Curried No Beefs.

NOTE: The following conversation took place in an Indian restaurant...somewhere.

Ziti: Son! Did you see that? She looks like a f*cking goddess. Is this "Heaven"?

Jose and Free: [laughs]

Ziti: That's the type of chick you come home to, after you've been in the forest chopping wood all day.

Free: Yeahhhhhhh. She needs to be over here! On my team.

Jose: [looks at Free disbelieving] Free you ain't doing that. C'mon, man. Wake up.

Free: [stunned] What??? Man...Jose...you'd just be on your back.

Jose: Yeah. "On my back"...doing it to girls that you wish you could smash.

Ziti: Damn. [laughs]

Free: Whatever. You'll be on your back. That chick will have YOUR legs up in the air.

Ziti: [laughs] "Up in the air." Ha!

Jose: Whatever. I'd rather the broad have my legs up (in the air), than to have my legs up in the bathroom...by myself...like you.

Jose and Ziti: [laughs]

Free: Damn, man. Why'd you have to go there? That's what you think, huh?

Ziti: "Up. In. The. Air." Ha!

Art-Hop Episode 3: My Hat's Real Low

Artist: Jay-Z

Song: "99 Problems"

Album: The Black Album

Director: Mark Romanek

This song is probably in my Top 3 Jay-Z songs. The video? My favorite Jay video, hands down. It's gets no better than this. Jay driving around NYC with Rick Rubin riding shotgun seals the deal for me. Vincent Gallo? What the heck is he doing, arbitrarily walking around Brooklyn??? I don't know, but he looks cool doing it.

Outside of the cop scene, there really isn't a narrative to this video. It's just a bunch beautifully shot scenes edited together.

Who knew that a well placed Slayer sample, coupled with Jiggaman & Rick Rubin hanging out in BK, could make for a visually interesting video?

P.S. All of these picks won't be B&W (or from 10 years ago). I'll post some artsy Hip-Hop vids shot in color (AND made in recent years).

I just have to look really hard.

Art-Hop Episode 2: End Of The D.A.I.S.Y. Age

Artist: De La Soul

Song: "Ring Ring Ring"

Album: De La Soul Is Dead

Enough can't be said about this album. The trio--that ushered in esoteric rhymes and images of peace, love and flowers--skillfully "killed" their former image on their sophomore set, De La Soul Is Dead.

The first single from that album, "Ring Ring Ring" speaks to achieving a level of fame and then being plied with demo tapes from up & coming musicians. The video features stark black & white photography with allusions to leaving their old image behind.

This album and its concept was ahead of its time. What HIP-HOP artist, that you know, would discard a multi-million dollar image for the sake of advancing their art?

Don't rush to answer. I'll wait.

Art-Hop Episode 1: Upside down. Rightside Up.

Artist: The Pharcyde

Song: "Passin' Me By"

Album: 'Bizarre Ride To The Pharcyde'

Director: Sanji

With all of the buzz surrounding the new Kanye "film", I've decided to post some Hip-Hop videos that are a bit more art-influenced.

The first two Pharcyde albums were my favorites. I liked both albums for different reasons. Lyrically, both records were off the wall. Sonically, the first album had some crazy Fender Rhodes work from J Swift. The follow-up featured some of the first mainstream work from Dilla. No sophomore slump here.

This song/video? It perfectly captures the woe of a heart-broken rapper. The obvious allusion to ones world being "turned upside down" was brilliant. It made the case for authentic Hip-Hop being displayed with artistic visuals.

Art? Hip-Hop? Together? Ha!

Who would've thunk it?

You might need this

They used to play songs like this on the radio.

Those were good times. Waking up. Starting your day. Eating breakfast. Good tunes on the FM. Sometimes, you need that--especially in the morning--to get yourself "in gear". I mean, songs about murder and dry humping are cool...I guess.

Why did I post this? Hmmmm.

You might need this.

For real.

There have been times in my life
I've been wondering why
Still somehow I believed
we'd always survive

Now I'm not so sure
You're waiting to hear
one good reason to try
But what more can I say
what's left to provide?

(You think that maybe it's over)
(Only if you want it to be)
Are you gonna wait for
your sign, your miracle?
Stand up and fight

(This is it)
Make no mistake where you are
(This is it)
Your back's to the corner
(This is it)
Don't be a fool anymore
(This is it)
The waiting is over

No room to run
nowhere to hide
no time for wondering why
It's here
the moment is now
about to decide

Let him believe
or leave him behind
But keep me near in your heart
And know, whatever you do
I'm here by your side

(You said that maybe it's over)
(Not if you don't want it to be)
For once in your life
here's your miracle
Stand up and fight

(This is it)
Make no mistake where you are
(This is it)
You're going no further
(This is it)
Until it's over and done

(No one can tell you what you know)
Woh oh oh oh
(Who makes the choice of how it goes?)
It's not up to me this time
(You know)
There comes a day in every life

(This is it)
Make no mistake where you are
(This is it)
You're going no further
(This is it)
Until it's over and done
(This is it)
One way or another
(This is it)
No one can tell what the future holds
(This is it)
Your back's to the corner

(This is it)
You make the choice of how it goes
(This is it)
The waiting is over
(This is it)
No one can tell what the future holds
(This is it)
You're going no further

Lost Where I Belong

Artist: Andreya Triana

Album: Lost Where I Belong

A little late in posting. One of my recent favorites.

Props to: Ninja Tune

The mythic scale of Superman...and Morrison

Props to: Adam Rogers & Wired.com

A Cat, A Fish & A Lorax

Yep. I copped this. This **** is brilliant! I've always loved Seuss! Geisel was/is a genius. Quote me on that. The audiobook contains 11 stories, read by:

• Kelsey Grammer,
• Dustin Hoffman
• Walter Matthau
• John Cleese
• Ted Danson
• John Lithgow
• Mercedes McCambridge
• Billy Crystal

NOTE: Ted Danson reads "The Lorax". Don't worry. He doesn't read it in blackface.

Return To Mecca

Whose idea was this? Whoever it was, needs to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Seriously. Mecca and The Soul Brother...classic. And I mean, "classic", in every sense of the word. Not how "classic" is bandied about and used to label every new album by every new artist, that you schmoes think is "hot". No. This is the real deal. The early Ziti years? This album stayed in rotation. Pete Rock was in a zone. C.L. Smooth couldn't spell a bad verse. It was that kind of album.

2010. What makes this special? We are treated to a deluxe re-issue, that is usually reserved for Jazz album staples and pivotal rock albums. Very rarely does a Hip-Hop album get the re-issue that it deserves. This one? You can put it on the shelf next to your A Love Supreme anniversary edition. C'mon. You read these posts. You know that I'm a sucker for good packaging. Remember the Jake One/Freeway album? The presentation of that set was one of the main reasons I bought it. [Note: There was a post on here. Dig it up.]

You could download it, but this album makes the case for buying a physical CD. This set includes the original (classic) album with a second disc loaded with treats and trimmings. Instrumentals. Acapellas. Remixes. A booklet with entries from the players involved. As a bonus; a poster for your locker.

You kids are so lucky.

Cop it. Enjoy it. Learn you something.

p.s. Shouts to Traffic Entertainment Group. You people are saints. With that said, I will be by your offices to rub your feet in exotic oils from faraway lands.

I Bid You Adu

NOTE: The following exchange took place in a bagel spot...somewhere.

Jose: Yo son...Sade is f*cking beautiful.

Ziti: Who are you telling? She's probably one of the most visually compelling women I've ever seen. The subtlety. The grace. That barefoot two-step. Amazing.

Jose: If she walked in this muthaf*cker [right now] and said "Yo, Jose...I want you to come be with me and just stay in the house all day and do nothing. F*ck it. I would drop everything! I mean everything!

Ziti: She's dope.

Jose: I'm not playing. I would change my name to "Adu". My name would be Jose Sade Adu.

Ziti: (laughs)

Jose: I would stay in the house all day and just cook Salmon fillets. All you would hear from me would be "yes m'am" and "no m'am". You wouldn't hear a peep out of me.

Ziti: (laughs) She's beautiful.

Jose: You're damn right" she's "beautiful"! She's a f*cking stunner!

Ziti: She's glorious. No doubt about it. Soooooo, what are you ordering?

Jose: Yo, son.....if Sade walks in here, right now, I'm out! F*ck that.

Ziti: Jeez.

Jose: "Jose Adu", son. "Jose Adu".