VIDEO :: Invincible "Ropes" feat. Tiombe Lockhart

"The third music video (directed by Mr. Complex) off Invincible's acclaimed ShapeShifters LP (2008), "Ropes" addresses the often taboo subject of depression and suicide.
After being accepted by mtvU, the station's standards department axed the video citing how its "suicidal undertones would be problematic" for a college audience. Ironically, Invincible and Tiombe's intention with the song is to speak openly and boldly about the prevalence of depression in our communities. With suicide being the third leading cause of death amongh 15-24 year-olds, "Ropes" aims to break the pattern of turning a blind eye to metal health issues, and to begin the process of healing.
"Ropes" was shot at Coney Island's Astroland on a cold, dreary and rainy day. Rumor has it that historic Astroland will soon be razed to the ground and developed into unaffordable lofts or condos, so this footage is visual preservation as well. " - Okayplayer.com

4/22 - 4/23 :: DAM & Slingshot Hip Hop @ University of Washington!!!

Don’t miss the pioneering Palestinian Hip Hop group DAM’s first appearance in Seattle, WA - EVER!!!

DAM (Da Arabian MC’s or “forever” in Arabic) have been performing together since the late 90s. All three members of the group were born and grew up in the slums of Lod, a mixed town of Arabs and Jews, 20 km from Jerusalem. DAM’s music is a unique fusion of East and West, combining Arabic percussion rhythms, Middle Eastern melodies and urban Hip Hop/Rap. The lyrics of DAM are influenced by the continuing Israeli - Palestinian conflict as well as by the Palestinian struggle for freedom and equality. DAM also draw their influence from such controversial issues as terrorism, drugs and womens rights.


Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Students for Justice in Palestine presents

DAM
Gabriel Teodros
Hollis Wong-Wear (of Canary Sing)
DJ WD4D
hosted by One Be Lo

$6 for UW students w/ID :: $10 for general public
Tickets available at the HUB Ticket Office

7:00pm - 10:00pm :: ALL AGES SHOW
Husky North Den, HUB
University of Washington (Seattle, WA)


The following night, Thursday April 24th... there will be a screening of Slingshot Hip Hop at the UW Ethnic Theater with DAM alongside director Jackie Reem Salloum on hand to answer questions. If you remember the Premier of Slingshot Hip Hop in Seattle a few months back, there was a line around the block and tons of people couldn't get in. So be there early this time and remember doors open at 6:45 pm. $10 tickets / $6 with UW student i.d. If you don't remember, weren't there, never even been to Seattle, or just have no idea what i'm talking about, here's a video to fill you in. The night was life-changing. Sabreena da Witch and Mohammed Al-Farra of PR came last time and they made me beatbox for hours. i love them for it. Don't miss the next show!

"Slingshot Hip Hop braids together the stories of young Palestinians living in the West Bank, Gaza and inside Israel as they discover Hip Hop and employ it as a tool to surmount divisions imposed by occupation and poverty. From internal checkpoints and Separation Walls to gender norms and generational differences, this is the story of young people crossing the borders that separate them." - SlingshotHipHop.com

"The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" ...10 years later...

Inside "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill"

WOW. if anyone else missed this article last summer peep game... The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 10 years later... she freestyled verses half-asleep while being 8 months pregnant. your favorite emcee is hella weak in comparison.

Noro Noro (ኖሮ ኖሮ) by Jörg and Munit :: VIDEO & Interview

This is my homegirl Munit Mesfin, and her music is beautiful. With lyrics in Amharic & English, she met up with German guitarist Jörg Pfeil at a jazz club in Addis Abeba, The Coffee House. They formed a group and their first CD is a live recording from The Coffee House in 2007. What you have here is their first video, Noro Noro, it was shot in Ethiopia and it features cameos from her son who i adore, who happens to be of real Abyssinian/Creole descent and is named Gabriel. =) Check this interview with Munit posted today on Abesha.com, it's got good insight on the state of Ethiopian music today.

Munit’s Interview: Making Waves in Addis

You Are Being Lied To About Pirates

Hip Hop can still be our people's CNN... in anticipation of K'naans visit to Seattle a few months back i came across this interview (posted above) where he broke down a side of the story i had not yet heard about the Pirates in Somalia. and while an entire people's way of life is being decimated, and while some idiot at XXL asks "is he down with the terrorists?" there's more information coming out that you won't be hearing in the mainstream media here in the US.

I encourage everyone to read this article posted on the Huffington Post a few months back ::

You Are Being Lied to About Pirates

And more news from Al Jazeera Africa today... 'Toxic waste' behind Somali piracy

The Narcicyst - P.H.A.T.W.A. (Official Music Video)

Premiere Title Track Music Video for The Narcicyst's upcoming album out May 26th on Paranoid Arab Boy Music/Stereotypes Inc. 2009

iraqisthebomb.com

TONI HILL "Rose" :: first video from the "Only Love" album!!!

Toni Hill
"Rose"
Only Love (Siren's Echo / 206 Vintage)
produced by Amos Miller
directed by Andrew Rutherford

that's my sister!!! so classic! NWup!!! - gt

Angelic Wars: The Goodie Mob B-Sides, Cameos & Remixes

you NEED this in your life.

a new Goodie Mob compilation of B-Sides, Cameos, Remixes and unreleased tracks from the Soul Food - Still Standing era. one of the best groups to ever do it. remember the kind of Hip Hop that would give you goosebumps everytime you heard it? this is that shit.

Breakdown FM :: Interview with K'naan

Davey D is hands down my favorite journalist in the world.

In this interview with K'naan they go deep about the Somali Pirates, the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia, as well as you know, music... it's an important interview. K'naan you said it so well and make us all proud brotha, thank you.

Listen to the Breakdown FM Interview w/ K'naan by clicking the link below:

http://odeo.com/episodes/24382570-Knaan-is-in-the-Building-make-Room-at-the-Table

blogging about blogging

so... i never gave you an 'about' or a 'welcome' page huh?. well... here it goes!

Welcome! this is what my blog is about. if your just tuning in, my name is Gabriel Teodros... emcee, teaching artist, event producer/organizer, closet dj, your cousin, your homies cousin, your nephew... etc. Hiphop has been a part of my life since as early as i can remember... from tryna breakdance in columbia city as a child, to growing up with the music all throo the 80's, trying to write graffiti throo middle and high school... collecting vinyl all throo the '90s... to emceeing from '97 til infinity. i've been a part of several groups, collectives, even record labels... stumbled in front of a few classrooms in '99 and kept getting asked to come back, so now teaching is a big part of what i do too. in 2007 i released a solo album called Lovework with the help of a few good friends... it got a lot of love everywhere that music seemed to travel... and there seems to be people interested in my music a lil bit, everywhere! the truth is... i was never prepared for the response i was about to receive off that album... and in 2008 felt like i was still just catching up. so i started taking some serious steps towards regaining control over my music and my life. this lil blog started i think in September 2008? as one little piece of that. i'm not represented by any record label, any manager... and i'm not looking. so if your looking for me, here i am... the e-mail on the top-right of this page is how you holler. i needed a website so people could find me. and definitely something that highlights all the projects that i'm a part of.
i also like having this blog to post about everything that i think is dope in the world. i'm not tryna be the news, and i don't plan on blogging about my innermost thoughts or what i had for breakfast either. that's what the music is for. what i will continue to do is post whenever i put something out, have a show, feel like giving away free music ...you get it. and mostly i've been posting whenever something truly moves or inspires me. there's certain people that inspire me constantly... i call them family. and that's all this really is...
so if your wondering i am working on some new music... 2 albums in fact, hoping to have one ready in time for the summer... and i've got a lot more good news in store! stay tuned... this is GT's blogspot! they say it's a Capricorns nature to just do something and tell you about it later. ha! welcome. and for more 'about me' check these out...

Abesha.com :: Gabriel Teodros - Lovework (Review)

SHEEKO Magazine :: Interview with Gabriel Teodros

Breakdown FM with Davey D :: Interview w/ Gabriel Teodros