thanks to the craptastically humid and overcast weather, among other things, I woke up feeling not so great. it’s a freaking sauna outside, and my hair looks like I teased it before sticking my finger in a light socket. pretty impressive, actually.

my mood took a turn for the better when I saw that Katya posted some Decibel Festival videos on the Big Up YouTube channel. I haven’t written about the festival yet, because I honestly don’t know where to start, or if I even have the right words to explain myself. it was an incredible, unforgettable experience that charged every fiber of musical passion in my body for three whole days. lemme get back to you on this one.

for now, here’s a video from the Surefire showcase after-hours [day 2] with DJG, Pinch, and Juakali. the background visuals effect reminds me of those crazy music videos from the 80’s where they superimposed the artists onto cheesy computer graphics crap. except this is way better!

I love, looooooove watching Dean play. he is a true musician who seamlessly mixes the most gorgeous tunes, and his body does this fluid, bendy, rhythmic thing that makes it so obvious how much he loves and feels the music, like it flows through his internal organs. then there’s Pinch, for whom I’ve already professed my heartz, and Juakali with the organically rolling voice, one of my favorites on the mic.

and yes, that’s me and Miro at the very front. standard. his tongue at 4:30 might be my favorite part of the video.

one of my favorite artist duos, Moderat [Modeselektor + Apparat], came through San Francisco back in May. they weren’t quite on my radar yet, and it was a Wednesday night show, so I didn’t go… and I’ve been mercilessly kicking myself in the ass ever since. I listen to their self-titled album nonstop–talk about genius. the next time they tour you will find me front and center, come rain, shine, the world’s worst PMS or the f-ing Apocolypse.

Katya recorded parts of the show for Big Up’s YouTube channel [and there is a really wonderful interview in the new issue, pick it up!]. even though computer speakers *really* don’t do things like this justice, I love everything about this video… the song itself ["Les grandes marches," one of my faves on the album], the incredible visuals by Pfadfinderei, the backlit artists comfortably swaying to their own sounds, the bouncing heads in the crowd, voices of friends, flashes of light revealing smiles and hands, transfixed eyes and ears, people so focused on the beauty around them that everything else seems to fade away at that moment.

to my family/friends who get frustrated when I’m unable to explain my devotion to this culture, here you go! this video encapsulates something I can’t put into words. this is why I love this music– not the club scene, alcohol, famous people, none of that shit. these profound experiences, where time seems to stop in a swirling world of light and sound, are a large part of what makes my life worth living.

to quote the guy in the video, “it doesn’t get any better than that.”

my friend Katya– graphic designer, fellow bass-lover, and all-around wonderful person– started the Big Up Magazine out of the blue last year and I was immediately impressed. this girl has zero publishing experience, yet her product looked like it belonged next to XLR8R and SPIN at your local record shop. everything from the layout to the intelligently used ad space to the quality of the interviews really blew me away– she even has a monthly podcast featuring such talent as Moldy, Kutz and Dean/DJG. we are all excited to see her impulsive dream grow into something much larger. she is doing things!

Katya has given me a wonderful opportunity to merge my love for music and art with my love for words and content. I edit her articles– interviews with some of my favorite producers, reviews of amazing new albums– and gain a wealth of knowledge about what’s going on in this underground culture today, more than I could by just dancing around at a club or listening to a new track on my iPod. anyone who is part of a cultural movement should feel that they can contribute something positive toward the progression of that movement, and I am so grateful that Katya has allowed me to use my publishing experience to help perfect this beautiful magazine and deliver information to the passionate public.

Volume 4 is printed, gorgeous, and can soon be found everywhere from local record shops to big spots like Borders and Barnes & Noble [thanks to an amazing distribution deal, holy crap!]. there is an awesome launch party tomorrow night at the Paradise Lounge, featuring a ridiculously talented lineup: Kutz, Sukh Knight, 12th Planet, Incyde, Pandai’a, and Emcee Child, most of whom have contributed to Big Up in some way.

I am honored to be a part of this, grateful to a good friend, and super excited about tomorrow night. come celebrate with us!

are you Going?

Ben Watts (brother of Naomi Watts) is famous in his own right as an incredible photographer.

Ben (born in London) is a photographer who lives and works in New York. His work has been seen in various international fashion magazines, such as Elle, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair and Condé Nast Traveller.

Watts studied at the Sydney College of Arts in Australia, where he started his photographic career as an assistant photographer. He first came to New York in 1990, where he started documenting urban youth and was especially fascinated by American Hip Hop culture. He finally moved to New York in 1995. Besides his work for fashion magazines, Watts has shot advertising campaigns for famous labels, such as Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Kodak, Gap, Sony Music and Apple Computers.

Though Ben has worked with some of the top names in print and advertising, it was his book Big Up that caught my attention.

There’s a preview of the Big Up book images here.

And be sure to check out more of Ben’s photography here.

The lights at the top of the Empire State Building already change colors and now the building itself is getting a permanent green makeover.

I first saw Ian Edwards back in the day when he was on Def Comedy Jam, he has also been a writer on Saturday Night Live, MTV’s The Lyricist Lounge and cartoon networks Boondocks.  Below is a clip from Ian doing his thing last year on Diddy’s Bad Boys Of Comedy which had me rolling.

Amestecul: Se ia un castron, se bat 6 oua, se tranteste o ceapa taiata (nu foarte marunt). Apoi se imprastie piper, cimbru, oregano, busuioc, niste bucati de cascaval. La urma se taie 1 mar (feliute) si se tranteste in amestec.
Cum se prepara omleta: se ia o tigaie inalta (cumparata din piata), se pune foarte putin ulei si lasata sa se incinga. Se vara niste slana de porc si lasata aproximativ 5 minute sa se prajeasca. Apoi se toarna amestecul in tigaie si se amesteca aproximativ 10 minute.
Mamaliga: mamaliga putin arsa cu branza de burduf, branza sarata putin trecuta si branza feta (toate amestecate)
Cum se aseaza masa: se mananca in tigaia inalta (cea cumparata din piata) ! (este foarte important acest aspect). Se adauga smantana si ketchup. Se mananca cu mamaliga, salata de vara si varza murata.

Va doresc pofta buna.!

Precizare: daca aveti stari de voma – opriti-va !

P.S. – o sa mai incerc si astazi ceva “la gramada” ) cu gandul: am facut’o si pe asta.

Sa spun ca in noaptea de 28 spre 29 Octombrie am ras copios si sa mai spun ca am sarbatorit o zi care nu anunta nimic.
Sa spun ca eram imbracat in halat si cu o cravata sugrumat sau ca tipam (pentru noi – cantam): Deschide usa, crestine !
Sa spun cum le-a venit in cap sa mergem la Ciric pe la 02:00 sau cum a cazut Ionut in groapa aia care se vroia a fi “canal”; si totusi pana acolo am coborat pe partie si ajunsi la strada ne imaginam ca suntem pe “Route 66”.
Sa spun ca Daniel era descult si ca a “ratat” foarte putine sarme ghimpate si 2-3 “roci”.
Sa spun si cum a fost cerul in acea seara: curat ! curat de se vedea closca cu pui, carul mare, carul mic, cassiopeia, orion si multe altele. (surprins ramas de ce am vazut pe cer – foarte placut! )
Sa spun ca ma dureau obrajii de la ras; eram pe jos cand a cazut in “canal”, Ionut: dorule !!! dorule !!! … na ! na ! na! … bleaaaaa! … baaaaaaaaaaaa! iar mai apoi amandoi: “doamne ajuta-ne pe noi … doamne ajuta-ne pe noi!”
Sa spun ca prin Tg. Cucu Daniel si-a facut de cap cu o poarta si ca ajunsi in Copou am furat clamele de la nenea cu ziarele de i-am zis: “Bulargaaaaa !!!”
Si sa mai spun ca am ajuns la 05:20 si ca la 07:45 m-am trezit dupa o ora foarte chinuitoare de somn si am asistat la colegiul national E. Racovita (“professor”).

Vreau sa mai spun: Multumesc Big up, Daniel, Ionut si “mie” pentru acea seara.

Alte keywords’uri: noroi, intuneric, cainele laika, et all [...]

THANKS bigup!!

Da en av mine kjæreste venninner var på en småsketchy tur til London i 2002 kom hun hjem med en fabelaktig gave til meg. Jeg fikk en opptakskassett. En monokassett. Så det er bare lyd på én høyttaler.

Men innholdet er gudbenådet. En lørdagsaften på Supreme FM. 

- To all those going on holiday.
- To all those coming home from holiday.
- To all those in the backyard throwing a barbie.
- To all those driving around the capitol on this warm Saturday evening – BIG UP.
- Hold tight Tanya.
- This next one…is HUGE.
- Where’s my phoneline crew?
- If you don’t have credit on your phone, go down the local and buy credit.
- Awright, that’s enough. Now DJ, take it! Take it take it take it!
- Big up Charlie.
- Next one MASSIVE!
- Trust me!
- That’s my baby Tanya! 
- White people hit me up on MSN! 
- I have to start this one again from the top.

Jeg elsker piratradio. Og nå har jeg endelig somlet meg til å finne det på nett. Innfallsmetoden førte meg til Shine 87.9 og SUBJAM FM. Satser på at det er gode steder å begynne. Nå trenger jeg aldri lage spillelister til fest igjen. Velkommen til UK Garage-rom på innflyttingsfesten. Med MC!

This year City Beach will present the Reel Rock Tour in conjunction with ABS Season 10.  This years film will be a compilation of Peter Mortimer’s Sharp End and a Big Up Dose from the Rocklands.  The tour will also be showcasing amateur footage from several film makers, in the categories of action/drama & comedy. City Beach will launch ABS Season 10 and the Reel Rock Tour on September 27th.  The day will include a bouldering comp, a two hour movie, free pizza and beer, and thousands of dollars worth of free swag
so mark the 27th on your calendar.
 

Irrespective of the grisly nature of a nightly news item there is always that one person who finds pleasure in being seen by the ‘video-light’.

So the news is on and for whatever reason scores of persons with the most eloquently written placards [insert sarcastic smiley here] are expressing discontent with the perceived poor management or unfortunate outcome of a situation. There are two ladies with unkempt hairdos screaming at the interviewer whom they know isn’t wearing his hearing-aids on that particular day while a small crowd of other residents shadows offering support. As the passion builds, the crowd grows and the shouts and cries for justice increase. In the background, the cameras detects two persons, not as irate as their colleagues, with a similar opportunistic demeanor but instead of focusing on the unfair treatment which resulted in the news cast to begin with, are busy stealing a “big up aunty Sandra and Dufus” into the few seconds of attention they receive. Free greetings without the use of ones cell phone credit? Priceless.

These ‘freeloaders’ will certainly have a challenge when the news is aired. Being a celebrity is hard work.

Ashley just mailed me with a nice idea she has on her blog. She picks four bands she’s never heard before, gives them a listen for a week and then tells you what she thinks. You’ve probably heard a lot of them but it’s interesting to see what a fresh pair of ears brings to a band you might know well….

It’s here:

http://www.breakfromthescene.net/