Buzzkill

Down the street from my middle school, there's an elementary school. This elementary school, which feeds into our middle school, was in the local news today. Why, you ask? Because two students were allegedly selling weed to other students inside the school. Yup, 9 and 10 year olds were hustling. That alone is heartbreaking, but the local ABC News video is even more so. Why are we smirking during a serious interview about something that happened at your child's school? Why is it funny?

Sadly though, I'm not shocked by much of it. Not dry snitching by any means, but the blocks of Southwest Philly have been hot all school year for some reason. And when the block is hot, the kids behave differently, and this year has been a doozy.

Boys II Men

The Paxtons - 4321

It's late but I'm up, and since I'm up, I'm giving y'all The Paxtons latest street single, 4321. If you didn't already pick it up from Khal over at rockthedub yesterday morning, maybe you picked it up at The Smoking Section last night. (Is my tone real wavy right now? I hope so.) Regardless, those who are still sleeping on these niggas, there's still time to wake the eff up and smell the Folger's before your friends start telling you how dope these rappers are. Over a CRAZY Boys II Men sample, Chris and Dave do what they do best: defecate on beats. All I will say is that if you don't download this, you're truly missing out.

And remember, this isn't even the ish on the album. We haven't given the masses that yet. The promo sampler is floating in the CPU's of a select few and burning holes through their speakers as you read this. But like always, don't take my word for it, I'll happily let Chi-town's finest, Hustle Simmons, get the final palabra. Enjoy.

Candied Apples

Click the album cover to download

Link is stolen. Goin to bed. Holler.

Eye + Candy

Big Pooh - The Comeback

Ran across the itunes version of The Delightful Bars sometime last week on one of the internets. Might post it later. Till then, enjoy.

Products of Boredom

The blog is on facebook. I decided to add the page cuz i got a couple friend requests and event invites in the blog's gmail and figured that in this age of digital media, it wouldn't hurt to have a fb page. Plus, it's a good way to connect with those who don't know me personally but are fans/readers. So fb users, feel free to friend us. Just search for "you hype sike nah."

Now I'm off to catch a lil of this springtime sunshine.

Between The Walls

I've been looking forward to seeing The Class (French title: Entre les murs) since I caught previews back in '08. The premise is simple: over the course of a schoolyear, the film follows the lives of a teacher and his students at a high school in a tough Parisian neighborhood. Only it's not so cut-and-dry.

It would be easy to write this movie off as the French version of Stand and Deliver, Dangerous Minds, or Freedom Writers, but you would miss so much. I actually don't recommend this movie for the casual moviegoer; I don't think you'd get it. This movie--which is written, directed, and acted beautifully--uses the classroom as a microcosm from which to discuss society as a whole. Consequently, you must go in prepared to learn, prepared to feel uncomfortable, prepared to take sides, and, finally, prepared to be confused.

I'm a teacher, and it was enlightening to see that the politics of the classroom (particularly the inner-city classroom) translate seamlessly between mine in southwest Philly and the Parisian one in this movie. The students share similar stories and personalities, as does the teacher. They all struggle with similar issues. Moreover, it was encouraging to encounter a teacher who thinks. The movie is preoccupied with Ethics and explores the philosophy through language. (It's dialogue-heavy and the teacher teaches French--as in grammar/literature.) Even the original French title "entre les murs" means literally "between the walls," and carries with it both the connotations of a classroom and a prison. And so as we watch students interrupt a lesson on the subjunctive mood to debate with their teacher why they even have to learn it, we find the fissures which form the fault lines in educational philosophy today. What's the point of learning something that you never use (and what's the point of teaching it)? Why is such value placed on these things which in many ways prevent people from succeeding and have no real purpose or utility?

These questions and a number of others--about race, class, gender, sexuality, and, ultimately, power--are thrown out continuously. Few, if any, are answered. In one of the movie's final scenes, the teacher, Mr. Marin, simply asks his students, "What have you learned?" They provide interesting--some humorous--responses, but in the end, you're left feeling like the question was more for you than the students.

The verdict: go see it, thinking caps in tow.

Ketchup

Don't know how I missed these:

Give Us Free

Click the album cover to download

Brand new. Disfruta.

Expect the Unexpected

yup.

Yazz Fruit

Click the album cover to download

Diana Krall is easily one of my favorite jazz singers. I useta watch her concerts on PBS as a kid. (Dorky, I know.) I used a song of hers on RNLC4, and this is her latest jawn. It's in stores next Tuesday, but it's yours today. Disfruta.

Riots of Convenience

Click the album cover to download

This is definitely not the one to play after Bun B and Pimp C (or maybe it is), but I've been sitting on this for a while. Plus, I needed to reup on quirk. This oldie but goodie dropped in 2004, but you know great albums are beyond time. Kings of Convenience is 2 dudes from Norway. Google can tell you everything else. All that's important is that this album is great. And did I mention it features a couple joints with Feist? So yeah, if you haven't already clicked the album cover, get to clickin!

*Ahem!* I mean, disfruta.

Sidebar: If I ever were a recording artist, my album covers would look just like theirs. Might post their first jawn later.

King Me

Click the album cover to download

I mean, do I really have to explain? You better click that album cover. Disfruta.

Timing Is Everything

Click the album cover to download the single

This joint dropped earlier this month, but it got removed from most sites not long after, so I decided not to post it till the dust settled. I'm gonna try and give you as much info without giving the title and actual artists so the post won't get deleted by the all-knowing Google.

You should recognize dude as the other white guy that hangs out with Wale and Mark Ronson. This song also features You Hype! Sike Nah... fave Adele, so you definitely don't wanna sleep on this one. Seriously. It ain't Sonny and Cher. It's soul, like Marvin & Tammi, or Donny and Roberta. Disfruta.

Coincidence? Prolly not.

Is that the Mexican Tupac?

@ 2:51. Tell me I'm lying! (Warning: it's a lil nsfw. sorry mom.)

Mom's not gonna like this one...

She did prize independent thinking though! For real, I was listening to the "Hoes" track with Killer Mike, Slimm Calhoun, and C-Bone (which is fire. Props Jeff.) and I was reminded of this classic.

Pay Homage

Today is Mama Garr's birthday. Those who know me well know that I am a Mama's Boy 4 Life. If you don't like it, chew bricks and sip wet cement through a straw. This woman sacrificed her entire existence for the two big-headed kids in that pic up there. Besides, without her, there would be no You Hype! Sike Nah... and we all know what a tragedy that would be.

sike nah... Happy birthday ma!

In celebration of ma's bday, I dug up and dusted off this classic Shirley Caesar song (where my church folk at?), "No Charge." Reminds me of Sunday mornings growing up.

The Single DC's Been Waiting For

Click the pic above to download Wale's new single "Chillin" directly from DCChillin.com.

High School Musical

Click the album cover to download

With tracks like "Na Na Nana Na Na" (that is so difficult to type) and "Frienemies," I'm expecting this to sound like the rapper version of Mean Girls.

The Joys of Standardized Testing

Click the album cover to download

My kids have been taking tests all this week, and there's only so much proctoring you can do. Disfruta.

Lie and say you been had it

Click the album cover to download

Tomorrow, Wale officially drops his first single. It features Lady Gaga.

Roots: Jefferson County, Kentucky

Click the album cover to download

This album is one of my top 10 favorite albums ever. And Playa's prolly my favorite R&B group (nhjic?). When it dropped, I was already a huge fan of Timbaland cuz he was a dude from VA with ridiculous beats. (Mr. Garr is from the "V" of the DMV.) But then Playa was from Louisville, Kentucky. (Mr. Garr's family is from *drumroll-rimshot* the Derby City.) It was like what dual citizenship must feel like. I was proud.

Plus, every song--except for that last one with Foxy Brown--was straight bananas and platanos. These guys were the folks penning and producing a few of the biggest hits of the late 90's. (Almost anything from Aaliyah had at least one member's name in the song credit.) Were the internet what it was then what it is now, they mighta had more luck. In spite of that, its redemptive fortune is that, like Complex Simplicity, it now holds a place in the genre as an album that captures the essence of the best true R&B at that particular moment in the genre's evolution. It's like DNA. Get. To. Clickin.


RIP Static

Two Cents

In case you didn't notice, we did some redecorating over here. It's been 2.5 years and I was tired of looking at the old jawn so I finagled with the layout a tad. Thoughts? Holler at the gmail or the comments and speak ur mind.

Also, Real Niggas Light Candles 5 is done. Didn't feel like holding onto this for another 4 months, might as well strike while the iron's hot. If you've been keeping up with The Vault, then there won't be too many surprises (too many). As always, it's on some other ish. Expect more reckless talk about this one in the coming days and weeks. I've got a lot to say...

Well look what we have here...

I got my digital hands on the sampler from The Paxtons' forthcoming project. No worries, you know we'll keep you updated, but if you haven't already picked up their remix to "Ain't I," you late. And if you didn't believe me, there are a few others who cosigned as well. Expect more leaks in the not-to-distant future.

Adieu.

EPDM > EPMD

Click the album cover to download

Sike nah... The vault is still open folks. El Perro Del Mar is the name of the group and the album above. (Chick's real name is Sarah Assbring tho. No joke.) Album released back in '06. Some of you may need an open mind for this one. ha. You've been warned. Just found myself to jamming to this and figured I'd turn up the blog's quirk factor for a quick sec. You know what to do. Disfruta.

Negative Space

In Wonderland

It's the [Premix], baby!

The Paxtons - Ain't I (Premix)

It's been a while since The Paxtons have dropped a new joint, but it was definitely worth the wait. The Windy City Brethren went in on over the "Ain't I" beat and KILT IT DEAD. Don't believe me? Go ahead, click the link and see for yourselves. Disfruta.

P.S. The album's on the way!!

White Niggas I Fucks Wit

I'm not sure what's the cause of this lapse in ethnic pride, but there's a few white ppl who, if given the chance, I would invite to the family barbeque. The reasons vary, but I consider them all the truest white niggas in the game.

Feist
This white woman is like the Aretha Franklin of white people music to me. I say this because true soul music comes from *drumroll* the soul and carries with it all the nuances of a culture. There's a reason that Deep South down-home country soul music sounds like it does. There's a reason all black people can relate to it. It captures all the raw pain and sorrow, joy and hope, of a people, our people. In some way, I feel like Feist is so unapologetically and authentically white that she communicates the same thing for white people like Aretha does for us. I'm left feeling like, "Oh, this is how white ppl feel." It's different man, yall [white ppl] be on some other ish. It's cool though. I'm sure it seems like I'm jumping out the window with this one, but yo, Leslie Feist is the truth. She's the essence of whiteness from this imaginary place called Canada.

Chuck Norris
If it was McCain/Norris instead of McCain/Palin last November, I don't think our President would be black (nor would our Lambo's be blue).

Matt Damon
Yeah, some of yall might expect me to pick Brad Pitt. I mean, Brad does get to put his penis between Angelina's lips--which I think is as close to Muslim heaven as mere mortals can get--, but as far as actors go, Matt Damon is the most gifted in the world. Dude can act his [insert "no homo"-disclaimer worthy object here] off.

Penelope Cruz
Black women, I'm sorry. Penelope Cruz can have my children right now. I have this thing for talent. There are a lot of beautiful women in the world, but not many of them are talented. She's both, and both in both (as in beautifully talented and talented in her beauty--if that's possible). Plus she's only, like, one of the greatest genetic phenomena of our time. (Did you know there were two of them?!)

Michael Jackson
Because, white or black, he's still the greatest entertainer of all time.

Bill Clinton
I know we got Obama, but be real, Clinton was the first black president.

Sean Connery
Coolest white dude ever.

Honorable Mention:
Kanye West
We lost Michael. We'll eventually lose him too.

Limited Time Only

CD 1 | CD 2
EDIT: Links are closed.

I'm only keeping these links alive for a limited time so get 'em now. This compilation from British DJ Gilles Peterson is a cult classic. It was released in 2005 (which seems like a really long time ago) and featured live acoustic performances from artists spanning almost every genre, but with an overall jazzy vibe. The Roots, Beck, N.E.R.D., Bjork, Bilal, Dwele, and even the then-unsigned Jazmine Sullivan are some of the artists featured on this double CD. In other words: you want this.

You may or may not have noticed that this and some other drops have been labeled "The Vault," as I've been liquidating some of my music library holdings like it were WaMu stock. It's my gift to the faithful readers and fodder for the casual browser. Plus, the biters always need something to chew on. I've said enough, it's a double CD so click the links under the CD cover already. Disfruta.

Internet Years

The internets (not a typo) is a place where new gets old very quickly. "Yo, you got that new [insert supposedly-underground-esoteric-act]?" "Yo I had that like 2 days ago. And the first mixtape they had like 2 years ago. You late my nig." It's a conversation that I myself have to admit to have had with quite a few people, quite a few times. Especially in the blogosphere, if you're an hour late on a drop, you might as well quit the game. It's about that XCLUSIVE!!! Na na nana na na!!

:-/ Yeah, I fall victim to that blogger braggadocio myself, but it's important to always keep in mind that it's a computer and the internet is not a real place (or is it?) so even when I swing my swagger stick (nhjic) and complain that a few of my readers who also blog are biters, I'm still not as emo about it as I seem.

That said, these niggas dropped this week or less recently. Some I've listened to, some I haven't, but I feel they're all worthy of CPU memory. Links are stolen. Disfruta. Click the album covers to download.


Gucci Mane is the streets right now.


I really do love where hip hop is right now, and I especially love where NY hiphop is right now. Plus, N.O.R.E. is a funny nigga.


I'm not necessarily co-signing this, not outta hate, but only cuz I really never listened to enough of his ish to say one thing or the other. I did think this jawn came out a long time ago tho (in real time)... guess not. Irregardless, I always effed wit "Hood Nigga."

Capital Lingo

"Go Hard"- AB The Producer feat. XO, Pro'verb and Lyriciss

Confession: I've been slackin' on the hiphop tip for a minute. This school year has been bananas and plátanos so I haven't had much time to actually cull the wheat from the chaff from these new up-and-coming whippersnappers.

That said, I can personally co-sign Pro'verb and Lyriciss as true talents outta the DMV and XO's latest mixtape is just a few posts down from this one, (not to mention the cypher I caught with him, Charles Hamilton, and some other random niggas inauguration weekend--I might put that vid up this wknd). The energy comin outta DC is so ridiculous right now. I'm lovin' it.(c)

And shouts out to AB The Producer and Studio 43 for the link.

I likes um THICK

Chrisette Michele - Epiphany

I'm not sure how I feel about rapper cameos in R&B videos as love interests... On second thought, I don't care. Drake is "acting" in a couple scenes of this, and if you didn't see the Keri Hilson vid wit Kanye, holler. Looks like Chrisette lost some weight. Hopefully not too much tho, cuz a nigga likes some cushion!

The Virtue of Patience

Click the album cover to download

YH!SN... 10 Hottest Women In The Game alumna, Keri Hilson, is finally releasing her debut. It's in stores on the 24th. You can get it now by clicking the album cover. Disfruta.

Laymen's note: It's a .tar file so use this to open it.

Momma cooked the breakfast with no hog

I'm not a pork fiend by any means, but I do enjoy bacon and the occasional pork roast (not to mention pancetta). But after reading this, I won't be eating pork for a long while.

Reminds me of that dead prez song "Be Healthy":

An Apple A Day

Click the album cover to download

I borrowed a track from this album last year on RNLC3. It's claim to fame is another track though, "New Soul," which Apple co-opted as part of their ad campaign for the MacBook Air last year. Yael is French, but is also Jewish. Likewise, the songs are in French, Hebrew, as well as English. I found myself listening to this one on the ipod this morning while on an overcrowded trolley and figured I'd pass this oldie but goodie to those who never heard of her or don't have the album. Click and get. Disfruta.

The Juice Is Loose

Oran "Juice" Jones - The Rain (1986) -

Please, do yourself a favor. Give yourself a few minutes and reacquaint yourself with this classic video.

None like us, so none like us

Click the album cover to download

X.O.'s latest, courtesy of Major. Back cover with tracklisting below.

The Chris Paul Show

I can honestly say that this NBA season will go down in infamy for the abundant lack of ankle insurance and vision plans around the league. But real talk, niggas aint hooped like this and won games (let alone competed for championships) since the Bulls had their own video games. By the way your favorite rapper of the moment, Drake, was courtside chillin. [Thank God for NBA League Pass]

BEST DAY EVER

Today was a good day. Really good.

Groove Theory

Click the album cover to download

Woke up this morning and put on The Dream's new album. It's good. Then I listened to this jawn and was reminded of how good it was. Figured I'd share. Disfruta.

Lullaby

Click the album cover to download

Not my link. If it dies, I'll re-up it. Now I'm off to bed. Fa realz.

Doorbusters

Pre-party is at Ubiq from 3-6. Ubiq's also having a sale tomorrow that's so ridiculous they had to take the front door off its frame.

Well, not exactly, but kinda. I've got the worst headache in the world right now. I'm calling it a noche. Peace.

Flight of the Cockroach

I would like to begin with a warning: never google-image "cockroaches". It's a terrible idea.

So, it's after lunch. My kids are in their seats dutifully copying math notes off the board. We're studying area of polygons and today's lesson was on triangles, parallelograms, and complex figures. Needless to say, all of them were filled to the brim with excitement (yeah right). I begin the lesson as usual, reviewing what we did yesterday and beginning to discuss today's objective, but no one's looking at me. They're all looking at the wall above me.

I follow their eyes just in time to see a humongous cockroach crawl along the wall above my chalkboard. Just as I look, it decides to fly.

Yup. Fly.

Needless to say, the room quickly descended into contained chaos with screams and kids jumping out their seats, and, after it flew for the second time, I told my kids to line up in the hall so I could kill it. I hoped they'd exit orderly, but they're kids, and they're from the hood, so it was every man for himself.

One of my students however, decided to take matters into his own hands, literally. While everyone was clawing their way out the room as quickly as possible, this particular student smacked the roach while it was in mid-flight and knocked it to the ground. Then, with me and most the class watching, this student proceeded to stomp the shit (sorry no other word gets the point across) out of the thing till we were all sure it was dead. He then, very matter-of-factly, asked for the broom.

Now, does it matter that this student of mine is actually too old to be in 6th grade or that he sometimes misspells his own name? Something tells me yes. But I guess his talents lie elsewhere...

Just Watch It

Everything you need.

Gimme 2 Pair

I think the combination of the recession and me getting older has meant a maturation in my sartorial predilections. A nigga just can't cop 4 pairs of kicks in one day anymore. With money as tight as it is, and my AMEX not as friendly as it used to be, a nigga's gotta keep it simple. Outside of the eggplant foams, the last pair of shoes I bought were the Timberland Abington's, which I have not stopped wearing since. (Even my students have asked me to stop wearing them.) Before them it was my DQM Chukka's back in October. Those who know me know that that is a marked decline in shoe shoppage. (I did scoop a pair of RL loafers on a steep discount tho, but they don't count.)

My cabin fever is at an all-time high right now and when spring finally arrives, I'll prolly be on a similar steez. A few pair and that's it. So without further ado, the only shoes a nigga needs for spring/summer '09:
a pair to beat up.

a pair to chill in

And I just got an email about these:

i think i had a dream about this exact shoe a month or 2 ago.

No Yeezy's--although if any of yall wanna cop them Kanye LV jawns for me, I'm game--and I might actually make the trip to NYC to get them One's or maybe them New Balances. I'm currently considering selling off a few pairs at rock-bottom recession prices jus cuz i'm tired of having such a gluttonous collection. More on that later.

Dust Yourself Off

Had no idea dood had an album coming out. Click the album cover to download.

The Calm

Lurking

Jay Smooth is the Andy Rooney of hip hop.

Don't thank me

Christian Rich - Stacks (ft. Lil Wayne)

Thank modi.

And this is how you create anticipation for a release:


Just wish the original had that intro.

Snowday Special

Nickel Eye - "Brandy of The Damned" featuring Wale (Mark Ronson remix)

Music is the brandy of the damned. It's good. Trust me. It sounds like the first warm day of spring, in mp3 form.