The Liberator: Blog Comments

Re: "Belhaven Meridian" by Shabazz Palaces

achali — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:47:04 -0000

exclusive find! listen to both SP albums free online:

http://links.liberatormagazine.com/pumse

(aint no myspace for SP, or anywhere else you can hear the full songs online)

Re: Nneka: "Walking" [video | kiotd]

achali — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:45:39 -0000

Beautiful. Do you mind if we share them here on the Liberator website?

Re: Nneka: "Walking" [video | kiotd]

herveall — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:29:56 -0000

See promotional shots of Nneka (portrait and live session)...It was for me a kind of really true meeting @ Paleo festival 2008 edition in Switzerland : http://www.flickr.com/photos/musique-live/sets/.... The Liberator, France fan club ;)

Re: Nneka: "Walking" [video | kiotd]

Guest — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:28:45 -0000

Re: New initiatve to boost South LA farmers markets

knpressley — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:29:23 -0000

i didnt see the responses on the newspaper site...i meant contacting the community organization that sent out the story to see they had any connection to this issue...

but yeah, for the marketing thing, i was def. not talking about an art project. i've found that often when things fall into that arena, they often have a quicker expiration date and im more interested in a sustained presence. i was speaking more about a actual business that would work with various individuals/groups in a community(or communities) to come up with some good creative solutions...ive been brainstorming with some folks about a business structure that could be sustainable, possibly without primarily relying upon grants or partnerships with larger organizations....

///Mr Williamson still seems to have the best grasp of the situation...///

i completely agree with that...that seems to be the case most of the time. i would hope that the Los Angeles Conservation Corps and the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute of Occidental College will be speaking with the Mr. Williamsons of South LA to get some effective and sustainable ideas/solutions...

Re: New initiatve to boost South LA farmers markets

achali — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:42:45 -0000

////There’s a political agenda set in place.
-Mr Larry Williamson////

You mean contacting organizations like the LA Wave?

I noticed The Leimert Park Village farmers market was suggested as a solution (someone left a comment on Wave's site), and the Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Assn., California Chapter chimed in about "creating local food systems as part of a broader urban agriculture agenda" (someone left a comment on Wave's site too)...

But was Mr Williamson talking about a shortage of ideas or a shortage of implementation, u know?

The marketing concepts you brought up sound dope. I agree with you there, the utility of that would be valuable. I'm wondering: how do those type of projects become sustainable and functional rather than art projects that come and go? With University support? Gallery support? Are the universities and galleries partnering with folks like Mr Williamson or just "certain" farmers markets? Especially when the campaigns get to the heart of what folks like Mr Williamson know: that there is a political agenda in place. Do the institutions run and hide at that point? Or only f*** with the safe farmers? btw: if u haven't seen Food Inc., it's relevant to this discussion. The food industry has straight up Gestapo agents. Really. They show the interrogations and everything.

That Ron English cat (we got a few of his videos here in Liberator Land) does things like this it seems. http://links.liberatormagazine.com/wmrvq

I don't know where he finds sustainability tho. There are however many more white groups like the ad busters magazine crowd that is in that same vein in terms of general anti-consumerist art/propaganda. Would Afro-Punk be the closest black counterpart?

But to your point about the grants: there will always be folks who are gonna do whatever it takes to get their projects sustainable, grant money, etc. And I ain't mad at the PILAU type programs or grants in general. It just seems like Mr Williamson sees a better way that he wishes we were moving towards instead of settling for finding our place within the current corrupt political agenda. In other words I can see the bit of positivity in the Chauncey Mayfield thing -- it's a nice success story, etc. But what Mr Williamson is talking about seems so much bigger and deeply relevant to the deep seated needs of our communities. He sounds like he's seen a lot of good intentioned folks fall to the wayside and he sounds like he has a understanding of the systemic, political "why"; not just the "motivational why" that Mayfield is offering up -- "put your diamond earrings away," etc.

The Mayfield story just made me think of how celebrated small things are, and how ignored big things are sometimes. Mr Williamson still seems to have the best grasp of the situation from what I've read, especially when he talks about the same old first step being unity and organization. Otherwise the money is just floating around. And when the money is floating around, usually the ones who love it are the main ones grabbing it and filling their pockets with it. And when there's political agenda set in place like Mr Williamson pointed out, it makes it even easier for them to continue doing so despite well-intentioned, unorganized efforts

Re: Detroit: farming in the 'wasteland'

achali — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:06:27 -0000

check ze email

Re: "Belhaven Meridian" by Shabazz Palaces

lilwing76 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:10:04 -0000

Love it! It's funny, just before the ending quote "HIM:"Wherever we want" comes on the screen, I thought to myself... wow, it almost looked like they were flying. Love the black & white. The music is dope..

Re: "Belhaven Meridian" by Shabazz Palaces

danielles — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:04:31 -0000

When I first found this via dream hampton's Twitter page, I played this video every day for about a week straight, no lie. The black and white cinematography, the lighting, the shoutout to Charles Burnett, the song itself (that crazy bass + African thumb pianos+relevant lyrics, what?!)...everything's a winner. And achali, gooood looking out on finding these articles from the Stranger. I was having a hard time finding out more about the people behind Shabazz Palaces so thanks.

I love that it's music that seems to be coming from an honest place. I really like his Soulja Boy/Miles Davis juxtaposition too. The older I get, the further I find myself from my inner snobby backpacker who thought if music's not "conscious" (whatever that means) it's not valid. None of those labels matter; what matters is if you're being honest, if your art is coming from an organic place. (And a LOT of modern music isn't coming from that place at all, be it conscious/underground or commercial/radio-ready.) However, it seems like that's the case with Shabazz Palaces and I can't wait to see more things from them.

Re: "Belhaven Meridian" by Shabazz Palaces

achali — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:03:09 -0000

you not lying. the concept. the killer of sheep reference. the hood shots. the bookend love story. oh and the song. love.

btw dude rhyming is Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler from Digable Planets.

I was like, (!)

Here's some wider context to the project:

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/the-rise-of-...

Also, their two very underground EPs are available for purchase at:
http://shabazzpalaces.com/

This is everything I want from Hip Hop right now, even the way they are going about doing "marketing" and everything. Holistic Hip Hop is not dead

quotable:

/////When asked what chain of events led to Shabazz Palaces' formation, Shabazz laughs and pauses significantly: "Well, I'm always inspired by what's going on in life and stuff like that," he tentatively begins. "Just looking at stuff going on in the current music industry and trying to figure out what I could do, where I fit in. I'm not really a cerebral music-maker. I find myself in musical situations, in moods, in feelings; the songs that come out of that are what they are. I don't give much thought to where I stand, what my sound is, how I should try to describe it. That's why there aren't any credits on the album, because I don't think that stuff matters. The only stuff that matters is the songs that end up happening and the people that they end up touching." Shabazz Palaces have a very distinctive sound, so it would be interesting to know how it developed. Shabazz wishes he could discuss it, "But I think it's a little out of my range to be able to tie down where it came from, because it came from sooooo many influences over sooooo long of a period of time. It's nothing specific or mapped out sonically. I tried to go with my feelings—being in love with my life, with my kids, with my girl, with music and sounds—just as much Soulja Boy as Miles Davis. Also, visual art and film, good and bad times, losses and gains. All that kind of stuff is in there. "I guess it's a reaction," he continues. "But it's also my attempt at just making actions and being spontaneous, letting me and the musicians I work with go from our instincts to the product without filtering it through too much other shit." Shabazz Palaces are currently working on their third release and plan to play out when it's completed in August or September. They're talking to a few labels (none local) and will have substantial distribution and a publicist very soon. The mystique will fade, but Shabazz is too levelheaded and industry-savvy to get ground down by the machine. He's going to do this on his terms or not at all, which is great news for heads hungering for that Afro-eccentric sonic shock. That being said, of all Shabazz Palaces' many highlights, "Blastit," which is possibly the most beautiful track I've ever heard, rises highest. "People I know and friends, they seem to like that one a lot," Shabazz replies. "That's how African stuff is. That's my thing: Those musicians very rarely are pursuing knowledge of the instrument to seek any kind of material gain from it. I feel that that joy, that selflessness, comes through in the music and makes it a happier experience. It's like giving, instead of creating something to hopefully succeed in something."/////

http://lineout.thestranger.com/lineout/archives...

Re: On Derrion Albert

achali — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:26:14 -0000

/////We have to do more than just have this siege mentality and only take care of those in our homes and hope nothing happens to them./////

I know the prevalent feeling of paralysis, where your community feels like a hostile place and thus neighbors are simply more people to be skeptical of. A friend of mine offered up that this was a typical fight that went too far. And normally an older person would have attempted to stop it or slow it down, or at the very least someone would have stepped in as referee and allowed the fight to continue with guidelines. But if people are paralyzed and teachers are scared of the people in their schools and adults are uncomfortable with the youth in their communities, a typical thing gets outta hand when the ostracized are left to make their own law with no one on the sideline coaching. My friend also offered up that each time an enormous tragedy happens communities often get stuck between mourning and extreme action, justifiably so because small things are hard to see immediately following tragedy for any human. Add to that our new modern surveillance society conditioning us to be better spectators, and it's the makings of a formula for Derrions. I remember this one time I was driving down Eastern Parkway and saw a fight between two girls going on with a crowd around them just staring. Some men were still sitting on the stoop just ignoring it and talking. As I drove and looked in the rear view I thought three times about busting a U-turn before I actually did. I know that feeling well. It wasn't my hood so I didn't get out the car. I know that feeling well. But I stopped and honked the horn and yelled at the man and challenged them to break that shit up. I know that feeling well. They didn't, at least not while I watched and yelled. I know that feeling well. I guess sometimes intervention helps, sometimes not. The hardest part is, knowing that, am I willing to not ignore such an event in the future? Only time will truly tell. I hope that I don't ignore, but I know well the frustration that pushes one to want to ignore.

The urgent question I hear does not seem to be for ideas on what to do necessarily (tutor, volunteer, etc) it seems to be *how* to do these things (the existing channels of Big Brother/Sister or YM/WCA are helpful but are proving themselves insufficient) and further, how to *initiate* them with others. (Random thought: initiate sounds like initiation)

With my wider community today it seems, you can't criticize lest you be assigned a scarlet "H" for hater. And you can't make too many suggestions aloud, lest you be assigned the scarlet "P" for preacher. What does that leave us with? Perhaps a quieter approach of just "being" -- while in the community, of course -- and making sure you stay open to the opportunities to connect? Personally I know there are small challenges in my day that I must choose to meet or ignore each day: for example, when I'm in the elevator with the kids in my building do I stare at the wall or offer up greetings and engage if they're open to? Or do I allow my annoyance at the fact that my neighbors don't speak to shut me down too? Or do I stay patient? It seems like it's the little things, in the beginning at least. And however much we want to be "progressed" it seems with every Derrion, a community is left to stare the truth in the face that we are in fact at the beginning, still. Not all of our communities of course, but many. How do we deal with the frustration of being perpetually at the beginning? With rage? With sadness? With patience?

Re: Roy DeCarava, R.I.P. [video]

achali — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:45:13 -0000

Single parent household, Jamaican mother. eh? Hey Danielle, do you know how much overlap there was between he and Gordon Parks (I recently read his autobio)?

Sidenote: I don't like Charlie R's interview style here. It's as if he's asking questions on behalf of the camera, instead of on his own behalf. Mildly annoying. (sidenote in a sidenote: Congratulations Mike Bloomberg, you sponsored historical artifacts like this AND bought yourself a third term in office, wow).

btw: Here's another vid that was in the Youtube inbox this morning via NPR, this one a shorter retro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mky6W6LJRLM

+Quotables:
"I want what I see, and I'm trying to make it work, despite certain drawbacks."

"I never work with [artificial] light."

What haven't you photographed that you very much wanted to? "The wind."

Re: Google Voice invites

knpressley — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:04:18 -0000

you still got some invites left??

Re: On Derrion Albert

dantresomi — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:55:46 -0000

I wholeheartedly agree.

Quite honestly, WE (meaning people within our community) have to honestly stop praying, marching, and protesting and pull up our sleeves and get to work.

WE have to start raising our babies (meaning my neighbor's children and the children around the corner). We have to do more than just have this siege mentality and only take care of those in our homes and hope nothing happens to them.

WE have to stop asking those outside of our communities, who don't care about us, to help us when they don't want to help us and place stipulations on the help they offer.

How do WE do this? Get in where we fit in...

If i can teach folks how to read, then tutor.
If I can teach martial arts, teach the youth.
If i can help ma dukes with groceries, get the groceries.
If i can coach b-ball, then get a spot to allow them to play.

etc...

Re: Bill Withers: "Grandma's Hands" [video]

achali — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:45:56 -0000

http://liberatormagazine.com/kiotd/Grandmas%20H...

Re: On Derrion Albert

achali — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:45:42 -0000

Amen. I said the same thing in response to Rob Fields' (Black Rock Coalition, Bold As Love, NPR, etc.) comments in his recent blog post on this...

http://www.boldaslove.us/2009/09/learning-from-...

An excerpt from his response:

/////So the question that I'll ask is this: How do we effectively move progressive culture into the marketplace in a way that makes it viable long enough to impact things on a broad scale? The marketplace viability issue is huge, since the overarching framework is capitalism. Ideas have to matter in the marketplace in order to survive within such a framework. They say all politics is local, so I'm guessing that a bunch of people/organizations have to start things in their local areas, grow and then link in the middle. It make the elephant edible, that is, it takes something that looks daunting and breaks it down into a more manageable chunk. That's a long way of saying that we have to link with like minded folks, and they may not all be in black rock. That might be what we need./////

Re: Food Inc.

achali — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:56:52 -0000

Bill Gates pushes for more attention on Africa: http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_16028/contentdetail.h...

Peep comments regarding poverty and food production. Coincidence?

Re: New initiatve to boost South LA farmers markets

knpressley — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:33:32 -0000

//In my personal view, I'm seeing little difference between letting government funneled money dictate the makeup of our community programs (in terms of just the real politics of it mentioned in this blog post) and just not having any community programs at all.. at least in the latter scenario communities aren't under the illusion of progress.//

i agree with you. so what is the suggestion here? do we not except the government funding at all, b/c most of it (at least sums that are substantial) that is available usually comes with stipulations or variables/goals that need to be adhered to in order to retain funds...or is about writing grants with the correct language and intention so that it can be used for strategies that dont foster these 'illusions'? b/c in the case of the grant in lowcountry, it seems that the school leaders themselves wrote that grant and the layout of the PILAU program....

Re: Bill Withers: "Grandma's Hands" [video]

danielles — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:10:09 -0000

Yeah, bruh, I'm gonna need that mp3. :)

Re: Google Voice invites

KREVwon — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:45:41 -0000

Thank YOU!

Re: Google Voice invites

achali — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:56:00 -0000

invite sent. enjoy man, it's a pretty cool and useful tool

Re: Google Voice invites

KREVwon — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:26:40 -0000

Yes, please! I signed up way early in beta but never got an invite, even though some of my friends who signed up later did...

I gotta stay up with Google, their development is usually pretty on point.

Re: "Belhaven Meridian" by Shabazz Palaces

amaka510 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:08:35 -0000

love the cinematography in this. beautiful

Re: Detroit: farming in the 'wasteland'

knpressley — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:37:33 -0000

can u tell me more about this rebirth project?..

Re: Gjon Mili

danielles — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:37:20 -0000

I never heard of this photographer before. Thanks for sharing this!