WorldSpectacularVision

This IS the future: via createdigitalmusic.com

2012-01-28T02:58:00.002+02:00

Music is deeply tied up with motion; seeing that in a machine is somehow satisfying. Soundmachines, from the enigmatically-titled Berlin studio TheProduct*, is an interactive physical installation made from optical turntables. By moving the “tone arm” – really in this case an optical sensor attached to an extended mount – you can change rhythms and sound sweeps.
We’ve naturally seen many visualizations, tangible and digital, that make loops into wheels. But it’s worth noting the particular connection to a kinetic experiment by The Books’ Nick Zammuto from the film earlier this week. In fact, my one criticism of this piece is that the rhythms are so regular. Some syncopation in a machine like this would be not only pleasing, but immediately visible to the eye and therefore understandable. Perhaps even decoupling the wheels from the motor could allow a user to experiment with sound. That doesn’t mean you have to go from minimal techno to irregular chaos, but there’s quite a lot in between.
That’s not to take away from the impact of this piece, and in particular, the beauty of its installation. The presentation in an iconic object is a message in itself. And the circle remains the ideal design for a looped rhythm, embedded as it is in the repetition we perceive in our world.
http://www.the-product.org/soundmachines
More details:
Three units, which are resembling standard record players, translate concentric visual patterns into control signals for further processing in any music software. The rotation of the discs, each holding three tracks, can be synced to a sequencer.
The Soundmachines premiered on the Volkswagen New Beetle stand at the IAA motor show in late Summer 2011. In cooperation with the sounddesigner/producer Yannick Labbé of TRICKSKI fame, we developed three unique discs, each controlling one track of an Ableton Live Set exclusively made for the Event. The show was supported by a set of realtime generated visuals, running on a 25m wide LED wall.
 
One/One oneone-studio.com
TheProduct* the-product.org
Client 
Volkswagen
Agency 
Vok Dams, Hamburg
Sounddesign/Producer IAA
Yannick Labbé yannicklabbe.com
Special Thanks 
Matt Karau  matt.karau.com
Andreas Schmelas invertednothing.com
(See also a compelling-looking visual collage. It’s supposed to be set to John Cage’s “First Interlude,” but because of copyright concerns, is instead (arguably) set to Cage’s 4’33″. Let’s hope they don’t get sued for that.

Martyn's new video

2011-10-03T19:56:00.000+02:00

Martyn - Viper (Brainfeeder) from Konx-om-Pax on Vimeo.

Musical ट्रिप्स इन Congo

2011-09-23T17:44:00.000+02:00

2011-09-16T20:28:00.001+02:00

La Habana to Matanzas: Sounds of a New Generation of Afro-Cuba, Vol. 1 by Village Archives

2011-09-16T20:27:00.001+02:00

Thom Yorke MoneyBack Mix - Xfm Music: Response 15/09/11 by Mary Anne Hobbs on Mixcloud

Stream: Zomby’s Dedication LP then get it through 4AD

2011-07-13T19:07:00.000+02:00

Stream: Zomby’s Dedication LP

2011-06-24T23:37:00.000+02:00

Thunderloops #8 260302010 by Thunderloops on Mixcloud

Thundercat - Daylight (prod. Flying Lotus)

2011-06-17T21:13:00.000+02:00

Thundercat - Daylight (prod. Flying Lotus): "Thundercat - Daylight (prod. Flying Lotus)"

A Loop Supreme

2011-05-05T19:58:00.001+02:00

colors moving color

2011-03-17T21:50:00.001+02:00

Cell Shading Experiment with Particular from Mattias Peresini on Vimeo.

beeple

2011-03-09T22:30:00.001+02:00

slowjam from beeple on Vimeo.

illy graphics

2011-03-01T00:30:00.000+02:00

V&A Decode generative identity from postspectacular on Vimeo.

onedotzero: london

2011-02-23T22:23:00.000+02:00

citystates 10 trailer from onedotzero on Vimeo.

Lyonel from Paris:

2011-02-01T00:35:00.001+02:00

Sleeper Service from Lyonel on Vimeo.

Dub Science with Scientists.

2011-02-01T00:24:00.001+02:00

The Ministry of Artistic Affairs: Exclusive: Interview with José Parlá in Toronto

2011-01-26T20:33:00.002+02:00

The Ministry of Artistic Affairs: Exclusive: Interview with José Parlá in Toronto: "On January 20, 2011, a gala party was held in downtown Toronto for José Parlá to celebrate the reveal of two massive public art murals he pa..."

DJ Premier interview via Hypetrak

2011-01-26T20:19:00.002+02:00

Before there was hip hop there was DJ Premier, and as a leader in this dynamic genre of music, he still reigns as one of the greatest producers in our history. His resume entails a list of your favorite rappers’ favorite rappers. The likes of key figures such as Big L, Biggie Smalls, Nas, Jay-Z, Guru, KRS-One, Rakim, and Big Daddy Kane are all on the same page. And despite the music game drastically changing since his inception, DJ Premier still hangs his hat on what has brought him respect and success all these years. All of which transcends onto his latest music compilation project “Get Used To Us”. As our video segment is underway, Premo as he’s known to many shares with us some of the insight of his early workings, his days with Gang Starr, and some of most memorable moments in the music industry.

Let’s start with your early beginnings, can you share with us on how you got started with production/beat making?

In terms of just getting into beat making, I just wanted to do what Mantronix was doing. I was a big Marley Marl fan, but I didn’t understand what equipment was. I remember seeing the little drawings on the Mantronix album cover, and it would have him holding the drum machine in his hand, and I’m like “what is that, it says A-R-T-8-0-8” (laughs). Then I’m just like you know, I got to get one of those! All those quick little drum rolls you hear from Manny Fresh and all them dudes, and even Manny Fresh will tell you, Mantronix was one of his influences even though he did all that Cash Money stuff back in the day. So you gotta give it up to him, you got to give up to Marley, Larry Smith, you got to give it up to Rick ruben, DJ Jazzy J of the Zulu Nation, Grand Mixer Dxt, Howie T, Full Force, there’s just so many people who made it so great to make me get into a drum machine. DJ-ing is a whole different aspect, and that’s my favorite period.

When did you first realize that you were a producer?

With producing, I didn’t even know I was a producer at the time, but I wasn’t like “say your lines like this,” “that line was a little quivered,” “lets go back to this, lets punch in right here, why don’t we delete that line and put that word..” I was already doing that but I didn’t know that’s what production.

You’re renowned for having your trademark “Premier” sound, is it something you can put into words as to how it’s so different from everyone else?

Once I was given the chance to showcase my style, I’m from the era from when you had to be original. Like KRS-One said, “You gotta have style and learn to be original and everybody’s gonna wanna diss you, like me we stood up for the South Bronx, and every sucker emcee had a response, you think we care, I know that they they’re on the tip, my posse from the Bronx is thick!” That was my…not was, that’s still my mentality, you think I give a god damn, nah. I read a comment just recently when I was defending Drake and J.Cole for being younger guys that have some lyrics, because that’s what it’s about. PERIOD. If you can make simple rhymes and your record is dope then you can’t front on it, look at top billing for example. It’s the same thing with hip hop.It’s a competition for me, so when I talk about J. Cole and Drake and all of them, yea they got rhymes, and I know their levels of rhymes are going to be limited because they’re not old enough to know what I know and just don’t have the same level of experience. They missed the 80’s, which were overshadowed by real killings and real violence.

Maybe they refer to the mainstream aspect?

One guy even wrote, Premier is just trying to get

down with them and he just wants to be part of their mainstream and I’m like “Yeah, I want to do stuff for Drake, I want to do something for J.Cole” because it’s going to come out right and it shows a newer generation the potential of skill which can be forwarded to the youngsters. It almost makes you mad at first but you cannot allow that. However, it also makes you see how they analyze stuff, and the stuff they type to try to knock you down. It just lets you know how they’re not really part of the culture.

It’s just like wearing sneakers, when you are not able to distinguish between fly sneakers and ugly ones. Them cats probably have on the corniest kicks right now too! (laughs) or they have on some nice ones, but when you question them in person on the history, they can’t answer but one or two questions.

So when would you say it dawned on you that you officially discovered your sound?

In 1992 when we did “Daily Operation”, then I was like “pssh, ain’t none of ya’ll can mess with me.” I still have that competitive approach to me. There are a lot of talented beat makers out there. Me and Just Blaze just got in from Chicago where the finals of the Red Bull Beat Battle took place. These kids were making beats and I was impressed. Me and Just Blaze felt bad eliminating the worst guy but his beat was just not good enough. So what I did was tell him “Your version was not bad, and your other beats that you did weren’t bad, so I’m going to give you my direct email so you keep sending me stuff and I’ll give you honest feedback on what you’re doing. You’re on the right track, but you can do better and I’m not gonna let anyone get past not doing better than what they’ve done.” Back in the days, nobody was letting us do that, you know. I wanted Public Enemy, the whole Bomb Squad, and Dr Dre from N.W.A., I wanted them to recognize my talent and to get their respect. You got to be on to the level of what they’re doing because they’re selling millions of records and they’re obviously doing it right. It’s just like playing football or whatever, you want to get the ring. I want the ring, I want it every year. I’m Brett Farve-ing it, it’s just that I’m having a better season than he is. What are they 3-7? (laughs) You know, Kobe got five, he wants another one, the Yankees got 27 and they want another one.

Definitely. Motivation is integral in progressing. Can you tell us about your first music setup ever?

My first setup was a Radio Shack mixer and it didn’t have a cross-fader. It had knobs, so I was like close enough. (laughs) I just wanted to see the little VU meters move around, anything that made the meters do that stuff, I just wanted to see that (laughs).

I also had one SLB-1 turntable, which was a belt drive Technics turntable. I remember when my neighbor Michael had one sitting on his dresser, he had no mixer plugged into his receiver and he just had a Technics receiver, I was just amazed. That was before I knew how to scratch, and he just had the regular rubber mat on it, but I was like, “I’m getting one of those!” and I eventually saved up to get the SLB-1.

I’ve always been the guy who saves up his money to get what he wanted. I didn’t care if it was a paper route, I used to install and fix car stereos and make cassette tapes around the neighborhood.

Speaker-wise, I had the Realistic speakers, which is a Radio Shack brand now. I wanted the ones where you can pull off the mesh cover off so you can see the woofer and the tweeter. Then I used to take pictures. I’d go get them developed and

showed everyone “look at my speakers” (laughs) and I didn’t have two turntables, just one and at the time, I just knew how to blend two beats together, I didn’t know how to cut or scratch, work the fader. I didn’t learn that until college like 1984-1985.

How did Gang Starr form?

Gang Starr already existed before me. There are different generations of it. For one, it originated in Atlanta although they’re all from Boston. The first Gang Starr was Big Shug and his brother Dana. He named himself Suave D. He was the DJ and Guru was the MC. They were a singing and rap group at that time. Guru can sing you know what I’m saying. He had a really dope voice, and he knew his music. He’s older than I am, he’ll be 50 on July 18th 2011. Even if you’re not physically here you’re still, your birthday still goes on. So I don’t say he was, or would’ve been, I say he will be 50. I’m 44 so, that’s why even when I see all those wrong dates on his birthday and stuff I’ll be like “yo, how do you not know this dudes history and you don’t even have his birthday right” you know what I’m saying? But it is what it is. But the first generation was Big Shug, Suave D, and Guru. And Guru studied at Morehouse in Atlanta. So when they decided to form Gang Starr, it was in Atlanta,. That’s why when I have an Atlanta hat on, it has a big significance to me since it signifies the beginning of Gang Starr. So it started there, and then Shug started getting caught up in the streets, went to jail, Suave broke out then which led to the formation of the second generation which was Guru, Dame Mo Deeski, Mike D – DJ 12BDOWN, and Mike’s brother, Tracy or Gangstar T.

So how did this transition you into being an integral part of Gang Starr?

Guru said “I want you in the group,” but I initially refused because I wanted to bring my guys along from Texas but they weren’t interested in them. My main emcee came to NY with me to try and get things to click so we could regroup and do things up here. However, he became frustrated and joined the Navy. Thus, I readdressed the situation now that I don’t have my guy. I didn’t really plan on joining the group because that just wasn’t my mission, I wanted to produce. Then they said “Hey, why don’t we cut a couple records and see if we can get something popping between ya’ll”. That is when me and Guru started to build. I had met him a year prior and we just talked, smoked a blunt together in a club, and he took me around, but it went no further than that. Once I was about to join Gang Starr, me and him started to talk on the phone a lot more on how were going to style the first record. That’s when I did the “Words I Manifest”-beat. He did the rhymes over the phone, I had to go back to school to take some exams, I then came back and the record took off. We were surprised it took off, and from there I signed the contract.

How would you address this invisible struggle between mainstream versus “underground hip-hop”?

You know that’s the reason why we were respected. For example, EPMD stayed true to the grit. Every album was grimey and hard, and they’re from Long Island, coming hard. And they didn’t let the money influence them. They were getting their decent share of money because they were an independent label getting gold albums, so they were probably clocking more paper than us because we’re getting bigger figure deals but we got to re-coop all of that. You know, and that itself is another issue in itself. When you start thinking about that in terms of “yeah I got a nice house, I got two BMWs”, you think am I going to lose all of that because they don’t want to support the more underground stuff. And then the major labels try to catapult you to the mainstream level since the

streets have already reacted to your music. But this was never our intention.

That’s why N.W.A., Public Enemy and them blew up, they stayed gritty and the kids in the suburbs wanted that gritty feel. And this has not changed. They are trying to get a closer look at the streets through our music.

I have always wanted to be where the danger was, even when I first started out in Texas. I wanted to feel and see what made these records coming out of these areas sound like that and that’s why I came here at a time, because NY was the only place to get accepted. Texas only had a few groups back then.

So you just recently dropped “Get Used To Us”- Can you give us a little background on this new compilation project?

I planned it a couple of weeks. I’m actually doing this to stall the albums. The albums I have are all near the end of being done. I got to mix, sequence and get it mastered. I had an album drop in 2008 with the NYG’z, I dropped a Blaq Poet album in 2009, so instead of being like, “No we’re not going to make December,” I said let’s do a compilation real quick. It still carries its weight, the music and everything is air tight. I got the veterans like KRS-One, Grand Puba, Freddie Fox and Lady of Rage. Then I got a newer generation of what’s really good, like Royce, Joell Ortiz, Saigon, Papoose and Teflon from M.O.P. So I got that both segments locked down. It’s a nice little combination of all these projects I’ve been doing, I just pulled songs from each project and compiled them in order to have something to drop and it’s going to be that official.

Speaking of KRS-One can you tell us more about that project, as well as the Pete Rock collaborative project you have set up?

Well KRS-One just came back from tour. He was out in Europe for two months doing his thing over there. So we sat down, and his idea was to do a trilogy. “Return of the Boom Bip Volume One.” It is going to be the first one and will drop on my label Year Round Records. The second one he’ll place it wherever he wants to place it. The third one will be a live DVD and live CD where we’ll go to five different cities. He wants to do London, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and maybe two other places and rip the shows down from those first two albums. We’ll pull the best ones audio-wise and then put that out. Then of course the video footage which we’ll offer as a package, where you can buy all three albums or buy them separately.

Just like the Barbie and Ken doll. Buy them all together or sold separately you know what I’m saying (laughs). I’m from the Barbie and Ken era, I had sisters and they had the EZ bake oven so that’s what the album really is. Then when the new year comes around, it’s going to be back to back with the album drops. DJ Premier & Pete Rock, DJ Premier & KRS-One, NYG’z, Khalil, Nick Javas, boom-boom-boom, album-album and that’s how it’s going to come.

What are some of your most memorable moments in the music industry?

Some of my most memorable moments were definitely being in Gang Starr. We made some of the best in history. We’re considered icons and legends so that is something special. I went to the club the other day for my friend’s birthday. All of a sudden all these big bouncers came out like “Oh Premier” starting to get on their knees and praising. When Pharrell sees me, he salutes me.

We’ve achieved a lot, so Gang Starr is the most important thing to me, and for Guru to have me be his business and touring partner, that means a lot

to me too. We made good money, and we were able to take care of hundreds of friends and take care of our families. I was able to buy my mom a mink coat she had on layaway to payoff. You know, that feels good to do stuff like that.

Also when we went on tour with Rage Against The Machine which made me even more grimier on stage. It’s an experience seeing how Zack loses his mind on stage, and Brad on the drums and Tom Moriello on the guitar losing his mind, and seeing Timmy come up on the bass. This was also when I first got my tattoo because his tattoo artist was Gary Cosmo and he tatted me up on that tour. I’ve always told myself if I’m ever gonna tat myself up, I want it the same way that I’m bonafide as a producer. I want a respectable true tattoo artist, someone that’s official, and that’s why I tatted myself with Gary Cosmo, and then Mr. Cartoon did the rest on my other tats. These two bonafide people get mad respect and so that’s who I wanted to bless me with their ink. I just don’t go to anybody for a tattoo. All mine have a meaning and I’m not one of those just to get tatted up so I look all tough, nah. Mine are all significant, and all stand for something. Some people get tatted up just to get a look, unfortunately you just can’t remove it afterwards.

Can you tell us how your record label Year Round Records got started?

I started Year Round Records because of how the labels really started to soften up and water down the music, and artists we’re actually going for that. Then when you got over 30 they didn’t even want to deal with you any more. Too many conversations went like

“Ah I think we’re gonna have to let you go.”

“But I’m still dope, but I’m still relevant.”

“Yea but you know you’re not 18 anymore and it’s a young sport.”

Music has an age limit?

Music should be good any time anywhere, music shouldn’t have an age limit. It has a date and a time it as to when it was created. But it doesn’t have a limit. That’s why when you turn on the radio and the dial, you can hear all these variations but it doesn’t say limited to this age. This ain’t, a toy ages 6 and up. It’s music. I’ve done this for 22 years with Guru and Gang Starr, I know what to do now.

The only difference is, we couldn’t get no funding so I had to finance everything myself. I said to myself, I’m going to sell my house and reopen this legendary D&D studios and change it into the Headqcourterz Studio in memory of my homeboy Raz. The Raz who died two days after Jam Master Jay, who I dressed in the casket for his mother. I’ve never done nothing like that. All of these things were just for hip hop and I did it. I wasn’t worried like, “Ahh man I gotta get a smaller crib” I was like “Nah I’m about to turn this into another multi-million dollar empire”.

I know how to move and I know how to dip and dive and that’s another thing too that makes you hip hop. You have to know how to move properly. I always think like I’m being watched and that’s a paranoia of mine but not to the point where I’m kukoo and crazy. I understand how the entertainment world works, because I’ve been in it so long, lived it and I’ve experienced every element of it.

I really do care on every level regarding why I’m on this planet for you know, so my label was the perfect idea. I have three artists, the NYG’z, Khalil, and Nick Javas. They’re all different, they all bring something different to the table.

If you weren’t DJ Premier, what do you seeing yourself doing in life right now?

I have no clue, I mean I was taking computer science in college but the crazy thing is all the crazy languages I learned are no longer here anymore. I know I would’ve elevated if i stayed in that field, but I seriously don’t know. Even if I wasn’t doing hip hop, DJ-ing and scratching, I still would’ve wanted to play bass or be a drummer. I’d want to be affiliated with music in some sort of way. I love sports but I already knew I wasn’t going to be an NFL star, so you have to think realistically where you’re going to be. I already had bad knees after junior high from a motorcycle accident. I was already destroying my body, face first boom, no helmet, teeth knocked out, stitches in my mouth, crutches, missing football practice, so I already knew. Like Nick Javas said, thought “I’d be a legend in athletics but then i had to dead it.” So I found another sport, I love this game, that’s hip hop, music and production and DJ-ing, I love this game.

Interview: Davis Huynh
Photography: Raymond Echevers

Ratatat x PRADA spring

2011-01-26T18:38:00.000+02:00

2011-01-18T17:25:00.001+02:00

too many from t.gill on Vimeo.

2010-12-22T01:20:00.001+02:00

Opolopo - Voltage Controlled Feelings Mixtape by Tokyo Dawn Records on Mixcloud

independent study 3-7

2010-09-15T00:22:00.002+03:00

a 1, 2 a one two...

2010-09-01T23:48:00.001+02:00

What a Pick-Up: eKalimba by David Bellinger

2010-02-11T22:19:00.009+02:00

this is my friend David Bellinger, he lives in Portland, Oregon. He's been building Kalimbas, also known as Mbiras for twenty plus years. i first stumbled upon him after buying and watching a CD/DVD called 'Congotronics 2: Buzz 'n' Rumble from the Urb 'n' Jungle [Live]'- check out the video snippet from it at the bottom.

Either way, i saw and heard this African music and was blown away by its literal electricity. Upon a quick google search to find out more I saw that David had been doing this domestically in the states for years. He has a shop, you can email, write, or phone him direct at his site. www.ekalimba.com. you can find more stuff there and on his myspace./ndouvid (although it looks like he hasn't been on since october).

opened envelopes

2010-02-02T03:39:00.000+02:00

prophet'able

2010-02-02T03:16:00.002+02:00

2010-01-24T06:41:00.000+02:00

@ethersphere8 by WorldS.

2010-01-24T06:40:00.001+02:00

@ethersphere8 �by� WorldS.

this is the future...for me

2010-01-20T05:28:00.000+02:00

out of the laboratory archive

2010-01-13T03:43:00.000+02:00

Pacha Theorem by WorldS.

2010-01-13T03:41:00.001+02:00

Pacha Theorem �by� WorldS.

boomBOOmTisht.

2010-01-06T15:42:00.000+02:00

Back2TheBeat pt.II Old-School Hip-Hop tribute by Nomadic Trackz

 http://t.opsp.in/CNwQ

Simply Beautiful: Yay!! for homeade instruments + classically trained musicians

2009-12-14T19:26:00.000+02:00

dope collab

2009-12-12T19:26:00.001+02:00

RBMA Radio - Karriem Riggins (Los Angeles, USA) - Flash Player Installation

2009-12-12T19:22:00.000+02:00

RBMA Radio - Karriem Riggins (Los Angeles, USA) - Flash Player Installation

2009-12-12T19:21:00.000+02:00

RBMA Radio - Karriem Riggins (Los Angeles, USA) - Flash Player Installation

lonely holidays with Gonjasufi

2009-11-22T04:26:00.000+02:00

Trek to Terabithia (with little water) by WorldS.

2009-11-16T06:51:00.001+02:00

From the origins of this journey; WorldSpectacular and his comrades MRK82 and Ras Judah embark on a lifetime journey, in which they must partake in an epic trek across the Sudan and up to the northern horn of Africa before taking a hot air balloon across the Mediterranean Sea, and into Europe. Their travels see them transport telepathically, and physically by many forms of modern transportation in order to find the truth. With few resources, they depend on one another, a keen astrological connection, and the vibrations of mother earth, herself. Although unbeknownst to them at the time of searching these lands, part of their purpose is to locate their ancient kingdom and ultimately restore Ma'at for literal, metaphorical, and the metaphysical benefit of the sun, moon, and stars.
Trek to Terabithia (with little water) by WorldS.

Hudson Mohawke - Butterstar Galactica

2009-11-07T21:47:00.001+02:00

MysterySch0Ool jam: "goldenMAGICkick"

2009-11-03T23:47:00.000+02:00

WorldSpectacular (MysterySchoo0L) boutique jam from Jae Pitt on Vimeo.

Shout out Marcel y el Prezidente

01 random multiplexer by navs

2009-11-01T10:31:00.001+02:00

01 random multiplexer by navs

BROKENFADERREVIEW.BLOGSPOT.COM

2009-10-31T23:56:00.000+02:00

"FALL FREAKwensee" track up on brokenfader.blogspot.com

Quintron: Light Generated Synth...let's just call it WICKED!!!

2009-10-22T05:32:00.000+02:00

"Swamp Tech" pioneer Quintron is on some nuttiness to say the least. saw this over at xlr8r, its called drum buddy. the box is activated by light, has ins so you can connect other things through it. this guy hooks up a synth drum, a portable record player, and a television. Truth be told, guess real hiphop is kind of based around innovative geekiness. Yet, once you style on the rigged equipment SUPER HARD-its like- 'I'm fresh as hell, yeah, you know.' This is insane just watch.

go to www.drumbuddy.com to see more pictures of this mad scientist's lab

A:ethersphere exhibit

2009-10-05T00:44:00.000+02:00

ethersphere8: electric moustache gallery
from summer-july-ish
some dope works by my good friend andrew fansler and myself

we hadn't spoke in months, besides an occassional email

and yet things were very cohesive for the show. i got tons more images and video, so once i stop playing around, the full visual sex effect can take place.

MysterySchoool jam@gallery hop

2009-10-04T23:33:00.001+02:00

Music From The Spectacular Video by Prezident - MySpace Video

Shared via AddThis

Thanks MR.F the Prezident for the footage

2009-10-04T23:20:00.000+02:00

Music From The Spectacular

Luca De Rosso's master's thesis...What the fuck!!!

2009-07-01T09:01:00.000+03:00

OTTO is a functioning prototype combining interactive hardware and computer software, the invention of Luca De Rosso. He produced the design as a thesis project for his masters’ degree in Visual and Multimedia Communications at IUAV University of Venice. It uses the Arduino open source hardware platform and Cycling ’74’s Max/MSP software, and Luca accordingly is quick to credit the assistance of those two communities. In that sense, two, I think it points to lots of new design in the field of integrated hardware and software – not just standalone hardware or standalone software or generic controllers for anything, but hardware that itself behaves like software.

OTTO ~ demo.01 from Luca De Rosso on Vimeo.

dorian concept + flying lotus + GLK + Alex Bonfanti jam at brainfeeder london By Ques, on June 23rd, 2009, at 1:46 pm +ill visuals by dr.strangeloop

2009-06-24T07:31:00.000+03:00

Pixelh8: the New Media Museum-home computing exhibition

2009-06-02T00:44:00.000+03:00

more on this at this link here________>>>>. http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/digitalp

Pixelh8 is a genius!!! Treading that fine line that is very intelligent, or even geeky-in a video game programmer kind of way AND waayyyy hip, foreward thinking, audio jock; Pixelh8 is doing wonderful things in the music, design, and even historical worlds.

he approached the new media museum in london, england about a sound project. the new media museum basically houses all of the oldest computers you can ever think of. So he goes, records them, mics their hisses and buzzing, and beeping, and blirping, as well as the other atmospheric qualities of the place, like the sound of all these archaic machines on together at once. You know, like the sound of your office space at work that you never pay attention to until you're the only one there and its just you and the machines in some kind of weird harmony.

Either way, go to FutureMusic's online site to read, see, hear more about it-he's in the latest edition. Pick it up in a store near you as well.

and just so you can see the shit i'm talking about, enjoy these videos from Pixelh8's 'Obsolete' release that came out a couple of weeks ago and check my blog roll for his site.
"Math" from 'Obsolete'

Math from Pixelh8 on Vimeo.

MONSTER:

Monster from Pixelh8 on Vimeo.

"Rewind the Tape" from 'Obsolete'

Rewind The Tape from Pixelh8 on Vimeo.

and you know what else is sick...how this dude created an easy to use music software and gave it away for free so that UK schools could use it as a teaching tool. America's 'Save the Music' where you at?!

Calling all Nerdus Audiophilus!-Handmade Music Conference

2009-05-30T03:33:00.000+03:00

OFFF Digital Design Conference in Portugal: DIY

2009-05-30T02:54:00.000+03:00

Estevan Oriol interview: May 18, 2009

2009-05-27T00:36:00.000+03:00

"Cheap photos aren't good and good photos ain't cheap"

fast forward(up to right now) at least. 5hours ago

2009-05-21T19:34:00.000+03:00

posted by mr.hudon.

First of all, Rihanna is very hot. like, duh, why did i even have to type that at all?

BECAUSE in this new video she's even more hottTT!!!-she doesn't speak or sing(could that be it?) i think the proper word here is allure. AND Kanye (regardless of what your opinion is) 's really doing cool videos, even if that only applies to Hip-Hop( i know the bar is kind of low).so yea, "Paranoid" by Kanye West ft. Mr Hudson with an appearance by the real sex kitten Rihanna. Artistic like in classic black and white.

SoundOff TV Exclusive: Kanye West- Paranoid (Starring Rihanna) from LowKey on Vimeo.

RE(w/m)INDER #2 continued

2009-05-21T18:55:00.000+03:00

RE(w/m)INDER #2 continued

2009-05-21T18:39:00.000+03:00

WHAT?! still don't believe me?

RE(w/m)INDER:

2009-05-21T18:19:00.000+03:00

TRUST ME!!! if you ever get to experience this live,
as the saying goes, "YOU ALREADY KNOW"-cliche, but oh so true. This video is only a sec but its taped by yours truly. M'Shede was working security for the Clan so i got stupid close with Ced's little camera.

i won't usually say much or anything at all in these posts titled "RE(w/mINDER" because the point of this new part of my blog is that its supposed to be nostalgic to those in the know. it goes without saying. They are rewinder reminders. so with that said, you know when that beat came on it was dumbed out silly. Millenium Center, few years back, in the name of a reunion tour(pre 8diagrams) and YES! all 9 members were present.

Thnks wes for taking me last minute, out of everybody you coulda called.

RE(w/m)INDER:

2009-05-21T17:55:00.000+03:00

it's hard for me to miss people when i feel they're still with us

2009-05-21T00:46:00.000+03:00

i couldn't just leave the last post alone as is, as i felt i needed to post this for my brother Gui.
Dolo you're forever living in my heart. However, do miss your cool charisma, that laugh, "what's good man?...do it then", and all around great personality.Seems like this time a year i always feel you in a breeze or smell you in a garden. thanks for teaching me how to use photoshop back when, and turning me onto to the most underground Hip-Hop. I remember your friend came to visit and all y'all did was talk Portuguese like it was nothing. it was then i said this brother fluent, didn't even grow up there like that, but true to his roots! This cat is talented. And you never would've said so yourself. No talk. Just action. 'Telephooooooone...just fly awayyyy to heaven brotha....just save a place for meee.'

FAT SHOUTS to NuFaces!!!!!

One of my, if not MY FAVORITE GUITARISTS...

2009-05-20T22:41:00.000+03:00

so nice i had to post it twice. My brother in creativiy MRK82, menes rebezzar kedar, a St.Croix/Virgin Islands native, and Durham NC resident, is truely ill with it people. we met in college when i beat him in a freestyle battle(two sides to every story), only to have the crowd demand more( cause shit was truely high in entertainment value). So, in this extra ACapella round Menes won a much needed $50, and while my crew was all in my ear, 'Yo! that was that bull..., you had that!,etc'- i took it upon myself to go outside and find this kid and tell him how much i respected him as an emcee, and that i'd yet to meet someone on campus to challenge me like that. To say the least, Mrk was incredibly humble, extremely confidant, and shit was mutual. Basically, we been friends ever since, especially after he came into this head shop Buddha's Belly where i happened to be working, to find we both shared a love for visual art, amongst other things as well. ENTER, the keystone to it all, our other brother, from Brazil, via Hickory, NC- Gui/ Guilherme Tovares O'liveira (Doloveira). Together, us three(the stongest number there is) formed Konphlux(82's idea) after Gui wanted to start some kind of site. I just wanted to do some designs and have an outlet. It has become so much more since as a result of menes, his networking, and ultimately honest vibes about its growing. I could go on more about how influential he and i's mentor Kruma Kedar has been. Kruma has spent hours kicking that O.G. wisdom to us, but in a more spiritual way, and suggeste to me one of my favorite books; The Flower of Life(check it on wikipedia or something). Nonetheless, check out the flux as 82 just casually rips with ease in his bedroom cooling. Skanking. Again, you may find some technically sound guitarist/bassist out there who took suzuki in elementary school, but this dude is self-taught, begun like most w/ a lil acoustic he tuned by ear in the dorm, and now look! The rawness, or shall i say pureness in which he plays does it for me. I've never NOT felt some kind of emotion when i hear him play. Ok, check the flux.

i'd have to make an entirely different blog about his design stuff. crazy space age vector art, it gets reall nuts!!

myspace.com/mrk82
waysnmenes.com
kfxmusic.com

fff

The Aquarian alignment 14th February 2009

2009-05-18T20:39:00.001+03:00

The Aquarian alignment 14th February 2009

Posted using ShareThis

Gordon Voidwell with another one here: "Ivy League Circus"

2009-05-12T23:50:00.000+03:00

of of his 'Ivy League Circus EP' on Latchkey Recordings. Yes, these are the same cats who put out Team Blackout (Rev. Run's son's group off of MTV Reality show Run's House) ACCEPT this actually sounds decent and is not gimmicky. Really, Kether Gallu-Badat and his team are pretty good and also did the Joell Ortiz stuff and other solid releases. Voidwell did the video too for this one.

Ivy league Circus from Gordon Voidwell on Vimeo.

Muhsinah in London (footage and interview)

2009-05-06T22:00:00.000+03:00

Sad to hear 'Triangle' release won't be for a while but this will hold me over (for like a week)

new song Muhsinah made for the 7" single that was release as part of Arale's series of producer showcases. Enjoy!

Read the recap of the show on pinboard along with an exclusive interview.

ARALE 01 Launch - Muhsinah Live (PinBoardBlog.com) from Speeakz on Vimeo.

FUCK YOHr RIMS!!!

2009-05-06T00:15:00.000+03:00

LATER FOR YOUR BOX CHEVY ON 60inch rims-THIS IS AN OLD SCHOOL, how it 'Posed to be done.
(i love it when they break these out downtown when it gets warm) Truely classic style, none of this let me put someone else's logo on my shit FOR FREE and be the Oreo Cookie Box Caprice shit.

photo by jaeson pitt

WWW.HEROES ON CANVAS.COM

2009-05-05T23:41:00.000+03:00

This is a really good thing here so please go check it.
I couldn't get any of the images off because its a Flash site and i'm not techy or computer savvy nuff to do so. Regardless, i ran across this during my monthly periodical binge. I can't begin to tell you what zine put me up on this. Its one of the best Flash websites i've seen since the Stylewars.com( by Mare 139) joint back when it was released on DVD, which won stupid Flash site awards back when.

ANYWAYS... this project couples some graphic designers from all over with dj's from all over. The dj gets immortalized in a graphic, which is then transferred via Giclee(too dumb to find accents on here too)Printing to 18x40inch canvas. They are done in limited quantities and at relatively reasonable costs. LARGER THAN THAT though is THE BIG PICTURE (R.I.P. Big L)- all of the funds, and I mean ALL (minus some costs for printing and artist's commission) goes to help kids infected with HIV/AIDS. There is a dance program that is dedicated to, which helps lift the spirits, at least, of these youngsters. SO, for more info definitely go check and if nothing else witness some people usint their gifts for good and not JUST profit for once. ANd if thats not enough, all my web design heads, get a little inspiration for your own Flash site.

last night's R.E.M. sleep

2009-04-30T10:14:00.000+03:00

Virtual Reality at Duke

2009-04-28T06:30:00.000+03:00

Last friday i went to Duke University with some students, visited the John Hope Franklin center and kicked it with Fatimah Tuggar, the international visual artist from West Africa. She showed us her latest exhibit as part of her Fellowship there and we went into this virtual reality studio where she made this incredible environment. check out the crazy pics below, the virtual glasses are that next level ish for true. other highlights included there amazing international library, incredible student union burritos, and the historic smell of their Rare book room.

Dam Funk in the Funkmosphere Lab

2009-04-23T00:41:00.000+02:00

I"M LOVIN THIS HERE-Go get Damon's latest on Stones Throw.com

DâM-FunK In L.A. | Funkmosphere Lab ~ 4.09

"Frank N Dank that's whatsup, Dilla Dawg...thats wassupp"

2009-04-15T18:21:00.000+02:00

Courtesy of On-Point.be- Jay Dee's best friends Frank'N Dank talk about their beloved homie at Kid Sublime's studio in Amsterdam. THink this was posted late last month, but it brings a smile to my face to hear their enthusiasm about a really genuine relationship.

Frank-N-Dank Interview (J Dilla)
by on-point

Del the Funky Homosapien is B'aaack

2009-04-11T01:13:00.001+02:00

<a href="http://delthefunkyhomosapien.bandcamp.com/album/funk-man-the-stimulus-package">Get it right now! by Del The Funky Homosapien</a>

DAM FUNK interview and playlist

2009-04-02T23:17:00.000+02:00

Go listen to some good Boogie music. Dam Funk is interviewed and by future-vintage radio. Preetyy dope stuff from Stones Throw's Funk man.

check: www.futurevintage.radio6.nl/2009/04/02future-vintage-playlist-dam-funk-interview/

Team Teamwork Presents The Ocarina of Rhyme

2009-03-24T22:05:00.000+02:00

Ocarina of Rhyme features ten tracks, including pairings like Aesop Rock & Goron Village, MF Doom & Horse Race at Lon Lon Ranch and Dre/Snoop over the Zelda treasure theme.

myspace.com/teamteamwork

Warriors of Radness-i'm loving this brand name

2009-03-24T21:49:00.000+02:00

Some new clothiers- that i assume love surfing, and are gearing their gear towards surfer dudes everywhere. Garments look cool, nothing extremely ground-breaking. Going with the street wear tides, red.blck plaid, etc. but i did see some cool board shorts and some other items that could help them carve out their niche. Basically, I had to post about them on the name alone. Good shit WOR

WarriorsofRadness.com-go check

IT"S NOT A GAME

2009-03-24T21:18:00.000+02:00

ADVENTURE "Poison Diamonds" (dublab VisionVersion) from dublab on Vimeo.

Little Boots in her bedroom

2009-03-20T23:15:00.000+02:00

This is stupendous material here. After a shitty friday( weak paychek from the j.o.), but sunny and feeling good, otherwise, this really boosted my spirits. The reason, i posted a while back how i want a Yamaha Tenori-On (won't be copping it anytime soon with measley checks like this though) . Anyway, i can afford the Japanese synth from Gakken or Gekken, which you build yourself with included parts, and operate via stylus. So... Little Boots must've been in my brain b/c i stumbled on this video and she's killing both the Tenori and Gekken, while playing piano and dusts it off with some hand claps (this white girl has great rhythm and hand/eye coordination). But yeah, check the video. And....later on, if you see me out playing with a similar setup, i'm not a biter, i was just too broke to make things reality sooner...Maybe i treat myself to some dollar bin records to make me happy this weekend. About all i can do.

Joedilla.podomatic.com

2009-03-15T00:03:00.000+02:00

Viberian Rhythms

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March 04, 2009 10:05 AM PST

_1636506.jpg" src="http://joedilla.podomatic.com/mymedia/thumb/1143676/460%3E_1636506.jpg">

This mix is going to grab you by your ear drums and slap you over the head with them...There are a lot of bangers on here... Hope you enjoy.

Space INTRO

01.SA-RA - Unreleased
02.KenLo Craqnuques - Oiseau (Bleu)
03.Cromagnon - Galactic Mellow (Grooveman Spot re-mix)
04.Dwight Trible & The Life Force Trio - Otherworldly Instr.
05.FLYamSAM - Unreleased
06.Sir OJ - LaLa
07.Shafiq Husayn - Unreleased
08.00Genesis - Lost But Safe
09.Karriem Riggins - Unreleased
10.Elaquent - Graffiti High
11.Dwele - Beep me, Find me
12.J Dilla - Ma' Dukes Instr/Thank You Jay Dee #7
13.Madlib - Unreleased
14.Dibiase - Brazilian Lady Buddah Lounge
15.Moonlite - unreleased
16.Sir OJ - Constant
17.KenLo Craqnuques - Abstracteur (Bleu)
18.Leneko - Akedam
19.Knxwledge - Rite
20.Quasimoto - The Exclusive Instr.
21.D'angelo - Brown Sugar (Alt Vesion)
22.Ceaser Frazier - Sweet Children
23.J Dilla - Reminsce Instr.
24.RLP - Tea Leaf Dancers re-mix (live@exposure)
25.Count Bass D - Dro Grown
26.Madlib - King Chop (Top Line)
27.Bahamadia - True Honey Buns (Dat Freak Shit)
28.Flying Lotus - eTHnics
29.00Genesis - Unreleased
30.Elaquent - Sleep Walking
31.Dakim - The Slop
32.Oddisee - Newtimers
33.Flying Lotus - Slow It Down
34.?? - ??
35.Madlib - Unreleased
36.Arthur Verocai - Na Boca Do Sol
37.Jay Electronica - My World (Nas Salute)
38.SA-RA - Unreleased
39.Muhsinah - Jet Boat (Boozina)

The Influence

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Computers have been able to do amazing things for a while now

2009-03-13T22:09:00.000+02:00

Bicycle Built for Two Thousand from Aaron on Vimeo.

Can You Name All of These Machines?

2009-03-13T21:45:00.000+02:00

Gordon Voidwell: Close as it gets to sounding like Prince(but not sounding like Prince)

2009-03-03T20:35:00.000+02:00

Gordon Voidwell (pictured),Gordon Voidwell: The alter-ego of multi-instrumentalist Will Johnson, Gordon Voidwell's doughy, glitchy pop calls to mind a Prince-fronted Passion Pit.

Gordon Voidwell - White Friends

Gordon Voidwell - Ivy League (Circus Remix)

Gordon Voidwell's RCRD LBL Page

dendenmushi- MARCH VJ OF THE MONTH

2009-03-01T00:28:00.000+02:00

dendenmushi is the dopest vj out of Paris, France-collaboration in the works.

HD//////videomusic for moabi/////ddm from dendenmushi on Vimeo.

dendenmushi@no-log.org

myspace.com/vjdendenmushi

Jana Mashonee

2009-02-27T03:06:00.000+02:00

CORRECTION: New Moon Born is the proper title...Uh, duuhhhh. guess its obvious what i'm most interested in. But seriously, she has good music( ahem- grammy nominee) and represents for all American Indians across the map.

Jana covers Sam Cooke

2009-02-27T03:03:00.000+02:00

Click below(AT THE VERY BOTTOM) and watch Jana Mashonee's Youtube video( i'm not smart enough to have the video actually up already, basically, i don't have a Youtube account-seriously). Either way, like many others have attempted, she sings the Sam Cooke original 'A Change is Gonna Come'. It's actually rather decent/good/better than the others, although it seems to take a minute for her to get her momentum ( guess she studied the original too closely or something).

A bit of background. Jana is from North Carolina, now lives in Connecticut, is a member of the Lumbee tribe (same as my grandfather). Note: Somewhere between Lumberton and Virginia, Lumbee and Cherokee distinguish themselves differently, but they are basically from the same lineage. And... she has a new album out called 'New Born Moon'. She's been around for a minute, I first checked her in Raleigh, NC for a free show she did some years ago.

I used to have a crush on Jana, and still kind of do. Her video doesn't even show how hot she really is. Oh! and it features guitar by Derek Miller. She's such a 'Pocahontas'. SO FLYYYYY...
so beautiful, so sexy. But enough. Good, soulful, spiritual, music.

janamashonee.com or myspace.com/janamashonee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI3fci4T8kA

Kaws Show Review + Photo Gallery

2009-02-25T03:26:00.000+02:00

KAWS - The Long Way Home - Show Review

mardi 24 février 2009, par Michael Dupouy

Retour sur le show majeur de l’artiste américain KAWS à la galerie Honor Fraser de Los Angeles.

Il y a des signes qui ne trompent pas. Près de 10 ans après la légendaire exposition Street Market organisée à la galerie Deitch de New York, la street culture vient de vivre un nouveau tournant important dans la reconnaissance de ses artistes par le club fermé de l’art contemporain. En quelques mois, le natif du New Jersey Brian Donnelly - plus connu sous le nom de KAWS - vient en effet de donner une suite majeure à l’oeuvre que Barry McGee, Steve Powers et Todd James avaient entamé en octobre 2000 chez le célèbre galeriste New Yorkais.

Bien entendu, il ne s’agit pas d’atténuer la portée d’autres expositions tout aussi légendaires - Beautiful Losers en tête - mais d’ouvrir les yeux sur le caractère exceptionnel du dernier show de KAWS, The Long Way Home, en terme d’attente suscitée, d’engouement et de plébiscite généralisés, mais aussi en terme de diversité des visiteurs et des heureux acquéreurs.

Si vous suivez de près ou de loin les différentes "cotes" des artistes que l’on aime défendre ici, vous n’êtes pas sans savoir que l’effervescence exponentielle autour de KAWS depuis de nombreuses années est assez incroyable. Pour autant, celle-ci n’avait qu’une influence limitée au delà des frontières dites street. Car depuis 2002, l’artiste a pris beaucoup de temps, avant d’enfin revenir exposer son travail en galerie. Après tout, rien ne l’obligeait à se précipiter. Et aujourd’hui, tout tend à donner raison à cette patience maitrisée.

En quelques mois, son talent s’est enfin exprimé au déla de son studio de Brooklyn, pour s’afficher sur les murs des galeries d’Emmanuel Perrotin à Miami, de Gering & Lopez à New York, et surtout sur ceux d’Honor Fraser à Los Angeles le week end dernier, pour ce qui est à ce jour, son solo show le plus abouti, le plus complet et le plus impressionnant.

Enfin offert aux yeux de tous, et non plus uniquement à ceux de son cercle privé de collectionneurs (Nigo, Masamichi Katayama, Mark Parker, Pharrell Williams pour ne citer qu’eux), son travail peut enfin être reconnu, jugé, apprécié ou critiqué par une autre sphère d’influence, qui ne lui est pas forcément familiaire à la base.

Pari risqué, mais quasi obligatoire, pour franchir l’éternelle barrière qui sépare un "street artist" d’un "fine art artist" comme aiment le dire les américains. Ainsi, KAWS s’est offert un show complet, proposant dans un premier temps un lien majeur avec ce qui a fait sa gloire chez ses premiers fans. Ses personnages légendaires sont donc là, mais ils sont emportés par une certaine démesure : son Chum est ainsi présenté à la fois en statue géante en fibre de verre, mais aussi dans une série de bronzes tout en couleurs exécutés avec une finesse à faire pleurer ceux qui collectionnent ses oeuvres en vynil !

Dans une pièce entière dédiée au Kurfs - sa réinterpréation des Smurfs (schtroumpfs) - on prend un plaisir fou à observer le retour de ses mythiques Products Paintings, ses fameux canvas peints et packagés comme des toys sous blisters, devenus inoubliables depuis les précédents Kimpsons exposés à la Parco Gallery de Tokyo en 2001.

Pour autant, si les références au passé de l’artiste sont bel et bien là, elles laissent aussi la place à de nouvelles peintures, plus abstraites, plus riches en détails, moins faciles d’accès mais toujours aussi maitrisées techniquement, comme en témoigne son canvas Ruled Out, et son subtil travail des noirs.

On prend facilement goût à ce nouveau style, rempli de références obligeant à poser le regard de nombreuses fois sur chacune des pièces, ou à ses nouveaux personnages, qui pour une fois, n’ont ni croix sur les yeux, ni crossbones sur la tête, rappelant ainsi que Brian Donnelly est avant tout un formidable cartoonist.

Quelques jours après la folie provoquée par le vernissage (campements sauvages organisés plusieurs heures avant l’ouverture, centaines de personnes qui n’ont pas pu accéder à la galerie faute de capacité d’acceuil, bureau de la galeriste littéralement envahi de demandes pour acquérir les oeuvres alors que celles-ci étaient déjà pré-vendues), on peut légitimement se dire que quelque chose de majeur s’est produit à Los Angeles ce 21 Février 2009.

Selons les dires d’Honor Fraser qui exposait KAWS pour la première fois, jamais aucun de ses jeunes artites n’avait suscité une telle ferveur : elle avoue avoir reçu près de 600 demandes d’achat de pièces les jours précedents l’ouverture, sans que personne n’ait pu voir à quoi allaient ressembler les oeuvres exposées ! Plus déroutant encore, ces hordes de fans, venus avec des toys, des tshirts, des posters à faire signer, se mélangeant à la presse, aux happy fews et autres collectionneurs réguliers de la galerie. Du jamais vu, une nouvelle fois, et probablement plus distrayant qu’effrayant pour les habitués à la finale.

À l’image de son public très varié, le travail de KAWS s’est toujours situé au croisement de multiples univers, avec un fil rouge tissé dans l’imaginaire collectif. Pierre angulaire de la cuture street, artiste et entrepeneur à la fois, beaucoup sont ceux qui pensent qu’à l’image d’un Keith Haring ou autre Jeff Koons, il sera l’artiste majeur qui incarnera l’évolution du Pop Art dans les années à venir.

Un conseil, gardez précieusement vos Companions, Chums et autres Accomplices. Nous ne sommes qu’au début d’une longue histoire...

KAWS - The long way home
February 21, 2009 — April 04, 2009

Photos : Honor Fraser Gallery, La MJC.

Portfolio

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Sinden's mix from last week: from Mad Decent blog

2009-02-25T03:11:00.000+02:00

Sinden On Kiss ( February 19th, 2008)

Kyla - Do You Mind - Northern Line Records
Gemmy - Johnny 5 - Cdr
Thriller - Freak For You - Thriller
Sbtrkt - Sound Boy Shift - Cdr
Illa J - All Good (Instrumental) - Delicious Vinyl
Trackademiks - Enjoy What You Do - Fools Gold
Serani Ft Raekwon - No Games Remix - Cdr
La Roux - In For The Kill (Skream Remix) - Columbia
The Count Of Monte Cristal & Hervé - Jungle Steppers - Cdr
Diplo And Liadback Luke - Hey! (L-Vis 1990 Remix) - Mad Decent
Jack Beat Vs Dynamite Mc - What! (Boy 8_Bit Remix) - Cheaper Thrills
Roska - Feeline Vip - Cdr
Ugk - Da Game Been Good To Me - Jive
Big Boi - Ring Tone - Arista

ONRA

2009-02-24T01:12:00.000+02:00

In Chinoiseries, French-Vietnamese DJ Onra channels J-Dilla with his own particular twist, sampling vintage pop records collected from flea markets in Vietnam. The crackle and hiss of the old vinyl weaves together the sparkling warbles of resurrected melodies with solid snare and bass beats creating a sound at once nostalgic and original. I am so tempted to make a Donuts - Phonuts pun, but due to the uncooperative phonetics of the delicious Vietnamese staple, I will instead leave you with this anecdote regarding the first of the songs below.

Onra - The Anthem

Onra - Smoking Buddha

Onra - Live from Hue

Onra - One Day

ONRA has a new 7x7 digi-pak release at Turntable Lab. Also of note, I didn't know he made the music for the Coca-Cola commercial that was used for the Beijing Olympics...Major!!!

YO,YO! Son!!-The father of Hip-Hop DJ KOOL HERC, you Unnastand?!!

2009-02-17T02:01:00.000+02:00

Hip Hop Is Reality Summit 2009 on the campus of WSSU. Got a chance to meet the legendary DJ Kool Herc, DJ SPCLGST, and the HBO BBOY crew from Atlanta, Georgia. Very interesting folks.

Herc was explaining his take on the laptop dj versus the DJ, DJ. NOTE: He was carrying his own crates and everything, but made it look effortless as the guy is pretty buff for any age, but especially a 50+ year old person)

He was doing what I have come to call "Herc-Ups" where he repetitiously would drop to the ground in between statements and proceed to do inclined push-ups (jail style)-Which he referred to as "Feeding Time". He considered the down time before his set, his time to stay lean and mean. Either waythis 10-year old kid went on to kill me with several fresh freezes like the one pictured above. He's like double-jointed, ambidextrous, yoga-zen'd out of this fucking world. He had a sick name for this patented move but it got lost as Herc made me cut my recorder off.

So I got to meet one of Hip-Hop's pioneers, see some real B-Boys holding shit down( F**K America's Best Dance Crew-thats another blog, entirely) and hear a panel talk about Hip-Hop, which was okay at best.

Shout to DJ Special Guest( SPCLGST)pictured with red fitted cap, Chelii Broussard, HBO Crew, and Winston-Salem State University.

2009-02-17T01:38:00.000+02:00

My new buddies from France. They got soul + tinge of funk

GET THEIR FREE DOWNLOAD OFF WAX POETICS' SITE. WORD UP!!!

James Pants Radio Show

2009-02-14T02:33:00.000+02:00

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Check Stones Throw artist James Pants Radio show for Carhart, in conjunction with the two brands European tour. Good listening here. Sure the shows will be dope.

He also has a brief interview on here

JAY DILLA MONTH

2009-02-13T02:31:00.000+02:00

Artwork by: Ques

TURN IT UP!
(Listen to Egon of Stones Throw Records on NPR Radio: Briefly discuss his friendship with Jay Dee

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100628822

There have been many tributes this week for Dilla, as he was born on the 7th and passed on the 10th of this month(3 years ago).

Personally, Jay Dilla changed my creative outlook on life. His music has helped me to zone out for hours, making and creating visually. He also, via his many instrumental tapes, CD-Rs, and official albums, made me believe in the musical tracks that I had been making. Upon listening to Donuts on repeat for almost six months to a year (with few exceptions), I finally felt like my 'weird' beats were okay, and my aesthetic of gritty samples, homemade percussion, and overall do-it-myselfness was indeed, okay. Although I knew how inspiring his work had been to me, I was surprised, BUT NOT, to find that he had touched so many others in the same way. Simply put, Jay Dilla's music is almost spiritual. He's talking to us through the samples and the over dub of his voice on each recording.

Either way, make a beat in his memory, draw something ( i did but had trouble posting, maybe later), go get his music, there's lots of it. Celebrate his life, and your own. "The name of the game is Lightworks" (does anyone else hear life works whenever this plays?)

go to StonesThrow.com or Okayplayer.com and you'll find celebrations in NY, LA, Chicago, Detroit, and abroad-where people are celebrating DIlla Month.

inkwash

2009-02-11T03:52:00.000+02:00

Upper Egypt Series #7

2009-02-11T03:20:00.000+02:00

Cover Artwork by Frank Stella
some of you may be up on it but its new to me and it seems like it is kind of 'new'-Plus they got several issues up to download for the FreeZY. Quality reading in both Spanish and English, AND informative downloads of great throwback music. Again, its new to me, so if this description is not dead on forgive me, my die hard Upper Egypt Series heads.

FREE DOWNLOAD OF ISSUE #7:
www.zshare.net/download/55262575cd273

also check their myspace: /upperegyptseries.com

Wynton Marsalis Concert WAS AWESOME

2009-02-02T20:35:00.000+02:00

I went to the Wynton Marsalis jazz concert saturday. IT WAS STUPIDnDous!!!! He was with Jazz Orchestra-and they tore it down. More lovely and intrigueing than the sound, if you can even imagine that- was Marsalis' anectdotes inbetween the music. He said all this stuff to introduce the songs, most of which was re-workings, interpretations, and so on, of the great Thelonius Monk. Either way, he talked about how he went to the Smithsonian, playing a gig, and he asked to see the Duke Ellington libraries/archives of music and(begin run on sentence) how it was like file cabinet after file cabinet and Ellington's music went up to the 20ft. ceilings. And it was just so much material. It was quite inspirational, especially, hearing him talk about intimate friendships with the likes of-and how many of his friends have this crazy work ethic. Then he played "Ugly Beauty" and it waas faaantastic.

There were great solos and let me tell you-Marsalis rolls with no slouches. They all had their own arrangements of Monk's music and stuff. Crazy!!!

But let me tell you. I just bought this new digital field recorder a couple weeks back and don't you know i forgot to bring the damn thing. I could have gotten some super ill drums and whind instruments for my late night snacks. Either way, get a chance to check Wynton-he's so smooth on the horn-his band is top tier- and his stories are worth it in itself. Marsalis is also a mentor to my good friend David Ellis of Barnstormers. NC BABy!! Check David's incredible artwork at freshwatercatfish.org (You've probably seen his style a zillion times and didn't even know it-its like, the most immitated shit out)

Oh! I already knew Trane was from High Point, NC but didn't know that Monk was from Rocky Mount, NC. Cool. Carolina you gotta love it.

blackbook sketches 2

2009-01-22T21:54:00.000+02:00

"dark lady" (has since been finished for WS coffee table book)
email for print. pencil, photoshop
When this was drawn years ago, my homie was like, 'Where the bitch' eyes at, son? She ain't got no soul, son! Bitch is an evil vixen!' (yes, my friends use the b-word, unapologetically) Personally, i was thinking of a quiet temptress of some sort. Femme Fatale tempting men's wallets and hormones, and playing with young girl's self-esteem. She is the somber beauty, dark lady-coming to a commercial near you.

NOTE: These are all some, once fresh images, that have festered on my hard drive. forgive me if they're so rank your computer monitor gets sick. These drawings can still be fresh and new to you though. They are also prints (110lb. stock paper, 8.5x11 or 4x6in, and limited to about a 100 each). Send me something cool through email along with a physical address and you may just get one in the snail mail(i love regular mail, by the way).

"isight" is the first one. pen and inkwash, watercolor
on paper

"DrummerSpeeed" .pen&ink, photoshop gradient
(this was for some animation concepts)
the print comes in black and white or color(blue/red)

pictured left: "S-type"-sketch/scan, photoshop

Historic Days: MLK:Obama

2009-01-20T22:17:00.000+02:00

INAUGURATION DAY: January 20, 2009

The newspaper where I work, The Chronicle, had its annual prayer breakfast yesterday; where we salute the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dream. Many people, young and old, black, white, and hispanic, turned out as usual to celebrate. Like many cities across the nation, it was followed by a march downtown to commemorate the struggle and civil rights movement.
However, this year was extra special as our new President, Barack Obama was to be sworn in the next day. Talk about the stars alignment. Time is truely the realest force on Earth and beyond. So, I say all of this, really, just to put a stake in the ground. It's official. Our 44th President is African-American (in the truest sense) and all of Dr. King and our other great leaders, ancestors, etc. works have not gone in vain. Yet, the fight is not over, it has only begun. Still, it is a time to be joyous and optimistic for a new day in this country. One, in which, whatever dream you chase, whatever life you seek, is attainable through hard work and persistance. No more excuses y'all.

There really is no jump to read more, however, if you are in the spirit and thirst for some more inspiration, check the previous blog from earlier today. It is a video on my folk Mr. DJ and his compadre Jeff B from Dungeon Ratz Productions. DJ is 1/3 of Earthtone III and is known for his legendary and Grammy Award winning productions with Outkast and Organized Noize. This here though my people....this shhhh right here...right herh, family! THIS THAT NEW JOINT OFF COMMON'S 'UNIVERSAL MIND CONTROL' produced by Mr. DJ who helped produce the whole album along with Pharrell of Neptunes. The song after the quick bio of Camp David is a great way to start the first day of our newly sworn in leader. "Make My Day" ft. Cee-Lo Green. CHEEEYAHGHHH!!

Camp David Chronicles/ Common 2nd single off UMC

2009-01-20T22:03:00.001+02:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-ZQambvx4U

NAS over Kanye Beat/ "The World" (i think)

2009-01-16T23:51:00.000+02:00

Yamaha Tenori-On

2009-01-13T01:55:00.000+02:00

Yamaha is on some other shit-for reals. If you haven't seen this in your Future Music magazine or other electronic music publication, take a glance at the site:

http://www.global.yamaha.com/design/tenori-on/

A completely wicked portable music making device, that is MIDI ready, and has a built in sampler and memory card slot. You can use it like an advanced monome box or simply 'light bright' the thing by making shapes on the x/y grid of led's and the image will generate a unique sound. Really get the scoop on the site-where mp3 downloads exist, as well as video clips where select users testify to its coolness, weirdness, functionality,etc.

I guarantee you it will shut your next gig down, or completely lift it up and separate it from the set before or after your.

note: Bjork has some video somewhere of her using it in her stage set.

2009-01-06T00:51:00.001+02:00

Afro-Punk

2009-01-06T00:16:00.000+02:00

<a href="http://afropunk.bandcamp.mu/track/sabatta-didnt-c-it">Sabatta - "Didn't C It" by Afro-Punk</a>

CHECK THIS!!!

2009-01-05T23:23:00.000+02:00

MIKE GIANT INTERVIEW ON FECAL FACE.COM

Fecal Face is one of the best art sites around with new interviews with heavy hitters, posted super often. If you like Juxtapoz, Beautiful Decay, and similar publications, here is a competitive online version. FF is based in San Francisco and is on top of their ish.

New posts include Graffiti photographer Martha Cooper, as she just released her new book about Tags called "Tag Town", which shows the beginnings of writing as we know it- In its most original form. All photos were taken in the 1970's.

http://www.fecalface.com/SF/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1379

Other goodies include studio visits with SF's own Jeremy Fish, video clips, music downloads, and other inspiring bits.

2008-12-29T22:08:00.000+02:00

blackbook sketches

2008-12-29T21:12:00.000+02:00

i guess this is a good way to start bluauahgging(puke)-because basically its just to share things i've been hanging on to or run into. this image is a pencil sketch from , like, 3 blackbooks ago. One of the E.P.B. monsters