The Audacity of Dope

Some nice live footage of Dwele performing at the Temple Bar in LA about a month ago courtesy of my favorite titled blog, NerdWithSwag.  Although, as a fellow nerd, and one with ample swag, I’m afraid I gotta call an Inigo Montoya on their usage of “complacent” in the description: “I do not think it means what you think it means.” Definitely has negative connotations.

Um, but yeah, *ends nerd rant*.  Andwele Gardner runs through “Flapjacks” and “I Think I Love You” in apparently stifling heat.  Of all the people in the industry, Dwele might be the only artist I haven’t seen live yet that I really want to.

Another hilarious video from Baron Davis, and this time Steve Nash tags along for some fun. Apparently this was done for a movie trailer contest on IBeatYou and this is their take on Stepbrothers (which I still have no real desire to see…sad to say, but Ferrell’s shtick is getting old). I think Steve should break out that robot sometime next season.

Aside from Kanye’s “Glow In The Dark Tour,” I’ve never seen anyone do a better live performance than the Roots.  Seeing as how I’ve caught them about 15 times vs. 4 for ‘Ye, I think the overall edge has to go to Legendary.  In this clip from OKP TV, there’s some dope performance footage and ?uestlove and Black Thought talk about their live show strategy.  Plus, Greg The Dude broke out the fisheye.  I love the fisheye.

The homey Tunji also helped put this together (as you can partly see in the mirror while Tariq is talking), and he has additional clips over at his site…peep ’em.

I’m so mad at myself for blogging the trailer to this special last week and then missing most of it when it aired tonight.  I guess if it’s not in the Blackberry, I just forget to do it.  Damn.

Anyway, here’s one segement where Kanye and Sway met up with Lorenzo Zarate, a veteran from the war in Iraq.  Not only did Lorenzo come home with post traumatic stress disorder, but he recently lost his job, his wife is pregnant, and they’re about to be short on their rent.  Luckily, Mr. West, Sway, and MTV stepped in to help him out…big time.  I especially liked that they set him up with a mentor-ship at the hip-hop station in Austin, because honestly, there’s waaaaay too many people out there putting everything they have towards rapping.  Just because technology has afforded you the option, doesn’t mean you should pick up that mic.  Hopefully Lorenzo gets his health in order and his family can have the future they deserve.

I spotted this clip at Eskay‘s so I haven’t searched the MTV site to see if the rest of the show is up there, but it better be.  I caught the last segment live, then searched the schedule trying to DVR the replay.  To my horror, MTV would rather show 21012910219 episodes of From G’s To Gents and America’s Best Dance Crew over something with a purpose and actual substance.  Wack.  At least they commissioned it in the first place though.

The criminally underrated Symbolic One (of the Strange Fruit Project) brings y’all inside his studio as he works on a beat that’ll hopefully end up on 50’s next project, Before I Self Destruct.  It’s a nice quick look at the creative process of one of the best producers out there, plus beat they’re working on sounds like a banger.  Shout to his dude Caleb on the keys as well.  Be on the lookout for S1’s debut solo project, The Music Box, coming real soon.

Spotted on S1’s blog.

The governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford, recently appeared on CNN to support John McCain. Unfortunately for McCain, his own surrogate can’t even explain how his economic policies differ from those of Bush. He tries to avoid the question but still falls flat on his face. Awwwkwaaaaard.

Still not as painful as McCain’s viagra-gate though.

OKP posted up a trailer for a Talib Kweli documentary that’s apparently been in the works since 1999.  That means there’s great footage and cosigns from everyone in the industry over those years, but it’s a little frightening if you’re hoping to see it released soon.  Maybe it really is “coming soon,” but I’m skeptical for now.  I hope it drops though, cause it looks dope as hell.

The video for Game’s new single, “Dope Boys,” just dropped thanks to DJ Skee, so here it is.  Not really breaking ground on anything new, but some pretty nice visuals.  Along with the producers 1500 or Nothin’ (I’ve heard that sample is from “Eleanor Rigby“…if so, that’s gonna be tough to clear), Travis killed this track.  I don’t know why more people don’t get live drummers on their tracks.  Oh yeah I do, it’s the same reason why they stopped sampling: it costs more money.  Eh well, enjoy it where you can!  Mp3 if you need it:

The Game ft. Travis Barker – “Dope Boys”

Interview with Game coming this weekend.

Swiped from SkeeTV.

W.T.F.  Not informative, but hilarious.  I assume this happened when “Glow In The Dark” was up in Vancouver about a month ago.

Spotted on KayCee’s bloggy blog.

Here’s a new interview with Kardinal from Hip-Hop Official Offishall.  Some nice basic info is discussed, but I must say, the interview we just did with him smashes this one.  I’ll have that for y’all next week, since I’m going to air The Game interview this weekend.  Anyway, Kardi is the man and I’m psyched he’s getting some good publicity this time around.

Spotted on 2 Dope Boyz.