Ambitions As A Rider

 Gotta bike? Planned on using it, but didn't know any good trails or anyone to go with? Are you just plain tired of paying for parking even on Saturday?
All of the above are very understandable, but usually that takes an entire culture of cycling to get the streets prepared and get everyday people like us out on the track. Well, if only Indianapolis had a Cycling Club for novice bikers like ourselves that met up this time of the year to make that a thing, it would be heaven sent, and you wouldn't have to spend so much money at a gym... Hey guys, I gotta secret. It's got two wheels, three amazing young women, and a collective of folks just like you.  Indianapolis, Forty5th Floor would love to present: Red, Bike, and Green.


Red, Bike, and Green originated in Oakland, California, by an African-American cyclist by the name of Jenna Burton. In the fall of 2007, Jenna gathered up a small group of black cyclists with the hopes of creating a Black Cyclist Group. Jenna began thinking of reasons for her dream, which is when she generated the 3 point plan.  These three points would bring life and purpose to the cycle group and develop a relevant cause towards the black community in California. 

Point #1: Health;  African Americans have the highest prevalence rates for many chronic diseases, largely due to lack of healthy foods and exercise.  Biking is an intergenerational form of recreation where we can improve physical health as well as improve our mental health by enjoying the company of our people.

Point #2: Economics; (1) As African Americans we experience many economic hardships.  Riding bicycles instead of driving cars saves us valuable money that we can use towards our present realities and bright futures.  (2) Red, Bike and Green promotes the patronage of Black business.  Advertising and partnering with Black businesses on our rides is our strategy to support and praise the important services that sustain our community.

Point#3: Environment; African American communities bear the brunt of too many environmental injustices (e.g. asthma due to high prevalence  of carcinogens).   Biking provides us the power to reduce the carcinogens we produce as we continue advocating against environmental racism at institutional levels.

(Jenna Burton, 2007 Red, Bike, and Green, 3-point plan)


After a few successful rides, the few cyclists began to reach and expand throughout Oakland, and officially launched in 2010.  Since then, RBG has generated branches in three other major cities (Chicago, New York City, Atlanta).



Now, because of our own three amazing women, RBG has come to Indianapolis. Thanks to Danicia Monet (Colour Blind), Cheria Caldwell (Owtspok3n Photography), and Malina Jeffers (Mosaic City), we can all have an opportunity to be a part of something larger than this city.  So if you are one of those people who want to start a new healthy lifestyle with new healthy relationships, within your city, join up with Red, Bike, and Green Indy and prepare for the most important ride of your life.

This is another level from Forty5th Floor. Hope you're lifted.

Ejaaz The Spazz
+L.Y.D.O.B.V.+

Ya Haven't Heard From Me In A While...

It's been a minute and some days.  When you last heard from me consistently, we were more focused on #Localove, where I post a local character who's "so and so" had inspired me, give a couple of words about how it's genius, and share a link.  Before then, everything was opinionated, controversial, and incredibly grammatically incorrect.  Now, my last serious post was under the title, "When It All Becomes Home", a smaller article about familiarity that comes with one's chosen art. There were supposed to be follow-ups on different individuals, sharing their own story on what makes their art form "home" for them. Quite honestly, it was the first big response I had ever gotten out of the cyber realm.  What happened?

To say the least, Forty5th was about to expand. Sad to say, expansion for a less tangible entity isn't as sporadic as we're all so compelled to expect. On my long and untraditional hiatus, I took to the road and became a full-time spoken word artist. I've been to Detroit, New York City, Kentucky, and at least three different cities in Ohio.  For that short and beautiful year, I met people who would show me talent, hustle, passion, kindness, and many other human aspects from an entirely new spectrum.  While disappearing from home, periodically, I was able to be a fly on the other side of the window. After each trip, Indianapolis has never looked so fragile, precious, pathetic, and unfinished in my 23 years of living here.  Each city gave me her energy, in exchange of my analysis.  Detroit, being my favorite, showed me that when people are deprived and tired of it, they WILL learn gratitude. Never have I ever witnessed such a well-rounded, family oriented poetry scene. Say what you want about their crime rate and economy, but my God is it beautiful in Detroit.  N.Y. will always buzz around in my memory like 24 hour subway stations and corner stores. All of it's brilliant lights, and attractions.  Quick story, we were walking down Broadway, and a guy in a coat brushes past me. I noticed an envelop on the ground. Out of it, were what I would guess was 30 hundred dollar bills.  I did the "Indianapolis" thing and caught up with the guy to give it back...  Even he looked at me like, "That should've been yours, foo!" Back to the thesis, all of these cities gave me something special to take back home with me.  The road was amazing, but nonetheless, one cannot make a foundation if he can't sit still. So here I am, back on my clunky and convenient laptop, tapping away at a keyboard, somewhere in the center of Crown Hill, to tell you Welcome Back.

And now... We elevate....





Full Metal Alchemist
Pope Adrian Bless

#localove Pt. ???

   Ninety-six problems and a hook ain't one. Tully Cicero, Pope Adrian Bless, Abe Linx, and Chuck Mason representing one time for Crown Hill USA. Just a little more #localove from The Forty5th... check it out...

Abe Linx, Tully Cicero, Pope Adrian Bless, and Chuck Mason
96 Bars

Follow Me:
Twitter: @AbeLinxGFE @tullycicero @AdrianBlessRWG @ChuckMasonMusic

When It All Becomes Home...

    There's a point in every aspiring artist's life, when that easel and canvas become a piece of miscellaneous furnishing, equivalent to an old shoe box. When that small booth, and/or walk-in closet is the girlfriend, whose arms are always opened, but not as "obviously" inviting as she once called your name, now signals and insinuates something normal that could become something interesting.  With all people following their true passion, there will come a time, rather it is a microphone, drawing pad, composition notebook, or saxophone, it will all become home.



    What is it about that familiarity, that gives us the feeling of haven?  Usually, people of a more left-brain approach spend a certain amount of time in life, if not all of it, expressing and compensating feelings of loneliness and complacency, and after so long, the only place of comfort, where self-identity has no need for headstrong defense mechanism, is where the magic they create is made.  Even if the only thing being created is an expression of that solitude.  Although today's "people of the passion" are getting used to a more domestic culture of home studios, and portable digital devices, there are still those of us who find beauty and appreciation of what might be considered the hard way.  Not all of us agree with rapping into a laptop, then looping it to a software, where you can practically turn what sounds like an MC stuck in a sewage system, into Prince having a magic moment at Studio 54 after a divorce with his first celebrity wife.  As hard as it may be for some of those iPhone photographers to accept, there are several people who prefer dark rooms, and film cartridges.  It is something about the extra labor making the finished product more particular than the ideal "fecund selection" modification that almost anyone can fathom, once they find out where to download your sound pack, for FL Studio 12.  So, we've know, now, that in the world of "different" there are even more awkward people within. But what do we know about them? And what do they have to say about their whims and preferences?... To Be Continued




 

 

V.O.W.

If you're hungry and in need of food, the lyrical cafe is open at MidTown Arts and Coffee Lounge!!Wednesday nights have now become the new Friday. After Mondays' stagnance, and Tuesdays' follow up, leaving work on Wednesday calls for a celebration! Come on out to Vibes On Wednesday with your host Theon Lee. This guy has no filter, and has no issue making sure that everyone feels welcomed and ready to laugh. For only $7 at the door, you will enjoy awesome food prepared by Ms. Amber Michelle Harper, and positive uplifting vibes. On 38th and Ruckle, right next to the Domino's Pizza!!

Every Wednesday, be it rain, sleet, or snow, there is a V.O.W., opened.

And Life is Grand
-ParaLectra

 Staff Writer



Coming at you with more goodness. 

Check out this new vid from Indy native, Blake Allee.

 

"Headlights" directed by Digital Rabitt

Editorial on Blake Allee COMING SOON! 

Stay tuned!

-Ari Attack 

Staff writer

 Serena does the C-walk, Pres. Obama sings Al Green, and the world's corrput. Well, if you cannot see the small photo of a Nascar event above, it is a picture of a largely welcomed presence of the Civil War Confederate flag. I guess you guys are still upset about the black fists at the other Olympic uproar, huh? It's hilarious and absolutely rib-shaking to know that "black history" and the culture behind it makes everyone uncomfortable, and the reactions are completely reasonable, says the young man who is not allowed to display a peace sign because it is a patriotic act of gang violence. No twisted fingers, no blue flags, and nothing that in the common background of this dance, that would indicate that Serena is forreal thuggin' it, shows itself. But all through an entire night of family fun, there goes that flag that was only made after slaves were given jobs, rather licks on the back, being flung across the Manifesto-American atmosphere.


   Listen, maybe she could've been a tad more conscious about the outcome, but you crackers and hollywood niggas don't even know its initial origin. Just to clear some things up, The gang movement formally known as "G.D." (which stands for Gangster Disciples) was an answer of communal and ethnic security in a time where half of your Dale Earnhart Sr. fans were secretly covering klansman in sheriff badges.  And like most things, the culture of that particular area, along with it's patriots, has taken another form of recognition. I don't know how many times I've seen White America replicate the 'Kid N Play' dance. Wonder how many people would erase their Facebook accounts, close their checking accounts, and take a family leap off the Chase Tower.  The lack of maturity and audacity of people to, not just criticize, but single out and condemn someone for using what could still be a representation of rapid violence and massacre, as a reminder that good things can come from the slums of California. How many of those people are Catholic, and sport the cross (* a signature execution punishment from the Romans) around the neck, on top of their churches, sewn into their into their bibles, encrypted in  stain glass murals, etc? 


  Lesson: If you're going to use insignia to judge someone's character, well hey... I'm sure there's a KKK application you can fill out online. Unless you can literally cause a change of karma on a man, shut up and let people embrace their origin. It's not like us minorities have a lot of that to work with, anyway. In the words of another beloved Californian, We "...Build our own pyramids, write our own hieroglyphs." Inferior society, stop getting pissy because people are becoming authors of their own legacy. "Go, build another route to China, if they'll have you." I solute you, Williams sister. May you "worship" all the way to the pages of history.  

Staying Tuned and Alive

Here's for everybody that missed  the debut D.O.X. show (Breakfast Club)...
so now you know. Next time you see a flyer with the name "D.O.X." you need to be tuned...

D.O.X. Presents: The Breakfast Club @Midtown

I don't know about you, but We here at Forty5th Floor celebrate breakfast food at midnight, and other unorthodox dietary sustainments alike. But if you CAN relate, July 26 at Midtown Arts Lounge will be filled with people just like you. On the behalf of Omni-breakfast eaters around the city, D.O.X. would like to present: The Breakfast Club.Come out Thursday night and open your Friday the right way,Poetry, Emceeing, and HipHop Dance (the real kinda hiphop dance. Did we mention it was only a dollar?... Cause, we definitely should've. So for a dollar, you get a perfomance from Adrian Bless, Rehema McNeil, Limitless, And Theon Lee w/ Harry Otaku on the beats all night, for a dollar!... BE THERE!

FREE IPOD FREE IPOD FREE IPOD

Much like the distraction above, Spring of 2012 has bloomed, blossomed, and opened up with the world's greatest tactic, for people who dare to actually participate in "boring ol' global gov't stuff". I fondly remember knowing a young girl from Africa, with a massive scar on her face, and an unusual story behind it. Mind you, a discovery made in grade school finally finds itself, fifteen years later, posted all over my now retired timeline, and scarcely updated wall. This year, the U.S. Government reached into its bag of luxurious raffle terrorist tickets and finally pulled out... ( drum roll please )... UGANDAAAAAAAAA, as if we've ever cared about what goes on in Africa, *cough, Ken Saro Wiwa, cough. One fine Tuesday morning, I logged in to the sight of a beautiful collage of videos, notes, pictures, pages, and more, that in some manner or another, read "Kony 2012". Then a week passed, a fundraiser got started, and then... nothing. Off subject, what ever happened to that oil spill in Florida ( hm )? Am I the only one that feels like the Hell that exists on Earth has been desensitized by social networks and other media "fan bases", only to become another tweet or profile picture?... Wish we could hire some Forty5th crickets. Recently discussed and exploited, the Trayvon Martin trial. Here is a case doused heavily in so much racial turmoil, that they've literally convinced you that it's sane and legal to kill people, as long as they're the same color and creed. Now out of good heart, people around the country gathered together to march in the spirit of a missed and loved young man, and against the bigotry that stands so boldly in front of it. Did they gather in unity? Maybe in Florida, but as of Indianapolis; a lady got shoved, almost to the ground, by a "well-respected" elder, christian pastor throws a fit because, "Man, they don't EVER say my chants!", and an overly excited, overly dehydrated poet spits his heart out ( among other things ) about the battle of the sexes. A crowd still singing proudly, "We shall overcome... one of these days", is all it took for a small circle of sincerely concerned citizens to ask themselves, "Why are we even out here?" Why did it take two months for everyone to even care that it happened? And why wasn't the random Canal Bridge Shooter's story dissipate and disappear? Most of the time, when a person walks into a room and is bombarded with ten million different stories at one time, or one after another, one grows suspicious. Especially, when one story seemingly makes the previous one "irrelevant". Or maybe throwing dirt on top of more dirt is what makes it fertilizer. Maybe we're caught up in some much theoretically conspired Jambalaya, we can't find the small pocket of moral oxygen to get back to what really matters. And don't ask me, I'm distracted too. The point is, we can't keep circulating the same ideas to feel like we're making the world a better place by tweeting and "status-ing" peoples' deaths and misfortunes. A revolution might have changed its mind about television, but a personal takes so much more than Face Book updates. If you're going to care about anything, care in person.

Then Who SHOULD I Be?

The month is almost over, and my motive of research has become increasingly self-discovering. Not only does the knowledge I've inquired come from books and documentaries, but personal opinion and social network-based expression. There's been a lot of talk about non-racial unity since the month started.


Often times, my enthusiasm about learning and unwrapping my heritage gets questioned. I usually answer with, "It's good to know where you come from...". When it gets interrupted with, "But times aren't like that anymore. Shouldn't you try to make your own history?", I patiently just state that it's out of extracurricular interest. What I'd like to say is, "Bitch nigga, if my history wasn't so HALF-HIDDEN and filled with white people beat my ass, it wouldn't be so politically incorrect, now would it?!" Why is it every other ethnicity in the world can talk about their roots to each other, or even share their long-lived culture with others, but the moment I can utter syllables that may lead the "Black People", the offended want to talk about unity?... Unity?! The Vatican has concealed secrets about the original name for Africa, I don't know where my grandparents come from. Meanwhile you know the story of Cinco De Mayo like the back of your hand, read journals Anne Frank in your domestic AND public library, but suddenly, when I begin an endeavor to find an origin to be more than depressed about, it's all about unity? I may be racist (if you feel the necessity to question), but riddle me this, at the end of the day, doesn't knowing your legacy help you place yourself in this world, whether it be what should be expected of you, or what IS expected of you? Well, I ain't got that. I feel as though, everybody else is slightly offended by my research, because we all have a clue that it's one of many dirty paths, filled with "manifest destiny", raped women, murdered children, and missing men (or vice versa). You get to sing about mystical forests and good Ye Olde patriotic war stories, I had to sing "Strange Fruit" in celebration of one of our past beloved heroes, who was assassinated might I add.


I'm determined to believe there is a history of my people that surpasses slave trade and Egypt. Why do I have to remain silent to accommodate an ALREADY self-acknowledged population, and DEAL with the complexion this society hates most. Don't I deserve to develop a genuine confidence in not only my uniqueness, but my background? Yes... I certainly do. I don't run all up and down your timeline bashing whatever artifact you find about your culture with the words racist, anti, and rebellious. So stay the hell out of my virtual face, about how YOU feel when it comes to my identity. Let me have my 28-29 days of truth.

WE ARE CONNECTED

You have the power to speak to a mass much wider than your peripheral. The voice whose volume is worth millions of dollars worth advertisement, billions of dollars worth sponsorship, and ENDLESS supplements of lobbying, is now in your lap, as you are in the lap of luxurious broadcast. What must be said? What must be heard? What can be done, and should you do with it?

...Speak.

Ballots Anyone?

If you haven't been paying much attention to politics lately (like several of us, here in America), government affairs has taken on the new look as the, "Drama Club", where either a group of angry, raped women take stands, or toxicology reports are being twitpic-ed on Mayoral instagrams alike. And this is the infamous time of year to set those Tivo's to every CNN sponsored, budget fondling, tax promising, fraternal word-fight channel in the Nation. Ladies and Gentlemen, LLLLLET'S GET READYYY TO GET ELECTORAAAAAAL!!!

With all of the current jib-jab about anti-government associations and movements going around, is anyone ACTUALLY thinking about voting?... Anyone? What does this make of the seriousness these blue-bleeding candidates carry in their campaign? Who are they even talking to, at this point? It's been discovered recently that America hates America. If you ask fellow Occupy Indy supporter, 'One', "It's time for the people to take matters into our own hands...". A statement made in a telephone conversation cut short due to running out of minutes. Now, Indiana hasn't been the only state growing bored with monopolized governing, but across the country, people have been joining together to #Occupy their rights. As to HOW, well that'll come later. Even other small scale movements are being invested in, for the same reasons. Yet and still, these commercials and campaigns continue. It's as if you hearing and reading about two totally different countries. While the 60's-70's inspired "rebel swagg" is being reinvented on one side, 90210 series are going for another season on more white collar medias such as, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and that one cable channel that used to be HBO Late Night in like '99. Politicians have become more collectively dramatic then ever. Candidate Cain drops in and out of the race, in order to duck and dodge rape allegations and fiery, long-term "love" sessions. Gingrich, well... I'll let you guess what he's up to. Even election drop-out, Donald Trump, swung his razor sharp comb-over bang, at current President, Obama's citizenship. It's the like the best senior citizen reality show since the history channel. Point is, between comparison, this system is broken. People are supposed to bestow constitutional power and responsibility to a selected few, in order to see to it WE are on one accord with one another. The present-day masses, relentlessly, relies on the government to do so much more then "govern". Everyone's campaign proposes to LEAD the country towards a brighter future. I thought we weren't supposed to stare at the Sun. Nobody is doing, or is even aware of, their rightful position, to run a sufficient North America. This is what it's come to... A show.

Our country has become a cesspool of misconceptions and understandings. People aren't making laws anymore. Absolutely no one, is holding village conferences about what could be fixed or changed. There's a party at the White House, and none of the people it works under is invited. The time to be distracted from fact and priority is extremely inappropriate, and the actual Nation is in need of a re-education. (No rhyme intended.) But it's your call. Will you continue voting for leaders, or for listeners?

P.S.
If you're a fan of Al Green, you know what to do. I am. ^_^

Gravity

We all get bored, Saturday's like this...

... I need a car.

How To Genocide... With Swagg

Wanna kill the next generation off, before they get a chance to become legal? Tired of "raising" your children in person, and wish you could just let pop culture do it for you? Well thanks to (Spishack), you can watch your young nigglets swagg away at their health with the new Swagg Berry Cigarillos. Don't have a fake I.D., or know an adult that don't give a fuck about your moral being? No problem. They have a street team that does delivery, and may even make housecalls. Do you look out of your window at night, bitch? How many times will they genuinely THROW their impression of us into another "not so helpful" advertisement scheme? I mean seriously. Swagg Berry?! Who the F*** else would they'd be talkin' about? You know somethin', it's not even a racial issue. They are vigorously selling these products to under age children in selected communities, where finance actually happens to be a dilemma. My sentiments don't even follow along the lines of, "what else will they pull?" The only logical concern would be, "What can I do, against it?" Well that's my take on it. You can watch this shit if you want, that'll be YOUR kids carrying breathing machines to prom. That concludes another view from The Forty5th Floor. I'm out.

Fading to Black

Just a couple of "Head Shots" that we feel deserve to be considered Forty5h oriented...

I ain't even finna SAY what I think...

*Sigh. That made my day... welp, that's it for now.

Can I KICK It?!

Gotta crap wad of shoes? Feel like spittin'? Want to contribute? Do you find yourself drowning in an oasis of shoes, spittin' some lyrics, and thinkin' about things to contribute to? Did I spell contribute, correctly?

October 28th in Foutain Square in the basement of the Murphy Building, there will be all of that in one room. With performances from Nazeeha Khalid, Ashira, Whitney Coleman, and many more, you'll be able to empty your closet, hear some great music, and give to a good cause. Also, you can do all of that for free. So, if you're gonna be bored tomorrow, why not find yourself in Fountain Square with a pair of shoes, kickin' it?

Origin of O-Ren Ishii (Face of "Different")

If you haven't noticed, recently I've stumbled across an artist, by the name of Jesse Boykins III, whose music I have already grown fond of. As obvious as his sense of originality is, the quality that stood out most was his preference of music and style, and the fact that it didn't stifle his ability to sing with a soulful feng-shui. As an artist of many forms, the dilemma relentlessly reoccurring in journeys of development is the question, " How creative can I be without disturbing my talent at its full potential?"


After weeks, maybe months of pondering on such an idea, I fell victim to categorizing and limiting my art. But thanks to @LittleIntrovert, this theory has been diminished. Now, I have the inspiration to do whatever it is I seek to display, without concern of "talent that makes sense" and the only question standing in the pits of my wee-little cerebellum is, "What is genuinely original?" Where does original thought come from, and how can one separate it from the more fraudulence fad-seekers of today's media society? In a world where so many people turn to so many extremities to stand out, who are the people with the genuine "odd ball" gene? Is it in the display, or does it carry itself on the surfacing twist of the tongue? What is the Face of Different?


In 2011, Planet Earth has witnessed everything from trans-racial lifestyles, to obscene piercings, to said sadistic commentary, to trans-gendered citizens. Some people would say change is the most difficult, yet most common aspect of chronological growth. Others would tell you that the world and its presence of man is coming to an abrupt end. But, some might show you the differences being expressed, and allow you to observe that a vast majority of us are simply running out of ideas. After all, isn't it known that the human psyche grows weary of repetition and mundanity of tradition, and in result don't rules get broken, minds get provoked, and eras give birth? Say difference is a necessity, should we leave it up to the Universe and God to produce it's own indigo children? Should we force what naturally comes, and monitor what presents itself as original versus acts of despair? Lately, the main idea of all trends has been to be a certain extensive version of "you". Be it mixing and matching fashion statements through time, or maybe even negligence of hygiene. The conclusion at hand is indeed, do something, anything to be exceptional to the naked eye, and somehow people have still found a way to limit us, by adding the ungodly subject matter of normality. In this case, you claim for sanity and acceptance is at stake when expressing exactly what you want. Without tact, without censorship, without insecurity and concern for others aims and belief systems. Ironically, the dispute has created such a sensation that once again the people genuinely different are exiled. It seems as though the face of different will never be accepted in mass appeal, and that will be scar that serves as the insignia for those of us who are... original.

But like, foreal check this nigga out.

#Localove Pt. ??? (Blood on my iPod)

I don't know about you guys... but this is a huge ass banner. Anyway, if you heard "Slaughter On The Audio" with Grey Granite and Freddie Bunz, we have GOT to try out with sounds more like MURDER ON THE RADIO!! Now, I'm new to Dub Step, but dude... I just might try acid them turn this track up. I gives me honor, to present yet ANOTHER reason why The Forty5th Floor loves to show #localove... Peep This...

Slaughter on the AUDIO (Electric KoolAid Experiment) Grey Granite & Freddie Bunz Mixed By Ed Trauma by ElectricKoolAidExperiment

Forever Young

Sunday Night @ Midtown's Spoken SoulFood Sunday's, it's going UP & DOWN! We Speak Volumes & De Gud Life are coming together to throw yet another city-exploding event. Featuring Ejaaz The Spazz & The Cranes, with special guests Rehema McNeil, Theon Lee, and Adrian Bless, prepare yourself to become "Forever Young". Get even more exposure to the art Indy's youth has to offer. ALSO!!! Bring an extinguisher, please... Shit's gonna be FIRE! ( I thought it sounded cool...)
BE THERE Sunday, October 23rd.