By now you’ve come accustomed to the Doppelgangaz doing some hazy funk shit. I don’t know what the Dopp trips on, but I can’t wait to get me some. The Doppelgangaz do shit how I would if I could. Their look, their sound, their steez are all original and fresh.
Underground rap from the dungeon with a funky drummer underneath all of that. You can’t tell me you don’t feel this shit ‘What am I’?!?
This is that future funk.
The DefJux rap revival went down crazy last week at Santos. El-P’s movement was rock solid and went line for line with him on his latest project. That is what you call a fanbase.
Matt Raz and I almost didn’t get inside but Despot stepped out and pulled us in. Just in time for the rappy business too. Despot opened the show with some new shit and his classic joint cRap Music. Despot brought out Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire during his set and let him rock some of his bangers for the people.
The rappers we saw that night comprised one of my favorite types of WTF lists with Despot, eXqo, Heems from Das Racist, Killer Mike and El-P. The show was a alt-underground rapnerd’s wet dream and El-P’s backing band kept shit funkier than I expected. Cancer 4 Cure is a DOPE album, but it’s more than a music project. El-P’s album is a testament to survival. In art, in business, in life. I’m gonna put it in the 2012 top list no matter what else drops from here on in. I think this is the future for underground rap music.
I always give Premium Pete a hard time for going to Uniqlo every other month and buying a dozen deep cut V-neck tee shirts. Only a Fuckyberg Jenkins would wear a deep cut V-neck.
I laughed out loud when I found myself in Uniqlo looking for this novelty tee featuring Wolverine from the Avengers X-Men on the front. DAMMMMMMMN, Uniqlo is sold out!
Are there any Asian internets who FUX with me? I need this tee. BADLY.
Editor’s note: DP.com correspondent T-Bag drops some knowledge…
From my daily surfing on the interconnected networks I am saddened to have learned that graffiti legend Wayne Roberts A.K.A Stay High 149 is sick and in the hospital. The details are unclear of Stay High’s current condition so if anyone knows how the hip-hop community can help this man with bills, etc., please speak up.
Stay High 149 was born in Emporia, Virgina on October 20, 1950. He began writing in 1971 and is one of the quintessential writers that helped pioneer the movement. In 1972 is when he developed his iconic “Smoker” character to accompany his tag. This character was adopted from the television show “The Saint”. Stay High would be the first writer to use an icon.
Stay High’s earliest writing partner was DEADLEG 167 and he eventually wrote with other legends in their own right including, HONDO 1, P-Haze 168, Fresco 1, Turk 62, and LSD OM. In 1971 The EX-Vandals was formed by DINO NOD. EX-VANDALS stood for experienced vandals. In 1973 Wicked Gary became the leader of the crew and put Stay High 149 on.
Stay High was also a member of UGA or UNITED GRAFFITI ARTISTS which was founded by Hugo Martinez. UGA consisted of an all-star line up of the most talented writers of the time and included heads like PHASE 2, SNAKE I, BAMA, STITCH,
FLINT 707, MICO, COCO 144, and LEE163. Eventually Stay High 149 would get pinched by the cops as he was recognized for an Interview he had done for New York Magazine. This run in with the law forced Stay High to change his name and he eventually started writing “Voice of the Ghetto”.
By 1975 Stay High 149 would father his first child Dwayne. Life began to take it’s toll and drugs eventually engulfed Stay High 149 taking him away from graffiti and the art world from 1975 to 2000. Few people knew of his whereabouts and rumors circulated like black books at 149th Street Grand Concourse. While Stay High sobered up at a drug rehab center he realized his potential and the legacy that he had attained from the damage he had done to the NYC subways.
Stay High disappeared for 25 years only to reemerge onto the art scene in 2000 fresh as ever. If you are interested in Stay High’s life I highly recommend copping his book titled Stay High 149 by Sky Farrel and Chris “FREEDOM” Pape, this book has amazing photos of early graff and discusses Stay High’s life in an entertaining fashion. Again if anyone knows how we as a culture can help this man please leave a comment. Salute this man and all that he has contributed to the game Our thoughts and prayers are with you my brother.
Scatman Crother’s opens up my favorite socio-political movie of all time (Coonskin aka Streetfight) with this little ditty.
Scatman’s bornday was this past week as well as Notorious B.I.G.’s