AfroPunk: THE DOCUMENTARY

AFROPUNK is more than the annual festival, it is a MOVEMENT. AP represents "the other black experience", basically Black People who don't typically watch BET. It all started with the Documentary.

AFROPUNK - "The Rock and Roll Nigger Experience" was the original title for the movie before it was changed to what we know as today: AFROPUNK - The Documentary, a 66 minute documentary explores race identify within the punk scene. More than your everyday "Behind the Music" or typical "Black History month "documentary this film tackles hard questions, covering issues such as exile, loneliness, interracial dating and black power. We follow the lives of four people who have dedicated themselves to the punk rock lifestyles. They find themselves in conflicting situations, living the dual life of a person of color in a mostly white community. AFROPUNK - The Documentary features performances by Bad Brains, Tamar Kali, Cipher, and Ten Grand. It also contains exclusive interviews by members of Fishbone, 247- spyz, Dead Kennedys, Candiria, Orange 9mm and TV on the Radio to name a few.

The Film is now available on AP's Facebook page and here it is:

For more news on AFROPUNK go to:
Visit our website: https://www.afropunk.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/afropunk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/afropunk

AFROPUNK - The Documentary, as well as the whole movement, has inspired me greatly, as an artist and just as an individual. I can not wait for this year's festival just to see how the community has, and will continue to, grow.

Quote

Some people live as though they are already dead. There are people moving around us who are consumed by their past, terrified of their future, and stuck in their anger and jealousy. They are not alive; they are just walking corpses.
                                                        -Thich Nhat Hanh, You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment

Paint and Poetry ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

    Yes, yes. Paint and Poetry has made it to one year(and counting)! Mojo Disco started this event last January as a step forward for all of us to come together and be better. Of course I had to take part, not only to blog about the event but to be reminded that we are great and that I am surrounded by talented people who have goals and share goals. It was all fun. The event was held at the spot which is like our new home 3rdEye(Sol)ation art gallery in Bushwick. My best friend(photographer) and I arrived at a great time. Right when the spot was filling up just before the show got started. The room was FILLED with young artists being themselves and enjoying themselves.


     Ashley 'Ajay' Johnson kicked off the performances with a piece and then brought out Ashley August  to perform. August just released her first chapbook under Ajay's publishing company http://www.evolnyc.com/. More Performances included music AND spoken word from guitarist and singer Joey B. Rains of Sus.Life Ent., Spoken Word artist Malcolm Wicks, MC Chris Wise, and so much more. . The performances were so great, I overheard someone shout "I would've paid $20 for this!!". There was also plenty of time to mingle and chat with really great people
    Each month I am so thankful for Mojo putting this whole event together and bringing together people with similar interests, all different walks of life but common goals. It's rare for a bunch of strangers to come together and not have a fight break out(lol). Honestly though P&P has done such big things over the past year and will do so much more in the years to come.
    Now lets get to the photos. This event was also filled with photographers, videographers, and bloggers. Here is the moment as captured by my best friend Ali Esteem.

Ashley 'Ajay' Johnson

Please LIKE the Paint and Poetry page to keep up with this event https://www.facebook.com/PaintAndPoetry

Solange: TRUE

    I know I'm late, but One of my idols Solange Knowles has released an EP entitled "True" November of 2012. I just started listening to this about a week ago and I am in love.

   The first single "Losing You" (which I posted about here) gave an overall idea of what this EP is all about. Each song can be interpreted as a love song but not your typical "I love you" "I want you back" or "F you, you did me wrong". These songs are truthful, hence the title "True". Each track has a similar retro feel to it, with the beats as well as Solange's soft melodic voice on each song.



     A few of the songs can be categorized as "Sad" but they all give an honest account of things that can happen in a relationship. For example on both "Lovers in the parking lot" and "Bad Girls (Verdine version) Solange admits to doing someone wrong in a relationship and understands why that person doesn't want anything to do with her. "and still I try to pull you into my own hurricane, it’s like you spot me trying from a thousand miles away". I can easily compare Solange's honesty on this EP with European singer Gotye's hit "Somebody that I used to know". This song became very popular in the U.S. over the summer of 2012. The song is almost like an argument between Gotye and featured artist Kimbra. Both singers tell their sides of the story and it's not as typical as most break-up songs.

     Other songs, of the 8, that stand out to me are "Somethings Never Seem to Fucking Work", "Sleep in the park", and "Don't let me down". "Somethings Never Seem to Fucking Work" is a reflection on a time when she was 17 and felt that she was in love but soon realized that somethings just don't work! "Don't let me down", similar to "Losing you", is a track on which she is professing her love to someone and hoping they feel the same way.
     What I like most about the track "Sleep in the Park" is that she is repeatedly saying we can't survive on love babe, she explains a relationship where its like they're both homeless and all they have is their love for each other. I imagine a really cute white room video, using animation, for this song. She'd be wearing a baby doll dress and all the images she gives us in the song will come to life.
 
Solange recently announced a brief True tour via her blog(mydamnblog.com) with this photo.

click photo for info

     Unfortunately I will not be attending the concert when she comes to NYC, =[, but I know it will be wonderful. I am a huge fan of Solange and to hear new music from her after all this time is extremely exciting for me. Not to mention the EP is very impressive and she stayed true to her personal style. I recommend everyone listen to True.

New music from YYou!

   I've covered this artist before and now he has more music for me. "Mad Mad Mad" is the first single off of his latest mixtape "House Of Hipster". The track adds a Hip Hop twist to the smash hit "Madness" by Muse.



   Mad Mad Mad has a really dark feel to it yet it is a great club song. The use of Muse's Madness was thoughtful. The, very distinctive, base line catches your attention and YYou's story keeps you listening. This is also reminiscent of the type of music N.E.R.D. makes. Taking an alternative rock song and adding a hip-hop twist is quite innovative. The track ends with a verse from the Muse track YYou drew inspiration from. I feel that it was an effective ending because the listener understands the original feeling of the track.


For more information on Yyou,
Website: www.yyoulives.com 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/yyoulives 
Youtube: www.youtube.com/Yyoulives 
Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/yyoulives

Don't Believe The Hype!

     I, with the help of some great friends, am currently working on a documentary. This film will showcase the lives of young artists living in New York City and challenge certain stereotypes, misconceptions, and stigmas attached to being an artist. In this, the film will show who we really are and what we do. I've just completed the 10 minute preview/teaser of some footage I've gotten over the past few months, basically to show what to expect from the finished product and Here it is:

Brooklyn Stories Semi-Finals

   25 poets went up against each other for the “Brooklyn Stories: Semi-finals,” a poetry slam competition that took place at the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army plaza, on Monday, December 10.

 The “Brooklyn Stories” competition was created by Tony award winning poet Lemon Andersen along with teen poetry organization Urban Word NYC to give youth poets the opportunity to share their stories about the borough in front of a large audience. The winners will win the chance to work with Lemon Anderson to create their own one man/woman shows of their Brooklyn stories, to be performed live on-stage at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Here's recap of the whole event:

   The seven winners were announced the following week and they are: Kearah-Armonie(ME!), Briannah Hagger, London Grant, Malcolm Wicks, Francine Hendrickson, Darren Arthur, and Nykemah Warren. I know all of the other winners and can't wait to work with and perform with them in February.

Meet Chris Wise!

    Chris Wise sees himself as a writer, an artist, a student, a teacher, and most of all an MC. One who has full control of his audience. “I do art,” Wise said. “Art is human expression”.
Wise believes that art is a form of self-expression and that it thrives when it communicates the truth. Art thrives when it shares stories, ideas, and feelings that are realistic and relatable. He feels he is a true artist as long as he shares his experience.

“As a conscious person, it’s my duty to elevate the consciousness of other people,” Wise said.

He uses the term conscious to describe his sense of self. Wise wants to affect the people who listen to his music, intellectually. To do this, his goal is to create a balance between education and entertainment. He remembers a quote said by record producer Clark Kent:
“It’s always going to be about the music, peace and love is cool but is your shit gonna bump?”

“People listen to the music for the music, the beat, the melody, and what makes them dance; not just the words or the message.” Wise said.

Wise’s biggest music influence are current upcoming artist such as Joey BadA$$, Dom Kennedy, and Curren$y. Curre$y has influenced Wise’s writing is that he does not think about rhyming.

“Just because it is a rap song does not mean it has to rhyme,” Wise said. “The artist should just tell their story.”

Wise hopes to make music that sells. He wants to make enough money to eat well, sleep well, travel, and to stay in his hometown, comfortably. “If it’s not forward, it’s backward,” Wise said. “Too late to be neutral.”

You can listen and download Chris Wise' EP "The Man" here:

The "Friendzone" conundrum.

Men, boys, guys, fellas, etc. are always in control, when it comes to relationships.

That is why when a man sleeps around he's considerably a big shot and when a woman does the same thing she's considerably a hoe. When a man gets sexually involved with multiple women he is controlling several relationships, whereas if a woman is sexually involved with multiple men she is subjecting herself to multiple men.

 Duh.

 A lot of people don't realize that the "Friendzone" conundrum is strictly a male thing. I say male because I'm sure lions and tigers and bears do that shit too. When a man wants something he goes after it, even if that something is a human being with their own thoughts and feelings. While with most women, if we can't have the man we want, we don't want him at all. Or at least that's how I am because quite frankly I already have friends, none of which I want to have sex with.

 The only sad thing about the "Friendzone" conundrum is that it actually works. Men become "bestfriends" with the woman they want and remain that way for years. Eventually they ease their way in, becoming the closest person to that woman, and the woman falls in love with the man even though she didn't even blink twice at him when they first met.

 The analogy of men treating women like a vending machine that they can put nice coins in until sex falls out is literally the truest way I can explain this.

 Even on a smaller scale (I've been caught up too) where a guys approaches you and he's not a total creep so you talk to him and you give him your number just to be nice, then he calls every night having long conversations sounding oh-so concerned. Then about two weeks of this goes by, and one night he doesn't call you. So you decide to call him first because your nightly talks have already become routine. Next thing ya know YOU'RE calling him every night feeling like you need him and shit, though he wasn't even that cute to begin with. Just a month prior you had no idea who he was nor did you care. And now you're attached while he's off living his life.

 This is why romantic comedies ain't shit.

The Photo

A 58-year-old New York City subway passenger was killed on Monday after he was pushed onto the tracks of an onrushing train in Manhattan by a man who had been mumbling to himself as he walked along the platform, The New York Times reported.

New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne says investigators recovered security video showing a man fitting the description of the assailant working with street vendors near Rockefeller Center.

Police went there Tuesday and took him into custody. The victim, Ki-Suck Han, tried to climb back onto the platform after he was pushed, but did not make it; he was struck by a southbound R train in the 49th Street station. He was pronounced dead at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, the Times report said.

The police released a brief video from a surveillance camera in which the attacker is seen and heard cursing at the victim and telling him to stand in line “and wait for the R train.”

Though this is a tragic story, one thing I would like to focus on is the fact that there was a photo of the man hanging off of there platform edge hanging on to his life. The reported works for the New York Post and the post used the photo for they're cover the following morning. This is probably the clearest indication of why journalists and reporters get a lot of hate. Instead of frantically trying to get help while a man is seconds from his death, you snap a photo for news. That is inhumane. This act, in a way, separates the news from real life. Real life would be getting help whereas "The news" is all about the news and a tragic accident is certainly news. Though the reported took the photo the Post as a corporation is responsible and wrong for printing the photo.