VIDEO: Kid Cudi: "Day 'N' Nite"

(Swiped from Pitchfork Media)

So Kid Cudi has a new video for "Day 'N' Nite". Is the video good? Most certainly. It was directed by spectacular graphic artist Bertrand de Langeron, a.k.a So Me, a.k.a. the guy who was interrupted at the MTV Europe VMA's by a screaming Kanye West, a.k.a. the guy who went on to direct Kanye West's "Good Life". But, you might ask, wasn't there a video for this song already? Yes, there was, but it was for the arguably more fun and club-friendly Crookers bassline remix--a refix that, incidentally, entered the top ten in the UK.

Of course, not everyone (especially in America) seems too hip to the idea of putting a donk on it, and these same folks probably have probably listened to the original "Day' 'N' Nite" umpteen times already. All of this raises the question--why not make use of the incredible talents of So Me for a single that hasn't been out for months? Cudi apparently hated the original video and said so on his blog, but he gained lots of attention with it and lots of new fans. This brand spanking new one for the moodier, original version of the song looks fantastic, but in 2009, it doesn't take long for a tune to sound a little tired.

VIDEO: Kanye West "Welcome To Heartbreak"

KANYE WEST "Welcome To Heartbreak" Directed by Nabil from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

If there is a reason I listen to rap...this is it...

Rappers can’t clap me
Jackers can’t gat me
Original meaning of jazzy fat nasty
I don’t bite rapper’s lines, I bite the captain’s arm off
I don’t throw shots in the air, I throw that Molotov
Cocktail, reservoir dog my collar off
Ya’ll scared to get that revolution popping off
You really got the guns you claim in the track
Then my question to you is who you aiming ‘em at
You complain that the rap police caught you with a gat under the seat
Misdemeanored that twenty bag of weed
But little old me with the few facts that I speak
The homeland security gaveled me over seas
Froze my bank account and seized my guarantee
And ya’ll are soundscanning like a hundred more than me
They kicking you off tour for freaking a chick or two
Verizon dissed me too 'cause I was too political
Ya’ll are all safe and shit, ya’ll are not saying shit
You just snap your fingers and dance and make your label rich
Gotta pay back that advance, so they ain’t gave you shit
This is your chance to say something and you’re wasting it
People are starving, you talking bout balling
Can’t think of nothing more important than that jargon
Hundred different ways to describe diamonds sparkling
Eighty percent of kids are listening to ya’ll shit
I heard that statistic I almost cried
Never wanted so bad for 2pac to be alive
What the fuck happened to rap when
The gangsters are scared of upsetting they industry masters
It ain’t my place to say and I hear all that
But fuck that, I live in the hood and we need ya’ll cats
So as soon as I hear ya’ll on some real pro black
Then I will gladly go back to my emo rap
They say the truth don’t belong to nobody, if you see it you speak it
It would be a sin to keep it a secret
So if I need to breathe then believe that I mean it
Quit trying to be somebody’s boss and be a leader
If it wasn’t bad enough your labels are hoeing you
You can’t even scan, your fans are downloading you
There’s no connection, so they’re not supporting you
You ain’t never shed light on nothing that they’re going through
We ain’t buying cds, we striving to live
And these artists don’t need me they already rich
I ain’t hating on you, rock them shines
Just remember us from time to time when you drop them lines
Rappers can’t clap me
Jackers can’t gat me
Original meaning of jazzy fat nasty
Busy raising babies and living on tour
Signing off Brother Ali, sincerely yours

--Brother Ali, from the cut "2nd Time" performed by Wale

Want to find out where this song is? Check 10.Deep, as they are putting out the mixtape it is a part of TODAY! The mixtape is called The New Deal and has new music by everyone from Kanye West to Kid Cudi and more.

Kid Sister Debut Album Gets a Release Date, New Name

(Swiped from Pitchfork Media)

Fool's Gold-- the hip-hop/dance boutique label owned and operated by DJs A-Trak and Nick Catchdubs-- and Downtown Music-- home of Gnarls Barkley, Art Brut, Justice, Santogold, Mos Def, Spank Rock, and others-- are hardly strangers. After all, Downtown recently snapped up Chicago rapper Kid Sister, who released her first singles through Fool's Gold. But now the two are tighter than ever, as they've announced a joint venture that will see Fool's Gold "housed within the Downtown infrastructure," according to a press release.

Looking at the Fool's Gold release schedule, the new deal means a ton of jams coming your way throughout the summer. Treasure Fingers' "Cross the Dancefloor" single and Kid Cudi's A Kid Named Cudi mixtape are due this month, while Four Color Zach & Pretty Titty's Sing Sing Breaks mix and Sammy Bananas' Braids & Fades EP will emerge in August. There's a Fool's Gold Remixed compilation on the way for September, while Jokers of the Scene's Acid Bagg EP, Nacho Lovers' "Go On" / "Acid Life" single, Bag Raiders' Big Fun EP, and Trackademicks' "Enjoy What You Do" single can be expected before the summer's up.

Meanwile, the label is prepping EPs from Crookers, Congorock, and LA Riots, as well as Malente's I Like It long-player. There's even a free "Mad Fools" party July 20, which features members of both the Fool's Gold and Mad Decent rosters-- Diplo, Santogold, A-Trak, Kid Cudi, Blaqstarr and others-- joining up for a gig at Central Park Summerstage in New York.One Downtown/Fool's Gold release a little further off in the distance is that Kid Sister LP we mentioned above. Though it was initially intended for a June/July release, she's working on it right now. Now called Dream Date (rather than Koko B. Ware), it's due September 23. A recent MySpace blog post finds Kid Sister apologizing profusely as she mentions that a few of her forthcoming tour dates-including her appearance at the Hard Summer festival in L.A. this weekend-- are now off so she can focus on finishing up the disc. She claims to have already worked up ""EIGHT count 'em EIGHT new heaters and lotsa surprises hiding behind every corner! Aww sooky sooky nah! WOOO!", presumably a nod to the disc's tasteful, low-key vibe. A bit bummed by the cancellations, Kid Sis adds, "let's not get all crazy-like and leave flaming bags of doggie booboo on my doorstep or TP my bike." Seriously, if you must MySpace, friend this person.

Kid Sis will pick back up in August for a mess of festival appearances both in North America and Europe.

She came back with a quickness:
07-19 Los Angeles, CA - Hard Festival
07-20 Toronto, Ontario - Molson Amphiteatre Rock the Bells Festival
08-03 Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza
08-07 Gothenburg, Sweden - Way Out West Festival
08-08 Oslo, Norway - Oya Festival
08-16 Hasselt, Belgium - Pukkelpop Festival
08-23 Denver, CO - Rock the Bells Festival
08-30 Vancouver, British Columbia - Rock the Bells Festival

Video: Kid Sister (ft. Kanye West): Pro Nails [from the Pro Nails single]