Monday, February 21, 2011

All Of The Lights

     King of music video's, Hype Williams, and Kanye West, combine to give the world the video for the single "All of the Lights" off of Ye's latest album, MBDTF.  It's an epic song with a beautiful intro provided by Elton John but this song really includes over 11 other artists contributing their vocals to it.  You won't be able to tell since they're layered over each other, but Drake, Alicia Keys, Kid Cudi, Fergie, John Legend, The Dream, Ryan Leslie, and others all provided their voices for the song, most notably, Rihanna, who does the chorus and also appears in the video....oh yes, she does.
Hype and Mr. West have worked together before many times.  Gold Digger, Amazing, Heartless, Stronger and others.  Hype's resume is basically a who's who's and what's what's of hip/hop and R&B music videos and of my all time favorites.   There is an influence from Gaspar Noe's 2009 film Enter the Void in the video as well.
I love when hip hop transcends the norm and shows a true artistic quality.  The horns, vocals, percussion, orchestration and now the visual all come together to provide something fantastic for everyone to enjoy.  Ashy to classy....Enjoy the video and the song.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Best. Goal. Ever.?

     I rather let the video do the talking and show off this beautiful masterpiece.  If you don't pay attention to soccer, this is like the pinnacle of an individual performance that you could have.  It's a piece of art...a feat of defying physics....a virtuoso acrobatic display.   Adding to the drama is that it is the Manchester Derby (meaning a local city rival game = Giants vs. Eagles) and this goal puts United up a goal with only a dozen minutes left in the game.  Wayne Rooney has also been mentioned as one of the best players in the world but has been slowed down by injuries the past year....could this be his comeback statement.
Video courtesy of Fox Soccer.


All-Time Classics..

     There is something to be said of images of events and people that last the test of time and don't lose any of the emotion that was captured.  If anything, the legacy and meaning continues to grow into legendary status, almost mythical.  GQ has a great article in this month's magazine that captures this with words and pictures of who they consider the all-time coolest athletes.  I was pretty hyped to see  a young Jordan (and corresponding Air Jordan VII's)  grace the cover when I received my copy in the mail. Even happier to know that I got this one out of the many issued based on the different athletes.  Thank God.
These athletes cover the globe and different sports, but all embody "cool" and we all know that feeling of growing up, watching these people on tv, pretending we were them in the backyard, hoping to grow up and be just like them.
Take a look for yourself at this link and after the jump.