N*E*R*D "Spaz"

Second single from the upcoming release, Seeing Sounds, out on June 10th.

N*E*R*D. "Everybody Nose" (PV).

Fists Fly on The Set of N.E.R.D. Video Shoot.

Things got rough when a fight broke out during the video shoot for N.E.R.D.'s new single "Everybody Nose" this week in New York City. The video co-stars Lindsey Lohan and Kanye West, neither of whom were around when cats started throwing blows.

The new N.E.R.D. long play, Seeing Sounds is due out later this month and is the long awaited follow up to their huge sophomore release, Fly of Die which featured ?uestlove from The Roots, Lenny Kravitz and the Madden brothers from Good Charlotte, an array of guests as diverse as The Neptunes sound.

Guys started wildin' out at around 9:30PM, according to a report on MTV, and it involved two extras who apparently, just weren't getting along while the video was being filmed on location inside the Madison Club. Yet another bourgeois manhattan nightclub. One of the props broke, one of the brawlers got cut and needed medical attention.

Fortunately, none of the band members were hurt, which may have resulted in them missing some dates on the Glow In The Dark Tour which, beside N.E.R.D., features Kanye West, Rihanna and Lupe Fiasco. That would have been a very bad thing.

Billionaire Boys Club Hooded Sweatshirt.

Beautiful, baby blue hooded sweatshirt $295 at the BBC/Ice cream site and Ice Cream Store in Harajuku as well as BBC/Ice cream shops and exclusive retailers worldwide.

Billionaire Boys Club/Ice cream.

SNOOP DOGG "Ego Trippin'".

Usually when I review a CD here there are two things I try not to do, one is gush (because that’s just boring), two is I really like to listen to a CD for a few days, because flaws start to become more apparent over time. Although Ego Trippin’ isn’t perfect it’s not exactly accurate to call it flawed. Because of that, I felt like there wasn’t any real need to delay posting this.

I like this CD a lot. What I like most about it is it’s concept. It’s concept is what keeps it from reaching classic status in the traditional sense, but it’s concept is what makes it unique, interesting and fun, at least for us grownups who can relate to what Snoop was doing here. However, it’s because this isn’t something that everyone can identify with I say it isn’t a classic in the traditional sense. If that makes sense.

Led Zeppelin I, Songs In The Key of Life, Thriller and The Joshua Tree are classics because everyone can identify with them regardless of age, race or social status. While some young people may like this, even love it, they may not truly get it (at least not on every level), but that’s the beauty of music, it brings people together and can be all things to all people and I think Ego Trippin’ reps that to the fullest.

Yeah, I know… I’m talking about a Snoop Dogg CD. He stays so true to his late 70s and 80s concept that I think a lot of younger listeners who were never exposed to that era of music can come away from this with a clue. I think that’s a beautiful thing. A large piece of the credit has to go to Producer Teddy Riley who provided the majority of the beats. I think his involvement was the masterstroke. If you want to cop that sound, who else is there to bring in? Teddy also updates it in spots, bringing a little bit of Dr. Dre to Let It Out, for example.

The other producers also deserve kudos, Raphael Saadiq is always amazing. The young guys like Notts, Polow Da Don, The Neptunes, DJ Quik and Scoop Deville also did their thing. When Raphael and Teddy are in the room, those cats are the young guys. Most of the tracks bring in those classic soul and disco elements but they don’t sound dated or kitschy.

They update the sound while staying true to the vibe. Snoop has always tipped his hat to that era. His detractors will say he’s been doing this since day one. However, this CD feels like a natural progression. It shows artistic growth and maturity much like Mary J. Blige’s The Breakthrough.Snoop’s found that sweet spot between commercial viability, retro cool, gangster credibility and it’s a beautiful thing for his fans, both young and old.

Standouts amongst the 21 tracks are Gangsta Like Me; Scoop Deville’s floor burner, Life Of Da Party; Cool, which is credited to Prince; Been Around Da World; Sexual Eruption; Let It Out; Raphael’s Waste of Time; The Neptunes’ Sets Up and the gangster rap meets country cut, Johnny Cash dedication My Medicine. Ego Trippin’ is an interesting and entertaining juxtaposition of classic 70s/80s synth driven disco and soul and contemporary gangster rap. As good as he’s been the last few years Snoop provides his most interesting and relevant work since his debut.

Rating: ♦♦♦♦◊ 4 out of 5 diamonds.

TERIYAKI BOYZ "Zock On" featuring PHARRELL & BUSTA RHYMES.

This track is crazy. Back in a big way is the first Japanese hip hop group to go

international. After The Fast and The Furious III: Tokyo Drift made them huge, the Bape Sounds recording artists are not showing signs of letting up. They follow up their single, I Still Love H.e.r., which featured Kanye West with this Neptunes produced track. Having Pharrell and Busta Rhymes kicking lyrics on it certainly won’t hurt sales either. If your in Tokyo, head over to the Shibuya bape store Go Ape!, they may still have some of those limited edition Teriyaki Boyz shirts.

N.E.R.D. "Everybody Nose".

I just got this off of The BBC/Ice Cream blog. A brand new track rumored to be the first single off the upcoming N.E.R.D. CD out (finally) in April. HOWEVER, The site said this is not the final mix of the track. That’s okay. Just a having a little somethin-somethin to wet our appetites is cool by me.

BBC/Ice Cream Blog.

KENNA "Say Goodbye To Love" (PV).