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Rest In Peace Eyedea

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Rest In Peace Eyedea

I caught the messed up news yesterday on Twitter that battle MC/RhymeSayers artist Eyedea (government name Michael Larsen) passed away in his sleep at his home over the weekend. Terrible news for Hip Hop. Eyedea was one of the first battle MCs I ever really heard, so much respect goes out. Sign up to the Facebook Event (Fundraiser), and his mum started a Paypal account to accept donations to help pay for the funeral.

Check some of his work below. The second video is my favourite FREESTYLE battle rap ever (yup, back when MCs actually rhymed off the top).

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Antiheroes (Flex x Sha Prince) – Circus Clowns (video)

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Antiheroes (Flex x Sha Prince) – Circus Clowns (video)

The homegirl DJ Special K hit me with this just now. Toronto brethren Flex & Sha Prince (known as Antiheroes) have dropped the first single off their upcoming LP entitled 'Circus Clowns'. I've been chatting with these cats on Twitter for a bit and they're both good dudes, but I have yet to hear their music until today. Both cats go hard on the mic, and the track is dope. Video is fresh and well-shot, I'm definitely keen to hear more from these guys.

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Eminem on 60 Minutes

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Eminem on 60 Minutes

There's been a fair bit of noise about Em's interview on 60 Minutes, so here it is. Peep the info after the jump. PS. Apologies for the lack of posts. A3C has kicked our ass, but has been the best experience of our careers thus far. We'll do a proper wrap up in the coming days, we just winding down in ATL for a bit.

'CBS’ “60 Minutes” chronicled Eminem’s rise from being bullied in school to becoming the biggest-selling artist of the decade. Journalist Anderson Cooper followed Em to Detroit, visiting his old 8 Mile stomping grounds, an underground club where he battled, his private recording studio, and one of his sold-out concerts at Detroit’s Comerica Park.

Marshall Mathers told Anderson how he stores all his lyrics on notepads (aka “stacking ammo”), not being interested in meeting his father, refraining from using profanity in his house, being two hours away from dying of a drug overdose, and commencing with his first stadium show since being sober.

Em hopes his story can help others weather the storm. “If I can help people that have been through a similar situation, then why not?” he said.'

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Skyzoo & !llmind - ‘Speakers On Blast’ (video)

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Skyzoo & !llmind - ‘Speakers On Blast’ (video)

Aight so Sky and Ill's collab album, 'Live From The Tape Deck', dropped today, and here's the visuals for the first single, 'Speakers On Blast'. Video is fresh. Sky is on point with it, and Illmind is rarely, if ever, slackin' on the boards. Really looking forward to this album.

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Kanye on SNL

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Kanye on SNL

So after dissing Saturday Night Live in the very song he's performing here, Mr West is rockin' the joint on the show. Irony. Dope performance as usual. I have a feeling that his still as yet untitled LP is gonna be game changing, yet again...

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What Cee be on... Ellie Goulding

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What Cee be on... Ellie Goulding

I love British music. So the homegirl put me onto Miss Goulding last weekend, and goddamn, I've been obsessed ever since. I guess you could describe her style as indie-pop, but it's just freakin' dope music. I've selected a bunch of her songs that pretty much summarise what she does, from her singles to live acoustic numbers and the incredible Jakwob remixes. Peep game.

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Manifesto wrap up

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Manifesto wrap up

So Toronto turned it out for Manifesto this Sunday just passed. I wasn't able to check out most of the events during the week, but I heard great things about the film festival and the Jean Grae gig.

The main event was on Sunday 26th September, an all ages, all day affair at Yonge & Dundas Square, the largest public square in the city (Toronto's equivalent of Times Square). The line up was incredible...but I'll get to that.

I rocked up late to unfortunately miss our landlord Suundjaye and soul vocalist Aria kill it in the early afternoon with the sun blazing and a solid crowd already forming. We also missed the homegirl Masia One rocking with Miss Jessica Kaya, but managed to be front and centre for one of my favourite MCs (and human beings), Eternia murder her set with DJ Law, and special guests Tona and Maestro Fresh Wes (with Crazy Legs even making a guest appearance). When she jumped off stage and made her way through the crowd Moses-style, folks just lost it. Powerful.

The headliners were incredible. With the entire square packed solid (check the photo above, taken from the Jack Astor's patio), Jay Electronica took the stage with most of the crowd mouthing the words to every jam. Both 'Exhibit A' and 'Exhibit C', performed as a medley at the end of his set, went retarded crazy with Jay performing from the middle of the crowd, and the beat dropping out at the end of each song so dude could spit acapella. Clearly the 30 minute set allotment wasn't enough for Jay, as he was pushing to keep performing but it would have cut into Black Thought's set, so he jumped off (I later heard that there was some negativity towards Jay's cussing at a family friendly event).

Black's set was more of a party b-boy thing, but he still kicked it off with 'The Next Movement' and proved why he's one of the illest in the game, period. Every time I've seen Tariq perform, he's been incredible, so there's not much more to say except that witnessing this legend perform his craft is never anything short of amazing.

I gotta shout out the organisers of Manifesto - to organise a week-long Hip Hop/urban festival, and top it off with a free, all day concert (11 hours!) at the largest city in Canada's biggest public square is nothing short of incredible. Cannot wait til next year, and fingers crossed The Movement Fam will be involved...

Check some of the performances after the jump.

Manifesto 2010 - Saukrates & Rich Kidd "So Much More/Salt & Pepper" from wrecknoble on Vimeo.

Manifesto 2010 - Saukrates, Rich Kidd, Tona "Soaring To Heaven" from wrecknoble on Vimeo.

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Hezekiah feat Eleon - If One Falls (video)

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Hezekiah feat Eleon - If One Falls (video)

Seriously, Hezekiah just doesn't quit. Dude just dropped the video for one of my favourite songs off 2008's 'I Predict A Riot', 'If One Falls' which was filmed entirely in the Brazillian favelas. Dope video, amazing song.

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Mutu - Familiar (video)

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Mutu - Familiar (video)

Who says Aussies don't make hot R&B? Check out the homie Mutu's video for his debut single 'Familiar', which should be all over Aussie radio by the time you see this...

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More Yeezy leaks

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More Yeezy leaks

Following on from the Yeezy leaks the other day, here's another new one. The cut is called 'So Appalled' and states that it features Jay-Z, RZA, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz & Cyhi The Prynce. RZA sounds sick even though he didn't drop a verse, but Jay is definitely back on his game after the lackluster 'The Blueprint 3' album, which is great to hear. And I swear I can hear obvious pops in Ye's vocals so this has just gotta be a demo in the vein of his other leaks from 'The College Dropout' days. I still don't get why Swizz gets to talk shit on the joint, though. Shut up, dude. Either way, the hype is building...

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Kanye West leaks

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Kanye West leaks

Yeezy been leaking joints from his new album, apparently titled 'Dark Twisted Fantasy' (formerly known as 'Good Ass Job'). Here's what's dropped thus far, with the only official video being 'Power'. I'm really looking forward to this one.

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Jazmine Sullivan “Holding You Down (Goin’ In Circles)” (video)

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Jazmine Sullivan “Holding You Down (Goin’ In Circles)” (video)

I've been in love with Ms Sullivan since I first her wail a couple years back. 'Fearless' was my favourite album of 2008, so I'm understandably excited about her new joint, 'Love Me Back', which drops November 2nd. Check the tracklisting and cover art below, and of course the video for the first single 'Holding You Down (Goin' In Circles)' above, which utilises the awesomeness that is Ms Blige.

Tracklisting: 1. Holding You Down (Goin’ In Circles) 2. 10 Seconds 3. Good Enough 4. Don’t Make Me Wait 5. Love You Long Time 6. Redemption 7. Excuse Me 8. U Get On My Nerves 9. Stuttering 10. In Vain 11. Famous 12. Luv Back

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