you were good to me

oh blogspot blog, you were good to me. when i needed to vent when no one was there to vent with me, you were here, when i got overly excited about something of insignificance you were here, and when i didn't post anything for a couple months it was good to know that i had you as my outlet, thank you blogspot. So as a part of my continued change a growth i shall move on to tumblr, the same way i moved on to blogspot from xanga. I look at it like this, xanga = high school, blogspot = 5 years after high school, tumblr = my present life experiences. I love that i can look back on these blogs and see growth within myself no matter how embarrassing. So thank you again blogspot you were awesome.

X-tra MEdium

What's APPening?

So i got this blogger app for my android phone, and this is the first post. Ill most likely be posting through this app if say, i want to express myself w/o offending facebook or twitter friends.

Till nex time

-RAWfiki

4th quarter of 2010 and im feelin good.

I hope all of you had an awesome summer, because I DID!.
If you're a football (americano) fan like me, our autumn started on sept. 9th 2010 with the first game of the 2010 regular season. With that said it's back to morning dew, dry days, cold nights, and setting new goals for the last quarter of the year. There is still much more to do for me to do this year, most of it is just growing up some more. I've made some pretty positive lifestyle changes these past 6 months and im pretty proud of that, sure changing my "diet" going to the gym at least 4 times a week, learning how to DJ, and converting from PC to Mac isn't a big deal (okay PC to Mac isn't THAT big a deal, but don't piss on my parade haha) to some people, but if you told me i'd go through some changes like this last year i wouldn't believe you. A lot of maturing happend as well, realizing how blessed i am to have the people i have in my life, GOOD people at that, is an amazing feeling. I was never one to take the people in my circle for granted, so to my friends and family i hope im an influence to you as much as you are all and influence on me.

but i digress..

I'm excited for the next 3 months, because i have NO IDEA what's in store. but here are some things to look forward to:

october:
- october 2nd fil-am fest
- sd zulu canned food drive

november:
- "thingstaken" dinner with the fam
- sd zulu canned food drive continues
-sd zulu toy drive begins

december:
-sd zulu toy drive ends
- turn it loose possibly?
- christmas dinner with fam
- new years eve with fam
- 8 year anniversary with kristine!





dope music (to me):
Masta Ace - Long hot summer


check out "da grind" is a personal favorite of mine :-)


other thoughts:

it seems as though more and more of my friends are converting to tumblr. don't know if i want to convert...yet. peace and blessings

-raf

Newness

happy birthday to me! well not really my birthday was this past friday, but thanks to contributions from my sister, girlfriend, parents, cousin bernadette, and myself I was able to purchase my first macbook pro. The best part of this is Best buy had a special where i can get up to 24 months no interest IF paid in full within that time. I know it's nothing to be excited about but shit i've gone back and forth with PCs and Macs for the last couple years and almost as soon as my PC crashed I made my decision to switch to mac. I figured if im going to invest in something it may as well be a mac and get my money's worth right?.

i swear ill have more posts with substance i just wanted to share this hahaha

Interesting

Interesting day at bboy practice today. I'm doing what I usually do when I practice and another bboy comes up to me as he's leaving practice.

Bboy: hey, you're in wizards crew?

me: oh yeah haha

Bboy: Damn, thats scary, you're good

me: LOL naw man, but thanks hahaha

I don't think i've ever been complimented like that before. I don't know maybe it means more because its coming from someone that doesn't really know me and has never really seen me at jams before. I've been watching the same bboy at practice, and he's got potential to be a good Bboy. Today was just a good day at practice i guess.


till next time.

-RAWfiki

JustJust WaitWait

I came across this piece of art today while browsing, of all websites, Facebook. twelveshouth.com brings you a one-of-a-kind macbook pro case called "BookBook". I say if you have the latest macbook pro, GO GET YOURSELF ONE!. While I don't have a MBP right now, once I get one i'm getting this case!. Just thought I should share this will my readers, or lack there of.

cant f!@kin wait!!!

lately i've been in this Michael Jordan kind of mood, i mean just look at my last post!. anywho ill wait out another year before i buy nba live, why would i pass up on this? just one of my favorite nba players of all time and the most iconic on a cover of what is now the #1 rated nba game out! pfft sorry EA i love madden, but get yo weight up when it comes to the NBA games, lol.

just watch :-D

a little bit of old school a little bit of new school

jersey i've wanted for a VERY VERY VERY! long time. Ever since I can remember ive always wanted an MJ jersey, but everytime we go shopping stores were either sold out or didn't have my size, THEN when they retro'd the jersey's i didn't have a job to go buy me one. SO many fakes out there on ebay, i found ONE..ONE legit jersey that would fit perfectly buuuut guess what? thats right no cabbage. These jerseys are really hard to come by, sure if they're fake and cost 30 bucks they're SUPER easy to find, but legit ones is like once in a blue moon.


anyways snapback hats i want from The Hundreds. I've been in a snapback hat kind of mood kind of day, I love my fitted new eras, but sometimes i just want something different. who knows maybe for my birthday or something ill try and get some stuff for myself.

MAMA THERE GOES THAT....TEAM!

good friday to you all, if you're a basketball fan you already know by now that the Los Angeles Lakers won their 16th championship last night!!! :-D. I've been a laker fan since my elementary days (as well as a bulls fan, still waiting on their 7th championship lol) and in the last 5 championships i've been blessed to live through and watch this last one was THE BEST. You can't ask more from a Game 7 where both teams needed to leave it all on the court in order to win. It's times like this i wish i had MORE laker gear :-( its all good though im rockin mmy white kobe all weekend long! LETS CELEBRATE!! lol

2pac

Happy Birthday to one of greatest. throughout his career as an MC he spoke on anything from life in the ghetto to uplifting his community. It's a shame that the mainstream media misconstrued things he would say or do to make him someone to be feared. Truth is a lot of what he spoke about america wasn't ready for, am I right or am I right?. I hope this song and lyrics change peoples perception of Tupac, Happy birthday!

Tupac - Words Of Wisdom

album: 2pacalypse Now

Killing us one by one
In one way or another
American will find a way to eliminate the problem
One by one
The problem is
the troubles in the black youth of the ghettos
And one by one
we are being wiped off the face of this earth
At an extremly alarming rate
And even more alarming is the fact
that we are not fighting back
Brothers, sistas, niggas
When I say niggas it is not the nigga we are grown to fear
It is not the nigga we say as if it has no meaning
But to me
It means Never Ignorant Getting Goals Acomplished, nigga
Niggas what are we going to do
Walk blind into a line or fight
Fight and die if we must like niggas

This is for the masses the lower classes
The ones you left out, jobs were givin', better livin'
But we were kept out
Made to feel inferior, but we're the superior
Break the chains in out brains that made us fear yah
Pledge allegiance to a flag that neglects us
Honour a man that who refuses to respect us
"Emmancipation Proclamation?" Please!
Lincoln just said that to save the nation
These are lies that we all accepted
Say no to drugs but the governments' keep it
Running through our community, killing the unity
The war on drugs is a war on you and me
And yet they say this is the Home of The Free
But if you ask me, it's all about hyprocrisy
The constitution, Yo, it don't apply to me
Lady Liberty? Stupid bitch lied to me
Steady strong nobody's gonna like what I pumpin'
But its wrong to keeping someone from learning something
So get up, its time to start nation building
I'm fed up, we gotta start teaching childern
That they can be all that they wanna to be
There's much more to life than just poverty

This is defaintly ahhh words of wisdom
AMERIKA, AMERIKA, AMERIKKKA
I charge you with the crime of rape, murder, and assault
For suppressing and punishing my people
I charge you with robery for robbing me of my history
I charge you with false imprisonment for keeping me
Trapped in the projects
And the jury finds you guilty on all accounts
And you are to serve the consequences of your evil schemes
Prosecutor do you have any more evidience

Words of Wisdom
They shine upon the strength of an nation
Conquer the enemy armed with education
Protect thy self, reach with what you wanna do
Know thy self, teach what we been through
Armed with the knowledge of the place we been
No one will ever oppress this race again
No Malcolm X in my history text
Why is that?
Cause he tried to educate and liberate all blacks
Why is Martin Luther King in my book each week?
He told blacks, if they get smacked, turn the other cheek
I don't get it, so many questions went through my mind
I get sweated, They act as if asking questions is a crime
But forget it, one day I'm gonna prove them wrong
Not every brother had his mother on the welfare line
The american dream, though it seems it attainable
They're pulling your sleave, don't believe
Cause it will strangle yah
Pulling the life of your brain, I can't explain
Beg as you can obtain from which you came
Swear that your mother is living in equality
Forgeting your brother that's living her apology
Thought they had us beat when they took out King
But the battle ain't over till the black man sings
Words of Wisdom
But the battle ain't over till the black man sings
Words of Wisdom

NIGHTMARE thats what I am
America's nightmare
I am what you made me
The hate and evil that you gave me
I shine of a reminder of what you have done to my people
for Four hundred plus years
You should be scared
You should be running
You should be trying to silence me
ha ha
But you can not escape fate
Well it is my turn to come
Just as you rose you shall fall
By my hands
Amerika, You reap what you sow
2pacalypse America's Nightmare
Ice Cube and Da Lench Mob America's Nightmare
Above the Law America's Nightmare
Paris America's Nightmare
Public Enemy America's Nightmare
Krs-One America's Nightmare
Mutulu Shakur America's Nightmare
Geronimo Pratt America's Nightmare
Assata Shakur America's Nightmare





R.I.P

straight postin

It's been over a year since i've battled or even got down and felt good about it, but last Friday at "hoover jam v.4" i entered with eddie styles (rock so fresh, jabbawockeez, and breakin habbits) and ryno (uncomfortably fresh) as san diego zulu nation. Last time I had this much fun battling was top 3 of sd a couple years back, and i'd have to say for someone that hasn't battled in a while or even danced for 8 months i think i held up pretty good. you be the judge lol:

Prelims battle round 1 of 5 (made it through 3 rounds)



round 2



round 3







stuff
ill do my own TOP 10 THINGS I HATE (inspired by the super b-beat show)

I hate...
1. when Im out playing some pick up games at the courts, and then you have these dudes that take it way to seriously. as if you're getting paid to play street ball, jesus just play ball and have fun!!! i just want to burn calories i could care less about winning or losing lol


2. I don't see a lot of dancing in out b-boy/b-girl scene here in sd. Please if you're going to learn how break learn how to dance, and LEARN THE HISTORY!!!.


3. that it's been forever since my friends and i had a LAN party for COD MW2 :-( lol cmon guys lets do this!! hahaha


4. my bed, not because it's uncomfortable coz it is comfortable. I hate that its a full size, it takes up too much space in my room, i want to get a sofa bed type thing.


5. that gas prices are still high, do y'all remember when gas actually went down to like 1.80ish? *sigh* really wish gas was that cheap again...


6. ungrateful people. seriously people, don't forget how you started and who taught you. Being humble is key, hard work and consistent practice leads to respect. SO CHECK YO SELF!! and give credit where credit is due.


7. AZ SB 1070.


8. that i have to wait another 3 months for the charges football season, damnit.


9. idiot drivers. i swear the next person to really tailgate me is gettin break checked!!!. if youre driving behind a black 2010 honda civic si sedan in mira mesa with a zulu medallion hanging from the rear view mirror, do not tailgate.


10. it's been a long time since i've been able to get out of san diego for a whole weekend. Lately i've been really wanting to go on a road trip, it doesn't even have to be a long one, going to irvine is good enough to me I JUST NEED TO GET OUT!! lol

MORE STUFF
rd apparel news:
I've been wanting to set up a meeting with the boys to see what we want to do for the rest of this year. I would really love to sell out of our shirts and print out new shit, and really create a buzz. so maybe this summer ill REALLY learn how to use illustrator. :-)

wizards crew:
need to have a meeting with the crew, well now that i've found some time to practice and trying to make an effort to go to jams, and we haven't hung out in a while.

school:
ill be attending both palomar and miramar this coming fall. there are two classes i need to take at palomar so i can move on from miramar. I just know i've got to really buckle down this fall, going to be A LOT of hard work this coming semester if i want to transfer out of community college within the next year or year and a half (summer school here i come??).


MUSIC
PODCASTS

The Super B-beat show
on this episode of The Super B-beat show takes on the word 'squab' and bboy drah hard gives a b-boy tip. the super b-beat show is hosted by san diego's own dj mane one, dj sake, and the son of jarel.

DJ mike rizzy
lately ive been listening to his House Party part 2 mix. I've always loved the music that came out of the 90's and im really glad rizzy did this mix. When i first heard this mix a while ago i knew it was a mix i would listen to over and over again.

the wrath of raf

I've expressed myself about this with various people in my circle of friends, but it's just something I cannot keep to myself anymore.

I thought, when I graduated high school 5 years ago that all that kind of drama will stay in high school. I couldn't have been anymore wrong about that, i guess no matter where you go or how much you want to grow up and do new things, high school type of drama will always be there, not towards me persai, but with whatever im involved in. It's probably got to be THE MOST frustrating thing when I hear about ADULTS having beef. Seriously, beef?!?!? over some dumb ass shit.

I WANT TO BE AN ORGANIZER!! (kamp/zulu/anakbayan, I represent 3 different grass roots organizations.) and having to be mixed in with dumb ass beef is really discouraging. Don't get me wrong, it's not so bad to the point where I just want to stop, but discouraging nonetheless. Just thinking about how dumb some of the beef makes me sad, not sad for ME, sad for my COMMUNITY!, sad because we cant speak unity if we can't even squash the beef, and sad because the youth won't have a solid idea of what my organization(s) really stand for.

Maybe im just angered because i've been educated on how to be an organizer. Maybe because i really care about my community. or MAYBE because before I DIE, i want to make an impact in OUR COMMUNITY! and this beef is keeping me from doing that with the people i organize with. I can't really tell you what is making me feel this hurt and angered but i am.

this isn't a vent, but more a plea for all of us to swallow our pride, step back and look a the bigger picture. do you see it? its beautiful isn't it? our community and issues facing OUR YOUTH is bigger than our organizations, it's bigger than any medallion we could wear, its bigger than any fist we could put in the air. from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of san diego's youth please recognize and realize the bigger picture.

educate, mobilize, and organize.
peace, love, unity and having fun.

music and chargers (LT)

Been a long time since I've updated this thing. A few things some good some bad, but first:
MUSIC!!!
this first mixtape I decided to download because i've always wanted to hear more from this guy. Straight out of Leimert park LA, california is Dom Kennedy, style is straight westcoast, but more lyrical then your typical westcoast cat. If you've never heard of the man, WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN?!?!?! download this shit here!!
(click on picture, it will take you to download page)


another mixtape i checked out is TiRON's Ketchup mixtape. The Homie erwin put me on to this mixtape, and it's really dope. well in my opinion at least, if youre curious check it out!
(click on picture, it will download a .zip file)



BREAK

this past week I read some disturbing news, one of my favorite players of this decade will no longer be with my beloved chargers. Ladainian Tomlinson has come out and said he feels he is done in san diego and he won't be back, this saddens me because he is one of THE biggest reason why the chargers are the team they are today. Not only will i miss seeing him play on sundays, but the city of san diego will miss a person like LT. you will be missed LT, and where ever you land i'm buying your jersey!


thanks for all the memories, GIVE THEM HELL NEXT SEASON!

if kristine did it, and cool kids did it, IT MUST BE GOOD lol

this is a different kind of end of the year wrap up. i could sit here and tell you how much shit i learned and how much i've grown blah blah blah, but thats not what i wanted to do this time around. i took this survey that i saw on not so small talk's blog, and thought it would be cool to do for my blog as well. so as the first post of the new year here it is! enjoy!


1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? have my own (along with erwin and JV) clothing company, and showcase our shirts at sfsu's talentado fashion show! :-D

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? i don't think i had any specific ones.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No.

5. What countries did you visit? none

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? money, and better time management.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory and why? nov. 7th the day me and "eva" met and took her home LOL

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? waking up everyday, and fighting through the struggle that is life.

9. What was your biggest failure? again TIME MAGAGEMENT!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? nope

11. What was the best thing you bought? oh man 4 things 1) authentic LT jersey, 2)my G1, 3)PS3, and finally 4) 2010 honda civic si sedan aka eva lol

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? my friends. a bunch of them have good heads on their shoulders and are heading into the right path, and for that i look up to a lot of them.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? smh @ tiger woods, kanye, gloria macapagal arroyo, and floyd mayweather sr and jr. (fuck those guys)

14. Where did most of your money go? from jan - oct. money went to car insurance for nov and dec money went to car payments.

15. What did you really, really, really get excited about?getting my new car, the 2009 san diego chargers season, and kristine graduation from UCI :-D

16. What song will always remind you of 2009? Run this town - jay-z

17. Compared to this time last year are you:
Happier? yes
Thinner? i wouldn't say thinner, i've gained muscle mass due to crossfit.
Richer? nope, lol. it's all good money management is something i can improve on this year.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? make more of an effort to go bboying on monday and wednesday

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? procrastinate.

20. How did you spend Christmas? usual family party, but it was 10 times better because the charger game was on, and we won! yeahyuh!! lol

21. How will you be spending new years? spent it with family & kristine again :-D, and finally saw the hangover

22. Did you fall in love in 2009? 24/7 365.

23. How many one-night stands? None.

24. What was your favorite TV program?family guy, community, Cleveland show, scrubs, mythbusters, comedy central presents.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? not that i can think of

26. What was the best book you read? didnt read any books in 2009, maybe something i can do in 2010

27. What was your biggest musical discovery? coleman hawkins album "at ease with coleman hawkins"

28. What did you want and you got? a brand new car, ps3, authentic LT jersey, and my G1 (although the battery life could be better lol)

29. What did you want and not get? i've got everything i need and want.

30. What was your favorite film of this year? UP, district 9, the'res a few more that i cant remember.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old did you turn?turned 22, spent it with the homies, and got really thrashed lol

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? if i knew what i was doing in my community is making a difference.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? i have no idea how to describe my style TBH lol

34. What kept you sane? family, friends, and kristine

35. Which celebrity did you fancy the most? alicia keys, need i say more lol

36. What political issue stirred you the most? marriage equality, and immigration laws.

37. Who did you miss? my family in the philippines

38. Who was the best new person you met? Kasamas from different bayan organizations :-D

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:stay positive!

40. Quote or Song Lyric that sums up your year: "don't whine, don't complain, no excuses" and "don't give up, don't ever give up"



biggups and shot outs to:
Kristine
BnB
1520 sedgewick ave. Djs
Rock So Fresh
Swift Wizards Crew
R/D boys
SDA
Anakbayan SD
all the bayan USA orgs
KAMP
the MMHS kamp students, y'all are the best
and to you, the reader.

bring on 2010, im going to give you hell! LET'S GO!!!!