Stones Throw Has Rockwell on Lock

Stones Throw now exclusive distributor for Rockwell, a clothing line by Dutch artist Parra.

David Guetta Feat. Kid Cudi - Memories

Feeling this David Guetta dance track with an assist from the Kid called Cudi. Guetta's album drops next Tuesday. Download Memories here. Props to okayplayer.com for the link.

King Texas

New York based King Texas (Texas Malika Toussaint-Baptiste), is one of my favorite photographers right now. Like any great photographer she has an uncanny ability to bring her subjects personalities out and make them larger than life. You get the impression that her photos capture the "real" New York and the undeniable swag New Yorkers seem born with. She's part of a crew of artists called, The New Pop who were noted by URB magazine as artists to watch in 2009. I would take their advice. Here are a few shots Texas took at the Fly Or Die Album release party on Monday. If you want more from the party click here.

www.kingtexas.net

Tobin -vs- Raceface

Photo by Duane Jones

I first met Tobin by accident back in 2005 while working as Art Director for Nxet Magazine. I was taking a walk with my editor and he was painting a really dope mural on a wall right outside of the office. He intrigued us enough that Kat decided to feature him in the following issue. We later found out that his work could be found on walls and canvases all over the city. Below is a video by Ambrose Weingart documenting Tobin's process as he does his thing for Raceface. Props to Tobinism.

Is Rap a Young Person's Game?

Anyone in the hip hop world with their ears to the street already knows what DMC's talking about here. I find it interesting that designers and artists face the same problem though. Here's to aging and creating gracefully!

props The Rap Up

Joe Budden, Raekwon and Dumbness in Our Society

As usual, Jay Smooth is right on the money with this one. I can't help but relate this to my past experiences as a hip hop head looking for clubs with rap music in steady rotation. Clubs that are considered, "hip hop" clubs often have a negative stigma associated with them. It's implied that because the music can have elements (not always) of mysogeny and violence that the environment the music is played in must therefore be the same. When the reality is that hip hop didn't invent fights, mysogeny and drugs. These things occur, have occured and probably will continue to occur even if hip hop never existed. What's happening in hip hop is a reflection of what's happening in society. The issue is that rappers often don't care about political correctness and simply say what a lot of us are thinking but are afraid to say. This is what I love about hip hop. I don't always agree with everything I hear but I appreciate hearing a perspective that's true to how an artist feels or felt at one point in their life. The real problem as Jay puts it, is not a "hip hop" issue. What happened with Joe Budden and Raekwon is an issue that all of us deal with regardless of race, sex and social circle.

Video for "Neon" - Amanda Diva featuring Johnny Polygon

Keeping it funky and bright with her lead single from her "Spandex, Rhymes and Soul" free EP. Video directed by Lyn-don McCray and produced by Amanda Diva and Al-Shid.

Meet my Doodle

A process sketch I did for my thesis on water privatization was posted on Meeting Doodles. Special thanks to Mark and Maari!

Eat Candy Wear Rich Soil

Love the track they used.

Ballz In Yo Stomach - Ghettosocks featuring Timbuktu and Pip Skid

Not really feeling the hook on this one but I love the energy and every verse had me wondering what crazy (crazy in a good way) sh*t they were going to say next. Ghettosocks kills it in verse three. He's definitely one of the illest MCs from Nova Scotia right now.

Kidz In The Hall - Flickin

Sometimes I have great ideas but abandon them because they're too "trendy". I believe that it's important to be aware of trends but never make them your God. Here's an example of when doing something regardless of trend can pay off. Kidz in the Hall went in on this track. Just when you thought Jay-Z killed Autotune it's back and better than ever. 

Kidz In The Hall - Flickin

Nas - Film (produced by C-Sick)

Nas gets back to basics on this addictive and deep track produced by Red Bull Big Tune Beat Battle winner C-Sick. C-Sick was only 17 at the time of the competition and shows that age ain't nuthin but a number when it comes to making dope beats. Link below.

Nas - Film (produced by C-Sick)