Heady wants to party!

That title for this post sounds as though I’m not Heady and I’m not writing this post. Well, I’m Heady, and I do want to party. I love parties. They’re different from a regular event i.e. a concert, a play, etc. I think parties allow you to fellowship and interact with people in a way that allows for friendships to be formed. Plus, at parties, you come in contact with great music. Parties are also a way to relax.

I haven’t been to a party in a while. I have been contemplating throwing parties for a while now. It is hard for me to wrap my mind around what a party would like seeing that most parties from my past seem to consist of liquor, vulgar dancing, sweaty people, explicit music etc but that’s so not my scene now. So, I have decided to create parties that match up with my phrase “healthy and safe alternatives for weekend fun” by producing parties themed around my Heady Tee phrases. I still want great music involved and I wouldn’t mind seeing people sweating on the dance floor but I’m more interested in people mingling in hopes of friendships being formed in an atmosphere driven by the people interacting with one another while enjoying great music and possibly a live performance.

My thoughts are still in process. There is a goal for Heady Parties Summer 2010. I hope you will attend and bring some folks with you.

If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment. It will be taken into consideration.

HEADY PARTIES SUMMER 2010. Ha! That sounds dope for real.

Michael Manasseh: Loving Hip-Hop & Design

I first heard Michael Manasseh on the mic at We Tell Stories Poetry Night. I first experienced his design work from a good friend. With the combination of loving hip hop and being a graphic designer, it intrigued me and I had to do an interview with Manasseh. Of course, I consider both lines of work to be artsy and we know how I dig art of all sorts.

Heady: What influenced you to get into the design business?

Manasseh: I have always been a fan of art. I tried for several years to find my creative “vein” if you will, but all to no avail. But honestly, I would have to say the “main” driving factor would have to be the lack of the ability to pay for the level of design work I wanted done.

Being a musician first, I would find myself trying to reach out to friends who were in design or others for there design help and either getting the cold shoulder or being told a price I couldn’t afford. And since I already had the desire to be an artist, it just started making since to pursue the graphic art world for myself, and now that I do it full time, I realize where those “high prices” came from. There is a lot of hard work and time spent when doing professional design work! I have just made it my personal mission to provide payment plans and design packages that will try and meet both mine and my clients needs.

H: Who has influenced you the most in the design game?

M: That comes as a two part answer. One would be my good friend and fellow puzzle person Vernon (OB-ONE) Deas. He has been doing amazing design work for a long time! He also was an inspiration for me to become a designer as well! Credit where it is due!

But over, all hands down, the biggest influence for me in the design game is a guy named Scott Hansen. He goes by iso50 (http://blog.iso50.com/). He is by far one of the most innovative designers in the design world today by far!

H: Are you a PC or MAC kinda guy?

M: I have had two PC’S crash on me in the past. That will never happen again! I find the OSX operating system to be leaps and bounds ahead of any other OS available today. It actually does what it suppose to do, operate. You know what they say, “once you go Mac, you never go back!”

H: What do you think about the new iPhone software update?

M: HAHAHA! Wow, that is a touchy question! I love my IPHONE and over all I have had great experiences with APPLE products in the past, but like I said earlier I switched to APPLE not because it looked way cooler than any dull boxy pc could, but because I found there equipment to be the best.

I think the iphone has some of the most advanced features a mobile device has ever had to date. But come on guys, no MMS? no tethering? no video? are you serious? This causes me to question whether or not there might be a better phone out there, and if I find it, I might just switch. And another thing, if the missing features can be activated when the phone is jail broken, then that means it can be activated when its not jail broken, which brings me to the actual question…What do I think of AT&T for not offering all the new features on there precious service plan? Don’t even get me started!

H: Tell about the concept behind the From The Future design you recently did.

M: Well JABEE left this project design totally up to me, from coming up with the title to creating the visual elements.

I really believe in Him and have a feeling that he will do big things in the music business in the near “future” so the concept is that Jabee and friends are coming “from the future” to the present to do a show in LA. They are the future of music and they have come back to the present to rock Cali. I also wanted to present a certain classic feel to it, not some super bright neon stereotypical future theme. Thats why I chose the fonts I did and used a muted neon color palette.

H: When did you fall in love with hip hop?

M: Fell in love when I first heard beastie boys license to ill!
Decided it was what I wanted to do/be the first time I heard WU-TANG’S classic song “C.R.E.A.M.”

H: Design & hip hop so mesh and compliment one another.

M: Yeah they do, well at least they should. I often wish they did more consistently though. There is a lot of horribly designed hip hop cd’s, posters, sites, etc. out there! I think a lot of the time people are not willing or don’t have the means to invest in there music so they get a bootlegged version of PHOTOSHOP and go to town! And we end up with a bunch of weed leaves, fake diamonds, grungy cheese ball fonts and horrible blending effects. I think in there essence’s though they are both forms of art. When blended correctly and professionally, they compliment each other beautifully.

H: What’s your favorie album to listen while designing?

M: Depends, if I am doing something for a musician, I will listen to that musicians music for inspiration and to catch the feeling there project brings, but if thats not available or I am doing a non musical project I will listen to something laid back, maybe some down tempo electronic music or some chilled out jazz, something that is not to busy and allows me to completely focus on the design.

H: What is Puzzle People?

M: Puzzle People is a movement, its a collection of mc’s, producers, dj’s, artist, designers, and promoters. That have joined forces to unite the Hip-Hop music scene in Okc and to network and share our talents. But more than that we are a family.

H: If you had a choose one over the other, which would it be design or writing lyrics?

M: Hmm good question! I would have to say that It would have to be designing at this point in time. I kind of wavier on this topic but…yeah designing wins! I will always be an mc, but I am more passionate about design these days.

H: Does hip-hop really have a place in the Kingdom of God?

M: Absolutely! I never really have been able to understand where people get the idea it doesn’t! I mean I believe that as followers of Jesus we must first find our identity in Christ, but even in the new testament Paul refers to people by there cultural identity. He always refer to the “church of Corinthians” for example. I think it’s a big mistake to preach or believe that its God’s will to make us all become part of some “church culture” yes we have fellowship with other believers but who I was in the world is still who I am in Christ, I have just been changed. Just like any other culture or sub culture there are elements that don’t glorify God and we as people who first identify ourselves with Him we are told to put to death the sinful elements of our lives. But as long as Christ is the Lord of your life then it really doesn’t matter what you do, because if its wrong or evil then He will move on you and help you to change. He is after our hearts, not just our actions! I am even more involved in the hip hop culture now then ever before, I am a born again christian, and follower of Christ, I am a mc, I am a producer, it does not have to be one or the other.

H: We should team up on a flyer just for art sake or maybe a design slash hip hop show.

M: That would be great! I am all the way in!

H: How can people check out your work?

M: By going to http://www.soulmana.com/ and clicking on the design portfolio button.

H: When will you be performing again in the O City area? Where?

M: We (puzzle people) do at least one show a month, sometimes two or three at Sauced in the Paseo arts district in Oklahoma City. I usually perform and/or host the events. check out my site and www.wearepuzzlepeople.com for weekly updates on concerts, album releases, free downloads etc.!

H: When you hear the name Jesus, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?

M: Love

Brand Profile: EngleTay

EngleTay brand is a STYLE OF LIFE which encompasses the way one seeks to elevate his or her life in this every day journey called LIFE. The representation of EngleTay draws from the struggles of many individuals who grind and grind 24/7 just to make to the top but knows there’s GREATNESS waiting upon them. We know there will be turbulences (adversity) in our path but as a SOARING EAGLE, we persevere to our DESINTY. Through hard work and determination, we can soar like an eagle and reach the highest peak to success. So join the flock and “Soar to Greatness” with us. EngleTay is the ESSCENCE TO FLYNESS.

Inspired by: the Hip Hop culture, Spiritual Inspiration and the Chicago lifestyle

One of B7’s biggest contributors is behind the EngleTay brand, Mr. P. Jilla. Please stay posted about this exciting brand. More coming soon.

Jay Z Album Cover: Blueprint 3

Not in anyway am I promoting the new Jay Z album Blueprint 3. Yes, I have heard a couple of songs from the new album but I will not be buying it. If you’re interested in why, you can email me at heady@basementseven.com. However, I will applaud Jay Z on his album cover. It is super creative! Actually super duper creative. I absolutely love it. When I first saw it, I thought “dope” and wondered what took place with it. Well, today I found this youtube clip of the producing of Jay Z’s album cover. I wouldn’t have ever thought that they actually used real instruments for this pic. I never would have thought it was an actual picture.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE CREATIVE! THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

Video Alert: Fedel’s “Walk It Like I’m Changed”

You should check out Fedel’s myspace page whenever time allows. He is a very talented artist. Fedel’s heart is truly geared towards reaching people per his music career.

Bio: Anthony Flagg Jr. (Fedel) is from a diverse background, having lived in many states as well as several different types of communities. He is a man who talks from the heart and whose music is full of his life and life lessons.

Fedel is focused on making music that relates to people from all walks of life, not just any one group. He grew up on the streets of Memphis, TN, where a large majority of his early influences began.

Fedel’s vision is to preach the GOSPEL and for his music is to that it would be a form of healing, bring restoration and touching listener’s hearts. His desire is for his music to spread across the globe, touching people from all nations and backgrounds. Fedel has a strong desire to collaborate on projects with other artists and music genres to produce music that will change the world around him.

The name “Fedel” was chosen by looking for a synonym for “truth”. The definition of “fidelity” embodies many of the things Anthony wanted to characterize in his music. The “i” in “fidelity” was changed to an “e” to make the name more personal and unique.

Video Alert: “I Do It For You” by K-Praize Featuring Cam

Bio: K-Praize is currently set to release his debut album summer of 2009 entitled “Kingdom Certified”. This young-man has truly embraced the responsibility of being a role model for kids across the world. His story has been inspirational for all who dare to dream the impossible with God first and determination. Why not dream the imaginable, the best is yet to come.

K-Praize, born Kevieion Johnson recognized his passion for serving the lord at an early age, while attending the North Highland Community Church in Oklahoma City. In 2003 he received his first big break, at age five he appeared nationally in Avon catalogs, by years end he discovered his talents of rap and dance. In 2004 he made his recording debut by appearing on C-Aphilyated album entitled “No Turning Back” this song would become the album first single featuring himself and his dad, becoming a smash hit around Oklahoma. It was at this time he was given the stage name K-Praize which stands for Kevieion Praising God.

The K-Praize phenomenon had begun. He found himself performing in front of thousands of people at sold-out venues across nation. He has been blessed to grace concerts with artists such as Lecrae, Tedashii, John Cook, Cam, Dillion Chase, Apaulsoul and many other Christian artists. His most notable accomplishments includes hosting I AM TV which is a weekly urban gospel television show in Oklahoma City. In 2006 he debuted in his first music video entitled “Hott Like Woe “ featuring fellow group member Da Signature. In 2007 he auditioned for “That’s So Raven television show, but Glory Be to God he humbly recognized his opportunity to minister to others through music and lifestyle.

K-Praize is currently set to release his debut album summer of 2009 entitled “Kingdom Certified”. This young-man has truly embraced the responsibility of being a role model for kids across the world. His story has been inspirational for all who dare to dream the impossible with God first and determination. Why not dream the imaginable, the best is yet to come.

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