The General is a makeup artist, designer, event emcee, blogger, and in her own words “a bunch of other shit.  Ask about me.”

On SOULAJU:

“It’s the kinda shit that makes you wanna just lay back and close your eyes so you can feel every word. It’s like dark smokey vintage lounge sexy meets earthy nature sexy meets 3am urban sexy meets revolution sexy. If that makes any sense at all. But yeah, its that good.”  READ MORE.

“Poet Gettin’ His” by Molina of SOULAJU w/ DJ Icewater

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Switchin’ up the vibe and pulse.  Recent weekly Retrospectives explored the lighter side of my work.  A.M. Soleil, Retrospectively now moves back into harder-hitting territory. 

Everyone’s heard the song “Gettin’ Mine.”  Every rapper’s got a Gettin’ Mine track.  The world is in a Gettin’ Mine state of mind.  This is my version of Gettin’ Mine. 

The track is produced by DJ Icewater.  Dig the bounce in the beat.  Love the organ.  Was unsure about the “hook” when DJ sent the beat, but as I marinated on the possibilities, I got into the hook.

My favorite rhymes on the track:

Verse I: “I swim wit da riddim, a tree said to give ‘em /somethin’ new for the listen, fresh for the mission / she grew new leaves, I saw my pen bleed / like a phantom in a dream planted a seed / like a fly new track by that man named Molina / just climbed out ya speakers and hopped in ya lap / opened up ya gut, swam through your chest / hit you in your heart so you felt it kick start…”

Verse II: “So suckers be like ‘please’, they hate when you like me / like ‘oh, I think they like him,’ now we gotta spike him / take his last life, strip him of his power / end the final game, conquer him like Bowser / I tower like a hawk, swoop through all they tricks / bypass the facade, see the game like Oz…”

Verse III: “…reflected dialectics, eclectic, polyrhythmic / A-freeka aesthetic, Mexika-type phonetic / like Nezahualcoyotl just snuck inside my head, took me for a ride, dropped me from the sky / like Damn Xicano Brown, he rip the mic right / inject the enigmatic and inflect the lime / with style that permeate, moist up the vibe /with rhymes that elevate, snake like wild vines…”

“Like a black JFK I know that I can…”  BUT I will…

Get yours how you get it and give back.

- Molina

Despite his young age and youthful appearance, Molina is a veteran Hip-Hopper, philosopher, law school graduate, DIY/indie entrepreneur, college lecturer and all-around human bridge.  Molina is nationally renowned for his eclectic music collaborations and his work as a poet, storyteller, and youth advocate.

A.M. Soleil, Retrospectively is a 52-week music blog in 2010 reflecting on five years of independent music, one song at a time.

COLORADO STAND UP

The “Colorado Stand Up” Project is, in two words, Colorado Hip-Hop. The design will focus on the Hip-Hop Community in Colorado and feature those who have put in blood, sweat, and tears to make the scene what it is today.   

Thomas Evans of Hip-Hop Congress Denver is the chief architect of Colorado Stand Up.  Check out the entire series at http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=426035&id=501575696&ref=mf

“SOULAJU’S POSITIVE HIP-HOP IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL”

Write-up by Eryc Eyl for the Denver Post. Eryc is a veteran music journalist, critic and Colorado native who has been neck-deep in local music for many years.

“Molina Soleil and Aju released their first full-length album earlier this year. Produced in collaboration with Oakland-based DJ Icewater, the self-titled, 15-track collection bursts with head-bobbing beats, rhymes that flow like melted butter and melodic hooks that stick like maple syrup.

Its soulful jams and socially conscious lyrics recall Marvin Gaye and Gil Scott-Heron as much as the Roots and the Fugees. Strikingly professional and just plain good, ‘Soulaju’ would be a highlight for more mature artists, but is all the more remarkable as the duo’s debut album. In a way, though, it’s been years in the making…”

CLICK HERE to read the entire story.

After many hours of learning pains and frustration, offset by a good dose of  inspiration, we present an edited short film documenting the SOULAJU Youth Jam and Youth Climate Justice workshop, organized w/ Josh Watkins and Jennie Nevin in conjunction with Green Spaces Denver.  The event took place on January 15, 2010.  We look forward to hosting future green events in the mile high city, fusing art and music with conscious and sustainable living.  Enjoy!

For more info on the event, click here.

Filmed by Jai Harris & Ro1 Films in Arvada, CO, benefit show for Family Tree, November 2009.

DJ Icewater is the tour DJ for The Pharcyde.  Highly respected for his support of independent artists, DJ Icewater has put out over 40 mixtapes.  Most recently, he has mixed albums for international phenom Shing02 and up-and-coming Bay Area artist Jern Eye.  More events are being planned in connection with Icewater’s visit to the Mile High City.  Stay tuned…