Ab-Soul Sells Out Irving Plaza...Again!

     For the second time in 12 months, popular rapper Ab-Soul sold out NYC's Irving Plaza, and some  inspiring fans say they're ready to start a revolution. It was October 6th, 2014, a chilly fall evening in New York City. Excitement was in the air as a plethora of fans stood outside Irving Plaza chanting "Hii Power". The statement they were chanting not only showed praise to the headliner of the show, but the term "Hii Power" itself describes a social movement, or somewhat of a new religion to follow. Ab-Soul is more than just a popular rapper in todays world, he is more focused on creating a response to the ever-increasing destructive nature of the culture in the US. Soul has been traveling all around the country lately on tour promoting his most recent album "These Days". 

     Along for the ride were fellow label mates as well as musicians from other camps. The openers for the show consisted of the independent group "Earth Gang" along with Dreamville artist "Bas".  The Album was backed and financed by Souls record label T.D.E (Top Dawg Entertainment). This label has been seeing great success as of lately largely due to the rise of fellow label mates Schoolboy Q, and Kendrick Lamar. But the success of Q and Kendrick certainly does not take away anything from the ability of Ab-Soul. It is safe to say he proved his worth by selling out one of the more popular venues New York City has to offer, along with many others across the country.

     As a music reporter, it's always exciting to get a chance to talk to people who appreciate the same type music you do. It didn't take much to get a couple fans to really open up and express how they feel about music in today's world. As long as artists as passionate as Ab-Soul continue to exist and create, it's certainly looking bright for the music industry in the future.

Through The Eye Of The Director

     Many wonder, "what exactly is the job of the director?" Usually people see the director standing on set and assume that he just yells at people. Well, Ralph Puma is putting those assumptions to shame as he directs his new TV web series comedy-drama, "Nerdtourage".
     The production of the comedy-drama was shot around Ralph's neighborhood in Yonkers, NY.  This series was a small production, so Ralph had to work with limited crew, cast, and equipments. But being the good director he is, Ralph's was able to manage the entire production, and captured his vision onto the camera with the performance from his actors that we worked very close with. I took a look at what Ralph Puma is doing as he is hard at work on sets, endeavoring to get the job done and finish the production.

Click here to watch the Nerdtourage teaser trailer and episodes yet to be released.

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Customer Says EcoATM Fails At Theft Policies

     EcoATM is supposed to be a user-friendly and automated machine that consumers use to recycle old cell phones, MP3 players, and tablets for cash. Shomari Marbury experienced the not-so-friendly side of this EcoATM kiosk.  When his phone was stolen at an unconventional place...church. Once noticing that his iPhone was missing, he used the application Find My iPhone to locate his phone. He found it at the Galleria Mall in White Plains NY in the EcoATM Kiosk. Mr. Marbury talked with the Galleria Mall's security about his situation and for them to release his phone from the machine. They told him he had to contact EcoATM, which he did and their representative told him to follow the Theft Policies. 

     After following the instructions, Marbury says EcoATM gave him many excuses on why his phone is not in his hands. They told him he needed a police report and fax them the documents. Mr. Marbury sent a police report incident number to EcoATM, but EcoATM refused to take it and stated that the incident number wouldn't  be acceptable as a police report, even after the police contacted EcoATM and told them that they are the same document. At this point Marbury is at a standstill without his cell phone for a year and counting and left wondering, "What is EcoATM really? A place where consumers can go green and recycle their devices or a place where criminals can get green."

Chappaqua Residents Fear New Development

Since 2011, more and more fears have arisen over plans to revitalize the site of the former 'Readers Digest' headquarters in Chappaqua, NY, now called 'Chappaqua Crossing'. The new owners, Summit Development and Greenfield Partners, bought the 120 acre property in 2004 hoping to transform it into a one-of-a-kind multi-tenant campus that would offer, retail, and residential amenities. However, every plan submitted to the town of Chappaqua has been shot down amid fears that future development of the site would have negative impacts on the town's traffic, crime rate, local businesses, and education system. I recently sat down with a local student to talk about her concerns.

Exploring Hiking Spots Around Yorktown

The video took place at Sylvan Glen Park Preserve. This hiking place is located in Mohegan Lake and also has a dog park as long as its nature trails. I interviewed my friend in this video because there had been hardly anybody there. There are many different hiking places not too far from Yorktown, such as Turkey Mountain and Break Neck or Anthony's Nose. Most of these places are open from March to November and are visited by many people on the days possible. Sylvan Glen is a little more amateur than the other hiking spots around here, and doesn't have much of a view. Many people go to these places for hiking, snowshoeing, camping in the woods, and biking too, but not all the places allow all of the activities listed. All of the trails and hiking places vary from size and distance. Sylvan Glen has 4 different trails, each with different lengths and terrain. Some have hills and are a longer distance than others. Many trails vary from 1.4 or so miles to 6 miles. Sylvan Glen Park Preserve is only 1.4 miles. All the hiking places are open from dawn to a half an hour after dusk.

http://www.yorktownny.org/community/sylvan-glen-park-preserve

http://alltrails.com/us/new-york/yorktown-heights

Bronx Boy On Jeter's Legacy

 

     When the legendary Derek Jeter played his final home game as a New York Yankee, one Bronx fan was especially excited. The twenty-two year old Robert Wischers has watched Derek Jeter's career from start to finish witnessing every Derek Jeter moment from his flip play in Oakland, diving into the stands against the Yankee rival Red Sox team, and all four of Derek's World Series Championships.
     Derek's final home game was no different for him, Robert witnessed his childhood hero end his career in dramatic fashion with a vintage opposite field single to right field to beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-5. Robert and I took a walk around Morris Park in the Bronx to discuss his feelings of the end of the monumental career of our Yankee Captain.

Soccer Is The Apple Of Their Eyes.

Street Soccer USA is a non-profit organization in the United States which helps combat homelessness through soccer. They put together a tournament once every year in New York City, 42nd St. in Times Square is transformed into two beautiful soccer pitches. The tournament is held from 8 in the morning until 8 o'clock at night.  However preparations begin at 4 in the morning.
  The tournament is opened up to anyone who wants to register a team. After all who wouldn't jump at the opportunity to play the world's favorite sport in the city that never sleeps.
  The tournament is used to raise awareness for homelessness. As teams began playing people would stop and watch the games. Some had no idea what was happening or that it was happening that day and in Time Square. None-the-less they were awed and intrigued completely curious and entertained. The bleachers started filling out so spectators began to form around the perimeters of the pitches. Some didn't speak english, others didn't speak at all but they all understood the language of soccer or fútbol, football no matter what you call it, you know it's motions, sayings rules, its universality. The spectators watching it weren't the only ones who were from every corner of the world.
  The teams playing also transcended boarders, players from Futbol Calle who were hand picked to represent their country from Chilean Street Soccer teams and Greek Players who play for NY Greek American Atlas, a team from The Cosmopolitan Soccer League. All came from their own sides of the world to play together even though they couldn't communicate with each other verbally because of the language barriers, they still congratulated each other and played together for one goal, to play for their country, each other and the homeless all around the world.
 SSUSA firmly believes that sports help embed fundamental characteristic in people needed for vital daily routines like jobs, schools as well as communicating and functioning properly in a private and public environment.
   Characteristics like respect, will, dedication and determination, which are all taught while being part of a team. SSUSA states "Our mission is to improve health, education, and employment outcomes for the most disadvantaged Americans by using sports to transfer the skills necessary so that they can achieve these outcomes for themselves."