ESPN 30 For 30: Jordan Rides the Bus [Video]

You Either Build Or Your Destroy...

Are you building or destroying the past and the future???

Young African Leaders Chat With Obama

This is a recap of a recent meeting where President Barack Obama met with 115 young African leaders from 46 countries for a question and answer session at the White House. There were a wide range of topics discussed including how to best shape African systems, governments and institutions for the next generation as well as the continued spread of AIDS over the continent.

Now if only the CIA can keep its hands out of the politics of Africa, then we would really be able to see if change can come from within the continent instead of from outside sources.

Here's the full Q&A session:

She Called Me Fela Because She Loved This Afro's Beat...

This month's Lunchbox Theory Afrobeat event will be at Bossa (Adams Morgan) on the 26th with the incredible DJ Underdog spinning vinyl upstairs and the Funk Ark Band downstairs for the live music. Like always this will be a great inexpensive way to party and dance your night away with a diverse and eclectic crowd. Make sure you bring your dancing shoes because there's no holding the walls up at these AFROBEAT events. Word on the streets is that there may also be some body painting going on during the night.


If you have never heard DJ Underdog spin before please go download his lastest mix which is also brought to you by the good ladies over at Lunchbox. 

Download: DJ Underdog: Africa Africa Africa pt. 2

DJ Underdog

Life on "Lenox Avenue"

Black television these days is certainly not what it used to be. Today it is all marketed by white people for white people. You have people creating concepts and shows without much of our input of how we should be portrayed. Reality TV has made even harder to break new black shows unless it's “For the love of [insert rapper/athlete name here]”. Jaleel White aka Urkle and Al Thompson have by passed the Viacom conglomerate machine and taken their original black series to the internet and google’s ad dollars. Black television will never be "A Different World" or “Martin” ever again but maybe black web series can be with we have been waiting for because of the freedom the web allows compared to these minority-less corporations. This new series takes a look at life on Harlem's famous Lenox Avenue.

Official Site: Lenox Ave

The Movie Character In Me...

Every now and then there are characters in movies that you can really relate to. Sometimes its because you know someone who's just like that character and other times its because that character is you. In high school I was a mixture of "Big Mike", Jamal Wallace, and Quincy McCall or at least in my mind.  These days its more like Micheal Corleone or Huey Freeman mixed with weeks of feeling like (and even sounding like) Dap (get your black movie game up asap if you don't know who that is). However a lot of my recent moments before getting my shepherd on and counting sheep have been spent writing some pretty crazy and thought provoking stuff, even for me. For the longest I was the "poet"(and I use that term loosely) who couldn't write. It was such a task for me to physically write so I just kept bits and pieces of poems I would create in my head. It always felt like my hands could never keep up with how fast my mind would be working at those rare moments I would try to scribble down words. It got to the point where I had maybe 80% of all my poetry in my head. Last night while up late writing I popped in Love Jones and there I was, Darius Lovehall but without that whole Blues for Nina thing. I have always loved the movie but as I was writing I felt a new connection to the movie and Lovehall.  If you have been on here before or have looked around this blogspot, then I'm sure you have seen me post a piece or two of work I have done. Unless like most artists, I am not sensitive about my work. To me its just a way to get out ideas and thoughts to make room for new ones to be created. So here is a little piece of something new I have started but have yet to be complete.

Like wet ink from a signature, that's how new this
And what this is, is just the beginning of a journey
A journey were no one are drivers nor passengers
But with this passage, I hope u can understand what is coming with this package
See this package is a lil damaged, its been tossed around and even torn open on the edges
Opened but still very much closed to the outside world
A outside world full of beast that are just waiting for your guard to go down
And once its down, its down for the count like Foreman against Ali
But we all need to feel that to understand what it means to be free
Because freedom does come with a cost and many become lost with this discovery

To Be Continued...

Another Fly Thing I Went To This Summer...

Shout out to the homie and HU grad Jabari for following his dreams and putting together a great event for the premiere of his new video series and site. There was a very nice turn out to see this first episode and guest performance from my dude Phil Ade. If you have happened to be under a rock this past month and didn't get a chance to see Episode #1 with skateboard phenom Nigel Sylvester, you can check it out at the bottom. Overall there were a lot of #YEBies in the building and it was great to see and be a part of. From one Y.E.B. to another Y.E.B., I got to say I see you Jabari. Keep doing your thing homie.

Episode 1 with Nigel Sylvester:

Theo Martins – Power [Video]

The homie Theo Martins just dropped his stop-motion video for his dance remake of Kanye's power. Pretty dope video for a very creative rendition of the song. Mr. Martins has been putting out fresh music and concepts all year.

Listen/Download: Theo Martins - Power (Dance Remix) Prod. Party Supplies

Bonus: Theo Martins: 20 Thousand Leagues (The Feather)

BODY BEAT Pool Party Recap

Thanks to everybody who came out to support another event YEBies was a part of. Together with DCtoBC/ The Gee Pee and The Lunchbox Theory we were able to bring a great mixture of people together for a amazing time under the sun. The event was wonderful and wouldn't have been possible without the originators Christine and Allison of Lunchbox Theory. For those who attempted to get in after the event reached capacity or after it got shut down, thank you as well and know we didn't forget about you guys. There will be more coming for each one of the groups that put this pool party together in the up coming weeks and months. Special Shout out to DJ JeffSpicoli, DJ Cam Jus, and DJ UNDERDOG for spinning great sets and introducing folks to some great music.

Check out a short video recap of the day by the homie Mike Lights.



P.S. Most of the photos up top were shot by Alice Wonder

The Original Tru Skool Sound Stage w/ Diamond District

This Saturday July 31st Diamond District, The Cornel West Theory and Damu the Fudgemunk will be playing the Maninstage at The Black Cat. DJ Underdog will be DJ'ing with vinyl on the 1s and 2s during this great event.

Event Information:

Saturday July 31, 2010
9:00 pm - 2:00 am
18+
Cover: $12.00

Diamond District
w/ The Cornel West Theory
Damu The FudgeMunk
and DTMD
plus DJ Underdog and host Grap Luva

August 4th- WEAR OBAMA GEAR!!!!!

This email and post is for all of us America who were so political this time two years ago when President Obama was running for office, but allowed themselves to fall back into the trap of letting other people speak for them politically.

Reader submitted email:

"Since his historic election, President Obama has been inundated with a barrage of venomous criticism. From the first cries calling for the failure of his administration by Vitter and Limbaugh to the media critique of his handling of the BP oil spill, his critics are unequivocal in telling us that he can do no right.


In the face of contrary evidence, “Birthers” rant that the President is not a US citizen and should be removed from office. Once closed by Senator Barry Goldwater, the “father” of modern conservatism, the Republican leadership has opened the doors of their party to the John Birch Society and other reactionary extremists. With cries of wanting to “take back OUR country” and “we want OUR America back,” the Tea Partiers clearly tell us that there is no room for his (The President’s) kind in their America– at least not in a position of leadership or Presidential Authority. Who remembers someone ever disrespectfully calling out “You Lie!” to either of the Bushes, Reagan, Ford or Nixon in the chambers of the US House of Representatives or someone openly carrying a loaded weapon to one of their political events?


For years our borders have been as porous as cheesecloth, but suddenly critics tell us the Administration is failing to live up to its responsibility to quell the flow of immigrants from our southern border. Without questioning the impact of our non-existent northern border on illegal immigration, reactionary responses from municipal to state governments tell us that if “Obama won’t do anything, we’ll stop these Mexicans from coming here.”


Living up to expectations, the actions of Fox News have denigrated from constant criticism of President Obama to their appeal, by the likes of Beck, to the basest elements in society to “revolt” against theoppressor Obama or to “spill the blood of tyrants to water the tree of Liberty .” Disappointingly, most mainstream media just turned its attention and focus to President Obama’s critics, while excluding a balanced assessment of the political landscape.


That having been said, there are millions out here who support the reasoned and measured approach of the President. We understand from the evidence he presents daily that he has an extraordinary, almost encyclopedic understanding of issues impacting this nation and the world. We see him lauded by his peers around the world as a “thinker” or as a no-nonsense leader who understands, and can articulate, the positions of friends and adversaries alike. While not addressing or achieving goals the way the media “puppeteers” would choose, HE GETS THE JOB DONE!!!


An overwhelming number of Americans elected President Obama and millions still support him, but too many of us do so silently. If the progressive agenda we elected the President to achieve is to be successful, we must help the President achieve it. We cannot allow the media to report from negative positions without challenge. Just as others demonstrate their hatred and disrespect of President Obama, we must actively demonstrate our support.


We call on ALL who support President Obama to take action. On August 4th, the President’s birthday, we ask those who support him to wear any campaign item from the Presidential election as a demonstration of our ongoing support. Bring out your old campaign paraphernalia.


If you don’t have caps, buttons or tee shirts, wear a red, white, and blue tri-color ribbon or clothing on August 4th. If nothing else, this simple demonstration of support for our President will provide a counteraction to the negativity that spews forth daily. We can do this. YES WE CAN. YES WE WILL.


In the unlikely story that is America , there's never been anything false about hope.
~Barack Obama

Shout out to future lawyer and friend Bishop for the email.

Lunchbox Theory, YEBies, and The Great Progression.. Present: BODY BEAT Pool Party

This Saturday at the Donovon House Rooftop in DC, we will be throwing a pool party featuring 4 incredible DJs from 2pm - 9pm. Its not often you get a chance to party for 7 hours to great music with a amazing mix of people and for FREE!!!!!! Yeah I said it, its a FREE event. All we ask is that you bring swimwear and a great attitude. If you have ever been to any Yebies, Lunchbox Theory, or DC to BC / The Gee Pee events then you already know what's about to go down. If you haven't, please brace yourself for a epic time. This event is not for the stunntas, ballas, or the bougie crowd, but in fact for the complete opposite. There will be no bottles poppin', making it rain, or buying the bar out. This is where you can party, build, network, or just chill all while in a nice venue with an astonishing soundtrack. This will be the greatest mix of people you have been around in a while, and you will love it and us for that very reason. There is a money back guarantee to those who don't enjoy themselves, but we honestly don't see ourselves paying a red cent. So come one, come all and don't forget its a pool party so you might will get WET!!!!!

For more info please go HERE

"Art In Life" Silent Art Auction Recap

If you didn’t make it to the Auction, you missed a very nice event for a great cause. There was good art, good food, good people, good music, and it was a overall great experience. Money was raised for kids in each program and tons of books were donated. I’ll leave you with pictures from @alice_wonder that of sum most of the night. Big S/O to my cousin Lamin for holding it done on the 1s & 2s the whole evening.

Jay Electronica's Love Poem/Verse...

Finally some new Jay Electronica even if it is old and he was holding on to it. Apparently this song was inspired my the mother of his child Ms. Badu, which makes this even better. I hope we get that CD this summer that he promised us. If we can't get that, can we at least get a track biweekly??? I guess slow motion better than no motion.

Listen/Download:

Jay Electronica- Ode To Badu

It's Our Anniversary...

So its been two years now since I created my first post on here. I had no idea it would have lasted this long honestly. Seeing the same type of blogs/sites all the time, I starved to do something a little different over here at Y.E.B. where my personal views and hardcore facts would come together and allow for discussions and debates to generate. I'm still not sure if that's what I have truly created but it was my initial plan. Over the last two years this blog along with the help of great friends and family has made me realize that a lot can be done with very little. So to the frequent and the occasional reader I say PEACE and Thank You for all your comments and feedback. To all others welcome to Y.E.B.and I hope you enjoy this movement.

The Website is still on its way and will be something we all will be proud about. "Nothing great was created in one day or night." I don't know where that quote is from but that's how I feel about my baby YEBies. Enjoy some pictures of  #YEBies out doing what we do.