Time Is Money

Like getting a good brekkie with extra portion of chips. The Joel Ortiz Covers the Classics mixtape is a gem upon a gem. First of all it features probably one of the best Mc’s in the game right now 28 year old former UPS worker Joell Ortiz. Then it has 33 of the craziest beats of all time. As a fan of those old school sets the beats on this will make you want to slap your older brother, mother, sister, cousin or whoever for just listening to that when they were your age.Standout track is Bk Get Money (So what he took a leak right around the corner/ What you want homes to do he couldnt hold it any longer/ So what he running the dough and forgot he owe/ when you approach him he like 'fam why you stressing me for). Best thing you will download this week, including the Cassie and Rihanna video. Maybe not the Hoopz sex tape, always had a thing for hood rat chicks.

Download it here.

House Of Jealous Lovers

If one band sums up my music blog experience then it is The Virgins. I first heard of the New York band via the old Mad Decent message board. Someone had made a blend of a demo version of Rich girls with Justin Timberlake’s verse from that Nelly Furtado and Timbaland song, Give It To Me. Now 2 years later they band have released their album after playing with Patti Smith and then catering to London IT girls du jour The Geldofs. The band sound slightly different to the demo versions since the major label scrub made them sound less like a nonchalant, effervescent Hall and Oates covers band and more like some underwater distorted piss poor version of Reverend and The Makers.

Then again, I guess if I see them live I can’t complain. The songs are still fun and slide in comfortably with my pre going out music playlist which includes The Rakes, The Cool Kids, Santogold, Metronomy, The Rapture and any other disco/rock/electro band that can fit under that umbrella.

Tahiti

Bat for Lashes aka Natasha Kahn aka a wonderful mix of Kate Bush and Bjork is about to release her second album. Her first, the lustful Fur and Gold, was the soundtrack to many of my aimless walks around Paris last year. The Brighton native has teamed up with Scott Walker and Yeasayer for her latest work.

Album released 6^th of April.

Brownsville!

A good friend and I have had this stupid idea of visiting Brownsville New York. (We also want to go to Tennessee. We have the oddest travel ambitions) Brownsville is the home of perpetually angry duo MOP, a 90’s rap group most famous for Ante Up. Either way the stories that they recounted made it seem as if it was a metropolitan Baghdad. During the middle of desert storm. I asked my older brother who lived in Brooklyn whether I could visit, he said no. End of discussion.

Either way here is a quote from Unkut’s guide to the most notorious projects in hip hop.

“Northeast Brooklyn was the location of 765 murders in 1990, while 2007 saw it reduced to 212. Since the locals have adopted LA-style gangs, the Brownsville and Tilden Houses’ Bloods have been at war with the Crips across the street at Marcus Garvey projects, and the murder rate is on the rise again.”

Maybe i shouldn't book that flight yet. Then again.

"According to the New York Post, in January 2008, a “meathead thief shoved seven salamis into his trousers and up his sleeves at the Western Beef on East New York Avenue in Brownsville.” When the assistant manager confronted him, he was “slugged in the face” before other customers grabbed the thief and held him down until the cops arrived at the scene. It’s unclear what became of the recovered salamis."

Shadrach

This year marks the 20 year anniversary of the Beastie Boys seminal classic Paul's Boutique. Over at Beastie 88 a bunch of artist have created some Beastie Boys inspired art. You can even buy them. Not bad considering that at one time these boys were thrown off a Madonna Tour for being too rowdy.

Shoot the J!
I'm a big fan of Dallas Penn a NY blogger who details his love of hip hop, kicks and general comedy. here is his mockmentary on wanting to join the nba draft. He's about 17 years and a good couple of stone late. Some of his other internet videos are priceless.





Coming up this week.
New writer
DSP interview
Little Joy review
Tellier Preview
The wisdom of rick ross