WHO'S THE DJ? (AND PRODUCER?)... A GUY CALLED GERALD - A MUSICAL GIANT WHOM YOU MAY NOT, BUT SHOULD KNOW

A Guy Called Gerald's Classic release, ESSENCE. Growing up with Hip-Hop Culture in my household was a privilege, as I always take moments to reflect on history and my upbringing. My mother and her brother, Alphonse were children in the cities of Watts, Inglewood, Pacoima and Vallejo, California growing up and getting into new and interesting things. Luckily for my sister, La Fre$h and I, one of these things was Hip-Hop Culture in the form of Pop-Locking/B-Boy/B-Girling. My mother's involvement with the popular West Coast version of B-Boy/Girling paid dividends, because this made it so that Hip-Hop was not foreign in our early '80s household - in fact, Hip-Hop was embraced and encouraged. I am forever grateful.

We loved all forms of Hip-Hop from UTFO to Whodini, from Afrika Bambaataa to Egyptian Lover and Twilight 22. Always, was the presence of electronic music during my youthful Hip-Hop experience - the love remains. However, as I grew, I would not be introduced and hardly would I be interested in the existence and emergence of electronic/techno/dance music. Even in the form of Hip-Hop House (Twin Hype, some Native Tongue tracks, etc.), I in my youthful 'all-knowingness' was reviled by the House music. I would not be abandoned in my youthful closed-mindedness, thank goodness.

Lucky for me, a college-buddy who I worked with at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington would stay on me about studying the relationships between Hip-Hop and it's family member, electronic music. Jeff Helm and I worked at KZUU 90.7 FM from 1995-99 - I was there until 2001. Jeff would always make his best effort to introduce me to new sounds like DJ Krush and many other 'eccentric' artists and cultures - Jeff was fascinated with Japanese Culture (and Japanese women too). As the Electronic Music Director, Jeff had his hands on everything NEW and EXCLUSIVE. As the Hip-Hop Music Director and Associate General Manager, I leisurely brushed him off repeatedly, until one day an album appeared and I actually... LISTENED. From the isle of England, a legend entered my sonic life when, in the spring/summer of the year 2000, I opened the case and inserted the CD entitled, ESSENCE, by one of my (now) favorite artists, A Guy Called Gerald (yes, in the vein of A Tribe Called Quest).

Certainly, one of my favorite works, ESSENCE is a sonic journey into the questions, thoughts and passions of life - from my humble interpretation. At least these are the moments that I experience while listening. Among the tens of thousands of albums/records/tapes that I have listened to, played, charted, produced and tossed-out, ESSENCE is among my favorites - like Top 10 ever! AGCG's masterwork (in my humble opinion) sits aside the works of Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Prince, DJ Quik, John Coltrane, Bob Marley and others whom I consider essential-listening. In imagining one of the most pleasant days I could experience - it would include lying on my back among the summer rains of Pullman, Washington with A Guy Called Gerald's ESSENCE being played in the background. The beautiful melodies, vocals, production and ideology introduced to me on this album, marked a moment of sonic-growth and introspection and research about what music/soul/spirit means to me. When you get a moment of clarity and need for peace, take a listen to A Guy Called Gerald's, ESSENCE. http://www.guycalledgerald.com/blog/

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!

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!

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!

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]