We’re not sure exactly what’s behind the recent nail art explosion, but as long as it continues to produce amazing pop-culture tributes on a tiny, personal scale, it has our attention. Last week, we brought you the blood-flecked fingertips of a Dexter groupie and some Arrested Development Mr. Banana Grabber press-ons in our roundup of amazing TV-inspired nails. Before that, we went highbrow with literary nail art paying tribute to everyone from F. Scott Fitzgerald to Harry Potter. Now, nail art superfans, are you ready to rock ‘n’ roll? Today’s haul of musician-inspired nail art includes a dazzling riff on David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane, a set of crazy Nicki Minaj claws, and even a perfectly executed Daniel Johnston manicure.
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After a relatively quiet couple of weeks, all is good on the streaming front again. There’s plentiful worthy music to be had for free on the internet this week, and as ever, we’ve searched far and wide to bring you the best — or, OK, to be honest, we’ve headed over to Spinner, who seem to have a monopoly on the goodness this week. Anyway, read on after the jump to get a piece of the action — everything from a new Wu-Tang album to the Bronx dressed up in nudie suits. Oh yes!
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Today at Flavorpill, we were impressed by Kate Middleton’s incredibly appropriate Canada Day hat. We streamed a rather promising song from the upcoming Wu-Tang Clan album. We were thrilled by the news that Bridesmaids is now the highest-grossing Judd Apatow-produced movie of all time after knocking aside Knocked Up. We got behind our pal Swoon’s latest project — an interactive sculpture for the Baywater neighborhood of New Orleans that will function as a musical instrument. We found a fun craft project that even incredibly lazy people can do. We decided that Olivia Munn was even more adorable back when she was in high school. We were depressed to hear that there’s a new Rebecca Black. We wished that we could have visited the Disneyland Haunted Mansion that almost was. And finally, we decided that exploding fireworks look a lot cooler in super slow-motion — especially when there’s food involved. Enjoy the long weekend guys! We’ll be back posting as usual on Tuesday, July 5th.
Today at Flavorpill, we decided that Jennifer Lawrence makes a more convincing Katniss than we orignally thought she would. We argued over who is the best book villain of all time. We read about what Aaron Sorkin reads. We discovered one creative way to claim a parking spot like you really mean it. We were treated to an exhaustive look at the movies that Quentin Tarantino referenced in Kill Bill. We heard straight from director Paul Feig that in all likelihood there will be a Bridesmaids 2. We loved The Awl’s roundup of Woody Allen movies in order of the likelihood that their titles will be used as titles for Wu-Tang Clan songs. We were intrigued by these 1910 photographs of America’s first monorail in Burbank, California. We wished Frank Capra a happy birthday by revisiting five of his most classic films. And finally, we decided that we’ll be eating Angry Birds bagel sandwiches for dinner tonight. How cute are their cheddar cheese beaks?
We’ve lost track of all the homemade, stop-motion/Lego music videos out there. But this clip for Wu-Tang Clan’s “Da Mystery of Chessboxin” is just too perfect to ignore. The video transposes medieval knights and royals, ghostly Grim Reaper types, and the Clan themselves onto a Lego chessboard that becomes a battleground. Add to that some rudimentary but well-placed effects and you’ve got one of the most fun, appropriate DIY music videos we’ve seen in a long time. Watch it after the jump.
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Wu-Tang fans might be surprised to hear that the RZA’s latest work of art isn’t a piece of music. Victory or Death is a limited-edition set of canvas prints that samples and remixes Emanuel Leutze’s 1851 painting Washington Crossing the Delaware. In his version, the RZA replaces George Washington, and he’s proudly flying he flag of Wu.
“It didn’t begin 20 years ago… more like 200 years ago. And when you see the piece we’re making right here, you’re going to know what I’m talking about,” RZA has explained. “We’re about to rewrite and change history.”
After the jump we talk to the RZA (and his buddy King Tech) about the meaning behind the project.
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Most people improve at something the older that they get, but with emcees this is rarely the case. (There’s one exception to our sweeping generalization: LL Cool J’s Radio. We prefer Mama Said Knock You Out.) A number of factors might be at work here: loss of motivation, lack of material, the detested “selling out,” personal troubles (jail, death, etc.), loss of originality… and sometimes they just want to become a preacher. Whatever the reason, most rappers create their finest albums their first time in the studio. Don’t believe us? Ten albums that prove it’s true after the jump.
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Today at Flavorpill, we laughed at some sketchy Santas. We realized how much Parks and Recreation is like the Wu-Tang Clan. We saw the world through Google goggles. We wondered if Ryan Seacrest is quietly taking over the entertainment industry, and if so, what this means for Joel McHale. We debated when it’s inappropriate to use your iPhone. We were shocked by 12 unrecognizable before and after views of cities and then we visited 14 Scandinavian theme parks. We examined “the most unlikely ideas in a decade that was always looking to blow your mind.” We went inside nine of the coolest subway stations in the world. We decided that we no longer want to be video game voice actors when we grow up. And finally, we set our DVRs for Lady Gaga’s Barbara Walters sitdown. Spoiler alert: She’s wearing pants. We can’t wait!
The RZA’s The Tao of Wu is part brilliant autobiography, part collection of insights and lessons learned along the way, always tying back to seminal works and natural laws. Last week he kicked off a book tour at Barnes and Noble in Union Square, where he read a few bits from the memoir and answered questions. Virtually everyone in the packed room was a fan, waiting patiently while the catchy, beginning beat of “Shame on a Nigga” played in endless loop. There was one hater in the front row who tried to throw a multi-part question attack. The RZA gracefully deflected those punches with a big smile and positive ideas.
The next day I spent an hour across the table from the RZA, who had on the same sunglasses from the event, but pulled them off for a few seconds to show me his eyes. He’s a tall man, and the height can be imposing, but his smile comes easily and often. And once he starts talking about ideas, his presence is disarming. After the jump, some of the highlights from our conversation.
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The RZA’s The Tao of Wu is part memoir, part philosophical journey — a spiritual rehashing of the Wu-Tang Clan founder’s experiences and learned wisdom.
The book is divided into seven parts, each of which corresponds to a seminal event in the kung fu-obsessed, Broadway-loving artist’s life. Mixing pop culture with Eastern philosophy, autobiographical snapshots, and enlightened thought, it’s a succinct yet eloquent work of insight from one of hip-hop’s great visionaries.
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