Masia One before the party in Negril, Jamaica

What’s happening good people!  So I fell off the Bloggin’ wagon again.  Here’s the update…

My last days in L.A. was a pretty hectic mess to get my album complete and giving long hugs and kisses to the Cali family that I will miss so much.  On my way out the door I took a picture next to the platinum Lauryn Hill Plaque that hangs by the entrance to the Kops & Robbers Spacestation studio (Che Vicious produced many records on Miseducation of Lauryn Hill) just to remember this milestone that I’ve reached in my musical career.  Can you imagine?  I grew up bumping this album on heavy heavy HEAVY rotation, and now here I am working with the man that had much to do with it’s melodic beats and infectious rhythms.  Where MUCH of Canada’s industry has never believed in the music I have made, here is a Grammy winning producer, experienced in making hits for the likes of Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes…and he believes in my talent, and the music we have made together.  The album is finally done its recording process and will be mixed over the next month.  Can’t wait for y’all to hear it!  It’s a good one.

I also had a chance to catch up with Joe from Last Rights Clothing in Miami on my last night in LA.  The line is an upscale men’s clothing label, and has literally taken over the Miami scene.  I had to check out the merchandise at the back of the Lincoln Town car.  I love the Currency Tee Joe gave to me…especially because there are 3 different currencies of $$$ sitting in my bootleg LV wallet right now.  I may have to bumrush KARDINAL OFFISHALL for the title Miss International.  Check out LAST RIGHTS CLOTHING HERE

Masia One in front of Lauryn Hill Platinum Plaque

Masia One and the Last Rights mobile, LA

Last Rights Clothing: some fly tees for the road. Thanks Joe!

Landing in Montego Bay Jamaica

After a night of goodbyes and one last stop at 7 GRAND, our favorite whiskey watering hole in LA, I caught the 6:30am flight to Montego Bay Jamaica.  Upon landing on the island, the humid air instantly hit me and memories flooded into my psyche.  Oh man I miss Jamrock.  The scent of the breeze picking up far away Jerk Chicken being BBQ’d, sweet night time blossoms and salt from the ocean.  I met up with my FAM here in Negril, Ninja, and went almost directly to the nightly bash at Alfreds.  I love the fashion style, the overdriven sound systems (Rayna, you’d hate how distorted and loud the bass is bumped up here…I LOVE it!)  and the infectious music that has me dancing since I landed.  I Love Jamaica!  I’m planning to cool out here in Negril for a couple days, get re acquainted with the ocean, before heading up to 9 Mile and see how I can help at the over populated school in the area.  Shortly after, I will be headed to Kingston to prepare the musicians, accommodations and studio for my crew from Toronto to head out here at the end of March and record MERDEKA RADIO: JAMAICA at the legendary TUFF GONG studios.

Without getting over cheesed I’d like to remind everyone that dreams really do come true.  I never imagined, as an 8 year old kid in Singapore falling in love with Hiphop music and listening to my brother play Peter Tosh that I would have been able to do with my life what I am doing.  Now, as I sit here blogging to the world from a crooked wooden bar stool at an internet cafe over looking the blue blue ocean, all I can do is pass the experience on and pray that everyone can live the joy in creativity I have in 1 lifetime.

I’ll do my best to update soon but that’s difficult when nature is so much more interesting than Facebook.

One Love.

Masia.

Where I am sitting blogging right now!

Rude Bwoay fam: Paul & Ninja @ Scrub A Dubs

Getting ready for the party, posing out!

Long wait for food...but it was worth it!

Ate the BEST oxtail with rice & peas before the fete

Feeling bashy tonight! Chillin' with Paul aka GQ69

For some reason this sign led us to the next party...seems fitting for LA club

Boys in North America should feel more liberated to wear color'd denim

My JA Boys Rep M1

I will be selling:
HIGHPLACE DRIVE advanced CDs $5
RETURN oF the BGIRL DVDs / PULAU LA. combo $10
PULAU Double Disc Set $15
Assorted Mens & Womens Tshirts $15

Free stickers & buttons
www.masiaone.com
MERDEKA GROUP tumblr

Masia One & Ras Kas on his birthday! LA

Check out the new episode of MUSIC & STRENGTH TV hosted by Masia One.  First stop The Black Van Gough’s birthday party…Then onto hosting Ill Gates Show in an LA Wearhouse together with Tokyo’s own DJ SARASA.  The episode is 1 hour long and a great mash up of Hiphop, Culture, Lifestyle and always keeping you connected to the underground!  Big up Music & Strength!

Here’s a preview below: Ill Gates in LA feat. Masia One & DJ SARASA

Watch Music & Strength TV HERE

Wish you were here.

Venice Beach, CA

It has grown into a ritual of sorts…heading out to Venice on a Sunday to clear the mind from a week of studio and world take over. Travis and I packed up the Subaru and headed back out to our old haunts. The beach is never different, the people seem to get more colorful everytime and the ocean is ever beckoning for me to reach out. I haven’t tried surfing in Cali yet…but apparently there’s a strip of beach in Malibu with my name on it. I’m growing more and more focus’d as the days go by and I’m always thankful that there are pockets in this concrete jungle to disappear to. Happy Labour day!

Hollywood

Spent the better half today in the California sunshine strolling Hollywood. It’s my first time seeing the walk of fame, Chinese Theatre, and other landmarks I’ve only seen in movies and postcards. It was a lot less glamourous than I imagined, but it was good to check out nonetheless. Interesting thrift stores, people dressed as strange characters to collect tips from tourists, and a walk of fame. Ok, now back at the studio and back to writing…

Santa Monica

Had a good day at studio, managed to finish up a song and start a new one…I’m really psyched for this new beat. It feels so good as an emcee to hear a beat that excites your soul and you already know how big the energy will swell at live shows!

Tonight we headed to APOGEE Summer Bash in Santa Monica. (Missed a Stussy Party tho! ) I have to give Apogee the Big Ups for really good food! Entering the spot, you are tricked into believing that some Pigs in a Blanket, mini burgers, mac & cheese and assorted finger foods were all that might be available. (Best Mac & Cheese I’ve ever had) Round the corner and there’s a Quesadillas bar, Taco bar and of course a BAR bar. LOL. The drink menu was every delicious fruity flavour of mojitos possible. I’m going to propose that the APOGEE ONE should sponsor my various exploits around the world – I encounter amazing sounds and music to sample everyday. I was surprised to find that the device was only $250. Man, the credit card is getting a work out here in L.A.

OZO MOTLEY opened up the night and brought a lot of hype and riddim to the digesting people. The music was great guys and the precessions were hitting nicely.

The highlight of the night had to be seeing John Fortes casually join the open mic. I remember when I was listening to 99 (FLASH THE MESSAGE) in my car shortly after getting my driver’s license or Lauryn calling out “John Fortes” on ubiquitous Fugee tracks before he’d lay down a real intellectual 16. Great vibes…who knows…collabo on the horizon? Hope so.

Here is a clip of his open mic performance…

John Forte performing @ Apogee Summer Bash from Masia One on Vimeo.

3 more months on the road…

What a trip? Within the past 3 months I’ve been traveling from Singapore –> Indonesia –> Vancouver –> Nova Scotia –> Toronto and finally my beat up suitcase is dragged into the KOPS & ROBBERS loft studio here in Los Angeles, California. The first day was like walking around in a postcard…or more like a late 80s TV show. Things I’ve see only through TV Technicolor, in true 3-D form! As I walked up the stairs I passed by Che’s Acalades… Fugees The Score, Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Aretha Franklin…records that I have grown up listening to. I never thought grabbing a random mic at In Divine Style @ the HOOCH (Toronto) would lead me to this place. No complains and opening my inspiration to the possibilities.

Ok, I just got a ride out to Venice Beach, so I’ll add more later! The ocean is calling.

Kops & Robbers Logo designed by Masia One & Kyo-ko

MASIA ONE JOINS KOPS & ROBBERS

Ok so I guess I should have started this blog earlier but things have been on move since arrival in LA. The studio has been christened the SPACE STATION and KOPS & ROBBERS is on the road to history. The ring leader of this affair is the prestigious CHE VICIOUS. Check out the long list of credentials at the AFTERMATH BLOG (wooohoo! I get a mention on the blog too!) including receiving a Grammy for his work on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The other piece of this puzzle is TRAVIS, an amazing virtuoso musician from Arizona. His musical abilities range from Krunk’d out Hiphop to crass Christian music. LOL.  He used to play in a live Hiphop band known as Antedote.  I’ll be adding to this blog as my days pass here in California so please check back. I think the Taoist saying goes “The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step” … we’ve only just begun.