My Name In Lights Even When I Didn't Win

Photo by Shino Yanagawa

I forgot that while preparing for the first Hip Hop Karaoke Championship in 2008 I got called for a phone interview. In the mayhem that followed the sound check that fateful day at the Highline Ballroom I must have blocked out this interview. Needless to say it has been unearthed and I've made it available for your reading pleasure. It's in PDF form so you can see how it was intended in print for rather than a simple copy and paste. I think the article is pretty well done and with the new championship coming up it's kinda ironic.

Congrats to the contestants who have been picked thus far to compete for the coveted $1000 and bragging rights. Come check me out Dec. 4th (Ether Day) rocking the Mercury Lounge for the second regional HHK competition.

ENJOY

Kuntaw Martial Arts Grand Opening

Kuntaw is an ancient Filipino martial art which involves hand and foot fighting. I first started practicing Kuntaw when I was about 10 years old. After a TOO LONG hiatus I've been back training regularly for about over a year. My father who is my teacher (GURO) learned Kuntaw while he was stationed in the Philippines in the late 80s. Now with an official school location in Brooklyn the International Kuntaw Federation plants it's flag in NYC.

This Saturday we will be celebrating the grand opening of the school with some demonstrations, belt promotion of the current students and refreshments for guests. I have recently along with my fellow Kyuds gone through the test for my next promotion. On Saturday those who passed will receive their new belts. So please come out and see what the style of Kuntaw is like. It's hard to explain but easy to experience.

Peace, Dashaun

Place: 753 Flatbush Ave. 2nd Floor
Time : 4PM - 7PM
Also it's my father's birthday so make sure to wish him a happy one when you see him.

And here's a little video to get you familiar.

Dashaun Simmons, Big In Japan

Konichiwa, Boku wa Dashaun desu. Genki Desuka?

About a month ago I got asked by a writer friend of mine Keiko to be interviewed for one of Japan's premier magazines BMR (Black Music Review). The topic of discussion was hip hop and it's influence on advertising and marketing. So for the folks out in Japan on that respect the MotherGreen / Dashaunworld Inc. movement go pick up the July issue of BMR.

Thanks to Shino Yanagawa for the photo which was used in the article and Keiko Tsukada for writing it.