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Showing posts from June, 2017

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Why You Should Be Proud of Kevin Durant's 1st NBA Championship

Mistah Wilson talks about reasons why you should be proud of Kevin Durant winning his 1st NBA Championship with the Golden State Warriors.

Why Dishwashers Quit Their Jobs

Are you a restaurant owner and/or manager? Are you in charge of the hiring/firing process of employees? Mistah Wilson touches on the untouched subject of dishwashers and why they quit their jobs.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Ken Griffey, Jr. Career Highlights

Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, California by Mistah Wilson Photography

HISTORIC LANDMARK: Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA, USA

The Mare Island Naval Shipyard (MINSY) was the first United States Navy base established on the Pacific Ocean. It is located 25 miles northeast of San Francisco in Vallejo, California . The Napa River goes through the Mare Island Strait  and separates the peninsula shipyard ( Mare Island, California ) from the main portion of the city of Vallejo. MINSY made a name for itself as the premier US West Coast submarine port as well as serving as the controlling force in San Francisco Bay Area shipbuilding efforts during World War II. The base closed in 1996 and has gone through several redevelopment phases. It was registered as a California Historical Landmark in 1960, and parts of it were declared a  National Historic Landmark District in 1975. Learn More...

EVENT: Fourth of July Americafest at the Rose Bowl 7/4/17

Americafest at the Rose Bowl is an explosive celebration of all things red, white and blue—from the classic American food, to a motorcycle stunt show, to the world-renowned fireworks display. The fireworks won't shoot off until 9pm, but the Rose Bowl will open at 2pm Independence Day, at which time access to a goldmine of inflatable rides, games and crafts will be available for kid-friendly fun. Parking for the event will cost $20, but you can make it worth your while with an afternoon of tailgating outside the stadium. More Information...

INTERVIEW: Suntonio Bandanaz (Asun) on Collabs, Seattle's Hip Hop Legacy, and Life in the Northwest

Meet Suntonio Bandanaz aka Asun, a pioneer of Seattle Hip Hop

Suntonio Bandanaz, (aka Asun) is a core MC and spearhead of the pioneering Seattle collective of Mc’s, deejays, b-boys, and other artist-visionaries, known as Alpha P. (1st Platoon). Having overcome hardship and struggle in his own coming-of-age, this veteran artist consciously utilizes music as a platform to not only entertain, but also to uplift and empower. A sophisticated lyricist committed to keeping rap clever, Suntonio Bandanaz’ distinctive style has influenced many other local up-n-comers over the years. Bandanaz is an MC’s MC– as highly skilled freestyler as writer; whose chop is as sharp as his flow is smooth, and who can hype even the mellowist crowd. As an active member of the global hip hop community, Suntonio Bandanaz has shared stage with the respected likes of Afrika Bambaataa, Dead Prez, Abstract Rude, Percee P, The Jacka and Living Legends; and collaborated with many of Seattle’s prominent emcees and deejays. Over the years, Bandanaz has forged strong relationships wi...

Man Free Handles Black Widow Spider to Prove They Are Not Out to Bite You

In this segment of On Location, Coyote free handles a Black Widow spider! Yes you read that correct, in an attempt to prove that this widely feared arachnid is actually rather docile and always more interested in avoiding humans than inflicting a bite, Coyote will attempt hold one with his bare hands. He does this with the confidence that these mild mannered creatures will actually remain calm if unprovoked…but there is always the slight chance and the question...WILL IT BITE?! Well if Coyote is bitten the consequences will be extremely painful and potentially deadly, so the team will be on standby to call for medics just incase the worst scenario actually unfolds…to be BITTEN by a Black Widow Spider! YIKES! Get ready, this video is going to be INTENSE!

EVENT: 626 Night Market (6/30/17)

The midnight snacker's greatest fantasy is just a car ride away. One of America's largest Asian food markets spans the course of Santa Anita Park's front Paddock Gardens (285 W Huntington Dr). Come hungry and come caffeinated—this lively market, complete with over 150 Asian street food and booze peddlers, live music, artists, films, games, and beyond, won't put itself to bed until 1am on Friday and Saturday (and midnight on Sunday). The event has also expanded its way to Orange County. More Information...

The Harsh Truth about Music Streaming Services

DJ Akademiks Speaks on Spotify Announcing They Will Now allow Record Labels to pay to place Songs in your playlists.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Grant Hill Top10 Career Highlights

1300 North Chester Avenue & 1300 East Washington Boulevard, Pasadena, California by Mistah Wilson Photography

Havoc of Mobb Deep pays tribute to Prodigy (Rest In Peace)

Mobb Deep’s Havoc paid tribute to his collaborator Prodigy, who died at the age of 42. The rapper posted two photos on Instagram, the first of which is an image of he and Prodigy during the early days of Mobb Deep simply captioned: “Forever.” The second is a classic black and white photograph of Prodigy that’s been circulating online over the past few hours.  Read More...

HISTORIC LANDMARK: Little Tokyo Historic District, Los Angeles, California, USA

Little Tokyo, also known as Little Tokyo Historic District, is an ethnically Japanese American district in downtown Los Angeles and the heart of the largest Japanese-American population in North America. It is one of only three official  Japantowns in the United States, all in California (the other two are Japantown, San Francisco and Japantown, San Jose ). Founded around the beginning of the 20th century, the area, sometimes called Lil' Tokyo, J-Town, 小東京 (Shō-tōkyō), is the cultural center for Japanese Americans in Southern California . It was declared a National Historic Landmark District  in 1995. Learn More...

About the Character of DC Superhero "Wonder Woman"

Diana is depicted as a masterful athlete, acrobat, fighter and strategist, trained and experienced in many ancient and modern forms of armed and unarmed combat, including exclusive Amazonian martial arts. In some versions, her mother trained her, as Wonder Girl, for a future career as Wonder Woman. From the beginning, she is portrayed as highly skilled in using her Amazon bracelets to stop bullets and in wielding her golden lasso. Batman once called her the "best melee fighter in the world". The modern version of the character is known to use lethal force when she deems it necessary. In the New 52 continuity, her superior combat skills are the result of her Amazon training, as well as receiving further training from Ares, the God of War, himself, since as early as her childhood. The Golden Age Wonder Woman also had knowledge in psychology, as did her Amazon sisters.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Tracy McGrady Career Highlights

700 Canon Drive, Pasadena, California by Mistah Wilson Photography

HISTORIC LANDMARK: Columbia State Historic Park, Columbia, CA, USA

The site was proclaimed a state historic park in 1946, and the restored buildings are operated as an inhabited, working open-air museum . Individuals in period costumes run a handmade candy store, a Daguerreotype studio, and stagecoach rides, among other stores and restaurants. The Columbia Museum, formerly the Cavalier Museum, is located in the Knapp building. Volunteers with the Friends of Columbia State Historic Park host many special living history programs at the park each year. During Gold Rush Days, held the second Saturday of each month, park docents in period clothing lead programs in the park, and there are special exhibits and hands-on activities. Free tours of the town are offered on weekends year-round and daily in the summer. Learn More...

Blind rapper Mr. Frantastic delivers Raw PASADENA Hip Hop (LIVE PERFORMANCE)

You might have seen Mr. Frantastic on tha streets of Pasadena, or you may have even heard his exclusive interview on WilsonBlock100 Radio (that can be found here ). He gives Pasadena Music Scene an exclusive LIVE PERFORMANCE of his song "PASADENA". Mr. Frantastic produced the beat and wrote the lyrics for this song.  We just tryin' to keep local Hip Hop alive. Check it out.

ThaWilsonBlock Magazine Issue52 (June 2017)

Read    ///    Download Singer/Songwriter K-Syran talks Inspiration, Influence, and her latest single "Dizzy" + 40 Years of Hip Hop + Poetry + Musicians + Photography + Kevin Hart + Bando Kev + Ravoshia + Emani + Bizzy Bone + Chris Rock + De La Soul + Pharrell Williams + Roxanne Shante + and so much more...

About the Character of DC AntiHero "Deadshot"

Deadshot is often a hired assassin , regularly boasting to "never miss." He is capable of using a large variety of weapons, but is most frequently portrayed as using a pair of silenced, wrist-mounted guns. He initially appears in Gotham City as a new crime fighter, but is revealed to be an enemy of Batman when he attempts to replace the Dark Knight. He is sent to jail when Batman and Commissioner Gordon publicly expose his plot to become the king of Gotham's underworld. After serving his term, Deadshot begins hiring his services out as an assassin, changing his costume from the top hat and tails he previously wore to a red jumpsuit and distinctive metal face plate with a targeting device on the right side. Deadshot's past is revealed in subsequent appearances. His real name is Floyd Lawton and he grew up in a wealthy household with his mother, abusive father, and brother Eddie. Eddie was beloved by his parents and the other towns people, while Floyd was a troubled c...

EVENT: Los Angeles African Music and Arts Festival (6/14/17)

The Los Angeles African Music and Arts Festival will bring together the majesty of African music, Arts, fashion, food and business. We seek to bring artists from various regions of the continent to share their music, arts and culture with the Los Angeles audiences. Top artists from the world of music plus the best in cuisine, this will be a powerful platform for the exchange of African and American culture. June 14th - June 18th (2017) Exposition Park, California Science Center Samuel Oschin Pavilion 700  Drive Los Angeles, CA 90037, 90037 Los Angeles, United States Tickets / RSVP

800 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, California by Mistah Wilson Photography

Birdman offers to Executive Produce 50 Cent's 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' 2?

  Birdman to executive produce 50 Cent ’s next album? Apparently, that’s what he’s wanting & offering to do. On Tuesday night, the Cash Money CEO revealed that he told 50 Cent that he wanted to executive produce his next album, and he guaranteed it would go platinum plus. “Told 50 Cent I wanna executive produce his next album it’s guaranteed platinum plus #getrixhordietrying Pt. 2 let’s get it” Birdman’s captioned read with a picture of the album cover for 2003’s Get Rich Or Die Tryin'.   Told @50cent I wanna executive produce his next album 🔥it's guaranteed platinum plus #getrixhordietryin .P2 let's getit💰 A post shared by Birdman5star (@birdman5star) on Jun 6, 2017 at 3:05pm PDT

"Wonder Woman" Trailer & Movie Review

EVENT: Comedian Kevin Hart's New Book Tour Signing in Los Angeles, CA 6/12/17

View / Order "I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons" Book by Kevin Hart It begins in North Philadelphia. He was born an accident, unwanted by his parents. His father was a drug addict who was in and out of jail. His brother was a crack dealer and petty thief. And his mother was overwhelmingly strict, beating him with belts, frying pans, and his own toys. The odds, in short, were stacked against our young hero, just like the odds that are stacked against the release of a new book in this era of social media (where Hart has a following of over 100 million, by the way). But Kevin Hart, like Ernest Hemingway, JK Rowling, and Chocolate Droppa before him, was able to defy the odds and turn it around. In his literary debut, he takes the reader on a journey through what his life was, what it is today, and how he’s overcome each challenge to become the man he is today. I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons is officially available for order over at Amazon and Audible . Hart also kicks o...

NBA FINALS: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors: A NEW RIVALRY?

For the 3rd straight year, Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers have met with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, the highest level tournament of professional basketball. Though, these teams haven't yet built up a championship legacy like that of the Lakers vs. Celtics, or Bulls vs. Pistons, it can be perceived that three Finals appearances in a row can constitute a newfound rivalry.  Comment your thoughts below...

About the Character of DC Supervillain "Ra's al Ghul"

Ra's al Ghul is an international criminal mastermind whose ultimate goal is a world in perfect environmental balance. He believes that the best way to achieve this balance is to eliminate most of humanity . Ra's usually tries to assault the world's human populace with a biological weapon , such as a  genetically-engineered virus . He is aided in this quest by the Lazarus Pits , reservoirs of rejuvenating chemicals that restore the dead and dying to life; these pits have granted him a lifespan of several centuries. He regards Batman as his worthiest opponent, addressing him as "Detective" out of respect for his intellectual brilliance, and has frequently sought to make the Dark Knight his successor. He is one of the few criminals in Batman's rogues gallery to have deduced his secret identity as Bruce Wayne , but keeps silent on the matter due to the same sense of respect for Batman. For his own part, Batman's opposition to Ra's is complicated by both...

HISTORIC LANDMARK: Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California, USA

Alcatraz Island is located in San Francisco Bay , 1.25 miles (2.01 km) offshore from San Francisco , California , United States . The small island was developed with facilities for a lighthouse , a military fortification, a military prison (1868), and a federal prison from 1934 until 1963. Beginning in November 1969, the island was occupied for more than 19 months by a group of Native Americans from San Francisco who were part of a wave of Native  activism across the nation with public protests through the 1970s. In 1972, Alcatraz became part of a national recreation area and received designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. Today, the island's facilities are managed by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area ; it is open to tours. Visitors can reach the island by ferry ride from Pier 33, near Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco . Hornblower Cruises and Events, operating under the name Alcatraz Cruises, is the official...

A Look Back at Tupac Shakur's Interviews: "I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world."

Tupac Amaru Shakur engaged with the media as effectively as any Hip-Hop artist, ever. Presumably influenced by Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, John Lennon, and the great political and artistic minds he studied, Pac commanded the spotlight. Long before his albums and songs topped the charts, he was on the radar of MTV, BET, The Arsenio Hall Show, newspapers, and the magazines spilling off of the shelves in the 1990s. To get inside Shakur’s mind proved to be as exciting and rewarding as any listen to his music. Some of those statements, whether on Venice Beach, outside a Manhattan courthouse, or in the recording studio, are quoted as heavily as his lyrics. Read More...

40 Years of Hip Hop in 4 Minutes (Music Mashup)

An audiovisual clip has provided a mind-blowing multimedia experience in which 40 years of Hip-Hop history are packed into 4 minutes. Created by The Hood Internet, the video is both a montage of tens of music videos from over the years, and also an audio mashup of hundreds of Hip-Hop classics. According to the clip’s description, over 100 artists and 150 songs are represented. Between the audio and the visual, literally 40 years of the history of the culture are covered. Hip-Hop fans will be hard pressed to find a more satisfying 4-minute slice of life. Artists covered include the following: 2 Pac, 50 Cent, A Tribe Called Quest, Afrika Bambaataa, Audio Two, AZ, Beastie Boys, BG, Big Pun, Biz Markie, Black Rob, Black Sheep, Blackstreet, Bobby Shmurda, Boogie Down Productions, Busta Rhymes, Cali Swag District, Cam’ron, Chamillionaire, Chance The Rapper, Clipse, Common, Craig Mack, Cypress Hill, David Banner, De La Soul, Dead Prez, Digable Planets, Digital Underground, DJ Jazzy Jeff &...

Bando Kev Exclusive Interview on New Music, The Journey, and Staying Humble

PHOTOGRAPHY: Full Parking Lot. Manhattan, NY. (1953) by Swiss photographer Werner Bischof

EVENT: Parlor Talk on How To Fight Mansionization In Your Neighborhood (Discussion) 6/8/17

PARLOR TALK DIY Advocacy: How To Fight Mansionization In Your Neighborhood Thursday, June 8 | 6:00 - 7:00pm Tickets: Member FREE | Non-Member $5 Mansionization is the practice of demolishing older smaller homes and replacing them with new buildings that are significantly larger and out of character with the surrounding neighborhood. Historic neighborhoods are particularly at risk when the land value exceeds the home value. What can you do to protect your own neighborhood? How is the City of Pasadena dealing with the mansionization issue? This Parlor Talk event will introduce how you can combat incompatible new development and explain existing regulations, such as development standards and overlay zones. Free for Members, $5 for Non-members.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: De La Soul (1987)

De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island , New York. The group is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres. The members are Posdnuos , Dave and Maseo . The three formed the group in high school and caught the attention of producer Prince Paul with a demo tape of the song " Plug Tunin' ". With its playful wordplay, innovative sampling, and witty skits, the band's debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising , has been called "a hip hop masterpiece." De La Soul's debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising , released in 1989, was a critical smash hit in the hip hop genre. They quickly became prominent members of the Native Tongues Posse along with A Tribe Called Quest , Black Sheep , Queen Latifah , the Jungle Brothers and others. The single " Me Myself and I " became a huge hit, further cementing the group's popularity...

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