bodega main blog

we'll be back to the grill again....

2008-09-15T18:27:00.003-04:00

Dear Loyal Brooklyn Bodega Reader,

Our sincerest apologies to those who cannot access the site. Currently the Bodega site is facing an issue involving malicious code, which may affect some PC's ability to view the site. So for those who are fortunate to have Mac's, please let all of your PC using friends know about our current status. We'll have everything back up soon, complete with our funky, fresh brand of humor.

Sincerely,

The Brooklyn Bodega Team

Go eat some food...jerk

2008-09-12T15:52:00.006-04:00

come support BHF trooper Mary as she puts her in foot into some jerk cooking

Fresh & Fly On Friday....

2008-09-11T16:42:00.004-04:00

This Friday, Fresh Daily will be celebrating his birthday at China1 in NYC this Friday. DJ Melo-X and Deep will be spinning tunes so hot, your iPod will blush. So come by for some great performances, great music and great fun--Fresh Daily style. Did we mention the money for entrance is going towards charity?

read a book...

2008-09-10T12:46:00.003-04:00

In Brooklyn this Sunday? Before you go over to the Knitting Factory to check out Blu, come through to the Brooklyn Book Festival, a Brooklyn borough initiative that advocates literacy. The event is free, so come down and enjoy the programs!

brooklyn bodega vs emperial nation t-shirt sale!

2008-09-09T14:36:00.003-04:00

The limited edition Brooklyn Bodega vs. Emperial Nation t-shirt which debuted at the 2008 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival is now on sale for $20 over at the Emperial Nation website! The sale is for a limited time only. With each purchase of this shirt you will receive a $5 gift card applicable to any style from the Emperial Nation collection. Hurry and get your very own while supplies last!

live rhimin' @ black august

2008-09-06T12:06:00.002-04:00

Q-Tip was one of the headliners at last weeks incredible Black August concert. The show took place at BB King's in Times Square, NYC and featured other performances from the likes of Immortal Technique, EPMD and Bilal. The annual event is put together by the Malcom X Grassroots Movement, as means of raising awareness of socio-political issues. Props to GrandGood for the video.

da storm

2008-09-05T14:05:00.003-04:00

Prepare yourself East Coast, for here cometh ~~HURRICANE~~ TROPICAL STORM HANA. Yep, 'tis the season. Most folks ain't worrying to much over lady Hanna actually. Here in New York we're expecting some heavy rain, but that's about it. Much more frightening; the prospect of a hurricane named after history's favorite women-slapping bastard.

this is the remix...

2008-09-03T17:00:00.000-04:00

With the DNC finally over, now is the time to reflect on the history that has been made and is currently being made. This particular video is captures that sentiment and manages to merge the two moments in a refreshing way. Props to Z. Maximo for the work!

out to lunch

2008-09-03T14:32:00.003-04:00

BODEGA™ homies and favorites alike unite for a night of pure dopeness... THE LUNCHROOM presented by Sucio SMASH & High Water Music, featuring live performances by Blu & Mainframe, Oddisee, Homeboy Sandman, P.Casso, and the kid Fresh Daily. 90% of these dudes killed it at the festival this past July... good chance they'll do it again.

BE THERE!!!

brenda's britol's got a baby

2008-09-02T12:16:00.002-04:00

Dedicated to the bun in little Bristol Palin's 17 year-old oven. Bring on the conservative spin-cycle!

heavens to muggerud

2008-08-29T14:00:00.003-04:00

Question: Hip-Hop Honoree & Cypress Hill DJ/Producer DJ Muggs was in this group with a short name...

Answer: 7A3

DJ Mixmaster Muggs, Brett B, & Sean B were 7A3. Where that name came from, I have no idea. I do remember being in the Tower Records by Lincoln Center (gotta be a little old to remember that store) and almost buying the 7A3 album just because the album cover was mackadocious. I didn't pull the trigger on that purchase but I knew, I knew there was something about that Larry Muggerud. "Coolin' in Cali" it's not an album title - it's a lifestyle, homie-loc.

- cool swift uno

sistah souljah moment

2008-08-29T09:23:00.003-04:00

Question: This female MC and Public Enemy associate was the target of scorn by Bill 'Bubba' Clinton in 1992

Answer: Sister Souljah

I am still not sure what the hell the beef was between Bubba and Souljah. As I watch the Democratic Convention I am just thinking about Hip-Hop and politics. Sister Souljah was dope for a minute, but I can't front sometimes in my mind the images of her and Yo-Yo get me confused.

Shout out to Michelle Obama, MC Lyte, Bahamadia, Letitia James, and all other women who are just plain dope at what they do.

- swift roc ski

think positive...

2008-08-28T14:20:00.000-04:00

The good folks at ThinkNEG are celebrating their 1 year anniversary tomorrow at the Knitting Factory. Come and watch dope performances by Loj, Homeboy Sandman, Fresh Daily, Outasight, AC and Denim as well dope artwork by Epic. It's a fun-filled Hip-Hop extravaganza you won't want to miss.

rocket science, it's not

2008-08-28T09:44:00.004-04:00

FUNK x SOUL + REGGAE - THE WACK ÷ CLASSIC HIP HOP = THE PLACE TO BE.
TONIGHT!! SPUR TREE LOUNGE!! 76 ORCHARD!! DJ MOSHEF!! BE THERE!!!!

free music....

2008-08-27T14:17:00.005-04:00

The good homey, Mickey Factz has just dropped another mixtape collecting the 36 tracks that he has released thus far. Features the the Cool Kids, Fresh Daily, Tanya Morgan and many more. Do yourself a favor and download it here.

just the two of me

2008-08-27T09:56:00.005-04:00

Question: Slick Rick pioneered the split personality rapper as used by Madlib and Biggie. What was the name of Slick Rick's alter ego?

Answer: MC Ricky D

My favorite Slick Rick song is 'Mona Lisa', featuring an intro in which both Slick Rick The Ruler and MC Ricky D appear. I am still not sure what the difference was between the two, but I think that Slick Rick was the British accented MC with the truck jewels who we all know and love and MC Ricky D was the purist MC that was/is googly eyed Ricky Walters. Shout out to both The Ruler and Ricky D for being inducted into the Hip-Hop Honors Hall OF Fame. You absolutely deserve it. Please don't shoot no more cousins...

- swift kid

pop 'n' fresh

2008-08-26T11:52:00.005-04:00

A word from our not-so corporate HQs:

We are happy to add our man Fresh Daily to the Bodega Family. If you didn't see the press release Brooklyn Bodega Brand Management just signed a deal with Brooklyn MC Fresh Daily. We are very excited to be working with Fresh. Plans within plans are being hatched as we speak. We are gearing up for the rest of 2008. On the whiteboard in Wes' office we got two albums, 3 new artists/clients, 2 parties, 1 panel, one trip to see Apple Dave, one new business to launch, and a partridge in a pear tree.

In between working like a dog I am trying to figure out if I am gonna brave Eastern Parkway for the Labor Day Parade or get my bourgeois on and hit the US Open out in Queens. We have a lot of good events lined up for you so enjoy the week and the long weekend. So whether you are scarfing down a roti off of Franklin Ave or sipping a Heineken out front of Arthur Ashe Stadium enjoy yourself and for goodness sake please - keep it real!

5 years old and rising...

2008-08-25T13:29:00.002-04:00

The 5th Annual VH1 Hip-Hop Honors has announced this years honorees. The guests include De La Soul, Too Short, Slick Rick, Cypress Hills and Naughty By Nature. De La Soul has always remained a positive presence in the game. The older heads remember them for their music; the younger ones remember them for their tribute sneakers and work with the Gorillaz. Check out VIBE for more info.

Wu.N.C. 2008

2008-08-25T11:33:00.003-04:00

The Wu-Tangian National Convention pops off today in Staten Island. Keynote speakers include Pop Da Brown Hornet, 9th Prince, and Frukwan. It's rumored also that U-God will show his solidarity with the campaign by delivering a speech of his own. Obviously a move designed to unite the party.

midnight bloggin' marauder...

2008-08-22T15:43:00.003-04:00

Apparently the folks at Spin Magazine have upset the Abstract. Q-Tip joins the same club that Kweli joined about a year ago that crusades against journalistic naysayers. Props to Highbrid Nation for the scoop.

recommended viewing

2008-08-20T10:20:00.003-04:00

80 BLOCKS FROM TIFFANY'S: Directed by Gary Weiss, the 1979 documentary film centered in the South Bronx and featuring the legendary New York street gangs The Savage Skulls and The Savage Nomads. Watching movies via youtube isn't always the most comfortable nor convenient avenue, but in some cases it's definitely worth it.

80 BLOCKS FROM TIFFANY'S PART II
80 BLOCKS FROM TIFFANY'S PART III
80 BLOCKS FROM TIFFANY'S PART IV
80 BLOCKS FROM TIFFANY'S PART V
80 BLOCKS FROM TIFFANY'S PART VI
80 BLOCKS FROM TIFFANY'S PART VII
80 BLOCKS FROM TIFFANY'S PART VIII

fall-out fashion

2008-08-18T10:35:00.004-04:00

Question: LL Cool J has had a stake and/or endorsement deal with several clothing lines including FUBU, his own Todd Smith line, and this old school line with supposed ties to the Kl Klux Klan...

Answer: TROOP

TROOP supposedly meant Total Rule Over Opressed People and was run by a current or former Klansmen. Never the less, the 80's babies are bringing back TROOP along with Cazals, 8 Ball Jackets and designs in your nugget. We spent all Thursday with Uncle L and he shared a few stories about the synergy between fashion and Hip-Hop, and his deal with TROOP back in the day.

Stay tuned for September 11th when our man Big Hack unleashes Magnum ~~Fallout~~ (Zoolander again) and explores this connection Bodega style.

- swifty

bodega approved sunday

2008-08-16T08:24:00.005-04:00

Not doing anything this Sunday? Come check out the 1st Annual Black Star Liner Boatride! The boatride is in honor of the great Marcus Garvey. For more information or to purchase tickets check out www.consciousnyc.com!

be-wu-tiful

2008-08-14T10:44:00.003-04:00

Question: In addition to the Wu Wear store on Staten Island, The RZA and the Wu opened a store in this line of business that catered to the female Wu believers

Answer: A Nail Salon

Little remembered fact. When the Wu was so hot they could take a dump, wrap it in tinfoil, and sell it as earrings (Zoolander reference) they opened up a nail salon on Shaolin. Other notable offshoots of the Wu empire was the video game, the fake Wallabees, and Razor Sharp Records. Starks was signed to Razor Sharp through Epic so that may have been the best offshoot. The other best offshoot was the Wu Tang Manual. My man Rock and Asheru put me up on it. Don't sleep, the Rzarector drops gems in that joint.

- Swift Kwon

impressions of a GOAT

2008-08-13T14:07:00.006-04:00

In my day job as a marketing hustler for The Room Service Group and the Bodega, I had the pleasure of chilling with Uncle L, The Future of the Funk, last Thursday. We set up an online media day for LL in support of the new album, 'Exit 13.' Basically we sat up in a Def Jam conference room with Papa John's pizzas, some diet coke, a shitload of Kay Slay mix tapes, a gang of writers, James Todd, and the good folks at Def Jam.

After some of our people were found to be on the Def Jam disavowed list and not let into the building we settled in for a full day of creating internet fodder. Without recapping the whole shebang I have to say I was really impressed with LL. He was crazy cool. Very professional. And was dropping jew-els all day long. I personally think KRS is the GOAT but it is certainly hard to argue against the case for LL.

24 years, 13 albums, he owns his masters and his publishing, movies, TV, gold and platinum plaques, he's written three books. On paper I think only Jay and Will Smith have created stronger human brands. For me, one of the most imporant qualifications for GOAT or top 10 status is longevity - and no one has him beat there. No one who came out in the 80's is still relevant in the Hot 97, 106th and Park world besides LL.

What I liked most was the wisdom he shared. There was no bitching about the label. He admitted his mistakes on the last album as well as Def Jam's. He admitted the knock he gets for catering to the ladies but never apologized for it. What I saw was an artist completely in control and aware of his own brand. I can only imagine that level of self awareness is how you remain dominant for two decades.

- swifty