Gobble Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving, homies
Ohio Players - "Jive Turkey" [Skin Tight, 1974]

DJ K-Swift - "Pork Chops and Onion Gravy" [Club Queen Vol. 3, 2001]

Deep Thoughts

After a couple days of listening, I have reached a conclusion about 808s & Heartbreak. The whole album is this scene from Forgetting Sarah Marshall, with slightly higher production value. For the record, I love both.

Blaqstarr ft. Rye Rye - "In The Mood"

Jake One ft. Brother Ali & Freeway - "The Truth"

Directed by Rik Cordero

Some outtakes from the interview I did with him.

J: Did you go to film school?
R: No.
J: Completely self trained?
R: Ha, yeah. I actually went to New York Institute of Technology for computer graphics. I think growing up I was, I thought I would be like my dad, you know, an architect or doing something with math or engineering. And I think I always just gravitated towards the arts, and as a kid I would steal my Dad's camcorder. And back then it was these big, huge VHS camcorders, they were like three pounds and ridiculous. And I would sneak that out and I made like four movies with my friends. The first thing I made actually, when I was like twelve or thirteen, was a movie called "The Deranged Fan", and it was about these two DJs from New York who get stalked by this fan in Hawaii. This really ridiculous plot, but it was kind of just experimenting with the visual medium and you know, I think I've always gravitated towards that. And I guess my first official project was a feature film in 2004. That was called "Mend". It was about direct consumer drug advertising. I guess everything that I did as a kid, and doing a lot of production work, I went in to a lot of production houses right out of school, doing computer graphics and stuff like that.
J: What makes a film-maker?
R: I think being able to... It's an obsession, like any kind of art form is. For me, it's just dabbling in design and music and everything. It's an education in everything. From lighting, from photography, audio, to psychology, to everything. And it's just a combination of all those things. I find it to be the most challenging art form. It's a collection of everything, and how do you execute all that stuff in just a few hours. I think that's what really talented filmmakers embrace. I once read that the glamor of directing is walking around is walking around feeling like your head is about to explode. That's really it, but it's fun. When you get through it, you're not sure what happened, but something happened. And trusting your instincts and stuff like that, but it's a rush. It's really an incredible feeling. Especially when you're not waiting for money to do something. When it's all in your hands. I've always been interested in just getting those things out.
J: Would you consider yourself a workaholic?
R: Um, yeah. I think there's this idea that you can't stop perpetual energy. There's a work ethic that I definitely adhere to. It's a discipline, it's a lifestyle. There's a lot of things that you have to sacrifice in order to do this. It's not a normal day's living, but once you get used to it, it's all you know. That's the same with anything.
J: Are you a location scout too?
R: I wouldn't go that far, but growing up in New York, you know little places and little nooks that you can shoot something cool in. I'm interested in the places that you would never think to shoot. Especially for New York artists, there are ways to shoot a New York artist in ways that feel New York without having to shoot in front of Times Square or parked in front of the projects. There are so many so many areas. I just love to explore that. Pretty much all you need to see is a red wall or a banister in a brownstone to know that you're in New York. You don't have to hit anyone in the head.

Bed, Bath and Beyond

Water is as hazardous to a pimp as it is to a witch. Sure gators get raised in water, but a torrential downpour can keep a track empty, not to mention, ruin a pimp’s pretty-ass perm. However, hanging out all day at the pad, counting money and touching women lets a little part of his soul shrivel up. But before you get out on the block and feel alive putting five fingers to face again, you gotta’ regain that glorious glow. Great pimps are born and not made, so it’s only natural that the newest beautician to revolutionize the game is one of God’s creatures. But even if your great, great, great grandfather wasn’t a pimp, you now have a chance to make up that bankrupt bloodline by catching up to track stars with a quick dip in some refreshing waters inhabited by a pimp’s best friend.

Garra rufa AKA the Doctor Fish is a species of fish native to Central and Northern parts of The Middle East, that feed on the dead skin of animals. Think Night of the Living Dead meets Discovery Channel’s special on tiny fish. Although the fish have been pimping and pampering for centuries in their native Turkey, spas that utilize the fish’s special talents began popping up last year in Korea and Japan. The fish, which measure about one inch in length, have no teeth, and like a good ho, use suction to satisfy their daddy.

So, if you’ve been out all night in your fresh Gators gettin’ that money, then you’re bound to have some fish food ready to be feasted upon by the hungry little critters. Even if your major money maker's feet got corns on ’em, you don’t have to toss her out the stable, just send her to the spa. That’s you and your hoes helping uphold the delicate balance of our glorious ecosystem.

It’s important to keep the pimp hand strong, but to keep it soft is divine. Now that that task is as simple as 1-2-3, it’s time to look to the future. Sick of the paper shredder jamming on those records and reports? How about a nice domesticated mountain goat to chew up and shit out the dangerous documents. A pimp’s life is a selfish and lonely one. An enormous, wise vulture would be a perfect companion for a pimp to divulge the trails and tribulations of preying on vulnerable, defenseless and abandoned creatures. Assholes.

From Mass Appeal #49

We Ready, We Ready

I've been waiting for an excuse to post this picture since I saw it on Government Names a while ago, and then I realized, who the fuck needs an excuse to post some Scottie B shit?

DJ Unk - "In Yo Face" (Scottie B. Remix)


The sample: Lyn Collins - "Think (About It)" [Polydor, 1972] (The "Think" break is also used in "It Takes 2", and a shitload of other club tracks)

Blaq Moses

Photo courtesy of: Jimmy Fontaine

Fresh back from a trip down to Philly and Baltimore. Caught the Mad Decent show in Philly (shouts to Wen and the other McJawners) where I saw Bmore's own DJ Blaqstarr while he was spinning alongside Diplo. The next day, waiting on the bus headed to the 410, and who boards but Blaq himself. We know each other from this article, so we politicked throughout the ride. He is mad down to earth and totally chill. Among other things (like the heavy-metal project he is working on with a dude he met in Guitar Center), we talked about what kind of music he bumps.

Contents of Blaqstarr's 6 CD changer
- TI
- Jeezy
- Sade
- 3 CDs of his own rough cuts

He also talked about how much he loves UGK's Super Tight..., as well as "Let Me See It", off of Dirty Money. This dude is the truth, watch him blow up in the next couple years. Yes, I've made this same prediction many times, but it's not my fault America's got bad taste.

Boss Hogg Status

There are a few dudes in this rap game I could listen to no matter what their spitting over, about, whatever. One is Lil' Boosie, and the other is Thugga. Matter of fact, I could listen to Slim Thug say "Slim Thugga muthafucka'" for hours on end. No homo. Peep this new track produced by Jim Jonsin, who stays winning.

Slim Thug - "I Run"

This Looks Amazing

Van Damme returns... as Van Damme. Dope music selection as well.

Baby Huey - "Hard Times" [The Living Legend, 1971]

Ten-A-Fucking-Key

Time for another installment of "rap music from different states" (working title). This go-around, we highlight the wonderfully creepy sounds of Tennessee, mostly Memphis. I had to throw some Haystak in there, too, who's actually from Nashville. I was planning on putting this up by Halloween, but fuck it, shit's still dope.

VICTORY

It is an amazing feeling to know that we will soon have a minority in the White House. Everyone that voted, and all the volunteers out there, like Dorey in New Mexico, thank you. We have made history, and everyone should be proud. Baby steps to better days.

Way Down In The Hole

The much anticipated Blaqstarr / MIA rendition of The Wire's theme song. Dope.
Spotted at catchdubs

Cottamn!

I haven't really processed Black Milk's new album, "Tronic" yet, but this shit is hot fire.

Black Milk - "Long Story Short" [Tronic, 2008]

Making Blunts Disappear Like I'm Whodini

I'm just gonna start posting dope songs so I can listen to them at work and still look like I'm doing shit.

Mac Dre ft. Young Dru - "Mafioso" [Al Boo Boo, 2003]

Buju Banton - "Single Parent" [Inna Heights, 1997]

Bad Brains - Leaving Babylon [Bad Brains, 1982]

Wiz Khalifa - Pittsburgh Sound [Show And Prove, 2007]

Throwback, son

One of the best parts from the illest skate video ever. Music is top notch as well.

Shake It To The Ground

This video is mad old, but it is seriously the best music video in recent years. As a breakout Club track, one of the first to reach outside of Bmore, it keeps it SO grassroots. With shoutouts to homemade videos like this, the video is Baltimore. Cameos by Scottie B and locales in the Harbor and Blaq's neighborhood make this shit amazing.