from mayors events to shabazz palaces...

So... it's been a crazy couple of weeks. After moving into my new spot in Bushwick, Brooklyn, i go to spend New Years Eve with my fam in New Addis (a.k.a. Wahington, DC)... That morning i get an invite to perform at newly-elected Mayor Mike McGinn's inauguration party in Seattle. A free, all-ages event open to all, held at Showbox SoDo on Saturday night. My first response was "huh?... did they even listen to my music?" and then i got really skeptical as to why i was invited... But i've heard some cool things about Mike McGinn, and it felt like an important event to do... if not for me, for the communities i represent and the issues i talk about in my music... issues i feel like don't get addressed in a real way in the sphere of local politics... but to be honest it's a world i've never interacted with in my life. I, like a lot of people from my part of Seattle, grew up honestly feeling like our city is trying to kill us. So you can imagine my dilemna in being invited to perform at a Mayor's event. I kind of started looking at this invite as a grow-up pill... Like our music has an influence on people, we can affect local politics. But don't just be a tool. So I spent the morning calling on a lot of people who i trust, just to hear different perspectives in regards to this event... i have to say, my community is tight!!! And i was reminded of this piece of wisdom i got from a MAG-Net conference i recently attended in D.C... In community organizing, and in building a campaign, there are 2 things that can never change. Your values, your foundation, what you stand on, has to always remain in tact. And your goal, what your fighting for, it can not change... don't settle for less then what you set out to get. Everything, every tactic you use in between those 2... can, and probably will change. This just felt like one of those moments. I'm not co-signing on any elected official. But i will say i actually had an honest conversation with Mike McGinn... and he seemed like a really genuine dude. I hope the conversations continue... I chose not to engage in politics for so long, and even though i still feel like the system is inherently flawed... we still should have our voices heard and be present in every arena where decisions are made that affect our lives and the lives of our children. That was my first step. End speech. This was also the first venue where i played one of my new favorite songs, Mothershippin'!!

But the real highlight of my little 3-day trip home? Seeing cousins, and meeting Moni's baby. After that tho? Shabazz Palaces!!! You know how that was one of the dopest projects to drop last year right? And in the timeline of Seattle Hip Hop i would say it already made history. Well... the show was even better! Ish rhyming while playing the beats live, Tendai rocking the drums, mbira and vocals... the stage set... dancers... routines... Geechi Suede of Camp Lo coming out of nowhere to spit a few verses... Home. The town represented. "Was you there tonight?" I got my name shouted out in the first 5 minutes lol... Thanks homies. Now we all have to go harder. I love it. See ya'll next week. Oh, and check this review from The Stranger.

And if your in New York City, see me tomorrow at Noon at Judson Memorial Church, or on the 30th at Le Poisson Rouge. If your in Boston, see me Friday, i'm sitting in with The Debo Band! And Seattle, we got a dope show for you January 22nd at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. yee!