Couldn't Avoid It

As much as I enjoy Michael Jackson's music I tried to keep away from the bandwagon of mentioning him after his death. Clearly it is harder than I thought. Jon Sparkes (Snowboard/Skateboard company rep and all round good guy) from Halifax sent me an image that branches off Michael Jackson samples in hip-hop music. Check it out.

Click to enlarge.

Humorous Quotes

In light of my friend Kellen Barrett doing a weekly post called "hip hop quotables," which is also a Ludacris track from his album titled "Chicken and Beer," I felt the desire to post some of my favorite similes, metaphors and all round quotes that I've heard in hip-hop music. My approach is less intellectual and focused more on the entertainment and humorous scale. Here we go:

"Like short sleeves I bare arms."

- Jay-Z - Brooklyn's Finest

"Any emcee that chooses to go against me is getting taken advantage of like Monica Lewinsky."

- Eminem - Scary Movie

"Bow down to greatness before I get pissed and (sounds like Piston) run up in the stands like the Indiana Pacers."

- Ludacris - Undisputed

"And if you're sitting on Chrome I'll call up my boys and have you stripped of your metals (Medals) like Marion Jones."

- Ludacris - Undisputed

"I've been getting my share (Cher) like Sonny Bono."

- Lil' Wayne - All About That

"All black Maybach I'm sittin' in an asshole."

- Lil' Wayne - Maybach Music Pt. 2

"I'mma tell you like George Bush told me, fuck ya'll n---a's I'm outta here."

- Kanye West - Go Hard

"N---a's want me dead but they're scared to step to me, rip their guts out like a hysterectomy."

- Ghostface Killah - The Champ

"Fuck that God don't forgive, I don't answer phones, I'll never reveal the Wu-Tang secret. And if you don't believe me I'mma kill your shit."

- Ol' Dirty Bastard - You Don't Wanna Fuck With Me

"British like Tony Blair. The only difference is he's bi-sexual, and I'm bi-coastal."

- Sway - London

"Rappers couldn't see me coming if they were vagina's with spectacles." (think about it...)

- Sway - Theif's Theme Freestyle

* Please note that this is not a top list of an all-time favorite. Just a few quotes that I've heard and laughed out loud or at least chuckled to.

Chris Clements Top 5, V2

I ran into Mr. Clements yet again while on some beers and we discussed more hip-hop and told me he had a new top 5 for this week. So here it is:

1) Angel - Common feat. Game
2) Emperors Soundtrack - Lupe Fiasco
3) Film - Nas
4) Break You Off - The Roots
5) Yesterday - Atmosphere

Again a list I easily approve of. Stay tuned for some more updates. Also, thanks to all of those who read this blog! I've been getting some nice feedback from you guys.

Shaq

Here is a nice tidbit of information; Shaquille O'Neal is now part of the Cleveland Cavaliers alongside Lebron. Crazy.

Playlist Time

Out of pure boredom I composed a 30 song playlist of my favorite tracks from New York's finest. Obviously I'm missing some important tracks and artists. Out of the well over a thousand tracks from New York rappers I have, here is what made the playlist:

(Click the pic for the bigger version)

I know a fair amount have New York or a borough in the name. That was on purpose.

Aight Then...

Sorry for the lack of updates, I've had a pretty busy week with little time to make updates. Over the weekend I ran into my friend Chris Clements at the bar and we shared a nice conversation about hip-hop. Since Chris doesn't have a blog I told him I'd post his top 5's when ever he has a new list compiled. So here is Clements' top 5 from him to me to you.

Top 5 for this week.

1) Letter to the King - The Game featuring Nas
2) Respiration - Blackstar
3) Terminator X - Public Enemy
4) Keep it Playa - Pharrell Feat Slim Thug
5) Swagger Like Us - Clipse

There you have it. Chris' top 5 for now. Most likely more to come seeing how this is a solid list.

Just Do It

Skateboarding is marketable. If you need proof take a look at Nike. Nike became a skate shoe heavyweight around 5-6 years ago and sponsored/sponsors some of the best in skateboarding today - Paul Rodriguez, Stefan Janoski, Chet Childress and now Eric Koston - to name a few. Nike already made its long lasting imprint in basketball. The Air Jordan series is the top selling basketball shoe line of all-time, appealing to basketballers and the urban shoe collector market. Twenty-one years after the Jordans were released Nike put out its first pro shoe from skateboarder Paul Rodriguez, who was around 20 years old at the time (2005). Imagine the paycheck! A pro skateboarder making multi millions off shoe royalties for Nike. This year pro skateboarder Stefan Janoski received a pro model shoe, making him the second skater to have a shoe for Nike. Strangely enough professional skateboarders are getting shoes at a higher rate than any other athletes in other sports with exceptions to basketball, which Nike sponsors several players like Lebron, Carmello, Kobe and so on. Maybe the next person to have a pro shoe should be Tiger Woods. I can tell you right now it wont be. Word on the street is that skateboarder Omar Salazar is next to get a pro model shoe. Can anyone that doesn't skate tell me who Omar Salazar is? A talented skateboarder, yes, maybe even pro model worthy for a company like eS, Emerica, Vans, or whatever, but not Nike. I feel that this is a mistake by Nike. There have been people in sports that are endorsed by Nike and achieved legendary status and never gotten any pro shoe, so why Omar Salazar? Something to think about.

Nike SB Website

Chamber Music

June 30th will mark the release of the next album from the Wu-Tang camp. Chamber Music features all of the members of the Clan including guest appearances from M.O.P., Kool G Rap, MF Doom and more. A few tracks were already released off of the album. The latest one being "Ill Figures" with Raekwon, M.O.P., and Kool G Rap. A Lot of New York heavyweights featured on this album.

Check out:

Ill Figures (Raekwon, M.O.P., Kool G Rap)

Harbor Masters (Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, AZ)

My Week

Much going on in my life at the moment. I just got back from New York. It was a hell of a time. Went to 'Up In The Heights', a Broadway show about growing up in Washington Heights, Manhattan (a primarily Dominican neighborhood), which seemed to be partly hip-hop inspired. I can't even lie - I loved it. I also visited a Foot Locker on 7th Avenue where the staff was more interested in dancing and rapping to OutKast's "Hey Ya!" then provide customer service to the fifty people in the store waiting for shoe sizes. I don't blame em though. The shoe shopping in NY is unbelievable. I picked up a few pairs at a few random shops, hunting for the best deals and uncommon shoes.

I do have three minor beefs with the city of New York however; it [Manhattan] is expensive, it [Manhattan] is crowded and flooded by slow walking German tourists and people trying to sell tickets to only God knows, finally, it is unbelievably trendy. You're either a gentlemen or a hipster. If you're neither you're in Harlem. I have never seem such a concentration of tight ass pants, huge high-top kicks, Ray-Ban shades and janky hair-dos in one place (mainly SoHo). That is all I got for now. No hip-hop news or updates from me today. Until next time, adios amigos.

Boombox, V2

A few more good tracks that have been in rotation lately:

Mary J Blige - Real Love

The Fugees - Fu-Gee-La (Refugee Camp Remix)

Thats it for now, gotta go!

NYC

I went to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) today and saw a high school kids remake of a Notorious B.I.G. picture... I forgot to take pictures. Otherwise I've been shopping and finding nice deals - Macy's gives 11% discounts for people from out of state. Got a pair of blue vintage Nike Blazers for 20% off, yellow and purple Lakers themed Chuck Taylors, Levi's for cheap, and a Chris Paul Hornets jersey. Life is good.

Update

Hello world, I am currently in New York City with a total of ZERO rapper sightings, even after perusing through Brooklyn for hours led to no avail. Not much going on and unfortunately I feel too busy to make a worth-while update right now. On that note I am going to go enjoy the city that never sleeps (seriously, it doesn't).

The Double Disc

I started painting my room today.

Spring Cleaning

What's up world? I was cleaning out my room today and came across a box of old CD-Rs that I burned when I was younger (roughly 2000-2004). Upon further inspection I across a few classics that I totally forgot about over the years.

Pras - Ghetto Superstar (Featuring Mya & Ol' Dirty Bastard)

Hieroglyphics - Oakland Blackouts

Camp Lo - Luchini

Cali Agents - Neva Forget

Lil Wayne - Get Off The Corner

Beanie Sigel - Mac Man

GZA - Publicity

Harlem World - I Like It

People Under The Stairs - Youth Explosion