Good hair Friday.
Well, we’ve heard about Sasha’s soft, soft hair. But this guy’s do is enough to make Ron Artest jealous.
Gd.
Fine-Art Friday: Soul of the Bay.
It’s time for a little more from Michael Marshall (aka. Mike Meezy), our FTB associate and resident hit maker.
This cut right here, “Who Is He?”, is a rich, autobiographical journey. The track boasts an infectious hook – partially re-purposed from Mike’s first first hit single, “Rumors” – you may remember it. The song twists and turns as he chronicles some of his toughest life lessons. No punches are pulled, no skeletons dismissed. But don’t be sad. Our boy Meezy is just fine. Married, kids, making music and thrivin’. Right here in the Bay.
And, you gotta’ love the A’s cap with ear warmers. Classic.
Gd.
Oh, and look out for what might be this Summer’s anthem, “Drinks R on Me“, featuring E40 and Mistah FAB.
T-Pain, you better watch you back.
Crips and Bloods documentary delayed, but fear not, we’ve got the mixtape.
Even though FTB’s Meschery actually works for the arm of PBS that is airing Baron Davis and Stacy Peralta’s documentary, local programming still calls the shots sometimes. Thus, while much of the nation enjoys Crips and Bloods: Made in America, we in the Bay Area have to wait until May 27th.
But fear not. With minimal finagling, we are able to offer up something to hold you over. Baron and company have done a fine job of promoting the film down to recruiting an all-star lineup of hip-hop heavies to record a mixtape as an homage to the film. And here’s the link. You’ve got your Snoop, your Weezy, The Game, Kurupt, Raekwon, Freeway, and others. That’s why we’re here. The film will air soon enough. The beats are here today.
Turman
PS. It might take a few minutes, but that’s what high-speed workplace connections are for, right?
Beer Koozie-up people. Grouch and Eligh kick the summer off in April with “All In”
An unlikely tip to come from Snoop’s Twitter feed. Who would have thought Snoop was into some Cali underground-type ish. But then again, this is right up his alley - a feel good West Side-and-ride with the top down-all around-slapper. In the spirit of Living Legends, this new Grouch and Eligh collab featuring Gift of Gab and Pidgeon John is another fine example of when the best of The Bay meets the best of LA. Trust me here, the hook on this joint will be Gorilla Glued to the inside of your cranium for the next week. Be prepared to be whistlin’ this on your way down the hall to the water cooler at work - the cool, cool, water cooler. And just in time for this here pre-summer madness heatwave we got goin’ on. I’m ready to put this on the iPizzle, put a Corona in a Koozie and take my Float Lounge 4000 out on Lake Anza.
M. Meschery
Monday night with Mo Serious.
Meet Chuck, aka The SEO Rapper. He raps about design and coding. A couple of things my compadres and I here at FTB know a little something about.
The Houston native specializes in SEO (that’s Search Engine Optimization), SEM (that’s Search Engine Marketing) and Social Media. All critical aspects of any corporate online strategy. If that wasn’t enough, Chuck also runs Mo Serious Entertainment, his own independent record label on which he is the premier artist.
Look, you could spend years and tens of thousands of dollars learning the online marketing trade, or just sit back, relax, and let the “Poetic Prophet” spit knowledge:
Your site design is the first thing people see
It should be reflective of you and the industry
Easy to look at with a nice navigation
When you can’t find what you want it causes frustration
A clear call to action to increase the temptation
Use appealing graphics they create motivation
If you have animation use with moderation
Cause search engines can’t index the information
You better recognize.
Gd.
Hater Tuesday: The One Man Show.
If you can’t find something to hate about this, well, you’re just not trying.
Somewhere 213 or 310 area code I’m sure you’ll find the televangelist Don Vincent (aka Reverend X, aka God). He’s probably still videotaping his show, “The Spirit of Truth” and looking for a cable access channel to run it.
If you’ve seen the clips on YouTube (they’ve been widely circulated), then you’ll probably understand why our man is worthy of some of our Tuesday hate. It goes something like this: preach, dance, swear, rap, swear, repeat.
Apparently his special sermons have even gotten him an invitation to Howard Stern. But I wouldn’t be knowing, because in this day and age, who pays for radio access?
Gd.
Fine Art Friday: Fear The Beard Mix!
I don’t know this Ash dude that created this mix for the MP3 blog, “Disco Horror,” but man, they must have been digging so deep in the crate they probably have some form of DJ Carpal Tunnel. Actually, “DJ Carpal Tunnel” isn’t a bad DJ name (”Let me get a ‘yes, yes y’all.’ This is DJ Carpal Tunnel on the ones and twos - owwwwwwww!) It takes a certain commitment to rumpshaking to find such obscure disco cuts from artists you’ve never heard of, released on labels probably run out of someone’s basement (Rusty’s Dusty Disco anyone?). Now, I’m not exactly sure why this is titled “Fear The Beard Mix” unless DJ Carpal Tunnel is a secret fan of the blog. Or maybe it’s because he spent so long looking for these songs and making this mix, he had a full-on scruffy by the time he was done. Whatever the reason, I’m glad he did because otherwise my homie, Sorcerer (another connoisseur of musica obscura), wouldn’t have sent it my way, and now I’m going to be slapping this all weekend, owwwwww!
M. Meschery
Merry Money Makin’ Music
Perhaps it wasn’t fair to leave you with two unholy musical spectacles. And while the Warriors seem to be imploding both on and off the court, we really do have much to be thankful for.
Like the fact that FTB’s own Michael Marshall made his second appearance on Warrior’s Weekly this season. This time showcasing the single, “Money Makin’ Music”, featuring long time collaborator Equipto. Some much needed Bay Area cheer.
We sure hope everyone is having a great Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa. But about that little gift against the Cs tonight? I’m not saying I’m without all hope, but if I were you, I’d be counting my other blessings.
Gd.
Quannum Projects + Reebok + Shoe Biz = Good.
The history of Hip Hop is littered with bad merchandising ideas. Anyone remember such classics as The Master P Doll, Ruff Ryder’s Fitness Videos, DMX’s clothing line for dogs, and the infamous Wu Cologne (because all the ladies want they man smellin’ like Ol’ Dirty Bastard, right)? Then you have examples of bad merchandise that stems from good merchandising ideas (well sensible at least) like Luke Campbell’s porn videos, Paul Wall’s Grills, and the never-ending parade of “Juices” that keep showing up at my corner liquor store. It’s rare when a good idea gives way to some good merchandise. And that’s why we can thank the good people over at Quannum Projects for never considering “Blackalicious Barbecue Sauce” as a vertical integration strategy.
Instead, Quannum Projects has teamed up with Shoe Biz in San Francisco and Reebok to create four sneakers inspired by Blackalicious, Latyrx (Lateef & Lyrics Born) and DJ Shadow. These limited editions go on sale the end of this month, and they actually look like something that you might want to wear (vs. some shoe/collector’s item that would just sit on a shelf next to 499 robots and crates of rare import Japanese vinyl) The official release event is Dec. 26th at 4pm at Shoe Biz on Haight Street. So for all y’all who got coal in your stocking this year, you might want to make up for it by heading down to Shoe Biz and copping a pair of fresh kicks, listening to some quality music, and snacking on some wine and cheese. Do they serve wine and cheese at shoe release events? Okay, maybe some “Shadow Water” instead.
M. Meschery
Mike Marshall and the definition of Perma-Swagger.
The tagline for Stash Magazine online is “Hip Hop Music, Business, Swagger.” Sometimes I visit the site for the Hip Hop Music. Rarely I go there for anything business-related. Mostly I go for the Swagger. See, if you’re like me (or many of the current players on The Golden State Warriors), then it’s very possible that some days you find your swagger just isn’t swaggin’ like it used to. So, you might just have to go elsewhere to find some, maybe even online.
However, if you’re fellow FTB-er Mike Marshall aka Mike Meezy, you don’t really have to worry about that - because you have something called Perma-Swagger. Perma-Swagger is not a new alcoholic energy beverage. It is not a side effect of Cialis. It can’t be bottled and therefore can’t be sprayed, rubbed, dabbed, or daubed. If Perma-Swagger were The Force, then Jay-Z is Luke Skywalker and Rick Rubin is Yoda.
Perma-Swagger is the rare ability to go hard without trying at all, and even when nobody notices just how hard you might be going. That’s Mike Marshall. I feel this happens a lot with Meezy. Like just last week when I was watching The Dubs game, and blam, Mike pops up on the screen in a Warriors promo music video for his song “Who Is He.” And then today, when I’m mindin’ my business, readin’ Stash, trying to get a little swagger before bed, and there’s Marshall again featured on this track being promoted on the site. I don’t know who this dude “E” is but the track also features Messy Marv and San Quinn who I do know, and are both Swaggadelic in their own ways. Anyway, let me submit the following comments on this cut as further evidence of which I speak:
“this some smooth shit for my bitch too.. rollin up a nice thick one with this”
and this
“slap, slap, slap, slap, slap”
Sasha Frere Jones it is not, but in terms of music reviews, that’s unadulterated “real talk.” Count ‘em, that’s five slaps. If you’ve been doing this as long as Meezy has, and that’s how people are still responding to your vocal stylings, then that, my friends, is the definition of Perma-Swagger.
M. Meschery