My big bro Cognito recently hosted Red Bull Music Academy lectures in Los Angeles where he interviewed Ali Shaheed Muhammad (ATCQ/Lucy Pearl) and Maseo (De La Soul) in a room full of music enthusiasts.

Check out the full video footage from both lectures below:

Ali Shaheed speaks on his origins of DJing and producing.

Lecture: Ali Shaheed Muhammad (Los Angeles 2012) from Red Bull Music Academy on Vimeo.

Maseo (Plug 3) speaks on the origins of DJ Maseo, producing “Me, Myself & I” at 15 years old, and making his first $300 bucks.

Lecture: Maseo of De La Soul (Los Angeles 2012) from Red Bull Music Academy on Vimeo.

Check Frolab for more pics.

And make sure you apply for the Red Bull Music Academy which will be in NYC this Fall. Applications are available now and are due on April 2nd.

Last Thursday I got a chance to check out the Kaws “Down Time” exhibit at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. That same day there was a lecture earlier in the evening which sold out rather quickly. I think I would of rather attended that for sure. While the exhibit was cool, I felt like there would be more pieces of work displayed. Many of the pieces I had seen before (not to say their not great, cause they are), but I think I was expecting to see some things I’d never seen before, some exclusiveness for the ATL. Upstairs was art, downstairs was a party with DJ Hurricane (Beastie Boys) DJing. Only thing I really didn’t enjoy about this was the actual art and the party being like 4 floors away from each other. I understand it was due to logistics and the lay out of the venue.

When I arrived Kaws was hanging out chopping it up with folks. It wasn’t long though before security came and ushered him off to a side door I didn’t even know existed HA. I also bumped into Maseo from De La Soul, Steve Deniro, Jay Force, Rob (Eighty81), Missy, Key, Bem, as well as a few other Famalams. Overall I had a good time though and it was great to see Kaws’ work up close and personal for the first time in Atlanta. If you get a chance definitely stop by the High. The “Down Time” exhibit will be running through May 20th.

Now this right here is what the world needs to be hearing on the commercial radio dial coming out of ATL. F.U.P.M. aka Fuck You Pay Me aka Stat Quo and Bobby Creekwater have been in the lab working on a new project. In case you forgot, Both emcees were signed to Eminem’s Shady Records imprint but never released albums. I always supported Stat Quo and felt he had what it takes to be the next big voice to be heard coming out of ATL. The homie Bobby Creek I’ve known since high school, and always proud of his movements as well as his consistency. So I’ve really liked the few collab records I’ve heard from these guys. Can’t wait to hear as well as see how the world responds to F.U.P.M. In the meantime check out their latest video for the song “Alright, Alright.”

One of my favorite songs from Pharoahe’s last album “W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) finally gets a visual. Check out the new video for “Still Standing” featuring Mela Machinko & Jill Scott.

On “Still Standing” Pharoahe raps about his on going battle with chronic asthma since childhood. A few years ago I found out how serious Pharoahe’s condition was. I went to a show he was supposed to be performing at, but he never took the stage. The word spread around that he suffered a serious asthma attack and was going to be un-able to perform. It’s very amazing as well that Pharoahe who has incredible breath control on the mic suffers from asthma.

“Still Standing” is an inspiring message for anyone going through something tough. No matter how rough it gets, don’t ever let life knock you down, you gotta keep standing tall! Check out the new video for yourself.

If you haven’t heard Clan D’s latest LP “Self Titled” released a year ago (Jan 2011) your playing yourself. The project is absolutely amazing and a year later the duo releases their 5th video from the project. Featuring Stacy Epps on the vocal help out, here is the new video for “Scream” Directed by B Price (Late September Films).

I just got a chance to check out some pieces from the Nike Black History Month 2012 collection. I’m not quite sure how long Nike has been releasing product in celebration of BHM, but the first item I remember noticing is the Red/Black/Green Air Force One Low from 2006 that was never sold and only given to key influencers/tastemakers within the African American community. Since then I’ve been keeping an eye out, and every year Nike releases some great product that always tells a great story as well.

This year, Nike Sportswear and Nike Basketball are releasing limited-edition footwear and apparel that celebrates the achievements and pioneering spirit of three teams: the 1996 USA Basketball Women’s team, 2002 Brazil Men’s Soccer team and the 2008 Kenyan Long-Distance Running team. All three leave a legacy of greatness and continue to inspire and uplift their communities.

The 2012 Black History Month collection includes the Nike Zoom KD IV, Nike Kobe VII System and LeBron 9 from Nike Basketball, as well as the Nike Air Force 1, Nike Air Max 1, Nike Blazer and 2012 Nike Huarache Free from Nike Sportswear. In addition to the shoes, select apparel styles—including the Nike Destroyer Jacket, T-shirt and snapback hat —will all release on Nikestore.com this Saturday, February 11.

Check out some pics of the new collection. Spotted at TSS.

Kenny Dope and Little Louie Vegas aka Masters At Work are like the Outkast of house music. Very different personalities, but the one thing they share in common is their love for making and playing music.

I got a chance to meet Masters At Work during the Red Bulll Music Academy activities in San Fran. I caught a picture with both Kenny Dope and Little Louie Vega but it near impossible to get a pic with both of them in it.

Anyway check out the pics as well as listen to audio for their party at 103 Harriet via Red Bull Music Academy Radio.

Their name says it all – Masters At Work. ‘Little’ Louie Vega and Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez celebrate 20 years together, channeling dance music down new paths with their inventive production style and imaginative feel for different musical forms. The two native New Yorkers have amassed an overwhelming body of work including hundreds of original productions and defiantly mix everything they can find – house, hip hop, funk, disco, Latin, African and jazz – into a universal groove. XLR8R’s Shawn Reynaldo sits down with them on the couch during Red Bull Music Academy’s ‘New York City to SF Bay’ lecture series in San Francisco to discuss the start of their careers and dissolving the barriers between genres.

Lecture: Masters at Work (San Francisco, 2012) from Red Bull Music Academy on Vimeo.

Masters At Work Live In San Fran Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Heinz unveils the new “Dip & Squeeze” ketchup packet. If you live in the south and have visited a Chick-Fil-A lately you have noticed the new ketchup packets, shaped like an actual ketchup bottle. This is Heinz new to go ketchup packaging, made so you can either dip into the ketchup or squeeze it out like you did in the past with the old packets. The new packaging is designed to be less messy and also provides you with 3 times more ketchup than the traditional packets. I’ve been fortunate to test these things out, the good people at Heinz hit me off with a LOT of samples. So much in fact friends in Atlanta are starting to call me the Ketchup King! HA.

Look for the new “Dip & Squeeze” packets to hit more restaurants as well as grocery stores in the near future.

I’m actually currently working