January 31, 2009

January 26, 2009

Fortress Of Solitude





My friend Greg, who is an avid reader of Complex, showed me a recent issue with an interview with legendary graffiti writer KEO. Needless to say, it was a great read. In the past 10-15 years, everyone has probably heard or seen at least a little bit of KEO. One example is his work is the artwork for Operation Doomsday, under the alias Lord Scotch.

The main thing that blew my mind was the fact that KEO is in fact the brother of critically acclaimed author Jonathan Lethem, who penned Fortress of Solitude and my personal favorite Motherless Brooklyn. Jonathan's books take a lot from the universally-studied 1980's NYC youth culture, but we all know now that his inspirations are quite close to home.

*Finally, I'd like to take a tangent into some old but not too old NYC rap, that I had the pleasure of discovering after its zenith. Kurious, as seen in MF DOOM's "?" video and song, was one of three main talents at Bobbito's subsidiary of Columbia Records called Hoppoh. The other two features of Hoppoh were Count Bass D and Nas. Now we all know what happened to Nas, and some may still listen to the independent releases of Count Bass D. But where was Kurious all this time? I don't know either, but apparently he's making music again as seen in some new youtube joints. Who knew that Max B or The Beatnuts would be making new music with Kurious. He looks like he's having fun.

-Carryout

January 22, 2009

Breath of Fresh Air



The latest episode of the Anthony Pappalardo series of "EPICLY LATER'D".


I really dig the whole vibe of this latest episode, although it was a logical and predictable one from its predecessors. Whether you skateboard or not, I think most people can relate to having the desire to do things without having to be so concerned about what other people think or out-doing the dude next to you (*who u may call a friend). But besides all the cliches (which I sure am a sucker for), I really resonated with the pangs of someone coming to terms with sh*t in their mid-20's ; maybe y'all will remember it too? Highest Recommendations.

It's wild to see the juxtaposition of characters/friends:
1) Rob: a ex-pro who chooses a different career for his kids, reminding us that we sometimes have to hustle for those things that matter.
2) Bill: the filmer, who kind of just watches everything and everyone and makes great observations..
3) Anthony: ....yea watch the video.

-Carryout

January 19, 2009

What else was going on?



I was looking for old skate videos of Gabriel Rodriguez, and instead I found this video called "The Hood Mix" by Gabriel Rican Rodriguez, who probably just happens to share the same name. I was intrigued by the record art, the nostalgic user commentary, and the fact that this music used to have a following in Chicago. It turns out DJ Gabriel Rodriguez has been a mainstay in the Chicago music scene for the past 15 years. I'm just curious as to how this music effected Chicago-ans in their views, identities, or extracurricular abilities at the time, if it did at all...? I'm just curious to see how this music impacted people beyond the usual and expected. If you don't get what I'm saying, then try to picture:

0) a skateboarder skating to Herbie Hancock in a videopart...
1) a young teenager in the middle of Texas getting his/her hands on an Art of Noise tape
2) a group of kids in the South Bronx listening and trying to interpret Kraftwerk
* As many of you may know, the latter two are commonly understood true stories, but I really am interested in knowing about how one factor influenced the other in other situations, especially if it is something that isn't so obvious, stereotypical, or logical (i.e.- grunge/rain, rap/violence, etc.)

I really worry that I'm making no sense or coming off as pretentious, but I hope you will at least (re)consider the commonly held idea that there isn't a singular interpretation of the things out there.

-Carryout.

January 13, 2009

Tourist monikers

Horsie monikers

Cactus monikers


Loc'd out monikers


All pics taken in St. Maarten/Dutch Antilles with the exception of the horsie pic by Marie in North Philly.
-Jaguarman

January 9, 2009

(*Photo:Gail@Large)

"...a city still built and predicated, I think, on keeping us apart. My old Boston -- the real one, outside my childhood cocoon -- still exists in form and attitude and fears of the unknown. There is terrible urban violence, and it has racial and geographical distinctness, and the reasons are too deep-rooted to be tidily resolved at the end of a column. I'm willing to cycle through the new Boston, but I still haven't figured out how to confront it. I'll never truly make it home until I do."


I was floating around the internet, when I decided to check up on the blog of an old college aquaintance, Judd. He posted a link to an interesting memoir written by the Boston Globe's film critic Ty Burr; the quote from above is a part of that piece that I particularly resonate with in my own ways. While I'm not from Boston, I hope for anyone who grew up on the East Coast to find some truth and similarities to their own lives in that article.

-J. Updike Carryout

January 6, 2009

French Press

Earlier this week while cleaning out my kitchen, I found an odd-looking apparatus left behind by one of the previous roommates. It happened to be a French Press. With recommendation from one of my friends, I researched how to actually use it, and eventually found this great home-made video on French Press coffee making.



-Carryout

January 1, 2009

The Beginning



While sometimes life feels like one long day, I still have to say it feels great to know 2009 is a fresh slate. Happy New Year from Judo Airlines.



This is a fresh video for a song called "Hands In The Dark" by a group called The Chromatics; they're on a label called "Italians Do It Better", that have some interesting groups.



SLAPCHOP. Infomercials sometimes can be kind of interesting. I was a big fan of the Magic Bullet, and the OG Food Dehydrator, although I never owned it. I like this particular informercial for its zest and charm.



Some next level skateboarding. It's like skateboarding meets hacky-sack.


















In recent years, I have noticed that there is a large market for old skateboard gear. It probably rarely occurred to young kids to keep a skateboard in mint condition for art or nostalgia sake, especially since kids are either broke or would rather skate their skateboards. But with the new atmosphere of Ebay, buying doubles, and putting shit on ice, things are bound to change. I think the board above is one I wouldn't mind preserving.

-Carryout