Tuesday, November 29, 2011

KRS ONE TALKS LIFE & HIP-HOP ON LIVE FROM I-5 RADIO


On November 4, 2011 The Live From I-5 Radio Program was visited by a legend, pioneer, philosopher, guardian and father/son of Hip-Hop Culture - the great Blastmaster & Teacha' KRS-ONE.

Not only is KRS ONE one of my favorite Hip-Hop 'artists', but he is the father that many of my homeboys and I did not have. A wise man of color spitting game, knowledge, intelligence and raw MC skills was and still IS a rarity. He slayed sucka MCs and brilliant MCs during his hey-day and could still do it today if challenged. More than an MC, KRS ONE is a B-Boy, Graf Artist and embodies the BEST of Hip-Hop culture from its foundation.

Now in his mid-40s, once thought an age of irrelevance in Hip-Hop, KRS ONE is undertaking what he and others consider his most important and relevant work as the founder, leader and spiritual guide of The Temple of Hip-Hop - an organization which aims to solidify Hip-Hop as a cultural body that embodies all aspects of life, somewhat 'religiously'. KRS ONE is adamant about the part of Hi-Hop being a way of life (almost religously) because of how the culture itself saved and advanced his own life thanks to the gifts of The Jamaican-American founders of the culture, namely Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa & DJ Grandmaster Flash... Enough of me. Listen to The Teacha' spit his game and name on KAOS 89.3 FM - Olympia's KAOS Block Party on my Live From I-5 with LUVVA J Show... Audio DOPE!









Peace, Love & Courage,

LUVVA J, In A Real Way!
Winners Train, Losers Complain... Do Yo' Thang!

Monday, November 28, 2011

THE 25360 AWARDS RETURN... NOMINATIONS BEGIN DECEMBER 1, 2011

In 2011-2012 The 25360 Awards will return to the South Puget Sound region of Washington State, again celebrating the achievement of Tacoma-Olympia-area (and beyond) Hip-Hop and community members.

I created The 25360 Awards in 2008 as a ceremony and vehicle to honor and recognize individuals and organizations who have been a part of advancing Hip-Hop culture, business and our community via the arts and/or activism. Awards such as MC of The Year, DJ of The Year, Radio DJ/Host of The Year, Man and Woman of The Year are just a sampling of the points of recognition. At one point, supported with the aid of The Weekly Volcano, The 25360 Awards now stands alone and is traditionally held during the annual Hip-Hop 4 The Homeless Weekend at the end of January (the 28th and 29th)... This year the location is still to be determined. But the awards and the show will go on - just letting y'all know. 'It Don't Stop, 'Til The Casket Drops'!

Nominations begin on December 1, 2011 and run through December 19, 2012. Voting begins on January 2 and ends on January 7th, 2012. Each person is encouraged to honor the process by nominating people and voting once per category.
Send nominations with no more than 5 sentences describing why you are nominating your party to THE25360@gmail.com.

Enjoy and celebrate and stay tuned for updates on the only award program, which focuses on the advancement of Hip-Hop and our community in The 25360.

Categories will be announced on December 1, 2011.


Peace, Love & Courage,

LUVVA J, In A Real Way!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

R.I.P. HEAVY D aka MR. BIG STUFF… WHO DO YOU THINK HE WAS?


LIVE FROM I-5 presents… Certified DOPE
With Jose S. Gutierrez Jr., M.Ed.

R.I.P. HEAVY D aka MR. BIG STUFF… WHO DO YOU THINK HE WAS?


He was an MC, a dancer (a great one at that), an accomplished actor and most definitely an overweight lover. For 25 years we had a brilliant light-skinned Jamaican-American talent among us. But these complimentary adjectives do not do justice in describing the gift that was Dwight Errington Myers also known as Heavy D aka Mr. Big Stuff aka Big Daddy aka Hev Diggy. He ascended beyond the Earth today – November 8, 2011.

My first impression of Heavy D in 1987 at the age of 10 years old, was that he could rap. I don’t mean that he could rhyme words – I mean, Heavy D was an MC; a rapper who could compete and deliver vocal dope. My next impression seconds later, I’m sure, was that he could dance; so could his entire crew of homeboys. Trouble T-Roy, Eddie F, G-Wiz… Name someone else; anyone else – they could dance too! Straight from Money Earnin’ Mt. Vernon, via Jamaica – Heavy D was a vital character and member of The Hip-Hop Universe who not only showed that a big guy could be sexy, charismatic, romantic and hard whenever he wanted to be – but he was an activist as well. Heavy D cared about his community.

In 1989 he joined KRS-ONE, Big Daddy Kane, Stetsasonic, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Kool Moe Dee, D-Nice and many more as a vital and standout member of the Stop The Violence Movement. Stop The Violence was a timely and urgent movement installed at the height of The Crack Era by the legendary Hip-Hopper, KRS-ONE as a means of combating drug abuse and violence that was not only plaguing, but consuming communities of color – especially in the 1980s and early 1990s. ‘Heavy’s on the mic, so there’ll be no bum rushin’, he rapped with such force. ‘I heard a brother killed a brother, it broke my heart’, he would continue. See Heavy D was someone who oozed confidence and a sense of self-worth and purpose. He was not afraid to showcase his emotion, care, concern and passions – although there were other heavy rappers, MCs and DJs – Heavy D stood tall and stood alone. He was not a clone, never tried to be The Fat Boys and didn’t resemble those legends at all – he created his own.

In wake of one of his dancers and friend of many in the Hip-Hop community, Trouble ‘T-Roy’, Heavy D dropped Peaceful Journey in 1991, which would yield his biggest hit in ‘Now That We’ve Found Love’ – Hip-Hop-House-type joint (that I didn’t dig at the time, not appreciating the cousin-relationship between electronic music and Hip-Hop, but I grew) that in the era of Guy, Bell Biv Devoe and Johnny Gill, everyone was bouncing to. Peaceful Journey followed another classic that yielded his trademark twang-saying ‘Bdiddly, diddly, diddly, diddly, diddly – D!’ on the classic dance track, ‘We Got Our Own Thang’ from the classic, Big Tyme. Plain and simple, Hev Diggy is dope and his body of work speaks to his dopeness.

He followed the early 1990s with albums like, Blue Funk (1993), Nuttin’ But Love (1994), Waterbed Hev (1997), Vibes (2008) and he recently dropped a song-driven album in September 2011 titled, Love Opus. He would add an array of on-stage, television and film works that are very notable, but what is most notable – I believe is the following. Heavy D, like many legends of the truly American art form of Hip-Hop, was underappreciated and overall neglected as a donor and ambassador of Hip-Hop. See, Hip-Hop is not the Blues, Jazz, Rock and Roll or anything else. It is first and foremost a combination of all of those genres, but its power derives from the tenacity, inspiration, motivation and perspiration of those who survived and strived to create it. Heavy D is of the Golden Era of Hip-Hop and so many of his peers from this era are overlooked not only as pioneers, but LIVING LEGENDS in our time. He was not a ‘flash in the pan’ or ‘gimmick’ artist and he did not change with the times, he changed the times subtly by being himself – such an overlooked quality this is.

Heavy D will be missed most certainly by his family and close friends, but also by those of us who consider ourselves and carry ourselves as members of The Hip-Hop Community. Not just fans, but members of The Hip-Hop Community who see Heavy D as a champion for Hip-Hop and humanity as a whole. The gentle giant (who most definitely was not a push over by any means) demonstrated what anyone who believes in themselves can be. He was supremely confident and the big brother with the tinted shades – always looking fresh, will be remembered as one of our heroes and one of the best to bless a mic and the planet. Much love, Heavy D…


Winners Train, Losers Complain ...Do Yo' Thang!


Jose S. Gutierrez Jr.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

KRS ONE TO VISIT OLYMPIA, November 10th, 2011




One day, maybe half a century from now Hip-Hop will still be in existence. Heads will be rockin' to the beats, graffiti will be on walls, b-boys/girls will still be dancing and DJs will still be spinnin', cuttin' and scratchin'. But one wonders what it will look, feel and sound like? At least I wonder about these things. I look at Jazz today in comparison to what it USED TO BE and I find it troubling that the culture of not only Jazz but Rock and Roll, Blues and Soul have almost all but lost their souls. The root core of these classic art forms have in many ways been diluted, 'corporatized' and overall seem to have lost their original taste.

To me, it is the 'original taste' which matters so much to me. The taste that was and is still unforgettably excellent and exhilarating now as when first it was consumed. KRS ONE is that 'original taste' of Hip-Hop culture in my humble experience on this small planet. It is simply his hunger as an MC, which came from his experience of actually being homeless and hungry which obviously spawned the hustle and ambition for him to pursue the career and duty of being an MC. Such a passion displayed throughout his lifetime to represent Hip-Hop culture from the block to college classes and lecture halls is a tremendous offering that he has made to humanity. From his innate ability to educate and elevate the minds of humanity on the microphone to his Stop The Violence Movement and Human Education Against Lies (H.E.A.L.) program - both of which served the public in multiple ways - KRS ONE is an indisputable living legend and an ever-necessary fixture as a pioneer, curator, guardian, philosopher and educator of and beyond the Hip-Hop culture... Oh, I did I mention none have been able to overshadow his stage performance.

For all of the humanitarianism efforts (despite throwing Prince Be off of the stage in the early '90s - which has disturbed some critics) KRS ONE has undertaken during his career he is still one of the original chief party rockerz of Hip-Hop. Simultaneously spitting knowledge like Rakim and rocking parties like Doug E. Fresh, his stage presence is beyond reproach as he truly masters the ceremony. Aspiring MCs and loyal fans can only watch and hope, pray and practice that they may embody the spirit of Hip-Hop that KRS ONE grew up within - The magnificent era of Crack, Drugs, AIDS and Gangs ...The 1980s. So, finally for the first time since 2005 - The Teacha' visits Washington state's capital city - Olympia.

It must be noted as well that Olympia is a Hip-Hop haven within the great Pacific Northwest and is a perfect place for KRS ONE's visit. With its progressive, liberal arts-driven and generally open-minded community, Olympia has at least been a home for Hip-Hop since the mid-1980's when the widely respected voice of DJ Nancy G graced the airwaves of KAOS 89.3 FM. KAOS (based on the campus of the internationally renown liberal arts institution, The Evergreen State College) has pumped Hip-Hop over the airwaves, complimenting independent Hip-Hop in Olympia from groups like 4Real (the first Hip-Hop group out of Olympia) to Black Anger and K Records - the indie rock giant, which pushed Hip-Hop out of its studio. So, it is no surprise, but rather a great welcome that Olympia is set to host The Teacha's return on November 10, 2011 as he speaks at South Puget Sound Community College and will rock the stage and party down at The Royal Lounge later that night.

In the name and spirit of all who appreciate him, Olympia and Tacoma (The 25360 as we call the joint communities) welcome KRS ONE back to the Puget Sound. We thank him for his work with The Temple of Hip-Hop (which you all should research and find out about), his keeping the memory of Scott La Rock and other Hip-Hop legends alive and his overall 'can-do' attitude at the forefront of all of his inspirational, educational and motivational endeavors. He is truly a catalyst for advancement and a voice for the voiceless. WE CAN'T WAIT to host his visit!

THE TEACHA' IS COMING... KRS ONE.

KRS ONE will also be in Seattle at Seattle Central Community College and Jazzbones (Tacoma) on November 9. Be there!

Peace & LUVV,

LUVVA J,

Winners Train, Losers Complain ...DO YO' THANG!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

J-RO OF THA ALKAHOLIKS (THA 'LIKS) CHOPS THE GAME UP WITH LUVVA J ABOUT WHAT HE IS DOING IN SWEDEN

Ok, ok...
First of all, J-Ro and Tha 'Liks are one of my most admired groups period - any genre. They combine brilliant rhymes, flow, thought, Hip-Hop knowledge and fun mixed with a second-to-none ability to rock the crowd. Straight up - when The 'Liks throw a show ...You're gonna get wet if your in the front row, row, row... (echo out). And on top of all of the Hip-Hop factoids and accolades that their fans and followers heave upon them, J-Ro and I hail from our beloved Pacoima, CA in the East San Fernando Valley... Geah! If you don't know Pacoima, don't go to ...Well, y'all know what Treach said. Anyway...

So, J-Ro is out in Malmo, Sweden doing his thang in a major way. What that means is the legendary MC is making multiple moves as an ambassador for Hip-Hop, an educator, celebrity personality (although he is humble) and a goodwill ambassador for other Hip-Hoppers and artists who visit Malmo (just a short hop, skip and a jump away from Copenhagen where the fun be). "I love it out here", says J-Ro Skyping from his office in Malmo. "I hope everybody comes out here!" I laugh and let him know that by what I have learned in following his adventures, I might not come back to the U.S. if Sweden will have me. "That's cool - I want y'all to come." J-Ro's foray into the world of entertainment and now as an international and bi-continental professional and ambassador of Hip-Hop culture, business and education is a far cry from the challenging and sometimes treacherous streets of Pacoima, CA. The town is rich in heritage, but was intentionally situated in an almost isolated part of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley as a place to keep African-Americans and Latinos separate from the affluent Whites in The Valley (and yes... back on up... there is only one 'THE VALLEY' and it is San Fernando). Now, J-Ro is living and working in one of the world's most affluent and socially responsible nations. Nice twist.

"I love it here", says J-Ro. "I work of course in education, but I promote and am part of shows at The Warrior Club (a night spot in the area) and when I come home it's like a party all over again - I get to LA, love that and when I come back to Malmo - it's like 'J-Ro's baaack'." The party don't stop for J-Ro. And the enthusiasm he has in sharing his recent accomplishments displays the passion he has for his art, which has become his living. Ain't it nice to get paid doing what you love? I know about one or two of y'all don't like your job - switch it up, baby. J-Ro's loving his life and it gets better - he just dropped his exclusively European distributed EP, PAY THE PRICE which I got and will make available (with J-Ro's consent of course!) and he's working with Kurupt as a duo with the moniker, JK47. Whatchu think of that.

'Kurupt and I have been working together for a while now and we actually have a mini-mansion in The Valley where I stay when I'm in LA", says J-Ro. "We're working on several projects including with Pentagon Records a new venture, with a group called 1st Generation." 1st Generation is the definition of a 'SUPER GROUP' of legends - people throw that title around and ain't gone aluminum. 1st Generation includes King Tee, Jayo Felony, Sir Jinx, MC Eiht, Chill (of CMW) and Bokey Loc. Check it out... also J-Ro is filming and documenting his life in Europe. See footage of The J-Ro Show below.

Speaking of members of Tha Alkaholiks and Tha Dogg Pound - they are preparing to drop a DNA (Dogg Pound N Alkaholiks) album followed by a summer/fall 'DNA tour'. J-Ro is busy, but it's good to catch up with the OG and he's glad to let everyone know just how well he is doing with all of the amazing projects he has lent himself to. He's set to launch his new jromusic.com web page and will be directing traffic from Facebook to that site, so get'em while you got'em because unlike traffic in LA - J-Ro keeps it movin'.

Check out the trailer of The J-RO SHOW below:



'Doin' It Big'- J-Ro


'The Best U Can'- Tha 'Liks


Big shotz to J-Ro & Tha 'Liks - PACOIMA!


Catch him on The DNA Tour this summer with Tha Alkaholiks & Tha Dogg Pound!

Much love and respect for J-Ro for taking a moment to sit with me and break it down.


Peace & LUVV,

Know The Name, Peep The Game...

LUVVA J, In A Real Way!
WINNERS TRAIN, LOSERS COMPLAIN ...DO YO' THANG!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

LIVE FROM I-5 w/ LUVVA J on The KAOS BLOCK PARTY PLAYLI$T for March 18, 2011 with Special Guests: NICATINE of FREE WHISKEY & MIC FLONT

What up Party People
The show was crackin' today with special guest host Nicatine from Free Whiskey (peep the video below from my one-man report/series shot in POV style, 3 MINUTES FROM THE 25360). I started the show - of course with a special dedication to Nathan Hale aka Nate Dogg. An immortal voice and source of soul throughout my years from his breakout hit with Warren G, 'Regulate' to 'One More Day', 'Never Leave Me Alone', Crazy' and many more. Much love and respect to Nate Dogg. We miss and love you...

Nowwww... Back 2 Bizne$$...

Nicatine was hilarious and zany as usual as we premiered his new single, "Alison" a day after the video premiered featuring Nicatine, Billy The Fridge and cameos from XP and some of their homeboys. Nicatine is a trip - he runs one of the best promotion companies in the Pacific Northwest with Homeland Security, he raps with Free Whiskey and Junkyard Gang and his mustache has a lifestyle and schedule of its own... Check him out.

Also, big shots to my special guests Mic Flont of Waves of The Mind and Sindick Bura of Savage Family/Nooksack Nation... And shots to DJ Drastic for tuning in, Canada, Australia and Germany for tuning in!

Ayo, check out the 3 MINUTES FROM THE 25360 w/ LUVVA J featuring Nicatine shot right before we went on air...


FREE WHISKEY - 'ALISON'



PLAYLI$T:
'Crazy'- Snoop Dogg feat. Nate Dogg
'Block Bots'- Lyrics Born
'My Posse...'- Free Whiskey
'One More Day'- Nate Dogg
'Mind Waves'- Waves of The Mind
'Like That'- Mack 10 feat. Nate Dogg
'Alison'- Free Whiskey
'I Mean Business'- Afrok
'Gangsta Nation'- West Side Connect Gang feat. Nate Dogg
'Never Leave Me Alone'- Nate Dogg
'RIP Nate Dogg'- Swift Holiday feat. G-Khan & Mr. Burnz
'Sea City'- Khingz
'If U Stay Ready'- Suga Free
'Get 2 Gether'- DJ Quik, 2nd II None, AMG, Hi-C & DeBarge

Peace & Luvv,

Geah...

Peep The Game, Know The Name...

Luvva J, In A Real Way!
Winners Train, Losers Complain... Do Yo' Thang!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

LIVE FROM I-5 w/ LUVVA J on The KAOS BLOCK PARTY PLAYLI$T for March 11, 2011

Here's what we rocked with on today's show! Special Guests were E-Dawg and Sash. We chopped the game up with our special guests who are both dropping new material this upcoming week - E-Dawg's new single 'Cars That Go Boom' and Sash with his album, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Peace the guests and our listeners!

Tune into The KAOS Block Party weekdays at 3pm on KAOS 89.3 FM (Olympia, WA) or on www.kaosradio.org or via Comcast Ch. 982 (Washington Residents).

1. Block Bots - Lyrics Born feat. Clyde Carson & Trackademics
2. My Posse... - Free Whiskey
3. This My One - Too $hort feat. E-40
4. Hydroplanin' - Khingz
5. Mind Sex - Dead Prez
6. Electric Tantra - Khingz
7. I Dip - E-Dawg
8. Pick Up Ya Flow - Dyme Def
9. Greatest Man Alive - 3X Dope
10. The Party - Macklemore
11. Paul Revere - Beastie Boys
12. I Gotcha Opin (rmx) - Black Moon
13. Money In A Bankroll - Sash
14. All Night - Tha Alkaholiks

LUVVA J, In A Real Way!
Winners Train, Losers Complain... Do Yo' Thang!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

LUVVA J ON KING 5 NEWS - SEATTLE, WA

My Halloween appearance on KING 5 TV News-Seattle... After the great pumpkin robbery @ Greenwood Market in Seattle, WA on October 25, 2010. I was on my way to the recording studio and all of a sudden... BAMMM! Peep me out.




This package was shot and taped the day before my puppy, Ngomane was killed on I-5 at Exit 111 in Hawk's Prairie (Olympia), WA. RIP, Baba.


Peace & LUVV,

LUVVA J, In A Real Way!
Winners Train, Losers Complain ...Do Yo' Thang!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

LUVVA J RECORDING SESSION FOR ULTRAMEGA PROJECT [011711]





I've been working on a major project for the past half year, which has me thinking and acting waaaay out of the box (good thing in my view of the world). This Drum and Bass/Jungle/GoREALLA project has me pretty amped. High speed/tempo tracks and grinding production that is outside of the box has peaked my interest. With so much redundancy in my beloved Hip-Hop culture/universe and with my love for Hip-Hop's relatives like electronic music (Dub Step/Techno/DnB, etc.), I wanted to re-engage in my MCing over Drum and Bass beats and production like I had been doing in the late '90s during my student career in Pullman, WA @ Washington State University (GO COUGS!).

I didn't always dig electronic music, but thanks to people like 'electronicologist', Jeff Helm and DJs like Gene Lee, Sean Majors, DJ Tee, Budget Money and other influential people in my life (shots to KZUU 90.7 FM in Pullman!) - I kept an open mind about all music, but with the help of some reading/research and Jeff Helm reminding me that Electronic music is a niece/nephew of Hip-Hop (thanks to Afrika Bambataa and Kraftwerk and many others), I had to be open to the history and culture of the music. The same way that Hip-Hop is a culmination of Jazz, Blues, Spirituals, Rock and Roll and other genres - electronic music is closely related to Hip-Hop (although you might not see the connection with an untrained eye)...

So, I am engaging in this album - LUVVA J as UltraMega: JungleLUVV. It's in its finals stages as I continue recording at Vertigo Studios in Seattle's Greenwood Neighborhood with engineer/producer, Brad Kaminski. Potato Finger out of Seattle's Capital Hill neighborhood is also a dynamic producer featured on the project. Recording as UltraMega is symbolic with the 'BIG NAME'. Everything on the album thus far is BIG. The attitude is WINNING BIG. The vocals ATTACK BIG. The beats are BIG - some fast, some grind, but all BIG. My intent is to create egotistical motivation music with JungleLUVV - basically the type of music that I (or you, hopefully) would listen to before a big game and/or athletic, business or social event where motivation, inspiration, ego and pursuit are key elements for success. This is PRIMETIME SATURDAY NIGHT music, WAKE YO' A$$ UP music and 3:38am music... That's what it is made for... As I complete this project (projected by the end of January) I anticipate the response of the people. Although the project is being marketed primarily to European, Canadian and African markets - where electronic music is almost consumed as Pop music, I am eager to test the open-mindedness of the US market... The quatrains are beginning to show slight visions! (Shots to Michele De Notre Dame aka Nostradamus, one of my heroes).

WINNERS TRAIN, LOSERS COMPLAIN ...DO YO' THANG!

LUVVA J, In A Real Way!

Monday, January 17, 2011

LIVE FROM I-5 w/ LUVVA J PLAYLI$T [011411]

LIVE FROM I-5 w/ LUVVA J on THE KAOS BLOCK PARTY
Friday January 14, 2011

Another great show with special guests: DJ B-Mello [KUBE 93 FM], King Pulse [Detroit, MI], DJ Drastic [two-time 25360 DJ of The Year ('09 & '10)] & Equipto [Bay Area].

DJ B-Mello discussed his 2011 Martin Luther King County Executives Award for Hip-Hop Leadership as well as his philosophy of DJaying at what the traits of a good DJ are. DJ Drastic gave his take on the art of the DJ and sat in for the show while King Pulse discussed his new projects and ambitions as an MC in The 253. Equipto called in from the hotel in Tacoma where he was performing at Gruv during the 'Rapping In The Mirror Tour' featuring he, Mike Marshall ('I Got Five On It'), Z-Man (one of the dopest MCs and showmen in Hip-Hop - PERIOD!), Boac and DJ Quest (a legendary Bay Area turntable wizard). Once again - another great LIVE FROM I-5 w/ LUVVA J on The Block Party! KNOW ABOUT IT!

PLAYLI$T [011411]
1. Keep It On The Real – 3X Krazy
2. 3 Freaks – DJ Shadow
3. We Can Freak It- Kurupt
4. Hold You Down – Afrok
5. God Bless Us All – NERD
6. Crazy – Snoop Dogg
7. Home – Jake One
8. Venus Vs. Mars – Jay-Z
9. Sucka Free Vet – Z-Man
10. Detroit Anthem – King Pulse
11. Never Too Late – King Pulse
12. Off The Pacific – TD Camp
13. Notorious Thugs – Notorious B.I.G.
14. The Coldest – Freddie Gibbs
15. Take It Personal – Gang Starr
16. Lovin’ It – Little Brother
17. She Only Sees Me – Mac Dre


LISTEN LIVE: [KAOS 89.3 FM / www.kaosradio.org / Comcast Ch. 982 / TCTV Ch. 22]