03.25.08 | Interview on Flight808.com
Peace to Greg from Flight808.com for doing this interview with us! Check out the link...

10.24.07 | Baba Israel heads to Australia for a reunion show with Meta Bass 'n' Breath
Baba Israel is heading to Australia to reunite with his Meta crew. Meta Bass 'n' Breath are an important of Australian Hip Hop history and opened a lot of creative doors for other artists in Australia. They also had impact in the US where they toured and released two records on Bomb out of SF.

08.25.07 | Baba Israel and Yako back from Brazil!
Baba Israel and Yako were in Sao Paulo Brazil for the international Playback Theater Festival along with fellow Playback NYC crew Paul McIsaac. Big shout out to the all the Playback groups and individuals from Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, the U.K., Finland, Holland, Germany, the States, Japan, Taiwan, and places I cant remember! It was a pleasure to build with you!

Also big shout to DJ Soul Salaam who took us out to experience the Sao Paulo clubs and nightlife. Shout to DJ Dubstrong! Also big up to Rael a dope emcee/musician/ b-boy we rocked with and to the other emcees and beatboxers we cyphered with outside of an underground samba/funk spot and folks we got spontaneous samba lessons from!

Till the next time

for more info on playback NYC hit the link

08.07.07 | Kid Lucky on Rock Me TV
Beatboxer Entertainment founder Kid Lucky doing his thing. Click on launch related site to view this clip, BIG UPS for the shout out brother!!

07.19.07 | Baba Israel will tour south east Asia with Dana Leong`
Baba Israel has been selected to perform with Dana Leong on the prestigious rhythm road tour presented by Lincoln Center and The State Dept.

He will tour South East Asia from Nov 15-Dec-15th

07.19.07 | Baba Israel and Yako featured on Air America on the Mark Riley show
Big shout out to Dave and the Crew of the Mark Riley Show! Man that man has the knowledge and the stories! A true radio specialist! It was a pleasure to be on his show!

06.21.07 | Yako paints at 5 Pointz- pics in LOOK section
Check out the new artwork! Full scale production style... Thanks to Stres and DZ for making it happen.
-YAKO 440-

06.05.07 | New Graffiti Sketches by Yako in LOOK section.
Yako's Blackbook Sessions... Just trying to share the visuals with everybody, keep an eye out for more to come!
-YAKO

03.23.07 | Baba and Yako featured on NBC news story about the SUBWAY SERIES.
Baba and Yako featured on NBC news story about the SUBWAY SERIES. Big up to Kid Lucky, Akim the Funk Buddha, Shockwave, Conscious, and Ja-tun.


Check it out:
http://video.wnbc.com/player/?id=79595

03.23.07 | Baba Israel and Yako selected for Urb Magazines Next 100!

02.09.07 | Baba Israel featured on story on beatboxing on NPR! big up to BBE
Baba Israel was featured on NPR in a story on the subway series, a free gathering of hip hop artists, beatboxers, dancers, poet, emcees, and singers that brings cyphers to the nyc subway system!

peace,
baba

12.18.06 | Baba Israel and Yako's new album Beatbox dub poetics now on itunes!
Was up people! If you have itunes and download music you can now get our record! hit the link and support indie music!

we appreciate it!
-baba israel and yako

12.06.06 | Baba Israel in village voice in an article about kid lucky and Beatboxer ENT!
big up to kid lucky and BBE for putting beatboxing on the map in an article in the village that also features Ready Rock C!

check this weeks voice or voice on line!

peace,
baba

11.30.06 | Yako Paints New Haven, CT
Check out the "YAKO Graff Piece" photo journal in the PICS section!
See step by step photography of Yako doing a legal graffiti piece.
Big props to Semerock for hooking that wall up!
respect-->

Yako

11.24.06 | Baba Israel on the Verizon beatbox mixer
check this site for a lot of fun and interactive beatboxing featuring some of the best beatboxers out there!

big up to RGA and BBE!

peace,
baba

10.02.06 | Baba Israel and Yako back in the lab
Rumor has it that we are back in the studio working on new tracks.. latenights in BK.

stay tuned for an EP from soulful singer DUV on Open Thought Productions!!!

peace,
OTP

09.03.06 | BIG up to contact and the CYAC!
Big up to the young performers of CYAC! it was such a pleasure to work with inspiring and committed young artists! We will meet again and make more work!

keep rhyming, acting, dancing, beatboxing and doing your thing!
peace,
baba, yako, and dawn

08.10.06 | Baba Israel at Hip Hop theater workshop festival in Manchester, UK
I am in manchester at the Breaking Cycles Process Hip Hop Theater Workshop festival! Hosted by Benji Reid, a pioneering Hip hop theater artist from Manchester. I am alongside Hip Hop dynamic performer and playrwright Willpower, London's Robert Hylton an off the hook popper and contemporary dancer, Karena Johnson Superb director from London, and B-boy legend Ken Swift! We are jamming over building with super talented young artists in all diciplines from Freestlye, Turntables, Theater, Character work, Improvisation, Directing, Breaking and off courese beatboxing! There are some taleneted young beatboxers and many cats eager to learn!

07.29.06 | New Album!!

07.03.06 | New album by Baba Israel and Yako Beatbox Dub Poetics finished!
Was up good people,

we are amped, our record is done, we did the fam release party and had an off the hook time with guests core rhythm, substantial, kid lucky, duv, jason lindner, toli nameless, creature, preacher, hired gun, and shout out to MJ and Ajahne from 2050 back in the day who rocked the mic and Tah who ripped it!

We are pursuing some liscensing opportunities to get the record out to a larger audience and in the meantime it will be available online in a few days!

here is some initial feedback! and look for a link to the new record in the store section!

peace,
baba


Excellent F***ing album.
Keep up the good the good work –marcos

hey y'all.
so glad i was FIIIIIIINALLY able to
make it to see you.
your album is DOPE!!!!!
your performance
was craaaazay...y'all rock!
much respect & love... –dana

Beatbox Dub Poetics, classic material my friends. Finished my initial run of listening to the album and i have to say this is by far yall best work. Its an honor to be on this record.

Core

05.27.06 | Baba Israel given award by Full Circle
Big up to Full Circle they celebrated 10 years of commitment to the hip hop culutre last night! Kwik and Rok much love and repsect from Open Thought Productions-

Baba was given an award for being "on fire" and for his support and being the longest running member of full circle! big up

05.27.06 | Baba Israel bigs it up to Morganics!
Morganics has been directing Baba Israel one man hip hop show Boom Bap Meditations! It has been an awesome pleasure to work with morganics who is an off the meter director! Thanks for taking the work to the next level

05.06.06 | Baba Israel with Dana Leong and friends for web shoot for LP
Baba perfomerd with musical dynamo Dana Leong on cello and trombone keyboard wiz Jason Lindner, Israeli timekeeper & NYC new-comer-drummer Aviv Cohen, harp wonder Edmar Castaneda, and world champion Cuban the great wall of percussion Pernil Saturno. This peformed was filmed for internet broadcast. Check back for a link to the outcome! Big shout out to the production crew and a special shout out to Martin Cohen founder of LP who was in the house documenting the vibe!

05.06.06 | Baba Israel about to go into rehersals for one man show!
Baba starts rehersals for his solo work with Morganics on May 16th. There will be a work in progress sharing on May 28th, details to follow,

peace,
baba

05.06.06 | Yako rocked solo beatbox set at Fourth Fridays!
Yako was last seen rocking live dub and hip hop beats at fourth fridays. My sources say he rocked the house! big up!

01.16.06 | Baba Israel at Namm confernece in LA with Beatbox Ent. and Samson
come check some serious beatboxing on some serious mics! Baba rocks with Kid Lucky and other beatboxer ent. crew to show off the awesome bass response of samson mics!!!!!

come check us at the booth!

01.10.06 | Baba Israel in Madison with SEIU and PLAYBACK NYC!
Shout out to all the folks that made the conference with Local 150 such an amazing experience! a rich mix of art and social justice- it was awesome to interact with union members and here there stories and create and party!

12.30.05 | Looking forward to 06
Was up and Happy New Year from open thought productions!

We are exited about 06 and have a bunch of plans in the works for the new year!

We are targeting april as the indie release of an full record and a debut album under Baba Israel and Yako!

We are looking to step up the site with exiting free downloads of remixes, live audio, and other suprises! We do have advance music for sale as MP3's so get your music to go! We will also be expanding that so check our store section and follow the links!

We are getting in the studio with vocalist Duv next week to finish off his demo, we will keep you posted on that.

We have other artists that we are working with and we will be launching a section for artists we are producing. We are also planning the launch of a site for our educational project- Hip Hop connections- stay tuned for that!

We hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday and lets make it happen in 06!

12.13.05 | have not written news in a while
Was up people, I realize I have not written news in a while, so here is a synopsis since oct.

Since october Yako and I have been in the studio- we have been working on tracks with Mtume, creature, Breeze Evahflowin, Kid Lucky, Masai Electro, D-Cross, Jason Lindner, Dana Leong, Morganics, Midi, and have been developing tracks with new artists tba.

We hosted Australian Hip Hop artist Morganics and rocked school shows in queens for a week! We have been pushing forward with our Hip Hop educational peoject Hip Hop Connections- we have Kwik step from Full Circle sitting in with us this week!

October and November were all about beatboxing with Nu Voices (beatbox big band) conducted by Kid Lucky- we made some amazing music! and Beatbox Jazz- a very succesful event at the legdenday Blue Note that featured Beatboxers with Jazz cats Jason Lindner, Avishai Cohen, and Tony Escapa! Big up to BBE who helped to make that possible!

I just got back from Europe where I performed with my pops to an amazing crowd in Manchester- there is serious talent and passion out there! big up to Contact theater and Benji Reid who made that possible!

We also had a great time in Amsterdam, I got to some of the artistic legdends that my pops built with in the sixties. It was a moving reunion! also shout out to Crime Jazz who put a show on for us! and also to BitterZoet!

Now we are back in NYC, Yako and I are back in the lab- look for a new record to bloom in the spring. There is talk of a beatbox compilation and look for new music, pics, and finally some video in the new year!!!

peace
baba
OTP

10.11.05 | Baba on the Apple Nano Ad!
For those folks who have been writing to ask if that was me on the Nano ad.. indeed it is, and thanks for the heads as I had not heard. They sampled a Sample CD that I was on called phat beats from the box.

peace,
baba

09.23.05 | Baba Israel in Europe
Baba Israel has been exploring and rocking in Europe, sniffing out gigs and contacts and saying peace to old friends in Holland! Big up to the Crime Jazz Crew, the lumisoul of Pip Slap who paint with light, Big up to the Palabras Crew, to Tahiya for all the help, and to the District Q party rockers! Also to the exiting new project mixing dance, visuals and poetry! more soon on that! I am out here with my wife Dawn and we have been rocking shows togeather as well as workshops with youth! International style. We also checked Belgium for the firs time, Thanks to the Missouri family for making everything possible and to the youth who came out to the workshop and showcase in Mons! also shout out to Coline for the translatation- got brush up on my french! Brussels was beautiful- Looking to come back with Yako in Dec and do more things so keep tuned!

peace,
baba

09.04.05 | Help New Orleans
We have been compiling sites to check where help can be offered.
check back for more. Our hearts go out to everyone struggling to maintain and to those who have lost loved ones!

http://www.sparkplugfoundation.org/katrinarelief.html
www.neworleansnetwork.org

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2005 
 
at CANAL ROOM
285 West Broadway, at Canal Street
downtown Manhattan in New York City
7PM-11PM
21 and over with ID, and please RSVP to cher_harrison@yahoo.com 
 
Admission is FREE but you MUST bring one or more of the following items
for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. These items will be loaded onto a big truck in front of CANAL ROOM and driven directly to Claiborne County Health Center in Port Gibson, Mississippi, run by Dr. Demitri Marshall. It is one of the closest rescue and help centers in the New Orleans area and in a position to really get these items to people in
need. PLEASE make sure clothing and shoes and sneakers are new OR clean and in good condition.... 
 
Clothing for children and adults
Adult shoes and sneakers
Adult socks
Children's shoes and sneakers
Children socks
Bottles of water
Diapers
Baby wipes
Baby food
Baby aspirin
Aspirin
Vitamins
Toilet paper
Sanitary napkins
Portable radios with batteries
Plastic forks, knives, and spoons
Cotton balls
Cotton swabs
Hydrogen peroxide BUT NOT rubbing alcohol, because that is flammable Band aids Shaving cream Male AND female razors Blankets Air mattresses Sheets Pillows and pillow cases Gift cards for gas Wal mart gift cards Garbage bags Cleaning supplies Soap Toothpaste and toothbrushes Flashlights Batteries Candles Books for children, including coloring books Books for adults Magazines 
 
If you are placing donated items in a bag PLEASE LABEL. For example, Children's shoes or Adult shoes, or Children's clothes or Adult clothes. 
 
We will NOT be taking monetary donations. See information below on where you can send financial contributions. 
 
CANAL ROOM ownership is generously donating the space but there will be a CASH BAR ALL NIGHT. 
 
Guest deejays, musical performers, and corporate sponsors to be announced shortly 
 
Monetary donations can be sent to these outlets, which we have confirmed are REALLY delivering services to folks in need........ 
 
BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund
PO Box 803209
Dallas, TX 75240
OR you can make an online donation by going to www.blackamericaweb.com/relief This fund has been set up by nationally syndicated radio personality TOM JOYNER 

08.18.05 | baba Israel and Dawn do workshops in Saratoga!
Baba Israel and Dawn have been doing Hip Hop and Spoken Word Worksops in Saratoga Springs NY! Big up to the youth who have come out, to Caffe Lena for housing us, Saratoga Arts Council for the funding, and to Raw Head and Karen at Skidmore Radio for the Promo- check the listen section for some audio from the workshop soon!

peace,
baba

08.18.05 | Check the listen section for songs from Force of Life!
If you have not checked the album Force of Life- check the listen section for selections from the record- we will post alternating selections over the next few weeks,

enjoy!
peace,
baba

08.10.05 | Yako completes graffiti logos for upcoming indie Hip-Hop site Spitmatix.com.
Yako completes graffiti logos for upcoming indie Hip-Hop site Spitmatix.com.

Keep an eye on our links page for this new home of Core Rhythm and other NYC underground emcees.

08.03.05 | Baba Israel starts MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts@Goddard College
I have embarked on a masters program so that I as a practictioner of Hip Hop in its many forms can teach at the next level as well as develop, expand and refine my artistic craft!

08.01.05 | New mix of Baba Israel and Yako track to be on compliation in Holland!
The track Tell me your story(Whats your story?) has new life- Jason Lindner has addes soulful keys and Dana Leong has added moving cello!

The track will be released on The Crime Jazz comp. CD in Holland!

check the listen section for the new mix!

peace,
open thought productions

06.18.05 | Check the featured Beats section for new tracks

06.13.05 | Shout out to Jesse@Ableton!
big up to Jesse at Abelton for getting Open Thought Productions set up with Abelton live. This is my favorite new program for loop based production and arrangement! what I also love is the ability to edit each loop for variation in start point to create really dynamic changes in drums and samples!

look for new tracks done on abelton in the beat section soon!
peace,
Baba Israel
Open Thought Productions

06.04.05 | Baba Israel at REMIX LIVE- with Beatboxer ENT. and SAMSON
The vibe at Remix was off the hook.. it was music gadget heaven and I got to rock with fellow beatboxers Kid Lucky, Chesney Snow, and ScottBOX! Shout to SpazeKrafte who rolled through!

Also big up to Grandmixer DXT who did a dope presentation on sound design for film.

We were representing the samson mics and they were sounding tight. What blew me away was the feedback eliminator, we were able to beatbox with the volume way up and no feedback!

--Baba Israel
openthought productions

06.04.05 | Baba Israel and Yako featured on radio piece about beatboxing!
Check a great new radio piece on beatboxing

How Art Works:Beatboxing

This piece features beatboxer interviews and audio clips.. check it out!

click the link to hear it online!

Big up to Derek John, who produced it!

05.26.05 | Check out Yako's art work in the gallery section!
Besides being a music man, yako also creates on the visual tip.. check some examples of his work in our gallery section. Look for examples of yakos graphic design work soon!

peace,
Baba

05.26.05 | Freestle DVD released- look for the Baba Israel Cameo
Freestyle an award winning documentary on the art of freestlye rhyme has now been released! Check the very end for a cameo by Baba Israel from years ago!

look for it on Palm pictures at your DVD spot!

Also big up to Lord Finesse, Grand Master Caz, Graig G, Super Natural, Roc Raida, AG, and OC for rocking the release party at BB kings! Also shout out to Pack FM and DP one who I rocked with on the latenight and big up to Craig G and Lord Sear who joined me for a beatbox session at the end of the night!

--Open Thought Productions

05.02.05 | May Day!
Big ups to everyone who made the May Day show so inspiring! Big up to BlackKat and the More Gardens Crew! It was a true L.E.S. day with the creative peoples of NYC getting down. Shout out to RU for breaking and to the other Breakers who joined us!

04.18.05 | Get our music- check the links page to buy Cd's- Thanks for the love!
Check The Giant Peach for our merchandise. Thanks for supporting independent Hip Hop!

04.18.05 | Trivia Answer: check for answer to Baba's old group
For all those who chose "Meta Bass 'n' Breath" you were correct.

Here is some info on Meta Bass,

The Fifth element of Hip Hop, the lost art of beatoxing has been found and is regaining its rightful place as a musical form. Rahzel of the ROOTS has been carrying the torch and spreading the sound to the masses at Roots shows and on his debut album on MCA. The stage is now set for the beatboxing theatrics of Meta bass 'n' Breath, a live hip hop band from Sydney, Australia (with members from NY, LA, Austria, and Sydney). Metabass is a popular and well known group in Australia having done major tours with Spearhead, Run DMC, Q-Bert, and Mo Wax. Their EP "Perfection" is currently getting national radio play as well their video which is on high rotation on Australian MTV. In the states they have a strong underground following nutured by two US tours. They have rocked shows in NYC at the 20th Rocksteady Anniversary, Tramps, Wetlands, SOB's, and various streetcorners. They stole the show at Rocksteady suprising the crowd with their group beatboxing style. They also have a strong connection in the Bay Area playing a diverse range of shows and through their connection to the Bomb who released their last full length album "Seek" in America.

It's the perfect time for a beatbox record, and this beatbox album is like no other. It is a diverse journey that will prick up the ears of hip hop heads, electronica, tribal, and avant garde explorers. The album is a journey, telling the story of a beatboxer and their adventures and challenges. Along the way some great guests join in. Fellow Bomb allies DJ Faust, Shortee, and the Fifth Platoon's Vin Roc.


Check the our merchandise link to pick up a copy of the Meta Bass Album "The Life and Times of a Beatboxer"

04.18.05 | Check the Bio/Beats section to hear beats that might be right for you or your project.
We will be constantly updating new tracks available for Liscense and Sale.

Check em..

Stay Tuned for Yako's Beats- available soon

peace,
baba
Open Thought Productions

04.08.05 | BIG UP TO WHEATON COLLEGE
Big up to the Crowd at Wheaton! They showed mad love and big up to our dancers RU and Element who put it down and big up to Jin who did a tight set!

Check the gallery for a couple of pictures from our Wheaton College show with Jin!

03.30.05 | Baba works on soundtrack for new theater project
This year Baba has been co-producing with Darrin Ross the soundtrack for the theater piece Lo's Journey:The Diary of a psychotic rapper by Rha Goddess. The music has been funded in part by the meet the composer grant.

03.29.05 | OPEN THOUGHT TAKES NEW SHAPE
Open Thought has transformed, we are now a production company creating and producing tracks for Artists, Theater, TV and Film.

We will continue to present live performances as Baba and Yako.

DJ Center is now pursuing his solo DJ Career and look out for updates on his dates.

We are also continuing our youth projects with our show Hip Hop Connections.