Dortmund Germany . 6.12.1980 . Robert “Bob” Nesta  Marley and the Wailers.

Okay so this video is not new, but Eminem is back in business. Like my nephew Gregory will tell you, Uncle Arlington is old school hip-hop (who new hip-hop would even make it to an old school), Jay-z, Nas, DRE, Ice Cube, P.E., Das Efx, Outcast… that is my stuff.  I do however hold a special space for Em, DMX and the LOX,  who I do consider to be new school. Hip-hop is the CNN of … (shout out to Chuck D) you know the rest - if you know!!

Is it me or does katy Perry sound like she is partial possessed by the spirit of Cyndi Lauper???  This post is a celebration however because just one week after hitting No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” featuring Snoop Dogg has set a record for most weekly plays in the 17-year history of Billboard’s Pop Songs radio airplay chart.  The duet logged 11,816 plays among the survey’s 132 panelists, an average of 90 plays per station, in the chart’s tracking week of June 21-27, according to Nielsen BDS. “California Gurls” which was Katy’s answer to Jay-z’s “Empire State of Mind”, (not really) does feature the D-O-double G and has a pretty fun video – Ok I like the song (there I wrote it)!!!!

If this song sounds familar it means you have been in the store recently, which is good to know. Our man about Malibu, Matthew Bergman refusing to be deterred by the state of the music industry, has launched his indie label Baked Fresh Records. Their group Black Heart Vacancy recently released their first single “Manoverboard” which is getting airplay across the country, Canvas and is available for download at itunes. Enjoy the video, support the music. Shout-out to Baked Fresh Records. :)

I didn’t know a thing about PIRATE RADIO - zip, zelch, zero. This doc. “London Pirate Frequencies”  tells the most amazing story about DJ’s that did and still do what they need to for the love of music and the desire to share that love. Palladium boots (Canvas will carry the Neil Barrett Collaborations for Fall10) did an amazing  product integration job in this doc and I hope they footed the bill (no pun intended). Watch and Enjoy – Good Job Palladium

I might not be gaga for Gaga, but Jay-z is the blueprint. In a collaboration with Absolut Vodka, Jay-z and director Danny Clinch make a very well shot documentary chronicling the days leading up to his Madison Square Gardens concert for the NYC Firefighters and the release of the BlueprintIII. 15 mins is a lifetime on a blog, but Jay says some very interesting things about his art, his passions and collaborations – also featuring John Mayer.

While I admit to being on the fence when it comes to Lady Gaga (unlike Jac who loves her),  I was curious too see this video for three reasons: 1. Beyonce  2.it is 9 minutes and 32 seconds long  3. Our friend Troy Carter is her manager. I have to give it to Gaga and Troy I am sure, for delivering a video of this length at a time when most videos rarely exceed 3:20mins and when video budgets have been cut so low that artist are resorting to slide shows. While the story line is a little wonkie, the fashion, quality, humor and artistry is very good. There you have it Jac – Gaga made the blog - Enjoy

Sade is back!!! I was under the impression she was never coming out of the hills of Jamaica.

Her new single ”Soldier of Love”   from her new album of the same name is the first time the singer has released a new video in eight years. I like the imagery of the video – minus the cowgirl moment with the lasso however.  Just a month after its release, Soldier of Love is making its way to the top of the jazz and R&B charts. The record is the band’s first release since 2000’s Lovers Rock and will definitely be in rotation at CANVAS regardless, (for old times sake).

While the death or life of hip-hop is debated back and forth artist like Jay-z keep on making great music. Who would have thought that one of the hottest songs/albums of the year would have been recorded by a 40 year old rapper. Empire State of Mind tells the truth about New York, and if you have lived there for any amount of time you would understand. I read that Jay received the key to New York as a result of this song. Funny Jay-z  story - I wento his record release party for his first album in New York and he was wearing slacks and a beige mock turtleneck. Alicia Keys is the cherry on this sundae and cannot be forgotten when speaking of this record.

Believe it or not I have always liked Green Day. I was not in on the first album but I was in there by Dookie. I have heard them perform 21 Guns on several shows this year and have loved it everytime – so I am posting it and hopefully Jac and I will get a chance to catch the broadway show on a trip to NYC. Winners of the Best Rock Album 2010 Grammy Awards – Green Day.

Green Day’s massive 2004 opus ‘American Idiot’ album was brought to life in theater form in California, and starting this March, the musical with the same name and storyline as their classic album will bring its punk bravado to New York’s Brodway scene. Spinner is proudly to premiering a video featuring Green Day themselves — Billy Joe, Mike and Tre — rocking in all their glory with the cast of the ‘American Idiot’ musical and with Billie Armstrong as a producer onthis project as well.