Crooklyn for OBAMA!

Instead of watching the whole speech by Barack Obama with my family in the living room I opted to go in my room and watch it alone so I can cry my eyes out(I hate crying in front of people..LOL). To see an African-American man stand before the country with confidence and great poise with such a profound eloquence showed me that there are many possibilities which can actually be more near than far. Now I've been a fond believer for years that politicians we're useless but last night it was as if he'd listened to my fears and concerns about living in America. He spoke to the independent business owner/s, middle classs families that struggle to pay their child college tuition(me), the unemployed, those who have no health insurance and msot importantly Mcain and his ignorant 72 year old ass! He literally hit every core issue and hit my heart as well. I thought about the little black boy or girl sitting at home listening that will now be able to look at Barack and know that it is indeed a possibility! We have officially 67 DAYS left to make that choice America!

Crooklyn Chronicles for OBAMA!

Enjoy Part 1 and 2 from the speech last night

Carnival Weekend

Those of you who know me well know how much I LOVE Carnival! I have never in my life and I emphasize on NEVER, missed the festivities of Laborday weekend in Crooklyn. The experience and the culture is crazy!!!!! It's nothing like smelling and eating the grilled jerkchicken, corn, the roti, cookup rice, palou, blackpudding, sowce, stewchicken(OMG I'm getting HUNGRY already). Then on Monday on de parkway chipping down de road (a type of walk that consists of you walking and dancing to the music at the same time).. The flags of all countries, the different faces, the hood, the tourists and the many former and some still present immigrants who have contributed to building this country. Often times West Indian, Carribean and South Americans(Guyanese!!!!!) don't often receive the acknowledgement so on the parkway they make sure to take over in every way! As a child of Guyanese parents and a lover of soca/reggae every year I make it a duty to get on stink(hahahaha..a term that describes wilding out). So it's my duty to help you get around this weekend so that you too can jump-up and take part of this cultural explosion.

(pics courtesy of flickr.com)


Tonight
Friday, August 29th Time: 12:00pm to 4:00pm
STAY IN SCHOOL CULTURAL EDUCATION - FREE! MC: Father Goose

Featuring youthful performers
-Hip Hop, Steelband, Dance, Fashions, Karate, Police Youth Club, Gowanus Drill Team, Harlem Children’s Zone, Soul Tigers Marching Band, Pink Diamond Steppers and more! Friday 29th – (Evening) Showtime – 8:00pm: Tickets in advance $35: At the Door: $40

BRASS FEST (GYAL FARM Edition)
Artists – Shurwayne Winchester & Traffik, KES the Band, Edwin Yearwood & Krosfyah and Statement (from Barbados) Berbice (from Grenada) and Hunter singing “Bring it in a Bottle” with Dil-E-Nadan Orchestra (special prize for the best dressed -farmer brown outfit)

Tomorrow
Saturday, August 30th (Daytime) 8:00am – 3:00pm: Children FREE (Adults $5 donation)

Route: Kingston Ave & St. Johns Pl, to Franklin Ave Sooutn, to President St, into Brooklyn Museum Grounds

Saturday 30th (Evening) Showtime – 8:00pm: Tickets in advance $30: At the Door: $35
Steel Bands: (2007 Champions) - Pan Sonatas, CASYM, Sesame Flyers, Despers USA, Harmony, Crossfire, Pantonics, Ad Lib and Radoes.
Event – PANORAMA STEELBAND COMPETITION – (Cash prizes & challenge trophy)

Sunday, August 31st Showtime - 7:00pm: Tickets in advance $30: At the Door: $35
Event – DIMANCHE GRAS
Artists – David Rudder, Scrunter, Crazy, Barron, Hunter and others along with a dazzling competition for King & Queen of the Bands
Description – The Sunshine Band & Calypso veterans perform, Kings & Queens compete and Dancers entertain to conclude the weekend concert events leading to the big Labor Day Carnival Parade.

For advance tickets please call 718.467.1797 or the following locations: Charlies’s Records: 718-783-8336, Tropical Paradise: 718-629-3500, Brooklyn Museum: 718-638-5000 Email: wiadca@gmail.com & www.wiadca.org & www.myspace.com/wiadca
WIADCA’s Address 323-325 Rogers Avenue (between Sullivan Pl & Montgomery St) Brooklyn, NY 11225

MONDAY-FREE
Labor Day Carnival Parade on Eastern Parkway - 9/1/08 - 8am-6pm

Enjoy the tunes of Lord Kitchener who is one of the most internationally known calypsonians!

This pic of me is from Laborday2K6, might just see me on the parkway this year(crossing fingers)!

Video of the Day

As the summer departs, I guess for most people it's back to laying low with a hubby ,LOL! Enjoy the video and the rest of the summer that's left!

* Don't we miss LAURYN?

Bob Marley-Lauryn Hill -Turn Your Light
Uploaded by hushhush112

Monday MUZIK

Photo Credit: Vlad!

It's a chilling feeling to know that one day this picture and this track will mean soooooooooo much one day. In due time...

Check this exclusive M.I.A. Paper Planes remix with Smash and Mickey.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/17467463a111f3a1/

Dear Foxy!

"FB, there ain't no equivalent, the flow is oh so belligerent.The hood love the style that I'm delivering, Fox is hip hop, they just can't rid of this..."

When Jay introduced you to us we became admirers, real dudes respected your raw capability of telling a dude who you were and what you demanded. At sixteen you fearlessly held it down for the brown girls, no heavy makeup just black lipstick, lip liner and hard looking jet black weave with the black gel sideburns (LOL).So GHETTO but we fell in love with it! To add to that The Firm gave you crazy street cred, spitting with Nas and AZ (so slept on...) When "Hot Spot" came out we we're optimistic, didn't really care that you and Kim we're beefing, seen it coming anyway. All we knew was that our girl was getting those MTV spins. Okay so couple months passed we didn't hear from you. You did a couple of features here and there but still no album. In between the anticipation that's when the turn started. Car accidents on Flatbush, hospital visits, run-ins with the law, random fights, court dates and cursing random people out. It definitely caught us off gaurd so we gave you the side-eye and focused on Kim so you could get the picture. The Queenbee was killing it during your break and we even bumped to Trina, had us on that Miami shit for a while (Why is NY so bias to other artist not from here, SMH). I'm guessing you took note and came out with, "BK's Anthem" ahhhhh we we're hype! In the video you had the army green Sean John baggy velour bugging on the stoop with your bro Gav, showed shots of dudes playing c-lo, and spitting in front of Junior's. The vid did a great job at embodying your core fans. It was a great look, we crossed fingers. Thanks to you your ex-boo Spragga for being an influence you blessed us with, "Oh yeah," and had us dubbing like crazy in the bashments. Of course we fell in love with the new style change because the beauty supply store couldn't keep the wet and wavy weave packs on the shelf. And we're loving the fact that you rocked that teacup pink lip gloss for every phot op. It was your summer but as always more of the bullshit started up again. After what seemed like your tenth hiatus we heard you got signed to Badboy then you teased us with, "Stylin," and made it necessary to style in burberry. After a while and album let down's it became normal to hear you we're cursing people out, walking up in people's establishments and being arrogant. You we're probably flipping that big hair all over the place. It got to a point where people didn't even care about you or your career. You became a laughing stock but when you'd randomly show up on Flex and spit a crazy free-style where he'd be dropping his famous bombs all night it'll always tell us you still reigned supreme. Thought your reunion with Hov and your hear loss would humble you but things didn't change.

The sad thing about it is that when it's all said and done we're not gonna remember you for your sick, authentic delivery, swagger or rhymes. Instead we're gonna remember you for your ever changing public disputes, jail sentence and leaked albums that never saw the light of day only on youtube, limewire and other music sites that got a hold of it.

Mayb'e I've been hard on you throughout this letter but I wonder how did it all get this way. Was it your early exposure to the game at which can be considered a fragile point in a young woman's life? I mean at sixteen you we're in a black see-through bathing suit rapping on "Ain't no Nigga," talking about paying commisary for your man and how your ish got you 5 carats and all that... Since I'm not sure I'm blaming it on growing up too fast, the press built beef between you and Kim who was once yor good friend, the pressures of being introduced by a male powerhouse like Jay and let go to rock on your own. Love and relationships, cause I'm sure it's hard having to deal with that in the public eye. I don't know if I should be tight but we need you Fox. I still grin when I hear you bust that mean patwa on songs fronting like your Jamaican, or when your hair is extra big with fushia flash nail polish! COME BACK, I guess I have to be receptive to your transitions but it's time to get your act together, it's a void in the game in terms of female rappers and there's some of us who haven't given up and know you can fill it.

Sincerely,

You're last remaining fans....

Let's reminisce, Look at her hair scattered all over the place in the first video! hahahahaha Gosh I love her, LOL!


She was only SIXTEEN in this video!

Foxy Brown - Oh Yeah
Uploaded by hushhush112

Foxy Brown - "Living Legacy"
Uploaded by IlladelphSoldier

Feeling a Lil' Nostlagic!!!!

It's 12 something and I'm thinking about how quick the summer is ending and of course that has me in the mood to kick back under the blankies (and yes that's without a hubby unfortunately LOL:( and watch my favorite movie, "Crooklyn." Earlier on I reminisced with my sister about how summer in Crooklyn use to be. I remember the times when we just lived to go outside and have fun. It was nothing like staying out until the street lights came on, playing "red light green light...," riding your bike in packs, feening for the ice cream truck to come up the block and having stupid arguments over double-dutch and who's hair was longer(LMAO). If you had a big family or lived on a crowded block full of other kids I'm sure you can reflect as well. Before we we're self-proclaimed hustlers up at the crack of dawn on the grind we all kicked it on the stoop of the neighbor that hated us from sun up and sun down playing truth or dare. Ahhhhhh and remember how we just reveled at the fact we could sneak feels and kiss behind the tree. And to think we didn't care if playing outside all day made us smell like sweat, cheese doodles,candy, dirt and sticky icies (LOL). Feels like yesterday right?...Fast forward to today and think about the responsibilities that we face as adults now, shitttt it's kind of hard to do that now. But, anyway I guess I'm missing that feeling a little bit.....

Here's two clips from Crooklyn!!!!!

ROC THE BLOC!

I'm sure you've all heard about the events going down today. Look, call me a lazy blogger but I truly cannot list every event that's going down this Saturday! I don't even know if I'll make it to every one. So here's a link to Minority Report, Al the man that has it all covered has info on the location, artists, event prices, all the info you need!! Just know you better be at NOT JUST VINTAGE and Frank White!

http://www.theminorityreportnyc.blogspot.com/

A-Smash at Sputnik

Who's Next, A-SMASH!! So I've been buzzing about mi bwoy for a while now who's no secret to the game, ask around. He'll be featured soon, as well as everywhere else! So let's check his stats and evaluate.

Sick Lyrical Telepathy= Check

SUPRAS= NAwwwwwww man.......

Swagger= For dayssss.....the Polo don has a presence that naturally makes dudes emulate and ladies blush HARD!

He Resides.... Where the skinny N#$%@'S ride!

East New York, Pink Houses

Who Listens= The PJ's and the burbs, Offices, Rap affiliates, Block huggers, Real Hip-hop Heads, Intellectuals, shit EVERYBODY!

Motto

Attain, Amaze and Advance....

Check out a snippet on Robin Thicke's "Magic"

http://www.supload.com/music/Robin-Thicke-Magic-Remixsnippet-ringtone-download-4W029H0K2ZWL.html
Another crazy track called the "Da Coldest"

http://www.supload.com/music/A-smash-Da-Coldest-ringtone-download-S4H8MWPWPJA1.html

TONIGHT he has a show at Sputnik!

262 Taaffe Place
Brooklyn NY
718 398 6666

Starts at 9 do stop by, there's a $10 cover!

Check out his myspace for more music and info, www.myspace.com/asmash2

*Look out for an interview and video footage VERY soon*

"Analogue Girl" Free 99. Tonight!!!!!!!!!!!

I never mention established artist on here but my girl Ms. Erykah Badu is in Crooklyn and it's FREE! Every single summer Crooklyn's Borough Prez generously kicks off the Martin Luther King Jr. Concert series at Wingate Park in Brooklyn as a way to give back to his beloved city. Just last year I was honored to witness the great Lauryn Hill and yes I was one of them who stayed for the whole show(still profound in my heart!!!) This year the "Analogue Girl" will be there. I can't wait!!! To top it off it's in the BUSH(that's Flatbush for yall, LOL)anyway be there before 7:30 cause I'm sure it will be packed. Unfortunately there's no cameras,no audio or video recording(BOOOOO)but those of you lucky ones with camera phones are in luck!!! Anyway BE there. Below there's two videos that will force you to come out.Her live performances are ridiculous!

My fav song:) *Insider...for a certain Mr.*

erykah badu i want you
Uploaded by moialex

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4pqz9_erykah-badu-soldier-live-vh1-soul-s_street
Uploaded by leatik

For show info and directions:

http://www.brooklynconcerts.com/mlk.html

He's Really INCREDIBLE B.....!!!

http://www.supload.com/music/A-smash-Incredible-ringtone-download-GNT093OKNJFE.html#

Dope Man

Since the disappearance of Maxwell,D'angelo and Donnell Jones I have been yurning for a smooth and unique voice to get me all dreamy eyed again. Well one unexpected Saturday while doing house errands and blasting BETJ(don't sleep on that channel) from the other room I heard a sound and a voice I never heard before.It didn't sound familiar and I'm usually real good at detecting a song or voice of any artist. So I ran to my room almost breaking my toe tripping over my nephew's truck and plastered my eyes on the television. Immediately caught up,I started biting my nails, had my eyes fixtated like a zombie and was swaying my waist(LOL). I was so impressed that I honestly,no joke thanked GOD for my eyes and my ears for introducing me to Jesse Boykins III.He is simply the shit...(sorry I had too)

At twenty-three years old he is a former musical apprentice of the one and only mind, body and soul vocal R&B crooner, Bilal. With a keen ear for all eclectic genres of music, Boykins like his teacher has added to his vocal gift.Boykins is a writer, vocal arranger,composer and intense performer. Now, imagine sitting home folding some clothes and unexpectedly you hear a voice that gives you goose bumps, engages you so much you want to quit your day job and become his A&R(industry talk for Artist Rep) just so the whole world can experience what you did when your first heard him sing. Boykins bares new life to a very mild phase in R&B where no dude is really pushing the bar as much, other than trying real hard to be a sex symbol and MJ the 2nd. Boykins has no corny crotch grinding on stage gimmicks, irritating and might I add probably stinky constant lip-licks during interviews and wild outfits with leather bullets with tongue buckles(R.Kelly,Yucks). Without all that his talent, delivery and swagger will sure enough make ladies swoon and fellas rushing to take some lessons from Boykins lyrical teachings. This fresh talent is on a mission to recreate and introduce “new soul” like when R&B’s forefather’s like Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway and D’angelo had us all mesmerized. Boykins has created a very honest album titled, “Dopamine,” that is destined to help him be referred as one of the greats in the near future. With the popularity of Jesse's single and BETJ fan fav video "Tabloids," everybody is all ears waiting for more.Fortunately I got to chop it up with Jesse and get inside his dope mind(get it,hehehehe).

CC:It's very unlikely today for artist to embodie such delivery, swagger and stage presence and I think it has a lot to do with great mentoring and also being a sponge.So tell me how did working with my booskie(lol) Bilal contribute to the Boykins persona and who else did you work with?

JB3: Bilal is the reflection of a true artist,passionate,not afraid to try something if it comesto himin a dream, and he creates from ideas pictures whatever...that's what I do with my music. At the end of the day music is my therapy for the artist and the listener. Other than Bilal I've worked with Eric Roberson,J.Holiday, Anthony David,Emily King and sang background for Keyshia Cole.

CC:Currently you are unsigned,are you looking for a label or waiting for them to find you?

JB3:Honestly was never really looking for a major label to pick me up because I was young and most of the industry people were fast talkers...so I purposely turned down stuff until I felt like I understood and could comprehend the music industry enough to know what a good and bad situation is..I feel like I'm at the level where I have a strong team behind me,along with the litlle momentum from my first release that I'm ready for whatever and I'm going to take it to the next level with or without the majors.

CC:For the Dopamaine album how did you come up with the name and what's the feel,themes and inspiration?

JB3:The Dopamine album was really like a spur of the moment thing inspired by relationships and the toll the world takes on Love.Dopamine is a chemical released in your body when your in love,it's also released when your addicted to something.

CC:What are you working on now?

JB3:Right now im completing an album called,"The Beauty Created," due out Early August. It's actually inspired by Spike Lee movies. What I love is the culture, different faces and attitudes so it's definitely a Crooklyn inspired album!

Kudos to Jesse:)

To purchase Jesse's music go to itunes, cdfreedom.com, rhapshody and nimbit.com

Also for any Jesse updates hit him up on myspace, trust me he'll actually respond too. Tell him I sent you.
http://www.myspace.com/jesseboykinsiii

Visit his blog!
http://www.jbiiimusic.com/

Watch his video that made me run from the other room, LOL!

Jesse Boykins III - Tabloids [NEW]
Uploaded by PeteRock

Fresh Daily (and no not the rapper....J/K)

For three weeks I sat back and left the blog, tend to other things, reflected on circles, people, friends, business associates, networks and did a lot of thinking. It's funny cause when I first started this blog it wasn't for recognition and gradually I started feeling like I was running a race to be on top. As I reflected I thought about how much doors this blog has opened up and in not even a year. Crooklyn Chronicles has introduced me to a intersting variety of individuals in just a short span of time. I think I've met them all, from the optimistic go-getter's to the wack-ass scenesters or the one's who pride on saying they work "in the industry." Those are the silly ones who have no clue that sometimes that really means lots of sleepless nights perfecting whatever your skill mayb'e instead of party hopping with the same damn people every night(PLEASE!). Look at the end of the day I'm just a bright eyed Crooklyn BROWN girl on a mission to open doors for the innovative minds that are on the grind night and day, some broke, tired and hungry for just one foot in the door to make shit happen. I whole-heartedly understand the days of discouragement, motivation and fear with the thought in mind that the world just might or might not be able to see the blueprints of your vision. So, I know reintroduce Crooklyn Chronicles as not only a blog but a movement that will FORCE people to change minds, perspectives and lives. I don't discriminate either, we all come from different walks of life.I now understand the meaning of chronicling not only Crooklyn but every ill soul from one area to the next. Whether you a PJ kid, weird musician with dope as shit skill, a true artist surrounded in a circle of posers or the corner store crate sitter, trust I will try my very best to connect with you ALL on the same level. Once more thanks to everybody who's showed me and all the incredible indviduals featured on CC support so far. Owwwwwww the MODERN MISFIT is back, LOL!