A Day on tour with Double-O

Posting this cuz my boy sent it over...Dunno what D.O. is doing lol...

Shout out to Ian @ Dub Frequency

Peace.Love.H-Life

-J. Poakwa The Writer

Continue to full story......

DF X Pac DIV- She's got to have it ( snippet) & Mayor Live

New music from the Div Boys.


Note:I was trying something new with my cam, so sorry for the weird coloration. Shout out to Ian, Jesse, and Matt @ Dub Frequency, Carl at Fresh Milk, and the homies Pacific Division.

Performing She's got to have it


Performing Mayor- Pretty much shutdown the show, sorry Holt.


Peace.Love.H-Life

J. Poakwa The Writer

Continue to full story......

Slept on Album of 08': Bambu-…Exact Change...

From just looking at the album cover you know you’re in for something crucial. Like the barrel of the gun and the Machete suggest, Bambu isn’t here for shits and giggles.

Over a slew of soulfully charged tracks, Bambu serves the ears with a much needed plate of politically aware food for thought. In a time when self education is needed, Exact Change acts as the music for the street revolution.

Songs like “Spare Change”, “No Fuss”, and “Crooks and Rooks” bring the listener into a deeply personal setting with Bambu. Other notables “Like us” and “Seven Months” create a sense of family and close friendship for the listener. Exact change is more than just another Underground album, but more so the social commentary of every man trying to survive these days of change.

No matter where you're from, no matter your race, Bambu’s lyrics awake the dormant activist in you and force you to look at what’s happening around you. The album pulls you in with melodic sounds and keeps your attention with Bambu’s lyrical word play. Exact Change is Hip-Hop in its rawest form, full of moral tales and eye opening epiphanies.



For more visit: http://www.myspace.com/bambumusic

Peace.Love.Hlife

-J. Poakwa

Continue to full story......

Hyphenated 1 on 1: Jake One

Riding around in his White Van pumping out sampled goodness, Seattle native Jake One is a Producer like no other. Seldom do we see great producers around here, not to mention producers with a catalogue as diverse as Jake’s. Jake One is synonymous with greatness, producing neck breaking “Oh Shit!” classics such as MF Doom’s “Hoe Cakes”, 50 cent’s “Movin’ on up”, De La Soul’s “Rock Co. Kane Flow”. A heavy hitter with the underground and mainstream levels of Hip-Hop, Jake One moves through the realms of rap with a consistency that keeps him a reoccurring name in your favorite album’s credits. With his new piece “White Van Music” in stores, Jake weighs in on his success and the future of Hip-Hop.

Hyphen: With such a vast catalog of music, do you have a favorite beat?

Jake One:It’s hard because, in the past, a lot of the stuff I’ve done I don’t really listen to too much honestly. I let it go pretty much after we do it. The obvious choice would be “Rock Co. Kane Flow”, only ‘cause I’m always remind of it; that’s just one of those special records. I go to a De La Soul Concert and that was the last song they perform, and I see people goin’ crazy. It’s just a dope feelin’ knowing that something you made has all these people goin’ Bananas. So if I had to choose a record it’ll probably be that one; it was just unexpected and different.

Hyphen: What piece of equipment can you not live without?

Jake One: Definitely the ASR-10. That pretty much is the foundation of everything I do.

Hyphen: Outside of your production, who do you feel is doing Hip-Hop Justice?

Jake One: As far as producers, I like a lot of Nottz’ stuff. Big fan of Jay Dee’s, his stuffs always gonna be there. Khalil’s another guy; Denaun Porter, I like his stuff a lot. There a lot of producers I dig. Justice League, those guys are really dope.

Rapper wise it’s a little harder. I like Young Jeezy’s album a lot. Something about dude; I just dig his style. I actually like the kids from L.A., Pacific Division. I think their dope. [However], I feel like a lot of rappers are making such an inconsistent effort that it’s kind of hard to just ride for one rapper.

Hyphen: What’s your message to the new producers and artist coming out?

Jake One: Man, more than anything, since I do get to listen to a lot of new producers because of [Red Bull] Big Tune, try to have some kind of angle you’re going for. If you’re one of those fake 9th wonders, Timbalands, or fake whoever it is, you’re really not gonna go anywhere with that shit. A lot of people think they’re ready for it when they aren’t. If you’ve only been making beats for a year, you’re probably not ready. You gotta build that foundation, rather than taking that Olympic long jump.

Jake One - The Truth


Peace.Love.Hlife

-J. Poakwa

Continue to full story......

Hiatus (of sorts)

It's been a while since I've touched finger to key and let my thoughts race. What can I say, SCHOOL IS A BITCH! However, i'm on my way out of the college life so its fitting that I reengage in my writing. I've been up to a lot. My writing (beyond Hlife) has taken off, then taken down lol, but now its up again. Vapors, Campus Circle, and Scheme magazine have been my home while I was away, and they've been good to me.

As for my alter ego (pictured above), he's been on the "grind" of sorts, recently receiving my first mixtape placement on the OnSMASH/Legend, DJ Nice & DJ Green Lantern - Back 2 The Basics 2 (The Resurrection) album. Besides that I've been rubbing elbows with myself trying to stay as real as I can. So far, 2009 is looking like another year. Fear it, never. As for H-Life, I will continue to supply your minds with the truth, the fresh, and the Hyphenated. Hope you come along for the ride.

DOWNLOAD MY FIRST MAJOR TRACK!!!
J. Hyphen- OnSMASH feat CurT@!n$ and Mickey Factz

Peace.Love.Hlife

-J. Poakwa

Continue to full story......