Archive for October, 2006

RJD2 Left DefJux To Do Non-Hiphop 0

New “non-hiphop” track available for stream on mysp#ce.com/rjd2. New album The Third Hand coming out on XL. Link (via)

“Leaving Jux was a hard decision for me to make, both personally and business-wise, but for the folks who follow that kind of thing (labels and such), I think it will make sense when you hear the new record as it’s not hip hop. I got to a point where i just felt like it wouldn’t make sense to have the music i’m doing now released on jux- they are a powerhouse within their arena, but i feel like I’m playing a different game now. I will definitely miss working with them.”

Juggaknots // Panacea Tour sponsored by BREED (11/24) 0

jugg mini-tour

(via)

If you are in Cali Thanksgiving weekend make sure you check the Juggaknots//Panacea mini-tour, proudly sponsored by streetwear assassins BREED.

Florida is a Death Metal Town (11/4) 0

Florida is a Death Metal Town

Link (via)

Arspace presents Florida is a Death Metal Town… or artifacts from the far side of sleep, which presents visual work created by anticon musicians (anticon.com) and friends thereof. The works featured include painting, drawing, photography, mixed-media works, and installation.

Featuring work by:
David Bryant (Passage)
Antonio Diaz
Adam Drucker (Doseone)
Liz Hodson
Shaun Koplow
David Madson (Odd Nosdam)
Brandon Olsen
Erin Perry
Albert Reyes
James “Thesis” Sahib
Aiyana Udesen
Matt Velerio (Restiform Bodies)
DJ Whelan
Yoni Wolf (WHY?)
Ravi Zupa

Featuring music from:
Why?
Daedelus
E*Rock
Bat Rays
DJ’s Odd Nosdam and Sodapop

Curated by:
Shaun Koplow

Opening:
Saturday November 4th
seven pm
music starts at 9pm
five - ten dollar suggested donation for musicians

Closing Reception:
Sunday November 26th
six pm - eight pm

On View
November 4th - November 26th

U-God Dispenses Romantic Advice 0

Enter The 36 Chambers Of Love. Link

U-God, of the Wu-Tang Clan, gave his MySpace friends a gift today: A list of 14 things anyone in a relationship needs to know in order to keep their lover happy, from not ruining the laundry to avoiding psychobabble during relationship chats. And he must be doing something right: just look at all of the exhibitionistic ladies sprinkled among his top friends.

U-God’s list, in all its all-caps, merch-hawking glory, after the jump.

1.HOW TO COOK YOUR LOVERS FAVORITE MEAL .

2.HOW TO BE AFFECTIONATE WHILE BEING SEXUAL .

3.HOW TO SHARE YOUR FELLING WITH OUT DUMPING THEM ON YOUR PARTNER.

4.HOW TO DO THE LAUNDRY WITH OUT DESTROYING YOUR PARTNERS CLOTHING .

5.HOW TO BE SUPPORTIVE WITH OUT CONTROLLING .

6.HOW TO LISTEN ACTIVELY INSTEAD OF PASSIVELY .

7.HOW TO GROW TOGETHER INSTEAD OF APART ,

8.HOW TO BE INDEPENDENT WITH OUT BEING DISTANT

9.HOW TO BE DEPENDENT WITHOUT BEING CO DEPENDENT

10.HOW TO TALK ABOUT YOUR FEELING WITHOUT USING (PSYHCHO-BABBLE)

11.HOW TO MAKE LOVE IN THAT SPECIAL WAY THAT YOUR PARTNER LOVES SO VERY MUCH.

12.HOW TO GIVE A REALLY SKILLFULL Massage .

13.HOW TO KEEP YOUR RELATIONSHIP YOUR NUMBER 1 PRIORITY AMIDS LIFES MANY DEMANDS .

14.HOW TO CHOOSE GIFTS THAT YOUR PARTNER WILL LOVE

P.S THIS FOR ALL THE COUPLES OUT THERE IF YOUR NOT IN A RELATIONSHIP YOU MIGHT NOT UNDRSTAND (THIS IS GROWN FOLK SHITE )OR PEOPLE WITH SOME TYPE OF SENSE TO MAKE THERE LOVER HAPPY UGZILLA COP THOSE WU HOODIES FOR THE WINTER I GOTTEM $$$$

NY Hip-Hop Dance Convention (11/1 to 11/5) 1

NY Hip-Hop Dance Convention

There are many great events going on during this convention featuring the likes of Kool Herc, DJ Disco Wiz and Tony Tone of the Cold Crush Brothers among others. Much props to the individuals and organizations putting this together. Link

The NY Hip-Hop Dance Convention will be the largest five-day urban performing arts convention of its kind right here in New York City…We have designed a unique event that caters to all hip-hop enthusiasts; it is structured to cover the many aspects of hip-hop dance – from the art of B-Boying to modern day hip-hop dance.

We’re kicking the convention off at the World Famous Apollo Theater on Wednesday for Amateur Night at the Apollo, an adult amateur dance team and youth competitions on Thursday, nothing beats the “Back n’ da Day” - off-broadway hip-hop dance show depicting the popular moves of the late 70’s to today - on Friday, the ultimate Urban B-Boy battle on Saturday, and we’ll be rapping it up with urban poetry at its greatest come Sunday evening. If that’s not enough, we’re inviting everyone to join us the following weekend to help celebrate three decades of hip-hop culture with The Universal Federation for the Preservation of Hip-Hop Culture at the world renown Kennedy Center located in the heart of Harlem.

Two Shows @ Low End Theory in LA (11/1 and 11/8) 0

Low End Theory Club

Two shows coming up at Low End Theory located in Los Angeles. West Coast heads are so lucky sometimes. Link

November 1st
Busdriver
Daedelus
Omid

November 8th
Abstract Rude
Thavius Beck
Kutmah

Afrika Bambaataa Issues A Statement To Rap Artists Of All Regions 0

Link to full text

The legendary Afrika Bambaataa and his organization The Zulu Nation recently sent this statement to our brother and good friend Jazzy D for all of the rappers from every coast or region to read:

I, Afrika Bambaataa, have heard it all, read it all, in many magazines throughout the world, and seen almost all in this continuing bullshit about which rappers are better, east coast v west coast, Miami bass hip-hop is bullshit, British Rappers sound funny rapping, electro funk, techno rappers are soft, I like hardcore rap and beats, this one group is like that, old school vs new school, Rap wouldn’t be rap if it wasn’t for the battles, I’m the quickest, baddest rapper, deejay around, Go Go music in Washington D. C. is dead. It’s all about hip-house or house music all night long. I dis you, you dis me, my crew will take you out or kick your ass, fuck this or that, Nigger, Bitch, Nigguz, Nigguh, Hoe, Hooker, Bitches with Problems, Hoes with Attitudes.

Just look at yourselves, sounding like a bunch of fools, who really don’t have any true knowledge of self and knowledge of hip-hop culture and what it’s all about. First of all, let me tell you that the music (beats) that makes up hip-hop, comes from different nationalities and races, especially from black people, and if you think I am a brother who don’t know what he is talking about, just check out many of the music, beats, grooves and sounds that many of your rappers use to make their records or rap over. Hip-hop music in general is colorless and not racist. It comes from many categories in music, for example: Hip-hop music is made up from other forms of music like funk, soul, rhythm & blues, jazz, rock heavy metal, salsa, soca (calypso), TV shows, kiddie shows, horror movies, techno, pop, disco, african, arabic, reggae -etc. . . . and if you use any records from these categories, you will see that the music is made by people from different races or nationalities from all over the planet, but it’s roots start with black people.

Rza Develops Timberland Boots 2

Rza Timbs Tag

Rza Timbs Side

Timberland recently selected one person from each borough in NYC to design their own boots. Y’all know who’s reppin’ Staten Island right? Black denim. Neon stiches and laces. Glow-in-the-dark soles. Don’t think I’ll be rocking those but props to Timberland for donating $10,000 to each individual’s charity. Link

ODB Interview with Tha Formula (circa ‘96) 0

ODB

Here’s a short interview done with ODB in 1996 right after a show. Since both parties seem to be heavily intoxicated, it’s a great read. Link

What makes you so f*cking special?

ODB: Ol’ dirty is a gift to the planet. Understand, rap is rap and rap has been here for many years. So the reason I say Ol’ Dirty is a present to the planet is because I’m the nigga who brought rap into a different form. I brought the soul into this rap shit, I had to let niggas know where the James Brownses stand in this muthafuckin shit. I had to show how the Otis Reddings have connection to this rap shit!

Dres Interview Praising Grandmaster Caz 0

XXL’s blog has an interesting interview with Dres of Black Sheep and he praises Grandmaster Caz for the same reasons we made a Caz record our first release. Link

“People are becoming more grown. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of the bullshit still exists, but I definitely see the difference. I hear people talking about different things. Some of the nonsense that cats were into two, three years ago…they wouldn’t touch now. We’re at a time where hip-hop is continuing to grow and take over, which is such a blessing. We have to start looking at each other as competition for originality. You have to understand that people have to do knowledge about the culture. Check it…Grand Master Caz is one of the dopest emcees now! He could get on the stage now, next to any emcee, and he could get busy better than them. Not even on no old school shit, he’s just dumb nice.

Sage Francis Lyrics Take On Form 2

sage francis art exhibit

Sarah Coleman, a visual artist from the UK, put together an art exhibit featuring pieces inspired by Sage Francis Lyrics. Can you imagine a wedding cake with the words “Forever Only Lasts Four Years” inscribed? Link

All Rise for the National Anthem of Hip-Hop by Will Hermes 1

Will Hermes revisits the importance of the Incredible Bongo Band for the NYTimes. Link

THIS is a story about a nearly forgotten album and the birth of hip-hop music. Like many good hip-hop tales, and pop yarns in general, it involves unlikely characters rising from obscurity and is colored with creative passion, violence, drugs, thievery, paydays and paybacks.

It’s a story of a Bronx D.J. making his name with a record that began as the soundtrack for a B-movie called “The Thing With Two Heads.” And it suggests that the two most important drummers in rap history might be a guy who spent his career touring behind Neil Diamond and another who played with John Lennon and Eric Clapton before stabbing his mother to death and being committed to a mental hospital.

K-THE-I??? - This Lovely Falling Autumn 0

K-THE-I??? - This Lovely Falling Autumn

Follow the links to download the latest instrumental record called This Lovely Falling Autumn from K-THE-I???. Also, be on the lookout for his upcoming Mush Records debut. Link

01. This Is Beauty Gleaming (10:59, 25.15mb)
02. The Snow Flakes Collected Create The Snow Woman (11:56, 27.35mb)
03. Cleansing Towards Melodys Written Well (14:36, 33.45mb)

This record will be put out eventually but a way more advanced version as well as extended featuring some real talented musicians i know, by musicians i mean people who play instruments, lol, not emcee’s

So please feel free to download away, burn it for your friends, play in in your ipods, computers, cars etc……….

i’ll also be selling these on the road for future tours i’ll be announcing very soon, real soon actually, from my up and coming mush tour and a tour with some of my good friends.

P.s. please play these songs back to back in the exact order given as well as for the first listen make sure to put on headphones so you get to really understand and feel what i’m trying to accomplish with this record, theres mega panning going on, mega detail, and listening to this will let you know about the vast collection of records i got and my music taste, haha peacers.

Art or Anarchy by Steven Jesse Bernstein 1

At its best, art is the final kick in the gut that is the inspiration of anarchy–a falling away of slivers of glass and rubbery sheets of paint, a noisy caving in of walls that leads to the whistling clear and lawless out-of-doors. Or it is a vision of life beyond confinement. Hopefully, art releases someone from somewhere they didn’t want to be; maybe someplace they didn’t know they were until they got away from it. full essay

NY’s Original International Lover 0


In case you missed it the first time around like me, here’s the video for NYOIL’s Y’all Should All Get Lynched. Well done. myspace.com/nyoil, interview via unkut

The sad thing about the rap world today is that anyone who criticizes the weak shit gets called a “hater”. Have you been accused of that?

I am a hater. So are you. I read your column, you’re a hater big time. So is most of the people that come to your site. What’s wrong with being a hater? I hate certain shit! I hate the fact that a brother can come home after 4 years of college, struggle his ass off, no food ’cause he on a limited scholarship, barely keep a roof over his head, living off TopRamen noodles…Gotta rock the same 4 or 5 outfits for the semester cause his family ain’t really got it for him to get fresh. But somehow that brother stays strong and makes it through, and after all that struggle he come home to nothing. This nigga ain’t shit in the hood he get no glory. But let this fucking dude come home from lock up after a 4 year fuck up. 3 hots and a cot after basically being a fucking loser ’cause if you got locked up that mean you fucked-up somewhere along the line - so your not even a good criminal. “Aww, this dude is the shit”. He gonna get some pussy, the block gonna have a fucking picnic, parties, niggas is gonna have a new outfit for him a blunt already rolled up and the whole shit. That don’t inspire hate in you? You got love for that injustice? If you do then you’re some kind of pussy.

An Open Letter to MC Serch from Sage Francis 0

Recently, we made a post about some rather controversial comments from MC Serch regarding white rappers and their lack of credibility if not approved by a black audience. Here is Sage Francis’ rather lengthy response. Link

Dear MC Serch,

Pardon the length of this letter, but I took my time to make sure that your new a**hole would be top of the line.

As a melanin-deficient emcee who began his hip-hop journey in the mid 80’s, I’ve always been interested in what people’s take are on white people in hip-hop. How do I fit in? What are my limitations? I’ve been lucky enough to see some people do it right and some people do it very wrong, and these are lessons that have carried over into many aspects of my life through the years. One golden rule in particular is this: exploiting anything incidental about oneself is pathetic and ultimately self-defeating.

Hip-hop is my lifelong craft and it has been an incredible learning tool for me, so I would be remiss to not contribute as much to this art form as I have received. All I can give is myself though, and if all I am composed of is standard hip-hop wisdom then all I would be doing is recycling other people through my music. Fortunately, I have my own particular perspective, style, technique, quirkiness and subject matter to channel through this medium. There is no success I’ve enjoyed that has been earned overnight, and I am grateful for that. I did it the hard way. And as overused as it is, there is a lot of merit in the term “keep it real” when it is said and heard by the right people. Let me keep it real for you right now.

Method Man @ Nokia Theatre NYC (Nov. 11) 2

Method Man

Also accompanying Method Man at this show is Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa and Immortal Technique. I already got my ticket. Copped yours yet? Link

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