DJ ROB SWIFT (X-Ecutioners, USA)

the Architect album release tour March 2010

The Architect Album
Release Tour 2010
March 2010: 19 – 28 2010

DJ ROB SWIFT (X-Ecutioners)
www.djrobswift.com
www.myspace.com/djrobswift
www.ipecac.com

New Album: The Architect
Rel. Date: February 23, 2010
Publisher: Ipecac Recordings

Interview:

Dear Music Fans,

One of the most famous and celebrated Djs and turntablists in the world is back with a slamming new album “The Architect”, this time blending Hip Hop, scratching and classical music.

DJ ROB SWIFT is part of the biggest Dj group “the X Ecutioners” on the planet and toured and worked with everyone: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Linkin Park, Fat Joe, Everlast, Mike Patton (Faith No More), Cypress Hill, Wu Tang Clan, Eminem, Good Charlotte, Xzibit, Dan The Automator and even truly forward-thinking Jazz legends such as Herbie Hancock and Bob James.

It’s ROB SWIFT’S debut release on Mike Patton’s (Faith No More) Ipecac Recordings label, a perfect fit as both men have been challenging the notion of music for years. They have previously toured together promoting Patton’s Peeping Tom project and their collaborative effort General Patton Vs. The X-excutioners.

Tour Facts, Dates, Videos, Infos … read more …

When you dropping more music?

I’ve been frequently told that I think too much, tend to go overboard on the analysis of all things great and trivial. I torment myself and others with too many, “What does it all mean?”

Why are you looking at me that way?  Okay, I know. You are wondering how I am able to consume copious hours of reality television. The answer: I give brain a mini vacay from thinking with a promise to resume its usual task once the show, or in this most recent case, the movie,  Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, is over.

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, which opened last Friday, starring Nicholas Cage, is quite predictable even in its unpredictability. But if you love your Nick Cage over-the-top and chomping on the scenery like El Chubracabra, this is the film for you.

Directed by Werner Herzog, the film has Cage (Terence McDonagh) as a not-so-great cop gone bad but still doing what he needs to do for the sake of the greater good even it’s bad. Get that?  Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds.

Nicholas Cage and Val Kilmer in 'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans' (photo: Courtesy of Fanscape)

You see, the story takes place in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina. The levees have broken. The police station is flooding. In an effort to save a prisoner trapped in a cell in which the water is rising rapidly, Cage dives in. He saves the prisoner but injures his back.  To ease the pain, a doctor prescribes some medication. Cage takes it as well as his own self-prescribed meds. He particularly likes the kind that come in powder form — if you know what I mean. Cage uses rather unconventional means of scoring drugs. I don’t want to reveal anything. Let’s just say he has a gun and a badge and is not afraid to use it.

Although Cage, who was promoted to Lieutenant following the heroic rescue, pursues drugs like it was his job to do so, Cage’s real job is to investigate the drug-related, execution style murder of a Sengalese family.

Eva Mendes in 'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans' (photo: Courtesy of Fanscape)

The film follows Cage as he attempts to keep it together enough to track down the criminals. Oh, if that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, he takes time to get a little loving and a hit of the good stuff from his high class hooker, addict girlfriend played by Eva Mendes (Frankie Donnenfeld). Mendes’ performance, a take on the hooker with a heart of gold — kind of, sort of — is top of the line B-movie quality…Now, wait a minute, I’m not saying she is bad. Not at all. She gives a good performance in a very limited role.

Xzibit, Nicholas Cage and Cohorts from 'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans' (photo: Courtesy of Fanscape

Every cop film needs a villain.  Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans has one in rapper turned actor Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner (Big Fate), the drug lord sought in connection with the murders. He is surprisingly good, giving a calm, measured performance in contrast to Cage’s wild man antics.

Another surprise, a rather odd one, is the film’s supporting cast which includes noted actors such as Jennifer Coolidge, Irma P. Hall, Vondie Curtis-Hall, and Val Kilmer as Cage’s partner.  To say that they are underutilized, would be an understatement.  The truth of the matter is that it’s Cage’s film and everyone is there in service to him. Now is not the time for breakout performances.

I’m going to do a bit of thinking right now. I do have to say that I expected a better treatment of New Orleans as backdrop. There was no sense of place or reason why the story needed to take place in this particular location at this particular time.  As it is filmed, New Orleans looks like just another blighted American city, not one so keenly etched into our collective consciousness.

Well, enough of that.

Nick Cage fans. You get your man just like you like him – - bigger than life, wild, with a healthy dose of camp.

Enjoy.

Raekwon,Xzibit & Murs – ‘Ninja Assasin’ Legacy

Dope clip, film lijkt me ook heel vet!

el trailer en español:

y el OST (Ninja Assassin “Legacy” Ft. Raekwon, Murs & Xzibit)

DESCARGAR:

In Werner Herzog’s new film ‘The Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans,’ Nicolas Cage plays a rogue detective who is as devoted to his job as he is at scoring drugs — while playing fast and loose with the law. He wields his badge as often as he wields his gun in order to get his way. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina he becomes a high-functioning addict who is a deeply intuitive, fearless detective reigning over the beautiful ruins of New Orleans with authority and abandon. Complicating his tumultuous life is the prostitute he loves (played by Eva Mendes). Together they descend into their own world marked by desire, compulsion, and conscience. The result is a singular masterpiece of filmmaking: equally sad and manically humorous.

Legacy features verses from Raekwon, Xzibit & Murs it’s taken from the upcoming soundtrack to the film Ninja Assassin.

In case you missed it, here is the trailer for Ninja Assasin which will be in theatres 11/25/09

The video is dope.  This track is off the soundtrack to the new Wachowski brothers’ movie called Ninja Assassin coming soon.

X to the Z been’s noticeably absent on the music scene for years but he’s been no stranger to movies and television. As previously reported X made a television appearance on ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover in October helping a needy family revamp their home.

Now unbeknown to many, X’s been brushing up on his acting chops and has a starring role in a new film. The film titled “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” stars X alongside Nicholas Cage and Val Kilmer.

The film is an updated version of the 1992 drama about a corrupt police officer investigating the killing five Senegalese immigrants.

Nicholas Cage plays the lead role in the film while Val Kilmer plays his partner. The two investigators will have several encounters with X in the film as he plays a criminal named Big Fate.

You can see Xzibit on the big screen in “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” when it opens November 20.

by The Great White Gypsy

The Box – Written and Directed by Richard Kelly
The premise of this film sounds like a bad teenage horror story. A strange man gives a box to a couple having money problems. They will get money every time they push the button, but every time, someone they don’t know will die. Though it’s riding on Cameron Diaz’s acting skills (um…), if anyone can make it cool, writer/director Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko, Southland Tales) will have no problem.
Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella, James Rebhorn
November 6

Endgame – Directed by Pete Travis, Written by Paula Milne
Another slow, patient South African political film? Meh. I mean, I really like Hurt and Ejiofor, but Pete Travis directed Vantage Point, which sucked asshole. I really, really want it to be good, I’m just scared it’s going to be really, really bad.
William Hurt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Johnny Lee Miller, Mark Strong, Derek Jacobi
November 6

The Men Who Stare at Goats – Directed by Grant Heslov, Written by Peter Straughan
Actor Grant Heslov hasn’t done much directing. Same goes for Peter Straughan and writing. But if you look at this cast, you really can’t go wrong in a story about Telekenisis/Psychic programs in the army. Hell yes.
George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey, Robert Patrick, Stephen Root
November 6

Precious – Directed by Lee Daniels, Written by Geoffrey Fletcher
I hate the fact that the full title of this film is “Precious: Based on a novel by Sapphire”. I also hate the fact that Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey are “presenting” this one. However, cliché and cheesy as it most likely is, I seriously almost cried watching the preview. This has the potential for two hours of raw emotion that leaves you speechless. Or two hours of horrible acting and bullshit storyline. I’ll wait for cable.
Gabourey Sidibe, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz
November 6

The Fantastic Mr. Fox – Written and Directed by Wes Anderson
I hate, I hate, I hate Wes Anderson. However, there are always a couple elements of his films that impress me, and his attempts at stop motion animation intrigue me. Will I like it? Probably not. Will I see it? Of course.
George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, Michael Gambon
November 13

Pirate Radio – Written and Directed by Richard Curtis
When I saw the preview for this, I thought, “Hey, that looks exactly like that movie advertised last year called “The Boat that Rocked”. Wait… I have no idea why this film took so long to release, or why they changed the title, but after waiting so long, I’ve built it up to possible “Almost Famous” level in my head. I really hope I’m not disappointed.  About a boatful of radio DJ’s who broadcast banned music over British airwaves in the ‘60’s. Curtis directed Love Actually.
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Emma Thompson, Kenneth Branagh, Nick Frost
November 13

The Messenger – Written and Directed by Oren Moverman
Foster and Harrelson play a very overlooked part of the military in this new drama about the officers who deliver the horrible news to KIA soldiers’ families. Foster starts to care too much…you see where this is going. Moverman’s first film, looks good.
Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton, Jena Malone
November 13

2012 – Directed by Roland Emmerich, Written by Roland Emmerich and Harald Kloser
When I want to see an action packed explosion film with weak story, I’ll catch the new Michael Bay flick. When I want to see a really entertaining film with great special effects that will leave me dumber for having watched it, I’ll go see a Roland Emmerich film (Independence Day, Stargate, Godzilla, 10,000 BC). If you don’t know what this film is about, you should probably look into it, cause we’re kinda running out of time, dude…
John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Woody Harrelson, Danny Glover, Oliver Platt
November 13

That Evening Sun – Written and Directed by Scot Teems
I think Clint Eastwood had a scheduling conflict playing a grumpy old man in Gran Turino, so Holbrook stepped in. This is a perfect example of a cookie-cutter Midwest drama starring a senior citizen afraid of change that might not be very good, but will definitely get nominated for at least 2 Oscars. Don’t get me wrong, Hal is great, but the story has the potential to be full of holes.
Hal Holbrook, Ray McKinnon, Mia Wasikowska, Carrie Preston
November 13

Uncertainty – Written and Directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel
At the risk of sounding like a douchebag, I am very uncertain about this movie. Part romantic comedy, part drama, part action thriller? So confused. McGehee and Siegel have written and directed three other films together, and I’ve never heard of any of them. But Gordon-Levitt hasn’t let me down so far, and Thirlby and Collins are sexy. I’ll flip a coin.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lynn Collins, Olivia Thirlby
November 13

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans – Directed by Werner Herzog, Written by William M. Finkelstein
Controverial old-school director Werner Herzog (Encounters at the End of the World, Grizzly Man) is remaking the 1992 drama (starring Harvey Keitel) about a gambling/drug addict cop, and he’s setting it in post-Katrina New Orleans. They say it’s Cage’s best performance since Leaving Las Vegas (not really hard), and Kilmer’s presence is reassuring. Looking forward to it.
Nicholas Cage, Val Kilmer, Eva Mendes, Michael Shannon, Fairuza Balk, Xzibit, Shawn Hatosy
November 20

Chi Bi (Red Cliff) – Directed by John Woo, Written by John Woo and Khan Chan
This is an epic film in the style of Hero and House of Flying Daggers. John Woo started out with some good films (A Better Tomorrow, Killer, Hard Boiled), he even had some good American movies (Hard Target, Face/Off), though there were bullshit ones too (Windtalkers, Paycheck). However, his dramas, like Last Hurrah for Chivalry, have gone largerly unnoticed by American audiences. And, of course, it’s been out in China for two years, and we’re just getting it now. Tarantino needs to step his game up.
Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Wei Zhao
November 20

Fix – Directed by Tao Ruspoli, Written by Charles Castaldi and Paul Duran
Documentary filmmaker Ruspoli blends styles in this fictional documentary about a convicted drug dealer and his friends, who are attempting to raise enough money to put him in rehab before 8pm so he can avoid jail time. I can already tell that Andrews’ over-the-top personality is going to steal the show, and Wilde is kinda cute. When’s it coming to Netflix?
Olivia Wilde, Tao Ruspoli, Dedee Pfeiffer, Shawn Andrews
November 20

The Missing Person – Written and Directed by Noah Buschel
Modern noir about a private detective (Shannon in a lead role…nice) searching for a missing person after 9/11. Elements of drama and comedy make it appear a little disjointed, but Shannon and Ryan are solid. Kinda surprised it didn’t go straight to DVD, but whatever.
Michael Shannon, Amy Ryan, Frank Wood
November 20

Me and Orson Welles – Directed by Richard Linklater, Written by Holly Gent Palmo
I can’t see Efron’s name on anything without thinking Highschool Musical, which makes me want to punch everyone under the age of 17 in the eye. However, this film is a little more dramatic, a lot less musical, and Christian McKay looks like the best Orson Welles since D’onofrio in Ed Wood. And if that still doesn’t convince you to see this period film about Welles directing stage plays, I have three words for you: Richard motherfucking Linklater (Scanner Darkly, Waking Life, Dazed and Confused). There you go.
Zac Efron, Claire Danes, Christian McKay, Ben Chaplin
November 25

Ninja Assassin – Directed by James McTeigue, Written by Matthew Sand and J. Michael Straczynski
The directors of The Matrix are producing this balls-to-the-wall violence-fest about…are you ready? A Ninja Assassin. Crazy right? Just think blades, bullets, blood, and nonstop special effects. I can’t freaking wait.
Sung Kang
November 25

The Road – Directed by John Hillcoat, Written by Joe Penhall
I must admit, I didn’t care for Cormac McCarthy’s award winning novel. The fact that writer and director are inexperienced worries me. Whether the acting, cinematography and effects can save it or not, the story makes me think no one will like this no matter what.
Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall, Guy Pearce, Garret Dillahunt
November 25

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN

Metropia – Directed by Tarik Saleh, Written by Fredrik Edin
Anything with Vincent Gallo attatched generally gets my attention (Buffalo 66 was fucking weird). In this animated social commentary, Gallo’s character goes nuts when he starts hearing voices in the expansive underground tunnels Europe was forced to build after gas prices went too high. The animation looks pretty damn cool, so we’ll see.
Vincent Gallo, Udo Kier, Juliette Lewis, Stellan Skarsgard, Alexander Skarsgard
November 6 (Sweden)

Harry Brown – Directed by Daniel Barber, Written by Gary Young
Michael Caine hasn’t really been a badass since Get Carter, but this one may change that. Granted, it’s another cranky old man pissed off at street hooligans, but they did kill his friend…and he is ex-military. Comes out in the UK this month, possible limited releases in US.
Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Iain Glen
November 11 (UK)

Los abrazos rotos (Broken Embraces) – Written and Directed by Pedro Almodovar
Almodovar is huge in Spain, and the last time he teamed with Cruz was Volver, which was damn good. This film is about a writer/director telling a young man the story of why he changed his name after an accident took the life of his true love 14 years prior. Limited release this month, but expect it to be everywhere in time for the Oscars.
Penelope Cruz, Lluis Homar
November 20 (Limited)

Mammoth – Written and Directed by Lukas Moodysson
Husband and wife with a “perfect” life are put to the test when he takes a business trip to Thailand and decides to let loose a little. It looks very similar to parts of Babel, but more focused. Bernal and Williams have grown on me the last couple years, and Moodysson has done good work in Sweden.
Michelle Williams, Gael Garcia Bernal
November 20 (Limited)

I was overcome by a feel-good moment. The kind of moment that puts a smile on your soul and makes the joy inside of you unerasable. That’s what the movie  ‘American Violet’ did; it made me smile inward for a change. The movie was about more than a young Black mother wrongfully accused. More than the seemingly insurmountable odds that peaked too high for a weak person to climb. To me American Violet was about perseverance in the face of blind justice. More so American Violet or Regina Kelly; who American Violet was based on, reminded me that you can’t measure the strength of a Black woman. In this day and age where some young Black women carry labels depicting themselves in the most unflattering of lights, Regina Kelly reminded me why she and her kind  is the fabric of my people. Their strength keeps us woven together no matter how much the ends may fray…