X Games to Leave Austin
It’s not hard to remember when the city was wrapped-up in the “X-Games are Coming to Austin” madness, but now those who were less than thrilled about the whole arrangement are celebrating. ESPN announced yesterday that this summer will be the last the X Games take place in the Texas capital. This decision was originally advertised as a result of budget issues between ESPN and the city of Austin, but the real reason? It’s too hot here in the Lone Star State for an outdoor sports event smack in the middle of the summer. We uh…we could have tipped them off on that one.
Organized Noize Earns Its Own Day
One of music-oriented films at this year’s SXSW festival was The Art of Organized Noize, a documentary about the deeply-influential production trio of the same name who are famous for producing work for OutKast, Goodie Mob, and even TLC (yes, they were behind “Waterfalls”). In tandem with the film’s premiere on March 18th was a declaration from the city of Atlanta that the date will live-on as “Organized Noize” day and a presentation of a key to the city.
Hip-Hop World Loses “Original Rude Boy” Phife Dawg
This morning the world of alternative hip-hop lost one of its founders. Malik Taylor AKA Phife Dawg, co-founder of the influential group A Tribe Called Quest, passed away this morning at the age of 45. The rapper was open about his diabetes diagnosis in 1990 and his longtime battle with the disease since, including a kidney transplant in 2008. Phife Dawg’s daily struggle with his health was documented in the 2011 Tribe Called Quest documentary Beats, Rhymes & Life. The cause of death and official statement have yet to be released, and we’ll update this story when the information is acquired.
-Taylor Wallace
