Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s a powerful powerful new film from fellow MVMTer Blitz the Ambassador.  Soundtracked by his song “Something to Believe,” this one hits home for me and the way I’ve been feeling lately – stifled not by a lack of motivation, but by others (fictitious and nonfictitious) who choose to stop me in my tracks.  I was listening to a radio show today where the host described working with a 7-year-old autistic child who had enough strength to hurl him across the room, simply because he couldn’t process the fact that 7-year-olds aren’t supposed to be that strong.  What potential lies in our beings? And what remains inert forever because we bind ourselves to the ways of the world?  It’s time for some magic.

In our most jaded era, rare are the moments when we witness the blips in time known as true love.  When such occurs, all I can do is stare with wonder.  Alas, the clock strikes again.  My fellow Pretty Buoyant is getting hitched.

Today marks the wedding of Mr. DJ Phatrick and Mz. Steph Cariaga.  They’ve been through thick, thin, and all that slime in between.  But I’m starting to get sappy and the food coma from the pork belly fried rice (good breakfast!!) is sinking in.  If you’re feeling amorous, join the livestream @ 5pm PST.  It does get that geek.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I’m a huge fan of the homie Bambu.  Truly one of the first emcees I gravitated to that balances politics with artistry, each project has gotten better while still maintaining the integrity of the message. For “Old Man Raps,” he goes in.  With the aid of Xylophone Films, this video takes a snapshot inside the mind of Bam as he reflects on the possible future of his baby son Kahlil.  Beautifully shot, beautifully song, and Bam’s pretty ass has some acting skills!  Whooda thunk? Shit’s fire.

Cop Bambu’s EP …paper cuts…

Alright, ya’ll. We gonna keep posting this amazing dynamic duo on this blog until you stop sleeping. DLRN (did ya’ll change the spelling upon meeting the rock Delorean at SXSW?) has released a follow-up to their 2009 No More Heroes entitled The Bridge.

May I say that I am impressed once again. I mean, seriously. I didn’t think I would be. But nope. Jon Reyes keeps solidifying the sound while 5th Ave continues to take his flow to new levels. Man, fuck ya’ll.

Click the cover to download an amazing piece of music for FREE. I’m on it as well. Search thoroughly…for now check out this track featuring two greats Illecism and Prometheus Brown (Geo of Blue Scholars).

One of the amazing people that I met earlier this month at the NOI New Media Bootcamp was Carlos Roa, who took part in the Trail of Dreams – a 1,500 mile footwalk from Miami to Washington DC (daaaang…helllla long….) to share their stories and experiences as undocumented Americans.  A key purpose of this campaign was to support the Dream Act, a piece of legislation that, if passed, would allow for undocumented U.S. college grads an equitable path to citizenship.  Sounds like a good idea to me.  But Carlos speaks on it much better in the CNN interview above.  Hot damn my friends are amazing.

When I want to stay updated with all the cultural wonderfulnesses of my homebase in the Bay, I look no further than 38th Notes, a blog that has put the Bay on its cyber-back and shed light on its rich array of artists.  This month they began releasing compilations of their favorite Bay tracks, and I was oh-so honored to see our song “Doyoudonotsee?” on there.  The track still has a long way to go before it’s done, but the love it’s been getting on the bloggy circuit warms our Ones.

If you want to get a taste of where we come from, this is the mixtape to download.  Features other great people including The GetBack, Los Rakas, Raphael Saadiq, Do D.A.T., and more.

DOWNLOAD: The 38th Notes presents The Bay Abridged: June Edition

Track listing after le jumpe.

Track Listing
1. “Foxy Girls”-Rafael Casal & Daveed Diggs Ft. Chinaka Hodge
2. “Slick Talk”- ST Spitta & GQ
3. “Sweet Shop”- Miss Haze, Denise Wallace, & DJ Shred One
4. “Oakland Clap”- The Swapmeet Ensemble Ft. Mr. Town & I.V.A.N.
5. “Who You Shootin At”- BRWN BFLO Ft. Rebel Diaz & JR Minister of Information
6. “Streets is Hot”- Clif Soulo
7. “Tu Gial Esta Ready”- Los Rakas Ft. Chapp
8. “Night Life”- League 510 Ft. J-Billion & 1-O.A.K.
9. “Dreamin California”- The Freshman
10. “Abrazame (UpRoot Andy Mix”- Los Rakas
11. “Glamorous Life R&Bmix”- Netta Brielle
12. “Classy”- Jay Ant
13. “Here and Now”- Sandman
14. “Right Now”- Do D.A.T.
15. “Regular Shit- Vell4Short Ft. Moe Green
16. “Cashin In”- Nio Tha Gift
17. “Can’t Stop Now”- Erk Tha Jerk Ft. P-Child
18. “Spend the Night”- E-40 Ft. Laroo, The DB’Z, Droop-E, & B-Slimm
19. “Rider”- Samm Ft. Erk Tha Jerk
20. “DoYouDoNotSee?”- iLL-Literacy
21. “I Got Soul, I’m So Wasted”- Wallpaper
22. “Vibrator”- Gucci Mane Ft. The Cataracs
23. “I’m On”- League 510
24. “It’s A Shame”- Raphael Saadiq
25. “Legs”- Darondo
26. “Lovin What I Got”- 1st Place & DJ Mike Czech
27. “Summer Time”- League 510 Ft. Way-D
28. “I’m Gone”- Nio Tha Gift

…reading over the title of my post, that’s probably a tad misleading. what i meant was…iLL-Homies, The Getback, just dropped their new mixtape, Bay Boy, and the shit is a slapper!! always pushing the bay (often referred to as the yay…feel me), this new joint makes me miss the town and hate being hustled in ny that much more (yeah…we just got played by our landlords [again!] and ConEdison [again!!]…but that’s another post). having lived with both nak and rafa for so long, it’s a novel experience for me to hear only the final draft of a song…and i LOVE it. it’s fun to be a fan of your homies. nak…spit more.

download that good bay ish here.

I know, I know. I’m suppose to be on vacation. But when I told Jon Reyes I was home, he told me he had just talked to 5th Ave about featuring me on this beat that he had just made as the closing song to the project they were finishing this coming weekend. The stars had aligned. I barely made the cut for Delorean’s new project The Bridge, which drops on July 20th. We are all in for a treat!

For now, study up on the group by checking out their first album, No More Heroes, being released for FREE on their website tomorrow! Don’t sleep. I’m on “Chillin’”, “Young Super” might be one of the illest hip-hop beats you’ll ever hear, and the intro/outro makes me feel like I’m hearing Saul Williams busting at the Nuyorican for the first time.

By the time you’ve gotten over the first one, you’ll be prepared to cross The Bridge. Take a peek and see for yourselves!

My people, again you have come through for the iLL fam and it is so deeply appreciated.  In case you haven’t heard the news, Ruby wasn’t selected for Alicia Keys’ I Am a Superwoman campaign, despite the fact that she had the overwhelming majority of viewers, commenters, and supporters.  Alas, the people spoke but were not heeded.  Tis show business, I suppose.

And of course, being the true superwoman that she is, Roobz is already on to the next, continuing to work on the multitudes of other projects she’s involved with.  Keep posted with her at RubyisiLL.com!