The Game Plan.

Okay, so here's the deal: I really enjoy sharing the moments of my life through this blog, but I'm starting to notice a need to begin separating my professional entries from my personal ones.

I didn't really have a specific purpose in mind for this blog when I first started keeping it in May. This blog was originally meant to only be a fun project to try out. But in the six months of keeping this blog, I have discovered that I really enjoy being a part of the blogging/videoblogging community.

For that reason, I think it would be a good idea for me to give a little more thought over the content that I post on my blog. Not only that, I would also like to put more thought into how I present my content to the reader or viewer. It does look kind of strange when I'm performing with DJ Johnny Juice in one entry, only to eat lettuce in another. Even though both of these entries represent me as a person, I know that they don't necessarily belong in the same place.

Obviously, having two blogs is the answer. So, look for a new http://pauldateh.com launching sometime in early 2008 for all my professional, music-related happenings. In the meantime, I'll keep posting my personal entries on this blog.

See You at The Winnies!

I'll be performing a special set with K9 the Human Beatbox at The Winnies afterparty. :)

Find out all the info at http://youarethewinner.org!

(Want to watch the promo in Quicktime? Click here.)

Go Eat a Lettuce.

Click To Play

A couple of days ago, my friend Vu launched a videoblog project in which he would live off a strictly vegan diet for two consecutive months. I know that the first couple of days have been a little rough for Vu, so I'm eating some lettuce to show my support.

Check out http://vugoesvegan.com!

[music: "Say It Ain't So" - Weezer]

Bonus Vlog Entry - The Elevator

Click To Play

My friends and I visit the crazy elevator at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square, NYC.

[Music: "What Goes Up" from Suburban Light - The Clientele]
[Music: "Nothin' but Sunshine" from Lucy Ford - Atmosphere]

Back to Los Angeles.

Click To Play

And so, my nine-day trip to New York City comes to a close.

I truly had an amazing time: performing with DJ Johnny Juice, hanging out with Chuck D and Tony Tone, performing at Public's 4-year Anniversary, meeting Hip Hop legends at the Zulu Nation Anniversary, seeing old friends, meeting new friends!

New York City is truly an awesome place. I can't wait to go back! :D

Again, very special thanks to Lan at Noodle Scar for lending me a camera so I could vlog my trip. Vlogging is a lot of fun! I think I will be purchasing a camera of my own very soon...

But, wait! There's more: the NYC trip may be over, but the story isn't over yet. There are many more projects coming up, and I'll make sure to keep posting all of the news right here. :)

Hello, Los Angeles. I'm home.
pd

Up next: (it's a surprise!)

[music: Foreign Exchange - "Nic's Groove"]

NYC Day 8 - Zulu Nation 34th Anniversary

Click To Play

During my rehearsal with DJ Johnny Juice on Day 3, Tony Tone of the Cold Crush Brothers personally invited me to come hang out at the Zulu Nation 34th Anniversary in Harlem. They were hosting a B-Boy and DJ battle on the night I attended, and they asked me to join in on the fun by performing a quick set with Juice.

It really made my night when Grandmaster Caz came on stage to say that my work is "culture" and "real". I will never forget the amount of excitement I felt!

Juice made sure to introduce me to all the other Hip Hop legends in the house and also made sure that I got a chance to grab some photos with them. It really was a great place to be that night. Everyone was overwhelmingly supportive and encouraging (qualities you see less and less in today's mainstream Hip Hop world).

Going to the Zulu Nation anniversary was the best way to end my trip to New York City. I couldn't have possibly asked for better! I can't wait to come back to this awesome place again.

Next entry: Back to L.A.

NYC Day 6 - BKLYN.

Click To Play

During my 6th day in NYC, I spent some of my free time in Greenpoint and Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Williamsburg is a really cool community, but all of the new construction projects in the area will probably bring major changes in the coming years. The last time I was here was only this past February, and it already looks a lot different than I remember!

Greenpoint is an interesting place, too. It's got a small town feel that complements neighboring Williamsburg nicely. I really like the fact that New York still has a lot of independent businesses, unlike Los Angeles's unending gallery of chains. I hope that doesn't change as time goes on.

I'm really having a lot of fun here in New York, and I'm sad that I'll soon have to come back to Los Angeles. But, L.A. has its perks, too; you just can't beat L.A.'s weather. And it looks like I'll be leaving New York just as it's about to get COLD!

NYC Day 4 - Private Event at Public

Click To Play

DJ Johnny Juice and I performed at a private event celebrating Public Restaurant's 4-year anniversary. Everything went really well; the crowd loved us (over 350 in attendance!)!

I really like being in NYC. Maybe L.A. won't be home for much longer. Who knows? :P

Shouts out to ILLUS for taking video!

P.S. Don't worry: I'll probably stay in L.A. for a while. Even if I decide to move anywhere, it won't be any time in the immediate future. ;)

NYC Days 2 & 3 - Rehearsals

Click To Play

First things first: DJ Johnny Juice is one of the greatest DJs that ever walked the face of the planet.

Okay, now that we're all on the same page, let's move on to the rest of the story:

I took the E train to Jamaica to meet up with DJ Johnny Juice, so that he could drive us over to the studio to rehearse. Juice gave me a short geographic tour of Hip Hop as he drove us towards the studio - Linden Boulevard was the most interesting to me (you know how I love A Tribe Called Quest!).

We get to the studio, and the first person Juice introduces me to is the legendary Chuck D of Public Enemy. I was so nervous that I could barely get myself to say "hello"! It was truly an awesome feeling to be in the same room with Hip Hop royalty.

My friend Illus also came by to hang out (he does the artwork for the Public Enemy comic book) and it was a really cool sight to see him, Chuck D, and Juice talk about comics.

Juice had told me earlier that at a certain point in the day he would have take a break to record a radio show. And sure enough, about an hour and a half into our rehearsal, Juice's co-hosts arrived: Hip Hop pioneer Tony Tone of the Cold Crush Brothers and Zulu DJ Outlaw!

When I was working as manager of promotions at Basement Records, my boss Roc would always school me in Hip Hop history, and "The Cold Crush Brothers" was a key lesson that he liked to highlight. He would finish the conversation by saying, "You don't know the Cold Crush Brothers, homie!" Now, I can officially tell him that I do. Haha!

The entire two days were an incredibly awesome experience: rehearsing with DJ Johnny Juice, meeting Chuck D, Tony Tone, and DJ Outlaw... It is an experience that I will never forget.

But, the story doesn't end there. The rehearsals may be done, but we still have the actual event to do! All that is coming up next. :)

NYC Day 1: LAX to JFK

Click To Play

I made it to NYC!

All I can say is this: Virgin America is nice, son! Haha.

As someone that usually hates flying, I must say that flying on Virgin America was a pleasant surprise. I sincerely hope that they maintain their high level of service and quality as they become more popular (because I'm sure they will!).

Coincidentally, my friend Carmen and her sister Tere were headed for New York, too, so we decided to book ourselves on the same flight and hang out for a little in the city together before they went back to L.A. on the 4th.

I love New York. I'm currently staying in Greenpoint, a couple blocks north of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This side of town is much more laid back than the craziness of Manhattan, but there's still plenty to do! I'm really feeling this place called Supercore. If only we had more places like this in L.A.!

But, let me stop rambling and focus on the important issue at hand: I'm here to work! There'll be plenty of time to have fun later, but right now I'm on the clock. I have a meeting and venue/equipment check scheduled, as well as rehearsals with the legendary DJ Johnny Juice!

Stay tuned. There's much more come. :)
pd