May
14

Soul Sides-Five Year Anniversary Party, Tonight

All the cool kids are doing it.

May
13

LA Times: Extra Golden on African Music, Obstacles, and Obama

In my quest to redeem that last lost post, let me invoke the name of half-Kenyan, half-American benga band, Extra Golden. Among the premier practioners of contemporary afro-beat, they’re living proof that the American legacy of Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, and D.O. Misiani, isn’t entirely the province of a bunch of pencil-necked geeks rocking… Continue reading »

May
13

Riding on a Bloodhound Ringing the Bell, Black Cat Wrapped in the Road Map to Hell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp6U_5qEE0Y Scrambling around on deadline, and cognizant that with this clip, the site is treading perilously into I CAN HAZ CHEEZBURGER territory, but I couldn’t resist. Glenn Beck is the Toby Keith of journalism.  Watching Fox News in 2009 is a perversely joyous experience, like watching the Washington Generals furiously flop to the Harlem Globetrotters.… Continue reading »

May
13

Soul Wednesdays

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vutb1OgXdQ It’s playoff time–posting will be light. We will just have to accept this. Sure, I could’ve indulged my pretensions, but I was busy watching Phil Jackson finally break down and give Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown the minutes they deserve. Winning by 40 is nice, but if you can’t beat an enervated Rockets squad… Continue reading »

May
12

King Hippo? He’s the King of Losers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEaL8HqufFI If this and the Dos Equis commercials don’t take home Clio’s, the world is an unholy place.  007-373-5963 better work on the new Punch-Out.  Via Great Scott Download: MP3: Emmmy Lou Harris-”The Boxer”

May
12

The Psychedelic Runway of the Joker and South Philadubstep

The Joker’s not the next big thing. He already was two years ago, as an 18-year old prodigy straight out of trip-hop mecca, Bristol. Even then, he was initially pegged as a savior of grime, then dubstep. Making beats on Fruity Loops at 14, spinning regularly at 15, always heavily hyped, as far as heavily… Continue reading »

May
11

One Ratchet, Two Clubs, and a Mask

U-God, a.k.a. Baby Huey, a.ka. Mr. Xcitement, a.ka. the only member of Wu-Tang openly rocking the leather mask that Thora Birch/Enid sported in Ghost World. There is something unsavory about seeing the Clan in suits–like watching dogs play poker, and watching Degrassi High actors become the latest rap sensation. Oh wait. Not sure what a… Continue reading »

May
11

Dead Notes and LA Times: LIVE–The Dead at the Forum and KIIS-FM’s Wango Tango at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine

Too young and initially obsessed with hip-hop to have seen The Dead when they were still Grateful, my communion with the skull and roses is primarily a personal one. The first Damuscus Moment tape: a battered bootleg temporarily loaned by an ex-girlfriend, but hoarded as break-up spoils–dubbed off a radio station in Provo, Utah. Studded… Continue reading »

May
08

LA Times: Company Flow-”Funcrusher Plus” Reissue

  There are three albums I’d theoretically want to write a 33 1/3 about: Fela Kuti’s Expensive Shit/He Miss Road, Ghostface’s Supreme Clientele, and Company Flow’s Funcrusher Plus.  500 words clearly doesn’t cut it, but it’ll have to suffice. LA Times: Company Flow-Funcrusher Plus Reissue Download: MP3: Company Flow-”Juvenile Technique” MP3: Company Flow-”Simian Drugs”

May
07

Lil Boosie Gets Loaded

Photo via The Fader I know I’ve been scarce. There’s been an avalanche of deadlines, an undisclosed long-term writing project, playoff basketball, and sometimes, days just disappear. There’s too much good music to pay proper tribute. Wooden Shjips, the new Kid Cudi and Playboy Tre mixtapes, Belbury Poly’s From an Ancient Star, and anything Grateful… Continue reading »

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