Klein Bohemia was my favorite hang out spot while calling myself a Jampedrano. This was the quintessential dive bar; a place where the attire of patrons could range from basketball shorts to suits, the type of bar where you can have a blast without consuming alcohol (That was my personal favorite), and it was the only "expat" hang out that I knew of in SPS. For all the real Sampedrano's, my condolences...
On any given day, what appeared to be "quite nights" could turn into a surprise performance from Honduran greats like Guillermo Anderson, Polache, and Montuca Sound System. Programmed concerts featured rock, ska, jazz, metal, electronic, trova, reggae, salsa, and so much more. From what I hear and have read, Klein Bohemia has been around for a long time and previously operated as the "Kulture Cafe". The bar eventually closed it's doors, but it's spirit will always survive in the memory of Sampedranos and transplants alike.
These are two of my favorite landmarks in Los Angeles: The Jim Morrison tribute in a Venice Beach alley and The Selena tribute near MacArthur Park in Downtown Los Angeles. These are some of the few images that were recovered after my hard drive crashed! I'm still upset at myself for never taking the time to back up my files.
If you've skimmed through my blog, you know I love HIP HOP. As much as I love it, I'm putting an end to hip hop at the workplace. I don't know where I will draw my inspiration from while at work, but it's done! Finnito! Over! No mas!
A few weeks ago, I was in my office getting my "grind on". My boss walks in as "Spaceship" is bumping from my computer speakers. I love that jam! If you're from "the hood" (wherever that is) and you've had to start at the bottom of the ladder, you should too. If you know what it's like to work like crazy and not have anything to show for it at the end of the day, but keep fighting to achieve your goals, you know what I'm talking about. Don't stop 'till you get it!
I didn't think to hit the mute button on my keyboard. I immediately directed my attention to my boss. A few seconds after we begin discussing expenses, Kanye's lyrics begin
If my manager insults me again I will be assaulting him After I fuck the manager up then I`m gonna shorten the register up Let`s go back, back to the Gap Look at my check, wasn`t no scratch So if I stole, wasn`t my fault Yeah I stole, never got caught They take me to the back and pat me Askin` me about some khakis But let some black people walk in I bet they show off their token blackie Oh now they love Kanye, let`s put him all in the front of the store Saw him on break next to the `No Smoking` sign with a blunt and aMarl`
Takin` my hits, writin` my hits Writin` my rhymes, playin` my mind This fuckin` job can`t help him So I quit, y`all welcome Y`all don`t know my struggle Y`all can`t match my hustle You can`t catch my hustle You can`t fathom my love dude Lock yourself in a room doin` five beats a day for three summers That`s a different world like three summers I deserve to do these numbers The kid that made that deserves that Mayback So many records in my basement I`m just waitin` on my spaceship, blaow
By the way, I'm the accounting manager so bumping lyrics that promote theft, not a good idea. Of course, I'm not going to follow this dude's example and that's difinetely not what inspires me about this song.
"WELCOME TO SAN PEDRO! OOOooOOO" That's from a Montuca Sound System song. They're a ska/reggae/funk/rock/jazz band from San Pedro Sula. If you're in SPS, check them out for an appropriate welcome to San Pedro Sula. I can see these dudes reaching that Banda Blanca status and gaining international notoriety. When that CD hits the shelves, I'm getting TWO! One to bump and another to save and sell on Ebay 20 years from now.
The crowd at a Montuca show is usually a good mix of foreigners and locals. (the latter don't really appear in the image below) All the images below were taken at a Montuca Sound System show on November 10th, 2008.
Returning Catracho Report images
The foreigners are always caught off guard when they see MSS live for the first time. It usually starts with them nodding their head in approval of their riffs and smooth lyrics. By the end of the first song, they proceed to wiggle like they have ants in their pants. Two songs into a set and they get carried away jumping around like crazy. I've had to warn a few of them, "HEY, HEY, HEY, (enter all time favorite hip hop line here), calm down dude! Hondurans don't understand the concept of a moshpit!!!"
I've seen them play alongside other Honduran greats like Polache and Guillermo Anderson. In my opinion, this band is way ahead of its time for the Honduran audience. When they do "break on through to the other side", little girls will have posters of a shirtless Gary hanging over their beds and Carlos will rival the late, great Tito Puente with the facial gestures.
They also volunteer to play at many benefit concerts for worthy causes like HIV awareness. I give them (as is said in L.A.) MAD PROPS for dropping out of a concert after learning that it was in alliance with a politician. To me, this act represented them standing up against the system that has historically used the general Honduran population as sheep. Again, props!
Montuca Sound System will be playing at "The Crooked Palm" in Roatan for New Year's! I can't think of a better way to spend New Year's. This will be the second New Year's I spend with Los. I just hope we don't get stressed by the cops this year!
These dudes are real chill too. A good example of that is the following video I posted of them on Youtube. In this vid they imitate recognized Honduran soccer broadcasters like Copan Alvarez and Salvador Nasralla. Hilarious!!!!!
Montuca Playing Live
I didn't resize the images, for the entire album with pics of their Nov. 10, 2008 show click below!!!
This song is in my top ten favorites of all time!!! When things aren't going right or I feel down, this puts me back on the grind. I rarely listen to this without tearing up. SERIOUSLY! I had to add the lyrics below for anyone that hasn't heard it before. "I know I can!"
For anyone of you struggling on a daily basis trying to improve your living conditions, get your mind staright, everything else will straighten out on its own.
"I Can"
[Kids] I know I can (I know I can) Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be) If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it) I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)
[Nas] Be, B-Boys and girls, listen up You can be anything in the world, in God we trust An architect, doctor, maybe an actress But nothing comes easy it takes much practice Like, I met a woman who's becoming a star She was very beautiful, leaving people in awe Singing songs, Lina Horn, but the younger version Hung with the wrong person Got her strung on that Heroin, cocaine, sniffin up drugs all in her nose... Coulda died, so young, now looks ugly and old No fun cause now when she reaches for hugs people hold they breath Cause she smells of corrosion and death Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring Cause they came to do drugs and you came to sing So if you gonna be the best, I'ma tell you how, Put your hands in the air, and take a vow
[Chorus - 2x (Nas and Kids)] I know I can (I know I can) Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be) If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it) I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)
[Nas] Be, B-Boys and girls, listen again This is for grown looking girls who's only ten The ones who watch videos and do what they see As cute as can be, up in the club with fake ID Careful, 'fore you meet a man with HIV You can host the TV like Oprah Winfrey Whatever you decide, be careful, some men be Rapists, so act your age, don't pretend to be Older than you are, give yourself time to grow You thinking he can give you wealth, but so Young boys, you can use a lot of help, you know You thinkin life's all about smokin weed and ice You don't wanna be my age and can't read and write Begging different women for a place to sleep at night Smart boys turn to men and do whatever they wish If you believe you can achieve, then say it like this
[Chorus]
[Nas] Be, be, 'fore we came to this country We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys There was empires in Africa called Kush Timbuktu, where every race came to get books To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans Asian Arabs and gave them gold when Gold was converted to money it all changed Money then became empowerment for Europeans The Persian military invaded They heard about the gold, the teachings, and everything sacred Africa was almost robbed naked Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces Shot up they nose to impose what basically Still goes on today, you see? If the truth is told, the youth can grow Then learn to survive until they gain control Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes Read more learn more, change the globe Ghetto children, do your thing Hold your head up, little man, you're a king Young Princess when you get your wedding ring Your man is saying "She's my queen"
[Chorus]
Save the music y'all, save the music y'all Save the music y'all, save the music y'all Save the music
Another post on Hip Hop!!!! I would have zero exposure to legendary artists without Hip Hop artists introducing me to them. I love the genre! It is ME. It voices my frustrations and highlights my achivements. It inspires me to see someone coming from "the gutter" and then "getting it" thourgh hard work and dedication. Someone rhyming about being on welfare and later on buying a house for "mama" is the type of ish that drives me. Not to say that other genres don't "keep it real", Hornsby is straight up truth on this song!
If you don't like or understand it, I don't blame you. It exposes the harsh realities experienced in an urban enviroment, also third world countries. The "man" whomever that is to you, would rather opaque Hip Hop's brilliance because it's the voice of people they are taking advantage of. Again, not all Hip Hop is worthy of my time or attention. But the songs I will post on here have powerful messages that should not be ignored. Messages that are so disturbing you'd rather turn away, but you shouldn't. You should make an attempt to understand it instead of fear it. It's poetry to my ears. Watch the youtube vids and then take a minute to read Tupac's lyrics below.
Dead Prez - Hip-Hip "One thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain" "It's bigger than hip hop, hip hop, hip hop" "Who shot biggie smallls? If we don't get em they goin' get us all" "Would you rather have a lexus or justice, a dream or some substance, a beamer or necklace or freedom"
It's so much more than music to me; Hip Hop represents who I was, am and who I want to be; Where I come from, am, and where I want to go. Hip Hop is the most expressive and moving form of music I know of. Hip Hop is my Art of War. It guides, inspires, and consoles me when I feel lost and alone. Hip Hop gets me out of bed in the A.M. although I never "sleep". Hip Hop speaks my mind when my voice can't be heard. Hip Hop reminds me to thank God. I didn't always love Hip Hop, I used to hate it because all I heard was the bling bling, gangster wanna-be, pimp stuff. That was back in the day when I used to bump Black Sabbath, Nirvana, Reel Big Fish and skate all day. I still like those bands, but they don't represent me, they merely entertain me. Hip Hop teaches you to make the best out of what life give you. The slang is a prime example of that; "sick", "ill", "bad", aren't states of being you want to treat, you want to be them.
Here are some of my favorite song quotes and my brief interpretation of them:
I love songs that touch on important topics like Tupac Amaru Shakur's "Brenda's Got a Baby". Tupac is able to express his discontent with the way young girls in the ghetto have to face incest, drugs, teen pregnancy and the impact on the community. This song is deep and real; I can remember the "Brendas" in my neighborhood and that songs portrays exactly how it goes down.
"The girl can hardly spell her name That's not our problem, that's up to Brenda's family Well let me show ya how it affects the whole community"
"Just cause your in the ghetto doesn't mean ya can't grow But oh, that's a thought, my own revelation Do whatever it takes to resist the temptation"
This Way by Dilated Peoples Feat. Kanye West This is a hot song!
This was me back in the day: My favorite girl wanna leave me just because I got a girlfriend my freak girl told me "now, she a christian" my white girl wanna move back to Michigan I'm pullin girls off the bench like a sixth man.
This is me now: "this time I made up my mind this time I'm back on my grind I know there's things in my life that I'ma let go startin tonight"
"I wanna a good girl she want a gentleman we sayin' the same thing like a synonym I wasn't really spittin game I was scrimmigin"
Self explanatory...
Get By; Talib Kweli
"This morning, I woke up Feeling brand new and I jumped up Feeling my highs, and my lows In my soul, and my goals Just to stop smokin, and stop drinkin And I've been thinkin - I've got my reasons Just to get (by), just to get (by) Just to get (by), just to get (by)"
This chorus keeps me on my toes, it reminds that every day is a new day and I can change for the better no matter what.
"The TV got us reachin for stars Not the ones between Venus and Mars, the ones that be readin for parts"
This line is right on the money; everyone get's distracted by all the celebrities and trash on TV instead on staying on the grind and focusing on a way out. I wish we payed this much attention to people of substance like MLK, Mandela, The Bomber (Barrack Obama), Chavez, etc... But Noooooooo, we want to know who's dating who and what club they're hanging at. That the truth even here in Honduras, we have a little circle of entertainers and I swear they get more attention than the politicians.
"Me Abuela raised three daughters all by herself, with no help I think about a struggle and I find the strength in myself"
This line reminds me of the struggle my mother endured while raising two men and how many other single women have to do the same in the ghetto.
B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad) - Outkast "before you re-up, get a lap top. Make a business for yourself, boy set some goals. Make a fat dime out of dust and coals"
Get your priorities straightend out kids! Stop smoking so much herb and try to start something for yourselves.
The following quotes are represent what every parents want for their kids, only in the perspective of someone who grew up in "the hood":
Gettin it by Too Short "Get your kids in school, so they can get an education, get a dregree and take a vacation."
IZZO by Jay-Z Like I told you sell drugs - No! / Hov' did that so hopefully you won't have to go through that
Mos Def - New World Water "Americans be wasting it on some leasure s***, other nations be desperately seeking it."
Returning to Honduras has led me to realize how fortunate I have been my entire life. I've lived most of my life in a place where you can drink water right out of the faucet, while most people in Honduras barely have access to water that can kill you.
When I lived in El Porvenir (Cortes), we only got water for an hour each day and we were supposed to gather it in a "pila" and tank and use that for the rest of the day. Think that's bad? Well some people up the hill only got it for an hour each WEEK! It gets worse; sometimes you don't even get ANY water. Can it get any worse? Yes, of course it can; this is Honduras, the second poorest country in the Americas. When I lived in Tela, we got water all day, but it turned brown and smelled like crap for days, even if it only rained overnight. I never even drank the tap water in L.A., that will be one of the first things I do when I get back. Maybe...
I've become ridiculously paranoid about the water here, actually, I've always been paranoid about water. I've gotten a lot of comparisons to fictional characters like Larry David and Monk. Here are some examples of my paranoia: I hold my breath most of the time during showers out of fear that I may accidentally drink some of the water, I used to brush my teeth with drinking water, I don't wash produce with tap water, I make sure drinking glasses are completely dry before pouring a drink into it, I sometimes rinse dishes with purified water even if they are clean and dry, I give my dog purified water to drink, I can go on, but I wont as to avoid ridicule.
Additional quotes from Mos Def's song, New World Water:
"It used to be free, but now it cost you a fee because it's all about getting that cash mo-ney"
"There are places where TB is as common as T.V. cause foreign based countries go and get greedy. The type of cats who pollute the whole shoreline so they can purify it and sell it for a dollar twenty five."
I guess you never know what you've got until it's gone, I guess that's why I'm hearing I can't come back home; And guess whe I heard that? When I was back HOME... - Kanye West "Homecoming"
Before you re-up, get a lap top. Make a business for yourself, boy set some goals. Make a fat dime out of dust and coals" - Outkast; B.O.B
Get your kids in school, so they can get an education, get a dregree and take a vacation. - Too Short; "Gettin' It"
Cause every fourth quarter, I like to Mike Jordan ‘em. - Jay-Z; "Never Let Me Down" (Kaye West feat. Jay-Z)
I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. -Michael Jordan
I started out mopping the floor just like you guys. But now... now I'm washing lettuce. Soon I'll be on fries; then the grill. And pretty soon, I'll make assistant manager, and that's when the big bucks start rolling in. Maurice in Coming to America"
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