A Night in The Life of @AWKWORDrap & Friends: From @DD172 to @BlindBarberNYC

Last Thursday, October 21, 2010, we trekked uptown to the New York City showing of "11-4-08", a participatory documentary providing a unique look at Obama's election, sponsored by Dame Dash, the Roc-a-fella co-founder infamous for pouring champagne over the (shrunken) heads of models.

After the screening and the Q&A with the film's "director" (read: editor), we trooped to Dash's new gallery/recording space DD172. The storefront was filled with hipsters and Hip Hop heads, sipping wine and kicking around red-white-and-blue balloons amidst the art installations (which, mostly, are pretty dope).


[Maggie Wall x Jamelah]

Fortunately for us, at some point during the night, thanks to our cool friends in cool places, we got a little private tour of the (now-defunct(?)) basement performance area known as Under 100.





And then, shortly thereafter, the previously conspicuously absent big dog Dash made his "appearance", standing atop a set of sectioned-off stairs for about a minute, looking disapprovingly down at us peons...



That was our cue to bounce, so we hailed a cab for the East Village. We got out at Astor, met up with the homie (Hip Hop producer) ATG, walked down Stuyvesant, past the Abe Lebewohl Triangle...



And on to the Blind Barber, where we took shots and danced with drunk cougars.

Word to NY.


All Photos Shot with BlackBerry camera.

Honoring GURU

The 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards aired last night and, unlike the May 2010 MTV Awards, this show smartly featured a tribute to GURU, the legendary frontman of hip hop superduo Gang Starr and iconic bridge between Hip Hop and Jazz music. (Note: BET and MTV are owned by the same company, Viacom.)



To watch the full 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards GURU Tribute Trailer, click here.

I've been honoring GURU since I started listening to his music more than a decade ago. I copped all his albums — and I was once even told my own rap style resembled his. In 2006, I was honored to feature GURU (along with Canadian emcee Bless) on my first release, the compilation "the Sub-Way mixtape".

I, like Hip Hop itself, was devastated by the loss of GURU, as well as the shadiness surrounding his final days and death. (Fuck Solar.) And I was not alone.



His Gang Star Foundation brethren, Lil Dap and Melachi of Group Home, are honoring GURU with the release of their third studio album, aptly titled "G.U.R.U. (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal)". It features the Brooklyn duo's fallen mentor on three songs, including:

• "Legacy", reportedly the last song Group Home ever recorded with Gang Starr.
• "G.U.R.U.", featuring longtime Gang Starr affiliate Jeru the Damaja.

Click here to download Group Home's "Legacy", ft. GURU/prod. DJ Premier.



A portion of the proceeds from Group Home's "G.U.R.U." (the album) will go to a trust fund created to support GURU's son.

#FuckSolar:

Meanwhile, since GURU's untimely death in late April 2010, the website FuckSolar.com has honored GURU in another way — by tirelessly working to expose the truth about GURU's "business partner," the self-proclaimed "superproducer" Solar.

On September 29, 2010, FuckSolar.com published "the interview everybody has been waiting for," with Brownman, the acclaimed trumpet soloist hand-picked by GURU for his touring Jazzmatazz band. From 2006 through 2010, Brownman witnessed firsthand what GURU and Solar's relationship was really like. After declining countless requests for interviews, he spoke to The Boston Phoenix (note: Boston is GURU's hometown), revealing the startling details, with anecdotes.

FuckSolar.com copied and pasted the entire, harrowing 8,000-word feature, which, according to the site, "has led to continued investigation into Solar's more illegal dealings with GURU's estate and property." Good. #FuckSolar #RIPGURU

Click here to read the full interview.

***

Don't forget to check back here regularly for GURU updates.

Post written by AWKWORD.

The #hiphop Daily Awards @AWKWORDrap & @GYMRblog "Daily Top Story" for Nas Coverage

Click the image above to view the full post by The #hiphop Daily. Click here for the original GYMR post by AWKWORD.

#DidntSeeThisOneComing : QUESTLOVE'S CELEBRITY STORIES

Not sure if it's "the Best Website Ever", but ?uestlove's new spill page is definitely entertaining — and, if anything, deserves a design award.

Click the image to get your Hollywood glimpse (through the eyes of an unusually intellectual celebrity musician, of course). See below for our Top Picks.



Top Picks

• Nas — This dude was my favorite emcee growing up. I kicked it for two hours with his father, Jazz/Blues legend Olu Dara. I chose his side against Jay. And I've wanted to support him in his battles with Kelis. But damn.
• Russell Simmons — This illustrates what so often happens in activist circles: competitiveness and infighting over discourse and collaboration.
• Rosario Dawson — Ever since Larry Clark's KIDS, Rosario has been my girl. But this story was more about our insatiable celebrity culture, and the toll it takes on the person behind the celebrity.
• Allen Iverson — Cuz this sh*t is too damn funny to miss.
• Amy Winehouse — Cuz you can't always believe what you read/hear.
• Kanye West — Cuz I knew he was arrogant (read: insecure).
• lauryn hill — I was actually nervous clicking this one. And at least it makes you laugh.
• dead prez — Been trying (unsuccessfully) to link with these dudes for a minute now, because they're dope emcees with a World View like mine... I've always wondered if they were as revolutionary in action as in lyric. And this story answered the question, kind of.
• Robert De Niro — Rather than crumple paper for a night, let's just put it like this. This guy's acting credits include: Mean Streets, The Godfather, Taxi Driver, The Deer Hunter, Raging Bull, Brazil, The Untouchables, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, A Bronx Tale, Casino, Heat, Wag the Dog, Jackie Brown, Ronin and The Good Shepherd, as well as Analyze This, Analyze That and Meet the Parents. Plus, dude is just cool. And he owns one of the best restaurants in my favorite city, Tribeca Grill in Manhattan... And this story, thankfully, confirms EVERYTHING.
• James Brown — Fame sucks. So does meeting famous people.
• Herbie Hancock — A full story, with compelling lead-in, sorrowful climax and satisfying denouement.
• Jeremy Piven — Despite his being a terrible representation of the modern Jew, I can't help but thoroughly enjoy his exploits. And this story.
• will.i.am — You can read it, but, if you're like me, you won't believe it.
• MF DOOM — Do the masked emcee's secrets get revealed!?
• Bob Dylan — Cuz sometimes it's fun to live vicariously.
• BB King — Cuz sometimes it's fun to live vicariously. (And because all of this is well-deserved. Salute!)

This article written by AWKWORD for GYMR.

Murderer of Model Jasmine Fiore Found Dead (Hanging)

Click the pic above to view the ModelMayhem site of Jasmine Fiore.
Note: this page may disappear

Typing "R-y-a-n-J-e-n-k-i-n-s" makes me sick. This self-hating, weak, homicidal child trapped in a man's body has gotten more than enough shine already, appearing on a few episodes of VH1's Megan Wants a Millionaire and, supposedly, finishing in the final few...

Click here for more on the cancellation of Megan Wants a Millionaire, as well as the cancellation of I Love Money 3, another show on which womanizer/murderer Ryan Jenkins was to appear.

Click the picture below (of Jasmine Fiore's mother, crying) to read more about how this tragic situation might affect Reality TV casting henceforth.



Brief Overview

Ryan Jenkins murdered model Jasmine Fiore, his ex-wife. He cut off her fingers and ripped out her teeth. He stuffed her body in a suitcase. He threw the suitcase in the trash. And then he ran.

This roach escaped into Canada, where he was found, dead, in British Columbia, reportedly hanging...

My Thoughts (In Brief)

I am sorry for the family of Ms. Fiore. I am sorry for Megan, who, thankfully, must have chosen someone else before her show finished taping, but had to live with this rodent for who-knows-how-long.

For More Information

Click the Jasmine Fiore pic below to read more about the case.

Megan Fox Plastic Surgery

There is no doubt about it!

Megan Fox has certainly had some work done in the past, but the question remains, exactly how much plastic surgery has she had?

Nose job? Boob job? Scar treatment? And will she go under the knife again?

You make the call!

Jennifer Lopez Ass Tribute

I feel its time to pay tribute to an amazing landmark of the 20th century.
That's right, Jennifer Lopez's ass!

Sure there are plenty of nice hot booty in the hollywood limelight, but nobody's tush compares to whats in J Lo's trunk.

These pictures below truly showcase the greatness that is Jennifer Lopez's butt.

Enjoy!