For those of you who know Kero One, you know he is an underground Hip Hop artist who, through his own dedication and hard work (talent too), has become a bit of a sensation in the world of Hip Hop. His single, self released in 2003 on his own label Plug Label, was discovered by a Japanese DJ. Soon, he was actually “Big in Japan”. After his initial success, Kero One continued to develop as an artist, releasing his first album, Windmills of the Soul, in 2005. This album won several awards including Best Hip Hop Album by Remix Magazine.
On April 9th Kero One releases his second album, Early Believers. It’s a definite homage to artists such as Q-Tip, Lupe Fiasco, and The Roots among others. You get the vibe of Kayne West with the intelligence of the Handsome Boy Modeling School. Flowing rhymes, smart stories, nerd references and a bit of “street cred” thrown in add to a groove all it’s own. Samples of Bossa Nova and dance grooves gives the album a party feel. You can hear Kero has developed an attraction to the muted notes of the Jazz guitar, adding them to each track. He collaborates with some great voices in Hip Hop, including Ohmega Watts from Brooklyn and Ben Westbeech from the UK.
Songs that stand out are “Keep Pushin’”, “Welcome to the Bay”, and the instrumentals “Song for Sabrina” and “On and On”. Pick up this album, enjoy.
I just went to get a cup of coffee and while sitting taking a nice relaxing sip, a man sitting across the way from me picked his nose. Now it wasn’t a scratch. It wasn’t to get at a little irritation. No, this was a dig for gold pick of the nose. And, he got what he wanted. He picked a large and slimey one that he held at the end of his finger, looked at, and then proceeded to wipe it on the bottom of the outside table.
A year ago this weekend I was still in Hoboken. By that time I knew I was coming here, and I had not even gone on vacation to the Dominican Republic. Life has truly changed since and I almost don’t want to fathom what it will be like one year from now. My grandmother turned 90 years old today. I spoke with her this morning before she went to my Aunt’s for a party. My whole family was there, or most of them at least. She is a mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. The things she has experienced make my 32 years seem like nothing. So, I can’t worry about how much has changed in this one year of my life. I can’t focus on the lost loves, the weird friendships, the bankrupt company, working from home, or missed entries in my “blog” even. I have to think about how this one year of my life will, as it is for my loving and wonderful grandmother, be only 1.1% of my life if I live to 90 years old. I have to look at the long term, big picture. It has been a great year.
Happy Birthday Grandmom! I love you very much and I hope to live as long as you have, and have as many grandchildren and great grandchildren and great great grandchildren as you do.
