American Juggalo [short film]

I have to tell you right from the beginning that I have no clue what it means to be a Juggalo or Juggalette is, but from what I've seen and experienced with anyone that calls themselves part of "the family", they are believe in supporting and accepting each other as they are.

I first heard about Insane Clown Posse, often referred to as ICP, while living in Rhode Island and saw some kids in the Lincoln Mall with their faces painted and rocking, what I would call Coolio-esque braids that stood straight-up.

Fast-forward to today and the Juggalos are more prominent and I've seen a number of Juggalos and Juggalettes in Worcester.  Typically, when I see one or more of them, I like to watch people's reaction to them, especially older folks.

Well, Director Sean Dunne created the short film "American Juggalo", which highlights the annual "Gathering" that takes place in Illinois over the course of 4-days filled with music, fun, drinking, getting wasted, and being with family.

Sean's film is insightful and powerful, but left me asking a number of questions:  How does living a Juggalo lifestyle affect a person?  What are some of the misconceptions of being a Juggalo?

King Street Block Party pt.2

The party is continuing, and there's a Spanish band playing some unbelievable music!

Herb Chambers: Hip Hop+Marketing=Smart

Alright, I'm not a fan of Kevin Youkilis, of the Boston Red Sox, and I'm sure he wouldn't be a fan of mine either, but I have to tip my Yankee-fitted hat to him and Herb Chambers for diggin' in the crates, and using a classic Hip Hop song by the legendary Biz Markie in this ad.

Summertime 2: Mick Boogie & DJ Jazzy Jeff (Music)

Last summer, one of my friends that knows that I love Rap music from the '80s and '90s sent me a link to a mixtape (well, that's an old-school term, so it's a "mix CD" these days, but I still call them mixtapes.  I'm old-school...what can I say?) to "Summertime 1" that I thought became a roadtrip must have.  I even burned a CD just so I could take it with me to Houston, TX in the event that the rental didn't have an audio jack for me to plug my iPod into.


Well, low and behold, Mick Boogie and DJ Jazzy Jeff are back at it and, this past weekend, they released "Summertime 2" which contains some classics, again, from the late-'80s and '90s.


You can download Part 2 for FREE here.

Tracklist:

01. (00:01:14) Mick Boogie & DJ Jazzy Jeff - Intro Summer Breeze
02. (00:01:23) Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince - Summertime
03. (00:00:56) Smif-N-Wessun - Bucktown
04. (00:02:06) Jagged Edge - Where The Party At
05. (00:01:19) R. Kelly - Summer Bunnies
06. (00:01:18) Gap Band - Outstanding
07. (00:01:09) Steve Winwood - Higher Love
08. (00:01:37) Redman & Method Man - Da Rockwilder
09. (00:01:52) De La Soul - Buddy
10. (00:01:12) Slick Rick - The Show
11. (00:01:37) Jill Scott - Golden
12. (00:01:33) Mos Def - Brown Sugar
13. (00:00:39) Norman Connor - Invitation
14. (00:01:35) Grand Puba - I Like It
15. (00:01:08) Debarge - I Like It
16. (00:01:38) Epmd - Never Seen Before
17. (00:01:01) La Pamplemousse - Gimme What You Got
18. (00:00:59) Alkaholiks - Daamn (Mick's In My Bed Blend)
19. (00:01:37) Q-Tip - Let's Ride
20. (00:02:00) PM Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss
21. (00:01:42) Spandau Ballet - True
22. (00:01:21) Talib Kweli - Hot Thing
23. (00:00:57) Stevie Wonder - My Cheri Amour (Jeff's Sucker Blend)
24. (00:01:25) Common - I Want You
25. (00:01:44) Musiq - For The Night
26. (00:01:06) Jocelyn Brown - Somebody Else's Guy
27. (00:01:38) One Way - Cutie Pie
28. (00:01:10) Method Man - Release Yo' Delf
29. (00:01:09) James Brown - The Grunt
30. (00:01:18) Public Enemy - Night Of The Living Baseheads
31. (00:02:08) Main Source & Donald Byrd - Lookin' At The Front Door (Jeff's Twice Edit)
32. (00:00:55) Koffee Brown - After Party
33. (00:01:47) Stevie Wonder - Love Light In Flight
34. (00:01:43) Tom Browne - Funkin' For Jamaica
35. (00:00:34) Stan Getz - Saudade Vem Correndo
36. (00:01:38) Pharcyde - Runnin'
37. (00:01:21) Bahamadia - Uknowhowwedo
38. (00:00:55) Big Daddy Kane - Smooth Operator
39. (00:00:39) Mary Jane Girls - All Night Long
40. (00:01:35) LL Cool J - Around The Way Girl
41. (00:01:13) De La Soul - 4 More
42. (00:01:06) The Turtles - I'm Chief Kamanawanalea
43. (00:01:50) The Blackbyrds - Rock Creek Park
44. (00:01:33) Pete Rock - Take Your Time
45. (00:01:32) Slum Village - Fall In Love
46. (00:01:27) Suite For Ma Dukes - Fall In Love

Playing Time.........: 01:03:22
Total Size...........: 149.44 MB

Celebrate Music

Over the past 3-months, I've been given alot of very good music produced and performed by some Very talented people in Worcester.

Now, the music that I've been given has been rap music, and in an era where it seems as if every rap song, that's played on commercial radio, is horrible, I've been pleasantly surprised by the Rap from Worcester.

You see, I've grown-up with Rap, and I embody Hip Hop.

The culture, that will celebrate it's 38th birthday this summer has gone through a myriad of changes: Lost kings and queens, rampant drug usage, HIV/AIDS, and a rebirth within the past 10-years. It's quite amazing, when you stop and think about it.

While Rap music has served as my theme music for most of my life, Reggae, Calypso, Soca, Rock 'N Roll, and Jazz have also played a large roll in my appreciation of music; Rap just so happens to borrow from all of these genres of music and more.

My only hope is that these local artist are able to share their music and, not just locally, but in cities such as Boston, Providence, Hartford, New Haven, etc.

Worcester Nightlife: The Boiler Room

Worcester night life is very different, and I mean different in a good way.  The city strikes me as being on the cusp of being bigger than its parts, but a little afraid of "going there".  Maybe it has something to do with our left-leaning views on life and the fact that Worcester is a diverse City that will only become more diverse in the coming 4-5-years.

If you've been bold and confident enough to go out at night to listen to some live music, or bust a move and show off those dance moves that you've been practicing in your bedroom.....there's something for everyone in Worcester.

Last night, The Boiler Room, was the place to be! It was festive with dueling DJs--- DJ Hevan vs. DJ Hectik-- along with the filming of the music video for "Go Crazy" performed by Worcester's own Ariez Onasis, whose song was produced by Art Beatz with a special guest appearance by the rugged and raw-voiced, Fatman Scoop.

Now, I'm a self-described Hip Hop-head, and I use the music and cultural events to time stamp my life. 

I've been very fortunate to experience a number of monumental Hip Hop moments up close, be it witnessing the Notorious B.I.G. battling a mere plebe on the corner of St. James Ave. and Fulton Street, or running into Biz Markie or Big Daddy Kane at the old Albee Square Mall in downtown Brooklyn. 

The Boiler Room was hot, boisterous, and people were in an all-around festive mood.  Folks were ready to cut loose and there was more flesh than a butcher's shop.

Here are a few behind-the-scene pictures and I'll post the music video when it's available:

Left to Right: Fatman Scoop, Ariez Onasis, Baige O'Bannon and Art Beatz.

 Ariez Onasis with party revelers.

 Ariez Onasis with partyers.

Fatman Scoop

Hip Hop lives in Worcester pt.2

Back on August 30, I posted that Worcester isn't known for being a Hip Hop center, but more and more artists are representing the City well and are putting Worcester on the map.

As promised, I told you to be on the look-out for Baige O'Bannon's music video and it just his website.

Here's the video to "2 Eazy", and be sure to download Baige's mix-CD "Nice to Meet You" from his website. (Follow Baige on Twitter.) 


BAIGE O'BANNON "2 EAZY" from baigeobannon on Vimeo.

Hip Hop lives in Worcester

Worcester is not a hot-bed for Hip Hop; let me repeat that, Worcester is NOT a hot-bed for Hip Hop, but let me tell you that there are some dope emcees in Worcester who don't have the spotlight shined on them enough or at all. 

I grew-up in the '80s, so that means that I saw and lived Hip Hop everyday, even though it was on the island of St. Thomas or St. John.  Hip Hop was and will always be universal and when we celebrated it's 37th Birthday on August 11th, I realize that even more than ever, Hip Hop is alive and well in Worcester.

Now, I'm not going to pretend to know all the MCs that call the City of Worcester or Worcester County their home, but allow me to highlight a few females and males that are adding to the circle and sharpening their craft.


Nyne West





C.O.D. "Basketball Money"




BBoyd Ft. E-Knock "I'm Nice" (Directed by Kaz Gamble) (Follow That Boy Boyd on Twitter)




Baige O'Bannon (Follow Baige on Twitter)
Check out Baige's website for his "Nice To Meet You" mix-CD along with a new track "2 Eazy", where Baige lays down an ill flow over Vado's "Speaking in Tungs" beat. 

Be on the look out for Baige's first music video very soon!



Endo Ft. Jusslu (Directed & Edited by Nicholas Black)


Endo Feat JussLu - Smoking Good (Parental Advisory) from Nicholas Black on Vimeo.


Again, I don't know all the emcees that call Worcester County their home, but I'm confident that with this sampling, Hip Hop is alive and well in Worcester County!

(If you're an MC, producer or videographer and would like you work highlighted on Worcester Is MAJOR!, email us at worcesterismajor at gmail.com.  Thank you.)

Music Video: Sleep Alive (Lights, Camera, Action)

Over the past year, I've been getting more into digital photography and and learning the craft to what I see in print and certainly on television.  While learning about f-stops, aperture, ISO, light sensitivity and the myriad of things that go into taking good pictures, I have also returned to a passion which is video.
(I have to admit that having a relative in film school at NYU has rekindled 'that' fire for me and we talk about editing, framing, shot selection and I learn something new from every conversation.)

While my circle of people are all over the world being creative, photography and video are the 'glue' and I was sent this link to the Sleep Alive music video, which was filmed in part at Bocado and Elm Draught House Cinema(Millbury, MA), by my boy who lives in Brooklyn, NY.

I'm diggin' the song and the energy is amazing, but the additional kicker is the fact that music video was shot with two Canon 5d DSLRs (Hat tip to Tom Guilmette, the DP of "Lights, Camera, Action").

Technology: Ipad as a turntable

Weather: HEAT

As we say in the Virgin Islands, "Deh heat is ON!" and in honor of the warm weather, I'd like to share some classic Calypso music with you.

Décalé Gwada

Because it's Tuesday and I enjoy listening to this song and love to dance.

Thank you Elvyna!

Underground Hip Hop

Worcester has been involved with the “underground” for many years. Some say that the first “underground” movement was The Underground Railroad, which is hard to trace Worcester’s involvement in the movement, but I’ve read and heard stories of Worcester being a resting place for slaves on their way to Canada.

Well, the other “underground” movement that has been a part of the City for a long time is music- specifically Hip Hop.

On Saturday (17^th) Canal Nightclub played host to Boot Camp Click emcee, Sean Price, who brought some Brownsville, Brooklyn (NYC) funk to Worcester and had heads spinning and nodding in agreement that Hip Hop is alive and well, thanks to Sean P.

Opening Day: MAJOR League Baseball Pt. 2

Yesterday, I wrote about the opening day for Major League Baseball and I pledged my allegiance to the NY Yankees, whom I will always root for, even though they lost to the Red Sox yesterday by a score of 9 to 7.

I also posted some information about the new Beats by Dre headphones, which is a first partnership with a Major League Baseball team. Well, here are some pictures, courtesy of Boston.com of Dr. Dre "pressing the flesh" at Fenway Ballpark.

Dr. Dre with NESN's Heidi Watney

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers & Dr. Dre

Opening Day: MAJOR League Baseball

What many of you may not know about me is that I'm a die-hard NY Yankees fan who has been a Yankees fan for over 30-years.

Yes, I'm the kind of fan that wears every piece of Yankees gear that I own, buys a bleacher-seat ticket at Fenway Ballpark and goes at it with the Red Sox fans throughout the game. (I do like living on the edge.)

Well, look who's teamed up for a MLB partnership deal? It appears that Beats by Dre. is teaming with the Boston Red Sox and are releasing some very expensive headphones--to the tune of $400.

Dr. Dre, of the famed group N.W.A. and the producer of beats provided to the likes of Emimem, Fifty Cent and The Game has been hawking his expensive headphones with Interscope Geffen A&M chairman Jimmy Iovine.

Iovine spoke about the partnership by saying, “The Red Sox are one of the most historic and respected franchises in all of professional sports,” Iovine said about why he decided to run with the Sox as the first and right now only set of Beats sports headphones.

Suffice it to say that the headphones are too expensive for my taste and even though I've heard nothing but great things about the headphones, I wouldn't be caught with a pair in Boston, much less New York City.

Saigon in Worcester pt.2

Last week I posted that rapper, Saigon, was going to perform in Worcester at Canal Nightclub and to say that he put on a show and the crowd eating from the palm of his hands would be an understatement.

Saigon performed for almost an hour and performed a myriad of songs that were known and some newer ones that the crowd vibed to.

Here's a snippet of Saigon doing what he does best.

Saigon in Worcester

Saigon, the rapper that made a name for himself by hitting Hip Hop heads with syncopated lyricism and uncanny word-play, will be performing in Worcester this Saturday, March 20th at the CANAL Nightclub.

Rap listeners and television viewers may recognize Saigon from his many appearances on the HBO TV show ENTOURAGE, but I'm sure Saigon will be hitting the Woo with an entirely different entourage this Saturday.

While Saigon has a checkered past, having served 7-years in prison, he emerged from prison with a vision to help the children of incarcerated parents and jump start his music career by forming Abandoned Nation.

Some say that music has been Saigon's savior, while others will say that Saigon has been a guiding light in the rap game and has brought back street-spitter lyricism that the East coast and, New York City in particular, is known for.

Doors open at 7 PM.

Head Spin

The title says it all!

Music: Kanye West & Lady Gaga Concert CANCELED

Folks in Massachusetts were getting excited to see Kanye West and Lady Gaga perform, and I know that folks in Worcester were even more excited to find out that the tour was going to bring Mr. West a/k/a/ "Mr. Iwillinterruptyouwhileyouarereceivinganawardtomakeanassoutofmyself" and Miss Lady a/k/a/ "Ms. IhavenevermetacostumethatIdidnotlike" to the DCU Center. Well, LiveNation is pulling the plug on the tour and no explanation is being given.

Jazzing up the Joint!

Saw this post on the 4Rilla blog and thought I'd check it out and post on Worcester Is MAJOR!.

Paulie's New Orleans Jazz & Blues Festival 2009:



Benefiting the National Autism Association's FOUND Project!