Makeover

Hey readers. Notice anything different? No, KTH didn't get a new haircut or lose weight. It got a much needed MAKEOVER! Thanks to the pseudo's honesty and photoshop expertise, KTH is looking kinda sexy these days. That's a biased opinion, though.

Take a look around and tell me what you think.

*Unfortunately, Cousin Chris DID NOT get a makeover.
Still bumby as usual.

And it's the funky beat.

A couple of months ago, while browsing VH1 Classics' on-demand section, I noticed a video for a song I'm quite fond of. The song was "Me and Julio down by the schoolyard" by Paul Simon. Now I, as anyone might have, expected it to be all 70s and folky.... But as soon as the video came on, who other than Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie were standing in front of a schoolyard rhymin and beatboxin?! And then the video itself progressed, with a cast of 80s characters that'll blow your mind. Just watch for yourself. It was too dope to keep bottled up...

If you notice in BDK's verse at the intro, he mentions my boo, Spud Webb. Now if you don't know who Spud Webb is, you're missing out, because this man was a champion. A real f***ing champion! Standing at 5 ft. 7'', he was the third shortest player to ever play in the NBA and he definitely WON the slam dunk competion in 1986, beating Dominique "the human highlight reel" Wilkins... take a look:



So what should we take from all this? Basically, that the 80s has defied almost all other decades in history (with the exception of the roaring 20s) for these simple reasons:

Big Daddy Kane and Gold Ropes

Biz Markie and Spud Webb

and of course... Hi-Top Fades (with designs cut in)

to mention a few.

STAY FLY.
JERO

Maybe I'll take up snowboarding...

I have never been skiing.... and i went snowboarding once in the 8th grade, with comedic results.

However, I might be tempted take another crack at it if Nike actually releases this AF1 Snowboarding Boot in '09....

Now lets see some other colorways and we might have a winner.
FRESH!

STAY COOL...
-jero

DC swag is INTOXICATING!

Congrats to Wale on being named hiphopgame.com's artist of the month. No offense though, son... I don't think they have an artist of the decade yet (I siced it a little). Oh, and please release your first album within the next year so I can prove Destiny wrong. I'm with you 100% so I'd really appreciate that.

(click on image to read interview)


One more thing... if you're obnoxiously slow or have been living under an immense rock for the past 9 months and you still haven't heard 100 Miles and Running, please do yourself a favor and download it right now. It's one of the best mixtapes I've ever heard.

Whole time.

click here to download

"No congressional reppers. No respectable rappers.

It's the way we've adapted, don't forget I made it happen."
-Wale

-Cousin Chris

Pop Up Video

Oh man! Is it that time already? Well ladies and gentlemen, after I posted last weeks "Pop Up Video", I reflected on the videos that I've posted in the past and I realized that all of them were either Hip Hop or R&B. For those of you who know me, and maybe even those who read between the lines in my blog, you know that there is a lot more to Cousin Chris than just that. Especially when it comes to music. After all, I went to private school in Montgomery County, MD my WHOLE life. No complaints there. Many of you will remember this, some of you wont. A classic none the less.
Enjoy.
Time out: I was having a really hard time finding a good rock video that I used to love in either elementary or middle school, and after a little searching, I decided on "Hero" by the Foo Fighters. Great video. However, immediately after I published the post I found this. Turn your speakers all the way up!

I used to be obsessed.



Here's a picture of me in my uniform, cutting class during high school. Nice haircut, idiot.

-Cousin Chris

"I piss excellence!"

Get wet.

click on image

-Cousin Chris

It Ain't for Everybody

I may have told you this already, but if not... Wale is NOT your ordinary rapper. This mixtape just reminded me of that. The whole thing is pretty sick but Wale is only on 4 or 5 tracks. I've already put it into pretty serious rotation. And if any of you run into Mark Ronson in the near future, tell him Cousin Chris said "Thanks for making Wale well rounded."

If he had become a "ringtone rapper" I would've been extremely dismayed.

Favorite Track: "Strings"

Download it HERE

-Cousin Chris

I'm Easily Impressed

Look at this dopeness I found on supertouchblog.com this morning. I've always had respect for hackers and graf writers, but the idea of mixing the two is on a completely different level...

"Right now the enigma that is known only as SKULLPHONE is easily Clear Channel Communications' greatest enemy in SoCal since he hijacked 10 of the advertising giant’s most prominent digital billboards around LA in Hollywood, Westwood, and the art hotspot of Culver City. Hacking into the billboard’s computer network today, our boy positioned his trademark skullphone imagery in between the array of flashing movie, TV, and auto company ads that make up the normal paid advertising barrage on the giant illuminated monitors. Keep an eye out for more photos to come throughout the day…"


Photos by Curtis Kulig

-Cousin Chris

My ADDICTION!

I'm perfecting my speech for my class this evening so I can't give you all the details that I'd like, but click on the image to see for yourself. It's a pretty dope concept.

Ok. Gotta go. Bye.

-Cousin Chris

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOJO!!!

-Cousin Chris

THANKS VJ!

I finally mustered up the balls to take VJ's advice and throw my Infrareds in the washer when I went home this past weekend. I must say, they honestly looked like they were fresh out the box. Best thing that ever happened to them... besides me purchasing them, that is.

-Cousin Chris

Fortunate

It wasn't that long ago that I was extremely stressed and hating who I was. Thankfully, that's over and I've come to a couple of realizations about who I am and how I got here. A big part of my "low", was the feeling that no one was on my side. But then I realize that I have a perfect amount of actual friends, and an unusually high amount of people that I'd call best friends.

This is the part where I'd list them, but in actuality, if you fit into this category, you already know what it is. So this is for you.

Now would be a pretty good time to call/text your best friend and let them know you love them. I highly suggest it.

"If you admire somebody you should go 'head tell 'em,
People never get the flowers while they can still smell 'em"

Kanye West

-Cousin Chris

Classic in my own mind

On monday, Aden asked me what my favorite movie was. After a brief hesitation (about 10 seconds), I came to this conclusion...

"Riverside, motherf**ker!"
-Bishop

-Cousin Chris

The Legendary

Apparently Black Thought from the Legendary Roots Crew was on Temple's campus last week and I missed it. I found out about his trip over about 2 hours before he came, as I was rushing home to throw clothes in a bag for my trip home last Friday. Its all good, though. Not half as bad as the time Maddie and I were supposed to see Wale when he came for the Mynority party last year but we decided to "elevate our minds" and accidently fell asleep.
Hey, it happens.

Anyway, I'm ridiculously excited about their new album "Rising Down" which is set to release April 29. The list of guest appearances alone is enough to get your proverbial juices flowing (that sounds gross). Those down with the movement include Wale, Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Peedi Crack, Styles P, Chrisette Michele, and probably most unexpected, Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy (my favorite alternative rock band). Stay posted for that track with Chrisette Michele and Wale. It's called Rising Up and will more than likely be a banger.
Here are a couple tracks that I managed to find.


"You stay classy, San Diego."
Ron Burgandy

-Cousin Chris

Simple Math

to the power of
=
Girls with accents in an expensive car. Swwweeeett.
Rick Ross ft. Jay-Z - Maybach Music


+
X
Many years spent out of the studio, starting forest fires.

(burning trees... get it?)
=

Exactly what you'd expect.

Method Man and Redman - Broken Language

-Cousin Chris

More completely random 90s pop-culture references brought to you in part by...

(slim shady) KICK THE HABIT!! (and co)

Rockin' Red and Black Lumberjacks before Biggie..

NOT THE MAMA!
-jero

Uncool before uncool was cool

-Cousin Chris

I forgot to tell you...

Usually when I hear a new track, I try to wirte a post about it so you can hear it, too. Well it seems that I've been a little selfish lately and left two HOT ones out. Sorry about that. Here they are now.

N*E*R*D - Everyone Nose (zshare)

Outkast ft. Raekwon - Royal Flush (zshare)

-Cousin Chris

You gotta be kidding...

Go to WayMoreFresher for more details or click on image.
Its okay to get excited.

-Cousin Chris

In There!

-Cousin Chris

rusty can in my hand..

MY SITE IS COMING BACK!!! BEST WEBSITE WEEK EVER!
silentwrytes.com - a guilty pleasure forum of philly graffiti for the ages, is back! it had to shut down because it was on a shared server and the traffic on the site got way too high. but...

GOD IS GOOD SON!
(ask and you shall receive...sometimes)



it should be fully restored by sunday and i will be on my computer all day like a huge dork waiting for the moment the boards are turned on.

my weekend is already looking brighter...

to all those who "drawl" hard on walls.
JERO

Mellow Out

If you got Erykah Badu's latest album, you already know how serious it is. "The Healer" is, without a doubt, my favorite track from it.
Click here to listen or download it.

-Cousin Chris

You already know

Don. VJ. JEN. Look's like its about time for another trip to DC...

-Cousin Chris

"Terminatoring" the Game

Yo, I swear I'm the most indecisive person of life. Though, I'm not really sure why, because it should have been a hands down "These are f***ing dope" from the get go, but anyway... Early in my life I enjoyed the pleasure of becoming acquainted with a well respected but (previously) little known Nike basketball sneaker called (appropriately) the Terminator. Oh, this sneaker. With its bulky toe box, thick, coarse cotton laces, and the oh so beautiful and hugely bold "NIKE" written across the back heel panel. The perfect ode to 1980s basketball (1985, specifically). Is there anything wrong with this sneaker? No, other than the fact that there are not nearly as many colorways as one might like, or the fact that you can rarely find them in stores! Previous terminator gems include the Mowabbs (2004), the Grunges (2004), the Supreme Courts (2004), and a slew of NBA and college basketball team color classics. For your viewing pleasure:

(l-r: mowabbs, grunge, supreme court, seatle super sonics)

So back to my original flawed sense of "hot and not" (I love giving a history lesson before making my point apparently). I came back upon two terminators that are being released as a Nike "Vintage" (having been given a similar "black tea and sandpaper" treatment as the vintage runners collection). Some people may not feel comfortable rocking a shoe that already looks 20+ years old, but they're still worth knowing about! They turned out really well and the tongues really pop! Check em out:


2 peas in a pod

They're for two universities, St. Johns and Georgetown. Now, if Nike would look out and acknowledge Drexel, life would be good....

hope you enjoyed that as much as i did.
JUST DO IT!

JERO

I'm Late for Work

Good Morning all. For some reason, when I woke up today this song was in my head. This time last year, Miss Cassell and I listened to this song religiously!... Get it? Religiously. Nevermind. It was funnier in my head.
Have a blessed week.

Kirk Franklin - Lean On Me

*I'm doing that thing where I flood your brain with videos again. My bad.

-Cousin Chris

Finish this lyric...

"Fresh out the box. Stop. Look and watch....."




Here's a litle something extra for you. Enjoy.

-Cousin Chris

I was wrong...

Calvin and Uch dropped me at the Chinatown bus on Friday and on our way down Broad St., like 5 kids passed us going down the street in in the opposite direction: 3 on skateboards, 2 on scooters. That's right, scooters. Here's the conversation that ensued...

Cousin Chris: You see them little n**gas on scooters?! LMAO!

Calvin: Don't laugh. People do crazy tricks on scooters! Have you ever seen someone do some crazy s**t on a scooter?

Cousin Chris: (serious face)........ On a scooter?....... Are you f**kin' serious right now?

Calvin: When you get home, go on youtube and look up scooter tricks... You know what? Forget it. I'll put it on my blog tonite.

For a mind blowing experience, click here.

We MAJOR?

First and foremost, let me just say that Commonwealth is my heart. Best boutique in DC, hands down.

With that said, I also think that its important to take pride in where you're from and rep as often as possible. I mean, I know not everyone's from DC or Maryland so it might be more difficult. But coming from where I'm from, thinking about home any time you leave is quite natural.

Theres a sneaker/streetwear boutique in Georgetown called Major that has WAY too much stuff for the space they have and all their t-shirts are over-priced. However, for some reason, every time I go Georgetown, I still go in. Anyway, I just got back from DC for my second "weekend trip" in a row, and Calvin and I were looking at some videos online when I came across this Dizzee Rascal featuring Bun-B video.

So the first video is of Bun-B in Major advertising the lime green Major hat, and the second is the music video where he's rocking it. I was gas'd.

-Cousin Chris

Whats Up Fatlip?

So with anxiety and stress slowly enveloping my life, I have been looking to others who may have experienced or may be experiencing the same thing. Well, I didn't have to look too far. This morning while riffling through my email junk folder, I saw an out of place message from sender "Audiotube." I didn't immediately recognize it, but the subject began to stir memories, from like 2002. It said something along the lines of "Sputnik7, back up and running!" Now, assuming NASA had not sent me a friendly email update, I started thinking back and remembered exactly what Sputnik7 was. Basically, its crack in website form. No other explanation needed, because it might just undermine its dopeness. Check it out PLEASE!

Anywho, back to the matter of shared anxiety. So, while on this internet gem, I was searching through videos I hadn't seen in ages and came upon one from my boo Fatlip, formerly of Pharcyde, as we all know. I used to LOVE this song and for the way I've been feeling recently... it kind of cheered me up. I had first seen it on a Spike Jonze (the director) video compilation. I don't know, just listen to the lyrics, I feel like this a lot, well maybe not a lot, but enough.... enjoy.



"Who am I kiddin", who am I foolin',
When they be like... 'What's Up Fatlip?!'
And I say coolin'....?"

Wishing you all better days..
-JERO

"10 for a dollar"

Okay readers... think back to like early February when I wrote that post about Chester French. Well, according to Ms. Des, they've been throwing these dope ass rubbers into the crowd at their shows. That's kind of amazing. After watching a couple online videos of these guys, I could tell they had a hilarious sense of humor, but its stuff like this that I appreciate. As an artist, why wouldn't you want the crowd to never forget your performance?

If you don't know who Chester French is, I suggest reading my post on them (Chester French), or checking out ChesterFrench.com.

Correction: This isn't a rubber. It's a CD single for "She Loves Everybody". My bad.

"Get your life together!"

It used to hurt my feelings when people told me this (usually B Dot)... but then I realized they were right. So that's exactly what I'm doing. But let's take a moment to laugh at past mistakes.

Before

After

Still fly though....

World's Greatest Procrastinator

It's currently 4:20 in the morning (hey! 420!) and I'm in the flourescently lit hell known as the Tech Center with my Ace Boon Coon. After a conversation with her, I've come to the realization that procrastination is a disease with no cure, and I'm plagued with it. Actually she is, too. We've both been here for many hours and have only accomplished about two hours worth... well, she has, at least. Me? About 17 minutes and 24 seconds (think about it).

Anywho, this sticky situation just reminded me of a hilarious quote a heard a couple years ago...

"Procrastinate now because you might not have time to procrastinate later. Don't procrastinate on procrastinating." -Ellen DeGeneres

Well said.

*Am I the only one who finds this post just a little ironic?...
-Cousin Chris