Immortal Technique @ Porter's Pub San Diego 8/17/2012

Anyone who knows me, knows I have an immense amount of love & respect for Immortal Technique, as well as for every single member of the Rebel Armz crew. People always say he seems like a scary guy, but honestly, he is the nicest, most humble artist I have ever met. Besides supporting the Rebel Armz for their humble & friendly nature, I love to go to as many shows as I possibly could because I just feel this amazing feeling of empowerment & ecstascy in my heart whenever they perform. It's something bigger than me, bigger than them, something colossal that unites & connects us all. It's amazing.

I wanted to catch Tech do his thing seperately from Rock the Bells, & since San Luis Obispo wasn't convinitent for me to go to, I decided to link up with my girl Laura & head out with her to catch the Rebel Armz at Porter's Pub in San Diego/La Jolla. I really wanted to take her with me because our friendship was built up on the music of Immortal Technique, & honestly, I have crerated many friendships with lots of amazing people through a mutual love for his work.

She picked me up from the airport, & straight from there, we drove from Santa Ana to San Diego. Cuz that's how much love I've got for the Rebel Armz. After a GODDAMN 4 hour drive, we got there & were chilling at the outdoor bar. I caught Akir & DJ G.I. Joe doing soundcheck, & Swave Sevah, Southpaw, & Diabloic laying gear out at the merch booth. Then I see Immortal Technique step out & I wave hi to him, him responding, "Hey Ruby, how you doing?" Ya, I go to so many shows Tech knows me by name lol. After chilling for a minute, my friend & I decided to get some shirts. Tech hugs me up & says hello, I introduce him to my friend Laura, he hugs her up & greets her as if he's known her forever. I tell him about how we became good friends through his music, & he was very flattered & thankful...the man is a uniter lol. Southpaw reeeeally likes to give me a hardtime through social networks for me being an instigator, so I gave him some 'tude & confronted him about his cyber bullying. All love though, Southpaw is the homie lol.

After we got our gear, Laura & I head for the stage & claim our spot in the front. Let me tell you, that place was hotter than a pair of the devil's sicky balls in Georgia during August. It was sweaty NASTY. It seemed as if the show started instantly, no long wait, it was great.
The opening act was a group of four young guys by the name of The Ghetto Zoo. Kids were good, enlightened bunch. I appreciated their vibe.

Things really got crackin' when they brought out this dude by the name of Kahlee. Kid had flow.

Shout out to him for hooking my girl up with a free tshirt lol. After their short, but affective set, it was REBEL ARMZ time!!





DJ G.I. Joe & Erg One were on the stage, attempting to set the mood.

Not gonna liiie, the crowd was a bit unenthusiastic, but that weather was killer!! Energy drainer. After a while, the audience was getting into it, & how could you not? Joey doesn't call himself the Wild Man for no reason, the man is just super hyphy!! I love it! Once Erg One & Joey deemed the crowd ready, they had Swave Sevah come out.

This was definitely one of my favorite Sevah performances. It's probably because Sevah had more time to perform & shine, whereas the other times I've seen him, he had to share the stage. He put lots of emotion & character to his part of the show. One of the most memorable was on this song about how he met a chick at a club, hooked up with her, and well...just watch the video *shutters*

well damn. Twisted shit just happens sometimes lol. I was completely blown away when he performed this one song about his bro who got killed. It was so real, he was tearing up in the beginning, but he got it together.

After that, Akir came out to do his thang thang.

Akir is a great performer. No matter what the energy level of the audience is, he always brings it. He is a professional for sure, I respect him for his confidence & for never giving up on his vibe.

He had the audience's love, getting in their faces showing them what he had to offer. After a stong set, Diabolic came to fuck the stage up.



Diabolic was extremely well received. He had a fan boy in the audience yelling "FUCK TYLER [the Creator]!!" Bolic responding, "ya, fuck that little skateboarding faggot." LoL, the Rebel Armz ain't nothing to fuck with. Through fog machine smoke choking & yelling fans, Diabolic gave supporters a show fa sure. Here's a clip of him performing "Payback"



Soon after, it was go time, which came so quickly. 

 Immortal Technique was welcomed warmly by cheers & whistles. The man is loved by the people, & the feeling is mutual. After his intro, he hit the audience with a little "Industrial Revolution" love.

Tech just kept dropping knowledge on us & smashing us up with his classics.



he teamed up with Diabolic to do some "Peruvian Coaine" for us. I love how he does a bit of a tribal-like dance in the beginning.

Whenever Tech speaks, he always says something important when he's not busy clowing around with them Goons known as the Rebel Armz crew. And Immortal Technique has the type of voice where you just listen; every word is clear, every word makes sense, every word has meaning, your ears have no choice but to take in what is being spoken.

He admirers his supporters, and his supporters highly admire him in return. He is truly of the people. He speaks for those who have yet to find the courage to speak for themselves.
After being the center of attention for a good while, Tech feels like we need to see the work of a REAL DJ. DJ G.I. Joe biaaatch!

Joey almost didn't make it to the west. Since he's on parole, he has to get permission and shiiit, got turned down the first time. Tech went to his P.O. to talk them into letting Joey come through to the west coast. Thank GOD it got approved, it ain't a party without DJ G.I. Joe.

After all that excitement, it was time to get back on that serious tip. I remember Tech tweeting about the Burma Genocide. Look it up. So sad that people are being killed for having a mind of their own. He then, appropriately, performed The Martyr.



Then, the goons got together.

They were all telling their stories on how their mommies & daddies gave them ASS WHOOPINS for being trouble. This was, appropriately, the introduction to Goonies Never Die.

Shout out to Diabolic for doing the Truffle Shuffle though LOL!!
Yessir. After this they did a few songs, including "Angels & Demons" and "Toast to the Dead" (wish I recorded them, shoot wish I recorded the whole show, but I was there to have fun, too, not just work). Then, with a tension, we knew it was time.

All the Rebel Armz brothers got together, & "Dance With the Devil" it was...

So theatrical, so classic. I've been to 7 Immortal Technique shows (going on 8), & I'll tell you, I never get enough of him performing this one.
It was about 11-11:30, I see security approaching the stage...I know what he was about to say. He announces that, "Technically, the show is over." He asked if we wanted me, & more we wanted. So he said, "fuck it, drop that beat," hit us with some "Obnoxious" & was KEEPING IT LIIIVE!

Once that was finished, Tech says, "you know, we've been doing this show all in English." He hit us with some "Golpe de Estado."
The crew was getting ready to step off stage.

Before stepping off, Immortal Technique has us send out blessings to Palestine & wishing them freedom. Then it ended with us uniformly repeating after Tech, "¡Viva la Revolución!"

The men walked through the audience to the merch booth. That meet & greet line was honestly chaotic, it always is. We just all love Tech & the Rebel Armz so much, we all want our bit of one on one time. I talk to some supporters in line, and make new friends like usual.

As soon as I get near the merch booth, there goes Southpaw giving the poor girl in front of me a hard time. I tell her to ignore him, and he starts telling Akir, "She's such an instigator! She loves to start problems!" I nod my head, "yup, I sure do! But YOU started it cuz you got all booty tickled over a SF/NY Giants hoodie that made the NY Giants the bottom bitch." Immortal Technique jumps in saying, "Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute...but didn't the NY Giants beat the NINERS? Wait What??" I tell Tech, "Shhhh...I'm talking to Toure (Southpaw)" LOL! They ganged up on me!!  I was telling Southpaw to stop getting all booty tickled, making a tickling gesture with my hand as I said it, & Southpaw responded, "why you gotta make hand gestures like you're playing with balls?" Tech, the wise ass New Yorker that he is, replies, "Oh wait, she's mimicking the way the 49ers catch the ball." Touche Tech, tou-fuckin'-che. Then after chocking on water from laughter (he was thinking about something he remembered & started cracking up), he tells us the story that made him choke on water, "Yo! so after the game, my friend got so drunk that he had to puke. He found someone wearing a 49ers jersey & threw up on it." We were all laughing. I swear, good times with these guys, they are just thee BEST!! I love them so much :-)

After, I got my pretty purple autograph from Tech, & got my picture.

That photo pretty much sums it up...fun GALORE!

I seriously cannot wait for Rock the Bells. Ab-Soul + Immortal Technique on the same weekend?? YES please!!

Immortal Technique's Twitter:

@ImmortalTech

Swave Sevah's Twitter:

@SwaveSevah

Akir's Twitter:

@AkirOne

Southpaw's Twitter:

@SPMusik

DJ G.I. Joe's Twitter:

@DJGIJoe

Diabolic's Twitter:

@DiabolicHipHop

Erg One's Twitter:

@ERG_ONE

The Ghetto Zoo's Instagram:

@TheGhettoZoo

Kahlee's website:

www.theseedhiphop.com

Nate the Great: Common Folk

Usually when a friend tells you about their friend that raps, you roll your eyes (when they're turned away, of course), & unenthusiatically replying, "oh yeah? that's what's up." When my friend Abdul first told me about his good friend Nate's music, I was open minded; Abdul sent me a link to a mixtape of Nate's, I downloaded it; forgot about it & never listened. I regret not listening. Idk what the hell happened to that mixtape, but my mind slipped up on it. And when Nate dropped this video for his Common Folk ablum, I knew it was definitely my loss:

For the longest time, through my Facebook & Twitter following of Nate, he spoke of his album process & musical progress. Filled with anxiety (not the negative kind that makes you uncomfortable & hate life), Nate had been emotionally ready to drop the project, but like with all team projects, everyone has to put perfection on their part, & we all know perfection takes time. In the meantime, Nate made performances here & there, giving his supporters a taste of what was to come. I personally got the chance to catch him hit the stage at Precita Park for the 16th Annual Graffiti Arts Festival.

And a few days ago, Nate hit us with a joint he did with his homie Fego entitled "Them Days". What is special about this track, it is the ONLY song which contains an artist feature. From what I heard through friends & from what I've read Nate tweet, Fego (aka Miguel) was the one who got Nate started on this rap game, & because of this, Nate felt that he had to honor Miguel's contribution to this major life altering move of his.

From what I read through Twitter, Nate decided to drop the album 8/15 because 1. It's his birthday & 2. His mom never forgot the 15th was his bday cuz it was always pay day...but I could be wrong lol. Anywho, the anticipation was too much for Nate to bare, he dropped it today at 10pm lol. 

As I write this, I'm still listening to the album, on track 13: Common Folk Outro. Overall, such a beautiful, magical, mystical album filled with wonder, self-discovery, & hope, hope those who are listening to are LISTENING to the words, hope that they will observe themselves, observe the world & what they are in the world, hope that we can all come together & make change in a world full of chaos.

Take a listen. It's worth it, I promise <3

http://www.mediafire.com/?xeaycut1oaa1g29

and shout out to The Kid Rated R on such beautiful production, he does great things with samples (& originals, too). Whoever you guys had sing on that album, she is an AMAZING vocalist.

Nate's Twitter:

@NateeThaGreat 

The Kid Rated R's Twitter

@thekidratedr

First Friday with Zumbi of Zion I & A-1 @ Oaklandish 8/3/2012

Oh Oakland, how I love thee. The whole day I was rushing to get to Oakland, & on my way home from work, my friend tells me that Zion I was scheduled to perform at Oaklandish!! Last month I went there & saw Los Rakas & had the most amazing evening, dancing the night away; I knew this was gonna be another good one.

Finally, I get all my little errands out of the way & head to Oakland. We get there, & of course the first stop is the food trucks. Love, love, love all the food vendors, never a disappointment. Everybody is just out there, chillin', eating, enjoying the music. We walk to the burger joint down the street & check out the classic cars. Spot Chuy Gomez, was gonna say hi since he knows my fam, but I didn't want to bother him.
It was 9 & I tell my friend it was time for us to head to Oaklandish before it got crazy packed.

We get there, & indeed it is packed.

It was lovely to see that Zion I draws an audience of every different type of background there is, it just shows that their music has a universal aspect to it.

We're waiting there & Dion Decibels (resident Oaklandish DJ) was spinning all the tracks, keeping the audience energized for the anticipated performance. Then I feel someone moving me & I turn around: security moved me to make way for Zumbi & I look at my friend like "OMGGG!!"

Zumbi was standing next to me the whole time he waiting for sound to be ready. We're waiting some more, than Dion Decibels asks the audience if anyone had a thumb drive lol. Some more waiting had to be done in order for A-1 to get his beats transferred over to the DJ's laptop. 

It's just so funny, this is the third local Bay Area artist event I've been to & see A-1. Each time I see him perform, the more I respect him & his hustle. I remember seeing him at Precita Park for the Youth Arts Festival with his headphones on, concentrating, getting in his performance mode, practicing his raps. He has a great work ethic, that one.

Finally, sound is set, beats are transfered, & Zumbi introduces A-1.

The first song he performs was just so beautiful, something every good kid with a humble upbringing dreams of: finding someone good to marry & have children with, just wanting happiness at the end of the day. A track called "On My Way" (which a former classmate of mine helped shoot). Lovely, lovely song.

after that, he hit us with one last song. Had the whole crowd going, feeling it fa sure!

As you can tell by my footage, sound wasn't the greatest, but things kept going & the audience was definitely ready for Zumbi to hit the stage!

Zumbi starts things off, the crowd is going, he tells us "JUMP!" we are BOUNCING pogo style. Hands are in the air, echos of what Zumbi raps is heard throughout the audience, especially dude who was standing next to me. I have no clue who this guy is, except that he came with the Zion I crew. Then out of nowhere, dude starts spitting on the mic, straight up on BEAST mode!

Turns out his name is Deuce Eclipse, one part of Bang Data. Honestly, I had never heard of him before, but after that dope ass performance, I became a fan. I'm always looking for Latino hip hop artists to get into, and Deuce Eclipse definitely impressed me (and the whole audience).

Zumbi gets into some "Bird's Eye View," getting the audience into a beautifully unified mode. He tells the DJ to drop a track & him, Deuce, & A-1 get into the dopest freestyle ever!! I am sooo sad because I had caught the whole thing on camera, but something happened where the video didn't save properly into my camera. It was just beautiful. Zumbi was amazing, Deuce was beatsting, A-1 admitted that he didn't know how he was going to top Deuce's freestyle, but did his thing regardless.

THEN! Zumbi hits us with "The Bay." Everyone was bouncing, feeling it, singing the unofficial Bay anthem, yelling "And we claim Tupac as a source of pride!" Soon after, we get some "Coastin'".

A couple of songs later, we are left wanting more, but due to the technical difficulties brought on by the turn tables, we were left with the wants lol. Zumbi was so nice, taking the time out to get to as many fans/supporters as he could & taking pictures with them. My friend & I were one of the lucky few & got out picture with him (notice Dustin Sharpe in the background hella posing LOL! Love it).

I never noticed before how beautiful Zumbi was lol, pretty eyes. But after that I told him how dope he was & he really appreciated the love. I appreciate him as an artist & even more as a person.

We go outside & I see Deuce Eclipse; I tell my friend I wanted to give him props on his performance. Props are given, respect is shown, & a lady (who might be his girlfriend or good friend) is hyping him up, telling us that he's opening for Cafe Tacuba at the Fox Theater; she was a very lovely lady. She then asks us if we wanted to take a picture with him, & we of course don't turn the offer down.

We leave Oaklandish extremely happy. You see, my friend & I love Zion I & have been trying to catch a show of theirs for the longest, & finally without even trying, we get to see Zumbi perform for free! I love how the universe plans thing out for you.

This is my friend Natalie's First Friday ever, so we walk around to see some street performances & some art.

I mentioned to her before how much I love Oakland. San Francisco is beautiful, but people are trying so hard to gentrify it, but we are fighting, trying to keep the affordable areas & not trying to leave without a fight. Oakland though...Oakland is ours, Oakland is of the people. I love First Fridays because it promotes tourism, of both a local & international level, you feel a wonderful sense of community, it just feels well connected & loved. I love love love it. It motivates people to display their art, from fine art, to music, to dance. One kid definitely caught the attention of many with his style of dance.

from what I over heard with this conversation he was having with this lady who was trying to recruit him to her dance school/group, his name is Levi. Levi is an amazingly talented dancer. His style is of that contortionist style with hints of ballet; it was sick & elegant all at the same time. Talent fills the streets of Oakland & I love the Art Murmur for allowing all the talented ones to come out & display their skills.

Art galleries of all different types of artists who work with different mediums have their doors open to the public, allowing us to admire the adorned walls.

Even the street sidewalks of Oakland possess art.

The only thing about not living in Oakland is having to leave early, or else BART will leave you 1. stranded or 2. looking for a taxi, having to pay hella money to go home. End of the night, we were feeling euphoric. I mean even the sky was feeling it! Look at those clouds!

If you ever have the chance, head out to Oakland for the first Friday of the month, it's an amazing experience. Don't be skurred of Oakland, it's not even nearly as bad as people make it seem.

Zion I's Twitter:

@ZIONI

Zumbi's Twitter:

@zumbi808

Amp Live's Twitter:

@amplive

A-1's Twitter:

@adamraps

Deuce Eclipse's Twitter:

@deuceeclipse

Dustin Sharpe's Twitter:

@DUSTTHEREAL

New "Worst Way" video by Skuba

Usually I don't blog about my work, but the end result was just so much more amazing than I could've imagined that I have to share it with you all, on top of a little bit of a behind the scenes back story.

So originally, we were called on set to finished the 2nd half for Skuba's song "Out of my Head" with Erk the Jerk, but a year later after finally getting everything together to finish the video up, turned out Erk couldn't make it to the set due to scheduling conflicts. Since THAT fell through, they took out all the make up work my friend April & I did on the ladies for that shoot & this was the end result for that one:

Pete Paduano & Garett Franz (aka directing duo the Young Gunz) still managed to make a great video, but I was sad that only our touch up work on Skuba & Erk made the final cut lol.

I get on set & get word that Erk wasn't making it & instead we are shooting footage for Skuba's song "Worst Way"; I get warned about its raunchy nature. On set I was a little upset & feeling guilty that I was working on something that I am so against: the objectification of females. I was apologized to in advance by Pete & G and they're my friends, so I couldn't leave them hanging.
Everyone on set was lovely, though. Good people, good times. They all treated me well & were understanding that there was only one of me (I was the only person they had doing make up) & were realistic with time.

I love to work with Pete & G because not only are they good people who are understandable & a pleasure to work with, but they always deliver AMAZING end products. I've always told them whenever they need someone to do make up to hit me up.

So as the day turned into night & it was getting closer to wrapping time, I get with the cinematographer Ben & we both teamed up quick style for the dayglow make up. He gave me direction on what he wanted & we both executed the looks; the faces were all me. Those lips with the dayglow was just HEAVENLY!! The whole time we were shooting the glow in the dark scene, I kept getting exciting cuz it was just a visual party!! All the guilt I felt inside, it was kind of worth it when I saw how beautiful my work came out.
I love Skuba, he's a funny guy, and in this video, it totally made sense; he's in a way making a mockery of the whole fact that rappers take it seriously & talk about bitches & hoes & think they're pimps, disrespecting women & all. I heard that in part 2, there's some revenge. We shall see what the revenge is. For now, enjoy part 1. I can't stress it enough, I am SO proud of my work; Paul & G aka the Young Gunz, are AMAZING!!