What it is yall. I just wanted to take a second and let everyone know about my tour this August.

The All Roads lead to South Bend Tour

This is my first tour with a live band backing me. I’m also going to be coming out with a new 5 Track EP (Which will be on the myspace soon), and other new designs of various merch.

I need your help to make this happen

Check out my myspace, and look at the cities we are planning to hit up.  If you live in or close to a city on our rout help us get out there.

Let us know about any venues we should call, promoters to e-mail, friends who throw shows. tell these people about us. We are down to come and perform at a party at your house. We want nothing more than to come and rock out with you.

 

Get at me

Write me on myspace. Send me your ideas, tell me what’s on your mind, let’s connect. See you this August!

 

---Double B

What it is. After much time spent talking and thinking about making a podcast I have finally released the first episode. Check it out and let me know what you think.

www.DoubleB.libsyn.com

The podcast is also available for free on itunes. Peace!

---Double B

I hope that I haven't lost your love by not doing a good job of keeping up. i'm sure every one is sick of hearing ramen noodles by now. there is good news and bad news in this post.
good new: i've been working all the time to make a new album that i hope you love. i will be a full length. so far i've been digging through the old vinyl samples and thinking of some fun smart lyrics.
bad new: my last two years of beats got deleted from my computer. lost forever. time to move on, make better music.
i told my friends when i first moved to st. louis i would stay for two years and then move to california. I have been true to my word. i've packed up everything i need and came out here. i have a job with americorps. i'm working to organize kids 11 to 18 to do service projects. its hard getting kids excited about there community as an outsider, but i'm working on it. write me if you have any tips on working with kids.
i will have new music up eventually. the beat disaster is a real set back. the last year has left me with alot on my mind, which i've been taking time to write about.

i've been reflecting today and i just really wanted to thank everyone who has keep up with me over the years i've been doing music. i did my first show in junior high when my science teacher, mr vaydyke let me borrow his oldies cover band's pa system and booked me a show in elkhart indiana. only a few people came, but it started off years of fun performing in-front of people.
in south bend and the midwest i would do a ton of shows with hardcore and punk bands every weekend. still, i feel like i've gotten a chance to connect with so many different, amazing people. the people who i've connected with at shows and talked to in the mall, and wrote on myspace are a big part of my younger life. I've felt like a rock star were the whole audience was there to rock with my and i've felt aweful when everyone leaves right before i go on.
i've gotten to meet and get to know a few of my music and poetry heros like pigeon john and mike mcgee. also i've been able to perform, and share my weird hiphop for thousands of young people around most of the county.
i'm putting together new music. when its up i will let you know. i would really love to hear from any one who reads this and see what they think makes hiphop fun or just whatever is on your mind. get at me

---double b

On days where bombs are going off you forget how normal traffic sounds. Right now I'm here in the offices of Rave Magazine thinking if the horns always honk this much. So far I've heard that 7 bombs have gone off at random places through out the city. We know that a few people so far have died, but no one really knows much about the situation and what is going on. Originally, when there where only 3 bombs that had gone off the news tried to make it sound as if there was a chance this could just be an accident. Now after 7 bombs everyone seems to accept the situation for what it is.

 Its rumored that tonight there will be a curfew implemented over the entire city. I'm guessing that my show tonight is canceled. Better a canceled show that a blown up Bobby.

The rickshaws out here jack up the price to get somewhere by 100 rps. when it rains, I wonder what the bomb rate is going to be. There is little doubt in my mind that they are not above doing whatever they can to make more money.

And with all this drama here we are at the office; me writing this, Clare checking her e-mail, Rupac playing some chill jazz music. It seems inappropriate, but at the same time so does getting worked up over something we can't control.  I image my friends back home calling each other

Did you hear about what happened to Bobby?

    No, what happened?

He was blown up by a bomb, in Bangalore, India!

What a way to go out that would be. When I came here I had all these fears of being bitten by a snake, or impaled by cow horns of an angry cow. I never considered there would be a chance I could get blown up. I guess you would have to be pretty paranoid for something like that to cross your mind.

Still, my chances for survival are pretty high. There are a million people in this city, only so many of them can end up dead. The Bangalore police don't exactly evoke confidence that the situation is going to be dealt with. The police are poorly trained men, armed with bamboo sticks. They deal with catching people smoking pot, or making everyone leave a dance club at exactly 11:30. (Dancing is illegal out here and so they are bribed to let the party go on until 11:30, but then its time for them to get their intimidation on.) Bombs going off seems a little out of their league.

Even with all this danger life seems to be continuing on. Once everyone has called their friends to see if they are alright they are getting back to work. There is a building being constructed next to our office. It's still being built.

It has been a while since I've updated my blog. Part of the reason is that I've been busy living out my life rather than writing about it. The other part of the reason is that I've been lazy.

 

Tomorrow I leave for India.

Rather than spending the summer touring I decided it was time to help other people learn to express themselves in English. For the next month I'm going to be teaching children in the poor parts of Bangalore English.

I really would have loved to tour and kick it with my friends all over the country. Still I hope every one who enjoys my music will understand. This is going to give me a lot to write about for the next project.

That being said, I'm leaving my cell phone, my computer, and most of my other American things behind and I'm going to  immerse myself in India.

What's Next?

When I come back to America I'm going to finish the latest album. I'm happy with the direction the project has taken so far but it still has a way to go. In the fall I plan to revamp the stage show, adding more songs along with some additional theatrics.

The day after I return to America I'm going to begin working with artist Jake Webster ( http://www.jakewebster.org  ). I don't want to say what we are working on yet, but its going to take the hip hop show that I do to a much more visual/ interactive level.

<---Jake

 

From the middle of August on I'm going to try to set up as many shows together as possible.

If you have a place you think would be good for a Double B show Message me. Also, get at me if you have any advice on India, teaching, or if you just have something you want to write about.

Wish me luck! Keep thinking the sentence "Bobby will not get super sunburned". If we all think this it will manifest and I will not be burned.

Your friend,

---Double B

so i'm considering putting together a book of my microsoft paint art  to sell at shows. here are a few examples







A few common themes in my art are eliphants eathing toothpaste, octipus, and life. I am thinking of putting between 40 to 60 full color pictures in the book. Do you think this would be worth making? if so how much would you pay for such a book? thanks so much for your input.
your friend,

---double b

So I'm super excited to let you guys know about  my next project. It's a new EP which I will be calling the "The Double B Self-esteem Mixtape."

This new mixtape will provide you with all the encouragement you need to get through your tough day. It's a disc that will let you know "You are a cool Person." "People Like you."

Be on the look out for the Double B Self-esteem Mixtape at future Double B shows!

Well, it looks like I'm going to have a surprise return to Texas at the end of my tour, because today I won a spot in the National Poetry Slam!  I'm one of 4 poets (with 1 alternate) who are going to be representing the great city of St. Louis, Mo at this years national Poetry Slam. I never thought when I moved out here that a year later St. Louis would be flying me to Texas to read some poems.

In the next few months I'm going to try to get a few poetry recordings together, so I can share another side of what I do as an artist. See ya in Texas!

---Double B

The Blind Cave Salamander  

This animal has lived in caves for thousands of generations. Being that caves have little or no light, evolution has left this little guy with no eyes. Being in perminate darkness has also removed any pigment from this salamander's skin.

He's also developed gills that let him breath in water with little oxygen.  The cave salamander is cute but look out because he eats cave shrimps amphipods and larvae of various insects. Luckly these guys can go months with out eating.

Intresting Fact: The Blind Cave Salamander has 3 toe/finders on it's front legs, while only 2 on its back legs!

So on behalf of the Double B Myspace page I am Proud to present this months animal of the week award to:

The Blind Cave Salamander

            So it's been a while since we've last spoke. But no need to worry, it's not because I don't like you. In fact the reason I haven't spoken more is because of how much affection I have for all of you.

In fact I love you all so much that I've been spending most of my time working on some new rap songs for you to enjoy. In a few days I'm once again hitting the studio to record my new EP "Street Perform"!

            I really feel like this ep is the next progression for me as an artist. The tracks are hotter, the lyrics dope'er, and the songs will provide even more reasons to smile.

(note to those close to Kalamazoo, Mi) I'm looking to do some loud crew vocals. If you are close to the area and interested in shouting the back round I would love to get you on board, feel free to send me a message.

In Other News

            I've been on tour for the last few weeks and have been having a great time.This tour I've gotten a chance to see the perhaps only Baptist rave in Pekin, Il. I got to see my good friends Darling Waste cause a ruckus again. And most of all I got to meet some great people. Thank you to every one who has come out to listen to me sing rap songs and dance around. You guys are what keeps me going when I'm 10 hours into a 12 hour drive from Pa to Il. So for that I say thank you.

Your friend,

---Double B (LemonJellos, Holland, Mi 2:15 pm)