 |
 |
||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||
 |
|
||||||||
 |
|
||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||
 |
|
||||||||
 |
|
||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||
 |
|
||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||
 |
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 30th, 2010 by Da Fam Ink
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
March 30th, 2010 by Phella
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The young lady with the best stomach in the game hooks up with the gentleman with the best pen game in the industry. I’m speechless!
March 29th, 2010 by Phella
Two weeks ago I was fortunate enough to get live play-by-play of this video as it was being shot. Nisarg, good friend of Da Fam, was on set with ByAnyMeans and sent over a exclusive few flicks. Here’s the final product.
March 29th, 2010 by Da Fam Ink
Ok, here we go. Initially after watching Erykah Badu’s new video on Saturday morning, I thought like most men did “wow, what a nice ass!”. Then eventually I settled down and replayed it to appreciate the true message and there was a lot of it to appreciate. The song is great and the concept of the video is even greater. Basically, from what I gather, Ms. Badu’s goal is to make people aware of the concept of ‘GROUPTHINK’. Simply defined, GROUPTHINK is going along with the masses without thinking as an individual.
Here are some more definitions of GROUPTHINK, as well as commentary on the video from E. Badu and her followers on Twitter. For those not on Twitter, Fatbellybella is Erykah Badu’s screen name.
@moneyfollowsme @fatbellybella groupthink defends current myths, because they know that a challenge 2 their beliefs means danger 4 the group & their safety
@PoeticBluKitti @fatbellybella #GROUPTHINK People who follow whatever story or policy is handed to them without question.
@amanidakar Honestly I do not understand the concept of the video in relation to the lyrics (groupthink vs. escapism) @fatbellybella
@fatbellybella so it is true.being honest CAN get u assassinated.your character,spirt,& sometimes physically.interesting. what drives this? keep dialoging.
@fatbellybella funny , i thought i was outta shape thus encouraging others toward self love .. but they think im showin off . lol . the irony . sheeeezus!
@fatbellybella funny thing is , the physical nudity is nothing lol . i been naked all along in my words actions and deeds . thats the real vulnerable place
@fatbellybella i remember tweeting that day.”okay here goes nothing” i felt like i was going2 do something life threatening.1nce hoody unzip-no tur’n back
@fatbellybella heard people yelling diff things @ me but i held my head up and kept moving.there were children there.i prayed they wouldnt b traumatized…
@fatbellybella GROUPTHINK is walking up and yelling “crucify him” without knowing anything about him or IT
Fair:
Fair #1
In the video, Ms. Badu returns to the scene of JFK’s assassination in Dallas, Texas and walks from her car to a local park. During her 2 to 3 minute walk she removes all of her clothing. Right down to the end when she’s completely naked in front of everyone who was out that day, including several young children. I say fair because she wanted to do it and she did it. Anytime someone is expressing themselves how they want to and not thinking with the group, I’m all for it.
Fair #2
At the end of the video she is figuratively assassinated by those who don’t understand her and her blood spells out GROUPTHINK. Genius; however you want to slice it.
Fair #3
The video has opened up much needed dialogue such as this one on a variety of topics. It’s rare these days that anything captures our attention long enough that we discuss it for more than an hour. It seems Ms. Badu, her critics, and her supporters, are all learning through out this process and that’s always a good thing. If that was her goal then mission accomplished.
Foul:
Foul #1
I believe stripping in front of little kids is out of bounds regardless of how creative or soulful you think you are. I can only wonder how those in support of it would feel if they were at a park on a Sunday with their kids or siblings and a grown man began taking his clothes off in the name of art. You would probably kill him or at least want to. But somehow because it’s Erykah Badu, creator of all things deep, she gets a pass?
It’s no fault of Erykah’s but I believe she is the beneficiary of the same kind of thinking she wants to eliminate; GROUPTHINK. Here group thinks that all things “soulful” and “creative” should be honored. It can’t be wrong. If it’s popular, like a Beyonce, Jay-Z or Lady Gaga, then we can crucify it. Then it’s hedonistic, then it’s demonic, then it’s too vulgar for our children to see. But for as long as you have dreadlocks or a good message then strip away.
Foul #2
The video had absolutely positively nothing to do with the song. It was a genius song about love and she made a genius video for it about GROUPTHINK. It’s her song, her video, and her budget so she has every right to do as she pleases. However, I can’t help but suggest a publicity stunt was involved here. I had no clue Ms. Badu’s latest album was to be released tomorrow until I watched the video which I probably wouldn’t have watched if I never saw a screen shot of her half naked body.
Closing statement:
I’m for the video. I love it and I’ll definitely be buying Erykah Badu’s new album tomorrow. However, I feel the same pass she is being given should be awarded to anyone in the future who decides to take it where she took it. To constantly criticize the Britney Spears’ of the world for artistic expression and then praise the Erykah Badu’s is not only GROUPTHINK but it’s hypocritical.
Furthermore, an adult being naked in front of kids is something I’m not sure I agree with. As a mother, a role model and a responsible member of society I think rather than actually going through with process, she could have utilized modern technology to make it look like she was naked in the park. To really do it and then hope the kids aren’t traumatized, I believe is a bit ignorant.
Lastly, there was some random guy in red following her and picking up all the clothes as she took them. I wonder if he also “got the drawls”.
March 27th, 2010 by Da Fam Ink
In this day and age of next to nothing video budgets it’s cool to observe which artists and their teams are able to stretch creativity and make good visuals for cheap. Ms. Badu sets the standard with this one. Besides her body, the way the video is shot and the message at the end make this a Five-Star video.
March 25th, 2010 by Da Fam Ink
In case you’ve been under a rock or extremely busy then you might not be aware that Rev Run’s son and Russells nephew, Diggy, is the latest signee over at Atlantic records. Over the past month, the young kid has gained a lot of fans in the blogosphere by releasing a series of freestyles and exclusives that we’re surprisingly good. Surprising to most because his elder brother JoJo has long attempted a rap career unsucesfully.
Close friends who have met and worked with this guy say he has his head on straight. That, plus good music might spell success for another Simmons family member. Check out this latest release and see if you ‘dig’ it.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
March 23rd, 2010 by Phella
“Hope you take from it something you can use. Whether you take from it just the music to sing along and vibe to, or the insight into my life and how I’m feeling at the time, or the underlying message of making the best out whatever the world hands you; thanks and you’re welcome.”
March 21st, 2010 by Phella
The above photo is a behind the scenes shot of my homie Kunle’s photo shoot for SKC, his company. I was fortunate enough to be asked to take part. The photos were taken by two other friends of mine, Matt and Fresco. Good weather and good people being creative in the most relaxing part of the District of Columbia (Georgetown); that’ LIVING.
Besides taking photos I’ve been able to agree with the engineers mixing ‘Winter Wonderland’. I don’t think such a big deal has ever been made over 25 minutes of music but that’s just how it has to be. My whole life I’ve been so eager to share my art with the world that I often compromise quality. I say something like “people will get it..they’ll know what it was supposed to sound like”. True but not true. Some people can’t appreciate the girl in sweatpants with her hair tied. They need to see her in all her splendor; makeup, fancy heels, purse and the whole nine. So yeah, I’m dressing my music up and you’ll see her soon. It may be 80 degrees then but when has the temperature ever stopped you from admiring a pretty girl? LIVING.
The other day I had the pleasure of seeing Russell Simmons speak. I was about four rows back and it was cool. Cool to see that man that started this whole thing. With no Russell, I’d probably be……I don’t even know what I’d be doing but it wouldn’t be this and I wouldn’t trade this for the world. It was cool that almost everything he said were things that I already believe and actively practice. For instance, he’s currently re-defining the word ‘RICH’. Most people here that word and think of money. Russell is telling us that rich is a state of mind and that each of us already have all we could ever need in this world. Once you truly believe that, the Bentleys and ocean side mansions will find you. In other words, start living and soon you’ll be LIVING.
My official date to start my new life in New Jersey is April 6th. I feel like that’s too much info but whatever. I’m excited and so nonchalant about it. Maybe the reality that I’m moving to new state to live in a bare apartment with no furniture, no internet, no nothing has yet to set in. Or maybe I’m just that naive to believe that things will work themselves out. We’ll see. Either way, I know I’m about to be Jerzee LIVING!
I also hung out in NYC one day last week. Kicked my homie Nisarg’s ass in pool. It was ugly…very ugly. He should have just let me get on the road in peace. He and I, along with another friend ate at this vegan spot in the Lower East Side. Expensive as hell but cool. No cheese, no meat, no dairy. Just straight veggies but somehow they made it taste good. That’s LIVING.
I been listening to a lot of Tupac (2Pac) the last few days. Really vibing out and zoning. I love Pac man. His me against the world but yet, me with the world attitude is something to marvel at. The song I’m listening to as I type this, “Changes”, he says something about we have to “change the way we eat”. Like are you serious? This so called gangsta thug who gets shot up and shoots at cops cares about the health of his people? Enough to say on his song that we should be conscious of our diet? That was Pac for you. That’s why he’ll forever be LIVING.
I’ll leave with this Benjamin Franklin quote I stumbled across today. I read his book and study him almost any chance I get.
“Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.”
March 15th, 2010 by Da Fam Ink
Ms. Trina is back with a new album slated for this May. She hooks up with Diddy and Ms. Keri Baby on this “Million Dollar Girl” track. Looks like she’s having fun again after a few dark periods in her life.
This just might be comeback season. The Boy Wonder aka Lloyd Banks is back with a hit single and a video to match. No 50? No problem. Just Banks over production that sounds current and a Juelz Santana feature.
If you want something epic then we got that too. Ms. Erykah Badu is also on the comeback trail, not to say she ever went anywhere. Her hit song “Window Seat” will have a visual soon but in the meantime there’s the trailer above.
Bobby Ray aka B.O.B. called on some beautiful girls for his video for the song “Beautiful Girls” featuring Bruno Mars. The Adventures Of Bobby Ray coming in May and you can also catch Bob on tour with Lupe Fiasco right now.
And one last trailer for you courtesy of Mr. Loso in Case You Ain’t Know So. “R.I.P” from his latest mixtape There Is No Competition 2 with DJ Drama.
March 7th, 2010 by Da Fam Ink
Daniel Weisman, founder of Elitaste and manager to rapper Wale, isn’t a fan of HBO’s latest attempt to be cool. HBO has had some great shows in it’s day; The Sopranos, The Wire, Entourage, and several more. HTMIIA is simply not great. It’s not even good to be honest. But don’t let us tell it…..courtesy of Huffington Post, read these decent words from a Weisman.
“Disappointed doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel about HBO’s much-hyped new series How To Make It in America. Three episodes in and the “from-the-creators-of-Entourage” tagline is wearing off. Where Entourage is a genuinely sweet show about a core group of likeable people,How To Make It In America falls somewhere into a no man’s land most closely resembling a 2K10 version of KIDS.
How To Make It In America has no identity. I’d be giving the producers too much credit to suppose they are letting the show meander in some “cool” twilight zone on purpose as a treatise on the Me Generation’s self-absorption. We’ve seen this “moment-in-time look into the lives of a group of New Yorkers just trying to make it” countless times before, and in better form, from Woody Allen to dare I say, Hype Williams’ Belly. The show is a gimmick. And while Entourage takes the gimmick of celebrity and turns it into a cast of characters worth tuning into every week, HTMIIA takes the gimmick of the past four years of “underground” culture and attempts to make it into something mainstream. Unfortunately HBO viewers nestled between the two coasts don’t really care who Damien Hirst is nor do they care if exclusive Japanese denim is being peddled at bargain basement prices by a Sean John wearing Mafioso down at the docks. This sort of post modern commercialization of formerly underground movements is a perennial phenomenon for film and television most of the time resulting in embarrassing caricatures (Homeboys From Outer Space) and rarely ending in a quality piece of television (remember New York Undercover or Miami Vice?).
Even from a purely technical standpoint, HTMIIA jumps between traditional storytelling andArrested-Development-meets-Guy Ritchie cutaways and edits that could stand to be replaced by some solid acting and better dialog. While Entourage works because it’s continually entertaining to see what sorts of predicaments any of our favorite cast members will find themselves in next week even if the plotlines stagnate at times, HTMIIA would be better served as a feature length film (albeit with some serious casting changes and rewriting) that truly existed as a moment in time, rather than some amorphous ongoing saga that is these twentysomethings’ desire to make money. Money, although ever present on Entourage, is not the modus operandi of most of the characters (even Ari) and thus doesn’t leave you walking away feeling empty; remember E’s short-lived Murphy Group or Turtle’s management career? Entourage is more like How To Make It in America And Keep Your Friends while How To Make It In America is more like How To Fuck Over Your Friends While Trying To Make A Buck.
HTMIIA is parading around as a hip, edgy, docudrama and maybe 15 years ago they could have gotten away with it, but this is almost like a series made by its own target audience and nothing more. I wouldn’t be surprised if at the end of the season, one of the characters in the show gets his own fictitious TV show picked up by a cable network. And while long-running HBO series likeEntourage and Curb Your Enthusiasm use similar art-imitating-life devices, great acting, storytelling (sometimes) and comedy spare those shows from falling victim to a self-reflexive vortex,HTMIIA swallows itself whole, focusing entirely too much on style and next-to-nothing on substance. Critics hurled insults at Entourage last season for plots unfolding at a snail’s pace and having out-of-date issues of Sports Illustrated on the show but I’d trade that in a second to see one less “cool” cue on HTMIIA and one more character like Ari or Drama. I’m just not buying any of the actors on the show. Sopranos, Sex and The City and The Wire all had actors that made me believe the characters were real (in some cases they were in fact plucked from their environs); even the best writing in the world is useless if the actors aren’t selling you.
While I generally loathe self-indulgent, meme films like Garden State and 500 Days of Summer, there’s something to be said for their genuine hipster tendencies and their ability to get audiences to wholeheartedly jump headfirst into the world of the characters. HTMIIA tries way too hard to be cool and instead comes off as cold, alienating and downright depressing. Aside from the music, which I must say is deftly picked and placed (thanks to Entourage sups Scott Vener and Gabe Hilfer),HTMIIA literally has nothing going for it. Music fans will be excited at hearing some genuinely cutting edge cues but will be equally disappointed by the under usage and over-advertising of rapper Kid Cudi who has spoken maybe ten lines in the first three episodes.
Come on HBO. You made us care about four New York shopaholics, a Mafia boss, cold-hearted Baltimore drug dealers, a shitty Hollywood actor’s entourage and Larry David; all of which are feats in and of themselves. Why is it so hard to make us care about some New York hustlers? I guess this is what happens when Hollywood tries to spoon-feed “cool” to the masses.”
- Daniel Weisman
The question is have you watched the show? and do you agree or disagree with the criticism?
March 4th, 2010 by Da Fam Ink
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Drake’s first single is officially out as of this evening. It’s called “Over” and it’s produced by his go to producer Boi-1da. Some say his whole career is riding on this one single but those people have no clue how life works in 2010. If the song was terrible, which it’s not, it will be forgotten by next week. I think this will be remembered. Hip Hop Since 1987 (Drake’s management) doesn’t let it’s artists fall flat…ever.
March 4th, 2010 by Da Fam Ink
Okay here we go. The album is called Winter Wonderland: Enjoying Living In A Cold World. Hopefully you’ve watched my videos or you’re at least thinking on a deep enough level to know that it has nothing to do with the actual weather. It’s about life itself and how cold and harsh it can be. How the only way to enjoy it is to sustain through those cold periods and even find ways to enjoy them.
This first picture is probably my favorite. There’s only two times in life where we can experience true Winter Wonderland; as a child, when you’re oblivious to just how cold it is, or as a grown up, when you accept that the world is cold but you embrace it and find ways to make it work for you.
The second and third photos show that it takes a good amount of creativity to enjoy living in a cold world. It reminds me of when kids in third world countries play soccer barefoot or swim like Michael Phelps in the dirtiest of water. The harshness of their surrounding doesn’t bother them. Instead they make the best of it and turn it into wonderland. That’s what we did by turning snow into a baseball and a football.
The final picture simply shows the endurance and patience. It’s naïve to say the coldness of the world doesn’t get to us. Even the strongest of us can crack under the world’s pressures. However, if you endure and stay true to who you are, warmth is usually just around the corner. This is depicted in this photo by the snow melting away and the sun on the horizon.
Fresco, Matt, and Chris did a great job helping me illustrate this concept and I truly believe that I did my best job as an artist of getting this concept across on the 8 or 9 tracks you will hear. I did it in such a way that if you’re the type who skimmed through this entry, you’ll enjoy it, and if you’re the type who read and understood every word of this entry, then YOU’LL LOVE IT.
Whether you enjoy it, love it, or even hate it, which I doubt anyone will, it’s my life and it’s our life on audio so I hope that at the very least you appreciate it.
I appreciate it.
-Phella
March 3rd, 2010 by Phella
Sidebar: It bothers me when I read the comments to some of these things. People always call them “rants” and accuse the author of being “depressed” and “angry”. I guess it bothers me because back when I cared enough (I still care) to make the public aware of my thoughts I got the same reaction from some. “Phella is mad”. “Are you ok? Sounds like you’re about to commit suicide.” NO IDIOT. I’m very OK and the only thing that makes me want to commit suicide is that you and your type equate self expression with depression. Look in the mirror, ask yourself what you see and feel, tell a few people, it might help them. Even better, it might help you.
