DJ Moody

For all you Pinterest folks out there.  When pinning goes too far!

Sometimes something comes along so perplexing there are few words to descibe it.  This is true of this “art” (is it?) dance rendition of Adele – Someone Like You.  So buttery right now.

Back at ya with another edition of Kicks of the Week!  Kinda quiet on the sneaker front this week, so I’m dedicating this post to the upcoming Summer months.  These are made for the season:  The Vans Vault OG “Palm Leaf” Pack.  Especially feeling the white low Era’s.  No release date has been set yet for these to drop.  Til next time!

It never gets more real than the opinion of children, and this is a funny clip of some British kids dissecting Bangarang by Skrillex.  Good stuff.  Shout out to the kid wearing the Eskimo Joe’s hoodie!

First off props to @ztrip for sharing this on his facebook page.  This is one of the most clever things I’ve seen lately.  Sure the records are basically disposable.  Lovin the part where dude says “check out this track”.  Check it for yourself.

Been on a short hiatus folks but back with a new edition of kicks of the week.  This weeks post coincides with my old school hip hop party tomorrow night Vintage Monthly. Head over and give us a like on our Facebook page!

Though I haven’t been paying much attention it appears that the iconic brand Pro Keds (learn ya history here kids) is coming back in a big way with the classic styles that put them on the map.  These in particular caught my eye – a collaboration with one of my favorites DJ Jazzy Jeff.  Though I’m not huge on patent leather, these come across with an old school vinyl feel that is pretty damn dope!  Let me know what you think in the comments!

Been prepping for being out of town for a week so I’ll admit I haven’t been doing too much online sneaker gawking (probably for the best!), but these caught my eye just now so I knight thee kicks of the week!  Loving this old school flavor!

These are the Nike Air Vortex “Fresh Mint”

More info from the always on point Nice Kicks website:

Popping up once again is the Nike Air Vortex, a silhouette that originally debuted in 1985 as part of the V-Series. Born a couple years before Tinker made the big move of letting the Nike Air bags show, this clean design still bears a look that is both aesthetically pleasing and bright. Check out additional images of this fresh mint/voltage cherry colorway below and grab your size today while supplies last.

Nike Air Vortex
Fresh Mint/Voltage Cherry-White
429773-300
2012
$141.41 USD

Being that my monthly hip hop party Vintage Monthly takes place this Saturday night I thought it fitting to pay tribute to one of the illest lyricists of modern times in my opinion.  Today it’s been 12 years since Big Pun’s death, and I want to post some of my favorite moments from a career and life that was cut far too short.

Big Pun – Stretch and Bobbito freestyle 1995 (description courtesy of Complex Mag who listed this session as the #28 radio freestyle all-time)

Before Chris Rios was capitally punishing the industry, he was Joey Crack’s secret weapon—a rap assassin in training. Pun wasn’t crushing a lot at the time, but Joe still brought him up to Stretch & Bobbito’s show on WKCR FM—the birthplace of countless legendary freestyles by future rap icons—to flex his lyrical muscles.

With Joe cheerfully coaching him, Big Punisher dismantled the microphone, leaving it smoking with this quick yet effective freestyle. It was hard to argue that Pun was a beast after this display of next-level wordplay: “Still I will remain a pain inflictor/Giving you hell to bring to victors/Comin to getcha/Playin the game the same as Hitler.”

Big Pun + Fat Joe – Deep Cover ’98

This was a precursor to the debut album Capital Punishment.  Basically a remake of the hit by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, this version had a decidedly NY feel to it, and had heads fiending for the full length LP.

Big Pun feat. Prodigy and Inspectah Deck – Tres Leches (prod. RZA)

One of the most anticipated collaborations from the debut LP Capital Punishment (and there were many), this joint featured a diverse group of NYC’s finest, with production by RZA, and did not disappoint.  Not much more to say here..if you haven’t heard this one before stop sleepin!

Big Pun – You Ain’t A Killer

Another joint that came out before the Capital Punishment album that had heads thirsty for more.  IMO one of his illest moments ever.

Big Pun – It’s So Hard feat. Donnell Jones

A guilty pleasure for me, this was the debut single from Pun’s 2nd album Yeeeah Baby.  While I could list off every lyrical moment from the MC easily, this was a fun song, though from an album released posthumously.  Shows his versatility as an artist.

R.I.P. Big Dog Punisher, never forgotten.

Been a minute since the last random record pull so I literally went to the shelf and pulled this one out randomly.  Ahh the Strictly Breaks series.  Basically similar to the iconic Ultimate Breaks and Beats series, Strictly Breaks would tell you what song the sampled work was used in  For example in this one I’ve pulled today, Volume 8, track 1 is Enoch Light – “Hi-Jack” which was sampled in the Beatnuts – “Watch Out Now”.  Here are both songs for a comparison.

And so forth.  While most beat heads have frowned upon bootlegs of rare breaks, growing up in Oklahoma where the record culture is to put it mildy “lacking”, this was a way for me to get these otherwise impossible to find joints.  I played a couple of cuts on here, most notably Big John Hamilton – “Big Bad John” which I fancied as my own personal theme song (big bad Jon if you will) and would mix it into Big Daddy Kane “Warm It Up Kane”.

Overall Strictly Breaks I understand why the real hardcore diggers and heads hate these types of series but I have a bulk of it on wax and it’s definitely a history lesson for us underprivileged types.

Til next time…