Gramaphone 009 is said to exist. Produced by Biz.

Myka 9 – Delusions Of Grandeur

Myka 9 – Oh Yeah…Alright ft. Aceyalone, Sunspot Jonz, Casual, Kirby Dominant

link

Just days after the Japan earthquake and subsequent tsunami and radiation disasters, the Fake Four, Inc. camp received a welcomed message from rapper Kaigen, one of our closest allies from the island nation. He told us he was safe, though having seen the devastation first hand, he urged us to help aid the Japanese people. He suggested we rally our roster of talented artists to create a compilation of original material dedicated to Japan and the thousands lost and displaced in the disaster. Our artists and friends answered the call in the true collaborative spirit of Fake Four, Inc. reaching across genre lines and national borders for the cause. The result is a collection of songs that are thought provoking and earnest, proving that the best way to overcome adversity is by banding together and standing strong, united. Myka9′s personal mantra “It’s all love” sums up what went into this compilation and what it’s about. It’s a humanistic endeavor dedicated to honoring, educating and uplifting.

All profits go to support Relief International’s work to help survivors in Japan.

J-A-P-A-N
Vocals by Myka9 and Moka Only
Produced by Factor

The Great Deluge
Vocals by sole, Leif Kolt, Jared Paul, Kaigen and Greencarpetedstairs
Produced by Leif Kolt

No Easy Way to Grow
Vocals by Ceschi & Awol One
Produced by Factor
Additional vocals by Kaigen
Bass by Enver Hampton
Piano by Gregory Pepper

Fukushima Tokyo Electric Russian Roulette
adaptation of Hiroshima Nagasaki Russian Roulette by Jim Page
Vocals by sole
Produced by Radical Face

Prafit MC – In 2 Minds ft. Myka 9

Thanks konga

Like all future commitments, this particular one has historically been difficult to keep. Especially for rappers. And extra especially for their copyright ignoring producers. Many new rap records disappoint old timers because the artists are confined to “creating” within the boundaries of copyright law. If it can’t be cleared and therefore is not commercially viable, whats the point? Samples are reworked, dropped off entirely or hidden to the point of irrelevance. But, a promise is a promise, so they have to keep trying, right?

Yesterday’s unveiling of the first taste of Freestyle Fellowship’s new Decon supported LP is not a wowee. It doesn’t induce particularly strong head nodding or multiple rewinds, er, skip-backs. And I can’t help but think part of it is because of the focus on sales. But what does it do?

It reminds me that I’m getting older. That my expectations are grander than my contributions, which I am sorry for (although you made me this way!). And that youthful, economically unburdened creativity can be awesome.

Although not articulated, the fans that grew up and now have to set aside money for laundry instead of vinyl and mp3s, didn’t they hold part of the commitment? We still expect to be wowed with best of class stylings and genre defying music. We still expect you to want to counter the mainstream. But we don’t expect to pay for it? Can you blame them for not wanting to push the envelope?

We’ve recorded seven or eight of them already. I wouldn’t say that they’re super pushing the envelope, but they’re not falling back on what we’ve done in the past. You could say it’s a similar sound, but I wouldn’t say that — it’s less a sound or style than an approach to music. Our take on a particular situation. Myka and I used to always be onstage in drama classes and it’s sort of like that, it’s about being put in a situation. Our music just plays around with that and makes it easy for producers. Creating is a fun thing, it’s always come naturally to us.

To be clear, this leak is not a disappointment to me in the way Cuban Linx II was. It is actually good and each MC contributes a worthy boast. The music, especially the beginning, is satisfying and well constructed. It serves as a good teaser for more, especially when you only get one verse from such powerful wordsmiths who could easily grab my attention for albums at a time. I just hope as more music drops or when I finally cop the album that I can reconcile my expectations appropriately to the reality of their situations.

Either that or continue to look forward to the day rappers start to sell non-public, “unannounced” (aka illegal) music on tours that only fans, not the industry, will know about. Hint, hint.

Here’s the first single from the recently reunited Freestyle Fellowship.

Freestyle Fellowship – On This Earth

courtesy of Blind I

Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY (July 21st, 2010)

60 Summit St., The Lotus Temple Of Visions

Gallery + Open House

Divine Elohim (The Space Age Herbalist) - Founder

Medusa, Dj Drez

Myka 9

We witness wielders of capital confuse their given wealth for power and the servility of others as confirmation of the significance of their insights. Meanwhile artists dedicated to the excellence of their craft roam the earth searching for acknowledgment, often confused and hurt by the lack thereof. But it is not their failure that is demonstrated by the comparitively low levels of consumption. The misconception is that capital is a true validator.

Medusa performs “Pimps Down, Flows Up” (Footage by GRNDGD friend Donovan Kasp)

Lotus Temple of Visions photo recap

update: One other thing. I wasn’t going to mention this originally because it seems like a sensitive issue that I have no right to recount to strangers (err, non show-participants?) but there is also a part of me that would hate to see it lost. Briefly then, also pictured above with the venerated Freestyle Fellowship MC is his daughter. After recounting stories of yesteryear, the host, Divine (formerly NYU roommates with Talib Kweli, who apparently was an avid F.F. fan), shared the story of how that night was the first time the aforementioned father had laid eyes on his seed in over 12 years. This added a certain level of intensity to the already intimate setting (The Lotus Temple is a loft style apartment converted to a gallery and open house. This created a sense that you were attending an artsy house party, not a typical hip-hop show) that probably won’t be captured on the videos that will eventually be published.

video by FFE Films.

Myka 9 stopped by Fat Baby in NYC a few weeks back and ripped his set. Currently, he’s on tour with Tame One so be sure to check them out in a city near you. link

video by Ka5p