I stumbled across this video courtesy of TheHabitat101. He's someone I follow on YouTube and I had to give him a shout out. He always "favorites" and uploads some of the best skate clips I've seen and I couldn't leave em' out. So the video here is from Converse Skateboard. I'm not 100% sure of the location but I'm guessing it's either Mexico or South America, namely Brazil. The opening credits are in Spanish I believe, but don't hold me to that. From the credits you gather there are 15 skaters or "skatistas" (love that), 5 photographers and 5 video-makers. Much respect to these guys for doing what they do. I skate very little but I realize the amount of intense hard work, practice and dedication it takes to harness these skills. MUCH RESPECT. Check it out.
March 28, 2011
Music Is... Mc Lyte: Lyte As A Rock
An incredible album. This IS 80's hip hop. No, this is excellent hip hop in general, across the board from the point of its creation onward. "Lyte As A Rock" was Lana Mitchel Moorer's debut album back in 1988. Since the beginning, the world of hip hop has been primarily dominated by males. As a matter of fact, that goes for any field. Let me state that you can't be a female artist in this game and willingly be bulldozed around. I have never spoken to, seen up close or even been in the midst of anyone in the music business. However, I know just from common sense, being a woman in a harsh business as such, you've got to have a backbone and a strong backing; a trustworthy team behind you in order to be taken seriously. This MC certainly came in with her head on tight and brought a strong squad. Still in her teens at 16 years old, for her FIRST drop to have such an impact for men and women alike, and for it to be looked upon as what many would consider a blueprint for rap artists, something had to go right. It did and I'm gonna break it down for you.
For this album I'd have to play eeny, meeny, miny, moe just to kick things off. Staying true to myself, I'll begin with the beats. Essentially, I like them all. Getting down to it, every track is broken down simplistically. No beat is too juiced up or over driven with synthesized sound. Hey, I like my synthesizers, but it feels so good to have something toned down a bit. My favorite beats on this album consist of 'MC Lyte Likes Swingin', '10% Dis', 'Lyte As A Rock', 'Paper Thin' and 'Kickin' 4 Brooklyn', all of these strike the right chord effortlessly. "...and you are it." "It" is her lyrical skills. It's apparent that this woman has the rap battle attribute under her belt. Her technique is flawless and packs punch in the way she approaches rhyming. From start to finish she does not let up on any verse. With the exception of a few choice words on some tracks, Lyte doesn't bombard you with profanity and vulgarity to get her point across. She uses smart lyrics and careful wording to make an impact, something I respect immensely. The production shines through clear as day from K-Rock, Audio Two and the King Of Chill.
"Do you understand the metaphoric phrase "Light as a rock"? It's explaining how heavy the young lady is...", a bold phrase that explains both the album as a whole and the MC herself. Lana has definitely become an inspirational lyricist for experienced MC's and those brand new. My favorite sampling is from Missy Eliot for the track 'Cop That Disc', and we all know the 'I Love College' track from Asher Roth inspired form '10% Dis'. If you listen closely you can hear MC Lyte at the beginning of this one. Please check out "Lyte As A Rock" through and through if you've been living under a "rock", it's worth it no doubt.
March 18, 2011
Music Is... Cameo - Candy (video)
It's a pretty simple story as to why I chose Cameo, this song in particular. My mom and I were on our way home from running errands, and 'Candy' came on the radio. We were in the car jamming on our way back home. I had known of Cameo for a while. It's funky how things slip your mind for a bit. Besides 'Candy' just about everyone knows 'Word Up' and others. They've been sampled plenty of times. Many of you know of Mariah Carey's 2001 album "Glitter". The track 'Loverboy' was derived from this 1987 original. The band members have changed over the years. Currently Aaron Mills, Charlie Singleton, Tomi Jenkins, Nathan Leftenant, Larry Blackmon and Jonathan Moffett are kicking. The name of one former member is John Kellogg. I just think it's cool that his last name is one of my favorite cereal brands.
So as I mentioned earlier, I'd known of this song for some time but recently saw the video on YouTube. This is definitely something else, an 80's joint to the fullest. From the haircuts to the getup. Whether you've seen it or not, it's worth another look for sure.
Get It
 |
| The Best Of Cameo |
March 17, 2011
Music Is... BOX BOX BOX BOX. (BONKsplosion!)
This video is curtisey of Vanawesome. It's a channel on YouTube that I've been watching every since mid 2010. They had the most adorable Scottish Fold kitten that I've ever seen. They'd been posting videos from it's younger stages all the way to a full grown cat. His name was Bonk. I'm not to sure what happened exactly but Bonky passed sometime last year. Broke my heart. Ya know it doesn't take long for some to grow attached to things and I am NO exception to the rule. Since then they've been posting archival recordings of Bonk and this is one among many. He has an incurable fascination with this cardboard box which is featured on other videos as well. It funny that cats trip like this sometimes. Hey enjoy it.
YouTube Links: Vanawesome
Music Is... Beginings?
Sorry for not posting the past few days. My mind has been somewhere else for a bit but lets get the ball rolling again.This is somewhat of a personal post. I know I'm going to go all over the place on this so just go with the flow.
I love listening to music with my mom. I've mentioned her in a few posts in the past. I credit her most for enlightening me on different sounds and genres to this day. Anytime I'm in the car with her, there is always music playing. Now that's not to say that we don't converse or communicate to one another because I love talking to her about things. I love asking her questions about "her day" and what things were like and all that. But me and my mom, among other things, have a heavy connection when it comes to music. We may not agree 100% on everything that's out, but for the most part we like a lot of the same things. I'll get this out there, my mom likes some hip hop, some rap. I understand why. When I talk to her about some of today's music she seems to center the basis of her opinion around the beats and the lyrics. Some of her reasoning is the lyrics could be a little less crude, less vulgarity and things of the like. I don't dispute her on that. I don't try to change her mind either. I realize that she comes from a different era of music. What was instilled in her then has not left and I highly doubt it ever will. She constantly reminds me, "No new school without the old school", and I'm thinking urgg, I know this. But again, I can't dispute that. I can remember when I was younger (violin strings lol) she would drop me off at my aunts house before she went to work. EVERY single ride I took, she always turned on the radio, or played a tape. Every time. I loved it and I still do.
I believe it was around age 7 or 8 when I was in the car with both my aunt and my mom. Al Green was on either radio or tape. I forgot what song was playing but I liked it regardless. There was a silent period in their conversation and I sat up for a moment and I said something to the effect that I see the color "xxx" when I hear this song. I think I said brown but I honestly can't remember. They were like "what?". They weren't freaked out or anything, I just don't think they got the gist of what I was talking about, and being that I was very young at the time I couldn't explain myself clearly so I was just like "Yea, I see the color xxx when I hear this". That's when I began to realize that I relate colors to songs. I believe that I had been doing that a while prior to that moment, but that's when I truly learned that about myself. A few times I've alluded to synesthesia. It comes in many forms such as numbers to colors, taste to colors, memories to colors and certain patterns are perceived differently. However, I'm more so a sound to color girl, although I relate shapes to sound as well. It was only a year or so ago that I began digging into that a bit, but that's a whole other post in itself.
Anyway, as I've matured over the years, so have my taste broadened. I listen back at music that I didn't know why I liked initially at such a young age and I know now. It's funny though, sometimes you don't have to know why you like something to like it. It can be just so. Go figure. I'm still like that. There are songs I can listen to a million times and remain clueless as to why it touches me. Thank you mom.
March 14, 2011
Music Is... Clare Maguire - The Last Dance (Official Video)
Love the artistry, symbolism and such. Nice, check it out.
From "Light After Dark" (2011)
Music Is... Clare Maguire
Again, the UK has introduced my musical pallet to something new and I'm happy about it. Presenting: Clare Maguire. First let me say that she is a beautiful woman. At just 23 years old she has a voice that seems to sprout way past her age; a voice of gold. Her tone carries a very daunting and robust weight to whatever she's singing. I have never heard of Maguire until recently but some investigative work and my own senses tells me that she is definitely someone to keep an eye on.
Born September 15, 1987 into a heavily musically inclined family, Clare seemed preordained to fall into the same line. From her site (BIOG):
Her paternal grandparents settled in the Midlands and built up a construction business. Her mum’s parents ran clubs and booked bands in Birmingham. Both had five children apiece, so Clare has some 50 cousins across Birmingham and southern Ireland. “It’s a massive family, which means massive parties – a lot of drinking, and loads of music. Everybody’s got some sort of creative gene: music, mainly, but also performing, telling stories, acting and writing.”
In pursuing a musical career she is definitely no slouch. At 17 she was told by a school teacher to give up advancements in music and focus on exams. After complaining to the principal she dropped out knowing music was the route she was taking. She worked numerous jobs in order to make her way and constantly worked at creating a strong status and connections on Myspace, garnering 1.5million hits for her rough demos. After much much effort she eventually attracted the attention of various producers and artists, and after deliberating, signed a contract to Universal Music at 20. Clare didn't just settle with the possibility of a hit on the charts and instant notoriety. As an artist who wanted to do more than settle, she truly searched for a sound that would allow her to release her powerful capabilities.
“...in the end, I needed to do what I felt was right for me. It’s important to be yourself.”
After a long period of observation, Clare found the right collaboration in Fraser T. Smith and the songs began flowing from there. She has established a large fan-base fairly quickly. The singles from her first studio release "Light After Dark" seem to be a nice indicator of whats in store. I can't speak for everyone, but I like what I've heard thus far especially being that this is branching outward from what I've been listening to lately.
Give it a chance, you never know how music will knock you upside the head.
Get It
 |
| Light After Dark (album) |
March 11, 2011
Music Is... Lady Gaga - Born This Way (video)
If I haven't let it be known by now, I am a person who adores artistry; that is the main facet that draws me to this video. I know, everyone has there opinions of her in general, but I think its great. Now I'm not overlooking whats being said here, the message she's sending. It's just that for me one of the core attractions is the symmetrical and abstract dimensions created. For some reason I'm reminded of "The Fifth Element" and "Alien"...
Love it.
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