Features
A Look Into Next Generation’s Console Wars: PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One
The 2013 edition of e3 ended Monday night, which left the gaming world buzzing after the official console revealing, pricing and launch window dates. We’ve took a couple of days after the madness to gather our thoughts, analyze all the information provided from both companies, and present to you a “Xbox One vs. PlayStation” feature, giving you all the details on what to expect this fall and which console to purchase.
Although the Nintendo Wii-U started the next wave of consoles last holiday season, the Wii-U’s hardware was inferior to 8-year old Xbox 360 technology, prompting us from adding it to the piece. Much like the picture above, we’re bringing to you the truth about both companies wanting your money this holiday this season. After the jump you can get the festivities started to help decide your fate this Holiday.
OS REWIND: NBA 2K14 “Video Game James” Trailer
OS REWIND: Madden NFL 25 “Next-Gen Gameplay Trailer”
OS REWIND: Destiny “Gameplay Reveal” Trailer
Summer Jam XX Recap
If you watched Hot 97′s Summer Jam XX live stream yesterday, you’re probably aware that quite a bit of shit went down. There were some really great performances by the game’s biggest stars (see: Chris Brown, Miguel, 2 Chainz, Nicki Minaj, J. Cole and many more) but one of the most special moments of the evening was when Wu-Tang clan reunited on-stage. That and TDE shutting down Metlife Stadium.
Rap Vine Time Pt. 2
Last month we introduced a new series called Rap Vine Time, where we picked some of our favorite Hip-Hop stars best Vine posts. We decided it was just too funny not to do it again and more artists have joined the game since then, so there is a little more variety now.
If you missed any Vine’s from some of hip-hop’s best the past week and change, sit back and enjoy! Thank us later, and we’ll see you later with part three.
OS REWIND: Rap Vine Time Pt. 1
A Salute To… Just Blaze R&B
Over the course of his career, Just Blaze hasn’t worked with many R&B artists, but almost everything he touched was golden. Imagine if Just dedicated a year of his entire life to only producing R&B records? He would change the R&B game. (Just Blaze + Usher on a full-length LP? What if he let Charles Bradley and Miguel hold a beat? Why isn’t he on Kelly Rowland’s Year Of The Woman album? How come we haven’t heard R&B Drake over Just Blaze fire?) These are questions that, as fans, we ask ourselves every day.
With the R&B landscape thriving in 2013, we wouldn’t mind Just making a little run right now. Especially since RZA is over here making tracks with The Black Keys and James Blake. We can only imagine what JB could bring to the table for some of these talented artists out. All we can do now, is make a wish and reminisce with what he has given us.
So take a trip down memory lane and walk with the R&B side of Justin Smith.
The Menahan Street Band: Hip-Hop’s Unlikely Relation
There’s simply no denying that the act of sampling has been an essential part of hip-hop as the years have passed. From the likes of MF Doom to the more industry-known Kanye West, many careers wouldn’t have been the same without our favorite artists heading into random record collections and finding those wonderful melodies to loop and re-arrange.
However, recent times have seen Brooklyn’s talented Menahan Street Band behind some of the biggest, and not so known singles in the industry. The group may only have two full-length releases since they started out in 2007, but the six-piece collective made up of guitars, bass, drums, organs, trumpets and saxophones have been sampled in a surprising amount of projects.
More recently, the band has been travelling across the world with Florida’s incredibly soulful Charles Bradley, after the singer and group worked together on Bradley’s sophomore album Victim Of Love earlier this year. As well as this, the New York band has also been part of an original recording with a young hip-hop artist that you will certainly be familiar with.
Follow us through several tracks that your favorite artist has sampled.
Happy Birthday Max B!
Photo Credit: Alexander Richter
If Biggie, Jigga and Makaveli all formed one collective; we would get the Wavy formula of Max Biggavelli. Some would think that’s one of most blasphemous and cockiest things to say for an unsigned artist or a cat fresh into the game, but Max B was putting out mixtapes and compilations better than most rappers discographies. Obtaining co-signs from the kid 50 Cent and most recently, last year with Jay-Z on “3 Kings,” Max B was every street cat’s favorite rapper and had an even bigger fan base with the ladies.
In his 2008-2009 run, Max B was essentially the King of NY in the underground scene and could’ve been mainstream if certain events didn’t take place legally or contractually. His music still lives in some of our favorite rappers melodies and music stylings of today. From the wave and his originality making himself standout from different artist, we witnessed history with the Sliver Surfer.
Max B turns 35 years of age today and is still behind the G-wall, continuing to fight for his life after receiving a maximum sentence of 75 years (with parole set for 2042). While he’s trying to regain his freedom through the appeal systems, we’re taking a moment to spread positivity through a playlist. Max put a lot of smiles on people’s faces in their worst of times, so it’s only right we return the favor.
In 2007, we were one of the first blogs on the Wave and in our throwback interview, we shot Max at the old Dipset Compound on Lenox. We forgot the exact project building because we’re not Uptown cats, but shout outs to Duke Da God for making that happen.
You can hit the jump to listen to some classics from the Boss Don, Max Biggaveli.
10 Things We Want To See From The Next Xbox
The next Xbox reveal is in less than 24 hours, and Microsoft is ready to let the world in on their little secret (the big mystery Xbox we still have no name for). This has been the longest, most enjoyable (due to online gaming) and most annoying console generation, due to the technology being nearly a decade old and developers having trouble figuring out how to push the limits of the PS3.
The PC audience is already playing beyond levels capable in the current console world and maybe the next consoles as well (see Battlefield 3 and The Witcher). While the Xbox 360’s lifespan is finally coming to an end, we’ve compiled a list of things we’d like to see improved on the next console in comparison to some things we suffered this go-around.
Beforehand, we’re not going to talk about custom modded games or mods PC audience, because it’s not properly used on consoles —with the exception of Halo Forge. Both Microsoft and Sony limit the freedom you have on their systems, which is what makes PC gaming standout, in comparison to being stuck in a box, literally. From the RROD to online servers going down with the biggest launch days we’ve seen in gaming history, we’re just venting here about what we don’t want to see for the “next-gen.”
Let us know if you agree with us or use the comments to tell us what you want to see yourself. This list is strictly done from personal experiences and encounters we’ve had with Xbox 360 since 2005; so we expect you to have a few of your own as well.
OS REWIND: Microsoft To Reveal Next Xbox On May 21st
OS REWIND: PlayStation 4 “See the Future”
Rap Vine Time Pt. 1
We all know how much rappers love trends. At this point, you may or may not know about the latest social network fad going on by the name of Vine. In a nutshell, it is an app for the iPhone, which allows you to record a six second video in different segments or as one continuous clip. Believe us when we say that rappers have taken advantage of it.
In a hilarious way.
If you’re on Android or in case you don’t have Vine yet, we have compiled some of the best Vine’s that have hit the e-streets from some of your favorite rappers. Take in mind, not everyone is on the social network as of yet.
It’s Sunday, so kick your feet up, enjoy and get your Vine on.
Flirtatious Mariah Carey #Beautiful GIFs
After cooking up past GIF posts with the likes of Nicki Minaj and Ciara pushing the boundaries of sex appeal, this Mariah Carey might be the most innocent of them all. But that doesn’t mean that she wasn’t working it. At 43, MC still holds a dear place in our hearts after our crush levels for her in the ’90s soared through the roof.
Her latest video appropriately captures what we still think of her, considering our imagination still ran wild after a few scenes. Luckily, we made it easy for you to sail off into the lust clouds as well, so we don’t feel as creepy.
Nick Cannon, forgive us for this one bro!
OS REWIND: The Sexiest Nicki Minaj “High School” GIFs
2013 Summer Movie Preview
A major trend in American culture over the past couple of decades has been the major summer blockbuster movies. Films that you specifically mark on your calendar for and can’t wait to see. The common theme between these films is the major studio budgets and mega-star actors that drive people to the box office. These films will always range from a number of different genre’s and this year is no different. This summer we will see a mix between comedies, action-thrillers, sci-fi adventures and superhero blockbusters.
To get you ready for all the action we decided to give you a preview of some of the major releases so you’re prepared for an awesome summer of movie-going fun. We broke down the releases by date and even included trailers for each, to spike your interest. We hope you are as ready as we are for this upcoming summer movie extravaganza!
Get your Summer movie scoop and follow us after the jump.
Other R&B Songs Drake Can Flip
If we had it our way, Drake would be releasing that R&B mixtape that he was talking about last year, in epic fashion. You can’t deny this guy’s music on the R&B tip. From “Trust Issues,” to “Fall For Your Type,” Aubrey Graham has been hitting them out of the park. And that’s a few of the handful of tracks he’s got in the arsenal.
Most recently, Drake took his R&B talents to the studio with James Fauntelroy and crafted a remake of Destiny’s Child “Say My Name.” It’s safe to say most weren’t expecting him to flip it, but it worked. AND IT PROBABLY WON’T EVEN SHOW UP ON THE ALBUM.
But it got us to thinking, what if Drake really dropped an R&B tape soon, what other tracks could he flip? (Not saying it should be all remixes, because we’d want a fair share of original tracks). There’s some shit that he can give life to in 2013, though.
As R&B aficionados, these are some of the tracks that came to mind.
Our 10 Favorite Kobe Bryant Tweets
Who doesn’t love Twitter? The social media phenomenon has brought the world closer together and given fans access to athletes and superstars like never before. One of the latest stars to enter the realm of Twitter is none other than Kobe Bryant. The former MVP and 5 time NBA Champion sent spark waves across the world when he joined the social media network. The first #MambaTweet rang off early on the West Coast on January 4, and soon became the go-to follow page on the Twittersphere.
What makes Mamba so great on Twitter is his realness and hilarious use of hash-tags to emphasize what he is doing. There also isn’t a much better season for Kobe to join Twitter, considering the fact that this season has been the definition of up and down for the Lakers. Many thought they would be a title contender with the additions of Steve Nash and Dwight Howard to the lineup, but it hasn’t quite panned out that way it should have. They never found the groove during the season, leaving them to rally and fight for a playoff spot.
Then the unthinkable happened when Kobe tore his Achilles vs the Golden State Warriors, officially ending his season. Through all the triumphs and hardships, Kobe never failed to give fans a personal insight into his thoughts. Because of that, we decided to compile the best moments of Kobe Bryant’s Twitter experience thus far.
#Mambaisms!
The Sexiest Ciara “Body Party” GIFs
GIFs, courtesy of SH
We usually leave the sexiest GIF posts to Nicki Minaj, but Ciara was looking too damn good in her “Body Party” video to not pay homage to her flirtatious ways.
AND BOY DID SHE TEASE US.
To think, this is what Future comes home to every night. He’s literally had more body parties on Ciara than the amount of times we’ve watched this video, at this point. The worst part is he gives us a peek into his life at the end of the video, when CiCi kicks it up a notch and strip teases in front of our very own eyes like Jamie Lee Curtis in True Lies.
God bless Ciara for this one.
OS REWIND: The Sexiest Nicki Minaj “High School” GIFs
OS REWIND: The Best Gifs From Nicki Minaj & Cassie’s “The Boys” Video
2013 NBA Playoffs 1st Round Preview
The NBA Playoffs officially kick off tomorrow and as you know it is some of the most exciting times of the year. Year in and year out the action-packed games leave us with memories and amazement, and rarely does it not live up to the hype.
The quest for the ultimate prize in basketball will be fought over in the most physical of games, which will see two key series in the first round from both conferences. The Knicks will look to start their quest to Eastern Conference finals in an opening round match-up against their arch-rivaled Boston Celtics, who still have confidence in their mind without star guard Rondo to pull the upset.
Out west, the Clippers are looking to prove to the world they’re not only the best team in Los Angeles, but a legitimate contender for the NBA title. There are sleepers in the playoffs, such as the Nuggets and Bulls, as well as teams like the Pacers and Grizzlies, who are looked at by most to be threats but will have to prove themselves this year.
While the Western Conference may have one of most open playoffs ever from top to bottom, we all can pretty much assume who will be coming out of the Eastern Conference pending one South Beach team staying injury free.
We’re almost at that time to “Enjoy Where Amazing Happens,” and you should be excited. Check after the jump for in-depth break-downs of each series.
OS REWIND: Nike Basketball “Inside Access” Kyrie Irving
OS REWIND: Kobe Bryant Vents On Facebook About Injury
The Roots: 20 Years
When thinking of The Roots in 2013, many will associate their brand with television show Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. On the opposite hand, others will remember the importance of their music over the past 20 years, with only thankful remarks to say in terms of influencing their lives and those around them.
Whether you’ve been a fan since the very beginning or learned about their music across their remarkable journey, there’s definitely a strong influence in today’s music, even if it’s not always completely evident. Not only that, but the band are still creating the same quality of music even to this very day.
There are very few acts that can be spoken of in such a positive way, so we’ve decided to put together a bunch of singles from each of their albums over their time in the industry. Some tracks may be better known than others, but our aim is to provide a flashback of their stunning 20-year long career, which is arguably a story that can be admired by all.
