Blame it on the goose

I've been driving around listening to this track, which is playing NONE STOP on the radio. It's off the new Jamie Fox record, which I also can't stop listening to. I love the cameos in this video. Jake i seee youuuu...

I got a story to tell

The stories keep piling up. Let's just say yesterday I had one of the most unbelievable experiences. I don't know if I believe in guardian angels or anything of the sort but yesterday I came across someone who truly came to my rescue. It was simple but it really got me thinking about humanity and really reminded me that there are unbelievable people out there even in a place like L.A... Let's just say my story involves:

-1 cab driver
- me looking for a car rental
- A sketchy car man
- A family man
- The ghetto
- A personal trainer
- A french business card
- My name
- A man magically appearing behind me to my rescue


I'm trying to make stories happen while I'm here to bring them back home

The trilogy

I really enjoy this piece by Icelandic artist Johann Johannson about the mis-use of technology by humans.

405 monday...

There is nothing more frustrating than L.A. traffic.

One thing that can fix this situation is good music. Ironically enough this track is about driving down the 405 freeway... Thanks Defari

W

And in honor of the West Coast..

And obviously... Best No Doubt song and video. 

6 hours away from heaven.

I got in the car this morning and the first song that came on was a Marvin Gaye song. I knew it was a good day besides...dress time! 

I love my ladies. I will wear one every singly day this week in honor of each one of you...

Mi, Trace, Charles and Margaux i'm looking your way xoxo

I guess that means maybe 2 for each of you!  kisses

I do i do i do

This may be one of the best Weezy tracks. There is  Juelz remix somewhere out there and it's amazing. Try and look it up if you can. 

"Three letters: 'I do' "

Get it get it

I can't stop listening to this old Twista song. It has a real 90's r&b feel to it. I love slow jams. Enjoy xo

This is the 2009 release of the song. Just as good!

Man up!

I don't know what is more embarassing: this video made by the sens for Valentine's day or this year's season?

I hate to admit it but we've been slackin' and it's too late to turn back. I say less movie makin' and more skatin'...

yucky

I basically just noticed something moving from the corner of my eye. I turned around to find this nasty thing next to me... on my bed...  It reminded me of the time there was a spider infestation and Mira and I developed a new spider killing technique. It consists of putting a shoe on the end of a broom stick and reaching all the way up to the ceiling and killing it. Once you hit it... You drop the broom and run to avoid it falling on your head. A few minutes later, once you've gathered up the courage again, you go back to the spot you left the broom a shoe and you hope to find the remains up on the ceiling and hopefully no shoe marks. If you don't see anything, prepare weaponry for round II. 

I didn't have my army with me tonight so I had to take this one on myself. No broom. Just my hands and a shoe. I'm getting good...

Drag your way to being the queen.

I cannot wait for this tv show to come to Canada. This is America's Next Top Model with a twist. 

AMERICA'S BEST DRAG QUEEN

I've always wanted to go to a drag show and see what it's like. Here is a preview of the show with the ladies interviewing F list celebs Tory and Dean. 

RuPaul's Drag Race: Interview with Tori & Dean
by TheDlisted

hehehe

I can't stop laughing. This just hit the 12 year old in me. As CNN reports, now that North West will be serving more than just nuts, I guess a lot more people will be flying with the airline...

Is the word P-E-A-N-U-T really that hard to say? Really?

If I can't lighten up, my clothes will!

Summer is about colour. I plan to celebrate it with greens and yellows and purples and pinks and and and and more !!!!

big shoes small shoes brown shoes red shoes shoes shoes shoes

Charlotte sent me this yesterday morning. I own the same shoes as the lady in this photo. I found mine at value village a while back. They are probably my favorite shoes right now, which I've clearly been deprived from wearing due to the uninvited guest residing outside my humble apartment. 

I can't wait to wear them out again and I also love seeing them matched up with other outfits :) 

love love love

I think i'm a few days late for Valentine's day. But this is what love looks like. Sounds like Nas is about to have his first son. I have a feeling papa won't be a player :) 

Speaking of Love. This is a great song by Slum Village called The look of love <333

"What is the look of? It's got something to do with um. Being a man and handling your biz what's love got to do with it? Ask SV its...." 

This is the 9th wonder remix which is worth listening to, as anything 9th wonder! 

There is only one thing missing in the picture...

All I wanted for Christmas was Summer. Clearly, I didn't get it and if so it hasn't arrived quite fast enough. All I can think about is this: 

Here is a poem by Emile Neligan which pretty much describes my feelings towards the winter after 3 weeks straight of sickness.

Soir d'hiver

Ah! comme la neige a neigé !

Ma vitre est un jardin de givre.

Ah! comme la neige a neigé !

Qu'est-ce que le spasme de vivre

A la douleur que j'ai, que j'ai !

Tous les étangs gisent gelés,

Mon âme est noire ou vis-je ou vais-je

Tout ses espoirs gisent gelés :

Je suis la nouvelle Norvège

D'où les blonds ciels s'en sont allés.

Pleurez oiseaux de fevrier,

Au sinistre frisson des choses,

Pleurez oiseaux de février,

Pleurez mes pleurs, pleurez mes roses,

Aux branches du genévrier.

Ah! comme la neige a neigé!

Ma vitre est un jardin de givre.

Ah! comme la neige a neigé!

Qu'est-ce que le spasme de vivre

A tout l'ennui que j'ai, que j'ai.

Émile Nelligan

Home grown.

I got to see Zaki Ibrahim live this summer at the Jazz Fest. She is so wonderful. Every musician she works with including her band is tremendously talented. Real musicians like you don't find these days. She is Canadian, just an extra reason to love her. 

Enjoy this..

Nasty Nas in my area...

I love this new Nas & Game track. Chris Brown sings the hook. I'm assuming this song won't get much play due to the recent events. Either way... enjoy. I love this colab.



I love this track and I love the video.

"A thug changes, love changes and best friends become strangers"

This is one of my favorite Nas + any female colab. This is when JLO was at her best look wise and everything else included. The colors in this video are nuts. If you can find a high res version check it out. I wouldn't mind Nas slipping clothes into my closet...



Lyrically this is my favorite Nas songs -Pappa Was a Player

...

It's hard to take this BK documentary I watched in class seriously. It's mildly ignorant at times... I mean air plane flying a bbq? come on.

Either way check this out.

Someone please call 9-1-1

There are definetly a couple things I would call 9-1-1 for...

Ottawa Byward Market Panini
Truffle oil anything...
Milano's pollo pizza
Mexico quesadillas
Portugese chicken sandwich
Fried Mars Bars
Tajines
Couscous
My parent's cooking...and the list goes on!

For this man it was the following...

Not so crunchy anymore...

It doesn't take much to ruin someone's day. It's much worse when it's self inflicted. I'm thinking melted Kit Kat:

Note to self: Don't sit on your own chocolate bar. 

Hold the fam down.

The Alchemist is one of my favorite producers along with 9th wonder obviously. Someone once told me 50 people showed up to see him in New York. I would've liked to be there.

This may be one of my favorite tracks of his. I love the hook with Nina Sky and obviously the infamous duo. I love what this track is all about too. Holding it down for the fam and the people you love through thick and thin. 

"When the time is worst 

Never leave my fam in a jam I'm dyin first 

Never to my last dollar I'm grindin first 

Never take the stand on my fam I'm silent first 

It's goin down, feel me"

I know Mira loves this track too so this one is for her. Fam. No lez xo 

No secrets

It's pretty clear I love Mariah Carey. This is an old track she did with Mobb Deep. Word is she used to mess with Prodigy. I believe it. I base my rap couple facts on Paul. Probably the only person that can play stuff for me or provide me with relevant early Kenza type songs information and leave me floored.  

This colab is nuts. I wish the video was embedded so I could show you guys how hot the video is. I mean it's no crazy artistry but for a hip hop video of the time, it's pretty on point and Mariah looks great. There's something really exciting about having listened to a song a couple hundred times and finally see the video 11 years later. 

link for the real video: The roof- Mariah Carey feat Mobb Deep, 1997

I have to make mention of Havoc's visionary style in the video. This video was shot in 1997 and he was already rocking the oversized glasses. I can't say I'm a fan but just shows once again how ahead of the times the duo is. Kaaannyeeee isn't that innovative after all is he?

People hate on Mobb Deep post G-unit. I can't front. I still love Mobb Deep, including this club banger. 

The law of the bare minimum

Wow. Silent Treatment it is. 

Joaquin Phoenix must be somewhere else... hip hop land? yikes. I don't blame him. I still like him. 

Sigh count: ???

Here is an interview with him a while back. Day and Night.

Speaking of Silent Treatment. One of my favorite Roots songs.

Can't embed it : The Roots- Silent Treatment

I don't wannaa be a player no moooore

Another hit I spent a lot of time listening to as a kid. 

Everything was going well until Incubus had to cover the song and release it. That is no way of paying tribute to those who rest in peace.

Enjoy..

"I don't discriminate, I regulate every shade of the ..."

Never too close.

Grade 5 dance track of the year!

Next- Too Close

This is yet another one of those songs I probably shouldn't of been listening to anywhere near my parents or better yet singing out loud. I guess growing up speaking french and being clueless as to what grinding meant amongst other things didn't help. With a now educated ear and vocabulary, this song still rules...

ps- I couldn't find the embedded version so you have to enjoy this parody. Not bad. 

Fucked up x Fox News x Mishka

The interviewer makes me feel really uneasy. I don't know why. Am I the only one?

Well handled. Cool stuff. Nice Mishka shirt.. Annnniiiieeee xo

Bad boy pre- Danity Kane...

Harlem world and we don't stop! Some pretty important 90's cameos in this video including Tia and Tamara of Sister Sister. It might've been one of my favorite shows to come home to as a kid.  Roger aka Young Marques Houston ..long plaid shirts... corn rows... playing the twins. 

This song is great. I remember getting really excited when this would come on tv, which was really rare. 

"Yo, real chicks do real things

Like find a man wit' a deal that still wanna sling

Always speak my mind whenever I feel things

Probably got no wings but I'mma still swing"

Out with the old, in with the new.

1 down and 2 more to go.

This has been playing in the background for the last few days. Apparently we no longer need Amy Whinehouse back... We now have Adele :) 

Melt my heart to stone is probably my favorite track of hers. She has a really beautiful aura. Check her out! 

"And I hear your words that I made up
You say my name like there could be an us
I best tidy up my head I'm the only one in love"

A days work

After a full weekend of paper writing and still being far from done, I can finally say I deserve some sleep. I can no longer type and my eyes are fighting to stay open. I plan to fall asleep listening to the following.

My dad offered me my first Coltrane tape when I was quite young. I have since collected any cd's I could get my hands on. I had the chance to see Ravi Coltrane this summer at the Jazz festival and i can't say it wasn't magical. I've definitely fallen asleep listening to the Best of hundreds of times. On that note..zzzzzz....





ps- I always wonder how Coltrane names his pieces. Does he really think about someone when he writes them since they aren't literal. I wonder who he wanted to talk about?

wow!

Some said the 2009 trend will be tattoo removal. Based on recent events, it's home made tattoos. I argue 2010 will be about cover up tattoos. Some of my friends are more daring than others. 

I guess we only have one life to live. and two arms to take advantage of...

Next plan: Get Jojo to get a Spoiler tattoo. Kevin, you're half way there...

Stocklist

I made a stop by Stocklist this week, Canada's Lifestyle Boutique Trade Show. I had the chance to cuddle up with the Penfield bear who I suspect had a thing for me, it's not easy constantly being surrounded by busy guys. Make sure to check out the latest Penfield collection. It looks lovely and from having sold those jackets I can assure you they are fit to keep you warm through the hellish winter. 

It was nice seeing old faces and slightly nostalgic. Thanks to Neel at Mehrathon Trading for the shots. Shout out to Neel, Raj and Jon G or Jay Z? Which ever you prefer. Lots of love for you guys...

Miss Info got dirt on you doggie

The streets are buzzin and they're saying Cam' is on the way back and I on the other hand have a not so secret crush on our favorite hermit. Can't help but love a mama's boy....

"money looks cute next to me." 

Cam makes me laugh so much. I think having him around would be borderline therapeutic if not dangerous... On another note, I think there's something really humble about him dropping off Dame Dash money everytime he signs anything over a million. I think remembering those who paved the way for you and have helped you out is extremely important. 

My man solo. Lookin' good Cam'. 

Throwback

I love young Kim and Aaliyah. I love this video. I wish I had been at that party... 

Ps- peep the crib and the phone. 

"Like my girl Mary B. you just ain't runnin' up in me 

You got to give me what I need baby, that's a drop top Z baby "

Weee ouuu weeee ouuu weeeeeeee...

From Mrs. Officer to Mrs. Katie... 

Good interview.

Natural Born Workers

I produced this short video when I was in my first year of University. I totally forgot about it until I bumped into an old class mate at a bar who happened to be in my group. She is now living in Tokyo and mentioned she had put it online in order for people to have access to her portfolio. I just you tubed it and this is what I found. I think the best part are the credits. It's really funny to see the things you created years back and also to think what your motivations were. Hopefully my acting skills have minorly improved since... amongst many other things apparently! YIKES!!

If I remember clearly this was the synopsis of the short:

"The video is the story of four characters that live very regular structured lives. The video represents one day in the lives of these characters. The underlying theme of the video is routine. The video focuses on the mundane and uninteresting aspects of life in a playful and amusing way instead of looking at these aspects in a purely negative manner. The video puts the spotlight on the character's idiosyncrasies with a touch of humor. The video is not only about routines but also about autonomy, and the banal of everyday life; how we are able to maintain some sort of individual identity within a formulaic society."

Baby Daddy

One of my favorite ladies gave birth to a little lady. Who is the daddy? No it's not Common... no it's not Andre3000. It's Jay electronica, our favorite ghostwriter. 

If you know me, you know I probably own every Erykah anything released. I love her. I listen to her nearly everyday. One of my fondest memories of last year involves seeing her and due to what some may call a bad tour manager, she got lost on her way into the city and drove to Sherbrooke. This led her to cut her set short.  My night was made when she closed the set with my all time favorite song... It was sung with sasssss! I don't think Mark has ever seen me smile the way I did that night.

"I thinkkkkkk you better calllll Tyroooooooneee"

Baby you got me is actually my favorite song which features Erykah. It was originally written by Jill Scott. This is one of the only instances we witnessed them both performing it together.

"Ya'll know how I met her, we broke up and got back together to get her back I had to sweat her"



"When they see you coming, .... take off running from you, yes its true, yes they do"



This is off the latest record and it's one of my favorite songs. A little different than the old stuff but still amazing.

Anne Sportum

I heard Valentine's day is coming up. I say Valentine's day should be everyday. Gems all year long ... Anne Sportum clearly grasps that concept as she releases the most beautiful women's best friends all year long. Enjoy xo

I love Sophie Calle

I love Sophie Calle. Sophie is a French photographer, installation artist and as far as I'm concerned visual poet whom I respect and love tremendously. 

Her work is very personal and self reflexive. Her pieces relate directly with her life experiences. Some of her best works have come as a result of her breakups. She has used the medium as a way to cope and overcome the situations. One of the most innovative yet is called " Take Care of Yourself". 

Sophie came back from a trip and received an e-mail from her boyfriend at the time. The letter was a break up letter. She was left devastated and decided to ask dozens of women to read the letter and from there created an art show revolving around their reactions and interpretation of the letter. The installations included birds, actors and a clown. 

She also had a dozen people sleep in her bed after a break up and documented the process. 

Another example of timeless work...

Tiger friend

I'd love a new friend... Joooonaaas?

Chuck Ragan

I picked up a couple Chuck Ragan records a while back at End Hits. I can't stop listening to this song. 

Sometimes we all need a boat.