Since I’m gonna run this on Sound Session tomorrow, I figured I’d post up this quick mix I made combining Timbaland’s “Say Something” featuring Drake with the freestyle that Lupe murdered last week. Someone’s verse had to go…sorry Tim.
This was the best concert I’ve ever been too and with everything going on that day (girl was in town, chilling with N.E.R.D., catching up with Lupe, etc.), it was probably one of my favorite days ever. Ah, memories.
This is some old footage from Shad’s 2006 performance at the Beats, Breaks & Culture festival. He was opening up for Cadence Weapon in the Brigantine Room at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. There were some technical difficulties with the decks in the middle of the performance, so Shad dropped a free, and I started handing him stuff that I found by the stage.
I love ish like this. Reminds me of simpler times.
See, even though this video plays off an established theme (Saved By The Bell FTW), it’s still more entertaining than Hype’s big budget production below. But anyway, how popular are you?
I have mixed feelings about this song and video. First off, since switching to a job where I see hundreds of music videos a week, I’m afraid Hype’s clips just don’t do much for me these days. Perhaps he was at his pinnacle when I was younger and I was easily impressed by the old super glossy, big budget videos he shot, but I haven’t seen anything from him lately that’s absolutely wowed me. This one is cool visually, but nothing too special and I see more innovative clips every day at the office.
Secondly, you will never, ever…[old school Jay] eva eva eva eva [/old Hov]…look cool/hard playing the piano in a video. So while Alicia is quite possibly the hottest girl out there right now, I still think the piano shots look hilarious. I don’t care if you’re a guy or a girl, you just can’t try to look cool in a video while playing the piano. Sorry, just how it is.
Lastly, this song is overrated to me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still good, but it seems like everyone is trying to make it some epic, classic record. Sorry again, it’s not. The beat is cool, but not great, and there’s a horrible glitching sound in the loop from where they cut off the tambourine that comes around every time and annoys the hell out of me. Jay’s lyrics are dope, but that sing-song flow gets old real quick and makes for boring repeated listens too. Being one of the best songs on Blueprint 3 doesn’t mean it’s an incredible record. It just means it’s not “Forever Young.”
I think this is a classic case of the music industry being a bit too NYC-centric. With a lot of the labels, magazines, websites, and TV stations centered out there, they automatically assume what’s big in NY should be big all over the country (and the world). NYC isn’t the center of the hip-hop universe anymore and just because this record is a great anthem for them, doesn’t mean it’s going to resonate with everyone else throughout the country. Or if it does, not nearly to the extent they think.
It’s kinda like when XXL pressed up this cover:
There’s no way in hell…in 2009…that cover ever should have been made for a national publication. None of those artists are remotely hot or popular outside of the Northeast. I’d say 90% of people who listen to hip-hop on the west coast don’t even know who Freekey Zekey is, let alone like him. Anyway, I get a similar feeling when I hear all these magazines, TV hosts, and label dudes tell me how classic “Empire State Of Mind” is.
If you’re from NY? Sure. Bang it.
If you’re not from NYC? It’s cool, but it’s not a classic hip-hop record and nowhere near one of Jay’s best.
Dope video from CL’s performance at the 2009 QN5 Megashow from NYC a few weeks back. Deacon, Natti, and Kno performed their entire A Piece of Strange album (which is a certified hip-hop classic) with Club Dub backing them up.
Unfortunately, I don’t believe the band will be joining them on their upcoming tour, but regardless, you won’t want to miss this show when it rolls through your town.
Seattle folks: you can catch CL performing with Looptroop Rockers, the homey Tunji, and some of our hometown heroes, Grieves & Budo, on November 25th at Neumos. Be there.
The homey Cook, or as I know him, Will from Pomona (5-C’s represent, represent), just dropped off this fresh beat tape, mixed by DJ Seano. Every time I hear Cook’s beats, I’m more and more impressed. There are so many ill layers to these…it’s just up to the right artists to sprinkle the right spices and make some classic dishes.
This ain’t your mama’s crusty old beat tape! These are The Original Recipes – a collection of Cook Classics beats from the last few years. We managed to plug about 40 beats into a twenty minute set by the incredible DJ Seano. The tape starts with hip hop, but by the end you’ll be dancing like a teeny-bopper to some serious pop and uptempo production. To all the beat-jacking loop builders out there, we kindly introduce the funky chicken and our favorite lazer sounds to make your life just a little more difficult. Remember, this is only a small selection of hundreds of Cook beats, so if you want to work, hit me up! It’s time to cook, biatch!
I’ve talked about my day job here on TAOD a few times, but I haven’t mentioned that one of the perks is working with some really cool and talented people. A few of my homies from work are part of a dope rap/rock band called the Goondocks and they’re throwing this event on Saturday night at Spitfire for Halloween.
Not only do you get some great music and some freebies from Stoli Vodka and Snowboard Connection, but you can come kick it with some cool folks at a great venue.
