Here's my latest post from my buddies' GetDown hip-hop blog. Check it out for our take on the music we love!:Damn! What could have been...Way back when The Roots had their temporary break up, Black Thought was on Sway & Tech's "The Wake Up Show" (around 2001) talking about two things that never came to fruition: 1. His Solo Album, 2. The beginning of MC Supergroup The Fantastic Four.The Fantastic Four was supposed to be a group consisting of Black Thought, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, and Common. I remember Sway & Tech were trippin' at the IDEA of such masterful emcees coming together to make an album...but unfortunately, it was all too good to be true and the idea became a forgotten kernel of possibility.About a year later, I bought Talib Kweli's "Quality" album and was BLOWN AWAY by a track called "Guerilla Monsoon Rap" produced by a younger Kanye West with rhymes by Kweli, Black Thought, and Pharoahe Monch. Was this a hint at what a Fantastic Four album could have been? If so, where's Common?Further evidence of the Fantastic Four's potential existence come from lines by Pharoahe Monch.From his first verse:"See these FOUR emcees came to get downRearrange the rap game, change ya whole sound"There's no rhymes on the song by Kanye (who at the time was known just as a Producer)...so where's the fourth MC?From Monch's second verse:"Guerrilla monsoon rap, smell the fumes, get in tune wit itWhen I attack your city, y'all gon' think DR. DOOM did it"A clear reference to Fantastic Four's main villain, Dr. Doom."I'm pissed - cumulus clouds of ominousWords of the FOUR, the rawness that'll restore ya calmness"Another reference to "The Four". Hmmmm...The song still KILLS IT five years after it's debut. Kanye and Kweli were a match made in heaven back in 2002 (remember "Get By"?!). But it makes me so damned depressed that the Fantastic Four never became a reality.Talib Kweli feat. Black Thought & Pharaohe Monch :: Guerilla Monsoon Rap

I don't know what to think. Horror Opera? But I am embarrassingly intrigued by what's been shown thus far. I love the cheesy 80's rock opera sound. The leather fetish garb and sharp stuff looks kind of neat. I'm also really into the way the bad dude's face lights up in a pale blue under that funky mask. A part of me thinks I may like this in that guilty way I'll occasionally enjoy McDonald's Chicken McNuggets with Sweet & Sour and Hot Mustard sauce.The track record of those involved isn't very good. The Director is best known for Saw II, III, and IV (which I refuse to see). The credibility Paul Sorvino brings is eradicated by casting Paris Hilton...but then again, the cheese factor Paris' participation brings is perfect for the tone of the concept.I was mildly intrigued when Paris mentioned the project on David Letterman. Now it's up to my will power to hold me back from spending my hard earned cash to see this in theatres and wait for it's emminent release on Netflix. Still, it's tempting...we'll see how I feel when it's in theatres April 2008!

Two issues have been released of Joe Casey and Eric Canete's Iron Man: Enter The Mandarin mini-series. The story's a fun retelling of an old Mandarin story for the modern era. Mandarin's your typical Fu Manchu Asian caricature villain complete with the long fingernails, pointed beard, and "evil" asian eyes...BUT he's got nifty powered rings that each have their own special power!Casey does a good job of telling the story thus far (complete with Iron Man technobabble) and Canete destroys each page with some gorgeous artwork. The rare bits of Eric Canete artwork that I have found have always been pulsing with energy and zesty design. But where once before Canete would regularly sacrifice strong storytelling for the benefit of design, Canete has found a strong middle ground where design and story coexist.Canete has the amazing ability to make Iron Man's suit look cool and energetic. He also does some really interesting things with perspective distortion and line work to convey movement and explosions.I don't purchase many traditional superhero books. But this one is too beautiful to pass up!

Sucklord's been in the business for a bit. He's a hard core Star Wars fan that's been making homemade Star Wars figures. You may have seen his Pink Stormtroopers from the Gay Empire or Another Bitch You Didn't Get To Fuck at your favorite Designer Toy Store. I love the guy's sense of humor and do-it-yourself attitude.Now his Suckadelic Universe is going multimedia with his Original Villain Network on YouTube. It reminds of the video taped school projects I'd do in Jr. High School...Thanks to the ToysREvil Blog for giving me the heads up on this! ToysREvil has a nice interview with Mr. Sucklord HERE.

Since I was already in Pasadena for the UCLA Vs. Cal football game (damnit Cal!)...I decided to hang out in Old Town Pasadena and go to Mixi-Bang's Tim Tsui Da Minci show. It was nice to finally meet the friendly folk at the store (waddup Gary!).My main reason for going was to pick up the Da Hero variant Da Minci figure. It's a super cool "Batman" variant of Da Minci that I think will look AMAZING next to our upcoming Dr. Destruction Wild Edition. Unfortunately, with only 15 made...the figure's retail price was $450.00. After being heart broken by the price, I picked up Mixi-Bang/Gray One edition of Da Minci. He ain't "Da Hero" but he looks really nice next to the Muttpop Classico figures. Plus Da Minci's got a Luchador mask...so you KNOW he's gotta be a cool monkey!I didn't bring a camera, so here are pics of Da Hero and Da Minci from the Vinyl Pulse website: