Lucky Charm Slabs

By scheme | August 2, 2007

UGK – “The Game Belongs To Me“

www.attorneyst.com

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Knitting Factory 7/10

By scheme | July 9, 2007

On Tuesday, a very dope benefit show will be held at The Knitting Factory NY to help send young spoken word poets to Africa. Their trip will be documented and in large part will serve to demystify what people currently believe about the continent.

Damn, only a couple of sentences in and Scheme has already used hella multi-syllabic words. Hell yea son, we learned (pronounced: learn-ed….ooooohhh) roun’ dese parts doggy.

The show’s only $15 bucks, so if you’re in NY, come out and support. I personally don’t have anything to do with the show, and nobody sent any Halfway Halles to my motel suite with bokkle upon bokkle of (insert hard to pronounce champagne….here), so I don’t really have any reason to tell you it’s going to be dope other than just that. A plethora of ill individuals i.e. several Def Poets and a member from the ’07 Nuyorican Poets Cafe Slam team will be among the performers, and a certain Universal Records emcee with a new record out is rumored to be making an appearance. Peep the myspace for more details.

*new Kid Sister live snippet, and Amerie samples on Attorney Street

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Son, Do You Know What I’m Stoppin’ Ya For?

By scheme | June 29, 2007

Pretty interesting to me that for the second time in a row, Chamillionaire’s lead single seems to focus in on the whole issue of racial profiling and police brutality. Definitely not the person I would’ve been expecting this content from, but then again he may have been doing this for years on the trillions of mixtapes I’ve heard he’s put out in his homestate, and I just wasn’t up on it. “99 Problems” definitely had slicker execution of this concept (sorry Chamillionaire, the comparison was inevitable the minute you made the track), but I guess I’ve just reached a point where I’m happy when anything of substance makes it to radio. Slick Rick cruises in near the end of the track where, assuming police perspective, states “are you pirate? what you got that eyepatch on for?” Nice to see Ricky D back in the mix. New album please?

Chamillionaire featuring Slick Rick – “Hip-Hop Police“

*music from Andre 3000, Carlton Banks (seriously), and Camp Lo samples on Attorney Street

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It Ain’t Safe No More

By scheme | June 21, 2007

“Got! This is how you get got!!”

My boy K~Swift and I were walking yesterday en route to a listening session that The FADER was hosting and the handlebar-less, seat-less, and wheel-less bike you see before stopped us in our tracks and had us roooolling. We tried to rationalize it like…maybe the owner of the bicycle was being extra cautious. But after doing our best CSI and peeping the attempted clipping of the bike lock, we’re forced to think otherwise!

Anyway, so does your name have to end with a “-yo” or a “-z” to get some promotion over at Def Jam? Granted I’ve been adhering to my self-imposed ban on BET, but via other media outlets, I’ve heard barely a peep about the Chrisette Michelle album, and this is definitely a record I’ve been looking forward to (especially after her appearances on Hip-Hop Is Dead – whoo!).

I read a couple of complaints about this album being “too slow”, which I guess is correct. I mean, how dare Ms. Michelle make an R&B album that (gasp!) sounds like R&B! She effed up for sure. Somebody should’ve told her to throw some chicken noodle soupage into the mix if she was trying to get it poppin’.

In any case, here’s my favorite track off the album. Beautiful song. If the label doesn’t go the obvious route and put out the track with Will.I.Am, I wouldn’t be surprised if it were the next single.

*Sneak peek at The FADER’s new cover, Lil’ Wayne Audio & Bonde Do Role live footage over on Attorney Street

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Hourglass Heads

By scheme | June 19, 2007

Jadakiss – “Wall To Wall (Snippet)“

Preview of Jada’s forthcoming album?? I honestly don’t know, but I’m happy to hear anything from dude with a hard beat, even if it’s just a minute long. According to my boy Swift, there was a bunch of bru-haha on the Okayplayer boards a while back regarding whether Jadakiss (among Kweli and others) are artists that have missed their chance at really impacting the game. He seems to always drop a joint that people are excited about (“Blood Pressure” off of the 2nd Lox album leading into his debut, then singles like “Put Ya Hands Up” and “Knock Yourself Out” and “Why?”), but it never seems to go much further than a buzz. As long as he keeps throwing dope joints out for the mixtapes though, I’m not complaining.

*Attorney Street: New Palms Out splinter site
*photo: sohh

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Bottles & Boxstarch

By scheme | June 12, 2007

I tried to resist this dang song for the longest, but obviously I’ve given up, as I’m posting it now. In any case, numbered below are a few things I think people should leave behind pre-june 12th.

1. Answering questions by first saying “Me, personally? I think that I’m…” -um, yeah, that’s a bit on the redundant side, don’t you think?

2. Picking up the phone only to say “I can’t talk right now, i’ll call you back.”

3. Just standing and looking (dumb) around in vip.

4. Michael Jordan has released over twenty something Air Jordan sneakers, in more colorways and “.5″ models than I presently would care to count. I think the time has come to remove the Air Jordan 3 retro as the official pick of the urban hipster. Try choosing another one from among the litter, or even (gasp) another brand!

5. Apathy. Ha! Just kidding. I don’t really give a s**t what you do with yourself

6. That last one was ironic.

Peace & Pomade

P.S.: (ahem ahem) Seeing as how we’re kinda livin’ it up right now, we decided that rather than copping multiple bottles of something that ends with “-stal”, “-oet”, “-elvedere”, or “-goose” in celebration, it would be far better to invest in the expansion of our internet real estate. So, a couple of your fav folks from Palms Out have launched AttorneySt.com (please bookmark us – w/Amy Ruths Chicken & Waffles on top!). I’ll be checking in here to post and periodically remind ya’ll at the good grace of the POS admin, but for the most part I’ll be holding it down on Attorney Street. Holla back…or whatever the kids are saying these days!

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Bottles & Boxstarch

By scheme | June 12, 2007

I tried to resist this dang song for the longest, but obviously I’ve given up, as I’m posting it now. In any case, numbered below are a few things I think people should leave behind pre-june 12th.

1. Answering questions by first saying “Me, personally? I think that I’m…” -um, yeah, that’s a bit on the redundant side, don’t you think?

2. Picking up the phone only to say “I can’t talk right now, i’ll call you back.”

3. Just standing and looking (dumb) around in vip.

4. Michael Jordan has released over twenty something Air Jordan sneakers, in more colorways and “.5″ models than I presently would care to count. I think the time has come to remove the Air Jordan 3 retro as the official pick of the urban hipster. Try choosing another one from among the litter, or even (gasp) another brand!

5. Apathy. Ha! Just kidding. I don’t really give a s**t what you do with yourself

6. That last one was ironic.

Peace & Pomade

P.S.: (ahem ahem) Seeing as how we’re kinda livin’ it up right now, we decided that rather than copping multiple bottles of something that ends with “-stal”, “-oet”, “-elvedere”, or “-goose” in celebration, it would be far better to invest in the expansion of our internet real estate. So, a couple of your fav folks from Palms Out have launched AttorneySt.com (please bookmark us – w/Amy Ruths Chicken & Waffles on top!). I’ll be checking in here to post and periodically remind ya’ll at the good grace of the POS admin, but for the most part I’ll be holding it down on Attorney Street. Holla back…or whatever the kids are saying these days!

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Holla For A Dolla

By scheme | May 12, 2007

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Sample Wednesday 34: Boot Camp Clik Pt. 1

By scheme | May 2, 2007

Faze-O – “Riding High“
used in “Shit Iz Real” by Black Moon
Minnie Ripperton – “Only When I’m Dreaming“
used in “Hellucination” by Smif-N-Wessun
Baby Huey – “Hard Times“
used in “Powaful Impak!” by Black Moon
Lightnin’ Rod – “Sport“
used in “Who Got the Props?” by Black Moon
also used in “Stand Strong” by Smif-N-Wessun
Parliament – “All Your Goodies Are Gone“
used in “Follow Me” by Buckshot
Lee Michaels – “Tell Me How You Feel“
used in “Act Like U Want It” by Black Moon
Vicki Anderson (as Myra Barnes) – “Message from the Soul Sistas“
used in “Son Get Wreck” by Black Moon

Topics: Sample Wednesday | 9 Comments »

Tips 4 Transit

By scheme | April 27, 2007

I found myself indulging in a hater moment recently on the train, and said to self, “self, why don’t you air out these grievances so you can possibly make the world somewhat of a more tolerable place.” Therefore, with the help of Cambridge, we bring to you, Tips 4 Transit (pt 1., as more hater moments are no doubt inevitable).

1. You remember what your kindergarten teacher said about either bringing enough for the class or bringing nothing at all? While your teacher was probably referring to candy, in terms of transit, I would like to extend this to include food of any variety, particularly those with pungent aromas (i.e. Mickey D’s, Chinese food, etc…) One, if you’ve seen just how “clean” the NYC subway system is, you should know it’s tacky as all hell. Two, I think of I am made to feel self conscious about eating w/ the proliferation of homeless folk in and on the subway, then damnit you should too.

2. For bus riders in particular, I for one am not in the slightest interested in overhearing half of a conversation. If I’m hearing you, that means I want to be lazy and not do any reading and at most am inclined to do only very minimal, shallow thinking. Your phone conversation demands too much imagination on my part, leaving me to fill in the blanks of what the person on the other end of your Razr is saying. Frankly, publicphonetalker, you’re asking too much of me. Now a real life, two person convo on the bus? By all means engage! Sh*t, I might even switch seats to get closer and pop some popcorn while you entertain me. Now dance, minion.

And don’t think I’m a nosy bastard- you know you eavesdrop too.

3. Son, do you need to let your ENTIRE wack ringtone play out before you answer your phone? Furthermore, do you need to hear that whole Yung Joc song yet again, out loud, and at the expense of jillions of brain cells, before you decide to buy it?

Unless you have high top fade and carry an obnoxious boombox so frequently that people have started to call you Radio Raheem, please put the music for your ears, in your ears (and yours alone).

4. Everyone in front of you is getting off at this train stop as well, so the not so subtle passive aggressive shove you’re giving me right now isn’t really helping matters.

5. That rule stated in number one also applies to your girl. Unless you want a line to start forming, quit necking with your girlie in the corner seat.

6. Yes, you’re walking on an extremely busy block with countless amounts of people in front of you, and even more behind you- of course it makes sense to stop suddenly and abruptly! Why don’t you apply to MIT since we’re all now just standing here genius. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.

7. Leaning over and peering down the block or train tunnel, unless of course you have the mental powers of Professor Charles Xavier, will ultimately not make the bus or train come any faster son. Rasta McPasta the bus driver is gonna take as long as he wants to finish eating his curry chicken roti and take his 7 and a half minute nap before beginning his route. So check the schedule all you want fam, but the bus is gon’ get there when it get there.

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Gettin’ Guap

By scheme | April 22, 2007

I was not a big fan of this song at all when I first heard it a couple of months ago, but this video makes it much more likable. Granted, I have some pangs of conscience after watching the Oprah Town Hall Meeting w/ Russell and associates, but the shit is fly. Maybe I’m part of the problem??? In any case, if Hype Williams didn’t direct this under another alias, this Scenario character is very heavily influenced. Stunning visual, but I’m sad to say that I’m not really expecting much from this new Fab album.

Topics: Words is Like Ziti | 8 Comments »

School Is Not A Fashion Show

By scheme | April 12, 2007

You remember: you wanted these kicks, at that time, to impress those people, and your mom said nuh-uh kiddo, you’re getting your shoes from Payless. You wanted L.A. Lights (yes, there was a time when LA Gear was hot), and got knee high galoshes. You wanted the Kevin Garnett’s, and instead got the Mutumbo’s. Woe upon the child that wants hot shit, but only controls enough of the economy to make prudent investments in Lemonheads and Now & Laters- maybe a Snickers bar if you’re really ballin‘.

Painful and traumatic memories get attached to “not having.” You can still remember the pointing and smirking once heads realized you rocked smelltoes and wannabelike-mikes.

Enter Nike- the corporate behemoth that is devious and evil minded- not because 6 year old Colombian boys sew oh so coveted Jordans while only being allowed two bathroom breaks per week; nope, that’s not the reason, so good for Nike. Rather, because it is well aware of your painful memories, and thus, mercilessly exploits them. It seems that within that last few years, everything released has been a retro something or other. Peep the hot new Retro Air Max Nutlint with new and improved leather upper! Nike is having a field day bringing back ghosts from disappointments past and suckering us into thinking these shoes are ill.

Your mom was on to something; nope, not about the fashion show thing- she was clearly way off base there. But why should she have spent 100+ hard earned bucks on shoes that look like a cross between a strait jacket and the phlegm adorned pavement directly outside of Bar 11 on St. Patty’s Day? The other problem with this whole retro thing, besides us spending money more out of sentimental feeling than actually thinking the shoes are anything but atrocious, is that I’m seeing the Lean With It generation rocking Penny’s as if they’re new fondu. I guess this is how my moms felt when I was bumping Mase’s “Feel So Good” to no end, not even knowing it had a huuuge sample from back in the dizzay. If retro’s are the new, well, new – since regular new by Nike kind of sucks (blazers, assaults and court forces excluded..), what are the young’ns going to have remade when they’re no longer mommy dependent? Retro retro’s? I guess in that regard, it sucks to be them. Anyway, peep the Air Max CB 2, Air Max Uptempo and some other kicks I just remember as The Deion Sanders- shoes that would have been better left in the 90′s. Oh, and the quick mixtape track by Slim Thugggaaaaah….

Retros I never get sick of: Jordans, Huraches, Bo Jackson, Air Max 1, Air Max 90 & Max 95′s

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Sample Wednesday 32: Big Daddy Kane

By scheme | April 5, 2007

My favorite moments when putting this together: a) hearing the sample for Das Efx’s “Danger” in the Gwen McCrae track below and b) hearing Teddy Pendergrass say “come here woman!” mad abruptly in what’s supposed to be the true “let me slow rock you on top of a bed of rose petals and marshmellows” type track. Dig in!

1. Loose Ends – “Hangin’ On A String“
from “The Lover In You”
2. Debarge – “I Like It“
from “On The Bugged Tip”
3. BT Express – “If It Don’t Turn You On“
from “Smooth Operator”
4. Aretha Franklin – “The House That Jack Built“
from “The House That Cee Built”
5. Heatwave – “Ain’t No Half Steppin‘”
from “Ain’t No Half Steppin”
6. Teddy Pendergrass – “Close The Door“
from “In The PJ’s”
7. The Isley Brothers – “I Turned You On“
from “Prince of Darkness”
8. Gwen McCrae – “Rocking Chair“
from “Brother, Brother”
9. Foster Sylvers – “Misdemeanor“
from “Get Busy”
10. Sister Sledge – “He’s The Greatest Dancer“
from “The House That Cee Built”
11. The Notations – “Superpeople“
from “Dance with the devil”

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Poor Little Rich

By scheme | April 5, 2007

Rich Boy – “Boy Looka Here“

Usually not too keen on posting singles, but this is my sh!t right now. Sample Wednesday is on the way…

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Huxtable Types

By scheme | March 28, 2007

You can tell an artform has reached a new plateau when critical and/or satiric renditions coming from within the genre itself start to emerge. Hence, after many mocha lattes, visits to the nuyorican and several seasons of Def Poetry, there are now what can be considered stereotypical spoken word poet voices, cadences and points of focus i.e. “fuck bush”, “why do you rappers call dem hoes bitches” and so on, and so on.

While the hype of Def Poetry has died down a bit since it’s show on Broadway and first couple of seasons on HBO, spoken word, to real heads, still remains hecka interesting. Maybe it’s because it existed long before Russell “God Bless & Goodnight” Simmons put his stamp of approval on it, and will remain long after. Maybe it’s the fact that both the gangstalicious type and the nerdiest, scrawniest most awkward kid in the world have equal standing once they step foot on that stage might be part of the appeal, along with more stuff that’s not really coming to mind right now. What’s for sure is that if you’re wack, you don’t have a Pharrell track to fall back on, because it’s all about the words.

Lemon, one of the original heads on Def Po, is currently mentoring the NYC Teen Slam Team at my part time gig. I opened for him once in Pennsylvania a couple yrs back, and managed to get a video interview out of him today (a video interview, that since my mac is defunct, will remain to be seen until, well, it’s seen). Peep my favorite piece by him entitled “Gangsta Emcee’s”, a joint that was much needed if you ask me.

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