We’ve been slowly but steadily dropping tracks and videos from Toothy Wavy, and its finally arriving on the scene next Tuesday, May 15th. Toothy Wavy is a collaborative project between Machina Muerte head Isaiah Toothtaker, incarcerated rapper Max B, and production duo The Hood Internet. Toothtaker, in addition to rapping on the tracks and providing hooks, also helmed most of the videos (of which there was one for each track), while The Hood Internet handled all of the beats, and Max B recorded his verses through the prison phone line.
The whole project is a lesson in collaboration through difficult borders, and the result is nothing short of awesome. That’s the extra special cover art above, designed by Doze. For more goodies, there’s also going to be the previously announced Free Max B Toothy Wavy t-shirt, which will become available on our site when the album drops. So mark your calendars, and always remember: Free Max B!
People weren’t exactly ecstatic when Azealia Banks delayed the release of her 1991 EP, then cancelled some festival appearances to focus on recording material, but if tracks like “Jumanji” are the result then I think that should all be ameliorated. Produced by Hudson Mohawke and Nick Hook, “Jumanji” is a tropical fun-zone overflowing with swagger. Thank god this came out on a Friday, because it pretty much begs to be a weekend soundtrack.
It’s actually slated to be on her upcoming mixtape Fantastic, which anticipated her actual September debut Broke With Expensive Taste, but if Fantastic is a mixtape full of songs like this then god bless this girl’s output abilities. Now it just needs a video, perhaps with that Harry Potter dude again.
Fisheye lens, New York streets, bodega purchases, leaning on cars, walking whilst rapping: is this the most original, most pure rap video schema? I would say it is, and the new video for Big Baby Gandhi‘s “Been A Villain” reinforces its power. Especially once you pepper some Мишка into the mix. Lawry’s on this rap game.
The video was directed by Katy Porter and Dapwell from Das Racist. Inter-label collaboration. Nice. It also features some cameo appearances by Heems and producer Hot Sugar, who did a bunch of beats for No 1 2 Look Up 2, and is the pale dude in the leopard print. Bonus points if you can spot the Ghost To The Post crewneck. I didn’t say it was a hard game.
The internetz is totally crushing on Young Pryde. Like total high school stalker type shit. And we’re right there with everyone hoping Kitty picks them for her junior prom date. Keep in mind we’re all old and creepy while Kitty’s only 16. An if you still haven’t given way to her lyrical charms well I think the “Okay Cupid” video (which premiered today over at The Fader) should tie everything together in pretty sparkly bow of wonderful. And if that wasn’t enough to hook you in, the song’s produced by Beautiful Lou.
Oh shit oh shit oh shit! We are one step closer to Whole Milk’s dream of an epic #HCM video with a part from everyone. Chavis Chandler and Trpl Blk came through with the _______ in the bag. If I had to guess I’d say it’s probably vaginas in there. Rad dudes.
I was going to attempt to write this Store Spotting in a chopped & screwed style, but then I realized that would would be extremely difficult and almost certainly incoherent, but the point is it’s the thought that counts, so please imagine that this text is soaked in a heaping layer of purple syrup. Producer Shy Guy, one half of duo Crakk Nicholson, recently stopped by our 350 Broadway store with a leaned out gift.
No, it wasn’t cough syrup, but it was physical copies of his screw tape East Coast Screw Vol 1: Let My Timbs Do Purp, which we featured on the Bloglin a couple weeks ago. Appropriating the Southern remix style to transform some of the Big Apple’s best classics, Shy Guy went as far as to record this thing directly to his Dad’s circa 1980 cassette recorded for extra authenticity. So if you’re in 350 and are looking for a pretty purple experience, grab a copy of the CD!
Entrapment was a movie featuring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta Jones stealing shit. It was exceptionally unremarkable and I dare anyone to remember shit about that movie, other than CZJ slinking her way between some lasers with her ass in the air like some kind of participant in a futuristic version of American Gladiators: Strippers.
While that show doesn’t exist (yet) we do have this mix Entrapment from Philly’s Dirty South Joe (Luvstep, Mad Decent) which sounds like the soundtrack to American Gladiators: Strippers. This mix—celebrating the opening of STRFRNT, a DJ supply/streetwear boutique—is part heavy bass, part trap rap, all mixed together with some laser sound effects. There’s enough songs by dudes like Future, Plastician and Rick Ross that the American Gladiator dudes could get their pump on, and enough chilled out vibing joints that the strippers could work on their laser guided twerk routines. Everybody in the gym at the same damn time and it’s all good. Now all we need to do is actually get this show in production, and fire up The Eliminator. Someone get Sean Connery’s old ass outta retirement to host this shit.
Check out the new video for Chippy and Nanosaur’sBitch I Bought It Out video. It’s done by Brandon Tauszik, who you should remember as the same guy who did Antwon’s Helicopter video. Very video-gamey look goin on there. I wonder what those pixels would smell like though? Who knows, all I can say for sure is that the club is bought out.
We are waiting patiently for the completion of the Mobbin No Sobbin album, but not without some serious anticipation. Luckily Western Tink‘sChillin Like A Civilian is still gettin rotation, and I’m pretty sure there are gonna be a number of videos from the mixtape. In this “Now Or Naver” video (the song is Tink’s tribute to Mac Dre) we get what we’ve come to expect from Tink and Beautiful Lou.
Another look into the lives of some young Americans who have found a way to exist. It’s not perfect, and it’s not exciting, but I’ll take modest reality over striking artifice any day. In the end, that modesty is the most striking thing. And it works for Tink and Lou.
Truly terrible news this afternoon, as it appears that Adam Yauch, better known as MCA from the Beastie Boys, has passed away at the age of 47, presumably from his ongoing battle with cancer. The reports are not fully confirmed, but I can’t really imagine how else a rumor like this would start. Check back to this post later for an update on the situation and, if it is in fact true, some thoughts about this music legend. Today just got very, very sad.
UPDATE: It appears that the earlier reports are true, and that Adam Yauch has indeed passed away. I’m sort of still a little bit in shock about the whole thing, so apologies if this post isn’t up to the eloquence that MCA most certainly deserves. This is one of those situations where, at least in the early stages, the more time passes the more painful it becomes. Such is the breadth and quality of MCA’s lifes work. Whether it be the untouchable catalogue he put together with the Beastie Boys (one of the best of all time), his directing work as Nathaniel Hornblower, or his huge contribution to the independent film world through Oscilloscope Pictures. All the work he did that made people happy.
More than anything it hurts because it really and truly feels like it wasn’t supposed to happen. I’ve been talking with some friends who agree with me that, when MCA was originally diagnosed with cancer in 2009, the palpable sense of dread that accompanies something like that was conspicuously missing. It just didn’t seem possibly that the raspy voiced genius with the quiet, considering eyes could really go so young. It was inconceivable. Yet here we are, because life is a real shithead sometimes.
It’s easy to become very self centered when something like this happens. The Beastie Boys were such a huge, incredible thing (a true national treasure), a sound and attitude so captivating that almost everyone I know has gone through a period of deep obsession with them. And so with the death of MCA, so comes a little death of your own, as a very distinct and powerful set of memories are suddenly cast in shadow. These songs are accompanied by a certain sadness now. It’s selfish, sure, but that’s okay. Because grieving is weird and difficult. Especially for the people you love the most but never really knew.
I’m listening to Paul’s Boutique right now, and it sounds like the best rap album of all time. R.I.P. MCA.
