The revelation was Chee Malabar. I know, and knew, that Yogi B will be global. They are way too talented and ferocious, live - to not force themselves into every iPod on the block. They are also incredibly genuine and warm. But, it is Chee, for whom I must evangelize. Though, I had heard a few tracks before, read a profile or two - I had never talked to him. And now I have all the zeal of the newly converted. Read these lyrics and discover it too - this is one poet, artist, writer and rapper who needs your support. In fact, all my gentle readers need to go buy the albums - himalayan project and oblique brown - and then seek him out when he comes to your neck of the woods or better still, invite him to your neck of the wood. Ok go.
- First off, a sunday reading link to myself! Nathanael Robinson and Manan Ahmed had a conversation about memory and history and they put it up for you to read. It is not anything special (if only to see how badly I write when I write 'academic').
- However, I can spot excellent writing from a mile away. Wendy Doniger's essay in the LRB, The Land East of the Asterik is profound, funny, comprehensive and just an all around must-read on IE, PIE and horses. She really is a beacon of shining light in our dim academic world.
- Also in the LRB is Zizek's rather merde-y letter on China and Tibet. He seems to be ill-informed about a lot of things in there - including Fareed Zakaria's brilliance.
- A nice overview of Palestinian cinema by Nicholas Blincoe in the Guardian.
- MQM must be stopped from terrorizing the citizens of Karachi.
- Finally, it appears that bloggers and netizens can now link directly to Encyclopedia Brittanica. Let's test it: al-ḤajjÄj al-ḤajjÄj ibn YÅ«suf ath-ThaqafÄ«
Below the fold, another number from Yogi B and Natchatra from Hiphopistan.
COMMENTS
Jonathan Dresner | April 21, 2008
Zizek's letter was indeed atrocious: I should assign it to my Chinese history undergrads for critiquing; they'd tear it to shreds. And Doniger was fun. I've needed a refresher on the Indo-European language thing for a while. Your and Nathanael's conversation actually prompted me to contribute to the symposium, something I haven't done in ages.
Asad | April 21, 2008
Yeah - Chee has been slept on for quite some time now...I've known him for a while back and when I first heard Postcards from Paradise - I was blown away too. The Youtube for the Postcards video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QocPeO4s_s&feature=related You can also download a whole mixtape he is offering online for free @: "http://www.zshare.net/download/73005630051e78/" This was produced by A-L-I, another very talented desi hip-hop head originally hailing from Karachi --> myspace,com/aligotbeats
sepoy | April 21, 2008
Asad: Thanks for that link. I feel like you have some special expertise and could indulge us with a guest post on hip hop for CM audience?
Asad | April 21, 2008
Well...I do know someone who can indulge your audience far better than I can - send an e-mail to aliabidi82@gmail.com - - I am sure he will be happy to provide your blog with a great guest piece.