HoustonSoReal is now <a href="http://austinsurreal.blogspot.com">AustinSurreal.com</a>: December 2007

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Tis That Season

To be jolly, fa la la la la la la la laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Welp, I've got a few seconds here at the house, no family, no friends, no obligations, no phone calls, no nothing just me and this computer so I'ma post a few gems from this past holiday season.

Starting with the SLICK RICK SCION EVENT that went down Dec. 18th. That seems so long ago. Anyway right after this show I had to hightail it back to Austin, so I haven't been at a computer with Photoshop since then and have been embarrassed that I really didn't take a lot of photos on this particular night, and real talk, it was one of the best shows I hath ever been a part of. Slick Rick with the Rhythm Root All Stars? Shiiiiiiiiiiit.....

Once again I ddin't make it to the stage to get any real shots, but you get the idea here. It was packed and off the chain.

Willie D, Rico and Bun B. Yes my friends, Bun B was in the house. What a man. So good to see him out and about. I'm still messed up about Pimp C's passing, I can't imagine how he feels.

Hey, I was just wondering, is anyone investigating this shit or is it just another rapper death? Theres so many things that I want to ask/say right now, but I just can't. I wish somebody would.

DEZ! Dez designed a new bottle for Mountain Dew! Look for the unveiling in February!

Crystal Lee, Dez and Witnes

Katina and KAM! Kam is the #1 promoter in Houston.

And of course, STACY!

KPFT KREW IN FOOL EFFECT! DJ Sun, Zin and Cara!

Anyway like I said, directly after that event I headed back to work in Austin then had Christmas part 2 and 3 and then back to Houston for part 4 and tomorrow we go to Erie, PA for part 5. If any of my hometown (or Buffalo) peeps read this thing, hit me up at my moms. We will crack some Yuenglings and reminisce and such.

No this isn't a hipster party for dwarfs, it's Elena and Eva with their cousin Layla at Oma's Haus.

And this is here at home. Those stockings took two lifetimes and four hands to make.

THESE DOLLS CAN GO IN THE WATER! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS???

Real partiers Crystal Lee, Heather B, Matt D and WifeSoReal

And what Christmas party would be complete without Grandpa Chill asleep in his cap for a long winters nap...

I hope to see you before 2008, then it's off to AustinSurreal, so get ready ready.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

CHRISTMAS RAPPING PART AWESOME (and Reggae)

It's like this and like this and like that y'all

It really is!

You think I'm lying?

You didn't want to listen.

But I was right.

But Forget About It.

-------------------------

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Christmas Rappin' and Thangs

Kurtis Blow - Christmas Rappin'

Live on Tops of the Pops!? You can't ask for much more than this.

- VERSUS -

The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping

My dad says he remembers seeing them perform this on Saturday Night Live but I can't seem to find that footage. If anyone has it I'd love to see it.

Remember when Linus was talking about the commercialization of Christmas?

I only really buy tea at Tesco.

Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas Bloopers and Outtakes

This is one of the greatest things ever to be shown on a TV. I mean the original, not this. Get the DVD.

This a real jam right here...

Real Talk!

Real rock from the rock...

I don't know this kid but I fully endorse this video.

RIP TO THE KING!

What a year this hath been.

This a real video right here

This may or may not be

This my jam

More coming thusly.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Also

I really do love the holidays.

Not Gone Yet

No, I'm just commuting.

I am and always have been, a sentimental flitcase. In fact, every year about this time I get a disturbing feeling of doom, not about Christmas, as I actually very much so enjoy Christmas, but more about the impending new year.

I never had any worries about Y2K - even while one of my great friends was curled up in a fetal position beneath his computer desk (for some odd reason) cuz he was SURE that God was gonna strike us all down at the stroke of the new millenium and made sure every minute of every day leading up to it that I knew this "fact" - and I have no worries for 2008. But something about watching another year pass always gives me this melancholy feeling that I can't shake.

Couple that with all of the impending changes in my life, the fact that my family and I will celebrate Christmas in no less than four cities in one weeks time and then in the next week move to Austin to full on start my new job at SXSW, yeah I'm freaking out.

I'm a nervy person in general (ask Devin, he'll tell you), and this combination of excitement and well anxiety I guess is why I haven't posted anything on this blog since I put the Hillbilly fracas up some time ago. There's no real point to this post other than to say Happy Holidays to all of y'all, do your best to get through it all and look forward to big things in 2008.

Real Talk.
Know'm Sayin'.
Um.

Yep.

See you at Slick Rick tonight? Warehouse Live? Free! www.scion.com/livemetro

Lets tip a few of them drinks.

Forget you ever read this.

P.S. This whole Pimp C thing also has my head a mess. R.I.P. to one of the main reasons any of you are even reading this blog. For if it wasn't for UGK, there may never have really ever been "Southern Rap." And here we sit.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Someone tell these folks it's 2007, not 1957

Watch the video below. I was going to write a raging commentary about this whole debacle and then decided against it. But I'll say a few things.

Basically the video below shows what happened when Houston activist and member of the New Black Panther Party, Quannel X, went to Pasadena to protest/investigate a situation where a white man shot two dark skinned, Latino men who he saw break into his neighbors home.

I have very mixed feelings about this because real talk, I'm an extreme pacifist, I don't want to use violence to solve much of anything, but if someone broke into my house, I would shoot the fuck out of them until they were definitely dead. I have two children, fuck all that noise. Both of my neighbors are over 90 years old, if I saw someone climbing into their house, yes I would shoot the fuck out of them too, with no remorse.

That being said, I don't necessarily think this dude should be looked at as a hero. Yes, he certainly did "beat the bad guys," but he had a lot of time to think about what he was about to do, and he did it. He killed two men, with a shot gun, at close range, IN THE BACK. It's something that I hope to never, ever, ever have to do.

I really don't want to pass judgement on the man, cuz like I said, I think personally I would have done the same thing. If the cops could get their asses in gear and respond to such things in a timely manner, we wouldn't have to do such things.

All that being said, I don't think it's too off base for Quannel to be looking into this situation. If it was a black man shooting a gun in his front yard, he'd be sitting in jail right now, hoping for a trial. It's the truth, and if you don't believe me, if you think racism does not exist, watch the video below and be disturbed, be very disturbed. This is America 2007, and this video is strong evidence that we really have not come very far.

That being said, I think that this is so shocking to me because I don't hang out with people like you see in this video. I hang out with progressive folks from all races, from all corners of the world. These type of people barely exist to me. The only time I see people like this is when I'm in a town with no other place to shop than a Walmart, then I go in and puke on myself cuz 1. I'm in a Walmart, 2. I'm surrounded by racist pieces of trash.

Anyway that's neither here nor there. I just wanted to share this video to make sure that all of you know that racism does indeed still exist and there's a lot of scumbags out there who really don't even hide it. Shit looks like 1957. If even.

Also, why were they chanting USA! USA! USA!???? That is not MY America that they are reprsenting. Excuse me while I go throw up and try to convince my wife again that we need to live in New Zealand, on a mountain, with no TV or internet. Just a stream and our dreams. Maybe a windmill.

In summary, I am not against the man who did the shooting, but I am certainly not against Quannel X for going out to seek some sort of answers. I am against the people of Pasadena who attacked Quannel and his people. This is supposed to be a free country. SUPPOSED being the action word in the previous sentence. Stop the madness.

Holiday Party at The Orange Show
My Party Saturday Night

MAYNE IT WENT DOWN ONCE AGAIN! After a thoroughly depressing week, it was nice to hit a few holiday events, see good friends and family and sort of kind of get this holiday season thang thang into full swing. WE READY!

Friday the whole family and a lot of good friends gathered at the Orange Show for their end of season Holiday Party. I DJed Christmas music along side DJ PRKL8R who killed it all night. And the Soul Rebels Brass Band and Corey Ledet and his Zydeco Band WERE AMAZING! What a way to end a harsh week, missing one great musician who has passed but celebrating great musicianship with some wonderful people who are still here to help sooth our souls. Anyway, IT WENT DOWN!

If you ahev never been to the Orange Show, I am sorry for you. It's a magical place.

Skinny Santa was in the house to scare the children half to death!

Alyssa! IN THE HOUSE!

Eva went to a birthday party where they did all the little girls hair and nails and put on make up. I'm not totally sure what I think about that shit, but she loved it.

Elena was indifferent.

Corey Ledet and his Zydeco Band!

THANK YOU!

Dancing on the roof!

DJ PRKL8R on the roof!

Kids in a well.

Which had Eva and Alyssa quite intrigued.

SOUL REBELS BRASS BAND!!!

WHAT A NIGHT THANKS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED! Also I killed it on them tables real talk knowmsayin?

T. Piper in the house!

And of course Bubba was there as my official security.

THen Saturday night we had our lil going away party at The Pro. Grimy Styles, K-Rino, KB da Kidnappa, Rapid Ric and Dr. Dubbist all KILLED IT! I Djed a dub set for a while, but you know, I don't think I killed it.

Denise Proprietor of said Pro.

Domokos!

DOmokos and Denise

KJ and Mike!

K-Rino and Murder One

Naz and Melissa!

Mayadia and Justice Allah of the 144 Elite!

GRIMY STYLES!!!!!

Christamonster

Cayne of Peekaboo Theory

Kam and Christa

DJ Awol DJed for KB and KILT IT!

As evidenced by this photo.

MAYNE!

Shit was mad wonderful yo.

Two of my favorite rap legends and my new favorite band and my favorite DJ I mean come on now man!

K-Rino and Thurogood Wordsmith. TW gave me a money clip engraved with SOREAL on it for allthe money I'm making and Bobbie Fine gave me some candy. WOW! Floored.