Xbox One release date, price announced at E3
Microsoft's Xbox E3 Keynote conference has just ended, and they divulged a little more information on the upcoming console. While the initial Xbox One reveal was focused on the system's hardware capabilities, Microsoft's E3 conference was focused on some of the games coming to the console. A few notable Xbox One-exclusive games include a new Killer Instinct game, which hasn't been seen on consoles since the Nintendo 64's 1996 release, Killer Instinct: Gold, Forza Motorsport 5, and Capcom's Dead Rising 3.
However, the most important information to come out of the E3 conference was the set date and price for the console. Xbox One has been confirmed for a worldwide release this November at a $499/€499/£429 price tag. This might come as terrible news, as $500 for a console in this age is ridiculously pricey. Especially considering Microsoft's absolutism when it comes to its DRM and used games policy (in a nutshell: sharing games will come at a literal cost and the games you buy aren't necessarily the games you "own),$499 is a steep price.
With Sony's Playstation conference set for 8pm CST tonight, all they would have to do is announce a price tag lower than $499 to take a huge lead in this next generation of console gaming. Stay tuned, gamers.
[Video] Chitown Cypher (feat. Walter J. Liveharder, Cadillac Duke, and ProbCause)
The latest video from the Chitown Cypher dudes was shot and released this weekend featuring some hot cypher flows from Walter J. Liveharder, LOD's Cadillac Duke, and up-and-coming rapper ProbCause. Similar to Ruby Hornet's classic Freestyle in the Park series, the Chitown Cypher features Chicago rappers spitting cyphers a capella style. Check out the video, keep your eyes on Chitown Cypher for more cyphers, and your ears open for raps from these rappin' ass rappers.
http://youtu.be/x08ZWPBeEW8
[via Chitown Cypher]
[Event] CyHi the Prynce and Tink at New Era Chicago on June 13th
This Thursday, GOOD Music rapper CyHi the Prynce and Chicago female MC Tink will be doing in-store performances at the New Era Chicago flagship store in the Loop. Old school Ruby Hornet readers will remember CyHi the Prynce from his Closed Sessions feature last fall, while Tink dropped her R&B track, "Physical," a few months ago. It'll be a good way to spend a Thursday night, and if you haven't been to the New Era shop yet, it's a really awesome spot directly off of the Red and Brown Lines. Information on the show is below.Read more
[Trailer] The Frozen Ground
[yahoo id="movies.yahoo.com/video/frozen-ground-trailer-intro-222016332"]
Last week, the trailer for Getaway starring Selena Gomez and Ethan Hawke debuted, which struck me as an odd pairing for the Springbreakers actress and Before Midnight actor. However, that's nothing compared to the pairing of Vanessa Hudgens (Springbreakers) and Nicolas Cage (Kick-Ass) in The Frozen Ground. However, unlike the Gomez x Hawke duo, it appears that Hudgens and Cage will be able to co-exist, perhaps due to the film's premise.
Based on a true story, writer/director Scott Walker's The Frozen Ground is about an Alaskan detective, Jack Holcombe (Cage), investigating a case involving the serial murderer Robert Hansen (John Cusack), who has been targeting teenage girls. When a break in the case appears in the form of an escaped victim, Cindy (Hudgens), Holcombe uses her information to find Hansen.
Now, I'm not a big fan of Nicolas Cage (at all), but The Frozen Ground has me very interested. Based on the trailer, it appears Hudgens has finally found a role that can actually challenge her to expand on her acting ability, which should be a good move for her career. I'm still going to keep reserved, as I don't see The Frozen Ground making too much noise when it comes out on August 23rd, but I'm definitely open for a surprise.
[RH Premiere] Netherfriends: "Kind of Buzzed vol. 1"
Yesterday, we brought you a taste of Netherfriends' next project, Kind of Buzzed, with the lo-fi video for "Kimball House Freestyle." Inspired by Miles Davis' album, Kind of Blue, Netherfriends' project, "Kind of Buzzed," features full instrumental improvisation with rap freestyles from Blakkass Westley, Chandler London, and Rich Jones. Beats were made using a drum pad, analog synthesizer, guitar, vocals, and MPC ran through a couple loop pedals. The first track features Danimal THA CHOPPA on MPC. The last track features Otherly on drum pads.
The project is ambitious and very experimental, but it all comes from a genuine love for music and the spirit of creating something organically and collaboratively instead of going through the regular processes. It's different, but I think it's the kind of difference that's needed to shake things up a bit, or to at least introduce a new way of creating music. I hope everybody enjoys the concept Kind of Buzzed is portraying, and await any potential future volumes that will follow.
Tom Hardy starring in Takashi Miike's first English-language movie, The Outsiders
Tom Hardy has built up a reputation as a versatile actor, playings roles that are both physically and mentally taxing from Bronson to Warrior to last year's The Dark Knight Rises. His dedication to the craft is definitely paying off, as he has a variety of films coming up, such as George Miller's reboot of the Mad Max franchise, Mad Max: Fury Road, Steven Knight's directorial debut, Locke, Michael R. Roskam's (Bullhead) Animal Rescue, and is in talks to portray Elton John in the proposed biopic of the singer, Rocketman.
Yet despite having a full slate of projects to carry him well into next year, word has come out that Hardy will star in The Outsider, which will serve as Takashi Miike's English-language debut. A few days after the trailer for his film, Wara No Tate was released, the news of an English-language Takashi Miike film is the perfect way to cap off the week. The Outsider, which will be produced independently by Silver Pictures, will focus on Hardy's character, a former World War II GI, becoming a part of Japan's Yakuza. Takashi Miike certainly knows how to direct a Japan-set period piece, and with Hardy attached to the project, this has makings to be another cult film for the director.
[via Deadline]
[Video] YC the Cynic: "God Complex"
YC the Cynic is an MC out of The Bronx, yet his style isn't really reminiscent of the East Coast. In fact, the first thing I noticed listening to the first single from his upcoming album, GNK, is the similarity of his vocal delivery to Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner," which is... not something I've ever heard in hip hop before. It's a common motif that repeats throughout the song, yet it doesn't overshadow his hooks and verses. It fits over the key-driven beat, which was produced by Frank Drake.
The video itself is a trippy, green-screen heavy video that relies heavily on a rotoscope-esque filter to make YC appear animated amidst brightly-colored clouds and geysers. He might go by YC the Cynic, but "God Complex" is an irony-filled song full of faux-bravado as he lyrically puffs his chest out with a crown on his head to complete the visual metaphor of the titular god complex.
Like a sudden smoke cloud, YC seemingly appeared out of nowhere, but if "God Complex" is a sign of things to come, I don't think he'll be dissipating anytime soon.
http://youtu.be/IgExkn2bUTc