Thank you True School Corporation

What’s up everybody, it’s your girl Dee. Sooooo I had the pleasure of once again attending a True School Party. My first time was in Jan. 08 in DC and it was bananas or as my friend says ‘Banoodles’! lol. True school came to bmore, sonar was the venue. Here’s the run down, okay me and my crew got there around 9:30 and aaahhh there weren’t many people there. It was like an empty college campus party. We all looked at each other worried, but I guess we shouldn’t have because it was 9:30 lol. We head over to the bar, chill. If you all don’t know what true school is to sum it up , it’s a group of DJ’s spearheaded by 9th Wonder, producer and former member of the group Little Brother. Basically they throw old school parties, hip hop r&b, funk, a little dancehall/reggae. 70’s-90’s. It’s one the best parties I’ve ever been too, EVER! Not only that, it’s consistent. Let’s fast forward, my homeboys got people doing the electric slide and the party was on from there. Everything from Cameo, Micheal Jackson, Black Moon, BlackStar, Hall and Oates to Jay-Z. Ridiculous. I can’t say enough about this company. Only I can’t wait till they come back to the mid-atlantic. Shout out the True School DJ’s Jay Clipp, Cuzzin’ B, and DJ Face. Shout out to the Pancake Gallery, Little Shop Clothing, my homegirls coming up from VA and my homeboys for keeping the party live! Oh! Soul Love Networking was definitely represented(which urbandrop is a part of) details on Soul Love coming soon.

International Hip hop: My perspective

What’s up to everybody in internet land.

This is the first official urban drop post! It’s the main blogger Dee. If you all have been reading, almost a year ago I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Europe, namely Western Germany, Heidelberg, Mannheim and Paris, France. Since this is a hip hop focused blog, I’m going to speak on the impact of hip hop and what I saw of the hip hop scene there. First off, it was in my face at, soon as I touched down, my cousin who lives there picked me up. Switched straight to the hip hop station. Saw the impact on TV via  MTV Germany, watching TRL and other shows(they were in german sorry don’t remember) Saw it as well in the streets as I walked down the Hauptstrasse(mainstreet/shopping area) in Heidelberg.

My experience was a little different as there is a large U.S. military presence there. I was able to hit up club which was frequently by a lot of American military personnel and minorites(Turkish, Africans) The club scene…hmmmm…coming from the D.C. metro area in my opinion nothing I would have went to back here at home. The dress was ‘whatever’ and the music was okay. Moving on…

Paris! Wow, maybe because it is such a huge city, I thought I saw hip hop when I got to Germany, nope! Paris showed me different, it was literally everywhere! I went into about five hip hop stores/ sneaker spots. Playing straight up hip hop. I saw the dress everywhere, unfortunately I didn’t get to party in Paris(I will though! lol) I’ve long known how big French hip hop is but I can say yeah I saw it, if only just a little insight, it definitely made me want to dig deeper.

The reason why I wrote this, is because a lot of people don’t truly know hip hop’s impact. Yeah people know stars travel overseas but honestly it doesn’t mean much. In many cases, London, Tokyo, Paris, Lagos, Sydney are just names. I’ve been into international R&B/hip hop for a while and it has always amazed me at the reach of the American soul/hip hop music scene. I think, we would not be excited to hear a French, South African, Japanese rapper. People from Canada have a hard time breaking through to the U.S. scene. When I was in Germany, I saw the ‘American cool factor’ Even with former President Bush, it was/is still cool to be American! The youth in other countries identify and want to identify with want we are doing here, yes putting their own stamp on it but make no mistake, it’s ‘Made in the U.S.A.’  When I was in the club in Germany, it was cool to speak English. All of the Germans chopped it up with their American hip hop brethen in the language of the U.S. 

Many often talk about how traveling changes you. I’ll admit it has to me. I have deep affection for hip hop culture and being able to connect to someone based off our love for a particular culture is powerful. If people reading don’t know, what we do here in the U.S. it matters.

International Hip hop: Changes of Atmosphere-Dela

I am officially back! It’s definitely late and a sister has to go to work tomorrow. I had to post this. A while back, I said the international hip hop segment would be a stable of this blog what better way to make a ‘jordan-esque’ come back than with this. First off Props to Apani B(I’m gonna admit I don’t feel like posting a link, google her) she’s my ‘friend’ on myspace and if she never had a track on this dudes first major release I would not have known about him. His name is Dela, coming from Paris, France. His New Album Changes of Atmosphere is in my opinion one of the better albums of the year so far(what has really come out this year?) He taps into the jazz hip hop of the late 80’s/early 90’s and holds onto it like…well every other person coming out out that era whether you were 5 or 25. I love hip hop with jazz flavor. Honestly I think it’s hip hop in it’s purest form, you take ANY rapper/MC put him over a jazz/hip-hop beat and it will sound great! Here’s ‘bootleg youtube clip’ off the album Long Life featuring one half of Blackstar Mr. Talib Kweli.

Side note* The les nubians cut is the best song on the album in my opinion

I didn’t disappear

What’s up blog world

I’m still here…I’ve been doing a lot recently, actually a lot of thinking  and trying to put plans into action. As you all know I work full time and I commute to work which leaves me drained at the end of most days. I’ve wanted to write so much but I opt to go to sleep or just relax before grinding it out. You all know how you can get in a rut, well I think I’m coming out of one. Since I’ve been at my job i’ve been in a few ruts, it’s like a cycle which I’m constantly trying to break. I will make a conscious effort to hit yall with the information and insight that I’ve been providing these past wooooo what 9 months. I’m not going to make any promises but I will definitely be back in full effect much sooner rather than later. The summer is coming up soooo you know there’s going to be stuff to talk to about.

West Coastin’ it: JuJu Cereal Bar

This is a completely new segment, I’ve actually wanted to do this for quite some time. I went to L.A. for the first time last year and I LOVED IT! Shout out to Ladera and people out in Inglewood! Coming from the east coast specifically the northeast it was a whole different feel…like ‘hmmmm…it’s different out here, fo’ real’ LOL. So I want to shine some light on the West side! aka the Left coast, basically California(let’s keep it truthful) no diss to Washington and Oregon lol. I found about this place the Juju Cereal Bar through this MC’,  Tiron(out of Cali as well)  myspace page. I was blown away…yes when it says cereal bar, it’s just that. A cereal, like Frosted Flakes cereal spot! Unfortunately I didn’t know about it when I was in L.A. but when(yes when) I go back to L.A. I will check this place out. This place is genius, it’s like some sort of fantasy come true lol. If anybody reading has been, please share your experiences. The crazy thing about this place is…THEY HAVE CURBSIDE! LOL, are you kidding me LOL.  I hope they franchise one day soon…hey think Baltimore metro area(hint, hint) Here’s a youtube clip that will give you all more insight

 

Super Combo Post: K’naan

Yes, I’m excited about this…I’ve been thinking of new artists, new segments and I’ve profiled artists, from Europe, North America and Australia but not the continent of Africa. I am very much a Pan-Africanist(if I can use that term in 21st century) but I wanted to take it to the continent. I call this the Super combo post because it’s an International hip hop post, ‘If ya don’t know, now ya know’(haven’t done that in a while) and a Politican’ post.

I first heard of K’naan through my FAVORITE video channel VH1 Soul…wooooo back in ‘05′ /’06′ when I saw the video ‘Soobax’ off his first album ‘Dusty foot philosopher’. First thought was ‘who is this! and where is this!’ I would later learn this Somolian to the core now living in Canada MC is a serious artist with a lot to say. In my opinion he’s reppin’ Somolia to the fullest and right now putting the continent of Africa on his back.  I’m gonna hit yall with several videos because this guy deserves a lot of shine.

CNN International: Inside Africa clip of K’naan speaking about Obama/hip hop and further in the clip Africa’s take on President Obama.

 

DJ ENUFF Alist Radio Freestyle props to okayplayer

K’naan EPK(peep youtube for part 2/3 sorry it’s a lot to post lol)

K’naan-ABC’s-featuring Chubb Rock!!(are you kidding me)

K’naan-Soobax

 

His new Album’ Troubador’ drops February 24th! I will definitely buy it and I hope you all do as well.

Politican’: The Palestinian Issue

 

 

This is a brand new post segment I am introducing called Politican’(yall know the slang for having a deep conversation/meaningful convo) I want to explore issues that the mainstream media, may or may not be talking about. This will cover domestic as well as interntional issues. I want to start with an international issue. Everybody knows about the current mid-east situation. I will be doing several segments on the Palestinian/Israeli issue.

I listen to NPR radio in the mornings sometimes and particularly the show ‘Democracy now’ and the featured writer Bill Fletcher, Jr. was on there a few days ago. The conversation touched on the current situation in Gaza. Here is his article ‘The inauguration in the shadow of gaza’

 

I have found it difficult expressing my emotions in connection with the inauguration of President Obama.  In the face of the jubilation, particularly but not exclusively among African Americans; in the face of the hopes and fears; in the face of severe crises across the USA and the planet; it has been difficult for me to express my sentiments. Yes, this is an exciting and historic moment.  Of that, there is little question.  I, like most other African Americans I know, never conceived that we would see a Black person assume the Presidency.  Looking at the Inauguration ceremony one could not help but remember the countless demonstrations that have been held on the Washington, DC Mall, including but not limited to the famous 1963 March on Washington, that have demanded the expansion of democracy and fought to guarantee that someone of color would have the right and the opportunity to assume the Presidency of the United States…

    to continue reading CLICK HERE

I will touch more on this in later segments because I am very passionate about the mideast Palestinian/Israeli issue.

International hip hop: Ayah

‘Yo son, we gonna take this up north real quick’…(that was my mixtape DJ voice impersonation)

This is my favorite post that I do. I love to find new artists/new to me from around the globe. Once again I’m takin’ it to the T Dot aka Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Her name is Ayah, props to Okayplayer for the mixtape. I bump this mixtape all the time ‘Ayah is a Problem’…she has a deep soulful voice with a lot of hip hop flavor.  I can’t wait for her album to drop. Toronto is quickly becoming my new favorite city I’ve never visited LOL, there is sooo much going on up there from Caribana(which one day I will attend, if anybody out there reading with means hook a sista up LOL) the multi-culturalism to the music scene. Oh! Shout out to the T dot representatives that were down for the Obama inauguration! Anyway peep the video up top and below and go get the mixtape!

Our President is Cool

Obama interview about Hip hop…I love this, I agree with his views

We are officially in the era of the Obama administration! I was there on January 20th. It was COLD! But a wonderful day, clear blue sky and so much love and positive energy was in the air. Oh the title is a rebuttal to the song ‘My President is Black’, sorry Jeezy I know you can do better. Seriously though, President Obama is a cool dude, yall saw the ebony cover LOL…  Here is the inaugural speech.

Part 1

Part 2

Ode to my younger years: The UK

I was talking to my friend and we were taking a trip down memory lane.  I had to take a trip across the pond because the music coming out of England ‘back in day’ was on point. I loved all of the black music coming out of the UK. I was into any british really LOL… Here’s a little acid-jazz/dance/soul for you.

Soul II Soul-Keep on Moving

Brand New Heavies- Dream on Dreamer

Incognito-Still a friend of mine

Loose Ends- Slow Down

 

I hope you all enjoy. If yall can think of anybody else, any other songs, feel free to post a comment.