Gizmodo: hip-hop

Wu-Tang Clan's RZA: Proud to Be a Geek

Danny Allen — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:34:51 EDT

In this video interview with True/Slant, RZA says hip hop and "geekism" go hand in hand when it comes to using new technology. "We geeks man, we geeks!" He also talks about video game addiction…and busts out a roundhouse kick!

As someone who dabbles in music production on the side, I've long been a fan of producers who push technology: Herbie Hancock, Prince, Aphex Twin, and Richie Hawtin to name but a few. So RZA proudly admitting his geekdom isn't a surprise to me—he's a great producer. My favorite quote from the video: "I'd rather raise nerds than raise gangsters."

The interview was for his new autobiographical/philosophical book, The Tao of Wu, and took place at Manhattan's USA Shaolin Temple. Fitting, because the interviewer dared RZA to show him some martial arts skills. The result below: [True/Slant via BoingBoing]

Buzz Aldrin's New Hip Hop Album Looks Amazing

Adam Frucci — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:40:00 EDT

What's cooler, walking on the moon or recording an album with Snoop Dogg and Talib Kweli? I'd say it's a toss-up. [Funny or Die]

Your Very Own Optimus Prime Can Dance to JT Too

Erica Ho — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:45:52 EDT

I’ve seen quite a few R/C cars in my day, but I’ve never seen one that actually transforms the way Optimus Prime can. The RCRC (or Remote Controlled Robotic Car) offers four modes for your entertainment: robot, truck, sports car, and ~~“hip-hop dance”~~ robot-tank. And I definitely hope I don't meet whoever was controlling that RCRC out on the road someday. The RCRC also comes with a rechargeable battery, but unfortunately (or is that fortunately?) not Megan Fox. [Technabob]

Astrobiology Rap Proves That Science Is Fun, Nothing Really Rhymes with Abiogenesis

John Herrman — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 05:00:00 EDT

If the fantastic Large Hadron Collider rap was too esoteric for your tastes, Oort Kuiper's Astrobiology rap, commissioned by a European astronomy magazine, probably won't find its way onto your prestigious and exclusive "muzic 4 drivin' 'n' shit" playlist. But, in the spirit of science, consider the facts:

The song has a beat, therefore it can technically be nodded, hobbled or even danced to. The rapper's name is a combination of not one, but two different astronomical phenomena, and Frank Drake (you know, like the equation) appears to be Kuiper's Suge Knight. Last but not least, in the middle of a fairly compelling and entertaining account of the history of manned space travel, listeners are treated to a voiceover by Carl goddamn Sagan, a man who died well before he could ever realize his potential in the music industry. Oort Kuiper's biggest question might be "where did life come from?" but after listening to this song, a more important question is "when will Oort Kuiper make another song?" [AMEE via Slashdot]

Why Rap Stars Are Hating on the iPhone

Benny Goldman — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EDT

At the Rock the Bells festival on Sunday I asked some of the most important hip-hop artists in the game—and my heroes since childhood—what they hated most about the iPhone. Whether they owned it or not, most of the stars had a good reason to dis the overhyped phone, and their answers ranged from the mundane (Trugoy from De La Soul says it's "too cute") to the slightly crazy (dead prez's M-1 brought up the Matrix and Big Brother). Only Wu-Tang's Method Man couldn't find a way to bring the pain—we expect a new single, "F-A-N-B-O-Y Man", any day now.

Special thanks to Trugoy, Slim Kid Tre, Bootie Brown, Fat Lip, Imani, DJ Premier, Slick Rick, B-Real, M-1, Method Man, Murs, Keith Murray, Jake Fleischmann, Brendan McSheehy, and SanDisk! [Rock the Bells]

Geek Gang Signs Might Get You Shot In Compton

Elaine Chow — Sat, 31 May 2008 14:00:00 EDT

First came Pharrell's hip-hop funk group N.E.R.D, then Chamillionaire's Ridin' (Dirty) was appropriated into White n' Nerdy, and now the disparate worlds of hip-hop culture and geekdom have crossed once again, with this poster depicting geek gang signs!

Macheads and Windows fanboys can now proclaim their love for their respective platforms through sign language...and oh damn! Is that a Linux Lover encroaching on your turf? Turn that mother out! All you nerds should be careful using these on the street though, since you could come across someone who might mistake them for their real-life gangsta counterparts. 7H|_|G L1F3. [Joey DeVilla]