In the last few months there has been a hand full of deaths in the music Community. DJ AM died of an apparent drug overdose, Mr. Magic died of a heart attack and now Grandmaster Roc Raida. On Sept. 19, the 37-year-old turntablist Anthony Williams, died of complications stemming from an unlikely martial-arts accident that took place a few weeks earlier.

The Harlem-bred toured with Kool G Rap, Lord Finesse and Busta Rhymes, and provided scratches for the under ground including OC’s “Time’s Up” and The Artifacts’ “C’mon Wit the Git Down.” Rapper Percy Carey (formerly MF Grimm) brought Raida in as his touring DJ when they were teenagers.

Raida was member of the acclaimed collective X-Men, Raida spent the first half of the ’90s working the battle DJ circuit.

“Raida was one of those battle DJs [whose] name will stand the test of time,” says his X-Men groupmate DJ Rob Swift. “People will always study him in their own pursuit of a championship. It’s like, if you want to be a good boxer, a champion, you study what Muhammad Ali did.”

via the NPR

The Freak Accident

On the night of Sept. 3, while in a class for the Israeli defense system known as Krav Maga, his sparring partner landed on top of Raida’s spinal cord, by his neck. Details are vague as to what exactly happened — Raida said he remembered nothing — but given that he was a longtime practitioner of the discipline (it’s easy to see parallels between it and the precision of his body tricks), it was likely just an unfortunate accident. Whatever the case, it left Raida paralyzed from the waist down.

Two surgeries were performed in the weeks that followed, and Raida was moved to a Maryland rehab facility, where his condition appeared to improve. Rob Swift and a carload of friends and X-Men alumni made the trip down from New York on Sept. 18.

“His spirits were up,” Swift says. “He was like, ‘Yo, they’re gonna teach me how to get into my wheelchair, and I can cruise around the rehab facility on my own. He just seemed really upbeat. When we left, we all hugged him and said our goodbyes. It was as if we thought we’d see [him] next week.”

The next morning, Raida went into cardiac arrest and died. But his legacy and influence remain.

“I’ve started to incorporate his [routines] in my set as a tribute to him,” Swift says. “That’s what he left us with.”

Carey concurs.

“He’s influenced a generation of MCs and DJs that [are] gonna come up and do the things he’s shown them,” he says. “His energy cannot be destroyed. He’s still here.”

What? Fantastic Friday
Where? Jet lounge 1515pease
When? Friday 11-13-2009
Who? THE BEST OF MISTAH METRO! CD Listening Party

WHO?: Kinto Sol
WHAT? New Video
The collaborative Spanish hip hop group, Kinto Sol, are based out of Milwaukee. The musical group has achieved national syndication appearing in Spanish language television shows such as “Sabado Gigante”, “Don Fransciso Presenta”, “Primer Impacto”, “Despierta America”, and several other shows. Kinto Sol has been recognized in articles across the nation including Lowrider Magazine, The Chicago Tribute, The San Antonio Express, Houston Chronicles, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Rolling Stone Magazine and Billboard Magazine they have been published internationally, as far as Argentina. Their songs have graced the charts in Latino Billboard.

A message from the wonderful Karina blog! www.karinanistal.com

Dedicated, focused, organized, and I honestly can’t remember the last time I had this much fun working on a project! Second, I have to say THANKS to Big Mike for the artwork and NajMeen for getting us recorded in 1 night! It was quite the task but we did it!
Last, I want to thank everyone who has supported me over the years and really truly showed me love…even when times got hard and I didn’t know my direction. I appreciate all of the L.O.V.E. and encouragement I’ve gotten and those people don’t even realize how significant their timing has been during recent challenges. THIS MIXTAPE IS FOR YOU! Everyone who has given me something, shown me something, put me on or not – I want to give you this gift. I’m proud of it. It’s raw but it’s REAL and it’s Hip Hop!

I will always love you, Houston!
Enjoy it! And spread the link to all your peeps!
L.O.V.E.
Karina Nistal

Karina with Bun B at Common and NERD

Lyrically, “the Abstract” (Q-Tip calls himself) continues to redefine the Hip Hop genre. He has helped music shift away from gangsta life toward progression for a unified hip-hop culture. The question is; how will Houston adapt?

Back in August Daniel Pratt graced Music Arts & Media with a performance of some original releases. We revisit with The Daniel Pratt Band at Belvedere with Music Arts & Media, keep an eye out and view the whose who of Houston!

You are invited to … All City Graff Battle

When:
Saturday, October 17, 2009
9:00 AM to 10:00 PM CDT

Where:
All City Underground
111 Milam St
Houston, TX 77002

Why:
To Battle: $25, Only 8 to enter,
Paint Time: 9am to 3pm

Will need to bring:
Paint, a Light and Extention Cord

Spaces will be given 1st Come 1st Serv.

Showing:
7pm to 10pm – $5 Entry all day.
w/ Special Guest DJ
and Open mic all night.
Bring your CD and jump on. – All City Underground
Will you be there?

A The Saga Continues!! Friday Night 10/09/09
“ONTHEBENCHHIPHOP” PRESENTS **FANTASTIC**

A NIGHT OF REAL HIP HOP from the Worlds Greatest Super Hip Hop Heads!! The Greatest in Hip Hop Music along with the Most Amazing Collection of Super Hero and Hip Hop Video Projections you’ll ever see… Lets do this Houston!!

GIVEAWAYS FROM THREESUNZ APPAREL!! 29-95!
FRANK 151! BEDROCK CITY COMICS!! FRESH FEET & MORE!! PLUS GREAT DRINK SPECIALS ALL NIGHT!!

PERFORMING LIVE: TONY BANANAS!!
Tony Bananas returns to the Hip Hop Circuit after a hiatus making people laugh and to pursue his Love for Comedy on the Stand-Up Circuit. A regular fixture on the Houston Underground Hip Hop Scene he has won a number of MC Battles and has done a number of Showcases from Supa-Dope Fridays: Respect tha’ Mic, Def Trap, The Bench, Basix and we’re proud to welcome him back to the Hip Hop Stage at FANTASTIC!!

Music by BBC & FRESH-S(Tha’ Basix Brothaz)
Guest DJ: MR. GRINCH!! (Solar Grooves Radio)
Plus Texas Street Scene Taping Live Every Month!

Hosted by: Tha’ BBC
9pm STILL ONLY $5 COVER!!
@ THE JET LOUNGE (1515 PEASE)
IT IS SO GOING DOWN!!!

The movie that captured the dreams of 80’s youth culture is back. What do you think? Leave a comment!