That Cool Refreshing Drink

Digital Gravel has teamed up with a number of their featured brands to produce a series of limited edition tees. All proceeds of every sale go toward the Digital Gravel Water Project to build a playground-powered water pump in Africa. I wouldn't normally put something like this on the blog (and I've previously vented about consumer-based advocacy), but I figured some of you more financially stable folks might be interested in copping a fresh tee and helping out the motherland in the process. The tees are available tomorrow. Here are a few:

Back to the Future

So you'll understand that the hype over k-os' latest album Yes! is deserved, I dug these out for you. Now you can act like you know. Click the album covers.

Happy New Year

An oldie but goody to (b)ring in the new year. Click the album cover and enjoy. I'm certain you'll be pleased.

Inventory Control

Wow. For a minute, I've been really interested by popular culture's current fascination in post-WWII era Americana. Shows like Mad Men and others, the current trends in fashion, the election, all of it hearkens back to this time that, in retrospect, has become quintessential America, the very essence of what fulfilling the American Dream was supposed to mean. Yet, wrought within and throughout these tangential fascinations is one much more deviant: an intimately intense obsession with the fissures crossing to and fro along the surface of the American ideal. It is the simultaneous recognition of the farce that is relying on the promise of an abstraction as something to hope for in reality. (Still there? Hope I didn't lose you...)

In essence, collectively America has spent much of my lifetime looking back at itself and, in the end, has settled on mid-20th century America as the beginning of the end and the end of the beginning. It is a time for which we can be proud of ourselves and our accomplishments. There were stable 2-parent households and safe neighborhoods. Schools were places of learning and dinner was on the table at 6. But beneath it all is the most sinister desire by us today to acknowledge that unhappiness was rampant back then too. That the most powerful, the most stable, the stalwart and exemplary, struggled to maintain themselves and their image even to the point of emotional and psychological implosion. That America could not escape its escapist mentality because it was founded upon the very principle. (Mayflower, anyone?)

And so with that, enters Revolutionary Road. It is a story that captures beautifully through dialogue this ever present tension, before we as a nation had even recognized it as such. "It's awful to not be able to do what it is that you want to do," says Kate Winslet's character, assured of her own accuracy. It's a uniquely American sentiment created by us and propagated as a new truth, like wi-fi, that this nation that has spoiled itself to the point where it trusts that desire and necessity are synonymous. You're stuck writing copy all day when you really wanted to be a poet gallivanting through Europe? That must really suck, and you know what, it's not fair. Americans may not be the only ones who think like that, but they durn sure were the first ones to make it acceptable.

"Maybe we are running," DiCaprio's character says after denying that he wasn't. "We're running from the hopeless emptiness of the whole life here, right?" He and his wife have been walking through the woods with the son of an older couple nearby who is clinically "loony." The loony man stops. "Now you've said it," he grins. "Plenty people are onto the emptiness, but... it takes real guts to see the hopelessness. Wow."

Indeed. It's this unique brand of irony that courses its way throughout the movie like gravy or pancake syrup on a plate. The movie is based on the book of the same name, written in 1962. I plan on reading it, but you know how that goes. It's definitely not a feel good movie though, so don't go if you just need to get out the house, cuz you might just wish you'd kept your behind indoors after such a depressing flick. It's a doozy, but it's a great one.

Nike Boots & North Face

Judah is a lot nicer on the MPC than he is on the mic, but he definitely hit the mark on this joint. Didn't know Ra could sing either... dingdingpickitup!



Judah X Ra The MC - DMV Rap Up 2008

*Cue Gag Reel*

Splat!

Mr. Bean

I need these.

A serious note.

This happened a block from my school. Please pray for the family and the entire Liberian community in Southwest Philadelphia. Those who know me know I teach a number of Liberian students. They provide the basis of some of my most entertaining stories. Their families are some of the most supportive and are willing to sacrifice everything for the benefit of their children. Right now, I'm worried about many of those same students and their families. If you haven't told the people you love that you love them today, please do. Life has no guarantees.

[Eff] the flow, they jackin' our slang

This post is purely for stunting purposes. Like most ppl with even a small interest in rap, I check other blogs regularly. Some big, some small. This morn I did my regular check of NahRight and peeped this post of a supposed "UK Freestyle" by Wale. I know I shouldn't be stating this publicly, but I've been passing on a lotta new Wale songs jus cuz. It's not hate, just lack of interest maybe(?) Irregardless (yeah, irregardless), I hollered at the zshare link just to see if it was worth the download.

It wasn't. Not because it was bad, but because we gave yall this joint 1 year ago. (I had it in my personal vault for even longer.)

Don't believe me? Go 'head and click the link. The counter told me that most of yall slept on this jawn. The song was called "Fish N Chips". Don't choose zshare or rapidshare, cuz it's been so long that the zshare and rapidshare links expired. Megaupload works fine tho.

I find all the above side-eye worthy. To our dedicated core of readers, we thank you for the support. The majority of yall, I don't even know, nor do I know how you found us since I did not start this in search of e-fame. But all that makes me even more appreciative of your support. There a coupla yall who read and then jack my slang on your own ish. It's ok, it's the sincerest form of flattery. (If you start making money off it tho, I'm comin for my cut. You know who you are.)

Nonetheless, as 2009 approaches, I encourage you to holler through our archives before you find your favorite blog reposting something old as though it were something new. Holler at the weirder album drops, all The Paxtons ish, and even the slightly different stuff like K'naan. Real Niggas Light Candles 4 is very much on the way (thanks for all the feedback), and I even have a song ready for the 5th jawn. All this to say, you don't wanna be the 2009 version of the 2008 lame who thinks they're cool and different now because they just started listening to M.I.A.

OG readers, thanks. Newbies, thanks. It's been a good year. Tell a friend to tell a friend. A special shoutout to my beloved DMV and the city I now call home, illy Philly. Now stop reading and get to clicking. Descarga!

Dollars to Dollars

Daniel Merriweather ft. Wale - Change

Definitely not the first time we threw yall some Daniel Merriweather. (Remember "Stop Me"?) Either way, Wale finally made sense to me today (as in I get his personality completely without ever meeting dude). He's Nigerian. And from DC at that. Everything makes sense now.

Two Pimps

Most of yall don't know this, but I was a Timbaland fanatic all through middle and high school. I would sit in my room and study Timbo's drum patterns like it was my job, breaking my mom's tension rods in the process. The Timbaland/Jay-Z discography is sick in and of itself, but this joint is like the best of both worlds: classic Tim and classic Jigga.

Until The Lion Learns To Speak

I actually made it out to the Ubiq/Stussy party this past Wednesday, despite my upset stomach, and learned that K'naan is dropping a new album, Troubadour, in '09. Most of yall slept on The Dusty Foot Philosopher when I dropped it back in July. I actually had this joint too but decided to keep it close. I planned on dropping it Thursday but school got in the way, then today I see a K'naan post on NahRight, so I guess his publicist is earning her paycheck.

Either way, with K-Os already set to release an album, Drake rapping really well, and K'naan doing his thing, Canada might be the next Dirty South. Sike nah, it's not that serious, but Canada is really bringing heat. Along with Drake and K-Os, K'naan is a lyrical dude that would prolly be stirring up revolution were he not a rapper. Maybe he figured rap could do both. Click the album cover to download.

For a taste of dude (ayo), i'll drop this nugget:

Until the lion learns to speak
The tales of hunting will be weak
My poetry hails within the streets
My poetry fails to be discrete
It travels across the earth and seas
From Eritrea to the West Indies
It knows no boundaries no cheese
It's studied in parts of Greece
runtaa, hadii kale waxaan lahaa (truthfully, if I was saying)

I am sick as far as lyrics
Not with, as far as gimmicks
I spit barraging limit
The shit they talk and rip it
I'm hip, the hop is living
I skip the obvious women
Don’t get what I am presenting
No rims, my mind is spinning
runtaa, hadii kale waxaan lahaa (truthfully, if I was saying)

I was born and raised in the place
Where the torn a flame would blaze
Where the foreigners not embraced
Where they warn you, jog, and pace
Where the loners lower their gaze
Where the corners slower the chase
Where they twist and turn in a maze
With a pistol 'pon your face
runtaa, hadii kale waxaan lahaa (truthfully, if I was saying)

So come with me to my lungs
The depths and be overrun
With passion see how I come
No cash I’m free in the slums
The past, can we overcome?
I’m ask[ing] can we be the ones
To actually be the ones
To free our people from guns?
runtaa, hadii kale waxaan lahaa (truthfully, if I was saying)

Have you seen my childhood?

I'ma be real, aside from the 7/16 pack, Saturday's 11/12 countdown pack were the only pack I truly creamed over. These shoes released when I was in middle school and are the basis of so many of my middle school memories. They are a big reason why my shoe problem is even a problem. You see, times were rough for my family back in 6th grade, such that after I had grown out of my pair of Air Raids in 5th grade, my mom took me Back to School shopping at Payless and bought me Sega sneakers cuz that was the best we could afford. Yeah, as in "Sonic the Hedgehog" and "Shinobi" Sega. Bet you didn't even know Sega made shoes huh? Well, I unfortunately did, and it was how I began middle school, wearing black Sega shoes with Sonic and Knuckles on the tongue. Needless to say, I've been overcompensating ever since.

To make matters worse, this period was when Jordan Brand released two of its most iconic sneakers. I feel as though further discussion is unnecessary, but getting these jawns was an immediate priority as soon as the pack was announced. Some problems though:

• those 12's look jye fugazi
• I'm still broke
• I'm not pressed enough to canvas the city for these or even holler at connects
• I will not be camping out or in a line longer than 15 ppl

So who knows what'll happen Saturday. I was planning on going to NYC anyway to party with my hippy crew so I may pass on these. But who knows, I might be on the chinatown bus with a pair on my feet. Time will tell.

Prolly my last post for the day. But then again...

Odds are, if you're in Philly and you matter, you already knew about this. I was planning on going after I left the gig tonight, but my head and tummy are feeling real unpleasant right now, so I think I'ma pass. Gotta get to work on time tomorrow anyway. Any of yall with nothing to do and a canned good, make your way downtown to 15th and Walnut. Hope you enjoyed today's and yesterday's blogging craze. To think I useta blog like this regularly when I had 14 kids in my room...

Take A Look. It's In A Book.

Asher Roth - The Reading (Remix)

Samples the classic theme song to "Reading Rainbow," which is definitely a dope idea. Not too sure on its execution though. There are so many dope breaks in the real song. "I can do anything" is definitely the standout part for me. It's worth a listen though.

Trendsetters

There are a number of trends for which DMVers rightfully claim themselves the progenitors: Nike Boots, 'Posites, New Balances (i'll admit, not as big an export), even slim jeans. (I remember being clowned for how I wore my jeans by the "cooler kids" my freshman year at Wash U in 2002--yawn.) Another trend that I honestly think got its start in the DMV was the Casio G-Shock. I remember back in the 90's go-go heads stayed rocking G-Shocks. If it wasn't a G-Shock, it was a watch with ridiculous digital features like walkie-talkies and ish. It was the perfect accessory to a H.O.B.O. or Shooters fit.

I thought it was kinda odd when it became streetwear's watch of choice, mostly cuz I didn't think it was new. I bought into the craze back in '99, but it's almost 10 years later, and I got a salary. I'm thinking about a COSC-certified timepiece. But if I had to go digital, I always said it'd be for a calculator watch. *shrugs* I'm a dork. I was actually bout to buy a gold Casio calculator watch not too long ago, but thought better cuz I'm broke as the entire financial system. But when i caught wind of these over at gizmodo a few days ago, I was glad I passed on the gold jawn. And for $59 too? Yeah, jus gimme that black and gold jawn in the top middle and I'm guuuuuuud.

Pharrell is a Prophet

N.E.R.D. - Sooner or Later

Well not really, but still. I'm late as a unborn baby momma with this, but once I decided to press play, it was worth the re-post, late or not. Disfruta.

Keep Bouncin'

Dont know how this Spalding X Flight Club NY collabo flew under my radar (seeing as how they just drained my soul for a pair of Aqua 8's) I had no idea they could do this with a basketball... I want these for xmas NOW

Cool As a Milkshake in a Snowstorm...

Barry's School Daze... by the way holla at ya boy boy if you need an address during inauguration week... if you've got 10K to drop that is... seriously.

Because you care...

It's the second (and last) day of report card conferences so I'm chilling extra hard at school right now and have come to the conclusion that the music on my laptop is sooooo much weirder than the music on my desktop back at home. So much weirder. I mean, for real. I have albums whose album covers look like this:



And yes, the last one is a group called Cold Cave and the name of their EP is The Trees Grew Emotions And Died, which is a dope ass title cuz it's poetic as the eff word, but yo, it's equally as weird. And look at their faces! I'm not even sure if these 2 folks are even in the group. But if your interested in at least knowing what the Cold Cave album sounds like, click this.

I guess the strange music is all due to the fact that I spend a lotta time on the laptop looking up weird ish. (Where else do you think I find French neo-soul/electronica from?) All that to say, I'm not your favorite blogger's favorite blogger for nothing. Just imagine the kinda ish my favorite bloggers be on.