#Talib Kweli @ Roxy last week - old news, but still fresh!

On Thanksgiving Eve I lined up with a couple of hundred Talib fans in the chilly (by L.A. standards) night outside The Roxy club for a free launch party and performance for Talib's "Gutter Rainbows." Thanks MySpace Music!

The event helped raise awareness for homeless folks this winter as each free party-goer had to bring a hat, scarf or gloves. But some brought canned goods too. But seriously people...you bring one can of soup in exchange for a Talib tix?! Bring the holiday spirit and dig a bit deeper!

Talib Kweli, The Roxy, Los Angeles (credit: LA Music Blog)

LA Music Blog reports on the gig here...I'm ashamed to say I didn't last the whole 2-hour set nor, did I see Kurupt perform. But I was there! L.A.'s Strong Arm Steady were dope.

Strong Arm Steady (credit: LA Music Blog)

Here's a cool perspective from HipHopStress' video of "Get By!"

Asian hip hop weekend...?

I have Tigarah in my MySpace friends list, but she never told me she moved to LA?! Hmmm.

As G4's The Feed says: "Japanese rapper Tigarah is truly one of a kind. She’s among the only female MCs on the planet with a major label deal. She’s part of an even smaller group of Japanese rappers on the scene. And she’s realy, really cute! Seriously."

I wrote up her story for our music blog, SEEN, and the boys even got some tunes from her producer, Mr. D, for *free* download. Check it out here.

Anglo/American relations MySpace style

Oh my God, this is baaaaddd! And not bad meaning good!

I saw this interview on MySpace - and I though "has collaboration fever taken over?" This is a mash-up of new money from both sides of the Atlantic: a UK sports star and a US rap star. But to be honest, I have no idea who'd be interested in this dull crap. And what a combination...Rio Ferdinard and P.Diddy...ok, there were some sparks of something interesting, but this just wasn't compelling viewing.

What made me cringe was the vocab that poor Rio uses...he might be most expensive defender in soccer history, but it's like he's never ventured out of England...has he no idea that no one but the Brits will know have a clue what he's saying!? "I go down the pub...", "...down in the dumps". Oh, and why part 1 and 2?! Pleaase. Save us! Bollocks...but I had to share ;-)

Artist on Artist Part 2: P Diddy Meets Rio Ferdinand

Add to My Profile | More Videos

This is England...Wow!

This nostalgic film I spotted on MySpace speaks for itself. It captures the pride and prejudices of the British white working-classes with the turbulent 1980s politics as a back-drop. I remember the Thatcher-era where her policies led to the weakening of unions in the UK, the sell-off of public housing and the Argentinian war. I don't remember much racism as shown in the film. I grew up with Indian, Jamaican, and English kids and in my school nationalist sentiments weren't tolerated.

Anyway, I think the 80s British who didn't like the way Britain was heading left...for places like Florida and Santa Monica. It's true.

This is England

Add to My Profile | More Videos