Recently I met a girl from Lituania on the train and we laughed about how I didn’t know how to write music out in note formation as she did. But then it became terribly sad but true that I really didn’t know much about her country the Soviet Union at that. Why am I so stupid? Is it really because they taught nothing in school, is my brain lazy to learn new things and obtain information out there, or is it just common to be common in America? I still thought this video was funny. Hehehe.

I have to admit. My gut feeling is even if I was to be able to tell you exactly what the history behind the 4th of July was. Whose to say that what they taught or say in history books is even true. I wasn’t there. I don’t know why they truly fought. I know what I have heard but what the real reasons behind the fighting and independence although they already sound pretty good could be far from what was said and sold to us as truth. “They then severed ties with the British Empire in July 1776, when the Congress issued the Declaration of Independence, rejecting the monarchy on behalf of the new nation.” yeah yeah yeah. Thats still HIS STORY and not ours. As far as hip hop is concerned . . .

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,[71] that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

We as a people are still struggling to receive our independence and be acknowledged to be a part of the benefits of being independent and having this document created for all men and women.

Hello Secret Facebook Reader,

I really want you to know that this Saturday is going to be a big Andy Warhol celebration at the Brooklyn Museum.
I am really excited to go see the Andy Warhol paintings and then party with live Djs playing 80s Pop and Hip Hop Classics. Its going to be a great scene and has already been written up by Village Voice, amNewYork, Paper Mag, Refinery29 and Time Out NY. its going to be FREE.

Mikyoung (my partner) an I danced the night away last fourth of July together at the Brooklyn Museum. This year we are inviting you and yours to experience the same atmosphere.
Take a brief look and see for yourself what it will be like.

Hope you enjoyed that video. Yep and this year its going to be even better. So why not join us? Did I mention that Its FREE

Another FREE event that is sure to raise your spirit is the hug of the one and only AMMA the Hugging Saint. AMMA is visiting New York from July 4-6 and giving hugs non stop from the moment she arrives. The last time I visited AMMA and got a hug it completely changed who I was being and I enjoyed the rest of my day like no other day I can remember. (Shout out to Jason and Sierra for making my day what it was to become. Also the others I bumped into and experienced life with during her stay. Classic times)

It will be Mikyoung’s first AMMA hug and she is really excited. What about you? Sound interesting. Check the website AMMA the Hugging Saint Websiteand also let me know what you would like me to review this summer or attend. It would be my pleasure. Lets stay connected, maybe you might want to join one of my meetups. Keep me posted. Peace and love.

Akim Funk Buddha Dance Workshop

Summer Stage in the Von King Park, Brooklyn, NY I witnessed the greatest show this summer.

It began with a dance workshop with more than 100 kids on stage learning to breakdance.

The show featured the lovely PRINCESS LOCKEROOO

Words really can’t express how blessed I was to witness this performance and be a part of the stage management. Here is a video of how the the work shop went.

Needle Through Brick movie trailer
I just watched the Needle Through Brick movie late last night for free on Hulu.com. What an amazing documentary about the expansion of China and the lost of interest in traditional martial arts. Needle through Brick was about the fact that times have changed and we all are effected by globalization and the ebbs and flows of the new economies. Traditions and cultures are facing serious changes as well being that the people who practice them and keep them alive are changing with the times. The younger generations are following the new trends and learning as fast as technology is growing but in turn are they learning about there history and traditions as well? Well according to this documentary in china the ancient art of Martial arts and its masters are being left behind due to the lack of support of the society in which they were developed. From the perpective of the those who practiced the Kung Fu for years and year “People need to earn money, no longer do you need kung fu to protect your family, your village, your lively hood, So why would you spend countless hours learning the ancient moves of your ancestors.” So in turn the Traditional Martial Arts practices are dwindling down to the point of non existence, and is in need of more support, funding, and new generation excitement toward the ancient practices.
The music of this documentary paints a powerful yet subtle text of traditions gone astray and I would recommend watching this film for the music by “Gil Talmi” and visuals alone even if the context of the documentary doesn’t interest you. I found that there were many parallels to the evaporation of the martial arts and the diminishing of old school hip hop within the hip hop culture. There was this parallel I seen when they showed how the youth was interested in and began supporting the Wushu styles. Which were more flashy and external rather than internally powerful and hard to look at. In Hip hop music today the youth and the society mostly support the aspect of the cultures music that is about the “show and the look” rather than a display of the inner values of the culture itself and upholding traditions. The stories reminded me of stories told from KRS-One and other legends of hip hop that depict a time where hip hop was an art that was useful in upholding the people at the moment and allowing them to speak out against the oppressive conditions at the time where as now people use hip hop to sell products and to market gadgets and lifestyles that are way out of reach of the original people and culture that birthed the art form.
These summer days I am giving service as an yoga teacher at the local Karate School here in Brooklyn. I personally feel the ancient arts and practices might go through changes due to moving from one location to another, one culture to another but they will never die as long as we preserve the conscious minded individuals who possess the abilities to harness them. Something doesn’t have to be popular to be of value. As long as one person remembers deep from within, the truth still exists and always will.

BLOGGING LIVE FROM THE EVENT: This is a great conference set up of 3 panels.

PANEL 1: GETTING TO THE BUCKS
David Rose – newyorkangels.com
Jennifer Wright – ecoincorporated.com
Don DiMartini – nybdc.com
Pravina Raghavan – sba.gov
Steve Kessler – scorenyc.org

PANEL 2: MAKING THE MOST OF TECHNOLOGY
Rasu Jilani – cdtbk.com
Jay Greenstein – ragnewyork.com
Ben Kaufman – quirky.com
Nelly Yusupova – digitalwoman.com
Ramon Ray – smallbiztechnology.com

PANEL 3: PREPARING FOR THE TURNAROUND
Jessica Johnson – johnsonsecuritybureau.com
Lisa Price – carolsdaughter.com
Sarah Endline – sweetriot.com
Rob Walsh – nyc.gov/sbs
Maria Gotsch – nycif.org

I am excited to hear more about Lisa Price which is a small business out of Brooklyn called Carol’s Daughter. During the second panel of “making the most of technology” it was fun to hear the debate about where’d or not to create a business plan. Now I am goin to check out Rasu Jilani of Coup D’ Etat and Nelly Yusupova of DigitalWoman.com. Did you know about the websites quirky.com that empowers creative people or S.C.O.R.E. NYC where you can have a business counselor for FREE.

The Small Biz BIG IMPACT Conference is sponsored by the Daily News, CUNY, Newtek (the small business authority) here at BMCC.

Robert Lieber, New York City deputy mayor for economic development speaking at the Small Biz Big Impact Conference last year in 2009

Sponsers of the Event:
The City University of New York – cuny.edu
Borough of Manhattan Community College – bmcc.cuny.edu Newtek Business Services – newtekbusinessservices.com

Event Vendors:
North Coast Financial, an office of MetLife – northcoast.metlife.com
NYC Printing 123 – nycprinting123.com
U.S. Small Business Administration – sba.gov
SCORE NYC – scorenyc.org
NYS Empire State Development – empire.state.ny.us
NYC Small Business Services – nyc.gov/sbs

One of the best (that I have had the benefit of witnessing) to do it like it needs to be done.

I caught up with Rabbi D and Hired Gun when they entered the Bowery Poetry Club with this album. Classic times.

One of the best that ever did it. A true hip hop god. The influence will never be forgotten. Thank you