"It's a bit of a long story but I'll make it quick. This past August I sublet a friend of a friend's loft in Chinatown and recorded an EP of what's been going on in my life. Originally, I reached out to a bunch of different artists, producers, writers, and contacts I'd made over a while to collaborate and turn the release into something bigger than what I could do alone but few hit me back, and even fewer actually came through.
The project is my first of original material. I wrote the album in 2 weeks to a library of beats I've had for some time. I spent 5 days recording 7 tracks. I recorded the intro "Fuck the Summertime" on the morning I had to be out of the loft, September 1st. I felt like I needed one more record so I started flipping through the beats and when I found one, for the first time in my life I stood in front of the mic and free-styled in spurts, writing the whole record live in 15 minutes.
I spent most nights alone, mixing records, sitting at the big windows watching, breathing Chinatown. I'm at a funny point in my life and I poured it all into the music. My friend Ryan came by a couple days and we shot all the artwork, which I'm very excited about. He took great, very introspective shots that really show you what kind of place I was in. There's a line on one of my favorite records on the album, "I'm exploring, eyes wide, walking through the halls, this man's got his whole life right here on the walls". And it's true. The combination of having such a black summer, losing family, our icons, going crazy trying to work and grind for these invisible means, and being in this much older man's home, this accomplished artist's Chinatown loft for 25 years was a lot to take in. It really put me in a different kind of creative space.
If everything goes according to plan I'm releasing it digitally for free on my www.illrapper.com this coming TUESDAY, September 29th. I also plan to submit it to iTunes & Amazon for an official November Release. My only hope is that the blogs pick it up, people get wind, there's some kind of demand for it and word gets around that it's good music and deserves a listen. That's seriously my only hope. If you have some kind of avenue, a site, if you have any ideas on how to get this thing out there, please, I'm open to any kind of help.
Talk to me, hit me back. Say something, anything, lemme know you got this. Peace for now !"- T.Shirt
The music world is in mourning after it was announced by hip hop artist Busta Rhymes that his personal DJ, Roc Raida, is dead aged 37.
Raida, an avid mixed martial arts devotee, had injured his back while training at a gym, and had received back surgery twice in the time since to correct the injury.
He was recovering from the surgery when complications saw his health take a turn for the worst, and he died Saturday Sept. 19. at 2:05 p.m.
Born Anthony Williams, Raid won the 1995 DMC World DJ Championship, earning a spot in the DMC Hall of Fame four years later. The turntable spinner worked with some of the biggest names in music, including Ghostface Killah, Jungle Brothers, Busta Rhymes, Big L and Linkin Park.
He had released six solo albums and seven more with his group, the X-Ecutioners.
Williams had trained in mixed martial arts for several years. He was recovering at an "inpatient physical therapy facility" at the time of his death, according to a statement from his family.
"Family and friends will miss him dearly. Please give the family their privacy," the statement continued.
Busta Rhymes said on his Twitter stream, "I never met a more humble man in the industry...So unbelievably talented and most importantly such beautiful spirit...I LOVE U MY BROTHER..." before talking about how "We r loosing all of these great people this year as a result of God calling his army because something is about 2 go down!!"
"To me, he was the best DJ on the planet--nobody can tell me different," his friend Lord Finesse told StreetHop.com. "Until they do what Roc Raida has done, from body tricks to beat juggling to speed scratching. I mean, everything ... he made that shit look easy."
A post on Williams' MySpace page had previously warned fans that "rumors and chatter are not accurate." His family called the death "unexpected."
Williams is survived by his wife and three daughters. R.I.P Brutha!
Finally something worth taking a glance at. These guys are actually doing something about the problem, not just talking tht talk but walking the walk. Nuff respect!
RESCUE INK is a rescue group unlike any you’ve seen before: a bunch of tattooed, motorcycle-riding tough guys who have joined together to fight animal cruelty, educate abusers and help resolve situations other rescue groups can’t – or won’t – handle themselves.
Some of the guys grew up in the projects, some had their brushes with the law, some used their smarts to survive, even thrive on the streets. But that was then, this is now, and today they all share a common goal: Using every means within the thin boundaries of the law, they persuade and educate abusers about the right way to treat animals.
Like many of the animals they save, the members of Rescue Ink know what it’s like to be given a second chance in life. And they’re using theirs to help the animals, no matter what it takes.
What makes them so effective? Take a look. Would you mess with these guys? RESCUE INK
V is an upcoming television series remake to be broadcast on ABC during the mid season of the 2009-2010 television season. It is executive produced by The 4400 creator Scott Peters, Jace Hall, Steve Pearlman and Jeffrey Bell and is based on the science-fiction franchise created by Kenneth Johnson. The series will premiere on November 3, 2009. V: The Series was a one-hour weekly television series that aired in the United States on NBC in 1984-85. It was a continuation of the science fiction franchise about an alien invasion of Earth by a carnivorous race of reptilians known as "The Visitors" which was originally conceived by American writer, producer and director Kenneth Johnson. Johnson, however, was not involved in the production of the weekly series. Giant spaceships appear over all major cities of the world, the alien "Visitors" claiming to come in peace. As some humans begin to doubt the sincerity of the Visitors, Homeland Security agent Erica Evans discovers that the aliens have spent decades infiltrating human governments and businesses and are now in the final stages of their plan to take over the planet. Erica joins the resistance movement, which includes Ryan, a Visitor sleeper agent who wants to save humanity. However, the aliens have won favor among the people of Earth by curing a variety of diseases, and have recruited Earth's youth, including Erica's son, to serve unknowingly as spies. This is a must for all you 80's babies outthere.
Little Club Heads is a once a month dance party for families and kids ages 6 months-8years old. Come party with the entire family as the top dj's in NYC are sure to get the party started. Little Club Heads features lots of fun entertainment, dancing, face painting, balloon artist, cartoon characters,free snacks, clowns, free cotton candy, and a children's boutique featuring MadisonParker Clothing's cool t-shirts and onesies. Food and drink specials and birthday party packages available. This month is a tribute to the 80's .For advance ticket sales or more info go to www.littleclubheads.com
Host: "Little Club Heads" Price: $15 Date: Sunday, September 27, 2009 Time: 12:00pm - 3:00pm Location: La Pomme Street: 37 West 26th Street City/Town: New York, NY Phone: 9173273268 Email: Info@littleclubheads.com
So on Trevor Nelson's BBC 1 radio show recently Jay-Z responded to Nelson's suggestion that Kanye wouldn't have pulled his VMA stunt on 50 as he did Taylor Swift by saying, "I think he would have done it if it was 50 Cent. No one's scared of 50 Cent....I just want everyone to know no one's scared of 50 Cent!" Now of course Ye wouldn't have done it if it were Gary Coleman but that's besides the point, the point is 50 got what he wanted after jabbing at Hov on "Flight 187" and will gladly use this to create some type of "beef" to promote the steamless and still no release date BISD lp. Let the games begin. Holla. - ICE