Beats Rhymes and Life

Fresh Radioheady Goodness

2008-06-09T11:18:00.000-07:00

New Radiohead song "Super Collider" performed live in Dublin.

Also, a cover of one of my favorite joints off the new Portishead album, "The Rip."

Radiohead just has this transcendental quality to their music that's so raw that it seems to melt away even the toughest person's layers and reduce them to infant-like awe. Cannot wait to see them in August.

It Blows My Mind

2008-05-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

This ridiculously fucking cool wall animation was created by BLU in Buenos Aires and Baden. The painting, filming and editing process must have been a painstaking several months.

My good friend beginnermind (respect!) posted the ending of this video on his blog a couple months back, but peep the full version.

Damn Damn Damn Damn

2008-05-06T19:34:00.000-07:00

I was deeply saddened by the news that Shepard Fairey is losing his vision due to a lifelong battle with diabetes. According to reports he could be legally blind by the end of the year but his representatives are hopeful that he will be able to continue working.

This on the heels of a UCLA report in the LA Times linking "fast food neighborhoods" with obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Don't be fooled folks, this is a class issue. In what neighborhoods do you exclusively see fast food restaurants? While companies like Whole Foods (and don't even get me started on their role as a gentrifier) come into a community and establish health food as a luxury item, when it should have existed in the community in the first damn place, affordably.

Too many corporations, locally and abroad, exploit poor communities without returning anything. They get tax cuts while schools, health care and social services struggle because money's tied up in a war that is just getting oil companies richer. Meanwhile we're being told to shut up and buy stuff through more and more pervasive marketing campaigns. I'm sick and tired of this shit.

I'm not sure if I believe that Barack Obama is the one or anything ridiculous like that. But there's an undeniable feeling of a movement behind him. There's something that everybody behind him recognizes that they could each do and that's real. Because change doesn't just happen. We all have to speak up, blog or whatever, and struggle for it.

* * * *

Fairey started his career as a street artist with the "André the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign and grew to become an iconic voice of the disaffected masses with his omnipresent wheatpastings and the Obey Giant clothing. He often juxtaposes counterculture figures with a classic communist propaganda stylings to create a powerful political messages.

Fairey gained public notoriety recently with the "Progress" and "Hope" posters he designed for the Obama campaign, as well as album covers for Led Zepellin, Smashing Pumpkins and Black Eyed Peas. I personally love the subversive message that Fairey seemed to keep throughout his work.

His contribution to the Obama campaign is actually the first time I'd noticed sheer optimism in Fairey's art. In his own simple but distinct style, Fairey captures a complex and thoughtful Barack Obama. To me it was the next step for one of my favorite artists of our time.

*edit: Good news, Fairey "vehemently denied that he’s losing his vision" upon being contacted by Animal. He is open about his bout with diabetes and said that a bleed in his eye caused him to lose partial vision during a show in New York, but firmly stated that he can still paint and "do what [he] need(s) to do."

Get Mad !

2008-04-27T16:59:00.000-07:00

For anyone who is still stewing over the Sean Bell verdict, this speech from "Network" (1976) is so relevant today.

"We are all Sean Bell, NYPD go to hell!"

More Judiciary Fuckery

2008-04-25T08:25:00.000-07:00

The verdict came in for the Sean Bell trial this morning. And not surprisingly, the three officers on trial for murdering Sean Bell were acquitted of all charges. The case was decided by bench trial (rather than by a jury) and despite the facts (50 shots fired at an unarmed man) the judge ruled in favor of the officers.

In 2006, Bell was shot over 50 times by the three plainclothes NYPD detectives the night before his wedding day. According to several accounts, the shooting resulted from an argument between one of the undercover officers and some of Bell's associates in a strip club that night. Witnesses stated that the officers never identified themselves as they approached Sean Bell's car that night with guns drawn. They then proceeded to light up Bell's car with 50 shots. 50 motherfucking shots - that means that the officers unloaded their clips and reloaded to an unarmed man.

The trial is emblematic of the long-standing antagonistic relationship between the police and communities of color. The shooting death of Sean Bell has inevitably been compared to the case of Amadou Diallo in 1999. Issues of racial profiling, police brutality and institutional violence need to be seriously addressed. The treatment of such cases only increases the tension between communities and the police, paving way for idiotic notions as the Stop Snitchin campaign. Such complete lack of accountability on the police departments is an outrage, it only serves to build tensions between many communities and the police in the area.

For anyone that wants to be heard or show support, a protest is planned for this afternoon at 5:30 in front of the Queens County DA's office at 125-01 Queens Blvd (between Hoover Ave and 82nd Ave). Come out and let them know what you think of this bullshit.

Another Hopemonger Post

2008-04-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

A friend (thanks beginnermind) sent me this pro-Obama song that seriously rocks my socks. It's by FMB (Fire Magic Blood), which consists of Daedelus and Taz Arnold & Shafiq Husayn from Sa-Ra.

Download: Vote Obama (blatantly swiped from Keepin It Right Radio)

Sorry that Our Beats Rhymes and Life has seemed like more of a Barack Obama blog recently than one dedicated to social commentary and social justice. Dude is just so damn inspiring.

Senator Obama on Hip Hop

2008-03-14T12:15:00.000-07:00

"Hip hop is not just a mirror of what is, it should also be a reflection of what can be." - Barack Obama

More Fuckery : PoliTricks & Wiretaps

2008-03-12T09:29:00.000-07:00

Eliot Spitzer, hit hard by allegations of patronizing a high-end prostitution ring, formally resigned as Governor of New York. The controversial story broke on Monday that Spitzer spent up to $80,000 over the past few years on prostitutes.

Interestingly, Spitzer was caught on a wiretap making arrangements to meet the prostitute. Apparently, the feds originally tapped Spitzer's phone calls and text messages thinking that Spitzer was tied to a blackmail scheme or to organized crime.

On a somewhat related note, The Wire wrapped up its fifth and final season on Sunday night. For those of you that have been keeping up, the overarching theme of this season was the relationship between the streets and the media. Series creator David Simon said that he wanted to show the sensationalism that runs deep in journalism and how the news media does not write about any of the stuff that actually matters.

While we're focused on the scandalous, what are we not talking about ... the plight of sex workers in this country, the special interest groups that benefit from Spitzer's removal from office (the Dow jumped a record high yesterday), attorney general Michael Mukasey's role in this case, Rudy Guiliani's potential play for New York governor.

I'm not saying that Eliot Spitzer should not be subject to criticism, $2500 for some head is just fucking stupid. But seriously people, do you give a rat's ass that the governor was spending money to get his jollies off?

If you love The Wire (like I do) check these two David Simon interviews, but only if you've watched the fifth season, there are some spoilers:

What's Alan Watching

Salon Interview

Arcade Fire Rocks for Barack

2008-03-03T09:38:00.000-08:00

I spent Sunday afternoon making phone calls supporting Barack Obama and reminding people to get out and vote in Tuesday's potentially decisive primaries in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont.

The Arcade Fire spent their weekend in Ohio supporting Senator Obama's campaign as well, playing free shows supporting the Hopemonger (thanks Raheim Drinkwater) at Stuart's Opera House in Nelsonville last night and at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland tonight (March 3). Ahhhh ... celebrity gone right.

Vocalist, songwriter and overall bad mamma jamma Win Butler had this to say after watching Hillary's victory speech in New Hampshire:

I am watching Hillary Clinton in her victory speech in new Hampshire...they just threw a bunch of college kids behind her, and had her talk about student loans, and had her daughter come out for a long awkward hug...does anyone actually buy it? Surely young people are too media savvy to be fooled by this kind of shit.
do we live in a democracy so we can just keep electing the same families?
Barack is the first candidate in my lifetime to strip some of this bullshit away, and I just hope we don't blow this chance.
man if we miss this opportunity we don't deserve it...how bad does it have to get?

fuck!!!!!!!!!

Here's a live performance of "Wake Up" with David Bowie - probably my favorite Arcade Fire song and especially relevant today.

?uestlove Interprets Gnarls Barkley

2008-03-03T08:53:00.000-08:00

I'm loving ?uestlove's unofficial video for "Who's Gonna Save My Soul Now," the second single off of Gnarls Barkley's upcoming album The Odd Couple. Stupid is what stupid does indeed:

In case you missed it, check the video for "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)" by The Roots and directed by Ric Cordero.

The Roots, Gnarls Barkley and Portishead (!!!) all set to release new albums this April. Good music doesn't die, it multiplies.

Remembering Malcolm X

2008-02-20T11:12:00.000-08:00

I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination. I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.

- Malcolm X (May 19, 1925 - February 21, 1945)

On this day 43 years ago, Malcolm X was assassinated as he was giving a speech in the Audobon Ballroom. Though his militant views are often seen as divisive, Malcolm's eloquence, charisma and fearlessness restored a sense of pride in being a minority in this country.

Check Mos Def reading an excerpt from one of Malcolm's speeches.

Download: Mos Def - Can U C The Pride In The Panther (J Dilla remix)

Radiohead Fix for Junkies

2008-02-15T09:52:00.000-08:00

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke stopped by NPR this week to guest host All Songs Considered. Yorke expressed admiration for the visceral beats of German electronic group Modeselektor and the mindfuckworthy lyrics of hip hop weirdos Madvillain. He went on to describe the songwriting process on both his solo album The Eraser as well as on the latest Radiohead opus In Rainbows.

Link: Thom Yorke on All Songs Considered

In other Radiohead news, the lawyers finally gave DJ Amplive a break and granted permission to release of Rainydayz Remixes earlier this week. The album gives an interesting and fresh perspective for those just that can't get enough of In Rainbows.

Tracklist:
1 Rainydayz
2 Video Tapez (Ft. Del The Funky Homosapien)
3 Nudez (Ft. Too $hort & MC Zumbi of Zion I)
4 Weird Fishez
5 All I Need
6 15 Stepz (Ft. Codany Holiday)
7 Reckonerz (Ft. Chali 2NA)
8 Faustz

Download Rainydayz Remixes for free here.

Murakami at Brooklyn Museum

2008-02-13T09:24:00.000-08:00

The Murakami exhibit, recently displayed at the MOCA in Downtown LA, will be opening at the Brooklyn Museum this April (link to press release here)

Takashi Murakami, best known for founding Superflat style of contemporary art, masterfully deconstructs the Japanese notion of cute while raising questions about sexuality and the lack of masculinity in Japanese society today.

Rest In Power Jay Dee (Feb. 7, 1974 - Feb. 10, 2006)

Download: Janet Jackson (feat. Q-Tip) - Got Til It's Gone [Ummah Jay Dee's Revenge Mix]

Be Kind Rewind

2008-01-31T09:16:00.000-08:00

The new Michel Gondry flick Be Kind Rewind, starring Jack Black and Mos Def, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and is set to be released in the coming month. The movie's about two video clerks who accidentally erase all of the videos in their store and decide to remake each of the movies themselves. Gondry recently said that the movie was inspired by the inundation of remakes and sequels in movies today.

Check the trailer:

If you're around NYC, be sure to check out the Be Kind Rewind exhibit at Deitch Gallery open from February 16th - March 22nd.

Download: Jay Electronica - Act I: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge)

Industry Rule #4080 ...

2008-01-24T00:08:00.000-08:00

Record company people are shady!

Jack Davey's manifesto to the music industry, swiped from her blog:

"lights out !" : an open letter to the record industry & the idiots who work for the fascist regime .
read this out loud !

this is intended for all of you lowly puppets who sit in your big offices in big buildings that will soon be out of business & thus, forced to hold vacant memories of an industry that once was . this is for all of the big wigs in suits & ties who sit at the head of the conference room table with creative opinions as empty as the "music" they force down the throats of the now bored & uninspired creative consumers . this is for all the idle assistants who only work hard enough to get their names on the grammy party lists, or whose only existence remains obsolete if he/she can't get into the hot new band's hollywood show debut . this is for the borderline retarded a&r guy who should in fact abandon his dreams of changing the failing record industry to become a highly paid talent scout at a modeling agency . this is definitely for all the marketing low lives who fail to avidly push great talent because the world's fave reality slut randomly decided one day while botoxing her armpits that she wants to be a rockstar .

yes .
this open letter is for all of you .
come feast your eyes upon the truth behind your insolence for 5 minutes , if you even have your job for that much longer.

your blatant lack of respect & worship for the oldest & dearest artform has brought a once thriving & artistic industry to a grinding halt . your willingness to believe that the world wide web has killed the consumers' thirst for new & exciting talent is wildly ignorant & safe . you would like to feed into this stupidity because you are too lazy to stand behind substance ; you'd rather take the low & easy road than take the time to nurture true talent . you'd rather tirelessly feed us the same carbon copied , lip synching , sex dripping , faux punk "i got my entire outfit from hot topic" rocker , buffoonishly ghetto "are they even speaking english?" hip hop , "same old same" sound from song to song type image & force us to believe that this is all the world's artists have to offer . you'd rather watch your company stocks & yearly record sales severely plummet than take strong initiative to fix the current problem . you'd rather see hundreds of employees laid off & out of work during the holidays because you're too afraid to stand up for something new & different . you're content with creating a 1-hit wonder society , where any idiot with anything shockingly catchy can enjoy a sorry 15 minutes of fame & a future segment on vh1's "biggest 1-hit wonders of 08" extravaganza .

where is the new generation of legends ?

beyonce & alicia keys are old shoe ins . r kelly , sure , but his personal dramas easily overshadow his genius . radiohead & outkast comes to mind , & then i draw a big blank .

the latest thrill in music has been an over abundance of great dancers with mediocre voices , albums , singles , concert ticket sales , etc . thank god the internet allows every joe blow in the universe a free forum to overexpose every little thing , especially mediocre celebrities . thank god for online music forums , such as myspace . artists are able to directly connect with the people & expose themselves & their art to everyone everywhere at the click of a button . myspace proves that music can no longer fit into a box . long gone are the days of urban vs pop vs alternative radio . gwen stefani had hit songs for years on the pop & alt charts , but she records a song written by pharrell & she's instantly on top of the urban charts as well . this new r&b dance pop music crosses over to white kids & that kelly clarkson "since you've been gone" song was smeared across the lips of many a young black girl last year . m i a is all over the indie alternative stations , & lets not even get started on gnarls barkeley .

all signs point to the obvious : true music consumers right now are a ) young , & b) smart . young kids are able to point & click their way to every new trend . they arguably have short attention spans & they want to be in on what's cool & personable to them . when madonna emerged in the '80s you had tons of girls around the world imitating her every move & style down to the mole . kurt cobain turned grunge commercial when he was exposed to millions of kids who felt like society's outsiders looking in . hip-hop has been a huge influence on mainstream culture since the early '80s because of it's relativity . kids have not changed . young people are not mindless robots who like what you tell them to like with no opinions . the youth are always looking to be enthralled .

they want to be entertained . they want to feel as though they are a part of something that will be written about , studied , & revered 20 years later . they , like all of us old & young alike , want to be inspired . when i was a kid i saw prince prance around on stage & dazzle people with his art & i felt inspired to do the same thing . why are you music industry idiots attempting to tell us that we don't want to be touched ? why are you trying to rob us of new musical experiences ? will there ever be another motown 25 / michael jackson moonwalk experience ? will we never again hear a single like queen's "bohemian rhapsody" on the radio because the hook isn't catchy enough ? will we never see another band like the talking heads & joy division or parliament ? will there never be another artist to rival frank zappa ? will we be forced to hear different versions of the same dumb song on every single radio station every 5 minutes simply because the record label had enough money to pay off the station manager ? are we still supposed to care about mtv when there are hardly any videos in rotation ? do i even need to mention b e t or v h 1 ? are any of the classic record industry outlets working these days ? as of late it seems that artists are independently breaking ground with their own efforts . songs are being licensed for national commercials from artists' myspace pages & personal websites . ellen degeneres has been known to book musical guests from videos seen on youtube , & as i aforementioned , gnarls barkeley not only created a new genre , but they also won grammy awards for an album that was recorded in home studios & released through an indie label .

why should artists even seek major label deals ? they are completely outdated & obsolete . artists are sold the dream that talent can secure superstardom , but it becomes evident that labels only sign bands nowdays because of the band's existing fanbase & record sales , or because they dig the artist's look & want to cash in . they don't want to develop the art . they don't want the artist to express his/herself entirely . they just want the artist to comply with what will get the company a big monetary return . they sign you for millions , pimp you for pennies , then drop you a year later when the music they made you record & release is no longer relevant . you're left on the streets unsigned & irrelevant & ready to infect the world with the music you've always wanted to make , but no one will take a chance on you due to your previous material . meanwhile , the label has already put white out over your signature on the slave deal & replaced it with a younger version of you . cold game , ain't it ?

the age old model is failing . as an industry based on faithful consumers you have lost your connection with the people who matter most : the PEOPLE . you have yet to show them that you are with the changing times & able to adapt to something new . you are proving that you are too afraid to promote good music . you would rather let the monotonous drone of what is today's music remain unbalanced by substance . you would rather watch more legendary artists abandon you for direct deals with itunes & touring companies . you would rather allow the internet to defeat what should be your life's work . maybe you should excuse yourself from the next a&r meeting to go take a look in the bathroom mirror . stand there & ask yourself why you took this job , & when you realize it's simply because you wanted to be cool & "in the mix" then return to the conference room , take that gun out of your pocket , & shoot yourself in the head in front of your coworkers so that you are made an example of . if you can in fact leave that conference room & look in the bathroom mirror with pride & hunger to break the monotony then head back into that conference room , jump on top of the table & read this manifesto .

this is a challenge .
we're calling your bluff .
record labels are nothing but banks that give artists hi price loans in exchange for artistic control . put your money where your cocks are . go out on a limb & support real music for a change . find the line where the internet & the real world meet & infect more people with something magical . start building more legends . it's almost too late . interscope is dead . def jam is next . motown who ? mca what ? warner , you're not too far behind . the war sirens are ringing & you're content with playing deaf & dumb .
we're calling your bluff !
we're here to reprogram how you & the rest of the world listen to music .
we can do this together , or you can stick to your own devices & peril in the process .
we are the people . we are the future . we are the present .
who are you ?

*******************************************************************

copy this , paste this , & repost it wherever you see fit . email it to those who you believe can benefit from somethin like this . this is from the heart in jerry maguire "who's comin with me?" fashion . lets open our eyes , our ears , & our hearts . lets stop standin for the bullshit & start demandin these idiots to take charge & make change . substance has the right to be heard . support real shit & start takin it to the streets !

c'mon people .
it's 2008 . diddy killed music in 94 . it's time for some better shit .

pass it on . . .

Miss Davey, I feel the frustration and love the idealism, but please don't go and get yourself Dixie Chick'd by the biz.

* * * * *

The music industry and the RIAA have dug themselves into this hole by treating us like we're stupid, refusing to evolve their business model and shamelessly exhibiting corporate greed at its worst.

Instead of developing artists, the corporate music machine decided to dickride whatever trend is considered popular at the time. Churning out hot garbage lacking in any substance or depth, only to dump that "hit" artist and move on to the next trendy sound. As a result, fans have no reason to invest themselves in these artist, turned off by wave after wave of the same old manufactured shit.

Instead of viewing downloaded music as an opportunity to expand their market, major labels viewed it as a threat and resorted to using lawyers and lawsuits, which only cemented how out of touch with their market that they are. The RIAA successfully antagonized the same people upon which these labels depend to make their living. (Check this article on record industry suicide from the demonbaby blog)

*Update: Miss Davey's post has been removed. I'm guessing some of the higher ups at the label weren't too happy about being publically aired out, as if removing the post will calm any of the illiment.

Photo: from J*Davey's MySpace

Photo: taken from flickr

Download: Mos Def - The Rape Over

Download: J*Davey - Mr. Mister

MLK Day

2008-01-15T12:58:00.000-08:00

Today is the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.

Leader of the American Civil Rights movement. Voice of the disenfranchised and oppressed. Inspiration to the young generation.

Honor his memory and never let his spirit die.

Download: Common (feat. will.i.am) - I Have A Dream

Searching for Rick Rubin

2008-01-10T18:06:00.001-08:00

Who do you think gets more death threats, Barack or 50 Cent?
- Netic from Game Rebellion

Brooklyn rap/rock group Game Rebellion and producer J.Period bring a healthy dose of consciousness in a brilliant reinterpretation of some Rick Rubin classics. Check the scathing indictment of the president on "99 Problems," Martin Luther's silky smooth vocals "Under the Brooklyn Bridge," and ode to my favorite borough, "No Sleep Til BK."

Comparing George Bush to AJ Soprano, criticizing the nonsense on rap radio, confronting police brutality, and urging listeners to "get mad," Game Rebellion tackle serious issues without coming across as preachy or heavy handed.

The shit is dope. Don't sleep.

A Year In Iraq

2008-01-07T14:37:00.001-08:00

Photo: NY Times

Obama Wins Iowa

2008-01-04T13:35:00.001-08:00

Every once in a while, and only when you least expect it, do you find yourself on the cusp of something so radically new, so drastically different that you write it off as fantasy and before you realize it, you’re waist deep in the rising tide of change. Such was the feeling that washed over me as I watched the votes tally for the Iowa caucus last night.

Those that know me, know that I’ve long been an Obama supporter. He inspires hope, unity and change – a different view of America than the conservative establishment, corporate/big money lobbyists, imperialistic military industrial complex, “moral majority” Evangelicals, red state/blue state, politics as usual.

Not that I didn’t believe in the hope that Obama speaks of, but it all seemed like a far off dream. I really didn’t believe that America was ready for such a seismic shift in leadership. No way in hell would our geographically, politically and socio-economically divided country come together to elect someone that challenged every aspect of traditional American politics. Obama represents such a drastic change from our present conditions that even his most ardent supporters would acquiesce with statements like “I guess any change is a small step in the right direction” or “anybody but Bush is good.”

But now, this vision of the future is realistic, palpable, inevitable almost. If Obama could win over a small, mostly white, Christian conservative state in the heartland of the country, then America is ready for (starving for, even) a new direction and new identity. With a leader ready to break down these barriers that divide us, I’m proud to say that I am part of this movement.

Download: Seu Jorge - Changes (from The Life Aquatic Sessions)

Download: M.I.A. - Pull Up The People

Download: Amy Winehouse / Eric Clapton - The World Changes On Its Own [mashup]

CRS - Us Placers Video

2007-12-27T10:49:00.000-08:00

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 !

2007-12-22T10:05:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-17T19:01:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-13T09:45:00.000-08:00

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 ...

2007-12-10T09:36:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-29T11:13:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-28T09:28:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-23T10:18:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-15T09:03:00.001-08:00

"(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 ?

2007-11-14T09:38:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-13T18:00:00.000-08:00

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

Download: Ol' Dirty Bastard - Shimmy Shimmy Ya

More Legal Fuckery

2007-11-13T12:08:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-05T12:46:00.001-08:00

"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

2007-10-31T12:52:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

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 !

2007-10-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-15T11:31:00.000-07:00

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 ?

2007-10-12T12:15:00.000-07:00

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 !

2007-10-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

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]