Whaddup People,
Just getting back from San Fran and figured I’d give you a quick synopsis of my trip. Really just a few short observations.
1) San Fran was cold, but definitely not nearly as cold as this Detroit weather
2) People in San Francisco love “views”. And they have a lot of them. Over every hill you see something beautiful.
3) Mexican food in San Fran is dope, and the city is very vegetarian friendly.
4) It’s hard to find high life to drink out there, but pbr’s and tecate are in abudance.
5) The homie 5 ill of USM definitely has a good thing going out there and I hope I got the funds to make a trip back there this summer.
All and all my trip was a good one. I got some relaxation in and was able to work on some music with 5 ill and also my homie Black Nature from the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars. If you don’t know about them you can check them out here @ http://www.refugeeallstars.org and really get involved with their movement. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to check out the Full House residence, but I did hook up with Kimmie Gibbler. With that being said and me being home I also wanted to shout out Ro Spit and Monica Blaire for their new video “Renaissance State of Mind”. I love Detroit so check the video after the jump.
Tags: Black Nature, Detroit, Monica Blair, Renaissance State of Mind, Ro Spit, Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars
Hello All,
It is with great urgency that I write you this letter. In a little under 48 hours time I fly to San Francisco to visit the homie 5 ill of United States of Mind. He is pictured here.
somebodies seen Saturday Night Fever one too many times
However, as I looked in my accounts I realize that I am not going to have enough money for recreational activities on this vacation (you know like sightseeing, riding the trolleys, hookers, blow, seeing concerts, dining, more blow, recording time, and bike rentals). Of course, I could’ve managed my money better by doing less blow and hookers in detroit (there’s no trolley rides here) but it is what it is. I also shouldn’t have given 50% of my life savings to a midget financial accountant named Dallas (never trust people named after cities) but we are where we are.
Anyways, I will be tending bar at The Bosco this Wednesday (December 2nd) for our weekly night “Barely Legal Wednesdays” (Yes you read that right….don’t judge us).
i feel like this is not helping my cause
I urge one and all to come out and drink in abundance and tip well. Let me be honest here. I actually don’t care if you drink at all as long as you tip well, but my bosses will like you more if you spend some dough. Just kidding in that completely serious sort of way. In addition to my winning personality and award winning service, DJ Erv will be your soul providah for the evening (that means he provides the soul) and it will also be the lovely Ms. Jackie Barnes’s birthday celebration so come out and say hey to her as well, but most importantly give me money.
If you can’t make it to The Bosco on Wednesday it’s okay. You can just western union it straight to San Francisco. Hey if I make enough money on Wednesday I will even share some of the hookers and blow with 5 ill (not necessarily in that order and of course in addition to the trolley rides and sight seeing). Just because we’re starving artists it doesn’t mean we can’t ball outta control sometimes (actually I think it means exactly that but I’m trying to be the exception to the rule here people.) If not for me….do it for the hookers.
and lets not forget about….
Oh and I almost forgot. Before anyone gets all up in arms about this blog and takes this seriously (except for the money part of course) reeeelaaaax.
i would say poor Turkey, but that's the point of the holiday...other than the oppression of Native Americans, but hey lets have a beer anyways
If you’re like me and you’re a starving artist you’re stuck working your service job on Thanksgiving Eve. as this is the biggest bar night of the year. However, my bar job is closed on Thanksgiving and as I am now a vegetarian I will not be in a coma from all the tryptophan. Therefore, I will be rip roared and ready to go and fortunately for me my homies in Snakewing have decided to throw a show. They are on that punk & metal tip to the vibe will be high energy and I’m sure filled with good people. Check the music @ http://www.myspace.com/snakewing and spread the word on this show.
they don't mean to toot their own horn, but.....you get the point
Just a few quick words on “The Few”. I admittedly don’t know what other artists they have outside of Will Sessions, but seeing Will Sessions is good enough for me. They’ve really kept a great buzz going for themselves this year with the Black Milk, Phat Kat, and Guilty Simpson Big Band Shows. If you’ve ever seen them live there is no doubt that the Funk Movement is very much alive and it seems to be growing exponentially on a grass roots level.
Them along with the rest of “The Few” roster will be celebrating their 1 year anniversary at The Majestic complex this Saturday in what plays out as a Music Festival. The Magic Stick and the Majestic Cafe will be hosting the festivities and Carl Craig will also be rockin which is ridiculous so get involved. As I’m lazy look below for my cut and paste job giving you the particulars for the evening. See you there.
the Few Records 1 Year Anniversary: No Genres, Just Good Music. We Are the Few.
Promotional Support by the Greening of Detroit: Keeping Detroit Clean and Green
Magic Stick Side:
Grammy nominated and Movement 2010 Creative Director CARL CRAIG (Planet-E) 1 – 3AM
Will Sessions Funk Big Band (the Few) 11:40 – 1AM
New Music Detroit (the Few) 11 – 11:20PM (Performing Marc Mellits’ piece, “Smoke”)
Kevin Reynolds (Todhchaí, Yoruba) 9:50 – 10:45PM
DJ Patrick Russell (the Few, Circus Company) 9PM and In Between Acts
Majestic Cafe Side:
Silverghost (the Few) 1:05 – 2:15AM
Zoos of Berlin 11:45 – 12:45AM
the Replicas 10:35 – 11:25PM
Adieu (the Few) 9:35 – 10:15PM
DJ Steven Robert (the Few, Tour Detroit) 9PM and In Between Acts
Special Art Installations by ACCESS Arts
Only $8 Total!!! for BOTH sides before 11:30PM, $10 after.
9PM-3AM 18+
the Few Records will be celebrating their 1 Year Anniversary and throwing a party to reflect their newly diverse and talented artist roster. With the recent signing of Silverghost, New Music Detroit, Steven Robert and Patrick Russell, combined with the Few’s artists Will Sessions and Adieu, there is no better time to get down with the Few Records. Grammy nominated and Movement’s 2010 Creative Director Carl Craig headlines the mini-music festival. ACCESS Arts will be creating multiple art installations as well. Both rooms are musically curated by the Few Records’ label head Dominic Arellano.
ACCESS Artists: Louis Casinelli, Sicily Amaris McRaven, Matt Pawenski, Ayaka Hibino, Rose Rivard, Angelo Conti and Matthew Scarlett. For more info contact isleaccess@gmail.com.
In partnership with the Few Records, The Greening of Detroit will be providing eco-friendly ways to get involved in your community.
Local artists Sicily Amaris McRaven and Louis Casinelli will lead a group of artists delivering live performance and installation artworks. They are working in support of Access Arts, a public art exhibition hosted at Belle Isle Park during Michigan’s warmer seasons.
the Few Records New Website!:http://www.theFewRecords.com
Greening of Detroit:http://www.greeningofdetroit.com
ACCESS Arts: http://accessartsexhibit.blogspot.com
Tags: Carl Craig, The Few Records, Will Sessions
whaddup all,
since I’ve just learned to actually post footage to my blog i figure i’d throw some content from my youtube channel so you can see how i do it visually in addition to my typing skills (or lack thereof depending on opinion). anyways, here we go.
Clip 1: Footage from Live @ The Get Up
-This was the show that facilitated my project “Live @ The Get Up”. I love the live show as you guys know, but the CD is missing the visual aspect so here is some footage from that. Although I made the Live CD just because I wanted to do a Live CD but look out for some more annoying promotion on it soon and I may try to enlist you in annoying some more people.
Clip 2: Change The Name in Bloomington
-This clip is the last show we did for the Sweat Equity Tour earlier in the year. Although the quality of the sound isn’t that good in this clip i love the energy that comes across between me and the crowd at this show. There is something about the last show after you’ve done a string of them. You know you’ll get a break so you don’t have to protect your voice and don’t have to worry how you’ll physically feel the next day.
Clip 3: Freestylin’ on The Way to New Orleans
-I’m poppin’ in this clip just to let you cats know that I can go off the top of the head if need be. lol. shouts to Apollo Brown because that’s a beat off of his Make Do project which is the shit.
Clip 4: Cheryl droppin’ some Knowledge
-I’m droppin this clip because I think Cheryl is one of the most interesting people I have come across in my travels. I think if I was more popular as a blogger/rapper/person people would view this clip spread it around and then Cheryl will blow up. Lets make it happen.
Tags: Apollo Brown, Cheryl, Chief, D. Allie, Dante Lasalle, Video Clips
whaddup people,
Yeah, I’m feeling pretty good so I’m gonna hit you with 2 updates in one day. This ones a bit easy as the homie DJ Graffiti hit me with an email the other day alerting me to a mini-mix he did for the homie Ro Spit. If you’ve been hiding under a rock the past week or so you might not know that Ro Spit has just released an album for free download at www.RoSpit.com.
Anyways, I’ve known both of these gentlemen for quite some time and they are both killin’ it in their respective fields – they even occasionally cross over into each others fields as Ro started out as a DJ for the Subterraneous crew and I’ve heard Graf spit some bars on the classic Bling Free mixtape series. I’m also trying to spread word on this because it’s always dope when two camps get together to prop each other up. Cats really don’t know how us artists in Detroit/Ann Arbor/Lansing really connect so projects like this serve that purpose. Skip that crab in a bucket shit. There is strength in numbers here so best believe they’re both winning with this move. Anyways, to make this short and sweet I’ll just copy the important parts of the email Graffiti sent me and you guys check out the links and spread the word.
What’s up D.Allie?
I’m blasting out a short mix that I just did featuring songs by one of Detroit’s most up and coming emcees, Ro Spit. All the songs in my mix feature Ro Spit solo on the mic over beats from producers from the A-Side camp (Lab Techs: 14KT, Vaughan T & Forekast, and one from Astronote). The songs are all taken from “The Oh S#!t Project” that was released yesterday for free download on www.RoSpit.com. Feel free to post my mini-mix and/or a link to the entire project. The Oh S#!t project isn’t an official A-Side release, but Ro Spit is definitely family!
My mini-mix (direct link hosted on my mediafire account):
http://www.mediafire.com/?zjn2ztyjmn1
The entire Oh S#!t Project & more info about Ro Spit is available at:
http://www.RoSpit.com
The Oh S#!t Project Cover
http://www.asideworldwide.com/images/1013.jpg
Tags: Aside Worldwide, Burn Rubber, DJ Graffiti, Free Download, Ro Spit
Whaddup All,
It’s been too long as usual, but as usual I’ve been working and working to give you guys something to talk about next year. B4 I say my piece about the man of the hour, Metasyons, lemme give you some quick updates on what’s going on in the world of D. Allie.
1) Progress Report (my collaborative project with Producer/MC Eddie Logix) is all mixed and should go to master this week. This is an initial step in a long list of things we need to take care of b4 we can get the finished product to you but it is an important step and I’m making sure that I try to enjoy the journey as much as possible this time around. As of now we are releasing a 7 inch in January (that’s right my people – cats are still on that vinyl movement) and we hope to have the full length project to you by March. I know it seems like a long time away but if you looked at our to-do list it wouldn’t seem too far away.
2) I just recently celebrated my 27th birthday and I’m looking forward to this year very much. I’ve made a concerted effort to slow myself down just a little (can’t party like a rockstar every night of the week because those hangovers seem to hit harder and harder). I’ve also tried to make steps to improve my health by going to the gym and……..wait for it…….I am pleased to say that I haven’t had a cigarette in about 2 months now. Those that know me know what a tremendous feat that is for me because there were few things I like on earth as much as a cigarette. I can already feel the positive effects when I’m performing and recording in the studio. I might mess around and start putting out some long winded bone thugs type verses on you.
3) For my bday I bought myself a few presents. One being a mac book which I’m typing on right now, (I love this machine) and another being a plane ticket out to San Fran to visit the homie 5 ill so hopefully we’ll get some music crackin out in the bay area come early december. If you are or know anybody in the San Francisco area who puts on shows let a brotha know. I would definitely like to rock while I’m out there.
Alright, I think I’ve bored you to death with my updates but b4 you go to sleep let me wake you up to one of my musical partners in United States of Mind and a man I have the pleasure of calling my friend….METASYONS.
"Detroit...The birthplace of everything fly" - metasyons
As I disclosed we are crew and he is a close friend so I’m gonna be a bit biased, but I truly believe that Meta is by far one of the most talented cats I have come across since I’ve been doing this music and I think you’ll get to see that with this project. It’s a quick listen with 6 songs and features myself, Ro Spit, and some cat from Greece (yeah, we tryin’ to keep up with the global trends). If you’re digging what you’re hearing we always ask that you spread the word in anyway you can. Check the commercial for it posted below and then go to WWW.USMDETROIT.COM and get to downloading the project. Hit me on the email and let me know what you think. you can even download it here but go to the USM site as well and see what we’re doing over there. I’ll leave you with some words from Meta on the project so enjoy.
USM PRESENTS…
Metasyons’ Eviction Notice. This mixtape/sampler was produced because I (Meta) am broke as fuck!! I recently received an eviction notice, so that’s what sparked this project. You people can at least give me the pleasure of enjoying my music, hence the free download! Spread the word. We need this to be major! Maybe it could lead to me eating again……..
Thats it hopefully the music speaks for itself
Tags: Eviction Notice, Free Download, Metasyons, Ro Spit, United States of Mind
To be perfectly honest I’m not even sure why I’m writing this blog. Oh yeah, now I remember. I have some free moments while I’m at the coffee shop, and have been meaning to update this blog so it will get more traffic, therefore amassing more people. To amass these people I will talk about anything else other than my music, but believe you me at some point I will try some sly way to get you to listen or even BUY my music and the music of my friends. Phew…that felt better. Now I can safely say I’m KEEPING IT REAL. At least for the moment anyways.
Keep in mind the KEEPING IT REAL is awful important in Hip Hop. You must be credible to have any type of career. Rick Ross came under some heat when reports surfaced showing him as a Corrections Officer last year. Now everybody is all up in arms about Roxanne and her no education getting self.
Now the time has come for everyone to jump on the bandwagon and burn this woman at the stake. Here’s my response:
SHE MADE A MISTAKE. SO WHAT.
Personally, I think it’s time for a lot of these probable stake burners to take a look in the mirror for a second. I mean really take a good look? I assume you’ve never lied. You’ve never done anything against this code that you hold everybody else up to. And even if you do exceed this code of moral superiority. SO WHAT. The parade for you is starting at 9am on Saturday and trust I’ll be there with bells on.
Perhaps instead of judging her we should use a little empathy and try to see it through her eyes…or maybe not. I’ve tried and I can’t really think of the reasons that she would do this. Perhaps she misspoke in the interview or they misunderstood and she just let whoever run with it which can be easy to do. Thinking about that really just makes my head hurt and wonder about UTFO more than anything else.
However, I’m sure cats are gonna come with these absolutes like, “either you’re real or you’re not” and “real recognize real” and all these other phrases that belong on the side of a milk carton (it’s somewhat tragically ironic to me that these phrases come off as so gimmicky to me as I’m typing them – i believe they’re supposed to represent the opposite. those phrases are sooo not keeping it real). Then there will be her defenders that most likely personally know her and one day will be quick to burn somebody else that they don’t know for the same reasons they are defending now. All I can say is this shit happens and to all of us at one point or another.
No matter how many of us want to think otherwise, we’ve all been in situations where we have been less than truthful and shady in some way shape or form. I believe there is a definition for this. FAKE you say? Perhaps, but the word I was looking for is HUMAN.
I believe I’m writing on this because I feel a bit of this goes on in my city. This finger pointing, and judgment, and pretentious exclusivity really just has the effect of tiring everybody out and making everything worse. Nobody wants to be put under a microscope and it seems many of us are doing it while the sun is overhead.
I’m beginning to ramble so I’ll wrap it up with this. I’m all for the hip hop community but let’s have one that not only respects our differences, but also respects our mistakes. STOP BEING SO QUICK TO JUDGE AND CRUCIFY.
yeah....mafuckas got photo shoots and shit poppin' these days son
whaddup my people,
yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. It’s been a minute and all that. I’m still staying pretty unplugged from the matrix before I have to dive back in and hit yall with the constant updates. I’ve been experiencing a lot of new things and I can’t wait to share everything with you guys. Right now i’m trying to learn the balance between actually being in the moment and then being able to relay that moment to someone else (it’s quite the difficult task – i’d love to take video footage and photos of the events i’m at, but when i do that I feel like I’m not fully enjoying it…dig?). Anyways, that’s neither here nor there. What’s up are the guys that brought me out of my digital foxhole if only for a second. And these guys go by the name of Abrasive Method.
I’m pretty sure I’ve already written about them a few times on this blog so hopefully you’re somewhat familiar with them. If not the quick rundown is this. They’re like family to me. They relay their life in their music – it may be unfortunate to some but they’re not killing or drug dealing. However, it’s not all peaches and cream in the burbs and they have a lot of themes in their music that I relate to so I feel that you will too, but whatever for all that. It’s not my job to sell their music to you. I’m gonna take the position of letting you know it exists and when you check it out you decide if the proof is in the pudding. With that being said I just received an email from Abrasive the other day about their new video and upcoming shows so I will just copy and paste below. Check 1, Check 2, Check it out:
Tags: Abrasive Method, Apollo Brown, John Schweitzer, Rakim
What’s good people,
Been a minute as usual but i’ve been trying to detach from the matrix a little bit. Some days are better than others in this endeavor. I love the internet and being able to regularly communicate with people across the globe, but my face to face social interaction has been slacking lately i realized so I had to switch up gears a little bit. Sometimes i think that being on all these websites is not too far from playing Everquest and just living in a world that doesn’t really exist. Don’t get me wrong. I love the interaction, but I still remember a time b4 cell phones and even beepers where you had to be more face to face. pros and cons to everything I guess.
With that being said in the name of hippocracy, I recently got an iphone so now I can stay more connected than ever. lol. and if you don’t already you can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/dallie and i’ll try to update that more regularly. However, I want some face to face interaction so I’ll be out and about this weekend so come hang out and share in my bad habits.
Tonight I’ll be working at the bosco for the rotation. As always if you tell me you read this blog than I’ll buy the first round (that of course is within reason – patron shots is out of my pay grade unless your legs are that long). After the bosco i’ll be all hopped up on red bull and probably 3 sheets to the wind so I’ll be hitting up FUNK NIGHT. That’s right folks. This event continues to be dope amidst all the politics and bullshit so support. It’ll be at the Boho House so hopefully I’ll catch you there. Hit me up if you need further info on it (my contact info is all over the place so figure it out).
I probably won’t be able to stay too late at Funk Night because I gotta be up bright and early (relatively early I guess – around 11am) to prepare for the People’s Art Festival at the Russel Industrial Center. I play a set at 1235 and 135pm so I’ll probably bring some friends with me to help me out on the performance end. Besides myself there are a ton of talented people that are at this event. Here’s the flyer for it.
support your people
That evening you should already know where I’ll be because it is the last saturday of the month. BOOM.
let your people know
The ladies of Foundation will be rocking this one. Shouts to Mel Wonder, Sticky Nicki, and La Jedi for showing em how it’s done. Also shouts to Piper Carter for getting people out of their seats.
Now if you happen to be in NY or know anyone in NY let them know about this for saturday night.
My sister is a beautiful soul so definitely go check this and I’m sure it’ll be a special performance as it is her b-day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS.
As for Sunday I might do another set at the Russell so you’ll just have to show up and be surprised…..or not.
That’s all I got folks, but b4 I leave a special shout out goes to my cousin Mato and as of next week his wife Verlisa. BLACK LOVE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING!!!!!! (Don’t get me wrong of course – so is Black and White Love – I wouldn’t be here otherwise).
