Armand Van Helden’s “NYC Beat”

June 28

My first impression of this video was that it was going to be more than the usual boring house music video. Most of the genre’s videos hit you with Barbie blondes in leotards bouncing around.

So here’s a brunette in her house and some beautiful shots of NYC - this video is really something, right - oh wait it’s just some freaky NYC girls.

The Chuggo world takeover begins

June 27

Toronto’s rap scene may have its ups and downs, but according to Chuggo, we are about to enter a golden age.

Strangely, this is way more entertaining than most of what you see on BET these days. Excepting, of course, Shop Boys.

Chuggo on Myspace

Daft Punk

June 26

This video is a bit slow to start, but once you get into it it’s pretty mesmerizing. My favorite part is the little details like raver jewelry.

via Viral Video Chart

The Bronx

June 24

The Cancer Bats just got back to Toronto from 5 months of touring. Today I ate brunch with Mikey da drummer and basked in his stories of touring with The Bronx, one of the best hardcore bands out.

In April The Bronx posted this update on their website:

we have begun working on 2 albums worth of material. we will be making 2 different records this time… (and yet both will still be self titled)
record # 1 will be mariachi music (el bronx)
record # 2 will be dead punk (the bronx)
both go well with hot sauce, but yet each has a different bouquet.

Mikey confirmed that on tour they were writing songs on a mariachi style guitar. I don’t know what to think. Here’s the creepy must-see vids from their last self-titled album, “History’s Stranglers,” “Sh*tty Future” & “White Guilt”:

Oh and here’s a weird treat: I stumbled across this remix by StarGate, the Norwegian Pop/R&B hitmakers behind some of Ne-Yo and Beyonce’s recent hits.

Maroon 5 featuring Mims - Makes Me Wonder (Remix)

Look At These Ballin Chains

June 11

JIM JONES will be on MTV Live June 13th

Jim Jones of Diplomat Records is coming to MTV in Toronto. Come by to bask in his glory or ask him questions about his recent split with Killa Cam. If youre in the Toronto area email Derek the audience dude to get on the list, or tune in June 13th. Ballin’!

Jay-Z / Jim Jones Beef update

It’s not often Jay-Z spits back these days. His beef with Nas was one of the longest standing battles of words in rap history, and he ended it completely, going so far as to personally sign Nas to Def Jam. But after repeated jabs from Jim Jones and the Diplomats, Jay has decided to take Jimmy on:

“Ya playin pitty pat with a chess playa!”
“Ball game n*gga! Its over for you lames / Give me back the chain, its over for you DAMEs / f*ck ya’ll broads.. didn’t they ever tell you don’t f*ck wit’ a mans family? / f*ck wit ya’lls? You’ll kidnap mines? / n*gga I will click-clack… / Push ya wig back, further than Tyra Banks hairline”

Photos from last week’s Vice party in Toronto

Zach’s hot site posted up a pile of golden photos from this Vice jam. Gabe & I DJed all night, looking good, Toronto.

Your Boy Brian

June 7

One of Toronto’s best open format / West Coast style DJs (think AM / Aoki) is Your Boy Brian. No one bounces between huge house beats, ’80s stadium pop and indie rock like your boy. I’m proud to have him on board as part of the More Proof invasion.

Toronto’s local weekly paper Now (known for random bouts of scathing sucky baby hissing fits) just spotlighted him:

Worst Headphones

June 6

Can someone fill me in on what precisely is wrong with the electronics companies? I just want some nice earbud headphones and i dont want to spend $100. The only headphones I can find are either $100 or $20. I just bought the $20 pair pictured above and I was instantly disappointed. I wouldnt gladly spend $60 if i knew I’d like them, but I’m stuck with these. Who told these companies that we want our headphone cables to be different lengths for each ear? I would probably spend up to $60 if I had confidence in any of the companies making these things.

The new Klaxons video appears to be a continuation of the previous video for Golden Skans. Both videos feature stunning slow motion of the band busting three dimensional glass shapes. Where Golden Skans was a sort of futurerave wasteland, they seem to have gone samurai-chic with It’s Not Over. I would have appreciated some new ideas, but director Saam is still doing some of the most visually interesting work in music video today. Expect the single to include a Justice remix.

This weekend is North By Northeast in Toronto. Check out Seb Grainger on Saturday at the horseshoe! before you come to this: