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SPOTLIGHT | COLE BENNETT

3/11/2020

parody by nacrowe

since returning stateside roughly three years ago after teaching and living overseas for over eight years i was unceremoniously introduced to the new generation of HIP HOP which left me largely underwhelmed. gone where the clever lyricism and focus on the community that seemed emblematic of the 80S & 90s artists i grew up on (A TRIBE CALLED QUEST, TUPAC, PUBLIC ENEMY, DE LA SOUL, N.W.A.). in its place was a new class more driven by the politics of hype, branding, self-aggrandizement and the goal of personal financial security.

one bright spot was discovering idiosyncratic videographer COLE BENNETT and his LYRICAL LEMONADE channel on YOUTUBE that showcased (mostly) upcoming talent of note with his inspired, conked-out visuals.

i invite you to check out his channel and dive into his clever visual aesthetic.

THROWBACK THURSDAY | MERC "OPEN AIRWAVES" PERFORMANCE

3/5/2020

cover by nacrowe

roughly a year ago DEER GOD produced four live performances videos for MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC in celebration of their STATEN ISLAND ARTS-funded OPEN AIRWAVES initiative which saw the radio station seek to increase participation from diverse populations in the immediate community.

each video showcased a different upcoming MC from NYC including STATEN ISLAND's HOLY MOE, THE BRONX's TOKY DIAMONDZ and BROOKLYN's ELI BROOKYLN. the fourth installment showcased QUEENS' rapper MERC. check it out around the 1:37 minute mark when when the green screen shenanigans commence.

CHECK OUT THIS ARTIST | ANA TIJOUX

2/21/2020

photo manipulation by nacrowe

years ago when my time as a PEACE CORPS volunteer in ALBANIA was coming to a close, i learned that i was able to secure a teaching position at an international school in VENEZUELA. its funny because i have former peers on the international teaching circuit who will only take positions in first-world situations like EUROPE, AUSTRALIA or select countries in the MIDDLE EAST and ASIA. i've actively sought out places that weren't necessarily in line with what i was familiar with (which explains my teaching career of being in MYANMAR, ALBANIA and of course VENEZUELA).

anyway, once learning i was gonna be in SOUTH AMERICA in 6 months i went about reading as much as i could about VENEZUELA and the region. i highly recommend EDUARDO GALEANO's epic ant-colonialist OPEN VEINS OF SOUTH AMERICA (MONTHLY REVIEW PRESS, 1971) as well as COMANDANTE (PENGUIN, 2013) by RORY CARROLL of THE GUARDIAN newspaper. i also investigated for months as much SOUTH AMERICAN music as i could locate online.

so glad i did because i discovered the music of ANA TIJOUX. she is a CHILEAN MC by way of FRANCE and her work is entirely an extension of her unique political, socio-economic and inclusive worldview. i very much view her in the tradition of other politically conscious artists of years past like PUBLIC ENEMY, WOODY GUTHRIE, M.I.A. and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE.

her parents emigrated from CHILE to FRANCE in the 1970s after the overthrow and murder of the democratically-elected SALVADOR ALLENDE by the UNITED STATES-backed military dictator AUGOSTO PINOCHET. what followed in CHILE was a brutal military dictatorship that basically fell in line with the insatiable capitalist needs of the AMERICAN economy for copper (which we use for electrical wiring and consumer electronics).

when i listen to the music of TIJOUX i am reminded of the perspectives of the inhabitants of countries who resources are essentially exploited for western capitalism. its a narrative often ignored and wholesale discounted.

discovering her work and the pride she showed in being SOUTH AMERICAN was something i greatly admired even before i got to the continent. the music itself often makes use of elements of indigenous music and re-contextualizes them in a HIP HOP context, much like M.I.A. before with the indian subcontinent or SEPULTURA with the XANANTE tribe of eastern BRASIL on their album ROOTS.

i highly recommend her music to anyone interested in HIP HOP or LATIN AMERICAN culture. totally worth it.

BOOK REVIEW | "TEN WAYS NOT TO COMMIT SUICIDE" BY DARRYL MCDANIELS

2/17/2020

photo by nacrowe

it must be a special breed of curse to be celebrated for something that you felt little ownership of in creating. such was the case with DARRYL "DMC" MCDANIELS of the legendary NYC HIP HOP group RUN-DMC as detailed in his memoir TEN WAYS NOT TO COMMIT SUICIDE (AMISTAD, 2016) where he details how allowed a situation to foster where his voice was not respected or given attention, which led to drowning out his frustration in alcohol and long fugues of intense depression. his story is one of coming to terms with himself and establishing parameters in his life through the support of family.

speaking of family, one interesting aspect of this memoir is his coming to terms with learning that he was adopted as an adult. at first this was a cutting revelation that cut to the core of his identity, but over time he learned that he only gained a new family. with his voice in tatters due to an unusual congenital defect in his larynx and his relation with REVEREND RUN nonexistent, this new information freed him to learn about himself through advocacy and charitable work associated with orphans, adoptees and foster children.

for me what was interesting about this book was his self-expressed nerddom as a child being interested in reading and comic books and school. the RUN-DMC thing happened as a lark that turned into a career wavering to the expectations of record companies and yes-men that didn't have his interests at heart. the fact that HIP HOP stardom was something that got in the way of his original pursuits in college is beyond interesting.

ultimately he concludes that being of use to people and helping others is what he values in his life, not chasing fame or record sales or reality television. one other thing, REVEREND RUN comes off horrible in this memoir. he seems very much like someone focused on chasing money and uses those around him to that end. even his spirituality is called into question due to his association with a prosperity ministry which basically is made of televangelists using him for his clout with the urban community. makes sense but seems sad nonetheless that RUN would be so susceptible to being involved in such a cult. be apparently he is.

if you are a fan of DMC and appreciate brutally honest memoirs, the healing power of music, and the redeeming power of family, this book is certainly for you. if you like your nostalgic vision of classic RUN-DMC unscathed and untarnished, definitely look elsewhere.

DOUBLE-BILL DEER GOD RADIO TONIGHT AT 8PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

1/19/2020

parodies by nacrowe

tonight starting at 8PM on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC there will be a double-bill of two separate DEER GOD RADIO episodes showcasing both the virtuosic, psychedelic bliss that is 1970s PROG ROCK and the lyricism, grit and legacy of SHAOLIN NYC HIP HOP legends WU-TANG CLAN.

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

PROG ROCK

WU-TANG CLAN

"DEER GOD RADIO 66: SOUTHERN HIP HOP" NOW AVAILABLE

1/7/2020

parody by nacrowe

check out HERE this recent streaming video episode of DEER GOD RADIO dedicated to classic SOUTHERN HIP HOP from MIAMI, HOUSTON, NEW ORLEANS, VIRGINIA BEACH and MEMPHIS.

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

CHECK OUT THIS ARTIST | M.I.A.

12/20/2019

photo manipulation by nacrowe

when SRI LANKAN-born, BRITISH mc M.I.A. came on the scene in the 2000s she was a revelation partly due to the unique production of her first two records and partly due to the unique global scope of her lyrics.

given the dearth of powerful female mcs at the time (and since), it is quite remarkable that this daughter of emigre political refugees from SRI LANKA (her father was involved with the TAMIL TIGERS) would assume such an outspoken role in such a hostile genre. it is not lost on anyone that women involved in the genre usually have to debase themselves with overly sexualized videos in order to gain traction in the industry (exemplified by likes of NICKI MINAJ, CARDI B, RIHANNA, MEGAN THEE STALLION, LIL' KIM and FOXY BROWN). in a sense M.I.A. is a bit of a throwback to a previous era where women where considered equals in terms of their lyrical content (artists like SALT-N-PEPA, QUEEN LATIFAH, MC LYTE, LAUREN HILL and MISSY ELLIOT). it is almost comical that she was side-by-side with NICKI MINAJ in a now overlooked MADONNA video, since in my mind they are opposite ends of the spectrum, almost like comparing PJ HARVEY or PATTI SMITH to CHRISTINA AGUILERA. but maybe i am off-base for making comparisons between female artists. let them have the freedom to portray themselves as they wish to represented. amen.

for me what separates M.I.A. from her competition (of both genders) is her use of sound collages and lyrical refrains that represent the hidden communities of underdeveloped countries around the world. hearing a song that deconstructs the power of money ("$20" off of KALA) within a third-world context is something that i have seen firsthand abroad living in NIGERIA and ALBANIA but have rarely come across in pop culture. it is just not part of the idiom of mass entertainment. same goes for her visuals which can showcase everything from amorous GIFS from the ARAB world (think about how much subterfuge is involved in that) to BOLLYWOOD dance production to Indian subcontinent visual culture of hand-painted shop signs.

when i hear her records i intuit that i am riding along an artist in full control of her artistic vision. not to get back to my point about female representation in HIP HOP, but i get the feeling M.I.A. would never allow herself to get drawn into that game. in her i see another singular artist in the vein of past luminaries like BJÖRK, EMMYLOU HARRIS, PJ HARVEY, CARLY SIMON, JANIS JOPLIN, PATTI SMITH and MARIANNE FAITHFUL who follow their own distinct lead.

could not recommend her music any stronger. check her out.

DOUBLE-HEADER DEER GOD RADIO TONIGHT AT 8PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

12/19/2019

parodies by nacrowe

tonight finds me playing with the format of DEER GOD RADIO so at 8PM on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC there will be a double-bill of two separate episodes showcasing modern PROG METAL visionary DEVIN TOWNSEND and a selection of SOUTHERN HIP HOP from the likes of ATLANTA, NEW ORLEANS, HOUSTON, MEMPHIS, VIRGINIA BEACH and MIAMI. gonna be a fun night!

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

"DEER GOD RADIO 62: BEASTIE BOYS" NOW AVAILABLE

12/17/2019

parody by nacrowe

check out HERE this recent streaming video episode of DEER GOD RADIO dedicated to NYC HIP HOP legends the BEASTIE BOYS with a special appearance by DOLLTITS member THERINA BELLA.

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

"DEER GOD RADIO 64: SUB POP RECORDS" NOW AVAILABLE

12/10/2019

parody by nacrowe

please check out HERE this recent unpromoted SURPRISE episode of DEER GOD RADIO focused on the influential northwestern independent record label SUB POP RECORDS.

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

"DEER GOD 62: BEASTIE BOYS" LIVE TONIGHT AT 6PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

12/7/2019

parody by nacrowe

tonight's episode of DEER GOD RADIO at 6PM on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC is dedicated to the BEASTIE BOYS, from their NYHC roots to their early involvement with DEF JAM and subsequent world domination. we will be paying our respects to a true NYC HIP HOP institution.

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

"DEER GOD RADIO 59: RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE" NOW AVAILABLE

11/25/2019

parody by nacrowe

in honor of their forthcoming reunion, please check out HERE this recent streaming video episode of DEER GOD RADIO on legendary HIP HOP/ALTERNATIVE band RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE!

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

"DEER GOD RADIO 59: RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE" LIVE TODAY AT 6PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

11/19/2019

parody by nacrowe

in honor of their recent reunion announcement (just in time for the 2020 election!), today's episode of DEER GOD RADIO on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC at 6PM is all about RAGE AGAINT THE MACHINE.

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

DEER GOD RADIO 52: NYC HIP HOP" AVAILABLE NOW

9/22/2019

art by nacrowe

click HERE for our most recent episode of DEER GOD RADIO dedicated to NYC HIP HOP.

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, and THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW are available here at the DEER GOD website.

"DEER GOD RADIO 52: NYC HIP HOP" LIVE TONIGHT AT 8PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

9/15/2019

art by nacrowe

tonight's episode of DEER GOD RADIO at 8PM on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC is all about NYC HIP HOP. gonna be a fun show.

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST and THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW are available here at the DEER GOD website.