Barack'in out...

I love youtube.

Simply because new ideals keep the food fresh...

Greetos.  Wanted to start something new here at the site.

It's called Rare Gems.  Peep the pic!

Sexiness c/o Aurora Pyramid of Hope

     But I digress.  Yes, Rare Gems will be the segment in which we drop [wait for it...] gems that are of rare commodity.  Old or new [most likely the former], joints featured here will be obscure and/or unreleased material, serving no purpose other than to educate the masses and flesh out otherwise light-weighted iTunes collections [*ahem* 138 GB, but no one likes a showboat, so...].   I'm not promising that all of the gems will be priceless, but who doesn't enjoy a nice cubic zirconium once in a while?  Let's go on...

     So...for some reason, people think that Timbaland and Pharrell are rivals.  Not true at all.

     Way back when [circa early 90's], T&P had formed a collective with Magoo called SBI [that's S.urrounded B.y I.diots].  Though no material from that era has been released, there are more recent collaborations between the three that have been made public.  The first I bring to thee is an unreleased joint that didn't quite make it on Pharrell's solo debut.  Produced by Skateboard, with Timbaland & Magoo, it's entitled "Big White Spaceship".  *ahem*  I dare not say what it's about.  Bon appetitty.

     Timbaland also produced a joint for SBI, originally meant to be on his and Magoo's Under Construction II.  Unfortunately, like "Big White Spaceship", this song also didn't make the cut.  It's called "Vulnerable", and while I have a feeling most people will end up like "Spaceship" better, it's still a decent cut, and offers us the opportunity to hear Timbaland's falsetto.  What?  Come on, don't make that face.  Give it a chance.

     And, as [almost] always, the Beloved Bone-us item, a reward for your much appreciated readership.  I bring you a remix of Daft Punk's "Harder Better Faster Stronger", by Coin Operated Boy.  Today's Beloved Bone-us is provided c/o Stoney Roads.  It's more electrified than the original, but...it's worth a listen.  Enjoy.

That's all, bipeds.

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The First Official

First of many, but first none the less. The official Sneakers et Suits Mixtape. Some new rock-a-billy for your life son.

Download Here: More than meets the Eye

Yung Berg's Family isn't happy...

Eh, I guess...Not sure if any of this is real or if it's just some more internet gangsta shit...either way, hilarity. Cat's love busting guns and showing weed on myspace/facebook/youtube...Like the Feds can't track IP Addresses...sheesh.

Anywho, I guess this wouldn't make the situation any better...Transformers.

TLSW5000.

Let this be a lesson to all...

The flashiest person is always the one that loses the battle. Just, SHUT THE FUCK UP sometimes.

New Cool Kids Mixtape

Linked up: Shizzam

Werd^.
TLSW5000

More Michael Phelps news...

More work for the homie...

For the September 23rd season premier Michael Phelps, a.k.a. The fastest thing in the water since Aquaman, will be delivering the opening monologue and partake in the madness of the show.

And who will be the musical guest you may ask? None other than Phelp's Pre-Game Warm-up buddy, "Littlest" Wayne.

This will be both of the gentlemen's first appearance on the show.

Hope it will be as funny as Lebron James did SNL...


Source: Link game like Tiger Woods.

TLSW5000

NEW Common Video

Common ft. Pharrell - Announcement

The whole album is allegedly produced by The Neptunes...not sure how I feel about this. I mean, I like The Neptunes and all, but there was a certain feeling that the last two albums that can only be given to Com-Sense by Kan-theLV-Don. But hey, I could be wrong...Either way, I'm still coppin the album.

TLSW5000

New Gym Class Heroes

Yet again...Linked up like a flea market chain. This song - fortunately for you guys, unfortunate for me(long story); features "Littlest" of Waynes and Dre from the production duo, Cool et Dre. Not really feeling this joint, at least not as much as I was feeling the other joint with Estelle.

I swear, at this rate I will have the whole new album on here far before it drops...hopefully I won't get bashed over the head with a Mic in the process.

TLSW5000

Just a little heads up...

To anyone who actually does read the blog, and there are a few of you...only a few sadly...(TELL SOMEONE ABOUT IT), thanks.

This is nothing else but stuff that me and the hommes would talk about daily anyway, so we post it here. And we are more than glad that you partake in teh madness. Werd^.

Anywho, back to the regularly stated madness...with more on the way...

Also, if you are in Detroit around September 6th and are looking for either sneakers, food, or music...look no further...




Come kick it with the hommes.

TLSW5000.

Michelle Obama Using Racial SLURS!!!!

You be the judge...

TLSW5000

As if you needed ANOTHER reason to f*** with Clipse...

Peeped this from elitaste:

*ahem*  Closer look:

Included, among other things, was a formal letter:

The letter reads:

     If you are receiving this package, know that you are one of the select few that we consider as taste makers and trendsetters and we are privileged to unveil to you the Play Cloths Collection: the fruit of our vision, toil, and ideas.

     The vision of Play Cloths derives from early childhood memories of your mother designating the clothes that were just for school and the ones for play.  This idea had been adapted to our everyday lives...whether you're at play on the streets of Harlem or on the beaches of San Tropez.

     The enclosed garment is just the humble beginnings of what will become a strong movement.  Throughout out travels we have amassed not only a passionate fan base, but also a appreciation for style, quality and individuality.  The end result will be reflected in the output from out brand.  With this we initiate you into the circle.  Wear our insignia with pride.

Welcome to our gang,

Pusha Malice

Pusha & Malice

Clipse

Behold the swag.  [Not "swagg", but "swag".  Wik it up.]

Stickers and such. AND:

Peep that only the left shorts leg and right knee sock have the argyle pattern.  Attention to detail, FTW.

And as always, the beloved bone-us item:

New song from John Legend - "If You're Out There", live at the Democratic National Convention.  Because even metrosexual soul crooners can fall victim to propaganda.  And because no good YouTube video should go unaccompanied [and because iTunes and YouTube aren't integrated...yet], I bring you the mp3 link of the song in question.  Enjoy.  

Oh, apparently that version is different from the live version slightly, so I'll give you the live joint as well.  Bon appetit.  

And that, bipeds, is all.

Socialite Sign-off...

New Q-Tip Video

Q-Tip - Gettin' Up from Q-Tip on Vimeo.

Getting Up by Q-Tip. Should be on the heavily pushed back album, The Rennasaince.

Heard this on the Radio, so I decide to research a little further...

Police in Colorado, the Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating a possible Barack Obama assassination attempt. Aurora, Colorado police arrested 3 men and a woman on drug and weapons charges Sunday. Three of the arrests occurred as the result of a vehicle stop; evidence uncovered in the vehicle led police to a hotel room where a fourth suspect jumped from a fourth floor window to avoid being taken into custody. The suspects in the alleged Obama assassination atttempt are believed to be linked to a white supremacist organization.

Police are investigating whether the 4 suspects intended to carry out the Obama assassination attempt at the Democratic Convention as Obama accepts the Democratic nomination for President Thursday evening. In response to a direct question about whether he came to Denver to assassinate Barack Obama, one suspect is said to have answered "yes." The plot involved shooting a rifle from a distance of 750 yards to carry out the planned Obama assassination. At least one of the rifles in the suspects' car was a sniper rifle.

The United States Attorney's office in Denver will hold a news conference later today to provide information on the status of the investigation into the Obama assassination attempt.

While it is too early to say whether this alleged Obama assassination attempt was substantial, it was almost eerily predictable that it would occur. Even President George W. Bush is said to have privately warned Obama during Obama's first visit to the White House that people would be gunning for him once achieved a national political profile. Former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura suggested in April that an Obama assassination might be carried out by the U.S. government if it looked as though Obama was positioned to take the White House in November elections.

Source: Associated Content

To add to this information, the version that I heard, which was given with an interview with one of the people involved, went on to say that in the vehicle there was, "Bulletproof vests, two rifles, scopes, drugs, wigs, IDs for entry into the convention, and parts of a pistol." The gentlemen involved went on to say in his interview that no colored should be in political office.

Damn son....

TLSW5000

New Joints of the Day

1. Illa J - We Here (Produced by J Dilla)

In case you didn't know, Illa is Jay Dee's brother. I believe the album is tentatively titled, The Yancey Boys. Expect dopeness...

2. 88 Keys ft. Kanye West - Stay Up[Viagra]

Dope concept song about....well, guess....

That is all.

TLSW5000

mp3's o'Fury...& a new Kanye vid!

Been gone  for a min, as you may have noticed...but like a good audit, I return.  Let's get the ball rolling...

Ages ago, Bouier hit you with the YouTube link for N*E*R*D's live video of "Run to the Sun / Stay Together" from '02.  Realizing that bipeds might need that in their life, I *ahem* found the mp3 of that joint, and will provide you with that right about now.  Enjoy.

Now, by association, what know you of Spymob?

 

[yes, I too hate YouTube slideshows, but...best I could do]

Those of you who owned and loved The Neptunes' Clones would remember the song above, "Half-Steering".  And those of you who know thy history would know that Spymob is the band responsible for the live instrumentation in the re-release of N*E*R*D's In Search Of... and most of the guitar and drum work on Seeing Sounds.  But you might not know that they've released three albums [and an EP] on their own, all of which are available on Ruckus for free [yeah, that's right: fuh-ree.]  Go ahead and make that the business.

And of course, hipster faves Justice are at it again.

This time they're remixing the new single from MGMT [that's pronounced "Management", for those of you with overdeveloped vowel dependencies], entitled "Electric Feel".  It's a little slower than most Justice joints, but all the familiar elements are there, so...still enjoyable.  Enjoy.  

Keeping the hipster theme going, I bring thee:

Kanye West - "Good Morning"

So I remember certain clips from this video back for the TV commercial when the album first dropped almost a year ago.  Video is dope, of course.  Then again, what do you expect from world renowned artist/director Takashi Murakami?  [*ahem* Peep his official.]  Peep near the end of the video, when the DeLorean is flying through a list of Kanye's songs from the album.

And as always, the beloved bone-us item.  Vids aplenty, it would seem.  Peeped this from elitaste:

 

Wale & Travis Barker at Barker's studio, swapping on each other's upcoming solo debuts.  Peep that Trav's entire drum set [including sticks and cymbals] are black. Dope to the core.  I think it's awesome how Wale incorporates that go-go sound into most of his music.

That's all, bipeds.

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SHAMELESS PLUG

AMEN AMEN! Bob's Classic Kicks is having a block party on September 6th. Block Party = Food, Music, Fun, and, in True Bobbito Fashion, Art home...LIVE!

$5 to get in
$10 to enter and eat
$8 for students with ID to enter and eat

Werd^.

TLSW5000

I usually don't condone violence of any sort...

Apparently, Yung Berg was supposed to do a show in this hometown of mines Detroit. It was for Hot 102.7 Jamz's Summer Jamz concert. But apparently, the homie was popping large at Trick Trick, one of Detroit's local rappers. The night before, rumor mill has it, Yung Berg got double stomped and chain snatched by Trick Trick at local club, Plan B (shots out to the homies who are the bouncers there; Big Joe, Big Kev, Big Brooke, etc.), who is RELIGIOUSLY known for two things in the city; rolling with about 1000 ninjas ready to fight and snatching ninjas' chains. This cat is like Deebo son. Well, apparently after the thrashing Berg failed to perform the following day at the festival...damn son....

Oh, and that picture isn't of Trick Trick. So the chain has been passed around like, as 50 said, Ja Rule's Pussy.

Detroit....what can I say....

Image and story acquired from local blog site Speech.

TLSW5000

What's sad is...

That this version...



DL Game like Tyler Perry: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?htpywgqyyuj

{Courtesy of Blind I}

Will get more spins then these two, obviously older and much better, versions...



9th Wonder Version



The Late Great Jay Dee aka J Dilla aka Pay Dilla aka Your favorite Producer's Favorite producer...Werd^.

...sigh...The Politics of the Industry...

And as an added bonus, the original version...



Get down with the funk. Billy Paul holds it down son!

TLSW5000

Junya Watanabe, Gotdamn you!

Part 1



Part 2



Part 3

BONUS:

A slightly older show, BUT I love the mix used in the show. Also, it's men's fashion which allows me to watch it a little more. If there are any inquiries about the mix, I'm sure that Murph will rip it, perhaps post it, and you can download it if you so please...Without further ado:



Part 1



Part 2

Werd^.

TLSW5000

THE SHOW MUST GO ON!!!

Courtesy of the Bill Gates of Blogs.

Yes, I realize that this is on EVERY BLOG at this point....

I do want to point out a few things however...



1. Andre 3000, best rapper alive...no arguments...don't embarrass yourself son.
2. The fact that 3 stacks rides out on the old school bike, in the pinstripe navy suit, with the woven straw hat, and the saddle shoes....insanely fresh...
3. Really don't like this song, however, the joint at the end gives me new hope for John Boy's new one...

That is all...

Werd^.

TLSW5000

Quick Drops...

All of them are definitely fresh...Check them out....

New Guilty Simpson off of the new Madlib Album.

N.E.R.D. - Lasergun Carrying (Seeing Sounds Bonus Tracks).

Busta Rhymes - Packin Them Things. Sounds like Bussa Bus is getting back to Scenario roots.

Two New Solange Tracks.

If you have not picked up the new Game CD. Let this and this be the reason...

Why Jazz Sullivan is the truth.

All links from Blind I.

Werd^

TLSW5000.

Robin Thicke - Magic (Official Video)

Robin Thicke - Magic
by Robin-Thicke

As an added bonus, here is the remix with Mary J: Triforce
Double bonus, the version with Free-whizzle, which is actually doper to me: Master Sword

In case you didn't know, for this album Robbie decided to go and get the Trumpet players as well as a few other former Q.Jones House Musicians. Primarily, the ones that were on the legendary Off The Wall cd. Werd^! Why should you care you ask? Here's a good reason...



You know, as much as I like this new version of ol' Robbo, I miss this one...



Then I disappear like Ganondorf...

TLSW5000

I don't know about you....

<a href="http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/sweet_16/series.jhtml">My Super Sweet 16 Presents: Exiled "Sneak Peek"</a> Get an exclusive look at Exiled"s first episode!

But I CANNOT WAIT until this shit comes on...

Season Premiere is Monday, August 25th at 10:30 PM.

TLSW, 5000.

Shameless Plug!

Vote for Bob's Classic Kicks...little healthy competition...nothing TOO serious...I don't think so, unless people make it that way.

Yea, I warned you....

But if you feel compelled to vote, go here. Triforce on that ass...

TLSW, 5000.

New Gym Class Heroes

Song is called Guilty as Charged ft. Estelle. The drums and horns are all kinds of fucksy on this shit, and because of such I like.

Listen to/Download here: Link Game like Zelda

Werd^.

TLSW5000

Mixtape Madness

And If you ain't know...



Now you know, Ninja...

Courtesy of Cooking Soul. The same homies that brought you this Hot Buttery Goodness.

Werd^.

TLSW5000

Pretty Sad homie

In case you haven't already seen this on your favorite blog's favorite blog.


The Archive from Sean Dunne on Vimeo.

Meet Paul. Paul Loves Music. In fact, Paul owns THE largest music collection in the World, yes, THE WORLD! Paul is trying to sell said music collection, due to old age and declining health. The collection is valued at 50 MILLION All American Bill Folds...he is asking for 3, yes again, 3 MILLION All American Bill Folds...Now, If I had the cash I would buy it...but I don't. More importantly, why hasn't some Museum, Mega Producer, or The Library of Congress not bought this AWESOME COLLECTION. I know not, but what I do know is that it is bullshit that this man has not received a single serious offer....Wow....

Peep the Official Link Game like Zelda: http://www.thegreatestmusiccollection.com/index.html.

Video courtesy of Hypebeast.

Werd^.

TLSW5000

Silly Shit of the Day

You wanna be Like L.T., well let me see you get down like this....

Also,



In the famous words of Dave Chappelle...."THEY SHOULDA NEVER GAVE YOU NINJAS MONEY!!!!"

Both of the videos are courtesy of the hommes at Kultured Mindz.

Werd^

TLSW5000

What You Should Be Listening To

Introducing a new section as of right now, and yes I will be returning to update Night+Day once I get the chance and the motivation do so.

But until then, this section is dedicated to joints that I think are dope and because of such I'm going to impose my musical taste upon you. Deal with it. Now with my inaugural post....



Run to the Sun - N.E.R.D. and for bonus points it's live....werd^.

TLSW5000

"FREE!!! That's a dollar less than a dollar."

Should've mentioned this a while ago, but...

The boys from Slum Village will be performing at Elysium Lounge tomorrow night, for the FREE.  That's $fr33.99.  Hosted by Dwele, sponsored by Pepsi.  If I had a real flyer, I'd post.  

Just to show you what you'd miss if you decide to sleep:

Yeah, so as T3 said, "Bring yo monkey ass."

Peep the officials:

http://www.slumvillage.com/

www.elysium-lounge.com

See you there, bipeds.

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Just because you're not holding a textbook doesn't mean I'm not educating you...

What know you of Hot Chip?

"Ready for the Floor", from their latest album, Made in the Dark.

"Playboy", from the first album Coming On Strong.

Hot Chip is an UK electropop collective, with a interesting sound.  Yes, I'm sure every band thinks they have a unique sound, but this is different.  Not quite minimalist blippy electro jams [or ballads, such as the latter of the two videos] complement the voices of lead vocalists Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard, whose offer mellow, sometimes soulful, lyrics that never seem to be out of place.  Their second and third albums, The Warning and Made in the Dark, respectively, have been highly acclaimed in Mixmag.  The first and third albums are my favorites, personally.  I do believe all of their albums are available on iTunes and Amazon.  Oh, peep the official:

Hot Chip

And that'd be all, bipeds.

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Diddy HAVE to do this?

Rifling through my YouTube favorites, and remembered this:

Find it slightly hilarious, even still.

That's all, bipeds.

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A quasi-intellectual hodgepodge of tonal hobnobbery...

Bouier showed the Daft Punk x Louis Vuitton jumpoff, so the very least I could do is provide the actual Daft Punk mix itself.

ONE-UP!!!

Daft Punk fans will notice elements from "Aerodynamic", "Human After All", Kanye West's "Stronger" [which sampled Daft Punk's "Harder Better Faster Stronger", also included], Busta Rhymes "Touch It" [sampling "Technologic", also inlcuded], and "Da Funk".  The mix has a different vibe than most of their other mixes; it's more structured, and a little funkier [peep the re-rendition of "Harder Better Faster Stronger" about three minutes in].

Oh, and just when I get tired of Swizz Beatz and T.I., they go and drop some shit like this.  

*giving a sec to actually click the link...heard it?  OK, let's move on*

That'd be T.I.'s "Swing Ya Rag", feat. Swizz Beatz.  I have to admit, I haven't liked a T.I. single this much in a very long time.  Even Swizz steps out the box a lil, offering the same high-octane club banger as always, but with a slightly different rhythmic flavor.  Horn-driven, guitar-laden, organ-assisted [the organs are there, just not as loud] hype juice.  The guitar actually sounds like it belongs in a Mannie Fresh track.  Go ahead and add that to the playlist.

What know you of Sneaky Sound System?

"I Love It", first single from their self-titled debut album.

Sneaky Sound System is a electropop sextet hailing from Sydney, Australia.  Believe it or not, you've actually heard them before, sort of: lead vocalist Connie Mitchell contributed the eerie wailing background vocals to Kanye West's "Can't Tell Me Nothing".  Winning two ARIA Music Awards for "Best Dance Release" and "Breakthrough Artist" [along with being nominated for five other categories], they return with a second album, simply titled 2.  Both albums are available on Waterfront Records online.  Oh, peep the official:

http://www.sneakysoundsystem.com/

Oh, and as always, the bonus:

Ciara (feat. Ludacris) - High Price

Not entirely sure, but given the familiarity of the synth riff, I'd say Shondrae [whom you'd probably refer to as "Bangladesh", but no, that isn't his name] produced this one.  I like it; the soprano vocals are a nice touch.  In fact, if I didn't know this was Ciara, I wouldn't know it was Ciara [+5 Redundant Points for Murph]; even the vocals on the chorus sound unfamiliar.  Luda comes through and drops a quick 16 [seems longer, but it's not]; it's nothing special, but I like it, simply because it's good to hear Ludacris and Shondrae working together.  If you didn't know, Shondrae produced the bulk of Ludacris' first [read: best] two albums.  Know thy history.  But I digress...

Ciara’s new album Fantasy Ride drops in September, and will be composed of three separate discs, each with different themes and five to six songs, bundled together.  The first disc is called Groove City and will contain sensual songs like “Promise,” while the second disc is called Crunktown and includes tracks akin to Ciara’s 2004 introductory single, “Goodies.” Finally, the up-tempo Kingdom of Dance will showcase Ciara’s house-leaning, freestyle-tinged cuts.  Oh, and Danja is supposed to be producing the majority of the album[s].  Sounds good to me.  Her last album was also pretty decent, so...looking forward to that.

*whew*  Long entry, but...that is all, bipeds.

Socialite Sign-off...

New news from one of the best groups in rock today.

"Hi there, and oh by the way, here comes our album."

Available Thursday Radiohead/NIN/Racounteurs style, aka, Digital Download from the Band's Official Website. Not sure if it will be free-ski however... If you would prefer however to wait, the hardcopy of the album releases on October 27th.

Also, if you didn't know like I know, the band will be in the Metro Detroit area September 5th at the Royal Oak Music Theater. Definitely worth a stop by...certified.

Werd^.

Bonus Material:



New Single from the band entitled Flux.

And cause I love ya'll....



Probably one of my favorite songs from them. This joint is called Tulips.

That's all for now Space Cowpokes.

The Light Speed Warrior, 5000.

In Case You Missed It. Daft Punk x Louis Vuitton

Yet another fashion show with Electronic music involved.



Part 1



Part 2

Werd^.

The Light Speed Warrior, 5000.

There are Three things we love over here at S:S

1. Graffiti
2. Art with Purpose
3. The legendary Solo Party Cups.

All three of which I assume are self-explanatory to all. [This list is not all inclusive and subject to change at any time.]

So with that being said...



Werd^ son. More info available at www.cuprocking.com.

Get down with teh Get down.

The Light Speed Warrior, 5000.

Some new dopeness

Fantastic Plastic Machine Ft. Seth Timbs-"City Lights"


Acquired by teh hommes that Crusade for Love.

Bonus Features:

Researched the hommes, and found this little gem...



Also dopetastic.

Werd^

The Light Speed Warrior, 5000.

Nas on Tavis Smiley

Obtained from the legendary homies over at Nahright.com

Haven't given it full ear yet, the internet at my spot has been fuck-tuating all weekend.

Werd Up.

The Light Speed Warrior, Flash.

You say what you want about the homie working for Diddy...

But he did what he needed to do to get where he needed to be. The man wanted to be an entertainer and fashion designer...and it would appear that he's doing both as of now. Furthermore, he has a track from Kanye on his FIRST CD, a task that many rappers can't say they have achieved let alone can afford. And, on the video the boy has some flow! I respect individuality homie, I hate cookie cutter rap (i.e. Half the shit that you hear now). Be your own man, stop trying to be like everybody else. AND ANOTHER THING, the man is well dressed I must add.

I'm a G...entleman, let's get re-acquainted

The Light Speed Warrior, 5000.

Yea, Yet another Black Comedy, featuring Brad Pitt and George Clooney, About the CIA...but!

This one is directed by the Coens. So it should be good.

Light Speed Warrior, Flash.

They want that Old Thing back...A Little of the Old and The New...

New Young Chris track, titled Rush and featuring Beans. Reminds me of that wonderful time of my highschool years when the Roc La Familia was dropping hot joints every week....Indeed. Furthermore the sample and the beat are insane...What that? Sounds familiar, it should son.



Sampled from the opening moments of none other than the Great Mint Condition...werd.

Bonus:



Possibly my favorite song from the group...possibly...

Now I have a CD to bump on the way home...werd!

The Light Speed Warrior, 5000.

The Preface is NOT pronounced "PREE-face". Hint: Rhymes with "premise".

Tuesday night, the Light Speed Warrior and I attended the listening party for The Preface, the first solo album  [with distribution] from Slum Village rapper Elzhi.  'twas only five bucks, but...I'd say it was worth ten.  Yes, I know, it's a rare occurrence to hit a club and actually get your money's worth. But the special guests provided bang for the buck. Just peep:

The two DJs of the eve, K-Fresh & DJ Dez, along with Bouier, who was...excited, as you can see.

The show opened with Danny Brown, backed up by Nick Speed.  'twas Speed's birthday, so...he was royally toasted, adding to the night's entertainment even further.

Then the guest of honor himself...

Peep the backpacker on his shirt.  Dope-aholic.

But Elzhi didn't rock the stage alone for long...

Phat Kat doing what he does best.  Also mentioned an upcoming album, Katakombs.

Royce Da 5'9" also came through to perform.  Hinted at an upcoming project with Elzhi and Detroit rapper/producer Black Milk.

With friends like these...

Last but not least...

 T3!!  Didn't perform, but hijacked the mic more than a few times to announce the free Slum Village & Dwele show August 20th at the Elysium.  I suspect he had [more than] a few beers.  A few quotables:

• Yo, Slum Village AND Dwele, Elysium, the 20th, free. AND Pepsi's sponsoring, so you MIGHT get a free Pepsi."
  
  "Cop Elzhi's album, or you gettin stabbed!! Bring yo MONKEY ass!"
  
  "It's free!! You know that means? If you bring money...they won't even take that shit!"
  
  "Nigga, it's free!!! That's a dollar less than a dollar."

That, followed by the listening to The Preface, wrapped up the evening.  A great Socialite event, if ever there was one.

Next on the Socialite agenda:

That event is happening tonight.  Short notice, I know, but totally worth it.  Come on: Kweli, behind the wheels of steel?  Supposedly black rockess Res will be there also, to help Kweli drop previews for their joint venture, Idle Warship.  Keep your fingers crossed.  I'll be there with camera in hand, so...expect pics soon.  See you there?  

And that, bipeds, is all.

Socialite Sign-off...

In the Olympic Spirit

I'm watching the Men's All Around Gymnastics competition, one part amazed the other part jealous. Why you may ask? Well, because all while the Warrior was a little warrior in training, apprentice if you will; I wanted to be a part of gymnastics. I mean come on, who wouldn't. You get to flip around a lot and roll around like a madman, two things that kids do EVERYDAY! Well, considering that I'm from Detroit, and this story resonates true for almost every other kid who may grow up in a large inner city area, I did not have the chance to partake in the sport. The closest gym for me was about 30 minutes away. This is also the case when it came to hockey, with the additional problem of expensive gear...sigh....

So, with that being said, I felt it necessary to highlight a few of the lesser known more melanin influenced gymnast. And yes, there are a few. They don't, however, get much coverage because they are on pretty bad teams comparatively to the US or China.



Becky Downie - Great Britain
Age: 16
Specialty: Bars
Also competes on the Vault and The Balance Beam



Katheleen Lindor - France
Age: 18
Competes in Floor Exercise, Uneven Bars, and Beam



Luis Rivera Rivera - Puerto Rico
Age: 21
Competes All Around



Yann Rayepin - France
Age: 20
Competes All Around, if I am not mistaken. His info is not on the NBC Olympic Website.



Louis Smith - Great Britain
Age: 18
Specializes: Pommel Horse
Also Competes on the Bars


So there you have it, and get your kids(whenever you may have them) involved in Gymnastics...so they won't be like me when they get older....bitter and looking for adult classes.

Bouier aka The Light Speed Warrior, 5000.

What if I DON'T want to?

Yet another N*E*R*D vid for the hipsters:

N*E*R*D's "Spaz".  Not bad.  Not as awesome as the "Everyone Nose" remix vid, but still decent.  Peep Pharrell rocking the SpongeBob tee.

That is all, bipeds.

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Polly Tickin'...

New joint from Big Boi featuring Mary J.:

Big Boi (feat. Mary J. Blige) - Sumthin' Gotta Give

No, the song won't be #1 on the Billboard charts, or even on 106 & Park, but the message is clear.  People sleep on Big Boi often; granted, his flow isn't quite as dexterous as Dre-Three-Thou, but he can still hold his own.  Big Boi's solo album should be dropping later this year.

That's all, bipeds.

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Why didn't your advisors forewarn you?

I guess you just didn't think that this shit would get backlash huh?

This is a picture of the Spanish National Basketball team taken, pre-Olympics. Allegedly this picture, was agreed upon, in a jesting manner to tell the ENTIRE WORLD that they are extending their contract with Li Ning Footwear...A Chinese Footwear provider...

Furthermore, the team did not apologize yet!

All bad son...Racism still alive, they just be concealing it...

Spain played China today, beating them in overtime with a score of 85-75. Allegedly, the entire game was played whilst the entire stadium booed.

The Light Speed Warrior, 5000.

This may very well be...

The most important Hip-Hop song/video out right now.

I patiently await that new Rhymefest to drop.

Werd!

The Light Speed Warrior.

New Jigga Man

Off of Blueprint the Third. Produced by Kan-Yevil Kanevil, as most of the Trois will be. This joint was heard on the Glow in The Dark Tour, MSG tour stop.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/16892854a285cfff/

Enjoi.

N aka The Light Speed Warrior, 5000.

Because Coke never goes out of style...

Posted the making of's a few days ago, now I present to thee:

N*E*R*D (feat. CRS & Pusha T) - "Everybody Nose (Remix)"

Note the various allusions: Space Invaders, Galaga/Galaxian, Donkey Kong [albeit replaced with the gorilla from the Seeing Sounds cover]. Also peep Skateboard's La Forge visors at the start of his verse. An excellent job by "Hype Warhol" [you better know who that is].

I think I want a shirt that says "P to the Ush-Ugh!!" Yes...making that happen.

That's all bipeds.

Socialite Sign-off...

Tar-zhey is hip, they're with it....

Target decided to jump on the dancing trend that McDonald's started....




Yea...I actually liked this song...before this video...



Here is the original version...Not the one that Lil Jon destroyed....


Promise I will be posting more often, as soon as I get more free time...Been busy...I apologize.

N aka The Light Speed Warrior, 5000.

Heads Up For Fedchuk!

It’s no strange surprise that my new favorite Dj is Canadian, Tyler Fedchuk. His mixes of indie, electro and hip hop surpass even expectations of the best of us. As part of ½ Alive, his mixes are a blend of innovative and commonly known musicians, opening eys to entirely new genres and artist you too can become obbsessed with. His SpaZZin podcasts that can be found on itune (for Free) or on his myspace, rocking out all the time.This BangranG master mixer is one Dj that is needed on your i pod, No questions asked!

Check out his mixes at the websites below

http://www.radiozero.ca/

http://www.myspace.com/tylerfedchuk

Just Blaze is Just Heated...

Just stumbled upon this open bashing of the MPC 5000, by a super-producer, no less:

I thought I would have time to get into what I started to talk about last week, but I really don’t 

But really, Akai, you have 100% let me down for the first time with the MPC-5000.

I really didn’t even expect much, once I realized that it was based on the 2500/1000 architecture and not the 4000 series.

I looked at it more like hey, I need something for the house, it’s got a smaller footprint than the 4 (which I have no room for), and it’s got a synth in it.  I guess it can’t be all that bad.

Now I know, whenever you are an early adopter, you are the beta tester, and the rest of the folks will go out and wait for version 2 or something.. I can deal with that. I’m a beta tester by nature. I love playing with things before they become commercially available.

My problem here is: THIS THING IS COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE AND SHOULD NOT BE!

Some of the bugs in this thing are ATROCIOUS.

This is coming from someone who was one of the SOLE CHAMPIONS of the 4000 when everyone ran out and bought them and started returning them because they just didn’t understand the machine. It was an all new deisgn and they wouldn’t be able to pick it up and run like they did when they might have gone from the 60 to the 3000 to the 2000 and 2000xl. It was a new beast entirely and it had a bit of a learning curve, but once you got past that, there was almost nothing you couldn’t make it do.  It had one or two bugs in it, but they were fairly quickly rectified, and once they were addressed, you really couldn’t find much fault with the machine. If you couldn’t use it, it was because you really didn’t want to, not because the machine was at fault. 

The 5000 is NOT the successor to the 4000, and it should not be named as such.

A 3500? Yes.

(When it is actually fit to use)

By naming this machine the 5000, you are inadvertently disrespecting YOURSELVES and what you created with the 4000. 

I was going to save the rest for later, (I’m a little tied up with this T.I. record right now) but screw it. I’ll get into some of my issues and experience now.  

short story:

YOU CANNOT TUNE AN ENTIRE PROGRAM AT ONCE?!?!

REALLY?

IN 2008??

Look. I don’t care what you say there is no excuse for this.

You really want me to go sit there and go pad by pad by pad and tune each sample individually?

What if… you had a loop that you choppd up across 3 pad banks, and you only had to tune each one down by say +00.20.

You want me to to go and redundantly repeat this process across 48 pads?

(Via a scroll wheel that sometimes needs to be turned 3 “notches” before it realizes you are moving it, and then sometimes forgets it’s being turned. ) 

Really?

“Song Cry” by Jay-Z and myself consisted of 96 sample chops spread across….. 96 pads. 

If I were to make a record like that now on this machine.. and I needed to slightly tune the entire sample set up just a few notches.. You want me to go and repeat that process 96 times? By the time I’m done with that.. * I’d probably not feel like making a beat anymore..  * (remember this asterisk)

You are taking AWAY from the creative process by putting the user through that. These machines are supposed to make things easier. And I don’t understand why a feature like that (that was in the 4k) is not in its “successor” 

SYNTH/PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

Hey.. so we have an MPC with a built in synthesizer? That’s great. 

I can’t tell you how many times I have considered having a custom machine built with a Fantom/XV series jammed in there somehow just to make it one less machine to deal with.

So the beauty of having a setup like this should go a little something like this:

You have a nice skeleton you’ve put together, samples, drums, percussion, etc. And now it’s time for some overdubs.

You go to your synth section and scroll through sounds setting them aside as you come across the ones that fit the mood or feel of what you have going so far.  

After you’ve got a few set aside you just get to work and go..right?

NO

The 5k treats the synth tracks the same as it does program (sample playback) tracks. Not necessarily a bad thing and kinda makes sense until you realize..

YOU CAN ONLY HAVE 128 PROGRAMS IN THE MPC AT ONCE..

Now on one hand that isn’t an issue.

But here’s where the problem lies.

Akai has gone and given us hundreds upon hundreds of synth patches, which is great.

However since they are treated the same as samples, you cant access all of these sounds at once to find the ones that fit your track.

They need to be loaded from the hard drive.. one…by…one.. 

Get this: You can’t even PREVIEW them before you load them

So now.. you have to go to the “Basses” folder for example, then sit there, load a bass, play it, decide whether or not you like it, then if you don’tlike it,  go to the program window.. then open ANOTHER window from within that window, and delete it. 

Wash, rinse, and repeat, until you find a bass that you like.

Oh wait.. but sometimes you have to delete a synth program 4 times before it actually gets erased from your RAM. And some will not go away, AT ALL, no matter how many times you delete them.  

So I said okay, I’m going to just sit here, deal with this and load a bunch of synths and pick ones that I like and make an autoload out of them.  Actually let me hook the machine up to my computer and Ill move them all to the hard drive so I can make separate autoload folders since you can’t write to the internal flash memory that the synths are stored on. 

Survey says??

BUZZZZZZZZZZZ

Connecting the unit to a computer via USB only allows you to access the Compact Flash Card and the Hard Drive, not the internal flash memory.

So I really just have to sit there… sift through hundreds of sounds, load them,  bang a few keys, decide then and there if like it and keep it.. and then after I have a few, save them to another folder on the hard drive so I can  move all of these folders to an autoload folder eventually, without having more than say 100 of them, because remember you can’t have more than 128 programs at once.

Meanwhile I’m sitting there looking at my Fantom XR saying to myself, or I could just connect one midi cable, scroll though THOUSANDS of sounds, preview them on the fly, and be all set up and ready with a set of sounds…. in less than 5 minutes.  

I could go on with this part, I won’t

Hey here’s one.. Producers, beatmakers, and users… You know how sometimes you’ll sample a ton of stuff and then want to spread it out across pads afterwards?

Well on the 4000 you could do this and as you went from pad to pad, the mpc would remember what sample you placed on the previous pad and when you went to the next pad it would place whatever sample came next in alphabetical order on that next pad. So if you had Sample 001 Sample 002 and Sample 003, and you place Sample 001 on Pad #1, and you went to Pad #2 and turned the scroll wheel, Sample 002 would assign to Pad #2, and so on. 

Not on the “successor”…

Every time you go to assign a sample to a pad, it starts at whatever is the first sample in  RAM.

But hey… if you have a few hundred samples in your ram already, that means that for every pad you go to assign a sample to, you are scrolling though a few hundred sounds just to get to the one you just sampled… and if you have say, 32 samples to spread across some pads.. Well hey.. you see where  this is going.. see the asterisks above. It’s not tragic, just another thing that could be easily remedied with a little forward thinking and better programming. 

So you know.. all that sampling I was just talking about doing?

I was doing all this on the 5k for one reason

IMPORTING FROM PREVIOUS MPCs IS BROKEN

BROKEN

BROKEN

BADLY.

 Dude.. are you serious?

In 2008?

Apple computers are running Windows and OSX simultaneously through products like VMWare and Parallels..

Logic is opening Pro Tools Sessions via OMF and Digi Translator..

Mac Drive lets you use HFS formatted drives on Windows Computers..

 I have Super Nintendo games on my iPhone.

Hell, there is Palm OS emulation on Windows Mobile.  

Yet I can’t get my piece of Akai gear to import programs made from previous versions of Akai gear.. from the same product line?

Let me clarify:

I was able to import AKP’s made on the 4000, but as soon as I attempted to edit anything I imported (i.e. maybe just tune a 808 a bit to match something I’m working on) the pad would stop playing the sample, and would sporadically come back if i went into the sample edit page and exited it. This was the only fix I could come up with.

If I attempted to add a sound to this imported AKP program, welll… see above.

Next move was to try import a .PGM program.

Dead.. nothing.. nada.. zip

It did nothing.

Next step: Import a .PGM created in the 3rd party MPC Program Maker software

Even deader-er

I went online and did some research and came across a forum (which I can’t find now) where a user called Akai support in reference to this and after some back and forth, he was told that the software would have to be rewritten and was indeed broken. 

That’s all well and good, but DON’T ADVERTISE AND INCLUDE IN YOUR DOCUMENTATION THAT IT DOES SOMETHING IT DOES NOT ACTUALLY DO!

Tell us it’s been thought about, in the process of preparation, plotted, pending, planned,   post-release in a soon to be released  pivotal upgrade, which we should have been previously privy to before the pondered purchase was completed…

(Carlin-ites holla at me)

And I would have been fine with that.

And oh yeah.. for some reason, this folder that I copied over a bunch of 4k programs and samples to…

Whenever I try to access this folder, I literally have to wait like 3 minutes while the unit freezes and gets itself together to prepare itself to let you scroll through files (with the weirdo wheel, see above) that it can’t properly process anyway.

I don’t know if this is a drive format issue, a drive content issue, or bad OS programming that makes your unit sh*t itself, wipe, get a diaper, and pop 2 Immodium AD’s and then say “Okay I’ll give it a shot”

Oh mind you.. this all occurred while I was trying to come up with something for.. well an album that hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s pretty major. Folks who know my writing patterns know what that means.  

There were a few other major issues I had, but It’s now 9:40 am and I need to get to mastering. 

But oh yeah… when it was all said and done and I actually made  beat I thought was halfway decent, and wanted to save the NEW programs I made from scratch after I gave up on importing and starting fresh. I went to the hard drive.. made a new folder, selected “Save Entire Memory”

My screen said:

“Cannot Find Device… Ok??”

With an Okay button at the bottom.. that never responded when I pressed the corresponding soft key.

To the less than technically inclined…

IT FORGOT WHERE MY HARD DRIVE WAS AND NO MATTER WHAT I DID IT WAS FROZEN.

IT FREEZES WHEN YOU TRY TO SAVE ENTIRE MEMORY??

WHAT IN THE …

WHATS THE POINT OF SAVING THEN??? 

I said ok.. maybe it needs to pop a few  more Immodiums.. So i left it on overnight.

Came in the next day.. Said screen was still in the same state I left it.

Akai FTL

FAIL. 

I paid money for this thing..

I know people are probably like, “You don’t get these things for free??”

Te be honest, someone representing Akai recently did reach out in regards to doing some kind of deal in reference to the 5k, and I was considering doing it, but just hadn’t gotten around to entertaining it yet. I got the urge to mess with something new and went out and made an impulse buy of the 5000 and an MPK 49 controller because the synth thing got me a little excited. 

I may have generated a few million dollars in my career, and the cash  spent does not hurt me financially, but that doesn’t mean I have money to burn at the expense of bad engineering and a tad of false advertising.  

I feel just as burnt as the dude who busts his back at a 9-5 just to save up enough money to go out and buy a piece of gear to pursue his dream, only to not have it work as it should.

There are some good things about this machine, and I will get into them at some point, but I really have to get to work.

And with all that said.. The MPK 49 is definitely the best standalone MIDI controller i have EVER used. I recommend it to anyone and everyone on the market for a controller. Hell, even if you aren’t on the market for one, buy one anyway.  But in all honesty  I also recommend that you don’t buy the MPC 5000 until they release the next operating system, IF  IT address some of these issues, along with others I have read about. 

There are other inconsistencies and issues I have, but I don’t want to get more worked up thinking about them again..  and I think anyone reading gets my point 

Please don’t do this again Akai. As a fan, avid user, supporter, and friend. Don’t let the decline in hardware sales (or whatever is contributing to this) allow this to continue..  Quantity over Quality, Numbers over Blunders, Sales over Sincerity and Profits over Professionalism,  it makes for Bad Business, Disgruntled Devotees, and Cold Hearted Customers who will Cease, Desist and Discontinue their Dilligent support of a Diluted brand.  (Carlinites Unite!)

I don’t know man.. I know I sound crazy, but this really bothers me.

I wasn’t looking to have my socks blown off, just basic functionality. 

I wonder who actually beta tests these things?

People in lab coats?

Do they seed them to a secret coaltion of producers?

This makes me angry.. and sad at the same time.

It’s now 10:30. I’m missing mastering.

I have to go. 

Wait.. here’s a quote from their ads or propaganda or whatever..

“MPC5000’s virtual analog synth eliminates the need for users to deal with connecting external analog synth modules or working with buggy software synthesizers.” 

 A gun in your face and that’s the best you could come up with?

Buggy software synthesizers?? 

I don’t even want to do the comparison between working on something like this and say a Logic.

Because in all honesty I “feel better” working on an MP than a DAW.

But you can’t really sit there and try to go feature for feature ad throw cheap shots like that and expect people to not see through it. They do. Read the Forums.  

If you can’t beat them.. join them. Make a virtual MP.. 

Oh wait.. someone already did.

Make your own.  

I’ll help you design it.

Really.

Hell I’ll help you make the 5001 or something. Put on a white lab coat and everything. 

I can’t tell you how to run your business, and in all honesty I know nothing about it.

But as an end user, I know what you are doing wrong in our eyes. And ultimately, if we are not happy… 

ok I’m ranting for no reason now.

I really would though. 

Bye 

Yeah...that was on Just Blaze's blog, The Megatron Don, on a blog entry titled "Teh Suck" [for those of you who don't know 1337 speak, that's not a typo].  I'm sure someone at Akai has read it by now, and is making sure the R&D team is promptly fired.

That is all.

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