Respect, Andy Samburg

With the recent release of the hilarious 'Jizz In My Pants' people are starting to see the genius of this man on a larger scale. If you havent seen any of this shit, you're a stooge. If you haven't seen the movie "Hot Rod", go rent, steal or buy it. Peep the first clip below for look at the first glorious minute of the film, and a collection of the man's lesser and greater known works below.

The sorry state of digital music in Australia

I've been wanting to vent about this for a while, and it came to a head for me today something fucked.

Firstly, there are a few things I just don't wanna have to put up with - in order of importance:

1. Shitty formats (wmv, aac etc.)
2. Shitty bitrates (i'm lookin at you Mr. Jobs)
3. Shitty ass DRM shitty shit shit (Jobs, Bigpond etc)

Now the DRM thing, as annoying as it is, wouldn't bother me if there was a decent lossless format available, as I'd just have to do my downloading in one hit and burn em to CD for backup's sake.

I tried to legally download 'Get Shaky' by the Ian Carey Project today. I get all my electronic ish from Beatport, so naturally that's where I headed for this. BP had no less than four versions of the single, but I was restricted from purchase in my territory. Gaydom. Props to beatport, but fuck this regional BS.

Amazon i thought. Never tried it before. Australian Credit Card. Can't bounce.

I never fucked with bigpond due to DRM but hey, I thought i'd sacrifice a lil quality and convenience for the ease of grabbing it. WMV only. Get fucked you shitbags.

At this point I considered the devil's pie only to realise that I hadn't installed iTunes on my new notebook. I'm not planning on it.

I'd just installed Media Player 11 and saw it has a store link built in from Sanity's LoadIt. Searched for it (only one of the biggest songs on radio right now in Oz) and nothing came up.

This exhausted my commitment to playing fair. I mean, i get payed to DJ. I write produce and release music with the intent of making a profit. I even own a label and know how hard it is to stay afloat these days. But what the fuck is up? Pirate Bay came through and I still feel bad but i know I shouldn't as it's not my fault the music industry has dragged it's feet in updating the business model and delivery method of this content.

SOMEONE NEEDS TO START A NEW DIGITAL STORE.

Where are the dudes from Winamp on this front?

Kid Cudi / Plain Pat / X & Hell + More - THURSDAY!

Yep thats right. Miss Libs this thursday people. A-Style & Mafia holding down the decks in support also. Be an angel and roll thru.

TRUCK - ZAC HAYSE REMIX!!

Styalz X Heez X Zac-Hayse X Wide World Of Sports Collabo!!!

AKA Styalz X Heez X Bacardi Collabo!!!

KiD CUDi / PLAIN PAT / X & HELL - DEC 4TH - ROXANNES, MELB

When Brooklyn via Cleveland guy Kid Cudi last graced Australia in June of this year, I wrote that it was dope (and rare) to have an artist who at least seems to be on the verge of making some exciting moves, come out to this country at this stage in their career. Cudi had a deal with A-Trak's Fools Gold and a cult-hit on his hands in Day N Nite (with some additional help from the Crookers) , and seemed to be in a good place as far as the new school of rap artists go. It was great to meet him and producer/DJ O Dot, and see him perform, but fucking horrible to see the poor turnout and promo.

Little did I, or anyone, know that his return would be so quick, and the reason for that return would be Kanye West. Now signed to G.O.O.D Music, appearing on one of 808's & Heartbreak's best cuts and a confirmed contributor to the creation process for said album, Cudi will not only headline this gig with Plain Pat and get support from our X & Hell, but also join Kanye on stage at Glow In The Dark. How bout that shit?

Come and see what I am talking about next Thursday 4th December @ Roxanne's with our friends MAFIA and A-Style keeping things moving earrrrrly.

BTW, I am posting this again, its too funny.

"HBO AND CHRIS LILLEY" JUST SOUNDS RIGHT, DONT IT?

Soooo, "Summer Heights High" debuts on American screens this weekend, courtesy of the greatest network known to man - HBO. US trailer above.

Not sure if it will translate into another Flight of the Conchords for them, or be the exact vehicle that takes Mr Lilley to the world, and I sure as fuck dont need any more people in the world using the slur term 'ranga', but its rad nonetheless.

Mr G featTake It Easy Heezy - Naughty Girl (Fuego / Heezy Remix)

X & HELL LIVE @ PERFECT (SYD)

I love that we are in an age where even club shows get a trailer.

Check the lads X & Hell at Perfect this Saturday if Sydney is you.

BIG shouts to Mike Hyper and the Perfect/Syndicate team in Sydney, who have shown nothing but love for Dont Stop Movin since it dropped.

X & HELL - DON'T STOP MOVIN RADIO NEWS!!!

"Don't Stop Movin" is one of the top 10 most added songs this week along with the #1 most added song at night on Australian radio.

Thanks for all your support & please keep requesting!

Once again get "Don't Stop Movin" HERE for free.

FREE STUFF: X & HELL - DON'T STOP MOVIN'

Shout out to Illusive for letting us liberate it. POW.

X & Hell - Don't Stop Movin'

http://www.zshare.net/audio/19869188517bea74/

X & Hell - Don't Stop Movin' (Instrumental)

http://www.zshare.net/audio/20048421fc752d5b/

myspace.com/xnhell for more

WEEKEND LEAK: X & HELL & A-STYLE

X & Hell's DJ, Vic DMC Champ, serial ducksnapper, awesome human. This is A-Style. And this is his killer mix of DSM.

X & Hell - Dont Stop Movin (A-Style High In Vitamin Awesome Remix)

WEEKEND LEAK: X & HELL x DUBLIN AUNTS

X & Hell - Dont Stop Movin (Dublin Aunts Mix)

Its gonna be X & Hell Remix Weekend friends, enjoy.

This one is particularly huge. Crafted by the Dublin Aunts. Dance DJ's do your thing.

BTW the photo above is one of 5 in a series created by the very talented and good folk below.

Photography by Michael Danischewski

Art by Justin Maller

Espionage Infrared Max 90 Launch

Footage from the launch party for the OG colourway Air Max 90. Sounds by X & Hell.

Late pass on this one BTW. I was gonna post it then I forgot, then weez did, and I can't post less than weez. I mean that wouldn't be right.

Shouts out to Espionage Sydney, a place where myself and A-Style have blown quite a bit of show money over the years while on tour.

X & Hell - Video Hits Competition

You can win a whole bunch of shite from Video Hits in a promo for the new X & Hell single. Contest is running for the next 4 or so weeks - you can peep the details here

X & Hell Live Show Poll Results

Well the month's voting has concluded and it seems the majority of visitors to the blog favour a hybrid of live instrumentation and electronic elements on stage (which is what the group have been leaning to incidently). We're currently sussing out how the new live show will work and how to best do justice to the music we're producing, which has evolved from two rap dudes over a beat, so the live show needs to evolve too. Thanks heaps to all who voted.

VIDEO: Behind The Scenes @ X & Hell's 'Don't Stop Movin' Videoshoot

Shot and edited by Blaze Designs, who recently did some amazing work on the new X & Hell Myspace profile.

VIDEO: X & Hell - Don't Stop Movin

First video and single from X & Hell's sophomore effort 'Million Dollar Sex Party' scheduled for October 4th. Single is @ iTunes July 28th! Cop Cop Cop!

X & HELL - DON'T STOP MOVIN' (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

X & Hell - Don't Stop Movin' (Produced by Fuego & Weapon X)

Available @ iTunes July 28th through Solid State Recordings / Illusive Sounds.

Directed by benandjoel.com

POW!

X & Hell - Don't Stop Movin - VIDEO LAUNCH (Melbourne Only)

LEAK: X & Hell - Don't Stop Movin (Snippet)

Full song will be released digitally on July 26th. Buy 100 copies for yourself.

My Winehouse Theory

So i reckon she died awhile ago. OD maybe. Dunno. But dead. No heartbeat. Someone (Ronson? Salaam?) did some black magic or buried the chick in a Pet Cemetary, and now she's a zombie. It's taken a while for her flesh to wither and decay, but the evidence is there (see middle pic). Pretty soon, she'll have gone full blown brain eater (see right pic). I'm guessin she died at some point between album completion and first single release, they've done a little HP Lovecraft-work on her cadaver because you can't promo tour when you're in a pine box, and now they are using this whole drug thing as a cover story for her zombidity. I have included a pic of her pre-undead for you comparison.

Solid Statement III : Pics and Rant

Pics from Friday are up at photographer Michael Danischewsky's Blog so check those out. There is even one with the "random yelling man" in all his glory. Thanks to everyone who came down and supported all the artists. Big thanks Weez, M.D. for the flicks (again!), Esscay & Gom, First Floor, and to all the crew who copped tees from me after the show (and ladies - I'm aware we need new merch which includes baby tees / tanks).

It's back to the lab for X & Hell for a month of solid (npi) work to get the album ready and to finalise what our new live show will consist of. Please see the poll in the sidebar and give us your $0.02.

DON'T STOP MOVING

...

Photography:
Michael Danischewski

Vinylman & Wax Boy - The Communist Zombie Remix

B-More/Balifunk spinmen Vinyl Man & Wax Boy have unleashed their club tested Cranberries remix on the internets. This shit is pretty bananas. Right click the link to download or click to stream/preview.

Vinyl Man & Wax Boy - The Communist Zombie Remix

Don't Stop Movin Artwork / New X & Hell Logo Revealed

So with the single set for a July 26th release (at this point I'm assuming a solely digital release) we've been hustlin to get everything on track. Above is the artwork for "Don't Stop Movin" which includes the new logo as designed by The Zonders. More as it comes folks.

Don't Stop Movin - Video Shoot Pics + Rant

After a massive two day shoot throughout inner city Melbourne, we have a shitload of footage for the 'Dont Stop Movin' video. As you can see from the pics, the video will feature myself on a BMX, Hellvaro on skates, a host of extras on random modes of transportation and way too many cardboard boxes (no breakdancer). Hopefully we'll see some rough edits next week and a final will be up here as soon as possible.

Big thanks to all involved especially Adaweez, Benny and Joel @ Paper Plane, Simon, Bec , Justin, Julez Mephisto and the random 'winner' at Fiztroy bowl who stole his 15 seconds of fame.

Big shout to Michael Danischewski for the flicks.

Solid Statement #3 - X & Hell LP Preview

Third time's a charm. Be the first to hear what's being cooked up by myself and Mr.Monobrow with a lotta help from Fuego. Absolutely sterling line-up. What more can I say.

LEAK: Dirty Mob - Headrock Remix (Ft Ethical & Weapon X)

These dudes from Brisbane have been on their grind for a minute now and hollered at yours truly to bring some fire to the remix of their first official single. Beatkamp on the production (Savage/XY). Also features Ethical of NZ crew Smashproof.

X & Hell 2nd Album Update

You may have noticed we've been walking around the past few weeks with shit eating grins on our boat races. That's owing largely to the fact that recording for the next album is well underway and the first single has shaped up a corker. Most of the work is coming out of a new studio at my place, which has seen a pleasant resurgence of the 'all-nighter' and the somewhat elusive drunken-euphoric fluke.

The first single is called 'Dont Stop Movin' and is due for release in June/July all being well. It's nothing like anything we've done before and you may hear it in the odd club at the moment as DJs have been showing us a lot of love. It's Produced by Styalz Fuego and Myself. We aim to shoot the video in the next 2 weeks so we'll update with some pics from that.

The biggest change going into this album has been having Fuego on board producing the entire album with me. That and the fact that the last album was compiled over the three years prior to release and showcased our development somewhat, this one we're in a creative zone that is wholly different.

Nothing to really speak on about collabs yet. Production while handled chiefly by Fuego and I, we're taking bits and pieces from a few talented people and far from the usual suspects. The album is coming together is a very diverse and musical group of songs. I'm gonna up some video of some of the process in a few days.

More as it comes.

Under Construction...

Brand new blog which will be updated by the artists and associated people's at Solid State Recordings.

Expect the obvious gratutitous promotion of sounds and wares but with a healthy dose of shit talking and heads-uppery on random things you should know about / listen to / stay away from in the world of both the internets and the physical world and of course the all important world of Eternia where He-Man lives. In the meantime, check out the latest He-Man news here

RADIO. BUT FOR THE INTERNET

Hilarious.

SMALLZ / FREE AGENTS x JUICE / CROOKED I / ROCCETT

Check out The W, taken from Black Wall Street artist Juice's new mixtape "Death Certificate". The W features famed Hip-Hop Weekly spitter Crooked I and Young Jeezy's West Coast artist Roccett.

Produced by DJ Smallz & The Free Agents (Fuego & Weapon X). Link below, Enjoy!

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/audio/id.3783/title.juice-bws-f-crooked-i-roccett-the-w#comments

Sweet.