...Brooklyn...

With everything that's happened... and it's a trip to even say this... but i wake up everyday feeling like i'm exactly where i'm supposed to be! On an extremely deep level... like... i walk outside and get blessed by everyone i say hello to. I couldn't of had a better time in New York City if i planned it, and subleasing the homies apartment in Crown Heights is turning into one of the best investments i've ever made... just a couple blocks from where me & Khingz used to stay too! Amos Miller was supposed to meet me in Europe to rock those shows... After i got kicked out of London he changed his plane ticket to come to New York and we've been working on a new record ever since. This time we're both on vocals and Amos is still doing all the beats... As i type this we're about 9 songs deep... making beats, writing and recording every day... so far we've got some really dope features from SKIM (who's in New York fresh off the National Mangos With Chili Tour) and Suntonio Bandanaz (who's here in Brooklyn rocking a free show this Thursday at Sputnik with Black Stax, DJ Chela and myself...) We'll see who else comes through the house this week. My neighborhood is like being in the Carribean, vegetarian cuisine you wouldn't believe, the coolest neighbors you could ever ask for... yo i think i'm falling in love with Brooklyn all over again! But don't worry, i still hella, hella rep the west coast from my manner of speech to the incessant dub... it's just something about being in New York that makes me flash harder! W's up. anyhoo...
Had the honor of rocking the Rebel Diaz Arts Collective in the South Bronx on Halloween, along with Rebel Diaz, Las Krudas, YC The Cynic and Chris Diaz. The RDAC is like the New York Hidmo... if you took away the Eritrean food, and added a recording studio and a few bedrooms... although i did bring Ethiopian food that first night. =) A warehouse in the South Bronx converted into an amazing arts space, all-ages music venue, with walls outside for kids to paint, studio, kitchen, altar... everything you need! I fell in love. And the show!!! Small turnout, incredible people and energy... Chris Diaz is one of the funniest and dopest people i've seen do improvised stand-up in a while, and a great host... YC is an 18-year old spitter that's eating up most emcees twice his age... Las Krudas lived up to every bit of hype i've heard about them over the last few years... i believe we only met two-thirds of the group, from Cuba originally... incredible stage show... and Rebel Diaz remains one of my favorite groups around... i will never forget them rocking in costumes this year, i'm sorry if you missed out! I met a sister that night named Alicia Bell who is starting an after-school project for middle-schoolers in the South Bronx called The (Bigger Than) Hip Hop Project. It's a trip to think the same neighborhood that gave birth to Hip Hop is still the poorest district in the entire nation. She invited me to perform at a benefit show for her program at the RDAC later that week, so of course i said yes... and ended up rocking 2 shows in the South Bronx that week. I'm hoping to become a regular face at the Rebel Diaz Arts Collective but i don't know how your gonna get me out of this studio... or my neighborhood for that matter. I know my days here are numbered... and am still trying to raise funds to get to Ethiopia in December... but God-willing i'll be back in NY sooner then later. Amos has a blog that he runs exclusively for the youth he works with in Seattle... and he's been posting videos from our adventures out here every day... i hope i'm not blowing up his spot... but if you want a sneak-peak at the album and a window into our little world check NeonFresh.com

til next time... blessings
-- gt