What would 2008 be without Skillz’s annual Rap Up.  Well here you go and now we can officially let 2009 begin.

Skillz – “Rap Up 2008″
[audio:http://www.needledrop.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/skillz-2008-rap-up.mp3]

It is one of our favorite web shows that cover everything cutting edge in tech, art and music. They have 150 episodes over the last 2 1/2 years.

About Epic Fu

“Geek” culture is what we’re about, and it’s the new cool culture for this generation. Being a geek is all about having a passion for something—films, bands, technology, video games, going green—and that passion makes you totally kick ass! EPIC FU is all about stoking the flames of geek passion, and therefore improves your kick to ass ratio with every viewing.

Created by Zadi Diaz and Steve Woolf, EPIC FU is a new way of thinking about popular culture — it’s about conversation and interaction. Entertainment is a two-way street now.

Well it is official, 2008 has been kicked to the curb (about damn time). Well anyway, have a happy, and prosperous New Year from all of us at Rhythm Lab Radio and Needledrop.  Some of you may be wandering why is there a picture of black eyed peas.  Well in my family, if you consume black eyed peas on New Year’s Day, you will have good luck for the rest of year.  Apparently it is a tradition here in Milwaukee too, because I couldn’t find a damn bag of peas anywhere. So today, I am in search for some black-eyed peas.  So in the meantime enjoy this remix of “Auld Lang Syne” by Mannyfaces.

Auld Lang Syne (Mannyfaces Remix)-download
[audio:http://www.needledrop.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/manny_new_year.mp3]

I attended this year’s Afropunk festival, and it was a blast. I saw some great performers and artists.  But what I really like about Afropunk is that it is an open tent for a variety of music and arts. Just check out the Afro Punk site and community. Anyway while I was at the block party, I got handed this small flyer advertising for the Primordial Punk pin-up calendar.  While cleaning up I found that flyer and went to the site.  Let me tell you this:  This is definitely on my holiday wishlist. If no one gets the calendar for me, I guess I will have to do it myself.  The images are bold, powerful and sexy. You can order the calendar directly from Primordial Punk.

PRIMORDIAL PUNK represents what’s been missing from the cultural dialogue of beauty. It calls upon the talents of professional artists to challenge, confront, rearrange, and revisualize the standard against which AFRICAN-AMERICAN beauty is measured. To that end, we are mobilized to create a new vehicle through which to champion Black Identity and Pride. Expressed through an ancestral language of tattoos, piercings, and hair modifications, PRIMORDIAL PUNK celebrates the fact that our beauty is original, unapologetic and undeniable. It’s in our blood, of our culture. And ours to liberate, proclaim and exalt…

Pin-ups inlcude :
Bailey Davis (art by Malcolm Gammah),
DJ Reborn (art by 2hermano),
dj.shErOck (art by Fly Lady Di),
Ife Mora (art by Audria Brumberg),
Khay Mecca (art by junkprints.com),
Lesley J (art by Kim Dalton),
the Maine Attraction (art by Ruby),
MilitiA (art by La-Lu•Ja),
ninja.bot.body.rock (art by Crystal),
Nneka Bennett (art by Mei-Ning Chiu),
Sylvia Gordon (art by Dawn Szombathy),
Tamar-kali (art by Angelbert Metoyer).

Primordial Punk is also looking for future pin-up models:

Do you have Pin-Up Potential? We’re building a database of sexy sisters who combine punk and tribal in their beauty aesthetic. If that describes you, just send an email with a short bio to checkmeout@primordialpunk.com and attach a low-res photo. Soon, we’ll expand the site so you can upload your own photo, but until then, just send them to us and we’ll hold on to them until the world is ready…Thanks to TreZure the Empress, Mekesia, and Shayla for helping us start the database out lovely.

Here is a little video from the Primordial Punk Debutante Ball during the AfroPunk festival featuring Brown Girls Burlesque(NSFW).

Find more videos like this on Afro-punk