Inside the Headphones w/ DJ Mate Masie

Join us for this week's blog featuring a video from Artistic Director, Russell Campbell aka DJ Mate Masie. In today's blog Russ gives us a look and a listen as to how it sounds to be:

INSIDE THE HEADPHONES...

http://youtu.be/cT5sDVVWE64

Thoughts from LaTasha Barnes of Imani Wellness & Urban Artistry

Meet LaTasha Barnes, one of several Artistic Directors at www.urbanartistry.org.

Tasha has achieved many of her dreams this past year, winning the world championships for House Dance at Juste Debout w/ partner and dear friend Oluwatoyin Sogunro. It was a historical win because they were the first women and the first Americans to take home the title!

http://youtu.be/Z7Y9zCExqFE

http://youtu.be/aND-8nnzezc

She left her military "day-job" to pursue her long-standing wellness company (www.imaniwellness.com) full-time and got hitched to her "hunny bunny" Richard Hall last April. He has been a wonderful addition to the UA family!

Check out her blog below to learn more about what's behind this multi-talented artist:

"When I sat down to compose this week’s blog for my beautiful Urban Artistry family, I found myself completely overwhelmed with topics that I really wanted to write about. There were so many that I couldn’t pick one – until today.

While cleaning out my file cabinets, part of my New Year clean up J, I came across a letter I wrote to myself back in 2003. Being the hyper Type-A person I was then, I had documented everything that was going on when I wrote the letter: my mood – hopeful, excited & amped; my surroundings – my (then) newly purchased townhome in Fredericksburg; and my sounds – Musiq Soulchild – Album: Juslisen, Song: Future. I was immediately taken back to the moment I wrote the letter, filled with all the inspiration and motivation of that time in my life and all that I dreamed for myself. I immediately went to YouTube to listen to the song and sang along to my favorite part:

'Don't worry you can do it, baby (It's yours)

Ain't really nothing to it, baby (It's easy)

Take your time and you can do it cuz

Whatever you want, it's all up to you.

It ain't hard

I promise you can get it, but in order for you to get it, you gotta be in it.

(Alright)

And once you in it, you can win it, cuz whatever you want, it's all up to you

It ain't hard (word)'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnuDnNljpIQ

That song has always given me so much inspiration and energy; I had to share it with you guys. Every time I hear its bass line and the words of triumph come through the speakers, I feel as though I truly can take on the world – AND WIN! That feeling, that super splendifourlusly awesome ‘can-do attitude’ is what I needed to share more than anything else.

At this time of year, a lot of us are setting new goals. We are looking for inspiration, motivation and the faith to accomplish a laundry list of things, or maybe just one thing. With it being the beginning of a new year of competitions, shows, and events, many of us have set out to move beyond being spectators and engaging more in the competitive and creative arenas. I challenge everyone to share their goals with someone who inspires them and develop a plan towards actually achieving them. We should not allow ourselves to become discouraged by what life may place before us.

Refuse to lose, refuse to settle, and refuse to dream silently.

Give life to your dreams by talking about them – by building up those dreams in others, your dreams will come to life."

'1 mo round' aka Giovanni Galleno of CAB CRU

When it comes to writing a blog I must admit it feels like the very first cypher experience. Itching to run in, cautious to not stumble and ruin your entire decade. a glimpse of your favorite dancer doing your favorite run from your favorite battle....you say to yourself...."I wanna do that!" Then you imagine the most sloppy looking run from the most annoying dancer from the battle you always fast forward on the tape....and you say "I hope I don't ever do that".

With that being said I would like to share my most favorite experience in an open cypher. As this is my first blog for Urban Artistry and I hope it will be memorable to others and not just me. Back in May of 2000 I attended 99.1 HFStival. This was a concert held at RFK Stadium. Throughout the entire day I was just groovin on my own and head banging and moshing and having a ball. There was a surprise guest this year...Run DMC. They came on after 311 and had a great set....I was on the side where it was clear and began to try to TopRock and do footworks... haha I was off beat like a mug. Anyway, after that Jimmy's Chicken Shack came on and it was game time! After the first track I managed to break into the mosh pit and decided to establish myself.... napoleon complex lol. I managed to stay on my feet and when the dust cleared and the hook of the song played...I decided to let these dudes know what else I could do. I started to do some tops and hit like 10 swipes and a quick backspin to a basic chair freeze... After that another bboy from Baltimore started to dance... we battled... can't remember who won, but it was hyped up by the innocent bystanders. The other bboy was bboy Avy, at the time he was a founder of Phusun Force Crew, now in Deadly Venoms Crew.

That moment was more memorable than any other in dance I have ever had, maybe ever will

Do you have a similar story?

Do you have similar interests in music?

Did you meet a dancer somewhere you never thought you would?

My name is Giovanni "1MoRound" Galleno of the Counter Attack Breakers Crew (CAB Crew) DC Chapter established 1997 and Artistic Director in Urban Artistry established 2005. I challenge you to share your thoughts on unexpected events and happenings in your chosen art form.

DJ Baronhawk Poitier - Baaad Assssss!

Every time I post a mix publicly I want my audience to be surprised as to what they will hear. I never upload mixes back to back that are the same genre. The titles never hint at the genre of the mix. The name might be something I think has a little ring to it or its just an inside joke I've come up with during the process for my own amusement. I usually don't share any information about my mixes at all! However.. you're in luck. You get some background behind this mix (yay).

This mix serves three purposes. First of all its a promo mix for my monthly funkebration (yes, funk and celebration had a baby) called Bad Ass! Secondly, I wanted to mix music that I don't hear being spun very often in a way that I don't ever hear it spun. Most of the tracks are sped up to increase their intensity and power. Lastly, I wanted to tribute something to Rashaad and Ryan with a Strutting mix.

Check out the mix here: DJ Baronhawk Poitier - Baaad Assssss!

Check out the fan page: http://www.facebook.com/DJBaronhawk

Check out the event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/131671616943022/

2010 DMV Soul Exchange 9/11 & 9/12

A big thanks to Kim Talley for taking these great photos of the event and to The Zulu Nation Chapter, The Mambo Room and Urban Artistry's great instructors!

Correctional Facility Best Of DVD Promo Video 2010

Since 2006 Urban Artistry in collaboration with CAB CRU and The Assassins Crew International have come together to bring you 5 amazing urban dance and culture events called the Correctional Facility. Visit www.youtube.com/urbanartistry for more details on the event and uploaded footage that has already been released.

The full length DVD is complete with cypher footage, hip hop battles, bboy/bgirl battles, seven to smoke, locking performances, waacking performances, house dance performances and popping battles. There are call out battles with DC icons Vortex (Natural Elements Crew), Ghost (Lions of Zion Crew) and Fatrawk (Arrive To Defy) from Bulgaria's famous Sleepwalkingz, solos from Frantick, Future, Rashaad, Popula, among others and hot box footage with Maryland's own Ironman. This DVD box set promises to give you everything you would expect from a Best Of DVD Series.

See the promo available now and stay tuned for the full length DVD which will be available in late 2010. A special thanks goes out to the probono filmmakers who captured this footage for us, especially Geoff Bund, Nick Huynh, Daniel Lagdameo and their assistants, the DJ's, Baronhawk Poitier, Mate Masie, Halfstep and Obyeah, the local, national and international competitors, MC's Halfstep, Ironman and Guerilla Will and the many guests who made this event possible.

We are grateful to all the supporters who believe in the Correctional Facility Mission that when talk is ineffective, we can correct through movement. Stay tuned for more events to come in 2010.

www.urbanartistry.org/events.html

Urban Artistry new show premier presented at The Performing Arts Center at Montgomery College on 11/17/09 at 7:00pm

Last night at the open house for the brand new, beautiful Performing Arts Center at Mongtomery College in Silver Spring, arts in schools agent Class Acts Arts presented the latest new work by the Urban Dance Company, Urban Artistry entitled "DIGITAL FUNK 5002."

The concept and stage direction for this piece was created by internationally recognized Artistic Director, Rashaad Pearson (Urban Artistry, Assassins Crew International). The piece was performed by LaTasha Barnes, Ryan Webb, Emily Wessel, Giovanni Galleno, Gabe Galbraith, Phillip Chang and Rashaad Pearson.

You can see Urban Artistry again at The Performing Arts Center at Montgomery College on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 11:00am for the centers 2009-2010 Saturday Morning Childrens Performing Arts Series. See the link below for more information!

http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/pac/tp_childrens_events/urban_artistry.htm

If you would like to see Urban Artistry at your school please contact:

http://www.classactsarts.org/

Class Acts Arts

8100 Georgia Avenue

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Phone: 301-588-7525

Toll-Free: 866-458-8966

Fax: 301-588-7270

Email: Info@classactsarts.org