As you've probably heard, Michael Jackson passed away in Los Angeles today. As you can tell just from looking at Facebook or walking down the street here in NYC, his passing has hit everyone pretty hard.
As a musician and someone who just loves music, it's an especially sad day. MJ wasn't just the King of Pop, he was really the last true musical superstar we had. He was an icon and without question one of the most talented musicians to ever do it. Over the course of his career, he sold more than 750 million albums. Thriller alone sold more than 65 million copies- 61 million more than Justin Timberlake, the biggest act of our time, sold with Futuresex/Lovesounds.
MJ's passing isn't just a sad day for his fans and family, its a truly sad day for anyone who loves music. He's one of the only artists I can think of who put together a perfect album- Thriller- and was really the last artist to have a truly massive impact on pop culture, fashion, and the arts.
A new remix for you guys, Sugar, Dave Edwards f/ Flo-Rida and Wynter. DJs, I think you'll find this a lot more club friendly than the original.
http://www.mediafire.com/?cnqq5myjzzi
A new mix for Summer 09, enjoy..
http://www.zshare.net/audio/599915023be65dd0/
"My style is impetuous. My defense is impregnable. And I'm just ferocious- I want your heart"
im•preg•na•ble: adjective: Difficult or impossible to attack, challenge, or refute with success.
And with that, I think I'm justified in calling my shoe game absolutely impregnable this summer. I will smash all challengers. Let's see what's on tap:
1. Nike Dunk High Supreme Destroyers Spark Edition. The crown jewel of my shoe game- copped both the red and black gradients. Not only are they fresher than anything else, but I may have found the ultimate kick- perfect with jeans or shorts, and nearly impossible to smudge or scuff up thanks to their high gloss finish. Chea!
2. Nike Air Tech Challenge Agassi Hybrid
Everyone and their mom likes the old school Agassi's. But rocking only one Agassi design at once is so 2008. Peep the new 6-in-1 hybrids just put out by Nike. Fresh Prince status.
3. Supra Trinity NS Whites
Supra is quickly becoming one of the dopest labels around, and you can see why with these. Special edition, coke white, alligator skin. I will not be stopped.
4. Y3 Yamamoto Low Sprint Trainers
So fresh and so, so clean.
5. Nike Dunk Vandal Nylon Highs
Brand new all white all nylon Nike highs. These only come out for special occasions because they will get deaded almost instantaneously in the club.
Yesterday I read that Polow Da Don, one of the best producers around, had brokered a deal between Rihanna and Chris Brown to get in the studio and record an emotional, romantic duet together. Considering CB *allegedly* went Wayne Brady on her just three weeks ago, I think the general reaction to this news was disgust and some level of perverse fascination- similar to what I felt the last time FOX aired one of those "Man vs Beast" reality shows in which sprinters race giraffes and people get mauled by wild animals for our amusement.
The news of their duet struck me as funny because of a book I read recently, 'Kill Your Friends' by British author and former Britpop A&R John Niven. The book is more or less American Psycho set in the height of the 90's Britpop music industry, as told through the eyes of a psychotic and hilarious A&R, Steven Stelfox. At one point late in the novel, Stelfox has an 'aha!' moment when he sees a former artist of his incapacitated in a wheelchair after suffering a beatdown at a club one night; Stelfox realizes that, because nobody will want to give a bad review to a now mentally challenged rapper who drools constantly, his "comeback" album could be an emotional smash hit. The most poignant part of Niven's book is that as outrageous as the murderous and vapid Stelfox is, it's hardly an exaggeration of how brutal the music industry really is.
The book is a must read for anyone who enjoys the work of Ellis or who can stomach some graphic and utterly appalling comedy. But it's especially a must read for anyone thinking that the music industry is about making music. It is about making money and 'smash records'; to paraphrase Stelfox, 'sort that out, and you can do what you fuc*ing please.'
For those of you who don't know writer/producer The Dream by name, you most definitely know his songs- they've been at the top of almost every chart for the last two years. He's been responsible for smashes from Rihanna's "Umbrella", J Holiday's "Bed", Beyonce's "Single Ladies", and most of Mary J's last album, including "Grown Woman" and "Just Fine."
In 2007, Dream dropped his own solo debut which is probably the most slept on album of the last 5 years or so. Working exclusively with producers Tricky Stewart and LOS Da Mystro, Dream created a signature sound of futuristic and dissonant synths mixed with heavily processed drums and near perfect vocal production and arrangement. Being one of my favorite albums, I was worried Dream wouldn't be able to deliver something equally good on his new disc, Love Vs Money...
But not only did Dream and Tricky outdo their first effort, they smashed it with what's probably the most progressive and well-produced R&B album in a decade. This is not Marvin Gaye R&B, to be sure. But it is some of the most impressive and well-thought out melodic and vocal arrangement that you'll hear anywhere for a long time. This is a must buy album for anyone who enjoys R&B, pop, or electronic music. Cop that disc!!
Interscope rapper/producer/actor Drake dropped his most recent mixtape, So Far Gone, last week and it is fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiire. It's available for a free download over at octobersveryown.blogspot.com.
Uptown featuring Lil Wayne & Bun B:
Foldable Aviators. Purple Label. Any questions? Saw these on hypebeast a few months back but finally had a chance to see them in person recently..ridic. A must cop for summer 09.
Over the past year or so, L.O.S. Da Mystro has established himself as one of the dopest new R&B producers around. He's turned his trademark sound- flanged drum sounds reminiscent of Prince's work- into monster hits like J. Holiday's "Bed". He also co-produced a large partof The Dream's Lovehate album- the best R&B album since 2000 and one I'll talk about in apost coming up soon. LOS just dropped a ridiculous new beat for Bobby Valentino on "Butterfly Tattoo." Enjoy-
Download:
http://www.mediafire.com/?ywvm4lxolfw
Not much to say about this house that the pictures can't tell you. Wraparound floor to cieling views of L.A. sitting on Sunset. This is why I work!!
My bad for slacking on my posting game recently, but 09 is grind time!! Big things in the works so I'll be keeping this one short..
If you don't know J.U.S.T.I.C.E League by name already, you probably know some of their better tracks; Rick Ross' "Maybach Music", 2 Pistols "She Got It", or Mary J's "No One Will Do".
Their new track with Rick Ross and John Legend is bananas...one of the most classic beats I've heard in a long time...
Rick Ross f/ John Legend, "Magnificent"
http://www.zshare.net/download/54853658d20d89ba/
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)