How do I know that I still live in the “hood”? A couple reasons. For starters, in the summer, the Ice Cream Truck comes to my block AFTER 10pm when its done hitting all the places in the city that have money for rocket pops. Also, you know you can’t trust your neighborhood when you are always wondering if someone took something out of your mailbox.
I could go on forever… but you know how I really know I’m not all the way out of the hood (I’m trying to but there are levels and maybe I’m right before the exit)? In the winter, when your done cleaning up your car and parking spot after a snow storm, its common to put in a place holder to save the spot you busted your ass cleaning. I’ve seen buckets and milk crates, maybe outdoor trash cans, but on the Butcher’s block they go one step further. Construction cones, a picket fence and a 19″ Zenith TV are currently holding down someones spots.
They makes songs about where I’m from…
Statik Selektah’s Streets Of M.A. ft. Masspike Miles, Termanology, Supastah Snuk, Reks, Slaine, Easy Money, Frankie Wainwright, and Smoke
So apparently Danny Boy of La Coka Nostra and House of Pain can do anything he puts his mind to. Anyone that has known D Boy for more than 10 minutes realizes that he is one of the most creative cats around. Whether its design, marketing, bringing people together and now directing videos, he goes hard and the results are usually a home run.
Danny has directed the first 2 La Coka videos, “That’s Coke” and “I’m An American” and they are both crazy. If you don’t understand the magnitude of these dudes coming together under one umbrella, please do the math. Its Christmas so I’m going to also throw you the MP3s for both joints. Big shout to the family D-Boy, Everlast, Ill Bill, Slain and Big Left. The album is going to be banana nut bread!
Just a couple reminders of where I’m from. The Notorious B.I.G.P.A.P.I., David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox came by Concepts for a few Christmas gifts (for himself… stuntin!). Now he is off to Miami to enjoy the fruits of his championships.
Besides our athletic builds, bank accounts and a taste for fine German engineering, “Papi” and I also were both in the Big Shug video “My Boston” directed by my partner in crime Peter Dudgeon.
Not that often that I feel obligated to support something but when I learned of the Puerto Rican Christmas movie “Nothing Like The Holidays”, what was I supposed to do? Its the same reason I buy Fat Joe albums. What? Luis Guzman (LOO-ee gooz-MAHN… get it right!) is in it? Done deal, I’m in. You think its that easy? No way Jose (or Joe in english).
The night before the release there’s a major ice storm and knocks out the power to half the city including the movie theater it was playing at. Now peep this funny style move… while fuckin “Mama Mia” was at every single theater in the city when it was out, this movie was at one. The one that’s blacked out. Conspiracy?
I had to wait a week to see it but I did. No one was gonna stop me.
Side Bar:Jeff Carvalho attends a Burton party a couple years back and guess who he bumps into? Luis Guzman! The illest to ever do it.
Info:
Actor of Puerto Rican descent who made many memorable films due to his villainous persona. Presently resides with his wife and many kids in Vermont.
Born in Puerto Rico, but grew up in the East Village section of Manhattan, in New York City. In an interview, he explained that his mother traveled to New York fifteen minutes after his birth.
You will always be “Pachanga” to me man.
Oh yeah.. the Christmas movie was good. Almost too real… like sitting on my couch and watching my family fight.
Recently someone asked me if I had ever heard of D-Nice. Now if it was some so-called fan of Hip-Hop music, I would of spazzed out HEAVY, but it was a honest question from someone that just learned of him. I’m a major Boogie Down Productions (BDP) / KRS-One fan and D-Nice was the youngest member and DJ of the crew. He went on to drop 2 great albums, They Call Me D-Nice (1990) & To Tha Rescue (1991), which both went gold. Look them up.
D-Nice’s (The TR-808!!) single “My Name is D-Nice” was my shit! It sampled the The Turtles “Buzz Saw” and when it came on you had no choice but to rock with it. Bananas.
It’s unfortunate that most of our Hip-Hop pioneers end up forgotten and career-less but it’s fortunate that D-Nice’s didn’t suffer that same fate. D went on to become a graphic artist, web designer, photographer and director, while still maintaining his DJ status.
Recently, he directed these great short video pieces called “True Hip-Hop Stories” which feature Hip-Hop legends reminising about legendary moments in their career. Love em’.
True Hip-Hop Stories: Lords of The Underground
Its almost blizzard status outside and I’m layed up in the crib with some much needed “at home” time. 2008 is almost over and I can’t believe another year blew by. A lot has changed and a lot more hasn’t. A lot of favorites this year but we all can’t front, there was a tremendous amount of garbage released — music, footwear, clothing– but its your job to know the difference. Made a few new friends, kept my long time friends guessing where I am (but eventually got back with them- sorry), and ignored any bullshit- after the age of 30 I became B.S. intolerant.
Not going to give you a long list of “likes” but here are a few things that made me happy.
This is my watch. I have many but this one is my shit.
These came back this year. You were probably waiting for them too. Wasn’t waiting for the other pair that came with it but hey… that’s the way the ball bounces (pause). Ill Bill bought 5 packs.
I’ve been rocking my Concepts Canada Goose for about a month. You will know what I am talking about in the next couple of days. Yeah, its craaaazy.
Let’s stay in Canada for a second… This is the illest winter hat! Thanks Andrew and my people at Canada Goose.
I love Orbit gum. That’s all I have to say about that.
I rock with RRL.
I want to touch on something near and dear to my heart…. Boogie Down Productions “Criminal Minded”. I probably have played this song more than any other song ever in my life and still remember the day I discovered it in the 5th grade.
FACT: Shouldn’t even try to remake or revisit classics for the fear of fucking it up. FACT: KRS-One and DJ Premier tried and…. succeeded!
Criminal Minded 08 is my shit. Let’s all pray for more Blast Masta and Premo.
I am honored to be a part of the year end wrap up Sneaker Freaker puts together and its always a pleasure working with Woody and Mafia. Read the whole feature here. My beard is the truth. Click photo to enlarge.
I’m not shittin on anyone who does but my life structure doesn’t call for it. I drive an hour to work everyday and live on a block thats more congested than the Worcester House of Corrections. Plus, my neighborhood eats bikes like the 1 family in the movie “Monster House”. Delicious. My daughter’s bike was just stolen from our back hallway and we think we know who did it. When I see this 14 year old kid riding around in his newly spray painted bike, Im going to jump out the truck like a truancy officer.
I know some dudes that do ride bikes though, the Open Bicycle Crew and their movement is pushing the bike scene in Boston to greater heights.
Peep the Concepts sponsored event that is going down that I most likely won’t be a part of. I would have used my daughter’s bike but, well, ya know. Plus it had brakes and that’s against the rules (when you see Jimmy from Concepts, ask him how “no brakes” helped him in that Taxi accident)!
Did you see the movie “Wanted”? It just hit DVD (plug — I got you Common!).
Now that that is out the way… Concepts hosted an exclusive listening party for his new album that drops on the 9th called “Universal Mind Control”. Boston media and DJs were invited to peep the new joint early and everyone seemed to enjoy it. The album is dope so even though you might have found it online, support “Good” music and cop it officially.
Side note: I love the hood DVDs, there was a camera man present that kept moving the camera up and around and side to side, and all I could think about is how annoying it must of been for Com to do the interview. Common has super human patience. I never seen anything like it. Amazing.
Big shouts to Gee Spin and Hustle Simmons of Boston’s JAMN 94.5 for setting everything up and a thank you to Common and Valerie for coming through.
So, the celebration of the murder, rape and pillage of the indigenous people of North America was over (sorry… my daughter is 11 and she just discovered the truth about Thanksgiving) and Black Friday was upon us. I had the usual Turkey, rice and beans, mashed potatoes… Adobo and Sazon were present in the ingredient list. No Pernil (Pork shoulder) on my fork (told you Clark!). You know what goes well with Turkey dinner? The Pineapple soda found in the hood Spanish store. Thats my word!!!
Back to Friday… you guys know the story. Clark Kent smashed the AF1 release at 21 Mercer at 4am in the morning!! Hopped the flight to the city of champions (that’s Boston for the championship title deprived) and brought donuts for the line that was stretched around the block to cop the lethal Black Friday Air Force One. Bodied it, muerto. Then hopped a flight to the “County of Dade” to do it all over again! Bigs shouts to Shoe Gallery.
A special thanks to “God’s Favorite DJ” Clark Kent for the love and support. We ain’t done!!!
Frank The Butcher aka FRANKMATIC™ |
Creative Director for Boylston Trading Company in Boston. Writer, producer, dot connector, blade carrier, cypher completer.
"Frankmatic Since 1977".
