First things first...
FREE TICKET GIVEAWAY for Thursday’s show at SOUTHPAW in Brooklyn with AKROBATIK, WILLIE EVANS JR. and DOPE SANDWICH!!! First five people to hit me up at bajeblog@gmail.com will get on the list. Remember, you gotta be over 18 and you gotta include your real name in your email.

And now down to brass tacks, whatever that means. Scribble Jam 08 was frakking fantastic. Peace to Kevin and the organizing team for having me and Snafu out this year, and a special shout-out to Mr. Dibbs for helping me get oriented amidst the craziness (and for assisting in my meeting KRS ONE.)

It was a blessing to get to meet so many folks from all over the midwest, especially those who came by the merch table to show love. I have one particular story that pretty much sums up the general vibe of weirdness that we got from our supporters out there. On the first night, after the show, we met Jeb and Sam from Peru, Indiana. We hung out, talked about music, had a beer, normal stuff. Then on the second night these dudes come back to the table talking about how me and Snaf have to come to the parking lot and sign something weird... Creepy.

So I start thinking about what exactly he might be talking about. What would be a weird thing to sign? His giant ball of rubber bands? A large slab of Wisconsin cheddar that he’s been saving for this occasion? Or maybe his ex-girlfriend is lying dead in the back of his weird van and he wants me to sign her boobs. (Side note: ethically speaking, is that wrong? Wait, don’t answer that.)

So as my mind is wandering he says “We found a deer skull down by the river and we want you guys to sign it. It’s gonna be our Scribble Jam memento. It’s pretty clean.” Now call me old-fashioned, but ‘pretty clean’ isn’t exactly how I prefer my deer skulls. But far be it from me to refuse such a unique and special request. Check it check it out:

You can’t see it in this pic, but I wrote the word “CREEPY” along the length of one of the antlers.

And so, to keep the cycle going, as promised in previous blogs, I brought along with me to Cincinnati a copy of ‘Return of the Boom Bap’ on vinyl. After KRS ONE’s set I snuck into the back room just as his bodyguard came in and said “If you don’t know Kris, you need to get the fuck outta here.” I looked at Dibbs and he told me to stay for a second, which I did as the room emptied to just me, KRS, Hakim from Channel Live, a photographer, and a few bodyguard types. I hung out as KRS caught his breath and posed for a few pictures, then I got him to sign my record.

I don’t know if I can explain how surreal it was to be sitting in a room with this guy. In 1989 I put ‘Stop the Violence’ on a mixtape I made for a party in my fourth grade class.  (I wish I could see video footage of that party and see my 9-year-old white self dancing to some real pro-black conscious shit...) In 1990 I was ten and watching ‘Love’s Gonna Getcha’ on Yo MTV Raps at my friend’s house (cause he had cable!). In 1994 I was at a private school dance party screaming “Whoop Whoop, that’s the sound of the police!” (Also would make for amazing footage...) In 1996 I was blasting ‘MCs Act Like They Don’t Know’ from the speakers of my first real sound system that I got thanks to Bill Clinton (a long story). And so on and so forth, KRS ONE is a true legend, and I defy anyone to name a better performer out there in the hip hop universe. Check it out:

After he signed the vinyl I thanked him and was about to walk away when he said “Nah, let me hit the other one too.” And he did, after which he thanked me for waiting for him. Amazing.

That’s it for now. Remember, hit me up at bajeblog@gmail.com if you wanna get one of the five free tickets to Thursday’s show, or if you have any weird stories about signing things or going to Ohio, or whatever.

Until next time, don’t take no shit from nobody.

Obama!!!!!!!!