It was a little before 5:00EST today when I just happened to check twitter and I saw the tweets “RIP CHUCK BROWN”. I knew he had been hospitalized just a little while ago but it didn’t register until I saw a confirmation with a full story attached. I was on my home this evening and of course I turned to the radio stations and every single one Baltimore and D.C. were playing Chuck Brown’s music.
I am writing this from the heart, there will be a lot of local references and just straight emotion. This site represents music and culture for a world wide audience but the death of Chuck Brown hit home! It hit home like down the block, down in the country, parties and summer cookouts. The people of Maryland, D.C. and Virginia specifically did not just listen to Chuck Brown we GREW UP with him! Chuck Brown’s music was played as a part our life soundtracks. His music started cookouts, family reunions, parties and just general good times. When the word/genre of “Go-Go” is said Chuck Brown is right there in the sentence. My grandmother knows Chuck Brown’s music, my parents, my friends, younger cousins, my sister. When you say local music when you speak of Washington, D.C. and the surrounding areas you are talking about nothing other than Go-Go!
Chuck Brown saw his music go from infancy to ingrained in the local culture and known world wide. Chuck Brown is the reason EU’s “Doin’ the Butt” became national thanks to the movie School Daze and how we were saying “oh la oh la eeeyyyy rollin’ rollin’ Kid n’ Play now” in the early 90′s. Singers and rappers have sampled Chuck Brown’s music and anyone in music that filtered through Washington, D.C. either met him, heard the music or a combination of both. Chuck Brown was the reason the names Trouble Funk, Rare Essence, Backyard Band, Northeast Groovers, Huck A Bucks, Shuttle Thoughts and UCB mean something to people in what is now called the DMV(D.C., Maryland and Virginia). I was too young but growing up all I heard about was the legendary show at the Capital Centre(where the now Wizards used to be Bullets used to Play) in 1987.
Many around the world are saddened by his loss and my thoughts go out to his family because Chuck Brown was a man, a human being. Chuck Brown was out, it wasn’t hard to cross paths of some sort with Chuck Brown. We didn’t see Chuck Brown as some icon he was just simple “Chuck” a real life representative of what we know and love here. I had the pleasure of seeing Chuck Brown perform several times but one time stands out it was in 2007 in Baltimore and Lil’ Benny was with him(also now deceased) and let me tell you all that show was ROCKIN’! Chuck Brown was I believe 70 at the time and for a then 70 year to perform for I believe 2 hours and have the crowd dancing, sweating laughing and having a great Saturday night. I don’t know about you all but that was impressive!
Chuck Brown will be missed and his music even today took on a new meaning because even though he created a music and culture that is solidified in the region he was here for us, he was around. Chuck was performing, he was a living legend. Chuck was making new music “boyyyy y’all here dat new Chuck, mannnn dat’s the joint”. Chuck Brown was 75 and lived a full life from what I saw from the outside. He lived to see something that he created blossom, grow and plant deep roots. I think that is a blessing, I know to see make it to 75 is a blessing. Again my thoughts are with the family because he was a part of them. Thank you Chuck Brown!
Hey young world, good morning east coast, good morning to the rest of America and good afternoon to much of the world. The Juste Debout World Finals are today. I remember when there wasn’t internet and if you had it, you got this reaction “FOR REAL!!?” Well it’s 2012 and the French Channel “Canal Street” are doing a live stream of the Juste Debout world finals which are going to take place at the Bercy in Paris in a little over 4 hours at 3pm EST(so check back just before 3pm ish there is a countdown clock on their site). This will be updated on twitter to remind everyone so check the Creative Beach twitter feed because I know more than a few on the east coast are in church, sleep or just making breakfast…the west coast, if you’re up I applaud you.
Update!
Watch the Juste Debout Finals right here at Creativebeach.net!
Remember what happened to the Original Onsmash.com? Remember when DJ Drama was raided for selling Mixtapes? If you like reading music blogs/websites and want to engage in the online community, educate yourself on #SOPA and the protect IP act. http://sopablackout.org (There are no tags for this because if these laws pass it might be hard blogs/websites in the U.S. to operate, so in short this site or many others might not exist.)
Adam Tensta and Eboi are two names that Creative Beach readers should definitely be familiar with. The pair have definitely caught the attention of CB and they have been doing shows and putting out a lot of music lately. Creative Beach caught up with Adam and Eboi and got to know them a little better as they talk about their musical styles, friendship and future projects. Stay a little while and take a short trip to Stockholm, Sweden with Adam Tensta and Eboi.
For those that don’t know, let the people know who you guys are?
Eboi: My name is Eboi, which is the Gambian abbreviation of my given name Ibrahima. I’m a musician from Stockholm, Sweden but with an international background that seeps through my being.
Adam Tensta: I’m Adam. Fortunate enough to be living one of my childhood dreams. Right now I’m traveling the world, doing music and meeting inspiring people. Currently music is my form of expression, but if you ask me the same question in 10 years, the answer would probably be completely different.
So, You guys seem close, how did you all meet?
Eboi: We’re both from the same region of Stockholm, just not the same hood. In addition, our parents knew each other way before Adam and I did. Our fathers are both from Gambia, West Africa. So I knew of dude long before we started kicking it and now we’ve got history together.
Adam Tensta: Although we started kicking it after Eboi featured on the Bangin’ On The System remix in early 2006, we had known of each other through mutual friends.
This question is for Adam, you’ve definitely changed your style and added more of an electronic sound to your music was that a conscious effort or more of a natural progression?
Adam Tensta: I guess my current “style” was solidified half way through the recording of It’s A Tensta Thing with tracks like They Wanna Know, Dopeboy, Before U Know It and My Cool. Since then it’s been more of a natural progression to delve deeper into the sounds of what became my second solo effort; Scared Of The Dark. Sonically, this album follows a more strict line that It’s A Tensta Thing did.
For Eboi, you were on “It’s a Tensta thing” but the people haven’t heard much music from you but now things are starting to roll along. Did you feel like now is a better time rather than before?
Eboi: I pretty much got out of my business management classes in college and was thrown into the studio back in ’06-’07 as a recording rookie. I’m somewhat of a perfectionist and stubborn at that. And so, I had to allow myself to grow as an artist and decide on how I wanted to be perceived. I think the time has come and I’m ready to be presented.
So Adam what can we expect from your upcoming project?
Adam Tensta: I don’t want you to expect anything actually. I want you to listen to it with new ears and see it with new eyes. I don’t even know what to expect from it to be honest.
Eboi, do you have an EP/Album coming in the near future?
Eboi: I’m in the process of putting together my most official projects to date, so yes, there will be releases.
Alright I have to ask, why rap in English? and for Eboi, being an American you sound very American with a southern accent…that definitely deserves an explanation (laughs)
Eboi: There are many reasons for me to rap in English. The most obvious being that more people know English but also, I think there are people around the entire globe that can relate to huge chunks of my life and my stories in different ways and they all deserve to hear them. That being said, my story is still unusual which brings me to your question. I have family in Texas and Oklahoma and that’s where my accent stems from. I have traces of my intercontinental childhood in the south, in Sweden and in the Gambia.
Adam Tensta: Coming up, I listened to American Hiphop, more specifically to east coast based acts like NAS, Mobb Deep and Biggie. Wanting to be like them, I couldn’t write in any other language than English, right?
Besides new music is there anything else you guys want to pursue with your careers in the near future?
Eboi: I want to travel the world and meet new, interesting people to inspire me and to collaborate with. That’s been a true source of inspiration throughout my life.
Adam Tensta: I’m into photography right now and that’s something I’d like to dedicate more time to. I’m actually having my exhibition in September of 2012. I’m really looking forward to that.
If you want to know what is going on you have to go directly to the source. Creative Beach continues to keep you all as informed as possible on news that is relevant to our readers. The mainstream media reports on the issue but the #ows(twitter hashtag) movement has a continuous live stream available for all, so stay informed.
Yesterday was International Youth Day around the world. Today marks one week since the riots the UK began, first starting in Tottenham, London and spreading to other parts of the country. The media around the world have been in constant debate and discussion as to what the cause of the riots and unrest were. Where did the anger come from? Why would ‘normal, middle class’ kids suddenly steal in a frenzy? What can be done to stop it in the future? I wanted to take this time to voice my opinion and highlight the thoughts others.
2011 has been a year of youth and young adult rebellion, unrest and protests. Yes it has included all ages and generations but mainly it has been the young. Riots and unrest spring up on TV in an instant but the underlined reasons have been there for years. As far as the UK it was such a mixture of anger, opportunity and criminality. Let’s be honest there were more than a few who saw an open store front and just walked in and snatched a T.V., shoes, whatever but people also stole food, baby items. People also burned cars and buildings. There is no reason to set an apartment building on fire but sadly in times of unrest and rebellion anything can happen, whether planned or not. When riots break out they are really mini wars..it is the war of the have an have nots. Yes opportunists jump into it but again a mini war, there are definitely opportunists who jump into wars. Police cars were burned, symbols of government and stores owned by major corporations were looted.
The spark of all of this was the shooting and killing of Mark Duggin which interesting enough did not fire upon police and it was proven, which hasn’t been highlighted nearly as it should. From that one incident anger turned into violence, opportunity, chaos and now a recovery, rebuilding and reflection phase. As I watched the news and read online I thought about how I would feel if my house was burned, store looted, would I join in the madness? Are people OK? My heart went goes to the families whose sons were killed in a deliberate hit and run in Birminghmam, England. Again, a mini war…nothing makes sense, at some point it’s all senseless. I don’t condone the violence, peaceful protesting is far more effective! I was happy to see the hip hop community many of whom i follow on twitter take a strong stance against the violence. I mean we say it time all the time “Why burn your own neighborhood!?” Again, senseless acts, everything is turned upside down.
One thing is clear the world needs to listen to the young! I’m 28, old enough to be a fully functioning adult but I’ll admit young enough to still be included and understand the mindset of those younger than me, I understand because it is my mindset as well. My generation while getting older is still young, for whatever reason we are driven to seriously change the world and it is happening. For all the lazy talk, the “millenial” workplace conversation, books etc we are human! We want to work, live and be happy. We want financial security, stability and for most that’s it! I’ll say it goes world wide because the U.S. is definitely in the same boat. The UK government is talking about “cracking down” “prosecuting” but what about helping. Students in the UK protested against severe tuition hikes months back, the people in Egypt just want freedom of choice and honestly the world over just want their governments to help them better their lives. Isn’t that what government is supposed to do!? I’ll end it with that last statement.
Check out some of the youth voices speaking on the UK Riots
It’s finally here! This is a journey that started well over a year ago and went through many changes but it is here. The Emerge Ep is a compilation of music from some of the first artists that Creative Beach came in contact with. All of the artists are up and coming artists just as Creative Beach is an up and coming site. The EP has something for everybody with hip hop, R&B and House music represented. Many thanks to everyone involved it was a complete team effort and represents a global team of players from Atlanta, London, Maryland and Guadeloupe/New York. Stream the tracks below, download and enjoy! Happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans!
Creative Beach is a part of a global online media network of writers, bloggers and everyone behind the scenes supporting hip hop culture in the 21st century. When the word ‘generation’ is tossed around in the hip hop community it’s very relative because many are still in their 20′s and 30′s and the generations overlap. Although with so many 80′s babies already established it’s time for the next decade to shine. In steps Tannis Spencer, owner and operator of Product of the 90′s, an event planning company and lifestyle website. Creative Beach is all about shining light on the industry that we are a part of, Creative Beach sat down and talked to Miss Spencer via skype back on International Women’s Day from her New Jersey home. Tannis gives insight into what the Product of the 90′s is, being a part of the new online movement in hip hop, women in hip hop culture and her future plans for her growing organization.
Creative Beach: What is the product of the 90′s?
Tannis:Product of the 90′s initially started out as an artist management team. Ummmmm and we were managing like maybe 5 artists from VA, Philly to Jersey and then in 2010 my interests started changing a little bit. I knew I wanted to do management but my head was kind of in a different place. So late 2010 and early 2011 I was like alright I just gonna change what Product of the 90′s is. I really started getting into the subculture of music and fashion.I was going to a lot of cool events in Washington, D.C. And I was like I see what I like and I can add my own twist and how I can make my own mark. So now Product of the 90′s is an event planning/hosting and lifestyle website. That last part is the sentence answer to what it actually is but there is a lot of fluff of to how it actually got here.
Creative Beach: Why product of the 90′s, what does it mean to you to be a product of the 90′s?
Tannis: Ummmmm Obviously I grew up in the 1990′s, I was born in 1990.
My fond years, like the year I actually start remembering stuff was prob like 95′ but I mean just clothing, television…television influenced me a lot. I wasn’t one of those kids whose parents said ‘you can’t watch TV’ I was one of those kids that did homework in front of the TV. Like, it was just a big influence on my life. A lot of programming back then influenced me, the movies the music. I feel like if music…I mean not that I dislike the current state of music but I feel like if music could get back to the 90′s I feel like maaaaan kids these days wouldn’t be watching no teen mom (Laughs) sike naww…but the 90′s has completely influenced my lifestyle and my outlook on things. I never want to get it confused that product of the 90′s means that we are some kids that dress like we’re in the 90′s and we throw 90′s parties. I just shout out the 90′s for making me who I am as I progress through another decade.
Creative Beach: Today is International Women’s Day. There are a lot of women pushing hip hop forward now…do you see the same thing and what do you think?
Tannis: It’s something I think about probably everyday. Going to these events and stuff and often times being the only female in the room that want’s to have a conversation about what they want to talk about, just being interested in learning more about the event. Not being a groupie or a friend of the artist. It’s something that I’ve always paid attention to, to having conversations with guy friends. Like I remember one time, I was hanging out and we were talking about music and I said yeah Dom Kennedy he’s about to be on next and this dude just looked at me and was like “what” I’ve never heard a girl talk about Dom Kennedy. I was kind of taken a back, like it’s music! I’m not talking about Jock Straps! I’m talking about something that everybody has access to. I don’t understand, it was kind of weird to me but I then I was like Ok it seems like women aren’t into the sub-culture that seems to be stirring right now. But It’s something that I have to acknowledge. To me it’s cool I don’t mind being one of the few women that are into this kind of thing. It’s definitely obvious that there a few women that are into it. I am definitely proud of the women that are into it and making a name showing that this isn’t just a male dominated industry like some people think it is.
Creative Beach: How do you interject yourself into your business?
Tannis:Yes there is a team of people but this is definitely my brain child. This is coming onto two years of my own work. Ummmm so Anything that has product of the 90′s name attached to it is Tannis’ Spencer’s doing essentially. I like to think that I have a pretty eceltic taste and I can adapt to different things. So I don’t ever want to be held down to just one thing. I am product of the 90′s and product of the 90′s is me. There is nothing that I can’t do that product of the 90′s won’t do…if that answers your question.
Creative Beach: No it does completely, that’s what business’ and brands are about. You know it’s like the Virgin corporation is Richard Branson and Richard Branson is Virgin, whatever you do is what the company does. That’s how Business’ need to function. Gotta have a spearhead.
Creative Beach:What is in store for Product of the 90′s for 2011 and beyond?
Tannis: What’s in store hmmmmm pure magic (laughs) I’m enjoying the buzz that we are getting in DC. I’ve met some cool people. As far as projects, looking to expand on the site more. Looking to get posts up sooner, I kind of do a lot of that myself. Expect more posts, a lot more events, Oh! Our second annual Product of the 90′s barbecue…so more events and more things for the website. I just wanna keep people on their toes. But pure magic man, pure magic.
Creative Beach: Thank you, thank you for doing this.
Tannis: I appreciate it, to me this doesn’t happen. I’m still some chick from Jersey. My current belief is that the creatives shall prosper. There’s a resurgence amongst creatives in our generation and we shall prosper.
Hip hop is continuously changing, Dee1 is a fairly new artist coming out of New Orleans when New Orleans is not just Cash Money or No Limit, but now names like Jay Electronica and Curren$y stand out in the Internet consciousness of hip hop listeners. Dee1 one burst onto the scene and while he’s been around since 2009, last year saw his name and music pushed even higher when his now hit song Jay, 50, Weezy created a buzz as the video was posted on youtube and racked up well over 300,000 views. Dee1 released his album David and Goliath in 2009 but has since released his mixtape series I hope they hear me Vol. 1, Vol. 1.5 and just recently released I Hope They Hear Me Vol 2. Creative Beach caught up with Dee1 a couple weeks back while on tour with Pac Div and Young Dro. Dee1 talks about his former career as a teacher and how it propelled and inspired him to be where he is today, his song Jay, 50, Weezy, being a rapper and role model, New Orleans post B.P. Oil spill and his thoughts on the HBO show Treme.
Creative Beach: Did you always want to rap or did your teaching experience help?
Dee1: I wanted to rap…from the time since about aaaaahhh sophomore in college, that’s when I really wanted to start to rap. I grew up as a little boy just as a fan of hip hop and I just loved it and loved listening to it. I appreciated all the people who were making good music and I didn’t want to do until a sophomore in college. I just kind of playing around with it, I did a mixtape, I just got to the point where I couldn’t put the mic down and I got hooked. As far as teaching ummmmm the whole time I was teaching, I was actively pursuing my rap career, like ACTIVELY, like I used to really get it in. I would teach from 7am to 3pm but as soon as I was finished teaching I was back in Dee1 mode.
Creative Beach: Wow! You had time to grade papers too(laughs)
Dee1: Yeah right(laughs) late at night I would go do a show and come back at like 2 in the morning and be like awwwww I got papers to grade. I had to balance it…I enjoyed my job! I enjoyed teaching but I had to balance it with the fact that I was super passionate about my music. Like I got to the point, I remember a couple times I left school during my lunch break and would drive across town to do a quick performance and then hurry back in time for 5Th period. You know like crazy stuff.
Creative Beach: In other interviews you talk about what you are trying to do and the positive energy that you are projecting. Do you feel like it will be hard to maintain the standard you are setting for yourself?
Dee1: Not at all! The only way I won’t be able to maintain that standard is if I change, or loose my focus as a human being. Like this is not Dee1, this isn’t a marketing scheme to try to make it in the hip hop industry. This is my real life as David Augustine Jr. the man, the black man and that’s what I stand for. It won’t be hard for me to maintain that, I just look to become more powerful with my voice, with my mission and just as a leader. I think it will get better with time as opposed to fade off.
Creative Beach: So are rappers role model?
Dee1: Are rappers role models? I think so definitely cause anytime you are in a position of power there is a certain amount of responsibility that comes with that even if you didn’t ask for it, it comes with it. So if you a preacher and you standing up at the alter, you’re obviously standing above everyone else and that’s why they listen to you and you have that one microphone and it’s in your hand. Same thing as a hip hop artist, you have that microphone for a certain reason, you have that name that resonates and rings bells with the audience for a reason. People actually pay and see you perform and buy your music so the least we can do is except our responsibility as role models. Different people feel different ways but I feel we are.
Creative Beach: Ok great lead in, of course the hit, the Jay, 50, weezy song made a huge impact, it got people talking and now that your name is a little more known. Do you still feel the same way? Should rappers give back, is that something they have to do at that level?
Dee1: No they don’t have to at all, they don’t have to but they should. That’s why I made the song. I was giving my opinion and feelings on the way things should go and obviously a lot of people feel the same way with the reaction to the song. No they don’t have to…they are grown men and they worked hard to get to where they are so they can do what they want to do. You know sometimes when people win the lottery and you’re like maaaan how they blow all that money when they talk about people who won and how they spent their money, how it all went away because they blew it. That’s how I felt in this situation with the song. Like if I had that type of money that’s what I would do and try to do these things.
Creative Beach: Do you still feel the same way? The song has been out for a while.
Dee1: Yeahhhh I still feel that way, definitely, I feel like it’s bigger than us, it’s not a temporary thought I had and even though I surround myself with positive people and positive energy for the most part I’m not surrounded by hatred or negativity. All I got to do is turn on the news or go back to where I grew up at and I see all the things people are suffering from. Go back to the school I taught at, I see it in the habits and tendencies of the students, all the things they think is cool and aspire to is really not, most of it is like man! They are just misguided. Of course I feel the same way! We need to be doing all we can. I’m just a piece to the puzzle, I’m not like Jesus, I’m not the savior. That’s why when I talk about being a one man army. Like whatever you do, whatever you niche is, your purpose in life do it to the fullest. Do it to spread positivity. That way if I’m doing it as a rapper you’re doing it as a make-up artist, the next person as a a nurse, accountant then we can start to see some real change.
Creative Beach: Speaking about change. New Orleans is definitely changing as far as hip hop. Do you feel like you are a part a movement, a new crop of New Orleans artist…
Dee1: …Oh! I am, definitely! YEAH, I’m glad you said that. I’m definitely a part of that movement. You know we all grew up listening to to No Limit, Cash Money and Bounce music. That was the face of New Orleans and we all have respect for them, they put our city on the map. I’m on the tour and whenever we start talking about old New Orleans music they all get excited cause they all love so much of that old hot boyz and master P stuff. I always loved them because they paved the way. So yeah now it’s a new face of New Orleans that is starting to be shown. You got artists who are really talented and representing the city but it’s just a whole new vibe now.
Creative Beach: Was that scene always there or you feel like it’s something new?
Dee1: It was always there, it just didn’t get as much shine. For example during the times of No Limit and Cash Money there was a crew in New Orleans called the Psycho Ward and was composed of a lot of eclectic conscious M.C.’s and what not. It was always going on…it just gets to the point if you doing your thing and no one is really listening to you and somebody else comes along and they say if you get with me people will pay attention. That’s what happened to a lot of rappers back then. Like Mystikal, he was rapper before he signed with No Limit and he signed with No Limit so people would pay attention. Juvenile signed with Cash Money so more people would pay attention, so yeah it was always going on. It’s just that everybody winded up falling under one of those umbrellas.
Creative Beach: So since I got you and this is something that has not been talked about and has seemingly faded away. What’s going on with New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of the B.P. Oil Spill, how is it down there?
Dee1: I mean right now, we still in a transition period, we are having to get used to bouncing back from another disaster that happened to our region and our city. Just having to get to the point where…I think people in New Orleans specifically are like…like I made a song about about it called sorry ain’t enough no more. The title explains how a lot of people feel where we from, when things happen whether B.P., the President or the government say their sorry and sorry is not going to fix it. We tired of people saying we’re sorry. I mean Katrina happened almost 6 years ago and we still haven’t fully recovered from that all the way and we won’t ever fully bounce back. New Orleans is a place full of spontaneous change, if you get to attached to things we learned it can be taken from you instantly. Whether it’s you house, your job or your life.
Creative Beach: I’m glad you said that because that story has really faded away, people act like everything is good and I don’t really think so.
Dee1: Exactly, exactly…I’m glad you touched on that. It’s a very relevant issue for us. Now that I’m doing these shows in other states. People are always asking how are things going and I’m glad I get to tell the story. You know just because the Saints won the SuperBowl last year don’t mean that the whole city is back to normal. The thing that just popped into my head that I would like to touch on more it’s not about what happens to us but it’s about how we react to it and how we bounce back from it. It also let’s me know that we need to have a spirit about us that is focused on being positive through any adversity and a mission that we are focused on and that mission is to spread positivity. As bad as Katrina was I felt like Katrina happened for a reason we had a lot of evil and poisonous people in our city and poisonous things happening and I felt like Katrina was meant to wipe away all of that stuff but sure enough if didn’t really happen like that and now we back to the same thing. So …yeah
Creative Beach: Yeah, yeah we definitely have our issues here too. So, I’m not going to keep you but real quick are you watching Treme, the second season?
Dee1: Oh no, I haven’t, the only TV I’ve watched on this tour is a few of the NBA playoff games randomly.
Creative Beach: Are you a fan?
Dee1: Oh yeah, I’m definitely a fan. I’m hoping to be on Treme real soon
Creative Beach: That would be dope, alright well thank you so much, definitely.
Dee1: For sure, for sure…thank you very much I appreciate it. For anybody that see’s or reads the interview need to hit me, you can give em my twitter page, @dee1music and dee1music.com.
Hip hop is continuously changing, Dee1 is a fairly new artist coming out of New Orleans when New Orleans is not just Cash Money or No Limit, but now names like Jay Electronica and Curren$y stand out in the Internet consciousness of hip hop listeners. Dee1 one burst onto the scene and while he’s been around since 2009, last year saw his name and music pushed even higher when his now hit song Jay, 50, Weezy created a buzz as the video was posted on youtube and racked up well over 300,000 views. Dee1 released his album David and Goliath in 2009 but has since released his mixtape series I hope they hear me Vol. 1, Vol. 1.5 and just recently released I Hope They Hear Me Vol 2. Creative Beach caught up with Dee1 a couple weeks back while on tour with Pac Div and Young Dro. Dee1 talks about his former career as a teacher and how it propelled and inspired him to be where he is today, his song Jay, 50, Weezy, being a rapper and role model, New Orleans post B.P. Oil spill and his thoughts on the HBO show Treme.
