August 26, 2006
The Dog Days
A short update to close out August: excerpts from a few business letters and reviews of Donell Jones' Journey of a Gemini, Mista Shakey's Done it Ma..., and the excellent Love Hustle Theater by Minneapolis hip-hop outfit Leroy Smokes.
August 25, 2006
Humor: Letters
I've been writing a lot of letters recently. Here are some of my favorites...
To a blogger looking for more writers:
"I'm not sure if any of the above demonstrates my intelligence, talent, or humor, as it's pretty hard to measure any of those qualities without a set of calipers and a racial agenda. Rest assured, however, that my head is significantly larger than that of the average human, and I estimate that upwards of 250 standard-sized pieces of grapeshot could fit into my cranial cavity if it were first hollowed of its contents."
To a local Cambridge gym:
"The gym is generally an uninviting, latently (and occasionally openly) aggressive place. A certain amount of aggression is, of course, part of the lifting experience. I can’t think of many things more aggressive than pushing around heavy pieces of metal, primarily for cosmetic or ego purposes. What is unclear, however, is the productive role played by the punching bag that hung in the rear of the gym through much of the year. This bag was used as frequently as a punching bag (an appropriate use), as it was as a target for numerous knee-to-groin blows and full-shoulder charges. Needless to say, I’ve never felt comfortable thinking that the gym was being used to train street fighters. "
To a blogger looking for more writers:
"I'm not sure if any of the above demonstrates my intelligence, talent, or humor, as it's pretty hard to measure any of those qualities without a set of calipers and a racial agenda. Rest assured, however, that my head is significantly larger than that of the average human, and I estimate that upwards of 250 standard-sized pieces of grapeshot could fit into my cranial cavity if it were first hollowed of its contents."
To a local Cambridge gym:
"The gym is generally an uninviting, latently (and occasionally openly) aggressive place. A certain amount of aggression is, of course, part of the lifting experience. I can’t think of many things more aggressive than pushing around heavy pieces of metal, primarily for cosmetic or ego purposes. What is unclear, however, is the productive role played by the punching bag that hung in the rear of the gym through much of the year. This bag was used as frequently as a punching bag (an appropriate use), as it was as a target for numerous knee-to-groin blows and full-shoulder charges. Needless to say, I’ve never felt comfortable thinking that the gym was being used to train street fighters. "
Hip-Hop Review: Leroy Smokes, "Love Hustle Theater"
Originally reviewed for okayplayer.com“Withthe*KICK*SNARE*KICK-SNARE*HI-HAT*” Maybewe’reovertrainedintheArtoftheOldBoomBap AndsometimesthespectrumbetweenaPreemobanger andthat“SNAPYAFINGERS!”(drawlifnecessary)
seemslikeitoccupiesaspacebetweentwo
pointsthatareaboutthiscloseonaline.
Inotherwords,hiphopcanseem
verynarrow
some
tim
es
.
seemslikeitoccupiesaspacebetweentwo
pointsthatareaboutthiscloseonaline.
Inotherwords,hiphopcanseem
verynarrow
some
tim
es
.
But it’s not as if we’re necessarily stuck here. With their latest, Love Hustle Theater,
(More...)
All this is couched within
a humble appreciation for MCing as hip-hop,
hip-hop as music, and music as music. In the end, the Smokes’
Love Hustle Theater isn’t about blowing hip-hop apart, it’s about opening up some new
P O S S I B I L I T I E S
Soul Review: Donell Jones, "Journey of A Gemini"
Originally reviewed for okayplayer.comI shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I went straight,
And that has made all the interest.
- Robert Frost, Cappadonna, & C. Quixote
(More...)
Hip-Hop Review: Mista Shakey, "Done it, Ma, Top of the World"
Originally reviewed for okayplayer.comWell, I’m at a loss for words. The English language, standard syntax, and okayplayer’s trademark typeface can’t do my Mista Shakey experience justice. It’s like… !!!!!!LOUDER! LOUDER!!!!!!!!!! TURN IT UP!!!!! EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!!! 28-POINT FONT!!!!!!! I think I need to lie down. (More...)
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