"Rotation" (Phonographs)

"Voices Behind Walls.org"

"When I write  I bid farewell to myself

I leave most of what I know behind and wander through the landscape

of language..." ~Jimmy Santiago Baca* 

Quote from Arts, Literacy and the Classroom Community Video: click here*

 

"Sunset (El Paso)"

"Picture me rollin'..." -2Pac

"The Aggie"

One night away from the Battle of i-10... NMSU vs. UTEP.  Last week I bet on PHI, and lost a few crispy 1's.  This week the stakes are higher.  Picture above is linked to a day time shot from my Blackberry of the Aggie's season opener against San Diego.  So far, 0-1, NMSU.

"Two for One (Gato & Corea)"

-Latin Connection-

An incredible record. I think I found the sample of a track I hadn't heard in years from an MC & producer I met while at KRUX 91.5 fm. The track is "Latin Connection" on Gato's Ruby, Ruby 77' LP. The MC & producer is Good 4 Nothin', which consisted of an MC by the name of Chase Millions and the producer Benneli.  I can't remember the name of their track (and I don't know if I might have the production confused since Chase made music with a few others). Chase & Benneli created a dope collection of tracks in Las Cruces, New Mexico while I was on air. I recall Benneli adding on to the base line of one of my favorite Barry White songs and looping the audio for a talk over. Listening to "Latin Connection" off the Gato record a couple days ago, the music sounded crazy familiar. I kept replaying the track thinking if I played it enough times, I'd remember. At first, I thought it might've been a sample used by Ghost, Pun, Technique, or some artist I'd randomly heard back when downloading off of Soul Seek. Didn't think I'd remember til' it occured to me who it was... Chase & Benneli. A lot of those tracks I was rotating during the early millenium have since been lost, but if I find the cassette recording of an interview we did at KRUX I'll post it up.  There's not much online about the "Latin Connection" song which also (to my suprise) features Marvin Gaye on the credits.

When I bought this record a few months ago, I thought it was a double Gato vinyl. I didn't get around to listening to it til' now. Instead, the extra record was by Chick Corea, 78', titled Secret Agent.

"Heaven or Hell" (12')

All-time favorite track from a member of the Wu-Tang Clan.

"Godfather"

It doesn't seem so long ago until you see how old these kids are now.  My brother (far left) in an Atlanta Falcons jersey, our younger brother's Godfather (middle), and the godfather's daughter (right).    

"The Pacific"

My younger brother had to tend to a family emergency in California with his wife.  It was his first time Far West and he took a camera that my father gave to him.  He returned and showed me pictures he took along the way.  The bird shot is linked to another picture of the Pacific.  Amongst the three of us brothers, he's the first to step foot on an ocean shore.  And the bird above is missing one.

"Just Like Music, Just Like Cover"

I was raised between Michael Jackson's Thriller and Marvin Gaye's Midnight Love LPs.  So I always pick up their records if I'm lucky enough to find, especially if it predates 80'.  I recall listening to some radio station in northern New Mexico a few years ago and hearing a song that sounded like an extended, hook-only, version of Marvin Gaye's "Turn on Some Music".  At first I thought it was the instrumental version of Erick Sermon's "Just Like Music" that sample covered the Marvin original.  But having heard alternate versions ever since, I have yet to re-discover the track I know I heard that day...  "Turn on Some Music, Turn on Some Music, Turn on Some Music, Turn on Some Music"... it went on forever.

Anyway,  a few months ago, I'm flipping through a crate at a thrift and noticed the Marvin Gaye record above.  I don't have any Marvin LPs before 1971's What's Going On, so I was hype.  However, I slide the cover out the bin and could feel that it was vinyl-less.  No music, just a cover.  I ended up getting the Marvin cover for free though and have it posted on my office wall.   

'Chess Lessons'

"In the end, the best strategy, the best tactic you can have in chess is the same one you should use in life:  Never give up.  Never let them count you out.  That's how the greats play, right down to the last move.  That's one more reason why chess is like a swordfight.  It's to the death.  You should play it that way, like you should live your life, as a game with mortal stakes.  A game you play right down to the last move."

-The RZA (p. 49) | The Tao of Wu

"1978"

Today's find.  Richard Pryor talks "Discipline"

"Loving You Through Music"

((Side 1 | Track 5))

Cool production.  The cover caught a co-worker by suprise since the album title is the same name as her daughter.  I've had this record for quite some time but have only listened to it once.  Sounds good the second time around.  On the record sleeve in fine print it says, "(*In the Bronx, in Manhattan, in Brooklyn too)"

"Doña Ana County"

-Voices Behind Walls Newsletter No. 11-

2010 Newsletter | Voices Behind Walls.org: CLICK HERE

"Hayden Valley"

An incredible photo from the files of Hurricane D who recently shared her gallery of pics from a trip she took with family and friends through the lands of Montana (Yellowstone).

"Operation Poisoned Pawns"

-Chess Everywhere-

"Federal Prosecutors said the indictment is a part of a six-year investigation they dubbed "Operation Poisoned Pawns." 

From an article titled 'Public Corruption: Feds Allege Bribery, Kickbacks': SOURCE*

"Tales from the Darkside"

Another shot from Jus' roadtrip.  Was checking out the photographs from his laptop gallery and this one caught my eye cause of a television show it reminded me of from the 80s.  Tales from the Darkside: YOUTUBE* 

"Ximenace Photography"

Last October (2009), I was checking out the El Paso Times and saw an article titled "El Paso-style Loteria: Photographer Rick Jimenez Carrasco Comes Up With Winning Idea"... Growing up visiting my Abuelita's house in the Felipe Angeles Colonia (Cd. Juarez), I'd find Loteria cards scattered throughout the home, mostly on the kitchen table.  I never learned how to play but was always mesmerized by the images on the cards.  The article details how Carrasco, a photographer from El Paso, shot images in El Paso and Juarez that matched the images included in the Loteria cards.

In August (2010), I was looking for a place that would be able to print out a 2 1/2 by 4 photograph of my mother, brother and I for a frame I purchased for my Mom's birthday (August 22nd).  I visited Walgreens, but they were unable to print out the size.  I visited the Sams on Pellicano, but their Kodak computers ran out of paper and were down.  Finally, the day before my Mother's birthday I went by the Sams next to the Cielo Vista Mall.  It was a bit of a wait, and while I waited, I noticed this amazing poster-size photograph of a night-time shot in El Paso.  I asked the individual who was waiting on a few more prints about the details of the shot and he turned out to be Rick Jimenez Carrasco from the El Paso Times article I read about the year before!  I didn't realize this until about ten minutes into our conversation when he passed me his card which displayed the loteria images I immediately recognized.  Being as interested in photography as I am, it was cool for such a random series of events and being on the last hour of purchasing my Mother's gift, to be able to meet a photographer representing the area I was born and raised in and who's work I had a lot of respect for. 

Above I've linked the image to his website and to view pictures from his Loteria collection, you can check them out here: Ricky Carrasco's | Loteria' El Paso   Shout out to Carrasco for representing the scenes and people of El Paso and Cd. Juarez for the beauty that it is. 

"Chess Everywhere"

Been playing a chess match vs. a co-worker for the past few months, a move every other day.  During this time chess has been showing up here and there.  One example, is her fall semester text for Advertising Strategy.

"1 Track @ a Time" | IRON LYON Interview
((Hold That))

EP: What’s the background of your alias, Iron Lyon?

IRON LYON:  I've gone by the alias "Iron Lyon" since I was 13, name was inspired by a few things: first of all my last name is Lyons, second my mother was a huge Bob Marley fan and she put me on to Marley's song titled "iron. lion, zion" which also carried a message I could relate to, and 3rd, depending on how you pronounce it, it sounds like "I aint lyin" which is code I live by in my music. Strictly truth.

EP: Discuss the inspiration behind your debut album 'Time Capsule' and it's influence on future projects?

IRON LYON:  I was inspired to record my debut LP 'Time Capsule' when a fellow emcee & friend named Leftist was killed in a hit and run and at his memorial there were copies of his debut album titled 'Whats Left'. This made me realize that you never know when your time is up and that if I was to pass away I would want to leave a tangible piece of myself behind. I had always wanted to record an album but had mostly done open mics, showcase and freestyle battles to this point. I began writing and recording the album 'Time Capsule' without a clue as to what would come of it, only a hope that people would dig it up at some point. I felt that just making the music would be a success in itself and no matter what came of it I was creating an artifact that will still exist when I'm gone. I wasn't working with much of a budget and didn't have a team in place so I knew it wasn't going to get much promotion however recently with some help from a few friends and some persistence people are starting to take notice.

I have an EP called 'The Foundation EP' coming out in September on Fat Beats Records, a full length dropping in the near future as well titled 'From The Ground Up' and I'm currently finishing up an LP called 'Worldwide' featuring collaborations with producers and mc's from other countries. If you read the titles in order you can see the progression of where I'm trying to take the music.

EP: Who was behind the production on the track 'Hold That'? "So long I've spent waiting for the right moment..." quoting your first line which I feel definitely speaks to that concept of a time capsule and seizing the right time... How do you feel about the message of this track and the current state of music? What are your thoughts on how its being consumed today, as compared to how you approach the music as a listener now that you're on the other side of working to market your album... You also reference CL...

IRON LYON:  "Hold That" was produced by my long time friend Madsol Desar. Originally I had heard of him from production he had done w/ Ed OG & Talib Kweli and when we met in 2000 we spoke about doing a track together but it didnt happen til much later. When he sent me the track it instantly put me in a zone and I wrote it in one sitting. I called him up and spit it for him and he liked it so I hit the studio and recorded it. The track is about staying true to your calling and doing what comes naturally rather than conform to what everyone else is doing around you. These days the market is so saturated that it's difficult to get people to take the time to listen even if you give your music away for free. The only way to remain positive on such an uphill path for me is to see success as relative and keep the love of the music in the forefront. If I worried about record sales all day I wouldn't enjoy the craft and at the end of the day I'd rather make a record that truly moves 1 person than sell a million records that get forgotten overnight. I can say that I've paid my dues as both a DJ and an MC for almost 15 years but that doesn't mean music owes me anything. It has already introduced me to tons of amazing people, helped me to survive mentally, emotionally and financially and given me a means to tell my story and make a mark. Fame or no fame, I was here, I put my all into my passion and I didn't sell my soul. The CL reference "I got a love like CL Smooth did" was to a song called "Got a Love" which was one of the first Pete Rock & CL Smooth singles that I bought as a teenager.

EP: For people that are interested in checking out your debut album, ‘Time Capsule’ what links do they need to visit, and where else can they find more information on your music?

IRON LYON: You can download the album free and listen to upcoming releases on my bandcamp site: CLICK HERE & on 2dopeboyz.com: CLICK HERE & you can support and buy it on itunes or order physical copy from fatbeats.com: CLICK HERE

Also i keep my twitter and facebook updated:

twitter.com/djironlyon

facebook.com/ironlyon1

The Representation Show Presents... music selections subtitled ((Tape Decks Rotation)) of Hip Hop & Soul tracks. Audio postings include interview content conducted by EPmijo (EP) aka Lee (repshowhost) aka Brown Hornet. The Representation Show started on KRUX 91.5 fm at New Mexico State University in 2000, broadcasting for 8 years. 1 Track @ a Time is an online broadcast via youtube. More information on the program's history and music will be posted at leehiphopshow.com

1 Track @ a Time YOUTUBE  Playlist Link: CLICK HERE

"E.R.A."

Outtakes of WAR's recordings late 70s/early 80s. My favorite group of all time. It wasn't until recently that I discovered this LP and listened. I love Jazz...WAR Jazz, even more. One of the tracks is titled "A Pattern of Time".