http://www.culturevaultradio.com/
http://culturevaultradio.podomatic.com/

Welcome to Culture Vault Radio. Hip-Hop's new home. Hosted by Kinetic NRG (Arsonists), Navani Otero (MTV Tr3s) & myself (Rise Up Radio) & DJ DS on the wheels. There are 2 sides, Side A & Side B and both sides are downloadable (yes that's a new word) and put it in your MP3 (Ipod, Zune player & etc) if you want Culture Vault Radio on the go. And if you wish to, you can also embed the player on your page for others to listen, which would be so cool of you if you took upon such supportive action.

Any questions, or suggestions? Hit up info@culturevaultradio.com

If you have any songs you would like to submit, you can also send them to
info@culturevaultradio.com or divine0313@yahoo.com

Peace fam, I'm just emailing everybody to let you know about this new
podcast radio show called The Culture Vault Radio Podcast involving
myself, Navani from MTV Tr3s (www.mtv3res.com) and Kinetic from the
Arsonists crew.



We're currently taking exclusive tracks from everybody, to break on our
show. We're going to be available on I-Tunes as well as 5 other
websites. This show will be prerecorded for the first few episodes and
then we'll just go on live. So as I said, if there are any tracks you
care to contribute to our cause of having a stronger involvement in the
preservation of our culture of Hip-Hop, feel free to hit me with some
tracks @ divine0313@yahoo.com, to throw up on this brand new thing of
ours. And also feel free to inform me of artists you feel are talented
and missing from peoples' awareness.





Peace,

Divine0313

D&V Promotions

Rise Up Radio (WBAI)



www.myspace.com/divine0313

www.riseupradio.org

Peace,
This is the Original G-Strut Brotha from Da Heightz,
repping for Rise Up Radio on WBAI 99.5 FM (Fridays @ 9pm)
and you know Thursday's the new Friday,
so why stay home when the Red Light Special is on??




Hosted By:
Divine0313, Viktory & DJ Rik Rok

When:
Thursday, March 05, 2009

Where:
Karma Lounge
51 1ave (btwn East 3st & 4st)
NY

Description:
21+ / $5 all night long -- the finest hip hop, r&b & reggae vibes... by DJ Rik Rok -- www.myspace.com/divine0313 -- www.myspace.com/viktory79 -- www.myspace.com/rikkirozelle

Click Here To View Event

Hasan Slaam “Children of God”

By 2008, the greatest universal appraisal of a culture didn’t match the state of
satisfaction of the people who live in the home of the culture’s birth. Why? It
could be possibly due to their understanding that the grasp of the art they
created is no longer in their control, at least in the corporate level. Hip Hop
has been called dead and malnourished among other names. Then almost every
other MC claimed a messianic title that they couldn’t walk in, because they
were shallowly confident that swagger was the element necessary to revive the
joy and pride of Rap’s listeners, spitting what they thought “the people wanted
to hear”. The proposition of the corporate redneck offered a sucka MC to make
coons with tunes that would change moods, from considering a study of the
various options to improve the quality of life, to just wanting to dance all
day, even in their stiff seats within a small cubicle that resembles a Japanese
cell block with your kids’ pictures adorning them, for a sense of humanity.

But beneath the surface always emerges one who can swallow his/her pride and walk the water of substantial principles that will bind the people through their core
commonalities. Hasan Salaam is one of those few, who I and many others elect
(just check any of his shows) as the one who embodies the honor of rocking the
mic while speaking on what is exactly reflecting those interior chambers of his
heart. The “Children of God” may have a new musical opus that resembles a tool inspirational enough to dig out of the embraced grave that has been a poor excuse to show for what we love of the past 500 years.

“Mom’s glaucoma got her losing her vision,
Pray it stays long enough for her to see some grandchildren,
Most use religion, holding on by a string,
Wifey gave back the ring, so no queen for the king”
-Hasan Salaam on “Best Time to Pray”

Hasan places his daily subjects of concern into the forefront as if to mark his identification with the rest of the people. “Insomniac PT. 1 (Nightfall)” which features DJ GI Joe, presents Hasan making comparisons of the imbalances between what people need and want, with statements such as, “the hood is looking like prime real estate / prison’s big business there, slated to incorporate.” If such information was commonly thought about, the average petty thief would
reconsider some new choices, hopefully. The jewels and advices offered in this
song promote a balance in idealism and practicality, that would constitute for
what is called common sense. And the loud blaring horns in the hook guarantee a
greater degree of agreement through head nodding.

“The History of Violence” features Badsportt, reflecting on his reaction to finding how Puerto Ricans were formed from a Columbian invasion, over a sinister sounding piano loop that could harbor DMX’s darkest horror core tales. Salaam then presents a verbal collage that shows a systematic white domination over the
world through horrendous violence that disrupts the rhythm of already existing
cultures, massacres in 2^nd nature like habit, and creates the details
of a global holocaust starting with the African slave trade.

"USA equals KKK, same as it was then,
It done stayed that way,
From them firebombing 4 girls in church in Alabama,
to smart bombs hitting mosques killing civilians on camera,
What you see in Iraq, been happening here,
For 500 years, but who the fuck cares?
No oil in the hood, just Black gold,
That’s been getting sold for its blood, sweat & tears...
...We getting popped here over petty things,
My hood, my block, and even what set you claim,
My advice is you study what you are and when,
Or else prepare for 500 years more, again...
-Hasan Salaam on “History of Violence”

One of the album’s highlights features Lord Jamar from Brand Nubian on “Angel Dust”. Jamar constructed an instrumental that havens an ol’ school, pimping kind of feel, like Goldie might just make an appearance somewhere. But if you’re familiar with Hasan’s music, you’re already aware that “Blaxploitation” is not exactly his steez. This tale provides the gritty details of a young vixen, whose
appearances aren’t properly advertised in commercial videos. Today’s popular
career require the exploitation of physical appearances, that bare the
essentials out to the world, especially within the urban market, hence video
girls, hiphopdx.com’s “Beauty & Brains”, King magazine and every other Hip
Hop magazine’s “eye candy” section.

“The Power-you’s a scorcher, once she put it on ya,
Gotcha hooked on her… Angel Dust,
Allow me to warn, she ain’t no good for ya,
That’s why they call her… Angel Dust,
Fiend for her, spoil her, pay bills, support her,
That’s why they call her… Angel Dust,
Can’t refuse the offer, once she put it on ya,
Gotcha hooked on her… Angel Dust”
-Hasan Salaam on “Angel Dust”

Some men now a day may find it a bit too easy to be judged a nice guy, with all the benefits and losses of such a title, but this girl’s not looking for that. She’s
mastered the repetitive episodes of foul treatment to a point where “it ain’t
what she’s chasing, but what she’s escaping.” This song personally reminds me of
the kind of girl Tupac was speaking on in “Wonda Why They Call U Bitch”. The
lady in the discussion is the kind who lives with the depression hidden and
defends it with an attitude of conceit and her “love” comes with an invested
idea in cashing in. But the distinction in this tale provides an inner look
into the kind of the experiences that produce such a mentality where integrity
is worth sacrificing for the profit.

“Finally through the search, see the nature of the beast now,
Script life like 16s, but live it like a freestyle”
-Majesty and Hasan Salaam on “Deliver My Soul”....

Next the scope of magnification is placed upon self as Hasan features Majesty and Maya Azucena in what continues the discussion of self concession on “Deliver My Soul”. The reality of poverty’s ills and working worthless jobs for low wages is the perfect breeding ground that inspired Hasan and Majesty to indulge in what brought immediate ends to meet while the guilt equally builds within. And while Hasan and Majesty trade experiences and lessons, Maya’s subtle appearance (opposing her feature on Immortal Technique’s “Crimes of the Heart”) served as an instrument itself that heightened the gravity of this topic, that to many is all too easy and even a given.

Hasan’s music doesn’t exclude having fun, I mean it is Hip-Hop. And the series of “The Uprock” featuring Masta Ace & “The Downrock” featuring Rugged & Raw, Badsportt & Smarty Pants, display a Hasan who’s simply taking his skill to
the fundamentals of lyrics and mic rocking. While “The Uprock” provides a
production that is expected of for Hasan, “The Downrock” appears like a visit
into RNR’s chamber on Hasan’s album, trying to get “Louder! Louder!”

“Kids no longer separate life from entertainment,
& with all the gangsta shit, no one explains an affidavit,
Your ghostwriters ain’t coming out to your arraignment,
Emulating your favorite rappers a pains taking engagement”
-Hasan Salaam on “15 Minutes”....

The album’s first video “15 Minutes” dictates that “the world is just a stage everybody is on, you can only get played by the game so long.” Many crab in the rat race in chase of those “15 Minutes”, and approveof all that is asked of them to give up for that little bit. Hasan’s advance however, doesn’t trade dignity for it. This song’s not hating some commercial rappers’ successes, but rather a class for those studying the Rap game from the outside and allowing their selves to be molded into being the next whoever they saw make it, to be awarded by the Grammy’s and MTV Cribs. Apparently making music that is appreciated by the world will change the life of anyone who has nothing, but the seriousness applied to making music implies it to be another job instead of an art loved.

There are many jewels in this musical manuscript such as “Suga” where Hasan indulges in the beauty of who he loves and reveals a greater state of maturity in stating, “I stand in love with you, I don’t fall for nothing”.  “Children of God” defines this album as it depicts that while angel dust can deliver your soul, redemption is always possible, as the flaws are natural in the path of the ideal. “Someplace” speaks on the violence that exists in the act of gentrification and even has a vibe that artists from various genres would partake in, as the music itself can be interpreted in multiple ways. “Blessed” is a beautiful poem of hope for better days verbalized by Aja, Elijah and Sos eloquently supplying harmony with her violin. The album’s outro titled “Bonus 4” a/k/a “Prelude to Life in Black
& White”, after 3 bonus tracks of silence, revolves around one of the opus’
underlying themes, which is reflective of the society we currently live in,
being Black and White. This declaration of independence is rhymed over an old
Jazz instrumental that seemed fit for Hector Lavoe or Nina Simone.

“Children of God” takes the place of a serious testament that reminds us of the daily issues that all share disregarding the dominating feeling of individuality and isolation, such as poverty, dignity, death, hope, racism, unity, subjugation and freedom. Regardless of the type of walk we walk, we live in cooperation within what is known as a white male supremacist system. Hasan’s humble approach is balanced with self awareness, love and applicable strategies of everyday survival.
Welcome the “Children of God.”

-Divine0313

When I learned that a Biggie movie was being done in regards to his
life, the first thing I wondered was, will Wu-Tang, Nas & Jay-z be
in the story? Possibly not, well at least for the Wu that is. And how
will Tupac be portrayed? Possibly like an incoherent thinker who's
ideals were skin deep. I could imagine Big listening to Pac talk about
Malcolm being a hero of his and Big totally not giving a fuck, because
for all he knew, knowing that wasn't paying bills. Which is true,
unless if you're Aaron McGruder or Dave Chappelle.



But it was obvious that in order to celebrate a slain rapper whose
greatest ambitions resided in gaining residuals and reflecting a calmer
lifestyle where death and violence isn't as much a concern as when
slinging on them Brooklyn streets, a lot of other details would be
sacrificed. But the average identity that this movie attempted to
resemble, as reflective of Big's demeanor is almost a sin in the view
of Africanus, who in the middle of Abiodun's living room told me, that
it is the biggest mistake that I or anyone else could make to believe
that there is anything ordinary or average about being Black. Even when
it's concerning our necrophilia filled reality.



Big's story is unique to him personally, but also a nationwide
experience, as obviously too many youngsters from the ghettos across
the nation, have embedded this sense of worthlessness where, "Either
you're slingin crack rock or you got a wicked jumpshot." And newer
technologies only improve the long and delaying process of death, which
never commence life.



Hollywood is an arena of masters who bland out how life or death really
tastes, like a cracker missing salt. Where was Big's state of
depression that he was constantly talking about such as in "Ready To
Die", "Fuck the world, fuck my moms & my girl / my life is played
out like a jheri curl / I'm ready to die!"

Where was his ever present fear of death that he spoke about in his major MTV interview with Kurt Loder?



But for a Hip Hop head who witnessed Big's rise and fall in detail,
there are so many other missing elements. Such as that monumental
freestyle session that even Funkmaster Flex can't front on and plays
practically every single night with Big, Pac, Big Daddy Kane &
Shyheim. Or the Biggie rift with Ghost & Rae meanwhile being
friends with Meth, who was the only MC featured on the "Ready To Die"
LP, ODB and RZA, who produced "Long Kiss Goodnight" on "Life After
Death." Where was Big's career booster when featured on Mary J. Blige's
single? Or Big's violent behavior referred to in regards to Faith and
Lil' Kim?



Another thing, I had to laugh to see how Faith tried to maintain her
innocence in the movie about sleeping with Pac. But I can see that Big
had enough reason to believe she did. Besides, she constantly caught
him with other women, including Kim and thumped with them. The ghetto
woman that a ghetto man loves, knows exactly how to cut through the
layers and to the core. Didn't Big say "If Faith had twins, she'd
probably have two Pacs! Get it? Tu - Pac's?" But that's on another note.



I noticed that the speed in which these phases of Big's life were being
journeyed, caused for the chronology of events to be sacrificed even.
For example Junior Mafia's debut album was released in the summer of
1995, while Pac's NYC shooting happened in late 94, which was reversed
in the movie, among other events.



But there are very short moments, that I think could've been helpful as
a regular moment of Big just conversing with his peoples like on "I Got
A Story to Tell" to capture his ordinary unique state, where death or
money wasn't the focus. But again that is the nature of Hollywood's
effort in capturing a regular and tumultuous life, who had it not been
for the grandeur built around the skill of Rap, possibly wouldn't have
made it to our attention at his time of death, through any media, like
thousands of other lives every year.



While I can't debate with myself if Gravy was the best Biggie possible,
I can agree that while the film might've been a bit murkier in
totality, and would've been more entertaining if it had explored his
thought process a bit more, rather than riding along the surface of
stories better detailed in BET documentaries. But I was able to be
entertained lightly by the fairy tale that is loosely based on Big's
life. At least we know better and have his actual music.



"My life's the SHIT!"

- Biggie on "My Downfall"



-Divine0313

So today I woke with plans of going out and getting what I need. Food really. But thanks to the Earth's case of cold lice, I had to reconsider and reschedule. At least I managed to read through some news and blogs. The news is consistently challenging my optimism. And that's regardless of the independent or corporately controlled media. But some insightful and entertaining blogs about the adventurous life between a single mom and her 4 y/o child serves as the antithesis of the prior.

That's it actually. I have some other things to do now.

http://polymerclaysnails.wordpress.com/

Last night I stayed up until 6:30am watching 'A Time to Kill' featuring Samuel L. Jackson ('Yeh they deserved to die! And I hope they burn in hell!!!'), followed by 'Pan's Labyrinth' featuring I don't know who, but they were all good actors.

The sequence of these 2 movies inspired a train of thought that wondered of the contempt that exists within the developed egos of people who have such an attachment to any idea, righteous or corrupt that wills one to picture others in dutifully sharing their way of thinking. Whether voluntarily or by submission.

The left and right wing is infested with this. Systems, ideologies and doctrines don't work their selves, they're made and upheld by the hearts and activities of people. And systematic curriculums are embedded within schools to impregnate children within the frame of mind that designs the fluidity of a track that leads through a smooth and dictated lifestyle, where even useful tactics that'll improve what's already in place are initially rejected, because questions aren't necessary and answers are for those who thirst to be enemies.

Humanity doesn't bear a flag to abide to and practically everyone of them opposed the progressive imaginations within the children. A system with an overly developed ego is much more than an attitude of personal prejudices which are often confused for each other.

I personally cannot understand why people think this way, besides a possible unresolved inadequacy that is hidden underneath various layers of superficial grandeur or self imposed importance as a defense mechanism.

I can honestly express that I daydream of my first child sometimes and wander into what s/he would look like and what I would teach him/her. The possible places we could live and such. So I can't understand the cruelty towards children in any case, although it is so popularly practiced.

Children wear the deepest wounds as if a rite of passage initiating them into the weary world they are to inherit. But I optomise in my view of the future. There are children even from the worst conditions and environments who have excempted and are excempting their selves from the traditionally handed down prepackaged pysches.

NYC is not only the White Supremacist capital of modern day continuance of the Roman Empire, it is also the headquarters of masqueraders. No matter who you are, you're living in a city that adopts the Fashion Ave. mindset that expands with posers, like a Daddy Yankee video.



But this adoption thrives off of the childish need to fit in, while the world is ruled by oddballs who stand out. True rarity of individual expression is shun, because human livestock doesn't have the time to stop producing material for the sake of their masters' livelihoods. And people pretend to be other than they are, while others master it to a tee.

But here in NYC, exists an omnipotent element within the fabric of NY'ers attitudes. People walking fast, Ipods too loud to hear the peoples' beg for change, ice grills are common and "nobody smiling", to warn you that "I ain't No Joke."

But they try too hard, don't they? I know you notice others, or even yourself doing it when "Quiet Storm" or "Laaa Laa La La, waiit 'til I get my money riiight" comes on. But for a culture/subculture/hood lifestyle, that so many indulge in and pretend to not have any space or love for homosexuality, a lot of cats in Hip-Hop are not firm in their horse stance. Possibly closet heteros is the new term; or straight guys who act rather feminine, whether consciously or not? Gangstalicious' personality (Big up Boondocks {BLO! BLO!}) seems to be really taking off all over the ghettos of America.







But honestly, I'm just speaking on a minor topic, that I just happen to have noticed. There's a heavy practice of expressions that were social markers for homosexuals who wanted to be in the closet, or even publicly. I'll mark in quotations, "straight" men have adopted them unapologetically, confusing women and other truly straight men. So some examples of what you may be doing that could make you suspect, or you really are gay and still trying to hide... Unsuccesfully...

1. Grilling me, while your girl is walking and holding your hand.
2. Grilling me at all.
3. Pants sagging, with a belt that you took from your mom's or girl's stash. (Ever seen these niggas trying to fight? LMAO)
4. Purple, red, yellow, pink or lime green pants that are tighter than a Dominican chick's pair. To mention a few.
5. Glitter on your bandana.
6. Commenting on your self as better looking than women.
7. Thugs acting a little too feely & touchy and showing "love". Ei., too many hugs, smiling all up in each other's space... No offense to Beans, but like this...


8. Rhyming with a spoken voice softer than a Q-Tip or Jay-Z (don't get it twisted, they are 2 of my favorite MCs).
9. Wu-Tang, Big Pun, Onyx, KRS-One, or Rakim is nowhere to be found within your Top 10 favorite MCs.
10. You're an ugly mufuka, you know you're an ugly mufuka, and girls vocally express that you're an ugly mufuka, hell, so does your mother, but you stack bank and pretend to be "fashionable." Yo, you're not Biggie. Be yourself.
11. Mase, Fabolous, LL Cool J, Diddy, and anyone within that vein is strictly within your favorites, because they make you "dance".
12. Are there anymore reasons why? Put me on... I'm all about education.

But yes, I'm sure you get the drift. I have gay friends (yeh I did that white man shit), and my concern is not (& will never be) who another man sleeps with, but the message and effect my people are intercepting due to the psychological/cultural warfare that has been waged upon them and what it results in if they comply with the social demands of the elite class.

And a possibly prophetic message from Donnell Rawlings:

Goddamn, honestly... What the fuck is this? LMAO
I'm about to pass this as merely a white thing, unless someone can really explain why anyone would participate in this kind of activity.






P.S. I just happened to think this was really dope. What do you think?

Today's B'day boy is the cultural icon of Hip Hop, Big Pun. With the whole renewing the essence of Hip Hop, Pun remains one of the newly discovered MCs with every new country that Hip Hop enters in. In dedication to his remembrance, we at Rise Up Radio will dedicate this Friday night's episode to Pun. You can expect to hear Mrs. Pun aka Liza on the air speaking to us.

If you want to eavesdrop on this conversation, you can find us on your FM dial on 99.5 which is WBAI from 9-10pm every Friday night. If we can't reach you through the radio, no worries, we'll be streaming live on www.wbai.org. And our website www.riseupradio.org updates the audio archives every Tuesday afterwards.

Hope you decide to Rise Up with us. Peace... 

This is the debut video of Rugged N Raw's second installation, "Truth Serum". If you haven't been convinced to buy this album, this video might be the truth you need to see in order to improve your music collection, especially if you think Hip-Hop is still dead.

This song portrays are true to life depiction of broke living in the hood and even Wall Street's transformation into Main Street. Enjoy! Feel free to post up your feelings about the video and if you like feel free to contact Rugged N Raw  and Hasan Salaam (who has his own 2nd album "Children Of God") directly.

Thank Raquel Z. Rivera (a great writer and even greater soul) for putting me on this political activity that is taking place right now in Puerto Rico, that I'm very sure is applicable to all other marginalized ethnicities and communities.

This is an opposition to the common "Vote or Die", "Rock The Vote" or "Vota O Quedate Calla'o" (Vote Or Shut Up), which is very extreme and corners citizens and non-citizens to believe that voting is the greatest power a citizen can excersize to represent their ideals and their involvement in politics which comes only once every 4 years, although the House of Representatives' involvement ultimately overrides all of the populaces' votes.

Who comes to represent the hood, the struggling and the disenfranchised? Ninguno (NoOne). Who will stand up for your needs? Ninguno (NoOne). Who... You get the point.

See for yourself. (If you don't understand Spanish, I'm sorry, but I'm sure, you'll get the point as well.)

"Todos prometen; Ninguno cumple". "All of them promise; Ninguno delivers".

This is for those die hard Pun loyalists who want to stock up on Pun-paraphernalia, such as tees, jackets, hoodies, etc. You can locate this shop online and the web address is www.bigpunshop.com. This site is ran by Mrs. Pun aka Liza Rios and Airmagination directly.

"With the Bronx I'm flipping, 5 Boroughs thoroughly repping / lets unite the city and step to the world as a weapon" - Big Pun "You Came Up"

"Are you Black or Latino?" Ha! I love this event's answer: Black AND Latino. Black on Both Sides.

Black on Both Sides brings together a cross-generational line-up that includes hip hop pioneers and emerging artists for critical conversation and performance. Panelists will include DJ Laylo, Ariel Fernandez, Black Artemis, Carlos REC McBride, Frank Lopez, Rokafella and more.

Free and open to the public. Due to limited space, we ask that you pre-register by sending an email to: afrolatinoforum@gmail.com

This event is organized by the afrolatin@ forum in collaboration with the Hip Hop Theater Festival, the Hip Hop Association, and New York University's Center for Multicultural Education and Programs and in association with the Caribbean Cultural Center, African Diaspora Institute. It is co-sponsored by Africana Studies and Latino Studies at NYU, the Schomburg Center and the Columbia University Latino Heritage Month Committee.

Definitely come through and support. This one is for the hood, Hip Hop as a whole and all those who want recognize a new view of self through capturing the past.

The party is @ El Morocco located on Broadway by 145 street.
From 6pm - ???
Peace