Straight Organics...

Interview with The Cornel West Theory

2011-07-31T11:36:00.003-04:00

A Conversation with Dr. Cornel West & The Cornel West Theory from Sarah Cannon on Vimeo.

No real explanation needed, Dr. Cornel West and the band The Cornel West Theory sit down and share their insights, influences and visions on the music. You can check the latest album, The Shape of Hip Hop to Come at The Cornel West Theory Website

Where in the World is Gun? Lyon, France...Skillz goes to Europe...the landing

2010-09-18T19:49:00.001-04:00

So much for what happens here...stays here. I hope everyone in my home of BK weathered the storm reasonably well, its all sunshine here....and I'm talking about the vibe. Lyon is a beautiful sprawling city in the south of France, with the Rhone cutting right through it. We have been with the main homie, Zajazza on the first drop of the Skillz to take Brazil European Tour.

We hit the ground running with a radio appearance at Radio Canut 102.2FM, Lyon. Peace to Air Capital and crew who heard of the sold out joint, and wanted to have us on. Needless to say, good tidings have been the marker of this trip....

While it rained outside walking across Lyon to the spot there was an anxious energy. After my third trip to the continent, the anticipation is still high, and I can't wait to get in and start. Air Capital was the kick off and we got a chance to do a little promo and showcase the Skillz...

I'll be in Paris on operation chill, for a couple days before our next show in Marsaille. Footage from Lyon show, and our appearance at Urban Latin soon...O.N.E.

Where in the World is Gun-New Compilation of International flavor

2010-08-25T15:22:00.003-04:00

<a href="http://freshroots.bandcamp.com/album/where-in-the-world-is-gun">The Dark Keys prod by J-Guru by Hired Gun</a>

This compilation is a small collection of tracks, that The Hired Gun has collaborated with international producers on over the past two years. Through his travels, he's hooked up with producers from Russia, France, the Czech Republic, England, and Italy. Please download and enjoy.

The Dark Keys and J Anthem produced by J Guru (UK)
Truth Positive and Penmanship produced by Jaest (Judgematic, USSR)
musical puzzle freestyle and The Show produced by Zajazza (FR)
Ponder for a moment produced by A.J. (U.S.A.)
We R Machines produced by Phillip TBC (CZ)
Diaspora Freestyle produced by Benny Beats (U.S.A.)
You produced by DJ Nio (It)

Skillz to take Brazil-EPK

2010-08-16T02:12:00.002-04:00

This says it all. Check out the most recent review on international hip hop site, British Hip Hop courtesy of Nikhil Sharma British Hip Hop

2010 Youth Diaspora Conference

2010-08-16T02:04:00.002-04:00

Youth Diaspora Conference: Mikal 'Hired Gun' Lee Interview (2010) from Nomadic Wax on Vimeo.

This is a brief sit down with Nomadic Wax at the 2010 Youth Diaspora Conference held at United States Institute of Peace. I have clips from my break out sessions that I will post soon.

Where in the World is Gun part 2

2010-05-03T20:37:00.005-04:00

Peace everyone,

Slowly but surely the story is unfolding. The album is done, it is out! You will be able to get a copy digitally in a few weeks, but if you don't want to wait, contact me at

my email here

On with the show....

Click here if you can't see the youtube embed
Skillz to take Brazil North East pt 1.

Skillz to take Brazil North East pt 2.

If you haven't already check out the two mixtapes (in the previous posts) as well. But finally, I will be a part of a very special event...The Readnex Album Release "The day before sound" on May 22nd. Come out and definitely support that!

Where in the World is Gun part 1

2010-04-25T21:42:00.005-04:00

Peace and blessings everyone. So much has been going on since last I touched down to harvest Straight Organics. First and foremost please take a moment for a pioneer and legend, Guru who recently passed onto the next life this past week. The group he founded, Gangstarr was truly one of my earliest and strongest influences. The very philosophy I adopted for dealings with the business side of our art come straight from his lips….”I would just give a muthafucka a pound, a compliment then told’em my name and I was out, peace”

Its been a busy 2010 for us, but in very different ways. The youth have taken the priority over all things, but also furthering the journey to bring Hip Hop globally and full circle. Ironically, 2009 was about experiencing the word physically, and now those experiences are slowly bearing fruit. This past week, Rabbi Darkside, Zajazza, and myself released the Skillz to take Brazil album. It is finally here, and I will be hitting many of you directly, and personally to make sure I can get you a little piece of Brazil (Brooklyn style).

This undertaking has come at a time during depressed economic times, and an industry culture in flux. Because of this, as a crew we decided to do something that we feel is putting ourselves squarely inside a new paradigm. We will be offering the album online and also directly through our own hands as a “pay as you want” option. We still believe that as in the past, quality art and music will be supported financially. However, we also recognize with new technologies, the realities of so many choices, many free and how its shaped people’s perceptions, giving those of you who have supported us for so long the option only made sense. Please look out for further information on how and where you can receive the physical album cd directly from me (we will still be using traditionally digital media circles, such as itunes).

There has been much more then Brazil though. In the coming months you will be able to get for Free the first in a series of mini projects I’ve been working on leading up to my next solo release….The first of this series is “Where in the World is Gun?” A collection of collaborations I’ve done with various international producers. But even before that!?!? Please check these international mixtapes that feature some of the most talented, conscious hip hop artists from all over the globe, including myself. Shouts to Nomadic Wax!

The first in a series of innovative mixtapes, Internationally Known: Volume 1 is proof thatHip-Hop is global. Artists from more than thirty nations were brought together to form a comprehensive album that represents the vast landscape of Hip-Hop culture. Artists on the mixtape rap in English as well as their native languages, sparking a climate of cultural exchange.

Conceived by Dumi RIGHT of pH MUSIC and Magee McIlvaine of Nomadic Wax and Magee Films, and mixed by Italy's DJ Nio, Internationally Known gathers material from some of the best Hip-Hop artists across the globe, in order to showcase the underground talent that has formed the foundation for global Hip-Hop. Some of the artists include Zero Plastica (Italy/Nigeria/Jamaica), Alfaress (Morocco), Wagëblë (Senegal), OBC (Burkina Faso) and Hired Gun (Brooklyn, NY).

Nomadic Wax crests new heights with the highly anticipated release of their international mixtape project Diaspora.

Created as en effort to expose the world to global hip-hop and urban culture and facilitate cross cultural exchanges amongst international artists, the Diaspora project features a diverse vein of some of the world’s most talented MC’s, vocalists, DJ’s and producers. The mixtape will showcase urban music from around the globe, but with a twist. Each volume of the series will highlight a different producer from around the world, and a host emcees who donate 16 bars to the project.

Mixed by Philippino American DJ Boo of the Juggaknots, and produced by Benny Beats of the U.S., Volume 1 features upcoming talent from Africa, Europe, North America, and Latin America, each spitting a conscious 16 bars that showcase where they are from and what they represent.

“Its easy to think of how different we are to others in the world,” said DJ Boo. “One thing that I’ve learned is that, language aside, many of our stories are more similar than different. Nomadic Wax’s Diaspora mixtape uses one of the most accessible mediums to capture that – music. Hip-hop music.”

Skillz to take Brazil-The Album Release-April 16th @ Bowery Poetry Club

2010-04-02T12:00:00.004-04:00

Roughly one year ago, myself Rabbi Darkside and DJ Zajazza from Lyon France embarked on a two week tour of Southern Brazil. We had no expectations except to rock out, and meet new people. What we returned with was so much more. On April 16th @ Bowery Poetry Club in New York City, @ 10pm come hear our story. "Skillz to take Brazil" is a collaboration of Rabbi Darkside, DJ Zajazza, Hired Gun and two crews from Southern Brazil, Alas Dos Pretos Duccorre, and URS Fuando. Here is just a taste:

Skillz to take Brazil

For non FB peoples you can view it below:

More coming soon.

Skillz to Take Brazil @ Arlenes Grocery

2009-10-21T14:51:00.002-04:00

Boa Tarde (that's good afternoon)

Its been a great past couple of days, got a chance to support my man, MC Aero at the BassBot Reunion at the Legendary Konkrete Jungle. For those FB'ers you can peep that here HG over Dubstep. Here it is live and direct:

After coming home from Europe, the focus has been really to continue to cultivate what Say Word and Fresh Roots has started, strengthening connections. I myself am in the midst of several projects that are going to showcase various collaborations with artists from around the United States and the globe. One of those projects Skillz to take Brazil is in conjunction with partner in rhyme Rabbi Darkside (3rd Party) and the Jazzy Frenchmen, Zajazza. We have been previewing the record here in NYC in a series of live events. The last one took place this past Friday at Arlenes Grocery in conjunction with KeyNote NY. Shouts to Rabbi and his Keynote family on the love. For those who didn't brave the rain or the cover (it wasnt expensive at all, but we know in these tough times how it is....), courtesy of Ms. Natty S. (who with her Brother, Donovan have become *THE* premier documentors of NYC underground/independent music...seriously, if you dont know them, you aren't doing anything in the NYC Hip Hop Community right now...)

Natty was dope enough to pretty much film the show in its entirety, so here are the highlights (Thanks Natty!!! )

I'm never forgetting my Face Book Fam so here are the links (which also serve as the tracklisting for the embed clips below..g'yeah)

Best Minds Remix-3rd Party
Intro and Nao Tem Preco
Little City
Somos Assin
Visas
Recognize Real
Very Good
Brazilian Freestyle

Pass the goodness along and for those on Facebook please let your friends know to find more of fresh roots
here Hired Gun FB Community page
Reverbnation Music(exclusive new stuff here first!!?!?! just get on the mailling list....)
Myspace (because people still check it
Obrigado!?!?!

Get up Stand up Tour-Road to the Rhythms pt. 2

2009-09-13T17:29:00.007-04:00

Get up Stand up Tour-Road to the Rhythms pt. 2

Im experiencing déjà vu as I write on another beautiful Brooklyn day.
There has been so much that 3P experienced on this tour, to date
the strongest . For those of you on facebook; to check the video, click
Straight Organics.

With Chapeau Rouge to that point feeling almost like the pinnacle, we began
the trip to Berlin, crazy early in the morning. Just to get a sense of that feeling though here is some footage from that show:

Prague to Germany went fairly smooth, despite a slight disturbance in the force. On one of the stops, German police came aboard to inspect passengers papers. I’m still not sure what exactly for, but another passenger told us its essentially border patrol. Needless to say in our car only three people were searched, myself and the Arabic couple. Touring while black I guess is a new one for me. We kept it moving and landed at the wonderful home of our peoples, Maria Kapix. “Mary-Land” opened up their kind hospitality to us once again. I cant thank Maria enough, beyond letting us crash, her generosity didn’t know any limits, we got you when you come to NY. This was my first time having a chance to rock in Berlin, and the feel of the city got me excited. Berlin is a multi-cultural city, with many different groups, religions, ethnicities living relatively in close proximity. Berlin has a real modern feel, concrete everywhere, (though not many skyscrapers) and a lot of movement, though people don’t seem overly in a hurry. Later on that afternoon, we actually had our first gig, the EOW outdoor jam at Alexander Platz.

We literally were on a run for the border after Chapeau Rouge, I myself chose to simply stay up. To that point, we might of had a collective six hours sleep in us. The scene at AlexanderPlatz was a serious wake up call. A steady crowd of about sixty or seventy people, passersbys, familiar heads (shouts to the three Maria's, and Navina, Marc Hype, DJ Sarah, Kemp Krew holdin it down...)and EOW heads filled this open air space under a clock that could've been a prop out of Brave New World. EOW Berlin is headed up by DJ Marc Bulet, an amazing DJ, organizer, and hip hop archivist. Along with Igadget, the two of them spun joints, and also "DJ'd" for the storm of artist there to perform. The format was very Sin-Sinesque as emcees were put down round robin style and at random. The live mixtape feel, kept the energy and vibe of the show moving, and hyped. Shefket, Amewou, Diamondog, Furious, BatKat, S-Rok, Alibi and many others along with collaboration from a youth organization GangwayBeatz rounded it all out. Olad Aden is the social worker running the organization, and he brought emcees and dancers from his programs. We are looking to get that Bronx to Berlin to Brooklyn connection going later this year.

One of the most impressive aspects of the show was the youth involvement. Berlin has a very vibrant hip hop/arts education foundation, although as Bulet pointed out to us at one point, several of the community centers these programs are running out of will be shut down. Even with the success that the culture has had in helping youth, the realities of economics still remain. The positive is that, Bulet, GangwayBeatz and others are still representing (Bulet himself a teaching artist, lecturer working with youth and hip hop culture). The Berlin community clearly has been around (having first been introduced to the culture around 1980-81 per Bulet, who like KRS-ONE can boast "I was there!") and it was evident in the styles. Furious, Shefket,Diamondog and Ali be in particular had such amazing timing, rhythm and flow. Its been great to hear artist who I may not be able to understand the literal language, but the skill and strength of their ability is obvious. Diamondog, actually is fam with my people from Nomadic Wax. An Angolan born emcee who migrated from Brazil to Germany, he is a global emcee. Rhyming in three languages, and going for his masters he probably can spit the fastest that I've ever seen personally live. The talent was crazy, and with the youth it was truly an amazing event.

Somehow after the event and debating on the next move we still were awake enough to do a run through of the show for the following night at Cassiopeia, (Oh yeah, Friday was a benefit and warm up!) We headed back to Bulet's spot in a neighborhood called Kreuzberg (named after "Cross Hill" which is the highest elevation in the area), a largely Turkish working class community. The history of Kreuzberg has similar parallels to a civil-rights era lower east side; protest, artists, squatters. Bulet gave us a brief history of his life living there, and of the neighborhood, even the current gentrification it is undergoing (sound familiar?) A husband and father of two children, it was great to see someone still fulfilling their dream. We ended up staying and checking out clips of influential German hip hop artists, and Bulet spinning tales of some of the exploits of he and his crew. The family atmosphere just seemed to be the norm while we've been in Europe.

Saturday night was Cassopiea and as I broke down to you in a previous blog, the place is ill. Tonight though, we were rocking with Smith & Smart, Berlinutz, John Robinson and Quazzar. Needless to say, the place was rocking. Smith & Start in particular had a mostly German crowd going bonkers. The interplay between emcee, DJ DJ/percussionist was dope. Quazzar, and John Robinson at this point goes without saying the level they bring it at. Its been a blessing building with truly dope artist who have a real appreciation for the music and the culture. Their success clearly comes from being on the humble, and tireless in putting in work. Whether its been them or J-Live we really got a glimpse of how to do it from these three, something to grow from. Once we got to the stage, the place was packed and hyped. Mission accomplished, I actually had to roll back home, on credible sources (Rabbi and Far) however the party didnt stop till Breakfast around 8 or 9 a.m.

Normally I'm down, but Sunday was our last day in Berlin and I was hoping to get a chance to really see the city. Plus, we were going to the studio with Bulet to try and lay down as many tracks as we could. S-Rok, Ali Be, BatKat and later on Diamondog all represented. It was actually real dope because Diamondog came with his people DJ Wordz and fam and brought a German BBQ right to us. In between writing sessions, their were freestyle ciphers outside being run off a car battery, Speaker, Grill and a ton of Schnitzel. I actually got Bulet to break it down a little...

Here is some footage of some of that Grafitti that is literally all around the community center. This is their wall of fame.

We ultimately ended up getting two tracks for the most part recorded. But there is more coming, also Furious and a few cats who didn't get in are laying vocals as well. Here is one of the joints Igadget got to finish. It features 3rd Party, BatKat on the chorus, Ali Be, and S-Rok:

No Means No (EOW Collabo NY/Berlin) by iGadget

My trip ended with a very late night session with Diamondog building on everything from KRS to the state of persons of color all over the globe. I continue to be encouraged and excited at the bond I share with brothas from other parts of the world. For me, it strengthens my belief that we are dealing with a worldwide struggle, for acceptance, for respect. Berlin as a whole has been a tremendous experience to witness their love of the culture, and the power that it has to bring so many like minded people from different backgrounds together. By Monday afternoon, I was back in Brooklyn. I'm still not sure words and pictures do justice what I felt and experienced over there. Get up Stand up was a true Award Tour. 2010.....do it again.

Get up Stand up Tour-Road to the Rhythms part I

2009-09-06T14:18:00.004-04:00

Get up Stand up Tour – Road to the Rhythms part 1

As I’m writing this blog, I’m looking out my window in Brooklyn, Labor Day weekend. The sun is shining and after getting my thoughts clear enough through the nagging sinus cold and jet lag I want to wrap up what this amazing tour was, is and means. Again, for my Face Book People click this link to get the video Straight Organics

The second week of tour would prove to be are most rigorous. After the love fest that was Hip Hop Kemp Rabbi, Far and I got a van ride the few hours to Prague. We were greeted by Kuzhell and Loki and subsequently passed out for the day. Hip Hop Kemp took everything out of us, the last night with Marc Hype and Jim Dunloop was of historic proportions with the energy given and expended. Now, we were about to embark on a four show, six day excursion that would take us from Prague, back to Berlin. We woke up Monday morning refreshed (or so we thought….more on that shortly) and ready for our first rounds of promo, which began at Radio DJ with the lovely host Mary. The Prague leg of our week involved us celebrating the single release of Phillip TBC’s “Audible Thoughts” album on DaSka Records. Our history with TBC and DaSka records goes back several years starting with Rabbi’s first trips to Prague. Rabbi is the featured artist on the single “Czech Yourself” (I also have a track on the album, “We R Machines”, and Fresh Roots will be getting you the details on the release….) and for the next several days the mission was to get the word out.

Mary who is a talented musician in her own right (electric violin) did a great job of giving us not the standard fare of questions, and it was a very insightful interview. Needless to say, we made plans to rock with her on Thursday at Chapeau Rouge (Red Hat). After the radio session, we all split up as I made my way to do a Drum n Bass set with Ghonzales, aka “Honza” on Radio 23 at the Cross Club. Honza is the radio host for Radio Wave in Prague, and we had bonded on our last trip here. The Cross Club is a mix of the Matrix and the Borg. It has four levels that are decked out with moving lights and mechanical parts, with what looks like open board circuitry and tubing. Imagine the paneling taken off the inside of a spaceship leaving the wires, pipes, tubes and screws exposed, that is Cross Club.

Its always fun to rock Jungle, and Ghonzales had some nice atmospheric rhythms. The next goal is to get Black Opz overseas. From there I raced back to rock with 3P at “Freestyle Nandej” at Pantheon (the Prague version of Freestyle Mondays). Our boy Dowis had re-vamped Pantheon since the year prior that I had seen it (Farbeon went on tour with Core Rhythm in February and passed through while Rabbi and I were touring Brazil….). A flat projector screen in the main seating area, that had a video relay from the stage area, new art, fresh coat of paint and a hotter sound system were all pleasant surprises (see the Kemp video in the recap blog for a view of the spot). In the time we’ve been in Prague it has been clear that their fervor for hip hop is intense. It is a relatively young scene not only in age but within the culture itself. They are still hungry, and excited to hear dope flows, and raw beats. We were only too happy to oblige.

As the showcase for the evening, the stage was ours to rip apart. Prior to us performing, they had an open mic sign up were many of the up and coming talents in the city come to rock. The differences between the US and Czech versions of Freestyle Mondays (The legendary seven year open mic hosted, and started by our peoples Mariella, Illspokinn and the band the XO….) is that the DJ runs the beats, and it is not “cipher” style were the mic is passed. You have a two minute time limit, unless you are killing it, which then you get to keep rocking or if you are wack, a “stop” sign is administered and the mic is taken….(for those of you up on your hip hop history, the legendary Good Life Café open mic in L.A. was actually run in a very similar fashion…..) . The premier spitter of the night was a young fourteen (yes FOURTEEN) year old girl, by name of Sharkass. She had all the flows and the style. It is a challenge to make the Czech language sound super fluid over beats, and this young woman did so effortlessly. Needless to say she just might be a star on the rise in Eastern Europe.

Ever since my first trip overseas barely a year ago, I’ve become spoiled with the amount of love we receive. It reminds me of what I experienced being a young fan going to shows when I was in college. People are ready and willing to enjoy the music. This entire trip has been a great boost and reassurance that hip hop still has love in it. To see so many heads wiling out, jumping around, and really appreciating the effort, and energy we put in was humbling and inspiring, I have yet to feel let down any time I’ve touched down on foreign soil. Shouts to Laila (aka Mc Lady), Lucie, Dowis, Alesh and the rest of the crew, we ended up building with the heads in the spot and partying way too late. I personally got a chance to really build with some young heads from Italy and Bristol, England who spoke English. Shouts out to Finger Food and his crew whom I built with outside Pantheon for at least an hour, thank you for putting me up on some English cats and hitting me with your documentary.

So after what had to be the fourth night of late night rocking, partying and no sleep (till Brooklyn) I officially crashed. Thankfully the next two days were only a rehearsal and a couple of radio appearances but I ended up at Jaro’s on the couch nursing a pretty bad head cold and aches. I needed to make sure I was ready for the big show on Thursday, and for the rest of the trip, as we would do three shows in three days. Needless to say, the time to reflect and recharge was much needed , and by Thursday it was on to Chapeau Rouge.

Chapeau Rouge is a club that is in and around center city and again is a multi-level bar/club. They décor is very different from Pantheon and Cross Club in that it has a more old world feel. The lower level where we rocked was an intimate sweat box with a booming system and dope wooden floor. We even had a “backstage” again stocked with libation and refreshments (I really can get used to that…..). More of the same, and this might have been our best performance of the trip. Before us, however BeatBurger Band (Jaro Cossiga, Nasty, Ivan Hoe, and Andru, peace to Johnny 5) heated up the crowd with some classic interpretations of some early nineties dance classics (as Rabbi said, beatbox Jock Jams). The Beat Apetit crew has always shown they know how to throw a party, and the stage had already been lit by the time we got to it. There has been no question that the night was a success, and I will be putting together a very special show collage to show just exactly what I am talking about. Thursday was our last night in Prague, and the following morning it was on to Berlin for the final leg of the tour, stay tuned for part II.

Get up Stand up Tour-Kemp Re Cap and a Public Service Announcement

2009-08-26T16:49:00.002-04:00

As promised some quick thoughts on the weekend that was.....

And then Italy has a message for the rest of the world!!!!!!

If you are on FaceBook click here---->Straight Organics

Get up Stand up Tour-Hip Hop Kemp

2009-08-26T10:56:00.002-04:00

Excuse the tardiness yall, Ive been under the weather and its been non stop movement between our show (Footage coming I promise....), Radio appearances and rehearsal for our big shows. Here is a little taste though of what has been going on. Today is a double dip day, so Ill have my recap right after this, but here is some J Live Footage with me as hype man, and a little insight from the 3P and DJ Sarah after day 2. For my FACEBOOK peoples, Straight Organics Blog

Get Up Stand Up Tour Stop: Leipzeg (The Taxi, The Rider)

2009-08-23T00:49:00.004-04:00

So its been a crazy four days, I will break down more of it in blogs once I reach Prague. It is almost 7am here in the Czech and Im bleary eyed after tearing down another stage with 3P. J-Live was our special guest. I wont get ahead of myself because this all gets very dope, but I wanted to hit you with something before our car picks us up to head out to Prague, so... This is some footage shot leading up to J-Live's set (which I may or may not post in order...). Hip Hop Kemp was absolutely crazy (other then losing my camera, dont worry the Flip is in a effect, just means more video then pictures). So check it out and enjoy....For my facebook homies just click Straight Organics

Get up Stand up Tour-first stop: Berlin

2009-08-19T16:06:00.006-04:00

OK....

So the show is back on the road and this time, yes we are coming to you live via VIDEO!!! For my FACEBOOK peeps...click Fresh Roots Music

Bare with me, this is the first attempt of stepping into the digital realm!!!!!!

Then later on.....

So there you have it. We have a two hour train ride tomorrow to Leipzeg and we rock later that night! Below is just a sample (a small one) of the Graff and beautiful city I saw on the first day. Peace!

Get up Stand up Tour-3rd Party, J-Live, DJ Trumaster

2009-07-28T01:01:00.002-04:00

ON TOUR in AUGUST.....

KEEP TUNED to Straight Organics for the official tour diaries.

Hired Gun on the Come UP-click the link and leave a comment @ Ihiphop

2009-07-23T14:24:00.000-04:00

Get up stand up.....

Peace everyone, if you've been following The 3rd Party posts or blasts you'd know in a few short weeks we will be once again crossing the Atlantic. Its been a beautiful hot summer for us and I hope its been for you as well.

Down to business....

I'm hitting you up to let you know that the hip hop site, ihiphop has me featured in their new artist section, "The Come Up". Click HERE to check it out and please LEAVE A COMMENT. I will be hitting you all after this weekend with more up and coming about the tour and what's going on with Fresh Roots....PEACE!

Free Music Free Download straight from Fresh Roots Music

2009-06-24T20:13:00.003-04:00

Peace everyone,

I'm hitting you up to let you know that Reverbnation has hit me with an amazing opportunity to promote myself and my music. Out of tens of if not hundreds of thousands of artists, I was selected with a thousand others in a program sponsored by Microsoft Windows. What does this mean? Well, we are a part of an independent artist web campaign that offers one of our songs FOR FREE for download from the banner below.

What do you have to do? Click on the banner and download my track "Unforgivable Blackness" for *FREE*. No solicitations, no passwords, just click, then download and its over as fast as your internet connection is. What does this mean for me? Exposure and an opportunity for a larger market to possibly check out my music. Thank you all for your support in the past, it has only been through everyone who has commented on websites, purchased the album or voted for me on various awards that I've won, that these types of opportunities continue to open for me. Click on the link below, get some dope FREE music, help me, and let's keep it movin.

-HG

New Music....New Interview....Straight Organic

2009-06-23T12:36:00.005-04:00

The Summer has officially arrived....

....And it has been a pretty strange weather pattern though, rain, sun, rain, sun. Speaking of Strange, my people's Michael McFadden and Acee (you may remember Acee's unbelievable beat for "unforgivable blackness" off the People's Verses....)just dropped their latest, release...self titled "Agent Strange". Myself, IllSpokinn (Spokinn Movement, Sin Sin fam), and Stephanie Diaz are featured on this amazing album. My track is "Hired Hand" and you can hear the track here (click the album cover):

It is available via itunes, napster, rhapsody or wherever dope music is sold.

I also had the opportunity to sit down with Zeb d'essence (of "Rappers are in Danger" fame off The People's Verses) and discuss the URB Next 100, new projects and in general the state of the music. Peace to the middle row.

DJ Zajazza-Musical Puzzle

2009-06-01T18:20:00.002-04:00

The musical foundation behind the latest collaborative project between myself and fellow cohort from 3rd Party, Rabbi Darkside...Zajazza is a true loop digger with a love of the classics, and the skills and knowledge to bring it to you live. Musical Puzzle is Zajazza's latest homage to the roots of this culture we call hip hop. You can download the album for free by clicking this
link. Or you can click on the album cover. Peep below for the tracklisting and more desription about the project.

Musical Puzzle is a selection of breaks (jazz, soul, funk) mixed with freestyles from NYC hip hop artists. Zajazza tried with this mix to show the direct relationship between music from the 60’s/70’s and Hip Hop. Expect some famous samples used by Dr Dre, A Tribe Called Quest, US3 and more…

Zajazza’s comment:
“This project took me like 6 months of digging in the crates of Phily and New York, researching the right breaks and recording some NYC mcees in order to produce this homage to the roots of Hip Hop Music. So, what’s the recipe? Some good records, two turntables, a handheld recorder and some skilled mcees…”

Intro by Kid Lucky (Hip Hop Subway series) and Bill Blass on Kenny Burrel - Midnigth blue
Donald Byrd - Wind parade
Jimmy Smith - I’m gonna love you just a little bit more babe
The Wild Magnolias - Corey died on the battle field
Silver Convention - You turned me on, but you can’t turn me off (scratch interlude)
Mark Holder - Music Turns Me On
Richard Groove Holmes/Ernie Watts - Come Together
Barry Ungar - Lightly salted (Hip Hop Subway series freestyle)
Donald Byrd - Cantaloupe Island
(drum interlude)
David Mc Callum - The edge
S.O.U.L. - Soul
The meters - Live wire
George Freeman - The bump
Bill Withers - Still bill (scratch interlude)
Bobby Blue Bland - Goin down slow
Joe Williams - Get out my life woman
Lou Rawls - Christmas will be (Hired Gun freestyle)
Sly and the family stone - Sing a simele song
Sugar Ray - Knock him out (beat juggling interlude)
Michel Audiard - Tatou strip tease
Guy Pederson - Les copains de la basse
Bernard Wystaete - Day dream (poem by Aeden and freestyle by Bill Blass)
Driver OST - Driving
S.O.B.eat (beat juggling interlude)
Sonny Stitt - Slick Eddie
Lou Donaldson - Blues walk
Brother Jack McDuff - Oblighetto
Ronnie foster - Mystic Brew (outro by Rawaness)

Zajazza is a French DJ/Producer who has been traveling around the world since 2002, finding musical adventures in Chile, Brazil, Portugal and New York City. In 2007, he spent a year in Brazil, digging and playing with the best local Hip Hop DJs, and MCs. The same year, he released the mixtape “O Segredo da Beleza“, a selection of the best Brazilian Popular Music he collected while touring. In 2008, he went to New York, and started to work with underground hip hop artists.

Hired Gun as seen in "Spittin in da whip"

2009-05-18T20:23:00.002-04:00

Hired Gun on the streets of the lower east side. May 13th, 2 a.m. in a late model black Range Rover with "Crazy" "Al Cayne CAC-TV. Check the Ted Turner Autobiography:

Peep it here: HIRED GUN Spittin in the Whip Shouts to DJ Esquire and thanks for lettin us use the whip, homie =)~.

URB Next 100

2009-05-07T23:27:00.003-04:00

URB Next 100great free widgetsWidgetbox

Here is the direct link: URB NEXT 100. Shouts to Say Word, ESP, Drop Squad and all the producers who made the album. We keeps it moving.

More Footage from the Trinity Hip Hop festival

2009-04-29T11:41:00.005-04:00

Rocking the spot with Mr. Reo, Zee Santiago, Outspoken, Cuttz and Decora of the Readnex Poetry Squad and several Trinity Students. Video Courtesy of Magee Mcllvaine, Sol Productions/Nomadic Wax

pt. 1

pt. 2

pt 2 cont

WorldWide We Rule: The 4th Annual Trinity Hip Hop Festival.

2009-04-23T01:07:00.009-04:00

Hip Hop currently is undergoing its mid-life crisis. Looking in the mirror at itself wondering, “what have I accomplished”? Instead of reveling in its found wisdom and maturity, it resorts to living a fantasized youth of frivolousness, and trying to re-live days that were the same as it never was. Among one of the things here in the states it has overlooked are the younger brothers and sisters it has helped to raise worldwide. Senegal, Zimbabwe, England, France, Germany, Haiti, Brazil, Czech Republic, South Africa, Japan, and Israel/Palestine; these and many more countries have embraced the art and culture of hip hop as a way to make the younger generation’s voices heard, respected, and unique.

Despite the global phenomenon that hip hop has become, the reality is that much like the fabric of our society that exports much of our culture but does little to import and respectfully embrace others; many consumers, artists, and keepers of the culture here have little to say about artist from across the way (unless of course they are paying for them to fly out, bag their women, and be idolized…but that’s another story…..). Very sad considering how powerful we know hip hop is as a medium to discuss issues of race, class, community, and just about any subject pertaining to modern society.

Enter Trinity College, and their International Hip Hop festival an event that they have created out of the necessity to give a little more light to these artists whom spit that fire, just in a wholly different tongue. This year (my second in attendance out of the four that it has so far under its belt…it would’ve been three had I not a family trip the year before…) I was honored to be asked to participate as co-host of the event, along with The Princess of Controversy, one of a small handful of American Artists to grace the stage and take part. Trinity College students, headed by Magee Mcllvaine and Ben Herson of Nomadic Wax, originally founded this festival. One of the original students, Zee Santiago is now one of the main organizers along with Katie McGuigan, both Trinity students (shouts to Elizabeth, Jazzy and everyone else on the team!). This tradition is now in its fourth year, and was truly an experience.

Princess of Controversy and myself

Over the course of three days, the festival that is free and open to the public, not only hosts and showcases talent from around the world, but conducts seminars, workshops, panel discussions, and movie screenings of relevant hip hop documentaries. The goal of the festival is to raise awareness, not just of the hot music that you’re missing out on from Haiti and Cuba, but also to bring attention to the serious issues that these artist and communities face in their native countries. The festival is a nexus of Artist/Activist/Scholars bridging gaps to new communities, and fortifying bonds based on the love of the music. You can come and simply rock out, and at the same time you can also go a little deeper and get a glimpse at what is going on in almost every part of the world through these keepers of culture.

The first day and evening was mostly spent preparing for the rest of the weekend. However, an amazing documentary, FangAfrika was screened. Taken from linked.tv:

Fangafrika is a stylized look at the festival in Ouaga, in Burkina Faso, where Africa's best and brightest rappers gather using hip hop to tackle the serious issues facing
Africans everywhere.

Throughout the documentary the artists made it clear that hip-hop was a driving force amongst youth to be heard, and to dialogue on issues they were dealing with from sexism to the political treatment of the third world by the first. The best way for the festival to begin was grounding it in a recurring (but not the only) theme, hip hop art and music as a means of social mobility, and social change through facilitating cultural exchange and information..

There was another theme that kept coming up. Hip Hop is down to party.

The night was alive as Mr. Reo, an artist representing Brooklyn, by way of Haiti kicked things off. Commandant Fatso and outspoken representing Zimbabwe were next. After them came the African Underground All-stars, which consisted of myself, David Sharma and Ben Herson on drums, DJ Boo, Bay Muusa and Self Suffice. Bay Muusa is actually one of the main artist from Nomadic Wax and represents Senegal. The irony of this lineup (there are several rotating emcees, beyond Muusa and the band) was that it was more the “African American” Underground All-stars. The Game Rebellion who headlined the first night followed us. The special part of the evening however, came in the cipher at the end. The Rednex Poetry Squad representatives, Decora and Cuttz came on the strength and love of the event, and got on stage to rock with the other artist of the night. Much like two years prior, when I myself simply was at the event as a supporter of the culture, and was pulled on stage, they added more to the authenticity of the event being about hip hop as a community…..a global community.

Day two began with a series of workshops facilitated by Beat Burger Band (yes..THAT Beat Burger, Say Word fam, Jaro, Nasty, Kuzhell made the trip along with Lokey, and John) and myself showing the crowds the finer points of beat boxing and freestyling.

This gave way to a panel discussion on the stereotypes within Hip Hop. On the panel were Dr. Gail Waldu, Dr. Emily Musil, and Professor Nick Conway, all faculty at Trinity. The discussions began to put together a framework of the realities that specifically young black and brown people dealt with in the face of a mainstream culture which looked to limit them, via various biases and negative portrayals of their communities and themselves. After this discussion a screening of Planet B-Boy followed by an actual B-Boy competition. Planet B-Boy followed six crews from all over the world in their quest to win the World B-Boy Championships. The beauty of the film was showing how worlds and communities were again, uniting and expressing their culture through the universal language that is hip hop culture.

The Final night of this festival was far and away its best. Poetic Pilgrimmage, Mohammed Yahya,Zee Santiago, and Blitz the Ambassador blessed the stage, along with special guests M.C. Daniel, Aja Black and Samir (like I said...it was all about community, AJa and Samir actually flew out from Denver, simply to support the event.) The night belonged to one man though....K'Naan. If you dont know, you will soon enough, the Somalian born emcee has slowly been rising and recently released his second album, Troubador. It is rare at a Hip Hop event that you see people, hands in the air, waving them with cell phones and lighters, reciting basically a slow ballad hook. K'Naan is a musician with power and purpose, and literally brought people to tears admist the uptempo rhythms and slick lyrics.

Ultimately, this Festival; to date the only one of its kind in the United States has become a flashpoint of global consciousness and an introduction into the literal "World" of Hip Hop music. Honestly, in my own personal travels, it was fitting that after coming home from Brazil, that I would end up as the host to the home of International Hip Hop music here in the states....

WorldWide WE rule...

Skillz to take Brazil tour stop: Rap Compromisso-Alvorada

2009-02-24T15:46:00.006-05:00

Its around midnight in Brazil, and I'm on the island of Florianapolis, listening to Illmatic. Pretty appropiate as I reflect on the unofficial final performance of the tour. Nas has been considered a street poet and the quintessential emcee, and in its own way this tour has been as much a story of the streets and the essential elements of this culture.

Sunday

With the tour winding down most of the time had been spent after are legendary marathon session with Nego, reflecting and listening to Little City (peace Alessio....). Prego had told us before we left Bom Jesus that there was a possibility of us performing with him for a big festival in another favella on Sunday. Sure enough, Prego hit us up Sunday and came through to whisk us away to Rap Compromisso or Rap Compromise an all elements show in a Favella named Alvorada. After a quick pick up of Prego's dj and producer we headed to a large outdoor stage right across from a school.

Rap Compromisso is an all elements show that brings emcees,b-boys,writers,and heads from all over southern Brazil to represent. Think a smaller version of Rock Steady. It was pretty crazy to see all the B-boys and people completely loving the music. Sam and I spent a lot of time in the crowd, freestyling. So many of the heads seemed to gravitate to me. Since Ive been here there has been a kinship shared between myself and the brown people of this country. We share a heritage and they are very aware of it. Between verses I was asked about discrimination and Obama. The young heads told me about their own trials dealing with race. It was crazy, humbling,empowering and frustrating all at the same time. Not only did we have hip hop in common, but this shared struggle and burden on a level, no one really understands. Beyond the impressiveness of the energy and love for the music that they have, Im leaving with a sense of brotherhood that Im happy to have found.

So, finally after about four plus hours of waiting our turn was up. We actually debuted earlier with KBE and Abolitionista but this was our official turn. I forgot to add that their was a sign-up list and most acts were limited to a couple songs. We got on a little past primetime but it was all good....we got to rock with Prego, bust some frees and really connect.

Shouts to SME Crew, Jefferson, Franklin and Nego Prego for once again showing us the real and the true essence of Brazilian Hip Hop. In the Southern Hemisphere they are about skillz, true stories and community. They represent the history and the culture to the fullest. So here we are on the back end and I think I will do one final reflection, and then the video blog..... which really will be about the second half of Porto Alegre and final breakdowns. Stay tuned......WHHHHOOOOOO HHHAAAAAA

Skillz to Take Brazil Tour Stop-Porto Alegre pt 2. -BOM JESUS

2009-02-21T10:40:00.011-05:00

Oi! Como Vais?

Peace y´all, it has been a great 72 hours and I finally have the opportunity to get down on it and write about it. The tour has taken an extended pit stop in the city of Porto Alegre, but for good reason....we are on some historical shit here. When I told you we were Award Touring, I was not playing. My Passport now has a Favela stamp in it. We are going to do this right and take you through the valley first, then the mountaintop.

This is the tour stop you have to read....this is what it is all about

Wednesday

So after one night in the home of Sousa, the brother of Lilo from UR$ Faundo, we got ready for what was technically "The Anchor" show for our tour. Our intentions for Porto Alegre were pretty clear, hit the city hard, and on stage go in. We came to show Brazil how we do it. We saw some flyers postd up the night we spent hanging out on the corner with Sousa, so we were encouraged that this event would be on point. We began to hear even more favorable things about the venue, namely it was *the* premier underground spot in Porto Alegre, the place where heavyweights and the die hard fans came to rock, be seen, and hear the dope shit. The anticipation rose with each hour. Alessio and Zohio were with us, so the vibes in the crew were nothing but positive. Sadly, the expectations didnt quite meet the reality.

We arrived at the club, Garagem Hermetica pretty early for Brazil, but we did so with intent. We wanted to make sure shit would be right. The spot has a pretty profound history as far as hip hop goes. The space has hosted and been the center point for hip hop for ten years, the first and longest running in the city. It also has New York ties, as it is the home base for E.O.W. Brazil. Walking in, the hall was large, and it had that grimy feel you'd expect from an underground spot. The stage was large, and two huge speakers hung from the ceiling. It was hot as hell in the spot, and our anticipation just kept building. Shouts to Felice who put us down and put it together, this show really was the anchor for our trip, but not in the way we had expected....

The sound check went perfect.... And I mean, the mics were crisp and we THOUGHT we spotted all of the problems or obstacles sonically. One of the mics had a loose connection, and we gerry-rigged it with some tape, tested it. No problems. By midnight, only a handful of heads had stepped through the door. We didnt care though, we knew Brazil got down late, but we just were at a fever pitch. *We* were ready. We thought the sound was ready. It was just a matter of time. We watched Felice and his crew do their thing on the decks, good mix of classic shit and some New York indie stuff. Zajazza had invited a number of his friends to the joint, respect to DJ Only Jay, and Debora and her peoples. You held us down for real, and that was love. Respect Due. We also had a very surprising guest come. Nego Prego. Nego Prego turns out, is one of the OG's of Porto Alegre hip hop. He was a very unexpected patron. It was dope that he was cool with Zajazza's people. Another couple hours passed, and things seemed to be thinning. The time was now....

Alessio jumped on stage and introduced us in Portugese, and Rabbi and I almost hurdled the front railing of the stage to rock. We were lions out the cage. And then....Rabbi's mic started cutting out, then mine. We switched kept it moving, and midway through the song...Zajazza's mixer began to short. Our perfectly planned and executed entry dashed, we kept it moving. Unfortunately, the story of our set was that...we spent the next hour, stopping every song, to try and fix the mics or the music from cutting out from Zajazza'a mixer. Welcome to Hip Hop. Our set was bittersweet, we gave it all we had, we never stopped, never bitched, we just spit harder, we did *every* song of the set. It had gotten so desperate, Rabbi literally did *jump* over the railing with no mic and started rapping to people in the crowd. I did my last verse as well acapella in the crowd, no music (clap...clap clap...clap).

What we thought was to be our shining moment in Porto Alegre, was anti-climatic to say the least. Zajazza's people tried to console us, and shockingly we had more then one person who stayed say how impressed they were with us, one of those people was Nego....and that is where things of us started our climb out the Valley.

Thursday-BOM JESUS

Needless to say we all were pretty low after the show. We didnt really get paid, the sound completely sabotaged our set (we figured out that the humidity in the spot, loosened the connections...their was no ventilation, and it was sticky hot...those mics and the mixer sat on the stage stewing for probably three hours after we checked them...only explanation.)and we even got flack from some drunk girl who was in the place. After coming from Passo Fundo were the love, and the energy were so positive, this was not how we wanted to continue.

Its funny though, everything happens for a reason. As I said before, Nego Prego was one of the heads that had let us know he was impressed. WE soon found out how much he was. Alessio got a call in the afternoon from Nego extending an invitation for us to come to BOM Jesus to chill with he and his crew, Ala Dos Pretos Ducorre. Dope! Alessio and Zajazza clued us in to how significant this was. Nego had to be the most respected rapper in the Favela, and was one of the most recognizable and established in Porto Alegre. He was a true O.G. going back almost twenty years repping Hip Hop. His name means "Black Nail" and Zajazza compared his narrative style to Kool G. Rap. Shit is beautiful.

Around 6ish we headed out to a gas station on the edge of BOM JESUS and the city. There Nego was to pick us up and lead us into a Favela that to his and anyone elses knowledge *no American emcees had ever set foot in.* BOM JESUS means "good Jesus" and the full name actually is BOM JESUS 470...the 470 being the bus line that runs to or through this particular Favela. Shortly after we arrrived Nego rolled up in a red ford compact car with two of his crew, one of which we learned was very much a part of a gang war that had been on going in the Favela. He would not accompany us for the whole trip, as to do so could have sparked violence (I will get into that shortly). We got in our car and off we went into Good Jesus.

It was dark, so it was hard to get good photos, and I have some great video that I will upload in a seperate update....but this is one thing, I need to make clear..the Favelas are not "City of God". Our American fabrication of the truth has proven to be so convoluted and even *dangerous* (I will get into that as well....). Imagine half hut/houses, built with corrugated roofs and open exposed brick on the insides and outsides of the homes. Electric wiring completely on the outside of the walls, makeshift run through exposed rafters. Multi level houses were the levels are completely uneven, so as you can see down into the first floor of the house. Stairs constructed of rickety, rotting wood. The roads were half cobblestone, and pavement, and full of potholes. Every building looked either incomplete or in a state of condemnation. Horses with carriages shared the street with cars and motorcycles that were too narrow to hold two at a time. This literally stretched for miles. Our first stop was at Nego friend's Caio, Bar. This was where they hung their trophies....pictures of their shows and with other famous emcees. Everyone was very excited to see us...they didnt get visitors here, and once word got out that we were American Emcees, and a French DJ, their curiousity was really piqued. Why were we here? How did Prego know us? We chilled, snapped photos, exchanged cds.Just kicked it.

br>

We then walked through the Favela down to meet more of his crew.Besides Caio, there was the emcee KBE, who actually rode in with Nego from the Gas Station and we met Alcatraz next, who was the local Barber/emcee. Crazy how hoods parallel, just like in the states in most Black neighborhoods, the Barbers chair was were they chopped it up, gossiped, chilled. WE had a small entourage with us at that point, but we were at total ease. Here, Prego gets maximum respect. If you are cool with him. They are cool with you. Simple as that. It was here that we also met their engineer/producer Aboliaonsta. We followed him to his home which was where his studio was located. Yes, we were about to do the first US/Brazil collaboration with the biggest emcee in BOM JESUS.

Over the next ten hours, we put together the track, "Little City" which is the crown jewel for our release, the Skillz to Take Brazil Tour EP. It only took so much time because 1. We really took our time to chill, and build with Prego and his crew and 2. Technical difficulties forced Zajazza to go back to the apartment and get his computer to finish the recording. During that time I sat down and with the help of Zohio, Alessio, and Zajazza got to speak to Ala Dos Pretos Ducorre. Their name roughly translates to "Circle of Black Men" and I learned that Prego and his crew were geographically and literally in the center of a gang war between the North and the South. It was he and his crew that had brokered a truce and were keeping the peace, but their were still tensions. Prego, Caio and KBE asked me about what was really real in the states as far as the gangsta cred of people like 50 Cent, Dr. Dre etc. All I could tell him was, that much of what they saw on t.v. was more fantasy and real, and Prego's reaction was one of "I knew it".

He explained that while hip hop in the Favelas now was a way for heads to keep themselves away from the crime and violence, it was actually heads trying to copy and live up to the myths and images of American Hip Hop that spurned a lot of the early violence in the 80'S and 90's in the Favelas. One example he pointed to, was it wasnt until heads saw the movie Colors, that drive by shootings started there. Before hip hop, Samba was big in the clubs, and once hip hop took root, that was when fights and shootings happened there. Through all of this, Prego has used his music and his experience to tell the truth about what went on, and to express caution, and alternatives to the violence. He idolized Snoop Dog though, and actually first got into hip hop by listening to Ice-T off the colors soundtrack himself. It was clear though that Prego was about non violence, even if you could tell that you did not want to fuck with him. He is 5'3" pretty brolic and has a very cool, controlled demeanor. If you are in the hood enough, you can identify dudes not to fuck with...Prego is that dude. He doesnt say much, but what he says holds weight.

In the studio, the track was absolutely bonkers. Even with the extended delay, we all managed to get in their and wreck shop. As we passed around 22's of Skol, and talked it was clear that something monumental was taking place.Two worlds that really did not interact with one another were meeting. U.S. and Favela, street and non street. The common ground was the music we loved, and the truth we spoke thorugh it. Real Recognizes Real. The track consists of Rabbi, Prego, Alcatraz,Myself,Alessio,KBE,and Aboliaonsta. Prego also hipped us to more of the history of Brazilian hip hop which had its roots in the eighties with a man by the name of Nelson Triumph (translation). Here it started literally with the Funk and it moved from there.

The crew dynamic within Ala Dos Pretos Ducorre is a little different then UR$ Faundo, from a few perspectives. 1. The Circle of Black Men is older and has been in the game longer, they also are grown men with children, wives. 2. Their Favela is bigger and seems more violent, so the gravity they deal with on a day to day is reflectd in their demeanour. It was interesting to watch how Prego was the general, KBE being something like a lieutenant and Caio the Colonel. Around 5:30am we jumped back in the cars and headed out of BOM JESUS to sleep and really soak in what we were just a part of. It only gets crazier from here....we are doing a show with Nego Prego on Sunday....Skillz to Take Brazil.....

Skillz to Take Brazil tour stop: Porto alegre pt 1

2009-02-18T12:32:00.008-05:00

I promise before I leave Brazil I will have a nice little greeting for you all in Portugese. We are lounging in Porto Alegre, where this sun soaked city hás the feel of a tropic metropolis (you like the travel agent brochure lead in?). I want to backtrack though, to our last days and nights in Passo Fundo...

Sunday

The day after we tore the house down (“ A Casa Caiu”), Jiba, Noleis, and crew hosted a bbq to keep the good vibes alive. With our new found brothas from anotha, we drank, and ate cooked meat, relaying stories and learning more about each other and our respective cultures. Davi, my main man hás been invaluable as an interpretater; passing the messages of respect, love and curiousity between some of us that haven’t been as quick to grasp the language. The Brazilians eat dinner around 9-10pm here, so its been interesting adjusting to the different hours (this makes since, their day generally begins around 10-11am). What happened next to this point hás been the most inspiring and powreful event of the trip.

Imagine a cipher of emcees, with musicians, guitars, and berimbau vibing, laughing and having fun. As we took turn spitting lyrics in our native tongues, Davi broke down what his crew meant to each other, they were family first and foremost. He spoke of how he learned about hip hop through listening to people like Public Enemy, N.W.A., and this being the catalyst for him to acquire “knowledge” (of self....??? Ill let pundits, and revisionist argue that one...for the true, we know what it is....). As I interacted with the group of talented emcees, and listened to Davi break down his experiences, it was so powerful how much it mirrored my own, and what my own crew’s experiences have been as we grew in the music.

What I was reminded of, that is so lacking in the states is that hip hop is community. It is how we relate, it is how we build, it is how we get sharper as artists. It is how we maintain the love, sustain it through gathering, sharing, competing. Its not always about business, sometimes its sitting down to simply chop it up about what is going on, what is happening with each other, debate, fight, share...and that energy being channeled positively and creatively into rhythms. That is what I experienced tonight...

Monday

The next day, we woke up to a late lunch, and headed to the studio. This is where we got to experience the Favelas of Passo Fundo, which Davi said was simply called “Westside” (the Brooklyn tag in part 1 is from here...). He showed us some of the local crack spots, drug houses, and places where the gun dealer lived, a place Davi admitted he’s been to before to purchase his own piece, in times when things were a little rougher. This Favela isnt of the size or notoriety of those in Salvador, or Rio but is nonetheless poor and dangerous. Davi and others in his crew have gone to jail, others have passed from the violence. You would never know it though from their easy smiles, and Davi’s bookish demeanor. The studio was literally the renovated Bedroom of one of the crew’s producers, Paulhino aka E.T. who is all of 16 years old. Egg Crates, Foam, plywood and plexiglass; complete with mic booth. The entire crew chipped in with money and monkey grease to make it happen. UR$ Fundão, literally translates to “Union of Knowledge and Respect”. Respect Due.

Again, one of the most hip hop of moments, the studio. A fruity loops set up, and E.T. on the boards, we whipped up a couple of dope tracks in a matter of hours. Noiles came through with his guitar and it was on! Drinking water, coca cola and braving the 90 degree heat in the un-air conditioned space, we listened to beats, took pictures, laughed, and began the process to put two songs together, “Não Tem Pres Yo Não” and ‘Somos Assim”, Priceless Moments/I am like. The first song is the crew shout out, while I am like’s basic concept was each emcees response to the question, “Why am I na emcee?” These two tracks along with others Rabbi and I myself have done with Zajazza, we are putting together as “The Skillz to Take Brazil” EP. When we talk about keeping it real, this is what we mean. 20 young men, from their teens to their thirties building their own enterprise, and doing it on the foundation of their shared experiences. We were presented with t-shirts that they were sellling, the “label” is called Domtalento. You can check their music and gear here UR$ Fundao. The session lasted about 10 hours, and ended once again in a feast of sausage, and deserts, courtesy of E.T.’s mom. Its dope how UR$ Fundão translated the hip hop experience into their own. It hás been as much spiritual, and conscious as it hás been entrepenuarial and enterprising. D.I.Y. is the order of the day, and they are young and coming up..with a swiftness.

Tuesday-Wednesday

Tuesday Morning, we were off and the beautiful countryside I missed on the bus ride down I was able to experience on the return. Alessio, and Zohio made the trip, to watch us rock (and Alessio actually is going to do a couple joints with us!) We rode through a huge lush valley and rolling hills. Livestock and roosters dotted the side of the road, with a river running through. Five hours later we arrived in the city of Porto Alegre. Staying with brother of one of the crew members, Sosa hás opened his home to us. We spent the night walking the streets of Porto Alegre, drinking beer and admiring the local scene. It hás a different flavor but not unlike the East Village in New York. Things are very cheap here, so the equivalent of five bucks will get you about four beers. We hung outside and watched as people went wild for a Grêmio win (one of the two teams in the Rio Grande Sul, they recently one the South American championship, their rival Internacionale hás been a source of conention in the crew, Alessio another one of my homies here is die hard for them, and he gets constant ribbing to their “secondary” status to Grêmio.).

Today hás been walking around the city center (pictures for that and the show, coming in part 2) and soaking up more sun and the city’s rhythms as we prepare for the show at Garagem Hermeeca, tonight. Before my internet craps out again..Im out for now. Part 2 coming.

We on Award Tour-Skillz to Take Brazil Tour -Passo Fundo tour stop

2009-02-15T17:52:00.008-05:00

We on Award Tour (with Rabbi and Zajazza my man)

Oi! from Passo Fundo. It is a balmy 86 degrees , and I'm looking out of a window in the neighborhood of Vergueiro at palm trees, and beautiful houses. Wow, it hás been a whirlwind two and a half days since we first touched down in Brazil and met with our peoples, Zajazza.

My journey started on the L.I.R.R. meeting up with Rabbi and heading out from JFK on the first flight, which was a total of 12 hours! I slept most of it, but did have time to reflect on the life journey I've taken, that hás enabled me to take this one. I truly feel blessed; representing my music on yet another continent. We landed no problems, and stayed one night in Porto Alegre at a small hotel, we booked. The people in Brazil have been very friendly, accomodating and tolerant of my complete lack of portugese, to which I am eternally grateful.

From here we rode a bus four hours south to Passo Fundo a small town of about 180,000 people. I unfortunately slept through most of the bus trip, but Rabbi told me it was beautiful.(you can check some of his pics and his blog actually at Skilz to take Brazil tour) We actually arrived a few hours later then expected, as we missed our first bus out , but no problems. The food hás been good, mostly a play on certain American fare, and they eat French Fries pretty much at every meal. Happily, unlike the Czech, I've been able to get veggies fairly easy here. Similar to the Czechs, the mainstay is meat but more chicken and pork. We were greeted by Zajazza and two members of the crew that was hosting us here, Dave and Alessio, of URS Fundao. They are the biggest crew in Passo Fundo apparently, and number some 20 plus heads. They remind me of a Brazilian Hiero, with the eklectic nature of each member, and their very strong D.I.Y. sensibilities.

We arrived in Vergueiro, a neighborhood in Passo Fundo, to a beautiful house. Dave, Who speaks very good english, gave us a lay of the land. Passo Fundo is essentially a college town with four universities, and like most of Brazil hás a large disparity between the rich and the poor. Ripe ground for any head to draw inspiration from. He explained the serious crack problem his city hás, and Zajazza relayed to us further tales of young children, strung out on the street. We actually witnessed Dave hand a real (brazilian currency) to a junkie, who propositioned us on our way back from dinner. Its crazy how one of the worst epidemics of the modern era, hás resurfaced thousands of miles away in this small quiet city.

The Day was spent meeting everyone, Noleis, Marava, Beb, Giba (whose house it is we are staying) and the rest of the crew. Zajazza and Dave made us aware that this is literally the only party that would be going on in the entire city and they postered the town with flyers, and even gotten spots on the radio for our music to be played! Crazy since this was literally going to be a house party. And talk about a party, about 300 people came through to check Rabbi, Zajazza and myself rock out. It was an amazing event complete with vip room, security, two bars, movie projection, and seriously the illest sound check we~ve ever witnessed. We dropped a crazy 90 minute set of songs, freestyles, turntablism, and beatboxing.

By about 4 am it was pretty much a free for all on stage with URS Fundao, and friends joining us on stage to rock. Dope times. I've spent a lot of time talking to Dave and getting a sense of what's going on here. It hás been crazy to get people~s perspective on America and our "rap". At least here in Passo Fundo, they believe Brooklyn is still the eighties, and that rap is ruled by gang beefs and drug kingpins ala New Jack City. I dont think we disappointed them so much as surprised them to the realities that we deal with on a daily being Brooklyn residents, and teachers interacting with the very youth they consider some of the most "gangsta" heads to ever live.

Today hás been spent recovering from the night before and a quick tour around their city Center. A quick bite at the mall, and I am back here listening to beats, and getting ready for the session this evening. I will be in Passo Fundo for a couple more days, but the damage hás been already done.

The Skillz to take Brazil are off and running, Brooklyn is in the building...

For more pictures check out my myspace page..Hired Gun Myspace and stay tuned here at Straight Organics for the next check in on the tour...next stop PORTO ALEGRE!!!!

Interview @ Flawless Hustle

2009-02-10T10:07:00.004-05:00

Hired Gun talks with Flawless Hustle, February 9th

Show this Saturday....

2009-02-02T20:12:00.003-05:00

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7TH, 2009>

The Lower Eastside Girls Club
Presents

The Valentine’s Day Novio Crushes

It’s that time again. The time to spend with your
significant other or at the Girls Club, it’s time to invite the boys
in! Once a year for the Saturday Performance Series, we invite male
MCs, Poets, Singers, and DJs to be apart of the Series and be our
Valentine’s Day. We have a great line up including,

Farbeon

Hired Gun

Sean T. Hanratty

Shwa

Manny Minaya

Crosby

Kid Lucky

And our favorite Novio Rabbi Darkside

You won’t wanna miss this. It ONLY happens once a
year. It’s free and loads of fun!

COME JOIN US!!!!!!

And as always, this is 100%FREE!!!!

COME OUT & SHOW SUPPORT!!!

Artist Spotlight at Wake your daughter up

2009-01-24T17:44:00.005-05:00

Wake Your Daughter Up-Hired Gun

Drop a comment at the blog and please spread the roots around. Without y'all we can keep this moving, dont be silent....spread love.

Artist Spotlight: Hired Gun

"I believe music is one of the most powerful communicators of thought and ideas", no truer words have been spoken. That is a line from this week's Artist Spotlight MC, Hired Gun. I've always thought movies and music were a like in the fact that sometimes I just want to watch a brainless, no thinking movie and the same goes for music at time. Then there is time I want to watch a "bang-bang" flick such as Die Hard or something, same goes with music, where I reach for NWA or Biggie. Sometimes I want a movie that makes me think, that makes me reflect on my place in the world. In music, sometimes I want music that makes do the same, something that makes me THINK. Sometimes, in hip hop, that can be difficult to do. Hired Gun's music is that type of music, it makes me think, it makes me question, it makes me reflect. That's an important place in music and hip hop in general. Thought provocation, it's a lost art in the world of hip hop in these times of glammer, guns, and bitches. Hired Gun is a throw back artist in that aspect. He brings a multitude of different topics, ideas and beliefs, which makes his latest release, The People's Verses, a very good listen.

Hired Gun - Dead City

Hired Gun - Gone is the Thrill
Download the song

Myspace

WYDU: What's good man? Care to give the readers a quick run down of who you are and some of your background?

Hired Gun: Peace Travis, and WYDU, absolutely let's do it....Peace my name is Hired Gun, I am an Hip Hop artist, writer and educator representing New Jersey and Brooklyn. I represent Fresh Roots Music, ESP Collective and SayWord Entertainment. I have been doing music since the mid nineties but have gained real momentum since moving to Brooklyn in 2000. The base of my music stems from growing up as one of the few black kids in a rural blue collar racist town in New Jersey, and my experiences through that. Growing up in and from the golden era of the music is a major influence on how I create and view hip hop. My goal mainly, really is for you to question...whether its the world around you, authority, yourself. A lot of what I speak also draws from the different perspectives that I share with a lot of people. I know what it means to grind, struggle, live and love, when I tell you my story, I know its something a lot of people can relate to.

W: How did you get your start in the game? Can you shed a little light on your history and how you got to where you are today?

HG: Wow, well let's see, I began recording and writing when I was in 6th-7th grade! On the real though, it wasn't until 1999-2000 that I actually began to be heard, that was with my family, ESP. I developed my craft in High School and College, but in 2000 was when we (ESP) released our first EP, "The Big Bang" and I began to frequent open mic spots, like the (now defunct) LifeLine, and Sin Sin. Since then, I've been grinding and hustling with ESP, the hip hop group, 3rd Party and my own Fresh Roots Music.

W: Speaking of 3rd Party and ESP, what is your relationship with them and how does that feature into your future plans?

HG: ESP (Eternal Soul Prophets) are my family. The Seven Swords are with whom I grew as an artist, and a man. 3rd Party in some ways have become an extension out of that crew. As ESP began to pursue other things, I was left in the city and formed a group with two other emcees, Farbeon and Rabbi Darkside, and the producer And-I. Over the course of the last six years the crew has expanded and contracted (peace to DJ Watts and V.O.G.), but it still remains the 3 (Rabbi, Farbeon and I). My people's Mista Mayday, the main beatsmith for ESP has actually worked extensively with Rabbi Darkside on his album, so as I said the crews have intertwined.

My future plans are to continue to stay true to the old school laws I came up on, and that is to keep it crew. Even as I work on solo projects, and push my personal projects, the people close to me stay involved. 3rd Party, as of right now is putting together various music and educational tours. ESP stays in the studio, and Mista Mayday stays on speed dial when I need that boom bap. We just put out a project last year (Frequency Activism's "Hip Hop in Strange Places") and our working on the next ESP project for 09.

W: Judging from your music, you bring many "hats" to the table as an MC. I've seen the party rocking side, the critical thinker and the "fight the system" hat, how do you see your many sides contributing to your music and as an MC as a whole?

HG: All of the greats, Rakim, Kane, Kris (KRS ONE), Kool G.,Common, Pharoah, you name it, all are versatile as emcees. They were lyricists, they were conscious, they were creative. Many modes and moods. Before I am an emcee, I am human and my music reflects my many moods. I will always stay true to myself and what I believe, so you wont hear me talking about sipping on some high price liquor in the club, blowing hundreds. But you may hear me speak on chillin with my peoples and building. I'm always going to speak truth to power, and always let you know what I see through my three eyes and hear what I hear with my ear to the streets.

W: You mention in one of your press clippings I read that you have worked in other genres of music, which would those be? How does other music differ from hip hop in your eyes? How is creating other types of music different than creating hip hop?

HG: My first experience performing was as the front man for a rock band, Futant Reality. It never really got off the ground, but my it was a Rage Against the Machine type group. I've been emceeing over Jungle and Drum n Bass almost as long as I've been rocking to hip hop. With both of those genres, I tend to bring an even harder edge. I like Jungle almost as equally, and sometimes more because I'm freer to just get down and rock. When I'm in a drum n bass party, or when I was rockin raves, it's really about me just going in, with my flow and party rocking. I have experimented with a few Jazz musicians and that is something I want to get back to. I think actually at least with Jungle, being a breakbeat based form, there are more similarities then differences, although they clearly have some slightly different influences though the same roots.

W: The plights of African Americans and your pride in your race is obvious through your music. Can you explain how it ties into your music and you as a person and what you wish to accomplish for the African American race?

I consider myself a modern day griot. I see my role in part to tell the story of my people, to shed light on who we are now, and where we've been. The hope is through that we can move forward. I wish to uplift all people, but especially my people by showing them what they can do, and have done. I believe music is one of the most powerful communicators of thought and ideas. My heritage ties into everything I am, it is something that can never be taken away, and in that my self is secure. For me, it would be a disservice to do anything other then what I'm doing.

W: What is your take on the country itself and racism that still runs rampant in society? Is there anyway to change it, is it getting better or getting worse?

HG: I think that is a really tough question. In certain respects things have changed, definitely. I definitely see hope for the future. At the same time, when you have situations like Oscar Grant, Jena Six, Katrina, and Sean Bell occurring you realize we are not there. For those that really followed the underhandedness of the home lenders in the sub prime debacle, you realize that things are still skewed along the lines of race. I honestly believe the only way to change it is, two fold. One, our system of government, the jim crow/reconstructionist policies that are grandfathered in and still inform the public must be completely obliterated. Second, I think that this country as a whole, black,white, asian, latino, indigenous, we all need to have a REAL conversation on race. Unfettered, and uncensored. No more PC debates. If we truly want racism to no longer exist, which is rooted in power and wealth we will have to understand how the legacy left to the majority continues to fuel racism. These are ideas that this country is not ready to really get into, we are not educated enough as a whole to do so. We have so many conflicting messages from the left, the right, liberal etc. My hope is the youth, it's one of the reasons why I teach. It is only through bringing them the truth and teaching them how to think, will we have a chance for racism to end. But it wont happen in my grand children's lifetime. I believe that.

W: You are the founder and owner of Free Root Music, correct? Can you give the lowdown on it?

HG: Yes. Fresh Roots Music is basically a collective, like Spitkickers, or even OkayPlayer. It consists of mainly myself, the drum n bass outfit I'm a part of Black Opz, and also includes my ESP brethren. It is simply the foundation for me and my people's music to be heard and recognized. The first release from me, and all solo releases will be through Fresh Roots, and as we expand you will soon see other artist who will grow from these roots as well. Stay tuned.

W: The album "The People's Verses" was released toward the end of the summer, can you explain to the people what sets this album apart from the music we hear out there now? Why should folks spend their hard cash on it?

HG: The People's Verses is a classic in my mind, because it is an album that gives you everything. Hard beats, real raps, and no matter who you are, there is a song on the album you will relate to. If you remember when hip hop albums had few skips, and ran the gamut of topics, and styles...that is The People's Verses. It is what Hip Hop needs to sound like in this era, and will stand in any era of the music. People need to cop it, because it is what Hip Hop is. If you love Hip Hop and want to know what Hip Hop is, you need to buy "The People's Verses".

W: You did a remake of "Arrest The President", obviously a classic track and one that is still relevant almost 20 years later. Was that something you were aiming for when you chose to retool it?

HG: Every song on The People's Verses was written and produced with great care and purpose. I have been a fan of Tragedy (at the time of the recording, he went as Intelligent Hoodlum) for a long time. I remember being in high school when he did the original, and I thought how relevant and how needed it would be to re-do it. The unique situation of Jr. coming to office is really what made it necessary for me to drop it.

W: Do you have a favorite track from the project? One that means more than the rest?

HG: Wow. That is hard. I guess my favorite track on the album is, "Dedication". It was actually the first song I wrote for the album, and for me it represents the shift in my creative talents. It also encompasses for me, the personality and image of myself that I have. A struggler and striver who is passionate and stays fighting, keeps living and moving forward.

W: What is your take on hip hop in '09? Is it an art form that is slowly losing its roots and meaning, or is the fact that kids all over America are more in tuned to things that they might not have been forty years ago?

HG: My take on hip hop in 09 that its really no different then the start of the millennium. It is a form that is in flux and lost itself (but is not DEAD....I repeat NOT DEAD) a little. As an artist, I'm here to ride the wave, stay honest and continue to produced dope music and stay relevant. I think hip hop is not immune to the cultural cycles that exist in every art form and as a music it is slowly reaching middle age. I'm confident that things will get better.

W: What does the future hold for Hired Gun?

HG: Gun is going global. I had a brief stint with 3rd Party, Tah Phrum Duh Bush, Kid Lucky, and Dyalekt in Prague in October, and I head to South America (specifically Brazil) with Rabbi Darkside in February for a five city tour (check the blog Straight Organics for the tour diary!). We are scheduled to head back to the Czech Republic and some other surprise locales later in the year.

W: Any last words for the readers out there?

HC: Recognize real, pick up the album, Fresh Roots Music and question everything. Peace!

The Future Shock-2008 Rap up

2009-01-04T11:58:00.011-05:00

Peace and Blessings to everyone in 2009,

We are four days into the new years, and I'm just getting an opportunity to reflect back on for what was for me personally, the greatest year of my life. This recap is not going to be so much about mainstream or general events of the past year, but more about the moments that touched the lives of me and my peoples, and the steps and strides I've made. So with that,

Top five albums for 2008 (warning: This list is not politically correct and is not in order)

1. Ronin-The follow-up to "Nat Turner Reloaded" from Core Rhythm, saw him hook up with one of New York's best kept secrets, "ZQ". These two collaborated on arguably one of the most ambitiously artistic projects in hip hop for 2008. If you haven't heard it, seen it, you need to. Cop that. Core Rhythm-Ronin

2. Building the Better Bomb-Rabbi Darkside was seemingly everywhere in 08. MTV, Europe, and on one of the dopest debuts for an independent artist in recent memory. Whether it was Beyond Race Magazine, or Adam Bernard, the accolades rolled in for this very impressive album. It doesn't hurt he's a part of my crew. Another must have if you are a head Rabbi D-Building the Better Bomb

3. Missing Trooth-Jake Lefco is an ordinary guy with an extradordinary gift to rhyme. This album is his second, and it says something when you outshine your debut. He did that easily, seriously one of the most slept on dudes in New York City. He also has a heavy pour at the bar, but dont tell the owner that =). If you are really into Beats, Rhymes and Life...this album is a must have. Jake Lefco-The Missing Trooth

4. Cosmic Headphones-Eagle Nebula. Now you know. Remember the name because this Sista is truly the future sound. Her debut solo (she has collaborated with others for various projects, including the "Blak Experiment" again..if you dont know, now you know...) came out at the tail end of the year, but it has surpassed so many this year. It is refreshing to hear a woman's influence in this very msyoginistic, and psuedo-masculine world we call hip hop. Another must have for the collection. Eagle Nebula-Cosmic Headphones

5. The People's Verses-The last shall be first. I told you, this wasn't politically correct.One of Urb's next 1000. Google the blogs (Hip Hop linguistics,Wake Your Daughters Up,Hip Hop Informant...). I am very proud of my debut album, and quite honestly, I believe it was one of the best records to be produced independently in 2008. This is the every man,woman, and child's album for sure. Seriously, if you've been following what so many others have said this year about my record you know the deal. Check it out. The People's Verses-Hired Gun

Honorable mentions-Duv-Urban Artisik
Oddy Gato-Oddzilla

We international:

I have had the pleasure of going overseas in 2008, and am set to head to Brazil in a month's time, and the thing that I finally was able to see firsthand was the power of hip hop to communicate, and connect community across even language barriers. When I think of a global community/world it is not in the context of commerce, but in the context of culture, understanding others traditions, values, beliefs, styles and expression and how valuable it is to appreciate the diversity and complexity that we as human beings share. It was a humbling and powerful experience for me to be able to be welcomed and respected. I want to give a shout to the whole Beat Apetit family, my Brachos (Brothas), Ivanhoe, Dowis, Jaro Cossiga, Nasty, Kuzhell, Freaky Jesus, Suzanna, Endru, Beat Burger Band, and the whole Pantheon Posse. I cannot wait to see you all again in Prague very soon.

I shine, you shine:

So many of my people's did big things this year, whether it was Core Rhythm releasing Ronin, Rabbi Darkside with MTV and Building the Better Bomb, many people within the community of artist who largely populate from the open mic night, Sin Sin made great strides in 2008. So to the Mindspray Crew, Tah Phrum Duh Bush, Jake Lefco, YG and Optimus Foundation, Illspokinn and Spokinn Movement,Mariella, Mr. Beatz, Super King Armor, Prezzure, Final Outlaw and the whole Sin Sin Fam, I salute you.

I myself was able to produce my project The People's Verses in 2008, that generated critical acclaim from Urb Magazine (I was selected Urb's Next 1000), Oh Word!, Rhyme House, Wake your Daughter up(Dead City off my album made their top 100 songs of 2008), and Equilibrium Radio(I was named 90.3 Equilibrium Radio's Best Artist on the Come up for 2008, as selected by an individual poll). I also had the opportunity to build with individuals such as EMCEES 4 PEACE collaborating with them on a mixtape of international artist, bringing awareness about various global issues that affect us all. I also want to shout out organizations and individuals who supported and believed in what I was doing, and helped me shine brighter. Shouts to Travis Glave and Wake Your Daughters Up, Rafi Kam, Roger S and the Ohword Fam, Sitdownstandup.com, Donny Goines, Ryan London over at Rhyme House, Hip Hop Linguistics, Macedonia and Radio Bsots, Nicholas Whitaker. In the immortal words of Biz Markie.."Damn it feels good to see people up on it". People wouldn't of known about it without your help, I appreciate you seeing the vision, and loving the music.

2009:

2009 is only going to get bigger for Fresh Roots Music. More international collaborations from Africa to Russia, and more new music period. Stay tuned, and stay with me. We are still keeping it roots and Straight Organic.

Until we all are....

ONE

The Gift...(winter post of the who's what's where's)

2008-12-10T02:24:00.004-05:00

Inside this blast:

+Video Resurrects the Hip Hop Star december 18th

+Hired Gun featured on two Hip Hop compilations!!

+Video spotlight-Eagle Nebula's Napp Rocks

+Hired Gun weighs in on Women in Hip Hop at Polymag

+Vote for me for URB Magazine's Next 1000

Peace,

We are in the holiday season (whatever that means to you and yours...),that means its a time of reflection with family and friends. Hopefully, your Thanksgiving (if you celebrate it) was bountiful, and you didn't get the itis too bad. As usual I'm here to only give you the straight organics. We have a little something for everyone in this blast. For my New York People's its been a minute and we want to celebrate. Thanks to everyone who watched the “Dead City”.Please pass it along to anyone who hasn't. On December 18th the video will resurrect the Hip Hop star. Myself, Jake Lefco and Core Rhythm will show our latest videos for FREE, in the L.E.S.. Show starts at 9pm at Rehab, 25 Ave B between 2nd and 3rd street. DJ MilkMoney on the decks, with a guest appearance by Farbeon.If you are not in NY, you can still check out the video by clicking here Dead City.

I've recently been blessed to be a part of two amazing compilations, A Piece of Knowledge Mixtape and ”The Evolution of Hip Hop”.A Piece of Knowledge is one of the greatest collaborations of independent conscious music in recent memory. Some leading artists a part of this project include New York's Final Outlaw, QN5's Substantial, and Chicago's Poetree. I'm featured on Disc 2 of the double disc album with a song from my upcoming project “The Customer Service EP”; “Life”produced by Zaquan (the man behind ”Dedication” and ”Maintain” on ”The People's Verses”).

Up and coming British Hip Hop blog Hip Hop Informant recently put together a disc for charity, The Evolution of Hip Hop. The mixtape has some of the hottest names in independent hip hop, including New York's Donny Goines. I'm proud to announce Arrest the President is on the disc, and I'm also featured on Donny Goine's “Do it for Hip Hop remix” which got love from Allhiphop.com and has heavyweights such as Dame Grease, Donny Goines, Mickey Factz, as well as myself killing the track. You can download the “A piece of Knowledge” mixtape in two separate parts (the file with Disc 2 has the cover and tracklisting included as well my song “Life”) here:

Disc 1

Disc 2

To get a copy of The Evolution of Hip Hopemail the HipHopInformant at hiphopinformant@googlemail.com and ask for details! Again the proceeds will be going to charity.

Didn't I tell you that, Eagle Nebula is dope? Well, if you didn't run out to get Cosmic Headphones for that special person in your life for the holidays, I have her video Napp Rocks so you can see for yourself:

Here is the link toYouTube if the built in player doesn't show.

Finally thanks to Sarah Gardiner and Poly Mag for speaking with me on the topic of Women in Hip Hop. Sarah investigates the status of women in the culture, and does a great job of highlighting a rising star as well, Eternia (E is one of the homies, check for her). A great read, a serious topic, and I was privileged to be asked to be a part of the discussion. Read the whole article here:

Women in Hip Hop

Here is what you have to do: click this link-->URB Next 1000:Hired Gun. Then register yourself at the URB site (no joke, it takes 30 seconds, and you dont have to put in anything anymore revealing then your email address, they do not spam you..I did it myself) rate my song (underneath my picture and the title, their are five stars, click on that after registering) and leave a comment (a good one obviously). That's it, easy...tell your friends, send them the link, help me show the people what dope INDEPENDENT HIP HOP IS!

And if you're so inclined pick up the album that URB,Hip Hop informant,Both Sides of the Surface and fans from Cali to The Czech have been raving about....

Dead City produced by Nick Digital

2008-11-23T11:22:00.001-05:00

The first video from the album. Peep Game. Embed this in your consciousness at least if not your myspace and facebook profiles (but do that too..)

Dead City from Nicholas Whitaker on Vimeo.

The People's Verses

2008-09-09T17:59:00.007-04:00

It truly was a night to remember. Inside the depths of Rehab on Avenue A, family congregated a very special night. Peace to everyone who was involved that made the night the beautiful display of music that it was. I don't even want to say too much, it truly cant be put into words. I'll let the pictures tell the story....
Check out this video: Hired Gun - Rappers are in Danger

Check out this video: K.A.L.I.

Check out this video: Hired Gun - Originated (featuring Statistics)

Click on the pictures to go to my gallery and see all of the stills....Part 2 of video coming very soon

We are in the new Era of FRESH ROOTS MUSIC

2008-07-30T22:10:00.003-04:00

Its only right that I announce...

THE SITE IS UP AND READY FOR BUSINESS....

There is so much more to say, and I will say it, but for now, peruse the site and enjoy...

www.freshrootsmusic.com