Actually, 30 is the New 40
March 30th, 2007
There’s only three years left before the first wave of 80’s babies such as myself become 30. If the mopey complaining and nagging self-doubt of my tri-decades-old friends is any indication, I should brace myself for a sudden loss of all my youthful swagger once I cross that threshold of the new midlife.
At 30, my taste in music will change from songs that make me wanna
dance, to tunes that can be acceptably played at low volumes in the
workplace.
My flashy fashion sense will be replaced by productivity gadgets that literally flash.
My political interests will shift from changing the world, to making sure my brand new property continues to increase in value.
The 90’s babies who talk loud, yet have no idea what they’re yelling
about - I’ll envy them (except the females - I’ll want to date them).
And hip-hop will cease to be the framework I view the whole world in. So why not start early?
March marks my 5th year blogging about hip-hop, and my last. Peace.
Hashim.Warren@gmail.com
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Karl Rove Makes Mockery of Hip Hop
March 29th, 2007
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New Music: Lifesavas - “Dead Ones” feat. Nas & Fishbone
March 26th, 2007
Jumbo, Vursatyl, and Chief Xcel, otherwise known as Lifesavas, bring a signature style of underground hip-hop characterized by funky soul beats, classic team-based rhyming, and high energy performance. The Portland, Oregon trio will soon release their sophomore album, Gutterfly: The Original Soundtrack.
The set’s lead track is “Dead Ones” which features legendary funk punk band Fishbone. The remix below borrows a verse from the Nas’ “Hope” off of Hip Hop Is Dead.
Gutterfly: The Original Soundtrack drops April 24 on Quannum Projects. Check out the entire album here.
Download “Dead Ones” remix feat. Nas & Fishbone
www.myspace.com/lifesavas
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El-P - I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead Sendspace
March 24th, 2007
El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead 2007 (Definitive Jux) Sendspace MP3 DownloadTracklisting:
1 Tasmanian Pain Coaster (6:54)
Vocals [Featuring] - Cedric Bixler-Zavala
2 Smithereens (Stop Cryin) (4:32)
Vocals [Additional] - Hangar 18
3 Up All Night (2:36)
Vocals [Additional] - Mr. Lif
4 EMG (4:31)
Scratches - DJ Big Wiz
5 Drive (4:13)
6 Dear Sirs (1:32)
7 Run The Numbers (4:41)
Rap [Featuring] - Aesop Rock
8 Habeas Corpses (Draconian Love) (4:34)
Rap [Featuring] - Cage
Vocals [Additional] - Mr. Len , Victoria Allen
9 The Overly Dramatic Truth (4:30)
Vocals [Additional] - Daryl Palumbo
Vocals [Additional] - Camu Tao
10 Flyentology (4:01)
Co-producer, Vocals [Featuring] - Trent Reznor
Vocals [Additional] - Rob Sonic
11 No Kings (3:05)
Vocals [Additional] - Tame One
12 The League Of Extraordinary Nobodies (2:34)
Vocals [Additional] - Joey Raia , Murs , Slug
13 Poisenville Kids No Wins / Reprise (This Must Be Our Time) (7:00)
Vocals [Featuring] - Chan Marshall
Sorry, i was forced to remove the download link due to copyright violation
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50 Cent vs Cam’ron - The Complete Video Collection
March 23rd, 2007
In case you don’t have the patience to trawl through YouTube to find the latest videos posted by 50 Cent and Cam’ron in what has become “Beef 2.0″, here’s a collection I made just for you:
<embed width=”400″ height=”300″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” wmode=”transparent” src=”http://web.splashcast.net/go/p/YEYY9516RC”></embed>
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How Hip-Hop Will Survive in the Next Music Industry
March 21st, 2007
The music industry is dead, and the how come doesn’t matter. The question now is what next? How does an artist eat in an environment like this where record sales have dropped 20% since last year?
For rock bands, touring and merchandising will become more important than ever. Eventually they will be begging you to download their music for free, as long as you promise to pay 50 in damage for the live show and cop a T-shirt on your way out.
Rap acts though don’t tour too tough. However, compared to the rockers, emcees are better suited to survive this new industry fallout. Ever since Diddy declared that anyone who questions how a rapper makes money is a "player hater", it’s been open season for even the most indie leaning emcee to appear in commercials and have his own sneaker. Muscicians in other genres have to walk a fine line of art and commerce so they don’t offend their fanbase. However, in hip-hop, the number of endorsements you score is part of your marketing plan.
Now, some see this and think there is too much commercialism in hip-hop. Me? I don’t think there is enough.
From Sprite to Scion I see corporate sponsors as the new (or the first?) patrons of hip-hop. Back in the day, before recorded music and record labels, musical masters relied on patrons to front them while they made their art. In return for their investment, the wealthy patrons gained a higher social status by being linked to the incredible artists they fronted. Also, they would retain the artist to perform at their parties and write special dedications for themselves or family.
Now, doesn’t that sound like how Reebok paid for the pairing of 50 Cent and Jay-Z or how Boost Mobile did the same with Kanye, Ludacris, and The Game?
I’m not mad at any of those examples, because despite the money that’s flowing I think hip-hop does a good job of holding to two rules that makes sure the commerce doesn’t harm the art:
Rule # 1. Commercials are clearly commercials. Sprite has never tried to pass off one of their famous freestyle spots as an authentic, spontaneous, off-the-top endorsement by a rapper.
Rule # 2. Art is clearly art. When Busta told Pharrell to "Pass the Courvoisier", I don’t think he was considering a deal with that liquor brand, even if one came after the fact. He name dropped because it sounded hot, and that’s it.
The only pass a rapper can get on rule #2 is if he owns the product he’s pushing. Self-promotion is straight hip-hop.
I’m impressed with emcees like 50 Cent who has been able to remain independent and relevant and dangerous with his left hand, yet snatch coin from corporate America with his right. As 50 himself admitted in a Vibe Magazine interview, when asked about declining music sales industry wide, he said he doesn’t care if less people buy the record, as long as they buy his clothing, vitamin water, videos game, and movies. 50 is in the business of selling a lifestlye, with music as the bait, a trick that Diddy and Jay-Z learned long ago.
That’s the future now of the music business, and I think hip-hop will prosper in it.
UPDATE: Minutes after I published this post, I saw this article on Billboard about the touring boom:
"Pretty much any way you crunch the numbers, the concert industry kicked serious butt in 2006. Both dollars and attendance reported to Billboard Boxscore this year were at all-time highs. "
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Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
March 21st, 2007
Via XXL-
It looks like Cousin Harold is at it again, starring in a new movie film "Can't Stop, Won't Stop". Saafir will be playing the part of Kody 'Monster' Scott, who you might remember from every wannabe gangsters favorite book, Monster. I never had the chance to catch 'Sweet Potao Pie', but I will assume this one might be a little better.
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Kevin James Is Going Hyphy
March 20th, 2007
I'm not sure how I missed this one, I just caught it this morning over at ProHipHop. This ad is a bit surprising to me considering the amount of negative press the "hyphy movement" has gotten. Does anybody out there know if they are running regional ads like this across the country?
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Hieroglyphics Travel “Over Time” With New Disc
March 20th, 2007
Fans of underground backpacker kings Hieroglyphics will drool over their latest release Over Time.
The set, dropped today, features b-sides and remixes many of which were released on the group’s vinyl only singles. The usual suspects include Del The Funky Homosapien, Souls Of Mischief, Casual, and Pep Love as well as one previously released song, “Battle Of The Shadow,†featuring Del and A-Plus. Don’t sleep.
AUDIO: Hieroglyphics - “You Never Know” (Domino Remix)
Over Time Tracklist:
01 You Never Know (Domino Remix)
02 Masterminds
03 Prose Officially
04 Greed
05 Phoney Phranchise (Domino Remix)
06 Soundscience (Remix)
07 It’s About Time
08 The Scandle
09 Battle Of The Shadow
10 Fight Club (Remix)
11 Unseen Hand
12 If You Must (Automator Remix)
13 Heat
14 Cyberpunks
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Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love (Video)
March 18th, 2007
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