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...

Cheeba

Man, do I love this song. Bilal, please come out with a new album. We need you, sunn!
(produced by Nottz)


Cheeba feat. Bilal from Plug Research on Vimeo.

Crash

LPs : Flood :: MP3s : Crash

I'm still in mourning for my 500gig external hard drive that died in 2008 (or what I like to call it, The Crash of 2008). It was probably karma that took my precious mp3s away*, for what I have no clue. What I do know is that I lost some great tunes I've been collecting for over eight years, most which I can't find again**. Like what you ask? Let me run down a list of some I could remember:

• various Prince bootlegs like Charade and Livesexy
• various Dilla beat tapes including the original Ruff Draft and Jaylib unreleased instrumentals
• some VonPea and Donwill solo tracks before they became Tanya Morgan
• some Dilla samples that were nicely complied
• some songs my friend in Akron made before she became a pastor
• instrumental of Little Brother's "Nic's Groove" as well as various LB and Nicolay tracks that were on #thatsite
• A DJ Jamad mix I used to play almost weekly
• A Brown Sugar Era D'Angelo song maybe only three people have
• A Nujabes album (RIP)
• the Samurai Champloo albums
• some japanese jazz albums
• various samples I used/wanted to use

Just typing those make me tear up. It's especially hard when you hear random people mention songs, you go to your music folder (or drive), and you get this.

I know various DJs who look down on mp3s and while I agree there is a warmth not felt through digital formats, mp3 collectors have more in common with their vinyl counterparts than both sides would admit. Both look for that one perfect tune. Both have a secret stash. Both can tell you a story about a particular acquisition. Most importantly, both love music.

But the one main commonality is how painful the lost of a music collection is, which goes back to the first sentence of this blog. In my hearts of heart, I still think Beats, Rhymes, and Life suffered when Q-Tip's wax collection got destroyed in a flood (or was that a fire)***. I remember reading that RZA got flooded THREE TIMES. I'm pretty sure at one point most of my favorite producers got hit with this causality.

With the advent of digitizing music and Serato/Scratch, vinyl collectors at least have a back up plan, but what about the mp3 collectors such as myself? What hard copy do we have of files we have a history/memory with? Easy answer would be to back up your files, but even that is not fool proof. I guess in time someone *coughGooglecough* will come up with a way to archive mp3s, especially with digital downloads are becoming more and more common.

Until then, here is a 40oz to pour for the mp3s that are no longer here. We miss you.

1Luv2U,
Prov!?

To Have & To Hold - Taster Tape from Jony Lyle on Vimeo.

*If you believe in stuff like that
**Actually I could, but that would be way too time (and money) consuming
***Remember this was around the time Tip was in his "hood" phase, making tracks like "Gangsta Bitch" (RIP Apache), Tiger's "Who Planned This", and Mobb Deep's "Give Up The Goods". Straight bangers

Hunger

Hunger:
4.a strong or compelling desire or craving: hunger for power.

Snoop:


Lil Malik:


Guilty Simpson:


Big Daddy Kane:


Kool G Rap:


Black Thought:


Only a few, but feel free to add your own

1L2U,
Prov!?

The (Blogs) Won't Let Me Chill

My wonderful, beautiful, and talented friend, Dr. Fredara Hadley, asked me why I stopped blogging. There's a simple answer:

Boredom

Not like I haven't tweeted most of my life away already, so what's the purpose of a blog? Then it hit me:

I write to keep sane (DID YOU SEE WHAT I DID THERE?)

Plus some of my previous posts were, if I can jump on my own dick for a minute, really good. I doubt myself way too much and I'm still learning how to at least keep it at bay. I'm a Leo, damnit, I'm supposed to have an ego. There's a reason why I don't wild out and it deals with a moon in Libra; balance/peace/harmony.* As much as I want to be the star of the story, I know my limitations and weaknesses.

Anywaves...

Still on my Staycation, still pondering, still have no exciting answer to "So what you've been up to?", still making beats (which I'm happy to say I've been improving on), still P.R.O.V

Some new things:
-a new dog, who goes apeshit whenever he sees me. How can you not love something/one that loves you unconditionally?
-a suit for a wedding that had an interesting turn of events for me (don't ask)
-going to Vegas for the first time to hang with some good,good friends whom (?) I miss dearly. Also I need to get away from New York
-dad needs another surgery :-(

Hmm...yeah that's about it. Once I figure out what I want to talk about (or at least a sense of where to take this blog), I'll post more. Until then...

1L2U,
Prov!?

*Did this muthafukka just use astrology? Why yes he did

**pardon if this post seem disjointed, I'm 1) being too lazy to edit, 2) unsober, and 3) listening to Straight Outta Compton. Speaking of NWA, I think I've gotten "old". When I say "old", I mean like your parents when they heard you playing this. You felt it was the best shit ever and they didn't get it because they were out of touch. Your parents hated it because every third word was a curse. Yeah that's me, kinda over the profanity (see? I even typed a "proper parental" word). Anyway, I promise to do better in the upcoming posts. Just wanted to say Hi (or Welcome).

So I said...

Prov, we're going to compose two beats today.
I said self, you have a deal

Timechange¹


Float¹


Then I said, Self...you know you make hellified good ass interlude beats
To which I answered...

...thanks.

¹Don't ask about the titles. I just throw them out there, depending on the mood.

God Bless The Life Of Weldon Irvine

For those who may not know who he is:
http://www.nathanielturner.com/weldonirvine.htm

I had the honor of meeting him sometime in the mid to late 90s. Back then I used to go to this open mic at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe called "All That!", hosted by Bobbito Garcia and produced by Rocky Lamontagne. Some folks that performed were: Saul Williams, muMs da Schemer, Suheir Hammad, Rich Medina, Wood Harris, Siah & Yeshua Da PoEd, Company Flow, Mos Def, and Jessica Care Moore. If you were an underground mc or a poet in New York City, you had to hit that Lower East Side spot. Nuyo was where I considered home, a place that gave me some of the five best years of my life.

One night, there was a older gentleman wearing a red satin jacket and black jeans who got on the mic. Being the young folks that we were, we kinda laughed at this old man getting on the mic to rhyme, going by a weak name. Master Wel. After a while he had the crowd going, not because he was spitting dat hot fiyah, but because he had the spirit of hip hop in him. Bobbito informed us of that Master Wel was Weldon Irvine. My friend Issac's eyes lit up, but I was in the dark.

M: Who is that?
I: Weldon Irvine, man. Wow. I even have "Time Capsule" in my bag. I carry this everywhere I go.

Still in the dark, Bobbito went on to tell us such classics as BDP's "My Philosophy" and A Tribe Called Quest's "Award Tour" were Weldon's samples. That gave him more props from the audience because those were songs we held. In either 96 or 97, we had a special private performance at the Whitney Museum where I was one of the poets. During our waiting, a conversation between Saul and another brother about, what else, music started. One statement stood out: If "Award Tour" was released then, it would still be live. That's how much props Weldon, in a roundabout way, received from us that Wednesday night at NuYo.

Weldon Irvine also played keyboards for us when the regular couldn't show up. I will admit that sometimes what he played didn't fit what I had in mind, but it was dope regardless. A kind and humble man that would take time out to say "I really dug what you said out there" or answer questions you may have had for him. I remember telling my friend Dudley, who was a fan, about him playing at the NuYo and Weldon signed a copy of Embrace the Positive for him.

One thing I will always remember was how much he would mentioned his young son. In a way, I guess by him rhyming during the time of gun play and popping champagne, he was showing his son an essence of hip hop. The essence of rhythmically reciting a poem about life, struggle, hope, and price. Okay I got a little too overboard there, but hopefully I gave you a view to see what I saw, sitting in my chair listening to him rhyme.

I think I'll stop here before I over-romanticize, leading me to start revising the past into something it wasn't. I will say that his death shocked me and hip hop lost a solider. It was very impressive, in my opinion, to see a jazz legend embrace an artform that some of his peers would consider either not music or thievery. Sampling actually brought us to them; what made us take notice and appreciate.

Damnit.
There I go again.

Okay I'm done writing, but after listening to "Sisters" last night, it brought back memories and sadness. Here are some of videos to illustrate this man's work:

Dear Summer


We're Getting Down:


Sister Sanctified:


Nina Simone - Young Gifted and Black


Donny Hathaway's version


Mos Def - Umi Says


God bless your life, Master Wel. We miss and love you.

1L2U,
Improv!?

Wowzers!

I got to view a live Lesbian Sex Scene/Act

Favorite memory
Had no clue they were going to show up
That was the first performance of Lo-Fi, known to most of us as 3-7000-9
Remember the face you made when you first ever heard them at Black Lily? Same faces at NuYo hahaha
But I dug them then just like I still do. I believe Trace and Mercedez were there as well
Nou almost started a mini-riot by playfully saying "Fuck You" complete with the middle finger at Bobbito after someone reminded her of her time limit haha

Anyway this was pre-TFA (as you can tell by the time stamp) so you might hear some verses from the album.

Good times...good times

Ohandpardonthecommentaryheardinthevid

I Run Away And You Still Stay...

There's a story behind this, but I've told it way too many times. Plus I think she's tired of me constantly reminding her that I wish I could erase that particular memory. All I will say is after I heard this song, I wanted to thank Mr. J Davis for writing "Trash".



How did it start?
Well, I dont know.
I just feel the craving.
I see the flesh and it smells fresh.
And it's just there for the taking.
These little girls they make me feel so god damn
exhilarated.
I feel them up, I can't give it up.
The pain that I'm just erasing.

I tell my lies and I despise.
Every second I'm with you.
So I run away and you still stay.
So what the fuck is with you.

Your feelings I can't help but rape them.
I'm sorry I don't feel the same.
My heart inside is constantly hating.
I'm sorry I just throw you away.

I don't know why I'm so fucking cold?
I dont know why it hurts me.
All I wanna do is get with you.
And make the pain go away.
Why do I have a conscience?
All it does is fuck with me.
Why do I have this torment?
All I want to do is fuck it away.

I tell my lies and I despise.
Every second I'm with you.
So I run away and you still stay.
So what the fuck is with you.

Your feelings I can't help but rape them.
I'm sorry I don't feel the same.
My heart inside is constantly hating.
I'm sorry I just throw you away.

I tell my lies and I despise.
Every second I'm with you.
So I run away and you still stay.
So what the fuck is with you.

Your feelings I can't help but rape them.
I'm sorry I don't feel the same.
My heart inside is constantly hating.
I'm sorry I just throw you away.

I just throw you away.
I just throw you away.
I just throw you away.
I just throw you away.

International...International...

We're Wrong Turn Vibin'

Remember when I spoke about the group me and my boys were in and how if I found a track I would up it (if not remind me to tell ya)? Here it is:

 And now for the story behind this (and remember some info may be missing since I had little to do with it)

Back in the dayz, we were young idealistic men who decided that rap music was going down the hole due to the influx of "gangsterism". When people mentioned hardcore, it's usually associated with gunplay, smoking, drinking, getting on hoes (sounds familiar?). To us hardcore was about the art, our gunplay was lyrics, we got high off of doing stuff like video games, making beats, shooting pool, etc. (sounds like De La, right?).

Everyone had a crew or a movement back then. Ours was called Wrong Turn, meaning what everyone else is doing, we're doing the opposite. Admirable. This was supposed to be our theme song, the song that lets people know what we were about

Anyway, our summers usually included a trip to Jones Beach for Greek Fest, but on this particular Saturday, Dre and I decided to skip it. We decided to work on some beats (I forgot where G was, probably was at the Fest haha). We had this sample that an associate gave us, but we couldn't figure out what to do with it. We're messing around when we came upon the drum sample used in ATCQ's "Can I Kick It". Drumbeat vinyl on the turns, sample in the tape player, and a bootleg way of connecting both to a four track. Dre manned the turns as I handled the tape deck. Like chocolate falling into some peanut butter, it worked causing us to go "Woooooooo!" Dre and I looked like we create a hit single or something. In the following days, Dre and G worked on the lyrics.

When they laid the track down, I had problems with my ear so I wasn't able to go. Surprisingly they claim that was the quickest session ever (bastards). Dre did the ad-libs I was supposed to, but around that time I was getting more in the spoken word (I had a plan that didn't really work because...well read on).

A few months later, Dre decided that rap wasn't his thing anymore (I'm guess it was more from people saying his sounds were dated or too Tribish than the love being gone. Of course I could be wrong). That was it; Mystic Odd Squad faded away only a memory to us three and the people who hung with us.

So yeah, things have changed; for the most part we like to take a couple of drinks now and then, I smoke, and the ideals we had at age 18/19 changed when we got closer to 23/24 (actually once we discover the joys of drinking and clubbing…well you know).

If you read through all of the above you deserve a treat (or two):

 

 

*chucks the deuce and gives the Pam*

1L2U,

Prov!?

Dear 1990 - 1992 Ice Cube,

I'm sorry.

There I said it. It's out of my mind, a weight has been lifted, and I can breathe fresh air again. Yes 90 to 92 Ice Cube, I'm sorry that I doubted you back in 1989, when I heard Straight Outta Compton. I mean you were cool, but when it came to the mcs in NWA, it went: 1) Ren, 2) Eazy, 3) you, Ice Cube, and 4) Dre. Like for serious, my dude, you were third on the list. Yeah I'm shocked too. Now don't get crazy when I say this, but umm...I thought Ren should have went solo. Chill chill chill. I mean "Quiet On The Set" was haaawwwwwwd. Man, was it knocking. I think I was amazed at how he flowed on that track, with a slight rapidfire cadence. Cmon, you had to give it up to him, he said some hard gangsta shit on that album.

But yeah, when you left, I was a bit puzzled. When I heard you had a solo album coming, I gave the "Is that fool crazy?" look. Honestly the only reason why I bought Amerikkkaz Most Wanted was because it was produced by the Bomb Squad. Back then, I was a huuuuuge Bomb Squad and Public Enemy fan. Almost anyone that was down with them got a pass, hence me purchasing your debut album. Oh what a day, fresh after saying goodbye to Rice High School and dreaming of performing with the Native Tongues at the Apollo, went to the local record store, to hold your cassette in my hands. After placing it in the player, I was pleasantly surprised, but was still waiting for MC Ren to drop his jawn (boy was I wrong when the ep came out)

So how did I come to my senses? Well tonight I listened to "A Bird In The Hand", "Who's The Mack", "The Nigga You Love To Hate", the title track to the debut, and "Dead Homiez". My man, Ike Moses mentioned "A Bird In The Hand" and I zoned out. Tripped back to hearing the beat selling malt liquor while riding around aimlessly on a New York summer Saturday night. Mostly played on 105.9, the commercial would be mixed it with the 12 inches being played by Awesome Two, the Dirty Dozens, and Half-Pint. Being anxious to cop Death Certificate (or did I "borrow" that? Oh wait! I had the tape and later borrowed the CD hahaha*ahem*). Nearly shitting myself when I find had a hard copy of that St. Ides beat with you spitting some good ass lyrics. Incredible.

But now, after close to twenty years, I've come to realize the error of my ways (and not because Ren's solo career didn't take off like I thought it would. Shit I didn't even think Dre would amount to anything. I would make a poor A&R). Granted you can't go back to your greatness
and your "I Don't Give A Fuck" attitude (man you want after Arsenio, KRS, New Jack Swing, Hammer, folks dancing, and Afrocentricity), but listening to the first three albums, I kinda wish you did. Supposedly your new single has you back in form, but like Kane with Looks Like A Job For, the album might be a let down. And yes I know people evolve and you have a family, no longer in the streets, and doing family movies (is it true you don't let your kids listen to rap? Jeez...feeling kinda guilty, huh?). Wait this is an apology haha, but yeah. So yeah, my bad, Cube

1L2U,
Prov!?

Been on my mind for a while