I’ve never been a movie buff, so taking my word where American Gangster ranks amongst Denzel’s best work should come with a grain of salt. However, anytime a director can create an enjoyable film about drug dealing with an A-List actor, that’s a win-win in my book. Read the rest of this entry »

Nothing earth-shattering but these types of vids always intrigue because of each individual’s interpretation. This clip by Greg Solenström nails it by combining stills of Brooklyn with the lyrics to Jay’s borough dedication. Read the rest of this entry »

Chances are the majority of people will never live the life Hip-Hop’s self-proclaimed king, Jay-Z, happens to lead. That’s not to say he doesn’t vividly portray it in his rhymes of elite  grandeur living either. Depending who you ask, it’s a cross between a sign of maturity and a sign he wants to separate himself from the very public which adores him. Regardless, the quality of his product still manages to satisfy most. Looking beyond his string of hit songs, “hidden gems” find themselves as some of his more enjoyable records. Take “Party Life” for example.

Found on 2007′s American Gangster, the song showcased a lifestyle the title alluded to. Celebrity friends, fast living and more money than one could ever imagine litter this ode to success. Slightly different from the original, a blended remixed version co-starring the late Marvin Gaye afforded the song and entirely new perspective while keeping the same feel. The nostalgic aurora allows one to bask in the glory of their own personal accomplishments, regardless of magnitude. So the next time you reach a memorable milestone in life, cue this record and vibe out. As he put it, “roll up a tight lil’ J, drink some wine whatever your vice is, ya know?”

Above all, “Party Life” authenticated Jay was right on one thing. You couldn’t knock the hustle it took to get him there.

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Download — Jay-Z Feat. Marvin Gaye – “Party Life”

As a consumer, three of my favorite things are…

1. The fresh smell of opening a new pair of Nike’s.

2. Poppin’ a tag off of a ‘Lo shirt.

3. Picking up vinyl in all of it’s oversized, colorful glory.

Don’t get it twisted. I still like buying some CDs but vinyl is a different experience, especially the purchasing of it. I try to stay away from buying online, preferring the to go into the store, quiet as libraries & full of like minded music lovers engaging in the elbow-to-elbow art of digging. “Spelunkers of sound” as I like to call my fellow diggers.

My love affair with vinyl has been off and on but always life long. It started as a kid, always diggin’ thru my dad’s sparse collection as well as all of the crates my uncle had as a DJ. In the mid 90′s when my grandad closed his nightclub, JM & I put together a few dollars, bought my uncle’s Technics…and a garage half-full of records, spanning genres, sizes and decades. Love affair reborn. Until I left those motherfuckers in JM’s care while I was away for a while & the collection seemingly grew legs. Love lost.

Until the past year or so.

Currently, I don’t even have a turntable to play my records on. But by my logic, I consider all of these purchases as if I were courting Alicia Keys. I save up so that once or so a month, I can take an excursion to one of the few vinyl haunts in town, our “date” of sorts. I wine & dine with her, splurging lovely. She hasn’t given me any yet, as in I haven’t bought a turntable. But soon I will and with all of these records sitting here with me, it will be a heavenly experience. I will unwrap & play record after record…and then play another record.

Yesterday, I made one of those dates by killing some time before an appointment. It was planned. I had set aside allotted spending money for whatever I might find & let my fingers do the rest. Below you will find pics of my bounty. No real rhyme or reason to what I bought. I don’t pretend to be a connoisseur; my pics are indiscriminate & instinctive. I saw it, I checked the price first, then the condition. If I wanted it, I grabbed it. Done deal.

Juan had ALL of these on vinyl when we were kids.

I have no intentions of deejaying a party so I rarely by 12″ singles. But this, this was a small piece of history. At .99¢, I’ll take it. Read the rest of this entry »