Futurecop! feat. Cavaliers Of Fun "Atlantis 1997" [Music Video]

My homeboys from across the pond, Futurecop!, dropped a very fresh video for their new single "Atlantis 1997" yesterday.  The video is just as dreamy and colorful every one of their cover artworks, but this one offers something a little different than previous vids.  "Atlantis 1997" features a real live actor and video direction through what seems to be the streets of London.  Futurecop! has been known for their videos that serve more as a retro-homage to the band's favorite movies, TV shows and video games of the 80's.  The track is exactly what you'd expect from these two kids from the UK; light, airy, fun and proper for dancing the night away in a club on a far away planet.  The single dropped this week, and certainly does not contain a lack of remixes.  The "Atlantis 1997" release is 7 tracks with 6 remixes from producers Lifelike, Uppermost, P.A.F.F. and Stellar Dreams.  Check out the entire release below, and be sure to cop the single.  Keep an eye out for more remixes from this track...I even hear they're doing a version with a pretty dope rapper...

Random feat. Freeway and Lefty "The Industry" [MP3 Download]

Earlier this month, Random or Mega Ran, as he's also known by, teamed up with Philly affiliates Lefty and Freeway of Rocafella fame to drop "The Industry" single.  I was surprised to see Random and Freeway together, as their styles are starkly different.  Freeway doesn't go in as hard as he normally does on this one.  This track is definitely more in the vein of a typical Random track - which by all accounts is not a bad thing, but doesn't really mesh that well with this tamer, less aggressive version of Freeway.  That aside, the beat is pretty good but the message is probably the real focus of this track and is stressed in the chorus:

"Things ain't what it seems to be, when dealing in The Industry"

Indeed...an observation that most within the business would recognize as truth.  We entertainers all have to accept a certain amount of flakiness and falsehoods in our dealings...but we've come to a point where the ingenuity is out of control.  The need to "feed the machine" and promote music that is not only establishing a dangerous model for the youth, but is just flat out not good - is running rampant.  The Philly trio hits on an point that I think is always good to be reminded of:  "The Industry shady, it need to be taken over".  I just wonder who has the balls, as well as the power, to do it.

AKIR feat. Che Grand "Soul" [Music Video]

I was pleased to see some brand new heat in my email this week from my brother, AKIR, as it's been a long time since I've heard from him.  In case you're not familiar, AKIR (acronym for Always Keep It Real) made his mark as the touring partner of the revolution advocate emcee, Immortal Technique.  Once signed to Viper Records and eventually to Babygrande, he released his debut LP Legacy in 2007 which featured Hasan Salaam, Immortal Technique and Jean Grae.  My familiarity with AKIR runs deep back to our time as members of the underground "supergroup" The Reavers.  Recruiting artists from many major New York City hip hop crews such as Wu-Tang, Monsta Island Czars (MF Doom), Immortal Technique, and Def Jux - The Reavers dropped Terror Firma and was highly praised amongst critics and fans alike.  After the LP and a few mixtapes, the crew was not heard from again.  Much was the same for the Buffalo native and Howard University.  After Legacy and some mixtapes, AKIR had been silent.  Until now.

The video for "Soul" was shot entirely in the Netherlands, but does not lose any of the the street imagery of life in NYC that runs constant throughout the lyrics.  AKIR handles the production of this track as well as bringing his lyrical style that combines the timbre of Nas, and the political discontentment of Immortal Technique with the delivery of Lupe Fiasco.  The track is dark, but not overbearing - primarily serving as the backdrop to feature the vocals in the forefront.  The strength of AKIR's music has always been in the message, and the message here is clear: He refuses to compromise his standards or sell out.  The fact that AKIR is not more widely known to this day is a true testament to how much music business has shifted.  Being written up in The Source Unsigned Hype section as well as XXL clearly doesn't mean what it used to.  I've always felt that AKIR was one of the more talented emcees the New York underground scene had to offer, and I'm happy to see that my brother is still going hard.  Stay posted for news of AKIR's upcoming EP, Focus, by following his twitter page here.

The Adventures Of Keith Masters And The Cannibal Ox Reunion Tour [Social]

So it's a month removed from my tour with the rap heavyweights, Cannibal Ox, on the Reunion Tour that announced their plans on releasing their long awaited sophomore album on the newly formed IGC Records.  The west coast leg of the tour launched in Los Angeles, afterwards hitting San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and then closing out back in L.A. at the world renowned Roxy Theatre.  We had a mess of surprises for the fans, starting off with brand new Cannibal Ox music for those fortunate enough to be in the cities we rocked.  We even brought out the legendary Kut Master Kurt for a few shows who performed with his crew Substance Abuse.  The tour was a massive success and it was an incredible experience in both helping to organize and book the tour as well as performing on it.

You can read all about the tour and my time in L.A. in greater detail at the newly formed Supergood Music website.  Having recently joined forces with the mobile video recording phenomenon, Jam In The Van, the website has gotten a total makeover and is now the prettiest girl at the prom.  They're updating their content daily, providing exclusive music and videos and still giving you the low down on EVERYTHING that's popping in the Los Angeles area from concerts to parties.  It really is a great website that has only gotten immensely better; I highly recommend after subscribing to This Majical World, checking out the Supergood Music/Jam In The Van merger on a regular basis.  Check out my journal here, written by me and posted by the original wearer of many hats, Brandon Dorsky.

Bart Baker Parodies Macklemore's "Thrift Shop" Video [Music Video]

You know those songs that you keep hearing everywhere, that's so annoying to you at first, but in your mind you think "damn, i'm gonna hate it when I start liking this song"?  Well Macklemore's "Thrift Shop" ain't one of those songs.  Why?  Because it's annoying to the point where i'm afraid to turn on any radio or go to any clubs out of fear that i'll be beat about the ears by this overplayed and quite honestly, not very good song.  I'm sorry, it needs to be said, Thrift Shop is a wack song; it needed to be said.  The song just screams "i'm trying really hard to stand out!" and lacks any sort of genuine nature about it.  He probably pigeon-holed his own self by riding the label of a "thrift store shopper" who won't pay for expensive clothes or brand names.  His performance on this past weekend's Saturday Night Live would suggest otherwise, though.  He draped himself in a red blazer with yellow tassels on the shoulders and matching red slacks fresh from Neverland Ranch, with a leather vest undershirt and black loafers.  Also, he went sockless, to complete the look.  You would obviously need to do a world wide thrift store search to find one selling a suit like that.  And as for the leather black vest?  Forget about it...you already know that was custom made for him.  In addition to all that, i'm pretty sure that not only were the guest vocalists he brought on lip syncing, and the band backing him was air-playing, but Macklemore himself was lip syncing.  If that is true, then he drops pretty low in my book...like Lil Wayne low.  Worst of all is, I believe he has some skill as a lyricist...it's just misdirected.  Listening to his album, "The Heist", definitely didn't dissuade that affirmation.  Unimpressive production thoughout, and lyrics that try painfully hard to let the listener know "he cares" "is different" and "won't conform".  One has to wonder if race has only a little or a whole f-ing lot to do with his overnight celebrity status.

Oh, right, this piece is really about a very popular and pretty spot on parody of the "Thrift Shop" video done by Bart Baker.  Apparently, he is something of this generation's Weird Al Yankovic with his track record of mocking popular music hits.  I've never heard of this dude before, but it seems like he's doing pretty well and has a machine of some sort behind him with the amount of hits he has gathered in a week.  I heard about the video from my homeboy, up and coming Hollywood actor Mike Rippe, who stars in the video as the "Real Macklemore".  You'll see him at the very end in the hospital scene.  It's a funny parody, so check it out...he also does a pretty wild spoof of Psy's "Gangnam Style" that is definitely worth watching.