February 14, 2012

DEAF RAP BATTLE

Check out what UK-based deafblind charity and initiative, Sense, put together to promote awareness for their cause. It's a full-on rap battle between two deaf MC's who take to the microphone via sign language! Fresh.  

Battle

February 08, 2012

BODY-SNATCHING FUNGUS

Prepare to have your mind's eye blown by the following time-lapse short courtesy of BBC Planet Earth. Watch as super sharp cameras capture the unseen world of Cordyceps Fungi, one of the most complex and involved species in the animal kingdom. You'll be surprised to see just how vital (albiet sometimes violent) they are to maintaining Nature's balance.

Fungi

February 07, 2012

NYC SUBWAY SKATING

While skateboarding in the New York City subway system may be illegal, it didn't stop SLAP Magazine and a couple of local rippers from shredding the hell out of the underground "taxi" and documenting it for a full feature dubbed Subway Skating. Peep the madness. All aboard!

Enter

Seat

Rail

February 03, 2012

QUESTION BRIDGE

The Question Bridge is a transmedia art project that seeks to represent and redefine Black male identity in America. Through video mediated question and answer exchange, diverse members of this "demographic" bridge economic, political, geographic, and generational divisions. The project is in full swing and expanding into a a travelling series, educational curriculum and even a smartphone app! Have a look at their introductory video to see how it all works:

Questionbridge

Anyone in the New York City area this weekend should head on over to the Brooklyn Museum's: Target First Saturdays event. As part of their Black Males Defying Stereotypes theme, the creative team behind Question Bridge will be available to discuss their work. Stop by!

Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, New York 11238-6052

February 02, 2012

SOUL TRAIN DOCUMENTARY

In lieu of the passing of Don Cornelius (1936-2012), creator and host of one of the most influential music and dance shows in the history of television, Soul Train, we thought that it'd only be right to highlight the VH1 documentary that tells the story behind it all. Check out Soul Train: The Hippest Train In America to find out what made The Don such a remarkable figure for people across the United States and even around the world and why it was all so revolutionary!

Don

Dance

February 01, 2012

FLYING CHRONICLE MARKETING

Now this is what we call creative marketing! To promote the upcoming American film, Chronicle, Fox a hired viral marketing agency, Thinkmodo, to deliver. The result? A couple of remote-controlled flying "bodies" that took over the New York City sky. Check out the behind-the-scenes and stir that it caused:

Flight

January 30, 2012

JUAN BAGO ATTACKED

Okay, so maybe we were kidding about an actual "attack" but there's definitely a little friendly competition brewing. You see, for a while now, New York City-based local media celebrity, Juan Bago, has been riding the wave of viral buzz thanks to his brand of Dominican-laden comedy. First there was Pan Con Queso, a comedic remix to Wiz Khalifa's breakthrough single, "Black And Yellow," that centers around the popular Dominican breakfast ritual of the grilled cheese. And in his latest spoof, Dominis In The Heights, an ode to Kanye and Jay-Z's "N***as In Paris," Bago manages to score a cameo from Broadway golden-boy, Lin Manuel Miranda (In The Heights). Huge, right? Perhaps.

But enter Manuel Minus P of ThatsDominican.com and this virtual town might not be big enough for two viral funnymen. Unlike Bago, Minus P's material highlights more island-centric quirks, complete with segments about the comedic archetype Dominican male, Dominican female and even Dominican parents! And now the million dollar question: Who's funnier and why?

Vs

Bago:

Minus P:

Does the Bago charm do more to foster humor?

Lin-Manuel

Or does P's island approach make a stronger demographic of fans laugh?

MinusP

We're letting the reader comments decide this one. Let us know!

January 26, 2012

Q-TIP TRACES HIS ROOTS

Thanks to OkayAfrica, sister site to the music-loving OkayPlayer, Hip-Hop icon Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest) was recently able to trace back his African ancestry. On the latest episode of the blog's "The Roots Of..." video series, Q takes an actual q-tip (the irony) to his cheek and gives the research team a sample of his DNA. Tests later reveal that his lineage traces back to the West African territory of Guinea Bissau, a place that is rich in music influence. Amazing how it all connects!

Q-tip

January 20, 2012

ANONYMOUS DEFENDS MEGAUPLOAD

Hacker group Anonymous sprang into action yesterday afternoon by causing havoc and taking down a slew of targeted websites including the U.S. Department Of Justice, U.S. Copyright Office, Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA), Motion Picture Association Of America (MPAA) and Universal Music Group. The move comes in response to the recent indictment of download website, Megaupload. Authorities argue that the site was once the 13th most-visited website on the internet and responsible for the distribution of loads of pirated television shows, software and games. All this comes in light of the recent Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) currently making their rounds among U.S. lawmakers.

Anon

Mega

January 19, 2012

STUFF [PEOPLE] SAY

Unless you've been living under a rock, chances are you've caught one or two of these parodies. But if not, here's our montage of the most popular "Stuff [People] Say" clips. Enjoy all of the inappropriate (not politically correct) laughs on us!

Girls

Ny

White

About Us

The República Update is a lifestyle destination that delivers quality and relevant information to its community of readers. We cover events, pop culture, branding, trends, technology, the arts and social issues from a multicultural perspective.