History
Unsung: EPMD (Documentary) [Video]
February 8, 2013
TVOne documentary series UnSung is the truth! The latest episode spotlighting EPMD (Erick and Parrish Making Dollars, Golden Era greats; respect to DJ Scratch) is must see TV for real.
Posted in Hip-Hop, History, Producers, Television, Videos | 
Tags: dj scratch, EPMD, Erick and Parrish Making Dollars, TV ONE, TVOne, Unsung | 
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Tommy Lee Jones and Matthew Fox Seek Justice in Post-World War II Japan In “Emperor” (Movie Trailer)
February 1, 2013
War being an ultimate evil, carried out by loyalists who kill and destroy on a massive scale, how can we hope to bring ‘war criminals’ to justice – to bring closure to the war and ensure justice and peace for both sides? Can we call an enemy combatant a criminal who was doing the same thing our warriors and officers were doing just because we won? Big dilemma.
As the Japanese surrender at the end of WWII, General Douglas MacArthur (played by Tommy Lee Jones) charges General Bonner Fellers (played by Matthew Fox) with the task of deciding if Emperor Hirohito will be hanged as a war criminal. Influencing Fellers’ ruling is his quest to find Aya, an exchange student he met years earlier in the U.S.
“Emperor” tells a portion of the story of post-war justice in Japan (with a love story sort of mixed in, of course). Bold (and secret) moves that won the peace in that time are shared and explored. But more pressing than the measures taken, consider a couple of the issues/questions faced at the time:
- Emperor Hirohito was considered a god to many in Japan. How do you bring a god to man’s ‘justice’?
- Emperor Hirohito being a spiritual leader, not a figure wielding much political or war-making power, may have been no more than a figurehead for government and military officials to use to rally troops. Can we find justice in sentencing a figurehead to death?
A spiritual figure of a people put to death for ‘crimes’ per the judgement of those who had the power to do so. Why does that sound familiar? Argh! I know this one… hair like wool… feet like bronze… Jesus why can’t I remember?
Well, I’ll leave it there. Interesting story. Looks like this could be a good movie. Tommy Lee Jones movies often are.
– @ojones1
Posted in Film, History, Videos | Tags: EMPEROR, Japan, Matthew Fox, Theatrical Trailer, Tommy Lee Jones, World War II | No Comments »
U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson Needed Room at the White House To Let His ‘Nuts Hang’ (Audio)
January 28, 2013
Every man needs pants. Every man needs room in his pants. That’s how we order ’em… with room… preferably EXTRA room for comfort when carrying money and such. President Lyndon B. Johnson, being a man, was no different. He needed room in his pants – for his money, for his KNIFE, and for his NUTS! Hahahahaaaaaa!
Listen closely. Was that a big belch? Haaa! Man, the Prez was rough cut back in the day. Joe Haggar tailor-made slacks – cut for Presidential comfort since the 1960s.
(And yes, that really is the President’s voice, a recording off the White House phone line.)
Posted in Comedy, Fashion, History, Human Interest | Tags: deez nutz, down where your nuts hang, Haggar, Joe Haggar, LBJ, Lyndon B. Johnson, Lyndon Johnson, Lyndon Johnson tapes, nuts, President, slacks, U.S., United States | No Comments »
Unsung: Isaac Hayes (Video)
January 27, 2013
The legendary Isaac Hayes was the subject of TV One’s popular television series “Unsung” last Wednesday night & the show didn’t disappoint in covering the life of one of the greatest icons in black music. The influence & contributions of Isaac Hayes goes deeper than just the music as he was not only a singer, songwriter, musician & producer, but he was an actor & activist as well. Isaac Hayes’ music has also been sampled by countless numbers of hip hop & R&B artists many times over further keeping his legacy alive. If you didn’t catch the episode live like I did on Wednesday then you can watch the full episode on the life of “Black Moses” here on this soulful sunday afternoon.
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Posted in History, R&B, Soul, Television, Videos, Vintage | Tags: Isaac Hayes, TV ONE, Unsung | No Comments »
Flashback June 1985: 17-Year-Old LL Cool J Performing In Maine (Video)
January 25, 2013
Spotted this video of LL Cool J & his DJ Cut Creator performing at Colby College in Waterville, Maine at the age of 17. LL Cool J was about to release his Def Jam debut & soon-to-be classic “Radio” album later that year & this performance could have been a possible promo tour he was on back then. Back in the early 80s hip hop was still expanding commercially so I’m not surprised at the crowd’s modest reaction in Maine at the young upstart who may have been unknown to most of the audience. Some may say hip hop in 1985 was largely popular in cities like NY, Philly, L.A., & Chicago as it was still expanding throughout the country to smaller towns like Waterville Maine. I love vintage video clips like these. Shout out to PHMB & Kodiak Star who uploaded this rare vintage video with this message….
““My dad organized the show and i just digitized the VHS†– Kodiak Star
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Posted in Hip-Hop, History, Performance, Videos, Vintage | Tags: 1985, Classic Clip, Classic Clips, Colby College, Cut Creator, FLASHBACK, june, LL Cool J, Maine, Performance, Waterville Maine | No Comments »
N.O.R.E. (Papi) – “What What” Documentary (Trailer) [NSFW]
January 23, 2013
Back in the day before the internet & street DVDs were prevalent, Queens emcee NORE recorded many moments with a videocamera. From the looks of this trailer to his new documentary he’s captured many intimate moments with significant individuals in the music industry over the years. Be on the look out for the “What What” documentary. This makes me want to start pouring through the 100s of old videos & interviews I recorded from 90′-’98 as well. There’s some brief nudity in this trailer that may Not Be Safe For Work.
“Nore was taping everything. We used to go around with this and just hit record, if we wanted an interview we made it happen. What What!”
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History: The REAL Django – Dangerfield Newby
January 22, 2013
Here’s a little story I’d like to tell…
Dangerfield Newby [pictured above], a strong, 6’2″ African American, was the first of Brown’s men to die in the fighting. Born a slave in 1815 but later freed by his white, Scottish father, Newby married a slave who was still in bondage in Virginia.’
A letter found on his dead body revealed Newby’s motive for joining Brown’s brigade: It was from his beloved wife, a desperate plea for her husband to buy her freedom as soon as possible.
Seem like a familiar story?
DJANGO UNCHAINED (MOVIE TRAILER)
Sadly, Newby’s widow was sold after the raid and moved farther south.
R.I.P. James Hood, First Black Man to Enroll at The University of Alabama (Video)
January 19, 2013
I just learned that an often under-recognized civil rights figure has passed. My eternal respect and thanks to you, Mr. James Hood. Because of the courageous steps you and Vivian Malone took into Foster Auditorium long ago, I was allowed to walk the halls and earn two degrees from The University of Alabama decades later. Many of those young men who took the field to reclaim the NCAA Football Championship this year owe their right to do so to you and a faithful few who saw the battle for our civil rights through in those tough times.
R.I.P. Mr. Hood. Roll Tide!
– @ojones1
Special thanks to Vkoot for the YouTube post embedded above. See bonus video that puts the clip above into perspective after the jump.
Posted in Cover Story, History, Human Interest, News, Television, Videos | Tags: Civil Rights, James Hood, R.I.P. James Hood, Stand in the School House Door, University of Alabama, Vivian Malone | 1 Comment »
Biggie’s Daughter T’yanna Wallace Revists Her Father’s Old Brooklyn Neighborhood (Video)
January 18, 2013
Global Grind TV interviews with the Biggie’s (aka Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher Wallace) eldest child. She is now a student at Penn State University; into fashion…NOT rap. That’s okay though, as she clearly has her own lane and seems comfortable in her skin. On a tour of Poppa’s old stomping grounds, the clip above celebrates B.I.G.’s life and impact on Hip-Hop and folks in it… while giving us a good look at T’yanna and her future outlook. Good feel good video.
Posted in Hip-Hop, History, Human Interest, Videos | Tags: Bed-Stuy, Big Poppa, Biggie's Daughter T'yanna Wallace Re-Visits Bed-Stuy In First Official Interview, Brooklyn, Daughter, Global Grind, GlobalGrind, Notorious B.I.G., Notorious BIG, Penn State, Sharon Carpenter, T'yanna Wallace | No Comments »
New Trailer for the Jackie Robinson Movie ’42’ (Video)
January 18, 2013
We posted the first trailer for the movie ’42’ a while ago. In this new trailer they give us a teaser of a several additional scenes from the upcoming film. The movie relates the life story of Jackie Robinson (#42), team executive Branch Rickey, and making history – with #42 signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers (and crossing the color line in pro sports). Here’s the 2nd official trailer.
Posted in Film, History, Videos | Tags: Harrison Ford, Jackie Robinson, Official Trailer #2 | No Comments »
Young Guru Speaks On Piracy vs. Invention in Hip-Hop (Video)
January 17, 2013
Young Guru has mixed most of Jay-Z’s albums over the years. He has been Jay-Z’s tour D.J. for years. Safe to say he knows a thing or two about Hip-Hop. Well, the NY Hip-Hop aficionado goes in-depth on the thin line between piracy and invention in the genre.
“When we study hip-hop we are actually studying the history of piracy. If we go back and study all piracy, we see that most things that were created in the world are a remix of something else.â€
– Young Guru
Now, don’t let that quote make you defensive Hip-Hop heads. Watch as Young Guru takes us on a journey of modern human history referencing the history of Hip-Hop to show how our ‘remixing’ things in industry over time is good for all overall… we just have to address some tough questions of who owns what, who should should get paid, what we consider ‘piracy’ (versus ‘new creation’) and more. Very interesting.
It has been said that ‘there is nothing new under the sun.’ Play the video clip above, and watch more after the jump, to get Young Guru’s application of that in the study of Hip-Hop.
Posted in EVENTS, Hip-Hop, History, Producers, Technology, Videos | Tags: Invention, Piracy, Pop-Tech, Young Guru | No Comments »
Breakbeats & Rhymes: Lord Finesse x Percee P (Video)
December 28, 2012
A quarter-century after their historical rap battle, the above video captures a dope conversation with Lord Finesse and Percee P. on Breakbeats & Rhymes, hosted by Rebels To The Grain (90.7 FM KPFK). Instrumentals by Sigh The Cyclo. Video produced by Stuckinthetrees. Well worth the watch.
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Posted in Hip-Hop, History, Videos | Tags: Breakbeats & Rhymes, Breakbeats and Rhymes, Lord Finesse, Percee P | No Comments »
‘Mayan Doomsday 2012’…NASA Knew It Wouldn’t Happen (Video)
December 27, 2012
C’mon… you’ve been watching “The Walking Dead” on AMC… you peeped the movie trailers for “World War Z” and “After Earth”… You cannot tell me that along with those visions of sugarplums dancing in your head… you hadn’t thought about what might happen on 12/21/2012 (the day the world was supposed to end).
Okay, you don’t have to admit it. After all, you have the luxury of being here today saying “I knew it all along.” NASA’s and other scientists took a stand on this craziness before the so-called Doomsday date arrived.
‘…there was never evidence that the Maya culture predicted the end of the world on 12/21/12 . In fact, there are Mayan texts that refer to time periods beyond 2012.’
– Anthological archeologist Sonja Schwake
NASA made a video about it. Wanna see it? Click above.
– @ojones1
Posted in Cover Story, History, Human Interest, News, Technology, Videos | Tags: 12/21/12, 12/21/2012, 2012, December 21, Doomsday, End of the World, Mayan, Mayan Calendar, Mayans, NASA | 1 Comment »
Technology: The Most Overlooked & Underappreciated Inventions In History
December 20, 2012
You know… it’s the simple things in life that are the best. The best thing since sliced bread… better button up… better to light a candle than… well… you get it. Well, get this: Huffington Post compiled a list of 19 underrated inventions we rarely think about but probably could not do without:
Buttons, candles, glasses, pencils, tin cans, safety pins, toilet paper, paper clips, clothes hangers, jeans, straws, stop signs, zippers, sliced bread, deodorant, tilt-and-roll luggage, rubber bands, tissues, and socks.
BONUS: See my number 20, to round out the list, after the jump.
Harlem World: Dapper Dan (Video)
October 19, 2012
Opening a clothing store bearing his hood name on 125th Street in Harlem (New York), Dapper Dan found a way to become a Harlem legend while avoiding the street life’s perils in the 1980s. By designing streetwear in the early 1980s on par with luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and MCM, Dapper Dan began to secure his legendary status. A product of his environment, Dan’s first customers were people from his hood – Harlem’s hustlers and gangsters. Then, Dapper Dan’s grew – eventually outfitting rappers and other celebs of the time, who wanted to rock what the gangsters were wearing. With success came fame… and problems (particularly in the form of lawsuits from high-end competitors like MCM).
It has been a hell of a ride so far! Now, Dapper Dan, with childhood friend Pee Wee Kirkland, shares his Harlem World history in the video above.
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Posted in Fasion, History, Videos | Tags: 125th Street, Dapper Dan, Harlem World, New York | No Comments »
This Is Stones Throw Records: Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton [Film Trailer]
October 19, 2012
“Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton (This is Stones Throw Records)” is a documentary movie about Los Angeles-based label Stones Throw Records. World-famous DJ and company founder ‘Peanut Butter’ Wolf has driven Stones Throw’s success since it began in 1996. Moving forward in honor of his late homie Charizma, Stones Throw has released critically acclaimed albums over the years since.
“Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton” tells the Stones Throw story by weaving together live concert footage, never-before-seen archival material, home video and photographs, and interviews with those who shared responsibility for the label’s success – and its artists, organizational history and culture, and fans worldwide.
Looks like a good watch. Check out the teaser above.
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Posted in Film, History, Videos | Tags: Documentary, Gatling Pictures, Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton, Peanut Butter Wolf, This is Stones Throw Records | 1 Comment »
Yasiin Bey x Niels Shoe Meulman – “Float” (Tribute to Muhammad Ali) [Video]
October 18, 2012
Muhammad Ali will “drown a drink of water” and “kill a dead tree!” No messing with the greatest of all time. But we mess with this: Yasiin Bey…Niels Shoe Meulman… lyrical and visual art, respectively and respectfully. The video brought to you by Louis Vuitton. Nice tribute.
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Posted in History, Performance, Videos | Tags: Float, Muhammad Ali, Niels Shoe Meulman, Tribute, Yasiin Bey | 1 Comment »
If You Know Your Hip Hop Then You Should Know ‘The Meters’ (Video)
October 18, 2012
The Meters doing it live!Okay, we know that Public Enemy and N.W.A. have been nominated for 2013 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (R&R HOF). East coast and west coast legends… so that’s all the Hip-Hop represented in this batch, right? Wrong! “The South got something to say,” as Andre 3000 said. We forgot to tell you that The Meters were nominated, too. Please tell me you know about The Meters…
– The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame and Museum
NOW, Hip-Hop is represented among the 2013 nominees. Well done, R&R HOF. Well done!
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Posted in History, Videos | Tags: 2013 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Nominees, The Meters | No Comments »
House Shoes Breaks Down J Dilla – “Feelin Goodâ€
October 10, 2012
Bling47 brings us a super rare Slum Village/ J Dilla treat. Previously unreleased music. By unreleased, we mean aside from a handful of folks (most at Slum Village shows in the 1990s), NO ONE has experienced it. As our guide, Detroit producer House Shoes takes us through the music in this video Bling47 calls “Feelin Good” (filmed, edited, and animated by Waajeed)…referencing a rare J Dilla cover of “Feelin Good†(a song made famous by Nina Simone).
Posted in Hip-Hop, History, Producers, Videos | Tags: Feelin Good, House Shoes, J Dilla | No Comments »
N.W.A. Nominated For The 2013 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame
October 5, 2012
It’s so crazy how two of my favorite groups of all-time have both been nominated for the 2013 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. We saw the announcement from DJ Lord & Flavor Flav about their group Public Enemy’s nomination, but upon closer inspection we also see the guys who put Compton on the map get nominations. Ice Cube, Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, & DJ Yella as N.W.A. get the nods as well & the timing couldn’t be anymore perfect as there is already a biographical film that’s currently in production directed by F. Gary Gray to tell their story. Dope!
https://twitter.com/mcrencpt/status/253890545364123648
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Posted in Cover Story, Hip-Hop, History | Tags: 2013, Compton, DJ Yella, dr. dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren, Nominated For The 2013 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, NWA, Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame | 2 Comments »
