I am not one of those people that think that Facebook is horrible or will damage the world, the Fonejacker video for it makes me laugh incredibly.

Cripes, I have been submerged in technology just recently, buying phones, computers, chargers, batteries and so much more that it doesn’t bare thinking about (or matter). After wildly talking about the G1 for the past few days the lovely Gabby at Blood is the new Black sent me a lovely t-shirt penned by the lovely Porous Walker.

I like receiving things so keep them coming. A very special thanks to Gabby over at Blood is the new Black who is apparently the most amusing and amused person in the world. Y’know what today has just been lovely, in a nice and cold way.

The lovely chaps at Digital Gravel sent me a lovely shirt today, although I do have the political knowledge of a 6-year-old it is just nice to see a shirt with some form of mixed meaning. There is no better feeling than someone looking at your shirt and not fully understanding who or what it is. Come to think of it that is probably why I am in this game…

I don’t think that I need to say much else apart from that Ron English is an amazing artist and that Digital Gravel and thoroughly nice chaps. Oh and when my Mum saw this shirt she said “Crikey! Doesn’t it look like him.” whatever that means. Onwards and Upwards!

It has been a long time since I have actually looked forward to buying an album. It has also been a long time since I looked forward to an artist’s work and it actually lived up to the hype. I hate it when people accuse musicians of going in a new direction and it doesn’t work before they have even given them a chance. This is very true of Kanye West, people’s opinions that I actually trusted were saying the album was his worst yet after listening to 30 seconds of each track, shame really. I can quite honestly say this is a very good piece of work. Easily equal to the rest of his material. Just because he doesn’t rap as much on this album doesn’t automatically make it awful.

Not that I have looked… but this album in it’s full quality is impossible to get from blogs, torrents, limewire etc or however you cool kids get your music nowadays as I believe it has been someones job up until recently to close down these outlets for Kanye West. So before you go and listen to the tracks on youtube in zero class quality, pause and ask yourself if you need those dunks and if the answer is “No” spend £10 and Kanye’s album as I am certain you will love it. If not you still get to look at amazing art work and listen to Young Jeezy kill it.

So now I have to go and listen to the album. One nice little touch is the fold out tribute to his late mother. That’s all you need to do in order to pay homage.

Any Suggestions?

Still who cares. If you like Mr. Potato Heads as much as I do you have to go and check out Spud’s Travels seeing really is believing!

It is a lovely feeling to come home from a somewhat lackluster day to a pile of post. It always makes me smile when I see the manilla coloured paper with my name and address emblazoned across it. Sometimes I am let down, but today I received a shirt from our lovely friend at the Epidemik Coalition, Ted, the man is lovely, from Atlanta and if you haven’t bought any of his t-shirts or read his blog go and do so it makes for some good literary food.

Here are some of the other things I got in the post with a special thanks to S. Taylor for the pencils, they will come in handy when doodling.

Well friends you can keep the post coming and I look forward to receiving a pair of Johnson shoes from the Hundreds. Wink Wink Nudge Nudge!

As I have said before one of the very best things about having a clothing company is meeting people that have similar interests to you and making friends. Mayer Hawthorne Stone Throw records’ latest signing is one of these such people, he managed to take some time out to chat to T BIRDS about lots of things. Click on the video to hear his latest single.

Hello Mayer Hawthorne, How’re you?

How do you do? My single is out, Obama is in. Life is great!

Music seems to be something that you are rather good at, what on earth made you want to do that?

My parents were both very musical. My pops played bass guitar and taught me to play when I was 10 years old. Moms made me take piano lessons which I hated and quit. I wish I would have stuck with it! Thanks Mom and Dad!

Who are your influences?

I love all kinds of music from Rap to Heavy Metal to Jazz - but as far as Soul goes, Smokey Robinson and Curtis Mayfield are my biggest influences.

How on earth did you get signed to Stones Throw?

I moved to LA about 3 years ago. A mutual friend introduced me to PB Wolf at a party and I sent him some tracks. He didn’t understand what they were at first, but once he realized that I wrote, played and sang the songs, he signed me the next week.

We here at T BIRDS love your retro sound is there any special way of recording it?

I record almost everything in my bedroom at home. It’s important for me to feel comfortable and take my time when I record. Sometimes I’ll play a bassline 100 times until I get the feel I heard in my head. I’m obviously inspired by the classic doo-wop / motown sound but it’s important to update it - it’s not just a retro thing. I think that’s where a lot of artists go wrong.

I hear that Mark Ronson likes you, in a musical way, how does that feel?

I just met Mark for the first time in New York. He doesn’t take the music (or himself) too seriously which is a great thing. He’s produced a lot of incredible music, so I’m definitely honored that he’s diggin my songs.

This is a question I want to ask you, why is the first vinyl single red and in the shape of a heart?

I wanted to do something memorable for my first single. I have an old Bobby Caldwell single that’s on red, heart-shaped vinyl. I asked the label if they would press my single like that and they did it! Thanks to Joey Joints and Stones Throw for that!

Lets get down to business when can we get your album?

I’m almost finished recording the album. We don’t have a release date yet, but look for it in 2009.

Is there any special treats that we can expect?

Yes, but I can’t reveal anything just yet…

Now for a quick question round. Tupac or Biggie?

I’m gonna catch some nasty flack for this in LA, but I gotta go with Biggie!

Michigan or California?

Michigan will always be my home, but I’m loving Los Angeles right now!

Tea or Coffee?

They both put me to sleep haha!

Football or Soccer? (Bare in mind we are an English site!)

Believe it or not, I played Soccer for many years growing up. I watch more football nowadays though. Go Lions!

Thank you very much Mayer Hawthorne is there anything else that you would like to say or people to say hello to?

Big up A-Side Worldwide, Alex Robinson and the whole UK massive!

Some of the more attentive blog readers will notice that I said that I was off to a little concert this week and here are some of the highlights of the intimate gig. I want to write more, but I am tired and have spent far too traveling. No offence to our lovely friends from Keele, but I never want to see your motor-way service station ever again.

The event was at a private club inside the O2 arena, which I must say is much bigger than I ever thought that it would be.

To be brutally honest Wyclef was amazing and was plastered towards the end of the show, which only explains the facial expression and why he is in a vest. He did perform for three hours (!!!) so I guess he was allowed to be a little tipsy. Lots of other things happened, however I am not permitted to discuss.

All in all a wonderful nights entertainment. Thanks to Rik at Motorola for letting me take the trip down and organizing the travel even if it did take the same amount of time to get to London and and back as it would to get to Los Angeles, but who cares…

I got sent a lovely package today from my chum NGU today. Along with my lovely package he also threw in some random stuff like underground tickets, elastic bands and much more. Aside from that he sent me a lovely ‘zine.

Inside there are stickers, badges and even a little ‘zine. How lovely.

It’s a lovely story about one chap’s life. So e-mail NGU now and ask him for one. Failing that just kick yourself about how you missed the opportunity to get one.

Tomorrow I am off to a secret location for a concert. Cripes! It is almost like I am relatively important.