Combat Jack Remembers Keith Haring

Combat Jack Remembers Keith Haring

A[nother] really good article from the best blogger in town/the internets. This one discusses the late great Keith Haring and the late 80's art scene in New York. CJ actually had the fortune of "burning a few L's" with the dude and for that...he is even cooler in my books. Everyone goes on and on how they wish they grew up in the 70's and could have enjoyed the hippie age and the Zeppelin jams....but me... i wish I got to experience the griminess that was New York in the 80's. Super cheap rents in a beaten down Manhattan turned NY into a artist and musician haven. The shows must have been crazy; the partis must have been crazier and life in general must have been so free. All this while in the boroughs Hip Hop was becoming its own phenomenon... ahh sooo good.. now NY is bullshit tourist everything and you have to be a gabillionaire to afford a small joint on a tiny street....in Brooklyn. annnyways this article is good ..along with the movies Downtown 81 and Basquiat along with lots of others that I have not found yet.

...and to add my opinion (on the previous Drake post).. i don't think there will be any kind of frenzy from American labels trying to sign Canadian Hip Hop artists...(ain't they hear about Classified and Moka Only aleady??? ha) i think they got enough to choose from in their own country (where is Drake's pops from?? Memphis? step your game up Memphis rappers...the labels are watching! lol) oh and I don't think he's signed to Young Money... that would be foolish ..

EDIT: It seems I am the foolish one... Drake did sign on with Young Money..but props to him for going the indie route and not giving the majors what they want.

So Far...So Good?

I've decided to take some time out of my day to address what seems to be the takeover by Canadian artist Drake. Seems like any hip-hop listener these days (be it a fan or hater) has heard of him in one way or another.

I remember about three years ago on a Friday night, Freddie Five and myself were bored and looking for a party on what seem to have been a pretty dull summer night back in 06. After purchasing some 40's we proceeded to drink in a park downtown where he introduced me to his new discovery as what he claimed was gonna be a big deal in the hip-hop world. Freddie told me that he found some songs by this kid going by Drake that he thought were pretty damn good, an added bonus was that this kid was from Toronto. Freddie also told me that Drake was the kid in the wheelchair from Degrassi: TNG; a show i did not admit to having an obsession with. After that night, i went on a rampant search for anything Drake i could find. What i found was Room for Improvement his first mix tape that was released that year by Dj Smallz. Though i felt that some of the songs were lacking, i felt that most of the material was mature enough leading me to give it the skindeep cosign.

Fast forward to about six months ago and it seems like Drake was doin pretty well for himself. I remember the weekend that seemed to have pop ed off for ol Aubrey. Comeback Season had been released and a bigger buzz was building for the Toronto native, nothing too crazy but just enough to help his career a lil....OR alot cause in what seemed to be one fell swoop Drake released a couple songs with Lil wayne that had the Internets going crazy. Canada was wondering how he managed to hook up with Weezy while the US was probably thinking ' Who the fuck is Drake??'

More...
And So it began,once So Far Gone was dropped,a snowball effect took place and soon enough girls everywhere are singing his hooks and guys are mimicking dudes verses. The guy is literally everywhere getting cosigns by some of the industries most influential names to date. Jay-Z has him on songs produced by Just Blaze, Kanye is directing his video, Wayne has him signed to his Young Money label, not to mention he's supposedly fucking Rhianna all in under a year.

But what does this mean for the rest of us? Some speculate that Drake's rise to success will bring state side attention to Canada. The Drake movement has given alot of hope to Canadian artist who have thought there was no hope in making their dreams a reality. I personally think though his success will bring more attention from the states towards us, A&R's and other scouts will be looking for the next Drake or something very similar, that or we'll have a whole bunch of rappers starting to sing and write songs for women for the sake of hopefully getting a kanye west directed video for a song that was featured on a free mixtape.

As for Aubrey himself, Iam proud of him, i feel like he stayed true to himself and continues to do so even though he has this allegiance to the hip-hop super friends. Just as long as he doesn't fall off or over do it before his official album drops, he's still good in my books.

Im Over Here Now

Shouts to Freddie for calling this one from the get go.

Mike Jack Auction

I stumbled upon this site which displays all the stuff MJ was auctioning off to get some extra gwap i assume. Even Though he initially started selling this stuff in April of this year, im pretty sure people are going buck to own a piece of this stuff.

http://www.juliensauctions.com/auctions/2009/michael-jackson/icatalog4.html

....

Though i will admit that iam addicted to the crack that is Facebook, i never thought that i would see the day come when the already rich tech geek that created the drug would try to bank more money off of something that has already taking over the lives of young teenagers and grown ass magic card playing nerds that stalk girls they used to go to high school with. Apperently a supposed " best selling author by the name of Ben Mezrich has penned a book documenting the creation of CRACKbook titled...Accidental Billionaries: The Founding of Facebook A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal

Now if that bit of information has you wondering " what the hell is this world coming to? then you'll be happy to know that somewhere in movie land there are negotiations going to try and turn this book in to a motion picture??!?!?!?

This immediately got me thinking a couple of random thoughts...

A. Michael Jackson dies and these niggas are trying to make a facebook MOVIE!!!
B. Sadly if this movie ever does come out, it'll probably do decently well at the box office
C. This nigga along with Bill Gates and the dude from Apple will most likely come together one day and " accidently" create skynet thrusting our world into some post appocaliptik cyborg ridden shit...

So maybe that last one is a little far off... either way

Im Over Here Now

I dig your style

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

One of our favorite Kevin Smith stories is the one about how when Dogma was released and Catholics were busy protesting the film, Smith himself went out to a local Jersey theater and protested the movie - figuring that none of the protesters would recognize him. Ironically, he wound up being interviewed for a local news piece as a "protester" and apparently the original video of that news report has now surfaced online. Praise Jesus.

R.I.P Michael Jackson

You will be missed..

A map of Michael Jackson samples in hip hop spotted over at NahRight

Mistress Barbara ft Sam Roberts, Running

These are the types of videos that Much Music plays at 4am during the summer.

B.o.B vs Bobby Ray

like we talked about...


B.o.B vs Bobby Ray

pictures and more from our NXNE shiiit will follow

Wale - Back To The Feature

Download Here

...driving to toronto tomorrow to rock the fuck out.. we will definitely be sampling this in the van

B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray is on the way..

Who smokes the blunts? We smoke the blunts...

I used to swear by this motherfucker's films... and though some of the jokes aren't quite my style now that I've gotten a little older, I still dig homeboys style. No Stano. Didn't really like that "Zack and Miri make a porno" shit but you can't please everyone all the time.

Anyway, seems Kevin Smith got high and answered some questions from nerdy fellers stuck on the interweb.

Highlights include...learning he's making a buddy cop flick starring the real Bruce Willis and motherfucking Tracy Morgan and finding out he wants to make a hockey movie.

Check The Vibes @ NXNE

...in little writing.. on the bottom right... squint your eyes and you can see Liquid and The Velvet Trench Vibes opening for The Cool Kids & GZA

The show is FREE!! (i think) and on the corner of Younge and Dundas (aka Dundas Square) aaaaaand apparently we have a tent where we can sell shit... but seeing as how we don't have shit to sell you can come and drink with us there.. and get an autograph if you feel it necessary

J Cole - The Warm Up

It finally dropped. Definitely going to check this out..

J Cole - The Warm Up



Dead Presidents II

Damn homie... WTF happened to you?

I post this picture because a) heeeee's naaaaasty b) to make Freddie laugh

I kinda like that first wig.. I dig the mad scientist look (especially when your on trial for a murder)
.......................................................................

Some added Drake stannery for fun...this is what you call an OFFICYAL CO-SIGN

Mathieu Lefebvre aka Toge

This Guy right here is our new Bassist, Last night being his first show he came through and completely aided us in shutting shit DOWN!! Three key points to mention.

. Showing Up with his A game to the show.
. Witnessing an awkward moment with yours truly at the bar ( Two angry black women vs 1 white girl barmaid...not a good mix)
. ALMOST pulling off the " Dip & Dodge " move while attempting to switch drinking locations.


You did good last night man, welcome to the Vibes

Dj Whoo Kid

I Posted this based on the sheer fact that this video consist of 9 minutes of Whoo Kid saying whatever the fuck he wants about anyone. Back in October when i met dude i noticed that he had a shirt that read " I Shoot Hipsters" in black. The very next morning as Im checking out of the hotel, My man is bussin the same exact shirt only this time in a different color. Talk about standing by your beliefs

MOP vs EPMD

The internets is heating up! The debate has begun.

Combat Jack's Argument

Unkut's Argument


MOP stepping to bootleggers around Brownsville with a bat in hand...

Official Party Starter

This guy starts dancing and partying alone at the back of the sasquatch music festival.. after being joined by one guy who is semi clowning on him.. the party erupts at about the 1:00 min mark. From there everyone jumps on the bandwagon...

This whole event can seriously be compared to the arc of a music act's career today. (prime example of the moment would be Drake)

Here is what Lefsetz has got to say:

You’re doing your own thing, seemingly in the wilderness, with the goal that
a spark ignites others to join in. Your main sales point is the fact
that you’re doing it. It’s not about marketing, new media just allows
the word to spread faster if you catch fire. [...]

This is anathema to American business. We’ve got stockholders! We
need short term results! Wring more money out of the customer!

Charge more, and people won’t bother experimenting. It didn’t cost anything to
join this dance party, just like it shouldn’t cost anything to hear your
music. But if an attendee has a good enough time, he’ll come back NEXT
YEAR to Sasquatch! Just like someone who loves your music will come see
you LIVE!
Everything’s slow now. It’s about perseverance and
credibility. If you can’t wait… If you’re not willing to continue
polishing your act, getting better and better, with little revenue to show for it, you don’t belong in this business.

Your goal is not to do market research, to ask the public what it wants, but
to believe in yourself. But belief is nothing without practice, without
quality. And the focus is on music, not marketing. So, if you’ve got
a great Facebook page, it’s not as good as a great song. As for
practicing… Read "The Talent Code" to understand not all practice is the
same. It’s when you challenge yourself, make mistakes, do something new,
that you get better. Not when you get together in the garage and rehearse
the same damn songs over and over and then play Xbox.
This video is a metaphor for the music business. It happens slowly, you can’t give
up. But if you’re electric, charismatic, singing material the public can
relate to, you can become gigantic overnight! (After ten years/10,000
hours of working in the trenches!)

Anvil! The Story of Anvil

This shit is blowing up right now! I gotta go check this movie. Anvil is a canadian metal group that were "set to blow" in the 80's metal scene. Having toured with the biggest bands of the time, Anvil were going to become legends....then nothing happened and they fell off. That was until 20 years later when their old roadie decided to shoot a Spinal Tap esque documentary about them. This documentary is now being shown at film festivals around the world and Anvil are once again experiencing that brush with fame. The documentary follows them on a disastrous "tour" across europe as well as the daily grind Anvil go through...

Movie Rush - Anvil! The Story Of Anvil from Matt McNally on Vimeo.

Wyclef's D.O.A

1500 or Nothin

Shouts To Mars & Bam truly some of the nicest guys i've met on my adventures

Mos Def in Osaka

Some late night performances..


w/ the ROOTS on Fallon

Tanya Morgan-So Damn Down

This Video is pretty nice ya'll

Saturday Morning Jacket

Working on the FUZZ cover, thought i'd share some music and finally make my first post. Enjoy,
P

Jim James & Carl of My Morning Jacket at Desmet Studios

Amsterdam, Netherlands (May 16, 2008).

Click here to download.

Oldies...But Goodies

Stumbled upon this piece of work the other day while listening to some old school Heltah Skeltah. Truly a joint that was slept on

CJ - Shyne, The Last Bad Boy

Shyne, The Last Bad Boy

A piece on how Combat Jack basically put Shyne on... and then warned him not to get caught up in Puffymania... then to him getting a call from Shyne in prison

VIBE - 60 rappers

Vibe.com is doing a segment called 60 rappers in 60 days where each day they profile a different rapper.

Here is Andre 3K.

Now i'm not a Scarface fan in anyway. However, his comments when comparing his own son to SouljaBoy are pretty fucking funny.

I got an 18-year-old and he worried about going to the prom and shit. SouljaBoy going to see accountants and lawyers and shit, and you tripping on the prom man?! This muthafuckin’ man getting his money, man!
[Laughs]

Who doesn't like a Grammy Performance? .. I guess I don't like the ones that suck

The Tonight Show

Ahhhh I really have missed that pasty lanky man telling me jokes about how pasty and lanky he really is. Last night, as EVERYONE knows, was Conan's first show as host of The Tonight Show. And wow @ the intro applause he recieves!



His first guest was Will Ferrel ... with what was probably the best intro on a talk show ever.



And the musical guest was none other than Pearl Jam. (Perry I called you like 5 times to tell you)

Pearl Jam on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien - June 1, 2009 from Bernie on Vimeo.