In case anyone hasn't noticed I like music. Everything but mostly Hip Hop. I also like to travel, eat out, and even though I'm still a beginner, I love scuba diving. To be honest I don't have time for a proper hobby!
Music
Think I answered this one! Tell you what though, I gotta big up the Bugz In The Attic who performed down my ends at Neighbourhood, tore the place down, rebuilt it and tore it down again! The show was off the meat rack and even though the crowd was going on stush they still smashed it. Bugz, if you read this I was the guy the came up to you outside afterwards going on like I'd just seen the second coming. Seriously though, I was proud of the West London sound that night and I've been blazing the new album ever since...
Movies
Booooyyy. Where do I begin? Apocolypse Now, Godfather, Cronos, Matrix, The Beat That My Heart Skipped, anything by Almodavar, most of the korean stuff, alright then the whole south east asian art house scene is banging... I like blockbusters too but they always seem to dissapoint me. Like X Men 3. I wanted to like it, but... Couldn't.
Television
Don't really watch it.
Books
I ain't even gonna start. I don't read books I read writers. Walter Mosely, Paul Auster, Ian Banks, Rupert Thomson, Rajeev Balasubramanyam, Alex Wheatle, Leone Ross, Ann Petry, Susan Perabo, Mohsin Hammed, Rosa Guy, Octavia Butler, Donald Goines, Chester Himes, Colson Whitehead, Earl Lovelace... (there's more but I'll stop there!)
Courttia Newland is a music fiend. He would really appreciate my saying this because he understands that music more than anything provides us with near-direct insight into a generation’s sense of itself. They wake up to it, fight fights to it, make love to it, dream dreams to it. To it and through it they communicate their value systems, their desires, and their vulnerability. Born in 1973 in Hammersmith, West London, to parents who had migrated from Barbados and Jamaica, Mr. Newland early on began a career in hip-hop production before redirecting his energies from music to literature. Specifically, he went about the agenda of transposing the pure immediacy of hip-hop idiom into book form in order to convey what was considered the popular through a more strictly literary mode of cultural expression. He began writing seriously at age 21, and, in 1997, he published his first novel The Scholar. What is evident in his work is the urge to emphasize the complexities of life in a multicultural London while constructing narratives about people who have been largely excluded from the pages of mainline fiction—people whom he has known and been.
Writers like Courttia Newland are made to adopt a principled, protective stance about the way that black and underserved people are depicted, particularly when this public identity is threatened in the work of those writing from the outside in. Even when they are otherwise well intended, the consistent misrepresentations of black British communities in contemporary media are irritating at the least and at worst extremely detrimental to the idea of thoughtful subjectivity. The character of these communities has been interpreted typically by those operating at a logistical disconnect, who are thus less genuine in their intentions and sometimes disingenuous in their curiosity about the driving factors in the lives of hungry youth—what this violence means, from whence this desperation stems.
Speaking on behalf those who have been to this point voiceless (in most spaces at least) and who yearn to see their lives reflected intelligently in print requires that writers maintain a finger on the pulse of what is happening today and be also astutely ambitious in their ideas of blackness in all of its possibilities. This work must not only offer up new renderings of underrepresented people but establish connections to an entirely new readership as well. Eloquent and accessible in his prose, Mr. Newland is himself a keen cultural reader who has been able to negotiate smoothly the relationship between the highly literary and the deeply popular in a manner that is distinctly black and British and current. The music that serves as a backdrop to his fiction also functions as a soundtrack to an intellectual project that demands real accuracy and insists that literature be active on the ground.
Courttia Newland is a history buff. He would appreciate my saying this because he understands that generations are in many ways survived by the example of their music. Mr. Newland is of a generation of black British writers who have sustained the criticism of their elders with regard to the content of their work and to their perceived irreverence, just as these elders sustained the criticism of their own forebears. Using the same cut-and-paste methodology applied in hip_hop production, these young writers have selected sections of nostalgia and sampled meaning to formulate revisionist notions of being at this technological juncture.
This is a generation whose culture is clearly informed by their diasporic heritage but is in many ways removed from their families’ various points of origin. They are more alert than ever to the concerns and utility of this disjunct and resolved in their new cultural agency. They are cognizant of the interrelationship of race, class, gender, and nation as it affects the ways that they are received most viscerally as humans on the planet, commodified and globalized as representative bodies. Mr. Newland has been over the course of his career contributing to and offering challenges to the prevailing discourse about what it means to be a black British writer and what it means to be a black British person. His work makes a compelling intervention into the generally unchecked approximation of the terms ‘urban’ and ‘black’ in the open market by demonstrating alternatives to the narrowly prescribed versions of black city dwelling that dominate the narratives of contemporary ‘ghetto fiction.’ And Mr. Newland’s project issues a challenge to the old guard to fulfill their roles as mentors to a group of writers trying to navigate the minefield of a publishing industry that overwhelmingly attempts to limit the options of those relatively few upstarts who wish to work outside this increasingly tight perimeter of what is called alternately too black and too urban and not black and not urban enough.
Mr. Newland actively chooses to represent black people and black communities so as to underscore their nuanced humanity with a sophisticated understanding of the potential political ramifications of such work. His characters’ claustrophobia is reflective of the near-suffocation of an emerging group of British authors who have until this time been struggling to represent the diversification of their own blackness regardless of whether or not it is a lucrative venture and regardless of whether or not they have garnered the approval of the older set. This new, expanded notion of what they—what we—are allowed in terms of self-expression serves to complicate any presumptuous idea of where black writing is right now and where it might be headed from here.
Rather heroic and equally necessary, I think.
Following the publication of The Scholar, Courttia Newland published the critically acclaimed The Society Within in 1999 and Snakeskin in 2002.
Mr. Newland’s plays include The Far Side and Mother’s Day, which premiered at the Lyric Studio in Hammersmith in 2002. Mr. Newland is the editor of the short fiction anthology IC3: The Penguin Book of New Black Writing in Britain which came out in 2000 and is comprised notably of sections reflecting the first, second, and third generations of writers. His own short stories have been featured in several other anthologies including The Time Out Book of London Short Stories, England Calling, and Afrobeat.
In 2001, Mr. Newland cofounded the London arts organization Tell Tales. Dedicated to engaging the public through a combination of musical performance and storytelling, Tell Tales also produces anthologies of work by diverse groups of contemporary UK writers.
Prior to this year's British Council residency at Georgetown, Mr. Newland was selected in 2005 as the British Council Ireland's International Writer Fellow at Trinity College, Ireland. In 2006 he published The Dying Wish as well as Music for the Off Key, another inspired collection of short stories. Hands, his first radio play, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 last year. And Mr. Newland is currently at work producing a film adaptation of The Scholar.
From an introduction to Courttia's residency at Georgetown University in March 2007, written by Prof. R. Scott Heath. Many thanks Scott.
Who I'd like to meet: Back in the day all the people I wanted to meet would have probably been MC's - now they're all dead. Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, J Dilla, Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Che Guevera, Ghandi - the list is endless! Oh well... At least I've still got Nelson Mandela...
Hey, hope all is well! Stop by the page and check out the newest Mindstorm tunes "Midnight Rush" and "Gamer's Delight" recently added to the player when you get a chance.
"Midnight Rush" has a more Brookes Brothers/Futurebound vibe while "Gamer's Delight" is just full-blown dirty analog bliss. Leave some love if you like what you hear, it's always appreciated. Big up!
Passing by to show some LoVe and to send some SOLAR Rays.. BabyLondon is COLD AS hELL and the sky is always grey.. check out the new Video... BLESS UP ALL SOULS..
On January 11th I’m beginning another interactive blog story and would love people to come and play. To get involved (go on, you know you want to!), please visit my blog ( :
December 2008 Playlist NEW CHOONZ 1. Brahim - What I Like About You 2. Sunburst Band - Moving With The Shakers (Joey Negro Extended Mix) 3. The Chestnut Brothers - Girls 4. Cool Million ft. CJ Anthony - Give Me My Love (Astral22 Sat Remix) 5. Romina Johnson - Hold On To You 6. Beggar & Co Feat The Jazz Funk Collective - I'm So Happy 7. Beggar & Co Feat The Jazz Funk Collective - London Town 8. Soulpersona - Can't Hide feat. Darien 9. Gregory Mirac G Washington - I Thank You 10. Infinite - If You Think That You Love Me 11. Femi - I Want You
FLASHBACK 12. Ace - Baby Girl 13. Nigel Martinez - She's Gone (remix) 14. Allure - No Question (remix) 15. T-Empo - Saturday Night Sunday Morning (remix) 16. Surface - Stop Holding Back 17. Con Funk Shun - Secrets 18. Donna Allen - Perfect Timing
NEW CHOONZ 19. J -Funk Believe It 20. June Rochelle - Debt Free 21. Nicki Richards - Bring The Love 22. Towanna - Still l Rise 23. Jon B - Paradise In U 24. Isaac Tin Man Smith - I'am Into You 25. Sam Bostic - One More Try 26. David Mensah - My Day 27. Little Anthony & The Imperials - Love You Can't Handle 28. Larry London Project - Lady 29. LaBelle - Tears For The World 30. Light Of The World More Of Myself CD Round Trip + Bonus Tracks 31. Light Of The World - Time To listen, please check out the monthly sched
Hey, we just wanted to drop by to let you know that we have posted our Fall issue of Artistic Pursuit magazine on our website at artisticpursuit. org. It has some of our favorite Myspace and Artistic Pursuit artists spotlighted. Please check it out and support your fellow independent and amateur artists. We also have listed the top artists for the month of November. Be sure to check to see if you're one of them. Here's a video about our Magazine and winners.
November 2008 Playlist New & Upfront 1. Chester Gregory - On+On 2. Jennifer Hudson - Spotlight – (Bentleys remix featuring Chubb Rock) 3. The Chestnut Brothers - Choose Your Destiny 4. Paul Mac Innes & T.B.O.I - You Make My Sunshine 5. Tracey Cruz - A Better Day 6. Sly & Robbie - Blackhouse 7. Razzberry - Closer 8. Willie Collins - All Things 9. Kindred The Family Soul - Hey 10. Alisa Ohri - Just Stay
Flashback 11. Four Tops - Love Music 12. Gladys Knight - When You're Far Away 13. Chi-Lites - Running Around 14. Solo - Nights Like This 15. Chantay Savage - Betcha Never Find 16. Gwen Guthrie - Save Your Love For Me 17. Magic Lady - Give It Up 18. Stacey Orrico - Take Me Away 19. Rockie Robbins - Time To Think 20. Eric Roberson - The Moon 21. Light Of The World/Beggar & Co ft The Funk Jazz Collective - I Am So Happy New & Upfront 22. Little Anthony & The Imperials - I Aint Fallin 23. Nicky Prince - Tired Shoes 24. Jason Anthoney Wright - Reset To Zero 25. Kloud 9 - Cant Hold This Love 26. Maysa - Never Really Ever 27. Terry Dexter - No Place to Go 28. LJ Jaxon - We Are Souls 29. Keni Myles - Last Night To listen, please check out the monthly schedule on http://www. soulchoon
Congratulations on Telling Tales last night - it was a fantastic event & I was sorry it was cut short. I'd love to know when the next is, have fingers crossed that it'll become a regular night out for me because I had a wonderful time! Of to look up Alani's music now :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! MANY HAPPY RETURNS! HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!
So I lay down these words as a testament to us, we are the chosen people, we are glorious! We are the soul survivors, steeped in history, so shine your light and chant for victory!
Thank you for being our friend! And have a great BIRTHDAY!
Love and Light to you,
CHI-QI crew
Cosmic-Flora by Anton Kononov
www. chi-qi. com/jukebox LAUNCHING OCTOBER ‘08!! Art - Photography - Visuals – Music – MP3s – Truetones - Digital - Mobile – Live Events
mail@chi-qi.com All Distribution and other enquiries
Happy Earthday buddy - Grow with Grace & Mature like fine Palm Wine. See you in great-ville. Stay amazing! "PROVERB: "When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others. "
Hey, If you haven't had a chance to visit artisticpursuit. org lately, we just put out our latest issue of Artistic Pursuit Magazine featuring some of your colleagues on myspace. You can check it out at http://www. artisticpursuit. org/magazine. Remember, we're always looking for new talent, so be sure to post your work on artisticpursuit. org before July 31st to be eligible to be selected in the top three for cash prizes. We're gearing up for our next issue and could really use some good talent to promote.
August 2008 Playlist New & Upfront 1. Power - Get Your Love 2. Touch of New York – Love You More 3. Jimmy Abney - Open Your Heart 4. Miki Howard - She 5. Mark Allen Felton (Ft Makeda) – I Do It for Love 6. Mose Stovall – Dance (featured artist) 7. Mose Stovall - Been There Done That 8. Romina Johnson - Hold on to you 9. Lori Nebo - In the Morning Time 10. Omar Cunningham - My Life (featured artist) 11. Omar Cunningham - That’s My Jam Flashback 12. Main Ingredient - Evening Of Love 13. DrizaBone - Brightest Star (Morales mix) 14. Elements Of Life - Make Sure You're Right 15. Tyrone Davis - Never Stop Loving You 16. Groove Collective - Lift Off (remix) 17. Fergie - All That I Got 18. Olu - Living Free 19. JP Rodgers - I Enjoy Your Love 20. Deluxe - Alright 21. Neo – Smile New & Upfront 22. Sophia Nelson – Over (featured artist) 23. Sophia Nelson - Woman in Love 24. Hil St. Soul - Wash Away 25. Lalah Hathaway - That Was Then 26. Angela - Kocham Cie Samotnie 27. The New Mastersounds ft Dionne Charles - King Comforter 28. Eric Bennet – Weekend Girl 29. Nude Continuum - Together 30. Patrick Henry - Loving U
Thanks for supporting the independent artist by promoting their music on your page. The Soulchoonz Show plays the best independents & keeps the world grooving. Tune in and enjoy!
The Soulchoonz Show with DJ Gary Spence Programmed by Di-Lee July 2008 Playlist
Nu & Upfront 1. Robin Thicke – Magic 2. Mose Stovall - Dance 3. Omar Cunningham – That’s My Jam 4. Jaheim – Roster 5. Nickita Germaine – Enough is Enough 6. Kloud 9 – Quality Time 7. Darrius Willrich – Cant Get Enough 8. Devier – This Time 9. Chante Moore – First Kiss 10. Candycream – Love What You Do 11. Venue Connection – Cool Vanilla 12. Venue Connection – Stay at Home
Flashback 13. Cecil Parker - Really Really Love You 14. David Josias - Ghetto Love 15. Eric Chad - On My Way 16. Jonas - Things Gotta Change 17. Deni Hines - Imagination 18. Lance Ellington - Pleasure And Pain
Nu & Upfront (continued) 19. Tyrone Lee - Get To Know You 20. Sophia Nelson - Over 21. Marys Mine - Marvin Robs Seductive Soul Remix 22. Adrian - Who's That Lady 23. Cynthia Jones - Take Me Back 24. Ashanti Munir - Lovers & Friends 25. Ashanti Munir - I'm Staying Home Tonight 26. Lee McDonald - I'll Do Anything 4u (remix) 27. Frank H Carter III - Caught Up 28. Lori Dow - I Love The Way 29. Bobby Staccato – Drop It Lowe 30. Don-E - Stay A While
