Coastin

Source: www.zionicrew.com
In the official video for one of the highlights from the TakeOver album, the group deliver a characteristically cinematic video in which producer AmpLive plays the keys in a white tux, emcee Zumbi cruises in a red droptop, and guest K Flay wanders the rails. ...

ZION-I BRAND NEW VIDEO 'COASTIN'

(n no G that aint me lol)

Fly Artista : Ms. Ashley K. Arnold herself

"A true artist gives themselves up in their art.. fully. Close their eyes & jumps in with no boundaries."-Ashley K. Arnold

Had to give a lil shout out to the fly artista Ashley K. Arnold, I am new to this lady's art and don't sleep she's got talent, from photography, etchings- prints, street art and even poetry. I am very inspired by her art, as well as her fearlessness to be herself and shine. I would definalty love to eventually collab with this sister. Look out for posts on her art shows in the future cause you know I will be promo'ing like I do.

If you like what ya see you can holla @ her on twitter @ashleykarnold

As someone who works in many mediums from spray paint to acrylic to oils to prints i respect a sis who does the same and she does it well! The one above just might be my favorite but I dont know...I love em all...
"brake your tv"


More artista posts coming soon. 'this is only the beginning we are still so far from winning im here" "just keep living and giving all that ya got" My art along with new musica from Amani and Do Dat (former members of the ATTIK crew) along with new posts on some projects I have in the works and some summer living updates. So check Back!

SIAIRA SHAWN

Just recently got to sit down with one of my favorite artists Bay Area's own singer/songwriter/ herself. Its not everyday that someone can capture a crowd with purely acapella vocals .

SIAIRA SHAWN

WRENAGADE (WR): There is a lot going on in the Bay Area {from Prop 8 Protests, Oscar Grant Protests/Mehserle Trial,} as well as all over the world {Iran Democratic Election, too many injustices to name...}, As a song writer that is an activist, how do you take on the challenge of Speaking your Views, as well as keeping it Universal (so anyone can get down with your music and really hear it?

SIAIRA: The songs I write are what I am inspired and by my experience. I originally started writing songs on a certain topics, mostly very personal. As I've started to write more and become a better writer, I've learned how to frame very personal things into very universal themes. Also, because the big issues are our issues, my issues, the political is personal, so I write in a way that shows that I hope. Everything I try to do comes from a place of love, so that's how I write.

WR: Just listened to TOO MANY which is an amazing song, the lyrics the melody all of it. This is a dope song to me because it is expressing all the emotions that protesters have, of rage, sadness of seeing injustice, put into a song in such an eloquent and heART felt way. I get chills when I hear the part of the song “and I cant stomach another daughter or son on the ground…” Siaira has managed to capture so much in the beautiful song, from the pain of loosing a life, overall police brutality and transcend that with harmony and lyrical grace.

(to listen 'Too Many' click here )

WR: You bring such a refreshingly fly style to your music, is there anyone that influenced you growing up in the Bay Area?

SIAIRA: Thank you! Growing up in the Bay, San Francisco especially, there weren't too many people to look to,as far as being a soul/ r and b singer. I think that’s why you have to do your own thing. I can say in Oakland, all my homeys, who were involved in BUMP and other youth music programs, really gave me an outlet. And as far as my style; I wanted to do my own thing, and write from a different perspective that I feel is unique because its me, no manufacturing.

WR: If you could choose some artists out there that did/do really influence you as a singer and song writer who would they be and why?

Nina Simone-Crazy style, unique vocals, she blew my mind,and the subject matter she tackled in her songs and the emotion, I love her…
John Legend-When he came out there was no one like him in R&B, his song writing, making good quality songs. Also as he has matured in his career and his music and he has taken a great political stance.

WR: thats wassup...Whats your favorite quote?

SIAIRA:*Never settle for mediocrity
"I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood." Audre Lorde

WR: What projects do you you have in the works?

SIAIRA: My e.p. "The Outsider Inside" is upcoming, doing a photoshoot, want to put some shirts out soon too , oh I'll also be on rapper Five-Eightys album and The League 510 album and video for the song "Friday". I am always working on music, I wanna put a mixtape and some themed projects out, and a full-length album of course, so just look out for me :)

WR: Words of advice to other singers out there?

SIAIRA: My advice is just to be true to yourself and strive for as close to perfection as you can get. Put out quality music, put your best self forward always. Don't conform.

* I have some shows end of July and August in oakland mostly, I believe, and wherever elso people will have me :) You can go reverbnation.com and lastfm.com to hear some older music,new stuff coming soon on those. And I'm on facebook, just type my name-Siaira Shawn in the search to get updates.


A big shout out to Siaira Shawn if ya dont know now ya know.

Heres a perfect Summer feel good Jam that im bumping ritnOW…

Pocket Mix 3 - Siaira Shawn

Look forward to many more collab projects with this Song Bird, dont sleep on OakTowns finest and Flyest from the Song Birds to the Emcees, we got Talent all over the Bay...

oh yeah...(dont mind the messy photography skills ill post better pics soon)

At INTERNATIONAL heART SHO (Katiana and myselfs first collab project) I did a set of portraits of the song bird SIAIRA SHAWN. This is a pic of one of them I will eventually share with you many more pictures of art flick so look out for more. I think I only captured about 1% of the dopeness in this piece, I do portraits of folks mostly music artists to pay homage...Look out for more posts soon.

Follow her on twitter @siairashawn and holla @ a @wrenagade ...

(Disclaimer for anyone sipping some haterade: im in no way a professional journalist and mos. def. don't claim to be, I am a artivist, so just a fan of good music, in terms of lyrics, vocals, production, Good music, especially when its about real issues that effect our community, because that is when music is at its best. -wr)

Im leaving...

Im Leaving

Epiphany - Chrisette Michele

((This song may not lyrically be everything Im going thru in terms of my personal life but I am leaving a lot of wackness as I leave the place I currently reside. By the way im loving Chrisette Michele she has that classic swag that somehow seems new...))

As of June first I put in notice at the crib we moving. I have known I was going to be moving out of this particular apt for some time but its looking like I might be moving further then expected. I have been transforming in many ways over the past months(don't get it twisted I'm still the same Wren, just trying to evolve and do the experiences/blessings/hardships some justice and learn and change from em) and like my name I am a bird what ever adversity you throw at me I will spread my wings and fly to higher places. I am currently blasting some mixes of Old Skool and New School anything from MJ, Aretha, to Mystic, and Luniz and all that in between, while I put everything in boxes. I am sitting on lots of new posts, and if your new to reading this here blog or not be expecting a little more quality over quantity, meaning I will take a little more time with what I post, and share more exclusive art flicks, and interviews and things of this nature in future posts.




Packing up all my belongings, and possibly moving out of the LBC back to the Bay has me doing a little reflection not just on my time in this apartment but my growth and overall my life. Like the MJ song written by SIEDAH herself if my goal is to change the world i mos. def. have to start with myself. I am always trying to be a better person to better impact the world, to support the ones that I love. Re affirming my love for art, and music, and creating beautiful spaces (as i study interior architectural design and design in all its elements)...anyway I read a book about 6 years ago about making money as a money. But the message I took applies to everyone. In order to be happy, you must first asses what it is that you prioritize and invest there. At the time that I did that I was in high school with a job and side hustles and I had a room full over kicks and material things. I realized I was putting most of my money to something that was coolio, but not my priority. So I began to invest in my art (just buying basic art supplies usually the cheapest things i could find) and music. Its hard to stick to it, and there will be times, like myself, where you get lost and go astray, but I always come back to this, put ya money where ya heart is and you cant go wrong. So as I pack up my shoes, I am reminded of this, yeah kicks is cool, I'm not saying not to buy em, I'm just saying for me at the end of the day, I am fly no matter what I rawk and you could steal all my valuables and I would still be alright. With that said I recently "lost" some of my art work and that felt a little like someone ripped my heart out cause its irreplaceable, ya know.

Anyway the blogs may roll in slow but they coming I'm just hella busy making changes and tryna be grown ;) also enjoying what may be my last summertime in the LBC like the classic song that you can catch me sing on occasion...

Peace,
Wren