we for the children

TOP 3 BEST RAPPER TOYS EVER: #1 - Master P

#2 - MC Hammer

#3 - Snoop Dogg, in his half black, half lemon suit

Sorry, but it's just better when "non-hip hoppers" (i.e. mattel) make hip hop toys. All these graff inspired street culture dolls and hello kitty looking rapper alarm clocks or for lames. Give me "real rap sounds!" or give me death.

club swizzle

Last week, despite bone jarring temperatures and Thursday being one of the coldest days of the year, the Bodega™ battalion was invited to a listening session featuring music from the upcoming solo album One Man Band by Swizz Beats.
In case you are a 12 year old (or have the attention span of one), Swizzy was the sole music provider behind the entire Ruff Ryders movement during the late 90’s - dude was the forefront in making sample free hip hop popular (again) back then - helping launch the careers of DMX, EVE and The Lox...

Upon entering Full Surface recording studios and catching a glimpse of some of Swizzy’s personal art collection, it was quite the surprise to find Mr. Beatz behind two turntables, spinning and explaining his new material.
Throughout the night, Swizz played five or six songs from the album. Guest appearances on the album include Swizz protege Cassidy and Dipset representers Juelz and Capo Jim Jones. Nas also appears on the album, but Swizz played the track minus Godson’s verse, which didn’t sit well with those in attendance! Even though lately Swizz has been in demand like season five of The Wire, he still reached out to fellow beatsmiths Kanye West and Just Blaze to take on some of the production load.

After Swizz played the album, the floor was open for a lil’ Q and A. Dude was mad cool and talked about everything from collecting art, family life, working with Beyonce and why (like so many other cats) he can’t wait until the release of Raekwon’s new Only Built For Cuban Linx joint! He also mentioned being the U.S Ambassador of Music for the United Nations(!?) as well as collaborations with toymaker Kid Robot

Folks had a good time kicking it with Swizz Beats “Da Monster” and the good people from Universal Records. Unfortunately a release date has not been set just yet for One Man Band, but you won’t be getting this latest Swizz installment until at least spring of ’07. For now though, here's a quick refresher course of some classic videos featuring Swizzles midus touch:
Bigger Business feat. Birdman, Jada Mwah! Ronald Isley, etc.
Jay-z: Money, Cash, Hoes
DMX: Ruff Ryder’s Anthem
Styles P: Good Times

wha gwan

Although recent weather has forced many of us to revert to bear style living (hibernation), the BODEGA™ is involved in a couple of upcoming events that just may be worth crawling out of your cave to participate. Notably, this weeks INDUSTRY SHAKEDOWN in DUMBO, and on February 10th, DONUTS ARE FOREVER... A few reasons why:
Martha Camarillo: Fletcher Street
Waxpoetics Issue 21
Black Milk: Popular Demand

Check out our newly updated events page for details...

don't fron't FREEZE friday™

DON'T FRONT: it's too cold outside to front anyway. Too cold to do anything but make some soup and stay home. Unless you are homeless, in which case we suggest you stay posted up at the internet cafe you are reading this in.
Some theme music:
ICET - SIX IN THA MORNIN'
ROYAL FLUSH - ICED DOWN MEDALLIONS
ICE CUBE - WHO'S THE MACK
THE ICE MEN - HOW CAN I GET OVER (A FOX LIKE YOU)
MAC DRE - COLDER THAN A BLIZZARD
JUST ICE - COLD GETTIN' DUMB

PLUS SOME NEW PRODIGY - doesn't stick to the cute little cold theme but P still pretty damn cold just the same.

woe is us

ABOVE: Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, you gotta call 'em like you see 'em. Bodega™ crew actually like dipset records for the most part, but that doesn't mean we have our eyes closed! Case in point: these videos spotted via the raw unkut -- Joey, what do you think about a possible reincarcerate zeekey tee? I'll take mine in extra medium of course... seriously.

MOVING ALONG:
• "Compelling, if at times gruesome, Medical Apartheid draws a connection between past medical experiments and the woeful current state of health care for blacks" - from MotherJones.com, a review of Harriet A. Washington's new book, Medical Apartheid: "The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans From Colonial Times to the Present"
• R.I.P. David Shayman aka Disco D. Shayman was found dead yesterday in his NY apartment from an apparent suicide. Our most sincere condolences go out to his family and friends.
• THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 28: It's The 1st Annual Harold Hunter Memorial Basketball Tournament. Should be fun... proceeds go to the Harold Hunter Foundation (for real) "The mission of the Harold Hunter Foundation is to provide the youth of the Campos Housing Projects, the Lower East Side and beyond with a positive environment and opportunity for personal and professional growth through skateboarding, and try to diversify and even the playing field of professional skateboarding."
Tickets for sunday are 10 beans.

jay love japan

Apparently this ill-ass moonwalker meets mario meets stonesthrow promo clip for Jay Love Japan has been out for almost a year at least... call me tardy.

mad hats yo

This week bohemian rap hero Common will be launching his highly anticipated Soji hat line in New York City. “I love hats man, I been wearing them for so long and people always ask me where I get my hats from," Common told AllHipHop.com in recent interview. "So, why not just design something (myself)". Well, why not? Surely you've taken note of Common's uncanny flair for flashy head-wear (esp. throughout his post-badu years)... We've put together a group of some favorites - join us on a trip down memory lane:

Here's Lonnie kicking it in hollywood at the Smoking Aces red-carpet premiere. Up top, as you can see, he went with a Devo inspired crown-piece.

Always culturally progressive, except for that whole "interracial couples" business of course, here's Com representing for the brown brothers and sisters south of the border. ¡Ole!

Court jester? Only on the outside, baby pa! Lonnie Lynn pre-game steez on his hometown ball court.

A Bodega™ favorite: the giraffe visor. The perfect touch when profiling at the MTV Europe Music Awards.

And lastly - here's Big Com looking extra raved out in a whimsical fuzzy blue top-hat number, possibly during the making of Electric Circus. Definitely a safe bet for the coolest cat in the hat.

Be sure to check out the full line of Soji hat's upon their release, this wednesday the 24th. Trust, if you look half as good as our man Common does in these joints, the ladies are sure to swoon like you just stepped outta Gap commercial!

don't front friday™

DON'T FRONT: BUSTTHEFACTS IS REALLY ILL
Yesterday alone, we collectively downloaded over a dozen full albums including:
OUTLAW POSSE • MY AFROS ON FIRE
ROYAL FLUSH • 976 - DOPE
TUFF CREW • BACK TO THE WRECK SHOP
DEVIN THE DUDE • JUST TRYIN' TO LIVE
FUNKYTOWN PROS • REACHIN A LEVEL OF ASSASSINATION
CONVICTS • CONVICTS
187 PROOF • DOPE LIKA POUND OR A KEY
We sorta had to make a pact not to get on there today, cause not a lot got done during our downloading frenzy... but please do your self a favor and don't front

finally, it's happened to me.

We all know how perfectly wonderful it is to be able to type in a few magic words on youtube, and watch a favorite rap obscurity from yesteryear (it's the tops, no doubt) -- but sometimes, as vast a catalog she is, youtube just can't find what you're searching for.
You try to trick her, typing in different combinations of key words, crew affiliates, video directors names, album titles - all of these are wise tactical maneuvers. Sometimes she just doesn't have what you want.
If you stick to your guns though, occasionally you will be rewarded for your patience - as the above video for me proves. Added just over 2 weeks ago by youtube subscriber gerardosamudio, it's Young Zee: Problems

taking back ebbet's field

from the mighty swift chancellor report:
You see that view? That is how we will be doing it this year at the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival. Three days this year playboy! June 21, 22, 23... and this year we have the whole park not just the Tobacco Warehouse.
We are getting our weight up.
Started thinking about talent and wanted to get you guys' opinion - Old school: De La and MC Lyte's name are on top of list. Was speaking to Ian about The Pack for the new school act. Definitely need some more suggestions on that front. Really need some suggestions on appropriate local acts. Not to start any beef but gun clap Brooklyn MC's are not what we are looking for. I need some cats suitable for young Miles, #2 on the way and my pops.
Let us know what y'all think