* 7 Eleven RUNS things out here (NOTHING Like 7 Eleven in Toronto)

* Everything in Taipei is 5 -7 minutes away by Cab/Subway or walking except for the airport

* The subway system is ultra clean and set up so smart… (We need to adapt their set up)

* Do not tip anyone in Taiwan. It’s considered an insult (That includes bartenders, cab drivers etc.)

* UniqLo

* Mos Burger

* Taiwanese people are tall

* Tea eggs

* You can find anything at the night market (most are bootlegs)

* Stinky Tofu

* Taipei has REAL DJ’s (“play that live ish, sound like it’s from …….”)

* Whisky is KING!! (get your Johnny Walker Blue UP!)

* My chopstick game is improving

* They have a REMIX in Taipei (it’s a clothing store)

Here are pictures from the event.

Below are a few photos I took on my trip with my trusty iPhone 4S.

After watching the first “Iron Man” movie in the theatre, I wanted to rush over to the Audi dealership and place an order for an Audi R8 ASAP.  I then  remembered I do not have Tony Starks bank roll and have to stay within my means. Well my dreams of owning it have finally come true. It’s not the R8, but Audi has created a performance electric bike for sports and trick cycling. The lithium-ion bike features a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) frame , 26-inch wheels and an on-bike touchscreen computer that interfaces with smartphone via WLAN.  You are also able to record video via the in-helmet camera and uploaded it to a mobile device and then the web. I already own an eBike, but I would sell mine in a blink and grab this as soon as it comes to market. It gave me that R8 feeling minus the R8 price.

Watch the video,

I’m Audi 5000.

Sneakers is a really dope magazine about footwear, the magazine features a wide variety of footwear. Up until now the magazine has only been available in german. They now have the magazine available as an app for your iPad. Incredibly easy to navigate and smooth, it’s a shoe lovers dream. God help me.

I should get help.  I hope this helps you.

Have a look HERE.

“People who live in glass houses shouldn’t thrown stones”, I’ve heard the phrase all my life.  A saying that makes perfect sense, and one I try to live by, but two new videos from Corning called “A Day Made Of Glass” show a not so distant future where glass houses are the norm. Actually everything is made of glass, which I am sure would be great business for Corning and Windex alike. I thought these two videos were a cool glimpse of what things to come could be. I wanted to share.

Have a look.

We all have our own personal preferences when it comes to finding out what time it is. Some people like digital others like analog , and in my experience there is always a handful of people who really enjoy the military way of telling time. It really all depends , but the bottom line is we all choose the format that feels most comfortable to us.

I’m back home in Toronto from an amazing show in Taipei. I’ll have more about that blogs next week when I post pictures, stories etc. Beautiful place and vibe. I mentioned in a blog entry before I left that I worked on some of the music for ‘America’s Next Top Model Live’ here in Toronto with my homie Kirobot. It was a great experience, and as usual working with Kirobot is always and entertaining experience. (MAJOR LAZER!)

As a special treat to my regular blog readers, I have 2 tickets for Saturday’s show. What to do to win?

Just leave a comment below this blog about why you enjoy America’s Next Top Model, and I’ll randomly choose the winner based on entries.  I’ll annouce the winner tomorrow.

Good Luck!!

Evacuated Tube Transportation (ET3).

With evacuated tube transport, designers claim you can travel around the world in 6 hours, Or from NY to China in 2 hours. The capsules that are placed inside the tubes can hold 4-6 people and they travel along frictionless maglev tracks. Et3′s produce a maximum of 1G of force at top speed and designers say the passengers would feel no discomfort. Additionally, they can be built for one tenth of the cost of a high speed rail system and the quarter of the cost of a freeway.

This technology is still being developed but, I can’t believe they haven’t started building these?? The same people holding back the electric car must be holding this back as well. If and when this happens, it’s gonna change the entire planet.

Watch the video

I’m sitting in a diner listening to ‘Welcome To Detroit‘ by J Dilla, at Detroit International Airport on six hour layover waiting for my flight to Taipei. I’m off to the east again, this time to spin at ‘The Blast’ at Marquee. I originally had plans to send out a newsletter updating all the things I’ve been up to over the winter and spring and to make a few announcements, this gig included. It never happened because I didn’t want to send out a newsletter without a mixtape. I always try to make sure music comes with my newsletters. The mixtape I was working on didn’t get finished in time since it got delayed so I could work on music for ‘Amercia’s Next Top Model‘ LIVE! Yes the show, they are gonna be LIVE here in T-Dot May 4th to the 6th and I did the music for a portion of the show with the the big homie Kirobot. We worked on the ‘Toronto Love Jay‘ mixtape together so you can understand how we do when we do a collabo. The music is crazy!! I’ll have more details in my newsletter, which will get finished on this layover, and sent out as soon as I return to finish the mix!

I’ve never been to Taiwan before, but I’ve heard great things and look forward to seeing the city and of course rocking the 1′s and 2′s at ‘The Blast’. Taipei has got a cool hip hop scene so I should fit right in since they can get down with my roots. BrassMunk sold decent records out here back in the day, I can’t wait to see how those records do when I play them, since we never had a chance to perform out here.

Here are some random ramblings since my mind is firing on all cylinders this morning;

• - I find plane rides a good place to get work done, and catch up on books, movies and sleep.
• - Airports and planes are a good place to observe human behaviour.
• - I couldn’t imagine traveling without a smart phone anymore, (maybe put that on my bucket list). My phone is in airplane mode, but wifi is alive and     kicking, so I can be in touch with family and keep in tune with the NBA playoff picture.
• - This is the fist trip with the iPad, so made sure I loaded her up with books, TV shows and movies. We’ll see how long this battery really lasts since I’m flying Delta, and some of their planes have no power outlet at your seat, like it was 1985 again… SMH.
• - North American airlines are terrible when you compare them to international carriers.

Stay tuned to the blog, I should be posting lots of pictures

All photos were taken with and edited on my trusty iPhone 4S

It’s been 13 years since Saukrates released his debut LP “The Underground Tapes“. I remember buying that CD at HMV, (do they even sell CD’s anymore?) at the Scarborough Town Centre Location. It’s still a highly sought after record to this day. You don’t believe me? Click on the link above and see what used ones are selling for. Don’t even get me started on the vinyl for it. If you own one of these, value it and take care of it, it’s actually worth a pretty penny, and is gaining value.

So much time has past since “The Underground Tapes” was burning up charts every where. It got Saukrates a Juno nomination, A Def Jam record deal through Redman and had him anointed the next talent from the north to blow up world wide. Several record deals and years later we finally have the follow up album, ‘Season One’.

It’s not like Sauks was only working on this record for the last decade+ years. He is a triple threat artist. He sings, raps and produces. He has done remixes for everyone from Nelly Furtado to Swollen members. He’s also has had more features then I can remember. Easily one hundred features. From k-os, Kardinal, Jully Black, Rich Kidd, Andreena Mill, Frankie Payne to Strong Arm Steady, Sauks has spit some potent bars over these years. Also released in 2007 was “Heaven’s Caught On Fire” by producers turned group ‘Big Black Lincoln’ where Saukrates served as front man. I am a part of the group, so obviously me telling how great that record is would be completely self serving, so I won’t.

It’s really hard to judge this album as a sophmore LP. Saukrates has had so much growth as an artist in between records, most haven’t been able to see or hear him flourish. He’s influence can be seen in his peers Drake and k-os. I’ve been lucky to hear some of the records (Bad Addiction, Saukrates Season & the untitled LP he did with Mr. Attic of the Da Grassroots) that were never released so I have been able to witness his recorded growth. ‘Season One’ the new LP may seem foreign to you in terms of the sound you are expecting, if all you know are his albums and his 12″ singles to date. You should treat this album as if it were from a new artist.  ’Season One’ is contemporary sounding, full of autotuned vocals and synth arpeggios. Much different then anything on “Underground Tapes”. Stand out tracks from the new record are ‘Season One’, ‘Only One’ and my favorite song so far ‘Save The Day’ Ft. Richie Hennessey (from BrassMunk) and OB O’Brien.  I didn’t include ‘Say I’ which I do like, but has been out for a few months for free.

The album has something for everyone, which might be it’s biggest weakness and strength, unlike his previous offerings which were more streamed lined to a particular demo of the hip hop genre. Saukrates albums have a way of growing on you, and increasing in value, so it’s worth the purchase, just do not expect the Saukrates from 13 years ago, he’s moved well past that.

As he should.

Buy ‘Season One’ HERE

In 1962 when the Drifters released their soul classic “Up On The Roof” I don’t think they could have ever imagine how it could turn into an urban environmental anthem. Toronto is the first city in North America with a bylaw that requires roofs to be green. Green roofs are also known as a living roof. The bylaw applies to new building permit applications for residential, commercial and institutional development made after January 31, 2010 and will apply to new industrial development as of April 30, 2012. The Bylaw requires green roofs on new commercial, institutional and residential development with a minimum Gross Floor Area of 2,000m as of January 31, 2010. Starting April 30, 2012, the bylaw will require compliance for new industrial development.

The technical side of the law sounds boring I know, but the health benefits make up for it hands down! Green roofs lower utility bills, cool down the city in the summer, create cleaner air, cleaner water, and reduce noise in the concrete jungle. The succcess has been seen in other north american cities that have adopted similar policies. The city of Chicago put a 38,800 square foot green roof on a 12 story skyscraper in 2000. Twelve years later, that building now saves $5000 annually on utility bills, and Chicago boasts 7 million square feet of green roof space. New York City has followed suit, and since planting a green roof on the Con Edison Learning Centre in Queens, the buildings managers have seen a 34 percent reduction of heat loss in winter, and reduced summer heat gain by 84 percent. The facts are undeniable, plus it really makes the city look better.

Glad to see the city moving forward with this initiative.

Go Green!!