I seem to start all my posts quite negatively, so apologies for the blatant similarity here.  Scanning down the page, I noticed my previous two posts started with ‘I don’t know anything about (fill in blog subject here).’  My problem this time was my non-existent experience of interviewing anyone in the public eye, and the fact I had never heard of Lady Lykez. 

So, with a few hours until I was              due to   due to call her, I did some serious    researching.  What I found was really impressive.  There aren’t many 19 year olds who have already played Glastonbury, T in the Park, worked in America, and supported Method Man and Redman on tour.  She’s also about to release her debut album, Lykez, Camera, Action. 

The thing that interested me most was the Method Man link.  I’m probably showing my age here, but I remember when his group, Wu-Tang Clan, became huge in the summer of ’97.  Wu-Tang Forever had just been released, amid massive hype generated from the success of ‘93’s Enter the Wu and various members’ solo albums.  Method Man’s gravel-like, unique voice made me fall in love with every Wu-Tang Forever track featuring hm.

Well aware that the interview was about Lady Lykez and not my teenage hip-hop obsession, I wrote a set of open questions with a rough idea of how the interview would probably go.  The absolute worst thing that can happen in this situation, I’m told, is if every question is met with a monosyllabic answer.  I could only hope for the best.

There were no such problems, fortunately.  She happily gave full, informative answers, and I actually had to cut half of them from the final interview to save space.  As you can imagine for someone so successful, she came across as bright, witty, and above all sensible.  When I asked if she had advice for anyone thinking of trying their hand at the music game, she had some useful pointers.  Her suggestions were to stay in school, get some decent grades, and make sure you have something to fall back on – because not everyone makes it in music.  Wise words indeed.

Interviews are always best if you can get something a bit juicy – something that gives you an insight in to a person’s slightly controversial view on a subject.  Her opinion that ‘you don’t really need talent to become famous anymore’ provided just that.  She was quick to point out, of course, that talent was a necessity when she got her big break.  

Naturally, I quizzed her briefly about her supporting role for Method Man and Redman.  Apparently they are really nice guys, but totally different.  Red is lively and loud, and Meth is more the strong silent type.  I got the impression that meeting well-known artists doesn’t faze her at all.  In fact, the music industry in general doesn’t faze her.  She has her feet firmly on the ground and takes it all in her stride.  

Lykez performs live in Camden Town on Monday
30th November.  Get tickets!

Read the whole interview

By Chris Warburton

The new Redman album, Reggie Noble 9 1/2, which was due out December 8th, and the Ghostface, Raekwon and Method Man collaborative album, originally scheduled for December 22, have both been pushed back to 2010. I should’ve known that was too good to be true. New release dates will be announced shortly.

Source: Theda

The upcoming collaboration album between old team Wu will not be coming to light, at least not this year. The forthcoming project from Raekwon, Ghostface and Method Man has officially been canned and will not see its fourth quarter release.

As previously reported Meth eagerly dished out details on the album’s existence claiming that each counterpart had three songs a piece to contribute to the end result. Now unfortunately for fans still salivating from their “House of Flying Daggers” collabo, that will have to suffice.

A representative for the team issued a statement about the project saying that Wu Tang devotees can expect the album next year. If that wasn’t enough for followers of the team, Meth’s longtime partner in crime is also seeing a pushback. Redman’s Reggie Nobel 9 ½ will not be released this year as well.

The representative’s statement reads,

“Redman’s Reggie Noble 9 ½ and the forthcoming Method Man, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah album are moving to an early 2010 release date. Stay tuned for an announcement of the official release dates.”

The representative also confirmed that both collaboration and Redman’s project would’ve been stocking stuffers as they arrived in stores in December.

“Both projects were slated to arrive into retail stores next month with Wu arriving for the holiday shopping season on December 22nd, but will now be pushed back until next year”

For everyone upset that they won’t get to hear Redman use auto-tune on an entire album, sorry maybe next year. SMH for everyone waiting on that collaboration album….does anyone’s album come out on time anymore?

The new Redman album, Reggie Noble 9 1/2, which was due out December 8th, and the Ghostface, Raekwon and Method Man collaborative album, originally scheduled for December 22, have both been pushed back to 2010. New release dates will be announced shortly.

Spotted at nahright.com

and previously

Download

Available versions:

DivX Version (Normal Quality), iPod/iPhone Version

Actors: Jones Jeffrey,Man Method,Redman,Babatunde Obba,Epps Mike,Willard Fred,Comedy,

Download Full Version>>

I'm in the Air Force (DEP) and want to do OTC…?
I’m a senior in high school and I’m already in the delayed entry program.

Should I make any changes? I have a lot of time and I just got in.

How does getting into OTC work out?

Please help me out with a nice detailed explanation. I’d really appreciate it.

A few weeks ago, it was revealed that Redman was interested in doing a sequel for his 2001 film, How High. Mike Epps appeared in the first film playing the role of “Baby Powder.” Early in his career, Epps made a name for himself playing in comedic roles.

Now that the wheels are turning and another How High movie is in the works, many want to know if Mike Epps would return to his roots. Like many actors before him, Epps is trying to branch out from comedy and into doing regular films. Doing a role like “Baby Powder” can lead to Epps being typecasted.

For years, Mike Epps has been known as a comedy actor. Some have been trying to dub Epps as the next Chris Tucker. When SOHH asked Mike Epps about his participation in this new film, he said that he would not be taking part. He did not mean to offend Method Man, or Redman, it is just that he wants to move on to bigger things.

More than anything, Mike Epps wants to begin doing serious movie roles. Epps truly wants respect in the film industry. He said that he is getting to that point in his life where he wants to do more mature roles. Currently, there are not any new films that feature Mike Epps.

KEITH MURRAY (Def Squad, USA) Europe tour, January 2010

KEITH MURRAY (Def Squad, USA)

www.myspace.com/keithmurray
www.myspace.com/darealdefsquad

Dear promoter,

One of Hip Hop’s most beautifullest vocabulist, there is no mystery.
KEITH MURRAY has been the Hip Hop star for years in the music industry. As one third of the critically acclaimed group DEF SQUAD with Redman and

Epmd’s Erick Sermon and endless solo hits he scored many achievments.

Now after postponing the project “Undergods” he is finally getting around to releasing a new album in 2010 produced by Erick Sermon, Dj Premier, Kay Gee, Rock Wilder and others.

KEITH MURRAY is one of Hip Hop’s leading stars and respected for his raw lyrics, unique voice, grimy delivery and commercial success.

Murray exploded on the hip- hop scene with his Gold-certified debut album

“The Most Beautifullest Thing in This World”. Catapulted by the LP’s dual smashes the lead single title cut and its follow-up “Get Lifted”–Keith rapidly established himself as one of hip-hop’s most distinctive voices under the sure-handed tutelage and guidance of fellow Def Squad lyrical sharpshooter, Redman, and producer extraordinaire, Erick Sermon.

Brace yourself for a non stop party

VIDEOS:

or “Special Delivery” feat P Diddy, Ghostface Killah, Keith Murray,…
www.blastro.com/player/gdepspecialdeliveryremix.html?bitrate=_300&mediatype=flv&mediaredirect=true

January tour: 13 – 31

Travel Crew:
4, fee, European transport, hotel, catering, ground transport + rider

All tour enquiries (fee, artist service,…) please contact:
Faruk Akilli: ffa@technoagent.de
Lothar Kumhala ( Vienna office): lothar@hot-wheelz.com
Adnan Akilli (Berlin office): calimerorox007@web.de

All promotional and press inquiries please contact:
office@hot-wheelz.com

all the best
Lothar Kumhala

——————————————————————
upcoming tours:
X Ecutioners (Rob Swift, Mista Sinista, Total Eclipse + Precision) Dec
X Mas tour feat. Camp Lo Dec/Jan
Keith Murray Jan 2010
Sugar Hill Gang new year tour Dec/Jan
Old School tour Feb 2010

“I am Sick and Tired of being a Nigga and I’m not gonna take it anymore!!!!” Man-Tan-Bamboozled

savion glover in bamboozled, bloody brilliant

“You ain’t so tough now, little nigga. I hate your black bastards, you *stink*! I hate your black skin. I hate your black pants. I hate black pepper. I hate black keys on a piano. I hate my gums, because they’re black. I hate Whoopi Goldberg’s *lips*. I hate the back of Forrest Whittaker’s neck. Most of all, I hate that black-ass Wesley Snipes.” Officer Self Hatred-Don’t be a Menace to South Central while Drinking Your Juice in the Hood

Why oh why does Clarence Thomas have to suck so hard? After reading his most recent dissenting opinion on the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act I just had to blog. I put up with his bullshit arguments on Affirmative Action but this is where I draw the line.

Most people who aren’t law nerds might be thinking…well we do have a black justice on the Supreme Court. Isn’t that awesome?

Well, no. Not if the black justice is opposed to  assisting the progress of minorities through almost all State and federal programs.

Usually, I am opposed to any implication that a minority isn’t “performing his racial stereotype” and therefore is not a member of his own race.

For example: A black person who is educated isn’t really black. A black person who speaks English properly isn’t really black. A black person who marries outside of their race isn’t really black. A black person who is wealthy isn’t really black. And even more appalling is the unsaid joke that all black males in university settings are only there through either affimative action or a football scholarship.

These were stereotypes used as propoganda for slavery and Jim Crow, and usually whiteness was represented in the opposite. These stereotypes still exist today and we are familiar with representations that make fun of these “Oreos” and “Uncle Tom’s,” People say they are betraying their race. We all saw Dave Chappelle’s “Racial Draft” where representatives of the black community wanted to disassociate themselves from blacks in positions of power who seemed opposed to helping their own kind, e.g. Condaleesa Rice and Colin Powell.

In “How High,” the movie centers around a black dean who fits all of the above stereotypes. Dean Cain, ironically named of course as the first Biblical murderer who kills his own “brother,” does anything he can to prevent the black students played by Method Man and Red Man from continuing their education at Harvard.

"i shoulda known y'all two ghetto asses would be up in here"

Dean Cain is the Self-Loathing Negro. He hates all things that are associated with blacks and is afraid of his own mirror image. However, Dean Cain projects his own racism on targeted black students that represent the negative stereotypes of blackness. He does not harass Lauren,  who is dating one of the university’s benefactors, and the Vice President’s daughter  Jamie, because they come from privileged backgrounds.

But Clarence Thomas is a bit different. Not only does he project his racist ideologies on any black person who is subject to his judgment, but his position on the Supreme Court affects everyone, even himself, INDEFINITELY.

So who is Clarence Thomas? Well he grew up in the South. He went to Catholic private school and college. He went to Yale law school. And was appointed by granddaddy President Bush to serve on the US District Court of Appeals and was then appointed by same to be a US Supreme Court Justice. He was also involved in a sexual harassment suit and charges were dropped.

The man himself

He was appointed precisely for his conservative mindset and extremely textual interpretation of the Constitution. But blacks everywhere started to get worried. Even the NAACP opposed his appointment. Probably people were hoping against hope that Thomas was using the master’s tools to dismantle the master’s house. Feign conservatism to get on the Supreme Court and then show your true colors when you are on the stand. Because Clarence Thomas has experienced racism. He was a huge fan of the Harlem Renaissance author Richard Wright who often wrote about racism during Jim Crow. He walked out from school during an incident in which black students were getting punished more severely than whites for committing the same act. When he tried to get a job after law school none of his employers believed he was as educated as he claimed and implied that the only reason he was accepted into Yale was affirmative action. And since he grew up in the South I can bet he’s been called a nigger a few times by some racist asshole. So what Clarence, did you forget that all this shit happened to you? Or is it because you live in this little plastic bubble of power on the Supreme Court that you have become apathetic to everything that goes on under your nose?

The act of racism isn’t attributed to a color and certainly isnt confined to whiteness.  Nor is it perceived by the majority to be a white characteristic. Anyone can be a racist. There is no such thing as black person who “acts” white. But there is such a thing as a supremacist. And this is precisely what Thomas is. He is a black man that regurgitates white supremacist ideologies which in turn are legally accepted because they come from a blackface. It’s one thing to be a black Republican. It’s another thing for a black man to say racism is over and blacks need to stop blaming themselves for their own problems. Hey Thomas, why don’t we get rid of the 14^th amendment! It was enacted when the KKK existed and now they aren’t so rampant. People aren’t seeing lynchings before ever Sunday dinner, we have a black president, so blacks don’t need any protection at all. Right?

The most appalling thing is that if a white man spoke these words he would be called a racist, but somehow since Thomas has black skin, it’s coo de lah. Since his words are spoken in blackface, it’s all right. As an evil mastermind, what Bush did in appointing him was brilliant, have a black puppet who spouts supremacist ideologies and when people question his judgment he can say, oh but wait, I’m black. I just never thought a person could say the things he said. Especially when his job doesn’t depend on him being racist. He’s appointed for life.

Thomas, in three separate Supreme Court cases on affirmative action pitched forth the same argument, that pretty much stated affirmative action should no longer exist because blacks will hang onto their victimization and use it as a crutch. Guess what Thomas, affirmative action doesn’t just let blacks get into school or obtain careers for lack of diversity. It also exists because BEFORE even looking at the resume or test scores of Laquisha Johnson, Tyrone Smith, or Hakeem Jackson, recruiters pass these people over. You know, kind of like when YOU couldn’t get a job after law school, even though YOU actually did finish in the top of your class at Yale. Oh that’s right, it’s because the door was closed on you even before you had a chance to prove yourself. That is why we need Affirmative Action, and you should know this, man.

It seems as if although Thomas is black, and understands that fucked up shit happens to black folk everyday, which in turn effects the way their children are raised, he assumes that no matter where you come from, any black person should be able to lift themselves up from his bootstraps. I mean Thomas did it, now Obama did it, why haven’t you? Stop playing the victim. Stop thinking you are owed something…

EXCEPT FOR the fact that when Thomas himself was the defendant in the sexual harrasment case with, Anita Hill, he claimed that he would be “lynched, destroyed, caricatured by a committee of the U.S. Senate rather than hung from a tree” So wait, Thomas as blacks we can’t use the race card but YOU can when YOU’VE been accused of a crime.

In a recent opinion on the Voting Rights Act, a Texas district claimed that the act was unconstitutional (this act prohibits the district from using discriminatory tactics to prevent minorites from voting) because since Obama is president, and we have come so far since the days of Jim Crow and segregation, that the Act should not exist. In an 8-1 opinion, the Supreme Court, including Antonin Scalia, felt that the act was still necessary. But Thomas on the other hand, claimed that since we don’t have extreme racist acts in the massive amounts that existed before, eg “blacks aren’t lynched or tied down to railroad tracks, that the act is no longer necessary because INTENTIONAL RACISM NO LONGER EXISTS. Ummmm, excuse me what???? Wait a second, what???????

First of all, it does. It exists everywhere.

And secondly, unintentional racism is still racist. Sentimental racism is still racist. When you were passed over that legal job because of the color of your skin I am sure the bosses weren’t thinking, what I am doing is racist. I am sure when those cops arrested Henry Louis Gates for being scholarly while black they weren’t thinking, this is racist. I am sure that when the cops who were so apathetic to the missing black women in the Sowell case weren’t thinking, this is racist. I am sure that the woman who told the pool owner that one of the black kids stole something for her son which subsequently caused a Civil Rights Case, the private pool owner wasn’t thinking what I am doing is racist. Racism is a knee-jerk reaction. It is in our unconscious. It is a gangrene. It exists in different forms, in different levels of severity, it is projected onto different races, and as Thomas has exemplified, can be projected onto oneself.

So Clarence Thomas, it’s not too late to change. It’s okay you won’t get fired. Cuz I really hope you don’t get caught up in Harlem at 2 am looking for a cab that won’t stop to pick you up. I really hope you don’t get pulled over by the cops while driving your fancy car for no reason. I really hope you don’t have to stop in Martinsville, Indiana for gas. Cuz that law degree won’t help you. Some people still notice skin color first.

“And you just might get Got” – Mos Def

Apparently Redman is making a comeback. G-Shock is in favor, and they designed the watch above to celebrate? It’s pretty fye. If I could stand the color red, I’d get it for a boo.

I’m sure it will sell to hip-hop heads worldwide. G-Shock is relatively inexpensive, and has already made a statement in the Hip-Hop Community via Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em and Bow Wow (or is it bow now?).

via hypebeast

Excuse me as I kiss the skyyyyyyyyyy

Weeeeeeeeeeee! Nothing gets me more pumped up than the opening of the local ski hill. Work just doesn’t seem to matter…life is on the upswing after a dreadful shoulder season in a mountain town…snow is falling.

For those of you out there who love ski season as much as me probably have similar routines that carry you through a typical day at the hill. What I have for you this week is a special little look into my ski day through the power of music.

The first is an uptempo playlist that will prep you all the way from coffee shop stop to the parking lot to the first few leg burners in the powder.  WARNING: It’s not for anyone with weak eardrums.

Click on the Picture to download FREE mp3!!!

The second one will bring you lower in the mountain and back into the public eye. After burning the calories in the morning those pants are a little more baggy, you have your poutine swagger on, and those jugs of beer at lunch time are kicking in. Go directly to the park and play around a bit with this playlist in your headphones. Enjoy and don’t be shy to leave me a comment with a few of your favorite ski hill tunes.

Click on the Picture to download FREE mp3!!!