CRS - Us Placers Video

A little late to the party in posting this. But it seemed like a perfect way to wrap up the year in music - bringing together the mixtape scene, the emergence of mashups and the biggest musicians of the year.

CRS (hip hop supergroup consisting of Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell Williams) drop rhymes over 'The Eraser' by Thom Yorke of Radiohead.



Download: Child Rebel Stars - Us Placers

Download: Kanye West - Can't Tell Me Nothin Mixtape (link in comments)

Happy Xmas !

This song was written by John Lennon almost 40 years ago but the message still resonates today.


Download: John Lennon - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

More Censorship Fuckery

Sri Lankan artist M.I.A. sent a passionate ALL CAPS open letter to her fans in response to the version of her video for Paper Planes that is now playing on MTV, which censors out the sound of gunshots.

LOOK I KNOW THERE ARE HATERS OUT THERE, I DEAL WITH IT EVERYDAY THATS NO FUCKING BIG DEAL AND IVE DEALT WITH WORSE IN MY LIFE, A FEW PEOPLE TALKING SHIT DONT MATTER TO ME, BUT TWISTING TRUTH ISNT THE LESSON I WANNA LEARN IN MY TIME IN MUSIC, SO WHO EVER THAT IS DOING IT , I WANNA SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT

1, I ORIGINALLY WANTED TO SHOOT THE VIDEO IN A FACTORY ON THE BORDER OF
EQUADOR, BUT COULDNT. I WAS TOURING THE U.S, I COULDA BEEN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD RIGHT THEN BUT THERE I WAS IN AMERICA, IN NYC, IN BROOKLYN, IN BEDSTUY , I WAS TORN BETWEEN SCRAPIN SHOWS IN AMERICA AND MEETING AMERICAN FANS OR SHOOTING IN NYC ON MY ONLY DAY OFF I'D HAD IN 4 MONTHS AND GETTING ON WITH IT.

2, SO THAT WAS THAT! I NEVER MADE A VIDEO IN AMERICA AND HEY ITS STILL A PART OF WHAT I DO AND SAY, ITS WAS STILL VALID, SO I WAS READY TO ROLL WITH IT.

3, YOU ALL KNOW HOW THE SONG SOUNDS, THATS WHY WHEN U GO ON YOUTUBE 400, 000 PEOPLE WOULD RATHER LISTEN THE SONG AS IT IS AND STARE AT SOME PICTURE THEN TO ACTUALLY WATCH A VIDEO

4, WHEN LETTERMAN CENSORD ME IT WAS WAC OF COURSE!!!!!! , AND YES I FELT SOOOOOO BAD FOR WHAT THEY DID TO MY SOUND. I WAS ABEL TO SOUND CHECK FOR THAT SHOW AND THEY LET ME SOUND CHECK FINE, THEN ON THE ACTUAL TAPING MY SOUND WAS SOOO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT ID AGREED, AS SOON AS I OPENED MY MOUTH THE DIFFERENCE BLEW ME AWAY, I FELT I WAS GETTING BULLIED ON NATIONAL TELEVISON, AND I COULDNT EVEN REACH OUT TO MY LABELS OR MY MANAGEMENT TO HELP, SINCE THEY ARE NEW TO WHAT HAPPENS TO AN ARTIST LIKE ME IN MAINSTEAM AMERICAN CULTURE.


SO THEY TRIED TO SHUT ME DOWN AGAIN. I MADE THE PAPER PLANES VIDEO. I MADE IT HOW THEY WANTED. NO VIOLENCE. AMBIGUOUS. MTV - FRIENDLY. NOW TODAY, I CHECK YOUTUBE AND SEE THE LEAKED MTV PAPER PLANES VIDEO UP FOR THE FIRST TIME. I CLICKED ON IT AND OUT COMES THIS FUCKED UP MESS WITH DOUBLE-TRACKED BULLSHIT MESS

WHO THE THE FUCK IS DOING THIS TO ME?????

THE VIDEO WAS SABOTAGED FOR WHATEVER REASON AND IM DISAPPOINTED THAT MTV HAS HAD SUCH A MAJOR ROLE IN THIS. THE BLOGGERS WHO ARE LAZY ENOUGH TO FOLLOW THE MTV LINK AND POST UP AND COMMENT ON THE SOUND WHEN THAT HASNT BEEN COMPROMISED AND THE GUNSHOT ARENT REPLACED AND EDITED MAKES ME SAD. I DID FIGHT FOR THE SOUND , BECAUSE PUTTING MEANINGS IN YOUR VIDEOS, IN MY OPINION IS A DYING ART. I CAN FILM MY SELF ANYWHERE ANYTIME AND LET YOU KNOW THE TRUTH , BUT THE SONG IS WHAT I WANTED TO PRESERVE IN THIS CASE.

TO ALL MY FANS, LOOK, ITS LIKE THIS,
IM LEARNING THINGS ABOUT THIS WORLD WITH YOU, I WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO ME , I WANT YOU TO SEE HOW PEOPLE WILL SIT AND SPEND ALL SUNDAY TEARIN ME DOWN FOR SOMETHING I DIDNT EVEN MAKE OR PUT OUT, SO PEOPLE WELCOME TO MODERN DAY PROPAGANDA MESSAGE MANGLING.

IN 2007, AN OUTSIDER OPINION WILL BE CONFRONTED THIS WAY , AND THIS IS HOW THE BATTLE GOES, MY MESSAGES AND IDEAS AND MEANING WILL ALWAYS BE BROUGHT TO YOU WITH SLIGHTLY TAINTED CHANNELS. IF YOU SUPPORT ME BE SMART, AND KNOW THAT.

I LOVE YOU, U KEEP ME GOING.
XXXXXX
MAYA

HERE IS THE REAL AMERICAN VERSION WITH GUN SHOTS!



THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN "APPROVED CENSORD VERSION" OF PAPER PLANES!

Whatever you think of her politics and her music, you can't deny that the girl is raw as hell and is not afraid to speak her mind. In attempting to tailor her video to meet FCC standards, MTV has drawn more attention to a much more important issue.

The problem with such a blanket censorship policy is that no room is left for parody or any commentary to take place on real life issues. Whether or not MTV wants you to hear gunshots in your music, the truth is that violence is a real issue in our world. Just turn on the evening news. Nevermind the explosions-as-entertainment, Jerry Bruckheimer/50 Cent type of violence, we live in a worldwide war zone, divided by religion, politics and money. M.I.A. addresses these issues in a way that is confrontational and makes some uncomfortable. But like a true revolutionary, she raises awareness of the issues and may have sparked the conversation that leads to change.

Download: Nancy Sinatra - Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)

Year in Review : Top 10 Albums

I was tortured by making this list, changing it around daily for the past two weeks. I even considered just throwing out ten albums with no numbers, but that takes all of the fun out of a list. So here it goes, not a perfect list by any means but 10 albums that are definitely worth picking up.

Kid Che sez:
t1. Radiohead - In Rainbows
t1. Antibalas - Security
3. Pharoahe Monch - Desire
4. J Dilla (Jay Dee) - Ruff Draft
5. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
6. M.I.A. - Kala
7. Blockhead - Uncle Tony's Coloring Book
8. The Heliocentrics - Out There
9. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
10. Talib Kweli & Madlib - Liberation

HM: Manu Chao, Blu & Exile, Koop, Mark Ronson, Little Brother, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

Like Ringo said, I got a little help from my friends hoping that their lists would help with some variety or a consensus.

Eclectic Extraordinaire Diana W sez:
1. Radiohead - In Rainbows
2. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights
3. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
4. Gui Boratto - Chromophobia
5. Blu and Exile - Below the Heavens
6. The Black Lips - Good Bad Not Evil
7. Trentemoller - the Last Resort
8. Brother Ali - the Undisputed Truth
9. Datarock - Datarock Datarock
10. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Slap Johnson sez:
1. Radiohead - In Rainbows
2. Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends
3. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
4. M.I.A. - Kala
5. Pharoahe Monch - Desire
6. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
7. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights
8. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
9. Feist - The Reminder
10. The National - Boxer

Furious George sez:
1. Tegan and Sara - The Con
2. Justice - Cross
3. Blonde Redhead - 23
4. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
5. Menomena - Friend or Foe
6. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
7. !!! - Myth Takes
8. Radiohead - In Rainbows
9. Fujiya & Miyagi - Transparent Things
t10. Metric - Grow Up and Blow Away
t10. The Shins - Wincing the Night Away

Some interesting patterns did emerge. Radiohead killed it in 2007. Arcade Fire, M.I.A., Sharon Jones and LCD Soundsystem got some major love. While Kanye West, Justice and Amy Winehouse did not quite get the love that I expected. Blu & Exile and Pharoahe Monch are severely slept on by most mainstream critics. And no one else thought Antibalas dropped one of the best albums of the year? Really?

Download: The Beatles - With a Little Help From My Friends

Broken Glass Everywhere ...

Welcome Home LA, a public art project initiated by USC students, uses LED lights to create windows along the bleak streets of Skid Row.

"We want to utilize public art and the reproduction and documentation of public art to bring attention to marginalized urban space," the Welcome Home LA website explains. "These images, which allude to homes, human presence, security and comfort, will be juxtaposed with the urban spaces and bring attention to the lack of all of these qualities in these spaces. The symbol of windows also alludes to research which reveals that areas with a high crime rate have more broken windows."



Photo: taken from the Welcome Home LA website

Download: Mick Boogie & Busta Rhymes (feat. Q-Tip & Talib Kweli) - Lightworks

Murakami at the MOCA

I got a chance to visit the Takashi Murakami exhibit this past weekend at the MOCA in Downtown LA. Murakami has garnered notoriety by colorfully melding the cutesy style of Japanese anime and manga to chic sensibilities of high fashion and art. Partnering with Louis Vuitton to create the famous Superflat monogram and the Louis Vuitton Don, Kanye West for the artwork for Graduation recently.

The draw of Murakami's work was wonderfully reflected in the diverse crowd that he draws - I saw everything from Kid Robot/BAPE rocking Kanye-fied LA hipsters and brooding artists to soccer moms with their kids and Japanese tour groups.

Kanye West's video for Good Morning (off of Graduation)



Murakami's Superflat Monogram Cartoon for Louis Vuitton



The exhibit will be at the MOCA from October 29, 2007 - February 11, 2008

Download: Justice feat. Spank Rock & Mos Def - D.A.N.C.E. (remix)

Busta Meets Dilla

I know I just posted a Jay Dee related mixtape last week, but I couldn't resist. Mick Boogie released this mixtape yesterday through his website.

“The homie Busta Rhymes called me the other day following up on an idea I gave him months and months ago. So long ago that I actually forgot about it. He called me with four very specific words: ‘Check your inbox, son!’ When I opened it, I found song after song of unreleased craziness from Busta and the late, legendary J Dilla. So after a week of figuring out our strategy, it’s done. Mick Boogie + Busta + Dilla = Dillagence. The album of the year…and it’s not even an album!”

Busta Rhymes + Dilla Beats = Pure Boom Bap Joy.

Download: Mick Boogie & Busta Rhymes - Dillagence (link courtesy of illroots.com)

Obama on Drug Use

In a recent speaking engagement with high school students this week Barack Obama made a compelling case for a drug-free life, that they're a waste of time.

Obama told the students, "There were times when I got into drinking and experimented with drugs. There was a whole stretch of time when I didn't really apply myself a lot. ... I started realizing, 'Man, I've wasted a lot of time.'"

Contrast this with Bill Clinton's "I didn't inhale" horseshit and George Bush's telling reports basically to go fuck themselves when questions of his past with alcohol and cocaine were raised.

Barack Obama's straightforward, honest demeanor has been a refreshing change in American politics and his greatest strength as a presidential candidate.

Look's like Common's got his mind made up...

Download: Common - The People

Jay Dee vs. The Beach Boys

"(Bullion) has transformed the Beach Boys' classic 1966 album into a whole new masterpiece...Dilla would have been up for a bootleg as inspired as this."--Exclaim

Bullion posted this mix *not a mash-up* Pet Sounds: Songs In The Key Of Dee on his MySpace page. The smash-up artist from the UK mixed elements of The Beach Boys seminal pop record Pet Sounds with your favorite producer's favorite producer, Jay Dee.

Note: I came across this on music blog gorillavsbear, respect.

Photo: taken from the Exclaim review.

Download: Pet Sounds: In The Key Of Dee

Suicide by Cop ?

A peaceful demonstration took place last night in Brooklyn after police officers shot and killed 18 year-old Khiel Coppin on Monday night. Witnesses claim that cops took 20 shots at the unarmed teenager, one officer continuing to shoot despite shouts of "stop shooting" from fellow officers. The shooting evokes memories of the shooting deaths of Sean Bell in 2006 and Amadou Diallo in 1999.

NYPD is looking into a bullshit phenomenon police officers are calling "suicide by cop." They claim that the troubled teenager was suicidal and purposely induced the officers to open fire on him. It sounds like a bunch of crap because it is. The truth is that police department has stopped even trying to justify their actions, pinning the blame the a dead victim.

Photo: by Damon Winter/The New York Times

Download: Jay Dee (J Dilla) - Fuck The Police

Download: Pharoahe Monch - Welcome to the Terrordome

Remembering ODB

Rest in peace, (November 15, 1968 - November 13, 2004). We miss you.

Download: Ol' Dirty Bastard - Shimmy Shimmy Ya

More Legal Fuckery

The U.S. Sentencing Commission decreased federal prison terms for crack cocaine offenses earlier this month. However sentencing for crack-cocaine offenses are still 100 times harsher than similar powder cocaine offenses -- an egregious disparity that remains a major issue among civil rights activists and politicians alike.

Under federal sentencing guidelines, a first-time offense of possession of just five grams of crack receives a felony sentence of at least five years in prison without parole. Where a first-time offense of 499 grams of powder cocaine, a misdemeanor, could qualify for probation with no time at all in jail.

The 100 to 1 sentencing guidelines, date back to the 1986 and 1988 Anti-Drug Abuse Acts where lawmakers established excessive mandatory jail sentences as a reaction to the crack epidemic of the 80's.

The sentencing disparity only masks racial discrimination that still occurs in our legal system everyday. In 2006, blacks constituted 82% of those sentenced under federal crack cocaine laws while whites constituted only 8.8% despite the fact that more than 66% of people who use crack cocaine are white.(1)

Sentencing guidelines have relaxed slightly, but not nearly enough to reflect justice. Take action by sending this letter to your congressperson or senator.

(1)US Sentencing Commission, Special Report to Congress: Cocaine and Federal Sentencing Policy. (Washington, DC: US Sentencing Commission, May 2007)

Download: 2pac - Changes

Remember, Remember

"Remember, remember, the fifth of November,
The gunpowder, treason and plot,
I know of no reason
Why the gunpowder treason
Should Ever Be Forgot."
-Old English Rhyme

In 1605 , Guy Fawkes led the Gunpowder Plot, a failed attempt by English Catholics to blow up the British Houses of Parliament, to assassinate the ruling King and to take down the Protestant aristocracy.

Despite the unsuccessful coup, the events unfolded as the second most significant act of terrorism after September 11th. Nowadays, the attempt to overthrow the oppressive elite of society is commemorated today with a firework display and burning of an effigy of Guy Fawkes.

The sad fact is that the populist message of empowerment and frustration is distorted and forgotten, reduced to a nursery rhyme and Bonfire Night. Years of oppression and class tension diffused just like teenage angst, by lighting some shit on fire.


Download: John Lennon - Remember

A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Action

Jeff Chang, author of Can't Stop, Won't Stop, drops some knowledge in this really interesting article for MotherJones.com on hip-hop's activist roots and what's happened since. Check this passage:

For many, this is what hip-hop has become: an omnipresent grisly, übermacho soundtrack. Don Imus unleashed the latest hip-hop backlash when he noted that in calling the Rutgers women’s basketball team “nappy-headed hos” he was using an argot popularized by rappers. The frenzy of finger-pointing that followed culminated with the spectacle of Bill O’Reilly lecturing hiphop advocates on sexism and the “n word,” while Oprah berated Russell Simmons and other industry executives. The talk show circus aside, there’s plenty of evidence that people are weary of corporate rap. Only 59 million rap albums were sold in the United States last year, down from 90 million in 2001. According to the University of Chicago’s Black Youth Project report, youths—particularly minorities—overwhelmingly believe that rap videos portray women of color in a negative light.

Once a cacophony of diverse voices, the genre now looks like a monoculture whose product, not unlike high-fructose corn
syrup, is designed not to nourish, but simply to get us hooked on other products, from McDonald’s to Courvoisier.

I couldn't have said it any better myself. The article is a bit long but a great read!

photo: taken from Chang's blog.

Download: Public Enemy - Fight The Power

More FEMA Fuckery

In a move that that is sadly reminiscent of President Bush's "Mission Accomplished" fiasco and symptomatic of this entire administration, FEMA staged a fake press conference last week in which staffers posing as reporters and lobbed softball questions to John "Pat" Philbin, Director of Public Affairs, on the California wildfires.

The lesson that FEMA apparently learned from the harsh criticism of their inept response to Hurricane Katrina is to control public perception this time around by doing away with media altogether. This is merely the latest episode in a series of political circle-jerks in which it is painfully clear that the Bush administration does not give a rat's ass about transparency and accountability in the decision-making process.

What this administration does care about is that they are right, no matter what the evidence or pesky journalists may say. By giving the outward appearance of a free press but limiting discourse and demonizing opposing views, this administration is free to spread all their propoganda freely.

*update: Philbin lost a promotion and resigned. Bush not just yet, but sign a petition here.

Download: Dilated Peoples - Proper Propaganda

N-Word Please !

Dr. James Watson, a renowned geneticist, landed himself in hot water last week for racist comments he made in British newspaper The Times. Watson gained recognition as co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, winning him the Nobel Prize in 1962.

In the interview, Watson says that he is “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa [because] all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours - whereas all the testing says not really."

The assertions of racial superiority are downright offensive - Watson's statements are creepily reminiscent of the justification for the African Slave Trade. Watson's words are especially alarming because they come from the mouth of someone so highly regarded in the intellectual community.

What's clear though is that recent controversies, such as the movements to ban the word "nigger" (including Nas' new album), entirely miss the point of racially progressive dialogue.

While we are quick to be outraged the ignorance of others, we are still reluctant to address our own prejudices. To borrow Mos Def's metaphor, racism is not a giant living in the hills coming to visit the villagers. It's a reflection of the interactions that take place between all of us. Until we learn to confront our personal discriminations on an individual basis, who are we to criticize media whipping boys like Don Imus and Michael Richards?

photo: Markus Schreiber of the AP

Download: A Tribe Called Quest - Sucka Nigga

Definition: Sellout

The Washington Post published Bill Wyman's article "How to Calculate Musical Sellouts" in this week's Sunday issue.

The article documents the relationship between music and advertising and the ever evolving standards artistic integrity and sellout status. It chronicles fan backlash towards artists who had sold songs to commercials over time. The article discusses the "Moby Quotient" and his breakthrough album Play, in which Moby boasted that he had sold every track to advertisers, film or television. Wyman warns artists that trade on "outsider status" to beware the long-term consequences of going commercial.

The article also includes this tongue-in-cheek equation "that could be used to determine just how much of a sellout is a particular artist."

Does your favorite artist pass the test?

Download: Gang Starr - Mass Appeal

Hammer > Tribe ?

I've been wrestling with my feelings about the direction of hip-hop for the past couple years. On one hand, the expansion of the music into the mainstream is great in terms presenting opportunities. The intent of the music is to uplift and to celebrate according to my boy Justin. He continues that hip-hop has reached an international scale where it has become the face of young America and an alternative to Bush's America.

But on the other hand, its important that the culture stay true to its roots. As the garbage poppy hip-hop is promoted, the positive, conscious rap is further neutered. People say that there is no market for socially conscious music are letting the record industry pull the wool over their eyes. The cream rises to the top unless outside influences (Viacom, Univesal Music, Clear Channel, Radio 1) keep pumping out ignorant shit.

Lupe Fiasco was quoted in Vibe stating:

"[Tribe] didn’t sell 10 million records, so why would people think they had a blanket on the world like that? MC Hammer was way more popular to me than Tribe Called Quest."

The quote was taken out of context to make Lupe look like an asshole, but the point still resonates. Hip-hop has become a mainstream, populous culture with a bunch of idiots in front making everybody look bad. Hotness is determined by record sales and MTV (don't even get me started on that bogus 'Best Rapper' list). What hip-hop needs now is a restoration of perspective and culture.

So kids, keep the music alive. Stop listening to trash!

Download: 2Pac - Old School

Free Radiohead !

I woke up excited as a kid on Christmas this morning. Radiohead released their 7th Album In Rainbows as a download today. In case you haven't heard, the band announced the completion of the album just 10 days ago. In Rainbows was planned to be released as a digital download and then as a special deluxe package in December. The 10 day countdown came to an end this morning when I received my email link to download the first new music from the band in more than 4 years.

In pre-ordering the download, no set or even suggested price was given, meaning that fans could download the album for free or pay whatever they chose. This idealistic approach towards selling music is revolutionary. The release of In Rainbows establishes an entirely new pricing standard for music. By allowing fans to decide the value of musical content for themselves, the band is preparing for the evolution of music beyond formats. With the digital age, formats have become outdated and worthless. Now that music is so easily transmitted and shared, assigning set values on songs and albums does not make sense. But by associating value with merit, bands and fans can create symbiotic relationships in which both can prosper without the record industry's bullshit.

Radiohead has the name recognition to be able to approach the market in this way. But what of smaller, less recognized acts? How will they take advantage of this new approach?

Download: Radiohead - 15 Step [live from Bonnaroo]