The homey Ceschi performed for only 15 minutes last night at Webster Hall in NYC but he definitely ripped it. Other sets by Sole and Awol One were equally great. Highlights included Ceschi almost knocking me over during his set, Sole rewinding the Bottle of Humans beat (several times) so he could do the second verse and Awol One’s entire set. Peace to Factor and Peter Agoston.

Download Ceschi Live @ Webster Hall 4.29.09

Download [.mp3] Buck 65, Live from the 3rd Annual Anticon 10 Year Anniversary Show in NYC

Download [.mp3] Alias and Sole, Live from the 3rd Annual Anticon 10 Year Anniversary Show in NYC

Download [.mp3] Why, Live from the 3rd Annual Anticon 10 Year Anniversary Show in NYC

GRANDGOOD friend Peter Agoston, better known to some as Dj Thanksgiving Brown and founder of Female Fun Music has launched a new live radio program – Man On Tha Run. You can tune in every Friday from 1pm-3pm EST @ radio23.org.

Rakim ends the last Hip-Hop show at the Knitting Factory with a nice acapella rhyme. Major props are in order to Peter Agoston for organizing a whole gang of classic shows over the past two years. Peace.

Download Rakim Acapella, Live at Knitting Factory’s Final Show

Despite the snow, I hope some of y’all were able to make it out to the Souls of Mischief show last night. The turnout seemed to be a whole lot better than what I expected although this may be due more to an extra long guest list rather than actual paying customers. Weak. In any event, the crowd was pretty lively at times as the group went through their classics, some solo material and a dope track from their new album, which is executive produced by Prince Paul. Too bad it seemed like only five people knew who Paul was. Everyone else gets the gasface. On a semi-related note, if you haven’t picked up Opio’s new album “Vulture’s Wisdom,” do it now. I haven’t really heard a lot of new music to get excited about but this album is really great.

Videos coming soon. More pictures after the jump. Props to Peter Agoston for flying out the whole Souls of Mischief crew (all six of ‘em) to NYC for this one-time only show. And for turning down the blinding lights on stage.

I don’t have to say anything except peep the lineup. This will be the last show at the Knitting Factory before they move to Brooklyn next year. More importantly, it will be the last show for the venue’s booking agent for all these crazy Hip-Hop shows over the past two years, Peter Agoston. Looking back, the big name acts he was able bring to such an intimate spot have been very impressive. The venue has hosted shows by the likes of Nice & Smooth, Boot Camp Clik, Gza, Busta Rhymes, Q-Tip, Jeru The Damaja, Cormega, Das Efx, Brand Nubian, The Beatnuts and many others. Not to mention the Knitting Factory was where I got to see a super rare NYC performance by the one and only Schoolly D! Big ups to Peter for holding it down over there. Oh yeah, don’t sleep. buy tickets

Friday, Dec 19, 2008 // DOORS 8:00 PM
ADV $30 // DOS $35

Knitting Factory – New York
74 Leonard Street
New York, NY 10013

“I created Culturama to preserve the contemporary version of hiphop through a visual and print based documentation – whether it be through my writing or music videos. I feel this is vital to the sustainment of a culture that is dying as quickly as it’s multiplying.”

Good read – but you can’t write a lengthy article on hip hop videos without mentioning Ralph Mcdaniels or Video Music Box (remember Crazy Sam?). Speaking of Uncle Ralph, I wouldn’t mind seeing a best of Video Music Box DVD – they must have a nice archive of footage. Mr. Agoston is a cool cat who also writes for several magazines, djs, and runs Female Fun records (MF Doom, Dooley-O, Chris Lowe, J Rawls…).

“My old friend Tim Holland (bka Sole) had established a distribution company of his own, for his own group Anticon, after several distribution problems here in the States. Soon after, he asked if I’d like to start a record label to be housed within it. With no hesitation I agreed. I contacted my friend DJ Fisher (Day By Day Ent) and asked him if MF Doom would be interested in doing an instrumental release of his album Operation Doomsday…A few calls later, it was in the works and the first of the Special Herbs… records dropped in December of 2001…it wasn’t easy to establish and it’s not gotten any easier whatsoever as the time progresses. It’s an incredibly consuming undertaking, it’s costly, both emotionally and monetarily. I do it alone, I don’t have partners or associates. A few friends and family lend advice, but I’m my own publicist, promotion director, street team, marketing strategist, all of that and more. I love it and I appreciate every ounce of help any one has provided along the way…My only agenda is to be interesting to the ears of people that have an open mind.”