High Maintenance- Elijah

I don't really laugh out loud much at movies or tv shows... so when it happens, I like to share. This video is from a series on Vimeo called High Maintenance that's pretty great overall, but the clip below is outstanding. I love Jewish humor, but throw in a dysfunctional family and a weed dealer with a Passover seder and I'm all-in.

High Maintenance // Elijah from Janky Clown Productions on Vimeo.

Adam "MCA" Yauch Tributes

I meant to get this post up sooner, but I just got back from Disney World with the kids and that's not really a trip that you have any extra time on... Anyway, the Beastie Boys have had a profound impact on me. I have been a fan ever since I first saw them debut on the big screen in Krush Groove (which I was completely blown away by, them and the young LL Cool J impromptu "Radio" performance) and at one point I was determined to be IN the group at around 15 years old. I was already completely smitten with rap music since my older brother introduced me to Run-D.M.C.'s debut album, and the fact that 3 white jewish dudes could make a career out of it put a lot of gas in my young tank (pause).
I've personally always credited the Beasties as the original hipsters, crafting everything from ironic facial hair and retro clothing to auteur film making and indie companies (Xtra Large, Grand Royal) as chic and way ahead of the curve. Combine that with their debut LIcensed to Ill and the groundbreaking production and sample usage on Paul's Boutique and that alone is enough to cement them as classic, indescribably important artists of my generation. Obviously it didn't stop there, as Check Your Head and it's follow-up Ill Communication continued their trailblazing talent well into the '90's as both were classic albums themselves.
A couple of my good friends and Shade45 stalwarts DJ Lord Sear and Reef the Streets both shared their Beastie Boys memories with the mix and interview below, and I wanted to make sure that I posted them here for the rest of you to check out.





Adam Yauch will be especially missed by me as an inspiration, musician and cultural icon. Here's to you, in your honor.

Hanukkah Radio 2011

Every year, like we always do about this time (Hanukkah is a moving target because of the Jewish calendar), SiriusXM presents the audio knish known as Shade45's Hanukkah Radio! Myself and Reef the Streets (@NYCreef) took to the mic this year on the eve of the lighting of the first candle on the menorah to celebrate the Festival of Lights with a slew of guests and surprises. Guest DJ and lantzman Scram Jones was on the on decks spinning tunes from our favorite jewish hip-hop producers along with out co-host and honorary jew for a day Lord Schmear. Check out both hours below and learn about the holiday of Hanukkah and guest call-ins from our 2010 Jew of the Year DJ Drama and the legendary MC Serch of 3rd Bass- as well as our 2011 Jew of the Year young Mac Miller and special in-studio guest none other than the hysterical and talented Action Bronson aka Action Bernstein. If you listen all the way through (for some reason) you can also check out this year's installment of everyone's favorite game show Jew or Not a Jew. Shalom and enjoy! Happy Hanukkah. Hanukkah Radio 2011- Hour 1 by Bunyan71 Hanukkah Radio 2011- Hour 2 by Bunyan71

Hanukkah Radio- 2010

In case you missed it (which for your sake I hope you did), here is the 2010 installment of Hanukkah Radio from Sirius XM's Shade45. This year myself and Reef the Streets along with Shady Records' own Dro Grindstein brought for another horrible program celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah and the intersection of hip-hop and Judaism.
This year, we nominated a new Jew of the Year, played the famous game Jew or Not a Jew?, interviewed the esteemed author of The Big Payback, Dan Charnas, and had a call-in from none other than Warner Music Group's head honcho Lyor Cohen.
Sit back, grab a sack of latkes, and sip some fine Manishewitz as the poor quality 2-hour program unfolds below. We promise to bring you another installment in 2011. If they let us. Happy Hanukkah!

Lenny Kravitz: Only Half-A-Jew

A couple of weeks ago Lenny Kravitz, one of the coolest jews ever, was on HBO's Entourage in a cameo scene. He appeared in a temple, wearing a tallit and yarmulke, geared up for a bat-mitzvah. The Entourage dudes shot some behind-the-scenes footage and put it up on YouTube. Check it out.

Thanks to Scott Vener for the link. Get a razor.

Passover Cheer for Kids

Things have come a long way since I was a kid and all we really had for fun on Pesach was finding the Afikomen at my Grandparent's house and fighting over the lousy $5 cash reward. It was always on top of the lamp, anyway...
Now, kids have all kinds of Passover fun. My daughter has finger puppets of the 10 Plagues of Egypt. Yeah, a "boils" finger puppet. Gross. Also, there's the video and song below about a rogue matzoh ball that Dart found for me. Wash it off and put it in your soup and eat it. Pause. Show it to the kidees while they play with their locust and lice puppets. Good Pesach everyone!