:: 29 Dec 2008 :: Don't call it a come-back...really, don't. ::

 


As you may have noticed, I haven't been doing many shows for quite some time now. Reason being because, honestly, I haven't been writing much hip hop and that's what people tend to book me for (....for now, at least.) Instead, I've been working on a few singing projects that I'm really excited about because 1) that's just what's been really driving me creatively for some time now; and 2) For one of the projects, I've teamed up with one of my favorite producers. We've both been talking about doing an album for years, and now it's finally beginning to come to fruition. Although this is definitely going to be a VERY different album than it would've been had we done this years ago.

...but I'm getting ahead of myself, and none of this really has to do with my point.

Point is: despite my current primary focus, every now and then I DO get the itch to perform and so, well, that's what I'll be doing. Next Friday, January 9th, come check out Subterranean where I'll finally be coming out of hibernation for a bit...and make sure to catch it, cuz who knows when the next one will be? (hip-hop-wise, at least)



And, yes, next time I'll make sure to have another issue of APG for you.

-360

 

:: 6 Dec 2008 :: For my birthday I got my same Xbox back..yay! ::
 


This week we got Anti-Pop Gun! #9 Dear Punk R.I.P. Sincerely, H.R.


(click on the image to enlarge)

Yeah, so this one is an ode to the young "punks" I'd see around Evanston trying just so hard to be "punk"...yet carrying fancy cell-phones and ipods, coming out of so-so-quality-but-still-overpriced restaurants with meals courtesy of their collective parent's purses and wallets...way to slum it! way to rage!

So, I finally got my Xbox 360 back! ha. Although, I gotta give it to them because Microsoft actually was really quick with the fix..I just didn't happen to send it until mid November. So..yay for that. I'm actually more excited about being able to watch Netflix movies with it now than anything else, but since it's getting colder outside, I think I'm gonna actually try to play online more often (we'll see how long that lasts) so hit me up (lord360@cichi.com) and I'll send you my gamertag. ha

Finally, I had another birthday a few weeks back (November 24th) and so many thanks are due to everyone who sent, wrote, treated, or verbalized some form of "Happy Birthday" wishes..you made it almost worth getting another year closer to 30 (which I only halfway care about...but still). I'll tell you though, if super-natural birthday wishes were a reality, I would ask for a quick end to all this sub-zero cold and snowing every other day...I just want to ride my Blur 150 again! :(

I hate the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority..for you out-of-towners).

-360

  

:: 12 November 2008 :: The Fox, The Rant, & The New Election ::
  


First up, Anti-Pop Gun! #8 FOX NEWS: We Bring You Only the Best in News.


(click on the image to enlarge)

Isn't Fox News just great? It's comforting to know that in a city like Chicago, they're able to sift through all the overblown issues like murders, police corruption, and gang violence to pick out the bigger issues that really matter..like Starbucks' newest drink, the hidden bra of Anna Nicole Smith, or....a poor little rabbit with a cast on its leg. awww. The other thing I love is how much they use fear to hook the viewer.

Is your tap water KILLING YOU!?!?
What you DON'T KNOW about green beans!
THREE (completely irrevelant) THINGS YOU MUST KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO SLEEP (or else you just might probably die...buuuut still, we're gonna put them at the very end of the show because that's how important they are!)

-and don't get me started on the whole Around the World in 80 SECONDS!?!?! Because, sure, after these hard-hitting issues we really don't have much time to worry about what's going on in the rest of the world anyway, right? </end rant>

So, the elections are over and the best man won! Last time I was speaking about how our election system is flawed, and I've decided that instead of our current electoral system, the elections should be decided this way....


That's all for now...check back in a few days for more.

-360

  

:::: 28 October 2008 :: Jesus and Obama are my friends? ::::
  

Just in time for the Presidential Elections we have Anti-Pop Gun! #7 Welcome to the Hall of Greats.


(click on the image to enlarge)

This was really the last week I could get this one out before it would be deemed out-dated, so I pushed it to the front of the queue.

But really, all this "Obamamania" has been pretty crazy, hasn't it? Now I don't think he's gonna be the "American Messiah" many seem to view him as, but I do want to see him as president. He'll definitely be a VASTLY better choice than McCain. I'm not gonna get into my whole diatribe about our how much our government successfully maintains the two-party system ensuring as limited a "democracy" as possible. Instead I'll express my more optimistic views about this particular "election." It's nice to see people so enthusiastic about politics. Hopefully, the leagues of new voters will continue to not only vote but become more informed and involved in politics...of our country as well as the rest of world.

So, seeing as how I'm a week late with an update, I'll give you a special little "treat" which is not an extra issue of APG, but it's just as funny (actually it's probably much more so). For your listening and viewing pleasure, we have...

Jesus is My Friend - by Sonseed

(Please, just click on it!)

Ok, now admit it, as corny as that song is...it's stuck in your head too, ain't it?

-360

  

:::: 14 October 2008 :: I need my Xbox360 back ::::
  


Today we have another issue for you. Anti-Pop Gun! #6 Different Tools for Different Fools.


(click on the image to enlarge)

So yeah, I love Rock Band (haven't gotten the new Pt. 2 yet) and I've never actually played Dance Dance Revolution (though I think I'd be willing..maybe). Still, as hypocritical as it may be, playing the Rock Band instruments just seems more appealing than dancing around on a mat...and I DO love to dance! Both are pretty silly (which is good...we always need more silly), but at least if I play drums on Rock Band it's actually teaching me to play drums, right? So yeah...anyway, I'm willing for someone to change my feelings about DDR...but until then I'm just gonna be placidly anti.

...speaking of videogames.

Ummm...yeah, Stop the Presses! My Xbox 360 finally got the "Red Rings of Death." Oh, sad saaaad day...(although I'm glad it happened now rather than later). So I gotta live without it for a little while until it's fixed...but I guess the first step would be to send it out for repair, which I've been taking forever to do...I mean I gotta keep pumping out these here comics and working on these top-secret music projects, right? At least I finally got a proper DVD player so I can watch movies again without it (I don't watch TV much, so I gotta have SOMETHING!)

...Til next time (let's hope I've at least sent the thing by then).

-360


  

:::: 6 October 2008 :: It's so easy to be Ché! ::::
  


Today we have another issue for you. Anti-Pop Gun! #5 Modern Day Activism #1.


(click on the image to enlarge)

...and today was a beautiful day in Chicago...*sigh*...we can use more of them.

-360


  


:::: 21 September 2008 :: My Music on Your Music ::::

  


Here's a Lord 360 interview from Your Music Magazine (Go ahead and read it.). Although, it originally hit stands in February 2007, they mainly just have West-coast distribution, so for the rest of you this is probably new. Yeah, this should've been up here a long time ago, but late is better than never, right?



...and kinda nice getting a little mention on the magazine cover too, huh? :)

-360

  


:::: 16 September 2008 :: Perhaps this is Art Cannibalism!? ::::

  


OK, so we actually unloaded two issues in the same week before because I knew I wouldn't be able to do it last week, but now we're back on track with Anti-Pop Gun! #4 "The Splendor of Modern Art."


(click on the image to enlarge)

For the record, I do like some modern art, but does it not just get ridiculous at times? While I can see the "art" in many mundane and trivial things in this world, I don't know if someone should really become famous just for showing it in some enclosed building of "prestige." Anyway, be forewarned, this will not be my last snipe at modern art!

....so, anyone wanna go to the MCA with me? ha

-360

  

:::: 3 September 2008 :: Fruits of Labor ::::
  


It was Labor Day and so we labored (wait, that's not right, is it?)...and so you get the next issue of Anti-Pop Gun! #3 "Get In Where You Fit In...The Irony of a Scene" ahead of schedule.


(click on the image to enlarge)

That's it..enjoy!

-360

  

:::: 31 August 2008 :: APG! Lollapaloozer? ::::
  


As promised, this week we have Anti-Pop Gun! Issue #2 "Lollapaloozer?"
So go ahead and click on the ol'picture!


(click on the image to enlarge)

So, just to be clear this year was my first Lollapalooza and I DID very much enjoy it. Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen such a mass of people as I did watching the audiences there...massive! However, my one major complaint was that BECAUSE of the amount of people there, the main-stages should have been elevated higher! It was always so hard seeing the main acts on anything but the big "close-up" screens, and I watched the various headliners from different distances and angles...and most of the time you'd be lucky to see the tops of their heads even on your tippy-toes. The screens are nice for getting the close up of their faces that you wouldn't otherwise be able to see, but you still wanna be able to see the actual band with your own eyes...even if you ARE far back enough to where they look like little miniatures...I wanna see the miniatures!

I saw many good acts and, of course, there was Radiohead with their amazing light show (although I did have an issue with all the effects used on their "close-up" screens...cool looking, yes, but I don't need video-ish effects on a live performance...just show it raw like everyone else had it.) ...and all that was well and good. I'm not going to do a whole review this late after the fact...however, I would like to take time to say Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings were the unexpected jewel I took from there, which is why I had to give them a tiny little nod in the comic (if you look closely). I've never heard of them before the event, so I decided to randomly check them out, and, man, was I glad I took that chance. I thoroughly enjoyed their performance...even more so than most of the headliners! They're live performance had me dancing from the first song to the very end... and even knowing nothing about Sharon Jones one could tell she's a pro by the way she had such command over the audience. I've also since learned that the Dap Kings have done many of the sessions on Mark Ronson projects (for instance Amy Winehouse - Back to Black). I'm telling you, If you like that James Brown-style classic funk, check them out!

In site-related news, you'll now notice that Release's album From Within is located in CI Music in the Propaganda section, and all Anti-Pop Gun! issues will be in the Projects section...speaking of which, check back real soon for the next issue of Anti-Pop Gun! (maybe even tomorrow)

-360

  


:::: 25 August 2008 :: Introducing Anti-Pop Gun! ::::
  


Introducing Issue #1 of our new comic-strip Anti-Pop Gun! "..And Here We Have H.R. & Trent." First, no talk...just take a look. Then, we'll pick back up with the story and details right underneath. ok?


(click on the image to enlarge)

OK, so as you can see it's pretty raw and all done in good old-fashioned marker...but I think it fits the style and content. Anti-Pop Gun! is aimed at the many quirks, trends and idiosyncracies of our current times....or something like that. It's been an interesting project for me, since it's quite different from most of the art I do (which you'll also see more of soon enough)...especially my ink and marker stuff. Where as a lot of my work leans towards the surreal with lots of intricate details, this is a more mundane perspective with an attempt (questionably weak attempt) at keeping a somewhat simple(r) style. It's also nice, because while I have other written works that may take who-knows-how-many-years to ever see the light of day, I have a slew of these that I can spit out right away! ha..So, click HERE to share your opinions.

We'll be coming out with these...umm, periodically. No exact schedule but I'm gonna try for about 2-3 a month, maybe more. However, we WILL have a new one out next week, so check back!

-360

  

:::: 16 August 2008 :: Releases To Come ::::


OK, so it's been...awhile, yeah. But we got some new stuff for you!

First of all, we're pleased to be offering you the debut album of hot new producer, Release, titled From Within. He's been grinding away preparing for the big debut which has been a long time in the making (which I can definitely relate to!) So, we're featuring a free download of the entire album available today! (Download...Now) It's got some instrumentals and also features a variety of Chicago artists, some of whom you can see tonight at Release's....release...Tonight at Subterranean. (click for flyer)


(...um, download it.)

Next up, we finally have the message forum back up again (and hopefully keep the spammers at bay this time), so please sign up and start posting. Let's all breath some new life into the WeSpeek Forum. More posts will breed more blog updates, I swear! ha

...and finally, next week, we'll be featuring a new little comic-strip, Anti-Pop Gun!
Being CICHI it's fitting that it's based in Chicago...but I'm sure its voice can be appreciated throughout. I'm not gonna go all into what it's about, you'll just have to check back for it next week! HA!

-360
 
 
 
 

:::: 27 February 2008 :: Refresher ::::


So, last time we left off with the upcoming "Cold Flow Heroes" show at Sub-T...and it went real well, thanks to those that came out! Ya know, I have to say it was real nice kinda having that "butterflies in your stomach" feeling again. This was mainly due to the fact that since the summer '07 I've been focusing on other non-hip-hop projects and mainly just practicing playing a lot of bass while singing (no easy task, lemme tell you). So, to come back to hip-hop (with a few new tracks) after the hiatus was refreshing. And so now I've finally gotten around to uploading some photos from the show in the Propaganda : Pix section. Check'em out!




....and thanks once again to Kinga for the very nice photos! I know it's not easy getting a clean shot of me where I'm not moving around like a crazed hyena or making some kind of stupid face. ha

-360


:::: 29 January 2008 :: Happy New Year ::::


Ok, so I'm obviously real late with the "Happy New Year!" but I still felt the need to wish it to everyone. Let's all do big things this year!

So why has 360 been M.I.A. for so long? I'd really like to go into more detail...but its more fun to just drop it on you. So when the time comes and the alien material starts trickling out...I just hope you feel the hibernation was worth it. Until then, we got some minor updates...

First of all, show on (8 February 2008) @ Sub-T. Check the Flyer.

Photobucket

I think we'll also be putting the message board back up very soon. Hopefully keep the spammers away this time. So make sure you sign up and get the topics flowing.

...and of course, another plug for The Anomly LP (The Battle Cry), in case, you still haven't picked it up.



**Note: this means purchase, not download on some russian torrent site. ha...nah, but really** The Anomaly LP (The Battle Cry) is for sale at our store, so show your support! Not only is it a hot album but it features my artwork as well, so support the endangered CD media format while you still can. Click on Projects to listen to clips from the album.

-360