HallelOOyah, Pharoahe Monch'll DO ya!

Perhaps now corporate radio, MTV, BET and the other assorted hydra-heads of that thing we refer to affectionately as "The Industry" will finally recognize what niggas in the hipHop underground have been insisting for over eight years:

Pharoahe Monch is the muthaF*#kin' man.

i copped the Mighty Pharoahe's new plate Desire- the LOOOOOOOOONG awaited follow-up to the unrealisticly dope, yet slept-on Internal Affairs- on June 26th, when it finally dropped after several push-backs... and this record was well worth the eight years time that has elapsed since his last full length. Pharoahe opens the record with a short gospel acapella quartet piece that states simply:

"oh-oh Freedom.

oh-oh Freedom.

oh-oh Freedom, for me.

and Before I'll Be a Slave/

i'll be buried in my grave/

and go home, to my God

and be free."

this unusual intro marks the spirit of "Desire": Revolutionary Artistic Freedom at any and all costs. it's this idea in fact, that explains Pharoahe Monch's absence from the forefront of hip hop since he helped put Rawkus Records on the map (my map, anyways). he's spent most of that time arm-wrestling his way out of an oppressive record contract. an artists' artist, Monch has since guested on various projects, solo and alongside rap luminaries like Mos Def, Kweli, Common, Kanye, and the Roots' Black Thought (click here to check out Pharoahe's verse on Guerilla Monsoon Rap from Kweli's record "Quality"). His rapid-fire delivery is ripped off so frequently that first time listeners will find themselves right at home with Pharoahe, whose style will be familiar if his name is not. in fact, Pharoahe has probably penned lyrics you bopped to, since he's a frequent go-to guy as a ghost writer...

in all fairness, i cannot review the record yet; although it hasn't left my ceedee player since i bought it, i can't get past the first half of the record. the intro alone could hold my attention for a minute, but it leads into "Free", the title track "Desire", and "Push"...then there's topical imaginative cuts like "What It Is" and "When The Gun Draws"... and did i mention there's a cover of Public Enemy's "Welcome To The Terrordome"? my favorite song right now is

"Let's Go":

sigh. that review may never get written.

please cop it, people! hip hop NEEDS this!

as for me, i already got it...

peace.

samax.

www.ghettoManga.com

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Quote of the Day...

Cuando amor no es locura, no es amor.
(When love is not madness, it is not love.)
-anonymous (stolen from here)


peace, Love, etc.
samax

One Shall Stand, One Shall Fall...

as unbelievable as it seems, they were able to turn the most beloved cartoon of my childhood into a live action/cgi feature film that had the same playful-then serious-then playful spirit of the original! in this case, "They" were producer Steven Spielberg and director Michael Bay (Armageddon, The Rock, Bad Boys), and "They" knocked it outta the park like dave justice.for those who have no idea what i'm talking about (PHILLISTINES!), Transformers is the story of intelligent, shapeshifting robots from the planet Cybertron, crash-landed on Earth, embroilled in a centuries-long war, the outcome of which will determine the fate of the galaxy! There were the good, peaceful Autobots, and the evil, conquering Decepticons. like many concepts in movies today, Transformers had its humble beginnings in the pop paradise of the 1980's, first as a line of SWEET toys (like my favorite transformer, Starscream, seen here!) then as a series of blockbuster cartoon shows and comics.
of course, i wouldn't be much of a blogger if failed to mention the original big-screen appearance of the Robots In Disguise: 1986 animated smash Transformers: The Movie, starring such notable actors as Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek) as Galvetron (the ressurection of Megatron) and Orson Wells as the planet eating archvillain, Unicron. the film's mashing of pseudo-religious themes and colorful cast of new robots set against the thrusting of the cartoon into the future (2005 was the future back then, family!) helped make it an instant classic among faithful Transformers fans. the film shocked thousands (maybe millions) of young fans with an unpredictable and unbelievable plot twist: the brutally violent deaths of many popular characters (including fan-favorite Autobot leader Optimus Prime, below) in the first Act! i saw T:TM in the theater (rare for me as a child), and the audience was in saddened shock when Prime's light went out. Initially panned by critics and a financial disappointment, T:TM is now considered by some (including me) one of the best animated films ever made.

there is no need for new Transformers fans to see the cartoon show or film to get and appreciate the new Transformers film, which is packed with metric tons of action, effects, and laughs. "Good, ignorant fun!" as we like to say. while i wouldn't worry about taking kids to see it, Transformers is definately aimed at my generation: eighties kids that may have outgrown the chasing of new toys and other products associated with this franchise, but many of whom now have children that will serve as a conveniant excuse to dive back in. the PG-13 rating will bother a few parents, but the minimal references to sexual subjects, occasional cussing, and glorious abundance of cartoon violence won't bother most parents.
in short, a great, great flick. i will let the purists debate the changes in plot and characters. any problems i had with the movie were minimal. i'd say overall, it was big fun!

holla!
samax.
www.ghettomanga.com
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if you need a little spice in your life...

you should definitely check out ghettoManga Animated Movie of the Year, Paprika, directed by Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers,Paranoia Agent) about a psychotherapist-turned sexy dream-diving-superheroine battling against terrorists attempting to use stolen technology to unhinge reality!

Kon is right at home here, directing this adaptation of Yasutaka Tsutsui's 1993 novel that seriously blurs the line between dreams and reality... and the mysterious villains in Paprika intend to do just that. they will certainly succeed too, if the efforts of the films title character fail. This fast-moving, mind-bender revolves around a still-experimental device designed to allow therapists to enter into the dreams of their patients to better diagnose and treat them. Thus, the reserved scientist/therapist Dr. Chibi traverses the dreamscape in the guise of her free-wheeling young superchick alter ego Paprika.

but we wouldn't have much of a movie if the devices were not stolen and abused to bring about a twisted apocalypse of biblical proportions, now would we? Paprika is as imaginative and beautifully animated a film as i have seen in years. On the heels of director Satoshi Kon's foray into television on the inimitable Paranoia Agents, he has again spun a tale with the sublime animation and unnerving storytelling that made him famous. Paprika is currently out on the art-house circuit... if you live in a major city, check your listings! other wise, i'm sure you can cop a bootleg or something. this joint gets my highest recommendation! [update: to cop it legally click here]
holla!

samax.

ghettoManga.com

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Dave, Relax! this Racism stuff is bothering you too much!

Fresh clip from ghettoManga 2006 comedian of the year...

peace, love, etc.
samax.
www.ghettoManga.com

let the Hating begin...

Tim duncan (left) and his San Antonio Spurs

teammates win 4th title in 9 yrs. photo by Lucy Nicholson

the west has won it again. all the underdog-cheering was silenced as that "boring" basketball fundamentalist juggernaut from south Texas wins it's 4th NBA crown in 9 seasons. that's right... the San Antonio Spurs beat the cowboy ish outta the heir-apparent-led Cleveland Cavaliers, winning four straight games to eliminate the bad news bears of basketball.

if this was a movie, San Antonio would make the perfect villain. they have the number one defense in the league which leads to low-scoring (i.e. BORING) games, accusations of being dirty players, and a methodical mastery of the game that borders on indifference... plus, their point guard, finals MVP Tony Parker is FRENCH, for God's sake (not to mention he's black, and engaged to uber-hot Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria)!before the start of the series, my coworkers were all pulling for the Cavaliers, lead by hoop Demigod and media-minded manchild Lebron James. After putting the grown man business to the East's best defensive squad (the revered, but Ben Wallace-less Detroit Pistons), Lebron had people believing they were witnessing the writing of the New King James Version of the b-ball bible. after all, the 22 year old superfreak led what was the worst team in league four years ago to the Big Show all by himself. and in a postseason that saw underdogs take out Dallas, Miami, and (ahem) Phoenix, all bets were off!

Ultimately, however... there was just too much skill on the San Antonio side of the ball. Defensive specialist Bruce Bowen put the shackles on James (who hit just 36% of his shots... just 33% in the final game) with the help of his teammates timely double- and triple-teams. San Antonio has the best coach in the league, and as a result of keeping their squad intact year after year (despite sports writers insisting they were too old after losing to the Mavs in last years' playoffs), they have the smartest players. each player knows his role, and trusts his teammates and coaching staff, even when they lose leads or make mistakes.

Lebron will get his. his talent is unreal. he seems relatively undamaged by all the fame of leaping from highschool to the pros, and he shows flashes of legendary greatness. i was impressed when the most sought-after player to hit the NBA draft in years spoke up and said he wanted to play for his home-town squad: the much-maligned Cleveland Cavaliers. this season, after falling to the Pistons in last years playoffs, he made his city believe they would get to hold a championship celebration. and i'm sure they will...

but not this year.

holla!

samax

http://www.ghettomanga.com/

comics. hiphop. news. art. culture.

Assault on Precinct 18

my first exposure to Stormwatch Post Human Division was #3. it was a fabulous comic that hooked me immediately. there was an issue in there that worried me (series artist Manhke took an issue off), but the series' crisp writing by young hotshot Christos Gage (Law and Order SVU)has held things together. this month's issue #7 wraps up the first major arc, where the mostly human cops of the Post Human Division go head up with alien monster squad led by mind-controller/sorceror/Daemonite Lord Defile.
In a wild, whooly, and bloody battle, the PHD pulls off an unbelievable defeat of the super-powerful Daemonites. Gage does a great job of handling the possibly confusing continuity issues associated with doing a spinoff book, dropping historical details here abd there that reveal the relevant history of the old characters/plotlines without distracting from the story. great for new fans.
and i can't say enough about series artist Doug Mahnke (JLA, Frankenstein, Major Bummer). he strattles the line between goofy 90's superhero schlock and post-vertigo horror. his extreme anatomy and fabulous monster imagery is balanced by good, solid storytelling. that balance in his work is what makes him perfect for this book.
peace.
samax.
www.ghettoManga.com
comics. hiphop. news. art. culture

a Word to the Wise

it's thursday... aka HipHop Appreciation Day here at ghettoManga.com
i try to take the time to let people know what i've come across that's worth celebrating. which brings me to a recent mySpace discovery: Long Beach Producer/Emcee Wiseman.

I haven't heard that much of this cat's music, but i will say this: the centerpiece of his 2006 production album THE STREET SCHOLARS has got to be the transcedant single Music Is My Voice which he also rhymes on flawlessly. if this song is any indication of his beat/rhyme skills, we may have an underground superstar on our hands!
do yourself a favor and at LEAST go here and check that joint, and/or slide over to Wiseman's profile and holla at him (like I did).

it doesn't get much better fam!

holla!
samax.
www.ghettoManga.com
comics. hiphop. news. art. culture.

even worse than politics as usual...

K.O. said it as good as it could be said:



leadership has definitely gone out of style...
samax.
www.ghettoManga.com
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SHO nuff!

wanna see the ESSENCE of what we stand for here at ghettoManga?

go check out the work of James Mason. he does a really fun web comic called Urban Shogun!

check him out, fam!

holla!

samax

www.ghettoManga.com

comics hiphop news art culture

(Urban just means Black...)

Go out and get a FREE copy of UVC, the Urban Voice of Comics. the magazine is made by people doing the honorable task of covering comics for/by/starring/or-at-least-marginally-intersting-to Black folks (among the contributors is Omar Bilal, of the Black Superhero Museum ... holla!)

to avoid the argument between those who can't agree if we should be called "Black," "African-American," or "Them", they went with the always politically correct "Urban" (but you country negroes can cop it too!)

anyways, pointless sarcastic remarks aside, you should cop it. this way, you can catch up with what's goin' on in comics without actually havin' to READ 'em all (if it puts me out of a job, that's okay... ya'll don't pay me anyways...)! this month's issue has BRILLIANT comic artiste Kyle Baker on the cover, and a nice little interview with the award-winning do-it-all, so cop it! you can subscribe to it on their website, or badger your comicshop, record store or "urban lifestyle store" (whatever that is) to order it... they can get it for you FREE (that's in the budget, fam!)

in my opinion, this is just what we need!

peace, love, etc.

samax.

www.ghettoManga.com

comics hiphop news art culture

Emonifela is BACK!

well, she never went anywhere, i guess... but i dropped by her mySpace page, and there's new music on there from my favorite underage rapper/poet/deejay... for a special treat, head over there and listen to instant classics "Be Grown" and "So Col"... also, check out my previous blog about Emonifela if you want to hear more gushing about this young hip hop phenom...

holla!

samax.

www.ghettoManga.com

comics.hiphop.news.art.culture

i'm black like Don Cheadle shouting POWER(s) to the PEOPLE!

i've been reading Powers sporadicly for some time now. in fact, i'm sure i have the first several issues tucked away in my comic collection somewhere. but since then, i've mostly read an issue here and there from khalid's collection (shout out to my man bigSteelo!!!). but recently, i stumbled onto 30 or so loose issues (2 seperate runs of consecutive joints!) in Half-Price Books for a dollar a piece.
WOW! what a great comic!

for those who don't know, Powers is about Deena Pilgrim and Christian Walker, two homicide cops who cover murder cases involving super humans (or, "powers" as they are called in the world of this book). written in the style of cable cop dramas like Homicide, NYPD Blue and The Sheild, Powers' shockingly raw, edgy, R-rated storylines are accented by loose cartoony artwork and jaw-dropping cliffhangers. Powers is the indy comicbook that introduced most fans to super-scribe Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spiderman, Secret Wars, New Avengers, Daredevil), -although a few knew him from Torso- and artist extraordinaire Mike Oeming (Cross Bronx, Hammer of the Gods).

i recommend this comic to grown-ups who devoured superhero comics as kids, but then outgrew the genre... but ONLY grown-ups: Powers has the most profanity and adult content of any comic i have ever read, and no matter who you are, you'll see cuss words used in ways you didn't see coming... still, a great great read (and reread!)

after copping these, i'm now HOOKED!

holla!

samax.

www.ghettoManga.com

comics hiphop news art culture

new Champion of Children poster!

Madd Trainin' (Champions) by samax.
cop this slick 11x17 print with champ, Li'l Madd Skillz and moms Big Madd Skillz from Champion of Children... just $20 with FREE SHIPPING! while supplies last....




holla!
samax.
www.ghettoManga.com
comics hiphop news art culture

Quote of the Day...

"We must stop confusing religion and spirituality. Religion is a set of rules, regulations and rituals created by humans, which were supposed to help people to grow spiritually. Due to human imperfection, religion has become corrupt, political, divisive and a tool for power struggle. Spirituality is not theology or ideology. It is simply a Way of life, pure and original as was given by the Most High of Creation. Spirituality is a network linking us to the Most High, the universe and each other. As the essence of our existence, it embodies our culture, true identity, nationhood and destiny."

-Ras Tafari

comics hiphop news art culture

A Message from KRS ONE

Hip Hop Appreciation Week begins on May 14th 2007 and concludes on May 21st 2007. Hip Hop Appreciation Week began in 1998 as a time set aside every third week in May to acknowledge and appreciate the existence of Hip Hop itself. During this time (May 14th-21st 2007) the Hip Hop community refocuses itself through a collective review and update of its own history and core principles and elements. Principles- peace, love, unity and having fun. Elements- Breakin, Emceein, Graffiti Art, Deejayin, Beat Boxin, Street Fashion, Street Language, Street Knowledge and Street Entrepreneurialism. The idea is to celebrate Hip Hop itself.
During Hip Hop Appreciation Week artists can be asked to give sound advice on what they've learned about life and living Hip Hop this year. Schools of all sorts are encouraged to discuss Hip Hop academically and critically amongst its students and teachers. Radio DJs can upgrade their play of "conscious" Rap music over the airwaves and parents can discuss the true meaning and history of Hip Hop with their children.

During Hip Hop Appreciation Week the Hip Hop community is encouraged to:
Give the next person the right of way. Allow people to pass you. Do not block a person's forward movement.
Donate your skill or profession to someone who cannot afford it.At the supermarket give your change to the person behind you in line.Be quick to compliment and slow to criticize.
Be ready to forgive and move on.
Give 10% of your salary this week to your child's teacher.
Ease a neighbor's pressure by donating your time toward the assistance of some duty they must undertake. Give of yourself this week.Let us show our respect for Hip Hop with a sincere respect for one another.
Men—support the women in your life. Women—comfort the men in your life. And let us all remain committed to the well-being of our children; they are the reason we do what we do. Love your children. Reserve a special love for them. Give them your time and your attention. Be patient with them. Touch them, hug them, play with them and be sure to teach them, advise them, protect them, discipline them, and most of all LISTEN to them. One of the best ways to teach our children that they are valuable is to value them. Often we must compliment them, point out their special qualities to them, fulfill their prayers, support their legitimate dreams and aspirations and let them know that we are interested in them. They are the future of Hip Hop! The preservation of our children IS the preservation of Hip Hop.
HAPPY HIP HOP APPRECIATION WEEK!
There it is.
KRS ONE
www.ghettoManga.com
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free Hip Hop project/DJ Clue mixtape!

holla!
samax.
www.ghettoManga.com
comics hiphop news art culture

A Hip Hop Movie worth watching...

opens Friday May 11th at a theater near you

http://www.hiphopproject.com/screenings/screenings.php

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A Common Enemy?

fresh off a brilliant turn as Ivy, the gentelman/ bodyguard/killin' machine from Smokin' Aces (my favorite film this year, so far) Common has recently signed onto director Timur Bekmambetov's (The Nightwatch) adaptation of Mark Millar's fabulous supervillian coming-of-age thriller, Wanted.the film will also feature Angelina Jolie (The Good Shephard, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Original Sin) , Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby, Se7en, Shawshank Redemption, Lean On Me) and James McAvoy (The Last King of Scottland, Dune).

"My character in Wanted is called the Gunsmith." says the hot Emcee/Actor. "I'm basically this dude that's a master at shooting guns. I'm training this gentleman that's coming in, who really has certain abilities but doesn't know it; I'm training him on how to be what he should be." He added, "...this movie is very exciting to even be talking about"

if you have no idea what he's so excited about, learn more about the comic series that inspired the film here

HOLLA!

samax.

comics hiphop news art culture

the Illest...

in case you ain't know... this is REAL hipHop...

word.

samax

www.ghettoManga.com

comics hiphop news art culture

All dressed up, with nowhere to go...

the actor who brought addiction back is playing comics' most celebrated substance abuser...

heroine joneser Robert Downey Jr. is playing Tony Stark, a well-known alcoholic whose also the Invincible Iron Man... here's a look at the star in the armored Avenger's red and blue supah-soot!

holla!

samax.

www.ghettoManga.com

comics hiphop news art culture

Dirk needs to listen to more Hip Hop...

photo by Brian Bahr, Getty Images
I been sayin' it forever: Nowitzki is soft. the Dallas Mavericks big man is one of the best players in the league. he can't be stopped. but he's as soft as the hairs on a peach. i mean, nobody can guard him... he's a seven footer with nice ball-handling skills and the sickest fade-away jumper this side'a Reggie Miller... unfortunately, he lacks reggie's killer instinct.


photo by Glenn James, Getty Images

still, in the fourth quarter of tuesday's game against Golden State, Dirk dug into his guts and pulled out a milleresque 12 points in the last three minutes of the game, to defeat the Warriors 118 to 112, saving his beloved Mavs from playoff extinction... now they have to do it in Oakland... and that's JUST for a chance to come back to dallas and play for the right to advance to the next round!

photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez the difference between winning and losing this series for the mavs will be Dirk's attitude. other players like his game, but they just don't fear him... and he should MAKE THEM REGRET IT!

* coach Avery Johnson's advice for Dirk about handling defenses:
"if they triple-team you, find the open man. if they double you, score on 'em. if they single cover you, KILL 'em!"
in other words, this is the playoffs... Dirk should be looking to score, and punish the other team for even THINKING they are in his league!
i think he just needs to listen to some hip hop or something... what's in A.I.'s ceedee changer, anyways?

peace (except on the court!),
samax.

ghettoManga.com
comics hiphop news art culture

DAAAAAAAAANGERRRR!

khalid put me on to this cartoon awhile ago... this video's subtitled, so when i watch it, i usually mute it and play my media player (hipHop... that's what's up!), but do whatYOU want with it... i need to get one of those programs that lets you splice sound and video so i can make my own rap videos with these cartoons... hmmm... o yeah so it's got Cyborgs, Cute li'l Asian chicks, and GUNS, GUNS, GUNS:
check out Mezzo DSA (danger service agency)



peace.
samax

21st Century Hustle

for all you that (like me) believe you got more to offer the world than wage-slave obedience, check out 21st Century Hustle, the magazine that's all about getting your proverbial grind on! miami-bedstuy transplant Ali Muhammad has created a magazine that breaks it down, shining light on the people,tactics,and product that's making the world revolve...

check it out!!

peace.

samax

Quote of the Day

"While Ya'll were askin' permission, i just stepped up and took it!"
-the mighty Mos Def

Black Republican/Boondocks video

yeah...
far as i'm concerned, cartoons are better than music videos... this cat made a video for the Nas/Jay-z collabo Black Republican.
hot!



peace.
samax.

i had ta do it...

corny, yet satisfying:

peace.

samax.