Jackson Free Press

Greetings all. Its my second week across the pond and my body is still on Mississippi time. Ive tried to intimate to people how physically demanding touring can be. For those that thinks its just fun and games, think again. Five shows in five days in five different cities. Shows that were either one, two, or two and a half hours away from home base(Prague). Couple that with a grueling 45 minute set inside of a hot club and then emerging tired at 5am to temps of 40-45 degrees(yes, summer nights in the Czech Republic are COLD!!!). Then imagine seeing the sun rise when you're trying to recover and get some sleep but then you've got a radio interview or meet and greet at noon and your body still thinks its 5am!!! My muscles havent ached this much since my football days.

But I can say the crowds have been great. The energy level is off the meter and Ive never taken so many pictures and been offered sooooo many shots of liquor. Drinking is a national pastime it seems here. Beer is offered at breakfast and he locals get offended if you offer them chaser LOL. It certainly is a culture shock...but a good one. Im learning things about myself and my country moreso than anything. My views of America have definitely been changed a little.

For instance. the food here is MUCH healthier. Although Mcdonalds, Burger King, and KFC have made their presence known, fast food is still not the dining of choice. By and large the folks here are much more healthy than in the states. Ive seen MAYBE 4 clinically obese people since Ive been here. Everyone's fit. the women have lovely abs and the guys look like Tommy Hilfiger models. Sure there's your basic beer guts and flaby arms but thy are far less frequent here then the US. I feel out-of-shape and unhealthy when standing next to some of the locals in Prague. Ive got work to do in that respect.

The second thing that has opened my eyes is the country's inclusion of other cultures and languages here. Ive run into folks from Great Britain, Africa, Germany, Russia, and India here. Most Czech citizens speak at least two languages and that practice is encouraged. I didnt realize that Czech was such a difficult language to grasp. I was told that it is as difficult as Latin making it one of the hardest languages to learn. Yet, all of the folks from other countries i met knew it. I met a gentleman by the name of Jacko-ko from Nigeria(he is a reggae artist) who was proficient in 7 languages!!! I have never felt so inadequate and unaccomplished in my life. For all of my acheivements and all of my education i only know ONE language proficiently. When I look at it, we Americans are kind of like the dumb jocks of the world. We're popular, everyone wants to hang out with us, but they secretly talk about how dumb we are behind our backs. We are so arrogant and insular that we refuse to acknowledge or even encourage people to learn other languages. Here, the menus, food products, even dvd's are in several different languages. In America, you either learn English or you're up sh!t creek! And to think we're making a fuss about folks learning Spanish(which Jackko-ko has inspired me to learn upon my return)and having to accomodate the Spanish speaking folks in the US. I was a little embarassed actually LOL. So yes, Spanish is on my agenda and learning to better communicate in Czech will immediately follow.

Anyway, must run its close to 10pm and Im recording a song with one of the Czech Republic's biggest hiphop artists tonight. He's acting as if Im doing him the honors. What he doesnt realize is it is HE and the rest of Bohemia thats doing ME the honor. Ciao.

Previous Comments

ID

113752

Comment

Oh and its funny. Ive watched episodes of Walker Texas Ranger, married with Children, and CSI: MIAMI all dubbed in Czech!! Perry Mason(the new vesions) is even on here...Watching the Chris Rock Movie Head of State and its hilarious watching it in Czech. but it helps to match up some of the phrases. ...And I hate I missed voting last week..There were a few suprises. didnt think Sean Perkins would lose.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-08-13T13:49:21-06:00

ID

113753

Comment

Reading this has made me want to do better, too. I'm going to put off eating from 5:00pm to 5:15pm this evening in hope of getting fit and returning to my 30 year old form. I'm pulling out my Berlitz spanish materials to learn spanish on my own, and I'm going walking again this evening to lose the extra 50 pounds that holding me back from fitting most of my clothes. Likewise, I'm going to learn how to spell, once and for all, so I can finally look well educated. All because Kamikaze saw the real or larger world and passed it on to me. You fat, unaccomplished and lazy Americans should join me. Put those greasy hamburgers and donuts down and join me. Thanks Kamikaze.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-08-13T14:01:28-06:00

ID

113754

Comment

Kamikaze, our young readers want to know how Rap is received over there? Are fans falling over y'all over there like they do here. I'm eating my last 2 boxes of cookies right now before going on a diet. They shold are good - they must have lots of the stuff not good for you in them.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-08-13T14:17:39-06:00

ID

113755

Comment

Actually Ray...You would be amazed..HipHop has become the voice of the younger Czech demographic. Its very well received. And although its not as large a commodity as it is in the states the fans here are passionate about their hiphop. Ive got footage of some the czech club-goers the other night reciting verbatim songs from David Banner, Lil Jon, Redman, and a host of others despite the obvious language barrier. The dress, the attitude, the feel is all the same of home. Mind you, Bohemia is not the richest of countries and young folks here by and large dont have the expendable income that US kids do but they are spending their last to be a part of this movement. There have been fans who have taken the train two-thre hours to catch each date of this tour. Here the public transit is great and everywhere in the country is accessible by train..not train like Amtrak but train like say...Jatran. there's nowhere these kids cant get to if the have the money. Th dj's have the same equipment, maybe not the polish, but the same desire as Phingaprint does. they drop mixtapes just like he does. The MC's are passionate. Here 10,000 records is platinum taking in the people and the economic situation here. Far less folks are buying hiphop here. the internet and youtube are their primary sources of hiphop. The feel here is like the feel that hihop had in the us in its infancy. there is more of an appreciation of it here. You are judged by what you do on the stage not so much by radio or video. The biggest rapper here(over 10,000 sold) was just able to quit his day job and buy a new lavish vehicle along with being the very first rapper to endorse a product.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-08-13T14:29:41-06:00

ID

113756

Comment

Oh and to answer your question..YES. We're being treated like 50 cent over here LOL. Its hundereds of snapshots every night autographs and offers to drink a shot with us LOL...they dont see American black guys often. Our dress and swagger make us stand out so we get a lot of staring on the streets. But you know its not the " I hate black people stare" its the " WOW! a black American rapper stare!" LOL

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-08-13T14:32:16-06:00

ID

113757

Comment

Where are you sitting right now, Kaze? And PLEASE bring some of those healthy attitudes back to our young people. (OK, maybe not the constant drinking part.) We've got to tackle the obesity in our state, and the bad eating-health habits, or we're never going to have the energy to get off the bottom.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-13T14:32:52-06:00

ID

113758

Comment

Donna, in front of Jaro's laptop trying to catch up on emails. But will be dipping out to the studio in about 10-15 mins

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-08-13T14:34:29-06:00

ID

113759

Comment

Where, though? In a cafe? At his place? Just curious. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-13T14:35:07-06:00

ID

113760

Comment

Oh, and hug the big Czech for me.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-13T14:35:36-06:00

ID

113761

Comment

A male intern in my office wants to know how the women look over there. Like me, you're married and I doubt you really notice other women. In case you accidentally looked at one or several, how do they compare to here?

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-08-13T14:35:48-06:00

ID

113762

Comment

We're in his loft now..Overlooking the city of Prague btw LOL. He's got a player pad LOL. and Im not married Ray so I can say in all my maleness...the women are beautiful. Beautiful abs showing everyday. Pretty smiles and friendly faces. As in america all shapes, heights and sizes(there are lot of TALLLL women here.) I still like the thick sistas of the states though brother. I met a hiphop fan who happens to be a foward on the czech women's team. shes about 6"2 and modelesque in stature. BTW she speaks German, Spanish AND English. Felt like a dummy yet again LOL.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-08-13T14:41:36-06:00

ID

113763

Comment

Love the updates! Keep 'em coming. I'm happy to hear that business travel for a musician is as tiring as it is for us regular workers. And, I'm happy you're enjoying it all, and are so well received. I was in Prague once, over 20 years ago. It's a stunningly beautiful city, and I'm jealous you get to see it in the summer time. Post some photos!

Author

kate

Date

2007-08-13T14:59:14-06:00

ID

113764

Comment

Yeah, these are cool posts. Very "Stranger in a Strange Land," 21st-century style. ;-P

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-13T15:02:04-06:00

ID

113765

Comment

And Kaze, it's over 100 degrees here. What's the temp there?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-08-13T15:02:27-06:00

ID

113766

Comment

Very interesting Kaze...thanks for bringing us along for the ride. Peace.

Author

Queen601

Date

2007-08-13T15:08:54-06:00

ID

113767

Comment

Oh and by the way, I wish I had known you weren't married before I met my new fiance. But oh well.... LOL

Author

Queen601

Date

2007-08-13T15:14:32-06:00

ID

113768

Comment

Thanks for the update. I need to work on my swagger. Any ideas? CONGRATS QUEEN!

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-08-13T18:33:09-06:00

ID

113769

Comment

We are so arrogant and insular that we refuse to acknowledge or even encourage people to learn other languages. I was thinking about that myself. I took French in school, and I considered refreshing myself on it, but I would like to learn Spanish for practical reasons. For fun, I also want to know some Italian and Swahili. I heard that learning a new language is good exercise for the brain, too.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-08-13T22:17:09-06:00

ID

113770

Comment

To answer donna, its about 80 degrees during the day. very pleasant. Nights are like 50-60 degrees in Prague. Its gotten colder in some of the smaller towns we´ve been in. Or should I say villages. Outside of Prague the towns are quite quaint and rural in makeup. cottages.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-08-14T08:28:49-06:00

ID

113771

Comment

Quaint and insular. Vocabulary building appears to be occurring over there too. Don't come back here using big words and speaking languages we don't understand. Not to mention an accent like my cousins used to get when going to Chicago, Detroit, Ohio, etc.. for the summer.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-08-14T08:45:45-06:00

ID

113772

Comment

Actually Ray quaint and insular were words I picked up in JPS and at the greatest HBCU of all time Jackson State University. but incidentally Im learning a few new words. My Mississippi accent is waaay too thick to be erased LOL

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-08-14T08:49:25-06:00

ID

113773

Comment

Kamikaze, at the risk of sounding like your mother, I'm proud of how much you seem to be enjoying the eye opening experience of travelling overseas. Some people *hate* it, for all the things you seem to be enjoying. It's humbling, educational, broadening, inspiring. As to the language thing: yes, americans could be better at learning languages. But, europe/eastern europe has a *hyooge* number of languages in a *very small* geogrpahy. They have many more opportunities to hop a train for a couple of hours, and go practice their french or german or italian, or all three. I've studied language, but without the ability to go visit other countries as easily as they do in europe, you never develop the proficiency.

Author

kate

Date

2007-08-14T16:29:06-06:00

ID

113774

Comment

hey, I'm chiming in, too., I love seeing this trip through your eyes, and the observations you make are valid ones. About obesity - and languages. going to another place like that really lets you see how possible it is to live - to live in acceptance of other's cultures. And to live more healthfully. When I lived in Eastern Europe in 1996-97 I noticed how all my friends there would spend hours just being together over one cup of coffee in a cafe or on a walk or something. We never had to go "do" something or spend much money. We talked and joked a lot. There wasn't a sense of lacking something like there is a lot here. People seem always questing for the next thing, never seeing the best friendships they have right in their midst. Another good column. Hope your stamina holds you up for the rest of the tour.

Author

Izzy

Date

2007-08-14T19:41:16-06:00

ID

113775

Comment

This is gruelng indeed Izzy. To anyone who didnt think so..THIS IS WORK!!! no other way to put it. I hope i make it as well. about 2 weeks to go and counting and I have another 5 shows in 4 days coming up. 2 in one day on Friday. sheesh...But Lord knows I wouldnt want to be doing anything else.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-08-15T12:52:30-06:00

ID

113776

Comment

EmilyB, thanks for the congrats....i'm praying this decision was the best. never thought i'd get "caught up". Donna, maybe you can help me by doing or having someone from your staff do an article on WHY GET MARRIED? :-) Now back to lecture at hand. YES YES YES, I too, Izzy, am enjoying keeping up with this trip with Kaze. I truly feel like I'm there too. I'm glad he chose to write these things. And I'm looking for a Spanish tutor as we speak, do you guys know of anyone. I figure learning Spanish should be the first step. But I'd really love to learn French too. However, one step at a time. Again, thanks em. I'm going to send you an invite! Peace folks!

Author

Queen601

Date

2007-08-15T13:57:35-06:00

ID

113777

Comment

Since you aren't married, who are you missing the most? No seriously. As a traveler, Prague was never on my list to see. Thanks for opening my eyes. I may have to visit one day myself. Great update, keep up the good work.

Author

willwork4food

Date

2007-08-15T17:38:09-06:00

ID

113778

Comment

Queen, I ran across something on About.com that is supposed to teach the basics of Spanish. I'm going to sign up for it. Maybe you should give it a shot.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-08-16T07:55:26-06:00