...well if your school was anything like mine, then probably not half as much as 'The Teacha' (aka KRS One)! So why not take the time out to listen to some more of his wise words and interesting takes on a wide range of subjects?
This is a lengthy interview, but its definitely worth watching. KRS is one of the few artists that I would give up an hour and half of my time to hear what he has to say, and thinking about it, I've actually done this on several occassions. Having attended one of his lectures I experienced first hand how good KRS is as a public speaker. A lot of artists these days can't fill a 10 minute interview with anything particularly interesting, but KRS is always engaging and often causes controversy with his frank and honest viewpoints. Enough said, just hit play.
Mike Check
February 28, 2012
February 20, 2012
Ace In Action
HipHipDX recently sat down with Masta Ace for an up to date interview that explores his soon to be released collaboration with MF Doom, the current state of hip hop and he reflects on the 10 year anniversary of his classic LP Disposable Arts amongst other subjects. Check it out.
http://www.hiphopdx.com/m/index.php?s=news&id=17549
Mike Check.
February 13, 2012
Rapping graffiti characters!
It's been a while since we heard anything from DJ Format, but he's back, and if this teaser video is anything to go by the album looks like it should be a corker. Due out on 27th Feb, the album features contributions from Edan, Mr Lif, Phill Most Chill, Sureshot La Rock and more.
I'm loving the artistic creation in this video and the representation of the wider elements of hip hop culture. The video was created using animated graffiti art by and filmed by Jeff Metal. Innovative videos aren't new to DJ Format. If you're not familiar with his earlier material then I strongly recommend you check out Vicious Battle Raps feat Abdominal from his 2003 album Music for the Mature B-boy. It's a clever single-take video that adjusts to cater for Abdominal's variable speed of rhyming, and is laced with crazy background cameo's to compliment his playful rhymes.
It's good to see DJ Format back, and representing good UK hip hop.
I'm loving the artistic creation in this video and the representation of the wider elements of hip hop culture. The video was created using animated graffiti art by and filmed by Jeff Metal. Innovative videos aren't new to DJ Format. If you're not familiar with his earlier material then I strongly recommend you check out Vicious Battle Raps feat Abdominal from his 2003 album Music for the Mature B-boy. It's a clever single-take video that adjusts to cater for Abdominal's variable speed of rhyming, and is laced with crazy background cameo's to compliment his playful rhymes.
It's good to see DJ Format back, and representing good UK hip hop.
February 7, 2012
Breakin' 'n' Enterin'
(This is the image for the OST, but it's the actual documentary being reviewed here)
In my recent Silver Anniversary post I reflected on some of Ice-T’s history in the game. I was specifically looking at his contribution from 25 years ago in 1986 but I also mentioned that he may well have been the first rapper/actor as he’d already had cameo roles in the films Breakin’ (1984), Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984) and Rappin’ (1985).
But then I got an e-mail from my homie Jsta, a fellow blogger over at the Phuk-tha-muthaphukkin-police blog. He hit me up on the documentary Breakin’ ‘n’ Enterin’ (Yep, there are far too many apostrophes in the name, but it is the correct spelling) from 1983 which is Ice-T’s first on-screen appearance. Damn, this is nearly 30 years old!!!
Although Ice-T has a significant amount of screen time in this documentary, and this was my primary reason for checking it out, what’s actually most important here is the excellent cataloguing of the west coast break dance scene in the early 80’s. Ice-T is just one small contribution to this, so I’ll come back to him later.
There are hours of footage that document much of the early Rock Steady Crew battles and many more that catalogue the east coast scene in general, but this is a huge injustice to the west coast who had an equally vibrant, and some might say more varied, scene. That’s where Breakin’ ‘n’ Enterin’ attempts to redress that imbalance.
February 1, 2012
Blogwatch - January 2012
Damn, what a great start to the New Year. It seems as though bloggers and web masters are going crazy with their content. Here's the usual monthly round up of the internet's best offerings.
Fab 5 Freddy discusses Gang Starr's Just to get a rep video
The DJ Premier blog has come correct twice this month! First off is an interview with Fab 5 Freddy about the iconic Gang Starr video for their single Just to get a rep. Fab 5 discusses the production processes of casting the right characters, picking the right locations, avoiding MTV's strict cencorship whilst still delivering one of the best hip hop videos of all time.
http://www.djpremierblog.com/2012/01/24/director-fab-5-freddy-talks-music-video-just-to-get-a-rep/
W - The story of the Wu Tang
The Pie and Ears blog has shared this great documentary on the Wu Tang Clan. With a running time of 1 hour and 20 minutes, this is the full on story of the Wu legacy.