Archive for March, 2012
Unique content is relatively hard to find now a days in films. Be it short films, feature length, or independent, ideas just tend to be regurgitated every so often. But the film Pixels by Patrick Jean is something that just struck me as wildly original. Witness the invasion of New York City by all manner of digital creatures below.
Chris Brown is a man of many talents, singer, dancer, boxer, etc. But this recent series of videos titled ‘Real Hip Hop Sh*t’ is displaying his talents as a rapper. He’s got the skill, and after hanging with veterans like Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes, T-Pain or Pitbull its only logical that he’s good. Check out the video for ‘Real Hip Hop Sh*t’ below.
First: watch the video. Japanese artist Riusuke Fukahori paints three-dimensional goldfish using a complex process of poured resin. The fish are painted meticulously, layer by layer, the sandwiched slices revealing slightly more about each creature, similar to the function of a 3D printer. I really enjoy the rich depth of the pieces and the optical illusion aspect, it’s such an odd process that results in something that’s both a painting and sculptural. Wonderful. Fukahori just closed an exhibition at ICN Gallery in London titled Goldfish Salvation, and you can see many more images via the gallery’s Facebook, but probably the best resource is this set of photos by Dominic Alves.
About a month ago, I had the pleasure of receiving the Rainbow Star Cutey by Lumenworks. I have a major weakness for groovy lighting, especially ones that change colors. This sweet little beast of a light is a smaller version to Lumenworks Rainbow Star light. Its base is made of metal and the transparent acrylic top is the icing on the cake for this little beauty. When I plugged it in the first time, I made sure that I was in a dark room where no light could enter in. The treat I received once the Rainbow Star Cutey started its rotation of colors left me relaxed and oddly enough, feeling quite cheerful. I couldn’t wait for the rest of my family to take part in this delightful eye treat. Needless to say, I have become quite addicted to its soothing effects and when I want to just chill and release the stresses of the day, I turn off the lights and turn on the Cutey. Not only would this little jewel be good for mellowing out, but put on some lively music, dim the lights just a hair and liven the ambiance of your party.
The two mega mavericks of the fast spitting lyrical style, Busta Rhymes and Twista, have come together again on the track “Can You Keep Up”. As you can assume by the styles of both lyrical dynamos, the entire track is performed in a ‘mile-a-minute’ style, while a bit hard to understand… is still very impressive. Check the method below.
Much like NAMM in the U.S., Germany’s Musikmesse is a chance for the music industry to showcase both old favorites and new technology. Among the rows of classic amps on show at Marshall’s booth this year is something that may look like an amp from the Jim Marshall signature series, but which is nothing of the sort. The authentic Marshall amp head and cabinet facing of the prototype Marshall Fridge open up to reveal 4.4 cubic feet (124 liters) of can or bottle chilling storage space, with handy can storage on the inside of the door and a mini freezer to feed users with a steady supply of ice cubes.
The lovely model displayed in this post goes by the names of Honey Dawn. A go-go dancer in Hollywood, she’s appeared in videos with Keri Hilson, Rick Ross, Quincy Jones, Ludacris, Nicki Minaj, Ray J, The Cateracts, The Game, New Boys, Pitbull, Pharell, and 3 6 Mafia (among others). That’s quite the large resume for a woman with the impressive measurements of 32-24-26. Honey has also been featured in Model-Rukus magazine, Synthetikx, and SuperStreet Magazine. She also works at a bikini store part time, and attends LACC in hopes to transfer to FIDM. This Mexican, White and Filipina star has also dabbled in acting, being a featured extra in the motion picture ”Green Hat” from director Todd Phillips.
USB thumb drives are everywhere. Many people have more than one and they’re easy to lose because of their small size. The Candle Holdem comes with 5 USB thumb drives with keychain attachments. When you plug one in, an LED lights up. From a distance, if you plug in all 5, they look like a set of candles. Now you will always know where to put your thumb drives and keys.
As a victim of a crappy tattoo, (its a sh*tty half sleeve on my left side I got done in high school, so) I know what it’s like to look for quality in a tattoo artist. Russian artist Den Yakovlev has tattooed so many people with realistic and detailed body art. His sleeve work is simply stunning to behold. Check the method below.
Shady Record’s new kid on the block did pretty well with his freshman album, selling about 40,000 units in the first week. In the spirit of a true hustler, he’s already begun conceptualizing his next album, and takes some time to talk about it in the video below. Check the method.
Taking a photo this clear would be a feat for many – but these stunning images are actually hand-painted or drawn. Last week the detailed pencil drawings by Scottish artist Paul Cadden caught the eye, but the exhibition at the Plus One gallery also showcases other artists creating hyper-real pictures. Explaining the aim of one of his pieces, artist Tom Martin says: “Essentially I’m trying to look for ways to create a situation whereby things are believably real, yet impossible. “The scenario here is impossible and cannot ever exist in this world at least, but we are forced to accept it.” Including three BP Portrait Award winners, the display features both portraits and still life works – though chocolate lovers may be disappointed by Cynthia Poole’s confectionery as those grabbable-looking bars are sadly unreal…
Real Madrid football club will spend $1bn to build a lavish resort island in the United Arab Emirates, complete with luxury hotels, marina and amusement park. Executives unveiled plans for the “Real Madrid Resort Island”, featuring an oceanside stadium and hi-tech club museum in the northern Emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah, on the doorstep of the lucrative football-mad Asian market. “Real Madrid Resort Island will be a major tourist and sporting centre of great dimensions and the highest level,” club president Florentino Perez said. “This is a decisive and strategic step which contributes to strengthening our institution in the Middle East and Asia,” Perez said. “Real Madrid will be present permanently in a key region of the world.”
The complex, with $1 billion of investment and backed by the government of the Emirate, is scheduled to open in January 2015, the club and executives said. It will include a five-star hotel, beachside bungalows and an amusement park with a rollercoaster and hologram show recreating Real Madrid’s goals. Sports facilities will include training pitches and swimming pools plus a marina for yachting, as well as the 10,000-seat football stadium open on one side to a view of the sea. The complex, with $1 billion of investment and backed by the government of the Emirate, is scheduled to open in January 2015, the club and executives said. It will include a five-star hotel, beachside bungalows and an amusement park with a rollercoaster and hologram show recreating Real Madrid’s goals. Sports facilities will include training pitches and swimming pools plus a marina for yachting, as well as the 10,000-seat football stadium open on one side to a view of the sea.
No matter where you travel in the Bay, you can’t get away from the music of E-40. Every time 40 puts out a record, Hip Hop enthusiasts in northern California feel the ripples for miles around. His most recent collab with Too Short and J-Banks titled ‘Just Be you’ has a recently released video that you can check out below.
Over the March 23rd-March 25th weekend, “The Hunger Games” was a box-office juggernaut that broke all sorts of records. But for some fans, the movie didn’t adhere closely enough to their imagined world of the book — specifically when it came to the skin color of some of the characters. Now before we delve into this issue, let me say personally that I despise when producers changes characters….
When Katie Holmes was switched with Maggie Gyllenhaal in ‘The Dark Knight’, I was a bit disappointed, because I didn’t feel as much of a connection with character, all I could think about was the switch. In the upcoming monster movie collaboration ‘The Avengers’, Edward Norton has been replaced by Mark Ruffalo, and I got drunk one night and expressed my discontent with this on twitter. However, I understand why they changed the actors, and I just have to deal with it. A while back, in the Bay Area, I noticed a bit of an uproar when the film ‘Green Lantern’ was approaching because the main character was white. Given my skin color, I still was unapologetic when explaining to angry fans that the black Green Lantern (John Stewart), wasn’t having his race changed, they just chose to tell the story of Hal Jordan. It’s not a racial issue, and there is NOTHING wrong with that. But some ignorant fans of ‘The Hunger Games’ seem to have tripped themselves up on a few details in the new movie that just have me downright perplexed.
Three major characters in the film are black — Rue, Thresh, and Cinna. The books themselves, set in a post-apocalyptic future, don’t use specifically racial terms at all, providing only a description of characters from Katniss (the main character’s) point of view:
There you have it, descriptions IN THE BOOK of the physical look of the characters in question.
I hate to keep harping on this point, but…
via Buzz Feed.
This is a collection of utterly amazing installations by Heike Weber. She draws with permanent markers on acrylic floor and walls. I can’t begin to imagine how time consuming these breathtaking installations must have been.
Meet the The Manzo family of Sicily. Their weekly expenditure is 214.36 Euros or $260.11. Note the copious amount of bread.
In an increasingly globalized world, it’s still sometimes shocking to see just how disparate our lives are compared with other human beings around the world. A book of photographs by Peter Menzel called “Hungry Planet: What the World Eats” (“©Peter Menzel http://www.menzelphoto.com. Ten Speed Press, published in 2005) makes a relevant point with great irony: at a time when hundreds of millions of people don’t have enough to eat, hundreds of millions more are eating too much and are overweight or obese. It is these cultural differences, emphasized and reinforced by the author, which exemplifies the lifestyles and dietary habits of people around the world. In the United States, processed foods are par for course. In the Philippines, fresh fruit and vegetables play a far more significant role. In the harsh Chad sun, a family of six exists on a measly $1.23 per week.
Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07
United States: The Revis family of North Carolina. Food expenditure for one week $341.98
Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09. Note the profusion of fruits & vegetables.
Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53
Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55
Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03. This feeds a family of 11. Remarkable.
Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23. No comment.
Kuwait: The Al Haggan family of Kuwait City
Food expenditure for one week: 63.63 dinar or $221.45. Most foodstuffs in this State are subsidized.
Mongolia: The Batsuuri family of Ulaanbaatar
Food expenditure for one week: 41,985.85 togrogs or $40.06
China: The Dong family of Beijing
Food expenditure for one week: 1,233.76 Yuan or $175
Japan: The Ukita family of Kodaira City
Food expenditure for one week: 37,699 Yen or $317.25
Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27
The other day I was driving between meetings with my assistant, and Rob Scott’s ‘If I Die Young’ was playing in the car. Before the end of the song came along, Ash would restart it, just to hear it from the top. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of that track, and Rob’s work in general, but after about the 5th time, I just decided to call Rob on the phone, and put her on blast about it, so she’d get it out of her system and let me get on with the rest of my music selection. Today however, I got a listen to the new freestyle ‘Rigamortis’ by Mr. Scott, and I can guarantee I’ll for sure have that track on repeat, and no matter how many times anyone makes a phone call to whoever, it probably won’t get me to stop playing this track. Check the official video below.
Martin Schoeller was born in Munich, Germany, in 1968. Growing up in Germany, he was deeply influenced by August Sander’s countless portraits of the poor, the working class, and the bourgeoisie, as well as by Bernd and Hilla Becher, who spawned a school known as the Becher-Schüler. Schoeller worked as an assistant to Annie Leibovitz from 1993 to 1996. He advanced as a freelance photographer, producing portraits of people he met on the street. The work gained recognition for its strong visual impact and since 1998, his work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GQ, Esquire, Entertainment Weekly, and W, among other publications.
Schoeller joined Richard Avedon as a contributing portrait photographer at The New Yorker in 1999, where he continues to produce his award-winning images. His portraits are exhibited and collected internationally, including in several solo exhibitions in Europe and the United States and are included in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. In addition, he has had many solo exhibitions throughout the U.S. and Europe and group exhibitions in the U.S.
Aside from his National Geographic exploits Martin Schoeller had his work present in The New Yorker, GQ, Vogue and Entertainment Weekly. After featuring Schoeller’s amazing close up portraits of celebrities, we’re once again floored by his latest series of funny celebrity photos. Having the same distinct style in lighting, backdrop and tone, this series is full of imagination. He shows celebrities in various hilarious situations and exaggerated postures, which results in images that are rich in detail, story, color and personality.
The YMCMB crew has been putting brick on top of brick onto the castle in their music empire for quite some time now. But every so often people will hear certain rumors, like that they signed Fred Durst, or that every 6 months they look at a new batch of recruits, or whatever else the web has spit out recently. But the one thing I like to wait for is hearing the facts right from the lion’s mouth. In the video below, DJ Khaled, and the originator of Cash Money, Birdman get together to discuss some new business in the YMCMB community. Check the method.
For those die-hard Young Money fans that want a listen of the new single “Take It To The Head” that you heard in the video, take a listen to it below.
The images above and below come from a marvelous fashion blog titled “Daily Dose”, but let me take a second to explain myself before I get a new gang of emails. It’s a well known fact that I’m not a fashion expert, (last week I met with the former president of CBS, Sir Howard Stringer, and was wearing sweat pants and a ‘where the white girls are‘ T-shirt.) However, this doesn’t impede my ability to spot an incredible fashion source when I see one. Francesca Grosso, the site’s primary writer has an incredible eye for style, and 100% of her posts are equally eye catching to fashionistas or guys like me who run around business meetings in sweat pants. Click any of the pictures to see more from ‘Daily Dose’.
Click to pic to see more.
Total Recall has been a cult classic film for quite some time… I would venture to say “for generations” but that’s not the case. The original ‘Total Recall’ only came out in 1990, which begs the question as to why the powers that be felt the need to re-make it. The visual effects revolutions that have taken place between the 1933 “King Kong” movie and the the one released in 2005 are massive, but that’s not really an excuse in the way of “Total Recall”. However, before someone brings up the point that the Spiderman franchise didn’t even wait for a 6th grader to graduate high school before they re-booted Mr. Parker, lets just remember that there was nothing wrong with T.R. In Arnold Schwarzenegger’s version, the plot circles around a virtual vacation on Mars and the implications of things being too real in virtual reality, but you can read the official synopsis of the 2012 version below.
Total Recall is an action thriller about reality and memory, inspired anew by the famous short story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick. Welcome to Rekall, the company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), even though he’s got a beautiful wife (Kate Beckinsale) who he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life – real memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. Finding himself on the run from the police – controlled by Chancellor Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston), the leader of the free world – Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter (Jessica Biel) to find the head of the underground resistance (Bill Nighy) and stop Cohaagen. The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and the fate of his world hangs in the balance as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love, and his true fate.
Just like many other 18-15 year old males in the U.S., I’ve become a fan of most of the programming on Adult Swim (the off the wall late night programming that comes on Cartoon Network). As the line up has changed over the years, I’ve had many different programs to look forward to, but a few months ago I got a bombshell dropped on me that Odd Future would be getting their own Adult Swim programming slot. The people reading this not totally familiarized with O.F. might not understand just how ridiculous that concept seems, but you will soon. I’ve managed to get my hands on the first episode of the show ‘Loiter Squad’, and not only is it pure unadulterated hilarity, it’s also exact what Adult Swim needed to keep their line-up fresh. Check the method below.
For those of you who are unaware of the O.F. movement, let me just open up your mind to the situation. The group is led by rapper/producer Tyler, The Creator, and includes rappers Hodgy Beats, Earl Sweatshirt, Domo Genesis and Mike G, singer Frank Ocean, producers Left Brain, Syd the Kyd and Matt Martians, and other non-musical members, notably Jasper Dolphin, Taco and L-Boy (that appeared in the ‘Loiter Squad’ episode above.) Their music is a crowd hyping force to be reckoned with, and anyone who wants proof of this needs to go no further than San Francisco. O.F. is gathering at 330 Ritch on April 9th for a night of intoxicated skullduggery courtesy of Above Ground. Click the pic below for tickets.
No matter how far technology comes, there will always be a certain respect for the old school. One of the first things people of my generation remember from the digital world are 8-Bit images. That being said, getting a look at certain CGI heavy movies from an 8-bit perspective is quite an interesting thing. Check the method below.
I took a slight hiatus from putting certian styles of models up on the blog, but after taking a look at Jessica Skyy’s photographs, I had to put an end to the break. This 5 foot, 3 Hispanic beauty has built an astonishing body of work. She was on the novel cover for 50 Cent’s “Heavens Fury”, has been featured on Lowrider Girls magazine cover girl (May 2008), been seen on SHOW magazine, MOB Candy magazine, IB Concept Magazine, the NUVO 2009 calendar, and was in the movie Notorious. Aside from her body… of work, she measures 36 D, 25, 36 and takes some of the most captivating images of any model of her type. Check the method.
The Bobby Effect has been blowing up in the bay faster than folks can keep track of. With her videos and freestyle are being talked about by everyone locally and abroad, it’s no wonder her new tribute track to Eazy E is making a splash. Take a look at the video below.
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