K.M.D.

Kause

I so badly wanted hair like Subroc. It's so... tree-like, with every dread looking like a branch.

Respect to Lil' Doom for providing the theme song to my bi-weekly trips to the barbershop.

K.M.D. - Subroc's Mission


K.M.D. - Peachfuzz (Last Chance For Radio)

Iz-Real - Vol. 2: Adventure Time Rhymes

Lukey

"Comic books, p***y, video games..."

This blog supports Iz-Real.

He has a new release, so check it out if you're so inclined. (It's free!)

Iz-Real - Adventure Time featuring Fat Ross


Iz-Real - Island Song (Remix)/Come Along featuring Turtle Handz


Vol. 2: Adventure Time Rhymes: Download
Lukey Loves the Cartoon Ladies: Read

The Master (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2012)

After the release of the first two teaser trailers, I told myself that I would be on blackout status until the film's release date.

I couldn't stop myself.

Along with the Coen Brothers, PTA is on my carte blanche list of directors. They can create something that looks entirely terrible, and I would still purchase a ticket to see it. This film does not look terrible.

Amy Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman are two of the best actors on screen today.

I wouldn't consider myself a fan of Joaquin Phoenix, but he looks fantastic here.

This has winner written all over it.

My most anticipated film of 2012

The One with the Shout-out from Casual

Smash

Don't think I've shared this one, so gather 'round y'all.

Over a year ago (I think), Casual must have hit upon something that inspired him to write to GZA's Investigative Reports. Being without the instrumental, he decides to reach out on Twitter, hoping to find someone who might have a copy. I don't have it in my collection, but a quick Google search turns up the instrumental tracks to Liquid Swords.

I send the track to Casual, and a few hours later he comes back with this.

Casual - Investigative Reports

My first shout-out.

Thanks for reading...and listening.

Follow Casual on Twitter @smashrockwell

**UPDATE**

Twitter now allows for archive downloads. In case you (reader) thought I was Duck Tale-in', here's some evidence.

Put This On: Season 2 - Episode 4: Eccentric Style

Put This On, a web series about dressing like a grownup, visits London, where we visit with a few of the distinctive personalities that help make London a special place.

Guy Hills makes tweeds with the colors of the London streets- including reflective stripes for cyclists.
David Saxby went from being a vintage dealer to recreating traditional styles in his own factories with the workers who’d been laid off as clothing manufacture left England.

We visit Cordings, an unusual outdoor clothing store that Eric Clapton felt so strongly about he bought it.

And we learn a few ways to tie a scarf. Plus our sponsor, Mailchimp, and of course Rudiments with Dave Hill.

This is the fourth episode in our six-episode second season. In this season, we visit the three greatest men’s style cities in the world, as chosen by our readers - New York, Milan and London.

Mac Miller Lord Finesse

By now you're probably aware that Lord Finesse is suing Mac Miller. If not, you can read some of the details here: Complex

This lawsuit has sparked much debate since the news broke. Predictably many have argued against Finesse on the basis of him being mad, old, and - this just in - practically homeless. This type of barbershop argument is commonplace on the Internet, so I won't waste much time commenting on lolz, but there is one point of contention in this mess that I find interesting, and that is the issue of clearing samples.

A lot of people (including Mac Miller) are under the belief that Finesse did not clear the sample(s) for this track. I don't know if this is true or not, but I initially failed to see (or ignored?) its relevance.

I knew it would be a matter of moments, and as expected, the relevance was soon made clear to me in a tweet by a Hip Hop producer (one of my favorites):

I believe the point being made here is that Lord Finesse is being somewhat hypocritical. Well, that really sounds like some unwritten rule shit to me. Do we not believe that Finesse is fully aware of the risk of legal action when using the work of other artists? If he was sued, do you think he would scream injustice, or resort to bitching? Shouldn't all artists (including new cats like Mac Miller) be aware of these same risks, regardless of what is being sampled (Jazz or Hip Hop), or how you intend to use the music? (Album or Mixtape)

Basically my position is this: whether or not a person cleared samples for their composition, it shouldn't absolve another person (and their management team) of not using due diligence when dealing with copyright laws. It's like a kid using the 'well he did it too!' argument. There was similar outrage when Chuck D. took issue with Bad Boy and DJ Premier sampling his voice for Ten Crack Commandments. "Hey Mr. Chuck...you've sampled in the past, why are you mad?"

Headz, understand this: The Four Elements, and 'back in my day' Hip Hop code of ethics do not hold up in a court of law. To throw another cliche out there, handle your business...properly.

I understand that Mac Miller has stated that he did have a conversation with Lord Finesse, and Lord Finesse says that his cease and desist letter was ignored. We don't know the full story, and we're all gonna have to wait for this to settle in or out of court.

Whether he has a case or not, can we please not act like Finesse doesn't the right to explore legal options, or that Mac Miller is under protection by some code.

This is the real world.

Hip Hop will not save you.