The Return of The Get Open Crew!

The Return of The Get Open Crew!

Indiegogo Project: http://bit.ly/1av9Wqt

The Hip-Hop group Get Open is back in the studio after a 10+ year hiatus. We're preparing a new mixtape and album entitled "The Week-End".
We need your support to make it a success. This crowd funding campaign will help complement our production budget which includes: Mixing by Ryan West, Mastering @ Masterdisk, Filming 3 videos, Hiring professional P.R. and other promotional companies.
We're trying to give ourselves a chance with our comeback project in an ever so changing music industry.
Thank you for your support!

Get Open

     Do you remember when rappers were praised for unique lyrical content as well as the ability to rock a party and make it jump? If you miss catchy lyrics that are also thought inspiring, Get Open brings back that authentic sound infused with consciousness and true school Hip-Hop essence that was all but lost. While the industrial corporate machine that dominates commercial radio and television is happy with maintaining the status Quo, we have seen the recent demand of die hard fans create a resurgence of thoughtful lyrics with rappers like Kendrick Lamar and Lupe Fiasco. Hip-Hop music has come full circle. The time is now for genuine high quality products to come to light. Music stores have all but disappeared but this affords all of us the power to choose what we believe to be good music for ourselves.

Kiambu, Dimitri, Siba & Von of GET OPEN would like to thank you for your generous contributions which will help make this concept a reality.

Get Open Campaign

The Recordings

Daddy-O from Stetsasonic is part of the Get Open Project

The "BlackBook" mixtape will be the first release, a free download; which wlll come with a digital blackbook of Graffti pieces by reknown (US-French) artists.

Featuring Daddy-O (Stesasonic), Little Dany (France), Jennifer Barrett (Jamaica), Baba Israel, Karnage, Jim McElwaine (Tenor Sax) & Stix Bones (Drums).

Production by Imhotep (IAM-France) & SibaGiba

Mid-Summer 2013 release.

"The Week-End", the full length album travels thru the 2 days and 3 nights at the end of the week when folks take time off to relax, party or travel. You'll find a mix of different styles of music, relevant to New York, urban life, a global vision, a sort of soundtrack of the concrete jungle.

Featuring DJ Rob Swift, Jordana DeLovely, Marie Martin, DJ Roger Rekless, Baba Israel & Carlos Vasconcellos

Production by Imhotep/Akhenaton (IAM-France), Glam (Germany) & SibaGiba

Fall 2013 release.

Thank you to all artists involved, especially Glam/58 Beats for the inspiration to make this new record and Joy Poirel & Paul Hackman.

Get Open!

Bio

GET OPEN

This Hip-Hop collective has been in existence since 1994, Get Open was founded by SibaGiba(Producer/MC) when he was studying music at SUNY Purchase College. He met the other 4 original members in school; Kiambu (MC), VonMeista (MC/Producer), Zook (MC) Los (Spoken Word/MC) and DJ Jes Lover (DJ/Producer).

Get Open has traveled and performed as headliners in Germany and France over the years and has also opened for artists such as KRS 1/BDP, De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, Tha Alkoholiks,Special Ed, and many others in the US.

Through a collaboration with composer Saundi Wilson who also attended Purchase, Get Open was featured with the late Jazz Trumpeter Lester Bowie's creation: Hip-Hop Feel-Harmonic orchestra in 1995, which assembled more than 40 musicians and Get Open.

During our senior year, 1996, we released our first 12inch vinyl single.

It caught the attention of West coasts DJs like J.Rocc (Beat Junkies), DJ Numark (Jurassic 5),Truly Odd (Heavyweights, Strong Arm steady), Peanut Butter Wolf (Stones Throw) and T-Lovethe MC and journalist at URB magazine. From that single, Yellow Productions (France) today known for producing Dance/Pop act Bob Sinclar, offered the group an EP deal which went on to sell 5,000 units in Europe without any promo. It featured Sadat X of Brand Nubian.

During this time, Siba was enjoying great success after producing for Everlast's (House of Pain) multi platinum and grammy nominated album "Whitey Ford Sings The Blues". Overtime Records Inc was born and released a solo 12 inch single of VonMeista featuring Sadat X in association with Ozone Music (Co-Flow-El P, Mike Ladd, etc…).

Although still making music seperately, the group has been on a hiatus since 2001.

Siba formed Brüknahm with Mr Saundi Wilson, worked the Jettsonz Productions (Nina Sky, Sean Paul) and in 2009 co-founded a non-profit organization, the Hip-Hop Loves Foundation.

Dmitiri aka Zook is Professor/Doctor in Criminology @ Sacramento State U.

VonMeista is an Information Assistant at the New York Public Library.

Kiambu is a New York State Licensed Massage Therapist.

Siba is a Licensed NY City Tour Guide

DJ Jes Luv is a Tour Manager for Bon Jovi (Not involved in this project)

Budget Needs

The budget for this project is $25,000 which mainly covers the items listed below. Get Open has spent the past 7 months recording, this campaign will complement our pre and post production costs. Other items not listed below will be financed by Get Open.

• $10,000 Album Mixing & Mastering
• $10,000 Promotion/P.R. for 6 months and online/viral marketing
• $  6,000 Filming/editing videos

Rewards

• The WEEK-END CD/Digital Download
• Get Open T-shirts (New Logo)
• Tickets to future shows
• Exclusive music from Get Open
• A limited edition CD booklet (catalog form) by painter Jerome Lagarrigue
• Appearance in a future music video
• Attend a open studio recording session with Get Open
• A private performance by Get Open in your home or venue (in NYC area, if outside NYC or Internatlonal, please contact us)
• Executive producer credits on the new CD

Simple Ways to help Get Open

Indiegogo: http://bit.ly/1av9Wqt

Please post and share this campaign with your family, friends co-workers via Email, Blogs, Forums, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other social media.

Please use the indiegogo sharing tools available on this page.

R.I.P. Big Bill (Will) From The Bronx (Get Open Crew)

R.I.P. Bill (Get Open Crew) by Shucks One (London)

When I was younger I lived in New York for a few years. I don't have any family there so it was a big deal to move there as a teenager, not knowing anyone and only been to the East Coast a few times. After they got used to the fact I allegedly sounded "like Robin Leach" : ) I found the people I met very generous, thoughtful & funny as f**k. I made some great friends and will always be grateful for the memories and experiences i had there.

Charlie B, Bill/Will, friend, Siba Giba, Devan & Shan 1992

Baruch, Siba Giba & Bill/Will 1993

Bill was always someone I could always chat too if I was feeling home sick, or was bummed out. One Thanksgiving I had to work, while everyone went home to their families. I had to do James Bond shit to stay in my room. He literally walked me around trying to get girls I hardly knew to take me home to their homes and donate food to me. He was one of the most positive and funny guy's I knew in NY.

Kal Dog, Baruch, Bill/Will, John, Siba & Charlie B 1993

R.I.P. Big Bill (Will) From The Bronx (Get Open Crew)

Sadly Shan informed me that Bill, now Will has been battling Cancer and recently succumbed to his illness. He remained positive and upbeat to the end, which sounds exactly like him. My respects go out to his family and friends.

Will sad passing brought many old friends together

Will's Memorial Testimonials in the Park

R.I.P. Will

RUBBLE KINGS - A feature length documentary by Shan Nicholson

The story of NYC's 1970s gang subculture and how it influenced the cultural phenomenon that is hip hop.

Shan Nicholson creator of award winning Documentary Downtown Calling & The Kool Skool family has launched a Kickstarter appeal for his new Documentary Rubblekings. All Hip-Hoppers please spread the word, blog, tweet and donate if you can!
http://shannicholson.com
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/763217113/rubble-kings-a-feature-length-documentary

A $750 donation gets you a one of a kind illustration by Ricardo Cortés, illustrator of the #1 NYT best-selling "Go the Fuck to Sleep!":

Shan Nicholson’s work is a direct reflection of the message written on the walls of his childhood memories - “necessity breeds creativity”. His 15-year career as a music producer, renowned graffiti artist, DJ and filmmaker echoes this sentiment.

Cristina Esterás Ortiz is a Post Production Professional & documentary enthusiast. She got involved with the project after an emotionally charged screening at HBO's Latino Film Festival and has made it her mission to make this movie accessible to the public.

A BRIEF INTRO

From 1968 to 1975, gangs ruled New York City. Beyond the idealistic hopes of the civil rights movement lay an unfocused rage. Neither law enforcement nor social agency could end the escalating bloodshed. Peace came only through the most unlikely and courageous of events that would change the world for generations to come by giving birth to hip-hop culture. Rubble Kings, the most comprehensive documentation of life during this era of gang rule to date, tells the story of how a few extraordinary, forgotten people did the impossible, and how their actions impacted the world over.

Rubble Kings is a feature length documentary about the New York city street gangs of the late ‘60s / ‘70s and their influence on hip-hop culture.

"The film's lively roster of former Savage Skulls, Black Spades, Assassinators, Ghetto Brothers, Hitmen or Turban Queens, expressively recalling and explaining gang culture, is matched only by its flood of down-and-dirty archival imagery." (Variety.com)

Independent and self-funded, Rubble Kings needs your help! 

The movie is pretty much finished. Unfortunately we can't release or show the film beyond festivals or private screenings because the music rights and archival footage must first be cleared. Being able to pay for the songs and footage in this film is crucial to telling this story accurately and in its truest form. 

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER

Rubble Kings is filmmaker’s Shan Nicholson second feature length documentary. In 2009, Shan completed work on the critically acclaimed documentary Downtown Calling about NYC’s music and art scene in the late 70s. The film got an Honorable Jury Mention (Best Documentary Feature) at the Austin Film Festival and continues to draw audiences to private screenings. 

For both Downtown Calling & Rubble Kings, Director/Producer/Editor Shan, was inspired by the turbulent yet artistically rich period of his childhood in New York City. In Rubble Kings young adults take it upon themselves to move past the violence and help out their communities. It is a story of triumph amidst adversity that hits close to home. Rubble Kings continues to garner press and sell out screenings; most notably is a write up in Variety Magazine and screenings at The Tribeca Film Institute Youth Screening Series and HBO’s International Latino Film Festival.

We've gotten a lot of love from the art and fashion communities. Our friends at MG&HKM presented filmmaker Shan Nicholson with a custom Rubble Kings colors denim jacket for the premiere screening at HBO’s Latino Film Festival. Pledge $1,000 or more and you too could rock custom colors!

WHY THIS FILM MATTERS

We believe this story is too important to go untold! Rubble Kings is a film about courage, hope and survival against all odds, even in the harshest of circumstances. The message is especially relevant today, a time when gang related deaths are at an all time high among inner city youths. The film’s most important goal is to touch and inspire today’s at-risk youth.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Finishing this film is only going to be possible with your help!

• Support our Kickstarter campaign!
• Spread the word! Email your friends! Post to Facebook! Tweet it!
• Check us out on the web: Facebook, Twitter & Tumblr! 
• Help us get press about this movie and our Kickstarter campaign! Share these news with bloggers, journalists, etc!

YOU WANT TO DONATE MORE THAN $10,000!? YOU WANT TO BE AN
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER!? YOU WANT TO BROADCAST AND/OR DISTRIBUTE THIS MOVIE!? YOU HAVE GREAT OLD FOOTAGE OR PHOTOS THAT WE MAY WANT TO USE IN THE FILM!?

GREAT IDEAS! Please get in touch with us at rubblekings@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

REWARDS

Our campaign has the best rewards on the block! 

We've gotten a lot of love from the art and fashion communities. Our friends at MG&HKM presented filmmaker Shan Nicholson with a custom Rubble Kings colors denim jacket for the premiere screening at HBO’s Latino Film Festival. Pledge $1,000 or more and you too could rock custom colors!

T-Shirt Option 1 -  Choice of one t-shirt with a pledge of $75 or more OR two t-shirts with a pledge of $100 or more. Poster illustration by Freddy Anzures.

RUBBLE KINGS: NEW YORK CITY STREET GANGS AND THE MUSIC THAT BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER

Puerto Rock Power!

Shan Nicholson, Kool Skool Family and director of Downtown Calling, is just putting the finishing touches on his new documentary on New York City gangs called Rubble Kings.


RUBBLE KINGS TRAILER from shan nicholson on Vimeo.
"From 1968 to 1975, gangs ruled New York City. Beyond the idealistic hopes of the civil rightsnmovement lay a unfocused rage. Neither law enforcement nor social agency could end the escalating bloodshed. Peace came only through the most unlikely and courageous of events that would change the world for generations to come by giving birth to hip-hop culture."

EL-P -"Time Won't Tell" from shan nicholson on Vimeo.

He also directed El-P's new video project -"Time Won't Tell"

http://shannicholson.com
Shan Nicholson on Vimeo

Downtown Calling London Premiere Sun. 25/4/10

We recently reported on a new film "Downtown Calling" documenting the early cultural melting pot of styles and people of the Downtown New York scene of the late 70's and 80's. The Director/Producer and friend of the Kool Skool, Shan Nicholson let us know that it is being screened in London this weekend at East End Film Festival this Sunday, if you like Graffiti, early Hip-Hop, Punk and New Wave check it out!
East End Film Festival Sunday April 25th 2010 in London

For more info on the film and a trailer check here

"Downtown Calling" New York Club Culture Documentary

In the late 1970s, the “greatest city in the world” was teetering on the edge of total chaos. A failed economy, crime and en mass housing corruption gave way to a city in crisis. Yet out of the economic and social strife that held the “Big Apple” hostage, a family of homegrown cultures that would forever change the world began to emerge. Downtown Calling not only documents, in detail, the evolution of New York City’s fertile music and art subculture during this period, but how its collective output continues to play a prominent, driving role in the international fashion, art and music industries today.

Downtown Calling is narrated by Debbie Harry and features interviews with pioneers of the early New York cultural scene including DJ AM, James Chace, Fab 5 Freddy, Bobbito Garcia, Nelson George, DJ Jazzy Jay, Mos Def, Arthur Baker, Daze, former Mayor Ed Koch and many others.


Trailer can be seen here

Shan Nicholson — Director / Producer
A lifelong resident of Queens’ Long Island City and direct child of its burgeoning art scene, Shan Nicholson was reared on the streets of New York City during the politically turbulent and artistically rich period of the early 1980s. Within the span of his 15-year career as a music producer, renowned graffiti artist and DJ he has worked extensively within the genres that have since dominated the sounds of both the city and the greater world, and continues to record and publish music with his collective, Cloudkickers. Nicholson, initially introduced to filmmaking as a student at SUNY Purchase, first realized the documentary concept, as well as the grand cultural and fiscal opportunity that it presented after his audience gave him continual questions throughout a particularly energetic/successful period deejay set. The artists and music featured in Downtown Calling remain crowd-moving staples within Mr. Nicholson’s legendary DJ sets at some of New York City’s premier clubs and parties. Downtown Calling is Mr. Nicholson’s directorial debut.

Debbie Harry — Narrator
Most famously known as the lead singer/songwriter for the iconic new wave band Blondie, Downtown Calling’s Narrator, Debbie Harry, is recognized the world over as the iconic sex symbol of the year zero punk generation. In addition to writing and performing smash hits like “Heart of Glass”, “Call Me”, “The Tide Is High” and “Rapture”, Harry has acted in over thirty film roles and numerous television appearances.

Ben Velez — Producer
Ben Velez has turned a lifetime steeped in downtown NYC culture into a craft for launching and growing brands. Known for rebranding and growing the international streetwear brand Triple Five Soul (at which he served first as Global Brand Director before becoming Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations), his career has also included playing an integral role at Burton Snowboards’ higher echelon line, Analog and UK luxury streetwear brand, Maharishi. A multi-disciplinary background in deejaying and music journalism to fashion styling and public relations, combined with an anal-retentive professionalism and a lifelong set of strong relationships with peer creatives and businesspeople alike, has led Velez through a successful and renowned career that has traversed the high-end sportswear, streetwear, action sports and music industries. Velez has also spent the better part of his life compiling and curating music for fellow artists, producers and companies, and is currently the owner of his own full-service marketing consultancy and music supervision company. In addition to his corporate skillset, Velez has, over the course of his lifetime, built a strong, personal network of music celebrities and record label honchos upon which he relies upon regularly to combine work and pleasure.

David Viola —Producer
David Viola, a native New Yorker who has been working in the film business in varying capacities since his graduation from Binghamton University in 1998, is a film producer at Filbert Steps Productions in New York. He is currently in post-production on Trumbo, a film about the Hollywood blacklist and screenwriter Dalton Trumbo’s resultant experiences. Featuring Liam Neeson, Paul Giamatti, Nathan Lane and David Strathairn, Trumbo expects to make its world premiere at the 2007 Toronto Film Festival. Previously, David produced Runaway, which premiered to rave reviews at the Tribeca and Toronto Film Festivals and won the Best Narrative Feature award at the 2005 Austin Film Festival. Runaway starred Aaron Stanford (X-Men 2 and 3, Tadpole and The Hills Have Eyes) and Robin Tunney (Vertical Limit, End of Days, The Craft and Fox’s “Prison Break”). Before joining Filbert Steps, David’s experience included stints at Julia Roberts’ Revolution-based Shoelace (now Red-Om) Productions and indie-leading Artisan Entertainment during the Blair Witch Project and Requiem for a Dream projects. He had also freelance-evaluated scripts for independent production companies and studios throughout the city. Viola brings his invaluable, personal industry relationships with top festival programmers, agents, distributors and sales reps to the Downtown Calling production team.

Michael Holman – Producer
Born in San Francisco, Producer Michael Holman has lived, worked and remained a cultural influence in New York City since 1978. An original fixture in New York City’s burgeoning art and club scene, Holman, together with artist Jean Michel Basquiat, formed what was arguably one of the first industrial noise bands of the period, Grey, in 1979. Their success in the downtown art world led them to performances at legendary clubs such as the Mudd Club, CBGB’s, Hurrah’s and The Rock Lounge. Being that he was one of the truly first journalists and impresarios of hip-hop culture, Holman’s nights at Club Negril became the launching point for the globalization of hip-hop culture (mostly due to his personal crusade to cross pollinate New York City’s uptown and downtown music scenes). Having graduated New York University’s Graduate School of Film, Holman directed Catch a Beat (the first B-boy/breakdance film (1981), Associate produced Beat Street (the first hip-hop feature film) for Orion Pictures (1984). Lastly, and perhaps, most notably, Holman produced, wrote and hosted, Graffiti Rock, the first ever Emmy Award nominated hip-hop television show (which aired in 88 syndicated markets nationwide) in 1984.


Reid Van Renesse – Producer / Director of Photography / Editor
Reid van Renesse was initially introduced to the downtown New York City streets through skateboarding, the hardcore music scene of the late 1980s and bike messenger culture. There are four themes that have remain constant throughout his life: music, motion, art and adventure. In 2003 Reid directed, shot, and edited, Dithers. Shot in New York City, San Francisco & Los Angeles, Dithers is the first documentary to capture the wide array of contemporary artists and designers creating the visual landscape of today’s urban culture. Van Renesse has a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from SUNY Purchase and currently lives in Brooklyn, where he continues to shoot, edit and direct independent fashion and music video projects.

Tunnel Vision by Reid Van Renesse
WORLD PREMIERE – AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL
October 9th, 2009
DOWNTOWN CALLING will make it’s international festival debut at the Austin Film Festival at 9:15pm on Saturday, October 24th at The Rollins Theater. An additional screening will take place at 7pm on Thursday, October 29th at The Independent at 501.
Downtown Calling website
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Excellent blog that features old school New York, UK & French Hip-Hop and Edit radio shows here