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WALT. JR

2012-02-05T18:32:00.000-08:00

Took a walk around the block today and spotted Heisenberg Jr. Jesse was nowhere to be found...

Just walking around the block...

2012-02-03T17:14:00.000-08:00

Stop Censorship!

2012-01-18T15:22:00.001-08:00

Long Beach 2012

2012-01-01T18:19:00.000-08:00

For Def's Sake: Remaking Pete Rock

2011-12-10T10:12:00.000-08:00

Check out K-Def’s behind the scenes video to demonstrate what went into making of For Def’s Sake, a DOPE remake of a classic Pete Rock & CL Smooth track from the their Mecca & The Soul Brother LP. For Def’s Sake is an expertly programmed instrumental that pairs haunting vocal wails & acoustic guitars with jazzy vibraphones & crisp drums in a unique way that only someone like K-Def could do. The track is brief and as such it keeps the listener tuned in for the duration, before quickly fading out, never overstaying it’s welcome. Interestingly, this track features no samples at all.

www.redefinitionrecords.com

DJ Premier talkes with DJ Revolution

2011-12-08T23:30:00.001-08:00

Dj Premier Part 2 from The Cut on Vimeo.

ROOT FOR THE VILLAIN

2011-12-06T21:00:00.000-08:00

Just One Record #8 - J-ZONE from Gustav Photography on Vimeo.

Highlighter

2011-12-03T12:47:00.001-08:00

Don't be a dreamer...

2011-11-30T09:30:00.000-08:00

Beat Swap Meet X Hit & Run

2011-11-27T23:26:00.001-08:00

OCCUPY NOT DESTROY!

2011-11-26T23:23:00.001-08:00

Black Friday

2011-11-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

Took the train to Amoeba today during Black Friday mania. Surprisingly, there weren't that many people on it. After an hour and a half on the train, I got off on Hollywood & Vine and strolled over to Amoeba. As I walked into the store, they were playing "Mecca & The Soul Brother." I knew it was gonna be a good day...

Happy Camping...

2011-11-24T20:52:00.000-08:00

People are down to camp out for a pair of sneakers but not down to camp out at an Occupy Movement? You see more tents outside shoe stores than you will see at any Occupy Movement. Well, I guess there are two sides to this. Some people aren't sure what they should be camping for at Occupy or what the outcome would be. The other mentally being fuck all that, I just want a pair of "J's." Igonorance is bliss wins again...

Happy Holidays...

2011-11-24T08:51:00.000-08:00

Roy Ayers

2011-11-18T10:51:00.000-08:00

Last night was amazing. I knew about this show way ahead of time but just like everybody else, $30 for a ticket was a crunch on the wallet. Luckily for me, I was able to get a comp ticket last minute and slide in with jeans, tennis shoes and no ID ala Fatlip style. Big ups to MP of Rebels to the grain/Breakbeats & Rhymes Radio for the hook up! I saw way too many homies in the spot, it was like a quick reunion.

Pete Rock couldn't make it this time due to the passing of his late cousin/legendary icon Heavy D. The crowd was disappointed for all of 5 minutes but quickly understood the circumstances. I think J-Rocc did a good job setting up alley-oop for Roy. At the end of the day it turned out to be another historic night for LA!

Cool Rap Stuff

2011-11-10T22:12:00.000-08:00

You know how hip hop heads can get carried away with collecting shit. It could be sneakers, records, posters, etc...

RAP AND SOUL MAIL ORDER just took it to another level.

FRESH AIR

2011-11-10T00:21:00.000-08:00

These guys are dope. I had a chance to share the stage with them a few months ago for a J-Live show. They came out with mad fans. The first thing I thought was damn, that's how it should be done. It's humbling to see young dudes do their thing and show that hip hop ain't done yet...

Make sure yall follow R2 here:

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Bandamp

It's coming...

2011-10-21T23:40:00.000-07:00

I told yall. Won't be long before everybody and their moms will wanna dust off their tape collections...

Another day at the office...

2011-10-20T19:18:00.000-07:00

Today's Soundtrack

2011-10-17T08:23:00.001-07:00

Wifeys...

2011-10-17T00:44:00.000-07:00

Today's Soundtrack

2011-10-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

Bloodbath Fall 11 Lookbook: FALLEN NIGHT

2011-10-13T17:02:00.000-07:00

Bloodbath's new Fall 11 Lookbook is a breath of fresh air from all the cliche lifestyle shots that you see with most of the other brands. The immaculate blend of photography and comic style art from Andrew Huerta is raising the bar. The dark stealthy feel of the character highlights what this brand is all about.

BLOODBATH FALL 2011

Let the fun begin...

2011-10-10T00:58:00.001-07:00

Grap Luva: Work is never done EP

2011-10-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

Slice of Spice have begun taking pre-orders for the new long awaited Grap Luva album, Neva Done. Featuring production by the emcee/producer Grap himself, as well as Damu and Kev Brown, the album is described as “a true testament to Grap’s career.” Get your pre-order on HERE

Work Is Never Done (SSR-006 "Neva Done EP") by Slice-of-Spice

Babu - Konichiwa Bitches (Babslovesjapan)

2011-10-07T10:55:00.000-07:00

KONNICHIWA BITCHES / BABU MOCD–026
Several months ago my friends B+ and EC hit me up about doing a mixtape consisting of Japanese records. B, E and myself had all been on ridiculous digging missions together before and they had known that I had lost my mind in japan a couple times copping Japanese joints…so this idea made perfect sense. For me as a digger, I have always tried to take advantage of being able to travel and discover new music and japan was definetly a digger’s paradise in the late ninties…Japanese collectors had scoured the world for illies and brought them all back to shibuya…so the first couple times in japan I actually was buying anything but Japanese records…but as time moved on and diggers continued to rape and pillage shibuya I realized I had been sleeping on japans native music, so the last few times I went to japan I made it a point to look for Japanese music only…and what I found was some incredible shit…this mix contains a lot of tv and movie soundtracks and scores, studio background music, amine soundtracks, funk, pop, rock & soul with the common thread being dope funky music! I hope u enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed putting this together!
— Peace, BABU/DILATED/JUNKY

BABU_KONICHIWA BITCHES (BABSLOVESJAPAN) by Mochilla

2011-10-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

Making your mark, that’s what most young ambitious people set out to do. That's what PAWZ ONE is aiming for. A Los Angeles MC who made noise on the heavily slept on 2010 album from
the legendary Ras Kass: A.D.I.D.A.S.

Check the song "Hip Hop Now" produced by DJ Rhettmatic as well as cameos from lyrical heavyweight Roscoe Umali.

PAWZ ONE has taken another big step by releasing his second solo project VERBAL VIRUS 2.5 A joint release between IZREAL RECORDS and STEP DOWN MUSIC.

The strong eye opening content blends with cement solid production on each of the projects tracks.
The songs are built bar for bar and the melodic and memorable hooks are part of the foundation .the subject matter is what sets 2.5 apart from other releases coming out of LA. Topics range from cheating wives, prison life, perceptions of money, and drug overdoses as well as stabs at the industry.

The limited guests on the features only add to what PAWZ ONE offers as a lyricist and song writer.

RAS KASS, AGALLAH, MYKILL MIRES & KILLER BEN of GOLD CHAIN MILITARY provide

Gritty verses and beats for 2.5’s dominant sound.

Throwback...

2011-10-06T09:31:00.000-07:00

It's dope when you and your homies decide to put together a record show and then all the people you grew up listening to start to show up.

Think Different: RIP Steve Jobs

2011-10-05T19:41:00.001-07:00

A man who needs no introduction. A modern day Davinci. Steve Jobs changed the way we see the world.

MAC > PC all day everyday...

Dilla Donuts - New LP Cover

2011-10-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

So Stonesthrow is at it again. They just re-released Jay-Dee aka J-Dilla's classic album Donuts. This time, they used the picture from the cd to put on the vinyl cover. From a marketing standpoint, I think that this idea is brilliant. My only thought is when enough is enough. I'm not sure if the proceeds are still going to Ma Dukes or the J-Dilla Foundation but one thing is for sure; Every true Dilla fan is gonna jump all over these.

If that fan is you, then cop em here.

They also dropped a new video as well. Check this one out:

For all my clients...

2011-10-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

I saw this floating around the net a few weeks ago. I thought that it was brilliant.

Style...

2011-10-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

Nothing beats style...

Typography - the old fashion way...

2011-10-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

Letterpress from Naomie Ross on Vimeo.

I've never set typography like this before. As a matter of fact, I've never even seen an old letterpress in person before. One thing for sure tho, I can appreciate where all of this comes from...

Positive People...

2011-10-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

This video is great for so many reasons. First of all, my neighbor Woody directed it. Second, there is a short part of the film where they show him walking on Pioneer Blvd. and Carson St. in the city of Hawaiian Gardens. My grandma used to live in an apartment complex right across the street from where he was standing. 3rd, this video is one of the most inspiring stories I've ever heard. Now watch it...

Oh yeah, the cafe that he is reading the poems at is in the same building that I live in...The Broadlind Hotel in the LBC

Pete Rock + Smif & Wessun

2011-09-30T13:31:00.000-07:00

Glad to see these dudes are still on it...

8 years in transition

2011-09-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Transitioning out of the military was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Joining 6 months after high school and separating at 23 was an incredible journey. I earned medals, traveled and LIVED around the world, met amazing people and even did presidential security for Bill Clinton once.

In 2001, I was one of the first active-duty members deployed to the middle east after 9-11. After being fed up with the military industrial complex and the war machine that it is, I separated and returned home as a civilian.

Catching up with old friends was a reality check. Most were graduating college, getting married, starting careers and starting families. I was just starting college for the first time and back to living with my parents. Even being called by my first name took some getting used to. I didn't even know what a semester was. It didn't take long for the depression to kick in.

Switching from a structured military lifestyle to life as a civilian was like learning how the world worked all over again. The change was overwhelming. I felt like Robert Deniro's character in Jackie Brown.

I'm blessed that I didn't have any severe injuries or anything similar but post-traumatic stress and depression was inevitable. Self medication was a temporary solution. It's no question to me as to why so many vets end up on the streets. Wait a minute...what about all that military training you ask? Not many military careers have a civilian equivalent.

I've realized that there aren't many safety nets for folks like me. The GI Bill was a second chance. Going back to school and building self esteem all over again really helped me. It gave me the tools to help articulate my experience. Talking about it is the only real remedy for me. Big ups to all the vets that are going thru the change.

It's 2011 and I've been out for 8 years now. It's still a struggle for me everyday but I'm blessed to be able to live life day to day and continue chasing my dreams. One of my dreams is to share my story.

Stay tuned for the book...

MOVE

2011-09-29T15:51:00.001-07:00

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

All you need is an idea...everything else is easy.

School the kiddies...

2011-09-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

Lost LL COOL J track from 1994

2011-09-29T14:18:00.000-07:00

SSR-005: Year Of The Hip Hop (Vocal) - K-Def ft. LL Cool J by Slice-of-Spice

Tags: K-Def LL Cool J Slice-of-Spice Ghetto Man Music

Back in 1994 K-Def was working on some beats out of the B Room in Marly Marl's House Of Hits when LL Cool J walked in on his session and said "let's make some tracks together". Uncle L had always wanted to rhyme on a track using the famous ESG breakbeat 'UFO', so he had Def lay it down with some scratches and then went to town with the mic. Both thought they had a sure fire hit on their hands but unfortunately it was never used.

The DAT tape of the studio session was feared lost for several years before it eventually turned up stuck behind a radiator! Now, 17 years later, K-Def and Slice-of-Spice are proud to present 'Year Of The Hip Hop' in all it's vinyl glory.

As with all Slice-of-Spice pressings, no expense is being spared for this vinyl labor of love. Outside of a full color cover, with a 3mm spine, the special limited edition version comes on solid orange vinyl, with individual gold stamp numbering. Once again we're coming at you with strong cover art from the legendary Joe Buck, and personally we think this is his best one yet!

This release is not only for the real hip hop heads, it's for the vinyl connoisseur

Oh yeah, don't sleep on the cover art by JOE BUCK He is most known for his work on classic De La Soul album covers.

via
REDEFINITION RECORDS.

Frank Scissorhands - Fuck You Frank

2011-09-26T21:36:00.000-07:00

Fuck You Frank

Versatile Recordings & Urban Promotions | Myspace Music Videos

DJ Roddy Rod

2011-09-26T19:29:00.000-07:00

Let me introduce you to DJ Roddy Rod. He is most known for his production for his group called Maspyke. He is also down with the Low Budget Crew which consists of other influential artists such as Kev Brown, Oddisee and Grap Luva. The dude is beast behind the beats. A master of midi and super fast worker.

Thes One on building a studio from scratch...

2011-09-26T17:28:00.000-07:00

Thes-One is no stranger to good sound. Watch these short videos documenting the construction of his new studio from scratch.

Our Blood: Bloodbath x Cocked Pistol (COCP)

2011-09-24T01:55:00.000-07:00

Our Blood: Bloodbath x Cocked Pistol (COCP): Bloodbath and Korean natives, Cocked Pistol (COCP), have teamed up to bring you a limited edition piece this Fall. The shirt is comprised ...

ON THE GRIND...

2011-09-24T01:45:00.000-07:00

Too busy working. Come back later...

Creative Space

2011-09-13T19:23:00.000-07:00

Live where you create so you can create where you live...

T-World

2011-09-01T23:22:00.001-07:00

Who would have thought that the T-Shirt would have made it this far? I can't wait for this...

Making Dreadlocks

2011-08-28T17:50:00.000-07:00

There are a few ways to make dread locks:

1.) Backcomb method

2.) Crochet method

3.) Neglect method

Each technique yields different results which is fresh cuz it gives each head of locks their own look. There are pros and cons of each method and of course it all depends on your hair texture. Some will argue for one method over another. You can visit Dreadhead Headquarters for tons of information on how to lock your hair and see which method works for you. You can also peep these vids.

Here is a short video on how to make blunted tips on your dreadlocks.