"All You Need is the Rocket Experience..."

June 23, 2009

Next month marks the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, when NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin boarded the lunar module and took one small step for man on the surface of the moon. There are lots of activities planned to commemorate this historic event, but Aldrin's taken a distinctly quirkier approach: he's made a hip-hop video with Snoop Dogg and Talib Kweli (of Black Star fame), with the proceeds going to benefit various space exploration foundations.

Even better, Funny or Die got into the act and made a tongue-firmly-in-cheek "Behind the Scenes" video about the making of "Rocket Experience," featuring numerous rappers giving Aldrin a few tips, and talking about the moon landing's impact on their lives. (Check out Snoop Dogg's lyrical rap tribute to Buzz at the very end.) Per Kweli: "Buzz Aldrin got his bars up!"

Making of Buzz Aldrin's Rocket Experience w/ Snoop Dogg and Talib Kweli from Buzz Aldrin

And now, for your listening pleasure, here's Buzz Aldrin -- a.k.a."Doc Rendezvous" -- in the final video cut for "Rocket Experience," directed by none other than McG (Terminator: Salvation):

Buzz Aldrin's Rocket Experience from Buzz Aldrin