Tis the Hip Hop Season

First Ave. brings the fire this season.

The 3 Days of Hip Hop:

Dec. 3rd
Unknown Prophets CD Release w/ Cunninlynguists, Grieves w/ Budo, Looptroop Rockers, Tunji with DJ Espada, and DJ Anton


Dec. 4th (@ Varsity Theater)
E&A, Themselves, Sector 7 G


Dec. 5th
Doomtree Blowout V

And of course you won't miss the Fresh Air Tour w/ Brother Ali, Evidence, Toki Wright, and BK One on Nov. 20th and 21st.



Enjoy,
Tooth

Tis the Hip Hop Season

Britney Spears' New Music Video ("3")

Oh God, here we go again.

Britney Spears' New Music Video ("3")

The Rise of the EP

When is the last time you bought an actual CD? Or even an entire album from iTunes? It's interesting to note that these days, it's far more common for people to just pick and choose the songs they like from the 30 second previews or just buy their favorite new single on the radio instead of going for the entire package. This is yet another example of how iTunes and digital media have changed how the music industry operates. Instead of taking years to put together new material in the form of a complete album, artists have turned more to the EP format to get new material out there faster. EP's, or Extended Play albums, usually have four to eight new songs - just enough to be more than a single, but not enough to be a full album.

This switch can be attributed to two things: the freedom that comes with iTunes' option to buy songs individually as well as full albums, and our generation's growing lack of attention span. It is rare at a college campus gathering to hear one song in its entirety, let alone an entire album. Also, we're impatient. We can't wait for our favorite artists to come out with new material, and they have recognized that.

This change is not necessarily good or bad. In fact, it seems to have more pros than cons for everyone involved, both the fans and the artists. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins said he was never comfortable with the album format because it felt forced. "It was obviously an economic decision made by others and not an artistic decision made by creators." He also points out, "It can be draining to record 15 songs over a six-month period." And as the same article article accurately points out, "Who cares, I'm only going to put a few songs on my iPod anyway."

-Erin

The Rise of the EP

Puff, Puff, Pass

Alright stoners put down the lighter, turn down the Bob Marley in the background and check this out. The Obama administration stayed true to their word and finally changed some out of date policies. Federal prosecutors are no longer permitted to prosecute patients who use medical marijuana or those providing it if they are complying with state law. Instead, law enforcement is going to spend their time going after more serious cases involving marijuana and violence, selling pot to minors, illegal use of firearms, money laundering, and involvement in other serious crimes. Medical marijuana is legal in 14 states; Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

Some believe that this is the first step towards legalizing marijuana in the United States. I don’t know if that will ever happen, but it’s nice to see that maybe it’s going to progress the country towards a more chilled out perspective about marijuana use. Maybe parents and friends won’t get so pissed off if their child or someone that they know likes to smoke a bowl after a long day at work or school and watch “Always Sunny in Philadelphia” or “Reno 911!,” not that I would know anything about things like that. I’m just saying it shouldn’t be a crime if that’s how you choose to unwind and you’re not hurting anyone in the process. Thanks Obama, I hope you know a lot of people are burning one down for you right now.

Puff, Puff, Pass

Lil’ Wayne: The next Wayne Plus Eight?

He is a baby-making machine! Lil’ Wayne confirmed during a BBC interview that he and R&B singer Nivea Hamilton are having a baby boy. This will be Wayne’s fourth child. Each kid has a different mother and his last baby momma just gave birth to his third child September 9.

I think TLC needs to drop Jon and Kate and bring a new show to the table: “Wayne and his Lil’ Eight.” I’m positive at this rate he will be having more than eight kids. I can see it now, Wayne teaching his kids to roll the perfect joint while he’s sippin’ on syrup in the background. Family trips to the MTV music awards, the Grammy’s, and his many court appearances. I wouldn’t mind being one of his kids. Lil’ Wayne, you can adopt me!

Lil Baby Wayne

-Rachel

Lil’ Wayne: The next Wayne Plus Eight?

Outrage against Jan Moir

On October 16th 2009 Jan Moir published an article on Daily Mail questioning the death of Stephen Gately, a pop star singer in Boyzone. The death of Stephen Gately was announced to be from natural causes, but the following morning Jan Moir questioned the real reason behind the death, hinting towards the death being related to Gately being gay.

These statements lead to a storm of protest almost immediately after the posting. Over 1,000 complaints were made to the Press Complaints Commission. Brands including Marks & Spencer have asked for their advertisements to be removed on the Daily Mail website pages that feature this article. Today on Twitter, approximately 100 posts per minute are being tweeted in opposition of Jan Moir’s statements. Earlier today a Facebook page was set up urging users to lobby brands featured on the page.

The article was widely seen as an outspoken attack on gay lifestyles and civil partnerships. Jan Moir released a statement stating that was not her intention. But I think the damage has been done, and many people are outraged. It will take some serious work to build up her fans again.

Read the article

-Annie

Outrage against Jan Moir

Predictions for the most popular Halloween costumes this year:

Newsweek has posted a hilarious slide show with their predictions of what will be the most popular Halloween costumes this year, based on the top pop-culture and newsworthy events of 2009. Complete with masks to print out!

Click here for the slideshow

My personal favorite is the Balloon Boy costume. Of course, I have been planning on being Lady Gaga since April, so any other Lady Gagas are definitely copying me. Although the chances of two Lady Gaga costumes looking the same are about as low as the chances of me avoiding the swine flu this winter - another awesome costume idea. Check it out!

-Erin

Predictions for the most popular Halloween costumes this year:

Jesse McCartney: Fail

Singer Jesse McCartney forgot the lyrics of the Star Spangled Banner at the NASCAR Pepsi 500 race in California. McCartney skipped the second line of the song.

First of all, didn’t we learn the Star Spangled Banner at a very early age? I mean it’s our national anthem! You hear it at sporting events, sing it at school, and hear it every Fourth of July. Second of all he screwed up the beginning of the song, which I feel is the easiest part to remember. I can maybe understand not remembering “ramparts” and “bombs bursting.” On a side note, isn’t it kind of weird that our national song, the song that represents our country talks about bombs and how that was our “proof that our flag was still there?” Anyways, it was McCartney’s job to know the words, as I’m sure he was getting paid for this appearance.

I think the best part of this screw up is the look on the racer’s faces when they realize he skipped some lyrics. It’s awkward and hilarious all at the same time. The CNN reporters had some comical remarks too which is surprising since I find most anchor jokes to be lame, especially when they laugh at their own jokes. Watch the video from the link below and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-KQqoTOSAM

-Rachel

Jesse McCartney: Fail

Using Twitter as a Fundraiser

I love finding new examples of how useful and multi-purpose Twitter is. And then rubbing it in my friend's faces who still refuse to believe me that it's not "just Facebook but only with status updates." Twitter's latest use: ending cancer.

Drew Olanoff is an avid tweeter and blogger, and has been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. His approach to dealing with it has been with a strong sense of humor and some creative ideas to use two things that are a part of most people's daily lives - Twitter and bitching.

#BlameDrewsCancer is Olanoff's effort to give back to LIVESTRONG, which he says "has been by my side since my diagnosis," in his blog. It works like this: you can #BlameDrewsCancer for your favorite sports team losing, or for eating way too much Chinese food. Just tweet, "In a food coma because I ate way too much sweet and sour chicken. I #BlameDrewsCancer," or "I #BlameDrewsCancer for the stupid Packers losing." Pretty much anything you would usually call up your friend and bitch about, you can spare them and do it this way instead, and everyone wins. Because every tweet blaming Drew's cancer is being tallied up, and Olanoff is hoping to find a sponsor who will donate $1 per tweet. So far there have been 31,965.

But there's more. Olanoff must have jumped on the Twitter train early, because his Twitter name is just plain @Drew. So he came up with another idea that has never been done before. He is auctioning off his @Drew Twitter name, and all the money will go to LIVESTRONG. He set the bidding price at $10,000 in the hopes that some celebrity Drew would be interested. Drew Carey, who's current name is @DrewFromTV, has already bid $25,000, and took it one step further. If @DrewFromTV gets 100,000 followers by the time the auction ends on Nov. 9th, his will donate $100,000. And if he gets up to 1 million followers, he'll donate $1 million.

So take that Twitter-haters. How can you knock something that is raising awareness and money for a great cause, and is so ridiculously easy to do? If Drew Carey doesn't reach 1 million followers by Nov. 9th, I'll #BlameDrewsCancer.

-Erin B.

Using Twitter as a Fundraiser

Lady Gaga's Alter-Ego

Everyone's favorite guilty pleasure, Lady Gaga has had a ton buzz these past couple weeks. First, there was her funky-goth VMA performance, then she hosted Saturday Night Live and performed bits of a new song called "Bad Romance." Oh yeah, and she *almost* kissed Madonna, which personally I thought was not worth all the hype it received. But by far the most shocking Gaga moment I've had recently was watching this video:
Lady Gaga on Boiling Points

Halfway through the video it was still unclear to me which one was supposed to be her. Lady Gaga, four years ago, is completely unrecognizable. Which is probably exactly how she likes it. Lady Gaga, aka Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, is definitely an alter-ego. Stefani Germanotta can probably walk into a dark crowded bar and make it through the whole night without being bothered by anyone. But strap on that leotard and don the blond wig, and Lady Gaga is the world-wide superstar.

After getting over the initial shock, my curiosity got the better of me and I went on a Google hunt for more. This video showed another side of the real Lady Gaga - or is Lady Gaga the real one and Stefani Germonatta the alter-ego? - either way, it shows her performing in a small venue, clearly back when she was trying to break into the business:
Lady Gaga performing

Knowing that she does have a completely different person that she hides from the public makes it all that much better. It proves that it's all for show, part of the act, and in Lady Gaga's case, that makes her a better entertainer. And even more fun to Google.

-Erin B.

Lady Gaga's Alter-Ego

Bra Gas Mask: What else do I have to say

Obama Wins the Nobel Peace Prize but for the rest of us there’s hope. This year Elena Bodnar, Raphael Lee, and Sandra Marijan of Chicago won the lg Nobel Prize for inventing a gas mask bra. In an emergency it can quickly be converted into a pair of gas masks, one for the bra owner and one can be given to some needy bystander.



Look at it. It’s amazing!

Okay, so you’re probably thinking “WTF!” So, let me explain. The lg Nobel Prize is a set of prizes handed out annually in different categories such as public health, which the bra gas mask won this year. The lg Nobel Prizes are a parody of the Nobel Prizes, meaning they are given out to those achievements that make people laugh and then make them think.

I would have to agree with the lg Nobel Prize committee on this one. This definitely makes me stop and ponder, “Can I turn my bra into a gas mask?”

-Annie

Bra Gas Mask: What else do I have to say

Did Soulja Boy Get the Superman Treatment in Jail?

Soulja Boy, or DeAndre Cortez Way, was arrested Wednesday night for fleeing the cops in Atlanta. He’s been charged with obstruction after he continued to run from the cops after being ordered to stop.

Soulja Boy along with about 40 other people were in an abandoned house supposedly filming a video when the cops where called because of complaints from neighbors. Over half the people ran from the cops. Soulja Boy was arrested after he came back to the house to get his car. There was a second man arrested, who also returned for his car, and was found to have eight $100 counterfeit bills on him. Soulja boy was released Thursday after posting $500 bail.

Soulja Boy shouldn’t have been arrested because he fled the cops. I mean who hasn’t run from the cops during one point of their life? I know I have. If anything he should be arrested for writing and rapping the song “Crank That.” Not only was that song ridiculously overplayed, made writing on your sunglasses cool, and started a new dance craze, it made you Google what “superman dat ho” meant. You can Google it yourself if you’re curious. However, Soulja Boy has said that the song was only meant to start a new dance. Personally, I could care less either way. I’m just wondering if he got the superman treatment during his night in jail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpocrqvP2Yg

-Rachel H

Did Soulja Boy Get the Superman Treatment in Jail?

New Regulations on Tweets

How many times have you read something on Twitter, on Facebook, or even under the reviews for products on sites like Amazon and thought it sounded a lot like they were trying to sell you on something. Well, those days are over.

Starting December 1, 2009 bloggers are required to clearly state any connection to an advertiser. This meaning that anyone making a post anywhere in the social media world must disclose payments for an endorsement. Furthermore, they can be held accountable if the statements made about the product are false.

No longer can celebrities get paid for commenting about products and influencing our decisions without explicitly stating that they are getting paid to do so. It’s the first time that rules are being placed in the blogosphere about what can be said. Previous to Twitter and Facebook endorsements were made through the actually ad firms in forms of testimonials or television ads, but it has become increasingly popular to pay individuals to post their “personal experiences” in hopes of creating buzz.

Izea is a social media marketing company that specializes in sponsored tweets and sponsored conversations in blogs. Their purpose is to create buzz and drive traffic. Some might say this is the end of Twitter. What if every post made on twitter was for advertising? That would take away the purpose of spreading ideas and engaging in conversation that twitter holds, and turn it into an advertising frenzy.

But now with these New Guidelines bloggers must disclose that they are getting paid to make the statement. FTC regulations might have just saved twitter!

-Annie H.

New Regulations on Tweets

Students Create Awesome One-Take Music Video

Students from the Université du Québec made this music video for the Black Eyed Peas' song "I Got a Feeling". Impressive, theater kids...impressive.


CNN even did a story on it.


-Tooth

Students Create Awesome One-Take Music Video

Happy Birthday Gwen!

This past weekend on October 3, Gwen Stefani turned the big 4-0, yet to me she is still the young ska girl and lead singer of No Doubt. Not only is she one of my personal favorite musicians, she is an example of an artist that stays true to who she is.

I saw No Doubt’s reunion tour over the summer and it was one of the most exciting and fabulously fun concerts I have ever been to. Unlike most musicians today who like to shy away from playing the songs that made them famous, No Doubt relishes in it. Even when Stefani went solo releasing two albums and had amazing success with it, she returned to her friends and first love.

She is a success in every way possible. Her marriage to Gavin Rossdale seems to be going strong, she’s an attentive mother of two, her music career has lasted more than 10 years, and her fashion line L.A.M.B. is ridiculous. I wish more girls would look up to Gwen Stefani and realize what a powerhouse she is.

Gwen, I wish you more happy birthdays to come and I can’t wait to see what you come up with next! Hopefully it’s a new album.

-Rachel H.

Happy Birthday Gwen!

50 Records' Director of A&R on Cities 97

Drew the A&R guy sat down w/ BT and Lee of the Cities 97 Morning Show last Friday.

Drew discussed his involvement w/ Hope Rocks! over the last two years and 50 Records' artist Elevation.

Listen to the interview HERE

50 Records' Director of A&R on Cities 97