Filed under: Good Looks | Tags: hypebeast, mabona origami, pursuit of perfection
Mabona Origami via hypebeast
Filed under: Friends'n'Fam | Tags: christmas, happy holidays, mariah carey
Happy Holidays! In case you still don’t get it: All I want for Christmas is YOU! My apologies for the infrequent posting, ever since I landed back east I’ve been sucked into a black hole of family bonding and you know how that goes. Besides the inevitable claustrophobia that comes with intimate holiday gatherings (especially with small families like mine), I’ve been re-acclimating to East Coast bitter cold and icy conditions. I wish I had a picture of me attempting to maneuver Harvard Square in my patten leather boots yesterday (epic fail). I’ve learned my lesson and I’m sticking strictly to practical snow boots and worn in kicks that can handle all the salt and snow stains (waaaaaack!). I hope you’re all surviving family drama and staying warm! This year we’re not exchanging any gifts (recession special) but we’ll be watching plenty of corny Christmas movies and even some childhood favorites (Ghostbusters + The Princess Bride). Let me know how you’re spending the holidays and I’ll try and get some more posts up before I disappear into New York City madness (it will happen, there’s nothing I can do to stop that). For those of you who haven’t already, save these dates: December 26 to January 4. Hit me up anytime between those dates and we can kick it. Until then, keep your eyes peeled on the most tacky christmas lawn decorations you can spot. Extra points to those who take pictures and share. Here’s a hint: go to the hood. Suburban folkers prefer simple white lights. HOLLA!
Filed under: Good Looks, New Shit | Tags: 14 k.t., fwmj, jay electronica, rappers I know, swagger jackson's revenge
Jay Electronica (Produced by 14 K.T.) – Swagger Jackson’s Revenge
My two favorite people, FWMJ and Jay Electronica, are back for more. I urge you to download and listen (at least two or three times) to this joint, it’s definitely up there with “Annakin’s Prayer“. Last night, Jay went on another twitter spree and for an hour or so incited an entertaining back and forth about the one and only: Michael Jackson. Of course, I had no prior knowledge of “Swagger Jackson’s Revenge” so when FWMJ threw this up on Rappers I Know this morning, it put last night’s tweets into context. Even if you don’t join twitter, you should periodically peep Jay’s page if you’re a fan because he be “going rogue” (c) Sam Han and sharing everything from his AIM screen name to his BBM pin. And no, I’m not giving no hand outs, go see for yourselves!
“it’s the return of the black moors with no fez
it’s eerie like that documentary on lisa lopez
pentagrams pyramids conspiracies with goat heads
knock down the levees
knock down the projects
start another project
build another object
a drive thru touchscreen doctrine for me to digest
just horses with our blinders on
drivin’ by the obvious
ridin’ by the obvious
glidin’ by the ovbious
regardless who you vote for
if the mind dont grow
and the poverty line don’t go
but the dope keep coming
and the tv keep flashing images of a
sports car
then you bound for a coke war
the meek get clowned by the coke law
the sheep get drowned in the folklore
then lulled to sleep by tom brokaw
what a pitty
the hope on a politicians tongue
never ever trickles down to the city
so if a nigga put a presidents mask on
and run up in the bank with a mac saying gimme gimme
i aint glad at him
but i aint mad at him
if anybody ask you who i be say
a painter with a felt pen who Drew Ali
im like cassius when i blast molasses
out the ass of the masses
from fulton street mall to gratiot
im handin out free at last kits
“yo Jay, where ya staff at?“
“Green (Lantern) said you threw it“
yeah.
i out grew it
some blogs said “you blew it“
nigga fuck yo blog
jigga man said you cant knock the hustle dog
im on the same launchin pad that shot russel off
thats why i stay dougie“
Via Rappers I Know
Filed under: New Shit | Tags: chad hugo, N.E.R.D., pharrell williams, sooner or later
And now for the least original thought of the day: Pharrell Williams is sexy as shit. Yes, I am aware of how little sense that expression makes. It sounds more like an insult than anything else but hey, as far as I can tell there’s no real logic behind the English language. I digress. For at times *superficial* reasons, I’ve been into N*E*R*D for a cold minute– although I have to admit I haven’t been following them too closely as of late and I even passed up several opportunities to see them perform live with Common (who frankly I’m just not into anymore, don’t stress it). To be fair, I heard their live shows are ridiculous and next time I’m going to make a much greater effort to catch the act. At the height of my “yellow rage” or A-Z-N pride days, I was convinced that Chad was the brains behind the whole N*E*R*D operation and I drew propaganda poster type illustrations of his face with the slogan: “Now you see him, now you don’t” (LOL) to comment on his invisibility in media coverage etc. (I can’t even believe I’m outing myself like this). Anyway, I never really considered his agency in the whole battle over representation and visibility so I eventually moved on and stopped producing silly ink drawings of his face (even though they were pretty dope!!!). That’s beside the point, what I wanted to blog about was their latest music video for “Sooner or later” (one of my favorites off of Seeing Sounds) and honestly, I think it’s the business! I think it was a smart move to keep it relevant by staging the video on Wall Street amidst the present day chaos of economic recession. Chad and Pharrell make for much needed eye candy:
Fuck. I want to throw bags of $$$ in the air. Peep the video here. Happy recession! Nope.
Filed under: Good Looks | Tags: day.break, muhsinah, the foreign exchange
“Having landed on the musical radar like some kind of a phantom battleship, this Washington D.C. native continues to fire away at us, sinking nay-sayers and making a name for herself at a rate which some might consider alarming. Appearing on a slew of independent releases this year, Muhsinah has earned each and every title that’s been thrown her way- engineer, producer, composer, singer, songwriter, arranger, inspiration and the like. Contrary to popular misconception, Muhsinah was not dropped off on this planet by some enigmatic cosmic force; she hitched a ride on her own star.“
Meet MUHSINAH pronounced [mu•sē•nə]. Aint she cute? Normally, I would attempt to write my own biography explaining who she is, where she’s been, where she’s headed (and on and on) however someone has already done the work for me (lazy blogging is the best). Nah but forreal, it’s one of the best artist descriptions I’ve come across so I thought I’d spread the good word. Here’s a taste: “Incontrovertibly born a slave to the rhythm, this classically trained pianist has spent countless hours honing her skills, banging on velocity sensitive pads and brushing the dust from neatly stacked records; well worn relics, left behind from her mother’s days as a dj. With influences spanning from classical to psychedelic, jazz to world and back, the freshly transplanted Brooklyn resident has gained a newfound appreciation for space and the sound within the space.” Read more here. Basically: Self-made slinger of the dopeness. Do yourselves a favor and check out her official debut day.break where she “employs whatever sonic element she sees fit to complete her hip hop braised, soul compositions which appear to fall perfectly on the tastier side of experimental.” Amen. It truly is delicious. Even though Muhsinah gets a lot of love, I don’t think it’s proportionate to her talent so support her music! Lastly, I have to specifically plug her collaboration with The Foreign Exchange on the hauntingly beautiful track “Daykeeper” (Download that ish!). It’s on heavy rotation at all times. Oh and if you don’t want to take my word for it, she’s been co-signed by the likes of Janelle Monae, J*Davey, The Foreign Exchange, Esperanza Spalding, FWMJ and the list (of people I love and respect) goes on and on.
Filed under: Good Looks | Tags: biggie, brooklyn, the real world brooklyn, williamsburg
A Message from the Brooklyn Tourism Board. It’s always best to preempt a justified attack by insulting yourself before anyone else can (and no this does not apply to the Iraq War). Clearly, this video effectively capitalized on what everyone thought (/is thinking) about the diminishing relevance of a Jay-Z/Santogold “Brooklyn, Go Hard” collaboration. That is not to dismiss the many BK neighborhoods that have survived recursive waves of gentrification. However, I think we can all agree that the majority of Williamsburg new recruits are indeed going hard at their local Salvation Army. My personal favorite quote is: “I don’t really listen to rap unless it’s like ironic like when I’m listening to Public Enemy“. I also enjoyed the not so subtle “my apartment is too nice to listen to rap” Yeezy reference. Well done. Lastly, I found the picture on the left while browsing Va$htie’s blog and I decided it somehow related to this post (I hope you agree). Unfortunately, it’s already sold out at Karmaloop so we’ll all have to live vicariously through this photograph. To conclude: I couldn’t stand dedicating a post to the sneak preview of Real World Brooklyn but click here to see the further destruction and guiltless hijacking of Biggie’s Brooklyn.
Filed under: Friends'n'Fam | Tags: apliiq, brooklyn, francis and the lights, free shit, karmaloop, theophilus london
I already know what you’re thinking (I’m a freaking MIND READER, yo): When and where can I party with all those beautiful people to celebrate all the fly gear they’re wearing AND listen to my favorite artists like Theophilus London and Francis and the Lights?!?!?! Don’t stress. The new fresh clothing line Apliiq with the help of NYC’s very best party planner, Steve Pristin, will be hosting the illest launch party ever (not open for debate) FRIDAY, JANUARY 2 @ PUBLIC ASSEMBLY (70 North 6th St, Brooklyn NY) from 10pm – 4am for *drum roll please* $$$FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE$$$ (I kid you not). Additionally, there will be goodies and giveaways for days from Spin, Frank Mag, and Karmaloop. ALSO, Friends with Benefits and SuperDunny will be on the ones and twos. “But Isa, you can’t possibly be serious? It’s too good to be true?!” I know, but it IS true so do the right thing like Spike Lee and COME THROUGH. If you’re undecided, just know, I’ll be there and I live hella far away so it’s your one rare chance to kick it with me and everyone I know. Let’s bring in 2009 the right way:
Spread the word. I hope to see you there…I leave you with this:
