LIFE AS I KNOW IT (GHETTO @ NEWBURGH NEW YORK)

Well first and fore most, I'd like to thank my viewers for stopping by. Well here I am, another chapter of this journey... I haven't had any time to work on the blog much as I'm still homeless and don't have much access to a computer. I now live in Newburgh, one of New York's most dangerous and deprived cities. It's the end of the line, the last place Orange County DSS dumps your sorry ass when your down and out. Since my wife has become very ill, I've had to become her full time care taker, it's not an easy task when you live in the shelter. I work day and night with the little we have to keep us afloat. I get no sleep, barley eat and they treat us like animals. We need to get out of here... We're trying to find a way to move back to NYC, most likely Brooklyn.

Although I will never allow our dreams to die, I used to have everyday goals. Nowadays we just try and make it to the end of the month alive. People tell me smile, be happy... I'd love to. In reality I'm so tired. Everyday is a battle for survival, plus the system is so corrupt. I even had my wife's phone stolen off me by a cop.

I'll never give up on life, someday I might even live. I'm well aware that there are an overwhelming amount of people in the world that suffer much worse, but this path takes me down some rough roads. This is my life, I would die protecting the people I love and the values that keep my dream alive.

If you're reading this and going through hard times yourself... much love to ya, keep ya head up.

If there is one positive note to end on... I realize that I'm a fighter. I will never let anything break me. When it seems the most hopeless and your the most tired, fight like you've never fought before.

One love...

This is some of my scenery:

Support RECAP

RECAP is a non-profit organization that aims to equip low income people with life's basic needs while they receive education, training and valuable experience in order to build a future. We are always in need of donations to our food pantry and will accept any kind of food as long as it's before it's expiration date, no donation is to small. One of our main goals is working towards eliminating hunger in our community. We also provide affordable housing. For more info go to our website: http://recap.org.www.recap.org/

40 Smith Street Middletown New York 10940 P.O. Box 886

(845) 342 3978

L.Vijalanti "Day Of The Underdog Mixtape" FREE DOWNLOAD!!!

Now available for free download click the links below or right click then select save link as..

1.Step Back Feat. Dr.Das (Uptown Were Itz At)

2.Heroes Rmx

3.NY

4.Everyday Struggle

5.Dubstep Murderous

6.Black Swan Rmx Feat. Thome York

7.64 Bar Massacre

8.Drum N Bass Killa

R.I.P Guru

Even though we never met, you had such a positive impact on my life. Your words of wisdom, truth, reality struck a chord in so many. Hip Hop would not be what it is, Gang Starr in essence pioneered the Brooklyn sound. I've always considered you a person who stood up for what mattered and brought light to the world. I would not be were I am without you as a role model. Listening to your music gave me a head start in street smarts and positively influenced my sense of direction as a youth. I hope you would be proud of the music I bring to the world, I will always honer you as the Guru.

Long live Gang Starr,

This legacy is eternal.

R.I.P Guru

Indigenous Resistance and The Freedub project

Indigenous Resistance is a label that promotes the spirit and strength of Indigenous people in the face of oppression worldwide. I will be bringing updates and news on such projects as Dub Reality, which will soon be releasing IR24:Galdino 2010, which features a line up of legendary artists from around the world, collaborating to honer and bring light to the story of Galdino De Jesus Santos, an indigenous Patoxo activist who was tragically murdered in Brazil’s capital Brasilia in 1997.

Much love to all those involved in the fight for justice, it's been an honer knowing and collaborating. Special thanks to Ramjac and Dr. Das, Visionary Underground, Asian dub Foundation and all those who mentored and paved the way for myself and others like me. Without you my own mission would not have been possible.

Stay locked for updates, video footage, news and photography.

Long live I.R.


http://www.dubreality.com/

Visionary Underground

Visionary Underground are one of the livest, most innovative bands I've had the privilege of working with. VU are an electronic, audiovisual drum ’n’ bass/breakbeat band from London. The band consists of DJ Feelfree’s unique, animate beats are fused with hip hop, ragga, soul, dub and Asian styles, accompanied by VJ Coco’s vibrant, interactive visuals, Ramjac, the engineering and percussion wizard (and my mentor) on the drums, along side the legendary Dr. Das (former Asian Dub Foundation bass player) on bass. Damion Mulrain’s soaring vocals are a perfect counterpoint to the fluid delivery of rapper Duane Flames. Their performances are intense, energy driven and flow with passion and consciousness.

Stay posted for news and updates and news about Visionary Underground and the Indigenous Resistance project.

L.Vijalanti "Day Of The Underdog Mixtape" COMING SOON!!!

Coming soon
The L. Vijalanti Mixtape
"Day of the Underdog"

April 23 rd 2010!!

Bringing the sounds of Hip Hop, Drum and Bass, Grime, Dubstep blended with raw, reality driven lyrics. I got love for the movement. If you got love for music like I do don't pass this one by!!! We got this on lock!!!

What is Immortal Tech's Roll In The Obama Era?

Tech is one of the most lyrically advanced, relevant artists ever. He spit in the face of cooperate "hip pop" culture and was everyone's antidote to the lie's and evil perpetrated by the Bush administration. His highly controversial, anti establishment lyrics hit the underground like an atom bomb. Selling over 400,00 cd's with no major label backing, often on the street, he rose up as one of the most successful independent artists of his time. The Peruvian rappers lyrics are largely a mixture of commentary on issues such as politics, poverty, religion, social class and racism. He is also an activist, frequently on the front line, fighting for human rights in the most deprived and hostile countries worldwide.

My Life

Well time to get personal, this is me...

Maybe one of the most slept on artists. One day the world will know me I swear.

That's the crew, Freshkidz are one of the most positive things to happen in the Bronx, Hip Hop, Dancehall and Reggae parties all day. We have a whole stronghold were we have dance battles, sound-clashes and even a recording studio.

K'naan Somali Hip Hop Artist

K'naan spent his childhood doing what he could to survive during the Somali civil war in the early 90's. Such experiences heavily influenced his music. K'naan later moved to Harlem, then to Canada, escaping the war on the last commercial flight to leave Somalia. Undoubtedly, he has a tremendous sense of purpose and is not shy about reflecting it in his music. The proud African speaks of war, poverty, the rich cultural resilience of his people, spoken of in the song "Smile", which brings the message, "smile while your bleeding". In other words, the African way is to find happiness in your existence and wear a smile no matter how painful life is. No doubt, with the brutality and violence these people endure daily, it amounts smiling while your literally bleeding.

K'naan released his debut, "The Dusty Foot Philosopher" One of my personal favorite albums. He speaks of the meaning behind the title, "The Dusty Foot Philosopher" refers to one of his fallen brothers who earned that name from living a life of poverty, but living in a dignified way, having no access to education but being aware of the solar system, having a rich sense of history and culture, being deep with wisdom and poetry.

K'naan also isn't impressed by the so called hardcore rappers who brag about gun play and the hard life in the US ghetto, as he reflects in the song "What's Hardcore".

I think K'naan's music has something in it for everyone. Check his albums out on i-tunes.

NYC Ghetto's, Bronx to Brooklyn, The Forgotten Corners New York

People have a certain fascination with the ghettos of New York. I have tons of photography that I took over time. These are all recent photos, just a few of thousands of shots I took. Believe it or not this is a massive improvement since the 70's and 80's.

L.Vijalanti "Heroes"

This one remixed by myself, L.Vijalanti, for my E.P. Fusing Hip Hop and Drum N Bass in a unique way. This song takes a deep, inward look at our humanity. Do you turn the other cheek when you see injustice on your own doorstep?

Lupe Fiasco's album release pushed back again.

After his single "I'm Beaming" was leaked to the public prematurley, Lupe has delayed the release of his latest album. It's not clear when the public can expect to the superstar's newest music, but he had this to say:

"I was plotting on doing the follow-up to that," Lupe said. "Simply because [Enemy of the State] was short. And I felt like it was space to do another one. I was gonna do another one called Friend to the People, but I started to get wind that people had songs they shouldn't have had. I was like, 'This is just gonna open the floodgates if I come out with another record. I know these dudes are threatening to leak records and do crazy stuff.' Sometimes I feel there may be too much Lupe music out there — whether it be old stuff or new stuff or freestyles. I don't want to have a ton of music sitting out. I made the decision to fall back from it and really focus on the climb. We were a couple of weeks away from doing that."

We can only hope that eager fans will soon get what they've been patiently waiting for. The game needs you Lupe!!!

A NEW YORK SPIN ON UK GRIME

This is one of my latest Grime tracks... For those of you who don't know, "Grime" is a musical style, originating in the UK with roots in UK Garage, Hip Hop, Jungle and Dancehall. Being Pioneered by the likes of Heartless crew, So Solid Crew, Roll Deep and Dizzy Rascal, Grime has emerged as something of the voice of the disenfranchised, UK youth culture. Possibly one of the first to bring this style to New York, I'm not really trying to promote it or create a sub-genre of New York grime. I just think this is what a lot of my music naturally sounds like, being that I was heavily influenced by UK music during my years living out there. What makes my music unique is that I reflect on life experiences in New York and have heavy rap and Dubstep influences fused into the style of grime I produce.

Drunken Tiger, Korea's best rapper?

One of the most original and innovative artists to take the stage, he's a legend in Korea. His music is powerful and a breath of fresh air in the rap game. Having lived in LA at the age of 12, he witnessed the LA riots and experienced the racial tension first hand. With an aim of inspiring unity, his music breaks down many cultural barriers. Drunken Tiger is as controversial as he is passionate. Many anti establishment and sexual themes are common in his music. I chose to put him in this blog as I'm a big fan and consider him very relevant to hip hop and world culture. So I leave you with "Monster"

THE PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM (Intrologue: "Mind Control, Energy Harvesting & The Grand Central Terminal")

This video follows the subliminal symbolism we encounter which is designed to control our minds. Many techniques of behavioral modification exist to keep us in our slot. Our system depends on these methods of social control to to exist. The ignorance of the masses keeps this culture of wage slaves running the machine while the ruling elite cash in on production profit and expand their reaches of power worldwide. This video goes into specific symbolism that subliminally alters our consciousness in attempt to hold us in that particular cube shaped mind set.

Middletown New York

This is Middletown New York, a place that like any other, contains the good, the bad and the ugly. Being that this place is becoming over run by drugs and gangs, I hope the rapid decline dosn't destroy a good town. Here's some of what I see day to day...

L.Vijalanti "Open Your Eyes" Feat. Tomphonic

This is a song I recorded I think back in 07, produced by Tomphonic. I used my photography mixed with various art to try and tell the story.

Back to The Bronx

Over the years, many places have been home to me... The Bronx was my habitat through some crazy times. There wasn't a place like it. The noise, intensity in the air. All times of day music echoing off every building, drowning out the shouting in the background. Upstairs downstairs, parties all day and night, seven days a week. I still go back to visit... I still record and produce music with people there. Whichever way you look at it, living there shaped me as a person, for better or for worse. Here is what life looks like back Uptown.

Upstate Blizzard!

Ok, so we took pics and videos upstate after two days of being pounded by snow. Orange County is in a state of emergency right now, everything is literally shut down. Here are the pics I took, from Last night to today.