Good interview with MC Lyte by Killer Mike. via the rap radar

MC Lyte rocking live at last night’s Hip-Hop legends concert. She came out unannounced and had a short set but killed it. Unfortunately, she too falls into the “I wish she wouldn’t rock over her own vocals” category. link

Only four weeks after the first Hip-Hop Legends show, here’s another one featuring another crazy lineup. I’m going to buy my ticket quick fast so I don’t miss out again. link

HIP-HOP LEGENDS CONCERT SERIES
Featuring: NAUGHTY BY NATURE, NICE & SMOOTH, BLACK MOON, SMIF-N-WESSON, MC LYTE, RAEKWON, SHOW BIZ & AG, LORD FINESSE AND DAS EFX

Music By
FUNKMASTER FLEX
CHUCK CHILLOUT

2009-06-17
11:00PM
Doors @ 10:30PM
$30.00 Advance

B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
237 West 42 St.
New York, NY 10036

When dozens of scantily clad girls start frolicking near the water fountain in the local park, it can only mean one thing. Another summer of free Hip-Hop shows around NYC. Get your mind out of the gutter. The two shows I’m looking forward to the most is going down in Queensbridge Park: Sugar Hill Gang and Lovebug Starski & Friends. Raekwon performing in Staten Island should be a great one too. Big ups to City Parks Foundation. Peep the original emcee DJ Hollywood getting down last summer @ Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. link

Bronx
St. Mary’s Park
146 St. & St. Ann’s Ave.
Tuesday, July 7th: Hector Tricoche y Su Orquesta
Tuesday, July 14th: Paquito Guzman y Su Orquestra
Tuesday, July 21st: N’Klabe

Crotona Park
173 St. & Crotona Park East
Wednesday, July 8th: Soulsonic Force
Wednesday, July 15th: George Lamond / Judy Torres
Wednesday, July 22nd: KRS-One

Brooklyn
Red Hook
Bay St. btwn. Henry St. & Clinton St.
Tuesday, August 4th: Frankie Negron
Tuesday, August 11th: Lisa Lisa
Tuesday, August 18th: DJ Premier vs. Pete Rock hosted by Danny Castro of Lyricist Lounge

Von King Park
Tompkins Ave. btwn. Lafayette Ave. & Greene Ave.
Thursday, July 2nd: Kiki Sheard / Keith Wonderboy Johnson
Thursday, July 9th: MC Lyte
Thursday, July 16th: Chico DeBarge

Brower Park
Brooklyn Ave. & Prospect Park Pl.
Wednesday, July 29th: Wayne Wonder
Wednesday, August 5th: CaRiMi
Wednesday, August 12th: Tribute to the Classics: Black Moon and Smif n Wessun w/ Live Band

Manhattan
East River Park
At the Band Shell along the East River
Between Grand & Jackson Sts.
Thursday, July 16th: Man Man
Thursday, July 23rd: Slick Rick
Thursday, July 30th: Ismael Miranda

Highbridge Park
174 St. & Amsterdam Ave.
Tuesday, August 11th: Andy Andy
Tuesday, August 18th: Xtreme
Tuesday, August 25th: Bachata Heightz / Watata

Marcus Garvey Park
124 St. & Mt. Morris Park
Thursday, August 6th: Jon B
Thursday, August 13th: Joe
Thursday, August 20th: Hezekiah Walker

Queens
Queensbridge Park
41 Ave., Bridge Plaza, Vernon Blvd. & East River
Tuesday, July 14th: Sugar Hill Gang
July 21st: Lovebug Starski & Friends
Tuesday, July 28th: Rhythm Review with Felix Hernandez

Springfield Park
184 St. & 147 Ave.
Thursday, July 30th: Chrisette Michele
Thursday, August 6th: Heather Headley
Thursday, August 13th: James Fortune & Trin-i-tree 57 hosted by Hezekiah Walker

Rochdale Park
Guy R. Brewer Blvd. at 134th Ave.
Thursday, August 20th: The Persuasions

Staten Island
Mahoney Playground
Beechwood Ave., Crescent Ave., Cleveland St. & Jersey St.
Wednesday, August 12th: Raekwon
Wednesday, August 19th: Naughty by Nature

Tappen Park
106 Water St. between Bay St. and Wright St.
Wednesday, August 26th: Rhythm Review with Felix Hernandez

Nice collection of estrogen-filled tracks. Can’t post about female MC’s without mentioning the Mercedes Ladies though. Peace to Jaz! link

1-Queen Latifah-Wrath Of My Madness (Produced by DJ Mark The 45 King)
2-Shazzy-I’ll Talk (Produced by The SD50′s)
3-Apani B Fly Emcee-Strive (Produced by Nujabes)
4-Nefertiti-Miss Amutha Nature (Produced by DJ Pooh)
5-Big C-Look Alive (Produced by Diamond D)
6-The 45 King ft Lady Champain & Big Pooh-Drop Da Bomb
7-Paula Perry-Xtra Xtra (Produced by DJ Premier)
8-Bahamadia-Rugged Ruff (Produced by DJ Premier)
9-Champ MC-Keep It On The Real (Pete Rock Remix)
10-MC Lyte-Cappacino (Produced by Marley Marl)
11-Rah Digga-Lessons of Today (Produced by DJ Premier)
12-Queen Mother Rage-Slipping Into Darkness (Produced by Brother J & Professor X)
13-D.A.(Hobo Junction)-Oh Yeah (Produced by Big Nous)
14-Yo Yo-Mackstress (Produced by Crazy Toones)
15-Lyrics-Woman In The Ghetto (Produced by Nolan Baynes)
16-Sah-B-Summa Day (Produced by Marley Marl)
17-Jean Grae-How To Break Up With Your Girlfriend (Produced by M-Boogie)
18-Passion-As The World Turns (Produced by Erick Sermon)
19-Roxanne ft Chubb Rock-Gear (Produced by the Trackmasterz)
20-Roxanne Shante-Straight Razor (Large Professor Remix)

Word. Word is the new smurf by the way. Word. via ottn

Never heard about this before but it seems like a huge deal. Cash prizes are in the millions depending on how old you are. Not sure why age is a factor though. I’m sure, in his heyday, Shyheim could’ve wrecked most MCs regardless of age. The guest judges for the rap battles are a virtual who’s who of Hip-Hop culture with cats like Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Kool Herc, Roxanne Shante, Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Moe Dee, Slick Rick, Nice & Smooth, Just-Ice, DMC, MC Lyte, Biz Markie, Whodini and A LOT more. Too bad they’re only judging and not performing. more info

The panel of judges for the upcoming World Series of Hip Hop rap battle and hip hop dance battle tournament has been released by the tournament’s organizing body. The tournament is set to award over $5 million in cash prizes to participants in nine categories.

Today in New York City, the World Series of Hip Hop released some of the names of judges who will oversee the championship matches of this year’s multi-million dollar tournament, scheduled for August 5-9, 2008 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.

Rappers and dancers from all corners of the world are expected to converge on Atlanta this summer for the opportunity to be judged by some of hip hop’s pioneers. The tournament’s championship matches will be aired live on pay-per-view Saturday August 9, 2008 at 7 p.m. EDT and will be hosted by radio personality and legendary female rapper Monie Love, New York City DJ and MTV host Cipha Sounds and nationally syndicated radio talk show host Wendy Williams. The judges who will decide who wins the Million Dollar Grand Prizes include: DMC of Run DMC, Rakim of Eric B and Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Yo-Yo, Dougie Fresh, Roxanne Shante and Slick Rick.

“We want to make sure the judges are so official, that their decision as to who is the better rapper is beyond reproach. And the list is still not done,” said Furqaan Clover the events organizer.

The Rap Battle Tournament will consist of 6 categories with Championship Prizes in each category.

1. Heavyweight Male (ages 25 and up), Championship Prize $1,000,000 CASH!!!
2. Heavyweight Female (ages 25 and up), Championship Prize $1,000,000 CASH!!!
3. Middleweight Male (ages 21 to 24), Championship Prize $500,000 CASH!!!
4. Middleweight Female (ages 21 to 24), Championship Prize $500,000 CASH!!!
5. Lightweight Male (ages 18 to 20), Championship Prize $250,000 CASH!!!
6. Lightweight Female (ages 18 to 20), Championship Prize $250,000 CASH!!!

Some random tracks I’ve been bumping lately. That Johnny Cash song has been on constant repeat. If you’re feeling this, let me know and I’ll update the playlist more frequently. Link

01. The Pharcyde – Oh Shit
02. The Temptations – Gonna Keep On Tryin Till I Win Your Love
03. Funkmaster Flex, Tragedy & Nine – Six Million Ways To Die
04. Gza Freestyle
05. Syl Johnson – Could I Be Falling In Love
06. MC Lyte – Wonder Years (Prod. By DJ Premier)
07. Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson – Highwayman
08. KRS-One & Lord Finesse – Freestyle Part 1
09. KRS-One & Lord Finesse – Freestyle Part 2
10. J-Treds – Praise Due (Indopepsychics Remix)
11. SWV – Weak
12. The Notorious B.I.G. – Party & Bullshit (Lord Finesse Remix)

The point of view presented here is real interesting. I never thought about rappers being the representation of commercial interests like Krs-One or as lacking sincerity like MC Lyte seems to think. Courtesy of QD3. via HoodHype

What a ridiculous lineup! Wonder how long it would take me to drive there…

buy tickets, more info

The Pioneers of Hip Hop
KRS-One
Whodini
Doug E. Fresh
MC Lyte
Big Daddy Kane
Biz Markie
Sugar Hill Gang
Kurtis Blow

Sat, May 3, 2008 @ 08:00 PM

Fox Theatre
Detroit, MI