It was definitely dope to run into Shawn Chrys and his team at SXSW, even though one of the times it almost resulted in my getting hit by about 5 cars. In case you couldn't tell, "H-Town" pays homage to the highly influential music of Houston. Besides being really impressed by Shawn's continual growth, I really like how he switches up his flow on this track. Plus, the artwork is kind of wavy. Spotted at 2dopeboyz.com
Without boring you, my dear reader, of my antics, I'll start my tale with picking up my badge, which is basically my (semi) all-access pass into official SXSW showcases. Like, who cares that my flights were delayed, and my housemate sheltered some weirdo random kid who could have been an axe murderer for all we know? Pretty much, my day started at the Loft at 718, where one of my favorite DJ's DJ100proof was spinning, and my homegirl Hollis explained her attack mode for the festival. Let me say, I was really fucking overwhelmed at the start of this festival. Could I have planned this better? Could I have done some planning at all? Yes, and yes. Anyway, I chilled out, and we walked over into the general direction of the Fader Fort, which is like the place where hipsters go to meet hipsters and not enjoy the music being played. Or maybe they do. I'm not really sure because I'm obviously not a hipster. While walking over there, we ran into Shawn Chrystopher on the street (what up Shawn!), and I ended up going to get my wristband and stay over there to see Big K.R.I.T. I mistakenly thought K.R.I.T. was on at 3:00, mostly because I didn't have a schedule of any sort. I listened to two rock bands who sounded the same (isn't that what people say about rap music who don't listen to it) and drank free Vitaminwater and Smartwater. Big K.R.I.T.'s set was so impressive! No diss to Seattle, but it was great to be in a crowd that actually enjoyed his music, that was dancing around, and wilding out. If you've ever been to a rap show in Seattle, you'd know that most people just stand there with blank looks ...
Shawn Chrystopher is currently on the I Am Finally Famous tour with Big Sean and CyHi The Prynce--read that review--and I was able to chat with him when they were in Seattle. Million dollar question: does Shawn Chrys feel Finally Famous? Well, you'll just have to keep reading to find out because I'm not going to give that away in the introduction paragraph! We also talked about the 2012 presidential candidates, the Occupy Wall Street movement, going college, his favorite horror movie, who he would love to collaborate with (that one surprised me!), Law & Order: SVU since Stabler's departure, and The-Dream's "Fancy" vs. "Nikki" part 1 and 2, among many subjects. Shoutout to Shawn, Randy, Ashley and everyone else in Honour Role Music! Julie: 'K it’s rolling. So, first of all, do you remember me from iChat? Shawn: Yeah, I do. J: Let the record show that Shawn Chrystopher is hella cool because he iChats his fans! Both: S: That was a while ago. J: I know! A really long time ago. It’s been cool to kind of follow your career. I remember when I heard you the first time, it was “Like A Kid Again,” which is one of my favorite songs by you, and it must have been on Shade 45, and they didn’t say who it was, so I just went home and plugged in all the applicable words until I figured it out! Then I downloaded it. So when I was doing my research, I saw that you went from kindergarten to second grade, and then graduated early. I was kind of wondering, did that contribute at all to “Like A Kid Again?” S: Yeah, I mean, you know, I had to always ...
Shawn Chrystopher performs "The Hangover" in Denver, which is found on last year's You, And Only You. See what you're missing if you don't go to the Finally Famous Tour? I had a lot of fun dancing by myself in the back of the hall. But real talk, I was down in Portland for #JetSetPDX the same night as the Finally Famous Tour, and after performing, Shawn and CyHi and their crews rolled through Beauty Bar since it was the official after party location for the tour, and DJ Mo Beatz did a set (SICK! in a good way). At that point, I had drank way too much, but I do remember telling Shawn that "The Hangover" would be my theme song the next day. And it was. Shoutout to Honour Role and everyone on the Finally Famous Tour!
After attending the I Am Finally Famous Tour at the Showbox Sodo, I feel as if it is safe to say that Big Sean, CyHi The Prynce and Shawn Chrystopher are Finally Famous. Selling out shows every night, having all the kids line up hours beforehand in the terrible weather. Yes, they're finally famous indeed. Let me just say, the weather was beyond wretched. It was so rainy, windy, and cold that I was too miserable myself to really even laugh at all the scantily dressed girls. I have been to a lot of rap concerts in my time, but I am almost positive that Big Sean brought out the most diehard hoes, both in sheer numbers and sheer lack of clothes. I was fully clothed because it's wintertime, and like I said, I was miserable. While I was standing in line surrounded by a bunch of wannabe thug children, some guy tried to sell me his mixtape for a "donation," and compared himself to Sir Mix-a-Lot, Blue Scholars, and Macklemore. Enough was enough, so I vacated and went to the only open place I noticed: some bar that I don't know the name of. It was one of those fine establishments that offered peanuts, and the patrons could just throw the shells on the floor! I love making a mess and not cleaning up after myself! Between that novelty, and Twitter, my time was occupied as I cackled at the people waiting outside and marveled at the hoes not getting hypothermia. Everything worked out beautifully, and I made it inside just before Shawn Chrys took stage! In fact, "Back That Azz Up" was playing as I entered the venue, so I knew I was in for a good time. It was ...
"The Credits" closes out Shawn's latest Silent Films for the Blind, another great effort by Mr. Chrystopher that I've been meaning to write about. I like the concept behind the video! It's fresh the way that it's like the end of a movie, the movie being Silent Films for the Blind to be specific, and everyone who worked on it is getting their credit. Unless I'm mistaken, it looks like Shawn also directed this video as well. The other day, I was having a discussion about wearing seatbelts in cabs. I always wear one. I mean, I would say that they drive worse than me, but I really don't drive that bad. Unless it's at night and I'm wearing my glasses instead of contacts. We've all ridden in cabs where we thought our life would end. Or where the driver "doesn't know where they're going" and in reality are trying to ante up the fare (hey, newsflash, if we say we live on Burnside in Portland, that means you turn on to Burnside to get there...genius). Anyway, bold move of Shawn Chrys for filming half the video in the cab, is what I'm trying to say. Shawn is currently on tour with CyHi Da Prynce and Big Sean. I guess they're all Finally Famous now, if they're on the Finally Famous tour. I'd be lying if I didn't say that this is one of my most anticipated shows of the year. Thursday, November 17th at the Showbox DODO. See you there! Except I'll probably be hiding all inconspicuously. Download Silent Films for the Blind via shawnchrys.com
I'm still reeling from the wackness that is the "Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay" music video. Anyhow, I'm inclined to agree with JD over at HHU, where I spotted this delightful little clip. It is a little hilarious that a grown dude can't throw a baseball. Big Sean threw out the first pitch at Comerica Park in Detroit for the Tigers vs. Twins game, demonstrating that he did not grow up partaking in America's favorite pastime. Guys can't throw baseballs? What? I didn't even know that was possible. Until now, of course. I'm not hating on him because he's such a cute little guy. I am quite confident that I couldn't have thrown any better, but I probably would have practiced beforehand. I didn't have the best arm in softball myself, which could have been an underlying reason why I quit the sport. When I got my braces off in 8th grade, I was done with organized sports for good. Can't risk that shit. Out with sports, in with marching band. In related Big Sean news, more dates were added to the Finally Famous Tour that features CyHi Da Prynce and Shawn Chrystopher. I am sure that y'all can imagine how excited I am about this positive turn of events! so unbelievably relieved and excited that Seattle was added. I'll be at the Seattle one, fo sho, and possibly the Portland one given that it falls on the third Friday of the month, which is coincidentally the same evening of Jet Set Portland (#jetsetpdx), a glorious event that occurs on the third Friday of every month at Beauty Bar. Visit Big Sean's website here to see if he's coming to a city near you! Hit the link to see the rest ...
Shawn Chrystopher teamed up with Owl City for the song "Alligator Sky," and the music video chronicles them returning to Earth after life has ceased to exist. I had to do some research, because I initially had no idea what "Alligator Sky" meant, but I believe it is about conquering the adversities in life, and going at them like you're running into the mouth of an alligator (hence "Alligator"), and of course, as cliche as it is, the sky is the limit. Ah, I so miss deconstructing passages in my English classes.
2Dopeboyz premiered Shawn Chrystopher's first leak off Silent Films For The Blind, his next album that will be dropping on August 9th. "Ashes On My MacBook" is kind of a more melancholy track about Shawn dealing with the pitfalls of fame, a common topic in hip hop, it seems, but one that Shawn always sounds genuine on. I have a bunch of crap on my MacBook, not blunt ash, though, and I should probably clean it. Every time I go to the Apple store I interrupt the 80 employees who are working at once in their conversation that probably isn't as important as cleaning my computer. It's probably the filthiest laptop you'll ever see, and I don't mean that in the Seattle slang sense. It's literally dirty and gross. Download
Shawn Chrys has been doing a lot of videos lately, and continues the tradition with "Yeah" that is off I Wear Glasses 3: Third Time's a Charm. "Yeah," I've been neglecting you lately, blog. Shawn will be dropping an album version of IWG3 on April 26th, which means that it will be tagless and feature three new songs. If you want to be on the cover of that album, check out Shawn's site here. Basically, you need to submit a creative picture of yourself wearing glasses. I would consider it, but that would require my hair to look presentable. I'm still waiting for that to happen.
Since randomly starting Tha Blog is Hot on October 30th, 2009, as a Congressional intern on Mercer Island, I've taken my talents to The Smoking Section. My site grew out of a longing for the good old days when I used to write way too many essays as an English Lit major at the University of Portland, and of course my love for both Weezy (Tha Block is Hot...get ... Read more »
