STL UndaGround Scene

Kris Warren brings his Music Therapy to life with "You Can Judge Me Now"

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 03:17:00 +0000

The following video was promoted and forwarded to me from Essince of Royal Heir Entertainment.

Artist/documentarian, Kris Warren, has dropped a song called, “You Can Judge Me Now” . The song touches on the resistance and experiences from Kris's home state which takes the listener on journey not only through his music but also through his documentary.

Here is an excerpt from Kris Warren:“This video touches on the resistance and experiences I received interacting with organizations and people while filming the documentary on Music Therapy. Some people embraced me while others did not want to support it because of the sole purpose that I was someone from the “hip hop” community.

I know exactly what this guy means when people don't support you for the sole purpose of being from the hip hop community and want to pass judgement when even if the message is non threatening.

Kris Warren has already filmed in 16 different states and four countries, interviewing healthcare professionals, doctors, music therapists, patients, dancers and musicians across the globe. For more videos featuring Kris Warren visit MusicIsMyTherapy.

The 3KNGZ collective association of self expression

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 03:14:00 +0000

Hip Hop collective, 3KNGZ, is more than just a rap group searching for fame they are hip hop artists who are focused on elevating the listeners' mindset to a higher consciousness through the art form of Hip Hop while making a social change for justice. I capitalized the word "hip hop" in the previous sentence because I used it as a noun and because it is a remnant from the golden age of Hip Hop when people who have the responsibility of being the torch-bearers carry on the traditional art form of self-expression, self reliance and entrepreneurship while uplifting their communities. 3KNGZ is based in St. Louis, MO.

from left to right: iS, CHILL and Meru Muad'Dib of 3KNGZ

3KNGZ is not just a group but is a muzik collecitve! It consist of MC's, singers, producers, song writers, video editors, lecturers, poets, graffiti artist..etc!Their goal is to utilize music as a medium to enlighten humanity and create spiritual awareness. Their main tool for outreach is Hip Hop music. The member’s are Chill, Meru Muad’Dib and iS.

“His crew's music is carried by deep messages and poetical references the average listener won't catch on the first play,” Tef Poe, Riverfront Times.

The album ENDSIGHT by Chill, iS, Meru Muad'Dib. This
is not your typical hip hop album. It contains the essential core
elements to take Hip Hop to a positive outlook.

The album Endsight has a song called "Consume the World" featuring Chill, Meru Muad'Dib, Chango & Lyfestile which is the first song on the album to set the tone of what's to come. The album contains the essential core elements to take Hip Hop to a positive outlook. It mixes jazz, club bangers, and traditional Hip Hop music with uplifting messages about overcoming struggle. If the listener has struggled in life, the listener will be drawn in by the vivid metaphorical images lyrically delivered. The Endsight album features Lyfestile, Rukahs, Supreme Sol, and Leroy Jenkins. The songs “Science of Life”, “Lighter”, “New Day”, and “Without Your Love”, are produced by St Louis Grammy Award winning super producers ‘Trak Starz’.

This video is from the 3KNGZ's mixtape "Return of the Nagas". The song is called "Hip Hop Saved My Life" featuring Floyd Boykin Jr. Video is directed and edited by Floyd Boykin Jr.

Featured Underground Hiphop Artists 2015

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 04:48:00 +0000

The year 2015 has come and gone and in today's rap world it is common place to imitate whatever artist is the most popular at the time. Well, in the year 2016, it's hard to believe that the history of where rap came from is lost in the commercial mainstream. For people who don't know how rap came about I want to kindly say that rap is the child of Hiphop. I capitalize the word "hiphop" because I sometimes use it as a proper noun.

I sympathize with many of the Millennials who don't know that rap is the offspring of Hiphop. Rap is a type of music genre but hip hop is a whole entire culture that encompasses the rich cultural heritage of the ethnic people who created it. Hiphop music began in the underground and expressed itself as an outcry of music that defined the beginning of a generation that would live forever.

The big super rich commercial record labels have tried their best to corrupt the true intentions of hip hop and the message it brings along with the enjoyment of having a good time while uplifting their people in a positive way.

The following video highlights several different underground hip hop artists with different styles and flows. This is an important list because more and more underground hip hop artists are getting publicity, more listens and more control over their music. Even though this list doesn't cover the majority of underground artists, these artists in the video are doing a great job of representing and respecting the culture and art form of Hiphop.

I wanna give a BIGG UP to all of these hip hop artists for keepin the art form alive...Word Up! Lyrics mean everything to Hiphop heads. Keep those thoughtful concepts coming so a new middle class can be created.

The Larry J. Weir Center for Independent Media

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 02:18:00 +0000

The Larry J. Weir Center for Independent Media, (LJWC), is located in Grand Center. Grand Center is a unique cultural and historical treasure, located in the heart of St Louis. The building's purchase and extensive renovations cost around $3.5 million and its 13,000 square feet is three times larger than the space KDHX previously inhabited.

The Larry J. Weir building, Center for Independent Media,
St. Louis, MO

After 25 plus years at 3504 Magnolia Avenue, KDHX moved to 3524 Washington Avenue in the heart of Grand Center. This much larger building is the broadcast facilities for 88.1FM, as well as the Magnolia Café and The Stage at KDHX. The L. J. Weir Center also contains the offices of KDHX.org and the Folk School whose classes take place just down the street at 3323 Washington Avenue. The second floor is semi-public space for DJs, volunteers, and hundreds of musicians the station records every year during in-studio visits.

I came across a website site where there are tons of stunning photos of the KDHX studios, the control rooms and other interior shots taken by Sara A. Finke. Also in this photo gallery are the different construction phases of erecting the exterior kdhx logo which is a very interesting engineering feat. At night the kdhx logo with the words "The Stage" are lit up with orange and yellow sun beams extending from the upper right and lower left of the logo as pictured in the photo below.

The Stage at KDHX logo, lit up at night on the east
side of the building.

The Stage, located in the heart of the Grand Center Arts & Entertainment District, is a unique venue that provides an intimate setting from informal to formal mid-sized events. Company training sessions, product launch events, corporate meetings, private parties, concerts and celebrations such as birthdays and anniversaries are all available at your disposal at The Stage. The Stage can accommodate up to 120 seated at 4-top tables to 150 seated theatre-style. The venue comes equipped with a professional projector and screen and can facilitate any entertainment need for your event from solo artists to full bands to Dj rigs with full stage lighting.

The Stage, before a live band performance.

Supporters about to enjoy a live band.

Magnolia Cafe

The Magnolia Cafe offers healthy and delicious options for breakfast and lunch. Sourcing locally for fresh ingredients Magnolia Cafe offers a coffee & smoothie menu, a salad & sandwich menu and light fare for early evening dinner or event nights at The Stage. Noon time boxed lunch orders and light catering are also available.

Magnolia Cafe serves Brunch at The Stage every Saturday from 9am to 1pm.
$15 (includes coffee, tea or juice)
Live Music from 10am-noon

Millennial rapper disses 90's Hiphop, part 1

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 18:28:00 +0000

There has been a big fuss about what a rapper said about the hiphop music of the 1990's. In an interview with Time, Vince Staples, a Long Beach post 2000 era rapper, said "The 90's get a lot of credit, I don't really know why", Staples said. "Biggie and 2Pac, those are staples of the 90's, I think that's why they get the golden era credit." Vince then went on to champion early 2000s-era rap citing the emergence of 50 Cent, Kanye West as well as the ascension of Jay-Z. "I dont really know why", said Vince. Really ??? If Vince doesn't really know why the era of golden age hiphop was called back then then look it up and FIND OUT WHY that particular time era is called the golden age."There was no 50 Cent in the 90's (in the commercial mainstream), they didn't even have a Kanye in those times but the genre of hiphop was at its zenith.

This mis-informed guy said that "the 1990's was a very successful time as far as the economy goes"... successful for who? It was very successful for white Americans and immigrants of course but not for people of African or Indigenous ancestry. The economy under Bill Clinton was atrocious so what is this guy even talking about? It seems that Vice did not do his own research because he sounded like someone who was just repeating what some other mis-informed person was saying when he mentioned the economy and former president Bill Clinton in the same sentence. Just stick with pokemon Vince. N.O.R.E., a hip hop artist from the 1990's, got into a little beef on twitter about Vince's comments about golden age hiphop.

Ok, the "Golden Era" of hiphop wasn't just in the 1990's it was also in the mid 1980's and throughout the 1990's. So, Vince's golden era statement once again showed he is ignorant to certain facts that preceded his birth. A lot of groundbreaking sounds, trends and fashion happened in the late 1980's and all throughout the 1990's. This dude said that Jay Z-'s biggest number 1 song only happened a few years ago. But what Vice doesn't mention is the FACT that Jay-Z has 13 #1 albums!!! 13 Number One Albums! WTF. With that fact just stated who needs a bunch of number one songs on the music charts when the whole album is at the top position. Just simply google Jay Z's discography and it will blow away any hiphop and/or rap artist post 2000. Google Jay Z's number 1 albums and see how many come up!

If a person is going to drop a little history about the 90's in general like the tech boom, pokemon and saxophone Bill one should have at least listened to some 90's hiphop. If he can pull up something like saxophone Bill and the economy of the 19090's then he certainly could have pulled up the hottest artists & songs of the 1990's hiphop era so with that being said, Vice Staples is a millennial cry baby who needs to do his own research instead of listening to a bunch of different opinions from people who don't know very much.

Sources: Time.com, Rolling Stone

St. Louis and Chicago connect for a hiphop song

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 18:57:00 +0000

Greetings everyone. This article is just to let the world know that hiphop lives. Hiphop is NOT DEAD it is just not televised on major TV networks and radio stations. The music today that is aired on all the major TV networks and played on all the major radio stations is not hiphop but hipPOP and that is because racism is at work to try destroy what was once a glorious art form and culture created by people of African descent.

The following video showcases 4 emcees (not rappers) keeping the hiphop spirit alive along with the musical element of an up-tempo beat. The four hiphop artists are: So 'N' So X, Lyfestile X, KD Assassin X and Aztec Dinero.

Today's rappers don't appreciate musical instruments in their songs and therefore have disconnected themselves with classical hiphop which was orchestrated by racists record label owners to castigate the art form and kill the true hiphop genre.

MC and hip-hop philosopher KRS One describes the two terms hiphop and rap with great efficacy, stating that "rap is something that is done, while hip-hop is something that is lived".
There are 4 original elements of hiphop combined with 5 other elements making it a total of nine elements.
The original four temple elements:
Breakdancing/B-Boying
Emceeing
Graffiti/Tagging
DJ'ing

The 5 cultural/economical elements:
Beatboxing
Street fashion/Lookin fly/Swagg
Street language/Inner city vernacular
Street knowledge/The wisdom of elders that came before you
Street entrepreneur

These nine elements when combined together can help a person, group or record label get rich from hiphop. HipHop was for African Americans to benefit from because of racial discrimination in the work place. If we couldn't get a decent paying job because of the color of our skin then we could apply the 9 elements of hiphop to support our self and our families and make a decent living without the need of the racist establishment. That is why hiphop was compromised because there would have been a million young Black Americans being self sufficient which would then create a new economy and a new class of free-thinking, financially free black people (Amerikkka's biggest nightmare). With that said, the economical success would then trickle down to our inner cities and neighborhoods to rebuild our tattered communities. Wow! What an awesome strategy that would have been. The racist and corrupt establishments along with the private sector purposely keep black inner city communities in horrible conditions in which these allegations can be backed up with documentation but that will be for another article.

The label of “hip-hop” today, post-2000, only serves a purpose economically within the industry, allowing artists who, though they may have gotten their start within the hip-hop community, can make pop records and still be classified as “hip-hop/rap” in order to appear at the top of the heap in terms of sales.

Sources: Ebony.com, Genius.com

Controversial toy by Hasbro ruined Christmas for many kids

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:23:00 +0000

Hasbro Inc. has been receiving a host of complaints this past holiday season from parents horrified to find that the "extruder tool" found in the Play-Doh Sweet Shoppe Cake Mountain Playset looks exactly like a penis.

Extruder Tool, a toy for kids created by
Hasbro for Play-Doh

The phallic toy first gained publicity in November 2014, but a new wave of comments began appearing on the Play-Doh Facebook page post-Christmas after kids all across the nation had opened their gifts. Hasbro staff is reportedly deleting photos of the toy but Uproxx screenshotted several comments including one from a mom claiming the veiny-looking object ruined Christmas.

The extruder tool is meant to help decorate Play-Doh cakes, meaning that Play-Doh “frosting” is meant to be pushed out of the tip of the tool.

Whoah! Come on now, this is no mistake. These big time corporations are doing what they want to do nowadays and don't care what the outcomes are or who gets affected by their decisions.

Hasbro, the company behind Play-Doh, took no steps to respond other than to offer complaining parents replacement parts.

However, Play-Doh's efforts to do damage control after Christmas may result in unintended publicity for the dildo-shaped toy. Play-Doh is deleting Facebook posts on its site displaying the extruder, which of course only highlights the problem.

Hasbro finally did make an attempt to change the look and shape of the product but many people say the new shape looks like a sex toy.

Sources: The Huffington Post, Uproxx.com, KTUL (Tulsa, Channel 8)

Gage Nassir, promo for "Evil Gone"

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 18:37:00 +0000

Rapper Gage Nassir at the studio putting the final touches on the single, "Evil Gone", from the album Rocket Science. Gage is from East St. Louis and has a lot of knowledge of the music industry, African & African American culture and history.

Gage, MoSkillz and I (Tha X-Fakta) had been protesting all day downtown at the FergusonOktober... and yes we are grass roots activists as well as recording artists.

Butt injections to enhance your backside?... a deadly choice.

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 19:50:00 +0000

Nowadays women in American pop culture society are looking toward cosmetic surgery to enhance their bodies. On occasional it can turn out horrifically disastrous like for Apryl Michelle Brown. Ms. Brown said she saw an opportunity to have the butt enhancement she always dreamed of and allowed a “pumper” (unlicensed person) to inject industrial-grade silicone into her buttocks. Soon after the procedure, her implants hardened and she needed lifesaving amputation of her limbs. "My quest for the perfect bottom left me with NO LIMBS", Apryl sadly exclaimed. This mother's botched black market injections led to quadruple amputation. I know she asks herself everyday was it worth it and I know the answer is an emphatic NO!

Apryl Michelle Brown after she had problems with her butt
injection. She not only had her buttocks amputated but also
a quadruple lower arm & leg amputation.

Hair stylist Apryl Michelle Brown, from LA, spent five years in excruciating pain when an unlicensed practitioner injected her buttocks with bathroom sealant, telling her it was silicone, in order to enhance them.
"Eventually they went in and removed the silicone, along with the butt cheeks," said Apryl. "It was then it became infected and they gave me 24 hours to live. I remember feeling relieved when I heard that."

Doctors induced Apryl into a coma and carried out 27 operations, including a buttock amputation and a quadruple lower arm and lower leg amputation. "I didn't know this until I came around," she said. "When I woke up I had no butt and I wasn't in pain anymore."

Buttock enhancement surgery is becoming popular in the U.S., among women who aspire to the shapely curves of Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce and singer Nicki Minaj. The backside beauty of a larger gluteas maximus has become increasingly more fashionable among young women since the rise of the 'Hip Hop Honey' phenomenon.

A bigger posterior lateral has become almost a prerequisite for any aspiring dancer wanting to make it into the music video scene (video vixens). And in their desperation to beat off the competition, many ladies resort to having surgery to get ahead.

Claudia Aderotimi, dancer & aspiring hiphop
recording artist from London, died from an illegal
buttocks injection.

Claudia Aderotimi dies in the U.S. after 'butt-boost' jab. Aderotimi, a dancer and aspiring hip-hop star, traveled with friends from London to Philadelphia in order to undergo the illegal procedure of buttocks injections to enhance her rear end, a prerequisite for many young women in the industry. Ms. Aderotimi and friends checked into a budget hotel where a ‘doctor’ carried out the injection. The illegal procedure went terribly wrong and Claudia began to experience agonizing pains. A day later she was dead.

In these times it seems like just as many middle-aged women are going under the knife than young women and they both are taking enormous risks in the pursuit of a bigger, smoother rounder booty but the price to pay is health risks and sometimes the price to pay ends in a deadly outcome.

Sources: Dailymail.com, Voxafrica.co.uk,

Inner City Blacks dying for expensive "biggie" jackets

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 18:58:00 +0000

I was very disappointed when I came across several articles about young black kids killing each other for an overpriced jacket called a "biggie" or "big boy". The real name for the jacket is Marmot Mammoth Parka, a heavyweight down jacket with a Gore-Tex shell. They come in several colors and cost around $700. For each jacket sold, a salesperson got a $7 or $8 commission, nearly double what they'd make for the next highest commission item (a technical ski jacket from Arc'Teryx that almost no one ever so much as tried on). I am not against buying expensive clothing if you honestly work and then you can spend your hard earned money to buy whatever you want buy. Robbing another person and taking their life for an article of clothing is wrong, barbaric and insane... there is no possible excuse to partake in criminal behavior just because you want something popular and expensive.

Group of black youth wearing the infamous biggie jackets

What puzzles me is that this nonsense is still going on in black communities. Back in the early and mid 1990's, many black youths were being robbed and killed for their starter jackets and Air Jordan's. Fast forward to 2014 and the same sick mentality still exists. I thought the inner city black community had moved on from this insane mentality but I was wrong. The endless consumption from poor inner city youth to wear and cherish overpriced clothing is a mental illness and these big corporations don't give a damn about the killings in the ghetto they just know it brings in hundreds of millions of dollars for them. Air Jordan's are made in China very very cheap and are sold in the United States for a price that far exceed the worth of the sneaker.

Marmot is an outdoor clothing and sporting goods company founded in 1974 as Marmot Mountain Works.The company was founded in Grand Junction Colorado by local resident Tom Boyce and by two University of California, Santa Cruz students, David Huntley and Eric Reynolds, who wished to make their own mountaineering equipment. I do find it odd that Marmot would make a piece with no sports application exclusively for Paragon, sell it for so much, and make so many in such big sizes, ...hmmm corporate greed and exploitation... but it is not illegal.

Several black males wearing "biggie" jackets. Over $5,000
worth of jackets between these guys.

A man was shot at a skating rink at Bryant Park over his Marmot Mammoth "Biggie" jacket, reports the Business Insider. Cops have now taken 16-year-old Corey Dunton in for questioning, with charges still pending, according to The New York Times.

This isn't the first time the notorious "Biggie", a $630 jacket that was sold exclusively through Paragon Sports but was discontinued last year (a Paragon Sports sales rep told the Daily News that the remaining stock went on sale for $200, and sold out a few weeks ago), has been the cause of such crimes. In 2010, Malik Jenkins, was struck by two cars after three men tried to steal his coat. The trio were indicted the following year for the 18-year-old's death. The suspects tried to steal Malik's $600 coat. Malik Jenkins was wearing his friend's Marmot Mammoth - known as the "Biggie" - when he broke free from four men who tried to rob him on Dec. 29, 2010.
In 2013 Raphael Ward, 16, was shot in the chest on the Lower East Side also over the same jacket.

Sources: Complex.com, NY Daily News, New York Post

Sony execs slam Kevin Hart and President Obama in leaked racist emails

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 19:04:00 +0000

Nothing is safe in these so-called digital clouds! First Hollywood was exposed in a series of leaked nude images showcasing some of the entertainment industry’s biggest stars. Now, hackers are exposing the intimate conversations from some very powerful Caucasian Americans, whose correspondence on people like funnyman Kevin Hart and President Obama may shock you.
In the New York Post the headlines read "Sony exec Amy Pascal is calling everyone for support". Support for what? Support for her hateful and racist comments about President Barack Obama and comedian Kevin Hart. As for Scott Rudin, he is known as Hollywood's biggest a-hole. But I do agree with what Rudin said about Angelina Jolie when called her a "minimally talented spoiled brat looking to take a luxurious soak in a $180 million ego bath"... this comment is from a series of scathing emails leaked by Sony hackers.

Amy Pascal, Sony executive

The New York Post article further mentions that 'The ongoing attack has revealed piles of embarrassing emails exposed by the hacking group, thought to be connected to North Korea.' How are these email embarrassing? They are exactly what they are... cruel racist diatribe between people who feel the same way about people of African descent. The ONLY reason they are embarrassing is because she (Amy Pascal) got caught red-handed. Once again, the contradiction and lies that these kind of folks stand for. Whites and other foreign groups of people love to say they are so tired of black people talking about race. Well damn, just take a look at these racist emails especially about the Commander in Chief of the United States of America. That's why black Americans always talk about racism in Amerikkka. This is because there is no such thing as "playing the race card". Racism is so evident that to refer to it as 'playing' is a sick, sadistic, mental illness of denial of the truth.

In an email leaked earlier this week, Sony Pictures co-chair, Amy Pascal and movie producer Scott Rudin, made racist jokes about what they believe to be President Obama’s favorite choice of film …

Rudin: “Would he like to finance some movies.”

Pascal: “I doubt it. Should I ask him if he liked DJANGO?”

Rudin: “12 YEARS.” [(12 Years a Slave depicted the abuse suffered by a free black man forced into slavery].

Pascal: “Or the butler. Or think like a man? [sic]”

Rudin: “Ride-along. I bet he likes Kevin Hart.”

Hollywood producer, Scott Rudin

Interestingly enough, Pascal was a donor for Obama’s re-election campaign. As expected, Pascal immediately issued an apology. “Private emails between friends and colleagues written in haste and without much thought or sensitivity, even when the content of them is meant to be in jest, can result in offense where none was intended,” said Pascal. Yeah, right. She just told on herself! If her emails to friends and colleagues "were in haste and without much thought or sensitivity" means that her racist views are rooted very deeply in her subconscious without her even thinking about it and to minimalize it is absurd and psychotic. Mind you, these were PRIVATE emails so you know what kind of racist talk, attitudes and behavior goes on behind closed doors. This is the same old story by racists and all they have to do is apologize and all is forgiven huh. This just shows the wicked truth on how white Americans view black Americans.

I also have another major question and this may go off the subject a bit but Hollywood is all about glitz, glamour and looks. With the recent Sony email leaks with racial epithets being a big part of private discussions I humbly ask the question of why do white Americans tan?... and get lip injections (when they make fun of blacks with full lips)... and cheek bone implants to make them have high-cheek bones (typical African features) like black people?... why do white Americans get breast implants and butt implants that imitate voluptuous black women who are created full-figured naturally by the Almighty Creator God! {voluptuous, of a woman , [adj]-very attractive because of having large hips, buttocks and breasts}. Cosmetic plastic surgery includes surgical procedures that reshape normal structures of the body in order to improve appearance and self-esteem. For example, buttock augmentation, or gluteal augmentation surgery, is sometimes commonly referred to as a Brazilian butt lift (when performed with fat transfer) and involves using implants or fat grafting, or sometimes a combination of both, to increase the size of your buttocks. White Americans spend trillions of dollars on cosmetic surgery every year. The cosmetic surgery trend has now spread to Asia, South America and Australia. Something must be truly wrong with the way white women view themselves or else they would not go to such extremes to get these cosmetic surgeries. They must have a very deep self hatred for themselves much deeper than ANY black woman could ever hate herself.

In another email exchange between Pascal, studio exec Clint Culpepper and Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton, Kevin Hart comes under fire after he allegedly refused to promote their film on Twitter.

“It’s not as if we paid him 3M and 4M respectively for his last 2 films thinking he might be nominated. We paid for his ability to open a film which included his social media savvy. I feel like this is something that should be negotiated going into the film as opposed to after the fact. It feels tantamount to buying a car and then upon picking it up being told that the engine will cost extra. I’m tempted to suggest we call his bluff. If he doesn’t do his normal routine, his film will not open as well and his brand will appear diminished and he will- in fact – be f******g himself because we have his next 2 immediate films. And then there’s the social media precedent we’re setting…especially in light of the fact that Channing [Tatum] is at the same agency…..”I’m not saying he’s a whore, but he’s a whore.”

Source: The New York Post, Rolling Out , BBC, examiner.com, pagesix.com

Distasteful VH-1 reality show, "Sorority Sisters", is a new low in Black America

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 20:11:00 +0000

I am writing this post in disbelief that a show in which VH-1 produced called, "Sorority Sisters", is actually being broadcast over cable network television. This show is looked at by other groups of people to show the world how Black Americans, college educated people, act no different than your stereotypical ghetto, ratchet, hood nigga bi*##. This show proves that the dollar is the preferred religious method of attainment over dignity, vibrant culture and progression toward equal rights.

Whoever these black women are just regressed the black culture to a period of the early Jim Crow era. I thought that getting a college education was supposed to improve your situation for equal opportunity in the workforce and better treatment of a person's civil rights. Not in these day and times. Instead of improving and developing the current situation of African Americans in a racially divided country these shows promote the exact opposite.

Typical caricature of a black man
in the early 1900's

Back in the days of the Jim Crow era, plays were put on by white people in black face called minstrel shows. These shows were meant to demean, hurt and ridicule another group of people purposefully. When television was invented these minstrel shows were broadcast nationwide in people's living rooms. A famous writer said, "If I could have the nigger show back again in its pristine purity, I should have little use for opera." -- Mark Twain.

Minstrel performances evolved from several different American entertainment traditions; the traveling circus, medicine shows, shivaree, Irish dance and music with African syncopated rhythms, musical halls and traveling theatre.

T.D. Rice, the father of American
minstrelsy

The "father of American minstrelsy" was Thomas Dartmouth "Daddy" Rice (1808-60), who in 1828, in a New York City theatre, performed a song-and-dance routine in blackface and tattered clothes. Rice's character was based on a folk trickster persona named Jim Crow that was long popular among black slaves. Rice also adapted and popularized a traditional slave song called Jump Jim Crow.
His act was an immediate sensation and while continuing to prefect the routine, Rice gained fame and fortune by performing it throughout the U.S. and in England.

In 1842, the songwriter Daniel Decatur Emmett and three companions devised a program of singing and dancing in blackface to the accompaniment of bone castanets, fiddle, banjo, and tambourine. Calling themselves the Virginia Minstrels, they made their first public appearance in February 1843 in a New York City theater.
The show was so popular that many imitators emerged while the demand for minstrel shows quickly became insatiable {insatiable, [adj] - incapable of being satisfied, always wanting more; from Merriam-Webster Dictionary}. In 1844, only one year after the first performance of the Virginia Minstrels, a blackface minstrel troupe called the Ethiopian Serenaders played at the White House for the "Especial Amusement of the President of the United States, His Family and Friends." Wow, no wonder this country is divided on the issue of race and the system of racism/white supremacy.

Televised Black Minstrel Show

Blackface performers are, "...the filthy scum of white society, who have stolen from us a complexion denied them by nature, in which to make money, and pander to the corrupt taste of their white fellow citizens." -- Frederick Douglass

Initially, Blacks were able to participate in minstrel shows only by declaring themselves "real coons." The minstrel shows of the 21st century are performed by eager and willing African Americans with shows like: Love and Hiphop, Basketball Wives (in which they are not even wives), Real Housewives of Atlanta, Hollywood Divas, Football Wives and Sorority Sisters. Sadly there are so many more to name but I won't do that in this article so I'll address all the other reality minstrel shows in another post.

Sources: Ohio History Central, black-face.com, PBS.org, U.S. History Scene, Ferris State University, Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia

St. Louis radio Dj keeps hiphop art form alive

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 18:25:00 +0000

On-air radio personality, D-Ex, keeps the hiphop art form of deejaying and turntablism alive as he demonstrates his technique live on the air at KDHX 88.1 FM. A radio show called, Deep Krate Radio, hosted by D-Ex and Dj Iceman airs every Friday night from 9-11pm. These two dj's are part of an ensemble known as the Wax Murdaraz and they bring you the latest and all-time greatest hiphop sounds, songs, scratches and mixes live on the air nonstop.

Wax Murdaraz are a group of hip-hop musicians specialising in vinyl deejaying and music production. The group operates Wax Murdaraz Professional DJ Skool in St. Louis, Missouri training people in hip-hop deejaying.

D-Ex, 88.1 FM radio personality and dj

Founding members (Da Fly) D-Ex and DJ Professional (formerly DJ Finesse) recorded a number of tapes together in the late 1980s under the name Pest Realm and released these tapes independently from 1989 to 1995.

The duo later adopted the alias "Wax Murdaraz" and in 1998 began constructing turntable "band" routines to present in a live format.

Dj Professional, Wax Murdaraz dj

In 1999, D-Ex recruited deejays B-Money (who has since produced music for Jay-Z and 50 Cent), Furius "Iceman" Stylz, DJ K-Nine, Charlie Chan (former DJ for Da Brat; as of 2002, deejaying full-time for Darryl "DMC" McDaniels), and DJ Scratch protégé Mocha Sunflower. Wax Murdaraz went on to recruit battle legend King IXL in 2002.

Desmond Zion Albert

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 22:07:00 +0000

Born in rural Dominica West Indies, Desmond Zion Albert’s musical landscape was shaped at an early age by the messages of perseverance, endurance, self and spiritual empowerment in the Roots Reggae Movement of the 1970′s.

It was after moving to St. Croix, that Zion blew away a local music producer with songs like “United We Stand” and “Here Comes The Woman”. He demonstrated the depth and consciousness of an older soul trapped inside a humble and quiet 16 year old. “While everyone my age used to listen to more younger popular music, I was drawn to conscious Reggae music. I never really choose to do music … it was just inside of me. Once I learned to play the guitar as a teenager, it was like a natural thing. It was Jah’s guidance”.

Since immigrating to the United States, Zion’s music has spread from the Caribbean to the Southern and Midwestern parts of the states where he has built a sizable following as one of the few Caribbean artists in these Hip Hop dominated communities. This talented artist performed at events such as The Texas Summer Music Conference and The Hip Hop Action Summit Network. Check out Desmond Zion Albert's website www.zionreggaemusic.com

Zion, pictured in the middle, at Tuff Gong International Studio

With his sights set on seasoned Caribbean audiences of the Northeast, Zion wowed the producers of New York’s premiere outdoor Reggae festival, Irie Jamboree in 2005 so much so that he was invited back to bring down the house again in 2006. Desmond Zion Albert was the sole roots artist invited by Dancehall legend, Bounty Killer, to perform at the New York Launch of Saddle to the East 2006, where he won over scores of hardcore Dancehall fans. Zion said, “My biggest goal is to come back home to help my people and spread the message of hope, togetherness love and peace. My greatest accomplishment is recording at Tuff Gong International, Bob Marley’s studio, in Jamaica”. In 2006, Zion formed a band called, Zion and The Lion Roots Band. Since November 8 of 2012 the band has opened up for a number of international artists such as Pato Banton in 2010, The Wailers Band in 2012, Mighty Diamonds in May of 2012 and Luciano in 2013. Check out more of Zion on facebook.

St. Louis-based hiphop group D.O.A. featuring Young Noble of The Outlaws

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 21:34:00 +0000

A St. Louis-based hiphop group, D.O.A., is the modern embodiment of what rap music is supposed to be about today which is exposing racist Amerikkka for what it is. This group has the sound of revolution that puts listeners right in the middle of the intersection of West Florissant Ave. and Canfield Drive also known as "Ground Zero" which on August 9, 2014 a Ferguson police officer brutally murdered a young 18 year old unarmed black man named Michael Brown Jr.

The song "Born Targets", features Young Noble (from 2pac's legendary rap group The Outlaws), is a narrative describing the uprising in Ferguson. The song challenges authority and influences listeners to take a really deep look at Amerikkkan society. The song also has a sound reminiscent of hiphop from the era of the mid 1990's that is dark, gritty and thought provoking.

Yard Squad @ Club 2720 with Desmond Zion Albert

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 16:53:00 +0000

The reggae band, Yard Squad, played @ Club 2720 featuring the roots reggae artist Desmond Zion Albert also known as Zion. This video is a promo edited in Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 by Philly (also known as Dj Flexx).

Zion was the main act of the Summer Reggae Festival 2014 in which several local artists opened up the show along with Jamaican artist Richy Rych.

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 23:49:00 +0000

Reggae artist, Desmond Zion Albert, performed at the Summer Reggae Festival 2014 @ Club 2720 in St. Louis, MO. The band playing that night was Yard Squad, who was in a zone vybing out.

I have other footage from this event so stay tuned...
Jamaican artist Richie Rich headlined the event along with local artists who opened the show.

Local artists include Nikki L, Sojourner and Dez Irie. Zion gave a lively performance by not only singing while playing the lead guitar but also playing the congas as well.

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 20:29:00 +0000

This is a video that explains why Black Americans are upset about the Michael Brown murder. The two commentators are Dr. Brittany Cooper, Assist. Professor of Women's, Gender & African American Studies at Rutgers University; and David Wall Rice.

I only have a link to the video because the major news outlets don't upload videos to you tube about relevant controversial issues because they want all the traffic to go to their site. But this video is worth the watch because the two commentators present the issue of race in America very poignantly.
Here's the link: live.huffingtonpost.com/r/highlight/why-black-rage-is-entirely-reasonable-and-justifiably-healthy/53f22433fe344412fa000251?cn=tbla

Insolent Politics

source: Huffingtonpost.com

Fan reactions at SWV concert in STL

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 23:18:00 +0000

Hello everyone. I know I have been off the radar for little over a year now but I was working 2 jobs to make some ends meet (I know you understand the situation in this economy). I will be back up and running this fall with some new fresh and exciting videos from different events in the St. Louis area.
These are some fan reactions at the SWV concert at FOX Sports Midwest Live! in Ballpark Village. The event took place Sunday Aug. 10, 2014 in St. Louis, MO.

The last person in the video is 100.3 FM's radio personality "BJ the DJ" who co-hosted the event with fellow radio personality Tammy Holland.

Wu-Tang Clan - It's Yourz

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Tue, 28 May 2013 00:09:00 +0000

This is a song during the "Golden Age" of Hiphop performed by a group that was spittin conscious lyrics.
I'm reminiscing right now.

Wu-Tang Clan are 5% ers who told the media what was goin on in their neighborhoods in New York.

A few new construction projects going on in Saint Louis City

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Mon, 06 May 2013 00:41:00 +0000

Driving around the City of St. Louis is exciting and bewildering (because of all the signs and detours). It feels good to see improvements in our communities. All of the following pictures were taken in the Central West End area of St. Louis.


This is 4510 Delmar, west of Taylor

I wonder what type of facility this will be? The Central West End is represented by three aldermen as it sits partially in the 17th, 18th, and 28th Wards. The alder-persons are Joseph D. Roddy, Terry Kennedy and Lyda Krewson respectively.


This looks like a Career Resource Center


Beautiful home redone plus a big addition in the back

This is a very interesting piece of real estate. I saw the construction going on throughout the whole process. I'm not sure what the owner had in mind but it looks like the back part will be some sort of educational or training facility. It could also be a meeting place for small business owners and entrepreneurs.


Hmmm, private parking for constituents maybe?

Everywhere you turn there is new construction going on.This is at the corner of Delmar and Academy where this construction group is building this structure at blazing speed. I'll post the latest pics on the next blog.


Corner of Delmar & Academy

Right behind me, after I took the above pic, I turned around to see what the hoopla was about. I observed some men trotting on this steeeep roof top. They were singing some sort of folk tune while they were working. The guy hanging from the rope was singing as well while he flailed his free hand and clinched the rope with his other hand.


These brave roofers were energetic on the job

These photos were taken on Apr. 13, 2013 9:35am.

Twilight Tuesday 4-26-2011

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 15:40:00 +0000

On Tuesday April 26, 2011 Twilight Tuesday kicked off with bang!(I'm ready for this spring of 2013). The well known band Dr. Zhivegas performed and perform they did. The place was packed, the atmosphere eager and party-ready. The weather...a perfect spring evening of 70 degrees. Dr. Zhivegas, pronounced “Doctor-zhi-vaygiss” was the first band to kick off a series of spring to summer outdoor concert series in 2011. This high energy band will have you groovin' to all of your favorite disco, club and party songs from the '70s up to the present!


Here we go, the first song.


The two vocalists rockin the crowd.

Lead guitar player rocks a solo backed up by the drummer

Dr. Zhivegas, is one of the most sought out dance and rock acts in the United States, performing over 200 shows a year. The band's music is the intersection of a hard pop, dance-party rock with a touch of r&b.

Rockin the crowd...the lady singer has a big strong beautiful voice

The crowd dancing, grooving and partying it up!

There is a nice big open space designated as the dance floor right in front of the band so don't be shy to cut a rug with people of all ages and race who come out to enjoy themselves.

The early birds get poolside priviledge


The kids rrreally enjoyed themselves


Beautiful sunset below the tree line in beautiful Forest Park

Time for the second set


Party at dusk into the night

The decorative Missouri History Museum in the background

The band kept the high energy going strong.

Night time party!!!

A Dr. Zhivegas show is a multimedia nonstop dance party event. Using the latest technology, incorporating (optional) video back drops, lighting and pyro effects, Dr. Zhivegas brings a larger than life concert experience to your private event. Your audience will always be dancing as the live sets segue seamlessly into the VJ breaks and back to the live show.

Hands up party people!

A beautiful night with a beautifully lit pool.

Crowd having a good time, the dance floor is packed

One more time..... hands up party people!!

Kool transportation for over the road travel in comfort.

Twilight Tuesday concerts are outdoors on the front lawn of The Missouri History Museum on Lindell Blvd., so bring blankets or lawn chairs for 2013. Limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Picnic baskets are welcome. Food and drink will also be available for purchase from Butler's Pantry Catering. Oh, and by the way... the event is free to the public! Concert times are from 6:00pm to 8:30pm every Tuesday (weather permitting) until the series is over which usually 7 to 8 weeks. The concert series then breaks for July and the first half of August and then kicks off again from late August to early October. Each concert series features a wide variety of music styles including jazz, rock-n-roll, reggae and country. So it's two in one fun twice a year. This is a very popular St. Louis Attraction. At this time the 2013 line-up has not officially been posted.

8th Annual St. Louis Ice Carnival

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:00:00 +0000

Every year businesses and organizations of the Delmar Loop come together and throw a winter festival known as The Loop Ice Carnival. This year the Ice Carnival took place on January 18 & 19, 2013.

The Loop Ice Carnival 2013

A crowded corner at Delmar & Skinker Blvds.

Washington University has plans for an $80 million project consisting of stores and apartments for about 550 students. The project comprises a four to six-story building of retail space and apartments on Delmar Boulevard at Eastgate Avenue and three new mid-rise apartment buildings on Enright Avenue nearby. Design work has started and construction began in January 2013 and should be open with occupancy in August 2014, university officials said.

Ice sculpture of the proposed $80million storefront and student apartments

Mom and child enjoying their day out

The beautiful historic Tivoli Theatre.

St. Louis' beloved Tivoli Theatre features the finest in independent film and foreign language cinema. Architecturally and historically, the Tivoli Building is the most prominent edifice in The Loop area of St. Louis. It has a street frontage of 180 feet, is four stories tall, houses seven specialty shops in addition to the theatre, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch described the theatre as having "luxury and splendor eclipsing that of any other St. Louis theater" and "the piece de resistance of glorified beauty."
(On May 24, 1924, the ornate Tivoli Theatre opened to the public.)

This stilt walker entertains the crowd and amazes the kids with juggling and slight of hand magic tricks.

Crowds of visitors enjoying the price specials at local shops

A juggling demonstration to entertain on-lookers

Father taking a pic of his son for a cherished memory

Noodles ice sculture

Kids ready to pose in the whimsical wooden cut-outs

Many of the kids got a very cold hands on experience with the ice sculptures by running their hands on the frozen art work.


The DJ played some good music for several hours and kept it entertaining

Interesting ice sculpture


The Pinup Bowl

The Moonrise, a luxury boutique hotel

Opened in April 2009 by Joe Edwards as part of his vision for adding vibrancy to the Delmar Loop neighborhood, the eight-story Moonrise Hotel serves as a destination hotel for St. Louis locals, Washington University visitors and out-of-state travelers alike. Its prime location next to The Pageant attracts musicians and concertgoers from across the nation.

The Moonrise Hotel also is home to the award-winning Eclipse Restaurant, a St. Louis leader in casual fine dining. Eclipse Restaurant's talented chefs serve up a menu of fresh, contemporary American dishes made from locally sourced, seasonal and organic ingredients, and skilled bartenders mix up classic cocktails with a modern twist.

The Moonrise Hotel had a packed house with visitors, patrons and overnight guests. "Cosmonauts on Ice" features two Moonrise Hotel Rooftop vodka sampling stations. If you look closely at the top of the building there was a big crowd partying on the hotel rooftop sampling vodka cosmopolitans. They were delicious I must say!!!

Good Works Home Decor sculpture

A couple of penguins passing out event brocures.

The ladies just love this sculpture!

The Pageant

The Pageant Nightclub is a live music venue and opened for the first time on October 19, 2000. The name is the only remnant from the long-gone Pageant movie theater which was located about 3 blocks further east on Delmar from the present location.
The Halo Bar is a club/hangout spot located on the first floor of the Pageant and is a great place to be before and after a show, or just any time you want to relax and people watch. The Halo Bar is open 7 days a week until 3am.

Norman the Gnome sculpture for Ice Visions

One of the many cocktail bars for adults

Events included family-friendly ice slides, human dog sledding, the 5-hour "Putt-Putt Bar Crawl", 5 & 10K frozen buns run, live ice carving demonstrations, the 11-bar long, stilt-walkers and jugglers and penguins walking throughout the loop. The evening ended with live art performances at the Regional Arts Commission. Also to end the evening with a bang were 10 live bands which performed at 10 different clubs that evening. I'm so looking forward to next year already!

movie short Snaphot directed by Kevin Coleman

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 23:26:00 +0000

SNAPSHOT
Release date: September 2005

Written by John Cruz
Produced by Brian Armes
Directed by Kevin Coleman

In an East Los Angeles community, some use guns to settle issues; a seventeen year-old girl meets them head on and stands with a weapon of her choice, a camera.

Story: Esperanza is an aspiring photographer from a quiet neighborhood in Pasadena. Her best friend, Rosa, has recently become involved with Al, a gang leader from a gritty East Los Angeles neighborhood. Rosa takes Esperanza to Boyle Heights to meet Al. He shows them around his neighborhood, his gang, and his family, opening Espeanza's eyes to both the depravity and the beauty of life in Al's barrio. Esperanza's naivety and brandishing of her camera causes a disturbance in Al's set which endangers the lives of everyone she cares for. After that tragic day, Esperanza must decide what her life will become as she faces the loss of those she loves caused by the art she loves.

Snapshot from Kevin Coleman on Vimeo.

SNAPSHOT AWARDS/SCREENINGS
S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase
2nd Annual Charlotte Black Film Festival 2012 (Official Selection)
18th Annual African-American Film Marketplace and S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase, 2011
Black Hollywood Education & Resource Center "Reel Black Men Showcase" 2011
Lionsgate, Expose Your Shorts 2010
Black Reel Award 2007
Hollywood Black Film Festival 2006 (Best Student Film)
Urban World Film Festival 2006 (Official Selection)
World Fest Houston 2006 (Grand Remy Award)
Urban Media Makers Award 2006 (Official Selection)
River's Edge Film Festival 2005 (Official Selection)

First female wins democratic primary for St. Louis City Treasurer

noreply@blogger.com (DJ Flexx) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 17:33:00 +0000

Hardworking Missouri State Representative Tishaura Jones beat out Aldermen Fred Wessels and Jeffery Boyd, and the city’s democratic central committee chairman Brian Wahby as the first female City Treasurer of St. Louis back in August of 2012.
Despite all of the mismanagement and alleged corruption in the Treasurer's office, Jones made it clear that she is going to turn that office inside out to ensure operational integrity and public accountability by all who do business there. The key for Tishaura's victory has been attributed to successful grassroot efforts. Former St. Louis Comptroller Virvus Jones is Tishaura's father who served as his daughter's campaign manager in the four-way Democratic primary.

Tishaura also has leadership experience. After her first term, Rep. Jones was selected by her colleagues as the Assistant Minority Floor Leader. She is the first African-American and the first woman to hold this position in Missouri history. As a member of the leadership team, she is second in command of the Democratic members of the Missouri House of Representatives. As a state legislator in her second term, Jones said she has a strong handle on the law and investment banking – two skills that would allow her to make real change and growth in the office. The City of St. Louis is a county, and the Office of the Treasurer is subject to state law.

Tishaura has yet another hurdle to jump which is the General election in November. She faces Republican Tim Bachmann and the Green Party's Anthony Stevens. Jones stated, "It will be an honor to be on the same ballot as our President, Barack Obama!".