MOJO IN CHINA

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50 Moganshan Lu is the bomb

admin | 15 June, 2008 10:54

I need to go there more often...

The last time I was at 50 Moganshan Lu, I was working with the 'Nanking' movie crew at Art Deco. Zoe and I finally found a reason to go checking out second hand fleamarket for our friend Kuli.

The place is full of art studios, clothing designers, antique furniture stores, bookstores and cafes. It's the SoHo of Shanghai, but a bit smaller, more Chinese and trendier.

On our way out, I bumped into two Middlebury alums who also studied Chinese and now live in Hangzhou. They loved the place and would love to go back.

Here's more pics!

Speaking of the fleamarket, my boy Shige (You might recognize him as DJ Shige if you are around Shanghai) had his stuff on sale there and also runs his own little business on the side selling battle breaks and DJ equipment on-line and via e-mail at Scratch Temple. You can contact him at mail@scratchtemple.com. He knows his stuff.

Graff in Shanghai

admin | 03 June, 2008 15:47

Props to Adam S. from Danwei on this one. (AI DE MAN 4 LIIIFE!) Graff = Graffitti = Cool Street Art

How to Dress for Mourning...

admin | 21 May, 2008 07:50

Dressing fashionable for your memorial?!?!

I was sent this website Yoka.com by my coworker, simply because we use a lot of fashion and style ideas for Soulfire and another webstie for inspiration never hurts. I showed this site to my wife to see what she thinks and she showed me a section on how to dress for a memorial. You can take a look here.

After Zoe and I reviewed the section, we thought it was disrespectful and tacky. So if you are from Yoka.com, please take this down. Now's not the time to worry about how your blacks match with your whites, but rememebring those affected by the tragedy.

My Wedding Pictures

admin | 18 May, 2008 16:34

If you like this, you'll love the other pictures we took!!!

Taking wedding pictures is an expereince, an all day experience. And in China, it's unforgettable.

Zoe and I went to the Shanghai's Forest park, took some more pics in the studio, and even headed to the Bund. Al of this was by Masa LiLi. It was fun and the price wasn't too bad. The wedding market is pretty big out here, so of course, the quality matches the price just right.

After taking so many pics in the hot weather... I started to get sick. Zoe held on pretty tight, so I'm pretty proud of my little model. =) Love you, babe!

So yeah, if you are in China, there's a lot of options for wedding pics. I think Zoe and I made a great choice... Next stop... actually having a wedding! haha! =)

Nanjing... we back in tha building!

admin | 14 May, 2008 07:25

1912 in Nanjing

Once again, I returned to Nanjing and when I arrived, I realized so much has changed. Firstly, the town is a lot greener with more trees. Secondly, there are way more foreigners living there than I've ever seen. Lastly, 1912 has finally become a huge part of Nanjing's dining, nightlife and overall entertainment experience.

1912, as you might know, is called 1912 because in 1912, Nanjing became the capital of China with the country's first president, Sun Yat-sen. (Not far from 1912 is the Presidential Palace.) 1912 was a great time for Nanjing because it shows Nanjing at a time when it was bustling and becoming the true epicenter of China.

Almost 100 years later, it's getting back to that feel from 1912 at the formentioned entertainment district. Full of cuisines from Thai, local Chinese to KFC and more bars and clubs that you can shake a stick at. I perfromed there with Chivas last Saturday night at a place called Fei Bi Club (aka Phoebe Club). The place had a bit too much neon lights and metalic frames for my tasts (which is very common in Chinese clubs), so I did take a trip to Little Scarlet along with my wife, DJ Melkman, along with local friends Yuichiro (my Midd class mate and GT representer), Miki (From F&W and in-nanjing.net) and his girlfriend, and Kai.

If you're looking to move away from the 1912 spots, I would sugest two more places also worth checking out:

Nanjing's Underground Mall (aka Fashion Lady)

You want sneakers, high heels, dresses, shirts, hats and sunglasses for cheap (or relatively cheap), you got it all here. There's like 2-3 floors ful of tiny stores where you can bargain for all your clothing needs. I find that the fit for most of the clothes here is a bit small for me, particularly in the shoes department, but otherwise, it's great if you are a gal looking for a bargain and different styles that, chances are, other people won't have.

The place is full of people, I would recommend going on Sunday afternoon where it is a little easy to walk through. The spot is not far from Xinjiekou across the street from Dong Fang Shang Cheng Shopping Mall (which now has the real Gucci and Armani stores???) near the Jinling Hotel.

Planta

Planta is a Thai food/lounge/bar/club in Nanjing. It's pretty far away from other clubs and kinf of hard tofind because it's way behind some science building. When you areive at Planta, you'll find plenty of couches, dimmed lights and chill music. When I was first there with Aric in '06, there was noone there. Last Saturday, When I was there with Zoe, I thought I was at Glamour Bar on a Friday night. It was packed with people, Chinese and foreigners alike, all dressed in black with downtempo and acid jazz playing and folks schmoozing. Call it pretentious, call it cool, but this is a change for Nanjing, finally, an alternative for all.

Anyway, that's all for now. This Friday is Hangzhou at Lin Ping Ben Se.

Just when you though Facebook was the last straw... Here's Shanghai Stuff...

admin | 07 May, 2008 16:20

Shanghai Stuff

Go check it out. Ning is making it happen with the Shanghai-Ning...

Cool vid on The Lab

admin | 23 April, 2008 10:33

Check out this video on The Lab (Shi Yan Shi) in Shanghai and check out how these guys live, eat, sleep and breathe DJ! (In Mandarin Chinese)

(Towards the end, there's a bit of a surprise... for you AND me both!)

P1

admin | 17 April, 2008 22:42

I just got stopped by these guys on the street today.

They're called P1 and they are a social networking /party picture/ style site targeted for Chinese with social spending power.

I know, I'm not Chinese... I guess they saw some dude dressed with a little bit of style and thought I was interesting... Anyway, check it out. You might even see me on the site.

Back on Channel Young Again!

admin | 12 April, 2008 17:25

Miami Vice Revisitied?

No, it's for a show called "Kong Jing Zi" on their program "Jin Ri Ying Xiang" on Channel Young. It's on tonight at 9:30 in Shanghai. They make over people in different office and they stopped by the Soulfire office to pay us a visit. Lucky me, I was one of the one's chosen... I guess I'm THAT BAD... *sniff*...

More and more folks are into the makeover thing out here in China, which was definitely big in the states in the 90's with the likes of Ricki Lake (Go Ricki! Go Ricki!!) and Jenny Jones. (Remember, "From Geek to Chic?")

Anyway, I had fun doing it, but I didn't really like the pink jacket.. it was a bit... too... pink... But I'm glad I could have a chance to re-live my dream to become Philip Michael Thomas (or Jamie Foxx for that matter...) in the flesh.

If you can watch Channel Young tonight, please do. I beatbox too. Holler.

Redstar video for Fullbright Scholar Angela Steele and Lila Babb and their project, DONG TING

admin | 04 April, 2008 12:29

Enjoy.

Redstar

Look for Urban Culture in China via Urban Magazine

admin | 21 March, 2008 10:07

Urban Magazine

Who said China doesn't have street culture?

Urban Magazine is a free, Chinese language mag on urban life in China. They cover mostly Chinese street fashion and gear, but also get into a bit of hip-hop music and general hip-hop trends in China.

Again, it's free and you can pick 'em up at The Lab.

On this month's cover, China's bad boy of 2008 Edison Chen is on the cover... No dirty pics though... I just read this copy and it's cool with a bunch of old school pics of Nike in China in 1984 and Eno's premium line mixing street wear with Chinese minority attire. Slick.

On the topic of urban lifestyle and music, if you are in Shanghai tonight, do check out Quality Control/The Lab Second Year Aniversary at The Shelter with Redstar and DJ Roli Rho.

I just found out Roli Rho's been to Shanghai about 6-7 years ago to play, so that goes to show that Shanghai's history in hip-hop and the international scene goes pretty far back.

Will Chinese Hip-Hop ever take itself seriously?

admin | 18 March, 2008 14:09

Dragon Tongue Squad

I read this article on the Dragon Tongue Squad in the UK Royal Opera House a few minutes ago. Once you open the page, bam... there's one out of 5 stars for the perfromance. I read City Weekend's post about Yin T'sang's latest album, and you can check their review here...

Two stars... and that's from a magazine IN CHINA...

I know these groups and they are good people. So what's with all the bad press? It's aweful... but is it the fault of the reporters or the fault of the artists themselves?

Reporters will see what they want to see and report stuff as they see it. Hip-hop has been generalized and stereotyped in so many ways. When groups from China come out with repeating already used terms such as "Hustler", "bling" and talking about "gangsters",and dressing like someone you're not... They need to stop it and think about something different to discuss and a new way to express interesting material.

Then again, reporters need to open their mind about hip-hop in China. Why? Because a lot of rappers out here are rather limited lyrically due to censorship, China's exposure to the ouside world (particualry recording hip-hop music in China) has come of age since the last decade), and China is still searching for it's VERY OWN hip-hop culture... Don't diss it until it's ripe and ready...

But maybe that's what hip-hop needs out here... It needs a kick in the pants and for some people to wake up in this country and start taking things to the next level. A more serious level that demands respect.

One that note, some shameless self-promotion...

Redstar is opening for DJ Roli Rho at The Shelter this Friday Night for The Lab's Second Year Aniversary Series and we'll be at Pause this Sunday, also at The Shelter. Do yo' thang, Gary.

Respect Is Given If You Take It. Redstar Is Revolution.

Neocha

admin | 13 March, 2008 12:07

A video I found on You Tube on NeoCha.

NeoCha, aka Xin Cha (New Tea) is like MySpace for creative types in China. Redstar is on there too. Here's our (currently so-so) site.

It's started by Sean L. and John L., one dude from B6 and another cat. Sean, John and I go back in our Hopkins-Nanjing days. Crazy, huh?

Sean, if you reading this, get the site fixed. Don't tell me you guys are blocked already! See you at The Lab's 2-year aniversary next week at The Shelter? (I can't make it tomorrow, I'm going to the dentist and I got a marriage aniversary to prep for over the weekend. I'll be at the one after!)

Bring China's Hip-Hop Granny to BOTY China 2008!!

admin | 02 March, 2008 13:57

Hip-Hop Granny, In 'Da House!

I saw this exact same report on TV about a week ago, and thank god for Youku, I found exactly what I needed.

This is the Hip-Hop Granny, aka (Jie Wu Nai Nai - Street Dance Grandmother). She 61 and tond of fun. She's from Shanghai and she's got moves. Reminds me of another Hip-Hop Granny in the world... hmmmm...

Hip-Hop Granny, meet Crazy Grandma... (I met her at R-16 last year. 65 years old... wow...)

Anyway, all of this is old news.. my point for this post if for all BOTY organizers in China, get the Hip-Hop Granny in China BOTY 2008. (Happening in Shanghai, folks!)

For all Grannies out there, keep dancing like your grandkids aren't watching!

Linger (Hu Die Fei)

admin | 02 March, 2008 12:53

"Linger", the movie

Last night I checked out a movie with my wife called "Linger" its a cool movie about a lady who loses her lover in a car crash and three years later, he comes back in her imagination from pergatory to help him become free (like a butterfly) and go to heaven. It stars Li Bing Bing and one of the memebrs of F4, (old boy band from Taiwan). The story is simple, yet romantic with hints of the paranormal. Great date movie.

Li Bing Bing is a popular actress from Heilongjiang province (waaaay up North!). Her most recent claim to fame is being the first Asian spokesperson for international luxury products merchandiser, Mont Blanc.

Watch out Zhang Zi Yi, here's Bing Bing!

Li Bing Bing pictured with Chow Yun Fat (one of my favorite Action stars!)

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