Bruins United Video

Here's a video I worked on with some friends for the UCLA student government elections:



Here's the jam!
Aceyalone - All for U
RJD2 - All for U (Instrumental)

I Love This Game

I literally teared up when I read Bill Simmons' column today.

Say what you want about Simmons, but he is a true fan. In a time when journalists are largely out of touch with the general population and their respective sports, Bill is always refreshing and hilarious. And he is one of the few writers who actually cares about the NBA. Fuck the "purity" of the game, NBA players are light years better than their college counterparts. David Stern is legit and knows how to run a league. Props to Simmons and Marc Stein for holding it down on that front.

Heart

"Never underestimate the heart of champion" - Rudy T


Game 6. It's on.

People keep comparing the Warriors-Mavs series to the Lakers-Suns series last year when the Lakers were up 3-1 and blew it. No way. The difference is this: the Warriors have heart. They are also a little crazy. Stephen Jackson was hit by a car and fired shots at a strip club, do you really think he is scared of anything? Do the Warriors even have anything to be scared of?

Back to the whole heart thing. The Warriors are a team that thrives on emotion and wears their emotions on their sleeves. Except unlike an annoying emo kid, they actually channel their emotions into energy on the basketball court. This energy may not always be positive, but at least they give a shit (unlike stiffs like Erick Dampier). And that's the reason why the Warriors are night and day from the Lakers of last year. There's no way Baron Davis gives up on his team and doesn't shoot in the second half while his team is being blown out (ahem). For better or worse, you better believe Baron will be chucking up fadeaway 3's like a madman. I don't mean to hate on Kobe either. He is the best offensive player in the NBA hands down. But Kobe's demeanor is ice-cold, Kobe is a stone-cold killer, the motherfucking professional; when was the last time you saw him smile in a game? The Warriors on the other hand are the complete opposite. Baron Davis is always chopping it up with the fans, refs, and other players. Even Charles Barkley admitted the Warriors are fun to watch. Why? Precisely because they play with heart and emotion. How easy is it to be a fan when your players are laughing, having a good time, and getting pumped up. Everyone from the fans to the players feed off that energy. It's electrifying. That's not to say someone like Kobe doesn't care or have heart either, he just doesn't display it so vividly. It's a matter of personality. And because people can't mindread, all we have are these outward gestures. Tim Duncan may be great, and it's fun to admire his skill, but it can be hard to get into. Ever team has a fan favorite, the guy who hustles, takes charges, and cares just a little too much (Brian Cardinal, for example). It's just rare when that guy is also a star of the team. Social psychology can help explain this phenomena as well. As a fan, a Tiger Woods fist pump makes me yawn, or crack a smile at the very most, but if I see Baron acting a fool on the court, I am way more inclined to act a fool in the stands. When Isaiah Thomas was dancing and singing about the Promised Land, I was right there with him. When Forest Whitaker cried at the Oscars, dammit, I was glad he won. The Warriors know pathos. Just look at the homecourt advantage Oracle Arena provides.


Oracle Arena has more handclaps than MSTRKRFT. Note: The kid in the orange headband is a baller. I bet he would dominate one of those kid's games they have at halftime.


With fans like this, how can the Warriors lose?

All the experts are saying Game 6 is a must win for the Warriors. Wrong again. Dallas has shown me no evidence that they are the better team in the series. In Game 7 of the Suns-Lakers series, the Suns pulled out all the stops and showed they were the better team. I don't think the Mavs can do that. The Warriors have too much firepower. I don't see Game 5 as a collapse because it was ridiculous that the Warriors were even in that position. Dallas came out guns-a-blaze, like they needed to, but the Warriors were able to regain composure and rally back. To be honest, I would be scared of a Game 7 if I were a Mavericks fan. All the pundits would once again be against the Warriors and everyone would count them out. I think Don Nelson, Stephen Jackson, and the rest of the Warriors actually relish the underdog role. They like being the asshole and they thrive off the haters.

Here's a perfect story from Hoop Junkie that illustrates the point:

Funny (or not so funny) story involving Stephen Jackson last night. He was walking to the team bus after the game. On the route he took, he walked past this bar inside of American Airlines Center. The bar, the front of which was floor-to-ceiling windows, was packed with Mavericks fans who, when they seen Jackson, started pounded on the glass and jeering him.
Jackson slows down and flashes a smile to the fans in jest as he walks by, soaking it in. He holds up his iced-out medallion to the people in the bar, as if be stealing the Dave Chappelle line "I'm Rich ..."
Just in case they didn't get the message, Jackson stopped, pulled out a fat wad of cash and taunted the crowd with it.
"I'm an (#%&)hole," Jackson said as he walked away. "That's how I got here."
Classic Jackson.

Compare and contrast that with this:

Goodbye.



To paraphrase Will Smith, we got our motherfuckin' swagger back!

Stars - Heart
Bone Crusher - Never Scared
Nas - Warrior Song (9th Wonder Remix)

*
This post was completely biased.

I got most of these images from Golden State of Mind, an absolutely great blog that stepped it up big time for the playoffs. The Warriors are never in the news, and I am always looking for any commentary whatsoever on them. Well, finally, the W's are getting some buzz and this blog does a great job of compiling articles as well adding its own commentary. Check it out

I had to post this:


U-C-L-A FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

Awwwwww

Chris Brown ain't got shit on these penguins.



BTW, what is up with Unk's new single? Does anyone like "2 step?" Why is Unk obsessed with different types of walking? I'm pretty sure there are 2 other songs right now about two stepping (Clyde Carson and Hot Dollar). These are hard questions, please enlighten me.

*Update*
Like a fool, I forgot to include the mentioned tracks. Thanks for the heads up

DJ Unk - 2Step
Clyde Carson - 2 Step
Hot Dollar - Two Steppin

Escargot, My Car Go

Notorious B.I.G. - Party and Bullshit (Ratatat Remix)

Hard. I haven't been the biggest fan of Ratatat's remixes, but only one word can describe this gangster ass remix (besides the adjectives I have just used): hard. Wow, I want to fight someone right now. I also want to party and bullshit.

I just went to the Ratatat show, needless to say it was awesome.

It's Me Bitches

Finals week hiatus...

Here are some procrastination items, just so you know I'm still alive:

Swizz Beatz - It's Me Bitches
I am addicted to this song. It's like a gangster, ridiculously obnoxious version of "Lose Control." I love it. I guarantee you will be repeating "chillin in my beamer..." in your head all day. I must say I have a newfound respect for Swizz Beatz, I'm glad he got over those piano loops. And here's some interesting info about his new album dropping May 15 (plus more evidence that Crash is overrated):
Swizz Beatz Snags Kanye, Coldplay For New CD - Billboard.com

Three 6 Mafia - Doe Boy Fresh feat. Chamillionaire
Wow, great idea for a video. These guys are truly "Academy Award winners." Spike Jonzeeeeeee, who?

Reeeeemix

Sorry about the lack of posts. I have some new ones in production, but life has been hectic recently. So like any good (lazy) artist, here are some remixes/b-sides to quell the loyal fan base until my much delayed official post drops.

Technical note: I changed my upload server, so now you can directly download the files instead of going to SendSpace first. What a lark!

Peter Bjorn & John - Let's Call It Off (Girl Talk Remix)
Peter Bjorn & John have been slowly taking over my Ipod. Girl Talk is a genius. Yay! This remix is more in the traditional vein, retaining much of the original flavor, but this combination has grown on me a lot. However, for trademark Girl Talk check out...

Grizzly Bear - Knife (Girl Talk Remix)
Shit your pants! *Song of the week* I would say more but I don't want to ruin the surprise - you know the smile you get on your face when you're like "Oh no he didn't..."

Stars - Sleep Tonight (Junior Boys Remix)
So I think Stars should be coming out with a new album sometime? I hope the don't pull a "I Like My Beat Down Low" procrastination specialty.

Matt & Lil Kim - Verbs Before Nouns, Mothafucka
I am going to see Matt and Kim in two weeks! Interesting connection: they opened for Girl Talk at Davis. Love that melody, reminds me of "The Office" theme for some reason.



Eh, maybe? I am pretty tone deaf. I guess that's why I only write about other people's music...

White People Dance Music

Yikes. A horrendous sight to behold.

Since I was a young chap I have always wondered what music white people danced to. Every party or dance I had attended always played rap exclusively. You can freak to rap, you can pop to rap, you can lean with it rock with it to rap, you can even do the dummy retarded and ride the yellow bus to rap. It really is a versatile genre. Well, recently I have discovered the joys of white people dance music. For some reason, my head starts nodding and I want to jump around like a drugged out retard ( I guess it's not that different than hyphy music). Some features of WPDM that I have noted: 1) you must bump it with your windows up while secretly questioning its sexuality; 2) it usually has the word "Dance" either prominently in the chorus or in the title. See Arctic Monkeys or Fall Out Boy for examples. I think dancing is so unnatural for white folk that they need explicit instructions. Well, enough racism for one post. Enjoy!

Of Montreal - Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider
I love the line "No one wants to dance / they're outside smoking cigarettes." Oh those crazy hipsters. I used to think Of Montreal was weird, but I like them now.


No comment.
Of Montreal - Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse

Klaxons - Golden Skans
Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow
Great. More funky Brits. Thomas Pynchon would get down with this.

Sebastien Grainger - When You Go Out
Sebastien Grainger - The Rhythm Method
The drummer/vocalist from Death From Above still rockin like it's 1979.

New Young Pony Club - Ice Cream
Sexy, robotic vocals and fat beats keep it so grimy, so gully, so hood. Note the continuation of the candy imagery from last week's post.


Speaking of the New Young Pony Club...


Speaking of books...
Shout Out Out Out Out - Procrastinator's Fight Song
2 drummers, 4 bass players, 2 samplers, 5 synths, 2 vocoders. Vocoders are cool. They could even make Gilbert Gottfried sound good. Sorry, I would have updated earlier, but I was too busy listening to this song on repeat while doing the robot in leopard print boxers. Please watch "I <3 New York." Did I mention I should be studying for a midterm right now?
(Performing in LA, March 20 w/ Chromeo)

The Avalanches - Ray of Zdarlight
I love the Avalanches. They use the best samples ever. Any group that samples "Glaciers of Ice" and De La Soul is A-OK in my book. Beautiful, keep pushing those boundaries. Listening to them is always fun, like contemporary Girl Talk, as you play "Name That Sample." Anyways, I haven't heard from them in a couple years (DJ Dexter popped up on the much maligned "Return of Dr. Octagon") but I hear they are dropping a new album this year. Sweetness. Above is a little taste of their DJ shit: Wham vs. Digitalism.

Apples in Stereo - Energy
I really liked this song. I really did. It is so bright and happy, like a fine summer's day if you will pardon the cliche. But then I imagined it being co-opted perfectly for a commercial - horrible. FUCK. Sorry, if I just ruined this song for you, but as a member of the 4th estate, my journalistic ethics require me to report all news in a fair and balanced manner, however unpleasant. I can just see the multicultural smiling faces now. The only way to reclaim this song is if Halliburton pulls a Bank of America and covers it at their annual conference. Nothing would make me happier than seeing Dick Cheney harmonizing while volleying shotgun blasts into the crowd. Fuck it, I still like this song.

Menomena - Wet and Rusting
When you are tired from all that dancing you should listen to this song. The opening vocals just lull you in until the piano comes in and absolutely kills the track. Nice touch with the xylophone too. I don't think xylophones have ever been a bad addition to a song, they can only make a song better.

***
The Pack - Vans (Ratatat Re-edit)
How silly of me. I did a whole entry on The Pack without including this mix with Lex by Ratatat.

Booty Booty Booty

Got the Pack's new EP "Skateboards 2 Scrapers." Nothing earth-shattering but I'm definitely feeling their sound. Not to mention their fits.



I have been a fan since they caught national attention with their single, "Vans," but their sound is not the traditional bay hyphy. They remind me a lot of 80s/early 90s old school rap with their heavy electronic influence, minimalism, and laid back flows. But they are also on some futuristic shit too with the synth sound, I guess a comparison to the Neptunes could be made. The rappers even have Pharrell's nonchalant lazy flow although I think it works better here. The rhymes never overshadow the beats, especially in the staccato "Candy." This song is hot, it reminds me of the good old fashioned raunchy ass rap songs in the tradition of 2 Live Crew - the types of songs where I would blush when they came on the radio in the car with my parents. Rap and gratuitous sex/booty go together like peanut butter and Chinese food. I guess rappers can't resist sex/candy metaphors either. Shake that laffy taffy, I'll take you to the candy shop, etc...if only Donne was as ingenius. Along with 2 choice cuts from the Pack, I have included a few other booty jams for your listening pleasure. Don't blush.

The Pack - Oh Go
The Pack - Candy
Dj Assault - Ass N Titties
Spank Rock - Bump

haha. I couldn't resist.
D4L - Laffy Taffy

Woohoo. Yeehoo.

Here are some random songs stuck in my head lately:

Gwen Stefani ft. Akon - Sweet Escape
Props to my boy Chris Yi for introducing me to this one, much better than that yodeling single. Her new album sucks and I am glad. Isn't it ironic that the annoying ass catchy shit that she popularized with her last album was jacked by Fergie to become even more annoying and now its just a competition to see who can be more ridiculous. I feel like this is a contest with no winners. If we made a game tree, it might resemble a Prisoner's Dilemma with both parties inevitably killing each other in a race to the bottom. Sadly, Gwen comes off sounding like a Fergie knock-off when Fergie initially sounded like a knock-off Gwen Stefani. Wtf? The meta-musicalicality of this moment just made my head explode. That's some perverse post-modernist shit right there. Bee tee dubs, Akon is the guilty pleasure of the moment. There is no way to bump his shit and not nod your head while at the same time feeling like a complete asshole. Good thing he says, "Convict" before all his songs. That definitely is reassuring to my masculinity.

Fijiya & Miyagi - Collarbone
This song is cool. Dirty, funky ass groove and lyrics about copping new kicks. "Got to get a new pair of shoes / To kick it with her, not kick it with you." "Air Force Ones" for hipsters and pre-meds.

Pure Essence - Third Rock
Funky, Spacy - from the Adult Swim and Stones Throw compilation. So "Ghostwriter" by RJD2 happened upon my shuffled Ipod the other day. I think it is impossible to listen to this song while walking on a sunny day and not feel good. Anyways, "Third Rock" sounded soooo familiar. RJD2 - Clean Living

Ratatat - Wildcat
In regards to RJD2, I was trying to think of some other artists with utterly captivating, never boring instrumentals. I first heard "Seventeen Years" on the way to a Warriors game. As you can imagine, it was magical. Somehow, I slept on their new album. I like to think Eli Cash from Royal Tenenbaums would enjoy this track. Oh, it has great sound effects too.


MIMS - This Is Why I'm Hot
When DJing turned rapping goes right. The flows are okay but the beats are insane. Yes, I said beats, plural. The main beat is hypnotic and catchy as hell, but then he busts out all these samples that totally work with the song. For example, when he raps about the Bay, the beat switches to "Tell Me When to Go." Ah, that's some mixtape shit, the marriage of form and content is positively heartwarming. Oh, and I also love his logic. "Why is he hot?" you might ask. "I'm hot 'cause I'm fly / You ain't 'cause you not." It's that fucking simple.

Deerhoof - +81
This song is crazy and catchy. I guess I like singers with Asian accents for some odd reason. I looked them up when I walked by some place on Wilshire where they were performing.

Cibo Matto - Know Your Chicken
I have been obsessed with theses two Japanese girls since Christmas break after I picked up their first album from the library. I had heard of them from Dan the Automator and the lead singer, Miho Hatori is featured in Handsome Boy Modeling School, but never heard their individual stuff. This is some weird, quirky, irresistible music - like the Beastie Boys gone crazy from drinking sea water on the trip from Asia. It's a feast of break beats, jazz, unicorns, MSG, and outer space.

cerca 1996


Cibo Matto - Sugar Water
directed by Michel Gondry, featured on Buffy...one of the best uses of split screen ever


speaking of Automator (my favorite producer), he hooks up with Hiero again

Peter Bjorn and John - Young Folks
I like songs with whistling.


RBL Posse - Blue Bird
I just started watching The Wire. nuff said. Old School Bay shit.

need to listen to more: The Good, the Bad, and the Queen; Of Montreal

P.S. Spread the word. Thanks! and enjoy.
Camera Obscura - I Need All the Friends I Can Get