You remember NWA, right? Dr. Dre and Ice Cube were the most notable spawn of this ground-breaking late 1980's hip hop group from the LA ghetto-burb of Compton (or, the C.P.T., as the locals call it). NWA was the first true gangsta rap act (the real OGs) to the extent that they largely and inadvertantly defined the sub-genre with their sudden success and in doing so helped to establish the foundation for the gangsta pose and the West Coast style, which would dominate hip hop a few years later.

The seminal and break-out NWA tune is their classic "Straight Outta Compton," an angry and defiant pop cultural shot across bow of complacent Bush-era America (the first Bush-era, that is). The stark song was infused with violent and threatening lyrics that raged against the authorities and the inherent dangers of daily life in the hood. In this case, the hood was gangs-, guns- and drugs-ridden South Central Los Angeles. "Straight Outta Compton" was as hugely controversial as it was successful. Initially an small, underground hit, once college radio and -- later -- MTV got a hold of it, it was a massive hit.

Fifteen years later, the song is an underground hit again, but it a different way. (And by "underground hit" this second time around, we should say it's an "viral internet hit.") A folky, acoustic guitar-driven remake by Nina gordon has brought "Straight Outta of Compton" back into the radar again and even with some degree of controversy as well.

Nina Gordon is a singer-songwriter best known as vocalist and guitarist of 1990's alt-indie-rock poster kids Veruca Salt. In her surprisngly poignant, lightweight and very white-sounding rendition of "Straight Outta Compton" she sings only the first stanza of the song, the part originally rapped by Ice Cube. (There's a link to the free MP3 of the song after the jump below.)

The song was churned out during recent recording sessions for Gordon's new solo album and seems to have been recorded more as a throw-away cover than for serious inclusion on her future CD. The MP3 has been floating around the Net for almost a couple of months now. We first heard it when Internet podcast guru-entrepeneur (and former MTV VJ) Adam Curry played it on the Daily Source Code, his regular podcast, a couple of weeks ago.

Since then, we've played the song back at least a few dozen times and even re-listened to the original NWA version, which -- no matter how good the Nina Godorn cover verison -- is still boss.

Tell 'em where ya' from! Straight outta Compton!

RELATED LINKS

Unauthorized Video of Nina Gordon's Straight Outta Compton

Official Nina Gordon Website

MP3 of Straight Outta Compton by Nina Gordon

Nina Gordon Biography [MTV]

Full Lyrics to Straight Outta Compton [Lyrics Cafe]

NWA Biography [VH1]

Ice Cube Biography [MTV]

Ice Cube Official Website

Veruca Salt Biography [VH1]

We've been listening to the new DJ Cam album "Liquid Hip Hop" a lot since we first took it for a spin over a month ago. We were in LA for a few days on a half-business, half-pleasure trip and had bulked up with a few CDs -- remember those? -- at the HEAR Store in Santa Monica so that we'd have some new music to play in the rental car. As soon we got back to New York City, we ripped the disc and put on our iPods and in out iTunes. Since then we've been playing DJ Cam's "Liquid Hip Hop" daily as we spend our days and nights running around Manhattan or tethered to our workstations.

Laurent Daumail is the real name behind the DJ Cam moniker. He's based in Paris and since the mid-1990's Cam has been turning out chilled-out abstract hip hop from what may what once have seemed the unlikeliest hip hop city. "Liquid Hip Hop" is mostly a collection of downtempo tunes with a sophisticated, cool twist that relies on funk and jazz samples and upbeat ol' school-meets-new school flavored beats that will keep your head bobbing side to side, to and fro, up and down for nearly forty minutes.

Like works by other abstract hip hop artists, such as DJ Shadow and DJ Krush, "Liquid Hip Hop" is mostly instrumental but has a couple of rap tracks on it, including a solid, respectable MCing appearance from Guru on the excellent "Espionage" remix. Cameo and J Dilla weigh in with rhymes on "Love Junkee."

But DJ Cam is the real star. His delicate art of the mix and encyclopedic hip hop aesthetic make "Liquid Hip Hop" one of our most played and beloved discs in months, if not years. DJ Cam, wherever you are, "Felicitation" and respect! "Liquid Hip Hop" is another beautiful piece of hip hop artistry.

RELATED LINKS

DJ Cam Biography [Radio France International]

DJ Cam Discography [Radio France International]

DJ Cam Biography at Yahoo! Music

Poor Lil Kim! Looks like she's actually going to go down the hard way after being found guilty for lying to the law. Like Martha Stewart, the jury convicted Kim for not being completely truthful during a crime investigation into an incident four years ago in which members of the rapper's entourage were embroiled in a sudden gunfight with rival hip-hop artists Capone and Noreaga outside the Manhattan studios of the Hot 97 FM radio station. Shortly after the guilty verdict, Lil Kim issued a statement to her fans and posted the following "Message From Lil Kim to her Fans" on her official website:

"I have confidence in our legal system and look forward to justice in my case. I would like to thank my amazing and loving fans for the overwhelming number of letters, e-mails, phone calls and expressions of support. It is very much appreciated, welcoming and gratifying during my time in need."

The convictions are officially on conspiracy and perjury counts for lying to a federal grand jury and could land Lil Kim in the big house for up to 20 years. The hip-hop diva, whose real name is Kimberly Jones, would likely face a much, much shorter sentence. Jail time would be personally devastating for Lil Kim, as it would be for anybody, but it could do wonders for her career, though he hip-hop superstar status has shown no signs of flagging. Still, her prison story could open up new opportunities for her as it has for the recently released domestic diva and homemaking-mogul Martha Stewart.

Kim, who stands at a petite 4 ft. 11 inches, could, of course, appeal the conviction, but if the sentence is short enough -- say only five months or so, which is what Martha Stewart served -- she may find it better to just get the jail time over with and voluntarily serve time before she appeals the case.

In any event, a reality show or serious documentary about Lil Kim and her life in jail would be fascinating, as would the way she might incorporate such an expereince in her future lyrical/musical output.

Full links to related website after the jump below.

Related Links

Lil Kim Official Website

Lil Kim Zone fansite

Jury: Lil Kim Told a Big Lie [Newsday]

Lil Kim to Take the Rap for Perjury [The Guardian, UK]

The Lyin' Kim [New York Post ]

Bathing Ape Massive is a GO! It's official. The Air Massive is launching a new spin-off weblog section called Bathing Ape Massive to chronicle development and media coverage of global, East-West design. This is an area we have leaned towards often enough on the Air Massive site.

In the Bathing Ape Massive (BAM) section, we will focus on design, whether its in the form of street style, sneakers, t-shirts, graphics, art, tech gadgets, lifestyle gear, media or even furniture -- from Yohji Yamamoto and Adidas sneakers and accesories to graphic t-shirts, from Zoo York skateboards to Muji chairs, from iPods and iPod cases to toys from Kubrick and Kid Robot.

The coverage will be tilted more on the street-level tip, but anything that strikes our design antennae is fair game. Check out our introducory post and meet the editors by clicking through to the new directory, Bathing Ape Massive.

One last note, an important disclaimer: Bathing Ape Massive, this new online design journal of Air Massive, is in NO WAY directly nor indirectly associated with the brands A Bathing Ape, BAPE, or Busy Work Shop.

Thank you, our readers old and new, for your continued support and feedback!