YRB Magazine

One of the best things about the year coming to a close is when Skillz drops his annual “Rap Up” where he recaps the year in rhyme form. Last night, the radio rip of the “2009 Rap Up” hit the net, and now, we get the full joint in all its glorious CD quality. Throughout the track, Skillz name-checks everything from the Chris Brown and Rihanna scandal to the emergence of Twitter and sudden popularity of Drake. And on top of that, the beat on this joint is pure butter, with smoky keys that twinkle under the Virginia-based rapper’s jocular punchlines. And for those of you that are really out of the loop on who exactly Skillz is, he’s your favorite rapper’s ghostwriter, having penned tracks for Diddy, Foxy Brown, Mase and a handful of others, in addition to writing the material for his own releases (check for his 2008 album The Million Dollar Backpack). Download below and relive 2009 in rap form.

Download: Skillz – 2009 Rap Up

[Props to 2DB for the link]

March 2nd, 2009

Apparently several musical acts have decided that 2009 is the time to go back to their roots and start making the music that made them famous in the first place. After successful solo projects, and a complete hiatus for some,  several bands are gearing up for a fresh start with their old counterparts, making new albums and hitting the road to make some fans the happiest people on Earth. No Doubt, Blink 182, Black Eyed Peas, Phish and rumors of  Limp Bizkit are some of these acts – we’re

excited, you’ve all been missed.

February 23rd, 2009

scars, Oscars, Oscars is all people have been talking about for the last month. And just like fashion week they where tiresome, exhausting, seemed to go on forever and am I glad there over.

There were few to no surprises maybe Departures beating Waltz with Bashir for Best Foreign Language Picture but that wasn’t really a surprise considering how the Academy feels about animation (I don’t care what the Academy says WALL * E deserved a best picture nod). Or maybe Sean Penn beating out Mickey Rourke, but a comeback can only take you so far and he started way back.  So, no real big surprises there.   Favorite moment Seth Rogen and James Franco stoner dissection of the best picture nominee nobody saw The Reader along with some more popular 2008 releases.

Of course, no matter how boring or overlong or how torturous the mandatory Beyoncé musical number is, we will be back to see it all again in 2010.

February 13th, 2009

The Air Jordan 2009 made its debut in limited fashion to the tune of 2009 pairs two weeks ago, but this weekend will see the first general release.  The Air Jordan 2009 will drop Saturday, February 14th for $190.

The first AIR JORDAN released in 1985 to great acclaim during Michael Jordan’s rookie basketball season and despite the league initially banning the shoe for violating uniform rules, the shoe immediately became the industry’s best selling basketball sneaker and an instant classic. Over the next 23 years, the AIR JORDAN collection continued to push the envelope in footwear design, solidifying itself as one of the world’s most recognizable franchises.  Consumers recognize AIR JORDAN for the signature Jumpman logo, pioneering technology in basketball footwear and forward-thinking fashion—characteristics that the AIR JORDAN 2009 embodies as it moves the franchise into the future.