hi again. Its me reporting to you from the unda-world. I got another undakova secret for ya. Today it dawned on me that I not only know three amazing websites that I can share but I know the people who designed them and they are genuine, innovative, and pioneers. Still with these gentlement the best is yet to come and I would love for you to get a look at these 3 websites and check them out before they become the next best thing since Twitter for the genre of music, hip hop, underground culture, independent and industry buzz, as well as socializing and entertainment.

The 3 websites are
Thegoodlook.net Roshmond aka SUM KID is the west coast connection, emcee, and ship captain of the GoodLook.net. He brings a monthly video update that is full of the latest tips on how as an independent artist life can be easier, more lucrative, and productive. The Good Look dot net not only is good information for independent artist it also brings those who aren’t full time artist together closer with the latest and greatest for the artist they themselves love and support. In other words the good look is a membership site with one big happy family of creative people and those that love art and music, their companies, and their friends.
theIndustrycosign.com was brought to my attention by Big CED several years ago. Big CED has been facilitating a discussion and forum about the industry’s trends, highs and lows, gossip, updates and has also been hosting weekly and monthly networking events, parties, and gatherings that been in NYC’s trendiest spots for over 5 years consistently. Big CED’s industry co-sign website is a membership site is a reflection of that dedication and is a prominent online forum designed to allow you to network and catch up on whats going down in the current music industry.
freehiphopnow.com developed by Conscious aka Uber Villian (@bxubervillain) is a 10 year vet, poet, internet “neo-hacker”, and promoter extraordinaire. I met Conscious in the scene here in NYC. Actually during several moments in my time here in NYC after 2000 he was the scene, created it, and supported many independent artist in exposing and developing their craft in an open mic, non exclusive, laid back but professional formation. Straight innovator and grassroots motivator. Check for Conscious but more importantly become a member of freehiphopnow.com and stay tuned to the daily updates and articles, and music he has put together for many other classic artist such as SUM KID, BROKE MC, CORE RHYTHM, BISC ONE etc.

Yes so those are the 3 sites I frequent and swear by that you can check out if you haven’t already. Stay tuned for the website that will unfold the inner workings of who I have encountered, built with, and admire here in NYC and on my travels abroad. Hope we can be neyba’s hint hint. Peace and love

My apology goes out to Julian, Danny Santos (Happy Belated), Jeanie, Stella, Sierra, Illana Levine, Andrew Hur and my cousin Joi Bug. Also to Netta for receiving a y5o CD that didn’t work. ooh as bad as that all sounds please be assured that I am not that much of a dooshbag and some people did get there CDs. Also my heart is in the right place. I do want you to have one of the coolest CDs I ever was of a part of. . . a true piece of my life.

But yes the truth is I am having no luck when it comes to being efficient about my mail out to you all. And my CD is low budget anyhow hahaha not sure if it was supposed to be such a grand gesture. For real I wrote on it with a sharpie marker. I thought it would be a nice thing for you to receive as a personal gift from me to you. Problem is I didn’t drop it in the mail and today is the deadline before Mercury goes Retrograde and has its way with communications and mail etc. See your local astrology site for details on what happens when Mercury goes Retrograde heheh.

So before your exclusive y5o CD officially gets lost in the mail I wanted to let you know I have your CD made and everything and I wanted to mail it to you but didn’t. My apologies go out to you if you are too far away like “Julian” and cannot just pick it up from me at any time. If you can pick one up from me at anytime then how about we do a meet up sometime and exchange thoughts, ideas, laughs and of course a CD. I am usually free on Mondays or perhaps Friday evenings. I can promise that because you didn’t get it in the mail I can do a live version of one of the verses that are on the CD for you personally while dancing the “butterfly” hahah. Nah for realz my apologies and I intend on being able to look back at this as a learning experience on how to honor my word. Hit me up for your CD anytime by hitting the contact button on the side panel of this post. Peace and Love.

—David J Williams
a.k.a. Undakova

I recently developed the habit of wanting to know my bank balance daily and keep track of my bills and spending habits over time. How about you?
For some reason online banking has a place in my heart. Why? Well maybe because I am online often and even spend quite a bit of time purchasing items online using the familiar amazon books, paypal and venturing into other options of using my digital cash flow to get by in life. To be quite honest I am someone who saves money every day even if it is just a penny I see on the floor while walking in the street. Most of my banking is done from my iphone application and I personally have an electronic shocking mechanizm attached to my phone that can knock a person unconscious for 3 days straight if they touch my iPhone and try to enter my banking information without my permission. . . .Just kidding about that last bit. Haha
Anyhow there has been this current new trend with people and how they use online banking and it has been coined Banking 2.0 by someone and I feel I am part of that new phase of bankers or workforce generation so to speak.
Ok so lets get to what I am using. One of the programs I have been using for several months is called “Rudder.”
Rudder is a web application that focus’s on your bills mainly to keep track of your income and monthly spending habits. Rudder knows exactly when my bills are due because I inputted that information and is basically on autopilot allowing me to see when my next bills are coming up and “how much I have left” in order to pay for my expected expenses. One of the coolest things about this online reminder program is that I determine when I want to see this information in my email inbox and I chose every Monday. This is great because I don’t have to waste my time going on to there website to find out what is the latest with money in my bank account unlike my normal online banking which has me have to log in every time I want an update about any of my accounts. Saves time plus, Rudder also has a cool spending meter which tracks your spending habits and even shows you all of your transactions just like your normal online banking system does. What I don’t like about Rudder is that is seems to not be as current as I would like it to be. I wouldn’t use Rudder to make up to the minute decisions about my cash flow. In short Rudder is a long term tool to look back and view charts on your bills and when and where you can cut back on your spending habits etc.
Besides Rudder which is my personal choice for banking 2.0 at the moment there are many other options out there that I would like to briefly go over. On a side note I was very upset with online banking when I found out that most transactions are pending from Friday until Monday leaving a customer with only 3 days out of a 7 day week to handle funds efficiently if you catch drift. Anyway lets see what online banking can do to revolutionize those 3 days of money management anyhow.

Oh yeah and before I go any further if you want to know more about some cool banking apps that are even better and actually different and special in other ways than rudder. Please by all means check out this blog right a cool blog about online banking apps.

IN summary article with the link above touches upon these applications listed below in a brief detail:
mint.com- to serve nearly 400,000 users, manages over $12 billion in transactions, and has saved $100 million+ for its users.
wesabe-it takes your data, anonymizes it, and shares it with the Wesabe community. That aggregate data is then analyzed for patterns and those results are shared with everyone
geezo.com-they offer community-focused areas like Groups and Goals where you can socialize and learn from others who have the same financial concerns that you do
expensr-You can compare yourself to your peers by tagging yourself with keywords like “young professional” or “college student” and then look at your spending habits versus the average from that particular group
moneystrands.com-Ultimately, the site will offer you a way to aggregate your financial information in one place and see instant snapshots of your finances.
xero.com-This kiwi startup offers daily bank reconciliation as well as invoicing, reporting, A/R, A/P, expense claims, and other bookkeeping tasks.
rudder.com-you can determine how much money you have available to spend while still paying all your bills
greensherpa.com-The app lets you input transactions manually and offers a more advanced cash flow projection than Mint.com does.
buxfer.com-You can access Buxfer via SMS, Twitter, email, on on the mobile web.
Shryk.com-Their two-pronged approach is designed to help kids achieve financial literacy.

Hope this was at all helpful in opening you to some of the Banking 2.0 options out there including Rudder perhaps something other than. What online banking system are you using. Don’t cheat yourself on some of the advantages out there. We are all a part of this digital world at the moment. Might as well have fun with it while it is here. Who knows when the balance will be zero and the ticker stops ticking On a happy note. ENJOY BEING AN EXCELLENT MONEY MANAGER and may lucrative opportunities always come your way! Peace

Hello my neyba,

Google Docs has been a life saver for me and keeping my life and documents both business and personal organized. Today I wanted to briefly give 5 reasons why I think if you haven’t tried google docs you should give it a try and see how it works for your business and keeping your life organized efficient fast and mobile.

Well for one its mobile. . .
Like I said earlier you will be mobile with your work and creations. I personally use google docs to create word documents that I can see no matter where I am. When I am not even in the office I can look at a word document that I created in 2002 that has all of my business plans or even notes I took from a book I read in them. Its cool to be mobile these days and the internet and google docs have master how to get your work online and in your hands no matter where you are.

For Two Google Docs is Microsoft Efficient. . .
What does that mean? Well it means you have the power of Powerpoint presentations, WORD documents, Excel spreadsheets, and um what else? Well you can make forms and surveys and other cool additions to your documents. Why not take all of your documents and place them online where you can easily update them from every computer. I believe it is more productive to be able to work on a document you created at home on excel and be able to update it from the airport cafe even though the cafe is not your home computer. And who has time to email every document you need to update or everyone that you have ever made to yourself everytime you go on a trip etc. Just have em all in one place at one time on the web and wallah you are being Microsoft Efficient with Google Docs.

This third reason is a charm . . .
Google docs rocs cause I said so. Hahah. yep. I said so. Why do I say so? Well because if me and you were sharing a google document lets say. And if I so charmingly added something to the document that you thought was true or not you could “IN REAL TIME” edit what I said. So we basically could have this conversation in real time on google documents using there editiing in real time feature. Crazy huh? Thats not all.

Fourth Reason, now don’t get lost . . .
I have had several computers in my lifetime all using Documents. Although my writing style has never changed. . . Eh em I am still me but my documents have sort of changed. How. Well before google docs ever time I changed computers there went those documents. I would sometimes save em on disk but then again out of site can often lead to out of mind. Jeeez I wish I had those spreadsheets I created when I worked for Jellybean’s Retail department and created an excel sheet of all the mom and pop record stores over america. Google docs wasn’t around then and perhaps that document is completely lost on an old PC of mine. Now I can tell you the fourth reason is you haven’t any fear of losing documents because they will be autosaved every time you are in the creation process also if your harddrive crashes or you change computers it doesn’t matter because they are saved online in a database as large as the scientific meaning definition behind the word google. (look that up)

Five is last but no jive . . .
Straight up you can have control over who sees which documents. So if you have documents that only your co-workers need to see then that can be available to them online and your family cannot see it. Imagine creating your unpublished mémoire on how “your parents really made you crazy” and then one day your parents come across your desktop and see that document when they were using your desktop to find the shopping list for the family gathering you were having. Instead of opening the family shopping list they open your mémoire to page 99 Chapter 6 “It all started with my crazy parents” hahah I am killing myself as I write this haha. Ok yeah so my point is this is a major reason why with google you would want to keep certain documents online only, control who sees them, and download them to your laptop when you feel necessary.

If you want to see some other examples of how real people are using google docs then click on where I wrote “using google docs” or just hold your breath for more than 50 minutes. I would do the latter if I was you.

Better yet check thisGoogle Docs Rocks!

I hope this was helpful to you if you haven’t chosen to give google docs a try. By the way its FREE To do so. IF you already have google docs working for you then hmm maybe you might be interested in the online FREE phone accounts that were once Googles “Grandcentral” now becoming what will be known as “GOOGLE VOICE” this is going to be the next technological revolution for cell phone and online use so remember that name “GOOGLE VOICE. If you are at all interested in this option to do beyond what your cell phone service can do all for free and online and also with your phone then check this link out to find out more. GOOGLE VOICE

Wanna give me a call using google voice to reach my cell phone. Its simple. Anytime just go on the sidebar panel of this website and hit the button and we can build. Peace and Love.

For those of you who have known me for some time can recognize that I have been working as a DJ, I have been an MC and entertainer, I have taught my own courses to the youth on the Willpowa Theory a course about the 5 elements of art, I have taught yoga to the pre-schoolers, published music and produced compilation albums, and even had the benefit of working for others in the arts and on other jobs as well. As I type I am seconds away from heading to my night position as an assistant to the raw food chef in an live organic vegan kitchen here in NYC. Out of all the great career opportunities I have had I have never had financial freedom or better yet been rich. I have always been an entrepreneur, use to the cutting edge technology and concepts, and available to motivate and encourage others to follow there wildest dreams no matter what they were as long as they were positive and not hurting anyone. So I guess that is what has drawn me to this program called the Millionaire Mind 90 Day Wealth Conditioning Program.
Yes I have always been a fan of T.Harv Ecker’s secret of a Millionaire Mind since day one. Well since 2005 when I happened to be given the book by my mom on a family vacation to read haha. She didn’t read it herself at the time but she wanted me to understand the importance of having money and a good financial education mainly because I was being what I thought was a true artist “starving and broke” and not taking her financial advice. I mainly was angry at the world because I thought money was the “devil” and in order for me to be accepted as an artist I had to be broke.
After reading Secrets of Millionaire mind and before you knew it I found myself learning that I told myself that story at a very young age and based my whole world around it because of a conversation I had with myself that convinced me that that tale was true.
How is life now? Well just a few days ago I participated in a fundraiser for my favorite artist and mentor Akim Funk Buddha and was able to raise $200 of my own “capital” for his trip to Bali while having a great time playful and fun time doing it. He is on a plane now and that much closer to his goal of reaching kids in indonesia and connecting with artist all over the world through dance and kinesthetic journalism. He is moving mountains on a small budget and I say all this to say many friends like Akim and other artist where here in my life to show me that although art is spiritual and also pure it requires materialistic and monetary means in order to survive and thrive in the real world. We also learned that lesson this past summer while I rented out a storefront here in the lower east side of Manhattan to develop workshops for kids and pursue other artistic ventures. Artistic ventures like flying to Bali and creating centers for artist and kids cost money. Money for flight, costumes, and the list goes on right? My artist peeps know what I mean. . . but do we have the mindset to raise that capital with a true entrepreneurial spirit and our own means of supporting ourselves sustainably?
So to sum up what I am saying here is this. I am working through this program called the Millionaire Mind 90 day Wealth Conditioning program and it rocks. So far I am on day 39 out of the 90 days and I am able to say I have saved more money that I ever had in my entire life. . . period. I have also been able to give generously and play hard too (Russian Spa’s, Massages, Dinner). I am also beginning to have what is known as a “Millionaire mind” that gives me a perspective that I didn’t have before on how easy and fun it is to begin creating wealth for myself and my business. This mindset is positive because it can really have an impact on what I am passionate with which is music, health an wellness, and being a creative motivator in life and keep me in gratitude for what I already have and am doing. “Each one teach one” as the saying goes. Well thanks for checking this out and reading through my journal and thank you for being a part of my undakova.com blogging experience, check me out on Facebook if you haven’t already added me as a friend. See you again in the next post. Peace and Love.

PS. You have a Millionaire Mind and if you don’t then check out T’harv’s book. I have it in my side panel on this website and you can easily order from there or just check out amazon.com and find it. Plus you can click on any of the links in this post and check out the millionairemind.com website. Let me know what you think.

Sound Advice TV – Featuring Derek Sivers – The Pitch

So here is a video presented by Ariel of Ariel Publicity featuring Derek Silvers. About 5 years ago I once met someone who worked for Ariel Publicity and their promotions in a lounge where I would DJ here in NYC. My impression from meeting an employee of the company was that Ariel is a “legit” as well as effective and on top of what they do as far as publicity goes.
Derek Silvers who is featured in this video has changed the face of my music career with his CDBaby.com website as well as other ventures he has created such as Hostbaby that enabled me to stay on the cutting edge and enhance my music career. My first consistent website was Undakovamusic.com which was hosted by Derek’s company called Hostbaby.com. All of the older journels from this site you reading now were originally on Derek Silvers Hostbaby site first. I can just imagine what the advice from these two people will be able to do for your career and abilities which is why I am posted this blog. Like they say “Knowledge is Power”
So what this video entails is a bit about how to figure out your bands “sound” in a few words that will allow a anybody to understand exactly what you and your band sound like. This advance is to assist you in making your band accessible by placing your music utilizing other musicians that came before you. We all sound unique but have we invented a new genre of music? For instance I stated on the website for the Willpowa compilation album “the Collective” the album was Hip Hop alternative and recommended by people who enjoy “Common, Lupe Fiasco, and Kanye West” All meaning that sound is headed in that direction and might remind you of the any of those artist although its hard to compare my production or sound to anyone. If you read more about the Collective album in the bio you can get a better understanding of what it doesn’t sound like as well.
Another example is If I had to say who I sound like when producing songs that I haven’t released yet to the public on CDBABY.com I would have to say those songs sound like a mixture between “Willsmith, Moby and Tribe Called Quest” Does that give you a picture of what you might hear? Jazzy, Electronic, Fun, Commercial music? Hahha. This is fun to ponder on and do! and by no means is it pigeon holing yourself into a box. So as as songwriter or musician it is actually giving yourself an opportunity to be understood so people know what to expect when they come to your show or buy your music. This is what the video is explaining in a mere 5 minute interview.
If you haven’t seen this video or haven’t practiced your “Pitch” check this out.

Oh my god. So check it. I have had this album called “MURS for President” for about a two weeks along with the U2 album and I have been listening to them both simultaneously. Actually if it wasn’t for these albums I think I might have lost hope, quit my night job at the raw food kitchen, and just pursued my passion so furiously that I burnt myself out. But no. This MURS album for instance has been allowing me to feel more comfortable and at ease knowing there is hope for good music. More importantly great hip hop. My opinion is these kids need it. I work with young men from Africa (Burkina Faso) who didn’t grow up with hip hop and all they know is Cassidy and Bird Man. What message do they now have about being a black man in America? All I know is that we work around the most positive food and environment you can find in NYC and they still see no place for that in the music they call “hip hop”
If you know me personally you can basically admit the last time I was proud of hip hop Biggie was still alive. And even then I was “playing along for the fun of it” not knowing that the ridiculousness would stay for this long. I thought Biggie was “real,” . . . .come to think of it I crashed my first car speeding on the highway listening to Biggie on the way to college because I thought the cops were chasing me. Thats how real I though biggie was coming through the speakers hahah. Hip Hop can be life altering but come on peoples lets not even get into some of the more recent trends hip hop has started like Pink Aligator pants with button on shoes or something to that affect.
Point blank by the second track of this album “I’m Innocent” I was not only dancing in my room with joy but I was raising my fist to the fact that I can now be proud to be a hip hopper with an actual brain that finally relate to what the music is portraying. “I am anti drugs anti thug, walked in the party and got anti-love” It actually relieved me that this album is in existence because MURS cleared the air so to speak. My opinion is now artist like myself can actually be talented and creative rather than having to waste a whole album getting back at the stupidity and blatant ignorance that has been pressed on these cds that call themselves music for our children. Many underground MCs accomplished this. Many poets accomplished this. To me MURS already accomplished this for the mainstream. Lupe Kanye and Nas watch out for MURS. “I could of done a NAS and screamed hip hop is dead, instead I got off my ass and did something instead”
I can’t go into each song but if you want me to I will. For now all I can say is don’t watch this man in an interview, don’t be a fan, don’t even buy a t-shirt of his. Just buy his album and attach his music to what you are going through right now and if you were needing this fix like I happened to be. . .then perfect you found a hip hop album with dope beats, conscious but fun, and entertaining lyrics. Finally songs about women that involve reality, with an east to west coast awareness that takes you from the beginning to the end with care and then spits at you with a the lyrical venom that only MURS can bring.
Let me also just say. MURS is no messiah. I have personal friends who can spit circles around him unconscious. That isn’t the point. The point is he is legible. He is clear and concise. His beats are well done. And its a step into the right direction. I was able to give the record to my next door neighbor and good friend who is in his teens and allow him to even go remix the accapella of “Everything” (which is his latest contest) because I believe in the lyrics bare bones without the track. If you don’t have friends who are as good like I do such as SUMKID who told me about the album in the first place. iLLspokinn who I personally consider my sensai, my brother SELF SUFFICE or AKIM FUNK Buddha just to name a few and you can’t get to a real hip hop event in your area then perhaps you want to go to a real music store like I did and cop an amazing album for 09. Thank you MURS and thank you Warner for signing someone from my cypher (1978 ya heard). “Vegan Diet healthy body with a sick mine” ok yeah there’s one quote
‘ >MURS for President

The Ba-Gua and Feng Shui has been a interesting hobby of mine for over 5 years now. I have enjoyed the ride of changing my space (both inner and outer) to align with the themes, colors, directions and wisdom of Feng Shui. The Ba-Gua tool has enhanced the balance in my room as well as in my personal and emotional life. I keep one in my room these days facing the screaming New York City High way haha. Today I have a more holistic approach to my lifestyle. In the past when I first thought about my life I would say “to myself I just want to be happy and healthy. Understanding the Ba-Gua has now enlivened my approach to a balance lifestyle by allowing me to see that living a healthy and happy life can consist of more than just that. I gain happiness and healthy living through my focus on the 8 areas of the Ba-Gua. To me they stand for Wisdom, Health and Family, Wealth, Fame, Relationships, Creativity and Children, Helpful People and Contacts, and lastly Career.

My career and wealth are then seperate from my fame and my creativity areas of life. Each get there own attention have there own feel and colors allowing me to develop them with concentration and powerful focus. While career might be the closet of my room where I put clothing such as suits and ties my fame area of my space will be a seperate wall in my room filled where I can hang pictures and collages that I have created myself and microphones attached to my computer that I use to make music. This is just one way I have extended my focus on the important areas of my life according to Feng Shui Ba-Gua. Here is a video that I just recently came across on a website called Expert Village. This video is an instructional video on the Ba-Gua so you can get a true sense of the Ba-Gua and how it can affect your home and your personal life. Good luck Feng Shui’n your home and your life and keep me posted. Peace

So recently I ventured over to J and R Music world to do some market research on great popular music. I jogged over to the huge location downtown, walked on the huge location, and what immediately popped out on the shelf was the latest U2 album. I didn’t pay that much attention, took notes of my thoughts which were I am sure everyone is buying that. . . Wow on sale. . . Let me look around more.
I walked around a bit, looked at some Michael Jackson CDs, and the album covers realizing I have those physical records. Then I dropped the CDs when tripping over some customers thought to myself “wow when was the last time I actually bought my music from a store rather than instantly download it from iTunes? I have such bad music store etiquite now”
I then move on to the poster section of the the store where I can quietly get away and enjoy some time observing something without interfering with another’s perspective. Reading quietly to myself the Barrack Obama acceptance speech poster I stop half way through and realize just feet away I was near the Hip Hop section of the store. So I browse my eyes around some of the new and old releases. “Wow Bizarre from Eminem’s D-12 band actually came out with an album. Jeez if he can do it I certainly can be on these shelves one day” Scanning Scanning I then see an album that stands out that reads “MURs for President.” Oh I heard of this guy. My neyba Sum-Kid told me about his west coast impact and dedication. So I pick up the album and head over to purchase hoping Sum-Kid’s recommendation leads me to that unknown land that I never see represented in hip hop store shelves these days. Before I make this my final purchase I grab a copy of the U2 album as well. Noticing the valuable upsales they presented from DVD box sets and even magazine photobooks. I didn’t want to now pay up to 60-80 for my U2 experience just yet. I wanted to take home the $6.99 Cd and see if they still had it. Safe to say walking out of the J and R store, receiving some love from the security guard on my way out, and walking home knowing the only way I could listen to these albums fully was to begin cleaning my bathroom and let them take me for a walk. I had no idea what type of ride I was in for.

How to build a customized apartment studio? A question that if I knew would change the course of my life. Imagine truly recording from home. In style. In privacy. On my own time. With whom I choose. Ugh sounds like a dream come true from this standpoint of writing to you from my day job in a Coney Island library. I love what I do but if I have to be immobile and giving service I might as well be in my own home and being ultra creative right? Yes. So surfing around I found an article that can get me started on doing just that.
Instuctables.com is a website that has several step by step instructions on how to create things that people are interested in creating but perhaps don’t have the instructions how. Although they have several sections from Offbeat, Pets, Ride, Green, Games, Kids and home etc. I was in the music section when I literally got 9 detailed steps on how to sound proof and build my dream studio.
Check out the steps below.

Build a music studio in an apartment building – More DIY How To Projects
Hope this is as helpful for you as it is for me. Happy Building. Peace and love.