Wednesday, January 30, 2008

WHAT'S THE SCENARIO


Though Lupe claims he was never a fan, A Tribe Called Quest was one of the most original and influential Hip-Hop groups of all time. Following the lead of De La Soul, their friends in the "Native Tongues", Tribe fused jazz samples with hip hop beats to produce a classic laid back style that would prove to be timeless. Exclaim recently posted a timeline detailing the career of A Tribe Called Quest. From Q-Tip's appearance on De La Soul's "3 Feet High and Rising", to Busta's participation in "The Low End Theory", to Q-Tip being introduced to Jay Dee by Amp Fiddler (George Clinton's keyboardist at the time), to the present. It's interesesting to read the evolution of one of the best hip hop groups of all time. Check out the article here. In the meantime, if you are not familiar with any of Tribe's work, do yourself a favor and immediately pick up one of their albums.
It's interesting to see just how influential Tribe's music is. Q-Tip stated that "listening to N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton that inspired us to make [1991's] The Low End Theory, and years later I spoke to Dr. Dre and he told me that hearing The Low End Theory inspired him to make The Chronic..."

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

BROTHERS REUNITED


Two tracks from the Cavalera Conspiracy have made their way online. The Cavalera Conspiracy feature Max and Igor Cavalera of Sepultura, along with members of Soulfly and Gojira. If these tracks are a sign of things to come, I can't wait for the album. Both songs are taken from the groups forthcoming Roadrunner debut "Inflikted", which will see a March 25th release date via Roadrunner. Check out "Inflikted" and "Sanctuary." These guys really took it back to their "roots" on these songs, and fans of old-school Sepultura will not be disappointed.

JANE DOE


Converge's classic album "Jane Doe" is finally being reissued on Deathwish as a vinyl only release. Available or the first time in over 6 years, this 2XLP will be packaged in a Deluxe Gatefold sleeve, and will feature a variety of vinyl color variations.

OBAMA POSTERS BY SHEPARD FAIREY



Shepard Fairey has apparently made his choice for the next President of the United States. Throwing his weight and talent behind the junior senator from Illinois, the illustrator has produced two striking posters with the man's likeness and main slogans. He's offering the 24" x 36" silkscreens for $50 each on his website with an aim to get its iconic image across the nation in time for Super Tuesday (5 February) and beyond. Proceeds will go to a larger, statewide (California) poster campaign. To purchase, email Info@obeygiant.com with "OBAMA" as the subject title for instructions. Limited to an edition of 350, they'll be available this Wednesday, 30 January 2008.

THE $75,000 TOILET


This swarvoski crystal encrusted toilet was created by designer Jemal Wright. I heard Jay-Z, Kanye, and Pharrell are now on the waiting list for the matching bathtub that comes out this Spring!

BANG! BANG!

Fun Forever did a story on single shot "spy" guns. These guns are not a prop from the last James Bond movie, these are real guns made to resemble ordinary objects. Making a single-shot gun is not a difficult thing to do and they can be very small. You just need a short barrel so the bullet would fly in the direction you want, a bullet itself and a triggering mechanism. Then you can put the mechanism into almost any object you want. Here are a few of my favorites from this collection of guns...

The .38 caliber Cane Gun



The 9MM Crucifix Gun



And the Smoking Pipe Gun



So the next time you are walking down a dark alley and you see a man with a cane, a pipe, and a crucifix, you best turn the other way! See the rest of the collection here.

HELL RELL "RUMORS"


Hell Rell lets you know about all the "Rumors" surrounding his Dipset camp.

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Monday, January 28, 2008

GNARLY!


Nah Right just posted the first single from the new Gnarls Barkley record. Im sure you remember how much play "Crazy" got last year... That song was dope, but a few months after it came out I never wanted to hear that song again. This single is just as catchy and infectious, with a cool retro vibe to it. I can amost see Austen Powers dancing to it! Anyway, listen to the track "Run" before it's played into the ground.

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Sunday, January 27, 2008

SALAD DAYS


Jeff Nelson of Minor Threat/Dischord fame has put a bunch of rare and classic punk/hardcore memorabilia up for sale including old flyers, 12" and 7" records, original pressings, and test pressings from bands like Minor Threat, TSOL, The Vibrators, Scream, and more. Jeff Nelson founded Dischord Records with Ian Mackaye in 1980 and played in such classic D.C. bands as the Teen Idles, Minor Threat, Egg Hunt, Skewbald, and Three. Check out the Ebay acution, and own an authentic piece of hardcore history! Even if you aren't interested in buying anything in the auction, check out the item descriptions for a brief history lesson about the D.C. hardcore scene.

"But I stay on, I stay on
Where do I get off?
On to greener pastures
The core has gotten soft"

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KAWS X NECKFACE X FAILE!



This '96 Dodge Ram 3500 has made it's way onto Ebay, and for the price, it offers much more bang for the buck than Tupac's Hummer.
Featuring original artwork from Kaws, Neckface, and Faile this van is a steal with a starting price of only $6,500. A Banksy wall was recently auctioned on Ebay for upwards of $400,000 (though the buyer's reputation is currently being questioned). IS this the future of street art? Check out the Ebay auction, and invest in your future! In the meantime, I will be at the nearest Graffitti yard chipping at the walls, looking to strike some gold!

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TAKE AIM


DJ MUGGS is now offering his "Take Aim" mixtape as a free digital dowload. This mixtape was originally part of a series of mixtapes leading up the release of the original concept for SOUL ASSASSINS III, “Assassination Day”. This album got pushed back due to Muggs’ projects with other artists and his busy touring schedule. Take Aim features a lot of unreleased and exclusive tracks by your favorite Soul Assassins fam, including Cypress Hill, Rakim, Evidence, and Mobb Deep. My personal favorites are "Beyond LA" by Cypress Hill, "Champions" By Mobb Deep, and "State of Grace" by Raekwon. You can download the full mixtape here. Muggs is currently in the studio with Planet Asia working on Soul Assassins III, so be sure to look out for that. In the meantime check out the SA blog for all Soul Assassins info.

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Saturday, January 26, 2008

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON


Big Suge was banned from the streets of Compton! According to the AP, city officials asked a judge to ban members of the Mob Piru street gang from being able to congregate in a neighborhood of Compton - and asked that the order include Marion "Suge" Knight.
The co-founder of Death Row Records was one of 200 people the officials said were members of Mob Piru. The injunction would ban them from congregating, carrying guns, drinking alcohol in public or staying out past 10 p.m.
Knight called the injunction a "publicity stunt."

"..straight outta Compton
is a brotha that'll smother yo' mother
and make ya sister think I love her"

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

READ IN BLOOD???


We all know that no one reads anymore, at least books anyway... It's interesting to see that someone thinks that Slayer fans will buy a book, let alone know how to read it!
SLAYER's "Reign in Blood (33 1/3)", a book about the classic 1986 album from the Los Angeles-based thrashers will be released from Continuum Books on April 15, 2008. The 33 1/3 series are low-priced, pocket-sized books. Each is about or inspired by a classic album. They range from rock and roll's foundations to modern classics. For the sake of you Slayer fans out there...I hope this one comes jam packed with pictures!

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LAMBS FOR LIONS


The official dates for the "Lambs For Lions" tour featuring Converge and The Red Chord have been announced... coming to a city near you. In the meantime be sure to check out Jacob Bannon's (frontman for Converge) contributions to our "Public Domain" show, opening February 2nd.

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OMAR BIN LADIN


"President Bush doesn’t need to capture Osama bin Laden, he needs to talk to him", the terrorist leader’s son, Omar bin Laden, told TODAY co-host Matt Lauer on Tuesday. The fourth-oldest son of the world’s most wanted man has recently been in the media, saying he wants to use his name to be an “ambassador for peace” between Islam and the West.
Interesting story and all, but the real story is that Osama bin Laden's son is a HARDCORE METALER! I swear I saw this guy hanging out at the Rainbow, or backstage at a KORN show... The fact that he is 26 with a 52 year old wife is just icing on the cake! I'm sure he will be going to the upcoming Biohazard reunion shows!

BEHIND BARS???


According to TMZ, Lil' Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Carter Jr., was arrested near Yuma, Arizona last night on three felony counts: possession of dangerous drugs, possession of narcotics and possession of drug paraphernalia. The Drug Enforcement Agency was involved in the arrest -- which means it's a big deal! Supposedly, Lil' Wayne's tour bus went through a US Border Patrol checkpoint when the narcotics were allegedly found, that's when the DEA was called in. What will the world do if the greatest rapper alive is behind bars? Even if it's only for a week, at the rate that Wayne is turning out verses, that could mean an entire lost mixtape!

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WE GOT IT 4 CHEAP


Nah Right just posted the official single from the Re-Up Gang "We Got it 4 Cheap Vol. 3". The single is pretty dope. Check it out here.

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Tuesday, January 22, 2008

ALL THE GIRLS STANDING IN THE LINE FOR THE BATHROOM!


The first single from N.E.R.D.'s new album N.3.R.D., can be found here. I've never really been that big of a fan of these guys, but I'm sure the gils will go crazy for this one!

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TALES FROM THE HARDSIDE!


Biohazard is back! And I'm not talking about the line-up that could be seen touring Europe for the last 5 years... I'm talking about the original Biohazard line-up here... Evan, Billy, Danny, and Bobby. The original line-up has not perfromed together since 1995 when Bobby Hambel left the group after touring for BIOHAZARD's third album and major-label debut, "State of the World Address."
I remember the first time I saw Biohazard. I think it it was around '92. They were on tour with NYHC heavyweights Sick of it All (one of my favs at the time) and Fear Factory. Urban Discipline had just been released, and the band was at the top of their game. Their stage show was one of the best, and we ended up following the tour to all three of the So Cal dates. Biohazard's crossover sound was a big influence on my band at the time, and you could hear it in our songs, and see it in our live show.
A few years later, a few of us actually did back up vocals on their third album, "State of the World Address." To me, a major part of Biohazard's appeal was guitarist Bobby Hambel, and once he left the band just wasn't the same.
This summer, Biohazard will reunite for a series of performances to commemorate the band's 20th anniversary. If you haven't seen Biohazard before , or if you haven;t seen them with this line-up, be sure to make it out to one of their shows!

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Thursday, January 17, 2008

HALL OF FAME


Our friends at Hall of Fame are releasing this limited "Fist Lightning" New Era in three colorways. Available January 18th, only at Hall of Fame.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

SNEAK PEAK!



Here is a sneak peak of some upcoming shirt designs for Tradition... These are gonna be fresh!

Monday, January 14, 2008

THE GENIUS



Nah Right just posted a full video of The Gza, live at the Knitting Factory on their site. The Gza has always been one of my favorite members of The Wu... From his classic "Liquid Swords" to the "Grandmasters" album with DJ Muggs. He is definitely one of the most talented and underated members of the crew... See what The Genius has to say about last months release of "8 Diagrams", and his thoughts about the current situation of the WU!

"AS SOON AS EVERYONE CATCHES ON, IT'LL BE OVER".


I just found an interesting article in the NY Times about a new pop up performance/retail/art space that A-Ron, founder of aNYthing, just opened in SoHo, NY.

"Residents of a sleepy SoHo block aren’t sure what to make of the Wreck Center, a store/performance space/art installation that has invaded their neighborhood like a post-apocalyptic circus. Decorated with graffiti, gold paint and 5,800 feet of Day-Glo masking tape, the space, designed by Rafael de Cárdenas, pops, to say the least. “Finally one came up to me,” said Aaron Bondaroff (above), the project’s ringleader, “and told me it was about time someone did something cool in the neighborhood again.” Until the end of February, when the building that houses the Wreck Center is torn down, Mr. Bondaroff, the downtown impresario better known as A-Ron, has planned a series of invite-only book signings, launch parties, art and music shows, even a little stand-up comedy; a storefront will sell the wares of all involved. “And as soon as everyone catches on,” he said, “it’ll be over.” That is, until May, when the Playboy channel broadcasts a documentary on the whole affair."

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Wednesday, January 9, 2008

BARRY MCGEE


Swindle Magazine just posted an online interview with Barry Mcgee from issue 14. I have been a big fan of Barry Mcgee's work for quite awhile. All my earliest memories of San Francisco include his haunting faces and sprawling tags. Its been exciting to see his work make the transition from the street into the galleries. Check out the interview here.

FRANK KOZIK


I came across a Frank Kozik interview on Paul from Kid Robot's blog. Frank Kozik is a big name in the vinyl toy world. He began to work in collectible art toys in the late nineties. His Smorkin’ Labbit character has become a huge success, as have his scores of other characters created for Kidrobot, Bounty Hunter, and other manufacturers. Frank has also maintained a steady stream of Fine Arts gallery shows with over 60 exhibits in the last 15 years. It is interesting to see how successful an artist can become without any formal art training what so ever! Check out the interview here.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

LASONIC IPOD GHETTO BLASTER


The Lasonic iPod Ghetto Blaster has been hyped for a while now, and judging from this picture I can see why... The perfect combination of old school cool and new school technology. Priced at only $169 these are sure to be making noise around neghborhoods everywhere when they are released.

Monday, January 7, 2008

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY


Being a huge Sepultura fan, I was excited to hear that Max and Igor Cavalera have rejoined forces, recording new material for the first time in 12 years, since recording Sepultura's Roots in 1995. My band played Sepultura's last show with Max at The Brixton Academy in London back in 1996. The whole music world was saddened by their split.
The new project, named Cavalera Conspiracy, features the Cavalera brothers (Max on vocals and rhythm guitar and Igor on drums), Soulfly guitarist Marc Rizzo and Joe Duplantier from Gojira on bass.

SNEAKER FREAKER'S BEST OF 2007


Sneaker Freaker compiled a Best of Sneakers 2007 by asking fellow designers, artists, shop owners and founders for their favorites of the year. It's nice to see a wide array of brands and styles being represented here. Though I am a big fan of Nike, I wear a wide array of brands from Vans, to Converse, to Clae and more. Check it out Here.