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Saturday, April 23, 2005

DEFENSE!

NBA's playoffs will be longer than ever

Top of draft suspect, but certain teams did very well

Offense Dominates the Top 5 Picks in N.F.L. Draft

San Fran Picks Smith!


NFL.com

Friday, April 22, 2005

New York State Of Mine

I’m getting all misty over here as this looks to be my last weekend in New York. The thought of leaving the state that has been my home off and on (there it is baby paw) for over 12 years is sending me down memory lane. It’s been a hell of a run for this country boy from Tennessee and it’s a shame to see it end. From the day I moved to Brooklyn with my uncle and them, I felt as if I had found a second home. Don’t get it twisted, I will always be from Tennessee, but New York really got to me. The intense heat of the summers in Bed-Stuy, catching’ wreck with some writers from Queens, throwing up “Rock639” on anything I could, going to Yankee Stadium, The West Indian Day Parade, the Puerto Rican Day Parade, discovering New Jersey on the Path train, and struggling in the music business.

I held several music related jobs while I roamed through New York. I have worked as an assistant engineer, engineer, producer, A&R, manager (lol) and general office assistant. My first “job” was working as a intern at Firehouse Studio when it was still in BK. This is where I got real experience with hip-hop production. I learned the basics of being a studio grunt (when to take the trash out of the studio rooms, how to charge meals to the record companies, and which rappers preferred Dutch Masters to Phillies, etc, etc) and met a lot of good people along the way.

Guru once came though, looking a little stressed, with his little boy with him. I was there early, getting ready for the next session, and he rang the bell. I buzzed him in and met him at the top of the stairs. Mind you, I was a studio scrub, cleaning the 48 track board with Q-Tips and aligning tape machines all day. This was Guru from Gangstarr. This was also back when I would still get star struck. When Guru stepped in, so did my nervous stutter. Anyway, dude came in and asked if he could kick it for a minute because he was out shopping with his son and people were mobbin’ him on the street. This was around 1993 so it made sense. He waited for Yoram (sp?) to come in and we played Tonka trucks his son. When I saw him about two years later at some club in the city, he remembered me and we kicked it for a minute. That was peace.

He said you turn it on Q..YOU!!!

Then there was the time I met Das EFX, back when they were liggitty large. I forget dude’s name but as they were starting their session, homie walks up to me and says, “Yo, you can turn on the light in the vocal booth?” I said sure, it works fine, just pull the string. He looks at me like I’m an alien and repeats himself. I look back at him like he is biggity buggin out and repeat myself. He gets pissed and yells “NAW NIGGA! I SAID YOU CAN TURN ON THE LIGHT IN THE VOCAL BOOTH FOR ME? I’M SHORT YO!” I realized that my country ass had misunderstood him and seemed like I was trying to be a dick. I pulled the string as his crew laughed at my ass. He did later apologize for blowing up on me and I apologized for being a nerd from Tennessee.(What’s the short guy from Das EFX’s name again?Bootz? Peace kid!)

Then there was the time I met a few brothers from the Wu. They were working on “Protect Your Neck” at the time, but I had heard about them even before that. I used to run with these kids from Staten Island who had told me all about these cats from Stapleton. My man Brian(Ibrahim) was Muslim so he would build with me, teaching me a few things about Islam. So when I heard these cats were coming in, I made sure I was there.

RZA was mad cool, working on the beat with the engineer, joking and talking me, the lowly intern, like I was somebody. He says, “Yo, let’s go to the store real quick.” So we jetted and got a Dutch. As we walked back to Firehouse, he started to unwrap the Dutch and asked me what my religion was. My answer to that always gets attention as it did with him. He started to talking to me about Islam, lessons, and our history. I eat this type of sh!t up anyway, so we chilled outside the studio for a minute or two, just building. That was peace. Later I would get to talk to Ghostface and he broke down the whole reason he wore the mask. I knew that day that these cats would be large. When I went back home to TN a few months after that, I was banging “36 Chambers”, telling everyone I knew that they had better watch out for these dudes from Shaolin.

Too many stories start to come to mind. The close calls coming home from Pink Houses, getting my car smashed at 33rd Street in front of Toys R US, dates in Prospect Park, dates in Central Park, lost in The Bronx, wired in Washington Heights, spinnig in Limelight, Club Speed, Vanity Bar (1 week after getting kicked out for blazin’) running the downstairs red room in Cheetah for 1 year straight with Frank D, running the hip-hop projects at Quantum Studios in Jersey City for 2 years straight solo, linking up with Jose Nunez at Quantum waaaay before any house music jumped off, shopping my crews demo to every label in New York, getting dissed by every label in New York, jumping ship to Soundtracks, meeting every singer/songwriter/rapper/producer/owner/poser in the business there, getting fired for theft shortly after(I had no part in that little heist and if I did, I would have something to show for it which I don’t…but you know the rules…no dime dropping!) finally making records with some really good people, watching said records sell wood and crew get split by pettiness and egos, watching the same scene repeatedly with the same results, the deals that actually made money, the people that surprised me by being true friends,ex girlfriends and all the love that was lost, the bad relationships, late night creeps, the arrests and court cases, the 3 week homeless while working thing, witnessing the single most incredible thing in my life, my son’s birth in a little clinic deep in Brooklyn, leaving NYC after 9/11. All of these memories and experience, both good and bad, are New York to me. I’ll miss it.

I should finish packing and stop talking and crying a river over here. It’s not like I won’t be back in town in about 8 months anyway (surprise!)

With that said, I dedicate the following joints to New York!

Escape From New York theme song

LL Cool J Going Back To Cali video

I'll post a complete New York/LA Song list soon.....

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Have a good day!




Happy Holiday Little Dude!

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Missy to reveal secret recipes with "Cook Book"


Missy is back with another club banger, ready to tear the club up this spring! With her UPN show ending earlier this month, Missy is shifting gears and preparing to release her latest album. The Supa Dupa Fly singer/songwriter/producer one woman powerhouse has new tracks online!

The Neptunes produced “On and On” has an military stomp sound to it and features Missy doin’ her thing well, invoking MC Lyte’s style mixed with an ill old school Shante type flow. As usual, it works for her! “Straight of the heater ripping needles of f the meter

Lose Control” features Fat Man Scoop and Ciara. It’s a Electric Kingdom sounding track, with the hook from the old school “Breakin’” joint. (Is that “Body Work”?) The singles are on Missy Elliot’s upcoming album “The Cook Book”. I will keep you posted on all developments but in the meantime and in-between time, check those new singles out by clicking the links below.

"Lose Control" & "On & On"

Atlantic Records page

BBC Profile page

Davey D interviews Missy

Misy bio at Ask Men.com

Missy Elliot Song/Video links

"Work It"

"Fightin' Temptatation"

"I'm Really Hot"

"One Minute Man" audio

"Take Away" audio

"She's A Bitch" audio
Little Known Missy Elliot Fact:
Did you know that at school she took an intelligence test which proved, despite appalling grades, that she was "a genius"? You would have if you clicked on the links! (shame on you)

Monday, April 18, 2005

Hollis 2 Hollywood-but is he good?

So it’s official. I’m moving to California. Yeah I’m scared. I’m scared of the drive, what might happen out there if shit doesn’t go right, what might happen if all goes as planned. It’s all terrifying. It’s also the move for me right now. Let’s just say that Allah willing, Canhead will benefit from the move greatly, as will I. (no I’m not a Muslim, I just figured I need all the help I can get right now!)

The part that has me pacing at midnight is the drive. I am doing the crazy road trip from hell, New York to California by way of Ford Taurus, a car notorious for prompting calls to AAA. Thanks to AAA I have a nice route planned and I go over it constantly. I can make the trip in 48 hours, but I plan on 4 days. I will be taking it easy on the ole girl, she is delicate. I just dumped money into her, so I’m pretty confident that with a transmission flush and refill before the trip, “She'll make point five past lightspeed. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid. I've made a lot of special modifications myself….Chewie style ya dig!



I’m doing the vagabond thing until I reach Vegas. I plan on stopping somewhere around Indy, catch a few Z’s then down a 6 pack of Red-Bull, and shoot out west. I may take a day to see The Grand Canyon and Sin City, but after that, it’s on to Hollywood! (Los Angeles to be exact)

So if any of you have any suggestions on the trip, I’m all ears. My take off date is in the air too, I was planning on a May 1st departure, but I’m getting antsy. I may bail early. I will keep you posted!

Of course I’m documenting the whole trip for the blog. (“Canhead’s Coast To Coast Post” It’s got a ring to it.) I look forward to meeting everyone in Cali and becoming a West Coast Blog Critic. Pray for my car!

I’ll holla~

Sunday, April 17, 2005

4/20 Update

It's funny how things tie together sometimes.

While watching a DVD on Abdullah Ibrahim for a review I'm working on, he tells this funny little story that I had to share. Fits perfectly with the 4/20 post below...

Story of The Coo-Coo Clock

Nice day for a garage sale....

112--"ANYWHERE-FEAT LIL Z-REMIXES 12 INCH

BAD BOY



SIDE A
REMIX FEAT SHYNE & LIL Z
EMPEROR SEARCY REMIX FEAT LIL Z
ALBUM VERSION FEAT
LIL Z

SIDE B
REMIX INSTRUMENTAL
ALBUM VERSION INSTRUMENTAL
ALBUM VERSION ACAPPELLA FEAT LIL Z

LOT of 15 COMIC BOOKS

including "Heavy Metal", "The Sentry", "Universe X", and "Ultimate Spider-Man". Comics are all in NEAR MINT condition, unless otherwise noted.


Ultimate Spider Man # 14 valued at 15.00!
Heavy Metal-Jan 2001
Heavy Metal-September 2001
Heavy Metal-Taboo Issue Spring 2001
Crossgen Chronicles #4

Peter Parker Spider Man #29



BIG BOI & DRE PRESENT:

OUTKAST DOUBLE LP



LENNY KRAVITZ "5" CD

Saturday, April 16, 2005

4:20---U Know What Time It Is!


True story prelude
I go to the Mobil store and get a pack of cigarettes. The guy rings it up and tell me the total. $4.20. (generics) Then he starts giggling. Being the paranoid freak that I am, I think he is laughing at me for buying generics. As I start to pop the trunk it hits me. Ohh..that 4.20.

The story


It’s one of those days kid…..the incense is lit, The Congos “At The Feast” just popped up on Music Chocie, and I’m cleaning out the email, typing up news bits I missed the last few days. I come across one that makes me laugh. It is the second time today that these numbers have come to my attention. 4/20!

If you don’t know what this is, try to keep up and don’t get all judgmental on us when you do catch up. To the rest of you, my familia, you are probably grinning already. Being the professional writer that I am, I begin to do a bit of research to find the meaning of the mysterious 4/20 that is following me around today. The email starts like this:

KOTTONMOUTH KINGS AND CYPRESS HILL CELEBRATE MARIJUANA HOLIDAY APRIL 20th, 2005, WITH SMOKERS WORDWIDE

I read the press release and got briefed on the details. Every year on April 20th, major celebrations, demonstrations, concerts and festivals take place in honor of the marijuana holiday. This year, hydro-holding rockers Kottonmouth Kings teamed up with Cypress Hill and recorded a song that will be released on 4/20. “Put Down The Pipe” is the name of the cut .

KMK front man Brad "Daddy X" Xavier will be doing the radio rounds, promoting the song and the holiday. "This song teams the two biggest pro-marijuana bands on the planet," says Kottonmouth Kings' frontman Daddy X. "We're happy to be a part of this year's 4/20 holiday festivities and hope that this song can give people a reason to light up their pipes in unison."

"Why is it that a plant made by the creator is illegal, yet guns and bombs manufactured by man are legal?" says X from his California home. "We're just trying to raise awareness about marijuana and all the benefits it brings with it."

“Put Down The Pipe” will be on the KottonMouth Kings next self titled album. The Kotton Mouth Kings and Cypress Hill have a lot of supporters with their pro-marijuana stance uniting them with fans. They should not be disappointed with the new material.
(I am disappointed however that no MP3 were included in the email, so I have nothing to show you all….see bottom of this post for a few links to some older stuff)

Now…back to this 420 thing. Wikipedia had the following things to say about the subject.:

Snopes.com and The Straight Dope claim that in the early 1970s a group of teenagers at San Rafael High School in San Rafael, California used to meet every day to smoke marijuana after school at 4:20 PM. The time became a code word for the drug, and usage spread. 4:20 PM has since become a popular time to "smoke up". (It's also worth noting that 4:20 PM is the time of LSD creator Albert Hofmann's first deliberate ingestion of the substance, in 1943 on what was later dubbed Bicycle Day; perhaps this is where the San Rafael teenagers picked up the idea.)

Another possible origin of the term can be found in the works of H. P. Lovecraft. A short story of his, entitled "In the Walls of Eryx" and first published in Weird Tales [34, No. 4 (October 1939), pp50-68], contains this passage:

I had encountered at least one of those curious mirage-plants about which so many of our men told stories. Anderson had warned me of them, and described their appearance very closely—the shaggy stalk, the spiky leaves, and the mottled blossoms whose gaseous dream-breeding exhalations penetrate every existing make of mask...Although everything was spinning perilously, I tried to start in the right direction and hack my way ahead. My route must have been far from straight, for it seemed hours before I was free of the mirage-plant's pervasive influence. Gradually the dancing lights began to disappear, and the shimmering spectral scenery began to assume the aspect of solidity. When I did get wholly clear I looked at my watch and was astonished to find that the time was only 4:20. Though eternities had seemed to pass, the whole experience could have consumed little more than a half-hour.

Other theories include the following:

Urban legend claims, incorrectly, that 420 is or was a police code for a drug bust.

It was, at one time, believed that there were 420 chemicals in marijuana.

April 20th, or 4-20, is the last day on which one is supposed to plant cannabis seeds.

April 20th, or 4-20, is the birthday of Adolf Hitler.

The Beatles song "Come Together" is 4:20 in length.




Pot Parades” are some of the more familiar events associated with Marijuana Day (is it an actual day? I thought it was every day…opps). If you are planning on joining in on the demonstrations, have fun but be careful. I have strolled through a few of these back in the day. They used to have them in Washington Square Park. I remember hearing all these crazy stories like guys in helicopters were throwing dime bags in the crowds and shit. The only thing that happened to me at any of them was I bought some really horrible dirt weed from some dread, and later on the cops busted the whole thing up, bum rushing the spot and sending a bunch of high slackers in a state of panic. Not a good look. It could have been worse. Another myth is that the cops won’t bust you for smoking in the street during one of these things. You might get lucky and a cop decides not to bust you. You might bump into another cop later on who isn’t amused by you or your tye dye Ronald Reagan smoking a blunt tee shirt. Don’t do anything stupid, regardless how kind that bud next to you smells, and you should be fine.

Here are a few more links on the subject. Please feel free to comment on anything I may have missed.

The real Source Magazine
http://www.hightimes.com/ht/lounge/index.php?page=420

Hwy 420
http://www.hwy420.ca/

HTV: Watch Steven Hager explain 420 on ABC Television
http://www.hightimes.com/ht/lounge/content.php?bid=314&aid=24

Norml
http://www.norml.org/

Pot Smokers Abuzz Over 420 'Holiday'
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread18678.shtml

NIDA InfoFacts: Marijuana
http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/marijuana.html

http://www.marijuana.com/

Weed Hip Hop Songs

I Got 5 On It Luniz(Just because it fits)
I Can't Wake Up KRS One
Peer Pressure-De La Soul w/ B-Real
Smoke Some Kill-Schooly D
Good Times-Styles P

Cypress Hill cuts
Everybody Must Get Stoned
Stoned Is The Way Of The Walk
Spark Another Owl
Hits From The Bong

"Where are my weed carriers? "

Cypress Hill's weed carriers!

I’m out
(Where’s my lighter…)

MVD brings "The Big Band Feeling" back!



MVD keeps it rolling with their "Stars Of Jazz" DVD. They shine the spotlight on yet another jazz legend on their next release, "Duke Ellington The Big Band Feeling". The second installment brings several classic Ellington songs to the screen, with memorable performances by his famous Orchestra. Duke Ellington is a key figure in American music and this DVD serves as a brief introduction to those who may not know of his work.

The DVD features recordings from 1952, and includes two performances of Duke and His Orchestra. Some of his most memorable works are on this DVD, making it another must have DVD for jazz fans. "The Mooche" sounds just as good as ever, as does "Flamingo", "Mood Indigo" and the Jimmie Grissom lead "Solitude". (Trust me..click the link!)

Knowing that this film would serve as education for years to come, he makes sure to introduce his entire Orchestra in "VIP's Boogie". The early video styling of "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good" show Duke playing the lead male role while his un-credited girlfriends sings about how bad he is treating her. With her sitting on the window sill, looking out to the alley while Duke plays for the crowd, this looks like a early forecast to MTV, as if Duke knew how ahead of his time he really was. This DVD is a nice way to re-acquaint yourself with some of his music, if you haven't done so.

Songs presented on the DVD

Sophisticated Lady,
Caravan
The Mooche
VIP's Boogie
Solitude, Mood Indigo
The Hawk Talks
I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good
Bli Blip
Flamingo
Cottontail
C Jam Blues (Hot Chocolate)


Pay Clint and the guys at MVD a visit! I have another one from them to review..stay tuned!

PS:

I found this (1st) link when I entered "Stars Of Jazz" DVD in Google News (he he). Hey Katharine, guess what happens when you enter Miles Davis in Google News. Try it, you'll like it!

Anyway, while researching the series, I found another (2nd) link which I should have posted in that (1st) link. The (2nd) link is a MVD webpage with a video clip from the "Stars Of Jazz" series featuring Miles Davis. Cool clip, cool dvd, cool Google News trick.

Friday, April 15, 2005

Random 5

Peace Not Greed-Kotton Mouth Kings

Diplo Rhythm -Diplo f/Sandra Melody, Vibez Kartel & Pantera Os Danadinhos

Son of X-51-Powerman 5000

Boing Boom Tschak-Kraftwerk

Computer Love- Zapp

You Don't Know Your History

How many people are in the Funky Four?



Better than CB-4 and showing on IFC!

http://www.avatarrecords.com/nwh/

http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2355602?htv=12

http://www.thedigitalreview.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=247



"Hatless....not even a babushka!"




Stamp of Approval?

Can I Kick It? Soccer Thugs Throw Flares and Chairs


I once wrote an article on athletes who get into trouble with the law, fans fighting in the stadiums, riots at arenas and all that fun stuff that comes with attending major league sporting events. It amazes me how often these events take place. In the last week alone we have several incidents involving sports stars and fans during games. I’m sure that by the time I finish this article, there will be a few more new worthy incidents as well. Let me just say that the thought of taking the kids to the ball park for a nice afternoon game is losing it’s appeal. It’s safer to stay in the hood these days.

One sport always ups the ante when it comes to barbaric behavior by it’s fans. My favorite sport, soccer, continues to support my statements about it. This is a sport that does not like black people. Any black people, Haitian, African, European, American, Latin, Heavy Tanned Dutchno Negras at all! Hockey shows brothers more love, (when they are playing) and that’s not saying much cuz some hockey fans can be racist as hezzell! Yet soccer remains the cruelest sport to people of African descent.


Within the last 10 days, there have been multiple incidents of violence as the Champions League rolls on, letting the bodies hit the floor as they leave. This makes any Artest/Sheffield thing look like temper tantrum. These fools were waving Nazi flags, throwing lit flares at the goal keeper and throwing anything they could get their hands on.

The few brothers who are unlucky enough to be on the field playing during one of these fun filled soccer fest are in the middle of the cross-hairs like the guy in the Public Enemy’s logo for real.
Since I am not an expert, I call on them to present the evidence to you the people. After reviewing the information, I’m sure you will come to the same conclusion that I have. (Soccer sucks!)

• In 1999, S.S. Lazio played city rivals AS Roma, a team widely supported by Rome's significant Jewish population. Lazio's ultras took anti-Semitism to sickening heights when they unfurled a 50-metre banner around their section of Rome's Olympic Stadium that read: 'Auschwitz is your town, the ovens are your houses.'

• In May 2001, Inter Milan ultras stole a motor scooter, set it on fire and hurled it onto the field from the second level of Milan's Giuseppe Meazza Stadium.

• Last September, AS Roma's home game against Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League was halted when referee Anders Frisk was bloodied after being hit by a metal object thrown from the stands.

• This past weekend, 17 fans were arrested and 259 later identified and charged with throwing objects onto the field, committing acts of violence in the stands, chanting fascist slogans and waving neo-Nazi banners following games in Rome, Palermo, Udine, Cava dei Tirreni and Perugia.

• Prior to this past Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final contest between Juventus and Liverpool, police in Turin clashed with Juventus supporters hell-bent on getting even with the English fans. In 1985, 39 Juventus fans died in a riot started by Liverpool supporters prior to the European Cup final in Brussels.

Taken from “The Dark Heart of Italian Soccer” by John F. Molinaro


Here are some more links for you.

Italians adopt new rules to curb soccer violence
http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/sports/article/0,1299,DRMN_2_3702439,00.html

Europe: Soccer Marred By Violence, Sparking World Cup Concerns
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/04/bc394149-1c2c-4cc9-87b4-8f697985174f.html

Italy to address violence at soccer games
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/othersports/apsoccer_story.asp?category=2050&slug=SOC+Italian+Violence&dpfrom=3

Stadium ban, fine for Inter-Indian Express
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=68476


Li Fuchang, lineman for a Chinese Super Leaguae match betwen Beijing Hyundai and Tianjin TEDA, walks out of the field after being hit by a bottle thrown down from the stand. The match resumed after a 10-minute pause. Tianjin won the match 3-0. [newsphoto]

HOLY COW BATMAN! CANHEAD IS SITE OF THE DAY AT BC!!

Guess who made BlogCritic of the Day today? Imagine my surprise when I scrolled down and saw my name in the highly prized spot. As I am still a rookie to blogging and I'm just now getting my stride, I am REALLY HAPPY about this! Thanks to Eric Olsen and all the guys at BC!


DMC says P-E-A-C-E to BC for showing love to C-U-E!

Hmmm....I should post something huh? Give me a second, I have two DVDs to review, tons of stuff I'm posting on E-Bay, and some MP3s I want to give you. So...I'll be back.

Thanks again guys!

Thursday, April 14, 2005

CANHEAD GARAGE SALE

Look at these bargains over here folks! I hate to be the used car salesman on you all of a sudden like, but I'm clearing out the crates here at Canhead. Feel free to browse as I post new titles daily..some 12 inches, some old movies, some comics...all kinds of crap.

For example we have these choice hip hop selections:

KRS ONE "Sneak Attack" LP!



Common "Electric Circus" LP


Indelible MC's-"Fire In Which You Burn" 12 Inch


Way Of The Gun DVD


BIRD DVD

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Get Some Crunk In Your System!-Lil Jon AOL Live Review!

Yesterday as I was on MS Word, typing like a madman, trying to finish Macro/Micro Economics and juggling a few online bills, my MS Outlook reminder rings with an alert.

“AOL Music Live presents Lil Jon and The Eastside Boyz @ Webster Hall-9pm!”

~Damn it, how could I have forgotten about that so quickly? I was just emailing people about it last night! What time is it anyway…3:45….DAMN!~

I drop everything I’m doing and start calling up people trying to find someone willing to take that 2 hour drive down to the city with me. As I start to do a quick mental rundown, I begin to get that sinking feeling again. I have no clean clothes and I am supposed to be there around 7pm. If I run to the laundry mat, I might be able to make it. I will not let this turn into another South Beach situation, with me running around trying to get the story. I have tickets waiting for me too. I’ll be damned if I don’t make it to this show and write the review like I said I would. Then it hits me. This is an AOL LIVE show….I don’t have to get off of my incredibly cozy couch at all! It would have been cool to see it live, but I can still watch it and finish the story. You gotta love technology! So I relaxed and waited for show time. It was quite a show at that.

The show was proceeded by clips of some of their past AOL Live performances along with some music videos. The show started at 9 o’clock on the dot and after a brief announcement, Lil Jon and The Eastside Boyz hit the stage and got it crunk! I know some of the hip-hop purist might turn their nose at my next statement, but Lil Jon puts on a hell of a show! When you hear his patented yells boom over the speakers, backed with his production magic, you can’t help yourself. The crunk gets in your system! Judging from the way the usually statuesque New York crowd stands frozen in attention when out of town rappers perform, New York has mad love for the King of Crunk! They were jumping and singing and moving like they were reppin’ one of New York’s finest. To be clear, Lil Jon is one of hip-hop’s finest, hate it or love it.

The show was pretty tight looking at it through AOL’s eyes. Lil Jon and the ESB bounced on the stage and ran through some of their hits. They definitely got the crowd apmed with “Bia Bia” and made the AOL censors earn their money. While all the acts performed censored versions of their singles, when they hit their club bangers like “What They Gon Do?” both the acts and the crowd provided the missing curse words, in this case…”Shit!” The AOL censors were shitting alright…all over the mute button, as the entire chorus got bleeped, just to be safe.(FCC sees and hears all, you wanna hear it too, don't you? Yeah I know you do!) Lil Scrappy and Pitbull came on stage to help turn the heat up a bit.

The show went on with Lil Jon and the ESB doing “Headbussa” and ”Get On My Level” w/ Trillville. Then Crime Mob hit the stage and dared the NYC crowd to “Knuck If You Buck”. (That girl in Crime Mob that swings her hair around is crazy…she did it until it was her time to rhyme, then started swinging again! I’m surprised she didn’t pass out) Then Lil Scrappy came back out, took off his shirt to show he meant business, and ripped “No Problem”. Lil Jon came back on for “I Don’t Give A..” and woke up the censors again.

Lil Jon is good at this. The way he kept bringing out BME groups to do a hit or two, then do a few of his own was perfect. He really paced the show, like a real emcee. Surprising huh? Anyway, at this point in the show he addressed the crowd, and the AOL Live audience. The camera scanned the room to show all the packed house, and then Lil Jon and the ESB started passing out free cans of Crunk Energy Drink. Dude is smart. There was like 30 minutes left in the show and he wanted the crowd amped! They had been jumping for about a half hour straight! So after giving everyone enough time to down a can, Lil Jon continued with the show by bringing Brooke Valentine out on stage. She did a little bit of “I’m Going DownAcapulco style (old Fred Sandford joke) to prove that her chops are real and not Pro Tools. After that, she went into her ode to female boxing, “Girl Fight”.

Ying Yang Twins were next to rock the stage, as they came out and performed “Salt Shaker” Then the lights dropped, the cool blue light caressed the stage and the boom of “Wait (The Whisper Song)" came across the speakers. They rocked it and thanked the crowd and left (No “Say Iy Yi Yi” or “Get Low”? What’s up with that?)

Pitbull came out after that, kicked it with the mujeres for a minute. He went on to bring the heat back up with “Culo”and his new one “Toma”. After that, he kicked his verse from Daddy Yankee’s "Gasolina" remix, gave a shout out to Pimp C (“Free Pimp C”) and jetted.

Trillville came out and blessed the crowd with “Some Cut” and then Lil Jon and the ESB closed it out with a call and response version of “Lovers and Friends” with the ladies in the house filling in the missing Luda and Urrsher high note parts. With that, Lil Jon asked the crowd for a “WHAT?’ “YEAAAH” and “OHHKKKAAYY!” and exited stage left. All in all a great show made better by the fact that I didn’t have to leave the couch to see it! Make sure you visit AOL and click on their Music link to see the show!

Yeeeaah shawty!