Exile: Dirty Science

by Ami Kealoha

Dirty Science is hip-hop for grown folks, non-believers, and heads alike, and a welcome debut solo album from Exile. Hailing from Los Angeles, beatmaker extraordinaire Exile has been developing his coarsely chopped beat style and laid back soulful vibe for a minute (ten years to be exact), as half of the group Emanon, and on numerous single releases.

Like most producer-driven hip-hop albums, Dirty Science is far from a solo effort, with guest vocal appearances from Detroit luminaries Slum Village and Ta’Raach, up-and-coming LA verbalists Aloe Blacc and Blu (who also both have solo debuts on the way this year), and Wu-Tang alumnus, and hip-hop superhero, Ghostface. The geographical distribution of the lyricists is mirrored by the balance of vibes. The lyrics run the gamut from mainstay machismo posturing to introspective with a refreshing focus on the thoughtful end of the spectrum. And there are fresh beats to match.

Some favorites: “Summertime in LA” is a happy electro-doo-wop summer anthem featuring vocalist Miguel Jontel. “Move on ‘Em” the track featuring Ta’Raach of the Laks is a dirty party-starter riding on a bouncy reassembly of a mutilated D-Train classic. And “Silver Moon”, the only fully instrumental track (vocals are sampled) is a raw jazz piano groove with a hard bossa makeover. Pick it up from Access Hip-Hop.

by DJ Scribe

7 Frozen Treats to Beat the Heat

by Evan Orensten

If CH had an ice cream truck, we'd stock it with superlative frozen confections like the following. Made with premium ingredients and boasting unique flavors (like pomegranate and saffron) and inventive flavor combos (such as cucumber and chili), these win over soft-serve any day.

Sheer Bliss is a new pioneer in the super premium ice cream segment, recognizable in the supermarket by their reusable tin cans that keep their luxurious contents cooler than their paper counterparts. Their recently available Pomegranate Bar is a force of nature with its well balanced taste and texture. Pomegranate ice cream (the Pom influence keeps growing and growing) is perfectly complimented by the crisp, not-too-thick and not-too-thin dark chocolate shell.

Looking for something a little lighter? Palapa Azul's paletas (frozen fruit bars) reign supreme at CH HQ. Our favorite is the cooling, soothing/spicy Cucumber Chili bar, a unique blend that delivers an unbeatable combination on a hot day. (Their Sweet Corn ice cream is another favorite.)

Godiva recently introduced their two most popular ice cream flavors—Belgian Dark Chocolate and White Chocolate Raspberry—as milk and dark chocolate-covered bars, respectively (below, left).

Dogs love ice cream too but the sugar (in the natural stuff) and the chemicals (in the artificial) aren't the best for them. 1000 Licks is a new company that makes three flavors of frozen-yogurt based treats (Peanut Butter and Banana, Peanut Butter, and Pumpkin Cinnamon) made exclusively for dogs with all natural ingredients (below, right).

A modern take on Kulfi (traditional frozen treats that were made in clay pots and frozen with ice from the Himalayas by the Mughal Emperors), Kool Freeze's Kulfi Bars include Indian flavors, like rose, chikoo (like pears and brown sugar), saffron, and pistachio (rumored to be an aphrodisiac).

Made in small batches using organic cream, sugar, and chocolate, Julie's Organic dark chocolate-dipped ice cream bars come in vanilla and chocolate and they've made-over the classic ice cream sandwich into an organic delight.

Updating classic Drumsticks (which, by the way, are newly available in mint and peanut butter fudge flavors) with their own famously extreme flavors and a waffle cone, Ben and Jerry's new cones come in cookie dough and Cherry Garcia. Also new to the market, the Vermonters have also turned their Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chunky Monkey, and Cherry Garcia flavors into milkshakes that come in individual servings.

Also on CH: Laloos Goat Milk Ice Cream, eCreamery Custom Made Ice Cream, Capogiro Gelato Artisans

Radar

by Jacob Resneck

As the mobile multimedia landscape evolves due to the increasing availability of hi-speed networks, Radar, the new web-based photo-sharing service for your phone and PC, is a natural step. Much like Shozu with Flickr built in, the site also has a social networking element. Once you join the Radar community and upload pictures by sending them to an email address, you'll be able to have "visual conversations" by posting and receiving images that you view on a mobile browser or PC. Snaps are immediately available and you can add comments, which can initiate threaded conversations—if you want to be that "in touch."

One True Saxon

by SummerSeventySix

We headed down to top British casualwear show To Be Confirmed last weekend, and every day this week, we're picking out our favourite finds.

While a lot of labels here turn to foreign cultures for inspiration, One True Saxon is proud to look at the mundane in everyday British life for ideas, unashamedly plastering huge pictures of a caravan all over its exhibit. It's the same with the clothes, and the brand's boxer dog logo is being used in increasingly clever ways. The standout efforts from the Spring/Summer 2007 collection were the neon hoodies, and not just because of the bold colors. Printed on the back are the exotic-sounding names of genuine boxer dog breeders like Hajema and Jopet, but in a style you're more likely to see human boxers wearing.

Elsewhere, there's a collaboration with London record label Heavenly on a range of t-shirts and some solid basics like camo shorts and military jackets. Right now, the most recent collection from One True Saxon is available at its GoodNorth website, where there's also a sale on.

Puma Mongolian Shoe BBQ v2

by Josh Rubin

In March 2005 Puma unveiled their Mongolian Shoe BBQ—an in-store sneaker customization experience where you pick out actual parts and they get shipped off and sewn in to shoes (see our preview here and the shoes I made here).

Now Puma is doing it again, this time with the RS-100, their 80s running shoe. And this time, in addition to being a touring, in-store experience, there's an online version. The site matches the original process of picking parts and laying them out on a tray, tightly maintaining the Mongolian BBQ metaphor. Though the process of picking colors and materials for over 20 different bits of the shoe is tedious, it's fun and thoughtful resulting in a more deliberate design. As you're building you can preview the show in a photorealistic viewer, then when you're done you get a full screen version to inspect. My creation, CH Greens, is pictured above. I'll be sure to post some pics of them when they arrive.