Blame One & Exile - Bedroom Rap

2 old white dudes in a bedroom, hitting an mpc and spitting into headphones. The essence of Hip Hop in living colour.

Buy Blame One & Exiles album when it drops.

U2 - Breathe mp3

A track from the above, their new album 'No Line On The Horizon', out on Monday next week.

Van Morrisson - Madame George (Live t the Hollywood Bowl) mp3

My favourite song, from my second favourite album of all time (it comes after this one, but before this one). On my favourite tracks list, the original 9+ minute recording (far superior to this) is in the top 10. Here, he sings like he's in a hurry.

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Van the Man has stayed sober enough to tour a front to back performance of this seminal, genre-defining album from 1968. This recording is taken from the album of the Hollywood Bowl performance. If this is your first time hearing this, I emplore you, no, BEG YOU, pick up this album asap. You can get it for a fiver (which I equate to selling a Monet for 4.99).

It's one of the most romantic, heartbreaking albums ever recorded.

Roc Marciano - Hide My Tears mp3

I don't usually post thug rap, despite the fact that I do like elements of it and keep a rich supply on my iPod. But this track has a nice soulful vocal sample, a sonic background on the black keys side of things, as opposed to the lighter, white keys sound, and Roc Marciano (who I think is one of the more authentic and skilled emcees doing the tough-guy rap shtick) delivers his verses with a strange flow. All of which make the track strangely addictive. I've been playing it all week on my drive to work. The bassline is nuts.

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mp3 courtesy of Robbie at unkut.com

Bart Got A Room - Trailer

William H. Macy is in it... so it can't be that bad.

Lanvin - I hope you're taking the piss

Just a couple of weeks back I was singing the praises of Lanvin for their wearable, sleek trainers. Then I see these horrors, and wish I'd never said those nice things about them.

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These monsters are called the Pearl Ankle Sneaker. They retail at $985 and colette in Paris are stocking them. It's a shoe for a Pet Shop Boy. A shoe for people who look like women, but have a dinkle. They'll probably sell out in a day, bought by rich lunatics. If you see somebody wearing these in the street, walk away from them as fast as you can. They're probably very dangerous.

Dela & Talib Kweli - Long Life mp3

French DJ and Producer Dela (no, not De La Soul) put out one of the strongest Hip Hop albums of 2008 in the form of his jazzy 'Changes in Atmosphere' CD. This is one of the standout tracks, featuring former 'Black Star' Talib Kweli.

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I've been listening to this track on the way to work all this week, and it has had a calming effect, without a doubt. And although it features a saxophone sample, that doesn't make it sound too much like 80's easy listening... Talib's rap calls out weak mc's, and with the crisp drum track there is an edge to the song.

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But, the sun is shining in London today, and this is still a nice track to play on days like this. Enjoy.

Lyyke Li - Tonight (Video)

I love Lykke Li.

KAWS Dissected Companion x Be@rbrick

Form an orderly queue.

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KAWS' famed Dissected Companion meets the standard Companion Bearbrick. These come out next week at OriginalFake's Tokyo outlet, but the collector's are camping out as we speak, so don't waste your time. Keep an eye on eBay in the coming weeks, these will be going for hundreds.

Funny People - Trailer

I'll be the judge.

But I must admit the trailer and cast list bodes well with Jason Schwartzman, Eric Bana and Adam Sandler getting the Apatow-Rogen treatment. Jonah Hill stars again too, which is always welcome.

Chris Brown's handywork...

The before and after. Chris Brown is done.

New Nike Football Ads

Charles Hamilton - Scorpion mp3

This young Sonic The Hedgehog-obsessed rapper from Harlem is one of Hip Hop's great hopes for 2009. With broad subject matter, an anti-thug rap approach and an impressive work-ethic (he's dropped two mixtapes in the last week!), not to mention he's got age on his side, those hopes seem to be in safe hands.

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He shared the cover of The Fader this month (with Little Boots), and although the article spent too much time concentrating on Charles's Harlem-based peers and not enough on Hamilton himself, it's still a sign that his profile is heading in the right direction. He's a track from his 'Well Isn't This Awkward' mixtape (which centres on relationships, and was dropped in time for Valentines Day. Download HERE). It features a nice D'Angelo vocal sample, and a Mortal Kombat vocal introduction. You can't go wrong.

Dan Auerbach - When I Left The Room mp3

From the debut solo album from The Black Keys' guitarist/singer Dan Auerbach, which comes out on 23rd February (buy it HERE).
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This is a noirish, western-tinged track that would fit in neatly on a Tarantino soundtrack.

Enjoy.

Coldplay - Life In Technicolor ii (Video)

I'm not a huge Coldplay fan (at least not anymore), but this video is good.

I wonder what our yankie cousins make of it?

Inglorious Basterds (2009) - Teaser Trailer

This is the Brad Pitt teaser for Quentin Tarantino's forthcoming, oddly-spelled WWII slaughterfest 'Inglorious Basterds'.

From Pitt's performance here, it looks like it's going to be a highly stylised effort, dialog-wise as well as the direction.

This is in no way a bad thing to me, but I was a massive fan of the Coen's 'Raising Arizona' and 'The Hudsucker Proxy' growing up, and I'm aware that this kind of approach can be an acquired taste.

The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009) - Trailer

I really don't know why studios feel the need to mess with classics. Denzel and Travolta have literally NO CHANCE of competing with Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Jerry Stiller or the memorable 70's heist-movie score. Although, I am delighted that Denzel's character will retain the name of Matthau's Zachary Garber... a terrific moniker.

Cut and paste the link below to see the trailer for the original...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqOTObjWGH8

The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die mp3

I'm liking The Prodigy's new album.

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However, it sounds like it could have been made in 1998, which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned, but I don't know what 'da kidz' will think of it. Here is the opener and title track, Invaders Must Die, a good old high-energy Prodigy instrumental from Liam. Stop the Peter, Bjorn & John Video (one post down) and hit play. If you want to d/l this track for keeps, click on 'divshare' in the box below.

Peter, Bjorn & John - Nothing To Worry About (Video)

Jay to Chris - "You messed with the wrong crew"

^ "Stop it! Stop! He didn't mean it!"

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Former sub-machine gun toting ("I showed you your first Tec on tour with Large Professor") crack-dealer and convicted knife-attacker Jay-Z, has apparently threatened R&B pop-tart Chris Brown for allegedly beating his girlfriend, the Jigga-mentored, ella-ella-ella singing, R&B pop-tart Rihanna at a pre-Grammy's party.

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Now, if Jay would have threatened my safety in '88, I'd have gone on the lam. For a decade. But in 2009, Hova's threats don't hold much sway. He's Bill Gates's buddy. He hangs out with Chris, Gwyn, Apple and Oyster Card (or whatever their latest kid is called). He wins United Nations humanitarian awards for chrissakes! If he farts, it's in the news. So what is he going to do to me, knowing that it's now fully in the public realm? If I was Chris Brown, I'd be thinking... does S-dot want to slap fire out of me THAT MUCH that he'll risk a huge lawsuit and have to go into his pockets for 7 figures? The definitive answer is this: No. He doesn't.

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UPDATE: Rihanna's grandma says she's 'fine'. Phew.

Gold - Spandau Ballet to play Nou Camp

So... the world-famous arena that usually invites paying customers to witness the mercurial genius of Argentinian footballer Leo Messi, will soon invite paying customers to witness the mercurial genius (ahem) of 80's New Romantics Spandau Ballet singing 'Gold' and 'True' and other such high watermarks of popular music.

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This stadium holds 120,000 people. Is this an as-yet-undocumented case of the 'foreigners love a British celebrity who is a bit rubbish' phenomenon; Spandau being to Spain what Norman Wisdom is to Albania? I hope so... that would be bloody marvellous for the Kemp brothers and big tall Tony Hadley.

Lil' Cease - Letter to BIG (Video)

Biggie's fomer label-mate Jadakiss started this 'Letter to BIG' business a few weeks back, but perhaps Cease-a-leo is the individual best placed to (and with most justification for wanting to) catch up with his best friend.

For that reason alone, I prefer this version.

Radiohead smashing the Grammy Awards

Radiohead performed their track '15 Step' at the Grannies (or whatever the fuck they're called) at the weekend and they were excellent. EXCELLENT. They enlisted the help of the USC Marching Band (does that justify the pervy lady pic at the top of the post?) and were just one of the British bands/artists to smash the yanks off the fucking stage in their own back yard that night.
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And yes, if I sound a bit pissed off it's because I am. The reason is two fold:

(1) The Grammy Awards are shit. It's a popularity contest. They award the biggest sellers, on the whole. Hence Lil' Wayne wins Best Hip Hop album.

(2) The Grammys have lodged Copyright Claims on any video showing this performance. The mugs. Click the image above and you may find that Google Video still have a poor quality version.

If Rappers Were Characters from The Wire

I love this article that The Smoking Section put up yesterday... it ticks three boxes for me; The Wire, Hip Hop and humour.

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One of the highlights for me is: "LL Cool J as Cutty — Old veterans who used to be known for their hard-nosed antics, but have now evolved into harmless old men".

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Click the image for the full piece.

Observe & Report - Trailer (Red Band)

I like the look of this.

A nice mix of comedy and darkness. But mostly comedy...

J.Period & Q-Tip - The [Abstract] Best mixtape

For the track list, click here. It's 44 tracks deep, so I'm saving space.

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The key selling points of this mixtape for me are, firstly, the behind the scenes snippets of Tip and his collaborators talking humbly but insightfully about his classics. Secondly, it's the 'Tribute' versions of classic A Tribe Called Quest songs. You already know about the De La Soul appearance (I posted their version of 'Excursions' a few days back), but you'll also find a version of 'The Jazz' by Blu, 'Jazz Pt. 2' by Dres of Black Sheep, 'Buggin Out' reworked by Consequence and Kid Cudi as well as a version of 'Youthful Expression' (CLASSIC!! Check the original on iTunes if you doubt me) by ?uestlove of The Roots and Talib Kweli.

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The d/l takes a loooong time, but it's WELL worth it.

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The [Abstract] Best mixtape mp3

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The Prodigy feat. Dave Grohl - Run With The Wolves mp3

I've just burnt The Prodigy's new album to a disc, and I'm going to give it the once over. I'm sure I'll feed back on its merits at some point in the next few days.

I thought I'd swiftly zShare this one track with you before I hit the hospital, purely because it has Dave Grohl doing some actual drumming on it, just like the good old days.

Enjoy, and buy The Prodigy's 'Invaders Must Die' when it comes out in a couple of weeks time.

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Run With The Wolves mp3

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We have a son!

Tom was born yesterday, 8th Feb 2009, at 12:02, weighing 6lb and 6oz.

Here are two classic tracks about baby boys, by way of a tribute to my Tommy boy.

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To Zion - Lauryn Hill mp3

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Beautiful Boy - John Lennon mp3

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'Calogero' cleared of Murder, but guilty of throwing life away

I know, I know... I'm a month or so late. However, I felt the need to draft a brief post about the abject fuckery that Lillo Brancato Jr's life has become.

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He had, arguably, the lead role in 'A Bronx Tale' ahead of his co-stars Robert De Niro and Chaz Palminteri. After that, he worked like most actors do... from time to time. Then, after a few years, he hit the semi-big time again, with a prominent role in Season Series 2 of HBO's The Sopranos (these 'Italian'-American dudes get typecast worse than any other ethnic group, but that's by the by).

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So how did this promising young actor go from this, to being on trial for murdering an off-duty NYPD officer who disrupted a burglary he was conducting with his pal, a gun-toting degenerate smackhead? Drugas... because he was baghead too, and he wanted to rob someones telly so he could buy some more brown. In the end, he was acquitted of 2nd Degree murder (his partner in crime wasn't so lucky, having pulled the trigger), but found guilty of attempted burglary. His lawyer thought 3 years was a realistic sentence, and he'd already served 2 awaiting trial. But a policeman had died... and so he was sentenced to 10 years.

Another promising life ruined... choose your friends wisely.

Gourmet Shoes - Spring 09

I like these a lot. Low profile, classic colourway and sole, all canvas... and then a bizarre cut-away design to mix it up.

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One design of a trio that makes up Gourmet's spring collection. Click the image to see all three in detail. No word re: online sales. Check your usual haunts.

Nigo's 'Kimpsons' painting

Nigo (of BAPE fame) has followed in the footsteps of his buddy Pharrell and had KAWS create a specially commissioned acrylic piece for 'da crib', as it's described in modern parlance. The Bathing Ape founder went for the Simpsons rather than Family Guy.

For those who don't know, that peice above is probably worth 6 figures. Click for a close up.

Comme des Garcons' weird tennis trainers

The shoe at the the top I can live with... it looks like a black canvas Converse Chuck Taylor. It comes in white too, so all bases are covered.

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But Jesus Christ almighty... brogues with a 'sneaker sole'? Wrongness.

The mentally ill can get these for free from the NHS. The rest of you need to visit Colette.

Wayne & Letterman - Grammy Top 10

I'm not a fan of the young dude at all, but he does score points for the "pause" after the Jonas Brothers comment.

Doubt - Trailer

Trailers trailers trailers!!!

Dead Snow - Trailer

Ha! Nazi zombies for the second time today!

This looks cheap and cheerful.

Pigeon Smuggling Berk

An Australian man (shocker) was caught by officials at Melbourne Airport trying to smuggle two bog-standard pigeons into the country from Dubai. They are not valuable birds, they are not endangered.

Rather than putting them in his hand-luggage, he put them down his trousers, wrapped in paper and held in place by a pair of tights. Well, of course.

The icing on the cake... he could face 10 years in prison for his troubles.

The cherry on top of the cake... he also smuggled an "undeclared aubergine".

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COMEDY GENIUS.

Jadakiss - Letter to BIG (Video)

From the soundtrack to the film 'Notorious', which is out next weekend.

GI Joe - Superbowl trailer

This looks uninspiring.

Sienna Miller + Dennis Quaid + over the top action x the director of The Mummy = wait for the DVD.

Caution. Zombies in Road.

Spotted over at Wooster.

Some clever computer-hacker types took over two LED roadwork signs near the University of Texas earlier this week, and decided to warn local residents of an impending zombie attack, and Nazi zombies no less.

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It's better than putting 'Poo Bum Willy', which is what I'd have probably done.

Exile - Another sample chopping masterclass

Exile using and abusing his MPC, chopping the living hell out of 'Funky Worm' by the Ohio Players.

Wu-Tang Clan - Earrings?

Oh dear.

According to hypebeast, "the legendary Wu-Tang Clan hook up with the popular jeweler Gabriel Urist on a pair of clean and subtle earrings".

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Nah... you can't sell these. Who is buying them... in your business plan, what is the target market here? Oh you have an idea on how to sell them by the bucketload? Tell me, what's the clincher...?

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"they come with a special red box".

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In that case, I'll take three pairs...

Zira Island, Baku - Going Carbon Neutral in the Caspian Sea

This is a bonkers Carbon-neutral project planned for an island in the bay of Baku.

Click the image for a close-up. Spotted at Arch Daily, and designed by BIG Architects, along with engineering firm Ramboll.

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This is "an architectural landscape based on the natural landscape of Azerbaijan. This new architecture not only recreates the iconic silhouettes of the seven peaks, but more importantly creates an autonomous ecosystem where the flow of air, water, heat and energy are channeled in almost natural ways". Indeed.

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For more on this, go here.

Timex Spring 2009 Collection

Woah. Pastel overload.

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I have an all-white Timex Indiglo, and I thought that was a bit fruity. These push the envelope though.

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Available now from Colette in Paris.

J. Period feat De La Soul - Excursions 2009

A 'tribute' version (ie. a remake on the same beat) of Tribe's 'Excursions', from this classic for the unitiated, by DJ/Producer J. Period and De La Soul. As featured on the formers' upcoming mixtape entitled 'The Abstract Best' featuring Q-Tip.

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The mixtape will feature appearances by Busta Rhymes, The Roots, Pharoahe Monch and others, no doubt paying their respects to my favourite rap group of all time.

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Excursions (Tribute Mix) mp3

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Superbowl ad-break trailers x 3

Ad space during the breaks in the Superbowl are the most expensive in the world, which surprises me, because the supply surely outweighs the demand (American Football matches last 6 days and US networks break for 'messages' every 22 seconds. Dont they?).

Anyway; here are the Superbowl spots for Pixar's 'Up', another teaser for 'Angels & Demons' as well as some footage of 'Day One' with Jack Black and the funny young man from 'Superbad', Michael Cera.