"MOTO-DOPE" PREVIEW TINY TOONES PRODUCTION 1.25.2010

Girls daily dance class @ Tiny Toones Phnom Penh, Cambodia 1.25.2010

Cow head gets chopped up on Street #93 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia 1.19.2010

Jesse Abraham records his verse for "MOOSE" in our Bedstuy, Brooklyn living room 12.2.2010

FIGHTING FOR FUTURES INTERVIEW WITH RISE UP RADIO

Chanty & Tiny Toones

I spent the last week dealing with Chantys Aunt trying to extort me. She demands payment in order for her to let Chanty remain in school. I'm good at playing the music business game, but this game has a little girl mad at me. I wont give in to the ridiculous demands of a gambling women who cares only of herself. For two days Chanty didn't show up for photo class, finally on day three I paid one of her friends to go get her so we could talk. When she arrived I told her to meet me the next day so I could bring her to Tiny Toones.

The following day Chanty again did not show up, in the pouring rain I walked thru the thick mud and giant puddles to her village. I was soon reconized and asked, "you want Chanty"? Sharply I replied "Yes" within minutes I was greated by her smiling aunt. Knowing what she wanted I walked by her and towards the direction of Chanty, her hair greasy and her clothes dirty. I dream of the day she has the chance to clean up permanently.

With my left hand I grabbed hers leading her towards the exit of her village. I asked why she was late, to which she answered "I watch tv". Sighing, I told her how important it was that we go to Tiny Toones and intergrade her. She just looked up and smiled, and asked "Wei come to"?

Giving in as usual, we all hoped in the smaller the average tuk tuk driven by Lucky.

Approaching Tiny Toones Chanty read the sign over and over first in English then in Khmer. She refused to get out of the tuk-tuk, I explained to her she didn't have to stay if she didn't want to, but that she should just take a look around. Hand and hand we entered and within seconds her eyes focused on the class of break dancing boys whirling on their heads.

We spent an hour talking and watching before heading to the close by Russian market. I gave her money and she quickly returned with a giant hula-hoop like the one she had just pointed out on the Tiny Toones wall of pictures. Wei and Chanty took pictures at the market and on the walk back to the center. A few more hours of play and off we went back to the lakeside with plans of returning the next day.

SHES SO FRESH REPS FIGHTING FOR FUTURES (again) 2/4/2010

FIGHTING FOR FUTURES CO-SIGNED EVENT JANUARY 29th 2010

BOTH IS BEAUTIFUL CAMPAIGN!!!

So, Jumake and I are dead set on showing folks that you dont have to be dark or light to be beautiful, you just have to be happy with who you are. Products that offer lighter and darker skin don't help us out with that.

Warren Britt falls while performing "Clap ya Hands" with SvsF @ Brown Bag Thursdays

Video I made for Eric Sosa & The video he made using the audio

A day in my new Cambodian life

I wake at 7am, on the dot, right as the Indian spot opens for breakfast. One of us heads there to make the order, as we know ordering when we get there would require us to wait for 20+ mins while the food is prepared from scratch. I use my 20 mins to get together the pics ill be uploading right after I devour the amazing vegetable curry and buttery nan that I wash down with a steaming cup of sweet coffee. I walk with a lazy swagger back to my room, tuck my red computer under my arm, put my dusty sandals back on and walk the 10 steps to "my office". With just a nod and no words, I open the door to the back part of a large computer room and there I wait till the owner realizes I have arrived. With a smile he tells me to wait one moment as he turns on the power for the day. I click the fan and plug in the blue cord. Without thought, I simultaneously open skype, email,youtube & twitter. After all multi-media is up for the world to see, and my business /personal skyping is complete, I put my shoes on and head back to my room to have a shower.

I cringe as I smear the local colgate salt herbal toothpaste across my toothbrush and smile when I peer down, seeing that I still have some American St. Ives body wash left. The shared bathroom is small and the mirror covers the whole wall. I shower next to the toilet as I watch the mosquitos fly around. The luke warm water drips from the handled spout. I dry half off, wrap the towel around my body and open the large wooden door with the rusty lock. I look both ways, and when the coast is clear, I make a run for my room door, hoping I wont get caught in my towel by a worker or another guest. Its about 2pm by now.

The last few days, we have been going to a cafe called the Lazy Gecko, where we enjoy a cool drink and use the free internet. We make plans for our next idea and he regularly hands me his headphones with a slight smile. He takes a deep breath as I approve or slaughter his new beat. Its hot and within minutes I always want another shower, but I know thats pointless until before bed.

My photo class has been starting at 6pm when the kids are done with school for the day. With a hard knock and a loud "CATHALLLLLEEN" I am broken away from the book, video or movie im watching, quickly grab the kid's cameras and head outside to the same table. I am greeted by Puy telling me that Chanty went home, which means she is hiding and I must find her before our class begins. When I do find her smiling face, she laughs and hugs me and I am grateful for being here to be with her everyday. I explain the class's objective for the day and we hit the streets snapping away. Chanty is the only child who leaves my side ,whispering "they take same pictures as me". I am baffled by her wanting to be unique and I encourage her break from the group. When she returns, she hits the button that reveals the pictures she has just taken and after a brief look I remind her that we must wait till the end when we import to look over our pics. She smiles and nods.

As we get back to the guest house I hand her $2 to get snacks and water for the children. I am stern on the fact it must be fruit and juice NOT soda and candy. With a full mouth of mango and chili powde,r Chanty helps all the children take out their memory cards and we upload the days pics. She hits the arrow button, tells me what's good and bad and waits for me to agree. We end the eve with 2-4 games of memory, loudly express each number as we flip over each card. Chanty always wins and its not because I let her. We arrange a time to meet the next day and again I am back in my room headed for a shower and then to bed so I can wake up and do it again, of course with some variations...

Spills freestyles to Chanty, Nit & Puy before our Photo Therapy Class 1.11.2010

CHANTY AND FELECIACRUZ FOR @IHEARTDILLA

PHOTO BY PUY:

First Sunday back in Phnom Penh

I spent a low key Sunday with Chanty, Puy and Nit, we played several games of cards before we trotted down the street hand and hand giggling, and looking for colored pencils and paper. When our search was complete we headed back to our guest house headquarters and each took a piece of paper and choose our colors. I brought out a baggie full of pens,stickers and other various items I have collected from places like the photo convention I attended with Victoria and independently owned shops around Brooklyn who generously gave to fighting for futures mission. We drew each others names in bubble letters and passed them around commenting on the colors and stickers we choose to use.

We drank grape juice and practiced spelling of words and pronunciation. After working up an appetite the girls and I decided chicken curry from our favorite south indian restaurant was in order. We played another game of memory as we waited for our curry to be served. Cheering loudly for each other every time a pair was made, time moved quickly and soon after congratulating Chanty on her 2nd win of the day our table was full of rice, water and chicken curry both spicy and non.

As our bellies settled Chanty asked if I would attend school with her tomorrow (Monday) with out hesitation I asked what time? With a wide smile she yelled 12 and don't be late, I smiled back and agreed just as she kicked the table off the 4 brick cement blocks it stood on, sending the remaining curry and rice souring to the floor her hair, shirt and the 3 of us. We laughed as we all kept asking "are you ok". the owner laughed along with us as we wiped down tables, floors and ourselves. I paid the $4 bill for our meals leaving an extra dollar for the clean up and away we went laughing and saying thank you and sorry sir. We immediately ran into a middle aged women high as a kite sweating profusely begging and grabbing on to all passers by. I grabbed the girls arms and we hurried passed and avoid her grasp.Laughing we headed towards Chanty's home to end a wonderfully creative day, our last adventure came from a 4 year old girl standing with 5 other oil stained handed girls in a circle around a tiny old pink bike, the chain had come off and they all took there turns trying to get it back on, I wouldn't have noticed if not for Chanty trying to help, as I watched her hands turn black as all the tuk-tuk drivers watched and laughed I grabbed the bike cleared all the kids away flipped it over and 10 minutes and 2 cuts later my oil filled hands walked back to the hotel to scrub as the little girl quickly rode away with her friends muttering thank you in a tiny voice.

2 day recap of Fighting for Futures photo therapy classes in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

As with everything I do, I feel most comfortable diving in head first with only a partial plan.

I work best when I have to figure things out as I go.

I had no idea how I was going to put Chanty in school this past July. Same goes for the photo therapy class. I had a basic idea and a basic curriculum to follow but how to round up the kids, make them listen, keep the interested and give them knowledge they can walk away with.

This troubled me.

But, within 5mins of sitting down at 1pm on Friday January 7, 2010 I knew exactly what to do. I immediatly enlisted Chanty as my assistant and asked for her help gathering interested children.

Our first class myself and 3 girls Chanty, Boi & Nit sat at a small wooden table at the guest house and looked over the cameras. We turned them on and the cameras

start up noise acted as as a switch, the childrens eyes lit with excitement as all 3 of them pointed the camera at me and began clicking away.

I spent 15 mins going over basics on/off, zoom etc... then off we went I let them snap away for ten minutes with out saying a word then gave them specific colors to go after. I observed as each girl had her own ideas of a picture, Nit snapped away furiously as Chanty calculated each shot as she flipped the camera vertical and horizontal, Boi did a little of both snapping and calculating. We uploaded the pics and went over each persons album and decided on the "good" shots from the "not so good" shots. We went over things that could be done better and I pointed out remedies to help each child take a better picture.

Todays class Boi couldnt make it and in her place was Wei, a young boy who still sells books and put down his basket to join us on day 2, he was highly enegetic and wanted nothing to do with direction and snapped away vigoursly shooting 137 shots in under 30 mins. Todays theme was food and we hit the streets snapping away. I was impressed how the children seeked out "food" to take pics of, not only did they snap real food but food in garbage bags, pictures of food on signs as well as every passing vendor. Chanty snapped 67 pics and Nit snapped 106. Chantys pics were the most calculated and clear while Wei's shots were all from creative angles, Nit mostly just follows the lead of Chanty and snaps what she snaps.

Below I have included 3 (unedited) pics from todays lesson, I am so excited to see what the next 18days of the class will uncover. I am grateful to be with these children as they embark into a foriegn world of creativity.

PHOTO BY WEI

PHOTO BY NIT

PHOTO BY CHANTY

PERFORMING TONIGHT IN PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA

BREYKING'S SOUNDCHECK V SANTOS PARTY HOUSE 11.6.09

KOREAN CANNED GATORADE!!!

KOREAN SPECIAL

ALPHABUTTER AND FIGHTINGFORFUTURES MIXTAPE LISTENING PARTY TONIGHT 6pm