After a few month wait from his last installment of the Hip Hop, Soccer, & Comix mixtape series, Austin rapper Global74 returns with his second full-length album, The New Eugenix. Those familiar with Global’s past work will be used to the mystical symbols on the cover and the sometimes ironic, sometimes almost paranoid rapping style he brings on the mic. From government conspiracies to the destruction of the planet, his raps give a unique view of the world. He has a wide range and a skill for rhyming that keep it from being just tinfoil hat rap, however. Production is handled by a few local producers, the most notable contributions by Alpha 2020 (a.k.a. Ike of Mike &…). I also contributed a track years ago that ended up on this project. More on that next week. For now, enjoy the 2020 production, Raining, and holla at Global on myspace or in the streets to cop the album.
Global74 – Raining (prod. by Alpha 2020)
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Hard to believe that it’s been 11 years today since Biggie Smalls was killed in LA. Hip hop, like all art forms, continues moving forward, but we never forget one of the giants of the artform. To this end, DJ Drama & Cookin’ Soul released this free mixtape today. It features some current emcees taking on the legacy of Biggie via reworked beats of his. I gave it a quick once through, and a lot of the tracks are pretty nice. So download, relax, and take notes. R.I.P. Biggie Smalls, one of the best to ever do it.
Freaky Zekey & 730 Dips – Dreams
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Tired doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel right now, but I feel so privileged to have been here. Personal thank you’s to everyone who made my stay here in DC great, especially my hosts. And have no fear (or curse your luck)…I will be back soon.
A couple videos I took at the ceremony today:
bush gets booed:
obama does not:
and one from love the other night, some words from HOV:
In a sad day for jazz fans, trumpeter, Freddie Hubbard passed away this morning in Los Angeles. He suffered a heart attack in November and passed away in the hospital. He was 70.
Never quite as big a name as contemporaries like Miles Davis, Hubbard was nevertheless an important contributor to a variety of jazz styles spanning several decades. His full, bright tone played centrally on important albums like Eric Dolphy’s Out To Lunch, John Coltrane’s Olé Coltrane, Herbie Hancock’s Maiden Voyage, and Ornette Coleman’s Free Jazz.
In the 1970′s he became a bandleader and recorded several very good soul-jazz albums on CTI, among them Red Clay, and one of my favorite albums of all time, Sky Dive. He slowed down later in his career, but he continued performing into the 2000′s.
Freddie Hubbard was an extremely talented and influential musician, and even if you are not aware of him, chances are that if you’ve heard many of the most important and commonly played jazz records of the 60′s, you’ve heard him. I encourage jazz fans to take a look at his catalog, both as a side man, and as a band leader.
Peace to him and his family.
I leave you with one of my favorites:
Obit from his hometown newspaper, the Indianapolis Star.
The flapper is a little loose (that’s what she said), and I have to jiggle the handle more often than I ought. That said, I had to wake up way too early this morning, and more or less dozed my way thru the final presidential debate. Sounds like McCain made a little headway though. Bleh.
Anyway, I’m fackin’ tired, so that’s more or less where this one ends.
available at K-Mart, TJ Maxx, Rite Aid, and other fine retailers, Charles Barkley appeared on Larry King Live this evening. He dropped some of his trademark folksy, if awkwardly-worded wisdom, but the star of the show was definitely his jacket. It looked like something Gene Autry might have gone roping doggies in before breaking into a heartwarming song. It was navy blue with shiny accents in a giant paisley pattern. Fringes sold separately. I wish I had a picture of this fine garment, but the google is not my friend this evening.
In news no less hideous, apparently alcohol shrinks your brain. Oh wait. That’s mostly just women. Phew. Pass the scotch.
Dallas Cowboys management decided to increase locker room confusion today by trading for another Roy Williams. This is great news for the team, if only they had a quarterback. When asked to comment on the story, rapper Cam’ron said, “Pause…no Romo.” He then proceeded to push his purple-trimmed shopping cart down Lennox Ave in Harlem.
In a sad day for jazz fans, trumpeter, Freddie Hubbard passed away this morning in Los Angeles. He suffered a heart attack in November and passed away in the hospital. He was 70. 
say what?