Traktor DJ for iPhone
From Native Instruments:
TRAKTOR DJ, the pro DJ app for iOS, is now available for iPhone and iPod Touch.
I first heard James Blake’s “Retrograde” while in the car listening to Sirius XM’s Chill channel. I was like, “WTF!”. Whenever I hear a song I really like, I snap a picture with my phone of the heads-up screen so I can remember to grab a copy from the iTunes store later. I did exactly that when I heard this and rushed home to buy it. Read More
There’s two comments I’d like to make about Macklemore’s popular basketball themed video, “Wings”. The first is that I really respect the lesson in the song which I interpreted as being one of anti-consumerism and which also contains a message to the youth to reject the idea that your identity and “coolness” begin with an object or label. I love shinny things as much as anybody else, but in a world inundated with bling music, it’s refreshing to hear an opposing message to balance things out a bit. Read More
Christian Howes Covers Gnarls Barkley, Crazy
If you think the violin is reserved for the black-tie set then you never heard the instrument caressed and manipulated by the genius and virtuoso hands of Christian Howes. Using some type of looping device, Christian plays live a very funky cover version of the Gnarls Barkley pop classic “Crazy”. Are we even allowed to use wa-wa and violin in the same sentence?
Must be seen to be believed. Check out the video. Read More
Sebastian Soul - The Black Tape
Emerging out of Brooklyn, New York, a young man named Jonathan Francis has graced the hearts and minds of artists and music enthusiasts alike. His alias, Sebastian Soul, gives you an idea of how he does that exactly. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Quincy Jones, Kanye West, and Jdilla, Sebastian Soul has an understanding how his music can change the lives of people. His sole purpose for pursuing a career in music is to “create opportunities for those who want to create opportunities for others”. His dedication to his craft is less about achieving super-stardom and more about living his life as a testament that success is attainable no matter the circumstances you are given. Read More
Destiny's Child Love Songs Album Cover
WARNING Shameless self promotion ahead:
Destiny’s Child has recently released a compilation album called “Love Songs” I co-wrote and engineered track #4, “Heaven” with the extremely talented Alonzo Jackson and Taura Stinson. I had no idea Columbia was going to include our song on the album. Thank you very much Sony Music Entertainment! Read More
Lupe Fuentes
When was the last time you actually tried to seek out a particular pop-up add? Most of us would answer “never” to that question. However while surfing the net one day, this pop-up ad blaring a dance song and video performed by some provocatively clad young women appeared on my screen. I watched it for maybe 10 seconds before I clicked out of it. Later, a delayed reaction triggered the facial recognition system in my brain. It was telling me that I had seen or possibly knew someone in the video I had seen earlier that day. Purely out of curiosity, I retraced my internet steps from the previous day and sure enough, the same pop-up page with the girls and the video appeared. I discovered that the five-member groups’ name is The Ex-Girlfriends (XGF). Upon closer examination I realized that I didn’t personally know the face that caught my attention, but I had in fact seen her before. Read More
This animated video and original music was created to raise awareness about practicing safety around railroad crossings and train tracks. I’m sure the creators had no idea that the cute little characters and catchy song would achieve intertet viral status. Dumb Ways To Die has reached 28 million views and counting at the time of this posting.
When I first watched this video, I had no idea that it was intended as a public service announcement of sorts. The suggestions about railroad safety are alluded to at the very end of the segment. In any event, this video is morbidly funny and entertaining to watch.
Enjoy! Read More
Second in a series of videos from 50 Cent’s “The Lost Tapes” mixtape release is “Double Up” featuring Detroit hip-hop artist, Hayes. On exhibit here is an example of an opulent lifestyle that can result from hard work, dedication to your craft and one’s willingness to take a few risks. I believe the world loves 50 Cent because he’s a living example of the classic American rags-to-riches saga and because his swag-quotient is that by which most other’s will be judged. With a net worth of over $100mil, I’m sure 50 Cent is spending a lot more time in the boardroom rather than the back-room, but his street-cred has not been watered down by any measure.
“Double Up” is a track about drug dealing and violence. Maybe not the most positive contribution to culture and society, but to quote from the opening line of this song, “It is what it is, Son…” 50 Cent and Hayes have done the dirty work so you and I don’t have to.
Hit the flip to watch the video. Read More
Even though 50 Cent is worth over $100Mil and is most likely a galaxy removed from his well documented days as a rough-and-tumble street boss, he’s showing with his latest mixtape release that he hasn’t lost any of the New York edge and grit that the world originally loved him for. The Lost Tapes is available as a FREE download on datpiff.com Read More
Freedom of expression, artistic or otherwise, comes with a high price in some segments of the world. According to some conservative Shia leaders in Iran, Shahin, a popular Iranian rapper, has released blasphemous material that insults the 10th Shia Imam, Ali Ibn Muhammad, also known as al-Naqi. A $100,000 bounty has been placed on Shahin’s head as result. Read More
Los Angeles based artist/performer/songwriter Sterling Victorian has been hard at work not only on her abs but also on a forthcoming mix tape. Second in a series of supporting videos, Sweet Dude is a steamy creative collaboration between her and film visionary Ronny Law. Be sure to check it out and stay tuned for the official release sometime around Valentines Day 2012. Read More
