Snoop Dogg may be the next Madonna. Never would I have expected him to showcase such chameleon sensibilities, but for his new single and video he’s transformed his West Coast laid back flow into something completely different and refreshing. Not that this new track is a complete departure for Snoop, as he’s always paid homage to the funkier days of the past, but this isn’t the Snoop you know and love - he’s sexier, funkier and shinier. Always one to poke fun at himself, you can tell that he must have had a blast making the video, and now it’s time for us to get down with our bad selves. Check it out:

Ghostface is back at it again! With the release of his new record yesterday, comes a brand spanking new video on its heels. Directed by Rik Cordero and featuring Beanie Sigel and Styles P, “Best of Both Offices” seems to be another slam dunk for the hip hop giant. Check it out:

The first time I heard The Knife, I knew that they weren’t your typical electronic outfit. Swedish brother-sister duo Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olof Dreijer, are known for their mysterious stage persona and heart thumping beats. Since their first U.S. performance during last year’s CMJ, I haven’t been able to shake them, and neither will you once you hear this track. “Heartbeats” won a lot of attention through a cover by singer-songwriter Jose Gonzalez, and they are both excellent and haunting renderings, but you be the judge - which do you prefer?

A little Thanksgiving treat since the blog will be down for the rest of the week: Check out this video of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings performing at Brooklyn’s own Southpaw (R.I.P.) in January of 2005. She’s absolutely amazing!

I’m never sure what to expect when I step into a movie theater, but last night after I saw Wristcutters: A Love Story I was more than happy to have spent my money on a ticket. A dark comedy that makes you laugh, cringe and tear up is really hard to achieve, but director Goran Dukic got it just right. Winning audience pick awards at many filmfests around the country, Wristcutters was also one of Sundance’s highlights. With a cast of characters played by Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous), Shannyn Sossamon, Will Arnett (of cult series Arrested Development), and legendary musician Tom Waits, this twisted slice of the afterlife is fresh and genuinely uplifting.

Check out exclusive footage of Tarrus Riley performing “She’s Royal” for our Creative Director Katie!

And in honor of Halloween…

There’s something sad about a legendary crooner like Robert Goulet kicking the dust. I gotta show some love for this fellow Canadian, who’s had cameos in greats like Beetlejuice and The Simpsons. Here’s Will Ferrel on Saturday Night Live doing one of his infamous Goulet skits. Enjoy!

TRACE READERS:
What’s on your mind? We want to know! For our upcoming True Beauty issue (Dec/Jan), we’re exploring beautiful styles and ideas, and we want your input too! Tell us a bit about your most beautiful experience thus far, and get a chance to have your words printed in TRACE. Word up!

2005’s film adaptation of Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was a mediocre flick. Even though it starred my beloved Martin Freeman (from the original UK version of The Office,) the only thing that made it worthwhile was Mos Def in the role of Ford Prefect. Maybe I was slow on the upstart, but I wasn’t aware of Mos Def’s stellar comedic abilities, and I was pleasantly surprised. So on a recent trip to the movies I was pretty excited to see that not only is Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Science of Sleep) coming out with a new movie, but the unlikely duo of Mos Def & Jack Black are starring in it. With Mia Farrow, Danny Glover, and Paul Dinello (of cult favorite Strangers With Candy fame) this is definitely worth checking out. View the trailer for Be Kind Rewind to get an idea of what you can expect.