Classification warning: This entry may contain imaginary low level violence.

 Two posts in (almost) less than 7 days – I believe I’ve increased my efficiency by about 700%, give or take 500%. I’m hope I’m not stretching the ‘friendship’ too far – it’s Christmas and I’m just feeling generous.

 For those that don’t know/ don’t currently care, Lupe` Fiasco has announced that he’s bringing his Cool and, hopefully, his Food & Liquor to Melbourne-town. Yes sir! We just got an early ‘Happy Christmas, love from Santa’ with this one. Why all of the excitement, eh? Hypothetically and for the purposes of this exercise only, let’s pretend there is a gun to my head (for dramatic effect only – hopefully it isn’t loaded) and I was asked ‘name one of your top 5 live music experiences EVER that occurred following that same muso’s debut cd – AND that debut cd must also be a contender for your top 5 cds EVER too?’. Tough questions today Katie Couric (and It looks like someone read my last post and got all ‘list’ inspired which is very promising)! Staying cool under pressure, I’d give ‘em Lupe`s name and his debut album ‘Lupe` Fiasco’s Food & Liquor’ – we would assume that the gunman-come-amateur investigative journalist is looking only for a critical recommendation after all.

 You see with Lupe` and me (sorry Mum, with Lupe` and I) it’s deep and it’s real. Remember ‘Touch the Sky’ from Kanye “look, I know he’s a bit of a douche bag but I really just can’t stop loving him – the man is a Music Master” West? Top tune. The guest rap on that was done by an instantly appealing young man, whose identity you can no doubt guess by now, yes? C’mon, I don’t get that far off the topic …

 That was my introduction to Lupe` and I haven’t looked back since. Not long after this he followed up with ‘Food & Liquor’ and the first single ‘Kick, Push’ – a slick little ode to skateboarding. The whole album is off the flip(ping) chart amazing.

 If you don’t love or respect hip-hop I suspect this means you either haven’t really given it a chance thanks to the likes of 50 cent (I almost don’t blame you), or you just haven’t found something that nicely cushions your ears and really shows you what can be done. ‘Food & Liquor’ in particular epitomises so much of what I love about hip-hop. The often soulful and always funky tunes (see ‘Daydreamin’ with the ever amazing Jill Scott), the ample and largely metaphorical rhymes (check out ‘I Gotcha’ at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64EwEc96Y24 and listen to the phenomenal wordplay packaged by Pharrell Williams, back when he was giving us stuff that we actually wanted) and the insightful observations made with a little more than a hint of a social conscience (‘Hurt Me Soul’ and ‘He Say She Say’).

It’s probably a bit like having 12 kids that are all good at sport – it’s hard to pick a favourite. If I had to (gun to my head again – you were warned about the low level violence however imaginary it may be), that honour I would bestow on the dark and intriguing ‘the Instrumental’ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsZUSP1p20s - can’t find an actual video, sorry). This very special little something is made with some help from Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park fame – and, to a lesser extent, yet no less fame-worthy, Fort Minor fame, his side project. It might take a couple of listens but it’s an awesome exhibition of Lupe`s talent and ability to tell a story that can make you listen, think and best of all enjoy. If you do like it, suggest you check out some Fort Minor – try ‘Believe Me’ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyBqut_jJBc). 

This is another JB Hi Fi 10 buck special. I always try to buy at least one when I’m in the Hi Fi hood. Other highlights of the $10 special variety that I have bought from JB? List time!

• ‘Aha Shake Heartbreak’ by Kings of Leon – FAR superior to the home of Sex on Fire, et al. Catchy country-tinged brilliance.
• ‘Taking the Long Way’ by the Dixie Chicks – more on this one another time. I think I need to give you the ‘story’ before you might give it a chance. I won’t talk too much about it now because clearly I don’t want to waste the opportunity for an inspired topic for another post. Still, nothing short of A.MAZ.ING. Watch their documentary ‘Shut Up and Sing’ if you want to get a head start – you won’t be disappointed.
• ‘Silent Alarm’ by Bloc Party – possibly the best opening track list of any album ever. Absolutely cracking!
• ‘Hymns of the 49^th Parallel’ by KD Lang – yes, seriously … no shame required but thank you for the initial judgement. A beautiful album of covers originally penned by the likes of Joni Mitchell and Neil Young and includes Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ which many of you will know found a new audience thanks to Jeff Buckley. A special version he sure showed us however, controversially, I am all about the KD Lang’s version – actual tears have been shed care of this very very special rendition. If you’re stuck for a gift idea for the parental units, for a GFC friendly ten bucks, this is a sure thing. Everyone wins!

Even if you think they’re not your cup of tea or other chosen caffeinated beverage, I encourage you to give them a try and then send me hate mail if things don’t work out between the two you. I might even give you 10 bucks (please note the inclusion of the word ‘might’ and the absence of any specific currency. Batteries sold separately). Where were we? Ten dollar cds, JB Hi Fi, Fort Minor … oh yeah, Lupe`.

So that’s the disc, now to address the question’s first criteria, being THE performance which is mostly why I’m writing this here thing for y’all today. It was the Big Day Out 2007 on the Gold Coast and Lupe` was due to come on at around 6pm. He was late, but I managed to keep some good musical company thanks to DJ P-Money playing some of my beloved RnB – yep, at the BDO … brave, brave man! I recall there being about three hands up (not all of them mine, though I was responsible for a large portion of them), giving him some major love. Whatever friends I had soon left me for other things around that time – not better things, not worse things – just ‘different’ things but that probably depends on who you talk to.

Lupe’ finally came on and his energy was instantly infectious – I’ve never ever experienced such electricity (not even that time with the fork and the heater – don’t ask). He was on a smaller stage towards the back and there were barely 100 people there but ALL watching, singing, dancing and praying that he wouldn’t end. Like Lupe`s career at the time, it was fairly short yet oh so sweet and almost perfect!

Yes, I am excited about his return and whether you love your hip-hop already or if you’re even slightly ambitious-slash-curious about what the fuss is all about, my money is on Lupe` showing you exactly that. Did I mention you can get ‘Food & Liquor’ for only $10? Yes, I did. I’m good like that.

The gig is in late February at the Melbourne Zoo. Phrase is supporting him too – a very respectable Aussie favourite. 

Might just see you there ….

In other touring related news …. Lauryn Hill (!!!) is apparently now coming for the Raggamuffin festival. Sure there’s likely to be a bit of a bit of random crowd action and, perhaps more worryingly, you do run the risk of accidentally being near Sean Kingston or Shaggy when they belt out something that sounds remarkably like a novelty tune, but this is LAURYN HILL! The moment that she walked on the stage in Dave Chappelle’s Block Party was overwhelmingly emotional since I gave up hope of ever seeing her live long before. MTV Unplugged 2.0 was slightly overbearing in parts (I still really liked it, though I do think I may be the only person) but those familiar with the Fugees and her debut solo ‘the Miseducation of ….’ will understand the fuss. Heck, my love affair started sometime around the release of Sister Act 2 when she stole the show with ‘His Eye is on the Sparrow’ and a little ‘Joyful, Joyful’ to close off the show. I’m slightly hesitant about going – but, you know, Fearful of Missing Out and all of that ….

RAW MP Top 25 Countdown of 2009 #9 Touch The Sky
Richardo’s Top 25 Countdown of 2009

December 17, 2009
#09

Song: Touch The Sky
Artist: Kanye West feat. Lupe Fiasco
Albums: Late Registeration

I want to touch the sky, so I mean why not crank up this song. Kanye is super cool and throw on Lupe and these two dudes from my top ten hip hop artist and you get a cool song.

“Come up in the Spot looking extra Fly”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFoUFNoFuck

Copyrighted 2009 Richardo A. Wilson
Richardo’s Top 25 Countdown of 2009

www.richardoawilson.com
www.twitter.com/rawmultimedia

Whamy ! There goes another Kanye West banger ! Kanye Omari I-interrupt-Taylor-Swift West is one of the most successful Hip Hop and RnB artists in those times – point.

He is the most important representer of Chipmunk Soul, which is signed by high pitched soul samples.

He says about his music: “everything I do is authentic. It comes from my soul.” And one can definitely hear that !

Instead of bore you with details about his career which you already know and how much success he has, I want to remind you on the most important singles and features of his career:

2003: Slow Jamz (Featuring Twista and Jamie Foxx)
2003: Through the Wire
2004: This Way (Featuring Dilated Peoples)
2004: All Falls Down (Featuring Syleena Johnson)
2004: Talk About Our Love (Featuring Brandy)
2004: Jesus Walks
2004: The New Workout Plan
2004: Down & Out (Featuring Cam’ron and Syleena Johnson)
2004: Selfish (Featuring Slum Village and John Legend)
2004: I Changed My Mind (Featuring Keyshia Cole)
2004: The Corner (Featuring Common and The Last Poets)
2005: Number One (Featuring John Legend)
2005: Diamonds From Sierra Leone
2005: Hey Mama
2005: Gold Digger (Featuring Jamie Foxx)
2006: Heard ’Em Say (Featuring Adam Levine)
2006: Touch the Sky (Featuring Lupe Fiasco)
2006: Drive Slow (Featuring Paul Wall and GLC)
2006: Number One (Featuing Pharrell Williams)
2006: Extravaganza (Featuring Jamie Foxx)
2007: Wouldn’t Get Far (Featuring The Game)
2007: I Still Love H.E.R. (Featuring Teriyaki Boyz)
2007: Classic (Better Than I’ve Ever Been) (Featuring Nas, KRS-One and Rakim)
2007: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (Featuring Consequence)
2007: Can’t Tell Me Nothing
2007: Stronger (Featuring Daft Punk)
2007: Pro Nails (Featuring Kid Sister)
2007: The Good Life (Featuring T-Pain)
2008: Flashing Lights (Featuring Dwele)
2008: Homecoming (Featuring Chris Martin)
2008: American Boy (Featuring Estelle)
2008: Put On (Featuring Young Jeezy)
2008: Swagga Like Us (Featuring T.I., Jay-Z and Lil Wayne)
2008: Go Hard (Featuring DJ Khaled and T-Pain)
2008: Love Lockdown
2008: Heartless
2009: Amazing (Featuring Young Jeezy)
2009: Knock You Down (Featuring Keri Hilson and Ne-Yo)
2009: Paranoid (Featuring Mr Hudson)
2009: Kinda Like a Big Deal (Featuring Clipse)
2009: Whatever You Want (Featuring Consequence and John Legend)
2009: Supernova (Featuring Mr Hudson)
2009: Make Her Say (Featuring Kid Cudi and Common)
2009: Run This Town (Featuring Jay-Z and Rihanna)
2009: Forever (Featuring Drake, Lil Wayne and Eminem)
And here is the track you have been waiting for:

Kanye West – Im so Appalled

“Now let’s go, take ‘em back to the plan,
Me and my momma hopped in that U-Haul van.” (c) Kanye West

This is hip hop.

My last meal at Las Manitas in Austin

Check the Exponential Records site for my new podcast. See similar work at TOUCH THE SKY.

Some notes on the tracks in the mix-

You can download the new record by Diego Bernal absolutely free from Exponential Records!

LAKE’s incredible brand new record is out and K Records has it on vinyl.

Karl Blau’s track is from the Anonymous Monk calendar. Get it!

Denver’s Westword recently reviewed a live Pretty Lights show.

Khingz has a new record out. Thug consciousness, wow.

Blue Scholars have a new EP out, partying in Hawaii with thinking caps on.

Moka Only is playing Cypress Hill Smokeout Festival next weekend.

Check it direct it let’s begin…

Touch the Sky radio archives are now posted.

CHECK IT OUT

Digital Crossroads radio archives updated as well.

CHECK IT OUT

i don’t know too much about xaphoon jones, but i know this cut is ridiculous. apparently it’s off of his upcoming mixtape, which drops tomorrow via pretty much amazing. on this particular track, jones mixes radiohead’s “reckoner” with ye’s “touch the sky”, with amazing results. it’s definitely peaked my interest as to what mr. jones has to offer with the rest of the tape. i’ll be downloading tomorrow, make sure you do too.

xaphoon jones on myspace.

download testify (radiohead & kanye west mix).

- panda

A Critical Question, an Expert Answer. But to understand my incredibly relevant solution, I suggest you watch these two videos first:

Guess which one wins? That’s right. The second one. You know why? because it’s tasteful. Cataracs, you failed. Too bad, because that song is fucking catchy. Next time you’re making a video and you’re debating whether to lip sync or not, ask these important questions:

1) Is lip syncing relevent to the story and/or location? If not, then skip it. Unless the lyrics are just so completely the opposite of what you’re trying to go for, ie: a song about slaughtering someone set in a field of flowers, then go for. It’s just crazy enough that it might work. Having hot chicks try and kill you is just too painfully close a real club experience for my taste.

2) Do your lyrics even mean anything? Are they particularly deep and verbose, or just plain formulated for maximum air play? If you’re not attached, then drop ‘em in the vid.

3) Can you sing while acting? It sounds easy, but multi-tasking in front of a camera is hard. If you’re not comfortable, like these two clowns clearly aren’t, then don’t even bother. Plus, everyone knows that acting sincere in your own video just makes everyone uncomfortable. That goes for you too, Bono (or maybe it was him wearing a dress? either way, you’ll grimace).

I love the Peter Bjorn and John video because it keeps lip-syncing to a minimum, slipping it in whilst bookending the lyrics with some standard thriller dance moves. I know what some lip sync lovers might be saying right now: “But those two guys in the video aren’t the band members! Of course they shouldn’t lip sync!” It doesn’t matter. They do a good job. Especially since it’s the best Michael jackson homage I have ever seen.

Here are some great videos with lead singers choosing to be interesting in front of the camera rather than obsessed with their shallow prose:

Kanye West- Touch The Sky “I’m leaving on an aer-o-plane”. He’s leaving on an airplane! Get it?
Weezer- Perfect Situation Once again, clever, clever choice of lip-syncing. It lets you breathe in between the words, cutting to interesting things. Not everything in a performance video needs to be sung, and most of the lyrics are performed by a professional actress. Smart.
Familjen – Det snurrar i min skalle And of course, the emmy-award winning master of lip-syncing, Familjen, for using ultra-right wing religious ceremony footage for one bad-ass music vid.

madem god like müzikten açtı konuyu, ben de bir şeyler söyleyeyim istiyorum. günün birinde klip yönetmeye karar versem, kanye west’in klibini yönetmek isterdim. nedeni de hem adamın işinde iyi olması, hem yeni bir ikon olması, hem de yeniliklere ve farklılıklara açık olması.
işinde iyi olmasını şöyle açıklayabilirim sanırım: müzikle ilgilenen herkesin duyduğu isimlerdendir 50 cent. daha önce 2-3 milyon civarında satan albümleriyle kanye ve ilk albümü 7.7, ikinci albümü 5 milyon satmış 50 cent albüm çıkış zamanlarını aynı güne denk getirerek bir yarışma içine girdiler. hatta 50 cent “graduation” albümü daha fazla satarsa müziği bırakacağını bile açıkladı. tabi daha sonra kıvırdı biraz. eğer kaybederse def jam’in önemli elemanları albüm çıkardığında albüm çıkaracağını açıkladı. kanye ilk haftada 960.000 albüm satarken, 50 cent 690.000 sattı. 2003′ten beri en iyi rapperlar arasında sayılan 50 cent boyun eğmiş oldu.
kanye’nin ikonografisi de artarak devam etti. diğer rapçiler gibi kızlar, arabalar, para gibi şeyleri anlatmadı. daha çok mikrofonların, ışıkların arkasından, zaman zaman gettolardan, zaman zaman kendinden ve sorunlarından bahsetti. belki de insanları çeken şey buydu bilmiyorum. neyse, en şık giyinen elemanlar arasına girdi önce. giyim tarzı falan önemliydi onun için. sonra sanatla ilgisi ortaya çıkmaya başladı. kendisi iyi mimari işlere, tasarıma ve dediğim gibi modaya düşkündü (ki sitesinden ulaşılan blogunda da sürekli beğendiği tasarımları dinleyicileri için yayınlıyor). dinleyicileri tarafından sevilen bir özelliği de kültürlü olması bence, çünkü onun zevkine güvenen dinleyicileri kanye için en önemli unsurlardan biri olan gözlükler için siteler bile kurdular.
bulabildiğim en iyi site budur:
http://kanyewestsunglasses.blogspot.com/
özellikle daft punk ile çalışması olan “stronger klibinde taktığı plastik “shutter shades” adı verilen gözlük çok tuttu.

bir de yeniliklere açık olması var ki en takdir ettiğim yönü de budur. kliplerinde farklı temalar kullanmaktan hoşlanır kendisi.
pop-art göndermeleri yaptığı, rotoscope ile desteklediği rengarenk klibi heartless;



70′lere gönderme yaptığı touch the sky;
Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco – Touch The Sky
basit bir kasiyer ve uzay ilişkisini anlattığı spaceship;



hepimizin nefret ettiği pikselleşmeden bile efekt yapılmış olan welcome to heartbreak;



bu farklılıklara en büyük örneklerdir.
ha ayrıca bence flashing lights, amazing, love lockdown, stronger da en az bir kere izlenmelidir.
şimdilik farklı yönetmenlerle çalışıyor olsa da kendisi kamera arkasına da geçti. başka rapperların kliplerini yönetmekle meşgul şu aralar. yakında hiç bir yönetmenle çalışacağını sanmıyorum. kendi çeker kendi oynar bence.
kısa kesiyorum, bence kendisi diğer rapçilere sadece olayın kızlar, araba, sex üzerinden dönmediğini günümüzde gösterebilen tek adamdır. takip edilesidir.
bitirmeden önce kendisinin bille jean’ı mixlediğini pek de bir nefis olduğunu, göz atmanızı istediğimi de söyleyeyim.
son olarak kendisinin oynadığı bir reklamı da vereyim, defolup gideyim. reklam absolut vodka reklamı, baştan belirteyim de.

Photo credit: Touch the Sky

Why not have a cool place to put it all? I love and collect notebooks of any kind, notebooks meaning paper bound with a coil. They can be sketch books or journals or notepads. I have some I’ve never used, and they are a constant inspiration for me and someday I hope to be doing more of my own. I’d still like to get my hands on one of these though. I found this local artist through another artist’s website. Called Touch the Sky, Karen Saro Troeger creates these custom journals and notebooks using marbeled papers, Japanese and Italian papers, or her own hand painted paste papers. I lke the hand painted ones the best, but she also has a collection of leather jounral designs that are handsewn the historical linestich style, are accented with natural mineral and stone beads, and contain 140 recycled sheets of paper. There are so many designs to choose from, and her hand painted journals are very affordable at only $16 apiece. She also makes window books and unique photo books  that fold in all sorts of funky ways as well as hand weaved and tin jewelery.

Kanye West – Creating Complex cover

You do not have to be a regular visitor to this website to have seen either Kanye West’s video for “All Falls Down,”  “Jesus Walks (2nd Version),” or “Touch The Sky.” If you haven’t seen any of them… keep that to yourself. Anyways, each these music videos share one commonality (besides Kanye of course), and it’s the director, Chris Milk.

Music Director Chris Milk is slowly making a name for himself.

Considering the level of super stardom that Kanye West is reaching, it probably means alot if he frequently uses Chris Milk to direct his videos. Their artistic visions complement each other, so it isn’t surprising to see Kanye call upon him again to help photograph hiscover shoot with Complex.

Although we don’t get to see Kanye’s sexy new girlfriend, the video gives us a glimpse into the creative genius of Kanye West and Chris Milk and how their minds collide to create a unique and eye-catching cover for Complex Mag.

(For your convience) Click HERE to read the interview, and hit the jump for the pictures.

You should know this by now.

Kanye West is giant douche for many reasons, I just felt the need to put this in words.

Firstly, He has absolutely no grasp of the fact that the world existed before his date of birth, he likes to say dumb things as if he is some sort of ground-breaking entrepreneur like…

“We all self-conscious. I’m just the first to admit it”

No Kanye, you are not the first to admit that… are you actually retarded? Secondly Why the fuck would you say that when you are only conscious of yourself and obivously not of others. Kayne West seems to think he is some sort of icon, like Michael Jackson or the Beatles, but what is worse is that he believes he needs to tell people this? I mean come on, did anybody ever hear Michael Jackson say anything as ridiculous as this…

“I realize that my place and position in history is that I will go down as the voice of this generation, of this decade, I will be the loudest voice. It’s me settling into that position of just really accepting that it’s one thing to say you want to do it and it’s another thing to really end up being like Michael Jordan.” (Kanye West)

WOW and as if you thought that was one of the most ridiculous things an egotistical maniac can say without even the slightest shred of irony or sarcasm, then read this!

“I’m doing pretty good as far as geniuses go… I’m like a machine. I’m a robot. You cannot offend a robot… I’m going down as a legend, whether or not you like me or not. I am the new Jim Morrison. I am the new Kurt Cobain… They feel like, yo, you know ‘he’s got a God complex, because he said if they wrote the Bible again that he would be in it’. Duh, yeah, I would be in it. I feel like I’m one of the more important people in pop culture right now… The Bible had 20, 30, 40, 50 characters in it. You don’t think that I would be one of the characters of today’s modern Bible? And people have their own forms of bibles now. It’s a new day and age…”

Oh my fucking god Kanye, when your mother told you that you were the most special person in the world, she meant that to her you were special, nobody else could honestly put together a solid arguement that you should be in “Today’s Bible”. WHAT!!? It’s a New Day and age from 2000 years ago?!! Gee… thanks Kanye I didn’t notice those last two milleneum’s!

To top this all off, at the European Music Awards, Kanye literally got onto the stage and started bitching because he didn’t win an award, he began to complain that “My video cost 1,000,000 dollars and their video only cost 250,000!” He then went on to say…

“It took a month to film; I stood on a mountain; I flew a helicopter over Vegas. I did it to be the king of all videos and I wanted to walk home with that award,”

Kanye, you suck, you are one rapper in a crowd of like a million rappers with a talent rate of 1 in five thousand, and you write about the same things every other rapper writes about, “Jesus” and “Strippers”, the artists that are crowned as the top of their industries in Rap music are Timbaland and Missy Elliott, they both show extreme amounts of innovation, they have a passion for what they do, they don’t care about sales and awards, they don’t do it for instant gratification.

Kanye West is the piece of shit thats stuck to the back of your toilet that you can’t get off no matter how hard you try. He has only had four albums, and seems to believe he is some sort of amazing inspirational character like Barack Obama, seriously, he just sings about strippers and jesus and then when he doesn’t he has to steal someone else song completely (Not merely sampling it) and place lyrics about how good her believes himself to be. Spare me! Watch the video of the EMA fiasco below!