Daily Archives: June 18, 2009

Not One for Words by afterschoolspecial

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San Diego-based afterschoolspecial has a new EP out “Not One for Words”. In their music, you can hear the influences of Beastie Boys and Linkin Park with a unique blend of hip hop, rock and soul. The EP is also produced by Pete Rocks, who plays keys for Far East Movement and owns My Ninja Clothing (worn by many Asian American music artists).

One of our favorite tracks from the EP is “Future Rockstars of America”. (not to be confused with Intel rockstars.) This song shows how they blend up hip hop, rock and soul. You can also hear the Beastie Boys influence. This track may also be used in future videos by FR*A, which also happens to be their clothing sponsor. Listen to “Future Rockstars of America” and a couple other tracks on their MySpace page. If you like the music, get your copy of “Not One for Words” at afterschoolspecial - Not One for Words

BTW – if you missed our previous post, watch the music video for Not One For Words by afterschoolspecial.

afterschoolspecial gives a shoutout to channelAPA with Dan aka Dan rockin’ the My Ninja T-shirt

Asher Roth “I Love College” Beat Boxin’ afterschoolspecial Version. (also check out dumbfoundead’s I Love Junior College)

Burma VJ

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Seeing all the news coverage about the Iran elections reminds us of a film we recently saw “Burma VJ”. Burma VJ shows what happens behind the scenes as citizen video journalists armed with handheld cameras shoot footage and smuggle it out of the country so that the news about what is happening continues to flow despite risking torture and life in jail. With foreign TV crews banned from Burma, only a small crew of video journalists can keep the revolution alive on TV screens around the world. As government intelligence understands the power of the camera, the VJs become their prime target.

This is a rockin’ film showing the risks the VJs take to spread the word where governments have banned foreign journalist. It gives you new appreciation to the journalists as well has the power of the Internet. Props to all the citizen video journalists doing whatever they can to show what’s going on in their country. Look for Burma VJ at a film festival near you. Check out the website here.

Burma VJ Trailer

Padma Lakshmi on The Late Show with David Letterman

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One of the hosts of Top Chef Padma Lakshmi appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman yesterday. Padma was born in India but grew up in New York City. She attended theater school to study acting and started modeling to pay off her college loans. In her first movie role, she had to gain 20 pounds for the part. Afterwards, she had to lose it for her modeling career. And that’s how her first cookbook came out, “Easy Exotic.” The book did so well and that got her involved in cooking shows on TV.

Perhaps the most shocking part of the interview was when Padma revealed a 7-inch scar between her shoulder and elbow which she got from a serious auto accident when she was 14 years old. She was very self-conscious of it early in her modeling career, but now is proud of it and wears it as a badge of honor. She showed the scar to the camera.

Season 6 of Top Chef begins in September and will take place in Las Vegas. Padma says she gains weight every season of Top Chef.

Padma Lakshmi on the Late Show with David Letterman

Can I Have This Dance by Jennifer Chung x Gabe Bondoc

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Here’s a Northern California collabo with YouTube singers Jennifer Chung and Gabe Bondoc. They got together to sing “Can I Have This Dance” from High School Musical 3. If you like the Chung-Bondoc version, you can download it free here. You can compare this version with the Vanessa Hudgens version below.

Recently, there have been a bunch of Asian American collabos on YouTube including Super Mario Land Theme by David Choi x Paul Dateh and Surrogate Valentine by Goh Nakamura x Jane Lui.

Can I Have This Dance by Jennifer Chung x Gabe Bondoc

Can I Have This Dance from High School Musical 3 with Vannessa Hudgens