Gnarls Barkley, one of this years break out acts and are powered by Cee-Lo and Danger Mous, have played pretty much every major US festival, topped the billboard charts and put together a sound that is accessible to anyone who digs Rock, Hip Hop, R&B, Dance music, funk. Point is...Gnarls is just plain good music. Check out their new video "Gone Daddy Gone".
Check out Danger Mouse's video from 2002 - What U Sittin On
Check out Cee-Lo's videos before he started Gnarls Barkley.
And of course, you can't forget, Gnarls's smash hit, "Crazy".
Enjoy this list of the worst album covers of all time.
Every Wednesday from here on out has been designated as the official HIP-HOP HUMPDAY here in Blastro World.
In Celebration of this Much Needed Break from your work week we hittin' you off with the Hottest Videos of the week...based on your emails and opinions. This Week's countdown features a couple of new joints and some hot gossip and of course The Blasted Pick. Tune in and see who you made #1 this week.
And the beef continues...
Welcome to the Terrodome
Get Jiggly with it...
Sometimes there are moments when you have to just walk away and cry. The Jewelry Man is under the opinion that there's no disaster that can't become a blessing, and no blessing that can't become a disaster. This is one of those moments.
In "Damn" news, Rev Run's wife gave birth to a newborn baby girl early Thursday morning, but the infant was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
The Jewelry Man is informed that Justine Simmons (Rev's wife) gave birth at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood New Jersey. Doctors delivered the baby via c-section and discovered that the baby girl was born with organs outside the body. The newborn died a short time later.
As you know, Rev Run, a.k.a. Joseph Simmons, shocked fans last year when he announced that Justine was pregnant on his MTV reality show "Run's House." Justine's pregnancy was the cliffhanger on the MTV show last season. It generated intense interest among viewers who have been anxiously following the pregnancy and awaiting the birth.
The Jewelry Man would like to offers his sincerest condolences to The Simmons' family in this time of loss.
Click here to Watch EbenGregory - Rev Run Simmons Suffer Loss Of Newborn
Episode #2 Definition of a Hustler
So. When I began doing this for a living, it came to point where I was being forced to up my production value, but not have a larger budget. I was finally dealing with bands that had some sorta situation behind them. Bands with exposure, but they weren't giving up the 'BIG' bucks because it wasn't film.
The most effective way of improving your production value is LOCATION. When you stop shooting in front of cars, dogs and fences then your videos began to take on some texture. Admittedly I've done my share of the aforementioned, but normally it's been at the behest of the artist. WInk.
Once your start working with different type of locations, you can begin to tell stories and not simply rely on a 'performance' video. Which now is basically what you see in most of the 'low budget' videos. It's hella easy to light a huge hanger, or pack a club. But. Where's the story?
I got into Directing videos because of my love of old movies and old MTV. I grew up on MTV. Ran home from the bus stop just to watch Men without Hats and Michael Jackson. So that still influences me. Every chance I get to 'tell the story' I do. Sometimes the budget or time constraints want let you or the artist simply can't see past the Ti**es and rims.
When you're scouting a location think about these things in this order. 1) Is it free? 2) What are my chances of getting it for free? 3) And if I have to pay... Can we barter?
Forget whatever shame or inability to talk somebody out of something for free.
Seriously. You gotta go in there like a car salesman and when you're done, they have to feel like they're makin' more of you by giving it to you 'FREE' rather charge you. I shot a band in a Mental Instution.
I was watching a lot of Girl Disturbed and Beautiful Mind at the time and I kind of what wanted the girl in the song to go there. The Film Commission in your city is your best resourse. Use them like a triple pack of Magnums during Howard's Home Coming Week. They get paid to help you.
If you don't use them... They gettin' paid for free... F**k that. I ask them for the most outrageous scenario first and then come with what I really need. I told them I was shooting a Hip-Hop Zombie Horror Movie and need a hospital. Point is. I showed up did my thing, they asked me for a commercial in return. Made hella cool contacts at the spot and got it free. The more you can do for free, the more you put in your pocket. The less equipment you 'own' the better your profit margin. Equipment houses have insurance if you got clumsy Electricians and Grips. Shmell me?
A location can make or break your vision and the overall texture of your video. I find myself trying to set up scenes I've seen in old movie of TMC. I watch a lot of VH1 classic and BETJ, the old joints are like textbooks.
Parents couldn't afford film school, so I was self-taught. Not that it matters. But. I approach this thing initially from a purely business aspect first, becuase well. I own a business.
I don't have a a time clock. I am my time clock. So if you can secure actors, actresses, crew and location for free then you can still put together a Hot Joint and Eat at the same time. As long as you next video is better than your last, or at least 'DIFFERENT' than your last than your evolving and Evolution is what it's all about.
100
Louie Fattz Grind Spot
Get Blasted
Recession is when a labelmate loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours. The Jewelry Man.telling you that depression is just a simple reduction of feeling. Rappers who keep stiff upper lips and low record sales find that it's damn hard to smile.
In "Def Jam be throwing its artist's under the bus and then runs over them" news, the I hate Def Jam homey Method Man is STILL with Def Jam despite rampant rumors indicating that he was dropped from the label because of poor record sales.
Oh really EbenGregory.are you saying that selling 62,300 units of his new album in the first week won't help Meth buy any ice jewelry?
Yes.
And now.the damage control.
Here's Def Jam publicist Jana Fleishman in a statement to EbenGregory on Method Man's status with Def Jam: Method Man is still a part of the Def Jam family and he is currently on tour supporting his newest release, 4:21...The Day After.
And now.unhappy Method Man.
Here's unhappy Method Man to AllHipHop.com on how things have changed since the Jigga Man took over the ship that Russell built: I've seeing a lot of weird s**t going on up here since the transition. [Back in the "90s,] the procedure was way different. It was like I could just walk up in [chairman Lyor Cohen's] office and say, 'What's good?' So it's not like that anymore.
That's nice.like knowing the most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any. And speaking of the pen being mightier than the sword.
Here's 62, 300 pieces of cheap costume jewelry being dropped by EbenGregory on Method Man being stuck on Def Jam: Power should be your mistress.
And speaking of a little side action.you can get some here all day: MySpace.com/ebengregory.
Click here to Watch EbenGregory - Method Man Still With Def Jam
And now.a recharged Jewelry Man.
The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready. The Jewelry Man.telling you that the person who is waiting for something to turn up might start with their shirt sleeves.
In "I think LL Cool J was right about Jay Z" news, the Broad Street Bully homey Beanie Sigel recently revealed that he is longer signed to Roc-A-Fella or the parent label Def Jam.
Oh really EbenGregory.sounds like Beans figured out that everything comes to him who hustles while he waits?
The Jewelry Man is informed that he cut his ties with the labels because he was unwilling to choose between mutual friends Jay-Z and Damon Dash, plus he felt that Def Jam didn't promote his album properly. As a show of no hard feelings, Beans will release a mix-tape thru Def Jam, which will reportedly be his last album.
And now.the drama.
Here's Beanie Sigel to The Fader magazine on why he's doing Def Jam one last solid: That's like a gift from me for leaving them. The deal with the mixtape is just me trying to build my brand up again. Because I'm no longer under Def Jam, signed with Def Jam, or dealing with Def Jam or Roc-a-fella at all. I got out of my contract.
Nice.but what now, you dropping a new album?
Here's Beans to The Fader magazine on what happens now that those Def Jam checks have dried up: I'm searching for distribution for a new album. I'm using Dre and Vidal to play the album because they don't sample.
That's nice.like knowing that making people wait for what they want, gives you power over them. And speaking of servicing the order.
Here's some deep blue sea ice jewelry being dropped by EbenGregory on Beans telling Jay Z and Def Jam the jokes over: Again and again, the impossible problem is solved when we see that the problem is only a tough decision waiting to be made.
And speaking of problems.let me take your mind of some of them: MySpace.com/ebengregory.
Click here to Watch EbenGregory - Beanie Sigel Parts Ways With Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
When there's nothing to talk about, I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about. The Jewelry Man.when you don't know what you're talking about, it's hard to know when you're finished.
In "If you think Rick Ross is gonna get all this Def Jam money-you're wrong" news, the can't ban the Snowman homey Young Jeezy has penciled in a December 5 release date for his new album The Inspiration: Thug Motivation 102.
Oh really EbenGregory.doesn't sound like your motivated to write a story about an album release huh man?
And now.EbenGregory performs a magic trick. I call this.a few good sound bytes.
Here's Young Jeezy to MTV on why his new album is gonna pop: At the end of the day, I wanna say it's my best work. It's tight work. I'mma take it back to mixtape days, Streets Is Watching, homie. That's when it was raw and uncut. But now, I'm a little bit better at what I do. And I like what I do now. The Inspiration is there.
Here's Young Jeezy to MTV on whether or not he's got a lot of features: I didn't do a lot of features. I kicked it with Three 6, Project Pat, it was crazy, I just had to work with them. I did a joint with Keyshia Cole. It's a crazy joint, real deep you know. If you listen to it, try not to cry. Keep it gangsta. Definitely Snoop. Me and Tip did one. Definitely Slick Pulla and BloodRaw. That was pretty much it. I pretty much wanted to keep it me.
Maybe I'm crazy.but that sounds like a lot of features. Last question.is the Snowman melting, looks like you lost a lot of weight?
Here's Young Jeezy to MTV on going from semi fat-boy to take your shirt of rapper: I had been workin' on my weight. I lost, like, 35 pounds. Got my six-pack on, nahmean? I always promised myself when I got myself established I was gonna get my stuff together, man. 'Cause shows'll kill you, dude. You onstage for an hour, can't breathe ..." ..."
That's nice.like knowing a person who aims at nothing is sure to hit it. And speaking of bad shot.
Here's some black diamond ice jewelry being dropped by EbenGregory on Young Jeezy talking random jazz: Act the part and you will become the part.
And speaking of brand new.see why I'm the part: MySpace.com/ebengregory.
Click here to Watch EbenGregory - Young Jeezy To Release New Album
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