YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO LOLA'S DINNER PARTY FOR A CAUSE

Dear Friends,

I am writing you in hopes that you will be moved, just as I was, to help give towards a great cause. Lola is Soul (www.lolaissoul.com) is a smashing upscale southern/Cajun restaurant owned and operated by husband and wife Tom and Gayle Patrick - Odeen b/k/a Lola

Read the Full Background story on their current troubles here: http://thevillager.com/villager_252/lolacantlivewithout.html

Since relocating in 2004 from its location on 22nd street, where it hosted an amazing live R&B music showcase as well as a Gospel Brunch to its new digs at 15 Watts st. on the corner of Thompson st. (Soho, New York), Lola's has been blacklisted by its neighbors and The Soho Alliance who has successfully rallied to cut out all live music for fear it would bring an "undesirable" read: BLACK, URBAN crowd.

WITHOUT LIVE MUSIC LOLA’S IS SUFFERING

HOW YOU CAN HELP: I invite you to join my friends and I for a full course dinner, drinks and music (soul, R&B, Jazz, and Classics), at Lola's. An after work dinner party for a truly worthy cause. Plus, some of the best food you will ever have.

DATE: March 26TH AND 27TH, 2008

TIME: 6pm – 12am

LOCATION: Lola is Soul - 15 Watts st. corner of Thompson st. (Soho, New York)

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

Step 1: Call Lola's to make a RESERVATION at 212.675.6700!!! I should not have to say this but PLEASE BE ON TIME. The goal is to serve as many people as possible and make it a record-breaking night. If you are "FASHIONABLY LATE”, your table will be taken.

Step 2: BRING CASH or CREDIT CARD. The goal is to indulge in the full menu, so set aside 2 hours, and come ready to be wined and dined.

Step 3: Tell More Friends about Lola's. If you cannot make it on either, the 26th or the 27th do not give up - visit this fantastic spot some other time. We want Lola's to stay open for a long time. Add it to your top ten lists.

In the true spirit of giving, I hope to see you ALL there!

THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU FOR THESE EVENTS, OTHER THAN THE LISTED MENU PRICES FOR WHATEVER YOU ORDER.

100% OF ALL PROFITS RAISED FROM THESE TWO EVENTS WILL GO DIRECTLY TO LOLA’S AND THEIR DEFENSE FUND.

PLEASE FORWARD TO EVERYONE YOU BELIEVE WOULD APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT THIS WORTHY CAUSE

Thank you to our special host committee that has been working hard to make this event a great success – DJ Herbert, Ed Freiberg, DJ Marc Smooth and Stone Jackson of EarCandyNYC, Kevin Powell, Grae Enterprise, MIH Icon, Gary Grant, Omar Hamilton, Danny Castro, Juanito Fortuno, C.I.A, Yaz, and DJ Cosi.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at anytime with any of the contact info listed below and I will do my best to assist you in any way I can.

-GVG

Gardy
E-mail: GVG@iamGVG.com

Video: Damian Marley - One Loaf of Bread

Off the “Gang War” compilation, Tuff Gong Records
Shot & Directed by Jason Goldwatch for deconmedia.com

-black and white super 8mm footage shot in Haiti
-color super 8mm footage shot in South Africa

Video: Lupe Fiasco - Hip-Hop Saved My Life

FULL VIDEO: BARACK OBAMA'S A More Perfect Union speech

Watch Barack's speech on race in America and building a more perfect union.

you can find the full transcript of the speech here.

GVG
~still having cab wiz by his black ass~

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO LOLA'S DINNER PARTY FOR A CAUSE

Dear Friends,

I am writing you in hopes that you will be moved, just as I was, to help give towards a great cause. Lola is Soul (www.lolaissoul.com) is a smashing upscale southern/Cajun restaurant owned and operated by husband and wife Tom and Gayle Patrick - Odeen b/k/a Lola

Read the Full Background story on their current troubles here: http://thevillager.com/villager_252/lolacantlivewithout.html

Since relocating in 2004 from its location on 22nd street, where it hosted an amazing live R&B music showcase as well as a Gospel Brunch to its new digs at 15 Watts st. on the corner of Thompson st. (Soho, New York), Lola's has been blacklisted by its neighbors and The Soho Alliance who has successfully rallied to cut out all live music for fear it would bring an "undesirable" read: BLACK, URBAN crowd.

WITHOUT LIVE MUSIC LOLA’S IS SUFFERING

HOW YOU CAN HELP: I invite you to join my friends and I for a full course dinner, drinks and music (soul, R&B, Jazz, and Classics), at Lola's. An after work dinner party for a truly worthy cause. Plus, some of the best food you will ever have.

DATE: March 26TH AND 27TH, 2008

TIME: 6pm – 12am

LOCATION: Lola is Soul - 15 Watts st. corner of Thompson st. (Soho, New York)

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

Step 1: Call Lola's to make a RESERVATION at 212.675.6700!!! I should not have to say this but PLEASE BE ON TIME. The goal is to serve as many people as possible and make it a record-breaking night. If you are "FASHIONABLY LATE”, your table will be taken.

Step 2: BRING CASH or CREDIT CARD. The goal is to indulge in the full menu, so set aside 2 hours, and come ready to be wined and dined.

Step 3: Tell More Friends about Lola's. If you cannot make it on either, the 26th or the 27th do not give up - visit this fantastic spot some other time. We want Lola's to stay open for a long time. Add it to your top ten lists.

In the true spirit of giving, I hope to see you ALL there!

THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU FOR THESE EVENTS, OTHER THAN THE LISTED MENU PRICES FOR WHATEVER YOU ORDER.

100% OF ALL PROFITS RAISED FROM THESE TWO EVENTS WILL GO DIRECTLY TO LOLA’S AND THEIR DEFENSE FUND.

PLEASE FORWARD TO EVERYONE YOU BELIEVE WOULD APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT THIS WORTHY CAUSE

Thank you to our special host committee that has been working hard to make this event a great success – DJ Herbert, Ed Freiberg, DJ Marc Smooth and Stone Jackson of EarCandyNYC, Kevin Powell, Grae Enterprise, MIH Icon, Gary Grant, Omar Hamilton, Danny Castro, Juanito Fortuno, C.I.A, Yaz, and DJ Cosi.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at anytime with any of the contact info listed below and I will do my best to assist you in any way I can.

-GVG

Gardy
E-mail: GVG@iamGVG.com

WE THE PEOPLE...

... WILL NO LONGER SIT QUIETLY.

I REALLY WANT TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THE SHARING OF THIS GENIUS, BUT ALL CREDIT HAS TO GO TO ISIS FOR SENDING THIS TO ME! I LOVE HER AND SO SHOULD YOU!


Ok, so I’m sure most of you have seen or at least heard about the first part of the Boondocks episode entitled "Hunger strike" that was never aired because of serious threats by BET, but leaked to the internet. Guess they don’t like having their business out in the streets, just our dirty laundry. Anyway, for those who haven’t had the pleasure or know nothing of the genius I speak of, below is the first part of the “Hunger Strike” episode and below that is the second unaired part of the episode. ENJOY and pass it on to a friend.

The Boondocks "The Hunger Strike" (Part 1 of 2)


The Boondocks "The Hunger Strike" (Part 2 of 2)


P.S. I have a lot of friends at BET (past and present) and I hear this is right on the nose if not nicer to how bad they really are. All those people really do work (past and present) at BET. If you see them on the street feel free to tell them about themselves.

GVG
~the voice of decent can not be silenced~

ONE OF THESE DAYS...

In the past two weeks I’ve written more than I have in a very very long time and yet posted none of it. Great, introspective, sincere, honest, heartbreaking (at times), funny as all shit (at others), thought provoking stuff, too. I wonder if any of you are as amused by that as I am.

GVG
~"The pages are still blank, but there is a miraculous feeling of the words being there, written in invisible ink and clamoring to become visible." ~ Vladimir Nabakov~

DETAILS: COLORS

This shot honestly made my morning. I love this guy for putting it together and I love The Sartorialist even more for realizing how fly it was that he had to shoot and post it.



GVG
~never scared~

THE END OF GREATNESS: LET'S MOURN THE WIRE TOGETHER

Let’s all show some respect for the greatest show (2nd for me) of all time and stand with a united front. If you like, I’d love it if you changed your default photo to the one I created (shown above) on MySpace/FaceBook and send The Wire off, as it deserved. Show our mourning while thanking David Simon and each and EVERY member of that cast for every moment of the past five seasons. Wear your band publicly with pride and your head held high - show the world you appreciate what intelligent, well-written TV had to offer. DOWN WITH THE REST!

As you can all tell from the photo I am not a graphic designer, but I think it does the job.

GVG
~in need of another hit~

THE NIGERIAN GANGSTER ALBUM. YOU'RE WELCOME.

Below is the link to Mike Love’s Mash up of Fela Kuti and Jay z's American Gangster album entitled Nigerian Gangster. Most of you received the link I sent with the lead track off the mix tape “Nigerian Gangster” that mashes up Jay Z’s Roc Boys lyrics over The music from Fela’s "Water No Get Enemy" from, Expensive Shit, (1975) (http://www.thefader.com/articles/2008/2/5/freeload-jay-z-roc-boys-mike-love-s-nigerian-gangster-remix) The whole album is now available for free download on Mike Love's MySpace page, which you can find through the link below.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=51773990&blogID=360955957

Below is a link to a list of all the Fela samples he used for the project.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=51773990&blogID=362645852

Currently listening to the album – you will not be dissapointed.

GVG
~my bands about 70 strong like Fela~

REPOST: Who Is At Fault When The American Dream Crumbles?

As of late, there have been a small series of revolving topics amongst my friends discussion list and one of the ones on the top of the list is and probably will be for a while is the subprime mortgage disaster currently taking homes away from many first time homeowners of color in our communities. Monica Potts of PostBourgie wrote an interesting piece about the situation and I think you will all enjoy the read. Please leave all comments there.

"As the subprime mortgage crash and the housing market’s downward spiral pull the rest of the economy with them, there is a lot of talk about “personal responsibility.” President Bush and other “reformers” used the same kind of rhetoric when he modified bankruptcy law in 2005.

The subprime mortgage crash occurred after an unprecedented decade of home ownership growth. Conventional wisdom holds that home ownership is a good thing; it makes people more invested in their communities and in their democracy, and it allows homeowners to build wealth. Politicians and policy makers have long worked to make home ownership easier; encouraging banks to extend credit to those with lower incomes and lowering down payments." Continue reading here

GVG
~I stay prime~

The Roots - Get Busy (Feat. Dice Raw, Peedi Crakk & DJ Jazzy Jeff)

“My bands about 70 strong like Fela…” WOW!

The roots done got me hyped about a Hip Hop Album. PHILLY STAND UP! YOU HAVE JUST BEEN REPPED!

CTFU @ THE CORNERSTONE STAFF, OFFICES, AND PRODUCT PLACEMENT ALL IN THE VIDEO. SOMEBODY CUTTING CHECKS! I WANT SOME!!!

Previously: The Roots - 75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction)

~my city ain't nothin like yours~

YOU ARE ALL SMARTER THAN ME...

So maybe you can tell me - HOW THE HELL DID HILLARY CLINTON TAKE OHIO AND TEXAS?!?!!!

GVG
~moving~

VIDEO: THE ROOTS - 75 BARS

The Roots - 75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction).

Directed by Rik Cordero a.k.a The only director seemingly working in Hip Hop. Download the full video over at Okayplayer.

So, what do you think?

GVG
~on a quest for love~

BIRTHDAYS...

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN ANY WORDS AND MY FRIENDS SCREAMED FROM THE ROOFTOPS HOW MUCH THEY TRULY LOVED ME WITH THEIRS LAST NIGHT.

GVG
~growing~

I find it rather amusing, correction, poignant that while writing this post my random playlist just switched to Bill Wither's "Lean on me". Guess you are getting an Audio Foreplay Sampling for today. ENJOY



Watch where you lean though, you might end up on the floor.

P.P.S. Yes, my birthday was yesterday.