The Blackhawks are Stanley Cup Champions....Again!

Two goals in 17 seconds.

That’s how you go from hosting a must-win, all-or-nothing Game 7 against a talented team and ending it on the spot, in crunch time on your opponent’s ice. The 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs have been amazing and I’m sure the NHL (or at least playoff NHL) has a bunch of new fans, in and outside of Chicago. This was simply some of the most exciting hockey I’ve ever seen. From the triple overtime barn burner in Game 1 to the back-to-back goals in Game 6, there was never a dull moment in this series, especially. Patrick Kane became just the fourth American to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable postseason player. He also led the Blackhawks with nine goals and ten assists (and one amazing mullet) during the playoffs. This was the perfect way to end a record breaking season. And after blunders from the Bears, Bulls and Lord knows the Sox, Chicago sports fans needed this. Cheers, Hawks.



See these photos and more on the Blackhawks’ Official Instagram.
Oh, and I stole the last one from @ayellemm, too. Thanks Ashley! Go Hawks!

Also, these may or may not be direct quotes:

"I AIN'T GOT NO WORRIES." -Jonathan Toews

— Thabo Sampalosha (@SampGetsSnooks) June 25, 2013

"I AIN'T EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE HERE." -Patrick Kane

— Thabo Sampalosha (@SampGetsSnooks) June 25, 2013

"BITCH WE GBE." -Duncan Keith

— Thabo Sampalosha (@SampGetsSnooks) June 25, 2013

I'll stop now. Go Hawks.

Kendrick Lamar - Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe [Video]

It's about time we got some visuals for Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe. Fresh off of his Sweetlife Festival performance this past weekend, the Compton artist released the video for the fourth single from Good kid, m.A.A.d city. So far, the video contains a Mike Epps cameo, a funeral/party and several noteworthy snooks. Sounds about right.

Kendrick continues his World Tour on May 17th, heading out to the Sun God Festival out in California.

Kid Cudi feat. Kendrick Lamar - Solo Dolo Part II [MP3]

So, Kid Cudi's much-anticipated third [or fourth, depending on who you ask] album Indicud leaked yesterday, or so I heard through the Twitters. Upon first listen, the album has an exceptionally strong start but seems to fizzle out pretty hard toward the end. The early highlight, other than previously released singles King Wizard and Immortal has to be the Kendrick Lamar-assisted Solo Dolo Part II. Now, I'm not sure how someone can make a song with someone else and still call it Solo Dolo, but this song works and it goes. For some strange reason, Kendrick is still hungry and Cudi's still Cudi. [And I mean that in the best way possible.] Check out Solo Dolo Part II:

Cudi is always an artist that leads to debate and early thoughts on Indicud are mixed. I've always been a fan of his. I mean, he makes music to rage and drink beer to, what's not to love. But at the same time, I've felt let down at some points in the past. But at least with this album, we might as well wait until it's actually released to completely dissect it.....yeah right. Where's the fun in that?

@sampgetssnooks I'm good on that.

— Ricardo Finland (@SlimiHendrix) April 9, 2013

@sampgetssnooks that's exactly how I feel. I don't think he will top the first cd tho

— Mackenzie Thompson (@Kenzie__87) April 9, 2013

@sartorialbee @sampgetssnooks this argument may be moot because I'm sitting here listening to Indicud feeling like I'm ascending to Valhalla

— Tupac Chopra (@fivefifths) April 9, 2013

RT @zannygetpanties: You listen to Cudi for crazy melodic humming gibberish shit. I love that shit man. Cudi sings like a didgeridoo

— serenissima (@sartorialbee) April 9, 2013

Earl Sweatshirt - Chum [MP3 + Video]

New Sweatshirt. And it couldn’t be better timing. Chum reveals a different side of Earl as he's reflecting on major life events and touching on returning to music while barely taking pauses to breathe. The lyrics are complex yet simple and quite introspective. But any long-time Earl Sweatshirt/Odd Future follower can tell you those are staples of Earl’s music. The Christian Rich beat doesn't hurt, either. Take a listen. I’m actually pretty excited to hear what’s up next for Doris.

Earl Sweatshirt - Chum

[Note: I first heard this on The Eargazm. Dope site, btw.]

Beer Tracker | Counting Bottle Opener

Oh. My. Damn. I. Want. This. Right. Now.

Why couldn't I think of this?! With this simple electronic can opener, you're able to track the number of beers it opens. So simple, yet so essential. Don't get me wrong, I'm well aware that there's no real need for this—other than possible bragging rights—but I still really want this gadget. And at only $7 bucks a pop, I'm actually going to make that happen. [After Lent, of course.]

Purchase the Beer Tracker Bottle Opener here.

Horizon: The McGurk Effect / The Rubber Hand Illusion

The YouTube videos for BBC Two's Horizon are always really interesting. Check out these two I came across this weekend:
The McGurk Effect
The Rubber Hand Illusion

BBC got gigs.

Lupe Fiasco - American Terrorist III [MP3]

OK, excuse time. I'm pretty late with posting this is because it came out during one of my patented blogging hiatuses. Gotta love those, right? I actually figured that by now pretty mnuch everybody had already heard Lupe's American Terrorist III on somebody’s music blog. You know, with the innanets and all. But after my trip this weekend and nobody knowing what the fuck hell I was talking about, I realized I was wrong. This chilling continuation in a series of American Terrorist tracks [Part II remains to be seen, I guess] may not be as ground-breaking or anticipated as the original, but it’s still an exceptionally dope look at terrorism and its causes and effects, through three different perspectives. Say what you want about Lupe falling off [which I don’t agree with] but the guy has always been creative—especially on his non-album material. Also, it’s dope without them but here are the lyrics for added effect. Check it out.

Lupe Fiasco - American Terrorist III


Oh and the sample is from Kavinsky's Nightcall, another dope track.

Chronicle [Movie Trailer]

Again, I'll attribute lateness due to my recent lack of consistent posting. This movie, Chronicle looks doper than dope. It's the story of a group of high school friends that gain superpowers after making a mysterious discovery. I'm mad excited even though the movie doesn't come out until....February 3rd. Peep the trailer and try not to get hype.

Yea, dopeness.

[Throwback] Music of the Moment: Kanye West - Livin' a Movie

Movie buffs should enjoy this.

It's no secret that I'm a huge Kanye West fan. The thing that you need to understand is that I'm a really huge Kanye West fan. I'd go as far as saying that I have nearly [if not all] of his released music--underground tracks included. With all that being said, below is one of my favorite throwback Kanye songs from way back on The Late Mixtape. The idea behind it is simple: an entire song based off movie titles. Sounds simple...and it actually really is.


Kanye West - Livin' a Movie

Nothing like some good, throwback Kanye.

Note: Complete Movie List: Edward Scissorhands, What Lies Beneath, The Preacher's Wife, Sleepy Hollow, Apollo 13, Ghost, Hollow Man, Friday 13^th Ghost (again), Backdraft, Almost Famous, Lord of the Rings, The Shining, Do the Right Thing, Don't Say a Word, Sleepers, Jeepers Creepers, Clockers, Baller Blockers, Absolute Power, 9 1/2 Weeks, Rush Hour, The Cell, Life, Juice, Mo' Money and The Roc. And I probably missed a few.

OnCue - Feel Tall [Video]

I can't front, after 10+ years of listening to Eminem, the whole Asher Roth experiment of 2009 and semi-drunken freestyles with my man Johnny C., there's not much room on my musical plate for another white rapper.

I'm kidding....but I'm only kinda kidding. Then outta nowhere comes this kid OnCue out of Connecticut. At first glance, he's nothing different: Supreme snap back, frat boy look. Basically the same thing we've seen the last few years. But after stumbling across his video for Feel Tall this weekend, I was immediately hooked. So hooked, in fact, that I even risked the inevitable short jokes from my friends due to the song title. Check out the video and the download link underneath.


OnCue - Feel Tall [Produced by CJ Luzi]


I mean, he's no savior to hip-hop but this is a pretty dope song. If we let Drake get away with singing on all his hooks, we might as well let this kid.

A.ware - Lady Heroin [Album]

Any blogger can tell you that it's pretty easy to fall behind in your posts. Throw in a full-time job, frequently tearing up DC basketball courts and a rager lifestyle during the weekends and you get the idea. I did, however, need to make it back to get the word out about my boy A.Ware's most recent project, is Lady Heroin. It dropped yesterday and it's really sick. A.Ware and the team at Greedmont Park have been doing some pretty ill things as of late. Listen or Download Lady Heroin here.


Favorite Tracks:
-Money on the Flo
-Sunrise
-Easy

I mean, just check it out.

Fight For Your Right - Revisited [Man, I Wish This Was a Real Movie...]

I mean, I guess it kind of is.

This two-minute trailer is for a 30-minute short film starring Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Seth Rogen, Danny McBride, John C. Reilly and Elijah Wood as two sets of the Beastie Boys battling to be the real trio. Sounds weird, I'm sure, but it actually looks pretty amazing. The preview for the film doubles as a music video for the song Make Some Noise off the group's upcoming album Hot Sauce Committe, Pt. 2 and is also pretty reminiscent of the original. Check it out:

Rumor has it that the full-length film includes cameos from Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst, David Cross, Amy Poehler, Jason Schwartzman, Adam Scott, Rainn Wilson, Steve Buscemi, Alicia Silverstone, Martin Starr, Rashida Jones, and Mike Mills from R.E.M.

Dopeness.



[Note: Shouts to my man Big B for putting me on.]

Lupe Fiasco - Words I Never Said

New Lupe. I still never get tired of saying that.

Check out the second single from Lasers entitled Words I Never Said. It's somewhat controversial....I just call it dopeness.

Lupe Fiasco - Words I Never Said feat. Skylar Grey

[Download Link Removed. Feds was taking pictures.]

Late Pass: Mac Miller is Dope

So apparently I was sleeping on Mac Miller when I first heard of him last year. His music was straight but just not really polished. But when I stumbled across his new K.I.D.S. mixtape, I could tell he'd improved...a lot. Like a whole lot. It's not mind-blowing, life-changing music, but it's dope to ride to. [As cliché as that sounds.] Being only 18, you wouldn't really expect the dopeness of this mixtape. Still not sure what you're in store for?? Think Mike Posner - the wackness x Wiz Khalifa x Asher Rosh - sounding like Eminem = Mac Miller. And the videos are pretty dope. Check out these from Mac Miller:

Traffic in the Sky // Don't Mind If I Do
Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza
Nikes on my Feet

La La La La

Download the K.I.D.S. mixtape here.

And put your thumbs up.

9 Days...

Kickoff's just a little over a week away.



Yea, I'm hype.

How Bout Some Ratatat???

I stumbled across this live performance from Ratatat from 2007's Wintercase concert. Can't hate on Ratatat in any form. I even included the studio versions for a little comparison. Nothing beats live music though. Check em:
Wildcat [Live]
Wildcat [Studio Version]
Loud Pipes [Live]
Loud Pipes [Studio Version]
Montanita [Live]
Montanita [Studio Version]

Oh yea, and if you're wondering, LP4 is STILL bangin.

Kid Cudi - Mojo So Dope. Yup.

If you thought there was no way Cudi could drop more music this summer, then you'd be dead wrong. Here's Mojo So Dope, the next song from his much-anticipated [by me at least] album, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager. Couple days late because this campaign life is crazy. Check it out:
Kid Cudi - Mojo So Dope


Cudi is absolutely MURDERING this summer.

Summer Songs: Kid Cudi x Bethany Cosentino x Rostam Batmanglij - All Summer

New Cudder. [I STILL never get tired of saying that.] This is a promotional joint from Converse, of all companies. And it's dope as shit. It features vocals from Bethany Cosentino, one half of the duo Best Coast and drums from Rostam Batmanglij from Vampire Weekend. The title says enough about it being the perfect summer song but after one listen I could tell it'll be in my heavy rotation all the way through September. Well done, Converse.

Kid Cudi x Bethany Cosentino x Rostam Batmanglij - All Summer
Download: All Summer

[Note: Shouts to Jai and LMo from The Clearance Aisle for the heads up. Check their blog, it's the shit.]

Music [Video] of the Moment - February 10, 2010

Finally, a video for David Guetta and Kid Cudi's new joint Memories. It's pretty much just a Cudi track over Guetta's beat but it's still dope. Can't be mad at that.

David Guetta feat. Kid Cudi - Memories
Download: Memories

[Double] Music of the Moment - January 19, 2010

I haven't had many music posts lately so I figured I was due for a double post. A lot of people have been talking about Jay Electronica lately and truthfully, he's had some of the realest hip hop that I've heard in a long time. The strangest part about it is that it seems like people are really paying attention. With that being said, the first video is actually the trailer for the video for his joint Exhibit A (Transformation). This kid Jay Elec really is the truth and this song is just one example. My man Pbbt put me on awhile back and it's been nothing but good music from him since. Definitely worth the listen.

Jay Electronica - Exhibit A
Download: Exhibit A

The other video for today was the next single from the Clipse's latest joint Till the Casket Drops called Freedom. Another dope song, another dope video. EGHCK's for everybody.

Clipse - Freedom
Download: Freedom

Dopeness all around.