H is for Hate.

As in I hate myself. I don't need them, but I'm addicted to the H. Not that H, but the "H". It's like a blind rage takes over and I need to cop. I'm sick as a dog, so that might be contributing to the feelings of disgust. When you're already feeling under the weather don't celebrate St. Patty's day a week early with beers, some crazy oreo Moloko Clockwork Orange libation, and Indian street snacks. That shit will put you on the straight path to misery.



Hats are buttahs though- teal with silver and black with white- little checkerboard touch. I don't really understand the use of special materials or graphics on the underside of the bill. Nobody sees it and it might bother your eyes after looking at some weird design all day. Crooks and Castles always puts some bandana print under their caps. Fuck it.

And keeping with the countdown to the release of Fat Joe's Elephant in the Room tomorrow (really today), 3/11, peep the cap he designed. There's really nothing nice about it. I'm not a big fan of elephants. If it was a silhouette of a bison or an eagle, or even an alligator head, that might work. This is just a rather rudimentary drawing of an elephant and the logo's too big. And the black/purple/teal colorway is OD.



There is an album release event at the New Era store- 4th Street between Broadway and Lafayette. Tell me how it is.

Watch Coka Baby cop some fitteds and discuss the true meaning of a New Era cap HERE.

Jim Kahn Tears Down The City of Angels.

Peep the footage from the Jim Kahn's performance at L.A.'s Whiskey A Go Go Friday night, 3/7. Word on the street is that Whiskey A Go Go will never be the same. As he says, "I'm from NY- But I'm out chasing that L.A. paper like Joe Torre." I'll try to get the whole show, but dig on this for now. The best is yet to come.



New Jim Kahn joints. Dude's on his grizzly.

Jim Kahn- Sun Showers

Jim Kahn- Reaction

Jim Kahn- My Lifestyle Freestyle

Alice Deejay Samples- A Hip Hop Aberration or a Taste of What's to Come?

This shit's freaking me out. Having just watched Video Music Box I saw the new Wiz Khalifa "Say Yeah" video. I knew the sample- some Neptune's Italian shit while all my boys dropped bombs. After a little research I came to find out it was Alice Deejay "Better Off Alone." Was this a joke that ultimately became a single? Was he a juicehead back in the day with a tongue ring? Did Wiz and his people really seek this shit out- in the studio on some- "Yo that shit is dope- let's loop it"? We might never know. I guess dude was trying to appeal to a different audience. Midwest college bars will be bumping this. In the mean time, peep the video and track and feel free to chime in.

Wiz Khalifa- Say Yeah

Common Says The Light Is Love in '08 so Push Those Clocks Ahead and Listen to His Shit.

This track snuck up on me, but after giving it a listen or 2, I can't turn it off. The original "The Light" on Like Water for Chocolate was arguably the best track on that album and didn't need any tweaking. As part of a Smirnoff campaign, several artists/producers were commissioned to create some shit. Just Blaze came through with a Lamont Dozier sample with a little guitar, some heavy strings, added new drums, scratches, vocals from Marsha Ambrosius- one half of Floetry, and created a classic to be. He didn't incorporate any of the Bobby Caldwell sample or the drums that Dilla/?uestlove used.

It's a sunny day, we have an extra hour of sunlight, baseball starts in a couple of weeks- that's some love shit. Life is good. Put this shit on and zone out.

The Light '08 (It's Love)- Common

The sample:

Lamont Dozier- Interlude Trying to Hold Onto My Woman

The Light- Common

The sample for the original "The Light":

Bobby Caldwell- Open Your Eyes (The Light)

Here's another joint featuring Common and Marsha of Floetry- this track is incredible- never had flutes hit me like that:

Hi-Tek ft. Nas, J Dilla, Common, Busta, & Marsha of Floetry- Music For Life

H is for Honest.

And honestly this shirt is dope. Another Fitted Hawaii creation limited to 75 pieces. Don't worry, I'm on my grizzly. Double H- front and back. If only the sleeves had baby H's. Next time. One big H orgy.

And keeping with Joey Crillz Nillz- the new joint he got with the Blastmaster KRS-One is banging, courtesy of Alchemist. "Kris- that's why I'm the greatest of all time/ Yo- I'm the best- you must be out of your fucking mind." Yeah- he must be. 2 dope tracks off the new LP. I'm impressed.

My Conscience ft. KRS-One- Fat Joe

Joe Thanks G-d for That White But He Should Really Be Giving Thanks for DJ Premier.

While this hip hop shit has become the WWF and doesn't appear to be letting up, I'm going back to the basics. Say what you want about Fat Joe, but years ago he was responsible for 2 dope albums and a plethora of bangout tracks. While his career might have strayed from that gritty NYC steez to the lush life of Miami, rollin' on dubs, got cris on pop, 4 honies in the drop, etc. he can still drop some shit that makes you break out the army coat and chukkas. Who doesn't enjoy listening to a fat Puerto Rican spit his shit about selling crack and pulling triggers? Nunca quieren beefeo conmigo. You heard that Papoose? On a side note, his fitted game is pretty mean- especially with those NHL jumpoffs.



Let's be serious though, if it wasn't for top notch production from Premier, Diamond D, Buckwild, Domingo, Finesse and other crate diggers, his gangsta shit wouldn't have been as gangsta.

His new album The Elephant in the Room drops next Tuesday, 3/11. While I doubt anybody reading this will cop it, it was refreshing to hear the track Primo did for him, "That White." Shouting out his fellow D.I.T.C. members is something we haven't heard in a while. Who would have ever pictured Preem sampling a Jeezy line? Not me, but he pulled it off nonetheless. Check the Who Got Gunz track and peep the similarities- any Primo fan knows that drums get recycled at times. Between Cam, Joe, Jeezy, T.I. and Gucci Mane there is so much coke in hip hop. I hope they don't get caught.



Below is the Fat Joe/DJ Premier discography. Try to erase those images of Joe making it rain with Lil' Weezy and remember the chubby borinquen that used to stick up his cousin and devour those transfats. We miss you Joey.



That White- Fat Joe

Success Remix- Fat Joe

The Shit Is Real Remix- Fat Joe

Dat Gangsta Shit- Fat Joe

Da Enemy- D.I.T.C. (Big L and Fat Joe)

Who Got Gunz- Gang Starr ft. Fat Joe and M.O.P.

1, 2 Pass It- D&D All Stars ft. Mad Lion, Doug E. Fresh, KRS-One, Fat Joe, Smif N Wessun and Jeru The Damaja

1, 2 Pass It Remix- D&D All Stars ft. Mad Lion, Doug E. Fresh, KRS-One, Fat Joe, Smif N Wessun and Jeru The Damaja

Eating Fried Shrimp With Mase in Harlem World.

125th Street was very good to me this past weekend. Fried shrimps and exclusive uptowns. What could be better bitch? Sticking with Harlem- what soundtrack had that track?

For years I've been driving past A Taste of Seafood, originally on the SE corner of 125th and Madison. A tiny spot that always had a line snaking out the door. In October of '07 they moved across 125th to a larger 2-floor establishment with tons of seating. Knowing I could snatch a seat and enjoy the meal, I hit it for the first time Saturday. Don't be fooled though, the line is still there. Probably waited 10-15 minutes to place the order, and waited an additional 10 minutes for the scrimps.



The menu here is a little more extensive then Famous Fish on 145th. You have a choice of whiting, red snapper, catfish, porgies and shrimp. Being my first time, I had to try the shrimp. If they pass the shrimp test then we good. I ordered the shrimp with 1 side (mac and cheese), sweet tea, and banana pudding. Came to $20, but Mr. Betha handled it, charging it to the game. Good looking Mase. "Come follow me," Jesus said, "And I will make you fishers of men." That's on the menu- true story.

I was a little surprised when the tray came and there were only 6 shrimp. It's not that there wasn't enough food, I just expected smaller shrimp, maybe 36/40, these were more like 16/20. That shit don't matter. What matters is that these were super fresh, moist, and meaty. The batter was salty, a bit too salty. My pool of tartar and hot sauce cut the saltiness. The mac and cheese was serious. Extra cheddar on top with a nice firm bite.



I don't see banana pudding that often, but when I do, I go in. Pudding, sliced bananas and nilla wafers- a beautiful collabo. I had to take it to go since the shrimp and mac n cheese had the kid stuffed. Several hours later in the crib it was still delicious.

Fueled up, now it was time to cop kicks. I heard that House of Hoops, the new exclusive basketball only Foot Locker offshoot, was dropping some forces. They carry some rare shit, the only spot in the US selling certain kicks. Originally they were carrying only b-ball kicks and player exclusives, but they recently started dropping forces and dunks.



Turns out they released a set of all black air force 1s with a different colored midsole and heel tab for each. Nice premium leather with a nubuck swoosh. Mad simple, but so fresh. I saw pics of the mustard yellow and black wine pairs and wasn't that moved. When I walked in and saw the olive/army green pair sitting there I got tingles. It's been so long since I walked into a store and hadn't seen the shoe in advance. The element of surprise is part of the fun. The internet's fucking things up. Copped the 11.5 and kept it moving. Usually I begin my "I hate copping kicks" litany, but fuck that. These are buttahs. Sticking with the times, I rather refer to them as wavy. Ask Max B.Had to talk myself out of going back Sunday to cop the black with cool gray pair.

A Taste of Seafood
59 E. 125th St. between Madison and Park Ave.
NY, NY 10035
212-831-5584
www.atasteofseafood.com
Mon-Thurs 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am 10 pm
Sun 12 pm - 6 pm

House of Hoops
268 W 125th St. between Adam Clayton Powell & Frederick Douglass Blvd.
NY, NY 10027
212-316-1667