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Another Local Scores a Deal

April 18, 2008 | Tags: Ernie Paniccioli, Marky

I’m sure all of you heard via whatever source you saw first that Wale recently landed that deal with Interscope. Well, here’s DMV artist number two of 2008 to score that record deal: Marky. On April 15th he signed with SRC/Universal, and that means the DMV got two artists signed onto the majors in a very short amount of time. I’ve heard from quite a few people that the DC area is the next area that’s going to blow up on the regional music scene, and look. It seems to be going down.

To my discredit, I had slept on posting Marky’s shit here on the blog. Shame on me, considering I’ve been paying attention to him for a minute. My boy Modi even was making sure that I gave his “Homework” mixtape a good listen, and I’m glad I did. Oh wait, you haven’t heard it? Here ya go.

http://www.zshare.net/download/34310696b6b1bf/

Marky also released a little statement…

"I went everyday since I was 11 years old thinking that the very next day was that breakthrough day for me...and that very next day finally came! This is a monumental event, not only for me, but for the entire DMV itself. I'm excited man, I'm EXCITRO - 2 levels above excited (laughs). Studio 43 is the match, SRC/Universal is the forest, and Marky is the FIRE! You already know what happens when that go down (smile). I'm with a legend (Steve Rifkind)! He called me from LA on February 27th and told me that he's gonna sign me. He was Iistening to my "Homework" mixtape in the background and came across the "Ice Cream" Wu-Tang joint I did! I was at Anacostia station on my way to the Guitar Center out in VA. We reminisced for a sec on how we met back in 2006 and I jumped on his table freestyling (laughs). He told me I was a star THEN and that him and the people I was with at the time would talk. Long story short the people I was with then couldn't make it happen so I'm here now two years later with my Big Bro Kenny Burns. It was God’s plan for me. How everything manifested and unraveled in time was actually PERFECT TIMING! Everything happens for a reason. I ain't like nobody else, I'm not trynna be nobody else, I'm just Marky. Judah and I crafted my introduction to the DMV with "Homework" - my mixtape released in September 2007. Now, I brought along my right-hand man AB The Producer to the mix and things are heating up with our 43ntourage! It may seem that I emerged from out of nowhere to some, but just in time to others. I been here, I was just a kid then when I was opening up for Lil' Romeo at the New Convention Center when it first opened, and Fabolous around Kenilworth Rec, and so on and so on. But now, I'm here and in the forefront alongside a whole city full of talented, youthful artist that are waiting in the wing for these majors to take note of them. It’s a matter of time before the DMV becomes the actual "Restaurant" rather than "The Drive-Thru" (laughs)."

Best of luck to Marky and to anybody else out there that’s pouring their heart into their dreams. I hope the industry doesn’t do you dirty, man.

There’s a lot of other shit going down in the DMV musically though that you should be aware of. First of all, tonight (Friday) you can catch Nicolay, Kay, and local favorite Panacea at the Black Cat at 9pm, for $15. Should be a damn good show.

Saturday is really poppin, and the district has been blessed with a treat. Gil Scott Heron will be at the 9:30 club (for $30 bucks, but I’d say it’s worth it). The revolution will not be televised, suckas. If you were lucky enough to get tickets, you may also be spending your Saturday evening over at Georgetown University peeping out the Common and DJ Clue show.

Sunday is when shit gets serious though. The Green Apple Festival (I really think that was a ploy to get the potheads to show up, considering what day they scheduled that) in D.C. on the national mall is featuring Talib Kweli, The Roots, Chrisette Michele, Doug. E. Fresh, Russell Simmons, and more. FOR FREE. Yeah, the crowd will be wild, but whatever, right?

Next weekend is also big, so here’s a heads up. Towson University’s Tigerfest on April 26th (Saturday) is featuring The Roots and Immortal Technique, and you can cop advance tickets through Ticketmaster for like $15 and some change including all their stupid ass surcharges. Not a bad deal overall, granted that the weather is nice. Look forward to both sets promoting their new material and putting on what will surely be an at least decent set. I hesitate to say a good set, because college shows tend to suck. Especially college shows at colleges like Towson. Oh, wait, did I say that? It’s OK Towson, GMU’s shows could be potentially great but aren’t either. We’re in the same boat.

And for all you New Yorkers…there is an absolutely amazing event going down in Harlem on the 26th. Ernie Paniccioli is finally coming with the Harlem premiere of his film The Other Side of Hip Hop. You can catch it at the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building, in the second floor gallery, at 163 West 125th St. Screening starts at 6:06pm (wow). In Ernie’s words…

“This documentary is an effort to assist in taking the criminality out of Hip Hop. Through the eyes and story of long time Hip Hop Photo Activist Brother Ernie Paniccioli we take a look at his work in Hip Hop, his connection to the artists and his activism in the culture. This Cree Native American Brother began photographing Hip Hop in 1973 when it wasn't called Hip Hop, it was simply something young people did to stay out of trouble. Now in a day where every photo stalker is attempting to get that photo that will take him/her all the way to the bank and when artists strictly copy cat what other wannabees are producing we are making an sincere effort to do our part in bringing things back to the true essence. Come out and join us for a fun filled edutaining evening of being Brotherly and Sisterly.

The screening will be followed by a Q& A with cast members from the documentary from 7:30 PM to 8:00PM (confirmed for the Q&A discussion from the film are Kangol of UTFO, Musical Director, Brother Ernie, Hip Hop Photo Activist, Linque of The Blackwatch Movement and Producer, Writer & Director of the Project, Alpha Brother Dion Michael Ashman. The Q& A will be Moderated by Brother Keith Howard of ZZL & Brother Jason Gamble of ZZL).

At the conclusion of the Q&A discussion there will a 8:00 PM book signing for Brother Ernie who has recently completed eight books in eight weeks an accomplishment that is unrivaled, and a CD signing for Linque who has recently released her latest effort “GOD SPEED”. During the book and CD signing from 8:00 PM to 9:45 PM You will have an opportunity to network with everyone in attendance including those from the documentary.This is something that we impress upon you to do. Please meet people and make that connection that can make change in our collective communities. FOR MORE INFO VISIT: ourgang62.com and press the button in upper left corner of the home page that says click to enter documentary.”

Peep out the flyer for the event (right click and view image for full size).

Have a great and safe weekend, DX. Enjoy the gorgeous weather.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the writer and not necessarily those of HipHopDX.com or Cheri Media Group.

The Other Side of Hip Hop

November 27, 2007 | Tags: Hip Hop, Ernie Paniccioli, films, positivity, justice

Ernie Paniccioli has been documenting the birth, growth, and evolution of hip hop culture through the art of photography for many years, and his contributions to the industry are tremendous. It is my sincere honor to hand my blog over to Ernie for the day. He is truly dedicated to showcasing the positivity that runs rampant in hip hop. Do yourselves a favor and check out Mr. Paniccioli’s various works, such as his book entitled “Who Shot Ya? ". I assure you, as fans of hip hop, you won’t be disappointed.

Here it is, late 2007, we've survived the arrival of Christianity, the Europeans, the land grabs, cultural destruction, decimation of the tribes, slavery, a civil war, an emancipation proclamation, reconstruction, the so called Indian wars, the Spanish American War, two world wars, a major depression, segregation, a so called Civil Rights act, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and more. And how do we celebrate? Every four years we revive a national ritual called, solemnly, "The Presidential Election". And how do we celebrate? We round up a pack of fetid, rabid, racist, clueless millionaires, give them state of the art makeovers, hire armies of public relations manipulators of the public will, ignore public opinion, and meld fantasy, fear, patriotism, hokum and mindless rhetoric only to go through a banal, tasteless, scripted orgy of hype, smoke and mirrors, and blarney that would make P.T. Barnum green with envy.

In the midst of this madness and mind rot I decided to release a simple, quiet, inspirational movie. No, it is not a Disney film, nor a high minded morality tale, but rather the true story of my life. From the slums of Brooklyn, to homelessness through the Vietnam War, to a magic encounter with Hip Hop, to becoming a legend in Hip Hop Photography and the author of a 30 year look at Hip Hop Photography by one raw, tough, creative, Native American called "Who Shot Ya?".

Did I get your attention?

The film is called "The Other Side of Hip Hop" and it just won Best Documentary in The Big Apple FiIm Festival and features Afrika Bambaataa (the founder of The Universal Zulu Nation), Chuck D of Public Enemy fame, and many other Hip Hop icons. A Martial Arts trained, Native American Hip Hop Photography legend who studied Zen Buddhism and who has lectured at both Harvard and The Nation of Islam and who did a book with Bill Clinton, Bill Cosby, and Michael Jordan (“Lift Every Voice and Sing”), and was chosen to be the spokesman for The Temple of Hip Hop at the United Nations and has photographed both the Dalai Lama and Frank Sinatra as well as Jimmy Carter.

If it sounds like a unique man who marches to the beat of a distant drum, you ain't heard nothing yet.

In my studio I've shot an 18 year old Queen Latifah, a young Big Daddy Kane, Wu Tang, Biggy, Puffy, LL Cool J, Tribe Called Quest, Ice Cube, Bone Thugs, L'il Kim, Master P, The Marley Brothers, Ice T, Foxy Brown, Big Pun, Tupac, KRS1, Gangstarr, Goodie Mob, Public Enemy, Richie Havens, Nas, and Mos Def, to name just a few.

Even though the film may be the first award winning Hip Hop movie and the first award for a Native American, the response from the media has been one of cold silence. Perhaps because the movie was made outside of the monied, structured, colonized confines of Hollywood and because it not only does not embrace, but rather discards all of the clichéd myths normally associated with Hip Hop - including nudity, glorification of thuggish behavior, drug use, macho behavior, general dumbness and arrested development. The movie is an exploration of survival, art, photography, TRUE Hip Hop culture; Hip Hop as a tool of communication, empowerment, self identity, and how to use the basic laws of the Universe to thrive and grow in a dying nation.

In about a week (we move slow, but sure) the website with a trailer will be available at http://www.ourgang62.com/ . For this film to succeed, we need all bloggers, web-site owners, internet dwellers, and those who love life, art, beauty, and Hip Hop, to scream loud and long: "This is the movie we've been waiting for. Here is the raw, naked, ugly, beautiful, unvarnished, truth. And like it or not, it is here."

Peace and thanks,

Ernie Paniccioli