COMMON @ THE SPORTS ARENA

Common performs “Come Close” @ Sports Arena from Golden Bloggen on Vimeo.

Common was at the Sports Arena last Saturday and of course Golden Bloggen was there capturing footage. Hip Hop 101 (Whatever that is) was sponsoring the show with an impressive line up including Janelle Monae, Ludacris, Mix Master Mike, and of course Common. Only one problem. Mix Master Mike never showed. What the hell? I’ve never seen him on his own and I was real hyped. Ludacris headlined the show, kind of an odd headliner for a show that was trying to promote real Hip-Hop, but Luda ain’t bad.

But no one compares to my boy Common. Right now the best rapper in the game. Dude’s been around since 1992. Thats right 1992!!! I’m about to give you guys something I guarantee you won’t find any other blog…. tracks from his little known debut album “Can I Borrow a Dollar?”

The album is a little rough around the edges and very dated. His flows are choppy and rapid-fire, similar to other early 90’s Hip-Hop acts like Fu-Schnickens and Das EFX. But for a debut album it ain’t bad.

Common – Heidi Hoe (Produced by The Beatnuts)

Common – Charms Alarm

Here’s the first track I ever heardfrom Common back in 1994. I was just a young kid watching Rap City Top 10.

Common – Watermelon

And here is a heater from his brand new album “Universal Mind Control.”

Common – Make My Day (ft. Cee-Lo)

Check out more footage from last Saturday’s show. This time Common shows off his break dancing skills. If you didn’t know now you know!

Common Breaking @ Sports Arena in LA from Golden Bloggen on Vimeo.

MVM – LATE 90’S ROCK

Rage Against the Machine – Guerilla Radio (1999)

Dir. Honey

First off I want to start off by saying FUCK YOUTUBE! All their videos have become disabled, which means I can’t post them on my blog. Whatever. Dailymotion … you my only friend.

Secondly, I’m continuing the same theme I started on last week’s Music Video Monday with “Late 90’s Pop” by exploring a little Late 90’s Rock. Some of these videos aren’t Rock Rock, but more like MTV Rock. The videos they used to show on the MTV’s music video shows.

Some of these videos may be a little on the poppy side for some people but fuck you I love this shit. These are some of the songs that helped me get into rock music. I wish I hadda saved that Oasis video for this post. Oh welp. Enjoy Filter.

Filter – Take My Picture (1999)

Dir. David Meyers

I don’t have to introduce this dude or tell you anything about him. Even Hip-Hop kids listened to him.  And he got Hip-Hop music video director Paul Hunter to make one of the best videos I’ve ever seen. Period. Ladies & Gentleman…. The King of Shock Rock…… MARILYN MANSON!

Marilyn Manson – The Dope Show (1998)

Dir. Paul Hunter

I got into this band when this album came out. This song and Stellar prompted me to buy their breakout album, “Make Yourself.” I really dug their usage of a DJ spinning and scratching over hard rock guitar riffs. I also like Brandon Boyd’s smooth voice. When I got to college in 2001 every chick was in love with that dude Brandon. Plus they’re from the L.A. area, much love to local artists who blow up.

Incubus – Pardon Me (1999)

Dir. Steven Murashige

Incubus – New Music – More Music Videos

Whatever happened to Everclear? They were around for a while then blew up with this album in the late 90’s and I haven’t heard from them since. I loved this stuff. I know there’s some rockers out there hating. Whatever…. keep hating.

Everclear – (1997)

Dir. Art Alexakis & Mark Kohr

Can’t go wrong with Foo Fighters. Even if they have a bad song, it gets negated by the fact that Dave Grohl was in Nirvana. Grohl is a jack of all trades. He actually directed this really cool video for his band.

Foo Fighters – My Hero (1998)

Dir. Dave Grohl

Finally this is a song I remember listening to a lot Junior year of High School. I had a crush on my friend Judy and this song perfectly reflected how I felt. Memorieeeeees.

Lit – Miserable (1999)

Dir. Evan Bernard

SCION HOUSE PARTY W/ RUSKO & CONGOROCK

Last night me and Casey went out to The Roxy to see some sick ass DJs and celebrate Casey’s 26th birthday, which is today. Happy Birthday Case!

We got there when AC Slater was on. Not only does he have one of the best names in the biz but he also kicks ass as a DJ. After him was headliner Rusko. I don’t know how long this cat has been around, but I’m guessing it’s been a while. I’ve heard his named mentioned as an influence by some of the best DJ’s around, including Golden Bloggen favorites Crookers. I’ve really been getting into UK Dub and Grime recently and he’s a big reason. Here’s a couple of my favorite tracks from him. He definitely has his own sound. Something really important to me when it comes to a producer.

Rusko – Cockney Thug

Kid Sister – Pro Nails (Rusko Remix)

And speaking of Crookers here’s he new remix of the now classic song “Day n Night.” You believe it? A remix of a remix. 

Kid Cudi vs Crookers – Day n Night (Rusko’s Big Trombone Remix) [Mediafire]

Closing out the night was one of my new favorite DJs, Congorock. Dude’s out of Italy and I definitely hear similarities to other Italianos Bloody Beetroots sometimes. I first heard this Congorock a few months ago and I’m loving his stuff. He’s beats are real dancey and real dirty. Hard hitting bass and crispy crackling goodness. As Casey would say he’s got those great “wonky” bass drops. 

Congorock – Runark [zSHARE]

Favretto ft. Naan – What’s Your Name (Congorock Remix) [Mediafire]

MOULINEX

Nothing new here, just a couple of the best tracks from one of my favorite producers I discovered last year. German DJ/Producer Moulinex has a knack for making groovy disco tracks that just get you dancing. Sexy synths, heavy basslines, and that New Wave/Disco party feel. It’s hard to beat.

He also has a side project with Xinobi called D.I.S.C.O. Texas who made their U.S. debut last month in Philly and NYC. But no L.A. love! Come on Mooly, when you coming out to the West Coast.

Cut Copy – Lights and Music (Moulinex Remix)

Sebastian Tellier – Kilometer (Moulinex Remix)

Here’s a great mix Moulinex did last year that contains some of the best dance tracks of ’07 and ’08 (Even though it came out in 07. Thats how ahead of the game this dude is). I couldn’t get this shit out of my head or out of my car. Everyone should stalk this guy like I do.

Moulinex – Libere La Femme Vol. II Mixtape

MVM – LATE 90’S POP

Marcy Playground – Sex and Candy (1997)

Dir. Jamie Caliri

In 1997 MTV introduced one of the best music video shows ever to be borned. It was called MTV Live. MTV Live was the shit. People like Busta Rhymes, Method Man and Rage Against the Machine would come by the studio talk to Carson Daly or Ananda Lewis and drop of a new music video. One year later it turned into Total Request Live and the collapse of life as we know it began. The introduced their daily Top 10 where screaming girls call in and vote for videos and Busta was substituted for Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. No disrespect to Britney though.

I put New Radicals on my “Heartbreak Mixtape” last week and they actually inspired me to do this post. This video was part of some controversy as lead singer Gregg Alexander clowns Hanson, Marilyn Manson, Courtney Love, and Beck.

New Radicals – Get What You Give (1998)

Dir. Evan Bernard

I love me some No Doubt. No Doubt crowds are more hyped than Daft Punk or RATM crowds, those 15 year-old girls can be scary. This is them at the height of their popularity. This video, from the “Go” soundtrack, was released this in-between albums and it had No Doubt fans salivating for more.

No Doubt – New (1999)

Dir. Jake Scott

This video came out before the TRL Era started, but it owned 1997 and was one of VH-1’s Top 5 videos that year.

Wallflowers – One Headlight (1996)

Dir. Ken Fox

Damon Albarn is probably my favorite rock star. Not only does he lead the amazing Blur but he has cool side projects like Gorillaz, works with people like Black Ghosts, and makes albums like “Mali Music” in his spare time.

Blur – Coffee & TV (1999)

Dir. Hammer & Tongs

This is one of my earliest memories of rock music I actually liked. 1997 was the year that rock broke for me and it was partly due to Oasis being awesome.

Oasis -D’You Know What I Mean (1997)

Dir. Dom & Nic

This shit is just funny. This song was everywhere, but I remember it blowing up because of the Disturbing Behavior soundtrack. Damn Katie Holmes was looking good. I hope this song makes another huge comeback. I feel like I heard someone use this in a movie recently, if they did they are a genius.

Harvey Danger – Flagpole Sitta (1998)

Dir. Liz Friedlander

MVM – WU-TANG CLAN PT. 1

Ghostface Killah – Daytona 500 (1996)

Dir. RZA

The Grammy’s were on last night and in L.A. for some reason that’s a big deal. I saw a few good performances. Seeing 9 month pregnant M.I.A. perform Swagga Like Us w/ T.I., L.W., K.W., and J.Z. was the shit. I missed this aledged Timberlake and Al Green collabo…. but I definitely heard the news about Rhianna and Chris Brown cancelling their performances because Chris Brown supposedly beat up Rhianna for giving him Herpes! As well as his posting of $50, 000 bail this morning.

With all that said the Grammy’s left me uninspired for Music Video Monday. So I decided to post all my favorite Wu-Tang videos. I call it Part One because there will definitely be a Part Two. These Mofo’s have a grip of videos.

Method Man – Make Ups 2 Break Ups (1999)

Dir. Hype Williams

This is one of the most important music videos of all time. Little did we know it would be one of the last epic videos of the dying Hip-Hop era. Shit is still legendary though.

Wu-Tang Clan – Triumph (1997)

Dir. Brett Ratner

This was Wu’s big video breakthrough. The video is great, the song is better. And if you don’t know what C.R.E.A.M. stands for, kill yourself NOW.

Wu-Tang Clan – C.R.E.A.M (1994)

Dir. Ralph McDaniels

This video right here. This video right here. Just when it looked like Wu Tang was about to call it a day and disappear off the face of the Earth, they come with this crazy vid. And nine years later they’re still doing it. I don’t really know where they are, but they’re still doing it.

Wu-Tang Clan – Gravel Pit (2000)

Dir. Joseph Kahn

This video is from Raekwon’s Cuban Linx album but like with every Wu song everyone is on the track. My boy Meth is on the chorus, and Ghost who I’ve always preferred over Raekwon murders the first verse.

Raekwon – Ice Cream (1995)

Dir.  Ralph McDaniels

Yet another Hype Williams video and it comes from the Late Great ODB. This guy will never be understood. ODB was such a character. He had 12 or so illegitimate kids, not a dollar to his name, and barely spoke English. But we all loved him. What Flava Flav is to Public Enemy, ODB is to Wu Tang.

Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Shimmy Shimmy Ya (1996)

Dir.  Hype Williams

More UK Beat Magicians…FISK.

FISK is Golden Bloggen’s latest Up n’ Comer via the UK. Every time I hear his “Juicy Bits” track it reminds me of some happy time in my life, a little corny I know. But my most recent listen to the track (as im writing this post) got me thinking about the Coachella Music & Arts Festival… THE GREATEST MUSIC FESTIVAL IN EXISTENCE! And how dropping a track that you love would feel.

WOW! Anyways… introduce yourself to FISK.

FISK- Juicy Bits **Golden Bloggen Exclusive**

AC/DC – Back To Black (FISK Twist)