Trailer for the new documentary “Something from Nothing: THE ART OF RAP,” directed by Ice-T. Peep the live Q&A and performance with Ice, Chuck D and Grandmaster Caz at the Sundance Film Festival. Really looking forward to seeing this. link

Big ups to Christie, Fabel, Joe Conzo, Grandmaster Caz and everyone else who contributes to these wonderful events. Now, all we need is a translator for the article!

I am loving these little shorts. Props to Ed Piskor!

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Ice-T’s documentary “Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap” debuted at the Sundance Film Festival over the weekend. After the screening, there was a live online broadcast of a short Q&A and performances by Ice-T, Grandmaster Caz and Chuck D. Maybe I’m biased but Caz kills it, especially with his second set. link

Second installment of the Hip-Hop Family Tree comic. First issue, (via)

Fokis And RP – Show ‘Em How To MC ft. Grandmaster Caz

link

Similar to why you shouldn’t coach Kid Capri. link

NaTTyNiGhT just hit me up with some great pictures from the Kool Moe Dee show a few weeks ago. Seriously, these are great images. link (via)

Recorded at the Kool Herc tribute and Mele Mel 50th birthday bash a few weeks ago. Big ups to Big Jeff for putting the event together.

Below, bonus video of General Mele Mel sounding off.

When I first started working on this book, I told my editor that I wanted it to do three important things. The first was to make the case that hip-hop lyrics—not just my lyrics, but those of every great MC—are poetry if you look at them closely enough. – Jay-Z, about his forthcoming book Decoded.
 
Except they’re not. They are rap lyrics and are meant to be rapped. As soon as you strip them of a voice they lose a large part of their power and purpose. Jay’s lyrics on a page is no more a poem than Lil Wayne reading William Blake aloud would constitute a rap song (at least not without significant editing and re-purposing). The whole lyrics are poetry, maaan angle has been pushed for decades, across genres, by people who either aren’t smart enough to engage lyricism on its own terms or who are simply trying to impress and/or profit off those types. It’s really an insult to both poets and lyricists.

 
Also somewhat disappointing here is the take on Rap-Rebirth as legitimate or as constituting a significant business without citing specific numbers. Yes there are percentages thrown at us but are we to simply believe these numbers are meaningful without knowing the size of the site’s clientele? What is 60% of 12, including three cousins and and old roommate? Don’t mean to imply anything but it’d be nice to know. Also not addressed here is that although Rap isn’t poetry, it can be poetic, which I would argue is a big chunk of the reason why we sometimes feel the need to treat them similarly. And lastly, cause I’m starting to hear myself rant, I would point out that Caz’s unwilling contribution to Rapper’s Delight is widely known and not really “gray”. If you’re interested you can read a recounting from Charlie Chase in That’s The Joint!, explaining how the rhymes weren’t stolen, as asserted, they were openly shared, which, retrospectively may have been naive but only because it’s difficult now to imagine an era before the commercialization of rap.

first cat to cut and rhyme simultaneously.

It’s been over a week since the Cold Crush Brothers’ anniversary show but the feeling still lingers. It was a special night spent with the trailblazing group. Renowned artists such as Kool DJ Red Alert, Grand Wizard Theodore, DJ Scratch, Jazzy Jay, DMC and Big Daddy Kane among others took turns getting the crowd ready for the main event. It took place at the Hip-Hop Cultural Center, a museum/venue/auditorium filled to the brim with flyers, pictures and other items from the early days. If you have a chance to visit, go do it, it’s a great location dedicated to preserving the culture through curation of historical artifacts and exhibitions. The group rarely performs together so rather than do what most people expected e.g. performing all the classic routines from back in the day, the CCB’s totally flipped the script and went Unplugged (c) MTV. The night wasn’t going to be about them trying to prove they still got what it takes; it was going to be more intimate than that. It was about sharing their experiences, motivations and feelings around some of their most classic material. It was about establishing a sense of community amongst family, friends and fans. And it worked.

More pictures after the jump.

Cold Crush Brothers

Kool DJ Red Alert

DJ Disco Wiz

Grandmaster Caz and Easy AD

DJ Scratch and Tony Tone

DJ Scratch

D-Nice and DJ Scratch

DMC

Grand Wizard Theodore

Mighty Mike C

T-Ski Valley

Big Daddy Kane

Big Daddy Kane and Grand Wizard Theodore

Ice-T

D. Tompkins seeks help in identifying the rest of the people in this group shot. Picture courtesy of Chris Lasalle and Dave Funkenklein.

It’s been pointed out to me that I tend to throw around a lot of exaggerations, especially when it comes to certain “must-see” events. But trust me on this. This is most definitely a must-see show. All members of the Cold Crush Brothers performing live. Not just Caz and JDL with Tone behind ‘em. All of ‘em, together on one stage doing their classic routines. Honestly, if you’re any sort of Hip-Hop fan and truly know your history, you are just as excited as I am for this show. Buy your tickets NOW. link

Cold Crush Brothers 32nd Anniversary Concert and Party

Location
2309 Frederick Douglass Blvd.
2nd Floor
The Magic Johnson Theater

Date: Friday July 30 , 2010

Doors open at 9pm

with Kool D.J.

Red Alert on the turntables spinning from 9pm – 10pm

each hour leading up to the cold Crush Brothers and Friends Hittng the stage will be a Pioneer DJ spinning classic Hip Hop music keep the party moving.

The Cold Crush Brothers will be hittng the stage doing all their classic rounties some of there Friends in Hip Hop will be joining them on stage as special guest. DMC from the power house Hip Hop Group RUNDMC will be doing a set with the cold crush brothers along with Big Daddy Kane also will be doing a set with the CCB as well will be Biz Markie doing a set with the Cold crush brothers.
expect to see many Hip Hop Star in the house

Photo by Dorothy Hong at a recent Sedgwick & Cedar + Joe Conzo Collaboration Event. Left to right: Busy Bee, Grandwizard Theodore, DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Caz, Melle Mel. Link

Off The Grandest Of Them All album on Tuff City