Madlib Recruits Future Islands Frontman Sam Herring aka Hemlock Ernst for 6-track Trouble Knows Me EP (Rappcats/Now-Again Records)

"HOW DO YOU DO? HI MATT. SORRY FOR [BEING] LATE. I AM MAIKO. MUNGUNI'S AGENT. THE VINYL I WANT WAS DECIDED. WHICH PICTURE OF MUNGUNI'S DO YOU WISH FOR?" read a rather interesting hand-drawn Instagram message I received from Japanese artist @munguni's agent early Friday morning. "I WANT MADLIB'S NEW EP. 'THE UNNAMED' OUT JULY 18 ON RAPPCATS' POP UP STORE," Maiko specifically requested in exchange for a custom-designed piece of original artwork. Miraculously, I was somehow able to score two screen-printed copies of Trouble Knows Me EP from Rappcats' first limited small batch pressing, which reportedly sold out in just under an hour. Egon & Rappcats then hosted a special one night only live screen-printing pop-up event with Hit & Run following Madlib's Friday night show at Chicago's own The Mid; a second similar event was additionally held yesterday (Saturday, July 18th) at a Los Angeles Rappcats pop-up shop from 12 noon to 4PM Trouble Knows Me EP pre-orders are currently being taken and are expected to ship by September 1st. It's since been revealed that the mysterious "unnamed emcee" rhyming at top Madlib's dusty neck-snapping beats is in fact Future Islands frontman and amateur rapper Sam Herring aka Hemlock Ernst; rather than Snoop Dogg or Zamrock-centric collaborator Mos Def, as I had previously speculated.

Herring has only rapped on a handful of select tracks thus far alongside Gangrene, Earl Sweatshirt, Scallops Hotel, Du Blonde, and Rapdragons, as well as at a number of apparent 8 Mile-style Underground Hip-Hop cyphers. Madlib & Sam Herring's premier Trouble Knows Me EP consists of "three rap tracks + three instrumentals on Side A; flipside has instrumentals of the rap tracks." Jeff Jank & Gustavo Eandi designed some 15-20 unique variations of their "bats & razor blades"-centric Trouble Knows Me cover image, each of which will almost instantly become one-of-a-kind pieces of art when hand screen-printed by Hit & Run. Madlib & Sam Herring aka Trouble Knows Me aka SamLib aka MadRing's inaugural self-titled lead single, "Trouble Knows Me" is cleverly anchored beneath a dusty "soulful, brass-driven groove sampled from Sunny & The Sunliners' "Should I Take You Home,'" as noted by diligent Rolling Stone staff writer Ryan Reed upon the track's Friday release. It's currently unclear whether Trouble Knows Me EP is just a one-off or merely the first in a long line of possible SamLib collaborations (fingers crossed). I would almost assume the latter, simply based on the nature of Rappcats' previously-released three EP roll-out leading up to Freddie Gibbs & Madlib's critically-acclaimed Piñata full-length... and because let's face it, Madlib honestly wouldn't waste his time recording a mere 3-track EP + 3 companion instrumentals with such a strong new-found collaborator!!!

"Let Me Shine for You:" Lindsay Lohan for Playboy (Winter 2011-12 Leak)

Lindsay Lohan essentially embodies exactly "What NOT to Do In Hollywood :" Fame, fortune, success... sex, drugs & Rock "N" Roll . Within a fairly short period of time, Lohan somehow managed to obtain a plentiful helping of POWER @ a very young age. This gradual rise-downfall was captured on film; Between 1998-2010, she portrayed a wide array of roles across the silver screen in movies including: Mean Girls, Bobby , Herbie Fully Loaded , Georgia Rule, Machete , and Freaky Friday . Between rapid-paced film shoots, Lindsay Lohan also found time to record 2 Pop Rock albums for Casablanca , Speak (2004) and A Litter More Personal-Raw (2005). Needless to say, Lindsay Lohan has gotten roped up in a lot of troubles and woes with the law over the last 3-5 years... a vicious cycle of drugs, arrest, court, rehab, "daddy issues," jail time [Repeat]. That's the pure basics of it - But Google that shit for additional info, if necessary. Towards the end of...

[W]reckless, Topless American Youth: Lana del Rey - "Born 2 Die" (Britney Spears Birthday 30)

Lana del Rey [Lizzy Grant] effectively became 2011's "It Girl" with the release of her phenomenal debut single, "Video Games" (Stranger) . Like many struggling singer-songwriters, Grant has been signed, dropped, and significantly changed her public image since bursting onto the scene (2009). With that said, it can be assumed that Lana del Rey has collected just as many "haters" as she has avid supporters. To be perfectly honest, the only other artist I can think of that made this much commotion... garnered so much wide-spread buzz/hate and critical acclaim -- right out of the gates -- with just one track is Britney Spears . And maybe in this post- Mike musical era, that's the true synthesis of Pop Culture: Britney Lynn Spears . After months of repeated teasing and speculation, Lana del Rey 's major label debut, Born 2 Die will [finally] be released this coming Jan. 30-31, 2012. Pitchfork reports that it will feature "Off to The Ra...

Liberty Bell Cracked In 1/2: Ween - "Freedom of '76" (Gene Ween's Final Send-Off)

Chocolate & Cheese (1994) was one of the first albums I bought with my own money. I was in some sort of BMG Music Club , where you'd buy 5 CD's and then get 10 for "FREE." It was all sent through mail order and you picked the titles from some special booklet. I'm almost positive that Chocolate & Cheese's side boob-baring album cover was what initially drew me in... mind you, I was 12-15 and the zany Ween logo/middle finger CD graphic really didn't hurt either. Honestly, I forget how I really felt about it @ the time, but a few years later, my older cousin Josh told me that Ween were this BIG college "jam band." CKY did some sort pf 93.3 radio takeover to promote their new album and played "Freedom of '76" late that night on air. Needless to say, I re-visited Chocolate & Cheese @ about 20-something this go 'round and I fucking loved it! Ween were really weird, yet talented... almost too talented. I can vaguel...

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