* Milwaukee’s Juneteenth Day celebration ended without altercation, as it does most years. Here’s betting that doesn’t stop future press from dwelling on past incidents.
* Not sure how I missed this one, but Wale, one of the many great rappers The Roots have helped surface, released earlier this month his Seinfeld-themed Mixtape about Nothing. Like its inspiration, the free mix is about a lot more than it purports to be—"The Kramer" explores not Michael Richards’ zany next-door neighbor, but rather Richards’ racial-rant meltdown.
* Now all growed up, Lil Dap of the Gang Starr protégés Group Home has a new album coming out on Aug. 5, featuring production from Large Professor and Alchemist, but, sadly, no Premier.
* You’re not a real R. Kelly fan unless you attended every day of the R&B singer’s child-pornography trial.
* Why are black musicians so obsessed with outer space? Jonah Weiner explores the question in his fun, insightful and ridiculously researched Slate column today. It’s worth reading. With Lil Wayne’s rare first-week platinum sales—the first since 50 Cent sold over a million in one week way back in 2005—there were plenty of Lil Wayne-based stories all over the Internet, but Weiner’s is easily the most inspired.
Frank Martin just can't spend a quiet evening at home. In Transporter 3, he's ready to relax when a speeding car improbably crashes through the brick wall of his living room, depositing an associate about to die and a mysterious young Ukrainian woman, Val
Although separated by an ocean and multiple time zones, the Australian Outback bears remarkable resemblance to the American West. Both encompass mesas towering over rocky, dusty deserts shimmering like a mirage under unforgiving sunlight. Whip-snapping co
No, we didn't ask for an album featuring another recording of "Breathe," leading into "Time," leading into "Breathe (Reprise)," as happens on tracks two through four on Live in Gdansk. But Pink Floyd completists (we are legion) will want it anyway. Howeve
Jorge "El Guero" Hernandez may be the best-known regional Mexican artist with Milwaukee roots. Most of a decade has passed since he and brother Rogelio moved to San Antonio, but El Guero's Banda Centenario still nurtures a unique take on the often-manic D
The Third Ward has changed a great deal since the Milwaukee Ale House opened its doors 11 years ago. The Ale House was one of the first ventures to renovate a vintage building and take advantage of views of the Milwaukee River. A decade later the “r
Two new storefronts—Little Italy Olive Oil Co. and Capone’s Grotto— recently appeared at 1003 and 1007 N. Old World Third St., in the spot formerly occupied by Jewel of India. The interior received a much-needed makeover that includes be
