Of all the various consumes that Vanilla Ice has donned over the years (pop-rap crossover icon, street thug, hardcore metalhead), this latest—that of a home improvement contractor—might be his most sincere. Now airing on the DiY Network, The Vanilla Ice Project follows Robert Van Winkle as he renovates multi-million dollar mansions. The early episodes are pretty promising, showcasing his impressive knowledge of construction, as well as his theatrical skill in front of the camera. 

All-in-all, as unlikely as it might sound, The Vanilla Ice Project works quite well. Of course, there’s no guarantee on how long the show will work. But, just like a fresh coat of paint in your living room, it’s good for now. 

Now, if Mike Holmes would put on some of Ice’s old parachute pants while doing his work, that would be a show to catch.

Boshra al Saadi was born in Syria and now works her musical magic in New York, mashing up genres like indie pop, hip-hop, and Afro rock in perfect multicultural fashion. She has recently released a mix-tape, Summer of Saadi, which you can sample below via Soundcloud and today we have the pleasure of premiering her new tune, “Bad Seeds”.

  Summer Of Saadi Mixtape by Dither Down

Like vintage gangsta rap?

Like Halloween?

Then look no further than the Geto Boys’ 1991 classic “Mind Playing Tricks on Me”. Though primarily a song about inner-city paranoia and depression, the song’s most famous moment occurs when Bushwick Bill lays down a Halloween tale that puts most campfire urban legends to shame.

While “robbin’ little kids for bags” on his neighborhood block, Bill and the Boys get stalked by a monstrous, seven-foot cop. Soon enough, the monster cop catches up to them and a brawl ensues. They triple-team him, bringing him down to the sidewalk, with Bill continuing to bash his head into the concrete long after the squabble’s been settled.

Things aren’t entirely what they seem however, and the story’s conclusion perfectly reflects the kind of warped psychological state someone might develope from suffering through the nightmarish environment that is the ghetto. Halloween becomes a metaphor for Bushwick Bill’s everyday life, an existence filled with ghoulish realities usually reserved for only one day on the calendar.

If underground boxers made boxing videos the way that Spike Jonze and company made arty skate videos, maybe they’d come up with something like the conga-lead training montage by Tectonic main-man Pinch. Actually, though the track does ride some wicked almost-tremolo steady riddim a la Ramadanman, it lacks punch for a song called “The Boxer” with a video featuring boxing.

After five years of non-stop work, the boys of Tapes ‘n Tapes decided it was time for some fun. They re-launched their label, idid records, headed back to their hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota and spent two weeks recording the album they have always wanted to make. The result was Outside, and album filled with 12 tracks exemplifying the fun Tapes ‘n Tapes was searching for.

Outside will be released on January 11, 2011, with the band heading out on tour soon after. Tickets go on sale October 29. To keep fans satiated in the meantime, Tapes ‘n Tapes has released a new track, “Freak Out”.