peopleforprogression

Picongs w/ Shelley Vidia Worrell, Producer of the 1st Annual CariBBeing Film Festival Part 2

2010-10-28T19:32:00.000-07:00

What does it mean to be Caribbean? It doesn't mean...anything. In the Caribbean we don't ask questions, we live through answers . With our family and hands we have learned to live life as life provides. Joy is never not to be found and with music we dance, sing and cry. Through food we love, laugh and build the bridges that cross our minds. We stand proud and bold like the mountains that tower our land but, always bare fruit for others with open hands. We are in harmony like the oceans that embrace our homes and cruise through life like boats in shallow seas. When angered we pound hard like crashing waves but, pull back when there is no more rage. Watch Your Head!!! We drop in unexpectedly like falling coconuts. You either love us or hate us...we are CariBBeing and we don't change for nobody!

Here is the second installment of my picongs with Shelley Vidia Worrell, Producer of the 1st Annual CariBBeing Film Festival, Oct 30th @ Brooklyn College.

Picong w/ Shelley Vidia Worrell, Producer of the 1st Annual CariBBeing Film Festival

2010-10-15T21:02:00.000-07:00

The West Indian Day Parade is held on Labor Day of every year and embodies an average of four million people. On that day, West Indians from around the world gather on a crowded Eastern Parkway to celebrate a day in unison. From years of living in the community, its safe to say that the majority of those people are from the surrounding neighborhoods. What does this tell us? Like there dishes, there is a generous amount of Caribbeans in Brooklyn. If Brooklyn was a roti it would be wrapped in music, film, visual arts, sports and politics...doused with a with a little entrepreneur pepper sauce (side order of plantains). With no questions asked, the cultural significance of West Indians in Brooklyn is undeniably influential through out cities and countries across the globe.

Through out history Brooklyn has been known as a core center for all things creative. Over the years people have failed to recognize Brooklyn’s Creative drive but, our in your face attitude shows little to no mercy. We all know that all things Musically and visually happen in Brooklyn and now including...cinematically. Its so hard to believe that there has never been a Caribbean film festival in Brooklyn. Sometimes people don't welcome the pressure associated with being the first to launch a project. Some people fail before they have ever began while others success is beginning. With that said, its an honor to have sat down to talk to Shelley Vidia Worrell, the founder and curator of the first ever CariBBeing film Festival in Brooklyn. Officially schooled by her cousin I know hold picongs. Therefore as a more realistic human approach to interviews, I'm convinced to scrap structure and just kick it. This is the result and hopefully there's more on the plate *hint*. I have a good amount of great recordings so, I will post gradually fifteen minute pieces through out the week. Stay posted and Enjoy!

Side project in the oven *hint* so, keep posted! (update: NO... she's not pregnant...if your mind is there)

peopleforprogression.com Interview w/ DJ Bobbito Garcia

2010-04-24T22:53:00.000-07:00

Bobbito Garcia's accomplishments and aspirations has influenced the success of many who strive for a future outside the traditional American standards. Bobbito's love for his Puerto Rican heritage and open arms for minorities and people alike has granted him an international respect that some can only dream of having. DJ Boobbito Garcia aka Kool Bob Love co-hosted the legendary Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show on WKCR , he is also known as a pro street baller, sneaker connoisseur, community activist, actor, a legendary rock steady crew member, DJ, designer and a friend to many. Many look to Bobbito for inspiration, including myself. You can catch DJ Bobbito Garcia spinning every first Monday of the month @ Camaradas El Barrio. Much respect and thanks brother! Thanks Camaradas El Bario aswell! Xen Good Looking out homie, Thank you!

-Through the past and present times of Bobbito,
what year do you remember the most... and why?
-You have managed to keep your relevance where
it’s most important, your community. While others
in your position could have easily moved on, you
stuck around. Why have you kept so close for
so long?
-I remember watching your nephews on the CNN
documentary, Latino in America. Can you identify
with your nephews, growing up as a Latino in NY?
-When you go to Puerto Rico, whats one thing about
New York that you bring with you over there and
vice versa?
-I understand your part of Project 2050. Can you tell
me a little about the company and it's direction?

peopleforprogression.com Interview w/ DJ Disco Wiz

2010-04-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

Just recently I had the honor and privilege to sit down with the legendary DJ Disco Wiz. As a pioneer in Hip Hop and the first Latino DJ, his importance exceeds measurements for our generation of young minds. DJ Disco Wiz broke color boundaries and set blueprints in a game were the love of music was motivation. For many of the youth at the time Hip Hop was an outlet from the struggles of growing up in New York City. For Wiz the South Bronx was home and every day presented itself with a new obstacle. Although the darkness would have subdued most, Luis “DJ Disco Wiz” Cedeño overcame the hurdles and established life that now radiates success and enlightenment. A heavy influence on me and for many, Dj Disco Wiz exemplifies the success of Hip Hop and the reflection that life is only what you make it. It’s Just Begun!!!

If you have not read his Book It’s Just Begun, I highly recommend you do so. You won’t be disappointed. Its one of those books you pick up and bring with you everywhere, until you finish it.

Below is the audio of the first section of our conversation. In a few days I will post the remaining of the convo...keep a look out! I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I did. Peace ya’ll!

Part 1.

Part 2.

Part 3.

Part 4.

For more info on DJ Disco Wiz and to purchase the Book It's Just Begun, please visit:
powerhousebooks.com
or
amazon.com

INTERVIEW WITH LITTLE DRAGON

2009-10-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

LITTLE DRAGON- A NEW

Little Dragon from Gothenburg, Sweden is an amazing group of musical individuals who all give their own but, naturally collide to create a sound like no other. With their array of musical influences, they accentuate the beauty of music and put emphasis on the free spirit that lives in it. Little Dragon sets the standards for creating not just new music but, the start of a new genre that effortlessly sounds collectively amazing. If you have not yet treated your ears to the sounds of Little Dragon, your cheating yourself a walk through a modern art gallery of sounds. Go out and get the self titled album Little Dragon and their new album Machine Dreams. Both albums are a must have for any fan of good music.

Going to the middle east with your record mate Jose Gonzalez for the first time, I'm sure was an amazing and enlightening experience. As most know, Regardless of the years of “peaceful negotiations” the war and turmoil continues to devastate innocent people’s lives. After first hand experience of visiting, do you believe that conflict will end or will it continue as an on and off occurrence?

Yes, it has to stop somehow. We actually visited Dubai, Tel aviv and Beirut in the same tour which is a unusual combination. It was a bit like a crash course in the history of those countries.

In Tel aviv we tried to be objective and just listen to different peoples stories and perspectives even though we all felt strongly opposed to Israelis continuing occupation of Palestine. We had an off day that we spent in Jerusalem and it was very interesting to visit a place built upon so much history and of such a religious significance for all three Abrahamic religions. Perhaps if people stopped putting so much value in these symbolic places it would make it easier.

In relation to turmoil in the middle east, why do you believe that so many countries donated money to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip instead of supplying aid to the prevention of the destruction?

I am definitely not an expert on this subject, I feel like a don't want to be another artist making strong opinions about political issues without a deep understanding about the situation. I'm not saying I wont try to take my responsibility and learn more but answering such a question would deserve more knowledge.

Your music is very free spirited and lets off beautiful energy. Not everyone gets that and dismisses music in likes to Little Dragon. In what way do you as a group reach the unconvinced while still keeping those who understand satisfied?

I think the easiest way is for us to focus on creating sounds and music that we love and if we feel satisfied hopefully there will be people out there who are feeling the music as well. I think once you start focusing on what people will understand or if it is say, to avant garde for peoples taste, your directing your energy towards the wrong thing.

The music that Little Dragon chooses to make is with no doubt something different but, also a derivative of an array of genres that meet together in sync, like rivers to an open sea. Although, It is becoming more accepted in the inner cities to have a larger preference of music and art, it is still uncommon among the youth. What can artists do to bring awareness to the importance of individuality among the youth, while also making them feel comfortable expressing there differences in the arts?

I think individuality is something that can take time to find in a creative expression. Some people find it in there youth and some as adults and some aren't even interested in finding it. My advice would be to copy styles that you love and along the way you will find your own version of all your influences.

I read on your blog Miss Nagano, that you’re a vegan but love your fish. I understand, although you love fish, your still aware of what to buy that’s ocean friendly. Has your travels around the world given you a greater appreciation for the preservation of the environment? Also, what have you seen or read that had the most affect on you towards the awareness of our ecosystem?

yes, so I guess I'm like a fake vegan. I aspire to eat as much vegan food as I can. But there are 3 things that influence my eating habits.

Animal suffering, environmental issues and good taste. Having lived in japan and grown up eating really tasty Japanese food almost always consisting of fish, it is something I find hard to say no to at times. I grown aware from documentaries on Swedish television about the negative effects of Norwegian farmed fish. As well, through blogs and statistics about how close ocean ecosystems are to collapse. And how experts and marine biologists are saying that our fish eating habits just aren't sustainable if we want to have flourishing aquatic life which is essential for our planet.

But If we had enough fish to go around I would be eating more of it because even though its impossible to prove my guess that fish cant experience conscious suffering and therefore would be ok to eat.

I understand as a group you stand firm with the idea of unity. I read that sometimes you have problems with the media seeing Little Dragon as a whole and not one entity. As a music producer myself I have worked with a couple commercial artists. I know it’s a constant battle expressing yourself freely with out the intrusion of corporate ideologies. Does your record label understand the importance of the musical freedom that created such beautiful albums as Little Dragon and Machine Dreams?

Yes I think they understand.

Correct me if I’m wrong but, I noticed that the majority of your new album Machine Dreams focuses on the topic of love. For 2009 in America, roughly 50 percent of all marriages end up in divorce. What do you think is leading Americans to the misconception of love?

I think that in the past couples stayed together because that's just what you did. My grandparents might of gotten a divorce if that had been the norm at there time but divorce was not a option for them. In modern societies couples rather get divorced than stay in a unhappy relationship. So in one sense it doesn't have to be a terrible thing. I think the goal in life should be to lead a happy life ,that might mean getting out of a bad relationship.

The name of your new album is called Machine Dreams. Ironically, much of what technology is today closely resembles what has been conceived before by authors and directors of books and movies. What was the last book or movie that you have read or seen, that will have the largest impact on the technology of our future?

Lately I have been reading Murakami books.

I know in Europe, Sweden is known for its equality and free thinkers. As musicians and a Swedish band, do you think the Swedish took the concept of free will too far when they started the Swedish based file sharing site, The Pirate Bay?

The fact that it exists seems like a natural development . But we don't agree with downloading music, books, film for nothing.

I think that free access to information is one of the webs amazing strengths but its not fair to steal from creative people who have put a lot of work into there art. You could argue that in the music business record companies usually swallowed up the bigger piece of the cake anyway...so perhaps this can be a time of transformation. There needs to be a better system. Pirate bay has raised a lot of questions and that is a good thing.

If some Swedes hadn't started it someone else would have.

Miss Nagano, as a child was being half Japanese and half American difficult to find yourself and fit in with other children? Also what advice can you give children of multi nationalities who find it hard to fit in?

I think I was lucky and never saw it as a disadvantage. I was always proud of my heritage even as a child. My advice would be to be proud of who you are and the fact that you get insight into different cultures that will widen your view of the world and to remember that we are all originally from Africa anyway.

Lastly, I like to ask everyone I interview this question. If it wasn't for music as your means to express yourself and enlighten others, what career paths would the group Little Dragon have taken to administer a positive change in the world that we live in (in any order)?

Its hard to imagine the guys doing anything other than playing music. We would be supporters of Human Rights and a greener planet no mater what our occupation...I'm sure.

Thank you again, I appreciate your time. I really look forward to the amazing albums to come and seeing Little Dragon perform here in New York for November 21st. Little Dragon continues to be my favorite group out. I remember that Grey’s Anatomy put me on to your music, I think a couple years ago. Thank God for Grey’s Anatomy!

For further info and tour dates for Little Dragon please visit:

http://www.little-dragon.se/ or

http://www.myspace.com/yourlittledragon