Monday, September 28, 2009

♫Manifesto Madness♫

For Manifesto, 'Toronto's Festival of Community & Culture,' 2009 PE attended 2 events out of the 5 festival days. One of the days we were in attendance was for the grand opening, Wednesday, which payed homage to an ever present Hip Hop Culture.
Featured at the Acacia Center, on Spadina, were 2 enlightening documentary films. One film, entitled The Freshest Kids: The History of the B-boy, was a breakdown of the whole B-boy culture that originated in the Bronx and existed in mediums/forms such as rapping, breaking aka B-boppin, and graffiti aka street art (such as the pictures below). The second film, entitled Bomb It, documented the subculture known as graffiti art in further detail.
The other event we hit up was of course the main/closing event! A free concert featuring some of Toronto's own rappers & DJ's (Solitair, Empire, 9th Wonder, Lelani Dee, Grand Analog, Scratch - from the roots)
in Nathan Phillips Square aka City Hall. Best of all, the show was headlined by Talib Kweli & HiTek are Reflection Eternal.

Of course PE was there (above: Lisa & Andrea with Talib) to cover the vibes even though we all had to be up at 8am the next morn. We had a good time, and because I'm all about the power of manifesting opportunities, when an insider gave me a heads up as to where the talented Brooklyn cats may be chillin out (pre hitting the stage), we hit the road. The rest was history. We were fortunate enough (pre & post performance) to have had the pleasure of meeting the artists (whose CD's I often bump through my speakers) and just kickin it with them over some Patron Margaritas.

Illin wit Hi-Tek...
I mean, I definitely had an New York City state of mind so I ceased the opportunity to ask Talib a couple questions; namely, which hip hop/reggae hot spots to visit in the downtown core of NY? Most of his recommendations were in the Chelsea neighborhood of lower Manhattan (Pink Elephant, Home, Spirit and Blue Smoke). I was also interested in which artists Talib was influenced by when he was on the come up, and he simply stated: "my influence, and therefore style/flow, is a mix of Ice Cube, KRS 1 and Q-tip but I like ALL types of music."
We thought Talib was intelligent, perceptive, very down to earth and, all in all, MAAD Cool; and WOW what a great movement their Reflection Eternal music has brought about. Snuggled into his hotel room, a lil further from all the fans, about 8 of us all kicked it to Talib's I-Tune lineup blasting from his Mac Laptop which he had been carrying safely in his knapsack. All I can say is, he definitely is a music fanatic! We stayed boppin our heads to tunes from Tribe Called Quest, Ice Cube, Jay Z (and a whole lot more) while marinating on the latest entertainment industry gossip.
On our way to the stage through underground parking lot pimpin patron margaritas in hand

Backstage...
Talib was adamant that Lisa, Andrea and I received wristbands...such a gentleman!
VIP Tent Life...
Lisa & Jahmilla ^

Talib kicks it with Socrates ^

Concert Blasts off (they played all my Favourites)...




Crowd is L.I.V.E
Hi Tek on the 1's & 2's...











Talib nuff respect to ya..thanks for looking out for us!
PLuSH Empress...Putting on for our City!

Toronto Urban Music Festival @ the CNE

Let's GO 2 The Ex...
Aka the Canadian National Exhibition where you can find the likes of my favourite rides, since 19...how long; and in the only place where you can ride them over and over again + act like a BIG KID! Thank goodness we had a concert to go to, on the grounds, in the evening otherwise, I might have seemed juvenile to the CNE public. Nevertheless, it's been a long time coming since I was supposed to post these pics of us having an ultra PLuSH BLaST. Here was the run down of our day at the Ex...
Had to visit our friends upon a PLuSH arrival...

1st Stop...
Best spot on the terrace...Hot Ice Cream Waffles - the equivalent to a Funnel Cake
2nd Stop...Jen bought a fan from the Market and I took some test (sling) shots!
3rd Stop...waiting in line for the swings!!!!!
SWINGS... :)

Jen gets fanned off ^ D.I.V.A




Holding a Medi...Dear Summer...your gone ^
Ah well, Smooches & Duces!

Spreading my wings in 2009



4th Stop...Games!

I shot the Sheriff!

5th Stop...Polar Express (too fast for pictures :)
6th Stop...Ferris Wheel




Peaking in on the World Soccer Game on the BMO field...

7th & Final Stop...
TUMF or Toronto Urban Music Festival, Jen's Uncle & Fam organized the festivities so shout outs to Phillip Vassell & Fam
PE somewhere amongst the Toronto crowd
Socrates in the building...
Shout outs to the Fams again Kamilah & Zahra V, for chauffeuring us backstage :)
Holding a fresh...
Dressing room manage...

The Toronto Squad/Lineup...





Your Boy Master T, part of the Fams!


Guess who???!
Onstage with Karinal...



PLuSH Empress...Seen it, did it!