Top Albums of 2008

So everyone makes these lists... I enjoy reading them, but as I get older and older I realize that I don't recognize 80% of the albums on these lists as well as having less and less time to scour the interweb and flip thru music magazines for new music.

Also, about 95% of my friends all do the 9-5 so I don't really have anyone to talk music with.

With that said, here we are:
(keep in mind, some of these albums might've been released in 2007, but it's my list so shut the fuck up)

Hip-Hop Albums:
(this is rated by consistancy and how many times I was excited to hear the entire record over again)

1. Lil' Wayne - "Tha Carter III"
2. Kanye West - "808's and Heartbreak"
3. EMC - "The Show"
4. GZA/Genius - "Pro Tools"
5. Ludacris - "Theater of the Mind"

EP's:
(it's unfair to put these with the albums)
1. Oddisee & V/A - "Pete Rosenburg Presents: A Rosenburg Oddisee"
2. Alchemist - "The Alchemist's Cookbook"

Not Hip-Hop Albums:
1. Burial - "Untrue"
2. Black Kids - "Partie Traumatic"
3. Bon Iver - "For Emma, Forever Ago"
4. Vampire Weekend - "Vampire Weekend"
5. Santogold - "Santogold"
6. M83 - "Saturdays = Youth"
7. The Radio Dept - "Lesser Matters"

R&B Albums:
1. The Dream - "Love Hate"
2. Al Green - "Lay It Down"

Most Disappointing Albums:
(this is rated by how excited I was to hear the record vs how bad the record really was. some records I knew would suck, but I still kept some faith that the artist would make a comeback. So in short, if I knew the album would suck and it did suck, it didn't make the list, ie: Fat Joe - "Elephant in the Room")

1. Wu Tang Clan - "8 Diagrams"
2. Nas - "Untitled (aka: Nigger)"
3. Murs - "Murs for President"
4. Yak Ballz - "Scifentology 2"
5. RZA - "Bobby Digital: Digi Snacks"
6. Atmosphere - "When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint That Shit Gold"
7. Tricky - "Knowle West Boy"
8. Portishead - "Third"
9. Q-Tip - "The Renaissance"
10. The Game - "L.A.X."
11. Nine Inch Nails - "The Slip"

Soundtrack of the Year:

1. The Wackness
(the soundtrack is actually 80% of the reason I bothered to go see this movie)

Albums that Surprised Me:
(this is rated by how crappy I thought the album would be, but actually turned out pretty enjoyable)
1. Common - "Universal Mind Control"
2. Ill Bill* - "The Hour of Reprisal"

*I'm generally not a big fan of anyone from this click, but the list of guests on this album MADE me HAVE to check it out: Raekwon, DJ Premier, Max Calvera (of Sepultura/Soulfly - wtf!!!), HR & Darryl Jennifer (of Bad Brains - wtf!!!), DJ Muggs, B-Real, Vinnie Paz, Immortal Technique & more

Musical Trends I Still Don't Understand: 1. Electro
2. Ed Banger Records
3. Noise
4. Gabber

Albums I'm Looking Forward to in 2009:
1. Cage - "Depart From Me"
2. Raekwon - "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. 2"
3. Dr. Dre - "Detox"
4. Eminem - not sure what it's called
5. Lil Wayne - "Tha Carter III" (same title but all new tracks)
6. 50 Cent - "Before I Self Destruct"
7. T-Wayne - "He Rap, He Sing"
8. OutKast - all 3 albums...

Albums I Discovered in 2008:
(but NOT released in 2008, in no particular order)
The Lox - Money Power Respect (1998)
MC Solaar - Prose Combat (1994)
Oscar Peterson - Fly Me To The Moon (retrospective - 2006)
Bad Brains - Quickness (1989)
Masta Ace - Sittin' On Chrome (1995)
Stars - Nightsongs (2001)
Bitty McLean - On Bond Street (2005)

CHOEGAL... and how i missed it

So David Choe dropped this wooden toy on the 23rd at the LA Giant Robot store.

Pretty awesome right?

But I flew out to Beijing that morning. Bummer.

It's going for about $50 on ebay right now... what do you think? I've also got an appartment full of useless/cool collectables I've accumulated over the past 8 years. I even have a Barbie in a wheelchair - Becky the School Photographer.



I did however get one of these in the mail. it's not the actual screenprint, but rather just one of the 18x24 Choebama posters David's brother Jimmy went around the country posting up pre-election.



Not bad, it was only $25. Unfortunately it won't be worth much in the future... but that isn't why I got it. I don't really even care about politics or Obama, but I think it's an awesome illustration that kicks the shit out of Shepard Fairey's design.

On a side note:
I personally think it's retarded they sell those shirts for $38.00 at places like Urban Outfitters... to me it makes the election seem like a joke, and who gives a fuck who you vote for? Maybe I'm getting old and judgemental but why do I care if a bunch of 18 year old kids decked out in overpriced 'streetwear' are wearing a presidential candidate's face on their chest?!?!

it's no different than wearing this shirt (also sold at Urban Outfitters), equally ridiculous.

...and what are you going to do with those shirts after the election? you'll have to wait another 15-20 years till they'll have a 'vintage' cool factor to them. In the words of the great Erik Brunetti (founder/designer for Fuct), "it's (streetwear) all just so disposable."

and if you're offended, well fuck you 'cause I didn't vote either.

I'm also Canadian.

update on my life

pretty fucking crazy can i say??!?!?!


well i'm currently laying in my parent's fold out couch/bed in their guest bedroom all the way in beijing, china.

school ended a week ago, bridgette and i threw a crazy end of term party (8 kegs, 5 gatorade things of jungle juice and about 300 peeps in a warehouse), my roommate moved out - i finally cleaned the entire apartment, bought a vaccume, saw rocknrolla, A$ came down to visit, saw lil wayne on the i am music tour, went 18+ clubbing, saw a fight break out (highschool nostalgicism), finally saw the new wu-tang dvd, nabbed a david choe print, got some more scholarship money, missed the dean's list by less than 0.1 and flew out to beijing...

and i just got back from the great wall about to have dinner with a friend

will post on everything above while i am here... along with doing something physical (like working out) every single day i am here.

talk to you soon.

Craziest Skateboard Trick Ever

Pure insanity!

Thanks to my boy Chris for showing me this.

Art School - Update

Soo.. it's finals time and shit is getting hectic.

4 books to do, and a few posters for final projects... fuck fuck fuck

Alteast I finished my Com Design final for next Monday.

I was very shocked my teacher liked it. His name is Sean Adams and is currently the President of the AIGA (a professional graphic designer association/cult thing), so he's kind of a big deal.

The assignment was to make a poster for the 2009 conference in Memphis based around either offensive imagery or eye candy, and I made my choice. I've gotten some requests for prints of this... I just did my initial sketches as a joke - or mainly to see how far I could push Sean over the edge with my concepts and according to his surprisingly and supportive positive feedback on my comps here is the final (above).

It was pretty hilarious because I got this printed at school. Just seeing the looks on the faces of people at the lab, I think I nailed it. Not to mention the looks of all the females in my class.

Sometimes, you just gotta lube up and go in. Enjoy.

Brooklyn Superhero Supply

Sounds like an awesome store with an equally awesome type treatment!

My guess would be Din or Helvetica Neuve

Ffffound.

Ludacris - "MVP" (produced by DJ Premier)

Another two of my favorite things.



Favorite Radio Rapper + Producer of All Time = Amazing Download.

video: The Alchemist - Lose Your Life (Feat. Snoop Dogg, Pusha T & Jadakiss)

I thought this was dope. I think it's the same ppl who did the intro to the Aqua Teen Movie Intro.

(Unfortunately, I couldn't find the link to it)

"Change Gone Come" - Charles Hamilton, Asher Roth, B.o.B

I had to post this... I'm pretty in love with this track! It's been pumping on my deck like 10 times a day. The beat is off the hook, the sample so sweet, and the verses are pretty tight, featuring 3 of the iller 'new school' artists: Charles Hamilton, Asher Roth and B.o.B.

I love the part where Asher sings the hook at the end of the verse.

Download it here.

Props to Nah Right.

Playboy's Miss November 2008 - some Korean chick

Original Video- More videos at TinyPic
So this morning while working on some homework at the school library I came across this video while downloading some songs off zshare.

Apparently she's Playboy's Miss November 2008. I don't have a subscription to this magazine, because simply in the day and age of streaming porn hardcore porn on the internet, who needs this softcore bullshit? Also, although the articles are pretty well written, I just don't want to pay $12 a year.



I was intrigued cause she was getting sexy with Guitar Hero... but then I dunno. She's korean (sorry Jen), and I found out later that she worked for Activision in the Guitar Hero division. It's great when you find out someone has something in common with you, but it kills it when you see that there's some sort of marketing ploy behind it.

I havn't viewed the fullsize pics yet (I'm still at school - in the libray), but the boobs look pretty fake on video. Also, from what I gather from the thumbnails she's in some sort of Asian antique store. She's got a myspace.

One step forward, two steps back. Enjoy!

Olle Hemmendorff’s Nike Air Max 90 Burger

Two of my favorite things* put together.

Olle Heemendorff - found here.

*Ha, that should be the name of my blog

Last Keith Haring - Art Center

I've been meaning to post this for the longest time.

At school we have the last Keith Haring mural ever commissioned before his tragic death in 1990.

Pretty inspiring to see it hanging outside the library every day.

ABC3D

This is a stroke of genius - can you believe the book is only $13.57 on amazon?

Written/designed by Marion Bataille.

Chi Cheng (of the Deftones): Get Well Soon!

One of my childhood heroes was involved in a car accident and unfortunately left in a coma yesterday.

I was fortunate enough to meet my hero a few summers ago when Korn brought back the Family Values tour and had both bands headlining. I remember telling Chi at the meet and greet that he was always someone who greatly inspired me 'cause he was a Chinese dude who'd made it playing in the livest band on the planet. He told me to keep playing and never give up. I'll post the pic of us together later once I hook up my PC.


I really hope he pulls through. I can't wait to hear the new Deftones album Eros. More news on that here.

Found a Lay-z-boy

Dude,

So on saturday night I was pretty bummed that my halloween kinda was a bust and I really wanted to make up for it that night, but due to poor planning and everyone else I knew who was hung over from having a fun Halloween, I ended up staying at home.

Sometime around 11 in the evening I went to my car to grab something and in the carport next to mine, there she was!

Granted, there should be a black light test done to it, or perhaps a steam clean of sorts, but I've always wanted one of these. I just never wanted to pay for it.

It's probrbaly our neighbor's. They moved out that day. Soooo comfortable!

But this motherfucker was heavy... not fun carrying this from the lot to the second floor.

will post pics soon

Movie Review: Zack and Miri Make a Porno

This movie was pretty hilarious. Great cast and Kevin Smith directing. Heartwarming and totally vulgar, this movie has it all. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I have no idea why Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 66%. Great date movie!

Is it just me or was the black dude from The Office's wife played by Gina from Martin?

Entourage x Outkast - "Da Art of Storytellin' (pt. 2)"

So I just finished watching the new episode of Entourage, and to my surprise at the end of the episode they threw this classic on!

A few episodes back, they had the end credits to "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead. I also remember hearing some other classics this season, such as Naughty By Nature "Feel Me Flow", The Cure "Lullaby" and Masta Ace - "The B-Side".

Man, dudes over at HBO got it down. Check the playlists out here.

Kanye West - "Robocop"

I think this song is rather terrible, but I love the name and idea behind it... and the Robocop samples!

Kanye you are a genius. The song will prolly grow on me. Check it here.

Anyway, like I was saying before, I understand a lot of people hate this guy and think that he has an attitude problem or whatever or that he's too cocky, but seriously... dude is just being real and saying what's on his mind. I think its pretty cool that he gets crazy on TMZ and the Video Awards, cause he isn't afraid of how people view him. If you deserved to win something and you truly feel that way, say i!. That strive for perfection and disregard for what people think is something I find admirable.

Also, I guess the main thing is that dude has crazy hits and is constantly reinventing himself. Yeah auto-tune is pretty much abused by everyone in hiphop, but for a rapper doing a whole album singing with it is a pretty big risk and should be interesting. The idea may be wack, but I still look forward to hearing the album and maybe finding a hidden gem.

Props to AnalogGiant for the info.

Lock Stock Type Motion Graphic

Been thinking about motion graphics and the usage of typography a lot more lately. I can't wait to take Motion 1 next term. I came across this on cpluv and thought this was pretty dope.

A quote from one of my favorite movies of all time: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Hmmm... I might go see Rock n Rolla today.

Guy Ritchie is the man... although I thought Revolver sucked.

Neighborhood Buzzcock Postman Boots

Damn kid, them joints is fyahhhh...

Been moving pretty far away from fashion and sneakers in the past year. I can't afford nothing, so i barely look at the blogs anymore. A classmate and I were talking clothes lately, so I got a bit nostalgic and poked around on good ol' hypebeast.

Now I have no idea how to get a pair of these (aside from flying over to Tokyo) or will any girls really give a fuck how dope my shoes are, but you can damn sure bet that I'mma go try to cop a 80 dollar or less version (wingtips) of these the next time I go crusing for clothes.

Also I notice my eye shifting away from sneakers. I own to goddamn many and if I do get the chance to go shopping, I'm looking at more 'real' man clothes. My closet seems to be flooded with tee-shirts and my shoe rack(s) seem to have too many brightly colored sneakers I never wear. This little boy hypebeast bullshit has to end someday.