GOOGLE ANALYTICS FOR HIP HOP

MUSIC - 'The Hip-Hop Word Count (HHWC) is a searchable ethnographic database built from the lyrics of over 40,000 Hip-Hop songs from 1979 to present day. The database is the heart of an online analysis tool that generates textual and quantified reports on searched phrases, syntax, memes and socio-political ideas.

The idea to build the Hip-Hop Word Count came out of having hundreds of heated & passionate discussions about Rap music: Who was the best rapper of all time? Which rapper had the smartest songs? Which was the most popular champagne in Hip-Hop during 1999-2003? Which rapper uses the most clever metaphors? Which city's rap songs use the most monosyllabic words? Does living in higher altitudes create a natural proclivity for Gangster Rap?'

What intrigues us is the ability to search music lyrics for brand names and brand references. To be able to understand which rappers were talking about which brands at what point in time. You could easily take the data and see which car brands rappers talked about most frequently in the summer of 2004 in their lyrics, or which fashion brand was on the lips of the hip-hop community in 2006. Personally we would like to use it to track the rise and fall of particular alcohol brands in hip-hop; from Snoop's Seagram's gin (1993) to the clunky reference to Courvoisier by Busta (2002) and chart these references next to sales over time. We wonder whether these nods to the bottles on the top shelf have any long lasting effect on the fortunes of the brands?

Get over to Kickstarter and pledge now to ensure the HHWC gets full funding.

joes[a]fiend

ACCIDENTAL? BRILLIANCE? ACCIDENTAL BRILLIANCE?

SPOTTED - Last night I attended the launch of the Hermès pop-up store in the Rochelle School Of Art. The aim of the store is to show people how versatile the iconic Hermès scarves can be. In addition to the pop-up store Hermès has created a Fanzine in collaboration with photographer Matt Irwin. Irwin took four models around the world to capture the ways you can wear the Hermès scarf.

As part of the festivities the incredible LA based band Warpaint played a few songs from their debut LP The Fool [Rough Trade Records].

Before Warpaint came on stage I noticed what must have been a Hermès employee tying a scarf to the bass drum [that's the big one in the middle]. I thought to myself, that's quite subtle, a nice little branded touch. When Warpaint came on to play, this all changed, it soon became a stroke of absolute genius or complete luck. As the drummer [Theresa Wayman] began to beat the bass drum it caused to Hermès scarf to flutter elegantly to the beat, it was mesmerising.

Now, cast your mind back to December 2009, when Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka had an installation in Maison Hermes in Japan. The installation was a window with an image of a woman projected on to a monitor. It would appear from the outside that the projected face was gently blowing a Hermès causing it to flutter in the wind.

Was this tie in a piece of marketing genius, or sheer good luck?

It would make sense for Hermès to create a campaign based on the beauty of the flowing movement of their iconic scarves. Imagine a campaign where you see a close-up of the fluttering scarf which then panned out to an iconic moment. The image that springs to mind when I think of the Hermès scarves is a chic woman driving a 1985 convertible Mercedes SL with the top down, on a hot summer's day in the south of France. Imagine the shot; close up of the scarf flowing in the wind [possibly in slow motion], then a soft zoom out to the striking, powerful woman driving the car. Formidable!

joes[a]fiend

1-BIT SYMPHONY - TRISTAN PERICH

MUSIC - 'With 1-Bit Symphony I wanted to revisit that an album of music could be more than just a recording, more than just an audio CD and when you listen to an album you could actually be experiencing first hand the production of the music itself' Tristan Perich.

The aspect of 1-Bit Symphony which truly captures our imagination is how the artwork transcends the divide between between aesthetics and the music. Is it the modern equivalent of having a song sheet for an album cover?

joes[a]fiend

BOUNCE TO POGO

MUSIC - The first time we heard Pogo's mesmerizing beats we were in awe. Pogo makes his beats by 'recording small sounds from a single film or scene and sequencing them to form a new piece of music.' In essence a simple idea, but the execution is anything but. The tracks are emotionally filled masterpieces with hooks, melodies and riffs that get your head nodding.

If you want to give it a go the equipment Pogo uses is 'Adobe Audition for sampling, FLStudio for sequencing and Sony Vegas for video editing.'

It's no surprise that the film and music industries have taken offence to the inspiring aural and visual creativity of Pogo. Sony Pictures Entertainment contacted the artist claiming that 'Bangarang', a rework of the Steven Spielberg film 'Hook' with some added bass and cymbals, was an infringement of their copyright.

You should check out his YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/Fagottron. Our personal favourites are Alice [featured above], Expialidocious and Bangarang.

ENJOY

joes[a]fiend

MORE THAN JUST A BAND

Just A Band - Usinibore

MUSIC - Just A Band is a Kenyan band destined for global stardom. Their music is a mix of house, funk, and disco with a hint of electro. The band is made up of Bill "Blinky" Sellanga, Dan Muli and Jim Chuchu.

We could write about how amazing these guys are, but well there’s no need. Watch the video get ‘jiggy’ and enjoy this absolute banger on a Friday.

Check out their YouTube channel for all of their videos - www.youtube.com/justabandwidth

joes[a]fiend

THE FUTURE IS: SPOTIFY

"Spotify is a Sweden-based proprietary music streaming program, which allows instant listening to specific tracks or albums with almost no buffering delay. Music can be browsed by artists, albums or created playlists as well as by direct searches. Although it is not possible to save the streamed music for use outside the application, a link is provided to allow the listener to directly purchase the material via partner retailers." WIKI

I've heard a lot of noise about Spotify and until 30 minutes ago I hadn't actually used it. So, 30 minutes later... I'm hooked. The service is fantastic, the application is seamless, it streams full length tracks almost instantly and I am yet to hear an advert. The range of music available is vast... All I can say is download it and see for yourselves.

10 out of 10!

joes[a]fiend

MONDAY FUNDAY: 90'S R'N'B

Being a sartorial mastermind isn't enough Max Reyner of Make & So. He has put together the definitive 90's R'n'B mixtape, we LOVE it. If there was one way sure to cure those Monday blues, it's this compilation.

ENJOY!

joes[a]fiend

FREE MIX FOR CHRISTMAS!!!

joes[a]fiend’s favourite disc jockey, Listen & Learn has put together a little disco mix for you all to enjoy.

1. Williams - Love on a real rain [Williams Odyssey mix]
2. Holy Ghost! - Hold on [Mock & Toof remix]
3. Dolle Jolle - Balearic incarnation [Todd Terje's extra doll mix]
4. Friendly Fires - Paris [Aeroplane remake]
5. Juan Maclean - Happy house
6. Straight Shooters - My time, your time [Cosmo Vitelli's instrumental edit]
7. Allez Allez - She's stirring up [an optimo [espacio] drum attack mix]
8. Moby - I love to move in here [Holy Ghost! remix]
9. Grace Jones - Williams blood [Aeroplane remix]
10. LSB - Fog
11. Elitechnique - Elektric evening
12. The Laughing Light of Plenty - The rose

Click here to download the mp3 file.

joes[a]fiend

FRIDAY IS DISCO DAY

Do you love the 80s? Pumping basslines? Reverbs? Distortion? Computer generated voices? If yes, you have to check out DW [Kilian Eng & Amir Zaino]. If not, you'll love their sound anyway.

This pair of Stockholm based disco dancers are giving me serious aural pleasure! On their MySpace page they say they sound like, “Hip-pop-house through pink Italo shades”, there is not better way to describe this genius!


In our eyes and ears there is nothing better than great music and great artwork. When the two come together, we love it. We're liking the DW artwork Let’s hope they will be gracing a club night in London soon…

We strongly recommend you have a listen, they’ll make you’re Friday that little bit better. A bold claim, but give ‘em a go.

www.myspace.com/dwmusik

joes[a]fiend

WEEKEND WARM-UP #6

Rex The Dog – The Rex The Dog Show Album Mini Mix

Four years in the making, Rex The Dog [Jake Williams] has released his debut album and it was worth every second of the wait. It’s really refreshing to be listening to Electro that sounds so effortless again, and we’re loving it!

Album mini mix track list:
1 Man Dog Machine [not on Album]
2 Gecko
3 Bubblicious
4 Heartsong
5 Italian Skyline
6 The Knife: Heartbeats [Rex The Dog remix]
7 Prototype
8 The Sounds: Tony The Beat [Rex The Dog remix]
9 Circulate
10 Frequency

We’ve also included for your aural pleasure a track that’s not on the album; the B-side
track from his 2007 release on Kitsuné Maison, ‘Circulate’.

Rex The Dog – Italian Blond

You can buy The Rex The Dog Show from all good record stores or iTunes.

[Get Hype]

H:DOCK

DANGER SEEKER [KAP10KURT]

Music video by Vincent Viriot for Kap10Kurt the New York City based Electro Funk two piece band.

joes[a]fiend

A CRYSTALLINE CLEAR IDEA

How does Kate Moross [not to be confused with Moss] do it? The current darling of the graphics world has already designed a range for Topshop at a mere 21 years of age (amongst an impressive array of other projects.)

So what does this wunderkind do next? Launch a hot record label, that’s what. Isomorphs believes that the artwork should be of the highest standard possible. Also, all releases are on vinyl and, as is par for the course these days, strictly limited.

The latest release [limited to 500 copies and the second to come from the label] is Hearts Revolution. They live by their own motto ‘C.Y.O.A’ (an acronym for Chose Your Own Adventure.) Be sure to check them out.

http://www.myspace.com/heartsrevolution

joes[a]fiend

NEON NEON

“A new group from Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals and Boom Bip. Their debut album Stainless Style (OUT NOW WORLDWIDE) is themed around the life of John Delorean and features Spank Rock, Yo Majesty and Fat Lip.”
Neon Neon, MySpace.

Those of us who grew up watching Marty McFly driving the Delorean or cruising on his hoverboard will no doubt enjoy this Electro Pop album.

When we first came across the album there was an instant feeling “Oh here we go again, another attempt to jump on a dying trend”. This album ticks every box, its melodic electro riffs draws you into to an 80’s induced head bopping daze. With appearances on the album by Yo Majesty and Fat Lip give Neon Neon an edge over the homogenous Electro-by-numbers being produced.

Hot Chip beware: this could take your crown of album of 2008 so far. Head over to the Neon Neon MySpace to give the tracks a listen. Our pick is ‘I Told Her On Alderaan’, or maybe ‘Dream Cars’; they’re both contagious. Oh, hold on, it could be ‘Raquel’…

joes[a]fiend

via http://www.myspace.com/neonx2

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING?

There’s no such thing as a free dinner, but there is free music; legal or illegal.

The Independent has teamed up with Sony Ericsson to offer ten free tracks to download. Before you rush to the shops to buy said phone, only stopping at the newsagent to grab the paper and thus falling for this marketing ploy, stop!

The tracks are lifted from a forth-coming compilation album “You Don’t know”. The tracks are courtesy of “Ninja Tune” a leading independent record label. It’s a varied track choice from Wiley to Pop Levi.

Track list
1. TO BUILD A HOME – The Cinematic Orchestra
2. NIGHTLITE – Bonobo
3. BLUE HONEY – Pop Levi
4. THE ART OF KISSING – The Lost Song
5. WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES (TIGA MIX) – Coldcut
6. BONGOS, BLEEPS & BASSLINES (DIBABA REMIX) – Zero db
7. DROP AUDIO FEAT ID – The Qemists
8. THAT KIND OF MAN – The Heavy
9. 50/50 – Wiley
10. SWEDENBORGSKE ROM – Jaga Jazziest

Click here to check it out.

joes[a]fiend