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	<title>GRANDGOOD &#187; This Is The Life</title>
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		<title>Ellay Khule Discusses THIS IS THE LIFE</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2009/03/10/ellay-khule-discusses-this-is-the-life/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2009/03/10/ellay-khule-discusses-this-is-the-life/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:29:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>CV</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Vdos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ellay Khule]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/?p=15501</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Bonus: Ellay Khule &#038; The Eastside Badstads @ The GoodLife
]]></description>
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<p>Bonus: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJBQ4wW3mEE">Ellay Khule &#038; The Eastside Badstads @ The GoodLife</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Abstract Rude Discusses THIS IS THE LIFE / video</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2009/03/02/abstract-rude-discusses-this-is-the-life-video/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2009/03/02/abstract-rude-discusses-this-is-the-life-video/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2009 04:22:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ming-Tzu</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Documentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vdos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Abstract Rude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/?p=15043</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I watched this documentary at a screening in NYC last year. During the q&#038;a, news of a possible DVD release had me excited and reserved at the same time. I&#8217;ve seen too many dope Hip-Hop documentaries screened at various festivals and never heard from again despite hopeful plans. I&#8217;m very glad this isn&#8217;t the case [...]]]></description>
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<p>I watched this documentary at a screening in NYC last year. During the q&#038;a, news of a possible DVD release had me excited and reserved at the same time. I&#8217;ve seen too many dope Hip-Hop documentaries screened at various festivals and never heard from again despite hopeful plans. I&#8217;m very glad this isn&#8217;t the case here. Be sure to buy the DVD on March 10th. Peace to Ava and Ab Rude. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/dvapr">link</a>, <a href="http://goodlifelove.ning.com/">goodlifelove.com</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Good Life Reunion Show</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2009/02/22/good-life-reunion-show/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2009/02/22/good-life-reunion-show/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:09:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>g</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/?p=14702</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[ March 10, 2009; 5:00 pm; ] 

If I was in Cali on March 10th, this is where I would be. ]]></description>
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<p>If I was in Cali on March 10th, this is where I would be. </p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>This Is The Life &#8211; &#8220;Pass The Mic&#8221; / preview clip #3</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2009/02/09/this-is-the-life-pass-the-mic-preview-clip-3/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2009/02/09/this-is-the-life-pass-the-mic-preview-clip-3/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2009 04:35:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>g</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Vdos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/?p=14223</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>This Is The Life &#8211; &#8220;Herbs &amp; Fruits&#8221; / Preview Clip</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2009/01/23/this-is-the-life-herbs-fruits-preview-clip/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2009/01/23/this-is-the-life-herbs-fruits-preview-clip/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:06:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>CV</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Documentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vdos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/?p=13658</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[via Good Life Love
This clip appears in the award-winning documentary about 30 minutes in and discussing the diverse styles that were the lifeblood of South Central&#8217;s legendary Good Life Cafe open-mic nights. 
]]></description>
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<p><a href="http://goodlifelove.ning.com/">via</a> Good Life Love</p>
<blockquote><p>This clip appears in the award-winning documentary about 30 minutes in and discussing the diverse styles that were the lifeblood of South Central&#8217;s legendary Good Life Cafe open-mic nights. </p></blockquote>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>This Is The Life DVD Set For Release March 10, 2009</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2009/01/15/this-is-the-life-dvd-set-for-release-march-10-2009/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2009/01/15/this-is-the-life-dvd-set-for-release-march-10-2009/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:43:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>g</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vdos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/?p=13411</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Just found out the DVD for This Is The Life is going to be released this quarter. With bonus features. Nice. Visit the recently launched goodlifelove.ning.com. Pic for back cover to DVD after the jump.
BONUS FEATURES:
- Welcome to The Good Life: Sixty Minutes of Vintage Performances
- Two Bonus Shorts: &#8220;More Myka Nyne&#8221; and &#8220;The Nonce&#8221;
- [...]]]></description>
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<p>Just found out the DVD for <em><a href="http://grandgood.com/tag/this-is-the-life/">This Is The Life</a></em> is going to be released this quarter. With bonus features. Nice. Visit the recently launched <a href="http://goodlifelove.ning.com/">goodlifelove.ning.com</a>. Pic for back cover to DVD after the jump.</p>
<blockquote><p>BONUS FEATURES:<br />
- Welcome to The Good Life: Sixty Minutes of Vintage Performances<br />
- Two Bonus Shorts: &#8220;More Myka Nyne&#8221; and &#8220;The Nonce&#8221;<br />
- Four Rare Full-Length Live Audio Performances<br />
- Deleted Scenes</p></blockquote>
<p><span id="more-13411"></span></p>
<p><img src="http://grandgood.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/011409_back.jpg" alt="" title="back" width="500" height="467" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13414" /></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Individual Tickets Now Available For &#8220;This Is The Life&#8221;, Documentary On The Hip-Hop Movement That Exploded From LA&#8217;s &#8220;The Good Life Cafe&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2008/09/10/individual-tickets-now-available-for-this-is-the-life-documentary-on-the-hip-hop-movement-that-exploded-from-las-the-good-life-cafe/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2008/09/10/individual-tickets-now-available-for-this-is-the-life-documentary-on-the-hip-hop-movement-that-exploded-from-las-the-good-life-cafe/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:13:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>g</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Documentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/?p=8842</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[ September 12, 2008; 9:15 pm; September 13, 2008; 1:15 pm; ] 

Terry and I will be present for the Friday showing. Cop before it sells out. You don't have to register for the entire film festival as I previously alluded to, regular movie prices.

Fri, Sept 12 @ 9:15pm
Sat, Sept 13 @ 1:15pm
AMC 34th St, Theatre 11]]></description>
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<p>Terry and I will be present for the Friday showing. Cop before it sells out. You don&#8217;t have to register for the entire film festival as I <a href="http://grandgood.com/2008/09/04/reminder-this-is-the-life-nyc-premier-sept-12th-and-13th/">previously alluded to</a>, regular movie prices.</p>
<blockquote><p><a href="http://www.fandango.com/amcloews34thstreet14_aaqcr/theaterpage?date=9/12/2008">Fri, Sept 12 @ 9:15pm</a><br />
<a href="http://www.fandango.com/amcloews34thstreet14_aaqcr/theaterpage?date=9/13/2008">Sat, Sept 13 @ 1:15pm</a><br />
AMC 34th St, Theatre 11</p></blockquote>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Reminder: &#8216;This Is The Life&#8217; NYC Premier / Sept 12th and 13th</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2008/09/04/reminder-this-is-the-life-nyc-premier-sept-12th-and-13th/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2008/09/04/reminder-this-is-the-life-nyc-premier-sept-12th-and-13th/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:35:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>g</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Documentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/?p=8397</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[ September 12, 2008; 9:15 pm; September 13, 2008; 1:15 am; ] 

My question is this, do we have to register for the entire Urban World Film Festival just to see one movie?

THIS IS THE LIFE (New York Premiere) 

THIS IS THE LIFE chronicles a group of young artists from South Central L.A. In the early 90s, these teenagers would gather weekly at The Good Life, a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src='http://grandgood.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/112707_thegoodlife.jpg' alt='This Is The Life' /></p>
<p>My question is this, do we have to register for the entire <a href="http://www.urbanworld.org/">Urban World Film Festival</a> just to see one movie?</p>
<blockquote><p>THIS IS THE LIFE (New York Premiere) </p>
<p>THIS IS THE LIFE chronicles a group of young artists from South Central L.A. In the early 90s, these teenagers would gather weekly at The Good Life, a health food store on Crenshaw Boulevard, to create music together. Their underground recording in 1994 influenced such stars as Ice Cube, Mos Def and Black Eyed Peas. Largely unknown to mainstream audiences, these young people attracted an almost cult-like international following.</p>
<p>USA/2008/97min/BETA/COLOR<br />
DIRECTOR: Ava DuVernay<br />
PRODUCERS: Ava DuVernay &#038; Ellene Miles<br />
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Issac Klotz</p>
<p>Sat, Sept 13 @ 1:15pm<br />
AMC 34th St, Theatre 11<br />
And<br />
Fri, Sept 12 @ 9:15pm<br />
AMC 34th St, Theatre 11 </p></blockquote>
<p>see also:<br />
<a href="http://grandgood.com/2008/06/15/this-is-the-life-nyc-premier-this-september/">“This Is The Life” NYC Premier This September!</a><br />
<a href="http://grandgood.com/2007/11/28/this-is-the-life-documentary-on-the-movement-that-exploded-from-the-good-life-cafe-coming-to-a-film-festival-near-you/">This Is The Life, Documentary On The Movement That Exploded From The Good Life Cafe, Coming To A Film Festival Near You </a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>This Is The Life Screening In LA / Thurs, July 31st</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2008/07/30/this-is-the-life-screening-in-la-thurs-july-31st/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2008/07/30/this-is-the-life-screening-in-la-thurs-july-31st/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:44:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>g</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Documentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/?p=5519</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[ July 31, 2008; 7:00 pm; ] 

Thanks Marie.

THIS IS THE LIFE

Winner! Best Documentary Audience Award
Pan-African Film Festival 2008

Winner! Audience Award, Documentary
ReelWorld Film Festival 2008

Winner! Audience Award, First Place
Langston Hughes African-American Film Festival 2008

This Thursday, July 31 @ 7PM

Presented by Allison Anders &#038; DON'T KNOCK THE ROCK
Silent Movie Theater
611 N. Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA/ off Melrose

Tickets available at now:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/37019

related:
“This Is The Life” [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src='http://grandgood.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/112707_thegoodlife.jpg' alt='This Is The Life' /></p>
<p>Thanks Marie.</p>
<blockquote><p>THIS IS THE LIFE<br />
<br />
Winner! Best Documentary Audience Award<br />
Pan-African Film Festival 2008<br />
<br />
Winner! Audience Award, Documentary<br />
ReelWorld Film Festival 2008<br />
<br />
Winner! Audience Award, First Place<br />
Langston Hughes African-American Film Festival 2008<br />
<br />
This Thursday, July 31 @ 7PM<br />
<br />
Presented by Allison Anders &#038; DON&#8217;T KNOCK THE ROCK<br />
Silent Movie Theater<br />
611 N. Fairfax Avenue<br />
Los Angeles, CA/ off Melrose<br />
<br />
Tickets available at now:</p>
<p>http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/37019</p></blockquote>
<p>related:<br />
<a href="http://grandgood.com/2008/06/15/this-is-the-life-nyc-premier-this-september/">“This Is The Life” NYC Premier This September!</a><br />
<a href="http://grandgood.com/2008/05/15/short-qa-with-ava-duvernay/">Short Q&#038;A With Ava DuVernay</a><br />
<a href="http://grandgood.com/2008/03/25/this-is-the-life-promo-video/">This Is The Life [promo video]</a><br />
<a href="http://grandgood.com/2008/03/25/this-is-the-life-soundtrack-available-now/">This Is The Life Soundtrack Available Now</a><br />
<a href="http://grandgood.com/2008/02/08/reminder-%e2%80%9cthis-is-the-life%e2%80%9d-premiere-at-2008-pan-african-film-festival-this-weekend/">Reminder: “This Is The Life” Premiere At 2008 Pan African Film Festival This Weekend</a><br />
<a href="http://grandgood.com/2008/01/20/this-is-the-life-premiere-at-2008-pan-african-film-festival/">“This Is The Life” Premiere At 2008 Pan African Film Festival</a><br />
<a href="http://grandgood.com/2007/11/28/this-is-the-life-documentary-on-the-movement-that-exploded-from-the-good-life-cafe-coming-to-a-film-festival-near-you/">This Is The Life, Documentary On The Movement That Exploded From The Good Life Cafe, Coming To A Film Festival Near You</a><br />
<a href="http://grandgood.com/2007/09/24/omid-qa-by-grandgood/">Omid Q&#038;A by grandgood</a></p>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>&#8220;This Is The Life&#8221; NYC Premier This September!</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2008/06/15/this-is-the-life-nyc-premier-this-september/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2008/06/15/this-is-the-life-nyc-premier-this-september/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 15 Jun 2008 14:02:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>g</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/?p=4347</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[ September 10, 2008 10:00 am to September 14, 2008 10:00 am. ] 

Finally! This Is The Life, the documentary on the movement that exploded from the Good Life Cafe, will be hitting NYC. Part of the Urban World Film Festival this September. Link]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href='http://www.urbanworld.org/'><img src="http://grandgood.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/urbanworld-film-festival-presented-by-bet.jpg" alt="urbanworld-film-festival-presented-by-bet" title="urbanworld-film-festival-presented-by-bet" width="460" height="314" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4346" /></a></p>
<p>Finally! <a href="http://grandgood.com/tag/this-is-the-life/">This Is The Life</a>, the documentary on the movement that exploded from the Good Life Cafe, will be hitting NYC. Part of the Urban World Film Festival this September. <a href="http://www.urbanworld.org/">Link</a></p>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Short Q&amp;A With Ava DuVernay</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2008/05/15/short-qa-with-ava-duvernay/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2008/05/15/short-qa-with-ava-duvernay/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 May 2008 18:56:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>g</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ava DuVernay]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eve]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/?p=4025</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Short q&#038;a with Ava on This Is The Life. Courtesy of UGSMAG.
What’s the difference between The Good Life and Project Blowed?

The Good Life the lights were on. There were rules, you couldn’t curse; you had to have a prepared performance. It was more family like. Project Blowed, lights were off, [it’s] a little more grimy; [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href='http://ugsmag.com/interviews/ava-duvernay/'><img src="http://grandgood.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/051508_eve.jpg" alt="Ava DuVernay: This is the Life" title="Ava DuVernay: This is the Life" width="500" height="456" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4026" /></a></p>
<p>Short q&#038;a with <strong>Ava</strong> on <a href="http://grandgood.com/tag/this-is-the-life/">This Is The Life</a>. Courtesy of <a href="http://ugsmag.com/interviews/ava-duvernay/">UGSMAG</a>.</p>
<blockquote><p>What’s the difference between The Good Life and Project Blowed?<br />
<br />
The Good Life the lights were on. There were rules, you couldn’t curse; you had to have a prepared performance. It was more family like. Project Blowed, lights were off, [it’s] a little more grimy; you could get your curse on. It was just a different tone. Both good, both creative, just some artists thrived in one over the other.</p></blockquote>
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		<title>This Is The Life [promo video]</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2008/03/25/this-is-the-life-promo-video/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2008/03/25/this-is-the-life-promo-video/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:52:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>g</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Vdos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/2008/03/25/this-is-the-life-promo-video/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[First clip available online for This Is The Life.
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><object width="500" height="417"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zzqeZsRPevI&#038;hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zzqeZsRPevI&#038;hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="500" height="417"></embed></object></p>
<p>First clip available online for <a href="http://grandgood.com/tag/this-is-the-life/">This Is The Life</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>This Is The Life Soundtrack Available Now</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2008/03/25/this-is-the-life-soundtrack-available-now/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2008/03/25/this-is-the-life-soundtrack-available-now/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:36:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ming-Tzu</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Abstract Rude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aceyalone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Good Life Café]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mikah 9]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Myka 9]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Myka Nyne]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Project Blowed]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/2008/03/25/this-is-the-life-soundtrack-available-now/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Mentioned in an earlier post, This Is The Life is a documentary film revolving around the legendary Good Life Café and the many artists it has influenced throughout the years. The 25-track CD features a bunch of rare live performances from the likes of Ellay Khule, Mikah 9, CVE, Freestyle Fellowship, Aceyalone, Abstract Rude and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src='http://grandgood.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/this-is-the-life-ost.jpg' alt='This Is The Life OST' /></p>
<p>Mentioned in an <a href="http://grandgood.com/2007/11/28/this-is-the-life-documentary-on-the-movement-that-exploded-from-the-good-life-cafe-coming-to-a-film-festival-near-you/" target="_blank">earlier post</a>, <em>This Is The Life</em> is a documentary film revolving around the legendary Good Life Café and the many artists it has influenced throughout the years. The 25-track CD features a bunch of rare live performances from the likes of <strong>Ellay Khule</strong>, <strong>Mikah 9</strong>, <strong>CVE</strong>, <strong>Freestyle Fellowship</strong>, <strong>Aceyalone</strong>, <strong>Abstract Rude</strong> and more! <a href="http://www.accesshiphop.com/store/?itemid=15305" target="_blank">buy soundtrack</a>, <a href="http://goodlifelove.com/" target="_blank">more info</a></p>
<blockquote><p>
Welcome to the Good Life Cafe, where emcee specials have been served up with style and extra flavor since 1989! To own this is to own some of the earliest known freestyles, live sets and soundbites of <strong>Project Blowedians</strong> ever made available and not heard anywhere else for quite some time. Extremely rare recordings by Aceyalone, <strong>Hip Hop Klan</strong>, Mikah 9, CVE, <strong>Medusa</strong>, Abstract Rude and more! Big thanks to <strong>Rifleman</strong> for personally supplying us with this nice little bit of history and <strong>Omid</strong> for helping restore the quality! H-E-A-T!<BR><br />
01. Power of the P=SIN<br />
02. Nobody (Live) Aceyalone<br />
03. Abstract Rude<br />
04. Hip Hop Kclan Live Role Call<br />
05. Ellay Khule Live<br />
06. Rifleman Up * Away Live<br />
07. Chali Tuna Live<br />
08. Unity Committee Live<br />
09. Alpha Omega = Figures of Speech<br />
10. Mikah 9 Live<br />
11. Spoon Iodine Live<br />
12. CVE Live<br />
13. Live Ngafish Acapella<br />
14. Farmer John Hymnal &#038; Darkleaf<br />
15. Akilee AKA Allah Culture<br />
16. Misia and Allah Culture<br />
17. Sesquipedelian Live<br />
18. Freestyle Fellowship Live<br />
19. Ganja K<br />
20. Volume 10 Live<br />
21. Hip Hop Nation<br />
22. Aceyalone &#038; Trend Live<br />
23. Of Mexican Descent Live<br />
24. Capitol AK Live<br />
25. Abstract Rude Live
</p></blockquote>
<p><em>see also:</em><br />
<a href="http://grandgood.com/2007/11/28/this-is-the-life-documentary-on-the-movement-that-exploded-from-the-good-life-cafe-coming-to-a-film-festival-near-you/" target="_blank">This Is The Life, Documentary On The Movement That Exploded From The Good Life Cafe, Coming To A Film Festival Near You</a></p>
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		<title>Reminder: “This Is The Life” Premiere At 2008 Pan African Film Festival This Weekend</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2008/02/08/reminder-%e2%80%9cthis-is-the-life%e2%80%9d-premiere-at-2008-pan-african-film-festival-this-weekend/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2008/02/08/reminder-%e2%80%9cthis-is-the-life%e2%80%9d-premiere-at-2008-pan-african-film-festival-this-weekend/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:25:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>g</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Documentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/2008/02/08/reminder-%e2%80%9cthis-is-the-life%e2%80%9d-premiere-at-2008-pan-african-film-festival-this-weekend/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[ February 9, 2008; 8:20 pm; February 11, 2008; 8:00 pm; ] 

Saturday and encore on Monday. Wish I could be there. 

previously:
“This Is The Life” Premiere At 2008 Pan African Film Festival
This Is The Life, Documentary On The Movement That Exploded From The Good Life Cafe, Coming To A Film Festival Near You
Omid Q&#038;A by grandgood]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src='http://grandgood.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/020808_the_life_flyer.jpg' alt='This Is The Life Premier' /></p>
<p>Saturday and encore on Monday. Wish I could be there. </p>
<p>previously:<br />
<a href="http://grandgood.com/2008/01/20/this-is-the-life-premiere-at-2008-pan-african-film-festival/" target="_blank">“This Is The Life” Premiere At 2008 Pan African Film Festival</a><br />
<a href="http://grandgood.com/2007/11/28/this-is-the-life-documentary-on-the-movement-that-exploded-from-the-good-life-cafe-coming-to-a-film-festival-near-you/" target="_blank">This Is The Life, Documentary On The Movement That Exploded From The Good Life Cafe, Coming To A Film Festival Near You</a><br />
<a href="http://grandgood.com/2007/09/24/omid-qa-by-grandgood/" target="_blank">Omid Q&#038;A by grandgood</a></p>
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		<title>&#8220;This Is The Life&#8221; Premiere At 2008 Pan African Film Festival</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2008/01/20/this-is-the-life-premiere-at-2008-pan-african-film-festival/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2008/01/20/this-is-the-life-premiere-at-2008-pan-african-film-festival/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:06:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>g</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Documentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vdos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/2008/01/20/this-is-the-life-premiere-at-2008-pan-african-film-festival/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[ February 9, 2008; 8:00 pm; ] 

This Is The Life, documentary on the movement that exploded from The Good Life Cafe, is going to premiere at  the Pan African Film Festival on February 9th. They have also submitted entries to SXSW, GenArt, Tribeca, FullFrame, True/False, Silverdocs and NXNE so hopefully non-LA heads will also get an opportunity to see this [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src='http://grandgood.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/112707_thegoodlife.jpg' alt='This Is The Life' /></p>
<p><strong>This Is The Life</strong>, documentary on <a href="http://grandgood.com/2007/11/28/this-is-the-life-documentary-on-the-movement-that-exploded-from-the-good-life-cafe-coming-to-a-film-festival-near-you/">the movement that exploded from The Good Life Cafe</a>, is going to premiere at  the Pan African Film Festival on February 9th. They have also submitted entries to SXSW, GenArt, Tribeca, FullFrame, True/False, Silverdocs and NXNE so hopefully non-LA heads will also get an opportunity to see this soon!</p>
<blockquote><p>Hi Fam,</p>
<p>THIS IS THE LIFE, a feature-length documentary about the Good Life and the LA underground hip hop movement, will make its World Premiere at the 2008 Pan African Film Festival.</p>
<p>The screening will take place on Saturday, February 9 at 8PM at the Magic Johnson Theaters on Crenshaw, just blocks from the site of the original Good Life Cafe in LA.</p>
<p>Tickets will be available online next week at www.paff.org or at the MJT box office starting February 7.</p>
<p>For more info on the film, hit up the MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/goodlifelove.</p>
<p>Hope to see the whole Good Life/Project Blowed family there in force, along with anyone who loves the music. Let&#8217;s celebrate the roots of our movement.</p>
<p>Much Love,<br />
AVA</p></blockquote>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>This Is The Life, Documentary On The Movement That Exploded From The Good Life Cafe, Coming To A Film Festival Near You</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2007/11/28/this-is-the-life-documentary-on-the-movement-that-exploded-from-the-good-life-cafe-coming-to-a-film-festival-near-you/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2007/11/28/this-is-the-life-documentary-on-the-movement-that-exploded-from-the-good-life-cafe-coming-to-a-film-festival-near-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:51:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>g</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Documentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vdos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Abstract Rude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eve]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Figures Of Speech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Omid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/2007/11/28/this-is-the-life-documentary-on-the-movement-that-exploded-from-the-good-life-cafe-coming-to-a-film-festival-near-you/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We gave a brief mention of this documentary on The Good Life Cafe back in September, when Terry interviewed Omid. Well it looks like the film is done and ready to hit the film festival circuit. No trailer available yet but the official site is under construction and the mysp*ce page is open for friendlies. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src='http://grandgood.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/112707_thegoodlife.jpg' alt='This Is The Life' /></p>
<p>We gave a brief mention of this documentary on <strong>The Good Life Cafe</strong> back in September, when <a href="http://grandgood.com/2007/09/24/omid-qa-by-grandgood/" target="_blank">Terry interviewed <strong>Omid</strong></a>. Well it looks like the film is done and ready to hit the film festival circuit. No trailer available yet but the official site is under construction and the mysp*ce page is open for friendlies. </p>
<p><a href="http://goodlifelove.com/" target="_blank">goodlifelove.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.myspace.com/goodlifelove" target="_blank">mysp*ce.com/goodlifelove</a></p>
<blockquote><p>THIS IS THE LIFE is a feature-length documentary that chronicles “The Good Life” emcees, the alternative music movement they developed, and their worldwide influence on the artform.</p>
<p>Featuring new interviews with: Myka Nyne and PEACE of Freestyle Fellowship, Chali2na and Cut Chemist of Jurassic 5, NgaFsh, Riddlore, Tray-Loc &#038; Wreckless of CVE, Abstract Rude and Zulu Butterfly of ATU, Ellay Khule of Hip Hop Klan, Medusa of S.I.N, Born Allah, Gangah K, Fatjack, JMD, Omid, Pigeon John, 2Mex of OMD, Jyant &#038; Eve of Figures of Speech, T-Love of Urban Props, Sheena Lester &#038; B+ of Rappages, Mear One, Mike Nardone of KXLU&#8217;s We Came From Beyond, Garth Trinidad of KCRW&#8217;s Chocolate City, Monalisa Murray, Jah Orah, Hines, Busdriver, Monique Matthews, Keen and B. Hall &#038; R. Kain Blaze, co-founders of The Good Life.</p>
<p>Directed by Ava DuVernay</p>
<p>Coming to a Film Festival Near You in 2008</p></blockquote>
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		<title>Omid Q&amp;A by grandgood</title>
		<link>http://grandgood.com/2007/09/24/omid-qa-by-grandgood/</link>
		<comments>http://grandgood.com/2007/09/24/omid-qa-by-grandgood/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:28:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>T.Reynolds</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Q&A]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Omid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Is The Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://grandgood.com/wordpress/?p=2346</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Omid (photo by Barbara Talia, click for larger view)
We sat down with one of Los Angeles’ staple producers, Omid (or OD), to talk a little about his new works and artistic direction, in depth recollections about the making of Beneath the Surface, his debut project, and his role as an Iranian American producer in the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://grandgood.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/092307_omid_600.jpg" title="OMID (Photo by Barbara Talia)"><img src="http://grandgood.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/092307_omid_450.jpg" alt="OMID (Photo by Barbara Talia)" /></a><br />
<font size="1">Omid (photo by Barbara Talia, click for larger view)</font></p>
<p>We sat down with one of Los Angeles’ staple producers, <strong>Omid</strong> (or <strong>OD</strong>), to talk a little about his new works and artistic direction, in depth recollections about the making of <em><strong>Beneath the Surface</strong></em>, his debut project, and his role as an Iranian American producer in the world today. A genuine music man, <strong>Omid</strong> gives us a perspective from behind the boards in what is still a dynamic music scene. Visit him at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/omidhiphop">mysp*ce.com/omidhiphop</a>.</p>
<p><code><br />
</code></p>
<p><font size="1">stream <em>Gole Gandom</em> by Omid<br />
from forthcoming new untitled album</font></p>
<p><font size="1">stream <em>The Lakes of Turku</em> by Omid<br />
from <em>Afterwords3</em></font></p>
<p><code><br />
</code><br />
+</p>
<p>So thank you for your time. First, I wonder if you could tell us a little about the <em><strong>Afterwords 3</strong></em> album that was released on itunes only. It seemed to have limited promotion and was not released on CD, what was the purpose of that?</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah basically it’s a lot of tracks that I made the last couple years. A lot of them had to do with when I was going to go tour Europe, just wanted to have some new stuff; I was working with this dance troupe out there and they wanted…</p></blockquote>
<p><span id="more-2346"></span><br />
Yeah! I saw that online they choreographed something to your music, basically, right?</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah, it was like real experimental, interesting dance.</p></blockquote>
<p>So was it expressionist dance or like jazz dance…</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah, yeah, kinda, kinda. Contemporary stuff, it was dope, it was different. So a lot of the songs from that, and just some tracks that a lot of people would just hit me up on the e-mail [about], instrumentals, just a lot of stuff that, before I put out my next album, that I wanted people to hear. Basically, it’s just a collection of tracks that I like that never really came out, and I said “I’ll put it in the Afterwords Trilogy!” <em><strong>Afterwords 1</strong></em>, was a little beat tape I did…</p></blockquote>
<p>Yeah I remember that, actually one of my friends had that tape</p>
<blockquote><p>Oh dope.</p></blockquote>
<p>Yeah, yeah, yeah,</p>
<blockquote><p>And then <em><strong>Afterwords 2</strong></em> was a CD-R, and I thought it would be interesting, the first as a tape, second as a CD-R, and then make the third, which is digital, you know.</p></blockquote>
<p>So this is different type of project, basically?</p>
<blockquote><p>Exactly, yeah. It’s just a collection of tracks that the last couple years I’ve been workin’ on, and didn’t really fit one theme, and I put ‘em all together.</p></blockquote>
<p>We spoke a little bit about the dancers, but I also read that you had an interest in working with a guy, <strong>Kurt Elling</strong> [jazz vocalist].</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah I talked to him before and he’s a really dope singer, a jazz singer. Grammy nominated guy, he does a lot of vocalese stuff. That’s someone with whom, in the future, I might do a song with. But that’s in the works.</p></blockquote>
<p>The reason why I ask that question is that with the Good Life, where you started out, being so jazz influenced, and with Blowed being around the corner from 5th St. Dix, I was wondering about jazz vocalists and musicians that might have influenced your music or that you see yourself working with, besides Kurt Elling?</p>
<blockquote><p>Well yeah, definitely been influenced by jazz. But as far as musicians that I want to work with? There’s a dude from the East Coast, a really dope drummer, Wynard Harper I think his name is. Dope drummer. That’s someone that actually performed at Leimert Park one time, and pretty much served everybody there!</p></blockquote>
<p>Oh wow… he’s from the New York City area?</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah, he’s from New York.</p></blockquote>
<p>OK, cool, I’ll look him up.</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah, yeah, the stuff I heard live was a lot [different], like his albums were a little more mellow and commercial, but, when he played, it was a whole different level.</p></blockquote>
<p>Yeah, Kurt Elling I noticed, like I checked out his albums, like he seemed to be a little commercial too, but…</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah you gotta… you gotta, find the right songs. There’s a song called “Tanya Jean” That one sounds like Myka Nyne times ten.</p></blockquote>
<p>Word, really?</p>
<blockquote><p>“Tanya Jean” it’s on the album called The Messenger. And then he does another song called “Night Dreamer”, and he does a Coltrane cover, of “Revolution”, where he’s singing to all the notes of a solo.</p></blockquote>
<p>I’ll check that out.</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah pick up the old stuff.</p></blockquote>
<p>So do you feel like the audience has grown up from Beneath the Surface, to Distant Drummer, then Monolith, in the sense that Monolith was a more laid back, instrumentalist sound? It was a compilation of underground mc’s too but it seemed to be reaching beyond the standard hip-hop sound, especially of the LA underground. Did you grow as an artist?</p>
<blockquote><p>I mean, yeah, I think so. I did Monolith in like ‘03, ‘04, and I definitely wanted to try some new things. Yeah definitely wanted to reach out, and sample a lot of different types of stuff.</p></blockquote>
<p>More Eastern stuff?</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah, exactly. Exactly. And then with my new stuff, my next couple of albums, it’s gonna be real different, too. I think it’s gonna show a lot of progress. A lot of stuff I played out, but it still sounds sampled. So you know over the years, Beneath the Surface was more like “a fan of the Good Life / Project Blowed giving respects for their favorite artists”. Distant Drummer was like my quest to do something without any emcees, and see how crazy I can get, so big experimentation. Monolith was kinda like bringing it down to earth a little bit but still trying to grow musically. And then my next couple projects, like you remember the song “Sound of the Sitar” [from Monolith]?</p></blockquote>
<p>Yeah, I do.</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah, I’m trying to do an album with that whole theme, like very Eastern sounding tracks. So it’s gonna be an album just of that.</p></blockquote>
<p>That leads into another question actually, which is, in many ways your sound is distinct because of your use of Middle Eastern samples; Do you work exclusively with classic Middle Eastern material, or do you also listen to Iranian funk records from the ‘60’s and ‘70’s?</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah, I do, I do. And I also sample some Psychedelic Rock from the 60’s, where they would use a lot of the [Middle Eastern] instruments, and put effects on them. It’s really like, wherever I can get that sound from. And lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Turkish stuff, Persian stuff… I actually just got this really dope Iraqi record, spelled C-H-O-O-B-I, Choobi, you ever heard of that?</p></blockquote>
<p>No! That’s crazy. What does it sound like?</p>
<blockquote><p>[thinking] It sounds like some traditional stuff, but like if Aphex Twin kinda made it. It’s made in eighties but it’s so weird and it had different time signatures… it’s really crazy.</p></blockquote>
<p>Kind of ahead of its time?</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah, definitely ahead of its time. It was made in like ’79 or ’80, but then a lot of effects, and just weird time signatures. Just weird stuff on it! So yeah, wherever I can get a specific sound from, I’ll use it.</p></blockquote>
<p>I had another question about that; it’s about incorporating the Middle Eastern music into a 4/4, kick-snare element. Is it difficult to incorporate that, because a lot of it’s not in 4/4 rhythm, you know?</p>
<blockquote><p>This album I’m working on, uh, if you go on my Mysp*ce, the first track [<em><strong>Gole Gandom</strong></em> – now the second track] is an example of what it’s gonna sound like. So that is an old school song, like old traditional funk, I took two different versions of it and chopped it up, and played bass under it. Basically that’s what I had to do, is use chopping a lot and effects, ‘cause otherwise it was like 6/4 time. 6/4 or who knows what it is [laughs]!</p></blockquote>
<p>Yeah that type of music is very rhythmically complex so I definitely feel you on that.</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah and it’s old! And it’s got a lot of history, so to make it into hip-hop takes a lot of work. AND, to avoid making it sound like World Music and shit.</p></blockquote>
<p>Right, right. Now, I want to go back a little bit and speak about you being a historical figure at the <strong>Good Life</strong> and <strong>Project Blowed</strong>. Why do you think the scene you came up into, and that you managed to bring to life on <em><strong>Beneath of Surface</strong></em>, and that album brought that whole scene together so cohesively, but what do you think makes that scene special, and LA special artistically?</p>
<blockquote><p>That’s interesting you brought it up ‘cause, right now I’m working on a documentary on the <strong>Good Life</strong>. And you remember <strong>Figures of Speech</strong>?</p></blockquote>
<p>Yeah, I do remember them.</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah, one of the emcees, <strong>Eve</strong>, she’s directing it. And I’m doing the music supervision, and all the sounds… and, it’s really bringing back a lot of memories. But basically, that scene, <strong>The Good Life</strong>, inspired me to become a producer. With the <em><strong>Beneath the Surface</strong></em>, I think I was able to capture those emcees at their peak, while a lot of them were making great music, but they weren’t able to either get signed, or do a whole project. I was just lucky enough to be able to capture that moment.</p></blockquote>
<p>Yeah a lot of these emcees you don’t hear from anymore, <strong>St. Mark 9:23</strong>, <strong>Puzoozoo</strong> and the whole <strong>Onomatopoeia</strong>, it’s like they were dope at the time and then you didn’t see them for a while, it’s cool that you were able to do that.</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah, to think about it, I kinda wish I did a Part Two to that project right after it. I wish I had, because around that time they were still dope. If I were to do a Part Two now, I don’t know if it would be as good. A lot of them are still making good music, but… it’s not the same.</p></blockquote>
<p>What do you think about the <strong>Blowed</strong> now, would you do a project with some of the younger emcees?</p>
<blockquote><p>Uh, <strong>Nocando</strong>, and <strong>Kail</strong> is really dope. I haven’t heard too much of the other ones, but those two definitely.</p></blockquote>
<p>So did <strong>Blowed</strong> slip or…</p>
<blockquote><p>Oh I haven’t been to <strong>Blowed</strong> in three years, four years probably…as opposed to going every Thursday for five years [laughs]! It wasn’t the same, and it was more of a freestyle spot, instead of people practicing all week to do a show. I had to move on.</p></blockquote>
<p>And more about the <em><strong>Beneath the Surface</strong></em> project, I actually bought that off you outside of Fat Beats back when it was on Vermont in Silverlake.</p>
<blockquote><p>Oh word? So we met?</p></blockquote>
<p>Very briefly, man. Just for a second. I’m gonna name like five songs, and they’re songs that I like, and maybe you can give like two sentences about them – either about the emcees, the process of making the songs, or ideas you had while making it.</p>
<blockquote><p>No problem</p></blockquote>
<p><em><strong>(in)sense</strong></em></p>
<blockquote><p>Word, okay that track originally, that was supposed to be for <strong>Medusa</strong> and <strong>St. Mark</strong>. And the concept, was like, well <strong>Medusa</strong> had a concept where she was the Mom, and <strong>St. Mark</strong> was the baby in the stomach!</p></blockquote>
<p>That’s ill!</p>
<blockquote><p><strong>St. Mark’s </strong>concept, he wanted to do a song with some Egyptian pharaohs or something… they both had dope concepts but it was taking forever to do the song…</p>
<p>[laughs]</p>
<p>…and at the time I was kicking it with <strong>Slant</strong> and them, and they’re real cool, and I saw that they were blowing up. I was like, “yo, you want to get on this?” and they were definitely down, knocked the song out. And they were like yeah we got this concept you know each of us is like a sense, and luckily, you know.</p></blockquote>
<p>Yeah the ‘smell’ verse was crazy.</p>
<blockquote><p>That was <strong>Slant</strong> right? I remember that. We did that at <strong>Kutmaster Kurt’s</strong> house.</p></blockquote>
<p><em><strong>You Are In My Clutches</strong></em></p>
<blockquote><p>Oh that one, we were doing the <strong><strong>Shockadoom</strong></strong> project. And I picked up <strong>P.E.A.C.E.</strong> and we were driving to a studio and I was playing him that beat, and he just started doing the chorus! He started doing the “You are in my clutches”, and I was like “Ah man, we gotta record that shit!” [laughs].</p></blockquote>
<p>So it was kinda natural then, it just happened…</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah it just, I was like check out this beat, and he started doing the chorus? I was like… alright… it’s over. We knocked it out in one take.</p></blockquote>
<p>The whole thing in one take?</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah… in one take.</p></blockquote>
<p><em><strong>When the Sun Took A Day Off</strong></em></p>
<blockquote><p>That one… [thinking]. It’s funny how that one happened. I had that beat and originally, cause the album took so long to make I was going from studio to studio, I remember at the time I was recording at <strong>Fat Jack’s</strong>. I mean <strong>Acey</strong> was up there, I didn’t know him that well then. But he was like “What’s this project you were working on?”, and I was like “I don’t know who’s gonna be on it, but it’s serious.” And then this dude named <strong>Orion South</strong>…</p></blockquote>
<p>He was partners with <strong>Phoenix Orion</strong>, right?</p>
<blockquote><p>Exaactly yeah, they cousins I think. He was like “Yeah, just make us a beat” and I tried to get him on there. I made him that beat, but it was taking forever to knock out so I ended up doing the other song with <strong>Orion</strong> and <strong>Phoenix</strong>. And then one day <strong>Acey</strong> was like “What ever happened?” when we were wrapping up the project. I went to his house to drop off the beat and <strong>Jup</strong> [Self Jupiter] happened to be there. So I played it, and then he was beneath his breath, doing his rap, and he was like ‘huh, that’ll fit for this one concept! I’ll take a day off’, and then he started doing it, and you know… I was trying to keep cool, but [in my head] I was like “Oh shit, this is the craziest shit I’ve ever heard!” [laughs] And so it kinda happened like that, and they showed up to the studio, and dropped it.</p></blockquote>
<p>So he did his verse live and it blew you away?</p>
<blockquote><p>You know I could kinda hear it, I couldn’t hear every word, ‘cause he was kinda doin it under his breath, but I could tell that it was on some next shit. Basically <strong>Jup</strong> had the verses, and <strong>Acey</strong> rewrote his to fit the theme.</p></blockquote>
<p>And what was it about, was it just like a fairytale kind a thing?</p>
<blockquote><p>It was kind of like a small town where all this crazy shit happens, like a Jup concept of him taking it to another world, and kind of an intro to the album.</p></blockquote>
<p>OK… how about <em><strong>Farmer’s Market</strong></em> [Farmer’s Market of the Beast] that was another one, with another crazy concept.</p>
<blockquote><p>That one… that one started out with me hangin’ out with my friend &#8211; I was kickin it a lot with <strong>Radioinactive</strong> at the time, I mean I still do. Not as much as I used to but he was like “Yeah man, we should do this song about animals”, cause he had a goat verse he was working on, and I had laid that beat. And he was like “Yeah, we’ll get my homeboy Awol and Circus on it, and I also told Jizzm to be on it.” So then I was like, “Alright, if we’re gonna do a song with animals, we gotta get Xinxo!” He had already done a song where he was a butterfly, and another song where… he was always doing those type of things [I think there was also a song he did with a cougar on “A Tape From a Stolen Car”]. So originally we went to the studio, Xinxo didn’t show up, and Circus’ verse was three times as long! We recorded it on a reel to reel and the reel ran out! So were like “aw man you gotta do something else!”. So then we went to another studio, and he wrote another verse, which was still long, but not as long, and Xinxo happened to finally show up that night, and it just turned out like that. And at first I didn’t even know what to think of the song, I mean I knew I liked it, but it was so like, weird. [laughs] It was so long, and I was like “If I put this out are people gonna like this?” And so I ended up choosing to put it on there. Luckily I did it.</p></blockquote>
<p>Yeah it came out amazing. It was weird and then it just grew on me.</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah I think it grew on me because, especially Circus’ part, I wasn’t sure about it. But then I played it, and I think Phoenix and them, when he came on, they were like “Oh shit! This is the craziest shit!” People that I didn’t really expect to like it was really pumpin’ it up! So then I started listening to it more, and then I was like “Oh… this is off-the-hook shit.”</p></blockquote>
<p>OK this last one… <em><strong>BustMustJustUs</strong></em>?</p>
<blockquote><p>Right, that one was supposed to be an <strong>OMD</strong> track. But the beat came out so hype that I had to jack it for my album [laughs]. But I was like “<strong>2Mex</strong> you gotta still be on it” and at the time I don’t think I had done “Sunny Side Up” so I wanted <strong>Khule</strong> on there. And then, it would have been too short with just two emcees, and I wanted to get <strong>Wreccless</strong> who at the time was in <strong>Hip Hop Kclan</strong> still so… he came on that too. So you know get the <strong>Afterlifers</strong> on there to [rip it]</p></blockquote>
<p>Are there any other songs on there you wanted to talk about? Those are the ones I had written down…</p>
<blockquote><p>I mean each song, started out different that what it was intended to be. <em><strong>Who’s Keeping Time?</strong></em> instead of <strong>Rakaa Iriscience</strong>, it was supposed to be <strong>Volume 10</strong>.</p></blockquote>
<p>Oh, that would have been sick! Word. What happened to <strong>Volume 10</strong>, I’m surprised he wasn’t on that project.</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah he was supposed to be on there. <strong>Myka Nyne</strong> was supposed to be on that too. [laughs] He flaked on the session, he was supposed to have a solo song. He said he showed up to the studio and I wasn’t there but I, I…. I’m not buying that one!</p></blockquote>
<p>[laughs] Yeah, man.</p>
<blockquote><p>And… <strong>Medusa</strong> was supposed to be on the song with <strong>St. Mark</strong> and <strong>J-Smoov</strong>. And then that song actually had a cool story.</p></blockquote>
<p>Oh, <em><strong>Line Posting In Pedro</strong></em>?</p>
<blockquote><p>I took ‘em…that is San Pedro, hence the name… and in the sky, man, I don’t know what was wrong. There was something going on that day, the sky was totally like pink, and it had all these crazy colors. And <strong>St. Mark</strong> didn’t have a verse ready. So he was like “alright just turn it on”. He just went down and freestyled for 3 minutes singing! Which is what you hear parts of. And that was the first time… I didn’t even know he sang. And he’s doin’ that shit and I’m like “What the fuck?” It’s crazy. So he just basically sang for three minutes freestyle. <strong>J-Smoov</strong> ended up saying, “Alright, I gotta rewrite my verse,” after hearing that. So he went back rewrote his verse, and then based on <strong>Smoov’s</strong> verse, <strong>St. Mark</strong> wrote a verse with the same pattern as he did. So then the singing is the original freestyle that I chopped up to have an intro, middle, and outro. So there’s an original version, which is him singing throughout the whole thing.</p></blockquote>
<p>Would you ever release that?</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah when I find ADAT’s eventually, I’ll definitely release that.</p></blockquote>
<p>So anything else you remember about that project?</p>
<blockquote><p>I think those are the more interesting stories, yeah.</p></blockquote>
<p>So the last question is about your background as well as your politics. How do you see your role as an Iranian American in hip-hop, and also your role as an artist and the connection between politics and art.</p>
<blockquote><p>Yeah I mean on Monolith, we did that anti-war song with <strong>Bus</strong>[driver]… I would try to at least here and there. I mean there’s only so much you can do as a producer, ‘cause you’re not saying words, but that’s another reason that I try to choose the more political cats. Or like even <strong>Sach</strong> who isn’t… like up front he isn’t political, but he’s real political if you listen to it. Just a lot people with a lot of messages and just try to work with emcees who are on the same wavelength as far as, you know, view of the world and things like that. I try to fit that in but not where it’s too preachy. And as far as my origin, just the fact of using that type of [Middle Eastern] music in there to maybe get people to say, “Oh okay, they got some cool sounds… maybe they’re not a bunch of crazy killers after all!” [laughs]. To show the artistic side of the culture, you know what I’m saying?</p></blockquote>
<p>Word! So in a way you feel like you might be enlightening people to the culture…</p>
<blockquote><p>I hope so! I hope so, yeah. And that’s while I’m getting enlightened myself, trying to learn, ‘cause you know I’m still a student and learning too. I’m definitely influenced by that. I was raised here [in the States], so I didn’t get the full spectrum, but…</p></blockquote>
<p>My friend goes back to Tehran occasionally, do you ever go back there?</p>
<blockquote><p>No but my brother did a couple years ago they had a great time, and eventually me and my wife want to go visit too, yeah!</p></blockquote>
<p>Cool, thank you for the interview, it was a real pleasure!</p>
<p>-<br />
<code><br />
</code><br />
<strong>Omid </strong>went on to talk more about his next (untitled) project, the documentary film on <strong>The Good Life</strong> café (which is being produced mainly by <strong>Eve</strong> from <strong>Figures of Speech</strong> with additional significant contributions by Omid), as well as the state of the music industry. In the independent game, where somebody like <strong>OD</strong> has lived solely from making unique music that caters to a globally-scattered niche fan base, it’s becoming harder and harder to get by using the same platform. But ultimately he has been able to succeed with his work and has come even further in developing his sound on <em><strong>Afterwords 3</strong></em>. So pick up this new prelude to future projects, it’s an impressive piece. Also be on the lookout for the <strong>Good Life</strong> documentary in the works!</p>
<p>Peace,</p>
<p>T.Reynolds</p>
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