I don't know why

This has to be one of the most visually pleasing videos of all time.

Spin this

I thought this was America, people.

Not guilty? Really?

We call this "code-switching"

DuBois would be proud. So hilarious, I'm not sure if it's real or not.

Phil Knight, take notice.

2008 has been a big year for Jordan Brand. With the release of the 23rd Air Jordan sneaker and the countdown packs (June 21st is gonna be a big day), the folks in Oregon seem to be sitting pretty, even if they continue to create monstrosities like the 6 Rings far too frequently.

The mashups don't tend to go over well with the Jordan purists, but I'll admit that I think the Spizike's are aight and, yes, I even own a pair. One of our loyal readers sent us these original sketches of some sneaker designs he created. Here, Mr. Anonymous himself decided to do a mashup of his own. Inspired by Jordan's 6 championship rings, amassed over two separate 3-peats, the artist formerly known as "This is anonymous, but..." created two separate shoe designs. He even went to the lengths to create Hornets and Nuggets versions of each design. We give credit where credit is due, so without further ado:





Forgive the tacky blog tags, but niggas be jackin ish over the internet nowadays (it takes one to know one), so I had to protect the intellectual property. I'm much more of a fan of Vol 1 than Vol 2, but those first 3 lend themselves much more to being combined than the latter 3. What do you think?

Interested in submitting something to us? A post, poem, article, photos of Jay and Beyonce on a honeymoon? Email youhypesikenah@gmail.com and if we like it, we'll post it under The Conscientious Observer.

Sorry guys, forgot about this one

Wale - Put On (Freestyle)

I always did like CNN

I'm actually excited to see what they have in store. Here are a few reasons why:

• It's NOT being aired during Black History Month (i.e. not falling victim to politically correct ethno-sensitive pandering)
  
• CNN has a rack of negroes working for them
  
• CNN is based out of Atlanta, the Chocolate City of the new millenium (not sure if it counts for much, but it's gotta count for something)
• It's the only 24-hour news network that seems to understand the true role of the press, to investigate and report the news, with as little bias as possible.
  
• And I just like the fact that they had the balls to put out a special entitled "Black in America." A title as inclusive as that will make it an immediate target for criticism. Niggas is never happy and always ready to complain to somebody about something. If they show too many convicts, somebody'll say "Not all niggas is locked up! Niggas be goin to school too!" If they show too many doctors, somebody'll say, "Not all niggas is doctors! Niggas still suffering under a racist hegemonic structure!"

It takes guts to be a major white media outlet and put yourself out there like that, cuz if they eff up, they might have to start giving specials to Al and Jesse just to make up for it.

Prolly Know Me From The Rap

If you love cars, scantilly-clad car hoes, Wale, and will be in the DMV this weekend with $25 burning a hole in your car-whore loving pockets, you should probably check this joint out. Can I mention how dope it must be for this bamma to be headlining a show... at Fed Ex Field... in Landover!

You want more, we want mo'...

Considering that Bun B's Trill and aptly-titled follow-up II Trill, were both created out of more necessity than creativity, you have to listen to them within proper context. Despite the infinite popularity of his baritone delivery and almost techinical rhyme structure, Bun B is not, and has never desired to be a solo artist. His two solo endeavors were the result of Pimp C's untimely incarceration in 2005 and death in 2007, both in efforts to uphold the UGK brand and make sure his partner's name continued to ring out. Unnecessary guest features abound and the absence of Pimp C's production are the clear flaws here, but Bun B manages to uphold his legendary status lyrically and conceptually throughout. The best moments here happen on down south anthem You're Everything (featuring a vicious sample of Jodeci's Cry 4 U on the hook) and the Pimp C assissted Underground Thang. Pour up (or not) and enjoy...

Click the cover to download.


Bun-B - II Trill

Call me... "Anthony Greendown"

So as I said, last Friday, I went to the Roots pre-show and caught Santogold, Janelle Monae, The Randy Watson Experience, and The Roots. I feel no need to discuss The Roots cuz... they're The Roots. Performing live is what they do. Randy Watson, true to their namesake, put on a good show. But for me, the only reason why I was pressed to go was to see Janelle Monae and Santi White.


After a few opening acts, including a very raucous group outta Sierra Leone that kilt it, Santi came out on stage decked in a gold tracksuit and a snapback cap. The set was decent, even if the white dude in front of me kept texting to someone how Santogold sucked and sounded like Europop on crack. (I'd have to say it was a very accurate description though--the Europop, not the sucking, hmm.) Still, her two backup singer/dancers stole the show though. These chicks were at attention like they were Minister Farrakhan's personal bodyguards until the music dropped, after which they danced durn-near out of their clothes. Let's just say I enjoyed watching them do their thing, more than Santogold. She brought out Spankrock for "Shove It" and closed the show out with the crowd-pleaser "Creator," which definitely rocked. It was a decent show, but I wouldn't pay to see Santi again unless it was at a very small venue. Her style fits the whole basement party vibe more than anything else.

Finally, the future Mrs. Garr stepped onstage. Let me say that I think a sizable portion of the audience came only to catch Ms Monae. Her street team was out in full force and I heard quite a few people mention how much they looked forward to her show, even though they knew none of her music. (Underground hype does wonders.) Her band was sparse: just a guitarist, drummer, and a DJ. The guitarist looked like Andre 3000 on "Hey Ya." Her set was short; honestly, she coulda stayed for 2 hours and I don't think any of us woulda been upset--you know I wouldn'ta. She's a little woman with a LOTTA energy. I was surprised to see her sing so well for all the dancing she did. She gave us a few tracks from Suite I of Metropolis along with a cover of "Smile."


By the time she got to "Sincerely, Jane" I concluded that she is the prototype.


Some might say that she is today's Erykah Badu. Her avant garde style, groundbreaking music, and stellar live performances, along with her eccentricity are reminiscent of the last great Nigga Killa. I'd like to think that Erykah was yesterday's Janelle Monae. In a few years, she'll be turning niggas out like Badu did to Common and 3000.

I'm at school so I uploaded this straight to blogger, but here's a clip of her covering the classic Charlie Chaplin song, "Smile." Shoutout to my brand new Canon SD1100 IS


Tonight I'm off to see Jamie Lidell and on Sunday, Adele, who just might be the sexiest fat white woman ever. Life is good.

Lord of the Rings

Six months after Mr. Garr's early look atCharles Hamilton's music, the youngin is signed, on-air, and set to drop a DJ Green Lantern-helmed mixtape this summer. We hate to say we told u so, but we'll settle for a YH!SN... shout out on that jawn.

EDIT: Outside Looking has officially leaked. Enjoy.


Charles Hamilton - Outside Looking

The Graduate

I'm still not completely sold on Naledge's delivery throughout, but Kidz In The Hall have released one of the best hip hop records of the year thus far. Shed the backpack epic "Middle of the Map Pts. 1 & 2" and this jawn is end-to-end heat rock. Make sure to check for the last verse on "The Pledge"...

Click the cover to download!


Kidz In The Hall - The In Crowd

Radio Killa

Wale - I Love Your Girl Freestyle

Why is The Dream's CD the best pop R&B album of 2007 and 2008? I never managed to make the appreciation post that I wanted to make during the winter, but that joint rocks track to track. Anyway, Wale went in on this jawn. Download and disfruta.

My Birthday is June 22. Let's celebrate July 11.

Since January/February, I've been perusing the tech websites and blogs about the rumored 2nd-generation, 3G iphone that Apple had in the works. Nobody said nothing definitively, but with Steve Jobs getting distribution contracts with 3G-only cell phone providers overseas, all signs pointed towards a new version of the phone that forever changed the game. And when I heard rumors that AT&T would be subsidizing the price, I almost thought it was too good to be true. My contract with T-mobile is up this month, and I came home today to a letter offering me some fugazi Nokia camera phone for free. I guess that was sposed to excite me. Sorry, I'd rather drop $200 on that new-new.

Sorry T-mobile. Actually, not sorry. More like "Eff T-mobile". Barring catastrophe, I will be a proud iphone owner and AT&T customer by summer's end. Your favorite bloggers will then be mobile to mobile brothers. Get right, cuz it ain't worth getting left folks.

Say It Loud

If Dubya can keep it funky as the must in Mississippi, so can we...

The debut release by Chicago's Cool Kids is the first in a series of daily black music drops you can expect this week. What more can I say about these n*ggas that hasn't been said in every progressive media outlet over the last 18 months. One thing's for certain, they're doing something right (or different) and that Black Mags joint definitely jams. Click the cover and feed the hypebeast.


Cool Kids - The Bake Sale EP

Co-Sign

This is a great article on how black identity politics shape Obama's electability among white voters.

Read here.

Links or patties?

Julian Velard - Jimmy Dean and Steve McQueen

I love June. For one, it's my birthday month, and the man upstairs must know how to celebrate it. I went to the Roots Picnic's pre-show last night and saw Santogold and Janelle Monae. More on that in another post. Next week I'm going to see Adele and maybe Jamie Lidell. More on that after I go to the show. But for now, I'm gonna introduce you to Julian Velard. He's been in the game for a while. He's American, but found success across the pond in Europe so he's been living and performing over there for a while now.

I got a chance to see him sometime last year at the Tin Angel. I had no idea who he was at the time, and only went cuz I was bored and wanted something to do. I was pleasantly surprised and, of course, began bootlegging as much material as I could once I got home. I've been meaning to post this for a minute. It's sposed to be his first single, so I'm offering it to yall. Disfruta.

Why everything that's sposed to be bad make me feel so good?

Allow me to formally introduce you to the next great movement outta the Nation's Capital. Rap duo chris&dave have almost a decade's worth of EPs, LPs, and mixtapes under their respective belts as rappers, producers, and sometimes even, singers--the end to their version of 702's "I Still Love You" is still an all-time favorite. They've gone by many different names throughout this period. Hailing from Chicago's South Side, and having spent a few years in the black hole that is St. Louis, the duo has settled into the District of Columbia with much ease and little fanfare until now.

I'm sitting on a stack of living-room produced bars of gold and have decided to release a few of the unmastered versions. This first track is simply titled "U & Her" and features in-house production by The Paxtons.If you wanna get an idea of the flavor, I'll give you this tidbit: I saw a stripper walk across the floor on her lower cheeks to this song--no hands. David Kenneth will confirm. It was amazing (as were the other superhuman things we witnessed to this song alone.) No, you won't get much more info other than that, but once you listen to the song, you might get a better idea.

EDIT: New link. I got my hands on the studio version. Tell a friend to tell a friend.

chris&dave - U & Her

And oh, needless to say, this is a YH!SN... exclusive.

Around the world and I'm back again

So somebody went and shut down the first link for Tha Carter III. It's ok, cuz I stole that link anyway. I haven't had much time to blog and do the whole internet thing lately, but I figured enough of yall have said something to me about this new Weezy so I might as well do the unprecedented and repost an album. I'm doing this more discreetly to avoid getting the link blocked again. Don't say I ain't never did nothing for yall.

Click here.

This is the retail group-rip with the "Got Money" Remix featuring Pitbull added at the end. It was personally upped by me so if it gets blocked again it means one of u reported it. In other words, don't report it. Enjoy it.

Astronaut Suits for the BBC

So, considering that summer is officially upon us, I shouldn't be surprised by the abundance of official ish jumping off this weekend. If you're down in the Hampton Roads area, you need to be at the OG C'monwealth shop with the BBC boys.


... and while I'm at it... this is possibly the freshest New Era that I wouldnt be caught dead rocking.


But you gotta give the nigga props for peaking the interest of URB Magazine X New Era to collab on a fitted with his logo... and NO RELEASE DATE for an UNTITLED album lol. Holla Black.