Big Bloodclawt Tune

So... I just spent 2 days in NY and after a change of plans, made a b-line for Chitown instead of home. 2 reasons:

Went to catch up to my man, all beatsmith, super producer Jake One, and to also catch up to a cat that I've been building w/ for a min: Black Milk - another Monarch of the MPC.

Supersonic Jake was in Chitown as one of the heads of this traveling Beat Battle: Red Bull Big Tune. Essentially cats are facing off and go mano y mano with the beats and the crowd calls out the winner. Hmmmm.... Sounds like a god 'ol fashion clash.

As well, I wanted to take a closer look as plans are in the works to have it in Toronto. Say wrd. Shouts to JD and A$ as well as JO and H who rolled for the ride.

Shots of the event (click for larger)





The show was pretty live. The winner and runner up qualified for the finals in Seattle Oct 18th 2007. The Chicago winner ended up being this cat called Tall Black Guy who had some bangers. I mean, it's hard to get an instrumental banger out that cats can feel. A loop can't quite cut it. Felt like he had that boom and bap that's been missing out of NY. Lot of cats were running some dbl time, southern riddims. Being in the Midwest and the sign of the times would allow for that still. So they all posed for a photo @ the end. The whole show was a good look as some had been 1st timers tryingto have their joints heard




But the highlight for me had to have been to finally run into Black Milk after kicking it w/ him for months, trying to get him in Toronto (and he's here Wed July 25th).

As the special guest, he essentially rawks a quick set and played some bangerd from his beat tape. Bananas. I should have taped that. But what I did record was a joint he rawked (for those who have Sound of The City). Enjoy



And here are some more pix...






In any case, look for some of that magic Wednesday July 25th.



More photos...




See you cats Wednesday.

H!

Unconditional Love

I love this music.

I feel blessed to have grown up, seen and heard the ppl who were so influential in it's growth.

Ppl such as Large Professor aka Large Pro aka Extra P.



His involvement with some of the music's best is well documented.

I shot this outside a Polyrhythm Addict record release in March 07, in BK.

We exchanged just a few words. He then calmly walked home. Saw him again a few weeks ago @ the BK Bodega. But never kicked it.

I've always wondered what his views were on this current state of the Art. I didn't have the chance to ask.

Despite today being Friday the 13th, my luck may have just turned for ths best.... Stay tuned.

Black Wednesday

Well, almost 9months to the day I've been trying to make this happen, it's here.



I wanna thank JD and all the ppl @ Red Bull for having that listening ear. It's going to be a great show! $ayer in the building!

RedBull Muic Academy is proud to present:

BLACK MILK w/ special guest TBA

Wednesday, July 25th @ Revival
783 College St
Doors @ 10pm, show @ 11pm.

$10 Adv tix available @:

Play De Record (357A Yonge Street, Toronto)
Rotate This (620 Queen Street West, Toronto,)
Slinky Music (442 Queen Street West, Toronto)
Ticketweb.ca (search for Black Milk)

Set up the Facebook group as well.

If you've not heard of Black Milk, you've been robbed of some good music.

As such, for some of the 1st timers or neophytes, I'm posting some music for y'all to peep.

Click Play and enjoy.

Estoy De Vuelta

... meaning I'm back.

I missed you YYZ.

You and The Spaniard.

Busy weekend.

See you cats soon.

Top Shoppaz!

[Brap!] [Brap!]

BLOODCLAWT!

I've been trying to avoid doing too much shoppin just cuz the £ is just set to take me to the cleaners! Pls refer to the table below for the exchange rate:



So essentially, every 1£=$2 CAD. As such, if my meal is £8 which might be regarded as a deal, I am paying $16 for it. Which is so not a deal. Henceforth, the brits are laughing all the way to the bank when they vacation in North America.

QED: you see why the shopping is literally lethal. But oh well...



I was drawn in to the infamous Top Shop (click the above for a bigger view). Wowsers. Bought some dnm. There's a good chance I rawk 'em the day I come back as I need to break them in desperately. These are the skinniest that I have ever bought so when you see me... look out!

In any case, I'll add to the shopping exp today, yea.

Hizzla aka Top Shoppaz.

BBB

Barcelona esta platanos!

Necissito a regresar - real quick.



I miss my scooter!

Your boy...

holla!

+011447943572057

H!

Mike Jooooones, yea?

So, here I am in this affluent part of London (West Hampstead ni99a, throw 'em up!), and I'm about to pull a move more ghetto than sugar sandwiches.

I love traveling, but this has been one of my rarer lenghty trips. I still have 1 week to go and I've been here since the top of the week. I miss home! So here we go...

Mike Jones!!!!



+011447943572057

that's my cell # here in London, yea?.

Would love to hear from you. Make it simple, say like.... casual txt, yea?. ;)

But for real. holla. It's been fun but man, the weather flips more than winnipeg and the boro combined, yea?.

click below...


I've been hanging tons around this area. Top Shop, Regent St. Apple Store, Foot Patrol and so many more... yea?



As well, I'm glad to announce that my sobriety sentence was temporarily commuted last night by Judge L. Keaton...



I was @ this bday party, Under Di Bridge yea?(<---- that's the name of the spot, for real. Guess where it is??)

In any case, today I am off to Barcelona, FINALLY! So, time to get moving as I have a long ride to Luton Airport in London.



So.. Holla @ ur man if you have a hot minute.

+011447943572057 (can you hear the Swisha House beat in the back?)

I'll be sure to shout you out, yea?

I'm so hood... haha.

Hizzla.

New Era London, yea?

i totally forgot about this. I had heard rumblings that this was blasting off.

Nice.

I'll offer more deets when I get more shots. The security guard reminded me of a photo ban. Say what??

I will say this: it's BY FAR the nicest between all the others: that includes Buffalo as well as the 4th & Broadway NY, NY store.

In anycase, this is the only shot that i could offer you cats. Working on more... stay tuned, yea?

Shouts to my Sid who is grinding. He's got another surprise soon... Hold tight. Sid, I need some dates, yea?

click for bigger...



** BTW **

To all my US muchachos and guapasitas. Happy 4th of July. It does not get more American than New Era, yea?

Hizzla.

LGW, Stand UP!

Yep.

Good Morning.

Some of you knew. The rest of you just found out.

Your boy in in the land of chips and chavs.

Hide your women and their sisters. ;)

On a European tour of duty, yea.

LGW is the 1st stop, yea.

This is my 1st full day on my own. Shouts to Em & Keaton for holding me down!

It's just arrived and it's been an experience, yea?

Will actually do a Mike Jones and hit you cats with # to txt me @, yea?

This is live from Apple Store, London - came from the free Wi-fi, yea.

Say Wrd.




Hallelujah Hizzla.

Can a White guy win a Black award?? (*updated)

I sure hope so. I know they win Black girls' hearts [read Robin, your girl is bangin!]. So Robin Thicke is up for a BET award tonight (Best Male R&B), and I think he should do it. His joints were kinda banging still (and so is his wife DAMN!).

So who is he up against?? Well... Let's see:

Akon (well, maybe if yoots are voting)
John Legend (not again)
NE-YO (NO-NO)
and Gerald Levert (?!? huh?) A posthumous award?

I mean, RT rammed every show that he's had in Toronto, and if that happens, you get love. The only real threat might be the deceased.

So, it's on tonight in LA. 8pm I believe. That's in less than 3 hrs. My $$ is on the white guy.

PS - WIll anyone 1 up and drop to a bended knee tonight live on TV? ;)

** Update **

Thankfully, I have not enough $ to wager. Your boy would have lost. So, as Al Gore felt when losing to who he characterized as an intellectual inferior [read Dubya Bush], how does RT feel when losing to Ne-Yo? Ouch. Ok. Well, nx time dude. Nx time.

Royalty On The Rocks: The Smirnoff In The Mix Rap Up

As I mentioned, Smirnoff was so kind to put together a sick lineup for the night of June 21st - a Summer Launch of sorts. In The Mix was the event, hosted by Ed Lover and it featured Royalty all night long: DJ Premier, 9th Wonder and birthday boy Chocolate Boy Wonder bka Pete Rock.

NY would not be NY w/o drop in guests: Q Tip showed up to run a set, Kweli was also in the building as well as Agent Orange himself, Pharoahe Monch. Shouts to Donwill and VonPea of Tonya Morgan long side Che Grand who hung out w/a ninja that night...

The night itself was a highlight, though seeing Pete Rock blow out his 27 candles was a trip ;)... Hearing DJ Premier sing Happy Birthday to Pete Rock was another trip... But finding out that Ed Lover is a grandfather was bananas! Whoa. When did you last see your Grandpops w/ a Blackberry and a dookie chain getting faded off Smirnoff Red Apple? lol

Anyhow, before I forget, shouts to Harlem's most celebrated PhD for being such a great host even in absentia, Eternia (what a surprise), Shara who remembered (hey, we'll have a cake in Toronto as well!) and Expedia for keeping me moving along...

In any case, here's my megapixel dissertation. Enjoy - I sure did.

Hit the rd...




.. and up and away.




The Party.












Bumped in to...






Then spaced right out in Time Sq...




Now, in much honor of the night, you know I had to post some music.

So with that being said, enjoy the following 3 joints:

New Common, prod by DJ Premier
One of my fave street bangers by The UN - produced by Pete Rock, &
9th Wonder and Buckshot.

Click Play. Do it.

Bonnie & Clyde...

... will ride again.



£s & €s all day. Let's get it!

Royalty On The Rocks: NY Pilgrimage Foreward

So, I'm currently in Screw York, having pimped a flight for $178 CAD rtrn (that pimp hand is strong!).

Came down after getting an invite to this Smirnoff party I went to last night. I still hearing the ping from my email one very late Sunday night. Anyhow, below is the flyer (click for larger). You'll understand why this was Royalty on the Rocks (mixed, not stirred). Pix and accounts to follow.

BTW, it was the Chocolate Boy Wonder's bday yesterday!



So, quickly. The Pilgrimage will be in BK (click for bigger image):



Shouts to Von Pea of Tanya Morgan fame of the love.

Hallelujah holla back!

Hizzla.

Bonne Fete Conard!

Pause for the cause.

Happy Bday bro! Been a blast having you intown. I actually had to stop to think about it when I called last night. Can't believe it either. Won't put you on blast like that, but you know how I feel dude. 1st, 2nd or 3rd born - means nothing dude. Despite the fact that you used to break into my room, and go chill there w/ your boys..... LOL. It's all fam, all day. Papi et Mami showed us that du premier coup. Whishing you The Best le jour de ton anniversaire. Allez, on bouffe et on s'éclatte ce soir. ;)

Now, hold these (click for bigger image):