It’s been a while since I posted a Sir Jarlsberg video but he just dropped a timely new video on Biggie’s B-day a few days ago that’s too good to not share.
In case you’re unfamiliar with Sir Jarlsberg, he’s a rapping man from the Medieval times who tells all sorts of tales and travels with a crew of merry misfits. A steed, a maiden, a gnome and a scumbag drunk, to name a few. In real life, Sir Jarlsberg is Jeremy Gibson , who was the other half of my old comedy group “The Party Fun Action Committee”, as well as the bassist in my side project The Mighty Jones.
It’s hard to really explain Sir Jarlsberg but I think it’s best if I just direct you to his Bandcamp page cause he’s got two albums of insane music , well as a bunch of loosies. If you’re into extremely weird, funny things…I can’t recommend this enough. He even did a posse cut featuring the voices of Aesop, Lateef the Tru Speaker, Kimya dawson, Myself and Baby Dayliner.
Annnnyway…Check out his new Video “Nectary”, which is a parody of Biggie’s “Juicy”…It’s pretty much everything.
While you’re here, check out his last video which is a demented ode to NYC public access tv from the 90’s
Been a while since I’ve spoke about my group The Mighty Jones but now is as good a time as ever. If you’re unaware of what I’m talking about I implore you to check it out right HERE. It’s the music streaming as well all the places you can get it.
We recently recorded a live performance of a new song (yes, one that is not on the album) for Sofar, which is a cool thing where they bring new artists into a very intimate setting to play for a small audience. This particular video was filmed in a clothing store in Soho. It was definitely a good time so check out the new cut and , yeah, go buy that album cause it’s dope.
So, the other day I was in Miami for a little vacation. I was doing vacation type things so I wasn’t by a computer for a few days. Over the course of the day, i got a few texts from random friends asking me if I had seen the Macklemore video. Of course I hadn’t. Why would I ever have seen that? But, upon the urging of others, I popped it up on my phone while i was taking a dump. Well…goddamn…
Now before i get into this, I should probably preface it all with my “relationship” with Macklemore. I don’t know him. I’ve never met him. I have a decent amount of friends who have and across the board, he’s a beloved dude. I don’t mean that in a musical sense. I mean that he is, by all account a great, humble and cool person. I’ve never been a fan of his music really but, to be fair, I also never paid much attention to him.. If anything, he’s been the butt of an occasional twitter joke here and there over the years. I recall hearing the name prior to him blowing up off of “Thrift shop” cause he was very much involved in the indy rap underground scene. At the time, he was just another white rap guy to me. Then he blew up and all of a sudden had a million fans, and almost as many angry rap fan detractors. I can’t front, hearing the anthems from that last album definitely didn’t sit well with me but, at the same time, I was clearly not his target audience. I always felt he was either trying to make music for super bowl commercials or simply pandering. That said, I never felt THAT strongly either way. Simply put, the dudes music wasn’t on my radar enough to matter. Famous or not, i didn’t give a shit.
So, back to the toilet…I’m sitting there watching this video. It’s insane. I mean that in a good way. The video is fucking ridiculous. It looks amazing. Sure, it seems to borrow heavily from “Uptown funk” by Bruno Mars but it’s something I couldn’t take my eyes off. As much as people seem to be shitting on it, I simply cannot front on the spectacle of it all.
There’s a few sides to this. First off, you have the angry rap purist side. This is that thing within all old rap fans, such as myself, that has a negative gut reaction to this kinda thing. From seeing the originators of rap do back up vocals for Macklemore to actually sitting though a song about buying and driving scooters. Just seeing Kool Moe D, Melle Mel and Caz clearly collecting a check kinda hurt my heart. Immediately, I feel my soul saying “NOPE! NO FUCKING WAY!”. But, as I get older and care less about that kinda stuff, a part of me just kinda drifts away from all of it and just sees this song and video for what it is.
For that reason, i feel as though I gotta give credit where credit is due. This shit is fucking weird. Super weird.
The man made a song about buying scooters. He didn’t make just any song about it. he made an epic scooter buying anthem. Why? For who? I have no idea but I think I appreciate the tongue in cheek of it all. You can disagree with me (and you probably do) but Macklemore seems pretty likable in this video. He’s funny. Like I said earlier, i don’t know the guy but this video seems to be him just letting it rip. He does choreographed fuckin’ dancing for christ sake. And as painful as it is to see 3 hip hop legends do back up vocals for a blonde white dude in skinny jeans, at least he’s trying to expose people to them. His fan base is children who think Snoop Dogg is as old as rap gets. They probably have no fucking clue who any of those dudes are.I’d assume the think those are his actual bodyguards. Perhaps it will shine a tiny light on them and that isn’t a bad thing, as it’s known those dudes missed out on the pay day that is rap music currently.
I’m not gonna take this all the way and say I like the song cause I don’t. This song is a hybrid of “white lines”, “We are the champions” and “Lady dont tek no” by Latyrx. In other words, it comes from a good place but it’s actually kind of a mess as a stand alone song. I mean, within the confines of this video, it’s perfect but if I heard this on the radio I’d be confused as fuck. it’s like three different songs. That said, in an era where the most popular rap is mentally challenged men moaning into autotune about whatever the fuck they’re talking about, this song is taking chances. First and foremost, that singer guy. Holy shit. I have no idea how he even fits into the equation and what the idea was when they bought him in but that was a risky move. Almost as risky as his dance moves which make my knees hurt just watching. It remains to be seen if this song will actually be a hit outside of the video but, if it is, that singer being on it will be why. Secondly, and i keep harping on this, IT’S A SONG ABOUT BUYING A RIDING A SCOOTER. Like, how does that even come to be? There are so many steps in making a song. I would watch a documentary on how this song happened, from Macklemore thinking of the idea to him explaining it to Ryan Lewis, to Ryan Lewis making the beat to them calling Grnadmaster Caz and explaining it to him, etc…the whole thing just boggles my mind. But, whatever happened, the final product is here and it exists. Sure, it kinda feels like he may be trying to recapture the goofy likability of “Thrift shop”…but this is “Thrift shop” turned up to 10.
You probably hate this song and think the video is dumb. That’s cool. I don’t blame you. I got no horse in this race. Like i said, the song is ridiculous. But, I feel as though, if we all just step back and appreciate it for what it is…It’s not a song, it’s a spectacle and it’s not that bad. In fact, it’s kind of amazing.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not gonna go out and start bumping any Macklemore shit but the dude gets shit on hard all over the place. I can see past my own personal taste and take my hat off to him for simply saying “fuck it” and doing whatever the fuck he felt lie doing.
There’s layers to this shit player, Tiramisu.
For those who don’t know, I’m part of a group called The Mighty Jones. It consists of me , singer Joanna Erdos (of The Midnight Show) , Guitarist Damien Paris (of The Giraffes ), Bassist Jeremy Gibson (AKA Sir Jarlsberg) and Bayli Mckeithan (of The Skins).
We’ve been working on an album for a long time. I mean…a REALLY long time. Here’s an old post I made about it 5 years ago…it has lots of good info and even some old demos of ours you can download https://phatfriend.com/2010/07/22/introducing-the-mighty-jones/
But, finally , the album done. Mixed and mastered. It should be ready for public consumption in the very near future. It’s called “Gone Long” and we are very happy with it.
But, before that drops, here’s q new video we made for Wreckroom for our song “Rumblepack”.
Also, The Mighty Jones will be playing at SXSW this year! Unfortunately, I won’t be there cause I’ll be touring elsewhere but, luckily, they can do fine without me on a live stage as all I do is press “play”. If you’re in Austin for SXSW, definitely check them out.
Oh and , all very important…we have a website up! Including other videos, pics and all the info you need.
So peep that. Even if it’s just cause you’re a creep and wanna look at the pretty girls, I won’t judge you.
http://www.themightyjones.com
And “Like” us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/themightyjonesband
Follow us on Instagram: @mightyjones
Okay?!?! Thanks and enjoy. Album coming soon! I promise.
A while back, I wrote a post about “yellow fever“. I posted it here in 2010 but I think it was actually written around 2007-2008. So, to say it’s dated is an understatement. So dated, in fact, that I almost didn’t wanna link it but I feel as though it compliments what I’m gonna get into here a little. What i’m saying is that, while I do stand by the basic sentiment of the post, it’s also admittedly VERY rough around the edges and not primed for 2014. But, you get the point. So, please, read it with that in mind.
As I state in that article, certain white dudes obsessions with asian women (and ONLY asian women) have always been really telling. I recently was hipped to a pretty fucked up video that really just took this to another level.
Warning: If you are a female, this is going infuriate you. If you are a male with any decency, you will be bothered by this. If you’re a scum bag dude? You will probably drop everything you’re doing and buy tickets to Japan the second the video ends.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grV1iDns87s
In this clip, we see the shittiest of all the shitty white bro’s in skinny jeans with a body like Grover, giving a lecture to a group of dudes who probably secretly thought Elliot Rodger made some valid points. He basically explains to them how , as a white men, you can go to Japan and just go completely ham on the ladies. Fuck basic human interaction/right…just grab these girls by their heads, say something vaguely “japanese” to them and thrust their faces into your crotch. It’s seriously fucked up.
There really isn’t much more to say other than “WOW”. I guess I wanted to post this to spread it around cause it’s definitely one of these “This can’t be real life” moments.
Not sure who this guy is or how he gathered a whole group of people at whatever howard johnson’s banquet room this was filmed in but I can only assume he’s been shut down by now. I mean, surely the internet got a hold of this and began decimating his life. 4-chan exists for a reason. I’m am curious though so, if any of you have more info on him or this entire thing, please write in the comment section about it. Inquiring minds want to know…
It’s been a busy past few years for me as I’ve been getting back into the swing of things working with MC’s. I did a bunch of ep’s and an album with Illogic, an album with Billy Woods, and now, an album with Philly rapper Marq Spekt. It’s called “Justplaywitit” and it comes out today on Hipnott records. I’m really excited for y’all to peep it. Definitely something different from both Spekt and myself.
Here’s all the info you need-
It’s streaming here:
http://www.djbooth.net/index/albums/review/marq-spekt-blockhead-justplaywitit
You can get the digital release here:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/justplaywitit/id885595223
http://hipnottrecords.bandcamp.com/album/justplaywitit
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LVGBR2C/ref=mu_dm_alb_dp
http://www.junodownload.com/products/marq-spekt-blockhead-justplaywitit/2533222-02/
And, if you’re one of those brave soldiers who still buys physical copies, god bless you and here’s where you can get those:
http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/marq-spekt-blockhead-justplaywitit/HNR032CD/
http://www.fatbeats.com/products/marqspekt-blockheadjustplaywititcd
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=9292229
http://www.ccmusic.com/music/cd/3863837/marq-spekt-blockhead-justplaywitit
http://www.amazon.com/JustPlayWitIt-MarQ-Spekt-Blockhead/dp/B00L3KYWGO
http://www.hhv.de/shop/en/item/marq-spekt-and-blockhead-justplaywitit-375506
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/justplaywitit-cd/25543434.p?id=3272738&skuId=25543434
Last , but not least, here’s the brand new video for the first single, “Sum of it’s parts”. Enjoy!
Oh, and we got a treat for you coming in a week or so. An extra track that features Aesop rock and Open Mike Eagle. Keep an eye out for that!
Also, to people curious about my next solo album, it’s coming. I’m planning on making a announcement when everything is officially solidified (in terms of dates) so, just know, it’s coming soon…
I’ve been a big fan of Shirt since I first heard him a while back. His new album has been out for a minute but he released a weird video to one of my favorite songs from it so I figure, hey, what the fuck…let’s shine the light on him one more time. This is one of the few times you will ever see me support anything cat related. So that in itself is a pretty strong statement.
If you’d like to own this song, you can download his entire album for free here:
https://soundcloud.com/shirt/rap-album
It’s a banger and I highly recommend it. The song “Either you with me or with god” in particular has been my shit since it dropped so go download that shit. Why not? You hate free things? Don’t be silly.
So, umm, how you feeling today? Mellow? Relaxed? Like life is a bubble bath? Well, I got just the thing for you. I just saw a video of a new rapper that will rub you one of three ways.
1)You will hate it so much you will turn it off before it even becomes clear what is going on.
2)This will make your day , as it is fucking hilarious.
3)You will legit love this song and repost it on all your social networks.
For those of you who take rap music very seriously, this is not for you. I love rap too ,guys, but sometimes you gotta just let your guard down and embrace comedy as comedy. Let me stop rambling and just show you what I’m talking about.
At very first glance, the question that immediately pops into my head here is “Is this guy from Florida”. A few seconds into the video, that question is answered with a resounding “yes!”.
Stitches is an 18 year old rapper from Miami. He’s got an AK 47 tatted on her face. That’s commitment. He’s half cuban and half Greek and, more than anything, he loves selling bloowwwwwwwwwww!!!!!
He’s got the blood/drug lust of Gunplay, the energy of Mystikal, the social graces of Tim Dog and the fashion sense of a Rap/rock nightmare. This dude has got undeniable…energy. I don’t do coke but I’d imagine that hearing this while ski’d up would result in broken furniture and possibly broken friendships. This is the musical equivalent to being pushed off the top of the empire state building. Honestly…it’s just so insane on so many levels, I keep watching it and forgetting what I want to say about it.
Side note, it’s always impressive to me when these homemade videos look so professionally made. Is it simply that things look better in black and white? Part of me feels like these types of dudes deserve credit for being able to artfully (yeah, I said that about this) capture themselves in a way that’s both compelling and visually pleasing. I dunno. It’s so easy to make a bad video and then a guy like this comes around and makes this. Say what you will…it’s pretty fucking compelling.
So this video has been making the rounds on the internet and I honestly can no longer tell what is real and what isn’t.
Here’s the thing…Clearly there is something wrong with this guy. Either he’s actually like that and living in an “American Idol” like haze of delusion OR he’s a dude making fun of learning disabled people. Either way, someone is responsible for this shit and needs to step forward and explain themselves.
This being the internet, I did some minor investigating. What I came across was a bunch of videos of this guy covering famous songs.
He speaks pretty normally. Doesn’t seem to be a person with special needs (not any more than your typical “person who covers songs badly in their bedroom for youtube” does). Nope. He seems like he’s more mentally competent than, say, the chocolate rain guy. I’d guess this dude lands squarely between “internet troll” and “Delusional American Idol haze”. Even knowing that…I still don’t get it. So deep.
As far as the video in the headline, specifically, I have so many questions.
First off, how did they get THAT girl to be in the video. She’s legit hot and she never even cracks a knowing smile. Clearly, she heard the song playing back while they we’re filming right? Or maybe she just thought someone was killing dolphins nearby? Perhaps she doesn’t speak english or something?
Secondly, I realize that making a decent looking video is pretty cheap nowadays. But other videos of this “so bad they’re good” nature That were made by people who are not in on their own joke, typically look like shit. stuff like these two classics.
Or
But this video looks decent. I mean, it’s not like Hype Williams directed it but it’s at least in focus and edited well.
Thirdly, when i think about the steps it takes to get a video made…it’s pretty impressive. This dude recorded this song. Someone made a beat for him. He did multiple takes (Maybe?), he got it mixed and maybe even mastered (unlikely). He then played it for someone else who was like “yeah, I’ll make a video for that”. They then casted the video , shot it, edited it and gave it to the world. All that happened for this to exist. It blows my mind. I suppose my question would be How? Why? What?
This video brings me back to something I’ve harped on before. I no longer have the ability to tell what is real and what is not. There was a time when satire or parody always tipped it’s hat just a little. Even the guys from Turquoise Jeep , which had a few people scratching their heads, let on just enough for you to know it was a joke.
But there is a new generation of videos that somehow fall between parody and just being the worst things ever made. Without question, they’re entertaining. I can’t lie. I watch all those videos repeatedly. But , part of the humor of them is how authentic they really are. If this dude is a normal guy who’s making fun of retarded people, then he’s kind of an asshole. But , if he’s actually like that and just a guy who made a song, then that makes us and the people who helped make this video/song (who clearly were aware of his “quirky” disposition) assholes for laughing at him. I remember back in the day, when Corky from the tv show “life goes on” released an album.
If you don’t know or remember, Chris Burke was an actor with downs syndrome. On “Life goes on” he played Corky and become both inspirational to many people with learning disabilities ,as well as the punch line to many jokes to assholes (myself included…I was in high school. it was par for the course). Anyway, his album of songs came out and , on paper, my dickhead friends and I expected it to be a laugh riot. However, when we finally heard it. It wasn’t funny. It was just…awkward and kinda depressing. Not cause he was such a terrible singer (he was, though) but cause we realized that making fun of this poor dude was really unfair. It was a real jolt of compassion that hadn’t been there prior to hearing his songs.
Seeing this video kinda gives me that same feeling. I feel bad for the dude (assuming he’s for real). He’s nowhere near Corky. In fact, he seems pretty normal when he’s not singing. By “Normal” i mean, he’s just your typical moron on youtube. That kinda person makes up like 93% of all people in first world countries. Sure, he’s ripe for mockery. So much so that it would be in bad taste to even bother. I just can’t shake the feeling of “how did this get made?”.
Now, I don’t wanna sound like the PC police here. If you’ve watched and laughed at this video, I get it. I definitely was pretty floored the first time I saw it. It’s insane. I see that. As much as this may seem like it, I’m really not trying to be captain buzzkill here. It’s just I truly want to know more. About this guy. About the process it took to make the video. Everything. So, this is where you, the reader, comes in and tells me what’s what. I’m sure some of you must know some background on this shit. Please…explain it to me. Like I’m a 3rd grader. Also, explain this , while your at it. I’m at a total loss.
This is a gully one. Featuring the Philly Lo-Lofe all stars, this joint is off the upcoming album by Marq Spekt and myself “Play with it”.
Simply put, this is just some philly street shit where Spekt and his boys go in. You might recognize The Buze Bruvas from a “Yay or Nay” I did a while back. Anyway, peep this shit…and get hyped.
