Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Auto Ingenuity

I could write all day about the fastest, most expensive exotic cars, my dream rides, and how much I can't afford any of them. Instead, check out some interesting takes on what can be done with four wheels if you push budgets and boundaries:

BMW X5 M and X6 M Models:
So now BMW makes M SUV's, and if you think that should be condemned as blasphemy, maybe a ride in either of the 555hp turbocharged Sport Activity Vehicles would change your mind. 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds, gas mileage not reported (wonder why...):



via: Motor Authority


Making up for the gas-guzzling German screamers, American start-up Tesla Motors recently released their second car, the Model S sedan. The 2011 model will run you at least $50,000 after a hefty $7,500 tax credit is handed to you. The car features a completely digital dashboard, with LCD touchscreen cabin controls and gauges, and constant 3G internet connectivity. The car will be able to take you at least 300 miles on a 45-minute charge. All Tesla needs to do now is secure enough funding to bring the car to market. I'm curious about how practical all the screens will be under summer glare:


via: Gizmodo / Motor Authority


Finally, after all the beauty, an atrocity: despite how flashy and attention-grabbing this car is, the bottom line is that Nigo, the founder and owner of A Bathing Ape, somehow enlisted Mercedes' in-house performance tuner to help ruin an extremely rare Benz 300SL Gullwing for what must have been an insane sum of money. Typically valued at around the million-dollar mark for surviving mint models, Nigo discarded the automotive legacy behind this specimen and disgraced its heritage by transplanting a modern 6.0L V8 AMG engine into it, throwing on 1990's-spec rims, and covering the bodywork in his brand's Bape camo pattern for the company's third anniversary. It is definitely a unique and expensive take on a classic car, but he could have just as easily sewn a Bape patch onto the Mona Lisa or repainted the Statue of Liberty. For car aficionados, this is just gaudy excess.


via: Hypebeast

Monday, April 6, 2009

Significant Music

So, if you didn't catch the last post, which happened to be too illegal to survive, I tried to turn you guys onto Blitzen Trapper (check out "Furr" and "Wild Mountain Nation"), Fleet Foxes ("White Winter Hymnal"), and Phoenix's epic album gem "Love Like a Sunset". Now that I can't post that stuff, here's some other lovely audio:

First up: Kid Cudi teams up with Kanye West and Common on a chopped up version of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face," now with Gaga singing the new song's name, "I Poke Her Face". Great laid-back vibe on the track, with some great verses from some of the best rapping today. Kanye gives little Asher Roth a shout-out too:

Kid Cudi - I Poke Her Face (feat. Kanye West & Common)
via: P&P

"Hold up, born in '88, how old is that? Old enough / I got seniority with the sorority, so that explains why I love college / getting brain in the library 'cause I love knowledge / when you use your medulla oblongata"

Second, sticking with the Asher Roth love, a bonus track off his album just leaked featuring Beanie Sigel, and if this is any indication of what is being cut from the album dropping 4/20, we can expect a really clean set of tracks with cool hooks, great lyricism, and great production. The next white rapper to hit mainstream might have a shot after all:

Asher Roth - Perfectionist (feat. Beanie Sigel)
via: P&P

Sunday, April 5, 2009

The Bruno Movie is Fast Approaching

After a long run of rumors, leaked info, and some sketchy YouTube footage, the trailer for Sacha Baron Cohen's follow-up to Borat has finally been released. Apparently the working title for this new movie featuring the gay Austrian fashion reporter from the Ali-G show is "Bruno: Delicious Journeys Through America for the Purpose of Making Heterosexual Males Visibly Uncomfortable in the Presence of a Gay Foreigner in a Mesh T-Shirt." If it sounds a little like Borat, just take a look at the trailer - same unbelievably funny provocation of unsuspecting civilians.



Without spoling anything, here are some of the rumored cameos: Ben Affleck, Chris Martin, Bono, among others, including what I can only describe as an authentic attempt to top the fake-looking Pamela Anderson Borat ending. Think Ron Paul meets Paris Hilton. Get excited - in theaters July 10.

Censorship

I don't know how many of you got to read my post about indie music, but apparently some of the links to songs I posted were in violation of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, according to the email blogger sent me. So, instead of just removing the links I posted that violated digital copyright, they deleted my entire post, which contained a pretty long analysis of why I think "indie" is a b.s. term. I'm not too happy about this, there was no warning or request to take the links down, just immediate dropping of the hammer. I'm gonna keep posting, but if this happens again I might be forced to relocate my intellectual property to another venue. Carry on.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Cudi & Wale - Look Up In Da Stars


It's like a mashup of my two favorite upcoming freshmen rappers, together as one on the same track. Unfortunately, in truth it's not as good as it sounds - it's not an official track from either of them, just an old verse of Cudi's put together with an old Wale verse by some producer who goes by "Breeze." Regardless, cool track, good beat, with two artists you'll be hearing more and more from in the near future.

Wale / Kid Cudi - Look Up In Da Stars

via: Dat New Cudi

Dior Homme "Blow" Sunglasses

Maybe you think they look like ski goggles, scuba gear, Star Trek apparel, or other protective eyewear, there is something about these that make me want to pay whatever obnoxious price tag to grab them, or find the closest pair of fakes ASAP, because they are only making 500 pairs of each color. I'm partial towards the white or blue, I think the red are a bit too loud, but who am I kidding? These are some of the loudest shades I've ever seen on a human. Maybe that's why I want them so bad, they ooze steeze. Seen on Paris runways and Kanye at the AMA's alike, available Spring 2009. (via Hypebeast and Upscale Hype)






Music Avalanche

After a minor hiatus, I'm back with some more super music for all. Still trying to figure out where I want this blog to go, I obviously need to write some more but I'm having trouble deciding what to write about, and how funny it will be for other people. I'm gonna be very picky about it, that's just how I am. So here we go, with some notable music from all corners of the blogosphere:

First, some exciting news from Australia: Wolfmother, now reduced to lead singer Andrew Stockdale after the band's two other members quit to pursue a side-project citing musical differences, has a new four-man lineup, a sophomore album on the way, and a new single available for free download. It's not the same distinctly Wolfmother sound as before, but hopefully the rest of the album will improve upon the new concept:
Wolfmother - Back Round


Next, check out what is most likely a snippet of one of Lupe's LupEND tracks, debuted during a live show, featuring Matthew Santos, Lupe's favorite voice for collabs. Sounds pretty beast, can't wait to hear the full version:
Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos - Shining Down (Live Snippet) (via: HNH)


Another live premiere, this one from Vampire Weekend again, performed in Guadalajara, Mexico:
Vampire Weekend - Cousins (Live) (Right-click to download, via: WeAllWant Someone)



Apparently only new to me, Cudi here takes a stab at JT's song, doing a pretty good job making the song his own with his unique brand of flow:
Kid Cudi - LoveStoned Freestyle (via: Kid-Cuddiction)


Here's a snippet of the chorus and Lil Wayne's verse from what will surely be epic, Maybach Music Part 2, which will feature Kanye West as well on the full version of Rick Ross' song from his upcoming "Deeper Than Rap."
Lil Wayne & T-Pain - Maybach Music Pt. 2 Snippet (via: HIF)


Another song off "Deeper Than Rap," this time with the legendary Nas killing it as usual:
Rick Ross feat. Nas - Usual Suspects (via: HIF)


Cool song from some random dude called Pinney Woods, but features Lil Wayne as well as someone singing with autotune on the hook who is certainly NOT Kanye West.
Pinney Woods feat. Lil Wayne & NOT Kanye West - Be Alright (via: HIF)


Check out another leaked song from Lil Wayne & T-Pain as the duo "T-Wayne." Although probably not the final version (T-Pain drops out at the end), its a taste of what should be pretty undeniable chart-topping stuff with these two together, like it or not.
T-Wayne - He Raps, He Sings
(via: HIF)


Adding to what is turning out to be a pretty T-Pain heavy post, here's a leaked demo he did for Missy Elliot with someone else rapping her verse. Sounds cool despite how unfinished it is:
T-Pain - Fire (Missy Elliot Demo) (via: Music Bitch)


Keeping with the theme, here's another leaked track with T-Pain, Missy and Timbaland which is sure to be on at least one of their albums, probably the lady's:
Missy Elliot feat. Timbaland & T-Pain - Talk That Shit (via: P&P)

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Air Max 90 Re-imagined

Nike's Air Max 90 trainers are some of the most recognizable shoes ever introduced, and the iconic running silhouette has constantly been updated to push the limits of what shoe tech can deliver while remaining true to the same chassis.

This summer, once I finally get some money in my pocket, I don't know if I'll be able to resist buying any of these:

Nike Air Max 90 Moire ($115 retail) - fused with the Air Zoom Moire; one-piece seamless perforated upper, Current Free sole, I'll take the black pair:

via: Hypebeast


Nike Air Max 90 Current Flywire - lightweight and supportive Flywire upper, Free sole, available early next month, I can't resist the red ones:

via: Hypebeast

Finally - Perforated Air Max 90 ($180) - standard sole, but with black perf suede and turquoise accents, pricey but sexy:

via: Nice Kicks

Next-level Cinema & Audio Design

To start off this entry, I'd like to recall one of the throwback childhood essentials - Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.


If you haven't heard, the Spike Jonze-directed movie interpretation of the children's book, which will debut in trailer form before Monsters vs. Aliens this weekend, will release in theaters on October 16:

UPDATED: The trailer for the film just leaked, looks awesome, and shows wild thing "Carol" (dubbed by James Gandolfini, of Sopranos fame) carrying Max away from the real world.



The cinematography looks incredible from what can be gained from some still frames:



Elsewhere, on the music front, check out some Nokia contest entries for Bluetooth headsets inspired by the artists' favorite songs:

"I'm Flying" headset by Rodshakur, inspired by R. Kelly - "I Believe I Can Fly"


G Smith's Robot Rock headset, inspired by Daft Punk.

Why don't they actually make stuff like this? If only for Victoria's Secret's Angels to zone out during long plane rides to exotic beaches for photo shoots...
via: CR Blog

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Wale's Breakout, and Other Hotness

First and foremost: After much anticipation, Wale, the Washington D.C./Maryland rapper who has quickly become my underground favorite, just debuted the first single off his upcoming first album, "Attention: Deficit." It features Lady Gaga, and I am in awe at how sick it is. This should be the song that makes him huge:


Wale feat. Lady Gaga - Chillin' (CD Quality)

For comparison, here's the original demo version that leaked a while back - he changed a few verses up, and this was before he charmed Lady Gaga into blessing him with a radio hit:

Wale - Chillin' (Original Demo)

And as soon I can get my hands on the promo shirt, I will:



Next up, Fat Joe samples Jimi Hendrix. Seriously:

Fat Joe - Hey Joe



Now, how about some T-Pain and Kanye together on a song with G.O.O.D. Music artist GLC, off his upcoming album. "Let me get my theme music!":

GLC feat. Kanye West and T-Pain - Flight School


And here's the rest - Flo Rida has a cool song that runs almost 8 minutes long with all of the features on it, and Lil Wayne hops on a great beat for a feature:

Flo Rida feat. Brisco, Billy Blue, Ball Greezy, Rick Ross, Red Eyezz, Bred, Pitbull & Ace Hood - Yayo

Pimp C feat. Lil Wayne - Let's Talk Money

Friday, March 20, 2009

First Taste of the Sauce

Here is a blog, my blog. I've gone rogue. I figured with all the time I spend digesting information through blogs and websites over the internet, and then trying to show my friends most of it, this would be a much more cohesive medium. A one-stop shop for all my favorite music, gear, and insight into life. Basically whatever catches my eye, ear, mind, or tongue. Come along and share some sauce.

First taste of the special sauce:


Sick hats that I need for the summer (no word on prices, not a good sign):


Some gorgeous Air Jordan V's in White patent leather (i turn my swag ONN):
via: Hypebeast


John Mayer - In the studio recording new song "Half of my Heart"



Vampire Weekend - "White Sky" (New song off their upcoming album, Live on Jimmy Fallon)

Japanese Cartoon - "In the Jaws of the Lords of Death"
(Lupe Fiasco's punk side-project album as alter-ego Percival Fats, singing with an English accent)
via: P&P


Kevin Rudolf - "Welcome to the World" (Remix feat. Kid Cudi, not because I like Kevin Rudolf at all, original album version had Rick Ross)
Wale feat. Curren$y and Tre of UCB - "Word Play" (produced by 9th wonder, off upcoming "Back to the Feature" mixtape)via: Elitaste


Finally, courtesy of one of my fave blogs, a little sprinkling of possibly my new favorite band, check 'em out:Phoenix - Songs from upcoming album "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix"
via: P&P