The End of SDTW

To my loyal readers or to the same 12,000 people a month that read this blog for some reason.

This is my last post on SDTW.

This blog was actually never meant to exist oddly enough. I started it when I moved up to Seattle and it truly had no purpose. It still doesn't when I think about it. It's just a bunch of rubbish I found on the internet and wrote about.

Thanks to all the people that would send me stuff and would reach out.

I'm glad to know there are people out there that "get it".

Stay up.

Mixtape Art

I would pay money to sit in on a brainstorming session at Pen and Pixel

I'm not being sarcastic.

I really want to be in a meeting where someone says "I think we could have him just surrounded by I don't know...bears? Maybe like some strawberries or some shit in the foreground. Could we give the bears sunglasses or something?"

SDTW Needs

Dear Santa,

Please bring me this explosion shark sky diving painting for Christmas.

Thanks.

I Heart iChat

SDTW is becoming NSFW more and more these days.

It's a shame really.

Picture of The Day

By Ruedi One

Get It Here

Pill 4075 The Refill

You probably have not heard of Pill. I hadn't until recently, but I'm really liking his new tape.

He sounds sort of like a cross breed between T.I and someone from Dungeon Family if that makes any sense.

Websites That Bum Me Out On Life

Hype Beast

A once promising web outlet for design and creativity that quickly turned into a "don't bother thinking for yourself" machine. What's funny about this site is if you just now came across it you'd think it was some fancy future yacht clothing blog. It only seems just a few short years ago it was strictly tee shirts, new eras, sneakers and toys. Well I suppose toys are still on there even though it doesn't jive with the nautical outdoor craftsman street style.

So sit back and drink your kool aid little duns and watch your once nostalgic youth cultures get bludgeoned into limited edition commerce.

Twitter

I have already dedicated a whole post on the viral beast that is Twitter so you may have seen this one coming. If Twitter ain't the most mark ass trick ass trick marking mark ass thing a human being can do then I don't know what is. My main issue is that it puts the emphasis on Twittering about what you're doing instead of just enjoying the experience of that particular moment. Why watch a concert when you could just simply Twitter about the concert?

Also there is not one person on this planet that needs to keep the world updated on their every move.

Just the mere mention of Twitter to one of my friends generates this immediate response:



Also how many people have to get in trouble or even lamer arrested because of Twitter before people start wising up? It seems nearly once a week a celebrity or athlete and even a graffiti writer seem to be getting into some sort of trouble because they have an online diary of what they were either thinking or doing.

I can not make this any clearer: Twitter is for assholes.

12oz. Prophet

The blogs on 12 oz are quite good. I have no problem there. They are filled with lots of talented dudes sharing different thoughts and giving you an inside look on their hustles. Now the forum on 12oz is where we run into a little problem. That cesspool of graffiti dribble spawned the whole "internet thug" persona. I can not even fathom how much drama this little website has caused. They could of course simply solve the whole problem by only allowing people to post pictures, but I guess the vanity of graffiti culture prevents that logic from passing the Better For All Of Humanity Board.

At any rate if you want to avoid the whole mess just simply sign up for Flickr and join the rest of the civilized graffiti world.


The Hundreds

I know taking these guys down a peg is petty and is about as easy as ripping on Bush, but frankly speaking I think this brand represents the whole "co-sign" and "design raping" thing to the fullest. Now to be fair they are much better business men than most people in the industry and I'm sure they work non-stop to keep the lights on etc, but I mean they could have done that without ripping off nearly every logo and band that resonated with the 18 - 35 year old male demographic for the last two decades. Just to name a few victims The Raiders logo, Starter hats, Minor Threat, Circle Jerks, Bebe's Kids, Disney, The Smiths, fucking M.C Escher ? and the list could really go on for another post. Some things were just better off the first time they came out. We don't need your re-interpretation of everything you've ever liked since you were 5 years old. I like Minor Threat too, but I don't need to use their album art to make a Minor Threat tee and then hide behind words like "homage" or "tribute". There are ways to allude or evoke something without copying it. It's not that hard.

I think to be unbiased I will do the compliment sandwich: compliment, criticism, and compliment. The brand itself has not followed suit with many of their contemporaries by pretending that they are no longer a brightly colored tee shirt brand and that they are now a Masonic clip art yacht brand that sells to stockists. Oh wait I just checked they use the word stockists too.

How pretentious is that fucking word?

I will now illustrate my point with an example of someone using the word "stockist":

Some guy: "Hey dude, that's a cool t shirt and matching hat ensemble."

Other guy: "Oh thanks."

Some guy: "Where did you get it?"

Other guy: "I got it at the stockist on 5th avenue."

Some guy: "Oh I have not heard of that stockist which stockist do you speak of?."

Other guy: "It is the stockist next to the black smith right across from the taffy shop."

Some of you may wonder where this recent surge in editorial/opinion focused posts are coming from.

All I can say is that if I talk about something with enough people it usually finds it's way on here whether it is critical or not.

I come from the school of genuinely disliking something every once in a while. Most people try and call this hating, but I think hating is to be envious without being able to articulate your reasons why.

It is okay to not like everything.

Here is a list of shit I like that people can hate on:

- Flannels
- Family Guy and The Office
- Old school graffiti
- City of God
- Breakdancing
- I listen to Cat Power

The list goes on dudes....

Group Home

For those that doubted my "Nore makes Lil Dap look like Nas" sentiment here is Group Home's "Livin' Proof" for your listening pleasures.

In hind sight these dudes don't really offer much in the lyrics department, but they do just enough to make you want to keep listening to it over and over.

This album could also be used as a perfect example on why Premiere is the best producer in the history of hip-hop. It sounds just as good today as it did when it was bumping in my walkman over a decade (and some change) ago.

Sykeeeeee cause I wouldn't be Livin' Proof

Lamebook Of The Day

In a sixth grade styleeeee

Crooklyn Dodgers 94

The often over looked Crooklyn Dodgers part 1 (Masta Ace, Buckshot, Special Ed)

Happy Friday.

The Homeboy Shopping Network

Just remember we willin' to work with you.

No job?

No problem.

No credit?

No probelm.

No money?

PROBLEM!

In Living Color sketches shit on everything.

Company Flow

Now for a late 90's classic. I remember exactly what store I bought this from to this day. It's one of those records you can re-discover over and over because of the sheer density of lyrics and beats. Co Flow never did anything after this as a group. The only member to really carry on the torch on a major level was El-P with his two solo releases which are both really good.

Perfect drawing music if you ask me.

Check "8 Steps To Perfection" to get an idea.



Go crush fun

Reggae Album Covers

I'm gonna say "Dub Out Her Blouse & Skirt" takes this one.

Today's Dress Code

Today's dress code is Ravishing Rick Rude.

The good ones always die young.

Piece Book: Reloaded

All NY fam next Friday go and check out the original front teeth gold teeth gun pon teeth graffiti gargon Keo TC5's latest works.

Dock Ellis & The LSD No No

This is hands down one of the most creative pieces I have seen all year.

Everything is on point from the art direction, narration, score, and animation style stand points.

It is really inspiring to say the least.

Graffiti Greatly Gets Gayer

I ordered a magazine from a graffiti website and there was a flyer for a company with this printed on it. I started laughing because I thought it was a joke about all over prints or some sort of faux brand type thing.

Then all of sudden I realized it wasn't some cleverly designed tongue in cheek joke.

It was a real brand.

It's called 4G's which stands for Guns, Graffiti, Ganja, and Girls.

Now I'm not ripping on this just for the sake of ripping on something. I understand opinions are like assholes and mine is no better or worse than anyone else's.

However, this 4G's type of "branding" or what have you is the quintessential problem with modern youth.

Kids grow up thinking sex, money, power is an actual real lifestyle and not just in graffiti, but in popular culture as well. Kids do not have anything or anyone to look up to and they are bombarded WAY more than we were. I mean if your parents didn't want you to see wild shit they basically just had to make sure you didn't watch MTV and that pretty much blocked you off from seeing anything crazy back then. I digress though.

I don't think it's fair to criticize others without offering some sort of alternative or counter point. So hear me out and tell me if this makes any sense or if you think I'm full of shit.

Kids today are fucking RETARDED!

They do not know the difference between entertainment and reality. I can listen to a Rick Ross song and I know dude hasn't sold one line of blow in his life. In fact there is probably some skinny jeans hipster rocking a kufi in Williamsburg right this second that has sold more yay than that bearded clown.

The problem is: Braiden (age 16) in Waterloo, Iowa does NOT know that "Ross" is full of shit. He listens to it, sees videos on Youtube, reads corny blogs, follows dude on Twitter, and probably BELIEVES it to be 100% real.

So no offense to whoever created 4G's, but the last thing that we need is to fuel this "bandanna clad wanna be delinquent ass bus stop thug" youth culture anymore with this guns, drugs, hoes mentality. There's already plenty of idiots that do that everyday and they are called RAPPERS.

Apologies for the rant, but I'm sick of running into these punk ass 14 year olds hellions out on the street.

Speak on it.

Subhumans

Another group I discovered through Justin.

When the weather turns to shit like it always does in Seattle I start leaning towards more punk, hardcore, metal type music. The Smiths usually get the bump too in this London esq climate we call the Northwest.

Anyways....

The Subhumans are (if I'm not mistaken) more anarcho style than straight punk and the English style is very prevalent in this record.

Run it....

Subhhhhhhhhuuummmmmaaaaannnssss

I Heart The Internets

Jack mode from Rondell Cunnigham Esq. III

Gauchos De Acero

These kids are apparently all grown up now and still covering songs. If this doesn't melt your face with rad then you suck.

Drawing Of The Day

Random Photos

I haven't had any photos to post up for a while. Gotta work on that.


"Hey Galactus, cute hoody bro!



All hail the King of Sandwiches



Tighter fades than a Fam Bam airbrush tee



Eh



Lamda Lamda Lamda



Watching one of your favorite bands (Bad Brains) past their prime sucks

Oh Streetwear

Why must you visually rape my youth one t-shirt at a time?

Congratulations guys.

You have discovered the "pause" button on your dvd player.

Chase & Status "Eastern Jam"

Big chune sent to me by the bad man Relay.

One Nation Under Apathy

Only in America.

Don't Mess With Moz?

Someone throws a water bottle at Morrissey and he walks off stage and doesn't come back.

If I was at the show I think I'd just laugh.

Imagine being the dude that did it. You could always tell that story to some crazy obsessed Moz head and you know without any doubt that the worst reaction they could have would be some limp wristed slap attempt.

Hense MSK

Wait a minute here.

A graffiti writer interview where guns, drugs, girls, and being a total bad ass aren't mentioned at all?

This can't be right?

SNL "On The Ground" sketch

The truth. Trust.

On The Ground

SDTW Does Not Need

Some dude: "Cute tagging jacket dude."

Other dude: "Yeah it even has secret pockets to hold your sprays."

Some dude: "Dangggggggg!"

Other dude: "Let's go hip-hop."

Some dude: "Word dog."

Aidonia "Isaiah"

I just came across this tune today. I'd like to see more dancehall deejays take a stab at more haunting style themes like this. It would balance out a lot of the "fuck your mudda's pussy till it blister" type stuff that we "get" to listen to everyday.

There is a video for this song, but as with nearly EVERY dancehall video ever made in the genre's history it totally sucks.

Also Aidonia needs to ditch the whole Serena Williams pony tail thing because it's not just gonna work...ever.

I Heart iChat

SDTW is a leading provider of politically incorrect iChat screen captures.

Photo Of The Day

Nirvana

To demonstrate even further how little I care about other people’s opinions on music here for your listening pleasure is one of my favorite albums EVER.

Motherfucking Nirvana: Unplugged

That’s right.

Mother…..fucking……..Nirvana!

Now don't get it twisted god. This doesn't mean I like Sublime too. It doesn't work like that. Nirvana is the exception.

I was having a discussion with Dr. Hound last night about music and we were discussing the difference between being open minded to other music and just not liking bad music.

The best way to explain it is like this.

I listen to everything from Morrissey to M.O.P. That is the spectrum I'm fuckin with. So in theory I don't dislike any one genre in particular, but I mean bad music is easy enough to identify in any genre if you know how to spot it.

I’m nearly 28 now. I am not going to listen to some new wave raptronic group called Lazer Awesome or something equally as lame. Nirvana is way better than all of those tight jean hipster electro psych rap hop idiots that seem to be everywhere these days. The blogosphere and hipsters will try and convince you that they are some "new shit" but I can tell you right now that I know re-packaged techno when I hear it. Electronic music is not new. It's been around since well probably since they invented I don't know......electronics?

I’m sorry, but that doesn’t do it for me. So if liking Nirvana makes me some musical dinosaur then by all means call me a Flannelasaurus.

And just so we're clear. I know dick about music. I like what I like and know a little background info on some of the shit I post, but please don't think I'm John Cusack in "High Fidelity" or something like that. I have about 14 pieces of vinyl tops. I prefer having sex with women than pretending to be some sort of musical blog scholar.

P.S Heroin is still stupid kids. Don’t get down with the brown.

Sing that shit Kurt

Eek A Mouse

Besides being a total a-hole Eek A Mouse makes good music or more importantly made good music. His impact on modern deejay style can not be denied regardless of how looney dude is off stage.

Also how is it I can't talk to one of my friend's about Eek A Mouse without getting some sketchy story that involves one of the following: cocaine, Oceanside, shady apartment complex, underage girls?

Track Listing:

Sensee Party
Looking Sexy
Modelling Queen
You Na Love Reggae Music
Always On My Mind
Do You Remember
Skidip
Na Make Mi Girl Go Away
Fat And Slim
Where Is My Baby

This actually might be his best long player. It's all rub a dub and doesn't actually have any digital tunes at all.

Production by Linval Thompson, Channel One Studios, Radics.


Skip Dip Skip Dip Skip Dip Eh

Lamebook Of The Day

Whoa whoa whoa.

Are PT Crusiers not cool now?

Electric Wizard

For everyone that requested this sonic bongload of rad here you are.



Get your wizard on

Beanie Sigel Disses Jay-Z

I've never listened to Beans. Ever. Just never did. I've never been huge on Jay-Z either. He's cool, nice dude in person and a good rapper, but I don't think dude is king of the fucking world.

I like this song. Too bad Kay Slay has to talk over the whole damn song. Dude has been cutting dudes off since he "Kanye'd" Case 2 in Style Wars.

The Yankees Suck

Seriously.

They do.

Liking the Yankees is the equivalent to liking Nickelback. Just because they are popular doesn’t mean it is good. Mediocrity is always the most popular.

Also baseball as a sport sort of sucks too. Playing it is cool, going to the actual ballpark ain’t all that bad either, but watching it on tv puts me to sleep.

If you really want to get into it the the 86’ Mets team were infinitely cooler than the Yankees. After winning the World Series they all got blown out of their minds and had an orgy with each other’s wives. Now that isn’t my style per say, but that would be a lot cooler than slapping each other’s butts and sharing steroid syringes.

So all you Jankee fans can hoot and holler all you want, but by and large no one really cares about you winning another World Series.

Steven Seagal: Lawman

I had heard about this, but god this is brilliant.

Reality so much more strange than fiction.

The dude has been a pig for like 20 years.

Now all I need is a JCVD cooking show and life would be complete.

Charlie Pratt

I came across these photos via Mare139's blog on 12oz. Right away I knew who's handy work it was. The design was done by Mare 139 which is cool and all, but mocking something up in Illustrator and painting the whole thing on the side of an 8 story building are two different things folks.



Some perspective.



The dude on the left is an old friend of mine named Charlie Pratt. I've worked with a lot of artists/designers I will refrain from name dropping, but if you read SDTW a lot you already know I've worked with enough to know a thing or two. Charlie however is criminally slept on in the popular art world and popular culture as a whole.

This dude can paint anything. ANYTHING! Any medium, fonts, letters, photo realism, cans, whatever. The only reason nobody has heard of him is because he's one of the few people I know that refuses to "play the game." He doesn't care about being on your t-shirt, your limited sneakers, a fucking Bearbrick (whatever the fuck those are) or your blog. Hell, he probably is mad I'm talking about him right now. To be frank Charlie would rather have a cold beer than a sneaker collabo any day of the week.

That is why he is one of my heroes. There are very few people who can do what he does everyday in the Big Apple, but there are even fewer who could do it without thinking they were the shit. Charlie just lets the work doing the talking.

Also the dude next to him on the right is Baby 168 who gets double daps for putting in work on New York's transit system and doing sign painting. And good looks for giving credit to Mare 139 with the little tag they threw in.

Remember kids when you meet a bitter old dude who isn't fond of trends and dressing like a 14 yr. old it is probably because they have a little thing called sense so remember to button your lip when they talk.

And I would link Charlie's site if he had one, but ah see.....that's how rugged dude is. Although, I caught him with iPhone last time I saw him.

And back to regular assortment of stupid shit I find on the internet that doesn't make you think.

SDTW Needs

Thank you in advance.

Boyz II Men

Don't ask me why I was bumping Boyz II Men this morning at work, but I was.

Spotted some very unusual cameos.

Reas? Wen?

Perhaps Lord Scotch can explain this in the comment's section.

Mikey Dread Forver

Thanks to VD for the assist on this one.

So someone made a flash game of Mikey Dread (a friend of SDTW from long ago) and it is actually kind of good.

You can play dub tunes and make spleefed out sound fxs and all that. I played something similar a while back, but this one is a lot cooler just because it pays respect to one of dub music's biggest champions.


Play it HERE

Why Unite and I never got dubs from Mikey is beyond me. I'm still kicking myself in the ass over that shit.

Gully Vs. Gaza

That's it.

I'm done following this stupid fuckery until after Sting 2009.

I'm guessing (anyone feel free to correct me) that Bounty accused Vybz of piercing a.k.a bore his tongue.

So he replied saying that previous accusation was indeed false and that Bounty in fact uses his tongue to lick buttholes or something to that effect.

So yeah. This is pretty fucking lame and is about on par with rap.

Even dancehall is getting lame these days.

Damn.

Driver Destroys $150,000 Worth Of Booze

This one is like the sequel to "drunkest dude ever" but I think it is more like a "Vodka 9/11".

Sleep

I recently started listening to some doom metal. I think that's what it's called? I first heard about it from the homie Tobias, but I didn't start listening to it until my buddy Jamie put some on at his work.

Correct if my wrong, but the difference is in the speed. There are still solos and face melting riffs and all that good shit, but the pace is more heavy and follows a pulse instead of lightning fast rock.

It's pretty epic.

I'm calling it metal dub.

This is sort of the "Illmatic" of the genre and if you read up on Sleep they have a pretty interesting story.

Imagine hung over metal dudes taking bong loads in a dark basement somewhere getting all awesome.

Go to sleep on yonder Holy Mountain