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