An Instant Vacation

Taken from The Daily OM.com

"If you can't get away on a vacation, turn your home into an instant vacation place."

Throughout our lives, most of us are led to believe that relaxation is best pursued outside of the home. As a result, we spend months anticipating week long vacations, seldom fully appreciating the leisure time we are blessed with on a more regular basis. It is possible, however, to re-experience the same utterly relaxed state you slip into while on holiday within your home’s walls. The feelings of serenity you enjoy during a vacation are a product of your outlook rather than your locale. You give yourself permission to enjoy yourself and unwind while on vacation. Granting yourself the same privilege while at home allows you to experience complete relaxation, even when surrounded by routine.

Our homes can be distracting places as most survival tasks are addressed there. Reviving the tranquility you felt on holiday is as easy as creating an atmosphere that helps you relax. First, divest yourself of the notion that messes must be cleaned up immediately and reaffirm that relaxation is as vital as physical nourishment. Then, set the mood. Music that reminds you of a beloved vacation destination can put you in a vacation mind-set. The exotic flavor of a tropical beverage or the spiciness a favorite ethnic dish can transport you to a more restful mental space. Finally, put aside your projects and commit to doing only what you consider truly pleasurable. Your responsibilities will wait as you put up your feet and revel in peacefulness that comes from within.

If you find it difficult to ignore the temptation to simply fall back into your usual schedule, consider that relaxation should occupy a prominent place on your to-do list. You deserve to take “you time” and to care for yourself, even during life’s busy periods. While you may not always be able to get away from it all, you can still nurture yourself and regain your peace of mind.

Blaqk Sheep - Crabs Inna Barrel

You've heard the expression many times, especially if you're from the Caribbean: 'crab inna barrel,' but when was the last time you saw crabs in a barrel?

In countries like Canada, Australia and New Zealand, we have something called 'Tall Poppy Syndrome.'  Defined, that syndrome is a social phenomenon in which people of genuine merit are resented, attacked, cut down, or criticised because their talents or achievements elevate them above or distinguish them from their peers. The fact that there is a defined 'syndrome' for this says a lot.

Producer and recording artist Blaqk Sheep has a new song on the market called "Crab Inna Barrel" which addresses this syndrome.

Produced by I-Strong Records, lyrics from the song say: "them watchin what we spendin / and the false pretendin / my life they want put an end in / it seems like bad mind trendin / but almighty God ah watch ova we / even though dem try fih obeah we ...."

The riddim, as in the musical composition is a little dark which matches the mood of the chune. At a BPM of 120 the music acts as a projector which allow the real-ness of the images of crabs in a barrel to come through.

Broadcasting at 320kbps, catch Blaqk Sheep's new chune "Crabs Inna Barrel" at the link below. 

P.S.  Make sure you follow Mafy on Twitter @mafiamckoy!

>>> Blaqk Sheep - Crab Inna Barrel <<<

MusiCares is a Win!

ARTISTS TORI AMOS, COLBIE CAILLAT,
THE ELI YOUNG BAND, MELANIE FIONA,
DEMI LOVATO, OWL CITY,
PARACHUTE, JENNI RIVERA,
PAULINA RUBIO, PATRICK STUMP,
AND SUGARLAND JOIN
MUSICARES^® "BE A PART OF THE HEART"
PHOTO MOSAIC FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

Artists, Fans And Music Industry Professionals
Encouraged To Donate $1, $5, $10
And Upload Photo
Initiative Offers A Chance To Win
A Trip For Two To The 54thAnnual GRAMMY^®Awards

MusiCares^® announced today that Tori Amos, Colbie Caillat, the Eli Young Band, Melanie Fiona, Demi Lovato, Owl City, Parachute, Jenni Rivera, Paulina Rubio, Patrick Stump, and Sugarland are the latest group of artists to join the innovative "Be A Part Of The Heart" fundraising campaign, which invites the public to come together to create an online mosaic comprised of photo tiles. Artists such as Bon Jovi, Black Cards, Taio Cruz, Melissa Etheridge, Selena Gomez, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, and Gloria Trevi uploaded their photos at the launch of the campaign in Feb. 2011.

"Be A Part Of The Heart" encourages fans, recording artists, and corporate and media partners to come together in a digital photo mosaic to raise awareness and generate resources to help MusiCares continue to provide a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. The initiative also offers a chance to win a trip for two to the 54th Annual GRAMMY^® Awards on Feb. 12, 2012*. For more information, visit www.beapartoftheheart.com.

In addition, MusiCares has launched a separate contest in conjunction with its annual MusiCares Person of the Year tribute that will honor Paul McCartney on Feb. 10, which offers music bloggers —professional or amateur —a chance to earn a coveted spot on the red carpet as well as a credential to cover the exclusive concert portion of the event. For complete details on the blogger contest, visit http://blog.musicares.com/2011/09/09/music-blogger-contest/.

"Not only is this a chance for fans to join their favorite artists online in a shared effort to raise funds for MusiCares and help members of our music family," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy, MusiCares, and the GRAMMY Foundation^®. "It's also a way for people to join an online community and share their stories about music and its impact on their lives."

The "Be A Part Of The Heart"concept is straightforward. Participants can visit www.beapartoftheheart.com and make a contribution in any amount beginning with $1 to receive an online tile, where they can upload a photo and include their stories and links to websites and social media platforms. There is no limit to the donation amount and the tiles that go with it. Tiles can be created in honor of loved ones, to commemorate important milestones or holidays, and to engage other members of the public. There is also a place to include text about key musical influences.

MusiCares offers programs and services to members of the music community including emergency financial assistance for basic living expenses including rent, utilities and car payments; medical expenses including doctor, dentist and hospital bills; psychotherapy; and treatment for HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, hepatitis C, and other critical illnesses. MusiCares offers nationwide educational workshops covering a variety of subjects, including financial, legal, medical, and substance abuse issues, and programs in collaboration with healthcare professionals that provide services such as flu shots, hearing tests and medical/dental screenings. The MusiCares MAP Fund^SM allows access to addiction recovery treatment and sober living resources for members of the music community regardless of their financial circumstances. Staffed by qualified chemical dependency and intervention specialists, MusiCares Safe Harbor Rooms offer a support network to those in recovery while they are participating in the production of televised music shows and other major music events. MusiCares holds weekly addiction support groups for people to discuss how to best cope with the issues surrounding the recovery process. The MusiCares Sober Touring Network is a database of individuals across the United States who can take music people to recovery support meetings while on the road.

Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information, please visit www.musicares.org.

*NO DONATION REQUIRED TO ENTER OR WIN. A DONATION WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States (including the District of Columbia), 13 years of age or older at time of entry. Void where prohibited by law. Sweepstakes commences at 8:00:00 a.m. Pacific Time ("PT") on 2/14/11 and ends at 8:59:00 p.m. PT on 11/25/11. To enter with or without making a donation, and to view official rules (which govern this Sweepstakes), visit www.beapartoftheheart.com. Sponsor: MusiCares Foundation, Inc.

Not Tonight Riddim

The Reggae industry has been widely criticized for taking a laid back approach to the music being made.  In particular, the younger generation of producers have heard from veteran producers that they are degrading the music.

Lately (within the past 6 months), there has been a focused effort to bring good music back, especially from the younger producers. People such as Mafia McKoy, ZJ Sparks, DJ Karim and Krushproof Muzik are good examples of the younger generation producing quality. We now have an addition to the short list!

From their newly built and customized studio, and under the label Madd Spider Productions, The Dancehall Trinity, Delly Ranx, Taranchyla and Froggy Madd Squad have just released their latest project called the 'Not Tonight' riddim which is in one word ... Dubwise.

Taking notes from the greats such as King Tubby and Lee 'Scratch' Perry, The Dancehall Trinity implement the skillful composition of the roots of Reggae with only 4 artists.  The riddim has been made a free download to all lovers of dubwise. When we talked to the trio, they said:

"We just wanted to help preserve the original Dancehall / Reggae music feel...."  Considering the age of the trio (all young), it is truly commendable that they have endeavoured to do a riddim of this style. What's exceptional is the fact that they got the feel and vibe of the riddim exactly right!

Broadcasting at 320kbps, catch The Dancehall Trinity's Not Tonight Riddim at the links below. Taranchyla's "Mash Up Inna Dance" is available for preview at Box.net. The riddim is available at Mediafire.com.  All feedback welcome!

Box.net Link for Taranchyla's "Mash Up Inna Dance"

http://www.box.net/shared/u5nqou2nu71x3x1sjzbz

Mediafire Link for the Not Tonight Riddim
http://www.mediafire.com/?0b8f4inz4wrzh

 

Wunmi at the Apollo!

Wunmi regularly sets the underground dance music scene alight with London style, Lagos culture and New York energy. Recently, her astonishing resume includes work with Latin House kings Masters At Work, and Soul Jazz Records' international renowned artist, producer, and DJ Osunlade, on dance floor gems. Wunmi narrated the Nigeria 70 compilation album for Strut Records and also recently worked on the Red Hot + Riot Tribute to Fela Album (on the track "Zombie").

Her prodigious talent has also led her to work with artists such as UK soul outfit Soul II Soul, Ornette Coleman, Roy Ayers, Living Colour's Vernon Reid, and more. With Wunmi, expect infectious vocals, incredible dance, styling coveted by fashionistas around the world, and endless energy.


On Friday, October 7, Wunmi will headline Apollo Music Café's Sol Ascension -- a concert and dance party with live music and performances by Manchildblack and DJ Jihad Muhammad.

Order Tickets Here! 

We Don't Need to Suffer...

Taken from The Daily OM.com

"We do not need to suffer or live in poverty to be a spiritual person."

The idea that we have to suffer or live in poverty in order to be spiritual is an old one and can be found in the belief systems of many philosophies. Most of us carry this idea around subconsciously, and we may be holding ourselves back from financial or emotional well-being, believing that this is what we must do in order to be virtuous, spiritually awake, or feel less guilty for the suffering of others.

While it’s true that there can be a spiritual purpose to experiencing a lack of material well-being, it is rarely intended to be a permanent or lifelong experience. What we are meant to find when material or emotional resources are in short supply is that there is more to our lives than the physical realm. Intense relationships and material abundance can distract us from the subtler realm of the spirit, so a time of deficiency can be spiritually awakening. However, once we recognize the realm of spirit, and remember to hold it at the center of our lives, there is no reason to dwell in poverty or emotional isolation. In fact, once our connection to spirit is fully intact, we feel so compelled to share our abundance that lack becomes a thing of the past.

If you find that you are experiencing suffering in some area of your physical life, perhaps your spirit is asking you to look deeper in your search for what you want. For example, if you want money so that you can experience the feeling of security but money keeps eluding you, your spirit may be asking you to understand that security is not to be found through money. Security comes from an unshakable connection to your soul. Once you make that connection, money will probably flow more easily into your life. If relationships elude you, your spirit may be calling you to recognize that the love you seek is not to be found in another person. And yet, ironically, once you find the love, your true love may very well appear. If you feel stuck in suffering to live a spiritual life, try to spend some time writing about it. The root of the problem will appear and it may not be what you expected. Remember, the Universe wants you to be happy.

King Ali Baba - Third Eye

Your third eye, as some would say, is your gateway to a higher consciousness. Within that higher consciousness, you have an opportunity to see what you are blind to in your conscious existence, or, you can use your third eye to see things to come.

Some people use meditation to awaken their third eye, some use chanting and others use a combination of both. For a Rasta, and I'm talking a true Rastafarian, the third eye is opened through the consumption of Ganja.

King Ali Baba has just released his new single called "Third Eye." Within the chune, King comments on how 'high' he is. People hearing the chune for the first time may mis-interpret the meaning of being high. In the case of the chune, being high is a metaphor referring to how much King can see now that his third eye has been opened. To solidify this point, the King says:

"What I'm smoking / ain't no joke ting / I'm so high till I can't feel my face / I'm looking through my third eye / I'm so high / I see more than 9 planets...." King also goes on to talk about all the places he visits such as when he says "my body's in Jamaica, but me ah smoke weed as Spain."

King Ali Baba first came to international attention for the chunes "Tippy Wine," "Teenage Lover" and "Life So Nice." He has performed across Europe and is based between London and Jamaica. His music videos continue to enjoy rotation on MTV in Europe as does his music on European radio.

Click on the link below to preview the chune, and look for it on iTunes soon!

King Ali Baba - Third Eye