To those who care,

Just wanted to let you all know that Rhymin & Stealin is going the way of the dodo. Trust me, it’s not because we don’t have fun bringing the wacky world of sports and entertainment to our couple hundred readers. We love that shit.

However, scientists still have not figured out how to extend the day to 28 hours so we have run out of the mental steam needed to keep this blog friggy fresh. And nobody likes a stale blog.

For those that are interested, The Debi and I will now be dedicating our “free” time to The GRD Collective, a small, tightly-knit artist management agency, and therefore our focus is going to be on helping to expose great artists and their music to as many people as possible. Feel free to check it out, become fans of us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. We tend to think that we bring a heaping pile of steez to the table so it probably wouldn’t hurt to check in on us from time to time.

Anyways, just wanted to give a big shout out to everyone who came to the blog over the past 20 months. Loved every comment and we are truly flattered by the amount of readers who checked us out. Knowing that someone read this blog other than my Mom (love you Mom) was a great feeling and this entire Rhymin & Stealin project has been good times.

Thanks again Internet humans.

Peace out.

CBet

Bill Simmons favourite NBA GM David Kahn got  live on NBA TV this past weekend, joining Matt Winter and C Webb for some Summer League play-by-play during a T-Wolves game. He managed to blast off some gems, saying the T-Wolves will be better because now they eat lunch together and have a swank player’s lounge all while comparing Darko Milicic to Vlade Divac and Chris Webber… which caused C Webb to lose it just a little bit. He also called Darko “manna from heaven”, which is really weird, completly wrong and maybe the most unintentionally gay phrase ever uttered by an NBA GM.

When is the Sports Guy going to be offered the NBA GM job he rightfully deserves? Even if he’s just a basketball guru and sports reporter, do people really think he’d be worse than David Kahn?

Hahaha, Michael Scott is the man. “The Decision” was one of the biggest jokes I have ever seen and perhaps one of the worst PR disaster’s ever for an athlete (besides Tiger Woods getting his chiclets knocked around by angry Elin) so when I heard Steve Carell and Paul Rudd had spoofed King James and Jim Gray at the ESPY’s I had to check it out. And it did not disappoint. I’ve never even been to an Outback steakhouse but I think I’m gonna have to check it out someday just because of this.

Lakers three-peat in 2011!

‘Nuff said. Enjoyed the World Cup but all the flopping and diving made me think I was watching a documentary on the exploits of Vlade Divac…

For doz that slept, Rhymefest released his second LP “El Che” on June 8th. Not only is the album full of hot jams and thoughtful lyricism but Fest has teamed with director Konee Rok and decided to release a new video for every track on the album. Rhymefest videos seem to be falling out of the sky, so R&S decided to put together an easy access list of the video’s from “El Che” for your viewing pleasure. We’ll keep the list updated as new clips drop.

Don’t miss “Say Wassup”, hip-hop’s first 3-D video.

01 Intro The Agent
02 Talk My Shit
03 Say Wassup feat. Phonte
04 How High feat. Little Brother and Darien Brockington
05 Chocolates
06 One Hand Push Up
07 Prosperity
08 Truth On You feat. Twone Gabz
09 Intermission Juan Carlos
10 Chicago
11 Agony feat. Glenn Lewis
12 Last Night
13 Give It To Me feat Saigon and Adad
14 Intermission No Help
15 City Is Falling feat. Slique
16 Celebration

This is one of the illest hip-hop tracks the Great White North has ever produced (along with this, this and this). Back in ’99, Infinite just absolutely killed it on “Take A Look”.

Every Canada Day party should include some dynamite Canadian jams, so why not add this to your playlist? Or some Gowan?

On June 25, 2009, the world lost a true legend. R.I.P. MJ, you are missed but not forgotten.

YouTube video by Oh No via Okayplayer

In case you missed it, last night was the NHL Awards. I didn’t watch, even though Jay Mohr was hosting, mostly because hockey doesn’t belong on my TV after April. And let’s be honest, the NHL Awards aren’t appointment television. However, I’m always up for Canadians getting digs in on Americans, so when R&S favourite Lauren G hipped me to this YouTube gem I had to share.

Bobby Ryan: “Dude are you using my medal as a coaster?”

Ryan Getzlaf: “Oh this is your medal? Sorry I didn’t recognize it.. it wasn’t gold.”

Awesome.

Now granted, Denmark isn’t exactly the United States when it comes to its contributions to modern popular music. Actually, the only two bands I know from Denmark are Junior Senior and Aqua…

But don’t worry, there is no “Barbie Girl” rehasing going on here. Quadron is Coco O. (vocals) and Robin Hannibal (beats) and if you’ve watched their KCRW performance already, you know they are bringing some quality sound to the table. Their “electronic soul” sound (their words) is a great blend of new school and nostalgia, and Coco’s voice is absolutely stunning. I picked up the album and it’s good track one through 12, with Tone, Pressure, Slippin’ and Horse being my personl highlights. They are currently doing their first US tour and there are only a few dates left. I saw that the NY show was only 10 bills! Man, don’t sleep on these Danes if they come through your city. Må ikke sove.

New Zealand, like Australia, is a sporting mad country. They support all of their popular sports with near universal passion, especially in rugby, cricket and soccer. Not only do they excel at sport but they also excel at sporting nicknames. New Zealand athletics is littered with amazing team names: All Blacks, All Whites, Tall Blacks, Black Caps etc.. And while the Kiwis are regarded as the world’s preeminent rugby playing nation and are showing amazing form at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, they are so much more than just All Blacks and All Whites. Let R&S explain…

Men’s National Rugby Team: The All Blacks

The All Blacks are NZ’s most famous sporting export. For over 100 years, the All Blacks have been terrorizing other rugby playing nations with their distinct brand of ferocious and flowing rugby. They perform the intimidating Maori haka before every game and have some of the baddest ass black jerseys the sporting world has ever known. The team started wearing all black jerseys while on their first Northern Hemisphere tour in 1905 and  have worn the menacing kit ever since. Since rugby is New Zealand’s national sport and the team has a long tradition of success, the All Blacks have become as synonymous with New Zealand as Lord of the Rings.

Note: The national wheelchair rugby team is called the Wheel Blacks.

Men’s National Soccer (Football) Team: The All Whites

Relative soccer minnows, New Zealand qualified for the 2010 World Cup after a 28 year absence and have been the most impressive Oceanic team so far, earning two draws in their first two matches. The grand stage of a World Cup, along with some shocking success, has been huge exposure for the All Whites, who are looking to advance to the Round of 16 for the first time. Their All White nickname actually came about the last time they were in a World Cup, back in 1982. They wore an all white kit for their qualifying match against Taiwan and the obvious play on the All Blacks nickname was born. The nickname becomes hilarious when you consider the ethnic make-up of the All Blacks and All Whites.

Note: The All Whites don’t do the haka before games, mostly because it’s not as intimidating when a bunch of skinny, white soccer players do it.

Men’s National Basketball Team: The Tall Blacks

In New Zealand, everybody wants to be media and marketing darlings like the All Blacks, so the national basketball team decided to get clever and put their own spin on the All Blacks moniker: The Tall Blacks. While not known for their basketball, New Zealand did finish 4th at the 2002 FIBA World Championships (where the Tall Blacks beat Russia, Puerto Rico and China) and they recently defeated Australia in Oceanic qualifying for the 2010 World Championships in Turkey.

Note: The only New Zealander in the NBA is “The Kiwi Highlight Machine” Sean Marks.

National Badminton Team: The Black Cocks

By this point you have probably begun to understand the New Zealand sporting nomenclature. They love the All Blacks and any sort of variation on their famous nickname. So when New Zealand Badminton was struggling for a piece of the sporting limelight they decided to get provocative. Black Racquets? Too obvious. Black Birdies? Too cute. Black Cocks? Perfect.

Seriously, they officially referred to their national badminton team as the Black Cocks! How amazing is that? The International Badminton Federation didn’t appreciate the name, especially when the condom sponsorships began rolling in, and now the team is only “unofficially” known as the Black Cocks. But it definitely lead to some excellent headlines while it lasted.

Note: Get your very own Black Cocks t-shirt here.

Other Great NZ Nicknames: The Ice Blacks (ice hockey), The Black Sticks (field hockey), The Black Ferns (women’s rugby), The Black Caps (cricket), The Iron Blacks (American football), The Black Sox (softball)

Alright kids, I’d like to put a disclaimer on the above video as it could very well make your head explode. Animated by Anthony F. Schepperd, this video for the excellent Blockhead track “The Music Scene” was completed in less than five months and was created using Flash.

Really, the creativity and animation in this video are off the richter scale. It’s beautiful to watch, fits perfectly with an already mesmerizing audio track and gets better after repeat viewings. Amazing work.

You can check out Anthony Schepperd’s first video, another animated spot for Ape School’s “Wail to God“. Also awesome.

Absolutly amazing… Ron has entered the Tyson Zone. Every interview he ever does is must see TV. Introducing his entire family… offering to beat box… thanking his psychiatrist… and generally looking and acting about as happy as a person can be. Ron Artest is the man.

Say Queensbridge!

Vid spotted on True Hoop

Wow. What an intense game last night’s Game 7 was. Definitely not a  spectacle of flowing basketball like the Western Conference Finals but maybe the most hard-fought defensive game played in the NBA since the ’80s; a game in which both teams looked emotionally and physically drained as the final horn sounded. Just great effort by both teams, as cliche as it sounds both teams played like winners. The Celtics just ran out of gas and the Lakers caught a second wind at the right time. And Ron Artest played his best all-around game as a Laker, which was key to this victory. His clutch three with over 1:00 left was so huge and a was also a great moment for a really misunderstood dude.

Lots of people are dissing Kobe for his poor shooting and forced play during the first three quarters, but 24 was an absolute beast on the glass and I believe his effort and energy level helped keep the other Lakers into the game. Even when they saw Kobe struggle with his shot, they also saw his defensive intensity and how he would fight for every rebound and that has to help keep the team up. While Kobe didn’t win Game 7 with his pure basketball skill, he might have won it with his mental toughness and determination… which is no small feat in itself. Kobe really was relishing this victory afterwards, and dropped this gem when asked about now having more rings than Shaq:

Just got one more than Shaq. You can take that to the bank. You know how I am. I don’t forget anything.

All in all, just an incredibly intense game to watch. Even the national anthem was intense, with Christina Aguilera giving one of the better renditions of the “Star Spangled Banner” that I have ever heard. Marvin Gaye would be proud.

Congratulations to the 2010 NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. Anyone else thinking three-peat?

Standing 6’5″ (6’9″ with the afro), even Kareem and Chick Hearn had to give it up to the amazing Fletch. Click the jersey above to see Fletch in action.

Now let’s hope the Lakers can harness their inner Fletch and take out the Celtics in tonight’s Game 7.

Absolutely monumental upset in South Africa today, as my father’s homeland defeated the dirtiest country in Europe in a shocker. Spain had only lost three of their last 48 matches, an unbelievable streak that almost every soccer pundit assumed would continue through today. Beating Spain is even better for us Swiss given Rafa Nadal’s form against Roger Federer. Suck on these Swiss nuts Spain.

In recognition of the biggest upset of the World Cup, make today an unofficial Swiss holiday. Go buy a Toblerone, eat some Swiss cheese, go on a hike, dominate someone in tennis, open a Swiss bank account, buy a watch or adopt a St. Bernard.

Or sing along to Melanie Oesch… the hottest babe in the world of yodelling!

To all my Lakerheads, tonight is the night. Lose and the hated Boston Celtics will have ripped out our hearts again and will celebrate on LA’s home court. Win and set up the grandest stage in sports: Game 7.

In order to help psyche up Laker Nation, check out this amazing highlight video that chronicles the history of basketball’s greatest franchise. I almost cried watching this gem, so many great moments.

And remember, if you see someone walking down the street wearing a Celtics jersey… throw a chair at him.

The Roots long-anticipated “How I Got Over” drops in a mere eight days… save up your pennies kids because this is going to be some can’t miss heat.

Don’t believe me?  Go listen to a couple of the new jams over at Okayplayer:

Dear God 2.0
The Fire

Got the Monday blues? R&S has your help, courtesy some classic Boney M.

If “Daddy Cool” doesn’t put some jump in your step, you might be dead. Got to also love the simulated orgasm at the 2:38 mark.

Stay funky.

The South gets a lot of grief for producing the likes of Lil’ Jon, Lil’ Wayne, Mystikal and C-Murder. And while some mainstream Southern rap has rubbed purists the wrong way, many amazing underground groups such as Cunninlynguists, Supreeme, K-Otix, Little Brother and Strange Fruit Project have built on the mainstream success of Outkast, Goodie Mob, Cash Money and No Limit (got to love Master P’s classic “Ice Cream Man”… brutal). Big K.R.I.T. is definitely one of those Dirty South artists who is leading the pack and making people take notice above the Mason-Dixon line. Writing and producing his own tracks, K.R.I.T. has been blowing up lately, so much so that he signed a deal with Def Jam last week.

I’ve never been the biggest fan of Southern rap in general but have always appreciated the individuality and distinctness of the style. That’s a big reason why I consider Outkast and Cunninlynguists amongst my two favourite groups of all-time. And when I hear Big K.R.I.T. I hear so much of what I like in Southern rap; a laid-back drawl, soulful samples, banging basslines and the drive to forge ahead with different styles and sounds. While it might not be the most lyrically sophisticated rap you ever heard, it’s really better than traditional Southern stereotypes would have you believe. Truly, the beats are excellent, some real funk to bump in your trunk. Just listen for the classic samples weaved throughout “K.R.I.T. Was Here”… Bobby Womack, Marvin Gaye… I think I even recognized some Billy Cobham (of ’93 til Infinity fame) on “No Wheaties“.

Today I was bumping “Hometown Hero” on some serious repeat on my walk home from work and couldn’t stop thinking how good it would sound in a ride with a booming system. Off the chains.

Really, all hip hop heads should give this a listen. It might not be for you but at the end of the day these are some free, brand new tracks from an up-and-coming artist who is doing things his way… and doing ‘em well. Don’t sleep.

Favourite tracks:
“Hometown Hero”, “See Me On Top”, “They Got US”, “Country Shit”

Download “K.R.I.T. Was Here”

The NBA Finals start tonight and naturally R&S is picking the Lakers to win in 6. Kobe has just been too much this postseason, and with Lebron’s epic playoff flame-out’s the past couple seasons KB24 is making a strong case that he is still the best basketball player in the universe. And while his skills on the hardwood can’t be questioned, his skills on the mic sure can. For those that don’t know (or programmed their brains to forget), Kobe once thought he could be a rapper like his big brother Shaq. So he decided to cut a track with Tyra Banks and the audio proof is found above. Good thing Kobe stuck with working on eviscerating opposing SG’s and not sharpening his cipher skills because his mic-manship actually makes Shaq sound more like Big Daddy Kane than Kazaam.

Now that your ears have been scarred by the Mamba, cleanse your sonic palette with the best rap song about basketball ever (and the first rap music video)… Kurtis Blow’s “Basketball”.