Pay & AQ

Touring with Chingy, in Brazil!

2009-10-18T17:45:00.006+02:00

Pay’s Adventures in Brazil.

(Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Florianopolis)

Pay got the opportunity to tag along on Chingy's tour in Brazil. Although she had expected to run into more hip hop/music related stuff in Brazil, this became a more personal review on the experience of touring with an artist, in Brazil. Being around an artist like Chingy and his entourage, and experiencing the first time being in Brazil came together in the following read.

October 13, 2009

Friday October 9^th it’s the day I am flying to Brazil. It’s my first time going to South America really. I had to get up at 4 am, way too early for me but I was still excited to go. Mostly cause I get to see my best friend in the whole galaxy again, after so many years. Although we speak on the regular on the phone or online, I’ve missed being around him. He has been the biggest positive force in my life for the past decade. I’m not even sure if I would still be around if it wasn’t for him. He has always been there for me and helped me through a lot of difficult situations in my life.

Anyway, I’m off to Paris cause I have a layover there. I hate layovers but this was the cheapest ticket. (Hey, it’s a recession lol) Charles de Gaulle airport is the first airport I sorta got lost. With all the flying I do, that’s nuts really. The arrows on the signs in that airport point to the wrong direction. Normally if you have to go straight ahead, the arrow points up. At Charles de Gaulle they point down. So I kept thinking I had to go back, the other way. And I don’t seem to be the only one that had problems with that. My girl Fyza told me she had the same thing when she was flying through that airport lol.

When I arrive at the right gate, I don’t have to wait long to board. The flight is on time. Off to Brazil! The flight is about 12 hours. Even though the fight is pretty full booked, I manage to get an aisle seat when I originally had a seat between two people. Flying Air France is pretty ok. Decent food and ice cream and candy as much as you can eat. Haagen Dasz that is, shit was good!

When I get to Rio de Janeiro the weather is really bad. Nope, not the sunny beach and fine women and carnival country we all know it for. It’s raining worse than cats and dogs. It’s rain storming so bad, the plane couldn’t land at first. Rio de Janeiro airport is the easiest I’ve ever been through. Within literally 10 minutes I’m already outside. Immigration just smiled and stamped my passport and customs just took the forms from me without even looking at them. Suitcase was out already also and BAM, I was standing in the hall of Rio’s airport. Peterson, the driver that came to pick me up was there with a sign saying PAY. I had a BLAST with Peterson, simply cause he didn’t speak a word English and I don’t speak a word Portuguese haha!

Traffic was really bad. It was dark outside already and still raining really bad so I couldn’t really see anything of Rio yet. We ended up being stuck in traffic for 3 hours. 1/4^th of my flight over here. But like I said, I had mad fun trying to hold a conversation with Peterson, we were mixing up English, Portuguese, Spanish, hands and feet. And somehow we managed to understand each other enough to actually talk about things. I did take a nap in the van cause I barely slept on the plane or at home the night before.

9 pm I wake up thinking “Damn are we still driving?” but a few minutes after I woke up, Peterson turns around to let me know we finally got to the hotel. With my ass all fucked up, I stumble into the hotel to let them know I’m there. As I sit down in the lobby, Efrem walks up to me. Its like one of them long lost and found-reunions you see in the movies. Oh what good it felt to see him and hug him again. =)

Once I get to the room and saw my bed I just had to take a nap before the show that night. Efrem had to go meet some fans or something with Chingy so I had time to rest. For those that don’t know, I came to Brazil for Efrem’s birthday. But during that time, Efrem put together a tour for Chingy, the artist. No I’m not his biggest fan, nor do I really care for his music like that but the tour is there so I am tagging along. More so cause of Ef than anything else. Side note: I met Chingy a few years ago already in London on the Ludacris show, where I was with Efrem as well and a day later in Amsterdam where Benny and I had an interview with him for Royal Radio.

At 1.30 we take off for the show. I met all the people once we get downstairs where we all had to hop in the two vans to go. Nobody over here speaks English so even talking to Efrem’s friends and people he works with, is really a challenge. We get to the club in Rio, The Week. Pretty nice club, it was packed outside the venue already. I really felt like a tourist with NO knowledge of the language. We get to the small ass VIP section a little above the side of the stage. The show was pretty cool, I filmed parts of it. After the show it was the typical “groupies trying to get to the artist-stuff”. I’m tired as hell, pretty much ready to go. But as I was sitting there watching the Brazilian club scene, I felt disappointed in the women. With all the stories and all the things my homies say about the women down here, there literally was not ONE fine ass woman that I seen in the club. I was sitting there with DJ Sno and Rich Money. Rich was saying the same thing about the women. It was his first time in Brazil as well so he had the same high expectations that I had. Nonetheless the women were all over them of course.

We were supposed to have a 6 am flight to Sao Paulo but Chingy and the guys had so much fun, we of course missed the flight. Now we had to take a bus ride to Sao Paulo which would take about 4 or 5 hours, so we were told. We had a mini bus and left at 11 am from Rio to Sao Paulo. That morning in daylight, I saw that our hotel was right on the beach really, but the skies were dark grey and it was misty from the bad rain so it looked nothing like the Brazil we know from movies and videos and all.

I still didn’t get any sleep. Maybe one hour from the time we got back in the hotel til we had to get up and leave. I figured I can get some hours in on the bus. I now could really relate to the life of an artist with this running around, partying and getting no sleep. But once I got on the bus, I wanted to see the country. I mean, how many times will I get to be on a road trip from Rio to Sao Paulo and catch the scenery? Seeing the slums and the really poor houses (half way built and lots of aluminum), was pretty real. It was also still raining really bad. Although the sky cleared up as we drove further south.

Everybody on the bus was knocked out, except for DJ Sno and me. We were choppin’ it up about the music business, radio and all kinds of things. Then later on I just put my ipod on and was relaxing with music while looking outside my window. After a few hours we stop for food and all, which was the first meal I had since 3 pm that day before, on the plane! We all know Pay NEEDS food. So I was happy lol. It seemed the driver is driving mad slow so it was gonna take a lot more hours to get to Sao Paulo. Once we ate, the guys were up and were wildin’ out on the bus lol. I can definitely say I had a LOT of fun and laughs with these cats. They are fun people to be around so I didn’t mind tagging along on this tour. Big Country, Chingy’s security guy is hilarious! He started doing the jerk on the bus hahaha! I got some of that on tape, hehe.

Seeing the drive took too long and Chingy had to be at some radio station for promo, they arranged for a car in the next city we go through, to pick Chingy and Country up so they can speed over to the radio station instead of being on that damn slow bus we on. Fast forward, we finally arrive in Sao Paulo, its dark outside again already. We spent the whole damn day on the bus. Even within Sao Paulo, with the bad traffic and all, again, it took us another 2 hours or so to get to the hotel. We passed a McDonalds right before we get to the hotel so we all decided to go there once we dump our stuff in the rooms. So we did. Most of us went to go there for food, but found out that McDonalds was closed already by that time. Nana, Efrem’s assistant, who lives in Sao Paulo as well, tells us there’s another one a few blocks away. We all agree to walk over there. It was sightseeing for me. The big strip reminded me of walking in Manhattan with all the big buildings and all. Sao Paulo looked very modern to me in comparison to the little I had seen of Rio de Janeiro.

When I get back to my room later on, I was so messed up from all the traveling I been doing the past 2 days and the crazy lack of sleep, I laid down in the bed and just wanted to sleep. The guys all wanted to go to the club and as much as I wanted to see the nightlife of Sao Paulo, I went to sleep.

The next day its Sunday, mind you, I had no clue what time, day or even year it was at that point lol. I still didn’t get much sleep, maybe only 3 hours or so. But it was a good 3 hours. Ef ordered breakfast for me through room service, that shit was GOOD. And guess what? I saw the SUN out! When we got to Sao Paulo the night before, it was still raining, it stopped raining later at night but it was pretty cold too.

Anyway, I called Nana to see if she wanted to go to the stores with me, I had seen some stuff the night before when we walked to McDonalds. It was SO nice outside, finally I felt like I was on vacation. After we went to the store, Nana suggested to lay out at the pool and of course I was down with that. We got some sun in! Just an hour or so maybe cause the sun out here is really dangerous in the afternoon hours, doctors advise not to lay out in the middle of the afternoon.

Tony Touch had also arrived that morning. In the evening we went to sound check with all of them. I met DJ Cia from Brazil, who I have attempted to talk to online a few times already. Again, this went with hands and feet when we met in person but we understood each other. Really nice guy and a dope ass DJ too. When we get to the venue, Tony wants to find some food. Nana, Tony and me find a McDonalds ha! Americans I tell ya, McDonalds is the first thing they eat when abroad lol. We go back in the venue where Chingy is still doing sound check. Once they saw the MickeyD’s bags of course they wanted some as well. I got some funny behind the scene footage from the sound check. =)

The show that night was ok. I recorded a lot. Tony definitely did his thing. The VIP section that night was ridiculous after the show. The groupie action in there was by far one of the most horrible I’ve seen in my life. It was like watching National Geographic Channel. “Groupies in their natural habitat”. I was sitting there with my bottle of water just observing and being entertained. Til it got too much for me. The chicks just leaning over the fence to the VIP, hanging over my head, spitting, reaching for Chingy, yelling shit in Portuguese, nah man, I was ready to be out. I even had to save Les (Chingy’s manager) and Chingy from this crazy chick that kept bothering them. Luckily we came with two vans, and those who were ready to go back to the hotel were able to just leave with one of the vans. DJ Sno, Tony Touch, Soni, Nana, D and me went back. We were talking about music, house music and all that on the way back, sparkled by Tony’s event in NY that took place that night as well.

When we got back to the hotel, Tony was like, lets hang out and chill in my room, so we went there to hang out, mind you its like 5.30 am already. I was mad hungry so I ordered breakfast. But before it arrived people got sleepy and went back to their rooms, so I went back to my own room to wait for the breakfast. Then the others seemed to have arrived back in the hotel. Calling the room asking where Ef was. Ef didn’t come back yet, he was still at the venue taking care of business. I hear groupies screaming in the hallway, Chingy and Rich got attacked by them or something. Attacked in a good way I guess. (Ef and I are on the same floor as them.) It was a crazy situation. While I’m still up, waiting for my breakfast, Les called and he came up to hang out with me while I was waiting. Finally breakfast came and we’re still choppin’ it up. We just yapping the morning away til I had to cut it off cause sleep was necessary. I ended up going to sleep at 8 am. I heard Ef get back at some point but I was too sleepy to even really notice it.

A few hours later I’m up already. Its 11.30 am. Why I don’t know. I was supposed to go to the pool again with Nana but its real cloudy outside so I stay in the bed. At some point, it started raining and hailing really bad. Even to the point where one of the guys said it was snow. I didn’t open the curtains to look outside but it was madness against the windows on the 16^th floor. I stayed in the bed watching movies while Ef is trying to work and catch sleep in between. Around 4 pm I decide to go get food outside. It’s still raining but not that bad anymore. Les and I go to Subway to get sandwiches. Ordering when not speaking Portuguese can make some funny situations but she got our subs right. We stop by the local supermarket to stash up on snacks and head back to the hotel. After I ate my sub, we watched an episode of CSI and I fall asleep again. I wake up at 8 pm, not knowing where the hell I am. I finally realize I’m in Brazil, in a hotel, in Les’ room. Les is still sleeping though. I’m like maaaan, that was Monday LOL. Earlier we decided that we wanted go bowling but seeing it’s a holiday in Brazil this Monday, the 2 alleys we found over here were closing early already.

I leave Les sleeping and go to my own room and get online to check my emails and stuff while Efrem, Chingy and Country are in the seating room “chasing a black dress” (a girl that was at the club the night before). Unfortunately I found out a friend of mine passed away, that kinda threw me off and upset me. Thankfully I got a hold of my other friend on the phone, to find out what happened. I decided to just go back in the bed, watch some movies on TV and call it a day. The passing of my friend triggered thoughts of how much I hate being so far from loved ones and don’t get to spend the time I wanna spend, with them. I’ll be ok though, if anything, it makes me appreciate the time I have here with Efrem even more.

It’s Tuesday right now. Tomorrow is Efrem’s birthday. J. Rawls just landed in Sao Paulo and is on his way to the hotel. I’m sitting here typing away. The birthday party/event we had for tonight is canceled. Due to some business stuff that’s going on. As much as I was looking forward to the party tonight, which was really the main reason I came out here, for Efrem’s party, I understand how the business works. And I just wanna spend time with my best friend, that’s all that matters right now.

I have 3 days left, seeing I fly back home on Friday. Time flies. I will write more later when I get a minute again. Now I’m waiting on J to get here and figure out what to do today. We fly out tomorrow to Floripa (Florianopolis). Maybe we can go bowling tonight, who knows. I’ll wait til Les is up and see what’s up. (–12 pm)

October 18, 2009

I ended up going to Starbucks with Les to get some hot chocolate. Yes, hot chocolate, in Sao Paulo Brazil. It was chilly outside and still mad cloudy. Thank God it wasn’t still raining. I still can’t believe I went to Starbucks to get hot chocolate. But again, the weather is not really summer weather, keep in mind, it’s spring in Brazil this time of year. After we went to Starbucks, we walked down the street to Domino’s to order pizza. Now this was hilarious. I got this on video too. Don’t ask me why we hit up all the American spots, but in the streets where our hotel is located, we really can’t find any real Brazilian food spots. Plus I didn’t have the energy to go look for them either.

Later that evening I find myself being bored in the hotel room again. We wanted to go bowling this night but for some reason we were all slow and late so I figured, another evening spent in the room. Pretty stupid seeing I wanted to go out and see Sao Paulo. Around midnight Nana calls the room and tells me they’re having a surprise for Efrem downstairs in the lobby so my sleepy ass goes downstairs. Everybody is already sitting there and they bring out a cake and sing happy birthday in Portuguese.

Right at the moment we are all done singing, someone walks up in the “party”. It’s Herbie Hancock out of all people! Herbie Hancock is staying at the same hotel! So suddenly everybody was all up and excited. People tweeting about it at the same time (J.Rawls, me, Tony Touch and Soni) and snapping pics left and right with Herbie. That was awesome. From all the places in the world, I’m in Sao Paulo, running into Herbie Hancock. That’s definitely a night to remember. Plus that was a real big surprise for Efrem on his birthday.

There were also some Portuguese groupies from the other night at the venue, I wasn’t really trying to be in that situation but Efrem had fun on his birthday. So I figured, let him have his fun with the people, drinking and partying with the guys and the girls. Les and me just went back up to watch TV shows he downloaded. (CSI, House, Family Guy) Aint that something huh?

The next morning I wake up around 9 am, still in Les room. We are leaving that day to go to Florianopolis (Floripa). I go back to my own room and find Efrem there, awake as hell, with one of them chicks. Just chilling in the seating area. Lord did he give me the 411 on what happened that night. From the three girls that came to the hotel, one left at night and the other two were fighting over Rich and the one that was still in our room decided that dude wasn’t worth it so she got back over to our room to kick it with Efrem. (She was the first to put dips on Rich but her friend didn’t care and went for him as well LOL) I told the girl she shoulda left her girl here and shoulda gone home. Any girl that chooses a dude that you don’t know from a hole in the wall and probably never will see or talk to again, over your years of friendship, is NOT a friend.

After I shower and packed, I call Les to go downstairs for breakfast. Efrem joins us later and tells me the girl took my advice and bounced haha! Man that shit is hilarious. It’s like living in a reality show or something. And I didn’t even get into THAT much detail when it comes to these chicks. Efrem goes to run some errands and Les goes back to his room to pack and all. When I get upstairs to my room, the front desk calls me that there’s a woman in front of my door. I open the door and see it’s that trick that was in Rich room all night. She had left her jacket and cell phone in our room in the seating area. I give her her shit and tell her to bounce. But she babbles something in Portuguese that she wanna go in my room, so I show her that everybody is gone. I can tell that she’s asking me where everybody is (meaning her girl). I’m like, aint nobody here waiting for you, you gotta leave ho! And I escort her out the door. I’m like why I gotta throw these ho’s out the hotel? LOL

I go check on J.Rawls seeing we’re leaving and I wanted to chop it up with him before we do, so we hang out for a bit. The van to the airport is at the hotel already at 1 pm. We’re all loading up but then some real shit went down. Our flight is at 3.45 pm. It’s about 40 minutes to the airport. Not calculating bad traffic in there. Now in all the commotion we can’t seem to leave in the van. We hop out and go into several taxis. The police is getting involved and all I see is Efrem yelling mad at the van driver, in Portuguese so I have no idea what that’s all about. In the end it looked like they strong-armed Efrem, he had to pay up before the driver wanted to take us anywhere. We end up leaving at 2.15 pm, to go to the airport, in the van. This was some bullshit for real. EVERYBODY was already in the mind state that we’re going to miss our flight. D, Les, DJ Sno, we were all like, we gonna miss it.

3.15 pm we arrive at Sao Paulo airport, Efrem and Nana rush to the check in desk with all of our passports. We run over there with all the luggage and run to the gates. Man, security is NOTHING in Brazil. We could leave our laptops in our bags, our drinks, all liquids, the whole shabang went through the x-ray machine but not a peep from the security people. Sno even got some weed through lol! We run straight for the gate and slided in the back of the line for boarding. We made it. We were all surprised that we did. Happy though cause it woulda been hell to change all of the tickets.

We arrive in Floripa around 5 pm. What a beautiful, beautiful island it is. And that was without a doubt the smallest airport I’ve ever seen or been to. Once we get out the plane and walk in the little building, within 2 steps you’re at the luggage belt. About 5 steps after that, you’re already out the airport hahaha! Literally! We hop in a van again to go to the hotel. Driving over the island seeing the bay and the sun setting was gorgeous. Beaches, palm trees, but not warm, it was chilly as hell again. Windy too seeing it’s an island. (Florianopolis is further down south from Sao Paulo.)

This is like the “rich, more white people-area”, place to be, in Brazil.

The hotel that the promoter over there initially had booked was MAD small and not do-able so we switch. Back in the van with all our shit. We end up checking into the Sofitel right on the strip including ocean view. 5 minutes from the downtown area, shops and all that. It takes us so long to check in, by the time I get to the room it’s already 8 pm. D, Nana, Les and me decide to go eat at Pizza Hut (yes another American spot –sigh lol). Hey, they had free wireless connection there haha! I tell our waiter Tony aka Maradona (yes the soccer player) that its Les’ birthday (even though it’s not midnight yet). We end up getting a free dessert, a sweet chocolate pizza.

After we eat, I just wanna go sleep. Country, Rich and Brian end up going drinking at the Irish Pub around the corner and end up going to the club, El Divino, which is also the club where the show will be at. I fall asleep in Les room again, watching CSI lol.

The next day, Thursday, it’s my last day in Brazil. I wanna go outside, see things, do stuff, get my tourist on and all. Efrem is working, doing business and I end up going to the mall with Nana, D and DJ Sno. It’s only a few blocks walk from our hotel. That mall was 8 floors and huge. I felt like I was in the States, but everything was very cheap. Not too long after that, we get back to the hotel to hop in the van with everybody for a little tour over the island. The only one that didn’t join us is Rich, he was too hung over to come with us.

This island is BEAUTIFUL. From North to South it’s only 53 kilometers, with 400.000 residents, spread over the city and the beach towns. Our hotel is at the northwest bay. We drive down to the south east bay while Efrem and our driver Geraldo are telling us about the area’s we’re passing through. At the south bay we stop to eat at a famous seafood restaurant. The restaurant is known for all the pieces of paper all over the walls and ceilings. The pieces of paper are written on by every customer that has been there. The food was good and we had a beautiful view on the ocean from inside. It was cold and windy as hell though.

-Let me state that Country is one of the funniest fuckers I ever met. I’m gonna have to talk to him to give him his own show on my website. I swear this dude is TOO much hahaha! Doing the jerk in the bus to Sao Paulo as well as swag surfing in the restaurant in Floripa LOL. I swear I thought he was gonna go cripwalking up in there too!-

That evening when we get back to the hotel, Nana and me go back to a store at the mall where I wanted to buy some more jeans. We also find a hair salon to get our hair done for the party tonight. I figured oh well, its my last night, let’s do it up! Also very funny to go to a hair salon and explaining the stylist how you want your hair, without speaking any Portuguese haha! He ended up doing a great job though.

The show in Floripa was OFF THE CHAIN. The people were wildin’ out and it was packed. After the show, we end up from the stage, which was upstairs, to the VIP area downstairs. Again, it was packed. Hot as hell in there too. DJ Sno was doing his thing! I went crazy when he actually started playing Masta Ace’s Born To Roll! One of my favorite songs EVER. Chingy was hosting away on the mic for three hours straight! I definitely had a blast.

Around 5 pm, I go back to the hotel with Rich, Country, Les and Chingy. The van is supposed to go back to pick up the rest. They didn’t end up coming back til 6 pm. Some troubles at the club with one of the groupies that the security people didn’t let leave. Les calls me to get downstairs for breakfast. I get downstairs and the three girls that annoyed the shit out of me at the club, were in the lobby. Oh, by the way, in Brazil, you can’t just take people (girls) up to your hotel room. You have to pay for them as if they were checking in. It was like that at the hotel in Sao Paulo also.

So the girls stayed in the lobby. These ho/groupie situations are funny but at that moment I was annoyed and tired. One of the girls asked me if I was Portuguese. I wanted to say No Bitch, can’t you see I’m staying at this hotel? (I was wearing my comfy clothes already.) Breakfast finally opens at 6.30 and while I was signing in for breakfast, the hotel chick over there thought I was one of them ho’s also. That pissed me off as well lol. I was practically wearing my PJ’s. I did NOT look like I came straight out the club for these dudes.

Breakfast with Chingy, Brian, Les, Rich and Country is funny as hell. But I was so tired and I had to leave for the airport at noon already. I said my byes and went to sleep. Slept a few hours and then got up, packed my stuff and said bye to D, Nana and Les before the van picked me up. I flew from Floripa to Sao Paulo first, then from Sao Paulo straight home. The rest of them were flying to Rio later that day for the last show in Rio. Once I finally boarded the plane to Amsterdam, I took one of the pills that Les gave me, just to get some good sleep. I had 3 chairs to myself so I laid out and BAM I was out. I slept a full 8 hours on the plane. That was the best sleep I had from the whole time I was in Brazil haha.

In the end, the whole week didn’t go as expected, or as how it should have been going. A lot of business got messed up so we all had to wing it, but despite everything I had a lot of fun. I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to see my best friend again since years and for the fact I got the chance to see Brazil in so many different ways, even though I didn’t really get my sightseeing on. I saw Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Florianopolis, three different sides of Brazil. I also made some great new friends and connections that may be established for life.

Now most of my friends know I’m not Chingy’s biggest fan, nor do I particularly care for his music. But, touring with these guys did show me that it’s not ALWAYS about the music, it’s also about the networking and the people themselves. They are all great guys, each and every single one of them. They are open, friendly, HILARIOUS, cool and nice. Never once did I feel out of place there, seeing I wasn’t really part of the entourage, I was just tagging along. I respect Chingy for what he does even though his music type isn’t really my taste. I did end up bouncing along to the songs at the show in Floripa, I mean it’s poppy and people do like it. Lol.

Shout outs to all the people I’ve met and hung out with in Brazil. Peterson, Paulo, Thais, Brian, Nana, Demetrius, Les, Big Country, Rich Money, Chingy, Tony Touch, Soni, Geraldo, DJ Cia, and whoever I forgot. Lol.

Shout out to J.Rawls, it was great hanging out again, in Brazil even!

Shout out to Herbie Hancock for being really cool and nice.

I feel blessed to have had this experience with an artist and his people, in a country I’ve always wanted to visit. I thank Efrem aka Offshore for having made this trip possible for me. (Magma Culture)

I didn’t expect my review on this trip to be like this, but that’s what my experience was. I stay International. Next stop? Who knows. =)

-Pay aka Ms International.

PS. Video footage and more pictures of this trip coming soon.

Chingy: www.myspace.com/chingy

Magma Culture: www.magmaculture.com

Stop the violence - Stop! That means you.

2009-10-04T19:42:00.008+02:00

Twenty-two gunfights, including three murders. One rapper, Lexxxus, speaking from the hospital bed on You Tube: “I’m a gangster G, I don’t give a fuck”. And one wall with a colorful graffiti saying: ‘Stop The Violence -STOP! That Means You” Made by the world famous Amsterdam Hip Hopper and graffiti artist Aileen ‘Mickey’ Middel, who does give a fuck.

Amsterdam Southeast, The Netherlands, is an unique place on earth. So many different cultures live next and together with each other. The neighbourhood is the home of a mass of different African and South American nationalities. It is, also, struggling with serious poverty and crime. Reflecting on her latest work: a wall that stands tall in a world running out of hand.

Will the graffiti halt any violence? “No”, answers Aileen: “I don’t think so.” Together with Rogier ‘Azhq’ Wagenvoort she painted the tennis wall at the playground between the tall high rising apartment blocks Kleiberg and Kruitberg. The playground includes basketball courts, ping-pong tables, athletic track course and an open air fitness corner, too. It’s was where the nineteen year old young father Ishmael ‘Weezy’ Gumbs recently was murdered. The children at the playground saw it all happen.

All guns and assault weapons are illegal in The Netherlands. “I don’t think anybody carrying a fire arm, looking at the graffiti, will think ‘Gosh, let me turn in my weapon at the police station’. I don’t have that illusion,” she says in her studio in Kruitberg. Her three year old son climbs on a desk chair and jumps on her. After the third ‘mama-dive’ he has to find another game to play. The jumping becomes too much for Aileen.

Is the violence becoming too much for her as well? And is she worrying for the safety of her son and herself? “I did not become more scarred. I’m still feeling safe.” She lived and still works in Amsterdam Southeast for more than fifteen years. She knows from experience what it is to live here when it was still a ghetto. But about the recent shootings: “I don't know about what is happening on the streets. What does worry me is that guns are so easily used.”

The wall is a part of a bigger plan to halt the violence. Rogier is her neighbour and co-worker in the studios at Kruitberg. “Rogier and I wanted to do something new on that wall for a long time.” The violence inspired them: “Lets do something for the community. This time not glorifying our own names, painting our names big with a small text ‘Stop…’. But just big ‘Stop…’. Boom! Hood awareness. For all community members who do have common normal values. To push back.”

Its the more elder adults who show their appreciation: “They give us the thumbs up. I think a lot of people think what we say. ‘What’s happening? Let it stop!’ For these people it’s good support. Giving a social message with something beautiful.”

The text ‘Stop The Violence - Stop! That Means You’ is a lot more direct than ‘War Is Over - If You Want It’ from John Lennon and Yoko Onno back in 1969. But both have the same message, ‘It’s you that can do something’. The slogan of John Lennon was a protest against the Vietnam War.

The text used by Rogier and Aileen is taken from the Stop The Violence Movement in New York in the late eighties. Led by KRS-One, Hip Hop artist from New York, USA, who created the song Self Destruction. By coincidence, released twenty years after War Is Over, the Hip Hop artist pleaded to stop the violence in Hip Hop and the black communities. In 1990 a same initiative followed on the West Coast. West Coast All Stars released the song We Are All In The Same Gang. And now in Amsterdam Southeast, again twenty years later, the message is repeated as it proves to still be relevant.

The lyric ‘Bad boys move in silence’, originated from a song by KRS-One. “Well it is, or not!? If you are a real shot caller with serious business in the criminal world; society understands that guns are part of your game. But real bad boys don’t use them. Unless they don’t see any other option. They will not just shoot a nineteen year old kid.” And the smiley?: “That one I got from the internet. It’s part of a Stop The Violence campaign on Jamaica.”

It is still not clear what triggered the murder of Ishmael Gumbs. The story so far is that he got into a heated argument with an employee of the Albert Heijn supermarket at the local Kraaiennest shopping centre. The angry female employee called her boyfriend. A bit later Ishmael was murdered.

Aileen: “An argument about a girl, should be fought about with your fists. You do not need guns for it.” Is it manslaughter or murder? Manslaughter is taking a live in an upwelling of emotions. Murder is premeditated. If you carry a fire arm you know it’s not the same as a shield. After a moment of silence, concentrating on her thoughts, she closes: “That is my worry. Guns are used too easily. Guns are no toys.”

Auke VanderHoek - Pay and AQ Report…

Link You Tube - Stop The Violence - Self Destruction:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWxztZs_atM

Link You Tube - West Coast All Stars - We Are All In The Same Gang

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXGgWf2lacM

Link You Tube - John Lennon - War Is Over

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8jw-ifqwkM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbKsgaXQy2k

More info about Aileen ‘Mickey’ Middel:

www.micklarock.com

Radio host Giel Beelen trashes rapper Metz live on air

2009-10-03T23:36:00.004+02:00

Radio host Giel Beelen stereotypes his guest, rapper Metz from 3D Entertainment, live on the radio. The host of the public radio station 3FM, is known for his form of ‘shock radio’. One of his climaxes: a prostitute sucking his dick live on air. The last incident that reached the national news is about rapper Metz threatening him. The whole incident gets a remarkable twist in the question who’s to blame by watching all three versions of the videos on You Tube.

Two weeks ago the Dutch rapper Metz visited the live radio show. According to Metz the host invited him to talk about his latest youth project: The Gift. It’s to stimulate inner city youth. The winner of a challenge for the best rhymes and skills will be treated to a trip to Egypt to make a professional video clip. Metz is allowed to do his promotion talk about his project. But Giel Beelen treats Metz in a disrespectful manner and makes insulting jokes at the expense of the rapper. Metz keeps up the appearance and stays cool.

Visibly surprised of the situation, Metz says he’s disappointed in Giel Beelen’s manners. The host continues his cynical jokes and insults really. At some point, Giel has reached Metz' limit and Metz looses his temper. He throws the headphones to the host and makes a threat. On which Giel Beelen answers with the remarks: “It’s all quite stereotypical, this.” Metz just becomes more angry. The radio host continues and makes a remark trying to be funny: “I’ll get my gun.” Mind you, this is all during the live show.

The 3FM video that the national media picked up, only shows the part where the rapper Metz threats Giel Beelen. News shows on national TV put out an item on how Metz the rapper threatened Giel Beelen, making him look like the "bad rapper". But everything is recorded on tape by a friend of the rapper as well. Both versions are on You Tube. Anybody can see and compare for themselves. Also check the third video, almost without any editing by 3FM. To get the whole picture.

The biography of the radio host on www.3FM.nl says about Giel Beelen: “Remarkable: always honest.” And that he has a profound love for making remarkable, honest radio and because of that: “…he wore out a lot of broadcasters as employers.”

The relationship between the white radio industry and black music has always been a difficult one. As soon as rapper Metz walks into the studio, Giel Beelen makes three comments: “I already took off my watch”, “Ooh, they really are rappers.” and “They also stole a video camera somewhere.” One of his guests did not understand what Giel said and still greets him friendly: “What up Giel?” Giel Beelen reflects his guests as thieves to his audience live on air.

The difficult relationship between the 30 year old black music culture Hip Hop and the white radio industry isn’t any different then the culture’s ancestors. But Hip Hop is a lot more vocal compared with Jazz, Blues, Afro-Jazz, Soul and Funk. Rap has a lot more space for words to express any thoughts. The difficult relationship has been a source of inspiration for many songs. And as a source far from showing any signs of being worn out.

Compare the three video’s on You Tube:

Link version 3FM:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nA4KfpEZXg

Link version Rapper Metz:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S5qEQZoyxo

Link for the whole picture:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2gj79b8Slg

And here some Hip Hop songs rapping about the radio:

Ice Cube - Turn Off The Radio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC6gLAjun14

Public Enemy - How To Kill A Radio Consultan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stBkQQwGGP8

Pay and AQ

In search of Hip Hop in Cameroon: Sssst… don’t rock the boat, part I (part II till IV, scroll down)

2009-09-13T14:13:00.001+02:00

“Sssst… don’t rock the boat”, well that was the idea while being in Cameroon as a journalist on family visit. Cameroon is a central African country. An uncomfortable union between the English speaking Southern Cameroon and the French speaking Cameroun into the Republic de Cameroun. Under the 27 year long rule of Paul Biya the country failed to move up in the ladder of economic and social development. In the past and present day, free-opinion and free-press are two key ideas that do not mix in one sentence without comprehending ‘troublesome’. Thus dangerous territory for me, knowing my own character too well: speaking honestly, asking the right questions at the wrong times, to take a stand and to speak out… I promised myself to keep my focus on writing about music. To be specific to write about Hip Hop culture. It’s a safe subject, at least it looks safe on the surface. A nice cover to keep myself out of the political sensitive subjects and therefor out of trouble.

Instead

To study a ‘music-scene’ still allows anybody to have a closer look in the economic, social and political landscape of any country. Especially if it’s Hip Hop: the most outspoken, rebellious and biggest musical culture in the age of modern society. But I have to confess: I failed totally. I did not write about Hip Hop and the Cameroonian youth embracing the global culture and what they do with it on a local level. Instead I rocked the boat. I ran into floods, landslides, mismanagement, corruption and police brutality. And run into people afraid to say out loud what they said in private. Instead of being subtle and silently, I was outspoken: honestly loud, asking questions and taking stands. Attacking the ‘powers-that-be’ in which my own father in law is a big player. Call it a talent.

Other side of the story

Maybe that’s the whole idea of Hip Hop music, it never was meant to be a gentle nice background middle of the road something. Hip Hop is the way to rebel, to protest and to claim the place in society for those oppressed by main stream culture. Hip Hop is the voice of the multi cultural youth. A music culture that grew from the ghetto’s of New York, America. Where it enabled the black-hispanic-and-white-trash inner city youth of the 1970-’80 to express themselves. Giving them a total own way to rebel against the all white ‘be white, be rich, if not: keep your mouth shut!’ capitalistic Reagan-age dominance. To put a bit of context: wasn’t it Reagan and Thatcher that considered Nelson Mandela as a terrorist and tried to get rid of him? And was it not al-Gaddafi who welcomed the ANC training camps on Libyan grounds? So the people of South Africa could successfully overthrow a racist oppressive regime supported by the west? For me and many others around the world, Hip Hop music told me the other side of the story. It taught me what really was going on in the world.

Made the oppressed to be heard

The front leader of the most revolutionary group ever, Public Enemy, stated: “Hip Hop is the black CNN.” From New York, to L.A. to Rio and Amsterdam. To Johannesburg and Tokyo. Everywhere the multi-cultural youth worldwide had finally means to express them selves and rebel against the dominating mainstream oppressive culture. Hip Hop is the global culture that made the oppressed to be heard, on any local front. Demanding their space on this globe: ‘We are here and we are part of this world too!’ I sat with all the big American stars around the table during my career, as they often visit Amsterdam. Chatting about Africa’s heritage and its diaspora and about having family over there and here in the western world. Rose the question, how would this culture manifest itself in the Cameroon? Big artist go to Nigeria, Ghana, South-Africa. But how big is the chance hat the Cameroonian youth can see their idols perform live? This question triggered my quest: in search of Hip Hop in Cameroon, in Africa: the motherland.

Meet the music scene

On my search of youth in Bamenda and how they embraced the world wide Hip Hop culture in Cameroon, the biggest blockade was my family. As a respected adult from the middle/upper class I’m not supposed to go where the youngsters are. Where they play that ‘rough’ music, because - no serious - there is ‘witchcraft’ was one of the excuses. And a bunch of other reasons why not to go there where the sounds are calling for me. To illustrate, in the places we did visit, Dallas Cabaret and Ayaba Night Club my nephew and colleague George was ordered by my wife to bodyguard me when I needed to go pee. Maybe you can imagine that it was quite frustrating situation. “But, you’re white!”, “No shit, Sherlock?!” As a decent family in Africa we are ‘to good’ to be identified with the Hip Hop culture. No chance for me to meet the music scene. The two times that we stayed in the Ayaba Hotel (out of the house) and thus could be in the hotel’s nightclub and Dallas Cabaret… we had fun, but the music at Ayaba was boring.

Once I heard

It was easier for me to explain that there is crime in Amsterdam too, no really there is, than getting into a place where they played Hip Hop and RnB. There are more remarkable images of the ‘white men’s countries’. Once I heard a man stating seriously, with firm believe, he wanted to make it into Europe because: “In Europe the government throws money on the street at night. The one who gets up early enough is rich!” I gave up my effort to tell him it’s slightly different. That the western world can be a lot of fun if you’re originated from the right backgrounds and are successful. But it easily turns to be straight hell to many who can’t live up with the rat race. While joking that I really need to get myself directions to the mentioned street - it’s worth the money - I only could answer him: “So you have been told that the streets of London are paved with gold.” Made me wonder if it was really possible that people could be that naive. Better said, be that stupid. Luckily I spent my time with enough other people with whom it was a pleasure and an enrichment of the mind. But sadly, I could not go out to see the local Hip Hop scene. It is definitely somewhere, out there. But for now, I couldn’t find it.

Auke VanderHoek

In search of Hip Hop in Cameroon: Bamenda… locked indoors, part II

2009-09-13T14:12:00.001+02:00

I became a bit frustrated, not being able to dwell on the streets of Cameroon to find the music that makes this nation groove. After a day’s work, I sat down in the compound. The nephews and nieces where running around the yard to do the household stuff. Dishes, cooking in the fire kitchen, washing the clothes of the family. While they are ordered around with work to do for the coming hour, I’m ordered to go indoors because of the dangers of thieves, by my mother in law.

“Go indoors. Cameroon is very dangerous.”

“If you are so worried about safety, should the kids not go in?”

“No they still have to do the work. The thieves here, do kill. You have to go in.”

“They will kill me, but not harm the kids? You’re more worried about my safety than the well being of the kids. Because I’m white. Sounds like racism to me.”

“Yes, because your white…”

Around the yard

I tried to force some brains into spinning with a couple of arguments. It was a hopeless case, all was gridlocked. If thieves really want to get to me, they will succeed. No question about it. I only will put up a fight if I have a clear chance to win. I rather defend myself by anticipating any threat. Anything a thieve can get from me, he can get it without being it fatal to my livelihood. My computer is worthless if you don’t have the pass codes and do not know how to use the software. My camera is useless if you don’t know how to operate it. Trust me, without a manual, no thieve will be able to sell it off or use any of my equipment. So it isn’t profitable to steal it. Next to it, if all gets stolen, all is insured. And if it’s stolen, hopefully in will benefit a talent who lacks the means.

If you can’t get in, you can’t get out

Locking myself up behind gates and iron bars like everybody does in Cameroon. My mom in law points out that we are living in a very safe house. “Nobody can get in. Big walls with glass on top around the compound. Heavy duty iron doors with locks.” Overlooking the fact that the roof is made out of a light wooden frame with a thin roof and a ceiling of plaister. The fortification of houses frightens me. “If you can’t get in, you cant’ get out, it’s a cage,” I answer. Luckily thieves never came up with the idea how to open up these houses and force the occupiers to run out of the house looking for safety with everything any thieve wants to have on a silver platter in ten seconds flat. Good thing criminals are not the brightest minds running around. Let us not sparkle their creativity and skills to be more anticipative and tell them how to make a Molotov cocktail.

Simple by chance

To put it simple: the chance that I get killed in a traffic accident are way bigger than the chance I will get hurt by a thieve. Still anybody here moves around like there is no chance at all they become involved in a car crash. Why use a seat belt? Why temper your speed? Why can’t you drink and drive? If you see a crash coming you brace yourself, or don’t you? But what if somebody surprises me with climbing over the wall, jumping down from it, running up to me and putting a gun to my head? It will really surprise me and catch me off guard? To put some perspective to it. In the six weeks I was in Cameroon there where more shootings, and people getting killed in my own neighborhood in Amsterdam Southeast, The Netherlands, than in whole Cameroon. So where is it more dangerous? Enfin. I rest my case.

I’m bound to the house where I’m staying as a guest and should not question my parents in law’s authority. So after eight ‘o clock, lock down. In search of Hip Hop I have to look for possible sources very close to me. What’s direct next to me? Three beautiful, lively quick minded an sharp mouthed 18 year old nieces: Small-Quinta, Kadoh and Adin. I found Hip Hop in Cameroon. Now I needed to find time to have a conversation with them.

Auke VanderHoek

In Search of Hip Hop in Cameroon: the youth is the future, part III

2009-09-13T14:11:00.000+02:00

The kids around me are the closest way I will get to Hip Hop in Cameroon. As I and my wife are not allowed to be out on the streets at night to check out the places where they play Hip Hop music. We are bound to the rules of the house in which we are staying and to the ways of the family.

Voice of the youth

The kids around the compound are the youth, the spirit, the future of this country. Beautiful beings with a great sense of humor. They are the ones who have to take it over from us, the adults. Music is the primary voice of the youth in any culture, it gives the means for expression. To rebel against their parents and authority in a safe way and to find their place in society. Youth is the time where a spirit can grow strong, get experienced and fill up with ideas. It’s the time to discover what makes each unique and develop God’s given talents. To get prepared on adult life. Well that is, as long as the youth is given the time to be youthful.

Requests are conflicting

For the nieces and nephews around me who are living in this house and not at home with their own parents, to have some time for themselves, it is totally depending if they are allowed to have any time at all. They are ordered around 24/7: “Do this. Do that.” And “Shut your mouth!”, is what they hear if they want to point out when requests are conflicting. Each has to help and do its bit in the family duties, no problem. To my surprise and pure anger, they were ordered around me where ordered to do things that easily could be done by those ordering. The kids are totally depending for food, shelter and school fees because their parents are dead, can’t or are just not willing to take care. The children are wise enough not to stand up and speak out against those who do take care.

I had a fierce fight with my direct family when I stood up for my niece Cynthia. She was exhausted after a day’s hard work, falling a sleep on the spot, but still was ordered around to put the water on the fire and get the pepper out of the fridge. My question if the hands of those ordering are limb or something, got answered that doing physical work from seven in the morning to eight at night without a brake is not as hard as working with your head in an office job. I took up the fight because I could not stand it to say nothing about it. Cynthia was to afraid to say she was, obvious, too tired to do anything. The tiredness and fear was clear to see in her eyes for any one interested to have a look what was going on. If my fight made a difference, I do not know. Sadly, the way these youngsters are treated it also trains them to be depending, to follow orders and stay with the status quo. And not to think for themselves, not to show leadership, not to push forward and not to break through. It breaks their spirit and their will. Is that how we want to train our youth or not?

Music gives a voice

Music gives a voice, peace of mind, a way to express themselves, a place to find refugee in time when the sorrows of becoming an adult, are just too much. A place where they can figure out what they would do better when it’s their turn to lead. Sitting down on the concrete in front of the brown fire kitchen and red walls with my three nieces: Adin, Kadoh and Small-Quinta. What kind of music do they like? “We love Hip Hop and RnB”, they answer. They heard of some names like Jay Z and Snoop Dogg. Totally hot is P-Square from Nigeria. They like to listen. They like to dance. They have the moves. They like the romance. And are sorrowed with the questions if their boy friends really love them or is it just for the sex? And what will life bring when they are grown up? They have humor and spirit and do run around if they get away with it. It gives so much energy witnessing them having fun. Listening to music gives them an escape into their dreams. Out of reality where whatever they do, they always get the blame.

Just could listen

Sometimes they disappear. The adults think they run out of the house without telling anybody, or keep on wondering what takes them so long. They are just around the corner. To have some time for their own, a minute to put there head at ease, only happens when they steal the time and are dead silence. Then they finally have a moment to themselves. If somebody just could listen to them… There is only one adult, Brenda who lives next door, who really listens and gives good advise. “Yes, she really listens. And you… but you’re only around once in the three years. We can speak about love, romance and about boys with her.” Talking freely is difficult, it goes with a lot of giggling. Well, they are girls…. Not used to speak about their world to an adult. Let alone to an adult family member. They appreciate the time, the ease and the chat. Just sitting with them, putting an ear to them and chatting. It’s a moment in paradise. Only to be rude awaken when the adults come storming in and demand all the attention. Gone are the smiles. The shouting, ordering and rushing begins. My search of Hip Hop and what it means continues…

Auke VanderHoek

In search of Hip Hop in Cameroon: …food to eat, food for thought, part IV

2009-09-13T14:10:00.000+02:00

While being in Cameroon I tried to find out how the youth in Cameroon embraced Hip Hop music. When I grew up my friends and I rocked the streets. The music gave us the power to express ourselves and to claim our place in society by force. The music told us what really was going on in the world. Hip Hop guided my friends and me into the wide world. Challenging us to question authorities, demanding for our own place in society, demanding to be listened to and most of all to widen our horizon. Hip Hop was for us the way to meet and understand other cultures.

Sharing stories

I try to take my nieces Kadoh, Adin and Small-Quinta around as much as possible. We have fun together, listening to music, making fun out of daily situations, gossiping, sharing stories and they like my driving even a lot more when there are no ‘responsible’ adults in the car. It’s speedy, quick, still safe but scarring the living daylight out of those suicidal motor-taxies. In short we have a lot of fun. To see them having fun is one of the best things in this world. But there is a sad story to be read on those faces. I wrote a non-fiction story three years ago, a witness report. While I washing up in the bathroom I heard something going on through the window.

My personal slave

Three years ago… “You’re my personal slave. You’re nothing! And you will never be something! Too stupid, too ugly! You’re good for nothing! Useless. Mine! You are my slave! I can do what ever I want to do as I please!” For ten minutes long it can be heard how my fifteen year old niece Small-Quinta is emotional broken by the one who is feeding her. Her own world, her self esteem, her self image is trashed into the red dirt, the same red dirt she has to sweep every morning and afternoon out of the house. Small-Quinta’s daily schedule is as follows: getting up early in the morning and start the household tasks. After that, putting on her school uniform and run to school. Breakfast will follow at diner time.

Her father? Is not there. Her mother? She’s there, regularly, arriving during the morning, way before noon while drinking a bottle of beer. The two women command the teenager up and down: “Get this!” and “Do that!” To prepare her on her own future, by letting her study or have time of her own, is of secondary importance. Most important is if ‘get this’ and ‘do that’ is done quickly enough. If she need to be ordered twice the shouting at her keeps her longer occupied than the original tasked would have done. She keeps on working till she’s the last one who can go to sleep. Her food is what is left in the evening. I discovered that, when I figured out why my wife was cooking more food for me than I ever could finish on my own.

The man of the house is cold and keeps his distance. He takes care of more children than he’s obligated to do so. To be ‘taken care of’ means the kids have to help in the household of those who do take care of them. As soon as family members become a bit more wealthy, children of family members are dropped on the doorstep and left in their care. Children of parents who lack the means or the will to do what parents should do in the first place: raising their children by means of feeding them, shelter them and most of all, let them known they are beloved. Like it’s an automatic system. The depending of a child on an adult makes it a very easy victim of abuse. For love, tenderness and care Small-Quinta doesn’t need to look up to her own parents. She receives care from the family that gives her shelter and food. Getting love, tenderness and the time and space to be a child? “She has food to eat, doesn’t she!”, shouts the lady master.

Before this niece there was an older niece, Sister Jane. Now she’s 23 years old and almost ready to leave the house and to stand on her own feet. During the drive back to town we have a chance to make a stop at the village where she was born. Tears come down her cheeks while she runs to and passionate braces her mother. After this, her mother holds her daughter by the wrist keeping her distance and asks: “What are you here for?”. An awkward and painful silence follows.

After the last assignments of the day Small-Quinta walks up to me, gives me a goodnight kiss and says: “Love you too, uncle Auke.” With exhausted eyes she looks at the little drawing we made together while helping her with her schoolwork. I made a castle on a cloud. She colored it.

That was three years ago. In that period of the eight past years, the head of the family besides taking care of Small-Quinta, took also care of an older niece, Sister Jane, and just took in a younger one: Cynthia. And took care of the nephews Voma and Willy. Willy has a job in the capital Yaounde. Voma is still looking for a job in Douala. George, Eric and Nelson are the newest edition of nephews. The sixth and oldest, Frederick, is living on his own by this time with his wife and baby in the next quarter and makes a living as a taxi driver.

The world I know

The famous American rapper from New York, Jay-Z: “There are more problems in the world, I know. But I first have to take care of the problems in the world I know”. Life is not easy, no where on this planet for the most of us. No matter the color is of your skin. It’s mostly depending what you make out of it, how many times you get on your feet again and partly it’s just plain luck. The most important thing we as adults can do, is to make sure that every child has a fair chance to make something out it’s life.To let them get to know the world they have to face in adult life. But most important, that a child can be a child, putting a smile on it’s face.

Food for thought

In my search I didn’t find Hip Hop in Cameroon how I thought I would find it. Navigate through a scene, meeting artists, business and fans. Checking out party and concerts. But obvious seeing and hearing the same old story in a new setting and a different context. But I did discover something I did not expect to find, maybe I comprehended for the first time what Hip Hop meant for me really. And that it’s not the question what I can put back into the Hip Hop culture, like giving back to the hand that fed me, but taking my Hip Hop heritage into action where it counts. Like transfer it into hands of the next person hungry to be feed. That is some food for thought, isn’t it? My father in law is an inspiration for me, in the way how to become rich too. To be serious focussed on earning as much money as I can make with my given talents. I couldn’t care less about money or any other material thing but if it means that it enables me to take care of as much children as possible, it all puts it in perspective, I want to have enough money to do so.

Hit where it counts

My wife doesn’t mind to live in Cameroon, “It’s my country, of course I would like to live there.” And I’m in love with Cameroon. The country is beautiful, adventurous and rich of opportunities. My nieces and nephews have a special place in my hart but how they where treated left scars on it. Why do I want to take care of kids in Cameroon? Is Cameroon worse than Amsterdam? No, not really. My wife and I already are welcoming some of my sons friends in a warm home if it’s too cold in their own. There are more horrible stories in Europe you can imagine. But in Cameroon our deeds have a greater impact and in general you have to hit where it counts the most. That’s why my wife and I must succeed in Cameroon. To get back to the origin of the idea to write a story about the search for Hip Hop in Cameroon: writing about music and not rocking the boat… For sure, I rocked the boat as it’s supposed to be in Hip Hop: rough, rugged and raw. And after this publication I’m in for some serious rough seas.

Auke VanderHoek

Pay interviews Aaron Abernathy aka "AB".

2009-07-26T17:40:00.001+02:00

Not only was Daru Jones on European tour with Black Milk, the very talented musician Aaron Abernathy, b.k.a. AB, was part of the band as well, playing the keys for Milk's live shows.

AB is not just skilled on the instruments, he is a great singer and songwriter as well. This interview got interrupted in every which way possible, yet AB remained a trooper and even caved in to singing and playing the piano live, just for me. Stay up on this guy right here, cause he is about to blow up.

www.aaronabernathy.com
www.twitter.com/abmusic
www.myspace.com/abmusic

Pay interviews Daru Jones.

2009-07-26T17:37:00.003+02:00

Everybody who knows Pay, knows she absolutely loves live instruments. Having grown up between musicians with guitars, piano's, drums and such, she always has a special love for people involved with instruments.

Daru Jones, a drummer and producer extraordinaire, was in Europe, touring with Black Milk as his drummer. This talented young man, still very humbled, was excited to talk to me about his career as a musician.

Blog // www.darujones.blogspot.com
Rusic // www.myspace.com/rusic
Beats // www.myspace.com/darubeats
Twitter // www.twitter.com/darujones

Pay interviews StaHHr.

2009-07-26T17:35:00.001+02:00

When I was in ATL, Jarobi got me up with one of the dopest female MC's in the game today. StaHHr Tha F.E.M.C.E.E.. She's been on a lot of fresh rapper's projects (MF Doom, C-Rayz Walz, Scienz of Life etc) so it was about time Pay got up with her. If you aint familiar with her music yet, watch the interview and check out her work.

She is definitely reppin' for the ladies in this Hip Hop game and seeing how I was running around with the homies the whole time I was there, I’m glad I got up with an inspirational woman with skills.

www.myspace.com/StaHHr723
www.twitter.com/StaHHr

Pay interviews Dubelyoo.

2009-07-26T17:31:00.002+02:00

Pay is really switching it up and throwing in different passionate artists out there. Not just musicians.

Dubelyoo is a great artist when it comes to the visual aspect. I got up with Dubelyoo's work through my good friend and illustrator artist Mike T. Of course I had to get up with Dubelyoo while I was in ATL. At a B-Boy event at this Hip Hop spot The Bench, I spoke to Dub about his art and his vision for the future of his art.

www.dubelyoo.net

Pay interviews GLC.

2009-07-16T21:04:00.004+02:00

As you could read in my ATL Adventures blogs, I got introduced to GLC, a rapper signed with Kanye's label, G.O.O.D. Music. A Chicago native, now residing in Atlanta, he took the time out to talk about who GLC is and where he is going. He also explained what his upcoming album is about and what he is trying to tell with his music. Having traveled to Europe before, with Kanye West, he also spoke about some experiences he had on the other side of the Pond. Watch the 20+ minute interview where GLC definitely (and luckily) wasn’t someone I had to challenge into talking.

Shout out to GLC for sharing his time with me.

The Adventures of Pay in ATL! (pt. III)

2009-07-12T14:27:00.009+02:00

Amsterdam, it's the place I call home. I have been back for a week now and heavily on the grind and working hard again. I have been slacking on posting the last part of my adventures in Atlanta so let's get that out the way.

The last days in Atlanta were just as dope as the first week really. I got to meet up with GLC again to knock out the interview I been wanting to do since I first walked into his crib the other day. He made some time out his day for me and yapped his ass off on camera. =)

My last Friday was probably the only day I really didn't do anything. I had met this girl Melanie at Straits the first week, saw her again this week and she invited me to go to this pool party w/ her friends. So of course 4IZE and me rolled through for that. I absolutely had a blast. Met some interesting people as well and it was pretty much the only day I felt like I was on vacation, seeing it involved sun, a pool, good food (grill) and good people. Punchline came through for a minute as well.

I also got up with my dear friend Suice who scooped me up to go eat at a restaurant called Two Urban Licks, very bad name in my opinion, but very good food. It was somebody's birthday and I fell into the dinnerparty full of strangers. I met singer Case there though, Suice is Case's manager so this was the first time I met him. Not to mention there happened to be a girl who is Surinamese and related to this famous soccer player from Holland. Funny.

That week I also finally got to meet up with Jarobi (A Tribe Called Quest). We were introduced to eachother somewhat years ago through our mutual friend, a DC based MC, Head-Roc. Jarobi is one of the dopest people I ever met and our physical meeting only confirmed it more. He introduced me to female MC StaHHr and I got to do an interview with her as well. If y'all ain't up on her work, GET ON IT. She is one of the females in this Hip Hop game that makes me proud to be a woman. She definitely represents for the women in this industry.

The 4th of July is a big thing in the States and I always enjoy it when I am out there, yes, mainly cause of all the BBQ's and good food ha! 4IZE and me went to Upstairs Studio where they had a BBQ and later on we went to a friend of his who also had a BBQ fest going on. I accidentally bumped into people from Belgium over there. Can you imagine? Me being all the way in some outskirt of ATL, at someone's crib and I run into people that speak my native language.

That night I decided not to go out seeing I had such a long day running around in the heat and I figured I had seen enough clubs in ATL before I go home. My friend Sean from Michigan was in town to visit his brother so we got up and hung out. The next day I flew home.

This trip was probably the most productive trip to the States that I've ever had. It has everything to do with the wonderful host I had. Much love to 4IZE for making my trip the best ever and for putting up with me for more than 2 weeks straight. Without him driving me around, taking me everywhere and introducing me to everyone, this all wasn't possible nor would I have seen the artistic side from Atlanta. I definitely have found a new love for this city and its people. The next weeks I will be busy putting my documentary together. "From the A to the A." But I have decided to put the most interesting interviews online first so bare with me and keep track of www.payology.com for all the footage.

Peace & Blessings,
-Pay

More info:

4Ize http://www.myspace.com/4izessp

GLC http://www.glcitymusic.com
Jarobi http://www.myspace.com/jarobi

StaHHr http://www.myspace.com/stahhr723

Homecoming in Cameroon…

2009-07-08T12:06:00.002+02:00

Home coming in Cameroon… Hip Hop is a crusher of language barriers. Where long ago people from different cultures would only say: “Hello, my name is bla-di-bla…” These days they will greet each other: Yo! My brother. How ya doing? What’s popping? Ya heard the new Nas, Jay Z… etc etc. Right on! Fight on! One love!” It would be an understatement to say: we have come a long way.

So Pay went to Atlanta. And I still have to go to Cameroon, central Africa. Both in search of Hip Hop. And in my case in ‘search’ of family. Which I certain will run into, find those who I want to see. And some of those I don’t want to see, will find me. But hey, that’s family.

Cameroon is a bilingual country. The two official languages are French and English. Sadly non of the original non-occupiers languages are recognized as official languages. The lion share is Francophone. A small part, the Southern Cameroons, are English.

This is how it works roughly: in the Anglofone part, all speak two languages. Everything is stated in French and English. In the French, most part of the country, everything is in French and just… French. So typical. Just like France in Europe. Trying to communicated in English, doesn’t make you any friends. And I just paid enough attention in high school to say fluently ‘I don’t speak French’, in French. Seems I gonna have a crash course again. But on the positive side: French is a beautifull language.

So the Anglophone peeps are a bit fed up with the arrogance of the Francophone government. The name Southern Cameroons is also illegal and not wise to mention. (Hey, story of my life). To keep the people in check, there are a lot of military around in the English part of the country. Most military do not speak English. It’s a classical case of ‘Divide and Rule’. How nice. And quite frustrating. Definitely if you are young and full of energy and dreams.

"Hip Hop is now a globalised culture that is locally used to articulate protest. This is, in itself, remarkable and, indeed, more vital than ever in our post-democratic world where corporations exert undue influence over national and international political decisions and electoral processes are too often defined by apathy (in the West) or corruption (in the rest)," from the book 'Where You're At' by Patrick Neate. To put it in a nuttshell: how do my nephews and nieces experience Hip Hop? And how is their strugle? What are their dreams and stuff?

Well first problem: how to get there? So getting to Cameroon, the tickets are not cheap! And I need three for my family. It’s cheaper to fly to Hong Kong, Brazil, South Africa and even to Atlanta, than just to go to central Africa from Europe. How much does it cost us to spent money and time in Cameroon? Visa are €80,- for a month, and € 120, for a one month till three months.

‘Auch’, that was €360,-. Not very inviting. My wife is not allowed to mantain her Cameroonian nationality, as she became Dutch, so she need a visa to visit her own country too. But she is allowed to keep her valid Cameroonian passport?! In Dutch we say: ‘Met de Franse slag’ (do it the French way). To put it simple: does it make sense to go on holidays to our beloved homeland? Would it not be better for all mankind if it would be easier and cheaper to visit the motherland. So everybody can experience the original homecoming?

So, for all that money we have the visa, finally! But we did not get even a friendly smile or a nice coffee with a cookie. Tss, greedy. Well, there is a small smile as soon as we, my wife that is, starts to speak French. Even here at the Cameroonian embassy in The Hague, English is not very welcomed. So I ‘bonjour’ myself away. All the money we would like to spent in Cameroon, or supporting family kids to go to school, is now spent on bureacratic red tape. Next time for holidays, we will just forget about Cameroon… If that would be possible.

So we would like to forget about Cameroon, going through all that stress again. The only leverage for our irritation is that we understand how much more frustrating it is to get from Cameroon to The Netherlands as a non-European. That's a whole other moutain to climb! And still, so many young people overthere, have nothing else on their mind than the promised lands Europe and America. Like somebody keeps on telling them the streets of London are paved with gold…

Auke

For safety reasons we did not publish this article before we’re passed the customs of Cameroon)

The Adventures of Pay in ATL! (pt. II)

2009-07-01T01:37:00.007+02:00

Yessir, Pay is still chillin' in the dirty dirty. Lovin' every minute of it. I have been runnin' around so much last week that my mind is all over the place and didn't really have the time to blog about everything. We did so much that I am sure I will forget to put down things but I try my best.

Basically, 4IZE finished his album in the studio, so we have been at Upstairs Studio a lot last week. I got up with a lot of cats there for the project. Punchline came through to lay down his last verse and DJ RastaRoot was in the studio doing his thing, he did a few productions on 4IZE's project as well next to Floyd the Locsmif. We also did go to Straits that Tuesday where I met a lot of interesting industry people and met up with my friend Xan, who is an actual rocketscientist. (Yes, now I can actually say I know one haha.) Straits was pretty cool and we discussed alot about the business and the industry.

On Wednesday it was studio time again and we also went to the Ludaplex (studio) where I got up with Josh, this really dope producer. The three of us decided to go see Transformers 2 as well. 4IZE and me were kinda beat after that but RastaRoot was playing at this new event at 327, so we decided to swing by. And by surprise my friend Tru Skills was there as well so that was pretty dope and we ended up hanging out there.

Thursday, all I can say about this day is, we were chillin' in the studio when the news about Michael Jackson reached us. It was a shock to everyone and they have been playing MJ songs non-stop on all radio stations out here since then. MJ video's are not to be missed on tv either. I was in the States when Barack got elected for president. Now I am Stateside again when a historical moment goes down, this time not as positive though, yet world affecting news.

On Friday we went to see a show from Fishhawk, this really dope alternative band who I have been following online for a few months now. Their performance was off the chain and I got to do an interview with them afterwards. It will all be up when I get home and put time in editing all my footage. After the Fishhawk show we stopped by Club Ice where I met DJ Swagger and DJ Infamous. Names out here in ATL. I also actually got shouted out again on the mic in that club. Ha.

Sunday we went to a B-boy event at this hiphop spot called The Bench. It was hot as hell out side but I got to film some bboys and I got up with Dubelyoo, a very dope artist, painter, drawer, and did an interview with him. Also managed to talk to Tre and Cookie from Mblush, a designer company. Again, all footage will be up to see as soon as I get back to Amsterdam. After that event, we drove up to Alpharetta to meet up with 4IZE's business people. Great folks. We were supposed to go to The Velvet Room on invitation of DJ Infamous but by the time we got home we were so tired already that we ended up going to sleep. Mind you, I barely got any sleep over here that whole week.

Yesterday, Monday June 29th, I wanted to do some woman-stuff. Being with the homies all day every day is cool and all, but come on, I'm in the States, gotta get my shop on as well! So I had 4IZE drop me off at Cumberland Mall while he got back into the studio to finish some sound effects stuff. I spent a little cash here and there, of course had to shop at Victoria's Secret since we don't have that store in Amsterdam. Ha. DJ RastaRoot picked up and we had dinner at Longhorn. Steak! Shit was damn good too. =) Later that night we went to Magic City. Finally! Pay gets to see a real stripclub in Atlanta! It was off the hook. I had a really good time. Met up with DJ Esco, who also shouted me out on the mic - in Magic City! Who would have thought. DJ Cowboy showed up also and invited us to an event on friday where he will be spinning. Man, Magic City was dope, the women were gorgeous and very talented so to say. I wanted this particular beautiful girl to dance for me, but I couldn't find her no more. Oh well. Maybe next time haha.

Tuesday, this is the first day I didn't set foot outside. My dear friend Megaton flew into Atlanta from Philly and stopped by the house. It's been years and it was good to meet him in person finally. (We are all affiliated but I kept missing out on him the times I was here before.) I had to get my shit together and update the blog. I do have pictures but seeing I am pretty limited in technology over here (read: I didn't bring all the cables for my photocamera), you will all have to wait til I get home before I can post the pictures. In an hour we will be heading out to Straits again for drinks and going to Opera after that where there's an MJ tribute, DJ RastaRoot will be spinning. Not sure if I will update again before I fly home but I will try.

R.I.P. Michael Jackson, the King of Pop.

Peace & Blessings,
<3>More info:

4Ize http://www.myspace.com/4izessp

DJ Rasta Root http://www.myspace.com/djrastaroot

Floyd the Locsmif http://www.myspace.com/locsmif

Fishhawk http://www.myspace.com/fishhawkinthesky

Dubelyoo http://www.dubelyoo.net

We are testing our mobiles…

2009-06-24T08:32:00.001+02:00

Let us see if this is working? So Pay and AQ can upload their info
with their cellies.

The Adventures of Pay in HOTlanta! (pt.I)

2009-06-23T03:09:00.013+02:00

Yes, I arrived in Atlanta on friday. I had a pretty good flight, nice and quiet all the way in the back of the plane with two seats to myself so definitely had no complaints. As soon as I walked out the airport, the heat and humidity hit me like a brick in the face. But everybody who knows Pay, knows she'll get used to that in a day. And I did, I bet in Amsterdam it's "cold" now compared to this here.

Friday night 4IZE took me to a spot called MJQ where he introduced me to DJ Fudge and DJ Majestik. Last mentioned was playing ALL my shit. Real old school hiphop. I was lovin' it. Saturday it was my birthday. The big 3-1. It was also the hottest day so far this year in ATL. It was an easy 100 degrees (about 36 Celsius). 4IZE got a call from Senor Kaos to get at his video shoot. Once we arrived, they already decided I had to be in it, little 1 minute cameo but that was fun, even though it was hotter than fishgrease. Y'all need to get up on Kaos' music, his shit is off the chain. He is also on 4IZE' project Beastiality. But more on that later. That evening I got a bday BBQ, yes people were slavin' over a hot ass grill in this hot ass weather, for me. That's love right there. I love me some good food! Of course I had to take a nap after that ha.

That night we went to Uptown, a real nice classy lounge type of place. Not a club really. But it was dope, shout out to Jason and Punch for comin' through to the spot. I had a good time there. After Uptown, we were going to Club Euro, on our way there we got pulled over by a cop and let's just say, in 4IZE's words: "God is good to the playas." No tickets ha. When we got there, shit was about to close so we just went home.

Today, monday the 22nd, 4IZE took me to the studio. He layed down some verses for his Beastiality project. All I can say is that shit is DOPE. He got Senor Kaos and Punchline on there and I can't wait for it to drop. I have been recording since I got off the plane so everything will be edited into my ATL documentary and next to that a look into 4IZE's world and his work process towards his project. Shout out to Morgan and Cash from Upstairs studio in ATL. After we got out the studio we stopped by GLC's crib. Who was sittin' there? Keezo Kane! Of course I shoved my camera up in his face and he was real cool and gave me a little mini interview. Then I got into some cool industry talk with these cats Gino and Big Duke. Duke manages Chip Tha Ripper, who has a project coming up with Kid Cudi, together they are a group called The Almighty Gloryus. GLC walked up to me saying "You from Amsterdam? Girl gimme a hug!" And then he said: "Where's your bike?" That was hilarious. I will be checkin in with them later to do a full interview/talk, since they were whoopin' eachother's ass with some video game.

Anyway, I already did a lot and got up with a lot of industry people, so I had to blog this right now before it gets too much. Unfortunately I can't upload pics here yet cause I really haven't taken any pics but been filming alot. Stay tuned for more Pay in ATL blogs cause there's a lot more in store for me this coming week. I know tomorrow we will be eating at Straits, Ludacris' restaurant. His food better be good cause Pay WILL be blogging about it ha. I probably will be able to get up with him also while I am here. So yes, again, stay tuned for more Adventures of

Pay

Peace & Blessings. <3

More info:

4Ize http://www.myspace.com/4izessp

DJ Fudge http://www.djfudge.com/

DJ Majestik http://www.myspace.com/thegrandemperial

Senor Kaos http://www.myspace.com/senorkaos

Keezo Kane http://www.myspace.com/keezokane

Chip Tha Ripper http://www.myspace.com/chiptharipper

Kid Cudi http://www.kidcudi.com/

The Almighty Gloryus http://datnewcudi.com/tag/the-almighty-gloryus/

GLC www.glcitymusic.com

Pay and AQ fly out to…

2009-06-13T07:42:00.007+02:00

Pay goes to Atlanta and Auke (AQ) flies to Cameroon, central Africa. Two different continents. Two different worlds than their own safe haven Amsterdam. But on a same quest: In search of Hip Hop. Pay and AQ talk about their upcoming adventures.

Auke: “To put it in a nut shell, the financial business of free speech in Europe is kinda collapsing. So I pack my stuff and travel abroad to a place where free speech is seriously questioned. Resulting in the idea there should be a enough work… I said cynical. Well to be honest, my wife is from Cameroon. We go on a family visit. As job opportunities are scarce here in Amsterdam, I’ll have a look over there. Looking for youth and Hip Hop. Last time I was there, I was surprised to hear DMX and Destiny's Child pumping out a boombox at a high school in the middle of nowhere. Well, that’s a bit disrespectful. It was in Batibo, a small village. A question raised: How big is the change that these kids, who are also in love with Hip Hop, some even become part of the culture, will ever see a concert live involving some good and great artists from abroad? Came the following question how is Hip Hop lived over there? How is the scene? How does it adapt into the local culture and structure? And how does the rebel spirit of Hip Hop handle the lack of free speech?”

Pay: "As most of my travels consist of trips to the States, I can never get enough of tasting and breathing the Hip Hop culture over there. Especially New York of course. New York just oozes out Hip Hop to me. But I have been there so many times already (it's like my second home) and my last two trips were to the Westcoast, Los Angeles, I now decided to head back to Atlanta. I have been there twice before but for short periods and this time everything is planned proper. I have a whole bunch of great things lined up as I will let rapper 4IZE (known from his features on Ludacris' first albums) be my guide through the city and the music scene of what they now call Black Hollywood. It starts with my birthday this weekend, it will be the kick-off for a rollercoaster ride for 2 weeks down in the south, in ATL. I will post whenever I can, about events, happenings, encounters, etc. Interviews will be edited proper when I get back though. Stay tuned into Pay&AQ's blog."

Pay & AQ

Redman & Method Man @ Amsterdam

2009-06-11T19:34:00.007+02:00

They love, and I mean LOVE Amsterdam. Of course one big reason for that is the trees over here. They are well taken care of when it comes to that, every time they visit the Dam for a show. Yet Redman & Method Man are two of the few artists that can actually pull off a real live energetic show, while being high as hell.

As many times as I have seen them by now, I still couldn’t resist going to the show. Plus this was of course their Black Out 2 European Tour. “City Lights” didn’t rock as hard on stage as I thought it would but when they pulled Street Life and Ready Roc on stage to do “How bout dat” I was pleasantly surprised. That beat definitely is a banger. Of course when DJ Dice rolled in “Ayo” the whole venue was screaming along, myself included.

As much as they rocked their new songs from the Black Out 2 album, I felt the crowd still jumps highest with their older material. The Funk Doc and his partner in crime still seem to be the same live artists as they always have been. On stage you can’t tell they are aging and that’s really how it’s supposed to be with every show you attend.

If you have never been to a Red & Meth show, it’s definitely worth your dollars, euros or wherever you may catch them. Oh and this year, we skipped the interview as I am sure Reggie is about tired of talking to me ha. I kid. But maybe next time again.

Redman Method Man The host of te evening: Hip Hop comedian O-Dog

Pay & AQ

With thanks to 1st Priority.

ALERT: Journalists sentenced to five years in prison

2009-06-11T08:08:00.003+02:00

We as journalist ask you to pay attention to the following ALERT of the IFEX. Specially as Auke (AQ) is regualary in Cameroon. Working as journalist in search of music etc. Thanks in advance.

Pay & AQ

Alert: Two journalists sentenced to five years in prison following closed-door hearing.

(JED/IFEX) - On 3 June 2009, a military tribunal in Yaoundé sentenced Jacques Blaise Mvié and Charles René Nwe, general manager and editor-in-chief, respectively, of "La Nouvelle" newspaper, to five years in prison and a 500,000 FCFA (approx. US$1,066) fine at the end of a closed-door hearing. No appeal was permitted; the journalists were only informed of the hearing after the fact. A warrant was issued for their arrest.

"La Nouvelle" is a privately-owned weekly based in Yaoundé, the capital.

The charges against Mvié and Nwe stem from a series of articles published in "La Nouvelle" implicating Cameroon's minister of defence, Remy Ze Meka, in a failed October 2007 coup attempt and alleging that he was responsible for diverting public money to soldiers posted in Bakasi peninsula.

Mvié was originally summoned by a military security unit (SEMIL), Cameroonian intelligence and the national gendarmerie on 3 March 2008 and questioned at length on his sources for the stories. Meanwhile, secret summary proceedings had already been initiated at Yaoundé's military tribunal without the journalists' knowledge. The news of their conviction was relayed to them by phone by an unidentified individual.

Speaking by phone to a JED correspondent, Mvié said the conviction appeared to be a "settling of scores" by the defence minister on behalf of ministry colleagues who are serving time for misappropriation of public funds.

In a letter to the president, copied to JED, Mvié asked him to intervene on the journalists' behalf over what he called "arbitrary" measures they had been subjected to by the defence minister. Mvié also wondered how it was that a press infraction (if in fact one could call it an infraction, according to the 1990 law on social communication) came to be judged by a secret military tribunal in a summary procedure if there was not the intention to fabricate a case against the two journalists.

"La Nouvelle" is known for its exposés on politicians implicated in corruption

affairs.

Source

Journaliste en danger

B.P. 633 - Kinshasa 1

374, av. Col. Mondjiba

Complexe Utexafrica,

Galerie St Pierre, 1er niveau,

Local 18 Kinshasa/Ngaliema

République Démocratique du Congo

direction (@) jed-afcentre.org

Phone: +243 81 99 29 323

Fax: +44 20 7900 3413

END ALERT

More info:

http://ifex.org/cameroon/2009/06/09/mvie_nwe_sentenced/

Pay & AQ report: Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

2009-06-10T18:38:00.001+02:00

The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of 8 sons of the incredible jazz musician Kelan Phil Cohran. They have worked with artists such as Erykah Badu, Mos Def and Maxwell. They are touring the world, giving the people fantastic music and an amazing energetic live show.

They were in Amsterdam, again, and this time they took the time out to let me in their circle for a minute to talk about their music. For those who have never heard of them, here's your chance to get familiar with one of the worlds livest bands ever.

Check the video:

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble interview (june '09) from Pay Jamz on Vimeo.

Shout out to Yosh, Smoove, LT, Body, Hudah, Clef, Cid and Rocco!
And a shout out to Mos from Crew54 for putting together the intro for my video interviews. Slowly but surely, it’s all coming together. Told y’all I’m on my semi-professional ish now. ;) And thanx to the new cafe/restaurant Stanislavski, Stadschouwburg Amsterdam, for letting us use their location to do the interview.

Real live, real talk. Pay attention & answers questioned.
Pay and AQ: report from Amsterdam and anywhere.

Peace & Blessings.

Pay & AQ (Auke)

Text and video: Pay
Pay Jamz
Check the photo gallery:
www.AukeVanderHoek.com

More info:
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
My Space: http://www.myspace.com/hypnoticbusiness

Pay & AQ reports: Evidence & Fashawn

2009-06-10T18:37:00.001+02:00

May 31th, 2009. Evidence, known for being part of the legendary group Dilated Peoples, got on his first solo tour in Europe for The Layover EP, his latest release. He has been building his name as a solo artist and this was another great opportunity for him to re-introduce himself to Europe, separated from the group he is known from.

This MC left a great impression on me, not just as an artist, but also as a person by sharing his experiences with the world and giving me one of the most valuable gifts anyone ever gave me. A book with priceless content beyond words. The exchange of positive vibes with Evidence, made this one of the most memorable encounters I have had with any artist.

Evidence

Fashawn

Fashawn is a fresh MC in the game, well not so fresh really seeing he has already worked with respected names such as The Alchemist and Planet Asia and more. Being overseas for the first time, on tour with Evidence, he is introducing himself to the crowd on the other side of the Pond.

Real live, real talk. Pay attention & answers questioned.
Pay and AQ: report from Amsterdam and anywhere.

Again, shout out to Hecktik Management and Chief (SoulSearchin) for making this interview possible.

Peace & Blessings

Check the video that Pay made on Pay Jamz:
Evidence
Fashawn

Follow Pay direct on:
Payology.com
More photo's on:
www.AukeVanderHoek.com

More info:
http://www.myspace.com/evidence

12 Shots Of DJ Premier

2009-06-10T18:35:00.000+02:00

Zaterdag 28 maart, Melkweg, Amsterdam. Live & Legendary had i.s.m. met Classic Material DJ Premier, de “king of the beats”, aldus Deams, naar Nederland gehaald voor een eenmalig optreden. HIJS heeft een exclusief fotoverslag ‘12 Shots Of DJ Premier’.

Koning is misschien net de verkeerde toon, aangezien DJ Premier wereldwijd unaniem als de Hip Hop beat creator wordt benoemd. Zijn naam zegt eigenlijk alles al: gekozen tot premier. De zaal liep in een mum van tijd vol waar de Premier de figuurlijke parlementsleden zijn beats voorschotelde. De aanwezige leden van de Hip Hop gemeenschap gingen al hoofdschuddend akkoord of mengde zich al pogo-end in de heftige discussie die plaats vond in de mosh-pit.

DJ TLM & DJ All Star Fresh verzorgde de muzikale begeleiding rondom om het optreden. En de Premier had als speciale gast zijn rapper Blaq Poet meegenomen. “It’s my first time here in Amsterdam”, dat was nog duidelijker te zien dan te verstaan. De Nederlandse handelswaar lag hem zwaarder op de maag c.q. lichter in het hoofd dan hij gewend was. M.a.w. hij was redelijk knock out van de weed.

Achter de schermen en op het podium waren de mannen en vrouwen van de Deams crew, door Ice-T “Deams’ Army” genoemd, bezig om het gebeuren vast te leggen in een exclusief interview en live performance. Het nu al klassieke materiaal gaat gebruikt worden voor het aankomende album project van Deams: The Legacy.

Hijs kreeg exclusief ‘12 Shots Of DJ Premier’ om het volk tevreden te houden, zoals de Romeinen deden met ‘brood en spelen’, in Hip Hop termen zeggen we dan: ‘beats and rhymes!’.

Meer info:
Classic Material
DJ Premier
Live & Legendary
Auke VanderHoek
DJ TLM
DJ All Star Fresh

Deams Army is:
Deams Tesfah
DJ Chainsaw
Jeffrey Croese/Vinger.nl
Tineke Timmerman
Pay Kolmüs
Martijn Toby
Eddy van der Heij
Auke VanderHoek

DJ Priemer in deep concentration. Op de achtergrond zijn broer de tour manager. En Blaq Poet.

Premier wordt geïnterviewd door Pay Kolmüs voor Deams: The Legacy DVD. Cameraman en regisseur Jeffrey Croese, tweede camera man Martijn Toby.

Blaq Poet heeft een Black Out

Deams in deep conversation

Weer wakker, iets frisser, deelt Blaq Poet zijn teksten met het publiek

Het publiek doet haar ding

"I'm Hip Hop!", DJ Premier

Auke

Deams @ All Hip Hop dot Com

2009-06-10T18:34:00.001+02:00

Blazing!

Auke

http://www.allhiphop.com/multimedia/multimedialist.aspx?app=multimedia__music

Pioneer in view: ARC-S, 24K, No Enemies

2009-06-10T18:30:00.000+02:00

AQ/Auke

Meer info & foto's:
www.aukevanderhoek.com
Arc S - Van Roem Naar Armoede

Pay & AQ

Touring with Chingy, in Brazil!

Stop the violence - Stop! That means you.

Radio host Giel Beelen trashes rapper Metz live on air

In search of Hip Hop in Cameroon: Sssst… don’t rock the boat, part I (part II till IV, scroll down)

In search of Hip Hop in Cameroon: Bamenda… locked indoors, part II

In Search of Hip Hop in Cameroon: the youth is the future, part III

In search of Hip Hop in Cameroon: …food to eat, food for thought, part IV

Pay interviews Aaron Abernathy aka "AB".

Pay interviews Daru Jones.

Pay interviews StaHHr.

Pay interviews Dubelyoo.

Pay interviews GLC.

The Adventures of Pay in ATL! (pt. III)

Homecoming in Cameroon…

The Adventures of Pay in ATL! (pt. II)

We are testing our mobiles…

The Adventures of Pay in HOTlanta! (pt.I)

Pay and AQ fly out to…

Redman & Method Man @ Amsterdam

ALERT: Journalists sentenced to five years in prison

Pay & AQ report: Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

Pay & AQ reports: Evidence & Fashawn

12 Shots Of DJ Premier

Deams @ All Hip Hop dot Com

Pioneer in view: ARC-S, 24K, No Enemies

In search of Hip Hop in Cameroon: …food to eat, food for thought, part IV