Sometime last month, George 2.0 was in town. OJ and I happened to be hangin out together, so we decided to meet up with George and friends. After all, we’re all apart of The Exchange so it is our duty (or at least mine!) to meet every Exchange crew folk in real life.
Meeting George was awesome and he definitely gets two thumbs up. He’s a funny, smart, charming cat and so are his friends. Somehow, OJ and I unknowingly walked ourselves into a video shoot, though. Clearly there was something in the Kool-Aid because I never volunteer to be on camera lol. Lucky for me though, I didn’t have any speaking parts. Anyway, check out the video they made that day, I dig the campaign: Change Protection Program.
You know the deal. This week’s Exchange theme is Where I’m From: artists from your hometown (or as close as possible).
The Playlist: Jen | Hip-Hop – Dead Prez Panama | Kryptonite (I’m On It) – Purple Ribbon All-Stars BK | Lifted – John Legend feat. J. Ivy Sam | Heard It All Before – Sunshine Anderson George | Don’t See Us – The Roots Liz | Orange County Girl – Gwen Stefani Eyejammy | Everyday (Rudebwoy) – Kardinal Offishall feat. Ray Robinson Marcia | I’ll Bet You – Jackson 5 OJ | How to Survive in South Central – Ice Cube Cye | Geen Verschil – U-Niq feat. Feis & Yootha Ouxu | Insomnia – Pete Philly & Perquisite
Cop it: Stream it on Muxtape & also available for download at Rapidshare.
About My Pick: “Orange County Girl” is on Gwen Stefani’s The Sweet Escape. I can’t say this is my favorite Gwen track, but it fits the bill for this issue of The Exchange. Gwen and I are both from Orange County and the song is about OC so what more could you ask for? I may be originally from New Mexico, and (currently) live in Los Angeles, but I’m just an Orange County Girl living in an extraordinary world.
By the way, if you ever refer to Orange County as “The OC,” you’re a n00b. It is and will always forever be called “OC.” Don’t believe everything you see on TV.
Gwen’s from Fullerton/Anaheim. If you really want to get hyperlocal on me, then check out Ill Phaness and his Strollin Wreckless crew. Ill Phaness is a friend of mine who lived across the street from me and we went to high school together. The (first half of the) first music video below was shot on my block. The second video was shot at my high school.
I have been slippin on my pimpin, slackin on my mackin. Two Exchanges have dropped and I haven’t updated my blog with the new stuff. So, this will be your double header. Be prepared.
The Exchange 006: R.I.P. Songs by the dearly departed
Sam | Touch of Grey – The Grateful Dead Marcia | Just in Time – Nina Simone Jen | The Wind Cries Mary – Jimi Hendrix George | Funky Drummer – James Brown
Eyejammy | Debes Callar – Celia Cruz & Ray Barreto & Adalberto Santiago Ouxu | Fanatic (Dilla Remix) – Vivian Green (peep Ouxu’s new link! new blog!)
About My Pick: I love 2Pac. He was the first rapper I really became a fan of, and I think this track was my first favorite from him. It’s thoughtful, and came at a time when people were giving gangsta rap a hard time. I miss 2Pac.
—- The Exchange 007: BIG Favorite tracks by or featuring Notorious BIG.
The Playlist:
Marcia | Player’s Anthem – Junior Mafia feat. The Notorious B.I.G. Panama | Dead Wrong – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Eminem Cye | Warning – The Notorious B.I.G. Liz | B Side – Da Brat feat. The Notorious B.I.G. Ouxu | Big Poppa – The Notorious B.I.G. OJ | Unbelievable – The Notorious B.I.G.
Jen | It’s All About the Benjamins – Puff Daddy feat. The Notorious B.I.G., Lil’ Kim & The Lox
Sam | Who’s On the Microphone – Gang Starr feat. The Notorious B.I.G. BK | Lean Back (Remix) – The Notorious B.I.G. Eyejammy | The What – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Method Man Kate | Juicy – The Notorious B.I.G.
Get Yours: Streaming on Muxtape & available for download at Zshare. About My Pick: If seventh grade it was all about 2Pac, eighth grade was all about Biggie. I spent my eighth grade year in Tucumcari, New Mexico, which is essentially the middle of nowhere. I lacked cable and there is no urban radio near Tucumcari, so I’m not sure how I got wind of Biggie Smalls. Somehow Biggie managed to get me through that year though. “B Side” by Da Brat feat Biggie was particularly interesting to me because of the video. Da Brat’s hair was so cool. I know I wanted to wear my hair like Da Brat’s back then, but I wasn’t brave enough to do it. Still, I guess I liked her because her hair was cool, and I could appreciate her tomboyishness, as I was one too (I think I still am, I’m just in denial). Oh, and the lyrics are great, too.
About My Pick: Booti Call by Blackstreet I wasn’t too sure of what to pick for this exchange. All the cool George tracks were chosen (not like I know of many). I picked this track because I think George might have an appreciation for throwback tracks to this time period. In addition, the track samples George Clinton’s Atomic Dog, so that’s almost George-y, right? This song is pretty dope in my book, one of my favorite Blackstreet tracks.