Did Michael Bay Cross the Line with Racist Portrayals of Robots in TRANSFORMERS Sequel?

Today, director Michael Bay releases his anticipated sequel to "TRANSFORMERS", "TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN". Like many fans of the first film, I am anxiously looking forward to seeing a ramped up sequel to one of the most incredible effects heavy films of our time. Being a film buff and someone who reads early reviews to gage excitement, I came across this review of the new Transformers film and was deeply disturbed by the description of the new characters above, Skids and Mudflap. Apparently these two robots are the "urban" element in the film. Massawyrm, author of the article at the link above (aintitcool.com), says "They speak in clichéd urban slang, tossing around phrases like “I’m gonna pop a cap in your ass” while fist bumping and mumbling unintelligently in a voice that sounds like a bad Chappelle Show sketch. Then you get a close up. And they each have bug eyes and a gold tooth. Then there’s this jackass comment about them not being able to read." I searched around for other reviews and many of these same themes are expressed. COMPLEX Magazine's online blog had this great article along with a video clip of Skids and Mudflap expressing their lack of literacy. In another review at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, it is noted that the robots "are shockingly crass and unfortunate black stereotypes, jive-talking fools who can't read and bumble their way from one mishap to the next. They are Jar Jar Binks in car form." I will likely see the film for myself but this does not sound very positive or necessary. If true as many reviews reveal it to be, the question that comes to mind is how could executive producer Steven Spielberg (DreamWorks) and film distributor, Paramount, co-sign this type of buffoonery?

FLICKS: THE ZRO HOUR Reps Hard at The 5th Annual Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival

Last weekend's 5th annual Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, presented by brooklynbodega.com, was our first time doing promotion at an event like this. We had been doing a lot of networking behind the scenes and through online venues. I booked a booth and used the festival to serve as the launch of our free promo CD, THE ZRO HOUR: RESPECT THE ARCHITECTS VOL.1. A limited run of CDs were pressed and they will be distributed through the summer at various events. For those that may not obtain a copy, there is a download link at the top of the page.

It rained steadily off and on throughout the whole day but that did not stop several hundred hip hop heads from showing up and enjoying the sounds of Marco Polo & Torae, DJ Premier, Styles P, Pharoahe Monch, Smif -N- Wesssun and many upcoming acts including the Brown Bag All-Stars. A couple of hundred people stopped by the booth and 300 CDs were given away in total. Most people were blown away by Dubelyoo's artwork and excited to hear more about THE ZRO HOUR. Eternia, DJ JS-1 and Randy Mason stopped by during the day to show support.


EDAYE & ALEXIE F.



DJ JS-1 & EDAYE


EDAYE, ALEXIE & DREA


DREA & ETERNIA


ETERNIA, ALEXIE & EDAYE



SHEEK LOUCH (The L.O.X./D-BLOCK) & EDAYE





BETH THE SUPERFAN & EDAYE

VIDEO: GRAND PUBA Speaks on His Fourth Solo Album "RETRO-ACTIVE"

VIDEO: GRAND PUBA Speaks on His Fourth Solo Album "RETRO-ACTIVE" from EDAYE on Vimeo.

I was able to speak with Grand Puba for a few minutes during his listening session at Frank's Chop Shop in NYC for his new album "RETRO-ACTIVE". We build on his early contributions and his reasons for wanting to drop new music again after several years away from the scene. Puba's album, "RETRO-ACTIVE" is out today, June 23rd, on Frank Radio/Babygrande records. It features appearances by Sadat X, Rell. Lord Jamar, Kid Capri, Q-Tip, Talee, Sarah Martinez, Khadija Mohammed, Big Phil and Tiffani Davis. Production is largely handled by PHD & Grand Puba with tracks by Large Professor and Q-Tip respectively. Grand Puba laces the CD with his tested formula- party tracks, punch lines & wisdom. Stand out tracks include the first single, "This Joint Right Here" w/Kid Capri, "How Long?", "It Is What It Is" and "I See Dead People" w/Rell & Lord Jamar.

VIDEO: "LIVE in BROOKLYN" Eternia & MoSS - Road to Release: Episode #3 Feat. PHAROAHE MONCH

VIDEO: WU-TANG's U-GOD Speaks On His New Album "DOPIUM"

THE ZRO HOUR: Interview with WU-TANG's U-GOD from EDAYE on Vimeo.

I caught up with Wu-Tang's U-GOD and spoke with him about his solo career and his new album "DOPIUM", dropping June 23rd on Frank Radio/Babygrande Records. "DOPIUM" features appearances by Ghostface, Cappadonna, Gza, Raekwon, Method Man, Large Professor, Killah Priest, Jim Jones, Scotty Wotty, Sheek Louch and Mike Ladd. U-God sounds refreshed and ready for the current musical sound scape. Many will be surprised by the production choices and diverse sounds on "DOPIUM" as it appears that U-God is on a mission to widen his audience.

RIAA in Replay of File Sharing Case is Awarded $1.92 Million for 24 Songs

The Recording Industry Association of America won a federal trial in a case against a Brainerd, Minnesota woman accused of downloading 24 songs from Kazaa file sharing service. Jammie Thomas-Rasset has to pay $80,000 per song as a result of the judgement. Under federal law, the jury could have awarded up to $150,000 per song. This is the second time that the case was argued in front of a federal jury and the second time that Jammie Thomas-Rasset has lost. In the first case, she was ordered to pay up $222,000. Due to a judicial error in the first trial, a new trial was ordered. Thomas-Rasert's lawyer said the RIAA failed to prove that the songs were shared. In testimony this week, Thomas-Rasset denied any songs were shared. Attorney for the recording industry, Tim Reynolds, said the copyright security company MediaSentry traced the files to the IP address to Jammie's computer. MediaSentry then downloaded a sample from her shared folder on her computer. This proved to be an important point. Thomas-Rasert isn't worried about the judgement imposed because she feels its unrealistic and the RIAA would never get that kind of money from a regular Mom like herself. Attorney Tim Reynolds said the RIAA would be willing to settle.

Read more at YAHOO/AP

SOULBROTHA (12 Finger Dan & B-Base) Drop Collector's Item 12"

I know 12 Finger Dan is going to kill me LOL...German DJ/production duo, SOULBROTHA releases a collector's item vinyl compilation of raw boom bap and sick emcees. With guest appearances ranging from myself, to legendary producer DJ Premier, Sadat X, Craig G, Blaq Poet, Dashah and many others, This album channels the sound of Golden era of Hip Hop. Cop the vinyl Here-

www.chiefrocker.de
www.soulbrotha.de

VIDEO: GRAND PUBA (BRAND NUBIAN) Talks Golden Era Days In Studio W/LORD JAMAR

VIDEO: ETERNIA & MoSS: AT LAST- Road To Release Episodes #1-2

One of the hip hop's most skillful female emcees (or male for that matter), ETERNIA, drops a new series of videos documenting the road to release of her upcoming project with producer MoSS entitled "AT LAST". My jowls are salivating....



You can catch Eternia live onstage in NYC, June 26th, at the LYRICIST LOUNGE hosted by Jeru The Damaja. Eternia will be appearing beatboxer CHESNEY SNOW, DJ BOO and COLIN DEAN on bass.

LYRICIST LOUNGE
Hosted by Jeru The Damaja

Performances by:
Duo Live
A-Alikes
Eternia
A.D.M (Architects & Demolition Men)
Soul Purpose
Nemiss

@ 92YTRIBECA
200 Hudson (off Canal St. / near the Holland Tunnel)
212.601.1000

Doors 9pm / Show 10:30pm

VIDEO: THE ZRO HOUR: RETURN TO ZERO- 12 Emcee Power Cipher

THE ZRO HOUR: RETURN TO ZERO- 12 Emcee Power Cipher from EDAYE on Vimeo.

12 emcees, a human beatbox and DJ Ambush on the 1s and 2s? Sounds like a recipe for ill hip hop. This footage represents the essence of what THE ZRO HOUR is about- real hip hop, independent artists that love their craft and community. Watch as Eturnal, J-Hon, Mike Swift, ZEPS, Dashah, Puerto Glok, Eternia, Randy Mason, Hasan Salaam, Kid Novice, Knewdles, MONSTER and beatboxer Chesney Snow destroy the mic during the anniversary recording of THE ZRO HOUR.

Celebrate Borinquen Pride This Weekend at the 2009 Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York

Crowds in excess of two million are expected to line Fifth Avenue on Sunday, June 14th for the 2009 Puerto Rican Day Parade. The parade will start at 11 am at Fifth Avenue and 44th Street and proceed uptown along Fifth Avenue to 86th Street. To help celebrate, check out our classic mix show "THE ZRO HOUR: ROOTS OF HIP HOP- Boricua Pride". After a few shots of Bacardi Anejo, Alexie F. and I rock the house with a tribute to some of the most influential Puerto Rican artists in hip hop. Hip Hop began in the Bronx, New York in communities where primarily Puerto Ricans & African-Americans shared the same neighborhoods. Download our tribute while you slow cook the pernil, simmer the arroz con grandules and fry the maduros. Be safe and avoid drinking and driving this weekend.


THE ZRO HOUR: ROOTS OF HIP HOP- Boricua Pride

DOWNLOAD (77.9 MB MP3)

PLAYLIST

PUERTO RICO-Frankie Cutlass
100%-Big Pun
LEATHERFACE-Big Pun (remixed by PopularB & AC)
MUSIKA-KRS One & Marley Marl feat. Magic Juan
PUERTO RICO ALLSTARS-Tony Touch feat. Daddy Yankee, Ivy Queen, Mexicano, Rey Pirin & Don Chezina
WE FLY HIGH (REGGAETON REMIX)-Jim Jones feat. Tego Calderon & Don Omar
PLANE TO PR-Daddy Yankee feat. will.i.am
BROOKLYN-Joell Ortiz
WE RUN NY-Tony Touch feat. Tru Life, Lumidee & Joell Ortiz
ROCKIN' IT-Fearless Four
WOPBOBALUBOP (REMIX)-Funkdoobiest feat. B-Real
HIP HOP-Joell Ortiz
AL NATURAL-Tego Calderon
WHAT'S THAT (QUE ESO?)-TonyTouch feat Mos Def & De La Soul
TRIBUTE TO BIG PUN & HECTOR LAVOE-Cuban Link & Willie Colon (produced by PopularB & AC)
COME BABY COME-K7
REP MY PEOPLE-Tony Touch feat. N.O.R.E. & AC (produced by PopularB & AC)


Original post HERE

VIDEO: MARCO POLO Showing You How Its Done On A MPC

Producer Marco Polo rocks the Akai MPC 2000XL and the MPD 24 while piecing together a neck snapping beat. Nice demo fro the heads.



Available now is the new release, Marco Polo & Torae "DOUBLE BARREL", on Duckdown Records. The album features the classic hip hop collabo between one emcee and one producer. CLICK HERE to purchase.

VIDEO: THE ZRO HOUR: RETURN TO ZERO- ETERNIA & CHESNEY SNOW Perform "Many Many"

THE ZRO HOUR: RETURN TO ZERO- ETERNIA & CHESNEY SNOW Perform "Many Many" from EDAYE on Vimeo.

Toronto, CA emcee. ETERNIA spits venomous verses over CHESNEY SNOW's beatbox in their collabo of Eternia's "Many Many"

MOS DEF New Album "The Ecstatic" Out Today

Emcee, actor, poet and activist, MOS DEF, releases his 4th studio effort "The Ecstatic". "The Ecstatic" features minimal guests (Slick Rick, Talib Kweli & Georgia Anne Muldrow) and production by Madlib, J Dilla and OhNo among others. It is a sharp return to form for Mos Def with cutting, socio-political rhymes and insightful, almost spiritual themes. Make no mistake, Mos is at his finest with delivery, cadence and lyrical dexterity. Standout tracks include "Superamgic", "Casa Bey", "Auditorium" (feat. Slick Rick), "Priority" and "Pistola". "The Ecstatic" showcases Mos as he expresses his love for the craft and steadily explores new soundscapes.

Mos Def - "Casa Bey" - The Ecstatic - 6.9.09


DIGITAL DOWNLOAD



CD



Check out this great article on Mos Def from yesterday's USATODAY.

NEW SINGLES: DEAD PREZ- "Gangsta, Gangster" Produced by DJ GREEN LANTERN

"Gangsta, Gangster" is the lead single off of Dead Prez's new album Pulse of the People, which will be released through Green Lantern's Invasion Music Group. The album features Styles P, Bun B, Chuck D, Johnny Polygon, and more and hits stores June 23.

Dead Prez- "Gangsta, Gangster"

BONUS CUT B-Side:

Dead Prez- "Summer Time"