UPPERHANDS Hip Hop Video of the week : Joey Badass "Waves"

Joey Badass - "Waves"

Representing the Pro Era Crew out of Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY,

we present the Official Video for "Waves".

Special Thanks to : RIP Capital Steez (I'll be celebrating your life on December 24th this year...One Love)

Jose Parla - Unveils Graffiti mural at Brooklyn's Barclay's Center

José Parlá is an artist who assumes several roles in order to create his work; he acts as a historical transcriber, and a visual raconteur. As a transcriber, he records his experiences in calligraphic and palimpsestic code. Serving as a collection of textually chronicled memories, the markings appear on backdrops that resemble the distressed surfaces he encounters – the cosmetic results of passed time – city walls marred from layers of paint, old posters, and years of neglect. As a storyteller, Parlá presents a leitmotif of an enigmatic narrative, reaching to translate moments that only a visual dialogue can convey.

In honor of the artist Jose Parla, Upperhands will be re-designing it's website 

to reflect the work of Jose Parla.

 Special Thanks to: Vandalism with a spray can, marker, paper, oil stick, mop, fire extinguisher, lipstick, paint, crayon, paint roller, etc.

Capital Steez and the Pro Era - Stardom is a Mother F******

As the year comes to an end, I like to reflect on the adventures I've experienced 

and accomplishments I've made in the past 365 days. 

Rarely am I blown away about something brand new that is happening right 

in the middle of this annual reflection. 

On December 23rd of 2012 I stumbled upon a new hip-hop group out of Flatbush Brooklyn named,

the Pro Era.

Joey Bad Ass, Kirk Knight, CJ Fly, A LA Sole, Capital Steez, Dessy Hinds

Dirty Sanchez, Rokamouth, Nyck Caution, KWON and Dyemond Lewis.

Comprised of roughly 11 urban fashionista, backpacker, freestyle spitting, underground hip hop ascending Brooklynites, the Pro Era brings back all that has been missing from hip hop.

Packed with well produced samples, classic beat machine breakdowns and rhymes that 

make you feel like you are on a Brooklyn bound subway, 

the Pro Era is like a modern day Boot Camp Clik.

Almost immediately after sharing their new mixtape on Facebook,

it grew apparent that there was something wrong in the world of the Pro Era.

Unfortunately one of their shining members, Capital Steez,

died entirely too soon on the morning of December 24th, 2012.

Along with the rest of the hip hop world, I was shocked and saddened.

In an erie twist to Steez's death was his his final tweet:

"The end". 

It is still not disclosed what the cause of death for Capital Steez was, but the final tweet is 

a grim reminder at how social media is sometimes like a digital hell.

Fear not hip hoppers, the Pro Era will live on and will continue their success. 

After listening to the album numerous times, 

I have no doubt in my mind that we will be seeing more from these guys.

I also do not doubt that they will use the untimely death of Capital Steez as a method 

of motivation to become some of the most noted faces in Brooklyn hip hop history.

For the Pro Era Mixtape 

CLICK HERE

For more Pro Era music... Pro Era Soundcloud

CLICK HERE

Jigmastas - "Infectious" - DJ Spinna

This is for the real heads. 

Jigmastas

"Infectious"

DJ Spinna.

MC Kriminul.

 Brooklyn.

2001.

Featuring Mos Def, Apani B Fly Emcee, Eminem

Jigmastas - "Elevate"

Back in the early 2000's there was this Hip-Hop record store in my home town. It was run by a local cat whose father had mad dough, so he bought his son a business and the dude killed it for years. 

This place was my second home for a long time. Unfortunately I was young and not as socially open as I am now, so hanging out with these Hip Hop dudes was not happening. I did however spend many nights watching ill performances by some of my favorite all time MC's and spent hundreds of dollars on vinyl in his spot. You're welcome Ed from The Cop Shop! 

Thank you too, of course.

Where was I...oh yeah, records. 

I used to BS with Ed about Hip Hop and would feel him out on certain albums I knew nothing about and would also rap with him about the music that everyone knew was A+ at that time. 

I once asked him what his favorite Hip Hop was at the time and he wouldn't stop referring to the Jigmastas.

Around this time DJ Spinna had just come out with the mixtape, "Beyond Real Experience",

featuring artists like Guru from Gangstarr. 

Not taking Ed's words for real, I moved on from it and never heard about them again. Or did I?

Fast forward to 2010 and I am working for the beloved Sinning In LA web magazine doing event photography in the heart of Los Angeles. Along with some very understanding members of the staff and my own personal hustling, I was able to set up an in depth interview with DJ Spinna in his Brooklyn recording studio.
Just like the good old days at The Cop Shop, I had finally gathered up enough balls to talk to the real Hip Hop heads. I rapped with DJ Spinna, a true legend in music and Hip Hop about the old, the present and the future. 

We discussed everything from his roots in House music, the influence of Disco on House music, his fascination with Michael Jackson, crate digging habits and the just recent passing of Guru from Gangstarr.

Here is 1 of the 9 clips from my interview with him.  

Although the Jigmastas did not pan out nearly as long as DJ Spinna's career has, they are one of a group of artists who kept it real and we salute them for it.

Special Thanks to: DJ Spinna, BBE, DJ Spinna "Here to There", DJ Spinna's massive record collection, The Cop Shop, Underground Hip Hop, Jigmastas, Possible new Jigmastas album coming out soon according to DJ Spinna, my future post with some select film photos I took of DJ Spinna in the past few years.