Big news for fans of Kansho Tagai, a.k.a. Mr. Happiness, Japan's most famous 49 year-old rappin' Buddhist monk: He's ready to move into a new medium—"mixing Buddhist chants with tap-dancing." Is the Buddhist hip hop audience ready? [Reuters]
White guy parody raps are always awful. That said, this Billy Eichner-Rachel Dratch collabo, 'Forest Hills State of Mind,' is pretty fucking funny. "I went to museums/ And the planetarium/ I was the toughest motherfucker at the aquarium." [AnimalNY]
What is happening in the "art world" these days? Well, Wu-Tang's RZA is remixing 'Washington Crossing the Delaware' in typical Wu style (buy now!), in addition to directing his first movie. Biggest art thing since that dead shark! Wu-reminisce, below.
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The new head of the National Endowment for the Arts says that he'd like to explore government funding for hip hop culture, including rap and graffiti. Whoa, whoa. Does he know about the hoes?
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Alarmed employees at an American Fork, Utah McDonald's called police when they found a carload of teenagers attempting to "rap" their order in the drive-thru microphone. Authorities issued the hip-hoppers a citation, and the town is calm. For now. [Adfreak]
Shyne: Born in Belize, moved to Brooklyn, became a rapper, voice sounded just like Biggie Smalls, took a shooting charge for Puff Daddy, went to jail, got out, now deported back to Belize. Hope you made some money, man.
In one way, Marc Ecko's a role model: He started with style and a dream and made it to the top of pop fashion. In a more accurate way, Marc Ecko is a walking "What Not to Do" guide. More »
Is there anything Barack Obama can't do? Not according to rapper Common, who credits the President with sending hip-hop off into a more cuddly, less bling-centric direction. And now peace reigns for all.
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Rap music: Will it ever stop inspiring America's youth to commit multiple homicides? Not likely, if the sad case of Richard "Syko Sam" McCroskey is any indication. Because he's charged with killing four people.
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Wowza, Ta-Nehisi Coates got an entire profile of MF Doom in the New Yorker this week, something so unlikely it sounds like a dare. The best hip hop journalist profiles today's illest MC in America's best magazine. Mmmm, food.
Heartwarming story of the day: Back in the 80s, Warner Music tossed a clause in then-teenage rapper Roxanne Shante's contract saying they'd pay for her education for life. So she got a psychology Ph.D from Cornell. Cost: $217K. Ha. [NYDN]
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Last November, Mary Anderson attended a Method Man concert at Houston's House of Blues. Later, she approached Method Man, whom Ms. Anderson was a fan of, for an autograph. He then pulled out a gun and opened fire on her.
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Complex puts together a very impressive compendium of of 48 separate dead hip hop magazines. Vibe and Mass Appeal were just the latest. I didn't even notice Elemental was gone! R.I.P., One Nut! [Complex]
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