Heavy Mentalist

Check out this ultra cool new watch from Flud Watches–the Tableturns Limited Edition Roc Raida Watch!

Tableturns Roc Raida Watch

Grandmaster Roc Raida was a member of legendary deejay supergroup the X-Men aka The X-Ecutioners. The Hip Hop world was shocked when he died in 2009 from cardiac arrest in the aftermath of a mixed martial arts accident.

This watch retails for $90 with all proceeds from sales of this watch going to Roc Raida’s widow and three children. The watch can be purchased by emailing Flud Watches at rocraida@fludwatches.com.

Kanye West - Eyes Closed

Mixtape Monday  is a new feature here on Heavy Mentalist. Every Monday I’ll be sharing a new mixtape with my readers, and today the one I decided to share is Kanye West’s Eyes Closed.

This mixtape is actually not “new” in internet terms, where new music dropped one week is “old” the next since this mixtape dropped in early January, but I wanted to start off with it because, for lack of a better way to say it, the chit rocks (with one exception–I probably would’ve left “That’s My Bitch” off this mixtape).

A lot of people might take issue with Kanye’s antics, and I admit I was one of those people aghast at his behavior at the  2009 VMAs. However, that has not clouded my appreciation of his music, and to put it bluntly: Kayne is an artist and artists tend to be just a little crazy, but that’s what makes them who they are.

Next week I’ll have something a little “newer” for you, but for now I’m pleased to present Kanye West’s “Eyes Closed”.  Continue reading...

Scoring a film is something I’ve always imagined would be a lot of fun. If you’ve ever dreamed of scoring a film, you’ll get your chance if you win this contest from short film consortium, CELLULOID.

If you are an actor you can also win a role in the short film, which is slated to star the lovely Nia Long.

Nia Long - image borrowed from Nicole Bitchie

Stay calm there’s no need for alarm
you say goodbye to your mom and you’re off to Vietnam
You shoot to kill, come back and you’re a veteran
but how many veterans are out there peddling?

- KRS ONE “Stop the Violence”

Soldiers of the all-black 320th Battalion landing on the beaches of Normandy, June 6, 1944. Photo courtesy of Alice Mills & borrowed from jackandjillpolitics.com

On this Veteran’s Day, according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, about one third of the adult homeless population in America are veterans of our armed forces.

All I can say is, America should be ashamed of itself. Although I’m opposed to war and the war machine for a number of reasons, I do know in my heart that we owe our veterans much more than this.

Vietnam Memorial, Washington DC

Here are more statistics and facts on homeless veterans.

*nearly half of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam era

*homeless veterans are predominantly male, with roughly five percent being female  Continue reading...

So I hear Kid Cudi has a thing for snow. That’s some gnarly shit, but hey, if it floats his boat, whatever.

Never mind that it can give you a heart attack and rot holes through your brain. Or the frequent nosebleeds (sexy!). Or the feeling that you have no teeth in your mouth when you’re really high. Or the facial numbess that comes from being blown out of your gourd.

Or the desperation you feel when your down to your last line and your dealer won’t answer the phone. Or the constant threat of arrest for carrying the shit around.

Who cares about any of that, right? Besides, who wants to live forever and get old and shit! Party on, Cudi!

I dedicate this song to him. It’s a classic tune by Dillinger, “Cocaine In My Brain.” Maybe he can sample it for his next album.

His latest album, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager dropped yesterday.  Continue reading...