"Growing Is Forever"- A Tribute to the Bay Area's Natural Beauty

38thnotes covers Bay Area hip-hop culture, but there is beauty that surrounds us that isn’t captured in that net. I love Oakland like family and I know many others who share that conviction, but we often take more pride in the war, than the beauty.  One of the blessings of living in the Bay Area is that we are surrounded by natural magnificence. We are perched on the Pacific coast, bathed in the Frisco Bay, enshrouded by rolling fog and crowned with majestic redwoods. This Oakland is our land, but this side of it often goes unnoticed.

Thankfully, filmmaker Jesse Rosten put together a stunning tribute to one of our natural neighbors, the majestic Redwood groves of Northern California. Featuring Rosten’s beautiful cinematography and the poetic prose and narration of Kallie Markle, “Growing Is Forever” views like a spiritual experience. It’s an homage to the towering trees that have stood in their stead for thousands of years, but it is also about growth and stillness.

“Growing is Forever” leaves you calm and contemplative. For me it reminded me of the Redwood tree that has always stood tall in my back yard, the annual tree plantings we did for a family friend who was killed, and the llama pack trips I used to go on in the shadows of Mount Shasta. We are so distracted by our city life and the concrete that covers it, that we often forget our roots. We all came from the land at some point. Whether our ancestors were farmers, sharecroppers, hunters, gatherers, cowboys, traders or frontiersman– the work, modes of travel and the spaciousness of this expanding country necessitated a relationship with Mother Nature. We’ve become somewhat lost in that regard.

Let “Growing Is Forever” remind you of the beauty in your own backyard and let the zen-like wisdom it emanates urge you to slow down and explore yourself and the natural world that surrounds you. 

Video: Oakland's Legacy Alive in The 2011 Slam-Dunk Contest

Yesterday’s all-star weekend hoopla centered on Blake Griffin’s showmanship in the final round of the slam-dunk contest. And though I hate to agree with bitter-ass Charles Barkley, it was an overrated dunk that was flashier than it was amazing. A 6’ 10” man-child dunking over the hood of a car? Back in the day a 5' 9" Oakland playground legend named Hook Mitchell did a 360-degree dunk over a Volkswagen. Now THAT was a dunk worthy of accolades. 

Unfortunately Hook's legendary talent was lost to Oakland's streets, leaving players like Jason Kidd and Gary Payton to carry The Town's torch. Mitchell's sad story is told in a documentary entitled Hooked: The Legend of Demetrius "Hook" Mitchell. An excerpt is below.

Griffin's attempt at Hook's glory wasn’t the only homage to Oakland in this year’s dunk contest however.  The Raptor’s DeMar DeRozan remixed another local classic, the East Bay Funk Dunk, originated by Isaiah “JR” Rider. Rider debuted the oft-imitated between-the-legs slam in the 1994 dunk contest. Unfortunately this rookie feat was the highlight of his NBA career, as he soon was tagged a problem player and became a journeymen who's drug habit and off-the-court problems  overshadowed his talent.

It’s sad that two local hoop icons have longer rap sheets than stat sheets, but that’s the nature of life for many in Oakland, CA. JR at least made it to the show, but Hook never got his shot. Renowned by many as better than both Jason Kidd and Gary Payton, his addiction to drugs and penchant for crime has left him in dire straits. While we can’t celebrate the successes of these two men, it’s good to see that their legends and legacies are still alive today thanks to players like DeMar DeRozan and Blake Griffin.

Bonus:  Here is "Funk In The Trunk," Rider's contribution to a 1994 NBA mixtape entitled B-Ball's Hidden Secrets. It's light on the lyricism, but heavy on the shit that would eventually get him caught up. Talking about smoking weed on an NBA mixtape? Good job JR. smh.

DL: JR Rider: "Funk In The Trunk"

ComplexMag:50 Greatest Bay Area Rap Songs

Below is an amazing listicle written by Bushwick Will documenting the 50 Greatest Bay Area Rap Songs of all time. Of course folks will beg to differ and split hairs about the low ranking of Hammer or the absence of $hort's "Gettin It" and "Life Is" or  Mac Dre's "Not My Job," but overall this is a great compilation of Bay Area classics. For the younger generation of emcees coming up, this is a great starting point to learn your local musical history. The Bay may not get the most shine, but we've always had the most ingenuity and creativity. It a world of status-quo bullshit, that is something to be championed and cherished. Now without further ado, I'll hand the keys over to Will. Enjoi

"The Bay Area has a chip on its shoulder when it comes to hip-hop. Everyone steals Bay Area slang, but the radio won't play Bay Area music. It doesn't help that The Bay's artists never want to deal with major labels, and then cry foul when they don't get spins any further east than Sacramento. This relative isolation has led to a certain kind of creativity, or strangeness, depending on how one sees it. Whether it's E-40's "Woody Woodpecker on crack" voice, Keak da Sneak's smoker's cough gibberish, Mac Dre's ecstasy-twisted dance moves, or Andre Nickatina's apparent obsession with Jungle Book, some of the Bay Area's most celebrated artists are downright bizarre and that's what people love about them.

This alternative approach to rap, in the East Bay especially, has a long tradition outside of street rap, that goes back to Digital Underground, Hieroglyphics, Hobo Junction, and continues today with internet phenomenon Lil B. In the Bay Area, gangsta rap is not all that serious, and serious rap is still really fun. Would the Bay Area give up its strangeness for a shot at the mainstream? We hope not. In any case, here's a primer with The 50 Greatest Bay Area Rap Songs for those who have been missing out. Don't be surprised if you feel like you really missed out; you did."

Written By Willy Staley (@bushwickwill) CLICK HERE FOR THE RUN DOWN

Video: Overnight Grafitti in Oakland, CA

Shout out to Lea and Nick Bruno and Dorian Young for shooting this dope short for Ironlak Paints. They trace a crew of graffiti artists who prepare for and throw up a piece in Oakland's 23rd Avenue train yards in the dead of night. There is often debate and argument around whther graffiti is art of blight, but I think it must be noted that there is a difference between tagging and doing pieces. Do I want gang signs hapahazrdly scribbled on my neghborhood liquor store? No. But would I love the chipped paint and old ads covered with something ornate and meanigful? Sure.

Graf is is often lost in the shuffle these days, but it is a core element of hip-hop culture, and we would be remiss if we didn't pay tribute to it's existence, legacy, power and beauty. Shout out to all the kids out there who are doing art, whether commissioned or guerrilla style. Keep it up!

Happy Birthday to Anita of The Pointer Sisters

We here at 38thnotes would love to extend our birthday wishes to Anita Pointer of The Pointer Sisters.

If you consider yourself an Oakland music buff, then we can assume that you are up on the Pointer Sisters. BUT if you have never heard of the Oakland group, allow this to be your very brief intro to the West Oakland sisters with a throwback sound and vintage look. 

Like many musicians The Pointer Sisters grew up in the church singing gospel music, but upon attending Oakland Tech they became introduced to a wider variety of the "devil's music." When the musical sisters finally made a go of music full time and were signed, they struggled to identify their sound and style. Rising to prominence in the 1970s it would have been very easy for them to take the disco route, but instead they opted for a throwback bebop jazz sound and a thrift store 1940s aesthetic. 

Oakland's Clint Eastwood Covers GQ Magazine

Click HERE to see Clint and his wife addressing the cover. Clint thinks he looks like a serial killer, I think he looks like the Oakland Tech Bulldog he is. On a separate note, how did he pull his wife? I'd love to say it's that Town game, but I've got a hunch its that mula, baby.

Richard Aoki: The Asian Black Panther

I'm HELLA mad I missed last night's screening of the documentary about Oakland's Richard Aoki at Grand Lake Theater. Aoki was with the Black Panther Party from its inception and was the only Asian American to hold an official leadership position with the BPP. I could have sworn the screening was tonight, but alas, I was wrong. In any case, read up about the late great Richard Aoki HERE and watch the trailer to the documentary below. Hopefully there will be another oportunity to check this flick out in the near future.

Also, for all those who are surprised that an Asian American was a Panther, don't be, the BPP worked with folks of all races in some capacity. In efforts to demonize them as a nunreasonable terrorist sect, they were often portrayed as racist (among other things), but this was not the case. The BPP was an advocate for the liberation of all oppressed peoples, both domestically and abroad. Remember, their motto wasn't "Black Power," it was "Power to the People."

My Uncle, and former Panther, Marty Price chooses to describe some folks he grew up with as "Oakland boys," rather than anything race specific. He does so because he feels that Oakland can sometimes define a person more than their racial designation. I would suspect that Uncle Marty considers Richard Aoki an "Oakland Boy," and as such, I would like to pay my respects.

Black Panther Festivities Thurs & Sat.

Thursday, October 15th- Women of the Black Panther Party & Beyond

The Main Library will put on a one-day exhibit, Women of the Black Panther Party and Beyond. This exhibit will celebrate the women of the Black Panther Party with photos, art and a short film honoring their service to the community, leadership, and vision. Hear the experiences of women fighting to uplift the community. The exhibit will be up from 2 to 8 pm, with the program starting at 5:30 pm. The Main Library is at 125 14th St. The event will take place downstairs in the West Auditorium.

Saturday, October 17th - The Black Panther Film Fest

The West Oakland Branch of the library and It’s about Time presents the Black Panther Film Fest. Three films will be screened: Legacy of Torture: The War Against The Black Liberation Movement; Merritt College: Home of the Black Panthers; and Lord of the Revolution. Films screen from 1 to 5 pm at the West Oakland Branch, 1801 Adeline Street.

All info via the ever-informative Living In The O