Friday, December 24, 2010

Getting Close to the End/ On Santa's Myth...

So... another year is coming to a close, and I'm due to bake and cook and be Domestic Goddyss; Punk Rhyma today, LOL. Amidst all the prepping to make it yet another special holiday for my new little glaring/clan, I'm finishing up my album. It's been slow going, as it seems that EVERYTHING is trying to get in my way, but it is coming together quite nicely, and the more time I spend working w/my brother, the more inspired I get--which is good! I admit have some concerns that my 1st effort will sound a little commercial (eek), but I can only blame that on where the Universe took me w/some of the songs. I didn't write or dumb it down for anyone to guarantee myself and my team a slew of hits, I just followed the path PoppaRAzi's trax led me, and the ideas we came up with. I know I am staying true to myself and my brand, in that I am making "an eclectic style that runs the gamut from danceable ear candy to mind-searing aggression". So you can't say you weren't warned! You really cannot get more hip-hop than staying true to who you are. Run-DMC did it w/ "Walk This Way"...they took the gamble and it paid off for them. They stayed true because they really did use the first few bars of "Walk This Way" (the break beat) when they used to rhyme in the park; they just expanded on it at the urging of Rick Rubin. They were among the first--if not the first-- to use hardcore guitar riffs in hip-hop and make it more of a rock sound...but I digress.
If you hear more "mind-searing aggression" on my next effort, DO NOT run around bxtching about "GATA sold out!" -- cuz I totally didn't. I just decided to show you my shadow. I am a lot of things...I don't subscribe to any one label. You will see a lot of stuff from me, because I was exposed to a lot of different things growing up...and I'm simply utilising ALL my influences. I don't think there's anything wrong w/that. If it felt like I was doing something that wasn't "me", I'd have to put down pen and mic and leave. I wouldn't even bother because it wouldn't be fair to you, me, or anyone. I will never give you anything less than what I am if I can help it. I love to dance and have fun, I love my boyfriend w/a passion, and I have a lot of issues and insecurities I deal w/ thru music. These are a lot of what you will hear...and in some cases from a slightly exaggerated or extreme POV (I'll explain later; I can't really get into it before the album's released). It's not at my expense, it's just to tell the story, but it does come from a genuine place in my life.
Anyway...I'm having a great time recording. And I'm totally squeeked! I can't wait to share it w/you. I hope you like it.

Now, the holidays: I've trimmed my tree (fresh. Love fresh trees, and it's been awhile since I had one), I'm cooking my ass off today and tom'w. 20 lb bird going in the oven tonight for sure. I'm doing my trad of making cookies and decorating them w/my cubs, and we celebrate all month because December is special. My oldest cub was born in December, I found the love of my life in December, and most of my life lessons are learned in December, when I take inventory. I really am tripped on far I've come.
My brain's on overdrive too-- people just keep setting off my tendency to think hard and go off on storms. I've had storms on anything from Beyonce's cover of "You Oughta Know" to...well, this. Recently, one of my buddies on Facebook asked in her status what age was appropriate to tell her kids there was no Santa Claus. I saw some appalling answers that seemed to reflect selfishness, and some good ones. I offered up how I handled it:
"I told my son at about six or seven that Santa was more of a concept than a person...that was why there were people dressed as him in stores and on street corners and such. I told him he was the physical representation of philanthropy and kindness, and that these qualities could shine through any person at any time. One yr he had written to Santa and a few days later these women from like, East Hanover showed up w/all this awesome stuff for him. Illustrated my point perfectly. I told him most parents were automatic Santas...and that giving was more important than getting...worked for me. (^_~)"
I notice a lot of people disgusted w/this time of year, due to mass consumerism and what have you...people are still in the "whoever dies w/the most/best toys wins" mentality. One person was saying how Jesus and Santa were a "conflict of interest". What?! I disagree. I sort of addressed it here. I was answering the above buddy about the "house-w/-no-chimneys" obstacle Santa would face... but then, of course, brain kicked in and off I went:

"The movie "The Santa Clause" does a great explanation of how Santa supposedly does what he does, even in homes w/no chimneys, LOL... I was really impressed w/ how they handled the mythos of Santa's rounds. It was brilliant, creative screenwriting at best, but a nightmare for parents whose kids are hardcore Santa freaks!
I don't think that Santa represents consumerism and the evils of the season...most people seem to think he does. Blame that on the department stores and advertising. The Father Christmas/Sinterklaas story is as old as it gets, but he always gave and gave and gave. The only stupid part of the myth is the coal/beatings thing. And if I'm not mistaken, as far as the image of Santa that everyone is used to seeing (red gear/black belt ensemble), that was invented by Coca-Cola. Lemme check...
Yup, totally Coke's fault, LOL. That's prolly the only commercial bastardization treatment he received. Funny how things catch on...
I only believe the myth's good for teaching that it's good to give, even if you get nothing in return, though some would argue that Santa gets mad cookies and milk and crap...LOL. But think about it. Santa just gives and gives, and he's about love and children...it is possible to instill those traits in children w/o making them believe in a "myth". I think the image just makes it easier and more fun for them."

Of course, this was just my opinion. YMMV. I can't say I share in the belief of "Jesus is the reason for the season" because I was taught otherwise. But my dad said it really wasn't important when He was born (people were talking about when it really was). "He could have been born in summertime," he said. "The thing is, he came and said what he needed to say and did what he needed to do. He left his message...and the world changed. That's what's important." He's right (he often is).

I always thought it was fun to imagine that Santa was some young hockey-playing dude that used technology to his advantage, LOL...some alcohol company gave us a "Meet Klaus" campaign a few years ago and I thought that was so funny for some reason. He was a younger hipster Santa. Hilarious...

I am hoping this year that everyone has the holiday they deserve, whatever you celebrate. I hope each of you sees Santa in another person, and that you can play Santa to someone else. We've seen/done a lot of that this season, and it's beautiful. I love this time of year because you can feel the good energy more than the bad, and it is infectious when you do feel it. I wish people could be this compassionate and altruistic all year. That's what Santa's myth is about, and that is what makes him seem real.
Have the happiest of holidays, everyone. Make the most of what you have, share with others if you're able, and enjoy yourselves. Love each other.
And for corn's sake-- unplug your damned lights at night before you go to bed! I don't know how people sleep at night w/o doing that--I'd be afraid of a short or something. Be safe!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Call For Producers....

Hey ya.
I'm guessing by now you might've figured out I'm not yer standard hip-hop chyck...I have waaaaaaaaaaaaay too many influences for that, and I'm in want of some more variety.
I need trax that go all over the place. I specifically want reggaeton on purpose, but it has to be different than what is on the radio.
I need something w/a punk/ska flavour. If you dunno what that is, No Doubt and Madness are a good place to begin. But--BUT it has to sound hip-hop too...elements from the culture. I also want some stuff that will keep people moving.
I want something w/a Jazzy Bains feeling, some bellydance stuff, some Ting Tings stuff. Some stuff like you'd hear off of SSX3. Benny Benassi stuff...yet still sounding hip-hop and funky!
I could also use some remixes of the current stuff. Techno, dubstep, industrial, darkwave, rock, whatever. What do you hear? How do you think you can improve on it? I wanna hear it too!
So...anyone up for the challenge? Mail me or catch me on Twitter. I'd love to hear from you. Srsly!!

Friday, November 5, 2010

A Post For Future Reference...

I'm just gonna say this, so it's documented and folx can come back and view b4 they come w/criticism:

I don't have vacuous lyrics, but I'm not gonna be deep/heavy all the time either.

Not gonna market my t&a to you... but I'm not nunning up cuz s/one thinx I should.

I'm not and will never claim to be squeaky clean/wholesome, but I'm not/won't be the slutspawn of satan.

I'm the Naughty Kitti but I am a person with a good heart and a conscience. You can't box me. Don't try.

Expect a broad spectrum from me. I might make you dance and 4get your troub for a bit....the next I'll be dropping message bombs and intellectual land mines. I'm weird like that.

And while I may stand out visually, and come off toon that is not to be read "coon" or "buffoon". Don't get "Bamboozled".

Some of you may like me, some of you will hate me. But all of you CAN--not "will" or "should"-- respect me because I'll do nothing less than be true to myself and who I am. I won't put on airs. You will get GATA straight-no-chaser. 

Except when I'm portraying a character or having to lipsynch or s/thing due to dance-heavy. Then all bets are off . (^_^)

That said... I will do my best to honestly entertain you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I plan to.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

I Love My Freakin' Hair...Get OVER It Already!

Don't get me wrong--I'm hoping yawl read past the title of this and see what I'm really about to say.
There is a video that has gone viral from the geniuses at Sesame Street, featuring a girl of colour singing her heart out about how she loves her hair.



The first I heard of it was this news report, and it made me smile. I loved that this man loved his daughter so much, he came up with a way, through his work , to show his little girl that her hair is beautiful just the way it is. I tracked it down and downloaded it for my little Grrl Cub (who at this point could care less that the Muppet loves her hair, she just cares that it's a Muppet), and so my whole family could see it. I am surprised at the strength of my feelings about this. I wish that something like this had been around when I was a Gatita. Had there been, perhaps I wouldn't have ever chemically altered my hair within an inch of its life, I dunno. Perhaps my mami wouldn't have ever taken me to the salon to get it done for the convenience and ease of styling it (for her). I thought it was a brilliant masterstroke from the head writer, Joey Mazzarino. Sesame Street has always been a game changer, from how children were taught, to how the death of a loved one should be dealt with. They have always had the balls to change the game. And they're doing it again...and people are pissed.

The main complaint I am hearing is that Sesame Street shouldn't have made it a "race thing", that it should've been a message for everyone with kinky hair. What these people fail to realise is that the song was mainly made for a little girl who didn't like her hair...a little AFRICAN girl.

 Go back and read the article, watch the news segment, and the video. I'll wait.

I can't believe how many people are bugging over this. I actually commented on a story featuring it, because I was so fed up w/the ignorance--the literally "not-knowing-ness" of those who just didn't get it:

For those of you "concerned" about this being a message geared towards ONLY African-American girls, I think you ought to see the backstory on why this song and video happened to begin with:
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/sesame-street-writer-inspired-daughter-creates-love-hair/story?id=11908940
For those of you that can't view that...Joey Mazzarino is a longtime Sesame Street writer, and he and his wife adopted a girl from Ethiopia. And like many of us girls with Afro-textured hair, she was bombarded w/images of Barbie and women with straight hair, which in this society, is deemed the beauty standard. She wondered why her hair wasn't straight, and she wanted hair like that to the point her father decided to make something for her to show her that her hair is beautiful the way it is. And it worked, according to him. She no longer feels that way. So, technically, YES--it WAS made for someone w/ Afro-textured hair, but ended up being a universal message for ANYONE WHO CAN IDENTIFY WITH IT. I think many of us would agree that if this segment had been around when we were in our formative years, we would have accepted our hair as is and learned to love it...like Joey's daughter.
For God's sake, stop getting all hung up on who it's aimed at and accept the message? Please?


Even after writing that, people still were bent on "it shouldn't be limited to black girls--it should be for everyone!" Whatever! What I said above is how I really feel on the subject. Yes, it was made for someone with Afro-textured hair. SFW?! If you can identify w/the message because you have bad unruly kinky hair, is it really such a big deal to you that it wasn't a little Latina/Jewish/Caucasian Muppet singing the damned song?
The only reason why it was a (presumably) African-American Muppet is because Joey's daughter needed someone who looked like her that she could identify with. Gawd. Get OVER it.
The ultimate message is: LOVE WHO THE HELL YOU ARE. Hair and all. Take it, drink it in, use it, and have a nice frosty bowl of STFU. Quityerbxtchin.



And in case you're wondering...yup--I have hair under my synthlox. And it is natural. Why the synthlox, you ask? I like them...end of story. I love that I can make my hair just about any colour--and I like my wild colours....I can do this w/o damaging it. I'm always changing it because I get bored easily. For some reason, I feel really at home in the synthlox. I get laughed at-- I got laughed at before by people when I wanted to install them ten years ago, only to see the same people go and get loc extensions themselves. It's okay, though. I don't wear them for anyone but myself.
Right now, I'm into this look... and growing my natural hair--which is to my shoulders when pulled taut--out underneath. Maybe someday I'll run around w/it permanently. Maybe I'll put a texturiser through it (it really hurts to comb my hair sometimes, LOL, and I can get it to still look Afro while making it easier on my comb). Who knows? Who cares? It's my freakin' hair...and I do love it.

I.A.I.R.A Nod....

I had NO idea about this, LOL...just found out: 

"The International Association of Independent Recording Artists, IAIRA, recognizes and honors artistic achievement, technical proficiency, and overall excellence in sound recording by monitoring chart activity as published in various reporting charts from around the world. According to our research, on 09/16/2010 the above referenced release; I Feel U, by ThaGataNegrra, had attained The Number 5 Position on at least one of the charts monitored and verified by IAIRA. On the basis of that research, IAIRA has qualified the aforementioned release as eligible for Certification as an International 'Top 10'." 

NICE!! I'll take it! LOL

Monday, May 24, 2010

Yes--I Know What It Means...Duh.

I was asked why the word "otaku" was used in "GataNegrraotaku", when the meaning is derogatory-- especially in Japan, and when Westerners use it ignorant of its meaning. Well, frankly... I wasn't the one who came up w/it entirely; it was kind of an inside joke.

The fan group founder (who, by the way, is Japanese) and I were sitting around shooting the shxt and talking about how Adam Warren had used that word in an issue of Dirty Pair where there was a Dirty Pair convention, calling the fans KYOtaku. We thought that was funny, since "otaku" is the honorific for house, but in Japan it means basically, you have such an obsession, hobby, or whatever that you don't leave your house... and therefore you are kind of a loser. We thought that it was cute how Western kids were trying to reclaim it as a positive thing, tho' if you went to Japan, they would prolly laugh your ass right out of the building or shake their heads in reproach and pity at the stupid "gaijin" (or "kokujin" in my case). At first we were using it in conjunction w/another project I was involved in (and thank God/dess I'm not anymore), but later just used it for me. We knew full well what we were doing. We figured that the fans I did have were totally in the closet, and prolly on the DL...there seemed to be so few of them. We imagined guys eating ramen and checking out gore shots of me and fun indie movies, buying pics, watching my lipsynchs, etc., and possibly never leaving the house. Ever. Why? Because it wasn't cule to be a fan of ThaGataNegrra for various reasons (she's fat, she's weird, she's crazy, she's lame; pick one and go w/it). Why even show your face? So, we also decided to claim it in irony. We thought the very idea was hilarious.

On the GNOtaku page on my former site, I just simplified the "dictionary" meaning: "Japanese colloquial term meaning 'obsessed fan' (which is what they said in the Dirty Pair mag, I might add); formerly used in a pejorative manner, but now accepted amongst otaku in an attempt to claim it in a positive light." Which is true, especially here. We also reasoned that there were people who were proud to be GNOtaku, that it was cule to be uncule, and basically nerds rule the world because w/o them I wouldn't be writing a blog on a computer that runs on electricity, now would I? W/o nerds, we'd be in the stone age, and totally not entertained at all. Geeks, nerds, and yes, otaku are good things. Who wouldn't be proud? But who'd admit it? Very few people...which is why the first GNOtaku slogan was "The Few and Proud", also a joke and homage to the Marines, LOL. We had a contest recently to change it because, hello? Trademark infringement much? LOL...

We absolutely knew what we were doing, believe me. I still think it's a funny, albeit true, joke. I am uncule...and to a lot of people, that makes me very cule because I choose to be who I am. The same can't be said for many people: I have been told by such folx I'm brave and whatnot for doing so; that I have balls. W'ever. I'm not trying to go out of my way to do it...never did. I just was/am that way. It's not a big deal.

So...the name GataNegrraotaku sticks. I'm not trying to insult anyone. In a way it's self-deprecating; in another it's saying "fxck you-- I'm fxcking proud to be lame!" Either way, I think I'll keep it.
Besides...it rolls off the tongue so nicely! (~_^)

Monday, May 10, 2010

Public Service Announcement....

To all those who think me an imitator and not an innovator...
To all those who label me "wannabe" as opposed to "gonna be"...
To those who think I will just sit and take shxt when I could go and break shxt...
To those who think they are my left hand knowing what my right hand is doing...
To all the haters, naysayers, deserters, nonbelievers, fakes, phonies, assholes, liars, judgmental dicks and outright pussies...
and anyone else who is on my shxt list...

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

GATA, and Where She Stands (and Lives) in the Hip-Hop V. Rap Debate

   Every once in awhile, I find I need to re-evaluate myself and my form of self-expression, whether or not I'm doing this for nothing, why I'm doing it. I have to ask myself if I am contributing to the problem or if I'm part of the solution...
   I'm referring, of course, to the whole hip-hop/rap issue. This morning, one of the pioneers in hip-hop culture, Melle Mel of The Furious Five, posted:“At Some Point in the near future you are gonna have to seperate Hip Hop from Rap (sic)”. I thought of this quote from a KRS-ONE song: “Yall don't really know/hip-hop ain't rap”, and posted that. But then I got curious as to how other people saw this. So I Googled, and found a whole buncha shxt on the subject. I posted this underneath what I said:

   “Out of curiosity I googled "difference between hip-hop and rap". The first article it came back w/was pretty interesting. Most think hip-hop is the lifestyle/culture, while rap is one of its mediums. Still others think hip-hop is the purest form you can offer as an emcee, all its positives w/quality lyrics, and rap is what's mainstream right now. And others think rap is the real shxt and hip-hop is the bullshxt. Some say the scratching and djs are what is hip-hop, anything done on machines, samples, or over other types of music like rock or r+b could never be called hip-hop. I'd offer my opinion, but I'm just gonna leave it at this, lol”

   It really did get me thinking. When I first started, about a thousand years ago, LOL... I was influenced by the likes of Run-DMC, LL Cool J, and anybody that came before them, because that's what I grew up on. I was also determined and felt duty bound to incorporate all four of the elements, because that was what I knew by default. I rapped, I was a locker, I tried to dj, and I was infamous for tagging. Later, my influences included salt & Pepa, Sparky D, Kane, Beasties, the Native Tongues, Latifah, Serch; still later, Digital Underground, Cypress Hill, and Eminem. I consider what all these artists do genuine parts of the hip-hop culture and rap-as-a-medium spectrum. They are all different, but they all are emcees employing what rap is about: storytelling, getting the party started (which is what it started out as, before we discovered it could be socially conscious with “The Message”. Then, we discovered you could say almost anything), showing off your skills, etc. Some have managed to do all three.
   With the introduction of the songs just to jump on the bandwagon (like that whole Roxanne thing, and even how Salt and Pepa got started, dissing Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick with “Showstoppas” under the name Supernature), and MC Hammer/Vanilla Ice/the migration of rap to the West Coast, where, at first, they totally fxcked it up (my East Coast bias is showing! LOL, but even Coolio and a few others admitted the 1st W.C. emcees were whack until they got it together), as it got bigger and eventually exploded to the forefront, rap (and the rest of the hip-hop culture, come to that) got severely diluted. And it seemed that the more that it spread, and the more the big boxes got hold of it and tried to(like everything else) make it more palatable for the masses, the worse it got... finally reaching new lows with the introduction of the so-called “Dirty South” sound. This, now, is what people think hip-hop is. Granted, I don't include quite a few Southern artists in this category-- just the ones who aren't that talented/original/innovative...we know who they are. And, since I am a part of the culture—whether people think so or not because of what my particular sound is-- I will defend that shxt till I die, because that is what you do for your family. But I won't hesitate to tell my family that their shxt is bootleg, either. Like I said once, you may not like or get along with your family but you should stick together if you can.

   Now, by the above thinking-- “ the scratching and djs are what is hip-hop, anything done on machines, samples, or over other types of music like rock or r+b could never be called hip-hop”-- those who think that are cutting out a TON of the innovators and pioneers. I call bullshxt. Bullshxt perpetuated by hip-hop purists who just say shxt like that to keep the newbies out. Run-DMC broke a lot of ground rhyming over guitars. Joey may not have dug on it, but he did it and “Rock Box” and “King Of Rock” were huge hits BEFORE “Walk This Way” was even considered being covered. They were still just using the beat to rhyme over, and fxck the rest of the song. “Raising Hell” was the top album before being outsold by “License to Ill”. By that thinking, there would never have been any other forms of hip-hop; by that thinking, nobody would have felt the need to explore and experiment with sound.

   I also think about the content of people's songs. Hip-hop used to be about getting the party started and having a good time before telling stories and spreading messages about what really is going on in our communities. Every artist was known for their different points of view and specialties. Somewhere that got lost. Now, it's all about the same shxt, and all the videos look the same. Frankly, I can't even blame that on the West Coast that much. Some, but not all. I blame Sean Puff Daddy Puffy P. Diddy Coombs. It's mainly his fault, along with Biggie, Lil Kim, and the Junior Mafia, or whatever they called themselves that this era of decadence and ballin' and spending money and all that shxt became the norm, the model from which all commercial-selling rap is based. That and Jay-Z, Foxy Brown and their visuals, and pimp crap. Whatever. “Oh, we keepin' it real.” Really. Jay, when were you a fxcking pimp?

   Anyway...where does ThaGataNegrra fit into all this, and what does she think?

   Well... I don't fit into all this, I'm afraid. I don't fit anywhere, and I don't really expect to. I can't say the stuff I have so far is a straight-up hip-hop sound. Stuff I did back in the day, yes. This, no. However, I am still a hip-hop artist. I'm just combining all my influences. ALL of them, including my new-wave, rock, dance, EBM, and punk influences—with a few pop culture things and nerdy things thrown in. A lot of people don't get that. And a lot of people don't know that right now I'm working on exploring my roots and getting back to that Golden Era sound, along w/making stuff that sounds more palatable to the hip-hop masses. Simply put, I am doing me, and I am being genuine.

   As far as my content...I tell stories. I rhyme about having a good time, I rhyme over bouncy beats, cuz I love dancing and it's part of who I am. I express frustration, I tell about my struggles with sanity. Everything I write is true to me. It may not be Shakespeare, but I'm not trying to write Shakespeare. I am focused on the fun right now, but who's to say I won't get serious? People have no idea what's in my head or in the vaults. You'd be surprised.

   By that reasoning, I am still a hip-hop artist...and I am not perpetuating the problem. I don't plan on making the generic at-the-club-by-the-pool-on-a-yacht video. I won't bombard our children and teens w/images of asses wiggling in the camera and excess bling and grillz and cars I don't own, let alone plan to drive. I won't brag to you about what I got. I will tell you what I think and believe, I will try to get you to dance, I will let you inside my head and let you see what it's like in there when it's dark and when it's light. I will show you what it's like in my corner of the universe. I will incorporate all four elements, cuz nobody seems to anymore. That is my job as an artist and storyteller, as an emcee and daughter of the hip-hop culture.
As an artist it is also my right to express myself as I see fit...but I also have the power to influence...so I will evaluate myself and adjust accordingly. If I don't, I am a part of the problem.

   So, I am living in my skin, and like it that way. I'm not manufactured or put together, and it's prolly why I hadn't got ahead before as fast as I have now (besides the fact I spent years in a group that was never gonna happen anyway)--because I refused to be “packaged”. What you see is what you fxcking get. This is really me.

   I am prepared to stay indie. I stopped looking for a label a long time ago. Nobody is going to change me. You can make suggestions, and I might consider them, but ultimately, it's my choice. I might write something I know will be a commercial success, and then I might write something that only one or two people will ever get. But as long as someone is listening, that's all that matters to me. As long as I get to share it with you. Big ass bonus if I can make a living at it, and gigantic fxcking bonus if I get wealthy. Either way, I know that I am being true to me and the cultures that influenced me. It's in that aspect that yes, I am the real deal.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Request "Come Show Me (PoppaRazi remix)!

Okay, guys, go here pls and request the song "Come Show Me (PoppaRazi Remix) on UnderWorld Mix Radio! PoppaRazi really did his thang on this... scroll down the page to my name, click request, and that's it! Tell yer buddies and really light them up!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Pressing On Despite Haters and Lack of Faith/Support...

Wow.
If you know me you know it takes a lot for me to express frustration. But I have to say it is really hard to get people to support a cause. I mean, I have fans but I barely know it...most of you, when called upon...don't respond. It makes me wonder if anyone actually is into what I'm doing. Part of building a fanbase is word of mouth. I'm really pushing the gig thing this year. But how on earth can anyone tell their buddies "GATA had an awesome gig" or "GATA's gig really sucked, but I liked it anyway" (LOL)  if they're not even there to see it? How can you post pictures, or video--how can you hate on it if you haven't even seen it?

I think that, because of how I performed last year at the Newark Gay Pride thingy, people are prolly put off a bit, and don't want to come out again (not that they came out in droves for the first one). I mean, if you were there, it prolly looked crazy, but some people were responding...add to that the fact that Newark acts as if it's too cule for the room sometimes. They don't respond to anything they don't get, and even if they do get it, it takes a lot for them to express anything. I've seen them literally just stand there and zombie stare at all the acts in a show, save the people who may have known the act that was on stage at any given time. It's like it's too much to ask for some positive energy! Even when WWE was here, they gave no love...and that's WWE! WTF did you buy a ticket for? But I digress...

My performance wasn't...as good as I'd hoped it'd be. I even tell you in the video that I'm having some issues w/sound and a fit of the giggles...thanx to my grrl cub kicking me and these two people in the front who were giving sooo much energy doing these 80s dances, LOL. It could have been much better. I had fun, tho'. I thought I was gonna end up in the damned emergency room/labour and delivery when it was over, N4N!
I look at the video often to study myself and remember what not to do.

I am hoping that May's gig will be better. I'm certainly putting a lot into it. I'm an emcee, but I'm kinda from the old school when people rhymed about nearly anything and could get away w/it, when dance was still an important part of the culture, when people weren't trying to look like they were hardened criminals and obsessed w/"keepin' it real". I'll keep it real, alright, but my "real" is waaaayyy different than their "real". Real for me is expressing myself thru my art and my music, which includes my appearance. I mean even by old-school standards, I'm a different breed. I prolly would've been the weirdest of the Native Tongues if I was part of that crew, to give you some perspective on that.

My show is different from what you'd expect a hip-hop act to be...so you can't go in expecting hardcore ghetto attitude. That's not to say I won't write hardcore, cuz I have some sinister shxt going on in my head sometimes. I explore a range of feelings when I write. Right now, I am focused on trying to have fxckin' fun. Where's the fun @ in hip-hop, guys? Does it always have to be about "bxtches", how much collateral you supposedly have, how many people you fxcked, how much money you have, how you'll cap somebody for no apparent reason, to be "real"? I mean, even when the Beasties wrote "License to Ill", they were doing it tongue-in-cheek! C'mon, yawl...

Expect actual choreography this time. Expect more songs besides what you see on the video. Expect me to look really crazy--as usual. Expect an overall better show.

In light of this I am trying to gather a street team. I need visual support, I need to get the asses in the seats, as it were, LOL. The outside world has to know who I am and what I'm about. If you appreciate what I do, if you think I should meet the world, I humbly ask for any help you might be able to give. I do give incentives, for those asking, "What's in it for me?" Get recruited and find out!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

GataNegrraotaku Army Street Team...New Recruits!

I'm looking for some seriously hardcore GNOtaku to help promote upcoming shows and appearances, spread the GATA manifesto all over the internets, and generally tell anyone who will listen about what we're trying to do here!
Ideal candidates are those who are outgoing, total people persons, polite, have internet access, and who love media. If you think this is you and this is something you'd like to be a part of, you can either sign up at ReverbNation, or use the contact form @ www.thagatanegrra.net/gnotaku. Missions will be posted on the missions page as they are activated. So c'mon, my Feline Legion--rock it out!
BTW: congrats to Alix who came up w/the new GNOtaku slogan! Be on the lookout for your prize!

GATA @ Bar East; ReverbNation


Hey, guys... so I gotta show coming up next month! I'm totally excited. NYC/NJ GNOtaku please PLEASE come out and support! Promo cards will be handed out, and they might just snag you a lil something...if you want one, just lemme know and I'll get it out to you!
The show is at Bar East, 1733 1st Avenue (between 89th and 90th) in NYC @ the basement level, on May 22nd, 2010. Go time is 8pm.

I would really appreciate it if you could join my mailing list at ReverbNation. Just click the little widget up top left corner. I want to compile a good list so that I can send yawl some bulletins and stuff exclusive to you-- the fans. Stuff NOBODY ELSE GETS! LOL...For instance, if you sign up, you'll be the first to get an exclusive download of the PoppaRazi remix of "Come Show Me". It WILL make you dance!
I'll keep ya posted...have rehearsals today, so I gotta get going!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Updates...

So, right now I'm masterminding a plot so fiendish that people will look at me sideways...oh, wait-- they do that already! My bad...
No, really, there are quite a few things in the works, and if all goes well, you'll see several new musical projects from me in the coming months. I also will be getting back on track in the thespian arena, LOL...looking forward to both.
My little cub is growing nicely and already showing evidence of being a musical badass...yay! We'll see if she takes up the family business...
If you haven't yet, friend me over on Jango.com, add me as a friend on MySpace, follow me on Twitter, fan my Facebook page! All of these can be found on my website (maybe you're here already!) or by giving me a lil Goog.
Will, as always, keep you posted! Meow!