What should you NOT DO when you're exceptionally talented(D'angelo):

POSE NAKED AND ISOLATE YOUR MALE AUDIENCE.

I'm writing this blog out of frustration.

I was watching the video for Brown Sugar (Directed by Brett Ratner who did the Rush Hour movies) And I'm just in wow, the video is so well directed. And you look at D'angelo, you could tell that he's a cooooool ass motherfucker. Brown Sugar is the epitome of a timeless album from start to finish every track is a gem. I watch the videos from this album and I think to myself "Why in god's name would he try to switch up his image that worked so well for him"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq_EfpGAH4o

Well then, a couple years later he drops Voodoo. Another classic album easily on the near perfect scale. With all the hype that surrounded this album I really DO NOT think he needed to pose naked. I mean, isn't that what your supposed to do when your sales goes DOWN?! By doing so, he totally isolated much of his male fanbase. Now when most man think about him after having his name brought up they think "Hey isn't that the guy that posed naked in his video and album cover, what a ________"(be creative)

What I'm trying to get at is that people cannot see past the idea that he posed naked, no matter how AMAZING his music is. You don't know how many times I've played some of his stuff, asked someone if they liked it and get positive responses and then when I tell them it's D'angelo the expression on their faces just change as if they accidently just admitted that they were gay. It's like AHA I GOT YOU! I GOT YOU!

The moral of the story is if you are a male, DO. NOT. POSE. NAKED.

Media that inspires.

So, for those who don't know me, I am training myself to become a professional DJ. Though I can basically spin any sort of music, my passion lies within the raw, grimey, hard stomping sounds of what they call Drum'n'Bass. The music apparently originated in Canada, however, starting picking up in London. Over here the biggest drum'n'bass events you'll find will only be parties thrown by BassRush which is a company owned by the same people as Insomiac.(The same people that throw EDC and Nocturnal Wonderland) These events only come to the U.S.A. only a couple times a year, however, they are extremly packed.

For those who don't know, Fabric(which was rated the number one club in the world) located in London throws what they call Playaz Night (Thrown by DJ Hype's Label True Playaz which is considered the top Drum'n'Bass label) every last Friday of the month. On my last trip to London I had the awsome experience of going to this event. AND THE VIBE WAS SO DAMN AMAZING/HEAVY. It was like a little kid going to Disneyland for the first time....just alot less innocent. Thousands of people just getting down to some hardcore D&B as normal as people get down to pop music, just a whole lot more excited. For those who love the music, it just has a way of seeping into your whole body. But seeing that inspired me, and made me realize that I have to bring this the United States, and not just to the underground but to the masses.

Anyways, I went on a mini tour with a couple of my buddies up the coast of CA.(I hit SB and SF). Hoping to spread the vibe of what they call the Junglist movement. When my set started people seemed to be digging it,however, after a little while most of the crowd lost interest. Huge bummer especially after driving that whole distance.

What makes drum'n'bass so much different, and in my opinion waaaaaaay cooler than any other genre of electronica is the incorperation of the emcees that spit over the tracks. All the material that they use is freestyled and done on the spot. A good emcee will not just add to the beat, but will be included in the transistions.

As if my aspirations to be the messenger that brings Drum and Bass as a DJ to the United States was a heavy task, I don't want to end there. I also want to get into the emcee aspect of it. Last Summer I went with a couple of my friends to Electric Daisy Carnival(which was one of the best D&B performances I've ever experienced) I took one of my friends to the front, and saw how the emcees were interacting with the crowd. Vibes just shooting off of them like a fucking geyser. I looked at my friend and said "See that, that's gonna be me in a couple years"

Well anyways, whenever I feel that I loose some passion for what I'm doing, or after some gigs that don't go to well and I have thoughts of giving it up, I always watch this video. At 26 seconds when the crowd just screams I tend to get chills up my spine and it reminds me why I'm working hard at doing what I'm doing. In other words it re-fills my passion tank. Anyways, for those who've never heard the music watch this absorb the vibe and enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4anoLKX-1L8