QUICK HITS
Feb 1, 2007 12:00 PM
WEBSITE OF THE MONTH
Do you want boatloads of new, independent music not currently owned by major record labels? Well, of course you do! (Duh.) Enter Fresh Tracks Music (www.freshtracksmusic.com), which offers tunes from independent artists within a slew of music genres, including rock, pop, indie-alternative, punk, hip-hop, R&B, jam, funk, DJ and electronic. For $4.95 a month (or $49.95/year), you can download an unlimited number of fully licensed and legal MP3s and burn them as many times as you want. Also? All downloads are in unrestricted MP3 format. Hooray!
STOP THE VIOLENCE
A compelling documentary on gangsta life in Durham, North Carolina, Welcome to Durham, USA, just dropped on DVD ($24.95; www.welcometodurhamusa.com). The very DIY, low-budget directorial debut of Christopher Martin (aka Play of Kid-N-Play) is nonetheless a thought-provoking, balanced, thorough and sometimes heartbreaking look at the realities of a small city's gang problem. Durham locals Butta Team provide a hot hip-hop soundtrack (CD comes with the DVD) that also features 9th Wonder and Big Daddy Kane.
AMERICAN GRAFFITI
If you're dying to compete with the bling of hip-hop superstars, look no further than Kel 1st, the master of custom graffiti-style jewelry since 1983. For a reasonable price (a custom five-character name plate ran for $199 at Christmas time), you can get your own tag immortalized in silver, gold or platinum in the form of rings, earrings, belt buckles, car jewels and more. Since transitioning from doing subway art, Kel's been creating custom graffiti jewelry for Madonna, Busta Rhymes, Afrika Bambaataa, Mariah Carey and more. To get your own, check out www.kel1st.com or e-mail info@kel1st.com.
| Want to use this article? Click here for options! |  |
