This might be the only type of New York haze I enjoy, NY summer sunsets.  The sun fueled film, that covers the sky after the heat has been trapped between multiple layers of smog is honestly, magical.  This isn’t a one time phenomenon here in New York, when its hot this happens all the time.  I can’t front, NY Summer 2010 has been pretty amazing.  Despite the personal up and downs I have been blessed, today I feel good.

Aariona Chalom Johnson aka Chalom Infinite.  The Coolest Kid Ever.

Lower East Side. Manhattan. New York City. August 2010.

I recently had the pleasure of formally meeting a person I have a lot of respect for, David Banner. It’s crazy because Banner and I have a couple of mutual friends that have mentioned to me on ocassion “you need to meet Banner”. When I was working at Priority records, I began to work closely with my good friend Ras Kass, (who I consider to be one of the illest MC’s ever). Ras Kass and David Banner are close friends, and I remember back then, Ras would often speak highly of him. Fast forward 10 years later (time flies!), Banner, who now lives in Los Angeles, has been doing some work with my brothers the Strong Arm Steady, and Phil the Agony keeps telling me “my nigga, you gotta meet Banner..y’all the smart niggas”. Needless to say my the homies were right, David Banner is indeed a powerful brother, and I was honored we had the chance to build. He played me some select songs from DEATH OF A POPSTAR his collaboration album with some guy named 9th WONDER.

Speaking of 9th WONDER, on the same day I meet with Banner, 9th Wonder texts me out of nowhere to ask me for a Africa piece (a bigger Africa Piece) to rock on 106 & Park with David Banner, how ill is that? When 9th got to NY yesterday he came through and grabbed the pieces (Red & Black) I had made for him. Sure enough, he rocked them yesterday , on 106 & Park.

Don Will – Tanya Morgan

Che Grand

Beef (Shameless) & a brother from the company Cookies & Cream

Inspiring clip from an amazing artist. Not much else to say. Salute.

For those of you who have children , you know exactly what I mean.  Not many people who don’t have children, can truly understand the type of undying, unconditional, love you have for your seed.  My daughter Aariona Chalom is here for the last month of Summer , she has only been here for 4 days but they have been the best four days of the summer yet.  The next couple of weeks on here will involve a lot of lil Aariona Infinite..

If you know me, then you know I am slightly obsessed with Japanese design.  They just seem to do everything a little better.  I recently attended the Capsule Show and ran across Japanese brand Masterpiece and their accessories really caught my attention.   I really need this pouch for my camera and other carried goods…

I have been knowing the brothers behind Crooks & Castles since the mid 90′s.  We have always supported each others creative endeavors, I have talked about how they were once signed to a label I was a partner in called S.O.L. Musicworks.  Since then they have gone on to conquer the fashion world, one step at a time.  The Crooks Empire now encompasses every part of your lifestyle, they have fully developed the line to include everything from wallets and bags, to denim and outerwear.  Their newest project is something I had personally been urging them to do for quite some time,  Crooks & Castles Footwear.  After seeing a couple of collaborations with Vans and some of their samples last Magic, I had been bugging them to get me a pair early….The homie Chris “Luda” Natalio recently sent me the Crooks & Castles Decklo.  A classic , clean design premium canvas, waxed laces, leather accents around the eyelets, low profile cup-sole, vulcanized, and comfortable….damn near perfect. Thanks to the homies at Crooks (too many to type) for lacing me.  Can’t Stop The Crooks !!

It has been a pretty good summer.  I have started to consider New York a home of sorts.  This is my second full summer here and I have to say that nothing quite compares to New York in the summer.  Don’t get me wrong this is no Los Angeles, but the city makes an effort to make Summer special.  Maybe the effort is fueled by the fact that 6 months of the year here are pretty cold, the sun brings the freedom and fun out of the normally, cold and abrasive landscape.  The city funds free concerts in the Parks of Manhattan and Brooklyn, the sisters are out in the sun dresses, kids and families venture out more…some real Spike Lee movie scenes.  I also have been back and forth to Los Angeles finishing this album with Khalil, when I go home now though I dont get a chance to get around much.  I usually spend time trying to catch up with family, friends, and record.  Lock myself in the studio at Khalil’s or next door at the Storng Arm Steady studios so I haven’t had a chance to enjoy Summer at home in a while…Here are some of the faces of summer.

I spent a week working on new songs with Khalil and the family.  I was feeling pretty good about my level of output for the first couple of days and decided to take a break for half a day and smoke with Strong Arm Steady.  Khalil received a call from the Aftermath offices and had to get to work on some stuff for the good doctor. The SAS studio is literally next door to ours so I walked over. I was feeling good, feeling like I had done something, 5 songs in 3 days…not bad right? I wanted to play some of the new stuff for Krondon, who I feel is one of my best critics. I saw something in this studio though, that put my momentary, productive ego in major check.  Upon entering the main room I noticed an obituary that, I have seen before but probably never really examined because, quite frankly, I’m emotional and shit like that could fuck up a whole week for me.  This time I decided to examine the pages.  People always talk about how much of an inspiration Dilla was, and I agree.  Even if you are among the 3% of the people on the planet that don’t like his music, upon examination, you HAVE to respect this man’s work.  By volume alone Jay Dee aka J Dilla aka Dilla is one of the greatest producers of our generation.  In this obituary I thumbed through 8 pages of material that had been RELEASED (and this was at the time of his passing).  I decided maybe I shouldn’t be taking any “breaks”, rolled up another Backwood and got back to work with Khalil.  So whenever you think you’re doing something special, remember the people who set the precedent and…THINK TWICE. . .Truly inspirational. . .thank you Dilla