No More Tacos For LA

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.

Shame.

What the fizzuck? Kanye's Kill Yourself...

According to a news article on Sputnik Music, Kanye West told a reviewer to '"kill yourself," however West has since erased the incendiary instruction in the misguided belief that things can be deleted from the internet.'

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!

His telling anyone who's not his fan to '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!' Strikes me as hilarious that he thinks he is creating art. I know arrogance and artists are meant to be synonymous, but I don't, honestly think he is making "art", anymore.



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".



Keep it Fresh.

Prodigy of Mobb Deep

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:

"Prodigy's entire album is a masterpiece and we're excited that 'The Life' has broadened his reach beyond underground hip-hop heads. The fans have spoken and this is just the beginning!"

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:

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Nearly every track has grimy lyrics from P.

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)