RIP Jam Master Jay (1965-2002)

Rest in peace to Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell. Seven years later and his untimely death still stings.

“Peter Piper” is incredible, “Jam Master Jay” is a Run-DMC classic (ask Nas). But my favorite song from the Hollis trio that features Jam Master Jay cutting and scratching (Bob James “Nautilus”) with finesse is “Beats to the Rhyme.” Makes Tougher Than Leather almost watchable.

Below, trailer for the 2 Turntables And A Microphone documentary about JMJ due out soon.

RELATED:

DJ Scratch Remembers Jam Master Jay [Nod Factor]

Jason William Mizell

The Wu-Massacre Trailer Part I

Vodpod videos no longer available.

How can you be mad at this? All the talk of Method Man, Raekwon and Ghostface recording a joint album is coming to a fruition (even the RZA wants in). Looks like it’s due in stores December 22nd and director du jour Rik Cordero put together a trio trailers inspired by Se7en.

The first trailer is above, and “Wu Ooh” “New Wu” from Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II is below. Tical!

Mos Def Black Thought Eminem BET Cypher 2009 + the rest

Easily the best of the Cyphers that dropped during the BET Hip-Hop Awards. Each MC came off and has a mean argument as to why they were the best. I say it’s a draw.*

The real winner is the random, bridge and tunnel looking white dude who got into like every shot. There he is, 2nd from the left in the pic below.

*I’m leaning towards Mos Def > Black Thought> Eminem

The History of LEE Video Timeline

Vodpod videos no longer available.

“We keep it hot like matches and on lock like latches/Wack MCs get they microphone snatched like Lee patches.”—Talib Kweli “Twice Inna Lifetime”

The video above, posted by Street Etiquette, is a timeline documenting the Lee brand from its inception in 1889 to the 1970’s. In 1946 Lee debuted the “twitch” patch. Only reason I’m noting this invention is because I vividly remember being in my 1st grade class and hearing the principle come over the loudspeaker to adamantly inform us, and all the small time thugs who made it to school that day, that despite the rumors, Lee was not offering free jeans to people with a certain amount of Lee patches.

In the hood, young b-boys were getting their Lee patches snatched off, most times while they were still wearing their jeans. It was either that or face getting lumped up. The Bronx was so gully, and beautiful at the same time. [Spotted at Hypebeast]

Barack Obama Gear, Good and Bad

Be the change...

Call it inspiration, or a means to get paid—or in legal trouble (ask Shepard Fairy)—but Barack Obama inspired a smorgasbord of graphic designs that screen printed their way onto clothing. What better way to put people on notice as to your political allegiances than an image on a t-shirt/sweatshirt?

At times the Obama inspired gear was creative. I dig the US Currency line’s King Obama sweatshirt below. An image of Brother Obama with a crown atop his dome is a great way to antagonize nitwits spewing nonsense about the 44th US President being some type of fascist. [more after pic]

eat your heart out

However, at other times, the Obama flavoring can be taken too far; becoming uninspired and trite. Case in point, this offering from Jeepney that co-opts a photo of Slick Rick… [more after pic]

Slick Rick should be mad...

Now this is just lame. Barack Obama isn’t a Hip-Hop President. He’s the President, period.

So it goes without saying that I have disdain for the “RUN DC” tee below. Come on, for real? [more after pic]

I love RUN-DMC as much as the next man. But chill.

Let me end this with a hoodie I dig, and also happen to own. When wearing this I thoroughly enjoy the nods of approval I receive from pro-Obama heads and the looks of disdain I receive from people bitter that the good ol’ boy took an L last November.

Down goes McCain!

RELATED:

Obama Art Website Gets Bound Up [Animal NY]

Jazzy Jeff x Michael Jackson x UNDRCRWN Mixtape

DJ Jazzy Jeff connects with UNDRCRWN for a mixtape dedication to the King of Pop. There is a commemorative tee for sale, while the mixtape, titled He’s the King, I’m the DJ, is freeness.

Download He’s the King, I’m the DJ. [MediaFire]

Below, a classic from DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper album, “Brand New Funk.” Will Smith is still a better MC, and showman, than most, believe it. [Propers to Kari Cruz]

APPLEBUM x Wu-Tang – “36 Hockey Jersey”

Wu-Tang Icee

Kind of loud for my tastes but Wu-Tang fanboys, and girls, will surely cop this knit sweater/hockey jersey. Courtesy of Japan’s APPLEBUM and Wu-Tang Brand. [Spotted at FRESHNESS]

Now I got an excuse to post a Wu-Tang Clan video; “Careful (Click, Click)” from The W.

RELATED:
Wu- Wear — A Guide to Wu-Tang Inspired Streetwear and Shoes [Street Level]

Lil Wayne Prefers Pushing Flowers

“And I’d rather be pushing flowers than to be in the pen sharing showers.” —Lil Wayne “A Milli” Tha Carter III

You know the story. Weezy plead out to attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. Considering the lyric above; tragic irony.

RELATED:

BREAKING NEWS: Lil Wayne Pleads Guilty To Gun Charge [AllHipHop]

Why Did Lil Wayne Plead Guilty? [MTV News]

QD3 Presents: Lil Wayne “The Carter Doc” [OnSmash]

Lil’ Wayne – “Swag Surfin’” x “Wasted” [The Smoking Section]

Please Don’t Call The Roots A House Band

Still no Malik B...

New York Mag’s Vulture Blog posted an item, with info swiped from Paste, on why the Roots decided to fall back on the touring and become Jimmy Fallon’s band.

Now this isn’t new knowledge, at all, but…

Issue #1: I’m not comfortable with the “house band” tag because a racist bum could easily flip “band” into “Negroes.” Semantics, whatever. I could be overreacting, save for the fact that…

Issue #2 In the Vulture blog post’s kicker the author writes, “And there you have it, how the Roots learned to put their guns down and love being a house band.”

Keep in mind that the Roots aren’t suckas but they also are one of Hip-Hop’s most non-gangsta acts. And despite Lil Weezy’s recent success at providing rednecks with supporting evidence (imagine having to explain “Always Strapped” in court), all rappers do not tote guns. Seriously. No kidding.

Anyway, coming from an entity affiliated with New York Magazine, which I thoroughly enjoy reading, I’m very disappointed. Editing fail.

Forgive my old school Source Magazine “Media Watch” moment. Below, Roots video for “How I Got Over.”

Bobbito Garcia on CNN and Pro-Keds

The video above is of a Latinos in America piece CNN did on Hip-Hop renaissance man Bobbito Garcia. Funny, since I remember first noticing him as DJ Stretch Armstrong’s partner on 89.9 (shout to the homie Sucio Smash still holding it down over there), I’ve never really noted DJ Cucumber Slice as “a Puerto Rican dude.” Just as “a Hip-Hop head,” tried and true. Not on some post-racial nonsense. Searching for that new Hip-Hop music fix made it an after thought.

Regardless, Kool Bob Love has long been one of my inspirations. Bobbito the Barber seems to always finagle a check for doing stuff he’d probably be doing for free anyway. Case in point, he recently collaborated with Pro-Keds to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Royal Flash model. Courtesy of KixandTheCity, video of Bob speaking on the kicks below. Damn him, and all his nicknames. LOL.