July 31, 2010

Netflix Worthy: The Two Escobars

ESPN Films' 30 for 30 series is one of my favorite programs on TV. What's even better is that most of the films are available on DVD as soon as they are aired so you can watch them without commercial breaks, the way that they were meant to be seen. I think The Two Escobars is the second best film in the series so far, Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks is still my favorite.



I loved director Jeff Zimbalist's previous film Favela Rising. Co-directed with his brother Michael, Zimbalist brings the same colorful visual style, drum beats, and social critique to the story of Colombian drug king Pablo Escobar and what is known as narco-fĂștbol. I still don't know what the hell I'm looking at when I watch a soccer game, but as the most popular international sport, especially in the third world, the political back stories of the game are fascinating.

If you don't have netflix you can watch the whole film on youtube.

July 28, 2010

Rage Against SB 1070

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Today the racist Arizona law SB1070 goes into law. Last Friday Rage Against the Machine performed at a benefit concert to raise money for two Arizona organizations fighting SB 1070; Puente, Arizona and The Florence Project. My old college roomie Jeff got me a ticket and needless to say, it was fucking amazing!

Here's an example how Rage front-man Zack de la Rocha was able to tie every song to the blatant racism that is going on in Arizona...


I got a call from Jeff the next day that started with "Dude, my neck is sore".

July 27, 2010

Free outdoor screening of Timeless feat. live video mix by J.Rocc

I'm organizing another outdoor screening in Little Tokyo next week. This one's for all music lovers...

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FREE OUTDOOR SCREENING!
Friday, August 6th 2010, 7-10pm - JACCC Plaza

JACCC Plaza
244 S. San Pedro St.
Little Tokyo, Downtown LA
Map

TIMELESS is a series of three concert films featuring the music of composers/arrangers that have influenced hip-hop in the most profound ways; J DILLA (Suite for Ma Dukes), MULATU ASTATKE, and ARTHUR VEROCAI. J.ROCC of the World Famous Beat Junkies will be mixing all three films live for this special outdoor screening!http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8602776546176291471&postID=4107454026863255897

Dublab will also be screening the best videos from their Vision Version film project.

The following food trucks will be serving up their best:
Lomo Arigato
Mandoline Grill
Tropical Shave Ice

Visit the Facebook event page
For more info please go to: http://www.jaccc.org/movieplaza2.php

July 21, 2010

Bambu - "Old Man Raps" Video

Kid Heroes, Xylophone and Bambu do it again...



Behind-the-scenes...

Jeremy Lin getting more than just looks.

I'm officially on the Jeremy Lin bandwagon! I had read a lot about the brotha before, but really, I wasn't about to watch a Harvard basketball game. After Lin's performance at the NBA summer league (especially against John Wall) it looks like he's gonna get picked up by the Warriors. As much as I would love for him to be in LA, I would rather see him get more money and the opportunity to play near his hometown in the bay, plus we all know what happens when an Asian brotha gets picked up by the Lakers.



I know the current NBA is a much different league than it was in the 1940's but the JA in me would like to take this opportunity to remind folks about Wat Misaka. Not only was Misaka the Knicks' first round pick in 1947 but he was the FIRST PERSON OF COLOR TO PLAY IN THE NBA!

July 11, 2010

Handcuffs by Native Guns

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Download: “Handcuffs” - Native Guns(produced by Six Fingers)

“The message is threefold: to validate the community’s anger around the blatant murder of this young man (Oscar Grant), to spark a discussion and deeper analysis of what police are there to do beyond just enforcing the law, and to get folks to think strategically about how they want to react to this verdict, whatever it ends up being.”
-Kiwi of Native Guns

Download and listen to the No Justice Remix of Handcuffs produced by ET

July 7, 2010

Big Bang Big Boom by BLU

Favorite parts are the plastic bag at 3:15 and the use of building at 8:18.



Direction and animation by BLU
Production by ARTSH.it

Netflix Worthy: It Might Get Loud

Wish I would have caught It Might Get Loud (Dir. Davis Guggenheim, 2008) in a theater with a big sound system. I recommend it to any guitar nut, especially if you're a fan of Led Zeppelin, U2 or The White Stripes. The film does a really nice job of creating nostalgic scenes with all three artist as they literally walk you through significant locations in their careers. My favorite scene is when they tell the stories behind their first guitars. Jimmy Page is ice cold!