I Met Kanye West

...

No I didn't.

But I did walk past him on N Cahuenga Blvd in Hollywood. I posted this on Facebook a few weeks ago, but for those who didn't see it...

Walked by Fatlip (The Pharcyde) just outside of Amoeba in Hollywood. Exchanged pounds and kept it moving. 

A few blocks later while I was thinking to myself how awkward that encounter was, I see Kanye West walking towards me.

Time slows down as he gets closer. He's yapping on a phone, but I look him in the eyes, wondering if I'm gonna get a nod of recognition from Yeezy. Nope. He walks by, and I keep it moving; mind blown.

Yeezus

Also crossed paths with the following:

Micah A. Hauptman (Actor)
Chalk (UK Battle Rapper)
Damon Wayans Jr. (Actor)
Jackie Chain (Rapper)
Ian Cross (Engineer)
Ava DuVernay (Director)
Rob Cesternino (and a bunch of other Survivor contestants)

There's a lot of fake shit out there (Sunset Strip on Grammy weekend...ugh...), but it does feel like a land of opportunity, especially for those with some talent or skill. A lot of people I met did this, that, and the other. 

All that aside, I had a great time; a much better time than my first visit.

I could see myself living out there.

Kanye West - DJ Boom Freestyle (I Met Oprah)

My Mayor Is...

Jamaican.

Thug Notes

Classic Literature. Original Gangster

This web series is one of my favorite discoveries of 2013.

I have an interest in the classics, and I've found this series to be a fun and quick way to revisit them. Sure the character of Sparky Sweets, PhD is a...character, but it's all in fun and edumacation. I'm no academic, but the analysis seems pretty solid to me.

Peep the discussion on some of my favorite titles. 

Thug Notes: YouTube

Music - 2013

Spent a good portion of the year getting reacquainted with the likes of Prince and TLC, but here are some tracks that dropped during 2013 that I enjoyed.

Feel free to recommend music I missed out on. (I know there was a lot.)

Busta Rhymes - Thank You (Featuring Kanye West, Lil' Wayne, Q-Tip)

Danny Brown - Side A (Old)

Danny Brown - Float On (Featuring Chali XCX)

De La Soul - Get Away (Feat. The Spirit of The Wu)

Da Dogg Pound and Snoop Dogg - L.A. Here's To You

Oscar Issac, Justin Timberlake, Adam Driver - Please Mr. Kennedy

J-Zone - Black Weirdo

Kanye West - New Slaves

Kanye West - On Sight

Kelis - Jerk Ribs

Neko Case - Where Did I Leave The Fire

Proud - You're My Dream

Step Brothers - Nothing To See/Hear

Tears For Fears - Ready To Start

Tyler, The Creator - Bimmer (Featuring Frank Ocean)

Wu-Tang Clan - Family Reunion

YO_urs Truly - Commando (Featuring Mighty Mizu)

Public Enemy - Brothers Gonna Work It Out

Hey, I'm an administrator too!

He follows a lot of people so I don't necessarily feel singled-out or special, but it's still nice to possibly have the ears and eyes of a legend.

Salute to Mr. Chuck.

The Rise and Fall and Rise of Sensational

From Director E.A. Moore, a look into the life of cult rapper Sensational, who you may or may recognize from his contributions (as Torture) to the Jungle Brothers recordings during the Crazy Wisdom Masters/J. Beez Wit The Remedy era. I'm guessing -- and this film may be able to confirm -- that he inspired (at least partly) the very hard left turn the JBs took with their sound.

I've been wanting to see this documentary for some time, and it's now available online, so check it out if you're interested as well. Judging by comments left by Sensational (Colin Bobb), he doesn't seem pleased with its release.

The Rise and Fall and Rise of Sensational: YouTube | Vimeo

Film - (Viewed In) 2013

Still a few 2013 releases I haven't seen yet. Will catch-up during the new year. 

** indicates a re-watch. 

Searching For Sugar Man: Trailer

Zero Dark Thirty: Trailer

This Is Not a Film: Trailer

Style Wars: Trailer

The Grey: Trailer
Amour: Trailer

Silver Linings Playbook: Trailer

Prometheus: Trailer

The Queen of Versailles: Trailer

Before Sunrise: Trailer

Indie Game: The Movie: Trailer

Raiders of the Lost Ark: Trailer

The Place Beyond the Pines: Trailer

Il Posto: Trailer

Brewster's Millions: Trailer
The Searchers: Trailer

Bad 25: Trailer

Overnight: Ebert & Roeper Review

Dawn of the Dead: Trailer

Cruel Intentions: Trailer

Starship Troopers: Trailer

Breakfast at Tiffany's: Trailer
Before Sunset: Trailer
Roshomon: Trailer
Titan A.E.: Trailer
Barton Fink: Trailer

Vertigo: Trailer

**Love Jones: Trailer

Man of Steel: Trailer

Edward Scissorhands: Trailer

Broadcast News: Trailer

Sharknado: Trailer

We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks: Trailer

Only God Forgives: Trailer

Frances Ha: Link

The Goonies: Trailer

Monsters Inc.: Trailer

Manhattan: Trailer

Bad Santa: Trailer

Blue Jasmine: Trailer

**No Country For Old Men: Trailer
The Hudsucker Proxy: Trailer

Of Mice and Men: Stream Movie

Thank You For Smoking: Trailer

Kiki's Delivery Service: Trailer

Dumbo: Trailer

**There Will Be Blood: Trailer

**Melancholia: Trailer

Dangerous Liasons: Trailer

Prisoners: Trailer

30 for 30: Big Shot: Trailer

CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story: Trailer

Husbands and Wives: Trailer

Herb and Dorothy: Trailer

Halloween: Trailer

Gravity: Trailer

Much Ado About Nothing: Trailer

Before Midnight: Trailer

Captain Phillips: Trailer

Blackfish: Trailer

Lawrence of Arabia: Trailer

Everybody Street: Trailer

Inside Llewyn Davis: Trailer

Mud: Trailer

A Band Called Death: Trailer

12 Years a Slave: Trailer

Favorite Posts - 2013

Not a lot of posts this past year, but here are my favorite shares

Mic Teluxe: Link

The Hedrush: Episode 43 - L.A. Hip Hop Appreciation Pt. 2, Featuring DJ Mark Luv: Link
EPMD - Crossover (White Label Remix): Link
Boogiemonsters - Ali & The Devil (Demo): Link
Elisabeth Moss: Link
The Legend of Sora: Link
Akinyele _ I Luh Hur: Link
JAY Z - Picasso Baby: A Performance Art Film/MCHG: Link
The AuteurCast on Amy Adams (The Master): Link
A Tribe Called Quest - Check The Rhime: Link

Thanks again for reading.