the Q side

New & Improved!

2009-03-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

This will be the last post at this url.

Stepped things up and now it's at THEQSIDE.COM

Mateo "Underneath the Sky"

2009-03-04T12:02:00.001-08:00

the World Premiere of the cinematic mixtape

Download the mixtape presented by Mick Boogie HERE

Kanye's artist and my friend GLC saw it and I'm glad a camera was rolling for his reaction...

Mickey Factz "Sensibility"

2009-03-04T09:43:00.000-08:00

It seems like having a blog with any hip hop on it means posting something about this guy. I've liked the stuff he's been putting out but this song is like the moment when Kobe started passing the ball more. VERY dope

Download it HERE

Next Top Model

2009-03-04T09:21:00.000-08:00

I've never really watched this show but this season I'll be paying attention. A friend of mine, Kortnie Coles, is in the running. She's a philanthropist from Houston, TX. Not a typical model. She's healthy looking and not a biscuit head.

Tyra better recognize!

Pretty much amazing

2009-03-02T12:27:00.000-08:00

To say that I'm excited about this single coming out next week would be a massive understatement

By the way, shout out to prettymuchamazing.com and illroots.com for being in tune with the leak

Quote of the Week

2009-02-28T09:10:00.000-08:00

"I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false and incur my own abhorrence"

-Frederick Douglass

Backstage at Access

2009-02-24T16:58:00.000-08:00

An example of why I love the folks at my new hosting gig

Photo of the Week

2009-02-24T16:53:00.001-08:00

Taken by Monica Almeida at the Oscars

k-os "4 3 2 1"

2009-02-23T21:01:00.000-08:00

From his upcoming album YES!

His music represents the best elements of everything I've ever heard. As an MC he's thorough, his singing voice doesn't need any auto tune and his production is musically rich. It's no coincidence you don't hear about him in the mainstream. My boy k-os has been adamant in maintaining integrity.

His last two albums Joyful Rebellion and Atlantis: Hymns for Disco are brilliant.

Kid Cudi 'Day 'N' Nite'

2009-02-19T18:14:00.000-08:00

Ok Drake

2009-02-18T10:29:00.000-08:00

Your officially not 'that dude from Degrassi' anymore! I remember when you came by my show on MTV a handful of years ago with the rest of the cast. Off camera you told me how you were really excited about music. The progression is in full effect on So Far Gone.

I actually think calling it a mixtape isn't even appropriate. Most mixtapes sound like leftovers from the album or just lazy remixes but that's definitely not the case with this.

It seemed like every time we'd spoken in the past year there'd been mention of the work going into the project and after listening to it- the work is absolutely evident. The work "40" put into this is worth mentioning too. He cooked up some incredible music and mixed things just right. I'm proud of you Drake. Your making XXL and MTV look real silly for not including you in there 'new MC's to look out for' lists!

For the download of So Far Gone click here

Joaquin vs Letterman

2009-02-17T10:12:00.000-08:00

I've had some awkward interviews in my day but nothing quite like this

My debut video!

2009-02-12T12:53:00.000-08:00

A prelude to my new web series Wide Open coming this spring

Humbled from Quddus on Vimeo.

Big thanks to Miri for the music, Sharif for being my director and Anna for being my girl in it.

Here's the link to spread the love: http://www.vimeo.com/3190597

Quote of the week

2009-02-12T12:49:00.000-08:00

"I found out that people are human beings" -Kanye West

David after the dentist

2009-02-11T06:41:00.000-08:00

Why is this simultaneously hilarious, disturbing and kind of deep?

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Photo of the Week

2009-02-10T08:19:00.001-08:00

Taken by Celene Lee at Santos' Party House in downtown Manhattan

Oodles of dopeness

2009-02-10T08:06:00.001-08:00

It's rare that I use the word oodles but what Imogen Heap does here left my vocabulary dumbfounded

Asher Roth "I Love College"

2009-02-09T12:05:00.000-08:00

The glorious video debut of my favorite new MC. Shout out to the homie Scooter for putting this kid on.

Guess who makes a cameo? 3 minutes in you'll see yours truly and Mateo chugging milk like we done lost our minds on that set. Good times

The best of the Grammy night

2009-02-09T10:31:00.000-08:00

M.I.A. performing on her due date was disturbingly mesmerizing. That child is either going to be born with brain damage or incredible stage presence as a result. Kanye, Jay, Weezy and TI had there swagga overflowing as expected

The USC marching band and Radiohead were on one. Coldplay and Jay-Z doing Lost + Viva La Vida was a great counterpoint to anyone overzealous about fame and I was glad to see Lil Wayne and Robin Thicke doing Tie My Hands too.

I could point out the shortcomings of the 51st Annual Grammy Awards or write about how crazy it was that Chris Brown got in trouble for supposedly beating on Rihanna but every other blog seems to be doing that and if you haven't noticed yet- this blog doesn't indulge in negative shit. There's enough ill shit going on in the world. I'm not about to perpetuate it on here.

Alright, back to your regular scheduled programming ; )

It's really happening

2009-02-05T14:57:00.000-08:00

My debut video is premiering next week!

Here's how it came about...

The free download of the song is here

Remember this

2009-02-03T15:33:00.000-08:00

The Pharcyde "Passin' Me By"

One of the most bittersweet hooks in hip hop history

PS. Fat Lip does his THiNG at the end!

Super Bowl XLIII

2009-02-02T07:35:00.001-08:00

The Super Bowl is the only broadcast when people don't roll there eyes about commercial breaks and last night was no different. Hulu and Alec Baldwin, that Denny's waitress interrupting the mob boss, Pepsi turning out MacGruber were funny and although my opinion about Bud Light hasn't changed at all I do have a whole new respect for there advertising department after seeing this-

But funnier then all of that had to be when Bruce Springsteen was rocking out at half time and doing a knee slide with so much momentum that he went right into the cameraman! Tea bagging everyone watching in the process

The game itself was great too. The 4th quarter was so epic there might as well have been an orchestra playing in the background! The game winning catch by Santonio Holmes, who just one play before didn't manage to grab what would've won the game was classic redemption. Unless your a Cardinal fan, last night's game was great. Something a little more bipartisan was the way Jennifer Hudson sang the national anthem before the game. I'm Canadian and even I was moved!

Photo of the Week

2009-01-31T21:28:00.000-08:00

Taken by Carrie Turner in DC on the way to the Inauguration

Jazmine Sullivan "Lions, Tigers & Bears"

2009-01-30T08:19:00.000-08:00

The dopest new female vocalist and a fresh video

Quote of the Week

2009-01-29T19:22:00.000-08:00

"All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions" -Da Vinci

The Cool Kids "Pennies"

2009-01-26T13:34:00.001-08:00

I'm a sucker for basketball references and there's something about that line "this is the sound of throwing pennies on the ground"

A video diary of history

2009-01-22T22:15:00.000-08:00

A lot of people I know didn't get a chance to make it to DC so I decided I ought to share the incredible experience I had there with this

Inside the Inauguration

A new day

2009-01-20T20:25:00.000-08:00

"For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies."

-President Barack Obama

Photo of the Week

2009-01-16T16:15:00.001-08:00

Taken by Nate Philippe in Los Angeles, CA

Fresh

2009-01-16T15:36:00.000-08:00

Getting to see Ryan make a beat is like watching Kobe Bryant in the 4th quarter

Ryan Leslie x Kid Cudi @ studio from Vernonmac on Vimeo.

Ill doctrine

2009-01-15T08:37:00.000-08:00

Jay consistently breaks stuff down in the most entertaining and real way. This is his latest installment about the state of the economy right now.

Airing it out

2009-01-14T18:39:00.000-08:00

You have a shoe thrown at you in a press conference. You come to terms with having the lowest approval rating of any president in recorded history. Your about to do the most profound walk of shame out of the white house. What do you do?

Rolling Stone serves up the farewell interview we wish George Bush would give.

Read about how Dick Cheney water boarded one of the house boys just to see how effective it was as a torture method and about when Condoleezza Rice farted in the oval office, "It sounded like someone had started up a chain saw in there."

Click here for more

Yes Wyclef!!!

2009-01-13T22:27:00.000-08:00

This is a segment that 60 Minutes did about the work he's doing for Haiti. He was a big part of the Fugees and the highest selling hip hop album of all time but I've never been as proud of him as when I watched this.

Watch CBS Videos Online

Everybody seems to be affected by the recession but the people in Haiti are struggling on an entirely different level. If you care and want to find out more about how you can help click here

They actually pulled it off

2009-01-13T09:14:00.001-08:00

Last night I got a chance to check out a screening of Notorious. I've got to admit, I came in a little skeptical about whether Hollywood would do him justice but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was really made by Brooklyn. All the people closest to Biggie were heavily involved in the project and you could tell.

The way this new actor Jamal Woolard managed to captured Biggie was incredible. There were a few moments that his flow wasn't quite in the pocket like Biggie and Angela Bassett's accent wasn't so consistent but those are petty observations considering how thorough they were otherwise. The movie was inspiring. I highly recommend you check it out when it opens this weekend.

The video diaries from the set that show you everything that went into the making of it are also worth checking out. Click here for those.

The rebirth of a poet

2009-01-12T10:36:00.000-08:00

Before becoming a TV host- I was a poet. Recently I got inspired to pick up the pen again. I originally had no plan of putting this out there but since my artist Mateo noticed it on the scrap piece of paper I wrote it on as it sat there on my coffee table- it's occurred to me that I ought to share it.

Then the wonderful, Grammy award winning violinist Miri Ben-Ari heard it and took it to another level with her music.

It's called Humbled and here it is...

Click here for the free download

Feist

2009-01-09T17:51:00.000-08:00

I'm still amazed by this video and how it was shot in just one take

Quote of the Week

2009-01-09T11:00:00.000-08:00

"Dear History, we no longer believe in you. We have invested our thoughts and dreams into the present moment and opportunity..." -Saul Williams

When I saw this scene from his movie Slam in 1998 it blew my mind and inspired me to be a poet. Since then he's become a great mentor and friend. Thanks for being a match that sparks Saul.

Black Jesus

2009-01-08T22:15:00.000-08:00

Even if you still find the word nigga disturbing and you've imagined Jesus to be a little more refined- you'll probably still get a laugh out of this

Inauguration road trip!

2009-01-08T12:33:00.000-08:00

It's about to make the Million Man March seem like a state fair

Kings of Leon

2009-01-06T21:33:00.000-08:00

Coldplay will probably win for best rock album at the Grammy's next month but I bet you Chris Martin thinks this band deserves it

If Mos Def were president

2009-01-06T15:54:00.000-08:00

Some good points but I get the feeling there was some alcohol on set

Not just a movie

2009-01-05T19:55:00.000-08:00

This is the most important thing I saw in 2008. I didn't think anyone could do documentaries better then Michael Moore but Bill Maher did it.

Regardless what your opinion of him might be- it won't matter once you see this. His dissection of religion manages to be pretty objective, incredibly insightful and still hilarious. It's out on DVD now.

Check out the trailer here

Wow Tracy

2009-01-05T19:41:00.000-08:00

This is almost as funny as when I saw you take off your shirt in a club and pour champagne all over your belly

Photo of the Week

2009-01-03T22:33:00.001-08:00

Carrie Turner taken by Selena Garcia at Red Rock Canyon State Park, CA

Happy new year!

2008-12-31T09:09:00.000-08:00

I hope your celebration tonight goes something like this!

Mixtape of the year

2008-12-31T08:33:00.001-08:00

Okayplayer.com wrote this about it: "it comes to taking well known tracks, and lacing them with not so well known lyrics, to create new, and often times better songs."

That's saying a lot considering he's referring to songs like Paper Planes, A Milli, Disturbia and Whatever You Like.

They also added this: "He doesn’t only rip famous tracks though. I was thoroughly impressed by his original song, “Get To Know Me” as well."

The entire review is here and the free download of Mateo's mixtape is here

This is a great behind the scenes clip that'll show you why Okayplayer showed love and why DJ Felli Fel of Power 106 and the Heavyhitters called it "the most poppin' project on the planet right now"

Blogisode 4: Making of Makin' My Space Mixtape

Colin Munroe

2008-12-30T19:47:00.000-08:00

I hadn't heard anything about this dude but when Dallas Austin invited me to a showcase for him I should've known...he only needed one guitarist to accompany him on stage cause he sang and played the drums, the keyboard and even the xylophone!

Then when I heard his mixtape recently- I was officially a fan. He's so talented- the fact that he's also from Toronto isn't even a factor!

Download Colin's mixtape here

Lebron's got jokes

2008-12-29T10:20:00.000-08:00

He's not just embarrassing grown men on the basketball court- now he's doing this too

K'naan

2008-12-29T10:05:00.000-08:00

Almost signed him to Warner Bros a few years ago but the machine couldn't compute. Congrats to A&M/Octone- you've got a true artist with an incredible story to tell

K'NAAN - ABC's Featuring Chubb Rock

For more K'naan click here

Putting you on to game...literally

2008-12-29T09:56:00.000-08:00

I hadn't been into games since the Wu-tang Clan made chess cool back in the day but when I played this with the family on christmas day I changed my mind!

For more about it click here

Before we had Barack, there was Martin

2008-12-29T09:50:00.000-08:00

A powerful clip from Dr. King's last speech

Remember this

2008-12-29T09:05:00.000-08:00

Eric B. & Rakim- Juice (Know the Ledge)

One of the dopest soundtrack songs ever. Off my favorite flick that Tupac did. Check how intricately the R weaves references in from the movie.

Quote of the Week

2008-12-29T09:01:00.000-08:00

"Everybody's working to get to the top but where is the top? It's all about working harder and getting better..." -Rihanna