Editorial: lets sea heaR: Polytrix

By Annie Jay
Staff Writer

Photo By Kendaru Photography

Well, lets sea hear. I am a creation that is true. There are stars in my blood stream circulating through my solar system so I have no time for Nation, I am my Own. At night tropical, green ivy grows from my spine, pollinated by humming birds yes of course with translucent wings iridescence being their thing. Oh My I must confide that I don’t give a damn about politrix just a waist of my god damn time. Mass distraction innate reaction I have my own universe to tend to, the ebb and flow of oceans of my own. No one owns me. And that is true. Torture me with taxes, unemployment. Foreclosure and all that bullshit. But the sun is free, yeah man you can pay for oxygen or you can just breathe. That’s Right take a deep breath I suggest you do so in a park of trees cuz the air on these streets are full of disease. Inhale exhale now your getting somewhere oxygenating the body and blood, awareness is clear. So whats all this about politics when were filling our bodies with damage. All a game to keep you and I lame but I see and I breathe. All You can do is protect your family and keep it together because broken homes is what most of us are suffering from. Ashe.

Grind 4 The Green: Music Education on an Eco-Friendly Tip

By Aaris A. Schroeder
Editor-In-Chief

Grind for the Green, a non-profit organization that works with Bay Area youth careers in music provided its second annual four-part series, free of charge that includes a beat and emcee competition, July 12-Aug 30, ‘09 for the final competition at Yerba Buena Park in San Francisco, CA; all happening while caring for the environment utilizing solar panels for energy, sponsored by Solar Living Institute.

 

“The ecological aspect of it is that all of our materials are made with recycled paper,” says Ambessa Cantave, Co-Executive Director for G4G, “We are trying to instruct the youth on where the world is going and the impact we can make with the choices we make.”

Solar Living Institute has been training communities in environmentally friendly alternative lifestyles; G4G has a relationship with them through their official fiscal sponsor, Global Exchange.

 “More urban communities need access and information on eco-living so they can understand that going green can be cool and not just for hippies. It also provided a learning opportunity for the artists involved in G4G who are learning more about this movement,” states Founder and Executive Director, Zakiya Harris who had nearly 350 in attendance to G4G, double the amount of last year.

Young adults were able to unify and become educated while attending music conference, music workshop, a creative beat battle and a paced emcee competition.  Several workshops went down on July 12 at San Francisco State University where youth learned how to project their voices with song and poetry, improvisation, how to check in with a soundman and more.  July 18 was G4G youth conference featuring speaker M1 of dead prez educating youth on music business and environmental justice. 

 

“It was inspirational and we were happy that it was all about social justice, activism and then to take it upon themselves to make it happen,” says Cantave.

 

Photo By Aaris A. Schroeder

Emcee Talib Kweli and vegan soul chef Bryant Terry played the part of celebrity judges.  Young adults are taught dynamics of vocal performance, producing music, mixing and mastering, stage presence correlated while learning how to put the right foods in their bodies and to respect the earth, hence solar-powered hip-hop events. 

“I think that it assisted our community by exposing them to tangible solutions for the planet in a culturally engaging and innovative way. I believe that is the only way to get urban communities excited about climate change,” says Harris who was able to hire and pay youth we also had three interns and various volunteers this year. 

 

Photo By Aaris A. Schroeder

This year, along with major headliners, dead prez [stic.man and M1] and Mr. F.A.B., Fiyawata, Lil Lo A.K.A. O’Zone and last year’s G4G emcee battle winner along with DJ Anthony Marshall performed with the final contestants that made it through the summer, learning and performing hip-hop in an eco-friendly environment.  August ’09 G4G awarded Tre Pounds, emcee battle winner and Money Alwayz, best beat-maker, judged by the people and announced by local emcee and host for G4G The Jacka.  Each winner received $1000, free studio time and the chance to perform on the same stage as Dead Prez and Mr. F.A.B.

 

Photo By Aaris A. Schroeder

“Since its inception, hip-hop has been used as a tool of education and community organizing, even though it’s not apparent in the mainstream media.  This fits in line with hip-hop because, [similar to] climate change [which] unites people among all races, class, genders etc, hip-hop is a universal language and going green is a universal movement because if we don’t have a planet what else really matters?” Boldly states Harris.

Sponsors and affiliates to get involved with in the G4G movement; visit online at GrindForTheGreen.com, include greenforall.org, globalexchange.org, consciousyouthmediacrew.org and partners with SFSU MRI Program where events are held cel.sfsu.edu/music.  Other partners are Alliance For Climate Education and Rainbow Grocery.  G4G can be seen spring ’10 at the Eco-Music Festival and are getting ready to be involved with the annual Green Festival, check it out at greenfestival.org.

PLATOON RADIO WEBISODE 1… HOSTED BY MONOTONE!

The IHU Podcasting System & PLATOON RADIO!

DIY: Engineer Yourself 4 Less

By Daniel Graves
Contributing Writer

Music is undoubtedly changing in every aspect such as sales, media, video, distribution, ownership and rights.  It has always been assumed that if you have a song on the radio being signed you concludes stardom.  Now with the internet expanding in ways we are not prepared for, the music industry has left a big gap for motivated and talented artists to own and profit from their own artistic talents.

This is how you get your business right.  First become a member of The American Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers [A.S.C.A.P.] or Broadcasting Music Inc. [B.M.I.].  Next, get online and research places to sell your music such as iTunes and CD Baby.  You want to hire a professional music lawyer once your music is copy written and mastered.

Success will arrive with professionalism, education and a growing passion for the art of music production.  Take a few classes at a local community college about music recording and business.  Learn music recording programs such as CuBase, Nuendo, Pro-Tools or Sonar. 

Get equipment for recording.  Purchase the most affordable software with an interface, outboard compressor and pre-amp.  Find a condenser microphone and stand with a Popper Stopper.  Buy a 2.5 motherboard/processer combination [at least] that is able to take at least four gigs of ram.  You may use a soundcard with Midi keyboard inputs.  This usually runs about $250.  One midi keyboard controller and you are ready to track out and record. This is affordable for under $1500.

The most talented people can become extraordinary when they also work hard, stay focused and execute. If you are meant to do this you must make sacrifices. Much love and luck.

Funky Congas, DJs and Live Music Go-Goes!

Weekly Review

By Aaris A. Schroeder
Editor-In-Chief

Go-go music came to Sacramento August 16 via Rick Famous at his venue Listener’s Lounge at Japanese Restaurant, Kamon’s [2210 16^th St.], an underground weekly that has been steadily growing in attendance.  What is go-go music may you ask?  Go-go is a subgenre of funk that originated in Washington D.C. in the mid to late ‘70s and much of the genius came from a man named Chuck Brown. 

Go-go is familiarized by a strong bass/snare pattern or more technically a dotted rhythm that made up of series of quarter and eighth notes.  The music includes a DJ, conga drums, timbale and cowbells.  You can hear this sound in Rare Essence’s song, “Jungle Boogie.”  

and Cutty Dre [Go-Go Producer & Emcee] — Photo By Venessa Amarro”]

Rick Famous [Host

Kutty Dre, who has lived in Washington D.C. since he was four-years-old brings go-go music alive in Sacramento, explaining that the roots of go-go are African-Cuban music infused with rock; party music with percussion.  He says that the first go-go bands were known as junk yard bands as underground rock bands are known as garage bands.  Kutty-Dre’s background in music stretches from James Brown to Earth, Wind and Fire and, of course Chuck Brown.  His father was a radio executive for WPGC in Washington when he was growing up; always around music.  Cutty Dre was relocated to Sacramento in ’94 and attended Valley High School, graduating in ’95 and attended Cosumnes River College for Studio Engineering.

“Go-go is ever evolving, it is its own genre,” explains Kutty-Dre who says that rapper Nelly sampled a Chuck Brown song for his hit, “Hot in Here.”

No More Cute for Matt and Kim

By John Phillips
Staff Writer

You know when you are in the beginning of a relationship with someone?  When you just can’t get enough of the other person, you walk around in public holding hands, make out for hours in front of complete strangers and not even notice their presence.  For most people on the outside of that situation, it can be very nauseating to witness.  It’s just far too cute.   Matt and Kim are not cute.  They’re fucking hot and they want you to know it.

Matt and Kim are a musical phenom hailing from Brooklyn, New York.  The band consists of Kim Shifino on drums; a fiery sex goddess with loads of energy and mass appeal and Matt Johnson on keys and vocals. Both are equally a vibrant and hot talent, breaking the hearts of a growing number of young girls across the country.  The band officially formed in ’04, the two members were already romantically involved which along with constant smiling has inspired the oh-so-hated ‘cute’ tag on the band. 

“We were sick of everyone targeting us as being ‘cute,’” explains Kim of the music video for their song, “5k,” which was banned in the US due to violent content. 

“We just are who we are,” adds Matt.

Recently the band was invited to play Lollapalooza.  They were very surprised. 

“It was amazing!”  Kim laughs, “When we got asked I was like ‘Lollapalooza?  Who goes to that?’  I didn’t even realize it was still going on.  And we opened the stage.  [I was thinking] nobody’s going to be there but a shit-ton of kids came out.  And then another band cancelled and we ended up using another stage…I was worried when we came on.  They’re expecting to see CSS, [not us].  It was awesome.”

 

When they started dating, Kim was learning to play drums and Matt was already playing guitar.  They dated for years before the band formed.  They started off by doing art projects together. 

“I found that one keyboard; that Yamaha cs5 at my neighbor’s garage,” explains Matt.  “I borrowed it; I put that in quotations, about ten years ago and luckily he hasn’t asked for it back.  But I just found that thing and finally I was like ‘this thing looks cool.  I should learn how to play this.’  So I was trying to figure out how to play that.  Kim was trying to figure out how play drums.  And we just did it together.” 

The band has done well.   In October ‘06, they released their first album, self-titled, on the iheartcomix record label.  This year came “Grand” on Fader Magazine’s record label.  The band has also garnished the appeal of the re-mix community, sporting ten of the sort in their portfolio.  Kim has some visions of what her future holds. 

“I want to have a hip hop album,” revealed Kim.  “That’s my goal.  And we could have guest rappers on every song.” 

If it is even half as good as ‘Grand,’ it would still be awesome.

Just a Few of the Great: Sacramento International Film Festival Provides the Hits

By Aaris A. Schroeder
Editor-In-Chief

It is time for the Sacramento International Film Festival [SFF], a non-profit for-the-arts organization that brings global film director’s masterpieces to the screen every March and April.  There will be several short films, part of SFF’s “Surreal Cinema,” including “Le Grande Depart,” “Wake Up, You’re Sleeping” and “Animated American.”

French-Filmmaker, Daniel Louis has created the film, “Le Grande Depart,” concerning a married man with children who suddenly discovers that his life may not be as it should be, considering leaving his family to start anew. 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder never knew its match until it met Admirial Napier, a chess prodigy whose life becomes disorderly when life smacks him in the face.  The film, “Wake Up, You’re Sleeping,” directed by Nathaniel Bennett shows that the dealings of this game get much more complex when dishonesty and disheartened aggression are brought to the table; er keyboard. 

Winner for Best Short Film at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival and Golden Pencil Award for Best 2-D Film for the 2D or Not 2D Film Festival, Directors James Baker and Joe Haidar have created a sort of “Roger Rabbit” type of comedic film, bringing to light a real estate boom and crash, mixed in with a little sex appeal, of course.     

SFF wouldn’t be a hit without Sacramento locals attending, so pick up your tickets for “Surreal Cinema” at 24^th St. Theater or at the official SFF website, www.sacramentofilmfestival.com.

Community-Driven Hip-Hop Dance and Martial Art Studio Busts a Move

By Aaris A. Schroeder
Editor-In-Chief

Capitol Roots Center is where to go if you are trying to learn urban dance, martial arts, cipher poetry or hip-hop theatre, also providing an event management and promotion service within the Sacramento community while at the same time donating to a non-profit or charitable cause.

The center is shared with well-known dance studio, Royal Dance Co., located at 35-D Quinta Ct. in the Greater Sacramento area where practices such as hip-hop dance, popping and locking, break dancing, krumping, turfing and extreme martial arts and martial arts tricking are taught daily to young people and adults of all ages. 

Open-mic sessions are available too, where the art of poetry and cypher-style rapping is taught.  The open-mic is available to be seen by a live audience at Royal Dance Co. beginning late spring ’09.   

Summer ’09 will showcase Capitol Roots first annual Trifecta Battle, featuring break dance, hip-hop and martial art tricking.  The event will be raising awareness of local community needs as well as getting youth and adults excited about becoming active with the center.  There will be a final battle fall ’09 where a dance showcase will take place as well. 

Photo Provided by Capitol Roots

“We bring the community and the youth together through studio arts and various events, by encouraging continuous, productive and creative learning and spreading positive social change through urban art and culture.”

Capitol Roots isn’t just dance and martial arts; they also will be providing theatre production winter ‘09, “Broadway Style.”  Each performance will feature local and national hip-hop theatre actors. 

“We strive to achieve our vision to inspire local youth and the community to follow their passion and find the artist and leader within.  We take the art of the streets into the studio and on to the stage.”

For more information about Capitol Root events, how you can get involved or get some urban lessons, check them out at CapitolRoots.com, Myspace.com/CapitolRoots or Twitter.com/CapitolRoots.

UBO Magazine, Vol II, Issue III: July 2009