Turnbull's Top 10 Albums of 2011

Tens of thousands of albums have been released this past year, so P&B are taking on the arduous task of breaking down our very own Top 10 Albums of 2011 List. This is the first of a 2-part series (Turnbull's first, with Paqman's to follow). We'll break down the albums, EPs, and mixtapes, etc, that made for quintessential listening throughout the year. If you don't see something on here that you feel should've made the lists, feel free to leave a comment or send us an email about it!

10) Theophilus London - Lovers Holiday

Amongst a couple of mixtapes, and a major label debut that I found somewhat disappointing, this 5-track EP captured the true essence of this debonnair Brooklyn MC/singer-songwriter, who sights Prince, Mike J, and The Smiths as his key influences.  London is a fashion savvy street rebel who struck gold with this short yet solid set of tracks.

P&B Approved Cuts: Strangelove, Wine & Chocolates

9) Bon Iver (s/t)

Truth be known, I didn't know what to make of this album when I first heard it, but it certainly has grown on me over time.  This record serves less as an album, and more as a collection of lush 'soundscapes' that conjure up the same feelings of isolation shown on Bon Iver's critically acclaimed debut album For Emma, Forever Ago.

P&B Approved Cuts: Perth, Holocene, Towers

Is Beyonce A Baby-Mama?

UPDATE:  Previous reports have proven false, as B and Hov have now officially welcomed a baby girl named Blue Ivy Carter into the world on January 7, 2012.  Congratulations to both proud parents.  We'll have more on this story soon, so keep P&B on lock!

image via rapfix.mtv.com

I'm not trying to go all 'TMZ' with this, but obviously this is news to somebody.

This is only, like, the most important birth EVER.....(lol)

The Twitterverse is blowing up over the rumour, but we'll wait for Hov et ux to make an official announcement.

Click HERE to get the scoop from the Mirror UK

-Turnbull

Terrane Is Feeling Ni**as In Paris On The Subway

Have you ever wanted to bust out on the subway or bus and start jamming out to your favorite cut? We've all had the impulse, but usually don't let it take control. Terrane apparently can't control himself while listening to Ni**as In Paris from Watch The Throne, he proceeds to go in and kills it like a champ. Kanye posted the video on his twitter account, so you know that he's feeling it.

The YouTube video already has 1.6 million views and I highly recommend that you add to the total. Terrane definitely gets the people going!

-Paqman 

Happy Holidays From Paqman&Bull

(Photo via fairfaxbynight.com)

We want to take this opportunity to wish everyone happy holidays, no matter how you celebrate. Best wishes to you and yours, even if you have been naughty or nice. 

We will be going dark for the next few days, but have a few treats in store for you before 2011 wraps up. Please keep it locked as both Paqman and Turnbull will be offering you their top 10 albums of 2011. There might be a few surprises on our lists, but we posted some clues throughout the year if you have been faithfully reading since our launch in February. 

Thanks again for being among our readership. We are truly thankful for you taking the time to stop by and read our work.

- Paqman&Bull 

Friday Flashback - Holiday Hip Hop Edition

Kurtis Blow - "Christmas Rappin'"

Although many peeps consider Run DMC's "Christmas in Hollis" to be the first ever hip hop Christmas song, that distinction actually belongs to Kurtis Blow's "Christmas Rappin'." 

This performance of the track is taken from his 1980 appearance on the popular British music tv program Top of the Pops.  Christmas Rappin' is also the first ever rap song to be released on a major record label.

And you'll recognize the bassline as the sample used by the R&B group Next on their 1998 smash hit "Too Close."

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all.....a good night!"

-Turnbull

NBA Season to Launch on Christmas Day with 5-Game Sked

B-ball is back, but are Fans Ready to Forgive?

image via blog.betvega.com

The National Basketball Players Association and franchise owners have resolved their differences, ending the labour dispute that has resulted in an abbreviated regular season (66 games)

The season will kick off on Christmas Day with an unprecedented "quintuple header."

Action will start with the Boston Celtics visiting Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Knicks, followed by the Miami Heat heading to the Lone Star State for a showdown against the defending NBA Champions, Dallas Mavericks.

Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls will then square off against Kobe Bean Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.  The 8pm contest pits the Orlando Magic against the "youngry" Oklahoma City Thunder.

The final game of the day has the Los Angeles Clippers, with newly acquired point guard Chris Paul, and reigning Rookie of the Year award-winner Blake Griffin traveling to the Bay Area to battle against Monta Ellis and the Golden State Warriors.

I'm finding myself rather indifferent about the start of the season.  My attitude might change as the season progresses, and I get used to seeing basketball again.  But these sports labour disputes leave a bad taste in my mouth, especially when games are lost (at least the NFL got there shit together without losing games - not even in the preseason).

The NBA has it's work cut out for itself as it tries to regain the trust of its fans, myself included.

I'll start with the Christmas Day sked, then roll from there.

Click the jump below to check out a video preview of the opening day's games:

Carney of Black Keys Says Blakroc 2 is a "No-Go"

image via thatessencerare.wordpress.com

In a recent interview, Patrick Carney of The Black Keys stated that despite the trailer that surfaced back in September, a second Blakroc album showcasing the band's collaborations with various hip hop stars, will not see the light of day.

Here's a excerpt from the interview, in which Carney speaks somewhat candidly about the project's status and the band's relationship with executive producer Damon Dash:

From Pitchfork:

We decided to scrap the whole record because it wasn't as fun or as interesting as the first one. It felt gimmicky. But [executive producer] Damon Dash just had a trailer made and put it out. He's an interesting guy. There are really good things about him, and some things that aren't so good-- like releasing a trailer for a record that's not going to come out, thinking it will pressure us to release it. I think the Damon of today is a lot different than the Damon of ten years ago. He really does have an ear for hip-hop, and it's unfortunate that he's not able to exercise that more.

So it looks like at present time, Blakroc 2 won't be coming out, which is unfortunate because not only did I enjoy the first installment, but the trailer for the second release  (which I've now learned was actually made, like, two years ago!) got me excited to hear a fresh new set of collabos.

The first Blakroc wasn't the best album ever created, but myself and a lot of my peeps really dug it.  It breathed new life into the concept of a rap/rock album, and was best appreciated via the "webisodes" that were released in conjunction with the record:  the behind the scenes perspective gave the viewer a better understanding of the collaborative spirit of the recording sessions.

But never say "never" folks ..... Perhaps Blakroc 2 will surface.

Someday.

-Turnbull

The Blogging Universe Works In Mysterious Ways

(Photo via nasa.gov)

For those of you that don't know me (but you will in time), I give credit where credit is due and always man up if I f'ed up. I always shoot from the hip, even though I'm no George Washington. I'm writing this post to reaffirm our mission here at Paqman&Bull: we write with integrity and bring you great original pieces through our opinions and thoughts. We also offer you the best of the Internet (according to us anyways) by posting links and vids with full credits.

Geoffrey Zakarian Is The Next Iron Chef

image via eater.com

NYC Chef Geoffrey Zakarian is the Season 4 winner of the Food Network's "The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs" series.

Zakarian defeated rival chef Elizabeth Falkner, executive pastry chef at Citizen Cake and executive chef and co-owner at Orson (both in San Francisco) in the epic final showdown.

Both chefs reached the final by outlasting eight other highly skilled competitors, including former Top Chef Masters series winner Marcus Samuelsson, and Montreal culinary kingpin Chuck Hughes.

The season-ending "winner takes all" battle featured a festive "Holiday Theme" that required the use various "secret" ingredients.

The judging panel for the finale included current Iron Chefs Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto, and Michael Symon, along with respected food critic Simon Majumdar, and Iron Chef UK judge Judy Joo.

Congratulations to Chef Zakarian for winning this outstanding competition, and for his incredible display of culinary savvy and creativity throughout the entire season.

-Turnbull

"Canadiens" In French Means "Madness"

(Photo via thehockeynews.com)

I was going to post about the emergence of the Florida Panthers as a force in the Eastern Conference (and the league in general). Then I was thinking about how Jose Theodore has been blazing hot this season. Then I remembered how Theo killed it in 2001 for the Habs as he scooped up the Hart and Vezina trophy while rocking a 2.11 GAA and .919 save percentage. THEN the Habs coaching debacle reared its fleur-de-lis head. And I didn't want to write about it. But I will. I don't have to. But I want to. This is getting to a level of ridiculousness that can only shake down in La Belle Province.

RZA Visits Red Bull Academy, Discusses Kanye Work Ethic

On a recent visit to the Red Bull Academy in Madrid, the incomparable RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan discusses his experience working with Kanye West during the My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy sessions:


-Turnbull

The Roots Release 9 Minute Video Inspired By Their Concept Album Undun

The Legendary Roots Crew released a mini movie on the strength of their latest album Undun. There's word that the Late Night house band are contemplating turning their hip hop concept album into a full on stage production (Note to Black Thought et al.: Don't go idlewild and try to make a feature film with your own dough...it could prove disastrous) and this is a great way of testing the waters.

The video is directed by Clifton Bell and features the fictional protagonist of the Undun story, Redford Stevens. It's a story of a kid that becomes a victim of his environment, which is not far from reality. Enjoy the vid and drop your thoughts in the comments.

-Paqman

Louis CK Takes D.I.Y. Comedy To The Next Level

(Photo via matthiasclamer.blogspot.com)

Rudely negative (but hilarious) comedian Louis CK is raking in some serious dough with his latest independent venture. He released a video of a gig in Manhattan at the Beacon Theater directly to his fans on his website.

Excerpts from Louis CK's statement released on December 13th:

HBO's 24/7 Is Back: Road to The NHL Winter Classic Featuring the Flyers and Rangers

(Photo via buzzonbroad.com)

For the second year in a row, the NHL and HBO are offering the very excellent 24/7, which chronicles the lead up to the Winter Classic in the City of Brotherly Love on New Year's Day. The Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers are the featured teams this season. There are some interesting storylines developing for each side with Giroux's concussion (I said it before, but this really sucks for my pool...and the Flyers too) and Avery's yearning for male modeling.

Here is the complete schedule for 24/7 - Flyers and Rangers:

Episode 1 - Dec. 17 -6:00PM ET / MT (replay)

Episode 2 - Dec. 21 -10:01PM ET / MT

Episode 3 - Dec. 28 -10:00PM ET / MT

Episode 4 - Jan. 5 -10:00PM ET / MT

If you have TMN/HBO On Demand, you won't have to be a slave to this schedule as they post the episodes fairly quickly.

I won't divulge anymore information about the first episode because you need to experience it for yourself. The NHL doesn't give its fans this level of access often, so please take advantage of this beautifully produced mini series...and John Tortorella is the shit. Scratch everything I said. Watch it to witness Torts unleashed behind the scenes. Watching him go off on Gaborik during a game was priceless.

If you're still not convinced, here's the sneak peak:

 

-Paqman

Introducing The 2011 NHL All-Concussion Team

There's always plenty of injuries during the course of an NHL season. It's a tough game that's played at blazing high speeds. If you're following hockey this year, the injury du jour is the concussion. With that said, here's your 2011 NHL All-Concussion Team:

Center

 87 - Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins

Frank Ocean Named One Of GQ's 2011 'Men Of The Year'

image via hypebeast.com

Gentlemen's Quarterly magazine has dropped its annual "Men Of The Year" list, which recognizes/acknowledges/verifies the "coolness" factor of select cats in the fields of music, sports, film, comedy, etc.

The honour of "Rookie Of The Year" went to the incomparable Mr. Frank Ocean, who caught everyone off-guard with the sheer genius of his debut mixtape nostalgia, ULTRA. It is, hands down, my favourite record of 2011, and I broke down the impact that Ocean has had on the music scene this year in a previous post.

P&B would like to offer our congrats to Frank for this most prestigious award (lol), as it's great when a publication, or organization (or whomever) gets it right when dishing out recognition for dope shit.

Other 2011 winners include Jay-Z, Steve Carell, Michael Fassbender, Novak Djokovic, Mila Kunis (I know she's not a guy, but her sheer hotness cannot go unrecognized!), and Derrick Rose.

For a full breakdown of this year's list, click HERE.

-Turnbull

Album Review: Chevelle Pull New Album Out Of Their Hats

(Photo via banana1015.com)

Chevelle
Hats Off To The Bull

Sony Music

Rating: 7.5/10

Chevelle, a three piece from Grayslake Illinois, have released "Hats Off To The Bull" in December of 2011. The last (and first) time I heard about these guys was when they released the very excellent "Wonder What's Next" in 2002 with their breakout single "The Red". I was Music Director for my college radio station around that time and dropped a few Chevelle cuts for all who could receive the powerful 10 watt transmission. So back then, I listened to tons of music, added new cuts weekly to keep the playlist fresh and eventually lost track of this band. Welcome back to the rotation Chevelle!

UFC 140 Looks Set to Deliver the Goods

If you don't watch this fight, Dana White will make you his Twitter bitch!

image via mainevent.com.au

By Jody White

UFC President and mouthpiece-in-chief Dana White once told me that Toronto occupies such a soft spot in his heart that he would only hold world-class cards here. Like any salesman worth his salt, no doubt such honeyed words are part of his repertoire, regardless of the area code he finds himself in. Still, he has so far upheld his promise, despite the UFC’s brief history with Hogtown. 

Last April’s UFC 129 in the Rogers Centre was the biggest event the organization had ever pulled off, and -- while light on marquee names -- was heavy on homegrown talent. GSP, Mark Bocek, Jason MacDonald, Sean Pierson and Mark Hominick -- to name a few -- gave the 55,000 fans lots to scream about and instilled Toronto’s legacy as a hotbed for MMA.

Friday Flashback - Things Come Together In Movement Edition

The Roots - "The Next Movement"

P&B present this classic jam from The Fifth Dynasty in honor of their freshly released (and rad) album Undun. This cut comes from the LP that arguably put The Roots on the map. For any of you that don't own Things Fall Apart, you need to a) run to the your favorite record store now and b) eventually forgive yourself for not getting on this amazing album sooner.

The song features scratching from the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff and the video shows that The Roots are immune to gravity. 

This track is best consumed at a high volume level. 

-Paqman

It's Not Broken...So Let's Fix It: NHL's Board of Governors Overhauls Conference Configuration, Eliminates Divisions

(Photo via thehockeynews.com)

What the fuck? What the mother fuckin' fuck, god damnit! (My apologies to all of our young readers) That was my reaction regarding the NHL's Board of Governors approving the new realignment for the 2012-13 season. Here's what it might look like:

Upstart Comedian Kenny Brooks Kills It in Hilarious Door-to-Door Sales Video

Keep the name Kenny Brooks on your radar as a up-and-comer to watch in the world of comedy.  He's creating quite the stir with this hilarious online video, which depicts Brooks as a door-to-door salesman.

Stick with all 7 minutes of this one....It's worth it!



-Turnbull

Album Review: The Black Keys' "El Camino" Drives the Path to Ongoing Success

image via undertheradarmag.com

The Black Keys

El Camino

Nonesuch Records/Warner Music

Rating: 8.5/10

For me and many others, the name El Camino is synonymous with the Chevrolet model of half car, half truck from back in the day.  While growing up, our neighbour's daughter, Wendy, used to drive a suped-up black one with a red racing stripe down the side.  The thing was a beast...... Our entire block would shake whenever she turned the engine over!

However the actual term, roughly translated from Spanish, means the road or path.

Fittingly, The Black Keys - singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney - have travelled an interesting path to arrive at this particular point of their now ten-year career.  And the picture of an old beat up van on their new album's cover is similar to the one the duo travelled in during their early touring days, so their newest release is symbolic of a "this is how far we've come to get here" type vibe.

The Ultimate Fighter Anti-Finale

Because watching them debate might be more exciting!

image via hov-mma.com

In a business where the ability to hype a fight is quickly becoming as important as striking and grappling, the two men set to face one another in Las Vegas Saturday night are without equal.

Good thing, because tonight's Bisping/Miller fight has all the hallmarks of a snoozer. 

The Ultimate Fighter season 14 finale between coaches Michael Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller is an interesting fight mainly due to the fact that it’s between two of the biggest mouths in the UFC. Neither of these guys has knockout power, nor do they have outstanding stand-up technique.  What strengths they do possess -- including talking shit -- pretty much cancel each other out.

Friday Flashback - Punk Meets Funk Edition

The Clash - "This Is Radio Clash"

This song, which was released as a 12" single back in 1981, was not included on any of The Clash's studio albums.

It is heavily influenced by the New York City hip hop, funk, and dub sound that was starting to permeate the group's sound at the time.  IMHO, it's one of the band's most underrated cuts.

The track marks the early beginnings of the dance-punk sound that has influenced modern-day NYC acts such as The Rapture, !!!, and LCD Soundsystem.

This Is Radio Clash is a timeless classic that would still sound fresh if it were released today.

-Turnbull

After A Terrible Start, The Bruins Are Back In Championship Form

H-Orr-ton (Photo via bruins.nhl.com)

The Bruins ended a whirlwind of an off-season on a high. A summer of hanging out with the Stanley Cup (shirts optional) and celebrating is tough work. And wearing those heavy championship rings can make even a conditioned athlete tired. Boston were suffering from a serious case of cup hangover when the season kicked off. They limped to a 3-7 start in October and many were wondering what happened. Did the loss of Ryder, Kaberle and Reechi have that deep of an impact on this club?

Chef Raekwon Is Cooking Up Canadian Home Brew, Sets Up Shop in Toronto

(Photo via swaggnews.com)

Due to Drake and the Bieb's success on the international stage, Wu-Tang Clan member Chef Raekwon has taken his culinary skills north of the border for a piece of the action. With a newly purchased Toronto waterfront condo in hand and an office on Yonge Street for the newly minted Canadian wing of his Ice H20 record label, he's eager to sign some Canadian talent.

From Canoe.ca:

"What brought me here is because of the fact the city is so rich and filled with talent that's being overlooked, Alright you got Drake who made it but there's still more people here. And if you really look at the table chart of Canadian artists that made it out of here, the majority of them, you could say were successful

[....]

So my thing is we want come in and diffuse anything that's not real, anything that doesn't associate with real hip-hop. We want to be the one that says, 'Yo, we want to help build and build a bigger and better industry.' I'm just like. 'Yo with talent from Toronto, Vancouver, Quebec,' who's paying attention?'

The first artist signed to his stable is local MC JD Era. Raekwon thinks he's the real deal, but he wants the young MC to crawl before he balls:

"We got him, how can I say, in training. But he's in a great space right now. Next year, we're counting on him coming through and making an impact but it's about having your business together first. You being an artist that people can say, 'Yo, you're paying your dues.' You can't just come in and run to the top."

Rae also rhymes off on how much he loves Toronto in the piece. Could other Canadian business ventures be in his future? The full article can be found here. Take time to watch the video embedded in the article, even if it's just to see the Chef rocking a Blue Jays cap.

-Paqman

New Black Star Track - "You Already Knew"



image via consequenceofsound.net

Black Star are prepping the release of their highly anticipated new album Black Star Aretha (speculated title). The rec, which is their first since 1998's seminal Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star will be out in the new year and is supposed to have a sort of Aretha Franklin tribute vibe to it (?)

In the meantime, a couple of cuts have surfaced on the interweb for everyone's listening pleasure. First was the Madlib-produced "Fix Up" and now "You Already Knew" which is produced by Oh No.

And in case you missed Paqman's review of Black Star's blazin' hot November 12th performance in Toronto, click right HERE.

Black Star "You Already Knew" by 3DDistro

-Turnbull

The 15 Worst Sports Scandals of All Time

image via esporte.uol.com.br

Click HERE to begin slideshow

-Turnbull

All Together Now: Just Shows Simplifies Toronto Concert Listings. You're Welcome.

(Photo via justshows.com)

If you're an avid concert goer, finding information about shows in Toronto is an unwelcome challenge. Navigating through Now magazine and their chaotic arrangements over multiple pages, incomplete listings on sites like Toronto Life and Toronto.com...it's tons of work for an experience you're looking to enjoy and invest into. Justshows.com have recently launched their site to fill a void in the Toronto scene by aggregating all the live music information you'll need. Their tag line says it all: Live music listings, only better.

Dissecting The Throne - Post-Show Analysis (Feat. Fabs the Fiancé!): the P&B BBM Chat

We here at P&B love technology. We both use Blackberry Messenger like crazy, so why not show our deep conversations to the world! This is a first in the Blogosphere (we think). Here it is: The P&B BBM Chat.

(All photos via esdevlin.com)

***We've invited Fabs into the chat for her insight on the show. She's a member of the P&B crew so make her feel welcome!! You can follow her on Tumblr here***


Fabiola: Sunglasses and Advil, last night was mad real

Meezy: Holy shit that's my story right now!

Fabiola: B-)

Young T: Welcome to the jungle made my night. I was happy from that point onward!

The Throne Lands In Toronto

(Photo via blogs.courant.com)

On this day, the 23rd of November, 2011, two of the most influential hip hop artists of our generation will land (and take off) in Toronto for a two night stand. If you've been listening to LL Cool J's Bad on the repeat for the last year and stayed off the internet, you wouldn't know that Jay-Z and Kanye West released a joint album called Watch The Throne. This luxurious rap album has been well received by most, and deeply criticized by others. If you are one to hate on WTT, listen to "I Need Love" from the aforementioned Cool J classic. Hip hop has always been about rhyming on what you know. Jay an Ye now know Givenchy, Margiela and Bentley. What more can I say?

Now that the shock of the ticket prices has passed, it's time to lock and load for what might be the concert event of the year. If the set list that was leaked (and posted here) is any indication of what will go down, this experience will be worth every penny. Both MCs catalog will get it's time in the spotlight but the piece de resistance will be their platinum charting album.

The P&B crew will be in full effect on Thursday night for day 2 of the WTT extravaganza. We want to encourage anyone who will be in attendance on Wednesday to send us their take on the concert, submit a review, show us your pics or drop a set list on us. You can email us at either marc@paqmananbull.com or turnbull@paqmanandbull.com. We will post your submissions as they come in. As expected, Turnbull and I will give you a post game breakdown over the weekend. Keep P&B on lock and don't let us get in our zone!

-Paqman

The League Brings Its Game to FX Canada

image via fxcanada.ca

FX Canada launched on October 31st, bringing with it programming previously unavailable in this country.  Shows on the network include the critically acclaimed Sons of Anarchy, and the scary as hell American Horror Story (I keep telling my wife to stop watching it - she hasn't slept in weeks because of it!)

But the FX show that's really got me open right now is The League.

Sidney Crosby Is a Special Athlete. Recognize.

(Photo via theglobeandmail.com

As you've surely read, the Kid is back. And he's still hands down the best in the business. He joins a Pittsburgh Penguin team that is currently 1st in the Eastern Conference (3rd in the league) and are poised to make a great run at Lord Stanley's Cup. All this talk about how he was afraid to return to the fastest game on the planet or cringed at the prospect of taking a major league hit have hovered over his head since his last game in January 2011. He let it all out in his debut this season.

Crosby's stat line for his return against the Islanders (which is a perfect game for his comeback: Sid has 66 points, including 20 goals, in 34 career games vs the Isles) was nothing short of awesome: 2 goals, 2 assists with 8 shots while taking in 15 minutes of ice time. It took him less than 6 minutes to score his first goal (on his first shot) with an amazing backhander that made it's way top right shelf. Crosby makes it look so easy and that's what all of the greats do. He's a student of the game, and will eventually become the head master of the sport.

For any of you that want to hate on Crosby and claim that he's a cry baby or a whiner, keep that shit to yourself. If your club of choice acquired him through a very unlikely trade, you would be ecstatic. You would say all of the things that I've written in this post. My advice: sit back and enjoy what the Kid is accomplishing in his career and for hockey. Sidney Crosby might play for the Penguins, but he's here for all of us puckheads to enjoy.

Here are the Crosby highlights from the game. His effort on the second goal is ridiculous, especially the "turn on a dime" on the half boards making Milan Jurcina look the fool.

-Paqman

Stars Celebrate the Life and Legacy of Heavy D

As recently reported by Paq, hip hop pioneer Heavy D passed away at the young age of 44.

He was a well-respected originator in the rap game, and paved the way for many urban music artists both past and present.

A-Listers including Sean "Puffy" Combs, Will and Jada Smith, and Usher showed up to show love for Heav at a funeral held last Friday in his hometown of "Money Earnin" Mount Vernon, New York.

Even Jay-Z took time out from his current Watch The Throne tour duties to stop in and pay his respects.



-Turnbull

Concert Experience Review - Black Star Shine Their Light On The Toronto Heads

"Watch the throne!" a dapper Mos Def proclaimed as he walked on stage, pointing out his partner in rhyme Talib Kweli and eventually bringing back the attention to himself. This was witnessed as "Intro" from the essential "Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star" sonically adorned their arrival. This was the kick off to possibly the tightest hip hop show that Toronto has seen this year. Maybe even the last few years.

NFL Mid-Year Report: The Movers, The Shakers, and The Heartbreakers of the 1/2 Season

Darren Sproles running roughshod for the Saints
(image via zimbio.com)

We're just pass the midway point of the 2011-12 NFL Season, so let's take a look at some of the biggest stories of the year so far:

Midseason Most Valuable Offensive Player: Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay Packers
The League's Best Quarterback continues to put up video game-type numbers, leading the pack to a 9-0 record, and they happen to be the defending Super Bowl Champs. Rodgers caught fire at the start of last year's championship run, and has not looked back since.

Midseason Most Valuable Defensive Player: DeMarcus Ware - Dallas Cowboys

Ware's leading the league with 12 sacks and is on pace to break Michael Strahan's single season sack record. After 7 great seasons, he is probably playing the best football of his career.  Ware's the undisputed leader of this team on the defensive side of the ball, as he's the unit's lone star.

Friday Flashback - Birthday On The One Edition

Metallica - "One"

On this day in 1962, the world was blessed with the arrival of an influential guitarist complete with long, dark wavy hair. The birthday boy in question is Kirk Hammett, lead guitarist for Metallica.

The video for One is significant for a few reasons: it was Metallica's first video and it's mad cool. The song's theme is war and features tons of creepy clips from a flick called "Johnny Got His Gun". The underlying message is dark, which is not very conducive to kicking off a weekend. But it's a great way to blow off some steam (read: heavy head banging part).

Another way to blow off some steam would be to smash your copy of the Lou Reed/Metallica collabo Lulu, and get back to the basics. Destroy the thing that should not be. Ride the lightning back catalog.

PS sorry for the pop ups/ads in the vid.

-Paqman

Kickin' it Old School: Toronto Blue Jays Unveil New Logo and Uniforms

image via cp24.com

The Toronto Blue Jays unveiled their new logo and uniforms today at a press conference at the Rogers Centre.

It's a retro inspired look, recalling the glory days for the late 80s and early to mid 90s when the team was winning division titles and World Series championships.

Hopefully the return to the look from their glory days will inspire their play on the field.  I know it's tough with the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays in their division, but with the right pieces in place, quality free agent signings, and some good old-fashioned luck, anything can happen.

-Turnbull

Bieber vs Povich?!!?

UPDATE:  It was announced today that Yeater has dismissed her case against the Biebs.  Celebrity justice served! 

image via pattygopez.buzznet.com

Leave it up to the one and only Maury Povich to try and settle the Justin Bieber paternity case.

Unless you've been living under Plymouth Rock for the last week or so, you're aware that 20-year-old Mariah Yeater has accused the Biebster of knocking her up during a 30-second sex romp backstage at LA's Staples Center in October of 2010, and that the subsequent child she gave birth to belongs to him.

And now Povich, the King of Daytime talkshow paternity smut, has invited Justin to appear on his show to take a DNA test, which will determine if he's is indeed the pops of her 3-month-old son, Tristyn.

Whether Biebs take Maury up on the offer to remains to be seen......there's speculation that he may take a test anyway to prove his innocence.  But we can only dream about how absurdly funny it would be if he indeed showed up on The MoPo Show: 



-Turnbull

Update: Chuck Hughes Is Still a Winner Despite Iron Chef Elimination

Montreal's culinary whiz-kid Chuck Hughes was eliminated from the Food Network's The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs TV series on Monday night.

Hughes faced elimination after the show's judges placed him as one of the "bottom two" competitors.

In the final showdown, Hughes faced American chef Beau McMillan in a secret ingredient battle (Tofu) to determine who would continue in the competition, and who would be sent packing.

Despite a valiant effort, Hughes came up just short, as the judges sided with McMillan's creation.

P&B would like to send major props to Chef Hughes for showing such class in defeat, and for doing Canada proud by representing us so well!  Even though he lost, Hughes is still a big, big winner in the hearts and minds of Canadian food fans.

image via canadiens.nhl.com

-Turnbull

The Roots "Undun" - 12/06/11

image via mixtapewall.com

Philadelphia's Legendary Roots Crew are set to unleash their 13th studio LP entitled Undun.

The rec will drop on December 6th via Def Jam Records.

From what I've read, the conceptual tone of the album is said to be "pitch-dark," and that the ease of its writing and recording process comes as a result of the band's renewed focus.

Call me biased, but The Roots are incapable of making an inferior album.

This record will slam.  Period.

-Turnbull

Quick Shot Review: Drake - Take Care

(Photo via aglobalculture.com)

I added Drake's Take Care to my Blackberry this morning (legally) so that I could sample the delayed and anticipated album. Singles, or leaks, are usually an indication of what we should expect from the official release. For Take Care, this is the case.

The feel of the album is dark and moody on my first listen. In contrast, I thought that Thank Me Later had more kick to it, with a great mix of ballads, bangers and everything in between. Based on what's been written about Drake's process in creating his sophomore effort, he took his time. And his meticulous and drawn out process is reflected in his work.

The main themes of the album are fame (don't hate) and the ladies. This isn't a shocking deviation from what he's released in the past. My feeling is that he could've expanded on what he previously established, but why fix something when it isn't broken.

So take Take Care for what it is. A deeper exploration into Drake's soul and his struggle with fame. It's a darker journey that you might not want to take more than a few times.

P&B Approved Cuts:

- Make Me Proud feat. Nicki Minaj
- Headlines
- Lord Knows feat. Rick Ross

-Paqman

Spin Out: The Top 10 NHL Spin-O-Rama Goals (And Save) Ever

From theScore's awesome hockey blog, Backhand Shelf, comes the top 10 spin-o-rama goals of all time. The classic spin move is a treat to watch when beautifully executed into an incredible pass or goal. Don't want to give it away, but #1 on the list is worth the wait. 

-Paqman

P&B Take Buffalo: Hockey Road Trip Edition

Paqman and Turnbull are heading to Buffalo to watch the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres game tonight. Also on the menu will be a stop at the world famous Anchor Bar, birthplace of the chicken wing! 3 of my favorite things will be on tap for P&B: hockey, beer and wings. There is no better way to get a weekend started!

On a very biased notes, the Sens are my team of choice and today is a very special and important day. It's Alfie Day!! It's the tp11th day of the 11th month of 2011 and the longest serving active captain in the NHL Daniel Alfredsson wears #11! You know I'll be rocking my Alfie jersey tonight!

For any of our fans that will be in attendance tonight, check out the About Us page to see our pics and come say "What's up?!".

-Paqman

Friday Flashback - Haven't Heard This Track in like, Forever.....Edition

Urban Dance Squad - "Deeper Shade of Soul"

This one goes back to 1989, and was the debut single from the Dutch band's Mental Floss for the Globe record.

It did pretty good on the US chart, reaching the #21 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Somethin' a little warm & breezy for a chilly November day.

-Turnbull

The Most Disliked Players in the NFL

photo via commons.wikimedia.org

Forbes Magazine breaks down the National Football League's Most Disliked Players.

Click HERE to view the slideshow

-Turnbull

Heavy D Dead At The Age Of 44

(Photo via chartstats.com)

Some sad news for a truly positive MC. Dwight Arrington Myers, widely know as Heavy D, has passed away today. No details on the cause of death but reports state that it was not foul play.

More details to come as they become available.

-Paqman

DOOM Hangs Out With Chairman Jefferson Mao From Ego Trip Magazine For Days

The enigmatic DOOM spends over an hour rhyming off about his work, from MM FOOD to his collabos with Madlib, in this video filmed in Madrid. If you have the time to watch it, do it. This is a treat for all DOOM fans since he rarely makes himself available for any sit downs.

-Paqman

P&B Is On Google+, Pages Now Available

(Photo via forbes.com)

Great news from Google today as they announced that Pages are now available on Google+ for Business and Artists. The full story can be found here.

Your preferred blog, Paqman & Bull, is now officially on Google+. Click here to add P&B to any circle that suits your fancy.

-Paqman

Everything In Its Right Place: Radiohead Announces First 10 Gigs For 2012 US Tour

(Photo via misspeakmusic.wordpress.com)

Radiohead officially announced a few dates for their tour next year. No Canadian dates are on the list, but you know they have nothing but love for the Great White North. I'm expecting (read: hoping) that they will make stops in Toronto and Montreal at a minimum.

Here are the released dates as of today:

February 27 - Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena

February 29 - Tampa, FL @ The St. Pete Times Forum

March 1 - Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena

March 3 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center

March 5 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center

March 7 - Austin, TX @ Frank Erwin Center

March 9 - St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center

March 11 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center

March 13 - Broomfield, CO @ 1stBank Center

March 15 - Glendale, AZ @ Jobing.com Arena

Will post updates as they become available.

-Paqman

Fitz & The Tantrums Bring Back the Soulful Sounds of Yesteryear

photo via livefromapt.blogspot.com

Los Angeles-based funk/soul band Fitz & The Tantrums have had a breakout year, and they're poised for even bigger success moving forward.

The six-piece is fronted by vocalist Michael Fitzpatrick, who formed the band in 2008.  After purchasing a old electric piano for $50, Fitz immediately wrote the song "Breakin' the Chains of Love" and was instantly inspired to form a band.

Friday Flashback - Bohemian Consciousness Edition

Brand Nubian - "Slow Down"

"Slow Down" was the 4th single released from Brand Nubian's critically acclaimed debut album One for All. This classic joint rode the "alternative" hip hop wave from the early 90s that ushered in a new consciousness to the game along with legendary groups like A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and Jungle Brothers. Brand Nubian unfortunately couldn't keep it together and dissolved a few years later (they reunited in the mid 2000s).

"Slow Down" features a bevy of samples but the most recognizable is "What I Am" by Edie Brickell and New Bohemians. Brickell's wailing "What I Am Is What I Am" makes an appearance, while the guitar lick is the driving element for this cut.

-Paqman

San Francisco 49ers Rediscover The Golden Touch

photo via baysportsnet.com

I gotta hand it to the San Francisco 49ers. They're a bunch of ballers!

First year head coach Jim Harbargh is doing an incredible job with the team, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Second year LB NaVorro Bowman is ridiculous, plus first-year LB Aldon Smith has just been named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month.  Veteran LB Patrick Willis continues to be himself, plus Carlos Rogers is a blanket in the secondary.

Out Of The Turmoil That Is The NBA Lockout Comes the PSEC: Fans Fighting For Fans

Still waiting.. (Photo via swarmandsting.com)

The NBA lockout is 125 days old and this is the first time I rhyme off on it. I've been trying to approach this from the right angle, since all we're reading about is the greed vs greed argument. The real loser in all of this is the fan. The fan is sick of David Stern's villainous posturing and the NBPA's "they're losing more than we are" attitude. The real loss is the entertainment that the fan pays premium bucks to consume. So I'm offering you a solution with the creation of the PSEC (pronounced Pee-Seck): Professional Sports Enthusiast Collective. Together we can make them understand that the fan's need is imperative, and nothing else is of any importance.

RadioDOOM: Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood and DOOM Colabo From Lex Records 10th Anniversary Album Appears On Soundcloud

UPDATE:

Lex Records disabled the embedded option for this track.

You can check it out here.

-Paqman

Canada's Chuck Hughes Battles for Iron Chef Supremacy

photo via canadiens.nhl.com

Canadian Chef extraordinaire Chuck Hughes has returned to Kitchen Stadium, as he's vying for the title of Iron Chef on the popular Food Network series.

Earlier this year, I broke down Hughes' victory on the show, which elevated the Montreal native's status among the culinary world's elite.  He beat renowned chef Bobby Flay in the "Battle Lobster" episode of the show.

Hughes is now up against some stiff competition, as he competes against nine of the most renowned chefs in the biz, including Marcus Samuelsson, Alex Guarnaschelli, Robert Irvine, and Anne Burrell.

The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs will return on Sunday November 6 at 1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT on Food Network Canada.

Go get 'em, Chuck!

-Turnbull

Message To David Stern And The NBPA: Basketball Never Stops

You can always count on Nike to keep their brand strong in the middle of an NBA lock out. This promotional video features a who's who of players in the game(s): J. Cole, Stoudamire, Lebron James, Durant, Nowitzki, ?uestlove and Coach Krzyzewski. 

But the real stars of the video are the kids and adults that are playing ball for the love of the game. No lock out. No bargaining. No revenue splits. Nothing but love for the game. Even though the NBA's season is in jeopardy, basketball never stops.

-Paqman

Hot News Tip...From a Homeless Person(?!): Occupy Toronto Campers Will Be Removed From Parks On Halloween

This is not the gent I spoke to (Photo via photo.net)

You never know who you'll talk to while running errands in Toronto. A chatty homeless gentleman claimed that the Toronto Police, with the Emergency Task Force, will evict the "Occupiers" that have established camps in some of the city's parks. He also claimed that he received the head's up from a police officer who advised him to stay away from the area near Jarvis and Adelaide in this particular case.

This could be the hearsay ramblings of a dude living on the streets (he seemed very alert) or the truth. SO take this information with a grain of salt. In any case, if you're hanging out in these parks, be aware and prepared.

Let's hope this doesn't get as violent as we've witnessed in some American cities.

-Paqman

Jay-Z+Kanye West+Adele = Brooklyn. Chicago. London. - The Urban Noize Remixes

photo via lostinasupermarket.com

Remix crew Urban Noize are apparently making a name for themselves.  Representing Florida AKA the Sunshine State, their latest work here cooks up Jay Z, Yeezy and Adele.  The Brooklyn. Chicago. London title of the mix is apropos.

Do yourself a favour and stream this immediately!  Not the best sound quality but you'll still get the point.

-Turnbull

Watch The Throne Setlist Appears: The People Rejoice

(Photo via idolator.com)

Saw this today and thought you would be interested in salivating a bit. This pic has been circulating on the web for a few days now. Looks to me like a draft for the setlist as you'll notice the edits. If this is any indication of what they'll drop on us, this will be one to remember.

Toronto is patiently waiting for Ye and Jay to take over the city for two nights in November. The tour kicked off October 29th in Atlanta. Click here and here to check out our posts for Watch the Throne.

-Paqman