Music
Oaklandish 2012 Mixtape mixed by Dion Decibels
March 3rd, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Featured, Mixtape Reviews, Music, Thursday Throwbacks
Imagine you’re driving down East 14th, and as the blocks pass, so do the years. Well that’s exactly the type of listening experience DJ Dion Decibels has created with Oaklandish’s 2012 mixtape. Please beware however that this musical journey is non-linear; [...]
How Bay Area Musicians Celebrate Valentines Day
February 27th, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Featured, Music
The Bay Area is enshrouded in stereotypes. Some see us as huge proponents of pimp culture, others remember us as free love hippies, and still others know us as eclectic cool kids with a nose for the next. Well this Valentines season, we were treated to [...]
Too $hort Releases Hella New Videos
February 25th, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Featured, Music
Too $hort has come under fire for some inappropriate comments he made to XXL regarding advice he’d supposedly give to young boys this month, and while 38th Notes does not endorse such behavior, it’s not all that surprising. Too $hort has actually worked [...]
Mixtape Review: Nio Tha Gift: No More Mr. Nice Guy
February 25th, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Featured, Mixtape Reviews, Music
Nio is an emcee with a 2Pac-ian heart. Both the streets and the classroom course through his veins– the perfect pedigree of a ghetto intellectual. It helps that his mouthpiece spits out well-conceived wordplay and punch lines with precision. Nio isn’t [...]
Video: Bay Area Bands on Soul Train
February 18th, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Featured, History, Music
In the wake of Don Cornelius’s passing, much has been said about the cucumber-cool Cornelius and his long-running and iconic show, Soul Train. I won’t wax poetic about the show’s societal impact and influence because it’s been done by many who can say [...]
Concert: Estelle with Elle Varner, Stacy Barthe, and Luke James
February 7th, 2012 | by niema | published in Events, Featured, Music
What are you doing this Friday? Oh. you don’t know yet? Well, Estelle is hitting the stage at The New Parish as part of the BET Music Matters Tour. This London girl will be singing some of the tracks that got her U.S. buzz and promoting her new album [...]
Music Video: Krypto, Los Rakas & The Jacka: “Gyangsta”
February 7th, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Art, Featured, Music
Haters are as old as the earth is round. I bet you there were Neanderthals who made cave paintings to clown rival hunters with less prowess. 5 pence says that medieval chamber maids put the kings’ mistresses on blast at the market and that knights [...]
Event: Valentine’s Day with Martin Luther
February 4th, 2012 | by niema | published in Art, Events, Featured, Music
Have you made plans for February 14th? Did you remember to include a night at Museum of the African Diaspora with Martin Luther? If not, you still have time to grab your tickets for the unplugged session co-presented by the museum’s young professionals [...]
Too $hort Speaks on the Efficacy of the Hyphy Sound
February 2nd, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Featured, Music
Too $hort is the godfather of Bay Area rap and the independent hustle. His music may strike you as misogynistic and gross, but he’s a very smart man. If you’re an up-and-coming emcee, when he talks, you listen. The gospel $hort is preaching these [...]
Album Review: Daveed Diggs: Small Things To A Giant
January 26th, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Featured, Mixtape Reviews, Music
Daveed Diggs is a soft-spoken maniacal motherfucker. He’s a quiet fellow when you first meet him–no rapper braggadocio or traces of ‘too cool for school’ bravado to speak of. He does stand out though. Aesthetically, Diggs fuses hyphy fashion sensibilities [...]
Music Video: Symba: “Winning Pt. 2″
January 24th, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Featured, Music
Deer Valley hoop star cum Berkeley spitter is back with the video for “Winning Pt. 2.” In this Aquavis Warfield-directed video, he finds himself toe-to-toe with a rival emcee in a basement-lit battle scene. He prowls and attacks, starts and stops, something [...]
Video: Etta James Live In Oakland Backed By The Grateful Dead & Tower of Power
January 23rd, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Featured, History, Music
Etta James is famous for bridging a myriad of genres with her music, but this collaborative effort takes the cake. On New Years Eve of 1982 Etta James and Tower of Power’s famous horn section joined Jerry Garcia’s Grateful Dead on stage for a 30+ minute [...]
