R.I.P. Great Master of Beats. “Too fast to live, too young to die” is the motto for some… The good always die young. Soul is immortal, and in the afterlife we go into the internet to be enjoyed by all.

RESPECT, listen to Jay Dilla, Slum Village, … it just gets better with time, like a good wine. Jay Dilla was a hip hop visionary, he went to places where no man could go, may the beats live on, timeless tracks that flow like water off the brain when it rain. Instrumental or what have you, Jay Dilla is the Picasso of sound.

This post is dedicated to perfection, its seldom that beings attain to such greatness. Mary J. Blige is one such person that if there is such a thing as perfection, she is it. Her voice is angelic, soul she is not lacking in, and her style is timeless. ‘Empty Bamboo’ would like to honor Mary J. this month with a two thumbs way up - grandmaster shout out to the lovely, Miss Mary J. Blige for being such an inspiration vocally and visually… Thank you, and God Bless.

In a world full of commercial music and ‘one-hit-wonders’, Electronica\groove\Atmospheric Funk band 4hero never fails to ‘keep it Real’ year after year with each smash hit album they produce. Always staying fresh and profound, collaborating with great vocalists such as Ursula Rucker, Jody Watley, Carina Andersson, Stevie Wonder, and many others.

The beats and lyrics are ‘more than’ current, in fact most of what 4hero produces is way ahead of it’s time, if anything these little musical odysseys are prophesies related to current world events and what’s to come. “Spine Tingling” lyrics and “hair raising” rhythms no doubt, please listen closely, and meditate deeply on the works of this profound artist.  ‘Play with the Changes’ is their 2007 release, get it!

Show me what ya Got Lil Mama…

If you haven’t heard the Jay-Z album “Kingdom Come” than you don’t know what you’re missing. Get it, and play the track “Show me what ya got” its living proof that hip hop is NOT dead.

Sit in full lotus, half lotus, siddhasana, or any other comfortable seated position. Put you’re head phonez on and let the beats flow, sit completely still and allow the soundz to bump in you’re head. Dance to the music in you’re mind, this is the meaning of traveling without moving. I used to define myself as a dancer, I guess in some ways I still do, however I dance much less in the physical world. I don’t really have the chance to dance these days, the culture here in Northern Thailand just doesn’t support any kind of underground dance culture, just a bunch of rice farmers, tourists, travelers, and soul searchers.

Physical movement is overrated, polish up the mind, go ahead and try it. It’s almost more difficult at first than physically dancing, but stay with it; it’s a great mental exercise. The next time you have the chance to get onto the dance floor watch and see how much you’re moves improve. This is called ‘cultivating the astral body’. Its finally starting to sink in that our astral body (or spirit) is the only thing that we’re taking with us when we go, we might as well get used to it now. Design yourself ahead of time, see yourself exactly how you want other’s to see you, how you want God (the Divine) to see you…and let the beats flow on… God is Love, God is Sound.