Welcome To Hartbreak

Get to know Fred Hart... this guy might be a Kanye-stan, but at least he puts it to better use than some of the psychopaths that comment on Ye's blog. At least if 808's doesn't sell he can rest assured that there's a legitamate market for a rubber mold of his johnson. Pause. But back to the lecture at hand... Mr. Hart created a series of covers for each track from 808's as a tribute of sorts.


























By the way... I've figured out why I dig this cd so much despite the icebox where my heart used to be. It's like Tears for Fears greatest hits on steroids and set in 2008! And a majorly dig Tears for Fears. Pause. Peep and you'll understand.

Names change, but the game remains the same

WTHN Philadelphia is now Alife Rivington Club Philly. One of my peeps in the "industry" hipped me to this back when I had money to spend (aka last summer). He also told me that they were planning on moving up the block to a vacant space with a killer facade. My thoughts at the time were:

• how?
• when?
• really?

I haven't been over there yet, but word is it's still at the same location. This is a good look because it affords Philly with a viable alternative to the streetwear superstore that is Ubiq Walnut. When Ubiq closed temporarily for renovations, it was a boon to all the other smaller shops in Philly like Deep Sleep, Pedestrian, and WTHN, along with other pure skate shops like Exit and Nocturnal. It was also crucial to their development, as most of them opened up around the time Ubiq was preparing to shut down. The newer stores carried more real heat than Ubiq did, which at the time was tryna pass off Franco Shade gear as though it were the hottest thing on the streets. :|

Meanwhile, the smaller shops were carrying all the stuff ppl really wanted--and they profited accordingly. Wanted the hottest in Japanese denim or some of that stuff that even streetkids think is weird? Holler at Phil over at Deep Sleep. Some fresh tees? Pedestrian on South St had 'em on hold for you. And those new Nike's? By the time they were up on Mason's WTHN blog, there were prolly only 3 sizes left. When The Hundreds released their Adam Bomb 59/50's at 5 stores nationwide, WTHN was one of them.

But once Ubiq reopened, the game changed. And how could it not? They already had a brand, a prime location in Philadelphia's downtown shopping district, and a layout that was purely bananas. Once they started signing on Vans and then Stussy to occupy the second floor of their literal mansion, it was a wrap for the small guy. I know for a fact that every small shop took a hit when Ubiq Walnut reopened, and continued to as Ubiq first grabbed esoteric brands like Perks and Mini and Supreme, and later got all the streetwear staples like Crooks, The Hundreds, Mishka, 10Deep, et al. Not to mention they revamped their sneaker accounts as well.

Personally, I realized it when I noticed that I stopped going down to 2nd St. to shop like I used to on the weekends. Along with having connects at Ubiq already, they pretty much carried what I wanted if I wanted it, and the old shops were obviously not getting the exclusives they had been while Ubiq was closed.

The only exception was that Deep Sleep still had some great denim and some good left-of-left-of-center brands, and WTHN was the only place to cop ALIFE stuff due to his relationship with their ppl. For that reason, it wasn't much of a surprise when I heard this last summer, but I still felt some type of way about losing a small, young Philadelphia institution to a quasi-conglomerate. It's the cappuccino-crowd's equivalent to walking into you favorite local coffee shop to find out it's now a Starbucks. (Well, not entirely, but still, you get my drift.)

I'm gonna try and get down there this weekend. Hopefully the change will help Mason get some more goods to the level that the Alife store in NYC has.

I say this like I actually have money to buy any of it, which I don't, but hey, it's the season of giving. Any of you folks interested in providing apparel or footwear for a hardworking young man such as myself, you know how to contact me.

Royalty Checks for KP & Envyi

Remember this dude? One XXL Cover and a Soulja Boy Beef via Youtube later, Dr. Robotnik himself is officialy on autopilot. Peep the Brooklyn Girls vid (a joint we put you onto an entire calendar ago...) and keep your eyes peeled for one of my favorite professional busdowns, Lacey Duvalle at the magazine rack at the end

Charles Hamilton - New Music - More Music Videos

It really is a circus

T-Pain - Chop N Skrewed (Remix)

Got this from T-Pain's ppl today. Have no idea how new or old it is. I do know, however, that it features everybody except your mother--well, on second thought, your mom may be on here if she's from Houston. It's got Bun B, C-Note, Big Pokey, ESG, Lil Keke, Trae & Z-Ro all on it. (H-Town stand up.) I've declined from posting single mp3's lately cuz blogger's been deleting them like incriminating text messages, so if it's not here for long, you know why.

Thank God for Half-Days

I'm sure you noticed the lack of updates from yours truly. The classroom hustle is killing me right now. Thankfully, the other half has come through in the clutch to fulfill the cravings of you internet fiends.

The Paxtons are also on the grizzy like a recording contract depends on it... mostly cuz it does. Members Only is still burning up the internets, the Uptown Roamers party was a stunning success, and the Windy City Brethren have been parked in the DMV working on their next mixtape, to be released on the most important day in Black American History, 1.20.09, aka Barack Hussein Obama's Innauguration Day. They just touched North Philly at the Shoeseum over by Temple and faced down the toughest crowd possible: Philadelphia sneakerheads. As we did for the last mixtape, I'm dropping off a single that's been making its way around the internets for a couple weeks. Disfruta, dingbats.

The Paxtons - Free My Mind '09

Guns & Butter

The Paxtons linked up with DC legend, Judah, on the new track Japanese Denim! Featured on the new DJ Mick Boogie X Hypebeast X Hypetrak-helmed HYPE CLUB Mixtape. Yeah, this hypebeast. Your boys are on the comeup.

The Paxtons - Japanese Denim (produced by JUDAH)

^ Click the album cover to download the whole mixtape. ^

Worst Shoe Ever

Ok, so everyone knows that the Starbury Shoe & Head Tattoo are actually tied for the worst anything of all time, but the Kevin Durant is a close second... also referred to as "dumpster juice" or basura in several Spanish-speaking countries.

All We Got Is Sports & Entertainment

Apparently Joey B. and David Axelrod were in fulleffectmode at the United Center last night watching Barack's Bulls beat the sleeves off the Knicks. Too bad Rowdy Roddy Blagojevich had to sit this one out...


During that same game... this homolarious (word to Cara the OG-RMB) pic was taken.


I miss my city.

I Heart Niggas

For those of y'all that follow "the league" (as I affectionately refer to the NBA), you should be familiar with the LA Clippers newest 20/10 scoring machine with little to no defensive awareness, a slovenly eating habits and chronic shiftlessness... Zach Randolph. My east coast heads should know him from his last 10 months in Knickerbocker Blue and Orange. Regardless, this clip is from his days as Portland Trailblazer... this past February... yep 3 teams in less than one calendar... sigh.


If you missed any of the nigrosity, I took notes.

0:24 that big dumbass large palm holding a bible for which he explains "God blessed me to have this nice house"
2:01 the bassinet and rocking chair in the corner of his bedroom (in lieu of a baby room) with nothing but a pair of gucci print shoes for which he explains "she gotta be ready for when she get here, gucci"
2:42 there's nothing wrong with jail pics... lord knows I got plenty incarcerated fam but the blownup jostens backdrop is hilarious
2:45 the "free larry hoover" poster to compliment...
2:51 ... that huge six point star in the center of that blue table. this nigga is gd folks til the world blow up and wants all of america to know it
2:58 back to the "free larry hoover" poster over a pic of randolph and mandela who he describes as a "real powerful man"
3:42 mike vick's dogs

For cooning yourself on MTV, Randolph rightfully deserved this week's poster courtesy of Superman

Our Word Is Bond

See, we really waited a whole 24 hours before hitting you with that disfruta special! Real talk tho, after Punch Drunk Love, Gladiator and Announcement there's not much to really gush over. Not that men should really gush, but dammit Be and Finding Forever were dope albums! Normally, Rashid's 40 minute ventures are instant repeating playlist material but honestly, the 38 minutes of space-age thundercat rap on UMC leave a lot to be desired.


Download

This is Such a Dope Idea , We Wont Even Leak It Til Tomorrow...

Today only, DTLR's around the country are carrying Common's Universal Mind Control for .99. Way to inflate them numbers with a lil integrity Rashid. Now, go cop that jawn!

Risk v. Reward

So I'm not exactly back to championship form but I'm getting there. As usual I missed my fantasy draft and got fresh-squeezed glass of dumpster juice for a team, but I try not to let that stop me. Week 6's loss dropped me from 3rd to 5th, but being that I'm only 2.5 games out of first I can't trip.

I'm betting all the church's money on Monta Ellis... yep, this bamma. He became a nightly 20/10 threat last season and seeing as how we're 20 games into the season, what better time to sacrifice a scoreless spot on my rotation to lock him down before he returns in January and the scavengers lose it. Remember this is a grown man's game!

In the meantime between time, I'll have to rough it with this motley crew...


PS Fantasy Basketball is that dill pickle.

Jon-B is Probably Beating His Black Girlfriend Right Now...

and Colin Munroe's Unsung Hero mixtape is the soundtrack. Don't get it twisted, he probably does lines to Robin Thicke's Something Else first.


Colin Munroe is the Unsung Hero (Mixtape)

These Streets

At YH!SN... we do not directly promote the creep, but as resident real ass niggas that happen to blog we refuse to block anybody's layup. As with most things, if you see fit to travel down that path... educate yourself first!


The COMPLEX Guide To Cheating

Shamelessness is a Virtue

From the Play Cloths event @ C'monwealth DC...

21

"Every Given Sunday" - Raheem DeVaughn ft. Almost every DC music personality except Tabi Bonney

Was listening to the radio when EZ Street premiered this tribute to the late Sean Taylor Thanksgiving weekend back in DC. Definitely deserved. RIP.

This Aint A Shoe Song

Back in October, Wale shot the vid for Nike Boots during HU Homecoming Weekend in DC. Though we no longer document this nigga's every move as the seven internets are doing a bang up job of that, we stay in the know. Below are some pics I took at the video shoot at Mirrors nightclub... sorry no flicks of Mr. Folarin tho.






Chris Robinson's clip came out totally different than I expected (in a good way...) but its pretty dope nonetheless. Goes to show you how ill of a director he is. Enjoy.


Official Wale "Nike Boots" video (Directed by Chris Robinson) from Elitaste on Vimeo.

Mixtape Titles for Dummies

No treatment intended by that tagline but yo... if I had no idea that the Clipse' new album is called Til the Casket Drops, I do now. Nomenclature aside, I had the chance to hear this joint live last night at the Play Cloths launch party and it does not dissapoint.


Hopefully this Columbia budget can do what Jive couldnt 'cuz Lord knows these brothers deserve the shine.


Clipse - Road to Til' the Casket Drops

On My Block

I've decided that I'm gonna start chain smoking and drinking hot sauce and hennessy until my voice is as tough as 'Face. Dont even for a moment think about faking on this joint if you heard the track bearing the same name. You know the routine.

Scarface - Emeritus

Book It!

Language is the universal whore that I must make into a virgin.
-Karl Kraus

Those of you who know me personally know that I majored in English Lit in college, but I hate to read. It's not so much that I hate reading, but it usually takes a lotta work to get me to sit down and read anything longer than 3 stanzas of poetry or 5 paragraphs of prose. Why? Not sure, but I suspect it's my latent ADHD from childhood.

Irony notwithstanding, I majored in English Lit more for my love of hip hop than my love of books. I mean books are cool. They have pages and, when you're lucky, pictures, but it was Jay-Z's Blueprint, Mos Def's Black on Both Sides, Canibus's freestyle that began "I speak a frequency dogs would have trouble hearing..." that made me fall in love with language. Through that door, I entered the study of literary devices and figurative language. When I fell in love with the work of Shakespeare, it was because he had a lyrical dexterity and wit that reminded me of Brooklyn's finest, and the sensitivity of their Queensbridge neighbor.

My course of undergraduate study resulted in the purchasing of a grip of great literature, most of which I've never read. But 99% of the time, when I decided to read a book so I could get a paper done, I always enjoyed it. Iris Murdoch's A Severed Head, Gwendolyn Brooks' Maud Martha, Baldwin's Giovanni's Room, shoot, even Henry James' The Europeans. As labored a task it was to finish most the books I had to read, I was always happy that I read them once I'd finished.

There was a time when I really liked books though: 5th grade. Or more accurately, 3rd to 6th grade, but I think it peaked in 5th. This was mostly due to my affinity for science fiction and the fact that Bruce Coville seemed to have a limitless supply of such books. From Space Brat, I eventually graduated to the more complex Madeleine L'Engle and her A Wrinkle in Time series of novels, occasionally dabbling into the closely related genre of pseudo-medieval fantasy novels popularized by J.R.R. Tolkein. I was never a big Tolkein kid, but Lloyd Alexander's Newberry Medal-winning The High King is a book that I still have to this day. I think I stole it from the library in fifth grade.

All this to say, I haven't read for pure pleasure since the days when I only had hair on my scalp. Since then, I've gained a permanent 5 o'clock shadow and my attention span makes it hard to finish most books I try to read, even if I like them. I started reading Toni Morrison's Bluest Eye a year ago to make up for the fact that I never even opened it in my Black Lit class back in '04.

Still haven't finished it.

So when I decided, on a whim, to pick up Junot Diaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao one day in October, I honestly figured it'd be another ordeal similar to my purchase of Carl Phillips' Riding Westward, a book begun, but never finished. (Yeah, didn't finish that jawn either.) I caught wind of Diaz's book pretty late, during an appearance on the Colbert Report back in June. I learned the following: dude is Dominican, his book won the friggin Pulitzer, and the story's protagonist is a Dominican dork that defies all stereotypes of what it means to be Dominican.

To be fair, that doesn't tell you much about the book (I wasn't gonna give you many details regardless), but I'll say this: I couldn't put this book down. (And any book that generously uses "nigger" colloquially and yet gets the Pulitzer is a winner in my book anyway.) It's a story that is amazing in its breadth and depth, and even more impressive in its method of narration. I have never read a book like it, and I hope I never do. It's easily one of the greatest personal reads since I read Giovanni's Room in college, and prolly one of the most enjoyable. It has an honest universal appeal. And the way Diaz describes some of the Dominican women makes me wanna pack my ish and move down to the DR inmediatamente.

Like all good books, it's a tragedy, one that is immediately obvious given the title, but the joy of course is in the doing, so I recommend you holler at a Borders or whatever the other bookstores are called and pick this up.

Finally, a cinematic adaptation (read: a movie) is in the works now. The rights were bought by the same producer who did No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood, which is to say, I'm looking forward to 2010.

And ya say Chi City

Too many quotables. Watch and enjoy.

Tell Everybody That You Know

Interview | Freestyle

I'm hella late for this, but The Paxtons have been grinding as of late. Of course, there was the party at Casa Frela in Harlem back on the 14th, but these niggas have been on a serious hustle since the release of the monster mixtape, Members Only. They got a chance to holler at Howard University radio station and even blessed them with some styles for free last month at Homecoming. In case you missed it, or in case you did catch it and wanted that good mp3, I guess that makes me a genie...

Still got big ears tho

This song has so many glaring problems. It's the kinda song that nobody likes except your girlfriend, and you kinda wonder if she's serious or just tryna get u back for that one time u farted on her leg. The video is even weirder, as it seems to make you watch with the hopes that Mya might do something a tad bit on the "My Love Is Like..." tip. She doesn't. Some dude dry humps for a combined 2.173 seconds, and she wears this corset that looks like an electric wire fence made out of silverware, but that's about it. Don't watch it and say you did.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I try to hold out on Holiday posts till Black Friday, so yes, Jeezy's "Black President" will be in full rotation till then, but if you're already in the mood for Christmas, check out my boo Janelle Monae in these new Gap ads:


"Winter Wonderland"


"Jingle Bells"

There are more, including one with her, Trey Songz, and Flo-rida, but you can get those yourselves.

All I Need is a Corner

Young Chris - Freestyle

Now that's a real Obama...

A piece of a piece off thedailybeast.

I recently interviewed Jimmy [Jones] about the play while sitting on the lip of the stage, and toward the end of our talk, I asked him how he felt about Obama’s victory. Since Election Day, every conversation I have eventually turns to Barack Obama and our emotional reactions to this American epiphany. Jim confessed that the election inspired him to drop the word “nigga” from his vocabulary—where it was a nearly ubiquitous presence—and replace it with “Obama.” He gave me a few examples: “What up, my Obama?” “Yo, did you see them Obamas last night?” “Now that’s a real Obama.”


I was blown away. Black men have used nigga for more than three decades as a way of expressing a certain gallows humor. It is a way of saying, “Hey, if America thinks we’re the national boogie monsters, then fine, we are. Boo!” It stems from a peculiarly black sense of the macabre.

Yeah.

This guy too.

This dropped last wknd but got lost in the sauce of the wknd long celebration in NYC. In other words, you should have this by now, but if you don't, it's right behind that album cover.

Mr. West is in the building

Yeah, this too. Click that album cover.

You bring the popcorn

Luda's latest. Click the album cover to download.

I'm sittin in the crib, dreamin'

Featuring arguably the best rap conversation ever. To think about the potentially massive load of classic footage like this sitting around in DJs cribs...

Recovering from the wknd that was

Taking it to the Suburbs

Paramore - That's What You Get

I like this song. And in case u didn't notice, blogger took down the Jay-Z "History" post. I'm seriously considering making that move to wordpress...

Rip and Run

Kanye West - Anyway ft. Kid Cudi [Radio Rip]

Non-CDQ rips are the law of the land right now. Enjoy till blogger sends another takedown notice.

Ringmaster

I was waiting for the group rip, but i really don't care enough to keep waiting. Click the album to download and disfrutar. The link is borrowed so some of the less bootleg-savvy may notice there a few hoops to jump through before you can actually download, but when your album's theme has something to do with the circus, I guess it's kinda appropriate.

Edit: Spoke too soon. Group rip's up. Click the album cover.

Put a [Link] On It

Not much of a point in waiting for the group rip. It's the webrip and the bitrate is pretty decent so disfruta. Click the album cover to download.

Edit: Deluxe Edition group rip is up now. Disfruta.

Happy Birthday Grandma

Since 1942, my grandmother has celebrated November 14 as her born day. This year, The Paxtons are throwing a party in Harlem, NYC on my granny's bday, November 14 (which is the Friday after tomorrow). She's not invited, but you are. Here are the reasons you wanna be in attendance:

• It's at Casa Frela, home to Beyonce's "If I Were A Boy" video
• Open bar all night
• Free giveaways.
• It's hosted by yours truly and DJ Jerome Baker III (sup to the Commonwealth DC collective).
• It will be ignorant ignant--ridiculously so.
• And oh, open bar all night
• President-elect Obama wants you there.
  
• No need to pregame, cuz u can forego the $5 donation if you bring liquor or any other substance to "keep the party going"

Since I'll be on the mic, I can guarantee that Jeezy's "Black President" will be played multiple times, if not consecutively, cuz it gets me hype. (You can CC: Allah on that one.) This invite goes out to all of yall, whether yall know us personally or not, cuz it's gonna be a lotta heads in this jawn. If ur in NYC be there. If ur in Philly or the DMV, hop on that young Chinatown to NYC.  A nigga like me might even take the day off from work. It's a celebration!

Best Political Team

...this all follows back to a convo I was having with my brother-in-blog this weekend in DC, but I'll fill you in. CNN has the baddest women on television!!! SERIOUSLY. Furthermore all DC anchors are vicious too. Ironically, at least half of CNN's current rank and file spent some time on DMV television sets. Now of course there's a logical explantion for that, having nothing to do with their Atlanta address. The creme always rises, which typically includes tv dimes or average chicks who's political knowledge and general awareness of current affairs is s**tting on the nation (as we say in the Chi). After you kill the game in the Nation's Capital, where else do you go!? Either way, here's my picks for The Best Political Team on Television.

THE STARTING 5

Soledad O' Brian - PG
What more reason do you need? She's a vet in the game, killed the ratings with Blacks in America, and a People Magazine-certified sexy


Veronica De La Cruz - SG
Damn.


Amy Holmes - SF
As versatile as it gets... and just plain BAD.


Betty Nguyen - PF
Experience Wins Championships.


Sara Sidner - C
Dont hate on the big girl... PFG's run the low post

THE BENCH


Kiran Chetry - 6th Man
First off the bench... EARLY!


Abbie Boudreau - The Long-Range Threat
Doesn't she just look like a vicious spot-up shooter?


Alina Cho - The Import
Yao Ming anyone?


Fredricka Whitfield - The Veteran
Every good team needs veteran leadership and she's definitely been around the block a few times.


Naauma Delaney - The Rookie
Point guard of the future... peep game.


Sunny Hostin - The Benchwarmer
I couldn't ask for a more attractive splinter collecter.

Unlikely Hero

In the wake of Barack's success, I wanted to share something that touched me (pause) yesterday. While watching CNN for like 20 consecutive hours, I came across this clip.



Terrence J of 106 & Park, a show from a network that "us" (i use that liberally) college-educated black folk love to hate on, jacked a slogan popularized by Soulja Boy (or the DC go-go scene depending on who u ask) and attempted to help change the world. Though he fell short of his goal of 100,000 registered voters, 25K is nothing to sneeze at. Especially when battleground states like Indiana were decided by less than 24,000 votes. Can't knock the hustle.

Black President

We're taking a break for the rest of the day. Let's make history.

Medici Music

Since the last month has been so busy, I've been slacking on even listening to most the new music out. My trip back home gave me the opportunity to holler at the newest jawn from The Abstract. Let me tell you, this is vicious. (Track 5, "You"?--niiiice) I'm really waiting for the instrumentals to come out, cuz Q-Tip's latest is an aural treat. Click the album cover to download.

Swing Low

While most of yall were trick-or-treating Friday night (innuendo intended), I was on a Chinatown down to DC. I'm not sure if you know or not, but there's a big election and I wanted to make sure my vote counted, so I went back to VA to cast my ballot in what has become a crucial swing state. I knew I couldn't be home to vote on Tuesday, and since Saturday was the last day for early voting, your boy had to take a last minute viaje south of the Mason Dixon.

To begin, I got up at 5:30 Saturday morn to head up to the DMV cuz ma dukes told me the lines had been crazy all week. Since Saturday was the last day, I was sure the lines'd be even more ridiculous. I got there between 6:15 and 6:30 and found that there were already about 30 ppl waiting outside, cold and dark. The DMV didn't even open till 8 and by that time, the line had wound its way around the building and back. Since I was one of the early risers, I was outta there by 8:30, but for those late-comers, voting was an all-day event. I drove back by there when I was headed back to DC and saw cars parked everywhere and a nigga selling Obama memoribilia on the corner. If I didn't know better, I woulda thought it was some kinda block party.

All that to say, today's the day, and if ur reading this, I damn sure hope you voted.

Black President.

The only time I enjoyed listening to Khaled yell

T-Pain - "Karaoke"

No lie, I thought T-Pain deserved consideration when MTV did their first "Hottest MC's in the game" bit a couple years back because, autotune or not, the Pain be spittin.