Paid Dues Festival 2009

The "PAID DUES" INDEPENDENT HIP-HOP FESTIVAL--presented by MURS 3:16 in association with Guerilla Union (Rock The Bells, Cypress Hill Smoke Out)--will return Saturday, March 28 to the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, CA for the fourth consecutive year. Named "Independent hip-hop's premiere festival" by SOHH.COM, the festival supports this genre of music where advanced lyricism, stinging political commentary and quality DJ performances flourish in a seemingly parallel universe.

The 2009 lineup will feature performances from ATMOSPHERE, TECH N9NE, LIVING LEGENDS, BROTHER ALI, B-REAL, GROUCH & ELIGH, CAGE, BLU & EXILE, EYEDEA & ABILITIES, LMNO, DJ VAL THE VANDAL, VERBS AND THE BAYLIENS; the event will be hosted by 2MEX.

Marina & The Diamonds - Obsessions

Lovin' this song. Learn more about Marina & The Diamonds here.

Marina & The Diamonds - Obsessions (Single)

Video

Marina & The Diamonds, "Obsessions" from Neon Gold Records on Vimeo.

Coachella! 2009 Official Line Up

To find out more on Coachella, click here. Some notables for me...TV on the Radio, Atmosphere, Ghostland Observatory, We Are Scientists, N.A.S.A, Amy Winehouse, The Killers, Calexico, The Cure, Peter Bjorn and John, Public Enemy, Lykke Li, K'naan, and Shepard Fairey.

Why Spelling Is So Important

Akilles: No Rest for the Weary

My man Akilles links up with Phrequency.com for an unedited interview. Here's a taste.

What would you want somebody to take away from your music, either at a show or from your album?

AK: "I want them to feel like they understand me, and understand the things that frustrate me, and understand the things I take with a grain of salt and I'm happy with because I only write about things I argue about for hours with people and have discussions about. I want people to feel like they're listening to something they can't classify. I don't want people to turn it on and say “oh he's trying to sound like Jay” or “oh, that's that backpacker shit” or whatever. I really don't want to be lumped into any particular genre like that. I have a lot of lyrics on this joint, so people will call it hip hip off the top, but I'm really into songs. If people can understand the individual concepts on songs, that would be great for me. I really want people to feel it and want more."

For the rest of this interview, click here.

And Don't Forget!!
TOMORROW NIGHT
Akilles, Willpowerless, Emcee Unless, and The Bourbon Armory
Saturday, January 31
9pm @ North Star Bar

Be there, it's gonna get nutty.

Oh yeah...here's AK's new single, WAR. Check the old post also.

Download: Akilles - WAR

On the school tip...

(Meet the Monotracer, this thing is awesome!)

So it's been a long week of school but hey, at least SOME of my teachers showed me some cool shit.

TIME Magazine's Best Inventions of the Year 2008 (video)

The Retail DNA Test

Totally Absurd Inventions (funny shit)

Bumper Dumper

from TotallyAbsurd.com

Bumper Dumper
US Patent Issued In 2000

Camping can lack certain niceties we have all come to appreciate, such as a place to sit and ponder yonder while our daily duties grow fonder (were not exactly sure what this means but we really wanted it to rhyme). If you're tired of using the bush or smelly outhouses, here's your dream come true, the Bumper Dumper. Just plug it into the trailer hitch of your vehicle (we'd like to think it's a pick'emup truck) and have at it.

We're not sure how intimate you want to be with your friends and neighbors but we would suggest a Bumper Dumper portable privacy screen as a nice accessory. See more totally absurb patents and inventions here.

K’Naan - Dreamer (Video)

Brand new video from K’Naan. Be sure to pick up his upcoming album, Troubadour, in stores or online February 24th. This video and track are dopey.

Ahhhh....so yeah, school started again and I'm already crazy busy. Don't worry, I'll make up for the slow-down of posts on the weekends. Stay tuned.

Exile - For The Kids

Exile leaked a track that didn't make the cut for the album. Should have made it in my opinion.

Exile - For The Kids

Colin Munroe - Will I Stay feat. Wale - Rehearsal Footage

This really dope video popped up on the web yesterday. Colin Munroe and Wale rehearsing "Will I Stay (Remix)" at Chung King Studios, NYC, December 2008.

"Will I Stay feat. Wale & Dallas Austin" is featured on the mixtape Colin Munroe is the Unsung Hero, available for download below.




Colin Monroe - Is The Unsung Hero (mixtape)

D.Julien drop

Another hot one from Brooklyn's D.Julien, dude is killin it right now.

D.Julien - One Can Win

The Roots vs Antibalas

Damnnnnn I wish I lived in Boston right now!

In case you don't know:
The Roots - Dat Skat (Original off From The Ground Up EP)
Antibalas - N.E.S.T.A.

Does your money fu*k you?

Really diggin' on this one. Trouble Andrew from NY, possibly B.C. Do you chase money for love? Don't do it, it leads nowhere...

Trouble Andrew - Chase Money

Recycled Styles

Now shipping WORLDWIDE!
"Welcome to Recycled Styles, we are a consignment online shop located in Philadelphia. We will be offering all sorts of quality new and used items from top selling brands and companies. This site is a collective of items from friends and colleagues personal collections. Bookmark this site! There will be much more to come from us!"

Goodbye Pedx, hello Recycled Styles.

Zion I feat. Brother Ali

New cut off Zion I’s upcoming album, The Take Over, dropping February 17th.

Zion I - Caged Bird feat. Brother Ali

Obama in office! Meet the real Obama girl..

So I definitely might catch some shit for this one but here we go. So obviously the Obama girl from the videos didn't really belt out the vocals for "I Got a Crush on Obama" or any of the other songs that she video-starred in. Let me introduce you to the real girl who sang those songs, Ms. Leah Kauffman, from Philadelphia. It's a shame that all the Obama song worldwide shananagans (how the hell do you spell that) happened at the same time that she was working on her real album/EP, Modern Monster, produced by Pork Fried Productions. Some people caught a breeze of her real material after they searched her out but soo many people did not. You are all missing out!! Since this album is slowly disappearing in the shadows of the past, her it is. I put up a few single tracks so you can get the feel, but you must download the entire thing. Enjoy peoples, have an eventful weekend, and go see a band or support an artist that you've never seen before!

Leah Kauffman - Stratosphere
Leah Kauffman - 11:30
Leah Kauffman - Poor Little Rich Girl
Leah Kauffman - Modern Monster (Full Album/7 songs & art)

Brooklyn We Go Hard

Just got put on to this cat, thanks to 2db. D.Julien, from Brooklyn, NY. He's been dropping some serious heat lately. If you need some freshnew (one word) hip-hop you gotta check these tracks out.

D.Julien - Thinking Out Loud (prod. DJ Premier)
D.Julien - Feel the Rhythms (prod. Algorythm)
D.Julien - Perseverance (prod. Phillmeeh)

Keelay & Zaire - Prelude to Drive

Keelay & Zaire, the bi-coastal production duo from MYX Music Label, after a year of cyber buzz and excitement, are whetting our appetite for their full-length release Ridin’ High with their FREE EP Prelude to Drive. Showing off their polished production styles, Keelay & Zaire experiment with a range of sounds from boom bap, sultry R&B, and soul sampled layering to entice new listeners and seasoned fans alike.



Keelay & Zaire - Prelude to Drive

Yeah...that's a mullet alright.

Yes that's Kanye, and yes that's a mullet. Rightt.

Lily Allen - Straight to Hell (The Clash Cover)

Lily had full permission to rework The Clash’s third single from their 1982 release, Combat Rock. In fact… the cover will be included in the upcoming War Child: Heroes. A compilation which features the likes of Beck, Duffy, TV On the Radio, Franz Ferdinand, etc covering the likes of Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, The Ramones and more. I included the tracklist after the jump if you’re interested. Look for that to drop February 16th and Lily Allen’s upcoming album, It’s Not Me, It’s You, on February 10th.

Lily Allen - Straight to Hell (The Clash Cover)

Mark Ronson & DJ Soul - Obama Election Night Mix

Gotta love this, there are some gems buried in these mixes. And I gotta show some Philly love to Rich Medina, who from what I can tell, was the DJ responsible for playing these tracks at the Santos Partyhouse in NYC on election night.


Mark Ronson and DJ Soul - Obama Election Night Mix

They Say WAR On Eachother...

HE"S BACK! 

Back with tons of new material, crazy shows with his new and improved band (you gotta see them live; one word..sickk!), and new lyrical experiences and sounds for everyone to bang their heads to. Currently wrapping up the post production of his new album titled, Chicken Wing Tumble Weeds, produced by Pork Fried Productions. A mixtape release is definitely possible before the album drops. In the meantime, here is the first leak....and maybe the second.

Warning: Handle with extreme care, these joints are on fire.

Akilles - WAR
Akilles - Frontin'

**Catch The Return of Akilles @ North Star Bar on Saturday, January 31st. Other performances include Willpowerless, Unless, and The Bourbon Armory.

Need tix? I got em and so do all the bands. Show support and buy a ticket early for $8.00. In the words of Akilles, "that's like 2 dollars a band." Sounds good to me.

Whitewash World Premiere: Music By The Roots, Erykah Badu

This past Saturday in Salt Lake City, Utah a film debuted at the X Dance action sports film festival called Whitewash, directed by Ted Woods. Although you may not have heard of it yet, Whitewash, the documentary, is a film exploring the complexity of race in America through the struggle and triumph of the history of black surfers. It is narrated by Ben Harper and Black Thought, and tells the story through the eyes of black surfers and historians from Hawaii, Jamaica, Florida, and California. The film is being scored by The Roots, with music from Erykah Badu as well. Let's hope it hits the big theaters soon so we can all catch a glimpse of this historic exploration of race, identity, and surfing culture. Thanks OKP.

Exile's Solo Album

Exile is about to drop a new album titled, Radio. If you like really fresh instrumental albums like RJD2 or Blockhead, you will love this. Get it on I-Tunes now! Here's one of the leaked tracks.

Exile - The Sound is God

McJAWN

New Commercial


Want to know whats going on in Philly? Peep McJAWN, they'll fill you in.

My pen and paper cause a chain reaction...

So Eminem is coming out with a new album pretty soon. I just happen to have his first album that never really made it for any major release. Here you go, 9 tracks from the youngest Marshall Mathers known, titled Infinite.

Eminem - Infinite

NEVER EVER

Just to clarify, since 50 is trying to make a little comeback, there will NEVER EVER be a post about this baw on this page. Unless it's to laugh my ass of about it, which as we can see above is clearly the case.

Santogold - Shove It (rmx) f. Three-6-Mafia & Project Pat

Gotta love Santi, once again, givin' me somethin fresh to bang out the box.

Santogold - Shove It (rmx) f. Three-6-Mafia & Project Pat

Flobots - "Handlebars"

Hmm, so I've been hearing this song for awhile but I just watched the original video for the first time. Apparently this video has caused some serious controversy with how people have been interpretting the images and messages in the video. Personally, I found it very interesting and can see how people can draw so many different conclusions from the imagery. Fortunately, this is the point of music! Take from it what you can, interpret it in your own way.

There is also a newer video for this song that is completely animated.

Demo tracks from Gorillaz

Three demo versions of tracks from the upcoming Gorillaz LP. This March the band group will be travelling to Syria to finish the album. Can't wait!

Gorillaz - Broken (Demo)
Gorillaz - Electrik Shock (Demo)
Gorillaz - Stylo/Binge (Demo)

Brooklyn Bullshit

This is a definite download if your a fan of any of the artists. Crazy rare, unreleased and demo joints from the likes of Jay-Z, Big Daddy Kane & Biggie. Including Biggie rhyming at the age of 12, Hov at the age of 17 and more!

01. Notorious B.I.G - Intro
02. Shakespeare - KingsCounty (Brooklyn Bullshit Anthem)
03. biggie spittin at 12
04. biggie - music video box freestyle
05. biggie - soul power197 rhymes
06. Fulton St. battle at 17
07. big daddy kane & jayz - bday party freestyle 9-10-91
08. biggie - guranteed raw
09. big daddy kane/kool g rap - raw (demo)
10. jay-z/sauce money - rippin it up
11. big daddy kane - aint no half steppin (demo)
12. biggie - blind alley freestyle (demo)
13. biggie-i love you (teenage recording)
14. biggie - dont love no hoe
15. jay-z/sauce money - nothing but love (demo)
16. biggie - biggie got the hype shit (demo)
17. big daddy kane - raw attitude (unreleased)
18. jay-z - high powered (at age 17)
19. jay-z/sauce money - broken english & drug selling (demo)
20. notorious big - party and bullshit (extended version)
21. biggie - 16 bars at the lyrical lounge in 1993
22. jay-z - whats in a name (demo)
23. big daddy kane - sing my song (unreleased)
24. jay-z - pass the roc
25. big daddy kane - set it off (unreleased remix)
26. big daddy kane - for your own concern (demo)
27. biggie - childhood rhymes
28. jay-z - greatest mc (demo)
29. biggie/sadat x - come on (1st take demo version)
30. biggie - niggaz bleed
31. notorious big - big millionaire (unreleased verse)

DJ Mike Nice - Brooklyn Bullshit

Pure Funkmode

DJ Rhettmatic dropped some funky shit on us this past week.

"It’s a 30 minute mix with some Funk shit (not the P-Funk, but Funky Soul shit) & some classic & new Hip Hop shit. It’s something to get your James Brown on. Go ahead & share with your friends….and please feel free to post it up on your music blogs as well. Hope you like it…enjoy!" - Rhettmatic

1. Duck & Cover - Orgone
2. Brass In Africa - Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
3. Ghost Walk - The Budos Band
4. Super Strut 1 - The Kashmere Stage Band
5. I Wish - The Kashmere Stage Band
6. Reverse Pt. 2.5 - Percee P
7. Day At The Races - Jurassic 5
8. Give It Up Or Turn It Loose - James Brown
9. Special Category/Rapp Cats Pt. 3 - The Roe-O-Tation/Quasimoto
10. The Wrath Of Kane - Big Daddy Kane
11. Jingling Baby Rmx - LL Cool J
12. Walking Into Sunshine - Central Line
13. Melting Pot - Booker T & The MGs
14. Keep On Dancing - Alvin Cash
15. Dance For Me - Queen Latifah

DJ Rhettmatic - Pure Funkmode

Another week in NYC

Another week spent in NYC this past week, sorry for the lack of posts but I've been spending all my days wandering around the city that never sleeps. I'll be makin up for it in the next few days with an abundance of posts. And yoo, for real, if you ever need a dope spot to go in NYC that has good music and live music, definitely check out the Fat Black Pussy Cat and The Village Underground @ 3rd St. and 6th Ave. Blue Note Jazz Club is also right across the street. I had a bombass time at The Village Underground this past friday and will be making a trip back there as soon as I can. On that note, the posting begins.

Pick above is from the John Lennon Memorial in Central Park.

N.A.S.A.

New joint just dropped from the upcoming N.A.S.A. album, due for release on February 27th. If you haven't heard about the new N.A.S.A. (North America/South America) album yet, all you need to do is look at the tracklist below. "Whachadoin" just got leaked today, "Gifted" got dropped a lil while ago, enjoy.

N.A.S.A. - "Whachadoin" ft. M.I.A., Santogold, Spank Rock and Nick Zinner

N.A.S.A. - "Gifted" ft. Kanye West, Santogold and Lykke Li

Tracklist:
1 Intro
2 The People Tree (feat. David Byrne, Chali 2na, Gift Of Gab & Z-Trip)
3 Money (feat. David Byrne, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge & Z-Trip)
4 N.A.S.A. Music (feat. Method Man, E-40 & DJ Swamp)
5 Way Down (feat. RZA, Barbie Hatch & John Frusciante)
6 Hip Hop (feat. KRS-One, Fatlip & Slim Kid Tre)
7 Four Rooms, Earth View
8 Strange Enough (feat. Karen O, Ol¿ Dirty Bastard & Fatlip)
9 Spacious Thoughts (feat. Tom Waits & Kool Keith)
10 Gifted (feat. Kanye West, Santogold & Lykke Li)
11 A Volta (feat. Sizzla, Amanda Blank & Lovefoxxx)
12 There's A Party (feat. George Clinton & Chali 2na)
13 Whachadoin? (feat. Spank Rock, M.I.A., Santogold & Nick Zinner)
14 O Pato (feat. Kool Kojak & DJ Babão)
15 Samba Soul (feat. Del Tha Funkee Homosapien & DJ Qbert)
16 The Mayor (feat. The Cool Kids, Ghostface Killah, Scarface & DJ AM)
17 N.A.S.A. Anthem

Tell The Truth

I may have posted this awhile ago, I just don't feel like checking. It's been getting a lot of plays on my speakers so I figured I'll post it again. I guess it's the Philly love thing. Off of Peter Rosenberg Presents... A Rosenberg Oddisee.

Nikki Jean - Tell The Truth

NYC put me on....

So I've been in NYC for the past week and I got put on to some fresh music throughout my travels around the city. Meet Vanessa Daou. She has been around for awhile, like ten years or somethin like that and I picked up her newest album, her sixth solo release, titled Joe Sent Me. I'll tell you right now that the album is definitely pushing some interesting limits and has a kind-of mellow jazzy-electro feel with some light vocals. I'm diggin' the album, here is one track, check out her website for more info on where to buy the album (her website is really freshh). This is the only track I listened to before I purchased the disc immediately...I got sold.

Vanessa Daou - Black & White

Kruse

Not really sure how I got put onto this album but I'm really happy that this music made it to my ears. Kruse, coming from Los Angeles dropped an album titled True Stories sometime during 2008 I believe. Anyway, here are a few tracks, you gotta buy the rest, check myspace, feeeel meee.

Kruse - A True Story
Kruse - Feeling The Effects
Kruse - The Sidewalk

Michael Jackson - Never Can Say Goodbye (Beatnick & K-Salaam Remix)

Fireeeeee!

Michael Jackson - Never Can Say Goodbye (Beatnick & K-Salaam Remix)

Blu - (So)ul Amazing Pt. 2 (mixtape)

Blu finally hits us with a mixtape of all the tracks that have been leaked over the past few months and some new stuff. You will enjoy this, I promise. My favorite emcee right now, hands down.

1. Wake Up 
2. Never Be Another Me 
3. For Whom The Bell Tolls (Feat. Evidence, Phonte & Will.I.Am)  (Prod. By Khrysis)
4. The Classy Man 
5. We Got You (Prod. By Sene)
6. I’m Gonna Need You 
7. Change (Ya World) 
8. Lear Jet (Feat. Folk & Stress)  (Prod. By Folk & Stress)
9. On Mars (Feat. Sene) 
10. Vibrate (Feat. Dela) (Prod. By Dela)
11. The Times (Feat. Keelay & Zaire, Fortilive & Nino Moschella) (Prod. By Keelay & Zaire)
12. All The Kings Men (Feat. Tiron) 
13. Gone 
14. Therapy (Feat. The Alchemist, Evidence, Talib Kweli & Kid CuDi) (Prod. By The Alchemist)
15. Baby Don’t Leave Me Now (Feat. Mainframe) 
16. Angelic (Feat. Co$$) (Prod. By Alphabet 4)
17. Nuts Hang
18. Hard Times (Prod. By DJ Cadik)
19. Mars (Original) (Prod. By Dela)

DJ Heat & Blu - (So)ul Amazing Part 2 (mixtape)

MGMT and Q-Tip

New remix off Terry Urbans How My Brain Works 2.

MGMT and Q-Tip - Electric Stop

New Blue Scholars Vid

Peep the new video from Blue Scholars below. Seattle music is the truth.

Blue Scholars - Coffee and Snow

Happy New Year to all and to all a good night!

And on that note, here is the 2008 rap-up from the man Skillz.

Skillz - 2008 Rap-up