all black mosh pit

Whats the difference between rap and hardcore music?

After attending a screening of James Spooner's film 'White Lies Black Sheep' at the Patois New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival, I realized that the two musical styles have a lot in common. The film was about a black rocker from NYC who discovers his own identity. The main character's personal struggle reminded me that hip-hop and rock music are looked at as the polar opposites in music, yet they have several similarities in musical style, and culture.

They are the primary ones that have a clear wardrobe attached to it that's easily identifiable.

They have the capability unlike most genres to perform musical very fast so its no longer understandable, however to its consumers it is considered skill in performance. A fast rapper is just like a loud screamers in a hardcore song.

They are the genres that are most filled with political awareness.

They both have concerts that your wouldn't bring parents to

They have a special form of dance that is performed at shows (breaking/hardcore dancing)

They both have musicians that are covered in tattoos

They both has an influence from African culture and indigenous people.

They both ask questions about relationship with friends, parents, and about finding themselves

My main point is, limiting yourself to what you think is black culture is actually limiting yourself to black culture. This is because black cultures resonates in many forms that might not be dominated by black people. Black culture exists in music styles besides rap, R&B, and jazz. Other styles of music might be uplifting certain aspects of black culture that are not in ways are not the same as the stereotypical black culture. Everyone knows that artists like Chuck Berry, Rick James, and Bo Diddley pioneered rock music, but people continue to claim that rock is music only for white people. However, a lot of the bands have a black musician or are produced by a black person. Hopefully, the popularity of rappers performing rock music or getting backed by bands will create more musical awareness.

After 'White Lies Black Sheep' was played at the film festival, the directer advised that everyone should go to googlevideo and watch a bootleg version of Afropunk, because it was the inspiration for his later works.


Who is a perfect example of a rapper who appreciates rock music....Hollywood Holt.
It is apparent from his music, his clothes, his tattoos and his piercing.
HOLLYWOOD HOLT WILL BE AT HOSTEL FOR STREETWEAR SUNDAYS
TONIGHT AT 10pm

A lot of others artists that is cool to appreciate all styles of music I love to promote they're music.

I Poke Her Face-Cudi ft Kanye West, Lazy Gaga & Common (mp3)

Kid Cudi-Mr. Solo Dolo (mp3)
from Dat New Cudi

Kid Cudi-Ask About Me Remix (mp3)
from Dat New Cudi

Lunar Landing Apparel made a shirt for Kid Cudi's song 'The Sky Might Fall'
from Dat New Cudi


Shark City (Fam-Lay or Nathaniel Johnson) is rapper under Pharrell's label Star Trak label. He has released the songs 'No Time 4 Nos' and 'Git Busy' as singles, but he is best known for his song 'Da Beeper Record' which a lot of people mistakenly thought it was a song by The Cool Kids.

Shark City Click (Fam-Lay) - Head Bust f. Pharrell (mp3)



This weeks Streetwear Sundays will also be the release party for the new Spring/Summer line of Sikkis Clothing. People got a taste of it at Xavier's fashion show on April 2nd, but everyone will see the whole line tonight.

This isn't related to hip-hop or rock, because it's electro.
But here is Justice's remix of U2's song. Look out for a whole post of my favorite remixes.

U2-Get On Your Boots (Justice Remix) (mp3)
via hipster runoff

I Drop Bombs

The 6th Annual New Orleans Patois International Human Rights Film Festival started Thursday. It runs from March 26th to April 5th with movie screenings and art exhibits all around the New Orleans area. I love the idea of the festival, because it was created to promote local organizations that encourage human rights. A lot of the films are local and they have themes that cover issues that span across the world. I am very excited to expand my mind to understand issues that affect people oceans away and to her the stories of the people who are usually ignored in America. Events will be held at either Canal Place Landmark cinema, Craige Cultural Center in Algiers, New Orleans Museum of Art, Cafe Lazziza, Southern University or Zeitgeist.
A list of all the films that will be shown at this years festival is HERE.

Here is a few of my favorite trailers from movies that will be shown at this years festival:

Medicine for Melancholy--Directed by Barry Jenkins (filmmaker will be present)
** Saturday March 28 @ 7pm Zeitgeist**
Fictional story of young African-Americans who are a small minority in San Francisco.



I am Sean Bell: Black Boys Speak---Directed by Stacey Muhammad (filmmaker will be present)
** Sunday March 29 @ 1 pm Zeitgeist**
Young African American men give their accounts on how they view life while they know incidents like Sean Bell, the 23 year black man who was unarmed and was shot fifty times by the NYPD.

I AM SEAN BELL, black boys speak from Stacey Muhammad on Vimeo.


Made In LA-- Directed by Almudena Carracedo
** Sunday March 29 @ 4pm Zeitgeist**
Three Latina immigrants tell their story of how they fight for rights while working in LA sweatshops.

Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath --Directed by Sharat Raju & Valarie Kaur

**Saturday April 4 @ 1pm Zeitgeist**
A college student travels across the country to document hate crimes against Muslims and people suspected of being Muslim in post-911 America.

Some Place Like Home: The Fight Against Gentrification In Downtown Brooklyn--Directed by Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (FUREE) (filmmakers will be present)

**Sunday April 4 @ 5pm Zeitgeist**
Homeowners, small businessowners and historians in downtown Brooklyn are directly affected by "development"

White Lies Black Sheep--Directed by James Spooner (filmmaker will be present)
**Saturday April 4 @ 7pm Zeitgeist**
An African American rocker finds his identity in the middle of a predominately white New York music scene where he isn't considered black.

DJ Zegon and Squeak E. Clean's project, N.A.S.A. combines some of the biggest names in music to make great songs. These are not girltalk-esque mashups, these are actually songs featuring artists like Kanye West, M.I.A, The Cool Kids, Santogold, KRS-One and Ghostface Killah.

Here is the new video for the song 'Gifted feat. Kanye West, Santogold, and Lykke Li'(mp3).

N.A.S.A.'s other collabo tracks:

N.A.S.A.-Hip Hop feat. KRS-One, Fat lip, Slim Kid Tre

N.A.S.A. - The Mayor feat. The Cool Kids, Ghostface Killah, Scarface & DJ AM (mp3)

N.A.S.A.-Whachadoin feat Spank Rock, M.I.A., Santogold and Nick Zinner (mp3)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero (N.A.S.A. Bloody Lobo Remix) (mp3)

IF I WASN'T IN NOLA, I WOULD BE IN:

Miami for the Winter Music Conference, which is affectionately called WMC.

This amazing music conference has seminars, panels, record collector shows, demo listenings, DJ spin-offs, and of course great parties. I think this a great conference for people who want to learn more about creating their own music and about making it in the music industry.

Melknee