Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Hip-Hop Preserved At Cornell University
Hip-Hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa will help preserve the genre's origins by joining in festivities and celebrating the "Born in the Bronx: The Legacy and Evolution of Hip Hop" collection at Cornell University later this month.
The free two-day conference will showcase documents from the early days of hip-hop including recordings, photographs, posters and more. Famous for being one of the first hip-hop deejays to help mold the art form in the South Bronx during the 70's, Bambaataa will also be speaking on the culture's importance.
"By paying tribute to those who laid the foundation, we tell our own history," he said in a statement. "Preserving hip-hop's early years will help future generations understand the places they come from."
Joined by a number of hip-hop historians and pioneers including Grandmaster Caz, Grand Wizard Theodore, Pop Master Fable, Tony Tone, Disco Wiz and Kool Lady Blue, the event will also look to further enhance outsiders' views of the genre's realm.
"We want the community at large to celebrate hip-hop's contributions to American culture," Cornell curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts Katherine Reagan said in a statement. "Through a better understanding of its origins, which are the focus of this unique collection."
Donated by hip-hop collector Johan Kugelberg, the "Born in the Bronx" collection illustrates the birth of the culture from its' early 70's uprising with a 2,000 piece showing.
The event begins Friday, October 31st and runs through Saturday, November 1st at Cornell University.
NBA 2K9 Hits Stores Today
The Live vs. 2K debate is getting heated this year—EA’s NBA Live 09 and 2K’s NBA 2K9 hit stores this week, and both look pretty tough. For true b-ball gamers, the 2K series has been on top for a minute, but EA is stepping it up this year (minus its choice of Mr. Eva Longoria as 09’s cover athlete). So, which one deserves your $60?
Well, EA starting pitching us months ago on 09’s Dynamic DNA and NBA 365 online features, which updates gameplay as the actual NBA season progresses. We thought that was pretty innovative, until we learned that 2K9’s Living Rosters basically do the same thing. What it comes down to, as always, is gameplay.
Here, 2K9 still wins. We showed you a bit of the first 2K9 trailer, but the newest clip seals the deal. It shows amazingly fluid and lifelike in-game animations, including an entire section devoted to Allen Iverson getting fouled. Awesome.
Oh yeah, and we’ve played 2K9. It’s as good as it looks. See the trailer below…
Jim Jones Explains His ‘Swagger Like Us’ Response
Everyone seems to have an opinion on “Swagger Like Us,” T.I.’s recent all-star collabo with Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Kanye West. Folks like Jermaine Dupri and Diddy have even recorded their own verses over the song in an attempt to assert their own “swag” status.
Now Jim Jones is taking it one step further. Last week, we were building with the Capo in his studio for some future shit (stay tuned) when he spilled the beans about his own response to the song, a rumor that Miss Info reported on yesterday. He’s currently recording a new joint named “Jackin’ Swagger From Us,” featuring additional verses from Juelz and Lil Wayne, along with a re-recorded hook from M.I.A. and a new beat by Chink Santana. Read on to preview an exclusive snippet of the track and see what Jones had to say about the four artists on the first “Swagger”…
Complex: You and Juelz are all about that swag-splashing. How do you feel about not being included on “Swagger Like Us”?
Jim Jones: I think it was deliberate. I really do think it was deliberate; maybe in my sick twisted mind I’m a little crazy. People know who set the precedent as far as fashion in this industry and people know who damn near changed the world as far as fashion. You look at people, they went from the urban world of clothing, back when Rocawear and Sean John was cool. And then in the past 5 years I stepped in and gave them a taste of what rock and roll looks like from my side. I guess people would say from an urban side, and it seemed to catch on like wildfire, to the point that people was going to stores and asking for that Jim Jones look. Me and Juelz had Chink do our own beat, I have Weezy’s verse in my inbox right now and we kept the hook of that song because it was a sample. So we’re going to put that as a bonus track on the album, and put it to the streets. “No one on the corner got swag like you we don’t Rocawear that’s for fags like you.” [Laughs.]
Complex: Ahhh…
Jim Jones: And look at the Vibe cover. Tell me who Jay-Z looks like in there? Did you see the picture of him? With the Louis Vuitton scarf and all that. Who did that resemble? You can say it. But he did it wrong; he had a Gucci belt with a Louis Vuitton scarf. Who does that? You smell me? That’s like wearing one Nike and one Puma; how you going to get away with that? But I didn’t take the song as a shot, because I don’t feel like none [besides Weezy] of them possess any swag.
Complex: What about T.I?
Jim Jones: I don’t feel like he possesses any swag. Not like that. It’s fabricated. They’re watching other people, then they try and do it. You know people that dress like T.I.? You know people that go out and say let me get a T.I. outfit or do you know people who say “yo, you’re looking like Jim Jones?” Which one? Lemme hear it! When the bitches want to fuck you and the niggas want be like you, who got the swag? Niggas with money and fame always going to look like they doing something ’cause they got the camera in front of them. But the cool dudes always stick out no matter where they at.
"All Eyez On Me" Producer Commits Suicide
Legendary producer, Johnny J, has committed suicide:
Producer Johnny J, most popular for his extensive work on Tupac’s All Eyez On Me album, died while in custody at the Los Angeles County jail on Friday (October 3). His death is being considered a suicide. Johnny J (real name: Johnny Jackson) was in jail for a DUI charge. Authorities say he took his own life by jumping off a tier in the jail. He was just 39 years old, and leaves a wife and two children. In early 90s, the Mexican-born, Los Angeles-raised producer first gained notoriety after producing the hit single “Knockin’ Boots” for his Berklee College of Music classmate Candyman. Following the success of the single, he met Tupac and worked with the legendary rapper on his Thug Life album, the Above The Rim soundtrack, and the rest of the late rapper’s projects up until his death.
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