introducing: BLASTFOR METV.NET ft. Writtenhouse

Tuesday 06.30.09

I mentioned this upcoming project in previous blog posts. I was privileged to accompany my homies @BlastOffBe and @aamin1 of A2 Productions to the lab to interview Philly's own, Writtenhouse...

B4MTv is Music - Fashion - Life ... Where Entertainment Meets Real Life.

Check out my boy, @BlastOffBe - his show/blog/website is dope. I co-sign. I am honored to have been a part of this special project. THANK YOU A & B...I saw my blog link on the page, that's D.O.P.E. I hope to be a part of future B4MeTv episodes & when I do, y'all will know. It will all be here.

I don't blog about strictly hip hop, this is not a music blog...this is my everyday thoughts, happenings, what's on my mind space. I blog about artists & groups I dig, talented musicians and emcees who don't get the shine & recognition I feel they deserve. It might not be your style or your scene, but it's mine. "And I like it..." (c) Grand Puba

Special thanks to DAME and @Muhammadas for making this possible and to the fellas ~ Kush, Chris*, CK & Sleeves ~ for taking their time out to reflect and share their thoughts and ideas w/ us. These are genuine, talented, humble dudes who earned their 'shine' - you can get their latest release Sunshine Philadelphia Vol. 2 HERE - for FREE! It's on my iPod in heavy rotation... before anyone asks - my fave song is "Give Em What They Want", it's #12. I'd pay for this. So would you.

*Chris does talk in the 3rd B4MTv episode, I promise. He doesn't say much, but when he does...pay attention. He doesn't have Twitter, otherwise I'd have it linked on blog :( The 3rd episode is also my personal favorite - they talk dream collabos/world tours & shout-outs...holla (7:33 mark, yeah that's us...)

Some flics I took before, during & after the interview: not sure why the slideshow looks cropped on blog, but if you click on actual slideshow/images, it will show them as they should appear. (work w/ the kid ;)

p.s. I forgot my umbrella ella ella eh eh eh in the studio...good thing I have SUNSHINE PHILADELPHIA!

RaNdOm ramblings...

~ I just finished a Scrabble game w/ my sis and two brother-in-laws. I lost, last place. Amatuers. None of them are college educated...goes to show you that: "Going to a college doesn't make you smart any more than going to a bank makes you rich." (c) Anonymous

~ My 13 year old niece is now obsessed w/ Michael Jackson (MJ). Her desktop background is of MJ, the wallpaper on her blackberry is MJ, my sis said she had been watching MJ videos on-demand, non-stop, back-to-back...I mean, it's deeper than MJ. The first thing she said when she saw me today was, "What was Michael Jackson like when you were 'little'?" I told her about my Thriller coat, watching MTV non-stop for the Thriller video and the Thriller cassette tape I begged my mom for. I asked her why she was feeling like this? What was the connection? She says: "Well what was it about MJ that you loved, TiTi?" Good point. Kids are smarter than we give them credit for. They have insight and forethought. I was not prepared for that coming from her. Next thing I know, I hear "PYT" blasting from the living room and she along w/ her 7 year old sister are singing along and dancing around...just wow. MJ crossed from my mom's generation through the Jackson 5 every Saturday AM while cleaning our rooms and doing chores, to Thriller tapes and zipper jackets, to my now 13 year old niece watching MJ videos on-demand. The more things change, the more they stay the same. MJ is a legend. His legacy doesn't end w/ us. Now that's dope.

~ I'm seriously considering getting my hair chopped tomorrow, AGAIN. I have an appt. @ my little sis' salon before we leave for vacation. Only 3 ppl in this world I trust to cut my hair...she is one of them. It has been in the phunky phase for what seems like forever now - not long enough for a true ponytail and not short enough to say it's 'short'. So I'm gonna change all that. Something that is easy to maintain, something that fits me, something different. I never got so many compliments on my hairstyle like I did when I first cut it short a year or so ago. I have had long hair my entire life, no bangs, one length, just LONG hair. It's not growing fast enough for me and I'm feeling like I need and want a big change. I will keep y'all updated on this one...

~ My baby bro (he's 10 years younger than me) is having his 1st child. I have mixed feelings about the situation, I'm excited, I'm anxious...his girl (I call her "Foxanne") text me yesterday and said they find out the sex of the baby on July 10th. I am soooooo hype. My bro told me on mother's day he loves the name "Oliva" for a girl...he said he remembers it from all of us watching "The Color Purple" and he loves the way is sounds. Of course we're all in agreement, except for Foxanne. There will be more on this situation, I'm sure, as the pregnancy progresses.

~ I'm watching "Intervention" on A&E in HD on-demand on my sis' huge, big-screen plasma TV. I don't even want to think about what something like this co$t - I dont' even have true furniture in my apt! - but hey, if you got it, do you. This episode is about twin girls w/ anorexia. I know this is a real issue and a real problem for some people, I'm not trying to make light of the disease...but how the HELL do you starve yourself when there is food in front of you and available to you? How the HELL do you exercise and play Wii fit dancing games burning calories you're not taking in? How the HELL do you see your ribs and say out loud, "I am fat."?! There are areas of the world and right here in our own backyards where people are starving every day and not by fucking choice! This is madness.

~ The Philly hip hop scene is so dope, so deep, overlooked and underrated. Networking & giggin' has opened my eyes and ears to a lot of people, sounds and scenarios...my senses are stunned. Writtenhouse - I co-sign.

~ New BlastForMe TV intro blog coming soon...I will be posting photos from the studio interview w/ Writtenhouse. *Follow* my homies on Twitter behind this project: @BlastOffBe (the host) and @aamin1, the genius behind A2 (A Squared) Productions. In the meantime, you can check out @zeekbutla interview...and *follow him* on Twitter as well.

~ I'm out of town right now, on my niece's laptop I gifted her for her birthday last year. It's a pink Dell, nothing fancy or crazy expensive, but this mofo is broken already - kids don't have jobs yet don't take care of shit! Ungrateful and disrespecting the dolla...mine gets stolen out of my suite in Jamaica...I work and I can't afford to replace my Mac yet...and she asks for an iPod Nano for her birthday this year. Yeah, exactly. I'm thinking the same thing. This little heffa is sassy...she might get it this weekend. Real talk. We'll see what she'll be receiving @ her birthday cookout/pool party next weekend. It won't be an iPod Nano, that's for GD certain. FOH

~ Aiight, I've been real seriously sarcastic & super sassy myself this week, PMS'in and stressin' about shit I have no control over...I needed this weekend away from the City, some family time, reflection...hope I'm over this hump when I get back to Philly on Sunday. So much to do, so little time.

!Ciao

Introducing....Zeek Butla and A2 Productions

A2 Productions ("A Squared")
put this video together for Zeek Butla...check him out (he's also on Twitter, FOLLOW HIM, harass him to Twit, LOL):



My homie, Anwar, is the genius and the man behind A2 Productions. He's on Twitter, FOLLOW HIM! He has a dope website and here's his YouTube link to check out some of his work...in the meantime, Jadakiss co-signs - I co-sign! You want to know him, get to know him, check him out. We'll be working together a lot on future projects, we just did the Trocadero last night w/ Turae...more posts soon.

Turae ~ "No Limitations" @ the Troc

On June 4th, TuRae will take the Trocadero stage in Philadelphia to perform his one night stand up special, "No Limitations" to be taped live!!! This Philadlphia bred comedian has begun his climb to national recognition with appearances oh HBO's Def Comedy Jam, BET's One Mic Stand, Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen,& standout performances all around the country. TuRae returns home for this one night performance surely to entertain and amaze even his hometown crowd!!! Come on out & support one of Philadelphia sure to be brightest stars!! Tickets are on sale now @ www.ticketmaster.com!!! Don't miss a great night of comedy in the heart of the city!!*

*Per his Facebook invitation. I'll be there...try to get out & support, folks! Let's laugh to keep from crying, LOL. And don't forget about "The Poet Tree" on Friday @ DAMANI on 66th & Media, The Roots Picnic is Saturday...Philly got a lot goin' on right now! Let's get it...

**Philly/Tri-State PoEtS, Musicians, Spoken Word Artists NEEDED / WANTED

WHO: Damani ~ “Partying For A Purpose”

WHAT: "The Poet Tree" ~ A Night of Spoken Word & Music

WHERE: Damani 66th & Media/West Philly

WHEN: Friday, June 5, 2009 Doors open @ 8 pm, Show starts @ 9,

HOW: "Don't bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality . Wake Up and Live!” Bob Marley

WHY: To vent, show-off, inspire, be inspired, make fans, meet people, exposure...YOU tell US.



**Any poet/artist/musician who performs has free admission into the event. Any poet /artist/musician who performs will receive a free video and audio copy of their performance. There is a 15 min. max limit on performances...so show us your best and then come back and do the rest :)

** The woman on the flier is a hot new R&B artist, Rachel Raquel. She will be there and performing as well. Music by Philly's own...Just Words. Hosted by Gritty & Cool Tone w/ Brown B (Temple Radio host).

**We're trying to make this a monthly or bi-monthly event. We need to generate interest and buzz to get it going. I am a virgin to the mic and might actually make this my FIRST TIME getting up there. No auditions needed or required. All genres, ideas, thoughts, poetry, spoken word is welcome and encouraged. Contact me via email and we can go over any further questions or details then.