yellow island

2011-08-10T08:18:00.007-04:00

Dear Mandela, South Africa
When people who are not supposed to be heard rise up and take action. This is a gripping and inspiring story.

2011-05-17T11:01:00.019-04:00

Tribute to J Dilla @ The Jazz Cafe, London
Monday, May 16th, 2011, London.
Illa J, Elzhi, Phat Kat and Frank-N-Dank performing with live band at the Jazz Cafe. The cream of the Detroit soul and hip hop underground. Several of the artists performed with J Dilla at this venue back in 2005.

Illa J and Frank-N-Dank "McNasty Filth"

Phat Kat and Elzhi "Cold Steel"

(Images and videos: Yellow Island 2011)

2010-08-29T22:18:00.067-04:00

Rock The Bells 2010, New York
Saturday, August 28th, 2010, New York City.
Slick Rick, DJ Premier, Rakim, KRS ONE (with Black Moon, Supernatural and Freddie Foxxx), Lauryn Hill, A Tribe Called Quest (with Main Source, Busta Rhymes and Swizz Beatz), Wu Tang Clan, Snoop Dogg (with Tha Dogg Pound, Warren G, Lady Rage, and Korupt), Murs, 9th Wonder, Immortal Technique, Jedi Mind Tricks and Brother Ali

Slick Rick performing "The Great Adventures of"
Rakim performing "Paid In Full"
KRS ONE performing "Criminal Minded"
A Tribe Called Quest performing "Midnight Marauders"
Wu Tang Clan performing "Enter The 36th Chamber"
Snoop Dogg performing "Doggystyle"

DJ Premier

Black Moon and KRS ONE

KRS ONE and Black Moon "Who Got The Props"

KRS ONE

A Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest "Midnight Marauders Tour Guide" + "Steve Biko (Stir It Up)"

A Tribe Called Quest and Busta Rhymes "Stop The Party" + "Scenario" + "Check The Rhime"

A Tribe Called Quest "Bonita Applebum" + "Electric Relaxation"

A Tribe Called Quest "Excursions"

A Tribe Called Quest "Award Tour"

A Tribe Called Quest and Main Source "Fakin The Funk" + "Lookin At The Front Door" + "Live At The BBQ"

A Tribe Called Quest "Can I Kick It?"

Snoop Dogg

Wu Tang Clan

Wu Tang Clan "Method Man"

Wu Tang Clan - Raekwon "Criminology"

Wu Tang Clan "Wu Tang Clan Ain't Nuthin' Ta F' Wit"

Wu Tang Clan - Genius/GZA "Duel Of The Iron Mic"

Wu Tang Clan - Raekwon "Ice Cream"

Wu Tang Clan - Genius/GZA "Liquid Swords"

Wu Tang Clan "Clan In Da Front" + "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'"

Wu Tang Clan "Shame On A Nigga"

Rakim

Rakim "Don't Sweat The Technique" + "Know The Ledge"

Rakim "Eric B. Is President"

Rakim "I Ain't No Joke"

Slick Rick

Slick Rick

(Images and videos: Yellow Island 2010)

2010-06-15T10:51:00.019-04:00

Nas and Damian Marley Live in New York
Monday, May 17th, 2010, New York City.
Nas and Damian Marley performing live at the Record Release Show for "Distant Relatives". The duo performed almost the entire new album along with tracks from earlier albums.

Nas "Street Dreams" and "If I Ruled the World"

Nas "Hate Me Now"

Damian Marley "Welcome To Jamrock"

(Images and videos: Yellow Island 2010)

2008-06-26T01:32:00.016-04:00

Orchestra Baobab Live at the River To River Festival
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008. A hot Summer evening: Orchestra Baobab performing live in downtown Manhattan by the Hudson River.

Orchestra Baobab "Nijaay"

Orchestra Baobab "Pape Ndiaye"

Orchestra Baobab "Werente Serigne"

(Images and videos: Yellow Island 2008)

2008-06-12T23:59:00.016-04:00

Isaac Hayes Live in Prospect Park
Thursday, June 12th, 2008 @ Prospect Park Bandshell, Brooklyn

Isaac Hayes performing 'Walk on By' part 1

Isaac Hayes performing 'Walk on By' part 2

Isaac Hayes performing 'Theme from Shaft' part 1

Isaac Hayes performing 'Theme from Shaft' part 2

Isaac Hayes performing 'Joy'

Isaac Hayes performing 'Soul Man'

(Videos: Yellow Island 2008)

2008-06-07T19:37:00.028-04:00

Free New York Concerts This Summer:

JUNE
Thursday, June 12 @ 8 p.m.: ISAAC HAYES @ the Bandshell, Prospect Park, Brooklyn

Wednesday, June 25 @ 7 p.m.: ORCHESTRA BAOBAB @ Rockefeller Park, Manhattan (north of Liberty Street)

Wednesday, June 25 @ 7 p.m.: TALIB KWELI @ Soho Apple Store, Manhattan

Thursday, June 26 @ 12 p.m.: ORCHESTRA BAOBAB @ MetroTech, Brooklyn (off Jay Street bw. Myrtle Promenade & Tech Pl.)

Saturday, June 28 @ 7 p.m.: CROOKLYN DODGERS REUNION: O.C., JERU THE DAMAJA, CHUBB ROCK and EMC. Also featuring MASTA ACE, DJ PREMIER and ALI SHAHEED MUHAMMAD. Hosted by BUCKSHOT and SPECIAL ED @ the Bandshell, Prospect Park, Brooklyn

JULY
Sunday, July 6 @ 3 p.m.: SEAN KUTI & EGYPT 80, AFRIKA BAMBAATAA AND LOVE TRIO @ Summerstage, Central Park

Wednesday, July 9 @ 7 p.m.: BRAND NUBIAN @ Brower Park, Brooklyn (Brooklyn Ave. & Prospect Park Pl.)

Thursday, July 10 @ 7 p.m.: WHODINI @ Von King Park, Brooklyn (Tompkins Ave. bw. Layfayette Ave. & Greene Ave.)

Wednesday, July 16 @ 7 p.m.: LOVEBUG STARSKI & Friends @ Crotona Park, Bronx (173 Street & Crotona Park East)

Tuesday, July 22 @ 7 p.m.: NAUGHTY BY NATURE @ Queensbridge Park (41 Ave., Bridge Plaza, Vernon Blvd. & East River)

Wednesday, July 23 @ 7 p.m.: BAHAMADIA @ Brower Park, Brooklyn (Brooklyn Ave. & Prospect Park Pl.)

Thursday, July 24 @ 7 p.m.: KRS-ONE @ the Band Shell, East River Park, Manhattan (along the East River bw. Grand Street & Jackson Street)

Tuesday, July 29 @ 7 p.m.: THE DELFONICS @ Queensbridge Park (41 Ave., Bridge Plaza, Vernon Blvd. & East River)

AUGUST
Thursday, August 5 @ 7 p.m.: THE JUNGLE BROTHERS @ Red Hook Park, Brooklyn (Bay Street bw. Henry St. & Clinton St.)

Wednesday, August 6 @ 7 p.m.: THE CHI-LITES @ Jackie Robinson Park, Harlem (147 street & Bradhurst Ave.)

Thursday, August 7 @ 7 p.m.: THE CHI-LITES @ Springfield Park, Queens (184 Street & 147 Ave.)

Wednesday, August 13 @ 7 p.m.: SLICK RICK @ Jackie Robinson Park, Harlem (147 street & Bradhurst Ave.)

Thursday, August 14 @ 7 p.m.: BIG DADDY KANE @ Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem (124 Street & Mt. Morris Park)

Thursday, August 14, 7 p.m.: MAIN INGREDIENT @ Springfield Park, Queens (184 Street & 147 Ave.)

2007-08-11T12:42:00.007-04:00

KRS ONE Live in Prospect Park
Friday, August 3rd, 2007 @ Prospect Park Bandshell, Brooklyn

The blastmaster live. Feel that energy. KRS ONE performing on the stage of the bandshell in Prospect Park. Decades ago when Kris was homeless he used to sleep on this very stage. During daytime he would go to the nearby Brooklyn Public Library to read books and educate himself. For this concert I had to be down in the front. Once in a life time concert.

KRS-ONE performing live like no other

The bandshell with the changing rainbow colors in the background. KRS-ONE used to sleep in the back of this open performing stage in the park

KRS-ONE concentrating on the lyrics.

KRS ONE performing "South Bronx"

KRS-ONE performing "MC's Act Like They Don't Know"

KRS-ONE in effect

KRS-ONE freestyle and talk

KRS-ONE performing "The Bridge Is Over"

(Images and videos: Yellow Island 2007)

2007-08-11T10:55:00.004-04:00

Wild Style 25th Anniversary Reunion
Sunday, July 29th, 2007 @ Summerstage, Central Park

The boys of Wild Style reunited in Central Park 25 years after the classic film on hip hop culture was made. The Chief Rocker Busy Bee, The Cold Crush Brothers, The Fantastic Five MC's, Grandmaster Caz, DJ Grand Wizard Theodore, Rodney Cee and Fab 5 Freddy.

Grandmaster Caz of the Cold Crush Brothers

Chief Rocker Busy Bee - having a good time

DJ Grand Wizard Theodore - DJ'ing for more than 30 years

Grandmaster Caz - hosting the reunion

Rodney Cee of Double Trouble and Chief Rocker Busy Bee - picking up the MC battle

Martha Cooper - legandary Subway Art photographer still doing her thing

Fantastic Five MC's

Fantastic Five MC's performing live

Fab 5 Freddy

Fab 5 Freddy - reminiscing about how it all started for him

Cold Crush Brothers

The Wild Style boys

Fab 5 Freddy in Wild Style in Central Park - Scobby Doo!

(Images and videos: Yellow Island 2007)

2007-03-23T20:55:00.001-04:00

Digging In the Crates

Nas in Central Park on August 15th 2004. Some clips from 2004 to inspire your day. Due to the small Summerstage venue in Central Park more people were left outside the venue than people inside. Literally thousands of people were listening and imaging Nas performing from outside.

First a clip to set the atmosphere. At some point hundreds of people jumped over the fence that you see in the clip making it into the venue. Talib Kweli among others jumped the fence.

Nas performing "Made You Look"

(Videos: Yellow Island, 2004)

2007-03-11T10:17:00.001-04:00

J Dilla Ruff Draft Release Party @ Southpaw, Friday, March 16th. Doors open at 10 pm. $10 by RSVP: loungelyricist@aol.com

Stones Throw Record Release Party with Pete Rock and Waajeed among others.

2007-03-10T12:44:00.003-05:00

New York Likes Detroit: Black Milk and Guilty Simpson
March 8th 2007, New York City - Black Milk Record Release Party

DJ Premier, Ras Kass and Sean Price were among the crowd supporting Detroit's own - Black Milk

Hosts of the evening: Fat Beats DJ's - Bill Sharp and Monster's golden fingers

Guilty Simpson having a good time

Guilty Simpson performing "Baby" by J Dilla

Black Milk in the building

Black Milk - short video clip

Pharoahe Monch guest appearence

Tanya Morgan appearence

(Images and videos: Yellow Island, 2007)

2006-09-29T11:44:00.001-04:00

Redistributing the Energy of Hip Hop

Through out the last decade hip hop culture has shown an exceptional capacity of honering the artists that unfortunately have passed away. In connection with this honering and remembering an undescribable amount of energy, motivation and unity is accumulated. The accumulation shows the potential power and influence of hip hop culture. Keep in mind that hip hop culture - from the early beginning - was a subculture in not only the american context but worldwide. That is to say that hip hop was never only "black culture" but a subculture for all people of all ages and races who somehow were outsiders, oppressed or dissatisfied with mainstream culure and values.

As I listen to "Can't Stop This" by the Roots I reflect on the energy that the death of J Dilla has created. The grief, proudness, anger and energy have to be put into use. It could potentially be channelized into ideas and opinions on cultural, political and social issues. A redistribution of this accumulation should be considered - in the same manner as the "Vote and Die" campaign, which showed us how hip hop can influence and change society.

(INspired EXchange_inspiration rather than information, criticism & thematization)

2006-07-31T21:30:00.000-04:00

FREE old school concerts pt.2:
Slick Rick and Kool DJ Red Alert @ Marcus Garvey Park, Thursday, August 10th at 7pm.
Kurtis Blow @ Jackie Robinson Park, Wednesday, August 23rd at 7pm.

2006-07-31T20:04:00.006-04:00

All Souled Out: Pete Rock @ Summerstage

July 30th 2006, Central Park, New York City

Pete Rock performing "T.R.O.Y."

(Images and video: Yellow Island, 2006)

2006-07-27T13:29:00.001-04:00

FREE Pete Rock, Jean Grae and Lady Sovereign Concert @ Summerstage, Central Park, Sunday, July 30th from 3pm-7pm.
(Pete Rock in Central Park! What are you waiting for?)

2006-07-27T13:27:00.000-04:00

FREE 25th Anniversary Breakin' Event: We B*Girlz @ Lincoln Center, Thursday, August 10th at 5.30pm. (taking it back to 1981)

2006-07-17T14:18:00.000-04:00

FREE old school concerts:
Sugar Hill Gang @ South Street Seaport, Thursday, July 20th at 7pm.
Cold Crush Brothers @ Crotona Park, Wednesday, July 26th at 7pm.

2006-07-14T22:17:00.000-04:00

...college boys working to return to school down South; older advocates of racial progress with utopian schemes for building black business empires; preachers ordained by no authority except their own, without church or congregation, without bread or wine, body or blood; the community "leaders" without followers; old men of sixty or more still caught up in post-Civil War dreams of freedom within segregation;

...the pathetic ones who possessed nothing beyond their dreams of being gentlemen, who held small jobs or drew small pensions, and all pretending to be engaged in some vast, though obscure, enterprise, who affected the pseudo-courtly manners of certain southern congressmen and bowed and nodded as they passed like senile old roosters in a barnyard; the younger crowd for whom I now felt a contempt such as only a disillusioned dreamer feels for those still unaware that they dream;

...the business students from southern colleges, for whom business was a vague, abstract game with rules as obsolete as Noah's Ark but who sought to achieve the status of brokers through imagination alone, a group of janitors and messengers who spent most of their wages on clothing such as was fashionable among Wall Street brokers, with their Brooks Brothers suits and bowler hats, English umbrellas, black calf-skin shoes and yellow gloves;

...with their orthodox and passionate argument as to what was the correct tie to wear with what shirt, what shade of gray was correct for spats and what would the Prince of Wales wear at a certain seasonal event; should field glasses be slung from the right or from the left shoulder; who never read the financial pages though they purchased the Wall Street Journal religiously and carried it beneath the left elbow, pressed firm against the body and grasped in the left hand - always manicured and gloved, fair weather or foul - with an easy precision (Oh, they had style) while the other hand whipped a tightly rolled umbrella back and forth at a calculated angle; with their hombugs and Chesterfields, their polo coats and Tyrolean hats worn strictly as fashion demanded...

(Text copyright: Ralph Ellison, "Invisible Man", 1947. Images copyright: Spike Lee, "25th Hour", 2002)
(INspired EXchange_inspiration rather than information, criticism & thematization)