New Mix: Studio Fitty Foe

WTF?! Why do I keep doing this electro type music for? I guess it’s because its fun to mix. I feel like I’m going on a journey when I mix electro tracks. I like finding those transitions that just sound perfect together and let them ride for a good 32, 64, or more bars sometimes.

Yeah, I don’t really listen to electro by my own powers but I love it in the club when the bass is hittin’ and the DJs are killin’ it. I sift through a shitload of it too when I am listening to music blogs. At that point, I just get into a “this works, this doesn’t work” mode as I pick songs that I could potentially use in a mix. I never really look for it though. I never search the artists. My trusted blogs, which I probably follow for hip hop, downtempo, bmore, indie, and so on, just seem to love electro as well, so its right in my face. Being the thorough person that I am, I got to listen to all the tracks that the blog is offering up, if I trust the blog. So you see, electro is always in my face, I will always be previewing and downloading tracks, and eventually making more electro mixes. Just hope somebody out there appreciates my work. I do appreciate mixing electro though, because it brings out a lot of my musical creativity that can’t be seen when I am mixing hip hop. Thank you electro, for bombarding me with your hits.

Studio Fitty Foe (Week of 11.09.09) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:

1. Bounce Camp – Good Beat
2. U-Tern – Gwen Guthrie vs. Daft Punk
3. Duck Sauce – Anyway
4. Bumblebeez - Rio (Jimmy2sox & U-GO-B Remix)
5. Black Kids – I’m Not Gonna Teach Your BF How To Dance (Twelves Remix)
6. Barbara Tucker – Stop Playing With My Mind (Full Intention Dub Mix)
7. Dorfmeister vs. Madrid De Los Austrias – Boogie No More
8. Stardust – Music Sounds Better (In Miami Horror Remix)
9. DumBass vs. Flapsandwich – Fuck The Poor
10. Armand Van Helden – I Want Your Soul (Fake Blood Remix)
11. Superpose – Button
12. Bloc Party – Signs (MMMatthias Remix)
13. Bobby LaBeat – Click Clack
14. Glitch – Stringles
15. Ludacris - Move Bitch (Disco Villians Remix)
16. Mongrel – HIt From The Morning Sun (DJ Beware and Motorpitch Remix)
17. DJ Mujava – Township Funk (DJ Rob 3 Remix)
18. Blaqstarr – Hands Up Thumbs Down (Degree Remix)
19. Drlkt Freddie – Airtight (Sonic Truth Remix)
20. Round Table Knights – Freak From Desire
21. A-Trak – Say Whoa (Minus Remix)

Devil’s Pie: Siik Edition at Verdugo Bar on Nov. 18, 2009

Come check out The Come Up Crew homie, DJ Siik, perform a Siik remix set at Devil’s Pie at Verdugo Bar in Los Angeles on November 18, 2009. Also, The Come Up Crew’s LinoType will be standing in for DJ Roza and resident DJ Phatrick will be there laying down soulful tracks, as always. No cover! No dress code! Great beer selection! Great music!

WED 11.18.09

DEVIL’S PIE | LOS ANGELES
SIIK EDITION

Featuring:
DJ SIIK(The Come Up)

Remixer Extraordinaire!!

And Guest Substitute:
DJ LINOTYPE (The Come Up)

With Resident:
DJ PHATRICK

***EXCLUSIVE***
DEVIL’S PIE KOOL & THE GANG TRIBUTE CDs
available exclusively to folks who come to the party!

10pm-2am
FREE!
21+

VERDUGO BAR
3408 Verdugo Rd
Glassell Park, Los Angeles
90065

RSVP ON FACEBOOK!

New Mix: The Come Up Crew Podcast Vol. 12: H-Town Tribute

H-Town. I don’t have any urge to ever go there but for some reason I am obsessed with the rap scene. It’s not the usual stuff I listen to and it is in no way lyrically above the rest or even close to that but for some reason I’m in awe of the tracks that Houston artists put out. Whether it’s music about the hood, drugs, fly honies, rims, cash, or purple syrup I can’t help but give all my attention and leave my ears wide open. I think its the swagger that Houston artists have mixed with decent lyrics that keep them forever present in the rap game. I have been listening to H-Town rap since I was a kid and the Geto Boys were on and since then I have never felt that the scene fell off or was performing subpar as has been the case in the Bay and even NY. No matter how you feel about H-Town rap, as compared to other rap scenes and sub-genres, the music is great, the lyrics are catchy, the MCs tell the story well, and the tracks are consistent as hell. Much love H-Town.

The Come Up Crew Podcast Vol. 12: H-Town Tribute (Week of 11.02.09) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:

1. Lil Flip – Pass Da Swisha
2. Paul Wall – That Fire feat. Trina
3. Slim Thug – Wood Grain Wheel
4. Lil Keke – I’m A G feat. Birdman
5. Paul Wall – Sittin Sideways
6. Chamillionaire – Ridin
7. Yo Gotti – Gangsta Party feat. Bun B & 8Ball
8. Mike Jones – Like What I Got
9. Bun B – Damn I’m Cold feat. Lil Wayne
10. Compton’s Most Wanted – N 2 Deep feat. Scarface
11. Scarface – Guess Who’s Back feat. Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel
12. Slim Thug – Like A Boss
13. Slim Thug – Problem Wit Dat
14. Lil Troy – Wanna Be A Baller
15. Mike Jones – My 6-4
16. UGK – Stop-N-Go feat. Jazze Pha
17. Scarface – Fuck Faces feat. Devin The Dude, Too Short & Tela
18. Geto Boys – Gangsta (Put Me Down)
19. Lil Flip – Sunshine feat. Lea
20. Mike Jones – Flossin
21. Geto Boys – Mind Playin Tricks On Me

New Mix: Guilty Pleasures Vol. 4

The 90s. I miss it. A lot of good music came out in this decade, especially in the beginning of the decade. A lot of quality tracks in many different genres that still get the respect they deserve today when played for crowds, young and old. There is no doubt that there are some low quality tracks that are really cheesy, but for someone like me, they just bring back some great memories of being young. In the days when it was easy to have fun and not have to worry about money, health, or any of that adult mumbo jumbo.

This brings us to the theme of this mix. 90s club music, including house, dance-pop, eurodance, hip house, and more. As cheesy as some of this stuff is, especially to the teens of today, it was fucking great to us, just like the music of our predecessors was to them. None of the music was threatening or too sexual, just innocent lyrics about dancing and love that could only do a few things, make you happy, put a cheese on your face, and make you want to dance all night long.

Enjoy.

Guilty Pleasures Vol. 4 (Week of 09.28.09) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:

1. Snap! – The Power
2. K7 – Come Baby Come
3. The Real McCoy – Come And Get Your Love
4. Crystal Waters – 100% Pure Love
5. Robin S – Show Me Love
6. Black Box – Everybody Everybody
7. Deee-Lite – Groove Is In The Heart feat. Q-Tip & Bootsy Collins
8. Snap! – Rhythm Is A Dancer
9. Technotronic – Move This feat. Ya Kid K
10. C&C Music Factory – Gonna Make You Sweat
11. Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch – Good Vibrations
12. Jungle Brothers – I’ll House You
13. Technotronic – Pump Up The Jam
14. Bizarre Inc. – I’m Gonna Get You
15. Rozalla – Everybody’s Free
16. Culture Beat – Mr. Vain
17. The Real McCoy – Another Night
18. RuPaul – Supermodel

New Mix: Silverlake Sessions Vol. 5

After a failed attempt at recording a session with Dumlao and Ocir, I had to get a mix out there using the music that I have downloaded at work over the past 6 months or so. So check it out and hopefully we can get Dumlao and Mike Deuce together soon for Silverlake Sessions Vol. 6. Enjoy.

Silverlake Sessions Vol. 5 (Week of 08.31.09) – Click to Download

New Mix: Silverlake Sessions Vol. 4: Inspired by Diggin Sunday

I hosted the August 2009 Diggin Sunday, which goes down every 3rd Sunday at Tribal Cafe in Historic Filipinotown in Los Angeles. I themed it “Respect Thy Elders: Hip Hop Samples.” The problem was that no one came through until 4pm and I DJ’d myself for 3 hours straight. The diggers that came were Waxstyles, Spiwrit, nPrevail, and Paul. It was a small group but it turned out good. I recorded almost all of the sets that were played that day and put them on here for you all to hear. I also recorded a mix inspired by the Diggin Sunday theme, as well as a set that I didn’t get to play that day. Everything was done in one take, mainly live. Check it.

Silverlake Sessions Vol. 4: Respect Thy Elders (Week of 08.17.09) – Click to Download

Silverlake Sessions Vol. 4.1: Lost Aug 09 Diggin Sunday Set (Week of 08.17.09) – Click to Download

Silverlake Sessions Vol. 4.2: Live Aug 09 Diggin Sunday Part 1 (Week of 08.17.09) – Click to Download

Silverlake Sessions Vol. 4.3: Live Aug 09 Diggin Sunday Part 2 (Week of 08.17.09) – Click to Download

Silverlake Sessions Vol. 4.4: Live Aug 09 Diggin Sunday Part 3 feat. Spiwrit and Waxstyles (Week of 08.17.09) – Click to Download

Silverlake Sessions Vol. 4.5: Live Aug 09 Diggin Sunday Part 4 feat. nPrevail and Paul (Week of 08.17.09) – Click to Download

New Mix: Illy Philly Funk Vol. 1

Damn, I got a shitload of vol. 1s up on this blog. I need to start making vol. 2s, or better yet, vol. 3s to be one step ahead of myself, haha j/p. This mix is actually a beginning for mixes that highlight my favorite regions in music. Philly is obviously one of them, but I also dig a lot of stuff from Oakland, Houston, New York, and so on. So let’s fire it up with Philly.

Ahhhh, Philly. I love Philly. It’s chill and beautiful like San Francisco but the city has way more history and tradition going on that has way more to offer than tourist photo ops. I hate Philly. I hate that people do not care about the homeless. I hate that a lot of the people are hella rude and don’t give a fuck about anyone except themselves, the Eagles, the Phillies, the Flyers, and the 76ers. Philly scares me. Philly is fucking grimy and I don’t feel like I can turn a corner without looking over my shoulder twice. People don’t give a fuck about authority. People smoke on subway platforms like its an everyday thing while in LA and SF we sneak in bites of our breakfast burritos on our way to work. Almost every neighborhood outside of the Centre City is hood. Rappers claiming north and south Philly, where the fuck are we supposed to go?

All in all, I liked Philly. I liked the history. I liked the Universities. I liked the weather (it snowed when I was there). I liked the transit system. I like the music and in the end that’s all that matters.

Peace. Enjoy.

Illy Philly Funk Vol. 1 (Week of 08.03.09) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:

1. Tuff Crew – My Part Of Town
2. Three Times Dope – In Effect
3. Charli Baltimore – Lose It
4. Young Gunz – Grown Man
5. Beanie Sigel – Remember Them Days feat. Eve
6. DJ Jazzy Jeff – Brand New Funk ‘07 feat. Peedi Crack
7. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Brand New Funk
8. Gillie Da Kid – Get Down On The Ground
9. Eve – Cash Flow feat. T.I.
10. Jake One – The Truth feat. Freeway & Brother Ali
11. Beanie Sigel – Go Low feat. R City
12. Young Gunz – Rich Girl feat. Juelz Santana
13. Reef The Lost Cauze – The Sound Of Philadelphia
14. The Roots – Clones
15. Jedi Mind Tricks – I Against I
16. Young Gunz – No Better Love
17. Beanie Sigel & Freeway – Roc The Mic
18. Da Youngstaz – Illy Filly Funk
19. Da Youngstaz – Mad Props
20. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble
21. Peedi Crack – My Hood Is Greezy feat. Q-Tip & Cassidy
22. Freeway – Take It To The Top feat. 50 Cent
23. Eve – Satisfaction
24. The Roots – What They Do
25. Jill Scott – Hate On Me
26. Musiq Soulchild – Buddy

New Mix: Guilty Pleasures Vols. 3 & 3.5 featuring Siik

Short lived but forever funky, New Jack Swing seemed like a blur in history due to its quick creation and complete extinction within less than a decade. It was urban, but at the same time pop, while always staying very soulful and upbeat creating an all around dope sound. Songs that often used very similar kicks, snares, and drum rolls were matched with lyrics on subjects from courting a honey, looking for that someone special, love, and promiscuity. No matter what the songs’ subject matter was about, the music was funky, the singing was on point, the rhymes were hype, and the dances were fun.

The Come Up Crew homie, DJ Siik, also created a nice New Jack Swing mix that was recorded live at the last Come Up party which is included in this post as Guilty Pleasures Vol. 3.5. You may hear a repititon of tracks but don’t worry about it, you haven’t heard these songs in a long time and they are worth listening to twice.

I implore you to go back and give New Jack Swing a re-listen. Bring back memories from the good old days. Go watch House Party and it will all come together. You will be rocking Cross Colours and Karl Kani in no time.

Enjoy the mixes.

Guilty Pleasures Vol. 3 (Week of 08.03.09) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:

1. Strafe – Set It Off
2. Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stance
3. Tony! Toni! Tone! – If I Had No Loot
4. Heavy D & The Boyz – Somebody For Me
5. Guy – I Like
6. Hi-Five – I Like The Way (The Kissing Game)
7. Al B. Sure! – If I’m Not Your Lover feat. Slick Rick (Remix)
8. Another Bad Creation – Iesha
9. Boyz II Men – Motown Philly
10. Bell Biv DeVoe – Do Me
11. TLC – What About Your Friends
12. Wreckx-N-Effect – Rump Shaker
13. Color Me Badd – I Wanna Sex You Up
14. Blackstreet – Booti Call
15. Al B. Sure! – Off On Your Own
16. Bobby Brown – Every Little Step
17. New Edition – A Little Bit Of Love (Is All It Takes)

Guilty Pleasures Vol. 3.5 featuring Siik (Week of 08.03.09) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:

1. Bobby Brown – Don’t Be Cruel
2. LL Cool J – Around The Way Girl
3. Hi-Five – I Like The Way (The Kissing Game)
4. Jade – Don’t Walk Away
5. SWV – Right Here
6. Toni Braxton – Give You My Heart feat. Babyface
7. Bobby Brown – Something In Common feat. Whitney Houston
8. G-Wiz – Teddy Bear
9. Teddy Riley – Is It Good To You feat. Tammy Lucas
10. Keith Sweat – I Want Her
11. Michael Jackson – Remember The Time
12. Guy – Groove Me
13. Portrait – Here We Go Again
14. Joe Public – Live And Learn
15. Full Force – Ain’t My Type of Hype
16. Janet Jackson – Because of Love
17. Big Daddy Kane – I Get The Job Done

New Mix: Guilty Pleasures Vol. 2

I put this shit together hella quick. 15 minutes to put together a 30 minute mix. I skip through the songs to points where I want mix so creating a set is much faster than performing a set. I pretty much made the set and then recorded it all within and hour or so.

I have been looking for new challenges in the sets I put together and I got a lot of things in the works from reggae-rock to Latin music. This mix includes a lot of the alternative music I used to listen to but have neglected in the last few years. So expect more of this genre testing and hopefully you’ll enjoy what I put out.

Guilty Pleasures Vol. 2 (Week of 07.27.09) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:

1. Stereo MCs – Connected
2. Violent Femmes – Blister In The Sun
3. The White Stripes – Icky Thump
4. Colin Monroe – I Want Those Flashing Lights
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication
6. Linkin Park – Cure For The Itch
7. Maroon 5 – Nothing Lasts Forever
8. Kanye West – Heard Em Say feat. Adam Levine
9. John Mayer – Clarity
10. Aerosmith – Rag Doll
11. Oasis – Wonderwall
12. Beck – Loser
13. Smashing Pumpkins – Today
14. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under The Bridge

Spotlight on Zoolay

Zoolay, formerly ZooLA, is a duo (Don Ron and Big Illz) hailing from Los Angeles, California that I have had the opportunity to work with on many occassions in the last couple of years. I met Zoolay through Phazze Beats. Phazze Beats came to SIPA (Search to Involve Pilipino Americans) looking for a DJ for a show with Zoolay. I quickly jumped at the opportunity and eventually hooked up with Zoolay for rehearsals at my former apartment in Palms. We did our first show at The Knitting Factory in Hollywood alongside Chino XL and Pharoahe Monch. The experience was pretty amazing and I wanted more. I did more shows with them from LA to Victorville and even as far as San Diego. They commissioned me to handle their mixtape (The Ape Tape) too but my tight work schedule hindered my ability to complete it so it was handed off to Tommy Blak who handled the job well. I don’t do as many shows with Zoolay anymore but I still make them show cds if I can’t be there in person. I may be performing with them soon though. Be on the lookout.

Besides working on new tracks, Zoolay has linked up with Main Vybe and Tommy Blak to promote The Lion's Den, a monthly hip hop show that has included acts such as Large Professor, the Beatnuts, Evidence, Blu & Exile, U-N-I, Dibiase, Fashawn, VerBS, 2Mex, Sadat X, Ras Kass, and THX.

Worthy Useless FYI: Play any 90s hip hop track for Don Ron and he will repeat the lyrics word for word.

Check out some of Zoolay's tracks:

Zoolay – Problems

Zoolay – Gangsta Bitch (Prod. by Dibiase)

Zoolay – Backstabbaz (Spingineer Show Remix)

Zoolay – B-Ball Love

Download:


The Ape Tape: Mixed by Tommy Blak (Click Here To Download)

Follow Zoolay:
Zoolay on Myspace
Zoolay on Twitter

SIPA Sessions tomorrow 11.10.08

Another season of SIPA (Search to Involve Pilipino Americans) Sessions is starting tomorrow and will be running every week until early next year from what I heard.   Jekai.Soulspeak a.k.a. Jeffrey.Soulspeak is back from his stint in Qingdao, China to teach kids of all ages to mix, scratch, and produce music.   DJ Linotype will also be back to help run the class/sessions.  I believe DJ Phatrick will also be assisting with the class.  I was asked by DJ Linotype as well to teach the DJing side of the class and I may be interested but I usually like to just f*** around on the turntables.  I will let you guys know if I end up teaching the class.

For those interested in learning how to DJ or make beats for FREE!!! here are the details:

SIPA Sessions

Every Monday from 6PM-8PM at SIPA on the corner of Temple St. and Reno St. in Historic Filipinotown. Come in and ring the bell.  Ask for Mike or let them know you are there for the DJ class.

Finally I am travelling outside the country again…Monterrey, Mexico

I have been wanting to go on another vacation since me and my girlfriend cancelled our spring trip to China and Dia De Los Muertos trip to Mexico due to our lack of funds.  China was way to expensive and required way too much time off that we didn’t have, especially since Trisha switched jobs and had to cash out all her leave.  Time off is worth way more than the actual money they cut her.  So in exchange, we ended up going on a Royal Caribbean cruise of the Southern Caribbean.  We flew from LAX to Atlanta (where we experienced southern hospitality in the form of proper etiquette in words but not in body language.  It seemed forced.) and then onto San Juan, Puerto Rico on Airtran (one of the most uncomfortable rides ever).  We ended up staying one night in Old San Juan at the Hotel El Convento, which is a 5 star hotel at about $225/night.  But I don’t regret staying there for one night, too much to stay there any longer though.

Hotel El Convento

Hotel El Convento

Old San Juan was hot, humid, dirty, and full of tourists, but I loved it. The residents were very nice and I didn’t feel any different than being in some neighborhoods in LA. Almost everyone speaks english (some better than me) and styles and music are not too much different from what we listen to in the states. I don’t know if it was by coinciudence, but it seemed that people would dress to match the pastel painted buildings.

Old San Juan Mural

Old San Juan Sculpture

Old San Juan Fortress

Old San Juan

Before boarding the ship, me and Trisha went on a tour of the El Yunque Rainforest.  It was really beautiful, including the refreshing waterfall that we chilled under for a good 15 minutes. We were sad when we found out that Puerto Rico didn’t really have any large animals. Our tour guide took us on a pretty nice tour of the San Juan countryside where we saw people cooking up whole pigs for post-mass enjoyment.

El Yunque Rainforest

After leaving port, I started to notice how sea sick I get and I soon had to put the acupressure wristbands on and take the dramamine.  I slept a lot the first day at sea cause of the medication.  Trisha wasn’t too happy about that but I couldn’t do anything about it. 

At our first dinner we found out that we didn’t bring the right type of clothing, thinking there would just be two formal nights.  I brought white tees and shorts for non-formal days but it seemed that most people still dressed pretty well.  Our dining partners never made us feel like we were dressed badly so it was okay.  We were at a table with three sets of honeymooners.  Two couples from Ohio and 1 couple from Puerto Rico.  They were all pretty cool but the two Ohio couples were super tall (we’re talking 6 feet tall and up, making us feel super short) and one of them even played in the CFL (Canadian Football League).

There were many things to do on the ship.  We went rock climbing (I got to the top but Trisha didn’t), played mini-golf, chilled in the jacuzzi, played ping pong, watched shows, went to crazy passenger interactive game shows, went clubbing, participated in towel and napkin folding classes, drank, ate, ate, and ate.  We ate a lot on the ship and due to the lack of seats in the dining area, we ended up sitting with other couples which we got to know a little about.  The thing was even though there was more than 3000 passengers onboard, we seemed to always bump into the couples we met over and over again.

First, we stopped at Aruba where there was not much to see around the port. It was just a place to buy jewelry, souvenirs, eat, and drink. We did go on a huge journey though the hood looking for some desserts that were only found in Aruba. After talking to many residents, no one seemed to know what we were talking about. We also took a snorkeling trip where we got to see a huge shipwreck that was only about 15 to 20 feet from the water’s surface. It was so full of marine life but the current was so strong that my muscles started to give out so I cut it short. We also checked out a museum in hopes of getting to the top of a tower for a better view of Oranjestad, but after paying to get in we found out we weren’t allowed to go up there.

Museum Tower in Oranjestad, Aruba

Sculpture in Oranjestad, Aruba

My beautiful girlfriend in Aruba

Next, we went to Curacao where the skyline was beautiful. They had this crazy bridge that help people get across the channel. We actually went on a tour where the driver just zoomed through Curacao and didn’t even stop except to bring us to a curacao liqueur factory. We bought some souvenir bottles of curacao that were in the shape of jugs with Dutch artwork. We did experience some rudeness in Curacao though. Some guys were staring at my girlfriend with no shame and with full disrespect to me. I guess she looked exotic to them cause she’s Asian.

Willemstad, Curacao Skyline

Willemstad, Curacao Bridge

Curacao Woman

Willemstad, Curacao Teens

After Curacao, we went to St. Maarten/St. Martin where we enjoyed a beautiful beach not too far from the where the shipped docked in St. Maarten. For some reason that is all I remember from St. Maarten and that everything was more expensive on the French side of the island (St. Martin).

Beach in St. Maarten

Waterfront in French St. Martin

St. Thomas sucked due to all the residents who try to leach off the cruisers. This is the kind of place where they charge you hella money for every little thing. Taxi rides were $8 per person each way to get to Megan’s Bay from downtown. And when we got in the taxi, which was like a shuttle that carried up to 10-15 people, the guy tried to up the price to $9 per person until I told him his homeboy just told me $8. We also went on a skyride which was cool but again too expensive. It seems like all you can do in St. Thomas is shop for jewelry. Megan’s Bay, which is a top rated beach, sucked, especially since it started drizzling. They also charged us to get into the beach and for beach chairs. It wasn’t even close to being a nice as the beach in St. Maarten where we got a bucket of 6 beers, two beach chairs, and an umbrella for about $15.

St. Thomas, Virgin Islands Skyride

View of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas from the Top of the Skyride

Now, after scoring $100 roundtrip tickets to Monterrey, Mexico from Tijuana, I am happy to be traveling again. Originally a group of 10 of us, consisting of co-workers and their friends and significant others, were planning on going in January. We waited one day to to get confirmations from all travelers and the cheap tickets sold out. This morning, we saw that there were cheap tickets in February and decided we couldn’t sleep on it again. My co-worker Sinuhe was to buy four tickets and me three for the Feb. 18-23. He ended up buying the last four tickets. So me and Trisha are going with my other co-worker Manuel and his boyfriend Leo from Feb. 12-15 but they are staying until Feb. 16. A couple of my other co-workers, Debra and Ryan, that are going on Feb. 18 are upset that the group is split up but I convinced them to go and assured them that they will have the time of their lives with my very funny and ready to party co-worker Sinuhe. I also promised that we would all take a cruise together in the near future to make up for this fiasco.

We are flying on Viva Aerobus, which is a Mexican Airline that is based out of Monterrey, Mexico. From what I hear the ticket counter folks are the same folks that serve you drinks on the plane which makes me laugh just thinking about it. We will be driving down to Tijuana on the night of Feb. 12 and getting to Monterrey on Feb. 13 at 1AM. On the way back we will be taking a shuttle that moves people between East LA and Tijuana for about $25 roundtrip.

From what I hear, Monterrey is a very modern city and is very different compared to all other Mexican cities. There are sculptures everywhere, race tracks converted into trails, and old mills turned into museums.

Monterrey, Mexico

Before Monterrey, Trisha and I plan to go to Washington, D.C. for the presidential inauguration. We already got our tickets for the inauguration, we just need to find a flight and hotel now. More details to come.

SIPA Update…Tiny Toones in Cambodia

Laurent, on the Left, Teaching How to DJ

I went to SIPA about an hour late last night cause I had to pick up my dry cleaning at Sloan’s on Main in Lincoln Heights and traffic was a bitch even though I cut a little bit of that time off by taking Alpine through Chinatown. I brought my Rane 57 SL mixer but we didn’t use it until the end of the class. It turns out that one of the guys, Laurent, who used to take the class wanted to teach the class and the money would benefit him more than me since he is in college. He was really good at teaching though and even though he doesn’t have as much experience as me, Linotype, Soulspeak, or Phatrick, it seemed that he remembered all the lessons he learned when he was being taught himself and delivered the message concisely.

I feel like I am past the point where I want to teach anymore. Back in SF, I taught a few of my friends how to DJ and helped guide others who already had the basics down. I was happy to teach then, but now I don’t know why I don’t have the urge. Maybe its because I am surrounded by great DJs and I have more to learn than teach, where as I was the pinnacle of all the DJsI taught in SF. This may be true, but the urge to teach the craft still lingers inside me.

While I was hanging out at SIPA while Laurent was teaching away, I talked to a homie of my friend Matt who was telling me about DJ teaching opportunities in Phnom Penh, Cambodia with the Tiny Toones. I first heard about this from Jumakae and have been fascinated by the story ever since. Hip hop was pretty much nonexistent in Cambodia and was brought in the last 5 years by former Khmer Rouge refugees that were deported back to Cambodia for felony charges. Breaker Kay-Kay was one of those deportees. Kay-Kay would give breakdancing lessons for free to help keep at risk kids away from prostitution, drugs, and gangs. Now the program services about 2000 kids a week and they want to expand out into the other hip hop elements. Right now, the program wants to try to obtain two turntables, a mixer, serato, and a computer that can support serato. Although using scratchlive doesn’t really promote the true DJ element and its place in hip hop, it makes more sense since records are very expensive to ship and most records were destroyed during the Khmer Rouge. Serato makes it easier for the kids to have access to all music and makes it easier for us to send them music. I would donate my turntables if I could afford new ones but at this point in my life I can’t. Rest assured, they will get my turntables when I do get new ones though and I will deliver them myself.

I am really thinking about the the teaching opportunity in Cambodia and I hear that Soulspeak is as well. I would want to be there for at least a month though to really feel like I was making a difference. I was told that food and housing would be provided and that I would just have to get my ass there. But there are many reasons why I can’t go.

1. I have no Time off meaning I would have to take leave without pay for a month.
2. I would still have to pay rent, utilities, cable, cell phone, college loans, credit cards, all my insurances.
3. I would have to pay for my ticket to Cambodia.
4. I don’t have any savings in the bank right now and couldn’t support myself after I got back.

I do have some ideas for making money while I was there though.

- DJ nightclubs out there where I hear there DJs really suck but I would probably have to bring my turntables for the nightclub and the class anyway.

And in reality if I do end up going there.

1. I would probably just leave my turntables there knowing that they would be way more beneficial to a endless amount of at risk kids rather than myself.
2. I would want to donate any money I made there to the organization because I feel like they are doing something really special.

I see myself teaching kids to DJ within the next year with my turntables that I let them keep. This is a program I truly want to support and it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Hip hop is brand new in Cambodia and in its first generation. It is already helping kids stay off the streets and bringing communities together at weekly breaking shows.

Support the Tiny Toones and help at risk kids in Cambodia help themselves.

Tiny Toones Official Webpage
Tiny Toones on Myspace

From the Tiny Toones Website

From the Tiny Toones Website

DJing My Company’s Christmas Party

Yesterday I found out that me and DJ Mijo will be DJing my company’s Christmas party which will be held at the Queen Mary in Long Beach. I heard about this job from a co-worker in our accounting department who was friends with the organizers. She told me that they were about to hire a DJ who they didn’t like that much at $1500 for 6 hours. They wanted someone that was a great MC and they wanted great music that everyone would dance to. The problem is I am not a good MC. I really don’t like talking on the mic or even having all eyes on me while I am talking. So I had to call DJ Mijo to take care of the MCing portion of the party. I first met DJ Mijo at the Edison Bar and we assured each other that we would see what we were both capable of as far as DJing goes. I ended up DJing my friend Manuel’s 4th of July house party which DJ Mijo was at. He also got down on my turntables and was surprisingly good even though he uses rack mountable cd systems at his gigs. He also liked what I delivered and my style and wanted to work with me more. He later hired me to DJ for Santa Clarita Saturn at the Santa Clarita Concerts in the Park series and at Galpin Auto Sport for a revealing party. Both times were using the Remix Van created by Mad Mike of Pimp My Ride.

So both of us were looking to work together again. We also tried to DJ the Christmas party for the Port of Los Angeles for $600 but they went with someone else anyway. DJ Mijo handled everything. He went to my company for an interview and showed them some of the equipment that he would be using at the gig. The problem is that the $1500 DJ was not correct and the original DJ of choice was charging $5000. So last night at our company’s open house reception at Seven Grand, my Southern California Regional Manager, Gene, was asking why I bid so low. I informed him of the miscommunication and he told us we would either get a huge tip or that we should invoice the company $2700 instead of the original $1200. He also repeated the words “don’t fuck this up,” but in a joking matter. I assured him that I have done this hundreds of times and I have done gigs much more critical than this one.

In reality, I will probably only spin for 2 hours, maybe 3 at most. The party runs from 6PM-12AM and they are trying to fit open bar/networking, dinner, murder mystery, prizes, and music. So I will rock the shit with a mix of 70s and 80s funk, soul, disco, boogie, new wave, RnB, and pop. I have a couple people that I will get up in dance to ensure that no one sits there because no one else gets up to dance. We are talking about engineers here and we do have some older folks too that just leave after prizes. I am not sure how many people will be there after our company buying up a few large engineering companies, maybe 500, more or less.

No matter what I am confident that I will rock it. Hopefully I can record the mix and put it up on my mixes page.

New Nikon 50mm F1.8 D Lens

I use a Nikon D40 as my weapon of choice but I never seem to get good lighting or depth of field using the standard zoom lenses. I just picked up a 50mm F1.8 D Lens for about $100 new.

Nikon D40 with 6.1 MP

Nikon 50mm F1.8 D Lens

I got the lens in the mail yesterday morning and tried to take a couple shots but they were coming out pretty bad. I had to mess around with the settings and the viewfinder a little to finally get some better shots.

The shots are very bright. I took shots in complete darkness and they still had a lot of light. The depth of field is pretty amazing as well. It truly changes my whole idea of how to take a picture and I will be using it like crazy. The lens is super small too which is a big plus. Not having a zoom will take some getting used to because I usually take some close up pictures of people and objects from far distances and now I have to get in people’s faces. Which brings up a question I have never got an answer for. How do those photographer’s get those shots of random people where they are right in their face? I always feel like I will get a punch in the mouth if I take a picture of a random person.

Next step in my quest to take better pictures: Take a class!!!

James at the Company Open House

My Eddie Bauer Lens Bag

Headphones and Keyboards

It's A Cap

The Pile of Papers My Girlfriend Keeps Bothering Me About

Headphones

I Am Now a VJ…New Music Video Remix: Estelle – American Boy (Siik Remix)

I have officially became a VJ with two music video gigs under my belt and a lot more to come.

1. My cousin Kim’s Debut 10.04.08
2. The Creep Up (The Come Up) 10.25.08

I now want to be able to VJ as universally as I DJ. I want to have a good music video collection. This is where it becomes hard. Downloading a music video just doesn’t cut like it would if you download a song. Quality becomes the number one issue and music video downloads usually have sucky quality. The other problem is that music videos ripped from MTV or BET or any other music video network cannot be played except for personal use without a chance of getting sued since you as a VJ don’t represent the network. The answer is Music Video Pools. Just like the exclusive record pools of the past, digital pools for music and music videos are now the industry standard and that same exclusivity has been thrown out the window with the ability of digital files to be copied over and over and over again.

There are many pools out there and most of them have all the same music every month. The only difference is price and quality. The best pool from my research is Promo Only. You sign up and pay per genre which is sent once a month in DVD format which will have to be converted into mp4s for use in Scratchlive Video. With a subscription with Promo Only you also have access to all the old collections of music videos, from the 70s to the more current hits. Those issues are $40 each and have an average of 40 videos. If I were to buy the whole collection of non-current stuff, I would spend $1200. Then I would have to convert them all.

I am really into personalizing my videos with hot remixes as well as mixable versions. I am really thinking of pumping out a bunch of remixed and mixable versions that I can use and sell to other VJs to make some money back for all the time I put in.

Here is my first video remix using my homeboy, DJ Siik’s remix of Estelle – American Boy. The beat should be slower but I didn’t know how to slow down the video track on Final Cut Express. Enjoy.

New Mix Posted: Diggin’ Sunday 10.19.08 Mix

This was my first time doing a whole set at Tribal Cafe’s Diggin Sunday which goes down every third Sunday of the month in Historic Filipinotown. Although there are themes for each session, I could not find any current information about what kind of music to play. I created a set with the understanding that the session is on more of a positive vibe. I chose more songs that were soulful and positive. But without Serato my selection is limited. I have almost a thousand records but most of it doesn’t work at Diggin Sunday.

Diggin Sunday Official Flyer

After completing my set I found out that the theme was positive music and that my set worked. The only thing is that there was a little too much bad language in my set and their was a pre-teen girl at the cafe sitting right in front of the speaker doing her homework. But in the end there were no complaints.

I immediately recorded the mix when I got home and here it is for your enjoyment:

10.19.08 Diggin’ Sunday Mix (Click to Download)

Playlist:
1. Common – Reminding Me (Of Sef)
2. Nas – One Love (Remix)
3. Arrested Development – Easy My Mind
4. Kurious – I’m Kurious
5. Common – This Is Me
6. Fugees – Fu-Gee-La (Remix)
7. Hieroglyphics – You Never Knew
8. Reflection Eternal – 2000 Seasons (Instrumental)
9. Spearhead – Hole in the Bucket
10. The Roots – You Got Me

Enjoy. I hope these songs bring you back…

More Shots Using the 50mm 1.8 D Lens

Everyday this lens just amazes me more. I still run into issues when I get into new or different lighting situations. I still lose some good shots though because my settings are off or I can’t hold the camera steady because I had way too much to drink. No matter the case, here are some shots that came out that look decent without post-edits.

Under California Plaza

ART at the Neon Art Museum

Neon

Neon

Rear View

Lower Grand

Lower Grand

Number 1 Pigeon Chill Spot

Best Weekend in a Long Time

I didn’t plan to do much this weekend as is true of most weekends. But I felt I needed to do more things without my girlfriend (meaning with friends, my girlfriend is always fun to be around), so this weekend I partied it up on my own.

The weekend started off good on Friday night at Foot Work at the Terrace in Pasadena. The Come Up resident DJ Linotype is also a resident DJ at this club. I heard that this club used to pack all guys with nothing but 90s hip hop and was strictly on that head bobbin’ tip. It was totally different when I went. There were a lot of women in there and even though 90s hip hop was played, a lot of danceable music was played too. The crowd was pretty diverse as well, where The Come Up has a mainly Asian following. This party seemed like a place that I would want to spin at and I already expressed my interest to Linotype.

Foot Work, Every 2nd Friday

Linotype, Business As Usual

Footwork Partygoers

Not feeling so good the next morning due to excessive drinking and wasting a morning shopping for clothes that didn’t fit (need to shed some pounds) in Glendale, I attended The Scorpio Party at the Oiwake Restaurant in Little Tokyo. Again, DJ Linotype was spinning along with Waxstyles and The Optimist. The party’s proceeds from the cover charge went directly to the Tuesday Night Cafe Project. The bar was a different story since the fundraiser did not take home a percentage. So instead of spending most of my money at the pricey bar, me, Gabe, and Come Up DJs Dumlao and Mike Deuce decided to swig whisky in the car. It didn’t save me much though. I paid the $5 cover, had a $9 hen and coke, $5 sake bomb, and a 22 oz. Sapporo of unknown value, but I took $40 out of the ATM and had $4 when I left at the end of the night. I tip too much…

The Scorpio Party

Waxstyles is for the People

The Optimist Back From SF

Finally, I woke this morning to another hangover but I was still determined to spin at Diggin’ Sunday at 1PM. I stayed up until 4AM after getting back from the Scorpio Party choosing music for Diggin’ Sunday. So now that I am sitting in Tribal Cafe with my first set done I am a little dissatisfied with my performance. It is real hard to hear the output and the beginning of my set was pretty bad, awful actually. But I am ready to go on again if I can and maybe I’ll play more soulful stuff. I actually just got mad props from one of attendees here who wanted more info on where I spin at and if I got mixtapes.

Diggin' Sunday, Every 3rd Sunday at Tribal Cafe

More pictures to come from Diggin’ Sunday, 11.16.08

New Mix Posted: Post-Diggin’ Sunday 11.16.08 Update

So Diggin’ Sunday was fun. The guy who runs the monthly open turntable jam session took a break and let Mike “Waxstyles” and Maya “equanimous1″ run the session. A good amount of people showed up to spin including author Ruben Molina, who laced us with some old soul 45s. Ruben wrote “The Old Barrio Guide to Lowrider Music: 1950-1975″ and “Chicano Soul: Recordings & History of an American Culture.”

Old Barrio Guide to Lowrider Music: 1950-1975 by Ruben Molina

Chicano Soul: Recordings & History of an American Culture by Ruben Molina

The big difference with this Diggin’ Sunday and those of the past was the inclusion of Serato Scrtachlive. Waxstyles decided to bring it along and it was not welcomed with open arms by the regulars but helped me to express myself the best way I knew how without the use of the limited selection of records I have. Don’t get me wrong, I have about 1000 records but I came up as a working DJ and most of the stuff is not fit for Diggin’ Sunday. I wanted to get down like they got down. The “Yes on Serato Scratchlive” speech is coming…But for now, I will try my best to use the records I have at Diggin’ Sunday. It will be a lot of 90s hip hop though…

My Record Collection with matching Ikea Shelf Converted into DJ Table

Here is a mix inspired by the chillin’ on a Sunday afternoon style that you get at Diggin’ Sundays at Tribal Cafe. It is a real loungy/downtempoish sounding mix and I had to pump it out after coming from Diggin’ Sunday last night. Enjoy.

11.16.08 Loungin’ Mix (Click to Download)

1. 7 Samurai – Uptown Rankin
2. 40 Winks – Soulful Sensitivity
3. Dean Zigoris – The Seasons: Barcarolle
4. Bjork – I Miss You (Dobie Sunshine Mix)
5. Everything But The Girl – Mirrorball (DJ Jazzy Jeff Sole Full Remix)
6. Freddie Cruger – Over the Ocean feat. Desmond Foster
7. Dela – La Bonne Attitude
8. Nujabes – Reflection Eternal
9. Kruder & Dorfmeister – Ocean Beat
10. J Dilla – Sometimes (Instrumental)

Here are pictures from Diggin’ Sunday.

Oooooh, Nice headphones

One Way of Lounging at Diggin' Sunday

Yours Truly on the 1s and 2s, Taken by Matt Nailit

Donald Byrd is Dope. Matt in the Background is as Well.

Ruben Molina Spinning and Discussing Life with Joel

Ruben Molina Spinning

Maya, Equanimous1

Spotlight on DJ Siik

I met DJ Siik at the May 2008 Come Up party. This San Fernando Valley kid’s mixes was real clean and his music selection was immaculate. His mixes sounded like they were meant to be together.

DJ Siik, Unknown Photographer

Getting to know Siik more I found out that he is still a beginner on turntables and that he never really touched any until that day at The Come Up. That amazed me because he just picked it up real quick and his mixes are hella clean. Later I got to see him mix in some acapellas for a 4×4 set with Mike Deuce and he even had great timing, which can take other DJs years to master. He is a natural and with a few more years on turntables he will become one of the siikest in the business.

Siik also has a blog that is very successful and has a huge following. He got a lot of mixes up there as well as remixes that sometimes seem to be a better fit to the song than the original track. Keep up with DJ Siik at www.siik.org and download his mixes and remixes.

If you are in Honolulu, Hawaii, pick up Siik’s mixtape “In Between” at In4mation.

DJ Siik - In Between at In4mation in Hawaii

Here are some of my favorite DJ Siik mixes and remixes (in no particular order):

Remix: Amerie – One Thing (Siik Remix)

Remix: Aaliyah – If Your Girl Only Knew (Siik Remix)

Remix: Snoop Dogg – Signs (Siik Remix)

Remix: Estelle – American Boy (Siik Remix)

Remix: T-Pain – Can’t Believe It (Siik Remix)

Remix: Robin Thicke – Wanna Love You Girl (Siik Remix)

Michael Jackson – Remember the Time (Siik Remix)

Mix: Siik – In Between

Track listing:
dem franchize boyz – oh i think they like me (remix?)
dan the automator – to catch a thief
the avalanches – tonight
blackalicious – deception
fantastic plastic machine – black dada
nightmares on wax – morse
black sheep – B.B.S.
camp lo – gotcha
cibo matto – moonchild
the roots – you got me
pharcyde – she said(mike caren mix)

Mix: Siik – How’s Your Lady

Track listing:
q-tip – blue girl
pharcyde – passin me by(fly as pie mix)
nightmares on wax-a night’s interlude
a tribe called quest – bonita applebum(hootie mix)
kick the can crew – nounai vacation
the roots – proceed ii
ugly duckling – another samba
nujabes – kumomi
black star – brown skin lady
will i am – lay me down

Mix: Siik – All I Want

Track listing:
lemongrass – lightning fire
kanye west – heard em say (instrumental)
federico aubele – postales
bonobo – ketto
thievery corporation – the supreme illusion
polyrhythm addicts – take me home
gift of gab – evolution
dwele – keep on
one self – over expose
nujabes – reflection eternal
the roots – act too (the love of my life)

Mix: Siik – Bous

Track listing:
kelis – glow
common – love is
glenn lewis – don’t you forget it
brandy – best friend
michael jackson – butterflies
dwele – hold on
cooly’s hot box – what a surprise
laurnea – keep your head up
carmen rodgers – dream
raphael saadiq – be here
lauryn hill – i used to love him
toni braxton – you’re makin me high

Mix: Siik – I Don’t Even Like Coffee

Track listing:
a tribe called quest – i c u doin’ it
the roots – what they do
black eyed peas – fallin’ up
andre 3000 – she lievs in my lap
amerie – why don’t we fall in love (richcraft remix)
kenny dope – horn joint
misia – escape (dj watarai remix)
miho – esperanza
shing02 – luv(sic) instrumental
monday michiru – when i’m with you (dj krush remix)
a tribe called quest – like it like that
yesterday’s new quintet – uno esta
the tribe called quest – like that
outkast – ms jackson
jazzanova – no use

Mix: Siik – Unable to Satisfy

Track listing:
pharcyde – on the dl
gift of gab – to know you
common – faithful
n.e.r.d. – run to the sun
thievery corporation – samba tranquile
dj cam – dieu reconnaitra les siens
gagle – practice and tactix(soljazz mix)
nightmares on wax – 70s 80s
shakkazombie – kokoro warp(4 hero friday nite remix)
tosca – chocolate elvis(boozoo bajou remix)
jaffa – sneakin
ratatat – crips
q-tip – movin with u
prefuse 73 – detchibe

Did I mention that Siik is a siik ass photographer with samples on his blog.

Sample of Siik's photos, Shot in Hawaii

No more sleeping on DJ Siik. Kid is dope…

SIPA Sessions Are A Must!!

Whoever thought you could learn how to DJ, make beats, and record music for free without being a hot girl or having a Dj in your family or circle of friends. Well people this is your chance to learn it all. Come to SIPA (Search to Involve Pilipino Americans) Sessions, where the love for music brings together men and women of many different races, ages, class levels, and religious backgrounds to do one thing, make dope music.

Learn how to DJ from Laurent with opportunities to learn more from seasoned vets like Linotype, Jeffrey.Soulspeak, Phatrick, Waxstyles, and myself, Spingineer. Feed off each other in roundtable type mix and scratch sessions. Making beats your thing? Soulspeak and Phatrick are there too provide priceless knowledge in making beats, recording tracks, and so on. With a good amount of MCs that make their way to SIPA for every session are always down to freestyle with you over some hot beats.

So make your way to SIPA Sessions at the corner of Temple St and Dylon St every Monday and Thursday from 5PM-8PM. This also a great place to network for those DJs, producers, and MCs who already know a little something about the business. I was a DJ for almost 11 years when I first got to SIPA Sessions and the networking opportunities are never ending.

DJs currently affiliated with SIPA:
Linotype
Jeffrey.Soulspeak
Phatrick
Waxstyles
Laurent (Don’t know his alias)
Matt (His either)

MCs/Producers currently affiliated with SIPA:
Budda Baboon
Proda-Gz
Phazze Beats
Queen Herstory

SIPA Sessions Official Flyer

Shots from previous SIPA Sessions:

4x4 Session

Making Beats

More Session

Office Potluck, I-5 Freeway, San Jose, and Pacifica

At work yesterday, my office had a Thanksgiving Potluck, where some people brought dishes from their countries of origin. We had Mexican, Iraqi, and Chinese dishes along with traditional American Thanksgiving food. The best dish was the shrimp ceviche, Sinuhe (my co-worker) Style, which was just shrimp in a lemon/habenero pepper sauce with cut tomatoes, cucumbers, and so on. My second favorite was the Iraqi meat and okra dish which was in a tasty sauce, prepared by my co-worker Muna. Before the shrimp actually got to the serving table, Sinuhe and I had a few to show people that it was okay to eat raw shrimp. Shit was hella good.

Directions:

1. Bite shrimp up to point where headshell ends.
2. If you get legs in your bite, eat them anyway.
3. Suck the juices out of the headshell.
4. Throw the headshell out.
5. Realize what you have been missing in life.

Throughout lunch we made sure that we convinced all the weary to eat the raw shrimp and no one was unhappy with the dish after they tasted it. Some of the girls were even saying that they loved to suck the head, which turned into something a lot nastier, but you know.

Shrimp Before Preparation

Had to Test a Couple to Make Sure it Was Safe to Eat

After You Bite It and Suck the Head

Final Preparation

Manuel Chopping Tamales

Jade Hiding Behind a Semi-Consumed Nacho Chip

Jose Waiting in a Chow Line

James Stole Jade's Spotlight

June Getting Some of That Good Ass Raw Shrimp

I left work at 3:30 yesterday to head up to San Jose with my co-worker Manuel and his boyfriend Leo. We actually took the 2 to the 210 to avoid traffic. We passed by the aftermath of the fires in Sylmar, which humbled us all a little bit when we saw houses burned down to the ground. I was taking shots in the car on the way up but most of them sucked. I liked this one though.

Power Poles from the Car

Even though I am from San Francisco, my friends need to go to Saratoga in the morning so I asked my cousin Kris, who lives in downtown San Jose while he attends San Jose State University, if we could spend the night there. When we got there, Kris and I started fucking with the Hookah as I drank a can of MGD: Charcoal Filtered…yum…sike. We were also blowing some smoke bubbles with the contraption in the “WTF!!” picture below.

Directions:

1. Take a hit of the hookah.
2. Dip the half bottle into the bubble soap.
3. Blow the smoke into the mouth of the half bottle and make a bubble.
4. Twist your wrist and pull the half bottle away.
5. Watch your smoke bubble and be proud of your achievement.
6. Go to the bar and get wasted.

So after smoking the very thick hookah, we decided to go to the bars in Downtown San Jose. The first bar we went to was playing rock music mixed by some unknown DJ. The music was way too loud but the beers were reasonably priced ($5). There was no cover either. The second bar was better but similar because they had no cover and $5 beers. The music and the DJ was better at the second bar. I wish I had names of these bars but I don’t pay attention to that shit. Downtown San Jose is a pretty cool place to party, even on a Thursday night, with a bunch of newer bars and clubs.

Hookah Biiiiiiaaaaaaaattttttttcccccccchhhhhhhh!!! j/p

Have You Ever Seen A Bubble? Have You Ever Seen A Bubble On Weeeeeeed?

WTF??

I decided to take shots in and around my cousin’s apartment. Here are the results.

Proper Storage Protocol & Beer Bottle Recycling

Yeah, its a Iron, And...

10 to Follow. The Eyes are Watching you.

Kris and I went to go have breakfast at this spot across the street from SJSU. I got a huge plate of hash browns, eggs, toast, and sausages for less than $4. It was pretty good too. We then took a little walk through SJSU to a statue of the scene from the 1968 Olympics where Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave the Black Panther salute while they received their Gold and Bronze medals, respectively.

At a Restaurant Across the Street from SJSU

Salt & Pepper

Black Power at SJSU

You Heard Me the First Time

After getting back to my cousin’s hometown, I wanted to try to take advantage of the great views offered in Pacifica. I didn’t get much this time but I will be in the Bay Area for a week, so I will have my second chance. I did get to see a castle style house or building that was out of nowhere.

At the Castle in Pacifica

Pacifica Pier from the Castle

I Wish!! Artwork in Pacifica

First two days in the Bay almost done…

End of Day 2 and All of Day 3 in the Bay: Pacifica to San Francisco

Me and my cousin Kris got our haircuts at Joe’s Barber Shop in Pacifica. The Vietnamese lady does a real good job and a lot of people always go to her. No one ever goes to her husband unless they want a fucked up haircut. I got a 3-2-1 fade and lined up. My cousin Kris got a 2-1 fade and line. I make it a point to always see this lady every time I am in SF. I’ll probably see her on my way out to next Friday.

Fader

Kris and I had dinner at Round Table Pizza at Linda Mar Shopping Center in Pacifica. This isn’t your regular pizza joint. They have a lot of booths for family style dining, a full salad bar, juke box, arcade, and big screens. I remember going there when I was a kid and I loved it. They also had a shit load of 49ers memorabilia all over the wall which brought back even more memories. Me and Kris shared a medium Artisan pizza but I was still hungry after. I had to get a mini meal at McDonald’s after. I also took some pictures around the house when we were just chillin. When I got home, I took some more shots around my mom’s house too.

Old School Shots of My Grandpa

Orchids

Daisy

Quaker Oats Dawg

Day 3 was kind of whack to start off. I woke up pretty late and wanted to get breakfast. I was out before 11AM and I had no plans until 3:30PM. I was headed to this place named Superstar to get Topsilog (Filipino food) for breakfast. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any change to feed to meter so I went to Roxie’s, a corner market that makes great sandwiches (especially anything on hot dutch crunch bread). I was trying to parallel park outside and couldn’t manage. In the process I was embarrassing myself in front of entering patrons. I would have to stand in line with them for 5-10 minutes and feel like they were laughing at me on the inside, so I took off. I decided to eat at Joe’s Cable Car. This place is pretty highly regarded by SF residents and visited from people from all over the world. It was a sit down restaurant and I was sitting by myself. I got a Country Burger (with over easy egg), fries, and a soda. It was really good but the bill came out to $22 with tip at the end and I felt like “all that for a burger, fries, and soda?”

Joe's Cable Car

After Joe’s, I headed to Hayes to hopefully pick up some gear at Huf, but I couldn’t seem to find parking. I didn’t want to park in the hood (Fillmore) either, which was a block away. I left and went to Haight and Fillmore to check out Upper Playground. I actually found parking about a block away on Waller and Fillmore within 3 minutes of looking. Upper Playground is dope. They had this new line of shirts that were made up city teams with taboo mascots. There were the Miami Kilos with a razor mascot, San Francisco Panhandlers with a homeless guy with cup mascot, Los Angeles Diablos with a devil mascot, and the New York Pickpockets with two fingers slowly pulling some bills mascot. I ended up buying 3 shirts which came out to about $80. Afterwards I tried to go back to Huf, no luck finding parking again.

Taken from the Car on the Way to Huf

Next, I headed to Market and Portola to get a shot of the San Francisco skyline. After that, I went to check out my old elementary and middle schools which were both just down the block. Then I headed over to Diamond Heights to check out more views of the house lined hills of SF. Later, I ended up at St. Paul’s Cathedral in the Mission Dolores district. The church’s exterior was pretty impressive. Then I headed to McClaren Park to get some shots of Visitacion Valley but none of those really came out that good.

No Parking Here

SF Skyline

Looking East

My Old School Elementary School, Rooftop

Proof

Rooftop Middle School

Sutro Tower from Diamond Heights

St. Paul's Cathedral

St. Paul's Cathedral

St. Paul's Cathedral

St. Paul's Cathedral

St. Paul's Cathedral

St. Paul's Cathedral

My time to kill adventure was over, now I was headed to Pacifica to my nephew Kyle’s birthday party at Sea Bowl to see all my cousins, their kids, and my aunt and uncle. I also had to get a digital record pool DVD from my cousin. Two birds with one stone, you know. So, I had to take some shots of my nephew TJ because my family says that he looks like me when I was a baby. I don’t see it but everyone agrees. I also ordered a Pacquiao shirt through my cousin for $20. It has his face on the front and a Filipino flag on the back with some Filipino Pride wording. I may just get my ass beat with this on in LA.

My nephew Kyle Blowing Out the Candles with his Cousins

My nephew TJ

Me in Toddler Form and My Late Uncle Jac (Jacinto)

Rules at Sea Bowl

My Cousin Ted (DJ Tom Solo) Ordering More Pacquiao Shirts for the Family

I left Pacifica to pick up my mom in SF. We were going to a birthday dinner for my Tita (aunt) Lu at Oriental Seafood Restaurant on Noriega, east of Sunset in SF. The food was pretty good and I finally got to taste the inside of the crab (nothing special). The only thing that was weird was how the bathrooms were in the kitchen. I went to the bathroom and saw how filthy thr kitchen was as well as a compost bin in the bathroom. My little cousin Vincent is so hyper that he just couldn’t stop playing the whole time. He even had to blow out the candle on the cake with my aunt.

Name is Right There

My Little Cousin Vincent

Appetizer?

Tea to Neutralize the MSG

For the Soup

My Tita Lu and Cousin Vincent

B-Day Cake

After

After dinner, we went for ice cream at Polly Ann on Noriega, west of Sunset in SF. I got a scoop of Turkish Coffee and Caramel Oreo. They were good, but it seemed that I was full from dinner so I didn’t even finish it. I think I saw an old friend, Freida, there but I didn’t say hello cause it didn’t seem like she recognized me and the last time I approached an old friend I got the “where do we know each other from again?” line. 10 years people.

Polly Ann for Ice Cream

After resting at home, me and my cousin Kris went to Milk Bar on Haight and Ashbury in SF. The party was called Flava of the Month. It was a special tribute party to artists that passed away recently, like Biggie, 2PAC, Left Eye, Big Pun, and Luther Vandross. I really only went to check out the bar that everyone has been telling me about for years and for Shortkut, Apollo, Vinroc, and Swift Rock on the turntables. I only got to see Swift Rock and Shortkut because me and my cousin felt really sick while we were drinking. I think it was the amount of greasy ass MSG heavy Chinese food that we ate plus the ice cream. We both felt like yakking. Milk was fucking dope though. Shorkut killed it with his tribute to fallen artists. You should have seen the whole room go wild when he played Mac Dre – Too Hard for the Fuckin Radio. Everybody was singing along. There were some Latin chicks next to us that kept making eye contact with me and my cousin to ask them to dance and we would have if we were not feeling like we were. My nose was hella running too and I had to go to the bathroom like every 15 minutes to blow it. I usually get major allergies when I come home to SF because my mom has a dog and I am allergic. But back to Milk, it’s fuckin dope. Drinks are average and expensive at the same time. Beers are $5 and hen and coke is $10. You see what I mean when I say average and expensive. I am a little mad that I didn’t get to see Apollo and Vinroc go on but we were feeling like shit. We will try to hit up Milk again, maybe for the reggae club. If not, when I come back to SF.

Flyer Front

Flyer Back

Day 4, 5, & 6: San Francisco

Day 4:

I didn’t do much this day. I woke up late and breakfast was already out of the question. My mom and I were gonna go have lunch but we were going to bring my grandma lunch at the nursing home in the Millbrae area. We brought her some Filipino food and chilled with her for about an hour. She is in her early 90s and is in the nursing home because last December she passed out, fell face first, and dislocated her shoulder. There is no one to take care of her at her house in Pacifica so she had to go there. She will be coming home for Thanksgiving though but just for the day and then back to the nursing home.

I kind of hate going to the nursing home because you feel really bad in there. You walk in and almost all the old folks just sit in the hall and they stare at you when you walk by as if you should be coming to see them. Even when we are sitting down with my grandma in her room, old folks come by and just stare at us. It is a little weird but I endure it to see her. She hates it. She hates the food. She hates the help. She hates that other old folks there will steal her food. But mainly she hates that she can’t be with her family as much as she wants to be. We all hate that she is there too but no one can be home all day to make sure she is safe.

After seeing my grandma at the nursing home, my mom and I headed to “The Avenue” in Downtown San Bruno to get some grub. I always want to eat at a place that is not in LA. I stress this to all my family and friends who seem to keep offering places likes BJ’s, TGI Fridays, and Chevy’s as a legitimate place to dine. We ended up going to this Middle Eastern restaurant that was pretty good. The problem was that I got a huge food coma after eating there.

A Bite of Falafel

We left the restaurant and headed to Tanforan Shopping Center so I could pick up some jeans at Old Navy. But I was suffering from the food coma and I had to take a 30 minute nap in the car to try to re-energize. After getting inside the mall, I was like “fuck looking around let’s just get the stuff and go.”

After getting home I thought I was in store for another boring night until my boy Karl (DJ Panik) called me to tell me he was at his parents’ house in SF. This was perfect because their house was a block away from me. I headed over there and we just got in to DJ business talk. He hooked me up with some music videos for the whole VJ thing and we talked about opportunities to get on in SF or the Bay. He offered me his slot for a massive teen party in the East Bay on the Saturday before Christmas. It would be held by the Bayfunction Ent. crew and would expect about 1600 teens. I would be down but I don’t have the leave at work to stay in SF for a whole week again, and I wouldn’t want to anyway as you read in my last post. He then told me about getting a booth for HIN (Hot Import Nights) in the Southern California area. The problem was that it would take promoting and that flyer returns would dictate pay.

Should I?

Later, me and Karl went to Roma Pizza on Mission St. and Amazon St. for a pie and beers. We bought the large house special but could not finish half.

The night was over…

Day 5:

This was probably my most non-vacation day of the week so far. I woke and my mom made me take measurements of the lower level of the house. She recently evicted a tenant who was pretty much mentally disturbed. The lady filed a lawsuit against my mom. My sister was working for a law firm at the time in Honolulu and found old cases where the lady tried to pull the same shit on previous landlords. She always sued for the same amount, had the same statement, and accused the landlords of threats and trespassing. My mom finally got her evicted a few months ago but the damage was done. The lady snitched my mom out about building code violations. My mom has some illegal apartments downstairs (as most houses in San Francisco do) that my dad built to help her make more cash to help pay the bills. Now my mom has to bring a bunch of things up to code and can no longer let one of the rooms be inhabited. It’s crazy cause I grew up in the room they deemed unlivable. Shows how much they know.

My mom also wanted some shots of her and the dog, Daisy, in her new garden area. It was built by her friend Marshal, who lives downstairs in the unlivable room a couple of days out of the week. He only pays my mom about $200 a month to live there and keep his belongings there but he does a lot of handy work for her in the house and backyard. He has also done work for my extended family and has become a family friend. Sometimes it seems like he is the help though. He was even at both my aunt’s and uncle’s funerals last year to help set up the food on the viewing days. Yeah, we eat after the viewing and rosary almost everyday until the funeral.

Mom's Garden Area

Mom and Daisy

After taking dimensions, we drove to my cousin Eric’s house in Pacifica so that my Uncle Mel, who is a civil engineer, could take the dimensions and draft them up professionally. I could have done it myself, but my mom is to impatient to wait for me to get back to LA. I also picked up my Pacquiao shirt but it was too small just like my Upper Playground shirts. I told my cousin Ted to get me a large instead.

Uncle Mel

While at Eric’s house, I enjoyed the view that they had of the deeply vegetated hills of Pacifica. It’s something you don’t really see in metro areas.

Out the Patio Door

Veggie

When I got home from Eric’s house I called my sister Dorothy so I could go hang out at their spot in Colma. I headed over there but I had to make a stop at the ghetto liquor store in the worst neighborhood in Daly City. I bought a six pack of Negra Modelo and a “Cutty Bang” cocktail set. It was funny, they has a whole bunch of ziploc bags that had the ingredients to make single serve cocktails. But most of them are ghetto concoctions that you never heard of like cutty bang, apple jack, go dumb, and a bunch more. You also get a tall styrofoam cup to drink it from (think Lil Wayne). I actually bought it to be part of my white elephant gift at work. I wanted to give a joke gift this year after being the final reciepient of the one last year. I got a huge pair of pink ladies’ underwear, a pack of cigarettes, a $5 gift certificate to McDonanld’s, two cans of malt liquor, and a bunch of scratchers.

Cutty Bang

I got to my sister Dorothy’s (Dee) house and my brother-in-law Mike and his boy Neel were watching the Packers vs. Saints game. I was just talking to Dee, drinking a beer, and taking pictures of the boys Mikey and Marcel (Dee and Mike’s kids). Dorothy is a year older than me and we have the same dad but different mom’s. When Neel left, me and Mike were just catching up while Dee was taking 150 shots on my camera. She did get a really good one on there of her son Marcel though.

My Nephew Marcel

My nephew Mikey, Taken By Dorothy Moyrong

I Like This One of Marcel, Taken By Dorothy Moyrong

Representaz, Taken By Dorothy Moyrong

Night Over…

Day 6:

Today, I was determined to get to Huf and True. I left the house after 11AM and headed to Upper Playground to exchange my shirts for a larger size. I found residential parking but street cleaning was in 10 minutes so I had to get in and out quickly.

Next, I headed to Huf. Good news was that I found parking right on the corner of Hayes St. and Octavia Blvd. Bad News was that the meter cost 25 cents for every 10 minutes, change only. I paid for an hour but when I got to Huf they didn’t have t-shirts or hats anymore, just shoes. I guess they moved all the apparel to the Sutter store downtown. I left quickly and tried to see what else was around, nothing. I ended up eating at Flipper’s Gourmet Burgers to make use of some of my meter time.

I took off and headed to Haight St. I found parking on the corner of Haight St. and Ashbury St. in front of Aardvarks, still 25 cents for 10 minutes. I went to the True shoe store and clothing store but didn’t find anything. They charge way too much for everything (think of Workmen’s on Melrose in LA). They even had the Pacquiao shirt I got for $6 more. I wasn’t fucking with them. They suck. Why do I even go in there every time I go back and almost never buy anything. They would probably try to sell me a $5 bill for $7 if they could. Instead of getting ripped off by True, I ended up buying a Upper Playground shirt at Crossroads for $8.50 and it was in pretty good condition. I also got a pair of Air Max 90s on sale at Shoe Biz for $63.

Later, I went to the downtown Nordstrom with my cousin Joseph so he could pick up some items since he got a 33% employee discount that day. He told me I could look around but I didn’t need to cause I know I can’t afford anything at Nordstrom. I just went along so that me and him could catch up a little. I didn’t know before, but he actually moved in with his girlfriend, Camille at a place in the Sunset district. But when we got back to my house he parked in my driveway, since my mom let’s him, to go stay at his parent’s house for the night, which is two blocks away from my house. Parking is a bitch in SF, you guys already know from the last post.

An hour later I got picked up by my sister Dee and brother-in-law Mike. We met up with my brother Philip, his wife and daughter, Sherril and London, my sister Carol, and her boyfriend Dex. We had dinner at Val’s in Daly City. It’s funny cause we all have passed by this place a million times in our lives but just never ate there. The only reason we ate there was because Dee’s co-worker’s husband owns the place. The food was good, but pricey. I got fried prawns instead of steak because I hate steak. Steak is just not good to me so I never get it. Probably because I like my meat well done.

While Mike was at the ATM

Over dinner we talked about my sister Michelle in Honolulu, my brother Harold who is AWOL since last year, and my sister April who married Phil’s best friend and moved to Dallas with her four kids. We also planned a trip to Vegas in March since me, Dex, Mike, and Phil all have our birthdays that month. London cried a lot during dinner too but Dee told Phil to show her Barney or Elmo on youtube on his iphone and we watched that crying stop quickly. At the end of dinner we actually got free dessert from the owner, but it was just ice cream.

Dee & Phil

London & Sherril

Phil & London

After dinner, Dex and Carol told me to pick up the new San Quinn album because Dex (Dex Beats) produced a few tracks on it. San Quinn is a veteran San Francisco rapper and his been putting out albums since 1995. He is a legend to San Franciscans and is comparable to Joe Montana, if you listen to Bay Area Rap.

After Dinner Scenery

End of night…

For anyone reading this who is confused about my siblings:

Dad: Lawrence Lee Laughlin (Irish)

17 Kids

First 4 children Unknown

Woman: Unknown Mom #1 (Mexican)
Larry
Eva (deceased)
Mike

Woman: Minda (Filipino)
Philip (30 years old)
April (29 years old)

Woman: Katie (my mom-Filipino)
Michelle (28 years old)
Paul (25 years old)

Woman: Betty (Filipino)
James (27 years old)
Dorothy (26 years old)
Carol (25 years old)

Woman: Unknown Mom #2 (Filipino)
Harold (25 years old)

Woman: Rowena (Filipino)
Renz (11-13 years old)
unknown name girl (unknown age)

My dad got a lot of kids and I got a lot of siblings. Michelle is my full blood sister, but the rest are half. Me, Michelle, Phil, April, Dorothy, Carol, James pretty much kept in touch. But now that I live in LA, Michelle lives in Honolulu, and April lives in Dallas it seems harder for us all to get together like we did this night.

My dad may have been a womanizer but he gave me more family which is a good thing to me. For those who might wonder where my dad is now, living like a queen in the Philippines with his wife and youngest kids.

Day 7, 8, & 9: San Francisco

Day 7: Quality Time with Mom and Siblings

I planned to spend the day bringing my mom to places that she wouldn’t have gone to otherwise. We started out by heading to Fisherman’s Wharf to have lunch at Joe’s Crab Shack. I really wanted whole crab from the vendors on the street but it was raining and we both just wanted to sit down and relax away from the rain. She also told me that she always wanted to go to Joe’s so I wanted to make her happy. It was pretty damn good. We got the Steampot for 2. It came with 2 clusters of dungeness crab, 2 clusters of snow crab, 10 pieces of shrimp, new potatoes, and two pieces of corn for $44.99. Not bad for that much crab at a sit down restaurant.

Mom Getting Ready to Grub

Steampot

Joe's Lights

Out Joe's Window

Joe's Chairs

After Joe’s, we went to the newly renovated Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. We got there at about 2PM and the second we stepped on the first step (after the 10 minute walk from the car in the rain) an announcement came on saying that tickets were sold out for the day. This really sucked because it pretty much ended our day. The new Academy of Sciences is supposed to be state of the art. It has a new Planetarium, a living roof, and a multi-story rain forest. The planetarium is supposed to be the best part. I guess I will plan another trip with my mom when I go back for Christmas. I will just buy my tickets online next time.

Later that night, I went back to Dee and Mike’s house to eat, drink, & chill with them and my brother James. But James never ended up coming through, which sucks. Instead Mike’s homies, Lil’ John and Gil came through to kick it. We had ribs and rice for dinner which was pretty satisfying and cost only about $5 to feed everybody. After dinner, we went to the ghetto store (they call it the yellow store because if the sign, but it is really called Quick Pic Market). I tried to get a six pack of Negra Modelo and Anchor Steam and they were charging $23. We decided to just get a twelve pack of Tecate (Budweiser of Mexican Beers). Lil’ John brought his own 40 oz of 2-11. I had a bad experience with a 40 oz of 2-11 back in high school. It involved a pretty girl, a lot of vomit, friends laughing at me, and passing out in the back alley. I guess the shit hit me that hard. When Gil came through later on in the night, we went back to the yellow store to get some real liquor. We picked up 375 mL of Johnnie Walker Black Label. We each had two glasses on the rocks and it wasn’t bad for a cheap whiskey. We also listened to the new San Quinn album that our sister Carol’s boyfriend Dex produced some tracks on. His beats were pretty good and me and Mike decided to try to check out his studio before I headed back to LA.

2-11, Taken by Dorothy Moyrong

Johnnie Walker Black Label, Taken by Dorothy Moyrong

Mike Having a Taste, Taken by Dorothy Moyrong

Gil Drinkin and Chillin, Taken by Dorothy Laughlin

San Quinn Album, Taken by Gil

Lil' John & Mike

On the way home, I tried to get some late night grub at McDonald’s or Taco Bell/KFC by the house but they were closed. The next closest was Jack in the Box on Bayshore in Hunter’s Point but the lines usually get really long over there so I decided to just try to sleep off my hunger.

Day 8: Thanksgiving Day

I woke up this morning feeling dizzy and with a huge headache. I needed to get out quick to go see Mike and his brothers and friends play football. They called their game the Turkey Bowl since it was Thanksgiving. They were playing at Alta Loma Park in San Bruno so I could get some breakfast at Jack in the Box to fill that need from the night before. I felt hella better after getting something in my stomach and I was ready to snap some shots of the game. These guys play football every week and sometimes they play tackle but that was not an option this time around. They ended up playing with a half dozen Polynesians who were huge and were looking to crush some bones. They ended up playing flag football and the yellow team won.

Pre-Game, Filipinos in the Front, Polynesians in the Back

Pre-Game, Mike

Pre-Game, Marvick

After the Snap

Running the Sideline

This Shot Was So Funny, Dude Looked Hella Scared

Capture the Flag

Marvick After the Catch

Head to Head

Wide Receiver

Nice Catch

Moving the Ball

Block and Move

Those are Some Big Dudes Coming at You

Those Polynesians Were Huge

Swatted

Hike

Marvick Getting His Flag Taken

Waiting

After going home and getting ready, my mom and I headed to Marie Calendar’s at Serramonte (Serramanila to all the Filipinos) to get some pies. We tried to get custard and pumpkin but they ran out of custard so we got french apple instead. We headed to Pacifica and picked up a bottle of Crown Royal and a six pack of Newcastle.

We got to the Pacifica family house early and had to eat a little before the meal. When my grandma was dropped off my ready-wheels we put out the ramp that Marshal built so that we could get my grandma in the house. When everyone got there they asked us to take some pictures of the food and with our grandma in front of the food. When we were done taking pictures, my grandma managed to grab a lumpia from the table before she was wheeled away. She hates the food at the nursing home so I guess she couldn’t wait. The lumpias were extra good for some reason too. There was a good mix of Filipino and traditional Thanksgiving food. I pretty much stuck to the Filipino food cause my Tita Lu makes some good ass Filipino food. After dinner, me and my cousins Kris, Jojo, and Ian finished the Newcastles and half of the Crown Royal.

Later, me and my cousins, Kris, Ian, Jojo, Adrienne, Kim, Kelsie, Bianca, and Elanie went to the park next door to throw the football and some frisbees around. I couldn’t really throw the frisbee for shit. I got the hang of it later on though.

After burning off some calories, we headed back into the house and finished the Crown Royal. I was pretty gone at that point and we were going through my laptop to find hip hop samples. We were singing along the new lyrics to the old songs. My cousin Jonathan, who is usually really quiet, got really chatty when it came to talking about music. He is really musical and he plays three instruments (guitar, drums, and something else). I thought he was a straight rocker but he knew about raock, hip hop, old soul/funk, and even electro and B’More. When he was younger, we brought him to some gigs and just let him get on the turntables to move the record back and forth at the end of the night cause the girls thought it was cute. He didn’t know what he was doing but it was still to the beat and you could tell he had the music in him.

At the end of the night, Ian and his mom, Tita Irma, dropped us off on the way back to Oakley.

Deep Fried Turkey from the Chinese Restaurant, Didn't Like It

Lumpias and Some Other Stuff

Day 9: Last Day in San Francisco

This day started off real late and with a huge headache, again. I was hungry so me and my mom walked to Taco Bell/KFC. On the way there we passed by the Cow Palace, which is a indoor event building. It used to be the premier place in San Francisco for events like WWF, Ringling Brothers, car shows, and concerts. The problem was that its entrance was a block from the entrance of the projects with two liquor stores in between. People would make the mistake of parking in the neighborhood instead of the venue and you guys only know what happened next. Nowadays, the Cow Palace doesn’t hold much and is comparable to the Los Angeles Sports Arena. You may have wrestling there but with luchadores, instead of concerts you may see Christian healing events, a bunch of liquidation sales, and motivational speakers.

Before getting to Taco Bell/KFC we passed by a new multi-story apartment building that used to be “El Rancho Market” and was the place we always used to go for groceries. When you look around at all the businesses, they are changing to Chinese establishments. Just in the seven and a half years that I’ve been gone, my neighborhood, Visitacion Valley, changed from predominately Filipino, Black, and Samoan to Chinese and Hispanic. Filipinos and Blacks are moving to Fairfield, Suisun City, Oakley and beyond. Samoans are still there in the same numbers but most of them live in the Sunnydale projects and will be displaced when they are shut down in the next five years. There was a “South Pacific Islands” restaurant next to Taco Bell/KFC that I wanted to try but I didn’t have cash. I will make sure to try it before all the Samoans are gone.

After we ate, I went home and slept for a long time after taking some allergy and headache medicine. I got picked up later by Mike and Dee and we headed to Dee’s mom’s house before heading to Dex’s studio. I had some mongo and rice while I waited for Dee’s mom, Betty, to get home. Mongo is a mix of lentils, meat, bitter melon, and ginger and is really good. When Betty got home the first thing she said to me was “Wow, Paul you gained some weight.” That sucked but she said she liked it and it looked good so I guess that wasn’t a bad thing.

Mongo and Rice

At Dex’s studio, we listened to some unreleased tracks that didn;t make the cut for San Quinn’s new album that were pretty good. There were also some tracks on there with Krondon, CNN, and Killer Mike. The Krondon track was pretty good too. Dex’s workspace was pretty nice. He had a lobby, office, and and recording studio. In the studio, he had a shit load of keyboards, a DJ set up, a sound proof recording booth, and everything else needed to produce beats and record music. His weapon of choice was Sony Acid but he also had Reason and Pro Tools if needed. I got on the turntables (1 Numark cd/turntable hybrid, 1 1200, and a Vestax 06) but didn’t really get to shine that much. The turntables were just not up to par. The needle on the 1200 just wouldn’t hold.

Dex, Mikey, and Carol, Taken by Dorothy Moyrong

At Dex's Studio, Taken by Dorothy Moyrong

Me on the Turntables at Dex's Studio, Taken by Dorothy Moyrong

My Niece/God Daughter Keilani Messing With the Turntables

Mikey at Dex's Studio, Taken by Dorothy Moyrong

After the studio, Mike and Dee dropped me off at the airport and I headed back to LA on Virgin America. Virgin’s planes are dope and you get free cable while you are on your way to your destination. I got back to LA to a hectic arrival area. I got on the 9:30PM LAX flyaway bus to Union Station at 10:00PM. When I got Union Station, my girlfriend Trisha picked me up and we headed home, finally.

Sleep…zZZZZZZ…zZZZZZZZ

The Come Up Podcast Vol. 1: 90s Hip Hop featuring Spingineer & Dumlao

Dumlao

Spingineer

Podcast #1:
Theme: 90s Hip Hop featuring Dumlao and Spingineer

The Come Up Podcast (Week of 11.24.08) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:

Introduction: Dumlao & Spingineer (Background Music: Dela – La Bonne Attitude)

Set #1: Spingineer

1. Big Daddy Kane – Set It Off
2. Eric B & Rakim – J.U.I.C.E. (Know the Ledge)
3. Leaders of the New School – The International Zone Coaster
4. Organized Konfusion – Walk into the Sun (Remix)
5. Cypress Hill – Real Estate
6. LL Cool J – Jingling Baby
7. Eric B & Rakim – Don’t Sweat the Technique
8. Special Ed – Ready 2 Attack
9. Main Source – Looking at the Front Door
10. Leaders of the New School – Just Another Case of that Old PTA
11. Gangstarr – Who’s Gonna Take the Weight
12. Redman – Time 4 Sum Aksion
13. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Straighten it Out
14. Brand Nubian – Step to the Rear
15. Eric B & Rakim – I Know You Got Soul
16. Naughty by Nature – Uptown Anthem
17. Third Bass – Gas Face

Interlude: Dumlao (Background Music: Mad Skillz – Nod Factor – Instrumental)

Set #2: Dumlao

1. Craig Mack – Flava In Yo Ear Remix feat. Biggie
2. Keith Murray – The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World
3. Nas – Memory Lane
4. Common – Nuthin To Do
5. Dred Scott – Back In the Day
6. Lordz Of The Underground – Funky Child
7. Das Efx – They Want Efx
8. Fu Schnickens – True Fuschnick
9. Lordz Of The Underground – Chief Rocka
10. Redman – Rated R
11. EPMD – You Gots To Chill
12. The Alkaholiks – Daaaaaamn
13. Outkast – Call Of Da Wild
14. Main Source – Fakin The Funk
15. Del the Funkee Homosapien- Mistadobalina
16. Fu Schnickens – What’s Up Doc?
17. Kool G Rap – Poison
18. EPMD – Crossover
19. Naughty By Nature – Everything’s Gonna Be Alright

Interlude: Spingineer (Background Music – J Dilla – Make Em NV – Instrumental)

Set #3: Spingineer

1. Black Moon – Who Got Da Props
2. Black Sheep – Black with N.V.
3. Chill Rob G – Court is Now in Session
4. K-Solo – Your Mom’s in my Business
5. Poor Righteous Teachers – Shakyla
6. M.O.P. – Hardcore
7. Kool G Rap – Streets of New York
8. Nas – Halftime
9. Large Professor – The Mad Scientist
10. Ed O.G. & The Bulldogs – I Got to Have It
11. Shyheim – On & On
12. A Tribe Called Quest – Busta’s Lament
13. Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth – The Funky Technician
14. Ice Cube – Bird in the Hand
15. King Tee – Played Like a Piano
16. Inverse – Til the End (C.A.L.I.) feat. Trek Life

Outro: Dumlao & Spingineer (Background Music – Lupe Fiasco – Paris, Tokyo – Instrumental)

History of Pre-Hyphy and Non-Hyphy Bay Area Hip Hop

Since I plan on putting out a podcast soon that features a lot of classic Bay Area rap, I decided to blog about some of the artists that kept the Bay Area rap scene going while the rest of the nation turned their backs on the Bay.

First of all I want to familiarize you all with the cities that some of the key Bay Area artists are from. Since I am from San Francisco, I can get down to the neighborhood on all SF artists.

Bay Area Map

San Francisco Neighborhoods

San Francisco:
-Hunter’s Point
RBL (Ruthless By Law) Posse including Black Cee and Mr. Cee (R.I.P.)
Hitman (R.I.P.)
11/5
Guce

-Fillmore
GLP (Get Low Posse) including San Quinn and JT Tha Bigga Figga
Messy Marv
Fully Loaded including Big Rich, J. Bailey, and Don Toriano
Ya Boy
Andre Nickatina (formerlly Dre Dog)

-Lakeview (Ocean View)
IMP (Ill Mannered Posse) including Coughnut (R.I.P.) and C Fresh
Cellski

-Unknown Hood
Paris

Oakland:
415 including Richie Rich, D-Loc, JED, and DJ Darryl
3XKrazy including Keak Da Sneak, Agerman, and B.A.
Too Short
The Luniz including Yukmouth and Numbskull
Dru Down
The Whoridas
Digital Underground
Pooh Man
Saafir the Saucee Nomad of Hobo Junction
Hieroglyphics including Del the Funkee Homosapien, Casual, Souls of Mischief, etc.
The Coup
Conscious Daughters

Vallejo:
The Click including E-40, B Legit, Suga T, and D-Shot
Mac Dre
Mac Mall

Richmond:
Filthy Phil

Santa Rosa:
Ray Luv

Marin City:
2PAC

Hayward:
Spice 1

East Palo Alto:
Totally Insane

I started listening to this music early in middle school and I always liked it. Some of it is mediocre and weak but I love it cause it was what I used to bump back then and it is the kind of music that you and all your friends could just listen to and hella feel. This was apparent when I was at Milk bar on Haight Street in SF when they played Mac Dre’s “Too Hard For The Fucking Radio” and the crowd went wild as they sang along word by word. You won’t get that kind of reaction from a non-major artist in any region in the US except the Bay. We loved Bay music when everyone outside of the region could give a fuck about Bay music and we will love it when everyone outside the region no longer likes Bay music. We are faithful to our artists even though they may have a 1-5 record of hot albums. We buy their CDs to support them and keep their careers alive. The Bay rap scene is the best rap scene in regards to faithful fans that will still like the artist in the same numbers when they fall off.

Although Bay rap fell onto deaf ears in most of the US before hyphy came around, underground Bay Area rap has always been huge in Kansas City where artists would do shows out there on the regular. Mac Dre was killed in a car to car shooting in Kansas City after doing a show which was rumored to be by Kansas city rapper Fat Tone, who was later killed in Las Vegas in the same fashion.

Bay Area rap is like no other in the world. Mobb style, hyphy, or whatever it is, it is very distinct from all other regions. I suggest you get educated…

Here are some classic and newer Bay tracks: Enjoy

Mac Dre – California Livin

Guce – Western Bay Playerz

Dre Dog – The Ave

Saafir the Saucee Nomad – Light Sleeper

Mac Mall – Sic Wit Tis

The Whoridas – Shot Callin and Big Ballin

San Quinn – Look What I’ve Done For Them

3XKrazy – Keep It On The Real

Hieroglyphics – You Never Knew

Souls of Mischief – 93 Til Infinity

RBL Posse – Don’t Give Me No Bammer Weed

Rappin’ 4-Tay – I’ll Be Around

The Click – Captain Save ‘Em

Digital Underground – Same Song featurinf 2PAC

The Coup – Dig It

Peace…

Playing Catch Up…12.04.08 – 12.07.08

It’s been awhile since I wrote a real post. Problem was I came home from SF last Friday and had The Come Up the next day. Then I was sick from Sunday until Tuesday. After recovering from my sickness, I was working to finish up my Bay Area rap mix for the podcast which should be posted mid-week. These podcasts will mainly be posted here and on The Come Up Events blog. Our submission was rejected from itunes so we are relying on blogs to get our mixes out.

Lets catch up…

Thursday, 12.04.08

SIPA Sessions

I headed to SIPA to get down on the turntables. Me and Laurent got some time to beat juggle and scratch. Surprisingly, Laurent had two students now. One was a repeat student and the other was a new student. I actually met her at Diggin Sunday because she was diggin my music. I guess she was interested in learning how to do what we do. The session was good that night but I had to leave early to meet my girlfriend.

Laurent & Wessam

Laurent

Laurent Teaching His Students

Downtown Lights

Me and Trisha signed up to take a walking tour of Downtown LA holiday lighting but we were running so late that we could not meet up with the group. We drove over to 4th and Main to hopefully catch up with the group at 4th St between Main and Spring where the lights were very impressive. There was one problem, they didn’t go that way and we waited there for a good 20-30 minutes.

4th Street Lights

4th St Lights

Harlem Pl Alley

Harlem Pl Alley

LA Live

We decided to park the car close to the 7th St Metro Station to take the Blue Line to Pico Station. We found out later that we only parked about 15 minutes away from LA Live and taking the Blue Line from 7th St Station to Pico Station took about 20-25 minutes including the walk from Pico Station to LA Live. We also passed by Staples Center and got me thinking why I have only been to one Clippers game and one Kings game both in the nose bleed section. A new priority of mine is to get close to court side tickets to a key Lakers game. I am not a Lakers fan but I know the game will be exciting.

Walking down to 7th St Metro Station

Staples Center

Anyways, back to LA Live. We were not really impressed withwhat LA Live had to offer as of yet. Most of the businesses promised weren’t open yet and it was not that large of a complex as we expected in the time we were anticipating its opening. They also had this fake light Christmas tree that was cool but not as good as the real thing. I would prefer a tree like that in Rockefeller Plaza in NY. Most things were closed that night for private receptions since it was opening night but there were only a few places open for business including ESPN Zone, the Conga Room, Nokia Theatre, Nokia Lounge, and Bowling. We heard that Britney Spears was there an hour before we got there but we didn’t really care. I guess I will give LA Live another chance since everything is not open yet. I have to admit that I am waiting for Yard House to open so I have a place to go to to satisfy my thirst for beer. ESPN Zone will be cool too for games as long as they stay open long hours.

Fake Christmas Tree at LA Live

Crane LA Live

Lots of Flash, But is There Any Substance?

Slick Escalators

Office Space at LA Live

Slick Lights

View from Upstairs

Weird Performer at LA Live

Friday, 12.05.08

The Shrimp Head Sucking Posse

At work, we decided to go have lunch at Grand Central Market to get several pounds of cooked shrimp with the heads on, of course. The group included Sinuhe, Jade, Camelia, Muna, June, Manuel, Marco, Angelka, and myself. We went to Maria’s and got 5 pounds of shrimp (3 garlic and 2 diablo). We also got 2 grande fried tilapias (prepared in the same way Filipinos prepare it), and a pound of salmon. I swear we waited for about 25-30 minutes for them to cook everything but it was worth the wait. When we finally got to sit down and eat, Jade showed us all the correct way to eat the shrimp. Stick the head in your mouth, suck out all the juices, spit the headshell out, and then eat the rest. It is really good and I hope to bring some homies from outside of work there to get their grub on.

Maria's at Grand Central Market

Maria's Menu

$6.49/lb With the Heads On and They Fry it Up For You at A Minimal Cost

Maybe Next Time

Sinuhe Waiting

Modelo While We Wait

Jade Posing

The Pound I Was Eating

Yummmm!!

Jade Will Probably Kill Me For Posting This One

Post-Large Meal Cancer, Camelia, Muna, & Jade

June, Angelka, & Mint Chocolate Chip

Sinuhe, The Big Payback

After Work Drinks at the Liquor Store

Myself, Marco, James, Sinuhe, and Alberd left work and went to the liquor store to have some beer. It is a store that sells liquor but also offers tables for people to dine on lunch, snacks, cheese platters, and drink alcohol. They actually charge more for those who decide to drink in store rather than take you liquor to go. They do have Happy Hour before they close at 7PM which is $4-$5 for a pint or 22 oz. beer. It is actually more expensive to buy small bottles. So I got a bottle of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale cause I felt like having a hoppy beer. It was good as usual as we watched the Lakers kill the Wizards. After one pint and two wax covered cheese varieties, we left. James, Marco, and I went to my pad to use the bathroom before heading to Kike’s Tacos. Problem was that Kike’s was not open yet and we didn’t realize until we got there. I guess the early darkness threw me way off. We ended up driving to a Taco Truck next to the Walgreens in Echo Park. I had 4 tacos: cabeza, lengua, tripas, and some meat from the back of the ribs of I forgot what type of animal. I have never been upset with any meats I have tasted in a taco except the tripas (tripe). They deep fry it but it taste pasty/chalky and the flavor is not too pleasant. It was almost impossible to chew as well and I ended up just swallowing pieces whole. Yukkkk!!

True Beer Lover, Check the Closed Eyes to Enhance the Taste Buds. Sike

You Got to Open Your Own Shit Here

Saturday, 12.06.08

I had a lot planned for this day, Pacquiao/SIPAfundraiser, Scoops Tasting Challenge, watch UCLA vs. USC game, watch Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya fight, and check out the Block Party at 4th and Main St in Lofttown Los Angeles.

Pacquiao/SIPA Fundraiser

It was a fundraiser where a portion of the profits from Pacquiao t-shirts and silent auction went to the SIPA foundation, which you all know by now if you read my blog. It was at the Montalban Theatre, which was a makeshift Nike Store for the weekend, in Hollywood (Vine and Selma) which made it a bitch in regards to finding parking. I had no change for meters and lots were charging flat rates when I was only planning on staying for 30 minutes or so. I ended up parking on Hollywood where they have the new machine installed that take credit cards. I didn’t really know how to use it and paid for a full hour ($3, I think). We decided to check out Hollywood since we haven’t really been there since about 2003. Hollywood didn’t change much since then except for Hollywood/Highland. Just a bunch of souvenir stores, smoke shops, tattoo shops, suit shops, urban wear shops, memorabilia shops, and Scientology Centers. I was not surprised but that’s Hollywood.

Pacquiao is the Man

Pacquiao is my Height, Weighs 25 Pounds Less, and Can Knock Me Out in One Punch

Dance Crew at the Montalban Theatre

Capitol Records in Hollywood

Scoops Tasting Challenge

After Hollywood, Trisha and I went to Scoops for a tasting challenge to benefit an organization. We got 10 scoops for $10 and we had to guess the flavors to win a shirt. I was just there for the ice cream, even though I believe in donating to good causes, I had no prior knowledge that it was a fundraiser. We ate all we could before it started to melt and got nine out of ten of the flavors right, oh well.

10 Scoops

Trisha Going Gaga Over All That Ice Cream

Little Kids Loving the Ice Cream

UCLA vs. USC Game

Although we had season tickets for UCLA football, we didn’t know how hard it was to free up most of your Saturdays to go so in the end I only went to the Tennessee and Stanford games. We had to sell the UCLA vs. USC tickets to make some money back for all the tickets we couldn’t sell since nobody seemed to want to go to a UCLA game for a cost. We ended up going to the Arts District to find a place to watch the game. No one had the game on. But after walking into a closed e3rd steakhouse, we got the guys to let us sit at the bar and watch the end of the game. It was horrible though because UCLA was losing 28-7 to USC. We left the bar unhappy but moved on. Before leaving the Arts District, we stopped by Crazy Gideons to check out what the hype was all about. Honestly, everything was crap and all outdated.

Out the Side View in the Arts District

The Skyline from the Arts District

From the Stairway in Crazy Gideons

Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya Fight

Although Sinuhe invited me to watch the fight at his pad in San Pedro, I was lazy to drive and we had plans that night in Downtown for the Block Party. That was a big mistake because we watched the fight on illegal live online streams. But everyone was getting shut down. There was one guy who kept starting new streams after being shutdown which allowed me to watch the fight in 4 short segments. I did get to see the 8th round though when they pulled De La Hoya out of the fight. Pacquiao defeats De La Hoya and I could hear the Filipinos in the Philippines go crazy from Los Angeles. I was very proud at that moment that we had another Filipino to represent our culture’s talent. If you guys didn’t know Filipinos are usually good at:

1. DJing
2. Swagger
3. Dancing
4. Boxing
5. Singing
6. Looking Fresh to Death 24/7

Downtown Lofts Block Party

All I have to say about this was WHACK!!! What happened to the real downtown residents. It was just another event taken over and exploited by hipsters. No one was coming down from their lofts. They were coming from their cars since they just drove from Malibu or the Hollywood Hills. It could have been a cool event with all the restaurants adding tables outside on the street, live bands and DJs, art gallery showcases, and a beer garden. Too bad…I will stick to the Downtown Art Walk, diversity is better than uniformity, in regards to style in this case. After leaving the block party soon after we arrived, we stopped by Pershing Sqaure to check out the skating rink and holiday lighting along the way home.

From Pershing Square

At the Citi Bank Plaza

Sunday, 12.07.08

Shopping

I needed to shop for an outfit for my company Christmas party and Trisha had to shop for gifts. We started at Ikea where she got a mugs and plates for her grandpa. I picked up a picture frame so I could finally out up some shots in my bathroom.

We then went to Glendale where I picked up a pin stripped vest and trousers for $50 at H&M. I wanted the blazer but they ran out of my size. The blazer was only $50. Hopefully they restock my size before Friday so I can get everything altered in time.

Trying it On in the Fitting Room

After H&M, we went to Carousel, a Lebanese Armenian restaurant, on Brand in Glendale. The food was good. I got yogurt kebabs and Trisha got a vegetarian dish. It only came out to $43 with tip after which was unexpected since the restaurant was pretty nice inside.

We finished up out shopping day with a trip to Glendale Galleria. This place was sooooooooooo crowded. We just stopped by Macy’s so Trisha could find pajamas for her grandma, she didn’t. We also stopped by the Apple store to see some of the Ipod dock/alarm clocks. None worked how I wanted them too when I tested them. Some alarms turned on the Ipod but had the volume at 0. Some didn’t allow you to use the Ipod to wake up. No success this time.

LA DWP Holiday Light Festival

We checked this out since we never did before even when we lived on Los Feliz Blvd off the 5 Freeway. It was cool but was definitely a one time thing. there were a few impressive light pieces but most were mediocre if not awful. I liked the Golden Gate Bridge and the entry/exit light tunnels, but not much more. It also rained once we got to the end before we had to turn around and walk back.

Tunnel of Lights

More Lights

Trisha & More Lights

Holly

Wood

The Golden Gate Lights

Wrap Up
The weekend was fun and eventful and it made me happy to get out of the house, especially since I spent most of my time with my girlfriend. Some great events are around the corner, including the free secret location Common show I got tickets for and my company Christmas party. Also, The Come Up Crew will be putting out our second podcast highlighting Bay Area Rap: Old and New featuring me, Spingineer, and Dumlao. If you are interested in checking out our first podcast, which was 90s hip hop, go to the music page on my blog or the podcast page on The Come Up Blog.

I’ll be back soon…Peace.

The Come Up Podcast Vol. 2: Bay Area Rap featuring Spingineer & Dumlao

Back again with The Come Up Crew Podcast Vol. 2

Theme: Bay Area Rap, Pre-Hyphy/Non-Hyphy vs. Hyphy

The Come Up Podcast Vol. 2 (Week of 12.08.08) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:

Introduction: Spingineer & Dumlao (Background Music: The Jacka – Barney-More Crime Instrumental)

Set #1: Pre-Hyphy/Non-Hyphy featuring Spingineer

1. Ya Boy – 16’s Wit Me
2. N2Deep – Back to the Hotel
3. Rappin’ 4-Tay – Playaz Club
4. Mac Dre – Too Hard 4 the Fuckin’ Radio
5. The Whoridas – Talkin’ Bout Bank
6. Messy Marv – That’s What’s Up
7. Keak Da Sneak – White T-Shirt, Blue Jeans, & Nikes
8. IMP (Ill Mannered Posse) – Shining Star
9. Messy Marv & San Quinn – How I Came Up
10. Zion I – Temperature feat. Talib Kweli
11. Hieroglyphics (Del the Funkee Homosapien, Casual, Souls of Mischief, & Pep Love) – Dune Methane
12. Casual & San Quinn – Fresh 2 Def
13. Heroes in the City of Dope (Zion I & The Grouch) – Trains & Planes
14. Latyrx (Lateef the Truth Speaker & Lyrics Born) – Lady Don’t Tek No
15. Total Devastation – Many Clouds of Smoke
16. Dre Dog (now known as Andre Nickatina) – Smoke Dope & Raps
17. Messy Marv & San Quinn – Pop Yo Collar feat. E-40
18. San Quinn – So Young feat. Mike Marshall
19. Keak Da Sneak – Town Business feat. B.A.
20. 3XKrazy – Keep It on the Real
21. JT tha Bigga Figga – Game Recognize Game feat. Mac Mall
22. 415 – Groupie Ass Bitch
23. The Coup – Fat Cats, Bigga Fish
24. San Quinn – Rockin’ Up Work (Brand New, Produced by Dex Beats)

Interlude: Spingineer & Dumlao (Background Music: Andre Nickatina – Ayo 4 Yayo Instrumental)

Set #2: Hyphy featuring Dumlao

1. Frontline Now You Know (Mashup)
2. Keak Da Sneak – Superhyphie (Mashup)
3. Frontline – Bang It
4. Keak Da Sneak – Club Talk feat. E-40 & E-A-Ski
5. Nump – I Got Grapes
6. The Pack – Vans (Remix) feat. Mistah FAB & Too Short
7. Mistah FAB – Super Sick Wid It feat. Turf Talk & E-40
8. E-40 – U & Dat feat. T-Pain (Mashup)
9. E-40 – White Girl feat. Juelz Santana & Bun B
10. The Team – Hyphy Juice
11. E-40 – Tell Me When to Go
12. Bailey & J. Valentine – U C It
13. Too Short – Blow the Whistle
14. Dem Hoodstarz – Grown Man (Remix) feat. San Quinn & Mistah FAB
15. Big Rich – That’s Da Business
16. Ya Boy – On Fire
17. Snoop Dogg – Candy feat. E-40, MC Eiht, Goldie Loc, & tha Dogg Pound
18. The Federation – Hyphy (Remix) feat. San Quinn, Keak Da Sneak, & E-40
19. DJ Shadow – Turf Dancin’ feat. the Federation & Animaniaks
20. The A’z – Yadadamean
21. The Federation – Get Naked U Beezy
22. The Federation – I Wear my Stunna Glasses at Night
23. Mistah FAB – Ghost Ride It
24. E-40 – Go Hard or go Home
25. Bailey & J. Valentine – Fuck yo Couch
26. Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz – Snap ya Fingers feat. E-40 & Sean Paul
27. Mistah FAB – Stupid, Dumb, & Hyphy

Outro: Spingineer & Dumlao (Background Music: Hieroglyphics – Oakland Blackouts Instrumental)

Bonus Set: Pre-Hyphy/Non-Hyphy Power Mix featuring Spingineer

Power Mix (Week of 12.08.08) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:

1. San Quinn – Come on in
2. Cellski – Livin’ in the Bay
3. Too Short – In the Trunk
4. The Jacka – The Bay
5. Mac Mall – Sic Wid Tis
6. E-40 – One Love
7. E-40 – Sydewayz
8. The Luniz – Playa Hata
9. Richie Rich – Let’s Ride
10. Frontline – Time 4 Business
11. RBL (Ruthless by Law) Posse – Bounce 2 This
12. GRP (Gangsta Rhyme Posse) – On da Unda
13. Messy Marv & San Quinn – Money over Bitches feat. Sky Balla
14. San Quinn – Butterfly (By my Side)
15. The Coup – Me & Jesus the Pimp in a ‘79 Granada Last Night
16. Mac Dre – California Livin’
17. 11/5 – Garcia Vegas
18. RBL (Ruthless by Law) Posse – Don’t Give Me No Bammer Weed
19. 415 – Sideshow
20. Andre Nickatina – Crack Raider Razor

Shout outs:
Thanks to DJ Phatrick for lacing me with the Coup songs I needed for this mix.
Thanks to Dex Beats for hooking me up with the new San Quinn track.
R.I.P. Mac Dre, Coughnut of I.M.P., Mr. Cee of RBL Posse, & Hitman.

Links:
www.thecomeupevents.com
www.mitcheldumlao.com
www.dexbeats.com

Wrap Up:
I actually got exicted about doing this mix and I had too much. So that is why I added the power mix so I could put it all out there. I had a lot of fun making this mix and my girlfriend was also happy to hear those Bay tracks again after all this time.

I stayed up until 4AM last night finishing the podcast after recording the vocals at Dumlao’s pad between 9:30P and 11:30P but I am very happy with the result. I actually had to add a last minute San Quinn track this morning after I got it from Dex Beats so I could lace y’all with new shit and put you on to Dex Beats’ work. The podcasts and power mixes are just going to get better and better from here on and most importantly our creativity will continue to grow and become more interesting to more people.

Keep following The Come Up Crew Podcast as we give you guys mixes highlighting the music of different regions, artist spotlights, and a let’s not forget all the other genres we will be touching, RnB, electro, B’More, Funk, Soul, house, downtempo, and more. Our first podcast topic request was a “sample vs. sampled” mix. This means we will be mixing tracks together like Ice Cube’s “Today was a Good Day” with Isley Brother’s “Footsteps in the Dark.” Look foward to that one.

Where are these rappers/rap groups/singers from?

San Francisco
San Quinn
Ya Boy
Messy Marv
Rappin’ 4-Tay
JT tha Bigga Figga
Dre Dog/Andre Nickatina
11/5
RBl Posse
GRP
IMP
Cellski
Sky Balla
Bailey
J Valentine
Total Devastation

Oakland
Keak Da Sneak
3XKrazy
The Whoridas
Zion I
Hieroglyphics
Casual
Heroes in the City of Dope
Latyrx (Lyrics Born from El Cerrito)
415
Richie Rich
Too Short
The Luniz
The Coup
The Team
Mistah FAB
The A’z

Vallejo
Mac Dre
Mac Mall
E-40
Turf Talk

Berkeley
The Pack
Mike Marshall

Richmond, CA
Frontline

Pittsburg, CA
The Jacka

Fairfield
The Federation

Alameda
Nump

Quick Bay Area Rap Facts:

-Oakland rapper Del the Funkee Homosapien is Ice Cube’s cousin.
-Fillmore rapper Ya Boy signed with The Game not to long ago and has lost some street cred for hanging with and writing for Kevin Federline
-Oakland duo the Whoridas were signed by Saafir’s label when they were making radio quality hits back in the day
-Oakland rapper Saafir is originally from Fresno and came up with Digital Underground as a dancer just lile 2PAC. He is also an actor, he played Kane’s cousin, in “Menace II Society,” who got shot in the head in the car jacking scene.
-Fillmore rapper/producer JT Tha Bigga Figga worked with The Game to release the “You Know What it is Vol. 1″ mixtape that gained him recognition by Dr. Dre. San Francisco artists like San Quinn did tracks with The Game on that mixtape.
-Fillmore rapper Sky Balla has been grinding in New York for the past few years doing tracks with The Game, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, and more on mixtapes. Find him in some of The Diplomat music videos.
-Hunter’s Point rappers Mr. Cee and Hitman of RBL Posse were both gunned down in their own hoods.
-Lakeview rapper Coughnut of IMP died in a car crash.
-Fillmore rapper Messy Marv jumped out of a fourth floor window while evading authorities and broke both legs.
-Richmond rapper Locksmith of Frontline was the runner up in a MTV rap battle. Reign Man from Philly won.
-Crestside rapper Mac Dre was mudered in Kansas City, MO in a car to car shooting after a rap show.
-Keak Da Sneak coined the term “hyphy” which was a combination of hype and fly. He also coined the term “fa sheezy” which later became Snoop Dogg’s coined term “fa shizzle.”
-Mistah FAB is a dope freestyler.

Common Locals Only Show Held By NBC Los Angeles

Access Granted

My friend Marco told me about the Locals Only Common show they advertised on NBC, so I went to the NBC Los Angeles website and searched Common. I found the entry form which asked for my email, name, and a code word for entry. After entering the info, I was looking at a page with 4 pictures of locations in LA. I guess this was too ensure that only locals would go to this show. It was a good idea but I wasn’t sure on one waterfront location. I thought it could be a number of places, including Marina Del Rey, Playa Del Rey, or Newport Beach. After looking closer at the small picture, I found out it was Long Beach after spotting the ferris wheel in the background.

The show was at a secret location that wasn’t disclosed to us until the day of the show. It was close to 6th and Santa Fe by the LA River at an events building. Trisha and I met up with Mitchel (Dumlao), Mike (Mike Deuce), and Marco (Speezee). The wait to get in was a good 20-25 minutes. It was nice inside and the lighting was good. I got a beer and cocktail at the bar and it came out to $14. We had to listen to this Will.I.AM looking DJ that was off point more than on point with his mixing and timing. He seemed to love to slam into the next song in the middle of versus which bothered the shit out of me. He was a good performer though as far as scratching and controlling the crowd on the mic. I will give him that.

Common came on at 10:30 and did a half hour show. Most of the songs were those straight commercial/girl loving tracks. Here are some examples of tracks he performed:

Make My Day (Off the new album)
Testify
Love Is
Come Close (Where he brought a girl up on stage to rap to her, WTF??, corny!!)
The Light
Go (I think)
The People
Universal Mind Control

I like all of these songs but I didn’t hear any of the songs I was hoping to hear which pissed me off a little bit. These are the songs I wanted to hear:

I Used to Love H.E.R.
Nuthin to Do
Thisisme
Resurrection
Breaker 1/9
Reminding Me (Of Sef)
6th Sense
Funky 4 U
Dooinit

But I guess NBC would never let him play those tracks. Maybe I have to see him live at a real concert or at a hip hop show on the straight underground tip. I’ll tell you one thing, the show made me want to listen to Common’s old stuff. When he was fucking dope and his rhymes were hard. I love Common’s music no matter what, but I guess the lack of diversity of songs at the show turned me off. But you know what they say…beggers can’t be choosers. I am just happy I got to see Common Sense for free.

The Finale, Taken by Trisha

The Aftermath: DJing My Company’s Christmas Party

Gig: AECOM Annual Christmas Party

After all the anxiety and pressure I felt going into this gig, it actually turned out pretty well and was pretty fun. I got to play music closer to my genres of choice rather than old school funk and disco. I was playing a lot of danceable RnB and top 40 songs. People wanted to dance. It’s funny cause there were 40 and 50 year olds along with the 20 and 30 year olds throwing their hands in the air when Fatman Scoop told them too. I was surprised to see everyone go wild when “The Choice is Yours,” by Black Sheep, came on. I found out later that one of my bosses, who is a white woman in her 40s, requested “Put A Ring on It,” by Beyonce, and “Gold Digger,” by Kanye West…dope. We also had a request by the planning committee to play some Bollywood for one person. I played the Punjabi MCs original and another Indian song that sampled “Informer,” by Snow. The guy never came out but another Indian lady got out there and started dancing it up by herself, thus causing the rest of the people to get out there and dance. It was an easy gig after all, even with all the anxiety and pressure beforehand, and we had the dance floor packed all night. Now we are just hoping for a fat tip and more future gigs.

The event was on the Queen Mary which made it harder for us (DJs). All of us showed up at 2:30PM and didn’t leave until about 1:30AM. It took us about 2 hours to set up all the sound and lighting which included ambient lighting at all of the windows (10 total). Other events throughout the night were a murder mystery which pretty much overpowered any other activity going on in the room. I didn’t even pay attention to the show and I didn’t even touch my food because I was nervous. And to make it all worse, DJ MIjo announced that we had a celebrity DJ coming up, and I was like who, even though he was referring to me. I am no celebrity in any form and him building that hype gave me even more pressure to perform and when I went on I felt like everyone was just staring at me like “what is he going to do.” They also gave out a shitload of prizes like $100 gift cards, a blu ray player, a Wii, an ipod touch, and a 42″ flat screen. There were about 25-30 prizes total and I didn’t win any…=(

Tiny Toones Need Your Help!!

Check out the new video about Tiny Toones.

I was asked by Jumakae if I could give up my turntables and get new ones so she could send a set to Tiny Toones in Cambodia. But at this time I can’t afford to get a new setup. I am offering my two mixers but they still need help. To get the kids started on DJing they need:

1. At least 2 Technics 1200 turntables
2. Cartridges and needles
3. Serato box, software, and records
4. A computer that supports Serato (almost all records were destroyed during the Khmer Rouge)
5. Monitors and/or loudspeakers
6. Turntable and Mixer cases to be able to send them to Cambodia within ATA regulations

If you guys can help with these items or money to buy these items, contact me at spingineer@gmail.com and I will put you in contact with the folks trying to personally deliver these items to Tiny Toones in Cambodia. I hope you guys can all help.

Peace

Spingineer

The Come Up Crew Podcast Vol. 3: Top Songs of 2008 featuring Ocir, Dumlao, & Spingineer

It’s past due since the mix was supposed to be up on Wednesday (Christmas Eve). I am in SF, Dumlao is in Santa Barbara, and Ocir is in LA which made it hard for us to finalize everything. Although, the podcast was done on Wednesday, I was having trouble getting solid internet connections anywhere until today at my mom’s house. So finally I give you The Come Up Crew Podcast Vol. 3 highlighting the Top Songs of 2008 as chosen by The Come Up DJs Ocir, Dumlao, and Spingineer. Ocir and Dumlao play their top electro tracks while I play my top hip hop tracks. Enjoy.

The Come Up Podcast Vol. 3: Top Songs of 2008 (Week of 12.22.08) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:

Introduction: Dumlao and Ocir (Background music is an original beat by Ocir)

Set #1: Ocir

1. Crookers ft. Kid Cudi – Embrace the Martian
2. Kanye West – Paranoid (Pocketknife Edit)
3. Fake Blood – Mars
4. E-40 & Method Man – N.A.S.A. Music (L.A. Riots Remix)
5. Adele – Cold Shoulder (Bassment Jaxx Remix)
6. Common – Universal Mind Control
7. Chromeo – 100% (Treasure Fingers Remix)
8. Edu K – Me Bota Pra Dançar feat. Marina (Crookers Remix)
9. Usher – Love in this Club (MSTRKRFT Remix)
10. The Lonely Island – Jizz in My Pants

Interlude: Dumlao (Background Music: Villains – Thrilla Remix)

Set #2: Spingineer

1. Evidence – Chase The Clouds Away
2. The Roots – Get Busy feat. Dice Raw & Peedi Peedi
3. 9th Wonder & Buckshot – Hold It Down feat. Talib Kweli & Tyler Woods
4. Lupe Fiasco – Paris, Tokyo
5. Q-Tip – Gettin’ Up
6. Common – The Light ‘08 feat. Marsha Ambrosius
7. Consequence – Feel This Way feat. John Legend
8. Strong Arm Steady – Can’t Let Go
9. Jay-Z – Roc Boys
10. Kanye West – Flashing Lights

Interlude: Dumlao (Background Music: Termanology – This Is How We Rock instrumental)

Set #3: Dumlao

1. Kenna – Say Goodbye To Love
2. NERD – Everyone Nose
3. LMFAO – I’m In Miami Bitch
4. Santo Gold – Creator Remix
5. Kid Sister – Beeper
6. Kid Cudi – Day n Nite Remix
7. Yelle – Je Veux Te Voir Remix
8. Justice Feat Uffie – The Party Remix
9. Kanye West Feat ATrak – Stronger Remix
10. Dizzee Rascal – Flex Remix
11. Ida Corr – Let Me Think About It Remix
12. Does It Offend You Yeah? – We Are Rockstars
13. MSTRKRFT – Bounce
14. Black Ghosts – Anyway You Choose To Give It Remix
15. LA Riots – Switchblade
16. Villains – Cut Me Up
17. Chromeo – 100% Remix
18. Daft Punk vs Adam Freeland – AerOBAMA
19. Justice vs MGMT- Electric Feel Remix
20. Estelle – American Boy Remix

Outro: Dumlao (Background: MIA – Paperplanes Instrumental)

San Francisco Christmas Trip: 12.24.08 – 12.28.08

12.24.08 Christmas Eve: LA to SF to Suisun City to SF to San Carlos to SF

Trisha and I left at about 11PM on 12.23.08 and got to SF at about 5AM the next day. We rested a little that day before me and Trisha had to head back out to run errands. We first went to West Portal so Trisha could get some free coffee at Pete’s. I doubled parked cause parking is always a bitch out there. It’s funny how normal it is though to block a complete lane of traffic in SF. You can’t get away with something like that in LA. There were like two cars in front and behind me double parked too. We then headed to North Beach/Little Italy so Trisha could pick up one of two gift certificates at a restaurant for her parents. Next we headed to the Embarcadero to get another gift certificate after taking a stroll through the newly renovated Ferry Building. There are a bunch of restaurants in there that I want to try but just haven’t got a chance to yet. My mom also asked me to pick up some whole chickens at Boston Market since they were supposedly $1.99 each. This sounded to good to be true but I decided to entertain her request to get 6 chickens. I went to the Boston Market in Potrero Hill but it ended up being $38 for the first chicken and the meal and a second chicken for $1.99. I knew they were mistaken but it was all good. After we left, we headed back to West Portal, taking the long way down 24th Street in the Mission. I picked up a Crab Melt at Toastie’s and it was pretty good just pricey at $10.

At around 4:30PM, my mom and I headed to Suisun City to attend a Christmas Eve party at my cousin Ted’s (DJ Tom Solo) house. I checked the traffic and the usual route 101 to the 80 to the 12 was all red. I ended up taking the 101 to the 80 to the 580 to the 24 to the 680 to the 12. It took us 2 hours total where it should have took and hour and 15 minutes. My cousin Ronnie told me it took them two and a half hours taking the regular route except they left at 2:30PM. Before leaving at 8:30PM, I got to mix a little, eat some good food, watch the kids open gifts, take pictures, and catch up a little with a small segment of my family. There were 10 nieces and nephews at this party that I bought gifts for:

Kyle – Bakugan
Christian – Bakugan
Jared – Bakugan
Kelsie – Apple Gift Card
Bianca – H&M Gift Card
Angelica – H&M Gift Card
Jonathan – Hot Topic Gift Card
Linea – Limited Too Gift Card
TJ – Jacket
Skylar – No Mess Art Set

Kyle Smiling for the Camera

Tita Carmen and All Her Grandchildren

Mom Posing

Party Lights for Christmas?

Angelica and Kyle Getting Down

Skylar Happy to Get Her Gift

Christian and Kyle Getting Their Gifts

After, leaving Suisun City, I drove back to SF in heavy rain to drop my mom off at home and pick up Trisha before I headed to San Carlos. Trisha’s dad’s family was having their annual Christmas Eve party at Trisha’s uncle’s (Marshall) house. San Carlos was about 75 miles away from Suisun City so you can imagine how late we got their. Most people were already done eating and opening presents but we still ate when we got there. Trisha and I got two gifts that included food from her grandma and her aunt’s family. We also got a bottle of wine from her Uncle Vic. We soon left and headed back to the SF.

12.25.08 Christmas Day: SF to Pacifica to SF

After waking up late, Trisha and I played with her mom’s dog, Fozzie, for awhile but then went to open some gifts. Fozzie got to open his presents himself, me and Trisha too. Fozzie got toys, Trisha got clothes and accessories, and I got a 2009 Almanac.

Fozzie Opening His Gift

New Toy

Foz

So Happy

Huh?

What You Got For Me?

BeforeI headed over to the family house in Pacifica for the annual Christmas party, I dropped by my brother’s and sister’s house in SF. I dropped off gifts for my nieces and nephews:

Mikey – Bakugan
Marcell – Pokemon
Adrian – Ben10
Keilani – High School Musical Doll and School Set

I got to Pacifica early but it was okay cause it gave me a chance to relax finally and eat. After everyone arrived we got to catching up with each other and watched the Lakers vs. Celtics game which was a pretty damn good game. After watching Casino Royale we opened gifts. I got my cousins gifts this time:

Joseph – Upper Playground Gift Card and Face/Off DVD
Kris – Upper Playground Gift Card and Watermelon Hookah
Ian – Sports Authority Gift Card and War DVD
Adrienne – Cash
Kim – Cash
Vincent – Spiderman disc shooter

My cousin Joseph got me a bottle of Crown Royal and two glasses. I opened up the bottle and we shared it as a family. I was pretty much killed by the end of the night. I also got a polo shirt, thermal shirt, button up shirt, a charging station, wine, apple cider, chocolate and oatmeal.

Ian and Kim Enjoying the Movie

Adrienne and Kris Enjoying the Movie Too

Ian, Kim, and Tita Lu Watching

Brenda, Mom, and Tita Carmen Chatting It Up

Joseph and Ian Listening to the Stories

Adrienne Handing Out Gifts

Vincent Watching TV

After opening presents, I had to rush out and head to Trisha’s mom’s family party. I got there pretty late when they were eating dessert and drinking wine. I really only stayed for about 30 minutes which kind of sucks. They decided to call it a night and we headed back to Trisha’s house to end the night.

12.26.08 SF to Daly City to Colma to SF

Trisha and I decided to go get some brunch, so we headed to Brenda’s Soul Food on Polk Street, between Turk Street and Eddy Street in the infamous Tenderloin district. I guess we came at the perfect time cause we took the last table. The couple after us had to sit at the counter and by the time we left there were a good 15 people waiting outside where the place looked like it only seated 15-20 people. The food was pretty damn good. I got a oyster and bacon omelet with grits and watermelon ice tea, Trisha got a vegetarian omelet, and we got Bananas Foster french toast to share. The Bananas foster and grits were the best parts of the meal. I ended up talking to the guy at the counter when he saw our food come out. He was originally from Chicago but now calls San Jose home and it was his second time to Brenda’s.

Trisha at Brenda's

After Brenda’s, Trisha and I headed over to 24th Street and Harrison Street to check out the murals in this alley. I first saw this alley back when I was in elementary or middle school. I guess they are updated more often than I thought. It was a pretty cool sight and there were a bunch of tourists there from as far as Europe and Asia.

Birth...

Kid Fighting the Power

She

Essential

Cactus

After the Murals, I dropped Trisha off and set out to meet up with my brother James and sister Dee to bowl. We were going to originally go to Serra Bowl next to the Colma BART station but my brother called me asking me to get his extra car alarm chain cause he lost the one he had just then. I ended up bringing all the way back to SF and then we got a call that we were instead going to meet at Classic Bowl deeper in Daly City. We had more time to kill so me and James headed to Serramonte to check out the hats at Sport City. They got a shitload of SF hats in multiple colors and designs. James picked up the all white SF hat. We then went to Sport Authority and Big 5 to look for thermals, no luck.

When we got to Classsic Bowl, Mike (Dee’s husband) was already in line. I guess there was a mad dash to get in line for the special deal that goes on on weekdays. It was a $7 cover, $4 for shoes, and 25 cents per game between 5PM and 8PM. Bowling was me, James, Dee, Mikey (Dee’s son), Mike, and Ric (Mike’s friend). We played 4 games and my highest score was 170. I would have been the highest scorer for the day until Ric got 171 on the last game. Classic bowl has been infamous for being a Filipino hang out spot back in the day, now it seemed to be full of Chinese folks. The place also has a club that is supposed to be pretty good. When you walk in there you are pretty surprised that a club/bar like that could be in a shitty bowling alley like Classic Bowl.

Mikey Bowling

Watching and Waiting

After we finished bowling, we all met at Dee and Mike’s house in Colma, minus James, who never showed up. We just chilled and played the new Rock Band with the drums. It was pretty hard but Mikey, who is only 7, was pretty damn good at it and he just got it a month ago. Other folks came through as well, Gil and his two kids, Ric, Ranier, Marvick, Mason, Javie and his girlfriend Diana and son Max. Javie was a little kid that used to be on the block (Bertita Street) back in the day. He is now 21 and has a one year old with his girlfriend who is older than him. His son Max is really cute though and is Mexican and Chinese. We also ended up playing poker but I was out of chips quick.

Marcell and Dee

Marcell and Elmo

Marcell and Elmo, Taken by Dorothy Laughlin

Max, Taken by Gil

12.27.08 SF Sick Day

I woke up this day feeling real bad with a sore throat that kept me in bed and sleeping almost all day. I tried everything to get better including Vitamin C, Oranges, Noni Juice, soup, and more. Nothing worked. I ended up just eating pizza, drinking pepsi, and taking tylenol later and feeling better. I pretty much didn’t do anything that day except drop off a gift for my boy Karl’s daughter Karlyne and pick up Trisha from dinner in the Tenderloin. On our way back to her house, we stopped by her grandma’s house so she could give us food. It seemed like she really missed Trisha and was sad that she didn’t visit more.

12.28.08 SF to Solvang to Santa Barbara to LA

We left SF at about 8:30AM to be able to beat some of the traffic heading back to LA. We took the 101 this time to be able to make some stops on the way. On the way to San Luis Obispo where we planned to switch drivers I got a ticket by CHP for going 82 MPH. This sucks cause I just got a ticket and did traffic school on the 118 after field work. This means I get points and higher insurance premiums. My insurance premium already went up almost $500 since I started living in downtown. It seemed like the CHP cops were desperate to meet that end of month/year quotas. There were two motorcycle cops with there radar guns and the second me and the other car took off they started taking speeds immediately. The cop didn’t even waste any time asking me what speed I was going, he just wrote it and gave it to me.

We stopped in Solvang to see this Danish Village that we heard about from older family members and in the movie Sideways. We got there and we were both not impressed. We ate at Paula’s Pancakes and thought the food was worse than mediocre. It’s funny cause it was rated better than 4 stars on Yelp.

After Solvang, we went to State Street in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara wasn’t that impressive either. We walked all the way down to the beach and just didn’t find much to do. It was beautiful out there and I am sure that there is a good night life scene after seeing a couple cool looking bars, but just nothing to do that wasn’t shopping or eating.

We then headed back to LA on the 101. We bypassed the 101 section through the Hollywood Hills since the google maps on my blackberry said it was hella backed up. Instead we used the 118 to the 5 to the 2 and took the streets back to the house. Vacation over…

Worst Song of 2008 Goes To…

These Beezies Must Be Krazy!!!

The award for worst song of 2008 goes to Pitbull and Lil Jon for the huge hit “Krazy.” This song is so one dimensional and is a step behind in the Miami music scene as well as the entire urban music scene in general. I know this is as stupid as the song itself, but I was always bothered by the the low word count in the song which caused me to waste a bunch of my precious time counting Pitbull’s awful lyrics. Here are my results:

Different words (from English, Spanish, and slang): 142, Super low in my opinion
Specific People: 17
Specific Places: 17
Nationalities: 4
Race: 1
Complexions: 2
Longest Word, English: Everybody (Pitbull got a complex vocabulary…Haha…j/k)
Longest Word, Spanish: Dominicanos
Words That No Language Would Ever Want: 12

Word Use Top Ten Ranking:
1. Krazy* (82 times)
2. Get (61)
3. Jump (60)
4. Let’s (40)
5. Now (29) (Tie)
5. Up (29) (Tie)
7. They (25)
8. Go (23)
9. Boom (22)
10. No (21)

*How come the word used most frequently is not even in the English language? Fucking Pitbull…

Pitbull’s favorite words from “Krazy”:
1. Krazy (Obviously)
2. Como (What Pitbull says to any question you may ask. Be prepared to ask the same question several times and explain with pictures and drawings.
3. Cubanos (Cause Cubans are dope minus Pitbull)
4. Castro (He was referencing the dictator in his experience “One Night in Castro on Castro” when he busted a brokeback in a dirty hourly hotel in the Castro with “Big Daddy” as Pitbull calls Fidel. I got the DVDs for sale for those that are interested…)
5. Boom (Cause he says that shit in every fucking song)

In Conclusion:
Pitbull is a party track kind of artist and don’t expect much more than that. I respected him for some of his other tracks but “Krazy” is just the biggest cop out ever. I hate hearing the youth of the different Latin and Hispanic backgrounds bump this song in their cars like it is the shit. I would rather listen to “Lean Like A Cholo,” “Magic Orgasms” or even “In The Ghetto.” I have yet to ever play “Krazy” at any gig and I promise to never play it unless I get a tip that matches my base fee, scouts honor. What a way to end the 2008 year…thanks Pitbull.

Peace y’all and pray for better/higher quality tracks in 2009.

Hater out…

Top 2008 Lists of this Blog

Check these links out because everyone else couldn’t get enough…

Top 5 Posts
1. New Mix Posted: Post Diggin Sunday 11.16.08 Update
2. New Nikon 50mm F1.8D Lens
3. The Come Up Crew Podcast Vol. 2: Bay Area Rap
4. History of Pre-Hyphy and Non-Hyphy Bay Area Hip Hop
5. Day 7, 8, 9: San Francisco

Top 5 Pages
1. Music: Mixes, Remixes, and Podcasts
2. Music, DJing, and Life
3. About Spingineer
4. Photography
5. Music Videos: Mixes and Remixes

Top 5 Clicks
1. Downtempo Mix
2. The Come Up Crew Podcast Vol. 2: Bay Area Rap
3. Siik’s Blog
4. The Come Up Crew Podcast Vol. 1: 90s Hip Hop
5. Loungin’ Mix

Top 5 Referrers
1. Facebook
2. The Come Up Events Blog
3. WordPress Tag: Music
4. WordPress Tag: Photography
5. WordPress Tag: Downtempo

Top 5 Search Engine Terms
1. Monterrey
2. Nikon 50mm F1.8
3. Dorothy Moyrong
4. Tiny Toones
5. VJ Music Videos

From these stats I found out that posting on facebook is the way to go in getting people to your blog, especially if you got friends with hella friends that recommend your post to others. Case in point, after I posted my “downtempo” mix, LinoType suggested it on facebook and I got a huge amount of hits that day and its popularity has slowly decreased. Big ups to Mr. Manansala for that one. Being as specific as possible with tags can also help. People also like to hear music and look at pictures, but I believe people want to hear the story behind the mixes and photos where they may have the opportunity to walk in your shoes or see through your eyes. And lastly, people want to hear your opinions about music, events, activities, places, and so on, so they can either justify their feelings about something or find someone to disagree with about something. It’s only human…I’m just trying my best to feed the masses.

Prince Paul

The Come Up Crew Podcast Vol. 4: B’More vs. Grime featuring Spingineer & Siik

Getting right down to it for 2009, myself and Siik came at y’all with something new. We wanted to open up your ears to the scene outside of MTV, BET, and every major city’s major night clubs. One of the best things, in my opinion, about being a DJ is the fact that we are on the up and up on many different genres and we could be doing a straight underground hip hop mix one day, electro mix the next, and 80s freestyle after that. We spin it all cause we know it makes y’all dance, bob your head, and throw your hands in the air. Trust us, cause we have given our lives to music and we strive to give you guys something old, something new, something gangsta in crip blue, something to dance to like NWA, something to jam to at clubs that love gays, we got what you looking for…

Check the podcast we got for y’all with a spotlight on B’More (Baltimore Club Music) from Baltimore and Grime from East London. The kind of music that makes you want to move and jump while the beats are fast and bob your head and throw your hands in the air when them beat breaks down. Shit is fresh and y’all need to get with it…

The Come Up Podcast Vol. 4: B’More vs. Grime (Week of 01.05.09) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:

Introduction: Dumlao, Siik, and Spingineer (Background Music: The Cool Kids – A Little Bit Cooler – Instrumental)

Set #1: B’More (Baltimore Club Music) featuring Spingineer

1. M.I.A. & DJ Blaqstarr vs. DJ Shadow – Save Ur Soul vs. Right Thing (Spingineer Blend)
2. M.I.A. & DJ Blaqstarr – S.U.S. (Save Ur Soul)
3. David Bowie & Queen vs. Three 6 Mafia – Stay Fly Under Pressure (DJ Slink Remix)
4. Big Daddy Kane vs. Pitbull & Nina Sky – Here He Comes Raw (DJ Day Blend)
5. A-trak – Wampercycle feat. The Clipse & Slim Thug
6. Top Billin – One Last Time
7. Diego Bernal – Bring It on Home (Mexican with Guns Remix)
8. Estelle – American Boy feat. Kanye West (Nadastrom Remix)
9. DJ Assault vs. DJ Slink – A&T
10. Twista vs. Colplay – Viva La Celebrity (DJ Slink Remix)
11. DJ Ayres – Move On Up (Curtis Mayfield Baltimore Club Remix)
12. Top Billin – San Fran
13. League 510 – To The Beat
14. Nick Catchdubs & DJ Ayres – Tell Me When to Go feat. E-40 (Remix)
15. Kid Sister – Pro Nails feat. Kanye West
16. Johnny Blaze – Dora the Explorer (B-More Remix)
17. Yung Joc – It’s Going Down (Bamabounce Remix)
18. Ms. Streamz – Tear It Up
19. The Hump Day Project – Real Hot for Everyone
20. Santogold – You’ll Find A Way (Switch & Graeme Remix)
21. Spankrock & Amanda Blank – Loose (DJ Ayres Potion Remix)
22. Eric B & Rakim – Let the Rhythm Hit Em (Omega One Remix)
23. Kid Sister – Damn Girl (Remix)
24. Aaron LaCrate – Get Um Gerl feat. Amanda Blank
25. DJ Blaqstarr – Shake it to the Ground feat. Rye Rye

Interlude: Spingineer, Dumlao, and Siik (Background Music: Baby Boy Da Prince – Naw Meen feat. Mannie Fresh – Instrumental)

Set #2: Grime (East London 2 Step Music) featuring Siik

1. Gwen Stefani – Luxurious (Remix)
2. Lady Sovereign – Cha Ching
3. Big Seac – Nah Nah
4. Sticky – Booo! feat. Ms. Dynamite
5. Platinum 45 – Oi! feat. More Fire Crew
6. Wiley – (Unknown)
7. Virus Syndicate – Karma
8. No Lay – Unorthadox Chick
9. Roll Deep – Heat Up
10. Lil Jon – Let’s Go (Remix)
11. Juelz Santana – We Don’t Give A Fuck feat. Paul Wall
12. Lil Keke – Chunk Up Da Deuce feat. Paul Wall & UGK
13. Jay-Z – Nigga What, Nigga Who

Outro: Siik, Spingineer, and Dumlao (Background Music: T.I. – I’m Illy – Instrumental)

New Mix: Feelin It Mix Featuring a Bunch of Songs Downloaded From Your Favorite Blogs

New mix for that ass!!! I have been trying to pump out as many mixtapes as possible so you guys always have something to listen to in your ipods, jeeps, and boom boxes while you are working out, working, or driving.

I have been staying up to about 1AM to 4AM for the last week for some reason. But instead of letting the pre-insomnia drive me crazy, I decided to be more proactive with that time. I hit the turntables. I found out that I am way more creative and my mind is much clearer in the late late late hours of the night. I never get tired of mixing like I may do in the day cause I am pretty much mixing until I get tired enough to pass out.

The routine goes like this:

1. Try to sleep
2. Get up cause I can’t sleep and go watch Adult Swim
3. Get bored with cartoons and head to my mix lounge
4. Prepare a lineup that may take me 1-3 hours
5. Record the mix the next day

I call this mix the Feelin It Mix since it was put together while I was feelin it in the wee hours of the night. I stuck to one folder which was packed with songs I downloaded from music blogs. So maybe we can call it the Music Blog Mayhem Mix (kind of whack name). I try to just build on top of each proceeding song with something that I felt that fit right even if the genre doesn’t match. So be prepared for hip hop, soul, neo-soul, disco, and so on…

Feelin It Mix (Week of 01.12.09) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:

1. Feist – 1, 2, 3, 4
2. K-Os – 4, 3, 2, 1
3. Notorious B.I.G. vs. Frank Sinatra – Nasty Boy (DJ Cappel Remix)
4. White Label – You Could Say I’m Sort Of The Boss
5. Kid Sister – Get Fresh
6. J*Davey – Slooow
7. The Final Solution – Brotherman
8. Family Tree – Family Tree feat. Sharon Brown
9. Escort – Starlight (Darshan Jesrani Dub)
10. Blue Boy vs. Ol Dirty Bastard – Shimmember Me (DJ Not I Remix)
11. Jay-Z – Brooklyn (Go Hard) feat. Santogold
12. Marlena Shaw – California Soul (Diplo/Mad Decent Remix)
13. Q-Tip – Gettin’ Up
14. Black Ivory – You And I
15. Bambu – Crooks & Rooks
16. Alchemist – Therapy feat. Evidence, Blu, & Kid Cudi
17. Ludacris – Do The Right Thing feat. Common
18. Wale – Nike Boots
19. Menahan Street Band – Home Again!
20. People Under The Stairs – Montego Slay
21. Madlib – Blow The Horns On ‘Em feat. Guilty Simpson
22. Raphael Saadiq – Seven
23. Da King And I – Tears (To My Eyes)
24. Paris – The Days Of Old
25. Erykah Badu – Soldier
26. Jose Feliciano – California Dreaming (Brendan Bring ‘Em Remix)
27. The Cool Kids – 88
28. Evidence – Rain Or Shine
29. The Blue Scholars – Southside Revival
30. Rick Ross – Hustlin’ (Dr. Dog Mix N Mash)
31. Common – Go (Beatnick & K-Salaam Remix)
32. Camp Lo – On Smash feat. Styles P & Pete Rock
33. U-N-I – Beautiful Day (Remix) feat. Evidence, Big Pooh, Aloe Blacc, Fashawn, Mickey Factz, Theo, & Kes Kaos

Peace out and pray to GOD, Allah, Buddha, and more that I get more sleep or that I pump out a shitload of new mixtapes while I am not sleeping.

Spin

Follow Up Post to Feelin It Mix

Since I started off the last mix with Feist’s “1, 2, 3, 4″ track…

I was checking out Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream Blog and I saw this youtube video of Feist performing “1, 2, 3, 4″ on Sesame Street. She and all the hompies (homie puppets) get down to the track. Shit is made for little kids but it does make me smile. Have you guys seen the Sesame Street of today? It blows the old Sesame Street out of the water. Anyway the video is cute…in the sense of how it would be perceived and enjoyed by a toddler. I may have just stripped myself of my manhood with that last line…oh well, I don’t really give a fuck…enjoy kids.

Inauguration Trip Day 1: LA to Philly

We had a 8:30 AM flight so we had to leave at 6:00 AM to get over to Union Station to catch the Flyaway bus on time. Trisha and I didn’t have seats together but asked the check in counter to seat us together and they did. The only problem is that we sat in the emergency exit row. We had a lot of leg room but our seats couldn’t recline…booooo!

We finally got to our hotel in Philly at about 6:00 PM eastern time. We are staying at the Windsor on 17th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway between City Hall/Love Park and the Museum of Art/Rocky Steps. It took a shitload of money for all the connecting trips:

1. LA Red Line from Civic Center to Union Station: $1.25
2. LAX Flyaway Bus: $6.00
3. Philadelphia R1 Regional Rail from PHL to Center City: $7.00

Total: $14.25 total per person. This is on top of the $15 per checked bag charged by crook ass United.

Out the Hotel Window

Love Park, All Blurry

Twiggy

City Hall

City Hall

After settling down for a second, Trisha and I took the Market-Frankford Subway Line from 15th Street Station to 2nd Street Station. It cost $2.00 each way to take the subway but there is a 20 cent discount if you buy tokens so we got some. On Chestnut Street, we went to Amada where we got 6 dishes along with my two beers and Trisha’s rum and diet and white wine sangria. The wait was supposed to be an hour but we ended up getting a spot at the bar. We chatted with the only Asian person in the room besides Trisha and he turned out to be from San Francisco too, obviously.

SEPTA 15th Subway Station

Westbound Train to 69th Street Station

Guy Singing on the Subway with Mic and Speaker...Famous Line: "I Know the Ladies Aren't Happy Cause They Aren't Going Home With Me"

Amada

Meters for Midgets

Even though the food was great, the bill came out to $120.00 for six tapas dishes, two beers, and two cocktail. Damn!

After Amada, we walked down Market Street to 5th Street and hopped back on the Market-Frankford Subway up to Spring Garden Station to hit up Silk City on Spring Garden and 5th. We waited for the DJ to come on and he turned out to be pretty wack. He was playing a bunch of indie and didn’t mix at all or couldn’t mix. He hyped himself up too with a light up “DJ Deejay ” sign (yes that was his name). But the white folks were feeling him so maybe it was just us, probably not though. We bounced fast after the DJs forth track and headed back to Spring Garden Station. On the way there, it started to snow a little bit but was short lived. It was funny cause I was wearing about 4 layers on my upper and white people were out there in t-shirts. It was 18 degrees out there!!!

5th Street Station Platform

5th Street Subway Platform

Railing at Silk City

Trisha at Silk City

DJ Deejay Unsets the Mood at Silk City

Philly Skyline from Spring Garden Station

After getting on the subway, we headed back to the subway and called it a night.

Inauguration Trip Day 2: Philly

We headed out pretty late to get to an 11AM appointment for a tour at the Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP). My plan was to make a stop at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is best known for the steps made so famous in Rocky, before stopping walking over to the ESP. Trisha had other ideas due to the 30-degree weather and blanket of snow on the sidewalks. So we ended walking to Suburban Station to get transit information so we didn’t have to walk to the ESP.

City Hall

Trisha and I at Love Park

Love Park

City Hall

Suburban Station in the Middle of Downtown?

Trisha and Snow

After getting to the ESP, we found out that our appointment was at 10AM but they would accommodate us anyway. Our group was large and the 10AM tour only had two couples, which would have allowed me more time to take clearer pictures. Even though the facility was falling apart the actual tour was very interesting and is probably one of my favorite tours.

Prison Door at Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary

Al Capone's Cell at Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary

Trisha and I went to Reading Terminal Market for lunch, which is like Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles but much cleaner. I got a Philly cheese steak at Carmen’s and Trisha got a vegan Philly cheese steak from somewhere. My Philly cheese steak was mediocre and Trisha wasn’t impressed with the vegan version.

Carmen's at Reading Terminal Market

Philly Cheese Steak Hoagie from Carmen's

Reading Terminal Market

Reading Terminal Market

Reading Terminal Market

We decided to check out the historical part of Philly since it was only a few blocks away from the Reading Terminal Market. Even though it was the winter, there was still a long line to tour Independence Hall. Trisha and me weren’t interested in the tour and decided to take pictures of historical landmarks without waiting in lines. We also saw the Liberty Bell, which was much smaller than we expected and didn’t really impress us. We tried to check out the burial site of Benjamin Franklin but the cemetery was closed, lucky for us there was a gated opening in the brick wall they gave us a clear view of the tombstone. People throw pennies on his grave for some reason but I don’t know why.

Independence Hall

Trisha and Barack

Liberty Bell

Independence Hall

Congress

National Constitution Center

GW

GW

GW and Independence Hall

Congress

Ben Franklin's Resting Place

Ben Franklin's Bust

Frozen Fountain and Brass Cat at Betsy Ross House

That's Philly

Trisha and I then walked over to Elfreth’s Alley, which is the oldest continuously inhabited street in Philly. The houses were pretty nice but the street was pretty narrow and I was wondering where residents park their cars.

Elfreth's Alley

Elfreth's Alley

Elfreth's Alley

Elfreth's Alley

Elfreth's Alley

We hit South Street to check out what many travel magazines called the hip spot in Philly. I was thinking it would be like Haight Street but it came off more as something between Melrose and Haight. It was snowing pretty hard when we went so our ability to explore a little was severely reduced. I got a Philly cheese steak with cheese whiz at Jim’s, which was supposed to be the best according to yelp, which rated Pat’s and Geno’s badly, but was just not impressed. The Philly cheese steak just doesn’t fulfill my desires like a street taco in LA. I will stick to Great Steak, thank you very much.

Jim's on South Street

Piggin' Out

It was the big Eagles versus Cardinals NFC championship game this day so everybody was draped up in Eagles gear. We didn’t know the outcome of the game until we for to Tir Na Nog Pub and Grill and saw all the Eagle fans sad and wasted. We sat down and watched the Steelers versus Ravens game but no one really was interested in talking to us at that bar.

Back to the hotel…

Snow Tracks

Inauguration Day 3: DC & Baltimore, The Day Before The Big Day

Trisha and I picked up the rental at Enterprise at 8AM and headed to Washington, D.C. right away down the I-95 South. Right after getting on the freeway in Philly we got lost and ended up in Camden, New Jersey, which is known for being America’s most dangerous city year after year. We got out of there quick and soon got back on the right path. There are a bunch of toll roads getting to the DC area and you could spend between $10 and $20 depending on how far you go.

Trisha and I got to the Minnesota Metro Station at about 11AM. We bought our fare cards to get to Capitol South Metro Station as well as our day passes for inauguration day. After getting off the Orange Line at the Capitol South Station we experienced some of the over crowdedness that we would see on inauguration day. Little did we know that this was nothing compared to inauguration day.

Capitol South Station

It was a mad house and tens of thousands of people, if not more, were picking up their tickets on this day. We had to get ours at the Rayburn House Office Building. There were two lines but with no direction or guidance we ended up standing in the hour line instead of the 20-minute line, which both went to the same place. In line, we had to stand in front of a group of annoying campaign workers that felt like they were something special and that they had some kind of special connection to Obama. One was an obnoxious older Jewish woman who had attachment issues with a younger mixed-race campaign worker that reminded me of a bootleg Barack. Another member of the party included a woman in her 30s with braces who made remarks about Asians and Hispanics that weren’t positive. I truly believed she thought she could say those things for four reasons:

1. She voted for Obama
2. She was attending the inaguration
3. She was married to a Latin man
4. She could talk Spanish with the worst gringo accent I’ve ever heard

Once we got the front of the line we found out the delay was due to a security checkpoint that wasn’t upgraded to accommodate the immediate increase in users. Finding the congressperson’s office wasn’t that easy either, Trisha and me got lost for about 10 minutes before finding the office. After getting the tickets, we were a little upset when we found out we were in the Silver Section, which was the farthest ticketed area from the capitol. It didn’t matter though cause we were there for the experience and soon got over it.

Ticket Pick Up Line Wrapped Around the Block, Taken by Trisha

Captiol from the Line

Statue at Rayburn from Line

Patiently Waiting

After getting back to the Minnesota Metro Station, which was in the hood, we took off to Baltimore but not before having a good 20 people staring at us before getting to the car. There wasn’t really any Asians or Latins in the neighborhood anyway.

Trisha on the Metro

Before heading to Baltimore, Trisha and I stopped in College Park, Maryland to check into the Howard Johnson, which was a really shitty motel but we only needed it for a few hours so it was good enough.

Our first stop in Baltimore was Lexington Market, which was in the hood. We got in there and it was similar to Grand Central Market (GCM) but it had as many fried chicken stands as GCM has taco stands. It was shitty but not as bad as GCM. I ate at Faidley’s since Trisha said their crab cakes were supposed to be really good. I had a Jumbo Lump crab cake which cost $13 (WTF?) and it was good but not worth the cost.

Lexington Market

Faidley's in Lexington Market, Taken by Trisha

Baltimore's Best Crab Cake?

Here it is, Size of a Baseball

Eat Them Oysters

After eating, Trisha and I stopped by the Washington Monument. We snapped a couple shots and then drove down to Inner Harbor, which is Baltimore’s waterfront and main shopping, dining, and entertainment area. They had a lot of shopping which included the same stores that you could find at any mall or outdoor shopping area in LA. They also had something called Power Plant Live which had similar businesses as LA Live. I guess “Live’s” will be popping up in many cities in the near future.

Baltimore's Washington Monument, Taken by Trisha

Baltimore Houses, Taken by Trisha

Statue in Front of the Washington Monument

Washington Monument

Lion Statue in Front of the Washington Monument

Washington Monument

Church Next to Washington Monument

Statue in Front of Washington Monument

Snow Covered Car in Baltimore

Baltimore's Inner Harbor

Baltimore's Inner Harbor

Baltimore's Inner Harbor

Baltimore's Inner Harbor

At Baltimore's Inner Harbor

Trisha and I were hungry so we checked Yelp for good places to eat. We drove to Fells Point to check out some of the restaurants and bars. It was pretty dead over there so headed over to Greektown to check out a restaurant that was rated number one on Yelp. The food was too expensive for what it was and just didn’t taste that good. We wondered what Baltimore Yelpers were thinking.

Me and Trisha headed back to the motel in College Park, Maryland to get prepared for Inauguration day and sleep. I took some pictures of the tickets to share.

Two Silver Tickets

What a Souvenir...

Inauguration Day 4 & 5: The Big Day in DC and Our Last Day in Philly

01.20.09 The Big Day

Trisha and I woke up at 3AM in the shitty Howard Johnson Motel in College Park, Maryland. We headed to 7-11 to pick up a Washington Post but they were running late that day so we just had to try to get it later. At about 3:30AM the road was clear and we were heading to the freeway entrance that was about a half mile for the Greenbelt Green Line Metro Station. The night before it took us about 3 minutes from the hotel to get to the parking lot of the metro station. The parking opened at 3:30AM but the second we got on the freeway we experienced the worst delay in traffic that we could ever expect. The delay was mainly due to the fact that there was only one entrance, with one person, that was accepting money ($4 to park all day). We are talking one person accepting money for 3400 cars. While we were waiting in line there was a dynamic message signs that said the parking lot was full at about 3:50AM. We just stayed in line cause we figured that was impossible and we didn’t want to drive to another station that would be worse. I even did calculations in my head:

1. 12 cars per minute (1 car every 5 seconds)
2. 2 cash collectors
3. 3400 car capacity

That is 142 minutes or 2.5 hours. So we figured we were safe. After getting off the ramp and getting into the parking lot road, we saw that no one was using the right lane so we jumped in it and it saved us a good hour. All in all, it took an hour and a half to finally get parked.

Trisha and I boarded the Metro Greenline at about 5AM and got to L’enfant Station at about 5:30AM. It was crowded but manageble. We headed over to the line that was for the Silver Ticket entrance. Problem was that the gate opened at 8AM. We stood in line from about 5:45AM to 8:15AM in freezing tempuratures (about 20 degrees that day). I was actually wearing two thermals, a hoodie, and two jackets on my upper and long johns, sweatpants, andjeans on my lower. Along with a beanie, ear muffs, gloves, and wool socks, I was still HELLAcold. It didn’t help to just stand in one place either.

After we got passed the gates we had to fight to get a good view, but after going back and forth between areas, the crowd ended up breaking the fence down andproceeding to closer viewing areas on the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial. We were standing on the second to lowest step in front of the statue that is farthest north. We were about 850 feet away from the podium. Check out the Google Earth schematic below:

We Were on the Second to Lowest Step Next to the Northern Statue

We were pretty fucking close considering the mall is about 2 miles long. It was a great experience and here are some photos that Trisha and I snapped while we were there.

First Shot I Took After Getting Into the Silver Ticket Area

The Capitol is Beautiful

The Capitol

The Capitol

Taking in the Winter Scenery

The Crowd Patiently Waiting, A Few Hours Until Showtime

I Dunno

The Capitol

The Crowd vs. The Capitol

Crowd was Crazy

WTF?

Trisha Trying to Stay Warm

Looking Back Down the Mall, Taken by Trisha

Prime Seating

Love this One

No Words

This May Have Been Through the Prayer Service

Ya Boy, Spingineer, Trying my Best to Thaw, Taken by Trisha

Obama Coming Out

My Favorite Picture by Far

Obama Getting Sworn In

Happiness

Need an Interview?

From the Steps to the Statue

Craziness

Experiencing the Crowd

WTF America? The Aftermath of the Inauguration at the Mall

After Obama’s speech, Trisha andI tried to head back to the Metro station but found ourselves stuck like sardines in a sea full of people. After twenty minutes and moving about 50 feet at most, we decided to head back into the mall. We didn’t know where to go to escape the mall. Roads were all blocked on the northbecause of the proceeding parade. Trisha suggested we take refuge in the Natural History Museum. We found out that everyone had the same idea and the museum was hella crowded. Every piece of wall to lean on was taken, bathroom lines were super long, and people made beds out of benches and floor space right in front of exhibits. It was too much and we decided to move on when we overheard someone say that 18th Street was the exit to allow people to move north of the mall. We left the museum and headed to 18th Street which was 16 blocks away from where we were originally (2nd Street).

Upon getting to 18th Street, we decided to walk north and look for a place to reax, sit down, and eat. We used yelp but it didn’t help, everything was crowded. We walked all the way up to Dupont Circle (a 3 mile walk total from our standing place during the inauguration) when we finally gave up and decided to try to head back to the car. Getting on the Metro Red Line was not bad but transferring at Chinatown Station onto the Green Line sucked. It was packed from end to end, where we thought entering on the last car would make a difference. No one got off until the last stop and me and Trisha hasdto stand for another 30 minutes. Upon getting to the car, I took a 5 hour energy and we were on our way back to Philly.

This was by far the greatest trip I ever had. It wasn’t relaxing, the weather conditions weren’t ideal, schedules were tight, and overcrowdedness exceeding any expectations I could ever imagine, but I loved it. As I explain it to everyone who asks, it was a journey, my first journey, me and Trisha’s first journey together. After this journey, I am eager to take my next journey and just wonder, who’s down to go on a journey?

Cost of Trip (Plane, Hotels, Rental Car, Transit): $1500 for Trisha and I
Time wasted in Lines, Waiting for Obama, on Transit, and Driving: 16 hours
Tempuratures Endured: 17-35 degrees Farenheit
A Huge Check on My List of Things To Do Before I Die: Priceless

01.20.09-01.21.09 Last Hours in Philly with A Stopover in Delaware

On the way back from DC, Trisha and I decided to stop in Wilmington, Delaware to eat and check out the city. We ate at a place called Corner Bistro after checking Yelp. It was a nice place and the food was decent even though it was in a strip mall. I asked the waitress what there was to check out in Wilmington and she pretty much said nothing. She said it was a sleepytown and everything was pretty much closed. Bars were here suggestion. We went downtown anyway and found out there really wasn’t anything there. Looking at some of the buildings you can tell that the city, at some point, been on the verge of becoming big but it just never happened. I will surely never go back to Wilmington and never suggest it to anyone I like.

After getting back to Philly, I decided to go to the Museum of Art to see the Rocky Steps and Statue. Trisha didn’t want to get out of the car which kind of killed the whole experience for me, so I ended up just taking pictures of the statue in front of the steps.

Statue in Front of Rocky Steps

Statue in Front of Rocky Steps

On our last day in Philly, we decided to knock out a couple things we missed earlier. First, we headed to the Reading Terminal tocheck out the Quakers or Amish (one of those) booths. We had breakfast at one spot that was really cheap but tasted okay. We then headed over to the University of Pennsylvania to get my firend Leo a Quakers pennant. He is a teacher and has pennants from a bunch of different universites hanging in his classroom (I will pick him up a University of Hawaii, Manoapennant this weekend). After that, we took a taxi to Rittenhouse Square which was a $7 ride for a 5 minute drive. There was nothing there that we couldn’t see in any other big city. So we then walked back to our hotel picked up out luggage and headed to the train station to head back to home sweet home.

Liberty Towers from Univ. of Penn.

Rittenhouse Square

Officially Leaving Philly

The Come Up Crew Podcast Vol. 5: Ignant as Ever Featuring Siik and Linotype

The Come Up Crew Podcast Vol. 5: Ignant as Ever (Click to download)

For this special Come Up Podcast edition, we have Siik and myself, LinoType, coming through on both hosting and music duties. This will mark my first appearanceon the podcast and I have to say it’s been long overdue. Please excuse all the fumbled words and soft vocals – there was only one mic and it was all one take. It’s better that way.

Siik describes his mix as ignant. “Put it in your car and wreck your subs”, he recommends. As for mine, it’s all Biggie. His movie just came out (it was aiight), and I felt I had to share my take on his legendary catalog. And for my money (and Siik’s), he is the greatest rapper to ever touch a microphone.

Tracklist:

Siik – January 09
1. ll cool j – dear yvette
2. turf talk – sick wid it is the crew
3. missy elliot – joy
4. the cool kids – pump up the volume
5. ludacris – southern hospitality
6. clipse – grindin
7. the team – bottles up
8. nump – i got grapes
9. gaita – boppas on deck
10. 50 cent – just a little bit
11. missy elliot – on & on
12. philly’s most wanted – cocoa leaf
13. q-tip – for the nasty
14. volume 10 – pistol grip pump

Linotype – Ashy to Classy
1. Notorious B.I.G. – Machine Gun Funk (Primo Remix)
2. Notorious B.I.G. – Kick In The Door
3. Notorious B.I.G. – Unbelievable
4. Notorious B.I.G. – Ten Crack Commandments
5. Notorious B.I.G. – Kick In The Door
6. Craig Mack – Flava In Ya Ear Remix
7. Notorious B.I.G. – One More Chance (LinoType Medley)
8. Mary J. Blige – Real Love Remix
9. 112 – Only You
10. Total – Can’t You See
11. Junior Mafia – Get Money
12. Junior Mafia – Playas Anthem
13. Da Brat – B-Side
14. The Gap Band – Outstanding
15. Rene & Angela – I Love You More
16. Notorious B.I.G. – I Love the Dough
17. Jay-Z – Brooklyn’s Finest
18. Puff Daddy – All About The Benjamins
19. Jackson 5 – Great To Be Here (Kenny Dope Edit)
20. Notorious B.I.G. – Things Done Changed (LinoType Remix)
21. Notorious B.I.G. – Sky’s The Limit
22. Mtume – Juicy Fruit
23. Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy

New Mix: Neo-Soulish Styles + Some: Part 1 & 2

I always wanted to put together a neo-soul mix but I just never got around to it. With dope neo-soul songs, as well as songs from other genres that just seem to fit the mood, this is what I put together. Check parts 1 & 2. Thanks to DJ Siik, DJ Linotype, DJ Ocir and endless list of music blogs for some of the tracks and remixes that helped bring this all together. Sorry for the excess 4Hero, but they just make good music…

Part 1:

Neo-Soulish Styles + Some: Part 1 (Week of 02.02.09) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:
1. 4Hero – Look Inside feat. Face
2. Chico Mann – Dilo Como Yo
3. Jazzanova – Look What You’re Doin’ To Me feat. Phonte
4. Amel Larrieux – Bravebird
5. Maxwell – Changed
6. 4Hero – Sink or Swim (No Choice for Me) feat. Lady Alma
7. 4Hero – Take My Time feat. J Davey
8. Goapele – Closer
9. Erykah Badu – Soldier
10. Iman Williams – You R feat. Nebulus
11. Maxwell – Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)
12. Common – Funky 4 U feat. Jill Scott & Bilal
13. Adriana Evans – All for Love
14. Amerie – One Thing (Siik Remix)
15. Zhane – Request Line
16. Soul II Soul – Back to Life
17. Ave.To – Mama’s Koolaid
18. Flying Lotus – Camel (Nosaj Thing Remix)
19. New Mastersounds – Your Love is Mine feat. Corrine Bailey Rae (Fred Everything Mix)
20. Raphael Saadiq – Get Involved feat. Q-Tip
21. Common – I Am Music feat. Jill Scott
22. Adriana Evans – Hey Now

Part 2:

Neo-Soulish Styles + Some: Part 2 (Week of 02.02.09) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:
1. Jill Scott – High Post Brotha feat. Common (Live)
2. 7 Samurai – Without Luv
3. Jill Scott – Love Rain
4. Corrine Bailey Rae – I’d Like To
5. Amy Winehouse – Help Yourself
6. Cooly’s Hot Box – What A Surprise
7. Raphael Saadiq – Be Here feat. D’Angelo
8. Aaliyah – If Your Girl Only Knew (Siik Remix)
9. Glenn Lewis – Don’t You Forget It
10. Carmen Rodgers – Dream
11. Common – 8 Minutes to Sunrise feat. Jill Scott
12. D’Angelo – Devil’s Pie
13. Ryan Leslie – Rescue Me
14. Amy Winehouse – Stronger Than Me
15. Corrine Bailey Rae – Trouble Sleeping
16. Erykah Badu – Love of My Life feat. Common
17. Erykah Badu – The Healer
18. Dwele – Hold On
19. Raheem DeVaughn – Woman
20. Lupe Fiasco – Daydreamin’ feat. Jill Scott
21. Chico Cesar – Mama Africa
22. Akon – Mama Africa
23. Stone Mecca – In Love
24. Estelle – Come Over
25. Gnarls Barkley – Who Cares
26. Angie Stone – Baby
27. Alicia Keys – You Don’t Know (Siik Remix)
28. John Legend – Another Again

New Mix: Indienational

I had a lot of fun putting this mix together because I had a chance to get into genres, that before the last couple of months, I didn’t know much about. Thanks to the magic of the internet and music blogs, I was able to explore the music of the world from comfort of my desk job.

I am actually impressed with a lot of the Indie, electro, and international music that is out there. If you asked me 6 months ago, I may have ensured you that I could never get into those genres. But after actually sitting down and giving each track a listen, I have became a fan. I hope you enjoy this like I do.

Indienational (Week of 02.23.09) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:
1. Monkey: Journey to the West – Monkey Bee (Diplo Remix)
2. Shinehead – Billie Jean
3. Spleen – Tu L’aimeras
4. Tosca – Fondue
5. Magic Arm – Daft Punk is Playing in my House
6. Mexican Institute of Sound – Para No Vivir Desesperado (NSM…PSM Remix)
7. Kinky – Hasta Quemarnos
8. Dan Black – I Love Life
9. Of Montreal – Jimmy
10. Passion Pit – Sleepyhead (The Knocks Remix)
11. Junior Boys – Bits & Pieces
12. Nujabes + Fat Jon – Transcendence
13. Cut Copy – Far Away (Damn Arms Remix)
14. Chromeo – 100%
15. Trouble Andrew – Run & Hide (Diplo Remix)
16. 33Hz – Sentinel of Love
17. Holy Ghost! – Hold On
18. Coeur de Pirate – Comme Des Enfants (Le Matos Andy Carmichael Remix)
19. Mike Dunn – Feel the Muzik
20. Air France – June Evenings
21. Ted & Francis – All Ways
22. Hot Chip – Hold On (D.I.M. Remix)
23. Cut Copy – Hearts on Fire
24. Treasure Fingers – Cross the Dancefloor (Designer Drugs Remix)

Wow…Been awhile

Besides posting mixes, I haven’t wrote a real blog in awhile. I have been really busy at work, my real job, and DJing, my favorite job. I also have been trying to travel more and put a little more into my relationship.

This is pretty much what has happend since I last put something up.

Job:
Been helping out with many engineering projects that are planned for LA while the main railroad work is being reviewed by clients. I have helped with a BRT (bus rapid transit) extension project, a light rail extension project, a commuter rail extension project, and I am now currently working on a storm water mitigation project for a new bridge close to Angel Stadium in Orange County. I get so caught up in work sometimes I don’t even notice when I stay one or two hours longer than I should. This is pretty much what has been keeping me from SIPA Sessions. No matter what, the challange is welcomed with open arms. I like to stay busy and feel like I am contributing to the company’s success.

The bad news is that one of the support staff employees was let go this week. They pretty much gave her a few hours to go. She didn’t do anything wrong and she was a reliable employee so it shocked everyone. We even had a meeting the next day with the So Cal Regional Manager so they could explain things. Nothing good came of the meeting and some people at the meeting at the office made it clear, rudely, that the lady who was laid off shouldn’t have been and it should have been one of the other admins that was at the meeting. Shit is crazy…no one’s job is safe.

DJing:
The Come Up has been going as usual. I actually missed the January Come Up since I was out of town. I made my re-appearance at the February Come Up for the USC Dental Hygiene school fundraiser with a video set for no one to enjoy since the dance floor cleared. I just went back to drinking and chatting.

The March Come Up will be my 26th b-day celebration and a fundraiser for Tiny Toones in Cambodia. I am happy we got them to join us for a fundraiser since I really want to be involved with getting the DJing program going.

Speaking of Tiny Toones, we having been having big talks lately (me, Ryan, June, etc.) and we linked up with Jeff from Radio23. He wants to help us broadcast DJ lessons to Tiny Toones in Cambodia. This is great and now we just got to ge them equipment. 5 kids from Tiny Toones will be coming to the US to perform on May 2-4 and hopefully we can send some of the equipment back with the escorts. We actually got two set ups ready to go out there.

The Come Up Crew’s new party, Chocolate, is ready to come to a close. We tried to throw a Sunday party at Jimmy’s Lounge in Hollywood and it was just too hard to pull off. The first month consisted of dance crews, performances, and great DJs performing for a pretty empty room. We couldn’t get people there and even the most confident promoters could only pull in 20% of what they promised. Even when we did get a bigger crowd for DJ Virman on March 8th, people just don’t want to drink on Sunday night. Our last party will feature DJ Shy from KIIS FM and hopefully it won’t be a huge loss.

I have been pumping out mixtapes, as you can see, as much as possible. I want to be heard. I don’t want to play the tracks that most people want to hear and come to expect from DJs nowadays. I want to play what I am feelin’ and I want those who like it to continue to listen to my stuff into the future. Mixtapes used to be such a headache to me in the past because they were a lot of work but they have become my favorite part of DJing since I can let people into my head and take them on a journey through sound.

Travel:
Less than two weeks after the inauguration trip, I flew to visit my sister in Honolulu for a three day weekend. This sounds crazy but the round trip ticket was only $250. I couldn’t pass it up. It was great, I saw local stuff, enjoyed the beaches, countryside, and city, went hiking, and shopped. I actually left some mixtapes at In4mation and found out that they were playing some of them in the store. I wish I had a better handout but I put it together last minute, I just want to give them the music in the end.

Less than two weeks after Hawaii, I drove to Tijuana to fly to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. We bought tickets because a Mexican airline was offering 1 peso tickets. I went with my friends, Manuel and Leo, and girlfriend, Trisha. It was dirt cheap. Trisha and I only spent $300 total, out of pocket, from Thursday night to Sunday afternoon. I will be going back again sometime soon.

This weekend I will be heading to Vegas to celebrate my brother-in-law’s 30th b-day. Trisha and I are only staying one night at Trump Tower. I plan on getting fucked up.

Future plans include another Vegas trip in May, Ensanada driving trip in May, Amsterdam trip in September (hopefully), and last but not least, a trip to the Philippines in December, with a stop in Cambodia, and hopefully China on the way back.

Health:
Health is pretty bad right now. After moving to my current residence 8 months ago, I recently realized that not much has changed in my life since then. Honestly, 0%. I want to have fun and enjoy life. The price to pay is health. Excessive drinking, consumption of junk food, and lack of sleep have caught up with me and has not got any better in the last week. Need to watch myself.

Coming soon…
Hawaii trip post
Monterrey post
Come Up Crew update post
Vegas trip post

26 Hip Hop Tracks for my 26th Birthday on March 26th Mix

I fucking love hip hop! Since the days of my youth when I was listening to Arrested Development and Digable Planets alongside Das Efx and Boogie Down Productions adjacent to NWA and DJ Quik juxtaposed to San Quinn and RBL Posse. I love hip hop in all it’s forms, conscious, clever, gangsta, grimey, dancey, and dumb. It is the only type of music that can make you dance, think, nod your head, two step, fight your enemies, disrespect females, get drunk, and so much more.

Hip hop is so versatile that it has moved beyond its roots in The Bronx to become a large part of many sub-cultures in cities across the globe, touching lives from the poverty strictend in the slums to the rich folks in the hills. I refuse to ever say that hip hop is dead because it is a lifestyle and even though the elements of DJing, breaking, MCing, and tagging have become independent entities, when brought together, the term “the perfect fit” can only explain the outcome.

Hip hop is powerful and it has never been used as a type of propaganda for evil, as believed in the past. Hip hop is positive and those who choose to be a part of hip hop can only receive something positive in return. No matter how bad ass or hardcore hip hop representers come off when they perform, you have to understand that hip hop was born in areas where the only road to success was a competitive nature and that is what fuels the forward progression of the hip hop movement, giving you something greater as time goes on. I imagine the hip hop kid of the future will be able to rhyme in several languages in one freestyle, scratch, do a head spin, and drop a piece all at the same time. We ain’t prepared for what hip hop has to offer in 2109.

Sorry, the mix is early but I just couldn’t wait! Enjoy…

Happy Birthday to Me!

26.26.26 Hip Hop Mix (Week of 03.16.09) – Click to Download

Tracklisting:

1. Jay-Z – My President Is Black
2. Dilated Peoples – The Last Is First
3. Bambu – Like Us
4. DJ Babu – Deadly Habitz Feat.Gang Starr (Cuts/Beat Juggling By DJ Babu)
5. Evidence – To Be Determined Feat. Elzhi & Aloe Blacc
6. Brother Ali – Original King
7. Little Brother – Passion Flower
8. People Under the Stairs – Keepin It Live
9. Murs – Yesterday & Today
10. Cunninlynguists – Never Come Down
11. Dela – Vibrate Feat. Blu
12. Raekwon – Wu Ooh Feat. Ghostface Killah & Method Man
13. Nas – Represent
14. J Dilla – Make ‘Em NV
15. Exile BEATS – For The Kids
16. Q-Tip – Official
17. De La Soul – Plug Tunin’
18. Common – Gladiator
19. Jay-Z – American Dreamin’ Feat. Fela Kuti (MikeLove’s Nigerian Gangster Remix)
20. The Beatnuts – No Escapin’ This
21. Zion I – Coastin’ Feat. K.Flay
22. Blackalicious – Swan Lake
23. Planet Asia – Pure Coke
24. Gang Starr – Discipline Feat. Total
25. The Roots – Stay Cool
26. Reflection Eternal – Chaos Feat. Bahamadia