Showing posts with label MLR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MLR. Show all posts
Jam of the Week: White Boys Edition: Mac Miller - "Senior Skip Day"
I've actually heard a few different times that in the startup world, if you're a superstar, school isn't worth it. Carnegie, Ford, Gates, Zuckerberg. Now Miller. Mac is only 18 and, though he finished high school, we likely won't find him gaining a higher education anytime soon. Obviously this only works for the really talented and successful, not to mention risk-prone. And while it often doesn't hurt to go to school (up and comer J. Cole graduated magna cum laude from St. Johns University), if you're feeling the hot hand, why put it on ice, na'mean? In my opinion, Mac Miller knows what he's doing.
Jam of the Week: Duck Sauce - "Barbra Streisand"
DJs Armand Van Helden and A-Trak put out a fun dance track that says nothing but the actress' name. And yet, its hard not to love the song / video. If I was an artist, I'd love to put all my friends in it and show them all having fun. Can they help that their friends are all super famous? Can you name all the cameos?? (Self Call Aside: I met 2m 24s in DC a while ago - nice dude).
See videos from an up and coming rapper (yes I've said that 100x in JOTW. I'm not wrong, I'm just an asshole), a hipster duo and a cameo from a couch cushion after the jump.
Jam of the Week: Cee-Lo Green - "Fuck You"
What up JOTW fans. It's been a while, but like a fine wine, JOTW only gets better with time and a long stint in a dark dingy (sex dungeon?) basement. As one commenter pointed out, I took a break from AMDAL to reassess my life and how blogging to a large group fits in. Turns out, it's hard for me to live at least without JOTW. Plus I've found the last several weeks to be pretty exciting on the hip hop front. This week I serve up some relatively new faces as well as some old. Hopefully these videos were worth the wait (or at least worth clicking through on your RSS feeder).
The above jam doesn't disappoint. With a catchy song that seems to be his version of my favorite song ever and a fun video (who doesn't like watching fat kids say "fuck you!" before getting slapped upside the head by their momma?), Cee-Lo shows he's not messing around with his solo gig. There's at least 10 girls who I'd probably want to play this song - thanks for doing my dirty work Cee-Lo.
Representative Rant!
From Esquire:
The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act would have provided $7.4 billion for the firefighters and medics of 9/11, many of whom suffer from long-term health effects. Republicans called the bill "bloated" and opposed the procedure of the vote, which denied them amendments; only twelve lent support, and it failed to pass. Michael Bloomberg condemned the (lack of) action as "outrageous," but Rep. Anthony Weiner had the strongest words you'll hear from an elected official in an election year
The Last JOTW?: Midnight Spin: "In The Air (Revival)"
Dartmouth '06s Danny S (drummer) and Ben W (bass) formed a band with a few of their friends and fellow musicians, and have been working the bar and campus scene for over three years now. This is probably not their first video, but it's definitely their most polished. Looking forward to more.
Gotta hand it to them for sticking their neck out there and going "off the track" from what's typical for most Ivy League grads. Danny and lead singer Mikey did a mean impromptu performance at Albert, Hank and my NY place after the ball dropped NYE 07/08. We did some damage to the ceiling and walls from all the percussion playing, but we all thought it was worth it.
As far as the "Last JOTW" goes, I'm probably going to take some time away from AMDAL as a writer and contributor. Based on the way writing / reading has gone lately, this might also mean my editor responsibilities will also diminish or fade away. It's been a lot of fun for me, especially JOTW. I've enjoyed exposing people to music and videos I've enjoyed while also learning what it means to try to write creatively in a public forum. It's been a pretty freeing experience in a lot ways, to open myself up to criticism but also a lot of kind praise. Hopefully those JOTW fans have gotten at least a small piece of what it's given back to me.
If you are really motivated to continue learning about hot jams, check them out for yourself at onsmash (my favorite video blog), nahright and missinfo. Or if you just want to see them through my filter, I'll continue sharing via my twitter handle (@rozenswag) and my shared items on google reader.
Jam of the Week: J. Cole - "Who Dat"
In 2004, I had almost no concept of what investment banking was, except for the horror stories Scos and others reported back to me while on their 48 hour drunken escape from New York during Homecoming. In 2005, I heard the same stories from my classmates, fresh off their internships. The stories were basically the same, but with a few little tidbits, like "It's not that bad" and "I made over $10K in one summer." In 2006, I was interviewing. Why the hell not?
In 2007, the market crashed, with my social and sex life following shortly behind it. After a few 130 hour weeks and at least half a dozen burnt out shirts, my soul was suffering. I had managed to figure out how to turn off the blinking red light on my blackberry and rarely dreamed about excel or pitch decks. But subconsciously, the lifestyle was getting to me.
In 2008, I had 4 pairs of Cole Haan shoes (2 black, 1 brown, 1 burgundy), about 20 Brook's Brothers shirts, and was eyeing a Ferragamo tie. I didn't particularly need $25 worth of Seamless Web delivery food, but I'd use it all just the same (you can buy a lot of Dentyne Ice - I was up to a pack a day at that point). And after all that hard work analyzing the financials of multi-million dollar companies, I deserved that black-car ride home, no? Fuck, I was living the dream.
Clowns told me “ain’t you roc [nation]? well where the fuck yo chain at?”
Guess it’s somethin like your girl, it aint came yet.
The man make the chain, chain dont make the man
How many n[inja]s do we know with hella ice but yet they lame?
J. Cole, you're exactly right. Granted, it's easy to get caught up in the lifestyle - and as much as I pride myself on having my own idea of what's "cool," I was clearly indoctrinated in the New York / finance culture. But how far off is the hip hop world from banking in New York anyway? Both have a culture of wealth and opulence. Both harshly criticize those who challenge the status quo. Both place a high value on things that really shouldn't be impressive (jail stints, Princeton degrees). But here stands J. Cole, one of the most hyped rappers out today, with Jay Z at his back, turning his own back to convention. Take note and keep watching him.
About the video: BBGUN directed the first Cole Jam I showcased on AMDAL, and the two have teamed up again to put an upgraded spin on that video. Check them both out.
Hit the jump for OK Go's latest awesomeness, Pharrell, and the latest BOTW.
Rappers Don't Snuggle
I'm pretty sure it's possible to spoon too much. Clearly feels good. But should you get all post-coital cute after your first hookup, or roll the other way? What about the second time? The first sober shag? I bet rappers don't have this problem. I'm not even sure if rappers sleep, what with all the cough syrup, pills and weed. Apparently rappers don't even go down on girls (they find it 'unsavory'), save maybe only Lil' Wayne (success among women: explained). Snuggling, though? Forget it.
OK, of course this isn't true. Ask Drake.
Read more about Drake, including his tryst with a star singer and his latest video after the jump
Hot Cookie by Cam F.
Many of you know Cam F. For those of you who know him, there's a chance he's said something offensive to you or in your presence. This might have caused you to not like him. For those of you who don't know Cam, there's a good chance you know a Cam.
But how well do you know your Cam? Have you given him or her the chance to see he / she is an interesting person that isn't just an asshole, but also a smart, creative asshole that likes to go on hikes, night bike rides, and have long discussions about the problems of today? In my mind, anyone who's willing to say to himself "I'm an asshole and I'm going to try to be better" gets a second look. After a few rough patches of relationships and friendships gone bad, that's exactly what Cam said to himself. Most importantly, however, he's largely stuck to his promise and I've enjoyed watching the transformation.
Read on to hear about how the above pic came to be and what it turned into.
Betty Draper Walk Of Shame, Hit And Run
I'd be remiss in my Mad Men duties if I didn't post this. Apparently, Mad Men star January Jones, aka "Betty Draper," was seen coming home early one morning in her night-before best. Benign enough. Well add to that a possibly-drunken driving hit and run of 4 parked cars, and you've got what you call yourself a shitty week.
You know what pisses me off: Bobby Flay. There isn't a lot to talk about there, except that if you were in a car wreck and were distressed, why would you call a celebrity cook? Shouldn't she have called Don Draper? Or better yet, Joan. Definitely Joan.
Jam of the Week: Nas & Damian Marley - "As We Enter"
JOTW has been a staple since this blog's inception. Love it or hate it, in some way, it's hear to stay. That said, I agree that this blog needs more content and less youtube vomit. This post won't be exactly what you're looking for. That said, I am in the midst of writing a modified JOTW, which will center around a music video but also aspire to be more thoughtful, personal, and directed towards particular themes each week. We'll see how it goes. Like Carr said below, people are getting dumber thanks to the internet and I'm no exception (or at least that'll be my excuse from now on). So pardon me if I lose interest and go back to liveblogging and youtube vomiting.
Nas and Damian Marley are the rap equivalent of the Liger. It's pretty much my favorite group. It's like the best rapper and the best reggae/rapper mixed... bred for its skills in awesomeness. I haven't heard the full album yet but from a few of the tracks I've heard, I'm excited. This song, though, is my favorite and I'm very happy it got the video treatment. Now that I think about it, this might be the first Nas JOTW. That is fucking atrocious. If I can rant, Nas is considered one of the best rappers ever. I think "Illmatic," Nas' first album which he put out when he was 21(!), will probably forever be in iPod/iPhone/Android/Spaceship device until the day I die. Many people say the same about Bob Marley, so Damian, Bob's son, isn't far off. Together you have a match made in hip hop heaven. Are you listening / watching yet?
Bonus: See them live here.
Breaking News: The Internet Makes You Dumber
In the WSJ this weekend, Nicholas Carr makes the point that all bloggers hate to believe: the plethora of links, articles, videos and the internets as a whole in fact makes you dumber. A couple snippets:
"In one experiment conducted at Cornell University, for example, half a class of students was allowed to use Internet-connected laptops during a lecture, while the other had to keep their computers shut. Those who browsed the Web performed much worse on a subsequent test of how well they retained the lecture's content."
"It is revealing, and distressing, to compare the cognitive effects of the Internet with those of an earlier information technology, the printed book. Whereas the Internet scatters our attention, the book focuses it. Unlike the screen, the page promotes contemplativeness."
I hate this, true or not. I also don't think the answer is less internet / more books. Carr probably isn't saying that either, though he doesn't offer any helpful suggestions (I also despise when authors aren't willing to stick their necks out and make a suggestion - digression).
I take particular issue with this part:
The Belmont Stakes 2K10
When: Saturday, June 5th; Noon - 9 pm
Where: Party starts at Tonic East at noon (29th St. & 3rd Ave.)
Here is how it all works:
1. Buy a ticket for the buses, which costs a mere $35 and covers round-trip transportation and all the on-board booze. (Tickets are limited, and they will sell out so act fast.)
2. Arrive at Tonic East on June 5th at 12 noon to day-drink for two and a half hours before getting on the buses to Long Island. Buses leave promptly at 2:30 pm.
3. Get to Long Island. Buy a ticket to the races for $10. Booze some more. Gamble at your own risk.
4. ???
5. !?! (consult "just buzzed" friend about this section of the field trip the following morning)
6. Wake up Sunday morning. Put on obnoxious clothes from day before. Kiss / hug / handshake the guy / girl you sat next to on the bus ride home. Subway ride of shame it back to your (or your kind / worried friend's) apartment.
7. Wallow / Schedule STD Screen*.
Buy your tickets here
*JK! It's impossible to get an STD from an OTPHJ. Plus, wallowing is for pussies.
Green Key 2010 Fallout: SAE Members Busted...By SAE Member
"Drug use at SAE has been less discreet than at other houses, according to the source, especially in common spaces. On previous occasions, other composites and frames had been removed from the walls and smeared with cocaine residue without being replaced, according to the source."
More from The D here.
Please discuss in the comments.
Jam Of The Week: Asher Roth - "Muddy Swim Trunks"
Sorry it's been a while. Clearly I've been busy liveblogging about virgins, pandas, crabs and drunken haircuts. But after a short hiatus, I've put my shirt back on and have come back with every(any?)body's favorite segment, Jam Of The Week.
This week's JOTW comes to us from one of AMDAL's favorite white boys, Asher Roth. Aside from being white and coming from suburbia, he's followed a pretty well-worn path to success in the modern hip-hop world, namely taking advantage of the art of the mixtape. Mixtapes have been around for almost as long as hip-hop itself and was / is used to build buzz either before artists have "made it" or between albums. It's also my favorite way to get music because they're right in my price range ($0 to Free). "Muddy Swim Trunks" comes off his latest excellent mixtape, "Seared Foie Gras W/ Quince & Cranberry" (download here) .
Besides having a pretty great mixtape and good song above, the video is well done. I love the one-shot but I also like how random it all is (NSFW from 0:56 - 1:02 due to peripheral boobies). The song is all over the place and it's something Asher prides in his work. He sees himself as a weirdo and not a hit-maker (think more "Lark In My Go Kart" and less "I Love College"). I for one am with him on this one.
Check out the runners up after the jump, full of kids fighting, babies on corners and Diddy. Sorry, no Bieber.
Fearing The Boo
Those Who Mind Don't Matter, Those Who Matter Don't Mind
A lot happened this weekend apparently. AMDAL Writer Mrs. K got engaged to AMDAL reader Emily H. Green Key happened. CCL was somewhere warm again. I broke my Virgin cherry but then got crabs. And while I did fly to the East Coast, I wasn't in the Upper Valley, but rather in America's Capital (Capitol?) for a conference called Summit Series. Yea, I had no idea what it was about either. It was pitched to me originally as a conference for young entrepreneurs. I like to think I'm going to be an entrepreneur some day and I do whatever Errik tells me to, so I went. Worse case, I'd meet some people, drink some booze, and hang out with Rob C. while in DC.
Well I did all those things, but I took away a lot more. Nearly every single person I met at Summit Series was doing something. OK, so not everyone was curing cancer (though some were trying) but everyone was on his / her grind. There was the dude who almost went to law school but decided it'd be more fun to start a website that anonymously posted embarrassing text messages. There was the 19 year old who lived out of his car for a summer while he traveled the country doing random acts of kindness for strangers. There was the journalist who learned of childhood soldiers in the Congo too small to carry a gun so they were sent to the front lines to blow whistles and absorb the first round of bullets.
And those were just the attendees.
Friday Night Lights Is Back (On NBC)
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Worlds Collide: Conan at Google":
Friday Night Lights Season 4 started, where are you guys?
Good call Anon. FNL is what AMDAL was founded upon. I actually already saw it thanks to the internets. The original plan was to re-watch again, but after almost 6 months since watching the finale, I'm not sure I can devote that much emotional bandwidth ("The Son"?! oof).
So for all you season 4 n00bs, first, I envy you. Second, here's a great guide to how you should mentally prepare for each episode (spoiler free).
Enjoy you lucky bastards.
