With this Motto garbage out right now, I figured I would post some real bay music. S/O to jack. I rest.
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Duckworth x Tokyo24! x Aeonian Complex
22 Aug
I was fortunate to make the acquaintance of Duckworth from Tokyo24! in the past few years out here in SF. This guy has a radiant ora and really lives how he preaches. We actually met before I started my locks up again, starting a moshpit at a NERD show. Thats how true friends are made. Tokyo24! consists of Duckworth the MC and Beats
StreetS, who produces all the tracks and actually plays them on stage when they perform, literally with two keyboards and an MPC. They just dropped a new EP, Aeonian Complex, available for free to listen and dl at Tokyo24Music.Bandcamp.com. The album provides a musical refresher, armed with all the coolness and headbumping that you need out of some real music. I would characterize it as somewhere between NERD, Lupe, Theophilus London and a touch of 3k.
Personally, I have been waiting for “Labyrinth” to drop since I saw it performed a few months ago. Its a song about how love changes you, and once you fall for someone you are stuck in a maze. Touched me personally and overall just has a great sound. “Rain Dance” is another great track, it has that synth sound that Theophilus London uses with a killer 808. Lyrically, Duckworth goes in, for surely worth a few listens.
I caught up with Duckworth for a few questions so ill let him break down the Tokyo24! mvmt in his own words:
30 Seconds with Duckworth and Tokyo24!:
“I am a organic human living in a world of people who strive to be industrial beings. Humans weren’t made to be robots.
My movement is to remind the people that it’s okay to be humans. Because being a human comes with compassion, respect, creativity, and most importantly love.
Music is key to relaying this message, and we plan to push this message everywhere, EVERYWHERE!!!!!
Its a love movement SON!!!!!!!”
then I would laugh, titling my head back, and the camera will fade. That’s how I Imagine it.
tha Giant: Why Tokyo24! and why Duckworth? Whats behind the name and what does it
mean to you?
Duckworth: The name is Duckworth because Duckworth is my mom’s last name, and I do my music in recognition of her. Without her upbringing, I wouldn’t be who I am today.
We are Tokyo24! because we are inspired by the innovations of Tokyo, and we feel our Music pushes just as many boundaries. And because Tokyo24! sounds cool, ha.
AtG: Can you characterize your sound for me?
DW: The Sound of Tokyo24! is a fusion all forms of Hip Hop, Rock, Jazz, Funk, R&B, Electro, House, and Punk. We call it “HyperJazzPostHopSpaceRock”
AtG: What are your biggest musical influences?
DW: My biggest musical influences are Jackson 5, N.E.R.D., Bad Brains, Strawberry Alarm Clock, and of course, Outkast.
AtG: Why did you start making music? I was raised in a house of musicians, so music is second nature. I started rapping in Junior High, freestyling at lunch and what not.
AtG: What got you started and whats ur inspiration?
DW: I’ve noticed that when ppl become adults, they feel they can’t imagine or be a kid anymore. We do music in a Nostalgic manner, to let ppl know it’s okay to imagine. Also, music today has no purpose. Everyone wants to party or disrespect women. We want to bring the essence of Love back into the equation, i.e. our song “The Bodyguard”.
AtG: Where do you see urself going from here?
DW: I see myself touring with “Tokyo24!” live band around the world, especially in Japan. I also want to do Public Speaking. There are a lot of issues that need to be addressed, and I will be the one to address them.
AtG: What is the difference, if there is one, btw Tokyo24! and what you do individually as Duckworth?
DW:There is no difference really between Duckworth and Tokyo24!. Duckworth may rap a little more, but its all from the same energy and purpose. And that purpose is Purpose. Live for something, and don’t forget to Imagine. Its what makes us human.
Thanks again for taking your time out to do this interview. These helped me out a lot as well.
Check out Toyko24! at their Release Party at Club 6, Sat Sept 3rd. DO NOT MISS OUT.
ReBlog: Ask Bobby Brackins
9 AugShowing a bit of love for the dannon kid, Bobby Brackins.This is an interview I did with him back in ’09. Peep out http://bobbybrackins.com/
In the wake of his blowin up the music scene in the last few weeks, from WorldStarHipHop to MTVmusic, I had a chance to catch up with my bruh, Bobby Brackins, and ask him a few questions. Bobby Brackins aka Young Bob has been attacking the throat of the music game for a myriad of years back in the Bay Area, getting major attention with the group GO D.A.V., who had the #1 on 106KMEL all summer several years ago, “Ride or Die Chick”. Now, Bobby has moved down to LAla Land to refocus and is blossoming and recently dropped a video for his single “Skinny Jeans” that I posted a few weeks ago. I’ve known bruh goin back to his high school days and was fortunate enough to slow down his fast paced life enough for a few questions abt this up-n-coming artist.
tha Giant: What got you started and whats ur inspiration?
Bobby Brackins: I started out rapping with my friends Mercedes, and E-Walk. From there slowly but surely started meeting a bunch of other like-minded kids who had a passion for music. Thats pretty much how GO D.A.V. started, a big mob where we all just banged it and had hella fun.
AtG:2. What is the difference, if there is one, btw Young Bob n Bobby Brackins?
BB: Man, I just turned 21 so I felt like being on a different hype. With that being said, I will always fuck with Young Bob but Bobby Brackins is what I am going to leave my legacy with.
AtG: How important or not was Go DAV in ur maturation as an artist?
BB: Honestly, it was prolly the most important aspect of maturation artistically. Through the group, I learned so much abt my craft and abt the industry. All the biggest ppl in the industry wanted to sign us and would call me and fly us places. It was a good learning experience and I wish all them much success.
AtG:Whats the reason for the move to LALA?
BB:La is where i came to regroup and reevaluate what i wanted to do as an artist. everybody out here loves to drop names and think ther are the shit so if u can stand out among everyone you will be a real dannon.
AtG: Where do you see urself going from here?
BB:man just stay relevant and get more poppin on radio and tour all over and drop my first solo album and make millions.
AtG:If you were given 30 secs on tv to explain who you are as an artist and why ppl should get down with ur mvmt, what would you say?
BB:This is all I can do. its my only option. If I dont make it in music then I will feel like I failed in life. I would have to convey this passion and hunger through my statement, just as I do through my artistry. But really, Ive already been through so many highs and lows, so I know mentally I have what it takes to be a superstar. I have the blood of a king and god truly blesses me so im good.
Watch the Throne Reviewed by C+
9 Aug
“It’s been interesting (read: sobering) to listen to the Watch The Throne album 24 hours after watching the Tribe documentary. I’m uninterested in the debate about whether this album is classic or not, and much more concerned about what it reveals to us about the state of American culture, perhaps best encapsulated in the song ‘Murder to Excellence.” As if black tie events and opulent displays are the best signifier for our arrival to the throne–the ultimate seat of power? Is this our contemporary pinnacle?
Weigh Jay and Ye’s capitalist braggadocio in direct contrast to Tribe’s vibration, creative output and way of being, and it becomes so apparent that our pursuit of excellence and authentic power has been co-opted by corporate force. Economic chauvinism has replaced any remnant of the kind of the kind of meaningful storytelling that could actually lead us down a path to progress.
Pardon me while I swipe my Black Card.
I concede that Jay and Ye are the leaders (read: hegemons) of this rap shit. Problem is we’ve been lead to the penthouse of ivory tower, with a voyeur’s view of a ‘Coloreds Faucet’ just outside the elevator doors. To be certain, it’s not just black power that needs to be redefine. The power of the have-nots and have-somes need be utterly reinvented. Indeed, ‘we’re all dressed up with nowhere to go.”"
Let’s talk about s6x
13 Jul
I put out love for the 6 last year when they were first blowing with their first few singles. Now, a young older, wilder, with a year worth of receiving thirst under their belt, they dropped “Let’s Talk about s6x” their first full mixtape. Its a banger, from Smokin’ with a whomptie ft. Bobby Brackins or This Ain’t Water (Thirsty part 2). Its got a full bill of bangers. Delete your pregame playlist, and dl “Let’s Talk about s6x”.
Peep the vid for “Dale Shake” ft. my bruh and Do Proper
The Internet and Graduation
10 May
What do you do now that you have graduated?
This is the question I am asked the most often. My typical answer is nothing. Followed by a chuckle, then an explanation that I have been on the job hunt, applying to positions in Advertising, Branding, and Marketing while trying to embrace my entrepreneurial spirit on the side. In actuality, in the past few months, I have been applying on the side and trying to start projects while really just living life. The internet provides a tremendous opportunity to be able to create movements that can be propagated to a vast audience with very very little overhead. In essence, you can touch people, and all you have to do is click. I feel liberated because as much as I do nothing, I do quite a bit. I peruse the internet, through a laundry list of social media avenues, collecting ideas and inspiration from all the cool shit thats going on here and there. All of which effects the way I think, act, and live. I am truly connected. In my cover letters, I explain that “I don’t just like social media, I grew up in it and I live it daily.” This is pure truth. As I sit in a house in Atl, in the midst of what many would describe as a crazy trip, I am still able to do all the things that I do when I am home, the things that I feel are key to my daily feeling of accomplishment. Sometime thats just seeing something amazing on the internet, like the NYC Dining Car or blogging about it, or checking on my friends on fb. Being away from home has allowed me to feel how connected I am really am in SF. all the friends that hit me up on weekends to know where they should party or monday afternoon txts about where we are going to play some ball. I appreciate the power of knowledge and then sharing what you know.
Who are you?
I guess asking what I do with myself is asking in part who I am. I could answer that question with blogger. Maybe. Social activist. Maybe. Good party aficionado. 
. I am one to look at the world critically and set out to change it for the best, just a little bit. That could be giving Hamburgers to the Homeless or trying to convince someone to go out without being scared of the consequences. I have looked around at the things that I do, the things that other ppl do and tried to find what makes me happy and what doesnt. Then I fight, tooth and nail to do much much more of the first and much less of the second. I love a good drink, the company of other ppl, an intriguing woman, sport, fashion, a good laugh and a satisfying meal no matter what time it is, just to name a few. If I can inspire one person, then I can die happy. I am tha Giant, looking at the world from the Clouds, with a bird’s eye view, a comb and a magnifying glass.
Now step right up to the edge of the cliff, and ….
TAKE THE LEAP with me.
Jay-Z x Warren Buffet X Forbes
24 Apr
For sure worth the time. There are interesting overlaps between the two moguls. The key is knowing what you want to do at an early age. Like the book Outliers says, you need roughly 10k man hrs to be an expert, about 10yrs. and if you happen to know at 12 what you want to do then you might be there at 22. Ultimately, wherever you are in your 10, put the work in and you will see the results, with a little bit of luck here and there.
StreetStyle X Tradiation: Yo-Yo Ma x Lil Buck
17 Apr
Its always great to see the crossover of raw streetstyle and tradition and the realization that there are aspects of both that are completely unattainable by the other. Think jazz. a true beauty
“The other day, I was lucky enough to be at an event to bring the arts back into schools and got to see an amazing collaboration between Yo-Yo Ma and a young dancer in LA, Lil Buck. Someone who knows Yo-Yo Ma had seen Lil Buck on YouTube and put them together. The dancing is Lil Buck’s own creation and unlike anything I’ve seen. Hope you enjoy. –Spike Jonze, http://www.openingceremony.us/entry.asp?pid=3238″ From OpeningCeremonyNY on youtube
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