Friday, February 20, 2004
More remix album madness and Sex, lies, and Republicans: the Friday wrap-up
"There is, frankly, no enthusiasm right now for sending in military or police forces to put down the violence that we are seeing" -- Colin Powell on the unrest situation in Haiti (CNN.com)Help me out here, do Bush, Bremer, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz & co. even have an actual plan for Post-War Iraq or are they making it up as they go along?: The Bush administration, forced by rejection of the caucus system by a wide range of Iraqis, is abandoning the core idea of its plan to hold regional caucuses for an Iraqi provisional government and will instead hand over authority to a caretaker government. (Washington Post)
Sex, lies, and Republicans: Drudge shoots and misses. But Bush's allies are attacking Kerry with everything from a phony Jane Fonda photo to a sickening attack on triple amputee Max Cleland. (Boston Phoenix)
Somewhat late but still relevant (hey, it takes me a minute to read the papers which is why I only subscribe to the Sunday Times):
- Curb Your Enthusiasm's Larry David hilariously send up the Bush National Guard controversy as he breaks down serving in the National Gaurd in the early 70's in his op-ed "My War." (New York Times)
- Why am I not buying Jagdish Bhagwati's argument that outsourcing is not "taking away" jobs from Americans in "Why Your Job Isn't Moving to Bangalore" (New York Times) I studied economics so I'm fairly well-versed in the arguments for free trade and open markets and have never really thought of myself as either a populist or protectionist. 10-15 years ago though, politicians and economists argued that we shouldn't be worried because, as industrial jobs moved overseas, American workers would migrate into service and information-based jobs. Now even those jobs are moving overseas to countries in South East Asia etc. and there doesn't seem to be any new wave of jobs being created to replace them. Hey, here's an economic theory that you don't need a fancy BA to learn or understand: it's tough to get the economy started and growing if people don't have jobs to make money to buy all the cheap goods and services we're importing through these wonderful free trade pacts and open markets. One to grow on....
From The Progress Report:
CBS Caves Again: Once again bowing to pressure from conservatives, CBS has announced it will resume airing the Bush Administration's controversial television ad touting the new Medicare prescription drug law. The stunning decision comes just days after the network pulled the ad pending a General Accounting Office investigation into whether the ad constitutes improper expenditure of taxpayer money for political purposes. The ad was produced at taxpayer expense by Bush's campaign media firm - a firm that also does ads for the drug industry.
A short next step to the "Feelies"? Has our Brave New World future arrived? Scented emails. (Contractor UK)
Downloading is hurting what? In the UK: CD albums sales rise 5.6% in 2003, says BPI. (BPI News)
And evidence of how desperate the music industry has become to find executive talent, never mind new artists:
**CASTING CALL** Do you want to work in the music industry but just
don't have an "in"? Spike TV is looking for a few people who think they
have what it takes to become the next big industry player. Our new
reality show will send you on the adventure of a lifetime and the winner will
be awarded with a one year job at Lava/Atlantic Records and a brand new
car from KIA. This is your big opportunity to win your dream job in Los
Angles working for one of the Hottest labels around.
(via Craigslist, archive readers, this link will definitely be temporary)
Xzibit's announces a new group project Strong Arm Steady. (HipHopGame.com) One question though: what ever happened to the Golden State Project with Ras Kass and Saafir?? (Elements)
Images courtesy: Allmusic.com
I think the entire music internet community is already on this one: get ready for Grey Tuesday on 2/24. (allhiphop.com)
Related ironic info alert: Danger Mouse signed a publishing deal with Warp Records just as the Grey Album was starting to blow up. The irony is that Warp's publishing company has a joint venture with, guess who?.... EMI, The Beatles's label.
Speaking of which, the mash-up, bootleg Black Album remix action continues. Jay-Z meets Metallica: a preview of The Double Black Album (via Max N)
Quickly followed by Bazooka Joe presents The Silver Album (Jay-Z vs. RJD2) Truck Jewls via Sandbox. (BTW: I heard there are promos of RJD2's new album floating around already and word is that there's no MC's on it anywhere and it can only be described as hip hop in the loosest sense of the term. Anyone heard it and can confirm?)
And even more hip hop-meets-rock action: Cypress Hill rockin' over The Clash's classic "Guns of Brixton" for their new single "What's Your Number?" I can't be mad at that. (mp3 snippet courtesy XFM UK)
Are all these bootleg remix album evidence that cats aren't making albums right the first time around? If there were acapellas of The Chronic, It Takes A Nation of Millions... or Illmatic going around, would people be trying to remix the tracks on those albums or would they be saying,"I'm not even f-ckin' with it, there's no way I can top or equal the originals?"
Is this what the Wu meant when they talking about "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'"? From Youth Intelligence's trendcentral:
Bizarre spectator events are becoming more than just a fleeting trend. We recently told you about staring contests in bars (StareMaster TC) and rock, paper, scissors competitions at parties. Now, chess-boxing is the latest in novelty entertainment. A chess-boxing match consists of 11 rounds, each round consisting of four minutes of chess and two minutes of boxing. The combination of physical and mental challenge is the driving philosophy behind the sport. Chess-boxing has received so much attention in Berlin that a club devoted entirely to it is opening there this June.
"Kingpin, Big Dawg" New York DJ Funk-Fliggedy is celebrating his 10th anniversary DJ-ing on Hot 97 this month. Depending on your point of view, Flex is either the embodiment of hip hop's ascent toward's mainstream acceptance and success or part of the reason for the death of hip hop as a vibrant, diverse musical movement and culture. The debate starts (or continues) here.
Things to do this weekend:
- Eclipse DJ-ing tonight. Click here (and scroll down a little) for details.
- Already plugged on many sites you probably read and love, TV's Illest Minority Moments presented by ego trip on VH1 this Sunday (Feb. 22) at 10 PM EST. The fact that the show's name was changed from the original TV Race Riot! probably says more about race and TV than anything in the actual show will.
- Chris Annibell presents
afrokinetic
-- 1st & 3rd Saturdays -- in BROOKLYN ------>
Saturday, Feb 21
resident DJ Amanda Mulea, with special tag-team set by Nickodemus & Osiris, plus guest DJ Eddy Plenty. A night of afro-grooves, dubby-breaks, jazzy-joints, eastern vibes, house, classics, and more. Live drums and percussion by Nappy G.
at
The Royale
506 5th Ave between 12th & 13th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn
FREE
10pm - 4am
Subway: M, N, R to 9th St; F to 4th Ave
By car / from Manhattan: Manhattan Bridge > Flatbush Ave > right on 5th Ave> 2 miles up on the right
(718-840-0089)
Check the site the day of the event in case of last minute changes.
- SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21TH, 2004
DJ Chris Washington
Putting it down for a Sat night
@
Ellie Club
390 8th Ave
(Btwn 29th & 30th St)
New York City
Hosted by Kelvina & Chandra
Door by Nicole
10PM-4AM
NO COVER!!!
SEXY DRESS
21 & OVA
And finally, new blog alert: rockin' a very nice Fred Perry steez in his site design is Marc Marcello's Hella Hip Hop.
Next week y'all. Have a good weekend.
