Calm Before The Storm

Sometimes we have something to do and we have to prepare for it. The way I prepare is I totally still my body. I slow down my breathing so that I get the full meditation out of every breath. Then when I feel calm I go out and do my best. It's in these times that I remember, nothing in the world is permanent. With knowing that, I find myself in a better space to let go of things. I am in a space to accept change and remain swift and changeable myself.

I will carry this mind state with me to Irving Plaza tonight where I along with 11 great folks will perform in front of many of our friends and family. When the moment hits I will fully enjoy and stay engaged...until it's over. Even the greatest moment is impermanent and thus you must let go. Peace

2 Days to HHK Championship

Tomorrow is the big day people. The second ever Hip Hop Karaoke Championship is going down. 12 contestants all putting it down for the second win the G contest. My love affair with Hip Hop Karaoke started some years ago down in the LES. It's wild to think that so much time has passed and I'm still quite active in it. Last time there was a championship I didn't fare well, and caught a 1st round knock out. This time I'm going strictly for the fun factor.

Lets take a moment to go through some moments in my HHK history.
Enjoy.



The one that got me in the championship


The whole fam here

500 Something Dollars Laying Right In The Street

hmm, now lets try and get something to eat. (c) MF Doom

When I was a kid (which is how I start too many of these posts) it was a big deal finding 5 bucks in the street. It was if the world had just opened up to me and there were infinite possibilities. I could go and get a Chinese food dish (not just french fries). I could go and get an Italian Cheeseburger (Kennedy Fried Chicken Chef Specialty). I could also just sit on it and think for a long time of what to do.

I think Doom captured this feeling perfectly with his line that starts off this post. Nine times out of ten you would take the money to get something to eat. If you got a larger piece of cash in your hands (say 50 bucks) you gotta tell your mother. That's something you gotta share with the family.

Ahhh the simpler days.
Madvillian - Curls

Being a Jets Fan

I've been a fan of the NY Jets since I've known there was a game called football. I don't know what started this abusive relationship exactly. I guess it doesn't really matter because after 30 years and no championships between myself and the Jets, the chain remains. I remember the days of watching Al Toon play for Gang Green. We weren't winning much then and in the new millennium not much has changed... UNTIL NOW BABY!

I don't claim to be the biggest Jets fan. I'm not. I don't even follow football that much anymore simply because the Jets lose often and there's only so much heartbreak a man can take. However this season I happened to have an HDTV, which if you didn't know forces you to watch football. In watching the games this season I saw a team with strong defense and a young QB willing put in the effort. This was not the same team that let me down last year with Brett Favre. And now after all the nay saying from inside and outside the team (yeah I'm looking at you coach lol) they are in the AFC championship.

This Sunday I plan to sit down with the Jets glasses my mother got me for the holiday (How do Mothers always know?) and watch a great game. Do I want my team to win yes. Will it be hard as hell to beat the Colts, YES. Ultimately I think the Jets know that they have already beat out the expectations of most people. I salute my fellow Jets fans. To those of you who watch every game and paint yourselves green, I leave the analysis to you.

Time Waits For No Man

Over the holidays I spent time with my family like most people do. There was a moment where I was talking with my 8 year old nephew and almost started to tear. It hit me that he's 8 years old now and I still remember when I held him in my hands.

We sometimes expect the people who are in our lives today to be there tomorrow and that's not always the case. Usually we reflect on this type of thought when someone passes on, but I say there's no time like the present. Give that extra long hug just because you'll miss it when they're gone.

The children in our lives will not be children forever. There will come a time when they no longer want to play sports with you, or just want to be with you. Childhood is a special time and I think as adults we have an opportunity to enrich that time. Play table tennis or take your young ones to the park and play with them. A little race up the block never hurts. Just don't wait until they become teenagers and you start to loose touch.

Peace

Track of the Day: Johnny Pate - Brother On The Run

I recently re-discovered this jam listening to an old mix by Chairman Mao and Citizen Kane. I love the grit in this record. How can you be mad at such a soulful groove. I kinda want to see the movie now to see if it matches this grit level.

For now here's the track. Enjoy.

Prayers for Haiti

I don't have much to say on what went down in Haiti. I can't imagine the torment Haitians must feel at this moment. All I can say is to those of you reading this is, look into your hearts and find a way to help.

For me Haiti is a symbol of true freedom. A nation founded by a people under the heel of oppression and slavery. We must not forget while we live here in the states and try to make a way through the system, when the law books treated my people as cattle Haitians fought and won. Since then Haiti has been plagued with economic hardship and political unrest.

Lets help them to rebuild their country and heal their wounds. Below is a message from my close friend who happens to be Haitian with info on how we can help.

Words from Ferentz Lafargue: http://americancity.org/daily/entry/1975/


http://doctorswithoutborders.org/ Doctors Without Borders have set up clinics to treat injured in Haiti now.

Or

Text “Haiti” to 90999 $10.00 will be sent to the red cross

Or

Text “Yele” to 501501 $5.00 will be sent to Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund

Both bill directly to your cell phone account.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/01/13/help-haiti

You can also help immediately by donating to the Red Cross to assist the relief effort. Contribute online to the Red Cross, or donate $10 to be charged to your cell phone bill by texting "HAITI" to "90999." Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information.

Families of Americans living in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at 888-407-4747.

R.I.P. Teddy Pendergrass (1950-2010)

A legend passed on yesterday. I will never forget the sound of that man's voice and the depth contained within. Teddy Pendergrass was played in my household often when I was a kid. I never knew much about him other than his music, so lets go there.

This is for all the lovers out there. Quiet Storm Status


This was the JAM!!!!! R.I.P.


Damn Soul Train LET THEM SING!!!

Old School Gamer And Proud Of It!

Once upon a time there was a game called Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong was the pack in game for a home console system called the ColecoVision. This system was the first one I ever owned and it was Coleco's answer to the Atari 2600. From the moment I held that joystick in my hand I knew I would never be the same (pause).

From there I moved on to having an NES, a SNES, N64, Playstation and a number of other systems. I was also that guy in the arcades with not many quarters in my pockets but games on my mind. I'd like to go through two of my favorite games from the NES era of gaming. Some of these you probably know while others you may have never heard of.

Game #1
Solstice
This was a sort of adventure/RPG light game. I got this game on a humble one year from my father. I'm glad he copped it because it became one of my favorites on the Nintendo. You are this sorceror who has to save a princess by assembling a broken staff. As you journey your map gets bigger an you have these magic potions to help you. The game play is addictive.



Game #2
Flying Warriors
Growing up my mother wouldn't allow me to trade games with my friends. So like any other normal kid I did it on the sneak. One game I borrowed was called Flying Warriors. This martial arts game was so on point. It's a shame NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT IT!



Game #3
Ninja Gaiden
Ahhh I remember playing this game so much as a kid. I mean who didn't want to be a ninja? This was one of the first games I played that had cut scenes and dialogue. I loved it.



Game #4
Double Dribble
I'll never forget those infamous words "DOUBLE DRIBBLE". From the moment I heard that I knew it was on! From the first ever slow motion cut away dunks to real calls in a basketball game, Double Dribble was a gem. I would always play with Chicago even though there was no MJ in the game (or any other player names for that matter). Double Dribble is an NES classic.



Game #5
Super Mario Bros. 3
Possibly the greatest video game ever created SMB3 caused a shift in platform games. From the moment I got my first Raccoon leaf I knew my life would never be the same. From being able to use whistles to fly through the game in about an hour's time, to slugging it out through 8 fully fleshed-out worlds SMB3 was very complex. I loved the water world where you get to use the frog suit. To this day I can turn this game on and completely enjoy it. A Nintendo legend.

Paul Mooney Drops It w/ Davey D

I will always respect the brother Paul. He's very insightful. Watch and learn.

Sade - Soldier Of Love (Official Video)

Featuring the Age of Obama S1Ws. I like this video as it's nothing like what's out right now, just like the song. Also it takes me back to 80's type videos.
Enjoy

Old School Mondays

You know how we do...

Kid N Play


X-Clan


PRT


De La

My New Favorite Comic: Unknown Soldier

Yesterday I had lunch with my old college buddy Ed. In the past Ed has put me on to many great comic book and movie selections. While we sat to enjoy a recession induced cost effective Thai lunch (appetizer and main course for 6 bucks plus tax and tip!) Ed passed me a new trade book. This book would be the latest in my love affair with Vertigo comics. The title is Unknown Soldier and it is quickly seeping into my psyche.

I started reading this book yesterday on the way home and it's graphic tales and images caused me to jump in my seat on the Q-train. I continued reading once I got home, and picked it back up for the commute headed in this morning. As I started my days work I could not get the images of this comic book out of my head.

Now for the story. Unknown Soldier is about a Ugandan doctor who returns to him home country to be a part of the solution. Somewhere along they way things go horribly wrong and this doctor becomes the "unknown soldier". I will tell you no more because I want you to enjoy the story as fresh as I did.

This is a comic for adults as much of the language and images are not appropriate for anyone under 16 IMO. Take a trip to your local comic shop and pick this book up. Let me know what you think as I eagerly await your feedback.

Peace

Move Your Money

This is a very interesting video. The way money is flowing in this country right now it definitely makes one think.


Move Your Money

Mos Def - History Feat. Talib Kweli (Official Video)

Jay-Z - On To The Next One Official Video

New Jay-Z and I can't front, this joint is not even wack! Gotta respect what he's spitting on this record and Swizzy laced him beat wise. Some interesting imagery in this video, but you can make of it what you will.

Happy New Year

Another year in the history books. A new day stepping forward into the ever-present NOW. I must say, that I am filled with possibility (and fatigue) as I wake up this New Years Day (afternoon). I look at my surroundings and realized how fortunate I truly am. It's a blessing to have people in close proximity in which you care for them and they care for you. Never hesitate to take yourself out of the space of ego and self to become fully present in the idea of we and us. For me 2009 was about shedding a lot of my ego and placing my focus on the group. None of us live here alone on this planet. The way I see it, we as human beings in a developed society are interdependent on one another. This affords us the opportunity to be more than our base instincts. To take that last piece of bread and instead of devouring it, we can take a moment to see if it needs to be split in half to feed two instead.

Let 2010 be about using what we've learned to add on the the collective. Be an asset.

Peace