Last night, San Francisco's FIFTY24SF opened the doors to it's latest show Underbelly. Featuring art by Canadian Ben Tour, the exhibition includes mural installations, paintings and framed & dry-mounted works on paper. Each piece embodies Tour's style of contemporary portraiture. Handling subject material such as prostitution and street culture, Ben Tour managed to achieve an equilibrium through his unique brush styles. He describes his style as a more aggressive approach with rough and quick lines. The exhibition is currently running until January 31st at FIFTY24SF.
FIFTY24SF
252 Fillmore St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
So if you're in the SF area or will be before January 31st, check it out!
Source from Hypebeast
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Focus: Underbelly By Ben Tour
EXCLUSIVE: Pacific Division - F.A.T Boys 08 Video
We are proud to present Pac Div's new video, F.A.T Boys 08, produced by Swiff D. Directed by Ethan Lader.
*Sidenote - F.A.T (Fashionable Artistic Trendsetters)
EXACTLY.
Friday, January 11, 2008
NEW JOINT: Pacific Division - Taste (prod. by DJ Khalil)
Pac Div back with another heat rock. Produced by DJ Khalil.
F.A.T LP Coming Soon
They say the love it......exactly.
Lupe Fiasco Interview On Tavis Smiley
Lupe Fiasco joins Tavis Smiley and talks about his new album The Cool.
Part 1
Part 2
J Davey's Letter To The Record Industry
Courtesy of the incomporable Miss Jack Davey of J*Davey, posted on her blog. This is some REAL SHIT. Take a second to read:
“”lights out !” : an open letter to the record industry & the idiots who work for the fascist regime .
read this out loud !
this is intended for all of you lowly puppets who sit in your big offices in big buildings that will soon be out of business & thus, forced to hold vacant memories of an industry that once was . this is for all of the big wigs in suits & ties who sit at the head of the conference room table with creative opinions as empty as the “music” they force down the throats of the now bored & uninspired creative consumers . this is for all the idle assistants who only work hard enough to get their names on the grammy party lists, or whose only existence remains obsolete if he/she can’t get into the hot new band’s hollywood show debut . this is for the borderline retarded a&r guy who should in fact abandon his dreams of changing the failing record industry to become a highly paid talent scout at a modeling agency . this is definitely for all the marketing low lives who fail to avidly push great talent because the world’s fave reality slut randomly decided one day while botoxing her armpits that she wants to be a rockstar .
yes .
this open letter is for all of you .
come feast your eyes upon the truth behind your insolence for 5 minutes , if you even have your job for that much longer.
your blatant lack of respect & worship for the oldest & dearest artform has brought a once thriving & artistic industry to a grinding halt . your willingness to believe that the world wide web has killed the consumers’ thirst for new & exciting talent is wildly ignorant & safe . you would like to feed into this stupidity because you are too lazy to stand behind substance ; you’d rather take the low & easy road than take the time to nurture true talent . you’d rather tirelessly feed us the same carbon copied , lip synching , sex dripping , faux punk “i got my entire outfit from hot topic” rocker , buffoonishly ghetto “are they even speaking english?” hip hop , “same old same” sound from song to song type image & force us to believe that this is all the world’s artists have to offer . you’d rather watch your company stocks & yearly record sales severely plummet than take strong initiative to fix the current problem . you’d rather see hundreds of employees laid off & out of work during the holidays because you’re too afraid to stand up for something new & different . you’re content with creating a 1-hit wonder society , where any idiot with anything shockingly catchy can enjoy a sorry 15 minutes of fame & a future segment on vh1’s “biggest 1-hit wonders of 08″ extravaganza .
where is the new generation of legends ?
beyonce & alicia keys are old shoe ins . r kelly , sure , but his personal dramas easily overshadow his genius . radiohead & outkast comes to mind , & then i draw a big blank .
the latest thrill in music has been an over abundance of great dancers with mediocre voices , albums , singles , concert ticket sales , etc . thank god the internet allows every joe blow in the universe a free forum to overexpose every little thing , especially mediocre celebrities . thank god for online music forums , such as myspace . artists are able to directly connect with the people & expose themselves & their art to everyone everywhere at the click of a button . myspace proves that music can no longer fit into a box . long gone are the days of urban vs pop vs alternative radio . gwen stefani had hit songs for years on the pop & alt charts , but she records a song written by pharrell & she’s instantly on top of the urban charts as well . this new r&b dance pop music crosses over to white kids & that kelly clarkson “since you’ve been gone” song was smeared across the lips of many a young black girl last year . m i a is all over the indie alternative stations , & lets not even get started on gnarls barkeley .
all signs point to the obvious : true music consumers right now are a ) young , & b) smart . young kids are able to point & click their way to every new trend . they arguably have short attention spans & they want to be in on what’s cool & personable to them . when madonna emerged in the ’80s you had tons of girls around the world imitating her every move & style down to the mole . kurt cobain turned grunge commercial when he was exposed to millions of kids who felt like society’s outsiders looking in . hip-hop has been a huge influence on mainstream culture since the early ’80s because of it’s relativity . kids have not changed . young people are not mindless robots who like what you tell them to like with no opinions . the youth are always looking to be enthralled .
they want to be entertained . they want to feel as though they are a part of something that will be written about , studied , & revered 20 years later . they , like all of us old & young alike , want to be inspired . when i was a kid i saw prince prance around on stage & dazzle people with his art & i felt inspired to do the same thing . why are you music industry idiots attempting to tell us that we don’t want to be touched ? why are you trying to rob us of new musical experiences ? will there ever be another motown 25 / michael jackson moonwalk experience ? will we never again hear a single like queen’s “bohemian rhapsody” on the radio because the hook isn’t catchy enough ? will we never see another band like the talking heads & joy division or parliament ? will there never be another artist to rival frank zappa ? will we be forced to hear different versions of the same dumb song on every single radio station every 5 minutes simply because the record label had enough money to pay off the station manager ? are we still supposed to care about mtv when there are hardly any videos in rotation ? do i even need to mention b e t or v h 1 ? are any of the classic record industry outlets working these days ? as of late it seems that artists are independently breaking ground with their own efforts . songs are being licensed for national commercials from artists’ myspace pages & personal websites . ellen degeneres has been known to book musical guests from videos seen on youtube , & as i aforementioned , gnarls barkeley not only created a new genre , but they also won grammy awards for an album that was recorded in home studios & released through an indie label .
why should artists even seek major label deals ? they are completely outdated & obsolete . artists are sold the dream that talent can secure superstardom , but it becomes evident that labels only sign bands nowdays because of the band’s existing fanbase & record sales , or because they dig the artist’s look & want to cash in . they don’t want to develop the art . they don’t want the artist to express his/herself entirely . they just want the artist to comply with what will get the company a big monetary return . they sign you for millions , pimp you for pennies , then drop you a year later when the music they made you record & release is no longer relevant . you’re left on the streets unsigned & irrelevant & ready to infect the world with the music you’ve always wanted to make , but no one will take a chance on you due to your previous material . meanwhile , the label has already put white out over your signature on the slave deal & replaced it with a younger version of you . cold game , ain’t it ?
the age old model is failing . as an industry based on faithful consumers you have lost your connection with the people who matter most : the PEOPLE . you have yet to show them that you are with the changing times & able to adapt to something new . you are proving that you are too afraid to promote good music . you would rather let the monotonous drone of what is today’s music remain unbalanced by substance . you would rather watch more legendary artists abandon you for direct deals with itunes & touring companies . you would rather allow the internet to defeat what should be your life’s work . maybe you should excuse yourself from the next a&r meeting to go take a look in the bathroom mirror . stand there & ask yourself why you took this job , & when you realize it’s simply because you wanted to be cool & “in the mix” then return to the conference room , take that gun out of your pocket , & shoot yourself in the head in front of your coworkers so that you are made an example of . if you can in fact leave that conference room & look in the bathroom mirror with pride & hunger to break the monotony then head back into that conference room , jump on top of the table & read this manifesto .
this is a challenge .
we’re calling your bluff .
record labels are nothing but banks that give artists hi price loans in exchange for artistic control . put your money where your cocks are . go out on a limb & support real music for a change . find the line where the internet & the real world meet & infect more people with something magical . start building more legends . it’s almost too late . interscope is dead . def jam is next . motown who ? mca what ? warner , you’re not too far behind . the war sirens are ringing & you’re content with playing deaf & dumb .
we’re calling your bluff !
we’re here to reprogram how you & the rest of the world listen to music .
we can do this together , or you can stick to your own devices & peril in the process .
we are the people . we are the future . we are the present .
who are you ?
*******************************************************************
copy this , paste this , & repost it wherever you see fit . email it to those who you believe can benefit from somethin like this . this is from the heart in jerry maguire “who’s comin with me?” fashion . lets open our eyes , our ears , & our hearts . lets stop standin for the bullshit & start demandin these idiots to take charge & make change . substance has the right to be heard . support real shit & start takin it to the streets !
c’mon people .
it’s 2008 . diddy killed music in 94 . it’s time for some better shit .
pass it on . .”
source from the good folks over @ Inverse.....good lookin out.
Lil Wayne In 7th Grade production of The Wiz
This is a video of Lil Wayne in 7th grade acting in The Wiz. Just a reminder that we were all young once.......
I remember dancing to Vanilla Ice - Ninja Rap in elementary for a talent show. Ended up kicking my partner in the head because he didn't duck as I tried to kick over him, remember that old school dance? haha
exactly.
Break-A-Leg: The Morning Benders @ Bottom of the Hill SF (Jan. 28th)
Be sure not to miss this show, Dope Band + Dope Venue = Dopetastic Show!
Check a song out.!!
Check out a page or 2.!!
The Morning Benders Myspace
The Morning Benders Website
Exactly..
Update: Kanye West's Mother Died From Heart Attack, Says Autopsy Report
The LA County Coroner has concluded that Donda West - mother and manager to son Kanye - died of a heart attack after her cosmetic surgery.
As SOHH previously reported, West, 58, died on Saturday, November 10, 2007 after complications from cosmetic surgery.
According to TMZ, the coroner's report says West died of "coronary artery disease and multiple post-operative factors due to or as a consequence of liposuction and mammoplasty."
The report could not state with certainty what exactly killed her but there was no evidence that anesthesia or even the surgery is to blame.
Donda was very close to her son. Kanye often spoke of her in his music, and dedicated the track "Hey Mama" to her off his second release, Late Registration. Chicago rapper, Rhymefest, said that Donda was like a mother and mentor to the entire circle.
"She was a mother to everybody ... We all came in the crib and she fed us when we had nothin', when there was no record deals. She brought us in," he said. "She was a mother for a community, and a mother for one of Chicago's greatest heroes."
Source from SOHH News
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
TALKIES: Cloverfield Premiere Invitation
So I got my invitation to the premiere of J.J Abrams new film Cloverfield...and finally the mysterious monster will be revealed. The premiere is on January 16th at Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles and I must say they did a pretty good job of keeping this movie a secret and out of the public. The movie comes out next week and people still have no clue what kind of monster is attacking the city. My guess is that because of this, the movie will make a lot of money opening weekend. If only the music industry had this much control and patience over it's releases. In any case...I'll let you know how it goes....
If you are interested in going, call (323) 956-7810 and RSVP.
Check out the new trailer..
Opens nationwide on Jan 18th.
exactly.
Self Edge X Superfuture Party 2008
Last weekend I attended the wonderfully stylish Superfuture party held at Self Edge, a premium denim store located in San Francisco. Along with a bevy of fashion heads, the party included free giveaways of exclusive items from select Japanese denim brands like Sugercane & Skulls Jeans. Style was threatening to explode from the walls of the not so big Self Edge Denim Boutique. Toss free beer, Fernet-Branca, and La Copa Loca Gelato into the equation and you have good times.
Check out a few pictures from the party:
Overview of the party from the balcony, free gelato
Free Fernet-Branca
Definitely one for the books...denim contest to see who could fit into a size 28 pair of $400 Self Edge x Ironhearts and button them all the way up resulting in that person winning the jeans for free
Check out the sites Superfuture and Self Edge
Good Times...Exactly.
Eminem Rushed To Hospital
Slim Shady may not be known as such for much longer. The rapper's weight is said to have surpassed 200 lbs. which may be the least of his health concerns.
According to TMZ, Eminem was rushed to a Detroit-area hospital over the holidays due to a serious heart condition and pneumonia.
This health scare comes just a month after Eminem's mom, Debbie Nelson, released a book where she claimed her son had lost control of his life.
As SOHH previously reported, Nelson recently released the tell-all-book, entitled My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem in the U.K. In it, she claimed Em has battled depression for quite some time. Nelson also alleged that her son's mood was at its worst following his 2006 break up with long-time girlfriend and mother of his only child, Kim.
Eminem's publicist told TMZ: "Over the holidays, Marshall Mathers, aka Eminem, was under doctor's care at a Detroit-area hospital for complications due to pneumonia. He has since been released and is doing well recovering at home."
Source @ SOHH News
GearHeads: Nike Air Force 1 Supreme Max Air Stingray
I must admit, as much as I dig tastefully colorful kicks, nothing beats plain ol' BLACK. It's a classic color. What's beautiful about these lovely upcoming releases are the materials. We've all seen horsehair, ostrich, cement, elephant print, etc. But this one has STINGRAY. Yea I said it, STINGRAY. Anywho, if that ain't something to brag about in yo raps then I don't know what to tell you. Dropping later this weekend in Japan, but check your local Nike dealer otherwise.
View more pics here @ Hypebeast
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
NEW JOINT: The Cool Kids - What It Iz
This joint was so fresh I had to put it up again, so it stands out more....
exactly.
WTF!: Man Caught On Tape Beating Toddler
I don't have to say what should happen to this man...
My thoughts Exactly.
GearHeads: Nike Year of the Rat Wildwood 90
Every year Nike creates shoes dedicated to the Chinese New Year. According to the Chinese Calendar, February 7, 2008 is Chinese New Year and this year is the Year of the Rat.
While I haven't been the biggest fan of many of Nike's recent releases, every now and then, they drop a gem. This Wildwood 90 is a hybrid of the Wildwood, Air Max 90 and the Free Trail. Nike's meshing of these sneakers resulted in a pretty stylish and simple shoe with a very fresh design. There are two versions, one with white "rat" hair, and one with grey "rat" hair. The white sneaker is actually horse hair, which in my opinion, is the DOPER one of the 2. And the grey sneaker is suede.
And to top of the theme, the Chinese symbol for the word "rat" is printed in red on each outside heel of the shoe...And guess WHAT, they're available right now at select Nike retailers...click link below for more info, or just check your local nike retailers..
View More Pics of the white and grey @ My Air Shoes
Exactly!
Nas dropping tidbits on upcoming album Nigger
"I feel like Cassius Clay right before he took down Liston," Nas said a couple of weeks ago in New York. It's almost time for the release of his album ******, and he even teased us by dropping a couple of lines from the album backstage at the Hammerstein Ballroom before a recent concert
"Ay, yo, Queens get the money, n---as still screaming paper chase/ But presidential candidates ... ," he began reciting, the first time any media outlet has heard lyrics from the upcoming album.
"But the new album, man, this is an important piece for me," he said. "I'm proud of myself for doing it and taking it on. It looks like Black History Month [February] is gonna be the month to drop the album. If not, it comes when it comes. But it'll be here soon — soon like right-around-the-corner soon. It's not gonna be a waiting-for-a-long-time type thing. I'm blessed to be in this state of mind I'm in to do this music. ... I love what this whole thing is all about. I'm working with so many people. It is a lot of people I'm working with: Puff, Jermaine [Dupri], some underground cats. Some surprises."
Maybe he'll be working with Snoop Dogg again. The Dogg — who appeared on Nas' last album, Hip Hop Is Dead — supports Nas' concept behind the controversially titled new album. "I'm down with you, Nas," Snoop saluted. "Call me if you need a verse."
Another West Coast legend, Ice Cube, is also down to collaborate with Nas. "I'm totally open to working with him," said Cube, who has the first great song and video of 2008 with "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It." "I just got back in town, I'm looking for him to reach out. I think me and Nas are, in a lot of ways, mirror images of each other. We try to make street knowledge and connect the streets with the politics of today. That's always a challenge. If we don't get together [on his album], we gotta tour together."
Source from Mixtape Monday
OLD SCHOOL TUESDAY: The Coup - Fat Cats and Bigga Fish
Due to technical difficulties, the Digital Underground video was replaced. But we found a good substitute.
*AHEM*
Takin it back like slap bracelets and pogs bitch!!!
exactly.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Nas On The Cover Of The 100th Issue Of XXL
Damn I hope this album doesn't end up like The Minstrel Show, where the title of the album seems promising but it ends up being just another regular ass rap record. Don't let us down Mr. Jones.
exactly.
Jay Z Performing Party Life w/ Bilal In Las Vegas
This is what I was talking about, Jay Z performing Party Life with Bilal as a special guest. We didn't film this footage, and whoever did definately did a great job.
*clip taken from hhnlive.com*
exactly.
Pictures With Words - Phonte of Little Brother - Step It Up
She said we should go out on a date
I said that's cool you can come to my house.
She said "Nigga please! Do better than that.
Why the fuck I wanna come over and chill on yo couch?"
I laughed cause it seemed she had me all figured out
And my game ain't work like it did before
Them are days long gone, cause once they get grown
These hoes ain't impressed by Applebees no more
Gotta dig a little deeper for that PF change, for PF Chang's
And if you can't afford it
You can still do thangs to show you ain't on no dumb shit
Take her to a gallery, museum or some shit
Thank God for you and all the crew that you run with
Givin new meaning to the blind date
You so official, but a nigga can't attract Cristal with a Boone's Farm mindstate..
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Stills From Pac Div's F.A.T Boys '08 Music Video
I got an exclusive peek at Pac Div's new video and it's pretty fly....lotta cameos, lotta labels......100 percent Cali.
BREAK A LEG: The Cool Kids @ The Independent in SF
Tour Schedule
Jan 18 - Univ. of Washington Seattle, Washington
Jan 19 - EchoPlex LA
Jan 22 - Sloppy Seconds "CANCELLED" Atlanta
Jan 24 - Studio B NYC, New York
Jan 25 - Natural History Museum/Flavorpill NYC, New York
Jan 26 - Wrongbar in Toronto, CA
Intl.
Jan 31 - Malmo Sweden
Feb 1 - Pustervik Gothenburg
Feb 2 - Debaser Medis Stockholm
Feb 4 - Bla Bla, Oslo
Feb 7 - Sub Club w/ HYP Glasgow
Feb 8 - Fabric ,, London and South East
Feb 8 - Vapor Dijon, Paris
Feb 9 - Arhus Arhus
Feb 10 - TBA Copenhagen, Hovedstaden
Feb 12 - Crawdaddy ,, Dublin
Feb 14 - YOYO London, London and South East
Feb 15 - Plastic People London
Feb 15 - Plastic People London
Feb 16 - Blast at the Croft Bristol
Feb 17 - TBA Edinburg, Scotland
Feb 19 - Stealth Nottingham
Feb 20 - Helllooo Down there....Australia.....you’re up next!! ,
Feb 22 - Bakery Artage Complex Perth
Feb 23 - Miss Libertine Melbourne
Feb 23 - ST Jeromes Laneway Festival@Caledonian Lane Melbourne
Feb 28 - Life Lounge SoCo Cargo Adelaide
Feb 29 - Empire Hotel Brisbane
Mar 1 - ST Jeromes Laneway Festival Brisbane
Mar 1 - Oxford Arts Factory Darlingquist
Mar 2 - ST Jeromes Laneway Festival Sydney
Mar 5 - Paradiso Amsterdam
Mar 6 - Trix Antwerp
Mar 7 - Tryptique Paris
DAMN!
* note to upcoming artist * That's how it's done.....WORK!
exactly.
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