The Halftime Steez

VaLINtines Day Massacre

2012-02-15T02:38:00.000-08:00

Gotta love the confidence. Quit hatin', Floyd, this boy is balLIN!

Damn right, Kardashian!

2012-01-12T02:46:00.000-08:00

The official lineup for Coachella 2012 is up...

2012-01-10T05:55:00.000-08:00

Really, I'm just going to let this poster do the talking.

Half-man, Half...

2012-01-07T22:54:00.000-08:00

At 34-going-on-35 years old, Vince Carter is nowadays more "half-man, half-of-himself" than "half-man, half-amazing". However, this facial serves notice to all y'all D-Rose marks out there: VC still got those shox in his soles. Excuse me, Emeka Okafor.

The 2K11 Mixtape

2012-01-07T21:23:00.000-08:00

Time flies so damn fast. It seems like it was only yesterday, when we celebrated the dawning of a new year, a new decade, a new NBA champion, and a new Justin Bieber hairdo (oh, wait a minute...). It also seemed like yesterday when saw, heard, and then lost some of the most relevant musical heroes of yesterday and today: Amy Winehouse, Nate Dogg, DJ Mehdi and Gil Scott-Heron amongst others.

While 2012 has, indeed, come upon us, it feels just as appropriate to look back at some of the dopest music from the year 2K11.

Listen. Download. Put this in your players.

The 2K11 Mixtape by daveyyy

Tracklist:

1. Adele & Jamie XX vs Cecile, Mr Lexx & Timberlee - Rolling In The Heat (The Heatwave Refix)
2. Grouplove - Colours (Xaphoon Jones Mega Edit)
3. SebastiAn - Embody
4. Wale Feat. Big Sean - Slight Work
5. M83 - Midnight City
6. Nicki Minaj - Your Love
7. Santigold Feat. Karen O - Go!
8. The Strokes - Under Cover of Darkness
9. Justice - Newlands
10. Carte Blanche Feat. Alexis Taylor - With You
11. Kid Gloves - Below The Belt
12. Donaeo - Check My Swagga Out
13. Skrillex - Rock 'n Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain)
14. Rihanna Feat. Calvin Harris - We Found Love
15. Duck Sauce - Big Bad Wolf
16. Riton - Dark Place
17. Laidback Luke & Sander Van Doorn - Who's Wearing the Cap? (A-Trak Remix)
18. Big Sean Feat. Kanye West - Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay
19. SBTRKT - Wildfire
20. Jay-Z & Kanye West - Niggas in Paris
21. DJ Khaled Feat. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil' Wayne - I'm On One
22. Drake - Headlines
23. Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie XX - I'll Take Care of You
24. Drake Feat. Rihanna - Take Care
25. The Rapture - How Deep is Your Love
26. Blawan - Getting Me Down
27. Rick Ross - I Love My Bitches
28. Pusha T Feat. Tyler, The Creator - Trouble On My Mind
29. J. Cole - Work Out
30. Frank Ocean - Novacane
31. Death Cab For Cutie - You're a Tourist
32. Beastie Boys Feat. Santigold - Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win

Watch The Throne

2011-12-24T10:34:00.000-08:00

The NBA is Back. The World Champion Dallas Mavericks is back. Tyson Chandler, Caron Butler, JJ Barea is out. In comes Lamar Odom-Kardashian, Delonte "I slept with Lebron's momma" West and Vinstanity himself, Vince Carter. A crazy season starts in less than 48 hours.

About time to defend the chip and kick another bandwagon team's butt (s/o to all the good folks in Los Angeles).

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

2011-12-24T10:13:00.000-08:00

The October 2011 Mixtape

2011-11-01T01:45:00.000-07:00

Justice - Newlands

Major Lazer Feat. The Partysquad - Original Don

Wale Feat. Big Sean - Slight Work

Kaskade & Skrillex - Lick It

Nas - Nasty

Riton - Dark Place

Rihanna Feat. Calvin Harris - We Found Love

J. Cole - Work Out

Big Sean Feat. Kanye West & Roscoe Dash - Marvin Gaye and Chardonnay

Blawan - Getting Me Down

Basquiat x Reebok Pump Omni Lite

2011-10-31T23:48:00.000-07:00

Look, the Reebok Pump Omni Lite is already a classic in itself (Dee Brown, anybody?), but when you infuse this iconic pair with the work of a world-renowned artist that is the late Jean-Michel Basquiat, then you would have an insane collaboration that is set to knock anyone's socks off. Wonder if this reaches MNL? (via sneakerfiles)

Duck Sauce - Big Bad Wolf (Video)

2011-10-27T21:38:00.000-07:00

Jordan: Love The Game

2011-10-24T21:50:00.000-07:00

Peep this cool TV spot for Jordan Brand, featuring three of its top endorsers Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony as they take the streets of Miami, New Orleans, New York and Beijing. Playing alongside local Joes, Jewish priests, an all-girl prep team, hipsters and Chinese kids, this video should inspire all you basketball junkies to lace up and take the court no matter what. #lockout

Hamilo Coast Weekend

2011-10-22T07:33:00.000-07:00

Spent this past weekend at the Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club, an exclusive resort compound at Hamilo Coast, Nasugbu, Batangas, a few hours south of MNL. I said "exclusive" because the place is apparently for members only. Definitely blessed to be able to experience "the life" here, albeit for three short days only.

The BEST Aioli mayo dip I have ever tasted...

Drake - Headlines (Video)

2011-10-03T06:04:00.000-07:00

I seriously don't get what's all the hating going on towards Drake. I mean, admit it, with the exception of established cats like Jay, 'Ye and Weezy, today's mainstream rap would be plain dirt crap without Drizzy.

Anyhow, here's Aubrey's recently released vid for "Headlines", one of my favorite jams as of the moment off that Take Care album. Peep the Eminem-inspired Nike get-up, as well as that cool elevator shot!

Victor Ortiz just got got

2011-09-18T06:49:00.000-07:00

In one of the most bizarre moments in sporting history, Floyd Mayweather delivered his version of a "sucker punch" on a vulnerable Victor Ortiz to re-claim the WBC welterweight championship belt.

Money May fell victim to a nasty Ortiz headbutt late in the 4th round. While referee Joe Cortez called for a break, Ortiz went to Mayweather to apologize. Unfortunately for the talented and inexperienced Ortiz, his apology seemed too much that the undefeated champ found a way to knock him off his feet while the ref wasn't looking.

In the brilliant words of my current favorite WWE wrestler, Ortiz just got got! I guess it's not an unfamiliar territory for Mayweather. He did try to vouch for a pro wrestling career as he fought The Big Show at Wrestlemania 24.

While the final moments of the fight was already too good for TV, Floyd's post-match interview with HBO's Larry Merchant was the stuff of legends.

Talk about great moments in pay-per-view history. Larry Merchant is golden.

The Sptember 2011 Mixtape: DJ Mehdi Edition

2011-09-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

You know I'm always in for the lateness when it comes to putting up my monthly mixtapes, but Imma be a bit earlier than usual for this mix dedicated to the one and only Memed. Put one up for Mehdi as we take a look back at some of his dopest tunes!

Mr. 600

2011-09-14T01:59:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera for earning his 600th career save, one shy of the all-time record, as they beat the Seattle Mariners 3-2 earlier. Here's Mo hugging it out with Derek Jeter aka "Mr. 3000". Props!

Rest in Power, Mehdi!

2011-09-13T08:49:00.000-07:00

And we lost another one.

So I got off work. Turned up my twitter and got word of, possibly, the saddest news I've heard in a while.

Yes, it is true, DJ Mehdi aka "The French Pharrell" has passed away. He was 34.

The news got me real shook. It is both shocking and unfortunate for him to go down at a time when he is in the middle of, probably, the most exciting stretch of his career as a DJ and a producer for the world-famous Ed Banger Records. Aside from his seemingly non-stop tours all over the globe, he was always consistent in churning out the dopest remixes, as well as some of his original production. Last year, he teamed up with Riton to form Carte Blanche, a DJ-duo aimed to bring back old skool house flavor. The project was too good that it garnered considerable buzz all over the internet (and has been featured on this blog numerous times).

What separates Mehdi from the rest of his peers is his energy behind the wheels of steel. The way he moves and grooves to the beat is something I don't usually see even from the wildest of electro DJ's. Mehdi definitely put the "soul" into Dance Music, and for that, he will never be forgotten.

Rest in Power!

More on DJ Mehdi tomorrow. As for now, I suggest you check out his awesome blog. Definitely one of the coolest as it has been well-maintained despite his busy touring sked.

New Balance & Clinton Sparks: Where Are You Running to Next?

2011-09-12T22:08:00.000-07:00

New Balance has always been known as a stand-alone athletic brand. Meaning, no celebrity or big-time athlete endorsers and no manufacturing units in China or Vietnam. But this hasn't stopped the Boston-based footwear company in branching out to new heights, both in sports and in lifestyle. In this particular video, they tapped DJ/all-around entertainer Clinton Sparks as he goes through a day in his life running, working and inspiring with NB's on his feet.

The August 2011 Mixtape

2011-09-07T21:16:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit late as usual, but here are the standout tracks from the month of August:

Cassius - Sound of Violence (Aeroplane Remix)

SebastiAn Feat. M.I.A. - CTFO

Drake - Headlines

Kid Gloves - Below The Belt

Skrillex - Reptile's Theme (Mortal Kombat OST)

Ludacris Feat. Waka Flocka Flame - Rich & Flexin'

Nike We Run Manila 2011

2011-09-06T06:32:00.000-07:00

After last year's successful Nike Run Manila 5K event, the swoosh brand is at it again as they launch the Nike We Run Manila 2011.

Happening at the Bonifacio Global City on October 15th, Nike does a complete switch-up compared to last year with a 10K night run.

Definitely a race that you and I should not miss. I have been looking for a good race to run in, and knowing how Nike organized last year's 5K, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to get my money's worth.

Check out www.facebook.com/NikeRunningPH for more info.

Louis Vuitton City Guides - London

2011-09-06T01:35:00.000-07:00

Another gem I got off the webs. This Roman Chassaing-directed mini documentary shot in London is the first of Louis Vuitton's all-new city guide series giving you the best of the best when it comes to wardrobe staples from around the world.

Turning Alpha

2011-09-05T22:53:00.000-07:00

Wasn't able to pay much attention to it the first time it went around style blogs and whatnot, but I'm definitely feeling the new attitude as well as the direction Dockers is going into with the release of the Alpha Khaki. While I think their "khakis over jeans" campaign seems overly ambitious considering the massive popularity and versatility of denim pants, Dockers came correct in terms of touching base with a younger yet more refined market demographic.

I'm in the hunt for a perfect pair of khakis and my gut feel tells me that I'm gonna love the Alpha Khakis. Also, the campaign video is dopeness.

Recap: Pacquiao-Marquez III World Press Tour - Manila

2011-09-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

As the cliche goes, "it ain't over 'till it's over".

And so, with one fighter willing to pad up his already-legendary status and another about to make, perhaps, his final stand inside the squared circle, a third bout between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez is given one last go.

To kick off their four-city whirlwind tour to promote the November 12 fight, Manila held serve.

This weekend, the Philippine capital was abuzz with all the Paquiao-Marquez hype. Not surprising, given the fact that this was the very first time that a boxing press tour of this caliber took place in the country. Busy Saturday started with a sit-down press conference with mediamen at the Manila Hotel.

The photo above shows Marquez, better known as "Dinamita", addressing his stand to the ultra-attentive media audience. What was his stand? According to JMM, he (and all of his 37 year-old frame) is still the only fighter in the world who can stand toe-to-toe with the "Pacman".

Not-so-attentive was the fighting pride of the Philippines. Having woken up a bit late for the press conference, Manny Pacquiao is shown here with both framed eyes on his BlackBerry (texting? tweeting?) while Top Rank boss Bob Arum answers some questions.

After the Q&A, both fighters stood next to each other in front of the stage and was given boxing gloves. For an impromptu fight, perhaps?

Unfortunately for me, the chance of seeing the actual Pacquiao-Marquez bout right then and there went kaput. The gloves were for the fighters to sign and then to be raffled off to some lucky... scratch that... VERY LUCKY mediamen in attendance.

This I can say: Juan-Ma, as well as the small Mexican contingent present was well-received in what whould have been considered as "enemy territory".

A few hours later, the Pacquiao-Marquez Action spilled outside of the Manila Hotel and into the jam-packed Quirino Grandstand. Here, the thousands in attendance were treated to variety show, with song and dance performances featuring popular Philippine celebrities.

But, undoubtedly, the biggest stars of this weekend were these two warriors.

Another Q&A was set up. Here's Manny addressing the adoring crowd. Later, he'd challenge Marquez in a basketball game, particularly if the third fight ends in controversy. After which, Pacman proceeds to promote his game show "Manny Many Prizes", which had a live broadcast here to cap the festivities.

All in all, a great way to kick-start this return bout. While I never hid my skepticism with regards to this match (I thought JMM's counter-punching has diminished), seeing both Pacquiao and Marquez in the flesh made me believe that there's definitely something to look forward to in November.

New Kicks: Jordan Team ISO

2011-09-04T06:48:00.000-07:00

Had to search through outlets these past few weeks for a decent enough pair of kicks for basketball. You see, I've been itching to play ball with friends quite recently. Problem is that I haven't had a proper pair of bball shoes since, what, sophomore high school?

So, with a skinny jean-tight budget and an ultra-wide feet, I ended up with this pair of Jordan Team ISO's. I would have wanted to pick up a pair of Lebron 8's if I had the size. Unfortunately, size 9.5's were nada.

This pair, however, felt good the first time I played with it. While it lacks the looks and the flair of past Team Jordans, the ISO (ISO II's are out at your nearest Nike Park/Stadium stores) had solid traction as well as comfort. In fact, I was able to experience its Zoom Air cushioning in full effect during sprints and quick cuts on the court. Solid, no-frills pair. Can't wait to play in these again.

Sneakerhead, meet Jordan Michael Geller

2011-08-23T20:49:00.000-07:00

How do you define a "sneakerhead"?

Is it all about the quantity of pairs that one should own? Is sneaker collecting all about rareness of one's pairs, or what we refer to now as "exclusives" or "1-of-1's"? Are you still considered a sneakerhead if you wear your collectibles on the daily commute?

For sure, there are many definitions into the word, but let me present to you the case of one Jordan Geller. He started collecting (and selling on eBay) vintage Nike sneakers through swap meets with a $300 budget. Fast forward to now, he has amassed a collection at an estimated amount of about 2,000 pairs of Nike kicks. Some vintage and some totally hard-to-find, while others readily available at local stores.

But here's the catch: this isn't his "personal" collection, mind you. Geller, wanting to share his sneaker story to the world, assembled this massive collection into a warehouse and made it into an exhibit of sorts. Aptly, he calls it the "ShoeZeum", where he is also the curator.

In this video, you'll get a comprehensive 11-minute tour of the ShoeZeum (2,000 pairs and all), with no less than Geller taking you for a part-educational, part mind-boggling ride.

Whether or not you think Geller is a genuine "sneakerhead", is up to you to decide. However, what he has contributed to the world of athletic footwear is both undeniable and indelible.

The July 2011 Mixtape

2011-07-31T05:40:00.000-07:00

It's mixtape time once again! As we cross-out another month off the 2011 calendar, here are the top five spins from July!

Duck Sauce - Big Bad Wolf

Frank Ocean - Thinking About You

Jay Z and Kanye West - Otis

Carte Blanche Feat. Alexis Taylor - With You

Pusha T Feat. Tyler, The Creator - Trouble on My Mind

Vids from the Smart Ultimate All Star Weekend

2011-07-31T03:55:00.000-07:00

Kobe Doin' Work in Manila (photo from Interaksyon.com)

Needless to say, last weekend's Ultimate All Star Weekend was one not to be missed. And despite the very short notice of the event and the madness that was the nationwide ticket-hunt that naturally followed, me and my pals were able to score seats, albeit a few rows higher than desired.

Despite that, we were able to bask in the glory of being at THE basketball capital of the world (for two days, at least) and see true NBA stars in the flesh performing massive dunks that we only see previously on a TV screen, with video game controllers on our hands.

And despite the rowdiness of our section (one that rivals that of unruly football fans), I was able to take videos:

Tip-off!!

Kevin Durant's familiar step-back J... in back-to-back fashion!

James Harden and Chris Paul hitting the racks at the Halftime 3 pt. Shootout

BONUS (not my vids): Plays of the Night... Kobe to D-Rose, then KD to The Beard!

Ultimate Weekend

2011-07-31T02:52:00.000-07:00

Seven months in, 2011 has had one of the busiest and weirdest stretches, particularly in the sport of basketball.

In May, we witnessed one of the most exciting NBA Playoffs in decades. In June, a new champion was crowned as we said our collective bye-byes to two of the most dominant big men in the game.

July came and the news of an impending lockout got us all shook as news spread of big-names planning shrewd moves to European landscapes dominated our twitter timelines. And while the whole basketball universe still looms of quiet uncertainty, a certain former MVP and his band of stars and stars-to-be were planning on a Southeastern tour of duty like no other.

The line outside Araneta, a few minutes before tip-off.

Billed as the "Ultimate All Star Weekend", the feel of northern Manila's Smart Araneta Colosseum last weekend was as good as advertised.

With names like Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Chris Paul and Kevin Durant suiting up against an all-pro selection from the Philippine Basketball Association and the Smart Gilas national squad on consecutive nights, local hoop-heads were left with no other choice than to beast on tickets for this history-making tiff.

Both squads get set for tip-off at the historic Smart Araneta Colosseum

With thousands of Filipino hoop fans -- mostly clad in replica jerseys of their favorite superstars -- packed like sardines inside "The Big Dome", one can easily sense the nation's hunger for a star-studded gathering just like this one. Although the annual NBA all-star game is always a spectacle in itself when shown on Philippine free TV, seeing these exact same big names live in the home turf was extra special.

While both local teams tried their darnedest to catch up on their bigger and more athletic US counterparts on both nights, the NBA selection (deemed the "Smart All-Stars") ruled the historic building with jaw-dropping dunks and finesse plays that wowed the game Manila crowd from start to finish.

All in all, with numerous news outlets all over the globe having caught wind, this weekend of gargantuan proportions was one for the history books.

In a year when basketball went from an all-time high, and then back down the lockout route, its sworn soldiers looked elsewhere and found a new haven for competition and supreme admiration.

In July 2011, Manila, Philippines was THE hoop haven.

July 23, I can't freakin' wait!!!

2011-07-20T01:04:00.000-07:00

Entourage Season 8 Trailer

2011-07-10T08:44:00.000-07:00

One of the best TV series ever created is down to its final few episodes. Let's all say goodbye to Vinny Chase and Co. this month!

Nike Sportswear VT Pack

2011-07-06T22:26:00.000-07:00

Can I get a WHEATness? (via HB)

The Roots for John Varvatos Fall/Winter 2011

2011-07-03T21:43:00.000-07:00

"You are now listening to the sounds... of the Legendary Foundation"

The June 2011 Mixtape

2011-07-03T20:44:00.000-07:00

Yupyup, The Steez is up back and running with five of the freshest tracks from last month. Listennn!

Bassnectar - Upside Down

Karen O and Santigold - Go!

Drake - Trust Issues

Boy 8-Bit - Fire Extinguisher

Mayer Hawthorne - Don't Turn the Lights On (Chromeo Cover)

EPIC

2011-06-14T22:57:00.000-07:00

Finally, the folks at Nike came correct! I need to see this posted at the stores. Cheers, CounterKicks!

Never Forget

2011-06-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

The pain of playoff failures...

... finally erased

The haunting championship demon...

... has been exorcised!

Finally... well deserved!

*Takes deep breath* Congratulations to the Dallas Mavericks... YOUR 2010-2011 NBA Champions!!

Beats, Rhymes and Life Trailer

2011-06-06T22:47:00.000-07:00

A full-length feature documenting the beats, rhymes and life of arguably one of the most influential acts in Hip Hop, A Tribe Called Quest. If you consider yourself a Hip Hop head and a certified Tribe fan, then you must see this. Big ups to Michael Rappaport for putting this one together.

Yep, he did it again!

2011-06-02T21:44:00.001-07:00

The April-May 2011 Mixtape

2011-05-31T04:09:00.000-07:00

As promised, ten fresh tracks that got the most spins in the summer months of April and May.

Adele & Jamie XX vs Cecile, Mr. Lexx & Timberlee - Rolling in the Heat (Heatwave Refix)

DJ Khaled Feat. Drake, Lil' Wayne & Rick Ross - I'm On One

SebastiAn Feat. Mayer Hawthorne - Love in Motion

Marble Players - Marble Anthem

Rogerseventytwo - Take Me Higher

Beastie Boys Feat. Santigold - Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win

SebastiAn - Embody (DJ Premier 95 Break remix)

Crookers & Savage Skulls - Bust 'Em Up

Swizz Beatz Feat. Eve - Everyday (Coolin')

Afrojack & R3hab - Aces High (Prutataaa)

NBA Finals Preview: The Good Guys

2011-05-30T23:27:00.000-07:00

Go Mavs!!

NBA FInals Preview: The Bad Guys

2011-05-30T23:21:00.000-07:00

Beat the Heatles!!

"Tarantino: The Disciple of Hong Kong" Trailer

2011-05-30T23:16:00.000-07:00

A Tarantino documentary featuring my (and your) heroes of Hong Kong cinema. Gotta see this!

Gone Fishing, Part Tres

2011-05-30T22:50:00.000-07:00

Chicago Bulls

Regular Season: 62-20 (League Best)

Playoff Downfall: Succumbed to the Miami Heat Big Three and... and... well... the Miami Heat Big Three in five.

Wha Happened?: See "Miami Heat Big Three". Also, see "Derrick Rose Playoff Shooting Percentage" and "Carlos Boozer".

Oklahoma City Thunder

Regular Season: 55-27 (4th in the West)

Playoff Downfall: Trounced by the Dallas Mavericks in five games.

Wha Happened?: Blew 15 and 8-point 4th quarter leads in games 4 and 5, respectively. Also, see "Russell Westbrook 4th Quarter Shooting" and "Dirk Nowitzki one-legged Euro-leaner".

Marc Jacobs x New Era Fitteds

2011-05-26T23:15:00.000-07:00

Never seen this coming. Reminded me of when Phil Collins sang on a Bone Thugs track...

via Hypebeast

THE Office

2011-05-24T21:33:00.000-07:00

A look inside the mind of Nike CEO Mark Parker through his everyday workspace (via slamxhype):

Macho Gone

2011-05-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard, ladies and gentlemen, we lost another one.

The "Macho Man" Randy Savage passed away a couple of hours ago due to a car accident. His brother, Lenny, confirmed that the multi-decorated wrestling legend suffered a heart attack while behind the wheel which caused his unfortunate demise.

The master of the Flying Elbow was 58.

Macho during his evil nWo days...

"Ooh Yeah!!"

Gone Fishing, Part Deuce

2011-05-16T20:46:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles Lakers

Season: 57-25 (2nd in the West)

Playoffs: S.W.E.P.T. by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round

Wha Happened?: Pau Gasol broke up with his fiancee (apparently thanks to Kobe Bryant and his wife)... Lamar Odom-Kardashian feeling the pressure of starring in a Hollywood reality show... Matt Barnes forgot to lay the blueprint out... and, oh, Shannon Brown swept himself!

Boston Celtics

Season: 56-26 (3rd in the East)

Playoffs: Ceremoniously axed in the 2nd round by the Miami Heat in 5 games.

Wha Happened?: Traded their best big man, Kendrick Perkins, as well as backup guard (and No. 1 Cheerleader) Nate Robinson to the Oklahoma City Thunder...had no answer for Lebron James and Dwayne Wade...

Memphis Grizzlies

Season: 46-36 (8th in the West)

Playoffs: Slayed by the Thunder in 7 thrilling games.

Wha Happened?: The Grizz have been awesome in these playoffs, but just like every Hail Mary postseason run, it has to end somewhere. And it ended in OKC, particularly, in the hands of one Kevin Durant.

Atlanta Hawks

Season: 44-38 (5th in the East)

Playoffs: Bounced by the Chicago Bulls in 6 games.

Wha Happened?: Despite the combined talents of these Hawks, no one could keep up with NBA MVP Derrick Rose the whole series.

From 16, down to 8. And now, down to the final four. This Conference Finals promises to be one helluva slobber-knocker (word to Jim Ross).

Oprah x Nike LunarGlide 2

2011-05-16T03:47:00.000-07:00

One day, Phil Knight stopped by Oprah's TV show:


"Phil, are your sure about this new running joint you got here?"

"Shiit! This even got my name on it..."

"Damn, this joint is hot fiyyyahh! Phil, you better hook Gayle up with these!"

"People, I'm telling you, these LunarGlides are da bomb! It's like me sittin' on a pile of cash..."

"Thank you, Jesus. These LunarGlides are fucken awesome! BANANAS!!"

Of course, everyone in attendance got their pairs! Of course, Oprah. Of course.

Thom Yorke DJ Set

2011-05-16T02:00:00.000-07:00

Since everyone and their moms are DJ-ing in today's world, why can't Thom Freakin' Yorke, right?

Flash Lightning!

2011-05-15T21:18:00.000-07:00

The paycheck came. I was determined to restrain myself from splurging.

Instead, I gave in. The paycheck went, just as it came.

Cash was drained in a flash, as if it was hit by lightning!

"Lightning Flash", it is aptly called. From the Swatch Jeremy Scott Collection. Very limited quantities. The Swatch lady told me they only had two in-stock when I was there. I thought to myself, "I just had to have it".

And so I Robocopped with the quickness!

It's in times like these that I remember this particular song:

Damn.

So the OKC Thunder it is... GO MAVS!!

2011-05-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

Dat New New: Wee Da Bess

2011-05-15T06:59:00.000-07:00

Alright! Since I wasn't able to make my April '11 mixtape and it's obviously too darn late to do so, let me make up to y'all by posting TEN (10) stand-out tracks at the end of the month as this blog's upcoming April-May 2011 mixtape. How's that?

Meanwhile, here's something new from DJ Khaled. Yep, that annoying-as-hell "DJ". Dude came through on this one, though, through the aid of his longtime comrades, Rick Ross, Drake and Lil' Wayne. Solid beat, not to mention less Khaled-ness on this track, too. For all the hip-hop fiends out there.

DOWNLOAD: DJ Khaled Feat. Rick Ross, Drake and Lil' Wayne - I'm On One

BONUS: possibly the closest thing that I've seen Khaled "DJ-ing" lol :p

My name is DJ Khaled. I can scratch. Just not on my records.

By popular demand...

2011-05-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

The most sought-after photo this past week and, by far, the most searched stuff here on the blog this year. I have journeyed through numerous sports blogs and forums just to find this, and now that I have found what many of you guys were looking for, I'm gonna give it to 'ya:

Big-ups to the good folks at PEX for this incredible photo of the great Kobe Bryant, who is about to set sail in an undisclosed location for what sure is going to be an action-packed fishing expedition. Happy trails, Kobe!

Should I allow myself to get struck by lightning?

2011-05-11T01:15:00.000-07:00

So Swatch here in the P.I. re-upped on them Jeremy Scott Lightning joints. For me, this a prime exampleof a bang-for-the-buck designer timepiece. A must-cop, especially given the fact that this particular piece sold out in a span of a few days upon release...

As another payday weekend nears, another dilemma is at hand. At P 3,500 must I Robocop or not?

This is how my officemates watch Gossip Gurl

2011-05-03T00:32:00.000-07:00

Click to enlarge

More than half of our office population loves that TV show. Looking at this illustration, it's not that hard to know why...

Cheers to my homie Jay for this crazy-ass photo!

This is me watching the last few seconds of Mavs-Lakers Game 1...

2011-05-03T00:21:00.000-07:00

Kobe gets an open look at a three... Kobe shoots it... Kobe misses. Mavs win!

New Kicks: Vans Syndicate Zero Lo

2011-05-02T06:36:00.000-07:00

A busy Moday for me today. I was only halfway through getting work done at the office after lunch when I was called to sit in two meetings at the Ortigas area in the afternoon. Was about to head home at around 6pm when I passed through Olympic Outlet at Robinsons Pioneer to check out some marked-down kicks...

As I was skimming through racks and racks of the usual sports-store fare, I found a gem. To be exact, a sample pair of Vans Syndicate Zero Lo's...

I'm not so sure how this butter-as-hell pair of Syndicates (Vans' upper-tier line) ended up at Olympic Outlet, but I suspect that this somehow got lost in the shuffle at one of those Sample Sales organized by Vans PH last year. Anyhow, I'm glad that this particular pair landed in the hands of yours truly.

Oh, and the total damage: PHP 2,799.00

Now if you're a size 9 Vans-head and still not convinced to go kick-hunting up north, I don't know what will.

Gone Fishing

2011-04-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

Surveying the damage at the end of the First Round of the NBA Playoffs...

San Antonio Spurs

Regular season record: 61-21 (1st place in the West)

1st round downfall: Bowed to the Memphis Grizzlies 4-2

What happened?: Zach Randolph aka Z-Bo happened. And not enough miracle shots to spare.

Philadelphia 76ers

Regular season record: 41-41 (7th in the East)

1st round downfall: Lost to the Miami Heat 4-1

What happened?: Lebron James wolfed them down like a breakfast burrito.

Portland Trail Blazers

Regular season record: 48-34 (6th in the West)

1st round downfall: Succumbed to the Dallas Mavericks 4-2

What happened?: despite the media hype and Brandon Roy's "this is your life" moment in game 5, the Blazers were clearly overmatched in this series.

Indiana Pacers

Regular season record: 37-45 (8th in the East)

1st round downfall: Falling to the Chicago Bulls 4-1

What happened?: nothing much, aside from the fact that they made the series more interesting than what was expected... and, perhaps, the fact that they (almost) got Derrick Rose mad heated for a second in game 4.

Denver Nuggets

Reg. season record: 50-32 (5th in the West)

1st rd. downfall: Took the L against the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1

What happened?: Kenyon Martin took too many jumpshots. JR Smith took too many jumpshots. TY Lawson wanted to be Carmelo Anthony. Danilo Gallinari wanted to be Carmelo Anthony... they just didn't have a superstar like 'Melo to save 'em no more!

New York Knicks

Reg. season record: 42-40 (6th in the East)

1st rd. downfall: Swept by the Boston Celtics in 4 games

What happened?: Unlike the Nuggets, they did have Carmelo Anthony in their lineup, but unfortunately, they lost point man Chauncey Billups and star forward Amare Stoudemire due to injuries in the series' crucial moments. Plus, giving the ball to Jarred Jeffries in a game-winning situation is NEVER a good idea.

New Orleans Hornets

Reg. season record: 46-36 (7th in the West)

1st. rd. downfall: Bamboozled by the Los Angeles Lakers 4-2

What happened?: NO did cause a scare for the Lakeshow in this series by taking an early 2-1 lead thanks to the heroics of Chris Paul. The Lakers, however, are known to push the right buttons at the right time. And Kobe Bryant really took it back to the old KB8 days with a dunk-show in game 5.

Orlando Magic

Reg season record: 52-30 (4th in the East)

1st. rd. downfall: Stunned by the Atlanta Hawks 4-2

What happened?: Great coaching strategy by the otherwise maligned Larry Drew: give Dwight Howard all the offense that he could get, and then let his teammates go cold. And, boy, the Magic went ice-cold in this series.

Been an interesting Playoffs so far. Now that the remaining teams have narrowed down to eight, I hope everyone's expecting more tightly-contested duels from hereon out.

Mavs choked...

2011-04-24T05:34:00.000-07:00

I know I should've gotten used to this years ago, but watching 'em fall apart during this crucial time of the season really stings... like a really bad headache.

Anyhow, I hope y'all had a great Easter Sunday!

What I think about when I think about Good Friday

2011-04-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

When I hear the two words "Good Friday", these things come to mind:

Of course the above pic happened at this time...

This time of the year also reminds me of the countless processions and Rosary mysteries I had to partake...

Recently, it's also usually the time for me to do some spring cleaning...

Can't eat meat during this day. So this is usually what I munch on...

Free time to watch the playoffs as well (too bad the Mavs lost earlier, though *shrug*).

All in all though, Good Friday is a great day to just sit back.Whether you're a traditional Catholic, an atheist, a Kabalah practitioner, or a pro-RH Bill soldier obviously riled up over what that Baguio Cathedral priest did a few days back, doesn't matter. It's a holiday (yeah, you too, Canadians!), a great day to come together and spread the love. After all, that's why that dude in the first pic died like that anyways.

Oh, and...

Have a great Easter weekend, y'all!

The March 2011 Mixtape

2011-04-01T00:07:00.000-07:00

Can't say hello to April yet without pulling out some of March's massive tunes...

1. SebastiAn - Embody [Ed Banger]

2. Tyga Feat. Adele - Reminded [Mixtape]

3. Justice - Civilization [Ed Banger]

4. Mr. Oizo - Let the Children Techno [Ed Banger]

5. Mstrkrft - Back in the USSA [Dim Mak]

The Fab Five

2011-03-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

Watch it here

Boracay

2011-03-14T04:34:00.000-07:00

I know everyone has been here, like, a gazillion times already. This was my first time, though. Me and the fam had fun at the beach. The food was awesome as well (I'm particularly talking about the local seafood fare). The nightlife? Well, let's just say April-May would be a better month to go to enjoy the best Bora nightlife. To describe Boracay in one line... probably the "Greenbelt of all Beaches" haha!

The February 2011 Mixtape

2011-03-02T07:13:00.000-08:00

Pardon my lateness, but here are the top tunes from the love month:

1. The Strokes - Under Cover of Darkness [RCA/Rough Trade]

2. Tyler, The Creator - Yonkers [XL]

3. Boy 8-Bit - Tropical Heat [N/A]

4. Pusha T - My God [G.O.O.D. Music]

5. Laidback Luke & Steve Aoki Feat. Lil' Jon - Turbulence [Mixmash/Dim Mak]

For pic of the year, the Oscar goes to: Justin Bieber x Tyler The Creator

2011-02-27T23:20:00.000-08:00

Photo via Complex

This comes off the heels of, what Kanyeezy dubs, as the video of the year:

R.I.P. Troy "Escalade" Jackson

2011-02-23T05:12:00.000-08:00

Dude's 400 Ibs. but still made waves in the world of streetball with the AND 1 Mixtape Tour, while smashing NBA guys like Elton Brand, etc. in the process. Troy "Escalade" Jackson definitely represented all the big guys in basketball. Respect!

The Steez: Bed Stuy Fly

2011-02-08T21:05:00.000-08:00

PRO-Keds Spring 2011 Lookbook. (via HB)

Want: New Balance M998 "Made in USA"

2011-02-04T02:58:00.000-08:00

Two words: my goodness!

(via FNG)

The Steez: Loooooooorrrrrrrd... have mercy!

2011-02-01T21:49:00.000-08:00

The best dressed cat in the game? Mos Definitely!

(via Antenna Mag)

The Steez: Amber Rose vs DMX Fit Battle

2011-02-01T21:37:00.000-08:00

So who wore them Timbs better: Kanye's ex (and now Wiz Khalifa's current flame) or the former Ruff Ryders flag-bearer?

adidas x TiteFit All-Star Jerseys

2011-02-01T19:40:00.000-08:00

Oh look, the 2010-'11 All-Star Game jerseys are out!These are actually the All-Star versions of the adidas TechFit compression undergarments worn by NBA players such as Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose (pictured). Good move, although I do not think Kobe Bryant would approve of it.

This could very well be a sign of changes that are going to happen in the NBA, garment-wise. As of this season, adidas has been pushing for a slimmer fit when it comes to the official game jerseys, particularly with the release of the Revolution 30 technology. I guess it's safe to say that we will be seeing a more tailored approach to basketball apparel in the years going forward.

Although, I gotta admit, these tight-fit jerseys look like those of the Australian Women's Basketball squad aka The Opals:

Therefore, Lauren Jackson approves! Sorry Kobe.

Project Pat aka "The Wedding Rapper"

2011-01-31T20:01:00.000-08:00

Good news for all engaged couples out there: Project Pat now performs at weddings! As a leading connoisseur of lovely tunes such as "Chickenhead" and "Don't Save Her", the Memphis legend will definitely set the tone for a heartwarming evening.

Screw boring wedding singers, R&B crooners and Mariachi bands, I want Project Pat on my wedding night!!

The January 2011 Mixtape

2011-01-31T06:27:00.000-08:00

To say that January 2011 was a blast is definitely an understatement. Aside from celebrating my 23rd year of existence, I was also blessed to have secured a gig at an events firm. A lot of usual fun stuff from the year that was 2010 -- like drinking with friends, running till my lungs collapse and spending quality time with the fam -- spilled over the new year as well.

So, without anymore babbling, thank you Jesus! Now here's the January 2011 mixtape:

1. MNDR - Cut Me Out [Green Label Sound]

2. Kanye West Ft. Rihanna, Elton John, Fergie, Kid Cudi, etc. - All of The Lights [Roc-A-Fella]

3. Tinie Tempah - Pass Out (Afrojack Remix) [Parlophone]

4. Robyn - Indestructible (A-Trak Remix) [Fool's Gold]

5. Chris Brown Ft. Busta Rhymes, Lil' Wayne, Diplo & Afrojack - Look at Me Now [Jive]

Twenty Three

2011-01-19T08:05:00.000-08:00

Since 1988. Twenty three years of existence. Thank you, Jesus!

Dat New New: Post-holiday H.A.M.

2011-01-11T18:08:00.000-08:00

Already exercised off your holiday food fest? Yep yep, we're starting the year right... with more HAM!!

Here's the first music post of the year: a fine collabo courtesy of your friendly neighborhood rappers, Kanye West and Jay-Z off their upcoming joint-album Watch The Throne. Big ups to the kid Lex Luger for another solid job on the production.

DOWNLOAD: Kanye West & Jay-Z - H.A.M.

Park Chan-wook shoots new movie using an iPhone

2011-01-10T07:16:00.000-08:00

As some of you might already know, I'm not too crazy about touchscreen-wielding iDevices as much the next guy. However, I am a HUGE fan of South Korean director Park Chan-wook, and this piece of groundbreaking news about his upcoming short-film -- one that makes good use of an Apple iPhone -- excites the hell out of me:

(Via AP)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Acclaimed South Korean film director Park Chan-wook is wielding a new cinematic tool: the iPhone.

Park, director of the internationally known "Old Boy," ''Lady Vengeance" and "Thirst," said Monday that his new fantasy-horror film "Paranmanjang" was shot entirely on Apple Inc.'s iconic smartphone.

"The new technology creates strange effects because it is new and because it is a medium the audience is used to," Park told reporters Monday.

"Paranmanjang," which means a "life full of ups and downs" in Korean, is about a man transcending his current and former lives. He catches a woman while fishing in a river in the middle of the night. They both end up entangled in the line and he thinks she is dead.

Suddenly, though, she wakes up, strangles him and he passes out. When the woman awakens him, she is wearing his clothing and he hers. She cries and calls him "father."

The movie, made on a budget of 150 million won ($133,000), was shot using the iPhone 4 and is slated to open in South Korean theaters on Jan. 27. Park made the 30-minute film with his younger brother Park Chan-kyong, also a director.

Park Chan-wook's "Old Boy," a blood-soaked thriller about a man out for revenge after years of inexplicable imprisonment, took second place at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. His vampire romance "Thirst" shared the third-place award at Cannes in 2009.

Park Chan-kyong said that a wide variety of angles and edits were possible because numerous cameras could be used.

"There are some good points of making a movie with the iPhone as there are many people around the world who like to play and have fun with them," Park Chan-wook said. Compared to other movie cameras, the iPhone was good "because it is light and small and because anyone can use it," he said.

He said the directors attached lenses to their phones and nothing was particularly different from shooting a regular movie.

Lee Jung-hyun, who plays the woman, said the film has a bit of everything.

Though it is a short film with a running time around 30 minutes it "mixes all elements from horror and fantasy to some humor," she said.

If you're not familiar with Park's style of filming, the last sentence of the above article sums it all. Having watched 2/3 of his "Vengeance Trilogy" (Lady Vengeance & Oldboy), as well as the more recent Thirst, I can say that Park's genre-bending fare proves to be very effective as it not only enhances the audience's viewing pleasure, but also gives spice to each of his film's characters, thus, igniting excellent performances from its lead actors.

If 'ya wanna know more about this director, look for his films either through the interwebs or through your friendly neighborhood dibidi man.

Will definitely look forward to seeing Paranmanjang, as well as a brand-new full length feature (I hope!) in a couple of months.

Crossed off the T-shirt grail list...

2011-01-06T21:15:00.000-08:00

Posting my first blog of the year with my very first pickup of the year: a New York Yankees team shirt, with second baseman Robinson Cano's name & jersey number at the back.

Cano had a breakout season last year, finishing with 200 hits and 109 RBI's. Also, he finished 2010 with an MLB-best fielding percentage of .996 and made it to the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Despite having big-name teammates such as Mariano Rivera, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, Cano, in my opinion, was the best player in that Yankees squad all year.

Unfortunately, coming off a World Series victory in 2009, the Yanks lost out to the Texas Rangers in last year's American League Championship Series, 4-2. Goodluck to Cano and "the most hated team in baseball" in 2011!

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T04:01:00.000-08:00

In lieu of those dangerous firecrackers, I'll give 'ya one big blow of the controversial (but less violent) vuvuzela horn to kick-off 2011. Happy new year, folks!

The Top 25 Songs of 2010: #'s 5-1

2010-12-31T02:34:00.000-08:00

Finally, we have come to The Halftime Steez's top 5 favorite tunes of 2010. But before we reveal, you might wanna (if you just wanna) check out twenty of my other favorite tunes right here:

Click here for Part 1 (#'s 25-21)

Click here for Part 2 (#'s 20-16)

Click here for Part 3 (#'s 15-11)

Click here for Part 4 (#'s 10-6)

5. Hot Chip - One Life Stand

A massive tune from their highly-anticipated 2010 LP of the same title. This became an instant fave. If you haven't heard anything from this English act, listening to this could be a start of a beautiful band-listener relationship, if there's such a thing.

4. Cee-Lo Green - Fuck You

Hands down, one of the best records of the year. Forget the "Forget You" clean version. This OG version is the real friggin' deal!

3. Mark Ronson & The Business INTL. Feat. Andrew Wyatt & Boy George - Somebody to Love Me

What can I say? Boy George is freakin' back! Him and Miike Snow's Andrew Wyatt killed this track. Big ups to Mark Ronson for putting this joint together. Just beautiful. 'Nuff said.

2. Carte Blanche Feat. Kid Sister - Do! Do! Do!

The most infectious dance track of the year. Elements of old school house and the New York vogue scene, plus a great effort by Kid Sister on the vocals. A celebration of style, substance and sound.

1. Breakbot Feat. Irfane - Baby I'm Yours

Sometimes great songs are made without any useless fuss and complications, a category in which the lovely and catchy "Baby I'm Yours" fits perfectly. With the success of this particular track, paired with the success of Carte Blanche and Uffie's respective releases, 2010 has been a good year for the great folks at Ed Banger Records! Please keep 'em coming in 2011!

What I'd like to see less in 2011

2010-12-31T01:40:00.000-08:00

Less Kris Aquino

Less irresponsible motorists

Less pretentious hipsters

Less Chavit (but more Manny!)

Less expensive & overrated running events

Less stupidity on twitter

Less time-wasting horror movies

Less brainless rap dudes like Lil B

Lesser government fuck-ups

Less politicking in local sports

Looking forward to less bullshit in 2011!

What I'd like to see more in 2011

2010-12-31T01:07:00.000-08:00

Cleaner/better public toilets

More Dirk

Cooler stores to open up locally (looking at you, H&M)

More "foodie" markets

Better economic standing for the PHP

More adidas x Ransom...

... and adidas ObyO

More running events

More jobs/job opportunities

Looking forward to more good shit in 2011!

2010: Quotables

2010-12-29T08:31:00.000-08:00

"Walang wang-wang!" -- President Noynoy Aquino

"Blah blah blah... blah blah blah... major major... blah blah blah..." -- Venus Raj

"Machete don't text." -- Machete (Danny Trejo)

"I can't bilibit!" -- Charice

"I fucked my money up. Now I can't re-up" -- Waka Flocka Flame

"Hello... Villar!" -- Baby James

"Sorry pero walang pogi dito. #vietnam" -- Mai Mislang

"It's like the Black Eyed Peas: boom boom Pau!" -- Mark Jackson (on Pau Gasol's dunk)

"Bang... bang... bang... bang..." -- Jim Lampley (on Pacquiao vs Clottey fight)

"I'm taking my talents to South Beach..." -- Lebron James

The Top 25 Songs of 2010: #'s 10-6

2010-12-29T07:38:00.000-08:00

Click here for Part 1 (#'s 25-21)
Click here for Part 2 (#'s 20-16)
Click here for Part 3 (#'s 15-11)

10. Dexpistols Feat. Jon-E - New Jack House

The year 2010 kicked off with this crazy-as-hell banger (and its video that's just as awesome), brought to you by Tokyo's finest DJ-duo, with a little help from fashion designer-turned-rapper Jon-E. A great addition to what has been a year of house music odes. Also, one of the best tracks of 2010.

9. Scissor Sisters - Fire With Fire

A great track, probably the most different (read: Brandon Flowers-ish) off all tracks off their "supersleazy" album Night Work.

8. Eli Escobar Feat. Amanda Blank - A Love Thing Part 3 (Only You)

One of the surprise favorites of the year. DJ Eli Escobar was already awesome before he dropped his Love Thing LP this year, but the greatness of this particular track should gain him even more props. Speaking of which, big ups to Amanda Blank for the sexy vocals!

7. Duck Sauce - Barbra Streisand

This super-duo of Armand Van Helden and A-Trak were already gaining ground in 2009, thanks to the internet smash "aNYway". But that was eclipsed in 2010, thanks to their massive release "Barbra Streisand". Landing at number one in different dance charts all over the world and an epic music video to boot, there's no denying that the sauce, indeed, made a difference this year.

6. Mark Ronson and The Business Intl. Feat. Q-Tip & MNDR - Bang Bang Bang

The first single off Maestro Ronson's Record Collection album. Great album. Too many awesome tracks to listen to, but this kick-off single -- what with its crazy synths, and of course, Q-Tip on the mic -- needs a mention here in this top 10 list.

New Kicks (Finally!!)

2010-12-28T20:58:00.000-08:00

Patience pays, indeed. A few months ago, two absolutely clean colorways of the Nike Tennis Classic AC ND dropped here in my neck of the woods. It was love at first sight, but the price wasn't so attractive, so I decided to wait on 'em to hit the sale racks.

Lo and behold, just yesterday, this particular pair -- in that grey colorway that I wanted -- landed on my lap for 50% off retail.

It's been a great holiday season for me so far. Hoping for more great pick-ups this coming year!

Merry Christmas!!

2010-12-24T20:36:00.000-08:00

Wishing all of you readers/pedestrians of The Halftime Steez a very Merry Christmas! Blogging resumes next week. Enjoy the holidays, but don't forget to jog-off all the calories next week, arite? I'll see you when I see you!

2010: The Fights

2010-12-24T03:21:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao vs Margarito

Velasquez vs Lesnar

Lakers vs Celtics

Machete vs Torrez

Tado vs Vice Ganda

Chuvaness vs Bryanboy

Christine Reyes vs Sarah G

Let's get it on, 2011!!

2010: 10 Albums

2010-12-24T02:13:00.000-08:00

Drake - Thank Me Later
Finest Moment: "They always tell me nobody’s workin’ as hard as you/and even though I laugh it off, man, it’s probably true/'cause while my closest friends out there partying/I’m just here making all of the music that they party to..." -- "Light Up" (featuring Jay-Z)
Jump-offs: "Find Your Love", "Fancy", "Unforgettable", "Over"

Bag Raiders - Bag Raiders
Finest Moment: "Like light/Snow White/red fluorescence, iridescence now/are you beaming out?" -- "Sunlight"

Jump-offs: "Not Over", "Shooting Stars", "Way Back Home"

Robyn - Body Talk Pt.1

Finest Moment: "I'm just gonna dance all night/I'm all messed up, I'm so out of line/stilettos and broken bottles/I'm spinning around in circles..." -- "Dancing on My Own"

Jump-offs: "Dancehall Queen", "None of Dem"

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Finest Moment: "May the Lord forgive us/may the gods be with us/and that magic hour I seen good Christians make rash decisions/oh she do it, what happened to religion?/Oh she lose it..." -- "Devil in a New Dress"
Jump-offs: "Runaway", "See Me Now", "Monster", "So Appalled", "Power"

Chromeo - Business Casual
Finest Moment: "The way I was acting was just fine but then lately/you sort of noticed a shift./Everyday was Christmas time for you, lady,/and you got showered with gifts..." -- "Hot Mess"
Jump-offs: "Night by Night", "Don't Walk Away", "You Make it Rough"

Rick Ross - Teflon Don
Finest Moment: "My top back like J.F.K./They wanna push my top back like J.F.K./So, so I J.F.K./Join Forces with the kings and we ate all day./Right now I could rewrite history./I stopped writin so fuck it, I'll do it mentally" -- "Free Mason" (featuring Jay-Z & John Legend)
Jump-offs: "B.M.F.", "Aston Martin Music", "Super High"

Hot Chip - One Life Stand
Finest Moment: "And maybe if we'd never come this way/then we would live and prosper/but I doubt it./We are a violent race/and we deserve what we get./When you hold me, when you hold me/I feel better..." -- "I Feel Better"
Jump-offs: "One Life Stand", "We Have Love"

Sleigh Bells - Treats
Finest Moment: "So this is it then?/you're here to win friend/click click saddle up see you on the moon then/and all alone friend/pick up their phones then/ring ring call them up/tell them about the new trend" -- "Rill Rill"

Jump-offs: "Infinity Guitars", "Tell 'Em", "Crown on the Ground"

Reflection Eternal - Revolutions Per Minute

Finest Moment: "I get respected by the best MCs.../the recipe for my success is: one part pain and suffering/two parts brains and hustling/sprinkle it over Hi-Tek production/we bubbling like volcanic eruptions/you better buckle in/push the panic button/come get your momma to tuck you in/you know we did like no other did it..." -- "In This World"
Jump-offs: "Back Again", "Just Begun", "Midnight Hour"

Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. - Record Collection
Finest Moment: "You live a shitty life, we live a bon, bon vie/hotter than the book, while we watch the tv/think you got us fooled, ooh never again/first time, shame on me, second time, your time will en" -- "Bang Bang Bang" (featuring Q-Tip & MNDR)
Jump-offs: "Lose It (In The End)", "Record Collection", "The Bike Song", "Somebody to Love Me"

2010: The Movies

2010-12-21T20:56:00.000-08:00

Iron Man 2

It was "meh" compared to its first installment... which had a little more "wow" to it. Ivan Vanko was useless, Scar-Jo wore latex, but you know the deal. But Robert Downey Jr. was fun to watch, as always, and that seems to be enough. Don Cheadle wasn't that bad a replacement for War Machine either. Whether you loved it or not, John Favreau did his thing in part two.

Toy Story 3

Watched it with my 2 little cousins, but I think I was the one who enjoyed this flick the most. I can't even remember what my age was when the first Toy Story was released, but what I know is that I loved all three movies. I hate to see it come to an end, but the Toy Story series -- one of the best and most consistent of all movie/animated series -- is just too good, it has to be put into a halt at some point.

Bodyguards and Assassins

The first 80 minutes was a lecture in history. The next hour is pure gut-wrenching carnage, paired with heartbreaking drama. How do you get Sun Yat-sen, the father of modern China, to a one-hour meeting in Hong Kong: gather a number of brave men (and women) who has the guts to protect Dr. Sun while fighting off minions of the corrupt Qing government. How do you say "Viva La Revolucion" in Cantonese?

The Town

Ben Affleck is 2-for-2 on his Boston gang-drama tip. Excellent screenplay by Aaron Stockard, great performances by Affleck, Blake Lively and Jeremy Renner, and what more can I say about Rebecca Hall? She stole the show in my book. Looking forward to another gritty Bah-ston flick from Mr. Gigli in the coming year.

The Expendables

An explosive action flick, starring an ensemble cast composed of stars who are on their way down, career-wise. But while it does seem like a last-ditch money-making ploy, these guys look like they were at the right place at the right time filming this movie. Sure, it wasn't a critical success, but it was a fun ride.

Machete

The cast of this Robert Rodriguez flick sure does resemble that of The Expendables, but Machete sizes up on violence, sex and tacos, deliberately making a mess on your respective movie screens. Danny Trejo deserves major props on his very first starring role after playing the bad guy for decades. Also, make way for the return of two of Hollywood's odd characters in Lindsay Lohan and Steven Segal. That alone made it special.

Get Him to The Greek

Truth be told, I don't find Russell Brand that necessarily funny. However, with funnyman Jonah Hill and (surprise, surprise!) Diddy on tow, Get Him to The Greek was a joy to watch. Another addition to Judd Appatow's collection of laugh-your-ass-out flicks.

The Social Network

After watching the movie, I realized that: 1. The movie was just too good to be accurately true, 2. Creating facebook was THAT of a big deal in Nerdland, 3. Justin Timberlake can actually act, 4. The Winklevoss twins are just as nerdy as Mark Zuckerberg, 5. Rooney Mara has to be the cutest! The best movie of the year, but what else would you expect from David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin?

By the way, I haven't watched Inception yet. I'm really sorry if you were looking for that here.

The Top 25 Songs of 2010: #'s 15-11

2010-12-19T00:59:00.000-08:00

Click here for Part 1 (#'s 25-21)
Click here for part 2 (#'s 20-16)

15. Gyptian - Hold You

Gyptian's cross-over hit "Hold You" is an instant Dancehall classic, so much so that Billboard Magazine deemed the track a "2010 Summer Anthem".

14. Rick Ross Feat. Drake & Chrisette Michelle - Aston Martin Music

The beat could've easily been mistaken for a potential R&B hit. But Officer Ricky, together with his constituents, took it for a different spin, particularly, right around the autobahn, inside a luxuriously fast Aston Martin Vanquish. The extended verse from Drizzy Drake makes for one of the more pleasant 5-minute tracks of the year.

13. Kanye West Feat. Jay-Z, Curtis Mayfield, Charlie Wilson & Kid Cudi - The Joy

Out of the 14 "G.O.O.D. Fridays" releases since August, three made it to Mr. West's long-awaited 2010 album. This one, unfortunately, didn't make the cut. However, this has to be one of the best 'Ye cuts of the year. All due respect to its all-star cast, "The Joy" should be credited for its production work, with none other than the legendary Pete Rock at the helm.

12. Scissor Sisters - Any Which Way

The second single off their 2010 release, Night Work. With its first single "Fire With Fire" creeping into The Killers-esque territory, "Any Which Way" is simply a Scissor Sisters signature. You can add a little Bee Gees twang to that!

11. Drake - Find Your Love

The beat on "Find Your Love" is basically Drake making love to a Roland TR-808. This joint from the critically-acclaimed Thank Me Later also enables Drizzy to be cheesy with the ladies, whilst keeping that coveted bit of street cred.

Tha Links: Pharrell's Big Ass House

2010-12-17T22:07:00.000-08:00

Top links of the week, just in time for the holiday break!

The Selby: Pharrell's Miami abode has more KAWS artwork than KAWS' own friggin' studio.

@iamhubertwebb: aka the best Twitter page you'll ever come across all year (well, aside from @FakeNoynoy)

Spot.PH: Speaking of Hubert Webb, Lourd de Veyra takes us back, way back, into one of the most hilariously frightening movies of this past decade. God help us!

The Final Score: And the Azkals come right back down to Earth.

The Dream Shake: Rockets fans' short reflections on a very tall Yao Ming.

Complex: lists down the 50 dirtiest players in sports. What, no Distrito???

2DOPEBOYZ: Kanye West named "MTV's Man of the Year". The love/hate continues.

The Top 25 Songs of 2010: #'s 20-16

2010-12-09T03:51:00.000-08:00

Click here for Part 1 (#'s 25-21)

20. Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill

This Brooklyn-based duo made considerable noise in 2009, and was received a warm welcome from indie-heads everywhere through the release of their 2010 debut, Treats. While the album's other offerings bring about loud beats and even louder chants, the more mellow, Fukadelic-sampled "Rill Rill" is quite on-target.

19. Eminem - Not Afraid

For more than a decade, we've seen a number of Eminems: angry Eminem, White-trash Eminem, 8 Mile Eminem, and more frequently, Vicodin-induced Eminem. 2010, however, introduced us to a brand-new Eminem: uplifting Eminem. And, by the resounding success of "Not Afraid", I guess we'll see a lot of this persona in the future.

18. Two-Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work

Another breakout act for 2010 is this electropop band from Northern Ireland. Their album Tourist History was regarded as an album full of short length-ed bursts of tracks, including, of course, this particular number.

17. Reflection Eternal Feat. Jay Electronica, J. Cole & Mos Def - Just Begun

2010 also saw the return of Reflection Eternal -- that's producer Hi-Tek and MC Talib Kweli for you -- and their brand of unpretentious rap. Much like their 2000 opus Train of Thought, this year's Revolutions Per Minute was praised by critics all over. The best track from RPM, in my humble opinion, is this cyphr featuring frequent collaborator Mos Def, as well as two of rap's rising stars Jay Electronica and J. Cole.

16. Armand Van Helden & Steve Aoki - Brrrat!

After spending the entire late 90's and early 00's playing legendary house tunes to the masses, 2010 proved to be an awesome re-appearance of one Armand Van Helden. His Duck Sauce tag-team with A-Trak was a big hit, as well as this particular track with blog-house messiah Steve Aoki. Quite as expected, "Brrrat!" is as noisy and head-banging as what its title suggests.

Runner's High

2010-12-08T22:23:00.000-08:00

It feels really good! After sitting out for months after an emergency surgery, I finally got myself together, laced up and returned to running. Best believe, it was difficult getting back, as being out for so long tends to slow you down and, in the process, forces you to opt for the lazier fare (i.e. eating and drinking). However, thanks to some great friends and relatives, in no time I was back running in them pavements.

After wasting the last couple of months in inactivity, I managed to race in three of these past four weeks:

Sugar Rush Fun Run - I was in no shape whatsoever to run that day, but then I was determined enough to finish at least an easy 5K. It was easy, all right, as my time wasn't that impressive. But it was all good, a great start from months of being out of it. Also, the run was for the benefit of Diabetes awareness. With members of my family stricken with this disease, I felt honored just to take part in this race.

8th Animo Run - ran this 10K race a week after Sugar Rush. It's my second year to run this event, which is annually sponsored by my old alma mater. It was a great day to race for a new 10K PR because of the all-flat terrain route located around the Mall of Asia grounds. Lo and behold, yours truly got a respectable PR finish. Felt really good, especially since I was skeptical at first with regards to running a double-loop 10K at MOA.

Nike Run Manila - took a week's rest after the Animo Run, but was at it again last weekend. My first race experience with an attached D-Tag timing chip was great, thanks to its accurate finish time that also led to a new 5K PR. One of the great races this year for its high-quality, low-budget fare. The preparation of the venue, as well as the overall hydration, was top-notch. There were no singlets, finisher's shirts or goodie bags, but their only freebie has to be one of the coolest things around...

Meet my new friend Jay, the Nike Mini+ doll we all got at the run.

I guess, my 2010 road races are done and done. However, looking forward to more running, and hopefully a 15/16K level-up, this 2011.

Gilbert Arenas' high-fashion ballin'

2010-12-08T20:37:00.000-08:00

Gilbert Arenas, formerly known as "The Hibachi", wearing high-top Dolce & Gabbana sneakers against the LA Lakers and finishing with 23 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals. Not bad. Although I'd like to see him play with Timberland boots on before the season ends. That'll be fun!

The Top 25 Songs of 2010: #'s 25-21

2010-12-02T01:03:00.000-08:00

2010 is about to pass us by. Before we prep ourselves for the new year, let's look back at some great music that was blessed upon us in this first year of a brand-new decade. It was a little difficult to narrow the tracks down to, what this blog thinks of, as the top 25 of 2010, but we gotta do what we gotta do, right? So here are The Halftime Steez's most eargasmic bangers of the year:

25. Bag Raiders - Shooting Stars

This Aussie electro-duo made big waves this year with their self-titled debut, which has become one of my favorite albums of 2010. It's only right, of course, that they have a spot on this list.

24. J. Cole - Who Dat

One of Hip-Hop's worst kept secrets, J. Cole jumped on all haters and doubters this year with this fiery track. With Cole World due out next year, watch out for more fire to spew out from this kid.

23. Big Boi - Shutterbug

The first single off Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty. Produced by (he's alive!!) Scott Storch, and features ATL singer Cutty (remember "Some Cut"?). Stank you very much.

22. Robyn - Dancehall Queen

Robyn had a busy 2010, dropping tracks left and right, and eventually releasing three (3) albums. This one takes the cake, however. With Diplo on the production, "Dancehall Queen" combines the old-skool Jamaican Dancehall with 21st century Dubstep. You need this on your iPod.

21. N.E.R.D. - Hypnotize U

In case you didn't know: This beat is crazy. In case you didn't know: this track is produced by a particular French duo known to many as Daft Punk.