EMYND asked me to contribute to www.CrossFadedBacon.com… He Is A Good Friend…
I think he is just jealous of my large collection of Bruce Springsteen Albums.
I will try not to blow it…
Archive for Bull Ish
We All Have Special Skills…
Thoughts on Kanye “808s & Heartbreaks”
Believe it or not, I used to have a blog where I actually wrote interesting things and (strangely), people read it and commented on it. This particular blog is more of a “LISTEN TO THIS MUSIC” blog and I don’t often have the time (or desire really) to get my inner Schizophrenic Tenant on, but allow me to do so briefly because I’ve got a few things to say about Kanye’s “808s & Heartbreaks.” I posted something similar on a messageboard recently, but I’ve edited it slightly and re-posted it below.
First of all, I realize this is a polarizing record, and I’m not really too interested in having a conversation where we try to convince each other why we should or shouldn’t like this record. Fundamentally, I don’t think any of us are going to change our mind’s about this record… but I do think it’s a record worth talking about. So, ya know, feel free to comment in the comments section, but let’s not get into a “I CANT BELIEVE YOU DON’T LIKE and/or LIKE THIS ALBUM” yelling match.
Basically, it’s like this… I can totally understand why people don’t like this record. It’s obviously not traditional hip-hop (duh) nor is it particularly forward-thinking electronic music. I mean, the only thing “hip-hop” about the record are some of the drums and maybe a couple of the verses. But to put it simply, everything Kanye does is so incredibly charming to me. There’s an unabashed humanity to his stuff that is really easy for me to like at a very simple level. There’s a ton of books and movies and music that I appreciate theoretically but that do nothing for me emotionally… but Kanye is the exact opposite of that. I really just get a great deal of pleasure out of listening to music. Like all great producers (and I suppose rappers, too) he’s just got an incredible ear for melody and music in general that really resonates with my tastes, so it’s not surprising that I really really like this record. Maybe I have horrible taste, but for whatever reason, my tastes seem to rhyme pretty closely with Kanye’s.
In a recent messageboard post, I felt that it was also worth mentioning that never in the history of rap has an artist who is accepted in the urban community really branched out as far as this… but on second thought, I guess that’s not entirely true though because Common and Q-Tip and Andre 3000 all already did that… and most people would say they failed doing it. I guess the “traditional rapper branching outside of rap” isn’t a new concept at all… but there’s something I can’t put my finger on that makes this record feel A LOT DIFFERENT than those previous examples. I don’t think it’s the music itself… it’s something to do with the context. Perhaps it’s just that Kanye is a producer? Common, Q-Tip, and Andre were all rappers that branched out with “weird” albums, but Kanye is a producer… Is that what makes this different I’m speaking of palpable? Or maybe it’s just that Kanye is a SUPERSTAR? I’m really not sure, but again, there’s something different and GRANDER about Kanye’s departure that makes this record feel like much more of an EVENT then the previous departures.
But, back to the music, I don’t mean to argue that the music on this record is particularly forward-thinking on its own merits because it’s really not. It’s 808s and synths with bad singing (most of which is auto-tuned to hell), moments of great lyricism and moments of truly bad lyricism. But, it’s not like this music is really pushing boundaries sonically. Yeah, it’s kind’ve weird at times, but only if you look at it through the lense of hip-hop… it’s mostly pretty easily consumable pop music that isn’t particularly tied up with urban black music signifiers (though certainly some are there)… and I think that freedom from traditional urban black music signification is what makes this record kind’ve interesting. Now, I don’t really expect this album to have any far reaching affects on contemporary urban black music, but I do agree with a sentiment that a friend of mine (Dances With White Girls… buy his record!) expressed a couple weeks back in that this album seems important in its unabashed willingness to show another aspect of the urban black man’s possible identity. The characters most popular in hip-hop are nothing like the character presented in “808s & Heartbreaks” and never has any one artist in hip-hop been in a position to make an “experimental” (for lack of a better word) album like this where a large number of people (perhaps even including the nebulous “the streets”?) will actually LISTEN to it… and maybe even like it?
Or I guess to put it more simply, Kanye is an accepted mainstream hip-hop artist who is making this album, and that CONTEXT of him being an accepted mainstream hip-hop artist makes this album a much different beast than if it were an album that Anti-Pop Consortium made or whatever. I’ll be curious to see over the next couple weeks and months what the overall reaction to this album is and how it sells.
But back to me… at a very basic level, I really really like this ish.
-emynd
Obama- Free mp3’s
I know I was in line at 6:35 am to get my vote in at 7:00 am when the polls opened at 30th & Master, North Philly, USA. It was a beautiful thing. In the birthplace of democracy in the western hemisphere the Obama support was overwhelming. My man Barry. It’s up to the people now, and our fucked up electorate college. Sheesh. Let’s do this.
Free mp3’s.
T-Pain ft. Kanye West “Therapy”
Vocoder madness… SHOCKING!!!! Gonna be a radio joint/warm-up the club joint. I like it.
M.I.A ft. Jay-Z “The Boys RMX”
OK this might have been out for a minute but is making the “urban” rounds a little late a la “Paper Planes” with a verse from Jigga. I didn’t have it ’til very recently, shoot me.
I love John Legend. Real talk. I don’t like to judge albums too quickly but I have to say that this one that I had been looking forward to so much might not be his best work. You should still cop, but this is one of better joints on there so take it as a little encouragement to grab that jawn. DO IT!!
Oh yeah, it’s soft like Emynd.
-bo bliz
Peter Beste Houston Pics
Photographer Peter Beste has posted some incredible pics that capture Houston rap culture’s most candid moments. Here’s what he has to say about the pictures and definitely go peep them:
My hometown of Houston, Texas, also known as the Third Coast, is a world all its own. This city is responsible for birthing the Geto Boys, UGK (from nearby Port Arthur), DJ Screw, and the codeine-based drink known as Syrup. Producing an uncompromising and innovative sound all their own, many of these artists existed under the radar for nearly twenty years despite a virtual absence of press outside of the deep south. These photographs are my attempt to bring attention to the music, lifestyle and culture of a very exciting time and place. — Peter Beste
-e
Behold…. The Lobster Cheesesteak
$12.99 @ Chickie’s and Pete’s in South Philly. Very much worth it. Had it with a pint of Victory. Is life good? Of course it is. I banged it out with some hot sauce, ketchup, and the red pepper you can see. Sorry for the pic quality, its a phone pic.
Ohio Friday, The Bounce Saturday… Weird Ish and Other News
Emil and I are stoked as a mug to hit Columbus, Ohio this Friday. Gonna kill it with some hip-hop, classics, club, and all types of all shit. I know Dave Nada has crushed that place numerous times and he’s been sending me random texts like, “y’all gonna get those bammas the fuck out of there!” We will Dave, we will.
Of Course Saturday we will be destroying shit at The Bounce back in Philly, should be a banger… Make sure you hit it up before we switch the dates around on you suckas some other shit like that.
Oh yeah… You trying to cop one sneak for five stacks? I know Jed’s not even on that level.
What you know about these McFly’s?
Besides that, we got Silk City locked down Labor Day Sunday with an all-star lineup for a K-Swift benefit. It will be all club and certainly pretty ridiculous also.
Details coming soon.
Roctakon Interview
Roctakon’s got an Amish Right Hand
A very special interview with a dear friend, DJ Roctkaon.
Enjoy.
emynd: yo let me interview you for the blog real quick
emynd: you ready?
emynd: these questions are on the fly… ready?
roctakon: what blog?
roctakon: cooking bacon with wiggerz
roctakon: shoot
emynd: When’s the last time you rubbed one out on the plane?
roctakon: recently but not that recent, i get so fucking horny on airplanes but recently i’ve been sleeping and trying to cut back on sensless masturbation
emynd: is there such a thing as “non-senseless” masturbation?
roctakon: yes, if you have a gig and some skank rubs her ass all over you it makes sense to masturbate instead of cheating on your girlfriend
emynd: good point and good example
emynd: do you bring your skateboard with you on these trips?
roctakon: no, I have a complete in las vegas and one stashed in la, if im going to be somewhere for more than 48 hours i’ll consider it… i bring my board to north carolina when i go…
emynd: what do you skate down there? durham? isnt there some dope courthouse at durham?
roctakon: charlotte is all i know
roctakon: its fun they have a good shop “blacksheep” with cool heads and a good vibe
emynd: last line you filmed?
roctakon: monday or tuesday..
roctakon: doing Bs lines with the quartersnacks.com crew
emynd: wtf is a bs line? i want specifics of the tricks
roctakon: 360 flip…… nose grind….. kick flip 50 50
roctakon: i was over the kf 50 50 when i got a good tre and nose grind
emynd: meaning you didnt get the line, did you?
roctakon: skating the benches at the natural history museum is exhausting
emynd: you ever skate in shorts?
roctakon: nope, only to the deli for bacon egg and cheese or down ludlow street to see whos at the fish
emynd: haha
emynd: yo king of mash, do you have any more mashes besides roctaguetta?
roctakon: yes
emynd: roctamissy?
emynd: roctaprydz?
roctakon: im going to look in my itunes
roctakon: 1 sec
roctakon: sippin on syrup over the mylo remix of the killers somebody told me, my humps over run dmc its like that, holler back girl over king of the beats…. my first mash
roctakon: also
roctakon: tipsy vrs maroon five
roctakon: soooo dope!
emynd: in the mean time, i’d like you to give this question some thought… what’s the skateboarding equivalent of “mash ups”?
emynd: like a pole jam to 50-50 on a ledge or something?
roctakon: when la dudes
roctakon: do pole jams
emynd: haha
emynd: which skater would you like to see dj? and which dj would you like to see skate?
roctakon: i would like to see a set from…………………………..
roctakon: actualy
roctakon: none
roctakon: skaters are kinda miserable
emynd: yeah that was a stupid question
roctakon: when it comes to music
roctakon: how many times can you play that song from headhunters?
emynd: say something controversial about black skaters
roctakon: “heelflips”
emynd: i thought that was wiggers?
roctakon: well…
roctakon: ok how about…
roctakon: naw….. heel flips
emynd: hahaha
emynd: you had something really offensive typed out and deleted it, right?
roctakon: yes
roctakon: totes!
emynd: if you were conducting this interview, what would you ask yourself?
roctakon: “why are you so full of shit”
emynd: eh… not into it… keep it skatbeoard related
roctakon: oh…
emynd: nobody cares about your musical opinions.. we get it… house, disco, and becky stuff
roctakon: i like rap
roctakon: too
roctakon: i played “put on”
emynd: only if it’s club relevant
roctakon: last night
roctakon: no i like rap
emynd: how much rap do you listen to that you cant play in the club?
roctakon: i like common
roctakon: and stuff
roctakon: LOL
emynd: whoa kufi
roctakon: if i had a car id listen to a shit load more rap
emynd: serious question actually… how much music do you engage that you dont look at as something you could use somehow (i.e. when djing a club or a mix)?
roctakon: this interview is spiraling out of control
emynd: hahaha
roctakon: depends, I was in a rock phase for a few years im kinda over it now, but i like a lot of non club rock
roctakon: and elvis
roctakon: i got into elvis this year
emynd: do you listen to it? or do you just theoretically like it?
roctakon: no elvis i listen to
roctakon: same with morrissey
roctakon: and
roctakon: other stuff
emynd: are you one of these ipod ear bud skaters?
roctakon: echo and the bunny men
roctakon: no
roctakon: skaters with i pods
roctakon: are rude
emynd: yeah im not into that… skating should be social
roctakon: skating is about broing
emynd: jinx!
emynd: can people kickflip on snowboards yet? if so, who cares?
roctakon: bad question
roctakon: snowboarding sucks
roctakon: my parents would not pay for that shit
emynd: haha
emynd: you got siblings?
roctakon: they were to busy yeiing at me about my D’s
roctakon: yea I have an older brother that lives in borum hill
roctakon: brooklyn
emynd: musically inclined?
roctakon: smith bergen on the f
roctakon: no fucking kook inclined
emynd: back to pr0n
emynd: by all accoutns, youre into pr0n
roctakon: yes
roctakon: yes i am
emynd: you know pr0n stars names and stuff
emynd: how did that happen?
emynd: naturally?
roctakon: yes
roctakon: im very picky about what i masturbate too
roctakon: i can not
emynd: like you wer ejust like “this jawn really works it… i need more stuff by her”
roctakon: watch any random porn movie and jack off
roctakon: i get specific with my needs
roctakon: and
roctakon: knowing whos who and where to find them on the web
roctakon: helps
emynd: k back to skateboarding and music
emynd: ima throw a name at you
emynd: and i want you to give me the musical or skateboard equivalent
emynd: so when i say shwayzee… name someone who is the equivalent in skateboarding
emynd: SHWAYZEE!
roctakon: nobody that trife
roctakon: there are people worse
roctakon: like sheckler
roctakon: but
roctakon: most are better
emynd: ok
emynd: David Guetta
roctakon: i mean if your out there ripping no matter how crappy
roctakon: i got love
roctakon: sheckler is not out ripping
roctakon: so…
emynd: DAVID GUETTA!
roctakon: guetta, that would be like,
roctakon: hum
roctakon: chris cole…
roctakon: your boy
emynd: hah my boy
roctakon: he is commercial,
roctakon: but
emynd: definitely, my boy
emynd: Chris is the best
emynd: hi chris!
emynd: ok, Young Jeezy
roctakon: he has a steez and it sells
roctakon: not mad
roctakon: jeezy…
roctakon: thats tough
emynd: come on… this one’s easy
emynd: biebel!
roctakon: skaters are not that trill
roctakon: no way
roctakon: biebel is a pot head attention freak
roctakon: no jeezy
emynd: haha
roctakon: Carroll is more Jeezy
roctakon: that bibes
emynd: ok what about Wayne?
roctakon: hum,
roctakon: good question
emynd: (this interview is effing awesome by the way)
roctakon: one of those kids that can do anything
roctakon: what interview?
emynd: hahah
roctakon: this is AIM!
emynd: it’s being posted on a blog, son!
roctakon: oh my flight is gonna board after all!
roctakon: who is the wayne of this shit…
roctakon: danny renaud
emynd: i have no idea
roctakon: he is fucking nuts
roctakon: and super sick
emynd: im stuck in skating from like 5 years ago
emynd: is salabanzi any good anymore?
roctakon: but a kook
roctakon: was he ever?
roctakon: he skated to the black eyed pees
emynd: um yeah… kickflip front board down like 12 stairs
roctakon: dj primer produced song
emynd: he’s french
roctakon: true
emynd: they love that “true school” crap
roctakon: black dudes from europe
emynd: in his defense, the way the bep talk, it sounds like theyre speaking french
roctakon: playing the im black card all over the E U
emynd: haha
roctakon: scoring white pussy
roctakon: i lve em
roctakon: love em
emynd: ok, now music equivalents of skaters
emynd: harold hunter
roctakon: johnny thunders
roctakon: sorry greko
roctakon: but hunter was more thunders than u!
emynd: i have no idea who johnny thunders is dude
emynd: what about koston?
roctakon: Rod stewart
emynd: BAHAH
roctakon: Still killing it after all thee years
roctakon: Stewart rules and so dose koston
roctakon: Fully flared is my favorite koston part
roctakon: And mouse I like when he’s not the star
roctakon: He dose best when he’s not the star
emynd: ok… um… tom penny
roctakon: Any number of bands that you think are great but end up never doing shit…. and just smoking cigarettes acting cool
roctakon: I just bought jett blue 1 dollar headphones so I would bnot have to take mine out my dj bad
emynd: WOW YOURE RICH!
emynd: what you gonna listen to?
roctakon: Got money, and you know it, take it out your pocket and ttttttttt throw it
roctakon: Ima watch tv
roctakon: I don’t have an I pod I lose them constantly
roctakon: Actually
roctakon: I might check out some dj mixs I downloaded
roctakon: Dave nada for 1
emynd: really?
roctakon: No, but I did get my laptop and headphones out cause I have some mixes
roctakon: I do want to check out
emynd: what mixes?
roctakon: Marshal jefferson mix someone posted, and my boy sent me some new hood shit that’s popping in miami, new khaled and stuff
roctakon: So I want to check those songs out
emynd: does it really behoove you to stay ahead of the curve on rap?
roctakon: Smashable girl sitting next to me on this flight
roctakon: J O might be in order
roctakon: And yea it dose
roctakon: I need to always have that shit in my computer
roctakon: I like some of it
roctakon: I check the atl radio playlists for new southern stuff
emynd: well let’s close this interview on the JO note so we’ve gone full circle
emynd: my work day’s over anyway
roctakon: And try to stay up on ny shit a little
emynd: THANKS FOR YOUR TIME DJ ROCTAKON!
-e
UNRULY FLICKS/EMIL ON THE LEFT COAST
We don’t put up many party pics, but this one was truly an epic event. The amount of dj’s that came together was hard to believe and there was no hate involved. So many people have so much respect for what Scottie and Sean have done at Unruly (myself included), and they let us in their house to rock for one night, a night that will be remembered for many things. Tragically, one of the things it will be remembered for is that it was the last Paradox appearance of the legendary dj K-Swift.
Once again, RIP K-Swift. Included are some pics of her doing her thing, in her element. I’ve heard people say she was the voice of B-More and I can’t argue that, she had that room captivated friday night. Hopefully some of these pics will allow people who missed that night (as well as those who were there) to remember her in a positive way. She went out on top.
Philly in here
Sega
Bliz
Scottie and K-Swift
Scottie and K-Swift
K-Swift
5151
Damn Larry!
King Tut and Blaqstarr
L–>R. Bliz, Dan, Jesse, Stretch, Joey, Titts, Scottie, Chris, Excel, Emil
Classic duo right here, DJ Class and Scottie
Puja and Sparkles (thanks Puja, we love you!)
These two don’t need to be hanging out
Emil really dj’ed, and really killed it, there’s just no photographic evidence
Tall/drunk dj’s- Wil Roc and Bliz
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Emil’s coming to the West Coast this weekend, San Francisco to be exact. Wish the bol happy b-day and go to his bass music night with the big homie Serg!
RIP Sporty T
More sad news from New Orleans: local rapper Sporty T murdered.
- Unknown gunmen toting an AK-47 opened fire on the exterior of a FEMA trailer in Gentilly this morning, murdering a former local rapper who was sleeping inside, according to the New Orleans Police Department. Terence Vine, a rapper known to friends and fans as “Sporty T,” was in bed when the gunmen sprayed his trailer with bullets, several of which struck his body, according to police.
Thanks to Noz for the heads up.
Sporty T was really involved with the early Bounce scene and put out several classic tracks, the most famous of which is probably “Sporty Talkin’ Sporty.” He was part of the “Ninja Crew” along with Gregory D and DJ Baby T (and later, Mannie Fresh). In the early 90s, he put out a lot of great Bounce records and in the late 90’s, he developed beef with Juvenile and Cash Money and spent most of his time dissing them dudes. Even during his Cash Money-obsessed days, he still put out some interesting material. I’ll be posting a couple of my favorite tracks later today as a little tribute. Meanwhile, the excellent Louisian Rap Blog has posted a couple of his albums:
– Sporty T “The Saga Continues”
– Sporty T “Chromed Out”
RIP.
-e
Happy 4th Folks!!!
The time has come for Crossfaded Bacon to endorse a 4th of July hat. The decision this year is obvious. Go Phils, go Obama, and have safe and happy weekend.
R5 Punk Rock Flea Market This Saturday! GOOOO!
If you’ve never been to this, you’re missing out. Truly a great event with a lot of useful stuff.
*THIS* Saturday June 28th 10:00am – 5:00pm
At The Starlight Ballroom / Club Polaris
(460 N 9th Street – Just Below 9th and Spring Garden)
All Ages – 21+ To Drink / $3 entry donation / Tables Are Sold Out !
THE SEMI-ANNUAL PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET – SUMMER EDITION !
It’s that time again for the semi-annual (twice a year) PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET. Our most popular reoccurring event/show/whatever (by far). All proceeds raised will goto the purchase of necessary equipment and supplies to ensure that all ages shows continue to remain a reality at The First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia – mainly the remaining payment for our new liability insurance policy. Do not let the name lead you to believe that it’s just punk records, clothes etc. – it’s a full on flea market with everything from furniture, to laptops / computers , to stereo equipment, to handmade apparel, to vegan treats, information from various non-profit groups, book stores, artists selling their work, bicycles & skateboards and whatever else we can fit onto the ballroom floor at The Starlight Ballroom.
The Starlight just added an additional 8 ventilation and cooling units just for this weekend !
In addition to the normal flea market stuff there will also be a full bar and food service kitchen to make the day go by a little faster.
Check Out The 100+ Tables Of Sellers :
FULL LIST OF SELLERS
-e
Michael Penn Photography
The gracious and talented Michael Penn recently contacted me to inform me that I had used two of his pictures for our Philly Love mixtape. I originally found the pics through google image search and I’m actually really grateful that Mr. Penn got in touch with me because he linked me to his website and his flickr account which both contain some really magnificent photography. I’ve linked some of my favorites below, but I’ve got to say the entire “Under Philadelphia” series is amazing and I’m definitely going to be purchasing a couple of these prints in the very near future. Hopefully, some of his work will be appearing on our future projects in a more legitimate fashion.
Definitely go and peep some of the pics and don’t be afraid to support him. Click each of the below for the full size image.
-e
