Name: Adam Bernard Home: Fairfield, Connecticut, United States About Me: Entertainment journalist w/ over a decade of experience. Lover of good music, fringe movies, day baseball & chicken shawarma. Nerdy, but awesome. See my complete profile
Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is hitting you with thoughts on everything from Beyonce’s big announcement at the VMAs, to Adam Levine’s gripe with the VMAs, to one very odd winner at the VMAs. And did I mention I’ll have something on the VMAs? Well, I also have news on a potential superstar hookup for you if you’re a sex starved middle aged man. Yes, you read that right, and yes, you should be scared. Of course, since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.
* The news that couldn’t be avoided this past weekend was the VMA announcement by Beyonce that she is with child. Yes, the spawn of Jay-Z is going to be let loose into the world in just a handful of months. I wholeheartedly expect the baby to be the most famous baby in the world after all the other famous, more talented, babies have died.
* The VMAs also featured two tributes this year, one to the recently deceased Amy Winehouse, and one to the “we all thought she was about to be deceased when she did that awful performance of ‘Gimme More’ back in ’07” Britney Spears. The tribute that seemed most appropriate, however, came at the Leeds Festival this past Friday when Pete Doherty, who’s a charter member of the Keith Richards Drug of the Month Club, honored Winehouse by covering her “Tears Dry on Their Own.” The industry is searching crack houses nationwide to find someone who can do a tribute to Doherty when he eventually kicks the bucket. As of now they have Whitney Houston on speed dial.
* One artist who probably wasn’t watching the VMAs this year was Maroon 5 lead singer, and The Voice coach, Adam Levine. The superstar tweeted, “the VMA's. one day a year when MTV pretends to still care about music. I'm drawing a line in the sand. Fuck you VMA's.” His fan base seemed to agree with him, re-tweeting the sentiment hundreds of times. Something tells me the Vegas odds for “Moves Like Jagger” getting nominated for an award next year have changed radically. Vegas has odds for things like that, right?
* In non-VMA news, Sinead O’Connor is looking for a new “You” that “Nothing Compares to” and she’s not shy about advertising that fact. Saying she’s still in her sexual prime, she is looking for “a very sweet sex-starved man” who is “no younger than 44.” My guess is he also should be a fan of Irish lager and ripping up pictures of The Pope.
* If you loved the movie Ghost, and who didn’t, boy oh boy are you going to hate this next story. Because Broadway is devoid of actual creativity and knows people will flock to just about anything that even remotely resembles pop culture history, they’re going to be running an adaptation of Ghost starting in April of 2012. The Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart will be writing it, but in this day and age wouldn’t it make more sense to involve the cast of Jersey Shore? Nobody puts Snooki in a corner!
* Did you think I was really done with VMA news? Ha! Beyonce’s baby wasn’t the only interesting thing to be announced at the VMAs. The unexpected win by Tyler, The Creator in the Best New Artist category was also a bit of a shock, and a big win for shock-rap. The Odd Future leader has been the object of the hipster world’s affections for quite some time and MTV recognizing an act such as Tyler, along with having Kreayshawn involved with the festivities, might be a small indicator that they’re attempting to get back in touch with what’s happening in the music world on a level that’s deeper than simply what’s on Top 40 radio. Let’s hope that this is more than just a one time thing.
And with that, my time is up for the week, but I'll be back next week with more shots on all things pop.
Can you name the artist who beat out Drake for a Juno award, which is Canada’s version of a Grammy, scored the ultra rare perfect ten rating from RapReviews on one of his albums, and toured the US with k-os? This incredible list of accomplishments belongs to Shad, the London, Ontario, emcee who some in hip-hop consider to be one of the best there is on the mic. Much of his work, however, hasn’t managed to cross the border, so while he’s racking up the accolades in his home country, America has been missing out on one of hip-hop’s top talents. That may be changing soon, though, as the Juno win, and a recent collaboration with synth pop singer Lights, has put him on America’s radar. This week RapReviews caught up with Shad (who has one of the strangest Wikipedia pictures ever) to find out more about that collaboration, as well as which album of his he’d like new fans to pick up first, and the intricacies of the relationship between Canadian hip-hop artists and the American hip-hop scene.
All of my friends have at least one thing in common (other than knowing me) - they’re all looking for the best ways to stretch a dollar. It seems everyone is either underemployed or underpaid, and this can lead to people thinking they have limited options for entertainment. When options get limited people tend to stay at home. Sometimes a traditional house party, a la Kid ‘n Play, can be fun, but there are other times when you don’t want your toilet clogged or to feel the need to hide what few nice things you may have. You also may want to try to woo your significant other with something a little classier than Dollar Menu drive-through pick up. With this in mind I caught up with two authors who are experts in fields of entertaining and dating - Sean Kanan, whose acting credits include The Young and The Restless and The Bold and The Beautiful, and whose book, The Modern Gentleman: Cooking and Entertaining with Sean Kanan, hits stores on Sept. 13th, and Enitan Bereola, whose book, Bereolaesque: The Contemporary Gentleman & Etiquette Book For The Urban Sophisticate, has led to him having numerous relationship columns on sites such as SoulTrain.com and a devoted following on Twitter - and asked them to give out some tips on how to make an impression during a recession.
Adam Bernard: When inviting someone into your home, either for a date, or a small gathering, what are some of the best ways to make an impression during a recession?
Sean Kanan: Almost all of us are feeling the sting from the fangs of the recession. The good news is that you do not have to spend a ton of dough to have a great time entertaining at home. If money is really tight consider hosting a brunch. You can make eggs and pancakes very inexpensively. Serve Bloody Marys with a wide and varied assortment of garnishes. If you opt for dinner there are an almost endless number of inexpensive pasta options. Pair with a unique salad choice such incorporating something slightly offbeat like fennel or heart of palm and either walnuts or pecans (make certain no one is allergic to nuts). Finish up with a selection of gelati with chopped fresh fruit and a nice garnish like mint or cocoa. Sometimes incorporating a slight change in location, like the outside balcony, patio, terrace, etc., or pillows on the floor, can mix things up nicely. Put together a dinner specific playlist and lots of candles and you are on your way. Lastly, economics often mean sacrifice. If you want to host one special person you will most likely have more resources. More people will spread your culinary/entertainment dollars more thinly. Plan ahead and remember the five P's - Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.
Enitan Bereola: A man's place of dwelling is his castle and speaks volumes about his life. Your home decor is your opportunity to display your style and expose a portion of your soul without saying a word. You can easily take honor in your home without breaking your bank. Your walls aren't meant to be bare - put some art up. You don't have to go out and get a Basquiat, find the graphic designer within and manipulate existing digital photos on your laptop. Technology makes it easier for you to be a modern day Warhol. Print your work, put it in a frame and it's as simple as that. Making impressions are important but most importantly, be you.
Adam Bernard: Obviously it’s important to clean your home before inviting someone into it, but if one’s place is Salvation Army chic, what can be done to make subtle improvements?
Sean Kanan: You hit the nail on the head with the importance of cleanliness. The day before any type of gathering you should perform a Defcon 4, Navy Seal turbo clean. On the day you will need to perform a final cleaning. Make certain to have matching towels in the WC. You can buy inexpensive decorative paper hand towels with some really cool patterns to spruce up the bathroom. Have a fresh new bar of scented soap and large bottle of mouth wash with paper cups. Consider dimming the lights and utilizing tea lights everywhere. You can accomplish a lot with manipulation of lighting. Consider reconfiguring or outright removal of some furniture to accommodate a crowd. Remember to appeal to all five senses. A bowl of fresh lemons costs less than three dollars. Flowers don't have to break the bank. If you actually go to your local flower mart you can really score. If all else fails look outside your front door. Yes, even this Modern Gentleman has engaged in some black ops to secure flowers from shall we say less than traditional commercial options.
Enitan Bereola: More than anything, a clean home is a suitable home. Less is more so get rid of all that unnecessary junk you've collected, but never use. Create open space by rearranging furniture. One great trick is adding a copy of BEREOLAESQUE to your coffee table. It's the perfect compliment to any home.
Adam Bernard: Let’s say you want to cook dinner for someone, but your culinary skills are lacking, or you may not even have a complete kitchen - a buddy of mine lived in a studio apartment that didn’t even have a kitchen drawer. Is there a way you can pull off a tasty, and tasteful, evening, or are we lookin at mac and cheese with cut up hot dogs?
Enitan Bereola: Some of the best food I've ever tasted was in the smallest kitchen I'd ever seen in Milan, Italy. It's all about working with what you've got. I'm sure several women can attest to this theory.
Sean Kanan: If you lack any skill whatsoever I suggest you run don't walk to grab my book. I promise you will succeed in creating an easy to make and much appreciated meal. Grilling is always a good option. It is almost impossible to screw up a good cut of meat that has been marinated and cooked over an open flame. Pair this with a wedge of iceberg lettuce and a nice vinaigrette with crumbled Maytag blue cheese and you can't go wrong. If you simply do not have a kitchen then I would order something from takeout and immediately flip to the part of my book about entertaining and creating atmosphere. At the end of the day it is about the person with whom you are spending time.
Adam Bernard: A lot of people try to act like wine experts when they’re looking to make a good impression. Wine can get expensive, though. Is it a decent move to ask the wine guy at your liquor store for some inexpensive recommendations, or should you, in the words of TLC, stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to?
Enitan Bereola: Wine is one of the most beautifully in-depth pastimes to indulge in. There is an actual course on wine at the illustrious University of California Berkeley. That goes to show how serious it is. From production to consumption, red, white and blush wines can confuse many. There is absolutely nothing wrong with consulting the local wine guy at the liquor store. I'd go as far to say there's something wrong with not consulting an expert if you don't know your grapes. It's better to ask than to look like an ass. A key to understanding wines is that price doesn't always reflect taste/quality. Expensive doesn't mean the best and cheap doesn't mean the worst.
Sean Kanan: I am a huge proponent of knowing when it's time to call in a professional. Wine store employees are great resources and generally very helpful. My book has a terrific section on learning the basics when it comes to wine, champagne and spirits. The internet is also a tremendous resource. Don't be afraid to admit you are just learning. Only poseurs sniff corks and act like they can really tell the difference between a wine corked on a Tuesday as opposed to a Saturday.
Adam Bernard: Finally, is there a dress code for when dinner’s at your place, and if so, what is it?
Sean Kanan: Sexy.
Enitan Bereola: Of course. You don't want to look too stuffy in the comfort of your own home or it'll look too forced. Lose the suit and throw on some nice jeans with a nice button down shirt or even a high quality v-neck and wingtip kicks. Casually cool is the look to go for when at home. Not overdressed to where you look inauthentic, but not under-dressed where you look like you don't give a damn about your date. If you're still preparing the meal when she arrives, go ahead and kick your shoes off and pour her a glass. There's nothing like great conversation while preparing a meal for a beautiful lady. Bon appétit.
Three cheers for body paint! Three more cheers for the way Cupcakes shakes her booty in that body paint! Three more cheers for general strangeness filmed in black and white to a funky song! Have I covered everything in Hank & Cupcakes’ latest video, “Hit?” I think so, but click play to find out just in case. It’s a really cool clip for a very fun song. This duo is a trip live and it’s good to see them translating those good times into their videos.
I’m extremely proud to announce this issue is now on newsstands, and not only is it my tenth national magazine cover story, it’s the first time an urban artist has ever been on the cover of Substream. The feature covers how The Cool Kids are looking to bridge the gap between fans of different musical genres, as well as why it’s taken them over three years to capitalize on their 2008 buzz.
In addition to the extended Cool Kids feature I also have a shorter feature on a little band named Eve 6. Yup, the rockers who gave us great songs in the late 90s and early 2000s are back and I have the story.
Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is hitting you with thoughts on everything from the potential dangers of Selena Gomez’s new gig, to the potential insanity of a Lady Gaga Christmas, to a potentially great way to resolve Liam and Noel Gallagher’s issues, and since it’s Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.
* The MTV Video Music Awards will be airing this Sunday and the network has announced Selena Gomez will be hosting its pre-show, heading up coverage from the show’s black carpet. Who else thinks this is just an evil plot to get Gomez out in front of hordes of tween and teen girls that are mad at her for “stealing” Justin Bieber from them? I’m gonna call foul if MTV hands out tomatoes to everyone in attendance.
* Lady Gaga is teaming up with Barneys for a Christmas campaign and window display called Gaga’s Workshop. An entire floor of Barneys’ flagship store on Madison Ave in NYC will be turned over to the pop singer so she can create her own interpretation of Santa’s Workshop and the store’s 2011 holiday window display will also be dedicated to Gaga’s theme. A donation of 25% of all the items featured in Gaga’s Workshop will go to the charity of her choice. A few things on this; first of all, I’m not really sure Barneys understands their customer base, or Gaga’s fan base, because there’s no part of the venn diagram in which they intersect. Second, I kind of wish Gaga was doing something with Barney and not Barneys because that purple dinosaur hasn’t had a hit in years.
* Lindsay Lohan, who seems to be hell bent on emulating the Britney Spears lyric “you say I’m crazy, I got your crazy,” is suing the creators of Pitbull’s song “Give Me Everything” over a lyric she claims is in breach of “New York civil rights laws.” The lyric in question is “I got it locked up like Lindsay Lohan.” Lohan, who comically describes herself as “a professional actor of good repute and standing in the Screen Actors Guild,” claims the New York civil rights laws protects people from having their name exploited for commercial purposes, and she wants the song pulled from the airwaves. In a related story, every actor she’s ever worked with hopes she wins so they can get her name pulled from everything they’ve ever done together, citing the same Lohan reasoning that it is “destined to do irreparable harm” to them.
* Kiss has been dropped from a Michael Jackson tribute show in Britain due to comments lead singer, and rock icon, Gene Simmons, made about the king of pop. In a 2010 interview with Classic Rock magazine Simmons stated “The only sexual references ever made about Michael Jackson that were made by anyone, anywhere around the world, have always been made by kids, and specifically males usually 10 to 14 years of age; never females that age or older, and never grown men.” MJ fans were none too pleased about these remarks and let the show’s organizers know about them. Of course, if the organizers were to cut every act that ever thought MJ was a pedophile their entire lineup would consist of three creepy guys with windowless vans and large supplies of lollipops.
* The news is good for Gavin DeGraw, who is back at home and recovering after the incredibly strange assault and hit and run he experienced in New York City earlier this month when the singer was jumped by a group of people and then hit by a cab. Now DeGraw is focused on his recovery. Hopefully the incident hasn’t soured him on New York City, as a comeback show, once he’s back at 100%, would be a really cool way to come out on top.
* Liam and Noel Gallagher’s respective travel agents need to book them a trip to Philadelphia ASAP so the former Oasis bandmates can try to experience some brotherly love. Right now they’re headed to court over comments Noel made about Liam having a hangover being the reason the band cancelled a 2009 concert. Liam claims that it was laryngitis that caused him to back out and he not only wants an apology, but wants Oasis fans to “know the truth.” That’s not all; according to The Hollywood Reporter, “He also took issue with his brother's claim that ‘the demise of Oasis followed a massive row in which he claimed I demanded to advertise my clothing range Pretty Green in the Oasis tour program.’” The only court this case should be going to is that of the short lived MTV show The Blame Game. Personally, I think the network should consider bringing it back just to help decide this.
* Finally, because life is awesome, The Lonely Island performed “I’m on a Boat” with The Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
And with that, my time is up for the week, but I'll be back next week with more shots on all things pop.
The Adam B Experience is strappin on its travelin shoes and gettin itself some frequent flyer miles this month. Featuring artists from the east coast, west coast, down south, and midwest, I’m literally covering all of America with this podcast. As an added bonus I also have two fantastic hip-hop bands featured in this month’s show. These are REALLY dope acts you’re gonna absolutely love. Of course, all of this is peppered with my usual insanity on the mic. This month I discuss the potentially life changing skill I hope my cat learns in the next year or so.
Dollar Coffee - Nice Things
Illus - Born Criminal
Vinnie Scullo - The Dope
Playdough - Hotdoggin
Kids These Days - Summerscent
Bad Rabbits - Stick Up Kids
Rock Most w/ Tru.Ski - Rock With Me
Mic Stylz - Blaze
L.O.W.F.I - Grizzy
QM w/ Grip Grand - Higher
When people hear the names Kreayshawn and White Girl Mob they may think of a lot of things, old school hip-hop probably isn’t one of them. After seeing Kreayshawn and V-Nasty (of White Girl Mob fame) perform at the Highline Ballroom in NYC last week, however, old school hip-hop was the most prevalent thought that was going through my mind. This is because, whether the audience, most of whom were too young to drink, realized it or not, they were taking part in an old school hip-hop experience.
Hip-hop was born at block parties, which were, in part, about getting everyone together and having a good time. This is exactly what this show was about. Kreayshawn and V-Nasty showed genuine excitement to see their fans and to be performing, going as far as reaching out and physically touching their fans as often as possible. These moments were honest and showed the audience that the performers weren’t there just for a payday, or to make themselves feel large, but to give everyone a fun night. That excitement quickly spread throughout the crowd.
Adding to the duo’s retro feel is the fact the Kreayshawn and V-Nasty have slower flows and utilize a more deliberate delivery of their lyrics. Speaking of which, lyrically, Kreayshawn and her crew aren’t about proving they’re the best on the microphone. They’re not talking about how much money they have either, or how much better they are than everyone else. They’re not emulating the prominent women of 90s and 2000s hip-hop who focused on their sexual prowess, whether real or imagined. They’re about having fun and mocking people who don’t understand that individualism is far more rewarding than following trends. It will be interesting to see how the latter plays out as Kreayshawn gets bigger. A Marilyn Manson Effect could happen, where the artist talks about individuality only to have their entire fan base become carbon copies of them. For now, however, it’s working. The young women of the White Girl Mob are harnessing the unbridled fun of the “Fight For Your Right to Party” era Beastie Boys, Kid ‘n Play, the Fat Boys, and a myriad of other old school acts we all fondly remember, even if their lyrics didn’t exactly reveal the meaning of life. Back then we understood the importance of having a good time, and we should embrace those who are helping to bring that vibe today. The lyrics are a little dirtier this time around, but it’s pretty hilarious to hear two diminutive young women rapping about how haters can suck their dicks (at least it made me laugh).
Another interesting note regarding the show is that Kreayshawn and V-Nasty don’t have an extensive catalog of music, or a large number of hit singles, so they were rocking the crowd with mostly unknown music (at least for the casual fans who didn't download the mixtapes). Yes, they have a younger crowd, and younger crowds are more open to enjoying music they haven’t heard before, but to really have the attention of an entire audience with something they’ve never heard is really impressive.
Is the White Girl Mob the future of hip-hop? Honestly, I view that as a nonsensical question. Hip-hop has splintered off into so many subsections that it’s fairly ridiculous to try to point to just one thing and say “that’s what hip-hop should be.” For some people Jay-Z is hip-hop. For others Waka Flocka Flame is. For others the Hiero crew is. For others Immortal Technique is. The fact of the matter is, all of them are right.
An act like the White Girl Mob brings us the fun aspect of hip-hop, which has been a part of hip-hop since its earliest days. An act like Immortal Technique brings radical political views to the forefront, which is also an important aspect of hip-hop. Both have their merits. Could Immortal Technique rock an old school block party with fun rhymes about living it up? Probably not. Could Kreayshawn rock a political rally and expound on immigration laws? Probably not. Does the inability to do either make either one of them less hip-hop? Absolutely not.
Hip-hop encompasses both of those ideas and ideals, along with many others, and I, for one, am glad that there’s a sub-section of hip-hop where an act like the White Girl Mob can thrive and bring a fun time to a large audience. Sometimes we need a good time, and they provide exactly that for their crowd.
OK, so maybe you, personally, don’t have to love them, but at least try to recognize they have a place in hip-hop and their fans do, too.
Side Note: As for the controversy regarding V-Nasty’s use of the N-word, which I’ve heard explained as her being raised by a black woman who called her “nigga” on a regular basis - she didn’t say it at all during the show (at least not that I heard). The only time I heard a white person say it was when the DJ spun a Wiz Khalifa song and a kid who didn’t know any better sang along to every lyric. So if you’re looking for the enemy when it comes to the N-bomb, try looking at the past twenty years of commercial radio.
When it comes to making music videos Hopie Spitshard is one of the most creative artists in hip-hop today. “Off Tonight” is latest gem in the diamond dame’s ever growing collection of achievements. From b-boys, to a giant bear, to a kind of lipstick that looks like it would be painful to kiss, it has a little bit of everything. I actually found a very important moral in this video - do not piss off a teddy bear! It will rise up and chase you down no matter how many masked b-boy friends you may have. {The more you know}
Something funny happened when I started to go through the albums on my desk for the July edition of Five Albums in Five Minutes, July ran out of days. Sorry about that. Realizing that this might happen again, expect this column to happen bi-monthly from here on out. It will give me more albums to go through, and an even choicer selection of the best of the best for you. This time around I’m featuring albums by Natalia Kills, Apathy, Bad Rabbits, Theophilus London and River City Extension.
Natalia Kills
Perfectionist
This album took me by surprise. I’d heard Kills’ song “Free,” which features will.i.am, and was kind of “meh” on it. With that in mind I initially spun Perfectionist with some trepidation. It didn’t take long for my concerns to disappear, though, as right off the bat the song “Wonderland” shattered any preconceived notions I might have had. The song features fairy tale imagery over an incredibly danceable beat with a chorus that instantly gets stuck in your head. Suddenly my expectations rose considerably. As the album went on those expectations were met and as they were I realized why I was enjoying it so much - Perfectionist is the album I wish Lady Gaga had made to follow up The Fame. It’s pop perfection with lyrics that range from the serious to the hilarious. The latter is exemplified on “Zombie” when she queries her undead beau “Do you want me for my body / do you want me for my brain?”
Apathy
Honkey Kong
With Honkey Kong Apathy has created something fairly unique in hip-hop. This is because Honkey Kong is that rare underground hip-hop album that you could easily imagine appealing to a mainstream audience, not because it sounds mainstream, but because there was once a point in time when music like Apathy’s was played on the radio alongside more commercial fare and it fit in just fine. It’s not so underground that it alienates itself from the mainstream, yet it’s underground enough to appeal to his core audience. This is a huge accomplishment. Lyrically Honkey Kong features Apathy at his best as he continues “turnin ice grills into soft serve” over some insanely good production. While I’m not a fan of anti-gay references in hip-hop, with lines like “rockin gay apparel / those jeans’ll make you sterile,” some of Ap’s punchlines are too funny to not appreciate despite such references. Honkey Kong also features the triumphant return of Xzibit, who spits one of his best verses in years on “The Recipe.”
Bad Rabbits
Stick Up Kids
Combining funk, soul and rock, Bad Rabbits, who were formerly the touring band for Slick Rick, have an amazingly addictive sound that can make pretty much anyone shake their ass. When I popped Stick Up Kids into my car’s CD player I played it through three times in a row (it was a long drive, and the album is an eight song EP). Not only is every song great, Bad Rabbits manage to achieve the rare feat of matching the feel of their live shows on their album. A true party vibe in the vein of George Clinton and P-Funk, I cannot emphasize enough not just how talented Bad Rabbits are musically, but how FUN they are to listen to and experience. This is barbecue party music that could very well result in a hook up (and what better way to end a barbeque than by taking a cutie home with you?). It has the perfect summertime vibe and Fredua Boakya’s voice sounds like it was cut from the same cloth as Prince’s.
Theophilus London
Timez Are Weird These Days
I had no idea when I first listened to this album that Theophilus London was going to turn into a hipster superhero, I just thought wow, this is f*cking dope. I still do. The biggest compliment I can give to Timez Are Weird These Days is that it excited me. I felt like I was listening to something I hadn’t heard before, and that’s rare. London has a great flow, and his sound is a really cool mix of hip-hop, dance, and soul. There’s also an 80s pop influence in his work. I actually thought he was a European artist the first time I heard him. Maybe his last name had something to do with it, but I think the decidedly Euro feel to his music also led me to that false conclusion. The false conclusion, however, tells you a lot about his vibe - he’s not hung up on traditional American genre categorizations. It wouldn’t seem out of place at all to hear Dizzee Rascal guest on one of his songs.
River City Extension
And The Unmistakable Man
Folk music still has a place, and can still be completely relevant, in 2011. Case in point - River City Extension. The ever growing folk outfit from Toms River, NJ, led by lead singer/guitarist Joe Michelini, keeps both the feeling and the lyrical depth of the genre alive and well. Alcohol, religion and relationships are three prevalent themes on And The Unmistakable Man while musically the album ranges from slower songs where each lyric is meant to hit you with full force, to the raucous fun of songs like “Friends and Family” that, with its long list of instruments getting time to shine, has the vibe of a jam you never want to end. More than just a folk band, River City Extension has the ability to meld genres. A great example of this is the song “Mexico,” which features Latin horns with folk guitar, creating a unique sound that you can either lay back, or engage in a little Spanish dancing, to. This breaks down some barriers and makes River City Extension folk music for even more types of folks.
Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is hitting you with thoughts on everything from Glee tanking at the box office, to the Game pranking the police, to a group of thieves at Lollapalooza who bit off more than they could chew, and since it’s Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.
* There is no joy in Glee-ville. The TV sensation proved to be a complete dud at the box office, pulling in a measly $5.7 million in its opening weekend, which wasn’t even good enough to crack the top ten. It should really comes as no surprise that people aren’t willing to pay a $10 cover to see a movie where marginally good singers perform karaoke versions of current hit songs. On free TV it works, at least for now, but unless you’re too young to get into a concert, that $10 can go to see a real artist performing live.
* Hilary Duff has announced she’s pregnant with her first child with her husband of one year, Pittsburgh Penguins center Mike Comrie. The baby is already projected to be in the Penguins lineup before Sidney Crosby is ready to return.
* Have you ever wished people could get arrested for being an idiot? If so, this story is for you. Last week The Game tweeted out a phone number telling fans to call it if they wanted an internship. The only problem was it was a prank and the phone number was to the Compton sheriff’s office’s emergency phone line. The post was eventually taken down, but not until after it jammed phone lines and caused increased response times for emergencies. Later tweets from The Game included such gems as “Yall can track a tweet down but cant solve murders! Dat was an accident but maybe now yall can actually do yall job!!!!” The Game, who may face jail time because of the original tweet, now claims it was a friend of his who was using his phone who posted the phone number. Stupidly, he added “Casey Anthony can get away with murder and the Game goes to jail for tweeting. God bless America.” Maybe he doesn’t realize how many people may have been hurt, or even died, due to his, or his friend’s, prank.
* While his former associate was pranking the police, 50 Cent was busy signing another act, making DJ Pauly D, of Jersey Shore fame, the latest artist to be inked to G-Unit Records. The DJ who loves the ladies who are DTF has reportedly signed a three album deal that will also include the release of his own line of headphones (hey, 50, this man better get his own line of hair gel, too!). Personally, I feel ALL the artists on G-Unit should do a little reality TV to up their notoriety. First up, Spider Loc on Cupcake Wars, then Lloyd Banks on Design on a Dime.
* In truly terrifying news, a gust of wind caused a stage to collapse at a Sugarland concert in Indiana this past Saturday and five have been reported dead from the incident. Forty five people in total were taken to the hospital and more fatalities are possible. The video footage is pretty scary, but if you want to see what happened click here.
* Coldplay has announced they’ll be releasing their fifth studio album at the end of October. The album will be titled Mylo Xyloto and Chris Martin told Billboard that it doesn’t fit into any musical kind of box. Really, Chris? I can think of two it’s going to fit into - boring and pretentious.
* “Portugal. The Man” is a band. They’re a band that played Lollapalooza. They’re a band that played Lollapalooza only to find a healthy amount (97 pieces) of their equipment stolen only hours after their performance. Thankfully for “Portugal. The Man,” the man was on the case, as the Chicago police recovered some of the equipment, which was found in a local house because the thieves realized they couldn’t sell any of it due to the media coverage the theft was receiving. So basically, the thieves just spent a lot of time and energy cluttering up their house. I bet their moms were pissed.
* Finally, by now everyone is well aware that Warrant lead singer Jani Lane passed away last week. Although no official cause of death has been announced, Lane’s sister placed the blame on alcohol. Jani had fought with the bottle for a number of years. If you recall, it’s what caused him to have such a hard time when he was on Celebrity Fit Club. Lane was only 47, but leaves us with an anthemic song that will be played in strip clubs until the end of time.
And with that, my time is up for the week, but I'll be back next week with more shots on all things pop.
As a member of the Atlanta trio MSEIZE, with Supreme Words and DJ Fudge, Rock Most and his partners in rhyme made some noise in the underground hip-hop world. In 2009 it came time for him to seize the day on his own. Rock Most went solo, releasing F.L.O. (For Lovers Only), and later this month the emcee/producer/DJ is following that release up with Rise & Shine. In-between he had not one, but TWO near death experiences. All in all, it’s been a pretty wild ride, and this week I caught up with Rock Most to find out more about that ride, his music, and how his two near death experiences affected his work. He also revealed his feelings on the job DJs are doing when it comes to breaking new music, and how Chuck D made his day, TWICE.
Very few bands can relate to audiences at both Bamboozle and Warped Tour, but River City Extension is a very unique band. The ever expanding folk outfit from Toms River, New Jersey, which is the baby of lead singer and guitarist Joe Michelini, has been connecting with crowds all over the country with their upbeat, danceable, live performances, creating new fans and then crashing with them at their houses.
I caught up with Michelini at Warped Tour's Uniondale, NY, date to find out more about the creation of River City Extension, why he feels the music is so universal, and how long he plans on sleeping over at fans’ houses. He also revealed the two most random co-signs he’s received on his music and his thoughts on those artists’ work.
FYI - You may need to crank the volume on this interview, as Michelini has a soft speaking voice and we were a little far away from the microphone.
Big ups to videographer Natty S. for capturing this, and all my Warped Tour interviews.
For more River City Extension check out their website.
Remember how awesome it was when Ghostface, Raekwon and Cappadonna did their entire video for “Daytona 500” using clips from Speed Racer cartoons? The trio of Prince Po, L.I.F.E.Lone and U.G. have brought that vibe of dope hip-hop with equally dope animated visuals back with “Samurai Code of Honor.” What we get with “Samurai Code of Honor” are three incredibly talented emcees at the top of their game and an array of clips from the cartoon Afro Samurai.
Squatter, vagabond, recreational arsonist, accidental messiah - these are all perfectly apt descriptions of Hesher (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt). He also may be slightly deranged, depending on how you view things.
Hesher implants himself in Forney household with Paul (Rainn Wilson), Paul’s son T.J. (Devon Brochu), and Paul’s mother (Piper Laurie) after a run in with the youngest of the group. An overall weakness in the house due to the tragedy of Paul’s wife/ T.J.’s mom dying in a car accident makes it so nobody really fights to kick him out.
Throughout the film you never really learn who Hesher is. His backstory never fully fills out, but the movie actually works better this way. As a viewer you’re learning who Hesher is bit by bit just like the characters are. This puts the viewer and the characters on the same level, which is unusual, but is a creative storytelling device. We can’t predict what he’s going to do next because nobody can, and the fun of Hesher is having no idea what he’s going to do next.
For all his craziness, Hesher does have heart. Sometimes it’s misguided, and very over the top, like his numerous retributions to the bully who constantly picked on TJ at school, but the heart is there. It’s most evident in his relationship with T.J.’s grandmother, who is extremely accepting. The two share a number of nice moments and Hesher prods T.J. to go on a walk with her, offering to do so himself.
Natalie Portman’s character of Nicole enters this mess by being a mess herself. She’s a down on her luck cashier at a grocery store who can’t catch a break, but meets T.J. when she pulls a bully off him in the store’s parking lot. Nicole is almost motherly in the way she fends off the bully. T.J. develops a crush on her and ends up trying to protect her. This seems to be T.J.’s way of trying to make up for the fact that he couldn’t protect his mother. T.J.’s oedipal crush on Nicole is understandable, because she’s not really his mother and, for God’s sake, she’s Natalie Portman!
The motherly dynamic is also apparent in a scene that was extremely reminiscent of a scene from Rebel Without a Cause. Hesher takes Nicole and T.J. to a house that’s for sale and plays, and I’m using that term loosely, in the pool. It’s a modern day version of when James Dean, Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo’s characters in Rebel Without a Cause were hanging out in an abandoned mansion and, at one point, playing in an empty pool. The almost parental roles Hesher and Nicole have in relation to T.J. mirror the relationship Dean’s and Wood’s characters had in relation to Mineo’s.
Overall, the story of the film Hesher involves coping and how different people do it. A whole lot of interesting events happen in the movie, but writing them out would ruin the film entirely. The ending is both morose and beautiful, which is a fitting contradiction for a movie that’s so creative and unique.
Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is hitting you with thoughts on everything from Lady Gaga and Lil’ Wayne being accused of musical theft, to Big Boi getting caught with something he shouldn’t have had, to Latin Jazz artists gearing up for a rumble, and since it’s Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.
* Lady Gaga and Lil’ Wayne finally have something in common - they’re both being sued by artists who claim to have created their work. Gaga is facing a lawsuit filed by Rebecca Francescatti that claims “Judas” was copied from her 1999 song, “Juda,” and seeks profits from the sale of the record, or damages of an unspecified amount. Weezy was slapped with a $15 million lawsuit by Done Deal Enterprises that claims he stole the song “BedRock.” I feel the artists who filed these lawsuits should both lose, not based on any actual evidence, but simply based on the fact that of all the songs they could attempt to try to take credit for writing they chose “Judas” and “BedRock.”
* Big Boi is in some big trouble. The emcee, who is one half of the legendary Atlanta duo Outkast, was arrested on Sunday for possession of ecstasy pills, MDMA, which is the main ingredient in ecstasy pills, and Viagra. He was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. The ecstasy is one thing, but Viagra? It sounds like Big Boi’s having some problems with his Little Boi. Maybe if he chilled on the ecstasy he might be able to get it up on his own.
* Katy Perry recently scored a huge hit with her song “E.T.,” and building on that her tour featured a duet from Mars when it hit Los Angeles this past Friday. The pop superstar decided to sing the internet meme sensation “Friday” and had none other than Rebecca Black join her on stage for it. This is the second time the two have worked together, as Black is also in Perry’s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” video. Lemme take a second here to talk to Ms. Perry... err... Mrs. Brand, directly: Katy, you’re not really gonna keep this girl famous, are you?
* Lollapalooza is looking to set international relations back a bit by heading to Sao Paulo in 2012. If our number one export to Brazil ends up a reformed Jane’s Addiction there’s a chance they may stop allowing us to go there for Carnival. Hopefully this will be a hot button issue during the next presidential election.
* Only one year after attempting suicide, forgettable American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino, whose best quality is sharing a name with a legendary Disney film that involved dancing elephants, has announced she’s pregnant with her second child. My only question is who read the pregnancy test for her?
* Latin Jazz isn’t the first genre of music that comes to mind when one’s looking for something to get all riled up to, but a bevy of Latin Jazz artists are ready for a fight as they’ve taken to the courts, suing the Grammy Awards for eliminating their category from next year’s competition (the Grammys cut 31 categories in total). The Latin Jazz artists’ claim is that it has caused them irreparable harm and puts them at a disadvantage with them now being lumped together with artists of all the subgenres of jazz. They are also accusing the Grammys of failing to solicit input from the voting members of its 12 nationwide chapters before announcing the eliminations. Only one thing about this lawsuit is certain, it will take less time than a typical Grammy Awards telecast.
* Pop Shots and Adam’s World favorite Lights is back with a new song that will rock your face off. “Everybody Breaks A Glass” features a crazy beat co-produced by Lights and Holy Fuck, a dope verse by Canadian emcee Shad, and Lights being her usual amazing, lyrical, self. The video, which has all the lyrics written out, was also illustrated by Lights.
And with that, my time is up for the week, but I'll be back next week with more shots on all things pop.
Dollar Coffee. For the Starbucks generation it’s an oxymoron, but there are still places where you can get coffee for a dollar. It won’t have whip cream, or chocolate sprinkles, or come in a size with a strange name. It’s one-size-fits-all, 100% pure coffee with nothing thrown in that will destroy its intended flavor. This is a perfect parallel to the Brooklyn, NY, hip-hop duo of BS and Albert Rhymestein (pictured L to R), aka Dollar Coffee. Their music is 100% pure hip-hop, all energy, lyricism and beats with no unnecessary additives. When they perform they motivate the crowd the way a hip-hop act should - with their skills. This week, on the heels of the release of their debut album, Nice Things, I caught up with BS and Albert Rhymestein to find out more about the history of Dollar Coffee, some of their most memorable moments on stage, which include a night performing at the famed Apollo Theater, and the last time either of them actually saw coffee for a dollar in NYC.
Kelsey is a Warped Tour veteran. She was on the tour twice as the lead singer of the band Kelsey and the Chaos and this year she’s on her third trip on the tour, but with a whole new sound and a little less Chaos. Kelsey split with her band in order to create a new, dance oriented, vibe, and now works with emcees Tru Fam, and DJ Be Real. Their set is one big party.
I caught up with Kelsey at Warped Tour's Uniondale, NY, date to find out about her latest musical venture and she opened up about going solo, giving away her new EP, and whether or not her longtime fans have welcomed the change in her music. She also discussed her passion for running over shrubbery, and the one group you’ll never see her go on tour with.
Big ups to videographer Natty S. for capturing this, and all my Warped Tour interviews.
“Rice’N Beans” is another hot one from the funky, jazzy, soulful French duo Dinner at the Thompson's, this time with the added bonus of a verse from Guilty Simpson. I know I’ve already said a lot about Dinner at the Thompson's on this site, but I still can’t get over how great their music is. It’s August and their album, Off The Grid, is still one of my favorites of the year. Enjoy this helping of “Rice’N Beans.”
Love, Props and the T.Dot is a documentary that quickly (approx. 45 minutes) covers the first 25 years of hip-hop in Toronto. Although I’m not an expert on the Canadian hip-hop scene (my first Canadian hip-hop album was the Rascalz 1997 release Cash Crop), it goes without saying that anytime 25 years have to be whittled down to 45 minutes some things are going to be missed, and while I’m sure a host of artists may be upset they weren’t represented, this documentary seems like a good starting point, at the very least, for someone who wants to know more about the foundation of Canadian hip-hop, specifically in Toronto.
Some of the most interesting information in the film includes how artists had to go to America, or overseas, to get the props and/or sales they deserved back home, the impact of college radio, which almost mirrored the impact of college radio in the US, and the fact that Tom Green was in a group that played a role in the development of Canadian hip-hop. Yes, that Tom Green.
The idea of needing to go elsewhere to get respect is something that's seen a lot in today's American underground hip-hop scene, with many artists making more money, and drawing significantly bigger crowds, when they travel outside of the US. Perhaps no matter where an artist is from they're always going to have a hard time being appreciated in their home area.
There’s a strange internal issue that becomes a bit of an underlying theme throughout the documentary with Canadian artists wanting to be better than their US counterparts, but also defining a lot of their success by US standards, i.e. signing a deal with a US label, getting a video on BET, being recognized by US artists. I would have liked to have seen this resolved, if possible, or at least addressed.
The lone error I found in the documentary was the idea that the late 90s were the worst time for the music industry. Last time I looked record sales were at record highs up until the mid 2000s.
All in all, if you enjoy hip-hop, and want a brief history of how the rap aspect of it developed in Canada, this is worth a watch. Check it out below, and click the full screen option as it was made for TV, not YouTube.
Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is hitting you with thoughts on everything from Amy Winehouse’s postmortem popularity, to an 80s icon’s off-putting ideas regarding murder, to how to dispose of your raver material now that the Electric Daisy Carnival Experience is being pulled from a host of theaters, and since it’s Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.
* Rapper Jadakiss once rhymed “dead rappers get better promotion.” As it turns out, this is also true of singers who have recently passed away. When Michael Jackson died his entire catalogue saw a spike in sales, and the same has just happened with Amy Winehouse, who’s “Back to Black” album reentered the Billboard albums chart at number nine with sales of 37,000, almost all of which happened within 36 hours of her passing. With this trend in full swing Hollywood Records can't wait for Lindsay Lohan to kick the bucket so they can finally move some copies of the Herbie Fully Loaded soundtrack.
* A lot of people in the music industry have been wondering where all the money has gone. Some have blamed downloading, other have blamed marketing departments, but the fact of the matter is it’s all gone to U2. The group’s 360 tour, which began on June 30th of 2009 and ended this past Saturday after 110 shows in total, grossed $736.1 million dollars and was attended by 7.27 million people. You may not want to do the math on that one, because if you do you’ll find that the average ticket price was over $100. So there’s your new business plan, music industry, charge irresponsibly for things that you know people will pay for!
* 80’s icon Morrissey managed to offend thousands with a statement he made at a concert in Warsaw, Poland, this past week when he compared the mass murders in Norway to fast food. The outspoken vegan (and by “outspoken” I mean “douchebag”) said “We all live in a murderous world, as the events in Norway have shown, with 97 dead. Though that is nothing compared to what happens in McDonald's and Kentucky Fried S**t every day.” What he should have said is “if you thought those murders in Norway are bad, just wait till you hear what I do to this next song!”
* Miley Cyrus has a new tattoo, an equal sign on her ring finger that’s supposed to represent marriage equality. Honestly, it looks more like a burn mark and could easily be mistaken for a post accident scar after a bad trip to a Benihana. I gotta give it to the kid, though, at least she isn’t afraid to say something, even if permanently marking up her body is the way in which she chooses to say those things.
* Friday night’s Kings of Leon concert in Dallas, TX, hit a bit of a snag - one member of the band didn’t feel like performing. Lead singer Caleb Followill left the stage, complaining of vocal issues and being hot, saying he’d be right back. The only problem was he never returned. Tweets from the band implied there are much bigger issues going on with the group. At this point they could certainly “Use Somebody” to sing a couple songs for them.
* If you’re looking for an Electric Daisy Carnival Experience you’re going to have to look a little harder as after this past week’s “melee” after the Hollywood premier of the rave documentary has led to the Regal and AMC chains of theaters dropping the film. The incident actually happened at an unaffiliated post-screening party held by DJ Kaskade, and police in riot gear ended up showing up, fighting off the crowds that came to see him. If you’re at a loss for what to do with all those glow sticks you bought for the occasion, here’s a pretty cool idea:
And with that, my time is up for the week, but I'll be back next week with more shots on all things pop.
In an era when nearly every producer wants to hop on the microphone to get some extra fame, no matter how awful, or ghostwritten, their rhymes are, Needlz is a refreshing break from the norm. He’s also, arguably, one of the most successful producers you haven’t heard of. If people read liner notes when they downloaded music they’d realize Needlz has been working with some of hip-hop’s biggest names for a decade now. He currently has a song deal with Atlantic Records, and his work can be heard on Lupe Fiasco’s latest album, as well as on Bruno Mars’ record breaking hit, “Just The Way You Are.” Needlz has also produced for the likes of Drake, 50 Cent, Freeway, Rakim and Busta Rhymes. This week I caught up with the hitmaking beatsmith to find out more about who he is, how he ended up being involved with one of the biggest pop hits of all-time, and how his higher education has affected his career.
Sick of Sarah is the Minnesota based fivesome of Abisha Uhl (lead vocals, guitar), Jessie Farmer (guitar and backup vocals), Jamie Holm (bass and backup vocals), Katie Murphy (guitar and backup vocals), and Jessica Forsythe (drums). They are the latest in a lineage of all girl rock bands that includes The Go-Gos and The Bangles, and strong female rock artists like Pat Benatar and Joan Jett. To put it another way - they’ll rock your socks off.
I caught up Abisha Uhl and Jessica Forsythe at Warped Tour's Uniondale, NY, date to discuss the band's music, their interesting living situation, which involves a house in Minnesota that’s also their studio, what needs to be done to get more women involved in rock music, and the band’s extensive work in the LGBT community. Abisha and Jessica also revealed some of their more embarrassing celebrity crushes from when they were growing up, at least a few of whom were more than a little random... and little in general.
Big ups to videographer Natty S. for capturing this, and all my Warped Tour interviews.
B-Listers are a select group of artists that were featured in my Artist Of The Week series that ran every Monday from April of '06 to April of '11. All of these artists have two things in common; extreme talent, and a flight path far too under the radar for my liking. They took on the title of B-Listers as they embraced being featured by me, Adam B. Check out the AOTW Archives for all the interviews.
