Where I happen chance to live at this moment in time, has been taken over by yuppified toys! It is seriously disturbing the amount of people I see flock to not only neon colours in my neighbourhood, but also bright, Japanese hoodies. While most seem to like the brand, there are many that are not as big fans.
To me, A Bathing Ape (BAPE) will always be associated with a couple of things. Firstly, that is cranking that....
And N.E.R.D.
But with all that aside, it's strange to see what I thought would be a really obscure brand in Australia. But really, it's everywhere, especially with it being Winter in an otherwise hot land. There are a number of stores that sell... questionably made Bathing Ape clothes. The difference in the fakes and real ones dollar value is huge.
I do like some of the designs. But none of the ones I see people jogging in, trying to look either colour blind or mad. If anyone is interested there are some interesting articles on Bathing Ape below. If you are finding Bathing Ape is invading your city, your town, your wardrobe! Let me know, I'd be interested to hear your stories!
Mack 10 is one of my favourite West Coast rappers. Originally I heard him on the West Side Connection's second album, Terrorist Threats, which unfortunately marked not only the final West Side Connection album, but the departure of Mack 10 & Ice Cube's partnership. Mack really emerged in 1995, with his aptly titled Mack 10, which has some really bumping tracks.
Mack 10 the album really served as an intro to who the fizzuck, Mack 10 was. The album starts out with Mack 10 robbing McDonalds, with Ice Cube getting into the action after Mack orders "Get me large fries, strawberry shake and happy meal for my daughter too". The album then jumps into foe life.
With an immediate diss toward the East Coast. Unfortunately this is only in the album version of the track.
Mack 10 you know you rule hip-hop an...
Ice Cube you know you rule hip-hop an...
Wait a minute... that ain't how the West Coast Rock
The track then gets going :
Khacki suit ski mask is my attire With my luck cut my chucks on the barbed wire Fool where ya keep the rims and tires 'fo yo' life expires I'm as nutty as Michael Myers Didn't think about the Rottweiler A lot of stiches in the ass Blood in the Impala
Great track, the video clip is even funnier. It has Mack 10 jumping off all kinds of buildings and getting his arse bitten by a Rottweiler, including some lowrider action that might challenge Slim Thug. Slabs and blades aside, one of my other favourite tracks is Chicken Hawk, the name of which because Mack 10 trains and flys Pidgeons. Mack 10 spoke on this in the linked interview.
So what's up with the birds?
"I raise pigeons, homey. I've been raising 'em since I was a little boy."
How many you got?
"About 50 or 60."
So why do you like raising pigeons so much? "They flip. I got tumblers, the kind that go up in the air and turn flips in the air."
Which is interesting - I can't say I know many rappers into flying Pidgeons at all. Chicken Hawk has some really nice laid back bass guitar, some other electro sounds and some kind of flying eagle noises. It's a very track for Mack's delivery. The track is just what I've come to expect from Mack - it's not deep or philosophical, but it is good and enjoyable. Who knows why he went at Common, but they are worlds apart.
But that misses the point, Mack 10 has stayed true to his roots. As Freddie Foxxx said on The Militia,
When you speak of who's the dopest MC, I don't come up But when you speak of who's the livest MC, I stay what up, what's up?
The same applies for Mack. He may not, and never will be the dopest MC, but he is good at what he does. With some of the toys that are claiming the West Coast nowadays, I still prefer Mack 10 over most of them. Even his more recent albums such as The Paper Route have been pretty decent. While little apart from his first album and Westside Connection's Bow Down album has really made an impact for Mack, with his fanbase fading into the new millenium . His 2005 album, Hustla's Handbook only sold a couple of thousand. But, will Mack 10 make a comeback? It seems as if the West Coast has gone on a real down hill recently, The Game's One Blood sounds good;
But there was no Mack. Even WC from Westside Connection, has had a spade of small sales on his latest album, Guilty By Affiliation. Even if you don't like Mack 10, the question still begs. Is the West Coast Dead? Or is this merely a form of the cancer that is "killing" hip-hop now? Personally I don't think it is dead, but it is becoming harder to both find underground hip-hop, but increasingly good hip-hop period. Mack 10 is one of the few names I hope keeps putting out some decent music. Because a lot of this other shit is just tripe.
I've read that they've fired people, pulled advertisment over 'anti-war' keffiyehs. I can't believe it. It's a fucking scarf , really. The ironic reaction by the general public has been astounding. Even here in Australia, I've seen so many people wearing them out of seeming complete ignorance to what they actually represent.
People are too much invested in the notion that these are some evil, terrorist scarf that threatens white America. Anti-Americanism. You people have simple notions. Any apparent similarity between that scarf and hatred of deeper levels toward what is American are seperate. I see Kanye, Chris Brown, Lupe and a bunch of other rappers sporting them out. Here in Aus people too are wearing them.
In the 1960's the Keffiyeh came to symbolise Palestinian Nationalism. I'm willing to bet 5 dead prime ministers (fives of course) that if you ask anyone wearing a keffiyeh, they wouldn't know anything about the PLO. The Palestinian Liberation Organisation.
Yaser Arafat commonly wore one. In reality, their existence in America, as a fashion item has nothing to do with "terrorism". Less to do with political leaders than to chic fashionistas. Little to do with Palestinians. It does not support nor deny an ideology, it is a mass produced product that some people are willing to pay $20 or $30 for.
Is it wrong for someone to wear the scarf as a fashion accessory if they don’t know the political implications of the kaffiyeh?
I believe that — at worst — one could be accused of being culturally insensitive for being ignorant of the keffiyeh’s implications as a symbol of resistance for one community, and as a symbol of hatred for another.
On one end of the spectrum, the sale of keffiyehs as fashion items can be seen as part of the process of recuperation by which the establishment seeks to substitute the desire for revolutionary change with the consumption of products that seemingly satiate this urge. Rather than engaging in a truly revolutionary act, we collect and adorn ourselves with objects and symbols that merely infer revolution. Corporations repackage our desire for change and sell it back to us, and we buy it thinking that we’re changing something, but we’re not changing anything–we’re just opening up a new market for “revolutionary” wares. This slight of hand — this illusion — drains needed human energy from resistance movements.
Furthermore, in terms of cultural commodification, these fashion labels are taking the artifacts of an indigenous culture and mass-producing them for a consumer public. In that, they are profiting from the cultural contribution of a people with whom they have no ties and to whom they bear no responsibility. Essentially, they are stealing a cultural community’s authentic, organic product, and selling it at extravagant prices without returning anything to the public from which it stole. It is exploitative and, as such, counterrevolutionary. Ie., by buying a keffiyeh from French Connection UK, you are actually contributing to the exploitation of Palestinian culture. These corporations are not in solidarity with the Palestinian cause, they are in solidarity with their shareholders.
I do not hate people who wear these things out of ignorance, especially because most of them are now made in China. With the last factory closing "Two years ago I had to close down my factory because I couldn't compete with Chinese-made Hattas (keffiyehs) that sell for 40 percent less." As a report by Reuters indicated. So really? What is all this about?
Things come and go, maybe we all have glorified images in our minds of Laurence of Arabia. But please, don't tell me that's a terrorist symbol. It's merely a fad. I'm sure if you asked any Emo or Wigga about what they're wearing symbolises and they'd have no clue. I just find it funny that fashionistas have almost ignorantly chosen something to do with Palestinian nationalism
Anyway, here's an Aussie track with some funny parody and better beats.
As the Taco Truck Battle Heats Up in Los Angeles . I remember when I was in Los Angeles (and indeed, much of the West Coast) getting cheap eats from Mexican joints was what it was all about. The ones in New York were, equally delicious, especially in Spanish Harlem. But really, imagine LA without them. The NPR reports:
Los Angeles County officials recently passed a law that makes it a misdemeanor to park a taco truck in the same place for more than an hour. Violators face penalties of up to $1,000 in fines or six months in jail. and imagine L.A. Drivers not driving using the Road
Indeed, Jonathan Gold, who gets paid to eat what he wants is described as:
[Gold] tackled the Porno Burrito, faced down the city’s toughest maitre d’s, scouted out street-side taco carts at midnight, slurped the San Gabriel Valley’s spiciest noodles and experienced every possible sensation of smoke and char and animal in a single thin slice of astronomically expensive Kyushu rib eye. Now Jonathan Gold, the L.A. Weekly’s restaurant critic, has won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism. This is the first Pulitzer Prize for the L.A. Weekly and the first time a restaurant critic has won the distinguished award.
It directly references the Burritos of Los Angeles. Which are as integral an element of culture as any other food in LA.
Good on the Taco Truckers, they plan to "...mobilize about 150 taco truck owners into a sort of "taco resistance." When the law goes into effect May 15, they vow to stay parked — right where they are.". There's more then just the Taco Trucks pissed about this too.
Sometimes I don't get city councils at all, especially, it seems, Los Angeles.
Tacohunt, is a great blog, which reminds me so much of the streetside taco stalls I saw in Guatemala city last time I was there, and less so, Honduras. I am proposing there is a united resistance to this utter tripe.
It really makes me wonder what the City of Los Angeles is doing with itself. Some may say it's karma for West Coast Rap going to relative shit. But realistically, something that has become so stained in the memory of all those who have eaten in LA. What is the harm in street side stalls? New York has them. Except they have a variety of different foods.
Why don't they open this law up, to allow competition amongst all food. Isn't America about competition and freedom? This law challenges both.
The article can be seen here, with the comment removed.
Yo, anybody that's not a fan; don't come to my show. For what?! To try and throw ya'll two cents in? Ya'll rated my album shitty and now ya'll come to the show and give it a B+. What's a B+ mean? I'm an extremist. It's either pass or fail! A+ or F-! You know what, fuck you and the whole fucking staff!!! ... I actually feel sorry for you guys. Your job forces you to not have fun anymore. Grab a drink, holla at some nice girls, and party bitch!! You don't know shit about passion and art. You'll never gain credibility at this rate. ... I don't care about anything but making great art. Never come 2 one of my shows ever again, you're not invited and if you see me...BOW!! This is not pop, it's pop art!
I can't say I really liked much past '04, and college drop out era. But damn, this dude has lost it, as bad if not worse then on MTV! New contender for Tom Cruise like insanity? When this dude has done a classic, that is on the level anything Nas, Rakim or KRS-ONE has done, I will respect this dudes self proclaimed "pop art".
The beginning of gritty, hardcore rap on the Eastcoast is an image I will always associate to Mobb Deep. While on the West Coast Death Row was still in the height of its supremacy. On the East, Illmatic and Ready To Die were being dropped. And in comes Juvenile Hell, but what really did it for me was The Infamous Album Anyone who can rap like Prodigy on did on that album, I have immense respect for.
Shook Ones Part II will always be a classic for me;
So naturally I was curious about H.N.I.C 2, especially after his run in with Tru Life. And his recently getting knocked on a gun charge. And his beef with Tru Life:
... Had me wondering what he was up to, what was his latest album like.
I really liked the Old Prodigy, before Mobb Deep fucking signed with Elephant Unit (I know, it's a joke) . In having listened to this album, I would say the Old Prodigy is back, and it's time for some Juvenile Hell. Well worth the wait, the money and the time spent, dunn.
The Spanish Voxonic track was pretty ok too. Problem is, with Rap, it has to rhyme. And the Spanish rhyming is worse then fucking Reggaeton, maybe with vocals but this technology don't work with rap. Maybe this technology wasn't made for rap. When the founder of the company you signed with , says:
``I hate rap,'' Fred Deutsch admitted, ``but I've seen it touching our kids. This is Arie's inspiration. I scoffed at rap -- and rap will be our first success.''
His son, Arie Deutsch, whom he referred to, was indeed right in saying:
Is right, this is classic. Tracks such as Young Veterans make me more thankful that P's Young Veterans didn't get back at Tru Life with his team. I'm saying, those hair things look awful homo. I reckon Prodigy kinda wins in that department. It's a gully track, with lyrics like:
"You thought something sweet, believe Jay if you want, Go head, believe Nas or whoever you choose Come on over here and you gonna see the truth It's nothing out the ordinary, this is what we do My team so strong, I feel sorry for you These rappers is pissed off, they not getting felt They get record deals, but their records get shelved ... "
and at about 2:20 minutes,the crazy vocalisations of Prodigy are fucking cool, but nothing like Panacea.
"Fucking with these young veterans you get done Don't be mad at me, be mad at yourself for being so garbage, you need to be killed, for putting out bullshit like it's all a joke Cause you from the hood don't mean your shit is dope, just cause you got bodies don't mean you gone go ..."
Make it sound like a bit of a shout out to Tru Life, but it's squashed now anyway. Classic shit. Heck, even Field Marshall P, is a really smooth, laid back track about P on the streets. Late night sneaking track. I think the reality of taking an up north trip has fired something cold in him:
And The Life, is a fucking ghostly, freaky as fuck track. That ghostly singing in the background, the funky electronic noises make something that freaks me the fuck out, but sounds great in doing so.
Honestly P, if what you can cook up when you're locked is as good as this, you are on your way to being fucking ill.
4/5
Psssttt.... do you like Binary Star? (and yes I am aware that is DMX)
ANZAC day to me was a funny day, I was so tired from the night before, some randomness of insomnia. I couldn't sleep, something kept me awake. And all pretentiousness aside, I was on some strong insomnia shit. It seems to happen all the time, when Uni assignments are behind and your housemate (singular) has gone insane! Wanting to stay awake, think and see what was up.
And the case came to ANZAC day, I was so curious about this day, why it meant I only had to work 2 days that week. Ignorance may be bliss, but I was not happy with my ignorance. Anyway, checked it out, found a lot of very interesting stuff, and also what tunes were keeping me the f'uck awake! Damn.
This song is a good one, not exactly about the ANZACS, but very much about Australians, in the Vietnam war, a hip-hop remake of the originaly by Redgum. A classic Australian song, the lyrics to this version are nice too.
Seemed every man and his mongrel watched cadets stumble on the long march to the Viet jungle "Oh Christ", I mumbled as I drew that card And my mates came to slap me on the back with due regard
and;
The chinook pilots seemed relieved at Nui Dat when they dropped us Feels like months running on and off landing pads letters to Dad 'cause it's like, man, he's sad But he can't see the tents that we call home cans of VB and pin-ups of chicks off TV
I really quite identify with that. Except it was cans of XXXX, because I'm a Queenslander. I think one who really catches the Queensland vibe is Lazy Grey.
The starting of the clip shows a stumbling image walking toward a party. Have A Beer by Lazy Grey ft Ken oath was some more great shit I was listening to.
The song chants:
Have a beer! Have a beer! .... Well it's the two drunks, we'll drink you under the table That's why we stumble, our legs are far from stable and if you're able, to pitch-in James Boags the big Jim's 5.5 (Percent) on the street with the Pidgeons
.
I can safely say, having seen Lazy Grey at Brisbane's Zulu Supajam he sure could drink, in an almost soldierly way. The New York Magpies, a great Australian Footy Club. Do a great redition of Waltzing Matilda on their ANZAC day party. So despite it being a folk song, it kind of deserves mention also.
Down came a jumbuck to drink at the billabong, Up got the swagman and grabbed him with glee, And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker bag, "You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".
I also went to a really random club in the Valley, but more on that another time.
Today, in Australia is April the 25th which celebrates the Australia New Zealand Army Corps. This day has some meaning to myself as my grandparents served in this Corp during World War II. And, I'm sure to many Australians this day means a lot. Modern politics of the Australian army buying billions of dollars of American weaponry and the New Zealand armed forces being near disbanded it seems, this day is still an important one. Celebrating the contribution and sacrifice our diggers gave for King and Country as it was then.
The young were sent to an early, bloody grave. I fear history may be repeating itself, as it always does, Aristotle said
We make war that we might live in peace
I truly believe that was the case then.
Anyway, being it is a relaxed day, I have some stuff I have been chilling to.
First an ANZAC song,
Recently also I have been listening to a heck of Gil Scott-Heron, check out The Klan
Also, Buckshot LeFonque, feat Premier:
Some DJ Quik Tunes:
And finally, IAM:
Peace! And enjoy the 25th, whatever it may mean to you
I wonder to myself late on a cold night, who won with Fat Joe & Fifty Cent? Part of me says, who the fuck cares? Fifty is a good businessman, but rapper?! Please. Fat Joe fell off long ago.
I say this listening to the Dj Premier remix of The Shit is Real, off Jealous Ones Still Envy
I digress, there was no track which shows Fat Joe with the fire of who he used to be. Much like the start of this song, (Fat) Joe is getting picked on by two dudes, but, he comes back as the illest gangster out of the Bronx… Hm!? The beat, black and white film clip and just Fat Joe being ill is fucking classic.
Elephant In The Sand despite it’s clever pun wasn’t that great. Maybe dude needs Pun?
Just saying, the album wasn’t that great. For those who haven’t heard shit like, Who You Rep With?
Need to listen to Nas and 50 rhyme at it, and then all the beef tracks that came after 50 and Nas, they were some nice shit, I would have liked for their beef to blow up some more, it was actually a decent fight. Seems this time Fat Joe took a big L,
I'm talking about the loss he took from 50, and as much as I hate G-Unit, they shat on Joe. You can’t fucking deny it.
I saw a video on ThisIs50.com… (I know.), of him in White Castle waiting for his food. Fuck, he looks like a bum who just stole some fake chains, mad washed up. Where is Fat Joe Da Gangsta, I liked the dude who spat:
Pursuin my dream til there enough cream to start my own union
And show these kids how legit it is
Shit is real I used to steal but now I own several businesses
So wheres your witness that you claim to have, sayin that Im takin half
Extortin new york and not payin tax
Im layin back, playin the role, playin the low
But its the same ol joe so dont get k.o.d
I miss that Joe. This Elephant in the tomb shit, was just that, stagnant, whack, and behind what I expect from Fat Joe… If you let 50 body you, shame. He basically ended Ja Rule, is your career as an artist over?
"But nothing less! ... I wouldn't do a song for my sister for less than $75,000."
Which brings me to the point, his album barely sold that many units. Fat Joe on his track with Lil' Wayne, near on 40 rapping about a crack-house is just… off point to me and whack. Boasting about conflict Diamonds on the same track and generally just a lazy delivery, makes another track wasted on this already lackluster album. Drop with Swizz is kinda dancy, but reminds me too much of snap music. The track with KRS-One just seems to disrespect him. KRS-ONE just drops harder then I have heard in years, and it’s wasted on Joe’s whack performance… When KRS starts opening up, he drops burners.
Joe, let’s take it back to Don Carter Gena
You and Big Pun had the whole Bronx demeanour
Five sixty gear, that bodiqua pride
Did burners with the tats crew on the 2’s and 5’s You was with relativity, I was with Jive
All that bullshit you been with, how you survive?
And even "educates" Fat Joe for stepping;
Chris, that’s why I’m the greatest of all time - Fat Joe Joe, I’m the best you must be out your fucking mind! - KRS-ONE
That being said, I give it to Fat Joe for longevity in the game, but shit like Elephant In The Room, doesn’t make me want to remember him. I fear pushed near solely by 50's personality, website and drive, Joe took a big L on his career. G-unit just dropped another not that all memorable mixtape. Joe just dropped an album I don't want to remember.... 3/5 For Elephant In The Room.
"I'm an Australian, and as such I'll tell you one thing, if anything I happen to say offends or upsets anyone, in any way whatsoever I couldn't give a shit."
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