One of the last MCs with soul had planned on spending most of the beginning of this year in the motherland, Africa, for a life journey, performances and more life learning. However, while in England, Gabriel Teodros' plans were thwarted by the British government who denied him passage from Europe to Africa.  The bad news? Teodros did not get to visit his native land of his ancestors, Ethiopa. The good news?  We get to keep him!

Teodros returned to the U.S., and thanks to some pals of his, stayed in a studio loft in the city that never sleeps. "I've loved being here in New York," says Teodros. "I've worked on music, done some shows and I'm coming back to the Northwest for a few weeks at the end of this week." 

When Teodros returns to the Northwest he plans on going hard in the studio, visiting friends and family and start a whirlwind performance/appearance schedule. Check it:

• Feb. 27: Panel Appearance: Hip-Hop in The African Diaspora at The Seattle Vocational Institute (Seattle) at 1 p.m.
• March 11: "Real Lit Radio interview with KUPS 90.1 FM in Tacoma at 11 p.m.
• March 12: "Live From I-5 Radio" interview with KAOS at 3 p.m.
• March 13: Performance with Zion I, Blue Scholars and Khingz at The Evergreen State College at 8 p.m.
• March 15: Performance with Jennifer Johns at Chop Suey in Seattle at 8 p.m.

Keep up with Gabriel Teodros by Googling him, or catch him on Facebook, MySpace and twitter.

SP aka Slo Poke is busy

SP aka Slo Poke has put in work as an MC for nearly two decades in the 25360 - as a member of 4 Real, the first group from Olympia to drop a release on record, to the first Washingtonian to be recognized by the legendary Unsigned Hype column in The Source Magazine.  Homeboy's done his thang-thang in a major way that only, I repeat, ONLY a hater could trip over.  And there are certainly some haters in the house.  I see you readin'!  But try and hate on the following.

SP has launched his lyrical battle supreme for MCs looking to claim verbal supremacy and take home a booty of $500 in the process.  SP's monthly Go Hard MC Battle series begins March 4 at The Royal Lounge in Olympia and follows his successful series of battles at The Vault in Olympia that resulted in LA of LA Swagga winning the competition and getting a mixtape deal with the vaunted Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes giant. SP who is working on a few personal projects at press time says that he wants to open the game up to the MCs and rappers who are truly hungry and want to bring some fire back into the battle scene. Let's see what happens. 

That's NOT all: Congrats to SP on closing the deal that will bring underground hip-hop goliath Tech N9ne to Olympia on Friday March 26 at The Royal Lounge. The Kansas City representative Tech N9ne is a giant on the independent music scene demonstrated when he recently signed fellow underground legend, Brotha Lynch Hung of Sac-Town.  SP will host the joint and it will be a surprise if Tech N9ne's show does NOT sell out. His only other Northwest show is in Van City, B,C. Gracias, SP! 

25360 Shorts

The 25360 alumnus Dice is preparing to drop her second mixtape entitled Foundation in March 2010.  I peeped the mixtape - she gave me an advance (take a note upstarts) and its dope. She's rapping and singing with a '50s retro look shinin' on the cover. 

Dice is also setting up a tour featuring Knobody of Hieroglyphics and Germance in March - The More Bars in More Places Tour.  Keep your eyes and ears open.

Josh Rizeberg is doing his thang-thang as well.  The 253 MC and poet is releasing his follow-up to the super-dope Spoken Worlds album he dropped in 2007.  As a build up to the release of his sophomore album, Word To Wize, he will be popping the cork with an album release party at Jazzbones on April 28 with special guests Khingz and Q-Dot and Jay Barz (your two-time 25360 Hustla of The Year) playing host.  By the way, I heard the advance to this album too and it is a lyrical journey into the mind of an underrated MC. And while not everyone earns the title MC - Rizeberg has.

Former Congresswoman and presidential candidate for The Green Party Cynthia McKinney visits The Evergreen State College Thursday, Feb. 25 to give a speech.  The former congresswoman was unceremoniously heckled and politically ostracized following her responsible and timely questioning of the Bush Administration's role in 911 the day after the planes crashed into the twin towers.  McKinney was but a handful of prominent U.S. public figures brave enough to immediately ask the questions that would come flooding through the doors of political power just months later.  Find out more by visiting www.evergreen.edu.

What I'm donin'

Handling my business as usual. Thursday, Feb. 25 will be my final day in Shelton for The Native American Youth and Health Conference.  Needless to say this is a duty and honor to be part of solution-building for one of our most ravaged and vulnerable communities.  Native youth are at risk of drug addiction, sexual assault and suicide at alarmingly inhumane rates.  As descendants of the most disgracefully deceived people on our continent it is a responsibility to be attentive and respectful to the needs of the First Peoples. 

Live From I-5: This is Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. signing out. 

Until next time ... Stay up!  PEACE.

Winners Train, Losers Complain... Do Yo' Thang!!!

Peace & Love
 
Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. aka DJ LUVVA J is an award-winning editor, writer, producer, educator, music director and consultant.  A graduate of Washington State University and student at The Evergreen State College, he writes and edits the Pacific Northwest section of Ozone Magazine and hosts and produces Live From I-5 Radio (since '89) on The KAOS Block Party every Friday at 3 p.m. on KAOS 89.3 FM where he is the Music Director (www.kaosradio.org and Comcast Ch. 982) in Olympia.