BLOG

Trashing ‘Fitty’

So it looks like some zealous cross bearers in Chi-town are erecting some damning billboards condemning rappers to the depths of a trashcan. The billboards urge the public to “Stop Listening to Trash” and include a list featuring rappers like 50, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Fat Joe, Nelly, and Twista. Although Nahright ain’t a big fan of Curtis and kind of agrees that 50’s music is rubbish, he does point out the irony of an predominantly African-American church not only having an outspoken white pastor, but also one with violent tendencies.

[Source]

Popularity: 1% [?]

‘Sicko’ For Free

In today’s Page Six column, Hollywood heavyweight Harvey Weinstein is up in arms that Michael Moore’s documentary, “Sicko,” that he bankrolled, has been leaked on the internet big time and people are happy to watch it on their screens instead of paying the $8-10 to see it on the big screen. The Miramax madman said he set up fake sites just to entrap ‘Sicko’ seeking watchers:

We created lots of phony sites, and people had to input their private information to gain access to ‘SiCKO.’ We are turning over all the information to the police and prosecutors and are stopping Internet piracy.”

Sure ya did Harvey. We suppose this version on Google video is all a set up too right? We’ll take our chances, and so should you, click play.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Complex’s Weekly Re-Cap: ‘Don’t Stop Believing’

Visvim kept it red and crispy. [Link]

Redneck mayor demanded kids pull up their pants. [Link]

Attus shot up some new designs, literally! [Link]

Common’s album cover art is anything but common. [Link]

Lakai gave us Italian Pride, the Sopranos didn’t. [Link]

Popularity: 1% [?]

How Low Can You Go?

Lil Wayne/Photo: Matt Doyle

Besides the threat of hurricanes, looming floods, and infinite rednecks, the poor people of Louisiana also have to deal with small town, backwater politicians like Mayor Carol Broussard passing demeaning laws. The good ol’ boy of a mayor is advocating a law that actually makes it illegal to show your underwear in public in the town of Delcambre. The new law will specifically target baggy jeans or as they put it, “saggy trousers.” Offenders could risk getting a $500 fine or 6 months in jail. Thankfully, not everyone in the town is supportive:

Some residents say the ordinance targets blacks, as low-slung trousers are fashionable among Hip Hop fans.

A charge that the mayor denies, claiming: “White people wear sagging pants, too.” Even more frighteningly comical than the law itself, are the accompanying images the mainstream media is scrambling for to demonstrate the outlawed fashion look. Being all fashionably concerned and all, we gathered a few for your perusal after the jump.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Miss Info is Misinformed

Although she tries her best to put her prejudices on the table, “I wasnt on judging duty, which was a relief because I do consider Jin a friend so I didnt want to be biased,” after reading her review, and listening to the Jin vs Iron Solomon battles, Miss Info’s got some bad info. First off, we’d hardly describe Iron Solomon has a “relative newcomer.” Not even Jin would agree, in his final verse (0:17) he raps about a battle from 6 years ago, “[R]emember, 01′ when I served you down at Wetlands.” So Iron’s basically been doing his thing just as long as Jin. But without getting into semantics, it seems she’s still unwilling to get down with the fact that her boy her lost. She even has to go so far as to enlist others to do her bidding, writing, “DJ Sickamore, who was also there, made a point that kinda illuminated my only reservation about the whole battle…He said “Jin lost, Solomon didnt win. In boxing, when some fighters lose for the 1st time, they get defensive and never win again. Thats what happened to Jin.” Sounds like Jin got juiced from over here. Iron’s rhymes were better, he had the crowd, and ultimately was judged the winner. But don’t take our word, listen for yourselves. Who won?

[Source]

Popularity: 3% [?]

‘Video King To Rescue Kim’ Once Media Cycle Dies Down

People always say don’t believe everything you read, especially if you happen to be reading Page Six. Today’s gossipers bring us word that Kim Kardashian’s reality show career is in peril because of her widely distributed ‘Superstar’ sex video by Vivid. However, the raunchy video company’s chairman, Steven Hirsch promised, as of yesterday, that “he was halting sales of the video,” since he and Kim have become such good friends. But, hurry, before they realize the Vivid website is still offering them. We just bought ours 2 minutes ago. Full screengrabbed proof of purchase evidence after the jump.

Popularity: 5% [?]

The New York Times Catches Fixed Gear Fever

Jason of Fortynine Sixteen fame doing a one legged skid

Ya gotta hand it to the New York Times for being only a few years behind on this latest trend piece. Fixed gear bikes have been significantly sprouting up around the City and across the country for the past decade or so, but looks like the media is finally starting to pay some attention. In what must have been an effort to make up for lost time, the Times double dipped into the brakeless bike subculture and did two multimedia enhanced features this past weekend. There was this article on Bike Polo (video feature), a game played mainly on fixed gear bikes, and then this more comprehensive piece called ‘Unstoppable‘ (interactive feature) that took a look at the culture at large: the bike shops that cater to fixies, the Kissena Velodrome (an elliptical bike track with banked curves made for riding track bikes), and some of it’s stalwart devotees like bike builder Johnny Coast and velodrome director John Campo. It’s mainly a fluff piece that hits on the traditional touch points of hipster inclusion/exclusion, keepin’ it real, sellin’ out, and salty bike messengers, but is worth a read regardless.

Popularity: 3% [?]

‘News’ Places Rev. Al - Hip Hop Story In the ‘Crime File’

While scrolling around the internets this morning looking for Hip Hop related stories for our morning ‘Rap Sheet,’ we came across this article in the NY Daily News: “Hip hop-ocrites trash the ‘hood, Rev. Al sez.” The article goes on to detail the ensuing battles between the controversial civil rights activist and Hip Hop moguls. But that’s not what caught our eye. It was the fact that this article was filed in the ‘Crime File‘ section of the news that didn’t make sense. Since the whole Imus flap there’s been a concentrated vilification of Hip Hop in the media so maybe the ‘News’ figured it would just work nicely between the Seton Hall tragedy and the Virgina Tech’s killer video story.

[Source]

Popularity: 3% [?]

Rap Sheet: Media Blames Blacks for Imus’ Racist Remarks

• Apples and Oranges: We knew this was coming. Don Imus lobs racist and sexist insults. Media blames black America and Hip Hop. Sorry guys but arguing that rappers should be held to the same decency standards as nationally syndicated morning talk-show personalities that host presidential candidates ain’t one and the same. Different game, different arena.

• Def House: Russel Simmons is selling his NJ pad mansion. For $23.8 million yo get a 35,000 sq ft estate that comes complete with a movie theatre, swimming pool with waterfalls, a large wine cellar, and a professional gym.

• Chronic police problems: Snoop dog is scheduled to be arraigned today for the gun and weed charge he got back in October ‘06.

• No show:DMX needs to make it to court today to, or else a bench warrant will be issued for his arrest. The rapper was busted for speeding and driving with a suspended license.

• No love for blogs: Jay Z pulls a Jimmy Kimmel and says the blogs are irresponsible for reporting rumors.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Are Cell Phones the New Astrology Signs?

photo: Chris Jordan

Nielsen, or those people that rate shit, like how many Hispanics watch Mind of Mencia, or other interesting media research-based stuff, has released a new study that links common sets of traits according to the brand of cell phone you own:

Sony Ericsson users tended to be ambitious, success-driven young men. Samsung, on the other hand, was more often found in the hands of successful, career-focused young women. Those who owned a Motorola phone tended to be fashion-conscious fun-seekers who were not yet 24 years old. LG users were typically moms and stay-at-home parents.

What about Nokia, Virgin Mobile, or Boost? What kind of people are those? Shit! This article brings up way more questions than answers, especially for a Friday, so we’ll just leave it at this. via Mobilemag

Popularity: 2% [?]