(Oh, you thought this post was about the absence of any updates since November. No, sorry)
An article appearing in The Opinion Pages of today's NYT Sunday Review details holocaust researchers' recent uncovering of previously undocumented Nazi ghettos and camps. We now know that throughout Europe there were at least 42,500: "30,000 slave labor camps; 1,150 Jewish ghettos; 980 concentration camps; 1,000 prisoner-of-war camps; 500 brothels filled with sex slaves; and thousands of other camps used for euthanizing the elderly and infirm, performing forced abortions, 'Germanizing' prisoners or transporting victims to killing centers." These discoveries bring the estimated number of prisoners killed up from 11 million to between 15 and 20 million.
Da art gawd Jim Mahfood aka Food One just posted to his Facebook page this drawing of Afrika Bambaataa. Clearly, it's too cool not to share with the rest of the world.
Early this year, Brownsville rapper Ka dropped his sophomore album, Grief Pedigree. The album has rightfully been met by much critical acclaim and generated a steadily growing buzz both in and out of New York. For anyone who pays close attention to Ka's music, there can be no doubt that the man is a superbly talented MC; his quietly commanding mic presence, tight cadences, subtle wordplay and cinematic storytelling demonstrate as much. Equally impressive, however, are the album's DIY aesthetics.
Months before Grief Pedigree dropped, Ka began releasing a string of self-directed videos for songs off the upcoming album.
Ka's videos' minimalist imagery provides the perfect visual complement to his extraordinarily well-budgeted lyrics and concise production; every line of every song is as critical as the last, just as each scene, though void of budget-breaking grandiose special effects, contributes something special to the patchwork. And with "Iron Age" dropping today, each of the album's 11 tracks now has a fully formed visual counterpart. Ka's tumblr page, consisting of nighttime photographs taken throughout Brooklyn, extends the aesthetic into a third medium, offering fans an additional glimpse at the world in which the album's stories unfold, and the composition is nothing to sneer at either.
Merriam-Webster defines 'collage' as "an artistic composition made of various materials (as paper, cloth, or wood) glued on a surface" and "a creative work that resembles such a composition in incorporating various materials or elements." With the final video now posted, it feels as if the collage that is Grief Pedigree may now be complete. The album was and is undeniably great, but now we can experience it in its entirety through another set of materials.
This is a gem insofar as it's a promotional release from 1999 that isn't listed on discogs. For that matter, I can't find any information about the group or their producer Dereck "Grizzly Bear" Hicks anywhere online. The liner notes tell us the following (my comments in italics):
Illmatic producer (slightly misleading qualifier) Dereck E. Hicks aka Grizzly Bear has unleashed multi-talented hip-hop sensation Safari 215. Socko, Savage, Smooch, and Suede, each a veteran performer with numerous talent awards to their credit.
The members were picked for their strength as solo performers. Under Mr. Hicks' direction they were molded into an harmonious rap act without sacrificing their individual strengths. All are accomplished lyricists as each track shows. (Here's where it jumps the shark...) Have you ever thought up in your head the perfect cypher? Rakim, B.I.G., Jay-Z, KRS, 2Pac and Kane when he was still raw? These cats make it happen. Offering a unique view of urban living all hale (their misspelling, not mine) from Illadelphia, hence Safari215.
Producer Grizzly Bear, affectionately known as "Bear," began his love affair with music at a tender age. (hayooooo, pause). By his teenage years he was a show writer. Many experiences honed his skills through the years. In 1991 he coordinated and promoted talent shows at Philly's famed Uptown Theater.
Evaluater (again, not my sp.) and developer of talent par excellence his involvement with Safari215 has stardom stamped all over it. A true "track master" his R&B structure combined with bouncy hip-hop tracks has wide appeal.
Dug this up earlier in the afternoon. I really like Noah's beat and my lyrics, but I don't think the whole "ARGH hardcore hip-hop" voice ever really suited me. Still, the song ain't bad considering it pre-dates my EPs by a couple years. I especially like the 2nd verse.
At a goblin market, short, green, stocky soccer moms shopping Target, getting greezy like Lorena Bobbitt. Apostle John turned a profit, porno career started, but the cost that launched it was really the awfulest. Count change like economists. Y'all 8-bit cartridges gone spacey like astrologists get brainy like lobotomists. Zombie bitch the nausy-est, Amy Fished for politics in a grimy ditch. Buttafuoco's wife talked with a lisp. It was probably his fist shifting the mouth on her. That or maybe just the good old Long Island tap water. Manslaughter, jawbreaker, wife beater, adulterer. Wanna make them irate? Then violate their granddaughter on camcorder. Mix candy Wonka sniffs with Cyndi Lauper's disc, Body Acoustic, bitch. Damn, you bought that shit? Yeah, word to ancient artifacts. Versive, Noah's Arkiteck, we taking over continents.
Is Strong Island shocking at the goblin market? Is Strong Island popping at the goblin market? Is Strong Island rocking at the goblin market. Yeah, Strong Island's rocking at the goblin market.
Them adding religion only at the collapse of tradition - ridiculous tripping, sipping absinthe, acid's in the kitchen. So what's subtracting a Christian? International passions of Gibson, propaganda spreading Antisemitism. Better question how his family living. Residence in the Hamptons, lampin', plasma television exclusively. Playboy mansion Jacuzzi, view the three beautiful teen triple-X scene on Hugh's movie screen. Cutey's new disease has her leaking coochie cream but she's frequently seducing with the movements obscene, freaking on some "do me please," screaming ecstatic. Tantric sex passionate experience serious orgasmic fits. Money shot paralysis catches the waste down like Larry Flynt's assassination attempt at the state house, so what do you say now? Just looking all lame, foul, powerless. You was doctoring the pussy like your style gynecologist.
