C. Hannibal mexican culture

Thriller Parkita for Michael

The skull and bones can’t be denied for its popularity here in Mexico City. That video is from an opening lucha match last month; they always start with the smaller guys. For lucha fans, La Parka , who spins, sometimes pop-locks and knee hops to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” as it blasts from the arena speakers, is the man when it comes to the skull and bones wrestling suit. But wait, that’s not La Parka in the video, it’s Mini Parkita–not to be confused with the deceased La Parkita. And neither should be confused with one of the most famous luchadores of his generation, Adolfo Tapia, who for legal reasons (had nothing to do with infringing on MJ) changed his name to L.A. Park. The “ORIGINAL” according to the word stenciled down both wrestling boots. More on that later.

http://biografiasdeleyenda.galeon.com/aficiones1466860.html
La Parka

At least one thing is constant: Michael spitting that eight-letter word every time one of these luchadores walks into the ring.

Graphic from biografiasdeleyenda.galeon.com

C. Hannibal cinema culture, visually speaking

Google Video pick of the week #002

Didn’t know where the thought came from. Maybe seeing the recent Wolfman, Daybreakers, Zombieland, Rabid, Hurt Locker and Precious all in the same month had me thinking about morbid stuff. I was wondering to myself, just before taking a rest for the night, about a movie I saw, in which a doctor says he wants to chop off someone’s limb to see if it regenerates. I couldn’t think of the name of that flick, until I saw the trailer for Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965) just a minute ago. That’s the entire flick courtesy of Google Video up above.

The movie is basically about a boy who turns into a monster with a huge forehead. He was born from the heart of Frankenstein’s monster and the radiation effects of the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. It was a Japanese film distributed in the U.S. by exploitation house American International Pictures.

Must See Factor: 2
Best Reason to See It: If you feel nostalgic for 60s Japanese Sci-Fi production values. Or have guilt about what we did in WWII
Best part of the movie: The chopped off hand they find in the jail cell.

It stars American actorNick Adams, a guy who died at 36 from a drug overdose and probably has a more interesting back story than the entire movie. His wiki page cites claims that he was on the down low with Elvis and James Dean.
His last film apperance was in Los Asesinos (1968), shot in Mexico City and starring Pedro Armendáriz Jr.

Here’s a list of Google Video Picks that if I didn’t have cable, and my DVD player was dead and I was craving cheese and nostalgia, I would watch. I imagine a security guard in the 80s watching these on some local station.

Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971)

Mothra (1961)

Psycho A-Go-Go (1972)

Godzilla vs Megalon (1973)

Enjoy.

C. Hannibal music, radio

Rapping on Mexico’s AM Dial

I have no idea who the gentleman in the picture is. But I see him at just about every hip-hop event in Mexico City. If someone reading this post knows this cat, please let me know via email. Actually, I should just approach him and ask him about why he supports his local hip-hop so hard. Pause.

I imagine that like me, he might tune his radio to Trackzion tonight.
Anyone who knows me knows of my love for underground hip-hop radio. I was scanning the AM dial one Monday night a while back when I found Radio UNAM‘s hip-hop show Trackzion.

It was a mighty surprise and one I’m glad Mexico City AM radio gave me. The show is hosted by Asgard with help from Sweet P, and on the blogging end, Urban Samurai.

What I like about the show is that it isn’t stuck on an only-what’s-new format. You can find some classic records (they once played a full-length Pete Rock DJ spot from WBLS in ’89) as well as the newer stuff coming off of zshare links everywhere.

And they know what’s going on — in both the hip-hop and urban arts world, without the backpacker snobby-ness.

Their shows include some guest interviews, and as much hip-hop and whatever else if floating their boat, from Groove Armada to Dam-Funk, as you can pile into a one-hour show.

They tend to lean heavily on Stonesthrow artists as well the healthy underground from NYC. But that’s just for right now, the crew has been blogging since October and only since last month have they had a regular time slot on Radio UNAM.

As far as Spanish rap goes, this show has discriminating tastes. You’ll hear fewer acts from Mexico, though they did have an on-air interview with Dr. Destino and they will occasionally play songs by other Mexico rap acts like Menuda Coincidencia from Monterrey.

Most Spanish-language rap fans in the post-post Cypress Hill era look toward Spain (Seville, Madrid, Barcelona, et al.) for their hip-hop much in the same way English-language rap fans (the globe, right?) will look to NY or LA before listening to rap from Canada Drake. The show reflects this Spain-ish focus, with some attention payed to the occasional Chilean act. Check their archived playlists on their blog.

Here’s a quick, and by no means complete, list of rap acts from Spain:
Falsa Alarma
Tremendo
El Puto Coke
Shotta

Listen to Trackzion, on Radio UNAM. Every Monday night, 10PM (CST), on 860 AM Mexico City, or online .
Also, check out DJ Azteck 732’s Radio Kotos Chidos on AM station Interferencia 7Diez. You can listen, here, every Friday from 3pm to 5pm, AM 710 Mexico City.

update: For anyone interested in Azteck 732, one of Mexico City’s 1st generation hip-hop DJs, check out his Valentine’s Day love mix from a few weeks ago. You can dl it or listen online (via )

C. Hannibal cinema culture, visually speaking

Google Video pick of the week #001

“Willard” is currently available on Google Video via some outfit called moviepowder.com. It’s loosely based on a 1971 movie of the same name, but this 2003 non-hit has one of the best over-the-top, super-creepy performances by Crispin Glover. You know, the “Back to the Future,” guy. I’m interested to see how he plays the Knave of Hearts in Tim Burton’s 3-D “Alice in Wonderland.”

Must See Factor: 0
Best Reason to See It: Digital rats and Crispin Glover spazzing out.
Best part of the movie: Free.

If you’re unaware of Glover, his East Side connections, or his weird movies (he played Olivia Newton John in drag once), check his filmography.

Glover’s video for “Ben,” which he sang for the film.

Check out a teenage Michael Jackson performing one of his first solo #1 hits–about a rat–at the 1973 Academy Awards.