100 Ways to "Save" Hip Hop by Henry Adaso

1. Stop playing the same 5 songs on the radio.
2. Stop listening to radio stations that play the same 5 songs.
3. Stop blaming Diddy.
4. Stop Diddy.
5. Stop dubbing every new jack “the next great” this and that.
6. Stop charging body parts for shows.
7. Stop fabricating feuds to sell records.
8. Stop putting Lil Wayne on every song.
9. Stop saying hip-hop is dead.
10. Stop hating Kanye for being weird.
11. More battles, less beef.
12. Stop biting Jay-Z’s flow.
13. Stop biting Biggie’s ad libs.
14. Stop putting weed carriers on your album.
15. Stop trying to please everyone.
16. Stop leaking entire albums song by song.
17. Stop making posthumous collaborations.
18. Stop getting arrested for dumb things.
19. Stop being homophobic.
20. Stop blaming record labels.
21. Stop whining about how much you miss the golden age of hip-hop.
22. Stop cluttering albums with corny skits, unless you’re Prince Paul.
23. Support creativity with your wallet.
24. Stop making 50-song albums with 90% filler.
25. Stop faking the funk.
26. Stop calling people who disagree with you “haters.”
27. Stop hating.
28. Stop kissing ass for favors.
29. Stop saying you miss “real” hip-hop.
30. Stop hating Jay-Z.
31. Stop saying you’re carrying ___ city on your back. That’s not even possible.
32. Stop acting too cool for school at concerts.
33. Stop rapping about the same three topics.
34. Stop rapping about UFOs.
35. Stop promoting sexual violence under the guise of hood reportage.
36. Stop defending misogyny.
37. Stop being a Twitter groupie.
38. Stop taking contrarian views for the sake of being different.
39. Stop hating people who disagree with you.
40. Stop dissing Soulja Boy.
41. Stop Soulja Boy.
42. Stop dissing people who make dance-tastic rap. It’s been around forever.
43. Support innovative DJs.
44. Actually make the effort to move the crowd.
45. Stop radio payola.
46. Stop blog payola.
47. Push the envelope.
48. Stop biting.
49. Stop yelling on mixtapes.
50. Stop blaming bloggers.
51. Make meaningful music.
52. Stop obsessing over airplay (or lack thereof).
53. Stop showering undeserving veterans with blind praise.
54. Stop sleeping on unsigned talent.
55. Stop hopping on trends.
56. Stop making everything a race issue.
57. Stop being so gimmicky.
58. Stop calling everything a concept album.
59. Stop making tinkerbell beats.
60. Stop blaming skinny jeans.
61. Stop blaming hipsters.
62. Stop explaining your art.
63. Let your music speak for itself.
64. Stop playing it safe.
65. Invest in better artwork and packaging.
66. Stop promoting ignorance.
67. Stop burning bridges over stupid things.
68. Stop bragging about sales.
69. Stop showing up six hours late to your own shows.
70. Stop blaming the South.
71. Stop putting people in a box.
72. Stop tossing “classic” around.
73. Stop congratulating yourself on every other song.
74. Stop trying to sell the same album twice.
75. Stop looking for the next 50 Cent.
76. Stop hating people who color outside the lines.
77. More rapping, less singing.
78. Stop wasting your budget on video hos.
79. Do tell me, how do you get in those jeans.
80. Stop getting murdered by Eminem on your songs.
81. Stop telling me to “bring that sh-t back!”
82. More improvised freestyles, less written freestyles.
83. More originality, less biting.
84. More RZA, less Bobby Digital.
85. More effort, less ghostwriting.
86. More albums, less mixtapes.
87. Stop using auto-tune to mask a lack of singing talent.
88. Stop making contrived girl songs.
89. Stop wearing obnoxious gold chains.
90. Stop calling everything a movement. Civil Rights = movement; Bugatti Boys = not a movement.
91. Stop shooting up the clubs.
92. Stop wearing jackets that look like LV handbags.
93. Stop nominating idiots for Hip-Hop Honors.
94. Stop handing out awards to the same 5 people every year.
95. Stop sending impostors to your show (I’m looking at you, DOOM).
96. Ban Diddy from Twitter.
97. Stop putting baby pictures on your album cover.
98. Be aware that the roof is not literally on fire.
99. Retire the word “swag.”
100. Stop trying to save hip-hop. It doesn’t need saving.

I have a simple solution...Listen to more Kendrick Lamar. 

The Hundreds Spring 2012 Lookbook

The Hundreds give us a look at their Spring release thru these awesome shoots in their latest lookbook. The release includes button down shirts, jackets, sweatshirts, shorts and pants. 

The Firm: UK Organized Crime Photos by Jocelyn Bain Hogg

A series of photos by Jocelyn Bain Hogg are on display at an exhibit in London's Foto 8 Gallery. The photos give a look into one of the UK organized crime families. These type of photoshoots are rare and hard to come by. Check out the photos below.

From Building Pyramids to Buying Jordan’s

On December 22, 2011 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. arose from his grave

and was escorted around the country to various cities.

As he rode around he saw many Africans Americans camped outside of malls and

was proud that his people were still fighting for a cause.

He thought to himself, “I wonder what they’re protesting for this time, higher wages, equal employment or more

civil rights?” What do you think his response was when he found out that his people spent all that time and

energy to get a pair of sneakers?...Crazy thought right?

Once we devote that same energy and start having that same kind of turnout to meaningful

things like protest and new innovations we will be better off as a culture.

But instead we went from building pyramids to buying Jordan’s.

How does this happen?

Why do we let this insecurity of what brand we wear roam in the Black community?

As a kid I was into Jordan’s but now I’m no longer into the hype.

I have strong views against Jordan Brand and Michael Jordan himself because he’s

willing to sell out his own people just to make a profit.

How ignorant is it that some of the people who stood in those long lines spent

their last dime to fit in or those who spent money they got from governmental assistance

to look better off than what they are?

These problems only hinder the Black community from growing.

A simple minded person would say, “they’re just shoes”, but it’s much more deeper than that.

It’s okay to get the shoes because you like them, but the problem occurs when you

feel that in order for you to fit in you must have them.

I flipped through various news channels and I was disgusted by how the media portrayed us.

They talked about how we always get crazy around this time of year and spend a ridiculous amount of money

on sneakers we can barely afford just to make a fashion statement. After ridiculing our culture they shoed clips full of African Americans fighting in line and in some instances killing.

Now that’s death over designer for you.

Let’s no longer fit into the stereotype many other cultures have put us in.

We should be trying to move forwards and not backwards as we have been doing.

Put down them shoes, pick up books, and always remember where you came from because if you don’t you’ll

continue reversing the progress that has already been made.

-          Brandon Johnson (@Snagman_Johnson)

Ronnie Fieg X ASICS Gel Saga II “Mazarine Blue” | Featuring Siri Blomquist

I love chicks. I love kicks. Don't ask me which I love more. But in this case, I love chicks. This shoot features another colorway of the ASICS Gel Saga II from Ronnie Fieg, featuring the beautiful Siri Nerelle (@siriblomquist). Its the eyes that bring out the shoe. Usually the other way around of some shit, huh? Overall, great shoot. Ronnie Fieg is set to release the ASICS Gel Saga II “Mazarine Blue” this Thursday, December 29th, at select retail locations.

Nike Football Pro Combat System “Oregon Ducks” Uniforms

Oh look, new Oregon uniforms. Celebrating their return to the Rose Bowl, Nike gives a preview to their newest Pro Combat system.  The new uniform provides enhanced thermoregulation and more durability with the inclusion of Nike Chain Maille Mesh – a lightweight ultra-breathable material – used in both the jersey and pants.

The Ducks are to play the Wisconsin Badgers on January 2nd.
View the Bowl game matchups here.

Smoke DZA - SWEETBABYKUSHEDGOD (EP)

I was unable to post this on Xmas, but better late than never.

New EP from Smoke DZA. Features from the likes of Action Bronson, Domo Genesis, and A$AP Rocky & Twelvy who can be heard on the 4Loko Remix with Danny Brown, Freeway, and Killa Kyleon.

Tracklisting below:

1. Smokey Klause (Prod. By 183rd & Kenny Beats)

2. Christmas In The Trap (Prod. By 183rd)

3. SWV feat. Domo Genesis & Mookie Jones (Prod. By Lex Luger)

4. What’s Goodie (Prod. By 183rd & Maki)

5. 4 Loko Remix feat. A$AP Rocky, A$AP Twelvy, Danny Brown, Killa Kyleon & Freeway (Prod. By 183rd)

6. Big Bad & Dangerous feat. Action Bronson (Prod. By 183rd)

7. Bout That Life (Prod. By Maki & 183rd)

8. Money Down feat. P-IC (Prod. By A-Foe)

9. Dear Winter (Prod. By Flying Lotus)

Download Here.

Childish Gambino - "Ima Boss" Freestyle

Childish Gambino aka Donald Glover throws some bars on the infamous 'Ima Boss' beat in London for the first time exclusively for all you SBTV viewers.

URSUS Bape Spring/Summer 2012 Lookbook

A simple look at the lookbook for the URSUS Bape Spring and Summer releases. This release is exactly that; simple. Nothing special about this collection out of the ordinary. Still a good look.