The Tastemakers Society

Tony Soprano and his Jersey family can’t hold a torch to the three main mafia families in Italy. The organized crime over there is off the hook, I’m talking the stuff we’ve seen in the movies couldn’t even have come close to what the real deal thing is going on. It’s said that 1 out of every 5 businesses are controlled by the mafia. Even with the La Costrsa Nostra taking some hits the past few years, with bosses getting arrested the mafia, is about as strong and flourishing as the Italian government itself, who can’t seem to stop it. Let me put it like this the Camorra is estimated at making 70 billion a year, yea that’s right I said BILLION, and the Ndrangheta who controls 80% of the cocaine distribution into Europe racks up 52 billion a year. I think maybe I might be in the wrong business trying to do this writing stuff, I should maybe get into arms dealing and extortion seems like a pretty profitable business to enter. And I can deal with a few shootouts every once in a while, just duck and cover, and as the Godfather said, time to go to the mattresses.  

I know you’re probably wondering who the hell is space ? Sometimes i find myself wondering to. I’am a lot of things, but most important I try to be real. I guess that’s why Manny asked me to come through and drop a few lines .

I’m sure if you ask anyone who knows me they will say I can form an opinion on just about anything, but the thing i have the most passionate opinion about is HIP-HOP. Its the one thing that keeps me going. IM not talking about that shit you hear on MTV, BET, or the radio. I’m not crankin no soulja boys or nothing like that(like I said I’m real). I’m talking about that real hip hop music. Most people put a label on it nowadays like backpack,underground, conscience rap, and who knows what else. What happened to it either being good hip hop or bad hip hop ? Or good music or bad music for that matter ?

 Hip Hop is not dead, its not sleeping and its not lost. We as people are lost! When i say “people”, I don’t mean black people, white people or people who just listen to hip hop. I mean people who were raised in the ”hip hop era”. We would rather be crankin that then voting. We would rather be ballin then saving for the future.  We would rather be buying out the bar then buying stocks. Where did we go wrong ? Our parents are the ones who said were not going to war. Were not going to be segregated and would rally if they felt they had to. When will we feel the need to rally ? We have been at war for who knows how long. The dollar is at an all time low and our president shows his face on tv and I can do nothing but laugh. Is this OK ? I don’t know. I don’t have time to rally my email inbox is overflowing. I don’t have time to rally those new dunks are coming out and I NEED to be the first one with them. I don’t have time to rallyI NEED to get to the club before 11 so i can get in free. Do we really NEED all this shit ? Don’t get me wrong I have over 60 pairs of sneakers and two closets full of t-shirts, but if I had to give it all back so that our kids and our kids kids can have a future than I’m down. I’m not saying got out right now and get ya protest on. I’m saying pay attention to EVERYTHING that’s going on around you. Not just the release date of them new Nike’s. Your either part of the problem or part of the solution. I’m not saying i have the solution , but the first step to the solution is to identify the problem.

Do something or stop taking up SPACE!

 

I like making predictions, it makes me seem that much smarter when they come true and if I make them far enough ahead of time I can always deny ever making the prediction if it doesn’t come true. Well, in this case I wont be able to do that being you’ll be able to look back to this post and see if I was right or not but this time around I’m not even going to make a definitive decision anyway. I would like to say the The Poughkeepsie Tapes will be the scariest movie in 2008, but I’m having a real problem questioning its authenticity. The film is shot documentary style using some of the footage found in the 800 video tapes Pouhkeepsie police found in September 2001 on the Water Street Butcher. A Poughkeepsie, NY serial killer for over 10 years who to my knowledge and little bit of research was never caught. My only problem with this movie is even though its shot in documentary style recounting the Butcher’s attacks, how authentic are the supposed real tapes that will be used for some parts of the movie. Did the families really sign off to allow their family members actual tortured deaths played out for the world to view and be entertained by, I can’t really imagine any family signing off to let that happen. So the question is are they trying to pull a blair witch hoax or is this film really 100% real deal legit? Because if it is then it will give grown men nightmares but if its not it’ll just be another elaborate bullshit of a marketing plan for a film.

It has been a jolly old year wouldn’t you say christmas is coming with santa his reindeer and toys to give away. You thought I was about to give you some more rhythms, huh, nope, maybe next time. 07 was a dandy wasn’t it, the events that happened this year you’ll never forget, you might forget the year they happened but the memories will stuck. The year was filled with shaved head singers, dog killers, secret bathroom gay signals, busy courtrooms and another Harry Potter film. Let’s start off with the obvious of all, the downfall of the pop culture chics, aka the soon to be E! true hollywood story superstars. Paris Hilton got famous for dancing on tables then got even more famous for going to jail and then got even more famous for going on CNN talking about going to jail, what has happened to our society. Media YOU RULE. Every female wants to be a size ’0′ like that’s even a real size. Britney spears fell straight off her rocker and little sister is slowly following behind (because teen pregnancy is so awesome now). Lindsey Lohan, we can sum her up with just a few words, rehab, dui, rehab, rehab, ankle bracelet, rehab, Dina Lohan. Now let’s give around of applause to the proudest parents in the world, the Spears’, the Hilton’s and the Lohan’s, congrats you raised some super kids.

 

Some people can wear the red carpet look some seem even meant for it, but then there’s those who aren’t exactly built for that mold. And I am one of those said people I can put the look on but it doesn’t suit me at all even my sister said so, she could see just in my normal demeanor I’m not the guy who puts on blazers, wear’s slacks, ties, any of that. Last night was the stamping of approval on that notion, I went to the magazine release party for the new issue of VERSE magazine, a DC lifestyle magazine and from the moment I walked into the club I new I was out of my environment, I felt like a football player who stumbled into theatre practice. I feel like it’s an out of body experience for me when I get dressed like that, granted that’s an exaggeration but you get the point, the only time I’ve ever worn dress pants was for court and funerals. It didn’t help any that the crowd was more capital hill like, it seemed like a night out after campaigning or something. But I can’t say the total night was a waste it, it was actually an interesting time it had some very entertaining moments, just listening to how people talked gave me a kick, oh and the dancing, ha, loved that shit, like watching a mix of old Madonna video’s and some workout tapes.

You have to love the power of the internet, at its finest moments it seems to work wonders. If it wasn’t for the internet I wouldn’t have met Sarah of Style It and I wouldn’t have gmail or gmail chat and I wouldn’t be able to talk to her which means I wouldn’t have ever found out about The Pipettes. But we do have the internet so Sarah with her very open but very different taste in music pointed The Pipettes out to me and all I know is they’re from Australia and I like them. This video is what really caught my eye and I love how they have this throwback like montage style about them that takes you back to the Grease movie days, Travolta dancing and Sandy singing. It’s always a good thing to find something new that you like even though you didn’t think at first you’d like it, you learn more about yourself through the new things you encounter then from the old, plus it gives you a little insight on your personal growth and maybe where you’re headed. Or all that could be too deep and you could just have found something new that you like and that’s that.  

I’m patiently waiting for Lupe’s sophomore album to drop, The Cool, and it’s because of oh so smooth tracks and videos like Superstar. His new video for the song Superstar is just as inspirational as the track itself and Matthew Santos is now one of my new favorite singers that I need to check out, the man’s vocals are just so sick. Point blank Lupe is the next generation for hip hop, his lyrical presence is unbelievable he has that if you don’t get it you wont get it type of flow and I know unfortunately that that style can go over some people’s head, but that’s life. Well enough of me talking go click that video link above and enjoy.

Ricky Hatton’s face says it all (picuted above on the ropes), he pretty much got dismantled by Floyd Mayweather for all of the 10 rounds before Mayweather knocked him out. If you missed the fight all I can say is shame on you, you missed a good one, even though it was a lopsided fight Hatton kept things interesting with all his pressure but did get annoying with all the holding. But the most important thing about the fight was being able to call my friend England afterwards to not only talk shit but to clarify the American dominance. Plus Hatton and his team talked a whole lot of shit and showed no respect so it was just do he got his ass handed to him and then put on his ass. After the fight Mayweather hinted at retirement and I hope he really does, that way he can go out on top, undefeated 6 belts 6 weight classes and the best fighter in the last decade and one of the best fighters in history. Oh let’s not forget that it’s said that in his 2 fights in 2007, De La Hoya and Hatton, Mayweather walked away with 50 million, now that’s money. Hate him, love him, but you can’t deny him, the man is the best and I don’t care how he wants to flaunt it. I’m a Mayweather fan and this is me signing out. 

So Mr. Ridley Scott has been given the task of bringing the Gucci family story to the big screen, now I’m  just a little concerned because of the debacle and mishandling of American Gangster. But to give credit where credit is do his career has proven to put out many good directing jobs so I’m not going to bury him off this film, but I am still pretty, how do I say this, angry as a mafia hitman after a snitch, yes that’s a good way to put it. The Gucci legacy may be really hurt if this film turns out to be disaster not in the since where the family with loose any luster in their name but just that if misrepresented can hinder how people view the family itself, remember you only get once chance for a first impression. Personally I think the film would be much better off as an independent film or documentary. Let’s face it if you let the money grubbing studio execs to pump millions into this project then it’s going to end up looking more like a tv sitcom then the Legacy of a family built fashion empire.  The only real way to get the real true essence of the Gucci family story is to let them tell it the way they want, no big production or budget needed. Give the film that family-esque feeling, like the audience was part of the family sitting around listening to the eldest Gucci tell about the families history, make the film feel real, authentic or at the least independent as a film instead of a headlining blockbuster. But Hollywood isn’t about to do that because that doesn’t translate big dollars in their eyes and after all that’s what they want. Their is a little piece of me that thinks or more like hopes this movie turns out good but I have this cloud floating above that I feel is just going to rain over this project and turn a remarkable family story into a cliche`d four act film, start, plot, climax, end. But as long as the masses show up at the ticket stand what do I know.

Look maybe I’m a little bias on this WGA stike thing being a writer and working to get in the entertainment biz, but come on, are you serious. They’ve had the same contract for 20 years I can’t think of any business who’s held the same contract for that long and on top of that during those years new markets have emerged to source new avenues of profit. How can an exec of a studio sit there and tell the people who create the words for their shows and films that you can’t give them what they deserve, give them the a little more of the pie they helped cook. Studio execs make a god awful amount of money a year and it feels to me that greed is the main source driving behind this. I mine why not, really, why not dick writers as much as we can to create shows and films that will net us 100’s of millions and then deny them any extra money. It’s funny to me that, they’ll do almost anything for an actor even give him or her backend money on the proceeds of a film or show, but the actual person(s) responsible for giving said actor or actress something to say, get’s shit, nothing, just left standing with a note from the teacher saying good job. Yes, actors and actress’ are needed but don’t neglect the writer’s because you’re to busy sticking your head up Cruises ass, people remember lines from a movie, no one says, Arnold’s accent and acting was so super in the original Terminator, no, what does everyone remember from that movie, “I’ll be back” yes, I’ll be fucking back, words the writer put down. These people need to just be more reasonable and top basing everything off the bottom line, stop crunching the numbers thinking, hope little can we give to shut them up, just try and be fair, that’ll solve all this, just doing what’s right as a person not doing right by the numbers.

As of Friday the execs put a new proposal on the bird but it’s not really moving anything forward, just take this in for example for a streaming television episodes they’re willing to give up a fixed payment of $250 for a year’s reuse of an hour long program, now compare that to the $20,000 a network can get for the same rerun. Now maybe it’s me but $250 to $20,000 seems like a really huge gap, but hey I’m no math wiz so I could be wrong. Let’s just hope then they start talking again tomorrow (Tuesday) that things will get better, but it’s not likely.  

For starters I already like the fact that the movies title, Juno, reminds of the game Jenga. It’s about time filmmakers broke from the same old pattern of teen flick films some filmmakers are exploring more into the realness of highschoool and those teenage years than just some teeny bopper love story or some wild party when the parents aren’t home. I can’t wait to see Juno in the theatres, I have high hopes for this film the plot being based around a young ton boyish foul mouthed self assured teenage girl who gets pregnant by the most unlikely of characters, some silly ass goofy kid played by Michael Cera, sounds like it could be a really good film.  The best part about the film is Juno the teenage girl who gets pregnant, instead of having her wimpy up to her over egoed boyfriend they have her calling all the shots, making her slef awareness and being so comfortable with who she is and the decision she made is so relieving. Especially in our super critical culture which has allowed media to make more young people self conscionous about their images instead of just being happy ith who you are. That’s why I really like this movie Juno and well the fact that I also think the movie will be down right hilarious also helps with the deciding factor on if I am going to see it or not. Check out this nymag interiew with Ellen Page who plays Juno or more like just plays herself, I love her outlook on things, big ups to Nova Scotia.   

I don’t want to toot my own horn, but, toot, toot. I have to admit I am a funny character, making people laugh is just something I’ve been able to do my entire life but the funniest I am ever and the funniest situations I’ve always been in around are with the garage kids. That’s the name I gave our group of friends that spent way too much time in craig’s aka spaceman’s garage the original group of 5 was me, space, hackey (space’s cousin), rayford and mona but over the year’s and it’s been years that group has expanded some like scooter and england (yes, he’s from england). We’ve known scooter forever and he was always a constant pop up in the garage and england came a few years ago when space moved to new york and ever since then england has been thrusted into the wild world that is the garage kids. Now I’m sure a few of yall out there thinking why name your group of friends, thing is I only came up with the name months ago after another crazy funny night. This thanksgiving that just passed is the first time all of us have been together back in the garage for a long time, but when we get together wild shit happens. Let me take you through that thursday night.