Bobby Brown, Mike Tyson and Wayne Brady Goin’ HAM. It’s not a joke. Well actually, it is. Everybody’s washed up but Wayne Brady. He probably knew he was gonna come out of this a winner. Everybody else is losing. He’s the only comedian. He’s doing what he’s supposed to. These other guys got swindled into doing this somehow.

Duck Sauce, the eminent producer duo comprised of A-Trak and Armand Van Helden, are primed to drop their second official single, “Barbra Streisand” on October 12th. If 3 million YouTube views of last year’s debut “aNYway” are any indicator, the official release of “Barbra Streisand” will be met with rabid anticipation as fan-recorded bootlegs have fueled blog excitement all summer.

“Barbra Streisand” continues to perfect the Duck Sauce sound, which joyously mashes classic disco house with forward-thinking dancefloor energy and expert production. A-Trak and AVH are bona fide DJ heroes whose team-ups are fueled by anything-goes samples, an almost childlike sense of fun, and 100% NYC attitude. This approach has made Duck Sauce fans-for-life out of partygoers around the globe, and will continue to convert anyone within earshot of “Barbra”‘s instantly addictive, whistling hook.

For the video, director So Me (Justice, KiD CuDi, MGMT) uses the song to soundtrack a hyperactive, ecstatic New York City travelogue. Shot over a week of long nights out with A-Trak and Armand (including live footage from the Fool’s Gold “Day Off” labor day block party), the clip is a pop-art adventure starring commandeered taxis and hotdog stands, sexy strangers, and a who’s-who of famous friends: rappers, producers, indie rockers, graffiti writers and nightlife icons all take turns adding their own special sauce to the song, turning “Barbra Streisand” into one of this year’s must-rewind clips.

Watch the video and see just how many cameos you can catch, then pick up the “Barbra Streisand” single (featuring striking sleeve art from Fool’s Gold art director Dust La Rock) on October 12th.

I rock with the song. It took me for listens to really get into it, but then that four turned into 10. I like the fact those girls in the front just sat there.

Oh, and here’s the album art:

I used to hate it, because I was blown that neither Shae nor Chad get any shine. Then my girl Marianna reminded me about the In Search Of… album art.

Welp, that ends that argument. It’s fresh. And Chad doesn’t like the spotlight, anyway. I went to a show a couple months ago out here at Constitution Hall, and he was on stage, on his phone. Playing his keyboard, but on his phone. During the concert. Damn. He really just doesn’t give a you-know-what anymore, huh. Ha. The new album drops Nov. 2. It’ll be the next thing I purchase with my hard-earned cash.

The streets, as well as Twitter Nation, have been chattering about when Star Trak affiliates Christian Rich would be releasing some new music. I feel blessed to be the guy who can give you the latest offering from the twins! I guess that’s what you get when you are the first people to ever drop their music on the blogosphere. Yeah, that was a little swag, but more of a joke. Sheesh. Can I live?!

This Colin Munroe-assisted electro-pop track was sitting in my inbox this morning, and it’s a jam. Got me out of my bed doing a classy two-step. The hook is infectious as hell. “Say My Name” is most likely gonna be on a future project of one of theirs called Arcade. Admit you wanna hear what that joint sounds like just based off the album name alone.

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DOWNLOAD: Christian Rich – Say My Name [feat. Colin Munroe]

I wanna know what Christian Rich and Wiz Khalifa would cook up, to be honest. But that’s just me being the dreamer that I am. Shrug. Oh, and you heard that N*E*R*D shouted them out as their favorite new producers, right?

This joint is just crispy as hell, so it deserves to be blogged. CRISPY. Song is nice, video quality is just crispy. I said it three times because it’s that crispy. My goodness. My girl Heather Rene is the “video vixen” in it, and I didn’t even realize it until the third time I watched it. She looks like a star there, and now her move to LA makes so much more sense to me. It looks like she’s about to make it.

Check her out. Maryland representers unite. I wish her success. Check her life progress (aka her trill Tumblr page) here. And when you start seeing her in magazines and such, don’t say I didn’t call it early.

Grab Paris Jones’ mixtape here, which features the song.

I’ve always been opposed to dress clothes. I don’t care if Halle Berry told me that she’d let me hold her hand down Rodeo Ave. if I put on a seer sucker or a three-piece. I can’t go for that, like that Hall & Oates song. Oftentimes, I’d debate fashion with those who have made the culture their lives (such as stylists, designers, etc.), explaining that I just wear what I want to wear, and clothes don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Most of my close friends don’t have any particularly awesome sense of style, and I don’t judge people based on what they’re wearing. Ever. That’s why you’ll never see me blog about what to wear. That’s not my place to tell you what to do.

I still feel like that, and fashion isn’t my thing. I have my own tastes, but that’s really where it stops. I do, however, appreciate those who respect fashion for more than its aesthetic offering. People like my man Adrian, or the dudes over at Street Etiquette, or Phil and the Madbury Club team, my guy Dizzy. Those guys will talk your ear off about some fashion, but it’s cool because it’s not just because it looks cool. There’s history, there’s meaning and purpose, and there’s strategy!

I say all that to say this: Put This On has by far the trillest web series in the game. They’re only three episodes deep, and there are huge gaping holes of time in between when this team drops them, but they’re always worth the wait. They pretty much do exactly what I just talked about as far as fashion. The dude who is in the videos looks like he’s in his 30′s, but their videos apply to pretty much every adult with their own money to buy their own clothes and who want to know the basics of fashion that nobody ever talks about. That’s probably their exact demographic. Ladies, unfortunately this caters to males more so than the females (as far as I’ve seen in their stuff, anyway), but the production and the approach to the entire culture of clothing, as well as the way it’s all depicted makes this episode of Put This On worthy of viewing. Check it out. After listening to my man Paul Fieg (Mad Men, 30 Rock, Arrested Development, Freaks & Geeks...should I go on?) talk about why he dresses up for work, I quickly scrolled through my phone to see if I still had Halle’s digits. Enjoy.

Check their older videos and blog at PutThisOn.com.

I’ve been rocking with this party pretty much ever since I met the Lunchbox Theory team (Christine and Allison) through my man Spencer, and it’s awesome to see how much progress they’ve made. I remember the joint when it was $1 to get in, get face painted, and jam out with the drummer’s circle and DJ Underdog’s vinyl collection of everything soulful, African-rooted, and more funky stuff. Incredible. That was honestly a steal! I was having the most fun of the month for $1. Glad they realized that they were providing such a good experience that they could raise the price and still pack the house.

I digress. This Thursday at Liv (11th and U), there’s a special edition of Afrobeat 4 Ya Soul for you. Let me let Christine tell it how it is:

Afrobeat 4ya soul: concert edition ft. Blitz the Ambassador
http://afrobeatdc.eventbrite.com/

Lunchbox Theory is kicking off the fall with something special this September.  In addition to the earth thumping sounds of DC’s very own DJ Underdog, Afrobeat 4 Ya Soul: The Concert Edition will feature Blitz the Ambassador. Based out of New York, this Ghanaian emcee uniquely fuses melodic African sounds such as Highlife and Afrobeat with classic ‘boom-bap’ hip hop. Featured along with Blitz is his very own brass heavy band, The Embassy Ensemble. Together they will be giving you a sonic live show that will take you back to the days of the “Boom Box” while simultaneously flashing into the future of Afrikan sound. come out on September 30 at Club Liv (2001 11th St, NW), enjoy some FREE face painting and take a look into the future.  Advanced tickets are $10, $15 at the door, and doors open at 8pm.

Oh, and you already KNOW Underdog cooked somethin’ good up for your MP3 player, too. For those new to the scene, this is what to expect when you show up on Thursday. For those who know what’s up, I needn’t say much more. Enjoy.

AFRICA AFRICA AFRICA pt 3
http://lunchboxtheory.bandcamp.com/

The debut of this mixtape was the spark of a new style of African based sonics and a new movement into the realm of afrobeat. Its about the progression of the dance. There is no sonic comparison to these mixes. There are so many elements fused between the notes. This release signifies the next step in the evolution. As the groove continues, watch this space, and bring a change of clothes.

SEE YOU THURSDAY!

On September 18th, I turned 24. The last time I had a big party for my born day was at Discovery Zone, Jeepers Creepers, or Chuck E Cheese. Needless to say, I probably wasn’t at double digits yet, and people only came because they knew the goodie bag that my mom and her friends cooked up was gonna be vicious. They weren’t really there for me.

I figured that this was the perfect time to really go HAM slamwich as far as celebration is concerned. I was finally in my hometown for my birthday instead of at school in Boston. I was of age (to drink legally and with no qualms). I had matured into the person I probably will end up being for the rest of my life. And just think about it: everybody goes super hard with their 18th, their 21st, and their 25th; I already passed the first two, and 25 was too far away. I had to flip this situation into something worthwhile. So I decided to team up with some North Carolina cats and create “The Kobe”.

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I asked my man Brandon of ABB Video to come out and shoot our Child’s Play event, and that’s what he did! Him and ABB’s CEO, Dre, cut up some niiiice footage for this version of Child’s Play. I love how three different people chopped the same event up and still each had a very unique perspective. This one is nothing short of brilliant, and shout out to ABB for holding me down. Featuring so many cool ass people, some you may recognize from MTV Jams or from your walk home. No joke. Check it!

The other two videos that surfaced:

Reiana’s Recap!

Dre Eastwood’s Recap!

Come on, P! You’ve had your fans bending over backwards waiting for this fourth N*E*R*D full-length album to drop! First we heard that Nothing was coming July, but instead, nothing came. What a clever ass trick, guys. Then you said September. Again, the wrong nothing. Last I heard from my guys over at TheNeptunes.org was that the album is hitting stores on October 19, but Star Trak’s word on album release dates is shakier than Michael J. Fox after he found out that he had Parkinson’s disease. And that’s not a jab, because Back To The Future 2 is my favorite movie. Merely a simile/comparison to make you think I was going HAM slamwich.

Anyway, my secret sources have scooped up some show footage of my favorite band playing some recent gigs. Here’s them debuting a new track “I Seen The Light” at York University. I heard this joint when I somehow finagled my way into their listening session in New York this summer. I swear, this is the ONLY song I remember from the joint, and was by far my favorite. They said they scrapped 19 songs from the album and started working on all new ones, so I’m glad they kept this in the equation, because it’s that old sound that I’ve been longing for.

Finally, right? They’re cranking some stuff that sounds more like the old days. If you can’t get enough, then Real Talk NY has some more footage of N*E*R*D performing at the Honda Honda CR-Z event yesterday in NYC. Peep it here.