Grammy Weekend in LA is so heavy that you can actually stumble into an all-star studio session. Case in point, when I lucked up and got invited to drop bars on the KRS-One sponsored "Self-Construction". We were at the LA Recording School in Hollywood working on our new single "Juicy Juice", when Amp ran into Rakaa from Dilated Peoples. Rakaa suggested that I come contribute to the project, as there would be hella MC's adding on. I was going to show up at the studio a little later, but when Amp dropped that on me, I told him to come pick me up pronto.
When I arrived, there were about 10 cats slipping and sliding in and out of the studio. The pounds ensued as they hipped me to the game. The song was called "Self-Construction" as an ode to the hip hop classic "Self-Destruction". Yeah, I'm with that. I went back over to our studio to check the mix, and got caught up. I'd have to return tomorrow to complete the mission.
The next day (Saturday), I came back to the spot where an even larger crowd had formed. This time I had come prepared. My verse was ready, albeit only 4 bars...let's go! I peeked into the control room to witness the somber mugs of studio rats. Heads bobbed to the chunky knock dripping from the monitors. An anonymous MC spit rhymes in the mic room as I eyed my opportunity to get on. I stepped to the producer and hollered, "What up fam? I'm ready." "Aite, go head", he responded pointing to the now empty booth. I jumped at the chance because something inside was telling me to get it in quickly before the heavy hitters showed up. As I steadied myself before the mic, the engineer told me that he needed a few minutes. All good. The next thing I knew, the producer was thumbing me out of the booth. Damn! Moments like this suck. I wondered to myself, "what's the problem now?" As I walked back into the studio, I saw what the commotion was about. Producer dude was snuggled up tight next to Nelly as I opened the door. Nonetheless, Nelly turned and greeted me like I was the old school homey. At least he was cool. But, now I was back into the same position I had just left. As I surveyed the scene, the Game and his entourage flooded the room, eight deep. Seconds later, about six more folks crashed into the shrinking studio to absorb the spectacle. From my position behind the door I counted heads, and tried to figure out how long this would take. I guess "star" power goes a long way.
I bided my time as bodies went in and out of the vocal booth. One dude took about 30 minutes as he fumbled thru a freestyled verse. Somehow, I maintained my game-face despite feeling slightly dissed. When the Game finished, and half the room walked out with him, I knew it was now or never. Within 5 minutes I had dropped my four bars. Whew! Finally got that off, now I could chill.
In the studio lobby, a massive assembly of artists, interviewers, and well wishers chilled together. It was dope to holla at folks, as everyone was juiced by all the illustrious talent in the building. I ran thru a gamut of interviews where folks seemed to be genuine about supporting the Stop the Violence Movement. Honestly, it was refreshing to see Hip Hop rallied around something uplifting. It was cool to see a dude like Nelly lay his beef with KRS to the side, in the name of unification.
With all the negative publicity that Hip Hop gets, this day was a prime example of how the media simply refuses to cover positive events within the culture. This is the type of jump off that needs to be seen on the nightly news. What better message to send to the youth? Even with all the different types of MC's in the house, when it comes down to it, even the most hardcore gangsta knows that peace is not the word to play. Its a beautiful message that we need right now. It really helped me to reconnect with the true potential that we have as the Hip Hop massive. To all the good people that came out to rep...much respect! Stop the violence..
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Roots Pre Grammy Jam @ the Key Club
It was Grammy Weekend in Los Angeles, and the anticipation in the air was palpable. We'd been kicking it for the previous few days, checking out the comings and goings of the jet set. But, according to our schedule, the Roots party on Saturday was the place to be. I knew I had to elevate the game, so I threw on a fly lil blazer and crisp pair of jeans. We rolled to the spot 5 deep: Goapele, Namane (her brother/our manager), Theo, Amplive and myself. As we pulled up, a thick throng of fly individuals milled around. Even with an rsvp, this would be an exercise in patience.
We waited in the car, marvelling at the assembling all-star cast, while Namane shuffled thru the well dressed mass in search of a way in. He emerged 30 minutes later and ushered us thru the chaos to a small table where we received our passes. As we turned to walk in, Namane whispered something to what looked like a hostess. Suddenly I heard her voice echo out over a loud speaker, "this is the hip hop group..Zion I". Wow. We moved semi-sheepishly into the din of snapping lights and cameras as we took our first steps on the red carpet. It was unexpected, but pretty cool. After that, the rest of the night would be a breeze.
The Key Club was a dim hovel encircling a medium sized stage which stood one floor below the balcony we were on. As soon as we walked in I saw King Tech of Wake Up Show fame. We chopped it up for a minute, before he invited us to come to his show the next day. Dope. We moved further into the mix, and settled into the casual mix of celebrities and industry insiders. Several actors, actresses, producers, rappers, singers, and reality tv folks hobnobbed the night away in true LA bliss. I sat back and peeped the scene enjoying the subtle spectacle.
The next thing I knew, Questlove was onstage bouncing into an edgy drum solo. Let the show begin. Without warning, Travis Barker appeared on the traps next to him and began shedding. It was fresh to see two masters inspire each other into rhythmic unison. Questlove with his daddy cool, and Travis Barker with his frenzied maniac. This immaculate pairing was only the beginning. Soon, the rest of the Roots crew sauntered to the stage and dipped and dabbed into jams from Game Theory to Phrenology. Yet in classic jam session style, they were joined by the lead singer of Fall Out Boy, Seal, Wale, and Alice Smith amongst others. There were even whispers that Prince would join the constantly morphing ensemble, but he didn't. I would have loved to see that!
As the night moved on, my feet began to cry out for mercy. The long hours on my feet posted near the bar began to take its toll. I guess partying 3 days straight eventually adds up. It caught me sideways, as I felt the firm grip of fatigue grab me midway through the performance. It was all good, I had seen enough to last me for awhile. In that short time, I had stocked up enough inspiration to last me for a least a couple albums. A toast to hip hop...a toast to the Roots!
We waited in the car, marvelling at the assembling all-star cast, while Namane shuffled thru the well dressed mass in search of a way in. He emerged 30 minutes later and ushered us thru the chaos to a small table where we received our passes. As we turned to walk in, Namane whispered something to what looked like a hostess. Suddenly I heard her voice echo out over a loud speaker, "this is the hip hop group..Zion I". Wow. We moved semi-sheepishly into the din of snapping lights and cameras as we took our first steps on the red carpet. It was unexpected, but pretty cool. After that, the rest of the night would be a breeze.
The Key Club was a dim hovel encircling a medium sized stage which stood one floor below the balcony we were on. As soon as we walked in I saw King Tech of Wake Up Show fame. We chopped it up for a minute, before he invited us to come to his show the next day. Dope. We moved further into the mix, and settled into the casual mix of celebrities and industry insiders. Several actors, actresses, producers, rappers, singers, and reality tv folks hobnobbed the night away in true LA bliss. I sat back and peeped the scene enjoying the subtle spectacle.
The next thing I knew, Questlove was onstage bouncing into an edgy drum solo. Let the show begin. Without warning, Travis Barker appeared on the traps next to him and began shedding. It was fresh to see two masters inspire each other into rhythmic unison. Questlove with his daddy cool, and Travis Barker with his frenzied maniac. This immaculate pairing was only the beginning. Soon, the rest of the Roots crew sauntered to the stage and dipped and dabbed into jams from Game Theory to Phrenology. Yet in classic jam session style, they were joined by the lead singer of Fall Out Boy, Seal, Wale, and Alice Smith amongst others. There were even whispers that Prince would join the constantly morphing ensemble, but he didn't. I would have loved to see that!
As the night moved on, my feet began to cry out for mercy. The long hours on my feet posted near the bar began to take its toll. I guess partying 3 days straight eventually adds up. It caught me sideways, as I felt the firm grip of fatigue grab me midway through the performance. It was all good, I had seen enough to last me for awhile. In that short time, I had stocked up enough inspiration to last me for a least a couple albums. A toast to hip hop...a toast to the Roots!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Zion I Rocks Zellerbach Auditorium @ UC Berkeley
Twas Feb. 1st at the academic mecca of UC Berkeley, at the storied Zellerbach Auditorium. Gathered together were some of the brightest literary minds in the country. We were all summoned there in the name of activism as it relates to the hip hop culture. It was truly an honor to be present. As I languidly slid into the underground parking at the designated time of 8:30, I had no idea of what a legendary night it would be.
I met our manager Tim House in the concrete fortress beneath the performance area. As we made our way thru the labyrinth of hallways and doors, he informed me that the house was packed. Wow. I wasn't expecting as much, but it would definitely help to get me juiced for the show. This is especially true since my stomach was still bubbling from having eaten bad sushi a precious few days before. Yuck...it hurts just to think about it. When we reached the lobby, I saw the vigorous activity of a full blown concert. Baby faced college and high school students mixed and mingled in anticipation of the evenings events.
A program coordinator led me to backstage where I saw old school homies like Bamuthi (host of the affair), Dahlak, and many prominent Youth Speaks poets. Among the nights performers were iLL-Literacy, Ammo from Philly (the champions of the 2007 Youth and Collegiate National Poetry Slams), Siren's Echo from Portland and Atlanta, and Gabriel Teodros from Seattle. The vibe was laid back, but a thin veil of tension hung ever so gently in the air. I chilled backstage until Amplive and Deuce Eclipse sauntered in with swift succession.
After about 20 minutes of lightweight rhetoric, it was time to hit the stage. Bamuthi gave us a rousing introduction, as he freestyled a perfect segueway, while Amp navigated several apparent sound issues. Once we started rocking, it was obvious that this would be a night to remember. The crowd rocked with furious swagger, yelling back the lyrics to "Temperature" and "Bird's Eye View. They bopped hard to the riot of beats banging thru Zellerbach. I looked at Deuce and could see that he was tripping off the intensity as much as I was.
Something seemed to snap, however, once we dipped into "Don't Lose Ya Head". Suddenly, the kinetic energy in the room was activated, as arms and legs twisted thru the air with rare vigilance. Dreads bounced viciously, and shoulders snapped under the impact of Amp's booming bass. "Don't-d-d-don't-don't lose ya head!" Slowly a mosh-like pit formed on the left side of the stage. Dope!
We saved "the Bay" for the finale, and I'm glad we did. As soon as the low swoon of stand up bass hit the speakers, squads of hyped fans rushed the stage. By the chorus of the song Deuce and I were surrounded by hundreds of audience members singing the song, mean mugging, and dancing! The only word to describe the scene is euphoric. I felt like I had just smoked one to the face, but I was clear as the day. The enthusiasm of the chaotic scene only increased the revelry of the capacity theatre. It was truly a celebration of our unique corner of the Earth. Cats were showing off their best thizz faces, dancing as if tomorrow would never come. I could barely contain my smile enough to finish off the song! Honestly, it was one of the illest moments in my career thus far. The only thing I was scared of was that the stage might break. There were so many people on it giggin', that I could feel the age old floor giving way under the weight of youthful expression. Luckily, it heldfast, and we were able to finish the show without incident or injury.
To close it out, I'd like to big up the fans for making it a night to remember! All yall who came out, represented, and didn't cause any problems, thank you. Hip Hop already has a bad reputation, we appreciate those who respect the culture enough to have a good time, but leave the bs behind. All massive hold tight...until the next time. Blessed!
zumbi
I met our manager Tim House in the concrete fortress beneath the performance area. As we made our way thru the labyrinth of hallways and doors, he informed me that the house was packed. Wow. I wasn't expecting as much, but it would definitely help to get me juiced for the show. This is especially true since my stomach was still bubbling from having eaten bad sushi a precious few days before. Yuck...it hurts just to think about it. When we reached the lobby, I saw the vigorous activity of a full blown concert. Baby faced college and high school students mixed and mingled in anticipation of the evenings events.
A program coordinator led me to backstage where I saw old school homies like Bamuthi (host of the affair), Dahlak, and many prominent Youth Speaks poets. Among the nights performers were iLL-Literacy, Ammo from Philly (the champions of the 2007 Youth and Collegiate National Poetry Slams), Siren's Echo from Portland and Atlanta, and Gabriel Teodros from Seattle. The vibe was laid back, but a thin veil of tension hung ever so gently in the air. I chilled backstage until Amplive and Deuce Eclipse sauntered in with swift succession.
After about 20 minutes of lightweight rhetoric, it was time to hit the stage. Bamuthi gave us a rousing introduction, as he freestyled a perfect segueway, while Amp navigated several apparent sound issues. Once we started rocking, it was obvious that this would be a night to remember. The crowd rocked with furious swagger, yelling back the lyrics to "Temperature" and "Bird's Eye View. They bopped hard to the riot of beats banging thru Zellerbach. I looked at Deuce and could see that he was tripping off the intensity as much as I was.
Something seemed to snap, however, once we dipped into "Don't Lose Ya Head". Suddenly, the kinetic energy in the room was activated, as arms and legs twisted thru the air with rare vigilance. Dreads bounced viciously, and shoulders snapped under the impact of Amp's booming bass. "Don't-d-d-don't-don't lose ya head!" Slowly a mosh-like pit formed on the left side of the stage. Dope!
We saved "the Bay" for the finale, and I'm glad we did. As soon as the low swoon of stand up bass hit the speakers, squads of hyped fans rushed the stage. By the chorus of the song Deuce and I were surrounded by hundreds of audience members singing the song, mean mugging, and dancing! The only word to describe the scene is euphoric. I felt like I had just smoked one to the face, but I was clear as the day. The enthusiasm of the chaotic scene only increased the revelry of the capacity theatre. It was truly a celebration of our unique corner of the Earth. Cats were showing off their best thizz faces, dancing as if tomorrow would never come. I could barely contain my smile enough to finish off the song! Honestly, it was one of the illest moments in my career thus far. The only thing I was scared of was that the stage might break. There were so many people on it giggin', that I could feel the age old floor giving way under the weight of youthful expression. Luckily, it heldfast, and we were able to finish the show without incident or injury.
To close it out, I'd like to big up the fans for making it a night to remember! All yall who came out, represented, and didn't cause any problems, thank you. Hip Hop already has a bad reputation, we appreciate those who respect the culture enough to have a good time, but leave the bs behind. All massive hold tight...until the next time. Blessed!
zumbi
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