Hey So What?!

Sunday I got up with my brother in law and made another batch of Idiot Bock. This shit is special edition, and will be for sale on the low-low. So low that I decided to broadcast its expected birth on cyberspace. ATF is squaring that heavy ram up to my shit as we speak.

The beer itself is a Bock-styled ale. We at Smash Television and unnamed brewing company understand that Bocks are lagers. We also understand that we are cheap, impatient and lazy, like America. Therefore, we have created a Bock for the soft minded, simple, chip-fed, pock-marked, too-cynical-to-be-anything-but-nihilistic television generation. And Idiot Bock. A fake, false, lazy, half assed bock.

Shit is strong and tasty. 

Details surrounding the conceptual release of said product is yet to be solidly decided, but rest assured, despite legal ramifications, Smash Telly will be getting your ass tore back.

Read this bullshit, and come back to see yer boy:

http://michaelmaczesty.tumblr.com/post/4175240199

Okay. Now I’ve seen this Chrysler ad referred to by the gentleman you just read from. Its lame, and honestly I’m only thankful it wasn’t Kid Rock in the driver seat, but hold up. Ho-old up.

Get over your self.

Detroit has birthed much much more than just the automotive industry. Detroit has had a direct influence over some of the most pivotal national/world events of the 20th century. 

But I suppose in the interest of positivity and healing*; these thoughts only prove the ignorance of the thinkers that thinked ‘em.

Detroit is not New York. Its not Los Angeles. Its not Chicago. Detroit is a big ass city all its own. The population and city center are less than impressive, I will surely admit. But the energy of this city…

The reason alot of us artists can’t get on is that there are so damned many of us. Everyone has a loud voice. You can be downtown, not see a moving, living thing, and still hear the hum of life.

Detroit is the muse. A true center for creation. True creation hardly ever gets accredited to the correct source.

But Detroit is humble. A multi-national corporation named Chrysler made that advertisement. Detroit was simply used. Do not mistake confidence for hubris. We are not New York. We are not Los Angeles. We are not Chicago. We are Detroit, and we know we got it.

You just can’t see it.

*but in the interest of bein real: you’re a jealous shit bag. You probably can’t find the fresh in your own town. Parties are happening all around you, but you ain’t invited. Suck a lemon, pigfucker.

So I finally ante’d up and got the website back. I’m no good at a rescue, would have made a terrible Super Mario. 

In other news, the long awaited, by myself and maybe two other cats, debut from Rooks is dropping March 22nd on Modern Knot Artists. If you don’t know, that bums me out.

“Get familiar, or get found face down in the lake. Like weddings and birthdays, son, I require the cake” — Duece Freight

www.modernknot.com/Rooks.html

Smash Telly rocked the socks off Blowout last night. Pictures and blurbs will serve to support this claim. One can see some great pictures of Leaf by scrolling to the right after they follow this link http://www.flickr.com/photos/funkytreetown/5497845256/in/pool-1605940@N20/

I don’t know how it happened, but a photo of me got mixed in with the Smash Television photos. Detect bitterness and hostility on my part? Probably cause I got my hate running on high pressure right now.

I just finished explaining to my homie Mister about how photographers seem to hate on my obvious flavor, by way of belittling my involvement in Smash Television. For instance, we rocked a small basement show at some house party in Woodbridge some years ago. Recently we attended a video shoot for our friends Noman. One of the camera men remembers seeing Leaf perform at said party, and thought he remembered me “doing adlibs” for Leaf. Keen observation, considering our joints all have one verse from each of us, and a hook (which I normally do as well).*

Cats do that shit alot, and I try not to let it bother me. Leaf styles hard when he rocks. I could never compete with that, nor would I try. I tend to be the more reserved of the two, the straight man if you will. No homo.

I just thought it would be a good idea to remind everyone that I’m a rapper. I’m a rapper in a group called Smash Television. 

Fuckwatchuhurd.

On the real though, Blowout was a blast. The crowd was good. Hipster rock crowds aren’t as rowdy as we like, but bless their hearts, they stick around. And then they blog about it. Free press, can’t beat it.

Metro Times has done and excellent job of dropping our names too. Wanted to share the things they’ve printed or blogged about us in the last week.

Here goes:

Poor Smash Television. Technical difficulties meant that their DJ gave up and left the stage, leaving the hip-hop duo to rap over their iPod. Fortunately the two men have enough charisma to pull it off. Plus, it was very cool to hear some quality hip-hop at the Blowout. Great job, fellas.

—

Featuring the everywhere-at-once emcee Leaf Erikson, alongside Jah Connery, both of whom are a joy to watch perform. (hear that photographers?) ST bestows a certain intelligence on Detroit rap, with a wink and grin inside its grim realities: In a perfect existence “Idiot Bocks” would be a radio staple — an anti-inertia anthem telling us to smash all mass media in favor of literacy and original thought.

—

<Interview with myself about Sm Telly>

Meet Smash Television, a beer-loving rap duo comprised of Ypsi rapper-producer Jah Connery and Detroit demi-legend emcee Leaf Erikson. There’s something undeniably late ’90s about their brand of hip-hop, in the Def Jux vein. The tunes are hard enough and fun enough to be pulled off as a don’t-miss Blowout show.

What song of yours would you want played as the credits of a film. What’s that film and why would it work?

The joint “2012” would work perfect with the film A Boy and His Dog. When everything else is burning, sexual conquest is all that remains.

What’s your best city slogan for Hamtramck in 2011?

Hamtramck: Everyone’s the minority!

Which Detroit music legend would you add to your group, and why?

Iggy Pop would be dope. We enjoy being provocative live, but that dude would set it the hell off.

Who’s the best artist/band (other than yours) playing Blowout?

I’ve seen Zoos of Berlin — very impressive. Such an intense sound from a group of guys who appear demure while rocking your fucking face off.

What Blowout bar bathroom is best for a hasty drunken tryst?

When I lived in Hamtramck, I lived on Yemans. Many nights were spent with my hand propping myself upright on the questionable walls of the Whiskey in the Jar. —Travis R. Wright

—

So there is a piece of the press we got on this. Good words. God’s words.

Now you’ve been staring at this screen for too long, stretch your legs out. You’ll get square eye syndrome. Or Toxic Shock. 

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*Photographer will remain unnamed, mostly due to the fact that I don’t know who the fuck he is either. Stupid.