The Rabbit Hole (Blog)

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DJ Side

Turntablism

At age 21, I started to shift my attention from Emceeing to Deejaying / Turntablism. Most of my generation was drawn to the urban aesthetic, but I felt closer to the creative process of Hip-hop. So I purchased turntables, videotapes, books, and recording equipment.  I started studying the Djs in the clubs but, switched to the turntablist who performed with the music.  My proudest moment was when my uncle gave me his record collection. My uncle was a main influence to being a DJ.

So I started practicing my scratches and routines on Gemini direct drive turntables and made mixtapes.  I liked the feel of records but I also had a big compact disc collection.  So, I also purchased a Denon CD turntable.  I didn’t know many turntablist in my town but I knew rappers, so I would do shows with them.  My first Dj show was in a bowling alley and I had a great time mixing old and new songs together.  

A Serious Production

Most hip-hop djs are known to remix and produces music for rappers, so I started producing my own music. Since, I couldn’t afford a high end equipment like a MPC 2000, I went the computer route and purchased controllers and software instead. I also founded my production company, A Serious Production.  It was my label to my work so I would create and have a place to put it under.  I started to share my music with a few friends and rappers. I got pretty good feedback. Plus, I started doing remixes with my friend Juda to be well versatile in my production.

Intercourse

By 2004,  I was a turntablist and joined a band called Intercourse, a rap-rock hybrid band in Stockton,CA.  I started to understand my role as a band member (a position most DJs don’t acquire), and what kind of rig to use. I would bring a turntable for my scratches and my Roland SP-808 sampler to play samples at the shows.

Alphabet Asylum

I started working with Alphabet Asylum in 2006. Our music was slimmed down to samples, turntables, bass, drums, and vocal. I added a keyboard to my rig to expand the sound range to our music.  This action worked perfectly. We went from a rap band to an alternative funk band.  I would play keyboards, samples, and a turntable at all our show and our 2011 album, The Balance.  So, I became a DJ that played music, who evolved into a musician that made music.

With this evolution, I thought that I have explored everything on the Hip-hop scene. But I found  new genres to explore for myself and A Serious Production.

 

To be continue in our next installment…

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MC Side

MY EMCEE (MC) SIDE

Birth of an Emcee

My first love for hip-hop was Emceeing. I enjoyed writing poems and proses in school about nature and personal things. But, I was a 10 years old kid with cable. MTV was one of the most watched channels in my house.  While I enjoyed watching Brit-pop and Heavy Metal, Hip-Hop started to appear.  I found vocalist who did not sing but spoke in rhymes. I thought it was the greatest thing!

Continue reading “MC Side”

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My Last Day in NYC

Did you wake up this morning and said, “I am going to have an awesome adventure.” I did and made a list of places I wanted to see. But, I needed to finish my goal:
Touch all 5 boroughs of New York City.

I already did 4 of them and now I was on train to complete my final borough, The Bronx. I touchdown on Grand Concourse station. I walked around and noticed that it was more industrial than other boroughs.

My girlfriend told me that each borough carries their own personality. This idea surprised me. I visualized New York City as Voltron. Each borough connection was different. I wondered which part each borough played? I assumed Manhattan was the body and head. I found out most New Yorkers consider Manhattan as New York City. That was interesting.

We started at the north end of Central Park in Harlem and began our exploration. There are a lot of movies that filmed in New York City that always have a central park scene. The Central Park architects actually made another park in the Brooklyn area called Prospect Park.

It was interesting to discover that the Central Park architects like Prospect Park more because they were able to correct any design flaws they found in Central Park.

So, even their most famous and popular design is not their favorite. That make me wonder if the painting of the Mona Lisa is Leonard de Vinci’s favorite work of art?

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Record Store Day

A-1 Record Shop

I went back to East village to check out the Nuyorican Cafe once again. Then I changed my mind and headed to A-1 Record Shop. Today was Record Store Day, so I let out DJ Resolution and went shopping. I felt like Havoc(from Mobb Deep) on Mass Appeal’s Beat Roulette. A lot of records for a small space. They had DJs playing records in the store and doing turntable routines. I like their selection, but I was looking for the new J-Dilla CD and it was only on record. So, I bought a T-shirt to support the cause.

Turntable Lab

I talked to the cashier at A-1 records and he suggested I check out Turntable Lab around the corner. So that what I did. Now, A-1 record shop is store full of records. Turntable Lab is a DJ specialty store. It amazes me the sizes of these shops are in New York City. Most of these shop are about half the size of a subway car.  DJ Resolution hit jackpot. Controllers, stands, turntables, break records, lights, and beat machine was all over the walls.  I definitely enjoyed looking at items that were going on the Christmas list (or Tax return).

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Father’s Day

Happy father’s day to all the fathers who made a difference in a child’s life. I said that because I never saw myself a father until my daughter was born.  I still remember getting off work and racing down to the hospital.  While her mother was in labor, the hospital actually wanted me to fill out forms with her. So, I would ask her questions and she would answer each question with a long pause.  I thought that was the funniest thing.

It weird that having a daughter has made me happy, but also, concerns about her well being. I have never trusted males, even the ones in my family, I have been disappointed by men. Father, grandfathers, uncles, cousins, and stepfathers have made me question  my personality with ridicule or physical assault.

Continue reading “Father’s Day”

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First Run in New York

I ran 4.75 miles at Prospect Park in Brooklyn.  Cheshire thought I was crazy since we had walked 14 miles on Friday. I definitely wanted to mark a run in New York City.
Surprisingly, the park was bigger than I anticipated. There were more hills and valleys that I have been accustomed to.  Plus, there was a Bike race going on too. I am still sore from that run.

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City so nice. They named it twice

It’s finally happened. For 25 years, I have ranted, bragged, and raved about going to New York City. The time has come to fulfill that dream. Becca and I are going to New York City.

New York (State)

Now,  I have been to New York (the state) in the early 90s. I remembered my family went to Polk family reunion in the upper parts of New York state. I was not happy. It was definitely a rural area. I laughed about it now, but I was bummed about the whole trip.  I did meet a lot of long distance relatives and got to hang out with my cousins. I rode a 1970 – style bicycle with a banana seat, while rocking neon suspenders. And I got stung by ground bees.  Yes, ground bees! I was surprised as well. But I would have been excited about New York City.  Plus, I had Robin Harris (on cassette) in headphones. It’s hard trying to not laugh in a car full of people.

New York City

My brother, my best friend, my cousin, and even Lauren has been to New York City. But the time has come for my visit. I have a few places on my list. I hoped to see all or most of them. Plus, I wanted to step foot on all the boroughs. I am definitely going to play music from artists who you reside there. It would be cool to run into a celebrity but I would settled with the New York atmosphere.

I can, finally, cross this off my bucket list.  I am excited about this trip.  I am staying in Brooklyn. I will taking pictures in Times Square and visit Ground Zero (the twin towers memorial). Pictures are going to fill my social media. I am even going to do some slams and reading spots while I am there.  I have told my friend, David, that I will do a guerrilla poem out there. Since it is poetry month, I should unleash a guerrilla poem on the world. I have two poems in mind that I will rehearse for it, but I have not pick a location yet. To be continued….

Bonus: I am going to visit a dungeon for the first time.  The kink community is an eye opener. I am definitely the black Alice traveling down this rabbit hole. So keep it lock to my blog,  instagram, twitter, or soundcloud. I am definitely clearing my cellphone and carrying an additional flash drive to get as much content.

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10 months of Reckoning

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WHAT’S UP DOC?

It seems my plan to move to Arizona has been cancelled.  So, now I must go back to my original plan but with a few changes. I have been giving an assignment: Obtain a Job, an Apartment, and a Car within 10 months. The reason: Sarah wants to move back to California.  Now, I have to make this happen immediately.  I have a time and a goal but I need a location to start. So the search begins on where I should go to start my assignment.   Continue reading “10 months of Reckoning”