Last week I went to the west coast (SF & LA) with a very special someone for what we would essentially call a LIFETOUR. It was my first time in years without being on tour playing shows, or recording while out west. We ate good food, visited friends, saw some cool shit, and did a lot of shopping. All of which facilitates the ideal headspace to be in as an artist. Went out there with some great reccomendations from Chris Palko, who I owe a thank you to, for some fine dining in Napa Valley and got to have a dope mexican dinner with my WM brother Aesop Rock and his wife Allyson in San Francisco. Aes hooked it up with a piece of hardware with pads that I will be getting busy on very soon. After a short but active stint in SF, we took it to LA where we visited my extended family out west: Barmak Badei , his wife Sukari, and their baby girl, Shahla; who I am crazy about. Barmak is the founder of SCIFEN, the clothing company I was sponsored by and worked extremely closely with during the Scifentology I & II releases. As much as this was a time to enjoy life, it was also a time for creative inspiration and some further meetings/discussions of some very exciting things that will be taking place this year. Stay tuned.

Check out some of the pictures of the trip in the Flickr set HERE

photo by Todd Westphal

Me, Sean, and Cage wake up at Aes’s and meet Timmy and Chauncey outside. We still have to pick up Todd at his uncles in Oakland. SF was good to us. We drive a few hours and we’re starving our asses off. We opt for Del-Taco instead of Subway. I like some Del Taco every once in a while so I’m into it. There is a stretch of road when you are driving from SF to LA on I-5 where it gets super hot, like desert hot, and there are signs for you to shut your air conditioner off because chances are you will overheat somewhere along the way. And without fail there are always cars on the side of the road steaming with their hoods open. This time there was a cab of a truck smoking and it was obvious by what was left of the skeleton that it went up in flames and burnt to a crisp not too long before we got there. We finally pull up to the El Rey theater after sitting in LA traffic. Tonight seems like it will be the biggest show of the tour. The El Rey is an awesome venue; really sick sound, floor, staff, backstage. It’s just top notch and a prestigious place to play. I’ve played here once before with EL-P also. This time I think I’m more prepared but a little more anxious about everything, especially since still I’m trying to bounce back from feeling like shit from days before. There are already some fans outside. The night is underway and my good friend, and founder of SCIFEN, Barmak Badaei, came through and we kicked it. Also surprise cameo’s from our Cardboard City brother Shia “Beouf” LaBeouf as well as EL-P. LA Weekly was also there covering the show and took some awesome pictures which you can check out HERE. Showtime and I walked out to a screaming mob. Adrenaline took over and by the time I got off I was soaking wet to the point where I had to towel off and change clothes. Cage went up and lit the place up, literally, as the strobe light flashed through his set. It was a great performance solidifying LA as one of the best cities of the tour, if not the best, yet. We take it to the afterparty at an undisclosed location and cap off the night. WE WIN.