360 - 'Take Off (Sky Is Falling)' (sneak preview)

The Australian readers will be familiar with Matthew Colwell, aka 360, from his eclectic mixtape appearances, his esteemed battle career and his work with Pez as Forthwrite.

So dude dropped his debut album, 'What You See Is What You Get', a couple years back, and he's about to hit us with his sophomore effort 'Falling And Flying'. This time around, though, he's not only backed by label Soulmate Records but by major EMI, so it'll be interesting to see how this one goes.

Check out the first single, 'Take Off (Sky Is Falling)'. The entire album is produced by Styalz Fuego, and the sound is hella varied from what I'm told. This joint is on that electro vibe, and I dig it. Listened a couple times, finding it a bit hard to get into but after a few more listens I have a feeling it'll click. I don't see any other artists in Australia being this forward thinking in the Hip Hop scene, so I'm keen on checking out the LP. Get it up ya.

What Cee be on... Miike Snow

So I think I might be a bit late on these cats, but Miike Snow are the shit. Quality indie/rock/eletronica. Their self titled debut is brilliant, and already been on heavy rotation for the past few days since copping it.

Check the video above for 'The Rabbit', which is a new single and not actually off their album. Shit is hilarious. It's got what every video needs: kids with beards, half naked dancing broads and a solid tribute to 2 Live Crew. Awesomeness.

The Third Annual Roots Picnic in Philly

Aight, so I'm mainly blogging this out of spite. Fuck. Look at this line up. Look at it.

THIS is part of the reason The Movement Fam is moving to North America. Shit like this just doesn't happen down here. Goddamnit. Such an eclectic line up, it'd be worth every damn cent. Check it out and fume with me in a silent yet jealous rage...

Main Stage

2:00-2:30 Baja and Dry Eye Crew
2:50-3:10 Tune Yards
3:30-3:50 Foreign Exchange
4:20-4:50 Nneka
5:00-5:30 The Very Best
5:45-6:15 Jay Electronica
6:30-7:10 Mayer Hawthorne
7:30-9:30 The Roots with Wu + John Legend
10:00-11:00 Vampire Weekend

* DJs between all sets
** DJ Jazzy Jeff between sets starting after Jay Elec

Tent Stage

12:00-12:45 Memory Tapes
12:45-2:00 Local DJ
2:30-2:50 Pattern is Movement
3:00-3:30 Das Racist
3:30-3:50 Money Makin Jamboyz
4:00-4:30 Meek Mill
4:40-5:10 ?uest + Jazzy Jeff
5:30-6:00 Bajah and the D E C
6:50-7:30 Clipse
DJs

There's still some tickets left, you lucky motherfuckers, so grab em now!

Eminem on 'Friday with Jonathan Ross'

As the anticipation for Em's 'Recovery' album builds, check out his interview and performance of ''Not Afraid' on Friday with Jonathan Ross. I'm actually looking forward to this album, as I wasn't messing with 'Relapse' at all.

DJ Quik - The Book of David (listening event)

Being a long term DJ Quik fan, this is some shit.

Peep the vid, it's a great insight into Quik's latest opus, The Book of David, dropping soon (not sure on the date).

And check his comments; dude ain't even really feeling Hip Hop no more, he's 'bout to make film scores and wants to be known as a musician, not a rapper. Fair enough, he's earned that shit. Respect.

Bieber and Smith - Never Say Never (Karate Kid son)

Before y'all hate...this track ain't half bad. Justin can fucking wail but dude's music just doesn't appeal to those north of 14. And not only is this the 'theme' song from Mini Will's remake of the classic 'The Karate Kid' flick, lil man even jumps up for 12 bars of Fresh Prince-esque average-ness. I don't hate it at all.

Worth a peek just out of curiosity, if nothing else...

The Rapping Weatherman?

Normally any piss-take of Hip Hop makes me cringe. I fucking hate it, always have. I guess as a Caucasian dude from Australia, I kinda copped it growing up for my love of the culture (yup, I need a tissue), so I'm a tad sensitive to this type of shit.

The Rapping Weatherman, however, entertained the hell outta me. Dude spits a 2 minute verse over Young Money's 'Roger That' beat for the Austin, TX local Fox station. Can't front - it's corny yet clever, and it's clear they're taking the piss outta themselves too. Word to his 'posse' and getting the news anchors involved too. Gold.

John Mayer - Half Of My Heart (video)

Y'all should know by now that Mr. Mayer is possibly one of my favourite artists of all time. Yeah, the dude needs to shut his mouth from time to time, but on a musical level, his brand of acoustic pop/rock is fucking flawless. Managed to catch the dude live on his recent Australian tour and he was even better than the last time I saw him.

Anyway, I'll just get off his dick for second to tell y'all about the new video for his third single off 'Battle Studies', 'Half Of My Heart'. This joint features Miss Taylor Swift on two lines just shy of the 3 minute mark, not earning even earning her a visit to the video set. And rightfully so, silly broad she is. Cool video, not my fave song off the album ('Assassin' and 'Perfectly Lonely' are goddamn masterpieces), but should bode well. Carry on.

How To Destroy Angels free EP

Nine Inch Nails' frontman Trent Reznot has made the debut EP from How to Destroy Angels, Trent's collaboration with wife Mariqueen Maandig, available as a free download right now from the How to Destroy Angels website.

You can head to the site and cop it now, or order a t-shirt, CD and higher quality digital download while you're at it.

Check out the trippy ass video for the single 'The Space In Between'. I'm really looking forward to checking this one out.

Get your FREE download of How To Destroy Angels debut EP now!

K Slack feat. Inspectah Deck "Strictly Facts" Produced by Ski Beatz

The homie K Slack just sent me this BANGER. I had to post it up cause the shit is mad ILL. K Slack and Deck go IN!!!! on a banger laced by Ski Beatz. ( Jay-Z, Camp lo ) Check it out.

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/audio/id.11154/title.k-slack-f-inspectah-deck-strictly-facts-prod-ski-beatz

http://www.emusic.com/label/Cut-No-Slack-Ent-TuneCore-MP3-Download/432824.html

What Cee be on... Tame Impala

So I've really gotten into Tame Impala recently. Missed their show the other week in Melbourne, and the boys are currently headed to the US to travel around the country with MGMT. Top work.

Check out the single 'Solitude Is Bliss' from their debut album 'Innerspeaker'. Video is pretty strange but I really the music.

Ageism in Hip Hop?

Before I even get started on my rant, check the video below of Havoc from Mobb Deep's thoughts on rappers getting their first break in their 30's.

Alright. Coming from Havoc, a respected MC/producer who dropped his first album at 16 (with Prodigy, Mobb Deep's 'Juvenile Hell'), this is an interesting point. Who the fuck says that the point of view of a 16 year old is more valid than that of a 30 year old?

Let me put this in perspective. I'm now 29, and I've been rapping since I was 15, but only taking it seriously since I was like 23 or 24, and really seriously since maybe 27. Now, if I had have had a 'break' when I was 23, I know for a fact that there is NO WAY that my music back then would be anywhere near as solid as it is now.

I've learned so much over the past few years that I finally feel I'm ready to deliver a solid product that is worth people investing their time and money into. But my worldly (or not so worldly) point of view as a 23 year old, according to Havoc, is more valuable than the me of today?

That argument makes no fucking sense. So yes, fuck you Havoc. Just because shit hasn't come together for someone by the time they're 30 - whether they're an MC or in a band - doesn't mean that they should automatically kill their dreams. That's insane. It's nothing short of ageism, which is one of the most ridiculous biases in the modern era, as it puts the youth on a pedestal over experience and wisdom.

I'd be keen to hear your thoughts on this, folks...

Mista Encore - The World Is Yours (official video)

Mista Encore, a producer from Long Branch, NJ, hit me up with this video dude just shot for the first single off his latest LP, 'Elevator Music', which you can grab and stream on Mista Encore's website.

Not only a talented beatsmith, knocking out 10 of the 14 beats on 'Elevator Music', but Mista Encore is an MC, and y'all can check the skills on the video above for 'The World Is Yours'. Smoothly shot, the simple black and white imagery compliment the positive, uplifting lyrics.

Definitely check this cat out, an up and comer with promise.

Twice in a week

So the ladies are finna be jealous and the guys are gonna feel for me.

Check the above trailer. Lucky me got to see this fucking film twice in the space of a week. Yup.

It's late night Friday and I thought I'd share my pain. I work for a film distributor and got to check out the flick last week at a work screening, part of the job. All good. Then I got offered premiere tickets. So I took it due to the jealousy factor from broads, plus the free piss.

However, my boss and Ryan from YouTube took us out at 4pm for beers at Bridie O'Reilley's and got me fucking smashed before hitting the premiere, which was awesome, but then I damn near fell asleep. It was worse the second time around.

Anyway, I'm home, I'm drunk as hell still, and tired as shit. And this is about as interesting as I'ma get right now. Night folks.

G.No aka The Latin Bird (ft. Bizzy Bone) 'PAZ' (video)

G.No aka The Latin Bird (ft. Bizzy Bone) 'PAZ' from Gardelino.com on Vimeo.

Huge shouts to the big homie P.R for landing this one!

Check out the video for G.No's new single, 'Paz' ('peace' in Spanish), featuring Bizzy Bone, and produced by P.R! Some huge shit for the kid...video is low budget but fresh, shot in France. Worldwide baby!

Wax & Dumbfoundead are Clockwise – “It’s On” (video)

Y'all might know Wax from the Wax & EOM project.

Y'all might know Dumbfoundead from the 2 on 2 rap battle circuit.

Y'all prolly don't know Clockwise. Now you do. You're welcome.

And on an extremely unrelated note, Jay-Z and Jack White are working together. Rad.

Tokyo Cigar as Akira Parker "FROZEN FLESH, UGLY SOUL"

Peace. I proudly present my first official instrumental album. This album is an audio snapshot of my life growing up in different countries and reflects different styles of music i was exposed to. From Hip hop, to Electronica to Jazz. It's pretty much all filtered through my insane brain and manifested in the music on this album. My homie WGmeets also contributed some pictures that he took from his own world travels for the artwork.

I hope you all enjoy the album. 200% LOVE went into making it.

http://tokyocigarmusic.bandcamp.com/album/frozen-flesh-ugly-soul

Jermiside & Danny Diggs: Afraid (feat Maverick Sabre) (video)

The homie Jermiside has been at it for a minute. Part of the Lessondary crew with Tanya Morgan, the ATL resident (via Cincinatti) has been putting in major work, and now he's about to drop his album with Irish producer Danny Diggs, 'Middle Classic', on HiPNOTT Records.

Check the press release:

"Afraid", featuring Irish singer Maverick Sabre, is presented visually in this stunning video that was written, directed, and edited by Ilyas (of Tanya Morgan). The song itself is an excellent example of the type of feel good hip hop Middle Classic represents as a whole.

Bullfighter gets it in the mouth

So this is some messed up footage, but I think an important point is made here.

I'm a little behind on general shit that happens due to my lack of interest in mainstream media. So this might be old news, so please forgive me if that is the case.

However, for those who ain't already know, a bullfighter in Madrid, Spain was murked in the throat during a recent fight (check the link for full details), as is bound to happen when you taunt a bull with a red flag and stab the poor beast. Now this was a particularly horrific one, as you're about to see. Not only did the bull's horn go through dude's throat but it came out of his mouth. Word.

So what was the first reaction? Rush the dude to hospital. Of course. But what of the 6 or so bulls that are killed mercilessly each fight?

Look, I fucks with Spanish/Latin culture. But this shit is as archaic as religion and saving it for marriage. What the fuck do you expect to happen when you do this shit? Seriously. And then folks trip out when dudes get banged up. Fuckouttahere.

Let's break it down...

Dude loses his footing...

...bull murks him...

...then lets him go...

...and here's a nice close up for ya (awesome photography by the way).

Now check the video below and let us know your thoughts...

Theology3 feat Tona and Andreena Mills - How I Flow Pt 2 (video)

T.O. is killin' it right now. The big homie Theo3 just dropped his new video for 'How I Flow Part 2', which features Tona and Andreena Mills (the amazing vocalist from 'The Last Hope'), over a Boi1da production. There's some serious names right there.

If y'all haven't copped it already, go grab Theo's album and single!