Starting the day off right with an awesome breakfast.  Annchan always puts some extra love in the cereal. Strawberries. MMmmmm.

Mighty Healthy Ra. Damn, I even got a breakfast sandwich that morning… i’m unbelievably spoiled!

Annchan getting ready for a photoshoot

Coco Appearance

Chillin with Coco out in Protrero Hill on a sunday afternoon.

At night when i work, Pi-pi comes out and does this…

Memo came through the other weekend, and was reppin his line Social Villains

and here I am, reppin Social Villains. Thanks Memo!

My brotha Julius Bercasio, gettin his J-Dilla shirt hot off the press. peep his work @ MightyThredz.com

my homie Dennis aka Dj Soulo of Chain Reaction/Nu-Origin/OneCypher/DS Players, came through to swoop a Dill shirt… Peep his blog.. He drops all kinds of Mixes

…which he repped the following night a his event Styles Upon Styles!

There a joint called B-Star in the Richmond Dist in SF.. BOMB ASS Burmese Food!!!!!!

AND DESERT!!!!

AND ANNCHANS CORNBREAD!! Homemade boiiiiiiiii

Damn.. these brownies are killer too.. Annchan can bake anything, it’ll still retain its soft/crunchiness throughout the week. Memo got to taste one of these n he texted me ” OMG FUCKIN BEST BROWNIES EVER”

@ Bistro 9, sippin on pinot noir,  in the inner sunset.

The Bay…

If you aint know dough, my mans Don Peezy, bout to drop on 4/08… how fitting. “Revenge” is on its way.  Even just saying the word ‘Revenge ‘ is dope.  And damn, that cover looks funky.!  Shouta to Nasty Knock for puttin’ that design together.  Sauce. Typography provided by yours truly.  Magic.

Don P :: Exhibit Bay

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

But really though, It’s the end of March, and I hope everyone has had a good first quarter. Weather you’re makin music, postin blogs, hittin up events, puttin out them chap books, reppin your city, hustlin, grindin, plottin & plannin, working on that new-new, I just want to say -  Keep it up.. I think there’s gonna be several instances this year, when we’ll need to add more fuel to the fire & hopefully this place can be a source for that.

I gotta admit I fell off, from updating this. And I’m hoping that I can get back on this thang thang.  I got an email from one of the home-girls of Stablished, who bought a J-Dilla shirt.  She said:

“I really loved those posts at the start of the year…they were extremely insightful & a great source of inspiration (much more than usual for me). I know I left a few comments, but thought I’d share my thoughts again since the feedback may be useful, and to say thanks for sharing such a personal part of yourself…i love to learn about the thought process people have & thats what you gave…much appreciated!”

With that said, thank you for inspiring me to get back on it! So much great stuff goin on.  Don’s about to drop.  I know him and the SMG camp have been steadily grinding.  I was actually supposed to make an appearance on the mini mixtape, and do a hook… but i admit, i slipped.  My bad Don... I promise ima get on one of these tracks.  Melody Pushers on its way… haaaa

In other news, my homies Ash  & Memo are helpin me polish up this B-Boy Project that we got going.  It’s pretty much an experimental project, and a test in composting and camera tracking. I was originally not gonna show it until it was done.. But those days are over now.. If I don’t show the process, there’s not gonna be much shown on this blog.  So Ima do myself a favor and let you in on THE PROCESS... It’ll only be little stills and some test animations, but at least you’ll get the point…

Anyway.. back to First Quarter Recap ::

_. Moved into a saucy loft in SF + tricked it out

_. Setup the design studio

_. Started Post-production on The B-Boy Project feat. Wish

_. Lyricist Lounge : Branding + Proposal Design & Flyer Design + (partnership plans)

_. Launched the limited J-Dilla Tribute Shirt

_. Prepping the Stablished Projects Brand + sub-brands

_. Many meetings with key Partners (planting seeds for the future)

_. Started B-Boying again + 6 Weeks in. (sore)

_. I’m back on it.. + you should too.

In more GREAT news, just landed a dope project with a HUGE (footwear) BRAND named – - – - …. I’ll save that for the next post. Hope ya’ll had a good first quarter.

The one and only,

_Ra

Once again ladies and gentlemen… I have been a way but I’ve been grinding as Im sure a lot of us have been (check the ill ass grinding design below) but on some real I’ve been working hard on projects (musical, art,business plans,dreams,inspirations,ect ect.). As some may know I’m dropping a (mini) mixtape titled Revenge of Dominique Wilkins… memoirs of the human highlight! April Ayeeff! (8th) or (408) for those not in the know. I’ve been so blessed to have people ask what I’ve been up to musically since Edo’s Japanese Graffiti.. regardless if it was hate or if they were truly interested in my music, I felt the urge to supply music to my friends and fam that enjoy hip hop from a kid who loves hip hop / all kinds of MUSIC!

I also wanted to be a lil different and give a little more insight on some of the ideas for songs, questions I get from others about music, and reasoning for some of the records on Revenge. So when I chime in, inregards to these topics  you will see the Cover Art all the way up to its release APRIL Ayeeff! (thanks Knock and Ra). I Hope EVERYONE enjoys the Musical Art for whatever its worth…

yeah.. of course I have a record for yall.. I love yall! hold up.. Its called Exhibit bAy hit the title to download! Oh Big shout out to Ra, Ace, Brother Boogie and the whole SMG Fam.. and a special shout out to Ryan Reynoso!

Thank you to everyone that pre-ordered the Dilla shirt.  They should be on your backs by next week.  Take a pic and send ‘em in when ya can!  On to to the next…

I got my stride back..  I’m back on my b-boy shit.. and these Monday night sessions are refreshing.  My body doesn’t move the same as it did 5 years ago, but after a couple practices, it feels like I can get my old moves back if I really wanted. The afternoon workout, during my lunch break is helping a lot also.  It’s been a nice consistent year working out, since i got back from the P.I.,  and I’m just happy that I’ve been able to be dedicated to staying healthy & eating healthy.

On top of that, the J-Dilla shirts look awesome, and all those that have pre-ordered, should check their mailbox for the info on solidifying their piece.  Above is Annchan stunting with hers. Yeeeeee.

The latest on the B-boy project is that I’ve successfully been able to 3d camera track the footage, and also composite 3d elements into the scene! It’s such a damn process, and all those hours of second-wind-grinding, for just a couple seconds of animation, is so satisfying.

Things are really coming together now. My SJ heads are GRINDING like no other, and to see the movement gain more momentum is motivating.

Let me tell you one lesson I’ve learned,

If you wanna be somethin in life,

You aint gonna get it unless,

You give a little bit of sacrifice,

Oooh sometimes before you smile, you’ve got to cry

You need a heart thats filled with music

If you use it you can fly..

If you want to be…high….

I did this design back in ’04.. I think I had just got my first laptop (shout outs the the Toshiba Satellite, you were a champ), and I was out in New York visiting my girl/fam, Helena. (Wuddup H!)  She got an ill gig for a magazine out there in NY, living in midtown, and I got to couch it for a while.  I was a b-boy nomad at the time, finding all the practice spots that I could.  I copped this illy, used ,sony digital camera from my boy C-balz, and he mailed it out to NY, so I took pictures of damn near everything I could…

So I brought it with me this one night, when I took a train to the Bronx, to some community center.  I didnt’ know no one, didn’t know where I was going, or what dangers lurked….  I just knew I wanted to get it in.  So I got there, and they all “stare at the out-of-towners.” And I’m pretty sure they knew where I was from, by my uprock. Anyway, I thought this was some cool, throwback content.  It was the start of my design exploration. And it still looks fresh to me.  Probably cuz I look like I’m stuntin like the b-boy that I am! When I see the ‘Stand BY Your Soul’ statement, it definitely takes me back…. Sometimes you gotta remind yourself.  You know?

Fast Forward to today, I started going to the monday night practice spot here in SF.  I seen a lot of new faces, and even some old ones.  It’s refreshing to see that folks have held it down for so long.  Shouts to Iron Monkey, Jivan Ivan, Evil, Mad… Represent!

Nas :: Represent :: Illmatic

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This was real nice of the Lounge to send this to me.  Real good folks over there, and I’m excited to keep working with them and building their brand.  Thanks Amanda & the LL Team!

Just got back from walking Coco.. he never looks at the camera when you ask him to.

The new work area.

A bottle of Henny my brother Tone brought from Cambodia. Even has this ill Khmer stamp on top of it. RIP Biggie & JMJ

Off to work in my whip.

Have a good day everyone!