I’m listening to bubba sparxxx “ain’t life grand.” I really like dude. I was feeling deliverance... I’m surprise it didn’t catch on. This song smells like organized noise and outkast… I love that:

“ain’t life grand
Working to the bone
Getting it then its gone
You keep on or you don’t
Ain’t life grand
You Sit and wonder about it
You hope and wish you got it
You try your best to hide it
You laugh to keep from crying
One day you’re on a high then next day you wish you dieing
Folks hate it when you balling they rather see you falling”

I wanted to leave the profile I did on Pook Diesel up, but since he put it on his website I guess I can retire it now--- ;-) check it: http://www.pookd.com/

I just had my first article published last week by the Santa Monica Mirror- FRONT PAGE!! (http://www.smmirror.com/MainPages/DisplayArticleDetails.asp?eid=2959) It’s on affordable housing on the Westside. Its my first one so of course it means a lot to me, but it’s also about the community I grew up in. It feels like fate... like “it was written.”

I’m already working on my next assignment. I feel a little bit more comfortable calling myself a writer. I spent todays lunch break doing interviews! It was fun. I’m still aiming for XXL, the Source, Rolling Stone- I’m coming. I just all of a sudden felt like watching “almost famous.” Haha

Thanks and peace1

As soon as it became a game the focus moved from the rhyme to platinum plaques and endorsements. Hiphop has been chopped and screwed in commercials, packaged and shipped in shoe boxes, ring tones and even Big Macs. You would think it was just music.

In 1996 KRS-One said, "I am Hiphop." He claimed Hiphop as a culture. Paul Watson III aka Pook Diesel, the Renaissance MC is a direct descendant of that culture. A culture birthed out of the civil rights movement that developed during the crack epidemic and overdosed in the new millennium. Sounds like the perfect time for a Renaissance.

Paul Watson III grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, less than five minutes from the Ivy League University of President George W. Bush. "What a lot of people don't know is Yale is surrounded by a ghetto", Paul says, "you got rich white people getting their education over here, and people struggling just blocks away." Seeing the big picture is a quality Paul inherited from his father Paul Watson Jr. Mr. Watson was an active member of the Black Panthers. So active he made law enforcements' hit list and had to flee New York for Connecticut. Although he didn't view his dad as "The Panther" while growing up in New Haven, the benefits of having a strong father figure are evident to this day. Paul describes his dad as a father figure for himself as well as other kids in the neighborhood the same way Laurence Fishburne was in "Boyz in the Hood." "I'm grateful I gotta pops to drop them jewels," Paul says, "my dad never pushed anything on me... but he would equip me with everything I needed to make a decision."

Paul's father again sensing the heat, this time from the devastation of the crack epidemic, moved his family to San Diego, California in 1985. Paul remembers when the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) set-up drug taskforces in his neighborhood. The ripple effects can still be seen today. While blacks represent 3% of New Havens population they account for 47% of inmates in its prisons, jails, and half-way houses. However, the west coast wasn't immune to crack; it too had its ills. "That gang bang shit was at its peak," Paul recalls. It was a culture shock for the eastern bred teenager. In fact it was the culture shock that prevented Paul from gravitating toward the gang lifestyle. He put his focus on basketball. In addition to his ball game, in high school it was the beatboxin' and freestylin' he picked up in New Haven that caught people's attention, and earned him the nickname Pook. "I'd eat fools up in the school bathroom," he says.

While he had dreams of one day playing pro-basketball the rapping was just something to do. "I remember the break dancing and the spray paint jackets, that's what we did... like KRS said, I am Hiphop." It wasn't until one day after school he and some friends were freestylin' to Roger Troutman's "More Bounce to the Ounce," that Pook realized the power of Rap. Unbeknownst to him, one of his friends recorded the session, put it on tape and passed it around school. "People was reciting what I said, and that's when I realized people really be listening!"

After graduating high school Pook went on to San Diego State University where he earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology. He went on to earn a Masters degree alongside his father in Human Services Administration from Springfield College. After graduating Pook engaged in youth empowering activities that included policy education as well as conducting forums analyzing Hiphop and its influence. He continued to rapping on the side, in fact it was during the grind for his BA that rap became more than a hobby. "I got more comfortable with my ability," he says. He'd attend frat parties hosted by fellow classmate DJ Black. He'd request to get on the mic at the end of the night, and it wasn't long before he became known for rocking the show. It was rocking parties where he met Kanja the Konjourman. They built a relationship off a mutual respect for each other's skills and with female emcee Naturale, formed the Blunted Microphone Creations (BMCs). With dreams of being the next Fugees they performed at local San Diego venues rocking crowds that were sometimes as low as ten people. "We just wanted to rock shows... and get love from the people," Pook says, recognizing that it was those small shows where he perfected his craft.

2000 proved to be a ruff year for Pook. While the BMCs independently released their first LP "Dues Overpaid," Pook's mother passed away. "She is the energy behind my music... I remember waking up mornings and moms would have the music bumping and we'd be dancing," Pook recalls, "thats my ritual too this day."

The BMC's went on to release one more album independently. At the time having created a CD was a triumph in itself. They had what Pook calls, "fairy tale dreams" of being discovered by an Interscope A&R. During their 8 years together they performed at many of the west coasts premiere venues including The Street Scene, The Key Club, and House of Blues. They've opened for and performed alongside KRS-One, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, The Roots, Dead Prez, and De La Soul. There were times they'd act as the sole Hiphop act, opening for rock bands such as Slightly Stoopid, performing for thousands of people. However in 2004, after 8 years with the BMCs a combination of the group's stagnation, creative differences and personal growth led to Pook disbanding from the group to pursue a solo career.


In 2004 Pook independently released his first solo mixtape, "The Mixtape Adventures of Pook Diesel Vol. 1." Pook put his money where his raps were and "worked like a Jamaican" to keep the wheels moving. In 2005, Pook launched his website, www.pookd.com, and released "The Mixtape Adventures Vol. 2" featuring the single "Cali Anthem." An independently created a video for the single can be seen at pookd.com. The grind paid off and "Cali Anthem" made it on San Diego's Blazin 98.9. At a time when major labels and radio are being criticized for its payola practices, Pook was able to break through off the strength of his movement. He credits this success to his team. "Build your team! Team Diesel is not just an imaginary concept... It's a group of real people that I respect as individuals in life first- that can help me as an artist... Team Diesel helps me plan, strategize, implement, and do street promotions... get your team in place!"

The radio break was only the beginning. While much of it seems to be timing, its Pook's tenacity to be in the right place when the time comes that has fueled his success thus far. For example, the day after "Cali Anthem" caught its first radio spin, he followed up by doing drops for each DJ at Blazin 98.9. The question moved from how to get on the radio to how to stay on the radio? "If you just sitting on your hands making raps in the house," Pook says, "that's not going to do it. You gotta be in the streets so when it does come on the radio it makes sense."

Pook's apartment reeks of independent rapper. Its littered with promo stickers and CDs, some his some not. In a corner of his living room you'll find his homemade, homebred studio: a computer with Cubase connected to a Groove Tube GT 67 microphone. It is here Pook has recorded much of his upcoming debut album based on "seven days in the life of Pook. " "Life is seven days in a week," Pook proclaims, "throughout every week in your life you go through a range of emotions... I have something for everybody... From that thug to the teeny bopper white girl, I represent for them all." While a title hasn't been settled on the album is due for release this summer. In addition, 2006 will see the release of three independent movies Pook is featured in. "The Vapors," "Be Easy," and "He Who Finds a Wife." If you haven't heard or seen Pook yet, chances are you have and just don't know it. Team Diesel has left its tracks on screen, CDs, and as of this winter your video game system. Currently Pook can be heard spittin' the theme song forvideo gameogame "25 to Life" (http://www.25tolife.com/). All this without a record deal. "The big thing is 'determination.' People that want something will be driven," Pook proclaims "Determination and drive is what gets you through the struggle... if you don't quit you a winner."

Yes it is just music... it may sound celebratory but rap music comes from a culture. A culture of struggle and survival destined to triumph by any means necessary. The Renaissance MC embodies that culture... from east to west, Monday thru Sunday, whether you're grinding in the streets to pay the rent, listening to bells with a Jansport backpack, or can't wait to loosen your tie, Pook Diesel is the soundtrack. The soundtrack to the grind.