We Don't Care

Now, adding to the dumbest feud in Hip-hop history, the man who can't possible continue his career without beef (no, not the Game), 50 cent is promising to retire his solo ambitions if Kanye sells more albums than he does. Please let Kanye out sell him! Think of the fantastic world that could be, sans 50. I just hope this works in Kanye's favour, and I'm glad he isn't giving any recognition to 50, because this is seriously a cry for attention. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

We Major?

I really enjoy when rappers take themselves too seriously. Especially when they think that they are showing how multi-dimensional they are, when they are in fact just showing that no matter how many sides they think they have, each one is as dumb, if not dumber, than the next. Thus, I bring to you, the Kanye VS. 50 cent debates!
Apparently, there is some discussion over who's album will gross more once released. I am rooting for Kanye, but 50 swears he's more "conscious" of his surroundings. On 106 & Park, 50 extended the invitation to debate who's album would be better. Debate what, pray tell, fiddy? Compare marketing campaigns, or previous sound scans, or how their support of the sneaker industry has further entrenched the fight against child labour in under developed countries, or is it just which one of you Jacob the Jeweller likes best?

“I accept the challenge,” 50 Cent said. “Kanye, he’s not going to want to show up. Just don’t be asking me if I am a conscious rapper. I know exactly what I am saying — so I am conscious.”


So, does this seem stupid to anyone else, but me?

“I don’t have beef with anyone,” West said on MTV’s TRL today, in response to a question by a reporter from the Associated Press. “What am I going to debate about? I’m going to go in the studio and make music. When I heard the thing about the debate, I thought that was the stupidest thing.”



Well thats good to hear, no wonder your album is called The Graduation, and 50's is just him writing his name. Guess who's scorin more points on their SAT's?
[Source]

Gym Class's Status

I haven't posted anything about GCH since march, maybe, mostly because they have become so popular that I've been going through separation anxiety. And I know posting about this band shoots my credibility to shit, but I clearly don't care, so if you do, you can bugger off. Anyhow, these kids are doing rather well for themselves, and if you have yet to hear, have been nominated for two VMA's. Best Group, and Best New Artist. So there's that, I guess.

Closer to my heart, Gym Class's Downingtown, PA residing keyboardist, Tyler, and his side project Ladybirds, are releasing their début album Regional Community Theater in 13 days, and can be pre-ordered on their myspace/ website, or via any online music distributor. It has a really awesome dream pop/ postal service feel. I haven't heard all of the tracks yet, but from what I have sampled, and their viddy, its all really fantastic. So there's that too, I guess.



Ladybirds Viddy:

MM...Food

It goes without saying that my blog is unfortunately back to weekly postings. Meh, times are tough, monies is tight, and most of my time is dedicated to some form of freelance work that leaves my brain congealed and oozing out of my left ear. Hopefully we'll all come out on the other side of august with steady gigs, saner temperaments, and maybe even healthcare! But lets not get our hopes up just yet.
MF Doom, a rapper/ producer who has been doing pretty well for himself, and appears to be a stranger to poverty induced hunger and also sanity, is re-releasing his album MM...Food. Its a deluxe album, much like many of his meals (zing!) but its also an album that gives back. Spectre Music, his promo folks, are running this contest where if you submit a recipe that the big guy finds mouthwatering, you could win a bag-0-prizes. Prizes?: a copy of MM...Food featuring the limited edition packaging, a MF Doom Hoodie, a MF Doom T-Shirt, a limited edition copy of the color reprint of MM...Food Tour poster and a Rhymesayers T-Shirt!

[there is also a bonus surprise on the page]

So if your curious, confident, and culinarily talented, boogie on over.

Black Republicans

3 days, a score, and 6 years ago, MTV aired its first music videos. Since then, the approach to videos has birthed a unique industry that has become a component as influential as the music. It is now at the point where an artist cant even fathom releasing a single without an attaché video to complement.
The mix tape is also a key component, unique to the hip-hop industry. It allows emcees to preview they're talent, or freestyle (in both the meaning of unwritten ad lib, or reciting written material that has yet to be heard) but uses beats or instrumental tracks of popularized songs; a low budget remix. The mix tape industry is relatively underground, and major labels don't usually (or legally) reap the profits. The monies usually go to the DJ credited with chopping or dubbing the samples and recording the vocals.
These two parts of the music industry never really considered mutually exclusive, but it is hard to reason that you would spend money to shoot a video to promote illegal sampling. The attention isn't really necessary and the net loss is even more of a reason against the video. Until now.
Lil' Wayne or the young JR or whatever other name he has, and Juelz Santana have redubbed the Nas and Jay-z cut "Black Republicans" for their upcoming album I Can't Feel My Face, and have released a low budget, youtube-esk video in conjunction with that. Thanks to the low cost of filming a low quality -mix tape version music video, now we can all visualize how Wezzy and Juelz see this song. Thank you internets for giving rappers one more reason to show us their cars! I think its a cool idea to connect viddy and mix tape, and i especially enjoy the gritty feel that's transferred from mix tape culture to the video. Check it out

Love and Happiness

I'm not really one for baby making, but if the desire to spawn my own militia of super derelicts ever arose, I'd need two things. A super foxy lady (I'd settle for mediocre) who could tolerate my sub par attempts at love making, and the new super sounds of Al Green and The Roots in tandem. The Duet Album, due out late this year, or early 2008, may be the fire (or the cool) to get you through another environmentally bizarre winter. Guest appreances include Anthony Hamilton, D'Angelo and possibly Alicia Keys and/or Joss Stone. K-BILLY's is gonna be pumped!