A BadBadNotGood Week
Sometimes you have to be spontaneous and adapt your plans to a last minute situation which turns out to be a very rewarding experience.
Last week was just such an opportunity when homeboy Matt Langille hollered from Toronto on the last minute tip to entertain a group he manages called BadBadNotGood.
I had previously met the boys (pictured above) Alex Sowinski(Drums), Matt Tavares (Piano) and Chester Hansen (Bass) on their last visit earlier this year when they were in town to perform at Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards.
As you may tell from the above footage they proceeded to tear it up highlighting just why the jazz establishment is at loggerheads with the way they are approaching such a rich genre with a new perspective and energy, leading to numerous plaudits championing them but with certain other respected members from the status quo taking exception and deriding them.
I’m firmly in the former category, mesmerized by their attitude and passion, which is tempered with a diligent respect for Jazz but not being held back by its history and so called etiquette. I regard them as reinvigorating the genre with a contemporary mindset and with live performances displaying both exquisite flourishes balanced with a frenzied gusto, encapsulating their hip hop state of mind.
It’s no wonder that the likes of Ghostface, Danny Brown, Aloe Blacc, Earl Sweatshirt etc. are collaborating with these three polite mild mannered kids from Canada.
This is how they get down…
As BBNG were without a hotel for their first night they chilled at my spot…
So in between their performances at the London Pleasure Gardens and Camden’s Barfly I took the boys to visit a few spots of interest to me that I thought they would dig…
First up Lahore possibly London’s best curry spot in Whitechapel…dudes had worked up an appetite!!!
My man Carl had told me of a pop burger spot in the Endurance Pub on Berwick St. called Patty & Bun so we went to check that the next night…
I never would have thought there could be a burger to rival the Dead Hippy from MeatLiquor but Patty & Bun’s Smokey Robinson below could be even superior…beef patty, cheese, tomato, lettuce, caramelized onions, bacon, ketchup, smokey P&B mayo in a brioche…damn!!!
Check www.pattyandbun.co.uk for the deal…
Sunday night was all about their sold out debut solo London performance at Barfly in Camden and the boys went in HAM!!!
Check their Barfly performance of Bastard/Lemonade…
Possibly the first time a Jazz performance has incited a stage invasion…
For all their previous work, downloads, details etc. def check: www.badbadnotgood.com shit is trill!!!
p.s. got to give BBNG props putting me onto this one by Lil B…probably rap’s Larry David…so ignorant and so hilarious…
double props for putting me onto MC Tree…watch for him and grab his Sunday School mixtape asap…
Peace out
JUST READ…
Peoples are being kind to me and I am most grateful…the new edition of Sneaker Freaker has just dropped into my letterbox…props Woody!
This publication has been essential reading for any Sneaker Connoisseur/Nerd for 10 years now and always offering a deep insight into global sneaker culture.
The cover is dedicated to possibly the most hyped/anticipated sneaker release of the year the Nike Air Yeezy 2 but if that’s not your thing don’t hate as this edition maintains the usual high standards offering a fascinating retrospective of the history of Cross Trainers, plus notable articles on the founder of Pony – Roberto Muller and David Goldberg a knowledgeable guy with a healthy appreciation of Ewings.
Next up to bat is ‘Sneaker Tokyo vol. 4 addicted to “adidas”‘ from the people behind the fanatical Japanese publication Shoes Master. With a diligent approach they interview key figures from adidas’s three main creative headquarters, DJ Muro, Kazuki Kuraishi and other fans of the brand. There’s also a in depth analysis of five iconic classic styles that were introduced between the 60s & 70s plus more pictures from the archives of other celebrated models…basically they go in deep!
Finally the latest edition of one of the most concise publications Frank151 has hit the streets which is dedicated to everyone’s friendly underground metalfaced rap legend MF Doom…all I’m gonna say is that find a copy asap and digest it…essential!
RAP PROMO PACKAGING
The NY Hip Hop legend that is Kool DJ Red Alert just posted this image of the promo packaging for Fat Joe’s debut single ‘Flow Joe’ from back in ’93 on his Facebook page, which gave me some inspiration so I thought I’d jack it and share.
I was amped for something from Fat Joe since I first heard him spit the line “hard like a penis that how I’m livin’” (off Diamond D’s classic posse track ‘Pass Dat Shit’) copping the 12″ vinyl of this the day it came out, but I’ve never seen this before.
This is well conceived…on some ill double entendre flex…you’d be living phat if you had a few real gold coins and get fat like 300+ lbs Joe if you ate a load of those chocolate coins…some might say it’s simple/obvious…they can step off as I dig it…
The music industry has always been on the wild promo item tip but the rap game takes the execution to the next level with journalists and DJs being sent the craziest products to remember artists, projects and labels. Check out this plastic photo viewer designed like a TV which was to promote Biz Markie’s Weekend Warrior LP. You hold it up to the light, look through the viewer, press the button and check pics of Biz with his African Warrior look…guess this promo item is as bugged out as him…it makes no sense…
Also prized and extremely hard to track down were the printed press photos…nowadays you’re probably one mouse click away from one but back then you had to know somebody, ask somebody, or be somebody. Not sure where/how I qualified but I managed to end up with a signed one from Fat Joe’s Relativity label mates The Beatnuts which I would possibly consider trading for the above tape…
Might be a look to do a whole book on rap promo products, packaging, limited releases etc…maybe drop some science with my OCD rap aficionado/nerd brothers Craig Leckie, Dan Greenpeace & Andrew Emery…we would have to include the ‘No Sleep Till Brooklyn’ picture disc…but this is nothing…The Beasties took rap packaging to the next level, influencing countless others…RIP MCA!
When I Wake Up
On the real I’m not sure if any of my views are interesting, or if I live a life that could possibly intrigue a reader but Mandi & Adam think there’s some merit within my escapades, so I kindly take this opportunity to share my thoughts, experiences, passions or whatever that I usually just bore my mates with.
This ain’t no cool look at me and what I do type shit (forgive me now as there might be a bit of that down the line, also I regard the definition of what is cool as an extremely personal, subjective, possibly outspoken opinion) rather a slither of my existence primarily within in London which in my opinion is the most vibrant, diverse city where I’m blessed to live and witness some good shit.
Don’t get me wrong it can be dark and oppressive with peeps out for self but then the focus of the struggle is the impetus to keep things moving forward and excel, or to fail then pick yourself up and try again.
One minute I’ll be the cliché guy on the hustle trying to work out the next move, the next randomly at a spot where the drinks are way too expensive with peeps who have more money than I may ever attain, or necking a swift half down the local pub, maybe at an exhibition opening or a gig…who knows/cares…
As you can tell this is no incredibly composed, structured photograph but rather a snap shot of the view out of my window virtually everyday I wake up…inspiring?
Sometimes, sometimes not…
