Dao. Wind. Water. Trees mostly. Hand out the car window. Running away from things and towards other things. Life on other planets. Time travel. Insecurity. Girls. Being poor. No more alcohol and drugs. Finally getting some sleep.
Some favorites of the musical variety include: Radiohead, Joy Division, Mission Of Burma, Public Enemy, Bonobo, Arcade Fire, Grizzly Bear, Wolf Parade, Bjork, Talking Heads, Bad Brains, Big Daddy Kane, The National, TV On The Radio, Portishead, Minor Threat, Sufjan Stevens, Caribou, Sigur Ros, The Black Keys, Interpol, Death From Above 1979 & several other goodies.
I read a lot of books too, but I have a hard time with the really long ones. Too hard to focus. Favorites include The Dharma Bums (Kerouac), Post Office (Bukowski), Man's Fate (Malraux), Cat's Cradle (Vonnegut) & The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (Murakami).
Sounds Like
What happens after your house burns down and you get a brain tumor
IN STORES NOW -- Featuring production from Kno (Cunninlynguists),
Joe Beats (Non Prophets),
Maker (Glue),
Gnotes (Gnawledge), Scroll,
J. Ferra and Confidence
Praise for The Glass Should Be Full
"Zazen's flow sets a fearlessly tight example for countless indie rhymers...3/4."
Adam Anonymous-Hip Hop Connection
"Zazen is...a top caliber lyricist, a rare treat in a genre where being thoughtful and insightful is often treated like a sinful vice instead of a saintly virtue. 8.5/10."
Steve 'Flash' Juon-Rap Reviews.com
"Electrifying...Clean as a surgical scalpel and just as sharp...(The Glass Should Be Full) is what a nervous system would sound like if it were plugged into an amp." Raphael Luckom- The Weekly Dig
"given the pain that moved his pen at such agonizing angst-addled angles, his sophomore release is as hardcore an opus as Tupac’s Me Against the World...certifies that honesty, vulnerability, and introspection make for better hip-hop than masked insecurity and bullshit every single time." Chris Faraone- Boston Phoenix
"Zazen is one of the foremost hip-hop poets who shows rather than tells, and his second album is a musical and lyrical oasis for anyone who’s caught between Immortal Technique’s militant bent and white dudes who talk convincing politics but have never read a newspaper." Jump The Turnstyle
"...from "Handcuffs" to "Dying Planet" he drops straight up knowledge that makes Atmosphere look like they don't take their opportunity seriously enough." Andrew Fersch- Performer Magazine
"...tracks like "Disappear" display an existential flair from this skilled MC. The production, courtesy of a bunch of different producers, is hard and banging, matching Zazen's forceful flow throughout."- Lost At Sea
"In these trying times, hip-hop needs cats like Elemental to help convey these messages of fear, struggle and pain from deep within the American Dream, as well as on a more global level. Pump this in your jeeps while you are plotting your next public disturbance, or peace rally."- Rock The Dub
"Whether you’re in the market for a new favorite artist or looking for a soundtrack to supplement your daily fight against The Man, this album is definitely one to give a chance."
Raina Change - Daily Evergreen
Elemental Zazen - "HANDCUFFS" (Music Video)
Directed by
Canyon Cody
One of 5 "Locals on the Verge" in 2008! -
Boston Globe.
"Fast, furious, raw, and reflective, this Cambridge-based MC has got a lot on his mind: war, poverty, Third World exploitation, visions of world leaders in handcuffs. Verbally nimble and righteously indignant, Zazen rhymes with a purpose - "pump a fist if you exist to bring the system down!"
-Boston Globe "Locals on the Verge"
"We love the fact that he's a revolutionary in running shoes, and that his bedroom produced "The Adolescence Weapon" is one of Boston's most enlightened hip hop discs in recent memory...The result, we believe, will have Immortal Technique fans liking at least one white person."
- Weekly Dig "Boss Ten"
NO SURVIVORS LIVE @ THE MIDDLE EAST (DOWNSTAIRS)
LIFE IS PRICELESS LIVE @ THE MIDDLE EAST
(DOWNSTAIRS)
VOTE LIVE @ THE MIDDLE EAST (DOWNSTAIRS)
You can download my debut album The Adolescence Weapon for free here in the A/V section. It's an oldie but goodie.
First of all: If you believe that enlightenment through peace is the goal, you are my comrade. Big up to everyone putting in work volunteering, helping the community, fighting oppression, and especially to those that educate themselves and others about the evils of capitalism.
I've decided that my bio is never again going to be one of those "this artist is entirely unlike anything else and is basically the greatest thing ever" paragraphs that most everyone else has. I grew up in Asia. I play shows. I record music. I believe in worldpeace. If you don't like the music, I still send positive karma your way
Those that I have collaborated with include: Dj Vadim, Kno, Jake One, Joe Beats, Illmind, Jean Grae, Vast Aire, Maker, Eligh, Scroll, Metaform, M-Phazes, Gnotes, Blue Sky Black Death, Qwel, Wise Intelligent, Esoteric and several other gems...
Some of the many artists I've had the pleasure of playing shows with: Immortal Technique, Kool Keith, Mr. Lif, Animal Collective, Ill Bill, Murs, Cage, Devin The Dude, Boot Camp Clik, Cunninlynguists, Wise Intelligent (PRT), Roc Raida (X-ecutioners), Masta Ace, Camu Tao, 2mex, Akrobatik, Yak Ballz, Freestyle, Akir, Q-Unique, Bigg Jus (Company Flow), Glue (Adeem, Maker & DJDQ), Louis Logic, Tonedeff, Slaine, Ed OG, Pack FM, Termanology, DJ Eclipse and many, many more....
"...We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.
The Holy Quran tells us, Mankind, we have created you male and a female. And we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another.
The Talmud tells us, The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace.
The Holy Bible tells us, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now that must be our work here on Earth."
- President Barack Obama June 3rd 2009 speech at Cairo University
i wish i could. but i don't know how. i am seemingly incapable of viewing myself as anything besides the scum of the earth. perhaps if i promise to be dead by 33 it would qualify as self-promotion? probably not. the next album is gonna be all about my collection of ant farms. it's gonna be badass. it will promote itself. everyone will hate me even more. i hope you're doing well.
yo guy, dude my internet is to slow to send files right now, as soon as i get my lap top to a place that doesnt have caveman internet...il send dem shits, check the new beat to 1996
yoyo, hope you been well homey. i might be up at the new years show with scrollio. just wanted to touch base and with you and let you peoples know about Projected 3. Your track along side Brother Ali, Slug, LIttle Brother, The Higher Concept and more. We def want to collab on something for projected 4. let us know if you interested. take care homey.
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you can hear all the tracks hit us up for copies if you want. keep doing your thing, hope the holidays treat you well and 09 is great from you.
