BROOKS + CARTER

Snoop Dogg - Sweat (finally!)

2011-03-23T13:35:00.000-05:00

I don't really get with the radio too much, but when I heard this joint on there, I was instantly reminded of Snoop's extreme ability to always come through with a banger. And now (what I've been waiting on) a video has been released for it! Definitely sexy. Like seductively-sucking-on-your-own-finger-grinding-on-the-wall sexy. Ahhh, proceed...

MAESTRO KNOWS.

2011-03-15T14:14:00.000-05:00

If you haven't already heard of him, seen his videos, (or admired his sexy) then you need to be informed. He's smooth in style and in creation. His videos are like jars of culture sealed with a lid of adventure. From hip-hop to soul, from sneakers to clothes, Maestro Knows. Check him out.

There are plenty more where that came from (just one of my favorites).

MAESTRO KNOWS

Apologies.

2011-03-15T13:20:00.001-05:00

WE'RE SORRY ABOUT THE DISAPPEARANCE, YOU GUYS. WE TRIED TO DO SOMETHING NEW AND SWITCH SITES, BUT, NOT SO SADLY, THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT. WE MISSED IT SO MUCH, BUT NOW WE'RE BACK IN EFFECT!

Baby You Got Me. . .

2010-08-16T19:34:00.002-05:00

This has been the emptiest summer of my life. I have had way too much free time. I've been doing a lot of reading, listening, and researching on various subjects, artists, writers, etc. so I've come across some pretty cool things. I recently heard The Roots perform a couple different versions of their song "You Got Me". All of them are great. Download your favorite(s) or just download them all! (I provided the live versions AKA what you hear in the videos)

This is a live version with Jill Scott when she was just stepping onto the scene and it is an amazing performance. Check it out.

Download Here

While searching for that version to put on here, I ran across a video of the orignal version with the great Erykah Badu. This one takes place at Woodstock '99. Erykah shows off her amazing vocal talents in this performace. Yeah, this one makes me melt. Pause. But her voice is ridiculous and I have one of those "celebrity crushes" on her. (I think you should watch the whole performance, but if you are that impatient, you can start at around 4:45)

Download Here

And this version is The Roots, Erykah Badu, AND Jill Scott Performing together.

Download Here

Dumb Genius BMF Contest Results!

2010-08-16T00:02:00.003-05:00

The moment you've all been waiting for. . .

The winners of the Dumb Genius BMF Contest are. . . . . .

Yea....no winners. Not enough people followed through. So with that being said, here are the entries we did get! (They are just in the order they entered) Thanks to all who participated! We really appreciate it. We may try this again soon.

Who do you think won?

Black Star - "Definition"

2010-08-15T11:54:00.004-05:00

I'm not sure if I had ever heard before this song or not, but I came across it a couple days ago and this song goes HARDDDDDD. Mos and Kweli's flow is SICK. The beat is sick. Everything is sick. I wish hip hop was more like this today. When you leave certain things out of your music, it makes it timeless, and this song is just that. This song goes so hard that it makes you want to bust out some of those Lil B " OOO! OOO!" a bunch of times. (Don't know what i'm talking about? watch THIS.) And it has one of those hooks thats fun to sing along with, something i'm a big fan of. The snipit at the end of the other rendition or whatever is pretty dope too. Mos be sannngin haha. I wish they would have recorded that version too. Just check it outtt.

Download Here

_________________________
Update

Go figure! They did record the snipit at the end. Its Called "Redefinition." So check that out. I like the original better, but this one goes hard too. Shouts out to Jai for the info!

Kid Cudi - "Wylin' Cause I'm Young" Ft. Kanye West

2010-08-15T11:39:00.001-05:00

"Wylin' Cause I'm Young" is the first song I've heard (i think) off of Perajok and Kanye West's "G.O.O.D. Ass" mixtape due to drop on friday. I am a fan of Cudi and all, but this song is WACK. To me, the best part of the song is the hook:

"I be wylin' cause i'm young and I'll be wylin' ?out? till i'm chill and old."

I'm curious to hear what else will be on this tape if this was the first single. But check it out, you may like it.

Download Here

Kanye West - See Me Now (ft. Beyonce & Charlie Wilson)

2010-08-11T16:20:00.004-05:00

I really like this track. It's kind of nice getting a break from Kanye's political, drama, & depression filled lyrics we have been hearing for a while now. Not that those songs are bad, but a lighthearted song every now and then is relaxing. But who would Kanye be without those types of songs? I do like how Kanye can poke fun at himself though.

"Imma let you finish, but I got Beyonce on the track."

I feel like I've never heard Beyonce do a song like this (ask me what I mean by "this" and I couldn't tell you.) I do think the song could have done without Charlie Wilson, but he doesn't screw it up. I guess his tone adds that "keep your head up" vibe to the song. Check it out. Enjoy.

Download Here

Wiz Khalifa - Never Been [Video]

2010-08-06T23:19:00.004-05:00

This is Wiz's video for "Never Been" off of his mixtape Kush & Orange Juice. I'm not really a fan of the song and I don't like the video. It is boring. Wiz seems like he's getting too comfortable. I need to find a wider variety of stuff to post about. That is all.

Beats To Bump

2010-08-04T18:14:00.008-05:00

Smoke DZA dropped his mixtape George Kush Da Button. Over half of the tape is filled with Ski Beatz productions with appearances from Curren$y, Big K.R.I.T, Micky Factz, and more. It might be because of all the Ski Beatz production, but this tape almost sounds like a continuation of Pilot Talk. Not saying that means it sucks or anything, it's just not ground breaking. It's really jazzy (not as in jazz music.); Good house music. It's alright though; I can dig it.

Download Here

Twistin' Stank - Curren$y

2010-08-03T08:38:00.000-05:00

Curren$y decided to rap over Waka Flocka's, "Hard in the Paint," beat last night, one you wouldn't really think of as Spitta's beat of choice, but I have to say, the song is prrreetttyy dope. He rode the beat nicely and proved that even though he rocks with Dame, his more street sound is still there. Check it out.

BMF LIVE WITH THE ROOTS!

2010-07-28T13:26:00.001-05:00

In spirit of the whole BMF craze and our contest that's going on right now I thought I should post this. I love live versions of songs! This one isn't all that amazing like I wanted it to be, but it's still dope that he's performing this with The Roots.

Dumb Genius B.M.F. Challenge!

2010-07-27T00:19:00.004-05:00

Need we say more?

Round Table Meeting: Ryan Grant of La Vita Clothing

2010-07-26T11:31:00.005-05:00

In case you've never heard of La Vita Clothing, let me introduce you to this dope brand I came across. Only about a year old, La Vita Clothing was started by three friends of the 281, Ryan Grant, Nate Alabi, and Phillip Armstrong to introduce the fashion world to more dope graphics and eye-catching aesthetics.

I got to talk to Ryan Grant to get more of an inside look at La Vita Clothing and the guys behind it.

Grant in the La Dolce Vita Tee

Waddup? Where you from? Introduce yourself.

Living La Vita Rapido lol, but I'm Ryan Grant a 20 year old student, designer, and Partier of the Century

Tell us more about what you do.

I Co-own and operate La Vita Clothing, a premiere/urban fashion line. And I skateboard lol

What were you like as a child and how has your childhood influenced your craft?

Wow my childhood was popping when innocence was bliss lol but my childhood had to play a major role in what I do today. My mother always told me that she would dress me and when came time for school that I had always redressed myself so I guess its always been in me to do clothing.

When and why did you start designing clothing?

I have always sketched or been around clothing my whole life, but I became serious about designing around the 12th grade and it was mainly because I was tired of the lack of quality, timeless clothing that I saw at the mall or in some of these boutiques.

Any projects in the works right now?

Yes, a lot. We are currently working on our Fall collection and finishing up our Spring look-book. We have major photo-shoots in the works, many more collabs, one with a major line, and most important to me..store openings Fall 2010.

Describe your products.

La Vita is something different from most products in my eyes. It's more than just premiere, exclusive clothes; its a movement of young individuals searching to live the life and what it entails. Our products are hand crafted and all inspired by the people we meet, the places we go, and the experiences that we encounter with our peers.

La Dolce Vita Tee

AV8TER Tee

What are your favorite self-made pieces?

My favorite pieces to date would most definitely be the La Dolce Vita tee, The AV8TER tee, and The When We Were Kings shirt. All hold important value to me.

Sum yourself up in a ten word sentence.

Fashionable and driven young adult trying to change the world.

Tell us something that most don't know about you.

That I have major insomnia. Like, I honestly get 13 hours of sleep a week, but its the only way I know. You dont grind you dont eat.

Favorites:

Candy? Jolly Ranchers, and Now & Laters

Quote? " Fashion is the Canvas of Life"

Animal? Liger like a mix between a tiger and a lion

Song? Go Hard (Kanye ft. T-Pain)

Car? Dream Car : lime green Lambo

College Car: lime green Lambo lol

Pair of shoes? Red Wing Boots, Bally anything, and I love Original Jordans

When We Were Kings Tee

What's the best concert you ever been to?

The greatest concert that I've been to to date would most definitely have had to been Kanye's Glow in the Dark tour. It was amazing. My best-friend and I got to go on the stage with Pharrell and mosh and dance. Those memories are what music is all about.

What kind of exposure have you been getting? How is your brand advancing?

Wow, we have been gaining a lot of press everywhere from www.greedmontpark.com to just shooting with CoCo & Breezy in NY. It's been all great and positive things. I feel as though we are changing the way in which people value t-shirts. Though always an essential part of everyone's closet, we are trying to put the premiere status behind it.

Coco &Breezy in La Vita

Who are some of your favorite artists (all genres)?

I listen to everyone Jay Z, Kanye West, The Classmates, La Roux, The Fray, Mateo, Ashton Tarvis, Rizqou Jones

Who are some people that have helped you get to where you are now?

First off, my main homie GOD lol, but my family has been very supportive in my dreams but this would not be possible without my team( Maxo, Dommo, Elliot, Oliver, Courtney, Jordan, Jemarcus).

What can we expect next from La Vita Clothing

La Vita is always going to continue to evolve, You can expect more stitched pieces coming in the fall, more eye popping shoots, more celebs, and a few major collabs.

Last words or shout outs?

I truly love and appreciate the love and support that we at La Vita have received over these past 6 months, without you the consumer( scratch that) without you the Supporters we could never do or imagine the things we can now so I just wanna say thank you thank you thank you..And Continue to Strive to Live La Vita.

Get your La Vita fix at www.lavitaclothing.bigcartel.com

Raz Fresco Ft. The 6th Letter - LV'd Up

2010-07-24T13:04:00.005-05:00

Toronto's 15 year-old, Raz Fresco, and 17 year-old, The 6th Letter, just dropped a video for their song, "LV'd Up." Raz Produced the beat and hooked up the video. Check it out it's, pretty nice. And Raz looks like a BOSS with that giant Louis bag hahaha I SEE YOU. And keep your eyes open for Raz's mixtape, "Laced Up," scheduled to drop next month.

Follow them on twitter!

Raz Fresco's Twitter

The 6th Letter's Twitter

Rick Ross - Teflon Don

2010-07-23T19:33:00.008-05:00

Teflon Don, Rick Ross’ fourthsolo album, dropped July 20^th with much hype. The large number of A-Listers featured on the album is promotion by itself but Ross also did much promotion via Twitter, meet and greets, and club appearances. In addition to that, one of my good friends, a big Ross fan, got me interested in him earlier this summer, so I was excited for this album as well. However, the closer the release date got, the more leaks surfaced, and the more I became uninterested in buying the album.

The album starts off with “Im Not A Star,” a weak intro and the ONLY song without a feature. It’s one of those songs that you always skip on the CD, because there’s nothing special about it. Luckily, it’s followed by “Free Mason,” which features John Legend and Jay-Z. Yeah, I’m sure when people found out the title and that Jay-Z was on it, they thought it may be a dedication to the Illuminati or something. But it’s actually a pretty good song and my favorite track on the album. I think the song should have been toward the end of the album though; it’s kind of awkward as the 2^nd song. But both Ross and Jay have dope verses.

Continuity is important on an album because the better the songs flow, the better the project sounds as a whole. If I could reorganize the tracks on the album to have a better flow, they would be in this order:

MC Hammer
I’m Not a Star
All The Money In The World
Super High
Maybach Music III
No. 1
Tears of Joy
B.M.F.
Aston Martin Music
Free Mason
Live Fast, Die Young

I chose this order because it mixes up the hard hitters with the not-so-good tracks and ends strong. I put the last two songs where they are because “Free Mason” is a really good and serious track so it belongs near the end, and “Live Fast, Die Young” is a song that will give you some advice to walk away with, that’s why it’s last.

Following “Free Mason” are two more songs that I think should have been placed further down the list; “Tears of Joy” and “Maybach Music III”. Both of these songs are mature sounding songs with slower tempos. “Tears of Joy,” another one of my favorites, starts of with a recording of a speech given by Bobby Seale, one of the founders of the Black Panthers. Cee-Lo Green lends some soulful vocals to the track to provide some emotional depth.

“Maybach Music III” is another part of the album that I expected to be better. When I saw the artists who would be on the third Maybach music song (T.I, Jadakiss, Erykah Badu) I just knew it would be epic. Actually, I only thought it would be epic because I saw that one of my favorite artists, Erykah Badu, was on the track. I thought her soulful voice mixed with Ross' mob boss style would make come together to be a hit. When I finally heard the song, I was extremely let down. He could have used anybody to do her part because she doesn’t sound like the Erykah people love to hear. Initially, I couldn’t stand to listen to it, but now it has grown on me. I like Ross’ verse the most, followed by T.I’s.

Next are five songs that are all just “alright” and sound very commercial; “Live Fast, Die Young”, “Super High”, “No. 1”, “MC Hammer”, and “B.M.F.” From reading blogs and talking to people, it seems the most popular songs of the five are “Live Fast, Die Young” and “B.M.F” Unfortunately, “MC Hammer” and “B.M.F.” are back to back and sound VERY similar. I’m not sure if that was intentional or what, but I don’t like it. By the time I get to the middle of B.M.F. I’m just tired of hearing the beat. Following “B.M.F.” is “Aston Martin Music,” which is not a bad song on Ross’ part, but Drake and Christette Michelle are featured, which to me makes the song incredibly boring. The tempo is already slow, and when you add Chrisette Michelle, an R&B singer, and Drake who might as well be classified as R&B, the song becomes very “pop” sounding. The last song on the album is “All The Money In The World” featuring Raphael Saadiq. I don’t really have anything to say about this one. Ross sings a little on the hook, and since it’s not great singing, it’s fun to sing along with, and I can imagine lots of people doing so in their cars. But other than that, I found it pretty dull.

Teflon Don had a lot more bark than bite. Ross is not a bad rapper, but the way he puts his music together makes it less desirable. There are 15 features on this album of 11 songs. That is a big overload. There is only one song where Ross is solo. One of my friends commented that it’s like he’s trying to please everyone with all the features. We need to hear more from just Ross on future projects. Also, the majority of these songs sound like they can/will be on the radio. Personally, when I buy a CD, I want to hear music that was made just for the people who really wanted to hear the CD—aka, not only “singles”. Basically I feel like this CD was very hyped up and did not meet its expectations. If he out puts another album like this, he will lose credibility in my book.

Rick Ross - B.M.F (Cookin Soul Remix)

2010-07-22T21:24:00.005-05:00

I try to avoid posting stuff from other popular blogs on here as much as possible, but this time I couldn't resist. When I heard this, I was so excited. Now we can act like this is the original song so B.M.F. and MC Hammer won't sound nearly the same. I think this track sounds way better now. Ross should pull the album out of stores, put this track on there rather than the original, and then start selling Teflon Don with this track instead. Ahh well...too late.

Rick Ross - BMF (Blowin Money Fast) (Cookin Soul & Spike Miller Remix) from Cookin Soul on Vimeo.

Curren$y - Pilot Talk

2010-07-18T11:09:00.004-05:00

Curren$y, one of New Orleans’ hottest emcees right now, released his long awaited album, Pilot Talk, Tuesday, July 13, 2010. Originally scheduled to release in March, many fans were dying to get their hands on this. From what I’ve heard, lots of stores around the country underestimated the sales of the album and quickly ran out. I went to the music store around 11am and there was only 1 copy left on the shelf. I was there for about 2 minutes and saw 3 albums sold.

The album opens with, “Example,” an intro that will grab you. The screaming guitars at the beginning is my favorite part and I have listened to it lots of times. They make you turn up the music in anticipation. Two lines in the chorus sum up the song, as well as Curren$y’s career; “I am an example/of what can happen when you quit being afraid to gamble.” Basically, you have to take risks to be successful; an obvious reference to Curren$y’s decision to leave the Young Money machine in it’s infancy. The song is followed by the trunk rattling, bass growling, drug dealing meets music industry sounds of “Audio Dope II.” I like this track more than the original “Audio Dope”, which is on his mixtape, Smokee Robinson, released earlier this year. The new sound fits better with the vibe of the song.

Following that are three previously released songs, “King Kong”, “Breakfast”, and “Life Under The Scope.” Curren$y has made some cool videos for these songs via Creative Control. The music for “Breakfast” has been totally revamped. It is now accompanied by live instruments, which include a guitar and bass guitar, drum set, and a trumpet with the melody. The song is way jazzier and I think it would go even better with the video now. Mos Def is featured at the end of this song. His part is a little random and awkward but it works. The rest of the album is filled with features from across the board including Snoop Dogg, Big K.R.I.T, Smoke DZA, Stalley, Devin The Dude, Mikey Rocks, Mos Def, Jay Electronica, Nesby Phips, Trademark, and Young Roddy.

I think Pilot Talk is a good next step for Curren$y. Although several (almost half) of the songs have been previously released on mixtapes or just as singles, they sound different and better than they did before. I was surprised by the mature sound of the album, but it is only right for his sound to grow with him. Curren$y has begun to skyrocket and he has picked up lots of new fans in the last year or two. For that reason, unfortunately, I’m not sure if they will appreciate his growth as an artist but we will definitely find out in the next few weeks. I think people will either say “It’s ok, but I didn’t really like it” or “It’s really dope and I can’t wait to see what’s next!” Although Curren$y still raps mostly about money, cars, clothes, weed, and women, his music just has a different feel than many other rappers’. It’s more real, more laid back, and makes you want to enjoy your life! JETS NIGGA!

Spitta Also had an album release party Tuesday night at Republic in New Orleans. It was pretty dope. Check out the photos and the footage.

New Raz Fresco - "In The House"

2010-07-11T23:23:00.005-05:00

The homie Raz produced and rapped on this new track "In The House" along with rapper P. Blackk (from Columbus). When I started listening to it, the beat immediately had me movin! Both Raz and P. Blackk come hard with the old-school flow. The beat sounds like it could be for a song straight out of "Do The Right Thing." This is definitely one you can bump in your car!

Download Here

B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast) Rick Ross + Styles P.

2010-07-11T16:42:00.001-05:00

I was so excited to see this came out 'cause it's one of my favorite songs from the Albert Anastasia EP The Boss put out in May. Actually, it's gotten to the point where I can't help but to walk around my house screaming, "I THINK I'M BIG MEECH....UHHHHH!!" Lol. Anyway, I love how the video can be related to. It looks like Ross just said, "Man, I wanna shoot this video in my hood, wit' all my niggas." It looks good, but at the same time it looks like they shot it around the corner from my house. Some people may not like that feel, but I do. Of course there was the, "Nigga, I got money" aspect of the video, but what video doesn't have that?

GT - "L.O.D."

2010-07-05T22:02:00.005-05:00

A few weeks ago I posted a behind-the-scenes video of GT working on their new song, Line of Defense or, "L.O.D." (You can watch that HERE) Well here is the finished product! It goes without saying (even though I'm about to say it anyway) this song is dope and it's cool how the theme works with the point they're getting across. Also, this is an original beat made by group member, Apollo. So check it out. Don't forget that GT will be dropping a new tape this Fall! And if you havent heard their previous tape, "If You Didn't Know Us Before..." download it HERE.

Beats To Bump

2010-07-05T17:37:00.008-05:00

Curren$y, along with a couple other people, performed at the Brooklyn Bowl for the BluRoc Music Festival last month. This is the live recording of that show. At first I wasn't going to blog about it because I figured it would just be a bunch of songs we have already heard, which it is. BUT there is no Dj, it's a live band so the songs don't sound exactly the same, the sound quality is really nice, and it just sounds like a good time. I wouldn't say this is something you would bump in your car or iPod, but it's definitely worth listening to. Creative Control is also working with the visuals so you may catch some of those on here.

Oh, and yea we have a lot of posts about Curren$y but we are not a promotion site for him or anything....we just like him!

Download Here

Super High (Sativa Remix) - Rick Ross+Curren$y+Wiz Khalifa

2010-06-30T04:21:00.004-05:00

Rick Ross, Curren$y, and Wiz Khalifa set up a live Ustream broadcast at 4:20 AM to premiere their collaboration, "Super High (Sativa Remix)." It's still going on as I'm typing this, but I'm so excited I had to jump on it. Three of my favorite rappers on one song?? CRAZY! They all went in, too. The verses are consistently dope. So enjoy. You might wanna roll one...or a few.

DOWNLOAD HERE

A video has been shot for the song and the behind-the-scenes to the video will be released at 4:20 PM today.

UPDATE:

Behind the Scenes of "Super High (Sativa Remix)"

Round Table Meeting: Raz Fresco

2010-06-27T12:43:00.011-05:00

Wussup man! Tell us who you are.

Raz Fresco, 15 year old rapper/producer out of Toronto, waddap doe !

You rap as well as produce. Which did you start first? Which one do you like more?

I started rapping first, I dabbled with producing in the 7^th grade after being taught on how much producers make off rappers and from just making beats alone. I figured why not save the time and money and make my own beats, I just gradually got better and started to improve with time and dedication. Im a rapper first so I like that more, that’s what I do, I just happen to produce great.

Since you’re only 15 and already starting to do big things, when did you start rapping?
Ever since I was in the 1^st – 2^nd grade I started writing my own lyrics.

Who are some of your inspirations, or just some artists you like?

Whenever I hear dope music it motivates me to go make some music. If I hear a certain mood, theme, beat.etc, It’ll gets my creative juices flowing and ill play around with it to see if I can come up with something. As far as artist I listen to right now, I play a lot of Wiz, Curren$y, and The Cool Kids. I listen to a wider variety of artist as well but they the most played.

Since you were born in the mid 90’s, what or who inspired the retro style we hear in your music?

My production which id say has more of retro feel then my raps was heavily inspired by the cool kids and then evolved and blended with other outside influences which developed into the sound you hear. Also, I flip a lot of old school shii when producing like samples and drums which transfers that old school sound into my records.

How big of a push was it for you getting "Layin' Low" on World Star Hip Hop?

That shit was crazy, my inboxes started blowing up with messages from all over, I got some pretty good looks off that video, and the crazy part about it is… it was only 1 verse! That’s how my manager found out about me as well. It was perfect timing too, because a week later my tape was set to drop and that made everybody talking about it go and peep the tape which got me way more supporters.

How did you link up with Tyga?

I heard he was looking for production so I just hit him up with some dope shii and he was with it.

Read any music or fashion websites, blogs, or magazines?

Actually yeah I do, NiceKicks.com, KicksOnFire.com, SneakerNews.com, Freshnessmag.com, just to name a few.

Have you been to America? If so, how does it differ from Canada?

Ive been to America but not really on a music related trip, im coming over there this summer for music related things so im not too sure how its different aside from the obvious differences like accents, slangs, and past times.

What’s the hip hop scene like in Toronto?

Theres a lot of artists doing big things right now in and around the city. Since Drake put the city on the map, more and more people have become interested in what we got to offer so theres a lot more opportunity and more people listening then before.

Top 3 favorite albums?

“Illmatic” – Nas

“Hell Hath No Fury” – The Clipse

“The Graduation” – Kanye West

Top 3 producers?

Kanye West
Pharell
Chuck Inglish

Listening to your mixtape, “Welcome To The Bakers Club,” it’s easy to tell you’re a Jordan fanatic. What is your all-time favorite pair of J’s?
The Jordan 8s are the dopest pair out, the colourways are crazy, and the shoe model itself is mad creative. The white aquas and the og black aquas are probably my favourite of the 8s.

What are the 3 most played songs in your iTunes?

Im going to actually go into my iTunes and do this one…

“Car Service” Wiz Khalifa And Currensy
“Mezmerized” Wiz Khalifa
“Concorde Rollin” P Blackk

What is the best concert you’ve ever been to?

Im not even a concert guy to be honest. I need to start going to some more I guess.

Are there any up and coming artists you would like to work with?

I mess with a couple up and coming dudes, the material just hasn’t been released yet, but aside from them, there is a lot of artist id like to work with, they’re not necessarily up and coming though.

What do you think about the direction hip-hop is going in today?

Variety is key, people need to stop knocking artists doing something new with it saying its “not hip hop”. Evolution and growth always brings about change. I feel its in a great place right now, with a lot of new styles being developed and a lot of great music coming out.

Where do you want your career to be in 5 years?

Hopefully I will have a solid album out in 3 years or so, I naturally expect more success and to gain a much larger following due to the moves I got planned and opportunities I got. In 5 years, I want to be 5 years more experienced, 5 years better, and 5 years more paid!

Last words or shout outs?

Follow me on twitter @RazFresco and Go and cop “Welcome To The Bakers Club” if you aint heard it yet. “Laced Up” is coming soon, Im going to shoot a couple videos and then its going release. Its 10x better then the first time so expect some FIRE!! Bakers Club waddap doe !

__________________________________________________________________

Downloald Raz's mixtape Welcome to the Bakers Club HERE

Offical "Layin' Low" Video

Check out more of his videos HERE

Some Curren$y For You

2010-06-27T11:28:00.004-05:00

Curren$y's album Pilot Talk is due to drop July 13th after it being delayed for a while now. A couple of the songs have been previously released so you've probably heard those already. Here's another track from the album titled "The Day," which features Mos Def and Jay Electronica. This is a dope track and I hope it's a preview to what the whole album will sound like. Check it out.

Download Here

And here is Pilot Talk's tracklist in case you were interested.

1. Example
2. Audio Dope II
3. King Kong
4. Seat Change ft. Snoop Dogg
5. Breakfast (prod. by Mos Def)
6. Roasted ft. Trademark and Young Roddy (prod. by MonstaBeatz)
7. Skybourne ft. Big K.R.I.T. & Smoke DZA
8. The Hangover ft. Mikey Rocks
9. The Day ft. Mos Def & Jay Electronica
10. Prioritize ft. Nesby Phips (prod. by Nesby Phips)
11. Chilled Coughphee ft. Devin the Dude
12. Address ft. Stalley
13. Life Under The Scope (prod. by Ski Beatz & Michael Sterling Eaton)

You may have heard this song before too. I'm not quite sure what this is part of because it's not on Pilot Talk's tracklist and it was also on Trademark's mixtape. So I guess it's just been re-released under Curren$y's name instead of Trademark's with some new artwork. But check this one out too.

Download Here

"Ghmm Zhmm Zhmm" - D-Lain

2010-06-20T15:45:00.009-05:00

My homie D-Lain has dropped another solo track called "Ghmm Zhmm Zhmm" [which I have fun saying]. You can tell this man is working hard because is skill is noticeably improving. Oh and shouts out to Manny the engineer, you are getting better too! I see you! D-Lain isn't working on a solo project or anything, just his craft, but when ever he starts to put something together I'll let yall know. So check it out and you can download it HERE.

Oh and its not really a Lakers Diss for all you Lakers fans.

Nigel Sylvester and Gatorade Go All Day

2010-06-18T15:57:00.001-05:00

Nigel Sylvester teamed up with Gatorade to release a series of three videos that show his unique life as a pro BMX rider. All were conceptualized and written by Nigel and Glenn PP Milligan. The videos show just how crazy Nigel's life is on and off a bike, and has a cool storyline woven throughout the three videos.

I'm not really into BMX and stuff but Nigel Sylvester makes me wanna see more. Or maybe it's just that I wanna see more of him. This visual collaboration with Gatorade came out really dope. It includes cameos from Teyana Taylor, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Vashtie Kola. All the music is from Donnis.

The Night Episode

The Morning Episode

The Afternoon Episode

Sidebar:The only song I ever did like by Donnis was, "Gone," but these visuals kinda make me listen to him differently. He's still trash to me, but the videos make him sound good.

LAKERS FTW!

2010-06-18T15:10:00.004-05:00

Ok, so we alllllll knowwwww THE LAKERS WON THE SERIES LAST NIGHT! This year's series was definitely a nerve-racking one. I had a stomach ache for the entire game seven and it magically disappeared in the last eleven seconds. The Lakers' win made my night!

If you haven't kept up with the finals and you feel left out of the uproar of basketball conversation and debate, here are the FULL stats down to the referees' names:

June 3 9:00 p.m.	Boston Celtics 89, Los Angeles Lakers 102		Staples Center, Los Angeles, California Attendance: 18,997 Referees: Joe Crawford, Joe DeRosa, Derrick Stafford
	Scoring by quarter: 21–26, 20–24, 23–34, 25–18
	Pts: Paul Pierce 24 Rebs: Paul Pierce 9 Asts: Rajon Rondo 8	Pts: Kobe Bryant 30 Rebs: Pau Gasol 14 Asts: Kobe Bryant 6

June 6 8:00 p.m.	Boston Celtics 103, Los Angeles Lakers 94		Staples Center, Los Angeles, California Attendance: 18,997 Referees: Monty McCutchen, Mike Callahan, Ken Mauer
	Scoring by quarter: 29–22, 25–26, 18–24, 31–22
	Pts: Ray Allen 32 Rebs: Rajon Rondo 12 Asts: Rajon Rondo 10	Pts: Pau Gasol 25 Rebs: Pau Gasol 8 Asts: Kobe Bryant 6

June 8 9:00 p.m.	Los Angeles Lakers 91, Boston Celtics 84		TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts Attendance: 18,624 Referees: Dan Crawford, Bill Kennedy, Bennett Salvatore
	Scoring by quarter: 26–17, 26–23, 15–21, 24–23
	Pts: Kobe Bryant 29 Rebs: Bynum, Gasol 10 each Asts:Bryant, Gasol 4 each	Pts: Kevin Garnett 25 Rebs: Kendrick Perkins 11 Asts: Rajon Rondo 8

June 10 9:00 p.m.	Los Angeles Lakers 89, Boston Celtics 96		TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts Attendance: 18,624 Referees: Scott Foster, Eddie F. Rush, Greg Willard
	Scoring by quarter: 16–19, 29–23, 17–18, 27–36
	Pts: Kobe Bryant 33 Rebs: Artest, Odom 7 each Asts: Artest, Gasol 3 each	Pts: Paul Pierce 19 Rebs: Kendrick Perkins 7 Asts: Paul Pierce 5

June 13 8:00 p.m.	Los Angeles Lakers 86, Boston Celtics 92		TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts Attendance: 18,624 Referees: Joe Crawford, Mike Callahan, Derrick Stafford
	Scoring by quarter: 20–22, 19–23, 26–28, 21–19
	Pts: Kobe Bryant 38 Rebs: Pau Gasol 12 Asts: Kobe Bryant 4	Pts: Paul Pierce 27 Rebs: Kevin Garnett 10 Asts: Rajon Rondo 8

June 15 9:00 p.m.	Boston Celtics 67, Los Angeles Lakers 89		Staples Center, Los Angeles, California Attendance: 18,997 Referees: Monty McCutchen, Joe DeRosa, Ken Mauer
	Scoring by quarter: 18–28, 13–23, 20–25, 16–13
	Pts: Ray Allen 19 Rebs: Glen Davis 9 Asts: Rajon Rondo 6	Pts: Kobe Bryant 26 Rebs: Pau Gasol 13 Asts: Pau Gasol 9

June 17 9:00 p.m.	Boston Celtics 79, Los Angeles Lakers 83		Staples Center, Los Angeles, California Attendance: 18,997 Referees: Dan Crawford, Joe Crawford, Scott Foster
	Scoring by quarter: 23–14, 17–20, 17–19, 22–30
	Pts: Paul Pierce 18 Rebs: Paul Pierce 10 Asts: Rajon Rondo 10	Pts: Kobe Bryant 23 Rebs: Pau Gasol 18 Asts: Pau Gasol 4
	L.A. Lakers win NBA Finals, 4–3

What upset me during the series is all these damn bandwagon Celtics fans! Now, I'm not gonna lie. There are some people I know that really are Celtics fans, but there are so many people I know that team hopped (were originally Lakers fans) just because other people were going for the Celtics. I've been a Lakers fan since elementary school. I don't plan on switching up either. People even had the nerve to question the origin of the Los Angeles team's name: "What the hell is a Laker anyway?" Well, um, do you even know what a Celtic is??!! *crickets* That's what I thought. So brush up on your basketball history before you hop on my team.

*clears throat and brushes off shirt*

Excuse me. My apologies, but I go hard behind basketball/Lakers. LOL

Here are a few words from my childhood friend, Kobe Bryant.

Happy 100th Post!

2010-06-18T00:49:00.007-05:00

Woooo we made it to 100!

But anyway. The other day Kid Cudi got arrested because...well here's the story.

Kanye West's protégé Kid Cudi was arrested on criminal charges Friday afternoon in New York. Sgt. John Butorn says Cudi was arrested on charges of criminal mischief and criminal possession of a controlled substance. TMZ claims the rapper took a 24-year-old woman's phone, slammed it to he ground and allegedly ripped her apartment door off. Cops arrived at the apartment in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood and found a glass bottle of a controlled substance.

So I guess this is what the Cudi Zone is and his Pursuit of Happiness involves smashing women's phones. This guy is wild! He really does have a Heart of a Lion. Maybe he was thinking that, "If this was My World that's how we would make things happen." If Mr. Solo Dolo keeps up these charades he will be in jail as Simple As 1, 2, 3, A, B, C.

Haha that was me being lame. I hope you enjoyed all the Man on The Moon references.

But yea, Cudi is due to release his 2nd album, Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager, this September. He has put out a single from the album called REVOFEV, which stands for "Revolution of Evolution." Check it out. It's a nice track. Kind of a different material for him.

DOWNLOAD HERE.

Mezmorized & The Kid Frankie - Wiz Khalifa

2010-06-09T10:56:00.005-05:00

More lovely visuals from the great "Kush & Orange Juice." Lighters up to these.

"Mezmorized"

"The Kid Frankie"

My favorite is "Mezmorized"! What's yours?

UPDATE: I don't have a favorite from these two 'cause I can't stop watching either. They both make me wanna smoke. Mission accomplished Taylor Gang. =]

Round Table Meeting: Taj Melendez

2010-06-03T11:27:00.011-05:00

I got a chance to get acquainted with Taj

Melendez, an artist/accessory designer of New York. He makes these dope ass pins of dudes, chicks, pandas, and more! His pins have been featured in various European magazines and worn my favorite model VICTORIA BRITO! [Sorry, I'll calm down. Slight girl crush. Ha!] He's a really cool guy, too. He even sent me one of the panda pins! Oh, and he has long hair! Heehee.

Yo! Waddup? Introduce yourself.

Commissioner Sir. Taj Melendez. I'm a designer of ByTaj and a warrior poet. Brooklyn is my home. I order the same thing at every restaurant/diner, I like long nice walks in the park, and I'm a part of the great and infamous NYC night life.

"By Taj" Varsity pin. (Rockafella's super producer, Boola)

What were you like as a child and how has your childhood influenced your craft?

I was always a very anti-social kid but managed to keep a numerous amount of peers around here and there. The park is what got me outside the comfort of my home because where I'm from, there were always a choice to make. Those choices were simply bad or good choices. Being out of the loop, staying low key, and choosing to always travel off of the beaten path just put me in a direction that no one really understood and that influenced how I grew up and followed my own direction.

"By Taj" Doll clip (Pop artist, Mitsue)

When and why did you start designing accessories?

Basically, making shit is what I did but I never really took designing serious until I started to get older, in high school, and defining who I was by being very social and outgoing. I started designing accessories because I liked the pop culture toy trend and the Japanimation culture that's evolving in Tokyo and the way the Japanese utilize toys as modern art.

Any projects in the works right now?

Yes, of course. Right now, for me, I'm all about worldwide currency and I'm thinking about how everyone seems to be running out of money. The government wants us to believe in the system while the wrong doers get bailed out. It's not about the money, but it is lol. So I think I might be playing with money...

Describe your products.

ByTaj is a brand that is comprised of whimsical pieces of modern art with the customer as the medium. Inspired by a box of animal crackers.

What are your favorite self-made pieces?

I honestly like my panda pin. That's a classic right there.

Sum yourself up in a ten word sentence.

I don't know what to say, can I say that? lol

Tell us something that most don't know about you.

Well, I told you I eat every the same thing at every restaurant... sooo uuuumm...... Without putting myself on high blast alert... See, I have this favorite pillow right? Nahh nahhh let me stop right there.

Favorites:

Candy?

Snickers but I break out to much from that. So M&M's

Quote?

Glasses full of champagne, pockets full of money, this world is full of shit.

Animal?

Like dogs.

Song?

Posse on Broadway - Sir Mix A' Lot

Car?

SLR Mclaren

Pair of shoes?

OG something... Doesn't matter

What's the best concert you ever been to?

Haven't been to any... sucks right?

What kind of exposure have you been getting? How are you advancing in the game?

I've been getting a lot of fever from European mags and a few fashion heads are wearing my pieces in and around the city from NY, LA, to MIA... even overseas.

European's Pref Magazine '09 - "By Taj" Boy pin

Who are some of your favorite artists (all genres)?

Mos Def, Wiz Khalifa, can't forget about Jay of course. Oh yeah, GaGa is the business, too. lol

Who are some people that have helped you get to where you are now?

My mother, who has dealt with all the mess and pieces that have been left all over the floor.

Indigo, my sis, who is the poop crap. She is a fashion and a wellness consultant. Also the person who helps me recognize my resources.

&&& Rowshana Jackon, of Wrought Style, a fashion stylist who has shown me love from the door.

Last words or shout outs?

Hallelujah Holla Back.
Salute to my champions and I encourage the haters to find a better purpose.
Shalom.

European's In*Tandem Magazine '10 - Victoria Brito x ByTaj "Panda" pin

Beats to Bump

2010-05-31T20:57:00.007-05:00

The Cool Kids just dropped their new mixtape entitled "Tacklebox." Im actually writing this before the tape is out so I can get the post up quickly, so I have nothing to say about it besides that I'm excited to hear it. There have been some leaks [as always] but I haven't listened to any of them. So I'll let The Cool Kids do the talking for me for now but I'll probably do a follow-up as well.

Check this out.

After yall check it out, you should come back here and tell us what you thought about it and what your favorite songs are!

Download Here

___________________________________

Ok ok ok. After listening to the tape one time all the way through, I went back to choose which songs I liked the most. These are my favorites (in the order they're in on the tape):

Freak City

Great Outdoors

Good Afternoon

Parking Lot

Gettin' Flicked

I really want to like "Summer Nights" but I'm just not there yet. This list will probably change over time, but this is what I got right now. Overall I think this tape is pretty dope. It has a very summery vibe to it, so I think it was released at the perfect time.

Heeee's Baaacckkk!!!

2010-05-30T22:36:00.007-05:00

Last week, Kanye, Yeezy, Ye, whatever you call him, made a much anticipated return when he released his song "Power." [Download it HERE] The song screams Kanye haha. So I guess we can expect more from him soon.

"They say I was the obamanation of Obama’s nation
Well, that’s a pretty bad way to start the conversation"

*Kanye Shrug*

Also, one of my homies just linked me with a mixtape of unreleased Kanye songs [Thanks Quinnton A!] I havent listened to it yet so I can't give you a review. Buttttt of course I'll hook you up so can download it for yourself.

Download Here

Summah Summah Summah Time!

2010-05-25T23:02:00.005-05:00

GT is working on a new project, which should be dropping in early Fall, and their 2nd mixtape which you can expect to hear sometime this summer. This is a video of one of the recording sessions I was at when they were recording their song "L.O.D." These guys are perfectionists so there was a lot of cutting and redoing, but they still managed to have fun and keep the studio alive. As you will see, they really enjoy what they do.

The Statement - Wiz khalifa [Video]

2010-05-23T08:56:00.001-05:00

When I saw this video had surfaced I jumped outta my socks. It's one of my favorites from Kush & OJ. Enjoy.

Cosmogramma

2010-05-18T13:48:00.002-05:00

You may have heard him on Cartoon Network and Adult Swim a few times but if you haven't heard Flying Lotus's newest album, Cosmogramma, then you are definitely missing out on a grand treat. This is one of his best releases by far. And for those of you who don't know who this great man is (Flying Lotus is not a group) here are some of my favorite selections.

"Rickshaw" from L.A. EP 1x3 (my personal favoritest)

"Auntie's Harp" from Los Angeles LP

"Massage Situation" from Reset

"Galaxy in Janaki" from Cosmogramma (my second favoritest)

He's even GREAT LIVE! Here's "Galaxy in Janaki" live.

Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives

2010-05-17T20:51:00.007-05:00

Distant Relatives is a collab album by Nas and Damian Marley, which is scheduled to drop tomorrow [May 18th.] I have heard much of the album and it's pretty dope. I am considering buying it. If you like Nas, Damian Marley, Hip Hop, and/or Reggae you will probably enjoy this album. I really hope it does well in the charts. .

Curren$y - King Kong

2010-05-15T12:48:00.005-05:00

This is Curren$y's new video for "King Kong" which was filmed in New Orleans. Me and some of my homies were close to being all up in this video haha! Give us some time. But yea I really like this video. And you know I got youuuu, download it HERE

Curren$y - King Kong from Creative Control on Vimeo.

WOW! I would get this - Apple iWatch

2010-05-15T00:35:00.002-05:00

I found this on the BBC blog. Its just a concept for now, but it looks hella dope!! Im not exactly sure what it would do (maybe normal iTouch/iPad stuff) but it still looks cool. We shall see what happens.

Robin Thicke - Its in the Morning

2010-05-15T00:28:00.005-05:00

Man, I dont know if it's just me, but lately the internet has been pretty dead, hence the lack of posts. So during a desperate attempt to find something to post I found the video for "It's in the Morning" by Robin Thicke Ft. Snoop. I actually like this song. Um....yea. Enjoy.

Oh and you can download it HERE

Ahha! Here it is.

2010-05-05T12:31:00.006-05:00

Yea this is the rest of that Beyonce video. The song is boring as hell (apparently Solange wrote it *cough cough*), but the I like the video idea. But heyyyy if you like this song you can download it HERE.

____________________________

UPDATE May 6

BLAHHH! So after listening to this song over and over to assure myself of how I felt about it (my friends all had different feelings) it has grown on me. So, yea....its nice.

"Why Don't You Love Me" - Beyoncé from Beyoncé on Vimeo.

Wow, Beyonce

2010-05-03T00:05:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure if this is for a music video or what, but I like it. Not much to say about this one, but if this were a new sitcom, I would watch it.

"Why Don't You Love Me" - Sneak Peek from Beyonce on Vimeo.

So I saw this really creepy video. . .

2010-04-27T20:21:00.003-05:00

This morning I woke up like any other morning and decided to listen to the music on MTV as I completely woke up before class (I either do that or shuffle through my music on my computer.) But this morning I was lucky enough to see this really....odd...video. Wow. I hope this isn't serious. This video makes it seem like there is going to be some weird anti Christ alien version of Jesus who is going to come back and take over the world. Yes, an anti Christ version of Jesus...you'll see. The boy band guys are pretty creepy too though. They seemed like a robot boy band that was going to blow up and then infect the world or something. Too much TV? Maybe so. ENJOY! :/

Lol the girl's face at 1:10 is how I looked for the entire video this morning.

This is Why I Think You're Garbage

2010-04-24T11:50:00.006-05:00

Having a friend like D-Lain makes it hard to take some of you other rappers seriously. He's crushin' SO many people in his league and even a lot of people out of his league who are makin' big bucks.

His new song, "Hey D-Lain, You're Incredible," has taken him to a new level. You can download it HERE. I don't know what else to say except some you have got to come harder. Don't sleep on my homie!

And yes, DUMBGENIUS does know you're incredible lol.

Follow him on Twitter! Click Here

PIXELS

2010-04-24T09:55:00.001-05:00

In, French director, Patrick Jean and onemoreprod.com's short film, an 8-bit invasion of the lovely NYC takes place. PIXELITIS! Tetris, Pong, Donkey Kong, and Space Invader all engage in pixelating New York City.

PIXELS by PATRICK JEAN.
Uploaded by onemoreprod. - Independent web videos.

We Rep The Planes

2010-04-22T16:50:00.012-05:00

Curren$y hit New Orleans once again, and again the show was sick. If you listen to Curren$y then you know what a lot of his music is about. Now take that, add the fact that the show was on 420....yea, you do the math. Haha I think that was the smokiest event I have ever attended. Yea...it was crazy. So crazy that I have no videos for you guys. You will be ok, since I got so many from the other show, which you can see HERE. But lucky for me, my homie Marcus took pics and I got some for y'all.

Let's Do Some Art!

2010-04-20T14:29:00.009-05:00

Yesterday my home girl Meagan hit me up talkin' about we should do some art to give to Curren$y since he was here and having a show. I'm not an artist but I like art so I was down. So we went by her place...and the rest is history.

^^^^ This one is the front of the one below with all the writing on it.

This is when we gave Curren$y the work. He loved them!

He really liked that one in the front. He said, "Mannnn these are dope! BUT DIS ONE HERE....!"

See yall tonight! Look for us!

Play Another Slow Jam

2010-04-20T13:50:00.005-05:00

I am not really a slow jam person, but I just wanted to keep you guys up-to-date.

If you're older, have older parents, or played in a marching band then you have probably heard the original version of Secret Garden by Quincy Jones, Barry White, and some other people. Well I saw there was a remix by Usher and Robin Thicke and was like "wooowww" in bad way (mostly because I think today's Usher sucks.) I listened to it anyway and it goes pretty hard. It got some SLAP too.

If you like it you can download it HERE.

Also, Lil Wayne released a video for his song "Single." I don't have much to say about it. It's ok. Not that I'm a big Wayne hater or anything.....but I thought we were gonna have a break from him. Oh well. But ummmm....WHO IS THAT CHICK IN THE VIDEO?? Am I supposed to know her? DAMN. <--Enough said.

Beats to Bump

2010-04-14T13:20:00.006-05:00

Wiz Khalifa released his much anticipated "Kush and Orange Juice" mixtape this morning. This tape is pretty dope. It's what I expected from Wiz, but there were still some pleasant surprises on it. After having had it for 3 days now, I've listened to it 3 times all the way through and my favorite tracks would have to be (in order from which they come on the tape):

#2 - We're Done

#9 - Up

#11 - In the Cut

#13 - Still Blazin' ((THE favorite)

#16 - Good Dank

#18 - Glass House

The weather has been really really nice lately and this tape fits right in for chillin' outside or whatever. Download dis biiiiiiiitch. And like Curren$y says... Roll something up if thats what you do. Pour something up if thats what you do. Enjoy. Let me know what yall think about it.

Download HERE or HERE

Over - Drake [Video]

2010-04-13T15:35:00.001-05:00

I present to you Drake's new video for, "Over."

Drake, I'm gonna need you to break this cycle of trash videos. But for real, for real, where can i get a projector that will show that shit on my walls like in the video?

The Heroes - Movin' Like The Wind

2010-04-13T12:48:00.007-05:00

If you can recall my interview with Mister Xavier (if not, click his name to read the interview) he talked about his group "The Heroes" and how they would be releasing a promo album in late Spring. Well he hit me up last week with a track from the album. I must say, it's pretty dope and I'm ready to hear the rest. It's a really cool, laid-back track. It makes me dance. The lyrics don't disappoint either. Well enough talk, download the song "Movin' Like The Wind" on The Heroes' website HERE and let me know what you think.

Rich Hil

2010-04-11T11:29:00.002-05:00

So Tommy Hilfiger's son is rappin'. His name is Rich Hil and he kinnnnddaaaaa go hard. I can't stop listenin to this one here.

What I don't like is how he sounds like a damn baby, but for a white boy, he doesn't sound so foreign against other rappers. He got the dialect down. lol

Lol! iPad...why?

2010-04-09T17:06:00.004-05:00

I see a lot of cool and interesting things on the BBC blog and should probably start putting more of them on here. But I saw this one and laughed out loud. Had to share it.

PJ Morton - Walk Alone

2010-04-08T14:44:00.005-05:00

PJ Morton's Album, "Walk Alone" dropped Tuesday of this week. If you're like me, you don't know who PJ Morton is. Well, I didn't know until yesterday. I rolled across one of his songs from this album and really liked it. The song is called "Love You More" and it features Tweet. Yes, the same "Oops! There goes my shirt" Tweet. You can download it HERE. I did read that he is a NEW ORLEANS native and son of Gospel legend, Bishop Paul S. Morton. So his style is soulful with a hint of gospel in there (I didn't read that, I concluded it myself.) Also, you can get a preview of the album HERE. If you like this genre, he seems legit. Check him out!

THE REAL How To Make It In America

2010-04-07T16:09:00.001-05:00

SHE WAS SPITTIN' THAT REAL.

Waka Flocka featuring Diddy + Rick Ross – O Let’s Do It [Video]

2010-04-07T16:04:00.001-05:00

I hated the original song, but when they threw Ross on that thang I fell in love.

Is she serious? WEREN'T YOU A CHEETAH GIRL???

2010-04-07T15:42:00.009-05:00

Ex-Cheetah Girl, Kiely Williams, sings and dances about getting fucked up and fucked. Disney traitor. Cool wit' me though. The song is funny.

"I think he pulled a track out while he was blowin' my back out."

Carter Consign - Yea, so I was just about to post this video when I saw my homie beat me to it. Buuutttt yea, it's clear to see Disney was holding this girl back lol. The cheetah finally got let out her cage and she has gone mad. This song is pure crap. Don't get me wrong, it's very entertaining, just crap. The video too. I'm not sure if its just me, but that party she was at looked like some random party at some random truck stop or something and she happened to be super over dressed hahaha. Kiely is a trip....well maybe a trick.... either way, this song and the video is pretty hilarious and I hope she doesn't plan to make a career out of this.

dope. purple and charcoal release!

2010-04-05T11:14:00.002-05:00

Just in case you don't regularly check www.thedopegame.com , today, the homies over at dope. realeased two new colorways in their "we sell dope." tee. PURPLE + CHARCOAL. yummm.

So get ya ass to the site and buy one [or two]!

Silly Dealer. =]

Massive Attack - Nicki Minaj feat. Sean Garrett [Video]

2010-04-05T09:28:00.002-05:00

The song + the video is hot! It's got this lil' sexy feel to it. The bad ass Amber Rose makes a cameo and Nicki's butt even looks proportional to her body! =]

I'm still laughin' at Nicki Minaj tryin' to tick toward the end, though. LMAO!

Jay Electronica at Howlin' Wolf

2010-04-01T21:49:00.009-05:00

I am not (or was not) a big Jay Electronica fan, but I have heard his music and figured he might have a good show so I decided to go anyway. I headed over there with the homie D-Lain and after hours and hours of opening acts (most of which were not too good) Jay hit the stage. Thank God his energy and music livened the place up because I was tired from the day already and the opening acts didn't help and the crowd seemed to feel the same. But I forgot about how much my legs and feet were hurting right away. When the show was over, I was glad I went. It was doppppeeee. If you get a chance to see him, you should do it.

Brooklyn rapper, S.T.A.L.L.E.Y., opened right in front of Jay and he was pretty live too. Pardon the drunk guy that you can hear loud and clear in this video. He was cuttin' up all night.

You can hear more of his music HERE and check out some of his videos on Creative Control.

Jay performed a good amount of songs and even took some requests (which were really just song titles that people yelled out when it was quieter.) One chick kept yelling at him to perform Eternal Sunshine. The crowd wanted him to perform the WHOLE song. For those of you who don't know, the song is in like 3 parts; its 9 minutes long. So yea...he didn't perform it all, but gave us a good sample.

One thing I liked about Jay is how he didn't seem like some big celebrity. He just seemed like a regular ol' nigga from New Orleans. It really gave the show a cool laid-back vibe. And then he was cracking jokes too so it was cool. Check this out lol.

Now this video is EPIC. Jay lets fans come on stage ANNNDDD brings out a surprise guest and the crowd goes WILD. Watch the WHOLE thing.

I don't want to load you guys down with videos, but I do have more. I put parts 3-5 on here. You can watch parts 1,2, and 6 HERE along with many other videos I have.

New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh

2010-03-30T21:08:00.015-05:00

The queen of Neo Soul is back!

Last night around 1:30am I downloaded...excuse me...BOUGHT (yea I really bought it) New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh. Yea...I'm going to die while listening to this. I can't stop. I love Erykah, loved Pt. 1, and really love this album. It's met all my expectations and more. You really need to cop it. If you call yourself an Erykah Badu fan or someone who loves neo soul and you don't have this, YOU'RE FAKE! The artwork that comes with the album is pretty dope too. Just look at the cover. So yea, this album is a must.

This is the video she made for Window Seat, her first single from the album. She never fails to impress.

Cudi Hits New Orleans!

2010-03-30T20:00:00.012-05:00

As you should know, I am a big Kid Cudi fan. So when I heard he would be performing in New Orleans there was no question that I would be there. The show was really dope as expected and the crowd, as well as Cudi, had really good energy. I think everybody enjoyed themselves. The only negative thing I have to say is that the show was shorter than I would have liked. But lucky me, I got to see him in ATL in August '09 (which was a ridiculously amazing show and my first concert.)

And course I had to get videos for you guys! These videos do not portray how awesome the show was (mainly because I didn't record the best parts because I wanted to enjoy them while not holding a camera) so you have to go to one of his concerts for yourself. Sorry for the sound, Cudi really likes bass and has a really good sound system.

Here are some pics and vids of the show I went to in ATL. RIDICULOUS. And yea...I'm just being a show-off.

You can see the rest of my videos from both shows HERE

My Girls

2010-03-29T12:54:00.001-05:00

Would you wear these? Let me know, for real for real, mama.

I ain't gon' lie. They kinda cute after seein' 'em on this chick feet.

D-Lain's Low-Quality Freestyles

2010-03-26T10:47:00.007-05:00

Well actually this is not one of his low-quality freestyles. "Man this not a freestyle at all." The homie D-lain entered this verse in the YASM (You Aint Shit Man) contest.

This is just a video of the contest rules and what not.

So a hint for all you other up-and coming rappers, you might want to subscribe to this guy's youtube channel so you will be able to enter the next contest.

Summer Spizikes

2010-03-24T20:36:00.005-05:00

Just another damn reason to jump out of my skin everytime I hear the word "summer."

Jordan Spizike Black/Varsity Red-Stealth June 5th Release

Jordan Spizike Black/New Blue-White-Infrared May 8th release

Method Man, Ghostface, Raekwon - Our Dreams

2010-03-23T16:14:00.000-05:00

Man, I love this. And if you ain't already know, I LOVE WU. This just fueled the fire.

Watch out Barbie, G.I. Jane is Comin' For You!

2010-03-22T13:11:00.006-05:00

Baltimore rapper, Keys, goes in on Nicki Minaj and I think Nicki might need to be nervous. Now I haven't heard much of anything from or about Keys, but I'm anxious to hear some more stuff from her to see if she's really "bout what she be talkin bout." But this is a good start.

Any thoughts?

Ski Beatz - S.T.A.L.L.E.Y (featuring Stalley)

2010-03-21T10:49:00.000-05:00

The homeboy TONY BILLZ, along with Dennis Feitosa, has done it again!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. WE ARE BACK!

Ski Beatz - S.T.A.L.L.E.Y. (feat. Stalley) from Creative Control on Vimeo.

The Lonely Island - Boombox

2010-03-14T15:49:00.001-05:00

WARNING: Old people doing nasty things.

"It was a rainbow coalition of dancing."

Rick Ross x Fader Interview

2010-03-09T17:21:00.002-06:00

This guy is freakin' hilarious. Just watch.

Nesby Phips - Early Bird

2010-03-09T15:27:00.000-06:00

Leak from Nesby Phips' upcoming mixtape. From the sounds of this track, The B-Side: Phipstape is gon be cold.

LISTEN HERE

Hell Yeah, Fool!

2010-03-08T19:38:00.008-06:00

Hellllllll yea. Pursuit of Happiness is one of my favorite songs from Man on the Moon and when they made the first video I was happy. Now another one? Hellllll yea.

This is the first video that was released for the song. I really liked it. I was hoping my New Years would go something like this video, and it did.

Here is the second video released for the song. I only have two words for it;

Trip-py.

I guess while you're at it, you can go ahead and download Cudi's new track "I Do My Thing" ft. Snoop Dogg. It might just be me, but I could have definitely done without Snoop's verse but other than that I like the song.

"We shinin'. We rollin'. We sippin'. We livin'. We Happy. They mad."

Download Here

Presenting: D-Lain's Low-Quality Freestyles

2010-03-08T16:55:00.008-06:00

A while back, I asked my homie D-Lain to rip the song "Back That Ass Up" by Juvenile. So being the good friend that he is, he put together this crappy freestyle for me lol. But it's crappy enough that I really like it. Check it out.

(To see how good he really is cop GT's tape over to the right.)

Listen Here

"Okay" - Big Sean x Chip Tha Ripper x GLC

2010-03-05T16:16:00.005-06:00

"We gon get it like we should. And we livin' real good."

Big Sean feat. Chip Tha Ripper & GLC - Okay from Davy Greenberg on Vimeo.

ear service: DRAKE - OVER

2010-03-05T15:39:00.000-06:00

Listen here

"Prioritize (Beeper Bill) - Curren$y x Nesby Phips [Video]

2010-03-04T17:06:00.003-06:00

Newest drop from the Hot Spitta!

Curren$y ft. Nesby Phips: Prioritize (Beeper Bill) from Creative Control on Vimeo.

It's so sexy.

Excuse me, sir, can I have that, and that, and that?

2010-03-03T14:36:00.007-06:00

This is Sabit's Spring/Summer lookbook. The clothes + accessories are dope and have cool photos to match. I dont think i need to say much about these pictures, they speak for themselves.

The photographer is Leo Velasquez

The model is Crysto

Via: Evident Future

Checkout Sabit's website HERE.

FASHIONSQUAD.COM

2010-03-03T02:17:00.004-06:00

Some of you who know me, know that I am a serious fashion junky. To feed my addiction, I frequently visit lookbook.nu where people from all over the world get to share their style with other fashion addicts through the posting of images. It's an invitation only site so it's definitely no joke. On lookbook I always find a good deal of fashion blogs and websites that suck me in enough to stare at their several posts of pictures for hours on end. Tonight, I found this one that I thought i'd share because it was especially intriguing.

Carolina Engman's blog has been featured in Teen Vogue and Teen Vogue Mexico, Nylon, Vogue Girl Korea etc. I like this girl already.

FASHION SQUAD

"Roger That" - Nicki Minaj+Tyga+Lil Wayne [Video]

2010-03-01T21:30:00.001-06:00

I was so happy when I saw that there was a video for this song. It's the only song I like from that trash CD Young Money put out. You know what I'm talking about. Anyway, the video is trash too. Ha!

"Fly Monsterz" Monsta Beatz x Curren$y

2010-03-01T21:12:00.001-06:00

Here's a leak off of Monsta Beats album in the works. Featuring none other than the Hot Spitta.

"FLY MONSTERZ"

DOWNLOAD IT HERE!

Amber vs Grace

2010-03-01T15:27:00.029-06:00

Amber Rose is no stranger to imitating, or reinventing, pictures of Grace Jones, but this is the first (or at least the first I've seen) picture where pretty much all aspects of the photo are the same, making it easier to compare the two.

Now, it is no secret that I am all for Team Amber, but in this photo (as well as a bunch of other Amber vs Grace-type photos) Grace Jones is definitely the champion in my eyes. Of course Amber has a great body and all, but look at Grace! Grace's photos have always been more intense.

Who do you think is the winner?

Round Table Meeting: Introducing Mister Xavier

2010-02-25T23:16:00.019-06:00

Yooo. Tell me a little about yourself.

My name is Jamieson Jones aka Mister Xavier. I'm originally from small town Macon, Ga. Down south Georgia Boy. What I do is music. Like so many other dudes out there right now. I guess what sets me apart is I actually study the people in front of me. I'm tryna perfect my craft.

I hear you co-wrote a song on B.o.B’s new mixtape. What song? How did you get involved with that?

Yeah man I was fortunate enough to have written this track on bob's mixtape may 25th. The track is called the Cool Side. And it was one of the most fun tracks I've ever written. As soon as he put the beat on i was like man this joint right here just feel like a chick that's as cool as the other side of the pillow and the rest is history. I been knowing bob since he was a 15 year old kid in east Atlanta just looking for his break. I was introduced to him thru his cousin who goes by One who is a part of The Heroes. Back then he and bob were in a group called the Klinic. I often worked with both of them.

(You guy's can download this mixtape over on the right side of our blog)

Whooaaa that’s dope! That's in my top 3 from that tape (if not my favorite). So is producing your only job, or do you still work a 9-5?

Yeah I work a 9-5 mayne…I gotta eat haha. I’m still looking forward to the day that producing is my only job…because that’s not work to me. I would do this forever for free, although that’s not the goal lol.

How long have you been writing?

I've been doing music production for about 8 years and I been writing for about 3. My heart is in producing but recently I've been writing And trying to explore that musical outlet with this production group I cofounded called "The Heroes" which is releasing a promo album in the late spring.

Have you done any writing for any other artists?

I really haven't written for any other major artists. For now my number one priority is this promo album coming late spring/early summer with The Heroes that features BOB in a track called Here We Go.

What music literature do you read?

I read a lotta stuff man. As far as magazines go I gotta subscription to Scratch, but usually I read a lot on how music affects the mind and what makes you like a particular song. A really good one for any music head that has a slight interest of insight into the mind should check out Jennifer Copley who’s a freelance writer that has many articles about music psychology. One of her most interesting articles is “The Psychology of Music: Effects on Behavior, Intelligence, Learning, Pain and Health”.

Who are your top three favorite artists?

Damn ..3 is tough Outkast who is the GOAT, oddly enough Erykah Badu..who can still effortlessly top any r&b, and producer ..Tim, Pharrell, and The Heroes are ridiculous..

What’s the most embarrassing song on your iPod?
Blink 182 – “I Miss You” LMFAO why you had to hit me with this one. If you don’t know that song tho, it’s just a good, thought provoking listen. I listen to everything. So Blink 182 is not beyond my spectrum. I had that techno song from the Six Flags commercials but I took it off LOL.

Ok, here’s a tough question: What is your favorite song of all time?
Oh no.. This is ridiculous!.uhm. Outkast – Liberation. But to let you know the other songs that are basically interchangeable are Aayliah – One in a Million, Luther Vandross – A House is Not a Home, Sade – By your side, Erykah Badu – Other Side of the Game.

What do you think about the direction hip-hop is going in today?

I like the direction that it’s going in personally. I understand why people are upset about what’s happening. I think that the radio needs to change. You shouldn’t hear the same 7 or 10 songs every hour and the creativity is lacking at times. But production is getting better and better. Lyricists from all regions are bringing something new to the game. I think we got a lot to look forward too. When people get tired of dancing they’ll sit down and listen to what some of these lyricists gotta say.

What is the dopest concert you’ve ever been to?
Hands down no question the best group of all time Earth, Wind and Fire at Chastain in Atlanta Summer 07!!!

Do you plan to go any further into the music industry?

As far as the future goes, I'm really hoping that writing for BOB can open the door to more artists and eventually get my beats heard. I'm tryna be a monster in this game.

Last words or shout outs?
I’m asking yall to support us. This is more than a movement. We’re trying to change your mind set with our message. Shout out once again to my camp The Heroes. Be on the look out for our project which will be a free download on our website www.doheroesexist.com. Shout out to Bobby Ray Simmons his album is droppin April 27^th and shout out to my lil homie TrayBeats.

I can be reached at jamieson.x.jones@gmail.com as well as http://twitter.com/mister_xavier and youtube.com/theheroesmusicgroup website coming soon www.doheroesexist.com!!!!!

Curren$y at Howlin Wolf in New Orleans

2010-02-24T15:17:00.009-06:00

YYYYYEEEEAAAAAA! Curren$y performed last night at Howlin Wolf and the show was CRAZY! It was more than i had expected and I enjoyed it all. Spitta is a great performer and I will definitely see him live again! Check out my videos! I tried to take pictures but it was way too cloudy in the building haha. Ohhhh it was great. If you ever get the chance to go to one of his shows, do not miss out. JETS NIGGA!

Round Table Meeting: Great $cott of The Liason Group

2010-02-17T18:54:00.003-06:00

Scott "Great $cott" McKenzie, the son of casting director Wendy McKenzie, is the perfect example of hard work and persistence paying off.

"He showed me where the showroom was and from there he was like 'You're on your own,' and I made it happen, building relationships. Go up there every day and they kept saying no, but I kept going." - Scott McKenzie on hooking up with Billionaire Boys Club (BBC)

He's done it all from working for Lauren Hill, The Fugees, Billionaire Boys Club and interning for G-Unit, OutKast, and XXL magazine. He has also styled Wale, Teyana Taylor, Pharrell, Tristan Wilds, Bun B, Chris Brown, and so many more. *whew*

He is now building up his company, The Liason Group, a "24-hour luxury concierge service." Learn more here. Also on his resume is managing Swinton's music career. He even has his own track on Swinton's mixtape "The Way I See It", "Great $cott Introduction." This guy definitely gets around in a good way.

He's an inspiration to all true grinders including me so I had to chat with him to see what's up.

Yo! Yo! Yo! Who is Great $cott and what does he do?

 Great $cott is a British Jamacian from iLL Town NJ' .. A man who wanted to be "greater than Scott" his father.

 What were you like as a child?

I was a bastard. A dork. Always getting beat up because I was darkskin & poor & nappy. Having dreams ppl thought was impossible... Look who got thlast laugh!! (Dr.Evil Laugh: woohahahahahah woohahahah wwooahaha)

 What are some of your favorite brands?

Yohji YayaMoto, Louis Vuitton, TwonNYC.com, Puma sneakers, Comme Des Garcon. Maybe more.

 Describe your personal style.

:. BUTTER & HENNESSY baby.

 What blogs/sites do you visit regularly?

Creativecontrol.tv, hypebeast, yourz ;), swintonrocks.blogspot.com, bossip,globalgrind, likecool, umm... Rapradar, thisis50, amongst others.

 What's your favorite restaurant and dish?

NOBU'S & Lobster!

Do you ever want to design your own fashion line?

Back in the day be4 it became a trend! I wanna do accessories & likecool.com goods

From what I know, I'd say you really love fashion. Why?

 I don't love fashion nor do I care about it. Trust me. If that's the case. I'd be a label whore.

 Sum yourself up in a ten word sentence.

Turn your dreams into a reality & reality into a salary.

 What is your favorite fruit?

Mangos & pinapples & grapes & bananas

 Favorite quote?

Don't ever tell me sky's the limit when there's footprints on the moon.

Tell us about the Liason Group.

 It's a Luxury concierge service. We are the connection between you & your goals.

I see you've done some modeling. What was your favorite show?

Only did KidRobot & BET rip the runway.

 Cat or dog?

DOG

 Seems like you've done it all, interning for The Fugees, G-Unit, Lauren Hill, Outkast,and XXL magazine, working at BBC, and styling the likes of Bun B, Wale, Pharrell, and so many others! What are these experiences like for you?

Dreams come true. These are corporations & ppl I admire & inspire to be like.

 Who are some people that have helped you get to where you are now?

Claudinette Jean, Coffey & Big Smiley @ XXL, Memsor Karamake, June Ambrose, Pharrell, Wale, Cudi, Wyclef, Lauryn Hil, Sharmon, Hassan Shariff, my moms, John Pierre & Mark "Bizman" Mathews

Who are some of your favorite artists? (music, visual, any media)

Kid Cudi, Coldplay, Dirty $, Gucci mane, Wacka Flocka Flames, oJ da juiceman, MTV, Young Jeezy, Andy Warhol
You're the homeboy Swinton's manager. How did you guys link up?
We linked up thru Dee&Ricky. & I was the 1st 2 hear his music. I loved it

 Last words or shout outs?

Stay the best & above the rest because the rest equal more than less.. & ... MICHAIAH WHAT UP!! ..that's my business partner & manager. Without him I'd be nothing! Thank you Micaiah Brown. & my mommy! & my daddy... I'm glad he's not around. Ima greater man. =) -Cheerz

We Are The World 25 For Haiti

2010-02-12T21:42:00.007-06:00

Most of you have probably heard the song "We Are The World" written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie (if you haven't click HERE to check it out.) Well 25 years later, numerous artists remade the song as charity for Haiti. Check it out.

Awkward Moments to me:
Lil Wayne on autotune.
The rapping section lead by LL Cool J
Freakin' Justin Bieber...but I just don't like him.

Stuff I Liked:
How soulful and emotional Wyclef was
Pink. Period.

Mary J. Blige

Kanye
Jennifer Hudson's parts
The song as a whole