Great 20-minute interview with the Wu. Although, for the most part, the responses were lighthearted and at times hilarious (peep Method Man at the 11min mark), things got somewhat emotional when asked about the passing of ODB. Their sadness could definitely be felt through the screen. Link

Sunrise by Serengeti & Polyphonic



Lately I Havent Been Feeling Well by Serengeti & Polyphonic


Both videos are directed by A.M. Overtone and feature wonderful music from the new Serengeti and Polyphonic album, Dont Give Up, now availalbe through Audio 8 Recordings. Link [updated]

You all heard this fighting style referenced on numerous occasions by members of the Wu-Tang Clan. Some people call it BS, some say it would never work against a traditional style. But according to a growing number of sources, during close range fighting, such as inside cells or hallways, it has been practiced for quite some time. 52 Hand Blocks is one of many Jail House Rock styles and there is a documentary coming out soon.

- Link to trailer for upcoming 52 Handblocks documentary
- Video of 52 Handblocks versus other forms at close range - But to be fair the guy looks a lot stronger than his opponents who fight in more traditional styles
- Discussion of the fighting style - Some highlights of this discussion include input from Doug Century, who did a piece in Details magazine about 52 blocks back in 2001.

“I’ve talked to some prominent prizefighters such as Zab Judah and Bernard Hopkins who know of the technique, did several long interviews with Dennis Newsome, and John Sowett (sp.) who published the book Martial Arts around the World. Newsome is probably the most scientifically knowledgable about it — he won’t refer to it as a martial arts, but as a prison survival art. Much thanks for posting old Black Belt article: I never thought of Floyd Patterson’s peekaboo stance, later picked up by Tyson, as being influenced by Jailhouse fighting, but it’s very probable.”

- And an excerpt from a 1974 Black Belt Magazines article:

From BLACK BELT MAGAZINE, July, 1974: “Karate in Prison: Menace, or Means of Spiritual Survival?” by Anne Darling and James Perryman, p. 21:
Another ex-inmate says the first time he ever saw a karate technique was in Coxsacki, a New York prison, in 1948. “The different prisons had and still have their own fighting styles,” he says. They were prison martial arts, not traditional styles. In fact, Kid Gavilan (world welterweight boxing champion, 1951-54) used a Coxsacki variation, and Floyd Patterson’s peekaboo style was a Coxsacki variation, too. Because of limited space in prison, we learned wall-fighting techniques. Then a lot of former G.I.s in the joint had learned hand-to-hand combat - they came home, styled it, made it hip, and gave it soul.”

Miguel “Miky” Pinero, while an inmate of Sing-Sing, wrote a play called “Short Eyes” about the killing of a sex offender in a house of detention. The play is now a smashing success at the Public Theater in New York. Pinero describes his introduction to prison martial arts: “The first thing I did in the joint was to check out the style and learn to fight with a home piece - somebody from my neighborhood on the streets. I learned the Woodbourne shuffle, an evasion technique that first was used in the joint at Woodbourne and got passed around. Then I learned wall-fighting, and somebody taught me the Comstock style.

The Comstock style, named for an upstate New York prison, involves what one inmate calls “the use of dirty fighting techniques.” The object is to lure an opponent into thinking he is going to get a “fair one - then go for a quick, sneak kick to the ankle, kneecap, or family jewels.”

- Does Kimbo Slice know 52 Handblocks?

Here’s your chance to see the unreleased Wu documentary that premiered during the H20 Film Festival. Link (thanks RFilm!)

By overwhelming demand, Gerald Barclay’s raw documentary about the rise, fall and ressurection of Hip-Hop’s Biggest rap group The Wu Tang Clan. Fresh from its best Documentary win at the H2O International Film Festival.

Gee Bee, HungryMan Entertainment & UR Music presents:
Encore Screening
Saturday August 4, 2007 @ 6:00 PM
The Two Boots Pioneer Theatre
153 East 3rd Street

For ticket prices and directions Log onto the Pioneer Theater website or Call 212 591-0434

see also:
Wu Movie Does Not Disappoint
Wu Movie at H2O Film Festival (NYC Sat 6/9 @ 9:30pm)

For one or two hundred beans you can buy your own Mr. Porter beat. That’s about how much they’re worth if you ask me. Link

Always been a Tash fan. (via)

Online urban retailer, 77store, has the exclusive on the video for Pull The Plug by Infamous Mobb and featuring Prodigy. They also have the full track available for download. Link (via)

Download Pull The Plug by Infamous Mobb ft. Prodigy
Courtesy of 77store.com

Very cool video for Work It Out by RJD2. I agree with Mike from Fifteen Minutes To Live, I might have to give his last album a second listen. But then again, visuals do have a way of enhancing otherwise uninteresting songs. There must be a science behind it. (via)

Here’s a video of an impromptu performance by street poet and GRANDGOOD friend, Bingo Gazingo. This piece is about JLo. You can catch him at the Bowery Poetry club every Friday at 6pm. And maybe one day we’ll actually get to put out our recordings of him. (via)

Wow. Wonderful mix of dubs from Lee Perry, aka, The Upsetter. Blended together for your listening pleasure by Rhythm Incursions’ own Mr Trick. Link (via)

Download Dang In Dub 2: The Curse of the Black Ark presented by Mr. Trick

This is my personal selection of the finest Upsetter dubs from Lee Perry’s legendary time in his Black Ark studio. As a mix, this one is straight-up: 100% live off my 45s (replete with skips, crackles and more!), armed only with a reverb unit and a space echo to aid blends in true dancehall style. These tracks speak for themselves: heavy heavy dubs that can be enjoyed on your walkman, on the stereo or preferably loud as hell in your backyard via some homespun yard system comprising guitar amps, 12″ bass cones and god knows what else.

Mr. Dibbs shealing, that’s right, shopping without using money. I knew he was kind of bugged just from listening to his records but yo, I didn’t realize. From his scratchapuncture dvd. (via)

That’s right you sissy, Controller7’s Fist In Your Face! Snuffin’ you left and right, with posts! And great posts at that. C7 has started a blog and his first few posts are great, including unreleased interludes/beats, ODB interview/freestyle on the 10 O’Clock Bomb Show and my personal favorite, a great blend of Temptation’s Get Ready and the instrumental to Peter Bjorn & John’s Young Folks. Found all this goodness via the revamped Crossfaded Bacon Goods & Services blog, good looks Emil! Where you at?! Link

Victory is off of the new album from Ivan Ives which features appearances by 2Mex, O.C., Cappadonna and his producer Fresh. If the rest of the album is on the same vein as this track, I wouldn’t mind a listen. Any Russian speakers wanna translate the hook? (good lookin’ Kasey!)

Download Victory by Ivan Ives (feat. Vast Aire)
Courtesy of No Threshold Records

Off of the upcoming Grayskul album, Bloody Radio. (via)

Download Dope by Grayskul (Onry Ozzborn and JFK)
Courtesy of Rhymesayers Entertainment

Japan only release but you can import it through Juno. Well, you could have, before it sold out. Link

Stream snippet of The Battle Is On by Melle Mel and Grandmaster Caz

Fab 5 Freddy - “Intro”
Black Sheep - “I’m The One”
Big Daddy Kane - “Like That, Y’all”
Biz Markie - “My Name Is…”
MC Lyte - “Listen Up”
Grand Puba - “Let’s Go”
Smooth B Of Nice & Smooth - “I Want My Money Back”
Graig G - “Catch A Lyrical Beatdown”
Chubb Rock - “Chubb Rocks The Party”
Special Ed - “This Mic”
Doug E Fesh - “It Ain’t Nothin”
Jungle Brothers - “Back In The Jungle”
Just Ice - “I Run The Streets”
Melle Mel & Grandmaster Caz - “The Battle Is On”
Master Ace - “Revolution’s ‘Bout To Start”

For me, the varied aesthetics of cassette tapes have always been more satisfying and memorable than the sterile features of cds. Personalizing them was fun. Drawing on the cover. Scratching in symbols. Using gold or silver paint markers to make them stand out. Tapes may not be used for mass music consumption anymore but they will not go quietly into the night. Greg Smith of Serial Consign points us to a feature by DesignBoom on cassette tape culture. Link (via)

Promo video for Madlib’s Beat Konducta Vol. 3-4. Having sat through many Bollywood movies, this touches a soft spot on my funny bone. (via)