Black Card Music Artist and member of The Black Card Boys Soco Burns is back with two freestyles to get the fans ready for the Back 2 Da Basics Mixtape droppin on 420 (April 20th). The mixtape is fire and has a laid back hip hop sound that you can just ride too. Here's a few freestyles to give you a taste of how dope this dude is . First the "Lay Back" freestyle is over a classic J Dilla beat. The "O Let's Do It" freestyle is over that Waka Flocka Flame joint. If you wanna holla at Soco follow him on twitter @socoburns and producers or bookings can email him at socohf@gmail.com.
Anyone see this on the news? New York State Senator Eric L. Adams is declaring war on butt cracks. Citing a mockery inducing "sagging pants culture," the Democrat has paid for the hoisting of six, 22-foot-tall billboards in Brooklyn, NY with the message "Stop the Sag!" and "We Are Better Than This!"
While the pants hanging low and below the hips trend taken up by many male teens (or grown-ass men who refuse let childhood go) is not a new phenomenon, it received a boost in attention when American Idol contestant "General Platt" debuted his "Pants on the Ground" song about the matter.
The video Senator Adams released to accompany the ads is where the concerned politician's appeal truly becomes borderline comedic In all earnestness Adams compares the sagging pants trend to the "long tradition of negative stereotyping" seen in the stereoptyical imagery that is displayed in the video's background while he speaks.
LeBron James has a busy summer ahead. Maybe too busy to play basketball. Cleveland's superstar said Wednesday night that he's "probably not playing" for Team USA this summer in the world championships in Turkey. James, who was a captain on the U.S. team that won a gold medal at the Beijing Games in 2008, is eligible for free agency after the season and is scheduled to film a movie. His crammed itinerary may make it impossible to play for his country for the fourth time. James also was a member of the 2004 Olympic team in Athens.
"I got a really, really, really, really, really busy summer," James said about an hour before tip-off against the Milwaukee Bucks. "I would love if I had the opportunity and the time to play to represent my country and go out there and do that. But there's a lot of things I need to take care of first." "It's very, very shady right now," he said. "I'm probably not playing. There are a lot of decisions I need to make this summer before I decide to get back out on the court."
Just a reminder, Tradition is proud to present Crooks & Castles as our first "Item Of The Month" sale. We are offering 25% off ALL Crooks Tees, V-necks, Button-ups, Hoodies, Sweaters, Shorts, and more. The sale starts this Thursday April 1st and goes thru Wednesday April 7th only at both Tradition locations. Don't miss out on the chance to get Crooks on sale before it's a gone! Phone orders are available (805)497-4717 & (805)643-8805.
So yesterday was suppose to be the day the mixtape dropped, but word on the street is that they had some issues with sample clearances? Anyway, it's a mixtape so I have no problems waiting for free music. Especially music that sounds this good. The video up top dropped a while ago but I'm posting it as just a reminder.
A lot of good music been coming out this month, so to finish it off, Earl Sweatshirt, from Odd Future, drops off his album this morning. These guys seriously have the most fun making their projects and I enjoying bumping their stuff. Beats by Tyler and Left Brain accompany young Earl, dude is only 16. Download Here.
You all know who the Rookie Of The Year candidate Stephen Curry is, but did you know he had a younger brother named Seth. Last season Seth as a freshman led all freshman in America in scoring. He decided to transfer to powerhouse Duke University and had to sit of this season due to NCAA policy. Next year Seth is a redshirt Sophomore at Duke and I'm positive will be a big help to them alongside Nolan Smith. The kid has game and super range like his brother. Watch closely at 1:09 and 1:20 and see what he does to these poor kids!
Nas and Damian "Jr. Gong" announced dates for their tour this week, in support of their upcoming joint album Distant Relatives, due out soon. The Distant Relatives Tour kicks off on May 2nd in Palm Beach, Florida and will continue through August, stopping in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Houston, Paris, Rotterdamn, Dublin and Brooklyn, before things wrap up in Connecticut on August 1st. Who's joining me?
5/2 – West Palm Beach, FL @ SunFest 5/21 – Arcata, CA @ Arcata Community Center 5/22 – Eugene, OR @ Cuthbert Amphitheater 5/23 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox Sodo 5/25 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater 5/26 – Santa Barbara, CA @ UCSB 5/28 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern 5/29 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint 5/30 – Valley Center, CA @ Harrah's Rincon 5/31 – Los Angeles, CA @ UCLA Jazz Reggae Festival 6/2 – Santa Fe, NM @ Paolo Soleri Amphitheatre 6/8 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues 6/9 – Austin, TX @ Stubb's Waller Creek Outdoor Amphitheater 6/11 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music Festival 6/12 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle 6/13 – Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues 6/27 – Brussels, BE @ Couleur Cafe Festival 6/28 – Paris, FR @ Paris Hip Hop Festival 7/1 – Arendal, NO @ Hovefestival 7/3 – Cologne, DE @ Summerjam 7/4 – Gdynia, PL @ Heineken Opener Festival 7/6 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega 7/7 – Hultsfred, SE @ Hultsfred Festival 7/9 – Frauenfeld, CH @ Openair Frauenfeld 7/10 – Montreux Vaud, CH @ Montreux Jazz Festival 7/11 – Rotterdam @ Holland North Sea Jazz 7/13 – Hamburg, DE @ Stadtpark 7/14 – Munich, DE @ Tollwood Festival 7/16 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy 7/17 – Dublin, IE @ Tripod 7/20 – Hammersmith, UK @ Hammersmith Apollo 7/23 – Gräfenhainichen, DE @ Splash Festival 7/31 – Brooklyn, NY @ Williamsburg Waterfront 8/1 – Bridgeport, CT @ Gathering of the Vibes Festival
Today the homey CJ Watson of the Golden State Warriors dropped by Tradition to pick up some gear before heading back to the bay area. If you don't know about CJ watson then get familiar, the dude had a 40 point game this year and is super underrated! The Warriors were fresh off the beating they gave my Clippers last night.
Here's a little video the homies over a Crooks made that basically is their version of the intro of HBO's new hit "How To Make It In America" which is based in New York City. Crooks decided to do a dope "How To Make It In L.A." video.
Prodigy of Mobb Deep A.K.A. Penitentiary P spits 7 minutes of phone tap rhymes while locked up in State Prison. All I can say is it sounds like Prodigy has been in the cell writing fire. You can download it here.
Tradition is proud to present Crooks & Castles as our first "Item Of The Month" sale. We are offering 25% off ALL Crooks Tees, V-necks, Button-ups, Hoodies, Sweaters, Shorts, and more. The sale starts this Thursday April 1st and goes thru Wednesday April 7th only at both Tradition locations. Don't miss out on the chance to get Crooks on sale before it's a gone! Phone orders are available (805)497-4717 & (805)643-8805.
PHOTOS: 88-KEYS, KIDZ IN THE HALL, COLIN MUNROE, J*DAVEY
Here's a couple photos from the dope show I was in attendance at last night. The rest of the pictures are over on my Flickr, if you want to check them out.
So since I'm letting everyone know about the show tonight, I figure I can share the video Mrs. Badu released yesterday for "Window Seat". The video is definitely something else, but I sort of understand the message behind it.
Another great show going on tonight. In Santa Monica, at Zanzibar. Get a early preview of the new Erykah Badu album, and some performances from some of the West Coast's finest. I'll be in the house so say what's up if you see me. Click here for more info.
So last night Hov, Young Jeezy, and Trey Songz shut down the Staples Center here in LA. As I was searching for someone's videos of the show I stumbled on this cover of Jay-Z's Blueprint Vol. 13 album. Thoughts?
Tonight at the Key Club in LA, the performers mentioned up top and in the flier will be putting on a dope show. 88-Keys is responsible for some of the production of the CLASSIC album Black Star. Kidz In The Hall, have been doing their thing since they first came in the game. I seen them perform at Rock The Bells last year, and they know how to rock a crowd. I just went and hustled up my 20$ for the show, so you should too, and I'll see you there.
Today as I was closing up, none other than Jerry Heller, NWA's former manager, shows up at the window asking me about the Undrcrwn "World Champs" tee. I had no idea who he was at first, but then he started telling me about how he was Easy-E's partner and about how Ice Cube wrote the song "No Vasaline" about him. Once he told me that, and I recalled watching those Vh1 True Life shows it hit me and I was kinda star-struck being that today is the 15th Anniversary of Easy's death. Real cool guy. R.I.P. Easy-E.
So since my NCAA Bracket is completely screwed like most people's out there, I now watch the games cheering for no one. But earlier this week I had a customer come in from Washington, so I told him I'd be cheering for them on the upset. Unfortunately the upset didn't happen, but did you see some of the players on the team rocking their Air Jordan 11 Retro "Space Jam" kicks on the court? I guess they were hoping for a Space Jam movie type of ending.
Here's a nice little teaser for the video to "I Need A Dollar", which is featured in the opening of HBO's How To Make It In America. I'm glad to see Aloe getting his shine, been a fan since I first heard him on some Blu records back in the day. Check the Wilfredo Gomez cameo too.
I am currently in Europe for a show in Paris with my band Strife. Here are a few photos from our first few days in Paris... I will post some more photos in the next few days. All photos by Chad.
MUST SEE: ANTOINE WALKER'S MILLION DOLLAR MISTAKES
The three-time NBA All Star and veteran of 13 seasons, Antoine Walker made $110 million in salary and millions more in endorsements. However, with poor investment choices, a reckless gambling habit, and child support payments, Walker has lost most of his fortune and is playing basketball in Puerto Rico. ESPN's "Outside the Lines," Mark Schwarz details Antoine Walker's million dollar mistakes.
This is for all you Star Wars fanatics out there. My cousin Mike is a diehard Star Wars memorabilia collector and he sent me this today. I had to post this, pretty cool right?
So being the young guy on board, I feel it is my duty to post the new trailer for the new maps on COD. They're being released in 5 more days on 360 and I can't wait. I'm still getting my place set up but my gamertag is, KryptonxxKnight, I should be back online in time for this release.
Here's a new Waka Flocka Flame mixtape called "Cookin That Fire 2." The only person I posted this for is my homey Rob. He is Waka's only fan or at least that I know. Not sure you want too but you can download the mixtape here.
Here's a new video from E-40 called " The Weed Man" featuring Stresmatic. The video isn't special but E-40 is spittin some serious FIRE! You can't deny that he's one of the greatest MC's ever to bless a mic.
Dope visuals for the song off their newest album entitled Land Of The Make Believe, which is in stores now. Directed by Davy Greenberg, featuring Chip Tha Rip, and Donnis. Beat goes, and looks like the dudes had fun making the video. They'll be performing at the Key Club on the 27th along side 88-Keys and Donnis so be sure to check that out. Hopefully I'll be in the spot that night. Shout out to Double O's perm too.
I woke up and spotted this dope little documentary about skateboarding in New York City, that HBO put together to help out the hype of their new series "How To Make It In America". “The Get By” is a short film about being a skater and making it in the dopest city in the world. Interviews with Billy Rohan, Gino Iannucci, Anthony Pappalardo, Zered Basset, Todd Jordan and many more, plus some really dope skate filming. Check the video, watch the show, and don't forget to meet Wilfredo Gomez. - Richard
Once again my boy Paul came through in the clutch with another vicious dunk I missed last night. Im torn on this one because Amare did s#*t on Anthony Tolliver but I got a chance to chil and have dinnerl with Anthony and he's a super cool dude. Damn he got POSTERIZED though.
The homie Adam sent me an invite to watch this Spike Jonze directed short-film, and damn it's pretty dope. Spike Jonze directed the film Where The Wild Things Are last year as well as some videos for Kanye and skate videos for Girl and Lakai. The guy is basically a creative genius. Here's his latest project I'm Here. Check it out and tell a friend or two... or three. - Richard
VIDEO: XZIBIT EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF WEST COAST UNITY
Xzibit sat down with Baller Status to talk about West Coast Unity and why the OG's should help the newcomers. You can read the whole article here.
"I feel like if more of us held down more of our own, it would generate and circulate throughout the whole coast. We'd have a vibrate f***in' scene here," X told BallerStatus in a recent interview, adding that he, himself, got the co-sign of an OG to get on. "How did I get on? What happens if King Tee wouldn't have come through and been like 'Hey man, not only can you drink 40s, you can rap' (laughs). King Tee came through and gave me a shot, and Tha Alkaholiks a shot. It's gotta start somewhere."
Here's the official video for Red, Meth, and Ghost's track "Our Dreams" from the upcoming Wu Massacre album dropping March 30th. The video was directed by Rik Codera, and it is based on the movie Seven.
