Pharrell's Grammy Hat on Ebay!

If you would like to purchase a piece of Grammy/music history, now is your chance!  Pharrell has decided to auction off his well talked about Vivienne Westwood hat on ebay.  The bidding currently sits at $10,500 and restricted to pre-approved buyers.  See the actual listing here: www.ebay.com/PharrellsHat

All proceeds benefit From One Hand to Another whose mission is to help change the world one kid at a time by giving them the tools and resources to meet their unique potential and empower them to nurture curiosity by learning through new technologies, arts, media and motivation!

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25 HOURS ONLY: D/L a FREE De La Soul album of your choice!!!

People love free sh*t. Especially when it's free sh*t from legendary music artists. In celebration of their 25 year anniversary and Valentine's day, De La Soul has decided to give their fans an opportunity to download a free album of your choice by signing up for their mailing list. You could of course cheat the system and enter a bunch of different emails to get all 7 but you didn't hear that from me! lol

GET YOURS HERE !!!

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WTF? Bride Kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan [VIDEO]

This is some crazy sh*t! In the country of Kyrgyzstan it is tradition for men to adbuct the woman of their choice and force them to marry them. Even though this process is illegal, most police officials dismiss it since it has been practiced for centuries. In this documentary you see a young man kidnap a girl in broad daylight while bystanders watch and do nothing. This is very sick and twisted.

Thank God I don't live in a country like this!

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Richard Sherman: 10 Things I Learned After America Learned About Me

From http://mmqb.si.com

Written by Richard Sherman himself

 

 

 

1. No one has ever made himself great by showing how small someone else is. That’s not mine. It belongs to Irvin Himmel. Somebody tweeted it at me after the NFC Championship Game. If I could pass a lesson on to the kids it would be this: Don’t attack anybody. I shouldn’t have attacked Michael Crabtree the way I did. You don’t have to put anybody else down to make yourself bigger.

 

2. This stage is bigger than I thought it was. How much does America love football? My one little rant made it onto CNBC and CNN. I heard my name on The View. I got tweets in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Czech and Arabic. People identify with the struggle and the battle of a football game.

3. When to look away. I have always had a good sense of this, but there came a point in the aftermath of the NFC Championship game when I had to cut off the attention. The incident was so polarizing that you had to pick a side. You either hated it or you loved it. I looked at Twitter and I saw two guys having a conversation about me in Spanish; I was going to Google translate it, but I just decided to let it go.

4. I’m lucky to have detractors. You have to take a step back and understand that you’re playing a game and the people who say disparaging things online and on television are trying to take you off that game. I’ve had my fair share of controversial moments and backlash and critics, and I’ve learned not to take it personally. That’s the only way you can look at it. You have to accept it and not have a negative attitude. I appreciate them because they’re so passionate as fans.

5. It’s not all black and white. Race played a major part in how my behavior was received, but I think it went beyond that. Would the reaction have been the same if I was clean-cut, without the dreadlocks? Maybe if I looked more acceptable in conservative circles, my rant would have been understood as passion. These prejudices still play a factor in our views because it’s human nature to quickly stereotype and label someone. We all have that.

“You’re anonymous until you put yourself out there or show up in a big game. I did both … maybe if I looked more acceptable in conservative circles, my rant would have been understood as passion.”

6. The NFL always wins. Every time a game ends on a controversial call or somebody loses it on camera, it’s free advertising for the NFL. It’s not just my name being talked about on all the shows; it’s the NFL’s logo on all the shows. That means more eyes on the Super Bowl, more clicks for their websites, and potentially more sales of my jersey, for which I don’t see a kickback. Even when they’re taking money out of my pockets with fines, the league is constantly winning.

7. Anonymity isn’t for me. Last season I went to the Super Bowl in New Orleans by myself, took a video crew to Bourbon Street and asked fans who they thought was the best lockdown corner in the game: Richard Sherman or Darrelle Revis. Most of these football fans, who were dedicated enough to go to the Super Bowl, didn’t even know who I was. That’s unique to our sport—the helmets shield our identities. Look at Antrel Rolle, who had one of the best seasons in the NFL for a safety, and he didn’t even make the Pro Bowl until he became an alternate. There’s Alterraun Verner and Aqib Talib, who could really make a case to be first team All-Pro, but weren’t considered because they’re not the loudest players. You’re anonymous until you put yourself out there or show up in a big game. I did both.

8. The violence takes a toll. When you play the game, you can’t go very long without seeing a career or a season end on one play. Running in to each other at full speed is not what God intended for our bodies. Everybody knows the NFL stands for Not For Long, so it plays into how you play and how you behave. We each handle it in our own way. You’ve got to appreciate every moment and treat it like it’s your last. You stay locked-in mentally. When you’re watching that from the outside, sometimes you’re going to see some things you’re not always going to agree with.

Rod Mar for Sports Illustrated/The MMQB

9. Pete Carroll is a rock. But I already knew that. After the NFC title game, he sat me down and we talked about the things I could’ve handled better, and he opened my eyes. Then we went about the week before Super Bowl week as if it were any other game week. We didn’t paint the Super Bowl logo on the practice field or anything like that. We stuck with the theme of the program: Every game is a championship opportunity. We’ve been treating it like that for 22 games. He’s been preparing us for this moment so that we wouldn’t even notice we were playing in the Super Bowl.

10. If I could turn back the clock … Maybe I deserved a fine under today’s rules, but back when football was raw and unsanitized, the same things they fined guys for now were the aspects of the game that people loved. The NFL once allowed players to live in the moment and be entertainers. I may have been wrong in my gestures, but if I had to do it all again, I’d probably do some of the same things. It was a big moment, and it was how I felt at the time.

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WALE'S New Blog: EveryBlueMoon

Wale took to social media and announced his new blog, everybluemoon recently and even typed up a letter to the public expressing his thoughts which I am assuming, are a result of his Complex Mag "rant." Check out the letter below and his new blog by clicking the link above.

Man, I been everywhere. Everyday trying to get a better understanding of myself and this crazy game I have given my life to.

What I’ve come to grips with is the fact that I am not superhuman, BUT super human. I think our culture has made it almost a prerequisite to be “too cool” or “swagged out” carrying a “nothing can phase me” image. It’s to the point that the ones who show they care, get attacked the most. Who ever thought we’d see a day when somebody used the word “poetic” as an insult? I certainly never thought that. “I can’t fuck wit Wale ‘ol poetic ass.” Really? These are the same people who probably have every Pac album embedded in their head. But, I digress. I took an absence from Twitter because I started to care tooooo much. I still don’t know the root of what makes me care THAT much, but I’m quite sure it started by wanting to lead people in a direction that wasn’t as cliché as some of my peers.

I’m no saint. I fuck with ratchet bitches. I say bitch. I bitch about things my damn self. But, I can honestly say, that I try to use my “human” traits as a means of relating to other humans. If I can bare my insecurities and flaws before you, maybe you won’t feel so insecure and flawed.

There came a point where people went out of their way to remind me that I’m missin my mark. Albeit, I made myself a target to slander and criticism. I think it became a trend to fuck with anybody that cared about people’s opinion. I’m not one of those people who make music for material things. I strive to make music for a public that appreciates raw emotion. And I will continue to.

I went through stages of frustration in my career with publications because of my own selfishness and sense of entitlement. I admit that. Nevertheless, I think if we calling a spade a spade, some media outlets be on they bullshit with me for reasons outside of music. But, my goal moving forward is to focus less on THEM and more on US. We all have goals and mine is simple. Empower the people. Empower MY fans and focus on MY fans and their energy . I don’t think it’s humanly possible for me to appease some of these outlets no matter what I create. It burns my soul to hear there’s no message tho. So knowin that I may have fell short of connecting with some of them, I’ve decided to use my energy on US. The guy with all the mixtapes. The guy who listens to every song twice because they know there’s things hidden in there. The girl who can’t wait to hear “Ambitious Girl 3” (Oh, it’s coming). The girl with the “Ambition” tattoo, who gets dressed to “Illest Bitch Alive” every morning . The ones who understood my frustration, hated my rant but understood it nevertheless . I may never be the biggest rapper in the world (still one of the best doe) but, I’ll be the most dedicated to my fans and it starts with this right here. This is rare. This is REAL. This is about us. This is about the music again. My ReRE -Dedication to greatness. What we got doesn’t happen often, nor with too many people. This is an rare occasion when a rare bond… Happens

Everybluemoon

-Folarin

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In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Happy MLK Day!

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

So many of us owe our lives to this man. One of the greatest civil rights leaders in the history of mankind. Today and everyday we salute you, Dr. King! Thank you for your courageous contributions to society and your lessons of equality and peace. RIP

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NYE Turn Up: Hip Hop Co-signed Drinks & Recipes!

New Years EVE is upon us so here are some delicious drink recipes featuring some of the most talked about liquors in hip hop!

Ciroc:  One of the most talked about alcohols in hip hop and the "urban" community. 

Peach On The Beach

1.5 oz Ciroc Peach

2 oz Cranberry Juice

2 oz Orange Juice

Hennessy:"They wanna know who's my role model -- It's in a brown bottle (Yo what's our motherfucking motto n*gga?) Hennessey" - 2Pac & Obie Trice

Brazil Spice

1.5 oz Hennessy V.S

.5 Fresh Lime juice

.5 Fresh Simple Syrup

Splash of soda

Optional: 4 dashes of Angostura bitters Garnish: Lime wheel

Gin:  Snoop put us on to one of the most famed drink combinations in the world.  It tastes pretty good too!

Gin n' Juice

2 oz gin

2 oz grapefruit juice

3 oz orange juice

1 slice lime

Alize: According to 2pac, "one part alize one part Cristal;  Thugs Passion baby".  Here's another recipe though...

"Hooker"

3/4 oz Alize Gold Passion liqueur

2 1/4 oz ruit punch

Pour Alize Gold Passion and Tropicana simultaneously over a few ice cubes in a cocktail glass, and serve. Alternatively, blend together with ice in a blender for a frozen drink.

OE (Old English a.k.a. malt liquor): The Bestie Boys put us on with thier song, Brass Monkey.

Brass Monkey

1/2 Old English

1/2 Orange Juice

a.k.a.

"Poor Man's Mimosa"

Nuvo:  For the ladies who want something that looks cute (not Jazzy LOL) and tastes good too!  Jamie Foxx took a shot of this, then you know...

Cake Cake Cake

Red Velvet Cake Nuvo

Cream Soda

Sparkling Sunset 3 oz. NUVO

3 oz. Pineapple Juice

Garnish with fresh fruit

Moet: In the back of the club sippin Moet is where you'll find Biggie (Big Poppa), Jay Z is fillin his glass to the top (Feelin it) and Big Daddy Kane has three 40's and a bottle...HA!

The Silver Screen Punch

• 1 (6 ounce) can pink lemonade concentrate, partially thawed
• 8 ounces pineapple juice
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
• 1 cup Belvedere vodka
• 1 bottle Moet & Chandon
• 1 pineapple, cut into rings and frozen

In a blender, combine pink lemonade concentrate, pineapple juice, strawberries, and ginger.  Blend until smooth.  Pour into a punch bowl.  Add vodka and stir to combine.  Just before serving, pour in Moet & Chandon.  Add frozen pineapple rings.


ENJOY YOUR CELEBRATION & PLEASE DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE! CHEERS!

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Christmas Gifts For The Hip Hop Head

Ever wonder what to get your friend or family member that LOVES hip hop for Christmas? Well, here are a few suggestions that are bound to make them happy!

Books:
The Wu-Tang Manual & The Tao Of Wu

Both very interesting and not only detail the deeper meaning behind the Wu and it's members, but also philosophical knowledge that can be helpful to anyone's life.

Ego Trip's The Book of Rap Lists

 This book is extremely informative and breaks down the history of hip hop.

The Gospel of Hip Hop

Written by the legendary emcee, KRS-1.  This book explains hip hop culture in the form of a bible.  A very cool and unique way to read up on hip hop history. 

Can't Stop Won't Stop

This books traces back to the beginning of Hip Hop and follows details the evolving years in timeline format.  Really fun and interesting!



Concert Tickets

A pair of tickets to an upcomming show of one of their favorite artists is a sure shot!! You can't go wrong with this idea!

Headphones

Hip Hop heads love to listen to music..LOL obviously...a good quality pair of headphones is always a great idea.  There's nothing wrong with having multiple pairs either!

Beats By Dre

The most famous headphones in hip hop. 

Skullcandy Aviator

Another brand of headphones that are cheaper than beats, but still have great quality. Comes in various different colorways as well.

 

Timberland Boots

Hip Hop heads love some all-weather classics like these!  If they don't then they don't love hip hop! Sike, but really...timbs are big right now especially.  Great for men, woman & kids!

iTunes Giftcard

It's hard to figure out what albums someone already knows unless you live with them or something so giving a itunes giftcard enables them to download the music they want/need.  No worries here!

 

Magazine Subscriptions:

• RESPECT. 
• XXL
• VIBE
• THE SOURCE
• COMPLEX

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SMART CREW x FOOL'S GOLD "SMART FOOLS" ARTIST SERIES

Yo, when dude popped out of the pot and was dressed as a plant I was trippin'! LOL

Fools Gold's latest Artist Series opening is "Smart Fools," a group exhibition featuring NYC's own Smart Crew. Founded in 1997 by a group of high school friends in Queens, Smart Crew has evolved from a NYC-based graffiti crew into a diverse collective of international artists based in New York. Over the years, many of the members have branched out from their graffiti roots into alternate art forms including music, fashion, design and photography.

Most importantly , "Smart Fools" highlights the subversive streak and sense of humor that runs through all the artists' work, as shown in this promo video for the exhibit, which turns graf video seriousness on its ear for a sticker bombing campaign that goes to comedically epic lengths.

Shot by Smart Crew. Edited by Josh Wehle.

http://www.foolsgoldrecs.com/artistseries

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Throwback: Jay Z & Beyonce on TRL

I remember watching this! How cute do Jay & Beyonce look though? Matching jean outfits and all! LOL

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HATE IT OR LOVE IT: The Current State Of Hip Hop In My Eyes

We live in an age where people want instant hits.  There's less focus on lyrical talent, style and overall skill because all folks want to hear is melodic, catchy hooks and stuff that can easily be played in the clubs.  There's no doubt that times have changed and the focus on what sells has shifted. (I guess this can apply to all music in general right now...)

Don't get me wrong, Hip Hop is in a good place right now, but there are a few things I believe it lacks.  It seems as though the culture is now very clique-like with teams like MMG, Young Money, TDE, etc.  I sense a lack of unison between artists except for inside their own camps.  I also feel that the current state of Hip Hop lacks patience.  We live in an age of mixtapes and new music every week and a guaranteed leak for every album.  Nowadays, it's takes 1 click to get a hold of music; the anticipation and excitement isn't as extreme because it's so easily attainable.

Social media is another aspect that has changed the way hip hop music is created, marketed and sold.  Now it is incredibly cheap and easy to produce a beat via iphone app, market yourself through twitter or facebook and post videos on YouTube to gain a following.  There is even the reality TV platform that allows artists the ability to gain an audience. Of course all of these require hard work, but the process is so simplified in comparison to years back.

There is one major thing that I am glad has happened to hip hop music and that is the independent artist route.  Being an independent artist is at an all time high and giving these people the freedom to make moves how they want, market themselves how they want and give complete creative control throughout every process.  It's a beautiful thing!

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my thoughts about this topic, but I thought I'd share a few opinions to help liberate my mind.

Change is inevitable, I do know that, but watching the transition is crazy...

Time for me to go to bed and keep the rest of my thoughts to myself... Good night!

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