School of Rap

If L.L. Cool J is the “professor, the teacher, the hip hop dean” then he must standing before a classroom of Midwest college students. According to CNN, McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, Minnesota is the very first to offer a diploma in Hip Hop. That’s right! The classes combine hands on music and textbook history lessons in a three-semester course. Toki Wright and DJ Freddy Fresh are among two of the instructors teaching this years accredited diploma program.

All I can picture is a classroom full of kids reading Ego Trip’s Book of Rap Lists and cramming for a pop quizzle. All jokes aside though, if KRS-One’s Temple of Hip Hop can be officially accepted by the United Nations as a culture, well there’s no reason why we can’t study it like one.

Instructor Toki Wright (left) and hip hop Columnist Davey D. (right) at the program kick-off ceremony in June.

Diego's Horror Corner: 80's

I'm pleased to present the long-awaited 1980's addition to Diego's Horror Corner by Diego Bergia


There's something special about the 80's, I spent the ages of 3 to to 12 in them. I was in the prime of my youth renting dusty VHS boxes filled with saturated red gore and gratuitous nudity shots. It was such a rush running back to a friends house to watch them cause my parents wouldn't let me get near anything rated R. The horror films early on in this decade were the 1970's continued, and you'll see nothing on my list is past 1984. There were lots of good one past that point, but to be honest near the end they got too campy.

MANIAC (1980)
In this urban slasher, Frank Zito is a serial killer stalks pretty women in grimey New York City. He uses their scalps to dress up female mannequins he keeps in his apartment, something about an abusive mother I think. This movie is pretty much perfect. Frank Zito is so effing amazing.

THE SHINING (1980)
I often wish David Lynch would make a horror movie, or Alejandro Jodorowski, Lars Van Trier just did. These guys have insane visions and I'd consider them artists before filmmakers. Anyway, if Stanley Kubrick never made The Shining, he'd be on that list too. Except he did make it. [note from Jill: agreed 100%]


SLEEPAWAY CAMP (1983)
If somebody hasn't already spoiled the ending for you yet, go out and rent it without telling anyone. It is the best summer camp slasher movie ever made, filled with great kills and amazing non-politically correct humour that disappeared in movies with the end of the 80's.

FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 4 - THE FINAL CHAPTER (1984)
Friday the 13th movies are like comfort food to me, like chicken soup and grilled cheese. I feel so cozy and safe watching them. This is the ultimate Friday movie to me because of a few things: Crispin Glover (The Man), Corey Feldman (right before Goonies) and Tom Savini (make-up and fx master). This is also near the end of the "strings" era, when the musical score was still awesome.

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)
In my group of friends, you're either a Freddy man or a Jason man. I'm a Jason man, but there's no right answer. This first Nightmare movie is amazing and scary, nowhere near where the franchise went after a sequel or two. I would even go as far as saying that on it's own, it might be better than any Friday movie. The thing is, Friday movies are solid 1 through 6. Nightmare I'll only give you 1 though 3. That's basically why I'm a Jason man.


HONORABLE MENTIONS:
THE THING, FRIDAY 1, POLTERGEIST, THE BURNING, DAY OF THE DEAD, DEMONS, THE HITCHER.

"Flags Are Bullshit"

Or so says skate legend Steve Olson when talking about his art show at Sleeping Giant Gallery this past Friday.

Jillian and I arrived on the scene bombarded by loud music, a handful of skaters and a wall of pleather and faux fur American and Canadian Flags. Intrigued by these S & M ish national symbols we were eager to get the deets from the artist himself.

In his west-coast-half-baked kinda way Steve agreed to chat and snap a few photos. In between drags of his smoke he let me in on the meaning behind his flag pieces. At first glance one may only see gold pleather and leopard print faux fur before noticing the political implications of these works. According to Olson flags have been used to 'rip us off' and 'brainwash us' through ideologies and nationalism. In a sense you could say he's 'making fun' of the political machine and revealing it as nothing more then a guise. (Or a burlesque show).


Aside from talking about art he was stoked to be in Toronto as it was his first time chillin' in Hog Town. To show his appreciation he made a series of Canadian flags. I wonder what Harper would think? Either way I could tell this seasoned vet was prepared to show Toronto a good time. No doubt his weekend was going to be one filled with cigarettes, whiskey, and maybe a couple of babes!

Steve Olson's first Canadian exhibit is on until September 17th at Sleeping Giant Gallery. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Image Credit: Jillian B.

The Burnout Store

Where else can you pick up an ice-cold case of summer?

Straight Up Coffee Talk

When I wake up in the morning the first thing I do is brew a cup of joe. Usually some of that dark roast business that is sure to wake me up. Without it I tend to be like Jack Nicholson in The Shining = Scary. So when I leave my house I have to think about the next coffee spot I'm going to hit before things get a little dicey.

One Saturday afternoon I stumbled upon the Communal Mule on Dundas. It's your typical independent cafe but for me this place stood out. They treat their coffee and espresso as if it were fine wine. They describe the various characteristics of different batches and recommend a different brew depending on your taste. Attention has been put into every detail of the place and that counts more to me then a formulated chain. 

Grab an Americano then stroll to Bellwoods for a relaxing day in the park. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Recession Proof Fun

Some people think it takes money to have fun and do you know what I say to that? Hula Hoop! That's right that big round plastic thing that you spin around your waist. It's fun and it's like a buck at Honest Eds. 

Hula Hoop parties are where it's at! To learn more check out this Snuggies hula hoop party.

Peter Bagge - for the person who has everything

We've been obsessing over Peter Bagge's Hate comics all summer. So when our good friends Robin Nishio and Olivia Go came back from Japan with presents, and they were Peter Bagge toys I pretty much awarded them the friendship championship belt. Are these toys cooler than the time Robin bought like 5 pizza from Gi Gi and had them delivered in time for post party hangouts? Or are they more sweet then when Olivia made Diego delicious granola bars wrapped and tied with a ribbon for his birthday? Maybe not, but the point is: our friends are solid.

Thanks Robin and Olivia!

Captain John's Seafood

You know Captain John's Seafood, that big ship restaurant down by the harbor front? You've probably seen it a million times and wondered what kind of cheesy tourist would dine there. If you google it's name you'll find a bevy of horrible reviews.

For example, "Avoid Captain John's at all costs. This place is awful - literally the worst food I've ever had", and "Captain John's - quite possibly the worst restaurant in Toronto, with staff who appear to be indentured. An aging floating party boat offering ineptly prepared frozen seafood to tourists who don't know any better."

Despite the criticism we decided to skip the food and do Sunday evening cocktails on the decrepit floating Wes Anderson set.

I recommend the gin martini. Although, the waiter handled a wrinkled up $10 bill before fishing out two olives from a fruit fly infested plastic jar and plopping them in my drink, it was really boozy, and a good value. Besides, I had low expectations for the service and high expectations for the weirdness. I was not disappointed.

TGIF - Happy Pictures

I Scream for Nouvelle Nouvelle

Some may scream for ice cream, while I scream for hot summer fashion. In between coffee breaks and busy lives I frequent Nouvelle Nouvelle, virtually that is. Their blog is updated frequently and has me mouth watering on the regular.

To peep this post hit up the link above. When you do you'll love the red hot skirt by Velvet Leaf and zip bikini top by Cheap Monday!