Digging in the Crates: Redman

I remember back in the day I was bumping "Pick It Up" in the ride at a high decibel level and my ex screamed at me to turn it off. I don't think Redman quite resonated with the ladies. But with the fellas, man it's a whole 'nother story. This guy is nuts and exceptionally charismatic. His witty lyrics are super underrated. Who else could make New Jersey seem cool?
Dropping tracks on YT:

• Pick It Up- "You're like school on Sunday- NO CLASS."
• I'll Be Dat- "My first name must be..."
  
• Tonight's Da Night- This has to be the most awkward mismatch of lyrics and 70's groove samples, but Redman somehow pulled it off.
  
• Where Am I- "Super-Cala-Fragalistic, Especially I'm The Dopest" From the greatest movie soundtrack of all time. New Jersey Drive son. (I think the album made more money than the movie.)

Oh I forgot to tell you. There's nothing "family show" about those tracks.

Here I come... Soul Brother #1

Seriously we need to get this party going...

Brownness BOOMing in Yo Speakers!

She hails from Canada, but we'll let that pass. I mean no one's perfect. (joke!) Ladies and gentlemen please put yo hands together for... Anjulie!

"Boom"


"Day Will Soon Come"


"Love Songs"


Anjulie's definitely dropping some great KBLX material, which with each gray hair becomes the #1 station on our FM dial. I'm not a musicologist (I just play one on this blog), but I here some fresh funkiness hear (yes, so funky it messes up your hearing abilities right here) by way of Guyana.

Linkage:

• Official Website
• MySpace
  
• @anjulierocks [Twitter]
  
• Namaste Anjulie [Ultrabrown]
• Anjulie: "Boom" [Sepia Mutiny]
  

The Greatest Digital Mixtape Ever Assembled

You know we luv us some 90's around these parts and we're always looking for some digging in the crates action here at TFWSR, so it should come as no surprise that our staff was unanimous in selecting this as the G.O.A.T.

DO NOT SLEEP.

Mixtape Maestro Presents: 90's R&B Junkie

In which the Mixtape Maestro takes a look at the decade that shaped his life with in-depth commentary revolving around the urban sounds that represented the mineties'. Now, take a seat in my time machine as we take a trip back to when "New Jack Swing" was hot, Michael Jackson hadn't gone opaque, we only knew of R. Kelly's sexual escapades through his songs and Whitney and Bobby were busting the charts instead of their nose cavities.

Man, those were the days. [pic]

Do yourself a favor and flip through all of the archives on this blogspot and hit play on that digital video dial. As we used to say in the 90's- this joint is crazy, phat, stoopid!

Track of the Day: New Edition- "Hit Me Off" [video | words]

luv n 160 chrctrs or less

Warning: Questionable family show material!

Too bad MMS never caught on.

Missing Michael

For TFSWR old skool potnas out there- "Have you met Michael Jackson?" [Praying with Anger]

Here's a fav 5 from our favorite member of the Jackson 5.
1. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Michael was looking real smooth back in the day. The disco 'do was fresh. Bonus points for the bow tie.

Lovely Is The Feelin' Now
Fever, Temperatures Risin' Now
Power (Ah Power) Is The Force The Vow
That Makes It Happen It Asks No Questions Why (Ooh)
So Get Closer (Closer Now)
To My Body Now Just Love Me
'Til You Don't Know How (Ooh)

2. Thriller
I remember listening to this song on tape in the dark when I was 6 years old one night- it scared the living crap out of me! Yeah I wet my Transformers underwear from Mervyns- so what? Thriller was creepy man. Pure genius too.

It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark
Under the moonlight, you see a sight that almost stops your heart
You try to scream but terror takes the sound before you make it
You start to freeze as horror looks you right between the eyes
You're paralyzed

'Cause this is thriller, thriller night
And no one's gonna save you from the beast about strike
You know it's thriller, thriller night
You're fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller tonight

3. Remember the Time
This whole track was just so funky- way ahead of its time. The Eddie Murphy and Magic Johnson cameos made this better than a night of The Arsenio Hall Show. I won't deny my appreciation for Michael's gaudy gold outfit either.

Do You Remember
When We Fell In Love
We Were Young
And Innocent Then
Do You Remember
How It All Began
It Just Seemed Like Heaven
So Why Did It End?

4. You Rock My World
The year was 2001 and Michael was somewhat of an underdog. The haters were plentiful, but Michael returned to show them who was still and will always be the king. So underrated.

My life will never be the same
'Cause girl, you came and changed
The way I walk
The way I talk

I cannot explain the things I feel for you
But girl, you know it's true
Stay with me, fulfill my dreams
And I'll be all you'll need

Oh, oh, oh, oh, ooh, it feels so right (Girl)
I've searched for the perfect love all my life (All my
life)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ooh, it feels like I (Like I)
Have finally found her perfect love is mine (See, I
finally found, come on, girl)

You rocked my world, you know you did
And everything I own I give (You rocked my world)
The rarest love who'd think I'd find
Someone like you to call mine (You rocked my world)

5. You Are Not Alone
Chronologically this wasn't Michael's last recording, but I think it's the best outro any man could want. All the love, all the pain, and all the passion- it was Michael.

Another day has gone
I'm still all alone
How could this be
You're not here with me
You never said goodbye
Someone tell me why
Did you have to go
And leave my world so cold

Everyday I sit and ask myself
How did love slip away
Something whispers in my ear and says
That you are not alone
For I am here with you
Though you're far away
I am here to stay

But you are not alone
For I am here with you
Though we're far apart
You're always in my heart
But you are not alone

Thank you Michael.
You were BAD man.

Alaska is even dumber than California

I thought Cali was showing some serious signs of ineptitude when the Governator got a fancy house in Sacrapmento, but this is just on a whole 'nother level.

Thank you Sarah Platitude for completely confusing us... I feel dumber after watching that- and we love hoops around these parts.

Sarah Palin Resignation Speech: FULL VIDEO, TEXT [The Huffington Post]

Summatime 2k9

It's officially summa-summa-summa...time. Here's a few classic joints to celebrate the sunniness:

The Dove Shack- "Summertime in the LBC"


Lil Rob- "Summer Nights"


T.W.D.Y.- "Player's Holiday"


DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince- "Summertime"


Here's to another hot summer ya'll.

Famous High

List of famous Bay Area high school grads [SFGate]

Shockingly no one even remotely associated with TFSWR made the cut. Talk about strict criteria. I thought we were a pretty legendary crew. BECOME LEGENDARY my peoples.


Track of the Day: Ahmad- "Back in the Day"

This is How We Crank That

Two Fall seasons ago for some unknown reason to us here at TFSWR Soulja Boy's "Crank That" was the most popular song in the land.

Dumb song. Disgusting and inappropriate "superman" theme. Dope dance though. Here's a little instructional video on the get down:
It's too bad the song itself was so hideous. That dance was pretty fly.

Track of the Day: Anything but Soulja Boy's "Crank That"

Chalk It Up to a Sneaker Fetish

We've been accused of having a sneaker fetish before (most recently by Raj and B) and to tell you the truth there isn't much evidence I can collect to legitimately counter that claim. I mean we are the folks who brought you that legendary top 10 list of the greatest hoops sneakers ever created and then followed that up by extending the list to 15, both of which sparked some truly provocative commentary in the comments sections and across AIM. When we say "fetish" though we're obviously joking- it's always still a rated G, sometimes PG show here at TFSWR.

However, this kicks clip by the chalk man LeBron James for his best shoe to date the Nike Air LeBron VI, is a completely different story:

Warning: This LeBron and Nicole Scherzinger Nike ad contains PG-13 material.

Very... um... bizarre- and we're not even talking about the bad acting. If I was 11 years old, I would have a very tough time convincing my mom that THOSE are the wonderful shoes (which make you jump higher) that I obviously need her to drop $140 on. Call me old fashioned, but that doesn't fit my mold for a great sneaker campaign.

Now watch this classic Michael Jordan "Frozen Moment" spot:


Next check out this creative Nike Air Penny commercial for the Air Penny III Foamposites with the lovely Tyra Banks pre-America's Next Drama Queen and The Tyra Banks Show (aka Oprah 2.0) parodying that MJ clip circa 1998:


Now that's how you make a sneaker commercial for the whole family to enjoy.

For much a more in-depth look at the odd marketing of LeBron and the post-SI for Kids NBA landscape, head on over to Daily Fortune where my boy DJ Fuzzy Logic drops science. I must admit the good man grossly misquoted me- I'm not even half as insightful as he makes me out to be, but just play along and everyone wins.

Track of the Day: Montell Jordan- "This Is How We Do It"

The Atma of the Bay

The legendary Michael Marshall aka Mike Meezy drops more soulness for the Bay. Who is he? Just listen.

As you can see Meezy's not only the best hype man on the mic everytime my extended golden crew takes the Roaracle floor for our annual game of 6-on-6, he's got the smoothest vocals this side of the Isley Brothers. I think my man GD from the mighty Fear the Beard put it best:

This cut right here, “Who Is He?”, is a rich, autobiographical journey. The track boasts an infectious hook – partially re-purposed from Mike’s first first hit single, “Rumors” – you may remember it. The song twists and turns as he chronicles some of his toughest life lessons. No punches are pulled, no skeletons dismissed. But don’t be sad. Our boy Meezy is just fine. Married, kids, making music and thrivin’. Right here in the Bay.

And, you gotta’ love the A’s cap with ear warmers. Classic.

I do love that A's cap with the ear warmers. I won't lie- the winters in the Bay are like a frozen tundra. We're tropical people you know.

Don't sleep on Mike Meezy's album Soul of the Bay [iTunes | CD Baby].

Track of the Day: The Luniz feat. Dru Down, Richie Rich, Spice 1, E-40, and Michael Marshall- "I Got 5 On It" (remix)