Time for another edition of our CUT by CUT feature — a conversation with the notorious Chop Shop barbers about the tunes they’ve been clippin’ to lately.  Always unique, always insightful.  [Click here to read the last edition.] 

FRANK151: What have you guys been playing the last couple weeks?

MR. BEE: Well, everybody loves Santogold right now.  We’ve been playing a lot of Santogold.  We got this really new compilation, An England Story — it’s 25 years of the history of MC’s in England.

FRANK151: Is it the one from Heatwave?  We posted that mixtape, plus videos for a lot of the tracks, like a month ago.

MR. BEE: Oh, no way!  That got by me.  I just saw the cover in a record store, and I thought, “That’s me.”

FRANK151: It’s from The Heatwave, this amazing dancehall, dub and grime site in the UK.  They do podcasts and stuff too.  It’s a great site.

MR. BEE: My favorite track on there is London Posse’s “Money Mad”.  Basically, Big Audio Dynamite — you know, Mick Jones [of the Clash] and Don Letts — were hanging out in some club in London and saw these kids rapping [including UK legend Rodney P].  So they’re like, “Yo, come on tour with us.  We’re Big Audio Dynamite.”  And these kids didn’t even have a group.  They were just kids, just kind of spitting, doing their reggae/hip hop thing.  So they called it a group, real quick.  Next thing you know, they were on tour with Big Audio Dynamite.  They were about 14 years old, and they got this track, “Money Mad“…  You know, Mad Lion was known in  New York City as the Jamaican hip-hop guy, but these guys were doing it way before him.  They’re sort of the foundation to that reggae/hip hop fusion.  So that’s my track, man.  I love that one.

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Ralphie knows Frank…. 

Frank’s Chop Shop was highlighted recently on Rugby Ralph Lauren’s online cityguide show, Around the Corner…. ’nuff respect! 

Produced, directed and edited by the amazingly talented Crystal Moselle, the show features Rugby hosts exploring classic L.E.S. spots, like Cafe Habana and our very own Chop Shop.    

Check the episode here, featuring some straight-razor action from Mr Bee and… well, cupcakes.

And go here to catch more of Crystal’s work – especially her excellent series on VBS.tv, called Bay Area’s Rap Daddy… It’s a moving portrait of her father, and the work he does as a producer for Bay Area hip-hop & hyphy kids serving time.

Last night’s gallery opening at the Chop Shop, featuring Steve Ellis‘ magnificent new pieces for Frank and Shut Skateboards, went off in style. Art lovers, skaters and Frank fam converged on 19 Essex to soak up Ellis’ minimalist take on the sharp-edged tools of Chop Shop culture — and the complimentary beverages from Tava and 42 Below (who, coincidentally, just posted on their site that placing razor blades in vodka after shaving will prolong the blades’ life)… Take a glance at the shots below:

the man himself…

and the new deck…

Everyone who’s been to Frank’s Chop Shop knows that music can be a big part of the haircut experience.  The soundtrack at the Chop Shop, hand-picked by the barbers, is always full of especially good conversation pieces; every time you come in, you’re bound to leave with a new band or a new song to go searching for.

Starting this week, we’ll be talking regularly with the legendary Chop Shop barbers Mr. Bee, Chris and Fritz about the unique soundtrack they bring to the exclusive Chop Shop clientele – what they’ve been rocking, what’s the best song to trim a beard to, what won’t get Chop Shop play… you get the idea.   

FRANK151: Since this is the first time we’ve done this, let’s start with the basics – what role do you think music has at the Chop Shop?

MR. BEE: Definitely a big role.  It’s like anywhere.  The music’s a reflection of our style and attitude.  There’s no better way to put it.  That’s why it varies.  That’s why we try to keep it very eclectic, as eclectic as possible.  We try to be the most well-rounded barbershop in the city, and I think the well-rounded music we play reflects that.

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Don’t sleep on it….

Last week Frank151 took over the Belmont Lounge, to celebrate the holiday season and the first anniversary of Frank’s Chop Shop! One year down, many more to come… It may have been cold outside, but the Frank fam kept it nice and cozy in the Belmont, with  Sal Morale, Sinatra,  and Giancarlo rocking the crowd all night.

As you can see, no mistletoe was required.

A special thanks goes to Dewar’s Scotch for making the party memorable, but hard to remember…

To peep shots from the rest of the night and more, visit Tone, the man behind the camera magic, at his website.

Hope you got your RSVP in, sucka….

We had a special guest visit last night just before midnight. He asked us to post this, and said he hopes everyone had a spoooky Halloween

The 2008 Burton World Tour hit NYC last week for an autograph signing at the Flagship Store . Team riders Romain Demarchi, Nicolas Muller, Danny Davis, Kevin Pearce along with Kelly Clark, Hannah Teter and Natasza Zurek were in town to rip it up, sign some autographs and premiere their new film “Thanks in Advance”.

But Before that they made a quick stop at Frank’s Chop Shop to get Fresh!

More Surprises!? Prodigy from Mobb Deep just happened to stroll in to Frank’s right as our guys were finishing up. Prodigy had come by to look at hats, but was happy to take a few to kick it with Burton.

What better way to end a big day at ChopShop then a wild night. Hiro was poppin obviously. Pretty sucessful if you ask us. Thanks to all the dudes at Burton for a great time! See you soon.

Frank friend and photographer Alexander Richter recently shot Brooklyn recording artist Ill Bill for Hip Hop Connection mag. Ill Bill was repping Frank to the fullest in his NY Kings New Era.

And don’t forget to scoop up an Ill Bill exclusive New Era before we’re fresh out!