Street Cred and Shameless Self-Promotion

If I were a struggling rap artist (Big Marv) trying to sell my mixtape ("Ready to Fry: The Burnt Lumpia Chronicles") out of the trunk of my rusted-out car (it really is starting to rust, it's awesome), I'd probably try and peddle my mixtape to you like this:

*****

Hey man, you like hip-hop? You wanna buy my mixtape? It's got some dope tracks on it. For real. The crew over at Serious Eats bob their heads to my joints on Irradiated Mangoes and Purple Pancakes.

Wait, where you going? OK, I know those are oldies, but they're still goodies! Wait! Hold on, don't walk away yet. I got some newer ish and its burnin' up the streets! Sick beats! Sick beats!

Not only did homedude David Lebovitz stop by the studio to give me some input on my Ube Ice Cream track, he hipped his own peeps on me over at his place. His pastry chef skillz are world-wide son! DL is a cookbook author extraordinaire! He's legit son!

OK, wait, wait, wait! Hold up a second speedy! Give one more listen. Even the Epicurious gang is up on me kid! That shorty Amy Sherman dropped some jewels about my entire mixtape! She's hip to the game homie! You should be too!

Ready to Fry: The Burnt Lumpia Chronicles is only $9.99! And I'll even throw in a free bag of frozen lumpia! It's a rap! Or should I say, it's SARAP! Turn my headphones up!

*****

Aaaaannnnd scene.

Alas, I'm not a struggling rap artist and I'm not pushing a mixtape.  I'm just a lowly food blogger, and I've got as much street cred as, well, a lowly food blogger. But I do honestly appreciate all the inexplicable love I seem to be getting. Thanks for the props everyone.

Word.

**UPDATE**

After reading this entry, my little brother stayed up all night to work on the pic that now appears on the top of this post.  It's his rendering of what my CD cover would look like.  Yeah, that's pretty much what I had in mind.  Notice the "Parental Advisory" sticker.  That's because I'm hardcore.  I only wish I had dropped my album on Tuesday. I would have totally outsold Fifty and Kanye combined. Or maybe not.

Comments

[Janice]

congrats!

i found a lot of pasalubong in the pantry...now i'm addicted to Boy Bawang cornick!!! ahhhhh...is there a 12-step program for this? Cornicks Anonymous?

[Cynthia]

Hi Marvin, I came to your blog via Amy's post on Epicurious. It is a pleasure to discover your blog. Will definitely be spending some quality time here.

[Steamy Kitchen]

my dear friend, you deserve it all!!

xoxo
jaden

[maybahay]

saw the blurb about you on epicurious. well-done, it's well deserved. :-)

[Katrina]

Good job! :-) I love that Pinoy food is, AT LONG LAST, getting some positive attention, and you're helping to do that.

You might be interested in this article, if you haven't already read it: http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_6402796

[TeddyKim]

Most hilarious and creative self-promotion ever! Congrats dude.

[Krizia]

Congratulations thug! Reppin' the Pilipinos to the max-izzle fo-shizzle. Keep spittin' those beats and we'll keep lovin' you dawg :D

[Matt Hurst]

It sounds like this jam is going double uranium!

Mad props.

(BTW, shouldn't that be Fiddy, not Fifty? Also, Kanye says what up from the South Side, where I currently am.)

[Babette]

Hey Marvin, getting famous eh? I'm glad I discovered you early on, I knew that the hours I spent reading your blog wasn't a waste of time. LOL
Glad to see that you're on your way to being famous! :)
Keep it up!

[elmomonster]

Congrats dude! Couldn't have happened to a worthier food blogger! Rasa Malaysia has Malaysia, you got the Philippines! Someone needs to step up and do Indonesia!

[Burnt Lumpia]

Thanks Janice. I'm glad I only have to worry about Chichacorn for now. I can't imagine my condition if I had access to Cornicks too.

Hi Cynthia. I'm very glad you've found me. I've checked out your blog too and am sure I will be spending some time there as well.

Thanks so much Jaden!

Thanks maybahay!

Hi Kristine. I'm glad I have some hand, a very small part, in promoting Pinoy food. And thanks for that link, it's very satisfying to see the ideas of other Filipinos come to fruition.

Thanks TK.

Thanks Krizia. I'm trying to hold things down, Shorty;)

Matt, if I ever say or write the word "Fiddy", punch me in the mouth.

Hi Babette, I would hardly call it famous. But it's still nice nonetheless. Thanks.

Hmmm, elmo. I wonder who that could be. Your Indonesian aren't you? Me, you, and Rasa could form some sort of SE Asian super group!

[Wandering Chopsticks]

Congrats! You're educating me about all sorts of stuff about Filipino food.