Macklin, Saskatchewan May 19. 2010 Tour Diary

The End.

Photos taken with Hipstamatic iPhone APP: www.hipstamaticapp.com

Purchase new lenses & flash options: www.hipstamaticapp.com/equipment.html

Rochester, Masia One & Dopey - last week of tour and still kickin' jokes!

Things move so fast these days, it’s hard for me to keep up…let alone keep the “internet world” updated on my coming and going.  411 TV HIV and AIDS education tour has wrapped up (no pun intended) and I had a great time on the tour with 2 very amazing artists; DJ Dopey & Rochester.  We traveled across Canada, heading East from Toronto all the way to the Westcoast, performing and visiting schools across this wonderful country.  It was eye opening to see so many different communities, yet realize that people everywhere are pretty much the same.  Thank you to all the schools that hosted our show and one love to all the amazing kids that participated!  Please remember you can still visit Keep a Child Alive to learn how you can help the situation of HIV / AIDS in Africa and around the world.  I can’t end this tour off without saying a little something special about my co-horts on the road so here goes:

ROCHESTER aka JUICEEEEEEEY! www.rochesterforever.com

Rochester GOT NEXT on the Canadian Hiphop scene.  His style is the perfect balance between having mainstream appeal, flow respectable by the streets and a message that’s actually SAYING SOMETHING!  His earlier hits reminded me of a Canadian Jay-Z yet I’ve watched this artist mature over the years.  Now he has established a style and versatility that is completely his own.  Getting to know Ro’ on this tour was a blessing – on record and in music videos he definitely has the Rap Star swagger, but in person he is thoughtful, a LOT of fun, a great cook and full of great ideas.  He reminded of that kid in class that is super mischievous but gets away with everything once he flashes his million dollar smile!  LOL.  I wish Rochester nothing but the best on his new album “Genreless”.  Juiceeeeey!  F.U.K. the haters that want to hear “the Rochester they know”.  You stick to your guns, re-define your sound how you wish and grow. I’ll always be yelling PULL UPPPPP when I hear Rochester drop!

Lost – Rochester

What’s It Gon Be – Rochester ft. Daniel Daley

Rochester reppin' M1 Lion Shirt! Bap Bap!

Hey Ladies! Sensitive Thug Rochester LOL

Rochester at Henry Wisewood, Calgary

Rochester in deep reflection...what to order?

DJ DOPEY aka Pinoy Russel Peters www.djdopey.com

Traditionally, good DJ’s are pretty quiet and soft spoken people.  To my surprise Dopey is one of the funniest and mouthiest homies in the world of turntablisms.  I always recount the story years ago when I bumped into Dopey outside of a pub in Toronto.  He told me he was going to go into hibernation for a while to prepare for the DMC Technics World DJ Championship and that he intended to win that year.  Sure enough…he did, securing himself legendary status in Canadian Hiphop for talent, ingenuity and creativity on the decks.  I think it is really special that Dopey was able to showcase his scratches and drop some science for the kids on this tour.  The younger generation might know him from MTV, but they should also see first hand why he is so highly regarded as a DJ.  Beyond all accomplishments, it is amazing that Dopey is such a humble cat with a great sense of humor – rappers with big egos and loud mouths have a lot to learn from his example.  LOL.  Keep doing your thang DJ Dopey, you make Mississauga proud…2-9-5!!!

Check out his music with group NOTES TO SELF

DJ Dopey before the show from Masia One on Vimeo.

DMC Technics World Championships, DJ Dopey takes the title for Canada!

DJ Dopey & Me somewhere in the praries

DJ Dopey the photographer @ Huskie the Muskie, Kenora

Dopey spinning a set at Starlite in Edmonton...sorry had to add my propaganda!

Snap Shots of 411 TV HIV / AIDS Tour

He interviewed us, reppin' the M1 LION print shirt!

Big pimpin in Edmonton @ Starlite

Back on the road again everyday!

Kyle and I looking Gangster in Saskatoon

 

Yall know my Propaganda Steez by now!

Coolin' with my new homies in Calgary

Panorama shot of the day in the life of the crew on tour.

Tamara in her famous T pose!

Homey in Hobbema, Alberta reppin' M1!

Met so many great people on this tour!

Backstages have the best props sometimes!

Today Special at random Chinese restaurant

Book i'm reading on tour! Amazingly inspiring.

Cathy Weaver: Masia One rocking the spot

Hamilton aka. Steel City is always an interesting place to me. As an aficionado of Anime and colorful animated depictions of our future, my imagination tends to runaway when watching the passing smoke stacks, metal palace factories and assorted gleaming lights out our tour van window. The first school, Waterdown had a real nice gym. I was loving the huge words WARRIORS painted on the back wall. A teacher asked 2 girls to help out our crew and they looked at her and walked the opposite direction. I couldn’t believe it…it was so incredibly rude and inconsiderate. As they strutted off in their Aritzia TNA sweatshirts, matching hair bands and co-ordinated UGG boots, I wondered to myself if they ever considered that lending a hand might lead to making a new friend. From making new friends, our lives are connected to someone else’s path, enriching our own lives by this connection and doubling the opportunities and possibilities this existence has to offer. In all fairness, a new group of girls came and helped us out and were very sweet!  The crowd seemed to have a good time and it was quickly off to the next school.

I found a Pho spot for lunch FINALLY after what feels like weeks of consuming only junk food, sandwiches and an assortment of expensive airplane food.  The place was called PHO BO, and midway through my delicious chicken noodle soup, the owner of the restaurant asked if I had a full time job, then offered me a job at his restaurant.  I was tempted to let the crew know they could finish the tour without me, I’d be working at PHO BO and consuming all the Pho I can eat.  Pho Sho…bad joke I know!

The kids at Cathy Weaver were considerably younger, but each time I passed through a doorway, i found that someone would always stop to open a door or say hello.  Back up help came through to transport the sound equipment to the stage and the remaining experience was  a positive one.  After the show, the students at Cathy Weaver asked such insightful questions, and were genuinely interested in myself and Eternia as artists and where we had been. The teachers were always friendly and positive.  I have been out of school for a number of years now, but it is still so inspirational to see teachers that love their job and kids that are the product of this joy in teaching.  Thanks Cathy Weaver!  I had a great time…

ps: Eternia and I were clowning around backstage! LIVE EXCLUSIVE HERE AT MASIAONE.COM

At night the crew headed out for some Thai food @ Salah Thai in St Catherines after the show.  Oooo, non-sandwich meals twice in one day?  My belly is happy!  Thank you Nina Jain for the suggestion!

Backstage @ Cathy Weaver about to get my toboggan on!

Loved this poster backstage!

Nana & Eternia posing out by the rice?

An extremely happy Kyle and his dessert!