I thought this was Cool...

Gnarls Barkley performs this acoustic, rock, live version of "Suprise".
Check it out.

Soloman "Solo" Williams

The homie "Solo", Richmond, VA based artist, drops off a new leak called "Crusin".
Enjoy

DOWNLOAD CRUSIN




Solo has been featured on projects such as the Coca-Cola Community Back to School Festival, Blackwell Back to School Rally, and the Richmond Times Dispatch sponsored Back to School Rally that show his dedication to his community. His upcoming debut album: "I.D." deals with the rights of passage to adult hood , to freedom and to stardom. It’s infectious inspirations capture listeners and challenges them to invest in their own destiny. Solo, while hard at work on his debut album, is a full time college student majoring in music production. Solo…..”Mirror Effect:The Prequel"

Solo's Twitter Page

"Music Is..."

Bri BRi from MATunes.net brings us a dope advert of what "music is". Shout out to all the VA fam down there in Richmond, kuddos on the movement.
Enjoy.

Coldplay and Alicia Keys play Clocks!

Dope 10x

R&B for the World.

Thank you Mr. DeVaughn and Sir Ludacris for this excellent reminder of our reality. Stark? Yes. To be ignored? HELL NO!
Enjoy.

Music Virtuoso.

"Thomas Edward "Thom" Yorke (born 7 October 1968) is an English musician who is the lead singer and principal songwriter of the alternative rock group Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar (notably during the Kid A and Amnesiac sessions). In July 2006, he released his debut solo album, The Eraser."


"Yorke has been cited among the most influential figures in the music industry; in 2002, Q Magazine named Yorke the 6th most powerful figure in music, and Radiohead were ranked #73 in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" in 2005. Also Yorke has been cited among the greatest singers in popular music; in 2005, Blender readers voted Yorke the 18th greatest singer of all time, and in 2008 he was ranked 66th in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Singers of all Time."



But ultimately, it was this video of Yorke playing his song "Analyse" LIVE, that sold me on his lyrical and instrumentalist skill. I was familiar with his voice because of the work he has done with the trip hop group UNKLE, but I could never put a name to the voice. I personally have never heard a Radiohead song prior to these songs, but I'm already becoming a fan. Also, if you're familiar with the song below this post (Us Placers.) well, that is a Thom Yorke song, completely sampled by CRS. Nonetheless, Yorke is an interesting musician with a knack for intriguing instrumentals and compelling/ thought provoking lyrics. Do yourself the honor of indulging in these two great tracks by Thom York, a true music virtuoso.



Images: Google images
Bio: wikipedia.com
videos: Youtube.com

"And they love it, and they love it..."

Amidst the beautiful struggle of being an "Unsigned Hype", a gut check is needed every now-and-then.

Really Now!?!

Baltimore Bound! (Again)

Yes yes, Sim-PLEX will be in Baltimore to celebrate the ever so poppin "Always Dope" event hosted by PedX. In the same breath, Sim-PLEX and the Live4 crew will be celebrating the homies McMarx and Seay Seans B-Day as well!!! Scorpios what up!!?? But this will be an event you do not want to miss!!! Pretty ladies, good music, and dope fashion in the same building, LETS GO!!!! Baltimore, what it look like????

LMFAO!!!!!!!

I know Mondays are pretty wack, but watch this video, instant laughter! Whoever are in those costumes need a TV show, I was seriously crying laughing!!! Check it out!!

"Truly Yours" Diz Gribran ft. BJ the Chicago Kid

Finally! Something refreshing!!!! I'm a definitely a fan of BJ the Chicago Kid after this one. Dude reminds me of what D'Angelo could've been without the drug issues and blah blah blah. But it aint about that...it's about #GoodMusic Lets GO!!!

Diz Gibran- "Truly Yours" Ft. BJ The Chicago Kid from The Brolly Group on Vimeo.

via Herfection.com

New Louis Vuitton Advert-"The Journey is Life Itself".

Excellent! "Does the person create the journey, or does the journey create the person?"

Louis Vuitton Journeys Awards - Aurore from jayjayp on Vimeo.

MUSIC VIRTUOSO! (Sort of)

Please get familiar with the man, Joe Hahn. He is a serious inspiration for someone like myself. Hahn, differs from a lot of the virtuosos I've chosen to blog about in the past because, well, he's a DJ! But his track record is extensive aside from DJ-ing. He is multifaceted in many areas in media, aside from being the Disk Jockey for the American Rock band "Linkin Park". What amazes me most is that he went to Art School with Mike Shinoda!!!! (Art School FTW!). But in all seriousness, once I found out a band member from Linkin Park ACTUALLY DIRECTED the video for the song "Breaking the Habit", I was astonished. Rarely do members within a music group posses the skills to multitask their creativeness, and actually do extremely well. Here's some more info on Mr. Hahn and some of his works...


Joe Hahn, better known as Mr. Hahn, (born March 15, 1977 in Dallas, Texas)[1] is an American turntablist and director best known as the DJ for the band Linkin Park.
Hahn joined Linkin Park, after meeting fellow band mate Mike Shinoda in art school, when the band was called Xero in 1996 as the band's turntablist. Since then, he has directed music videos for most singles of Linkin Park, with the exceptions of "One Step Closer", "Crawling", "Faint", and "Given Up".
As a proficient music video director, Joe has not only directed videos for his band Linkin Park, but he has also directed videos for Static-X, Story of the Year, Xzibit, X-Ecutioners, and Alkaline Trio.
Hahn has also done some special effects for the TV show The X-Files. Along with the special effects for the movie Sphere (film) and TV miniseries Frank Herbert's Dune[2].
In 2005 to 2006, while bandmates Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda were busy with side projects, Hahn shot a short film called The Seed in Los Angeles, California, released in March 2008 and premiered at the Pusan International Film Festival. Hahn also appeared with a minor role in a short film by Filip Engström called Little Pony. In 2005, Hahn opened a concept retail store SURU, located on the famous Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.
Via Wikipedia

Tweet Peek??

Damn! I know I'm a Twitter addict, but this might be one unnecessary piece of technology lol. But the idea is still pretty cool. If I was ballin' I would get one...




The TwitterPeek($200) is a Peek for Twitte? Here's the TwitterPeek, looks like the old Peek and used without monthly contracts? And the Amazon are listing the TwitterPeek(No release date) and there is a picture of box on Peter ha's TwitPic. So it is real...
"TwitterPeek keeps you connected with instant tweet delivery, so you’re always the first to receive timely, fun, useful and provocative information direct from the source. You might follow the New York Times for breaking news. Lance Armstrong might invite you along on a bike ride through Hamburg. Oprah might let you in on the latest book she’s reading. Or, better yet, you might discover the coffee shop around the corner is offering free scones until 11 am for all tweeters. You’ll discover an infinite world of conversation with the nifty, pocket-sized TwitterPeek.
Perfect for Twitter addicts, newbies or anyone interested in getting into Twitter, TwitterPeek makes a great holiday gift. It’s everything you love about Twitter packed into a slim, lightweight mobile gadget that works anywhere in the US – no wifi necessary! Tweet, retweet, reply and direct message your favorite celebrities, friends, co-workers and family. TwitterPeek’s intuitive menu, handy scroll wheel and universal tweet inbox make it as easy to master as email. "
- World’s first Twitter mobile device
- Unlimited tweets and direct messages
- Nationwide coverage. No wifi signal necessary
- Includes service for lifetime of device
- No contracts or hidden fees
- “Always on” instant tweet delivery
- Full QWERTY keyboard, large color screen, click scroll wheel
- Long battery life lasts up to 4 days

Via Likecool.com

Me in Anime Form lol

My home girl from AI, Tary, held me down with a quick preview of what's in store for Sim-PLEX x Anime 2k10 fusion haha...
(She literally drew this in 5mins)

Baltimores' own Trey R!!

"This is the first mixtape release from the highly acclaimed artist known as Trey R. Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland this emcee has what it takes to make it in Hip-Hop while simultaneously putting his city on the map. Trey R. has performed in shows and featured in numerous mixtapes throughout the DMV area. Please support this local talent, as he is well on his way to super stardom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

We (Sim-PLEX) also featured on the mix-tape as well with "Material Girls", so make sure you support good Hip Hop folks. B-more, what it look like!?!?

TO DOWNLOAD, CLICK HERE

NEW SIM-PLEX!!!!!!

I promised a new leak, and here it is! It's called "Her Life's a Runway". Enjoy!

TO DOWNLOAD, CLICK HERE

Kenna X Kid Cudi

Well, I thought this was pretty funny...and clever.
But I think a Kenna & Cudi collab would definitely be ill-matic! Don't you?

Am I Thirst??

"Although the MacBook has had its share of hardware updates over the last three and a half years, the design for the entry-level white MacBook has remained unchanged. Today Apple has updated the MacBook from top to bottom.

The new MacBook features a built-in battery that last up to 7 hours on a single charge (the same technology is available in the MacBook Pro laptops) and now features an LED backlit screen and the glass mutli-touch trackpad also introduced in the unibody MacBook Pros.

The price is still $999, but it sports a faster processor and larger hard drive, in addition to the new design."
Via Mashable.com

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of my all time favorite albums....EVER!

"A Rush of blood to the Head" is one of my all time favorite albums in existence. This album is by the British, alternative rock band "Coldplay" and AROBTTH is their second studio album, which released in 2002. What makes this album so great? One word, TIMING. I personally believe the best songs, albums, movies, whatever, focus on timing. Timing can be two things: 1) how it relates to your present, or 2) how far ahead of the present something is. AROBTTH consisted of both styles of timing, making it an instant favorite of mine. I was listening to the whole album at work one day, and as I was feeling depressed, "God Put a Smile on Face" came on, instantly brightening up my day. Then later during my work day, my manager was rushing everyone to complete tasks and then "Amsterdam" came on, hosting lyrics such as, "But time, is on your side, its your on your sideeeeeeee now....It's no cause, for concern....". Almost every song on this album has a song that fits a particular time or emotion in your life, now that's what I call timing!

AROBTTH also boasted hit songs like, "Clocks" (Which won a Grammy for Record of the year), "Warning Sign" and "In my Place" (Which won a Grammy for best Rock performace for). Coldplay won Best Alternative Album Grammy in 2002, and numerous other awards domestically. All in all, if you haven't heard the album, please give yourself the pleasure of doing so, I promise you wont be disappointed.

Have you heard of Bert Monroy?

Bert Monroy is a DOPE photo-realist painter who uses photoshop to create what most would take a picture of. If you ever used photoshop, then you know how hard it is to create the simplest of images, but Monroy creates masterpieces for a living. Check out some of his works...


As a photo-realist painter, I have often been asked why I don’t just take a photograph. Good question, when you consider my paintings look like photographs. Well, for one thing, I’m not a photographer. To me, it is not the destination that is important—it is the journey.
The incredible challenge of recreating reality is my motivation. —Bert Monroy
via-bertmonroy.com

Tune in Thursday for...

Yea, we've been on a minor hiatus, but we will be dropping an exclusive leak this THURSDAY for all you cool people who are looking forward to our next project. I promise all this downtown has been used appropriately to create something phenomenal, we just ask for your patience and thirst levels to be extremely high in the wake of something "epic"! Look out this Thursday, right here, so be here...10/22/2009

Julian Beever: "The 3-D Chalk Artist"

Yea, he's TRILL!

"Julian Beever is an English, Belgium-based chalk artist[1] who has been creating trompe-l'œil chalk drawings on pavement surfaces since the mid-1990s. His works are created using a projection called anamorphosis, and create the illusion of three dimensions when viewed from the correct angle."
Via Wikipedia

Sidewalk Art - Mystified (Fleetwood Mac) from cwd543 on Vimeo.

Simply Amazing!!

This is an animated music video for song of arjanM. Cool!

blackhole from arjanM on Vimeo.

Wednesday is for WINNERS!

Who's winning??


Shes NOT...but...



Mila Kunis IS!!!


Winner!!

mmmmhmmmm!

By unanimous decision...
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!
Owwwww!

"TELL EM WHY YOU MAD SON"!

Yea yea yea, I'm a little frustrated right now with my former College-Morgan State University. The popular HBCU has once again let me down with this years Homecoming performance line up. This line up consists of R&B artist Jeremih, Rap artists OJ the Juiceman & Fabolous ( Keep in mind Fab performed last year), and Go-Go band TCB. Now, I really don't care who Morgan brings to homecoming at this point in my life, but neighboring University "Towson" is only brining one artists, and that's Lupe Fiasco.

If you follow my blog, more than likely you will rather attend the Towson concert ( No disrespect to Fab and the rest. Spread love it's the Brooklyn way!). But a few months ago, current Mr. Morgan and I had a drunk debate over what artists Morgan should bring. He was aiming to bring names like Wale, Gucci Mane and Trey Songs. I on the other hand understand the mindset of most HBCU attendees, so I merely suggested he should mix it up to keep an equal attraction. I recommended if he was to bring an artist like OJ the Juiceman, then he should also bring a Kid Cudi, or even a LUPE FIASCO so that ALL Morgan students could enjoy the show. Obviously that ain't work, so now in my mind Towson will reap the benefits where as Morgan slacked.

As a (semi) educated young man lol, I want artists who represent me when they step foot on my campus, personally. As a BLACK COLLEGE, we need artists who will represent us positively . I'm not saying TD Jakes needs to hit stage or anything, but all these "trap rappers" are unacceptable. Period. But shout out to Morgan and those who will be in attendance at tomorrows show, I hope you enjoy it, because Morgan does it for YOU bayybee! Now that's love! If you're attending Towsons Homecoming on the Sunday, make sure you come on time to see my bros Nsomniak light up the stage before Lupe does!!

Peace



SMH!!!!!

A Day in Chinatown/ Gallery Place in DC

This is my video class project of Chinatown. We had to capture the "essence" of a place by using sounds and images during the clip...I thought that was boring, so I turned my project into an adventure of us roaming around Gallery Place lol..Let me know what you think!
Peace

A Day in Chinatown/ Gallery Place from Stephen Ellis on Vimeo.

Who is Sim-PLEX? Mini Documentary...

Who is Sim-PLEX? from Stephen Ellis on Vimeo.

A Baltimore Love Thing Mix-Tape

Via www.abmorelovethang.com
"This mixtape has been in the works, for a strong minute now. Thanks to all the artist willing to participate. Baltimore has a lot of talent. I searched for some of the best I could find, and I'm sure there is more talented individuals in this city as well. I'm proud of it, hopefully yall like it. Peace and Love."

And Yes...Sim-PLEX is on it! Download it ASAP!!!! B-more, what it look like??





DOWNLOAD HERE

The BMW Vision Efficientdynamics Concept

Via Likecool.com

"Ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show starting 14 September, BMW has released the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept. This concept powered by a fuel-efficient 3-cylinder turbodiesel plug-in full-hybrid with one electric motor on each axle. It provides a top speed limited electronically to 155mph with acceleration 0-100 km/h(62mph) in 4.8 seconds. Average fuel consumption is 3.76 liters/100 kilometers.
Technology:
Offering a full-hybrid concept, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car is powered by a three-cylinder turbodiesel and two electric motors. Overall system output is 262 kW/356 hp, maximum torque 800 Newton-metres/590 lb-ft. All-wheel drive featuring an electric motor on both the front and rear axle.
• Anticipated performance: Acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, top speed 250 km/h (155 mph) (electronically limited) , fuel consumption in the EU test cycle 3.76 litres/100 km (equal to 75.1 mph imp), CO2 emissions 99 grams/kilometre.
• As a plug-in hybrid, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is able to cover the entire fuel consumption drive cycle under electric power alone. Taking the sources of energy used for generating the electric power consumed into account (EU electricity mix), this reduces the CO2 emission rating to just 50 grams per kilometre.
• Electric power is generated without the slightest increase in fuel consumption through a particularly efficient concept of Brake Energy Regeneration. Energy is stored in 98 lithium polymer cells. The car is able to cover a distance of approximately 50 km/31 miles in the electric mode alone.
• Aerodynamics developed with know-how from Formula 1. CX drag coefficient optimised to just 0.22. Forward-looking energy management uses the maximum potential available in each case to minimise fuel consumption."

The "Siegfried" Opera!

Phenomenal

If you know me then you know I'm all about innovation, pushing things to the next level. But this opera show rivals movie cinema in was I honestly do not comprehend. This is simply amazing! Watch..

SIEGFRIED from Martin Inda on Vimeo.

Via Likecool.com
"Video post-production coordinator under Urano Films for "Siegfried" opera. 5 hours of video, 14 simultaneous projectors. Presented in Ciudad de las Ciencias y Artes, Valencia-Spain, June 2008."

MacBook Pro x Snow Leopard = A Very THIRSTY Jazz-o

SMH.
Have you ever been EXTRA thirsty for a person or an object, and just when you you give up hope and continue living life, something happens to the object or person that makes you SUPER thirty? Like a chick you've been trying to rap to, but she deads you, so your like F*** her! But the next time you see her she is so sexy you try and bag her again anyway...
That's how I feel about this new batch of MacBook Pros and the new OX Snow Leopard...
Who cares about the specs? These ads keep me intrigued as all hell!! lol check em out...

Where'd She Go?

AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD NOWWWWW!!!!!!!!
THE FIRST SINGLE FROM SIM-PLEX ENTITLED "WHERE'D SHE GO?"!!!





DOWNLOAD HERE

Recent Coldplay Footage!

Sim-PLEX Returns!!!

We will be debuting our first single off of our second project this FRIDAY, AUGUST 21ST 2009!!!! I hope you're ready!
The song is entitled "Where'd She Go?", and provides great proof of why this next project will be "EPic"!

Lupe Fiasco x Mickey Factz x The Cool Kids in Tokyo, Japan

(via gfcny.com/blog)

Jay-Z Covers "Wonderwall" by Oasis

You know I had to post this eventually. (I finally found it on vimeo....I'm not using anymore youtube videos unless I have to.) Oasis is definitely one of my favorite bands. I think Jigga knows just as many words as I do though lol. Then he goes into 99 problems. Dopeness.
I think he's Zoot though....Hahaa

Jay-Z Live @ Glastonbury from @ndre$ito on Vimeo.

I Thought These Were Cool

(via Likecool.com)

The Beautiful Game!

Football - The Beautiful Game // by Mini9Torres from Kristian Klev on Vimeo.

Twitter vs. Facebook

Iight check, so I wake up this morning to check my e-mail and to see what's trending on Twitter, but something went wrong. Twitter, the socially open, status updating site was down. "Okay, cool", I thought to myself as I checked my e-mails, "I'll try again later". Sooo, later arrives, and I still cannot sign onto Twitter. "Okay, cool", I said to myself, "I'll just get on Facebook". But here's the thing about Facebook, it's supposed to be a "social" website, but it has turn into an "all in your business" site. So I refrain from using Facebook unless I have something I want to tell my 700 "friends", (Like I really know who they are or something). To make matters worse, Facebook has become a place of Event promoters and a bunch of other things that clutter my inbox, along with the growing amounts of "Older" people who have joined such as my Mother and Godparents etc. What makes Twitter "better" in my opinion, is that Twitter is 100% a "Social" site, and that's it. You don't have photo albums to maintain, relationship status' that change daily or any of that trivial stuff from High School. Instead, you have a status in which you can use up to 140 characters to get your point across. What you do within that status is completely up to you. Politics, hot albums, what you did in High School are just some random topics to talk about. Some folks actually make extremely valid points that spark heated discussion. But anyway, you can can check Twitter on your free time to catch up, but since Twitter was down I signed onto Facebook. So I decided to express how I felt about Facebook by saying,"I only get on this thing if Twitter isn't working", then BOOM! All this hate mail from Facebook lovers/ Twitter haters. I'm like, "WHOA"! WHO STILL USES FACEBOOK FAITHFULLY?? But anyway, people really had super corny jokes against Twitter, and all kind of stuff...Why?, who knows! I don't see why people are so defensive over a website which is modeled DIRECTLY after Twitter. I honestly found it amusing, as people hit me on the FB chat box complaining lol. But anyway, it is what it is, and some people are always slow to "change". But I promise, one day Facebook will end up just like Myspace, and people will be on the band-wagon extra late, while most of others are on a NEW social site. Let's stay ahead of the curb ya'll! Geez...

Coldplay: "Back on Tour"

Cool footage of my personal favorite band Coldplay. Ironically, this footage is at the Nissan Pavilion, in which Live4 (Minus 1) was present. They've been on tour for over a YEAR now! Damn, talk about sacrifice. But something about these guys make it seem as if touring is effortless. Anyway, I hope you enjoy...

Back On The Road from Coldplay on Vimeo.

Who's Gonna Save My Soul??

I just found out that 'Chris Milk', the same guy who directed this video, also directed the Kanye video below this post. Excuse my tardiness, but Chris Milk is pretty dope/ different lol. In retrospect, I really appreciate his work. WORD!

Gnarls Barkley - Who's Gonna Save My Soul from Chris Milk on Vimeo.

"All Falls Down"-Throwback Jam (for MY generation)

Damn, I have completely forgotten that Kanye has always been on his artistic ish*. These are some tough shots they pulled off in this video. Especially when he's in the bathroom rapping in the mirror, but you can't see the camera, but yet you see his hands in first person view-Dope!. And if you pay close attention to that bathroom scene, you'll notice the audio vocals switch, to give it more of a "bathroom"/ hollow room sound. But all in all a classic project.

Kanye West "All Falls Down" [HD] from Chris Milk on Vimeo.

A Real Life Entourage.

I rarely watch TV, but when I do, it's usually either a Soccer game or....ENTOURAGE!! Hands down, this HBO series is one of the greatest shows EVER! It shows the life of an actor, Vincent Chase, who makes it big in Hollywood and gives his old neighborhood buddies and his brother jobs. What makes the show so good is the fact that if any MAN made it big, this is how they'd live lol. Big house, Nice cars and sexy women in Los Angeles? Sounds good to me! But recently, after indulging in a few of my favorite episodes, I've notices striking similarities in the Entourage crew and my crew "LIVE4". Although none of us has yet to make it big, we still have a cool lifestyle that anyone our age would envy. I'm not going to use this blog to rant about the "cool" things we do, but instead prove the point that great TV emulates life.

Within Live4 you have Marcus McCoy (Marx/ one half of Sim-PLEX), then you have Sean Aikens (Seany Seans), Taj Reed (Taj) and Myself Stephen Ellis (Jazz/ other half of Sim-PLEX). Marx and I make up the Hip Hop duo of Sim-PLEX, and Sean & Taj are the fashion enthusiasts. We are all multifaceted, with Taj being a male model/ R&B Soul singer, who also features on a lot of our music. Sean has a a strange role in being the personal manager of Sim-PLEX. But because each of us are universal in aspect, no one really has a distinct character match in the show Entourage, but we all have certain characteristics that match those of the show. So when I watch Entourage, I always find myself saying, "Damn, Sean would definitely say something like that-Just like Ari." or "That is a situation Taj would find himself in-Just like Vince". All the while, making the show a greater experience due to the fact it relates to my everyday life.
But just know that LIVE4 > Entourage. Ha!

Speed of Sound...

It's been awhile, I know, but a lot of positive moves have been made in the wake of our next project. Marx and I have been bouncing ideas back and forth, in an attempt to make this next project EPIC! But nonetheless; I am back at the "Speed of Sound" with a whole new mind set, a whole new outlook on life and whole a whole NEW SCHOOL!! As I head into a new solstice in my life, I hope every life lesson I learn can be used as a tool to help others who dare to follow a dream. But let's keep the show movin'. Your man "Jazz" is back at the Speed of Light. So what's a better way to start this "Music Monday" than with Coldplays hit song?? Lets GO!!

Music Virtuoso..Back at Work

The homie Ryan Leslie in the studio with the "BAWSE" lol, Rick Ross.

Ryan Leslie x Rick Ross "Maybachs & Diamonds" In-Studio from Ryan Leslie on Vimeo.

Drake-Best I Ever Had Video

The video is, well, "Interesting". Lol, "When they give you the D, You gotta take it like a champ!" Haahaa

Music Virtuoso at work!

Pharrell Williams in the Stu...
(The recorded song kinda sucks tho lol)

Something for your ears at work...

R.I.P. Michael Jackson, the King of Pop Music.
Let's see if you can find out how many people sampled one these songs...

Michael Jackson