so we leave this blog mildly sadden, but alas it is time to grow.

http://thosedelaluz.com

our new site for the 2k11 and forever.

]]> http://thosedelaluz.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/last-post/feed/ 0 nia http://thosedelaluz.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/village-sounds/ http://thosedelaluz.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/village-sounds/#comments Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:52:48 +0000 Nia Keturah http://thosedelaluz.wordpress.com/?p=3392 Continue reading →]]>

You have to be careful when you’re declaring a forward motion(progression) as a movement.

Especially with music, everybody and their second cousin is starting “a movement”. I call what I experienced this past Sunday night a movement, because the people there never did. Those responsible for a movement never have to call it such, you will just know.

And I just knew.

Let me start the story from the beginning, how I became familiar with this village nestled on the west side of Atlanta. My homie, the talented Mr.Greene asked me to accompany him to a listening party for a guy named Najee, but you should just call him

Naj Murph

I had met Naj, before…a cool individual.  Actually we had a computer science course together, he’s a schooled individual. I had heard a bit of his music and was interested in what he had in the makings. I knew I needed to make the move to the listening party. Thus on a cool Sunday evening I drove my 95 Accura up to a pleasant house in Atlanta’s West End. As I walked into the warm spot decorated with instruments and mj vocals I was welcomed into

“The Village.”

Hearing that one of those could raise a child, I was optimistic that this could be a night of growth. To those of you blessed enough never to attend an industry event, let me tell you they are usually awkward bewildering creations. Everyone comes acting like they have the secret to what it means to be dope and they don’t want it to tell anyone. This was the opposite; nothing fake, no fronting. A circle of chairs, sutter home, dark liquor and beer. . .and an assortment of cookies. All surrounding a sound system. This was family reunion a village meeting.

The man above with the gryffindor scarf and Sam Jack hat (now that’s black magic) is Mr. Christopher A. Patterson,  you could call him the trill chief of this village. After some mingling hamming it up, he quieted down the tribe and established how the night would go forth. Five tracks, opinions mixed q&a after each one. He asked for completely honesty.

And it began. . .

There was a point when I looked at Spencer and actually hit him, I’m a passivist so that means a lot. Heir Murph (coming November 23) is a well thought out, cleverly mastered mix of hip hop bravado, introspective thinking, and AUC ratchettness. Which means it takes you on journey; starting at a comfortable spot, homely and secure. Then it takes you to some place greater, where you’re tested, and you end up at a party. . .just wanting to release and absorb life.

A big part of the journey was the production. Naj employed in house village production for the whole record. The majority being produced by his main creative partner, Nick “The Quick” Dean.  However we heard some notable tracks from Brandon Phillips-Taylor and Kass Clark. 3 very different production styles leaves Heir Murph feeling well rounded and complete.

Nick “the quick” Dean

Brandon Phillips-TaylorKass Clark

We asked to listen to more tracks after we ran the first five back. November 23 you all should be excited, a new movement is coming.

addition listening party photos available at: http://facebook.com/thosedelaluz

The tribe of the village, call them the WATIA. At the end of the night I asked why they kept putting those w’s in the air, and what WATIA means. . .I was told;

We are. Therefore, I am.

I left and I knew I had just been introduced to a movement.

step into the Light.

Brought to you by the fine folks who sponsor my all nighters. . .

The Red Bull Music Academy is a symposium of music and knowledge that has been travelling the world since 1998: a platform for those who shape our musical future.

I watched this in it’s entirety twice, and took notes. Sometimes being a virally hip hop head means you attend Ghetto University, back row. These 90 minutes were a scholarship to the ivy leagues. Thank you Red Bull forgiving me more than wings.

step into the Light.

                      Nia K C presents:

I am not from the same city as the men posted above.

They are Native New Yorkers and I am from the DMV. Well, I am from Annapolis, MD. . .

Brands that claim NYC; countless. Brands that claim the DMV; Durkl, Shooters(?), Sobiato(?) Can we claim BBC&Play Cloths, Judges? Judges say no. Brands that claim Annapolis: Well, Durkl did an Annapolis Jacket, Judges? Judges say no. In that case shoutout to Banco Pop.

Back to my original point. . .we are not from the same city.

We just happen to educate ourselves within the same academic center, the illustrious Atlanta University Center Consortium. Home of Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University.

So I would be off to claim B. Write and Dez as my hometown heroes. Seeing that our hometowns are different. However, in the AUC everybody is kin. The Atlanta University Center it’s like a weird little city of it’s own. Therefore Brian and Desmond are my Morehouse Brothers and  my Collegetown Heroes.

If you faithful readers could just indulge me for a few moments, I’d like to talk to you about the work of my tribe:

Kreemo.

What is Kreemo?

According to their trilly designed website, kreemo.com , Kreemo is a lifestyle brand “intended for those who stand out in society” or beg to differ. They’re also a company that offers lifestyle branding services. Meaning you could wear it or hire them, either way they’re spreading their lifestyle.

And oh what a lifestyle it is. . .

I like to think if the Native Tongues were cool with Junior Mafia, in the age of Odd Future and went to college down south; like something out of a Spike Lee Joint. . .

you’d get Kreemo.

Pause, imagine how awesome that is.

The dope part about Kreemo, if what I’ve been conveying hasn’t been dope, is their extension. From the music of their artist, Papa Jae and two9 affiliates (two9: Curtis  Williams, Retro Sushi, Fat Kid’s Brotha etc) to their clothes, to their videossss. You can understand their whole movement. While we’re talking about videos we have to discuss their subset:

Kreemo Tele

The brainchild of Tim and Nana, Kreemo Tele represents a few gentlemen committed to make videos, well. And that they do. . .thus everyone with a computer can view the Kreemo lifestyle.

Check their vimeo channel and realize they’ve been places that we would all like to see.

I don’t know how this Spike Lee Joint is going to end, but hopefully it’s with them ascending to highest heights. Until that time it’s fun just watching them be fly. It’s important to note that all these visuals are from their F/W 2011 Lookbook and you can cop it all at shop.kreemo.com

step into the Light.

Instagram is a free photo sharing application available on the apple market. Users are able to snap pictures apply a filter, a tilt shift, and share them via all our favorites social networks.

According to Wikipedia. . .

and all of it’s dependency, with barely a year under Instagram’s belt it always has

over 100 million photos being uploaded a month

&

10 million+ users registered

Meaning that every hipster with an iPhone is snapping away daily. That’s not a shot. . .I’m one of the faithful. See below:

Capturing everything from my late-night plantain, to my homecoming henna, to my walk to class.

So what is it about this app? There all other photo sharing apps and most social network apps have the option to upload photos straight way. Why middle man it up with Insta? Honestly? It’s art appreciation for the masses. Anyone with the right apple product can download and try their hand at it. No Canon’s, Sony’s, or any other DSLRs to separate the pro from the run of the mill joe; all are welcomed. BUT the really pulling point are the filters from Rise to Nashville in 1977 users are able to transform their pictures. Its not a new concept, but Insta (inspired by polaroids) does make the process incredibly quick. And dare I say it artistic? My true photographers friends swear by it as much as my homies who have barely picked up a point-n-shoot. That’s what you call mass appeal.

My obsession? I think it comes from being able to beautifully share my visual life. We all think we lead beautiful lives. At the very least, we want other people to believe we do. Instagram turns people into believers, quite easily. In a world full of doubt, it’s no wonder people (like me) are becoming addicted to easy belief. Whatever the cause may be I just hope the appeal of Instagram last as long as swag has in hip hop lexicon.

step into the Light.

Today, I woke up a bit really crazzzy late

. . .I reached for my camera (call him Mr.Grand) instead of hitting my alarm, this is what ensued:

The Wake Up II

step into the Light.

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