Check out this list from the LA Times about the best Hip-Hop songs that used Michael Jackson samples.
Sometimes you listen to hip-hop songs these days and you’re like…okay, there’s no talk about struggle, pain or anything that really relates to why hip hop really spoke to generations..

One of my favorites is Ghostface Killah and Mary J. Blige, “All That I Got Is You,” that sampled the Jackson 5 song, “Maybe Tomorrow.”

This song is sick.

Hey party peoples. So… I’ve talked/written about this before, but I love music and hip-hop. Nothing can help me escape life’s realities like listening to a sick playlist or singing/rapping, of course.
Here’s me rapping “Forgot About Dre,” by Dr. Dre and Eminem. (I purposely dress as goody two shoes as possible and then perform, to increase the “What the …..” factor)
Note: I showed my Dad this video and this is what he said
MY DAD: Do you have mental problem?
LOL!!!!

Hey guys, we’ve been on a roll with these videos and just shot one with Juan Carlos Mazorra, a director/producer who has worked on top hip-hop music videos and more. We caught up with him during a Recording studio session….

This is me in the Recording booth… HOLLA! As you can tell by my toothy grin, I was very excited to be there.

And here’s me and Juan Carlos.

Stay tuned for the Video interview! We talked a lot about how to get started in following your passions in life. Really good content. PEACE!

Me and the Boy hung out with some of my good friends, Eric and Geraldine last night. We played an exciting round of UNO. Yes, I know you’re jealous. Sadly, I completely bombed and won only one round. Dude, I kept putting down a card when it was my turn to get skipped. What’s the deal? I need to brush up on the UNO skills. Next up is Polker. haha.
Anywayz, Eric put on this track which I absolutely adore from Group Home. Old skool 90′s hip hop still lives on!!!

Well, there is some positive news as the Screen Actors Guild and the Studios have reached a tentative 2 year deal. Talks broke earlier in the year as the two sides were unable to agree on, you guessed it, the residuals to be made on the Web.

I’m an actor, member of SAG, and am SO happy that a deal is on the table that both sides can agree upon. So are the rest of the people in this town, I’m sure!

And this song, “We Run LA,” by Ya Boy is pretty hot track to listen to… especially on a gorgeous day like today.

From the rapper who let you know, “This is Why I’m Hot,” MIMS is back with this hot track called “Move If You Wanna,” that is pretty sick to dance to. Love that beat.

Juan Carlos Mazorra is a friend of mine from the days when I first started out in Entertainment, in New York City, where hustling (meaning working hard, not that other definition) is just a way of life. He’s an accomplished music video director with credits including, “New York,” by Ja Rule featuring Fat Joe and Jadakiss, to videos by Ashanti. Recently, he finished his feature directorial debut of “Children of the Killing Fields,” a full-length feature film about child trafficking and prostitution in Cambodia and the United States. I recently caught up with him to ask him a few questions about how he keeps his hustle on.

So Juan Carlos, how did you get into directing?
Well I decided to go into the movie biz after watching “Natural Born Killers” for the first time. At the time I was basically wasting time in community colleague studying to enter a physical therapy program. I was also working part time at Hollywood Video, and I remember renting “Pulp Fiction” and “Natural Born Killers.” That was really the beginning of it all. I remember saying “that’s what I wanna do” as soon as the movie was over. So, then I told my mother I was going to back out of my journey on becoming a PT and try the movies. I’m not one of those kids who have been shooting movies from the age of 9 or anything like that, but I’ve always enjoyed movies. Once I decided to go into the ENT biz, my family would tell me stories of shows I would put on for them, and how I was always entertaining everyone growing up. Then I found a box of a bunch of old home movies I made with friends in high school. It hit me. “I can do this.” So from there I found a film school, Full Sail Recording Arts in Orlando, FL. I went and checked it out; packed my stuff from Houston in a U-Haul and headed to Florida.

What would you tell some young kid with a DV camera and a dream?
SHOOT!!! Don’t worry about what you don’t have, and shoot with what you do have. Get a story, get some friends or local student actors and shoot. Then learn the tools and language of film making and JUMP IN.

Craziest story about directing?
LOL. Well I can’t tell you the craziest story, but I do remember one time when I was shooting Ja Rule’s New York video, during Fat Joe’s of Terror Squad set-up we ran into a problem. It was about 2 or 3pm when all of a sudden over 300 kids filled the streets where we were shooting. Ed Lover had announced the location of the video shoot over the radio and I think every kid in NYC came out to support. As a director, I loved the fact that all the kids came out to support their favorite rapper, but as a producer it was a nightmare. First, it slowed down everything because we now had hundreds of people in and around our shots. I just kept shooting because I knew it was adding a big look for the video. Then in the middle of my shot Irv Gotti come up to me with my 1st AD and says “Juan Carlos, the cops are about to shut us down. How much more do u need?” I thought to my self, damn I need another set up. Gotti then told me that he had been talking to the set Officer and he said that is was to big of a liability with all these kids around and would have to shut us down. I said “What, no way!” I knew there was no way to get the kids off the streets. I mean come on, These kids were around some of their favorite rappers. They ain’t going no where. I knew the only chance I had was to talk to the Officer. I remember as it was just the other day. Gotti said “OK, you go talk to him then.” as he pointed to the Officer in the sea of people. I don’t remember what I exactly said, but I begged not to shut us down. I told him I would finish as quick as possible and that we would get out of the Bronx without anyone getting hurt. He wasn’t buying it. I then began to explain the importance of this video being shot completely, and how I had all the different artist from different labels all together as one. I told him, “Do you realize what is happening right now on this video. There is no beef amongst all the different rappers on this video. Everyone has come together to support New York’s rap scene.”

The Officer was born and raised in NY and I think he understood what I was trying to tell him. He looked at me and said, “OK, just hurry up.” I thanked him and ran off to the camera and said “let’s shoot!” At the end, the footage came out amazing. One of my hottest stuff. I feel a big part of directing/producing is being able to put out fires on the stop with losing it. It’s true when the stars line up for you, its a magical moment. That Officer played a big part in the video. Thank You again.

That guy must feel pretty cool right now.  On a different note, how much has the change in technology affected your job as a director?

I think all the new technology is great. It has made independent film-making better. When I was in film school the technology was drastically changing in the Post dept, so I’m used to this. Things are always going to change, so label me a film maker that changes with the technology.

Everything is changing!  So what’s on your playlist right now?

Oh, I’m into T.I., M.I.A., Radio Head, Kanye, Timberland, The Dream, Reggae music, Snoop Dogg, The Knife, Brazilizn Girls, The Killers, I could go on and on. I listen to a wide range of music.

So…you’ve accomplished a lot already, but I know you have a ton that you’d still like to do.  What’s your biggest hope/dream/goal with your directing career?

The goal is to have people leave the theater after watching my movie and say something like “Wow, that was a great movie. Juan Carlos told a good story.”

Amen.  Thanks for the words, Juan Carlos, and here’s the music video for “New York,” by Ja Rule featuring Jadakiss and Fat Joe.

Once, I was in NYC and at a random dive bar that had karaoke, and this guy went onstage and knew all the lyrics to this song. The crowd went NUTS. What is it about comedic rap songs that just kick ass? Seriously? You have Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend,” or Skee-Lo’s “I Wish…” or “Lazy Sunday,” by Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell. Is it the fact that random words mesh to the hip hop beat? Or just the fact that you can actually understand the words and sing/rap along? By the way, remember all those “Yo Mama,” jokes??? LOVE IT.

I’ve only been to J-town a few times, but this past Wednesday, I went to support my brother, an MC and Music Supervisor for Bunim Murray Productions. They produce these shows that you might have heard of… “Real World,” and “Road Rules.”

He performed at 2nd Street Jazz Bar and Grill. But before they started the set, I wandered around the area and came across this cool skater/hip hop store called, “Fish Mart.” Check out the pics:

And here’s me, waiting for my bro to perform:

Me and my bro:

My bro, performing:

And my friends, J-Kwon and Sonya

My brother did a good job. I’m not just saying that because he’s my brother, but his delivery was on point. Music and art are not exactly the most sought-after occupations in Asian/Asian-American culture. Usually, your parents want you to be doctors, lawyers, investment bankers, anything with the word “Finance” in it. So, when you decide to take a chance to do something out-of-the-box, it’s a risky proposition. Then again, nothing in life is concrete.

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