Skillz - 2008 Rap-Up

Yup! It's that time again, folks.
Skillz does his annual year-in-review.

Lupe Fiasco - Streets On Fire

Streets on Fire (Unofficial Music Video) from Shad the Director on Vimeo.

REALLY good fan video by Shad the Director for one of the best songs to come out in quite some time.

Lupe Fiasco ft. Pharrell - Kick, Push (Remix)

Wait . . .where the HELL was I when this happened?!?
Download

"Best Of" Re-Post!

As a final and fitting "tribute" to 2008 (a year when nothing was new, and everything was just a re-packaged version of something else), I present to you, my anti-Grammy post re-gifted as a Best of 2008 list!

Enjoy!

[FACT: Everyone loves these lists, despite that fact that everyone bitches about them. Don't believe me? Take a look at Stereogum's "50 Most Discussed Posts" for 2008. That's right, the most popular story on the most popular "cool guy" music website is a year-end list about other sites' year-end lists. I. Love. The Internet.]

Musiq Soulchild - Until

::1977 late-night R&B DJ voice::

Enough with the negative vibes.
It's time to celebrate . . .2008 is over...gone...dead.

Here's my gift to you. A theme-song for tonight's festivities.

Put on that fresh blazer, put that good cognac on ice, get your best 2-step ready, grab your lady and groove on with Mr. Musiq Soulchild. Tell her it's on 'til 2073.

Everything's gonna be alllllllllright . . .yyyeah.

2008, I'm Sorry...

2008, I know it's probably a little foul on my part to do this as a blog post, but it has to be done. We've know each other for about a year now, and we've been through alot, but...

It's over.

I'm sorry.

Actually . . .I shouldn't lie to you. I'm not sorry at all. You were horrible. Not just to me, but to everyone on this planet. How is that even possible? I mean . . .you . . .really . . .sucked. You sucked in every way that a year could suck. You sucked personally, nationally and globally. You sucked financially. You sucked politically. You sucked socially. You sucked artistically.

Money is gone, homes are gone, innocent lives are gone, creativity is gone, and people just don't smile like they used to. I know what you're thinking, "You still haven't gotten over 2006". Maybe you're right. She was really good to me, but that's still no excuse for the dark cloud you put over us all. I know I'm a young guy, but I can't remember a time like this when everyone was miserable.

You know, during our whole relationship, you only gave me one good gift . . .and in the end, I'm going to get more use out of it in 2009 than I did with you. Oh, and speaking of 2009...I may as well let you know that I'll be with her next. We're going to make it official tonight. I know it's going to start out rough because of all the damage you've done, but I have hope. 2009 has to be better than you were.

Again, I'm sorry to do it this way . . .but it had to be done.

Goodbye, 2008.

Little Rock Punk Rock

Not sure what's more interesting about this...
The fact that Little Rock, AR has a local punk scene, or the fact that in hit its peak in 1992.

Captain EO

Ell. Oh. Ell.

JTTS has delivered a gem, and I had to share.
Did you know that this thing was made by George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola?!?


Part 2:

Stop Sleepin'!

I'm re-posting both of these, because it's downright criminal how neither of these songs are getting the buzz they deserve.

Ludacris - MVP


Royce Da 5'9" - Shake This

Royce Da 5'9" - "Shake This" from Three/21 Films on Vimeo.

Slum Village - Climax

Because it sounds right on a Tuesday.
(and I like kicking up SV vs. Tribe debates)

We Are Scientists - Lethal Enforcer (Acoustic)

I will defend the merits of W-A-S to the death.
Especially With Love & Squalor.

Kenna ft. Chuck English - Loose Wires (Remix)

One half of the Cool Kids joins Kenna for the remix of "Loose Wires"...the song that answers the eternal question of "What would David Bowie sound like if he were born post Hip-Hop?"

Jay Rock ft. Papoose, Stacey Adams, Joell Ortiz & Grafh - East Meets West

Oh. Shit.
You need some of this.

Damn that, you need ALL of this!

Ryan Leslie Flips "Lollipop"

This is old, but I've never seen it before.
LIVE, on the spot remixin'. Ryan Leslie is the truth, Ruth.

Teriyaki Boys ft. Pharrell & Chris Brown - Work That

I swear, at some point today, I'll be able to stop watching/laughing at this.
Music was definitely missing an ode to flat Japanese asses.

Fantastic.
This is one of those songs that's so terrible that you have to download it and blast it with the windows down and front like it was a classic.

Yak Ballz - Spiked Punch

Cardboard City!

Yak Beezy all up in the "Everyone Nose" beat.
Get Yours (get it?).

I wonder if it's better to drop this now that the song has cooled off, or to do it while it's still everyone's jam. Hmm.
Either way...this is dope. Easily the best beat jackin' I've heard over this. Everyone else seems to get tripped up over the drums. Ah well.

YAK!

It Just Ain't Christmas . . .

I've finally figured out why Christmas 2008 just doesn't feel like anything special.
It's because they stopped running this commercial on TV.

Who would do such a thing??
I can't tell you how many times I've sang along to this in the last however-many-years (or 20min since I got it on YouTube). This was right up there with Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown (an absolute OBSESSION to this day) and the Grinch for me.

Chin Chin: Go There With You

You like free shit?
You like electro-funk-jazz-disco grooviness?

Click now. Thank me later.

The Temptations - Silent Night

If you ain't up on this, you ain't up on christmas.

And while we're here . . .

Thundercats Trailer

Whoever made this deserves to be elected President of a small country.

AVN Awards

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Daniel Merriweather ft. Wale - Change

The Maccabees

Why?

Because I somehow forgot how great Colour It In was, and because I'm VERY excited that they're back in the studio.

Yes . . .I am aware of the irony of this post considering it's the first full day of Hanukkah. It wasn't deliberate, but it did make me laugh for a few seconds

Joell Ortiz ft. Joe Budden - Move On

There is NO better 1-2 punch in Hip-Hop right now. Period.
. . .and you KNOW there's footage of the conversations earlier in the day that lead to this song:

Shinici Osawa - Rendezvous

No idea who he (she? they?) is.
What I DO know, is that I efph with this jam . . .and to a slightly lesser extent, I efphs with this seizure-risk of a music video.

The Year In Photos

An AMAZING collection of images over at boston.com
Pts. 1&2 are up now, Pt.3 tomorrow.

Love Lockdown (Flying Lotus Remix)

I know, I know . . .you've heard a thousand of these.
So have I. This one is very different though.

Flying Lotus had a hell of a 2008. Or should I say "is having a hell of a 2008", because I wouldn't be surprised if he still had more work to drop in the next few days.

Royce Da 5'9" - Shake This

Royce Da 5'9" - "Shake This" from Three/21 Films on Vimeo.

THIS is Hip-Hop, my friends.
Behind the scenes.

Word, Tyga?!

Hmmm . . .sounds like Tyga (or his label head, Lil' Wayne) realized that that "coconut juice" shit was super whack and he went and got a ghostwriter to try and appeal to the the young "underground" set. Ain't foolin' nobody, son.

::EXTREME Sarcasm::
I wonder who wrote this one.

Exile!

Exile "Milli" Video from Jonathan Kim on Vimeo.

LOVE. This. Shit!
Exile's album, Radio, will be out on Jan. 20

Afro-Punk on MTV

Well, well, well . . .looks like MTV has finally caught on.

Mick Boogie x Adele: 1988

Mick Boogie presents... Adele: 1988 from MickBoogie on Vimeo.

How's this for unexpected?
DJ Mick Boogie has assembled a collection of remixed song's from ridiculously English songstress Adele's album, 19. Each track has been reworked with a Golden Era of hip-hop feel (circa '88 . . .get it? 1988?) Right on.

Download it HERE.

[Blogger note: I'm an idiot. Why, until today, did I never create a "Mixtape" or "Download" label for my posts so this shit is easier to find? Been here since July and didn't figure that out?? Jeez. My bad.]

Flight of the Conchords: Season 2

Season 2 Online Premiere - Flight of the Conchords (US Only) - watch more funny videos

Can't wait until January?
Funnyordie.com has the Season 2 premiere early.

A Short Faux-etry Break

"No Thank You, Dawg"

That absurdity? It's the Jerz in me.
I'm crazy weather. Shorts and leathers. Purple sneaker steez.
But the observant sees no "perturbed" in me.
Undisturbed, no beef, like turkey burgers be.

See, the reason we leave the streets is key.
Dream Deferred? No, sir! Undeterred are we.
Crease the sheets and see sleepers at peace in belief...
That G-Rap and and G-packs need be on the beats.

Peace.

"Paper Planes" F.Y.I.

I feel obligated to tell you all that the so-called "Slumdog Millionaire Remix" of M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" that's being thrown about this week is nothing new. It's the super dope DFA (home to LCD Soundsystem, Holy Ghost!, Hercules & Love Affair and Hot Chip) remix . . .and it's been around for about 10 months now. I'm surprised so may sites are dropping the ball on that one.

A-rab Money?

Very interesting round-table discussion on whether or not Busta's "Arab Money" is offensive. Obviously, I'm not Arab, but if I was . . .it would make me want to knock somebody out.

(Not to mention the song's general whackness)

MSTRKRFT ft. N.O.R.E. - Bounce

MSTRKRFT - Bounce feat. N.O.R.E & Isis


Don't like the song . . .I just think it's crazy that MSTRKRFT and N.O.R.E. have a song together.

N.E.R.D. - Sooner Or Later

Mad poignant, yo.
"It's over! Leave it!"

Ah, I friggin' love this song...but I gotta say that I am REALLY disappointed that they didn't let the last third of the song play out like it deserves. It kills the jam if this video is anyone's first impression. In case this is true for you. I beg you to listen to the complete song. If you don't have the patience, skip to 4:20ish to hear the magic left out of the video.

Kanye West - Paranoid (Pocketknife Remix)

Nice.

Not so much a remix as it is a . . .let's call it a progressive tweak. Personally, anything that makes a song sound even more like it's from the glorious cocaine era of R&B, I'm all for it.

Get yo' download on.

Don Rimini - Ohow?

DON RIMINI - OHOW? from Alex Nebout on Vimeo.

Yes. That works.

MySpace Showcase: Blah Blah Blah

Well...Chicago is having a really good morning!
Some Friends' List detective work has uncovered another unsigned Chicago gem that deserves some shine, Blah Blah Blah.

We Have Remix

You remember me telling you about We Have Band?
Yes. Because you wrote it down.

Well...add this amendment to your notes: WHB now have a special page dedicated to remixes, and it features some fine cuts of beef. Get you some.

MySpace Showcase: Pet Lions

Good people of Earth, there is hope!

Just when I had resigned myself to the idea that this kind of guitar-heavy, catchy "indie" pop/rock was taken to a back alley and murdered by record labels and fickle (tasteless) teenagers . . .here comes unsigned Chicago band Pet Lions.

These are EXACTLY the kind of jams that have been missing from my "Recently Added" list for the past 2 years. Bring it back, dammit! Who let it die! I will find them and eat their Christmas trees!

The people want songs about social awkwardness, unattainable women, party memories, and drives to various locations . . .all over the sound of guitars that sound like they juuuust might be made of tin and drums they stay slightly off-beat.

I salute you, Pet Lions! Fight the good fight!

The Greatest Thing Ever

Oh my efph.
This is the greatest thing I've ever seen.

All in one clip, we got dance lessons from the Power Rangers, the Black Ranger in a dress, an awkwardly bro-mantic introduction of the Red Ranger (who ended up in gay porn) a Black dude named Trevor, AND a dance-fight!

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE HD


Am I the only one who isn't that excited by this?
Anyone?
Anyone?

Eh...I wasn't a huge fan of the other X-Men flicks and spent 3 days in a nerd-rage coma when it was announced that Jackman would be playing Wolverine in the first place. No surprise I'm not too amped about this one. On the bright side, Gambit is finally around!

THIS is the stuff that Netflix accounts are made of.

The Wrestler

"The Wrestler" Movie Trailer 2008 from Fred DeMetrovich on Vimeo.

This is the movie I was talking about this weekend. It's playing in that theater next to the White Rabbit on Houston St. (what the hell is it called???).

I say we sees it.

Joell Ortiz - Brooklyn (Freestyle)

So you KNEW every rapper in Brooklyn was gonna jump on this, right?

Maroon 5 - If I Never See Your Face Again (Swizz Beats Remix)

Maroon 5 - If I Never See Your Face Again from Eric Wareheim on Vimeo.

As if I wasn't already ODing on this album . . .here's Eric Wareheim's (of Tim & Eric on Cartoon Network) masterpiece video for track #1.

DJ Sega - Glenn's Theme (Giggidy Song)

HA!

S.O.S. Band - Just Be Good to Me

Why am I posting this?

Well...because it was the jam when I was an infant...and if released this week, it would be a Top 50 single. Funny how music works.
Mostly, though, I'm sharing because I just viewed one of the most random moments in music that I can remember: A live acoustic cover by The Ting Tings (Katie White...yes, please.) from SXSW this summer.
I put the over/under of how much of the crowd knew the original at 0.25%...and that was probably somebody's mom who was chaperoning a concert trip for her daughter and her friends. I'm sure she thought she was in the Twilight Zone. I know I did.

These are strange times we're livin' in.

Japan: Robot Nation

If you're looking for me, I'm under my desk loading a shotgun.

Right now, this conversation is happening in Kyoto:
Grimey Dude - "Uhhhh...looks nice...can I fuck it?"
Science Man - "No, sir...this is meant to assist the elderly"
GD - "Yeah...but I wanna fuck it."
SM - "Sir, that is highly inappropriate"
GD - "C'mon...I'll only fuck some of it."

We are all absolutely screwed.

Aly-Us - Follow Me

(Found @ the Mad Decent blog)

WOW!
I've never seen this before.
This is the classic of all classics! New Jersey's #1 anthem, and the crowning achievement of my hometown. Jam on that shit!

Preview: The Ricky Gervais Guide To . . .

A preview of the new Ricky Gervais audiobook series.
Karl Pilkington should be an elected official.

Jockin' Jay-Z (Travis Barker Remix)

He done done it again.
Download.

N.E.R.D. - Sooner or Later (Behind the Scenes)

Sooner Or Later - Behind The Scenes


Oh, joy of joys!!!

The next single/video from Seeing Sounds will be the magnificently epic "Sooner or Later". I can't tell you how many times I hit rewind on this song. I sincerely hope that 1) people catch on to this song, and 2) they let the WHOLE jam finish in the video.

P.CASSO - Mr. Hollywood

P.CASSO- Mr. Hollywood directed by Steven Tapia from PCASSO on Vimeo.

Bloc Party - One Month Off

Bloc Party - One Month Off


Yup. That's the official video.

Truck North ft. Wale - Flyer Than The Rest

Right . . .so this morning, Truck North (Remember him? he had a BUNCH of features on Rising Down) posted a new song with Wale. I meant to do the same, but I was waiting for a download link . . .none of them shits are working. SO . . .just go to his MySpace page and buss it that way.

That Real Shit

9th Wonder, Talib Kweli and (my future wife) Jean Grae rock out the last record store in the galaxy.

P.S. I still miss Vogel's in Elizabeth. Damn.

Exile

Exile - Bounce from Okayplayer on Vimeo.

I know I've said it a billion times already, but there is NOTHING better on the internet then watching videos of producers workin' an MPC (man's greatest gift to man). No lie, if I ever hit the lottery, I'm going straight to Sam Ash. I'd be happy for the rest of my life making horrible beats for my friends to freestyle about titties over.

Part 2. (wait till he freaks it at 1:10!)
Part 3. (hmmm . . .he freaks this one at 1:10 too . . .Coincidence, or DiVincian riddle?!)

Q-Tip Surprise.

So Q-Tip was rockin House of Blues in Vegas...
You'll never guess who decided to make an appearance.

First-hand account from DJ Scratch.

Asher Roth - The Day I Got Crowned

Asher spits over The Roots' "Get Busy"

10.Deep & DJ Benzi: The New Deal Mixtape

You see the list of artist on the cover, so you know what it is.
Go get some.

While we're here . . .
You know...I'm STILL not feeling Charles Hamilton. I know, I know, I'm breaking "Hipster rap" protocol, but I'm being honest. It's not like I haven't tried. I check his stuff when it comes out...it just doesn't click with me. Dude is DEFINITELY a talented writer, and would do wonders ghostin' someone else's shit...but something about him on a beat just doesn't work for me. It might be his personality. He always sounds desperate for approval. Anyone who spends that much time telling people how much they don't care what we think...REALLY cares what we think. It's annoying.

Ah, well . . .

Yup...again.

Is it possible to be on a song's nuts?

If you haven't gotten the Maroon 5 remix album yet, I have 2 words for you: Stop frontin'.
You know you like Maroon 5 anyway. Why lie about it? Is your street cred so unofficial that you can't jam whatever you want? Damn.

Just go get it! Between this "CD" (what are those, again?) and Universal Mind Control, you should be car-dancing non-stop until at least mid-January.

Praveen & Benoit

Zach Braff music.

I'm having all sorts of trouble with words today . . .but if you like to occasionally dabble into the world of super-mellow, moderately electronic stuff that one might describe as "atmospheric" (and one has)...then give a listen to Praveen & Benoit's EP, Songs Spun Simla.

Who are they? I don't know...and when I tried to read Stereogum's backstory explanation, I couldn't be bothered (too complex for today). SO...I went straight to the music...and I dug it...to hell with the finer details.

Boondocks Bootleg

In an interview on Okayplayer, Boondocks creator, Aaron McGruder talks about his newest project...a live-action sketch series. Imagine Boondocks without the filter of TV execs. Yeah.

You can check it at boondocksbootleg.com . . .or better yet, hit up the YouTube channel.

Alchemist Spins Gold

I love in-studio shit.
Alchemist "shows you how to do this, son".

Famous - Ain't No Use

Universal Mind Control: The Reaction

Common, you done done it.

Thanks to you, sir, conscious brothas now have an album that they can dance to. That's right, Brotha Rasheed! Now you too can rub on some booty guilt-free like the rest of us. I know you don't rock the Hennessey and Timbs, but this album works with capri pants, Africa medallions and Noni juice, too.

Maaaaaan, there are gonna be some angry folks on the internet today! "Common sold out" will echo through the message boards for days on end. The "I don't eat pork" crowd will revolt! "Common is making club music?! Somebody get the 'Honorable Minister' on the phone!" Remember how bad it got when Electric Circus came out?!

I can't wait. I will personally be floating on my cyber surfboard stirring up the rabble and tossing digital bean pies. Common wants to rock the club this time? Let him. Shit. He's earned it.

Ultra Music Festival

The Ultra Music Festival will be held in Miami on March 27-28. If this doesn't scream "drunken road trip", then I don't know shit. I've been looking for a reason to go back to SoFla, and this is as good as any. Check out the first confirmed acts announced today:

Bloc Party, Cut Copy, Santogold, Crystal Castles, Simian Mobile Disco, Hercules & Love Affair, Roni Size & Reprazent, the Presets, Busy P, the Ting Tings, Deadmau5, and Tiesto.

C'mooooooooooooon!!!! We gotta go!

No idea how to title this . . .

I love the internet.

The Bloody Beetroots - Cornelius

CORNELIUS from borntofilm on Vimeo.

I still don't understand the Steve Aoki lust.
I still think LA is . . .LA.

But I enjoyed this.

Funny Games on DVD

Been a little too happy lately?
Holiday season ruining your edge?
Post-Obama euphoria got you smiling more often than you'd like?

This movie is the solution.

I'm not even going to say whether or not it was a good movie, because I'm still not sure yet. What I WILL say, with absolute certainty, is that by the end of this film, you will absolutely despise everyone in it (except the little kid). You will be consumed with a rage and furor unlike anything you've experienced from something as simple as watching movie. There will be a special dark place in your heart created for the "villains". Short of History Channel pieces where Hitler or James Earl Ray make appearances, there have never been 2 people I've hated more on my television . . .that didn't start for DC United.

Andy Samberg Does It Again

This kid (what is he, 16?) is friggin' hilarious.
If this isn't a HQ audio download by the end of the week, I will be greatly disappointed.
I will absolutely bang this in the car.

How to Talk to Girls

Yes, folks.
This 9yr old kid is officially more likely to get laid this week than I am.
Awesome.

Jay-Z ft. MC Lyte - BK Anthem

Well . . .
This should keep me from getting beat up because of the last post.
And the annoying DJ drops are yours for free!

A Message from the Brooklyn Tourism Board from jeff on Vimeo.

HAAAAAAAA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Fujiya & Miyagi - Sore Thumb

Every one of their songs sound the same, but I like 'em anyway.

Maroon 5 ft. The Cool Kids - Harder to Breathe (REMIX)

Remember me telling you about this? Sure you do.
Get yourself a little sample.
Drops Tuesday.

Triumph @ Comic-Con

OK . . .I've recovered from that last post . . .

This video was the real reason I was looking for Triumph stuff in the first place. It's old as all whatnots, but I saw it again on that Conan re-run I was talking about earlier . . .and I literally fell out of my bed laughing. The whole shit is funny . . .but the part when he gets to the Wolverine dude (2:35) is magnificent. A work of art.

Warning to anyone hanging out with me this weekend: I WILL be getting drunk and screaming "I'M WOLVERIIIIIINE!!!" at strangers. Given my present appearance (Mr. T and David Ortiz's love-child who's genes were spliced with a homogenization of Dwayne Wade and Gary Coleman, and was then bitten by a vampire skater version of Kanye West from an alternate universe) it should be fun times! Just giving you a heads up.

And while we're here...
People of the world, I'm begging you...SOMEONE please start a band and call it The Incredible Hulk's Wank Fist. I promise to be your BFF.

Blackwolf Meets Lordi

Here's your daily dose of the surreal.

I'm sure you remember dragon master and NYC's unofficial wizard, Blackwolf (yes, he really does walk around the City in character...assuming it is just a character . . .as this point, I just might believe that he's a 400yr old wizard, bcause, hell...what isn't possible?!). Well . . .he's still in touch with Triumph, and recently had the chance to make his dream come true and meet his favorite band, Lordi.

Shit like this can't be made up. Check it out for yourself.

Me? Oh, yes, I have set myself on fire once again. The world is insane. These dudes actually exist. It's time to panic.

Film School Rejekts - Strength In Numbers

Strength In Numbers from Kevin Parkinson on Vimeo.

(Nah Right with the goods)

Yup...looks like we have a new group to keep our ears on.
Where the hell is their Myspace page?? You can check out their other video, at least (the chick at the beginning is killing me)

Clipse ft. Pharrell - Still Got It 4 Cheap

Produced by Clinton Sparks for his next Get Familiar mixtape.

The Airborne Toxic Event

Saw them for the first time on Conan last night, where they performed "Sometime Around Midnight". Loved the song (even though parts of it did remind me a little bit of "Lazy Eye"...still one of the best songs of this decade). REALLY surprised that they're from Cali. Thought they had "Yup...we're from Brooklyn, ::wink wink::" written all over 'em. I guess looks/sounds can be deceiving.

The Annual Grammy Rant

Good morning, folks . . .

The nominations are out. I'm sure you've seen them by now. That means it time for the traditional post-nomination rant. Join me, wont you:

::downs 3 RedBull Colas::

ahem.

How is "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" nominated for 2009?!
Where are the nominations for Rising Down?!
"Swaggar Like Us" is the WOOOOOORST!!
I demand J*Davey for Urban Alternative!

Wait...what the hell is "Urban Alternative"?!

Santogold, FTW!!
Invent a "Freshest of the Year" award and give it to The Carps!
Why do the Grammy people hate British rock so much?!
Could the Nas nominations be any more patronizing?!
Why isn't the vocoder nominated for anything?!


GRAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!

Wafeek - I'mma Learn Ya

Wafeek - I'mma Learn Ya [Official Music Video] from Marc Kharrat on Vimeo.

I don't know jack about Wafeek, but this jam has been popping up all over the place in the last few days . . .and with good reason. Shit is hot.

::time warp::

Ahh . . .how convenient . . .Wafeek released his first mixtape today.

Jamie Foxx ft. Kanye West & The Dream - Digital Girl

Gon' be some booties wigglin' on this one.
If you close your eyes, you can see your favorite stripper taking your whole paycheck . . .again.

Kanye's 2nd verse is dope (despite the sore throat).

Yak Ballz - Dirt Empire

Cardboard City!

The Jammie Awards!!!

I was sitting here putting together a long, drawn out post about this year's Grammy nominations...then I was hit with a wall of frustration and disbelief at some of the choices, that I said "efph it", I need my own awards.

After all, a blog isn't a blog without awards, right?

I present to you, the 2008 Jammie Awards for the jamminest jams that jammed in 2008 (or at least "2008" as defined by the Grammy people). remember, folks...there are "songs", and there are "jams". If you don't know the difference yet . . .I can't help you.

Winners in blue.
I'm having WAY too much fun with this!

ENJOY!

The "That's My Jam!!!" Award (Non-remix category)
M.I.A. - "Paper Planes"
Common - "Universal Mind Control"
N.E.R.D. - "Spaz"
Does It Offend You, Yeah? - "Dawn of the Dead"
Kids In The Hall - "Drivin' Down The Block (Low End Theory)"

Jamminest Remix:
N.E.R.D. ft. Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco & Pusha T - "Everyone Knows (Remix)"
Radiohead - Reckoner (Diplo Remix)
Cut Copy - Lights & Music (Boys Noize Remix)
M.I.A. - Paper Planes (DFA Remix)

Best Collection of Jams:
The Roots - Rising Down
Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
Santogold - Santogold

Jamminest EP:
The Carps - Waves & Shambles

Biggest Box of Hip-Hop Jams: (official album releases)
The Roots - Rising Down
Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
Jean Grae - Jeanius
Oddisee - 101 & 102
Q-Tip - The Renaissance

Jammenest Mixtape:
Asher Roth (w/ DJ Drama & Don Cannon) - The Greenhouse Effect
Wale - The Mixtape About Nothing
The Cool Kids - The Bake Sale
Joe Budden - Halfway House
Murs & 9th Wonder - Sweet Lord

Supreme Collection of Guitar Jams:
Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell
The Wombats - A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation
Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City

Best Pile of Jams That Can't be Conveniently Sorted:
Radiohead - In Rainbows
N.E.R.D. - Seeing Sounds
J*Davey - The Beauty In Distortion / The Land Of The Lost
Santogold - Santogold
Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple

Jam Creator of the Year:
Diplo
Boys Noize
The Neptunes
Flying Lotus
Trackademics

ALL WINNERS RECIEVE ONE WEEKEND'S UNLIMITED USE OF MY EZ-PASS!!!

Justice - Phantom II

JUSTICE - PHANTOM II


The footage for this video is a smashery of the tamest 2:53 that Justice could piece together from their live performance / documentary, A Cross The Universe (a DVD filled with titties, fighting, puking and the best jammage France has to offer)

Dgenerate Nation

DGENERATE NATION - Skate With Me from DGENETICS on Vimeo.

In the middle of my Vimeo surfing I came across this video for "Skate With Me". Good money, right? Right.

Naturally, I headed to "the MySpace" to see what was up with the rest of their jams . . .pretty damn good, I must say. And here's the bonus meat...it seems that they're a part of some greater music collective, Dgenetics Musics, and they all seem to be doing some pretty dope shit.

Minilogue - Animals

Minilogue - Animals from ljudbilden on Vimeo.

Super.

Angry Erotic Sheep

Angry Erotic Sheep in the Woods from kschaal on Vimeo.

I'm doing absolutely nothing at work today. Like, a good 43% less than the nothing I usually do. I'm protesting the fact that they made me change cubicles. Me and K-19 had a good thing goin'.

Anyway . . .I randomly saw this, and nearly pissed myself . . .by "piss myself", I mean "deliberately piss into the lunch beverages of managemet". But I digress . . .this video is really stupid, and really funny. Watch it, or your dinner could suffer a similar fate.

You remember Kristen Schaal from Flight of the Concords, right?

Guess Who: Jammin' On The 1

Guess Who from Kirsten Lepore on Vimeo.

"That's brilliant, that is!"

To celebrate the launch of their new clothing line, and give fans something to bang until their next album, Till The Casket Drops is released, Clipse and Complex Magazine have gotten together to release a free mixtape.

Buss it.

UPDATE: Jay-Z ft. Santogold - Brooklyn (Go Hard)

Jay-Z on iLike - Get updates inside iTunes

Directed by Evan Roth.

Q-Tip ft. Al Kapone - Evolution of a Man

From the Cadillac Records soundtrack.

My Christmas Mind Has Been Blown Back to Easter

FACT1: I love me some Christmas.
FACT2: I love me some jams.

Therefore, the Transitive Property clearly states that I would love Christmas jams.
This is very true . . .with one very foul exception.

This is going to make me sound like a madman...but since I was a little kid, "Wonderful Christmas Time" has creeped me right the fuck out. In my mind, this is the song that John Wayne Gacy played when he killed kids during the holidays. I can picture him skipping away from the scene of the crime, cleaning his knife, singing "siiiiimply haaaaaving . . .a wonderful Christmas tiiiime!" GRAAAGHAGHAAAHH!!!!!

I don't know why. Something about the synth chords and the excitement in the vocals make it sound like some bug-eyed maniac is banging away on an old Casio in the darkest corner of his basement. Probably shunned by his family after some terrible "accident" with the turkey carver one Christmas when he was a child.

"Siiiiiiimply haaaaaaaving . . .a WONDERFUL Christmas tiiiiiime!"

Making it worse was the fact that I NEVER knew who sang the song. It just thought it was some unknown lunatic, high on spoiled egg nog and jenkem.
Then it all changed. How I long for the sweet bliss of ignorance!

Last night, I'm out drinking, and wouldn't you know it . . .the song comes on. As per usual, I flip my shit and go into the annual rant about how this is the single most terrifying song ever composed. As if I didn't struggle enough with it, my friend tells me that this abomination is sung by . . .Paul fuckin' McCartney!!! What?!

::BOOM::
Mind blown.
Soul on fire.
Universe in shambles.

My skull has been rocked by alot or random bits of information before...but nothing has hit me this hard since I was told that Snuffleupagus could only seen by Big Bird until 1985. Learning that Paul McCartney, legendary ex-Beatle, was responsible for writing and singing Satan's favorite carol was . . .intense. I was stunned silent for a few minutes. I gathered myself, chugged a beer and repressed it all.

Then...I saw...the video. Holy shit...I was right. This whole thing is insane. Giant star creatures invading homes, a drunk McCartney crashing parties, alien choirs, day-glo ponies, exploding presents, and what I swear was one of the Ramones tagging somebody's house.

FRRRRAAAAABABABABABABAGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

And if that wasn't fucked up enough . . .LOOK!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!

::runs naked onto Rt.1 traffic on fire::

Operation: Humble Kanye West

Kanye v. 50 is played out, B.
It's all about Kanye v. Colbert for the holiday season.

Wale - Nike Boots

This jam is crazy old, and not up to par with Wale's usual fare . . .but it's his most radio/TV-ready and it's finally got a video. Here's hoping it gets him the attention he deserves.

Colin Munroe

Remember Colin Munroe?

Well, the young man has a new mixtape out, and it includes some interesting co-stars. Joell Ortiz, Black Milk, Wale, Skyzoo and Blaqstarr all make appearances.

Download it HERE.

Jay-Z ft. Santogold- Brooklyn (Go Hard)

From the soundtrack of Notorious...or maybe Blueprint 3.
I'm hoping for the soundtrack angle. Song is a'ight...not album material though.
My guess is that Jay and Kanye cooked this up for the album, decided it was good, not great...so they gave it to the soundtrack folks.