CUBA, I MISS YOU!!!

I can't really explain all that I experienced in Cuba because the evolution that has since culminated within me has ultimately transformed who I am. Nonetheless, I am a better person because of this trip. I learned so much about people, about the history of Cuba, about Hip-Hop's history on the island, the culture, the economic state, etc. I'm most excited to speak on the people I met and how they've influenced me.

EXPLOSION SUPREMA: Brebaje Man and Miki Flow. Legendary artists out of Cuba. They're very much like the Wu-Tang of Cuba. They've been around since the 90s. Their flows are so hype and so intricate. I spent everyday with these brothers. Miki was very much my guide while I was in Cuba. Etian "Brebaje Man" was my road dog. We connected on another level. These are REALLY my brothers and I mean that with all of my heart. They really held me down. So much support & positive energy. Thank you both!!

Miki Flow rockin' at the 2010 Hip-Hop Symposium (a five day festival of performances, workshops, film screenings, and connecting). Explosion Suprema hosted one of the nights at El Teatro Riviera which ended up being one of my favorite nights. Mainly because each artist was on point...back 2 back 2 back.

Brebaje Man backing up Miki from off-stage. By the time he came on, the audience went crazy. I got on to perform right after! The crowd showed so much love. Got it all on video!!

En Micro X, Alamar with my homies. Micro X is very much like The Bronx was during the 1960s! It was unreal. The buildings, the graffiti...the community. Everybody's door was open as people would come in and out. Everybody showed each other love. Cuba is another world entirely.

Miki's mother and his daughter.

I was really happy that I got to build with Alexey de Obsesion. Such an intelligent, humble, and hard working brother. After building for a few days backstage at the Symposium, he invited me to come through his crib. There, we recorded a new track with Antony of Egypt (Dope MC from Canada) and Ali Deheshi (Awesome artist from Iran). Hoping to put it on this next album.

This was the view outside of Alexey's studio.

My 2 favorite DJs in Cuba!!!!

La Real & Indiana. Two beautiful and talented artists. I got to build with them during my time in Cuba. After recording "Amistad" with Explosion Suprema, I got them to sing on it. Their voices sound incredible. "Amistad" is DEF gonna be on the new album. Keep a heads up. Even got a music video for it. : )
Indiana snuck this pic on me. I love it. I was actually waiting on line for a pizza. Super hungry! Hahaha...

David: Amazing poet, MC, painter, producer, father, and overall person. So deep and spiritual. Loved kickin' it with him.

I had these kids begging me for this photo for days. Buggin' my homie David's crib like crazy. So funny! (They eventually got it!!!) If you're interested in seeing more pics, I got more on my facebook. CLICK HERE TO CHECK THEM OUT

After visiting Cuba, I have to say...I have a lot to think about. Alotta times, people speak negatively about it because of its post-revolution economic situation and/or the events that have taken place since the revolution but the truth is, it has remained completely independent since the falling of Russia. Even then, I did not see ONE homeless person. And I didn't see people dying of hunger. Given...you don't eat like a king in Cuba but that raises the question...do you really need to? Everyone gets by but what makes them want more is the taunting luxuries of capitalism. The extra clothes, the flat screen tv...the EXTRA. In Cuba, everyone has a place to live and is not allowed to be kicked out. That's their home. They get free medical and receive free education. There is no real access to the internet and few people have phones, but that is why Cubans are so animated and fun to be around. They are storytellers. Yo pienso que "Cuba y Puerto Rico son las dos alas del mismo pajaro." (Cuba and Puerto Rico are the 2 wings of the same bird.)

Cuba, I will miss you! Siempre libre! Much love! Thank you for everything.

Intikana

P.S. Thank you Mariana for making miracles happen!

FAT BEATS CLOSES

With the closing of Fat Beats, one has to ponder the future of music. The business of it at least. Especially in Hip-Hop. Right now, the independent artist has to be on an unprecedented grind. People are just not buying music the way they used to. (Let alone vinyl!) Consumers want FREE music. FREE downloads, FREE everything! How does one compete!??

With such incredible new technologies available at such low prices, I think we really need to step up our game and take advantage. Scared money don't make money. We need to produce & record our own music. Make our own videos. Sell our own product & merchandise. Book our own gigs. (Damn...the weight really starts to add up when you think about it.) Nowadays, an MC has to know how to use Pro Tools, Final Cut, Reason, and Photoshop...just to get by. It's a sign of the times. Yet the opportunities are endless. As ever evolving entrepreneurs, let's keep our minds and third eyes open for the next step in the future of Hip-Hop. We will prevail.

with DJ Eclipse.

So much history on these walls...

with Masta Ace.

with J-Live.

I-Truth sportin' that new "WOODGRAIN" (Bamboo MC's new album). Mixed & Engineered by yours truly! : )

YC tearin' it up!

Pack FM and Tonedeff..

Packed house. OD hot...even with 3 ACs pumpin' at that. I didn't see ONE person NOT sweating.

Last in-house sales. Kinda sad when you think about it.

"Peace & Respect to Fat Beats. 94 til infinity!!!" -INTIKANA

2010 BRAVE NEW VOICES

This past week, my Urban Word mentees (Jesica Blandon, Ish, Ka'Mone Felix, Sean B, Justin Long, and Jay Davis) took 1st place at the 2010 Brave New Voices in Los Angeles, California. Finals was hosted by Common and Rosario Dawson. Talib Kweli, who was a judge, ended up performing on stage with Common...

PEEP THE PICS BELOW (All Photos by Intikana)

So much hope. So much inspiration. So much love. Congratulations UDUB!!

Intikana

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'

After over a year being away from Cali, I am back! Didn't realize how much I really missed this place. So many memories. Old ones to reflect on. New ones to build upon. So grateful.

Eating bomb food at this Spanish restaurant in The Mission District of San Francisco. (The Mission has some of the sickest murals ever!!!!!)

Playing chess in the park. I lost this game but dude had been playing chess for longer than I've been born. Game ended with only 3 pieces on the board. My king, his king, and his queen. I think I did pretty well!!! Best game I've played in YEARSSS!!! P.S. This guy had the same name as my Grandfather: Ricardo. The man that taught me how to play chess. Trippy...

Music was alive and pumping in the streets. This guitarist sang for me and my homegirl in spanish. 2 beautiful songs. : )

One of my most favorite parts of my trip to California was simply based on moments lived fluidly. No thoughts. Mainly intuition and the need to do whatever my heart desired at any given moment. This is my first time in Cali without me having a show or workshop. I am enjoying just living. At times...like a child!!! Other times, in deep meditation.

After getting some bomb borritos and listening to Nas & Damian Marley's new album (Incredible by the way!), here I am at Delores Park in San Francisco. Later in the week, I got to peep DJ Ethos & Ana Tijoux in San Fran, check out the footage:

Also got to peep the Tommie Smith and John Carlos mural at San Jose State. So powerful. These brothers protested an entire system with the mere symbolic raising of their fists at the 1968 Olympics. I think more athletes around the world should follow in their footsteps and stand up for something. What an unforgettable moment in history!!

Later, I met the legendary playwright Luis Valdez (known as the "Godfather of Chicano Theater") who wrote the infamous Zoot Suit (which was eventually turned into a film.) In the 1960s, he worked with Cesar Chavez in the migrant workers' strikes and combined theater with community organizing. Wonderful spirit.

Emotions were still high in the street. At least the energy was for me. Riding the BART train to Oakland was a powerful experience. Oscar Grant: I promise you...your murder will NOT go in vain.

My homie Andy Robinson really held me down on this trip. Drove through San Fran, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Hollywood, Los Angeles, San Juan Bautista, and back to the Bay! Thanks Andy! It was a blessing building with you brother.

More chess with my boy Charlie "Philosophy: The Unsigned Paradigm of Poetry!" Lots of late night discussions. New perspectives. New energy.

Til next time...Love ya' Cali!!!

-Intikana

FASCIOUS CHANGES HIS NAME!!!

"Over the past year, I have been through a series of tremendous transformations and as a result, I have decided to change my name. So, for the record, I will **NO LONGER** be going as Fascious. My new name is and will be INTIKANA (Pronounced "In-Tee-Kah-Nah"). It is a name that I acquired in South America and affirmed in the jungles of the Amazon. It is very ancient, indigenous, and means "that which has no beginning and no end." In Quechua, Inti means "Sun" and Kana means "Instrument." It will take awhile for my online materials to catch up to this change, however, I hope you will all support me in this transition as I can already feel the stars RE-aligning. Peace & Respect." - INTIKANA

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MALCOLM X!

Today, at Brook Park in the South Bronx, several members of the Rebel Diaz Arts Collective came to show unconditional love and respect to one of our most important heroes...Malcolm X. He passed on February 21, 1965 and has since left individuals such as myself questioning prospects of potential. Potential to create a new nation by "any means necessary." When he said that, I don't feel he was simply referring to using guns. I think he meant doing whatever it takes to achieve liberation. However, each circumstance is unique, thus, by "any means necessary" applies to each unique situation. It is 2010. Strategies that worked in the 1960s no longer apply today.

With that said, we need to develop a new plan of action. Most of us who choose to be conscious act out of anger and/or frustration with the "system." We march, protest, spit poems and songs because we feel an innate need to express ourselves in relation to the world around us. However, I have come to realize that we have no plan of longevity. No real long term strategy. We need to develop a plan of action before we continue to put our hearts out there because otherwise we are merely passionate balls of energy with no direction.

[Brothers G1 and Rodstarz (2/3 of Rebel Diaz) holdin' it down.]

I think that plan of action starts with confronting the bloody depths of our past. Excavating as far as we can to gather only the truest sources of information. From there, I believe we need to decide where we want to be. What future do you want to offer your children's children? And what about the children's children of strangers who could very well be your brother or sister? We are all connected more intricately than either of us can fathom. Previous Young Lord, Iris Morales says there are 5 steps to a social movement.

1. First, you need a vision.

2. Then, people to believe in that vision.

3. That's when you need to organize.

4. Educate.

5. And finally follow through with action.

Our oppressors have managed to obliterate our collective sense of self over the course of centuries. I mean...think about it. Where are you from? What is your real history? Who are your ancestors? What beliefs did they practice? What was the essence of their culture and why does it matter? Where does your last name come from and how does it relate to who you are not? Why do you have the color eyes you have? Skin tone? Hair type? DNA structure? Who are you really? Malcolm knew he could not accurately answer such questions so he put an X in place of his last name. I believe we still haven't the slightest clue to who we truly are and will never know unless we dig beyond that which is immediately in front of us. We have to break through the facade of the matrix (by any means necessary) and be strong enough to dive into the abyss of truth.

[Fascious, Charlie Hustle, Rodstarz, Lucho, G1]

Power to the Evolution of Revolution.

Photos by the Legendary Photographer JOE CONZO (Author of "Born In The Bronx")

5 POINTZ PHOTOSHOOT

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine, Dinah Ismail, flew in from Long Beach, CA to see Penumbra play at Teatro La Tea. I was mad happy because 1. "Damn, you flew in from Cali!??" and 2. she's really cool peoples. She held me down on my 2009 Cali Tour and is one of those people who are a blessing to have in your life. After seeing the show, she offered to hook me up with a free photoshoot. We decided to hit up 5 Pointz in Queens. Here are some of the photos that culminated...

The color in this, I think, is powerful. Very vivid. My button up is actually brown but somehow becomes more burgundy in this photo. (The wall looks even more beautiful in person.)

I really like the one above for the fact that there were no after effects made for it to look the way it does. Natural sunlight and I suppose a camera filter of some sort. The transparency feel is awesome. Dope job Dinah! Much love!

Photo Credit: D. Diamonds