Thursday, June 30, 2011

Respect The Architects: "'Cause That's What Summertime's All About!"


Doug e fresh & the get fresh crew - summertime by dougpark17
CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Ohhh, I bet Y.O.U. read the title of the song in this thread and immediately thought of the other "Summertime" song. I respect your assumption youngin', but that choice would simply be too obvious for the likes of Livestyle ... lol. Summer officially started on the 21st of this month so Y.O.U. know that I had to give it up for the season with a real O.G. video circa 1989 from the inventor and namesake of the "Dougie" dance himself, Mr. Doug E. Fresh! Oh yeah, approximately 10 seconds into this video that most definitely IS a young Diddy fetching Douglas's belongings from the trunk out of that Benz. Know the ledge.

Beyonce - Year Of "4" (The Making Of "4")(Documentary) @ MTV.Com.

Rick Ross Ft. Meek Mill x Gunplay - Finals (Official Music Video)(Teaser)

Say What!?


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Well, clearly ALL kinds of people - even political analysts that are paid to at the very least feign objectivity - feel like they can say whatever the fuck they want about President Barack Obama. Hmmmmm, it couldn't be because he's our (NOTE: Or "THEIR") nation's 1st Black Commander In Chief though, right? Nahhh. Smh. And, this particular ad hominem attack on President Obama came from a so-called Liberal journalist while appearing on the so-called completely Liberal MSNBC network. Joe Scarborough AND Mika Brzezinski set this Mark Halperin fool up lovely with the good ole "Suuuure, you've got a 7 second delay" trick ... lol. Y.O.U. already know how Fox News gets down, but THIS!? With friends like these ...



Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Rick Ross x DJ Toomp Live From Zenith Studios, ATL. "GOD Forgives And I Don't: The Sessions" Vlog #1.


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Apparently a video documenting this exact inaugural session for Rick Ross's forthcoming 1.5 Liter magnum Perrier-Jouet Rosé bottle opus, "GOD Forgives And I Don't" featuring DJ Toomp's ridiculous arsenal of heaters previously hit the internet a few months back in late February. S/O to my blood brother-from-the-very-same-awesome-mother Niketown for the heads up on that (NOTE: Yes, fact checking IS vitally important boys and girls)! This is the extended banana clip version. "BAAAAAAAAWSE!"

Young Jeezy - Slow Grind (Tour Bus Footage)(Official Music Video)(Off That "The Real Is Back" Mixtape Available For Download NOW!)


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Listen, I aint no DJ, however, I can and most certainly will arrange the shit out of an MP3 playlist. In fact, my playlist programming proficiency predates (NOTE: In the paraphrased words of R. Kelly's victims, "Daaaaaaamn! That sure was a lot of P's!" ... lol) all modern audio compression methods. I've been on it like that since the "pause-tape" days homie ... word to Kool DJ Red Alert and Chuck Chillout! Anyway, Mr. "Young Jizzle With The Stamp In The Middle"'s "Slow Grind" is batting lead-off like Brett Gardner when I drop that "Drought Survival Kit Vol. 1" mixtape my nigga. BELEE DAT!

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

#NP: Nipsey Hussle - R.$.C. 4 Life (Official Music Video)

Pusha T x CyHi Da Prynce Talk G.O.O.D. Music Joining Def Jam On The Red Carpet Of Last Night's Heineken Red Star Access Event @ Thesource.Com.

My Little Wu-Tang Clan - Shame On A Nigga = HILARIOUS!


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: I'm not gonna lie to yall, I had a strong as Serena William's thighs suspicion that this video would reek of abandoned trash bag juice rising off the streets of Brownsville, Brooklyn on a hot Summer's day, but, alas, I was ALL the way wrong. Come on, this "Wu-Banger" features "Methodsky, Applekwon and Ol' Pinkie Bastard" ... lol. Stop playing. The audio/visual synch up on this clip is perfect! Shit is too funny my nigga. Good shit!



Maino - I'm About That Life (Official Music Video)

Behind The Scenes: DJ Khaled Ft. Fabolous, Jadakiss x Mary J. Blige - It Aint Over, Till It's Over (Official Music Video)

BEHIND THE SCENES OF "IT AINT OVER,TILL IT'S OVER" from DERICK G on Vimeo.

PREVIEW: The mastermind JAPAN x Timberland 6 Inch Construction Boots Collabo For Spring/Summer 2012 = Velveeta® Cheese For The Win!





"For Spring/Summer 2012 Timberland has collaborated with mastermind JAPAN on their iconic and classic 6 Inch boot. The brand keeps the wheat colored classic upper, yet adds other nice details, including a metal logo on the heel, as well as a special zip closure system. The boots will release Spring/Summer 2012 in very limited quantities."

Information Courtesy Of: Highsnobiety.Com


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Long live "Cheese" Timbs! Yes, the mastermind JAPAN x Timberland 6 Inch Construction Boots collabo for Spring/Summer 2012 proves to be a brilliant blend of rugged American classicism meets Tokyo, Japan nouveau riche pricey Punk cool that has resulted in a surprisingly dope pair of boots that only furthers celebrated Timberland's hood legacy for the ages.

I mention "surprisingly" for the mere fact that although I welcome the creative combination of contrasting aesthetic principles, I can be rather restrained with regard to ALL matters of good taste (NOTE: Especially when it comes to revamping a beloved Brooklyn corner boy staple such as the Timberland boot). Indeed, my consistently demanding standards dangle ever so perilously like the Sword of Damocles (NOTE: Google it!) above my crisp Mitchell & Ness snapback cap as a constant reminder of my responsibility to ALWAYS keep it fly. Fuck it! I've gotta do me.

In any event, the O.G. Timberland 6 Inch "Constructs" have been enjoying a late innings comeback in recent years that has seen this legendary symbol of American workwear reworked by some of contemporary streetwear's finest labels.

This latest surely über limited edition incarnation sees the standard wheat colored nubuck Timbs get the luxe laceup treatment courtesy of front zipper closures, twisted "medium brown" laces, "mastermind JAPAN" logos across the heel, "mastermind JAPAN" and "Timberland" each stamped on 1 of the pairs tongues and, the pièce de résistance, a silver pin relief of the signature mastermind "Jolly Roger" emblem affixed to the lower side portion of each boot replacing Timberland's iconic "Tree" logo. Me likey.

See, in 2011 every homebound newbie with a Niketalk log-in goes all kind of Hypebeast whenever some not-so-special-anymore-thanks-to-greedy-shortsighted-oversaturation pair of "special" edition Air Jordans and Foamposites drops but, on the real, niggas don't know about exclusive Timbs like that my nigga ... and it is precisely THAT lack of expert understanding that makes copping a pair of these ALL the more worthwhile! LOL. Spend that bank and walk the plank!

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Triple C's - Mind Playing Tricks On Me (Official Music Video)


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: See, this is exactly the type of shit that happens when the "BAWSE" pushes your whole life back in favor of some fresh new semi-Hipster talent. Yup, Y.O.U. are forced to release a new video for a song that is well over a year old. Smh. Fuck that! I want Gunplay to win ... the kid Torch though, ehhh, not so much ... lol. Hey, it's a Sunday yall. It is what it is.

The Brunch Bunch Pt. 144




























Reverend T.D. Jakes Approved.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Rick Ross Ft. Lil Wayne - 9 Piece (Remix)(Official Music Video)(NSFW)


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Who cares whether we're talking about "9 pieces" or "8-balls" (NOTE: Universal hustler euphemisms both for 9 OZ.'s and 3.5 grams of material respectively)? Huh? Anybody? That's right. Nobody cares; especially if you're name happens to be Rick Ross.

Indeed, Señor Rozay has made quite the career for himself creating art that imitates life ... albeit a life that is NOT entirely his own ... lol. Whatevs. Mr. M-I-Yayo's colossal imagination can only be matched by his massive output of consistently dope music ... and, like it or not, that's all that really fuckin' matters. Welcome to Hip Hop 2011 boys and girls. It is what it is.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Yup, Y.O.U. Can ALWAYS Count On Ron Artest For Some Laughs.


"Ron Artest: I'm Changing My Name ... RADICALLY

6/23/2011 2:51 PM PDT by TMZ Staff


Say goodbye to Ron Artest and HELLOOOO to Metta World Peace ... Mr. Metta World Peace to you.


Yes, Ron is going the way of Cassius Clay, Lew Alcindor and Chad Johnson. Ron's filed a petition in L.A. County Superior Court to change his name to -- World Peace.

FYI, metta means loving, kindness, happiness and all that jazz.

We're told Ron wants to put the new last name -- Peace -- on the back of his L.A. Lakers' jersey.


These name changes are typically granted by a judge unless it would result in confusion or fraud.

Hey, give Peace a chance."

Information Courtesy Of: TMZ.Com


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: THIS nigga right here!? Smh. Hold up! Y.O.U. know what though, before I even react too hastily and respond with requisite internet knee-jerk snarkiness, I'ma chill and let this man live. Why not? If Ron Artest woke up today and felt like making a positive public statment by officially changing his name to "Meta World Peace", that's his GOD given right. Fuck it. I'ma still clown this nigga though ... lol!



Estelle Ft. Rick Ross - Break My Heart (Official Music Video)

Movie Trailer: The Killer Elite (Starring: Robert DeNiro, Clive Owens x Jason Statham)


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Truuuuue, my man Bobby D is looking type elderly to be believable in the role of a rough-n-tumble assassin in 2011, but ... I still might go see this shit in the theaters. Oh, who am I kidding!? "The Killer Elite" looks like yet another fun if uninspired film destined for that straight-to-DVD good "$5 holla" from my favorite Blackbuster Video (NOTE: Patent pending) bootleg movie spot ... lol. S/O to my muthafuckin' man Omar on Fulton Street and Dekalb Avenue in the Borough for holding me down all these years! Good shit!

Jadakiss Ft. Styles P. x Chynk Show - Lay 'Em Down (Official Music Video)(Off That "I Love You" Mixtape Available For Download NOW!)

A History Of Violence: The Unauthorized Story Of Haitian Jack (2009) x A Special Livestyle Commentary On The "G-Code" As Religion.


(L to R: Tupac Shakur and Jacques "Haitian Jack" Agnant.)

(L to R: Jacques "Haitian Jack" Agnant, Tupac Shakur and friend.)
"INTRO BY BLACK PACINO

TREATMENT WRITTEN BY DETECTIVE WILLIAM COURTNEY

A can of worms was opened last week when prison inmate Dexter Issac, an associate of hip-hop mogul/gangster James “Jimmy Henchmen” Rosemon, claimed he was paid by Henchmen to rob Tupac at Quad Studios in 1994.

There is currently a nationwide manhunt for Jimmy Henchmen, who is wanted by the Feds for everything from cocaine distribution to murder. Of course, Mr. Henchmen denies these charges.

With the skeletons of the 90′s resurfacing, now is an ideal time to revisit the story of another shadowy figure and Henchmen associate involved in the Tupac case: Haitian Jack. For the uninformed, Brooklyn’s own Haitian Jack (pictured above with Tupac) is one of the most feared gangsters ever to walk the streets. He basically strong-armed his way into the inner circles of both Biggie and Pac.

A detective by the name of William Courtney, who had intimate knowledge of Haitian Jack through his investigation, wrote a movie treatment about the infamous urban legend. This treatment has been online for a while now but last night I read it for the first time and it totally blew my mind. Not only is it a gripping story that held my interest from start to finish, it also intertwines many famous names and groundbreaking incidents.

Seems it was only available via PDF file with excerpts scattered throughout the internet. But below the jump, you will find this document posted in its entirety.

Shit is deep, yo…


Treatment for HAITIAN JACK

A story based on the real life exploits of the music industry’s most notorious gangster and the members of law enforcement who controlled him.

William Courtney Title and Concept Registered WGAW and Library of Congress Copyright Office May 23, 2009

“Listen while I take you back (NIGGA SAY HIS NAME!) and lace this rap A real live tale about a snitch named Haitian Jack Knew he was working for the feds, same crime, different trials Nigga, picture what he said, and did I mention Promised a payback, Jimmy Henchman, in due time I know you bitch niggas is listenin, The World Is Mine…”

‘Against All Odds’ -Tupac Shakur

Haitian Jack was the most feared man in the music industry. Jack, AKA Jacques Agnant, was born in Haiti to a family of privileged politicians. They were highly educated professionals. His older siblings attended medical schools and universities in the United States. His family attended parties at ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier’s mansion. After the coup, his family fled to Brooklyn, New York with limited funds and connections. Jack, speaking only French, was placed in a tough, local public school and forced to fight on a daily basis. He became one of the toughest street thugs in the history of Brooklyn, New York.

Jack began committing burglaries during his teen years. He specialized in drug dealers’ apartments. Jack formed a gang known as the Black Mafia. He recruited the toughest street robbers in the borough. His posse consisted of thugs such as, Tut, Nubs, Stretch, and other sociopaths, all looking to cash in on the drug economy. His crew was so feared; they could walk down the lines of New York’s hottest night clubs and take every drug dealer’s Rolex and wallet without as much as a peep. Jack began befriending such people as Mike Tyson and some local professional ball players. He used his charm to get into their pockets and when that failed, he produced a firearm. He invented the ‘friendly’ extortion game in the Black community. He is said to be the only man Mike Tyson ever feared.

In the early 1990′s, rap music could be heard on every comer of Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn -a neighborhood so bad, the local residents coined the saying ‘Bed-Stuy Do or Die.’ Jack went out of his way to get to know Biggie Smalls, a young, local rap artist with a lot of promise. Tupac Shakur heard about Biggie, travelled to Brooklyn, and the two began to perform together. Tupac put Biggie on the map. Biggie introduced Jack to Tupac, a day that would forever seal Mr. Shakur’s fate. Jack felt that rap artists should pay homage to him; after all, he lived the life they exploited through song.

Jack and Tupac hit it off. Tupac loved Jack’s street creds and the feeling of power this mobster exuded through his swagger and earned reputation. He wanted what Jack had almost more than fame and fortune. Jack provided protection, women, and marijuana. Tupac picked up the tab at all the hot clubs. Jack was unofficially managing Tupac; the two were inseparable. The duo found themselves partying at clubs such as Nell’s with the likes of Madonna and other hot stars. Jack felt that his ride with Tupac would never end.

Jack whispered in a girl’s ear one evening at Nell’s. She smiled and walked over to Tupac. The two danced and later returned to his hotel suite. The following day she returned. Tupac took her to his room; they began having sex when Jack’s crew entered the room. The young woman became the victim of date rape. She left in tears. The police later arrived and arrested Jack and Tupac. The two hired the best attorneys and planned strategy for their defense. Jack’s attorney, Paul Brenner, decided to sever Jack’s case from Shakur’s. He got Jack a six-month plea deal. The Manhattan D.A.’s office wasn’t so kind to Tupac. He went to trial, was found guilty, and was due back in court for sentencing at a later date.

Tupac felt betrayed by Jack. He thought they should have gone to trial together. He knew Jack could handle prison; he wasn’t so sure about himself. Tupac stopped taking calls from Jack and his crew. Tupac began clubbing again. He returned to Nell’s and made a fatal mistake: he commented on Jack’s criminal dealings to New York Post reporter AJ. Benza. After making Page Six the following day, Jack plotted his revenge.

Puff Daddy feared Jack so much, he once handed him ten grand and his Rolex. Jacks’ crew coaxed Shakur to Quad Studios in Manhattan to lay down some tracks with Puff Daddy’s Bad Boy roster. Tupac entered the lobby with one of Jack’s crew, a kid named Stretch Walker. Jack’s boys confronted Tupac in the lobby. He resisted a beat down and was shot several times, suffering gunshot wounds to the head and groin. Stretch was shot in the melee as well. Shakur felt that Puffy and Biggie had set him up. He was sentenced to prison a few weeks later. Jack’s muscle within the prison system relentlessly sought Shakur out. One day, Tupac received a visit from Los Angeles gangster and owner of Death Row Records, Marion ‘Suge’ Knight. Suge convinced Tupac to sign with his label. The east coast-west coast wars were set in motion.

Years of violence between Bad Boy and Death Row left Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur dead. Knight’s organization had been crippled by numerous police investigations. Jack reinvented himself through The Fugees; Wyclef Jeans’ pockets were deep and Jack had both hands in them. Wyclef didn’t mind so much. Jack was a fellow Haitian and he kept all the extortion crews far away. After touring with the Fugees, Jack fell in love with Beverly Hills. He started his own management company and attached himself to artists’ publishing rights by way of fear and the gun. He broke ranks and had amassed a small fortune. Jack wasn’t happy though; he wanted more.

In 1997, Tupac was killed in Vegas and Biggie was later murdered in Los Angeles. Haitian Jack broke ranks from his crew. Nubs was murdered, and Tut went away on a Rico. The rest were bottom feeders unable to drive through the Hills without attracting attention. Jack was solo. Haitian knew he could have problems with L.A. gang members, so he established a geographical zone to stay in. He never ventured farther north of Sunset, south of Pico, east of Fairfax, orwestofthe405. It kept him away from gang bangers and the police. Jack was getting rich, but he was also getting bored.

Detective Bill Courtney was an undercover detective in the NYPD’s elite Intelligence Division. He was given his own unit and tasked with an impossible mission: taking the mob out of the music industry. Bill knew Jack’s rep from back in his Robbery Squad days. He had heard about Jack again while assigned to the DEA. Jack had robbed half the drug dealers in New York. Wire taps were abuzz about being done by the ‘Haitian One’, but no one knew where he had gone. His name was legendary, as the killer of Tupac. A little homework revealed that Jack had never earned his citizenship. As a predicate felon, Jack was deportable. Bill felt that if he found Jack, he could make him an offer he couldn’t refuse: join Team America or go back to Haiti.

One of the last times Bill heard about Jack was on the ‘Kendu’ case. Bill’s wiretap took down East New York’s biggest drug dealer, Darryl “Kendu’ Riley. A cooperator told an interesting story about Jack back when Tut was still on the streets. Jack and Tut once kicked in the door of Kendu’s top lieutenant, a gunslinger named T.T. They stole hi8 stash and threatened to kill his girlfriend if she called the police. His girlfriend Crystal foolishly called 911 as T.T. was rushing home to her aid. He beat the cops to the apartment. When the police entered, they found one of his AK-47′s under a bed. He was the victim of a robbery and now he was going to prison. Jacks’ crew later raped Crystal to keep her from testifying. T.T. wouldn’t cooperate, but a source of information on the case promised to deliver Jack."



(L to R: Darryl "Kendu" Riley, Domencio "Montana" Benson (R.I.P.) and Ra'son @ The Omni Hotel, NYC Circa 1990.)

Read The Entire Treatment Here: Spizzyblog.Com


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Religion is a curious apparatus. Performing purely as a social construct religion can be easy to criticize. For centuries man has deliberately used the name and power of GOD to assign divine command to human - and by that definition imperfect - judgement in the most harmful of ways. So, yeah, I get your beef ... lol. However, removing the infinite wisdom and authority of GOD from the equation, we are then simply left with a cultural system of beliefs, codes and symbols that are shared by any particular community ... yup, that's all we have.

Now, given that understanding, applied to today's generally accepted corner boy ethos, the exalted "G-Code" dogma acts as a serious and greatly revered religion of sorts on its own for millions of people whom embrace "The Life". Indeed, urban mythology is no different from mainstream religion in that street lore has also taken on measures of idolatry where historical hood figures over the years have transmorphed into super human (NOTE: In this case) anti-hereos as their individual stories are filtered through the grapevine of time. It is within the halls of this gangster cathedral and beneath sky-high vaulted ceilings that these laudably lawless names exist. With special regard to the unauthorized story of one Haitian Jack as featured in the main body of this post, the nom de plumes of goons from years past now ring bells from broken doored N.ew Y.ork C.ity H.ousing A.uthority project building corridors to the packed general population prison yards of Upstate New York's most feared penitentiaries.

For myself - and I would imagine many whom share this mighty metropolis with me; especially those hailing from Brooklyn - the subjects mentioned here are NOT merely some vague inaccessible names. No, for many of us they are real live human beings whom we either have heard numerous stories about or, perhaps, have even personally encountered. I represent the latter. Don't compare me to these other bloggers. Church!

Growing up with 1 foot on the block and 1 foot in the music industry, I have come to know a lot of the people intimately tethered to these tawdry street tales. Some I even consider family. So, it is with that great respect that I publish this post sans any extra commentary. I'll let the snitches hang themselves. As my nigga Little Shawn said to me via Twitter some 3 weeks ago, "Once old stories get told, new niggas fold". Say no more. Shit is too real. This is Livestyle.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Young Jeezy - The Real Is Back (Tour Bus x Performance Footage)(Official Music Video)(Off That "The Real Is Back" Mixtape Available For Download NOW!)


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: "Straight up outta Lo Cash ... these nigga's Gusto ..." Stop playing.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Frank Ocean - Novacane (Official Music Video)

frank ocean [novacane] from christopher francis ocean on Vimeo.

Young Jeezy Ft. Lil Wayne - Ballin' (Official Music Video)




BONUS:

As per the unspoken yet clearly implicit Livestyle user agreement, I am duty bound to post an accompanying clip from "Above The Rim" - the 1994 classic hood cinematic gem that inspired Young Jeezy's latest music video. R.I.P. Tupac Shakur. It's only right that Y.O.U. know this.

The Brunch Bunch Pt. 143 (The "Happy Father's Day 2011" Edition!)




























Reverend T.D. Jakes Approved.