Happy Holidays everyone! I hope you all have been enjoying time with family and friends, but perhaps most of all - time away from work. I definitely took a few days off, myself, but it's back to the grind and I couldn't be more excited about it. The folks at Gowhere Hip Hop as well as Hollywood shaker Michael Silverstein bring us the holiday show to end all holiday shows. Since we discovered that the Mayans were full of shit, we can finally look forward to many great things the future may hold for us. This is a awesome start. The lineup is packed with many of Chicago's most talented up and comers as well as accomplished young stars, from Mint Lab Astronauts, to Rich Jones (of Second City Citizens) to Boy Illinois. Headlining is E-Train, the Chicago native now making waves in Los Angeles, and the night is hosted by Young General. This is most definitely the place to be in Chicago tomorrow night. Perfromances start at 8pm so get there early. I hear the first 50 people to show up will get a free shot of holiday cheer. I will be doing a set as well, and the party keeps going from 11pm when DJ Demchuck takes to the tables. Check out some music from some of the performers below, so you all can sing along on Friday night! Be sure to RSVP here and I will see you there!!!
The Hurricane, Sandy, hit New York City on October 29th leaving it devastated with flooded streets and subways, cut power and destroyed homes. Over 76 evacuation shelters opened up throughout the city and 200 National Guard troops were deployed. NYC and the other 23 affected US states were dealt more than $63 billion in damage. New York City is has time and time again proven that it is strong and no stranger to disaster and/or tragedy. The video for Sunset by Double A.B. & Dub Sonata was filmed before the hurricane hit and does a great job in capturing the beauty and majesty that is New York City. Switching between scenes shot in Coney Island and Harlem, it captures a sharp contrast; but also a common thread. New York City carries a duality in its identity and we can see it clearly here in Sunset. New York City is filthy, but proud. Cutthroat, but motivational. With every sunrise, there is a sunset. Man Bites Dog label mates, Cannibal Ox, provide the insightful lyricism that finishes off the song and video nicely. You can see the focus in the eyes of Vordul Mega (in orange shirt) as he gazes off past the coast line. Perhaps pondering what good lies ahead in 2013 for he and his crew. Catch Double A.B., Cannibal Ox, and myself on tour in January on the West Coast. Check the main page for dates and cities. Funds are still being raised for those affected by Hurricane Sandy, so please offer whatever you can to The Robin Hood Foundation.
This track is already getting a lot of hype, but I couldn't resist posting this remix as it was one of my favorite songs from high school. I remember the video for this with the lasers and the robots and the dancing like it was yesterday. It was so Timbaland-typical-cheesy dope and had a very tight verse from Chicago exiled rapper turned brief reality star, Da Brat. Montreal-bred producer, Kaytranada, doesn't do too much with the vocals and pretty much lets that incredible horn sample ride. Good choice, cause it's hard to ruin this track; it's just too sick. Only thing is, I still get a little queasy on the line "I be poppin' ish like some Crisco"...there aren't enough lasers to burn that image out of my head. Dope track, and I suspect we'll be hearing more from Kaytranada very soon.
It begun in a home in Newtown, Connecticut and certainly didn't end there. 20 year old Adam Lanza was a honor roll student in high school who preferred to associate with "goths". He was described as "remote" with a possible personality disorder. He grew up in a wealthy neighborhood with a brother four years his senior and parents who divorced four years prior. On Friday morning, Adam woke up and killed his mother, Nancy, in her home and then got into a car and drove away. In that car he carried with him two pistols, a Glock and a Sig Sauer, .223-caliber Bushmaster rifle, a Henry repeating rifle, an Enfield assault rifle and a shotgun. He drove to Sandy Hook School, got past a single security door somehow and opened fire. The school had children no further past the fourth grade. He left 28 dead, including himself, the school principal and his mother. Also killed were 20 children, none older than 10 years, resulting in the second deadliest shooting in U.S. history.
Gun control is now the hot button topic across the country. Three of the weapons that the killer brought into the school were registered to his mother, which he used to murder her with. The question echos, "If we had stricter gun laws, would this have happened?". Many seem to be focusing on the guns that were used to do the killing. I would rather look at the person using the guns to do the killings with. There should be no surprise that a gun was the tool used in the slaying of 20 children. Guns are the instruments of death. There's the old adage that I believe is important to consider here:
"Guns don't kill people, people kill people"
The purpose of a gun is to kill. That is the definition of a gun's entire existence. As long as guns are apart of our society, they will be used to kill people. Look at why guns were invented in the first place. Gunpowder was used by the Chinese in warfare before it spread to the west. Cannons were adopted from Chinese siege technology which caught on to Western war practices by the 14th century. Then, hand canons evolved to out duel the development of armor, and so on from there. Guns were made to fight man in times of war - but have since been abused to attain individual power when removed from war. That is what humans have proven to do time and time again; take advantage of technology's initial purposes. Take the internet, for example. The internet was first created to exchange information between computer terminals that were geographically separated and as a military defense system in the 1950's. Since then, the internet has evolved and been used to attack other users in the form of viruses, spyware and malware as well as widespread pirating. As long as we have guns there will be death, accidental or intentional. I don't place one above the other, both are saddening and indicative of the state in which we live. Gun control is not an option, it's an all or nothing scenario. Either banish all guns and eliminate the ease of access to killing others, or don't and accept that tragedies will occur.
Events such as the massacre in the Sandy Hook School, always hit me on a personal level. As a certified teacher, I have a first hand account of the concentration that is put into preparing teachers for events like this. It's now apart of the job description, knowing how to respond to threats such as school shootings. I've heard a lot of talk from people who believe that teachers should be allowed to have a conceal and carry permit in order to prevent situations such as this. Realistically, this would take a complete over-hauling of teaching personnel as I assure you that a vast majority of current teachers would seek a different profession if gun-toting was mandated policy. My mother is a teacher, and she thinks it is crazy to equip teachers with guns. Not only just because teachers are not trained soldiers, but because of the amount of accidents that would happen if they were. Teaching is a stressful enough profession with all its responsibilities, without including guns into the requisite. What about the potential for teachers to do harm to others? And then adding guns?
Who wants to be instructed by people carrying guns? It's already slightly uncomfortable just talking to police officers, let alone being told what to do by them. They have guns; I don't feel "safer" around them. Others will likely have a different perspective, but those who are young and black and living in America might share my view. And what of the times when tragedy hasn't struck? What of the times when a teacher sets the gun down, or puts it away, and it is found by a student? That student plays with the gun, and accidentally kills another student. Or a teacher. Or a parent. There are too many variables out there for this to be a viable solution.
The truth is depressing, but simple. There is no way to prevent tragedies like this from happening. While it is just heart-breaking that 20 children are murdered, I think it's just as sad that someone has reached the breaking point to where they decide to end lives, but a teacher was there to take them out before they did. What's happening to our young adults in America? What's happening to our teenagers? Why aren't we looking into making major changes to our societal construct? We shouldn't be surprised that guns will kill another, but we should be surprised that people are so willing to kill other people. Or are we at the point in which we just accept that humans have murderous tendencies and we need to limit the ways in which we can harm each other? If this is true, then how long after guns are banished before another method is invented to easily kill others? Or before the increase in an already available method such as domestic suicide bombings skyrocket?
We are our own worse enemy. As a nation, we would prefer to place the
blame on "terrorists" from foreign countries as the sole threat to American life. The fact of the matter is that domestic terrorism is killing Americans in far greater numbers than that
of international ones. More than 30 percent of female homicide victims are due to domestic violence. A NFL player recently used a gun to kill the mother of his child, and then killed himself over an argument over the paternity of a three month old child. The murders occurring in Chicago alone should be cause for a national emergency, as President Obama addressed in his press conference yesterday. We must take a hard look into what we have become as a society and the values we advocate. We are more isolated and alienated than ever before. We place unrealistic pressures on the youth to succeed, while glorifying gaudy and greedy behaviors of the rich and famous. Kids are growing up more disconnected than any generation ever before, contrary to the incredible amount of access to the world that they have. The culprit of our problems will not be found at Zero Dark Thirty, but rather right now. This very moment and in the homes of suburban east coast parents that keep registered guns in the house. In the malls of a North-western towns where many may not be able to afford to shop at. In the minds of professional athletes that may have a hard time checking their aggression at the practice gym as they leave. The signs are as clear as day. This is not a gun control issue; it's a state of American society issue.
I always find it amazing the amount of music out there that you just don't ever hear about. It's hard to market music to a broad audience...it's much different than movies and television where advertising is in your face every 11 minutes through commercials. Wonder why people seems to promote themselves non-stop on Facebook and Twitter, sending invites to their album releases and why you just all of a sudden receive emails from artists dropping you crazy links. (All music business heads know what I mean with that last one.) However, there are those rare times where it's refreshing to have music sent to you, as is the case here. The Legendary M.O.P. is one of my favorite rap groups and I had no clue that Lil Fame of the Brownsville, New York duo had spawned a side project. Linking up with Termanology, who could be heard on many M.O.P. joints, they form Fizzyology and have already dropped a self-titled full length album. With no short of big name veterans from Bun B, Freeway, Statik Selektah and even M.O.P., it's hard to imagine this album being a fail. One of the lead tracks is Play Dirty featuring production by DJ Premier, who produced a majority of M.O.P.'s music, as well as verses from Busta Rhymes and Styles P. You already know what to expect - a signature Primo beat, raw energy and top notch lyrics. Termanology goes in particularly tough on this one. I love this track, and I can tell I'm gonna enjoy listening to the entire album.
For you frequent readers, I did a post reviewing Kendrick Lamar's debut album "good kid, m.A.A.d. city" where I relayed my opinion that the hype exceed the heights that the album reached. Much to the masses chagrin, my post also drew a comparison between Lamar and The Game with his first release. We'll lookie lookie here...Kendrick Lamar featured on a Game track. I knew I was on to something. Not to continue to pile on Lamar here, but he doesn't really add anything valuable to the track. He is relegated to only doing the hook a la Kid Cudi on Gorgeous and the whole vocal effect he uses (which is extremely similar to what Big Boi does) doesn't vibe with me that well on this one. Not crazy about the beat either, it's well done but rather drab. But on to what is good about this track; the lyrics. The Game sets up a subtle social commentary on the natural violent nature of humanity while addressing the folklore surrounding the mystery of certain celebrity deaths. Scarface picks right up where Game left off and where he left us since we heard him last. Scarface adds his own disbelief of how some iconic music figures died, which is contrary to the public record. Spoiler alert, he thinks they all were murdered. They both bring it lyrically on this track and it's great to hear from Scarface, but Murder is certainly not the best #sundayservice sermon.
The time has come...Vast Aire and Vordul Mega of the acclaimed and famed group, Cannibal Ox, begin their "Reunion Tour" tomorrow night in Brooklyn, New York. They'll be doing one show this month, before hitting the road hard in January of the new year. AZ, LA, SF, SD and Vegas are all on the schedule with the possibility of other cities being added. I've been working closely with Can Ox on putting this thing together and the idea is to keep this tour relatively small and do a much larger one later in the year. I'll be joining the Ox on the west coast portion of the tour, and I couldn't be more pumped.
Also at the Knitting Factory will be legendary emcee C-Rayz Walz, along with Double AB, Creature, IRealz, Prop Anon, J. Stylez and Original Text. Sounds like a great way to kick off the tour and I wish I could be there myself. The Starvin Harlem duo boasts new material on the set list in addition to a few classics, so those expecting to hear a medley from their smash debut "The Cold Vein" from a decade ago will be pleasantly disappointed. The new work is minimal at this point, but from the sneak listen I had of it - is an awesome venture in a new direction. 2013 is dedicated to developing the next project which will launch on IGC Records (Iron Galaxy Clik). Expect some high level production from some big names but most of all, expect the same street knowledge, universal wisdom and lyrical mastery they gave once before. It pains me not to be able to give you a sample of the fresh new music, but stay tuned...there will be Ox. For now, check the latest re-surfacing of Cannibal Ox on Double AB's track Street Survival and get yourself to BK tomorrow night!
Adam Tensta is back with the third installment of the #BeUndeniable series with Junkyard.com in Young Black & Famous. With the help of Adam Kanyama, they go in on a trap beat produced by Jeffro showing that there is room for real rap skills over trap music. The touch of Swedish culture they bring adds the uniqueness that distinguishes them from most other rappers you've ever heard. Real rhyming over a dope beat. As Adam x 2 has stated "This is just some rap shit!"
Over the past four days, The Game has dropped three more not-ready-for-Jesus Piece tracks and most of them are nothing to really write home about. Rollin' is the best of the three, packing in a gang of rappers on a bounce-beat produced by Kanye West. With Slim Thug and Paul Wall featured, this is basically Still Tippin part two, with the addition of a couple other bad rappers. Nothing is particularly deep or intricate about this track; it's just a well composed down-south beat with Kanye's signature vocal sample standing in the forefront. Rollin' does further enforce the fact that lyrically, The Game is indeed on his game and seems ready to take west coast rap back into his clutches.
Meet Random, aka Mega Ran. Teacher, Rapper, Hero. Random is one of those guys that I feel like I've heard of before, but just can't place where or how. Weird, cause Random is a pretty good rapper with some solid production behind him and a positive outlook. Though a Phoenix, Arizona resident you can hear the Philly in his voice. Graduating from Penn State University, he moved to Phoenix where he taught middle school until 2011, when he decided to commit to his music full time. Good move, i'd say, as his ability to relate to people combined with his fantastic imagination has gotten him some incredible opportunities.
In 2007, Random released "Mega Ran", an album featuring production completely sampled from the Capcom platform video game "Mega Man". The 8-bit integration into heavy hitting hip hop beats led to Capcom taking notice of this innovative effort and offered Random a special licensing agreement. Since then, he has outred the US, UK & Japan, performed at the world famous "Comic-Con" Convention and has had his music placed in television, movie and video games.
Random's current offering is "Mega Ran in Language Arts", a three EP series. Over the three separate EP's, Random enlists the help of fellow emcees mc chris, Homeboy Sandman, MC Frontalot, MeLa Machinko, as well as Wordsworth & Punchline who earned attention on some Mos Def tracks and appearances on other Rawkus recordings. Volume 3 concludes the saga with Mega Ran in more video game scenarios. The video game samples don't dominate the production, though, as we also get more traditional hip hop. There's a good mix of beats here, ranging from soulful with female hooks to arena style battle raps. His subject matter is still largely based on his love for video games and as a fellow gamer, I can appreciate that. A Routine Trip To Game Depot offers a story of an ordinary day where Random goes to buy a video game at the store. The element of trading other video games in and getting damaged games in return (something every gamer knows about) make this an easy tale to relate to. Other stand out tracks include Student Vs. Teacher featuring Storyville and mc chris (from Aqua Teen Hunger Force fame) and The Regimen featuring Wax. Through his lyrics, we also see the affect that his full time dedication to hip hop has on the quality of his music. This is a very polished album, ambitious in its venture into the world of video gaming yet a fine display of musicianship in a back-pack rap package (say that 3 times fast).
I've said it before, i'll say it again: hip hop needs to have more artist's involvement in academia. I love hearing rappers who are or were teachers...they tend to be more skilled artists. That doesn't always translate into good music, but that's not the case here. This is some of the most innovative work i've heard from one artist since MF Doom. Stream the entire album "Language Arts Volume 3" below and support this man's music.
I give "Mega Ran in Language Arts Volume 3" 5.5 out of 8 bars.
*Bonus Track* As i've spoken about it a good amount, i'd be remiss not to include a track from the album that got Random the attention that he deserves. Here is Take Your Turn (Bombman) from the 2007 album "Mega Ran". Enjoy!
I'm not gonna lie, November hasn't been too bad of a month for me. As mentioned in a post earlier this week, I had one of my tracks placed in an NBC prime time comedy show The New Normal, which I was really pleased with. After already being licensed to ESPN, last week my newest single, Game Day: Part II, was used on the college football program, SEC Gridiron Live, airing on Fox Sports South. Tonight, it will be used on the NFL Network broadcast, Thursday Night Football, featuring the New Orleans Saints vs the Atlanta Falcons. This promises to be a great game against two bitter rivals as the resurgent Saints square off against the best record holding Falcons. The song, produced by Curtis Marolt, is not only about the NFL football game, but about striving to be the absolute best and being dominant at what you do. I've always had the mindset comparable to a Super Bowl MVP or NBA Champion and it was a lot of fun having it translate on this track. Those who know me best, know I am a avid sports fan, and that sports always been apart of the music I make. A few years back, I wrote the team song for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA and that was a real thrill for me. Game Day: Part II's involvement in the professional sports arena is nothing short of one of my most cherished accomplishments. It was released on iTunes yesterday, and you can purchase the single here.
There are few things better than a movie with a great soundtrack. In a lot of cases, the soundtrack actually improves the quality of the movie itself. There are a whole mess of movies with simply brilliant soundtracks: The Royal Tenenbaums, Pulp Fiction, Do The Right Thing immediately come to mind. I thought it'd be interesting to look at movies with soundtracks done entirely by one artist, band, or collaboration. I considered the impact of the movie with every selection, but mostly let the music speak for itself. Below are the Top Ten Best Single Artist Movie Soundtracks:
(10) The Legend Of 1900 by Ennio Morricone - If you don't know about this
man, now is the time to get familiar. His music has been used across television sets and movie screens for many years. The standout song "The Crisis" is a hauntingly
beautiful piece that was also used for the movie Seven Pounds, which was one of the more under-rated stories in a movie ever.
(9) There Will Be Blood by Jonny Greenwood - Another score
that does well in capturing the grim mood of a film. I thought it was a good choice for it to not be as
"old timey" as it could have been. Definitely makes me want to affix a
bunch of straws together and drink someone's milkshake.
(8) Labyrinth by Trevor Jones & Davie Bowie - I dig the mix of scored tracks, and traditional songs with Bowie's vocals. This is kind of how I believe most soundtracks should be. This soundtrack is like a treasure chest of samples for 80's synth pop lovers. Probably the best soundtrack featuring an actor from the movie who also did the music, but that's only because LL Cool J has yet to do In Too Deep 2. Fingers crossed.
(7) The Virgin Suicides by Air - Great band whose trademark sounds of light
yet complex strings and piano melodies create the perfect soundtrack for a lazy Sunday as well as for a movie.
(6) Where The Wild Things Are by Karen O & The Kids - This is where it starts to get tough for me to rank. The songstress
from Yeah Yeah Yeahs does a great job of bringing the wild side of a
youth's imagination into a set of songs. I loved this book when I was
younger and really enjoyed the movie. Ahhh, to be innocent and
confused...the kid in me really wanted to rank this higher.
(5) Superfly by Curtis Mayfield - Curtis Mayfield has to be on the
short-list for best musicians across any genre. I mean, top five style. Not
only does Superfly make a funky soundtrack, but it extracts the
pressing issues for Black people in America so poignantly. Of course
Superfly is on here.
(4) The Social Network by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - This is the soundtrack that could've easily been number 1. I liked the movie, but it lacked color and sentiment. The musical compositions, however, do not. Trent and Atticus form one powerful force in scoring this tale of
betrayal and widespread social accessibility. The soundtrack emotes the
grinding nature of technology, the anxiety of awaiting a future and the
burgeoning leadership of today's youth all at once. Fantastic standing
alone and as a movie accompaniment.
(3) Magnolia by Aimee Mann - Every song somehow captures the
joy and anguish of the movie so incredibly. It's so good that she
receives credit for other peoples songs! 4 of the 13 tracks are from
other artists and that's the only drawback here...why couldn't she just
do the entire soundtrack? The other songs fit the movie, as well, so I was willing to overlook the other contributions. Listening to "Nothing Is Good Enough", "Wise Up" and "Save Me" in a row would bring even the hardest thug to tears. Oh yes...a thug can cry.
(2) Purple Rain by Prince and the Revolution - I noticed many
journalists regard this as THE best movie soundtrack ever, and with good
reason. This is not only a great soundtrack, but one of the better
albums of our time. Here, Prince's penchant for rebelling against
conventional societal rules and labels comes across so so well. The album cover seals the deal for me...I love that font and looking at that photo of Prince makes me want pancakes for some reason.
(1) Tron Legacy by Daft Punk - This received the top spot because of the vividness of the music matching the movie perfectly. This is the definition of an epic sound-scape done by one of my favorites bands, Daft Punk. At first I was disappointed that there weren't more stand alone electronic bangers, but I had to take some time to understand what needed to be accomplished here. This is a score, and a masterful one at that. Though the stand alone value is not as high as The Social Network, nothing accompanies a film better than Tron Legacy. With this, I think Daft Punk just became the Danny Elfman or Phillip Glass of the new generation.
Also worth mentioning:
American Gangster by Jay-Z - Who else but Jay-Z could have an official, unofficial soundtrack? I mean, he even got lines from the movie on the album. Many confuse this as the soundtrack to the movie, but the only Hip Hop on the actual soundtrack is from Public Enemy. Great album, though and love that cover.
I got a lot of great suggestions on Facebook about the best single artist soundtracks. Think I missed something? Post your favs here and tell me why. Thanks for reading!
Okay so from time to time, I got to get my shameless promotion on. Deal with it. A track I did with television/movie music producer Curtis Marolt got placed in one of this month's episodes of the new NBC comedy The New Normal. Check out the spot below on NBC.com, it's right at the beginning and actually kind of funny.
You can catch the entire track on soundcloud below. It features vocals from Sarah Leichtenberg, who you might have heard on other televised programs, including The Voice. Okay, so maybe I have slightly more going for myself...
Whoa...The Game has been taken us to church with his #SundayService promotional series and the holy ghost is ever present in his fourth installment. Black Jesus showcases a beat with samples so soulful and a bass line so moving that it doesn't even need to leave it's 4 bar loop. Shout out to SAP for producing this one. The Game seems to have taken his style to another level on this one. Always a confident rapper, The Game was previously more reliant on battle rhymes with aggressive wordplay - which was not a bad thing at all. He allows himself to loosen up his flow a bit with a "Yeesy" inspired style, stretching words and playing with pronunciations. I mean really...I thought that was Kanye and the hook. The repeated mention of Yeezys didn't help matters. The Game spits lines that fit the mood of the track well here, mentioning the untimely passing of Chris Lighty and Biggie's rightful place in heaven. On one hand, i'm incredibly pleased that this track is released for free, but on the other hand i'm asking myself "How did this track NOT make the album?!". Either way, this provides proper anticipation for the Jesus Piece album dropping 12.11.12, while possibly being the dopest free track released all year.
I've always liked the music of Adam Tensta, the Swedish rapper who is a much bigger deal across the pond in Stockholm than in the US. His 2007 release, "It's A Tensta Thing" topped the Swedish charts and was awarded the 2008 Swedish Grammis for best Dance/Hip Hop/Soul album. Tensta is back with a series of 5 tracks he's releasing in conjuncture with Junkyard.com between November and December. Raindrops is track number 2 (yes, this means I'm a little late) and he links with with Swedish pop producer Duvchi to create a laid back retrospective tune. Very well done track with a melancholy overtone for Tensta to acutely flex his reminiscent lyrics over.
Adam Tensta is another one of those artists who deserve much more acclaim and recognition than they get. I'd gladly trade Tensta's music for any of these trappers that dominate the US airwaves. Check the free download of Raindrops below, and stay posted for the track number 3 in Adam Tensta's new musical saga.
*Bonus Track* Here is track one of the series Grapevine with Jage. I actually dig this track more than track 2, but only because it's an uptempo track. Very dope.
This past week, Karniege released a brand new self produced EP "wOrKz Of aRt" on Bandcamp. The album is 7 tracks (and three radio versions) of pure serrated blade New York City hip hop. I first became familiar with Karni back in my I-love-everything-Def Jux-releases days when he linked up with producer Nasa to create the hard hitting single "Make News, which was featured on the Def Jux Presents 3 compilation in 2004. Even though his name was spelled differently then, he really started to make a name for himself from there, performing with Hip Hop elites like The Roots, Vast Aire, Dead Prez and Little Brother. I've personally known him since our days as part of the NYC "supergroup" The Reavers. I've always loved his style, and I'm glad to see his flows are still as sharp as ever. The thing about "wOrKz Of aRt" is that the beats really allow Karniege's flow to take center stage. The production is cool, but it's not anything too extravagant, and I believe that is intended. Its soul-purpose is to present the rhymes and provide the backdrop for every track. From the second you hear Not Like Me and the Eric B & Rakim Paid In Full drum pattern drops, you know you're in New York; gritty, proud and fast paced. Expect more of this throughout the EP - clever lyrics, aquatic flows and rhymes that pack a punch. Stream the entire release below, and be sure to support good music.
Murs and 9th Wonder have formed a musical bond that began with their 2004 release "Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition" and that connection has only gotten stronger through the years that followed. They came back with "Murray's Revenge" in 2006, and then 2008's "Sweet Lord" and "Fornever" in 2011. Well it seems all good things must come to an end. The appropriately titled 5th album "The Final Adventure" marks the duo's last collaboration together. The two really benefited from their musical relationship together. Murs made use of an opportunity to create music with one of Hip Hop's most talented producers whose style allowed him to use more traditional approaches on the mic. 9th got the chance to consistently work with an established emcee with skills as his relationship with his previous group, Little Brother, had dissipated.
Murs has been active in Hip Hop since 1993 when he released his first single, and three years later he solidified his hip hop membership when he joined the Livin Legends collective. Murs has been all over the place, seemingly re-defining himself every few years. He has released music on popular underground labels Rhymesayers and Definitive Jux, been apart of numerous hip hop and rock groups including Felt, a duo of himself and Slug of Atmosphere. He even released an album "Murs For President" in 2008 on Warner Bros. Records. I've always had mixed feelings about Murs lyrically, but I have always respected his passion and dedication to music as well as his willingness to go outside of the box. It's fair for me to say that his work with 9th Wonder showed some of his best work as a writer and emcee.
9th Wonder is a beat-maker's beat-maker. Since his 2003 debut with Little Brother, the North Carolina native has shown the world the true way to flip a sample. His landmark group consisted of Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh, before he left in 2007. Under 9th's production, they released The Listening in 2003 and The Minstrel Show in 2005 which as far as I'm concerned, are two classic albums. Since then, he has worked with elite musicians such as Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Chris Brown, Erykah Badu, Ludacris and Drake. More impressive than this is 9th Wonders involvement in the world of academia. In 2007, he was appointed Artist-In-Residence by the Chancellor of North Carolina Central University, and he began teaching Hip Hop classes there. He has also recently been accepted into Harvard University as a fellow of the Hip Hop Archive and will spend three years working on a research project at Harvard's W.E.B. DuBois Institute. My friend and college chum, Tom Wolejko, is the Media and Technology Coordinator there and says 9th is doing amazing work, and is quite charming with all of thee faculty. Tom says hello if you're reading, 9th! This makes me so proud as a listener and contributor to Hip Hop but also makes me proud as a part time teacher myself; we need so much more of this in the Hip Hop Community. Read more about the project at The Harvard Fellow. Along with all of this, 9th Wonder is a Chicago Bears fan, which was obviously the motivation for my writing this piece.
On "The Final Adventure" they keep it short and sweet. 10 tracks with 2 bonus on the iTunes release. The album carries out the usual soulful, bob-your-head feel that you would expect from a 9th produced album. Murs carries the rhyme duties with purpose, going into topics such as beef with old friends, complicated relationships with women and the irony in the death of a killer. The two standout tracks are Whatuptho and Walk Like A Woman. On Walk Like A Woman, 9th gives you three different beats in one track and transitions between them all seamlessly. This is really where 9th is at his best. The album features 9th's new prodigy, Rapsody, on the intro track Get Together. I love that she references Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah in the verse. It seems the Jamla family shows love for Chicago athletics! Rapsody's style is close to that of fellow female emcee Jean Grae, and not just because they are both women. They actually sound alike, tonally. She's a clever emcee and is quickly becoming a popular artist amongst Hip Hop heads everywhere. "The Final Adventure" is solid listen and provides a refreshing soundtrack leading into the end of 2012, mirroring the end of an era. Nearly a decade of good music between Murs and 9th Wonder concludes, but I can imagine more great things coming from these two talents. Thanks for the memories, fellas.
I give "The Final Adventure" 6 out of 8 bars.
*Bonus Track* Check out the remix of Tale Of Two Cities by 2 Sides below:
This time, it's not a game. Cannibal Ox is getting the band back together! Can Ox will be taking their legendary music on the road from New York to California, starting with a December 9th show at The Knitting Factory. This is great news for anyone that has followed them since they released the monumental album "The Cold Vein" on Def Jux Records. The Reunion Tour has already been written up in Stereogum and Brooklyn Vegan, so I'm expecting this to be a highly successful tour for the Ox. I've known and admired Vast Aire and Vordul Mega since college and really nothing makes me happier than to share the news that not only are they performing live again, but are planning on recording their second LP! The two have remained active with their solo ventures, with both Vast and Vordul releasing albums through their respective labels. I've personally heard some of Vordul's new stuff, and I can't wait until it's out. Vast has been keeping the promo material coming, and yesterday put out the video for Bongs Full/The Ingredient, a rendition of Kendrick Lamar's best songs IMO Swimming Pools and The Recipe.
Vast keeps it light-hearted and fun as he flips lyrics over two dope beats made popular by the current hottest rap ticket in town. Vast has always been a versatile emcee, and he shows that he can rock over smooth mainstream beats just as well as grungy underground or spaced out hip hop. Be sure to catch Cannibal Ox in New York on December 9th; you can get tickets here. Stay posted for more tour dates coming soon, and and word on the street is that you'll be seeing this author on the West Coast live along with the Ox. Cannibal O...handle you slow!
In my first time hearing of the rapper, Yyou, I can at least say that he has good taste in music. I don't know anything about Yyou, just that his name is amusing and he already has a song featuring grammy winning UK band Muse. Sidebar: I love when artists release tracks using the "featuring" tag, as if that band had any consent to what their track or voice was used for. Why not just put "remix" or "cover"? Anyway, Yyou gets on the masterful beat Madness and offers his rendition of a breakdown thru his bars. The original track is so good, that it is hard to screw it up. It really could carry anyone. I think Yyou has style and obviously knows how to rap. I don't think he shows cleverness here and I think the subject matter was questionable for this particular remix. I can appreciate him taking a different view on how "madness" can manifest itself, but I thought the usual girl-you-drive-me-crazy take was a little lazy. This could have been a really good opportunity to write something really dynamic that matched the emotion of the original...especially if you're gonna leave in Muse's vocals at the end. The two emotional directions clashed for me. I am interested to hear Yyou on some original material to see what he's really capable of. For now, check out a free download of MadMadMad (feat. Muse) below. Any chance I get to listen to this beat, I will take. Love the vocal manipulation and the dirty synth and drum pattern combo is like a writer's wet dream.
UK producer Stop The Car has a sound that I can really see blowing up on an international level. He's released his Kiez Beats Records debut, "Rosemary" last month which has an impressive lineup of tracks. Entropy makes use of vocal samples and piano riffs much like Justice does. He's able to create laid back vibes just as well as electro bangers. Entropy is just a dope track and I'm looking forward to hearing more from the kid. Expect some hotness from Stop The Car x Keith Masters very soon! Check out Entropy below and cop the whole release here.
It's artists like this that really deserve more attention. Thanks to Stop The Car winning a remix competition using Bon Iver stems, he is starting to get that attention. Check out the bonus track of Bon Iver's Towers (Stop The Car Remix) here...I can't get enough of this track!
It seems for me, the good times keep rolling. In the wake of our noble President begin re-elected, I have discovered some interesting news. It's a good thing I follow Lupe Fiasco on twitter...otherwise I would have no idea who SNDCLSH was. Apparently, Lupe teamed with DJ Sky Gellatly, a marketing strategist and artist manager, in 2011 to form a EDM group. They started off remixing the single Letting Go from Lupe's album "Lasers", getting contributions from DJ Kue. Later in the year, they began to focus on working towards releasing an EP. The independently-released, "Don't Drop The Flag" is doing the incredibly generous and socially aware act of donating all of the album's profits to children in Chicago. That's music that you can feel good about. The single Clocks follows a standard EDM formula, but blends in Lupe's signature voice that is filled with emotion and sentimentality. I've begin to notice Lupe's penchant for singing shown in the last couple albums, and i'm glad that he has chosen to explore it more. I've got to say, few things make me more pleased than to hear one of the artists that I respect most (if not the most) take a journey into electronica. Check out the very dope single below, and support the iTunes release here. Cheers Lupe.
Doesn't the above picture say it all about Mitt Romney? With the Univision logo in the background, the former Governor perches himself on stool in front of a Latino audience; his face a shade of brown and his hands a shade off white. That would rule out him just returning from vacation in Acapulco, unless he brought gloves to the beach. Hell, I would have respected him more if he hit the tanning booth real hard before the appearance. But no, he darkened his face to appear more "ethnic" to his much needed potential Latino voters, which is just taking the lazy route if you ask me. The Snooki facial makeover was more than a political miscue...to me this has Ted Danson 1993 black face at The Friars Club written all over it. It seems as if Romney is willing to do anything to get into office. While in many other professions one would have to admire the extent to which Romney is willing to go in order to win, this is not an admirable quality in a Commander-In-Chief.
It's hard to imagine how any woman, Black or Latino voter would cast their ballot for Mitt Romney. Romney has failed to deliver a definite stance on the issue of equal pay to women workers and has he has made it clear that as president, the federal funding would end for abortion advocates such as Planned Parenthood. Also, he would appoint court justices to repeal Roe V. Wade. How nice...way to prioritize, chief. Black support for Romney is at 0 percent. Former New Hampshire Governor John Sununu would like to believe that like Colin Powell, black people support Barack Obama because he is Black. Well that's weird because in 2008 John McCain received 4 percent of the Black vote with George W. Bush earning 11 percent in 2004 and 8 percent in 2000. I guess actual politics have something to do with it. It's comments like the previous from Sununu about Colin Powell, and his labeling Obama as "lazy" after his first debate and former Governor Sarah Palin's "shuck and jive" remark that have completely alienated the Black vote. We feel as if many republicans holding office probably refer to Blacks as niggers to their friends when the cameras are not running. We feel that many republicans are probably racist...yeah I said it. Take a look at the republican party. The lack of racial diversity doesn't exactly fight off that assertion. It really doesn't help that Romney, through all of his different personas, will not relieve tax pressure on the working class, which also brings me to the Latino vote. Issues on economy and immigration have driven Latino voters to support our President in record numbers, according to the polls. 73 percent of Latino voters plan on casting their vote for Obama, with 24 percent going to Romney and 3 percent undecided. These three groups make up a large part of America; I guess Romney will have to triple down on the White vote.
The above pictured Romney provides an excellent metaphor for what the former Governor stands for, if anything at all. He's dark on one side, and light on the other. Again that's weird, because that's how I like my eggs, not my presidential candidates. He has an established history of flip flopping, so much so that I think NBA commissioner David Stern issued one of the first flopping warnings to the Detroit native. Romney's antics and statements has made for good comedy, so I thought it'd be fun to look at some of his less publicized flip flops:
Flip: This is a completely airtight kennel mounted on the top of our car.
Flop: They're not happy that my dog loves fresh air.
Flip: I'm not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.
Flop: Ronald Reagan is one of my heroes.
Flip: It was not my desire to go off and serve in Vietnam.
Flop: I longed in many respects to actually be in Vietnam and be representing our country there.
Flip: I will work and fight for stem cell research.
Flop: In the end, I became persuaded that the stem-cell debate was grounded in a false premise.
Flip: I saw my father march with Martin Luther King.
Flop: I did not see it with my own eyes.
Flip: Roe v. Wade has gone too far.
Flop: I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it.
Flip: I respect and will protect a woman's right to choose.
Flop: I never really called myself pro-choice.
Oh Romney, you kill me with that one! As of yesterday, the national polls show that the race is close, but President Obama has the lead, including taking the advantage in a critical battleground state Ohio. Polls for Florida show it will come down to the wire, while Obama maintains the edge in the electoral college. One thing I find to be interesting is that in both Michigan, where Romney is from, and Massachusetts, where Romney Governed, Obama is winning the electoral vote. The two states where people would seem to know Mitt Romney best or at least where people would have an allegiance with, are voting for Obama. That should really say something about the man Mitt Romney is. Take a look at the two candidates, what they represent, and make an informed decision for yourself today. I haven't even said anything here to support Obama, and still I believe the choice is clear. I think America is more interested in hope and moving forward than ever, but still I will be carrying a nervousness into tonight's tally-a-thon. I now bid you adieu to carry out your civic duty; just know that my future residency in this country depends on your vote. I mean, seriously - I know I threatened this in 2000, but I will move to Canada if I have to.
This is the first I've heard of this band, but judging by their soundcloud presence, they have a very big fan base. School Of Seven Bells is coming out with their EP "Put Your Sad Down" and they have leaked the free single Secret Days. The track is making its rounds on Hype Machine and all the usual blogs: this is normally a bad sign for me. But, it's Saturday and it's early, and this song hit me in the right place. The beat is very chill, yet still maintains a progressive drum pattern with the help of some timely vocal samples. The really excellent part about this song are the main vocals, though. They carry this ethereal quality about them where they feel as if they are apart of every other element on the track. As I said, very cool for a Saturday morning. Download Secret Days for free below, and check out the new EP dropping November 13th.
Things have certainly taken off for Mark Foster, lately. It seems like only yesterday I was hanging out with him and his band at SXSW and I was listening to their demo of Pumped Up Kicks. After a swift move of dumping their manager (who is my current manager), who set up major label meetings for them, coincidentally enough they were signed! Weird, right? Now young Mark is in the public eye which saw him get kicked out of Prince's limited engagement concert last week. Foster The People's front man was escorted out of The Sayers Club for messing around on his cell phone...and you know Prince ain't having that. He did talk his way back in, though...how resilient of him! Perhaps that provided the motivation for this song. A-Trak, Kimbra & Mark Foster come together in the name of Converse for the track Warrior (What So Not Remix). This remix presents a sort of moombahton versus dubstep standoff. It's a pretty solid track; the bass is dirty and there is a steel drum in there. I think the steel drum kind of throws off the feel of the song, but all in all it's not real biggie. The vocals are integrated nicely and the beat is definitely made for the dance floor. Check out the free download below.
Yes, the NBA is back, and unfortunately that means the Miami Heat return along with. Even worse, they are NBA "champions" (note the quotation marks) so prepare for a whole new level of media lauding. But cheer up, because perhaps the best part of season is also back: Blake Griffin KIA Optima commercials. Blake and UVO, the voice activated info-tainment system are here with a whole new lineup of hilariously clever commercials, putting every other "funny commercial" to shame. Last year, KIA began to place Blake in a series of random situations to promote the new model of the KIA Optima, and the world fell in love. Blake presented himself as genuinely funny, a little weird looking, and charming. The superior writing helped to establish a series which I deemed to be the best commercials of last year.
And now they are back. The hair, the cheap looking jumpsuit with the 1970's trim, and the awkward silences are back. We begin the season with two commercials, where we get a glimpse into the origins of the legend himself. Blake takes a break from yamming on top of grown man - sized NBA players to travel back in time and give some valuable advice to a child in need - himself.
1995, and they captured the year perfectly with Montell Jordan's timeless classic "This Is How We Do It". Yes. I would have told young Blake to start seeing a barber early, as well. You know, just to get into a routine. It's called preparing for the future. I'm assuming Blake's freakish jumping ability is what got him up on that rim, even at an early age; but he's got to prepare a better exit strategy.
I couldn't have said it better myself. If only I had a future-me to warn me about the ills of jean shorts that early. But I had to find out...the hard way. This 1997 slice of time is the funnier of the two KIA offerings. Everyone is brilliant here: the interaction between the two Blakes, and even the expression on the face of the other kid. I've heard that he is supposed to be Blake's friend from Oklahoma Christian School, Wilson Holloway. Holloway played football briefly at Tulsa, before succumbing to Hodgkins Lymphoma and passing away. I imagine their was a painful element in staging this fictitious scene with real life pieces, but Blake is just awesome here.
Blake really is beginning to master the art of manipulating his face to establish a comedic moment. In many of these commercials, the laughter rarely comes from what is said, but rather what his does with his face and body. I am eagerly looking forward to more time-traveling from the Blakester. If I have to endure a season of LeBron James junk-riding and over-coverage of the Miami Heat, then i'm gonna need a lot more KIA commercials. Keep em coming, UVO...play funk.
It's album release Tuesday, and there are a couple out that may be worth a click on Spotify. By the way, if you're not on Spotify...you should check your pager, cause you may have missed a few messages. It's a great way to preview music before you buy, or (if you have a premium account) to stream your music wherever you go. Also, your clicks support major and indie artists alike, and the rights holders of the music get payed with ever pay. Albeit, a very small amount, it is something. Allow me to take this time to thank everyone who has played my music; the .009 cents is much appreciated.
First up is Sean Price's new release Mic Tyson. Such a dope album title...I'm actually surprised that no other rapper has made this pun before. Not any that I know of, but if someone has then please let me know. There are no surprises here, if you're a fan of The Boot Camp Click or grungy and grimy rap music in general - peep this album. Mic Tyson features production from Alchemist, 9th Wonder, Evidence & DJ Babu and verses from Pharoahe Monch, Freddie Gibbs and Ill Bill. Lyrics are tight and every beat is like flurry of punches so keep band-aids close when listening.
Sean Price - Mic Tyson gets 5.5 out of 8 Bars
MHz Legacy, formerly just MHz, bring their first release in over 10 years Megacy. The name change was made in 2008 to honor the late Camu Tao, who was a member of the group. Now consisting of Copywrite, RJD2, Jakki Da Motamouth and Tage Future, MHz pulls off a pretty good Hip Hop album in true underground fashion. Megacy has some great production from beat smith RJD2, and really reminds me that RJD2 could be one of the more prevalent Hip Hop producers, if he chose to be. If you think I'm playing - listen to his production work on the Diverse album One A.M. and Viktor Vaughn's (MF Doom) track Saliva. He's nice. Somewhere (2099) is the real standout here. I think it's the most complete composition of a track on the album. Great beat, nice female hook to break up all the heavy dude action and an overall good feel. The track Spaceship puts the weird for weird sake Danny Brown on the mic for some reason. Not a fan of him. It does, however, bring Camu Tao back to life which is a great thing. Having spent a little time with Camu, I was truly saddened by his untimely passing. He was a real good dude. Consistent throughout, Megacy is worth peeping for sure.
Portuguese producer Luis Clara Gomes, otherwise known by Moullinex, dropped a bonus track a couple days ago to accompany his newly released album, Flora. Every since I did a show in Los Angeles with him a couple years ago, I have been a big fan of his sound. I heard his fast paced, Disco-banger, Lover In You, and I was instantly hooked. On Refused (Bonus Track), Moullinex slows it down a bit and gets in touch with the Dream Wave side of the Nu-Disco genre. The ambient chords set a very mellow vibe and the synths splash against your eardrums like waves of calm; but don't get out your sleepytime tea quite yet. The song still, somehow, makes you listen, appreciate, and absorb what every instrument offers. A little extra Moullinex? That's something i'll never refuse.
As far as I know, as long as there have been schoolyards with young boys and girls of different sizes, shapes, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds - there have been bullies. I always recognized a bully as someone who had an indisputable advantage (physically, economically) over another and uses it to do harm to that person. I guess even bullying couldn't hide from the claws of technological advancement. Now we have "cyberbullying" which, according to Wikipedia is "the use of the Internet and related technologies to harm other people, in a deliberate, repeated, and hostile manner." While cyberbullying removes the threat of direct physical harm to a person, it does seem to have devastating psychological affects on young people.
This past Wednesday Felicia Garcia, a teenager from Staten Island, jumped in front of an oncoming train and killed herself in front of her Tottenville High School classmates. Garcia was reportedly teased by her fellow peers about a sexual experience she had with some football players. Two days before her suicide, she posted the following tweet on her twitter account:
Just before she jumped, Sara Brager, heard Garcia say "Finally, it's here". Finally it's here; as if to say that life is so bad, that at last an escape from it all has arrived. Garcia did have a very unfortunate life, as both of her parents passed away when she was little, resulting in her being cared for by her aunt. She began to dislike her living situation, and she ran away from her aunt's house with an older man. She managed to find even less stability, as she entered the foster care system and was moved from home to home. She was probably one who could've used a break from the people that she spent a majority of her time around in school.
Bullying has always been an issue worth concern, but only recently has it gotten the attention of the national media. Now we even see ad campaigns and celebrities speak out against it. Recent incidents, including Canadian teen Amanda Todd who also committed suicide as a result of bullying, have made it seem like bullying and suicide are a new epidemic. Statistics, however, show the contrary:
- Suicide is
the third leading cause of death among young people, resulting in about
4,400 deaths per year. For every suicide among
young people, there are at least 100 suicide attempts. Over 14 percent
of high school students have considered suicide, and almost 7 percent
have attempted it.
- Bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider
suicide than non-victims.
- At least half of suicides among young people are related to bullying.
- 10 to 14 year old girls may be at even higher risk for suicide.
- Nearly 30 percent
of students are either bullies or victims of bullying, and 160,000 kids
stay home from school every day because of fear of bullying.
While bullying and suicide have long been linked together, there does seem to be a spike in the publicity of cares like these. With Amanda Todd and Felicia Garcia, there are a couple similarities not only in the end result, but in the circumstances surrounding their stories. As a pre-teen, Amanda Todd was convinced by someone on a video chat to expose her breasts on camera. She faced bullying by that same individual who threatened to show the topless photo to all of her friends, unless Todd "gave a show". The photo wound up being released, and Todd and her family relocated due to the massive harassment she received. The individual seemed to follow her, though, creating a Facebook profile where her topless photo was the profile image. This made it hard for her to make friends anywhere she went. She did happen to meet someone that she thought liked her; a boy whom she had sex with. The boy's girlfriend then lead an all out assault on her a week later, where Todd was ganged up on and beaten; all while insults where shouted at her. She attempted suicide several times, until she was finally successful. Todd created a video and released it on Youtube; a chronicle of her life and troubles as an an anxious, highly-sexualized and depressed teen.
Garcia's downfall also seemed to stem from excessive teasing due to sexual experiences. This past Monday, a video that supposedly captured the incident of Garcia and the football players, had been shared with her schoolmates. The verbal abuse had gotten so bad because of it, the school issued a meeting between Garcia and two 17 year old boys. This explains the saddening tweet she left later that day before ending her life two days later. On a small scale, one would observe that sexuality was present in both of these cases and may have had a lot to do with how these stories played out. But there is something else here that I believe is the most important factor: social media. The access that we, as humans, have to one another now is uncanny. We no longer have cell phones "in case of emergencies" and with many individuals, you can trace every event in a person's life by monitoring their facebook account. We can now track our friends activities through GPS and Foursquare, knowing everywhere they have been and everywhere they are going. On one hand, this has become a great tool for social interaction amongst friends.
But what about people who are not your friends?
Those with ill-intentions have the capability of having just as much same connection to your life as those who mean well. One could say, "Well don't you have control over who you give access to? Why would you let someone in your life that means you harm?" To that I say, "Have you checked YOUR friend list lately?" How many times have you gotten a friend request, been unsure of where or if you know the person, and accepted it because you didn't want to be rude? Most people's social networking circles are filled with people that they would not recognize or say hello to if seen in person. In this day and age, so many of us have a desire to be liked and we seek numbers to add validity to our popularity. It's not a coincidence that Facebook incorporates a "like" button that has revolutionized how we accept and deliver information. Whether we promote a business or just socialize, many add on to their social network entourage without examining just who they are sharing information with.
Amanda Todd did not directly know the person who ended up blackmailing her, yet this person knew her name, address, and where she went to school. This should be extremely alarming to anyone who routinely presses that royal blue post button or that baby blue tweet button. How did a stranger know so much about another stranger that they were able to confidently engage in cyber-extortion? These sites recognize the business that is to be had through tracking the information to you share. If you haven't noticed, the default setting on certain sites has become to automatically to make your private information and messages public. You actually have to make a special effort to keep your cell phone number as "not visible" to everyone. These networking companies use the information that you offer (for free, mind you) and sell them to other companies, so they know how to market products to the public. Facebook has become a breeding ground for mass - market research. Market research that for years, most companies had to pay individuals for; sharing their day to day lives, opinions and purchasing trends. It is become increasingly easy to find out whatever you want to about other people. It is because of this that I really do believe social networking sites have become a dangerous place for young people. Some of the responsibility has to be put on these sites and their practices when tragedies such as Amanda Todd and Felicia Garcia occur.
I'm not saying that these sites our killing our teens. Not at all. It's just worth noting the contributions that sites like Twitter and Youtube and Facebook have in situations like these. Felicia Garcia had no outlet to make use of to express her frustrations, other than a tweet. Amanda Todd was hounded by a profile that just would not leave her alone, causing her to withdraw herself from society more and more. Both girls were victims of unwanted videos being shared of them. It's a real shame that we treat each other like this. These girls deserved better. If we are not careful about how we are using these social networking sites and who we are letting into our cyber-lives, these numbers suicide numbers in our youth will continue to increase. For the record, I am fully aware of the irony between my point of view in this post and the two buttons that follow said post at the bottom of this page. My heart goes out to those who cared for these young girls.
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