Filed under: New Shit | Tags: mos def, the glow, undrcrwn, watermelon syndicate
Mos Def: “The Glow”
Yessir, that’s certified new shit! At the moment, Mos is in the studio with Outkast producer Mr. DJ banging out some more brilliance for our ears. In addition to putting out “The Glow”, Mos partnered up with Philly based clothing brand UNDRCRWN on the Watermelon Syndicate project — a collection of limited edition apparel. The line officially dropped on June 28 at Carnegie Hall alongside Mos Def’s unveiling of Amino Alkaline: The Watermelon Syndicate. Mos pulled out all the stops with a complete orchestra accompaniment. The collection is already available at Karmaloop. Click here to listen to an exclusive interview with Mos explaining the inspiration behind the whole thing (I apologize ahead of time for subjecting you to more Karmaloop VJ douchebaggery). Here’s a sneak preview of the goods:
“Scared of what? Me and mines aint scared of much”
Lastly, do yourselves a favor and peep Mos’s freestyle over the “a millie” beat.
Filed under: Rants and raves | Tags: converse, doorknockers, home furnishings, raphael saadiq, san francisco, shades, teedra moses
I need to take a break from unpacking! While all y’all spend the long weekend ballin’ out of control back at Wes (shout out to Mikey and Lashawn!) or at some remote beach, I’ll be holed up in the apartment with my sister and her boyfriend setting up our soon-to-be-fly cribbo. I’ll be sure to post pictures when we’re all done (not that you really care but whatevuh). In the meantime, I thought I’d update everyone on really boring details of my life, woop woop. Let’s begin:
You would never guess purchasing a sofa would be SO effin’ impossible, consider yourselves warned. Not only are sofas a pricey investment, the majority of sofas out there (and trust me, we’ve seen the whole range) are unbelievably ugly or completely impractical. There is a strip of home furnishing warehouses in downtown Frisco that sell the tackiest “designer” sofas I’ve ever seen and still cost over a thousand $$$. Absurd. THANKFULLY, we found this tight furniture spot on market st. right by our apartment that sells chic looking pieces on super SALE (I love summer clearances). We settled on the off white color because it’s micro fiber so we can take stains out easily with soap and water (or those bleach pens they sell for really anal people like us). After going almost 2 months without a couch or anywhere to sit, having one feels like the ultimate luxury. While it’s a certified pain in the a$$ to furniture shop, I recommend expanding beyond IKEA because you can find better prices for better products. Word up! Onto the next riveting update…
My box of shoes finally arrived! I’m too broke to buy new kicks and all I packed was a pair of steve madden sandals and another pair of flats (not enough traction to hike up these hills). After seeing practically every other person rocking converse, I’ve been anxiously awaiting my all black and off white high tops! To celebrate, I went on an 8 mile walk and the hills were manageable for the first time. I love life again!
I have a kitty! Nati and Pat brought Orlando with them and as you can see, he’s having no trouble adjusting to west coast living. The old apartment in Queens was an effin’ hole in the wall and I think he’s enjoying all the space. His new favorite pass time is playing with shadows on the wall (yeah, cats are easily entertained). I don’t think he’s ever seen a shadow because their old apartment had absolutely no light (oh, the things we compromise to live in New York!). Anyway, I forgot how centering animals are!
I caved in to the fucked up feather trend. I know, it’s more strange than anything else but it’s a nice break from heavy fake gold and the blues and greens make my brown hair POP! Pretty soon we’ll all be on that Niggy Tardust tip no matter how hard we try to deny it…or am I projecting? Yes, I am. By the way, that black thing is actually a place mat I bought at Ikea and turned into a classy earring holder. Resourceful, right?
My ear looks really weird. Oh well. So, two weeks ago the shades I bought on St. Marks back in January literally disintegrated off my face (wtf?!). I mean, I know $10 sun glasses are cheap but come on! So, I was tempted to invest in real shades but I just can’t afford that right now. Long story short, I re-bought the same pair in black AND! as you all know, I neeeeed my door knockers to survive. After a tireless search, I finally found a spot on upper haight that sells them for cheap (but I still plan on stocking the eff up when I go back to NY for the holidays). There are definitely days when I miss SoHo… an unbeatable shopping experience. Well that’s all for right now, I have to get back to unpacking. Sidenote: I can’t stop listening to this Raphael Saadiq feat. Teedra Moses track “Chic“! It’s so smoooth! Bang that ish in the whips you don’t have! And once again, thanks for all the love everyone’s been showing me for Buggin’ Out. I miss you all real bad!!! I can’t wait to reunite, mad love to you and yours.
Filed under: Hip Hop, Rants and raves | Tags: andre 3000, bangers, francis and the lights, john legend, rihanna, sam sparro, swagger like us
THIS WEEK’S BANGERS
T.I., Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne + Jay-Z “Swagger Like Us”
To be honest, I think this track is seriously overrated. I understand that the line up is ridiculous but the flows don’t always compliment the beat. Don’t get me wrong. I can appreciate the effort and I love hip hop collaborations (read: each artist recording separately in the studio) but yeah, no one on the corner has swagger like us!
Francis and the Lights “The Top”
I may be partial to Francis and the Lights because one of my best friends Rene (aka Treal Tre of Bay Life fame) recently joined the group but the fact is: Francis is the shit. This joint is straight fire. I can honestly say these dudes have produced a unique sound and mastered an endearingly eccentric aesthetic that frankly just WORKS. I’m hooked.
Santogold “Lights Out”
Santi is on heavy rotation this week (last week, the week before that etc). I also want to promote interesting music videos (rare finds). I’m absolutely in love with Top Ranking and I highly recommend Diplo’s “Light’s Out” Panda Bear Remix. Be sure to cop that mixtape, you won’t be disappointed.
John Legend feat. Andre 3000 “Green Light”
Hands down best banger of the week. I already dedicated an entire entry to this video alone but it deserves another shout. Where is this party? Why wasn’t I invited? When will 3000 confess his undying love for me? I have a lot of questions. I love these dapper fellas. Please gentlemen (as in y’all), step your game up.
Sam Sparro “Black and Gold”
This has been on heavy rotation this summer. Catchy tune. Personally, I love the acoustic version available on Hype Machine. Check it out.
Rihanna “Disturbia”
I know, I know but this shit is HELLA addictive. I love Rihanna, she’s doing the damn thing. This video legitimately freaks me out but who else can pull this off?
That’s all for this week! Kick off labor day right!
Filed under: Rants and raves | Tags: anjelah johnson, bon qui qui, homo thugs, madtv
This might be everyone’s favorite MadTV skit (brilliantly played by comedian Anjelah Johnson); however, no one impersonates Bon Qui Qui quite like Internet savvy homo thugs. You have to check out these hilarious budget @$$ remixes, wow…I’m trying to remember life before youtube!
GAY BON QUI QUI
GAYER BON QUI QUI
Filed under: He Said She Said | Tags: cornball city, palimpsest, story telling
Tell us a story,
Tell even us.
Begin wherever you wish.
I forget when it begins or ends but I remember the sea…
I remember fighting for my first breath
against the push and pull of the tide.
I remember coming into consciousness;
That unsettling adjustment period marked by
A dizzy spell from resisting external pressure-
A force much stronger than my own.
All I could see were hues of blue and gray
mixing and then separating
into shifting amorphous shapes.
I saw the world through a distorted kaleidoscope
of formless color.
Naming the sky felt like a futile exercise
so I just focused on floating.
On the feeling of water lapping over my body.
On the rhythm of the waves rippling back and forth.
I remember bursts of light
breaking into the quiet of my breath.
And so I sank deeper and deeper into the sea.
Seeking refuge from the strange world above
into the unknown world below.
I liked to get lost in the thick clouds of
black dust that collected at the bottom
where it was cold and dark.
I felt oddly safe there
submerged in ambiguity.
I remember looking up,
chasing the silhouettes of stars
reflected at the surface.
The rays of light illuminated
the turquoise sea of bodies around me where
I dreamt the moon in all of its brilliance.
Sometimes,
I still forget the undulations of breath.
The echoes of waves
crashing against a distant shore.
I forget the others and their names.
All I can remember
is the sensation of moving inside the currents,
the turbulent episodes that would
push me into new waters,
the insignificance of it all.
I remember sinking into sand in search of secrets buried
long ago by unknown wanderers.
I remember their markings,
faint traces of what existed before me.
I remember these things because I have to,
because everyone else forgets
about us and how we came here.
People still write our existence
in myth and magic,
in mist and smoke.
I just broke y’all off with a little excerpt from my Senior Thesis performance “Palimpsest”. The description is inspired by a myth my father created about my past life as a fish. The story goes that San Antonio (my previous guardian) expelled me from the sea for being a talkative troublemaker (he needed to return silence to the waters). The corresponding picture is taken from the shrine of San Antonio in my motherland of Uruguay. I always go visit the shrine to pay respects to my old friend…I was compelled to tell a story In the midst of elections hysteria. Now more than ever, I find myself holding onto all of you and all of our stories because at the end of the day that’s what really matters. I know: CORNBALL CITY! I hope you all have a good weekend and for everyone headed back to school: best of luck with that (hit the books and hit the house parties while the rest off us in the Real World are subjected to dress codes and covers)
Filed under: Politricks | Tags: 2008 election, DNC, john mccain, king kong, sarah palin
McCain’s pick for Vice President, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, might actually top the absurdity of Daddy Yankee’s endorsement as evidenced by the above still frame. POLITICS IS A DIRTY GAME!!! What is really good with white womanhood in this election? It’s like some bizarre secret weapon deployed to “divide and conquer” across party lines. It feels as though we’re on the set for “King Kong: The Sequel”. Does anyone else feel implicated in an exploitative game of hegemonic multiculturalism chess? Let me not act like that’s brand new.
Aside from being totally effing predictable, McCain’s pick for VP is clearly his proud “Checkmate” moment. (In chess, “Checkmate” = a chess piece makes a move that attacks the opposing King, the King is said to be in “check”. It’s up to the King to make a come back move which gets him out of check or he forfeits the game.) Unfortunately, there is no “outside” the game and Obama will be forced to play back and play hard (as we saw last night in his fiery convention speech). Between the resentful and militant Hilary fanatics and the crazed McCain strategists, I’m growing concerned for our future. I’ve always aired on the cautious/cynical side of politics and now I’m remembering why. The truth is I can’t even think about it too much without feeling a bit depressed. Could our future VP really be a Polar Bear hater from Alaska? She must’ve never seen those old school Coca Cola commercials as a young girl…
Hmph, well now we know who the polar bears will be voting for…
Good choice, my friends.
Filed under: He Said She Said, Politricks | Tags: jeff chang, nas, politics
Silhouetted against the sunset, Nas looked out into the crowd and said, “I don’t believe in politicians or none of that. I believe in the people.” – Jeff Chang
Filed under: Hip Hop, Politricks | Tags: can't stop won't stop, DNC, jeff chang, mile high stadium, obama, total chaos
Phew, I have mad love for American journalist and Hip Hop critic Jeff Chang and this ill @$$ glamour shot of him! I’ll do a rapid fire run down of his major accomplishments for those of y’all who don’t know: Chang graduated from Iolani School in 1985, continued on to co-found Solesides record label while simultaneously DJing at a UC David college radio station alongside DJ Shadow and Blackalicious. In 2005 he published Can’t Stop Won’t Stop tracing the genealogy of Hip Hop for which he received an American Book Award (woop woop). Two years later, Chang came out with Total Chaos: The Art and Aesthetics of Hip-Hop, “an anthology of essays and interviews documenting the impact of hip hop beyond music and the ‘four elements’”.
Basically, Chang is a major player in Hip Hop and definitely holds it down for Asian Americans (that’s not why I like him but it’s definitely a plus)…which brings me to my central point: Chang is presently blogging about his experiences in Denver, Colorado at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). With the saturation of bull$hit blogs circulating the same boring 5 stories from the DNC, I thought I’d spread the word about Chang’s blog that provides excellent coverage of stories that no one else is telling. From nightmarish tales of militant Hilary supporters to inspiring ones of a spontaneous protest led by Boots Riley from The Coup, Chang is bringing us all a little bit closer to the action…and I’m not talking about the action CNN and MSNBC display of old white folks getting down to Stevie Wonder and U2 @ Mile High Stadium (although that ish is hilarious). Also, if you’re a Hip Hop head interested in what folks like Public Enemy and Flobots are doing/saying @ the DNC there’s an added incentive to check Chang out. So, what are you waiting for? Visit his blog here or on my blogroll to the left. Stay tuned for my thoughts on Obama’s epic speech tonight. Speaking of Hip Hop and Obama…
YOU got flow, Obeezy.
Filed under: Rants and raves | Tags: assata shakur, love, shihan, spoken funk
It’s another beautiful San Francisco summer day, a taste of what’s to come. Unfortunately, good weather makes me long for a good man. Alas, they are few and far between and I’m already too tired to play games. I just want a simple and steady life, ya dig? Until then, I plan on watching this classic performance by spoken word poet and resident sweetheart Shihan and living vicariously through his type love. If you’re ever in LA check him out at Spoken Funk and in the meantime reminisce on a simpler time:
A love poem by Assata Shakur:
I coulda told you,
in the old days,
in the park,
or skating down some hill
what it was all about.
I coulda sat next to you
on some stairway
and gave you half my bubblegum,
and, in between the bubbles
and the giggles
I coulda told you.
But we are grown up now.
And it is all so complicated
when you dig somebody.
Now, when i open up my crackerjacks,
I find no heart-shaped ring.
Only a puzzle
that i don’t wanna solve.
Amen. When did things get so complicated?
Filed under: Hip Hop, New Shit | Tags: erykah badu, eternal sunshine, jay electronica
I want to overwhelm you with Jay Electronica until you’re forced to look him up and listen. You feel me? Don’t sleep on this dude, he might take longer to put out material than all these Internet savvy cats but his flow will grow on you if you’re patient and respect true lyricists who refuse to comprise their writing. I’m going to make it even easier this time around to check him out by downloading tracks. Stream “Act I: Eternal Sunshine” to hear J.Blaze + Badu’s poetic ruminations on Jay:
Jay Electronica — Act I: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge)
Jay Electronica – Trolley Stop
Jay Electronica — Hard to Get
Jay Electronica — I Feel Good
Jay Electronica – My World (Nas Salute)
“While you was blowing X amount of dollars on a braclet/ a soverign nation of france was opening they files on the ufo phenomenon, i.e. spaceships/ its just the facts jack may as well face it/ every rhyme I write can still get cracked in the chapter of revalations or adam get cracked in the blackness of meditation/ mysterious shit/ call me j dolgon im on some serious shit/ scholars wonder why dont he bust/ allah blessed me with a Midusy touch/ everything i lay to hands turn to Ethiopian gold shiny and buffed/ I got a firm understanding on the minus and plus/ so i aint got time to argue with a rapper bout how he aint got lines thats fucking with mines/ im trying to kill lucifer/ so if i have to break cause a rapper in my face telling me that he the great/ you can bet a shiny nickel ill blast his motherfucking ass way past jupiter/ couldnt be stupider/ fucking with the nuclear/ mayan, aztec lion/ aziatic black man from zion/ catch a quualude supreme letting off steam/ dimethyltryptamine make a man dream/ but yall would much rather hear me rapping about trash, the size or erykah’s a$$, blunt$ and ca$h/ WE NEED SAVING/ MINDS ARE CONSUMED WITH SWINE/ WE NEED BATHING“
Are you convinced yet?
