HATER Magazine: The Party Issue! October 2009 by Red Hydrant Media

THE PARTY ISSUE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GRITSY 6 DENISE ARANDA 10 TODO MOTO 12 OMAR AFRA 14 IT TAKES SPINNING TO BE A KING 16 THE DON’TS OF PARTYING 24 DRINKS OF THE DECADE 26 THE MORNING AFTER HANGOVER CURES 28 HOLLYWOOD FLOSS 32 POLTRICKS 34 JUST QUIT WORK 36 DIGS 38 ARTWHORE 42

PUBLISHER

MONIQUE CRUMP EDITOR IN CHIEF BRIGITTE ZABAK CREATIVE DIRECTOR

VERONICA RAMOS GUEST CURATOR

JEHNIFER HENDERSON

WRITERS

DAMIEN RANDLE NIBU ABRAHAM BRITTANIE HOLLAND JEHNIFER HENDERSON LIZA LONGFELLOW

PHOTOGRAPHERS SURAJ KURIAN JEANETTE DEGOLLADO BAMBI FLICKINGER NATHAN MUNIER Marketing/Advertising Monique Crump 214.232.7487 monique@redhydrantmedia.com Jeffery Crump Jr. 817.851.4802 jeff@redhydrantmedia.com How to reach us: haterhouston.com redhydrantmedia.com Hater Magazine is published quarterly. Hater magazine is copyright protected. No articles may be reproduced in whole or part without written consent of Hater magazine. The views expressed in this publication reflect the views of the authors alone and do not reflect the views or policies of the staff and management of Hater magazine. Published by redhydrantmedia.com

“ PEOPLE STAND BY THE BOOTH TO FEEL THE MUSIC. THEY’RE WATCHING IT, THEY’RE FEELING IT. WE BRING IN OUR OWN SOUND SYSTEM SO PEOPLE CAN FEEL THE BASS.”

by brittanie holland

Suraj Kurian, a promoter, asks the bartender at La Strada to make me a drink on the house. I watch as she mixes Stoli Blueberi, Red Bull and Sprite into a plastic cup. She reaches into a cooler and pulls out a Bomb Pop, unwraps the plastic and sticks the popsicle into the drink, using it to stir. She slides the drink over to me. It’s called a Gritsicle, and it’s the official drink of Gritsy, a monthly night of dubstep music and dancing at the Montrose restaurant and hangout. It’s awful. The drink, that is. Dubstep got its start in the UK in the early 2000s, a spin-off of house music, techno and rave culture. Dubstep is recognizable mostly for its extremely heavy bass - at around 140 beats per minute. It is so bass heavy it sounds fucked up, like a record playing at the wrong speed. La Strada looks different on Gritsy night. It takes me several minutes to realize the tables have been moved from the dining room. Everyone at the party is young, almost everyone is wearing black. Nowhere does it look like the meat-market that is typical of La Strada during, for example, a Sunday brunch. There is a long line of people at the DJ booth, leaning on a chest-high cabinet that separates the turntables from the rest of the dance floor. No one is dancing except for a lone pop-andlocker in the corner. Kurian said the night has gotten off to a late start. I ask him about the crowded DJ booth. “People stand by the booth to feel the music. They’re watching it, they’re feeling it. We bring in our own sound system so people can feel the bass.”

While the history of how dubstep made its way to Houston is a bit of a mystery, Kurian had a significant role in keeping dubstep alive in town. Case in point, Gritsy just celebrated its threeyear anniversary. “I’ve always been into this type of music,” he says. “Drum and bass, jungle. My definition of dubstep is you take everything good about pop music, reggae, hip hop, house and you condense it down to this.” “There might have been some people before Gritsy who played a few records here and there,” he said, but as far as a night dedicated to dubstep, he started it. “It actually started as an experiment. It wasn’t meant to be a monthly thing. The first one was so popular.” Kurian first got into the music genre thanks to the internet, in the late ‘90s. “I’ve always liked electronic music,” he said. “Through Napster, people would be downloading DJ sets. People would be pushing this type of music called two-step, which is a precursor to dubstep.” A group of DJs in the UK, Horsepower Productions, coined the term dubstep to describe the music that evolved from two-step. “It was darker than two-step. That’s when it became dubstep, about 2002 or 2003,” Kurian said. Houston is now known as a major city for dubstep in the US. Because of our city’s love for music like screw and jungle music, dubstep found an easy fit here. “It was a little bit more digestible,” he said. Most of the Houston dubstep events feature local DJs. Rob Harrell is spinning his first gig on my visit to Gritsy. And Kurian, of course, will DJ too.

Ted Beezy, A.K.A. TDBZ, is starting to get enough recognition at the turntables that he’s booking gigs elsewhere. In November he’s being flown to San Francisco to DJ at a dubstep party. He’s also cutting a record on Cobalt Recordings that should be out late this year or early next year. Beezy says a typical Gritsy night draws about 300 people. As the night progresses the crowd evens out a bit. More people are dancing but still, everyone seems so young. Beezy says the party is geared towards the 25-year-old crowd — you do, after all, have to be 21 to get in. “I went to the Gritsy one-year anniversary party and I fell in love with the music,” he said. He loves the “heavy, heavy bass,” and that the music borrows samples from everything. “Movies samples. Old music. Once I felt the bass on me I was hooked.” “(The music has) a lot of crossover,” he says, and right after the words leave his mouth I realize the X-Files theme song is being sampled. Later in the night, the DJs start toasting over the music, dancehall-style. “We have a very diverse crowd, We’ve got people drinking Red Stripes and smokin’ weed, and we got people drinking red wine.” Gritsy is the first Saturday or second of every month. Admission is $5. Find out more about dubstep in Houston at Gristy.com or HoustonBeats.com.

DENISE ARANDA NOW YOU KNOW

EARLY MORNING AT CHAPULTEPEC

SATURDAY NIGHT PARTYING AT RICH’S

TODO MOTO HANGING AT ACE MOTOR WORKS

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

THE NIGHT WAS STILL YOUNG...

OMAR AFRA

ABU AT HIS VERY BEST

CHILLING AT MANGO’S

SATURDAY NIGHT

DONE.

IT TAKES SPINNING

TO BE A KING STRAIGHT NO CHASER EVERY 4TH WEDNESDAY 8-12 TASTING ROOM MIDTOWN WWW.PEACEUVMINE.COM

FLASH GORDON PARKS

H: Why the name FlashGordonParks? FGP: Although music is my first love, photography was my first form of expression. The name is to pay homage to the original Renaissance Man, Gordon Parks (photographer, musician, composer, poet, director, painter, etc.) H: Memorable deejay moment? FGP: I love moments when I play sumthin’ that’s really unfamiliar to the crowd and one or two people come up to me and ask what song it is that I’m playing. It restores my faith in the fact that good music will always stand out. H: Describe a night you fucked up a party? FGP: When I first started to deejay my set up was very modest. I had some belt drive turntables with a pawn shop mixer and a second rate amp. I was doing this house party and the crowd was with me until the amp overheated and shut down in the middle of my set. I had to wait about 20 minutes for it to cool down. Not a good look. H: Most requested but most hated song to play? FGP: First of all, anyone reading this should never go to the deejay and request a song. Trust that he/ she will keep the pace of the night. And, well if they don’t, then you need not be at that party.

SQUINCY JONES

H: What made you want to deejay? SJ: Scratching. I’m hella fascinated by it. H: First Deejay name? SJ: Plain Shane H: Favorite Skratch Piklz video? SJ: Any one with Toadman freestyles…or scratching. AND IT’S INVISIBL SKRATCH PIKLZ... HELLO!? H: Memorable moment you fucked up a party? SJ: (Before Serato) I was playing at some club and my friend put a beer on the turntable of the current song playing. Beer hit the needle, music stopped, beer everywhere...Beer. Not really my fault, but it was awesome. Hi, Dustee.

CHECK SQUINCY JONES @ SPEAKERBOXX/GRITSY/DIRB

H: Favorite track to play to get the break dancers off the dance floor? SJ: Break Machine – “Break dance Party” REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY HOES! H: Least favorite, but most requested track from girls? SJ: Just obvious played out radio crap like “Didn’t you just hear that 4 seconds ago in your car?” H: Day job? SJ: Desktop Analyst. SCHWING!

ORBIT H: Full name and preferred title of profession? Orbit:Chad “Orbit” Porter aka “The Graphic Guru” due to mastering the art as a designer, videographer, photographer, animator, director, special effects man and webmaster. Let’s just say “the Graphic Guru.” I have a few entities also such as: 1. www.orbitsworld.com (entertainment site) 2. Dboy Clothing (clothing line in stores now) 3. O World Modeling Inc. (modeling agency) 4. Twitter Tuesdays (twitter event) H: How did you get the name Orbit? I’ve always been into astronomy. I got turned out in 1986 when Halley’s Comet passed by (it passes by every 76 years). My science teacher setup a viewing one Friday night at 4am and when I saw it through the telescope, I immediately got a crush on outer space. I can talk to people about outer space for hours. H: What do you have in store for 2010? I’m launching the almighty www.BDAYCO.com - the ultimate Bday concierge service. Also, I’ll be stepping away from the flier game and concentrating more on my video production/ directing profession including music videos.

KUNG FU PIMP

RESIDENCIES: TUESDAYS @ BRONX GALLERIA & SUNDAYS: LA STRADA SUNDAY FUNDAE BRUNCH H: Which one are you better at? Kung-Fu or Pimping? My parents took me out of Kung Fu classes after 3rd grade, so “pimping” would be the answer. I pimp good music, not hoes! Music has been in my life since I was a kid & it has never cheated on me. H: What are some of your Favorite venues to play and why? I love spinning at places that are not the typical club gigs. My favorites recently have been the Momentum Audi Charity events. I spin exactly what I want and get to meet a wider variety of people. I also love my residency at the LaStrada Sunday Brunch. Nothing beats mixing some Thievery Corporation, deep house, disco funk and tribal/Latin tech house alongside a pitcher of Bellini’s!

H: Why the name change from Ceeplus to CeeplusBadknives? CeeplusBadKnives: I have had a lot of different stage names. Ceeplus wasn’t the first; it was just one of many over the years. I used to go by Ceeplus & the House of Brown Ale. The House of Brown Ale was the name of my old music/art studio. I changed it to Bad Knives because of my, I guess you can say, fascination at one point with actual knives. Scary stuff actually. H: Memorable deejay moment? CeeplusBadKnives: The Mixed Media Music Series at the Museum of Fine Arts. Thousands of people dancing to whatever I played. Pretty cool. H: Genre of music you spin? CeeplusBadKnives: I have definitely gone back to my more alternative/left of center roots with my DJ sets. Currently, I play a wide range of music: Rock from all eras, indie dance type stuff, retro tunes, classic punk, wave, electro, 60-70’s funk, left-field and obscure disco are my specialties.

CEEPLUSBADKNIVES HEAR CEEPLUSBADKNIVES EVERY LAST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT MAKING MOVES DANCE PARTY AND ART SHOW LOCATED AT THE GREEN ROOM (WAREHOUSE LIVE)

JEF CASHLESS H: What inspired you to become a deejay? JC: I grew up in a family of DJ’s. My father, a few of my cousins and uncles were hobbyists or semi-professional DJ’s in NYC. I inherited a decent portion of my record collection from my father and if I ever get around to digitizing my uncle’s collection, I can add a few thousand more to the pile. H: Most memorable deejay moment? or back when I used to be up on my scratch skills and had a session with Q-Bert at a homie’s house after a rave in Austin. H: How many years have you been deejaying? JC: Let’s just put it this way, I’ve been spinning since a lot of these readers were watching Power Rangers in their undies in front of their mom’s couch. Yeenknow? HOW TO PLEASE A CROWD BY JEF CASHLESS H: Instant party pleaser for the Washington Ave crowd? JC: Music? Overrated! What I play doesn’t matter as not. H: Instant party pleaser for the Main Street crowd? JC: DFW metro area dance of the week song. Likely choruses include, “Do the (Fill in the blanks)” and “’Something Something’ Swag” H: Instant party pleaser for the Montrose crowd? H: Instant party pleaser for the Kingwood crowd? JC: “Proud to be an American” - Lee Greenwood

CLASS OF ‘99 EVERY FRIDAY AT THE FLAT // ROTATING DJ AT THE STANDARD (MONTHLY) AT WAREHOUSE LIVE

Y AT THE HLY) VE

ELROY BOOGIE

H: How does one become a hypeman/host? I’m a Master of Ceremony. H: Would you rather deejay or host? EB: It doesn’t matter to me as long as the crowd is having fun. H: Most memorable party night in Houston? EB: Too many to remember, but the Kracker Nuttz parties are always amazing. H: Describe a night you fucked up a party? EB: Hasn’t happened yet. H: Tips for promoting in a recession? EB: Stop thinking about gimmicks and just keep it simple.

H: How did you get the name BBoy Craig? because of me being a breakdancer or ,as we in the culture like to call it, a break boy. I have been breaking regularly since 1984, but not as much these

H: How does one become a host? BBC: To become a host you basically have to be a people person and a clown. I guarantee you that most all hosts at one time or another have been class clowns. You have to like attention without H: Most memorable party night in Houston? BBC: Wow. I’ve had a few, but I’m gonna go with the ‘Beats of Basquiat Showcase’ that I hosted of Master Flash playing. We had like close to 7,050 people or so that night. It was surreal and felt like we were in another city, but man we were right here in H-town baby! BBC: My thoughts on the real “hip hop” scene, not poetry, hipster, hyphi or house, is that as always with anything worth a crap, you gotta always keep working on it to make sure it’s ok.

B BOY CRAIG

H: Favorite track from Houston to play? KC: Is there one!? HA! Really though, one of my favorite tracks to rock is “We Write the Songs” by Example. (I can already see the smile on DJ Cipher’s face) KC: ton hip hop has MISSING in RADIO. We represent OUR music, OUR people and OUR culture. (We’re often ignored or overlooked.)

KLEANCUTT

H: How do you keep your head so shiny? KC: GOOD question! I normally shave it every other day. Believe it or not, I have a schedule. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays depending on what’s goin’ on.

(THE KRACKER NUTTZ)

H: What time on the 97.9 KBXX should we listen in for you?

H: Most memorable moment in your career? KC: I would have to say ONE (‘cuz there’s so many) of the most memorable moments of my career is the one that got it started. Back in ‘97 there was a DJ battle for a radio station (KISS 98.5 FM) where the winner got to be the next DJ/mixer for the station. Lucky for me I won. And the rest is history!

KC: You can tune in to these KNuttz every Monday thru Friday from 7pm to 12am. You can also hear us every Saturday from 6pm to 9pm. We still have hopes that we’ll get our world famous “Saturday Nite Special” back from 1am to 4am (keep your

H: How long have you been deejaying? TKN: 22 years H: Most memorable moment in your career? TKN: DJing at the Waxx H: Favorite track from Houston to play? TKN: “Oh-ah” by K-otix H: What does the crew KrackerNuttz bring to Houston? TKN: A good time!

BABY JAE (THE KRACKER NUTTZ) 22

er?

H: What inspired you to form the GoDJs? Hi C : I actually started GoDJs to help out Reggie Reg. He used to carry my bags to the venues where I would spin. Then Serato came out and no more bag carrying! That’s because instead of 5-10 crates, all I needed to pack was one bag. Thanks to Serato! So on one of our trips to Sam Houston, I commented that since he was no longer carrying bags we could start a coalition of djs and he could book them and make money. So then we needed a name. Reggie Reg suggested we called it GoDJs, inspired by the Lil Wayne song. I was like “No, let’s call it I AM A GO DJ MUSIC GROUP, LLC!” And here we are!

DJ HI C EVERY WEDNESDAY @ ROXY

H: How many years have you been spinning? Hi C: 17 dedicated years! H: Most requested song that you hate to play? Hi C: Honestly, there is no song that I hate. Music is my first love. Sorry ladies! H: Favorite Houston venue to spin at? Hi C: Roxy! I’ve been spinning there for six years and only missed three nights! Shout out to Brian and Harvey Harper! H: If you were a Superhero character, who would you be and why? Hi C: Incredible Hulk. Businessman by day, a Beast at night!

HATER: What inspired you to DJ? SK: For better or worse, an addiction to music, vinyl, bass and the culture that surrounds it. H: Favorite venue to play in Houston? SK: Gritsy & Heavy DNB - both of which are now held at La Strada. H: Memorable deejay moment? SK: I have a couple, but dropping “Lean Forward” by Mala for the first time in Houston at the Gritsy two year anniversary party is definitely one. Seeing, hearing, feeling the crowd go completely wild for it and having it rewound three times that night. It was one of those moments where I thought, wow,maybe Houston can actually handle this stuff.

SURAJ KURIAN AKA SDF3

BOTTOMS

UP By Liza Longfellow PARTY TIPS TO SAVE YOU FROM MAKING AN ASS OF YOURSELF

DO SCOPE OUT THE LOCATION OF THE BATHROOM. “Who the hell peed in my fake yaupon?” We’ve all been there – one too many beers and suddenly you’re about to blow chunks like Mount St. Helen. But, oh no! Where is the bathroom? The room swirls, people come up to you in slow motion asking if you’re ok, and before you know it, you just barfed all over the host’s couch. Remember - drunkenly spraying Resolve on your own vomit is one of the saddest sights known to man. DON’T TAP INTO THE GOOD STUFF. Innocently searching for a clean cocktail glass, you stumble upon a not so deftly hidden bottle of single malt goodness. Of course, you love single malt goodness and upon a quick survey of the room, no one else has seen your discovery. Your hosts said “help yourself to anything,” right? Wrong. Put the bottle away and go back to your Lone Star, you shystey bastard. This also goes for herbal refreshment as well. DO MIX AND MINGLE. When you’re hosting a party the last thing you want to do is babysit your guests. Take some freakin’ initiative, climb out of your gloom cave and meet some new people. If you can’t strike up a conversation with at least one person, one of two things is happening: All of the people at this party are accountants, and you are the lone rock-climbing, animaltaming adventurer OR you are a sad, sad little man.

DON’T MESS WITH THE PETS. Your hosts have a dog who, sensing that you are apparently the lone rock-climbing, animal-taming adventurer, has decided you are his best friend for the evening. For the love of Sarah McLachlan, don’t give the dog beer or generally mess with the poor animal once too many alcoholic beverages have been consumed. Remember the possibility of vomit? Rover over there could be your best bud. DO HAVE A STORY. I don’t care what it is, but everyone needs at least once good party story. Example: “I once bumped into Pete Best at this bar I used to go to years ago. He was in town playing some crappy oldies concert and was just drinking a Guinness with a few other aging rockers in the requisite black jeans and black t-shirt look. Seriously, once you reach the age of 50, do they hand out that outfit to AARP for old rockers? Anyway…” Please note: If you do use this story and your enraptured audience doesn’t know who Pete Best is, move on to a new crowd. DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE. So what if that sounds like motherly advice? Screw off, because it’s true. Everyone’s done it and everyone is lucky they didn’t hurt themselves or others. Don’t be an idiot. No one will care if you pass out on the vomit-stained couch you threw up on earlier. Actually, it’s really quite sweet revenge.

BOOZE CLUES By Liza Longfellow

A totally unsubstantiated history of drinks in America and what it says about our collective desire to party.

1930’s

Your Bathtub and My Grain Alcohol Bathtub gin – the phrase alone brings to mind a bygone era of speakeasies and incredibly clean porcelain. Without Prohibition we might have never seen the rise of the Mob, bars with funny peep-hole doors and the acknowledgement that Americans are not as Puritanical as our Plymouth Rock ancestors would have us believe. Gin has shown the test of time, and continues to be a mainstay of our drinking unconscious. Where to find it: Residue may still reside in your great-grandmother’s claw-foot tub

1940’s

Martini The classic drink, which, thanks to it’s uniquely shaped glass, continues to reek of sophistication and class no matter who drinks it. Times of war required a strong beverage worthy of our fighting boys abroad, and it was only later (during a much colder war) that the question of shaken or stirred was even mentioned. Where to find it: At Rose the Riveter’s work station

1950’s

Old Fashioned Even the name of this drink harkens back to the Eisenhower Era when men wore fedoras and women were unnaturally shoved into corsets. Modern drinkers should be careful when drinking the Old Fashioned – much like the communist enemy of the day, the cherry and orange slice were just red herrings floating in a strong drink. Where to find it: Vintage bourbon and other ingredients could be found in June Cleaver’s medicine cabinet

1960’s

Vodka Gimlet How could the Soviets be so bad when they gave us the wonderful alcoholic beverage of vodka? A simple and potent mix of vodka and lime, the Gimlet was the safe alternative for people who thought the brownies at the party tasted “funny”. Where to find it: Not in Haight Asbury

1970’s

Bloody Mary Apparently if you survived the 1960’s, the Bloody Mary was the perfect morning after drink to welcome you back to the “silent majority.” While the ingredients might sound stomach churning at first (can you say Worcestershire sauce?), your parents might have finally been right about something. Where to find it: In a plastic jug inauspiciously labeled “Bloody Mary Mix”

1980’s

Wine Coolers Yes, the commercials were slightly amusing. No, you weren’t when you decided that this would be your first foray into drinking. Wine coolers were the slightly classier cousin of the Boones Farm genre, but please note, the discrepancy in stature is only slight. In an era of excess, these were (and are) embarrassing. Where to find it: Conveniently situated next to a large bottle of aspirin

1990’s

Zima While Billy Dee Williams did not endorse this particular brand of malt liquor, Zima lived up to its proud ancestry offering a quick fix for those that wanted to get blitzed during the halcyon days of the 1990s. When the Lewinsky scandal was just too much, there was a perspiring bottle of Zima, ribbed for her pleasure. Where to find it: Sadly, Zima is no more; even more sadly, there are still similar substitutes

2000’s

Microbrew Beer Before what pundits are now calling “The Great Recession”, the aughts were like a freshman with his first student loan check – impulsive and ultimately regretful. Microbrew beer was your way to stand out in a crowd of poseur imposters happily drinking Bud Light specials, while you spent big bucks on a wheat beer from New Zealand. Whoops. Where to find it: A hedge fund manager’s foreclosed Hampton home

THE MORNING AFTER HANGOVER CURES GREASY BREAKFAST– Any morning meal with a pork product will instantly make you feel better. If eating pork is against your religion, then you should change religions. ROCKSTAR– Caffeine in a douche packaged can. LUSH EMOTIBOMB– Too Drunk to $#&!* - Most likely named after the popular Dead Kennedys’ single, this cleverly-titled shower companion is the perfect aromatic cure for getting over that piece of ass you were too drunk to get with last night. BLOODY MARY – This morning cocktail cure contains the blood of Protestants and the national beverage of Russia. WATER– Drinking dehydrates you. This isn’t rocket science, people. ORANGE JUICE– See Water. Add Vitamin C. ALKA SELTZER– It fizzes and tastes like salty soda water, but it’s better than puking in your sink. HAIR OF THE DOG– The key to this remedy is to drink whatever had you leaning the night before. Just realize this cure is a slippery slope to an AA meeting. HONEY– Fructose can help curb hangovers in some way. But, don’t ask us how… COFFEE– You’re hung over. Drink some caffeine. Now you are drunk and full of caffeine. JOINT– God gave us this seed bearing plant to smoke and exalt our consciousness to the most high, and for the purpose of calming our nausea after one too many shots of Jager. We hear it’s also good for morning sickness, so if you’re pregnant AND drunk you should definitely use this remedy. KOMBUCHA– Consider it Angel Piss. This natural mushroom tea tastes like shit, but the bacteria eats away at the toxins in your body that you don’t need. TOPO CHICO– Mexican alka –seltzer GATORADE– Use this to replace the electrolytes you lost when you were pissing them away at the bar. CIGARETTE– We don’t know how this ended up in our photo spread. We do not condone the smoking of cigarettes.

BY NIBU ABRAHAM I HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH THIS NEW MC OUT OF THE WEST END AND HERE’S HOW IT ALL WENT DOWN.

HOLLYWOOD FLOSS

HOLLYWOOD FLOSS> BLACKIE> ANY OTHER BLACK UNDERGROUND HIP-HOP RAPPER IN HOUSTON. SERIOUSLY THOUGH, THE LAST TIME I LISTENED TO AN UNDERGROUND MC FROM HOUSTON THAT WASN’T SCREWED AND CHOPPED WAS K-OTIX. ACTUALLY, THAT’S THE ONLY TIME. BUT, THAT’S HOW IMPORTANT HOLLYWOOD FLOSS IS. DON’T BE FOOLED, THERE IS NOTHING FLOSSY ABOUT HIM. ME: OKAY...BACKTRACK. YOU USED TO BE CALLED FLOSSY B AND YOU WERE PART OF A GROUP RIGHT? (INSERT CHUCKLING HERE) HWFLOSS: WORLD WIDE WEB ME: WEB STOOD FOR WEST END BOYS? HWFLOSS: YES, SIR. ME: ANY OF THEM STILL MAKING SONGS? HWFLOSS: WE HAD KIDD THE GREAT (SINGER ON “BETTER TIMES) TAE GUTTA AND JRC. THEY ARE ALL STILL PRETTY MUCH MAKING MUSIC. ME: “BETTER TIMES”? THE SONG OFF YOUR DEBUT MIX TAPE? HWFLOSS: YEP. IT WAS ON THE ART-OR-FISCAL MIX TAPE. ME: WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO GO FROM GROUP TO SOLO? YOU PULL A BEYONCE? HWFLOSS: HA-HA. I WAS STILL PART OF THE GROUP AND WHEN 2007 ROLLED AROUND, THAT’S WHEN THE FOCUS KIND OF SWITCHED AND EVERYONE WAS GOING THEIR SEPARATE WAYS MUSIC WISE. ME: YOU DON’T HAVE THE TYPICAL HOUSTON SOUND. YOU ACTUALLY SOUND MORE EAST COAST THAN ANYTHING. WERE THERE ANY LOCAL MUSICAL INFLUENCES THAT AFFECTED YOUR MUSIC? HWFLOSS: SCARFACE, LIL KEKE, K-RINO, CHRIS ROCKAWAY, CHAMILLIONAIRE, FAT PAT AND UGK. ME: WHAT’S THE FUTURE FOR HOLLYWOOD FLOSS NOW THAT HOLLYWOOD VIDEO IS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS? HWFLOSS: WHAT? OH. I’M ALL ABOUT SEMI-STEPS TOWARDS GROWTH AND TAKING CHANCES NOW TO FIND WHAT I LIKE AND DON’T LIKE. SO, THIS ALBUM HOUSE OF DREAMS IS A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL AND DARKER THAN THE HAPPIER, UPBEAT SOUND ON ART-OR-FISCAL. I COVER MORE PAST EVENTS THAT HAVE HELPED SHAPE ME. PEOPLE WILL ASK WHAT HOUSE OF DREAMS MEANS AND IT’S JUST ANOTHER WAY TO SAY YOUR MIND. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOUR MIND IS WHERE YOU HOUSE YOUR DREAMS. I EXPECT IT OUT THIS FALL, NOVEMBER OR EARLY DECEMBER. I’M PUTTING IT OUT INDIE THROUGH ME, MYSELF AND I. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON ITUNES, AMAZON, ETC.

ME: SO, WHAT DOES HOUSE OF DREAMS MEAN? JUST KIDDING! BESIDES YOUR ALBUM, YOU ALSO PRODUCE. WHO ALL HAVE YOU WORKED WITH? HWFLOSS: NOSAPRISE/BLACKIE/FAT TONY – “HOUSTON ALL-STARS” 50/FIFTY TWIN – “ROCK 4 ROCK N ROLL” BIG TIKE – “THAT’S MY SWAG” THUROGOOD WORDSMITH & RAD – (HERO AND RAD) DUSTIN PRESTIGE (XXL AND RAPRADAR FAME) ME: THAT’S A PRETTY WIDE RANGE. YOU’VE GOT UNDERGROUND TO MAINSTREAM COVERED WORKING BOTH SIDES OF THE TRACK. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF HIP-HOP? HWFLOSS: I THINK HIP-HOP IS AS GOOD AS THE LISTENER WHO SEARCHES FOR IT. THE INTERNET/ TECHNOLOGY HAS HURT AND HELPED MUSIC. BUT, I FIND DOPE NEW MUSIC ALL THE TIME, SO I THINK IT’S IN A GOOD STATE AND IF I WANT TO JAM SOMETHING OLD, I’LL GO JAM THAT. WE HAVE TO KEEP GROWING AND EVOLVING. IT’S GOING INTERNATIONAL AND LYRICAL AGAIN. LYRICS WILL START TO MATTER AND SO WILL DIFFERENT CULTURE FLAVORS.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT CULTURE FLAVORS MEAN, BUT ANYONE WHO NAMES HIMSELF HOLLYWOOD CAN SAY WHATEVER HE WANTS AND DO WHATEVER HE PLEASES. HE CAN EVEN WALK THROUGH MONTROSE AT NIGHT. EITHER WAY, YOU’LL DEFINITELY NOTICE ‘EM. HOUSE OF DREAMS COMES OUT THIS FALL, BUT IN THE MEANWHILE CHECK OUT: HTTP://MYSPACE.COM/HWFLOSSSS

HOUSTON ACCORDING TO HOLLYWOOD FLOSS BEST PLACE TO PARTY I’M A FAN OF HOUSE PARTIES AND STUDIOS. BEST PLACE TO BULLSHIT BOONDOCKS. YOU CAN BULLSHIT AND JUST KICKBACK. BEST PLACE TO GET A FADE NEWTON’S IN HIRAM CLARKE BEST MALL TO GET YOUR GEAR GALLERIA, GALLERIA, GALLERIA. SERIOUSLY, IF YOU GO TO ANY OTHER MALL IT’S A WASTE OF YOUR TIME. EVEN IF I LIVED BY NORTHWEST MALL, I’D STILL GET OUT OF BED, FLOSS AND BRUSH MY TEETH AND DRIVE TO THE GALLERIA.

PARTY’S OVER

By Jehnifer Henderson

During the Bush administration, there was much discussion of how ole’ Georgie boy would be viewed by historians. He claimed, on more than one occasion, that “history” would decide how his policies are viewed. (I believe the point he was trying to make was that in the future, historians would look back on his presidency in a favorable manner.)

Well, I’m sorry to be the one to tell you George, your presidency is in the past and the reviews are rolling in. It’s not looking too good, buddy. Sure, it hasn’t really been long enough to get the bitter taste of Bush out of our mouths, but new text books like Understanding Public Opinion (Norrander and Wilcox) and American Public Opinion (Erikson and Tedin) are being printed and the material isn’t shining a very favorable light on the policies of George W. Bush’s administration. A challenging job for the government and any administration, is maintaining the safety of its citizens while detecting and preventing internal and external threats. After 9/11, Americans were left feeling vulnerable. They were caught off guard and left to rely on their nations leaders to do what was best for the nation. Instead, the administration (for whatever reason) chose to invoke the psychology of fear. Political scientists have, through research, devised the terror management theory (TMT). This theory suggests that when people fear for their lives and safety, they instill more trust in political institutions and support political policies that will provide security. This means people are more willing to compromise their civil rights in the name of security, if they trust the president to not let things get out of hand. The average person would see this as a very delicate time. He or she would probably want to work to rebuild a sense of confidence in the American people, but this was not the thinking of the previous

administration. Instead, they took the opportunity to encroach on every bit of civil liberty that they could. They created an atmosphere that allowed for officials to wiretap, read personal emails, listen in on phone calls, scrutinize our library reading habits, violate habeas corpus, listen in on detainee/lawyer conversations, take the country into a war under false pretences and violate the Geneva conventions by torturing detainees. And all of this was accomplished under the psychology of fear. When the Bush administration should have been handling the American citizens and the American constitution with kit gloves, it was practicing fear mongering. But, eventually the people got hip. By late 2003/early 2004, polls started shifting. People realized they had been lead, blinded by fear, into a war. They realized that 9/11 was probably preventable and their trust in the administration they had wanted to trust so badly plummeted. At that point though, it was too late. They had already sacrificed their constitutional rights. America had taken one too many sips of fear and the Bush administration had had its way with her. Now, 9/11 is not only a symbol of terrorist attacks on the US, but also of an internal collapse, when people altered their beliefs and sacrificed their civil liberties and the constitution of the United States to stay safe. So, ex-president Bush, this is the picture ‘history’ is painting. This is the legacy you left. The country is left looking like a frat house you and the rest of the good ole’ boys abandoned after your party had ended. And we, the American people, are left staggering home wondering how we could have been so stupid. Party’s over, folks. America doesn’t have to go home, but she can’t stay here.

JQW WORK PARTIES

just quit work This is the letter that I’ve wanted to write to every employer that I’ve ever had.

re Dear (Insert Name He

r little “teamt, I play along with you out of me. On top of tha ek we a rs d in the occasional hou Ad e. 40 tim get al You already re of my precious person mo n eve ay aw e ay, and you’ve ittl t wh ys that were called aw building” exercises tha increases and the off-da oad rkl wo feel the al you son do sea y e, in mind – why, oh wh “mandatory” overtim king hours. With that wa my of ity jor ma the now taken over ties? your silly ass work par need to involve me in y’re not ays. I’m pretty sure the of my co-workers’ birthd any ut e to abo e hav I car ’t now don ay from all of you, but Here’s a confession: I oy lunch in my car, aw enj ppy to d “Ha nte ing wa I uth e. mo min and keeping track of in the break room impossibly small table through all the nt we und aro You g e. dlin her ng hud rki play nice by once since I started wo secondthat I’ve only spoken to grocer y store cake and Birthday” to someone pay for that nasty-ass to t oun acc Little e on. ens r exp late the me ng ist t so you don’t blackl the trouble of scrapi take a small ser ving jus to d ige obl I’m so . d, car rate Mexican foo out my lunch hour in the ry intention of finishing do you know, I have eve akers and room? You’ve got noisem to decorate the break e hav LY AL e and hold it. RE her nd you . I’m just gonna sta Come on now… did putting on this party hat I’m t lier. There tha ear y wa era no cam a re’s h everything! The er walking around wit nag ma nt ista ass the d. I saw It’s not going on my hea with a dunce cap on. on the “activity board” me of e tur pic a be won’t loathing of the parison to my absolute ties at work pale in com par ay thd care when you bir ut n’t did abo I All of my gripes m “holiday party.” not offended by the ter I’m – , either. No No . ter ty” bet par y any nd lida annual “ho ty” doesn’t make it sou par r Yea of d “En ty.” no gift that I s par shit. There’s absolutely called it the “Christma doing that Secret Santa like ’t ying that don l pla stil nt I it, spe l e matter what you cal uld be worth the tim nothing about that wo e car t someone I t tha d tha e car eon gift som $10 could get from prise – you’re getting a Sur it. lim $10 a other. re’s if the find out one way or the stupid game – especially d some of it yet. You’ll use t en’ hav I , ully pef gave me months ago. Ho be there y party: I don’t want to my spouse to the holida ite inv er off-the-wall nev an I k y pic wh ays There’s a reason sonal hell? You alw ebody else into my per som Sorry – scallop g it. dra rd y affo Wh ld ce. cou pla I t if n in the firs would never go to eve I t tha t spo a ; rk clothes ngs wo thi se and I’ve been in my restaurant to host the t realized – it’s 8:30 pm jus I . me for t, but I had to firs ing e pen hom enchiladas aren’t hap ty so that I couldn’t go par s thi of rt sta the iently timed you for that. since 6 am. You conven else finished up. I hate ra hour while everybody ext an for ce offi the sit around ’t do anything office parties. They don g me to your frivolous itin inv p sto to me in an off a: ay” ple thd my In summary, this is all singing “Happy Bir important when you’re re Do us all mo rk. wo any l at fee it ’t g tin don I bra for anybody. care even less about cele and e, hom at und and s aro ma Christ obligation of standing key. I don’t care about hout the unnecessary wit car my in ch lun a favor and let me enjoy ties. can keep your damn par eating rancid cake. You

Fuck you kindly,

DIGS

PULLED BY MALIK OHENE

METHOD

2437 UNIVERSITY BLVD HOUSTON, TX 77005 713.807.0003

MELODRAMA BOUTIQUE

5306 ALMEDA RD HOUSTON, TX 77004 713.523.1608

METHOD

2437 UNIVERSITY BLVD HOUSTON, TX 77005 713.807.0003 TIPPING POINT 1212 MAIN ST. HOUSTON, TX 77002 713.655.0443

COME TO THE PARTY

A COLLECTION OF HAND DRAWN PARTY FLIERS

SHOUT OUT TO B BOY CRAIG, EYESORE, AND SOBER.

DISTRIBUTION Sucker Punch Clothing 2609 Dunlavy St. Poison Girl 1641 Westheimer Rd. Christon Salon 2117 Chenevert Ste K Domy Books 1709 Westheimer Rd. Artist Front 2205 Washington Ave. Aerosol Warfare Gallery 2110 Jefferson St. Cactus Music 2110 Portsmouth St. The Tipping Point 1212 Main St. Houston Community College Central 811 Dallas St. Caroline Collective 4820 Caroline St. The Art Insitute of Houston 1900 Yorktown St. Premium Goods 2416 Times St. CafĂŠ Brasil 2604 Dunlavy St. K.P.F.T. 419 Lovett Blvd. Melodrama Boutique 5306 Almeda Rd. Absinthe 609 Richmond Ave. Kingpinz 8584 Westheimer Rd. Soundwaves 3509 Montrose St. Fitzgeralds 2706 White Oak

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