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Sneaker Pimps in DC
The Sneaker Pimps tour-a showcase for talented street artists, up and coming brands, under the rader rappers and, of course, celebration of sneakers-made it’s way to the Fillmore in Silver Spring this weekend. Among getting caught up in the illest of sneakers and jumping into mosh pits during different sets, I managed to take a…
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A History Of Violence
At what point does rap music have to take responsibility for a destructive culture it’s helped to manifest? Rap music has spent years taking listeners on a journey through a rough jungle of decadence, violence, history, philosophy and sex throughout its existence and, at times, it could be argued that it has gone too far…
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Fantastic Voyage
More than any other medium, books are a gateway to the ultimate fantasy world. More than TV, movies or even music. They require the imagination to to work overtime, even with comic books there to paint a picture for you. For those of you who haven’t caught on yet, I like to entertain the idea…
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G.O.O.D Music “Cruel Summer” Review
I’m not a fan of rap label compilations. There’s way too much going on and they really serve no purpose than as a marketing tool to advertise for the rappers on your label. However, because this was Yeezy and the G.O.O.D crew, I was willing to give it a shot and see if they could…
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Black Bourgeois: On Luxury Rap & Brand Overdose
After spending the past weekend totally legitimately sampling the soon-to-be released G.O.O.D music album “Cruel Summer”, (review of which will be up soon) I realized a few things. Other than the fact that I’m still not entirely sure what Cyphi Da Prince’s role in G.O.O.D is and the constant hope that ‘Ye fooled us all…
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BET music matters tour in Washington DC
Over the weekend, the BET music matters tour made it’s way to the Howard Theatre in DC. The tour—which is headlined by Kendrick Lamar featuring fellow TDE members Ab-Soul and Jay Rock, MMG artist Stalley and newcomers Fly Union—is all apart of BET’s supposed insistence that it cares about music and wanting you to believe…
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Hey Guys!
The Following posts were kind of a greatest hits compilation from my tumblr: cakesandcrown.tumblr.com It’s all new stuff from here on out.
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Black Bourgeois: Get Your Shine On
It amuses me how much, as a culture, we’re obsessed with jewelry. Not content enough to wear an understated necklace or Cartier watch, instead we choose to either wear as many chains as humanly possible or just go for broke and get the most extravagant and decadent piece of bling out there. Like the kid…
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Don’t Forget The Lyrics: Black History, Sexuality and Frank Ocean’s “Pyramids”
Pyramids might be the best song I’ve heard in a long time, not to speak of this year. It’s pop and R&B’s finest and most enthralling: 9 minutes of electro bounce goodness, subversive trance-style rhythm and black philosophy all rolled into one. It’s Frank’s “stairway to heaven” “bohemian rhapsody” or “only in dreams.” But I’m…
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Black Bourgeois: Fuck Your Sneaks!
I hated shoes growing up— Well, to be more accurate I hated the shoe culture growing up. I hated a lot of things growing up, but I really hated shoes— sneakers especially. As a kid, I wanted the hottest pair of Jordans coming out at any given time but my parents couldn’t afford it; and…
Israel Daramola
Critic and Writer. Israel has written reviews, features, interviews, scripts, and ads for a number of outlets and companies.
Israel Daramola 