Amerisnob.

Saturday night, and what am I doing?
Watching my last place American team try to literally win a Mickey Mouse Cup.
WTF is a Europe?

This totally meaningless pre-season warmup is infinitely more important, interesting and worthy of my time than anything involving a kicked ball "over there" this weekend.

Tell Wayne Bridge I said, "Shake this, son."
It's MLS time.

Curren$y ft. Stalley - Address

CURREN$Y + STALLEY: ADDRESS from Creative Control on Vimeo.

Curren$y is one of them tremendously popular new rappers that never really caught on with me.
And I'm not even completely sure why.

Versis - All In

I don't know who dude is...but 2DopeBoyz do.
Perfect jam for a day that's gonna see me doing a whole lotta nothin'.
It's got a Kev Brown (NOT me, the producer) meets Blu type of vibe.

Efph the snow, B.
Sick of this shit.

Gorillaz ft. De La Soul & Gruff Rhys - Super Fast Jelly Fish

 

I am The Undecided.

Check it on YouTube.

Efterklang - I Was Playing Drums

This is how they roll in The Denmarks.
I like it.
The song is like they rolled a man in a Velcro suit down a cotton hill and it kept picking up more shit as it went along.

Don't look at me like that.

FLASHBACK: Thom Yorke - Atoms For Peace

In honor of Mr. Yorke naming his new side-band Atoms For Peace, let's take a trip back to his previous sans-Radiohead musical trip.

P.S.  I NEEEEEEEEEEEED to be at one of those NYC shows.

Mr. Dream - Knuckle Sandwich

 

(Get it?)

 Maybe it's because I spent last night at Court Tavern and the Miller High Life is still in my system.
But I efphs with this.
Have some.

We Are Scientists - Rules Don't Stop

We Are Scientists - Rules Don't Stop by PIAS/Integral

WAS's first album, With Love And Squalor, from 2006 will forever be the score to the film that was my mid-20's.  They had an almost creepy knack for writing songs that mirror exact situations I was dealing with, both good and bad.  Very strange.  Almost Truman Show-like.

2nd album...meeeeh.
They tried too hard to get BBC Radio 1 spins and it showed.

Now, we get the first single from album #3.  The writing has resumed the situational creepification of the first album, but the music is as lame and poppy as album #2.  I am The Torn.

HOWEVER...I will hold fast to the "first singles tend to be shit" rule, and hope for better things.

Murs x 9th Wonder - 3:16 Pt. 2

Some good news on this crapfest of a snowstorm morning:
Murs and 9th are getting together for their 4th collabo album.

Tracy Morgan x Jimmy Kimmel - Impregn8ed

"Girl, you 'bout to get a baby in you."

Tracey is the King.
King of what?  I don't know.
But the King, nonetheless.

Random Thoughts #12: Global Supremacy Via The Wiminz Market

 New Goals for 2010:

Step 1 - Buy season tickets in center of Section 101 of Red Bull Arena...check
Step 2 - Turn strategic location into frequent and gratuitous camera time on ESPN and FSC*
Step 3 - As a result of exposure, become the subject of a fawning editorial on Kickette.com
Step 4 - Conquer Earth

There's probably some things missing between 3 and 4, but the season is (hopefully) a month away, so I have time to tweak the whole thing.

* Thanks to the general smallness of our old section at Giants Stadium, the folks at FSC have managed to capture me falling on my ass during Wipeout, stealing beer from my girlfriend when she wasn't looking, and engaging in drunken PDA that would shame a Kardashian sister.  Good times!

Rah Digga - Warning Shots

 RAH DIGGA IS BACK!!!
To this day, Dirty Harriet is still one of the most underrated albums of all time.
Nottz on them beats for this one, and is apparently doing the whole upcoming album.
Me = officially amped.

Jersey!!

Random Thought #11: Grizz Beatz

Hey DJs...
How is it that NONE of you have flipped this shit into a Hip-Hop track yet?
Exile, Statik Selektah, Cookin' Soul...this has your names writen all over it.
Beef up the drums and loop that "oh, oh, oooohhhhh" stuff.
Tell me that ain't the jam!

And if somebody HAS done this already and you know about it...
...hook a blogger up and send it to me.

FLASHBACK: Talib Kweli ft. Mos Def, Jay-Z, Kanye West & Busta Rhymes - Get By (Remix)

Believe it or not, I completely forgot that this song ever happened.
How?
This is 5 of my Top 10 on one song, and it wasn't even in my iTunes.
Proof that I have way too much music.

Jose James - Code

Flying Lotus on them beats.
It's a smoove jam that somehow escaped the run of mellow stuff from yesterday.

Fonzworth Bentley - Fireside Chat

Say what you want about Bentley, but I was looking forward to that album that never happened.
"Everybody" was my jam for a whole summer.

Anyway...this is actually a pretty dope stream of consciousness from Fonzworth on behalf of Black History Month

DMCA Claim Deez Nuts, Muh'fukkah

Shout out to all the smaller bands, "local" emcees, and starving artists who are SMART enough to appreciate the value of FREE and FAVORABLE internet publicity in 2010.

This shit should really be common sense right now.
The artists I jam around here ain't exactly platinum sellers, yet some have the balls to get pissed when this (or any other blog) share their shit?  Are y'all retarded??  REALLY?!  How many radio spins you projecting to get this week?  How's your MTV rotation looking?  Not so hot?

Where the hell do you think ALL your buzz, and future earning potential comes from, stupid?
Tiny, insignificant blogs like this one.
We spark the machine.  The machine feeds the masses.
Its simple.

It's one thing if I was a full on "snark blog" and posted a link to your shit with the express purpose of telling people how terrible it is.  That's not how I do things here.  If I post your shit, it's because I like it.  Real easy stuff, here.  Maybe you fools should read what you're having deleted before you get your Urban Outfitters panties in a twist.

Middle fingers.

Anyway, I will continue to do what I love doing the most in my free time:  Directing friends and random strangers to good music, and shining a little light on artists that don't otherwise get the glow they deserve.

Shout out to the artists, labels, promoters, publicists and internet street teams smart enough to understand the NEW game and send music to small bloggers like me.  I guess there's a real reason why the music industry is in the fuckin' toilet:  no common sense.

Random Thoughts #10: OJ...Not Guilty

 

 

Pouring Tree Ripe orange juice in your Bud Light Golden Wheat because you don't have or are too lazy to cut up an actual orange is both ghetto and freakishly delicious.

WTF? Where's the Rumor Patrol??

You guys are seriously slipping.
Yesterday (Mon), NY manager (see how Euro I just got?) Hans Backe says this:

"I think we'll have an answer late tomorrow from the midfield player,'' Backe said today. "He'll make a decision today and then sort things out with his club, and at the latest tomorrow we’ll have our answer.''

What happens today?  Claudio Lopez gets kicked in the ass by Kansas City.
Where are the rumors, people?
Where's the buzz?
Get to speculatin'!

And yeah, yeah, "Lopez is a FWD".  Whatever.  Close enough.
Pay him $125K, stick him behind Angel and [whoever].  Let's win some games.

Peugeot SR1 Concept

 

  

I really have been meaning to increase the presence of my car fetish around here...

Of course something this glorious will never see an assembly line because the French are cowards, but it's nice to dream isn't it (not that Peugeots are sold here anyway)?

The car's sole purpose is to show the future of Peugeot's design direction.

It looks to me like an Aston Martin with bits of Jaguar/Ford stuck in its teeth.

Johnny Polygon ft. Kid CuDi - Riot Song (Remix)

As promised.
The vid-jo for the origi came out today, but I can't find an embed code for shit, so check it out here.

Raaaaaaaandy (Aziz Ansari) - AAAAAAAANGRY

 

I was all ready to abandon Aziz Ansari after that whack ass Comedy Central special that was just a bunch of recycled jokes, but this is actually funny.

The comic's alter-ego, Raaaaaaaandy (who is also a comic) is dropping a mixtape with TV On The Radio's Dave Sitek, and he's pissed that none of the rappers he called have sent in their verses.

Chase Infinite ft. Fashawn & CurT@!n$ - 730

Spittin'.

Adrian Younge & The Black Dynamite Sound Orchestra - Shot Me In The Heart

This might be the best thing I've seen all year.
The song is from the score of the greatest/worst movie of all time:  Black Dynamite

I could go on for an hour about the pure golden magic of that flick.
I'm pretty sure Black Dynamite is loosely based on my grandfather.

Albe Back - Jungle

JUNGLE from Creative Control on Vimeo.

I think homie might be more poet than emcee.
Either way, this is dope.

Is today turning into one of them cognac sippin' smooth jam days?
Watch...because I said this, I'll have a run of new jams from DMX and Glassjaw or some shit.

J. Pinder ft. Rapper Big Pooh & Zach Bruce - Later On

I don't know who the other 2 dudes besides "Rappah" are, but this is smooth smoove.
The second guy sounds a little like Emilio Rojas, doesn't he?
Have some.

Hood Newz: "We The Best, Nah, We The Worlddd"

That's some truly funny stuff.
Hood Newz got the "exclusive" recording of the all Hip-Hop rap version of the "We Are The World" remake.

Kanye West - Coldest Winter

KANYE WEST "Coldest Winter" Directed by: NABIL  "ITUNES link below" from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

Yes, this is the official video.

Good morning, folks.  I'm back and fully operational today.  What better way to return than with a (super late) video from the album I've defended more than any other I can remember.
As is common with a Kanye video, the mix of the song itself is a little different than the album version.

MLS CBA: Could We Have An American "Big Four"?

Just a thought:

The new CBA discussions for MLS have apparently turned to shit...

It seems that the owners/The Don are terrified of the idea of "fair-market" competition among the "clubs" within the league.  Every official comment seems to come from a reluctance to let teams handle their own financial work, get dirty and fight amongst themselves for contracts, draft picks, incoming talent, free agents, etc.  I have to wonder if the main reason for this is a fear of MLS turning into a top-heavy league like the Premiership where only Man. Utd. and Chelsea have an honest shot at winning the title, and only Arsenal and Liverpool ever make a real threat.

Think about it...
Let's say by some random stroke of a pen, MLS opens up its economic rules concerning the above mentioned matters.  Wouldn't that HEAVILY favor a small number of "big" teams?  I think so.  If the league were to drop, or even greatly alter its single-entity practices, I could see a situation where LA, Chicago, Seattle and New York (now that RB is fully committed to money ball) run away with the league for years, leaving teams like Kansas City, Cowtown Columbus, San Jose, etc with no real chance at success.  No success, no fans.  No fans, no money.  No money = folded MLS franchises.

Some of the roster rules and regulations of the league seem oppressive and heavy-handed, but is MLS really ready to open the system up?  Would we be happy with a Premiership situation where the same few clubs share all the glory?  Am I wrong in thinking that this would be the outcome?

Today (Monday)

Forgive me if it gets a bit quiet around here today.
Not sure how much I'll be around a computer.

...but if by the end of the evening, I've dropped a dozen posts, feel free to mock me.

Passion Pit - Little Secrets

Wasn't there already a video for this?
I don't know...I might be done with Passion Pit.
It's was fun for 15-20 minutes, but I might be out.

Caribou - Odessa

Well...that was...something.
Definitely not the video I was expecting for this song.

Spec Boogie - Bed Stuy

Spec Boogie - Bed Stuy from Boombaye' on Vimeo.

Von Pea on them beats.

BK should be proud of this one.
I love geographically referential tracks.
Yup.  That's exactly what I just typed.

Crooked I - Backfire

Mutemath!  The best pop band that you're not listening to.
Anyway, after attacking the Owl City instrumental a few days ago, Crooked I pours a lil' sizzurp on the Mutemath track.  Have some.

Because Feeding Rumors is Fun...

 This morning, Red Bulls Reader released the 2010 shirt numbers for all the new players and anyone who may be changing.  The keeper of all NY soccer facts, MetroFanatic made one keen observastion:

Every number between 2 and 23 is taken...except one...

14.

Do with that info what you will.

The Sound of America (is oddly similar to the localized sound of Harrison, NJ)

You already know what is, son.
Join us.  And them.

Im so proud...
DJ!  Kick that East Coast representer theme music!!

Broken Social Scene - World Sick

Gather round, kids, and marinate in the sauce of BSS's grand 7-minute return jam.

RJD2 - The Glow

That was snazzy.
Poignant...yet funny.  Like Brian Williams.

Pilooski - AAA

Yup, I'm in one of those grooves right now.
The glory of the internet is accidentally stumbling across dope shit on Russian house music blogs.
Yes.
Tekmologiez, FTW!

I had been meaning to keep and ear out for Pilooski after hearing this insanity back in July...but I get side-tracked entirely too easily.

Breakbot - Baby, I'm Yours

How have I not posted this??
I'm losing it.
This "my jam" defined, and yet I never shared it with you good folks.
::shakes head::  Damn shame, that.

Oh, it's not done...the Siriusmo remix is kettle korn to the ears.
What does that mean?  I don't know.
Just jam it and stop asking so many questions.

UPDATE:  Efph it...have ANOTHER remix!  Its a sales extravaganza!!

Air - So Light Is Her Footfall (Breakbot Remix)

As long as there is a France, there will be bangers.
Dammit.
"Era", my ass!  This will never die!!!

New Podcast for RBNY

Nice!
From Dave Martinez of The Offside, Nat Baker of American Soccer News and Mark "The Kin Of Fish" Fishkin comes a new, weekly show/podcast dedicated to Red Bull New York.  First episode is up and runnin'.  Check it out.

Side note:  Has anyone else noticed, that for a team with such a historically "small" fanbase, RBNY has a SHITLOAD of fans in the forefront of the new soccer media??  It's crazy.

J. Cole - Knock On Wood

J.Cole on one of my favorite instrumentals of all time.

R.I.P.: "Swagger"

It's been corny as f**k for more than a year now, but this is OFFICIALLY it.
No more.
Done.
Dead.

You are NO LONGER allowed to use "swagger" as a slang term.

Primary 1 - Enough

This song doesn't do a whole lot, but it works.
And I'm half asleep so it just feels right.

Empire Supporters Club Membership Drive This Saturday at Nevada Smiths

For all you hardcore fans of the beautiful game in the Tri-State, this Saturday night is your first chance to "get stuck in", and join the biggest, loudest, proudest and most boozingly belligerent band of New York and New Jersey soccer supporters, the famous ESC.

We had wanted to do this earlier in the year, and around a game, but unfortunately that was not possible. But, we’ll have some fun events worked in, we’re working on a special guest and you’ll be able to pick up your 2010 ESC membership, ESC gear, and ticket packages from the front office. We’ll have some raffles, an event on the big screen and other fun stuff. There will be a drink special on Spaten beer as well (like you need a reason!).

Nevada Smiths, Feb. 20th, 74 Third Ave, between 11th & 12th. Take the L to 3rd Ave or 4/5/6/N/Q/R/W to Union Sq. You can also take the Path train to 9th or 14th and walk over.

There will be a New Jersey membership drive on the day of the soft launch, March 13th, in Harrison, so please save the date for that too.
Thanks!

I promise you, if you are a supporter of the American game, and know that there's more to us all than mini-vans and halftime orange slices...this is where you need to be.

"Free Runner" Ryan Doyle Disrespects My New Furniture

Red Bull Arena visit by Red Bull Pro FreeWalker Ryan Doyle from Red Bulls Reader on Vimeo.

The whole time I watched this, I heard Rick James yelling "Fuck yo' couch!!"
I love me some parcour and whatnot, but this is the goofiest shit I've seen in a minute.
Better not be any footprint on my seat, homie.

Yak Ballz - Blind Faith (Adept Remix)

Throw them CC's up!!
Have some.

Random Thoughts #9: "Is This It?" No...But It Probably Should Be

Honest Question:  At this point, aren't we all better off if The Strokes didn't release another album?
There's no way anyone is going to like it, right?

For the record, I am very much a fan of The Strokes.  Their music will forever be the musical essence of the New York City I knew during the most socially active part of my life.  That said...I know how music fans, particularly the kind of people who listen to The Strokes, tend to operate.  I can only see three possible reactions to the album they are supposedly releasing in September:
1)  (If they keep the same vibe as before)  "This sounds like 5yrs ago.  It's shit".
2)  (If they try something new with their sound)  "WTF, this doesn't even sound like The Strokes.  It's shit."
3)  (If they land somewhere in between)  "OMG, I just realized that they've always sucked.  It was ALL shit."

Considering this...shouldn't they just call it a day?
Let the memories and their iconic status rest in the beautiful place its made for itself.
I don't know.  I think they're on the path to some major legacy damage.

Ayomari - Ms. Right

Ms. Right from The Cafeteria Line on Vimeo.

That's right.
Support that regular dude romance.

Crooked I - Fireflies

 Yup.  That just happened.
Slaughterhouse's West Coast general.
Mr. Pig Face Weapon Waist...


...is rhyming over Owl City.
2010, ladies and gentlemen.

Johnny Polygon: Rebel Without Applause

Ehhhhhh...I usually make it a rule not to post mixtapes from people I haven't heard alot of music from.  I'm only familiar with 2-3 JP jams, but I sense good things, so rules be damned.  Mixed by Green Lantern, BTW.  And really...Johnny Polygon and Green Lantern is not a combo I would have bet on in a million years, so I'm deadly curious.  Have some.

When Did We Decide to Ditch Ryan Leslie?

What happened?
We were all jammin' the hell out of Ryan Leslie.

His 2nd album came out and ain't nobody said shit.
Damn.  Fickle, fickle, fickle.

Check out some BTS on the making of "Promise Not To Call"

Random Thoughts #8: Storming the Beach House

Want to give your subconscious a real run for its money?
Play Call of Duty while listening to Beach House with headphones.
Drugs are expensive.
This is free shit.

Phenomenal Hand Clap Band - Baby

Odd bit of video.
I remember these guys.  I thought they were gonna be my jam...then I had troube "getting ahold of" the album...then I forgot they existed.

Pattern Is Movement - Light of the World

I know I'm usually nuts deep in a "wtf is that shit" neon dream jam session by this time on a friday afternoon...but the jams just haven't presented themselves that way today.

HOWEVER...this jam, by whoever these people are is a delightful slice of mellow.

Wait...are these the beardo dudes that covered D'Angelo a while back?

Neon Indian - Terminally Chill / Ephemeral Artery (Live on The Falloner Bed-Time Show)

Granted, the way Neon Indian name things (including themselves) make me want to puch them in their band face....BUT, I think they did themselves a HUGE favor with this performance last night on The Fallons.
Vampire Weekend status by the end of the month.

Joell Ortiz ft. Novel - Call Me

For the record:  There is STILL nothing better than a ponytail and the big gold hoops with the name in 'em.  Tri-State sexiness at its best.

This comes from the mixtape I told you about before.
...and for y'all that don't know what you're supposed to know.

Landon Donovan: Ank-ank-ank-ankle Breaker!!!

 (Image via The Guardian)

Ever have one of those moments when you REALLY want to make fun of someone, but the crippling fear of karma keeps your mouth shut?  That's where I'm at on this one.

Safe to say, I'm no Ashley Cole fan...and the World Cup draw has eliminated any good will I have for the English.  But I know the moment I make a joke about Toffee Cakes smashing Cole's ankle...Tim Howard's gonna get hit by a bus and it'll be my fault.

So, no.
I won't make any jokes.

And I won't wonder if Mr. Cole had any issues getting cell-phone service to call an ambulance.
Not me.  Won't do it.  And I won't even make any overtly sexual references to his beard "wife".  And I won't say that I literally ROFL'd at the new inevitability of Wayne Bridge joining the English national team's starting back line.

FLASHBACK: Gym Class Heroes - New Friend Request

Remember MySpace??  Remember all-over print hoodies?!
I used to rock both like a friggin' champ.  Amazing what 4 yrs can change.

"On the scale of 1 to awesome, I'm the shit."

Have I ever used this line?  Of course I did.
Did it work?  Of course not.

Answering The Call of the N.E.R.D.s

Well when you get called out by The Offside Rules, you gotta do what you gotta do...

I'm not gonna lie...
I saw this video this morning at a Hip-Hop blog and didn't even bother watching it once I saw it was from 2008.  In my defense, I had no idea Old Trafford was involved.  That's a Hot Chip x The Roots class world collision that I never would have passed up knowingly.

And while I'm nerding out...
Take note which member of N.E.R.D. got the #10 shirt.  That's right...Chad Hugo.
THE MOST UNDER-VALUED ENTITY IN 00's MUSIC!

And Pharrell (because I assume you're reading this) I forgave you for "Milkshake", but the Beckham lust has to stop.  Immediately.

Neither Rain Nor Snow, or Something Something . . .

A foot of snow dropped in a blizzard on this joint yesterday and the seats are clear.
I'm just sayin' . . .

My new house is better than yours.

Johnny Polygon - The Riot Song

Yes.  I dig this.
CuDi says he's on an upcoming remix of this, during which he will speak about smoking weed and being misunderstood in a melody that makes me question his chromosome count.

Mickey Factz - Robert Rauschenberg

"I always liked Rudy, but I dreamed of bangin' out Topanga"

Factz did this track kinda dirty.
Can we get a friggin album?

Donwill (of Tanya Morgan): Laura's Tape

New box o' jams from one-third of the best group in Hip-Hop.
A bit of an appetizer before the album, Don Cusack In High Fidelity on 3/23.
Have some.

WTF Is a Maldini Anyway?

Big goofy rumors make my breakfast taste better.

The international press (Marca, ESPN, Sky) is throwing around noise that ol' Raul is closing in on a deal to come to New York Jersey this summer.

Do I believe it?

ANYTHING is possible if crazy Uncle Dietrich is feeling generous.  Technically (rules/logic be damned) NY is probably far and away the "richest" club on this side of the planet.  But on the super real...Raul (like Henry) is under contract through the 2011 season, and the transfer fee for one of the greatest players in the history of the world's most popular club ain't gonna be small, and what has my beloved team ever done to even hint that such a financial undertaking is a wise investment?  Nothing.

Do I want it?

Absolutely.  To me, of the 3 big names NY has been linked to for 2010 (Henry, Maldini), Raul is certainly the best option when considering both on and off-field interests.  Really, I hate Henry with a passion, and I couldn't care less about watching Maldini play every week.  Give me Raul.

Best-case, magic, never-gonna-happen scenario?

"The Mothership" (Austria) decides that it's willing to splurge on a transfer fee for ONE big name this summer.  We sign Raul as the 2nd DP for 2010.  Angel agrees to a pay cut in 2011 and takes a dollar less than DP money, freeing up a slot.  We sign Henry on a free after his contract is up with Barca next summer as DP #2.  Sounds easy, right?  Of course!

Random Thoughts #7: Thinking Pink...or something.

Am I wrong for thinking that these Everton kits are the freshest shit ever?  Probably, right?
If I didn't find the prices of sporting apparel to be ludicrous, I might have to get me a #9.

Lupe Fiasco - What U Want

I'm not sure about this one.
It feels unfinished...or undercooked.

BUT, that's the whole problem with leaked song.
No context.
Ahh well.

Random Thoughts #6: King Jay of Leontronica

If you're a regular around here, you know I'm a bit obsessed with the instant Hip-Hop cultural phenomenon that is Jay Electronica.  Not so much the songs themselves (dope as they may be), but people's response to them.  The internet's reaction.  Radio's reaction.  Bloggers' reactions.  Other rappers' reactions.
Anyway...a few weeks ago I said to someone (or posted it as a Facebook status, who knows) that "Jay Electronica is the Animal Collective of Hip-Hop".  What I meant was, much like the connection AnCo has to the indie/alternative scene, Jay Electronica seems to have been crowned as the next, best and brightest among what's new in Hip-Hop.  But to me, the question remained...how much do/did people ACTUALLY like either artist.  Clearly their work is well above average and worthy of...fan-ship...but are they really as great as they've been made out to be?  Much more importantly, does anyone REALLY think they are?  Do we genuinely adore the music, or have we been caught in a storm that requires anyone with an opinion to stand in favor of AnCo and Jay Elec.  I don't know.

But a funny thing has happened in the last few weeks.  Jay Electronica is starting to get spins on mainstream radio (at least in NY, anyway).  He's made a shift.  His status has gone from "Animal Collective" and he's on his way to becoming "Kings of Leon".  What do I mean?  I mean he's authentic enough for underground heads, AND comfortably familiar enough for corporate radio.  It's fascinating.  Blasting off Jay Elec jams on drive-time radio has become a badge of honor for mainstream DJs.  Like some sort of inverse street cred.  DJ are screaming shit like "it's the return of that real Hip-Hop!!", totally ignorinng the fact that they just played 12 Young Money/Drake/Wayne songs in the last 3hrs.  Exhibit C has become a both a coping mechanism for real Hip-Hop DJs who spin bullshit to pay the bills (Enuff, Cipha Sounds) and has given faux-credibility to commercial DJs pretending to give a shit about the music (DJ Clue and damn near anyone else on the radio before midnight).

Regardless of how good Jay Electronica is or isn't, the fact that his music has led to genuine macroscopic evaluations of the culture is a blessing, and I applaud him (and Just Blaze) for what they're building.

Exile Builds A Beat

Exile Builds A Beat (Live @ Left Fest, San Francisco, CA. - 1/28/2010) from AlwaysHustle.com on Vimeo.

Daily Harrison: Here's Ya Famous ESC

I assume there's at least a few of y'all that have no idea what I'm talking about with the random soccer bits and pieces around here.  Especially when I mention the "ESC", a.k.a. the Empire Supporters Club, a.k.a. the primary fan voice for our home team in Major League Soccer...Red Bull New York.

This article by Dave Braneck in the Daily Harrison (home of Red Bull Arena) does a great job at explaining things to the uninitiated.

REPOST: Jamie Lidell - Rope of Sand

Why?
Because this is the best song from someone I've never heard of in a very long time, and I think more folks should be up on Jamie Lidell

...and because there's been almost nothing worth talking about since Friday afternoon, and I can't have people thinking I'm dead.  At least not until I pull a Red Foxx an fake my death to avoid debt collectors.

Joell Ortiz & Novel: Defying The Predictable (Mixtape)

A new box o' jams of a collaborative nature.
Have some.

Random Thoughts #5: Doracialist?!

Countdown to the "Why the single mom gotta be Black" protests:
5...4...3...2...1...

FLASHBACK: The Roots - Here I Come

Only because I imagine a few of you were unaware that the Fallon theme was derived from something else . . .so there you go.

Black Thought = The Troof

Hot Chip x The Roots - One Life Stand (Live on Sleepy Time With Johnny Fallon)

It's like the two planets I live on crashed into eachother.

Twin Shadow - Castles In The Snow + Yellow Balloon

We have a very high potential for latest artist I'm gonna over-play for the next month. This sounds extra right.

He's a goofy lookin' sum'bitch...
but that boy can jam.

And check out "Yellow Balloon".
You might hate it, but it's RIGHT in my 80's Synth & B wheelhouse.

Because I Will Never Get Tired Of Exile Videos

Exile x Teeko Impromptu Jam Session - Elbo Room (SF) from Dirty Science on Vimeo.

::Biggie voice::
...and another one.

This time he teams up with Teeko (?).
You know what we need?  An Exile / Flying Lotus collabo.
Yes.  Someone get on the phone.

Fat Joe ft. Young Jeezy - Slow Down (HaHa)

I'm trying my hardest to front on this . . .
it's not working.
That sample is just unfair.
This is going right on the Gym jams playlist.
Have some.

Consequence - Sounds G.O.O.D. To Me

Statik Selektah on them beats.
"Mad smoove", B.
Have some.

Emilio Rojas ft. Styles P & Asher Roth - Bold & Arrogant (Remix)

 (Image via Music On Play)

For real...I need this instrumental with the Latifah sample ASAP.
Remember Asher Roth?  Killed his verse.
Have some.

Maldini Set to Fist-Pump In Jersey???

 

::5min of stunned silence::

Just rumors at this point, but according to Italian press (and Google translator):

"The former captain of AC Milan have reached an agreement in principle with the New York Red Bulls, American League club in MLS. The club does not have great technical merit, but from an economic standpoint Maldini is ready to hold gold."

A Spanish report isn't going as far as "done deal", but does say that negotiations are almost complete and that Maldini is in town NOW to sign the paperwork.

WTF?!  Where did this come from??
I know it's just a rumor at this point...but I'm honestly shocked.
Forgive me, but a 41yr old defender isn't exactly the 2nd DP I was expecting for 2010.
Wow.  Wow.  WOW.

OPINIONATED UPDATE:  My immediate guess...the Henry thing isn't gonna work for 2010.  Red Bull needs a place holder.  We sign Maldini's old ass for a year.  He "retires" at the end of the season.  We get Henry when the contract expires in 2011.

Audi's new A4 DTM Car

I've always been a bigger fan of on-track Audis than their road-going cousins.  This new A4 is beyond beautiful.  I'm a sucker for aero bits.  Check out Top Gear for more info.
Random tidbit:  In 2005, I was Audi Capt. for the Northwood University International Auto Show, and one of my team members was the son of Dave Maraj, the owner and team principle responsible for these lovely and triumphant beasts.

...and yes, you just witnessed the birth of the "Cars" label on FF&SS.

Snookie Interviews Phoenix at That Award Show You Didn't Watch

MTV Shows

My brain.
It weeps.
It sings songs of lamentation in Fratalian.

Swizzie Feeds The Nerds

Jay-Z and Justice - On To The Next Dance (Terry Urban and DJ Eloy video edit) from Eloy Garcia on Vimeo.


Dammit, I love this stuff!!!
I need to learn how to do this shit.
I need DJ skills.

In Jay-Z's song, the vocal sample ISN'T saying "on to the next".  Swizz Beatz looped/chopped the words "under the" from Justice's D.A.N.C.E. to make it sound that way.  Check the transition around the 2:00 mark.  Swizz tells the back story here.

Raekwon "Serenades" Sade

The Chef jams some Stevie for the baddest of the over-35 set.
Yup!  In 2010, Sade STILL has to be thrown in as a contender to the overall crown.

Kardinal Offishall - We Gon Go

I know I keep saying this whenever I post a Kardi jam, but I feel proud to see him doing his global thing.  I remember the blank stares whenever I mentioned his first album, now he's a full-fledged international artist . . .even if the US is still dumb late* to the party.

*That's right. "Dumb late".  Some slang should have never died.

I Got Issues...

Greetings from my phone...
Me and my trusty laptop aren't agreeing on things this morning, so I'm juuuuust a bit limited in technical capability at the moment.

Sade: Soldier Of Love (BTS)

(As seen on TOW)

Some behind-the-scenes footage on the recording process for Sade's upcoming Soldier of Love album (Feb. 9).  Random note:  The bass player is a Hull City fan.