I DIG THIS! | Forensick Ft. Senamax- Homage(Explicit) [Official Video]

Bless to my Hale's Kitchen family! Here is the latest from the camp >> pay homage yo!



For more from Forensick (@iamforensick) check his youtube channel.

Venus Dialogues | You Bouncin with Scott!

Attention hip hop fans...I had the pleasure of connecting with NC 's own Scottie Flippen to hear more about his latest project. What I've heard of the album thus far lives up to its name! Keep bouncing.

Scottie Flippen rockin' the stage.

What is the album entitled? Why?

I decided to call this project “You Bouncin With Scott (Volume 1)” about two years ago when I first started the process. I didn’t want to get too specific with a title or concept for the entire tape because I felt like it might limit me artistically. On the other hand, one thing I did know is that I’m always going to bring that bounce…hence the title, “You Bouncin With Scott.” It has stuck with me over time, and I’ll be looking to release other projects in the future to continue the series.  

Is there an overall message/theme for the album?

Good songwriting, music that makes sense, something the listener can actually live and feel. I want the audience to be able to relate to the music I make, so I don’t talk about superficial shit like cars, watches, chains, etc. I still think all that shit’s cool, but there’s more to life than the brand of shoes you wear or the car you drive. It’s tough times out there; people have real problems and issues not only financially, but personally too. I sound like a politician right now, fuck that, I’m not running for office. I just understand where “real” people are coming from. 2 Chainz, we think it’s great that you have 2 chains, or 7 or 8 or however many fucking chains you’re wearing. But, that’s all bullshit. People can’t relate to that; they’re worried about how they’re going to pay the rent and feed their kids, not how their chain looks in the lighting on stage. I’m a grown up, I don’t listen to that bullshit; my 15 year old sister does though. The chorus for the closing track of my album sums up the overall theme/message best. It says, “I don’t talk about my chain or how my wrists glistening/ but if I did there’d be a million dumb fucks listening.” And that’s real folks.

How is this project different from ones that you have done in the past?

It’s the absolute best of Scott Flippen. It’s not a mixtape or an EP; I put years into finding the right group of songs to introduce myself and my music to the world with. I’m finally comfortable saying that I’ve done that.

What specifically inspired you to do this album?

Basically, just my love for hip-hop, songwriting & music in general. I can turn on a beat, add words to it and make it come to life. I don’t need any more inspiration than that. It’s the first of many, so I’m personally happy to have this project behind me and begin to explore future endeavors in the industry.

Are there any collabs (lyricists, producers, etc.) you would like to mention?

A large portion of the project was produced as well as engineered, mixed & mastered by my boys Mike Machete & Conbud aka Turn 2 Productions. I won’t say none of this would be possible without them, but the quality wouldn’t be near the same level. I value their opinions and ears for music more than anything else; even more than my own at times. Both of those guys put in a tremendous amount of work and effort behind the scenes to make this project possible, and they are family to me. I think the project will also be another outlet for them to showcase their skills as producers.

Kelsey Lu & Scottie Flippen

I also have some good features from other artists on the project as well. Everyone knows Kelsey Lu will be featured on a few tracks. She’s an unbelievably talented vocalist and cellist, and it’s worth mentioning that we’ll be working on her first solo EP this fall…we’re all pumped about that. Kelsey and I teamed up with Kon Sci from MindsOne for one of those records. I’ve also got features from some of my other favorite regional emcees like Chedda Chapp, Azon Blaze, Poe Mack, Sef from 2^nd Revolution, Don Digiorgio and Dirt Digg. I do have other production beyond Turn 2 as well. I ventured a little outside of my box and brought the All-European production team in for a few tracks. I’ve got a couple tracks produced by Dr. G & Pro P from England in addition to a joint from Skeksta out of Poland. CJ Beatz also dropped a dope piano beat on the record for my collab with Poe Mack. Solid top to bottom.

What are your favorite record(s) right now own the album?

I wish I could pick a couple records out from the bunch, but that’s really impossible for me; I like them all. One of the main focuses of this project was to put together a collection of quality songs that can all stand up on their own. I didn’t want filler tracks that the listener would just skip through. There’s no skits or any of that bullshit, just 13 records to break ya neck.

When is the album scheduled to be released?

I want to give you the exact date, but I promised my good friends at CarolinaAllDay.com that we’d be making the announcement via their website. We’ll be publicizing that when it comes out, so stay tuned. I know the exact date of the release, so I’ll just tell you it’s mid-September. Beyond that, you’ll have to check out CarolinaAllDay.com within the next week or two.

Where can hip hop heads buy the album? What formats (i.e. MP3, CD, vinyl)

The album will be available online in all the right places like iTunes, amazon, etc.  I also have a release party planned that we’ll be announcing in conjunction with the date. There will be several record stores carrying the physical copies and we’re currently in talks about distribution with a few different companies as we speak.

Any upcoming concerts/performances?

With a mid-September release date, I’ll be doing a small handful of shows throughout the course of the fall. The first to announce that people need to check out is Saturday, October 6^th with Bubba Sparxxx at Southland Ballroom in Raleigh, NC. We’ll be posting links to buy tickets on all of our social media outlets in the coming weeks.

Kelsey Lu

What other projects that you are working on that you would like to mention?

I’ll continue to write music as always, but I don’t have any immediate plans; I want to enjoy this release first. Putting this behind me, I’m really excited to get started working on Kelsey Lu’s EP this fall. We’re on the same page with everything, and as bad as I want the world to hear my music, I want the same for her. She’s a sister to me, and I’ll do anything I can to help her succeed in this business. I know Mike Machete & Conbud feel the same way. She’ll be back here in NC performing with me for the Bubba Sparxxx show, and we plan on setting that week aside to start working on her EP. It’s all family for us.

What's your official web/social media site(s)?

There are a ton of free downloads as well as videos, interviews, tour schedule, etc. at www.scottieflippen.com. You can follow me on twitter @scottieflippen or add me on facebook by the same name.

I also want to take quick minute to shout out my homie Andy Nichols aka Mr. Neva Dedd . He’s the man behind the scenes for me that makes all of this possible from the interviews to the shows to my day to day collection of bullshit. It’s great to work with people that you consider “family,” and I’m very blessed to have him on my team. I also want to thank Andrea for taking the time to share this interview. You’ll always be an honorary member of the AYP Team! Take care and remember…YOU BOUNCIN WITH SCOTT!!! 

I DIG THIS! | Large Professor - "Key to the City" - Official Music Video

Adventures In Food | Slurping Turtle

Slurping Turtle

116 W. Hubbard Street
Chicago, IL 60654

312.464.0466
www.slurpingturtle.com

Starter: Duck fat fried chicken

Main: Refreshing cold udon

Main: Vegetable and shrimp tempura

Finishing touch: Duo of quail egg shooters, a green tea cream puff and sea salt ice cream.

Adventures In Food | Mercer One Thirteen

Mercer One Thirteen

113 W Hubbard St
Chicago, IL 60654

(312) 396-0113

http://merceronethirteen.com/

Best oyster appetizer bar none! Fried oysters topped with a beurre blanc sauce, sauteed spinach and diced tomatoes.

Panko and slivered almond crusted halibut over rice with a Kung Pao dipping sauce.

Lightly battered white fish over jalepeno mashed potatoes and asparagus.

Espresso chocolate mousse in a chocolate cup with freshly whipped cream and berries.

Dark chocolate mousse in a marbled chocolate shot glass with freshly whipped cream and berries.

Public Enemy | The Rhythm, the Rebel, the Relevance

runnin' to the radio and the tv issues and views shaped by one sided news got us like planet of the apes under cds and tapes preachy young cats askin ol heads teach me over beats that reach me radiation of a radio tv movie nation on your gdamn mind makes ya blind - verse from Public Enemy, Makes You Blind (1987 - Yo! Bumrush the Show)

Forever relevant, not subject to obsolescense - the words of PE are education and the human experience set to rhyme that resonates with independent minds all over the planet. 




Tonight I watched the documentary Public Enemy | Welcome to the Terrordome on Centric and wondered why this was the first time that I had ever seen a program about such a monumental group in music, who is still producing dynamic art today. If it wasn't for the fact that I follow Chuck D on Twitter, I probably would not have known much about the group's current projects at all. Or, about the six documentaries that exist on the group, only one of which has ever aired on American tv (tonight, during what has been dubbed "Black Music Month"). Subjugation, marginalization, whatever term you want to use...the fact that black culture has to be mined and preserved for fear of it being lost to the generations that follow is a true consequence of the times in which we live. Underpublicized, undercelebrated and undermined, individuals must continue to make a conscious effort to contribute to and be ambassadors of the culture for it to thrive. Love it, learn it, live it.


Public Enemy is a revolution personified with much, much more to say. Stay tuned for "I Shall Not Be Moved!" Out June 15th!!! publicenemy.com 

Venus Transformations | The HCG Diet

A sceptic of fad dieting, it took some coaxing for me to try the HCG diet. I have never truly dieted because well, i never really had to...but, as you get older, the body just doesn't quite react the same to exercise, so had to shake things up.

A family member of mine had already lost 20 lbs. in less than four weeks on the diet so that was all I needed to see. There are many naysayers that believe the HCG supplement to be a placebo, and the strict 500 calorie a day diet is the only thing that causes the weight loss. I tend to believe that me just deciding to limit myself to 500 calories per day for 26 days straight would not work on its own. In either case, placebo or not, the diet is working for me and I feel healthier than ever before, so doubters be damned!

Phase 1 of the diet was fun, cause it was a two day food fest. This loading phase is to prepare you for Phase 2 - the next 24 days or more of a Very Low Carb Diet (VLCD). The proteins, veg and fruits you can have are very limited so I had to find some "cheats" to help me keep interest. I'll post my cheat foods in a future post. Dropping pound after pound each day didn't hurt in the motivation department either.

On 5/1/2012 I will enter Phase 3 (P3) and look forward to increasing my caloric intake to 800 calories for that three week period. I'm definitely looking forward to being able to include dairy in my diet. Still can't have starch and sugars during this time, but you better believe that I have some diet allowed recipes up my sleeve, and will be enjoying pancakes, cookies, cupcakes, etc. in P3. I've been scouring Youtube, and diet VLOGs for tips. I've also gotten difficult to find specialty ingredients from Amazon.com and local health food stores.

So, with all this preparation and research, I know what you are thinking..."how much have YOU lost?!" Currently, I am 15 lbs. down after 22 days on the diet. I have to say that a 5 lbs. a week average is pretty impressive!

Got questions? Tweet me @absolutevenus!

Love & Light
Absolute Venus