Monday, March 31, 2008

Kanye West's Universe Expanding


The above picture is just what appeared in my head after reading about this. Now you can travel "with" Kanye the same way you search with him. Check out this article explaining Kanye Travel Ventures.
For more information about Kanye Travel Ventures visit www.kanyetravel.com. I've had a short look around and it just seems like other travel sites that help you book hotel and airfare together. Eventually I think there will be more Kanye-oriented trip planning available.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Kanye West Singing "Everyone Nose"

Kanye was singing "Everyone Nose" as he was followed to his car by the paparazzi. Click here to see the clip on TMZ. He's only in the first couple seconds, but it's still cool.
If you haven't browsed the icons page in a while you should go have a look because I added some new ones yesterday and I will be adding even more later today.

Friday, March 28, 2008

N*E*R*D on Seeing Sounds


I wish I could see what was going on in the interview before this questions. Seems like something made Pharrell kinda mad. I think they are just ridiculously tired from the crazy shows.
Oh here is some more from the same setting so I guess they're just tired. They're funny guys. Pharrell, don't you know Smurfs are asexual? Donnie Darko! Also...the questions are awkward? It's kinda rude to like ask them are you some other band...P was hella cool about it and he talks about the other band.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Pharrell and Nigo on the Cover of Blenda Black

The Japanese magazine Blenda Black has Pharrell and Nigo on the cover and an article about them on pages 136-139. I wish I could get my hands on that. Take a look here.

CRS Dog Tag



:D
I personalized one for myself. I'll make 'em for whoever wants 'em or if you wanna edit it youself, then go for it.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

A Closer Look at "Us Placers"


Okay so in general “Us Placers” is about each members experiences with becoming famous and how it has changed their lives. I think the title “Us Placers” refers to placing like placing in a competition (being in the top 3) or like places on the charts and such. So the song is offering each members perspective of where they are in the industry, what it’s like to be in their “place.”

(Lupe Fiasco)
Yeah, Just a lil bit (just a lil bit) And it goes
Lifestyles of the rich and famous
Bought a big house and a whole lot of rangers
A fresh new couch and a whole lot of trainers
A closet full of clothes and some brand new dangers
And
Some Mexican floral arrangers
A great big TV that'll entertain us
Some colorful commissions for some high paid painters
Someone to take the wrap so that I stay stainless
And
A new relationship with a banker
Two pinky rings for my manicured fingers
A trained German Shepard that bark when it's angered
To watch my possessions and look out for strangers
And
A 50 foot yacht with an anchor
Young supermodel that shall remain nameless
Up to this point in his verse, Lupe has pretty much just been listing all the things he has been able to get since becoming famous, mostly things he bought. (Some of these things Lupe might not have actually bought, but he's listing what's typical in "life styles of the rich and famous") Then he ends his verse by concluding that even though all the above changes have been made to his life, he knows money doesn’t solve problems:
Ups and the downs, the sames and the changes
All the money in the world don't make it painless (no)

The chorus is basically just saying that Lupe, Kanye, and Pharrell are here to stay and will not be leaving the music industry despite anyone’s efforts. “And they love it” refers to the fans who are not phased by efforts to “erase” Lu, P, or ‘Ye. The fans continue to love all that the CRS members do.
(But they love it and they love it)
The more you try to erase me
(And they love it and they love it)
The more that I appear, oh
(and they love it and they love it)
The more, the more you try the eraser
The more that you appear

Kanye’s verse is about how he can see people everywhere trying to become known. He can see how MySpace and the internet have created new channels for self-promotion, but many people are still struggling to get their tracks heard or their faces in magazines.
(Kanye West)
(Plain Pat what up?)
Lifestyles of the broke and famous
Let you know how crazy this game is
Look at all the new beautiful faces
At home supermodel, MySpaces
Long for their shot on the TV screens
American Idol never seen these dreams
Just last week they want to see ID
Now they got you in VIP, huh?
Those two lines are talking about how fame can be really sudden for people: one minute no one knows who you are, the next minute you could be the life of the party.
How many people almost famous
You almost remember what they name is
Like “Hey, didn’t you play in..? Nah it couldn’t be, quit playin’”
This line is about how many of those people who become suddenly famous only experience 15 minutes of fame before they are forgotten again. Maybe the person started to really rise and blow up, but suddenly nobody cares anymore and the media has moved on to the next star-of-the-minute.
I try to keep that balance
After MTV that’s a Real World Challenge
I think that Kanye is saying he has to keep it all in perspective because even though he is on top, he has seen tons of people just disappear after they had their moment in the spot light. He references The Real World because that show is a source of many star-of-the-minute people who everyone knows at one point, but they end up on infomercials and bat mitzvahs. Just like that, they’re back to being unknown:
Back on that train
Never to be heard from again…

(Chorus)
I already said what I think that’s about.

(Pharrell Williams)
P’s verse is focusing on the chaos of the media and how people can be focused on the drama when really there are other things in the world that are more important.
G.R.I.P P.I.M.P
I, any spelling come on, bitch, that’s me
I bring a burning sensation to the urban eye
Like an eye-drop of Turpentine
That’s a metaphore for how Pharrell sees his effect on people. He considers himself a reality check for many.
You can listen to the serpent, fine
But the earth got gas once it burps its fine
I guess this shows I get a little lost in this part of his verse. I’m gonna try to break down all the metaphors and references, but I can’t be sure of what he was really thinking when he said it.
Someone around me they talk about degrees
Not G.H.G, how to cook a quarter key (like coke, right? Or I guess he could be talking about this, this, or this, but I think he means like cook coke into crack)
Talking all nasal, he ain’t over that cold (coke use causes cold-like symptoms)
No glove scrub, Manny just over that stove (cooking coke into crack)
Perfect paradigm
Wrong place wrong time
Should have been Phizer, GlaxoSmithKline (World's two biggest pharmaceutical. See wiki: GlaxoSmithKline, Phizer)
Number one chemist
Look at him no blemish
Egg shell off white like a DuPont finish
Young, dumb, high strung, who could handle us
After referencing many things that are important to today’s youth and what is portrayed as priorities by the media, Pharrell puts all those material thins into perspective by talking about the beauty of nature:
I wonder how Gods gon’ paint today’s canvasses
Obviously this next part is a reference to the Virginia Tech shooting that occurred last year. P is saying how it was really unexpected and he asserts that the shooter would like to see his face on the cover of Time magazine. I think the last part might also be saying that P things the shooter would now regret his actions upon seeing the aftermath. Maybe, I’m not sure if that is what Pharrell means by the last line. It’s also possible he is saying that the shooter would have liked to get away with what he did with out any consequences.
Cause who knew that day that man would just
Go to VA with a Tec and spray campuses
What a way to see the cover of Time
I know that nigga wish he was standing in line
To see it….As if he didn’t do it.

Then the chorus again and that’s it.


I'm not sure if this thing is complete yet. Let me know what you think and if there are any other songs you wanna see explicated on here. I might do some of the new N*E*R*D. I'm not sure.

Man in Maryland Claims he wrote "The Good Life"

Kanye West is being sued by a producer/song writer in Maryland who claims that "The Good Life" is a rip-off of his song “Volume of Good Life.” He says that he wrote the song over twenty years ago. Read more about it here, here, and here. If you are REALLY interested in what the lawsuit actually claims, you can view a pdf of it here.
I dunno how serious this is...I mean it calls Roc-A-Fella "roca-a-fella" a bunch of times. I think you should know the name of who you are suing.

Kanye gives ANOTHER surprise performance

Perez Hilton has reported on another surprise performance by Kanye West, this time in LA. Click here to read the post.
My site statistics show that people are coming here looking for lyrics meanings. Music is an art, so of course meaning is a matter of interpretation, but I think I can offer some explanation of references and such. I think I'll start with "Us Placers" and maybe do some of the new N*E*R*D songs. Look for those later today.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

New Track from DJ Felli Fel

DJ Felli Fel's latest track is "The Finer Things" featuring Jermain Dupri, Kanye West, Fabulous, and Ne-Yo. Dj Felli Fel recently gained attention for his collaboration with Ludacris, P. Diddy, Akon, and Lil John "Get Buck in Here." I love that song. I've only listened to "The Finer Things" once, but I can say I definitely like Kanye's verse. You tube or imeem them! It's worth your time I promise.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Hip Hop Saved My Life

The Hip Hop Saved My Life video is now available on iTunes. It's only $2 and it's pretty cool so I would recommend buying it. It's basically just showing us the narrative that Lupe tells in Hip Hop Saved My life. The main character is really what I like about it. Here are a couple screen captures:


Oh yeah one more thing! I like this jacket:

Okay another one more thing: Perez posted this item you might find interesting! Hehe.
[Edit] Found the jacket on karmaloop! They don't have my size.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Lexi and Kanye + SXSW MTV article

Thought I'd show you all this:
From NYtimes.

MTV has an article about NERD's performance at SXSW. It's pretty cool. Click here to check it out.
Oh yeah and BAPE Star Search now has an English website so I added it to the links section. Check it ouuuuttt!

Friday, March 14, 2008

Dollar and Diamond Bags Now Available at BBC



There they are! $770, Folks! Get 'em here.

PS: Kanye's rep has denied the rumor that Kanye and Lexi got married already. Click here to read about it.

N*E*R*D Performance

Check out this article describing N*E*R*D's latest performance.
N*E*R*D musta had a photoshoot together (besides just the lookbook) because this article and one of the ones from the previous post were both accompanied by promotional images that I haven't seen before.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Pharrell on N.E.R.D. and more

Here's some new quotes from Pharrell from the Post Gazette. Click here for the whole article.

"If this was 'The Matrix,' " he says, "I'd much rather be Morpheus. It gives you freedom and the ability to create and help guide and navigate others' careers when requested. N.E.R.D. is niche, so cool and underground and cult."

He also talks about what it's like to work with various artists and how he feels about his role in production.

Anddd...here's another on from "The Daily Kansan" ?? Click here.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Rumors That Kanye Got Married

SFGATE says that MediaTakeOut.com is saying that Kanye and Lexi may have gotten married... click here for the article.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Hip Hop Saved My Life Video Update

The FNF Blog has stated that iTunes will premier the Hip Hop Saved My Life Video on 3/18/08.
Here's a still:

Oh yeah and there's a list of events now...on the right.

MySpace Graphic?

Photobucket

Upcoming Events

This list does not contain the new international dates for TGITDT. Click here for Europe and here for Asia and Australia.
September 1st--Lupe Fiasco--Protest Outside the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN
September 5th--N*E*R*D--with Common @ The Fillmore Miami Beach
September 9th--N*E*R*D--with Common @ Verizon Wireless Theatre in Houston, TX
September 9th--The Neptunes--Missy Elliot's Block Party comes out
September 12th--N*E*R*D--Fete de l’Humanité Festival in France
September 13th--N*E*R*D --Seeing The Invincible Sounds Of Summer Tour with Common @Marquee in Phoenix, AZ
September 14th--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour with Common @ The Wiltern in LA
September 15th--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour with Common @ The Wiltern in LA
September 16th--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds Of Summer Tour with Common @ The Grove of Anaheim
September 18th--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds Of Summer Tour with Common @ Showbox in Seattle, WA
September 20th--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds Of Summer Tour with Common @ Berkley Comm College in Berkley, CA
September 21st--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds Of Summer Tour with Common @ House of Blues in Las Vegas, NV
September 23rd--N*E*R*D--with Common @ The Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, CO
September 23rd--The Neptunes--Common's UMC comes out
September 26th--N*E*R*D--Austin City Limits Festival
September 27th--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour with Common @ Foundation in Chicago, IL
September 28th--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour with Common @ Filmore in Detroit, MI
September 29th--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour with Common @ Kool Haus, The Sound Academy in Toronto
September 30th--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour with Common in Montreal
October 1st--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour with Common @ the Orpheum in Boston, MA
October 2nd--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour with Common @ the Factory in Philadelphia, PA
October 3rd--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour with Common @ NC State University in Raleigh, NC
October 4th--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour with Common @ Roseland in NYC
October 5th--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour with Common @ Roseland in NYC
October 6th--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour with Common @ Rams Head in Baltimore, MD
October 8th--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour with Common @ the Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA
October 9th--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour with Common @ Hard Rock in Orlando, FL
October 10th--N*E*R*D--Seeing The Invincible Sounds of Summer Tour with Common @ Filmore in Miami, FL
October 24/25/26/??--Lupe Fiasco--Voodoo Experience
November--Kanye West--808's & Heartbreak is released

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

You probably have already thought about how great it would be to live in Japan

...but if you needed one more reason:

http://www.bbcicecream.co.jp/blog/

Interview about Blason [now available]

I'm going to leave this embedded, though it seems to be broken right now. I'll update if I find an alternative link or to let you know if this one gets repaired. [Edit] It works!


It's already on the BBC Blog, but just in case you missed it...