Gogy Esparza

On Monday, through the introduction from my good friend Eugene (Hypebeast) and Ephraim, I had the honour of meeting the multitalented Gogy Esparza. Gogy is a Massachusetts native and is currently living in NYC. He is a gifted photographer, as well as a barber when he is not shooting. Gogy mainly shoots with a film camera, and his works show his creative and raw talent.

I had dinner with him, along with Ephraim and Simon, who is also a correspondent for Hypebeast. We ate at a bbq lamb restaurant and the meat was damn good. Thanks to Ephraim on this! If you want to know where the good eats are in Tokyo, Ephraim's your man. Afterwards, we went out for drinks at Kinfolk, where we met some more people; Gérald, Kevin, Pavan and Stefan. It was a good night of good discussions, laughter and smiles.

Gogy is in Tokyo for his second solo exhibition at Le Baron de Paris for his photo book titled "Lighttime". Please check out his work and website at http://www.gogy.me.

Thanks for stopping by and i'll catch up with you all soon.

Peace.

For more photos, click HERE.

DJ P-Luv on Global Noon News Extra - Jan.27

My homie, DJ P-Luv gave a short demonstration and talk on Global BC's Noon News Extra to help promote the Red Bull 3 Style Competition. This year he is defending his title at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver on Jan.28, 2010. If you're in Vancouver, you definitely don't want to miss this party. It was crazy at last year's competition and it's gonna be crazier this year. For the first time this year, 2010, Red Bull will be hosting the championships in Paris. Good luck to all of the participants! Move the crowd!!

For P-Luv's interview on Global BC, click HERE

For information on the Red Bull 3 Style Competition and dates, click HERE

Happy New Year!! It's 2010!

Happy New Year to you All!! Yes i'm late, but one of my resolutions is to provide you with weekly updates on this blog. I spent my new year with friends and family in Vancouver. Actually on NYE, I chilled out with wifey and my brothers, DJs P-Luv and OMG, at Bar None in Yaletown. We celebrated the new year together and had sandwiches at Duffin's for our after hours hunger. (Is that English??) Anyways, the year has been great so far. Thank you all for a great 2009! I wish you all the best for 2010!! Like Tupac said, "Keep Ya Head Up". Peace to all!

DJ Flipout's re-edit of Bob James' classic

Hello all!

The holiday season is upon us and I would like to wish you all "HAPPY HOLIDAYS!"

I gotta share this with y'all because it's a bangin' track from none other than one of the original bboy's of Vancouver and one of the many Hip Hop historians that I know. When I first heard the original track from Bob James back in '97/ '98 from a Japanese friend of mine who had one of the original LP's, it just blew my mind. I love this track!! And now with Flipout's re-edit of the track with the "Beats to the Rhymes" drums with it and Nas, it's a neck breaker! Be sure to download it from the link below. I got it on repeat.

Bob James feat Nas "Nautilus" (Flipout C.U.P. Edit)

For more info on DJ Flipout, you can check him out here:

http://www.myspace.com/straightgoodsradio
http://www.nationofmillions.ca
http://www.ampfamily.com/index.php
http://thebeat.com/

Also for your weekly dose of hip-hop, and I MEAN HIP-HOP you can tune in "every Friday night/Saturday morning from 12:00am to 2:00am. It’s 100% Hip-Hop, straight from the streets to your radio." << on the Beat 94.5, with DJ's Flipout and Jay Swing. Stream it or download the shows from www.nationofmillions.ca. VANCITY (Vancouver) baby!!

PEACE!

BOOMBOX SAINTS MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERE, "FLIP IT"

THE PREMIERE of the BOOMBOX SAINTS official music video for "Flip It" is finally here. These are my boys from back home, Vancouver. Be sure to check out their site HERE.

Been a long time, shouldn't have left you......

Hello everyone! Hope you're all doing well. Yes I know it's been a while since my last post again. Work's been busy since then; day in and day out. I'll share with you with what i've been working on once the project is complete. But for now i'd like to share some music if you haven't heard and got this yet. This mix features the Boyscouts on hunt.fm from last month. One of my favourite mixes to date. Marlon J. English throwin' down the hip-hop and P-Luv bringing us back into time. Check it out!

hunt.FM #102: It Tastes Like Pepperoni w/ Guest DJs the Boyscouts (Marlon J. English & P-Luv)

I DREAM IN COLOR TV

WWW.PAULSKRATCH.COM

鎮座 (Chinza) Dopeness Album Release Party @ Moon Romantic, Aoyama - Sept.15, 2009

Chinza Dopeness, one of W+K Tokyo Lab's latest artist, held an album release party at Moon Romantic in Aoyama. It was a good night consisting of good music and collaborations with other artists, such as Hifana. Chinza's a real humble and great artist. Please check out his music and his MySpace page at: http://www.myspace.com/chinzadopeness

For photos click HERE.

Izawa Ayame performing at Cafe Muriwui, Sept. 11, 2009

I'd like to present to you a good friend of mine, Izawa Ayame. She is a talented musical artist that plays the piano and the pianica. A couple of friends and I went to go check out her show. I surprised her by just showing up. I haven't seen her since I moved to Japan, and it's been a while since we've seen each other. She was a yoga student in Vancouver, and stayed with my family and I for a month. She's a friend of a friend, and we've kept in touch since. She's currently a yoga instructor in Tokyo. She creates and composes her music, and performs her music at selected venues. Please check her music out at: http://www.myspace.com/ayamelody

For photos, please click HERE

Vancouver Slop invades Japan

On July 3rd, I hooked up with my good friends Matt and Rolf, who hail from Vancouver. Shortly, another friend who's been living in Japan, Ephraim, joined us. We went for eats at a gyoza restaurant in Harajuku. Afterwards we stalked the streets of Harajuku and Daikanyama.

Matt, who is an Environmental Biologist by day, runs a couple of business' on the side. He is 1/2 of Finale Design and 1/3 of Vancouver Slop. As the founder of Vancouver Slop, he blogs about restaurants and places that he eats. As he is always on the go, Matt hardly has the time to cook. Please check out his blog at www.vancouverslop.com. Also please check out Finale Design.

Great to see you guys! Thanks!

Behind-the-Scenes: 鎮座 Dopeness Music Video

Early this week, I worked on the set of Chinza Dopeness' music video, shooting behind-the-scenes footage for W+K Tokyo Lab along with Takeshi-san.

5:30am - Wake up
6:45am - Leave the house
7:10am - Catch the train to Chuo Rinkan Station
8:00am - Arrive at Tama Plaza Station
--- Walk to the studio ---
8:30am - Arrive at the studio after hitting some Red Bull for the system
9:00am - Setup, makeup and wardrobe
11:00am/ 11:30am - Rehearsal
12:00pm - Start shooting
.................
7:00pm - Wrap

That's the basic schedule.

What even made my mornings and evenings better (sounding sarcastic), was the humidity. As you may or may not know, i'm a December baby, so i'm not fond of heat. But I "toughed it out" and brought me a towel to dry myself off.

The staff, talent and crew were very professional and friendly. Everyone was a class act. Chinza, the main talent, is a gifted lyricist and has a great personality. He is signed with W+K Tokyo Lab and is friends with HIFANA. Good people; good friends.

I look forward in working with Tokyo Lab in the future. Until then, keep smiling and keep creating.

Peace out.

Photos

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!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!!