In lieu of today’s Breakbeat Tuesday jumpoff, I am heading out into the cold cold cold hard black earth that is Manhattan so a brother can get his head cut. Got to prep for this weekend, where I will be hitting up some shows in Canada (Thursday at Hi Fi in Calgary & Friday at Fortune Sound in Vancouver) and Seattle (Saturday at HG Lodge.) Peep the events page for more details. Anyway, you know how we do – got to stay fresh to death, No Delilah.
However to satisfy my loyal reader’s never ending thirst for useless knowledge and WMDs, and my never ending hunger to keep on talking, a brand new Cosmo’s Crates went up today over at the Fool’s Gold site. Big shout out to Carl Bean.
Rub Radio welcomes New York house hero Nick Chacona this month. Nick tells about his early days in roots reggae, his house and disco projects on Mood, Hector Works and Wurst, and spinning in a military truck turned DJ booth in Jamaica!
And of course he joins us on the turntables as we play all types of joints from hip-hop to revival soul to dubstep to funk and plenty of exclusives. Listen at http://scion.com/channel2, on iTunes > Radio > Hip-Hop > The Rub on Scion Radio 17, or at the handy little link on the lefthand side of the page.
This is something my good homie Chris Devlin of Spankrock / Devin & Darko / Win Win fame recently hipped me to. Now personally, I believe that because of the position that we’re in, people with notoriety have the power, the opportunity, and in some senses the obligation, to make their voices heard. Anyone who has read my site in the past knows that I don’t shy away from voicing my opinions on issues that I feel are important. So what Chris brought to my attention is the issue of conflict minerals.
Now obviously in the 21st Century we all heavily depend on electronics, for work, for communication, for leisure. Now computers, cell phones, mp3 players, digital cameras, and a ton of other electronic devices crucial to our lifestyle demand the mining of the ores that produce tin, gold, tantelum, and tungsten. The eastern areas of The Democratic Republic of the Congo are rich with these minerals. The profit from the trade in these minerals is fought over violently and reaps great civilian casualty, both physical and psychological. Rape, murder, forced labor, and other terrible shit is a by-product of this ongoing battle for the control of these raw materials. It’s basically the same story as “blood diamonds” and such. For a more in-depth look at this issue, please see this article in the Washington Post. Also, please check this video below.
Now Apple, IBM, Dell, Blackberry (RIM), and others do not buy directly from these warlords and militia men, but these ‘conflict minerals’ still make there way into our electronics. The road from the mine to the apple store is a long one. This is where congo really could benefit from our help. If al ot of folks speak up and tell these companies that we, as humans, as professionals, as people who rely on computers, phones, and cameras to do our jobs and live our creative lives, want ‘conflict free’ products they will ultimately have to listen. The good news is that they have listened, and this email is to get some help in ensuring that these companies don’t try and minimize their accountability. And here is how you can help lend a hand…
1: Go to to the Enough Projects website and send your computer and electronics companies a note saying you want them to diligently work towards conflict free products. (its very easy click the link here: http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/content/conflict-minerals-company-rankings and then click on the icon of the company you want to address). We all thank you for taking the little amount of time and helping raise awareness of this cataclysmic and heart wrenching tragedy that is going on right under our noses.
2: Sign this petition which will help to ensure that the BI-PARTISAN legislation in Congress designed to rid the supply lines of ‘conflict minerals’ (now being overseen by the SEC) continues to build strength, support, and clarity.THE PETITION JUST WENT LIVE @ 12:15 pm, and WE ARE AIMING FOR A BIG ‘TURNOUT’ TODAY. CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Getting back to the MUSIC, Devlin, XXXChange & Ghostdad are set to release the brand new album by their new group Win Win. Trust me when I tell you that it’s absolutely incredible and, for me perhaps it’s the most exiting release of the year so far. Knowing these guys, it’s awe inspiring to see the direction that they have gone and just how well it has ended up coming together. The first single “Releaserpm” featuring Lizzie Bougatsos of Gang Gang Dance, is a to me a perfect 21st Century pop record. Fuck, that shit just makes me so happy to hear. Without question my favorite song of 2011 so far. Win Win is definitely winning. Peep the video teaser below, (which features the song remixed inna de Moombahton stylee via my main man Dave Nada) and stay on the lookout for the album coming out soon on Vice Records.
I figured today was a good day to post some rap music videos. Just some good shit that I love. Shout out to Grand Puba who for so long was considered one of the top top top MCs at his time. It would be the type of thing where a guest Puba verse sold you on a record. Also shout out to the people in charge of art direction for 2000 which was pretty bad (“See, we’re gonna have you lean on a Lambo – that’s so 2000!”) At least the people in charge of Akinyele’s art for his album were kind of on point, even if it’s unbelievably crass… But yeah, rap music fucking rules, straight up.. Go Birds.
POST SCRIPT – I’ve fallen into the habit recently of posting some phenomenal YouTube clips on my personal Facebook page. There’s some fucking awesome shit up on there, so check it out.
POST POST SCRIPT – Stay tuned to this site this week for a lot of good shit going down.
Thursday November 21 – MF DOOM Book Release – Philly, PA 
