"Bad motherfucker like Oedipus"

This joint exemplifies the dude above's blend of Chicago soul with east-coast boom-bap; resulting in what he insists is “commercial hip hop” with awareness and attitude. Hip-hop is considered by many to be “classic” when it paints a picture vivid enough to be experienced by any listener, regardless of their own background. Throughout the album, he documents his one-of-a-kind journey from the windy city of Chicago to the nation’s capitol of Washington, DC, and across the globe. Although “classic” is a claim that only time can verify, SoulStice’s claim to have made the perfect album can only be decided by the legion of Hip-hop fans worldwide.

-- from Rap News Network

This album is dope! Production comes Oddisee, Analogic & M-Phazes to name a few.

Get it

Who got the jazz?

Rap and jazz go together like you and this blog. This album came out earlier this year and don't ask me why I didn't post it before but here it is now (you'll ask WHY, trust me).

... a tribute to the golden age of hiphop, taking its strength into the roots of the black music and more notably in jazz music. Through out the album, the listeners will discover the warmful sound of the old jazz fusion records from the 70's mixed with samples and live instruments on which Jazz Liberatorz have invited la creme de la creme of the independant hiphop soul & jazz scene.

-- from MySpace

Track 1 takes you on a trip down memory lane, quoting recognizable riffs that have been sampled by some of the best producers in the game (can you name them all?). The rest of the album is just smooth smooth timeless music that you've come accustomed to here.

Get it

Vid: Jake One feat. Freeway and Brother Ali - The Truth

A little something different

Here's a little something funky to help with those winter blues.

Get it

And then a hero comes along...

Everyone is a hero in some way, shape or form. Everyone has the strength to carry on. So cast your fears aside and click the pic - it takes you to heromachine, where you can actually design and create your very own personalized hero in significant detail. The pic above is a quick crack at it (my hero would definitely rock a crossbow).

Dreamo's Certified Heater of the Week

On some laid back artsy "crossroads of my mind" heater ish. Please do not get confused - its not only MOP "Ante Up" type joints that can cause you to throw a chair out the window - any genre and style can trigger that behaviour....as long as its a heater. Click the pic to enjoy the track, then click the vid and mimic what you see. Shouts to AP.

1001 Rules for my Unborn Son

Click the pic for a blog where a dude posts life lessons for his unborn son. What if he has a daughter? How much of his wisdom will hold true? The genders are wired differently, that is fo sho sho.

How's your tshirt game pt. 2

80sTees has this amazing shirt for pre-order right here. Sadly, I don't think it comes in a plastic sleeve, but I am fairly certain you have to blow on it a few times before you're able to put it on.

-- from Topless Robot

How's your tshirt game?

Props to DJ for the find!

Black Milk - Give The Drummer Some Video

Really???

Ridley Scott has officially moved onto Park Avenue.

The helmer will direct Universal Pictures' bigscreen version of Hasbro's Monopoly board game from a script by Pamela Pettler.

Scott, who recently helmed Warner Bros.' "Body of Lies" has long been attached to the project. He will produce, with Hasbro topper Brian Goldner, as well as direct.

"Monopoly" is set up at Universal Pictures, which has a first-look deal with Hasbro to develop movies based on the company's line of toys. Those include "Ouija," which Platinum Dunes is developing, and "Battleship."

Hasbro jumped into the adaptation game after successfully turning its "Transformers" toys into a franchise at DreamWorks and Paramount. It has actioner "G.I. Joe" bowing next summer.

-- from Variety

Does anyone else think that this is a bad idea?

Dreamo's Certified Heater of the Week

Dilla influenced, yet original. Familiar, yet unique. Accessible. Head-noddin'. International. Feel good ish. Onra. Dude is nice with it. Please baleeee....click the pic and enjoy this breath of fresh air.

They're back!

Eight years after Troy Duffy's police actioner "The Boondock Saints" disappeared quickly from theaters, he's come back to direct "The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day" from his own script.

Chris Brinker and Don Carmody are producing the sequel, which has started shooting in Toronto. Lloyd Segan and Rob Fried exec produce.

Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus are reprising their roles as brothers dispensing vigilante justice in Boston. Billy Connolly, Julie Benz, and David Ferry also star.

-- from Variety

Your Lazy Sunday Listen

This kinda album even makes the most retired of loop diggin' producers want to return to the game, lay down some freshness and profess eternal gratitude to all those that virtually made love to an instrument or instruments and laid it all out for the world on wax.

Damn Coltrane, I've missed your sickness...

Your Lazy Sunday Listen...float on!


Get it

The Counter...Ed. 4

Here's an interesting selection. The Black Ghosts. A group that is somewhat akin to the Gorillaz, but with more of a UK neo-soul flare. Essentially, you have one psycho DJ and a limey crooner belting out some pretty cool chunes.

Ironically, Damon Albarn (of Blur and the Gorillaz) appears on the track, "The Repetition Kills You".

Peep this album for your Euro moments.


Get it

How's your shoe game?

Inspired by the nostalgia-inducing color scheme of the original Nintendo Entertainment System, the Air Classic BW – Nintendos feature the system's iconic black, gray, dark gray, and red color arrangements. The design also incorporates d-pad shaped patterns and start/select buttons etched just to the right of the shoe tongues.

-- from IGN gear

On The Look Out

14KT is a producer that y'all need to be on the look out for.

As part of the Athletic Mic League and The Lab Techs, he's produced pivotal tracks for nearly every notable Detroit Hip-Hop artist. He has been instrumental in boosting the careers of fellow crew members Buff1 and DJ Haircut (Stones Throw Records' newest acquisition and 1/3 of Now On).

-- from myspace

Peep this instrumental album that will have you boppin your head until the very end... until you hit that repeat button and start it again!

Get it

Dreamo's Certified Heater of the Week

Jake One. Kardi. Pharoahe. Any questions? Didn't think so. Click the pic.

You knew it was coming

Edward Norton’s production company, Class 5 Films, approached Barack Obama two and a half years ago with a proposal to document the events of his campaign. Obama agreed, and the filmmakers were given extensive access to the candidate, his staff, his family, and associates. With Obama’s victory, interest for the project has skyrocketed and HBO has now closed a seven-figure deal for U.S. rights to the film.

The film was directed by Amy Rice and Alicia Sams and is being edited by Sam Pollard, who worked on Spike Lee’s masterful When the Levees Broke. In fact, footage is still being captured, and filmmaking will continue through the inauguration.

-- from /film

You Don't Know The Power Of The Dark Side

Breakfast feeling kind of dull? Have you ever wished that you could have Darth Vader's helmet blazed into your toast? No? Really? Well, for $55 USD, now you can! Click on the pic for info.

Sampled

Taking it back to a 1991 release - however this track still bangs today. For some reason, the track reminds me of junior high school missions involving pizza pizza runs and dumping endless quarters into streetfighter 2 arcade machines. Related side note: "Craziest" (by the same group who leveraged this sample) is an often underrated "entrance music heater" track.

Guitar Heroes

Have you seen the Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, most new slutty Mariah Carey videos) directed guitar hero ad featuring Kobe, Alex Rodrigues, Michael Phelps & Tony Hawk?

A lot of mixed reviews on that one... most of the negative ones on account of the huge doucheness of Ratner.

Here's the next one directed by the man himself featuring Heidi Klum.

Tomorrow is U.S. Election Day

Be a good Jedi

If Mos Def was running for president...

...I'd vote for him.

Your Lazy Sunday Listen

This one is interesting...very eclectic. A Belgian band, similar in style to Radiohead...

Your Lazy Sunday Listen


Get it