Executive Remix

Check out this clip spoofing the A&R remix process. It's pretty much the same scheme for producers. Most of this is sad but true, although I'd say it would take more than just a FEW calls and e-mails to get paid. Welcome to the biz, kidees!

Props to Mikey for the link.

Lebron Spits "Forever"

Last night when the Cavs BEAT the Lakers (HA!) Lebron caught a little extra curricular action rapping Em's verse to "Forever". Not bad, Lebron. I've seen Marshall on the basketball court, though...

More Refill Spots

Check out what's inside Shady Claus's medicine cabinet as well as the official Jordan IV Shady Clause TV spot that's been airing recently. (It didn't serve as such good luck for the Saints against the Cowboys when it aired on the NFL Network broadcast...)

Relapse: Refill is in-stores today, 12/21/09.

Hanukkah Radio 2009- Matisyahu

Reggae artist Matisyahu called up Hanukkah Radio on Shade45 this past shabbat (before sundown, of course) and gave us a very spiritual description of The Festival of Lights, aka Hanukkah. Check out the two segments below, and learn who the long-hair blunt smoking beatboxer at the White Plains house parties was in the mid-90's. Word to Buff Love.





The pic above is myself and Reef the Streets in front of the menorah in the mall at the Time Warner/AOL building shortly after the broadcast. We've got it on latke. Thanks to Matisyahu for making this year's program extra official.

Drake: Jew of the Year

Also from Hanukkah Radio 2009 on Sirius XM's Shade45 is the below phoner from none other than Canada's finest export in rap, Drake. Drake is Jewish, and we asked him some questions about it- including whether a certain event took place when he turned 13. Check out the audio below, and learn why we selected Drake as Hanukkah Radio's Jew of the Year. Somehow I doubt that a Hanukkah album is on the way, but we'd kill to get our hands on those photos from that Italian restaurant... Thanks, Drizzy.

Hanukkah Radio 2009- Jay Electronica

Like we do every year, yesterday we hosted Hanukkah Radio on Sirius XM's Shade45. This year was a bonanza for phone-in interviews, as we had Matisyahu, Drake and Jay Electronica call up and speak about various topics related to the holiday and the Jewish religion. Below check out Jay Electronica's interview and learn why he calls himself Jay Elec-Hanukkah and Jay Elec-yarmulke. I'll post the other interviews tomorrow and/or Sunday!

New Yorkers React to Refill

Check out what folks on the streets of the Big Apple thought of Relapse: Refill tracks. Yes, folks, it's in-stores on Monday 12/21.

No, these aren't actors. For reals.

The Knux Secret NY Show

From the folks at Red Bull and the NY creative crew Decon comes the next installment of the Live From Somewhere concert series. Next Thursday night, December 17th for FREE come see The Knux if you are in New York City. See the attached flyer for details. Red Bull... it gives you wings... and cappuccino!

Complex Eminem Cover

Check out the video below about the "making-of" of Eminem's Complex cover, out now. To create this I Am Legend style urban abandoned landscape, we went to Detroit's infamous Brewster Projects and the more desolate areas of Eastern Market. Check out the rest of the pics and the full article here.

"Lose Yourself" All Strings

This is an incredible string section rendition of "Lose Yourself". Peep the high violin players doing Em's verse lyrics... So detailed and subtle, they bounce identically to his inflection, cadence, tone and rhythm. Whoever made this paid very close attention to the intricate details in Em's delivery. Props to them. And to @saza23 on Twitter for showing me this. Feels like the score to a movie... oh, wait...

For more, check out Vitamin String Quartet on Youtube. They have a gang of string renditions, all very cool.

Travis Barker- "Forever" Remix

Check out Travis tackling Drake, Kanye, Weezy and Em in his latest remix for "Forever". I think it's safe to say that this guy is on a roll. GET IT?!?!

MTV Shows

Floyd Mayweather Vs. R.A. The Ruggedman

In continuing with the classic moments on Sirius XM's Shade45, The All-Out Show had a doozie last week... Frequent guest of Lord Sear and Rude Jude, R.A. the Ruggedman, took Floyd Mayweather to task about the quality of his fighting opponents in the past and where he's headed in the future.
I'm not going to give my opinion here, but R.A. sounds like he did his homework, and Floyd sounds like he knows his business. Forgive my tardiness in posting this, I was friggin' busy.

The Beer Hoodie

As the summer drew to a close this year, a friend of mine sent me a link for a special kind of hoodie. No, this isn't designed by a famed street artist, and it's not a This Company X That Company cool guy collabo. It's a lot simpler than all of that. See, I appreciate the finer things in life, but I'm also easily satisfied with the simple and mundane practical items that the world has to offer. Ladies and gentleman, Sunday night's awful Giant's game marked the debut of my Beer Hoodie, which has a kangaroo style Joey-pouch to hold your beer, hands-free.

Hands get cold? No problem, throw it in the hoodie. Need to clap because your team just made an interception? No problem, throw it in the hoodie. Have to call your wife to check-in? No problem, use both hands to drunk dial: throw it in the hoodie. This is genius. I don't care if it's ridiculous. So is spending $10 per beer, but we do it anyway. Because we are committed fools. Yeah, you want one dude. Get it here.

Eminem on Playing DJ Hero

Em sat down with the Activision folks to discuss his thoughts on DJ Hero and battling real DJ's at the game. He's had a demo copy of the game in the studio for a few weeks so look out, he's got a jump on you and he's focused.

B.o.B- "I Feed These Streets"

B.o.B is back with a fine street single from his forthcoming Atlantic Records LP entitled "I Feed These Streets." Indeed you do, Bobby Ray... indeed you do.

Hip-Hop Honors: Russell & Rick?

This spoof from Affion Crockett is so great. I got chills just watching it.

Eddie Rap Life x Travis Barker "Rock n Roll Memorabilia"

Check out Travis Barker's rapping protoge by way of Rhode Island Eddie Rap Life. Travis and Eddie have been in the studio cooking up some treats, look forward to more soon.

Ed Hardy Boyz

No words needed to express why this is so awesome... I'm kind of upset that I didn't think of this concept first.

Hip-Hop Honors

It's comin' to air finally... Check out the sneak preview of "Rock the Bells" below.

Eminem |Eminem Video |The Roots |DJ Jazzy Jeff

You bring the woodpecker. Pause.

Fall Out Hair

Blink-182 played an incredible show tonight to a sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Special guests Fall Out Boy took the stage first for what was described as their "last show together for a long time." Continuing in the tradition of pranks against Fall Out Boy, Mark Hoppus brought out a set of clippers to give Pete Wentz what Pete described as the "D.O.E.: death of Emo haircuts." Check out the flicks... he didn't go totally bald, but Pete's new 'do is a #4 attachment all the way around.


Thanks for being such good sports and for an awesome tour, F.O.B.

Organized Konfusion/PRT Live Videos

Last Friday I was very excited to see two of my favorite early '90s rap groups live at B.B. King's in New York City. Check out some highlight videos below. I've been heavy on the old school tip lately. I've been listening to Slick Rick albums over and over and I'm not sure why.

PRT- "Shakiylah"


OK- "Releasing Hypnotical Gasses"


Thanks to Grand Good for the links.

Travis Barker- Drum Cam Solo Footage

Travis nailin' it in Irvine, CA on the Blink tour- this time, a view from inside the drum set. Check it out.

KRS & Buckshot At Shade45

Below is some video footage from KRS-One & Buckshot's appearance on Shade45 last week. They were up to promote their new collabo album Survival Skills out now on Duckdown Records. These guys are two of my favorite MC's. If you don't get throwback goosebumps from some of the stuff performed below I probably can't relate to you that well. Unless you are my wife.

Yes, I'm really trying to go to Organized Konfusion & PRT show tomorrow night, son.

"Forever" Video

Here it is, BAM! Here come the questions, I know...

Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem - New Music - More Music Videos

DJ AM Memorial Video

Thanks, Mike B.

Go D.J., That's My D.J. (A.D.A.M.)

As I compose this post, I'll admit that I'm still probably in a bit of shock and/or denial about what happened. Maybe it's because of just that- I don't really know what happened. I can't really comprehend it. It doesn't compute. It doesn't make sense. It just doesn't seem possible.
I first met Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein through mutual friends some time in the early 2000's. I'd heard tales of how incredible he was on the turntables from Shecky. Alchemist and Neil told me about their boy, "AMG" (as he was known then) and what a great talent he was. First time I heard him actually play I think was when we (via Chris Clancy) hired him to spin at the LA record release event for The Eminem Show. Coincidentally, this was also the first night that Marshall and I met 50 Cent. I loved AM's set, and told him how glad I was that he was killing it. I'd see Adam out and about here and there, and would come to his various gigs in Vegas when I could. We developed a friendship, and eventually I became his co-manager with L.V. some time in 2006.
There's a few artists that I've worked with over the years that I really believe posses an element of magic. I can't really explain it precisely, but the best way I can put it is that there are times, even to this day, where I hear Eminem rap and I say to myself "how the FUCK did he do that?"- even after all these years. Travis Barker does the same thing on drums- I still stand there in awe when he plays his solos, even when I'm behind the curtain helping set it up. AM had the same ability. It was truly a magical event when he was going-off in the club, everyone that has witnessed it knows what I mean. He was blessed with a gift to take records, mix and scratch them together, and ultimately make something out of them like nobody else can. And there was no explanation for how he did it time after time... it was truly extraordinary. High art. Genius. Science. MAGIC. I often joke with my partner L.V. that we manage the best rapper (Eminem), the best drummer (Travis Barker) and the best club D.J. (A.M.)... how do we top ourselves?
I never knew Adam when he was using. I met him, in his "heavier" days still, when he had about 5 years of sobriety under his belt. I heard horror stories from various friends about A.M. when he was a crackhead, never leaving his room except for when he had to go do his $200 deejay gigs. But the guy I knew was very different. A.M. was vigilante in his sobriety. He would talk about how important it was to him constantly. He's attend meetings in whatever city he was in while travelling to maintain himself. Also, literally almost everyone I know in Los Angeles knows someone or had heard about someone or was someone that A.M. helped get sober (or at least he tried to). He would accept the challenge whenever it was requested of him: "no problem, just have them call me". People he didn't know, or people he had never heard of. He just wanted to help them, because he was so grateful for his sobriety that he constantly wanted to spread the gift. Adam never asked for anything in return, he simply wanted to help. It was his kind way.
AM had a encyclopedic knowledge of music. He cherished it and worshipped his favorite artists and their records. He was particularly fond of late '80s and early-to-mid '90's hip-hop. He loved '80s pop. He really liked big '90s rock hits. He was super-into Daft Punk and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. His tastes were hyper-eclectic. And this is what you heard every time he spun, a mix of the brightest and best of his and everyone elses favorites put together in a way that almost seemed like a celebration of the best records blended into one long song. And he did it all with a smile, humility and energy that can't be matched.
Last year after AM and Travis were in that horrible accident, AM always was mindful of staying sober and not slipping up. We even partnered with MTV to produce a television series with AM where he would do just that- help people get sober. He was open and honest about his addiction, and whenever he would struggle with it he would talk to his friends and family constantly about it. I remember him recently telling us that his hands were shaking in fear and nervousness after he entered a corner store in Hartford, CT to purchase drug paraphernalia as part of the show in order to demonstrate how prevalent the problem was. But he broke the glass stem and moved on, never giving in to his fight for sobriety.
Being sober was who Adam was. He spent the better part nightly of the past 10+ years working in clubs, temptation in his face each night, never to stray nor swerve off of his clean path. I'd heard him talk about drugs, about how much he liked them, how much he hated them and about how much he feared them. I'm not exaggerating when I say that out of everyone I know, he is one of the last people I would have ever expected to pass away the way he did. To say he will be missed is an understatement I can't even begin to describe. Maybe one day this will make some sort of sense. Until then, I'll cherish my memories of AM the DJ and Adam my friend. With love, forever.

Fall Out Curtain

On Saturday night in the Detroit area the Blink-182 tour rolled through town. Saturday was Fall Out Boy's last night on the tour for this leg, and they don't rejoin until later on in the tour (9/18 in Irvine, CA).
So as a parting gift, Mark Hoppus and the Blink guys had the idea of playing a little prank on the FOB's. Watch below as during the first song of their set, the crew intentionally drops the kabuki curtain in front of the band, then ON the band.

It's a less expensive gag than Mark played on Pete Wentz last year when +44 was on tour with Fall Out Boy... Hoppus threw Pete's bass guitars in the Long Island Sound from the stage at Jones Beach. It was all done in good fun, and the FOB band and crew were great sports.

TMSleaze

The homie Trick Trick was shopping at his local adult video store when he stumbled upon this DVD...

No, I didn't watch any of it. But I think that it's hilarious and quite imaginative that someone would create such a mess. Em catches a bad one in the lower left corner (pause). How funny is it that all of the celebrity references are qualified with "Not..."? I bet that TMZ Levin character is going to get a kick out of it. Wait, he's a lawyer also... look out TMSleazers!

Travis Barker Drum Solo- Montreal

Blink-182 is out on tour right now, reunited and killing it. To check out the schedule, click here.
In case you haven't seen it, Travis Barker's drum solo at the beginning of the encore is an amazing spectacle. It's best witnessed in person so that you can really see the scope of what he's doing flying in the air and spinning around vertically, but this clip below shows you what's up.

Props to Mr. Cheese for the footage.

DJ Hero- Renegade Edition Revealed

Starting today, on-line retailers are going to begin offering pre-orders for the DJ Hero Renegade Edition game. I've played the final version of this game, and it's really a blast. I'm not going to be surprised if this thing is the hardest-to-get-gift this holiday season, so it might not hurt to get your order in early.
So, what's the difference between this version of the game and the regular one? Aside from the fancy packaging, (see front of box below) this edition has some cool extras.
This edition comes with a stand for the turntable that has telescoping legs to adjust the height, as well as a carrying case. The case, which is styled after and feels like a real DJ road-case "coffin", doubles as the top of the stand. See below.


Also, this edition has a sleeker, branded turntable peripheral with gold accents and changeable "record label" Eminem and Jay-Z stickers, as shown below.

And, this version of the game comes with a special 2-cd set of Jay-Z and Eminem music. I can't reveal everything that will be on the discs (partially because we are still working on it), but there will definitely be some exclusive and new things. The artwork for these CD's is spectacular as well... details later.
So for now, do yourself a favor and put in that pre-order. I'm telling you this game is going to be the one that people are selling on eBay for over-retail amounts and stores will be sold out of. And if I'm wrong, then you still have a great game and CD's nobody else has... So there.

Rex- The Pilot

My man, the actor and rapper (Dirt Nasty) Simon Rex, made a pilot for a Curb Your Enthusiasm style television show that turns the struggle of a young Hollywood actor on it's ass. Check out the full episode below for the show featuring Paris Hilton, Jamie Presley and Lance Bass.

REX - Full Pilot Episode from The REX Team on Vimeo.

I love the controversy expert.

Whip Game Proper

An unfortunate coin toss result in the selection of "shirts vs. skins"...

Is the whip game actually proper? Props to Estevan.

Tony Romo Endorses Interscope

Is it a coincidence that this clip surfaced after the Romo/Simpson break-up? Probably, but because of the timing it gives it a little more kick. Glad Romo has a sense of humor.

Tony Romo: Product Spokesman from Tony Romo

UPDATED: I just added a football tag to the post labels. Football... remember that? It's coming back real soon. Can't wait... I always feel guilty though like I'm rushing the summer. But the fall is where it's at.

Rude Jude and the Cuchini

Last week, Rude Jude had the proprietor of a product called the Cuchini on the air for an interview on SiriusXM's Shade45. Check out the audio where Jude discusses the product and it's relation to a monkey's paw. The callers' reactions are below that. Jude wasn't down with the cover-up. I couldn't stop laughing.




Ummm, more info here.

The Sneaker Keeper

This is really funny stuff if you are the least bit into collecting or appreciating sneaker culture. If you aren't, you may just find this to be an offensive mess of ignorance. In which case you probably don't like my blog anyway. So why are you on it?
But seriously, if you are offended easily and can't see this as a completely non-endorsed-by-me piece of ridiculous humor then just don't watch it. OK, warning is done! Press play.

Props to Stretch Armstrong

Hollywood Knights- Turk Song

Just watched this flick again and forgot how funny this song by Newbomb Turk (played by a young Robert Wuhl) is. Cheap laughs for sure, but a classic is a classic.

In case you didn't know, this film, directed by Floyd Mutrux, is about a lame Beverly Hills mid-60's gang trying to save their local hang-out Tubby's. It's basically an American Graffiti rip-off, but it's fun in it's own right. It also features young Fran Drescher, Tony Danza and Michelle Pfiefer.

Bonus- One-Armed Violinist Scene