I love the DIY, make-shit-happen, mass collaboration aspects of the REMIXIN Project:
The key idea of remixin is to evolve music by creating a never ending web of remixes. Someone remixes one track, another person remixes that remix, then another person remixes that remix and so on. What you end up with is an ongoing chain of related works. Remixes can be in any style or tradition you wish. All styles of remixes are encouraged.
I guess N.E.R.D. is considered by most to be a passion project. This quote made me laugh:
Pharrell Williams is so in-demand as a producer that every time he tours with N.E.R.D., his most consistently weird project, he probably costs himself money.
Since any post about “Kanye and Nike” is blog traffic gold, I thought I would post a pic of a new colorway that debuted tonight at the first stop on his Glow in The Dark tour. Nike/Kanye haven’t even shared any real background on these shoes, yet they are already unveiling new colorways. What do you think? As a marketer, I love the approach, but I am still tired of Nike. BTW…. don’t the Air Yeezy laces above look like they are made of rubber?
Man, I cannot tell you how excited I am about the upcoming N.E.R.D. appearance on the G.I.T.D. tour. I have been digging into old N.E.R.D. stuff and forgot how much I love this band. I think I may actually know the lyrics to Fly or Die from start to finish, because it was in major rotation in my cd player back when I could afford a car. Then there are classics like Provider, from In Search Of… Always blazing new trails, the guys were on the BMX tip long before the current crop of hipster hop kids. But notice the complete and glaring absence of anything BAPE-influenced in this video… Unlike this baller, Pharrell had yet to discover it
Also… you have got to hear this remix of the song from Zero 7. They made a chill song tens times more chill.
I have officially become an old man. No doubt about it. In the last month, I have found myself saying things like “Shit, they just don’t make songs like this any more” no less than a dozen times. Ronda and I listen to the 80s music channel on Time Warner Cable probably more than actual tv shows. One striking reality - the shelf life of a pop star these days rivals a carton of milk. Back in the day, Phil Collins killed it as the lead singer/drummer of Genesis, long after male pattern baldness had taken over! Peter Gabriel, Bruce Hornsby, Christopher Cross, hell, even Bruce Springsteen looked more like school teachers than grammy-sweeping rockstars.
Of course, I still love new stuff, and believe that I always will (based on my upbringing), but just like classic rock has a special place in my dad’s generation’s heart, 80s shit, of just about any genre, is clearly turning out to be my ‘classic rock’. I have always loved songs from my childhood… but now it is reeeeeally inspiring fond memories of family road trips and hanging out around the house on Sunday with the breeze blowing in the open windows, drinking iced tea, rocking out… see what I mean!! Nostalgic! Here are a few songs that were regulars that my dad would play on Sundays and on road trips… And dad, if you are reading this… THANK YOU!
Expect more posts like this in the future.
Duran Duran - Save a Prayer
Mr. Mister - Broken Wings
Prince - Purple Rain
Genesis - Abacab
Neil Young - Heart of Gold (My Dad liked to throw in some of his old faves)
INXS - New Sensation (Michael Hutchence was THE rockstar of the 80s)
Certain music releases were literally ‘events’ in our household. The following videos actually made the family gather around the TV for their World Premieres.
That’s what Jermaine Dupri said about the Tag Records label that was announced yesterday. It has been picked up in literally hundreds of publications and blogs, and here are a few links to what people are saying…
I am all over the Kidz in the Hall right now. As an old bastard - their throwback style and perhaps most importantly, their throwback references make this nostalgic hip-hop totally interesting for a dude like me. And in the most sincere show of respect, I even made them my Myspace profile song - that’s right. They have picked up some serious momentum of late, with a critically acclaimed album, School Was My Hustle, some songs in tv shows, and even a deal with ESPN.
In other forms of music, say rock for example, it is not at all unusual for artists to pay homage to their predecessors by either covering their songs, referencing them in interviews, inviting them on stage, and in extreme cases, seriously biting their style, or even forming tribute bands… but the practice does not seem to be as prevalent in hip-hop. So many artists seem to approach their music as if they have a legit shot at the title of greatest rapper of all time. As if they are the best ever and fans can safely go ahead and forget anyone that came before them. I guess this competitive nature is just hard wired in hip-hop genetics, but I have to say, it is very refreshing to experience someone who seems to go out of their way to give praise to those who came before them.
That being said… how long can this last for an artist before it starts to feel like a gimmick. I guess it is all about constant evolution? Who the hell am I to speculate? Just enjoy this ‘trailer’ which is one of the few decent You Tube videos floating around out there (note the vintage hip-hop rides / movie footage from Menace II Society and others…)
I have long been convinced that when production budgets are tight, you may just get a higher level of creative output. Especially if you have a team that has not been spoiled in the past with unnecessarily high budgets. Shoot me, but I even love establishing parameters for big dumb agency brainstorms, much to the frustration of people with bad ideas. Here is a great example from VA native Skillz for the track Crazy World. It looks like the entire shoot took place within about 30 yard radius of a convenience store. I applaud KOCH for actually enabling the ‘EMBED’ feature on their YouTube channel - it gave YOU the chance to see it.
Below is another great example by the hyper-creative Vashtie. She did this on her own dime and time, so she deserves whatever promo she gets.
