Brooklyn keeps on making it, Queens keeps on creating it, Manhattan keeps on faking it, and the Bronx keeps on taking it?

Hip-Hop heads all know BDP's infamous diss,"Manhattan keeps on making it, Brooklyn keeps on taking it Bronx keeps creating it, and Queens keeps on faking it." The following documentary "Founding Fathers: The Untold Story of Hip-Hop", on the surface, is a film about Brooklyn and Queens DJs refuting the Bronx's claim to fame as ground zero for Hip-Hop Culture. Despite the bravado and to be honest almost defensive vibe of the interviewees, this film is really a heartfelt piece about the love, friendship and ingenuity of early DJs and sound system crews that brought the communities of Brooklyn and Queens together for a few heady years in the early to late 70s. The film also, unwittingly, raises the question, why wasn't engineering established as one of the pillars/elements of Hip-Hop? The demand for more bass and ease of DJing pushed these early DJs to forward new forms of sound amplification and innovate technology that allowed to blend and mix with greater skill and precision. Lets hope this film reaches far and wide and helps assure the people in it a prominent place in the history of Hip-Hop.

Africa, Center of the World

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Brasil vs. Zaire in the 1974 World Cup, West Germany.

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The Mission, San Francisco

Check out pictures of Mission murals and street art by my big sister Ali...

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=alilovesart&target=ALBUM&id=5485121494116013937&authkey=Gv1sRgCOmsvZyay5iNLw&feat=email

Northeast, Brazil

Funky, freaky Forro and psychedelic roots music from the northeast of Brazil. The Northeast is the oldest and most mixed up, mashed up part of Brazil and the music reflects this. Central/West African and Tupi-Guarani (the main indigenous group from the area) rhythms and melodies meets Portuguese flute traditions blended with British and American Rock and Funk sensibilities. Usually the sanfona (an accordion like squeeze box) is fairly prominent in this kind of northeastern music but I chose to downplay its importance in this particular mix in the hopes of winning over accordion-phobic listeners.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/rlmtzermyhb/funkyforro.mp3

San Francisco, CA 2010

This is a Dance/House mix buy DJ Chendo that includes some original work by his group Guerrila Soul. Some fine cuts from an ill SF DJ. Check his site for more free mixes: http://chendotunes.com/ and if you like this stuff check out his new ensemble, Sonic Valium on Facebook. Sonic Valium blends live instrumentation, ethereal vocals and raw beats for your otherworldly satisfaction. Described as subsonic chill, ambient and shavasana beat, Sonic Valium will get you through the turbulence of everyday flight.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/2r5yzwucozi/pinkmix.mp3

SaravaZamba hosting the Brazil vs. Ivory Coast World Cup match @ Beckett's Irish Pub

Morro da Mangueira, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1978.

Paulo Moura - short film 35 mm - by Paulo Martins from Paulo Martins on Vimeo.

A short documentary about Paulo Moura. Paulo, the multi-instrumentalist and composer, who happens to be the focus of the piece, is, in my opinion, not quite as interesting as the anonymous pandeiro player who opens this piece. Got to see this guys moves to believe it. Shot in 35 mm in one of the most historic favelas in Rio, this film takes viewers back to Brazil's golden age (musically, certainly not politically).

Words, Power and Sound: Kingston, Jamaica 60's and 70's

Here is a mix of Rocksteady, Roots Reggae and a little Dub for the hot summer nights to come....

"This Life Makes Me Wonder"- Delroy Wilson
"Purple Lights"- The Heptones
"Willow Tree"- Alton Ellis
"Please Stop Your Lying"- Errol Dunkley
"Give a Hand"- Gregory Isaacs
"Peaceful"- Jackie Edwards
"Angelina"-?????
"Born to Dub"- Soul Vendors
"Everyday is a Holiday"- The Sensations
"Declaration of Rights"- The Abyssinians
"Mr. Bassie" - Horace Andy
"Horning Version"- King Tubby
"Midnight over Ethiopia" - Rico




Here is a clip of the opening scene from the 1978 film "Words, Power and Sound." A must-see flick on the Soul Syndicate Band and Earl Chinna Smith. Incidentally, it is not all that common to see footage of classic jamaican Bands playing live from this era. The scene was and still is dominated by the dancehall, a place where one turntable and a microphone got the job done.




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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Luanda, Angola; East Oakland, CA, Los Angeles, CA and Memphis, Tennesse 2010

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Passinho de Funk from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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Kuduro from Luanda, Angola

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Turf Dance from East Oakland, California

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Jerkin' from LA, California

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Buckin' and Jukin'(Jookin) from Memphis, Tennessee

East Oakland, California 2006

I made this instrumental mixscape from vinyl when I first started working at Rudsdale High in East Oakland. I wanted to give the aspiring young rappers at the school a continuous mix of music to freestyle to. Mostly Bay Area beats and some space oddities thrown in for good measure. This one is for all my Rudsdale students and my cousins, Nick and Chris.

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