By: Trees Continuing a historic and coveted twelve year career and following up 2006's critically acclaimed "A New Dope," the street-tested, hipster-approved new sound of 7L & Esoteric has evolved again. This new album profiles MC Esoteric's bizarre, untamed side, and after stunning critics by not only writing but producing the crazier half of "A New Dope" and several tracks off of Jedi Mind Tricks' latest AOTP offering "Ritual of Battle," fans looking for risk-taking art can look in the direction of the newest "mc/producer" Esoteric and his newly founded Fly Casual Creative label. After touring the world many times over, rocking with everyone from Kanye West to Linkin Park, Esoteric and longtime partner, friend, and graphic designer KARMA decided to launch Fly Casual Creative as the new home of all future music and projects from 7L & Esoteric. Check Pterovision vol. 1 to hear it first hand from Eso. "Egoclapper", the all new studio album available on deluxe six panel digipak CD on 10.23.07. Cop it at UGHH.com to get the exclusive concept album "Esoteric vs. Gary Numan - "Pterodactyl Tubeway". Don't be stuck in 2007.
Aesop Rock Offering Video Preview.. But There's A Catch ?
8/22/07
By: Marty Caballero Aesop Rock and his label Def Jux are both recognized as innovative, so this piece of news shouldn't shock too many heads. The label is offering a sneak preview of Aesop's new video None Shall Pass (from the album of the same name, dropping August 28) at iamtryingtohelp.com. The catch is, users have to correctly answer a series of questions in order to unlock it. With stop-motion animation of Jeremy Fish's artwork set to Aesop's track, this one might be worth studying for. Or, you could wait for the video to premiere in its entirety on MTV next week.
Tribe Called Quest Headline Next Hip Hop Honors - 10/4/07
8/22/07
By: Marty Caballero A Tribe Called Quest will headline the fourth annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors taking place on October 4 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. Joining Tip, Phife and Ali will be seminal 80s group Whodini, Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliot, producer Teddy Riley and music mogul Andre Harrell. As usual, expect a long list of prominent presenters and performers such as Eve, Pharrell Williams, The Game, Common, Busta Rhymes, Timbaland, Bow Wow, Nick Cannon, T.I., T-Pain, Keyshia Cole, Chris Rock and others. The taped show will be broadcast on October 8 at 10:00 PM.
By: Trees After a two year hiatus, J-Live follows his last critically acclaimed full length The Hear After with a sneak attack in the form of the 6 song EP Reveal The Secret. J-Live had this to say; "I want this to feel like it came outa nowhere. I want the people that have it to feel special, you know. Let them spread the word that I'm back. Pass it on before the album drops. You know… let the cat out the bag, reveal the secret." It's no secret that J has worked with his fair share of elite producers in the past. And although this fall's mini project is just a precursor, it is no different. Reveal the Secret features production by DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Spinna, Da Beatminerz, Marco Polo and Oddisee. "My people have been dying for me and Spinna to get back in the lab. He's been down since day one. We have a couple other joints on the album too" The new album, titled Then What Happened is due out 2008. But in the meantime, the EP will serve as a best foot forward, on J's path to share his music with the world, break out of obscurity and Reveal the Secret.
By: Trees Attention all bettys and biddys. Are you a female MC with a "sick flow, crazy style, and personality meant for TV?" Want to whore out your self respect for a quick fifteen minutes of fame? VH1 is casting for a competitive reality series about female rappers. I don't know if it's going to set women back 20 years like the White Rapper Show did for white MCs, but hey, you could get famous, who doesn't love a little spotlight now and again. So, if you're a talented femcee with a passion for hip-hop, and won't mind being humiliated on national television: send your name, age, e-mail address and website to rapper@vh1staff.com and tell them why you are perfect for this show. Good luck bitches.
By: Trees Sure it took nearly 10 years for the first Army of the Pharaohs LP to drop, precedent be damned. On September 25th the brand new AOTP album drops on Babygrande Records. Celph Titled has already stated the LP is "rawer than last time" and "everybody brought their a-game". Production on the new project ranges from Ill Bill to Esoteric to Celph Titled himself and guess what, the crew added another member. Maybe you've heard of an MC named Jus Allah? He joins Vinnie Paz, 7L & Eso, Planetary, Celph, Chief Kamachi, King Syze, Des Devious, Faez One, Crypt The Warchild, & Reef The Lost Cauze delivering Ritual Of The Battle on 9/25. Cop it.
By: Trees Our homey Mr. Peter Parker is going to be in NYC on September 5th hosting Chaundon's mixtape release party. If you are anywhere around NY City...and even if you are not, on September 5 at SOB's is a true cannot miss show. Chaundon along with Major Events and SOB's will be presenting a huge mixtape release party for Chaundon's new mixtape Venom. In addition to Chaundon, Skyzoo, Torae, Sean Price, Poison Pen, Emilio Rojas, DV Alias Khryst, Sha Stimuli, DJ Eclipse, DJ Vega Benetton, and many surprise guests will be showing up. This will be a mixtape release party like no other with some of the biggest up and coming talent in the game. Don't forget SOB's September 5th!
By: Trees After a year off the road, Atmosphere will perform twenty seven shows in the U.S from September 14 - October 16, 2007 with fellow Rhymesayers label mates Grayskul and Mac Lethal, and special guest Luckyiam of Living Legends. Bringing over four hours of music with four independent Hip Hop artists, Everybody Loves A Clown is sure to be fun for the whole family!
All artists will be supporting new projects: Atmosphere, Sad Clown Bad Fall Number 10 (limited tour series E.P), Grayskul, Bloody Radio (available on September 11), Mac Lethal, 11:11 out October 9, 2007 and Luckyiams, Most Likely To Succeed in stores now.
Everybody loves a clown, coming to a venue near you.
Tour Dates: 9/14/07 Duluth, MN Pizza Luce 9/15/07 Duluth, MN Pizza Luce 9/17/07 Grand Rapids, MI Intersection 9/18/07 Millvale, PA Mr. Small's Theatre 9/20/07 Baltimore, MD Ram's Head Live (with Brother Ali) 9/21/07 Providence, RI Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel 9/22/07 New Haven, CT Toads Place 9/23/07 Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle 9/24/07 Athens, GA 40 Watt Club 9/26/07 New Orleans, LA Tipitina's 9/27/07 Dallas, TX Loft @ Palladium Ballroom 9/28/07 Lubbock, TX Jake's Sports Cafe 9/29/07 Albuquerque, TBA 10/1/07 Flagstaff, AZ Orpheum Theater 10/2/07 Los Angeles, CA Henry Fonda Theater 10/3/07 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern 10/4/07 San Luis Obispo, CA Downtown Brewing Co 10/5/07 Bakersfield, CA The Dome 10/6/07 Santa Cruz, CA Catalyst 10/8/07 Bend, OR Midtown Ballroom 10/9/07 Bellingham, WA Nightlight 10/10/07 Boise, ID Venue 10/11/07 Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue 10/12/07 Denver , CO Ogden Theatre 10/13/07 Aspen, CO Belly Up, Aspen 10/15/07 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater 10/16/07 Madison, WI Barrymore Theatre
By: Trees Ayyyyo Australia! Necro is headed down under. Peep the death rapper in your area for the following dates:
Aug 30 4.20 New Zealand, Auckland Aug 31 Manning Bar Sydney, Australia Sep 1 Arena Brisbane, Australia Sep 2 Corner w/ special guest Mark "Chopper" Read Melbourne, Australia Sep 3 HQ Adelaide, Australia Sep 4 Rosemount Hotel Perth, Australia Sep 5 The Corner Melbourne, Australia
By: Marty Caballero Saigon recently told MTV News that the remix to his first single "Come On Baby" (produced by Just Blaze) will feature El Presidente himself, Jay-Z.
"Yeah, Jay's on my album. He's on the remix to the single, he aired it out. I still gotta go back and rewrite my verse," the New York rapper announced.
"He really does the 'Rain Man' thing, he doesn't sit down and write," he continued. "For mad years, I was like, 'He's too clever, I don't believe he don't write [lyrics] down. He's too on point.' But with this beat, when he came to record to it, he never heard the beat before and his rhyme went so perfect with the beat. I was like he couldn't have wrote this at home, he couldn't have had this in the stash. Maybe this dude do got more brain cells than everybody else. I tell him all the time, 'You an alien, man.' "
No word on an official release date for his album The Greatest Story Never Told, but if this feature doesn't help speed things up, nothing will.
By: Marty Caballero Ask Al Sharpton: nothing says "look at me!" like an attack on hip hop. The latest blow comes from my hometown of B-More, Maryland, where City Council candidate Donald J. Dewar III has formally asked the mayor to cancel a concert featuring Lil Wayne and Juelz Santana. Dewar contends that the concert doesn't belong in his district--the residential, recently gentrified Canton neighborhood--because its not a "high-density area" like downtown and, of course, because of Weezy and Juelz's explicit content. "With all the crime and drugs," Dewar said, "having anything like that that promotes it seems inappropriate." Dewar previously complained about a June concert that featured Lil Kim. Paul Gardner, an attorney for the company promoting the concert, said cancelling the concert would violate the first amendment, and no action has been yet taken by the city government. I would never advocate shutting down a concert based on content, but I'm still a little sour at Santana for being a no-show at his last Baltimore concert (Club Paradox!).
By: Marty Caballero If one's wealth is measured in friends, Hi-Tek is balllin'. Last year's Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip looked like a Jay-Z retirement party thanks to the guest list that included Nas, Ghostface, Devin the Dude, Common, Busta Rhymes and more, all backed by Tek's finest beats. The party continues on November 30, when he'll drop the third installment, entitled Hi-Teknology 3: Underground. No word on features yet, but expect updates as the date gets closer.
By: Trees In addition to recent signings with the likes of Dj Benzi and Kurious Jorge, the Amalgam Digital label chalks another one up as the word is they have just signed Tash (of The Alkaholiks) to the rising label planning to release his new solo album "Control Freek" in early 2008 which is rumored to feature the likes of Pharrell Williams, Raekwon, RedMan, Snoop Dog & Ghostface Killah to name a few. No other information has been provided by the record label, but we're definitely looking forward to this release!
By: Marty Caballero Fresh off his performance at Rock the Bells in Mansfield, MA. Nas is slated to appear alongside John Mayer and Dave Matthews Band at Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, VA, in September. The free show for staff and students will honor the victims of the tragic shooting that occurred on April 16, 2007.
By: Marty Caballero Over a decade after Amerikkka's Most Wanted, Ice Cube is still a wanted man. Well, actually he's not wanted- in Auckland, New Zealand of all places. Auckland mayoral candidate Len Brown is fighting to cancel Cube's scheduled 8/22 concert due to his image, which Brown believes will foster violence and gang banging in his city. Jumping on the "blame rap" bandwagon, Brown issued this statement: "We don't need a gangsta rapper working against the future interests of our young. It's time to freeze out the Ice Cube. We don't want him. We don't need him. He is not welcome here." Either a) dude's just trying to get elected, b) he's mad that he's still waiting for Heltah Skeltah with Dre, or c) he's just trying to get elected. We know, Brownie; Cube's still the "N**** You Love to Hate."
By: Marty Caballero I will readily admit to buying anything and everything Dilla related (check the "Turn It Up!" t-shirt re-up if you do the same), but this one really looks like a must-see for err'body. Frank N Dank and J. Dilla's European Vacation chronicles James Yancey's final European tour in November 2005, only a few months before he passed away. Although confined to a wheel chair, Dilla still managed to rock sold-out crowds across Europe with Frank N Dank, Phat Kat and DJ Rhettmatic, captured here with live footage and exclusive content a'plenty. Besides the tour, Dilla's legacy is furthered with music from several artists who worked with the ex-Slum Village producer before his death, including most notably producer/MC iLLA-JAY, Dilla's 23-year old brother. For hardcore Dilla fans or doe-eyed newbies, this should be a fine pick-up, and don't sleep on Frank N Dank either. European Vacation is available now on DVD.
By: Trees Hip-Hop duo Junk Science will follow up their critically-acclaimed debut release Feeding Einstein this October 23 with Gran Dad's Nerve Tonic, whose title is a stylized take on a fictional ale. With lyrics from Junk Science emcee Baje One and beats done by the duo's second half, DJ Snafu, Junk Science has prepared a humble take on the traditional concept album that, despite its internal contradictions, manages to come out clean by record's end. And is there really anything wrong with another record about drinking? Nope. Junk Science manages to delve into topics ranging from unemployment, to boozing, to videogames, and more boozing. Baje One states: "It's not a record about alcohol or alcoholism per se, as much as the record itself is the drink that me and Snafu needed and couldn't find anywhere on the shelves."
For fans who wish they could find the Nerve Tonic on shelves, there is good news: the group has coordinated with Brooklyn-based Six Points Craft Ales to bring a limited-release brew to New York City coinciding with the album's release. The members of Junk Science share a love of quality beers with their label, Embedded Music. Legendary underground rap label Definitive Jux joined with Embedded to release the album, lending their resources to promoting and distributing the album. Nuk Fam artists Cool Calm Pete, Loer Velocity, and Iller Than Theirs make guest appearances, and producer Daedelus contributes a bonus remix for one of the singles.
By: Marty Caballero Slanging artery-clogging, chemically-treated meat slabs to billions and billions for the last 50 odd years, that's fine. But sponsoring a tour featuring Twista? That's just too much for Ronnie and co. The Chi-Town MC was unceremoniously dropped from McDonald's Live Tour after Arches execs expressed concerns over his lyrical content. "Although we respect free speech and artistic expression, we do not condone or perpetuate derogatory language," said the company via a soulless media rep. The tour, which also features Ne-Yo and Kat Deluna, will make stops at various Mickey D's parking lots throughout the country.
In response, Twista, who's also felt the heat coming from Chicago Reverend Michael Pfleger's anti-rap billboards lately, had this to say, "I am very disappointed by McDonald's decision to cancel my participation in the McDonald's Live Tour...Not all art is suitable for every age, just as not every movie is suitable for every age which is why it's lawfully labeled with a 'parental advisory' sticker. Ultimately, the 'parental advisory' warning aides parents in their responsibility to police and guide their children. Despite that, it still should not discredit me or my music. Art is a reflection of life. We tell stories about the culture and environment we grew up in, and unfortunately most of it isn't pretty. But for people to single me out as a negative individual because of that is both unfair and unnecessary. Instead of playing the blame game and creating a 'right' side and a 'wrong' side, let's come together to find ways that reach inner city youth and do away with the gang and crime-infested environments where most of them grow up."
Funny thing is, lost in all the politics is the fact that McDonald's is trying to make a family tour with Ne-Yo singing about sex for 90 minutes, in a damn Mickey D's parking lot. Does this raise an eyebrow, anyone?
By: Marty Caballero It's hard to believe, but after spending a grip o' time in the game Percee P will finally drop his original, full-length debut album on September 18, courtesy of the good folks at Stones Throw Records. The highly-anticipated, appropriately-titled Perseverance will sport appearances by Aesop Rock, Chali 2na, Vinnie Paz, Guilty Simpson, Diamond D, and Prince Po. Resident beat genius Madlib will work the boards exclusively, on some old Premo/Jeru type venture. "Watch Your Step," featuring Vinny Paz and Guilty Simpson, has already been released on 12". Nuff said.
By: Trees While Havoc's partner Prodigy has already leaped into the solo-realm, Havoc has previously not done so due to a hectic recording schedule with Mobb Deep where he has produced some of the most essential Hip-Hop tracks of the last decade ("Shook Ones Pt.2," "Drop A Gem On Em," "Quiet Storm," and "The Learning" among just a handful of classics) and due to the fact that he is one of Hip-Hop's most sought after producers (as he has previously worked with a who's who list of artists including: Nas, Capone & Noreaga, Foxy Brown, 50 Cent, LL Cool J, Mariah Carey, Lloyd Banks, The Game, Jadakiss, Lil Kim, Method Man, Notorious B.I.G., etc) as Havoc reaffirms "I was always ready (to drop a solo-album), but the reason why it took me so long is because the timing wasn't right. I was always working on Mobb Deep material and working with other artists and I used allot of the material I was going to use for a solo-LP for Mobb Deep records." However, that all changes with the release of Havoc's debut, The Kush, (the prequel to his official untitled solo-LP) on 9-18-07. "Basically, The Kush is dark and gutter, I really wanted to go that direction.", explains Havoc.
Forsaking littering The Kush with numerous guest-appearances, Havoc choose to keep things entirely in-house and make it an all-family endeavor by design states Havoc "Besides Prodigy, I did not want a bunch of big stars on it, as it would have taken away from the real objective of the LP, which is grimy and down to earth."
Tracklisting and credits for Havoc's The Kush:
1.) NY For Life 2.) I'm The Boss 3.) By My Side f/40 Glocc 4.) One Less Nigga 5.) Ride Out f/Nyce 6.) Balling Out f/Un Pachino 7.) What's Poppin Tonite 8.) Class By Myself f/Nitti 9.) Set Me Free f/Prodigy & Nyce 10.) Be There 11.) Hit Me Up f/Un Pacihno 12.) Get Off My Dick
By: Trees Death rapper, Necro released a press release this week explaining why he dropped off the Sounds Of The Underground Tour. Here it is:
Necro says "I decided to leave the tour collectively with my manager and booking agent (both tour organizers) because we felt the tour's demographic was not receiving hip hop well. I was facing hostile, disrespectful crowds and was returning the same energy back ten-fold by being more aggressive than them. It was making a lot of people in the tour crew nervous and there was concern someone might get hurt (NOT ME). It was also being suggested that maybe I tone down my live show and not antagonize the already antagonistic crowd. I couldn't roll with that as it's not my style. I was holding back enough as it is but there is a line. All the bands on the tour loved us and everyone behind the scenes knew we displayed major heart and never once got fazed by the hostility. We finished every show with middle fingers up and a big fuck you to the crowd. I will make one thing clear for the haters: we NEVER got booed OFF the stage. Not once. Yes a ton of emo kids booed us at every show, but we had a twenty-five minute set every night and we stayed on stage for every minute of it, and we represented. Every show had at least 100 to 200 Necro fans in the pit tearing it up, and our meet and greets were incredible!
It's just a shame these little kids are so close-minded. The majority of the hate was coming from mop top emo sixteen-year olds who have no clue who the originators of metal are, and didn't respect my rest in peace chant to metal legends (Dime, Cliff, Chuck, Piggy, SOB). As far as the tour organizers and I are concerned, you are my peoples so it's all love and I'm thankful for the opportunity to prove I can murder it in the worst of situations. This actually did a lot for me and is just one move in many my team will make to blow Necro up"
