RAUL'S BEAT: WEB-ONLY BONUS TRACK

It wasn't always roots reggae, afrobeat and "I Believe I Can Fly". Let's remember that when Raul was an infant his favorite songs were R Kellz "Step In The Name Love" and MIA's "Galang".

To that end: Raul liked the original video for MIA's new track "Bird Flu"—esp the little dude dancing in it—but the look below takes the bird game up a notch.

SO FRESH SO CLEAN



















That's what we usually do at the Robinson Boys Club*, Saturday a.m. haircuts after breakfast. Today was no different, although Raul doesn't cry anymore—that's for babies and Raul is alternately three-and-a-half, four, five...he's "getting bigger to the ceiling". Also sometimes his hair is really short but lately we're letting grow out a bit.

*No girls allowed

A boy à part...straight profilin


















Cleaning up the kitchen


















Bonus throwback pic summer '05

IN THE MIX




















Got Raul's first official mixtape crackin today. Sure he likes the Serious Times CD and some random album cuts here and there, but for this comp we brought together his for-real favorite songs of right now*.

RAUL'S BEAT
TRACKLISTING
"African Alphabet" Ladysmith Black Mambazo feat. Kermit
"This Is A Beat!" Mundo Niños
"The Grunt (Pt. 1, Single Version)" The J.B.'s
"Notorious (Wabenzi vocal version)" Turbulence
"Chipmunk Stomp In 5" Mundo Niños
"Dem Bobo" Femi Kuti
"Balicky Bon" Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
"Make It Fast, Make It Slow" Rob
"El Gato Malo/The Bad Cat" Mundo Niños
"Serious Times (T&S vocal version)" Gyptian
"Mercury" Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
"I Believe I Can Fly" R. Kelly
Sweet In The Mornin'" Bobby McFerrin
"Jupiter" Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

This was supposed to help us with cleaning our room and practing karate this week, but none of that has happened aside from a few forward rolls on the yoga mat. The rolls are increasingly clean and precise however, and the mix is on repeat as the soundtrack to daylong matchbox car races.

*NB Raul's new favorite song "Hypocrites" by the Wailers (1967 version)—a tune about "people who dont tell the truth and arent very nice" didnt make the mix, maybe it'll kick off vol 2.

Baby A&R proofing the audio


















"Bo BO! Brooklyn got this"
"Dad, I wanna hear 'I Buhlieve Ah Can Fla' again..."

TRAINING DAZE

























Raul's helping Dad and Dad's friend Fred train for the Boston Marathon. Dad's mad out of shape! But hey it's miles of trials, the trial of miles.



























The winter's been pretty mild but these past few weeks were really really cold.



Thankfully today the weather broke it was sunny and in the 40s, so it almost felt like spring training. And of course, spring training means new training shoes! Raul broke out some new kicks and it helped him go a lot faster...in the running stroller.





































Dad needs to get some new ones before Boston...whatever it takes to look good on April 16. Especially since we're not counting at the clock for moral support at this point.

UPDATE: Someone just made the connection between eating at IHOP and being out of shape for Boston. Thanks for that!

NO SCHOOL TODAY!!!



















...and no school this week. We're on winter break, and that means lots of fun housecleaning lots of fun.

Dad had to make a run to New Jersey, so we stopped for pancakes on the way home. Turns out today is National Pancake Day! It's gonna be a great week!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOLA

KARATE LESSONS



















Actually it's Han Su Hap Ki Do but since we're just getting the hang of it, we'll keep it simple. Anyways, we started taking classes on Saturdays in Brooklyn and it's a lot of fun, especially since Raul's friends Eniola and Anike from school are there.

The first day was a lot of running around but by the second class Raul had his forward roll TOGETHER.