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June 16,2007
Deep Dickollective's ON SOME OTHER Available 6/22/2007!
"....sounds like Ntozake Shange's black poetic shout come three decades
later with a cock ring and a refusal to erase queer black existence."
Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarahsinha-
NOW Toronto Weekly 6/2007
OAKLAND, California - Following an extended “vacation” to accommodate
the expanding solo recording and performance schedules of its members, Deep Dickollective (D/DC) has returned in classic form
with "On Some Other", (on Sugartruck Recordings). The CD is the group’s fifth overall release and first studio recording
since 2004’s "The Famous Outlaw League Of Proto Negroes", a 2005 Outmusic Award double nominee and Out Magazine Top
Ten Gay Albums of 2004 selection.
Since the release of their groundbreaking debut "BourgieBohoPostPomoAfroHomo"
in 2001, D/DC has been a creative and cultural force driving popular and academic discourse around race, class, queerness
and masculinity as reflected in the burgeoning “homohop” subculture.
Appearing in countless features, essays, and articles in LGBT and
mainstream media, D/DC has toured colleges and festivals around the U.S. and Canada since mid 2001, winning the Best Hip Hop
Group award in the 2003 San Francisco Bay Guardian readers poll, and came to more recent mainstream attention through
their central presence in Alex Hinton’s documentary "Pick Up The Mic".
Premiering at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival, "Pick Up The
Mic" has since screened in 50+ film festivals internationally,broadcast recurrently on the LOGO network and will be released
to DVD in fall 2007. The resultant exposure created more tour and lecture opportunities for the groups co-founders, Juba Kalamka
(Pointfivefag) and Tim’m West (25Percenter). West released his solo debut Songs From Red Dirt and the accompanying poetic
memoir Red Dirt Revival, while Sugartruck Recordings founder Kalamka received the 2005 Creating Change Award from the
National Gay And Lesbian Task Force, toured the U.S. with Sex Workers Art Show and continued his promotion of independent
queer hip hop artists through Sugartruck and direction of the PeaceOUT World Homohop Festival, which celebrates its seventh
year in 2007.
“We never really expected to become so busy,” says Kalamka,
who finished an MFA in Poetics during the gap between albums and began his second solo recording project as well. “Deep
Dic has always been more a collaborative space than a traditional hip hop group, and as such we’ve been adamant about
not stifling our individual creativity. We’ve continued doing spot dates at colleges though we live in different cities.
Still, it was a challenge to get back into the group’s groove. It’s a testament to how hard everyone worked that
On Some Other is so cohesive.”
Featuring performances by new members Leslie “Buttaflysoul”
Taylor (Def Poetry Jam) emerging producer/emcee Baraka Noel and vocalist /songwriter Solis B. Lalgee, On Some Other
‘s sound is reflective of the variety of experiences the groups’ members have had over the past few years and
their resultant growth . Recorded primarily at Oakland’s Killer Banshee Studios (Tribe 8, Sister Spit, By Hook Or By
Crook) Kalamka produced the bulk of the CD, which includes major contributions from New York based poet/producer baron. and
homohop vet Tori Fixx (Johnny Dangerous, Rainbow Flava, Deadlee).
On Some Other will be available online through sugartruckrecordings.som,
Amazon.com, CDBaby, iTunes and many independent music outlets throughout the U.S, Canada and abroad, Deep
Dickollective celebrates the release with a performance at Toronto Pride’s Labatt South Stage (Church and Dundas
streets) on Friday, June 22 at 10pm.
------
------
PRIDE PREVIEW:
queer hiphop
heroes
Deep Dickollective dish up politics and positivity
By LEAH LAKSHMI PIEPZNA-SAMARASINHA
DEEP DICKOLLECTIVE with BELLA DONNA and the AWAKENING, DJ NIK RED, SHANTE
PARADIGM, JOHNNY DANGEROUS and CAZWELL on the South Stage (Church and Wood), Friday (June 22), 10 pm (show starts at 6). Free.
www.pridetoronto.com.
STORY:
I'm one of those dykes who dig Deep Dick. Deep Dickollective make me happy. Five out queer black men producing
tight DIY hiphop about Essex Hemphill, dads, lovers and the international queer black diaspora to beats you can shake your
ass to - are you kidding?
Mainstaging it for Pride Friday night on the South Stage, DDC launch their latest album, On Some Other, alongside an
all-queer hiphop lineup that includes Toronto's own Belladonna and the Awakening and DJ Nik Red and New York and Chicago's
Shante Paradigm, Johnny Dangerous and Cazwell. It feels like the DCC's pulling off the miraculous and impossible.
And it's not the first time for the miraculous. Since Juba Kalamka and Tim'm West founded the Deepdickollective after
a chance meeting at a Bay Area screening of Marlon Riggs's landmark black gay film Tongues Untied in 2000, they've been at
the centre of the homo-hop movement and launched Peace Out, a three-day festival of queer hiphop that's branched out into
New York's Peace Out East and Peace Out UK.
Pick Up The Mic, Alex Hinton's documentary about queers in hiphop, in which the DDC had a prominent role, had a sold-out
premier at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival and was a fave at festivals internationally.
"There's no way I'd have believed you if you'd told me seven years ago I'd be doing this," says Kalamka on his land line
at his east Oakland home way early Saturday morning, before his baby daughter wakes up and he has to make it to the studio.
Locally, Blockorama is at year 10 and taking up space on Church Street for the first time, moving to the parking lot
outside the Beer Store. And as transphobic as it is, this year's Michigan Womyn's Music Festival has a lineup thick with independent
queer-of-colour hiphop artists: D'Lo, Skim from L.A. and Brooklyn's Hanifah Walidah (ex of the early-90s Brooklyn Funk Essentials,
now rocking a baldie and a fedora.) This ain't your mama's Indigo Girl.
So have queers in hiphop arrived? And what does "arrived" mean?
I came of age dancing in Club Manhattan's weekly jams in the late 90s, where underground heroes like DJ BlackKat brought
hiphop and dancehall to an all queer and trans, mostly black crowd. We went to Manhattan's like we were searching for water,
and found it. Hiphop in a queer-of-colour space was like church for us.
When the building next to the club collapsed, destroying both, in 2002, the party moved on: to BlackKat's nights at Tequila
Lounge, the annual Pelau jump-ups at Caribana and smaller nights at the Concord Café.
So, like many queers of colour I know, I was surprised when Big Primpin', a mostly white West Queen West monthly queer
night that spins hiphop, was hyped as the first queer hiphop club in Toronto a few years ago.
The 99 per cent white hipster scene for whom the music is often kooky and ironic isn't why or how I came to hiphop.
While I'm sure some folks who go to Big Primpin' genuinely love the music and culture of hiphop, I find the way the night
has been hyped as "Toronto's first queer hiphop club" an insulting erasure of all the years of queers of colour throwing down
and dancing at Toronto hiphop nights and being involved as MCs, DJs, b-boys and girls and producers in Toronto's hiphop communities.
It's an example of who gets to blow up and who gets overlooked – and who profits – when a despised culture
suddenly becomes hip.
According to Kalamka, after Pick Up The Mic a lot of the artists involved thought major labels would come knocking but
were disappointed. "MySpace is now flooded with gay hiphop artists, but like all of MySpace, some of them are good and a lot
of them are bad.
"As loath as we are to admit it, queer consumers are just as sheeplike as straight people. The masses of them don't have
a deconstructionist relation to capitalism any more than straight people do, and they're many times more vociferous and hungry
for validation: 'Let's get on Will & Grace!' We've never been about that," says Kalamka.
He credits Deep Dickollective's continued success to their commitment to remaining community-based, underground artists
and their creation of their own micro-label, SugarTruck Recordings (named after a passing older black man nodded at the DDC
and said, "Mmm-mmm, looks like somebody just fell off the sugar truck") on which they self-release all their albums. Kalamka'd
rather be the Ani DiFranco (or the Coup) of queer hiphop.
"In the long term, there's a lot more safety in creating a micro-economy to support the work than in depending on the
machine to give you your five minutes of fame."
This is especially true for five out black queer men who talk about sexism, masculinity, homophobia and gender in their
work – with flava .
"Someone asked me why we had this appeal with dyke and trans communities. I said, 'Honestly, it's because we're five
guys who are trying not to be assholes, five minutes at a time. '"
Maybe it has something more to do with tracks like On Some Other's "For Colored Boys",
,which sounds like Ntozake
Shange's black poetic shout come three decades later with a cock ring and a refusal to erase queer black existence.
"There's no male equivalent to Michigan because men haven't had to care. If we had to depend on gay men for support,
we wouldn't exist. Dykes and queer and trans people who've supported us, they're the communities who are doing politicized
queer music and having their own issues."
As the baby wakes up in the other room, he pauses and says, "As long as people want to kill me for who I am, I'm going
to be a black gay man."
-------------------------30---------------------------
January 23,2007
Hello and happy new year to everyone! Juba Kalamka here sneaking a minute at my
job to drop this note to you about whats's going on in D?DC land and with the homohop scene. there will be more here in the
next couple days about the upcoming HOMOREVOLUTION and PICK UP THE MIC tours and what cities
they will be hitting.
Right now though, I'd like to take a sec to let the people who sent funds to us
to help with the recording of the CD will be getting a refund very soon. Does this mean the next D?DC record isn't coming
out? Not at all. It just means that due to circumstances beyond our control, the recording and editing portions of the work
will have to wait a little bit....which means you will probably see a single by Deep Dic out soon as opposed to the full length.
We just were not able to keep to the schedule wethought we would, so we thought it best to let you know in advance. keep an
eye out though...before you know it, we will have a full CD full of goodness on the way to you. we promise.
That's it for the moment. see you soon at a show or something and be looking out for PICK UP
THE MIC on LOGO network in FEBRUARY-check your local listings!
peace
Juba K
OCTOBER 2,2006
Hey again....its been a LOOOOOONG time since I've written anything here. It's been that crazy this summer...PICK UP THE
MIC is blowing up and has taken me around the U.S. and kept me kinda crazy in a good way. It;s been hella good meeting all
of yall (solo and with Deep Dickollective) and when the movie airs SATURDAY OCTOBER 7 on LOGO ( 9PM EASTERN, Check you local
listings) we expect to be even busier.
In news going my way...I'm finishing an MFA (yay) working part time with the Neighbor Lady Community Project (publisher
of Kitchen Sink magazine, which is a media sponsor of PeaceOUT) and doing some community work in harm reduction. Oh..and trying
to sell some gay hip hop records here and there....and finishing an album...and finishing Deep Dic's new joint.....and...and,,,,it
just goes on.
On that note, there will be a pitch re: "we need money, yall so we can finish this record" posted on this site
soon. But till then, I thought we should leave ya with something...an enticement maybe....hmmm...what could I do....how about
NO SHIPPING OR HANDLING ON ANY THING YOU BUY ON THE SUGARTRUCK SITE THRU NOVEMBER 15?!
would that be cool? I think so! I hope you do. We got all kinda new stuff, two CDs from JenRO, new joints from D/DCer
BARAKA NOEL, a re-release from JUHA, and long awaited projects from SOCE THE ELEMENTAL WIZARD and SALVIMEX. Plus dope shit
from THE SUICIDE KINGS!
So check out the pages and see if you see something you like...and no matta where ya are, PAY NO SHIPPING.
One CD, or 10. it don't matter. its all the same.
Got it? Good.I'm headed out to take my lil' nugget to the pediatrician, so I gotta go. Seeya on LOGO (and in theaters
in November/December!!)
peas,
Juba Kalamka
JANUARY 4,2006
_______________
First, happy new year.
Second, yes, I know its been a hella long time since you have seen any updates here....and I apologize...its been that
kind of busy for all of us with work, family, school and more...and me your favorite .5er wes just BEAT after the whirlwind
of the Toronto Film Fest Premiere of PICK UP THE MIC and finishing up grad school coursework, plus organizing PeaceOUT5. How
do I sleep, you say? I don't is my answer....but I'm getting better about that, not putting too much on my plate.
Its how things got lax around here..I've struggled filling the few orders we have in a timely fashion and I'll actually
have some assistance with that this year, plus less schoolwork. We're gonna keep plugging along, and try to keep it manageable
and fun...which is why I've kept at this part of it for so long...low maintainance...high creative and emotional return...nothing
but love from everywhere and all of you. Thanks for making this worth the work.
On that note, dropping some new news:
------------------------
-TIM'M WEST's new chapbook BARE is now available in the "Publishing/SideProjects" section and you should go
get one now.By the time you have read this, I will have created a "Reddirty Rucsack" That will include Tim'm's anthology
"Red Dirt Revival", the CD "Songs From Red Dirt" and "Bare" at a special discount.Can't beat
that with a stick, no ya can't.
Drop by Tim'm's site REDDIRT.BIZ and say hi. Tell him I sent you. :)
-------------------------------------
-JUBA KALAMKA
(thats me, the guy writing this)
-will be on tour with Annie Oakley's SEX WORKERS ART SHOW 2006 from mid February to Mid March, across the United States.
A show of -yes, sex workers- current and former dancers,call girls,escorts,porn actors ( that's me...se the "Side Projects"
page)and the like doing performance art, hip hop, dance, poetry, and more. Its a blast. This is the 5th year Annie has put
the show together, and It gets better every year. I am honored and excited to be taking part. Visit the site to get the full
deets at SEXWORKERSARTSHOW.COM
-JUBA's RECORDING NEW SOLO CD
"Ooogabooga Under Fascism" will drop sometime in mid 2006. Features, me :) and memebers of Deep Dickollective,Katastrophe,
and MC ChaseOne, as well as some cool surprises.Goodies and such as well as more info at the following:
JUBAKALAMKA.COM (the site)
JUBAKALAMKA.BLOGSPOT.COM (The natty blog)
MYSPACE.COM/JUBAKALAMKA (hear new songs as they develop)
---------------------------
KATASTROPHE's new CD!!!!
-his new CD, "FAULT,LIES,and FAULTLINES" (released by Sarah Dougher's CherChezLaFemme Projects)is on that shyt
yo...pick it up,pick it up...new beats, more of his fly flows and boyband emobravado!!! I love it. Plus we did a cool cut
together on there.Check Game!!! Katastrophe will be on tour again soon, so look for info on that here, or at his site:
KATASTROPHERAP.COM
MYSPACE.COM/KATASTROPHERAP
-----------------
DEEP DICKOLLECTIVE'S upcoming CD
"On Some Other" is being recorded in Oakland,CA and Washington,DC...and its gonna be hot. You can hera new tracks
from it here
MYSPACE.COM/DEEPDICKOLLECTIVE
--------------------
also
new in the DISTRO
-ATHENS BOYS CHOIR
Katz goes for delf on the new CD. Its hot.And he BLEW UP the PeaceOUT Festtival with a badass multimedia set!!!
checkgame at
ATHENSBOYSCHOIR.COM
More news as it develops....and hopefully sooner. :)
Thanx a bunch!
JK
-------
AUGUST 13,2005
"PICK UP THE MIC" PREMIERES AT
30TH TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
------------------------------------------------
PICK UP THE MIC will make it's world premiere at the 30th Annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Sept 8-17
2005.
Shot over a three year period, PICK UP THE MIC chronicles events in the lives and careers of numerous out LGBTIQ artists
in the burgeoning subculture through interviews and performance footage at the PeaceOUT festivals in Oakland, California and
New York City. Genuine in its intent and broad in its scope, the film is an important record of the history of a dynamic underground
music community and its artists and its affect on mainstream culture now and in the future. For more info on future screenings
and distribution, please visit http://www.pickupthemic.com.
Visit the TIFF website at http://www.e.bell.ca/filmfest/
JUNE 16,2005
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Sugartruck Recordings artist Rocco "KATASTROPHE" Kayiatos brings home
2005 OUTMUSIC AWARD for OUTSTANDING PRODUCER.
Sorry we been away so long...school, touring, solo gigging has made it hard to keep up lately and I know I told ya we
would be updating this space more frequently. However, we have the wonderfull problem of being a bit busier than usual, so
it took a lil' longer. Hopefully we wont be so ghost in the near future.Now ON to the news.
BIG BETTA MOBETTA BIGGA THAN EVA UPPPPPPPSSSSSSSSSSS
to my man KATASTROPHE for taking home the OUTSTANDING PRODUCER trophy at the 5th ANNUAL OUTMUSIC AWARDS June 12 in Chicago.there
was a lot of stiff competition this year, and we are just turning flips that our home slice got some recognition! PLUS our
homeboy SCOTT FREE took home two trophies- OUTMUSICIAN OF THE YEAR and OUTSONG OF THE YEAR for the brilliant, sad and scathing
"Another Day Of The Cruelty" from his CD " They Call Me Mr. Free" (also available in the Sugartruck Distro.
check them both out today!!!
There was a lot of hip hop nominated this year,and the nominees included DEEP DICKOLLECTIVE, TORI FIXX,BASIL HENNELY,
and SOCE' THE ELEMENTAL WIZARD. Plenty of heat out there, and many more derserving records that werent even submitted.Hopefully
there will be more of us next year.
Peep Outmusic at http://www.outmusic.com
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APRIL 14,2005
-----------------------
APRIL 14,2005
In Memory Of Kaya Nati
February 20,1965-April 12,2005
Kaya Nati, a brilliant West Indian artist-activist who lived and worked in the Santa Cruz (CA) and SF Bay Area over the
past 12+ years, died Tuesday April 11.at 11:10am after a year long battle with leukemia. he was passionate lover of life and
his black gay brotherhood.
A dynamic HIV/AIDS prevention advocate and teacher, he was a vociferous supporter and dear friend of myself, the members
of Deep Dickollective and the extended queer arts community.it was Kaya who introduced us to JBRap(Jeree Brown) in 2002, who
joined the group shortly thereafter.
Several of the photos on my gallery page were shot by Kaya.
Loving you though a river of tears, Kaya...the light of your presence will be sorely missed.
green tea, mamgos and love,
juba kalamka
http://www.queerarts.com/gallery/KayaNati
--------------------------------------
Bus To East Oh (For Kaya)
4.12.04
Said seven fifteen
But it was really eight oh two
A little late
Is better than not at all
Room filled with
Friends
Water
Morphine stick
Ism and affects
Beads
Copper twists
Orange pill jar
Smell of spice and lentil and bread
Daybed with his mama in wait
The blonde girl say
Don't worry bout your cold hands
(my momma say I should always warm my hands)
but the skin is so hot
I kneel next to the lifeboat
His reply to my whisper
Rattle/breathe/swallow
Rattle/breath/swallow
Same for a rub of that nappy head greyed by medicine
And the way made after kissed temple
Down a wire of an arm
To hands with big nails like daddy's daddy
Cheap cotton covers
The legs he flew on
By the time I reach them heels
And begin to rub our rust
I hear that patois
Calling from the back of the 43 eastmont
Dragging out the syllables in my name
As if it were some kind of overpriced confection
At a city/rockridge/castro/etc bakery
where they/them stare at us
And mutter something or others
The thought surrenders my cool for his heat
Easing the way for snot and sniffles
There is no jelly
`cept the oil on my cuticles
as I add bits of friction
to salve the squeezing
in the bottom of my belly
that churns the lostnessness there
creaky knees destroyed
in a year of division one pretense
reluctantly lift me from the floor
I don't want to let go
because know I must say
leeyyyy-tahh
in a minute or two
that last swallow/breath
having telegraphing a message
to share this space with those waiting
to trust that we were good enough
to know hat our air still holds his weight
and that his feet won't fail him
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