[video] Dave Dub - Fall Off 1
“I fell off on purpose because it’s fun to resurface”
Archive for May, 2007
[video] RZA - Chi Kung 0
Never seen this before. Video for Chi Kung by RZA, from the Birth Of A Prince LP. Martial arts choreography is actually good. Best I’ve seen for a Wu video.
La The Darkman - Notorious L.A.D. 0
New La The Darkman track from Dj EV Starr, Dj Rated R and Dj Diggz mixtape, Throw ‘Em Under The Bus. La needs to drop that second solo album. Or at least a mixtape on some Prodigy Return of the Mac steez.
myspace.com/underratedinc
myspace.com/djevstarr
Download Notorious L.A.D. by La The Darkman from Throw ‘Em Under The Bus
Interview With Author Of Bring The Noise, Simon Reynolds 0
Author of Bring the Noise and Rip It Up And Start Again speaks to the Socialist Worker about his new book. Link, older interview
“I dream of a day not too far off when the current ‘anti-political’ stance seems laughably old-fashioned, a throwback to the days when no one cared and nothing mattered…”
Uncle Ralph’s Video Music Box Microphone Flag Possibly Stolen 1
I was watching this past Saturday’s episode of Uncle Ralph’s Video Music Box, which is still rockin’ it on NYCTV by the way, and during one of the breaks in between videos, Ralph McDaniels took the time out to mention that he thinks someone might have stolen the classic Video Music Box microphone flag. What’s a mic flag you ask? It’s that decorative box that goes around the mic and presents the logo (couldn’t find a pic). If it turns out to be true, isn’t that a b*tch? That thing is iconic and probably belongs in some cultural museum. Ralph McDaniel’s seemed pretty vexed and bummed out about it so if you see some fool showing it off or something you might want to consider approaching for a discussion. You can visit the original HipHop VJ Ralph McDaniels on mysp*ce or check him out every Wednesday at the weekly Video Mix Party.
see also:
Ralph McDaniel’s The Bridge on NYCTV
hip-hop culture is not black culture, it’s black street culture 0
Keeping it real is keeping people down, according to this Washington Post piece by Thomas Chatterton Williams, a grad student in the Cultural Reporting and Criticism program at New York University. The idea that black and/or urban youth grow up with a sense of embarrasment in relation to their educational success is not new. Remember Chris Rock’s stand up routine about folks talking ‘correctly’ verus folks talking ‘white’? Also reminds me of Nietzsche’s theme of Slave Morality, more commonly associated with early Christianity. I guess the weak do become the strong, and vice versa. Link (via)
Sociologists have a term for this pathological facet of black life. It’s called “cool-pose culture.” Whatever the nomenclature, “cool pose” or keeping it real or something else entirely, this peculiar aspect of the contemporary black experience — the inverted-pyramid hierarchy of values stemming from the glorification of lower-class reality in the hip-hop era — has quietly taken the place of white racism as the most formidable obstacle to success and equality in the black middle classes.
A 2005 study by Roland G. Fryer of Harvard University crystallizes the point: While there is scarce dissimilarity in popularity levels among low-achieving students, black or white, Fryer finds that “when a student achieves a 2.5 GPA, clear differences start to emerge.” At 3.5 and above, black students “tend to have fewer and fewer friends,” even as their high-achieving white peers “are at the top of the popularity pyramid.” With such pressure to be real, to not “act white,” is it any wonder that the African American high school graduation rate has stagnated at 70 percent for the past three decades?
Hiero Jeans, The Rep Gets Bigger! 2
Hiero emporium getting larger, branching out with gear. Link (down for the moment) (via) (thanks Michelle!)
After their debut at the upcoming fall MAGIC convention in August, the high quality Hiero Jeans will be available internationally at exclusive boutiques, retail department store chains, and online at www.hierojeans.com. In addition to the denim line, Hiero has designed new complementary t-shirts and sweatshirts, which can also be found at these locations. Watch for the launch of a women’s line and more in 2008.
Nocando vs. Rheteric 0
Video of battle between Nocando and Rheteric recorded sometime last year? (courtesy of myspace.com/isupposeproductions)
Crack’s Still Here (It Ain’t All Good) 0
Few days ago we posted about the art exhibition in Jamaica Queens that explores the influence the crack game had on rap artists and the neighborhood. Sometimes we forget that the crack game is still with us. Serbian-American photographer Boogie reminds us with his recently released book of photos covering the lives of some down and out people in some of New York’s more infamous neighborhoods; Bushwick, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Queensbridge. It’s All Good is available via powerHouse books. Link to publisher site, Link to artist site
KRS-One show in NYC (5/20 @ 8pm) [media] 2
Another great show put on by KRS. However, what made tonight so different (and memorable) were the surprise guests and the genuine love and respect everyone exhibited towards one another throughout the night. But for real, what’s gonna top Fat Joe with his iced-out Terror Squad chain coming out as Kris’ exuberant hypeman? And Red Alert and Marley Marl embracing on stage, followed by KRS and Marley? And motherf*ckin Ice-T, unbeknownst to KRS, showing up and even kickin’ some rhymes? It was utter craziness.
More videos over at grandgoodTube.
KRS-One, Grandmaster Caz, Ice-T, Fat Joe, Busy Bee, Craig G, Joell Ortiz & Blaq Poet Freestyle Live over The Symphony beat
KRS-One, Marley Marl, Red Alert + Fat Joe Live
see also:
KRS-One show in NYC (5/20 @ 8pm)
A Jamaica, Queens Thing: Rap and the Crack Era in South Jamaica 1
Haven’t had a chance to visit this mixed media exhibition yet. It focuses on the period of time that crack hit the streets and how it influenced the rap game. You can visit the show for free from April 14 to June 2 at the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning. jcal.org (via)
“It was a short but intense period for New York City,” Tam said, “and the point is that the epidemic had a strong impact on the development of rap music É It was a very visual time in terms of decay, a visual drama that unfolded every day, with drug dealers and crackheads on the street, acting wild.”
Giovanni Marks - Black Adam (Mixtape Vol. 1) [free download] 0
Hiphopcore.net is at it again. Hooking us up with a free gio marks mixtape. Link
01. Intro
02. Live In Stereo
03. Safe Text
04. Dye Stats
05. S.K.A.T.E. With Dilla
06. Who Got Some…
07. Jetset-Up
08. Where’s My Passport…
09. Krooked Or Sidewais
10. Go Hard
11. 24 On 24
12. Armor Clad (O.G. Version) (feat. Bleubird & Megabusive)
13. Black Horse
14. High Off Life
15. Young Dangerous Heart (Remix)
16. Give Me My Money
17. Scared In Cold Blood
18. What Am I Gonna Doo
19. Ess Vee
20. I’ll Always Be
see also:
Thavius Beck - Give Us Free! (free ep for download!)
1520 Sedgwick Avenue Looking For Landmark Status 0
The Sedgwick building is part of the state’s Mitchell-Lama program, in which private landlords who receive tax breaks and subsidized mortgages agree to limit their return on equity and rent to people who meet modest income limits. The contracts allow owners to leave the program and prepay their mortgage loan after 20 years. Rent regulations can protect tenants from increases, but not always.
“That place means everything,” he said. “You can look at it objectively and say it could have happened somewhere else. Maybe. But this is where it did happen.”
To him it is already a landmark.
“As far as government and what they consider important, who knows?” he said. “But for something that saturated the world culture, that went from one building to the world, I would want to hold on to the historical significance of that building.”
