Taking a Look into The Universe of Caprice Understood; her Music, Her Circle Her Lifestyle
Friday, December 11, 2009
A beautiful thing about Being Caprice Understood is when my friends who are already making heavy movements in the industry ask me to do something for them simply because of the movements I am making. It's so so bless!!!
With that said here's a trak from the Smash Brovas own Junia T feat. Rich Kidd and Coyote called paper.
It's got a nice smooth vibe and I think you'll like it.
So I was have been fortunate enough to have surrounded by some amazing artists and we always have these amazing conversations with eachother. It suddenly donned on me that since I like to write and I definately like to talk especially when it's progressive why not start doing exclusive interviews. Here's the first in my series Called LIVE T.O. This series features 12 TO Artists and Entrepreneurs at 3 interviews a pop from The Live T.O. Family who I am Proud to Say I Am the First Lady. I figure Why Not Start on my home turf ya digg? T
This interview is with Ghanaian-Canadian "Hip-Life" Artist Spek Won I hope you enjoy :
Caprice: Hello My Love. Spek Won: Hello! Waddup? Caprice: you tell me - Let's talk about what you've been Up to Mr Z*Boi? Spek: Man- I've been working on the release of this mix album. I started working with new management because the movement's been getting stronger. Caprice: New Management Eh that's a serious thing. How is this effecting your life and why did you leave your old management? SPEK: It's allowing me to be more formal and business oriented. Me, I'm just Hip Hop. I grind the open mic circuit, the cyphers, the internet and street promo... I do everything for self. So now it's like there's a more formal way that I have to do things now. I have to call meeting and consult people about what I want. I can't just fly off doing what ever I want anymore and I gotta make sure that I'm not doing the job I pay other people to do Caprice: Wicked ! So Let's talk about the making of the Hip Life Video. What was that experience like for you. Spek: That experience was so unique. I've been to many other different video shoots in the city and I have yet to come across any one that was like mine Caprice: I so feel you on that your video took such a community effort in terms of the cast and everyone was so happy to be apart of it. I personally liked the part that I was in it was the best scene (laughs). Your video was hella dope still... So let the people know what's going on this Sunday December 13, 2009. Spek: This Sunday Im having the release party for my Preemo Donna Mix Tape... I'm excited because my big Bro Dj Nana is on the 1's and 2's and I got a whole lot of friends coming thru Caprice -- Word You know I'll be there bro! Spek: You have too be ... u have no choice! (laughs) Caprice: (laughs) you kill me... Where's it gonna be? Spek: Czehoski - Sunday December 13 2009, 678 Queen St West just west of Bathurst. Caprice: Word ...Ok then sir this was fun we will definately be doing this again Spek: Most Definately Peace and a Bottle of Hair Grease
Last Monday (August 17, 2009) Rochester aka Juice invited me and the Live TO crew out to celebrate the release of his newest Video for his Single: What's it Gon' Be feat Daniel Daley From the Oh so laughable Line Bypass fiascoThe jam was Held at Rockwood Grass (31 Mercer St, Toronto On) and was beyond insanity. I'm talking shoulder to shoulder standing room only. We were in VIP and we had no room and being the creative bunch that we are the couches became our elevated dance floor. Being the First Lady in an all man Crew has it's assets people cause I didn't have to make 1 trip to the bar nor did I have to do the clumsy - reach for a glass where's the goose can I get some juice please Juice (inside joke look at the aka above). The Music was nice, the people were crazy, the ladies and gents came lookin like icing and brown sugar -- Vibe was on point
But let's talk about the video for which all this was for: THIS VIDEO IS SOO WICKED. I have never seen a video from a Canadaian Urban artist that was shot so clean with such awesome cinematography. The concept of a wedding and a run away love was clear and concise.
MsUnderstood says this video gets an Underdstanding point of 5/5. Look out for Rochester he's doing big big things.
Here's what my sister in movement Raheal has to say about the event:
THE UHURU MOVEMENT PRESENTS...FREE DA MIC... Where we spit for freedom! FREE DA MIC is an Uhuru Movement organized event that provides people with an opportunity - through art - to speak out against oppression in the African and other communities while also providing a forum where we can begin to organize for freedom.
This art can be reflected through song, dance, spoken word, hip hop, R&B, reggae or pretty much any preferred vehicle which allows a message to reach the people while showcasing talented artists who unite with the focus to take back what is rightfully ours through education and organization of the community.
Africans have lost control over everything in our lives including our music and musical creation. Uncle Tom music creators who own record companies control every aspect of our music ensuring that what we hear keeps us oppressed and distracted from our real problems. None of the money made from records sold that are the creations of our people comes back to benefit our communities, instead the money made is helping to build prisons, military complexes and other institutions of oppression.
What makes FREE DA MIC so different from other venues, especially those offering open mic/spoken word type atmospheres is that we understand clearly that white power uses our musical forms as part of the counterinsurgency against African and other oppressed peoples and it is our job to counteract this counterinsurgency by enlightening and further educating the people on a political level. We demand community control of everything from the police to the microphone. Our music must be brought entirely under our own control and used as a tool of organization for the total liberation of Africans and all oppressed people.
We are holding our first Free. Da Mic session on July 17th 2009 @ ANITAFRIKA DUB THEATRE (62 Fraser Avenue in the Dufferin & King area) from 7pm until midnight. We are calling out all artists who would like to Xpress themselves at our event! All forms of Xpression welcome!
Cost at the door: $5. Doors open promptly at 7pm.
***FOOD will be available at this event***
Please contact Raheal @ 416-320-1664 or Chakanda @ 647-210-2381 or email chair.reparations@gmail.com for further information!
Come and hear some of Toronto's exclusive artists!
Artist Line up has been set to include:
Caprice Understood The Real Voyce Wasun Unknown Prophet Prophet-Z Spin V Aisha spoetry Price Daboss Sika Avenue John Blacks Aisha Spoetry Erkss P-Air Randy David Delisca Faisal and many many many more....
If you haven't signed up for the line up this is your time! Get in touch! This is definitely gonna be a night to remember....
*HOSTED BY:*~ DJ DON JUAN FROM NOCTURNAL ENTERTAINMENT WHO WILL BE MIXING THE LATEST & BEST IN OL' SKOOL, HIP HOP, R&B, REGGAE AND SOCA.
I met a king named Logikal Ethix from the Stolen from Africa Family about a year and a half ago at a photo shoot for RGG Worldwide and we developed a dope, dope friendship.
Recently I have gotten to work with him musically and it has been a divine experience. So far we have done 2 tracks together:
I jumped on his track Thank You (mother's Day) and it was amazing to be apart of the tribute he brought to life for his mother.
What was super dope is my jump was returned when he came and made Love to my track Simple Thing (I Want Your Love) and it became the true reality of my vision. (SO DOPE)
More collabos with Logikal and MsUnderstood to Come
1252 de Bleury st (between Ste-Catherine st O. and Rene-Levesque Boul. O) Montreal, Quebec CA Cost:$15 Description:RISE UP SOVEREIGN AFRICANS! Magazine and Community Resources presents Rise Up 2009 on June 20th, 2009. Rise Up 2009 is a fundraising event and remembrance night geared to enhance community awareness and empower all people, especially urban youth, to be builders of a true global community and remember our revolutionary black leaders (past and present) who dedicated their lives to foster progressive social change and knowledge of self. Rise Up 2009 aims to bring people together who have the community at heart, youth workers, facilitators, activists, artists and all other conscious individuals are welcome! Entertainment will be provided by Toronto based artists SFA (STOLEN FROM AFRICA), RGG WORLWIDE and ROCHESTER aka JUICE, and Montreal’s own talented reggae band The Nubian Vanguard. There will be a DJ spinning an eclectic mix of conscious music of the people with revolutionary content. Rise Up 2009 promises to be a night of fun, sharing, and networking in a relaxed atmosphere. The proceeds from Rise Up 2009 will help to support RISE UP SOVEREIGN AFRICANS! Magazine, and our community awareness and empowerment initiatives. Rise Up 2009 Agenda Day Event RGG Beadz Workshop An artistic workshop with RGG Beadz who will teach youth workers the art of making beaded jewellery in order to teach the children in their organizations. Location: Jeunesse 2000 (J2K) Address: 3770 Boul. Décarie (between Chemin Cote-St-Antoine and Notre-Dame-De-Grace ave) Phone :514-481-0277 Time: 2pm -5pm Donation: $10 Night Event Rise Up 2009 Revolutionary show SFA (Stolen from Africa) feat. Preach Ankobia (Kalmunity Vibe Collective) Rochester (AKA Juice) RGG Worldwide Still Waters (Nubian Vanguards) Location: Salon Tapis Rouge Lounge Address: 1252 de Bleury st (between Ste-Catherine st O. and Rene-Levesque Boul. O) Phone:514-509-4522 Time: 8pm -11pm Cover: $12 in advance, $15 at the door Dress Code: "Come as you are, come fresh"* *Casual and classy
