I made sure we dropped a quick video blog whilst recording a session for the new album last month. Enjoy!

Neofunk Vlog #2 – S-Endz hangs out in downtown Portland, Oregon.

Brand new audio, just went out to my facebook fans to say thanks! We went over the target for new fans for the end of the month!

I wish to clear up the misconceptions surrounding neofunk for all my neosouljas reading.

First of all, neofunk is a MOVEMENT, a gathering of like-minded minds for the purpose of definition. Definition as in defining ourselves, our identity. We don’t fit into your preconcieved notions or boxes. We don’t fit into your narrow minded marketing sectors. We love hip-hop and rock. We love folk and metal. We love electronica and blues.

Sometimes we wear tight clothes and sometimes we wear baggy. Sometimes we appear thuggish and sometimes we appear effeminate. We can rock tattoos and makeup, and we don’t care if you try and demoralise us or make snap, uninformed judgements about our lifestyles, our appearance, our sexuality. It doesn’t matter how you try to slur us – We’re comfortable with who we are – how about you? We are NEOSOULJAS and we run circles around your backwards, non-progressive asses. We’re all the way in 2020 and you guys still haven’t caught up to 1999.

Second of all, neofunk is a sound. I created that sound, but although I invented it, I don’t exclusively own it. Back in 2007, the word entered my consciousness. I did interview after interview whereby the question was repeatedly asked of the nature of my solo material. Genre after genre after subgenre after subgenre entered my head, all of which had influenced me one way or another. But like I said – I don’t fit into your checkboxes. You aren’t going to label me that easily. I’m going to label myself. I’m going to describe my own style. Thus NEOFUNK was born and I invite you all to join me. This is our categorization. This is our identity, for anyone that feels trapped within existing boxes that society says you can’t transcend. We are NEOSOULJAS and we transcend all of that through NEOFUNK.

Finally, there are biters out there. I see them ripping off our words, our styles, our sounds. But they are making weak imitations. They try and brand things together for their own purposes – things that don’t fit. They haven’t thought it through. These people are only out for themselves. They claim to be progressive, but their claims are fraudelent. They don’t understand the conceptions and the definitions of what is behind our movement or what is under the surface, yet they still attempt to copy, without realizing. NEOFUNK is like an iceberg! What you see above the surface is only a small fraction! Copy, copy, copy, is all they do, while we continue to innovate at every turn.

Neofunk is a movement that will continue to spread. We have ways, means, plans, and most of all – a tangible identity that only seeks the truth. No matter how much they try to imitate, there is only our truth, and the people know what it is. Don’t think your imitation is going unnoticed and don’t mistakenly believe that your actions do not have consequences.

THIS IS NEOFUNK.

Peace out, NEOSOULJAS

S-Endz AKA Casey Rain The Neosoulja

So in 15 hours or so from the time of writing, it will be a new decade here in the UK. I for one welcome it with open arms and happily say "Good Riddance!" to the Noughties. Click the "Read More" link to find out why:

The Noughties sucked as a decade. I mean, really. Think about it. Of the years 2000-2009, 8 of those years had George W Bush controlling the worlds most powerful country. I mean, who let this guy in? OK fair enough, you guys made a mistake voting him in the first time. But you realized and then…..the bastard cheated his way back in. Obama’s first year in office hasn’t been anywhere near enough time to counter the damage done by the Bush Administration, but I am certain that over time, Obama will be able to lead the country and the world in a better direction.

What about music? Well, the record business died over the last decade and it seemed like cultural movements did too. Where’s the movements like there were in every decade prior? Grunge and the rise of commercial hip-hop and alternative rock in the 90’s, electro, new wave and post punk in the 80’s, metal, punk and funk in the 70’s, rock and roll in the 60’s……well what the hell does the Noughties have to show for itself musically? Nada.

2009 felt like it had to just outdo the suckiness of the whole rest of the decade on it’s own. Economic recession. The death of the king of pop. In my case, more heartbreak and personal issues than I care to even waste another second getting upset about. In short, a terrible, terrible year. I’m confident that the Tens is going to be a GREAT decade though. I can’t explain why right now, since we’re not even in it yet. But I CAN feel it. There’s something stirring, an energy that some forward thinking people will harness. The Noughties has left us all downtrodden, resentful and angry. This anger is our gift and the force that will guide us to a better tomorrow.

I plan to start off the Tens with a bang. The release of my long awaited, years in the making solo album (I PROMISE it’s nearly done!!!)….the new Swami album that is our most ambitious project to date and will hopefully elevate us to previously unseen heights……THIS IS THE NEW BEGINNING.

But don’t just take my word for it. Drop me a line and let me know why you feel the Tens is going to be awesome. I can’t be alone in feeling like the draught of the Noughties will lead to a new renaissance of the Tens. I mean, once you hit rock bottom, the only way is up, right? Happy new decade to all of you.

Peace love and be wild.

Casey "S-Endz" Rain.

P.S – Big shout out to Bobby Friction and all the listeners of the FRICTION show on the BBC Asian Network who placed ‘Sugarless’ as the #2 song of 2009 in the Top 50 songs countdown show. Hey, I guess 2009 wasn’t all bad

Usually, I’d just add links to review of ‘Outer Space’ to the main articl , but I enjoyed this review so much that I decided it deserves it’s own post too! Check it out – http://themusictionary.com/?p=2915

And after you’re done, check out some of the other articles and news on there. themusictionary is a great and informative music blog run by Steven Anthony, if you like what you see, why not follow him on Twitter too?

Peace out NeoSoulja’s….

NeoSoulja’s worldwide…..peep this!

Peta Cooper from Urban Desi Radio and Desiclub.com just did an online interview with me via Twitter!

Click here to check it out and see me drop some cool new hints about the new Swami album, the status of my solo debut album ‘Emanate’ and more!!

On Episode 10 of their podcast – Curry Smugglers Sachin and Paresh interview none other than the neofunk soldier himself, S-Endz. Check out the interview below!

Here, as promised, is the scan of the article/interview with me that ran in last week’s (Nov 6th ‘09) issue of Eastern Eye newspaper here in the UK. Hope you managed to grab a copy!

Click on the picture to see the full size version. Enjoy!

Peace…

S-Endz

xx

Neofunk Vlog #1: Filmed on Android G1 Phone….S-Endz talks about ‘Outer Space’ and show you a newly published interview he did with the UK’s ‘Eastern Eye’ newspaper – scan of that interview coming soon!