Digital Archeological Digs: Discovery #2

I had no business being up mad late last night after 3:00 A.M. but that's what happens when you decide to take a "nap" at 10 P.M. and wake up wired at 12:30 A.M. instead of sleeping the entire night!!!

Anyway, during the hours in which the adrenaline was pumping, I was perusing imeem listening to some slow jams, old school treats. I had to in order to drown out the ignorance that was coming out of that wack mf plies mouth blasting from my roommate's speakers in the living room. I'm not even going to get into that dude so let's just move on....

OK, I found this track by Billy Paul entitled, "Let the Dollar Circulate", and immediately it has been added to the soundtrack of my life, the 2009 installment.

(politicians talkin' crazy, unemployment pandemic, late rent payments, interest rate increase, utility, gasoline, and meat prices at an all time high... this was 75' so not a thing has changed!)

Listen to this funky track. I bet everyone can relate!!!

Please let the dollar circulate!!!

-PeAcE

Let The Dollar Circulate - Billy Paul

In Celebration of Negro History Month: After the After Party

"Learning will spoil the best nigger in the world... If he learns to read he'll never be any good as a slave. The first thing you know he'll be writing, then look out. A writing nigger is dangerous."- The former master of Frederick Douglass

Massa ain't lyin!!! You know how the old saying goes, "If you ever wanna hide something from black people, put it in a book". Once we get a hold of one, watch out. We begin packing on pounds of insight not just from the pages but from its relationship to the society we live in. And God help us when we start writing! It's like illegal firearms. Some whine about how it's wrong to have them, yet some don't care because people are gonna have em anyway.

-PeAcE

N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave and The Master) - Nas

Scrumptious Tunes Overflowin the MP3 Plate

So I took a musical trip to Canada, Vancouver specifically, and came across this impeccable gem. The dude's name is SonReal and his music is Ill-Sick-Dope-Fire!!! He a genuine MC spittin about life from his own lens. He's not trying to be overly conscious, street, or political. He's just a dude from Vancouver who from his music can tell he loves doing what does.

Tracks in Musically Obese Rotation:

- "Weather" (Feelin the vibe I get from it lyric and beat wise. It's something about rain sound effects, jazzy/soulful rhythms, and a smooth rapping and singing voice that does things to my ears)

- "All My Life" (1st of all, ANYONE who samples "Ellie's Love Theme" is officially on good terms with me!)

- "Dear You" (I like when people write letters/pay homage to music)

- "She Gotta Be Loved" (Possible "I Used to Love H.E.R." 2009?)

Check some tracks on my playlist above or

Check out SonReal's Myspace Here

-PeAcE

Washing Out My Dandruff Thoughts: Rinse 6

Yea yea every urban blogger posted this video but many did not provide his/her reaction to it. The video is fly. I'm all about creative minds putting their thoughts down on film. And not to mention he looks sooooo dapper in a tux. My kind of video. I don't think a video how been this fly since Badu's "Honey" video!!!

I must admit it took me a couple minutes to get into the dude cuz I assumed he would be wack and a cliche hipster rapper. Not to mention when folk see me they assume that's the only music I bump so I wanted to prove them all wrong! UGH LABELS!!! HOWEVER, once I downloaded the mixtape and singled out the tracks I would latter run dry and realized how much of an attractive dude he was, it was official that he was going to be my new celeb crush. I haven't had one of those in a minute!

PS- He needs to make some form of a video for "Whenever". TRUST IT WOULD BE A REYNOLD'S WRAP!!!

In Celebration of Negro History Month: The After Party

The New York (whipping) Post with their grand spanking new cartoon mocking the stimulus checks and chimp shooting in CT. Okay some folk may have gotten the joke but some are slower than others, namely moi. I mean c'mon how many people were informed about a chimp shooting?! Publications and Products these several months have been offensive that you can't help but say here they go again with the racism. But seriously though my people, this primate to black folk analogy hasn't been forced to bed yet? I know some people out there will always wear this on their sleeve this due to tainted hand me down genes passed onto them, but I mean C'mon!

I'm an honorary New Yorker and lately NYC has been misbehaving and revealing bits of their racially suggestive side. Remember The New Yorker? N-word cookies?

The whole "I don't see how this is offensive. I'm not a racist. This is simply satire" facade has GOT to end already. But will it ever? Completely?

-PeAcE

Operation Leathery Flyness Now in Progress

Cognac Muoi Boot via Aldo

Bullhide Extra-Capacity Briefcase via Orvis

Washing Out My Dandruff Thoughts: Rinse 5

Say word.. A.I. cut his hair?! Finally! Cornrows should have been buried years ago but he looks great minus the tattoos, but at least he still his bare spots. I forgot how much of a cutie he was...

AND SPEAKING OF HAIR...

Can dude on the right PLEASE CUT HIS!?!?!?!?!?!

Hump Day After School Cartoons

Stimulus: The Big White Check

Via The Afro

Scrumptious Tunes Overflowin the MP3 Plate

Hey peoples. So this week it's all about the latest mixtape from my boy Blu entitled, "Her Favorite Colo(u)r". It has a jazzy/soulful vibe to it which I'm feelin a lot. Some tracks place my imaginative mind in the 1940s/50 inside of a crummy apartment lamenting on a bittersweet breakup with a newport and glass of crown royal in hand. Other tracks place me in the early 1970s cruising in a Cutlass on a cloudy spring evening.
Disclaimer... some of the tracks have very sexually suggestive openings so I'm warning my sensitive listeners. But definitely give this a listen!
Download it from any hip-hop blog
- PeAcE

Top 5 Tracks:

- "Wind(terlude)"

- "When(terlude)"

- "Melo" (I can't help it... guilty pleasure)

- "Since"

- "Vanity"

In Celebration of Negro History Month

"The only thing a nigger can do for me is shine my shoes and buy my records"

And I guess the "King" of Rock n' Roll forgot that a "nigger" could also come up with the innovative musical style for him to rip off in the first place!

Shout out to all the Black forefathers and mothers of popular music

The Mellow Happenings Of R.J: Cupid Extended Weekend Edition

I've been a bit of a sloth these past few days but I'm back. So here's a recap of what took place in my life.

- Finally re-twisted my locs!!! They were a HOT MESS (APPEARANCE AND SMELL WISE)
- Received $25 from pops for Valentine's Day... this man never lets me down =)
- Hung out with my homie Ernie on Saturday night... it was a blast
- Went to church... it was a Catholic one but does it even matter sometimes especially when you haven't been in attendance in months?!
- Began reading V for Vendetta... Me Likes
- Finally broke down and downloaded A Kid Named Cudi Mixtape and realized that it's pretty dope and plus he's a cutie anyway.
- Considering going for a double masters at NYU (if I get accepted)- Creative Writing and Sociology.
- Is psyched about graduate school and the accompanying life. It shall be great!
- Was handed 4 units that must have lesson plans by Monday. Will I finish?! Yo espero!
- Saw a mouse in my apt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The little runt must go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Found out one of my best friend's mother had a heart attack =(
(please keep her and the fam/friends in your thoughts and prayers)

Scrumptious Tunes Overflowin the MP3 Plate

This album is SCRUMPTIOUS! India is talking life and politics, but not the obvious politics such as Obama, Gasoline Corruption, and Economic Meltdown. It's more so the politics of spirituality, faith, relationships, life, womanhood, awareness, and so much more good stuff.

I must say though that some of the beats on a couple tracks do kinda remind me of Folger's coffee and/or prescription specifically Gardasil commercials, but I ain't knocking it though.

Top 3 Tracks:

- "Chocolate High"- Beautiful. I'm still anticipating someone to come out with the "caramel" edition (we need some love 2!)

- "Yellow"- I love songs where a color is the primary focus!

- "Psalm 23"- MY FAVORITE SONG!!! MC Lyte does her thing. Very inspiriational and empowering music right here!!!!

Mel O. Mind Recommends...

I went to the IFC Center in the village this past Saturday and checked out the film above. I really enjoyed it. So the guy and girl, Micah and Joanne, wake up at a friend's place after a night of debauchery, and dedicate the entire day making connections through conversations about race, identity, gentrification, and relationships in an ever evolving San Fransisco neighborhood.

What stood out:

- the transition of the film's color (it begins very dull not quite black and white but more so very light water color based. Then at the conclusion of the film, the color is very bold and clear. It's something to think about.)

- People from San Francisco love their bike which I plan to cop summer 2009

- The soundtrack is pretty cool

- This is director Barry Jenkins' first film (very impressive for a newcomer)

- The one night stand notion was not delivered like a cliche Hollywood film (the plot and sub plots were pretty realistic to the real world, but then again that is relative)

- Scene where there was no verbal dialogue were filmed well

I definitely want to watch this again so that I can pick up on what I missed. You ever since I took this intense film class last semester, I now watch ever movie with a critical lens!

Ps-- Shouts to Professor Tracey for mentioning this on her blog!

New trailer!