The sorry state of digital music in Australia

I've been wanting to vent about this for a while, and it came to a head for me today something fucked.

Firstly, there are a few things I just don't wanna have to put up with - in order of importance:

1. Shitty formats (wmv, aac etc.)
2. Shitty bitrates (i'm lookin at you Mr. Jobs)
3. Shitty ass DRM shitty shit shit (Jobs, Bigpond etc)

Now the DRM thing, as annoying as it is, wouldn't bother me if there was a decent lossless format available, as I'd just have to do my downloading in one hit and burn em to CD for backup's sake.

I tried to legally download 'Get Shaky' by the Ian Carey Project today. I get all my electronic ish from Beatport, so naturally that's where I headed for this. BP had no less than four versions of the single, but I was restricted from purchase in my territory. Gaydom. Props to beatport, but fuck this regional BS.

Amazon i thought. Never tried it before. Australian Credit Card. Can't bounce.

I never fucked with bigpond due to DRM but hey, I thought i'd sacrifice a lil quality and convenience for the ease of grabbing it. WMV only. Get fucked you shitbags.

At this point I considered the devil's pie only to realise that I hadn't installed iTunes on my new notebook. I'm not planning on it.

I'd just installed Media Player 11 and saw it has a store link built in from Sanity's LoadIt. Searched for it (only one of the biggest songs on radio right now in Oz) and nothing came up.

This exhausted my commitment to playing fair. I mean, i get payed to DJ. I write produce and release music with the intent of making a profit. I even own a label and know how hard it is to stay afloat these days. But what the fuck is up? Pirate Bay came through and I still feel bad but i know I shouldn't as it's not my fault the music industry has dragged it's feet in updating the business model and delivery method of this content.

SOMEONE NEEDS TO START A NEW DIGITAL STORE.

Where are the dudes from Winamp on this front?

Kid Cudi / Plain Pat / X & Hell + More - THURSDAY!

Yep thats right. Miss Libs this thursday people. A-Style & Mafia holding down the decks in support also. Be an angel and roll thru.

Lamborghini Estoque

Finally a lambo you can fit more girls in after the show. I'm sick of cramming two broads (only) into the Gallardo. More Pics, info and Lambo press release here

GMC SUPPORTING THE X-ECUTIONERS @ THE ESPY

GMC performing tracks off the new mixtape Three Letter Mixtape Vol. G at the X-Ecutioners gig OCT 4!

Come check out GMC a long with P-Money, Roc Raida's world famous Gong Battle & of course the X-Ecutioners!

Mixtape give aways on the night!

http://www.myspace.com/gmcgmc
http://www.grounduphiphop.com/gmc

GMC LIVE AT STAR BAR THIS SATURDAY

Catch the Three Letter Emcee performing joints off his his mixtape this saturday at star bar's 31 flavours!

If u havent copped a hard copy of VL. G now is ur chance!

& if u havent heard the mixtape yet free download is available from

www.grounduphiphop.com/gmc

VIDEO: Bert & Ernie - Ante Up

This shit is just plain funny. Props to Stian Hafstad.

Swacked from Discobelle

Espionage Infrared Max 90 Launch

Footage from the launch party for the OG colourway Air Max 90. Sounds by X & Hell.

Late pass on this one BTW. I was gonna post it then I forgot, then weez did, and I can't post less than weez. I mean that wouldn't be right.

Shouts out to Espionage Sydney, a place where myself and A-Style have blown quite a bit of show money over the years while on tour.

X & Hell - Video Hits Competition

You can win a whole bunch of shite from Video Hits in a promo for the new X & Hell single. Contest is running for the next 4 or so weeks - you can peep the details here

GMC - The Three Letter Mixtape Voulme G... NOW UP FOR FREE DOWNLOAD!!

Yes, the mixtape is FINALLY up for free download from:

www.grounduphiphop.com/gmc/

Make sure u cop that shit!!!

If u wanna get ur hands on a hard copy keep a look out for upcoming shows or hit me up personally at:

www.myspace.com/gmcgmc

cheers - G

Video: F.O.B. Documentary - Watch It online

Well for those who missed the SBS screening of the FOB Doco, there is a way to view it online in it's entirety. The whole thing turned out amazing and we're really grateful for the work put in by those involved.

Watch The Doco HERE

Late Pass: Get The Mixtape HERE

X & Hell Live Show Poll Results

Well the month's voting has concluded and it seems the majority of visitors to the blog favour a hybrid of live instrumentation and electronic elements on stage (which is what the group have been leaning to incidently). We're currently sussing out how the new live show will work and how to best do justice to the music we're producing, which has evolved from two rap dudes over a beat, so the live show needs to evolve too. Thanks heaps to all who voted.

VIDEO: Behind The Scenes @ X & Hell's 'Don't Stop Movin' Videoshoot

Shot and edited by Blaze Designs, who recently did some amazing work on the new X & Hell Myspace profile.