3-0ooh SHEEET!!!

I really don't feel any difference between yesterday and today. Still the same underachiever who loves music, kicks and porn (I guess you'd have to throw bloggin' in there now). If you ask me if I feel different between today and 10 years ago, then the answer would be a definite, 'Y-E-S'. Weaker, dumber, slower, fatter. Sometimes, it actually hurts the next morning when I sleep "incorrectly". Anyways, here's a short playlist that I just put together of stuff I've found around town, that I've been diggin'.

[MP3] Amerie feat. Cee-lo :: Take Control
{Cee-lo actually did the production on this one.}
[MP3] Chaka Khan feat. Mary J. Blige :: Disrespectful
{MJ wrote this.}
[MP3] Justice feat. Mos Def & Spank Rock :: D.A.N.C.E. (Remix)
{Y'all know how much I dig these guys. I'm glad to see other b-boys agree.}
[MP3] Talib Kweli feat. Jean Grae & Ne-Yo :: Hot Thing (Remix)
{Something about this track just hits me. In the same vein as dope Usher, 112-type R&B}
[MP3] Outkast :: Da Art Of Storytellin' 4
{Another example of why we need these guys. No guest spottin' this time.}
[MP3] Jay-Z feat. Andre 3000 & Ice Cube :: 30 Something (Remix)
{Fits the occasion.}

After having such an eventful week of having a near-death experience and being escorted by the Las Vegas police, I think a quiet homemade meal will suffice to bring in "the beginning of the end"...damn, I'm old.
::MISTA HIPPO::

What The F*#K?!?!!!??

Snoop Dogg - Sensual Seduction [EXCLU]
Uploaded by PeteRock

Absolutely speechless.
::MH::

Tales from the Wu Pt. II

I don't care if the RZA is stealing Rae's money or if he's trying to take Ghost's spotlight, we need to keep him around just for his interviews. In the words of the master, "this is nutritious right here!" The RZA may have smoked himself silly, but that's where his genius comes from, so f@!# what Bol got to say.

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ps. credits due to missinfo for the video

Quiet Hip Hop

I don't know why, but lately, it's been hard to motivate myself to blog....Not to say that I haven't been hearing some good music, but I think maybe the cold weather (and cold is a very relative term since I'm in LA) is finally settling in and slowing me down. It usually happens around this time of year - I stay in more, eat more, read more, think more, and sit around more... Sometimes I think I'm falling into a funk, but I find too much contentment sitting on the couch with a cold beer, spicy fried chicken, and bad TV to call it that. So what is it really? I have no idea, but it's always a nice change...my music listening habits have changed too - I go back to old favorites, and they're always a little more jazzy and soulful than those summertime bangers. Here's a sampling:

[MP3] The Clipse :: Mr Me Too (Z.A.K. Lee Fields Remix)
The Lee Fields original is badass, and this unconventional pairing brings "Mr. Me Too" to a whole new level.
[MP3] Juggaknots :: Clear Blue Skies
I've LOVED this song ever since first hearing it back in college - great storytelling + jazzy beats = unforgettable.
[MP3] Juggaknots :: 30 Something (feat. Sadat X)
This one goes out to Mr. Hippo, who's about to hit the dirty thirty, but hey, 30 is the new 20 right? Actually, I wouldn't know because I'm still in my 20s!!! Nyaaa!!!
[MP3] Talib Kweli :: The Manifesto
I had my iPod on shuffle and came up on this after not hearing it for years, and DAMNNNN. This song is even more relevant today. A genuine hip hop classic in every sense of the word. I still haven't heard any hip hop comps that can come close to Rawkus' Lyricist Lounge and Soundbombing releases.

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Capote Does Turkey

Hope everyone has a wonderful turkey day. This is truly my favorite holiday; combine any excuse to have a buffet with any holiday and I'm there (got to love the Japanese New Year too!).
I decided to post something a little different. Truman Capote reads, in his own unique voice/way, his own unique writing, 'The Thanksgiving Visitor'. Someone should scratch this up over ill beats.

[MP3] Truman Capote :: The Thanksgiving Visitor (Side 1)
[MP3] Truman Capote :: The Thanksgiving Visitor (Side 2)

For those of you traveling for the holidays, be safe and get the hell out of my way!
::MISTA HIPPO::

PS - Which turkey is the President of the United States? Turkey looks for something to nibble on.

Excel Charts for Hip Hop Nerds...

If you don't get these charts, then you just might be going to hip hop hell, but if you like them, they came from here and there are a LOT more. I don't know how Hippo always finds this ish, seriously.

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La France est dans la maison!

It seems to be that French house is making a strong come back with Justice making a big name for themselves with creative VIDEOS & PERFORMANCES from their debut album Cross. As well as Kanye West's use of Daft Punk's 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger' (which actually uses Edwin Birdsong's 'Cola Bottle Baby'...feel the hip-hop in the air, people) for 'Stronger' (MB educates). I remember back in the day, when I first saw Daft Punk's 'Around The World' video directed by Michel Gondry and Spike Jonze's 'Da Funk' video just sealed the deal for me. But growing up in LA during the late 1990's, the boyz would have LOOKED AT YOU FUNNY if you told them to bump some French house music, while they were bumping Biggie, Bone, Camp Lo or even Company Flow. And my 'patriotic' friends would have thought I was crazy for feeling anything French, besides fries. And let's not even get into my love for Cassius. Well, Homework is a classic and for good reason. And if you haven't heard, Justice is bringing it.

[MP3] Daft Punk :: Fresh
[MP3] Justice :: Genesis

Descendez des dames.
::MONSIEUR HIPPO::

Can't Tell Me Nothing

Y'all know how much I dig comedic music (it must be those Weird Al tapes I had when I was a kid). Well a buddy sent to this to me and whatever you do, make sure you youtube Zach Galifianakis (watch Zach get down with Moby. I especially like the live stuff). That's exactly what I did after I saw this. If you haven't heard of him, it's a must.

Brillant.
::MH::

PS - Welcome back debstar.

Just One of Them Days

It's been foggy as hell in Frisco, and last night, I almost got killed by a f-ing oblivious dude in a Jeep while biking home. Damn. Something about the days these days that makes me replay emo music and self-medicate with too much wine and watch Law & Order re-runs. Yikes, can I get a hug?

[MP3] RJD2 :: Beyond
[MP3] Res :: Golden Boys
[MP3] Zero 7 :: Destiny
[MP3] Postal Service :: Nothing Better

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It's Been a Long Time...

Jesus it's been a minute since I've posted. Things have been real hectic these days for me - battling senioritis and inevitable academic failure, biking around on my new wheels, kicking unruly ex-flings to the curb, trying to cure myself of my addiction to Vietnamese vermicelli noodles, recovering from an embarrassing trainwreck of a gig. It's a hard knock life yo.

Due to these...uh...extracurricular activities, I haven't had a chance to catch up with my main music broker - my homie Ricky. So, Ricky is one of those dudes who always has like 30 new albums on his laptop at any given day, and hooking up his new music collection is an added bonus of this beautiful friendship.

So one day, after I got sick of rotating stupid Kanye for the 2308th time, I said, "There has to be more to life than this." And that's when I finally caught onto pandora.com and I've been hooked ever since. Pandora allows you to create channels with your favorite artists, and it'll play music for you from similar sounding artists. I created this sweetass channel with Sergio Mendes and Jorge Ben among others, which makes me long for the warmer weathered cities.

Here are some of the songs I discovered. Get on pandora.com! It's free. Don't tell me you don't like free shit.

[Mp3] Sergio Mendes :: Fool on the Hill
[Mp3] Sergio Mendes :: Magalenha
[MP3] Chico Buarque :: Samba de Orly
[MP3] Rosa Passos :: E Luxo So

[MP3] Sergio Mendes :: Mas Que Nada
[MP3] Sergio Mendes ft. Black Eyed Peas :: Mas Que Nada

[MP3] Rosa Passos :: Aguas de Marco
[MP3] Basia ft. Matt Bianco :: Waters of March

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Why the f is Frisco so cold?!?

Music Television (Not Ya Mamma's MTV)

Quite a few good videos/promos/interviews (aka "isn't Youtube great?") have come out recently:

{Radiohead continues the brilliance by having a there own live feed show on the internet at radiohead.tv. I think it's done for now, but some of the highlights have included some ill live covers of The Smiths, Bjork, New Order. Good ol' private TV.}

{Gorillaz will drop D-Sides, a compilation of all their b-sides, unreleased material, and remixes (by the likes of Hot Chip, Soulwax, etc.). Coming out at the end of this month.}

{Bloc Party's new video for 'Flux'. MPB remind you of anything?}

{I know this is just a promo, but it's so well done. If you like Peanut Butter Wolf's random mixes for free on Itunes, this will be a great stocking stuffer. Don't you hate how it's almost like we 'celebrate' Christmas before Thanksgiving?}

{Speaking of Xmas gifts, this is a winner. Everybody should know who the hip-hop legend D-Nice is (a quick refresher), well Nice is back with a new interview series, True Hip-Hop Stories, that's sort of like a 'storytellers' of hip-hop that goes behind-the-scenes of some of the greatest songs/artists/moments in hip-hop history.}

Are you old enough to remember when MTV actually played music videos?
::MH::

A Bathing Ape

From old to new, we cover the full spectrum here. My lil' godson is a G in the making. He's 3 and loves music. I've already made him 2 mixes & he's musically inclined...maybe 1 day this will be him (banner & Just Blaze already beat me to this). This past weekend I helped the fam out and babysat him. Cute kid overall, but one thing, he hates taking baths. When he finds out the scheme is to get clean, he literally goes bananas. So I'm trying to think of songs that could motivate him to get in that tub and scrub-a-dub-dub…

[MP3] De La Soul :: A Little Bit Of Soap
{Speaking of De La, check out this sweet Dante Ross interview by one of the best mags/blogs out there, The Inquiring Mind (we link them). To me, Dante is in the same boat as O-Dub, Bobbito...I always wish I had their jobs. Seen Kool Bob Love's new kicks? - but, where's the love for our blog, Bob? For all those ballers/DJs out there...they are hot.}
[MP3] Del Tha Funkee Homosapien :: If You Must (Automator Remix)
[VIDEO] Rose Royce :: Car Wash
[VIDEO] Jay-Z :: Dirt Off Your Shoulder
{I know these last 2 are a reach, but they are classic, I'm running out of ideas here and the kid won't stop crying...I really need to find my Ego Trip's Book Of Rap Lists.}

This aint got sh*t to do with shampoo, but watch ya' Head & Shoulders.
::MISTA HIPPO::

Iconic

Getdownnn with Iconoclasts.
::MH::

Respect Your Elders

It wasn't too long ago when the music your parents used to bump, was uncool, unhip...a la parents just don't understand (A classic. I actually tried to teach a class of Japanese Jr. High school students this song). But as you got older you learned that a lot of what was 'sampled' was from your parents record collections. Pretty soon you realized that the artists actually making the music have something a lot of the hip-hop cats don't have, something called longevity. And recently, fortunately for us 'kids', there seems to be a movement to have these artists continue to release new material. It could have started back when Johnny Cash first worked with Rick Rubin on American IV: The Man Comes Around. Y'all know how much of a Cash fan I am. One of the illest videos/songs ever came from that album. Since then it seems to have opened up a flood gate for these living legends producing new work, many times working with more 'current', yet legendary producers (ie Paul Simon with Brian Eno, Neil Diamond with Rubin as well, etc.). In today's culture, where everything seems to be emphasized on...well, today, don't forget to heed the wisdom of your elders. Just cause they're old don't make them wise, but they got stories to tell.

On a more personal note, this post goes out to a co-worker who recently lost his only child. There's nothing that can be said, like a lost to the family. Within the same breath though, my family has been blessed with 2 new additions coming. May will be an exciting month (Furious Furley Jr.? Watch out world!). This post is for those fallen and those coming. One word of advice, aging gracefully may be tough, but the old lady with the handbag is tougher. Thanks for Springsteen CD C-cholo!

[MP3] Bruce Springsteen :: Magic
[VIDEO] Paul McCartney :: Dance Tonight
{OG 'Office' heads will love this. The only 65 year old with an Ipod commercial? Full version here.}
[MP3] Neil Diamond :: Save Me A Saturday Night
{Hey, remember when Neil tried to be all futuristic? Like the Jewish Terminator...OH VEY! Is that the set from American Idol?}
[MP3] Paul Simon :: Everything About It Is A Love Song
[MP3] Bob Dylan :: Nettie Moore
[MP3] The Eagles :: Center Of The Universe

We rock like Paul McCartney from now until the last Beat'll drop.
::MISTA HIPPO::

WRITING FOR GETDOWNNN

Can sometimes be tough.
::MH::

Rise And Liberation

Saul Williams "The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust" Album not only has a kick ass name, it's a kick ass album. The pairing of Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails) as Producer and Saul Williams seems strange but works wonders.

Much like Radiohead's newest album, "Niggy Tardust" is an online only album. For $5 you can download a high quality version (CD sound quality). If you're tight on the funds or aren't sure this album's for you, you can also download a lower quality version for free (Ipod sound quality).

Saul changes form from poet to emcee to singer freely. I prefer the rawness of the spoken word and emcee bits...but it all holds together nicely as Saul's voice and the beat take turns at the driver's seat of the musical composition.

All in all a great album that more than deserves your $5.


[MP3] Saul Williams::Tr(n)igger: A little Public Enemy.
[MP3] Saul Williams:: Scared Money: Dig the changeups.

-MPB

M-Flo Cosmicolor Live @ Yokohama 2007

Go pick that M-Flo Cosmicolor concert dvd up if you haven't already. One of the best shows I have ever been to, period.

::MH::

Tales from the Wu

I Used To Love H.E.R. by Common (Sense)

Common (Sense), No I.D., and Hip-Hop music at it's finest. Poetic, poignant, and timeless.

-MPB

Beasts from the East

I came across this video yesterday on Just Blaze's Blog and loved it - damnnn can these kids tear up vinyl!!! Call them Japan's junior Skratch Piklz (seriouly, they're even performing with Shortkut & D-Styles in Tokyo)- Sara is 8 and Ryusei is 5...I thought they were faking it at first, especially because Ryusei looks so nonchalant while performing some crazy scratches, but they are for real and I love how they seem to be having fun with it...damn Mom, why didn't you get me some 1200s and teach me flares when I was 3?!?!? This just might be better than human tetris or even Japanese cabs. More beats from the land of the rising sun below.

[MP3] Nujabes :: Aruarian Dance
[MP3] Nujabes :: Lady Brown (feat. Cise Starr)
[MP3] Nujabes :: Kumomi

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