Old Friends

Uncategorized

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Remember when The Diplomats were fresh out the box?  They used to come up to Hot 97 and shut the city down, and release the dopest mixtapes (Diplomats Vol. 2 above is my personal favorite).  I miss those days, when they were one crew.  Now it seems that Cam’ron and Jim Jones have gone their separate ways.  Hopefully they will reunite soon.  Until then, enjoy this clip I dug out of my collection of hip hop DVD’s (after a personal request for more of THESE TYPES OF VINTAGE VIDEOS from the one and only Miss Info), featuring a studio interview with Cam’ron from his pre- S.D.E. days.  Jim Jones and Freekey Zekey are both in the building (this was filmed before Juelz Santana was around), and Jim and Cam both spit verses at the end of the interview.  This is classic footage right here, especially for the true Diplomats fans.  There’s alot of them here in Westcheddar…

Gonna go pull out S.D.E., haven’t listened to it in a while.  Get at me…

*BONUS*  Ooops, my mistake, Juelz Santana was around at that time, he’s actually on a couple S.D.E. songs.  Check out this Stretch Armstrong 15 minute rhyme session from back then with Cam and Juelz going back and forth.  I used to ride out to this non-stop.  Awesome.

Cam’ron and Juelz live 15 minute rap session on Stretch Armstrong show

Moment of Silence

Events

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Jay-Z is always good for a memorable moment at Summer Jam.  This year, he performed his new song that’s had everyone in a frenzy since it was released last Friday night.  Check the live video below of “D.O.A”, the death of auto tune anthem.  Ironically, T-Pain joined Hov on stage for the funeral.  This song bangs.

Just for the record, I liked auto tune…By the way, a great way to keep up with new hip hop news and music, other than here and nahright.com is Rap Radar…peace.

Jay-Z “D.O.A.” (Death Of Autotune) DIRTY VERSION prod. by No I.D. & Kanye West

Happy Hour

Stan Ipcus

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Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears (above) make music that sounds like James Brown in his prime, only more 21st Century.  And on their song “I’m Broke”, the standout track off their album Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is!, the lead singer (Joe Lewis I guess?) sounds almost exactly like Eddie Murphy doing an impression of James Brown on SNL, and I mean that in the most complimentary way.  It’s super funky!  I first read about them in Spin Magazine and was intrigued when I found out they were down with Spoon, a band I sampled for “Hammer”, my show-banging song with my old friend Matty B.  Turns out “I’m Broke” has a great intro break to loop up, so I flipped it into a cut for my upcoming project The Young Professional.  Check out the brand new video for “I’m Broke” below, along with Stan Ipcus “Happy Hour”, a nice story joint about a night after work (LOL at Fitz Winkleman!)…

Stan Ipcus “Happy Hour”

*BONUS*  Check the vintage video of Stan Ipcus and Matty B performing “Hammer” in WP at Thirsty Turtle…

Download Stan Ipcus albums for free RIGHT HERE!

Horse Head

Events

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Dear God, I wish I had one of those horse masks (above) to wear to the Band of Horses acoustic show I’m attending this Thursday 6/11 at Carnegie Hall.  Ha!  That’s an actual fan spotted in the crowd at one of their shows.  Awesome.  But honestly, I haven’t been this excited about going to a concert in a long time.  It’s my first time seeing BOH live.  And an all acoustic set at Carnegie Hall?  Sick.  Here’s a video for one of my favorite songs from their last album Cease to Begin, “No One’s Gonna Love You”, which features lots of live clips of the band on tour.  Will I see you at the show?  Look for me and Jiggs and Tennessee Tim in the front row of the balcony.  Yes!

Mag Bag

Events, Fly Spots, My Dudes, Published Material, Stan Ipcus

I got a great response from the Jay-Z and the Roc live at the Tunnel videos I posted yesterday.  Almost every respectable hip hop blog, from Nahright to Rap Radar to Miss Info’s blog to 2dopeboyz linked to Westcheddar and gave it props, and my site hits skyrocketed!  So thanks for that.  In coalition with that classic footage, I completed my Cribs series with my final installments, where I dig into my hip hop magazine collection and also open up a package I received from Amazon.com courtesy of my wife’s birthday gift certificate to her rapping husband.  Created for hip hop enthusiasts who went to high school in the 90’s and anyone who wants to get to know me and my interests a little better.  Check out Stan Ipcus “Cribs” part 3 and 3 1/2…

In addition, our recent nuptials are being featured as the Wedding of the Month on Westchester Magazine’s website!  Check the link for the story and pics from the big day, and also my GROOM GUY blog that I write for the magazine too…

Westchester Magazine Wedding of the Month

Westchester Magazine GROOM GUY Blog

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My wife and I outside Battery Gardens last weekend at my cousin CI’s wedding

On The Reg

Interviews

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Eastbound and Down, the laugh out loud HBO comedy mini-series, is coming out on DVD at the end of the month.  Steve Little (above left) plays Stevie, middle school teacher slash Kenny Powers’ assistant.  Love that guy.  Sooooo funny.  Heeb Magazine, a top notch Jewish publication, recently did a great interview with Little.  Click the link below to read.  And cop the DVD when it comes out if you know what’s good for you…

Heeb Magazine Interview with Steve Little of Eastbound and Down

Tunnel Vision

Events, Published Material, Stan Ipcus

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Years ago, before Youtube, I used to look for rare hip hop videos the same way people look for hard to find sneakers: on Ebay.  One night, I stumbled across someone selling a DVD of Jay-Z live at the famous NYC nightclub The Tunnel, filmed right around the time In My Lifetime Volume 3 came out.  It was fairly cheap, so I ordered it, figuring it would at least be something cool to have in my collection of hip hop memorabilia.  Anyway, I was going though some of my old stuff recently and I pulled it out to watch, and it’s doper than I remembered.  Sometimes footage like this gets better with age.  And since I couldn’t find it anywhere else on the web, I figured I’d put it up here on Westcheddar as an exclusive.  My DVD has no tags or credits so I have no idea who filmed this and I don’t remember who sold it to me, but whoever did, PROPS ARE DEFINITELY DUE.  It’s pretty good video and sound quality and shot right from the stage so you can see everyone up close and also get a feel for how off the hook The Tunnel crowd used to be during the late 90’s/early 2000’s (I never went but I’ve heard stories).  The four part video of the full set (about 40 minutes long) features the original Roc La Familia in full effect, including Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel, Amil, DJ Clue, and even Pain in da Ass.  Enjoy.  It’s the Roc!!!!

Pt. 1 “Pain in da Ass Intro”, “It’s Hot”, “Jigga My Ni$a”, and “So Ghetto”

Pt. 2 “Can I Get A…”, “Money Ain’t a Thang”, “It’s Alright”, “What You Think of That”, and “Bleek Is”

Pt. 3 “What a Thug About”, “45 Freestyle”, “Who You Wit”, “Ain’t No Ni$a”, “Imaginary Player”, and “Jigga What, Jigga Who”

Pt. 4  “Money, Cash, Hoes” and “Do It Again”

As a bonus, here’s a throwback song I did over Jay-Z “It’s Hot”, off my 2006 DJ Roz mixtape Real Breezy:

Stan Ipcus “Mr. Maven”

And for those of you visiting this blog for the first time, yes I’m a rapper, but I wear other hats.  I actually have a full time job directing youth programs here in Westchester County, and I also am a freelance writer.  In fact, I used to write for XXL during the Elliott Wilson years for their MOVE THE CROWD section, covering live shows up and down the east coast.  Check out a couple of my favorite clips HERE.  And please, scroll through the rest of the blog too when you have some time (check out the interviews section).  Thanks for visiting Westcheddar…

Holler back.

Diamond District

My Dudes

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I lived in Washington D.C. for three years after graduating from the University of Maryland.  It’s a great city, filled with lots of culture and beauty.  It’s also very grimey.  Don’t get it twisted.  I had the chance to enjoy all aspects of it.  Sure, I lived only a few blocks from Georgetown, but I spent my fair share of time in all areas of the “DMV” (DC, Maryland, Virginia).  Though fairly small, there is a blooming hip hop scene down there, and I was fortunate enough to be friendly with some of the dudes who are now popping on a national (and even international) level.  

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Led by producer/rapper Oddisee (above right, who I know from my DMV days), Diamond District is comprised of three m.c.’s (XO and YU also), and I do mean m.c.’s.  These guys can rap.  And with production reminiscent of the mid 90’s boom bap, their album In The Ruff sounds more east coast than any other rap release to come out of the nation’s capital.  Their lyrical content is very inviting to intelligent listeners, and their beats are gritty head nodders that will not only impress even the gulliest of street dudes but will also peak the interest of rap nerds too with great samples, drum patterns, sounds, and structures.  And no, the songs don’t sound dated or retro.  It’s a fresh new DMV sound!  This is one of those high caliber underground albums that true hip hop heads needed desperately.  And at 11,000 free downloads plus in the first six weeks on the net, people are slowly but surely going to realize that D.C. ain’t no joke.  NYC better step their game up.  Download this clean version now, and cop the dirty version when it’s released officially this summer.

DOWNLOAD DIAMOND DISTRICT- IN THE RUFF

Diamond District DMV Official Website

These guys have a bunch of other stuff in the works too (solo albums, collabos, etc.) so stay tuned.  And if you’re digging what you hear, peep out this new mostly intrumental EP Oddisee released for free download below.  The cover photo was taken in the Sudan, where he spent many summers growing up.  Pretty ill.

Odd Summer

DOWNLOAD ODD SUMMER

And as a bonus, I gotta put you on to a new mix from my dude Supa Qool DJ Uncle Q called By All Means Badu (cover below).  Uncle Q and I go way back to the dorms of College Park, and although he grew up in NYC (Brooklyn stand up!), he is a cornerstone of the D.C. hip hop music scene and also the Diamond District’s show DJ.  He’s actually my connection to Oddisee.  This Erykah Badu mix is perfect for the summer.  Now that I think about it, I saw Badu live at Constitution Hall in D.C.  Wow, that was a great show, right after her release of Mama’s Gun which is one of my all time favorite R & B albums.  Check Uncle Q’s mix out below, it’s one long mp3 so let it ride…

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DOWNLOAD- BY ALL MEANS BADU

Terps 4 Life.  Testudo hollerrr at me.  Peace.

School of Marketing

Uncategorized

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Judd Apatow and his crew are gearing up for the release of his latest comedic heartwarmer FUNNY PEOPLE.  With less than two months to go until the July 31st release of the film (which stars Adam Sandler), a mock sit-com called YO TEACH! is making its way around the internet.  Starring the hilarious Jason Schwartzman (above middle with Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen who all star in FUNNY PEOPLE), the show makes fun of classic kid friendly school-set sit-coms like Saved By The Bell and Boy Meets World.  Schwartzman plays the part of a high school substitute teacher on YO TEACH!, and in FUNNY PEOPLE he plays the actor playing the part of the same substitute teacher as depicted in the show.  Get the connection?  Did I explain it right?  Same dude.  So far an EPK for the show and one episode has been posted, and there are more episodes to come, along with additional spinoffs of FUNNY PEOPLE featuring other co-stars, all being used as viral promotion for the main feature.  Clever marketing huh?  Check the EPK and first episode of Yo Teach! below…

Oh yeah, the basketball player in YO TEACH! is played by Bo Burnham, the silly rapping white boy with millions of youtube views who I featured HERE a few months ago.  As for the actual movie, well here’s the trailer.  Looks seriously good…

What a cast.  Stay tuned for more episodes of YO TEACH! HERE…

Admit It

Stan Ipcus

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I leaked this song called “IP’s Nice (Admit It)” to Nah Right last week.  Here’s how it was featured on their site.  Free download link below.  More new material coming soon…

*Stan goes in over the beat to OC’s “Jewelz”:

I gave you both a shout out in the first verse for supporting me, but also threw a direct jab at Dante Ross for talking shit about me on dontgetgassed.com, which I thought was a weird move coming from a hip hop legend I always admired. Since when is it bad to make a diss song about someone you are competing with in hip hop? I don’t talk shit. I put all my thoughts on wax. To me, that’s a hip hop move. Pardon me, I’ve been going in lately, and I’m not gonna stop. People might not want to admit it, but they know I’m nice. That’s what this song is about. This is not on The Young Professional. Peace, ip.

Stan Ipcus – IP’s Nice (Admit It)

IP on NAHRIGHT