"Da Fastest Spliff Billa In Jamaica"

Buju Banton rolls a zoot in three seconds. Seeing is believing. Fast forward to 1:28.



Via The Fader.

Stone Island Spring/Summer 09 Collection

Although The Firms pioneered Stone Island on the terraces in its hey-day and since the rise of the hooligan Nick Love cinematic experience (if you can call it that) Stoney has become a household name, tarnished by the slew of fakes running up and down the high-street. Stone Island is still one of my favorite clothing labels, I like C.P Company its 'sister label' but the cuts and look of S.I is just always so on-point for that streetwear-esque 'Casuals' feel. I've thought about rocking it without the badges, but there is something about having that little bit of branding on the sleeve that makes you feel just that little bit better about the garment.

Check some images of the new Spring/Summer collection over at Hypebeast.

My two favorite looks:

"Wrap Up Warm Kids"

Durex on the viral tip...

Saturday Stroll

Last Saturday the sun was shining bright on London Town. I took a stroll from my flat at Limehouse Marina up the Regents Canal to Mile End and then onto Angel, via the East End.


The first sun of spring was a delight to behold after the coldest winter in London for at least two decades.




Room with a view.


"No Fishing"...Should really say "No Fish In."


Limehouse Basin.


"F' The Money Men!"




Tower Block Dreams.








'Bobby Dazzler' - The greatest name for a long boat, in fact anything since, well... NICK.

With the sunshine and the hangover, I decided fresh air was a must and the walk would take me a little further than first expected. The further East you start on your walk central you can begin to gage to the full extent of how gentrified the East End has become. Although I suppose you can group me in that bracket, as Limehouse was once home to the old docks, and the industrialized waterways. Its regeneration and the rise of Canary Warf over the last fifteen or so years has seen an influx of wealth into the area. The East End however is a totally different monster of an entirely different making.

Walking down Roman Road to Bethnal Green it begins to manifest; the Attack of the Hipsters. Firstly you are greeted by the odd artist or painter and decorator, then as you continue down the Roman Road towards Bethnal Green its less sporadic and more a law of averages. For every couple of local bookies and boozer blokes, you get some Nathan Barley monstrosity, multiplying like roaches feeding off the scraps of Jellied Eels and Pie and Mash. As I continued on to Brick Lane, you are overrun by the infestation on the approach to the hive. This needs to be avoided on a Saturday like the plague. If it wasn't for The Butcher Of Distinction and the heavy Bagel Shop, which are two delights worth sampling on the days off, I would strictly AVOID AT ALL COSTS. If a flying visit is needed, and a swift rummage through Rough Trade is essential, act fast and away you should run. American Apparel clad urbanites mount on the ostentatious and elaborately decorated bikes to run you off road. Fixed Gear, more like Fixed Queers.

Skywalker

'I Know' - From the video shoot I was at a few weeks ago.



Scorcher, he's coming for the scene trust me!

Kaws - "The Long Way Home"

The Hundreds is probably my favorite blog at the moment, it's clean and on point. The photography is dope and its nice to get an insight into the world of a truly fantastic street wear brand. Now I don't particular like L.A but I wish I was at Honor Fraser for the opening of this exhibition. Kaws is a seriously amazing artist. His work is so sharp and vivid. I would love to own a piece, for me he is far more important than Banksy, he is the real representation of 21st Century Pop-Art. Superlatives are redundant. He's the man.

Letter To Cam

I stumbled across this hilarious video brought to you by the The Real via Sickamore's twitter. This is genius, big up Killa Cam.


Letters To Cam from jeff on Vimeo.

For all the fans of Killa Cam check out this pretty decent mixtape



Evil Empire & Cam’Ron - Criminal Minded

Big, Bad & Banksy

The Afflicted Yard: The Rock from Rickards Bros. on Vimeo.

If you spot a Banksy, reach for the Rotary Saw! Big Up Afflicted Yard.

When Things Go Wrong...

Fallon Ad: Sony

Fallon's latest Sony Bravia ad, using a 10 tonne zoetrope that plays images of the AC Milan footballer Kaka, with Kasabian (I think) providing the track, this is a nice ad.

"So dig me a larger grave, spray my ting like aftershave, it's gonna be a par today, when your heartbeat stops and you past away"

Skepta & Wiley kill this.

Meme

I suppose you could say that the blog is the most blatant form of "Mesmerization" - its the final outcome. The final delivery of information, content and ideas sourced and picked up elsewhere. Us the "infected", the blogger expresses what we have found, enjoyed, learned and seen; thus publishing it for others to transmit, spread, preach and poach. Whether this is constructive or not is up for debate, and often results in "hysteria" and "information chaos".

Gee Thompson's ambitious book 'Mesmerization' discusses the theory of memes across the internet and how our mistrust of scientific theory and conventional media outlets has left us suggestible. Rather than being better informed we are now left drowning in a sea of misinformed gibberish.

This argument can also be counterbalanced within the cultural and creative remits. We are now better informed, through more reliable sources about the cultural capital we seek out. First hand knowledge about whats going on, who's watching what, who listens to this artist or that artist, which galleries are popular which aritist is "Mr or Mrs Now." Diasporic cultural movements and scenes are easier to digest and understand. Montages of music, fashion, art and style become tangible through the remit of the blog.

I'm yet to read Thompson's book, but viral initiatives are at the forefront of communication right now, Marketers are forever demanding a Viral Campaign; "give me something thats funny, violently shocking, or sexy.." I think the old Marketers are missing the point in their demands for said campaigns, as brash explicit content is not necessarily what creates a "buzz." Campaigns are intrinsically viral due to the way in which we now communicate and spread knowledge, all online communication through the blog format is viral, if you read my somewhat coherent discussion about Thompson's book and post it, then that is a form of "viral" activity.

Perhaps I'm wrong, who knows, perhaps once I've read Thompson's book fully I'll be able to provide more clarity to this issue, but either way this new cultural information age is fascinating and anyone who attempts to interpret, critique its nature and understand how it is rapidly developing, should be duly recognized with some admiration. You could just simply apply Godin and Gladwell and the like to this new age and I'm sure distinctions and theories could be made.

Anyways you can purchase 'Mesmerization' here

Saturday Night

WAS ALOT!

Tokyo

Tokyo Light from Pol Pla on Vimeo.

History In The Making

Last weekend history went down. A legendary set, I've been to a couple of big raves recently, but to have my favorite DJ get blessed with the 5 best MCs in the game, WOW!

Plastician feat. Dizzee Rascal, Newham Generals, Skepta & Jammer.

This isn't going to happen again in a hurry.


When was the last time Dizzee spat in a rave? He's been tearing down the Live Shows for awhile but I cannot think of the last time Diz killed a dance?


Grime Forum has been going mad waiting for footage of this, I'm screwing I didn't reach this. Matter could well be the new spot. Owned by the Fabric lot, this could be a very serious venue. A lot of money and effort went into setting up the best, most sophisiticated Live "Dance" music venue in London. With the closure of The End and that shooting at SE1, Matter holds the key to resurrecting gutter dance music in a serious veneue. FWD vs Rinse @ The End, Why Not? @ Skala, and ...? @ Matter. Hopefully this Ram Records night is the first of many.

Where Respect Is Due...

Wu Ooh

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt.2 Coming Soon We Hope!

Best Wu joint to drop in a long, long time.

Some New Jersey Punk...

JAPANTHER - CHALLENGE



This is a cool video, I like the track as well. I love the energy of Punk, and I think in philosophy and attitude many parallels can be made with Hip Hop. Perhaps those similarities have been lost but if you look at the core foundations of Hip Hop and acts like Public Enemy that DIY "Fuck You" attitude blasts throughout both genres. Ice T was Body Count's frontman, and Ice T is as gangster as they come. I don't think I can think of another rapper to cover a Black Flag song, if you do know of any please leave a comment.

London Go Hard

DJ MK is putting a fresh new mixtape together, I for one and very excited, I need that new Kyza in my life. Check his blog for the downloads. He posts a lot of cool stuff, his radio show on Kiss is heavy and recently he's been posting the mixes alongside the tracklistings which is always massively appreciated.

Make sue you cop it. If you don't know about MK, then jog the F on. One of the heaviest to ever do it on these humble shores.

£1,200 is that excessive?

Cop them here

We Are HQ is a heavy new site I've stumbled across. It's pretty simple, a better lifestyle site for a better lifestyle, or as their tag line states "better looking better thinking space"

Everything from exclusive kicks to dope interviews check it.

North Star

C1 From the infamous North Star (straight outta Tottenham) brings the heat. This is some straight gully North London gangster rap. Very few in London town pull off this kinda rap record, often its just watered-down, not quite good enough, poor imitation "American Swagger Jacker's" trying their luck. C1 delivers.

Factory Records - Communications 1978-1992 [Box set]

Arguably the greatest ever British Independent to put out a record. This four disk box set chronicles (near-enough in order) 63 of its best releases, ranging from Joy Division and New Order (of which there is a lot of) to James and the Happy Mondays. All of the Factory greats are featured and during this turbulent period of financial decline, looking back on the late 70s and 80s music of industrial Britain gives you hope.

Think of all of the fantastic moments in music to have come from these shores during the Thatcher-era and the angst which went with such grim economic decline. Let's hope we have a similar creative explosion and some "go-to-the streets" political activism.



This incredible era of Manchester music is compiled to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the label, although released last month (sorry for the lateness) is a must have purchase. I'm a big Ian Curtis fan, and due to my northern heritage have always had a strong yearning for great Mancunian icons and culture. They don't come much more manc than this!

Disclaimer: Ian Curtis is atually from Macclesfield.



Check out:

'24 Hour Party People'



and the amazing:

'Control'


A Factory Box Set:
Disc 1:

01 Joy Division: "Digital"
02 Cabaret Voltaire: "Baader Meinhof"
03 A Certain Ratio: "All Night Party"
04 OMD: "Electricity (Original Version)"
05 Joy Division: "She's Lost Control"
06 The Distractions: "Times Goes By So Slow"
07 Joy Division: "Transmission"
08 The Durutti Column: "Sketch for Summer"
09 X-O-Dus: "English Black Boys"
10 Joy Division: "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
11 A Certain Ratio: "Shack Up"
12 Section 25: "Girls Don't Count"
13 Crawling Chaos: "Sex Machine"
14 A Certain Ratio: "Flight"
15 The Names: "Night Shift"
16 New Order: "Ceremony (Original Version)"
17 Minny Pops: "Dolphin's Spurt"
18 John Dowie: "It's Hard to Be an Egg"
19 Crispy Ambulance: "Deaf"
20 Section 25: "Dirty Disco"

Disc 2:

01 New Order: "Everything's Gone Green"
02 Tunnel Vision: "Watching the Hydroplanes"
03 The Durutti Column: "Messidor"
04 A Certain Ratio: "Knife Slits Water (LP Version)"
05 Royal Family and the Poor: "Art on 45"
06 Swamp Children: "Taste What's Rhythm"
07 New Order: "Temptation"
08 52nd Street: "Cool as Ice"
09 New Order: "Blue Monday"
10 Cabaret Voltaire: "Yasher (John Robie Remix)"
11 Quando Quango: "Love Tempo"
12 The Wake: "Talk About the Past"

Disc 3:

01 New Order: "Confusion"
02 Marcel King: "Reach for Love"
03 Section 25: "Looking From a Hilltop (Restructure)"
04 Stockholm Monsters: "All at Once"
05 Life: "Tell Me"
06 The Durutti Column: "A Little Mercy (Duet)"
07 James: "Hymn From a Village"
08 Kalima: "Trickery"
09 A Certain Ratio: "Sounds Like Something Dirty"
10 Quando Quango: "Genius"
11 Happy Mondays: "Freaky Dancin'"
12 Miaow: "When It All Comes Down"
13 The Railway Children: "Brighter"
14 Biting Tongues: "Compressor"
15 New Order: "True Faith"
16 Happy Mondays: "24 Hour Party People"

Disc 4:

01 New Order: "Fine Time"
02 Happy Mondays: "W.F.L. (Think About the Future)"
03 Revenge: "Seven Reasons"
04 Happy Mondays: "Hallelujah (Club Mix)"
05 Electronic: "Getting Away With It"
06 Happy Mondays: "Step On (Lionrock Remix)"
07 Northside: "Shall We Take a Trip"
08 New Order: "World in Motion"
09 Happy Mondays: "Kinky Afro"
10 The Durutti Column: "Home"
11 Electronic: "Get the Message (DNA Remix)"
12 Northside: "Take 5"
13 Cath Carroll: "Moves Like You (Remix)"
14 The Other Two: "Tasty Fish (12" Mix)"
15 Happy Mondays: "Sunshine and Love"
Video: New Order: Blue Monday [from the Power, Corruption & Lies LP]

Buy It Here

Clipse & Kaws

Clipse are set to release their third album this year. Kaws on the artwork, and a lot of talk of who is on the buttons, this is going to be a classic. I'm a big Clipse fan, lyrically and conceptually the music is held within the highest regard. They're the Rae & Ghost of the modern era.


Clipse x Kaws-ReUp Gang Blog 4 from ReUpGangRecords.net on Vimeo.

Big Pimpin'

50 is going to a lot of effort, his stake has just sky rocketed, even I'm beginning to like him again. Musically he hasn't been there for me since "Guess Who's Back" that is a heavy album. Ricky is dead in the water.

Sincere, Wretch, Scorch, Tinie Tempah, Chipmunk, Mark Henry

Wretch & Scorcher are doing alot. Wretch is doing 15 shows this month, Scorcher's video is set to drop and our project hasn't even started yet. WATCH THIS SPACE.

Scorcher 'I Know' - Behind The Scenes

Thankfully I didn't appear in the video, although the matching Toy Watch and Stoney jumper were doing alot, it's not about being on camera. My days of Channel U, Internet Video cameos are long gone, strictly behind the scenes business. This track is big, Scorcher is a very talented guy, big up for busting the Ecko hoodie! Check the tags for some images I took on the iphone, weakest camera in the game.

"So much white you might think ya Holy Christ is near, Throw on ya Louis V millionaires to kill the glare"

Snow brought London to a standstill yesterday, much to many peoples dismay. I stayed in bed and ate chocolate like a 55 year old menopause victim. Tim & Barry however teamed up with Tempa T & JME for some snowball business on the roads.

**LATEST 50 vs. Officer Ricky**

THIS TOO FUNNY! FIDDY HAS DESTROYED ROSS, I DON'T THINK HE CAN COME BACK FROM THIS. TOO MUCH!

Poster Boy

This guy is about a lot at the moment, had a big feature in the Guardian the other week and quite a few blogs have been posting about him. I'm not sure if i'm a big fan, but the concept is cool. He sounds and dresses like Mark Ronson.

Officer Ricky

I like Rick Ross, 'Port Of Miami' is a pretty solid coke fueled rap record. Although a lot of that love (no homo) is equated to my stay in the MI-YAYO, he's a decent rapper. Not only does Boss have 13 year-old gangster obsessed suburbanites rapping about Miami coke deals, but an incredibly cute Lykke Li is known to be a huge fan. So in an attempt to authenticate my gangster tastes, here is Lykke Li covering Officer Ross' 'Hustlin''


Lykke Li @ NTBR Part 4 - "Hustlin'" from Drew Innis on Vimeo.

Ross' past career as a Correctional Officer in the Miami-Dade County goes some what against his claims as a Carol City Cartel Drug Lord and this ousting of the past has certain undermined his credibility as a rapper.



In an attempt to salvage his career as a member of rap's elite, Ross went after 50 Cent, slewing the rapper on wax. 50's response was weak, and Ross even phoned up Shade 45 to tell some young "Hip Hop Honey" of the gossip loving variety just what he thought of Fiddy's reply. So, obviously the infamous Queen's rapper wasn't going to stand for that. In true 50 style he packed an almighty retaliation. Firstly the man who survived 9 shots, proclaimed "Rick Ross I'ma fuck your life up for fun", several days later this hilarious cartoon appeared.



Hip-Hop beef is like wrestling, but for me it adds to that entertainment factor. Fiddy has stepped up the levels with this cartoon. You can't just battle on the corner anymore, this internet led media-age has opened up a whole new arena for rappers to battle and beef in. 50 has raised the bar, over to you Ricky...