17:41:00.001-07:00

RIP Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T16:38:00.000-07:00

August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009

Pac Div - Mayor

2009-06-24T16:01:00.001-07:00

Oakland - the Final Frontier

2009-06-24T10:08:00.001-07:00

Let it Go

2009-06-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

... because you shouldn't be holding onto it anyway.

If you need a place to send your old shoeboxes full of love letters and detritus, and don't want to resort to a bitter bonfire, you can submit them to this museum, with a little story about what happened, and what could have been.

See the exhibits.

Quit - Produced by Illmind

2009-06-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

Bambu - "Quit" Produced by iLLMind from LightWork Media on Vimeo.

NY: White Mike on the 1s and 2s

2009-06-19T08:56:00.001-07:00

Every time I go to NY, White Mike makes an amazing playlist to bump in his '86 Cressida, as we zip through Manhattan bumpin' the illest Freestyle. You can enjoy his music tonight for just $1 at Vault 225 E. Houston St! Go check it out...I promise your dancing feet won't regret it! ;)

That's Racist.

2009-06-19T08:46:00.000-07:00

Fallen Princesses

2009-06-17T19:03:00.000-07:00

These works place Fairy Tale characters in modern day scenarios. In all of the images the Princess is placed in an environment that articulates her conflict. The '...happily ever after' is replaced with a realistic outcome and addresses current issues. - Dina Goldstein

[Source] JPG Magazine

Guerilla Busfare Approved: "Tear Gas" The Jacka

2009-06-17T13:20:00.000-07:00

The Jacka is my favorite artist out of the Bay for many reasons, with his previous album, The Jack Artist, as one of my top 10 of all time. So you can imagine how excited I was to hear his latest release, Tear Gas, which dropped yesterday on iTunes and at Rasputins. I told his manager, PK, how The Jack Artist was a hard act to follow; that album was released when I was Editor of Ruckus Magazine and I was immersed in the Hyphy Movement (RIP), so there's a very special sentiment that I hold for that moment in time. Plus, Jacka has become a good friend of mine throughout the years due to his humility, hard work, and the fact that he's never once went "Hollywood" on me like some, ahem, other Bay Area rappers.

That being said, I was a fan before I was a friend, so it's easy for me to speak on his work with a critical eye. My favorite tracks include "All Over Me" (of course), Mistah F.A.B.-assisted "Callin' My Name" and the zodiac freak in me doesn't mind "What's Your Sign" with Jack's homie Planet Asia, and while I'm not too crazy about "Girls" and "Get It In", I can see Jacka's point that his calm, collected delivery can pretty much ride any beat. And though PK warned me not to compare, but rather enjoy his latest offering, I would have liked to hear more of Jacka through the numerous guest appearances. But to be a Bay Area artist is to put your team on, and that contests more to his generous nature, than to his need to name check. He is, after all, the MVP on his team (no Kobe). Go out and cop that. He's been independent and selling records underground way before the recession, so support your local artist and get that in your catalog!

Funny.

2009-06-15T07:04:00.000-07:00

"Such tragedy could have been easily avoided" -Designed by HanTang Communications Group for Quzhou Seezo Trading

Guest Review: The Hangover

2009-06-15T00:42:00.000-07:00

I consider myself a guy’s girl - one that can take penis jokes in jest and “Pause” with the best of them, but quite frankly the Apatow franchise was wearing thin on my patience. Since the success of “Knocked Up”, the formula was hashed and rehashed, ensemble cast shuffled and reshuffled, to the point where it seemed like one long Bromantic SNL skit. Entertaining? Yes. Predictable? Totally. So when I heard that Todd Phillips, the director of “Old School” came up with another Dick Flick entitled “The Hangover”, I dismissed it rather quickly as a DVD rental; one that you played as ambiance at house parties and fast-forwarded to the funny parts after you partook in the smokeage. But when the buzz and spoilers came pouring in via Twitter, I couldn’t ignore it. I had to see what the fuss was about...

Visit Prometheus Brown's Blog to read the rest...(caution: SPOILER ALERT!)

Happy Philippine Independance Day

2009-06-12T13:18:00.001-07:00

Katipunan

Junk the VFA

Educate yourself.

BayWaii '09: A Photo Essay (flix by Nina Parks)

2009-06-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

Road Warriors

Irie Eyez, Nina Parks, EyeASage

First day in, straight to da beach with a jar of Kim Chee

...don't forget the poke!

Finally getting my brown on

Summer Rain

Poolside at the Prince Kuhio

Trouble makers

Met up with the other BayWaii affiliates (Sunnyvale to Vallejo n back)

Do you want the front or the backhand? (Goapele/Badu Afterparty)

Club Vegas (aka Level 4) and the VIPs

Holdin' it down with Namane in the freight elevator

not. necessary.

HawaEyeASage freestyle on the lanai

Irie Eyez recalling the multiple run-ins with hotel security

Blue Betty aka Sketch(y)

One day unintentional Oahu excursion begins:

Why are we passing everything up?!?

Finally here

Leah takes the plunge

Pass the dutchie pon de left hand side

...our car is being towed at this very moment.

North Shore -> Kapolei (Betty got towed 30 miles! FML)
but Weyland says "No Worries"

Fuck you, Josh the Tow Truck guy from Kapolei. You love your job too much.

Thanks to Uncle Darrel for getting us the truck!

Last day at North Shore

Nell Boogie...

Can't turn my back on Nani!!!

...sorry I was watching the game. :)

Our turn to play!

Last group flick before we head out...

'Til next time. Mahalo!

** see the addendum video from Weyland Southon on Facebook

BayWaii '09: Disclaimer

2009-06-08T02:41:00.000-07:00

Ignore the crooked sunglasses and pay attention to the lil' man in the cleavage: the following BayWaii pics are for respectful eyes only. Or else he's coming after you!

Vote for Bambu "Crooks N Rooks" on mtvU

2009-06-02T02:00:00.000-07:00

Vote HERE

Sista, I Ain't Mad Atcha

2009-05-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. Yo, it ain't like she didn't give him a chance. He was straight disrespectin' her to her face, clownin' her like they were in high school, and it was only when he hit her below the belt with his rhymes that she resorted to violence. Ladies, I don't condone violence but if a dude disrespects you, defend yourself according to how you see fit. LMAO.

TIME interviews Michella Obama

2009-05-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

From Jezebel:

But the best parts are when Michelle is talking about her status as a role model for girls, for women, and for people. She tells the story of growing up on the South Side of Chicago and not knowing anything about the University of Chicago:"It was sort of like another world that didn't belong to me," she explains.

And there are so many institutions like that around the world, and so many kids like that who are living inches away from power and prestige and fame and fortune, and they don't even know that it exists. And the White House, all these wonderful buildings, these monuments and capitols ... I'm sure there are children who feel that way. I'm sure there are people in this country who feel the same way about these places that I did about the University of Chicago.

And I have probably dedicated more of my life to trying to break down those barriers for people. I think that might be one of the small themes in my professional life, is to try to be the bridge so that more people feel like they have access; that their voice, that their faces, that their worlds count in places like this, and that there is understanding across those divides. And as I grew up and came to work in those places, right, and got to know them, I realized that the misunderstanding or the disconnect goes both ways; that folks outside of these communities have no idea what goes on within these institutions, and sometimes the people in the institutions have no real understanding of the people who live outside. You know, everybody is dealing in these misperceptions about one another because there is no bridge.

Michelle also discusses how she'd like to inspire females: "How powerful would it be for young girls to come into this space and hear from other really powerful, impressive, dynamic women, and to have that conversation go on here in the White House?"

Read the interview over at TIME

Kiddie Couture from I GOT SOLE

2009-05-20T15:05:00.000-07:00

I got these in the mail a couple of days ago and couldn't be more ecstatic. Mylene from I GOT SOLE hooked them up with her custom artwork, and threw in this pair for my little one - boy does she know our family well.

Support independent artists and request a pair from her website - this talented chica can replicate pretty much anything you ask, and has amazing original artwork as well! Follow her on Twitter too! Thanks again :)

"That NOLA D"

2009-05-20T14:32:00.000-07:00

"That Nola D" by Nola Darling *Boom Boom Pow Remix" from Nola Darling on Vimeo.

Check out my girls Nola Darling and their remix of BEP's "Boom Boom Pow". I like their version better. ;)

Hi.La.Ri.Ous. We Eatin'.

2009-05-18T14:31:00.000-07:00

Peep my boys Big Jon and Gus eating San Francisco out of house and home, starting at Papalote's. And like Jon always said in high school (yes, we went to BAL together!) "I ain't fat. I'm fluffy." Go 'head y'all!

P.S. The salsa at Papalote's is throwback-a-shot-worthy though, forreal. I always get the veggie burrito with wheat tortilla! Delicious.

BRWN BFLO on The Smoking Section

2009-05-18T10:14:00.000-07:00

Oakland-based Hip-Hop group BRWN BFLO is just as much as an anomaly as their namesake: a progressive Chicano Hip-Hop group with bottomless hyphy 808s and an immense stage presence. So while the carnales in SoCal are making you “Lean Like A Cholo”, you can find Somos One, Big Dan, Jacinto and Giant collar-poppin’ in their sets, fully decked in Dios de los Muertes face paint and scaring the beejezus out of the nearest Federal Agent lurking in their audience. You get the feeling that anything is possible when it comes to their dynamic appeal.

What’s fascinating about their style speaks less about their approach, but more of what we, as Hip-Hop fans, might expect from most MCs of Latin descent: that they’re either spitting corny ass Spanglish verses with Lil’ Loca singin’ the hook, stompin’ in their Timbs moonlighting as a poor man’s Big Pun trying to relive 1998, or worst of all, a Reggaeton Cubano with meticulously-trimmed eyebrows spittin’ for the Ed Hardy-adorned club masses. If you are basing your expectations on these outdated and unfortunate stereotypes, you will be delightfully surprised that they are none of the former...

Read the post on BRWN BFLO in its entirety.

Kick Rocks, Fellas

2009-05-14T13:02:00.000-07:00

It's always refreshing to see models doing something other than lying passively on a piece of antique furniture, spread eagle, with a wan look on their face. So I was happy to stumble upon a fashion pictorial in French Vogue of girls seriously kicking ass, Death Proof-style, and the guys they fought were no wimps, either.

With Dewitt Cannon, pro skateboarder

Pummeling MMA Fighter, Josh "The Babyfaced Assasin" Barnett

While I don't condone violence towards either gender, I do love how swimsuits look in action, as they are meant to be worn.

From Jezebel

Step Your Home Training Up

2009-05-08T14:33:00.000-07:00

Read my post about illdoctrine and his latest Asher Roth commentary

I felt particularly compelled to post this on MISS after the Krudmart vs MISS fiasco that is one of our most popular posts on the newly-updated site. The thing that I love about MISS is that they don't concern themselves with the negativity of others, but they also aren't afraid to call you out, if necessary.

Admittedly, I posted a comment that was much more vitriolic than the one that ended up on the site (I went back and deleted it myself), but because I've learned from my past internet battles and the futility of it all (addressing people in person or telephone is always better etiquette), I've learned that ignoring ignorant people is much better than wasting your precious time and energy.

What irked me the most is when people make comments that are blatantly ignorant towards a person's sex or race (ahem, Asher) and tell you that they were "only joking" or that you should "lighten up" because they're "really nice people" and "they're not like that". But when speaking on such a public forum, like the internet, the fact that it brings people together should make people more sensitive and respectful of how they address entire segments of the population, especially if you are relying on customers to buy your product (and because you're a decent fucking human being).

So if you think that being cleverly racist and wittingly misogynistic is gonna gain you hits for shock value, you're probably right. It never "pays" to be a nice person, except if you believe in karma. But my Grandma always said that every time you step out of the house, you are a representative of our family, and the morals you were raised with, then I would rather be known as a whistle-blower and boat-rocker, than someone who is insensitive of basic human rights.

Blame it on the Re-Re-Re-Re-Retrograde

2009-05-06T14:46:00.000-07:00

I'm a fanatic when it comes to the Zodiac. As a Sagittarius with a history of dating mostly water signs, I wondered about this attraction to the polar opposite and found out that my rising sign was Scorpio. Duh. And of course, as luck would have it, I ended up with a Cancer, the sensitive, emotional polar opposite of my painfully-honest and free-spirited self.

And while I don't take everything they say too seriously (especially since there is a 13th sign, Ophiuchus, which is my true sign), I do believe in Mercury Retrograde. Mercury retrogrades around 3 times a year, but for this year, it's four, giving us four periods in the year to deal with miscommunications, electronic malfunctions, mishaps, contractual flubs, and travel delays.

This entire month of May, until roughly around June 14, Mercury will be in retrograde, so the key to getting through it is focus, patience, meticulous attention to detail, and an ability to roll with the punches. Also, try not to sign any contracts until this period is over! For more information about your own sign and Mercury's effects on it, go over to my favorite spots, Susan Miller's Astrology Zone and Astro.com.

** This has been a Guerilla Busfare service announcement. Now back to your regularly-scheduled programming.

Hip Hop In The Park '09/Pacquiao vs Hatton

2009-05-04T11:44:00.000-07:00

I like rain. I have galoshes. I have a closet full of North Faces I never wear since I've moved down to LA and at the first splatter of precipitation, I whip them out, ready to brave the elements. So when they said it would rain for Hip Hop in the Park in Berkeley I wasn't too worried. (Hippies love the rain) I dusted off the all-conditions black-and-grey Gore-Tex, threw on my Diamond galoshes, and trucked it on out there, ready to stick it out for a dope line-up. I don't know the official line-up, but I was able to catch Wonway and Bayonics, the Bayliens, a really dope female MC whose name I didn't catch, Invincible, Do D.A.T., and the headliners of the day, Bambu and Blu.

EyeASage & Irie Eyez

As we arrived, the weather was a pleasantly chill 54 or so degrees, and overcast - perfect for taking outdoor flicks. It definitely wasn't brand-new-shoe-worthy (ahem, Bambu), but the occasional light shower didn't dampen the spirits of the audience as the shows went on.

Bam killed it as usual, lookin' fly in his Diamond Harrasment Colors crewneck and traffic cone-orange Trainers, and I always love watching him perform for HHITP because it holds a special sentiment to us.

I was able to finally catch Blu in action, which was interesting, I must add. I interviewed Blu when I first moved to LA for my LA Music story, and found him to be so different from his audio alter ego - shy, reserved, thoughtful, and borderline space cadette. So when he walked right over to Nani, Leah and I to stand next to us and not say anything, persay, I was prepared. And blazed enough to keep it light. And though he didn't remember me (it was a phoner, after all), he was nice enough to give me a drop for GBTV.

I asked him if he was ready to perform. He replied, "Are you?"

He's so tall, I asked him "How's the weather up there?" I'm silly =P

Nice guy, he is. And Exile killed it on the MPC, to no one's surprise. As soft-spoken as Blu is in person (I had to lean in three times during our conversation to ask, "hhWHAT?") he's a natural performer, who's comfortable in front of an audience and the spaciness translates endearingly, kinda like Badu.

Afterwards we hit up the AYPAL house party and watched the fight on a projector - all 6 minutes of it. The nervousness of being 100% emotionally-invested in Pac Man gave way to exhilaration as the bout went on and, after the knock out, deeply immense pride and nationalism. He's the biggest thing in the Philippines since Catholicism, and right now, he is approaching living deity-status. And he does it for THE PEOPLE.

We're comin' for you Mayweather(s)!

** all photography by the lovely Nina Parks

M.I.S.S. New Site Layout and Contributor Page

2009-05-04T11:26:00.000-07:00

Check out the M.I.S.S. Site in all it's awesomeness and check out my updated bio for your reading pleasure :)

40 Hours in an Elevator

2009-05-02T09:04:00.000-07:00

I fear for my Unborn Daughters

2009-05-01T14:33:00.001-07:00

Hip Hop in the Park 2009

2009-05-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

See you there!

Just when I worry about MURS...he does this

2009-04-30T22:10:00.000-07:00

And it's pretty awesome.

The 50th Law: Every Writer Has Their Price

2009-04-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

Power is the ability to define reality and convince other people it is their definition - Dr. Wade Nobles

It's unfortunate that the printed word may soon be obsolete, as it holds the highest authority bestowed upon civilization. Get something printed up, and sooner or later, maybe even post-mortem, you'll be considered a authority. Never mind if it's fictitious, fanciful, filled with morals that only excuse behavior righteous to your cause, but the word, if executed compellingly, has so much power that it can control the minds of millions of people, especially when it comes to religion.

I am a writer and I know this for myself. I don't consider myself an authority on what I write about, but a person who seeks truth in what I don't know. And a record-keeper of what I believe is true in history. Journalists are classically-trained to write without bias, which is a relative impossibility. We are all biased. And the minute that anyone touches their writing instrument to paper, we are all forever changed by their bias.

48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene is so wildly-popular among Hip Hop that it's become cliche. But the reason it has become so popular in this particular segment of the population is because it goes against the natural instincts we are taught as survivors of our environment. As survivors, we are taught to defend ourselves, appear bigger than our opponent, strike fear into others, share our emotions, and be self-righteous. 48 Laws re-teaches us to be calculating, hide our intentions, pose as a spy, and control our emotions. These skills are on opposite sides of the spectrum, and valuable to our survival in the corporate world, where all the fighting is done intelligently.

So as a writer, I know that the mere act of writing creates its own power, and should also be questioned, especially when one is commissioned to write in their honor, as 50 Cent has commissioned Robert Greene to do so. The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli was also a piece of literature for the Italian monarchy to further his agenda. Every writer has a price, and that price is irrelevant to the truth. So while I believe that this upcoming book will be entertaining and enlightening to 50's story, I do believe that there is quite a bit of money being thrown at Robert Greene, and that binds him create an alternate reality where 50 is the most powerful of all. Beware.

Read the entire dickride, ahem, foreword on the following sites:

Sources:
Nah Right
Rap Radar

Pop Goes the White Boy (Asher Roth Review)

2009-04-27T12:32:00.000-07:00

After much trepidation, I finally downloaded the Asher Roth's "Asleep in The Bread Aisle" album and decided to give it a chance. Despite my own pre-judgement of all that he represents in Hip-Hop's new generation, I know that music and talent speak for itself. Having said that, I think that the circumstances surrounding him, his promo, his ability to pull off a 4/20 Monday release, the fact that his face is plastered on every billboard and bus stop, will always be a sad reminder that his whiteness - rejected by him or not - will always get him further than the next artist of color.

Sonically, the album was well-mixed and composed. "As I Em", which I thought almost an effort in futility, still was heartfelt and insightful, but did none to quell the Em comparisons or even begin to address his white privilege in Hip Hop (want to hear a real White MC address it? Peep Macklemore's "White Privilege"). As the beat starts, it sounded like a Sublime knock-off, (and trust, my college years were spent listening to Bradley Nowell croon, so it definitely worked for nostalgia's sake), but as the chorus resonated and got more bluegrass, I thought, ok, but still kinda corny. And he still sounds like Em. So when "Bad Day" started and it immediately reminded me of "Drugs" by Em, I thought, uh oh, the boy's in trouble. Being that I'm a stoner and Roth and I have that in common, I was thoroughly entertained by the story although with the comparison with the latter, I knew that I wanted more, lyrically.

"Be My Myself" was given a thumbs-up largely because of my love for everything Cee Lo touches, and "Falling" reminded me of the Crazytown one-hit wonder joint. "His Dream" was emotional and a nice homage to his PopDukes, and I dug the content of "She Don't Want A Man" with Keri Hilson - it's nice to finally see a dude speak on something that most women feel when we go out. "Lion's Roar" was...aight, and not that believable when it comes to him braggin' about his sexual prowess, and he attempted to address more substantive content with "Sour Patch Kids", and I appreciated the effort, lol.

"La Di Da" had a nice sound to it, and I enjoyed "Blunt Cruisin'" and its ska breakdowns with the whole cop/droppin' the bleez scares, something that only true stoners can appreciate. But the whole "I Love College" and was something I couldn't relate to - since most of the working class folks I know had neither the parental support nor leisure to royally fuck off in college and have the gall to brag about it. And I enjoyed "Lark On My Go Kart" much more after I watched the animated video.

So there you have it. It's not my cup of tea, but it did what it promised and delivered to the young white masses yearning to be free (to rap) and trust-fund babies ready to spend their parents' money to keep Hip Hop afloat. Asher has talent and I think there's plenty of room for growth on his end, but I can't review him and not be critical of the things that he doesn't necessarily have to earn to be famous. Because white men pervade all genres of music, they are given the creative agency that may not have been granted to an '00 3Stacks or even a "devil-worshipping" Tech N9ne. So it wasn't Hip-Hop to me, persay, rather Hip-Hop Lite, watered-down for those who didn't grow up to Chuck D or Ice Cube.

Also, I was reviewing his album over the weekend when he made his now-infamous Twitter slip-up mocking Don Imus, he twitted "At Rutgers hangin' with some nappy headed hoes" and it totally took him down two notches for me. Here I am, progressive and Pro-Brown, ready to defend artists and their creative spectrum, when he pulls an idiotic joke like this. Maybe he didn't realize that Hip-Hop is still some people's only way out and should have heeded to Macklemore's line, "Most whites don't wanna admit that it's occurin'/Cuz we got the best deal/The music without the burden."

*also as a sidenote, Eminem transcended his skin color in Hip-Hop, to me, because of his skill. It is undeniable. But what was easier for me to accept as a person of color was that he also came from shitty, working-class conditions and had to work his way to the top via the battle scene. Can't say the same for Asher.

In Fashion, White journalists are at a loss for words.

2009-04-26T08:32:00.000-07:00

I've always taken slight offense to the wording surrounding the current trends in fashion, namely one such as "Tribal", "Ethnic" and now "Global". What makes me more uncomfortable is the appropriation of these supposed cultural inflections into a multi-billion dollar industry known for its lack of diversity, and slow to cite accurately just where their "Africanized" inspiration comes from. Africa is a continent, people, not a country or romanticized ideal, a place to adopt surplus children, or a charming locale to visit while on safari. It has a complicated history forever linked with ours in America, and might be the most misunderstood continent in history. So leave it up to the brainless dipshits at an obviously majority-Caucasian publication to summarize the season's trends with such ignorant and baseless jargon as "ethnic" and especially "tribal". From the one class that I took in college about modern Africa, many of these peoples don't like to be referred to as "tribes". And they probably wouldn't like being ungraciously mimicked on the runways.

Luckily, Racialicious feels the same way: Fashion and Patronizing Colonial Rhetoric

Additional sources:
Jezebel
Out of Africa - NY Times