From the Desk of Damon C. Williams

The newspaperman lives.

2012-01-12T21:14:00.001-05:00

Well, I guess at heart I am truly a newspaperman.
Wednesday marked my first day back in a serious newsroom environment since my days at the Philadelphia Daily News: I am now a Senior General Assignment/Education reporter for The Philadelphia Tribune, America's oldest, continually published African-American owned and operated paper. It is an honor and privilege to write for such a historical and esteemed newspaper; that its building is a national landmark and has its own historical marker posted outside really tells you all you need to know about the Tribune's lineage and importance.
And it is probably one of my worst kept secrets that I actually missed reporting. After leaving the Philadelphia Daily News on the last day of 2008, I've done other things, sure, like write a few books (which are both available on on Amazon, by the way), but I truly did miss the newspaper environment and the sheer release of writing. For me, writing has always proved a catharsis, and the more I wrote, the more more I want to write. I actually missed it much more than I thought I would, even going so far as swearing off the newspaper game at one point. I felt like Hildy in His Girl Friday - I just couldn't stay away. After three years, the truth is even clearer: I'm a newspaperman.
And what better way to splash back into the choppy, yet familiar, waters of journalism than plying my trade at the Tribune? I wanted to hit the ground running, and that I did, as on my first day, I wrote about the Philadelphia School Reform Commission's assembling of a superintendent search team to replace former School superintendent Arlene Ackerman.

*You can read the story here.*

So continue to check this space for continual updates from my new Post at The Philadelphia Tribune - and continue to stop by for updates on "The Jawn" and "Soul In Ink." thanks again, one and all, for the continued support.

Zeitgeist Daily Digest, Monday January 2, 2012.

2012-01-02T21:15:00.001-05:00

Headlines found in today's Zeitgeist:

*The NDAA's historic assault on American liberty. Shared by @MMFlint.
*Santorum targets blacks in entitlement reform. Shared by @KathyKattenburg.
*Lott, Reagan and Republican racism. Shared by @TheAngryindian.
*Murder charges against doctors test Maryland abortion law. Shared by @TheNewsBlotter.
*Last-place Bachmann: "I intend to be America's iron lady." Shared by @LucaOprea.
*U.S. raises alarm over Persian Gulf oil lanes. Shared by @made_in_iran.
*2 arrested in torture of Afghan girl. Shared by @bjr70.
*Scapegoating minorities for failures of banking. Shared by @TheAngryindian.
*Hungarians protest against new Fidesz constitution. Shared by WorldNews36.
*Romney's test in Iowa and beyond: Can he unify social conservatives? Shared by @WolrdNews36.
*In Occupy Boston case, BPD hits Twitter with subpoena for users who used specific hashtags. Shared by @Peoples_Info.
*What Iowa caucuses mean for Democrats. Shared by Trndingr.
*Lie by lie: A timeline of how we got into Iraq. Shared by @giitjee.
*Middle East and north Africa in turmoil. Shared by @PROPHECYandNEWS.
*Need a kidney? More are turning to Facebook. Shared by @parkysan.
*Occupy protest follows 123rd annual Rose Parade. Shared by @OccupyDelaware.
*Baird defends Office of Religious Freedom from skeptics. Shared by @DBEMediaGroup.

You can read today's edition of Zeitgeist here. And remember, subscribing is free and easy.

Zeitgeist Daily Digest, Sunday January 1, 2012.

2012-01-01T22:43:00.001-05:00

Headlines found in today's Zeitgeist:

*60 Occupy protesters arrested in NYC. Shared by @CarrickIrwin.
*The Occupy Movement triggers national debate over the future of the American middle class. Shared by @warrenfl.
*The other Mayan calender's top 2012 predictions. Shared by @Trendingr.
*Update: 5 arrests at Ron Paul's office in Ankeny. Shared by @dantesthuoghts.
*Republican candidate Romney would veto immigration "dream" act. Shared by @JosieHyun.
*Occupy Religion: Don't let religion occupy you. Shared by @Mercypolitics.
*Why there are no children and we should think less. Shared by @newscy20.
*Equatorial Guinea - Committee to Protect Journalists. Shared by @solhog.
*Reasons why local artists don't get signed. Shared by @TraceRelations.
*Politics and social media in Pakistan - the struggle for new power within an immature democracy! Shared by @fouabajwa.
*2 Supreme Court justices to quit this year? Shared by @BlackPearl_Inc.
*Analysis: U.S. fighter sales soar in time for campaign. Shared by @WorldNews36.
*Israeli law firm threatens to sue Twitter.
*Occupy Hawaii Island protestors gather near Pelosi's vacation resort. Shared by @DemonstrationNw.
*Rwanda's Kagame and journalist get into Twitter spat. Shared by @africamedia_CPJ.
*Rights without responsibilities, by Rahul Varman. Shared by @horizontalaura.
*Will Rick Santorum's "Ask, don't tell" message help with Iowa independents? Shared by @Trendingr.
*25 best Occupy photos of 2011. Shared by @NilamAtodaria.

You can read today's edition of Zeitgeist here. And remember, subscribing is free and easy.

Zeitgeist Daily Digest, Saturday December 31, 2011.

2011-12-31T21:46:00.001-05:00

Headlines found in today's Zeitgeist:

*Is social media getting too invasive? Shared by @joltsocialmedia.
*Occupy protestors arrested outside Michele Bachmann's Iowa Headquarters. Shared by @BigMoe_.
*Facing attacks, Gingrich prepares to shift strategy. Shared by @WorldNews36.
*Occupy protests target Republicans in Iowa. Shared by @Ljako.
*SOPA-like nightmare: Domain shit down, no notice, over a million pages down. Shared by @thomasf.
*The lost Van Jacobson paper that could save the Internet. Shared by @elmanu.
*GOP candidates keep focus on Obama despite heated Iowa battle. Shared by @elopez6085.
*Join us in defending press freedom. Shared by @africamedia_CPJ.
*2011: End of US Hyperpower & its war with Islamdom. Shared by JimMacMillan.
*United States as a global power: new world disorder. Shared by @AFACeAFACe.
*Obama signs defense bill despite 'reservations.'

You can read today's edition of Zeitgeist here. And remember, subscribing is free and easy.

Zeitgeist Daily Digest, Friday December 30, 2011.

2011-12-30T23:54:00.001-05:00

Headlines found in today's Zeitgeist:

*Rush for land a wake-up call for poorer countries, report says. Shared by @AFACeAFACe.
*75 years ago today, the first Occupy. Shared by @shadowcub67.
*Slave labor targeted in California law, social media. Shared by @socialmedia4wp.
*Mainstream media floats notion that GOP race is 'over already.' Shared by @walshman007.
*Ron Paul praises Occupy Movement, compares it to Tea Part at Pat Dollard. Shared by DanRiehl.
*US says Egypt agrees to stop raids on democracy groups. Shared by @BBCWorld.
*William Bradley: Iowa then and now. Shared by @77media.
*14-year-old Occupier arrested at Iowa Democratic Party headquarters. Shared by @Liam_Fox.
*Senator predicts Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street are just the beginning. Shared by @ex2Tony.
*It's time to give GoDaddy a break. Shared by @sujal.
*Say no to indefinite detention. Shared by @railroadryan.
*Bad news for Barack Obama's re-election. Shared by @preciousliberty.
*Twitter user turns homeless woman into a social media celebrity. Shared by @socialmedia4wp.
*A voice for the voiceless: An innovative Facebook advocacy campaign. Shared by @ thunder_maker.
*Gingrich kills chapter on climate change in upcoming book. Shared by @CineversityTV.
*Occupy Everything. Shared by @eusk04.
*Margaret Thatcher negotiated with IRA. Shared by @fincalcaterra.
*Scenes from Iraq - the big picture. Shared by @JimMacMillan.
*An infiltrator core in congress. Shared by @Paciffreepress.

You can read today's edition of Zeitgeist here. And remember, subscribing is free and easy.

Soul In Ink grows virtual legs.

2011-12-29T20:23:00.001-05:00

Yet another thing I am finding out about the self-publishing route is that you never really know where you'll book will wind up for sell. Sure, the publisher, CreateSpace, vends the book to several retailers, but the service doesn't provide a very clear and exact list of those resellers. So, that means I usually rely on a quickie Google search to fill me in on the outlets selling the book.
Some of the usual suspects show up - and some sites would deserve a 'WTF?' if I weren't so gracious for it being listed there in the first place.
So outside of the outlets mentioned in this blogpost, "Soul In Ink" is now available through these online retailers:

*DownMyBook.com

*Chegg.com

*Angus & Robertson

*Booko.com.au

*BookRenter.com

*And, completely out of nowhere with no relevancy whatsoever, EdmundsEnterprisesOfAmerica.

Hey, I can't be choosy about which retailer chooses to sell the book. I even solicited retailers whose clientele was not exactly in line with the topic of my other book, but that didn't work out too well.
There will be more updates to come, especially an update about that seemingly elusive book signing. In the meantime, be sure to pick up "Soul In Ink," stay tuned to this space for further updates, and thanks again, one and all, for the continued support!

Zeitgeist Daily Digest, Thursday December 29, 2011.

2011-12-29T19:46:00.001-05:00

Headlines found in today's Zeitgeist:

*White House makes its case to black voters. Shared by @kiagregory.
*The Top Ten revolutionary videos of 2011. Shared by @arnoldogarcia.
*GOP Presidential candidate and Texas' Village idiot Rick Perry: "Lawrence vs. Who?" Shared by @BACK2STONEWALL.
*Critics have their say on Mayor Nutter's first term. Shared by @NewsWorksWHYY.
*For the rich, by the rich? Why January 21st should be on everyone's calendar. Shared by @Public_Citizen.
*Area advocates behind new definition of rape. Shared by @NewsWorksWHYY.
*Experts: Twitter account case may blaze new trails in social media law. Shared by @elcidrealestate.
*440,783 "Silent SMS" used to track German suspects in 2010. Shared by @Newsyc20.
*Los Angeles can't charge Occupiers for free speech. Shared by @raincoaster.
*Half of Americans do indeed live in poverty: it's a national shame. Shared by @AFACeAFACe.
*Advice on writing from modernity's greatest writers. Shared by @giitjee.
*NHS whistleblowers helpline due to be launched. Shared by @BBCuknews.

You can read today's edition of Zeitgeist here. And remember, subscribing is free and easy.

Zeitgeist Daily Digest, Wednesday December 28, 2011.

2011-12-29T07:43:00.001-05:00

Headlines found in today's Zeitgeist:

*Tea Party-backed freshmen face scrutiny. Shared by @OnDemandNews.
*Iowa GOP chair cuts ties with anti-debt group over negative advertising. Shared by @iTweetTechNews.
*Camden Police Union: Let voters decide departments future. Shared by @PhillyDotCom.
*3.3 million e-mails between some of the most powerful men in the world are about to be released. Please prepare to help search through them. Shared by @Newsyc50.
*One congressman's opposition to SOPA worth noting. Shared by @Newsyc20.
*Pennsylvania court's excellent "whitepaper" on Social Media discovery. Shared by @theresepmiller.
*How the hashtag is ruining the English language. Shared by @queequegMB.
*Neuroscientists identify a master controller of memory. Shared by @elazar.
*Four years later, Obama's supporters are ready to Occupy Iowa. Shared by @seniorhousingfi.
*New York Times email about canceled subscriptions goes to millions by mistake. Shared by @aBtterBA.
*The Big Lie: Wall Street has destroyed the wonder that was America. @wjreynolds.
*Philadelphia print shop revives old media. Shared by @NewsWorksWHYY.
*Camden proposes to replace police force. Shared by @NBCPhiladelphia.

You can read today's edition of Zeitgeist here. And remember, subscribing is free and easy.

As seen in the Philadelphia Daily News.

2011-12-28T19:55:00.001-05:00

One of the roughest things about being a self-published author is that the search for validation and general appreciation can a lifelong one, like the craft of writing itself. (Or, like Ahab chasing his whale, but that's a corny analogy.)
So one can imagine my wonderment when, doing a Google search for my name and book (not as narcissistic as it sounds, by the way), I stumbled upon this article written by Philadelphia Daily News Features editor Howard Gensler. The shout-out for "Soul In Ink" is on the second page of the write-up, by why wait that long? Below is the quick blurb Howard was nice enough to write:

"* Soul In Ink: The Memoirs of a Journalist by Damon C. Williams. The former Daily News reporter and hip-hop columnist writes about his time here. It ain't all pretty."

Okay, it was just one line, and not quite a feature cover page story, but I will take what I can get, especially when I didn't even think of sending anyone down there an advance copy or politic for a 'favor' from a former colleague to hook me up.
And on a final note: In "Soul in Ink," I mention two editors who told me to my face, straight up, that I would never write for the Philadelphia Daily News. One of them was Howard Gensler. He probably doesn't remember that short, blunt conversation from more than 12 years ago, but to me, it instantly became a moment I'd never forget and one of my driving forces to become the better writer I am today. Sure, Gensler was probably speaking from management's position (no room for a new hire, no one to train me, no one to take my place as editorial assistant) and didn't mean too much by it. So in a very direct, yet indirect way, Howard Gensler is at least partially responsible for my success. Although I'd never tell him that.
So, thanks for the shout and encouragement, Howard; now where is my feature cover story?

Zeitgeist Daily Digest, Tuesday December 27, 2011.

2011-12-27T22:25:00.001-05:00

Headlines found in today's Zeitgeist:

*Rapper Heavy D died of a blood clot in his lung: coroner. Shared by @ZimbabweUpdate.
*Blogger Noah Kravitz sued over ownership of 17,000 twitter followers. Shared by @emirj.
*America beyond capitalism. Guy Alperovitz describes a model that challenges private monopoly ownership without a powerful bureaucratic state. Shared by @NewsworthyNews.
*Senate blocks shut down some federal agencies. Shared by @ChrisFBrody.
*2011: The Year in Pictures. Shared by @YangHoff.
*Ruling increases odd of online gambling legalization. Shared by @Trendingr.
*Would Obama vote SOPA? Extremely doubtful. Shared by @JimMacMillian.
*Liberal heavyweights as MSNBC's Chris Matthews, Arianna Huffington and others abandon Obama for poor performance and deceptive rhetoric. Shared by @preciousliberty.
*New York Times staffers express 'profound dismay' with management. Shared by @danboleo.
*Nearly booted from Medicaid, Philadelphia woman perseveres. Shared by @NewsWorksWHYY.
*Twitter's top ten remarkable tweet stories of the year. Shared by @mpc85.
*Thank you, anarchists. Shared by @anarchytweet.
*Team blog - untethered holidays. Shared by @sovereignpath.
*Five tech trends to watch in 2012. Shared by @ABetterBA.
*CIA involved in Occupy Wall Street crackdown? Shared by @Hugo_DTA.
*Unlimited presidential fundraising: the curse of Steve Forbes. Shared by @BigViews.
*Can you 'own' twitter followers? Shared by @AbbasReda.
*Is the Occupy movement too big to succeed? Shared by @Lee_T_Jenkins.

You can read today's edition of Zeitgeist here. And remember, subscribing is free and easy.

Zeitgeist Daily Digest, Monday December 26, 2011.

2011-12-26T20:59:00.001-05:00

Headlines found in today's Zeitgeist:

*Jews, Muslims volunteer in gesture of harmony. Shared by @AmericaInFocus.
*One dollar, one vote? Shared by @R_J_Sterling.
*OMG! Pa. texting law will erase Philly cellphone ban. Shared by @NewsWorksWHYY.
*$1 Million may not be enough to pay claims in Pa. Turnpike tanker spill. Shared by @NewsWorksWHYY.
*Texas shooting: gunman 'dressed as Santa' killed family. Shared by @BBCWorld.
*Time to end the war on drugs. Shared by @metaphysicaldev.
*Local group seeks to end international sex slavery. Shared by @JubileeCampaign.
*New Jordan shoes source of fighting. Shared by @sovereignpath.
*Jim MacMillan, my year in photos: 2011. Shared by @JimMacMillan.
*The making of the American 99%. Shared by @mattcdef2000.
*The 21 most memorable tweets of 2011. Shared by @Liesie_Trainer.
*Sovereign Yacht. Shared by @shitwecomeupwit.
*GoDaddy not only helped write SOPA, they are exempt from it. Scumbags. Shared by @newsyc20.
*New Jersey homeless shelter receives $160,000 grant. Shared by @NewsWorksWHYY.
*Kwanzaa celebration begins on Monday in Germantown. Shared by @NewsWorksWHYY.
*Grasping the obvious in using social media. Shared by @YPCBeef.

You can read today's edition of Zeitgeist here. And remember, subscribing is free and easy.

Zeitgeist Daily Digest, Sunday December 25, 2011.

2011-12-26T09:05:00.001-05:00

Headlines found in today's Zeitgeist:

*Christmas Day fire takes two families out of home. Shared by @RegioFora_WA.
*Long road back for Fukushima city hit by twin disasters. Shared by @WorldNews36.
*Iran says woman's stoning case might change to hanging. Shared by @WorldNews36.
*The making of the 99%. Shared by @maurizioacerbo.
*Could the rebellion against traditional publishing actually work? Shared by @newsyc20.
*Kids are heroes - kids are making a difference in the world. Shared by @giitjee.
*Renegade culture inside Seattle Police Department. Shared by @newt_funny_man.
*Occupy Eugene protester choked and beaten to death at camp. Occupy death total at nine. Shared by @LiberalWhoppers.
*Occupy Wall Street leaders declare literal war, vow covert ops, no more peaceful approach at Pat Dollard. Shared by @dlb703.
*Decades later, a Cold War secret is revealed. Shared by @newsyc20.
*Occupy's next target: the Iowa Caucus. Shared by @darealmaozedong.
*Egyptian blogger released from jail. Shared by @paintmyblues.
*Kids build great things. Shared by @knep.
*No Forbes, CEO's should not Facebook or Twitter. Shared by @SocialMedia547.
*Is Twitter massively overrated? Shared by @PassPcreative.
*Harsh realities from 500 startup founders. Shared by @newsyc20.
*Congress calls on Twitter to block Taliban. Shared by @nzmrmn.
*Social media, Google Maps to report drug dealers in Reynosa. Shared by @smbuffer.
*If Ron Paul wins Iowa, Florida becomes even more important. Shared by @PunditThis.

You can read today's edition of Zeitgeist here. And remember, subscribing is free and easy.

Zeitgeist Daily Digest, Saturday December 24, 2011.

2011-12-24T20:20:00.001-05:00

Headlines found in today's Zeitgeist:

*McDonald's closes all its restaurants in Bolivia. Shared by @ginawiina.
*Occupy Wall Street is many things, but one thing it's not is partisan. Shared by @carport.
*A new year, a renewed you: how to create inner balance and harmony (part 3). Shared by @gatesofpower.
*Did the Chinese civilization contribute to the modern world? Shared by @modernworldhub.
*Protesters gather for another big rally in Moscow. Shared by @megan4562010.
*3 social media mistakes to avoid. Shared by @smbuffer.
*US regrets cuba's decision not to release Alan Gross. Shared by @bbcworld.
*Before they left town, did House Republicans change the rules of the tax-cutting game? Shared by @77media.
*US keeps Iraq at arm's length with troops put. Shared by @freeunnamednews.
*Operation Christmas Eve: Mass for US troops in Afghanistan. Shared by @nbcphiladelphia.
*Jumping for Jumpman. Shared by @dcw.
*Fans of Facebook cocktail bar. Shared by @codelist.
*Wereoccupied United: one million occupiers. Shared by @occupytvnews.
*GoDaddy has not withdrawn its official congressional support for SOPA. Shared by @newsyc150.
*Occupy London protestors and Church in harmony during Christmas. Shared by @rawstory.
*YouTube's best Christmas videos. Shared by @panossir.

You can read Today's edition of Zeitgeist here. And remember, subscribing is free and easy.

jumping for Jumpman.

2011-12-24T11:32:00.001-05:00

I should start this by saying I was never a fan of Michael Jordan. I never thought he was the best player ever (maybe fourth, behind Kareem, Wilt and Russell). It had nothing to do with him beating the 76ers; I just thought and still believe that Jordan was over-hyped. Yeah, yeah; I know all about his scoring records, his clutch shots and his Defensive Player of the Year awards. I just never really got into him like that.
But that's not to say I didn't rock his signature kicks.
I had a pair of the "Baby Jordans," which were for kids who's feet weren't yet big enough for the Airs. My first "big" pair was the Air Jordan III, the model that first had the air bubble in the sole and the red/black shoelace triangle hook system by the ankle.
I loved those sneakers. But not enough to bust off shots get a pair.
That seems to have been the situation across the country when Nike released the the Air Jordan 11 Retro Concord late last week, when too-eager sneaker-geeks and posers resorted to gunplay and other drama to get their hands on the coveted kicks.
It says many things about the state of urban America when grown men will stand in line for a pair of sneakers. True, I stood in line for the first iPhone, but no one pulled out a gun to try to expedite manners. And liberal think tanks won't like it when critics start to ask why is there never a riot when Aple releases a product, but Nike tosses out a pair of retro kicks which, directly or indirectly, leads to bloodshed.
If folks wanna stand in line for a wearable consumer item that well eventually wear out, go out of fashion, etc., then more power to them. But is life and society worth so little that people will resort to violence for a pair of Jordans?
Then there's the added ridiculousness of these same kicks being posted on eBay for hundreds of dollars. One thing is certain; the kick game is assuredly recession-proof. Got your pair yet?

Zeitgeist Daily Digest, Friday December 23, 2011.

2011-12-24T10:59:00.001-05:00

Headlines found in today's Zeitgeist:

*Several injured after Alexandria, LA mall was destroyed over Air Jordan sneakers. Shared by @1079ishot.
*Local cops ready for war with Homeland Security-funded military weapons. Shared by @sovereignpath.
*GoDaddy no longer supports SOPA. Shared by newsyc20.
*The week's Top 20 insouciant media. Shared by @RealTonyRocha.
*Facebook suicide prevention tool. Shared by @

you can read today's edition of Zeitgeist here. And remember, subscribing is free and easy.

The Zeitgeist Daily Digest, Thursday December 22, 2011.

2011-12-22T20:04:00.001-05:00

Headlines found in today's Zeitgeist:

*Foursquare used to document the history of rappers. Shared by @objectivarte.
*Asian workers face 'slave like' conditions in Saudi Arabia. Shared by @willspencer.
*GoDaddy faces boycott over SOPA support. Shared by @newsyc20.
*How to deal with complaints about your brand on Facebook. Shared by @Socialmediaja.
*One tweet = 60 cigarettes - or does it? Shared by @HelenOster.
*Argentina takes control of newsprint supplies. Shared by @WorldNews36.

You can read today's edition of Zeitgeist here. And remember, subscribing is free and easy.

The Zeitgeist Daily Digest, Wednesday December 21, 2011.

2011-12-21T20:45:00.001-05:00

Headlines found in today's Zeitgeist:

*A conversation with Bill Conlin the day before The Inquirer dropped its molestation story. Shared by @The700Level.
*White House uses social media to up pressure on payroll tax cut. Shared by @smbuffer.
*Young Turk burns bridges with MSNBC. Shared by @Oxcindyxo.
*Facebook brand pages under attack from activists - Chiquita next in line. Shared by @kullin.
*Many Americans brace for loss of payroll tax cut. Shared by @WorldNews36.
*Obama calls Boehner to push for payroll tax cut extension. Shared by @Trendingr.
*Gingrich to gay man: vote for Obama. Shared by @airstreamCody.
*The real story behind Apple's 'Think Different' campaign. Shared by @giitjee.

You can read today's edition of Zeitgeist here. And remember, subscribing is free and easy.

The Bill Conlin I knew.

2011-12-20T23:17:00.001-05:00

The appalling charges of child sexual abuse levied against newly-retired Philadelphia Daily News sports columnist Bill Conlin if true, will represent the latest fall from grace for a prominent sports figure.

(Deadspin was the first to break the story that the Philadelphia Inquirer was about to break the story.)

While the issues involving Conlin, Penn State and Syracuse University are all unique, all three involved sexual abuse of a number of minors, juveniles who undoubtedly looked up to their abuser as a role model and protector against the very pain they inflicted. I cannot begin to fathom the physical and emotional tolls Conlin's alleged victims have endured.
It's for folks much smarter than me to make the correlation between college athletics and this recent spate of accusations involving children; I can really only speak on my relationship with Bill Conlin.
Which is to say, I didn't have one.
During my ten years at the paper, I can say that I never once laid eyes on Bill Conlin in the flesh. That's no exaggeration; I truly never met the man, ever.
That's not to say that he never came around. He made many stops in Philly during my tenure, including appearances and making various acceptance speeches.
I've never heard anyone say a bad thing about him; just the same, I've never heard anyone say anything good about him, either. I had the opinion that he was very pompous and arrogant, which showed through his columns. His way with wit was one thing; his condescending style and tone was something different.
Conlin won't have a chance to face his accusers in court, since the statute of limitations has long since expired. But one thing is certain; the court of public opinion seems to have alread rendered its verdict, and there is probably nothing Bill Conlin can do to restore his once-gilded reputation.

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Will the cold weather curtail Occupy Philly?

2011-11-28T21:43:00.001-05:00

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter went from "go-along, get along" with the Occupy Wall Street's Philadelphia movement to evicting them from City Hall's Dilworth Plaza over the past weekend.
The Occupy Philly movement has so far resisted the eviction notice setting up for an even uglier confrontation in the coming weeks.
While this space won't go into the pros and cons of the movement - there are already dozens of sites and online outlets for both critics and supporters of the movement - I should say that I am proletariat, and by my very nature, I support unions, workers and disenfranchised citizens.
And I am very sympathetic to the cause of the Occupy Movement. But it doesn't help its own mission due to a lack of an identifiable, national spokesperson, or the formation of a concise call-to-arms. That the Occupy movement is an apolitical body doesn't quite give the politicians in power any night sweats, although that can and may change as the movement evolves.
But what has hurt the advancement of the Occupy movement, along with many other public actions, has been the infiltration of anarchists and others that don't quite share the same vision as the hardcore Occupiers. This has led to a rise in crime and sexual disease transmissions in and around the tent cities - providing the perfect out for Nutter and mayors all across the country to quit playing softball with the movement by removing them from city property, and only granting new permits that are very strict in how the Occupiers could, well, occupy.
I think Nutter was right in this decision, but if one doesn't consider the impending construction at CIty Hall as a mitigating factor, Nutter may not have had to make the decision at all.
Mother Nature could have done it for him.
The cold bite of winter in the northeast is only a few weeks away, and I can't see even the staunchest Occupiers sleeping, day in and day out, in the extreme winter that Philly often experiences. In short, perhaps the winter would have done for the city what the mayor seemed forced to do?
I haven't been able to find any successful cold-weather sit-in, although I'm sure that has been done in cold, European outposts. But in America - in Philadelphia - I just don't see the movement lasting beyond St. Valentine's Day. The Philly Occupiers seem dug in, however; on a recent visit, a few of the occupiers said they were making plans to stay through the winter months.
That's not a mark against the temerity of the Philly Occupiers; but it's hard to reason that a person will spend an entire winter camped out on concrete - especially when they don't have to be there.
Perhaps Nutter did them a favor, in declaring that the Philly Occupiers can no longer set up tents; now maybe there won't be the public relations nightmare of any protester freezing to death on Philly streets.

It's the new style.

2011-11-27T01:08:00.001-05:00

It was about time I freshened up the place.
Just a quick note to the faithful few readers and followers, informing you of the new layout for this blog-hybrid-website.
The old design, while decent, was, well, old. So to liven up things before I make the grand move to GoDaddy or some other non-Google delivery system (and that will be soon), this layout will go a long way towards the streamlined look I want to establish across all my brands. Yes, my brands.
Enjoy!
-d.

Extra, Extra! Dame Finally Started His Own Paper!

2011-11-27T00:29:00.001-05:00

Well, at least technically, that's true.
Given the nature of my rather nasty fallout with Tyree Johnson and his Westside Weekly, and coupled both with my journalistic desires and the prodding of various friends, I have decided to look very closely at starting my own newspaper.
But until I either buy, steal or am somehow funded a fresh iMac and a copy of InDesign CS5 (that's about two Large - you got me? Donations and bribes happily accepted), Paper.li will have to do.
What is Paper.li, you ask? That's good stuff outta you, budding journalist.
Paper.li allows newshounds, bloggers and just about anyone with any interest in anything whatsoever to produce their very own online newspaper. It allows you to import all of your feeds, along with your relevant #hashtags and other posts, and presents them in a nifty newspaper format. Also pretty awesome is that you can scale the information you want presented, and you can also create more than one paper. So, it is possible, for example, to create a newspaper say, for Brooklyn, and create an entirely different one based on canines. One more thing? You can customize it to either have a once-a-day release or for your virtual paper to "publish" a morning and evening edition. That's pretty crafty.
This is pure genius for a disgruntled newsman such as myself. It at once allows me to create a newspaper that is easily accessible and contains a wide range of content from myself and others of my ilk and to hone things until the hardware appears. In my case, if one looks at it as a local newspaper with a sizable contributor staff, than you will begin to see my vision.
So until I can put out that print publication, this will more than suffice. So check out my newest endeavor, "Say Word," on paper.li, and become a fan, subscribe and recommended or retweet it, even. I promise it won't hurt at all. And if you want to contribute your works, hit me up; we can make that happen.
-d.

Sign here.

2011-11-19T20:49:00.001-05:00

I know patience does have its limitations, but there's a good reason why there hasn't been a book signing as of yet. Simply, it is turning out to be harder than I thought in securing a venue and working out all the orbiting logistics involved involved in making the event a reality. Sure, there's a few venues that I have reached out to and received varying degrees of rather lukewarm responses; amazingly, most of the problems lie in folks either not returning phone calls/e-mails, or the asking price was astoundingly high for a self-published author. Not that I'm against paying; I'm just against paying that much.
While I'm a bit salty at the lack of movement on the behalf of others, this delay does have a silver lining: it will allow me to plan a multi-release signing. So instead of just "The Jawn," readers will be able to have both books signed at the same time. (At this rate, the first book signing may be a trifecta of sorts, as my first novel is more than halfway complete.) And did I mention that whenever the signing happens, you'll be able to buy both books as well? Just sayin'.
Still, I could use a little help.
And with that, I put my request readers, fans and followers: where do you suggest I hold the book signing? I'm not above thinking out loud, so shoot any recommendations you have to damon@damoncwilliams.com. Somewhere in Philly or its close suburbs is preferable, but I am open to any location within the tri-state area.
In the meantime, be sure to pick up Soul In Ink: The Memoirs of a Journalist and The Jawn: Philly's Unsigned Talent 2001 - 2007, and check back here for updates pertaining the signings.
Thanks again, one and all, for the continued support!
-d.

Soul In Ink: Now on Amazon!

2011-11-13T12:11:00.001-05:00

I should start by saying I am in love with CreateSpace.
Through the service, I was able to self-publish my first two books, with the latest, "Soul In Ink: Memoirs of a Journalist," finally being listed and available through Amazon.
This book, like its predecessor, "The Jawn," is based on my time at the Philadelphia Daily News. But while The Jawn focuses on my features-related articles (and some may indeed know me more for that than my city beat/crime coverage), Soul In Ink provides an in-depth look at my stories outside the realm of features.
More to the point, it takes ten of my most controversial and endearing articles and offers a look into the real-time news gathering process. It also offers a glimpse into my coming of age as a journalist, and how I developed both as a writer and a human being during those times.

A longer synopsis plus the option to purchase the book directly from CreateSpace is available here.

And here is the link to the Amazon listing page.

These offerings, plus a guide to journalism for the African-American reporter (which should be out right after the holidays), should hold everyone over until the release of my first novel, "The Devil's Symphony." More on these two releases later, but be sure to check this space for those important updates.
Thanks again, one and all, for your continued support!
-d.

Soul In Ink: The Memoirs of a Journalist.

2011-11-11T12:34:00.001-05:00

It's amazing what a little self-publishing can do for the writer's soul. And with that, I'm happy to announce that "Soul In Ink: The Memoirs of a Journalist," is available, right now, through CreateSpace's market. It will be made available through Amazon and other outlets in the days to come, and I will surely let you know when becomes widely available.
Here is the detail for the book, which should answer any questions about its content:

"It sure seemed much longer.
I worked at the Philadelphia Daily News for ten years, from 1998 to 2008. While it is impossible to distill my career into a number of stories, the ten proceeding articles went a long way towards defining my tenure at the paper...So in no small way, these are the stories that made me the writer I am today; I hope when you read these stories, you will see what I have seen, and feel what I have felt during my years of covering the streets of Philadelphia. Many of these stories are heart breaking; all were interesting and caused me a great deal of introspection. You will also notice the prevalence of newsroom politics, and what happens when a reporter bumps up against the old-school industry hierarchy that has felled a number of young and veteran reporters alike. Truly, it is part coming-of-age tale of a black reporter covering his native city.
I hope you enjoy these stories; and if you were to come away with a better understanding of Philadelphia, journalism and The Philadelphia Daily News, we will all be the better for it."

(You can order the book right here through its CreateSpace page.)

So there. That, in a nutshell, is what "Soul in Ink" is about; however, I guess a few pre-read disclaimers are in order.

*The book is very frank and very honest, and it has some coarse language; of course, all of my coverage outside the realm of features were often coarse and gritty, so this work reflects that. It's not overly profane though.
*There are a few name drops in this offering, and for the most part, everyone comes out clean. I can tell you that there will be at least five people totally pissed off at me, and maybe another handful or so that may be irked. Don't be mad; in fact, that leads me to my next point...
*Don't try to hit you boy with libel. The conversations and instances noted in "Soul In Ink" happened. Fact. The other material in the book comes from my notes and recollections. So don't be salty at me for remembering it how I did.

That's about it for now. Stay tuned for more updates, and thanks again, one and all, for your continued support!
-d.

But what about: Guru?

2011-08-22T23:50:00.001-04:00

"How come the greatest rapper of all time is always a dead rapper?" - KRS-One.
Can't blame Chris for asking that very good question, given the heaps of artistic praise given to late rappers, especially Tupac, Biggie, Big L and Big Punisher; three of those names belong in the argument of top-25 of all time, and two are definitely amongst the top ten.
But what about Guru?
It can be argued that the late emcee has provided more contributions to the craft and culture of hip-hip than both of the aforementioned emcees. And this is no slight to either, but what Guru accomplished artistically should be applauded just as well.
Guru helped spur the jazz-fusion movement (along with Digible Planets, Reflection Eternal and a few other groups) with his "Jazzmatazz" series of releases and collaborations; but he is best known for his decade-plus partnership with DJ Premier.
That relationship spawned more than a dozen full-length albums and countless singles and guest appearances.
The argument of 'the best' often comes back to sales/commercial success, and no one doubts that both Biggie and Tupac outsold Guru/Gang Starr/Jazzmatazz. But throughout his career, Guru has been more about the skillset of the art and adding to the foundation of the five elements and less about raw sales; I don't know if that can be said about Tupac and Biggie. This is just an analytical look and objective opinion; I do think that Biggie's and Tupac's places in hip-hop history are firm, and their legacy secure. Like all of these emcees, Guru's demise came way too early, passing away at 48
But lyric-for-lyric, song-for-song and album-for-album, its hard to not include Guru in the essentially subjective - and highly-controverial - list of greatest emcees of all time.
And Chris, don't worry - you still rank second only to Rakim. That top two will never change.

*AllMusic.com has a decent write-up and bio on Guru, but leaves out some detail.
Our homies over at Wiki.org have an in-depth piece on Guru as well.
This discussion piggybacks a previous blogpost and spirited discussion on the Greatest Rapper of All Time.*

MC Breeze rocks The Jawn.

2011-08-09T19:14:00.001-04:00

Any self-respecting hip-hop fan that also studies the history of the craft should know the name MC Breeze. Breeze, in a nutshell, is one of the pioneers of Philly hip-hop, and has been a staunch supporter of the sound. Instantly, songs "Discombobulatorbubalator" and the classic Philly vs. New York anthem come to mind when I think of his many hits and contributions.
I recall in great detail my interview with Breeze, and I savored my opportunity to interview the pillars and pioneers of Philadelphia hip-hop, and it was and is my pleasure to have include the interview with MC Breeze in The Jawn.
It's been a minute since I had a chance to catch up Breeze, but it's good to see that he is doing well, and has branched out and opened up his entertainment focus to include producing, movies ("Philly Boy" was a movie about Breeze and the formation of Philly hip-hop) and other ventures.

*Click here to check out MC Breeze's website*

So here's a shout to my homie and one of Philadelphia's legends, Joey "MC Breeze" Ellis - that Jawn looks good on you!

Remembering L.A. Banks.

2011-08-07T19:11:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, one needs to take a moment from their own lives and drama and take a minute to recognize yet another loss to to African-American book-writing and to the greater literary industry.
L.A. Banks, a Philly-based author, died last week from adrenal cancer; she was only 51. Many respectful obituaries have been written on Banks, but I just wanted to share something that many folks may not know.

(Here is the obituary from the Philadelphia Daily News.)

Long before major publishers discovers Banks as the genre-trailblazer she was and is, she came through the Philadelphia Daily News, promoting her freshman book, "Minion: Vampire Huntress." This was before she had a major publishing deal, and certainly before Hollywood's infatuation with everything vampires. Before Banks, I can say that there hasn't been an African-American author to touch the subject of vampires, especially a coming-of-age piece situated in an urban setting. Indeed, one only has to look at "True Blood" to see Banks' fingerprints all over it.
Still, at the time, apparently book publishers didn't want to go all-in on a new author working with unheard-of subject matter (something I truly can relate to), so Banks stopped by the paper, dropped off her book and press kit, and I set up an interview/photo session with her.
I can remember, even now, that Banks really felt frustrated by the lack of traction her work was receiving, and I could instantly tell that not only did she believe in her work, but that one day, she would become very successful.
As it were, I convinced my features editor to do a piece on her, and it wound up being a a feature' section cover-page story, featuring the interview, a few pictures and excerpts from her book.
I would like to think that piece helped, in some small way, to propel Banks' career. I haven't heard from her directly since 2004, but I have kept up with her and her several releases through mutual friends and Facebook. I only heard about her illness just a week before she passed.
It says right here that for what Banks offered, she was one of the very best to do it. So from this aspiring author to an established one, I can only offer a Job Well Done.

R.I.P. Leslie Esdaile "L.A." Banks, 1960 - 2011.

Jawn flicks.

2011-05-19T22:16:00.001-04:00

Now that I have approved the newest edition of "The Jawn," you'll be able to get your hands on it by the time you read this.
This list of included pictures should provide some motivation. So, from front to back, these are the artists and other cultural contributors pictured in "The Jawn":

20th Street Morroccos; Stephanie Renee; The Lost Children of Babylon; La Familia; Fat Nice, Sammy Cook and DJ Dyce; Crisis/O; Avalanche/Phil Banks; Dat Baw Dave; Michael McNair; Tim Savage; Beyond Logik; Douglas "Loops" Richardson; Sporty Smith; The Supa; Eternal Life; Carol DiFLorio; Jeff McNeil/Thee Phantom; Dom-Piece; Jeff McNeil and James Tyler; Jazzy Jeff; Tu Rae Gordon; United By Fate; Section 31; Dana Nash; DJ Norap; 40th Dimension; Viro the Virus; Konstant; Keen; Adlib; DJ CCx; Cool Tone and Ice Gritty; DJ Ross; Raw Life Entertainment; Destinee Scruggs; EZ Jase; Supreem Da Regulata; Konfidential; Lady B; Side Effect; iCON the Mike King; Digs Darklighter and Adam 12; Josephine Sincere; Johnnie Knuckles; Coup Da'Ta; True Da Hustla and Dan Angel; DJ Jus Def; Q-Deezy; Chief Kamachi; Hedonis Da Amazon; Floetry; Nina Capone; Reef the Lost Cauze; Baby Blak; Big Star; Lex; Tone Trump and Top Notch; Carolyn Chernoff and Rashida Holmes; Parry P; Stef Tataz; MC Mechanism; Jason Famous, Splitt and Stress; Blaak the 9th Man, Aul Purpis and Fat Nice; Sleep-E; Aul Purpis; Snuff; Adam 12 and Illit; Stef Tataz; 6-Mil; Dos-Noun and Verbal Tec; In The Company of Poets; Chops; Ill Vibe Collective; Coup Da'Ta; Shut 'Em Down Entertainment; Hedonis Da Amazon; Fel Sweetenburg; Nicky Banks; Dame Dash and Beanie Sigel; Dopesik; KiMo; Uva Coles; Carol Riddick; Tone Trump; Livin'; Ronnie Ron; Samori Coles; DJ Ultraviolet; Verbal Tec.

The more astute will see there are few here listed more than once. That is because they were fortunate enough to have several photo shoots for different events/releases, so I tried to include most of them. Also, there's a few pictures included of folks who weren't interviewed, but had an event coming up that I featured.
Hope you enjoy this newest incarnation of "The Jawn," and thanks again, one and all, for the continued support. Stay tuned!

In Living Color.

2011-05-17T19:57:00.001-04:00

Well, maybe not color, but a relatively monumental development, just the same.
The Jawn, as we have have come to know and love it, has undergone a facelift of sorts. Folks have clamored for it, critics have demanded it, and nations have drafted resolutions for the inclusion of photos and a forward.
Voila. It is done.
The Jawn, in its newest form (and only form to those who have yet to pick up a copy), includes more than 60 pictures of artists from that era. The forward, I think is very poignant, but most folks will probably be more interested in the photos than anything I would say. But nonetheless, I do explain my love for and desire to cover the local talent.
The Jawn has also moved up a division; it now weighs in at a heavyweight 280+ pages, where before, it was at bantamweight.
Seriously speaking, the inclusion of pictures has certain benefits and one unavoidable drawback. On the plus side, it is a wonder to see these artists in "back-in-the-day" photo shoots and spreads; some of the pictures go back eight or more years, so one can imagine the physical changes and maturations of the artists. In fact, that was an unintended effect; knowing most of these artists the way I do, it was amazing for me to browse and select which photos to use. It brought both laughter and a wistful sense of nostalgia.
(And speaking of use, I credited each Philadelphia Daily News' photographer for every picture used. The photo credits are now listed at the end of the book.)
The newest version of The Jawn has one extra interview included, and I can say I am glad I able to get them in. One of the benefits of self-publishing is that ability to edit published works on the fly and put it back into the market place. Nice.
It all sounds nice, right? Here's the rub.
The original price for "The Jawn" was $8.95. The extra 100 or so pages has forced the publisher to up the price for the extra dimension, so The Jawn," when it becomes available, will retail for $10.95. So basically, you are paying two extra bucks for photos, and extra interview and a forward. Sounds like a steal, no?

So there's no outrage, below is a quick Q&A about this newest version of "The Jawn"
and what it means:

"Dame, I supported you and bought a copy of "The Jawn" when you first put it out. Are you trying to hit me up for ten more bucks? You my mans and all, but that's not right. What's next, you gonna add color and charge $15 for the next one?"
You're right, that wouldn't be right, and that's not how I get down (although that is not an uncommon practice in the publishing game, with revision releases, special-edition releases, etc.). I plan on giving a free copy of "The Jawn" to each and every person that bought an original copy. For those that can be there in person, I will be having a book signing to launch "The Jawn," and I will give early adopters signed copies of the new book. If you cannot make the book signing or live far away, simply send me a picture of you holding your copy of the original "The Jawn," and I'll mail you a signed copy. That seems fair.

"Well, okay. But when will the newest version be out? And will I be able to cop the original?"
The newest version of the book will circulate through the stores in about two weeks; I am awaiting my proofs now, and once approved, that will set in motion the distribution channels. To the best of my knowledge, the original will no longer be available, and the new one will take its place. So if you want, hurry and cop the original now for posterity's sake.

"All that is cool, but $10.95? Seems a bit steep..."
I wish I could give it away, but you know that can't be. This is one of the lowest price-points my publisher offers for this sort of book; in fact, there was temptation to charge more, but since I'm not really in this project for the money, there was no need to charge up the fans of the era.

Of course, if there are any other questions during this transition from one Jawn to the other, you can leave a message on this post or e-mail me.
Thank you once again, one and all for your continued support. More updates to come, including the widespread availability of the "The Jawn."

A hundred times, thank you.

2011-05-03T22:09:00.001-04:00

If I had custom-etched iPads, I 'd give you all one. Instead, all I can say is thank you!
Back when I created the Facebook fanpage for "The Jawn," I wondered what it would be like to reach the hundred-fan plateau.
Well, thanks to all of you, I know longer have to wonder, because "The Jawn" has surpassed the century mark, and it's cool. Or dope.
Dope in that "The Jawn" isn't about me at all. It's about the litany of underground culture contributors that made that era so great (in fact, that will be the science to the forthcoming forward to be included in the book's next revision). So, in that light, I don't look at it like I have a hundred+ fans - I look at it like everyone included in the project just gained them.
But what makes the number 100 so significant? Let's have a look:

* 100 was the first Leap Year on the Julian Calendar, which fell on a Wednesday.
* 100 is the square of 10.
* 100 is the sum of the first nine Prime numbers.
* 100 is the atomic number of fermium (some real nasty stuff, too).
* There are 100 US Senators.
* The number of Scrabble tiles.

According to Wiki, 100 has a number of other references, such as: a sitting president's "first 100 days;" the minimum yardage distance of a regulation Par-4; the number of yards on a football field; the amount of episodes a television series must reach before becoming syndication-viable and last but not least, the late, great Wilt Chamberlain dropping a C-note in game.

But what does all this have to do with "The Jawn," you may ask? Very little, right now. But keep an eye on these lists, because with readers and friends such as you, "The Jawn" is bound to make a list such as this in no time.
So stay tuned, and thanks again, one and all, for the continued support!

The Jawn redux.

2011-04-28T16:55:00.001-04:00

The Jawn is in for a change.
I went in to this project wanting it to be as bare-bones, rough and gritty as the content itself, but just after a few months of availability, the book is due for an overhaul. Not a volume II, but the second revision, if you will.
Oh, the cover and the content will stay the same. But the book is begging for a forward, which I will write. It promises to be a deep forward, something that will definitely set the tone for book. And, I can humbly admit, there's one or two typos in there that I feel must be fixed. Most people missed them, but as a former newspaperman and current perfectionist, I feel that must be changed.
This is not to tell you to 'not' buy the book until this revision is out, which will be a matter of days; no, you can still cop The Jawn, as the core content and design will remain the same. But the beautiful thing about self-publishing is the ability to go right into the project, change what needs to be changed and put it out once more.
I can hear a few of you already.
"But Dame, I bought the book when it came out, and now you're baiting-and-switching up on us." Not true. I just want to give the readers the most complete snapshot I possibly can on a bygone era of Philly hip-hop.
Oh, I can also tell you that the new revision will include write-ups not in the original, including a missed effort with the group 84 and some others. All in all, it will be worth picking up, just as the original!
So stay on the look out, and stay tuned to this space for when that revision drops, and in the meantime, enjoy your copy of The Jawn and thanks again, one and all, for the continued support!

The Jawn Etcetera, Vol .1

2011-03-29T02:11:00.001-04:00

Until I get the The Jawnletter (the not-so-quite-settled name of the forthcoming newsletter - catchy, huh?) up and running, this will have to do in terms of a digest-style update of the State of the Universe that is The Jawn. Happy reading.

GET YOUR COPY HERE: There were two blogpost updates on the growing availability of The Jawn through other retailers, some of which serve the overseaes/international markets.
I discuss the various European outlets that rock The Jawn, and, much to my surprise, I discovered there's even a retailer in India pumping the book.
But I have since found other retailers, both online and brick-and-mortar, that are selling The Jawn:

Fishpond (Australia)

Kalahari (Lagos)

And for a solid list of up-to-the-minute prices from a wide variety of resellers, check out Better World Books. So, did you get your copy yet?

THE JAWN NEAR YOU: It's mostly my fault, as I truly didn't expect the amount of support and encouragement I have received for this project, and that is why I haven't scheduled a book-signing as of yet. And yes, the little something of this being a self-financed power-move might have something to do with it. Just sayin.'
But all hope is not lost, as I am definitely having a signing for The Jawn in the next coming weeks. The venues have already been settled upon, and they include the October Gallery, Free Library, Marathon Grille and Infusion. I will post both the event and send out invites when the time comes. I look forward to signing all those copies!

THE NEXT JAWN? The more I think about it, the more I see there is a need for either the follow-up or perhaps a revision. There's always methods of improving a product, and while The Jawn is pretty dope, I would like to include a touch more interviews. There's a thought that I may have been too orthodox in selecting which write-ups I included, so with that in mind, if there ever is a follow-up/part II/revision, those write-ups will be included. But any revision is still a few months off, and may coincide with the release of my psycho-dramatic novel, "A Devil's Symphony." That right there is a scoop, for those counting at home.

STATS: Facebook Fans: 77 Become a fan here.

Thanks again, one and all, for your continued support. Stay tuned!

The Jawn Hindi.

2011-03-16T11:36:00.001-04:00

Admittedly, I know nothing about India.
Sure, I've heard of and studied a bit about the life and times of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and the country's struggle for liberation from imperial British colonization.
But ever since I found out that Indian retailer Flipkart is carrying The Jawn, I decided to do a little India science.
Thanks to the good work of Wiki, I found some interesting factoids about this huge and densely populated Asian country. To Wit:

*India's official name is the Republic of India.
*Second-most populated country in the world.
*Four major religions have originated there: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.
*India has the world's 11th largest economy.
*India has the third-largest standing military.
*Is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, G20, G8+5, and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, to name but a few.
*Gained independence from British rule in 1947.
*India is a nuclear power.
* India is the most populous democracy in the world.
*Official currency is the Indian Rupee.

No word yet on the India's hip-hop vibe, but Panjabi MC is from there (but grew up in England), so that's a start.

But the real question is: of the country's 1,193,712,000 residents, how many of them are fans of and will cop The Jawn? Of the billion-plus inhabitants of India, what are the chances that there could exist a few fans of Philly hip-hop?
I'll let you know.

The Jawn Eurozone.

2011-03-11T14:31:00.001-05:00

As Philly has a worldwide hip-hop reach, it follows in line that The Jawn is now available through several European outlets.
These are the several outlets from across the pond than now rock The Jawn:

Angus & Robertson

Booku

Borders

I'm no master of the Eurozone economy, but a word of note: if you're stateside, it's best to go through one of the American outlets (which are listed in this post). It's much cheaper and will arrive at your doorstep that much faster. But if you happen to live cross yonder, these outlets should be able to serve you well; I know the UK Borders will allow you to order the book in their brick-and-morter stores.
More outlet updates to come, including the pending release of an Audiobook version. Stay tuned, and thanks once again, one and all, for the continued support.

March 9.

2011-03-09T15:59:00.001-05:00

It might go down as the most infamous date in hip-hop history.
The Notorious B.I.G., aka Biggie Smalls, was gunned down on this day in 1997, and ever since his passing, both mainstream and hardcore hip-hop fans have proclaimed him to be the best emcee. Ever.
I dispute the claim that Biggie was the best, ever, later, but right now, I don't even know if March 9 is truly the most-known and revered date in hip-hop. Here's a few other dates and instances, in no particular order, that may or may not rank higher amongst the populace:

*1993: Shortly after the release of "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)," all members of the original Wu-Tang Clan sign individual contracts. This is the first time (but not the last) that rappers in a multi-member (more than two) group were able to sign outside recording contracts. This has led to a boom in rappers signing deals, getting more points on their respective contracts and a higher visibility with their projects.

*1987: LL Cool J releases "Bigger and Deffer," which ushered in a new era of lyrical emcees, waving goodbye to the previous era of overly simplistic lyrical schemes and nursery-rhyme flows. There were other lyrical emcees coming out at that time, but LL's flow and the overall concept of "Bigger and Deffer," did more than shut down nemesis Kool Moe Dee; it also served as a preview of the entire '90s sound.

*1988: Co-founders Ray "Benzino" Scott and Dave Mays launch the once-iconic Source Magazine, giving a voice and outlet to the streets. The Source implemented a mic-grading system, and for a while, even had a comic strip. The success of The Source led to other magazines, such as the West-coast flavored XXL and many others. Even after a litany of lawsuits, a bankruptcy filing and the company being forcibly removed from its co-founders, The Source still reigns supreme as the go-to magazine for hip-hop culture and style.

*1987: Only a few months after "Bigger and Deffer," Eric B & Rakim release their amazing debut, "Paid In Full," which is perhaps the best hip-hop album ever released. On it, Rakim blended his unique, multi-syllabic flow with a serious dose of confidence, wit and Five Percenter ideology. Rakim, from this one album, set the tone for the "serious" emcee, and just about every emcee since has tried, and failed, to emulate The God's flow.

*1994: Vibe Magazine amps up the now over-rated East Coast vs. West Coast beef, with emcees more than 4,000 miles apart trading vicious jabs during a series of interviews and write-ups in the publication. Up to and including the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur, the magazine refused to let it go. It was only until after the murder of Biggie did the magazine tone it down. (Although, the editors and publishers never once issued an apology for their hand in fanning the flames of the beef.)

There's more instances, but I think these all rank.
But the real question is this: is Biggie truly the greatest rapper ever, alive or dead? let's take a look.
To be a world-class emcee, lyricism is a must, and the very first criteria. Then there is production, longevity, public/social impact, and that certain history-making intangible. While Biggie did possess all of these to some degree, he did only release two albums while living, and there's room to argue the merits of his debut, "Ready To Die." A good album, certainly; but can it be said that "Ready To Die" was the best hip-hop album ever? For kicks, here's One Man's top-ten list, and yes, Biggie is in there. I'm a hip-hop purists, so apologies beforehand:

1. Rakim
2. KRS-One
3. Chuck D
4. Guru
5. Slick Rick
6. Ghostface Killah
7. Tupac
8. Biggie
9. Big Pun
10. Kool G. Rap.
Honorable mention: Big Daddy Kane, Redman, Jay-Z, Raekwon, Treach (Naughty By Nature), AZ, Ice Cube, Mos Def, Method Man, MC Lyte, Busta Rhymes.

This is not a Biggie diss; but rather, a way of looking at this glorious art form and way of life in a more level-headed fashion. Biggie was one of the best, no doubt about that. But to proclaim him The Greatest of All Time may be a stretch, considering hip-hop has so many voices and contributors. I for one think it would be hard to discern, right now at least, who the greatest is. Like KRS-One said, "50 Years Down The Line, We Can Start This."
By the way, KRS said that exactly 23 years ago, on "I'm Still #1," off the very classic sophomore album, "By All Means Necessary."
Who's on your list?

"The Jawn," now available through Barnes & Noble.

2011-03-04T15:43:00.001-05:00

Yup, that's The Jawn!
We can now add Barnes & Noble's to this list of retailers now selling "The Jawn."
This makes the fourth online retailer to carry the book; however, I was told that it can be ordered at any brick-and-mortar Barnes & Noble and it will be delivered to the store within a matter of days.
That's a beautiful thing. And for reminder's sake, here's the list of the outlets where you can order the book:

Barnes & Noble

Amazon (both print and Kindle versions)

CreateSpace (the most author-friendly avenue)

Goodreads

Stay tuned for more updates, including an audiobook version.

The Jawn Supreem.

2011-03-03T14:29:00.001-05:00

The pictures and postings of artists with "The Jawn" are starting to pour in, and here's the latest: Supreem Da Regulata with his Jawn:

For those who don't know, Supreem was one of the very first artists I interviewed for my hip-hop columns at the paper, and I always found him to be an energetic, crowd-pleasing emcee. In fact, somewhere in here, I still have my copy of the high-energy classic, "The Jumpoff."
One could consider Supreem a veteran's veteran, as he has been the frontman for many a hip-hop and fusion outfits, and has done it all, including hosting several events.
Right now, Supreem is rocking with the fusion band Da Rezarekt.
Be sure to check Supreem and the crew!

The fuse is lit.

2011-03-01T20:03:00.001-05:00

It took me back to the days of the now-defunct Philadelphia Hip-Hop Alliance, sans the cliques and beefs.
After attending and speaking at the latest installment of "The Lit Fuse: A Hip-Hop Salon," I can safely say that there is a strong interest in the fusion of hip-hop and literacy.
Not that the interest wasn't there before, but it's a beautiful thing to see, hip-hop meetings, think tanks and collaborations.
And that the organizer, Moll Media, runs tis monthly event out of the Main Branch of the Free lIbrary of Philadelphia shows just how far hip-hop has come.
It was a dark and dreary night...
But a hardcore dozen-plus souls came out to feel the vibe and hear what the panelists had to offer.
Mimihoney of PhillyItGirls.com offered up information on how she and her partner started their successful blog, and the interviews they had coming up, while attorney/activist Michael Coard spoke on everything from the African lineage in hip-hop to his "Hip-Hop 101" class he teaches at Temple. I was there to talk about "The Jawn," of course, but I also shed a little light on the what compelled me to cover local/underground hip-hop during my tenure at the paper.
All in all, the event was a success. Point-woman Sonya McDuffie did and does and excellent job in promoting the event, ensuring that the event had an old-school, town-meeting style to it.
Hip-hop the culture needs more events such as the Lit Fuse. And although it does happen on Mondays, that shouldn't be an excuse to not attend and get involved.

The fabulous 55.

2011-02-25T23:34:00.001-05:00

Forget free iPods, its free iPads for everyone!
No, it isn't. But it is a tip of the hat to the first 55 'fans' of "The Jawn" on Facebook.
That's a significant number to me, outside of the fact that of those 55, 50 are friends of mine.
Why so significant?
The fanpage was launched on Sunday, February 14th, and just on the strength of word-of-mouth and my own sense of gorilla marketing on various social networks, it first achieved 20 fans, then 25, and so forth, up until this grand number of 55.
And the number 55 is grand, indeed; even Wiki says so.
Thanks to the deep thinkers at Wiki, I discovered that 55 is also a very serious mathematical and scientific number. To wit:

*Is the 20th Fibonacci number and the sum of the numbers 1 through 10.
*is a semiprime number, heptagonal number, centered nonagonal number, a triangular number and a square pyramidal number. Whoa.
*Is the atomic number of caesium.
*Was the number of delegates to the United States Constitutional Convention in 1787.
*The highest speed limit allowed in the United states between 1974 and 1986.
*I-55 freeway freeway from Louisiana to Illinois.

If your eyes haven't yet glossed over, there's even more 55 goodness to be had here.
This is all to say, really, Thank You to the first 55 Facebook fans of "The Jawn." This collection and the way it has been received has amazed me, and whatever success the book has beyond the first two fans is a credit to all of you.
Thank you for becoming a fan of and enjoying "The Jawn." Stay tuned!

Getting to know "The Jawn."

2011-02-25T18:03:00.001-05:00

Finally, "The Jawn" has ascended to its rightful place amongst the greatest literary works of our time in the Central Branch of the Free Library of Pennsylvania.
Well, if only slightly.
Sonya McDuffie over at Moll Media Online has invited Yours Truly to speak on "The Jawn" during February's installment of the monthly, ongoing event, "The Lit Fuse Series: A Hip-Hop Literary Salon," on Monday at historic library.
Mimihoney of Philly It Girls.com will also be in the building.
Boosted from the site, the purpose of "The Lit Fuse Literary Salon Series is designed to spark the imaginations of Hip-Hop lovers everywhere and change lives! If you love to learn and seek a truly interesting challenge, or simply want to bond with like-minded peers, then the Lit Fuse Literary Salon Series is the answer. Dedication to eradicating the problem of Hip cultural illiteracy via Hip Hop studies is the core focus. Love and a sense of responsibility is the driving force.
This is a comprehensive seminar-style event where assigned pieces will be available for download in advance. Topics of study will include: music, politics, history, humanities, art, dance, religion, linguistics, science, technology, and mathematics. Participants are asked to come prepared to constructively and respectfully discuss and contribute to the dialogue, or simply listen. Guest DJs will spin and refreshments will be served."
Sonya and her umbrella group, Black Maverick Entertainment, has been involved in the promotion of the local hip-hop culture scene for the better part of a decade, and its only fitting that she would brainstorm such a crucial series.
So if you're free on Monday evening, swing by the Skyline Room at the Main Branch. You can also check out the Facebook fanpage for "The Jawn" for more information and to confirm your attendance. Come one come all!

"The Jawn," as shown with Keen.

2011-02-23T21:09:00.001-05:00

This could be the first of a series.
Emcee keen was the first to send me a picture of herself with The Jawn:

For those who don't know, well before hitting up Cali, Keen was one of the foremost femcees based out of Philly during that era. Nice enough that she forged a rep as a stellar lyricist-slash-battle emcee, and the showdown between her and Mr. Blackson was epic. She is one of only a few Philly-related female hip-hop artists that I believe can out-rhyme the top male emcees in the game.
You can check out Keen's Facebook fanpage here.
Everyone that sends me a picture of them and The Jawn will be posted both here and on the fanpage.
Get those pictures ready; you and The Jawn.

"The Jawn" now available through Amazon's Kindle Store.

2011-02-22T23:32:00.001-05:00

"The Jawn" is now officially available through Amazon's Kindle store, which represents another milestone in the maturation of this project.
Getting the book into an acceptable form and on the Amazon network proved a little bit daunting, but here it is. The book in its digital form is $3.00. In moving to Amazon, I have also decided to cease E-Book publishing through Smashwords. Nothing against the service, but I prefer the seamless integration of Amazon's service; it didn't help that Smashwords allowed free downloads of the book without my knowledge or consent. I don't mind giving a free look, but I would like to at least know about it. Moving on.
Now "The Jawn" is available through four very official outlets:

CreateSpace

Amazon Bookstore

Goodreads

Amazon Kindle Store

And don't forget to become a fan of The Jawn's Facebook page.

As usual, thanks one and all, for the continued support of this project; stay tuned for further updates.

The lucky 25.

2011-02-21T19:46:00.001-05:00

If I were Apple, I'd be giving away free iPods.
But since I am not Apple and but only a mild-mannered, self-published author, I can only offer my sincere thanks to the 25 souls who were amongst the first to support "The Jawn" by actually buying a copy of it.
Now 25 sold may not seem like a lot, but that's 24 more than what my initial goal was. I just wanted to produce one sale of this book, and as far as expectations go, that sole sale could have gone to me and I would still have been just as satisfied.
And when one also considers that I only announced the availability of "The Jawn" on my social networks exactly 14 days ago, I'd brand the book a success by my terms.
But even greater than the units sold is the impact the book has had, especially throughout the underground. "The Jawn" has certainly resonated with the people that were featured in it, and the number of fans of "The Jawn" on Facebook continue to grow every day. It seems that the movers and shakers of the underground during that era now have an online destination to gather and discuss those fast and furious times with others who likewise contributed to it.
So thank you, Lucky 25; you've made the book interesting enough for the next 25 to check it out while allowing me to live my own dream.

The blog is now a website.

2011-02-19T20:30:00.001-05:00

Okay, so it's not quite rivaling the websites of Dan Brown or Dean Koontz, but its a start.
A simple enough conversion, of moving the blog and writings from the .blogspot address to the much more straight-up www.damoncwilliams.com.
For now, it will stay mostly in blog form until I decide on which avenue to take (outside of cyber-squatting on www.TheJawn.com!)
However, this page can still be reached through the .blogspot address, so it you happen to be a follower and use that address, there's no need to update your bookmarks.
Thanks again for the support, and stay tuned for more updates and a more robust update to the site!

"The Jawn" featured on People, Places & Things.

2011-02-18T20:02:00.001-05:00

Now I know what it feels like to be on the other side of an interview.
Charing Ball, the author of the very thorough "People, Places & Things," did yours truly a solid by leading her site with my very first interview concerning The Jawn.
Outside of job interviews, this has been the first time in a very long time that I was the one answering the questions.
And many of those questions were insightful; I could have seen myself asking those same questions in my former reporter role.
So be sure to check out my interview conducted by Charing Ball at People, Places & Things," and while there, be sure to read her other entries as well.

For PayPal users.

2011-02-15T20:38:00.001-05:00

It has been bought to my attention that supporters and would-be purchasers of "The Jawn" aren't able to use PayPal to purchase the book, either through Amazon or CreateSpace.
This could be problematic, as it was for a friend of mine who tried to purchase the book, but couldn't.
As I told him and thus, letting the world know - don't sweat it. If your preferred method of making online purchases is solely through using PayPal, then I don't want potential readers to use a a method they aren't quite as secure using; most people that use PayPal either do not want their credit/debit card information floating around cyberspace - even through secure connections - or they are trying to stay as off-grid as possible. I respect both reasons, and wouldn't want anyone to circumvent their own security just to support the book.
Besides, there are other ways to get your copy, the best of which is to catch up to me during one of my upcoming book-signings, of which I will mention in this space in the very near future.
So apologies to all the PayPal users who are trying to purchase the book; your support is truly appreciated.
But if PayPal isn't dragging you down, then "The Jawn" is readily available through CreateSpace, Amazon and Goodreads.
Happy reading!

"The Jawn" now has its own fanpage on Facebook.

2011-02-13T10:14:00.001-05:00

Yet another method of gleaming info pertaining to my effort, "The Jawn: Philly's Unsigned Talent 2001-2007." I have created its own Facebook fanpage.
True, most if the info shows up on my main Facebook page, but I am going to migrate information from my main page to this fanpage. Also, the fanpage will contain certain notes and insights that won't be on my main page.
But by all means, feel free to stop by and visit both pages, as you will no doubt find interesting tidbits on both.
Thanks again, one and all, for the support!

A seller's market.

2011-02-12T11:34:00.001-05:00

Well, "The Jawn" has been available since February 7th, for little less than a week, and it has now sold double-digits units! Okay, that might not seem to be a whole lot, but when you factor in that it is self-published with no big publishing house backing it up, and that news of its release has basically spread through my own little social network (Facebook, Twitter and Plurk), I am very proud of the way "The Jawn" has been received.
I am much more pleased that it has received positive reviews from those who have already got their copy through the mail. It does mean a lot to me when folks get it, like and write a decent review (thanks, Jus Def).
The book has already exceeded my expectations, and anything above and beyond it's current status will definitely be a blessing.
Stay tuned in to this space, as I have a book signing and a separate appearance coming up. Nice!

"The Jawn" - now available at Goodreads.com!

2011-02-11T18:01:00.001-05:00

The listing magic keeps happening for "The Jawn." Aside from CreateSpace and Amazon, the book is now available for purchase and rating through Goodreads.com.
What makes this special is that readers and critics can actually rate the book, and unlike Amazon's rating, it'll show up in your Facebook feed (if you select that option).
And for full disclosure, I was the first one to rate and leave a quickie note. Four stars sounds about right, you think?
Thanks again, one and all, for your support!

Giovanni's? No Jawn for you.

2011-02-10T22:56:00.001-05:00

Maybe, on second thought, I shouldn't have even asked.
But being a first-time author of a self-published effort, I thought it would help the project's visibility to solicit placement with Philly's smaller book-sellers, and I thought downtown, south of Market Street, would be as good an area as any to search.
Apparently, the 'Gayborhood' is not the ideal neighborhood to place a collection of hip-hop writings, and that goes double if one is trying to place it in Giovanni's Bookstore.
Anyone familiar with the neighborhood knows that it wears its openness like a badge of honor, but in no uncertain terms was it explained to me that its openness only goes so far.
But hey, you can't blame a hustling writer for trying to place my works wherever I can, right? And besides, Giovanni's, located on the corner of 12th and Pine Street, is in the downtown area, and who's to say that gay folks aren't into local hip-hop?
Well, Ed Hermance of Giovanni's room doesn't believe a hetero book can fit in with the decidedly gay literature currently in stock.
Seems Mr. Hermance also has a blood beef with Amazon.
In inquiring about the possibility of placing my book within his store, this was his response:

"Thank you for your message.
As an independent booksellers, I am not impressed that your book is available thru Amazon, from whom we would not get your book, given that they are hellbent on creating a monopoly by, among other things, selling books far below their cost to Amazon so as to force every other seller out of the market. A monopoly will not give any deals when they have conquered their market.
But that's not the reason I am not interested in carrying the book. If we have it, our customers rightly assume that there's a gay connection.
Thanks anyway,
Ed Hermance"

Well.
Somewhere between birth and working at Giovanni's, it seems Mr. Hermance missed out on a few hugs. While it is his right to not want anything to do with my book (sniff), he goes a little bit far in claiming that my works somehow fits into the worldwide takeover scheme by the sleeper cell that is Amazon.
Of course, I had to share with Mr. Hermance my view, which was this:

"Wow, Ed, take it easy.
You have every right to not be interested in the book and wish not to carry it. But to suggest I'm part of some big monopoly, trying to force out mom-and-pop bookstores is far, far from the truth.
The fact is, this is a self-published effort, which is first available through the author-friendly service at CreateSpace, which then lists it for sale at Amazon. Amazon is just another avenue in which this self-published author is trying to make a sale. I do not have a book deal, and I have no publisher squeezing out any other writers/retailers. Lost in your diatribe is the fact that I have spent money, just to put this book out (seeing as though the 'majors' weren't interested in publishing the book, similar to how you are uninterested in carrying it).
But, thank you for such a gracious and thoughtful response. Have a great day, and I wish you well.
-damon"

I don't know how Mr. Hermance connected my work with what he apparently considers the darkside of book resellers, and I found it odd that he decided to vent on an unsuspecting, first-time author who is doing the publishing an promoting sans any book deal of any kind.
Perhaps "The Jawn" wouldn't have fit in with the gay fare in Giovanni's. But Ed Hermance's response came off as the dribblings of an aloof and arrogant retailer. Is there no wonder why local authors feel a sort of trepidation when trying to work with local book-sellers. It also doesn't reflect well on the supposedly open and inclusive vibe of Philly's Gayborhood.
Moral of the story? Don't look for "The Jawn" at Giovanni's. Instead, look for it at CreateSpace or Amazon!

"The Jawn" - now on Amazon.

2011-02-10T13:26:00.001-05:00

My book, "The Jawn: Philly's Unsigned Talent 2001-2007," is now available on Amazon.com. Soon, it will feature the "look Inside!" tool, where you will be able to use to browse the first few pages.
This is the second avenue in which the book is available for purchase.
The book is also listed at CreateSpace, which also features a synopsis of the book's subject matter.
Both links are good, but ordering through CreateSpace is more author-friendly. Either way, there are now two ways to get your hands on The Jawn!

Are you in The Jawn?

2011-02-09T21:46:00.000-05:00

I figured that it might be helpful if I posted the list of interviewees that are included in the book (which, of course, you can buy right here).
Once the Amazon listing goes live (I'll provide a link to it when it does), it will allow you to check out the index, but in the meantime, you can check for the lineup below. They are listed both here and in the book in chronological order, with the first proper interview being listed first.
In the book, you will notice that there aren't any pictures and there's no forward. That was done specifically, as this book, or digest, is about the artists and interviews, not about me, so I wanted the collection to speak for itself. As for pictures, well, due to a number of issues, I thought it best not to include them, but they may be included in the next edition, if this project happens to spawn a volume 2 (you never know). Overall, I wanted this project to have a gritty, straight-up feel.

And now, to the lineup:

Concept/One Entertainment; 20th Street Morroccoos/20M; Roscoe P. Coldchain; Funk Wizard Snow; La Familia; Stephaniee Renee; The Prophets of The Ghetto; The Lost Children of Babylon; Tim Savage; Solomon Trotter; Sporty Smith; Supreem Da Regulata; Beyond Logik; Avalanche/Phil Banks; K.C. Bajai; Ogbonna Hagins; Grand Agent; MC Supa; DJ Sixth Sense; MC Eternal Life; Mike Dennis; Seth Marcel; Carol DiFLorio; Jeff “The Phantom” McNeil; Dom-Piece; Plex; Dice Raw; Dev79; Nadir Fanon; James Tylor; Samori Coles; Jazzy Jeff; Tu Rae Gordon; Ghengis Khan; Blueface; Konfidential; North Bown Productions; Arrakis Records; Tayon Malik; United By Fate; Sesion 31; Nicky Banks; Dana Nash; Jaime Benjamin; DJ Xotic D; Reef the Lost Cauze; David Fuller/The Indikator; DJ Norap; Moulin Musical; Dstinee Scruggs; Crisis/O; 40th Dimension; Viro the Virus; DJ Ross; In The Company of Poets; Ronnie Ron; DJ Ill B; Docta Shock; The Phillywood Swingers; Platinum Kiss Productions; Konstant; Keen; EZ Jase; Ice Gritty; Big Tyme Enterprises; Adlib; DJ Meddafore; Ill Vibe Collective; Lady B; General; Side Effect; Take Down Records; Splitt; iCON The Mic King; Pitch Black; HanSoul; Allison BudSchalow/Beats For Peace; Colby Colb; Oaxerai; Michelle Byrd-McPhee; Ferno; Digs Darklighter; Josephine Sincere; “Jamaican” Dave Russell; Slumlord; Coup Da’Ta; Larry Lar; Baby Black; The Bro. Co.; Kamaflaj; Mert; True Da Hustla; Ace Leone; Nova; DJ Jus Def; El Feco B; Fel Sweetenberg; Q-Deezy; Chief Kamachi; Aaron Bryant; Stress; Nina Capone; Poor Boy Entertainment; Hedonis Da Amazon; Tiger Ranks; Teyquil; Big Star; Snuff; Happ G; Aul Purpis; 6-Mil; Lex; Tone Trump; Adam 12; Chops; DJ 101 For Girls; Stephanie Douglas/Stef Tataz; DJ Primetime; Inner Vibe Sound; Robert Waller (EST); Parry P; Rick Watson; Shut ‘Em Down Entertainment; Nina Ross; MC Mechanism; Spank Hulk; Ace Capone; KiMo; Livin; Keith From Up Da Block; DJ Ultraviolet; Eddie Morris; Mike Knox; Uva Coles; Carol Riddick; Kindred the Family Soul; Taragirl; Verbal Tec; Ronnie Long.

That's The Jawn!

2011-02-08T10:27:00.001-05:00

Finally, my first book is out.
Titled "The Jawn: Philly's Unsigned Talent 2001-2007," it includes more than 100 write-ups and blurbs on Philly's underground artists and culture contributors, compiled during my tenure as a reporter with the Philadelphia Daily News.
The lineup reads like a who's-who of Philly's underground urban entertainment scene.
From Tone Trump and Reef the Lost Cauze to Supreem Da Regulata and Keen, chances are that if your favorite Philly underground artist was out then, they are in this book now.

The book weighs in at more than 180 pages, and although there's no pictures, the write-ups themselves should send the reader back to the golden age of Philly representation, when on any given night, there would be a number of artists coming through the paper for an interview and photo shoot.
I don't know if this is a first or not, but I know that I am very proud of the coverage I was able to provide for the hometown, homegrown artists. There are too many to list here, but if interested, I can provide a list of who is in it. I can also say that I don't think the mainstream newspapers in Philadelphia will ever again open its doors to local, neighborhood artists, which should only heighten the appreciation for those fast, furious and glorious times.
The book will be available through Amazon's network as soon as it's approved, but you can be amongst the very first to have own a copy by purchasing it here.
This is just the first of three books coming out, so stay tuned.