Trial and Error

DOWNLOAD MY MIXTAPE

2010-09-10T18:35:00.000-07:00

Me and DJ TreatUNice made a mixtape.
On it you can catch pieces of "La Haine," a tribute to the cold polar bears of North Side Oakland against Mac Dre wallpaper beats, and fancy romanceXsass that takes you straight to the City of Lights.
You should download it, maybe listen the whole way through
I think it's pretty sweet but I'm biased

Recognize that album art? Muhaaha...
Click the link.
Ca M'est Egal

AND TELL ME HOW DOES IT FEEL <--surprise

Various images of an inspirational nature

2010-08-29T03:50:00.000-07:00

I take no credit for these! They are just great. Not mine, though. Although I haven't encountered much legal opposition in the past....still it'd be terrible if it did happen

Enough money to get film developed

2010-08-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

I couldn't wait to see him again

Thinking

2010-08-07T21:04:00.000-07:00

Curren$y has been generating more of a mainstream audience. His album was number one on iTunes for about a week after bumping Eminem from the 1st spot....I believe it was Pitchfork who described him as a new artist that is classic to veteran bloggers, and I thought that was an apt description. Glad this guy is getting some eyes on him.

I was toying around with different black and white film. The top two are bw400CN kodak film and the bottom two feature 400tx. What do you think?

I'll take you farther than far

Back.

2010-08-05T14:20:00.001-07:00

Oh you thought it was over?

More to come. With a vengeance.

Sippin cranberry; no liqua

2010-03-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

In less than 48 hours I will be with the subject of this photo (that I took at Ghost Town Gallery in Oakland a while back):

And the thought of that is frighteningly thrilling.

My boyfriend's back

^On repeat
Good luck on finals!

yes its true, you've got to let it g(r)o(w)

2010-03-13T03:21:00.001-08:00

Some of my own

Nicki Minaj is literally based

three am

2010-03-13T03:14:00.001-08:00

do you have your weapons?

2010-03-13T02:15:00.001-08:00

Here is what I will use to fight back the beast that is finals

Can this New Wu business live up to the legend of Wu Tang Clan? All signs point to perhaps so far.
I miss my shaved patch. markin.

Probably should, maybe not

2010-03-09T21:03:00.000-08:00

I woke up to a gem: Amaya had not only text me in excitement for the coming trip but also notified me that I had been put up on the infamous illrapper.com for some photos I had taken. Sweet. Shout out!
Ch check it

a blue blinking light, a green blinking light

2010-03-07T21:21:00.001-08:00

things are starting to...

unravel....

Tribute

2010-03-01T20:05:00.000-08:00

I owe my love for 80's and 90's hip hop and R&B in large part to the Stansbury family, and more particularly, Monika Stansbury. If it were not for dear Ken S. and his love for all things Chaka Khan and Salt 'n Pepa, Monika would not come to school every day telling us to thank our mothers for a butt like that. Monika has also played a great role in my development of A Tribe Called Quest appreciation, (imperative to a young girl's life; I can only hope that I can pass the tradition on to my own offspring), and I probably would not be the fan I am today were it not for this homie.
I therefore take any opportunity to pick up songs that Monika suggests to me because of her impressive and sometimes unbearably picky music taste that somehow always reap beneficial results...
So fool...this one is for you...to Monequa...a song she recently put me up on:

A Tribe Called Quest t-shirt...see? Told you.

I miss Oakland I miss this baaahh

Speaking of my Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/maxinethewall
but they have a monthly upload limit so i am sad
but perhaps the universe is making up for it by giving me two new film point and shoots and getting my rebel xs fixed cool thanks!

I guess, if you care more to come yeah thanks everybody have a lovely week

no more jewelry with my name mispelled, no more explicit words written in the sky

2010-03-01T00:33:00.000-08:00

I have made a Flickr.
I am watching a particularly amusing episode of 30 Rock, and am still obsessed with Ahmad Jamal, although the point of focus has shifted:

I WISH I HAD A KEYBOARD OR SOMETHING
For Spring:

Yes I am still revising it, just thoughts, good night, good morning!

I would never take a thing

2010-02-27T09:17:00.000-08:00

Sonny and the Sunsets

I wish I could post a video, or at least a more accessible version of this song but for now it will have to do. Came across this band during my hypem.com daily troll. Exciting.
It's raining in LA; pouring, actually, but its quite relaxing to be around family and Roscoes chicken and waffles...

Bill Cunningham, the style photographer for the New York Times, recently had a documentary filmed about him and his line of work, dropping on March 24th. Should be interesting, considering his video snippets on the NYT website have consistently been witty, cutting, and characteristically European. Hope the documentary is as promising as, er, promised.

Fanfarlo vs. Beirut

2010-02-24T13:46:00.000-08:00

Ellen has been making quite a big deal about Fanfarlo, a British band of whom she attended a concert last weekend. I decided to check them out, because she has dedicated space on her planner for their sticker and now totes a black and green Fanfarlo shoulder bag, presumably purchased at the show...

Which instantly reminded me of:

Fanfarlo seems like a poppier, more bubblegum and cotton candy sort of group, while still using brass wind instruments and maintaining the incorporation of heavy, wide Eastern European drums. I like it, but it makes me wonder....

Please send her to me

2010-02-22T19:39:00.000-08:00

"It's comin..."-AZ
Download Exhibit AZ to listen to this EXCLUSIVE quote more in depth

Godofthieves.com is almost up and I am excited during my more moderate moods. I anxiously await its arrival and you should too.

Alyssa did little coaxing to convince me to post; I suppose I have been feeling compelled to for the past couple of...days....

Damon Soule:

damonsoule.com
I want to go to his show at thinkspace in LA, who's down
So listen....erm

some photos I took of Anj and Alyssa using my Yashica 200AF (which by the way I am selling with flash and lens, get at me if you want a solid 35mm film camera)

......into the distance
click to enlarge images
and eat lots of sriracha with everything
goodnight

"I just think speed is so passe..."

2010-02-16T15:39:00.000-08:00

There is a special hell for fashion bloggers
-anonymous

Dude I been laggin it been halla busy I brain dying baaahh

Incredulous

2010-02-03T22:36:00.000-08:00

I have been listening to El Perro Del Mar lately:

And I was remarking on how much she reminded me of Lykke Li, both in appearance and style of music. I wanted to see if they had ever collaborated and found this:

I had posted a "La Blogotheque" video of the Kooks 'preforming' (I guess you could call it that, in reality they were just strolling down the streets of Paris, guitar in tow, belting an acoustic version of their tune "Ooh La"), before but I wasn't aware that they had made many more videos...Anyways, this one is a gem; Lykke Li doing a street preformance in San Francisco (I miss you), amongst tambourines, kazoos, and eastern European drums almost as sweet as her dance moves. Almost. Enjoy

WHAT IN GODS NAME IS HAPPENING

2010-02-02T16:04:00.000-08:00

CAPS IS NECESSARY

LIFE IS BEING OUT OF THIS WORLD

LIKE THIS

Have you ever seen the apod? Check it every day now for the rest of your life. The wonders of the universe...Or is it youniverse....

Just watched this:

Notice the cinematography...

what do you think ?

He will probably be my boyfriend someday

We have so much in common

"New Orleans this morning

New York this evening"

restless

2010-01-30T18:23:00.000-08:00

I found great solace when I realized I will be making many movements soon...2010 is looking to be a year full of travels

first

then

third

lastly

Impatience ensues!

FOUND

2010-01-25T13:07:00.001-08:00

I think it's much more impressive that a person, or a group of people can play instrument(s) when compared to most other forms of music. While browsing rcrdlbl I found this:

Mamaya-- The Souljazz Orchestra <--- Click da linq!

Reminiscent of the Les Baxter songs I put up in the last entry. Melodic, quirky, uplifting...oh man. I'm very down with this...

Download it if you would like!

Let the crazy day continue. See you all later

BROKEN BELLZ

2010-01-24T15:50:00.000-08:00

I had caught wind of this project about 6 months ago when an insider gave me da scupe:

lead singer of the Shins James Mercer x Dangermouse are Broken Bells:

they've finally released some tracks. Don't know how I feel about it, what do you think?

I can smell the Beatles influence on the track so tough

2:12 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds anyone?

Well I guess that's the end of that!

2010-01-24T11:35:00.000-08:00

I have been listening to a lot of tropical orchestra lately....A good friend of mine said that music is shifting; it no longer serves the purpose of taking you to another place, now it's just a moneymaking pyramid scheme. Bleak.

It's been my background for a while, but I cannot commend Missoni enough::

Amidst the pseudo celebrities

that push their way into couture

....family emerges

WOAH

2010-01-10T09:58:00.000-08:00

Where am I? Where have I been? What planet am I on?

You should probably download this:

OMGBLUDSLAPS

K Salaam and Beatnick have combined forces to create a veeeeeery intriguing album featuring the likes of Talib Kweli, Yung Buck, Bun B, Lil' Wayne... -_-

Flawless production man. I swear man.

I wish Curren$y would tweet me back.

Follow me!!!

One more by Kreayshawn

love you guys

Im sorry...

2009-12-24T19:10:00.000-08:00

I have been like the mother who has chosen her boyfriend over her children. Sorry. I will be more dilligent in posting once the holiday madness subsides

In the meantime, I WAS RIGHT

Mos Def, Curren$y and Jay Electronica are now :: Center Edge Territory

Intriguing video in which Curren$y is utterly blasted

But talks about the group, JETS, and blunts.
Have a merry Christmas and safe winter solstice, all

Working

2009-12-16T10:09:00.001-08:00

Little bit, little bit, a little bit in love with you

For a while

2009-12-11T11:28:00.000-08:00

Why, whenever I go to LA I have the innate feeling that I must dress up and have to get fancy? What is it about this place...

Meanwhile, President Obama is getting some new art hung in his... house, if you will

Glenn Ligon is the youngest artist to be featured in the White House. His paintings are a breath of fresh air for Capitol Hill

Now gimme free health care and fix the economy k thx

Read up:

LA Times!?!? You have a flagship in Costa Mesa??

And everyone should go to this website and get educated:

truthout.org

Doing an internship there. Yes.

See you at the finish line

2009-12-02T14:41:00.001-08:00

Haaaahahah

I'm usually not a huge Ingrid Michaelson fan,

but this is a pretty apt description of our

generation...or at least one aspect of it.

I've been thinking about our generation a lot,

if you hadn't already noticed

Goddammit

2009-11-30T11:40:00.000-08:00

I want a turban and my anti traigus pierced

From GadeMode, a neat Danish website that takes a leaf out of the Sartorialist's book. If there is one landmark aspect of the year 2009, it is the rise of street fashion documentation. I like...

COMME des GARCONS, COMME d'HABITUDE

2009-11-30T09:16:00.000-08:00

When shopping for wallets, one must take into account a host of factors: size, shape, material, aesthetic factors, whether or not it will fit in a purse or pocket, which purse will which wallet fit best, etc. The search is seemingly never ceasing...but perhaps the end is near?

Comme des Garcons recently released their Mixed Embossed Reptile wallet collection, and I find them to be quite sufficient in all facets of wallet qualifications. Oh yes. They do suffice indeed.

Via Hypebeast

Quickly

2009-11-29T21:38:00.000-08:00

I am in the midst of some serious work

Serious, I tell you!

Currently slapping:

Right before I go

2009-11-24T18:15:00.001-08:00

2009-11-23T11:06:00.000-08:00

All the blogs have been going crazy about this one:

Wyclef Jean- Born a Shotta

I wasn't anticipating Wyclef's new album that deeply, (although I was definitely digging the cover art):

But this video is so touching, so firm and close, the red tint makes it passionate in all its simplicity. Hope you like it as much as I do.

2009-11-20T13:06:00.000-08:00

Some more photography I've been trying out:

Apparently I like close-ups...?

FIrst Mos, then...

2009-11-19T12:42:00.001-08:00

The homie Atlas put me up on some quality viewing material:

There is never a time when I am not in the mood to either listen to Common or discover tunes Common has sampled in his own songs. He is an interesting soul, man. His monotone voice and sloth like demeanor are puzzling and come off strangely at times, but as far as I'm concerned, he still is one of the "best" celebrities out there... I mean that in the sense of staying out of the limelight, trying not to be ostentatious and excessive, all the while remaining relevant and worth listening to. Peep the Current TV episode-- first Mos, now Common, yes! Good stuff.

I forgive you for skipping out on Rock the Bells.

"If everyone watched Current TV, people would be intelligent".

-Liz Lang

CA

2009-11-19T12:19:00.000-08:00

Lately, California has got me down.

First, the weather has been unpredictable to say the least, causing me to leave the house during the brisk 40 degree morning and return drenched from the 87 degree sun.

Then, the 32% fee increase for all UC students hit and it was like a wave of garlic scent in Gilroy.

People were exactly as you'd expect them to be: angered, outraged, resorting to drugs and alcohol, going into recluse...etc.

Anyways, to say the least, our great state is making me feel a bit sad.

Until I received news of this-- as Amaya puts it-- nugget, and the situation was immediately exacerbated:

Pacific Northwest anyone?

Compare

2009-11-15T12:58:00.000-08:00

The Strokes circa 2003

Albert Hammond Jr., rhythm guitarist for the Strokes' solo project circa 2006:

Julian Casablancas, lead guitarist and lead vocals for the Strokes' 2009 solo project:

Sigh.

But have you ever heard of Ninjasonik?

2009-11-14T14:33:00.000-08:00

I saw these dudes at Hoodstock in Oakland during the summer but amidst the car wreckage, drama with ZRex's life love and being quite literally on a boat with Luisa, I didn't get a chance to listen to them in depth live. I had heard some of their old shit like "Somebody Gonna Get Pregnant" and "Art School Girls" but only considered these songs to just be funny, wierd youtubestar-esqe videos that were put up as jokes. But when I came up on their new album Darth Bano I was pretty surprised...The mixtape is solid to say the least. It features the likes of Theophilus London, Spankrock, and tracks produced by MAJOR LAZER like thissss oneeee:

and i recently found this dopeness:

A highlight from the album. And if you download it here make sure you listen to "My Eyes".

!!!!!

2009-11-11T22:03:00.001-08:00

The difficult thing about being a writer, poet, journalist, or artist, is the fact that your respective art will never be your only job. It simply can't be! I know plenty of poor, talented artists (of multiple mediums) that are incredible at what they do but flop miserably when it comes to actually making money.

Still, these forms of expression are most important, and must be kept alive! Consider poetry, for example. How many new poets are out there?? Here's one:

Vito Acconci first became famous in NYC when he began editing for the journal 0 To 9 in the 1960s. Now, he speaks to vbs.tv in their series on new artists, appropriately dubbed "Art Talk." Watch dis!

And on the note of poetry, check out the homie Amaya's poetry blog. You won't be disappointed.

My favorite W.B. Yeats:

A COAT

I made my song a coat

Covered with embroideries

Out of old mythologies

From heel to throat;

But the fools caught it,

Wore it in the world's eyes

As though they'd wrought it.

Song, let them take it,

For there's more enterprise

In walking naked.

apparently

2009-11-09T14:27:00.000-08:00

Mos Def, Jay Electronica, and Curren$y are forming a group together to put a record out. Holy crap. Three of my favorite rappers right now. More news on this later

2009-11-09T10:31:00.000-08:00

I've always really like Vivienne Westwood, especially while I was going through my Sex Pistols phase and I was obsessed with flipping through photos of a young V.W. hanging out with Sid Vicious at the London shop Sex. Her clothes are enigmatic, whimsical, out of this world. So I guess it's pretty fitting for her newest ads to feature a quirky, out of this world pair that really doesn't make very much sense:

The latest shown above is in promotion of her new Gold Label, and alongside her fiery moptop is Pamela Anderson and Jurgen Teller. I've never been big on celebrities modeling for fashion designers, but this ad is funny and nonsensical enough for it to work. And of course it doesn't help that Teller's Yashica T4 takes some of the dopest pictures I've ever seen!
More Teller:

And a personal Sid Vicious favorite:

2009-11-09T10:08:00.001-08:00

I met Kreayshawn a while back and had been told that she made videos, although I didn't follow them too closely. When I actually began to peruse her youtube and vimeo channels, I was impressed and surprised that I hadn't been put up on game sooner. Stay tuned for a longer interview with this intriguing person...for now, watch my personal favorite of her videos.

Sad girl with the photograph from kreayshawn on Vimeo.

There is so much music in the world

2009-11-08T18:42:00.000-08:00

It never stops!

Thao With the Get Down Stay Down may be a mouthful, but their quirky Yeah Yeah Yeah-esque hooks and guitar rifts are super catchy.

And ROB

Ohhhh ROB

Straight outta Paris. Such the new slap. With Sebastien Tellier (thanks American Apparel for forever associating his album with big blousy tshirts!!)

i really dont care what you say

2009-11-08T18:35:00.000-08:00

I still consider Mos Def to be one of the most relevant hip hop artists of this time. Some call him watered down, I call him down to earth.

I recently watched this video which made me love him even more (I know, I'm hella late):

and this, off his new album The Ecstatic...it's a wrap man.

Gotta love the cover art

these photos

2009-11-08T17:26:00.000-08:00

the blog has messed up my photos! oh well

2009-11-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

Ever since I copped the Rebel XS my documentation of everyday life has been exponentially upgraded.

okay so now that the new u is following each other...

2009-11-08T15:35:00.001-08:00

The blog world is absolutely absurd. You think that no one reads your blog and then suddenly you find out that EVERYONE HAS A BLOG and it's great. I think it's really cool that mediums of media have become sort of put into the hands of the common man. As most things should.

Off to more important things!

---I've been listening to Merriweather Post Pavilion nonstop! Highlights:

*Guys Eyes

*Also Frightened

*Summertime Clothes

Mount Eerie:

Never enough quiet folksy down home guitar singing! Note: Mount Eerie is just Phil Elverum.

I've also been interested in Vetiver so far, a band often joined by the homie Devendra. They're sweet. Listen:

Raekwon x The Black Lips= BLAKROC

and they are very good. I anxiously await their upcoming album; it features the likes of Mos Def, Rza, and more. Sounds exciting! For now:

Robert Frank at the Met until January 3rd. Those of you in New York please go for me! Please!

That's all for now I must do homework oh joy! Don't forget to e-mail me your stuff, you know? Godofthievery@gmail.com

send me some thangs

2009-11-08T11:22:00.001-08:00

send it to me please.fashionxmusicxfilmxartxculturallyrelevantrunoff:::::

godofthievery@gmail.com

2009-10-21T22:58:00.000-07:00

godofthievery@gmail.com godofthievery@gmail.com godofthievery@gmail.com godofthievery@gmail.com iffff you got somethin you wanna say.

arts, music, film, fashion, culture, funny, wierd, we want it all giveeee ittt to uss!!!

upcoming website....

2009-10-19T12:41:00.001-07:00

Got a new visual artist you like? Got a new (or old) song that you are constantly slapping? Did you see that new film? What do you think of Jean Paul Gaultier's fall line? Are you OPINIONATED?? Send some interesting information to godofthievery@gmail.com...we love it all!!
Arts, culture, video, funny thangs, music, fashion, new shit...we want it!!!
GODOFTHEIVERY@GMAIL.COM

2009-10-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

I think there should be some recognition of The Very Best on Oakland Blackouts here. I've been listening to a lot of African jazz, (Fela Kuti, City Boys Band, etc) and it's been a marriage of two of the most underrated, captivating, and overall lovely genres of music I've experienced in a while. The Very Best combines that air of African jazz with new electronic come-up music, as well as a little flair of their own. I mean, Theophilus London and Ezra Koenig on "Warm Heart of Africa" remix? How did you even think of that?? So innovative. Check it out.

Kanye West x Spike Jonze

2009-10-18T22:57:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this was supposed to come out on September 8th, which it did not, but that's to be expected from Kanye West, who just loves to give off that air of mystery. And despite the fact that I have lost much of the great respect I used to hold for him as an artist, this film is really very impressive. In my opinion, Spike Jonze shines through in it...it's not all Kanye West, who, in all honesty, does a brilliant job. It's all very strange, but what isn't these days? Way to stay off the beaten path, Jonzey. Check it.

What

2009-10-18T00:05:00.000-07:00

Is this? Have you seen this? Really, what is this?

2009-10-15T15:57:00.000-07:00

I mean, obviously CNN and Fox News are not reliable news sources as a result of their severely, shall we say...skewed opinions. But reverend Al Sharpton is a fucking hoot and Ann Coulter is a crazy bitch so clearly this is worth watching, even if it isn't real news.

Everyone is talking about Obama winning the preemptive Nobel Peace Prize. I don't want to talk about my stance on it. But I will say that I hope this Prize gives my boy Barack a little push to get things going within the administration. And to all the Congress, H.O.R., and Senate, and cabinet members...work with the man!!!!!

Yes I got it off World Star Hip Hop. That website is legit.

Oh yeah and

2009-10-15T10:41:00.001-07:00

I recently did this:

Q: Shwayze, very nice meeting you and thank you for joining me today. Let’s start out with your history: how did you come up in the music game and how did you and Cisco end up teaming together?
A: All of it was by chance and essentially being at the right place at the right time. I’m from Malibu and so is Cisco, so I had heard about all his stuff early on. I would always go and watch him perform, and was impressed by the way he did things. I mean, he was at all these clubs, there are mad girls at his show, you know, I was a rapper, but we ended up breaking up because of school and stuff. I came back and was trying to find a band, someone to collaborate with. I ended up on Cisco’s couch after a party and I was like, “you want to make some music?” And he was like, “yeah.” I was introduced to Dirt Nasty, Andre Legacy and Mickey Avalon and was kinda like a little kid in the crew the whole time. I was just coming up, I only had a couple of songs, so I asked Cisco if I could intern, and it was a wrap. I was so impressed by the way he could just lay down a track in one night — I mean, produce, spit, and then be knocking that shit in my car on the way home the same evening. Shit was crazy. So pretty much, they couldn’t get rid of me.

Q: You mention fellow rappers Dirt Nasty, Andre Legacy, and Mickey Avalon, all of whom are associates of yours and Cisco’s. What do you think sets your group apart, if anything?
A: I think that not taking yourself too seriously is a big thing, and having comedy intertwined in the rap. A lot of rappers are talking about cars and diamonds and hoes and what they do at the club, and how they pop bottles and shit, that’s so boring. You can’t really connect with it. The difference with us is that we’re a lifestyle. People who listen to our music are actually living it. Not that many people are ridin’ around in Maybachs and shit, so it’s difficult to put yourself in that position where you’re rich and shit. People want to hear the real stuff.

Q: So what do you think of this lifestyle that you speak of, this LA scene?
A: It’s pretty interesting. You think that the hype is just a fad, but I guess not, seems like it’s going to be a pretty big thing for a while. I guess people are just really interested in the lives of others. I guess if it takes your mind off the bad things in the world, at the same time, you gotta do it. But as far as paparazzi and shit goes, I feel as if celebrities just use that as their own press, that’s how their career keeps going. I want my music to speak for itself.

Q: Tell me about your creative experience. What/who inspires you to write the songs that you do? What about for your videos and overall production?
A: The first thing that got me into music was obviously girls. It all started in middle school, when I started writing poetry to try and impress this one girl that I was really into. It was, like, classic childhood shit, you know? I would leave stuff by her locker and write her notes, and it was real cute. But that kind of morphed into songwriting, and I just continued to take that energy and those feelings and put it on paper. Once you’ve written a lot of songs, you try and find inspiration in everything. Like, a lot of the time, I find myself not going to the club for fun or for myself, its work. I can go out to a club and consider myself working. It sounds crazy, but it really is work. It’s like, I’m actively researching to find some new material for my songs. But honestly, a lot of times for inspiration I just spend time at home. I just recorded “Let it Beat,” (the new record) and most of the inspiration generated from that was at home, with the homies, and around LA.

Q: Tell me more about your album.
A: “Let it Beat” drops on November 3rd, and it features artists like Snoop Dogg, the Knux, the Cars, and more dope artists.

Q: What was it like to work with Snoop?
A: Snoop is classic, I mean, you know, where can you go wrong? It’s like getting a stamp or approval from the king of the west coast. Were trying to come up as the West Coast thing, too, so obviously it’s an honor. There’s amazing west coast artists out there, and we want to be known as one of those.

Q: You’ll be at UCI on October 16th for Shocktoberfest. What do you plan on bringing to the concert? How do you plan on changing things up and making the show your own?
A: No one’s like us, man. When Cisco and I get on stage, we mob; its crazy. We’re almost like a rock band. We bring that lifestyle to you, which you guys already understand, because its Cali, and you guys are from Cali so you get it. The live show is gonna be insane though. We got my boy Mark Schmidt who is a one man band working the stage, we got a DJ, and Cisco picks up a guitar every so often, I rock out on the drums and shit, we keep it real musical. We like to keep our live show as a representation of the record.

On Some Southern Ish

2009-10-15T10:37:00.000-07:00

The South is kind of doing big things. People on the west coast do not give the southern region of the US enough musical credit. Where do you think blues, folk, and country music comes from blood???? White Denim is one of those bands that stays close to mid to late 1960s folk/rock/blues music despite the outcropping of experimental electronic music flooding the US.
In any case, these guys are pretty sweet. Check the rhime:

Girls

2009-10-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

I would like to say that, thanks to Alexes, I put up one of the first blogs concerning Girls, a band that is currently blowin' up like nitro. I like the Fader's feature piece on the band; the writer is supremely talented. Focus on the last paragraph. So sick.

The Fader-- Girls

LiLo No Go

2009-10-04T16:25:00.000-07:00

God, look at the way Estrella Archs is leaning away from Lohan. And her expression! Indicitave of MUCH.

Its lookin pretty bad for Lindsay Lohan. As the new artistic advisor for Emannuel Ungaro, she has officially become the punching bag for all cut throat Parisian critics.

Fabien Baron, French art critic, said quite unabashedly, "Call the fashion police!"

2009 has been a year of economic ruin, and as a result of this great depression part deux, the industry that was once flooded with money has now become a drowning animal, gasping for air and willing to turn any ridiculous tricks to stay above water. Lindsay Lohan being hired for the label that is synonymous with 15,000 dollar dresses, hand sewn beads on Couture masterpieces, and a slew of highly respected designers on its team is the equivalent of the Kanye West x Taylor Swift outburst. This is merely a cry for publicity, a cry for money, and a cry for attention. Her collection, a shade higher than sub par, was met with great disdain by many. Read up and make an opinion for yourself:

New York Times

Wall Street Journal

Uh Oh.

2009-10-04T16:21:00.000-07:00

I am being found guilty of lagging.

Wholeheartedly apologize.
To make up for it:

MALUCA

The newest addition to the MADDECENT family, Maluca hails from NYC and combines the funky, bass heavy experimental beats of Diplo and co. with her Dominican Republic roots. I don't know how I feel about her but what she's doing is undeniably cool and a bit out of left field, which is always exciting.

What the pho?

2009-08-30T20:04:00.001-07:00

So me and Moniqt were listening to Man on the Moon and decided to scour the newly discovered whosampled.com to determine whether or not Kid Cudi had any actual real production ability. Questionable. Cuz we found this:

So.

2009-08-29T21:38:00.001-07:00

Haven't posted in a hot minute, my bad. But I have been working on the new movements with TheCoolKidList. Don't trip, it's gonna be epppiicccc.

Dick Cheney is a Basehead

2009-08-25T12:11:00.001-07:00

That's all.
For Real

New Ish

2009-08-15T17:01:00.001-07:00

Attention Attention Bay Area rappers: you've got company

I know him as Roberto but you will now know him as Roberto Antonio...he posted this video of his new song and I think it is totally neat-o, especially since Don't Let Me Down is one of the most beautiful songs written. So lissssen

"aaahhh...this shit slaps."

Wanna See Something?

2009-08-14T20:26:00.001-07:00

Girls Lust for Life- True Panther Sounds

Alexes showed me this video that she is in...and it is incredible. Good shots of her house, various spots in the city like Dolores Park-- where Z and I spent this afternoon brassmonkeying-- and the song is a light, summery tune.... So look. And get like us.

ROCK THE BELLS

2009-08-10T18:34:00.001-07:00

I'm convinced that this leg of the tour, the show at the Shoreline Amphiteater, was by far the best one; primarily because a) we were there and b) it was in the Bay. No brainer, people.

The Roots were the best act, followed closely by Damian Marley who preformed an astounding "Could You Be Loved", as a finale encore. Mayers texted me in the middle of the show, "I am in LOVE with ?uestlove" and it is a true story. His ability and talent on those drums is ridiculous. But Captain Kirk Douglas' guitar solo was incredible; definitely made the set. It was well worth the $53.45, I must say. A glimpse:

Ice Cream Paint Job

2009-08-10T18:08:00.000-07:00

On a mission to the Mission, Lohraw took me to Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream on Harrison, and it was....yes....I am going to say it...amazing.

Unlike hyped up locations that are also involved in the reinvention of ice cream, HSIC is humble, relatively inexpensive, and welcoming. Very unpretentious, which I liked.

I got sweet summer corn and caramel miso ice cream...flavors one would never associate with the classic vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry that has been plaguing our cones since day one...no more!!! Make way for mcevoy olive oil, honey thyme, and government cheese! If you ever find yourself at 2790 Harrison St. in SF, CA, definitely dip inside for a little scoop.

Holler

Thoughts?

2009-08-07T10:49:00.001-07:00

I found this youtube video for nikesb and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I love Ice Cube, and the song "Today Was a Good Day" is obviously the slap that knocks hard, the storyline is poignant and funny, and the cinematography is dope. But Kobe's cameo...? Product placement...? LA...? Sellouts? I don't know how I feel about it so lemme know how you do.

2009-08-06T12:21:00.000-07:00

My bad for not posting in a while. Things have been hectic and work everyday has officially taken over my life.

Oakland: the most beautiful city besides other beautiful cities in the Bay Area. I have spent most of my summer in Oakland rather than Berkeley, where I squandered many a high school day...now that I am fully in tune with my hometown I am discovering lots of bits and pieces of it that have been overlooked in the past...

Speaking of Oakland, if you haven't been to Pretty Penny yet, you should go. Yesterday I came up on a Marc Jacobs purse, ruffled silk shirt, and white crocheted top from the 1970s. Goessss. I am very juiced. Pictures to come.

Tomorrow Lohraw and Monequa (possibly) will venture into the SCO for some adventuring; pictures to come on that too.

Oh, and if you're going to be in Oakland tomorrow night, go to the Oakland Art Museum in downtown near the lake. We're bout to run it so you should come through...

Back to work. Commit a slow and painful suicide? Perhaps.

2009-07-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

You might have guessed that one of my favorite things-- besides traveling and lemon meringue pie-- is a legit gangsta rapper indie collabo. So when one comes around, I must put it up, for hip hop meeting other genres of music is the future.
I mean, fuck the auto tuner and Lady Gaga-esque weak fake techno beats, ("Boom Boom Pow" by the Black Eyed Peas, anybody?), I am talking creative creations here!
So I caught wind of this Ghostface Killa/Beirut track via SMoody and it is definitely slapworthy. Ghostface killah is known for his innovative use of simile and each one of his songs comes along with a story worth listening to. In conjunction with Beirut's use of quirky orchestra instruments that produce a certain sense of fuzzy magical realism, it's undeniably catchy and dope. Please slap:
Yes Yes Y'all And You Don't Stop

2009-07-29T09:55:00.000-07:00

2009-07-26T19:54:00.000-07:00

I've always envied filmmakers because of their eye for a good shot and their ability to make ideas and visions into something others can view...Lauren Slusser, rising senior at UCLA and Oakland homie, is one of these filmmakers who have mastered the art. She stopped into the store today and told me about her film, The Dinner Party, which you can watch here...It is funny, poignant, and for lack of a better word, cute. I very much enjoyed it, and hope you do too...

OH. MEIN. GOTT. EN. HEIMEL.

2009-07-26T15:27:00.001-07:00

Anna Sui for Target.
Drops September 13th.
Get ready.

This could be yours.

Whilst at the Roc...

2009-07-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

We were toiling away all day on this particular 9 to 5...Ceebz put me up on game during this loooong period of time about his sister, Ria. She does a bunch of notable art, and I highly suggest you peruse her site:

riabrodell.com

I like her self portraits in particular, as well as the combination of mysticism, animalistic base urges, and her way of silently questioning what is real and what isn't. Preeetty dope if you ask me.

On my Radar-iohead

2009-07-22T15:29:00.001-07:00

AmpLive, former Zion I DJ, has branched out on his own, making an album of Radiohead remixes called Rainydayz and it, to say the least, slaps. On this particular track, Del Tha Funky Homosapien throws down a questionable verse...but the song is still undeniably catchy and AmpLive's classic hip hop style mixed with Radiohead's electronic beats creates some very cool music. Listen...

2009-07-22T14:55:00.000-07:00

I like art. I like architecture. I like fashion. I like art, architecture, and fashion. I like...

Behold the fusion of all three likes. Miuccia Prada has joined forces with architect Rem Koolhaas (I wonder if Rem created a witty pseudonym that is supposed to go hand in hand with his career) and the city of Soeul, Korea to create the Prada "Transformer". This huge tetrahedron installation holds a movie theater, an art exhibit for Prada, and many articles of Prada clothing, and it will be finished off with two enormous cranes built on top. It will also shift shape once it is flipped-- the walls becoming floors, the movie theater morphing into another shape, and the perspective of the building changing in its entirety. I am always in awe of such innovation...how does the human mind have the capacity for such structure?? Dope, is all I can say.

What is it?

2009-07-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

A story? A piece of art? A blog? A mindless page of editorial crap?

Dopeness personified?

You be the judge...

http://unknownhipster.com/

From the Headlines...

2009-07-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

The UCs are in bad shape.

The funding shortage is at a current 813 million dollars, and it will only get worse from here. President Mark G. Yudoff has finally managed to fenagle the UC Regents round, but even now, things are looking bleak. Furloughs and salary reductions will alleviate about 25% of the University of California's financial woes, but that does not even cover the overenrollment, overspending, and underfunding that the UCs have been plagued with over the past couple of years.

The state is shortchanging the public schools of California by more than 1 billion dollars during the fiscal year of 2009, and will take more money by the end of 2010.

California's education system is completely skewed. As regent D'Artagnan Scorza has said to me on a couple occasions, "your schooling should be free; completely free and clear," and I agree. Why should students have to go into hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt for something that is their given right? Doesn't the government understand that by putting more money into schools, crime rates will go down, gang violence will lessen, more jobs can be created to get us out of this depression mess...It seems like such a no-brainer... how come it isn't happening?

What can we do? What can I do? My student fees are about to go through the roof. Mr. Schwarzenegger, what the fuuuuck is your plan?

http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/budget/?p=658

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/education/11calif.html?_r=1

2009-07-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon! After watching Paris Je T'aime last night waaaaay up in the Oakland Hills, I wholeheartedly recommend it to any romantic/ short film enthusiast/ fan of good movies. Paris Je T'aime consists of eight or nine short films about being in love-- whether it be with family, a significant other, or nobody at all-- in Paris, and each 5 minute short takes place in a different quartier or arrondissement. It is witty and engaging, and you should go see it. Yeah, like now, maybe.

TheCoolKidList also informed me that they are making a "New York I Love You" which could potentially be as, if not more glorious. Wowie.

Speaking of Yves Saint Laurent...

2009-07-21T13:05:00.001-07:00

Found this video from 1959 of The Man Himself being interviewed in France. Even if you can't understand French, it is interesting to look at his mannerisms and examine his soft spoken, gentle persona...his id is completely visible through his horn rimmed glasses...

And in a rare moment he draws a special design at 3:14...

Missoni on Display

2009-07-21T12:45:00.000-07:00

Ever since the exhibit of Vivienne Westwood at the De Young, and then Yves Saint Laurent's incredible display at the same museum in Golden Gate Park, I have been anxiously awaiting yet another fusion of couture and culture...and although it lies approximately 5371 miles away, London has now hopped on the bandwagon; The Estorick Gallery in North London is holding an exhibit entitled "Workshop Missoni: Daring to be Different".

"Daring to be Different" displays rows of faceless mannequins donning brightly colored, zippy striped and patterned articles of clothing that have come to be so synonymous with the house of Missoni. Not only is there a "fashion through the years" timeline of the Missoni dynasty, the exhibit also brings it close to home, boasting early watercolors painted by Luca Missoni herself when she was about 7 years old.

Looks dope. Wish I could go...but until then I'll just stay in bed.

2009-07-20T15:40:00.000-07:00

Aus Sauce showed me this videomaker, MACAFRAMA-- a young man from the Bay Area-- who shoots short films starring his bearded track bike riding ironicly flannel clad friends. Despite the fact that these pseudo hipsters can be a bit tiresome, this one caught my eye. It was filmed in San Francisco, with "She's a Rainbow" by the Rolling Stones (a personal favorite,) as the background song. Just the cinematography, music and shots of the SF Bay Area are worth it alone...

MACAFRAMA Trailer from MACAFRAMA on Vimeo.

Check it out! That's all for now.