We’ve got another special night lined up for you. This Saturday, we’ll be holding a public screening of “INCALCULABLE” – a short film by Alysia Mazzella. This is somewhat of a first for us, and we are very excited to have Alysia/Secret Rabble at the shop – to show and discuss her work as an young, independent filmmaker/artist.

This is another Kafe King event – so if you’ve been to any of the events we’ve done in the past – you know some goodies will be in store for this Saturday.

In addition to the screening of “INCALCULABLE” we will also have a special guest performance by Honor Roll Crew member – MIKE BAKER the BIKE MAKER!! His recently released “Mike Plays it Cool” and “Body of Work” – is on regular rotation at the shop, so we’re super excited for the experience that lies ahead! Have a listen for yourself here.

(Ezra, you left for grad school too early…we’ll do some video for you)

ALSO!!! This event is BYOB – with the last “B” standing for baked goods. Snacks and treats seem to be staple at ALL of our events, let’s see what kind of goodies get whipped up for this Saturday!

For more info contact us or visit the links above, hope to see you all Saturday!

-Cinematic

We wanted to quickly share with you some tunes that are getting us through this Holiday madness. You may remember a few months ago we posted a video for the song “Bodega” by our friend Quan Luv feat. Old Money. Well Old Money has a mix out right now called “Pretty Danger” which they did for VANE. The mix is upbeat, soulful, funky, and worldly…all perfect for the season at hand. Click on the image below to get the free download and get a little dance on…it’s the holidays!!

Playlist
1. Mad One – House Girls 7 – No War Inside
2. Old Money – [untitled]
3. DJ Mujava – Mugwanti / Sgwejegweje
4. DJ Tira – I Wont Let You Go
5. Old Money – Mothership [unreleased]
6. Nina Simone – See-Line Woman
7. Rebirth Brass Band – Feel Like Funkin’ It Up
8. Outkast – Spottieottiedopalicious (Nacey Remix)
9. Isa GT – Funketa
10. Kes The Band – Wotless
11. Crystal Waters – What I Need (Club Mix)
12. Maluca + The Party Squad – Lola (Ging Danga)
13. Usher – DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love (Chief Boima Remix)
14. Lil Silva feat. Sampha – On Your Own
15. Gelú-Six – In The Building
16. Baobinga & I.D. – Man Down
17. Jhene Aiko – Club Stranger (Nguzunguzu Remix)

-Cinematic

Unless you’re a hip-hop nerd like myself, you may not be aware of New Jersey’s strong hip-hop lineage. From the late 80′s to the golden age, hip-hop icons such as Queen Latifah, Redman, and Artifacts put New Jeruz (as El Da Sensei likes to say) on the map. Fast-forward to modern day and you will see the same thing happening with the Garden State’s very own art/fashion/hip-hop collective, Jersey Klan, at the forefront.

Last Saturday night Extra Butter was lucky enough to have the Klan (OGM, Moruf, Hoddy, J. Philippe & more) come through for an intimate in-store performance celebrating the release of OGM’s new album, “Kool Kidz of Kolor”. If it wasn’t clear already, these guys are the real deal. Even when rapping in front of a small audience, these guys spit like the entire state of Jersey is on their back, with an energy and passion that seems to be a dying trait in today’s game.

Those who aspire to be in the game should start taking notes, but for now here’s some photographs of the Klan in action.

… and I swear a Metalfinger’s sample never sounded so good! Much respect to the whole crew.

-Ezra

Click here to see the rest of the photos —> Read more

The evening approaches….mark that calendar, set that smart phone – 11.12.11!!

I had the pleasure of attending OGM and Jersey Klan’s performance at the Afro Punk show at Williamsburg Music Hall last week, and you should know…this will be a performance you best not miss. Oh, and he’s bringing that JUICE!

-Cinematic

If you’ve never had the pleasure of meeting the individual that is Ease DaMan in real life – you need to change that immediately. He’s an individual in the most original sense of the word and really one of the oddest people I know. He stands out to most with his one of a kind style, voice, crazy thoughts…that seemingly no one else ever has – or says at least, but he separates himself from others as unique to me mostly because he’s so real. Not the “real” everyone likes to floss in just about every annoying cliche to certify themselves, but the truly genuine real kind of person who always goes totally unfiltered and operates from the heart.

There are many sides of Ease that I don’t get…and there’s many sides of Ease I wish a lot more people in this world would embrace. The most glaring is the underlying theme of his newly released album – AVERAGE SIZEd PENIS (clicking those words take you to a FREE download of the album, and not a picture I promise), a declaration of individuality and a celebration of his own. The album also serves as Ease’s heartfelt broadcast expression to the rest of the world, urging people to drop their guard, live and be how they want to be – which can only come after accepting openly and honestly who you actually are.

I hope people don’t take his bizarre persona and regard his music as a joke, because it’s not. A humorous, clever, and strange adventure indeed, but well produced, well thought out, and uncensored brutal honesty on tracks like “Hip Hop Sucks”, “DJ Change the Song”, and “Social Climbers”. 100% refreshing.

Check out the video for “Levitate” below – the track that most connects to Extra Butter’s sneaker & streetwear fashion-loving following, with cameo’s by the many illustrious pieces of Ease’s extensive collection and wardrobe. Ease simply (although difficult for some) goes in on how this whole style and fashion thing is just a natural, effortless, and a personal way of life. Oh, and sing along loud and proud to the greatest part of the album in the cut of the chorus – “F!#% SWAG”!!

Download Ease DaMan’s album by clicking here.

-Cinematic

We interrupt this buttery filled blog program with….some more BUTTER. BUTTER straight from Jersey, by way of HODDY, The Young Jedi!!

Take away the fact that this track is called “BUTTER” which quickly gained my fandom – Hoddy is rocking my favorite (non-EB) snapback – the Neighborhood Sniper by Mishka, and put himself on the map with his BUTTER-y delivery and video-peek into his “base life”…Definitely a cat you’ll want to keep tabs on to see what’s next!

Hoddy, the young jedi- BUTTER from B.L.V.D. filmworks on Vimeo.

-Cinematic

If you’ve ever been down to the shop, you’d know multiple times a day we make trips to our local “bodega” around the corner. Half & Half Arizonas, Chips, Cookies, an occasional egg sandwich, strawberry wafers, Inca Cola, and white cheddar Cheese Doodles that Rodney just steals from you even when he doesn’t like them. Hell…when L’amour Supreme makes one of his many frequent visits, sometimes we question whether or not he came in to see us…or the red bull and platano chips he always cops from the bodega.

Not to our surprise, our friend Quan Luv shares the same affinity for the bodega as we do, and even wrote a song about it! You must check the video below, featuring Old Money, the rest of the A.L.I.E.N. gang, and a cameo appearance by Frank B. Cookins!

Prince Quan Luv also hooks us up with the DOWNLOAD so you can load this onto your players and repeat!

-Cinematic

BONG!!!!!!!!!!

If you missed out on the Kafe King event here, and Moruf’s other performance’s all over the map, you’ve made a terrible mistake. A highlight of his show is his track “Darryl Strawberry”, which is infectious to rhyme along to and absolutely raucous live. Keep up with this man and be sure to catch him and the rest of the Jersey Klan when they’re in your town!

Having said that (shouts to Larry David) the chaos that is “Darryl Strawberry” is captured here in his incredible video below. But let me tell you why it’s dope…

1. It’s called “Darryl Strawberry”. One of my top 3 Mets of all time. Were you not apart of the time where you joined thousands in chanting “Darrrrrrrrrr-ryllllllllll, Daaaaaarrrrrrr-rylllllll…”!?
2. Listen for the “BONG!’s”…watch your need to say it as loud as possible increase with the quickness. Along with the bass this whole thing is just some kind of addictive power.
3. The cooking. I don’t know what this is all about really, and the little I know I don’t think I like. But, what I know is that when Moruf and Jersey Klan start cooking it up I can’t help but want to join in. Just a little bit…
4. OGM’s hair.
5. The “Official Selection” burgundy snapback cameo!! Since the beginning of the year when we released our “Directorial Debut” collection, we’ve seen the pieces vanish (the snap caps with the most rapidity) and it’s always a thrill whether we’re at the beach, out to eat, or just walking around town and seeing our friends, fam, and loyals representing. But, with Moruf’s music acting as a bloodline to our day to day life in and out of the shop, we couldn’t have been more excited about seeing it in the video. Maybe a small piece excitement to others, but we’re extremely honored and humbled.

I could go on and on, but you get the point – now put this joint on full screen and turn the volume all the way up…BONG!

Moruf / Darryl Strawberry from adam on Vimeo.

-Cinematic

This just changed my whole Friday around. And I’m sure I speak accurate on behalf of everyone here, that we’re constantly inspired by and relate to Moruf’s art.

Look, listen, and observe.

-Cinematic

You got yesterday’s briefing here. But I’m here with more insight – or rather pleasure for your eyes and ears…

Our friend Justin hit me up the other day wondering if he could come through for the “KAFE KING” event this Saturday. I said “but of course!”. His concerns were that he’s only 16 years old…which in my world, when it comes to this culture – means nothing, the younger the better when it comes to starting on that path to being an individual. Justin told me he really didn’t want to miss it especially since Moruf would be there. His messages translated tremendous excitement at the thought of catching Moruf live since he’s been “so hooked on his tape”…to which I agreed with and related to in full.

Justin’s sentiments were not alone as most of us here and more of our friends have expressed the same, but I’m thankful for him sharing his anticipation for Saturday’s performance – a feeling somewhat lost as years have gone by for me. Moruf’s music has taken me back as well, to the feeling of listening to songs obsessively wanting to know every line and accentuate his delivery with precision. I didn’t use calendars much when I was a kid, but I sure as hell had dates locked in my head when it came to looking forward to seeing one of my favorite artists perform. This is what we’re dealing with when it comes to this Saturday. This is the effect of Moruf’s music….

So, for a little primer and extra taste of what’s in store – here’s a few more videos that have kept me at the shop after hours watching them repeated on loop! (Russ – that HBK one will be your instant fave.)

Melo X Moruf from adam on Vimeo.

Moruf + Chris Akinyemi: “Young HBK (Shawn Michaels)” from Jackpot in the West Productions on Vimeo.

Moruf-chief rocka from B.L.V.D. filmworks on Vimeo.

Rooftop Thoughts by Moruf from adam on Vimeo.

See you saturday!

-Cinematic