Brooklyn's electro rapper Theophilus is getting major airplay on MTV. I'm am glad to say the underground is coming up. You can catch him in short segments after tv shows. The recent relationship of MTV and Green Label Sound has given more exposure to alot of my favorite artists like Chromeo, U-N-I, Holy Ghost! and of course Theophilus London.
Nominated for a Grammy for his new album The Estatic
Lupe Fiasco takes sampling to a new level Lupe has been big for so long, I forgot about his mixtape origins. On this tape, he raps over everything from Radiohead to Clipse.
Lupe Fiasco – Enemy of the State: A Love Story (zip)
01 Intro 02 The National Anthem (Radiohead) 03 Turnt Up (Travis Porter) 04 Fireman (Yoga Flame) (Lil Wayne) 05 L.A.S.E.R.S. Manifesto Interlude 06 Angels (rmx) (Dirty Money) 07 So Ghetto (Jay-Z) 08 Say Something (Timabaland) 09 Thank You (Jay-Z) 10 The One (Slaughterhouse) 11 Popular Demand (Clipse)
via Kanye University At this show is the debut of Love Always Shines Everytime Remember 2 Smile (L.A.S.E.R.S.) Also, 300 Special Limited Edition Tee's Will Be Sold
The new viral article that has been constantly been posted on twitter and peoples blogs is The Rise of The Black Hipster by DayoOlopade. He subtitles the article, What happens when the hybrid hipster culture hits black America? I shouldn't be the one pointing the finger, because I am not an investigative journalist, but I think the writer failed to dig deeper and get into the psyche of these "new black hipsters" by learning about their perceptions of current black culture and their sense of racial identity. The way a person defines and identifies hipsters definitely differs, some people believe it is solely fashion and superficial, while other think one must fall into certain criteria regarding music, art, style (not fashion). In addition, it is a common idea that the African American community is last to catch on many mainstream trends because they choose to stick to the standards of the African American community. This is the reason why hipsters (or blipsters) are a minority in the black community. Luckily, I think most black people who are considered hipsters are genuine. This is because the hipster lifestyle is still not acceptable behavior by most black community for several reasons. Also, It takes a lot of extra effort to be interested in the music and fashion that is not pushed by black culture. But then again, some “blipster behavior” like skateboarding and skinny jeans may be a fad, but hopefully it will show young African Americans that options exists in life besides the drug/sex/violent lifestyle perpetuated in most rap and R&B music. However, I don’t not believe the blipster lifestyle is exclusive to the rock world. The very fact that it was brought to the forefront by innovative hip-hop artists like Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell Williams shows this truth. When people look at the independent nature of the pioneers of hip-hop like Afrika Bambaataa, De La Soul, Run DMC, and OutKast, one can see the same ingenuity as alternative, indie, electro and hardcore musicians. Simply liking a certain type of music will not make you a hipster, therefore it’s possible to have the lifestyle of a hipster when you are influenced by any time of music. I was most offended by the fact that the female author of this article failed to even attempt to get a female perspective of this issue. Olopade simply says, "we'll stick with men". Even though it may be easier to identify a male "blipster" based on a male-dominated stereotype. The females role is very important in a era where black women are primarily viewed as video vixens by the media. I have previously written that black women have struggled in an attempted to straddle the African American and the eurocentric sense of beauty and femininity. Hipsters of all races have changed these standards and have created an almost asexuality among females and men. I fail to get the understanding that the author understands why black youth chose to diverge from the mainstream.
This articles comes off as a piece on the newest fad, when in actuality it's lifestyle that people have been a part of long before Kanye began using autotune. Hipsters are not a new subculture that hit black America, they have always existed. People are not like scarves or certain types of pants. I believe it somewhat demeaning to African American adults who may be considered hipsters by outsiders, because they have decided to live an alternative lifestyle for several years and their life is not comparable to a surge of black teens buying skateboards after Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell.
Personally I prefer last summer's overly critical article, Hipster: The Dead End of Western Civilization from Adbusters. It explains more of a way of life than just a fad. It argues that this generation is a "lost generation" who are overly self-aware. Instead of treating hipsters as a new creature, it looks at the new breed created in the new millennium that lacks the true free spiritedness of its predecessors. The most poignant comment was that "symbols and icons of working or revolutionary classes that have been appropriated by hipsterdom and drained of meaning". This was striking, because this brought in class issues and gave an origin and explanation for many of the items people use to identify a hipster. It is arguable that hipsters must be well off and yearn for cheap beer in a suppressed attempt to like the less privileged. We will never know why some thing are considered cool, but I we should settle and say people like when things are cheaper and when things are not the same as the norm.
Personally, I am not a fan of the label 'hipster'. I think it is primarily used in contempt by people who are not interested in the same things as the so-called hipsters. In this sense, people use the word to bring distance to themselves and not very perceptive. The word is also used to emphasize the superficialness in others actions, however I prefer the old standby term ‘poseur’. In a negative or a positive light, I always considered a person who is called a ‘hipster’, a person who is at least knowledgeable about the music they like, not only the music that television or radio pushes on the masses. In addition, I consider them people who will set the trends for everyone else, but they begin this soon to be trend at a time when it may be considered weird.
The article, The Rise of the Black Hipster ends with, “blipsters are proof that everything old is new again”. However, I believe “blipsters” are people who believe in new creation without fear. Even though old fads like acid wash are making a comeback, free thinkers are experimental and create things that have never been seen by the masses. There is nothing wrong with being influenced by the past or people you consider cool, but a problem only exists if you continue to do things that make you feel uncomfortable only to feel accepted. Everyone craves to be accepted, but you will only feel truly welcomed if you are always yourself, because you will not commit actions under the fear that you may make a mistake and you and do something that is not to the liking of others. In addition, if you mindlessly follow trends, you will completely lose everything that makes you special and unique. This will cause you to find yourself surrounded by people that you are not alike and you will feel very alone.
read Rise of the Black HipsterHERE read Hipster: The Dead End of Western Civilization HERE
I started to thing about tight pants, after I looked at swagger's 2009 spring/summer line which is modeled by hip-hop artists Lupe Fiasco, The Cool Kids, Mickey Factz, DJ Mano and Hollywood Holt.
I love tight pants in the punk rock music scene
I love tight pants in the indie music scene
I love tight pants in the hardcore music scene
So I obvious love it in the hip-hop music scene.
So what do you think about hip-hop artists in tight pants?
Is there such thing as pants that are "too tight"
Do tight pants demasculent guy?
Are tight pants a cleaner look compared to baggy pants?
Is tight pants a region trend?
Do tight pants automatically make you fashionable?
Do tight pants make you look like a backpaker?
Do tight pants make you a hipster?
Do tight pants make a hypebeast?
Do people consider tight pants the newest trend?
Did you give people more respect if they wear tight pants and skateboard?
WHY PEOPLE ARE WORRIED IF MY NUTS CAN BREATHE IN MY JEANS LOL MY LOINS ARE VERY WELL SITUATED THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ARE CONCERNED…..MAN, IT MEANS A LOT THAT SOME PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT MY COCK AND BALLS LIVING SITUATION SO MUCH. WEVE BEEN ROLLIN TOGETHER FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS NOW AND THEYVE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE CLIMATE OR COMFORT LEVEL IN MY PANTS (except when i made the switch from boxers to boxer briefs but theyve learned to adjust)…SO ITS ALL GOOD GUYS, I APPRECIATE THE WORRY THO LMAO
The Brooklyn based hip-hop group, Ninjasonik loves tight pants so much that they made a song about it.
watch the original video
In Oh Snap!!'s song, 'Too Fat To Be A Hipster', he makes it clear that everyone isn't skinny enough to fit into skinny jeans. In the lyrics he says, "I'm too fat to be hipster, 'cause skinny jeans don't come in my size/ I wear baggy jeans because that's what comes in 42s/I like to dress fly, but fuck it I love food/All my big boned brothers do you know what I mean/The ladies don't like chunky asses running around in skinny jeans"
In Jay-Z's verse on the song 'Swagger Like Us ft. Kanye West, Jay-Z and Lil' Wayne', he says "Can't wear skinny jeans cause my knots don't fit/No one on the corner got a pocket like this/So I rock Roc jeans cause my knots so thick"
In the Kanye West's verse of 'Gifted ft. Kanye West, Santogold & Lykke Li' he says, "It seems like everyone dresses tight now, and I just want my credit"
In Mikey Rock's verse of the The Cool Kids song, 'Box of Rocks', he says, "Stop at the station he like why your pants tight/I'm like it doesn't matter because I sell out shows every damn night/they be like damn right".
The song 'Box of Rocks' is on their mixtape, That's Stupid, which can be downloaded HERE.
Last year rapper Mazzi of S.O.U.L. Purpose dissed a lot of hip-hop artists in a lame attempt to get fame. In his song, 'Lesson A', he said, "The Cool Kids are wack/The Pack want their style back… Get the hell back on your bike and cycle on/With those tight-ass jeans/And probably even tighter thongs". I will admit that he made a valid point about the popularity of the keffiyeh and the fact that very few people know the history of their fashion accessory. However, Mazzi quickly contradicts himself and proves that attack raps, name drops and old school music references will not make up for a lack a lyrical talent. If all of Mazzi's statements were true, it would be impossible for anyone in their early twenties or younger to make a homage to old school hip-hop.
Lesson B w/ Q-Tip...yes Q-Tip went on tour with The Cool Kids after he made this video.
Here is another lame diss track. If people think tight clothes and 80s/90s hip-hop is a trend, then the tracks that diss these people are a trend that lacks originality and talent. Hip-hop is still alive and the lyrics and beats of old school revival artists show that they appreciate artists like Audio Two, Run DMC, Slick Rick, De La Soul, Digable Plants, EPMD, Mos Def, Q-Tip, Souls of Mischief, A Tribe Called Quest. These new artists also show that its good to appreciate other genres like indie and electro, because artists like Afrika Bambaataa crossed music styles in the 1980s.
Overall, it takes WAY more than a image to be a good MC. Musicians like Hollywood Holt, The Cool Kids, Ninjasonik, Million $ Mano, Kanye West, ect. happen to wear tight pants, but they have loads of talent that go along with it. Also, if your born a man, then your a man. If your sexually attracted to men, then your gay and that's the only time people should use that word. People shouldn't allow society to limit your individuality. The rawest MC can wear a v-neck, a cardigan and skinny jeans or a white t and baggy pants. Clothes don't affect talent. Dressing well doesn't make you a good artist or cool, because your potential is based on your knowledge and ability. A problem only arises when people wear certain clothes so they look cool, because life is more about being yourself than being authentic. Some people are destined for greatness and they can't live a satisfied life while being a clone of mainstream society, eventually groups of individuals will look alike to a certain extent, but at least they feel true to themselves.
But maybe I'm biased, because I love men, good hip-hop, classic hip-hop, fashion, tight pants, respect and intellect.
The first official music video for Lupe Fiasco's....I mean Percival Facts...I mean Japanese Cartoon has been posted. For those who are little behind, let me explain Lupe Fiasco's newest project. Conscious hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco, has created about 7 songs under the alias Japanese Cartoon, which is a British lo-fi indie group with has a singer named Percival Facts...not Lupe Fiasco. Yep, Lupe is denying any involvement with the group, however the group is on Lupe Fiasco's record label 1st & 15th. Based on the myspace page its clear that Japanese Cartoon is inspired by several indie groups like Joy Division, Radiohead and Kenna, whose influence resonates in all of the songs. So why would Lupe deny involvement in a great up-and-coming post-punk group, well maybe because this is occurring at the same time when other rappers like Kanye and Lil Wayne are becoming singers (or "rockers" smh) and he doesn't want to lumped with them. However, I personally believe that the Japanese Cartoon project is so good that it can become prosperous without Lupe attaching his name to the group....so let the lie ride out. Japanese also has its own fanclub, a twitter page, and t-shirts that were made on Lupe Fiasco's clothing company Trill & Truly.
The video for the song 'ARMY' was just released and the video for the first single, 'Heirplanes' off his album 'In The Jaws Of The Lords Of Death' will be released soon.
In the new view, Lupe Fiasco never shows his face but you can kinda tell that it is him while he wears the same hoody that was sold on his last tour, the video is also filled with clips of the army and wars which is fitting with the politically charged nature of the song. This project takes you into the mind of Lupe Fiasco, which means you want to buy his clothing, learn about international relations while looking at anime and eating Japanese Pocky snacks.
SOUTH PARK MURDERED ME LAST NIGHT AND IT'S PRETTY FUNNY. IT HURTS MY FEELINGS BUT WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM SOUTH PARK! I ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON MY EGO THOUGH. HAVING THE CRAZY EGO IS PLAYED OUT AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE AND CAREER. I USE TO USE IT TO BUILD UP MY ESTEEM WHEN NOBODY BELIEVED IN ME. NOW THAT PEOPLE DO BELIEVE AND SUPPORT MY MUSIC AND PRODUCTS THE BEST RESPONSE IS THANK YOU INSTEAD OF "I TOLD YOU SO!!!" IT'S COOL TO TALK SHIT WHEN YOU'RE RAPPING BUT NOT IN REAL LIFE. WHEN YOU MEET LITTLE WAYNE IN PERSON HE'S THE NICEST GUY FOR EXAMPLE. I JUST WANNA BE A DOPER PERSON WHICH STARTS WITH ME NOT ALWAYS TELLING PEOPLE HOW DOPE I THINK I AM. I NEED TO JUST GET PAST MYSELF. DROP THE BRAVADO AND JUST MAKE DOPE PRODUCT. EVERYTHING IS NOT THAT SERIOUS. AS LONG AS PEOPLE THINK I ACT LIKE A BITCH THIS TYPE OF SHIT WILL HAPPEN TO ME. I GOT A LONG ROAD AHEAD OF ME TO MAKE PEOPLE BELIEVE I'M NOT ACTUALLY A HUGE DOUCHE BUT I'M UP FOR THE CHALLENGE. I'M SURE THE WRITERS AT SOUTH PARK ARE REALLY NICE PEOPLE IN REAL LIFE. THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DRAW MY CREW. THAT WAS PRETTY FUNNY ALSO!! I'M SURE THERE'S GRAMMATICAL ERRORS IN THIS... THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW IT'S ME!
