Sat 9 May 2009
Posted by DNA under General
No Comments
Right, so the first post went thru. Nice! Now to see what it takes to get a link up in hurr. And in case the first type doesn’t work, we can always try the basic: www.soulfege.com.
Right, this is the last mobile test post. Next one will be more exciting. Promise! 
DNA
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Sat 9 May 2009
Ok I’m testing this new functionality that has apparently been sitting on my blog forever. If this works I will be able to Blog directly from my BBerry instead of needing to be ob my laptop.
What are the implications you ask? Well given that I largely seem to live on airplanes (w no wifi…curses!) this will enable me to make trenchant observations from terminals across the planet, largely about the relative comfort of sleeping in different types of airport seating devices.
So here’s the first mobile salvo w the possibility of many more. Hope it
goes thru! 
DNA Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Sat 17 Jan 2009
Posted by dna under General, Politics
[2] Comments
So today I dropped a few thoughts on the idea of Obama as “savior” for the BET.com Inauguration Blog. As y’all already know, I’m not big on the idea of someone showing up to “save” me. Waiting around to exhale seems like a good recipe for asphyxiation. Still there’s something powerful in believing great things are possible. Peep the post for my proper pontifications… D.N.A
Sat 30 Aug 2008
Posted by dna under General, Politics
[4] Comments
Tonight with laptop before me, cell phone in hand, and the world at my fingertips I watched Senator Obama raise the bar in American politics to such a height as to put his opponent’s very relevance into question.
All year we have heard that Obama lacks the experience to lead the nation; that he’s peddling false hopes. For those who have taken the time to read his policy positions, to explore his story, to genuinely listen to what he has been saying in his speeches, it’s been clear for some time that this son of a single-mother, Harvard Law graduate, community organizer, teacher of Constitutional Law, State and then US senator is neither a Pollyanna, nor an ingénue; not an idealist, nor an innocent and certainly not an “elitist.”
All year we’ve watched the slings and arrows flying fast from the quarters of those whose commitment to the wealthiest among us is matched only by their poverty of ideas and the unmitigated gall with which they have striven to distract the American people from the defining issues of our day. In a world where regular people can no longer believe in the security of their jobs, homes or health the Republican Party has determined that the issue at hand is not the crumbling fabric of American life, but rather the popularity of the opposing candidate. In the absence of substantive solutions to the problems facing our nation Senator McCain has chosen to fight this political battle on the fringes of common sense. But we who have been paying any attention at all are well aware of at least one simple truth:
This election is about much more than Paris Hilton.
Tonight I saw Senator Obama stand and deliver what will go down as one of the great speeches in American public life. But what moved me most perhaps was the experience of watching it. With television, laptop and BlackBerry before me, I Tweeted, texted and Facebooked with young people on every continent as we watched History made before us. I was struck not so much by the esteem in which friends and strangers hold Senator Obama, but by the fact that we have all clearly heard the call that he is making.
The GOP has failed to understand what is the fundamental genius of Barack Obama’s candidacy. Senator Obama has never made this campaign about The One…he has made it about The Many. And from Kansas to Qatar, Paris to Pittsburgh a generation is heeding his call to responsibility for our collective future. Senator Obama tonight proved himself not only qualified to be Leader of the Free World, but as someone uniquely qualified to make it a freer one. In a world desperately in need of heroes, he has ignited the spirit of heroism in us all. And no distraction, no distortion, no demonization will quench the American spirit that breaths today in the hearts of the citizens of the world.
Sun 10 Aug 2008
Posted by dna under Music
[3] Comments
Alright so y’all know I don’t post a lot on pop culture these days, mostly because I’ve been trying to avoid the peculiar brand of brain-deadedness it induces these days. But I just stumbled on this video and it is hilarious! All y’all young artists out there, take this under advisement before you sign up with the super-producer du jour. For the rest of y’all just answer me one question:
WHERE IS CRAIG MACK?!!!
Peep game…
Tue 29 Jul 2008
Posted by dna under General, Music, Politics
[2] Comments
Last week I did an interview with a radio host named Keith Bryant for his online show “The Black Right.” Now I know what you’re thinking: “D, aren’t you some kind of raving lefty loony? Don’t you want to hug the wales and save the trees and have the govt send a Cinnabon to every child in Sudan???”
The answer is unequivocally NO. Yes, I do have a certain predilection for trees and grass, but that’s only because Prospect Park embedded such pastoral imagery in my mind early on. And it’s true I think that happy whales are good for business but that doesn’t mean y’all shouldn’t respect my GANGSTA! And my legal counsel has advised me not to speak about the Cinnabon thing until we’ve sorted that whole thing out so…
The truth is I am happy to kick it with people of all political persuasions, provided they are smart, respectful and can back up their ideas. And so, when I got my invite from the Black Right I thought “clearly these are bright & insightful people who have not held the whales thing against me. I would happily grant an interview.”
It was thus that I got on the horn with Keith Bryant and for 45 mins kicked it about music, meaning and the wackness that was the New Yorker cover. And yes I know I should have posted this sooner. But I’ve blogged like 3 times in the past 7 days! I’m overheating over here. Check out the interview here.
Wed 23 Jul 2008
Posted by dna under General, Music
No Comments
So I wake up this morning, ready to sit around eating cheetos and practicing handstands like I do every day. And lo-and-behold I find in my Inbox ANOTHER installation of this amazing interview from the future. I think I’ve definitely gotten taller by 2011. Check it out and see for yerself. D.N.A
Mon 21 Jul 2008
Posted by dna under General
No Comments
Ok a couple of things. First of all I gotta’ give a big thank you to Jonathan & Kelley for completely ridiculing me this weekend for my lack of bloggage. I told them that I have been crazy busy. They replied that I am always on my computer, I should just do it. I told them I am swamped w/ emails and writing n’ such. They said just make short posts and then proceeded to laugh at the “treatises” that I allegedly write. I told them that was unfair and I am not the treatise type. They replied “who cares, we will beat you momentarily oh herbish one.”
Ok so some of that is paraphrased but you get the picture. The point is I’m supposed to write more because apparently I “always have something to say.” Ok, well they are right. As a matter of fact I’m a’ save some of those thoughts for another post so I don’t get clobbered by these ignan’t musicians over here. For today I’m going to say this: if you haven’t played a given sport in 15 years or more, I would not recommend “breaking” the ice with 3 hrs of running around a field. Today I played co-ed, two-hand touch football with the Young Black Hollywood crew and had an absolute BLAST! Cat’s were out in force and it was amazing to see so many brilliant, talented, beautiful, educated and inspired people out having a good old time just playing together. There was a DJ, beach towels on the ground and 60-70 people out there raring to run around, with a few looking too super fly to play, but definitely providing enough all round good-lookingness to make up for the rest of us running around sweatin’ up a storm.
All in all it was a great day. The only thing is…I’m not walking so well right now. And I get the funny feeling tomorrow my body is going to feel…interesting. So yeah, yay football, yay fitness, yay play on a Sunday. Boo lactic acid. D.N.A
Tue 15 Jul 2008
My peoples my peoples we finally done DID IT!! After 2 years, 6 cities and 3 countries we have completed and released the latest Soulfège record “Take Back the Mic.” For a long time we’ve used the tag line “it’s more than music…it’s a movement.” Well if you listen to the record you’ll start to get an idea of what we mean. With contributions from a gang of musicians, producers and engineers representing expertise in everything from Rock to Dancehall we set out to create a soundtrack to the kind of world we want to live in.
And this is it.
Check out some of the preview trax on the newly redesigned Soulfège website and if you feel where we’re coming from buy the album right there or on iTunes. It’s worth every cedi! 
And before I forget, the funniest thing happened this morning. Somebody sent me YouTube video from the future! And it’s about US!! I was totally trippin’ when I saw it, but it gave me a reeeaallly good feeling about what’s coming down the road. Check it out:
Thu 19 Jun 2008
Posted by dna under General, Music, Politics
[5] Comments
Hi you guys, I’ve been away for a minute living on an airplane in an effort to contribute as mightily as possible to the general deterioration of our environment (ahem…sorry). Now that rising fuel costs are causing the entire planet to think twice about the value of “going green” I too have been brought down to earth…literally.
In the midst of seeking a fair trade-in value for my gasaholic vehicle in exchange for a nice pair of roller-blades, I’ve managed to not only finish the upcoming Soulfège record (YAY!!), but Jahtoworks & I managed to whip up a bonus track in collaboration w/ the illustrious Elliot Mazer, to commemorate our general dissatisfaction with the current “powers that be” and those who would carry water for them for another four years. JG pulled down some telling words from el-presidente, I mixed some choice metaphors with an alternative flow and KJ laid a loverly, lilting lil’ hook, all of which dance on top of a hybrid reggae-style groove courtesy of Jahto.
Now upon listening to the track, some of you may ask “why make a song about Bush, he’s not running for office?” To all ye gentle readers who have not been paying enough attention to the near complete lack of distinction between the policies of GW and John Wayne McCain we simply say…there’s a reason Keith Olberman has taken such a liking to the term “McBush”…
You can download the tune for free at www.soulfege.com. Let us know whatcha’ think!
Peace,
D.N.A
Beating Around the Bush
by: Derrick N. Ashong & Sajato Jarrett
Good Morning America
I hope you had an excellent sleep
Been a while since we woke
In the Land of the Free
Last time I closed my eyes
We had Freedom of Speech
Guess it’s time to decide
If that’s something to keep…
See “we the people” picked a guy
We could “just have a drink with”
Over time we would find
He was not much for thinkin’
We gave the keys to the ride
To a man who’d been drinkin’
And then watched him deny
Just who’s ship he was sinkin’.
Stop beatin’ around the Bush.
Now here’s the thing about life,
It’s how you walk it
And some would trade your soul
For the hint of a profit
Wonder who’d trade their rights
Like some water for chocolate?
Might be best to ask that guy
With his hand in your pocket
I said stop It.
He said he would
But somehow they forgot it
In the midst of the war
Here’s a bomb, gwan’ and drop it
Place your heart in the clasp
Of a Porcelain Prophet
And let’s all kick some ass
‘Til we run out of rockets
Stop beatin’ around the Bush
No child left behind
Is how they sell it
And truth is it all looks fine
Until you smell it
A sniff test might suggest
You teach before you test it
But why try?
It’s hard to sell lies
To those who question
So keep ‘em dumb
We’ll march to that rhythmless drum
Tell the world that their blind
To the crime we’ve become
And in one line profess
That the war has been won
Pin a flag to your chest
As you offer your sons…
Stop beatin’ around the Bush.
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