Today we kick off Texas-OU week with Quick's fourth-annual Red River Rap Battle. As always, we feature two of Dallas' finest MCs. This year it's Playdough representing Texas, and Dawg Wonder rapping for Oklahoma.
Go here to stream or download the song, vote on a winner, see photos of the guys by Jason Janik, and watch the video shot by Alex Kanakis at the Oak Cliff Boxing Club. Good stuff. You can also see battles from '06 and '07 (Steve Austin vs. Knesecary, Mr. Pookie vs. Mr. Lucci).
Cover of "Something About Us" by Daft Punk, performed on Nintendo DS Ubisoft Jam Sessions, Midi controlled software electric bass, drums, synth, vocoded vocals, and solo theremin, recorded in a single pass, with a single camera.
Sorry for the inactivity 'round hurr the last few days (except 'Lano came through with some posts despite suffering 320 broken bones).
As you may have heard, Ben and I will be doing middays at Live 105.3 starting Monday August 25th. We're kind of getting our web scene in order and this was our quasi-press release about the announcement.
I was zoning out while eating tonight, when suddenly the Marvin Gaye tune "I Want You" started bouncing around my dome. That's actually a pretty common occurrence. It's easily one of my favorite songs - never get sick of it.
I remembered that somewhere along the line I had seen a documentary that had a clip of him laying on a couch and singing it while rehearsing with his band, trying to figure out the arrangement.
I remember being pretty blown away at how cool the rehearsal sounded and hearing the song stripped down without the lush strings and brass that were so integral to the version that ended up on the album of the same name.
"I bet I could find that on YouTube," I said to myself, while ignoring my family and picking a piece of roast beef out of my teeth.
It took me all of ten seconds to find it once I got on my computer. So frickin' cool.
I love you, oh Lord of technology and interstrong. You also make porn completely feasible, if that's indeed the way someone wishes to spend their time.
Thursday nights at The Nasher Sculpture Center are free to the general public from 5-9 as part of their Summer at the Nasher series.
They tabbed my boy Jeff Mitchell from the Phonophreaks to put hot joints on blast this summer. He was kind enough to ask me to spin summin' with him next Thursday night (July 10th).
Expect a little funk and soul, vintage hip-hop, funky disco breaks and all manner of assorted good-good. Make it if you can.
One time back in the old SOS days we did a show at Exodus on Thanksgiving night and it was freezing. It was actually the same T-day where Leon Lett had his famous and most unfortunate holiday moment. That night Ben dropped this gem:
Last year Thanksgiving fell on a Thursday
Me and Sons of Soul eatin' tur-kay
Genius on so many levels I don't know where to begin...
It's no secret that Steve Nash is a huge fan of the beautiful game. He's been known to spend his summers in NYC doing special "training" sessions that consist of skateboarding, tennis games and playing footy in the parks to keep in shape during the offseason. But I don't think he had any idea of the type of buzz that he would create with his Nash/Claudio Reyna Charity Soccer event aka The Showdown in Chinatown.
Originally planned to be a laid back kick in the park, it turned into a red carpet event of NBA ballers and international soccer stars that created a huge underestimated buzz. With the NBA draft events going down the in the same week, Nash was able to get big-name hoopers that included the Mavs J.Kidd, Suns Raja Bell & Leandro Barbosa, ESPN's Marc Stein and the crowd favorite Baron Davis. They also pulled huge name soccer celebrities with Chelsea's Salomon Kalou, Liverpool greats Robbie Fowler aka God, Steve McManaman and Rob Jones, Jozy Altidore (Lebron Man-Child Pt.2), and the world famous mega-star (and one of Tony Parker's best friends) Thierry Henry.
I won't give you tired head by going into deep Skinalysis-like detail about the game as there are ton's of great recaps, pics and bootleg clips floating around the net but it seemed like a really unique event. I guess others thought so too as they had peeps climbing trees and scouting rooftops just to get a glimpse of the action. Baron Davis and the beard was everyone's favorite personality - Kidd of course dropped some slick assists.
It's no secret that Kobe is a huge fan and that Nashty has been linked with business moves outside of the hoops arena but it's really cool to see this slow fusion of hoops and soccer. Even KG has been getting the giggles about footy!
My homie Rerog turned me onto a post over at Soul Strut about a German DJ searching for classic Afrikan funk records and a filmmaker following him around to make a doc happen.
As is this way with most internet forum threads, dudes start throwing rocks at each other and that has nothing to do with why I'd post this.
I'm the demo here and I figured some of you might be too. It most definitely looks/sounds good to me.
If you want to get some of this sound in your life, dig Frank's blog.
Hank has this post about the CDR claim that he's never lost a game of one-on-one. EVER!
That alone would make me apprehensive to draft him. Really the problem is that for whatever reason I have him slotted.
I realize he's money, but I can't connect and I'm not sure why.
It's an unfair prejudice I have against junky games. I felt the same way about Jalen Rose (another Detroit guy) and he ended up being a really nice NBA player.
If you watch the Jay Bilas commentary in the post then you'll see that he's the second coming of Rip.
But I started to wonder if he wasn't more like one of my favorite players growing up - the great Rolando Blackman. About the same size, same range, same hurky-jerky ball fakes.
So how could I have loved Ro but have my questions about CDR when pretty much everyone agrees that he's got it?
I've been slammed at work trying to save the world economy over the past few weeks so I've been unable to partake in the best blog ever. Or this blog. My inside sources at Love Field Airport tell me that my lack of blogwork has been extremely discouraging to people with computers who love to read the words of unqualified content providers.
Last night as I tried to cry myself to sleep (just like every other night since my early childhood), the guilt of my posting decline weighed heavy on my heart. I rationalized it by simply not having enough time between training for my upcoming fight with Kimbo Slice and holding down my day gig. Then I remembered spending about an hour yesterday ignoring my family while writing a small novel about the Texas Rangers over at the Newberg Reportforum.
Sit down, shut the F up and pass me the beef sprinkler... it's time for some Friday Scatterblogging.
My Only At-Bat -- Based on the fact that I look like I ate Cecil Fielder, Team Musers chose to use me sparingly in last night's incredible game. Sadly for Middle America, I was only able to get one at bat in this historic game after spending two months training for the opportunity. Meanwhile, Rich Phillips (who could be the worst baseball player in the history of sex) was complaining about how many at bats he would have to find the courage to fight through from the 9 hole of the batting order. I later offered him $100 to pinch hit for him, but he was too busy thinking about NASCAR to respond to the offering.
This limited edition 12" is a classic, roots-styled joint originally recorded in 1979 and is issued with the full 6-minute plus discomix version that was so popular at the time.
If you aren't familiar, that basically means that halfway through the tune it gives way to the dub treatment, which is nice and smoked out. And since we're just bringing you a snippet, we don't make it that far so you'll have to order it to get the full hit.
Sit down, shut the F up and be glad you don't have to see that face very often. It's time for some Friday Scatterblogging.
Road Rage
I think I might have some road rage issues. I went off on some douche in a brand new Audi this week for his aggressive hornwork while I allowed a legless homeless person to clear his oncoming wheelchair from the lane in front of me -- during a GREEN light no less. I mean, what the F? Did he want me to run this guy over so he could arrive early for his douche seminar? He whipped his Audi around my car with a Stuntman Mike-like fishtail that barely missed clipping my back left bumper, enraged and apparently unaware of why our lane was stopped at the green light while everyone else was moving. His risky maneuver only gained him about 45 feet because when the dust settled, he was now waiting at the very next red light.
No doubt you've seen the commercial for Dockers - San Francisco, which uses Marlena Shaw's "California Soul" to great effect.
My ears perk up whenever I hear songs in commercials that have been the sample sources for classic hip-hop cuts - in this case Gang Starr's "Check The Technique."
Generally the ad agencies that come up with this stuff are filled with younger folks on the creative side. So I'd assume that whoever arrived at the idea of using this song got to it because when they finally heard it they recognized it from Gang Starr, not because they had deep soul crates.
The only reason my soul crates do have any depth at all is because of the Primo's and 45 King's of the world.
It's not like many people grow up on the sounds of Cadet (though you could do a lot worse then to blessed with the music of Charles Stepney infiltrating your living room as a kid).
Anyway - nice ad even though them drawers are kinda flavorless.
Stop worrying about this picture (above) and shut the F up. It's time for some Friday Scatterblogging.
Dateline, Dallas.
Pacmangate: Expectationgate-- Expect me to add "gate" to the end of every key word during any type of controversy. Expect strip club loving Pacman Jonesto officially become a Dallas Cowboy today. Expect him to wear #21 in honor of Deion and Pilar. Expect him to earn your undying love on one of his very first incredible punt returns. Expect him to play lockdown, shutdown, smackdown defense on stud WRs and allow the Cowboys to roll out one of the greatest cornerback trios in NFL history (with T-New and Henry). Expect the luxury of having three top line CBs to minimize the damage that Roy Williams can inflict by sucking terribly in pass coverage. Expect Pacman to see some time on offense, much like Deion on Pilar used to. Expect him to play a huge role in bringing home a Super Bowl for Jerry's boys THIS SEASON! But then expect him to self-destruct shortly thereafter.
Bobbito Garcia is one of my favorite humans on the planet. He's literally at the forefront of so many of the things I hold near and dear in this world.
He's also been mad cool to me and Benny. He's jumped on the air with us and always shown love on the rare occassions we get to see him in person.
Scatterblogging while wondering what ever happened to Jackie Treehorn?
Dateline, Dallas.
Mavs limp into the post season on extremely long crutches -- According to my inside source (who heard Mark Followill on with the Hardline) Mavs HC Avery Johnson estimates that Big German Dirk is only 85% recovered from his high ankle sprain. On top of that, Fake Laser Cannonmouth (pictured on the right with the greatest expression of all time on his face as he enjoys the great Dan McDowell) also told the P1 army that J-Ho is probably operating at less than 100% from his knee collision with Shaq, which happened back on April 6th. While I love the idea of landing New Orleans instead of the Lakers or Spurs in the first round, I do worry significantly about this team being less than 100%. But Dirk at 85% and Josh at 90% should still be too much for the Hornets. Give me the Mavs in 6. Win, Loss, Win, Win, Loss, Win. Put it in Jimmy Johnson font.
The dude in the story says, "I don't think a lot of kids today know how great he was," referring to Wilt's basketball domination.
However, if they made the stamp as part of a series that also commemorated the exploits of Warren Beatty and Tommy Lee, well then the kids would definitely understand the why.
Skincy Carter, I just followed the link to your PPT CD review over at the magical Sure Shot, and while I am indeed excited about that new PPT album, I found myself unable to focus on their new release because I was trapped in the headlights of your official Quick PR photo (left). Can you please explain to Amercia exactly what was going through your melon at the time of this photo? Why so angry/concerned? People deserve to know.
I think these HPS joints are becoming more and more lucid. The day will come when they teach logic courses using these precious exchanges as reference texts.
Now that I'm certain that the Mavs will be unable to avoid another post season iceberg, I can finally give up on that dream and turn my precious attention to an even bigger heartbreak producer...
I'm a career Rangers homer, but even I can't seem to get excited about this upcoming summer bloodbath. What am I supposed to do, make a sign that says "3 Year Plan" and hold it up high with pride at the Ballpark as Vladimir Guerrero trots around the bases? My family wisely bailed out on the Rangers long ago, yet I was never wise enough to jump ship. I love the great game. I love Chuck Morgan. I love Geno Petralli's mustache.
Once I get back into a groove reading the fine work of my favorite baseball scribe, Jamey Newberg of the world famous Newberg Report, I'm sure I'll find a few other things to get excited about. Until then, there's always another Mavs playoff collapse to keep me entertained.
Another of the bands generating crazy buzz in Austin was Chi-Town's the Cool Kids. They got a love for wild styles, vintage flavors and drum machine-heavy, raw-dog analog goodness. It's all flavor.
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