R.I.P. » Passion of the Weiss

Mar
18

The news of Nate Dogg’s death hit as I touched down in Austin. I have yet to recover. Expect some legitimate tributes from me next week. In the meantime, I believe my appreciation for the man was best expressed by my 2006 hypothesis that the nation’s woes were attributable to a dearth of Dogg. Starting… Continue reading »

Mar
18

Not A Blogger Redux: Can’t Deny It: Nate Dogg (1969 – 2011)

Doc Zeus and Doc Dre attended the same medical school. Celebrity deaths in the Age Of Twitter can often make placing an artist’s legacy in the proper context difficult. The rush to lionize a public figure in the wake of their passing often leads to otherwise marginal personalities in the annals of pop culture to… Continue reading »

Feb
08

The Dream Shatterer: In Memory of Big Pun

Dead rapper week lingers on with the one and only son of Tony Montana. 11 years ago yesterday, Chris Rio went ham for his last time, proving the deleterious effects of cash, swine, and 700 lbs. worth of cholesterol. By dint of his untimely death, Pun gets the red carpet rolled out each year, despite… Continue reading »

Feb
07

J Dilla – Still Shining

“J.Dilla: Still Shining” from B.Kyle on Vimeo. Every day is Dilla day on the rap Internet, but in the interest of commemorating the born day of one of the G.O.A.T.’s, Brian “B. Kyle” Atkins unleashes this must-see doc on the life of James Yancey– complete with cameos from Pete Rock, Q-Tip, Badu, Common (complete with… Continue reading »

Feb
03

Douglas Martin’s Dirty Shoes: I’m Bound to Pack It Up

Douglas Martin is not interested in gold mines, oil wells, shipping, or real estate. October 2, 2003. Ten people deep, seated among my closest friends at a Red Robin, smiles circling as the staff performed their obligatory birthday announcement. Handclaps striking through the air like tiny shots from miniature cap guns. This detail’s entirely unimportant… Continue reading »

Feb
02

The Union Forever: R.I.P White Stripes (1997-2011)

Fast and dirty. Like no other band of their generation, The White Stripes understood that’s the point of rock and roll. No need to belabor a eulogy on Jack and Meg’s medicine show. Raw they gave it to you. Guitars that twitched like the electrocuted and damned. Drums that kept a steady pulse and knew… Continue reading »

Nov
16

A Celebration of Michael Larson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOBubJfrRCs Spotted on Aesop Rock’s Twitter with the note: everyone watch this. No explanation needed.

Oct
25

Sach O: R.I.P Gregory Isaacs

For most, few words are better apt to describe Gregory Isaacs’ on-record personality than “The lonely Lover”. Despite a career spanning 30 years and containing classic Roots material on par with the masters, Isaacs will first and foremost be remembered as a loverman and a singer of unparalleled romance. Whether backed by the dusty dubs… Continue reading »

Oct
17

R.I.P Eyedea (1981-2010)

Immediate reaction regarding the untimely and tragic demise of Eyedea, nee Michael Larson, a.k.a. Oliver Hart, has been to eulogize him as one of the greatest freestyle battlers of his era — likely the last one where large swaths of hip-hop fans genuinely prized the importance of being “nice off the dome.” A Scribble jam,… Continue reading »

Oct
13

R.I.P. Rodger “Uncle Jamm” Clayton

An abbreviated and mildly belated obit on Rodger “Uncle Jam” Clayton is live at Pop & Hiss. Eulogies have been sadly scarce on the co-founder of one of LA’s original and greatest mobile disco crews. Predictably, Davey D has one of the best around. Everyone from Egyptian Lover, to Rodney O & Joe Cooley, to… Continue reading »