HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

-ET

Post-Racial America's Next Top Model

T.Y.-to-the-argh uhh, I still don't get the "love" part of the love/hate relationship some of my friends have with her. As problematic and as many issues this clip brings up, Tyra has once again left me starring at my computer screen, disturbed to the point of laughing, unable to articulate anything but "wow...WOW"!

If you don't have that much time to waste just watch the first minute and then jump to 6:00 and see what the Asian sista comes up with...



And if you have a lot of time to waste read this not-so-on-point article by the LA Times' representative of mixed raced residents of Hawai'i. Where do they find these people? Oh yeah, LA.

-Tadillac

New Moon Soundtrack

I know how it sounds when people say they read playboy for the articles, but I really do watch some flicks just for the music. As a kid bred on hip hop I rely on films and their soundtracks to introduce me to different artists. Even if the film is not the greatest, the soundtrack can almost save it, especially with those "I have White people problems" type joints, think Garden State or The Last Kiss. So when your 12 year-old cousin asks you to see the new Twilight movie, peep the soundtrack before you say no. Death Cab, Thom, Lykke Li, Grizzly Bear, Sea Wolf..I'm just sayin.

Thom Yorke - Hearing Damage

DOWNLOAD HERE

Lykke Li - Possibility

DOWNLOAD HERE

-Tadillac

SAVE THE DATE - Nov. 20th - Beatrock Music Label Launch/The CounterParts Album Release Party

Friday, November 20th marks the launch of the new independent record label, Beatrock Music. The party will also celebrate the label's first official release, The CounterParts' self-titled debut album. There will be a stacked line-up of live performances by label artists and affiliated musicians from all across California:

THE COUNTERPARTS:

T-Know, BraelanB, Otayo Dubb, Gammaray and Fatgums are patnas who have been making music together since the '90's. Reunited to form The CounterParts, this allstar crew is ready to rock the mic and turntables once again. Download their album Appetizer for free: http://www.zshare.net/download/50554513e6871707#. For more info visit http://www.myspace.com/counterpartscrew.

BAMBU & DJ PHATRICK:

Two-thirds of the legendary group Native Guns, Bambu and DJ Phatrick have been spending the last few years rocking stages across the globe. These dudes bring it live. For more info visit http://www.bambu.la and http://www.djphatrick.com

RHYTHM NATIVES:

Southern Cali's illest live hip hop band cooks up an organic mix of hip hop, jazz, R&B, and soul. Now in the studio with producer Asi Friedman, the 'Natives will be releasing their highly anticipated full-length album in early 2010. For more info visit http://www.rhythmnatives.com

OTAYO DUBB:

After two records with acclaimed hip-hop group Co-Deez, Oakland emcee Otayo Dubb is going solo. 'Tayo defines his sound as "Blue collar hip-hop for the Joe Dubsacks out here who like to light up a fat one and get their headnod on after work." His solo debut, entitled A WOLF IN SHEEP'S MUSIC, will drop in early 2010 as a collaborative release from Beatrock Music and Hella Records. For more info visit http://www.myspace.com/otayodubb

POWER STRUGGLE:

Spitting grimy yet intelligent Midwest rhymes over Mister REY and Fatgums’ sample heavy score, Nomi of Power Struggle brings a new rawness to Asian American hip hop. Watch for their new album entitled Remittances, slated to drop in December of 2009 on Beatrock Music. Download the album sampler for free: http://www.zshare.net/download/65378110473f7f9b/ For more info visit http://www.myspace.com/powerstruggle

AESTHETICS CREW:

In the hallowed brew-school tradition of cup-in-hand rhyming at backyard house parties, the Los Angeles-based Aesthetics crew is here to put the fun back in the funk. Following in the footsteps of legends like the Get Fresh Crew, Native Tongues or 3rd Bass, Indi, Aidge and DJ Props fuse candid rhymes with melodic beats to create a refreshing sound in the midst of a stagnant hip-hop scene. For more info visit http://aestheticscrew.com/

ROCKY RIVERA:

Rocky Rivera (aka EyeASage) is a vicious MC from San Francisco. She dropped her hood classic mixtape, "Married To The Hustle" in 2008 and is releasing her highly anticipated debut album "Rocky Rivera" soon. For more info visit http://www.myspace.com/eyeasagemuzikpage, http://www.youtube.com/eyeasage and http://www.guerillabusfare.com

BWAN & MISTER REY:

The deadly combination of BWAN's spitfire lyrics and Mister REY's head breaking production make this San Francisco duo a force to be reckoned with. Together they send an arsenal of true-school Bay Area hip hop straight to the eardrums. For more info visit http://www.myspace.com/mistahrey and http://www.myspace.com/bwan1

The evening will be hosted by Bambu.

Mass Movement DJs and DJ Phatrick will be on the wheels of steel.

Event Info:

- Beatrock Music Label Launch/CounterParts CD Release Party

- Friday, November 20th at Dakota Lounge (formerly Temple Bar)

- 1026 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA - (310) 393-8200

- http://www.dakotalounge.com/

- Doors open at 8pm

- $12 at the door, $10 pre-sale (available at http://www.beatrock.com)

- Pre-Sale Ticket/CounterParts CD and Ticket/CounterParts CD/Limited Edition T- shirt combination deals will also be available at http://www.beatrock.com

-Fatgums

I Heart Hulu

In addition to not being able to wake up and watch football on the weekends, these clips really make me want to get cable (and a HD TV, and a DVR). But Hulu holds me down. These videos are worth sitting through the short commercials, especially if you haven't seen them before:

The Daily Show feature on the new Republican Party website:

The Daily Show: Slim Thug Feels the Recession

The Queen on SNL: Excedrin for Racial Tension Headaches

-Tadillac

Song Wins Special Jury Award at the San Diego Asian Film Festival!

A Song For Ourselves won the Short Film Special Jury Award last weekend at the San Diego Asian Film Fest. SDAFF has a super official awards gala that Eric Tandoc and I were lucky enough to attend. "Lucky" meaning that the San Diego JACL generously sponsored our tickets and let us sit at their table. Eric made the most of the free beer while I popped an anti-anxiety pill.



There was a gala after-party which was "cool, but it's not what i'm use too" so i celebrated the night with the homies from AnakBayan LA & SD over some late night carne asada fries:


Mass Movement in the building! Eric's film Sounds Of A New Hope screened to a packed house.


-Tadillac

7th Annual Practical Activism Conference @ UC Santa Cruz

If you happen to be around the Bay this weekend, come check out the 7th Annual Practical Activism Conference on Saturday the 24th, at UC Santa Cruz! There'll be a bunch of different workshops; some topics include Justice for AB540 students, Reducing Your Carbon Footprint, the UC Budget Crisis, & one that I'll be covering on Social Documentary film making. There will also be keynote speaker, Bettina Aptheker and a special performance/ workshop held by Oaktown's own Head Rush Crew.

For more info, peep activism.ucsc.edu

Here's a little promotional video I chopped up for the conference. Directed by Arlene Park. Music by Blue Scholars.

Don't Go To The Practical Activism Conference from Chris Guevarra on Vimeo.

-Chris G.

Reconsider Columbus Day

Reconsider Columbus Day by Nu Heightz Cinema

-Tadillac

Screenings in New Orleans, DC and Philly This Weekend

Three big screenings this weekend! All the films that are playing with A Song For Ourselves in these festivals are excellent, please try and catch one in your city. Unfortunately, I'll be stuck in my room working on film school applications.


DC APA Film Festival
Saturday, Oct. 10th @ 12p

Playing with Manilatown Is In The Heart This screening is FREE!


Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival
Sunday, Oct. 11th @ 1p Playing with Sounds of a New Hope by Mass Movement's own Eric Tandoc


New Orleans Film Festival
Sunday, Oct. 11th @ 5p Playing with A Village Called Versailles (I've heard this film is amazing. This will definitely be a special screening since it will be in New Orleans)

Bambu performing "Chairman Mao" in Honolulu

Couldn't shoot Bam & Phatty's performance at the premiere but did shoot them the next night at The Loft.



-Tadillac

Honolulu Weekly Cover Story

One of the coolest parts of the Hawai'i trip was going to Boots & Kimo's to eat this (banana pancakes swimming in macadamia nut sauce)...

...and then walking over to Foodland and seeing this:

The small print along the yellow fist reads "Long Live Chris Iijima"!

Read the whole article here.

-Tadillac

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chee Unit (Blue ScholarsXBambuXCreed)

What do you get when you have a recording studio full of Filipino rappers and a sarcastic Baha'i DJ? Welcome to the OOF! booth. To shoot the "Chee Unit" (Blue Scholars, Bambu, Creed) in Honolulu was dope, but to witness Geo's one-take murder was something special. See for yourself...

Oh yeah, the night continued with us getting locked IN the building and having to climb and scale our way out.

-Tadillac

Flicks from Hawai'i Premiere on Honozooloo

I had the privilege of meeting a grip of inspiring and talented people while in Hawai'i and photographer Aaron Yoshino was one of them. I became a fan of his photos earlier this year through his website honozooloo.com. After hanging out with all these filipinos, it was really good to see a fellow buddhahead making a name for himself and doin it big!

SEE ALL THE PHOTOS AT HONOZOOLOO.COM