Hip-Hop Wired Remembers The Notorious B.I.G.

Hip-Hop Wired Remembers The Notorious B.I.G.

Peace to B.I.G. for his creative talent that definitely had a hand furthering the culture of Hip-Hop/MCs. Checkout this link that Hip Hop Wired did of a few of his videos, much luv, Baby Baaaabayyy!

-K:EZ

Duane Powell speaks on Dr. Wax Records, a Chicago staple, gone for worse

This was a personal project I shot because the Chicago staple, Dr. Wax Records in Hyde Park, was officially closing the next day. It has been serving the Hyde Park and Chicago community for 30 years. Truly a big loss for real music to be sold, heard, and promoted. Peace to Duane Powell for the interview and Dr. Wax for their valued service over the years. -K: Easy

March 9th

March 9th has once again dropped on us....another anniversary for us to remember my main man B.I.G. I was on Twitter today and there was an ignorant comment made by this mostly cool dude that I know....rash statements about why Big wasn't the best because he "only made two hot albums and then had some bad luck". It amazes me how this useless debate comes up every year. While it may be a personal opinion, March 9th really isn't the time to argue online, or anywhere else for that matter, about who's the "best". THERE IS NO BEST! While hip hop has always been and always will be a competitive "sport", what makes Big's legacy so powerful and potent twelve years later (12years!!!!) was HIS INFLUENCE. There can be no blind denial that Big's style, clever wordplay, and "everyman" appeal still resonate in hip hop music to this day. He has been venerated. Imitated. Hated. His rhymes have been quoted, bitten, and downright jacked by so many emcees, rappers, and wannabees so many times it would make your head spin if you actually thought about it. Christopher Wallace brought storytelling and wit back to the game, and many people say when he died the baton was passed to people like Jay-Z , Nas, Mos Def, etc. I would fill up too many pages making a list of people who either loved or hated Big for some reason...and that proves my point. He left us way too early, but while he was here he made an undeniable mark on this planet. We can sat the same thing about Tupac Shakur, without a doubt. But this isn't about 2Pac. Today is March 9th.

So today remember Biggie. CELEBRATE HIS LIFE, DON'T DEBATE IT. Play your albums and mixtapes, break out your old Source mags if you got em, and maybe light a candle. Remember how it was back when....and then make yourself a promise to live life to the fullest...because you never know when it's gonna be your time. Live your best life every single day, and do your thing. If anything, I learned that on this day back in 1997.

"Ain't no stopping/Big Poppa/I'M A BAD BOY......."

We miss you B.I.G.

K. Smalls

"It Was All A Dream...."

K. Smalls here people...welcoming you to the new year. 2009....or as a good friend of mine put it...2000-Mine. Today I was riding the Red Line on my way to work...just vibing. I started thinking about this endeavor we began in the spring of 2008...this thing that I named "Tougher Than Leather" one night during a long shower. Yes, that makes me a RUN DMC fan to the heart, without question. But today, on the train I was listening to my main man Biggie Smalls....feeling like today was the beginning of an amazing....kind of like the way I felt the first time I heard Ready To Die way back in 1995. When "Juicy" hit the air it was some inspirational shit man. No question. And I realized that in the last ten years whenever I felt like I needed to restart my internal clock....I played this record. Why? Because what Big represented was THE DREAM. The dead end kid gone legit....the dude that made good on his drive and his talent. BIGGER than LIFE. BIGGER than DEATH. Forever....

You might wonder what in the hell this has to do with the film I'm looking to shoot come springtime (funding pending), right? Well...I'll tell you...EVERYTHING. My commute to work, and how BIG or Big Daddy Kane or Slick Rick or any of the other real emcees that were on my mix made me feel...that's HIP HOP. How it has shaped and molded and enriched my entire life: how I walk and talk and dress and write and feel. How I express myself. How I even ended up in film in the first place. And to think...it all started (at least in a serious way) in a bedroom in Livorno Italy in the summer of 1988....

We are pushing to have the funding for TTL by spring....and I look to be directing the shoots in Europe by summertime. For those of you holding us down with prayers and side gigs and encouragement...or even just interest...We Love You. For those of you who may just check out my blogs on myspace or hit me up on the email tip from time to time and enquire about things...thanks to you too. To my crew: K-Easy, PostiveKK, Jellybean (see how we all have hip hop nicknames) and extended fam....Let's Do This!!!! GO SEE NOTORIOUS WHEN IT HITS THE THEATER. WE MISS YOU BIG.

IT WAS ALL A DREAM....

K.SMALLS