You know where you can find MORE Chaundon awesomeness? Right here.

This is the 14th year my mother’s birthday has rolled around without her being here. And this is the 1st year it dawned on me that I should celebrate EVERY August 15. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer somewhere around my 6th birthday. She died a month and a half after my 16th birthday....

G’on and check it out!

The day the Earthquake hit my hometown, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, I was scheduled to interview him again… When I hit him up the next day, I was still in a state of emotional upheaval, but I knew that once I got situated and figured out how I’d be helping my people, he would be one of the BEST assets to my team… Not only because he is one of the greatest minds of this generation, but also because he has been there as a survivor of Hurricane Katrina.

He recently spoke to noted Hip-Hop Journalist and Historian Davey D about his experiences in the aftermath of Katrina, and what we can learn from it to do better by the people of Haiti. And as I said in the title, I suggest you listen.

Now, of course, Mr. David Banner makes it a point not to mix music and politics, he remains a VERY talented actor, emcee and producer. As you SHOULD already know, he is working with Grammy Award Winner 9th Wonder on Death of a Pop Star, a project that will change more than a few things in Hip-Hop… more on that later.

But in the meantime, check out the first single from the project: “Slow Down” featuring Heather Victoria.

It’s allowed me to find out that she and I have a few things in common: we’re both transplanted European-born children of non-European descent. She is nine days older than me, born in the same month that also gave the world Amerie & Zoey Deschanel… even though we also have to claim Nick Carter… We like to share inspirational quotes w/ our TwitFams… which doesn’t stop us from being super silly when needed… AAAAAND, as I found out today: Estelle, like me, is a budding shutter bug.

She launched DarlingOfABlog this month, to display her photography… a move I intend to make as soon as I get the guts. Estelle’s blog is brand new, but from what she’s posted so far – ie, the above shot of the Brooklyn Bridge, she has a great eye.

*HI 5 MULTI-FACETED BROWN GIRL!*
You can follow the Brit-homie here

Ok… I know this is old. But this joint is HILARIOUS to me. It’s hard to decide what’s funniest: Andy Somberg as Shy Ronnie… the expressions on the children’s faces… or Rihanna’s adlibs. Who knew “Ruh-Hanna” had it in her… wonder if she actually wrote this herself…

BOBBY CREEKWATER “Dear Ghetto” on VINYL from VISUAL VINYL on Vimeo.

Bobby Creekwater and I (FRAY WALL) recently got together to work on a video campaign to launch his upcoming Mixtape Back to Briefcase 2. “Dear Ghetto” is 1 of the 4 videos I will be directing for Bobby Creekwater and the BGOV, Inc. Movement.

As soon as I heard the track, I instantly knew the visuals I wanted to use to complement the soulful, laid back feel that comes across from the sample to Creeks smooth and seamless delivery. (DOPE TRACK)

I love shooting in areas in Atlanta that don’t fit the “Typical ATL Video Location.” Even if you’ve never been to ATL all you need to do is watch a few Urban Music Videos based in “DA A” and you’ll be exposed to an array of clubs, strip clubs, Da Trap House, Old National Blvd, Peachtree St, etc. And I do love all that shit, but I think its important to showcase landmarks of ATL that are under exposed.

We shot the entire video off Luckie Street around 2am. Growing up in NYC, rarely do you see the street completely empty. As a matter of fact you NEVER see the streets empty in New York (unless Tom Cruise or Will Smith is on set), so I had to take advantage. I wanted to portray a big city feel but still concentrate on keeping all the attention on Bobby Creek as he reintroduces himself visually to his fans. It is definitely a different feel.

Creek wasn’t quite sure what I had in mind for this video, but when he showed up to my warehouse the night of the shoot with a face full of hair giving him a more rugged contemporary look, I knew we had inadvertently been thrown on the same page.

We shot on the Canon 5d Mark II, which made the shoot easy and more play than work for me. I’ve shot with the Mark II a few times before but never at night. I enjoyed it just as much if not more than during the day…It works GREAT in natural settings! And easily gave me the cinematic look I was going for.

Our total shoot time may have been 2-3 hours, and we shot in a 5-7 block radius of downtown Atlanta, but it was all we needed. With everything I do, I try to take a minimalist approach and make the most of a small setting.

BTW! The good folks at Landmark Diner were cool enough to let us shooting in they’re location without any pre-warning or scheduling. (Love).

Anyway hope you enjoyed this short but effective video. Stay tuned as we will be releasing a new video next week. HELL YEAH!!!

With that said, know that on January 12, 2010, at 4-somethin’ pm when my life, like that of millions of Haitians across the globe, was turned upside down, I had been up like 36hours or something ridiculous like that, trying to get caught up on some work so I could get back to THIS: my creative outlet… my opportunity to do whatever the EFF I want and support ONLY those people I want.

Luckily for me, the people I know make it easy to be on my A**hole s**t without seeming like such a jerk. You need to know them.

TheCoolPeopleIKnow.com is back in full effect.

#ThatIsAll

It has often been said that to whom much is given, much is required. That statement governs my life because the two people above, who you see with me just days after I was born, did A LOT to give me much more than most children from my background. Considering their humble beginnings – Mom’s in Jacmel, on the south side of the island; Daddy’s in St. Marc in the north – I can’t help but feel extra blessed whenever I see the plight of my people in Haiti. Because, the truth is, my grandparents, just one generation removed, had a much different reality. What that proves is that it doesn’t take much to effect change. SOOOOOO: I need your help!

HAITI NEEDS YOUR VOTE!

The City of Miami and Waste Management have launched a voting campaign to support Port-au-Prince, Haiti in the BBC World News’ World Challenge ’09 competition, a contest that awards innovative, grassroots-level projects and small businesses from around the world.

As one of 12 finalists in the competition, Haiti stands to win a grant to further its recycling project LOVE ‘N HAITI, which turns everyday trash into paper charcoal briquettes.

The LOVE ‘N HAITI project benefits Haiti by:

· decreasing deforestation
· creating a cleaner, safer and healthier environment
· creating jobs
· reducing the incidence of floods

President Bill Clinton is an outspoken champion of the LOVE ‘N HAITI project.

In order to win, Haiti must get the most online votes out of all 12 finalists!

VOTING PERIOD: September 28, 2009 – November 13, 2009

VOTING SITE: http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/index.php.

Here’s how you can help:

· Encourage your audience to vote for LOVE ‘N HAITI on Twitter, Myspace and Facebook

· Blast the LOVE ‘N HAITI message to your list of emails

· Post a blurb about LOVE ‘N HAITI to your website

Let’s make #LOVENHAITI a trending topic starting this Friday at 12 Noon! Tell EVERY FOLLOWER YOU HAVE!

A big HUGE thank you to my girls over at the 135th Street Agency for putting me on to this project!
For more information:
visit http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/index.php or http://www.humanissimus.com/com/votehaiti.html
or
Contact: Shante Bacon (shante@135stagency.com) at 917-553-0005
Saptosa Foster (saptosa@135stagency.com) at 404-909-6493

Y’all have NO IDEA how excited I was when I found out that Spin Magazine chose my homie Playboy Tre as the Hot New Rapper (click) to feature in their Breaking Out section. That is a much, MUCH deserved accolade for a super humble, crazy talented dude (who also happens to be a great friend). “You know its funny because all I’ve ever made real money off of in this game is writing hooks for people and I’ve been really considering only doin that. But things like this keep me goin. I worked really hard for this.” When I asked Tre if I could share that bit of our celebratory convo with the masses, he replied: “Fuck it Why not!!! Either people will respect me for my true self or they will miss out on something special.”

Playboy Tre recommends:

While in the A for the A3C Hip-Hop Festival, which it took me THIS MANY DAYS to recover from, Rapper Big Pooh did me a SUPER SOLID. Despite the late hour, the fact that he was probably being harassed by mad people and the fact that there were SO MANY ACTS to catch, he gave me two separate interviews and like 5 drops. Now, I know y’all are saying that’s part of the job… but Pooh is currently in the process of putting together the follow up to his second solo album Delightful Bars. Did you know he made four versions of that album?

While we wait for the hotness, check out Pooh’s recent colab with Chaundon (another cool person I know), Joe Scudda (who’s number is randomly in my phone tho I’m quite sure we’ve never spoken) and Jozeemo (who we shall call the homie by association!) Click the photo for download.