This is not even remotely hip hop, and really not even that great.  It’s only getting a post  because I have this weird fascination with Vince, the Shamwow/Slapchop guy.  He’s a crazy, crazy man.  He hosts infomercials, is in this intense feud with Scientology after getting kicked out, and recently got arrested for punching a hooker.  I mean what more do you want out of a guy before you consider him to be a character?
And someone spent some time remixing his slapchop infomercial into this weird little hip hop track.

See …

Gizmodo – Best Buy May Start Selling Vinyl Records – Vinyl.
This is just plain fantastic news overall.  Gizmodo is reporting that Best Buy may start selling vinyl in their stores.
Now, this definitely is a double-edged sword.  On one hand, this means we’ll see a ton more reissues and a lot of new people getting into vinyl.  The downside is that it takes part of the joy away from crate digging.
The thing is, I think more so than anything else it’ll be a good thing.  There’s still gonna be a huge …

Moray McLaren, a band you’ve probably never heard of, has put out an astounding new video for the track We Got Time.  It features a type of animation known as a zoetrope, often done on a turntable.  Basically the idea is you draw your images on a disc, and spin it around with a reflective center.  The way the images are reflected demonstrate the motion.
Check it out below.  It’s a great way to use an older technology.

Gizmodo, the venerable tech blog, ran its “Listening Test” series last week.  This was a series of posts designed to focus on everything audio, from tech stuff, to nerdy posts on the first records they ever bought.
This piece, however, may be of some use to the semi-audiophiles among you.
Basically, they gave you step-by-step instructions on how to calibrate your turntable with only a few simple tools:

A 2mm Allen/Hex wrench for the cartridge screws
A ruler
Magnifying glass and flashlight
Needle-nose pliers or tweezers
A printout of a standard cartridge alignment ruler (available …

Gorillaz, that animated band with a rotating membership has finally got a documentary out.  For those fo you unfamiliar, Gorillaz has been formed as this odd cyber-group that has a variety of people who contribute.  Damon Albarn, most famous for his gig with Blur, has joined forces with a plethora of other superstars.  And yet they perform only as this animated group, you never really get to see them.   Some major hip hop legends have been a part of this, from DJ Shadow and Del the Funky Homosapien to …

Haven’t had a chance to listen to this yet, but it’s free and it’s got a dope album cover, so I’m pretty confident that Diamond District’s debut record In The Ruff is at the very least worth a download.
Founded by emcee and producer Oddisee, Diamond District includes Washinton DC rappers XO & YU.   According to their blog, In The Ruff is “a raw mid-90’s Boom-Bap themed album for the DC state of mind, destined to appeal to all lovers of hip hop’s golden era, managing to travel back in time …

Oh readers.  Gizmodo, everyone’s favourite geek blog, has been running an audio-themed segment for the last little while.
The focus of the latest post is on the art of the mixtape, with the author waxing nostalgic about his favorite mixtape.  Why was he so proud of this one particular mixtape?  Easy.  Classic hip hop joints, recorded off the radio in his hometown of San Francisco.
It’s a pretty funny list of classic hip hop and R&B, and is pretty much guaranteed to make you smile and close your eyes in loving memory …

This year’s Rock the Bells lineup is dope, don’t get me wrong, but nothing will be able to match the first couple of years.  Still, this year gives it a good run for its money, especially with their hype machine.
Check out Supernatural freestyling the entire lineup.  It will blow your mind.
Guerilla Union/Myspace: Rock The Bells 2009 Lineup Freestyle

Nas, Common, KRS-One, Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek, our boy K’Naan, Raekwon, Slum Village, the Mystik Journeymen (or at least Murs), Chali 2na (maybe some j5 surprises?).  Hell, they are even bringing back House …

I swear we won’t make this a habit to report on crazy celebrities, but in the spirit of what we’re trying to do here at 4080, I thought we owe you all a post on this issue. I admit we’re not exactly top notch journalists over here, but I do think the team here approaches music with a dedication and a respect that we share with many real arts journalists.
Jian Ghomeshi is one of these. He is the host of the Q Show on CBC Radio in Canada, …

That’s right.  I managed to make it out to Ann Arbor, MI to catch Common and Slum Village play one of the dopest shows I’ve seen.  Common, an artist I’ve been trying to see for years, literally blew my mind.  It was definitely one of the most energetic and crowd-focused shows I’ve had the pleasure to being to.
The whole thing started off with a hilarious faux-battle.  A radio host brought two random kids out of the audience, and surprisingly neither of them were emcees.  And neither of them were very …