The Q at Parkside

(for those for whom the Parkside Q is their hometrain)

News and Nonsense from the Brooklyn neighborhood of Lefferts and environs, or more specifically a neighborhood once known as Melrose Park. Sometimes called Lefferts Gardens. Or Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. Or PLG. Or North Flatbush. Or Caledonia (west of Ocean). Or West Pigtown. Across From Park Slope. Under Crown Heights. Near Drummer's Grove. The Side of the Park With the McDonalds. Jackie Robinson Town. Home of Lefferts Manor. West Wingate. Near Kings County Hospital. Or if you're coming from the airport in taxi, maybe just Flatbush is best.

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Alkaline Shooting Video In Front Of Pepa's

Did you see a fantastic mob dancing along to a short cool looking Jamaican dude in a convertible right in front of Pepa's right about now? Had to ask of course, but that's Alkaline, and his millions of fans love his dancehall stylings. The Q loves all kindsa music, including dancehall, but damned if I can't stand it when rappers use the auto-tune to sing. I was also going to embed a video, but they're all women twerking, and I figure if that's your thang you can go on Youtube and watch for yourself. The whole twerking thing seems kinda silly, but if I'm honest, were it directed specifically at me, I'd probably find it anything but silly. I may be a middle-aged blogger, but that hasn't beat the red-blooded american male out of me.

Here's what it says from his bio, case you're curious. I admit, the grooves are pretty catchy and the lyrics bop and weave, but yorkle, that voice...makes me yearn for Eddie Veder and yarl, and that's saying something.

Twenty year old Dancehall artist Alkaline says his music represents everything that society is afraid of and society represents everything that he is afraid of. Alkaline comes to the fore with a bundle of hardcore rhymes, killer hooks and slick production, and undoubtedly one of the "Baddest” lyricist.

Describing himself as an ‘in di streets yute’, ALKALINE, whose real name is Earlan Bartley, was born in 1993 ‘under the clock’ in Kingston at the Victory Jubilee Hospital.

Alkaline’s first attempt at committing lyrics to paper was age 14, and by 16 he was already recording and producing his own records. Whilst at Ardenne High, where he completed his high school studies, Alkaline balanced school and the groundwork of a solo career by recording music in and around local studios whenever he got the chance. At Ardenne High he copped six Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) subjects and currently pursues a first degree in Media and Communication at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.

Alkaline is a major Martin Luther King enthusiast and in addition to loving “LIFE” and his music he lists fashion, fishing and playing video games among his passions.

His personal style is not that of a typical artist, but one with a sort of urban edgy with a twist hardcore appeal. One he dubs as dancehall meets urban pop rock culture.

4 comments:

nope said...

umm... "mob"? really?

Clarkson FlatBed said...

Look it up. Secondary definition. Large group of regular folks.

Your point?

Clarkson FlatBed said...

Actually, pop stars have a great tradition of being mobbed. Elvis, the Beatles, the Smiths for godsake...so I'd think Alkaline would be proud.

Was the mob angry? Of course not. Was the mob disorderly? Only if you wanted to pass by or get some jerk chicken, or needed to move your car. The cops eventually dispersed the crowd but only after watching patiently for awhile and allowing the video to finish shooting. I saw some guy come up and say it would take just a couple more times rolling the song and the cops said okay.

I think NOT getting a permit was kind of the point. If you want to make it look like a real mobbing of the pop star, probably best to let it happen naturally.

Anonymous said...

As a woman who loves dancing and takes it seriously as an art form I think twerking is pathetic. As is all kinds of dancing that's merely girls and women trying to look sexy. It's not responsive to the music, doesn't show respect for music to dance the same way to absolutely everything. Why do men get to dance innovative cool ways but women only get to simulate sex? Whatever, gross. It's the opposite of creative to make a video that's nothing but twerking. Anti-creative. An artistic vacuum.