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
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
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
Proof that creative inspiration can be found anywhere is evident in this entertaining short film by Diego Stocco. Here he takes his laptop and some microphones into a dry cleaners and bangs out a musical composition using only the bulky dry-cleaning equipment as instruments.
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I’m getting my latest dose of soul music from a Swedish born Japanese singer named Yukimi Nagano. Who would of thunk it. She is the lead singer of Little Dragon. I’m a little late to the party in regards to this musical discovery. They’ve been on the scene since 2006. Better late than never. Read More
Los Angeles based hip hop artists ILLADOX have taken a decidedly retro approach to their latest video undertaking. When I say retro, I do mean retro. The reason why this footage looks like it was made using crappy first generation VHS technology is because it WAS filmed with crappy 1st generation VHS tech. The editing was done with an old-school dual editing deck as well. No final cut pro here folks. Read More
From: NativeInstruments
Check out finger drumming phenomenon Jeremy Ellis as he performs an amazing live routine on MASCHINE MIKRO drum machine. Read More
