G Dep's Last Interview & Freestyle Before Turning Himself In For Murder

http://www.vladtv.com/video/35113/g-deps-last-interview-freestyle-before-turning-himself-in-for-murder/

Play Cloths – Hooded Varsity

From the beginning, Play Cloths has done streetwear with a eye for more classic influences, and this hooded varsity jacket from the Holiday 2010 collection is no exception. The jacket stands out from the masses of varsity jackets mainly because of the hood, but even aside from that, it’s a solid contender in a year in which the varsity jacket is nearing a saturation point. Play Cloths keeps it pretty convention and classic aside from the hood, with a wool body, satin lining, zippered welt pockets, piped ribbed cuffs and hems, and of course of a chenille varsity applique of the Play Clothes logo. Check out the images after the jump; it’s definitely an interesting addition the varsity jacket offerings of this season, and a sure to please fans of Play Cloths. Available at Standard in Atlanta.


This post was originally posted on freshnessmag.com

LeBron James x Nike LeBron 8 V.2 – Christmas Day 2010 “Run On Red”

Dubbed by Nike as “Signal Your Color” Collection, it is a play on the traffic lights – Red for LeBron, Yellow for Kevin, and Green for Kobe, the game that is about to start will include the Nike LeBron 8 V.2 “Run On Red” Edition. In the colors of the holidays, the LeBron 8 V.2 is all red with exception of the white Swoosh and Flywire. Black/White speckled midsole and mint green laces accentuate the design further. The Nike LeBron 8 V.2 Christmas Day Edition will be available tomorrow, December 26th, at select retailers.


Style: 429676-600
Color: Sport Red/White-Black
Release Date: December 26th (Tomorrow!)

This post was originally posted freshnessmag.com

Santa Baby by Atheena Jai

Sunday December 26, 2010

9:00 pm - 1:00 am

18+

Cover: $14.00

Music: Hip Hop, Classics, Soul, Funk

RSVP Email: rsvp@sobs.com

Contact Email: info@sobs.com

Dirty Money Album Review

After much talk and several delays, Dirty Money delivers the futuristic love story on their much anticipated album, Last Train To Paris, which is in stores now.

LISTEN UP:

♫ DIRTY MONEY – YEAH YEAH YOU WOULD

♫ DIRTY MONEY – ASS ON THE FLOOR

♫ DIRTY MONEY – LOVING YOU NO MORE

Last Train To Paris is probably rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs’ first foray into the world of conceptual albums. With it being three years in the making, Combs describes the album as a vivid love story, following his character on a journey from London to Paris. Along with former Danity Kane star, Dawn Richard and singer/songwriter, Kalenna Harper (who’s characters are named Neon and Flux), Diddy finds the woman of his dreams, loses her, finds her again, only to lose her once more, and then reunite with her a final time. Some may have argued that such a task may have been a little ambitious for Combs, but Last Train To Paris flows almost seamlessly to tell the story.

At first, it may have been fair to say that Diddy was jumping on the bandwagon of the electronica, Europop and dance sound for his latest album, but judging from the material on the album, Combs really understands the groove and feeling of the sound. It sounds quite authentic, and rightfully so, with the myriad of the producers that appear on the album, including Rob Holladay, Swizz Beatz, Danja, Seven Aurelius, Polow Da Don and Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, to name a few. Usually, when an album boasts so many producers, listeners can tend to get lost in the sauce, but the sounds fuse very well, which also deliberately showcases Diddy’s taste, which some may think comes into question a lot. It’s almost as if you can listen to the album track by track, without knowing when the song switches, until the mood does.

One might also argue that a distraction lies on the album with a conflict between Dawn and Kalenna being featured vocalists and the sixteen other featured artists on the album. But the honesty of the situation is, when listening to the album, you’re enjoying yourself way too much to even notice. The collaborations fit in strategically, and Kalenna and Dawn stay afloat as the supporting characters to Diddy’s protagonist. Besides, who could get mad at features from Grace Jones, Chris Brown, Lil’ Wayne, Notorious B.I.G., and Bilal? And that’s just where they begin.

The story is told effortlessly, but there are few moments on Last Train To Paris that shine brighter than others. The highest points lie on the tracks where the most emotions are displayed, be it in the vocal or the lyrics. Chris Brown and Diddy lay it on thick on “Yesterday,” where Chris croons, “Yesterday I fell in love/Today feels like my funeral/I just got hit by a bus/Shouldn’t have been so beautiful/Don’t know why I gave my heart, gave my trust, gave everything…” while the rapping Diddy cosigns by chanting, “I don’t comprehend how you can’t love, when it’s so easy to.”

Kalenna and Dawn have their crowning moments on the album too, with the blaring “Ass On the Floor,” the album’s next single, as well as Grace Jones-assisted “Yeah Yeah You Would” and the smooth, piano-driven, “I Hate That You Love Me.” Another moment on the album can be found in “Shades,” which feels like something stolen straight off of Prince’s B-Sides.

There’s no denying that Last Train To Paris delivered, despite the time it took to wait for it. It’s clear that after the success of the Keyshia Cole-featured “Last Night” from 2006′s Press Play, Diddy decided to stretch the feel into a whole album, and did so with much success. It’s refreshing to get a concept album in a genre that would usually conflict in, considering that more recently, we haven’t gotten to see as many sides and dimensions of hip hop and R&B. There’s most definitely something for everyone here.

This post is originally on http://www.concreteloop.com/

Dr. Dre - Kush ft. Snoop Dogg, Akon

Ja-Rule Jail Time!

Rapper Ja Rule is headed to prison for two years after pleading guilty Monday to driving with a loaded gun after a 2007 concert.

"This isn't a good day, fellas," the one-time Grammy nominee said grimly as he left Manhattan Supreme Court.

The plea to attempted weapon possession in the second degree, a violent felony, came just before his trial was scheduled to start.

Ja Rule, 34, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, was busted with a loaded .40-caliber Taurus pistol inside his Maybach as he and two pals left the Beacon Theater on the upper West Side following a Lil Wayne & Friends concert in July 2007.

Lil Wayne, real name Dwayne Carter, was also arrested for gun possession that night. He took the same plea as Ja Rule but received only one year in jail. He was released from Rikers recently after an eight-month stint.

Ja Rule, wearing jeans and a black sweater, spoke in a low voice as he answered the judge's questions. He will get a similar prison time to the one accepted by Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who shot himself in the leg inside a night club.

Ja Rule faced 3 1/2 to 15 years in prison had he been convicted for the top charge in trial.

Ja Rule's road manager, Dennis Cherry, is expected to cop a no-jail plea by the end of the month, a source said. The other man who was arrested in the rapper's car, driver Mohamed Gamal, has died of cancer.

The Queens-born rapper, whose last album came out in 2005, is due back in court Feb. 9 to schedule a sentencing date. Justice Richard Carruthers instructed him to make his next court appearance and stay out of trouble until he's sent Upstate for two years to be followed by a year and a half of post-release supervision.

"If you fulfill all of these conditions, I will sentence you as I have indicated," the judge told him.


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/12/13/2010-12-13_rapper_ja_rule_gets_twoyear_jail_sentence_after_pleading_guilty_to_attempted_wea.html#ixzz186YIJVsR

 

This post is originally on nydailynews.com

"The King of Pop" makes the news once again!

Let's start with the good news: Michael Jackson's first full album of posthumously released songs should clear Sony Music on most charges of desecrating his grave, an accusation raised by the initial two songs released from the controversial disc.

None of the other cuts on "Michael" have the ghoulish feel, and dubious origin, of those initial singles. The first one ("Breaking News") caused fans, and even the Jackson family, to question whether its quaking, strangulated vocal belonged to Michael at all. The second ("Hold My Hand") featured so little input from the star, it reduced him to a backup singer for his guest, Akon. All of which begged the question: If you're going to grave-rob, shouldn't you steal the good stuff?

Thankfully, the producers, managers, and lawyers behind "Michael" managed to dig up some music worth hearing, even if none of it will cause anyone to think the icon was on the verge of a full-scale comeback.

Most of the material dates from 2007, culled from demos cut half a decade after Jackson's last official release, 2001's "Invincible." Of course, the title of that disc turned out to be camp. Not a single song from it endured.

The music here has a less cramped, angry, or nervous feel than that on "Invincible." Though many lionize Jackson's perfectionism, in later years it worked against him. The "new" disc has a bright, clean, relatively easy sound, a relief after Jackson's fussed-with, late-period recordings. A song like "Hollywood Tonight" has some of the old verve, while the treatment of "(I Like) The Way You Love Me" (from 2004) creates a cool counter-rhythm from a leftover bit of vocal play.

The ballads tend to boast sturdier structures than the upbeat tracks. Better, they lack the lethal goo of Jackson's softer songs. "Best Of Joy" references doo-wop with subtlety, while "Much Too Soon," (circa "Thriller") sounds like a lost track from the ‘70s soft rock act Bread (a compliment).

Then again, just as much here doesn't click. Jackson could never make a rock song sound organic, from "Dirty Diana" on, and this attempt with Lenny Kravitz ("Can't Make It Another Day") sounds just as faux. Jackson has an equally unsure feel for rap, which makes the insertion of 50 Cent on "Monster" feel like a shot-gun wedding. Its eye-glazing lyrics about the evil tabloid press don't help. More, Jackson's vocals can sound nasal and pinched throughout, a consequence of his self-obliterating surgeries. When he swings into a falsetto, however, he soars. Moments like those give "Michael" value. At just 40 minutes, it may be a brief coda, but, perhaps a representative one from a life cut short

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2010/12/13/2010-12-13_michael_jacksons_michael_review_first_full_album_since_king_of_pops_death_isnt_c.html#ixzz186TAzMqZ

This post is originally located on www.nydaileynews.com

Mahasin performing live @ Alchemist Lounge on 12/14, 6pm-9pm! Free admission with a toy donation!

The new Pioneer HDJ-500 DJ Heaphones come at a high standard, but a very low price!

The HDJ-500 DJ headphones adapt the styling and performance cues of Pioneer’s top-of-the-line HDJ-2000 headphones. The HDJ-500 uses comfortable urethane pads for the ears that allow the headphones to mold around the user’s head and ears for a snug and slip-resistant fit. Furthermore, the urethane pads are wrapped in quality leather. The main structure of the headphones is crafted of magnesium alloy for light weight and durability.
By combining 40mm diameter drivers, thick 19m (micrometers) diaphragm and a copper-clad aluminum wire (CCAW) voice coil, the headphones can reproduce the lower frequency audio range.
The HDJ-500 features a rotating arm structure that allows the user to rotate the right earpiece forward and back by as much as 60 degrees. At that position, the flexible headband maintains enough side pressure to allow the DJ to listen to audio on just one side of the headphones.
The headphones include two interchangeable cords. The traditional 1.2-meter coiled cord (extends to 3m) is geared for regular DJ performances, while the 1-meter straight cord is ideal for leisure listening.

The black HDJ-500-K and the red HDJ-500-R will be available in November 2010 at a manufacturer suggested retail price of $125. The white HDJ-500-W will be available in January 2011 at a manufacturer suggested retail price of $125.

KANYE WEST COVERS COMPLEX

The one and only Kanye West allowed Complex editor-in-chief Noah Callahan-Bever to spend some time with him in Hawaii, living with Kanye, hanging out in his Honolulu studio and penning the cover story “Project Runaway”. The profile offers a glimpse at Kanye’s creative process and gives insight on the man based on those who helped create My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Check out a few snippets below.
On how Kanye works with others:
“Kanye’s process is communal—he literally goes around the room asking everyone there what ‘power’ means to them, throws out lines to see how they’re received, and works out his exact wording with whomever is around to help. But his output is most definitely entirely his own—one listen to that consistently unique cadence, word choice, and sense of humor reveals that. Rappers, producers, and entourage are all welcome to offer ideas or phrases, but the funny thing is, nearly every suggestion is met with, ‘That’s really not at all a word I would ever say, but don’t stop offering ideas, thanks!’”
On Kanye’s sense of humor in the studio:
“What does elicit a visceral reaction—hard, heavy laughter—is the wall of Kanye Commandments posted on 8.5″x 11″ sheets of paper on one side of the studio. They include the obvious—’No Tweeting’ and ‘No Pictures’—and some…well, some less obvious ones, too. Not that ‘No Hipster Hats’ and ‘Just Shut the Fuck Up Sometimes’ aren’t rules to live by.”
On Kanye’s sleeping habits:
“During my five days in Hawaii, Kanye never slept at his house, or even in a bed. He would, er, power-nap in a studio chair or couch here and there in 90-minute intervals, working through the night. Engineers remained behind the boards 24 hours a day.

This post is originally on concreteloop.com

THIS IS MY BLOCK!!!

Soul Exchange Live w/ special guest "Lerix"

The SE team vibed out with an emcee from Brooklyn, NY named Lerix.  We rocked to his songs "Bright Lights" and "Another Day".  For more info on his music check out his website.  www.lerixmusic.com.  Click the link underneath to see "Money" Mike chop it up with Lerix and see DJ Brown Boi and DJ Lady Essence get it in on the 1's & 2's!


Soul Exchange Live w/ special guest "Lerix"

ALIFE x Casio G-Shock – G-5500AL-1JR

Casio and ALIFE have teamed up on a G-Shock collaboration, based on a model that gets a bit less attention in the overall G-Shock lineup, and certainly one that is a more rare choice for collaboration. The G-5500AL-1JR has a simpler, more angular profile than many of it’s counterparts. It does, however, share their useful features (too many to list in full here), along with a Tough Solar charging system. The ALIFE design input is really strong here; the watch and band are set in matte black, with a glossy white ALIFE logo around the band, with an ALIFE logo etched into the buckle. The watch comes in well-designed ALIFE packaging, which matches the classy black and white color scheme of the watch. Definitely a versatile G-Shock for multiple settings or seasons. Check out a more detailed image of the ALIFE x Casio G-Shock G-5500-1JR after the jump.

Original posting by freshnessmag.com

Check Out the Heritage x Junkyard Jeans – Underground Railroad Varsity Jacket

The varsity jacket has become a statement piece for designers, both streetwear and couture, but here’s one with a bit more depth than most other versions being produced right now. The Heritage Varsity Jacket is the result of a team put together by Dr Romanelli: Eric Schrader of Junkyard Jeans and the documentary Blue Gold, and Jovan James from UNITE. Materials are sourced, constructed and chainstitched (with vintage machines) by Eric Schrader. This is a varsity jacket in the 1950’s style, as a opposed to the 1980’s style that is more popular this year; it’s created with wool and leather from Oregon and Idaho, then handmade in Los Angeles. The Heritage label is inspired by brand’s location on a major stop on the original Underground Railroad in Massachusetts, and the lantern logo is based on a symbol of safe passage for escaping slaves. Varsity jackets are obviously on everyone’s radar this year, but they’re also now a dime a dozen; this one brings back old fashioned quality and workmanship together with meaningful history. Images after the jump. The collection is limited to 12 pieces, and is available at UNITE.

This article was taken from freshnessmag.com