Atiim Chenzira

2011-04-28T07:04:00.000-07:00

This is the poem I wrote for my father on his memorial day. I read my fathers poem to all of his family and friends. My poem to my father.

Obituary:
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Henry Boykin signed a birth certificate that states, “Michael Edwin Boykin was born at 10:25PM on a Saturday, February 1st 1947”. His parents were the late Marian H. Anderson and Sam Henry Boykin.
Michael was a talented and energetic boy that grew up in Oakland and Berkeley. His mothers’ family came from Lake Charles, La. and his father’s family came from Dallas, TX. When his parents divorced he traveled between the two. He started to learn young what it would take to become a man. He developed an appreciation for outdoor sporting, i.e. fishing, hunting, camping, etc.; there wasn’t much he was afraid to try. He was a loner with many friends, whom with he kept contact and, with some, close relationships and communication with throughout his life.
As a teenager, Michael sang in a group called the Mellow Tones, but once they signed a recording contract they renamed themselves The Sonic Four. His group-member and friend, from the cradle to the grave, Hamisi recalled him 'writing songs from images on billboards' or whatever inspired his creativity, at one of his family reunions Michael attended. This is just one example of his creative flare, which he’s successfully passed-on to his children.
He graduated from Berkeley High School in 1965 and attended San Francisco State University for two years studying Psychology. This doesn’t explain him in depth, but it gives some answer to why Nabil Boykin was who he is. His kids much later would learn to appreciate watching nature channels and cultural programs. He became an amazingly patient man in his adult years.
Married in 1975, July 19th to Lucy Ligaya Hutton, Michael joined union at St. Bernard’s Church in Oakland, Ca. by Reverend John G. Garcia. Terry Yusef Gillam and Carol Trotter signed as witnesses to their union.
Michael Edwin Boykin informally changed his name, to reflect his belief system as an Orthodox Muslim and his deep appreciation of African culture, in 1976, to Nabil Aswad Seif.
Later, after fathering six children, he learned of his cancers and decided to talk with God in the tongue he learned how to in. Michael 'Nabil' Boykin was baptized at the Apostolic Temple of Truth on December 31st, 2003 by Bishop V. V. Robinson. He said, "I asked God for one of two things, that was to take this disease away from me completely or to give me enough time to handle my business". He last said, "I think it may be God's will that I am blessed with taking care of my business". He spent his last days at his Son Kahlil Hashim Boykin’s home surrounded by family and friends. He fought like Muhammad Ali against everything he could challenge, but he gave his burdens to Christ and passed on with a grin on his face that said he was sad to go, but he was pleased with what he saw.
Let us all remember him... On April 28th, 2004 he's was taken from his family; wife Lucy Ligaya Boykin, daughter Ayana Maia Boykin, son Atiim Bomani Chenzira, son Kahlil Hashim Boykin, daughter Shani Ligaya Boykin, daughter Kali Imani Boykin, son Salim Ali Muhammad Boykin, grand children; Samaria K. Boykin, Naeem A. Hopkins, Najla Kariamu Jackson, and "grand-dog" Gahiji Chenzira; Sister Mallory Boykin, and Brother Theodore Boykin and Sister In-Law Josie Boykin. He will be remembered by many more family members and friends that couldn't be counted or named.

Freestyle

2009-11-07T19:44:00.000-08:00

Freeystyle:

Money isn't funny and the cunning seek the routes
Caught in social blizzered storms filled with norms and the static
Climactic pops shit rain drops and paranoid of the cops?
Relaxing as a matter of factin' just absorbing not reactin'
Reaction of split atoms and spat him but I wont burn him up.
I can devour less than hours and spit out seconds to millies
Split down bodies like blunts and smoke out like a phillie
But I'm here for a reason that's above any carnage
A soul spirit with a purpose Dragon tails from before Time
It's a process it all is and what'z up'Z!? on my mind.

Newz from Atiim!

2009-08-31T00:15:00.000-07:00

Hello you all (y'all),

I write you bearing news; great news.

1) I am pleased to tell you I'm going to be:

On the AIR live with DJ CANARY on 89.7fm Pirate Cat Radio, located in SF, CA. from 8:00pm - 9:00pm August 31st, along with some of my music collaborators.
Listen to Pirate Cat Radio Live here: http://www.piratecatradio.com/listen.php

Streaming 24/7!!!

You now have no excuse. Anywhere in the world, anytime you're near a computer, you'll be able to have the sounds of PIrate Cat Radio wafting your way. The 128k feed is in glorious stereo - with fidelity better than your FM radio. To listen to us, you'll need an MP3 player like WinAmp (Win), iTunes(Win, Mac), or XMMS (Linux).

Winamp 128k
http://www.piratecatradio.com/pcr.m3u

ITunes 128k
http://mega5.radioserver.co.uk:8220/listen.pls

Windows Media 128k
http://www.piratecatradio.com/pcr.asx

2) I have opened up a 'Can of Wormz' on DJ Cary's 51st Podcast, "Expanding your musical horizons":

Read about it here: http://www.nupharmic.org/tag/atiim-chenzira/
Listen to it here: http://www.keyboard-graphics.com/AAC/downtempo_51.m4a

3) Divasonic and I have been selected to have our song 'Can of Wormz' on the (San Francisco Love Fest's now known as the San Francisco LovElution) LovElution compilation. DJ Jaswho?'s Remix of 'Can of Wormz' will be the feature (about 2000 copies will be made and distributed).

More about the San Francisco LovElution: http://www.sflovevolution.org/home_flash.php
DJ Jaswho?'s Remix of 'Can of Wormz': http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/song_2276674
More from Jaswho?: http://www.jaswho.com/

4) Bomani Musik & Divasonic will play at this years 2009 Green Festival. Over 250,000 copies of their reader will be distributed with our information within it. The times are to be announced, and the dates are not certain yet either, but we will play there this year. More information to come.

Bomani Musik: http://www.ReverbNation.com/BomaniMusik, and http://www.MySpace.com/BomaniMusik
Divasonic: http://www.ReverbNation.com/Divasonic, http://www.MySpace.com/Divasonic, and http://www.Divasonic.com
2009 Green Festival: http://www.GreenFestivals.org/San-Francisco

5) And lastly, but sadly, the music for the Leland Avenue Street Fair was cancelled due to grant cuts, but the festival will still go on, so come out and support it if you can anyway. I'm still planning to go. This also means that both Dragon Spit 22 & BOMANI Musik will not perform that day... that is if you didn't get that from the opening sentence. ;)

NOTE:

You can surf both Dragon Spit 22 & Bomani Musik's ReverbNation sites to catch a glimpse of what we're doing in rehearsal. Send in your thoughts about the tunes to Blackulah@gmail.com.

Bomani Musik: http://www.ReverbNation.com/BomaniMusik
Dragon Spit 22: http://www.ReverbNation.com/DragonSpit22

This message is sent to you as a courtesy of Atiim Chenzira, owner of Ridah Ridah Recordz N Publishing.

Ridah Ridah Recordz N Publishing (R3NP):http://www.ReverbNation.com/label/RidahRidahRecordzNPublishing, and http://www.R3NP.Bandcamp.com

Thank you for your continued support and presence!

Sincerely,

Atiim Bomani Chenzirac

Transition

2008-08-18T07:41:00.000-07:00

Morning calls for my attention.
Bridge leads the route.
Beach embraces routine date.
Fog fades and clouds play peek a boo.
Light shines and waves curl with welcome...
Water baptizes locks in bliss.
Companion barks with obsession ~ "throw it again!"
Shoes fill with magnetic star dust, nano-diamonds, and ground rock...
Feathers whisper, "make me into something."
Clarity washes melancholy into oblivion.
Breakfast eases a rift.
Conversation lightens mood.
Music sooths every nerve.
Drinks transform vibes.
Dinner with jazz.
Sleep brings me here.
Work takes me away.

SPEAK!

2008-08-14T23:39:00.000-07:00

In a rush...
where the bubble bursts...
Emotions expand...
over floors...
pouring reality...
Cleaned up for more.
Feeling sore...
heart aches...
obsessive...
these ideation's.
Frustration is tangled with changes.
The bait was clearly a lure.
Explored futures are riddled...
with family ties...
and stress.
The will to stand firm...
is cut and RE-pressed.
The boundaries are Grey...
and will be until MADE clear.
With or without the present...
That time is ever near

You can
Say wha'chu' mean
Be rejected
But Respected
OR
hold your tongue
and prepare
It's in the waiting room.
So,
NOW is the time to
Eleviate the NEXT
Just
walk all that talkin'
and liberate your breath
SPEAK!

09/14/2008 Atiim Bomani Chenzira aka Blackulah

In Pursuit of Happiness...

2008-07-20T00:17:00.000-07:00

In Pursuit of Happiness…

Chorus:

In pursuit of happiness…, So nobodies home.

They’re outside on a corner doing right from a wrong…

Counting every single second like it might be their last…

Looking up, but it doesn’t trickle down that fast.

In pursuit of happiness…, So nobodies home.

Everybody’s looking for it, so they’re all in the zone;

looking for chrome, and lavish thangs’, a picket fence American Dream.

(with) Schemes and plots, but it hangs on string.

And “they” dangle it in front of you on a stick with a bet…

If you really want it baby you gon’ have to go fetch…

In pursuit of happiness, so nobodies home.

Their outside on a corner doing right from a wrong.

Verse: 1

I’m looking for a trap door, Maybe I can climb outside.

There’s no peace to what I’m feeling when I’m dealing with pride.

I’m shackled to debt

And waiting for a chance to rise.

I’m feeling pain and my brains got a glitch inside.

How the hell do I make ends meet,

When it takes money to make money?

Y'all, I got to eat.

In over my head…

Trying to make my dreams come true.

My ladies ready to leave

=Now= what should I do?

I’ve been raised in fucked environments

Where the tumble weeds blow

Where a vice is the only grip to life that we know.

People lose their minds daily trying to feed their kids

And kids try to find a way up out this shiiit.

Living in a ditch

Trying to get rich

By any means that pay.

Man the whole world is stuck that way.

Well, Fuck that way

The globe is addicted to the glamour and glitz.

So I’m in the studio trying push out hits.

In this web that was woven just for me and you

It’s a shame, but I gotta’ do what I got do

And it’s true...

I’m a slave to the dolla’ bill too.

So I’m a wade in the water till the day that I’m through.

Chorus: 1x

Verse: 2

Waiting for a better day's tiresome!

People Hold On!

Fingertips hanging on a cliff got to be strong.

If God don’t save ya’, then who will?

Have faith for a little bit of time to kill.

When the world turns everybody burns a bit.

Some greater than others

And that’s all, that’s it.

Being content is hard as hell

When you’re watching everybody else live on high.

Asking God for a piece of the pie?

I’ve been plagued with American Dreams.

Low self-esteem

In a city where the cash is king.

Arguments fill the air in my neighborhood.

Everybody struggles hard for a piece of the wood.

Some folks I know have more than they need

Try getting it on their own for their sanity.

Families keep a tight grip on all they do

So they’d rather be broke just like me and you.

On the streets people pass by riding on chrome,

while I walk to the bus stop trying to get home.

If I look at my life through the eyes of greed,

Envy all of the people who have more than me

I would never have a heaven in the life I live.

So I got to keep my focus with the heart of a kid.

Chorus: 1x

Verse: 3

Thomas Jefferson said life and liberty too,

But how does that mix

With the thing we pursue?

In a maze trying to find a better way to live.

Like a dog chasing it’s tail

But when does it give?

Dealing with overseers,

Egotistical men.

Paying chump change for the back I break and I bend.

Only giving up the minimum to people who work.

So a corner jobs tempting even though its in dirt.

It’s a shame,

How this game got us living a lie.

I aspire to live higher

And do more than get by.

So I have to keep two jobs to make it ahead,

Cause’ a man can’t live on only water and bread.

If I want to have material and lavish things

Midnight candles burn and the crickets sing.

Two suns pass by like the days don’t end,

For apiece of the pie, I’m gon’ do it again.

I won’t pretend that I don’t want money to spare

If I had it, I could be almost anywhere

Living life with my liberty and doing my thing.

Happiness is equivalent to freedom’s ring.

Chorus: 1x

Verse: 4
Happiness isn’t money it’s what money provides

Some come from the green, but still aren’t satisfied.

In somebody else’s pocket

Under control and stress

So they’d rather flap or fall to leave duress.

Most don’t really have it, even though it may seem…

Credit cards make em’ slave to their brand new things.

Some don’t front they only deal with boulevard cream

And the street life liberty is their daily routine.

Gamblers take chances with the shake of roll

Hookers hook for a buck on the midnight stroll

Players play the field looking for an ‘okey-doak’

And the rest get caught up for a hit of the blow.

Some wait for the opportunity to come

Others chase their goals until their days are done

Round the clock at the bottom of this pyramid.

Living life in pursuit, that’s just the way that it is.

On a routine slaves wake up to the sun,

Working from 9-5 and then 6 to one…

Looking for way out of this ignorant bliss

Broken spirits shatter like glass pursuing happiness…

Last Chorus: 2x

End.

A simple archive

2008-07-20T00:02:00.000-07:00

A simple archive of thought that...
may transmit beyond my moments to...
whenever it is received.

A time to play may come to me.
A time to rest without interruption may too.
A simple archive of thought is all this is to me.

The weather changes, as do us, but...
The elements recycle though forms will adjust.
No new, no old, no straight line to the end...
The overlap occurs from out and from within...
Concentric DNA like spheres in this warp...
A simple archive of thought.

I adjust to paced run body taking in...
The Sun, ever constant, the shine can't be matched...
at least not here the near that we know.
The weather that changes from Sea level snow... is melting... ice is breaking... Time isn't going anywhere it's us that will fade.
A simple archive of thought...
That's what this is.

An inhale of now that's passed.. but it never really moved.
I witness the wake and sleep in shapes the body and in between the grooves.
A simple...
archive...
of thought.

Juggle!
Octopus!
Shuffle!
Run!
STOP!
ohhhh! Wait!!
Come HERE!

I listen and breath and know I'm me, and that choice is my will to make.
I can do all of what's asked, but I still must know myself.
Self!? Can I realistically do this right now? Can I afford to stretch myself like that? Do I have a choice?

Of course I do.
That is all I have at the root of mooooost...
Everything... we know at least.

A simple archive of thought...that is all this is.

Cosco-Busan OIL SPILL

2007-11-14T21:42:00.000-08:00

I am now a certified Disaster Service Worker Volunteer!

READ:

Nov. 14 Training
And a Trip To Washington, DC

Trainings and Cleanups
Thanks to the pressure we've been putting on the cleanup agencies and to the grassroots cleanups of Kill the Spill (http://www.sfoilspill.blogspot.com/), we're happy to announce a large-scale training opportunity tomorrow night in San Francisco. Participating in these trainings is the only way to be legally certified to help out with beach cleanups. We know it will make a huge impact in fighting the spill. Please attend!
Disaster Service Worker Volunteer Certification
Wednesday, November 14th
County Fair Building 9th & Lincoln in Golden Gate Park
6pm - 10pm

We're also working on scheduling another large-scale training in Marin over the weekend. Look in upcoming action alerts for details.
The City of San Francisco will be leading cleanups for trained workers Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We will announce locations and details as they become available.
San Francisco Baykeeper Congressional Testimony
Baykeeper heads to Washington, DC tomorrow to testify in a congressional briefing to the Senate Commerce Department, which oversees the Coast Guard. Senators Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, and Maria Cantwell have asked us to testify to the inadequate spill response efforts as they initiate an investigation to what went wrong.
Volunteer Opportunities
Baykeeper needs volunteers later this week to walk docks all around the Bay to educate boat owners and marina operators how to handle contaminated boats. You can read about this on-the-ground outreach program in tomorrow's update. If you haven't already, email volunteer@baykeeper.org with your availability and which tasks you're interested in, and we'll get you scheduled to come in. Thanks to everyone who has already offered to help.
Please continue to contact friends to sign up for volunteer alerts or to make a donation to support San Francisco Baykeeper's efforts out on the water to respond to this crisis.

John H. Hornung
Incasa Coffee
1902 Lakeshire Dr.
Walnut Creek, CA 94595
925-933-3799, fx 925-933-3720

THE NEXT TRAINING IS IN BERKELEY ON THURSDAY!!!!

Over 800 people were present tonight. I was in the first group of volunteers and the people of San Francisco are so diverse... The group that showed up were beautiful people. The training was a synopsis and the my work begins at the Berkeley Marina tomorrow morning at 10am. Suited and booted I will be working as a volunteer in my own community.

Please spend your time wisely and get involved. Things shouldn't obstruct you before you jump in. Now is the time and later you can feel like an agent of change.

~Atiim

CD RELEASE PARTY!!!! FINALLY.

2007-09-17T17:37:00.000-07:00

In Pursuit of Happiness...

Available on iTunes and other online stores now!

Link: Album on iTunes

OCTOBER 11th
@
The Poleng Lounge
in
San Francisco, CA
from
10pm to 2am

COME out and purchase the first official album in person. The first 7 people to ask for the album will recieve it for half price. Full price is $10.

Melt away.

2007-04-26T17:18:00.000-07:00

Inside the store I wait for sampling plates...
belated once tasted now replaced it with Dragon Vellll cro
Slowly the ships connect imaginations the sail and the breeze
Water envelopes support and we float to the nearest shore.
One grain of sand as the Universe began
Explosions errupt and the elements compound some abrupt...
Planted
Seeds of experience felt
We let the ice just melt away.

BOMANIz FRENDz

2007-01-04T14:39:00.000-08:00

I'm changing the name of my band from Supa FRENDZ to BOMANIz FRENDZ At least That is the idea now. When the diamond is polished we will see what the end result is.

Groovus After DJ Freya - Jan 06

2006-09-26T01:43:00.000-07:00

(DJ FREYA and Atiim Chenzira - Jan 06)

I stopped by a Groovus Funk Show at the Last Day Saloon, before they became the Rockit Room.
I witnessed Groovus rock the crowd and move my feet. I drove by and chilled after visiting DJ Freya do her thing at Club ANU across from Club 6 in San Francisco, CA. Life out here can be as busy and alive as you'd like or as dead and dull as you make it... Finding time to balance is the trick.
(from left to right: Karen Paige - Atiim Chenzira - Alyssa Miller)
These gorgeous ladies are two of the three vocalist Groovus showcases.

This is all...of course...after I had come from rehearsal with Shotwell 25, so you see, anything is possible if your heart is in it and your mind is set on making it happen...oh and of course...if it's in the books.

September 2005

2006-09-26T01:17:00.000-07:00

I'm at work in this photo. I did overnights at a group home in San Francisco from 10pm to 10am most nights. I checked 6 rooms every hour with two other staff members and supervised up to 24 boys and girls. This night I brought my guitar and worked on html. I took a class at the Berkeley Adult School and practiced my skills on both instruments.

My SUPA FRENDZ

2006-04-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

www.SUPAFRENDZ.com

04/19/2006 12:00 PM
San Francisco State University
Cesar Chavez/Malcom X Student Union.
1600 Holloway Avenue,
San Francisco, CA 94132
(415) 338-1111 - Free

04/28/2006 09:30 PM
Capoeira Arts Cafe
2026 Addison Street ,
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 666- 1349 - $5.00
SUPA FRENDZ Playz Live again!!!
Come out and savor the flavor!
SUPA FRENDZ,
5N’DIME & Little Larry and Skreallah.

05/13/2006 8:00 PM
Community Urban Soul Project,
@ Tongue & Groove
2513 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 928-0404, x5 - $7.00
Shotwell 25,
SUPA FRENDZ & Divasonic.

05/28/2006 10:00 AM
San Francisco CARNAVAL
19th street and Mission street,
San Francisco, CA
- Free
The sexiest party in the whole Bay...
stay tuned for more specific details as they unfold,
but it's going down! It's goin' down.

a few linkz

2006-04-08T13:44:00.000-07:00

Big Upz 2 Groovus! Santa Cruz Show Comin' Up!!!

2005-11-28T01:58:00.000-08:00

Groovus makes it's live debut in Santa Cruz at the Crows Nest. Put down your pencils ... or pc's and...
get your M^&@# *()%n' to the Crows Nest for an evening of funk, soul and live remix!

December, 10 2005

The Crows Nest
2218 E. Cliff Drive , Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Cost: Free Show
check back later for exact time of show. Thanks.

San Francisco held the 5th Annual Green Festival

2005-11-15T15:52:00.000-08:00

Just a little about the Green Festival in San Francisco, CA. that I volunteered this year..."It was great!"

Dan Hernandez is a great organizer...among others that were the glue to this festival being possible.

Dear Green Festival Volunteer,

A week before the San Francisco Green Festival, Carlos Martinez, themain volunteer coordinator for Green Festivals had an illness in hisfamily that called him back home to support his loved ones. Imentioned this at the volunteer orientation Thursday night and askedthat we send them some positive thoughts and energy. At the same timeI wondered how would we ever pull it off --- the largest GreenFestival yet, one that would introduce our ideas of sustainability toover 30,000 attendees, the Green Festival for which we had the mostexhibitors, speakers, and registered volunteers ever --- all withjust one volunteer coordinator, and a "green" Green FestivalCoordinator at that.

You know the outcome, you did it. You pulled it off. You arrivedearly, lent an extra hand way into the night, filled in on shifts forwhich you had no prior idea you'd be doing, asked where you could helpmost and went on to do whatever needed to be done. I don't know how tothank you enough.

You showed through your dedication and commitment how a few peoplecan turn major goals into reality. I'll keep your example in mindwhen I think how we will bring the larger goals of the Green Festival--- Social Justice, a Sustainable Economy, and Ecological Balance ---to society.

Even though a number of days have passed since we all wrapped up theFestival, I for one am still feeling its effects. The value of someof these is questionable, for instance, more than a few times a dayI'll swear I hear a walkie-talkie calling for volunteers, or when ittakes me a few tries to recall fundamental info such as where Ilocked my bike or, believe it or not, where I live... Aside fromthese few "glitches" I realize the majority of these post-Festivaleffects bring such a positive light to my every day life that I amdoing my best to cultivate them fully into habits and hopefullyattributes of myself.

Thank you for all you've done; and will do.

Sincerely, Dan Hernandez

-keep the positive thoughts coming to Carlos' family, they'reworking.

Coltrane, John

2005-11-13T23:37:00.000-08:00

I drew this 7 years ago.

flicks from the show... Oakland Metro Theatre

2005-11-12T09:19:00.000-08:00

Here are a few flicks to check out...

THE STAGE WAS PERFECT... THE STAFF WAS EXCELLENT... THE SOUND WAS BOMB... THE CROWD WAS SMALL... THE BANDZ SPIT FIRE AND FLAMES... THE AUDIENCE WAS PRESENT AND BEAUTIFUL... EVERYTHING WAS GREAT... FRENDZ DID A DAMN GOOD JOB! bEKKAS fROGLAND oRCHESTRA WAS SMOOTH AND FUNKY...THUNDERPUSSY WAS SEXY...GROOVUS HAD ME DANCING THE WHOLE TIME THEY PLAYED...this is why i failed to capture them on film...I was dancin. sorry Groovus.

It'z another day...Convicted.

2005-11-12T08:09:00.000-08:00

It'z another day and I can't stop thinking about my music. The show at the Oakland Metro was great, but the attendance seemed small. $290 at the door and 20% to the club...everybody lost money, but we gained an experience that will serve us as an investment. The collaborative was alive and well and the factors that line the $1000 dollar difference of expectation are raising, but they are a part of that moment. The moment of Thursday 8pm and so on... There seemed to be a lot going on in the BAY that night. We did raise $100 dollars for the Cancer Society... That's firm.

I'm too tired to list all of the factors, but if you can imagine organizing a show from contacting the manager/owner and listing all band equiptment to scheduling rehearsals around many schedules and well... there are many things to coordinate and it seemed to just fall into place for me along the way. I feel and I think it is the conviction. We'll do it again after discussing what we all thought and think and felt and feel. We will like I have like they have before and like we'll do. Convicted to our passions and draw to Community and Expression. We'll do it again.

A fellow carpenter explained Conviction to me before, while we waited during one of our breaks...I couldn't stop thinking of his teaching...Image still pops up...I had a long and familiar dream last night...
I dreamt of family and siblings brought together in disaster and parting again to find their destination. I followed them and realized we had to take our own routes. I wanted to get to our end point together, but at least a few of us did.

I woke up with a song in my head...

"Hyporcrites just don't understand...
About a simple word conviction..."

It kept playing again and again and again until I realized it was related to 'What'z Up?!' musically. However, the message is extremely different.

I thought about the support in my life and those people that have shown me this words action.
I had a conversation with a frend and coworker last night about frendship and what that means to me. We talked about responsibility and professional and personal obligations and when one prioritzes these to be greater than the other...

I dreamt of familiar faces and remembered much of the passing life as my eyes closed. I awoke.
I woke up with a sense of being visited by moments yet to come and moments past lives ago. Like a meeting in the constant on a few moments that met concentrically while I walked in the spirit.

I woke up with a tune in my heart and symbolz of thought to ponder...

Before that dream I dreamt...
I was a t work in another wing setting up a rest location near the doors of kids in the facility. I saw two squirrels trying to pass me and one got set up and destroyed and one more joined the survivor and come through a gap in the door, while it was shut. As they entered the scente cahnged to my supervisor and his crew of kids all dressed in blue konked hair elvisish clothes on looking for a way to catch me sleeping... As my mother always said..."I'm not sleeping, I'm resting". I remember looking out the right wing window surounded by glass... and seeing costumed kids and staff climbing the outside window with lionesk looks on their faces and claws of a big cat. It was then day light, when the squirls changed the scene.

I've been trying to discourage the mice at work from running in and out of the office by building a fort at the door most nights from the kids text books at work. It's funny, but mice are intelligent..."Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Universe..."...okiday...

Anyway... I'm listening to Rage N Anger...lol.

The Wind BlowZ just came on. I think I'm signing off from the collage of thoughts and feelings to rest on my Seventh Day.

-Atiim Bomani Chenzira

TOOOOONiiiiiiiiiT!

2005-11-10T12:24:00.000-08:00

TONIGHT!!!
Community Urban Soul Project
iz...

C.U.S.P.

PREZENTZ:
November, 10 2005
at Oakland Metro Theater
201 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94601Cost: $15.00

Community Urban Soul Project presentz an evening of community action, fund raising and conciousness, IT'Z: Groovus, Bekka's Frogland Orchestra, Thunderpussy & FRENDZ feat. Atiim playing for community. This show takes place in one of the finest performance venues in oakland. This place is rigged for all kinds of live performances. The sound system stage and lighting iz Great.

"Definitley a unique evening of performance not to be missed."
- Brotha Dave of Groovus

"It'z gonna be off the hook. We're doin' a raffle for the American Cancer Society too...My Pop passed on from Cancer, so this event will be even greater than great."
-Atiim Chenzira of frendZ

Show -8:30pm
Doors - 8:00pm
Tickets: $10-$15
18+

SAVE THE DATE! SAVE THE DATE! SAVE THE DATE! SAVE THE DATE!
***************************************
Community Urban Soul Project (C.U.S.P) presentsâ¦
A Live show and benefit for The American Cancer Society at
THE OAKLAND METRO (www.oaklandmetro.org)
201 Broadway (in Jack London Square)
Oakland,California
Thursday, November 10th, 2005
Doors open at 8 pm
Show is 8:30 to Midnight
$10-$15
Free raffle ticket with $15 admission price at the door.

Performing Bands: Groovus, Thunderpussy, Bekkaâs Frogland Orchestra, and FrendZ.

for ticket information visit http://communityurbansoulproject.blogspot.com
or email frogland1@earthlink.net to reserve tickets.

C.U.S.P. (Community Urban Soul Project) is a collective of musicians formed to honor the work, creation, soul, and vision of each of its members. We share all responsibilities, including marketing outreach, education, and funding. C.U.S.P. members benefit by sharing and expanding our audience, and by receiving support for our art within this community. We are inspired to create a direct connection between artists and society, and use our performance as a platform to raise funds for community issues. All the members of the collective have diverse visions and messages to share, some of which include: music and dance as a pathway to fun, self-expression, and freedom; sexual awareness, exploration, and freedom; and honoring and protecting all the planetâs creatures.

*Bekka's Frogland Orchestra (www.bekkasfrogland.com) is TRIBAL AVANT FUNK. We create a space where people come and make music, inviting the audience to join and to relinquish their fear so that everyone can be free. In the process, we invoke frogs and the other creepy crawlies; chaos theory; love; and freeing the feminine energy. Come raise your voice and participate in some cosmic bootie-shaking for Mother Earth!

*Thunderpussy (www.thunderpussyforever.com, www.myspace.com/thunderpussy)
Groovy techno, pop funk, classic rock and hip-hop collide with a powerful and unique sexually liberated vision of the future. The show includes Thunderpussyâs trademark blend of outrageous costumes, highly controversial themes, original choreography, and acid-tongued commentary.

*Groovus (www.groovusfunk.com, www.myspace.com/groovusfunk) is a gifted group of performers, fusing elements of funk, soul, r & b, rock, hip-hop and jazz into unique and distinctive arrangements that define their signature sound. This is a fabulous 12piece band that nobody can deny...that nobody caaaaaaan deny.

*FRENDZ featuring Atiim is a collaborative band formed in the vision of friendship. Sharing the center stage with musicians that could be solo on their own right. This show is featuring Atiim Chenzira in the lead. The band FRENDZ is forming as you read this. In fact, this is the freshest band out and their composed of world, hip hop, spoken word, funk and soul... This show, however, will be filled with the Funk, Hip Hop and Spoken Word Atiim Brings to the table of FRENDZ. (www.Myspace.com/Atiim, www.APictureZWorth.blogspot.com)
A powerful combination of spoken word, raw instrumentation, and funk.

tODAY tO tONITE!

2005-11-10T11:41:00.000-08:00

BEKKA AND BRUTHA DAVE...
bEKKAS fROGLAND oRCHESTRA & GROOVUS

It'z GOIN' down in the first round...
I'm puttin' IT down and SETTIN' it round...
Bekkaz FROGLAND Orchestra!

FRENDZ IZ PLAYIN FOR THE FIRST TIME LIVE!!!!!
THUNDERPUSSY...THE NAME SPEAKS VOLUMEZ!!!!!

GROOVUS...COME ON! I DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING...

YES SIR!

The Green Fesitival

2005-11-07T01:32:00.000-08:00

The Green Festival was off the map with beautiful people and booths filled with information that makes one wonder about the way things are. I started my shift Friday afternoon and went to work there after. Next I left my overnite job and appeared at the festival bright and early. I bought a cup of coffee and there I was. I found the best parking and slid right on in the event.

I'm Volunteering! You can too...

2005-11-01T23:12:00.000-08:00

Hello Atiim ,

Thank you for volunteering with the 4th annual San Francisco Green Festival. It is a large event and the volunteers make it all possible, so your help is greatly appreciated. This message will provide you with the specific position and time of your shift(s). If there is a problem with the shift(s) that you have been assigned or if you are interested in working more shifts, then do not hestitate to contact us.
You have been scheduled to volunteer at the following time(s) and position(s):

"etc... etc... (more details)... I'm volunteering"

Carlos Martinez
carlos@sevenstarevents.com

(415) 260-8566

Dan Hernandez
dan@greenfestivals.com

(415) 255-9319

Volunteer Coordinators

www.greenfestivals.org
volunteer@greenfestivals.org
(415) 255-9319

�

One of the two poses I did while away...

2005-10-31T13:10:00.000-08:00

Clay figure of Atiim
aka Atimo Fruchenti
aka HUADIM.
-Sophia "in progress".

Atimo Fruchenti

2005-10-30T20:11:00.000-08:00

I came back home after a time in a magical place. I felt the energy of clay and felt the life without shape around me. I became nervous from some of the energiez, but I felt blessed in my stay. I met artists that need their story told and healers that I must see again. Life is but a fleeting moment.
-Atimo Fruchenti

What'z up?!

2005-10-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

I and I. Life in the sunshine...

2005-10-28T15:11:00.000-07:00

Atiim Chenzira
I'm in Mendocino and so on and I'm feeling it. I took a walk down through the dunes this morning... to capture the mornings routine.
I crossed amimal tracks and human alike, but no one but I and I.

From IZUM to Sheafferz dig to FRENDZ rehearsal...

2005-10-23T15:19:00.000-07:00

These flicks are a portion of what'z hatnin' for with me... I've just been moving along and having some fun with it...when I'm blessed to. I appreciate the music and the times.

Something before I rest...

2005-10-16T01:12:00.000-07:00

I stayed up long hours to finish a project I had to see further than I will...
I had to see a project come closer to it is...
I stayed up to feel the time I spent go by.
Like an addict I pushed for the outcome.
Like a warrior I took the pains and kept moving forward.
I am tired and I am sleepy, but...
I did what I meant to do and that has come further than I will,
it has come to my knumbness and bed.
I stayed up to accomplish...
I accomplished some of what I set out to do.
Some of what I set out to do will go to sleep with me and
I will wake up to do some of what I still must do.
I must be still.
I have to be still.
Through the dreams of what I want to become and
the acceptance of where I am now,
I stayed up until I cannot move forward with it anymore.
I am exhausted and I will rest my weary self.
My self is tired and my mind is knumb.
My bed is calling me..."Atiim, please come lay down."
I will.

Memory fleeting moment passes and remembered again...

2005-10-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

This was a trip to Santa Cruz with my homeboy Eddie and the 7th Street Band...
HE set up a show at the Catalyst for Earl Zero that I opened for.
I checked the Catalysts list of bands played and sure enough Earl's name appeared. I emailed them to ask if my name counted too and they added Atiim Chenzira right away. I was happy and greatful to appear next to so many strong names of performers and prophets. It is an honor to be added to the list of names that walked through their doors. I will get these musical things tight and play there again soon.
-Atiim Bomani Chenzira

-Atiim

Stagolee! and Black Bizzle!

2005-10-14T15:32:00.000-07:00

Just thinkin' bout my brother and I. This shot was taken around 1996... This was on the steps of his bachelor pad in El Cerrito, I was in Northridge with my 2P's, Ramon, Sex Jerk, Gangsta azz LA patnas and being educated with Sociology, Pan African Studies and Life in general. We both were on our path to discovering ourselves and carving our own worldz out. We both had long hair then...I'm coming BACK! Yeah... I'm letting it grow again.

Black Bomani aka Oaktown

Stagolee aka Flex ONE

Everybodiez' talkin' bout' it, but...

2005-10-14T00:58:00.000-07:00

Who's going to be about it?

Everybodiez talkin' bout' it... But who's gonna' be about it? Everybodiez talkin' bout' it... But who's gonna' be about it? Everybodiez talkin' bout' it... But who's gonna' be about it? Eeeeverybodiez taaalkin' bout' it... Buuut who's gonna' beee about it? Everybodiez talkin' bout' it from Coast to Coast... We're livin' a roast. Tell me whose gon' do it the most? Everybodiez talkin' bout' it from Coast to Coast... We're raisin' a toast. Get ta' gettin'. Get it the most!

I got ta' be about it to know about it. I keep it crackin'. I make it happen, but what you gon' do? I see a lot of people's gums bump...lookin' at me, lookin' at you...and I'm tired of this God Damn Game! Fuck the fame...jus' a little biiiit. I'm tryin to put in my bid, and see a little seed reach the air. Fee fi fo fum. I'm climbing to the giant upstairs, and I don't care if he's pumping you fear. I got a whole lot to loose, but I can't stop... till I go POP, or my heart drops from the drummer beating...yeah that's me. So gather round' if you like it. If you don't, that's coo'. I'm still gon' do what the hell you waitin' for.

Everybodiez talkin' bout' it... But who's gonna' be about it? Everybodiez talkin' bout' it... But who's gonna' be about it? Everybodiez talkin' bout' it... But who's gonna' be about it? Eeeeverybodiez taaalkin' bout' it... Buuut who's gonna' beee about it?

Everybodiez talkin' bout. Whose gonna' be about it? I'm trying to see about. You gonna read about it. Extra! Extra! I aint got extra time... Aint got extra nickels... I aint got extra dimes... I crossing my i's and dotting my t's... Make something out of nothing if you only had the reciepe. Stop bumping your gums. You don't fail... you give up! I wont fail or give up. I swim against the river. Currently sitting here plotting a plan. Feet in the sand and it all goes down the whole... Flip it over and I ease on down...ease on down...ease back down the road. Lions, Tigers and Bears is who I roll wit'. We aint taking no shit. Gold bricks lead the way. My actions bull-horn. Your words hush to hush. I drive the bus, so catch it or don't get in my way....!

Everybodiez talkin' bout' it... But who's gonna' be about it? Everybodiez talkin' bout' it... But who's gonna' be about it? Everybodiez talkin' bout' it... But who's gonna' be about it? Eeeeverybodiez taaalkin' bout' it... Buuut who's gonna' beee about it? Everybodiez talkin' bout' it from Coast to Coast... We're livin' a roast. Tell me whose gon' do it the most? Everybodiez talkin' bout' it from Coast to Coast... We're raisin' a toast. Get ta' gettin'. Get it the most!

2005-10-09T21:44:00.000-07:00

This iz the event at
'The Sacred Grounds Cafe'

Welcome to
The Sacred Grounds Cafe,
where community livez.
Francesca V. Consentino
Co-Orgaizer of A Thousand WordZ and Photographer

Elizabeth A. Reid:
Acoustic Guitar & Beautiful Song.
"Elizabeth sang our heartz into feeling again and again and... Her voice and soulful lyricz touched everyone prezent with reflection and a sense of compassion. "
-Atiim Chenzira

Elizabeth played her first West Coast Show with us at The Sacred Grounds Cafe today. She just moved into California from Ohio and chose to begin her career in the West with a benefit to support the Hurricane Relief.

Jake Leland and Russ Blaine of IZUM played beautiful duetz and trioz to help raise money for 'families helping families', a non-profit based in Lousiana, at The Sacred Grounds Cafe in Community of A Thousand WordZ. At one point (right) Russ Blaine set his trumpet down and hopped on the community piano to play a couple of tunez. Jake Leland accompanied Somos ONE, of the Brown Buffalo Project, to a spoken word piece, written so elequantly by Somo. It waz great!
I even jumped in with a little shaker of rice and beans to add a little flavor.
Herez the Trio from left to right...Jake Leland, Russ Blaine and Special Guest 'Guillem of Spain'. The three brought unity through harmony and solo performances within collaborative songs. Jake Leland was the first brass piece to arrive and he showed up ready to play, as he strolled right in and played a couple of heart felt solos to fill The Sacred Grounds with his mellow and playful vibe of Tenor Sax. When Russ and Guillem appeared the three collaborated on sharing the floor and combining their gifts for a cause worth more than any picture can be valued.
(From left to right) Aharon Wheels Bolsta (Drums, flutes, tabla, calabash, darbukka, and sundry percussive palliatives) and JOHN ARNS (Sitar and Erhu) played very rich and enveloping sounds of India for the benefit. These two mesmorized everyone present with the lingering sounds of the sitar and the calabash. Their music continued to take me to dreamland. I felt the Sun pour into the room and everything stand still when they combined their gifts for the Hurricane Relief cause. It was definetly a beautiful day to hold such an event.
Somos ONE (S.O.) el Brown Buffalo Project (BBP) delivered wordz on 'The Sacred Ground' that moved everyone. His passionate expression combined with his rythmic dance on wordz grabbed the audience by their heartz and mindz. He performed spoken word and served up a couple of hip hop jingles laced with conscious thoughts and reflective questions.

A couple of the beautiful ladiez in the audience enjoying the great food of The Sacred Grounds Cafe and the performances.

2005-10-08T15:50:00.000-07:00

2o95 Hayes Street in San Francisco... October 9th from 12-4pm
scroll down and check out the flyer. A Thousand WordZ
WWW.AThousandWordZ.NET
www.sacredgroundscafe.com

Hello Community

2005-10-08T14:06:00.000-07:00

A Thousand WordZ

Hello Community!
I am Atiim Chenzira, organizer of A Thousand WordZ
Atiim@AThousandWordZ.net

A Thousand WordZ is an Ezine and a Community that is rapidly growing. We're started as a Benefit Organization and Music Collaborative and will eventually become an Ezine when our community grows stronger. We use a medium which allows artists to share their gifts and talents, arts and creativity, technical know-how and editorial knowledge with each other. We’re inviting you to join our communtiy and to submit your works for our future publication. Every issue will have a downloadable album, so send your music in too. We focus on Audio and Visual arts, which could be anything you do; short stories, essays, journalism, poetry, photography, paintings, drawings, song- lyrics, rap/hip-hop, rock, reggae, punk, spoken word, whatever… We are moving in a group and erecting something that is useful to us all.
This is how it works: You read the theme of the upcoming issue. You send us your works. We configure the Ezine accordingly. We set up events to display our works. For your contributions to the Ezine we provide a link from our Network Section to either your webpage or email address. The Network Section will be open to the public for every issue and we will give snippets of recordings and a tour of our site. For more information please contact us at AThousandWordZ@Hotmail.com or use the links above.

The First Issue:
UPRIZING
Subtitle:
SEED
Downloadable Album:
RAW

If you have any works that fall under any of the titles above, please send them. We have not arranged the issue yet, but will publish in May. The specific date is coming. Pass this on to your friends: www.AThousandWordZ.Net.

EVENT:

What do you do on a Sunday?
Come out to the Sacred Grounds Café and support a good cause
October 9th
@
The Sacred Grounds Cafe
2095 Hayes Street
San Francisco, Ca. 94117
(415) 387-3859

Do you have photography, paintings, words, song, poetry, and music…talent to share?
A Community of Artists will gather to help raise Money for the People of the Hurricanes.
Acoustic Music and Spoken Word from:
12pm to 4pm on October 9th.
$5-$20 donations suggested at coffee counter

Volunteers:
Atiim Chenzira:
Hosting / poetry~spoken word and song
Francesca V. Cosentino:
Photography and set up
Elizabeth A. Reid:
Acoustic guitar and song
Aharón Wheels Bolsta: Drums, flutes, tabla, calabash, darbukka, and sundry percussive palliatives (vocalease!)
&
John Arns:
Sitar and erhu (Chinese spike fiddle).
Bekka’s Frogland Orchestra:
Acoustic Guitar, Song, Etc..
Russell Blaine:
Trumpet
James Eksel:
Acoustic guitar
Julio Magaña-Saludado
Somos ONE (S.O.) el BROWN BUFFALO PROJECT (BBP)
Fresh wordZ of all SortZ
At Some Point…
Open mic

Support THE CAUSE by forwarding this Blog entry to your friends and family and physically being present with us.
Come in support of our cause to raise what we can for the People of the disastrous hurricanes.
@: The Sacred Grounds Café
October 9th in San Francisco, CA.
at 2095 Hayes Street
from 12pm – 4pm

2005-10-08T03:33:00.000-07:00

Communication & Unity Soul Project

C.U.S.P.

PREZENTZ:

Mark your calanders
November 10th @...

Show -8:30pm
Doors - 8:00pm
Tickets: $10-$15
18+

Bekka's Frogland Orchestra
Thunderpussy
Groovus
FRENDZ

Every bird has its day

2005-10-07T14:45:00.000-07:00

Every bird has its’ day…
Time to move on to the truck my Grandpa left me…
The Classic 1959 Apache

2drBlk Acura 2001 type s - $14000
Craigs List
Reply to: anon-102138442@craigslist.orgDate: 2005-10-05, 2:38PM PDTI am willing to let go of my car for $14K flat. It has 80K miles on it and it runs goooood. It is fully loaded ~ Brand new paint job (a ding in the trunk), blk leather int., heated seats, 6cd changer, moon roof, side/driver air bags, etc... I bought it for 27K and it is time to let it go. If you are interested in seeing it email me and we'll talk, but I am not going any lower than $14K. Thank you.

2005-10-06T18:18:00.000-07:00

That's me... Where? oh... In the back looking over everybody. I don't feel like I need to stand out. I like working in a group, but I like it more when everybody stands out the same. This is a shot from the Oakland Train Station that's abandoned now that Amtrak redirected its' service to Emeryville. It was a good day.
L-Jips, Yada Meeng, Kobain, Bugzy Gold, Me, Stagolee, Rollz Royce.
5N'Dime

2005-10-06T18:05:00.000-07:00

Some of the people I think about when I get up each morning...My immediate circle of love.

2005-10-06T17:50:00.000-07:00

Just passing through today...

I'm working on getting posters for the Hurricane Relief show at The Sacred Grounds Cafe. I'll have them tomorrow morning and my cards are ordered. I got a full body massage this morning from jen, my friend, and wow...Can I just say that again...Wow. I feel really good today. Introspective and awaiting work tonight.
I work at a childrens' center in San Francisco and it is at the best hours for the kids and I. I secure the building at night and do a little clean up and folding...then I make my little relaxation bench look attractive, lock all the bathrooms and either play my guitar quietly or learn my German book. Yup, Deutsch. Ich spreche nicht Deutsch sehr gut. Macht's nichts. Ich bin lernen Deutsch.

"I don't speak German very good. It doesn't matter. I am learning German."

I'm going in an undisclosed month and I am sure I'll write about my experiences when I go. I'm trying to schedule some hip-hop shows before I go. A few frendz tell me that they need some authentic 'States' hip-hop and I'm going to see some musicians...so, I will try to hook that up! For today, however, I am working on me in the now and pulling things together for a good purpose. It will all one day pay off. This benefit will be great. The idea of it is beautiful, so the actual event will be the same.
Peace.

RUBBA DUB DUB

2005-10-06T01:13:00.000-07:00

RUBBA DUB DUB IN A PACKED CLUB, GIRL I NEED A BACK RUB WHEN I GET UP OUT OF THIS JOINT.

2005-10-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

Granny and Grandpa... Az Promised.

2005-10-05T15:41:00.000-07:00

Here it iz... Grampa and Granny. Nice looking couple. They were married for some time...but it didn't last. I'm grateful they got together...lol.

2005-10-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

This is a poem I wrote to honor my grandfather on my father's side when he passed away in 1996. It was also the first poem I delivered in public, which led to me recording an entire album of Spoken Word titled: "Life In Time".

2005-10-05T15:13:00.000-07:00

This is in Lower Lake, where my grandpa and grandma had 20 acres of land through a land share they eventually got booted off, but they bought 5 acres in Clearlake Oaks with an Acre of pond we stocked with fish... Memories. Arzonia is my grandmother in raising and spirit, but not blood. I'll post a picture of my Granny and Grandpa ...later.

BRIDGE

2005-10-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

BRIDGE
Sometimes the damn of expression just bursts and fills
everything in like a levy
breaking ice and creating noise like the Titanic where
Screams of help raise up to the skies only
The screams are of joy and the rush is like water and
The water is really thoughts and
The thoughts are all made of Fantasy
who observes Possibility with a grin as
Time continues to walk by with 'Each Moment' and
Conversation calls to
Let you know that
Beauty speaks highly of you and
Is an old frend of Atiim's who
would like to talk with you when you can.
WATER

2005-10-05T13:52:00.000-07:00

Last night on the way to work....
The poem was inpired...
BRIDGE
Sometimes the damn of expression just bursts and fills
everything in like a levy
breaking ice and creating noise like the Titanic where
Screams of help raise up to the skies only
The screams are of joy and the rush is like water and
The water is really thoughts and
The thoughts are all made of Fantasy
who observes Possibility with a grin as
Time continues to walk by with 'Each Moment' and
Conversation calls to
Let you know that
Beauty speaks highly of you and
Is an old frend of Atiim's who
would like to talk with you when you can.
WATER

www.AThousandWordZ.net
I'm using that site to build a community.
Be a part of it.

2005-10-05T13:50:00.000-07:00

A sense of mylife, my life, mah life, my liiiiife in the suunshiiine!

2005-10-04T20:51:00.000-07:00

Psychadelic...Yeah...In one of my Blackulah coats.

2005-10-04T20:10:00.000-07:00

nATURAl ElementZ: Coming Soon! The Album.
Atiim "Black Bomani" Chenzira has combined the Mind with the Heart and the Spirit and Body...
-Ridah Ridah RecordZ N Publishing

For your own copy of;

'nATURAl ElementZ' (Atiim's sophmore hip hop album),

In Pursuit of Happiness...(debut hip hop album),

Life In Time (debut spoken word album)

The Classic(Atiim's rap group 5N'Dime www.5ndime.com),

contact Atiim at:
(510) 594-4394 Cell
www.MySpace.com/Atiim
R3NP@Hotmail.com

2005-10-04T19:05:00.000-07:00

EMBREEOH ~ NATURAL ELEMENTZ

2005-10-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

My frend and colleague from San Francisco State University worked this card out for me. It is great! Now I have more tools to present myself with. This card is hot! His motto is to make everyone he works with happy with the product they receive. I am glad there are catz like him around. Professional and easy to work with, he is (I sound like Yotah...Emmm).
His name is Berry A. Evans, III.
He also does:

Bookkeeping and Tax service.
4426 MLK Jr. Way
Oakland, CA.94609
(510) 420-8966
fax (510) 654-4683
He is an entrepreneur...He is a photographer too and he makes all kinds of shirt designs as well. This person is amazingly talented and a bonified businessperson. I find familiarity in his veins and he seems to see the same in me. I think we will work together more often. I am impressed by his attitude and professionalism. I have many, many, many ideas he could help me with and I'm always down to network, help out and barter for services. I cannot wait to help him with any project he will need help on. Community is everywhere you turn if you look for it. In fact, when you don't it slaps you up side the head, but it's up to you to notice and be open to it.
CARDZ DONE by: www.Fotopros.org

2005-10-03T12:34:00.000-07:00

This was my first professional entertainment card. (Both logos for Ridah Ridah Records & Publishing were created by Aaron Lester, but I did the logo for Ridah Ridah Publishing) I oooowwed and awwwwed at it after I picked them up for Office Depot in Bakersfield, Ca. I looked at and read many music business books and read about presentation and tools needed to present one's self and...Got up the nerve to seek funding from family and frendz. I never wanted to ask anybody for anything, but I think my dream is worth helping along.

I was shooting for the starz... Literally, I was unstopable. I imagine greatness and feel like it is my right when I'm moved by something I believe in. These cardz weren't just cardz to me, they were confirmation that I left a mark in the world. Confirmation that I spoke with someone about what my dream is and was. They were reciepts to my dream conversation...
Dream Conversation
I don't know you but I want to meet you.
I feel like I have something to give you and you have something to give me.
Can we share?
I would like to tell you about myself and I would like to learn about you too.
I want to hear the stories of the world and you are a story teller.
Let me tell you my story.
I am interested in your story.
What is your story?
I want to laugh and make you laugh too.

I would sit on an Amtrak train from Bakersfield, CA and ride all the way up to Oakland, Jack London Square station. I had my bag with; my laptop, my CD player, my recorder, my half-pint of Hennessey Congniac, my pens, my pads, a suitcase of clothing...etc, my plane ticket to Indianapolis, Indiana, my energy and my box of colorful dominoes. I would walk up and down the trains and ask, "Anybody wanna play some bones?"
I road the Amtrak at least once a month for two years, but there was a three month gap at one point..., but when it ended all resumed. The train employees knew me and depending on which train I took, they didn't really mind my presence. I had the train laughing and slamming bones and drinking to conversation about my dreams and their own. I passed out cards and CD's. Hell, I gave away more of my music than I did sell. I figured promoting myself now will pan out later and it slowly but surely is.
I reached for the stars and met many along the way.
I reached for community and found myself surrounded by transient folks like myself.
I sat in planes, trains and the solitude of my automobile and dreamed the present and dreamed beyond now to later now.
I imagined the people on the trains and planes and rest stops and cities would remember my name and remember my tools, but remember me.
I dreamed conversation could build community.
I passed out reciepts to dream conversations.
www.myspace.com/atiim
www.myspace.com/blackbomani
www.myspace.com/blackulah

2005-10-02T21:21:00.000-07:00

Aaron Lester, creator of my Ridah Ridah Logo and adopted brother drew this of me while I played my electric guitar. He and Donnel Lester, an adopted father and true frend, drove up from lower Central California to visit. Aaron is an artist of many sorts. He plays the guitar and paint and draws etc... He's extremely blessed creatively, and Donnel is a man of concise knowledge. He was an FAA arbitrator for 15 of his 30yrs working and he's given me many tools to the neutral grounds of argument, or better the keys to peace.
He's offered and given me many ways to look at things and a look at how I have the right to give myself permission to be me. What that is is up to my journey and how I use the tools to exploring that question. I've learned a great deal of compassion from Donnel and I've identified with Aaron's genuise and beautiful sensitivity. A sensitivity to unspoken wordz and messages. An ability to tap into the vibration of the now and feel it with no wordz. A gift to explore and express those ideas, Aaron has...Donnel is his father. They are both beautiful.
I play the guitar as much as I can. I zone out now to it and hope I get to sleep with it tonight. I am learning it by myself for now, but I've been flirting with it for some time now. We've just decided to start spending more time together.
If anyone is reading this...You're invited and welcomed to my journey...
www.myspace.com/atiim
www.AThousandWordZ.net

A Picture of What WE did for the People of the Hurricanes

2005-10-02T19:53:00.000-07:00

A collage of the Hurricane Benefit: A Thousand WordZ ~ We helped raise $2,300!!! It was a great day. 10/01/2005.

2005-10-02T17:58:00.000-07:00

THE HURRICANE BENEFIT

Goodnite Goodmorning.

2005-10-02T17:15:00.000-07:00

I got up this morning feeling...Gud. I went to sleep at 5am...I think. I stepped out of my Shaded and Secluded Area yesterday to do a benefit for the Hurricane Relief. It was held at a frendz place...Mark M., who is a beautiful man for organizing the event. I hesitated in a bit of fear, thinking to myself, "Can you do this event by yourself?" I could only answer..., It's for a good cause and it doesn't matter if I make mistakes. So, I went. I went with a trunk filled with two monitors and two mic stands and a mixer and my guitar. I went.
I got there a little after 1:45pm and set up. I looked around and ladies were coloring in signs and preparing for the event. I scoped for clearances and found a corner that was cleared. I set up. I walked to my car to repark it after blocking the driveway and sipped a beer, while i flipped through pages of poetry and lyrics I printed out for the occassion. I was there and still getting ready. I was there.
I brought with me songs that expressed pain and reflection. I brought with me lyrics of poetry that reaches still into my soul and makes me feel and think as Cancer and Gemini. I decided to start. I walked to the microphone, after checking all the levels, and after grabbing 5 pieces I introduced myself and started my walk with the beautiful people that were present. I began.
I gave and I felt and I shared and I gave and I opened up more as they gave me more feeling back in return and I became more confident and gave more, myself. I felt like I knew me and I was doing what I wanted to do and giving what I could, my best. They gave me room to fill and we all mixed.
After...I took a break. I came back and picked it up with five more pieces...
I introduced Hadoto, a guitarist who is amazing, and became inspired to take photos of the event. I did. I dove into the feeling and vibration of the place and tried to capture the life of it. I did. I met the people of the benefit and loved them all. I was inspired to continue as I am and as I have, so I will and I am.
Bekka soared right in. She's been my friend since before my father passed away in April 04. She's been a mentor to me musically and spiritually for some time now and I consider her my best frend. She was on fire. She glided in and filled the place with her energy of hope and healing. After I filled them with struggle and compassion and thought...Hadoto filled them with reflections from his finger tips and Bekka rubbed their hearts and souls with love and happiness. Then the two of us performed together and ignited the gasseous air. It was nice. We raised $2,300 for various organizations helping the victims of the hurricane.

I went to two birthday parties after I made an excursion to see a beautiful frend in San Francisco. I landed at one party and chilled with my ladies around the way... I met them through a performance I did at the EL Rio with IZUM. They are miracles. Then I swam through the late nite streets avoiding the hungry black and white sharks to another party I wanted to attend. I wanted to chill there. I did. I got there and sat around an outside bonfire playing my guitar and conversing with another group of beautiful people. After almost falling asleep in the hot-tub. I put my clothes on...the last one in, and went home.

Quiet House
Nothing...
Nothing moves and no one is around.
I get out of the hot-tub and sit on an outdoor welcome,
around flames of 'go home'.
I pluck strings on my new lover and vanish into imagination.
I plucked and remembered the faces that once sat vibrantly around the center.
I strummed and smiled at the hearts that gave the fire its' heat.
I peered and realized I am still...
Still.
Still here in the moment and...
Though I didn't want to say goodbye to my day...
it had already become new.
I had walked with it into another hour and...
we cuddled with soft embraces and relaxed brows as Embreeohs...
Nothing.
Nothing made a noise.
Everything sang goodnight and goodmorning in harmony.
Goodnight Quiet House.

2005-10-02T14:46:00.000-07:00

Wit' muh Gee' Tar.

2005-10-01T21:18:00.000-07:00

My duality meets... Blackulah is Born!!!

2005-09-30T04:20:00.000-07:00

Now... I've rapped since 1985-6...really since I heard Whodini rap his brother's written lyrics, at least I heard his brother wrote the more political raps the group 'spit'. When I heard the term friends, I couldn' t help but wonder what it really meant. The line, "You can look it up again and again, but the dictionary doesn't have the meaning of friends. Friends.....How many others have them?"
Now, since everything has been coming full circle with me I guess I have to speak on the reason for this logo I chose as a band name. It's another long and recalling story that connects like Pee Wee Hermans dots..."la la, connect the dots."
I couldn't stop thinking about this term. Even after all was said and done with my marriage and my father, I felt I had very few friends. My father always said, "There are some people you can trust with your life and not your money, and some people you can trust with your money, but not your life and very very few you can trust with your life and your money". I took that to be the degrees of friendship, the degrees of relationship. The difference between aquintances and friends my mother said, "would have to be understood." Everyone thought I was a little too giving, forgiving and friendly growing up. As if to say, "You can't trust anybody but family." That's what I gathered. At least the message I recieved was 'friends are a choice and family is a given'. I chose to start off on my own path... I chose to collect a group of people I would take pleasure in seeing each week for rehearsal and feel comfortable being me with each week and grow with in many ways. I wanted to begin my journey with my own vision of Collective Creation.
For the past year I've pondered the idea of friendship. I walked close with some people and witnessed a group of people act as a family should idealy function. I stepped out of the circle when I broke up with a very unforgettable woman, who'd been in my corner after all was said and done...w/ ya know... Anyway, she was a friend to me. I pushed and pulled her in the fluctuation of my father's disease of Cancer. I used her friendship to the fullest and vanished beyond the moon from her circle. When I emerged from my solitude and isolation, I saw the light. The dots began to make sense as they connected relationship and frienship as synonomous in sickness and in health till death do us part. I didn't ask her to marry me, I realized something about friendship and relationships, like plants they must be given attention and monitored for the best outcome. What you put into one is what it will give you back in return, ideally.
So...Long story short, because it could be longer, I worked with BFO and I worked with IZUM and I went from background singer to guest Lead Singer to sharing a group of my own with band members I feel comfortable building a relationship with, people I want to call FrendZ.
I decided to work in the spirit of community and create a circle of frendz that share a common goal and who will take an equal responsibility in maintaining that goal, openly and honestly. A group of people all interested in giving their absolute best and share in the gifts of giving and recieving in Frendship. FRENDZ

2005-09-30T00:58:00.000-07:00

In 2001 I was called Blackulah from wearing my now favorite jacket. It's a peacoat with flavor. David Jones my Producer and best frend called me that one time, while in Indianapolis, Indiana. He laughed his azz off and jokingly said, "Damn teem, you look like Blackulah or some shiii...lol." I laughed with him and remembered an old movie my homeboy Tiyo showed me back in my Cal State Northridge dayz. The actor, unknown to me, was from Pacoima, Ca., where Tiyo and the Pacoima Pirus resided. They took me under their wings when I hooked up with ole' Blodo.
I find it extremely interesting how I've recieved many alias names over the years. From my first nickname 'Boudji', given to me by my Pop to me reclaiming Atiim to let everyone know I was nolonger the young kid Boudji, I was a big boy named Atiim. Next I went to West Lake Jr. High School and wanted to fit in. I convinced a group of bad azz boys I was crazy by running through traffic to touch one side and without looking ran back...If you saw the street I ran across you would see how ridiculous the dare waz. I was ssssstupid. Then I played the Trumbone well and hung out with the Stoners as the look-out and occassional smoker. Anyway, I got the name Bazerko, after a cartoon character of the day, it was 1988 then. They said, "Damn man, you hella crazy! Yo name got to be Bazerko!" I laughed and felt accepted.
Next I went to Martin Luther King, Jr. Jr High School in Berkeley, Ca. and fit right in with my first rap group Gangsta's By Heart (GBH). It was me aka Bo-Money, Alvin aka Al-Dog, and Mianza aka Anzabo, around the time JukeBox waz rockin cable TV. Bo-Money...I felt the need to create an alias fitting to my mentor of rap Too $hort at the time. I wanted to be Too $hort yall. Bioooooch! lol. Anyway..., A dude everyone feared gave me the name Snuff, as in Snufalufagus from Seasame St. Yeah...Okay. I didn't argue with him. Instead I gladly took the name and felt again...accepted. He was from SPP, San Pablo Park and they were a group of young Gangstas in Berkeley. I ran with them at 'King' and fit right in.
Then...I decided to get involved with a frendz idea. My mentor at Berkeley High School, Hodari Davis asked me one day in transition to 10th grade, "Hey man! I'm going to start a fresh crew called Live Lyricist Society based off of that movie that jus' came out, Dead Poets Society. It's gonna be dope! You want to help me out? I'm thinkin' bout meeting once a week during lunch and teachin' yall how to use your vocals and how to free style maaan. It's gonna be Fresh Teem." I was Boudji all over again. I got with a frend from LLS and we called ourselves 'The Fourth Kind', based off of some movie I never saw about contact of the 3rd kind with UFO's. We were the 4th Kind.
After all was said and done with my De La Soul and Tribe Called Quest dayz at BHS and in LLS, I started to run with my cousins more often. Young adult hood rushed me with hormones and I joined an even cooler group of people...my cousins. We called ourselves the 211 Click. Yes...that's right the police code for robbery. You'll have to listen close to my song called "What'zup?!" to hear a glimpse of what we did together. Anyway, from that we formed a group called 5N'Dime. It was a merging of Rollz Royce, then Royce D, and Stagolee, then Flex Uno's group 'The Nu Era Foot Clan' and me, solo LLS rapper that just stopped rapping with Kamau from 4th Kind. I chose the name Black Bomani to honor my new experience in the world away from my parents and into Adolescence...
Berkeley High School had the only African American Studies Department in my knowledge then and from 9th to 11th grade I was a young leader there. In fact I was nominated President of the African Students Association in 10th grade and changed the name to the African Students Organization, because I said, "We are not here to associate, we are here to organize!" lol. I was bold. I got the name from my constituents, Brotha Atiim. It was in 11th grade I really ran the streets with my cousins and brother; Young Re, Royce D, Flex Uno, and our patna (rip) Young Rod. We had fun.
I finally decided to leave town and experience something outside of my box. I had to leave home. It was 1987 when my father moved back home from work, the same year I began to write lyrics of any kind. In 1989 he moved us out to Berkeley and suggested we all attend Berkeley High School, his almamodore. We had a lot of missed time to catch up on. It was only two years since he'd been a full-time father and my roll as 'the man of the house' had been taken. I guess this explains some things to me about my behavior then, but I had to get out of his nest. We were clashing too much. So, I decided to leave town for San Fernando Valley's California State University, of Northridge in Fall Semester. It wasn't until my Spring semester when I hooked up with Tiyo and Frendz. Wooo Wooo! The 2P's Gangstaz. I had crip frendz from Compton too, but I generally kicked it with the Piru, even with both Piru and Ramon Crips or Sex Jerks. Anyway, they all called me Oaktown. Oaktown from Oakland. I was Bangin' The Town (Oakland).
It wasn't until 2000 that I started to reflect on all the names I had either recieved and how and wondering what the best name would be.

I had just asked my college girl frend to marry me at our graduation ceremony...yeah. And I started off to fulfill my dream, my happiness. I was in pursuit of my happiness. I managed to graduate two Universities with BA's but I hadn't done anything too big musically. 5N'Dime pursued perfection and time passed us by. I had to do something about it. Songz from this energy are; 'Aspirations of Higher Livin', 'I'm trying to get a lump out here', 'Time iz Money', 'What'zup?!"...all on my album "IN PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS...". Anyway, during my recording of that album I lived in Bakersfield, CA with my wife and I flew to Indianapolis once a month to record with David Jones the TuneMaster of BackYard Studios.
I thought about naming myself something catchy like, Serious or Time, even Life...I thought about just "Atiim". Who heard of that? Using your real name. 2Pac did it and I was inspired by his voice and music. The world hadn't know a Famous Atiim to my knowledge (I was wrong about that), but what did I want to name myself?
I stuck with Atiim aka Black Bomani. I chose to introduce my real name and move away from the alias life. I wanted to discover myself and give of myself in my all. I wanted to solidify me. So...my marriage plane took off and landed me right back in the Bay Area where my father was extremely sick.
Coming full circle with my reasoning to leave the Bay Area in the first place, I started singing with Bekka's Frogland Orchestra under Atiim Chenzira. Chenzira by the way is the name my fiance at the time and I chose from a list of names we both composed. I wanted a new last name since my days in BHS because it represented self-determination to me and reclaiming my own identity, as opposed to being Toby I wanted to be Kunta Kinte. Chenzira means 'born on a journey'. My father started this tradition. He and my mother wanted to name all of their kids names with meanings to give us all purpose. Atiim means Violent in Arabic and Bomani Means Warrior inNgoni (Malawi). Violent Warrior, Born on a journey. Atiim also means, after the most famous Arabian man of an unknown period in Arabia, then still a part of Africa, Extremely Generous. Pronounced Hak teem. He would give even the shirt off of his back in generousity. I identify with Hakteem. Maybe I've returned to this time to shed my light again? I don't know, but maaaaybe I do...? hmm.
Anyway, Atiim Chenzira it was on stage and in my everyday life. Even after divorce I kept the name because it is my name alone and it gave me stregnth and purpose. "We" were never really Chenzira's, but I waz and I will be as long as I am.
When I returned home to Berkeley from my California living I had unfinished business with 5N'Dime. We were still pursuing perfection and decided after I recorded In Pursuit of Happiness... to cut an album with D-Jones called 'The Classic'. Finally...finally. It was done. The Classic was finished and my father had passed on. I am still a 5N'Dimer and my stage name is still Black Bomani, but I started using Atiim Chenzira more and more, while singing with BFO.
Last, I hooked up with IZUM and guess what? After finding my chemistry with this great and eclectic Bay Area Funk/Jazz/ Hip group... The sax player, Jacob Leland, introduces me to the crowd at Jupiter as MC Blackulah. lol. He said he would, playingly, during rehearsal for this gig, but I didn't take him Serious... Now...my story finally rests. After all the name calling and re-calling, I am Atiim Chenzira aka Black Bomani aka MC Blackulah.
Take a break and come back...

2005-09-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

nATURAl ElementZ