SXSW should be fun.

If not, I’ll be glad it’s over either way. Or, I think I’m just glad the actual event is starting rather.

What you see is a bevy of flyers and announcements being posted daily, telling you go here, make sure you RSVP, etc. etc. Choices, choices, choices make this all seem a music lover’s dream & it is. I can’t remember who it was, but someone sent me a message telling me how much they were anticipating the festival and planned on using my unabridged recap from last year as their survival guide. Let me forewarn that it’s going to take more than that, but it’s still fun unmatched, even for an old fogey like myself.

Behind the scenes though, it’s complete and utter fuckin’ Chaos (capital C).

Emails, phone calls, schedules and itineraries. Accommodations & thank you’s. And inevitably, there will still be mistakes. Midweek, I got an early reminder that we completely left Diz’s name off our original flyer (ouch) and his manager sent over a reminder (and we still love him for doing his job and keeping us on our toes). There’s been plenty of fuckups behind the scenes. But since this one was technically done publicly, there was a small serving of freshly served crow for us all. Yeah, cool says that you don’t tell when you make mistakes or say “boy, we sure did work hard.” Yet, today, it feels appropriate.

So this post is for Diz. Sorry fam. Sad too because, honestly, he was one of the performers I was looking forward to seeing after he tore down our A3C stages a while back. For such a diminutive dude, the guy controls the mic with the voice and stage presence of a giant. Usually, he’s broadcasting live via satellite from Planet Dizzy. But on Thursday, he’ll be in the building with us. Whamp whamp!

Also, if anyone knows Twitter user @TwoHundredBars, tell him/her to holler. They won two VIP wristbands in our Twitter giveaway.

Annddd, the homies @ One Neck, Two Chains have a nice lineup going for Wednesday if you’re in town and around. RMF-approved.

FINALLY, let’s run a headcount (||) to see who’s going to be in attendance. Drop a comment yo! Let’s see who’s leaving their keyboard and computer chair for a few days. Leave your name and address so we can send someone to rob your house while you’re away (hey, gotta recoup somehow).

And if you’re not going, we don’t fret. We still may have a few spades up our sleeve for your benefit too.

MCs get your bars ready. One of Hip-Hop’s favorite sample-subjects just got a super dope treatment thank to Jacktown’s own Mr. Nick. He’s been concocting amazing backdrops for rappers across the city, now it’s your turn to spit over his tracks.

Here’s the deal: download the mixtape. Listen. Enjoy. Try to figure out the samples. And if you like it, just drop whatever amount of cash you want to show your support. Especially if you put one of these tracks on your new mixtape, Mr. Upcoming MC. Read the rest of this entry »

For as much shit as I talk about pop music, I still find myself enthralled by the bouncy backdrops from a few of these cheesy pieces of congeniality. The driving drum tracks accompanying the synth symphonies are neck-breaking and if overexposed divas like Britney and GaGa didn’t get first dibs, I’d probably give them the allotted bang they deserve. But, I try not to support fame monsters.

Nena Yvonne, however, her music’s still safe.

Even though this 21-year-old Big Apple beauty is only ‘emerging’ on the pop scene, her production is on par with her Clear Channel counterparts, allowing for stubborn music cynics like myself to get past the initial screening and actually enjoy the flyness being flaunted. “Don’t Know Me” is a perfect example. This featured track from her Model Citizen EP might not be the most vocally evoking, but it’s beat could be 2010′s version of “Sweet Dreams” and should be good enough to put Nena on par with the Cassie’s of the world. Read the rest of this entry »

Man, I don’t give a damn what TC says, the Bone Thugs are still good in my book.

Cleveland’s favorite fivesome has been heavy promoting their ninth album Uni5: The World’s Enemy with a steady flow of borderline bangers and have now put forth maybe the best of the bunch. “I’m Gone” finds the Bone boys’ sounding smooth as ever over a radio-ready single that’s as optimistic as a half-full glass of Hennesey and promotes the prolonged living that come as a result of prayer and persistence.

Definitely more of a “If I Could Teach The World,” than a “Mo Murda,” which is completely appropriate considering these vets have been miced up for twenty years.

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Download — Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – “I’m Gone”

At a recent Atlanta performance, Motion Family’s cameras catch Yela performing “Good To Go” and B.o.B. & Playboy Tre running through “Bet I” for the hometown crowd. That’s the factual stuff.

What I actually saw was a performer who’s eclipsed what he was already able to do last year, and do it independently for the most part. His (and his team’s) work ethic and ability to draw large audiences to shows basically Read the rest of this entry »

It’s around this time each year when people begin looking for the potential “summer anthem.” Between now and the start of September, they’ll be a list of candidates vying for the title, some with more credentials than others. Maybe the Party Boyz are this year’s version of the GS Boyz, but the remix to their single “Flex” featuring T-Pain and Waka Flocka (aka Keith “Flocka” Sweat) is one of those records which’ll probably be despised online, but adored in party atmospheres. A hard hitting instrumental, plus a catchy ass chorus and two guest features from known artists may prove to be their recipe for summertime success. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s a well known fact that 360 Deals are pretty much the norm these days for any artist wanting to align with a major label. Mainly out of curiosity I’ve always wanted to see how one broke down, because outside of ponying up for recording costs, what else can you say a major label does for an artist? They don’t develop them anymore; instead stepping in after the artist has some semblance of a following and selling them a dream. Read the rest of this entry »

So, Steve Jobs sold 120,000 iPads on Friday.

If I remember correctly, his iPhone/iBook merger ticketed for around $600. And if my phone’s calculator calculations add up, that means Apple earned $72 million dollars of revenue in one day off one product. A product that doesn’t even hit stores until April 3rd, mind you. Read the rest of this entry »

Julissa

Seven Alternatives To The Apple iPad [Crunch Gear]

Should People Have Guns at Starbucks? [Time]

Neb. Man Too Drunk For DUI Sentencing [AP News]

The Story Behind The Product Placements In Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” Video [Idolator]

6Q: Jayson Blair, Former Journalist [Gunaxin]

Amber Rose Arches Her Back Like An Alley Cat [Global Grind] Read the rest of this entry »

The success of Modern Warfare has made the Call of Duty series one of the biggest game franchises out now. It’s also responsible for attracting more idiots to online gaming. For instance, get a load of this flick’s parody of the typical hardcore COD couch champion. While I play my fair share of vidya games and blurt out obscenities, I’m far from this dude’s aggro level: especially for a board game. Sophomoric humor aside, I’ll let you pick apart the quotables since there’s an abundant amount. Just take a long look in the mirror if his griefing looks like something you would do over a friendly game of Monopoly.

Then we discover that the asshole protagonist has a name (Aaron) and hasn’t grasped the art of face to face communication just yet. This romp isn’t as funny as the last one, but the 1:51 mark made me chuckle, his hiking on the WoW player wasn’t bad and the ending made it worth a click. It just goes to show that there’s a sliver of hope for our hero just yet.

In other news congrats to Darius Sinclair™, TSS’ resident Modern Warfare stan, for recently becoming prestiged. You’re better off not knowing what that means.

Like a bat out of hell, Lady Gaga added a bit of spice to what was shaping up to be somewhat of a mundane week.  Perhaps at some point down the line either her or Beyoncé will let us in on the inside joke that is her “Telephone” video.  Until then we’ll find some reason to soldier on through her nine minute visual conundrum.  Here’s what else went down: Read the rest of this entry »

“Precious” star Gabby Sidibe had quite a week for herself, making an Oscar appearance and being lauded by Oprah. In a short matter of time, Howard Stern was doing his best to swipe the wind beneath her wings. Stern went all in by saying her time in Hollywood was limited, referring to her as “the most enormous, fat black chick” he’s ever seen and going so far as to say she was “too fat” to have a career (feel free to listen here). All-around ouch. Read the rest of this entry »

I didn’t watch very much basketball this week. I was in full disgruntled mode after Syracuse took the L (again) versus Louisville last weekend and the Orange turned around to lose against arch rival Georgetown in the Big East tournament. After those two losses, I didn’t care if the word “basketball” was eliminated from the English language. I’m not even worried about my bracket. I’m pissed my favorite squad’s momentum is headed in the wrong direction @ the most inopportune time of year and their starting center is looking hobbled. Read the rest of this entry »

When I saw Neil last November, he told me a couple of his “don’t say nothing” ideas & plans. Little did he know he didn’t have to worry; I have the memory and retention of a snail. The adidas collaborative project with Star Wars? One that stuck with me since there’s the whole dislike I have of adidas that lead to me ribbin’ Neil for being affiliated with such wackness. Of course, that idea came to fruition & worked well for all parties involved, bolstered by the commercial with Neil and others plus the wild publicity Snoop garnered by trooping NYC with Darth Vader.

Another idea on the hush was his plans to compile a mix that documented Jay’s Blueprint series, bringing back a few of the hits, spotlighting a few of the influences and sample sources, etc. Since he’s not on this leg of the The BP3 tour (a missing element, for sure), it looks like Neil finally had a chance to put together the mix and The DNA Of The Blueprint is the final outcome of his original idea. I saw it posted on several sites last week, most giving it favorable coverage while others didn’t hold it in regard with Neil’s previous mixes (Jay-Z backlash by association, maybe?). Moi? Obviously, I’m obviously biased, my listening perspective favoring both Jay’s music and Neil’s mixes.

“This project is my personal way of putting a distinctive bookmark in this chapter in my life, and a way to pass a sincere thank you to Jay-Z, Mr. Sean Carter, for all of the memories, the opportunity to rock on stage as an artist with him around the world, and for the kindness to me as a person. You know I had to do it in my language; a thank you in music. Read the rest of this entry »

“Between your future and your present…Between what’s real and what’s fake…Between where you are and where you want to be…Lies the Land of Make Believe.”

KITH “The Introlude” gets the One Shot treatment courtesy of Nah Right & Court Dunn. With the camera angles, my mind was thrown back to HBO’s old Taxicab Confessions, minus listening to a cheap hooker rattle on about her pimp. Read the rest of this entry »