Heard this jam while driving home the other day, turned it all the way up and fell in love. Get 10% off at www.hoodiepeople.com for reading this blog. Coupon Code: bulletproof (expires Sept 25, 2010)

Tags: bulletproof by la roux, la roux

I believe the year was 1991; I was sitting on the floor in my mom’s living room watching the Arsenio Hall Show when my big brother ran in and told me to turn up the volume. “My homeboy Tupac is going on and he’s about the blow.” I sat there and watched as Pac strolled out and ripped his verse from the Digital Underground hit “Same Song”. Of course at the time no one realized what he would become and what influence he would have on music, people, our generation and society. I had the pleasure of meeting Tupac on several occasions, and each time, although brief, I felt overwhelmed by his aura and personality. These meetings occurred years before before the Deathrow days, when I was heavily influenced by my brothers’ taste in music and revolutionary rappers like Chuck D, KRS-1 and Ice cube wore out my old tape deck. Tupac was in that class, a passionate artist who tackled issues of poverty, the crack epidemic, racism, police brutality, history and the uplifting of black people across the world.

Tupac is always remembered as a polarizing figure; people talk about how he contradicted himself and how he was a typical Gemini with a split personality. They quote song titles from completely different albums that were years apart and say he’s a hypocrite. Music snobs question how could he go from “Brenda’s Got a Baby” to “Toss it Up”? These claims are outrageous, especially when you consider that 95% of rappers contradict themselves. But with that being said,  Tupac really doesn’t really fall in that category, he’s human. He made songs talking about all different aspects in the life of a young male celebrity in addition to the struggles endured by himself and those around him. That’s much more real than rappers who try to play the 100% positive role and end up being complete sell outs. The man was far from perfect and unfortunately there were many negative aspects of his life that were adopted by young people who didn’t know what he was really about. I took the good from Pac, I recognized what he really meant to be an “Outlaw”, to be to be an outcast, ignored, and used by a society that claims you’re inferior. I’ve seen speeches by Pac, he screamed with overwhelming passion and fury that left grown men in tears. I remember his attempts to put together a true code of the streets, a code that attempted to eliminate the loss of innocent life and to stop the selling of drugs in schools and in poor communities.

Tupac was and always will be the best to ever do it. No other MC in history was able to captivate people from all over the planet with his persona and influence. I’ve been told by a 76 year old white woman that she often listens to Tupac and the messages in his music. That’s the Tupac that I remember and honor on his birthday, that’s the Tupac that motivates me every time I hear his music, that’s the Tupac whose words and intensity still shake my soul to this day. Happy Birthday Pac, every time anyone across the world listens to your music or reads your poetry, you are resurrected.

Tomorrow marks a day that many people might not pay attention to; its a day that many won’t circle on their calender or recognize as a day of importance. Tomorrow is Malcolm X’s birthday, a day that should be celebrated for one of the greatest revolutionaries this world has ever seen. I’m not choosing to bring up this annual recognition as a patronizing reminder, but because something special happened on this day of May 18th 2010, and hopefully this momentous occasion will be recognized in accordance with the soul of our fallen patriarch that made it all possible. The highly anticipated Nas and Damian ”Jr Gong” Marley collaboration accordingly titled “Distant Relatives” was released today. While many listeners out there might pass this off as just another album, it is imperative that the significance of this masterpiece is not overlooked. These two artists who are arguably the best in their respective genres have come together in an attempt to reconnect the spirit of Reggae and Hip Hop music back to its eternal roots in Africa. When the goals of this collaboration became clear to me I was a little nervous. How would they sound together? Will they be really spending time in the studio? Could they complete such a monumental task? After listening to the album a few times I can safely say that all my questions were answered and the results were soul shattering.

One aspect of Reggae music that I’ve always loved and respected was its insistence on remaining in sync with the continent of Africa. As a place that has been ravaged by colonialism, slavery, poverty and genocide, the rich culture of African society has been ripped of its very essence while its people have been separated, divided and conquered. Yet legendary Reggae artists like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and many others of the past and present have always expressed their love for the mother of civilization. Unfortunately I cannot speak of the same cultural embrace when mentioning Hip Hop music. Although its origins were rooted from poverty and the struggle for equality when brought to the forefront by pioneers such as KRS-1, Rakim, Afrika Bambaataa and Public Enemy, the true crux of the music has been lost as the younger generation became more infatuated with the glamor of American society and disinterested with our lost brothers and sisters on the African continent. Obviously there are a number of factors that have contributed to this disunity; its difficult to connect with people when the very history that merges the cultures has been abolished and buried into near non existence. But the fact remains that African-Americans have built a stronger connection with the latter of the hyphenated ethnic classification. Now we have two legends in music that have challenged this detachment while attempting to initiate a wake up call to people of color all across the globe.

I didn’t want to approach this as an album review; I believe that everyone should listen to this album and just enjoy the music without hearing snippets or samples. Don’t think of this as a Nas album or a Damian Marley project as individuals, but recognize the collaborative effort of two talented musicians that decided to attack a taboo subject matter. This is not a Hip Hop or a Reggae album, but a near perfect fusion of the two that represents some of the best aspects of black music I have heard in a long time; it needs to be understood how important this project really is. The two complimented each other well while implementing relevant subject matters such as leadership, friendship, god, land and culture.  The music is soulful, passionate, ancestral and spiritual. I was excited and skeptical originally and tried not to  hold my expectations of the album too high. I had decided that I would respect the effort even if I wasn’t pleased with the album, but to my surprise it was everything that I wanted and more. Today “Distant Relatives” was released, tomorrow is Malcolm X’s birthday, and I couldn’t think of a better way to honor our ancestors.

Tags: Damian "jr" Gong Marley, Distant Relatives, hip-hop, Nas, reggae

The uber super popular headphones hoodies from Paul Frank, featuring InSound technology so you can plug in your iPod/iPhone or any standard MP3 player into the hoodie and use the drawstrings as headphones is back in two fresh new colors and with a super cool new Julius graphic. Julies is rocking the Stunna Shades, keeping it real fresh.

Two new colors available for spring: Purple/Red and Pink/Green.  The original Headphones Hoodies from Paul Frank launched in November and literally sold out in 2-3 days, it was crazy, they even got featured on Good Morning America.  Why not add a little spring style to your life, plus its super functional and fun, its a win, win , win.They are available now at hoodiepeople.com for $48.00

Check out the full collection of fresh Paul frank hoodies here.

Tags: earphones hoody, headphones hoodies, ipod hoodies, Julius Shades, paul frank

Remembering the ol’skool: surround sound headphones, hoodies, SF beanies, b-boys, and skateboarding. This video is thick!

Tags: beanies, hoodies, i wanna rock, jay-z, skateboarding, snoop dogg

hoodiepeople.com Presents:

New Music from DJ D Sharp

Free download for hoodiepeople.com fans

DJ D-Sharp has just dropped his very first single, “Definition of a Star”. The track is a west-coast-influenced banger which features Bay Area MCs, Kev Choice and Tony Vic.

It was only inevitable for D-Sharp, a long time producer, to put out his own music after producing songs for artists such as Lyrics Born, Lateef the Truthspeaker, Shock G (Digital Underground), The Grouch and Flipsyde.

(Click Image for Free Track Download)

D-Sharp began his music career at the age of 15, performing at venues all over the Bay Area. He later became the resident DJ at Maritime Hall in San Francisco and then at Justice League, where he opened for acts like Jurassic 5, Dilated Peoples, Living Legends, Blackalicious and Latyrx. His years of hard work paid off when Chief Xcel of Blackalicious recommended him to Quannum Projects MC, Lateef the Truthspeaker (Latyrx, The Mighty Underdogs, Fatboy Slim) who asked him to go on tour. D-Sharp quit his day job and from there, began touring the world with Quannum artists such as Blackalicious, Lyrics Born, Lifesavas, Latyrx, The Gift of Gab; and joined the infamous Quannum World tour DJing alongside DJ Shadow. It wasn’t long before his talents caught the ear of other prominent artists including Lauryn Hill, Clyde Carson, Mike Patton (Peeping Tom), Slum Village, Planet Asia and Goapele — all of whom he has DJ’d for. On tour, he has shared stages with high profile acts such as Jay Z, Kanye West, Outkast, Common, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, The Game, Pharrell and The Wu Tang Clan.

Check out DJ D Sharp at www.therealdjdsharp.com

Tags: dj sharp, free download, hoodie music

All supporters of Hip Hip music are well aware of what’s become of the genre. There are rappers out there who have staked their claim as superior MC’s without offering the product to back it up. Some of these self proclaimed greats might enter the game with a street buzz achieved from the mixtape circuit, a hot single, or endorsements from already well know artists, but one thing is missing once these artists establish themselves—–improvement. Why don’t we hold these rappers accountable for their lack of advancement of their skills? The usual experience has been once an MC enters the game and is successful, they lose their hunger and drive for progress. Obviously there are many factors involved in keeping an artist from reaching the pinnacle of their talents, especially when it comes to rap music and the conditions pushing most artists into the business. But should we just accept those circumstances and give these MCs a pass, or should we expect more from the people representing the genre of music we love?

Hip Hop has become a lucrative venture , and due to its global popularity, there are those who enter the the business with the intention of eventually getting a large pay day. The majority of the MCs in that category don’t have much talent, but might’ve come up with a catchy chorus or a popular theme that will surely thrive in the current market. In that instance, what would be the reason driving someone to improve upon their craft? They’ve already achieved what they set out to do, got paid, and will continue to milk the same formula that got them there until it is no longer appealing to consumers. I can’t get upset with anyone who climbed out of the gutter to the top of the mountain and decided to relax until they fell off. I can’t blame these artists for taking advantage of a fatal flaw in the Hip Hop genre, it is a money driven business that values currency over substance. What bothers me is those rappers that have potential to be great and make no effort to live up to it. There are those who start their careers with albums or mixtapes that leave the listeners yearning for more, but sadly fans are usually disappointed when the second and third efforts are no different or even worse than the first.

In all aspects of life we’re always looking for ways to improve things; the whole cell phone craze for example is the epitome of our efforts to enhance what we use on a regular basis. The same values apply to other forms of technology, school, work, and sports. We should place the same accountability on these rappers. MCs who made a name for themselves shouldn’t be able to just continue to get by off reputation. We should demand a product that’s worth the $15 cost of the cds we spend our money on. Granted a lot of music is illegally downloaded nowadays which might contribute to the lack of motivation of the artists, but people still buy albums and rappers are a lot more marketable than they were in the past due to the overwhelming use of the Internet. We want to to expect more from our favorite MCs so everyone can continue to be provided with good music. I don’t want to be the one to judge, I have plenty of my own shortcomings that I need to address. I could never know how it feels to go from broke to rich in a matter of months and how I would react afterwards. What I do know is that I have integrity and I am always looking to get better at what I do. I want to see these young and up and coming artists passionate about their music so they can live in eternity in the minds of  listeners no matter how much time has passed. There are many timeless classics that I listened to over a decade ago that I still bump today. Current MCs should want to create that same longevity and they could continue to make money of their creations. If these rappers don’t make any effort elevate themselves and their music, a couple years from now they’ll be right back where they started without a second chance forthcoming.

M. Motif

Peck the Town Crier is a good ol friend of ours at hoodiepeople.com. Check out their new music video UNDERWEAR. It’s a funky jam with a super funny video. Hope you enjoy it!

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Tags: hoodiepeople.com, peck the town crier, underwear

Hip Hop has become a fictitious braggadocios bravado driven excuse for music. Once the corporate vultures recognized the benefits of exploiting young impoverished artists, the integrity of the music suffered miserably. But fans of the culture should not fret, because beneath the ashes there are still some artists that evoke passion, hunger, and truth within one of the  most popular genres on the planet. Freddie Gibbs is one of those rare MCs that is believable, knowledgeable and eager to spread his thoughts with pure Hip Hop. “The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs” isn’t a mixtape that’s gonna blow listeners away with content; it doesn’t contain anything that hasn’t been done before, but then again that’s not really what a mixtape is for. What Gibbs did was show that he can master the current landscape of Hip Hop while adding his own elements to the game that place him far above the average watered down rapper.

The mixtape starts off with Just Blaze produced ”GI Pride”, an ode to Gibbs’ hometown: Gary, Indiana. He paints a concrete picture of his city with descriptions of the everyday grind and the struggle of growing up in a poverty-stricken community with lines like “Before you muthafuckas bother me, just take a look at this economy, because economically we at the bottom.” This was a great track to kick off the mixtape and introduce the world to his sound and what molded him. In spite of the traps such as drugs, prison and guns put in place to halt his success, he still managed to rise above it and bring listeners his story. The next track that really stands out is “Never Ending Cycle”, here Gibbs questions himself in the chorus “When will I ever wake up?” over smooth production. Gibbs recognizes the conditions that  surround him that provoke violence and murder, but he also places the responsibility of change on himself with lyrics like “But I got out the streets to do this shit for a livin, as rappers we should pay attention to the message we sendin’.” No matter how bad things appear in the system meant to destroy, the onus remains on the individual to better the situation. 

“The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs” has songs for all fans of Hip Hop to nod their heads too; from the hardest gangstas in the mood for that hood music to cats just looking for some music to ride to. “What it B Like” produced by Polow da Don is one that can get the whole club crackin as Gibbs spits over Polow’s trademark base lines questioning people from all walks of life “What it B like?” Gibbs tells a couple of stories on the mixtape that contain a definitive beginning, middle and end in “Queen (Luv u to Death)”, a tale about a chick who seems like the perfect woman but later turns out to be a conniving thief, and “Close Your Eyes” which is a story about his experiences from childhood to adulthood. This mixtape can appeal to any advocate of Hip Hop and good music; Gibbs shows a rare tenacity on the mic that has been missing in the commercialized state of rap music. Will Freddie Gibbs stay true to himself once to spotlight shines on him? Will his music remain the same once the major record labels come calling with promises to take him to the next level while trying to change the very essence of his sound?  Only Freddie Gibbs knows the answers to those questions, but what I do know is that I just listened to the whole mixtape for the third time while writing this and I didn’t hear an ounce of conformity in him.

Let’s welcome Rocawear to hoodiepeople.com! Created by Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella records in 1999, Rocawear is hip hop clothing done right. We’re getting started by featuring their 10th Anniversary Diamond Collection hoodies. The Metro hoodie has an angled zip up design, lined hood, and a pieced together body which actually came out perfectly.

The Diamond hoodie is a basic zip up featuring a fashionable heather charcoal color with finishing details like a custom zipper pull, drawcords, and leather 10th anniversary chest label. Check out these hoodies and more on www.hoodiepeople.com

Tags: diamond celebration, hoodiepeople.com, hoodies, rocawear