Brighter than Sunshine...vote already :)

before you read this, just go underneath the video and click VOTE. thanks.

now that that's out of the way...long time no blog. i'm in leavensworth Washington. A bavarian style village with some pretty mountains and thangs behind it. why? more on that next post. but urgently though, i need you to Vote for my friend Budo and i. we were invited to submit a remix of Aqualung's "brighter than sunshine" to Alternative Apparel's contest and we did. and folks are loving it. but it's a contest. we need to get an incredible number of votes to stay in 1st place. spread the word to ya friends on twitter, facebook and their a-alikes. let's get it!
Peace
M.

Unsigned Artist Competition Sponsored by Alternative Apparel

A.R.M, Soundset, the Grind, and the Sun Set

we came, we saw, we soundset, sun up to sunset. 17,000 or so people in the same location is what we call nuts. Hip-Hop festivals for the win. we give thanks that i could be on that stage with Budo and Krukid as A.R.M. (African Rebel Movement). Second time i played Soundset and it only gets bigger by the year.

lemme just say, for those who don't realize this here is a vocation, it's certainly a full time job performing, helping to sell your own merch, shake hands with the generous fans, sign tees, caps, posters, cds, vinyl and answer random questions. i love it though. i'll shut up and let the flicks speak.

kruk and i. Budo on guitars and horns (and mic) in the back left.


Muja Messiah and Dodi Phy come on for "refuse to lose," posse cut off "2 africans and a jew" album.

Shouts to Susan Campion and those cool and talented students from HSRA school: such support makes it twice as nice to enjoy the vocation.

last but not least, A.R.M tent and tees.


Bonus:
Potholesinblog.com recently re-posted this circa '06 recordings between me and wicked dope Belgian producers 40 Winks. download and enjoy. it''ll shed some light on the evolution of my voice.
http://potholesinmyblog.com/under-the-radar-40-winks-m-anifest-untitled-ep/

Hilarity! peep this...

okay, so i should be blogging about my london and paris journey i'm on right now. but i'm enjoying it too much to be blogging. :). however tho, this video/mockumentary right here is hilarious, and brilliant and vulgar. i've been waiting for Paul (who designed and manages my www.manifestmc.com) to put this out for a minute. he just did so i'm geeked to post it for my own mischievous reasons. see you at soundset on May 30th if you're in MN! you don't want to miss out! peace

struggles, faults & promise; all in one man

i struggle with a lot. i have too many faults to count. i try not to make too many promises. their too hard to keep. i have too many friends, i'm not sure i need anymore. even though i'm learning to keep that friendship circle smaller cause there are too many parasites and plenty opportunists waiting to sodomize my dreams for their own short term benefits.

i shouldn't throw fits. but sometimes i probably do. my fault. or perhaps just a struggle i need to keep, to keep the balance. i'm probably a dope strategist but not always a great judge of character. i can't swim. i love to win. i got a secret stash of that M.J competitiveness. the one that showed up at his NBA hall of fame speech - google that incredulous event. it's one of those necessary faults though. just can't take it to the podium like his royal airness.

i have thick skin. i have thin skin too. which skin shows up when? can't promise. i'm a scorpio, so do the math. i've seen funny-style reviews of my art that don't affect me none at all. i think too highly of myself maybe. on the other hand, i've heard slick sh*t said behind my back by supposed-to-be friends that irks the hell out of me. why should i care? i dunno why i do. i might end up learning to do the same from them. Jah Forbid!

with all my many faults, and my struggles to rid my life off the absolute drama it is sometimes, i've promised myself to remember to tell u guys where you can purchase and support the music and movements i'm making. i'm like public radio, currently membership driven. so here goes...

1. Tomorrow Wed May 5th at the Guthrie theater, Minneapolis, at 7:30pm. i have a show! it's a big one. come thru! get tickets here or at discounted rates at fifth element
2.Tuesday May 11th (next week), the long awaited "Two Africans and a Jew" EP Debut from the phenom of a group known as A.R.M that i'm a part of. Pre-order it here
3. Did you already get "sankofa" from itunes? released this year. Get it!
4. My first album was called "manifestations." buy it on itunes or a physical copy.

thank you and goodnight.

sincerely,
mr struggles-faults-and-promises

That New New!

In case you missed this.... Here ya go! A.R.M. (Budo, Krukid, & yours truly) featuring Slug. thank me later :). Download below.

A.R.M. feat. Slug - Fear of the Mundane(Dirty)
A.R.M. feat. Slug - Fear of the Mundane(Clean)

Off A.R.M.'s upcoming "Two Africans and a Jew" EP. Big up to Slug for such a good look and going in on that verse eh! spread the word and link up with A.R.M. on facebook. And oh yeah *drum rolls*, we'll be performing at Soundset 2010!



"Two Africans and a Jew" is dropping (do people still use this term? :)) late April/Early May. I'm geeked (squad) for this. Listening to the mastered version of the record right about now. mmmm...

peace peace
m.anifest

Kiss and tell...

...or in this case, "live and tell." this one's a quickie.

Infancy: run wild, run free
Adolescence: rebel for no reason. lose things you can't get back (virginity?), enjoy thinking u know better than your parents and other adults. hubris
20's: time to make a lot of really bad decisions and a few good ones :)
Thats all

life begins at 40. can't wait. i take that back. i can really wait. no rush. you're welcome to share your abbreviated version of what you now know to be the cycle of life.
m diggy

See the picture, name the rapper

when i travel i usually muse on a little creative project for myself. usually don't do nathin about it. thanks to my blackberry bold, that has changed. here's my little picture and rapper name/rapper lyrics association from a recent trip. i have other photos but hey....
so here goes

"Couldn't afford a car so she named her daughter Alexus..." - Yeezy


Fatima, what did the young man say, before he stole you away..." - K'naan


Quite Obvious


14KT - Producer

Sorry Kanye. Jesus walks, but some people on Jamaica Ave in Queens have strong opinions on the popular image of Jesus


btw do you have sankofa? cop it from itunes and support yours truly. stank you very much.