Put It On Big L

Went to a gig this week that put me in such a grump that I decided to only listen to angry old school New York hip hop from now on. My current obsession is Big L.

"I got the wild style, always been a foul child, my guns go 'poom boom' and your guns go 'ow pow'."

He was shot dead in February 1999 (aged 25) in Harlem.

Dirty Projectors

I'm late giving this Brooklyn band a plug. Mainly because I wasn't entirely sure I liked the album (Bitte Orca on Domino) at first. But it's a serious grower and i'd now safely say it's one of my favourite discs of the year.

Stillness Is The Move (above) is more immediate than most tracks and is almost pop. The video is pretty unique too. I know nothing about the group but they remind me of a lot of Broken Social Scene. Find out more here...

Mos Def Is Back

BACK DOWN KANYE, T.I, LIL WAYNE, DRAKE, KID CUDI, ASHER ROTH and, well EVERY OTHER RAPPER AROUND. MOS IS BACK!

And The Ecstatic is one of the best albums of 2009. It's not Black On Both Sides but not many hip hop albums can compete with that classic in my eyes. Buy it.

"We are alive in amazing times/ delicate hearts- diabolical minds/ revelations, hatred, love and war/ and more and more and more and more/ More of less than ever before."

Jamie T- Chaka Demus

Stiiiiil can't wait for the album Kings & Queens due next month.

Gilbert & George

After seeing the Jack Freak pictures at the White Cube this weekend I think Gilbert & George may be my favourite artist(s).

I was sceptical about the duo at first. Aside from the sometimes extreme sexual imagery it seems a bit narcissitic to put your face in every image and present yourselves as living sculptures. But after seeing more of their massive prints (check out the room at Tate Britain) I get it.

G&G's new work uses particularly British imagery- including artefacts from the duo's East London endz. There are Union Jacks, war medals, street signs, Evening Standard logos and their trademark bare branches.

The new works are only on show at the gallery's two sites until August 22. So go. I highly recommend it. And I wish I could afford this. £2k plus VAT:

I Left My Heart In Tokyo

I actually did live in Tokyo as a baby- fact fans. Xenomania checklist:

Thumping kickdrum
Euphoric dance breakdown
Insanely catchy chorus
Synths-a-plenty
Serious Tune

Where The Wild Things Are New Trailer

There are a lot of amazing looking films coming out toward the end of 09. Inglourious Basterds, Scorsese's Shutter Island, the Meserine movies, Joe Wright's The Soloist, Judd Apatow's Funny People and Sam Mendes's Away We Go to name a few.

But this tops my must see list. Written by Maurice Sendak and Dave Eggers. Music by Karen O and Arcade Fire. Directed by Spike Jonze.

Watch a great featurette here too

Sunsets and that

I haven't blogged much about my two weeks in Croatia. Who wants to hear about someone Else's' amazing holiday? Not me. But I can't recommend it enough. The natural beauty of the mountains and blue sea is fairly unbeatable in Europe. Plus the people are great.

Anyway as I said who wants to hear... so here are three of the best pictures I took. Bottom is the Blue Lagoon near Petracane- a seriously hidden swimming and chilling spot. Top is the sunset over the Adriatic from a boat (again near Petracane). And in the middle a cathedral in the medieval Dubrovnik old town. You should go.

Major Lazer Head To London

Major Lazer "Pon De Floor" from Eric Wareheim on Vimeo.

Diplo, Switch and if we're lucky a load of the vocalists from the album are heading to Hoxton in September for a live show. I'm gonna buy my ticket right about now and then book the next day off work. They'll also be at Bestival.

I don't quite know what to say about the above video other than don't watch it if you're easily offended. FIND OUT MORE HERE

SATAN

Sorry about my lack of posts recently. Been away again. This time a brief work trip to Ibiza for an Orbital event. The highlight of their set was definitely Satan. Watch it above from Glasto 2002. As you can see they don't fuck about when it comes to lights and visuals.

Poor. Old. Tired. Horse.

Saw this exhibition at the ICA and it was real interesting, and free. If I understand right it's all art that includes words, poetry and (often) typography. Sure they explain it better on the website. Highlights included work by Ferdinand Kriwet and Alasdair Gray.

The best thing though is two huge posters by Janice Kerbel taken from her 'Remarkable' series. Check one out below by clicking this in full size and (maybe) reading the words aloud.

Em's Warning To Mariah

This is just brilliant. I mean pretty hardcore but witty and hilarious. The Dre beat is great and the Mariah snippets near the end are worked in so well. As far as diss' tracks go this is up there with Ether. Oh go on then...



Eminem murdered you on your own shit/ you a dick riding faggot/ you love the attention/ Queens niggers run you niggers ask Russell Simmons