I like this – a lot. XXL’s been showing me love, so it’s only right to show some back. Not to mention, Def Jam definitely deserves the attention on its 25th anniversary. However, although this collection of artists is pretty thorough, where is Uncle Russ, Rick Rubin, Jay and Dame? Wait, Jay was on the last cover. Never mind.
I’ve been away from this here blog because daddy duty called over the past week. I have a feeling posting will be sporadic throughout most of this month because I have some deadlines and other work coming up. Plus, I’ll be moving, so that’s going to affect things as well.
Well, the bad news is I didn’t get a city hall reporting job I interviewed for a couple weeks back. That makes it 0 for 4 for me as far as newspaper reporting job this year. Bummer.
The good news? A chat with a potential business writing job is on deck. I am trying to remain optimistic, but it’s not easy. Gotta keep pushing, though. Here’s another contribution over at XXLMag.com about Common’s new album.
Back to daddy duty…
So today I popped my byline cherry over at XXL magazine’s web site with a splendid review of the Common & Friends benefit concert at the Hollywood Paladium. It was definitely an incredible show, on par with the Jay-Z gig at the same venue I reviewed for Vibe last year.
Lonnie Rashid Lynn was one of the few celebrities to walk the red carpet before the show (model Tocarra, De La Soul, U-N-I and a wrestler and an actress that I couldn’t recognize were the others) and I got a few questions in. Check out the audio below where Common explains what his Common Ground Foundation, the beneficiary of most of the concert’s proceeds, is all about. And, if you’re visually inclined, take a look at famed photographer Johnny Nunez’ photo gallery of the event over at BallerStatus.com as well as some of the YouTubeage.
Audio: Common Interview
Looks interesting. Just saw Thurz and Y-O Saturday night on the red carpet at the Common & Friends benefit show. They walked in right after the man of the hour …
This song is a few years old but it has aged extremely well. Don’t believe me? At a recent screening at the Echo in Silverlake, it was packed and Quddus, the former MTV VJ, told the crowd: “I have been in the game for 10 years, and this is the kind of video that breaks an artist.” For his, TiRon’s, and good (rap) music’s sake in general, I hope those words hold weight. Directed by Carey Williams and Aurelio Mitjans (What up Yayo and Kev!)
I was at the Pauley Pavilion in 2000 when Markus Carr, the guy above, helped my alma mater upset the Bruins. It was a big deal then, and it’s a big deal now. The editor over at SLAM magazine agreed, so I got on Skype, and despite some difficulties, managed to interview Markus. We’ve been keeping in touch over Facebook for the past year or so, and I thought he had an interesting story. There’s some good stuff in here about basketball, business, international cultures, music, jewelry … even children books.
If you’re up in northern Cali and not politically apathetic, this should of some interest. I’m really intrigued by some of the personalities lined up to chop it with M-1:
M1, of the prolific rap group dead prez, will be on a speaking tour called “From the Ghetto to Gaza” through northern Cali from September 23-29. Wednesday, September 23 we are collaborating w the Hip Hop Congress Open Mic in Sacramento.On Thursday, September 24th in East Oakland,The Minister of Information, Executive Producer of Blockreportradio.com and Associate Editor of SF Bay View Newspaper, will interview M1. On Friday, Sept. 25th Richard Brown of the SF 8 will be asking the questions. On Saturday, September 26th Nadra Foster, the former broadcaster at KPFA who was beat up by the police inside of the station after a member of management lied on her a year ago will be interviewing M1.
This single from BASICALI’s forthcoming All-Day full-length album has a Southern drum pattern yet the emcee got delivery that channels NWA and underground LA hip-hop. In other words, an interesting little combo. Production by the homie Dale Danja.
This is some X-rated hilarity. Only right I post this since I get traffic from people who are looking up “Lil Wayne porn.” Shouts to Nick Huff at HardKnockTV and Devi Dev.
