Nike x Jay-Z: All Black Everything

Just in time for the World Basketball Festival, Nike unveils a new flavor of Air Force 1- a collaboration with Jay-Z:  the "All Black Everything."
In keeping with its namesake, the sneaker has an entirely black upper.  Jay-Z will be wearing a pair for his upcoming Radio City Music Hall performance, the shoes will then be auctioned on eBay with proceeds going to the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation.

Texas Urban Music Summit 2010

Last weekend was the third annual Texas Urban Music Summit in Dallas, Texas.

The event, presented by the Core DJs and hosted by the Definition DJs, was a three-day networking event for music professionals focused on today's hottest music.

In between discussion panels from DJs, artists, and executives in the industry, the event featured showcases from up-and-coming artists, and a fashion show presented by Core Models and Lavish Models.

New to T.U.M.S this year was the inclusion of the iStandard Producer Showcase, in which we participated.  Out of the countless beatmakers from around the country who submitted material, we were among the eight selected to present our tracks to the summit's attendees and a panel of judges which included Drumma Boy (prod. for Birdman, Gucci Mane, Plies, Young Jeezy), Jai (prod. for Diddy, Nicole Scherzinger, T-Pain, Consequence) and Christina Prince (A&R, Virgin Records).  We ended up placing third in the showcase, with second place going to Texas native B-Eazy and first place going to 12 year-old music prodigy Vohn Beatz, also from Texas.  Vohn wowed the crowd by displaying an aptitude for beatmaking far more mature than his physical age.

Over the last year, we've frequented music conferences held in the midwest such as the NARM convention and the New Music Seminar, but this was the first time we migrated to another region for such an event.  I felt there was no barrier between attendees and panelists, and it was a truly open forum for exchanging ideas as well as contact info.  Maybe chalk it up to southern hospitality?

Shoutout to all the great artists, bloggers, DJs, label heads, and producers I got to meet in Dallas, hope to do it again next year!  


Big thanks to:  A. Steele Unlimited and Tony Neal at Core DJs for organizing the event, iStandard Producer, Grand Hustle Entertainment, So Icy Entertainment, the Core DJs, and the Definition DJs.  Also, thanks to the Doubletree Hotel in Dallas for that amazing cookie.     

Video: Mayer Hawthorne- "Your Easy Lovin' Ain't Pleasin' Nothin'"

Good, clean summer fun from Mayer Hawthorne and the good people at Stones Throw Records.

Paul Thomas: "Smackin' Your Gum"

Errything ain't hardcore you know!  


I can't sing, but I'ma let my man...my girl...my man?  I'm confused...


Anyway, check out the video for a track we did with "comedeogenic" Chicagoan, Paul Thomas. The track's called "Smackin' Your Gum," it was conceived, written, produced, recorded, and mixed right here at The Bank.  Also watch for a cameo from your boy TJ performing as a "club douchebag."


WARNING:  You may be disturbed by this video...probably.





Paul says, "To be a successful R&B singer, you gotta love yourself."  
I think my man (my girl?) may have taken it too far...probably.


For more skits, music, and general hilarity, go to www.bigheadpaul.com

Verse of the Year (So Far)

This is not an album review.  

I don't normally do this, but I've been listening to Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son of Chico Dusty nonstop since it came out, and I felt the need to proclaim that, in my humble opinion, Big Boi's got the best verse of 2010 (so far) on "The Train, pt. 2."  

"Look up up and I pray / ChannelIng that heavenly energy / There’s plenty we can say / See the enemy is winning cause your punk a** be afraid / But I Spray what’s on my brain to educate and entertaIn / KRS, he said it best / I learned from listenIng to the tapes / Before i-i-Tunes came out and made a CD obsolete / Before realIty TV would seem to be that bIg mistake / Now BIg Brother's got these cameras deep in each and every state / WhIle each and every rapper claims to be the heavy weIght / Cause he mentions cocaine in ‘bout everythIng he make / And then wonder why them people try to pin him wIth that case / Cause his blow is dixie crystal /Pistol play was just for play / Fake / Just for play play / Got them bay bays / Believe in that bullsh*t / I said just for play play / But got them bay bays / It’s f***ed up"