Royce Da 5'9" video "Shake This"

I don't know how or when he did it but Royce Da 5'9" has climbed into my top emcee list. He even puts himself as close as possible to the legendary Casual as my favorite "guest emcee."(i.e. the emcee who always outshines the artist who he is appearing with as a featured guest)
Royce drops fire on producer Copperpot's album. Go back and listen to him kill it with slim shady back in the day. He also sucks up all the oxygen on the EV records compilation. His work with both DJ Premier and Statik Selektah is pretty close to untouchable lyrically. The guy is sick and can always be counted on for a go to / rewind kinda verse.
He is also working on his Premier-assisted retail release, Street Hop

, the lead single of which is "Shake This," also produced by Preemo. The video to the song is currently circulating the internet, and the project is set for March 2009.

Cocaine Blunts and Hip Hop Tapes Just Nailed it on The Head

I agree with most if not all of what Noz has to say about critics in 2008

To hear the tastemakers tell it, the worst album of Lil Wayne’s career is the best rap album of 2008. And one of just two rap albums mentioned on Pitchfork’s year end wrap up (not even honorably).

No Jeezy (whose OMG! RECESSION! hook was almost tailor made for the pitchforkian “we like rappers who are smart but not smarter than we are” perspective) or Killer Mike (he of twelfth best single of 2006 fame) or Gucci Mane (who should’ve been this year’s Cam’Ron to people whose entire relationship with hip hop entails laughing with/at? it) or Z-Ro (who wallows in misery and self doubt better than any of the unwashed white folks who made the Pitchfork list). Not even The Fucking Roots (who put out a better album this year than all the other ones they put out in the ~eight year period when non-rap critics were fawning over them.) And yeah, The Mixtape About Nothing was cute, but not even Wale would try to tell you it was the second best rap album of the year.

But none of these acts need Pitchfork love. With the exception of maybe The Roots, it’s not like pitchfork kids were actually buying these types of records or going to those artist’s concerts, apart from their one off date at the Knitting Factory.

It’s an embarrassing time to be a music critic.

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realMad Hectic x Mita Sneakers x New Balance MT580 14 & 15th edition

Now in its 15th Edition the New Balance/realmad hectic collaboration keeps going strong. Two new colourways dropped in Japan on November 28th. The new colourways are sweet and I'm feelin' the green and purple the most. Below is a pic of the 14th edition of the colabo that I don't think I got around to posting on here. I like the iridescent color in the toebox on these...alot!

New Balance A16 Woven Suede Pack

New Balance have stepped up their game in the end of 2008. Keeping in tune with their latest trend, we get a look at the A16 model done up in buttery blue and khaki suede colorways. Aside from the nicely executed uppers are exceptional intricate detailing including a woven brothel creeper like toebox with leather piping that is just an absolute eye-catcher. Although both models are samples, they are now available for pre-order at atmos Japan with the final product outcome not expected to vary much from is initial stage.