Category Archives: Videos

TGIF w/ 2Pac & Dr. Dre | “California Love”

Posted on by BCandMerch
Reply

Happy Friday, everyone! If your week was as hectic as mine, you’re ready for the weekend, and what better way to kick it off than the 2Pac/Dre classic, “California Love”?

A constant club and party jam since its original release in 1995, this funktastic bumper is the unofficial anthem for Cali, and has one of the most epic music videos in recent memory. It’s got a Mad Max theme, Dr. Dre with an eye-patch, 90s Chris Tucker (back when we liked Chris Tucker), and the elf from Bad Santa. Oh, and did I mention it has lots of fire and the Thunderdome? Yeah, awesome.

Gorillaz feat. Andre 3000 & James Murphy | “DoYaThing” (Converse 3 Artists, 1 Song)

Posted on by BCandMerch
Reply

Converse has been doing the “3 Artists, 1 Song” thing for a few years now (last year’s “I’m A Goner” mixed Andrew W.K., Matt & Kim, and Soulja Boy, and 2010′s “All Summer” included Kid Cudi, Best Coast, and Vampire Weekend). It seems that each addition to the series gets a little more excelctic and bizarre, but this year’s really gets it right.

The blend of the Gorillaz typical strange beeps n beats with LCD Soundsystem brain-trust James Murphy and Outkast’s Andre 3000 spits out a head-bobbing ball of funk. The video is typical Gorillaz flair of CGI, 2D cartoon, and live-action elements, and really has nothing to do with the song other than “DoYaThing” is playing in the background.

Oh, and did I mention there is a FRIGGIN’ BOWL OF EARS at the 3:05 mark?! You may want to strap yourself in for this one.

[Throwback Thursday] Naughty By Nature | “O.P.P.”

Posted on by BCandMerch
Reply

Sorry for the lack of Throwbacks lately, but, to make up for it, I’m giving you what might be the ultimate throwback jam: Naughty By Nature’s “O.P.P.”

A song about adultery hits number 1 on the Billboard Hip Hop Charts, who would have thought? I want to say a big part of its success was their use of the Jackson 5′s “ABC” as a sample. That, doubled with Treach’s hilarious verses, and the party-banging chorus.

Half the fun was trying to figure out what “O.P.P.” stood for. Granted, Treach wasn’t subtle, especially with rhymes like “It’s sorta like another way to call a cat a kitten, it’s five little letters that are missin’ here,” or (for the ladies) “It’s the longest, loveliest, lean– I call it the leanest. It’s another five letter word rhymin’ with cleanest and meanest.“

Regardless of whether you like hip hop, if you hear “You down with O.P.P.,” you’re gonna find yourself shouting “Yeah, you know me!”

[Premiere] Jay-Z & Kanye West | “N*ggas In Paris” [Video]

Posted on by BCandMerch
Reply

Jay-Z & Kanye’s “Niggas In Paris” has been blowing up clubs since it was released as a single back in September, so it’s kind of crazy (or “cray” as Kanye would say) that they are just now releasing a video. Filmed at the L.A. Staples Center during the December 13 date of the Watch The Throne Tour, the video is live footage chopped in with insane visuals like panthers, cityscapes, topped off with this mirroring effect. Oh, and keep an eye out for Kanye’s ridiculous leather kilt-thing.

It’s one of the most original (and bizarre) videos I’ve seen in a long time, and I absolutely love it.

WARNING: This video could cause epileptic seizures, so maybe don’t watch it standing up. That shit cray.

Sorry, the embed code isn’t working, but you can check it here: “Niggas In Paris” [Video]

[Throwback Thursday] Coolio feat. L.V. | “Gangsta’s Paradise”

Posted on by BCandMerch
Reply

Maybe one of the most epic hip hop songs of all time, Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” was as inescapable in the 90s as Coolio’s ridiculous-ass hair. It even got its own Weird Al parody, “Amish Paradise,” that also became a huge hit (much to Coolio’s dismay). The video for “Gangsta’s Paradise” was just as iconic as the song. Originally recorded for the Dangerous Minds soundtrack, it features Michelle Pfiefer having a stare-down with a dark and ominous Coolio, and L.V. having steam blown in his face (for effect?).

Everything about this song screams “This is one of the greatest f*cking hip hop songs of ALL time,” and you’d be hard-pressed to argue.

[Throwback Thursday] Ol’ Dirty Bastard feat. Kelis | “Got Your Money”

Posted on by BCandMerch
Reply

Regardless of a completely insane person (like taking a limousine to collect his welfare check while he still had an album in the Top-10), the ODB was unstoppable in the 90s. Even after numerous arrests that concluded in jail time, getting shot on multiple occasions, and (not really) taking care of his 13 children, Ol’ Dirty Bastard is still regarded as a legend of hip hop. “Got Your Money” was his highest-charting (solo) single, and featured Kelis (who would later do that stupid “Milkshake” song) and production by The Neptunes (who, as both producers and two-thirds of N.E.R.D., would continue to kick-ass for eternity).

The video for “Got Your Money” is basically 4-plus minutes of the 70s blaxploitation film, Dolemite, with a wigged ODB and Kelis mixed in. Dirt McGirt, you will be missed.

[New Release] Santigold | “Big Mouth”

Posted on by BCandMerch
Reply

Our favorite Philly diva, Santigold, is back with a new single (and a ridiculously 90s-quality video). “Big Mouth” offers Santigold’s signature world music-meets-new wave sound, and she even takes a jab at Lady Gaga (in the video a Lady Gaga-like mermaid is eaten by a cartoon tiger… excellent!). It’s good to know after 2+ years without releases, Santigold is bringing back the flavor.

Look out for a new album this Spring.

At The Drive-In “Break Their 11 Year Silence”… Possible Reunion Tour?

Posted on by BCandMerch
Reply

Twitter blew up today with the announcement that post-hardcore outfit At The Drive-In are… doing something. A post on the band’s official website said simply:

“¡ ATTENTION ! To whom it may concern: AT THE DRIVE-IN will be breaking their 11 year silence THIS STATION IS …NOW…OPERATIONAL.”

This announcement has come just days before Coachella will be unleashing their line-up, coincidence?

I began listening to At The Drive-In a year before they broke up, and never got a chance to see them live, and, after 11 years, thought I never would. I still remember the first time I heard “One Armed Scissor,” it felt like someone had set off dynamite in my brain, and I wanted more.

Though no tour dates have been released, they are originally from El Paso, so I’d expect to see at least a couple of Texas dates in the future.

Here’s a couple of videos so we can all remember how insane they were live, and I hope they can bring that fury back after over a decade.

And, of course, “One Armed Scissor,” the song that you know, even if you don’t listen to At The Drive-In:

Avicii Ft. Salem Al Fakir | “Silhouettes (Original Mix)”

Posted on by BCandMerch
Reply

Tim Berg (aka Avicii) blew up in 2011 with his hit “Levels.” He’s been busy running the festival circuit this past summer with his insane live sets, creating a ridiculous music video for “Levels,” and being sampled by Flo Rida for his song “Good Feeling” (which would become a club hit in its own right).

New Year’s Eve 2011-2012 w/ Big Freedia & Turquoise Jeep: The Aftermath

Posted on by BCandMerch
Reply

Ringing in the new year with the Queen of New Orleans bounce, Big Freedia, and the ridiculous Turquoise Jeep crew made for one of the most epic nights ever.

The names have been changed in order to protect the innocent… Also, here’s some video!

First up, Turquoise Jeep (the guys who brought you the viral video “Lemme Smang It”), came out hot, with Flynt Flossy doing a freestyle.

Another Flynt Flossy track, “Did I Mention I Like To Dance,” got everyone doing just that. I don’t think I’ve danced so hard in my entire life. The Turquoise Jeep crew even had a dance-off on stage. Flynt’s moonwalk definitely took the cake.

And of course, the Queen Diva, Big Freedia, gets everyone shaking their booties with her track, “Azz Everywhere.” She loves to get the audience involved, including letting them come shake it on stage, but she still dominates when it comes to bouncin.