VIDEO: “Trillion” – HeatWave, Spaceman & Ill Chris (dir. by Oso Smooth)

It’s too early for this where I live. But I suppose it’s the right time somewhere in the world. Do they call hundred dollar bills “Benjamins” in Canada? Probably not. Ask Vancouver’s HeatWave the next time you see him. Also starring Spaceman and Ill Chris (fka Logics).

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VIDEO & COMMENTARY: “Greetings (Intro)” – Spac3man (dir. by Travels Through Images)

So this is Spac3man’s latest video for “Greetings (Intro)” off his upcoming Beyond The Stars EP. The track was produced by Sportn’ Life labelmate Nissm and the video was directed by Travels Through Images. There’s a rapper, with a half-naked Asian girl, in a hotel room, blah blah blah.

The casual depiction of women as sex objects in music videos is a rampant practice in the music industry. Hopefully you already know this and agree. The convention doesn’t really discriminate along racial lines, but for the purposes of the statement I’m about to make — and because I’m the lone editor and sole voice of this blog, who also happens to be an Asian man — I’m comfortable in doing so, at least in this particular moment.

To all the casting agents, directors, screenwriters, novelists, television show runners, and rappers (like Spac3man) who persist in exhibiting Asian women as casual accessories to male sexual fantasy: FUCK YOU.

The practice is cheap, lowest-common-denominator, racist bullshit. These folks must not fully understand the damaging history of Asian fetishism. It becomes especially curious when the perpetrators of this device are fellow men of color who seem to lack even a passing understanding of how women of their own shared skin color are marginalized. Aren’t you offended when women of your ethnicity — women who resemble your sisters, your mothers, your cousins, your friends — are reduced to sexual decor? Apparently you are not.

White America tends to portray its brown, male citizens as emblems of criminality. That’s a straight-up injustice. Men (of all colors) have a tendency to portray women as objects of sexual desire and conquest. Rappers: Are you so dense as to not see the disconnect?

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NEW MUSIC: “Procrastination” – Spaceman (feat. Marissa; prod. by DJ Charma)

Spaceman

“Procrastination” speaks to the college undergrad, the lethargic office worker and the blunt-rolling MC alike. “The song is me pretty much my chance to craft a public record disclaimer for my ways,” the Sportn’ Life rapper jokes. This is off his upcoming Beyond The Stars EP.

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NEW MUSIC: “Tell Me” – Nissim, Fatal Lucciauno, Spac3man, & Larry Hawkins (prod. by Vitamin D)

Click image to download.

A couple of big things are happening in the Sportn’ Life camp in the coming months. First off, the label celebrates its first decade in business with a blowout party at Barboza on November 21 (check for more details here). Secondly, you knew D. Black couldn’t stay away for long didn’t you? Real MCs gotta spit, it’s the laws of physics, and the man formerly known as Black has an eight-song EP in the works for a February 2013 release. Catch him as Nissim on this new joint, “Tell Me”, and the upcoming album, My Life My Love.

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VIDEO: “L’s Up” – Spac3man

I do believe there’s a great album lurking in Sportn’ Life’s hyperactive court jester Spac3man. Too bad it’s taking him so damn long to come with it. Maybe the forthcoming Beyond The Stars EP will deliver. Until then, here’s an enjoyable banger produced by JakeOne.

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DOWNLOAD: The Sound of TraQ – TraQ Addicc

Click album cover to D/L.

Shout-out to Serg for bringing this recent free drop to my attention. Producer/MC TraQ released this 7-song EP a couple days ago which is one of the best collections from The Town I’ve heard this year. The production is a dynamic mix of lush electronic soundscapes paired with hardcore boom-bap. It features area talent like Spaceman, Meez, Luke Rain, and JusMoni. The MVP, however, is that dude Khingz, who has the best bars by far on the battle-rap joint “I Go In.” Also of note is Tendai Maraire’s verse on “Glory,” where the Shabazz Palaces affiliate shows he’s more than just nice on the mbira. Stream and download for free below.

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