Flashing Lightage (or more Kanye than you can shake a stick at)

3 Videos? Three?? Say what you want about Kanye (I personally love him and think he's amazing), but you have to admit he takes his work seriously. Think the 2nd is my fave.

The Original (Scrapped):


The Concept Version(Leaked):


The Final Version:


BONUS
Colin Munroe-I Want Those Flashing Lights

"Oh Peter, that tickles me"

I was gonna post about this aggeeesss ago, but forgot. Then the homeboy Kanye beat me to it. This is gonna be so much fun! Could it take American Dad's title as best Family Guy spinoff ever? I think so :)

Things I (Don't) Like

Do you see that tee? I own this. I had to go through so much hassle to get one. I called people at Def Jam I haven't spoken to in years. I got a white one & sent it back. I made calls, e-mails. (I had a lot of time on my hands, but that's besides the point)

I wanted to wear it in support of Nas, whom the t-shirt promotes. You'd be ashamed to wear this, right? Which is exactly Nas' point. Why do we continue to address each other by a derogatory term which it would shame us to be named by others?

Nas claimed that he was titling his new album "Nigger" in an attempt to talk about the word & the issues surrounding it. A lot of people doubted him, but I stayed faithful, hoping for an intelligent release from this often inconsistent, self proclaimed "prophet".

Yesterday, it was announced that Nas had caved to label pressure & was going to be releasing a self titled album instead.

In the unlikely event this ever gets back to Nas: You are a coward. If you set out to do something, see it through. You let a lot of people down with this one.

Things I Like (May)

I haven't been slipping, I just haven't seen much that took my fancy this month. This lot isn't bad though:


What is best in life? If you answered "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women!", then you are wrong.

It's having kick ass Arnie figures. I cannot wait to own this.

New Era Caps

I think in every "Things I Like" so far, there has been a New Era cap. That's because they continually bush the boundaries of design. These Hulk caps aren't just colour specific or featuring cool logos. No, they're also torn at the seams! Incredible :)

This News Story:
Rapping may be DMX’s main talent, but impersonations are running a close second. The Yonkers rap star stiffed an Arizona hospital bill after he told staff his name was Troy Jones. According to the Arizona Republic, X checked into a Phoenix Mayo Clinic for pneumonia, complaining of shortness of breath and chest pains. In 2004 DMX impersonated an FBI officer when he was confronted by police after attempting to steal a car. Documents obtained by the newspaper reveal DMX was released eight hours after he entered the medical facility and was overheard telling another patient “Someone in the projects is going to get the bill,” apparently in reference to his misleading medics with the wrong name. The troubled rapper was recently arrested twice in Arizona and last week X was arraigned on drug and animal cruelty charges. He’s expected to release a new album later this year.

aw, the crazy adventures of Earl Simmons

The King Is Back!

As we eagerly await what is either going to be the worst album of all time of the best anything ever in history (MJ's new album), we can only sit back & listen to all his classics & remember why we fell in love with him in the first place.

What's that you say? You can't find all your old MJ albums? Or you don't have any (in which case, you are a fool)? Well don't worry, cos the good folks at Brooklyn Radio have created a mix condensing Mike's back catalogue for you. You can download it, here

Video: Death Cab For Cutie- I Will Possess Your Heart

I'd always written these guys off as emo-lite fare, but I've spent the past week listening to their newest album & there's not a bad track on it. The arrangements are epic & the lyricism is brilliant. This, to me, is the first actually exciting album of 2008. The bar has been raised & all other indie bands should take heed.

Narrow Stairs is out now
www.deathcabforcutie.com

There's Something ABout Ashlee

I've always liked Ashlee Simpson. She's something of an underdog. The smarter, funnier sister to a more popular, much stupider little sister, her life could almost be a sitcom (believe me, I'd love to write it, but I just don't have that kind of time on my hands).


Her label tried everything to make her blow up. A rock chick image, which failed. Then a beef with Lindsay Lohan, which also failed. Then she was caught miming and all hope seemed lost. Until this...



I don't really care what anyone else thinks of this, I love it. Obviously the video is a little to close to Gwen Stefani's "What You Waiting For?" & she'll catch some flak for it, but the track rocks. It's produced by Timbaland (still the man) & written by Santogold (still not sure how I feel about her).

I wish Ms. Simpson all the luck in the world with this one. Oh, & now I'm thinking about it, "What You Waiting For?" is a tune. Let's watch shall we?

These Albums Will Change Your Life

I think I might do this every month. It'll be the musical version of "Things I Like"


1. The-Dream - Love/Hate
This is incredible. All the tracks are about how he's amazing & how girls can't live without him. You'd think that would get boring after two or three tracks, but he manages it for twelve.
The songs are catchy as hell & the production is amazing. Plus, they all mix into each other perfectly! Ranging from Prince style 80s jams, to synth heavy club bangers, he can write, sing and produce well. Plus, remember the "ela, ela, eh, eh" thing from "Umbrella"? He does that like 5 times on this album. Superb.



2. Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American '08
This deluxe version of the classic album features 2 discs. The first features the original album including three tracks that never made the cut (& they're all awesome). The second features live tracks, b-sides & a 07 remix of "Your House". I didn't think it was possible to make a classic any better, but J.E.W proved me wrong.


3. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Death Cab For Cutie are where indie meets emo meets pop. Smart, intelligent & with a lot more range than most of their peers (happy songs, sad songs & experimental too), they are great pop artists. They've made some good albums, even a great one. But this is their first flawless effort. The first single is an eight minute epic & the rest of the album doesn't disappoint. You're cheating yourself if you don't give this a try.

Katy Perry is the shit

If you're a fan of Gym Class Heroes (or you happen to have MTV & you live on Earth), you would have seen the video for their smash hit "Cupid's Chokehold" . You also might have been wondering who the gorgeous gal he finally settles on at the end is.



That's Travis' real-life girlfriend Katy Perry. And she rocks
1) She's an amazing singer
2) She writes funny as hell songs like "UR SO GAY" & "I Kissed A Girl"
3) She's a huge geek
4) She actually responds to myspace messages
5) Dude, have you seen her? She's HOT



She has an awesome blog, which is linked in my "blog buddies" list. enjoy

The greatest song in history

The Dream is an American R&B singer. He's one of those R.Kelly/ Nate Dogg/ Akon types who half sings, half raps. He wrote "Umbrella" & listening to his album, it's clear it was no fluke. I didn't cop it for ages, but a mate made me listen to it on the plane & I realized it was the most amazing thing ever. Ever.



I want a t-shirt that says "Fuckkkkk that niggaaaa!"