Freaky Facebook

Via: Geeokomatik.com

Since it’s inception, Facebook has been in a steadily slow state of decline. The main reason being, is that it exposes the inner weirdo in all of us. The guys over at GQ know what I’m talking about. Link

RIP Steve McNair

Former NFL quaterback, Steve McNair was found shot to death along with a yet to be identified female on Saturday afternoon in the star’s downtown Nashville condominium. This is very sad news as he was one  of my favorite quarterbacks that I’ve seen play the game.  My condolence go out to all of his family and friends during this tragic time.

UBIQ Fatima SL

I have a sort of love/hate relationship with the Japanese shoe brand, UBIQ. I love all of their innovative designs but I hate the fact that they don’t make any in my size (So, Japanese feet don’t grow beyond a size US12? Really?). The SL version of the Fatima features a buttery smooth upper, a plaid-lined roll-down collar and beige outtersole. These are damn near impossible to find outside of Japan, but UBIQ’s eponymous Philadelphia-based retail store will surely have them in the upcoming weeks. Check out the site here

Pics via Hypebeast

Empty Shock Value

Well, in case you’ve been under a rock  for the past month, the heralded and highly anticipated return on pop-rapper Eminem, has been inundating the various forms of media . MTV, YouTube, and the ever-expanding blogosphere have publicized highly, his new album Relapse, which will officially mark the end his four year lull. In this current state of hip hop however, one must ask, (Is Eminem still relevant ?). Do we still care about what the guy has to say anymore? During his debut and subsequent success, Eminem represented an alternative side of hip hop which provided the impetus for his career. Now, with artists like Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Asher Roth, Gnarls Barkley and others taking the industry into newfound realms, and shows like VH1’s The White Rapper Show has shown that being a white MC just isnt that special as it was back in 1999.  Eminem’s shock value has severely depreciated and like his hometown of Detroit; he will become a casuality of the changed economic and cultural attitudes in America.

A Reasonable Doubt

An artist’s career should follow the same developmental path as the life of a human being. Like a human life, there should be a birth, followed by a maturity stage and subsequently end with a death.  Jay-Z, one of the best and most famous rappers of the past decade, lyrically has experienced some serious developmental problems in his career. I would argue that the demise of his lyrical “life” occurred on The Blueprint in which Eminem clearly outshone him on the “Renegade” track. Now lyricists from Lupe Fiasco to T.I. are getting the best of the veteran. These new talents represent a sound that that old dog hasn’t been able to emulate. Since his debut, there has been very little growth shown on the part of Jay-Z; the same topics and references used in 1997 were being used in 2007. As a fan, I want to see my favorite artists mature and tackle new subjects as their career develops. The subsequent fame gained after Reasonable Doubt made Jay-Z lazy and uninterested in furthering his talent. He became more of a businessman and less of a rapper as the years progressed and this fact is wholly reflected in his rhymes. In my opinion, he should have made The Black Album his last one and went out on top of the game.

Diesel XXX Global Event

With the success of Nike’s recent Human Race event last month,  you would think more companies would follow suit…hey what do you know, it seems as if Italian retailer Diesel is following in the sportswear’s giant footsteps. The company is launching a somewhat cryptic event which will take place in 17 different cities worldwide with live performances by some of the music industry’s biggest. Check out the promotional video below which, I think, has something to do with the event.

Rising Thought

Philadelphia (or Philly as it is more aptly known). A forgotten, former U.S. capital city nestled  somewhere between the nation’s current capital to it’s south and the financial and cultural behemoth that is NYC to the north. A city more known for producing cheesteaks and homicides rather than top tier rappers, Philadelphia has been cultivating something special for a great while.  And out of the cracked paved streets of the city, a musical wildflower by the name of Black Thought has been secretly blossoming for well over a decade. Not one of the prettiest flowers in the hip hop wilderness or even the most complex , Black Thought’s lyrical prowess is almost unlike any other that I’ve ever heard. He represents a throwback, existing before the days of overextended metaphors or lyrics about what person designed your clothes. But like a simple white dress shirt, no matter the season nor the year, he never goes out of style. Together with his band, The Roots, he tours the world constantly and not at stadium-sized venues, but instead, shitty bars in no-name towns like Allentown, PA where the cost of a ticket is less than a 59FIFTY. All of this touring has garnered a well-sized international fan base and critical claim, but sadly, the domestic love has yet to pour out.  So next time you’re in a record store (if you can find one) or on you’re file-sharing site of choice, stop looking up at hip hop redwoods like Jay-Z or Lil’ Wayne and look down at the lyrical wildflower that is Black Thought.

Welcome to the 21st Century

If you thought the craze that was Y2K symbolized the start of the 21st century, then you were sadly mistaken. Esquire magazine’s editor-in-chief, Eric Granger is insistent that its metaphorical beginning has already crept up on us like a dreaded trip to the dentist, and that this new era will most certainly change the manner in which we view ourselves relative to the global community. Read the article here

Fallacy of Rome

If you’ve purchased or downloaded Lupe Fiasco’s latest album, The Cool, then you might have heard the unconventional Chicagoan self promote his anticipated clothing line, Fallacy of Rome, which will have Le Messie and Amanda, the duo behind FALSE, at the helm. Inspiration for the artist’s new line comes from the demise of the Roman Empire, a time when the lavishness and exuberance faded and a new and simpler time had begun. This idea will surely be implemented as most pieces in the Fall/Winter collection will have modest and clean design aesthetics. Check out the preview website here, which has timer that’s actively counting down to the launch date.

Nas Talks About New Album

Renown emcee Nasir Jones a.k.a Nas, talks with OnSmash.com about the word Nigger, expectations of his new album and the possibility of working with underground rapper/producer MF Doom. Check out the eye-opening interview below.

from www.hiphopdx.com posted with vodpod

Video: Hip Hop DX