Late Night With Jimmy Fallon is still on the air for two reasons.

1: To prove that God has a sense of humor.  There are roughly 6,755,987,238 people more qualified to helm that show.

2. God’s also a fan of The Roots and he felt it was time for them to become stationary and for the people to come to them.  They’ve paid their dues tenfold and if the show must go on for them to do that, so be it.

So keep up the good work Jimmy! Read the rest of this entry »

The big homie House Shoes sent this over the other day and I’ve been selfish in hogging this for myself; using it to put a bit of dirt back on my soul after having it sweetened by the plethora of rappers selling out for 15 seconds of fame on the R&B route. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s inevitable every box office smash churns out a sequel. Who is Iron Man to screw with tradition? There’s a reason superheroes keep their identity withheld and Tony Starks is going to learn the hard way with Whiplash aiming to get all S&M on him. Read the rest of this entry »

In a little over two years, Jay Electronica has managed to captivate audiences one computer at a time. At first we got a grip of dope Loosies that came out of nowhere. Those were followed by masterful Exhibits that commanded listeners to pull up & ponder “what if” like the old days. Looking back it really looked like Je’Ri would drop an album sometime in ‘09. I was doubtful as this scenario is all too familiar. Rapper X drops a bunch of songs, gets good press then for whatever reasons falls into the pits of obscurity. Plus industry rule #4080 is alive more than ever even though the biz is fumbling about. Still, I left that shred of hope stand strong despite the odds.

It’s December 2009. Have you seen a Jay Electronica album?  Nope.  c’mon son! © Ed Lover. What’s the problem if the boy can rap?

Well, the issue here may be the irregular leaks WILL catch up to him if he and his people can’t get the ball rolling on releasing a record. I’m not in a true position to discuss his work ethic or the goings on behind the scenes, because I honestly have no idea. All I can look at are the cold hard facts: the sparse, sporadically leaked mp3s I have on my computer. If Jay keeps going down this road his fan base will move on to greener pastures. Hip-Hop fans are more fickle than ever so he’s fortunate to garner this much attention without much content to show for it.  It’s one thing to whet the appetites of your fans, leaving them anticipating. But it’s another thing to drop them off in the middle of The Sahara with a Capri Sun and a compass.

He won’t set the internet ablaze with Exhibit Zed until 2015 if he continues at his current pace.

Jay, let’s make 2010 right with a bar-coded project.  I could care less if it does Walt Williams numbers. I just want to buy it, play it and enjoy the LP. Not to speak on behalf of Jay Elec fans worldwide but it wouldn’t be a stretch to say we’ve been more than patient.

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Download — Jay Electronica – “Exhibit C”

Buy it on iTunes

Kobe had 39 points last night but none more important than the final two with the clock winding down in OT, giving the Lakers the W over the Bucks. A few minutes previous, Mr. Mamba missed a nearly identical shot to end it in regulation. Redemption served…on ice if you’re a Bucks fan.

LOL @ Odom jumping around like a fourth grade schoolgirl immediately after the shot. SMH @ the Bucks’ announcer saying “Miss it!”

The messenger Michael Luther King speaks with Hip-Hop Wired. I’m not telling you what’s on here. Just watch and listen; be entertained and educated.

Grind Time Rap Gang. Bang, Bang, Bang!

[HHW]

If this is what reincarnation is about, KING makes the prospect seem sweet. Rosa Acosta on the cover the once-dead mag’s comeback issue. Click to enlarge or just right click > save as and you’ve got your new desktop wallpaper. Muwaaah!

Seen @ Dynasty Series

Hey, Ma Rei

Amazon Ships Lil Wayne’s Rebirth Months Ahead Of Street Date [Billboard]

Is Nicki Minaj The Black Lady Gaga? [Necole Bitchie]

McDonald’s To Add Free Wi-Fi To Its Menu [Paid Content]

Oddest Headlines of 2009 [Newsweek]

Erin Andrews Fingers Her Perp [With Leather] Read the rest of this entry »

Aaron LaCrate does everything. If you’re not familiar, try Googling him. The short end is that he’s a DJ, an entrepreneur and founder of Milkcrate Athletics. He’s also a native of East Baltimore. So when HBO decided they needed fresh shirts made to acknowledge The Crew’s favorite show, who better to commission than LaCrate to lay the designs down? And when LaCrate wanted to give a few away, who better to contact than us? And who better for us to share them with than you? Read the rest of this entry »

Never in my life did I imagine that MTV could make me laugh more than The Office.

I understand everyone is entitled to their opinion. It’s what allows me to stand up on the soapbox and express my thoughts.  But I also realize that whenever I put my thoughts to the keyboard, they are fair game for whoever to scrutinize and pick apart at their discretion. So they can call So Far Gone the best mixtape of the year (& one of the best of all time), I tipped my hat to them and thought “they finally got something right.”  It’s still debatable, but not out of the question.  Besides, we like to debate around here.

Then they had to put out the rest of the best mixtape list.  But they didn’t just pull out the soap box to give their decree, they sat all 300 pounds of their corporate influence in the dunk tank and picked some unassuming 5-year-old from the crowd to throw the ball at the target.  We all know what happens next…

“It’s all in the game, yo” © Omar

Read the rest of this entry »

Rae’s daydreaming of Nino @ the Carter with the theme for this visual short for OB4CLII‘s “Pyrex Vision.”

[OS]

If Patta keeps crankin’ out fire AM1 designs, they’re going to really cut into the Christmas giving for those expecting gifts from sneakerheads. Four pair up, four dope pairs down. I’ve accepted the idea that I may not get the blue cord pair and now they rub it in my face by releasing a nice black denim upper with touches of green accents, metal eyelets and a gumsole. Just pure insult to injury. Read the rest of this entry »

Enough with the rapper posse cuts. Let the DJs have the spotlight for a few minutes of your time. Jayceeoh sent over this 12-man DJ posse cut that’s worth its weight in gold.

“Last month I was in Vancouver and was going through some new joints and came across the “Go Off” track… The beat to me was asking for cuts on it… I had been kickin it with my homies Hedspin and Marvel and thought, ‘Yo we should do a quick cut track over this beat.’ So I chopped up the beat and sequenced it to 8-bars / hook and so forth… After we started messing with it we thought it would be dope to get a couple other people on this… So I reached out to a few people and so did my canadian comrades… Within two days I had a Dream Team of DJs on board… At that point I figured I might as well make it an even 12 DJs. Was a good number for a DJ track… Then finally on my last stop of the Canada tour I did a show with Scratch (from the Roots) in Saskatoon. I told him about the track and he was down to lay his beatbox/cuts on the intro … Icing on the cake… This track is a throwback to the good ol days when cuts were encouraged and praised. The Roster of DJs is as official as it gets…(R.I.P. Roc Raida)”

For those keeping count, here’s a list of the cast of characters and their affiliations. Just cue the track and enjoy.

Jayceeoh (Super 7, Masters) (NYC/LA/PIT)
Scratch (Of The Roots) (Philly)
Skratch Bastid (2003-04 x 2007 Scribble Jam Champ) (Toronto)
Shiftee (2007 x 2009 DMC World Champ) (NYC)
Hedspin (Eh! Team DJs) (Vancouver)
Dopey (2003 DMC World Champ) (Toronto)
Mat The Alien (Whistler)
Marvel (The Freshest) (Vancouver)
I-Dee (2006 US DMC Champ) (Miami)
Spryte (ITF World Scrtaching Champ 2001) (LA)
DJ Excel (Skratch Makaniks) (Philly/LA)
Wundrkut (2006 Canadian DMC Champ) (Vancouver)

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Download — DJ Jayceeoh, Scratch, Skratch Bastid, Shiftee, Headspin, Dopey, Mat The Alien, I-Dee, Spryte & DJ Excel Wundrkut – “Go Off”

This came out a few weeks back, and I was planning on keeping it to myself like a secret gem in my safe keeping for forever and ever, Amen. But eff it; the world deserves its mastery.

I have few words to describe it other than for me, Andy and Co. have outdone themselves over at SNL (which is still a funny show, by the by.) This is just three minutes of quotables that I now say to myself on the daily…i.e. when a lobbyist gets in my face, “I ain’t gonna be part of your system,” or someone complains about my story, they just get a “Groooouuund!” Please also apply as you see fit to your daily goings on.

Enjoy. And you’re welcome.

It’s probably not what you’re expecting as Green injects a nice burst of creative energy into Alicia’s “Empire…” Part 2. Read the rest of this entry »