Happy New Year to all! Hopefully the first full week of 2002 is finding everyone with good spirit and ambitious energy!  On the wilder side of life, Busta Rhymes came to Seattle last month for a superb KUBE in-studio Q&A session. Nighttime Playa Bobby O hosted the mid-day event, and a crowd of 50 or so contest winners came to share in the fun. Busta commented about his new album Genesis, but also took some time to elaborate on his thoughts about September 11th and the way that it affected him and the Hip Hop community. Here's what he had to say:"September 11th is an issue that supersedes whatever we got goin on. It's a lot deeper than us. It's George Bush and their corruptive legacy, you know I'm not disrespecting America, but as an American I feel as Americans we're entitled to the truth about what's really going on with America and their business. I don't think they be keeping it truthful with us - and it's really not fair, it's not right -and until I know the truth, I can't concern myself with September 11th in the way that I would really like to - because I can concern myself only when I know how to concern myself. I mean, naturally, I'm definitely concerned with securing the well-being of myself, my family and loved ones and so on, but that's an instinct thing - that ain't got nothing to do with September 11th - that's just the nature of people. You've got loved ones, you want to make sure they're safe, you got people that you care about you're gonna make sure they safe - September 11th never had to exist. But as kids and as young adults we make sure that we are doing okay by working hard and making sure we got our three meals of the day and making sure we ain't doing nothing that's gonna get us sick or get us killed. So just the nature of making sure our families and friends was okay during September 11th, I was affected in that way - I immediately tried to be around my family because I ain't know if it was gonna get worse - and if it was gonna get worse I wanted my last moments to be with my family. "I think that the way it affected the Hip Hop community - they wasn't able to make as much money for a minute - couldn't go around and do shows and travel for a little while, the clubs was closing down, there wasn't too much partying going on because people didn't feel safe running around with all of the random attacks that was happening and the anthrax hype. In that way if affected. I don't think that it affected people as far as anyone trying to capitalize on a beef level over September 11th, because ain't nobody's beef relative to September 11th. Their beefs are direct issues that they might have had with each other and it's all being addressed, and I just feel like at the end of the day it's just good to see that people are getting back to their normal lives, because September 11th is a bunch of bullshit to me. I just feel that there's a lot of things we don't know about. For example, a lot of us didn't know that Bin Laden was financed by the United States to fight for the United States against Russia. A lot of people don't know that Bin Laden was down with us at one time, and getting paid to be down with us. Something must have went wrong where the deal between the United States and Bin Laden didn't go right, and there must be a justified reason why something happened over here. It ain't like we the most honest government in the world. "I'm pro-America though, because all of our opportunities of being able to live and get money and take care of my family comes from living in this government. I don't want to compromise that - I'm still with America - but ultimately I just feel like as a people, we're in a different time - it's like a genesis now, it's a new beginning, a new way of thinking - and I think there should be a new level of respect that we are given as people of this government, and at least give us some more of the truth. Let us know what's going on." - For the full transcript of Busta's Q&A session and photos from the KUBE event - check out Seaspot.com. The Los Angeles liquor-loving Liks crew and the kingly emcee Defari are planning a nationwide tour with the Living Legends. They will be on the road at the end of January for a 60-day venture, and I will let everyone know the official dates and venues in the next update. On Wednesday, January 9th the I-Spy will feature the Lovage tour, promoting the interestingly titled album Music to Make Love to your Old Lady By. Appearing will be Dan The Automator of The Gorillaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Doctor Octagon, and Deltron 3030 fame (and who is also featured on the upcoming X-ecutioners album), as well as Mike Patton of Mr. Bungle, Fantomas and Tomahawk. Kid Koala and Jennifer Charles of The Elysian Fields are also guests. Find out ticket information at ispyseattle.com Isangmahal Arts Kollective will sponsor their monthly spoken word event at the Northwest Asian-American Theater on Tuesday, January 15th. On an aside note, I'm really hoping that Def Poetry Jam is shedding some light to the masses on just how dope spoken word can be. There have already been some incredible performances on the show, and it looks promising. Def Poetry Jam is on HBO on Friday nights, and it's this consistent good shit at HBO that makes the $57a month I pay the Cable demon so worthwhile! On January 18th Directproductions.com is bringing the One Bad Sista tour to the I-Spy. Medusa and her live band Feline Science, along with fellow Project Blowed member Abstract Rude and ATU will all be on stage for a night of lyrical showman-and-womanship. This all ages event will also feature 2Mex, DJ Drez, Children Of The Thorn, Syndel of Oldominion, and DJ Wicked. January 18 will also be a fun night for Portland when The Netherworlds and Slick Rick set foot on the stage at the Roseland Theatre. Find out more info at portland.citysearch.com. The S.H.O.W. organization will be having its first independent show on January 19th at the I-Spy for an all ages show with Aesop Rock and Cannibal Ox, as well as Sleep from the Oldominion crew, beat boxer Otha Major and DJ Norm from Chicago crew The Pacifics. This is an early show, and there's something to look forward too later that night… At 10:00pm on the 19th Silent Lambs Project is headlining the "The Kontrast" Show at the Sit N Spin. The night will include a fashion show by Unique Styles, and will be hosted by J. Boogie. Deejays Top Spin and King Otto along with Sarkastic, Tilson of the Graain, and SLP will take the night out in style. For more information check out slproject.com The 2nd Annual Brainstorm Battle is right around the corner! One mic. Two emcees. Five judges. Thirty-second rounds. One thousand-five-hundred-fifty spectators. Two thousand-five-hundred dollars to the winner. And an infinite amount of words which to choose from to take the title as Brainstorm Emcee Battle Champion of 2002. Along with the battle itself, Brainstorm will feature performances from Eyedea & DJ Abilities, One Man Army (formerly of Binary Star) & DJ Phrikshun, and many others to be announced soon. Emcees will be entering from all over the country, so the 64 slots will fill up quickly. The application deadline is February 1st, and there is a registration fee of $25 for those who make it into the contest. For more information about entering the battle, accommodations in Seattle, and special guests and judges, log onto brainstormbattle.com It's wonderful to see a few phenomenal emcees received accolades from the Grammy committee! Congratulations to Mystic and Planet Asia for their nomination in the Rap/Sung category. Their duet "W" is featured on Mystic's Cuts For Luck And Scars For Freedom, and is the next single off of the album. *holdin up my W for the love* Until next time, Dove ~Sheepish Lordess of Chaos~ |