Cambodian B Boys, K'Naan, Nas

After my dissapointment in Thailand its pretty cool to see some not bad throw ups on the wall of a local night club here in Siam Riep...also I have heard some definite rap type music blasting out of a few speakers round here. The vocab even seems to have influenced an author to write the worrying sounding "Pol Pot - Brother Number 1"

In international news its so encouraging to here that DMX will be setting up a Christian ministry after his release from prison...what a role model :)More encouraging musically is news (Allhiphop.com) that Nas is going to hook up with Pete Rock once again to rekindle some of the magic that resulted in classic Illmatic recordings. Whet your appetite for this by reminiscing with this.

On the home news front it's great to see our scandolous ass politician's expenses bullshit posted all over the globe, makes me proud to be British! More positive news is that the Love Music Hate Racism Festival looks cool; I can't make it but if you have 30th May free get down to Stoke on Trent for the event.Eddie Izzard is now confirmed to compere a line up of Reverand & the Makers - N-Dubz - Kano - The New Beautiful South - Get Cape Wear Cape Fly - Jerry Dammers - DJ Ironik - VV Brown - Helsinki (Drew McConnell Indie Supergroup) - The Beat - Beverly Knight - Bashy - Roll Deep - Kieron Leonard...apparantly tickets are selling fast get yours now at www.scfcdirect.com, www.seetickets.com or www.gigantic.com. New dude on my hip hop Radar K'Naan is appearing at Cargo on the 26th May so get involved if you feeling the dude, a definitive positive from an authentic African perspective.

Shed a tear for these poor rappers

Despite the wealth, glamour and prestige associated with being a rap superstar it would appear that live aint all chicken and beer. Nas and Kelis have just announced they are to divorce which is sad news...however I had to smirk at a different story; the trial of DMX who is being prosecuted for impersonating an FBI Officer after he pulled some dude over on the highway and tried to arrest him, apparantly he has a 'spare' flashing light in his care for when he feels like making a citizens arrest!

On a completely different note having some time out to read and experience different media has lead me to the incredible "Tokyo Cancelled" by Rana Dasgupta a sort of updated Canterbury Tales that incorporates mindbending displays of awesome narrative and magical realism. I also wanted to remind myself to read Soul Mountain by exiled Chinese Nobel winner Gao Xingjian. I leave this post with a picture of Ganesha, a Hindu deity a keep stumbling across in India...as a lover of learning and a hero of the common person I thought he'd make a great talisman for Vocalswords!