2015|VENT|BLOG

Eloheeeem

Eloheeeem features tracks that are able to draw Curtis Mayfield, Issac Hayes, The Miracles, and funk feels while bridging the sound structure of 80’s and 90’s hip hop. Classic hip hop heads are guaranteed to nod with sounds cognac smooth and revel in mixing technicalities. Eloheeeem reminds us where hip-hop came from and where it’s going.

https://soundcloud.com/eloheeeem

We Stole the Show:

Within their vocal styling, phrasing, and the mere existence of lyricism, We Stole the Show, is the embodiment of 90’s rap. Wu-tang, Leaders of the New School, and Onyx come to mind by only listening to a few tracks like: “The Movement”, “Tell Em Why You Mad Son!”, and “Bad Man”. The twist to their sound is a blend between raw New York rap and garage punk! We Stole the Show is a live hip hop band featuring bass guitar, electric guitar, drums, and custom beats. We anticipate that this band will very well show us how they got their name.

http://westoletheshows.tumblr.com/

Brahski

Enigmatic and ambiguous, Brahski compels a million questions to ravage your mind or say, “fuck it” and allow your body to become limitless. The internal exploration within his music explodes into explicit reactions on we cope with society. Brahski evokes humorous yet socially resistant desires like throwing dildos at corrupt police, to dark confessions involving substance abuse and self-hatred. No matter how you flip it, either lyrical transparency should win you over or his abundant video game references will.

https://soundcloud.com/khari-waits

Chauncey Tails

Lush! Lush! Lush! The various layers Chauncey Tails forge together commands attention. The genre-bending artist fuses electronic, hip hop, and ambient sounds in his heavily produced and heavily danceable mixes. This DJ is not one to miss out on!   

https://soundcloud.com/chaunceytails

**SPECIAL OUT-OF-TOWN GUEST**

Yesterday, we (the D.O.P.E Collective of WNY) hosted dope event at our good friends art and music space venue, called Dreamland, who is also having a FUNRaiser soon.

We had Boswayzee and his crew who brought the enigmatic hip-hop instrumentals/vocalists for people to vibe – the In and out music group, made up of Milsep, Swaze, Bkayy and Mike Dimarco , who tapped into the hypeness of folks hearts – Marion Walker (Seattle, Wa) who headlined for us with some psych-rock that literally brought the house down –  Saint Opal and her crew who brought the ethereal (light & graceful)  post R&B to our ears, slowing our minds down full to absorb her work.

It was very refreshing to see such a diverse crowd come through and be present together. This is exactly what D.O.P.E’s purpose is – to bring people together artistically and musically, especially our marginalized communities in Buffalo’s East Side.

These communities involve:

People of Color (P.O.C) – there is a lack of space and opportunity for POC to showcase their talents in Buffalo. SO, WE ARE CREATING IT.

Women – because…misogyny, which is when women face discrimination because of their gender (I.e. unwanted advances, multiple forms of violence, double standards of being a woman, etc). WE DON’T DO THIS.

LGBTQIA – because not all people and places are accepting of queer love. WE ARE ACCEPTING.

Differently-abled individuals – because we want or events to be accessible, so we host most of our events at accommodating venues. WE WANT YOU THERE.

Our next event will be an art show called NEXUS. Tune in to stay connected.

Thank you to all who came through. We hope to see ya’ll soon.

By Jamiah M. D.O.P.E Collective of WNY Member VENT Subscribe to us on FB to stay in tune.

                                     ***OUR DISCLAIMER***

       ⚧ Anyone who exemplifies negative race or gender based behaviors of                           any kind will be reprimanded with the quickness. ⚧

It began with me ordering my Open Buffalo’s Dismantling Racism Workshop soup. It was full of differing ethnicities with social justice missions and minds hungry to understand RACISM. That’s a lot take in for a first course.

My seasonings were made up of What is racism, how is it internalized, is it fair that it affects a certain group of people, did you know race was created and is systematic, and so on. I wasn’t ready for the appetizer, but then it came.

CHWNB or “The Community Health Worker Network of Buffalo” Youth and Adult Training. It had an eclectic look to it, with an array if people holding differing connections. Some educationally, some community, some medically, and some judicially. We spoke on how gaps between communities and available resources could be bridged through constant collaboration to improve the quality of community lives by including the community in the decisions to be made. Mentally, I was beginning to get full.

Luckily, something a bit lighter came along. It was the salad of ECRJC or Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition…maybe I spoke to soon. However, its many greens spoke to address differing issues. To restore justice in schools, the community, those facing probation/court by bringing people together to discuss the incident to repair the harm.

And just as I was digging in, I had to make room for my main course, VENT; a  multi media company that provides graphic, web, print design and more to local Buffalonians. It also has a publication that focuses on social justice issues affecting the East Side of Buffalo. Poverty, Racism, Unemployment, Violence, Crime, Inadequate Public Transportation, Trauma, Police Brutality, Disinvestment, Failing Public Schools, Gentrification, Bad Neighbors…need I say that my taste buds were not happy?

I called over my waiter to ask why my food was clashing. “Well,” my waiter said. “You ordered our special, The Buffalo Dish. Is it not what you asked for? “That’s a rhetorical question, right?” I said.

But, then my dessert arrived. Cheesecake, my favorite.

I dug my fork into the cheese, right down to the graham cracker crust of curiosity. What the heck is going on in Buffalo? And then I too my first bite out of The Buffalo Billion. This plan is supposed to boost Buffalo’s economy. You’ve seen the medical corridor in the Fruit Belt, right?

There’s been lots of stories on it. The Hightech Manufacturing HUB River bend in south Buffalo (image) has also had much shine. But, now the attention has shifted to the Northland Corridor (image) in the East Side where Mayor Byron Browns’ vision of a business park is being built. I wonder if many people know about this? The Buffalo Billion invested 6.7 million in it through the Buffalo Urban Development Corporation (BUDC). It’s supposed to be finished sometime next year and will be open to employing local Buffalonians. Pridgen, a director on the BUDC Board said, “I’m absolutely thrilled to see this moving in that direction…That we are paying attention to this area will rise the morale of those living in the neighborhood.”

Maybe we’ll be able to start “living like millennial kings” since our comeback city is finally thinking about us.

I took another bite, but this time it was of D.O.P.E., a local upcoming collective focused on Dismantling Oppressive Patterns for Empowerment through sound and more. Its a Do It Yourself (DIY) millennial peer organization WERK-ING on creating a stronger alternative music and art community for People of Color (POC), women, LGBTQIA and disabled individuals of all ages. They’re even having there first event today!

My mouth watered at the fact that this group is focusing on the East Side community with creating events and safe spaces for people here to collaborate, dance, and learn about their mission.

The next bite made me L.O.L at Leaving Our Legacy. Its a local peer led sexual health program focused on educating adolescents on the importance of getting tested, sexuality, having protected sex, and more. They do outreach throughout the Buffalo community in schools by giving presentation and going into the community to pass out condoms and information. They even plan events to bring youth and adults together to have conversations about how to better educate/encourage the youth to take control of their sexual health.

Now, I could go on and on about these happenings, but instead I’d like to invite you to have dinner with me sometime.

Check Please!

~Jamiah Mootry

References:

http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2015/01/29/northland-corridor-project-to-advance-this-year.html?page=all

http://www.areadevelopment.com/newsitems/9-19-2014/northland-avenue-belt-line-corridor-redevelopment-project-buffalo-new-york278343.shtml

http://buffalobillion.ny.gov/buffalo-hightech-manufacturing-innovation-hub-at-riverbend

http://buffalorising.com/2015/01/northland-corridor-reuse-project-starts-with-acquisition-of-industrial-site/