Joe Jackson's on Tour?

Okay, so I go to Newark's Lincoln Park Music Festival yearly...
It's a homecoming trek that always delivers musically and culturally for me.
Mainly because I live on the opposite side of the country and don't get afforded many 'free events' worth mentioning that summon up names like: Joe Claussel, Marshall Jefferson, KRS ONE, Tame One, or Kenny Bobien.

Anyways, this year they added Rch Medina to the DJ lineup and I thought to myself; 'Does Newark even need to hear him?' No disrepect, but for what Rich does musically, it's better suited outside of the funkier, more soulful house oriented Newark.

Well, Rich was out to prove me wrong from jump. He started off with some classics and was cut short not once, but the emcees, but TWICE once Joe "Beat Em" Jackson showed up as a unlikely surprise visit to 'The Bricks'.

Apparently, Joe was at the Beyonce show the night before at the Meadowlands (Izod) Arena and must've found a cheaper room in Jersey for the night and before he got his black @ss outta dodge, he pulls over sighting a large gathering of a few thousand working class black folks at a music festival. Joe made some short remarks before bringing out his new artist "CRYSTAL". It was smart of her not to address the crowd whatsoever.

I'm not sure if Joe made it to the booth selling the *huff copies of M.J. and J5 DVDs and CDs, but I did!

Roscoesgate: Nat'l Security vs Chicken Run

At approximately 6pm, I was on route into Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles to meet up with a childhood friend for a meeting and to shoot the breeze at our normal 'traditional' 'Scoes meet n eat.

What I thought would be a short n sweet meeting, was immediately halted when "bojo" the Security Guard stopped me at the door and refused me entry into the restaurant.

Giving you a little background before I get into the story . . .
Not more than 1 hour before going to Roscoe's, I'd been on the phone speaking with my friend I was planning to meet up with. I was describing a daytime party in Hollywood that I was driving past. I let him know that I wouldn't be attending such an event because of the major lines outside and discriminant policies of the hosts and security goons.

My friend enlightened me by explaining his theory that black men have 'NO BUSINESS' at any club in any city unless they want to be subjected to a litany of profiling and hoop jumping for entry (ie. acceptance). I agreed and went on to describe how I personally haven't attended very many club events outside of the ones I DJ and/or joints with artists or DJs I'm interested in.

Fast forward back to me getting to Roscoe's and Bumpy 'Jankins', the security guard.
So I call my buddy to inform him that I'm on my way inside and instead of letting me pass into the establishment, the Doorman stops me and informs me that if I'm to meet my party, I would need to call them and have them come outside to GET ME!!!

I laughed at that notion and called my buddy inside to come and get me at the door. While on the phone, I explained to my friend that security was 'trippin'.

Hearing that, Ole Bojo went into 'hood mode and had some choice words for me and my friend.

Being masterful wordsmiths and educated black men, we aired his dumb ass out...

I let the goon know that we were only interested in the CHICKEN at that establishment; since he explained that his job was to protect the 'celebrity' clientle inside. I also informed him that by having such a ridiculous admission method at the door of a restaurant would only exacerbate negativity and provoke stupid events and an uncivil environment.

I went on with dude back and forth cracking jokes about how I 'read books'and 'eat vegetables' in my spare time; and if I want to meet up with a friend and treat myself to CHICKEN, I shouldn't be treated like a repeat offender on a food tier.

Security Officer Beaudreaux could only state that he was 'doing his job' at the end of my tongue lashing and I was satisfied. However, as I think about that particular location of Roscoe's and how the majority of the customers there are NON-african american, I begin to think about what having Security at the door of an African-American owned restaurant actually SAYS to "Kirsten and Jenna" when they go to 'Scoes partially as a joke and for sightseeing . . .

Bad Business is Colderthanarats@ss!

Denny's Gone WILD

Just a sad display of nightlife for young folks in L.A.
I found some humor in it all though . . .

Solo's Got Soul!

I met Souléymane Sy Savané in Beverly Hills about a year ago.
Now look at him! "A Force of Nature!"

I really liked this film. It's dark in context, yet shows how far the human spirit can take you in celluloid story telling.


GOODBYE SOLO: Movie Trailer - The best free videos are right here

"Goodbye Solo" is one of those joints that any and everyone can relate to.
From urbanite white women who've ever wondered about those 'africans' she bought her bootleg Coach bag from; to artsy fartsy 'students' who ponder the meaning of life endlessly through chain-smoking and uninspired painting.

We're dealing with a film that's Colderthanarats@ss here, I hope you cats dig it more than 'Slumdog . . .

easy.

Omar's Music is Best By Far; So SING!

On Tuesday, April 7th, Omar will perform live at The Conga Room. KCRW’s Garth Trinidad as host and DJ + DJ KALEEM closing out the night!

I put this one-off mix together in anticipation . . .

S.A. in the Hoooouse!

I spent the past week @ the Winter Music Conference in Miami.

I thoroughly enjoyed most of the D.J.s who got down at the parties I attended.

The honorable mention goes to the brother from South Africa!

He seriously threw down a set of Deep and Afro House joints that I wish I had all of!
Catch this brother if he's ever in your town!

Maybe Mario Romay will post his set on Groove Parlor?
Shouts out to DJ FLX!

'Turn Me On' had already gotten a lot of run at WMC, before I saw Black Coffee spin at Groove Parlor's event. It's a certified HIT and Colderthanarats@ss!

Don't Be A Slave To NO COMPUTER!

The third verse of this Beat Street anthem brings me to tears everytime I hear.watch it.


Quincy 'Gula Matari' Jones has declared Melle Mel as having written one of the most relevent songs in modern history in 'The Message'. I agree! Sadly though, it's a shame hearing the weak excuses for rappers after Mel, who've fallen short of delivering powerful statements and marketed their hootenany as 'street reporting'.

Russell 'Blood Diamond' Simmons is one of the main proponents of this sad state of affairs. Maybe that's why his child support payments are so friggin' high!

Regardless, rappers aren't built like Melle Mel (no homo/pun intended) these days.

I know you knuckleheads thought NY Oil was the radest thing since Tofutti, but I kinda wanted a waaay better song to go with his 'Read A Book' and Drink Water message. I don't think anyone needs to be lynched or referred to as a N^&*(a to get your point across.

Take it from Melle Mel, he's Colderthanaratsass!