Let me tell you what the problem with black august '08...

From most of the billed acts not being there, to the tardiness factor (it started at like 12:30am and it ended at 3:30am. i was like "yo i should be sleep right now"), to the event not even being able to sell enough tickets to fill up the Nokia Theater and Unorganization. The Emcee seemed like she was messing up the introduction

I got to B.B King's at about 10:00pm, doors opened at 11:30pm, and I noticed the Regular Admission line was moving quicker than the V.I.P line. Funny.

but yo, it started off with this Arab MC by the name of Shadia Mansour kickin' rhymes in her native tounge. She was trying to represent for her part of the world and we were told she was "Hip Hop's First" Female MC of Arab descent to ever touch the mic. Now I'm not sure about that, but I do know one thing. She was pretty, and dope. Yup, you got it. She was "Pretty Dope". I've gotta check out a few of her songs. I also have to learn how to speak Arabic, but we'll pick it up on another scale. Sheesh.

Rebel Diaz kept it rollin' nicely. They're a fierce trio of Emcees from Chicago, and the Bronx. I saw them perform last year and they were pretty blah, but their stage performance has seriously improved within a year. Large and In-Charge they I kinda wish they had more of a buzz. But I guess that's part of payin' dues. Either way they put in a fresh effort towards the Black August Cause.

After them, your homeboy and my homeboy, Homeboy Sandman rocked the mic with a couple of song. "Extreme Measures" is as real as it gets though..."Ya'll Muh Fuckaz, Better play my shit, Oh y'all don't wanna play my shit?, Don't make me have to Spray this chick, Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit and Make me have to waste this clip" LMFAO. I meant to catch up with him because I know he dropped an album on the independent tip. But maybe next time around i'll catch it.

After Homeboy Sandman...

Immortal Technique shined the light on stupid mofos. Capturing the audience with his Don't Worry, Be Angry method of lyrical leadership that he translates so well amongst his fans. Anytime I get to see Technique is great because you just get to say "Fuck" as hard, and loud, and violently as possible and just make it feel so good. He did some new joints off of The 3RD World record, which I copped directly from his peeps while waiting on line, and this shit is superb beyond the means. Def one of the best records out this year. I almost want to put it up there with NaSir's joint. It's dangerously accurate with straight to the point slaps against today's modern power structures. Leavin me with more than enough reasons to yell with pride, "Power To The People".

Bilal did his thing lovely and he's a funny dude. I'm not 100% behind his catalouge but he did pull off a grand showcase of skills. And he was just like a rapper yo. Makin' the crowd throw their hands in the air on command, and just wilin' out and having fun. I'm not the craziest Bilal fan ever...I just wanted him to break down "Soul Sistah" but he opted for the "Fast Lane" and you can't be mad really, it's his biggest hit to date. But he got a good response from the crowd as well.

Somewhere in there Q-Tip showed up though. And his set was phat. He started off with "Buggin Out", then he did "Sucker N*gg*", "Jazz", and a BRAND NEW song called (I forgot the title) that will be placed on his up coming LP THE RENAISSANCE dropping on November 4th (Haha trying to make it a REAL Historical day I see). He also did the special pull a fan off the stage to not remember Phife Dawg's verse, but still try to say it anyway version of "Check The Rhime". This time he picked a girl out of the crowd, and she started off shakey at first, but she ended up picking it all together at the end. Tip sure knows how to have a good time with his fans. He ended it all with "Award Tour". A Class Act that Kamaal is indeed.

Blitz The Ambassador put it down as well. Backed by a live band (DJ included) and looking strong with a great future on deck. He performed with an attractive formula that called upon all listeners with the greatest of ease. He came of relaxed but looked like a King in his Domain. He really was better than your standard, I got a mic, watch me rhyme type of shows. Blitz did his thing.

But then again, this year's black august was so out of sync, it just didn't feel good. Here's an example of what i'm talkin' about

Joel Ortiz came out... and it took them 10 minutes to get his music set up, and yo he only HAD 10 minutes for his set! He was like Fuck The Soundman! And was just wilin' out on stage. But he kicked a grip of Acapellas. The most annoying part of the performance, wasn't even the soundman though. Finally when someone gives him some sound, some kid starts screaming at him about how he's "Pussy" and he's on some "Pussy Shit". I'm trying to calm this dude down like "Yo this ain't the place for that, are you serious right now?" trying hard not to get too aggravated and wreckless. Something Awful. Joell still paralyzed the mic, but as far as him being there, well, chalk it up to a loss.

And yo that's another thing, it was like cats went up on stage and started off the show with "yo I only got a few minutes left, so for this last song..."

Finally...

nope! Gotcha! Because Skyzoo has to jump on the stage and kick a rhyme before EPMD starts because we just want to be at B.B King's until 7 in the morning and crap.

Anyways after Skyzoo finished his 16 Bars (which might I add, with all the anticipation for Erick & Parrish, felt like 16 hours) ...


Finally without further ado...

EPMD hopped up on staged and peeled caps! Everybody went nuts. Parrish Smith jumped out on stage to "It's My Thang" and it was all mayhem and madness from there. Erick Sermon followed and took control of the crowd. EPMD gathered the masses to handle golden era Hip Hop classics "Strictly Business", "You Gots To Chill", "Please Listen To My Demo" and "Crossover". Erick Sermon performed his Grammy Nominated single "Music". The dudes sent everybody home with "Headbanger". And I love how I tried not to lose my mind up in there "Walk Like An Egyptian, Walk Holdin' My Tool!" Man that was so damn cold I mad they weren't givin out blankets at the door on the way out!

It was cool and all. But for the new young EPMD fans I would strongly suggest seeing these dudes in another venue. I mean it was cool to be at B.B King's where your standing right next to the dudes while performing, but still Black August was missing something. Mainly the other performers on the bill.

Other performers who were supposed to be there were, Das EFX, Smif-N-Wessun, and Black Moon. I'm like Yo! BLACK MOON YO! Where were they. More people seemed pissed that S&W weren't there. But yo I was really excited to see Black Moon dammit.

Plus i've never seen Das EFX live. No disrespect to any of the other performers, but I was kinda pissed.

Plus the overall show was iffy. They had DJ Scratch come out and he called attention to the fact that it was supposed to be DJ Evil Dee spinning instead of him.

(Oh I almost forgot!) But on the other side, well DJ Scratch and Evil Dee Murdered it together taking breaks, pausing, scratching, and mixing with each other at the same time, they even did the carasol thing where they rotate in circulation and take turn scratching each other's opposite turntable. It was flu-season all day! Okay so that was another fresh moment I might've slept on.
There were like deadspots where the host didn't seem to know what was going on, and the audience picked up on it.

Atleast if it was in nokia theater i think they could've concealed the mistakes a lot better...but it was in small ass rub shoulders with the doorman b.b king's and everybody saw the bloopers.


But yo, one thing that I will never be able to take away from the Black August/Malcolm X Grassroots Movement Organizers they ALWAYS promote awareness about our History, Culture, Soldiers who have thrown it down for the Ghetto and political prisoners who are still wrongfully incarcerated by the United States Government. They always make it a point to educate brothers and sisters about the sacrifices made by those before us to live free in this world even though odds are stacked against us. And they are, you ignorant mother fuckers stop saying they're not, if you can't look at the conditions in the Ghettoes at least in the city of New York and the Gentrification that's taking place right now in inner city neighborhoods with rents being raised and families not making enough to be able to foot the bill, so much that they have to relocate to other areas which can be a difficult task as well. It's crazy. But this year they magnified the situation with this group called the San Francisco 8( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_8 and http://www.freethesf8.org/ )and this was the first time I had ever heard about this problem. I can only hope that these brothers get free, over the course of time.

I came out there feeling like I knew a little bit more about myself. But the overall event was not great. But hey, that just leaves room for improvement next year. But it has to be better than this shit.

Shout Out to Keidera Monet whom I just happened to bump into while on line who and ended up Deebo'n (can we get that in the dictionary as a verb by now?) me into taking some pics for her for a few performances. Danger, my dudes!

Even with my negative ramblings, I understand the mission of this event. I know for certain next year will be better.

Shout Out to The Malcolm X Grassroots Movement for not giving up on Black August this year and continuing on with the movement. Peace & Love.

Man Saturday was pistol packed with lots of fun. Andre, Eugene, and I went to the Westside Pistol and Rifle Shooting Range on W.20th Street and we got our Tony Montana on.

It was really cool, we worked with the .22 Rifle and and got a licensed NRA Instructor who was short, balding, and tatted to death.

And we pretty much learned how to shoot, professionally. Learned about Clips, Safety, How to load a rifle, How many bullets are in a Magazine, etcetera, etcetera.

And we pretty much had fun. I could've stayed there all day but we all had to leave because we were going to have dinner with our dear friend Claudia in a few hours. But I know for sure I'll be going back again. And next time I'm getting my hand on a 9mm big time. So much fun.

On the train ride home I was bumping anything by Mobb Deep and M.O.P which I just had to tag the best feeling in the world besides standing outside of 8th Street station just mean muggin for no reason.

Later that night I met up with Andre, Alice, Amy, Amy's friend, I forgot her name, Big Ricky, and our dear Claudia at the Shanghai Cafe in Chinatown. I got there like an hour late though, as well as over dressed (what's really good with that again?). But I got me the General Tso Chicken (and it was better than the one in the hood). We all talked about like Current Affairs, Dancing with the stars, and how Arielle from the Little Mermaid is "the Kim Kardashian of Disney" films.

Afterwards we went to shoot pool at the local pool hall where Ricky and Andre had an intense game down to the wire game. I took the night off and let Claudia win a couple of game. You know it's been a couple of years since I last played a game of pool you know. So Claudia, you caught me on an "off day". We're gonna have a rematch and I'm gonna win yo. Mark my words Claudia, I'm comin' for you!

After we finished up at the Pool Hall we caught up with Claudia's friend Keith and ended the night by chillin' at Claudia & Ricky's New York Pad. Socializing, "Strictly" socializing and we in some major laughs while Andre was "stuck on the train" (it was so messed up).

It was a pretty good night. It's obvious people are missing from our once solid crew though and I have not the slightest reason outside of conflicts with scheduling. But I hope we can get everybody in the same room again one day.

Anywho Sunday, My homeboy Roy Chase who was sporting a Bleach Blond do "all up in your face" invited me to kick it with his friends from Church at their BBQ/Baby Shower for a member of their congregation and friend.

Good hearted people who love God. Harmless. Respect. So anyways I pretty much made small chit chat with folks. I really don't like to talk about Religion a lot but these folks were really into it (obviously). It was dope though. I brought my Cousin Angel into the mix and I guess her and Roy were real cool.

They talked and later, I volunteered for a mysterious game, in which I found out later, that I would have to drink Apple Juice from baby bottle and whoever finished first got something. I'm telling you guys now so that I won't get extorted for it later. Because there's probably gonna be a video floating around and so fourth. Whatev...lol. That's what you get for volunteering. Never Again.

After that I ended up leavin. Nothing More to see hear folks haha. But yeah, Shout Out to Andre, Alice, Amy, Claudizzle, Ricky, Keith, Cousin Angel, and Beach Blonde Roy Burger. Shout Out to Cookie from HV, who in NYC from England until September 6th. So I definitely must catch up with that man. Shout Out to Lifeguard Meg Wells from HV.

Yeah this weekend was pretty nice. Next weekend...shoot ya got me. But I'm ready to start it right now