Probing the strengths and limits of a poetics of fact
(sampled from Dee Morris)
About 4 years ago I knew some of The Beastie Boys were up in the balcony at a benefit I played for Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls. There was a mini bass they had signed up for auction that night. I stood under the balcony with my paddle and battled until I won the bass. I have friends in common with those guys and was a little shy about fanning out so hard. The host that night totally called me out though from the stage.
“Kimya Dawson must LOVE the Beastie Boys! She really wants this one!”
I did. I really wanted it.
See, when I was 14 there were no Rock Camps. I felt alone in my weirdness a lot of the time. And I would pretend I was a musician alone. My self esteem was low. My love of words was huge, but my teachers kept telling me to stop making my poems rhyme.
Then my older brother came home with the Licensed To Ill record.
Paul Revere was the first song that I listened to over and over and over and over and over with the intention of memorizing and being able to recite it. And I would wear a derby hat and sunglasses and bust this one out in my room, when no one was home, in front of the full length mirror. Seriously.
And, alone in those moments, I became this very secret version of myself that felt like maybe just maybe I was a little bit of badass.
Thanks Beasties.
Thanks MCA.
Huge gratitude.
(via dreamhampton1)
5.13.2012 |
206
141 plays
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- Artist: Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
- Track: Express Yourself
- Album: Express Yourself
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Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Express Yourself
(via fuckyeahsoulmusic)
4.18.2012 |
33
“As a young nigga…….Give anythang, to be that innocent again, when I was ten”
Tupac in a Panther beret as a kid? YES
my ovaries!!! this is too adorable
(via larepublicadedet)
4.18.2012 |
585
BFMC: The Secret To Funk Is To Pay Attention (or Why This Site Exists)
Nearly 300 people have connected to BFMC in some way, and many more have checked it out, and I thank you all.
The site was launched (at the time of this writing) almost five months ago to showcase the works of Black comic writers and artists as well as Black characters that made a mark in the…
4.18.2012 |
50
John Coltrane in West Germany, 1959, courtesy of the Michael Ochs Archives.
(via billiesbluesday)
4.18.2012 |
102
Today is the 93rd birthday of Chavela Vargas. Here she is performing in 1968.
(via hungeercluod)
4.18.2012 |
47
early early 2000’s. part of a photo exhibit by lourdes delgado where she took pics of nyc jazz musicians n their home spaces. some of those pics were pretty bleak( google robert glaspers) this room ws 300 dollars a month,no utilities, deep n queens, right by the airport. ws the only reason i could afford 2 move 2 new york. was barely passable as a living space. we crammed 4 ppl in that tiny apt. ( my room was the diningroom) landlord wld only take cash. often paid my rent n change as i made it mostly from busking then. some craaaazy roommates n this place 2. one roomie wld regularly wash their feet n the kitchen sink. another ws 4ever on meth, which ws sad, tho kept the place super clean, which was nice. fun memories tho. and i dont own near the amount of stuff as i did n that photo. finally moved 2 brooklyn bc, new roommates moved in univited:thumb sized roaches. towards the end i was sleeping w/ a camping net over my bed to keep them out. actually didnt work 2 well. nyc roaches r some crafty fuckers. #matanaroberts #flashbackfriday #nyc #paiddues (Taken with instagram)
3.16.2012 |
3
