Here is Remind rockin CIVIL LA: WOOT!

This weekend we had a chance to sponsor one of the illest bboy battles of all time: KMEL vs REMIND. For those of you that don’t know, both these guys were the Michael Jordan’s of bboying during their era.

These are my thoughts on the battle between two of the illest bboys of all time. I felt like Kamel wasn’t there the entire battle, it seemed that he was trying to rock it through the first round, but he wasn’t feeling the music. Remind, on the other hand rocked the hell out of that beat and showed us why bboys want to be him.

However, I didn’t find anything wrong with the music, it was perfectly rockable. When you are one of the best, and bboys have looked up to you for the better part of a decade there is no excuse on why you can’t dance to the beat the best you can. Kamel told the DJ to cut the music after four rounds, I think both these masters of their art were trying to send a message to bboys: that true bboying takes place in a cypher and not in an exhibition. We don’t dance for money or fame but for ourselves. But this message came of more like Kamel didn’t want to dance.

Highlights from the clip :
1.)Remind rockin that 90 at 2:16 on the second version of the clip.

2.)Remind’s dancing (Overall)

3.) Kmel’s flip into footwork at the beginning of the battle.

1.) Long and Ri Ri.

2.) Short and Ri Ri.

3.)Bangs and Ri Ri.

4.)Curls and Ri Ri.

5.) Slick-Blond and Ri Ri.

6.) RED…and…Ri Ri.

Can’t wait for Ri Ri and Ri Ri to come out. New look.She be doing it…

Spotted on the corner of Durant and Bowditch in Berkeley, CA, I caught a tagged up electrical box with the words “Bag Lady” on the front. I instantly knew this was alluding to Erykah Badu and her song of the same name. Badu’s lyrics describe a woman with some extra “baggage” that keeps her from forming relationships with those around her- so whoever tagged this obviously had some taste and an accompanying street education.

To take it back I thought I’d toss in this throwback video of 2000′s “Bag Lady;” for those of you who haven’t already had the pleasure.

This was from the most current issue of rolling stone with Jay-Z..

“One of the reasons I wanted to make Blueprint 3 was because of the challenge. We’ve seen people like LL Cool J have longevity, and we respect the heritage of what he’s done, but it’s not like, right now, he’s competing on the same level as Lil Wayne. So for me to still be able to compete at that level at my age, that’s rarefied air. It’s never been done.”

“I think the problem with people, as they start to mature, they say, ‘Rap is a young man’s game,’ and they keep trying to make young songs. But you don’t know the slang – it changes every day. You can visit the topic, but these young kids live it every day, and you’re just visiting. So you’re trying to be something you’re not, and the audience doesn’t buy into that. And people wonder why. ‘I made a great Southern bounce song!’ You’re from New York, and you’re 70! Why are you bouncing?”

Does Jay-Z have a point or is he just putting Mr. Lady’s Love in the garbage…?

New video from Alpha pup artist “Take”.

“LA’s beat-centric Alpha Pup label recently added a new producer to its ranks with the melodic sub-loving styles of Take and his debut full-length, Only Mountain. Taken from said debut, “Incredibright” is a bit of a beguiling title for this slice of wobbling dubstep. The reverberated piano flourishes and plinking synth melodies, uh, brighten up the track, but—for the most part—Take’s mid-album jam is ruled by crunchy space trash and woozily sinister low-frequency sounds.”

Finally had a chance to try Honey’s Kettle with the homies, Larry ( DJ Predakon) and Arash ( DJ Shammy Dee). I’ve been dying to try one of the best fried chicken spots on earth, this place puts all other fried chicken spots to shame. Don’t even think about comparing this spot to KFC or Popeye’s, it is beyond sacrilegious. Oh yeah, one more thing get the biscuits, they are so heavenly, light and divine, it melts in your mouth smoother than butter sauteed lobster.

Larry is on is way to tour in Taiwan for a month, and Arash just got back from Texas, and worked with Talib Kweli, you can also catch him in the Gamespot commerical. Its good to see friends doing their thing.

Here is Shepard getting down and also being photographed by the famous Martha Cooper. For those unfamiliar with her work, Martha is a renowned photographer who picked up her first lens at the age of three. Her background ranges from teaching English in Thailand, journeying on a Motorcycle from England to Bangkok, as well as being staff photographer for the New York Post in the 1970s.

The Great Dondi White.

What Martha is best known for is perhaps documenting the New York graffiti scene of the 1970s and ’80s. Her most known personal work began while working at the New York Post. On her return home from the Post she began taking photos of children in her New York city neighborhood. One day she met a young kid named Edwin who helped expose her to some of the graffiti around her neighborhood. Edwin helped to explain to her that Graffiti is an art form and that each artist was actually writing his/her nickname. Edwin then proceeded to tell of the Graffiti King and asked if she would like to meet him. This is when Martha met Dondi, the first one who allowed her to accompany him; while Dondi was tagging she would take photos of his art. In the 1980s she put together a book of photos illustrating the Graffiti subculture called Subway Art.

The Late Frosty Freeze. The character he employs is still evident in this still photo.

Short but informative interview on Martha. What is important about her work is that she gets it. Rather than to skew a story to what sells sensationally much like many in the media, Martha truly understands the movement of graff. Martha understood that graff battles were waged with the men rather than with guns, she knew it as the secret language of the youth that adults didn’t understand.

Did Lil Wayne snap…or is this tight…what do  you think?

The Civil LA selection in Japan…