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Rising Down tomorrow!

Don't forget to cop your fresh copy of the new Roots album, Rising Down, in stores tomorrow. Unless you already got it delivered in the mail with your fresh Rising Down tee to go with it. I can tell you that this album is well worth your $'s. And for my Philly peeps, if you are craving some more from the legendary, check out The Roots Picnic and The Roots w/ Erykah Badu. coming up soon.

Monday Memories

So I decided that I'm gonna do some throw back videos for my Monday posts from now on, we'll call them Monday Memories. Shining some light on some of the great artists from our past generations. And with that being said, I give you one of my all time favorite american soul singers, Mr. Billy Preston. The first clip is from the movie Before The Music Dies, and the second is from a midnight special in 1973. Did you know that Billy is considered to be the fifth member of The Beatles? Due to his contributions to many of the groups recordings and his spiritual efforts to keep the group together. Yeah, wikipedia that!

If You Want Me To Stay - Sunday Vids

Check out this old school video from 1974 of Sly singing, "If You Want Me To Stay", and an interview with him from the same year. Interesting conversation about Sly's movie idea, set for the year 2009. I smell controversy??

A little about Sly and The Family Stone. After a mildly received debut album, A Whole New Thing (1967), Sly & The Family Stone had their first hit single with "Dance to the Music", which was later included on an album of the same name. Although their third album, Life (also 1968), also suffered from low sales, their fourth album, Stand! (1969), became a runaway success, selling over three million copies and spawning a number one hit single, "Everyday People." By the summer of 1969, Sly & The Family Stone were one of the biggest names in music, releasing three more top five singles, "Hot Fun in the Summertime" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" / "Everybody is a Star", before the end of the year, and appearing at Woodstock. Bottom line....thank you for making such timeless and meaningful music that I still enjoy to this day.

A Tribe Called Quest Headlining Rock The Bells!

Shit this is gonna be insane. And they are coming to Philly! Rock The BellsRock The Bells 2008 Press Conference

NERD vs. Lupe

Reminisce on the original version of "Maybe" by NERD, then check out the Lupe version, "And He Gets the Girl" and the crazy ill video that someone put together for a school project.

Penn Relay Party Friday Night

Can't Stop, Won't Stop

I'm in the middle of reading Can't Stop, Won't Stop by Jeff Chang right now. I recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the history of hip-hop and how everything from the dj, mc, b-boy, graf artist and culture of hip-hop first started and how it has evolved into what it is today. Jeff Chang really goes all out with his in-depth stories and quotes, touching on what seems to be "everything".

"Hip-hop is the voice of this generation. Even if you didn't grow up in the Bronx in the '70s, hip-hop is there for you. It has become a powerful force. Hip-hop binds all of these people, all of these nationalities, all over the world together."
—DJ Kool Herc, from the Introduction

Forged in the fires of the Bronx and Kingston, Jamaica, hip-hop became the Esperanto of youth rebellion and a generation-defining movement. In a post-civil rights era defined by deindustrialization and globalization, hip-hop crystallized a multiracial, polycultural generation's worldview, and transformed American politics and culture. But that epic story has never been told like this. From the gangs of the late 60s to the icons of the new millennium, from the Ghetto Brothers and Universal Zulu Nation organizations to the hip-hop activists, Can't Stop Won't Stop presents the hip-hop generation in all its grime and glory with breadth, wit, and style.

Based on original interviews with DJs, b-boys, rappers, graffiti writers, activists, and gang members, with unforgettable portraits of many of hip-hop's forebears, founders, and mavericks, including DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Chuck D, and Ice Cube, Can't Stop Won't Stop chronicles the events, the ideas, the music, and the art that marked the hip-hop generation's rise from the ashes of the 60s into the new millennium. Here is a powerful cultural and social history of the end of the American century, and a provocative look into the new world that the hip-hop generation created.

Also check out, Total Chaos: The Art and Aesthetics of Hip-Hop, written by Jeff Chang.

How they do in Vansterdam

Every year on April 20th @ 4:20 pm at the Art Gallery in downtown Vancouver.

4:20

And of course, happy 4:20 people. Make sure to indulge yourself for the "holiday".
Although many diverse theories exist to explain the origin of the term, one central root of the phrase stems from a group of teenagers at San Rafael High School in San Rafael, California in 1971; the teens would meet after school at 4:20 p.m. to smoke cannabis at the Louis Pasteur statue. The term became part of their group's salute, "420 Louis!", and became popularized in the late 1980s by fans of The Grateful Dead. Many North American cannabis users continue to observe 4:20 as a time to smoke communally. By extension April 20 ("4/20" in U.S. dating shorthand) has evolved into a counterculture holiday, where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis. In some locations this celebration coincides with Earth Week.

Sunday Vids

This dude is an animal. Make sure you catch the last 10 seconds of the vid, insanee.

And of course I've got some Philly native lovin, Kevin Taylor, the gods aesthitics.

Planet B-Boy in Philly on Friday.

With compelling characters and vibrant dance sequences, PLANET B-BOY is set in the International world of b-boying - the urban dance more commonly known as "breakdancing."

Weaving between the vivid backdrops of Osaka, Paris, Seoul and Las Vegas, spectacular choreography frames the intimate stories of dancers who struggle for their dreams despite being misunderstood by larger society and their own families.

An American dancer in Vegas looks for his big break; a Korean son seeks his father's approval; a twelve-year-old boy in France confronts his family's racism - all the b-boys' lives collide in Germany where their skills are put to the ultimate test: the "Battle of the Year" finals, with crews from 18 nations vying for the title of World Champion.

Planet B-Boy features electrifying dance performances and astonishing displays of power and grace, showing how a street dance form New York has evolved into an aspiring art form for a new generation around the world.

Catch one of the shows while they are here.
April 18 - 24
Landmark Ritz @ The Bourse theatre
400 Ranstead Street
Philadelphia, PA
Fri-Thu 12:20 | 2:35 | 5:15 | 7:35 | 9:50

For All My Bands...Quest Speaks The Truth

It's Sunday so this is only appropriate.

A Little Old School Fire For Ya

Baby

Public Service Announcement---Philadelphia

Pics from WORD?!

Just got the pics from our lovely photog, Kate Boyer. She was nice enough to come out and represent for 215 Mag and snap a bunch of pictures in the process. Here are a few, the rest are up on the WORD?! myspace page. So you want to know how the party went huh??....well I'll tell you that it was a success and I can't wait for our next one! We had our daredevil Nocturnal brotha, Dan HD haha come out and shoot some video of the party so we will have that coming asap. Thank you to everyone who came and showed their support, I felt like we were all one big happy family. To all those who helped out and took part, also a big thank you. And to all those who missed out, shame on you!! It's all good though, you got next month.

Baby B-boy

This kid must have been a b-boy in another life or something. Can't wait to see him when he gets a little older.

What up dude

Anybody? Down on 2nd street in Northern Libs.

Bringing that funk and soul back...

So I came across this and just had to post it immediately, the skeleton kills it. Look at those dance moves!

Tomorrow night! WORD?!!

It's almost that time. WORD?! The party is tomorrow night and let me tell you that it is gonna be one hell of a night. Not only is it hosted by Akilles, Selina Carrera and Repstyles Crew but it is the official going away party for John F. and it's a birthday celebration for Dom from Nouveau Riche! Exclusive couture will be displayed by S. Don Clothing, Nocturnal, and Rarebreed. And I promised you some updates on how our promotion has been going and I'm just going to give you a taste. We have been handing out Two.One.Five Mags packed with flyers, exclusive John F. postcards, DIY stickers, and free passes to the Coors Light Banquet w/ DJ Biz Markie on April 10th (you can also sign up for FREE at the party). Just to refresh your memory, the party is at MarBar on 40th and Walnut, starts at 9pm, cover is $7, and we are going to be giving out tons of free stuff!! Yeah free stuff, gotta love it. Check out the pics and another Repstyles Crew video for ya. Hope to see everyone at the party, enjoy your Thursday, it's almost Friday, lets make it funky!

Who Knew

that one day they would sell weed out of vending machines. Pretty crazy. And wild cherry?? Whatt??

The New Temple Owl??

Yeah David Ellis is on some totally other shiz. The owl played an hour long composition by Roberto Lang at an event held by David Ellis and Doze Green in December 2007. And it's even made out of all recycled materials. It's Only Music whatttttt.