The End of the 00s: The Life of the Party, by Doree Shafrir @12:00 PM
It was 2004. We lived in Philadelphia. I'd bought a house in June on South 13th Street, in a neighborhood that had at one time been nearly all Italian but was now a mix of Mexicans, gays, Vietnamese, and Urban Outfitters employees. Real estate was cheap. I had an adjustable-rate mortgage. I rented out the downstairs apartment to a costume designer with bad credit and Moe moved into my second bedroom upstairs. I worked at an alt-weekly and rode a bike. READ MORE 10
P Is For The People Who Can't Understand @9:52 AM
So Jay-Z's booked to perform "Empire State of Mind" before the opening game of the world series at Yankee Stadium. Hard to beat something that makes that much sense. A big, bombastic anthem about the bright lights of the big city to match the big, bombastic Bronx Bombers and the bright lights of their big new stadium. (Even as that googolzillion-dollar monument to avarice and ostentation is already falling apart.) Alicia Keys on the chorus and everything. A-Rod's bound to pop a boner. The Evil Empire is stacking the deck.
How's Philadelphia-a place already afflicted with a severe second-city complex-supposed to compete? READ MORE 17
No Turntables, No Microphone, One Desk, Two Pens @3:50 PM
Watch this kid from Philadelphia make a beat for his rhyme using just a school desk and two pens. His name's Lyric (a.k.a. The Lyrical God). He's been getting lots of attention this week, from the YouTube video above from last year, so he's probably getting some phone calls. But thus far the internet seems to know little else about him than the fact that he can rock it on a garbage can at night, and that he has performed in at least one talent show. This reminds you how cool rap can be stripped down to its essence. Like Biggie said at the end of the "B.I.G. Interlude" from the Life After Death album, "What? It ain't no more to it." 7
Beanie Sigel, "In The Ghetto" @1:40 PM
If you're looking to counter the oddly antiseptic aftertaste left by Jay-Z's ostensibly warlike hit "Run This Town," there's this new video from Jay's old Philadelphia recruit, Beanie Sigel. Sit through the corny Vincent-Price-from-"Thriller" voice-over in the beginning, settle in to the swaying organ line and the tinkling piano and, um, brace yourself. READ MORE 4
Party To Be Thrown For Beaters Of Alleged Child-Rapist In Philadelphia @11:20 AM
After North Philadelphia neighbors beat up the man suspected of raping her 11-year-old daughter, the victim's mother expressed surprise. The police are not pressing charges against the mob—and "I plan on inviting them to a welcome-home party for my daughter," the mother said. Unfortunately, the mob also beat up someone else who was not the suspected rapist, but never mind! 6
