New Music News

What the hell is going on 2012? I've been really disappointed in your music so far. I mean, we all have five weeks left to live and yet at this moment, Justin Bieber, Ke$ha, Taylor Swift and the Gangnam style guy are all in the top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100 Songs. Actually, I can't hate on Taylor Swift this time, but I can hate myself. Her new single "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is super catchy and I hate myself because I don't shut it off when it comes on the radio.

But I have come today bringing good tidings of great music, because there are some awesome things in the making:

Eminem:

If you don't like Eminem, it's not him, it's you. He may say some things that offend you, but you have to respect his talent. Unfortunately for hip-hop, his talent hasn't been around much lately, as his last release was two and half years ago.

On 11/19, Rihanna's new album, Unapologetic will be released and with it, Eminem resurfaces as a featured artist on the song "Numb". However, Mr. Marshall is not the biggest story here; Chris Brown, yup that Chris Brown, is also featured on the album. I really hope he was very careful choosing his words for this song. If not, critics and fans will come up with some very mean, albeit very clever things to say.

On 12/11, Eminem will again be featured, this time on a single by Wisconsin's own Skylar Grey, titled, "C'mon Let Me Ride". Eminem is also an executive producer for the album that will follow this single.

Kid Cudi:

Staying within the rap genre, Kid Cudi is going to release the album Indicud in early 2013. One song I've heard from this album, "King Wizard", is a huge step in the right direction for him and I hope to hear more like it on the rest of Indicud. Cudi has always had an unmistakable rapper's voice, yet his voice is really unique and distinguishable. Also his lyrics are above average and his cadences are refreshing. Still, I've always felt like Cudi's hooks needed some developing and I think the hook in "King Wizard" shows a good deal artistic maturity. Hype aside, the album should be unprecedented and a departure from his previous work.

blink-182:

After news broke that blink-182 had split with their label to go the independent route (pretty badass move I think), they surprised fans with the news of a new album, through various tweets from the band about recording in February of next year. It's such a big surprise because it's only been a little over a year since the release of their sixth studio album Neighborhoods. But, the band claims it has a new found agility after leaving Interscope, so hopefully this leads to a faster, more energetic album with perhaps a less melancholic tone than Neighborhoods or self-titled, while still maintaining the lyrical progress they've made since the days of Take Off Your Pants and Jacket. Then they announced, again via twitter (which is becoming their official press release), they were recording this month and releasing an EP before the end of the year as a Christmas present to blink fans everywhere.

Here are some of last week's photos of the band's most recent recording sessions:

(A prize will be awarded to anyone who can tell me what these lyrics are before the EP's release)

^DeMi is just a little pumped for this EP.

Here is the most recent article with news about the EP, set to be released December 18th.
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1697322/blink-182-mark-hoppus-new-ep.jhtml

Angels & Airwaves:

Tom DeLonge is the busiest dude alive. Shortly after blink's announcement of a new EP, Tom tweeted about a new music video for a new song "Diary", dedicated to Critter. The one and only Jeff "Critter" Newell was Tom's former sound engineer, who died on New Year's Eve last year at the young age of 45. He is often credited with helping Angels & Airwaves find their unique sound and because of this, the band thinks of him as their fifth member. His very next tweet announced an upcoming double EP for AVA, named Stomping the Phantom Brake Pedal, also coming out December 18th.

Information about the double EP, including bundle contents, track list and prices can be found here:
http://www.angelsandairwaves.com/

Diary Official Music Video

-De

Young Beezy: The Man Behind the Legend

Capture 21 Album Art. (Credit: Jermaine Coleman)

Here at MoT we're pretty stoked about the release of Beezy's mixtape, Capture 21, that is dropping tomorrow. For those further unaware, De is the producer of the tape, and is also featured on a number of the tracks. We so excited.

Anyways this man is better than Rebecca Black.. here are some little known facts about Beezy "The Giant"

He has two middle names, depending who you ask they're always different. Me? Qualme and Ziggy

He's from White Caps: The biggest "ghetto" in suburban America.

In elementary school he was second best in kickball...to me. (deny it all he wants)

He grills Mongolian food better than the great Mongol Ghengis Khan himself.

Although never learning how to properly run, he is one of the best footballers (yes soccer) I've seen play.

Bernard's French name? Yes. It had to be said. Tres Noir.

But really, he's put up with a shit ton of racism and I respect him for that.

He would walk it out in gym class. But Mr. Guttormsen would still have more dance moves than him.


Anyways, I've got to hear a couple snippets of some of the tracks, and I'm pretty impressed by the tandem display (no homo) of De-Money and Beezy. Capture 21 marks Young Beezy's sophomore effort after his debut record, Hero vs. Beezy, which had a strong showing in the download charts. This mixtape features maturing lyricism, thoughtful and masterful producing, and plenty of local collaborators. Most will be surprised and entertained by the wide array of musical genres from which he selected his instrumentals.

Be sure to Capture 21 tomorrow! Beezy will have the (free!) download link on his facebook fan page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Young-Beezy/168197189925080 tomorrow at 10:19am. Wish him a happy 21st while you're there!


We will also be sure to have it featured on here tomorrow night! Stay Tuned!

-Mi

Taxing the Rich

With this year's presidential debate heating up, there is often talk about economic and fiscal policy. Naturally, there are arguments about whether there should be higher taxes, lower taxes, or a different tax structure altogether. The conservatives arguing on the side of lower taxes, and the democrats arguing for higher taxes on the rich.

The argument against taxing the rich is flawed. Yes, in theory it would be beneficial to the economy if they ponied up 35% of their wages to the IRS. However, the wealthy do not simply have an income. They do not have one number that can be pointed to objectively as taxable income. The fact is, their wealth is distributed across a multitude of investments all over the world. The majority of it is probably here in the United States, but even then it's impossible to keep track of. 

It goes like this. A man with a million dollars owns a small business. He can harbor the money in the small business; he can harbor the money in many small businesses. These businesses don't necessarily have to be money laundering joints either. But with this business, the man can now report less and less income. Essentially he chooses his own "wage". And it follows that the lower wages he reports, the lower taxes he pays. 

So what happens when the rich are taxed more? Do they finally fork over that money to the IRS? No. They pass the burden of the hire taxes on to other people by imposing higher prices, stagnating salaries, or not hiring more people. Companies and people behave to maximize their utility. Period. If their utility is increased by being philanthropic, they will go ahead and do that, but not because the government imposes taxes on them. James, an avid reader, says, "The government thinks that they can take earnings from investors or companies and redistribute that wealth in other areas of the economy to stimulate economic growth more efficiently and faster than that investor or business can reinvest their own capital to contribute to economic growth through their own business."

My point is people throw around the notion that taxing the rich will generate more revenue for the country, but they also don't have a concrete plan to execute. "Close all the loopholes", they say. While I agree there needs to be regulations put in place so that there can't be huge tax write-offs on "gift ponies", loopholes or other means to divert money will exist.

Solution? A national sales tax that is closely monitored on the suppliers' side for all goods and services, except for food. You're able to buy a lot of clothes, yachts and electronics? Well that 40% sales tax sure does pave nice roads. The rich people might start importing their goods from overseas, but even then they would be creating jobs for the increased number of warehouse employees.


I believe it would be ideal to live in complete anarchy, if everyone was rational and didn't infringe on the rights of others. But one can dream.

-Mi