Advance Notice. Sunset Strip Music Festival.

The Sunset Strip is a place that'll forever have its role in rock 'n' roll history, and although it no longer stands at the forefront of the popular music scene, that doesn't mean it's stopped trying (staying true to its rock spirit!).

On August 28th, the famed street holds the 3rd annual Sunset Strip Music Festival, closing down Sunset Blvd. from San Vicente to Doheny to host a full-on raucous affair featuring live performances, booths, food and drink. And since this is the Sunset Strip, there are some big names to be had--watch out for performances from the Smashing Pumpkins, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and Fergie, Kid Cudi, Travie McCoy and Common, plus 50 or so more bands.

Tickets are available now for $49.50, and it's definitely better to get them beforehand instead of paying $65 at the door. Purchase VIP 3-day tickets for $250 each, and you'll get into the street fest plus the festivities on Aug. 26 and 27, when Slash is honored with a tribute event and even more bands will be performing amongst the Sunset Strip venues. Rock on!

-- Chau Tu

Check It. "All Summer" by Kid Cudi, Best Coast and Rostam Batmanglij [The Monday Download].

If you're already sick of hearing Katy Perry sing about Daisy Dukes, it's time to hit up Converse's website for a new summer tune perfect for open-car-window blasting.

Yes, Converse--the shoe brand that's provided your reliable foot wardrobe for decades is now regularly producing musical collaborations. Last year they got together Julian Casablancas, Santigold and N.E.R.D. for the rather bizarre "My Drive-Thru," but this time around, the random threesome of Kid Cudi, Best Coast and Rostam Batmanglij (of Vampire Weekend) has worked out a lot better.

It's still really random, and I still don't quite understand the point, but either way, "All Summer" is worthy of making the summer playlists this year. You can download the song at Converse's website or take a listen by streaming here.

-- Chau Tu

Check It. Kid Cudi's music videos [The Monday Download].

Now that his acting debut How to Make It in America has finished its season on HBO, are you missing Kid Cudi yet? You shouldn't, because he's got a slew of videos to keep you company in the meantime.

Admittedly, it was the rapper's "Day 'n' Nite" video that first got me interested in his music; his cool, laidback style in the cut proved he wasn't just out to be another club-banger, but a more thoughtful (and stylish) and playful wordsmith. His immediate cinematic follow-ups were pretty to the norm, from the live concert footage to the Hype Williams-biting (but still cute). His latest ones, though, have been a lot more fun.

The first is typical music video fare, with the hot girls and the senseless, fun theme, but the fact that Cudi's actually doing a music video to the remix of one of his songs is pretty sweet. Definitely playful, and a great to-the-beat cut from the video editor.

Here's the winner though: an alternate version, as it seems, of "Pursuit of Happiness." The song originally got a lot of hype because of the unexpected collaboration with MGMT and Ratatat, and now, this video finally brings the partnership to visual fruition (or at least, for the latter). Plus--visual effects!

So his videos can be hit or miss, but they're entertaining in the least, and hey, he ain't bad to look at it either.

-- Chau Tu

Check It. How to Make It in America.

For those young, hip and living in Los Angeles, Entourage can be a fun, mindless show to watch: you recognize all the hot spots Vince and the crew hit, and you catch all the names they effortlessly drop. And thanks to a few funny cameos and some too-true storylines (James Cameron making bank off of a ridiculous movie, what?), the show had its great moments.

But now it's New York City and How to Make It in America's turn. NYC's had a round of I Spy and name-dropping with Sex and the City, but this time we're dealing with the truly in-on-the-know: the twenty-somethings struggling right in the heart of the city, just trying to make it.

How to Make It in America follows Ben, an artist who's given up his big-time dreams to working for the Man (a.k.a. Barneys), and his friend Cam, a dreamer with a lot of talk (and subsequently, heart). They're young and struggling, but getting by on young adrenaline and ambition, and if they just play their cards right, they might have the chance to make something of themselves.

There's no denying the Entourage tone of the series (the shows have the same exec producers): it's Vince and his friends before they hit L.A., before they get caught up in the glitz and glamour and lose their souls to ridiculousness. The characters of How to Make It are what will make or break this show: if they can remain genuine, I think people will want to continue following. So far, Bryan Greenberg as Ben is a good start; he's got a great contemplation to him that beats anything Adrian Grenier has ever tried to do with his hair. And Kid Cudi is a character! Cool artsy parties in huge lofts owned by Nylon writers is pushing things a bit, though.

Decide for yourself when How to Make It in America (ugh, is there any good way to shorten this title? Maybe this is a bad sign) premieres on HBO on Sunday at 10pm. Or, watch the pilot right now.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: How to Make It in America