Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Students for Justice in Palestine presents:

DAM
Gabriel Teodros
Hollis Wong-Wear (of Canary Sing)
DJ WD4D

$6 for UW students w/ID :: $10 for general public
Tickets available at the HUB Ticket Office

7:00pm - 10:00pm :: ALL AGES SHOW

Husky North Den, HUB
University of Washington (Seattle, Washington)

The following night, Thursday April 24th, there will be a screening of Slingshot Hip Hop at the UW Ethnic Theater with DAM alongside director Jackie Reem Salloum on hand to answer questions.

El sábado pasado, en el Teatro Rivera en la ciudad de La Habana se realizó la ceremonia de premiación Puños Arriba, producido localmente por el grupo Matraka. Contó con espectáculos de Anónimo Consejo, Silvito el Libre, Cuentas Claras, Raudel de Escuadrón Patriota, Soldier Squad, Maikel Xtremo, y muchos más. Pero antes que pudieran entregar los últimos premios y las presentaciones de clausura se mandó a parar el show. La única justificación ofrecida al público del evento fue que se tenía que parar el espectáculo por “presiones.” Quedaban las entregas para las categorías ‘disco mas popular’ y ‘disco del año’ - sus recipientes eran Los Aldeanos. El cierre climático del evento programado con una presentación de ‘El rap es guerra’ por Los Aldeanos feat. Papá Humbertico, El Discípulo y Anderson - nunca se dejó llegar a realizar.

***

Puños Arriba 2009 the first national Cuban hip-hop awards ceremony produced locally by Matraka, took place last Saturday at the Rivera Theater in Havana. The show included performances by Anónimo Consejo, Silvito el Libre, Cuentas Claras, Raudel de Escuadrón Patriota, Soldier Squad, Maikel Xtremo and many more. However, before the show’s final appearances and with awards pending to be distributed, the entire event was shut down. The only justification given to the audiences was that the event had to stop due to “pressure.” The awards left to be announced included Most Popular CD and Album of the Year, both of which were intended for Los Aldeanos. The climactic ending of the show programmed to include a performance by Los Aldeanos featuring Papá Humbertico El Discípulo and Anderson of their song ‘El rap es guerra’ (Rap is War) was unfortunately never realized.

Premios ”Puños Arriba” (Las Premiaciones del Rap Cubano/Cuban Rap Awards)
Ganadores/Winners:
Canción Beef - “Koniek de Maikel Xtremo feat. El Aldeano
Canción Social - Cuba Escuchame de El Aldeano feat. Danay
Canción al Amor - Princesa Africana de Papá Humbertico
Disco más Popular - Dr Jekill y Mr Hyde
Mejor Featuring - “Y yo lo se” de Maikel Xtremo
Mejor Beat - Yimi Koncalze
Mejor Intro - El Atropello (Los Aldeanos)
Mejor Grabación - Miseria Humana de El Aldeanos (ingeniería: Papá Humbertico)
Mejor Video Clip - “El rap es Guerra” de Papá Humbertico
Mejor ‘Making of’ - Maikel Xtremo
Mejor Cover CD - Yimi Konclaze
Album del Año - El Atropello de Los Aldeanos

The documentary mainly follows DAM - three young men from Lyd (approximately 10 miles from Tel Aviv) - credited with becoming Palestine’s first hip hop group. Having never heard rap in Arabic and with influences like Tupac, Biggie, Nas and Common, DAM began by simply imitating their counterparts in the US. However, self discovery leads the young men to start tackling issues pertinent to their community in their own language.

Hip hop’s role as a liberating force among marginalized peoples internationally becomes increasingly evident shortly into the film. Viewers are taken to hip hop shows and refugee camps where the emcees speak to children about national pride and encourage other young Palestinians to vent their frustrations through rap. With lines like, “Who’s the terrorist? This is my homeland,” they unapologetically affirm their right to be.

Another emcee from the group PR (Palestinian Rapperz) in Gaza, likens his hood to “a big prison,” with its checkpoints and road closures. One of the main issues throughout the film is how the occupation has prevented Palestinians who live in different areas from meeting.  Formal permission in the form of a travel visa is needed to access certain areas, and even then, access isn’t always granted.

Considering the length of the doc, there is but a brief appearance by Arapeyat, a female-emcee duo, that DAM helps develop. This feels like a token nod to the women, until we’re brought deeper into the life of R&B vocalist, Abeer Zinati (aka Sabreena Da Witch). Here, the filmmakers look at the issue of sexism with sensitive nuance as Abeer attempts to balance familial relationships, tradition and personal desire.

While framed within the culture, the issue that runs throughout is bigger than hip hop. The people are not villainized, rather, Israeli dominance exists as an ominous force, always felt although at times unseen. But as the camera pans in on a large billboard in the distance with the words, “WE WILL WIN” in Hebrew, it’s difficult not to root for the underdog.

-Alison

[Gracias a Emetrece Productions]

(Premiaciones del rap cubano publicado en el 2008)

El 3 de abril, en la Ciudad de La Habana, se realizara la ceremonia de premiación “Puños Arriba” en el Cine-Teatro Rivera de 23 y G // 8PM.

Categorías en competencia incluyen:

Canción Beef, Canción Social, Canción al Amor. Canción Más Popular, Mejor Featuring, Mejor Beat, Mejor Grabación, Mejor Video Clip, Mejor Mini Reportaje, Mejor Cover CD, y CD del Año.

Discos en competencia:

Mi Testimonio (Escuadrón Patriota). El Atropello (Los Aldeanos), Miseria Humana (El Aldeano), Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde (El B.), Redención (Papá Humbertico), La Segunda Temporada (Maikel Xtremo), Conseptos y Prinsipios (El Libre), y El Alma de un Soldado (Soldier Squad).

***

Puños Arriba Awards - Havana // April 3, 2009

[Courtesy of Emetrece Productions]

(Awards ceremony for Cuban rap released in 2008)

On April 3, 2009 en Havana, Cuba, the Puños Arriba awards ceremony will take place the Rivera theater on 23 and G at 8PM.

Award categories include:

Beef song, Social Song, Love Song, Most Popular Song, Best Guest Appearance, Best Recording, Best Video, Best Mini Report, Best CD Cover and CD of the Year.

Competing albums:

Mi Testimonio (Escuadrón Patriota); El Atropello (Los Aldeanos); Miseria Humana (El Aldeano); Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde (El B.); Redención (Papá Humbertico); La Segunda Temporada (Maikel Xtremo); Conseptos y Prinsipios (El Libre); y El Alma de un Soldado (Soldier Squad).

It was 3am and I was done. My lower back was burning, my eyes were being assaulted by smoke, and I had had enough of the hippies in their red, gold and green costumes. Cramped among hundreds of reggae zealots somewhere in the belly of Mexico City, I questioned whether or not Cultura Profética was worth the stress. I told myself if they weren’t on stage in the next 10 minutes, I’d be out out. About 20 minutes later my patience was rewarded:  Cultura Profética was on stage interpreting a Bob classic with a sincerity and musicality I hadn’t seen all night, and my five hour wait was already forgotten.

Debuting in 1996 in Puerto Rico, the band has since released six albums with topics ranging from love to critique of their island’s complicated political predicament. Their sound plays with jazz and hip hop, but is still deeply rooted in reggae.

The first album, Canción de Alerta (1998) sold over 60,000 units in Puerto Rico alone and was engineered in Jamaica by Errol Brown under the legendary Tuff Gong label. Cultura Profética is the only Spanish- speaking band to have been named as a headliner in the prestigious Bob Marley/Tribute to the Reggae Legends concert year after year, and they’ve toured extensively across the Americas, selling out shows and playing to thousands. Yet chances are, most native English-speaking, reggae enthusiasts have never heard of them.

The band is expected to release a new album sometime this summer. Here’s a clip from the DVD, Cultura Profética Live: Tribute to the Legend Bob Marley, released in 2007. And just because I can’t help but love the rhythm on this track, you’ll also find “Pof Pof Pasa” with emcee E.A. Flow below.

-Alison

You may remember her unique voice featured on tracks from Nas (Can’t Forget About You) and Jay-Z (Lost Ones). (I kinda felt like the folks at Def Jam were over using her… but they eventually let her release an album of her own…so I guess it all worked out.) She also sang the hook on the Roots single “Rising Up” from the album Rising Down. She’s really quite special…and I’m REALLY feeling her hair!!!

Ahem..now back to the topic at hand, Chrisette Michele’s album Epiphany drops March 31…so get yourself up to speed. And then get that album. She’s amazing.

*Big up to T-dot’s own, Drake, her love interest in the video!

~I’M

Chrisette Michele - Epiphany

Last month Drake released a “mixtape” (I love how we’re holding on to the “tape”) called So Far Gone with 17 tracks and guests spots by Trey Songz, Lil’ Wayne, Santo Gold and a few other friends. Besides talent, young boy’s persona exudes a cockiness I kind of like: seemingly effortless and consequently far from corny.

When Boi -1da told me during an interview back in 2006 that he was working with an emcee named Drake, who in his opinion was one of the best lyricists out, I had to hold in my laughter. Really? “Jimmy” from Degrassi (Canadian TV show) is an emcee AND he’s good? I figured it was Boi’s youth speaking, turning “good” into “the G.O.A.T.” But respect due, Aubrey Graham/Drake has managed to successfully distance two sides of the same coin.

Some listeners will have to take him in short doses because, understandably, too much of anything makes you annoyed. To his credit, Drizzy does take off the mask and show some vulnerability (rare, but it happens) a few times on So Far Gone.

Brothers with confidence are infinitely more attractive than the herb who is always second-guessing himself and I hear it’s the same on the flip side. The same principle holds true in the rap world. And that rumoured line that separates confidence from arrogance, like good from evil, might not actually exist.

-Alison

*I’ve chosen the word “persona” carefully, I’m not just trying to sound fancy. I meant persona, as in character, role, front. I’m old enough to know better than believe every story I hear in a rhyme.  I grew up listening to lot of Boot Camp Clik…loved them. And when I met most of them at an interview session, I was pleased that they were extremely friendly, well-mannered young men. A storyteller’s worth is in the way s/he tells the story.

That liquid slip and slide

Take me

Have your way

with me - gone

drink me - drunk

Love me and leave me

here on the floor…

room spinning…

all giggles

dizzy

Pour me another

Paper, plastic or glass

Please! - no pictures.

Title: Red Wine

*I can’t even front, I wrote this a few years ago in honour of my first REAL drunken experience. (There haven’t been many…something about vomiting and feeling horrible that just doesn’t appeal to me.) Besides, despite my small, slim stature, I hold my liquor pretty well…with red wine being that singular caveat. I realized in that alcohol induced giddiness, that red wine was my alcoholic kryptonite. It still is today.  Most times I avoid it, but sometimes I seek out that feeling… and in that *spirit*…hahaha…(I’m such a nerd) my musical guilty pleasure of the moment, this silly song from Jamie Foxx…

~I’M

Jamie Foxx feat. T-Pain - Blame It

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~I’M

I love Time Life Music commercials!!!! There it is… I said it! Please tell me I’m not the only one….LOL. I know they are corny, the production values are low…I mean they are nowhere near Super Bowl commercial territory. But they are the one infomercial that you can be sure I’m gonna sit and watch from beginning to end. I know that Time Life is just trying to convince me that “5 easy payments of 39.97” is a steal since I would have to “scour the internet and search for hours and not have a collection like this”, when in reality, yeah it would take time but I would probably just download the songs that I really want (real talk!). But there have been many times where I have been, oooohh…this close, to calling NOW and giving them my credit card information so that in addition to whatever collection they are hawking, at the time, I’d get the 2 bonus CDs!!! Not to mention the FREE shipping and handling…not too shabby.

And it doesn’t matter the genre, I’ll watch any Time Life commercial because they are only trying to sell me the best songs and biggest hits! On this morning it was:

Flower Power: Music of the Love Generation!

As you can probably surmise from the pictures in the “About Us” section this is not the music of MY generation; my generation’s music would probably be hip hop or maybe that gangsta, New Jack Swing R&B (think: Bell Biv Devoe) from the early 90s. But my connection to the most well known songs of the 70s, well of course that has always been strong. And while I can’t legitimately “relive the powerful songs and artists that were such a part of our lives”, I’ve managed to make my own personal connections using those songs and my experiences. For example:

Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison…I just adore this song! Makes me think of the TTC subway performer that plays a lot in the corridor between Yorkdale Mall and Yorkdale Station in the summers…This may be the only song he knows how to play…lol.

A big part of the 70s (for white people) was Woodstock… I immediately think pheasant skirts and people rolling in the mud. Still, some of my best loved songs came out of that era and movement… and of course were featured prominently in the commercial.

Joe Crocker - A Little Help from my Friends (@ Woodstock) - You only REALLY need to watch as far as dude “catching the spirit”…priceless!

Jimi Hendrix - Hey Joe (@ Woodstock) - Correct me if I’m wrong but is there a guitar riff that Jazmine Sullivan has on her song “My Foolish Heart”? I think so…. that song uses a great sample from GZAs Liquid Sword’s beat. If you’re gonna borrow, borrow from the best, right? And just by way of strange randomness involving Eddie Murphy…apparently he has a version of “Hey Joe” too. Go figure.

Satisfied customer Donna Grace had this to say:  “If you weren’t listening to music, you were missing the message of the day”. It really was like their newspaper so much of what was going on at that time was documented in the songs…and can be mine for 5 easy payments of blah, blah, blah…get to the music…lol. This was a particularly good “set”… “Ball of Confusion” - The Temptations, “War” - Edwin Starr and of course…

“What’s Going On” - Marvin Gaye

There are a lot of reasons the Time Life formula is such a success with me…the commercials are like the best DJ ever!!! None of this playing the whole song business, just the hook, (the part that I will know), and then on to the next hit song. What’s not to love? Plus, the song title and artist are rolling across the screen so I don’t even have to wonder who created the masterpieces. And the whole thing comes with detailed liner notes - I LOVE liner notes.

So as the commercial drew to a close and they reiterated the merits of their musical sales pitch for the third and final time, a sleepy smile crossed my face. And finally with that music bouncing around in my head to act as my lullaby I turned off my TV (also because the next infomercial was the extremely annoying one with Hugh Downs selling some secret health remedies that are SO secret you can’t know what any of them are… (you left 20/20 and put your co-sign on this? Jeeesh… at least Barbara had the good sense to start something legit like the View)) and lay in my bed… then I looked over at my laptop and decided to write this… I’m gonna be SOOOO tired today. Tired, but full of Flower Power.

The preceding was not meant to be an ad for Time Life even though it may have come across that way. This message does reflect the viewpoint of Imani Monique although not necessicarily the views of Project Bassline…but you have to admit the songs are pretty damn fly!