Theme song for the people I've seen in Vegas

Never Tell Me The Odds! Happy 30th, Empire Strike Back

(First and foremost, happy birthday, mom. Love you so much and thank you for everything)

Seven years old, walking into a dark RKO Fordham theater, holding my father's hand as he tried to find us a seat. On the screen was a bloodied Luke Skywalker, hung upside down as he reached out for his lightsaber. We came in late and my brother decided to sit by himself or something. Didn't matter, I was focused on the screen. This was my first Star Wars film and my little heart was hooked from then.

People know I'm a Star Wars geek. I have some action figures (including two preview Mace Windu figures, one which is still in its package), played various video games based on the series, seen/own all the VHS/DVDs (well most), and though I don't follow it at times, will give Yoda's advice of doing and not trying. If I had a List, besides football, being able to tolerate Star Wars is up there. Not saying you have to be a fan(atic), but at least be willing to indulge my Star Wars geekdom (don't worry, you do not have to do cosplay, especially since I don't).

Empire Strikes Back was dark, somber, and a perfect set up for the third movie, Return of the Jedi. Eventually it would be the template for all second movies in trilogies to come afterwards (Two Towers, anyone?). Heroes took a massive blow in this one, one was frozen and another was missing a hand. It had a mixed of humor, seriousness, and "DID YOU SEE THAT?" moments. I was just as terrified of the AT-ATs when I first saw them marching on Hoth as the rebels did. One of the best chase scene in a film, in my option, was the asteroid field (John Williams' score of that scene is an all time favorite).

I could go on and on about Star Wars, but let me keep what little dignity I have left. Thank you, George Lucas, for sparking the imagination of millions which still lives on today.


May the force be with you...always.

Original Trailer:


If ESB was made in 1950, it would probably look like this:


Cliff Notes:


Luke vs Darth Vader:


Ending with my favorite Star Wars related mention in a movie:

PicStories

Happy Mother's Day: A Suite For Ma Dukes

"Suite for Ma Dukes = John Williams plus Hip Hop" *

I had a Christmas in May moment when I received my Timeless DVD set on Thursday. I've been anxiously waiting for this and here these three DVDs were, in my hands and soon DVD drive. Tried to start with the Mulatu Astatke one because I knew if I went straight to Suite for Ma Dukes, I probably wouldn't watch the others. How well did I know myself because that's what happened.

Arranged by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (who also took part in the Astatke DVD), the music of producer J. Dilla (James Yancey) was re-imagined as orchestral pieces. As the tweens would say, Oh Em Gee. To hear favorite songs like "Fall In Love", "Hoc N Pocky", or "Take Notice" (!!!) played by a forty (40) piece orchestra is incredible and you can see the love involved in making this happen. I will give you far warning: if you are a Dilla fan, you will cry/get emotional at least three times, especially seeing the cello placed for him.**

So please please do yourself a favor and purchase Suite for Ma Dukes (the Timeless collection is highly recommended).

Take Notice


Dwele performing "Angel"


Here is Georgia Anne Muldrow's remix of "Untitled/Fantastic" from the upcoming Timeless: Remixed Ep coming out this summer

The Sounds of VTech / Georgia Anne Muldrow Remix: Untitled/Fantastic

*as a youngster, I used to borrow Pops in Space at least ten times. John Williams was the first conductor/composer that could get me to listen to an orchestral album without falling asleep. Also since I'm a geek, he did the score for my favorite movies, notably (you guessed it) the Star Wars saga. So to me, that's the highest praise I could give. Don't care if you agree or not, THIS IS MY BLOG GOTDAM IT! haha

**Dilla used to play the cello, which was an inspiration for the suite. There is an edit with it involved that almost made me lose it.

On: How I grew to not hate Phrenology as much as I did

Monday, May 3rd*

7:29 PM me: last thing: is it bad that the only song I remember off of Phrenology is "Water"?
7:31 PM fredara: nope!
7:33 PM me: cool haha
7:40 PM uh oh
so I'm listening to "Sacrifice" and thinking of giving the album another listen
:-(
7:41 PM fredara: oh?
me: yeah
you
know
age and shit
fredara: lol
7:42 PM me: I'm staring real hard at the CD
fredara: lol
me: fuck it
7:49 PM me: three songs in and I see what went wrong
7:50 PM 1) they left all that band feel out the door
2) that punk rock song was way too early
7:52 PM 3) too many effects
6 minutes
7:59 PM me: uh oh
I think...
fredara: ?
me: I might actually not hate it as much as before
8:00 PM fredara: lolol
5 minutes
8:05 PM me: oh no
i don't dislike "Seed 2.0" as much either
8:06 PM fredara: yeah, i'm cool with that
8:07 PM me: I'm beginning to think I had too much access to not really like the album
like the original Water, the original Seed
knowing that most of these songs were on Masterpiece Theater
8:08 PM and the d'angelo version of Break U Off

Tonight (Phrenology the background music)

1. "This isn't like Illadelph Halflife or Things Fall Apart!" Very true, it's not like either of those albums. It's something...different. Where were the "Vs."? Why wasn't Ursula Rucker doing the poem at the end as usual? For a fan during the Organix to Things Fall Apart, this was a major departure. To me, this is more akin to Buhloone Mindstate ie "I don't know if I could really get into this because it doesn't sound like a typical *insert artist* album"
2. "What the f*ck is that crazy sh!t after 'Water'?!?!" Actually I wasn't turned off by the "Fiend" part of "Water", but I could see how others could be. It's long, jarring, head scratching; yes all of that. However it's beautiful piece of work...that might have worked better as a last track (speaking of which, the hell was going on with the hidden track "Thirsty"?)
3. "Man, half of this is Black Thought's album! We waited this long for a half ass album?!?" This, I believe, was the major gripe about the album. To some of us, it just seemed that the Roots kinda put together a compilation album. You have some songs from Black Thought's shelved MCA album, Masterpiece Theater ("Water", "Rock You", "Thought At Work", and "Pussy Galore") and "Seed", which was originally on Cody Chesnutt's debut album The Headphone Masterpiece (minus Thought's verses). Three years and we get less than half a Roots album.
4. "Musiq Soulchild?!?! WHERE'S D'ANGELO?" Haha for the full (?) story of that, read the liner notes for Homegrown. Long story short, music business business (seriously ?uestlove tells a better story of the incident, though you could see the madness involved in the Phrenology's notes)
5. "'Seed 2.0' is vulgar!" Again, I didn't have a problem with this or the imagery, however I know some female fans were turned off with "I push my seed in her bush". Understandable.

So how is it that I came to not dislike the album as much as back in 2002? Simple, it's 2010, meaning growth and age happened. Musically, I can understand the album better as well as kinda see where the group was heading. Age led me to be more objective, especially since I'm not that rabid "Yall ain't heard of the Roots?!?" fan anymore. It's more subtle "Check out this track if you liked them on Jimmy Fallon's show."

It's interesting to revisit an album which divided a fan base like Phrenology did. Maybe it was a barometer of said fan (stan?) base like, imo, Around the World in a Day, where Prince distanced himself from Purple Rain. Kinda like "Will you still be with us after we do this" to which my answer was yes.

I do know one thing:
I'm still not listening to Tipping Point besides "Star", "Stay Cool", "Boom" and "Web" (sorry)
So yeah, Ahmir, my bad...

*chat used with permission

The War of Art

Books

I read them, but easily bored by them. Maybe I don't have the attention span or I get too busy to finish them, but at times, like writing, I just can't keep the focus or the drive. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I love reading, just at this point, with a piling plate, books aren't on that list.

My dear friend and "Skipper" to my "Ken", Autumn and I were talking about creative drives and what usually blocks them. "You ever read the book The War of Art by Steven Pressfield?" to which I replied no. "You should, I think it will help you out."

Ugh...books...

After she mentioned it at least three times, decided to bite the bullet and order a copy. Man alive, that was one of the best recommendations I've gotten in a long while. I feel so empowered, it's incredible. We as creatives have so many obstacles and stumbling blocks it's kinda hard to not give up and become a mindless drones.

A few gems:
-Resistance is the fear from within
-a pro takes criticism, but doesn't let it affect their work
-Resistance is a distraction (tv, drugs, internet, sex, family, friends)
-(and when I start my new job) "We only have rights to our work, not the fruits of said work" (meaning what comes from the work produced is not as important as doing the work itself)

While I haven't finished the book yet (can't wait to get to the Muse chapter), I feel like how I did when I first took African Studies...illuminated (not to be confused with Illuminati).

So please...pick up this book, you won't regret it. Matter of fact...read some for yourself

History

While doing some much needed cleaning, I came across a Ticketmaster envelope. Thought nothing of it and was about to throw it away until I felt something inside. No lie, when I opened it up, I saw a bright light and heard a choral in the background. Inside were...ticket stubs, stubs I thought I lost but now found.

Here are some of my prized stubs (starting top clockwise):

1) Okayplayer Tour (Winter Mini-Tour with Def Jux and Pete Rock & CL Smooth)
This was a cool little tour and the Roots are my favorite group to see live. If you haven't seen them live, you're missing out, especially if you love live music. The Def Jux crew was okay, but nothing really to write home about. However I was amped to see Pete Rock & CL Smooth rock (no pun intended), being that I never saw them perform live. Also with the supposed riff, this was something that had to be seen. Was not disappointed, just seeing CL get live to some of their classic hits was enough for me.

Another thing I remembered was seeing it with Fredara, who later told me it was a date haha. If only I had known...(Rain check?) . It was also funny how she spent some of her time looking for some place to charge her phone during the Def Jux portion of the show.

2) Prince (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Show)
A reminder for those new, which is probably most of you, I am a die hard Prince fan. He's the reason why I lost interest in playing classical music, much to the chagrin of my Russian piano teacher. The reason...man, that's for another post. Let's just say he's a major influence of mine, no matter that he's releasing, in my opinion, sub-par material now.

Anyway this was my very first Prince show...ever. Remember a friend of mine kept looking at me. Asked her why and her reply was "I wanted to see if you were going to cry." Thanks...but I ain't crying over no man (well not one living, I did when Dilla died). I did, however, get excited when I saw the brown and black guitar (the one used during Computer Blues). Yes he did wear heels that lit up when he walked haha. Yes some of his fans are out there (a mother yelled at her daughter to not drop the flowers she brought for Prince). Yes I didn't get home until 3am and had to go to work the next day. Would I do it again? Cmon now...

3) Okayplayer Tour (2000)
I remember showing up late for this one haha, but the energy was awesome. I believe on the bill was The Roots, dead prez, Flo Brown, Jaguar Wright, and I think Jill Scott. The second leg in Nov is the one I remember the most, mainly because I was with my ex during the blissful times haha (also remember yelling at a white chick who stepped on her coat. "That's kinda sexy"---ex)

4) A Tribe Called Quest (Farewell Tour)
To say Tribe was a part of my life would be an understatement. Their albums were the soundtracks to whatever phase I was in my life from high school to mid/late twenties. So going to this heartbreaking show was a must.

Usually I would go with my brothers, but they couldn't make it so I went solo. Great show and I remember trying to get them to do Lyrics to Go haha. Fondest memory was seeing Slum Village (complete with Dilla) for the first time. Crowd wasn't really feeling them until they did "I Don't Know". Remember a group of dudes singing along after relating; guess they had a homie they didn't know why they messed with haha.

5) De La Soul (Tramps)
De La Soul also falls into the same category as Tribe as far as being an influence. They showed us that you can be different and still get love (kind of like the Nerd/Geek Era we're going through now). Another great show. If you hear Tribe, De La, or the Roots are coming to your town, buy tickets immediately!

This is also the show that was recorded as well as Posdnuos showing up late due to the birth of his son, I believe. This was also the show where afterwards I called my ex in England, which is a long story I rather not get into. I will say the question I asked her was...stupid.

6) What Is Jazz Festival (Roots, Vernon Reid, Erykah Badu)
Besides seeing them at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, this was my very first Roots concert (wow!). Interestingly enough I can't remember what songs they did or how the show was. I do remember being amazed at Vernon Reid's set, which was also my first time seeing him live. However the main draw was a young unknown singer who had New York on their ears when she released a song called "On and On". I believe this was her first show ever in NY. Headwrap, offering table, incense, yep. Remember the last song on the Love Below where Dre talks about the show he met Erykah at? This was it.

7) Black Lily (Last BL Show at Wetlands)
Almost every Sunday from 1999 to 2001, I used to go to Wetlands to see the lovely ladies of Black Lily perform. It was a showcase for Jazzfatnastees, Jaguar Wright, and 3-7000-9 with a female first open mic. Always a wonderful way to end the weekend to see the ladies get their shine. Also in attendance was Fishbone, who perfomed earlier the night. Wanted to say something to Angelo but fear over took me.

Usually after Black Lily, we would walk with our New Jersey friends to the PATH station at the World Trade. For some reason, maybe due to spent energy, we decided against that and took regular transit. The following Tuesday, the towers and the station were no more...


So yeah, those are why they are my prized possession. Have to find a way to preserve them better...