Shook Ones 2005

Mobb Deep, Shook Ones Part 2

DJ Zinc vs. Mobb Deep, Shook Ones (White Label)

Mobb Deep, Shook Ones Pt. 2 video (more than 50 MB)

I would be embarrassed if I didn't put a few selections from my all-time favorite album, Mobb Deep's The Infamous. This is the one, the album that sounds perfect 12 years later to my ears. The cold, icy drum snares fit the cold, icy lyrics perfectly, depriving the listener of any comfort, any warmth. The album ranks up there for me with the works of Hubert Selby Jr., Luc Sante, Mean Streets, Herbert Asbury, those unafraid to venture into the heart of darkness that all cities have.

I have so much more to say on this album, but for now, here is one of the greatest songs from The Infamous and a drum and bass remix. I'm not a huge fan of drum 'n' bass, but this song just sounds perfect. The brutal, repetitive drums sound just right, propulsive and smothering, bringing another great, more claustrophobic version to bear. As a bonus, I also put up the video, a lo-fi trip through Queensbridge.

-D.C. Shook ones: The entire GOP, the Republican Party and right wing money machine is scurred out of their minds right now. Why you ask? Because of the federal investigations that are threatening to bring down some of the biggest, most feared names of the Right. Tom Delay, Jack Abramoff, Grover Norquist, Karl Rove, Bob Ney and many more find themselves the targets of criminal investigations. First, the biggest and most important case centers on the dealing of Abramoff, the main money man behind the right wing machine. Two of his closest associates have flipped, tightening the noose around Abramoff's neck. Who's next? Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo has a great post today about this story and what the real story is. Here is a chart in the Washington Post on all the people who received money from Abramoff.

-Media shook ones: Rightfully so, as this is an embarrassing time to be a journalist. The unfolding Valerie Plame case has exposed the media in all of its ugly, lazy, criminal glory. You remember the embarrassing tales of Judith Miller and Bob Woodward? Now, Time Magazine's Vivica Novak has raised the bar even higher, as she was deposed last week. She has admitted to alerting Karl Rove's attorney that Matt Cooper was one of his sources. That's right, over drinks, a reporter who kept covering this story alerted Donald Luskin to the name of a fellow reporter's confidential source. She never told her editors or readers subsequently. Stunning, truly stunning. Read her article explaining her role in this story here. Jane Hamsher at firedoglake, Swopa at Needlenose, Greg Mitchell at Editor and Publisher and Digby at Hullabaloo put Novak on blast.

-Christian shook ones: That's right, baby, Christians are finally getting hip to the fact that there is a war going on. What's it over? Christmas. You can thank Bill O'Reilly, John Miller and other brave truth tellers who have stood up for this holiday and its beleaguered celebrants in this country. Stood up against the Jews, Muslims, gays and atheists who have had it too easy in this country. Stood up for this holiday that only has federal holiday status, radio stations playing its songs 24 hours a day for an entire month, television shows in its honor, and its decorations everywhere. So, next time you consider saying Happy Holidays, think again. Remember that this is one battle in the war. Don't let the terrorists win.

-Swimming shook ones: I mean, would you go in the water knowing these things could sidle up on your ass?

-me? Never scared.