The best Kobe & Lebron puppet commercial to date

The ending is for all the sneaker heads out there...

"Lebron!  You got over 20 triple-doubles; can I have one?"

R.I.P Dinkytowner

By now you know the quality of dark pics my phone camera takes :(  If you weren't there last night, you missed the underground party of the YEAR for sure!  I hope these pics can give you an idea of the absolute energy and love for hip-hop in the place last night.  It was absolutely beautiful!

The party really started once Prof got on the mic and ripped a set that was way too short!  His flow is so unique and he was on point last night.  I don't know how dude keeps his delivery crystal clear even on Dinky's muddy soundsystem.  Straight merked it!  Be sure to catch him teamed up with partner in crime St. Paul Slim at the Fine Line on June 13th!  It's free.  Act like you know!

With the crowd at near capacity, Big Zach of Kanser/More Than Lights kicked a few verses reminiscing over nights of Dinkytowner's past.  The band came in and nobody looked back as "the Dinkytowner went out with a BANG" just as Zach promised.  If you've never seen More Than Lights, they are a treat.  In short, they are a group of equally talented musicians that play funky instrumentals with hints of jazz as Zach and Unicus spit rhymes and the lovely Natalie Fine (how appropriate is that last name!) layers soulful vocals infinitely larger than her stature would suggest.  Keeping the breaks moving is Corey Hess.  Vibrating the spine is Chris Hunnicutt on bass.  The soulful keys and brass is delivered by Josh "Jellyfish" Holmgren.  Guitar riffs are freaked by Matiu Unga.  But you can find all of this out and more on their myspace.

Sneak peek into my sketchbook

Let the weekend begin!

It may be a little early but when Santigold comes to your town it makes the weekend official.

THURSDAY NIGHT

FRIDAY NIGHT

SATURDAY NIGHT (Last Show at the Dinkytowner)

HEADS UP!

Mux Mool, June 6th at the Uptown Bar!!!

...much more to come.

It's Tiiiiiiiiiime!

It's time for some West End boogie.  Disco has been seeing a revival lately in many different forms.  Whether it be edits, new disco, Italo, or obscurities it's been showing up everywhere and has even been influencing some of the new pop sound.  One of the proofs of disco's resurgence has been in the re-issues of some of the smaller labels that had slept-on gems.  I've been a huge fan of disco ever since I started buying records because 1) I love to dance and 2) disco records tend to be cheaper than any other used records.  Recently I've been getting into some of the re-issues.  My favorite series of re-presses has to be the boogie on the West End label.  I actually have about a half dozen of them.  With all that said, you could imagine my excitement when I came across an original pressing on West End.  And it's not just any disco track, this is the real deal.  It even has a nice disco break in the middle.  Enjoy!

Stone, "Time (Vocal)" from a 1981 West End 12"

While I was enjoying my Memorial Day digging through records I ran into Tasha from Black Blondie.  I sure hope I don't need to mention how much I absolutely love Black Blondie.  I truly believe that they are the next big thing to come out of Minneapolis.  I had a bunch of stuff in my satchel I sifted through to find something to get signed but I couldn't find anything worthwhile.  So I hopped upstairs to the CDs and bought my third copy of Do You Remember Who You Wanted To Be?.  I ripped it open and cheese-ily approached the ever-gracious Tasha for an autograph (nerd!  I know).  She was very kind and happily obliged.  I asked her about some of their upcoming gigs and the one that I'm looking forward to most is at the 501 Bar by Block E where they'll be playing a full set and then sticking around for the rest of the evening as a three-piece without the drums.  She says that they'll probably do some dub/reggaeton stuff.  Be there!  June 6th and it's free?!?!?!

Big Quarters CD Release show in review

Disclaimer: Big Quarters always brings the energy when they perform.  They just brought even more for their release show at the Triple Rock.  In particular, I've never seen Brandon as intense as he was.  He had his listen-I'm-trying-to-teach-you-dummies-something screw-face on most of the night.  From a technical standpoint, these brothers always come correct during their live shows.  When most rappers up the intensity level they end up slurring and just not enunciating.  But dudes were crystal clear with their delivery and messages.

Speaking of messages, the crowd was fully involved and down for all of the knowledge that was dropped by the talented guests throughout the night.  Host Big Zach even dropped some classic jewels from his impressive catalog.  I Self Divine came through for "Instinct" (you had to be signed up for BQ Direct to get that one from their April feast), P.O.S performed "One On the Lip", Crescent Moon performed "Wipe the Dust (produced by Brandon)", and Mankwe Ndosi through down with Medium Zach at the end of her set.

Big Quarters CD Release show TONIGHT!

It's finally here.  It goes down tonight at the Triple Rock.  Doors are at 9 but I highly recommend buying tickets before hand online to guarantee you get in.  I predict that this show will sell out with the quickness especially with dope opening acts: Mankwe Ndosi, Kill the Vultures, Alissa Paris and hosted by the bigger version of Zach, New MC (aka White Jesus, Zachariah, Big Zach...).  Be there!

Zachariah (you're host for the evening), "Sub Shop" from White Jesus

Haha!  I bet you'll never go to Erbert and Gerbert's again!  More jokes, chilling and good ole fashion hip-hop can be expected throughout the night.