Saturday, February 28, 2009
MOBY BEATING THE HELL OUT OF TRASHCANS IN PITCH-BLACK 930 CLUB!!!
Go to 2:00 minutes in, and peep Moby with the madness!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
DEZMATIC & MR.DIBBS PRESENT: BIG FOOT'S DICK (DOWNLOAD)
What can you say about the outspoken, Albany-native that hasn't been said already..."He's dope!" "He's an asshole!" are two descriptions that come to mind if you do not know the emcee Dezmatic, first-hand...Behemoth was his debut album, put out by him and producer Nobs, which lead to a slew of independent tours, joining with Educated Consumers a couple of times, and a few stints on the Warped Tour...After a few years, and few times around the US, Dez is back with a highly-anticipated mixtape, while he's in between project's...Teaming up with world-famous deck-destroyer, Mr. Dibbs(Dj for Atmosphere, El-P) Big Foot's Dick is a comprehensive project from start-to-finish...No genre, artist, song, or quote is safe from Dez and Dibbs as they move through re-done classics("Fakin' The Funk", "Going Back To Cali"), blues(The Black Keys) and even Chuck Berry("My Ding-a-Ling") make appearances...Go to his website, and download the project for free...Peep the photo on the front page, done by OVP! Dez took a few minutes to sit down with Seannie Cameras to answer some questions about Big Foot's dick...
Interview here, download and links below...
1.) - How did you and Dibbs hook-up?
Timmy Grins and Geoff and The Guerilla Fist kids made that happen. The trade show "Magic" that they hold in Vegas every winter/summer was goin on and i had wanted to check it out for a while and i had a gig in LA a few days after anyways so i just booked my flight a little earlier so i could meet up with Geoff and Forrest and them. They had rented a house out there and Dibbs was staying with them. Timmy was sending Dibbs songs that i was making for the "BFD" tape already weeks prior to this so he was already getting peppered with propaganda from the homies. They just put us in the same house for a few days and we ended up hating the same shit and laughing at the same jokes. Timmy was like, "you two are the SAME motherfucker. You should be working together." So we watched a ton of shitty 80's comedies, drinking a ton of shitty beer, smoking a ton of cigarettes and after i thought his decision-making was almost as fucked up as his blood alcohol level i got on one knee and proposed to him.
2.) - With technology the way it is today, did you find it being hard to work on the mixtape with him, with you in NY and he in Cinci?
Not at all. I had all the songs completely recorded before he even stepped to the project. It was half & half on this. We knocked them all out @ Deejaytone's crib in Troy, NY and shipped all of them to Dibbs in Ohio and he went to town on the joints on his own time. Being an artist with no label to call a home and having no deadlines or dummy press to fanagle or tour schedules to prepare for i didnt give a shit when he finished it just so long as we had it before Lindsay Lohan broke up with Samantha Ronson. Blam-o fam-o.
3.) - By getting with Dibbs, you obviously wanted to take the project in a certain direction, that being more rock/metal/hardcore/blues aspect, but while still keeping it hip hop...Tell me more about the theme of the record and the creative process with Dibbs?
I mean, i know he fucks with alot of different styles. The War Pig/Co-Flow shit. Dibbs brought the pit back to hiphop. Onyx and Biohazard did it first. But it was gone for a while, unless you listened to Canderia or Downset. I came up listening to this motherfucker. Alot of us did. That mash-up craze was just some hipster trend shit. He had already been doing it for years. That's homie's shit. That's the homie's style. So, anyone who doesnt know his style is a fucking idiot. As far as collaboration as a whole, I think the mixture of different styles is what keeps art fresh. Thats Os Gemeos gettin up with Doze Green. That's Warhol gettin up with Jean-Michel. It makes perfect sense. So me and Dibbs basically got together and threw a party for your ears. Dibbs brought the beer. Dez brought the whiskey. Now DANCE MOTHERFUCKER!
4.) - Do you feel that a lot of emcees, performer's, other artists are using more bands, more rock-based samples, and putting out project's using current rock-radio hits?
This goes in cycles. Always has. Always will. Cage has Glassjaw fans. Ill Bill has Madball fans. Aesop has Lucero fans. Lil Wayne has Gym Class Heroes fans. Sage has Against Me fans. And Atmosphere has EVERYONE.
5.) - Besides the amazing name and cover, how do you feel that you(r) project stands out from the saturated music market?
Superior product. I know it sounds corny cuz alot of dudes look up to this guy but whatever, i was watching Slug on MTVU. He was on it alot when "Cant Imagine" was being pushed. Anyways, he was on, and somebody asked him how he seperates himself from the rest of the pack (or something to that effect) and his response was simply, just put out a good product. It's a simple idea but in a complex world the simplest answer is usually the right one. The cover is pure handsome for sure (because my roommate Mitch is the fuckin MAN!), but the music is solid. Its authentic real hip-hop shit. I know i can rap. Most people know i can rap. Okay, what else? Can i make you dance? Can i make you laugh? Can i make you cry? Can i make you put down that bottle? Can i make you pick one up? So as serious as i am about being that rapper who can rap circles around all your favorite indie rap douchers, this project doesnt take itself so seriously that it cant make you dance and be silly too. Rap is all cocaine and high fashion. It sucks. But that's the way Americans are. We let the system tell us what we like and what we dont like. We dont go out of our way to see the options that arent presented to us on huge billboards and ... ugh, im ranting. Shit. And i promised that i wouldnt rant. And here i am ranting. Okay. You get it. Go download the mixtape you fuckers.
www.dezmatic.com
www.myspace.com/dezfuckingmatic
www.myspace.com/mrdibbs
Part II coming soon...
VIMBY & UPONTHINGZ.COM PRESENT: THE NEW CLASSICS MIXTAPE...
Finally, after being only an Imeem stream since the 18th, Mario promised that it was going to be able to download on the 26th, and he was right...Ladies and gentleman, I give you the "New Classics Mixtape", featuring some of the rawest talent coming from East, West, and everywhere in between...Give it a spin....
http://www.zshare.net/download/561978608558b7d6/
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
MGMT Remixes are old news, but not with David Bowie!!!
This is a legit mash from girl-dup, AplusD from SF...
Their myspace page:
www.myspace.com/apludbootie
http://www.zshare.net/audio/561762660e484047/
Enjoy!
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Their myspace page:
www.myspace.com/apludbootie
http://www.zshare.net/audio/561762660e484047/
Enjoy!
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DCIST PRESENTS: Christylez Interview...
To say things are looking bright for Christon "Christylez" Bacon is a major understatement. Last year, he was the first hip-hop artist to be named an Artist-in-Residence at the Music Center at Strathmore. Just in the past month, he performed to a packed house on the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, delivered an impressive performance at this year's Wammies, and picked up two awards, Rapper of the Year and Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year for his debut studio release, Advanced Artistry.
The 23-year old Christylez began his musical journey in the Southeast neighborhood of Condon Terrace, where he began beatboxing and playing buckets. His mother, a DJ, introduced him to a wide variety of music, ranging from classic hip-hop, funk, and early 80s New Wave. After playing in his middle school drumline, his interest in music led to the prestigious Duke Ellington School of the Arts, where he received formal training and began playing djembe, guitar and ukulele.
The album is an example of the socially conscious and progressive hip-hop present in the underground scenes of many cities, but to which the mainstream is inexplicably resistant. Highlights include "Welfare Check," a biographical look at Christylez' upbringing in Section 8 housing, and "Tyranny" gives us some insight into his political outlook. Refreshingly, the album is filled with nods and winks to those of us who live in, and love, the District. "Metroneusense" describes the vagaries of our public transportation system, while "Mambo Sauce" is an ode to that culinary delight that is as D.C. as a half-smoke from Ben's.
While the album is a great start, Christylez is truly in his element on stage. Collaborating with beatboxer Slyce-D, a jazz horn section and a classical string section, he brings an eclecticism that is all too rare in today's hip-hop. We e-mailed Christylez some questions to get his thoughts on his music and to get some insight into one of D.C.'s most promising young artists.
Visit Christylez online: www.christylez.com
See Christylez live: His band, Triflava, plays at the Mocha Hut on U Street the second Saturday of each month.
Questions for Christylez:
What was your original concept for Advanced Artistry?
I called the album Advanced Artistry because it takes on traditional hip-hop elements and expands everything about it, with the use of piano solos in between the chorus & verses, heavy extended chord progressions, altered song structuring, and all original composition without sampling records. Being a student at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, I was exposed to everything from jazz to classical. I always saw these connections between sonata-allegro form and hip-hop song structure, scat & rapping. But hip-hop artists weren't doing that. That takes a true ear, music theory, and natural flava (spelled exactly like that). I created this album out of a dream and a longing to hear the combination of cultures, genres, and social classes. I call it progressive hip-hop. It takes traditional hip-hop elements and fuses live instrumentation and genres from around the world.
How did you go about assembling material for your album?
I came to this project with all of my built-up thoughts & views and put them on the table, like painting. From there, my executive producer/friend/mentor, Bomani Armah, helped me sort through the collection, discarding the fluff. I worked exclusively with pianist, Mychael "Myke P" Pollard, in flushing out some of the arrangements. Also, this is my first album, so it's a musical journal of a kid in high school transitioning towards a short-term of college and a space in the "real world."
What was the inspiration behind incorporating jazz and classical elements into your music?
The inspiration came from knowing our simple connection in music. Every culture or group of people on this planet has music and the arts. I have always believed that ignorance causes hate, disrespect, and lack of communication among us all. The idea of the "remix" in hip-hop music made it evident that we can put any style into the mix, thus uniting lovers of hip-hop, salsa, classical, jazz, and bhangra in one space. The music is the lure and the lyric is the education that will destroy the many barriers that prevent us from recognizing our connections with each other.
You also collaborate with a wide variety of artists. What are some of the projects you are most excited about?
I am really excited about all of these projects! I have been composing/collaboration with a string quartet in merging classical elements for the live-performance medium. I have been working with Celtic harpist, Lily Neill. I'm producing a hip-hop/go-go project with Tyrone Alvin, a local emcee and go-go connoisseur. I am having a lot of fun working as Triflava, a three-man band project featuring Slyce-D & Myke P. I have been with John "JP" Pollard III, with his amazing tuba playing, to redefine the role of the Tuba in modern band arrangements.
Most recently, I have been collaborating with two-time Grammy winning bluegrass & children's music duo Cathy & Marcy. We are pulling together the folk & hip-hop world with a collaboration the we call Banjo to Beatbox, Folk to Funk, premiering a variety of concerts at Wolf Trap in July, and the Philadelphia International Children's Festival in April.
You publicize yourself more effectively than most local artists. Do you have any tips for your colleagues about spreading the word?
* Use all of the resources around you like Facebook, DCist, Blogs, Libraries, Print Media, etc.
* Be a nice guy or lady. People say that the music industry is full of snakes, but it really does not have to be that way and you can make that difference!
* Recognize that great advice is great advice no matter who it's coming from!
* Be creative and challenge the norm of promotion.
* Put yourself in the position of the person that you are marketing towards!
What are your thoughts on the local music scene?
I feel like it I haven't seen it all, and I'm still in the process of discovery.
Who are some artists you admire that might be flying under the radar?
Axiom from Baltimore, MD! They mix spoken word poetry, hip-hop & R&B with great writing ability all around. I usually collaborate with artists that I admire, so you will see them when you see me!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Phiendish Photographer's: Corey Arnold
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This dude, keep it amphibious...I feel that content, location, timing, and opportunity make-up 3/4 of a good, photographer...Corey Arnold has those things, and is finding his creative voice, offering photo's that Discovery Channel's, "Deadliest Catch" cannot even compare to...
I give you, Corey Arnold
www.coreyfishes.com (kinda like Seannie Cameras, no?)
Vicodin Earrings? What a waste...
Becky Stern had some leftover Vicodin tablets from her recent knee operation, so naturally she fashioned them into a pair of Vicodin earrings.
As I posted earlier, Becky also created an embroidered replica of her knee MRI. I really like the way she turned this otherwise painful and time-sucking event into an opportunity to create some cool works of art.
DC Heavyweights Video Collab!
The Package, Enoch, Noyeek, Kokayi and Grap Luva - The Warning(Produced by Surock)
Warning from E-hab abasaeed on Vimeo.
Warning from E-hab abasaeed on Vimeo.
Monday, February 23, 2009
VIMBY INTERVIEW IN FORMAT MAGAZINE!!!
OK, so you might think video websites based on music are a dime a dozen, doing nothing more than showing the latest bootleg video by the next best rapper alive or some obscure news footage about someone having a mental breakdown on the subway. Yet we at Format Magazine are always at the forefront of highlighting people, movements, and websites that go against convention and bring something fresh and unique to the table. In VIMBY, we have found a fledging video-oriented website that is starting to make big moves in the blogging world. We got the chance to get together with Zosimo Maximo, Creative Director of VIMBY to discuss what makes the site different from others, the dreaded word that is ‘Hipster,’ and find out the reasons why VIMBY videos look so damn beautiful.
“I look forward to looking at this content 20 years from now and remembering exactly how it went down.”
Format: VIMBY, aka Video In My Back Yard, where did the idea come from?
Zosimo: Our CEO Dean Waters was part of a group that created the first local television station in Los Angeles that catered to 18-34 year olds. The shows were devoted to local nightlife, music, fashion, art, action sports, travel and more. The idea was modeled after Canada’s City TV. In time, the company folded because they could not support the costly monthly burn to be on television. Dean never gave up on the idea and molded it for a year and decided the web was the right place for it to live. He called me up to help him bring it to life. A year and a half later here we are. VIMBY is now in 18 cities with 100 filmmakers on our roster who deliver first run original programming on a daily basis.
Format: Could you explain how the site works?
Zosimo: When you come to the homepage, you’ll see our site split up into videos, photos, and our blog. The videos are categorized into genres and then broken down into sub-categories. If you just want to drill down to a particular city, you can either go to a drop down of all markets or click on the map. We’re primarily recognized for our videos but we have a dope blog handled by our in-house team of prolific authors and we have a really rich photo section where you can view the work of photographers who document all types of scenes around the country. Last but not least, we have a solid music calendar featuring the best live shows and music related events in all 18 cities we cover.
Format: Would you view VIMBY as a community-oriented site similar to Facebook or Myspace? Was it ever your aim to follow that path?
Zosimo: It’s hard to compete with Facebook and Myspace and create any type of social network nowadays. From the get go, we recognized this and saw an opportunity to get into the digital space where originally produced content would be greatly needed. We’re not a social network, but in the same sense, we’re building “community” through content.
Format: Now, many bloggers believe that vlogs will be even bigger this year. Do you believe VIMBY could be in the midst of this movement?
Zosimo: First off, I’d like to shout out all the blogs who have been supporting us. VIMBY has helped define the video/blog hybrid model. Blogs need original content and as many have experienced firsthand, it’s not easy to do at a high quality without spending a lot of time and money. We are establishing ourselves as one of the best in online content and our model is set up where we welcome blogs to come and grab our videos. It’s a win-win situation for both parties. Vlogs are the future and Wordpress has evolved so that bloggers have the capability to set up shop like a media site, all for free. The next step for us is to launch five new individual blogs next month all powered by VIMBY.
Format: Is the site a reflection of collected personalities or something that people wanted to see on the net? I mean you always hear people who have created something because it’s what they wanted or there was a gap in the market for it. Do you feel that you’ve found a niche with VIMBY?
Zosimo: VIMBY was founded by a group of like minds that recognized a pattern in a young demographic shifting their attention to from TV to digital platforms like the web and mobile devices. As a business model, there was definitely a need for quality local content and more importantly the need for advertisers to connect authentically with young consumers. The timing was right to enter when we did. In terms of building the product, I was given creative freedom to establish the direction of the content and I naturally started with my passions. I knew right away the importance of being credible out of the gate and connecting with many of my homies who just happen to be at the forefront of the art, music, DJ, skate, sneaker & street wear scenes. Some of our first videos featured the likes of Cey Adams, Adam Horowitz, Dante Ross & Peanut Butter Wolf. When you set the bar that high right out of the gate, the pressure was on us to maintain that standard. As we brought on more filmmakers and internal staff members, it grew from there and has become a culmination of various voices, styles and sensibilities that just happens to make sense as a whole.
Format: Ok, so would it be unkind or just plain wrong to describe VIMBY as the “Hipster/Emo” alternative to video related sites such as WSHH?
Zosimo: [Laughs] I don’t take offense to it because I really don’t know what that term means. Our goal is to document pop culture as a whole. Subjects being labeled as “hipsters” fall prey to this broad definition of the term where almost anything we cover like DJ A-Trak, The Hundreds or Gym Class Heroes gets this tag. Mickey Factz claims to have invented the term and emcees like Pac Div, U-N-I, Cool Kids, and Charles Hamilton are getting this label too. Back in the day, would you have called Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, The Pharcyde, and J. Dilla “hipsters?” If so, then I don’t have a problem with the word “hipster” if it’s going to be used to describe independent operators and not mainstream followers.
Format: I have to admit I don’t like the term myself, yet it’s become relevant in both mainstream and underground music. Now just the other day I was watching a video on hip-hop producer Exile via VIMBY. How on Earth do the videos come out looking so polished and technically crisp? Do you receive all videos that way?
Zosimo: We work closely with our team of filmmakers. I have a background in commercial filmmaking and reality TV, so I adopted many of the techniques I learned while at MTV and brought them to short form web content. We put a “production bible” in place that all filmmakers on our team have to follow that calls for the delivery of a video with high production value. Our filmmakers send in rough cuts and we work with each video until we feel it’s solid. We have some of the illest filmmakers on our squad and we grant them the freedom to go off creatively. In this game, with so many people trying to do content, I constantly have to push the filmmakers to keep elevating their game and stay two steps ahead of the competition.
Format: Have you any favorite filmmakers/visionaries that you enjoy?
Zosimo: I’m a straight film geek, man. As for [old] film, Scorsese, Antonioni, Kurasawa, and Trauffaut. More recent directors that inspire me are Wong Kar Wai, Michel Gondry, Chris Cunningham, Zack Synder, and Darren Aronofsky. On the documentary side, the Maysel brothers are on top of my list.
Format: Any thoughts on Rik Cordero, do you like what he has done for the viral video scene?
Zosimo: I don’t know Rik personally but I like his work. I know people have made statements that he’s “cancer to the music video industry.” To me, that’s garbage. The decline of the music video business is a direct correlation of the music industry getting hit by free downloads, slumping record sales, and the economy. The days of a Dave Meyer or Chris Robinson super video are over. Directors like Rik or Modern Artists are just adjusting to the times and working with tiny budgets. They’re working with the budget used for craft services on a Hype Williams shoot. There’s not a whole lot you can do with that. Guys like Rik do have a more personal relationship with the artists and in my eyes are keeping the music video genre alive. I’m sure there’s plenty of other things he can focus on that will get him paid, so you got to believe he’s still doing it for the love.
“We’re a powerful group who can light a viral fire on a new artist and I think labels are starting to get hip to that.”
Format: I have to say that I think Rik has done a lot in terms of promotion for certain artists, you just have to look at the work he done for The Roots’ last album as well as Q-Tip’s, it can only be a good thing for artists who don’t have basically any budgets. Do you see VIMBY playing a big part in the underground hip-hop scene?
Zosimo: I honestly believe that we’re changing the game. We’ve created a doc/epk, music video hybrid that’s honest and a real representation of the artists. Every day, I have artists and labels hitting me up asking how to get down with VIMBY. So, that’s telling me that we’re doing something that the industry and the artists feel is important. We have some extremely passionate hip-hop heads on our team like Mario Rangel so we take what we’re doing in the genre very serious. We also have a strong relationship with people like OP! from Cornerstone, Hallway J, Shake & Meka, Eskay, Will from Imeem, PR guru Matt Conaway, and other influential tastemakers on the digital side. Together, we’re a powerful group who can light a viral fire on a new artist and I think labels are starting to get hip to that. What needs to happen is for the labels and brands to stop treating online like the bastard step-child and put more money and focus on us, the people who really have the consumer’s ear. Aside from what we’re doing with our videos, be on the look out for the VIMBY mixtape produced by Cook Classics, upcoming music showcases, and our new hip-hop blog called uponthingz.com with Mario at the helm.
Format: So are you into music, action sports, and fashion yourself?
Zosimo: Absolutely. I’ve been a DJ for 15 years so my playlists are quite deep by default. I’ve had a deep appreciation for underground hip-hop most of my life but over time I’ve learned to open my ears up to quality music from all genres. I also started my career out as a clothing designer and worked for companies like Gucci and Prada. Back in the early 90’s, I started a streetwear/skatewear brand called Kulee as well. So, I’ve been entrenched in several of the subcultures VIMBY represents and now have the ability to capture it all on video. If I had a video camera back then, you’d be able to witness how many of these subcultures originated. I’m talking about when Eddie & James first opened up Stussy & Union; when Shepard Fairey was bombing the streets from Rhode Island to LA with Andre the Giant stickers; when Stretch, Mark Ronson and AM were just starting to hit the nightclub scene; and when Harold Hunter and Justin Pierce came to Hollywood after Kids. Unfortunately, I didn’t document that but now we know we’re doing something special with VIMBY capturing pop culture from all angles. I look forward to looking at this content 20 years from now and remembering exactly how it went down.
Format: OK, being a music head, give me five artists who you couldn’t live without and few to lookout for?
Zosimo: My tastes are all over the place so five is tough. If I had to stick to hip-hop, Biggie, Jay & Nas are three I couldn’t live without. I’m feeling what the AOK Collective is putting out in the East and Diz Gibran’s voice on the West is pretty dope.
Format: On a final note, how do you see the future of VIMBY unfolding, is there room for development and expansion?
Zosimo: There’s plenty of room for expansion. Video in My Backyard is set up to work anywhere like the U.K. and Japan. But first things first, we’re looking to roll out more “backyards” in America. After that we’re getting ready to launch five new individual blogs all powered by VIMBY that specialize in everything from fashion to action sports. A main focus of ours is to be a multi-platform media company where we bring our flavor and content production style to reality TV, commercial production, and online advertising.
del.icio.us Digg Reddit
article here:
http://www.formatmag.com/features/vimby/
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Damien Hirst's $100 Million Skull...
WTF?
Much has been said about British bad boy artist DAMIEN HIRST’s groundbreaking $100 million diamond-encrusted platinum skull titled “For The Love of God” since it went on display at London’s White Cube Gallery in June, but to date, little has been revealed about the making of this bling masterpiece, until now. Supertouch offers a step-by-step look at the creation of this masterwork which was created FOR the artist by some of the masters of European jewelry making at London’s Bentley & Skinner using over 8,601 of the world’s most perfect, flawless diamonds and 2,156 grams of fresh platinum (not to mention $28 million of the artist’s own money). And while the exhibit closed on July 7th without the piece being sold, don’t expect to see it on markdown anytime soon…
For the full article...
http://www.supertouchart.com/2007/07/21/techniquethe-making-of-damien-hirsts-diamond-skull/
EUGENIO MERINO’S “FOR THE LOVE OF GOLD” DAMIEN HIRST SCULPTURE ON BLAST!!!
Stumbled across this article, which lead me to the original story that explains the piece...Thanks to the good people at Brightest Young Things (brightestyoungthings.com) for leading me in the right direction...
http://www.supertouchart.com/2009/02/13/newsart-gag-of-the-moment-eugenio-merinos-for-the-love-of-gold-damien-hirst/#comment-101599
The Snuggie is taking over!
http://www.snuggiepubcrawl.com/Locations/DC/
I signed up, get into it...
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Friday, February 20, 2009
Seanniessentials Vol. II - Dez - Big Foot's D**k, mixed by DJ MR. DIBBS!!!
Just released by my man, Dez and Mr. Dibbs...Get the free download, below...Photography by One Viisiion Productions...
www.dezmatic.com
www.dezmatic.com
ANKH AMEN RA & JUDAH PRESENT: CURTIS MAYFIELD 3000 MIXTAPE
Download, here...
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=U72GI1B2
Kid Cudi - Day N Nite (video)
Kid Cudi - Day 'N' Nite from Leak Jones on Vimeo.
Not to hate, I loved the mixtape, but this video is kinda meh...I feel it was trying to be too experimental, a la "Good Morning" video by brethren Kanye...Both tracks, amazing...Both video's, a whole lot of cute animation...
VA Legislature Approves Smoking Ban
The Virginia General Assembly today voted to approve a smoking ban in most of the state's bars and restaurants. The Virginia Senate approved the measure 27-13 on Thursday morning, and a few hours later, the House passed it as well, 60 to 39, without debate.
This is a big deal, since the home state of Philip Morris has failed to pass a smoking ban numerous times over the course of a decade that saw bans enacted across the rest of the country. But it's also not as big of a deal, since, as we've written before, the bill was weakened to allow smoking in "private clubs" and in establishments that have separately ventilated enclosed smoking rooms. Language in the bill that would have allowed smoking in establishments that don't permit minors was removed, however. The smoking ban would take effect Dec. 1.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Classified New Video and Album...
Canadien-rapper-vanguard Classified, is finally back with a new album on April 7th...Check out the radio single, "Is Anybody Listening?" that will have Banksy and Shepard Fairey in search of royalties...
Album cover and tracklisting...
1. Self Explanatory
2. Get Out The Way
3. Choose Your Own Adventure 1
4. Up All Night
5. Quit While You’re Ahead w/ Choclair, Maestro and Moka Only
6 .Inspiration
7. CYOA 2
8. Anybody Listening
9. They Call This (Hip Hop) w/ Royce 5′9″ and B.o.B
10. Oh… Canada
11. CYOA 3
12. Where Are You w/ Saukrates
13. Trouble
14. Use to Be w/ Mic Boyd
15. Breaking Up
16. One Track Mind w/ Joel Plaskett
17. CYOA 4
18. Things Are Looking Up w/ Chad Hatcher
19. Still Got it
20. Loonie w/ D-sisive, Shad, DL Incognito and Buck 65
21. CYOA 5
22. CYOA 6
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Seanniessentials Vol. I The Lions - Jungle Struttin'
Stumbled across this gem on a forum I was on the other day, take a listen for yourself...If the link dies, message me and I'll send you another one...
http://www.zshare.net/download/557292360fdc0bdc/
Like their brethren from the Los Angeles basin The Culver City Dub Collective, the San Fernando Valley's The Lions have crafted an exceptionally enjoyable and listenable old school reggae record that wears its influences on its sleeves. But they are just that - influences, not mimicry. At the core, The Lions have crafted full songs - ten originals and one cover - many in preparation for deconstructing them dubwise (unlike many of their predecessors who didn't complete the song construction, leaving the dubs uninspired and plodding).
In this album's stew are dashes of Bunny Lee and Augustus Pablo production values, King Tubby mixing techniques, and Aggrovators and Black Disciples instrumentation.
"Thin Man Skank" is an instru-dub with a horn melody that sounds like what would have happened if Santo & Johnny's "Sleep Walk" was a Bunny Lee/King Tubby affair. "Hot No Ho" is an infectious meld of Jamaican & Cuban styles. "Fluglin' at Dave's" is, like "Thin Man," an instru-dub with a Flugel Horn lead, not the typical instrumentation that one would hear in proto-roots reggae from the early '70s, and it's captivating because of it. So, too, is "Tuesday Roots"'s screaming Hammond organ lead, a far better road-tested sound than the roller-rink organ sound that was popular back in the day. Elsewhere there are splashes of spring reverb that was common in King Tubby mixes, the drum sound that was popularized by Jamaican drummer Tin Leg Allen, and the 'dread' minor key horn arrangements that would back up Burning Spear.
On a couple of occasions The Lions do lose the plot: the chorus of "Sweet Soul Music" (an original, not a cover of the Arthur Conley tune) is lackluster compared to the body of the tune, and the cover of Lyn Collins' "Think (About It)" is disjointed. The bulk of the original James Brown rhythm remains, but the change from James' on-the-one beat to a Jamaican one-drop rhythm (on the third beat) doesn't jell. It may have been better to take the composition in a thunderous steppers arrangement like Yabby You used to direct. (That said, Noelle Scaggs' lead vocals on the track are magnificent; keep an eye on her.)
Overall, a highly recommended debut from a collective that knows how to deftly interpret the past and bring it into the future.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Historic
WASHINGTON DC - It was a historical day in D.C., especially at the Stussy store where 100 Historic shirts were made, 200 people inside the store, and another 400 people outside trying to get in. Bun B, 9th Wonder, Wale, and many more were there to keep the crowd entertained.
www.stussy.com
www.cmonwealth.com
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