Another great performance from the Chris Rock show...Esthero "Heaven Sent"

I actually bought this album several times because it kept mysteriously disappearing

It's funny what you notice while cleaning up...

Today while I was cleaning up, dusting to be exact, I came across two items in our home that made me stop and jump right online to share this with you.Anybody who has visited our home has more than likely seen one or both of these items. I purchase the segregation plate on eBay a couple of years ago before any of us knew that Barack Obama would be the leader of the free world. When I purchase the plate I knew that it was a very important reminder of our past but it has become an even more significant possession now. One day I will be able to literally show my daughter how far we have progressed. We all know there is still a ways to go but this definitely put things in perspective...

I need to read more....

This apartment located in Paris, France was designed by H2o Architechs for a comic book collector. See more pics after the jump....

Takashi Murakami Exhibition @ The Palace of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles has invited leading Japanese artist Takashi Murakami for a two-month retrospective later this year. The exhibition, running from September 12th to December 12th, will be Murakami’s first major retrospective in France, following fellow pop artist Jeff Koons who showed at the palace in 2008 and Frenchman Xavier Veilhan in 2009. Murakami looks to display his sculptures and paintings in 15 rooms in the palace’s Hall of Mirrors and the apartments of the King and the Queen. Since controversy provoked by the Jeff Koons exhibition, the palace, a symbol of the system of absolute monarchy, is being careful to avoid displaying works with pornographic or morbid connotations that might offend some visitors.

Source: Hypebeast

Need to see if I've earned enough allowance to cop these!!!!

Jordan Spizike's "Mars" inspired by Spike Lee's fictional character Mars Blackmon. Release date tomorrow.

Late Night with The Roots (Mixtape)

I will admit, when I heard that The Roots where going to serve as the house band for the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show I was a little skeptic. I didn't know if it was a good move for what I and many others feel is the greatest band in hip hop. I didn't want them to be looked at as washed up or selling out to work for the man. I felt that my favorite hip hop band was too good to have to play intros and outros for guest and commercial breaks. Then I had to realize that for all of the incredible albums they have put out, they never recieved the proper fruits for their labor and most of their money was made from what seemed to be endless touring. I understood that this was a great opportunity for them to finally be able to be settled in one place, make some great money, and reach an audience that undoubtly had no idea who they where. On top of that we get to see Black Thought out shine other guest MC's repeatedly. Last night Jimmy Fallon's musical guest was The Clipse. They performed "Back by popular Demand". Since Camron wasn't their, Black Thought filled in and delivered a performance that made you wish that there was an official release.......Guess what I found today???????

                                                                Click here to download

I always thought this was a dope performance......D'Angelo "Chicken Grease"

Check out a young Anthony Hamilton singing back up...

New Blu Album!

                                                                 Click here to download

Lil Wayne "On Fire"

The Art of the cover...

The highest form of flatery for an artist is to have one of their songs covered by another artist. That is unless it is Weird Al Yankovic. More times than not, the cover never stands up to the brilliance of the original and you're left saying "some songs are just not meant to be touched".  However there are some instances where an artist forms a bond with the music and lyrics that where written by or for somebody else and gives the song a new life. Two really great examples of this are Otis Redding's version of "Try a little Tenderness" (recorded in 1966). This song was originally recorded in 1933 and covered a number of times by several recording artists but when Otis Redding sang that song it forever became his. Another example would be Luther Vandross' cover of  "A House is not a home" which was originally recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1964. This song is and will forever be Luther's. The most recent instance of somebody completely taking  ownership of a song is The Noisettes cover of The Killers "When we where young". The Noisetts absolutely got everything right about thier version. Definitely check out the Noisettes. They are a indie rock band out of London. This is one of many dope things that my father in law turned me on to


The Killers


Noisettes

There is an app for that!!!

Unveiled at the COP15 United Nations Climate Conference, The Copenhagen Wheel transforms ordinary bicycles into hybrid e-bikes that also function as mobile sensing units. “The Copenhagen Wheel allows you to capture the energy dissipated while cycling and braking and save it for when you need a bit of a boost. Controlled through your smartphone, it also maps pollution levels, traffic congestion, and road conditions in real-time. The Copenhagen Wheel project demonstrates that small intelligent implementations can lead to major changes.” Check out the video for a full demonstration.





Source: Highsnobiety

This is really cool!

Peter Ammentorp works his magic in this awesome video of him making an avatar of his own. Inspired by James Cameron’s new film, the photoshop wizard spent a couple of hours with this new creation. Definitely a cool clip, backed by the original soundtrack from the film. Check it out!



Birth of an AVATAR from Peter Ammentorp Lund on Vimeo.

New Gil Scott-Heron!

New music from the forthcoming album I'm New Here by the Legendary Gil Scot-Heron due Feb. 9

                                          Click here for link

The Nexus One

We need another Black Star album soon!

Reflection Eternal - The REUnion Mixtape

Click here for link

Don't call it a comeback

One of the people I have my eye on for 2010 is non other that former Roc-a-fella label head Dame Dash. And so should you. After a tumultuous year filled with rumors of financial troubles and a well publicized split from clothing designer Rachel Roy, many counted Damon Dash out. Never shy of adversity Dash has alingned himself with a unlikely group of artists and recently released a compilation CD title BLAKROC. The highly independent project which was produced exclusively by the blues/rock group The Black Keys, featured Mos Def,Jim Jones, RZA, Q Tip and a host of other hip hop artists. To top it off the project was only made available at fine independent retailers and ITunes. Also Dash has recently opened DD172. An art gallery that doubles as a creative space for musicians to vibe and let their creative juices flow. This may seem totally opposite of the lifestyle Dame Dash is known for but trust me when I say he is on to something. Dame is a smart dude and sometimes it takes a little serving of humble pie to bring out the hustle in someone. Mark my words Dame Dash will be a major player some industry in 2010. Kanye told you Diamonds are forever!!!!!


DD172 GALLERY from Creative Control on Vimeo.

You are welcome!!!!!!

Hello all! As we bring to end another year, I have decided to do something that I've thought about for a while now but never got around to it......BLOG! I was inspired to do this by my wife. I've long been a fan of creative people and this is my way of celebrating them. Every piece of architecture, every work of art, every vehicle we drive started with a thought of what could be. It is absolutely amazing what can become from a simple pondering thought.

The meaning behind the title Ponder Playhouse is a nod to the kid in me. We are all kids at heart, the difference is in the toys that we long for. What once was a Tonka truck has now become a Range Rover. Ladies, what once was that beautiful doll house has now become a modern loft in the heart of Manhattan filled with professional grade stainless steel appliances. This blog will give you a look into my imaginary toy chest filled with everything that I feel is fresh and innovative. I will also throw in things that are timeless and deserve to be acknowledged and from time to time something that left me wondering WTF!

I invite you all contribute to this blog by sharing with me what you feel deserves to be added and shared with the viewers of this blog. All postings are up for discussion so if there is something that you have an opinion on please feel free to share.

I look forward to this journey into the blogosphere and thank you for joining me!!!!