Nice day for a bike ride

He is ALMIGHTY...

I'd like to introduce you all to Paul Belen a.k.a. Pluskratch a.k.a. Paul Skratch a.k.a. Paul Mighty. Yes, this man has several aliases and that is in part due to his eclectic life. Paul, as long as I can remember during my DJing days, he has been a hard working individual. He is a DJ, a producer and a fashion designer. He has been interviewed recently on www.justalilhype.com. Watch out for this talented artist! He's makin' heads snap.

Here is the link to his interview.

Also here is the link to his websites: www.almightypaulmighty.com, www.paulskratch.com

Dedicated to the Hastings Set

As my title shows, this entry is dedicated to the Hastings Set. This movement has been inspiring artists from all mediums, as well as people who just love art, music and life. I was privileged to be a part of this experience when my good friend Jeff (Jeproc) invited me to a Hastings Set event. From there on my spirit felt renewed and had been longing for a movement, a collective to inspire me and others to open our minds and our ears and hearts. After the first event, I always looked forward to the Hastings Set and their partners work. I was getting hungry. It's been about a year since I was introduced to the Hastings Set. Everytime an event was hosted and associated with THS, I always encouraged friends and family to come along for the ride. To name a few, THS consists of a collective of musical talent, producers, promoters, photographers, dancers, dj's, etc. Here are some of the links I encourage you to look at and be inspired:

The Hastings Set
Love and Electrik/ Blog
Brad Dijkman
Tiffany May
Justin Tyler Close
The New Royales
Chin Injeti

A recent article from Vancouver Is Awesome website features the Hastings Set and can be seen HERE.

Love and Electrik will be releasing some new material in the near future, SO LOOK OUT AND COP IT!; Justin Tyler Close did a wonderful makeover of his site, as well as posting new work; The New Royales will be dropping their new single "Kinda Like A Big Deal" which features the Clipse and Kanye West, with the beats and talent of Chin and DJ Khalil. Single drops 4/20/2009, 12noon PST.


Congratulations to the Hastings Set!! Many blessings and love! Caesar misses y'all but so happy the internet keeps me connected.

Shout outs to Jeproc, Chin, Aidan, Love and Electrik, JTC, Tiffany, DJ Bles-sed, Niña Mendoza, DJ She, Brad, NaRai, Jeff Spec, Omar Khan, SVS Style Dance Crew, Boombox Saints, the Boyscouts, EH! Team DJs, Almighty, The Freshest, Beatstreet Records, Gman and Rizk, DJ OMG, Littlesumo, SDUBB, Baby J, Shaolin Ewok, Rock Royalty Inc., Riojex, El Kartel, VANCOUVER, and to you all!!

Hanami (花見 - "flower viewing")

Kinda late on this post, as the cherry blossoms have been winded away by now. But I had the opportunity to experience Hanami in Japan for the first time. I saw some sakura (cherry blossoms) in Fujisawa, Shonandai, Roppongi and Odawara. How beautiful they are..... I spent hanami first with the crew from W+K Tokyo Lab and it was a fun experience. Later on in that week, I went to Odawara Castle with wifey and her mom. Good times looking at the sakura with a cold can of beer. Ahhhhh...

Please click HERE for the photos.

W+K Tokyo Lab Presents “VIDEO MUSIC” - March 28, 2009

This past Saturday, W+K Tokyo Lab hosted another event, "VIDEO MUSIC". A night filled with great visuals, music and people. One of W+K's artists, JEMAPUR, did a couple of sets, giving the crowd an experience not to be forgotten. Also, Jemapur will be doing an hour exclusive set on W+K Radio, tonight at 1am (9am-Thursday PST).

"VIDEO MUSIC" was held at Roppongi Hills, at Mado Lounge on the 52nd Floor (great view!!).

For photos of the event, please go here.

Also please check out W+K Tokyo Lab's Blog here.

And another one...

New Final Cut software due in April?

For more details, please click HERE.

Source: MacNN

Funny how time flies...

So today marks my one month anniversary since i've moved to Japan. Life's been pretty chill for now until I get the proper docs to allow me to work. I've been seeing old friends and trying to meet some too. I've been spending most of my time at home and practicing my hiragana and katakana, as well as learning some Photoshop, After Effects and Illustrator skills from online tutorials. The one thing I need to do is polish up my cover letter, so that when my visa arrives, i'm able to work a.s.a.p. I've been trying to occupy my time up with online tutorials, surfing the web, reading a book and occasionally stepping out of the house to go for short walks around the neighbourhood.

About 2 weeks ago, I went to a live show in Kichijoji, Tokyo, with Ephraim and Masako, to check out Hifana and some other live acts. This was my first time seeing Hifana live and to my surprise Semba-san and a group of percussionists and musicians, Kargamos, with Hifana collectively played great music. I had the privilege of meeting more of the W+K Tokyo staff through one of the Creative Directors, Shane Lester, that I had met while on my trip to L.A. last November. They are all personable and great! It was a good night of great music and company.

While the hunt is still on, i'll do my best to update you all on a regular basis.

For a review of the live show, please go HERE.

For photos of the evening, please go HERE.

Video of the Hifana and Semba show soon to follow.

HIFANA @ Star Pines Cafe (Tokyo)

HIFANA (W+K Tokyo Lab) will be performing live @ the Star Pines Cafe in Kichijoji this Saturday, Feb.28. Also part of the musical lineup are IZUPON, Cinza Dopeness, Kyo Sakurai, Senba and karugamos. If you are in the Tokyo area, please come check them out. It's gonna get LIVE!

For more information, please click HERE.

Return to Japan

First post in Japan.

I arrived Feb.12, 2009. It's great to be back. Looking forward to my new life here. I previously lived here back in '03-'04 and taught English. I am familiar with the transportation system here and I can get by with the limited Japanese that I do know. I will be studying Japanese so that I can be more fluent and understand some of the conversations. Jet lag is done and the hunt for work has begun.

Ganbarimasu.

Red Bull 3Style Challenge - Jan.30, 2009

Okay, playing catch up is my game right now. I know you probably have been coming to my page and nothing has been new. My apologies again.

The Red Bull 3Style Competition at the Commodore Ballroom was off the chain, too bad I got drunk too early and had to leave midway through My!Gay!Husbands! set. I managed to get some photos and video of the champ: P-Luv. Good luck to him and to the rest of the champs across Canada at the Finals in Toronto. Also congratulations to both Rico Uno (Runner-up) and Marlon J. English (Third Place)!

For photos of the evenings events, please click HERE.

Cell Phone Reunion

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Crank 2: High Voltage >>> HELLS YES!

Christmas @ the Bays to the Hastings Set Boxing Day Blowout

In the early eve of Boxing Day, I celebrated another Christmas Dinner at the Bays. I've known most of my friends there since elementary and it's always great to spend our annual Christmas dinners together.

Afterwards, I headed down to the Biltmore Cabaret to the Hastings Set Boxing Day Blowout which featured a live set from Love and Electrik and Omar Khan. As always, great music by the duo and Omar, as well as the DJs (DJ She, Bles-sed and Niña Mendoza).

To view photos of the evening, please click HERE.

<< Rewind << 2008 Christmas Dinner and Gift Exchange @ Hans

It was a night to remember. Dinner was prepared and presented by our host of the evening, Hans, with his 2 lovely assistants Lynn and her sister Anne Marie, who cooked up a mean ham. Also P-Luv and S-Dub gave out some home made cookies of their own to the party. The gift exchange was fun too. From Paul's pick of a blowup doll of Tera Patrick, to a couple of wallets, Hot Wheels and Barbie that had a special gift inside too. Food was great!! Thank you!!

To view the photos, please click HERE.

<< Rewind << 2008 Birthday and Zerohour Christmas Gift Exchange

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Yeah, yeah, I know i'm a tad late. Doing a lot of catch up now with posts. My apologies.

So this post features my 33rd Birthday, as well as the Zerohour Gift Exchange at Hapa Izakaya in Kits. As always, it was a night full of laughter and smiles. My secret Santa got me a triple threat of Tim Hortons Steeped Teas. Love it! Now I can enjoy my double-doubles at home. I received another special gift from my cousin John and Patti. For my birthday gift, they made a custom Munny for me. Thank you!! Love it! Also a special thank you to the Hapa crew for the shot, which Bryan shoved my face in first. Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season, despite the really bad snowfalls we've had.

For more photos of the night, please click HERE.

Origami In The Pursuit of Perfection

Origami In the Pursuit of Perfection from MABONA ORIGAMI on Vimeo.

Mini Me

Last Sunday, a group of friends and I had our annual Christmas dinner, and my birthday dinner part deux at Hapa Izakaya in Kits. It was a good night of good eats, company and many laughs as usual. I also have to add that Vancouver was hit with another snow storm that evening, to make the count at three. And just a reminder that it'll probably snow again tomorrow for Christmas Eve. So to all you drivers out there; Stay home, grab a cab or drive very carefully. My cousin John and his mischievous partner (jk) Patti, made an original, one of a kind mini me. So happy and we just couldn't stop laughing. Thanks guys! :)

Wishing you all a safe and Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!!

Love & Electrik @ Shine - December 18, 2008

Round 3 - Love and Electrik performing at Shine Nightclub in Gastown. As always, these 2 put on a great show. In attendance we had the Freshest Kids minus one, DJ Bles-sed, Omar Khan, Jojo, Mr. Brad Dijkman, NaRai, DJ Relly Rels and the Hastings Set.

To view photos of the evening, please click HERE.

Saturday Was A Good Day

Dec.13, 2008:
Let's see, where shall I begin...

2pm:
Oh yes, none other than Love and Electrik performed their second performance at Beatstreet Records out of the Five Feats of Strength Tour. Their first performance of the tour was the night before at the Sweatshop for the Schools Out For Winter event, which was hosted by Team Cream. Their next performance will be at the Shine Nightclub this Thursday, Dec. 18 with the Freshest Kids DJs and special guest DJ Bles-sed. For more information on Love and Electrik, please visit their MySpace page HERE and their blog HERE. I took some video footage of their performance at Beatstreet Records, which I will post shortly.

For more photos of Love and Electrik, please click HERE.

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10pm:
Next up, I went to the Camilla D'Errico art show which was hosted at El Kartel on Robson St. She is one of the many favourite artists that I admire. She's such a cool person and real easy to talk with. I had the privilege of meeting her at her first show, about 2 years ago at El Kartel. She signed a t-shirt for me then and signed another one now. Thank you!! Also in attendance was Vincent Chan, who was featured on Hypebeast.com recently, along with his partner and a good friend of mine, Matthew Miyagawa from Finale Design. And last but not least, Santa stopped by for a drink. For more information on Camilla D'Errico and to see more of her work, please visit her website HERE.

For photos from Camilla D'Errico's show, please click HERE.

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Midnight:
And last but not least, I headed down to the Royal Unicorn for the Studios' Film and Music Industry Party. Music was provided by Cheeky Disco (in a monkey suit. What?!), Small Fame and Saint Expedite. The night was great with good music and good company. Thanks again to Justin for the invite! :) Please visit www.thisisthestudio.com, to view more of their work. I also have some video footage of Small Fame's performance, which I will post up shortly too.

For photos of this event, please click HERE.

Good night :D

Atomic Cartoons Christmas Party 2008

Yeah for Christmas parties! This year I attended Atomic Cartoons Christmas Party which was held at the Alibi Room. It was hosted by the crazy, yet beautiful Alicia and her lovely sidekick Kelly. It was great to see old friends and catch up. Music was provided by Apple's iPod (various sources) and the food catered by the Alibi Room. The gift exchange was fun, as we were able to trade or "steal" from another. The gift that was stolen numerous times was Darth Tater (Mr. Potato Head). It went from Kelly to Alex to Ridd to Gary and back to Kelly (I think that was the order). Anyways, thanks again for a fun evening Atomic! See you all soon.

For more photos of the evening, please click HERE.