As his tour begins to come to a close for the Fall, Homeboy Sandman drops a new hit off the recently released album 'First Of A Living Breed'. This man has been all over the country, with stops in Canadian land over the last two months. Today the Homeboy Sandman camp released the video for the new single 'Whatchu Want From Me?" I love this dude because he always fills his videos with friends, and the streets of NYC, when possible. I had a blast dipping and out a cameo spot, and I swear my airplane ring is getting famous.

Dope joint Angel.

Kanye on Twitter... misunderstood (again) I DON'T GET IT

I'm a Kanye Fan...let's just throw that out and get over that first hump.

I'm not a blind fan though. Meaning, I'm not a fan that turns a blind eye to the wrong intentions, bad choices, and flaws in people, even icons in my eyes. Kanye has done some foolish things in his lifetime. Haven't we all? Just so happens his get magnified. 

'George Bush doesn't like Black People' rubbed some people the wrong way. I happen to not be one of them.

Ambushing Taylor Swift's acceptance speech on the VMA's definitely a low point, from my point of view, in his career. It was uncalled for, insensitive, and highly unprofessional. So, yes I get it.

The man is still a genius though. An icon. An entrepreneur who put it all on the line before it started reaping it's own benefits.

I DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT think last night's Twitter discussion coming from his page was one of those moments.

I was more surprised by everyone's negative comments towards his speaking on education reform, wanting to start a school program with Spike Jonze (fucking genius!), and even posting a gmail account where people could send in their own ideas. What artists do you know, and listen to that would even do something like that?

Kanye (and I) never claimed to have the answers to it all. As he stated, it's something in the system that needs to be changed, but why knock a celebrity for speaking on it to get the dialogue going? It was a complete disconnect to me.

Why make fun of those (including myself) who did email the address with business plans, ideas, resumes, etc....who cares?!! Why bring negative energy to something that may positively change someone's life, even if that life is Kanye's.

Live and let live.

Strive and let strive.

Succeed and let succeed.

Maybe I'm missing something.... I don't get it.

Dubstepping on the Great Wall of China

dope.

and...I miss Japan. Trezure Empire and Cav @ Yume Fest

Nomad•ness Gal, the ever amazing and original Trezure Empire, along side her ace Cav shut Tokyo's Yume Fest down in November. The duo skipped town from Brooklyn and graced the stage to an always live Japanese crowd. She did one of my favorites, 'Shibuya'. The nostalgia tho......damn, I'm saying. I miss my second home.

D Day... RIP for Dwight

I feel like this title would be RIP Heavy D, if I hadn't spoken to him...

Today, Mount Vernon, in Westchester, New York was flooded with fans, celebrities, and onlookers alike for the servces of Heavy D, Dwight Myers. If you don't know him, you don't know hip-hop music at its core.

What brought our inital communication together was that I was always a fan of his Tweets. Every single last one of them was inspiration for my eyes, in particular while I was living out in Japan. One day a Re-Tweet, led to a conversation, led to trying to set up an interview, led to Facebook messages back and forth randomly over the course of a year.

I hadn't 'spoken' to him in awhile, but true to the begining, I was always on his Twitter page, still and always inspired.

When I heard he passed, I immediately went into my Facebook inbox and typed in 'Dwight Myers'. A year struck me. He was gone. The interview had never come into fruition. But whether he knew it or not, he left an impact. For this I thank him.

Dwight, kick it with my boy Rudi up there. He'll show you the ropes. I wish your family, friends, and every lover of true hip-hop my condolences...but please, please remember him in rhythm. Got nuttin' but love for you baby!

-Evie

Homeboy Sandman: Live at The Loft

#13 Homeboy Sandman & Fresh Daily "Table Cloth" from LIVE AT THE LOFT on Vimeo.

I was waiting for when I'd be able to see this footage. Dope night! Checking the first performance, the homie, Homeboy Sandman had since getting signed with Stones Throw Records. Again, extremely proud of this dude.

And a special shout out to Fresh Daily, performing with Sandman. All my 'Tribers' out there....Fresh Daily designed your Tribe logo (and he raps too)!

Tokyo has risen...Hiro Ballroom NYC + Karmaloop TV + Pharrell

Pharrell Williams: Hiro Ballroomm NYC

Tonight was the night. I showed up, not sure if my name was on the list (which I'm still not sure I ever got confirmed) to catch the official screening of Pharrell's documentary on Tokyo's sub culture post the tsunami and nuclear reactor explosion on 3/11. 'Tokyo Rising' director, Thalia Mabros, pieced together the magic that was this thirty minute documentary. Invigorated, heavy with nostalgia, and on a networking high I watched the screen in front of me in awe.

Dumbfounded, as usual, by all that Tokyo has to offer and how unapologetic Japan is with its sense of style. So far out the box, it's hard to even encapsulate it in words.

The energy was well...New York. Networking proved to be priceless, and I was able to continue to spread the word on Nomad•ness Travel Series amongst people who really get it!

One day I'll really be able to go in and let you all know the details of tonight. Until then let the imagination wonder and I promise that the movement continues. Shouts out to Pharrell, Karmaloop TV, and Palladium Boots for putting this together.

 CHECK PART 1 BELOW and WATCH THE REST AT PALLADIUM BOOTS!

PS. Don't forget to 'Like' the Facebook Fanpage HERE. You guys rock!

Jay-Z and Beyonce have procreated...

And now their child will rule the world...I LOVE BLACK LOVE!

"Wake Up" to Mr. Ivory Snow: Tonight on Rosenberg Radio NYC

Though I've never told him this to his face, and will even deny it after I press "Publish" on this blog, I put Ivory in the ranks of a budding Ryan Leslie prototype (and it's not just because he's tall and slim). Not only an emcee with apparent talent, and an infectious flow, he also has a knack for the production of his own work, and that of others. Including, and not limited to, the Nomad•ness webisode theme song, "Traveling Girl." You've definitely heard him before on this site.

At 21, there's something youthful, yet learned about Ivory. Not manipulated, or jaded by the non-sense that tends to be hip-hop these days, the regard he has for artists like J'Dilla, Anita Baker, Jay-Z, Ryan Leslie, Peter Hadar, Stevie Wonder, all the legends is infused in his music catalogue whether through sample, subject matter, or inspiration. Old soul.

I've known 'of' Ivory for about three years now, but I've known him personally for about a year. In that time he's impressed me enough with his style, and work ethic that not only have I become a fan, and supporter, but I even took the initiative to ask him if he'd join the Nomad•ness team as Music Director for the show. This coming after a studio session, in which he completely revamped the theme song, that I'll be debuting in the coming months. While I was working in the background on Story producing the pilot episode, I heard magic happen. What started off as a blank canvas, quickly morphed into a drum beat, a break down of vocals, a melody...and a track that I'm now obsessed with. I always say that music producers do with sounds, what filmmakers do with visuals. It's just two different forms of magic.

Fast forward to today...a huge accomplishment for this Connecticut native is in store.

Mr. Snow's track, "Wake Up" is a part of the compilation album, "The DocuTape Soundtrack". This particular track was produced and performed by him, and still stands as one of the most popular, and most purchased tracks on the entire album. Defintely worth an audio peep.

But tonight...WAKE UP WILL BE PLAYED FOR THE FIRST TIME ON NYC'S HOT 97.1 DURING PETER ROSENBERG'S SHOW 12a-2a!

I want everyone in the Tri-State area to tune in on the radio, and everyone elsewhere to tap into it online. Love it and purchase it!! It's all supporting artists on the come up! Evie certified.

CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW AND PURCHASE IVORY SNOW'S "WAKE UP" ON iTUNES!

the dude with the lens: Pete Monsanto

The first time I met Pete, it was through an Inbox message from my old school website, evitaspen.com.

At that time, I was a well known spoken word artist in the college circuit, and he was a stranger to me who felt the need to spin a male version of one of my signature pieces, "I Have..." This was circa 2003. 

I read the piece on my computer and was equal parts "I have to meet this dude..." and "Who does he think he is sending this to me?" Needless to say, it got my attention. Pete's got a knack for thinking outside the box. 

Stepping outside the online veil, I found out that his sister attended my school, and he'd seen me perform a number of times. The performances compelled him enough to rewrite my sh!t. Thus, our friendship started.

A few years back, Pete divulged in me his blossoming love for photography. He'd always been a sneaker head (take him to Dunk Detox) and a hip-hop junkie, so him bridging his two loves was inevitable.

He had those preliminary jitters, and I was on my Nike steeze, telling the dude to 'Just Do It!' He did. And through some of the most horrendous ups and downs in his personal life, he kept doing it and...doing it well. 

To the point where he is now noted as the go-to photog in the industry, and the Official Def Jam photographer, in his most recent interview with www.respect-mag.com. Through the storms, you have to keep the seeds planted. I'm proud of Pete in more ways than one. Check out the interview link below and show support. 

Photo by Pete Monsanto

CHECK THE INTERVIEW WITH RESPECT MAG HERE!

PS. Another reason I adore Pete...I call to congratulate him on the interview and he utters:

"I'm trying make enough money to just bounce to Europe with Evie for like 9 months!"

Love this dude. 

PETE'S TUMBLR

letter to Homeboy Sandman, signing with Stones Throw Records...

Homeboy Sandman- "Calm Tornado"

It's hard for me to write this piece objectively because I'm writing about not only someone I garner inspiration from, but also a friend. 'Homeboy Sandman' has been a part of this site's tag cloud for years now. Whether it was shooting him for the piece Okayplayer ran on him, or attending a show and watch him rip it like he always does...he's always been a light, from the first day we met.

I woke up to a Twitter message from the homie Jason, stating "Homeboy Sandman got signed ;)!"

I smiled. First thing I read waking up. This didn't completely surprise me, as I was just politicking with him a couple weeks ago, during which it was relayed to me that something was in the works.

Homeboy Sandman (and it's killing me not to use his gov't name, which I refer to him as) is one of the most confident, yet humble dudes I have ever met. A loyal fan base, and what I think they love about him, is what I've always admired: that he's tangible. You can catch him on the train, and always find him in a pair of sweat pants and kicks. Never one for trying to keep up appearences, you always just got...him.

As an admirer of his art, and a friend, my most heartfelt congratulations to Homeboy Sandman on getting signed with Stone Throw Records. You're already a legend, it's just time for the world to find out!

-Evie

One of my favorites off the most recently released album The Good Son. "Yeah, But I can Rhyme Though". Of any album he's dropped, this is ultimately one of my favorite tracks period...Knowing him, I know that he has heard every SINGLE thing that he wrote about in this song. It's the most eloquent 'fuck you' I've heard an emcee create in a long time. 

as proper as their English accents...Industry #1 Hip Hop site

It took a random meeting at splash! festival for me to run into the creators of Industry #1. Industry #1 is the dopest, not to mention the most efficient, website to look for international hip-hop all over the world. One of the things these guys do, is they travel to music festivals around the world to scope out who's hot, and garner up exclusive interviews with underground artists for the website.

It's an intermational hip-hop online oracle of sorts.

They got my respect from the fun times, sneaking back stage, and conversations we shared in germany, but after scouring their site...these dudes are on their shit, and Nomad•ness has a legit UK hip-hop connect. I cannot wait to continue to build with these dudes. They're as proper as their English accents. You'll even see their cameos in the Berlin pilot episode.

Andre, Shibe, and Leon comprise this website and they're on their 'A' game. I recommend any and all hip-hop heads out there to take a look. It's an encyclopedia for your world...look out for an interview they did with me as well. I'll let you guys know as soon as it's up.

Building with the United Kingdom. Can't stop. Won't stop.

pay attention...

Kanye West & Jay-Z: Watch The Throne Documentary from introspective on Vimeo.

The music game is changing. it's more personal. It's more behind the scenes. It's more about what went into, not just what was created. Up and coming artists of all kinds should take note. Be and document...you.

an observation: Otis and others...

I may be really corny for picking up on this when I listen to music, but it makes it none less valid. For years now, Jay-Z especially, has been referencing how thick, as well as how many passports he has acquired. Not only that, but he uses it as a 'status' symbol in many of his songs, on why many are not on his level. It comes up again in the new fire joint he and Kanye dropped, Otis.

Something to think about...

Lupe got me wet...

So the last night of splash! was last night and the performances included Janelle Monae, Lupe Fiasco, Big Boi, Onyx, and Cypress Hill.

Lupe finished performing at splash! and this dude killllllled it!

Post- Janelle Monae I reclaimed my spot right in front, eye shot away from all artists and bands. This happened to be the best and worst place for Lupe's set. His new stage fixation is throwing water on the crowd. Equipment was secure from the water bottles, as I got sucked more and more into his performance. This is my third time seeing Lupe, and if I ever spoke to him personally I would tell him this. (Which I did briefly later last night).

"I hope you don't take offense to this, but your stage performance has improved tremendously over the last couple years."

Seriously, he's bananas on stage now! I remember a time in Summerstage years ago when that wasn't so much the case. This dude could really be conisdered a headliner for this festival and BY FAR he's the best performance I've seen on the Main Stage, while Foreign Beggars takes the cake for the best performance on the Aruba Stage. Even more so because they allowed me to sneak backstage too. That video will be up later. 

In perfect unity, as Lupe belted his hits to new heights, the rain came down. Slowly at first then in unison with his energy it poured, and none of us cared. I can say I have NEVER been so into a performance that while raining I still stayed there, let alone with equipment in a book bag. Drenched, clothes sticking to me, sneakers soaked...I walked away from that stage fulfilled and on a high of life.

The night ended with me kicking it with Onyx, giving information about Nomad•ness over to Lupe, and watching Cypress Hill's set, backstage with a perspective from the other side of a concert. splash! gets my vote.

Evie with Flavor Flav/Chuck D of Public Enemy... international hip-hop

So it started off as a trying day. Landing in Graifenhainchen with no lodging was definitely one of the bolder moves I've made in life. All hostels and hotels booked up locally, and the only other hotel being almost a thirty minute ride away from Ferropolis, tapped in at a 50 euro cab ride one way. Never will I ever.

When in Germany, walking around lost for hours with a 30 pound backpack on, you follow suit, and camp out. This has been my life the last few days since arriving in Germany. I decided to join the tens of thousands of others attending splash! Music Festival and get my ass a tent. Going through all the craziness that has been navigating splash! on foot, I finally made it to the concert grounds. Only to hear Public Enemy faintly finishing 'Fight The Power". Luckily Flav had something to say....he really connected with the audience and spoke about peace and demolishing racism.

Tic Tac is one of the big sponsors here, and there were two guys from the Public Enemy camp handing them out in the front of the stage, to us on lookers. I asked the security guard if there was a press area I could get to interview the artists. He said no. Lying, but I respect him doing his job. I proceed to scream to the guys handing out Tic Tacs:

"Right here!! I came all the way from New York!"-Me

"What? New York!"

"Yes, and I have a travel website that I wanted to know if I could interview Flav and Chuck D for."-Me

"You coming with me."

"How? The security guard said I can't." -Me

"Don't worry about him. I said you can come. Can you climb over the barrier?"

"Ummmmmm..." -Me

Enter the same security guard who moments earlier said no. He picked my 150 pound ass up the crowd and threw me over the barrier.

"Oh my God, thank you so much." -Me

"No problem. Hi I'm Chuck and Flav's manager."

People, this is how things in my life happen. It's inexplicable but it's real.

This interaction led to me in the backstage part of entire concert, and eventually in the Public Enemy dressing room politicing with both Chuck D and Flav on the state of hip hop in the States, and how it is comparable abroad. The video above is a short snippet of what is soon to come.

Enjoy guys...and Flav you have my respect for life. After our interview he probably picked up that I was famished. Dude gave me his artist meal ticket and I ran though that buffet like I had never eaten. That's love. 

dude I'm in Ferropolis....

It sounds like some space age film location.

Yes, I made it. I am so sorry I haven't posted, nor been on any social media. I am in the middle of no where, and just found the press room with the only WiFi available. I'm alive, well, and filming!

There is so much to cover, and of course I find this place like a half hour before they close. My bad...

So much to come and I haven't even hit Berlin yet. Still at the splash! music festival and it's been bananas!

What I will say is the following:

1. My dear friend Homeboy Sandman is the number 1 taked about performer, who is not performing here. Sandman, I am SO proud of you and have a greater scope of how big your movement is. You've been on flyers I've gotten, in conversations I've had, Foreign Beggars bigged you up on camera today, AND I saw that you're on the roster for the festival in Czech. Keep moving....

2. Foreign Beggars is my new favorite unknown hip-hop group. Point blank. period.

3. There's two things you should never do at a sex show and a comedy show. Sit in the front row, or volunteer for anything.

4. I am living in a tent. Yes.........a tent. A tent that capsized during a storm today.

5. I have an amazing surprise for you guys that started off with a security guard lifting me out of the crowd, over a barrier, into back stage access, and into the arms of Public Enemy. And because Flavor Flav fed me, I am forever indebted to him.

Sooooo much going on. I love you guys and can't wait to start sharing. IN FUCKING SANE!

splash! Festival...Germany's #1 spot for hip-hop...

Feast your eyes on the lineup for the 2011 splash! Hip-Hop festival, taking place in Germany July 8th-10th, at the Ferropolis!

Do you see this line up?! Now you know why the pilot episode of Nomad•ness TV will be there filming this event! It's time to bridge the world of both domestic and international hip-hop artists, and I intend to have my show be a vehicle for just that.

Living in the mecca of hip-hop it's hard to know the real reach that the art form and genre has had on a world wide level. From my travels, I can tell you, it IS world wide! This event had my producer and I re-route trip dates, and it's all working out for the best. I can't wait to showcase this event.

Three days of camping out, live music from some of hip-hop's most notoriously respected artists, as well as events on emceeing, breakdancing, and graffiti. It's the place to be.

If anyone is interested in more information, CLICK HERE, to go to the event page. Click the small 'EN' in the top left corner for the site in English.

If you will already be there, contact me through the contact form on the site, and let's see if it's feasible to link! Germany, LET'S GET IT! HYPE right now! This pilot will be EPIC!

the roots picnic in Philly...

It's that time of year again. The Roots crew, with host Amanda Diva, are tearing down Philly for the Roots Picnic. If in the area it's a MUST GO TO!!!!

Every year I sai I'm going...this is on the 'To Do' list for next year. Right next to Miami's Art Basel.

Les Twins...French hip-hop

The dopeness that is these twins is beyond words. When I watch them I not only see the awe and sheer talent, I see an opportunity. More reason for me to get to Paris. Let's get it!