43rd President of the United States at the Inauguration of Barak Obama...this is just plain sad. I have nothing else to say.
That's right, the homie Emilio Rojas (aka Raks One) has a brand new video out, That Time. And it's up against four other video's on MTV U's 'The Freshman' competition. Check out the link below to vote for the video - and you can vote as many times as you like!
Vote for 'That Time' on MTV U's 'The Freshman'
Also, Emilio has released a freestyle, 'Let It Out (Bounce)' over Timbaland's 'The Bounce' to support the video.
Download Emilio Rojas' 'Let It Out (Bounce)' Freestyle
Here's the vid if you wanna just check the steez. Emilio is ridiculous; this kid is gonna do big things this year. And y'all might just hear Emilio on future releases from The Movement Fam...
What it do bloggers?
This is a special treat for you in my eyes, it was graced on my Facebook wall by the one and the only, DJ HYPHEN. If you wanna see the dopest freestyle you've heard in ages, PEEP THIS. 2 minutes of the super dope Tunji from the group Inverse straight outta Cali shows ya how to hold it the fuck down LIVE on KUBE FM yo!
Tunji (of Inverse) freestyles on KUBE 93's Sound Session from DJ Hyphen on Vimeo.
Please leave a comment, coz you know you should.
Damn Tunj, damn!
Enjoy!!
The second of TheMovementFam.com's model features, this time around we swung back Down Under to chat with Ms Mylky Yuki, a young lady who is definitely making power moves in the '09. Her hustle is evident as soon as you see her vast array of shoots, and her international recognition should surface this year in the form of a move across seas to step to the next level. Plus, Mylky even hit us with the freshest of fresh photos, which were taken on a shoot yesterday. Read on...
Name: Known as Mylky but I'd prefer Maiya.
Cee: Where are you from?
Mylky: I'm from Sydney, Australia.
Cee: How many years have you been modeling?
Mylky: Officially, I started in 2006 so two years, but before that I did pageants.
Cee: What are the misconceptions people commonly have about models that are untrue?
Mylky: To me, it would be THAT WE DON'T EAT! LOL, and that our vocabulary only consists of "um, ah, and yea that's hot, that's cute!"
Cee: What shows, videos, magazines, etc. have you been featured in?
Mylky: Zoo magazine as Girl of the Week, yeah baby!
Cee: What photographers have you worked with?
Mylky: Juice, Jase and Cosmopolitan.
Cee: What photographers would you like to work with?
Mylky: I really can't think of any right now. I'll get back to you on that. ;)
Cee: Can you describe the grind of a model trying to break into the industry?
Mylky: The hardest point for me was putting my foot in the door, let alone endure the path. I didn't know who to speak to, how to begin, where to go for help because I didn't have any friends in the industry; but it's gotten easier now. I started by using MySpace to look up photographers, and slowly word of mouth helped me get the gigs I've gotten, and I slowly worked from there. There's no such thing as holidays for us. I always have to come out with new stuff to keep myself in the spotlight.
Cee: Any words for the ladies out there that have aspirations of entering the modeling industry?
Mylky: If you think you can do it, I think you should, what's there to lose? No one thought I could do it...but I proved them wrong and now I'm laughing when I see them.
Cee: What's your plans from here?
Mylky: Oh, I like this question. I'm working with Ed Hardy in their clothing catalog soon, I've been signed to Ford's Agency in USA, I'm moving to Florida this year. So it's going to be busy for me.
Aight, welcome to another TheMovementFam.com artist feature. This time around, we got to chat with the homie GNZ, who represents Belo Horizonte (which literally translates to 'below the horizon'), Minas Gerais, Brazil.
GNZ is one of the most prolific MC's we have come across, and he has been down with The Fam for a hot minute now. We've had the pleasure of working with GNZ and although we have no idea what he's saying on a song, his native Portuguese sounds amazing on the beat, and his often politically inspired lyrics reflect the world around him.
For some (some = around 15 original albums worth) incredible FREE music, check out GNZ's blog, and check what the man had to say after the jump (please note that GNZ answered me in English, which is his second language - I've intentionally kept his wording and grammar as provided to give you the raw interview).
Cee: What up man? How you livin’?
GNZ: What’s good man? Word up! I wanna thank you guys from the TheMovementFam.com for all the support, you know.
Cee: Aight, so tell the folks a little about GNZ – where you come from, what you do and how you got into Hip Hop.
GNZ: Well, I’m from Brazil and I always live in a capital of my state, Minas Gerais. I graduated in Arts in a state college in 2006, but before that I used to work with urban arts in perimeter of my city at the same time that I decided to rap. So, I understood that I’m better with words. Throughout my life, I had contact with musicians and artists in general, so the most people who grew up with me have chosen that way.
We used to live by ourselves in the squares, drinking, smoking and skating by the night. We were kids. And we used to rhyme also just for fun, you know. But the rap that came for us was too much predictable and commercial for those days. Even the North American rap. So I stopped for a couple of years, returning to the pen in 2005 when the underground appears for the mass in Brazil. A drummer friend had mounted a recording studio that year, but he was not even close to rap music. I called him anyway.
So, we start a project called Ponta Pronta after a short conversation in some street bar, you know. It was an MC’s and beat makers collective, where I learned so much. But it didn´t work out. In this same year I was invited to drop with Casa B, and I’m down with those homies until today. And I also have my own work, solo or full of collabos.
Cee: How is the Hip Hop scene in Brazil?
GNZ: I think Hip Hop in Brazil came from the same root, which irrigates all the urban places around the world. Now here, we have a lot of tentacles: the gangstas, the religious, the commercials, the alternative and a lot of others. We can't say that's all the same but it´s all Hip Hop. It’s always growing here.
Cee: What projects are you working on right now?
GNZ: I’m working with collective Casa B: we are 9 artists (MC’s, beat makers, skaters, street painters, musicians and friends). We are finalizing a video of one of our tracks and thinking about a disc for this year. Our first one in almost 4 years of streets! But it´s a little difficult to us to organize all that stuff when we´re 9 crazy dogs, you know. Lol! And as I said, I have my own career too, where I can make by myself, by my way and with all my homies around the world, you know (in about 16 different countries).
Cee: Tell us about your latest album.
GNZ: Okay. Procura-se is the last album I dropped in my blog. You have to listen that to discover what I wanted to mean. It’s all about life, feelings, poetry as almost everything I wrote before. That album has some international collabos. About 20 tracks and I think’s all. You can download that for free, taste that and tell me later about that. Rhythm and poetry. That´s all.
Cee: Alright, I gotta say this, your blog is insane – you have like 15 or so albums for FREE download! And most of them are in the last few years. How do you maintain a work ethic like that?
GNZ: Word! That’s true. I have more then 300 tracks and about 30 albums for free download in my blog. I prefer to think that I have some time to spend with my music. lol
Cee: What are your plans? Are you keen to make a living out of your music?
GNZ: I got no plans, for real. I need to rap, you know. I think the underground could be more then a temporary zone. Or just a step to climb that hill, you know. The underground must to survive all that shit. I believe in an old punk philosophy: Do By Yourself. I must keep that moving until the end. I must keep it on.
Cee: Who have you been working with lately?
GNZ: It’s little hard to talk about who is working with me right now, because I´m always working with a lot of soldiers. I would have to cite several names and I’m afraid to forgetting someone´s, you know. That would be not fair.
Cee: What’s next for GNZ?
GNZ: Word up! I have about 25 brand new tracks to drop soon on the blog so watch out!
Cee: Any words for the people of TheMovementFam.com?
GNZ: Thanks again for all that and let’s keep on moving. Life is short, so do what you feel.
Cee: Hit us with your websites…
www.myspace.com/gnzviralata
www.myspace.com/pontapronta
www.myspace.com/tetocinzarecords
www.myspace.com/projetocasab
www.myspace.com/provocamg
www.myspace.com/nobodybeatzz
www.downloadgnz.blogspot.com
Cee: Respect!
GNZ: PEACE and MUCH RESPECT, fam!
That's right, the homies A-Diction (Boltz and Breach) are back with their latest mixtape, The Three Year Itch. These cats are quite possibly the nicest guys in Australian Hip Hop, and both are mad talented MC's.
This mixtape (which is up for FREE download - just click the cover images) is the prelude to their debut LP as a group, Walkin' Alone, which is set to drop later this year on Formula Recordz.
The Three Year Itch features production from some of Down Under's finest beatsmiths, including M-Phazes, Mules, Ciecmate, Doc Felix and others, and guest spots from Raven (Hungry Humans), Choose Mics, Syntax and more.
From my first brief listen, the fellas have brought the heat once again. I've always been a fan of their steez, and they definitely haven't disappointed here with world class production, while both MC's are constantly stepping up their skills every time I hear them. Get your download on, and stay tuned for their album as they have worked with certain members of The Movement Fam and shit is heatrocks...
Barack Obama has now officially been named the President of the United States of America. Today was a day that I personally never thought I would see in my lifetime. Who would have ever thought that less than 50 years after segregation ended, an African American man would become the commander in chief of our great nation?
This truly is a historic day for the world. People are celebrating and countries that once would not communicate with our leaders are now trying to open a dialog with President Obama. Maybe this can be the catalyst to help our world unite. Times are rough for everybody not just people in the United States, but folks in Europe, Asia, Africa, and every corner of the globe. It is time for a change.
People like Harriett Tubman, Booker T. Washington, Frederick Douglas, my grandmother, slaves, and many many people all dreamed that one day there would be equality....and now in 2009, much has been gained, but there is much more to be done. At the end of the day, Barack Obama being elected has brought hope that no dream is too big and anything can be accomplished.
In life, getting anything worth having is going to be tough but worth it at the end of the day.
-Wise Old Man
Peace to all.
DJ Grain/The Movement Fam
Hip Hop is Flavor Flav's clock. Kanye's shades. LL Cool J's bald head. Questlove's afro. Hip Hop is blasting M.O.P. after a fight with your girl because the beautiful music will calm the savage beast in you. Hip Hop is staying up all night, refreshing your internet browser and waiting for that next Lil' Wayne leak. Rolling up to St. Kilda Sea Baths in baggy jeans, stunna shades and baseball caps, because you and your crew also deserve a Corona at sunset.
Hip Hop is all about image. The popularity of clothing lines rising and falling throughout the years. My Adidas. Kangol. Dickies, Chuck Taylors, Raiders caps and Starter jackets. Cross Colours. FUBU, Ecko Unlimited and Enyce. Hip Hop is having your own personal style, as long as it fits in with current trends. Not wearing dress shoes to clubs. A white tee for every occasion.
Hip Hop is underground, mainstream and everything in-between. Old and new school. Old school rappers reinventing themselves - but don't call it a comeback. Brand Nubian. Melle Mel. Even Ultramagnetic MC's (but at least Jay-Z is aging gracefully). Hip Hop is older fans hating on younger fans, as if it's their fault that it's not like it used to be. Skilled emcees making more money ghostwriting for mainstream stars, or dumbing their lyrics down to appeal to a wider fanbase. Hop Hop is MC Ren training Eazy-E to spit the rhymes others wrote for him - and nobody caring.
Hip Hop is metaphores, similes, alliteration and adlibs. Somewhere along the way, Hip Hop became whispering your delivery and using auto-tune on your voice. Hip Hop is war. Beef and diss tracks. BDP vs. Juice Crew. Common vs. Ice Cube. LL Cool J vs. everybody - and Canibus studying his background, reading the book that he wrote, researching the footnotes about how he used to sniff coke.
Hip Hop is rappers and their own record labels, with a ratio that must be damn near 1:1 by now. MARKETING. Youtube. Myspace. Facebook. Blogs. Hip Hop is the internet.
Hip Hop is DJ's and break loops. Grand Wizard Theodore scratching. Doug E. Fresh beatboxing. Graffiti and breakdancing. Freestyling. Producing, mixing and mastering. Ebonics and slang. Classic cuts on vinyl. MP3 promos and iTunes bonus tracks. Hip Hop is sped-up (and slowed-down) soul samples. Jacking Impeach The President, Nautilus or More Bounce To The Ounce for the millionth time. Hip Hop is mixtapes, mix CD's and iPod playlists.
Hip Hop is remixes and posse cuts. The legend of the lost versions of Scenario. Masta Ace making it onto The Symphony by being in the right place at the right time. Busta Rhymes outshining everyone. Da Graveyard - Big L featuring Eazy-E, Big Punisher, Scott La Rock, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Jam Master Jay, Proof, Pimp C, 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G. and many others.
Wild Style. Style Wars. Breakin. Beat Street. Boyz N The Hood.
Hip Hop is conscious. Alternative. Gangsta. Hyphy. Grime. Hardcore, horrorcore and nerdcore. Hip Hop is pushing back release dates. Sample clearance, with original versions of tracks leaking years later. Hip Hop is parental advisory stickers. Explicit lyrics. 40's and blunts. Sex, violence and drugs. Hip Hop is artists allowing their dignity to fly out the window. Hip Hop is the fans that buy it.
Hip Hop is politics. Reciting N.W.A. lyrics in the face of the law. Sean Bell and Amadou Diallo. Hip Hop is hate. Love. Knowledge. Hip Hop is power. Hip Hop is wanting to be somebody. Diamond rings and things. Hip Hop is not just music, it's the soundtrack to an uncertain future. Hip Hop is not just words, it's poetry. Freedom of speech. Hip Hop is change. Hip Hop is opportunity. Hip Hop runs the free world.
Hip Hop is... Obama.
This week was another wild and crazy week in the world of Hip Hop. 2009 has been great thus far - I just hope it continues to be great. Here are some of the happenings this past week:
The auction of Death Row Records has now concluded. It was auctioned off for $18 million, $7 million lower than the previously highest bid. The Canadian based company called Wide Awake Holdings now owns the master recordings from Snoop Dogg, Tupac, and other Death Row members, as well as various memorabilia from the label.
Slim Thug has now signed with Koch Records, officially ending his deal with Geffen/Star Trak.
Lil Wayne was on ESPN earlier this week with Skip Bayless. Suprisingly, he did very well and he had a thorough knowledge of college football. I'll admit I was impressed. Shouts to Wayne.
Barack Obama, the first African American President of the USA, will be officially taking office on Jan. 20th. Over 2 million folks are going to be in DC for the inauguration and conformation of his election as the 44th President of the United States of America.
T.I. is coming out with a new docu-series called the Road to Redemption: 45 Days to Go. The show will focus on T.I. showing teenagers across the country the mistakes he has made and the lessons he learned from making those mistakes.
Next week I have some sad news about J-Dilla's estate and rumors about DJ Drama having some problems at the premiere of Notorious in the ATL.
Y'all be safe and take care.
Grain.
"I make black history every day, I don't need a month" Kanye West from 'Brand New'
Man, I'm a fiend for Air Force 1's. I've never been a sneaker head really, but these kicks were the ones that got me at least to stay on my kick game. So when I saw these little babies on the Sneakerfiles blog, I had to post about 'em. I won't even re-write this stuff, but peep:
Nike commemorates Black History Month 2009 with this Air Force 1 designed with the colors black, green and red. The Air Force 1 was also last years base model which was developed for the month of February. This years model features a black base highlighted with red and green lining and accents, and what appears to be a translucent sole possibly revealing writing or graphics. Other details include a black heel pattern and special tongue label. Lastly, the Black History Month Air Force 1 will come in a black bag with a quote which can be read in text after the jump. Stay posted for specific release date.
“100 years came and another 100 past
little did they know, nothing would forever last
the land they knew stood for “liberty and justice for all”
however, “we the people” didn’t include them at all
words on paper held no weight
it was time for judicial battle at the mahogany gate
they moved left and then shifted right
they fought for freedom keeping equality in sight
laws were challenged and changes were made
giving us the right to make the grade
thanks to those who fought the fight
moving the darkness and bringing light”
Apologies for the retarded photo. Photoshop is out of action currently, couldn't whip up a Movement Fam YouTube themed goodie.
Anyway, after a week or so of grinding to work out iMovie's intricacies, I finally managed to upload every song from all four Movement Fam mixtape releases onto The Movement Fam YouTube channel.
So for those who always wanted to just hear the tunes and couldn't be fucked downloading the mixtapes (though you really should, it'll change your life), or you're trying to show one of your homies the dope music coming out of The Fam, then we've just made life a lot easier. For you. Coz we love you all.
Ayo, I found this interesting.....
The powerhouse label has been auctioned off today for a total of $18 million to the reported winner, Wide Awake Holdings. The Canadian based music group will now be in ownership of unreleased and master recordings of records by Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and the rest of the Death Row roster. The winning bid of $18 million (whoa!) was a large step down from reported $25 million bid from Warner Music Group back in late February of 2008.
Wide Awake Holdings has yet to make a statement about the newly inquired Death Row estate. Stay tuned for more on this matter ladies & gents.
It shouldn't take them long to recoup don't ya reckon!
What's in a name, eh?
I just wanted to touch base with you folks about names...
Names can be happy and conjure up wonderful pictures in our mind's eye. We have Apple, Cruise, Sunday Rose, Shiloh, and Joaquin to name a few.
And if most of the aforementioned names of these people weren't born into a priveleged lifestyle where they would want for nothing, then they would most likely endure years of torment and teasing during their younger lives. Most likely up until the point they reach a cross road in their life where they will be presented with the opportunity to change their name, move, go into therapy, or go and exact revenge on their high school bullies who jeered and made fun of their names through those "wonder years".
The reason for my latest rant is the news story about a couple who, for some reason, have decided to name one of their children Adolf Hilter. Now okay, you should be able to call your child anything you want. It's yours, you made it, no one else did. But you as the parent you won't face the horror and pain that this innocent life will endure having to labour through life with the namesake of the most despised man that people care to remember or forget. But it doesn't just stop at 'Hilter' either. These parents have other children with names like "Arayan Nation" and "Honszlynn Hinler".
Now, while the parents, no matter how kind-hearted or good-natured they believe they are, have subjected this young fragile being to a fate that one would not wish on an enemy. When will we start calling our children Pol Pot, after the genocidal maniac that proceeded to kill an maim anyone who would question him or his motives (the figure is close to 3 million), or why not Edi Amin? Hey, heres a name for ya - Osama Bin Laden, make that your kids name. Why not? It's just a name. At least it's not common. The poor kid's never gonna have any friends though, besides Nazi sympathizers. Yay.
It could all be just a joke, albeit one in poor taste, but this poor child will have to live in fear and loathing of a name that it does not understand the true malice of, its origins - nor should it need to. It will be exposed to hate and confrontation each time it dares to utter its full name, and should any of us really want to live with a burden like that?
Now if the mother and father of these children want to change their own names to what ever they like, then so be it. But to condemn an innocent child though is wrong on so many levels. I really do not believe there is space on a page to list it all. Anyway, that's just something I had to say. Take it, leave it, love it or hate it, it's up to you. I will leave with something I stole from old Bill Shakespeare:
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
So I mentioned this briefly a week or two ago when I spoke on the David Icke lecture in Melbourne this coming April. The company bringing David out, The Truth Movement Australia, is something I have never seen before in this country. Adam Davis, who runs the company and arranged for Mr Icke to come to Australia when he swore he would never come again (due to a full of shit promoter a few years back), is doing a great thing for the Australian public in order to help us all open our eyes to the real truth as to what is happening around us.
Adam also informed me that he will next be looking into bringing Peter Joseph out to Australia to speak (Peter is the man behind the internet phenomenom Zeitgeist).
Check out the site and learn...
So on Saturday just gone, The Movement Fam finally had our first official gig as a crew, and the first gig of 2009. Boom. Although it was billed as a Cee & Bekah gig, the whole crew was in effect for the whole show, which was dope for the stage dynamics.
Big shouts to Cam at Blue Tile Lounge for reaching out and putting us on. We took the early time slot as we haven't rocked a gig since The Evelyn gig back in May 2008 (peep The Movement Fam YouTube page for the video).
The gig went real well though. Shouts to everyone who rolled through, we had a decent little crowd for the 9pm slot. The whole thing was filmed so we'll work out a way to get the highlights on YouTube shortly. Stay tuned for more shows in 2009...
50 Cent is coming back, I have heard a few cuts off the new album and man he is rappin' with the same energy he had on the first cd. This track is crazy he lets some folks know what really is on his mind....look out for more ish after the jump.
Man I am truly glad to be back on it again....it's a new year and time to improve from the year before.
Wrap up of this weeks news:
Lil' Wayne is in the process of making an album that is going to be completely rock. He is doing this project to throw folks off like Kanye did with the '808's and Heartbreak' album.
Rumors have been flying that Jermaine Dupri has been relived of his duties as President of Island Records Urban Music, a division of Def Jam. All of the projects he was in charge of flopped, including Janet Jackson's latest album.
Comedian Katt Williams just signed a deal with Warner Brother to distribute the audio from the super funny DVD 'It's Pimpin' Pimpin''.
Travis of the Gym Class Heroes just got signed by T-Pain's label Nappy Boy.
Albums looking forward to in 2009:
Tanya Morgan - Brooklynati
Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot
Mickey Factz
Outkast
Peace,
DJ Grain.
It is truly amazing that Hip Hop has hit every continent and folks are producing good music. The Irishman Danny Diggs: producer, beatmaker, and maestro of sound has taken some time out of his busy schedule working for a brief insight into his world. I hope you all enjoy.
DJ Grain: Being from Ireland, what was the first Hip Hop music you heard?
Danny Diggs: It was an NWA - Straight Outta Compton casstete tape that I got as a present, back when NWA were no longer a group and cassettes were the last thing a young teenager wanted. It took me a long time before I found out there were actually Irish Hip Hop acts, but the first time I heard the Irish stuff, it blew my mind.
DJ Grain: When did you start making beats?
Danny Diggs: I started messing about rapping, then quickly moved onto making beats at about age 14 or 15.
DJ Grain: What artists have you worked with?
Danny Diggs: A bunch of different artists. I did my first album work on Canadian rapper Mello Black's debut album "At the Speed of Motion", I did 3 tracks on that. I just did a track ('Reflections') on the Killah Priest & Cheif Kamachi - Beatiful Minds LP.
Right now I'm working with an ATL based emcee named Jermiside on what will be my first album, I'm really looking forward to people hearing this. I think its going to be a solid record. On this side of the ocean, I'm doing a lot of work with rapper/singer/producer Maverick Sabre, he probably DJ's too. I'm doing a few tracks for his first official mixtape coming in the new year, and I've done random tracks with Shad K, Akrobatik, Nucentz, DJ Mayhem and others.
DJ Grain: What was the first song your produced?
Danny Diggs: Ah I don't know, probably some shite i was rapping over myself, but the first song that people are actually going to hear, I would be the Mello Black stuff.
DJ Grain: Thus far in your career, who has been your favorite artist to work with?
Danny Diggs: Bit early for this kind of talk. So far its a toss up between Jermiside and Maverick Sabre, I think both of them are great, both have crazy focus!
DJ Grain: What instruments or equipment do you use to make beats?
Danny Diggs: My set up is PC based. I run Ableton and Acid Pro (I've tried 'em all and these are the ones that suit me) controlled by a bunch of MIDI controllers (Korg pad Kontrol, Novation Le keyboard, Mackie controller), Krk monitors,bass guitar, some old Gemini turntables and lots of records.
DJ Grain: What project(s) are you currently working on?
Danny Diggs: Jermside/Danny Diggs album, and the Maverick Sabre Mixtape. I think I'm gonna put out a little MySpace EP type download with various rappers over my beats.
DJ Grain: Could you describe the Hip Hop scene in Ireland?
Danny Diggs: I would say it's good. Living on the West Coast, I'm a ways away from the Irish Hip Hop "scene" that centers around Dublin, but we have got some really good acts like Rob Kelly, Maverick Sabre, MJEX, Nucentz and Rawsoul, Scary Eire, Flithy Rich, DJ Flip, Scooby...there's too many to name. We have talent out the ying yang, hit MySpace, do a search and see we are about to invade.
DJ Grain: Who are some of your favorite producers?
Danny Diggs: Pete Rock is the man, Primo, J-Dilla, Black Milk, Ohmega watts, RJD2, and 9th Wonder just to name a few that I really like.
DJ Grain: Do you have any words of wisdom for young producers?
Danny Diggs: Ha, I'm too young to give words of wisdom, but for anybody starting out, do your own thing - don't go onto a fucking website forum and listen to a bunch of talentless cunts talk about how to make good Hip Hop. If you enjoy what you're making then it's good Hip Hop. Such and such software or a particular piece of gear isn't going to make you better, make do with what you have and learn.
Check out Danny Diggs at the following sites:
Danny Diggs on MySpace
Danny Diggs on YouTube
