Monday, August 31, 2009

Video: Jay-Z Commercial

Jay-Z has been everywhere lately, ramping up press for his long-awaited 'Blueprint 3' album. Yesterday he was at a Grizzly Bear concert, there's the Vid for 'Run this town' out and also there;s this pretty cool Jay-Z commercial where Hova recreates each one of his album covers. I'm not as amped for the album as I may have been 6 months ago, but Jay-Z still has my vote.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Video: Random world class Breakdancing



No idea, where this comes from, though I recognise some of the dancers. There is some top notch breakin' here, all solo stuff designed to make you soil your pants.

Video: Diablos dance crew @ Sprite Hip Hop fest



Here's the Diablo's crew waving, popping and freezing their way through a breathless routine.

Video: Jay-Z feat. Rihanna and Kanye - Run this town

Here's Jay-Z's run this town featuring Kanye and Rihanna. I was feeling this a little when it popped in my inbox a couple weeks ago, but it really doesn't have that much going for it. I keep expecting 99 Problems, but so far he's fallen a bit short. Am I expecting too much? The album 'Blueprint 3' is out Sep 11.

Jay-Z + Rihanna + Kanye West - "Run This Town"

Monday, August 10, 2009

Video: Clipse - I'm Good feat Pharrell

'I'm good' is a smoothed out joint that rides high on Pharrell's pimped out beats and lilting falsetto, only this time it's the Clipse with the flow. Using the beat as the queue, the boys cruise in LA in a black convertible and sit atop a pool party at the Standard Hotel.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Video: Jay-Z salutes Beastie Boys @ All Points West

Jay-Z knows how to make a concert an event. Just check the video of his 'retirement' concert at Madison Square for example, or last years Glastonbury headliner.

Here he drops the Beastie Boys 'No Sleep Til Brooklyn, in honor on the Beasties (who had to cancel their performance) and Adam 'MCA' Yauch, who is currently receiving treatment for cancer.

Rehash: The final dance from Step Up 2 da Streets

On a lighter note...

Tribute to Merce Cunningham - Groundbreaking Choreographer

Merce died on July 26, after a career in dance spanning six decades.

Although he was long in the game, it was his groundbreaking choreography that both inspired and reviled audiences. He broke convention, and traditionalists who weren't ready for his sometimes bombastic performances, would boo.

But in the long run, his persistence in pushing boundaries leans more towards creativity and invention than just performing to annoy people. Some of Merce's more well known idea's included introducing the element of chance, tossing a coin or, in the case of “Split Sides,” a die to determine which section of a dance would be performed first.

He performed with every major artist of the current generation, including rock groups like Radiohead. His influence and courage will live on.


Here's a promo for his company.



Here are some clips of his dance company performing 'Beach Birds'.