Monday Nights At Nuyorican

October 22, 2013 by carnegiekid No Comment

This past Monday night I attempted to perform at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe open mic. With my heart set on performing “BlackMale” in promotion of my new mixtape “Carnegie Hall” and website “CarnegieKid.com” I was devastated when I found out I was too late to sign up. But devastation quickly turned to inspiration as I stayed to watch the other performers.

I’ve done dozens of showcases, and open mics around NYC but the atmosphere inside of Nuyo Rican was like none other! The diversity of the standing room only crowd immediately caught my attention. Thugs, hipsters, suits, punks, and a couple of sexy songstresses had the joint packed to the door! The unwavering support shown for each and every artist was uncanny.

The show featured gangster rap, spoken word, piano solos, breakdancing, R&B, freestyle rap, beatboxing, and almost any other artistic form of expression you can imagine. Performers from Atlanta, California, Arizona, and even a couple of international performers were kind enough to bless the stage. We were even lucky enough to hear a couple songs from the uber-sexy, immensely talented host Nisha Asansi.

Its was dope to have such an assortment of cultures, ethnicities, and musical sub-divisions together in one venue. So indicative of New York’s true spirit. Absolutely the most entertainment you’ll ever get for only seven bucks! Your summer experience in the city will be severely lacking if you don’t get to attend at least one of these shows. They’re happening every Monday from 9pm-midnight, and with there only being about five Mondays left in the summer of 2013 I’d suggest you make it happen ASAP! His Holiness The Honorable Sir Carnegeezie Kid Esquire (me) will also be there the next couple weeks so if you’d also like to witness history now is the time! See ya’ll at Nuyorican!

PUBLISHED: 7/26/13
CHECK IT OUT HERE AT HUFFINGTONPOST.COM http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sharief-easterling/monday-nights-at-nuyorica_b_3661281.html

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SAINTS OR SINNERS

October 21, 2013 by carnegiekid No Comment

Once one of the saddest franchises in NFL history, the New Orleans Saints used the addition of QB Drew Brees and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to rally them to the pinnacle of football glory. In 2010 they won the Superbowl and seemed to right the wrongs of 30 years of mediocrity. But what was a story of tremendous retribution has recently been tainted by some disturbing allegations.

Former Saints Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams renowned for his “win by all costs” mentality may have cost the organization its integrity. From 2009 — 2011 he implemented a pay-to-injure program which awarded $1,000 for forcing an opposing player to the sideline, and $1,500 for removing him from the game completely. The NFL is one of the most dangerous and physically demanding professional sports leagues in the world, but there is an element of “controlled rage” amongst the carnage. Pain and intimidation are the building blocks of the sport, but only when displayed tastefully. The sportsmanship and camaraderie of the league creates an unwritten code of ethics. One that ensures no malicious intent be present while competing. Mr. Williams and the Saints have completely violated this code.

Nevermind the salary cap, and violations of the NFL constitution, cash incentives for purposely injuring opponents is simply and utterly despicable. A total disregard of the values and tradition of the sport. In a league where 90 percent of contracts aren’t guaranteed how could one player so willingly jeopardize the livelihood of another?

Of the twenty seven players accused of participating, Linebacker Johnathan Vilma is taking most of the scrutiny. During the 2010 NFC Championship game he allegedly placed a personal $10,000 bounty on the head of Vikings QB Brett Farve. Following a suspiciously illegal looking hit from Anthony Hargrove in the third quarter Favre was actually forced to leave the game due to an ankle injury. Hargrove was then overheard on the sideline yelling “Favre is out of the game! Favre is done! FAVRE IS DONE!” Hargrove denies ever being paid for the hit, but warranted skepticism still lingers.

As a fan I don’t want players of that caliber wearing my team’s jersey. You should be giving maximum effort on every play simply for the sake of winning! I don’t like the idea of Injurious intent or questionable cash incentives being the motivation for athletes I root for. Why is $1,500 enough to inspire such ill will anyway? The multi-million dollar contracts and signing bonuses aren’t enough?

The target on QB Drew Brees’ back will now undeniably be larger than ever, so how karma plans on punishing them might be a bit more interesting.

PUBLISHED 3/23/12
CHECK IT OUT ON HUFFINGTONPOST.COM – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sharief-easterling/new-orleans-saints-bounties_b_1356142.html

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Niggas In Poorest

October 21, 2013 by carnegiekid No Comment

“Who the fuck is Margiela??” That’s what most of us wondered the first time we heard The Throne’s “Niggas In Paris.” But Yasiin Bey (the artist formerly known as Mos Def) actually had the balls to say it! His remix of last years biggest record entitled “Niggas In Poorest” was the polar opposite of the original. Where Jay and Ye gave us a three minute look into their outlandishly extravagant lives, Yasiin reminded us how the other 99.9 percent of the planet is living.

The Paris instrumental was one of the best of 2011 and provoked freestyles from Meek Mill, Busta Rhymes, Freeway, Lambo Show, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, The Game, and Chris Brown just to name a few! But none came close to matching the perspective or realness displayed by Mighty Mos. He’s always been unfairly labeled a “conscious rapper,” but with the world in a global recession conscious maybe exactly what we need.

Kanye West is one of my favorite artist of all time, and being a rapper from Brooklyn myself, the admiration for Jay-Z goes without saying; but the disconnect between the fans and “Niggas In Paris” was colossal. We don’t know who or what “Margiela” is, we do not own “rollies”, and whats fifty grand to a nigga like me? More Than My Annual Salary!!!

Despite the angle taken by Yasiin on “Niggas In Poorest” it isn’t a “diss record.” Mos Def had a long history of collaborations with Kanye West, and was never really a confrontational MC to begin with. He simply allowed his art to reflect real life, which in this fake it til you make it industry is a rarity. Its great for Jay and Kanye to celebrate their unprecedented wealth and success, but the average fan just can’t relate.

Hip hop music is most powerful when it truly resonates with the listener.

“Niggas In Paris” was undoubtedly the single of the year, but did the genre an even greater justice by creating the opportunity for such a contrasting remix. “Niggas In Poorest” is rap in its purest form. Truthful words, over a borrowed beat, spit by an exceptional lyricist. It can’t get much better than that!! Don’t get caught up in no Throne!

PUBLISHED 3/12/12
CHECK IT OUT ON HUFFINGTONPOST.COM – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sharief-easterling/mos-def-yasiin-bey-niggas-in-poorest_b_1336929.html

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ATLiens In 2012

October 21, 2013 by carnegiekid No Comment

I need Andre 3000 to make a triumphant return in 2012. With rumors of a new Outkast album flooding the blogs, and a slew of Dre guest appearances last year — on singles from Beyonce, Young Jeezy and Lloyd — it’s looking like he might bring his hiatus to an end. And who better to revitalize the genre then the creative genius behind its most influential group.
Southern hip hop’s quantum leap from regional side note to focal point of the industry was spearheaded by Atlanta’s rap renaissance — where hometown heros Decatur DaVinci Andre Benjamin and his partner Antwan “Big Boi” Patton would single-handedly established the Southern rap sub divisions that would soon dominate the mainstream.

Take T.I. Now widely accepted as “King of The South,” he was introduced with the appropriately titled LP Trap Music, an album that revolves around the “trap” or “trapper” lifestyle — a concept introduced to the mainstream a decade earlier with Outkast’s third album Aquemini (“Ya’ll Scared,” “Spottieottiedopalicious”). Meanwhile, Lil Johns “crunk” empire ushered him to top of the Billboard charts and the Forbes list, but A-town’s dynamic duo was responsible for coining the phrase (Aquemini’s Rosa Parks). And Lil Wayne’s extraterrestrial angle on his Carter III and I am Not A Human Being albums put an alternative spin on his hardcore persona, propelling him to crazy mainstream success. ATLiens ’96 — you see where this is going?

Dre’s influence wasn’t only limited to Southern hip-hop. Kanye West’s 2008 LP 808′s And Heartbreak was basically his version of Andre 3000′s Grammy Award-winning The Love Below. The only hip hop record to ever win Album Of The Year; it revolutionized the game and created a lane for current “rap & B” chart toppers like Drake and B.O.B.

If only 3000 was a little bit more accessible, like Big Boi, we wouldn’t be here! During Dre’s extended leave of absence, his partner in rhyme has been everywhere. Forget about his critically acclaimed 2010 solo album Sir Lucius Left Foot: Son of Chico Dusty — he’s featured on countless songs, performes two hundred times a year, and became the official spokesperson for Crown Royal.

Sporadic guest appearances and solo albums from Big Boi are cool… but who are we kidding? The game needs some pure, unadulterated Three Stacks! The dynamic the two create together is unparalleled. Possum Alawicious Jenkins Andre 3000 is the shot of adrenaline the game desperately needs. Following the deaths of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., hip-hop’s future going into the new millennium was decidedly shaky. Outkast’s music bridged that gap. In this similarly uninspired rap era, I think they’re the ones capable of saving us again.

We need innovators. We need creativity and individuality to reanimate and revitalize the genre. So for the sake of me and you, yo momma and yo cousin too, I’m predicting that the ATLiens return in 2012 to make things so fresh and so clean once more!

PUBLISHED 2/10/12
CHECK IT OUT ON HUFFINGTONPOST.COM – HERE:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sharief-easterling/andre-3000-outkast-return_b_1264607.html

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