I dig these Flud Watches.
I would NEVER wear this ANYWHERE!
But it's really NICE.
wait scratch that:
If I were going to a hip-hop themed party and I really
wanted to slay the competition I would definitely get it.

Last night I had BIGfun. Attempted to go to a Hawks game for free but the throngs of people trying to take advantage of the "educational incentive program that rewards students with couple dozen vouchers for nosebleed seats" sent us packing back to my place. Came back to my apartment, HAD to watch 'The Game' on the CW (check your local listings). Then we trekked on over to Lenny's Bar. When we arrived the parking lot was pretty full. We got the around 9:30 ish, saw some old friends from college (which makes us sound "old"), hugged, dapped, etc. We found a table near the bar, talked for a few minutes and even entertained the idea of getting a couple Pabst Blue Ribbons!!!! The host was this guy, whose name I can't remember, he was f'ing hilarious. He was an incredible dancer, he basically kept the crowd moving as they listen to DJ Jamad kill it. All of a sudden I smelled the essence of musical ingenuity & freedom in the air. Then we saw her, initially we thought she was a hologram, but upon closer inspection we realized she was real; of flesh and bolts. Janelle Monae and the Wondaland Arts Society had come to show support. I didn't do my groupie dance nor did I bombard her with questions and pic requests. I played it as cool as I could...*faints* LOL. But yeah, shortly there after the show started. We made our way to the stage for the opening act which to be honest with you I don't remember. Their sound was hot though, it was two guys dressed in like they'd just stepped out of WISH. They had a contemporary Cool Kids thing going it was cool, but I was there for the headliners.



Hollyweerd came out after about twenty five minutes. They had laser gloves, Atlanta's Best Dance Crew doing routines in front of the stage, and several hundred tons of energy. Their set was great, they played "Weerdo" of course and I did my new favorite African tribal dance. I also was lucky enough to score a copy of their current album "Electricity Showroom." So Hollyweerd leaves and as Yellewolf's stage is being set, we spot Fantasia Barino is the audience. For me it was QUITE random, but she looked beautiful! She was f'ing HOT.
She was on the side the stage near the front standing with Yellawolf's mother. I'm not sure how that six degrees of seperation plays out but I'd love to know. Anyway, Yellawolf was pretty good, he had a lot of rowdy fans in front of the stage. They develop a nasty stage diving habit which led to some potential violence from so not so diehard fans. After the second failed attempt to crowd surf we gathered our things and dipped out. On the way out we stopped and talked with Rithy from FRESH.i.am.net, and we also saw Proton walking around. Then we went to Waffle House from cherry sprites and light banter. It was great. I have some special shout outs: MZB for taking some great pics of "the crowd", Bruce for getting us there safely, Nic for his awkwardly loud "Uwa Uwa" during the show, and Dominique for coming out and helping us make this an evening to remember.

"I'm a rapper, thats who I am [Ms. Katy]
& I am gangster, and I do what I want."

- Lil Wayne

TV On The Radio; phenomenal.

It's either this or a HAWKS game....we'll see.

click here to play.
i love this game...
still not as fun playing with the gun, but fun none the less.

"It's been a long time coming, but THIS MONDAY, the video for our debut single,
"She Loves Everybody," hits the airwaves.
The video will debut as an "Unleashed Video Premiere" on Monday,
February 2nd on MTV and will soon move into regular rotation on MTV2 and MTV2.com starting on February 9th.
We'll also be part of the MTV Networks Discover & Download program starting
February 9th and, soon after that, will be featured as one of MTVU's Freshman 5 artists.
That's a WHOOOLE lotta Chester French on a whooole lotta MTV networks and shows.
MTV is actually already running promos featuring us on air as of a few days ago, which is insane.
The video should be available for embedding online very soon, so be sure to check back here Monday for more details.
AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MTV ON MONDAY FOR THE
PREMIER OF THE VIDEO FOR "SHE LOVES EVERYBODY!" Phew. "

-DA & Max

[source]

"The only and official record of one of the most highly anticipated tours of the year.
Including a USB drive of previously unreleased music, the book is both a memento of the tour
and an object conceived by the artist himself—entirely collectible on its own.
Appearing alone on stage for almost the entirety of the show with huge Star Wars-inspired
spacescapes behind him, West’s Glow in the Dark Tour is both a musical and a visual odyssey
of Kanye as a true pioneer. This deluxe landscape volume promises to be yet another creation
of this multifaceted artist and will include his original sketches and concepts; 3-D models and
construction of the stage; concept art for "J.A.N.E."; costume designs (including his Grace
Jones-inspired outfits for opening act Rihanna); and blog of his journey.
The gatefolds and special edition USB drive put this artist’s innovative and signature
stamp on an already visually radical piece."
pre-order here

I remember watching the youtube clip of Ryan Leslie making this song last July.
It inspired me to write my first Ryan Leslie entry.
I thought to myself, I must have that track...It literally took six months...
It was worth the wait. I.LOVE.THIS.SONG.
Ryan Leslie - Gibberish
I just know this album is gonna be the shit.

I'm not fond of Yankees...no seriously, I can't relate and the reason is twofold.
I'm not from NYC and I don't know any Brooklyn Girls so yeah...
Still I finally like this song. I could not get down with it at first but I'm giving it a chance.
Charles Hamilton - Brooklyn Girls

I have most of the songs on this one, a lot of it is stuff from last year.
Still, there's some stuff that's new to me.
I linked two tracks that I really liked.
Pharrell (featuring Sean Garrett) - Patron [from the album: Out of This World]
Pharrell (featuring Young Jeezy) - Rumor Has It [from the album:Out of This World]

Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee (born March 20, 1957) is an Emmy Award-winning and
Academy Award-nominated American film director, producer, writer, and actor, noted for
his films dealing with controversial social and political issues. He also teaches film at New York
University and Columbia University. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks,
has produced over 35 films since 1983.

Lee was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Jacqueline Shelton, a teacher of arts and black
literature, and William James Edward Lee III, a jazz musician, and composer.^[1] Lee moved
with his family to Brooklyn, New York when he was a small child. The Fort Greene neighborhood
is home to Lee's production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, and other Lee-owned or
related businesses. As a child, his mother nicknamed him "Spike." In Brooklyn, he attended
John Dewey High School. Lee enrolled in Morehouse College where he made his first student
film, Last Hustle in Brooklyn. He took film courses at Clark Atlanta University and graduated
with a B.A. in Mass Communication from Morehouse College. He then enrolled in New York
University's Tisch School of the Arts. He graduated in 1978 with a Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television.
[more from the source]

"It's been a long time coming, but Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are should
finally see the light of day in 2009 (it's been plagued by production trouble).
The adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic is said to be a combination of live-action,
CGI and animatronics. It's tough to visualize how this all will work, but Jonze is a
mega-talent so there's light at the end of this tunnel.
That is, assuming it finally reaches theaters."
[source]

everybody is posting this song.
i can't hate it.
i like it.
Lil Wayne - Prom Queen

These guys are going on tour with Lady Gaga:
April 9th, 2009
9:00 p.m.
Center Stage
Atlanta, GA

Do you want free backstage passes?
Well according to CF here's how:
"Here's the challenge: we're pushing for 1000 new followers
on DA's Twitter page. Once we hit 1000, we'll pick one person
out of the thousand new followers at random to get the free tickets and backstage passes.

Pretty easy, huh?
So get to it!"
-chester french

I totally relate to this song. NOT.
I didn't have that Animal House collegiate experience.
In fact, there's a lot of shit he says that doesn't make sense.
For instance, why the hell would someone put on two condoms?
Any college educated individual who has sex should know that
using two condoms significantly increases the risk of one or both
of them breaking due to the friction...
*duh' head smack*
Still, the song is catchy.

Spike Jonze (born Adam Spiegel; October 22, 1969) is an American director of music
videos and commercials, and an Academy Award-nominated director and producer in
film and television, most notably the 1999 film Being John Malkovich and the 2002 film
Adaptation., both written by Charlie Kaufman. He is also credited as a co-creator of MTV's Jackass.

He also has a speaking part along with Dave Eggers in a Beck song entitled The Horrible
Fanfare / Landslide / Exoskeleton from his 2006 album, The Information.
He appears in the "Exoskeleton" bit.

Currently, Jonze is directing Where the Wild Things Are,
which is now in its post-production stages.

Music Video:

• "Blessed Evening" by Foetus (2005) (cinematographer only, directed by Karen O)
• "Flashing Lights" by Kanye West (2008) (co-directed with West)
• "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)" by Weezer (2008)

I'm all about that blackberry 8900.

I can't explain why or how?
I love this song, sincerely.
It's David Archuleta...
*dodges tomatoes, shoes, and assorted items*

This weekend I watched 3 great movies:
1. Tsotsi
2. Gran Torino
3. No Country For Old Men

Tsotsi won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
This film is spectacular, it's a triumphant story of a redemption.
Set in a Soweto slum, near Johannesburg, South Africa.
Presley Chweneyagae, who played David/Tsotsi was phenomenal.
He acts with his eyes. AMAZING.
DIRECTED BY: Gavin Hood


Gran Torino was a huge surprise. I had some initial prejudices just because
it was Eastwood and I don't particularly agree with some of his political affiliations,
but I loved the film. He's one of the greats. The movie centers around
this crotchety old guy and his relationship with his Asian immigrant neighbors.
To be honest with you, it was almost a comedy because I couldn't stop laughing at
the main character Walter (Eastwood). I can't wait till I'm older and I can say
whatever I want and people just take it because I'm old. That will be an awesome day.
DIRECTED BY: Clint Eastwood



No Country for Old Men was just plain grand. It was a contemporary western in a way.
There was plenty of shooting, outlaws, a briefcase full of drug money and a slew of dead guys.
The BEST scene in the movie is when Sugar encounters the desk clerk at the trailor park.
HI-f'ing-LARIOUS!
Check this one out.
DIRECTED BY: Joel and Ethan Coen (The Coen Brothers)

*yawn*
please bore someone with your arbitrary, self indulgent, materialistic rants.
pick up a f'ing newspaper, think globally you obnoxious schmuck.
seriously, why do people do this? Are you f'ing kidding me.
p.s.
I thought we talked about this word"swagger and or swag"----it's dead.
let it rest in peace.

download UNIFUNK HERE.

part one.

& this is part two.

"For a long time now, I have tried to keep my opinions on the election and Barack Obama to myself. I occasionally do speaking engagements, which are not open to the press, and unfortunately some of my comments have been twisted around in a silly manner. The claim that I asserted our new President was not Black is categorically false.

I have seen an endless stream of Black pundits on TV pontificating about the significance of President Obama's election - many of them making reference to the 3/5th's clause in the constitution regarding slaves. The point I was making is that this is not an accurate comparison. Barack is the son of an immigrant, not the descendant of slaves. It's like comparing a half-Japanese man to the oppressed Chinese who built the American railroads. Yes, they are both Asian, but it is not an honest or accurate comparison. We all share the common experiences of being Black in America today - we do not all share a common history. A history that in part makes us who we are - and in some cases (as with the psychological damage that still lingers from slavery) holds us back. These are not, I believe, insignificant distinctions.


I did say I was cautiously pessimistic about Obama's Presidency - but this is simply acknowledging the reality of an American Empire that is out of control and on the verge of collapse. Let us not forget that on the eve of the election, we witnessed a near trillion dollar robbery of the US treasury. That robbery is still taking place. I do not blame President Obama, but I do not believe the financial and corporate interests that own and control this country will fold so easily. I do not question the integrity of the man as much as the power of his office - which I believe has greatly diminished over the years. I believe the Federal Reserve Bank, the Military Industrial Complex, and the massive corporate interests that run this country have more power than our new President. I hope I am wrong.

After 9/11, I witnessed the most of this country become obsessed with squashing dissent and silencing critics. I hope this election does not turn Black America towards this same, fascist mind state; but already I am starting to see it, and it saddens me greatly. I absolutely wish our new President and his family success and safety. But after all I have witnessed in my lifetime, and especially in the last eight years, I am not ready to lay down my skepticism or my outrage for this government. To do so would be unwise and, ironically enough, anti-American."


Aaron McGruder
January 21, 2009

[source]

So I've stated my overall ambivalence towards the genre formerly known as hip-hop & or rap. Nothing has changed, I mean, I still feel the same way. I haven't really listened to to a lot of hip-hop, except for that Wayne&Pharrell song YES! (i love that shit). I heard about this dude from Branden F. via Nic. He's a rapper, relative unknown from what I know, his name is Last Offence. His voice, sounds like Travy from Gym Class Heroes. Lyrically he has a pretty standard hip-hop form. Explicit language, adult content, and graphic sexuality. One huge standout factor is the fact that L.O. is a same gender loving artist, and not the typical type, he's actually open about his life and he raps about it. *jaw drops*
"see every area I visit there is mass hysteria
gay is not contagious, gay is not malaria"
I love that line.
Check out his MYSPACE & Download his "Run A Lap" EP.

click here to get jiggy.

"London-based English recording artist–songwriter–producer currently signed to Island Records, part of Universal...
Brown decribes her sound as "musical mashed potatoes".
Her style has been described as retro soul with an indie punk edge. The Los Angeles Times
said "Brown delivers something her retro U.K. peers have thus far lacked: Just pure,
whimsical fun"...VV Brown loves collecting vintage keyboards and electric equipment to help
her with her production. She states "each keyboard has a story". VV Brown also has a huge
passion for children charity. "I really want to make a difference somehow in children's lives that
are less fortunate. Something to raise money for children in care or children suffering from
drugs or homelessness, like Live aid, but for specialising in the help towards kids..."


[thanks for the heads up Branden F.]

little boots - stuck on repeat
little boots' little myspace (LOL)

"Life's not fair, not at all."

I'm finally home.

"On 5 August 2008, Peaches Geldof married Max Drummey, an American musician from the band
Chester French (Also with vocalist D.A Wallach), at A Little White Chapel in Las Vegas,
Nevada. In a statement on 12 August 2008, the couple said they were "delighted to announce
their very happy marriage."They also have each other's names tattooed on their hands.
However, on the 8th November 2008 it has been suggested by a British tabloid that
Peaches' marriage is set to end in divorce after just 96 days of matrimony." --wikipedia

I didn't know he was married and to be honest I didn't know who she was until now.
Interesting.

"Digital Blue and LEGO have announced a licencing agreement that will bring several LEGO
branded kid’s tech products to market. The line is scheduled for release this summer and will
include digital cameras, video cameras, MP3 players, walkie talkies and other electronics.
The entire line will have a brick-built look to it, though devices like the LEGO digital camera,
won’t actually be built out of bricks, at least not bricks that come apart. Probably a good design
decision given kids have a tendency to drop things like this. Parents wouldn’t be too jazzed about
having to rebuild a camera each time it gets dropped." [source]

Christina Milian is f'ing GORGEOUS!

"I trust friends over family. Family was not chosen by me; friends were.
Family, in my experience, tends to take advantage of the idea that you're
somehow "joined by blood," and because of it, don't seem to understand
that any sort of relationship, no matter how it started, requires work to
maintain. Friends tend to understand that a bit more, because those
relationships is based a bit more on work, especially if you watched it
grow/nurtured it from scratch. If I consider you "family," we'll have to work
a bit harder to be "friends." And there isn't a person on this planet who I'm
friends with or have been friends with that I'd ever consider
family, because I don't think family is the definition of closeness."
--K'Roc [http://revkris.blogspot.com]

learn more.
I've decided to forgo purchasing a new cell until the
release of this ingeniously engineered device.
(looks like I will be staying with T-Mobile)
--management.

| Chester French - Dance |
(picture: DA & Max performing at Solange's Birthday Party)
[source]

this didn't turn out the way I wanted it to.
I kind of hate it, but I don't wanna waste the effort I put into it
just because it isn't the way I wanted it to be.
take heed.
=]

here's some background.
ultimately i feel that sex is a very natural and apart of our daily lives.
i chose water and a bath tub to sort of display that sentiment.
we all need water to sustain ourselves and I believe the same to be true of sex.
also, i think of water when i think of sex (things like moisture, wetness, sweat,
ejaculates, secretions, saliva...i could go on)the music inspired the entire psa,
I heard it during my bi-weekly writers workshop (shout out to ANDREA!)
and I feel in love with it. Chester French man, gotta love em'.
overall it was just something to do. i used my Cybershot and some lamps for lighting.
it's very unprofessional but it works.

Synopsis:
"Its the summer of 1994, and the streets of New York are pulsing
with hip hop and wafting with the sweet aroma of marijuana.
The newly-inaugurated mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, is only beginning
to implement his anti-fun initiatives against crimes like noisy
portable radio, graffiti and public drunkenness.

The Wackness centers upon a troubled high school student named
Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck)a teenage pot dealer who forms a friendship
with Dr. Jeffrey Squires (Ben Kingsley), a psychiatrist and kindred
lost soul. When the doctor proposes Luke trade him weed for
therapy sessions, the two begin to explore both New York City
and their own depression.

Propelled by an exuberant hip hop score, The Wackness captures
the spell of 1994--a time of pagers, not cell phones; a time when
Tupac and Biggie were alive but Kurt Cobain had just died.
Funny and moving, The Wackness is an offbeat tale of two
lost souls stumbling towards maturity."
[source: imdb.com]

The Wackness was written and directed by Jonathan Levine.
I really like this one. The soundtrack is great, really took me back.
Josh Peck is actually an actor, I pegged him as a run of the mill Nick kid.
You know the type, decent when doing slap stick kids comedy but
unable to transition to the big screen due to an overwhelming lack of
skill, talent, and believability. I was totally wrong, he did his thing.
I also enjoyed Mary-Kate Olsen's performance, she nailed it.
Ben Kingsley, who played Squires was terrific. He (in a way)
reminds me of my Dad which was cool.

I'd like to start off by saying that Vampire Weekend is one of the best band names I've heard
ever.If you're wondering who they are here's quick spiel: Vampire Weekend is an Indie Rock
band out of NY. Inspired by a whimsical combination of both African popular music and Western
classical they are Indie but not that annoying Indie (if that makes any sense). "Oxford Comma" is
the song that pulled me in. First time I heard I immediately fell in love with the melody (and the
chorus, I mean you gotta love "Who gives a fuck about and Oxford Comma?"). Their self titled
album makes me want to buy a bike and just go ride for a day or so. Just coast, enjoy the music,
and see where the road takes me. Check it out for yourself the next time you're at the record store.

[little interesting bit of trivia]
In 2008, Vampire Weekend were dubbed the "whitest band" by Christian Lander,
the creator of the site Stuff White People Like, in an interview with Salon.com.

LIL wayne & pHARRELL -Y3S [download]
"oh how do I love that panty pie" - Wayne.

Whenever people go on and on about a movie like it's the second coming I get a
little annoyed. Mostly because half the time, the movie isn't that damn great.
Arguably, 2008 was a good year in film. I mean The Dark Knight, Doubt, The Curious
Case of Benjamin Button, Seven Pounds etc. I only saw two of those but critics and
audiences are raving about them so whatever. Slumdog Millionaire is one that people
can't stop praising. Praising isn't quite strong enough, people have been riding the
films proverbial nuts. Last night I watched Slumdog Millionaire. I'm about to
saddle up because if me riding their nuts is the only way I can get you to watch
this film then so be it. I'm riding. Set in Bombay (now known as Mumbai), Slumdog
Millionaire follows the protagonist's life journey and his relationship with his brother
and the girl he loves--there's a lot more to it but I don't want to be a jackass and give
too much away. GO.SEE.THIS.MOVIE.AS.SOON.AS.POSSIBLE.
"It's REALLY F'ING GOOD!"

"I'M BASICALLY RETARDED WITH PHOTO SHOP SO I FEEL SO ACCOMPLISHED
WHEN I ERASE A LOGO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OFF OF A PHOTO...."

[Kanye West] [source]

A few months ago I did a little blurb about Keith Haring.
Well some genius with since gumption and a knack for great art made a documentary about him.
Her name,Claudia Clausen. To honor the fiftieth anniversary of Haring's death she
made [The Universe of Keith Haring] in 2008. The film is a celebration of Haring's
artwork and his amazing life. It was in the theaters and I'm superiorly pissed that
I had no idea because I definitely would've made an event of it.
Well that doesn't matter because it is being released on DVD!
F'YES.


[click here to view the trailer]
"THE UNIVERSE OF KEITH HARING by director Christina Clausen is an intimate portrait
of world-renowned artist Keith Haring whose mantra was that "Art is for everyone!"
The film is a thorough and intimate exploration of the background and career of one
of the most popular and significant artists of the 20th century. The film features
interviews and archival footage of Fab 5 Freddy, Jeffrey Deitch, Kim Hastreiter,
Grace Jones, Madonna, Yoko Ono, David LaChapelle, Kenny Scharf, Carlo McCormick,
Andy Warhol, Ann Magnuson, Tony Shafrazi, and Junior Vasquez, among many others.
Audio excerpts from original interviews with Keith Haring, were conducted by
Haring's biographer John Gruen (Keith Haring: the Authorized Biography).
The film's theme song is by the famed DJ and record producer, Junior Vasquez,
with an original soundtrack by Angelo Talocci. The film was edited by Silvia Giulietti."

halfway home - tv on the radio