Mase Makes Puff Release Him In The Middle of V103's Ryan Cameron Show from shudduptv on Vimeo.
Just watch.
New Alicia Keys joint. Peep.
Hilarious. Even weirder though, was that Kanye posted this on his own blog.
J.Cole 'A Star Is Born' Documentary Part 2 from Chris Knotti on Vimeo.
"In what will be a four-part series, Knotti chronicles the rise to stardom of a future legend, Jermaine Cole. You happen to know him as J. Cole.
This episode features footage from an interview earlier this year and a performance of “Grown Simba” at his “The Warm Up” mixtape release party on June 15, 2009.
Just 4 months ago, me & Karen were right next to Cole on that bench he’s standing on in that screenshot. Now he’s on a nationwide tour with Jay-Z & Pharrell. Crazy."
So the big homie Chaundon (Hall of Justus) has recently dropped a double mixtape, entitled 'Black Dynamite'. Haven't copped it yet but I've heard it's nuts. So peep the video after the jump, dude is running a competition, the likes of which I've never seen before in the Hip Hop world. The 5000th customer to cop 'Black Dynamite' gets $1000, the person who referred them gets $1000 as well. Same deal for the 10,000th follower of his new blog and the referrer.
No words.
Melanie is killin' it right now. Check this amazing video of live shows on the NYC subway.
Word to having way too much money.
Yeah, so I'm in love.
The homie on Facebook just posted about this wonderful young lady and I'm flabbergasted. Her voice kills me. Check out Kina Grannis' YouTube channel for more amazingness, but peep her versions of some of my favourite songs ever below. Kills them all. I have no words.
So this is what the Ghostface show Down Under could have looked/sounded like...
This is actually pretty cool. MCs will know the deal but for the non-initiated, the Slaughterhouse boys drop some science, yo.
Man, it's dope to see Vida doing her thing. I worked with her on the Soul District record back in 2003, and to see her go from strength to strength is inspiring.
Here's the deal:
"The song is the first released from the much anticipated sophomore full length album from acclaimed Sydney producer Chasm, who has teamed up with Melbourne-based singer Vida-Sunshyne for the collaborative soul/reggae/hip hop album Move. Featuring guest spots from UK artist Million Dan, Damajah, and Mantra, the album is a wonderfully eclectic and global effort that will surely appease music lovers all over."
Man, Eternia has got to be one of the hardest working people in the game right now. Check her latest move...
"We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Programming for a sneak peak into the making of the music video "GENDER BENDER" feat. Eternia & Miz Metro. A lead single off J.J. Brown's forthcoming album "Connect the Dots", "GENDER BENDER" is a playful look at gender roles in Hip Hop & on the road. J.J.'s album also features Gym Class Hero's frontman Travis McCoy, rap legend Craig G., Reef the Lost Cauze, Poison Pen, Louis Logic & more! In Stores Nov. 10, 2009! "
J Cole - A Star Is Born Documentary Part 1 from Chris Knotti on Vimeo.
Spotted @ 2DopeBoyz.
"Karen Civil introduces the world to Jay Z’s protege J Cole in this 4 part documentary series. In this episode J Cole discusses moving from North Carolina to New York to pursue a rap career, getting signed to Jay Z’s Roc Nation & preparing a classic album."
Thrizz put me onto J Smooth @ Ill Doctrine a while back, but I've only been really on this shit recently. This video is great - anyone doing any sort of creative process will be able to relate, which is why I felt it relevant to post.
As artists, we all go through the same thing as J is describing. Right now, we're working on 'The Soul Movement Volume 3' and I really feel for Notion, because although he didn't create the music (except for feature verses here and there), he's had to mix it and listen to it over and over and over, which should destroy all positive feelings towards the music but he seems to dig it even more. For myself, I just can't listen to my own music too much or I get over it real quick. When it's first recorded or written, hell yeah, I love to gauge where it's at, if it's any good, etc. But I gotta cut it out or I just don't wanna hear it again. By the time we finish this mixtape, I won't be able to listen to it for a hot minute.
Anyway, check out the video and hit up Ill Doctrine.com for more awesomeness.
So I was trying to learn how to play 'Teach You A Lesson' by Robin Thicke on guitar via YouTube. You know you need to bust out the guitar when you got someone over and you may as well have something decent to play, I don't even plan on learning the whole song..lol
So I saw a whole bunch fan vids and different versions etc, then found this kid rapping. Billie Shakes (click his name to check out his YouTube channel), he's good but dude's just 14! Only does one verse tho'.
Check out the video:
Check out his YouTube channel, lol @ his line in the 'Beautiful Woman' track, "even though you kinda stuck up like a tampon". Gold.
I can't say I'm a huge fan of Tech, however he just did a successful tour of Australia so big ups. I got to hang with him and his crew back when they toured Oz with Kurupt and Tha Luniz in 2003 and dude was mad cool, so it's good to see him still making some noise and selling out solo shows. Anyway, check the interview.
I ain't even really know much about Mac Lethal, but this video was kinda cool. And Devin singing and smoking on the couch was the illest bit.
When I think of Sinergy Crew, the first two adjectives that come to mind is 'staunch' and 'thug'. Well, not really. A recent review of their debut album, 'Sin City', labelled the fellas with these two words and it kinda made me laugh. Sure, their music is straight up boom bap, punchline-friendly Hip Hop, but there isn't really anything 'staunch' or 'thuggish' about Royalz and Chains. Maybe it's coz I know the blokes and they're nothing like that. Either way, they're real. And that's what really matters here.
As soon as you lay eyes on the album artwork, there's no question as to the fact that this is a Hip Hop album. The 'Sin City' piece on the cover was drawn by local South East graf writer Zanee, and it immediately suggests the pure realness of the music contained within.
With Royalz behind the boards on all 16 cuts here, the SC sound is nothing short of raw, grimey, in-your-face boomsauce, and when the boys jump on the mic, it's clear that they can both rip it like Franco Colombu at a Mr. Olympia competition in the 70s. Single 'The Game' has been making some solid noise on the JJJ Unearthed charts, fan faves 'All Out Raw', 'Who's The Boss' and 'Rockin' The Richter' (with Hungry Human Raven) are all here as well. The blokes even include some solid personal, introspective and political joints like 'Hindsight', 'The Silent Truth', 'Such Is Life' and 'The Third Eye'.
Features are kept to a minimum, with DJ's Simple Simon and Elev8 supplying most of teh cuts, and their mates DBO Crew and A.I. all making an appearance on the two posse cuts 'Backyard Blitz' and 'Just The Beginning'. I caught up with the boys to chat more about the album, realness and what's next from here.
Sup boys? What’s real?
(R)oyalz: It’s almost lunchtime and my stomach is telling me I gotta eat, for real.
(C)hains: KFC Mashies are back. Definitely is a good sign in the wake of swine flu pandemics and the global financial crisis.
What’s been happening with you guys since the album dropped?
R: Working hard on the next release for our crew Associated Illness. Performed at and currently doing more shows. Eating KFC while playing X-Box. Hustlin’.
C: Yeah a combination of pushing the album, doing shows and writing for the Associated Illness project. Probably an expansion of the clothing line next year also as we have some artists working on some crazy designs.
How has the response been to the album thus far?
R: Pretty positive so far. We’ve had a bit of radio play and interviews from all over, so I think there are people who still like that grimey hip-hop.
C: In general it's been good. The current trend with a lot of Australia hip hop is slow, minimal production with what some call 'emotional' lyrics. While this is fine in small doses, entire albums of it just sound like whining. Most people in this world have it tough in some way or form, so we prefer to give people something more uptempo that they can rock out too and let loose rather than wallow in self pity.
What’s your individual favourite joints off the album and why?
R: 'Hindsight' is a personal favourite. It’s a reflection on our journey through our creative process to where we are now.
C: Hard to say it kind of depends on the mood. In terms of live shows - 'Rockin the Richter', 'The Game', 'Just The Beginning' are all crowd favourites and get people up and about. If you're just kicking back, 'Hindsight', 'Hip-hop-aholics' and 'The Third Eye' are probably up there.
There’s a marked political angle on a few tracks, what’s your main inspiration for that?
R: Life. The dodgy dealings of greedy individuals and the ignorant people that find it easier to ignore the truth.
C: I think the human race has reached a fork in the road right now. People don't think for themselves anymore, it's far easier to just follow the flock and hand responsibility over to corporations and governments. In the past, where ethics were more prominent, it wasn't as dangerous as now. These days when we live at the mercy of greed and gigantic profit margins, you can't have such a lax attitude about the world. Our lives are dictated by belief structures that aren't physical - racism, the 'economy', political correctness etc... none of these things are actually real, they are imaginary and can be manipulated in order to control populations. People need to start understanding that to regain some control over their lives.
Well said. Now that you’ve dropped a mixtape and an LP, do you think you’ll approach your next album in the same way you did ‘Sin City’?
C: It's hard to say, I think there will definitely be some more political fuel to add to the fire. That's something we'll have to cross when we get there. The A.I album is going to be a straight up banger, the next Sinergy release is hard to predict. I'm sure it will just evolve as we go along.
Tell us about the AI crew project that you have been working on.
R: We’ve been collecting the best beats from crew and associated equally ill dudes for a full length album. We all work well together so I think it will be a pretty cohesive effort. We’re currently writing two tracks which will hopefully be done by the end of the year, so keep your ears open!
C: Ever been kicked in the head?
Lol, not recently. Have either of you guys thought about doing solo projects?
R: I’ve had thoughts of doing a producer album similar to Chops or Marco Polo, but I’d have to grow my gatalogue a bit before diving into a project like that. Other than that I like working as part of a team, or contributing bits to other peoples projects.
C: I guess you never say never but collaboration is one of the beautiful things about hip hop. As Royalz mentioned, working with like minded individuals to create a piece of music is great.
Couldn't agree more. Royalz, you’re the main producer for Sinergy Crew. Who are your main influences production-wise?
R: My main influences are masters like Premo, diversity of Danger Mouse, sample selection of Necro, chopping of Stoupe and drums like Dre – all with their own signature sound and masters in their own right.
Chains, define ‘realness’.
C: Realness is as realness does. You can't be told what realness is, you have to see it for yourself. When you take the bus... you get there.
That's deep. What’s next from here?
R: I’m gonna go take a dump at work and get paid for it.
How can the people contact you fellas, and where can they cop the album from?
www.myspace.com/SinergyCrew
They can cop the album online from grhyme.bigcartel.com or any good independent music store nationwide.