MC PROTOTYPE - CHASING DREAMS FT. SCARUB | OFFICIAL VIDEO

Yeah, I know, it's been a while, and I'm gonna do my best to update this blog more often. So what better way to get back into it than with my big brother MC Prototype's new music video!

"Chasing Dreams" was filmed and directed by Original Knockoff, the same team that brought you Pro's last video. The song and video features an all-star cast of players: CookBook of LA Symphony produced the track, DJ Nickyboi(Surf Ninjas Crew) provided the cuts, Brett Woods, who also sang on "She Is" off The Ones Overlooked, and a true living legend(literally!) Scarub of the Living Legends and Afro Classics.



Conscious of the mixtape-driven industry, MC Prototype is redefining the limitations of traditional Hip-Hop songs. By teaming up with a nonprofit organization, "Chasing Dreams" is more than just a single, it's a campaign and a movement for hope. More info will be announced soon on Pro's site. For now, enjoy the video, leave comments, and take something away from this song.

One last thing... Pro is wearing the ETRNLST drip tee in the video! I can't even begin to explain how cool that is. I'm honored and thankful to know such amazing people.

EMPIRE MINDSTATE AT INKSLAM 2010

Inspiration is everywhere. I'm proud to say that my friends inspire me and continue to inspire me everyday. If you have been following my blog for a while, you might remember this post from April, which featured my friends, Shane Romero and SuperB. And yeah, that's MC Prototype in the second video. You didn't know he got down like that too? Now you know!

Shane, SuperB, Proto, and the whole Empire Mindstate slam team competed in the annual Ink Slam about a month prior to competing in Nationals this summer. Enjoy these two videos and be inspired.

MC PROTOTYPE - "CAN'T HIDE" (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

It's been a long time coming, but it's finally here... the official music video for "Can't Hide"! I know I'm kind of late, but I didn't have a computer with me in NY. 

I'm a huge fan of this and everything Proto and OK have done together, and I believe things can only get bigger and better from here. To everyone at the MC Prototype camp, I salute you.

CAN'T HIDE (TRAILER)

MC Prototype teamed up with Original Knockoff again, but this time the final product was a music video for the first single off Proto's latest EP, The Ones Overlooked. I got a chance to watch the rough cut of the video a while ago, and judging off of that, the finished version is going be amazing.

ORIGINAL KNOCKOFF PRESENTS: MC PROTOTYPE

Remember Gabe and Dennis from the "Work in Progress" videos I posted a while ago? They were doing a lot of work at Paid Dues this year, too! They got to interview some of the big names on the bill, like Ice Cube and...MC Prototype?! Watch the rest of their videos here.

Oh, before the interview you get a sneak peak of Proto's new music video, "Can't Hide."

GSS SANTA ANA IN-STORE

Last night, Cook & UNO and Proto & DJ Nickyboi gave the crowd at GCS in Santa Ana a lesson on how to have fun and STILL be hip hop. I usually only go to the Pomona location, but the GCS in Santa Ana is really nice too!

CLASSICS SESSION

Last Thursday, Afro Classics, MC Prototype, and Curtiss King blessed the Session A crowd at Cal Poly with solid performances. It was great having Scarub and Very come out to do the show at my school. But I have to say the highlight of the night was DJ Nickyboi coming out from behind his tables to get on the mic with Proto during "G.I.G." All in all, the show was bananas!

FAT BEATS INSTORE

Aside from yesterday's Mother's Day festivities, MC Prototype and DJ Nickyboi performed at Fat Beats in LA with our friends CookBook and UNO Mas of LA Symphony. These guys are quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite hip-hop duos. I HIGHLY recommend picking up their album, C&U Music Factory.

Lex and Kray-Z even got a chance to perform a couple Alpha de Omega songs too. These kids have a real unique and fresh style.

All in all, it was a good time with good friends. Next stop on the mini-instore tour is GCS in Santa Ana on Saturday, May 15. See you there.

RADIO FUTURA IN-STORE

The Downtown Pomona Art Walk is always a great time. From galleries to performance venues, there's something to see everywhere you go. Last night, we spent most of our time at Radio Futura's in-store, where Tomorrow, Yesterday, Cookbook and Uno Mas (LA Symphony), and MC Prototype and DJ Nickyboi performed. Our friends at Original Knockoff also started filming scenes for Proto's new music video.

Radio Futura carries a lot of music that you may have a hard time finding at most other record stores. They have been open since 1997 and are still going strong. They currently have two physical locations in Pomona and Alhambra, alongside their online store. Check out one of the stores when you get a chance. Support your local scene.

MC Prototype & DJ Nickyboi:

 Yep and T.i.E (Tomorrow, Yesterday):

PROTO AND HIS FANS (PAID DUES PT. 2)

While I was at the show, I met a lot of cool people. Some of these people were familiar with Proto and his music, but some never heard of him or his music until the show. Here are some more pictures I took that day.

This is Kayla and Kenny. They're from New Mexico and they drove all the way to San Bernardino, CA for the show. I talked to Kenny for a little while before the show and he said that he has never heard MC Prototype. I ran into him after the set and it looks like they'll be taking something back with them to New Mexico.

Met this guy walking around while he was doing some promo work for Ballin' for Peace. He said he knew Prototype's music through his cousin. Peep the GCS shirt he's wearing!

These kids have never heard any of Proto's music, but still decided to pick up some shirts.

This is Billy. He drove to Paid Dues from Arizona. He's a true fan of hip-hop. Read his story here.

This kid said he didn't know about Proto before Paid Dues, and he ended up picking up a shirt. He actually wanted a couple different colors, but we were out of his size in the other color he was looking for. Next time, homie!

This is my friend Matt and his girlfriend. We go to school together. He just had surgery on his knee and he was still on his feet all day at the show. Another true fan of hip-hop.

These kids were dope!...and that's Proto being Proto.

This is Kareem. I was talking to him while he was in line to meet Murs and 9th Wonder. He told me he followed the Proto For Paid Dues videos and that he was a fan. Coincidentally, Proto was walking by and ended up standing in line for Kareem while he went to pick up a copy of The Ones Overlooked.

This guy works for Rhymesayers.

PAID DUES 2010

This year's Paid Dues Festival was incredible. The fact that I got to spend it with some great friends made it even better. This year's show was exceptionally special because my good friend MC Prototype was on the bill. He even got a special introduction by Murs. Congrats Proto!

While I was doing promotional work for Proto's new EP The Ones Overlooked, I got to watch a lot of other performers' sets. One that really stood out for me was Afro Classics. Scarub(Living Legends) and Very are really good at what they do. After their set, I picked up 2 of their CDs and talked to them for a bit. Those guys are real down-to-earth.

On the main stage, we saw Psycho Realm, Dilated Peoples, Tha Dogg Pound, Jay Electronica, Raekwon, Murs and 9th, and West Coast legend, Ice Cube. I could go on for days talking about how cool it was to see each of these artists. Paid Dues has gotten better every year since they started it, so I can only imagine how good next year's show is going to be.

Proto doing what he does. Photo by Dennis Chung for Original Knockoff. The rest of the pictures are mine.

1 part of the team - Lex Diamond, Kray-Z K, and me on the curb. These guys host a show called Daily Duels. Any MCs want to battle, hit them up! Oh, they battle too and they're both really good.

SuperB and Proto. Check out this video SuperB did with our friend Shane Romero.

I'm a fan too! Me and Scarub(Afro Classics/Living Legends).

Another part of the team, David (BLK) and Kei-O. 3 tracks on Proto's new EP were produced by Kei-O.

To be continued...