You Hype! Sike Nah...

Welcome To My World Where Hater's Ain't Allowed

2010-10-19T19:32:00.006-04:00

New rappers are a dime penny a dozen nowadays, and most suck horse cajones. While there are a few talented artists tryna get noticed, even many of those are still struggling to not sound like pubescent High School Musical dropouts. I first heard Skeme in his scene-stealing verse from "Play On" on Dom Kennedy's Westside. The first thing that struck me about him was his poise on the track. It's a nuance that many a rapper spends years tryna grasp before they get it right (Dom Kennedy being a prime example). And that's just on top of the fact that dude can rap. Still, being the cynic that I am, I didn't bet the house that Skeme could deliver an album's worth of verses as enjoyable as that one verse, not cuz I didn't believe, but just because that would be foolish to assume.

Well, Skeme delivered. Pistols and Palm Trees is a bonafide banger. I never bought into the first wave of new artists coming outta Cali (Pac Div, U-N-I, etc.), but this tide of post-Dom folk has my ears itching in the goodest way possible. Scroll up there and download it. You won't be disappointed. Disfruta.

How To Make A Music Video

2010-10-17T18:22:00.004-04:00

James Blake - "Limit To Your Love" Directed by Martin de Thurah.

I accidentally found this video today. I've been jamming to James Blake's cover of the Feist classic for a good minute now (my playlists these days are cuhrazy) and I'm glad to see a video that captured the mood of the song perfectly. Not to mention that Blake does quite a job himself on the cover. Sign me up. I'm sold.

The Manhattan Project

2010-09-11T18:49:00.003-04:00

<a href="http://thepaxtons.bandcamp.com/album/the-manhattan-project">The Manhattan Project by The Paxtons</a>

The Paxtons have finally dropped their long-awaited follow up to WORK. Entitled The Manhattan Project, it superficially references their relocation to the Rotten Apple, while also referencing the secret military project of the 1940s that produced the world's first atomic bomb. In their own words:

In musical terms, The Paxtons are taking the same approach by building a mixtape that is set to annihilate the competition with lyrics and production that clearly show an unseen hunger and level of progression and creativity from the Chicago-bred MC and production team.

Heavy, and a tall order to say the least. I'm a harsh critic, but I'm pretty sure they nailed it with one of this year's hottest mixtapes. But I'm also a biased listener, so I'll leave it to you to say whether or not my dudes rose to the occasion. So don't take my word for it--get to clicking! Disfruta.

www.paxtonavenue.com

Mid-Term Elections

2010-08-18T10:05:00.007-04:00

J.Cole and Dom Kennedy - Bun B For President

Dom does Dom, and Cole is on fire. Caught it last night on the tweeter. Disfruta.

Type Set! It's like Dip Set, 'cept it's not.

2010-08-17T22:31:00.004-04:00

From about kindergarten to 3rd grade, I had impeccable handwriting. My teachers would fawn over my penmanship as though I were the Frank Lloyd Wright of writing. I was an architect with lines and curves, ya dig? I'm not sure why or when I stopped writing neatly, but I think it had something to do with learning cursive and moving from wide-ruled to college-ruled paper. Not enough space for a young scholar to express himself. I also had learned how to behave in school by that point, which prolly meant my handwriting suffered as I tried to keep myself from saying and doing inappropriate things to my classmates and teachers. All that evil energy worked its way out my body through my hands. But I digress...

I've always been a fan of people with good handwriting. Experience has shown that these people are usually Chinese (read: Asian) and almost always female. I'm not sure why, but why question God? He chose the Jews to write the Bible, the Mexicans to have excellent landscaping skills, and the Chinese to have great handwriting. You know, those people who can write straight without lines on the paper? Or people whose handwriting looks like comic sans or helvetica without even trying? Yeah, I think those people are cool. I admire them.

I admire them so much, that I might cop this book so I can be like them and regain my lost prominence as a handwriter par excellence. Along with giving a history of typography, it's designed for people like me, normal folk with below-Chinese handwriting abilities, and uses activities to help you learn the art of lettering. It's not out yet, and really this post is more of a reminder to myself to check for it in the coming weeks, but if you're like me then keep clicking this link until it says it's available for purchase.

Sole Music

2010-08-16T11:22:00.009-04:00

A small rundown of some of the flyest footwear I've come across on the information superhighway. There are others--Visvim is always a standout; also Mr. Hare continues to make the absolute flyest grown man dress shoes in the streets--but these are a few of my personal favorites. Disfruta.

Ronnie Feig for Clarks

Luke Meier for Vans Syndicate

Cody Hudson for Converse(RED)

Parra for Converse(RED)

Band of Outsiders

Playing Chess With Death

2010-08-08T20:12:00.003-04:00

Among other things, this summer has allowed me to watch a crazy amount of movies, new and old. Outside of the same big summer movies everybody else has seen and some other art-house flicks, I've had the chance to catch some classics, like Annie Hall, for the first time, and rewatch some others. On a whim, I got the chance to see the classic Ingmar Bergman film The Seventh Seal and my oh my...

First, let me say that I can't usually bang with black and white movies. It prolly has something to do with my latent ADHD which is really just my cockamamie excuse for saying I'm too lazy to pay attention, but I needs some color when I'm watching the telly. I don't care how good you tell me a movie is, if I find out it's black and white then you've lost a potential viewer. I've seen the movie a few times on the shelf of the video library and thought about renting it, but I could never bring myself to pull the trigger. The subject matter--a knight returns from the Crusades during the Black Death and runs into Death himself, whom he challenges to a winner-takes-all game of chess--was a little too heavy for me to endure in my leisure time, especially sans ROY G. BIV.

Well, absolute boredom and an existential crisis can do wonders for your palate. I saw it was available one night while flipping through OnDemand's free movies and figured it was worth a shot. It was. It definitely was. By the end of the opening scene I was hooked. If you wanna sit down and watch something that makes you think without broadcasting the fact that it's making you think, this is the one. At its essence it captures the spiritual struggles of mankind perfectly.

This clip is one of my favorite scenes as the knight, unknowingly, makes his confession to Death. It cuts off early, but if it piqued your interest, then make it do what it does and go find the whole movie.

How You'll Get Me To Sing

2010-08-08T19:35:00.002-04:00

I've been listening to a lot of Beirut lately. Their music is grand but simple, haunting but still light. It's a long way from Gucci Mane and Yo Gotti, and yeah, you could prolly call it pop polka music, but who cares? Heat is heat, and this is highly flammable. This track is definitely my favorite off The Flying Cup Club, and considering that I've prolly played it 20+ times today to myself in the crib, I figured I'd at least share a vid or two. The way that accordion opens the song is too sick. Word to Urkel. And the harmonies of that hook are my favorite kind. I useta love to play those kindsa chords on the piano. They don't come out as well in this vid since it's a live performance, but holler at the CDQ version below to get my drift. Disfruta.

What are you gonna do? Blog about it?

2010-07-24T10:28:00.005-04:00

This guy goes to a psychiatrist and says, "Doc, my brother's crazy. He thinks he's a chicken." And the doctor says, "Well, why don't you turn him in?" And the guy says, "I would, but I need the eggs."

-Annie Hall

Double Vision

2010-07-08T11:38:00.005-04:00

Philadelphia-native Bilal is finally about to drop an official album entitled Airtight's Revenge. Other than looking forward to a new set of songs from the Philly falsetto, I appreciate how Mr. Oliver channeled the inner El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz for the album cover.

And for all the twitterati, homey just joined the twitter nation as well. Follow him to stay updated.

White Boy Can SANG

2010-06-23T11:58:00.005-04:00

Not new, but Gavin DeGraw sings one of my favorite Donny Hathaway songs "Jealous Guy" at National Underground in NYC. He kills it (that guitar player wasn't as good as the original tho).

Speaking of National Underground, my peoples The Paxtons will be performing their last June show at National Underground this Sunday with Philly phenom Sela. It's hip hop with a live band soooo.... we gets it iiiinnn. All the pertinent info is on the flyer. BE THERE!!!!

Blow Out The Candles and Make A Wish

2010-06-22T08:43:00.004-04:00

So today's my bday. 'Twas a decent day, and, all things considered, I have plenty to celebrate. I'm alive and in relatively good health. I got a few dollars in the bank, a job, a roof over my head, and a nice pillowtop mattress to sleep on. I'm thankful for all the folks who hit me up with cards, phonecalls, texts, facebook posts, tweets, carrier pigeons, and strip-o-grams, just to wish me a happy birthday. Made a young scholar feel loved and what-not *sniff sniff* #nococa.

Either way, 'tis better to give than receive and I've gotten a few requests to re-up the past volumes of Real Niggas Light Candles, so what better day than today to light some muthaphreakin candles?

Before we get into it, I'll do my best to give a quick synopsis:

Real Niggas Light Candles is a series of emotional-nigga mixtapes compiled by yours truly, a self-described emotional nigga. Each volume is an eclectic mix of songs that span across genres but share a few unique qualities: they're smooth as maple syrup, soulful, and hella emotional for no cot durn reason. In other words, it's music you turn off the lights to and light some candles. Maybe you take in some solitude, maybe you bun up with your boo. And it's meant to be played in order--no skipping tracks--because the magic of these mixtapes is in the sequence. It's what separates RNLC from every other blogger's mixtapes. It's always soul, but never in a typical way.

I lost Volume 1 when my old computer died (RIP Roberto Miguel deDell), but I honestly didn't like that one that much anyway (lol). Lucky for all of us I've still got Volumes 2-7. So go ahead and do yourself a favor (or 6) and download these joints. You won't regret it. Promise or your money back.

And by the way, RNLC8 is coming soon... (pause granddad)

Download
Tracklisting:
1. "Do You Feel Me" - Anthony Hamilton
2. "Love Is A Losing Game (Instrumental)" - Amy Winehouse
3. "The Rain" - K-Os
4. "Littlest Things" - Lily Allen
5. "My Song" - Labi Siffre
6. "Hello, It's Me" - John Legend
7. "So Sorry" - Feist
8. "Dear Santa Claus" - Bobby Womack
9. "Here's To Life" - Shirley Horn
10. "Lost and Found (Find Me) (Featuring Karen Briggs)" - Ledisi
11. "Hey Girl (Featuring John Legend)" - Estelle
12. "Only For You" - Eric Roberson
13. "Moon" - Emily King
14. "Static" - Kenna
15. "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" - Amy Winehouse
16. "The Visit (She Was Here)" - The Cyrkle
17. "The Colorado Trail - Dave Crusin

Download
Tracklisting:
1. Martin Luther - "Daily Bread"
2. Yael Naim - "Levater"
3. Janelle Monáe - "Cybertronic Purgatory"
4. Jazmine Sullivan - "Prototype"
5. Hot Chip - "Made In The Dark"
6. Tiombe Lockhart ft. Bilal - "Strange"
7. Jamie Cullum - "In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning"
8. The Cinematic Orchestra - "That Home"
9. The Fray - "Hundred"
10. First Aid Kit - "Season"
11. Pauline Croze - "A l'évidence"
12. She & Him - "Take It Back"
13. Janelle Monáe - "Warm Up (Cloud 9 Interlude)"
14. Adele - "Now And Then"
15. Vashti Bunyan - "Train Song"
16. Jason Mraz - "If It Kills Me (From The Casa Nova Sessions)"
17. My People Sleeping - "Seahorse"
18. Casey Dienel - "Asleep At The Wheel"
19. Donny Hathaway - "Misty"

Download
1. "Lilac Wine" - Jeff Buckley
2. "Overrated" - Gavin DeGraw
3. "When I Fall" - Lizz Wright
4. "Dreamworld" - Robin Thicke
5. "I (Who Have Nothing)" - Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
6. "Highway 7" - K-Os
7. "In A Sentimental Mood" - Ledisi
8. "Charlene (acoustic)" - Anthony Hamilton
9. "Kick Out of You" - Dwele
10. "We're Still Friends" - Donny Hathaway
11. "Rope of Sand" - Jamie Lidell
12. "Little Person (ft. Deanne Storey)" - Jon Brion
13. "Little Girl Blue" - Diana Krall
14. "The Thrill is Gone" - Chet Baker
15. "Good Morning, Heartache" - Billie Holiday
16. "Wild is the Wind" - Nina Simone
17. "Make Sure You're Sure" - Stevie Wonder

Download
Tracklisting

Download
Tracklisting:
1. "Game for Fools" - Jamie Lidell
2. "Secret" - Maroon 5
3. "Californication" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
4. "Till It Happens To You" - Corinne Bailey Rae
5. "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" (Live) - Donny Hathaway
6. "Easy To Please" - Coldplay
7. "Immigrant" - Sade
8. "A Dream" - Julian Velard
9. "Long Distance Love" - Little Feat
10. "Marry Ann" - Regina Spektor
11. "Dust and Water" - Antony & the Johnsons
12. "The Build Up" - Kings of Convenience ft. Feist
13. "You've Got It Bad Girl" - Stevie Wonder
14. "Sunshine Juice" - Hyperpotamus
15. "Lonely, Lonely" - Feist
16. "Sometimes" (Live) - Bilal

Single-MP3 Download (cassette style, preferred)
Split-track Download (for individual tracks)
Tracklisting:
1. "In My Room" - The Beach Boys
2. "James" - Camera Obscura
3. "Starting All Over" - Jeremih
4. "Giving Everything Away for Free" - Daniel Merriweather
5. "Terr et Tiwa dorment" - Alain Goraguer
6. "Dedicada a Ela" - Arthur Verocai
7. "A Forest" - Nouvelle Vague
8. "Too Long" - Yael Naim
9. "Penny's Confession" - Ras G & The Afrikan Space Program
10. "Auburn And Ivory" - Beach House
11. "The Artist" - Jagat Skad
12. "You Have Cum In Your Hair And Your Dick Is Hanging Out" - Palace
13. "Master Sigh" - Andrew Bird
14. "Human of the Year" - Regina Spektor
15. "Galvanize" - Cryptacize
16. "Doctor Blind" - Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton
17. "The Strangers" - St. Vincent
18. "Fly" - Nikki Jean
19. "Visions" - Stevie Wonder

808s and Spacecakes

2010-06-21T22:16:00.006-04:00

The twitter homey 808sandcupcakes has dipped her toe in the mixtape game and brought the internets 17 tracks to... well, um... just look at the album cover. It's her first foray, but I'm sure it won't be the last. Homey's been takin' notes (lol), and even if you don't engage in cannabinoid activities, this mix is well worth the download. She even went to the lengths of making it all reggae, which is an automatic win in my book. I'ma stop typing, yall click that album cover and crush something. Disfruta.

'Scuse Me While I Kiss The Sky

2010-06-21T22:07:00.002-04:00

Overdoz released this video on April 20 (for obvious reasons) but I think they just released the actual mp3. Either way, the video is hilarious and the song goes hard (pause granddad).

Overdoz - Roll 'Em Up (Prod. by Drumma Boy)

Robert Browning Would Be Proud

2010-06-21T21:06:00.004-04:00

Do yourself a HUGE favor. Click play, then click this and download Value Pack 4. I tried to told yall, Fly Union is the future. Ohio stand tall.

You Ain't Even Go To Class

2010-06-21T19:48:00.004-04:00

"I am not going to sit on my ass as the events that affect me unfold to determine the course of my life. I'm going to take a stand. I'm going to defend it. Right or wrong, I'm going to defend it."

-Cameron, Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Summer Solstice

2010-06-21T10:50:00.004-04:00

So as of 7:23 this morning, it's officially summer. Break out the grill and throw on the SPF40, and somebody blow the dust of that slip-and-slide. And while you're at it, get some good, free music. From start to finish, this EP by The Drums sounds like the perfect summer day at the beach: fun and carefree, with maybe a love interest or two, watching the waves roll into the shore. So grab your board and catch the wave, and try not to get your ipod wet in the process. Click the album cover to download.

The Climb

2010-06-16T19:11:00.004-04:00

Today was graduation day for the 8th graders at my school. It was bittersweet, as these moments always are. Many I will never see again; others, perhaps too often. For some, it will be their final graduation before the thorns of life choke them out of school altogether. Still, it was a day to celebrate, and an honor to share it with the marvelous people many of my former students have grown to be.

I don't think I could ever adequately communicate how much my kids touch my life, how they unwittingly shaped me into the man I've become. While I taught them similes and square roots, they taught me compassion and perseverance. They've made me laugh when I wanted to cry, they've helped me find sunlight when I was fondling through darkness. I will always feel that I've failed them in some way as a teacher, that I wasn't kind enough, or that I coddled them too much. That I didn't push them hard enough, or let them know how important they were to me, their teacher, when they needed to hear it most.

These feelings are the cords of a whip that will always find new skin to tear on my back. It's why, every September, I will always look at each new classroom of bright-eyed, blue-shirted students with a sense of grand opportunity and sheer terror. I know what the future holds: great promise, but certain failure. And it's my job to prepare them for both, to make them believe that anything they dream, they can also make a reality. But also to brush the dirt off their knees when they fall and hold them up when they're weak.

At today's ceremony, part of the program was devoted to an unofficial "class song." It was "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus. Taken at face-value, it would seem an odd or even corny choice, but for my kids, my students, my school... me, it was the most appropriate way to bring this chapter of life to a close. These students were my 6th-graders two years ago, when I was a second-year TFA teacher, acclimated enough to the practice of teaching to hold my own in a classroom of knuckleheads and still young enough to relate, but green to the starkest realities of my job. It was the year that I probably grew the most as a teacher, and, perhaps, when I felt most passionate about teaching. That year I realized how much power I held in a single stick of chalk, and how much potential was stuffed into each desk in front of me.

But the past two years haven't been easy. I've been forced to meet the reality of my situation; I am a young teacher of inner-city youth in a broken community of broken expectations. I've buckled under the pressure of trying to be too much to too many, and the shame of knowing that I've not done enough for a simple few. I've dealt with the death of a former student, by suicide, and the memories of how I could have done more are needles that will poke at the walls of my heart forever.

So while Miley Cyrus may seem an odd source of comfort and inspiration, these four years teaching--shoot, my life in general--have been a climb. But if I've learned anything, it's that there's always gonna be another mountain, and I'm always gonna wanna make it move. It's always gonna be an uphill battle, and sometimes I'm gonna have to lose. It's not about how fast I get there or even what's waiting on the other side. In the end, all that matters is the climb.

So in a way, tonight marked a personal graduation of sorts. It's been four years since I sat in the heat of Brookings Quadrangle, the untold promises of a world of verdant opportunity awaiting like the view into Forest Park. I left a place of blinding opportunity to make my home in a city where it sometimes seems you'd see more light if you just kept your eyes closed. It hasn't been easy. In fact, it has been and continues to be the hardest thing I've ever done. And it's why I'm still doing it. I've never wanted to do anything else. Because the climb is worth it.

When Tytiana-- the girl in that pic up there that thinks she's grown now (and also one of my all-time favorite students)--was a sixth-grader in my class, she used to joke saying, "It's real out here, Mr. Garr," her chubby cheeks filled with eleven years of innocence as she grinned. It was her excuse sometimes when I asked her why she did something we both knew she had no business doing. But it was also a lil more than that. It was her explanation for the facts of life that didn't need explaining, that sometimes you do the things you do simply because you've got to. It was an acknowledgement that reality makes life difficult, and in dealing with reality we can make bad choices because they help us cope with those difficulties.

But that cheeky grin told me something else. It told me that there is no shame in failure because no amount of losses can equal defeat unless you allow them that victory. And it's a lesson--one of many--that I will take with me as I close this chapter and begin a new one.

Walk In My Shoes

2010-06-16T12:41:00.005-04:00

My born day is fast approaching, so before all of you bombard me with questions, I figured I'd go ahead and tell you what I want for my birthday. Not much, just these. A simple pair of shoes. If all of you pool your money together, then I'm sure you can afford it.

Sinking Ships

2010-06-12T12:58:00.001-04:00

Electronic Soul

2010-06-04T11:44:00.003-04:00

A random post cuz I feel like it. By far, this joint is my favorite song off Quadron's album. They'll be at Johnny Brenda's on the 29th for $10. If you go, you might see me there. And for those not hip to the hype, click the album cover below. Disfruta:

And since I'm a fan of moody music in general, a parting bit of melancholy in a language I will never know:

For Lovers, Dreamers, and Me

2010-06-03T08:57:00.003-04:00

Alice Smith is at Tin Angel this Sunday. She has 2 shows @ 7:00 and 9:30 both for $25. I've seen her twice at the Tin Angel and shawty gets it in. Besides her awkward beauty, the girl has some powerful pipes. This show is being advertised as an acoustic performance, so I don't know if that means she'll have a full band or just a couple instrumentalists. Either way, it's worth the money. My personal recommendation is to have dinner downstairs at Serrano first and check out the show afterward. Serrano has great food and the dinner reservation guarantees you a reserved table upstairs at the show, which comes in handy since Tin Angel is an "intimate" (read: very small) concert venue.

Hold Your Applause

2010-06-02T04:13:00.003-04:00

The year's most anticipated debut album has finally hit the internets. It's the webrip, but let's not act like that matters. Just click the album cover or the link below to download. Time to see if Drake lives up to all the hype. Disfruta.

DOWNLOAD

Freedom to be Pressed

2010-06-01T12:56:00.002-04:00

M.I.A. - Haters

Supposedly it's not on the upcoming album, and it might actually be a response to that NY Times article that came out a week ago.

Time and Location

2010-05-20T12:42:00.002-04:00

Drake - 9AM in Dallas Freestyle

Will Thank Me Later live up to the hype? Will it put a gag-ball in the mouths of the naysayers? Iunno. Personally, I hope it's worth the hype simply cuz I don't like bad music. I usually don't post the joints that everybody and they momma 'nem post--especially from artists who are guaranteed promotion from the powers that be--unless I feel it's worth it, but this joint is nice. So get to clickin' and disfruta.

Swiped from somebody else. Don't know who, so don't sue.

Who's Coming With Me?

2010-05-18T12:53:00.004-04:00

Jamie Lidell. June 9. World Cafe Live.

What Is Love?

2010-05-13T17:16:00.005-04:00

According to El Perro Del Mar née Sarah Assbring (that's her government; I couldn't make that last name up if I wanted to), whatever love is, it definitely ain't pop. This isn't the first EPDM album we posted, and I've been jamming this one since it hit the internets last year, but considering the type of day I've had, I felt that this drop was appropriate. If you bang with Lykke Li, you'll appreciate this fellow Swede. (They collaborated on this album as well.) Click the album cover to download. Disfruta.

An Advertisement Worth Reposting

2010-05-12T21:18:00.003-04:00

If you're in Philly, be there. If you're not, well... why aren't you?

Boom Bap E-flat

2010-05-11T19:20:00.004-04:00

DOWNLOAD

I'm in a fit of productivity right now so you get to reap the bennies (no Franklin). My homie Brother Price hit me up today to remind me that I been loafing on posting his last mixtape. Homey's got his hand in a couple projects as well as a couple features on The Paxtons next mixtape The Manhattan Project (you'll be hearing more about that--TRUST), but this is an accomplishment in and of itself. In case you lack any type of inferencing skills then you can put the piano pedals and the MPC together... piano hip-hop. Yeah, like Nas's "NY State of Mind" or Jay-Z's "Feelin' It"... yeah that real ish. You can stream the whole tape here, but why do that when you can just download the whole tape? So yeah, get to clickin'!

Sorry Jane

2010-05-10T21:52:00.006-04:00

DOWNLOAD

So, Janelle Monae's latest opus leaked and Janelle asked her fans not to download it. Why? Prolly cuz she thinks if we download it we won't actually buy it (which is probably true), but honestly if we don't download it, we prolly won't buy it either.

The archives can tell the story of my adoration of Ms. Monae. Her song "Peachtree Blues" was featured on the very first Real Niggas Light Candles and, short of stalking her TMZ-style, I posted much of her music for the consumption of internet fiends the world over, thus helping to raise her capital as an avant-garde artist worth paying attention to. I'm not taking sole credit for her success, but I am saying that without these here internets, I doubt she'd be worrying about people bootlegging her album right now. We stoked the flames of what was a local phenomenon and helped her take her show from the AUC stage to stages all over the country.

When I saw her in Philly back in '08 with The Roots and Santogold (as she was still known at the time), so many ppl came for the sole purpose of seeing Janelle without even knowing any of her music. How'd they even know that she was worth seeing? Where'd the buzz come from?

Internet bootleggers.

Call it internet Reaganomics, but the trickle down effect left the streets wet with anticipation for the new-age, post-modern heir apparent to Erykah Badu. We lamented her label woes and came out in droves to support any stage she stepped her saddle oxford-clad feet on. So I'm a lil disappointed that my twitter timeline had a request from Ms. Monae asking us to not download her album.

Isn't that why you're in the position you're in now? Isn't that where all that show money came from? Iunno, I expect it from label execs who are still trying to figure out what QWERTY is, but not from someone whose claim to fame was a high speed lane on the information superhighway. An android should know better than to fight against technology. Ask Cindy Mayweather.

Rant aside, I'm still gonna cop the album (and I'm staunchly against the practice of purchasing anything that can be gotten for FREE). And I honestly think her other fans will too. It's the nature of grass-roots artists such as herself--her fans feel invested in her and want to see her win. It's why we voraciously downloaded any and every megabyte of music we could find of hers, why we paid our hard-earned money to watch her razzle and dazzle on the stage like a fireball of talent. It's why we told somebody to tell somebody to tell sumn bout it.

So download while the link is up (and before the google bots delete it). Disfruta, and if you feel so inclined, cop it on May 18th. She'd appreciate it.

Magnetic North

2010-05-08T10:00:00.006-04:00

DOWNLOAD

Jamie Lidell's latest. Dude is so talented, I don't think he knows what to do with himself. His music is blue-eyed R&B/Soul, but done by someone with a possible crystal meth addiction. Sometimes it works out great. Other times you're left wondering if he checked himself out the Betty Ford clinic. Either way, I support it, and you should too. Get to clickin'. Disfruta.

Listen To BJ

2010-04-26T17:53:00.003-04:00

BJ The Chicago Kid - Aight

I'm happy to say that the subgenre of panty-droppin slow-jams is still alive and doing purrdy damn well. Chuuch is in motion. Disfruta.

Blame The Blow

2010-04-25T19:34:00.001-04:00

Thank Ms. 808sandcupcakes for motivating me to dig this one up off my hard drive. Many moons ago, I dropped a single by Coco Sumner, progeny of seminal British rocker Sting. It wasn't as slept on as I thought, since I find myself running into people here and there who think the track is just as dopamine as I thought it was when I first heard it. Still, not enough people are familiar enough with her nor her music. So late last year, ya boy made a mixtape of singles and demos by the raspy contralto as an introduction before her major-label debut this year, but I never posted it. (Sad to say, it's not the only project I neglected to post, but I digress...)

This mix has 13 tracks that capture the startling breadth of the 19-year-old singer/songwriter. I wish I could write like her when I was that age. (Shit, I wish I could write like her now, at 25.) It's pop, but in the best sense of the word (because it's smart too). And regardless of your aural predilections and aversions, you're gonna fuck with this one. Disfruta.

DOWNLOAD

and btw, her first single is out too.

Open Mic

2010-04-24T15:05:00.004-04:00

I'm a recovering undercover over-lover

Recovering from a love I can't get over

Recovering undercover over-lover

And now my common law lover thinks he wants another

*sigh*

And I'd lie for you

I'd cry for you

And pop for you

And break for you

And hate for you

And hate you too

If you want me to

Ah, oooohhh...

I'd pray for you

Crochet for you

Make it from scratch for you

Leave out the last for you

Go to the store for you

Do it some more for you

Do what you want me to

Yes I'm a fool for you...

I'm a recovering undercover over-lover

Recovering from a love I can't get over

I... recovering undercover over-lover

And now my common law lover thinks he wants another

And I'd lie for you

And cry for you

And pop for you

And break for you

And hate for you

And I'll hate you too

If you want me too

I gotta do...

My love for you

Chopped and screwed for you

Pay the rent for you

It's true it's true

Poor Badu...

Thought I was through with you

Guess I'm a fool for you...

-Exeunt-

Janelle Monae - Tightrope

2010-03-31T12:38:00.002-04:00

My former-future-wife's latest.

At the Speed of VV

2010-03-29T19:48:00.004-04:00

I had the honor and privilege to catch British import VV Brown last week when she opened up for Little Dragon at Johnny Brenda's. She came out in a watermelon-print dashiki jumpsuit on top of a flourescent bodysuit, with a kente cloth church hat, a mini-megaphone, and a single drum mallet. (It sounds wrong, but trust me, it worked. All of it.) And oh, the girl can sang.

I'll admit, her live show is better than the album, and there are definitely songs that deserve more plays than others, but a few not-so-good apples don't spoil the bunch. Plus, it's not like you're paying for it, right? So get to clicking.

DOWNLOAD

Insert Signature

2010-03-25T21:21:00.004-04:00

I'll admit, I didn't take Dom Kennedy seriously until I listened to Futurestreet/Drugsounds. 25th Hour didn't do it for me, plus my first memory of Dom is from my days back on NT when he was catching internet beefs over variant Jordans.

Needless to say, Dom's come a long way. Futurestreet/Drugsounds was easily one of the best and most complete rap releases of 2009 and it easily created anticipation and momentum for From the Westside, With Love, which dropped today. I never got around to posting FS/DS (or Best After Bobby for that matter--damn, ya boy been loafing), so I hope this will make up for that oversight. Get to clicking that album cover to download and disfruta.

DOWNLOAD

Ya Feel Me?

2010-03-20T08:47:00.003-04:00

An appropriate song/video for a sunny weekend.

Less Is More

2010-02-27T10:35:00.003-05:00

It's only 4 tracks, but sometimes that's all you need. "Like That" is like that, as is "Less is More." Click that album cover to download. Disfruta.

Don't Stop

2010-02-26T15:59:00.001-05:00

One of the greatest R&B records of all time. #liquortothecurb for Static. Derby City stand tall.

Players Get Chosen

2010-02-23T18:01:00.004-05:00

Dom Kennedy - Choose Up

New music from the black Kennedy. Disfruta.

Teedra, Teedra, Teedra

2010-02-20T14:51:00.003-05:00

This brand new mixtape dropped on Valentine's Day at her website. In case you didn't pick it up between now and then, you're welcome. And if you don't know who Teedra Moses is by now, spoon your eyes out--but not before you download this mixtape and press play. Click the album cover to download. Disfruta.

Snowmageddon Cookies

2010-02-07T00:15:00.001-05:00

Blizzards and mo' blizzards. Entertain yourself.

If this was '92?

2010-01-29T18:10:00.004-05:00

Definitely my favorite track off Dom Kennedy's Futurestreet/Drugsounds. (My iTunes playcount for "Menace Beach" is at least double that of any other track off FutureStreet.) That beat and them verses is bananas and plátanos--respectively, of course. In my humble opinion, Dom quietly dropped one of the hottest (and most marketable) rap mixtapes of '09.

An old interview about the track:

dopeitsdom.com

Breathing Underwater

2010-01-23T10:23:00.000-05:00

press play.

Real Niggas Light Candles

2009-12-27T21:50:00.008-05:00

If you follow me on twitter, then you might've had this since last weekend. For the rest, I give you what is the culmination of a pretty busy year of RNLC mixtapes. First I'd like to thank all the people who've let me know how much they appreciate these joints. It's been infriggingcredible. Whether in person or over the internets, your support motivates me.

After rushing out 3 mixtapes between February and April of '09, I wanted to take some time with this one. Seven is a pretty important number to me, and for a while, I contemplated retiring the series after this edition. (Not gonna happen, RNLC8 is well on its way.) Still, this one is especially personal. 2009 hasn't been very kind to Mr. Garr--a lot has gone awry. (Why else do you think there've been so many of these emo-mixtapes? They're my therapy.) Accordingly, these songs speak to the emotional rollercoaster I've been riding for the past year. Hopefully you guys don't mind riding shotgun. Just make sure you buckle your safebelt.

Those of you who got the early leak off twitter were blessed with a single track mixtape with no tracklisting. Now you can finally know wtf you were listening to. As always, I tried to provide a healthy mix of tracks and artists you know and others I think are worth knowing, along with those you might know of, but may not really appreciate like I do.

Well, enough of the preliminaries. It's the seventh time around, you should know the routine by now. Turn off the lights and light a candle, cuz that's what real niggas do (just ask Teddy Penderazzdowngrass). Click the album cover above for the single mp3 version (I personally prefer that one), or scroll down below the tracklisting to get the single mp3 and the split-track version. And to my fellow bloggers and twitterati, feel free to repost and retweet for the masses. Your support is always appreciated. And don't forget to leave a comment or hit me on twitter with your thoughts--good, bad, or anything in between. Now get to clickin'. Disfruta.

Tracklisting:
1. "In My Room" - The Beach Boys
2. "James" - Camera Obscura
3. "Starting All Over" - Jeremih
4. "Giving Everything Away for Free" - Daniel Merriweather
5. "Terr et Tiwa dorment" - Alain Goraguer
6. "Dedicada a Ela" - Arthur Verocai
7. "A Forest" - Nouvelle Vague
8. "Too Long" - Yael Naim
9. "Penny's Confession" - Ras G & The Afrikan Space Program
10. "Auburn And Ivory" - Beach House
11. "The Artist" - Jagat Skad
12. "You Have Cum In Your Hair And Your Dick Is Hanging Out" - Palace
13. "Master Sigh" - Andrew Bird
14. "Human of the Year" - Regina Spektor
15. "Galvanize" - Cryptacize
16. "Doctor Blind" - Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton
17. "The Strangers" - St. Vincent
18. "Fly" - Nikki Jean
19. "Visions" - Stevie Wonder

Real Niggas Light Candles 7 - single mp3 (twitter leak)

Real Niggas Light Candles 7 - split track

Pot of Gold

2009-11-26T23:38:00.003-05:00

It's Stevie. It's live. It's 1970's Stevie. Actually, it's just a couple years before he released Songs In The Key Of Life, which means it's Stevie when he had so much mojo he didn't even need to see.

You're pretty much required to download this if you don't already have it. Odds are, you don't. I even found a better bitrate version than the one I have. For you guys. You're welcome. I love you too. Click that album cover. Happy Thanksgiving.

Hypnotize Minds

2009-11-26T23:04:00.004-05:00

Who is Salem? What is Salem? I don't really feel like I could accurately answer that question, but I do know that this collective of white guys with a possible crystal-meth addiction make tripped-out screwed-up crunk music that is simultaneously accessible and impenetrable. It's definitely not for everyone--one of their EPs is entitled Yes I Smoke Crack-- and I'm sure that my affinity for music like this is prolly an indicator of my own fragile sanity, but hey, this joint rocks.

If you weren't scared away by the song (or that weird fan vid) then click the album covers below. Links are stolen cuz I don't feel like uploading. Don't sue me.

Yes I Smoke Crack EP

Water EP

Fantastic Planet

2009-11-02T19:02:00.004-05:00

To celebrate Music Monday, I figured I'd continue my present audiophile series and blow the dust off another obscure cult-classic. Back in the day when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore but sometimes I sit and wish I was a kid again a "soundtrack" wasn't just some haphazard compilation of songs from a label's artist-roster. Soundtracks were albums that actually featured original music from a movie.

This soundtrack was produced entirely by the composer Alain Goraguer for the French film La Planete Sauvage. It's a perfect meld of 70's funk, hippy psychedelia, and French je ne sais quoi. The movie is a classic in its own right--even more so than the soundtrack--so if you've never seen it, find it. It's 1970's intellectual sci-fi. In other words, drugs were involved. (Don't believe me check out the trailer.) This notwithstanding--"accordingly" mighta made for better word choice than "notwithstanding"--, the soundtrack has inspired countless hip-hop producers. Quasimoto's Madlib-produced "Come On Feet" is probably one of the most notable--and drug-induced--examples. Check that one out after the trailer. Then head back up and click that album cover to download. Disfruta.

I Love Jews

2009-11-02T14:44:00.003-05:00

God chose them for a reason. Hilarity has ensued.

I'm not willing to give a backstory, if you haven't heard about this yet, get to google or hit me on twittaaaaa...

In The Clouds

2009-10-31T19:49:00.003-04:00

Shawn Sky - Laugh At 'Em Freestyle

A new(er) artist out the DMV, Shawn Sky's been doing his thing for a while now in and out the beltway. His next album is due soon and this is the first of 7 freestyles leading up to its release. Support inde-f*ckin-pendent hiphop! Get to clicking and lemme know what yall think.

Viva Brasil

2009-10-31T09:17:00.003-04:00

Click the album cover to download

You'll be happy you clicked the cover. Arthur Verocai's self-titled album is a classic that should be in the library of any person claiming to be an audiophile. And I don't mean "classic" the way niggas just throw that word around nowadays. The album is almost 40 years old--37 to be exact--but it stands the test of time. Consider this my gift for being away for so long. Don't sleep, or else I'll be the one to say I told you so months later when you get it from somebody else tryna get their brazilian music game up before the World Cup.

You're welcome.

Alarm Clock

2009-10-31T08:17:00.005-04:00

Click the album cover to download

Tied for top spot with Feist on my "White Women Who Can Singer-Songwrite For That Ass" list is none other than this curly-haired Ruso-American Jewess. Chick's got range, and her lyrics can go from saucy humor to vulnerable shame after one delicately enjambed word. This album came out over the summer but I'm sure most of you slept on it so wake up and get to clickin'. Word to Larry Fishburne.

For you skeptics, I'll offer one of my personal faves.

Regina Spektor - "Human Of The Year"

Back By Popular Demaaaaand

2009-10-31T06:41:00.004-04:00

Click the album cover to download

Your eyes do not deceive you. It's a new post, and Folarin's debut no less. Considering the fact that my Wale-peonage carried YouHype! SikeNah... through its early years, it's in some ways appropriate. It's the webrip, so digital purists forgive me.

Where are you Greazy?

2009-10-12T15:58:00.009-04:00

We are more likely to fail as craftsmen, I argue, due to our inability to organize obsession, than because of lack of ability.
-Richard Sennet

So obviously, I've been neglecting the blog. There are a number of reasons why, I'll give you just a few:

First and foremost, the main gig, i.e. teaching, has taken its rightful position as top priority. Any and all other things (and people) are accordingly placed on the back burner, fridge, or even the freezer--yeah, that was a corny extended metaphor, so what?

Secondly, there's this place called the real world, and in it, ppl talk with their mouths and not with keyboards. It's a kinda cool place. You get to see the ppl you talk to and have conversations in real time. It can be difficult to live in the real world and the internet. To be honest, I don't fully understand how some of you are capable of doing both. It's a feat I've yet to accomplish.

While in the real world, I've been able to shake hands with the new school of industry movers and shakers, ppl who could quite possibly be the gatekeepers of the next generation. It's personally humbling to be connected to the connected, and to know that I'm a voice that gets heard among the infinite internet chatter. I forever plan to be the outsider's insider and the insider's outsider but it's a tight rope to walk, especially as you begin to meet the artists whose music ur giving out for free.

Lastly, my trusty old desktop, Roberto Miguel de Dell, or "Bobby Michael" as I was sometimes fond of calling him, has officially kicked the bucket, leaving me with only my macbook. While on one hand, that may seem like a boon rather than a loss, the majority of my bootlegging activities were made possible thanks to the limitless nooks and crannies of the Windows operating system. (Ironically, those same nooks and crannies allowed the Russians to hijack my computer and kill it from the inside, but that's another story.) I've since been left having to figure out how to reproduce said feats on a new platform, and, given reasons 1 and 2 above, I haven't had proper time to dedicate to such endeavors.

Accordingly, I've chilled, but from the looks of things, not much has suffered. The internet is still up and running and music seems to still find its way onto your hard drives and ipods one way or another. But still, I know that there are artists out there that still need little guys like me to cosign them so that the big guys can take notice, and no matter how many bloggers throw their hat into the mixtape game, few can match what You Hype! Sike Nah... does. (Had to throw some blogger bravado in there for old times' sake lol)

So with that said, stay tuned. RNLC 7 is in the works, as is a whole new mixtape, tentatively titled "The Grown Up," which might result in a few of yall getting pregnant or impregnating somebody, depending on the type of anatomical plumbing you have. Keep a box of Trojans on deck, cuz I plan on heating things up come winter time.

(This may or may not be the cover... It's an open call to any and all graphic designers...)
And all that's just the tip of the iceberg. Movers are shaking and shakers are moving. You've been warned...

After The Rain

2009-09-07T17:38:00.005-04:00

Click the album cover to download

We've all been patiently awaiting Little Dragon's follow-up to their cult-classic, self-titled (I like hyphens) debut, or at least I and some other random ppl I know have. Irregardless, it's here. Do what it does and get to clickin'. Disfruta.

School's In Session

2009-08-25T00:40:00.002-04:00

Last time I was in nyc, one of my homies had me listen to this. For obvious reasons, first thing I thought about was my students.

No Shirt, No Service. No Homo.

2009-08-25T00:20:00.005-04:00

Click the album cover to download

I'm not mad at Trey Songz at all. He somehow managed to get ppl to notice him again when all signs were pointing to C-list R&B stardom and outlet mall tour dates with the remaining members of Pretty Ricky. (And by "somehow," I really mean he owes Wheelchair Jimmy a cut off whatever he makes off this jawn.) Even though I hate that "I Need A Girl" song, it's catchy, and he still has a couple other jawns I eff with. Plus, he's from this place called Virginia, which I hear breeds pretty awesome individuals. Disfruta.

Sigel Desert Eagle

2009-08-25T00:14:00.006-04:00

Click the album cover to download

Stop acting like you don't know what to do. I'm mad Beans got on the RocaWear skully tho. I guess Jigga always gets his cut, lol. Disfruta.

More Ish I Can't Afford

2009-08-24T23:51:00.004-04:00

Visvim stays killing it. I've been looking for both logans and fbt shamans on ebay for a while now but prices are always ridiculous. (Half a stack for kicks is not recession-conducive.) These new jawns for Fall/Winter '09 are hot fiya tho. Someday, Mr. Garr. Someday...

Two Pair

2009-08-23T23:44:00.004-04:00

Thanks to the recession, I haven't bought a new pair of sneakers all year. I've almost pulled the trigger a couple times , but priorities being what they are, the AMEX stays put. This might change if I ever come across these in person at Ubiq or in Soho tho. Get these jawns now, by the time Spring '10 hits, they will be oh so broken-in and fresh.

Take this as a mini-lesson folks, cuz I'm starting to share again.

Only For You

2009-08-23T11:28:00.004-04:00

Click the album cover to download

I haven't actually listened to this yet, but I trust that it's at least halfway decent based on dude's track record (pun intended). Album's in stores sometime this week I think, and if you likey-likey, you should buy it. I won't cuz I'm broke, but you should. Get to clickin' and disfruta.

New Wave

2009-08-23T10:58:00.005-04:00

Click the album cover to download

I've literally been meaning to post this album for about 2 years, so I'm glad I finally got to it today. The group and album's name are the same. They're French, but don't worry, the songs are all in English. If you listen to more than just hip-hop, then you'll recognize that these are all covers of some classic songs by some cult-classic bands: Joy Division, Depeche Mode, The Cure--just to name a few. But rather than just do simple covers, they're reinterpreted with some brazilian bossa nova flair. So songs like "Love Will Tear Us Apart" lose some of the languidness of the original and sound almost happy, and definitely sexy. You'll dig it, or your money back. Get to clickin'. Disfruta.

Coldest Nigga Of All Time

2009-08-18T15:59:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite tracks off Dom's last mixtape Futurestreets/Lovesounds. I plan on dropping a toilet full of old albums and mixtapes, but then again, I may never get to it. In the meantime between time, click play and disfruta.

Mr. Piano Man

2009-08-12T09:51:00.003-04:00

Julian Velard will be performing tonight at Tin Angel. Tix are $12. Julian is from the States but spends most of his time in the UK and the rest of the European continent touring and such. I caught dude a couple years ago at the Tin Angel and it was a good show. I posted some music of his a long time ago, but blogger promptly deleted the post for said reason. His song "A Dream" was featured on RNLC6 though. He's like a hybrid of Billy Joel and Tom Waits, with some of the wit of Jason Mraz thrown in for good measure. If you got nothing to do this humpday and ur in Philly, it'll be a good show. And if you're hungry, you can have a pre-concert dinner downstairs at Serrano (which is one of my favorite restaurants in Philly), which entitles you to a reserved table upstairs at the concert. Nice.

Get tix here or at the door @ 20 South 2nd St. in Old City.

Are you in the mood for slow jams? Cuz I am!

2009-08-11T18:03:00.005-04:00

Everybody remembers KP & Envyi's classic club track "Shorty Swing My Way." Fewer remember the sexied-up, slowed-down remix though. Whereas Envyi held it down in the background of the original version, they actually let that white girl tear it up here. This was my JAM back in the day. I've been meaning to put this on a mixtape (it'll prolly make it on one eventually), but i'm presently in the mood to give, so do as usual: disfruta.

KP & Envyi - "Shorty Swing My Way" (Remix) |Aqui|

Tweeting with a baby coming out of you is not OK.

2009-08-11T14:41:00.003-04:00

I jus read that this woman tweeted during her entire labor. Are you serious? I wish my babymama would tweet during childbirth. I'd break that phone quick as a mug. Woman we gotta concentrate and get the baby out! This is no time for phones!

Tell em Dr. Kuni:

Click Yo Heels

2009-08-10T01:35:00.002-04:00

Where the doors are moaning all day long,
Where the stairs are leaning dusk 'till dawn,

Where the windows are breathing in the light,
Where the rooms are a collection of our lives,

This is a place where I don't feel alone
This is a place that I call my home...

Police Brutality? You Tell Me...

2009-08-09T00:18:00.003-04:00

The story goes as so: an elderly black woman was in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart in Ohio, waving a knife and threatening to stab people. She had reportedly slapped a kid already or something like that, so there was a crowd of ppl gathering around this old senile black lady. For obvious reasons, the police were called. Now watch:

Did that officer use excessive force? Well, considering the fact that the poor old lady was left leaking blood out the back of her skull--literally--after RoboCop bodyslammed her to the pavement, I'd say "*@#$ yes." I mean, some asian woman with her child walked right past this crazy lady and didn't as much as flinch, but Officer Schwarzenegger felt the need to return the dragon and knock this poor lady's wig clean off her head? She walked with a cane, dog. It woulda took her minutes just to thrust the knife at somebody, much less pierce skin. The unofficial slogan of youtube is "They shoulda never gave you niggas webcams," but in this case, I'm glad this was caught on tape. The sad thing is, though, that there are plenty of people who will side with the police on this one, and be sincere about it.

*Sigh* before we end this on a sad note, I'd be remiss if I did not also point out the humor of the video as well. The negroes behind the camera are hilarious. Candid nigga moments at their best. "This is goin' on the news!" (Sure enough, the next day, it did.)

Guess Obama can't call this "stupid" either, huh? Something's brewing folks...

Why Shouldn't I Be Out?

2009-08-07T22:32:00.004-04:00

You had to know this was gettin posted--with autoplay love. It's obligatory. Chew lead--or just click pause (no homo,lol)--if you no like, but this is the song of the summer.

I wish I was a lil bit taller yall... I wish I was a baller...

2009-08-07T18:17:00.006-04:00

These niggas done took the game to a whole nutha level. Hilarity has ensued.

Welcome To My Life

2009-08-02T21:02:00.004-04:00

Well played. I prefer the gold databank myself tho. Lol.

Philly Gets Niggas

2009-08-01T22:05:00.002-04:00

Drake comes to Philly.*
Drake busts his @$$.
Drake gets carried off the stage.

Something about this happening in Philly (of all places), seems strangely appropriate.

*Wayne, venturing as close to Philly as he'd dare (Susquehanna Center in Camden). Is he really scared of Gillie? lol...

Classroom Management 101

2009-07-27T19:29:00.001-04:00

This is how us good teachers keep our kids in line.

Back 2 Work

2009-07-27T05:13:00.002-04:00

Black People? Let's Talk.

2009-07-26T00:54:00.003-04:00

What's going on? You'd never know our president was black...

"...Bunny Colvin would not approve."

Laughing-to-keep-from-crying quotables abound, but still, SMH. We got a long way to go folks. And at a school? One named after Harriet Tubman, no less...

That's deep.

Humble Pie

2009-07-26T00:23:00.002-04:00

(We're on obvious youtube mode over here right now.)

My previous hate of The Cool Kids notwithstanding, this song GOES. In my younger days, a song like this'd be liable to get a lil somethin started if the circumstances called for it nahmean?!

Ha! Sike nah... But for real, I digs this.

Reason #2,401 Why I Like White People

2009-07-24T09:56:00.001-04:00

That just happened. Yup. It did.

Best Interview Ever

2009-07-19T16:54:00.000-04:00

Hilarious.

dope

2009-07-16T22:17:00.002-04:00

I support this.

I'm from Virginia...

2009-07-16T11:31:00.002-04:00

A lil unprovoked homestate pride for ya. Lord Willin' was one of the greatest rap albums ever. And this track? Classic.

There are NO niggas in Portland

2009-07-15T16:17:00.003-04:00

Cuz if there were, this woulda been veeeeerrrry *ahem* different.

Your Daily Dose of Soul

2009-07-15T15:53:00.002-04:00

Kick your feet back, close your eyes, and enjoy--that is, after you click play.

You Know What Time It Is

2009-07-14T22:29:00.003-04:00

Is that not the dopest wall clock ever?

Shoes attract shoes

2009-07-14T15:10:00.003-04:00

This dude's bout to blow.

Necklace Over My Shades? Yeah, She Did That.

2009-07-13T13:03:00.005-04:00

Ace Hood - "Champion" ft. Jazmine Sullivan & Rick Ross

I intentionally slept on Ace Hood's album Ruthless. (I mean, it's Ace Hood after all.) This song has forced me to go back and actually download it though. First, Ace actually raps well over this track, and Ricky does what he does (which is rap well as well--Weezy would been a better feature though). But you KNOW Jazmine murders it dead. That hook is like sanctified hood gospel. And you know I ain't complaining about Ms. Sullivan looking all sexythick in the video neither. Get it how you live baby.

Postscript: "You can't tell me nothing," is perhaps the most beautiful use of the double negative in the English language. No hyperbole. I love ebonics.

The Morning After Meets The Night Of...

2009-07-12T17:17:00.002-04:00

You think I'm posting this cuz of the eye candy don't you? Nah son, they're just added bonuses. This track is a banger. Methinks I need to find the instrumental...

The Show Must Go On

2009-07-11T21:35:00.005-04:00

You Hype! Sike Nah... fave Little Dragon will be performing in Philly on Tuesday, July 21 at The Fire. Tix are only $7 and are sold at the door the day of the show. I missed their last show in the city of motherless thugs cuz I was on my schoolyear grind, but I definitely won't miss this one. And if you don't know Little Dragon, write your name on your eyeball with a sharp piece of glass, or get this and get familiar.

Also, everybody's favorite underdog, Teedra Moses, will be performing in DC on July 25 as part of the Triple Star Sound Stage. I'll be doing my best to get down there for that. Little Dragon has a DC date as well, but you can't expect me to do everything for yall. Bing that jawn on google or google that jawn on bing.

Word to Griffins on Mountaintops

2009-07-10T17:16:00.002-04:00

Dave jus dropped a slew of these in my inbox. The Paxtons spent their 4th of July weekend back at home in their beloved Chi-City. Betwixt the barbeques and Suzie-Q's, they got a few hometown heads to share why they support the Paxtons. First up is one of my personal faves, Chitown rapper Skech 185.

Honestly, if I were you, I would take 3 minutes and watch this video, not for The Paxtons shoutout (no shots of course), but just to listen to when they let Skech loose. At the 1:30 mark, Skech lets you know that NO OTHER RAPPER can eff with him. I'll bet my mama on that one, and I'm a Cancer, which means I LOVES my mama.

Still skeptical? Stop reading and click play. First listen to why he supports Chris and Dave (and why you should) then put a pillow somewhere beneath your chin, because your jaw will definitely drop to the floor after listening to these bars. I'm done.

Distance Has No Way of Making Love Understandable

2009-07-09T15:31:00.003-04:00

You should know by now that I'm a fan of The Bad Plus, especially their last release with Wendy Lewis, For All I Care. (<-Click that to get that.) It is easily one of the best releases of the past twelve months. It combines great piano playing with masterful drumming and bass-work. Add in Wendy's dark, sultry voice and the music becomes undeniable. Not to mention that it's an album of covers, which is my most basic musical affinity. (See Cibelle's cover of Tom Waits' "Green Grass," Marc Broussard's "S.O.S.," etc.) Bonus points if it's a live cover. To those who have ever suggested that I do music professionally--after I first gave you the mean side-eye--I would say that if I did ever make music, I'd prolly only do covers.

Cuz at the end of the day, what makes a good song worth remaking is the songwriting. Lyrics that wrap themselves around each note, rhythms that seem to be lyrics themselves; when it's on, it's on. What's great about The Bad Plus is that they know how to maintain the integrity of the original song while still finding a way to make it different and new.

"Comfortably Numb" is an excellent example of that fact. Taking a Pink Floyd song that is already disturbing enough by itself (the video below will attest to that fact), the trio-turned-quartet find a way to make it as dark and ominous as possible sans actual wrist-slitting. Listening to the cover version, you'd think they recorded it in complete darkness, with maybe a lava lamp somewhere in the studio so nobody ran into each other during the most frenetic sequences.

If you haven't gotten For All I Care yet, you might as well pour piss in your hair. (Did that gross you out? I hope so; that's what I was going for.) I can't guarantee that you'll dig every single last track--my tastes do have a larger range than most--but if you listen to it and can't find at least a few tracks that make you say "UHH!!" you might as well stop visiting this blog because I probably wouldn't like you in real life. No bull.

WORK Release Recap

2009-07-08T09:43:00.007-04:00

Thanks to everybody who came through Ubiq last night for The Paxtons x Anml Hse party. Johnny put up a couple pics from the night. It was definitely a good time.

The Paxtons x ANML HSE x Ubiq = FREE PARTY

2009-07-05T20:10:00.004-04:00

This Tuesday, The Paxtons will be in Philly along with the world-famous ANML HSE crew at Ubiq. It's a FREE party with FREE liquor, FREE music, FREE dancing, FREE fun, FREE twerkage, a FREE performance, and some FREE giveaways. We will also be dropping an AnmlHse collaboration tee for sale that day during the event (more info on that later). All I can say is, if you want a tee and you're not in Philly, get at me. Especially all you Wash U folks, the tees are certified vicious. (And you know I only rock the finest of cotton tees.)

And oh, I almost forgot. It's all FREE!!

Tuesday, July 7.
7-10pm
Ubiq Walnut (1509 Walnut St., Center City, Phila)

They'll also be performing at Sneakerpimps Philly on Thursday. More on that later.

Wee Small Hours

2009-07-05T08:14:00.005-04:00

Click the album cover to download

Bad dreams suck. Hope everybody enjoyed your Independence Day festivities. I managed to hit the beach long enough for minimal sun burnage and got back to Philly in time for a 4th of July party with this guy at what amounts to an inner-city mansion. From the roof deck I watched fireworks in Camden, Penn's Landing, Northern Liberties, and, of course, the Art Museum simultaneously. It was nice. What sucks is when I finally got to sleep, your boy had the goonies show up in his dreams. (Not really, but I had some disturbing dreams.) Needless to say, I woke up a lil shooken. To calm my nerves, I had to holler at my boy Chet.

Chet Baker was a legendary jazz trumpeter. He was also a vocalist in his own right and this album is nothing short of classic. I'd actually planned on posting this jawn a while back, but never got around to it. I guarantee you'll enjoy it or your money back. Disfruta.

Nappy Headed Hoes vs The Booby Queens

2009-07-02T10:52:00.001-04:00

Drake - Best I Ever Had

This video is the winner for best opening ever. I can pretty much guarantee that this will be MTV Jams Jam of the Week next week. Jay's "D.O.A." is the current week's Jam. Coincidence? I don't believe in them.

Drake definitely deserves props for this one. The video is cooteriffic. I just hope somebody sent Don Imus his check for inspiring the treatment. And the cut-ins are hilarious. "When they put that D on you, take that D!" Double entendres FTW.

Falsetto

2009-07-01T21:46:00.004-04:00

Click the album cover to download

I'm not a Maxwell fan at all, but some of yall are. I don't care what kinda Jenny Jones makeover they gave this nigga, his music always annoyed me. That includes his latest single. I honestly don't know the name of it, but I know it has "wings" in it and the video has hoes floating in the air for no reason. (I'm sure there is some kinda reason, but since I'm not a fan, I'm hating.) Anyways, this one's for yall. Disfruta.

You Must Be Stevie

2009-07-01T20:55:00.006-04:00

Click the album cover to download

I was definitely pleasantly surprised by Jeremih's debut. Even though "Birthday Sex" was and is an instant classic, I was skeptical that the Morgan Park-grad could deliver an entire album of catchy sing along songs that didn't come off as corny. Pie on my face. This jawn is decent as a mug, and the songwriting is actually pretty good. Jeremih's debut is basically a bedroom party waiting to happen. Maybe it's something about the way the wind hits Lake Michigan but this dude might be able to carry Kellz's banner for the young folks (no pedo). The mood and melodies are updated takes on what made Kellz famous (minus the child porn, of course.) And I can't hate on someone who sings "The perfect equation, like mx+b=y, we are probably apart." Some of you might can hate, but me? I can't. That's slope-intercept form, nigga.

Enough of me, get to clicking. Disfruta.

All In A Good Day

2009-07-01T01:05:00.002-04:00

Click the album cover to download

You knew this day was coming. So yes, your favorite blogger's favorite blogger has been on a bit of a hiatus as of late. May and June (and most of April too) were busy as uckfay, and let's be real, blogging doesn't pay the bills, WORK does.

Which brings us to today's post. Longtime readers know that I've been hitting you with exclusives from The Paxtons for a good minute since pre-Members Only. You should also know that your boys pulled Atmos, Ubiq, and The Smoking Section along for the ride, along with other Paxton faithful (what up Khal!) who have supported Chris and Dave throughout this entire process.

Today, you finally get to listen to what all the fuss is about. The digital version is missing 2 tracks. It was intentional though. To get the two missing tracks, you have to go here. Also this free download is for a limited time only. Feel free to support good independent hip-hop by getting at that iTunes and downloading it. If you're like me, you prolly don't pay for music, but real talk, even I coughed up some money when Janelle Monae first started selling "Violet Stars, Happy Hunting" on her Myspace page purely because I wanted to help an independent artist. Support good music!

Now that you have the whole thing, I'ma put my quarter-dollar in and give you the run-down on three of my faves. Production-wise, this jawn is not to be effed with. For anyone who thought The Paxtons music was a lil too saccharine for their liking, "Theme Music" is so raw there might be traces of E. coli in your earhole after listening to it. Word to Colorado beef. "Atlas" is my hands-down favorite track off the whole album, and it took a lot for me to not leak it to yall earlier. Tagging it with "Perspicacity" is by no means an accident (yeah, these niggas got vocabularies).

Last, but definitely not least, is this friggin "Still Waiting." First, let me remind you that The Paxtons produced the ENTIRE album. Every track you hear, they made. Chris and Dave were sitting on the instrumental to "Still Waiting" for a minute. In fact, some of you might remember that I streamed the instrumental on the blog over a year ago after Dave slid it to me. I was promptly hit up with emails and comments about what that beat was and who made it, but had to keep it close for the niggas Paxton. To all of our benefit, these dudes rip this track to pieces rhapsodizing about their beloved hometown of Chicago, Illinois. As Oscar Wao explains, there's no place like home, and after a long day of WORK, that's prolly the first place we all wanna be. Scroll up and get to clicking. It's yours now. Disfruta.

Rush Hour

2009-06-30T18:21:00.003-04:00

I been slacking in a lotta ways, but definitely on my boys The Paxtons. What's good though, is that they know better than to count on me for ish lol. With a team at WORK and cosignatures aplenty, the album is looking for homes on hard drives all over the 7 continents. WORK drops officially at The Smoking Section sometime today. I'll be giving it to yall later tonight or tomorrow (press pause productions). In the mean between time, follow Chris and Dave as they do what they do.

Rest In Peace

2009-06-26T15:01:00.000-04:00

Like A Boss

2009-06-22T14:07:00.001-04:00

Today marks a quarter-century on Planet Earth. It's kinda like a big deal.