Such Little Justice

For those of you who know me well, I have always been interested in politics.  I think it's important to keep myself educated on current issues, even if I may have a major qualm with our government.  However, my biggest concern has always lied within our justice system.  Not only do I believe it's corrupt, but it's also inhumane.  I sometimes wonder how these people sleep at night.  I read an article by John Thompson, a contributing writer to the NY Times.  This man spent 18 years in prison, 14 of them on death row for a crime that he didn't commit.  The Death Penalty in my view is the most fucked up punishment we have in this "civilized" country.  I've argued with people on many occasions and I'm usually standing alone on this issue.  I even had one person ask me if I was "pro-rape" because I didn't think a rapist should be killed.  Well here's the unfortunate truth, rapists are not going to fade away if they are given the death penalty.  They're out there, and I doubt anyone is actually pro-rape unless they are indeed a rapist.  But back to Thompson, this issue goes far beyond the cruel institution of lethal punishment.  Thompson was convicted of robbery and murder, both of which he didn't commit.  The prosecution got away withholding evidence for 15 years.  15 years!  Part of this evidence was a blood sample.  My question is how come no team of investigators was able to discover this.  Instead, an innocent man was framed and forced to live a cruel existence.  Worst of all, he wasn't able to see his children grow up.  Luckily, there is a somewhat happy ending to this story.  After those 15 years, the blood sample was uncovered and found that Thompson was innocent.
What many people don't realize about our justice system is that it's a money system.  If you are wealthy and can afford a good attorney, you will probably be okay.  However, if that isn't the case, you might be fucked.  Does that seem fair?  Of course not.  If we are on the topic of money, it costs more to keep someone on death row than it does to keep them in prison for life.  Because once you are sentenced to death, you are brought back to trial many grueling times for a series of appeals that usually just delay the inevitable unless more evidence appears.  Evidence is the key here, which apparently takes more time to discover than it should.  Now, I don't like to be cynical.  The best thing we can as American citizens is educate ourselves on what is happening around us.  That way people can see the reality of the country and maybe evoke some emotions.  I know for me, it breaks my heart more and more each time.

-E-steam

RIP Nick Henin

Last week I lost a friend of mine.  Nick Henin was a great person and has a lot of people around him who love and support him.  Unfortunately, Nick struggled with addiction.  It's painful to see someone go that way, especially when it's such a nice guy.  Nick and I graduated high school together, but we actually didn't become friends until after high school.  He and my best friend Chelsea worked at the same Starbucks together where I would frequently visit when I was home on breaks.  The Starbucks gang would hang out outside of work and they were nice enough to include me in their group.  We had a lot of great times together.  Nick used to throw great parties in his beautiful house off South mountain rd. in New City, NY.  When I would walk in he would immediately offer me something to drink, showing that he was a great host.  It was always a great time when I would hang out with Nick and other friends.  We will all certainly miss it.  Nick moved out to California this past August.  I haven't seen him since then, but the last time I did we talked about doing a Palisades mall crawl where we would hit up every bar in the mall.  It sounded like an awesome idea and I still want to do it.  I spoke to my friend Chelsea about it and she thought it would be great to organize one in his memory.  I think it would be fun and we could reminisce on the good times.  He had a lot of friends and we are all still very devastated.  His best friend Doug said in his facebook group  that he would want his life to be celebrated.  That's a lot more uplifting and something myself and Nick's other friends can do.  RIP Nick Henin.

-E-steam

Difficult to Grasp

I read everyday about the latest news in Japan.  Unfortunately, most of this pertains to the nuclear reactors in Fukushima.  Each day there seems to be a new problem with the cooling systems.  It's difficult to hear about. Even though authorities say the radiation has not reached serious levels, I'm still not convinced.  Even if it's not, it could get worse.
It's so horrible that a natural disaster could be just the start in a series of tragedies.  I feel horrible for the people who are suffering through all of this.  It certainly makes me feel lucky to be here.  I also feel an obligation to donate to one of the efforts aiding Japanese citizens.  I have Japanese friends at school with me and even though their families are okay, it's devastating to hear that your country is experiencing its worst tragedy since World War II.  I have never even experienced an earthquake.  I can only imagine what an 8.9 must feel like.

-E-steam

Fishsc ale

What? How have I not listened to Fishscale by Ghostface Killah. Great album from '06. It realy benefits from the vast amounts of producers on the album. It's like your favorite hip-hop mixtape with a classic MC on the mic. Ghostface Killah (AKA Denis Coles) is from the classic hip-hop crew The Wu-Tang Clan. That group only seems to suffer a bit from some of it's dated drum sounds. But this guy is as relevant as ever. This shit has sooooul. The right minds at the right time. MF Doom, Pete Rock, J Dilla, and even a Wu-Tang Clan track. All different and soulful and in your face. You will be nodding your head until you sore muscles and when they get tight you push through because you neeeed to. It is beyond want. Make yourself propah and listen to this all night.
If you like: J Dilla, MF Doom, Pete Rock, Wu Tang Clan, and Madlib
Recommended tracks: R.A.G.U. (feat. Raekwon and Pete Rock production), Jellyfish (feat. Theodore Unit and MF Doom production), 9 Milli Bros. (feat. Wu-Tang Clan), and The Champ.
R.A.G.U. (feat. Raekwon)

-Chakrah.

Bosta Nova

I've been on a real Brazilian music kick these last few weeks. such cool and hushed tones. almost like a muted velvet. There are just so many great artists with their own take on this formless idea. From the ethereal throat of Astrud Gilberto to the wild guitar antics of Novos Baianos. Thought to be originally inspired by the cool jazz era mixed with the tradition chord and song structures from the areas the various bands were from. I actually started listening to this genre of music because of a song by ever awesome Beck called Tropicália. He wrote that song with affectations of the genre he named the song after. So I started looking into it and it just opened up a whole new world of wonderful rhythms and blissful chords structures. It starts with the hushed whisper of João Gilberto (husband of Asturd, what a beautiful couple) to fuzzy psychedelic sounds of Gal Costa. Bossa nova is a more evolved version of samba while Tropicália is a more psychedelic rock influenced version.

Brazil 70: After Tropicalia: New Directions in Brazilian Music

The Astrud Gilberto Album by Astrud Gilberto

Gal by Gal Costa

Getz/Gilberto

self-titled João Gilberto

Self titled Os Mutantes

Transa by Caetano Veloso

enjoy.

-Chakrah

Avtntcourt

Over the course of the last two years I really have become a big hip-hop head. Just searching for whatever tickles my insides until they burst out laughing. A few months ago my friend hipped me to lightning fast rapper Busdriver (more commonly known to his mom as Regan John Farquhar). His album Temporary Forever seemed to be in the same fire of Deltron 3030 and Aesop Rock, my two favorites for a long time. His lyrics and his flow will poly rhythm your brain until it screams for another listen. They are calling music like Busdriver is what is commonly refered to has Avantcore. There are two types of music that are categorized and both make sense in their own context. There is avantcore that is a mixture of avant garde metal with hardcore. The avantcore I am talking about his is avant garde hardcore hiphop. Other people in this genre would be Busdriver (who has worked with electronic sample god Daedelus with the next rapper), Radioinactive, Haiku D'Etat (Aceyalone, Myka 9 & Abstract Rude, who all have their own great solo projects), Nocando, 13 & God (Doseone and German indie band The Notwist), Themselves, Doseone (who is also in 13 & God and Themselves), and Why? (more indie but similar fire). All these people care about their beats and their words. They will not be compromised by what people say. They are making the exact music they want to make. The name of genre could possibly be traced back to the Busdriver track "Avantcore" off of his album "Fear Of A Black Tangent", track 5.
Albums to start with
Temporary Forever by Busdriver

Free Kamal by Radioinactive and Antimc

Coup De Theatre by Haiku D'Etat

Jimmy the Lock by Nocando (Nosaj Thing and Daedelus have a beat each on this)

self titled 13 & God

 TheFREEhoudini by Themselves

If you like anything of Anticon or if you just love weird, soulful hip-hop, then get at all this. Not your average boom-bap.
-Chakrah

OffOf Snowdonia

Fuck pitchfork media's review of this album. Of Snowdonia by Daedelus is like many releases by Alfred Darlington (born Alfred Weisberg-Roberts) are hard to rank. Each one is its own brand of wine or beer or whatever the hell you drink. I bow to his ear for sampling. It had a lot more breakbeat influences drums that I expected, which was a great pleasant surprise. He also sounds like he is a big fan of anything Scott Herren (Prefuse 73, Savath Y Savalas, etc.). Each song blooming with it's own ray and vastness of emotion. Each song is with the touch from a man who loves every piece of what he is doing.
If you like: Prefuse 73, Flying Lotus, Jaga Jazzist, The Long Lost, MF Doom, and anything Ninja Tune.
Recommended tracks: Taking Wing, Snowed In, and Scaling Down.

Taking Wing

-Chakrah