TIMBALAND: SHOCK VALUE II

ALBUM REVIEW

1. Intro feat. DJ Felli Fell
2. Carry Out feat. Justin Timberlake
3. Loosing Control feat. JoJo
4. Meet In The Middle feat. Brand’Nu
5. Say Something feat. Drake
6. Tomorrow In A Bottle feat. Chad Kroeger (of Nickelback) & Sebastian
7. We Belong To The Music feat. Miley Cyrus
8. After Dark feat. Nelly Furtado & SoShy
9. If We Meet Again feat. Katy Perry
10. Can You Feel It feat Sebastian
11. Ease Off The Liquor
12. Undertow feat. The Fray
13. Timothy feat. Jet
14. Long Way Down feat. Daughtry
15. Marching On feat. OneRepublic
16. The One I feat. Keri Hilson, Chris Brown, & D.O.E.
17. Symphony feat. Attitude & Bran’Nu

Hands down….MY FAVORITE ALBUM OF 2009. The production is ridiculous as always and Timbaland manages to bring a fresh new sound that is uncomparable to  what everyone else is trying to do.  A collaboration of artists from all different genres.  Genius, as always, my hats off to Timbaland. A few of my favorite tracks linked for download, but seriously, go buy this. Timbaland ‘s Shock Value II only racked up 39,411 in sales after seven days and is number 32 on the Billboard 200 chart. Shock Value, his second LP sold 139,000 in its first week of 2008 eventually going platinum. Hip hop continues it’s plot to murder itself. Note that it is number 5 on the Swiss charts and was just released in Brazil and Japan this week.

My vote: GO BUY THIS ALBUM! Available On itunes now.

DOPE READ!

MAFIA: THE GOVERNMENT’S SECRET FILE ON ORGANIZED CRIME

Pass the dreary winter days by perusing a copy of Mafia: The Government’s Secret File on Organized Crime  $13. An exact copy of the old Federal Bureau of Narcotics reference on hundreds of gangsters from coast to coast — from the early 1960s — Mafia is a fascinating read for history and real crime buffs alike, offering details like addresses, criminal records, associates, listings of relatives, and, thankfully, lots of Smoking Gun-worthy photos.

Here is Rolling Stone’s 50 best songs of the decade, a few of my favorites downloadable, check it out…

Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Songs of the Decade

1. Gnarls Barkley “Crazy” 2006
2. Jay-Z “99 Problem” 2003
3. Beyonce feat Jay-Z “Crazy in Love” 2003
4. OutKast “Hey Ya” 2003
5. M.I.A. “Paper Planes” 2007
6. The White Stipes “Seven Nation Army” 2003
7. Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Maps” 2003
8. Amy Winehouse “Rehab” 2006
9. U2 “Beautiful Day” 2000
10. Eminem “Stan” 2000
11. MGMT “Time to Pretend” 2008
12. Eminem “Lose Yourself” 2002
13. 50 Cent “In Da Club” 2003
14. Missy Elliot “Get Ur Freak On” 2001
15. Johnny Cash “Hurt” 2002
16. The Strokes “Last Nite” 2001
17. Bob Dylan “Mississippi” 2001
18. Kelly Clarkson “Since U Been Gone” 2004
19. Kanye West “Jesus Walks” 2004
20. Justin Timberlake “Cry Me a River” 2002 
21. OutKast “B.O.B” 2000
22. Amerie “1 Thing” 2005
23. Rihanna “Umbrella” 2007
24. Radiohead “Everything in its Right Place” 2000
25. Missy Elliot “Work It” 2002
26. Coldplay “Clocks” 2003
27. The Postal Service “Such Great Heights” 2003
28. Randy Newman “A Few Words in Defense of Our Country” 2007
29. Kanye West “Gold Digger” 2005
30. R.Kelly “Ignition (Remix)” 2003
31. The Flaming  Lips “Do You Realize??” 2002
32. Franz Ferdinand “Take Me Out” 2004
33. Daft Punk “One More Time” 2001
34. Coldplay “Yellow” 2000
35. Bruce Springsteen “The Rising” 2002
36. U2 “Moment of Surrender” 2009
37. LCD Soundsystem “Losing My Edge” 2002
38. Gorillaz “Clint Eastwood” 2001
39. Modest Mouse “Float On” 2004
40. Kelis “Milkshake” 2003
41. LCD Soundsystem “All My Friends” 2007
42. Arcade Fire “Wake Up” 2004
43. The Roots “The Seed (2.0)” 2002
44. Britney Spears “Toxic” 2003
45. Kylie Minogue “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” 2001
46. MGMT “Kids” 2008
47. Green Day “American Idiot” 2004
48. The Killers “Mr. Brightside” 2004
49. The Walkmen “The Rat” 2004
50. Beyonce “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On it)” 2008

I was not extremely surprised to see that there were no Hip Hop tracks on this list that date later than 2005. Then, as I was looking at the 50 Best Albums of The Decade, the only two albums later than 2oo5 are Lil Wayne’s “The Carter III” at 32 and Kanye West’s “Graduation” at 45.  They aren’t wrong either, its been a depressing couple years for me in music…So my hope is that in the next decade, Hip Hop goes back to itself and less like the electronic revolution.  I hope Kanye gets back to making those unbelievable beats, and some new artists emerge that I listen to their songs without hitting the fast forward button.  We wont get into all that, but I  will say BRING ON THE 10’s….

SHINING!

“Shining” – Johnny Spanish prod. by CHOPS from Louisvilles Greatest on Vimeo.

Big dreams are nothing new for small town talent, but the means to make them a reality are often way out of reach, especially for aspiring musicians. Johnny Spanish is from Louisville, Kentucky, a city not necessarily revered for its emerging music scene and has been making it happen for himself to the tune of a knocking Chops backdrop for “Shining.” For the video, he tours some Kentucky monuments and sets the tone for his future as a pioneering Louisville slugger.

This post courtesy of Suite903

PLANE TICKET TUESDAY

Singapore

 I’ve been seeing this city everywhere lately, including one of my favorite TV shows, No Reservations. It just makes sense that its the Plane Ticket Tuesday. Singapore is set right on the ocean with a dope skyline. They also are one of the wealthiest countries per capita.

Recommended stay, The St. Regis Hotel.

Set in the heart of downtown Singapore, it holds a world class art collection with works from Miro and Botero. It will cost you about $400 a night, included in the cost : a fleet of Bentleys for guests to tour the city….IM SOLD.

WHATS UNDER THE TREE?

In case your as late as I am, I figured I’d give you a couple things to scoop up for the 25th….

The Gourmet Quadici:

I fell in love with these from the moment I saw them.  I’ve noticed a lot of duck boots running around lately, Gourmet nailed it on the head.  It seems to be a hybrid between some Air Max’s and simple workstyle rainboots…after all Gourmet is known for its almost copycat, but one-upped style of Jordan’s. In the corner is a sneak peek of the spring color way, in case you missed these…Grab ’em next time around.  

Still Available at Pick Your Shoes $180

Wesc : The Botvid Jacket…

The street fashion brand for intellectual slackers are at it again with this sick quilted nylon jacket.  This Ultramarine Green was my favorite color, paired with the Gourmet Quadici’s you’ll fly in any weather, no Birdman.  Also available in Black and Ligonberry.

On sale at Karmaloop for $49, elsewhere $120

The TUF Muska Skytop:

Supra is one  of my…if not my favorite shoe company at the moment.  The Muska Skytop’s are super comfortable, look unbelievable, and are the first shoes that won’t accept that wack stain your jeans want to leave. Now, Supra is catering to your wintertime needs with the TUF series.  Normal suede lasts 25 to 40 cycles before abrading, these get you 200.

Also available in Black, Karmaloop $120 and well worth it.

Obey The Editor Jacket…

I’ve been a big fan of Obey for some time now.  Always classic, but with a twist.  All of their jackets this season are as usual, on point…I liked this one though.  Check out the Obey Store for more. The Editor Jacket will run you $128.

MARC by Marc Jacobs Print Umbrella

Since I moved to New York City, I realized a good umbrella is a necessity. I went with this one from Marc Jacobs because of my art junkie side, and if closes up into almost nothing.  
Nordstrom $58