MotherGreen & H.K.M.

The Broke Ground Yall... (Atlantic Yards)

2010-03-12T11:01:00.000-05:00

Well, it's on now. They broke ground for the Atlantic Yards and Brooklyn wept. What can I say that hasn't already been said. We don't need it, we never did. Affordable housing for who exactly Mr. Ratner? Jay Z should be ashamed of his face being used for such a nefarious act. I'm rambling a little bit here I know, but I'm just really frustrated.

Brooklyn is my home. I was born in Brooklyn hospital which is not too far from the Atlantic Yards site. My father spent a significant part of his teenage years living in the Atlantic Terminal projects right up the block, so you see that area is special to me. The Nets can't even buy a win right now. They should focus on winning a game and not ruining the landscape of my beloved Brooklyn. To the politicians who stood by and endorsed this mess I say, shame on you.

In the words of the great Walter Sobchak "Has The World Gone CRAZY!?!?!?"

Learning a New Language

2010-03-10T15:58:00.001-05:00

I've been studying Japanese on and off, for years now. I went through phases of learning basic greetings and conversation starters, to days of the week and how to tell time. At this point I can read and write in two of the three alphabets (Kanji will probably take the rest of my life). However, in high school I took 4 years of Spanish. Now I'm nowhere near fluent but I do understand some basic stuff like sentence structure and some vocabulary. The problem I have is because for so long my brain was programed to view "Spanish" as THE foreign language that I speak, it was my default. So now because I've been learning Japanese and not using my Spanish my brain is fried. If someone speaks to me in Spanish I'll have a Japanese answer pop up first. This is no good. A friend of mine is currently taking a French course and he speaks both English and Spanish. Since I told him of my issues with two foreign languages he's answered questions in class using Spanish instead of French. Much to the dismay of his teacher I'm sure.

So have you ever experienced such a thing? What's your second language and what's the third one that gives you trouble.

SPEAK OUT! (c) Martin "Raw Dawg" Payne

Car Crazy

2010-03-10T13:36:00.005-05:00

With all the things going on with Toyota I felt I had to show why German cars(VW-Audi-Porsche-Mercedes) are the best engineered cars.

Everyone knows how much of a car junky I am well I gonna share some clips on an Engineer who built a machine of all machines. Ferrari, Lamborghini, it's not that I don't love those cars but when you can't drive your machine everyday and have the same performance. Why...

A Beautiful Day for a Stroll

2010-03-10T13:32:00.005-05:00

I don't know much about this song or the people who made it but I am a fan of the subject matter. Plus it was illustrated/animated so beautifully I had to share it with you. Thanks to Bluster Primero for sharing this with me. You can check out his site here.

Record Makers Promo from CreativeApplications.Net on Vimeo.

Hump Day Humor

2010-03-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

I had to take it back and share some of my favorite episodes of cartoons when I was a little one with no care of my own. To sit in front of the TV was great but to have a large bowl of cereal and a big spoon to accompany me was even better. So here we are with great way to keep the week moving with a few good laughs.

Nightmares (NYC 70's) - Imagination or Reality

2010-03-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

I saw this documentary and I felt it contained so much of what we (fellow NYers, who have lived here for more than 20 years) have been feeling about this great city. It contains the struggle, the anxiety, the fear and the triumph that every underdog goes through.

To set it off I thought it would be fun to listen to some Dana Dane

One of the main things I remember saying to people is how sterile the city has become. Due to gentrification (shhh don't say that word) and all the new comers to the city who have no concept of paying dues. It's as though there is a sense of "I deserve" just because of ego. That's straight shit, in order to have a rep you'd had to have put in work = time. This isn't about being known by everyone but known by the select few in the right places. Relationships are crucial to survival. Just to get a clearer picture of what it was like back then watch the first episode, but I know once you start you will see it all the way through.

Old School Mondays

2010-03-08T11:32:00.002-05:00

You may not believe this but there was a time when new music was good. Great even. Lets go back there...

Throw Backs

2010-03-08T10:22:00.008-05:00

Recently I had the privilege of watching a movie by one of our peoples you might know of as DJ Shan Boogie. This movie documented a special time in The Rotten Apple when something was made out of nothing by the youth. It touches on and captures moments when New York was truly a melting pot. Not a microwave quick fix meal like today. I was only a youngster having fun and playing with my toys at this time but I had an older brother and sister who were teenagers and enjoying this moment for themselves. I talk about those moments with them till this day as well as compare my childhood notes with O Doggs since he also had 2 brothers and we shared the same age difference between our siblings.

Because of Shan's Movie as well as going through all the great mix cd's that Serve FBA has given me, the MG Fam has provided one for your listening pleasure to go along with this post. It made me dig up my brothers old Fun House tank top. I also came across another old tee still in my collection but that is for another post. Enjoy

Jazz on a Sunday Morning

2010-03-07T07:00:00.005-05:00

Peace Family,
This post is a follow-up to Dashaun's original "Jazz on Sunday Morning" post. Last week sometime, Oxini and I got to discussing our love of Jazz music. I really dig the Love Jones soundtrack, particularly number 15 entitled "In a Sentimental Mood" which was number 1 on the original album Duke Ellington and John Coltrane 1962. After that CD I found a new appreciation of this wonderful genre and the people from which this art is manifested.

I remember when the Love Jones soundtrack first came out (1997) I played it like crazy. One day thinking I was putting Big O down with a headbanger I started yapping as I loaded the CD player, but as usual he already was up on this and then blew my mind with some other John Coltrane stuff who just happend to be his favorite Jazz Musician. Since then I've developed a list of favorites too...

Here's a playlist from my favorites, to become a soundtrack to your Sundays with the MotherGreen Family while you're doing you...(whatever you like/have to do) Enjoy!

Well maybe it wasn't that short but I hope you got alot done. Whether resting, exercising, loving, cleaning, refining your talents, preparing for the week, paying bills, organizing budgets, perfecting your craft, renewing yourself etc. Love You Family. Peace!

40 Years of Madness - BlusterOne Birthday Bash

2010-03-06T10:13:00.002-05:00

aaaahhhh and now I know why Mike Brady had a den, not to get away from Alice or Carol but rather to have a place for him and his peoples to build....respect the architects. Peoples, come down and celebrate my 40th with me as well as we celebrate my Piscean cohorts with their earthstrongs, Michelle W. & Brett. ---- BlusterOne FC

Musical Insanity (aka Ja Rule and Bobby Brown)

2010-03-05T16:26:00.004-05:00

This post is inspired by my boy Bill from Okayplayer. I remember when this joint came out it was just pure insanity. Ja Rule and Bobby Brown!?!? What's funny is that this actually isn't too bad of a song, but it's just...Ja Rule and Bobby Brown.

Enjoy.

Go Fast or Go Home

2010-03-05T15:36:00.007-05:00

For as long as I can remember I have always had a love for cars. I'm not a gear head now but I mean who didn't have a matchbox/hotwheels car collection when they were kids??? I just remember the sicker they looked like flames, stripes, tails, exhausts, hood scoop etc...you get the picture. I even remember repainting the cars too just cause I thought I could. My older brother used to get mad because I would go as far as take his cars and either wreck them or paint them over. That's what little brothers are for, taxing big brothers things!!!

The closest I came to actually designing a paint job for a car was when I was at Alphanumeric and it was for team rider Len Higa of import racing fame. You can check out his blog here.Unfortunately I never got to see it come to fruition. When Bluster passed this link to me I was open off it. I definitely need to add this to my library. The video snippet seems to have captured that mystique from 70's racing, think speed racer people. Here are a few grabs I took and check the video out for yourself. The author is Sven Voelker but you can also look a bit futher into the book here.

It's Funny Because It's True

2010-03-04T15:00:00.001-05:00

Felipe Luciano: A Man You Need To Know

2010-03-03T10:19:00.004-05:00

Felipe Luciano is OLD New York. I'm talking real melting pot so hot it causes riots and gang wars New York. Out of all of that Luciano gained a strong sense of self and used himself to help the people of his community. As a chairman of the Young Lords Felipe Luciano took to the streets and mobilized his people to become a political force. He was an original Last Poet and his poetry is the stuff of legends. One of the reasons I love this man is he is all about Black and Latino love (the way it should be).

Here is one of my favorite pieces from the man, and one that he's most famous for.

Humpday Humor

2010-03-03T09:00:00.001-05:00

Peace People!

I know how the hump of the week is sometimes depressing, so here's some funny stuff to make you laugh and get that monkey off your back. Shake it off, Keep your head up & keep it moving. The work-week is almost over...

Jamie Foxx vs. Doug Williams-Conscience joke.

Michael Collier-Race joke.

Paul Mooney-O.J. Simpson joke.

George Lopez- Tony Montana

Mike Yard- Can't Hijack Air Jamaica

Justin Timberlake-Saturday night live-D%ck in a Box

Laughing My Ass Off, PEACE!!

Old School Mondays: Songs from Hip Hop Movies circa My Childhood!

2010-03-01T09:00:00.007-05:00

Peace Family, for this edition of O.S.M, I present you with a couple of my favorite songs and scenes from some of my childhood hip hop movies. Classic Hip Hop including graffiti and break-dancing. Enjoy...

Grandmaster Melle Mel performing "Beat Street Breakdown", the first track of the original soundtrack album of the 1984 mainstream Hip-Hop dramatic feature film "Beat Street"

Cindy Mizelle's first (and only) solo artist 12" single from the soundtrack to the 1984 movie "Beat Street

Beatstreet - Breakers Revenge (Roxy's Breakdance)

From the movie Breakin', Turbo dancing with the broom.

Turbo, Ozone and Kelly dancing to Chaka Khan's "Aint Nobody" from the movie "Breakin"

Krush Groove All stars-Fat Boys, Run DMC, Sheila E & Kurtis Blow.

Krush Groove (1985) - LL Cool J's not tryin to hear that auditions are over! See this young, fledgling superstar bust into Krush Groove's HQ with his entourage of two to win over Rick Rubin, DMC and Jam Master Jay with "Can't Live Without My Radio."

Hope you enjoyed this post, PEACE!!

Black Book Session

2010-02-28T01:00:00.001-05:00

Just trying to be patient and waiting for nice weather to come around to get busy. Recently we've all been pushing each other to do black books and just keep our minds active during the winter season. Also due to being snowed in a recent black book session was canceled. Here's a quick video for your viewing pleasure.

The Church Of Underground Hip Hop In The 90s 2.0

2010-02-26T12:07:00.000-05:00

When we left off on in this discussion, I was reminiscing on the great selections available in college radio in NYC back in the 90s. The show being discussed was the Mr. Magic (RIP) and Mr Cee show on 91.5 FM. Now when that show finished around midnight, there was possibly the most well known show from that era. This show went through a number of iterations beginning with Uptown rapper Kurious being the host. The next version and most well known had DJ Stretch Armstrong holding it down with my man my mellow Bobbito Garcia aka Dj Cucumber Slice (slice slice...). Together they held the flag for underground hip hop on the Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito show aka Stretch and Bob aka 89 tech 9.

The show aired from 1am to 5am and caused many bags to appear below my eyes in high school. I can remember sitting up with my mother's old radio with my finger on the pause button. I would cautiously wait for a song to start so I could hit the pause button and get to recording. So many gems would be played on this show as well as some stinkers every now and then. Bob was also prone to playing demos which would be hit or miss.

I have to say the game got real when Lord Sear joined the show. The man previously seen in THIS video singing. With Lord Sear bringing the comedy, Bobbito setting him up and Stretch on the cuts, the die was cast and history was made. There were many classic jokes sessions to accompany the freestyle sessions. This was my favorite time to listen to the radio.

I found this blog (Dirtywaters.blogspot.com) thanks to Bobbito which posts old shows. Go forth and download!

Rise and Fall

2010-02-25T09:58:00.007-05:00

I've noticed so much controversy over these masonic images and how people are trying to tie it to certain stars in order to make them being part of an elite group. The funny thing is when we started doing all these graphics several years back it was just that, a simple graphic. The design team enjoyed recreating the art to make it our own. Now it's been blown into a mystic and alternative motive type of thing. Regardless when it comes to my research I tend to make sure that it falls in the lines of the images I use for reference and I like to make sure that it holds a bit symbolism as well but only make it a bit more relevant to the times. Enjoy

Time Line

2010-02-25T00:56:00.005-05:00

Everyday you learn something new about yourself and recently I experienced something that changed my life and made me realize that all the work I have done at the end of the day benefits others. What is the need to be so secretive when it comes to my art. A signature may be erased but the hand style & technique are also other forms of signatures. You can always detect your favorite artists work either by their brush stroke or just the finishing touches laid onto a piece. Now the recent works I've been doing vary from pen & ink as well as gouche and acrylic paints. I enjoy doing these pieces for those that I know it is truly helping them and they are appreciative of the time and effort that goes into it. Hand skill is something that is almost lost along with the thought process behind it as well.

Truth be told I remember a couple of years back I was talking to someone and he was telling me about the freelance work he was doing and how ill it is. Then he'd go on to tell me how detailed his work is and that no one out there does what he does. It really got my blood boiling because I was like, bro everything you do is on a computer. Do that shit by hand then we can talk but you know "everytime you see'em, ya know what sayin, don't front for me man, you gonna play that role, play it" © Raekwon & Ghostface. The positive thing about that is that it pushed me to get more original pieces of work out into this industry. The work being put out lost a lot of its character & originality. These few pieces here are works for Aloha Army and In4mation. I will be showcasing more in the future as I get into the true MG State of Mind.

This is a piece I did a post on a while back and the inspiration comes from Heavy Metal Magazine. When we were younger the crew always copped them. Mine and O's older brothers put us onto them when we were younger.

Yes nothing is more Americana then the pin up nose art on the bombers of World War II. For Aloha Army we just did a series and added our touch to it.

Humpday Humor

2010-02-24T06:55:00.006-05:00

Peace Family!
This is for my people that can use a couple laughs to get over the hump.

I got this first one from my brother Alyasha aka Stack-Aly's blog. Being that I've been going to school for computer repair, this one really tickled my funny bone...

This one could be offensive, but the dude should of left it alone when the old man went to the front of the bus. Then he had the nerve to ask for an "ambulamps" (ambulance)!! WTF!!

This was my favorite SuperBOWL 2010 commercial...

HAND'S OFF!!

This compilation is just retarted...

After watching the "racist" commercial posted by Dashuan I came across this one. Brace yourself it's not what it looks like....

Hope this helped you over the hump of the week, 2 days left...till TGIF.
Peace!!

Kyochon Will Not Get My Money (Video)

2010-02-23T17:54:00.001-05:00

Near the Empire State Building there has been a huge ad for a new Korean chicken restaurant for months now. I'm guessing the place is under construction. To be honest, I never planned on going to this place, even though I enjoy Korean food. With that said after seeing the video I have posted below, they will never see a dime of my money. I make it no secret that once a company shows offensive advertising I completely take them off my radar. This commercial is nothing but offensive to me. However I'm one person, and I still don't eat Burger King from their chicken fries campaign from years back so maybe I'm extreme.

You be the judge.

Spec Boogie - Cornbread Earl & Me

2010-02-23T10:02:00.003-05:00

This is just soooo damn dope. My man Spec took a concept of flipping classic flicks with dope hip hop and calling it SPECFLIX. For more of these videos check the homie's website SPECBOOGIE.COM

Spec Boogie - Specflix - Cornbread Earl & Me from spec boogie on Vimeo.

Old School Mondays

2010-02-21T22:46:00.002-05:00

Peace family.

This addition of Ol' School Mondays is an ode' to East Coast Gangsta Rap
and Hardcore Hip Hop. Dedicated to all the Music Lovers of the World!

A clean tough joint, Peace to the God Rakim and his man Eric B.
I Ain't No Joke. (C) 1987

From 1990 Soundtrack: "King of New York". Also appears on Schoolly's Album:
"How A Blackman Feels"..... Don't play this one for the kids...

Classic material from the real AZ...from PAID IN FULL....
Based on his life....WHATS GOING ON BLACK..1991

Music video for Pretty Tone Capone / Mob Style directed, shot and edited by Roy Taylor in 1992 for Ill Labels. Shot on super 8 film in Harlem and Queens, NY

All I can say is BROOKLYN stand up! This joint is timeless...

1994 BK shit. This song appears on M.O.P.'s classic debut album To The Death.

Spec Boogie - Bed Stuy

2010-02-19T12:31:00.001-05:00

This is a Spec Boogie banger right here. Directed and edited by Ali Santana. My beautiful home of Brooklyn. You gotta love it.

Enjoy.

Spec Boogie - Bed Stuy from Boombaye' on Vimeo.