NY's Finest Comes 2 L.A

Before anyone asks, why do I look so goofy in this picture? Answer... because my uncle caught the shot when I was not ready. Couldn't take a second, had to keep the line moving. But I can careless. Today I got meet one of my favorite producers, The PR, Chocolate Boy Wonda, Soul Brother # 1 himself, Pete Rock.

In an hour long DJ set at Amoeba Records in Hollywood, Pete played cuts spaning his 20+ year career, some of his personal favorites past and present, EVEN dropped some exclusives. Some of the joints were a new songs he produced for The Lox, Termanology, even a joint with Oh No of Stones Throw.

Speaking of Stones Throw, not only did "The Funky President" J. Rocc come through to show love to the set (and even do some record diggin' himself), Pete dropped a bombshell and said he is working on some material with... get this.... MADLIB. HO.. LY... SHIT!!!!! Can ya'll even comprehend the dopeness of that project? I'm looking forward to that to grace my eardrums.

Since my sister and myself arrive to the store early, we thought it would be a great time to do some diggin'. This was my sister's first trip to Amoeba, and like any music lover who first steps in that paradise of records, she lost her mind, lol!!!

I myself found some joints I have been searching for 4 a minute. Including Dilla's Jay Loves Japan and I EVEN FOUND a actual physical copy of Blu & Exile's Below The Heavens. I couldn't believe I found one. Sidenote, there was a cute girl was diggin beside me that I, by accident, picked up her vinyl copy of Tribe's The Love Movement, in amazement that it was still in print. We talked for a minute and.... damn I should have gotten her number, lol!!! Meeting a girl diggin in a record store... WITH A TRIBE RECORD IN HER HAND!!?!?!??! For me, that's damn near wifey material, lol!!!! Anyways....

Something that myself and my other attendees got a kick out of was about 10 minutes before he started his set, Pete came on stage and stated he would be out in a couple of minutes because he was still shopping for records. Now that my fellow readers, is a beatsmith committed to his work, lol. The picture above is the boxes of records he bought.

One other thing I found dope but also humorous. My uncle, who is his early 40s (and shares the same birthday as myself. I will be 20 in a week!!!) went along with us for the ride, not knowing who Pete Rock was. He had heard the name before, but did know the music. He told Pete afterward that he had made a new fan that night and that he would support the new record when it dropped. My sister and I started laughing at my uncle when Pete to him the record was out now. It was one of those "out of the loop moments" but none the less, a beautiful sight.

These last 2 weeks have been incredible. Things have changed in so many ways you can't even imagine. More details AND, my long awaited and overdue review of Paid Dues with pics and video is coming this week. And if you have not yet... COP THAT NY'S FINEST!!!! IN STORES NOW!!!!


And on that note... I'm out.

"To Answer The Rumors That's Been Shoot Through Your Group..."

"yes 9th really does make these beats on Fruity Loops." - Murs

9th & Murs choppin it about about producing on FL Studio. As many will testify, if it wasn't was this dude, I would have went out and spent a G on a MPC. As many people talk about about FL Studio, you will be amazed at what it can do. As I was explaining to a friend of mine the other night, it is not not as easy as it sounds.

Some may argue it's too easy because one of the biggest and corniest (yeah it's corny) records of last year was made with it (YOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!). But then listen to what 9th can do with that shit. (Ric Flair Face): WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Bottom line, it's not the tools, it's the person behind the tools.

9th And Murs' third calabo record together Sweet Lord should drop after Murs' major label debut Murs For President this year.

And on that note... I'm out.

Lupe And Chris In The Cipher

Here's Lupe Fiasco, Chris Brown and crew freestyling backstage after a show. Little trivia... can ANYONE name the beat in the back? Hehehe.....

Yo, sidenote, that's fucked up dude called ol' boy Jackie Chan, LOL!!!!

And on that note... I'm out.

Homeboy On Flims: 21

I'm always a sucka for thrillers, and this one had myself and my sister on the edge of our seats the whole time. I don't want to give anything away. I'll I'm going to say is MUST SEE, ya dig? One of my favorites so far this year.

And on that note... I'm out.

Rising Down In Philly

This is footage from the Jam Session/Listening Party for Rising Down in Philly this past Tuesday.

P.S- Peep ?uesto @ 1:25... that shit had me rollin.

And on that note... I'm out.

"Cause I'm A Blu Collar Worker... GIRL!!!"

This goes out to all my homeboys out their who are really hustin' and grindin, the real "ballas" ya dig? The homies dealing with "Ms. Dynamites" daily, lol!!! If you don't know what a ms. dynamite is, just ask. This is not a reference to the female artist from Britain. Who is very dope BTW.

One of the most slepted on LPs of last year. It's VERY difficult to find a physical copy, so your best bet is to cop it on I-Tunes. Cop IT!!!!!


And on that note... I'm out.

Digital Undaground Vol. 1

This tape... you need this in tape your life, ya dig? I'm sayin that not because I help put the thing together, lol!!! No... I'm serious. This shit knocks from cover to cover and what mixtapes should sound like... real music, less talking (and shoutouts with the fuckin reverb fx) and ACTUAL MIXING!!!!

DOWNLOAD HERE!!!!!!!!

The Myspace... http://www.myspace.com/digitalundagroundmixtape

This is just the beginning ya'll... you are not ready....

And on that note.. I'm out.

Where You Can Find Me 2marrow...

(In My John Witherspoon Voice): Yeeeeeea Boy!!!!!!!
Pics And Video to follow....

And On That Note... I'm out.

Wu-Kast Pt. 2

The first single of Big Boi's upcoming solo LP entitled Sir Luscious Left Foot featuring Outkast member Andre 3 stack (shm...he killed it again) and Wu-Tang's "Chief," Raekwon. I can't describe this track... you just need to listen to it...
Royal Flush (Download Here)

And for those of you who don't know, this is not the first time these three have have killed a track 2gether. One of my favorite Outkast tracks of all time. Funny, I was just blaring this shit while driving today...


And on that note... I'm out.

Hip-Hop Saved My Life

New video from Lupe off The Cool featuring the beautiful Nikki Jean. Mos def on the best tracks off the album featuring some legends in Houston Hip-Hop.
R.I.P Pimp C.

And on that note... I'm out.

Neva Have 2 Worry

Vertict: For exception of two filter tracks (Staxx In My Jeans and Ridin' In My Chevy), the new Snoop album is fresh and bangs from front 2 back. Here's the video for one of my favorite tracks off the album, "Neva Have 2 Worry." Directed by, imho, the hardest and fastest working man in music videos today, Rik Cordero. This video is journey through Snoop whole career.

Ego Trippin' In Stores Now!!!


And on that note... I'm out.

Say Word!?!?! Vol. 3: Mix Tapes

And who said cassettes were dead?

Sidenote, that mixer, the Numark Axis 2, was my very first mixer.


And on that note... I'm out.

Superfly Like That

Today I have been on sort of a Curtis Mayfield trip. If you don't know about greatness of Mr. Mayfield, here a little something to get you started. Turn this shit up and vibe out.



Many of you may know this song from the scene in Friday when Craig and Smokey are planning out how to dodge Big Worm's henchmen. One other thing, check @ 4:27... sounds a bit familiar? Hehe....

Love the bassline on this one. Ironically, this also found its way into Friday as well ("I was in Debo's pigeon coup sweatin like a slave..." LMAO!!!)


As used by 9th Wonder on Little Brother's "Tension" and later on Hov's "American Gangster," produced by Just Blaze.

And on that note... I'm out.

I Got A Love

And now... for your Saturday listening pleasure... the sounds of The Mecca & The Soul Brother.

The video:


From Their 1994 sophomore album The Main Ingredient


And on that note... I'm out.

The Roots On The Negro Rule

The subject matter of the cover straight from ?uesto's mouth....
(from Okayplayer.com)
The Reconstruction period in American History.

this drawing is entitled NEGRO RULE. and it pretty much sums up the
feeling of the Confederate Union towards the newly freed slaves and
the idea that if given power they would reek havoc and chaos on the
country.

somehow in watching this election one can't help but wonder if those
unspoken feelings----- (btw..."if obama was a white man" is also the
new nig---ok...im sorry....black)---reflect the looming figure of the
old figureheads of washington now?

We are enjoying our tenure down here in southeast asia. even more
amused at all of this birthday girl madness going on. the OFFICIAL
video (meaning the one we pay for with our own dollars) will be mired
in more controversy once you get wind of who we got to star in this
bit. i just hope that this won't tarnish the O campaign im associated
with (i mean after all in two weeks we done kilted whitey, gave the
finga to the innnaNET, and now eyeing all the 18 year olders in the
house? sheeesh political indeed!

but im always one to give CLues, such as
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=25svq7p&s=3

i know....im an ass!

-El ?uesto"

Futhermore, here is the original illustration and a quick summary of the story behind it...

Fear Of The Negro Rule

The Roots have always been known for having dope and original album covers, this one is no exception. I hope they make a shirt out this. 1nce again.... Rising Down drops April 29th!!!

And on that note... I'm out.

Digital Undaground Spotlight: Pace Won & Mr. Green

I have not talked about this before, but now is the right time. For the past 4 months, myself and homegirl Wanja of The I Still Love H.E.R Show, have been putting together this mixtape of underground Hip-Hop artists to be a available for download online entitled "Digital Undaground." This will be the first entry for many more to come.

I thought as time is drawing closer to the release of the tape, that I should start highlighting some of the artists on the tape. First up is Pace Won And Mr. Green, representing Brick City (New Jersey for those who don't know). This is video for the track "Hip-Hop," which appears on Digital Undaground Vol. 1. The joint is off their upcoming album entitled The Only Color The Matters Is Green. You can check out more tracks from the duo at www.myspace.com/paceandgreen

More spotlights to come and look out for Digital Undaground Vol. 1 coming in about 2 weeks!!!

And on that note... I'm out.

Go All Out

New video from Buckshot & 9th Wonder's upcoming album entitled The Formula, "Go All Out,' featuring (Rick James Voice) Charlie Murphy with another True Hollywood Story. This track has been constant play on my Mp3, 9th done done it again. Their last album Chemistry was dope, so the result should be no different.


Contrary to the date on the front of the album cover, The Formula has been pushed back from April 15 to April 29th. So don't go to your store on the 15th looking for this LP, lol!

And on that note... I'm out.

Mos' Mathematics

Mos Def + Karmaloop= a CLASSIC interview. Be fore warned, it may appear Mos maybe a little "tore up from the floor up." But regardless, he's still making sense... lol!!!

On Politics:


On Michael Vick:


On Roger Clemens:


Props to H.E.R for this.



And on that note... I'm out.

No Comunicación (Guarde las apariencias)

Clarify for clarification
For why you act like this on every occasion?
Checked my work, no solution for equation.
I’m X, your Y, but I need more information.
Have we even talked about this situation!??!!?
Communication dropped like rain in precipitation.
Bronxed in, boxed in like your borough.
Mentally I’ve looked @ this more thorough.

I should have asked a while back, remembering what to convey.
But things go astray once I see you walk the hallway.
I’m tryna greet, you won’t let our eyes meet.
Do you think the only think I wanted to do is sleep?
If that’s the case, will you got the wrong perception.
Let me cue you up to 20/20 and make this correction.
Yes, like any man, I wanted you behind closed doors.
But if that’s all I wanted, why did I take time to learn more?

I really didn’t have to, you sounded shocked by it.
Asking if you said something stupid, I denied it.
”Why are you so nice?” Like it was an important answer to know.
What? For me to show interests, do I have to be asshole?
Apparently, that’s the idea you’re giving off.
Already had me completely written off.
Just because a nigga was raised with a train of thought.
Does not muthafuckin’ mean a nigga is soft.

I was really gonna holla to see what’s left.
But now that I think about it, I’m not even gonna waste my breath.
That Tetris shit is not what really got me upset.
It was the fact you’d trust that nigga more, who you just met!!!
If judgment is your prerogative, fuck it, get involved with it.
I’m glad we didn’t date, cause you can’t communicate.
So go on, stick your nose up whenever I’m in your vicinity.
It ain’t fazin’ me, you can connect A to B, but you still couldn’t get to C.

Enjoy The Ride

2 and half months left @ The Mount and until the summer classic vaca. The name of this joint is my motto right now. I got some loose ends that need to be tied up, but I got my seat belt on. Sit back and and TURN IT UP!!!!

"We just gonna sparkle now."

And on that note... I'm out.

Anticipation Rising Up

(From MTV.COM)
We were getting lost, once again, in the new, ridiculously great Erykah Badu album — which also seems to be connecting with the people — when we got a call from Questlove to come down and listen to the new Roots album at Battery Studios in NYC.

This is album number 10 for the guys, who are favorites of the Newsroom, but in this business it’s easy to get cynical about something that’s, well, consistent. We’re always looking for the NEW, the NEXT. Truth be told, though, we were excited about getting to hear it, especially after seeing that video for the teaser single, “75 Bars (Reconstruction)”, where they get all gangster on some poor, unsuspecting soul (likely, a music critic).

Keeping with the Project Runway theme for the week, the new album, Rising Down, is fierce. The beats are super-hard, with all kinds of warped bass and keyboard sounds, a little go-go (courtesy DC’s Wale!), and you won’t ever hear a better sounding hip-hop album than a Roots album.

Black Thought is a dense, heavyweight lyricist, and he stays true to form this time out. But he’s more visual in his rhymes nowadays and peppers the album with a few different styles, like on the first single, “Birthday Girl,” which feature’s Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump.

But here’s the thing. What starts out as a dark, cynical album, morphs into a more uplifting joint by the end, and so maybe The Roots are losing a little bit of that chip on their shoulder. What will they do if they’re not indignant anymore!? Last week, Questlove texted to say that he thought this was a four-and-a-half star record, “if beats and rhymes were the standard.” He might be right.

Questlove wrote out a road-map of the new album on a legal pad with a Sharpie, indicating all the guest MCs on the album - Common, Wale, Malik B, Dice Raw, Talib Kweli, Peddi Crack, Mos Def, Saigon, et al. Then he spoke at length about how this album feels like the end of a cycle for them, and how the next album (because he’s always thinking about the next album) will most likely go back to the days of their freewheelin’ Organix days.



Track Listing With ?uesto's notes...
1) The Pow Wow [Intro] (The 1994 meeting between Black Thought, Questlove and former Roots manager, AJ Shine, after they got threatened with being dropped from their record label)
2) Rising Down [with Mos Def and Styles P] (and Dice Raw on the hook)
3) Get Busy [with Dice Raw & Peddi Crack & Jazzy Jeff]
4) @ 15 (Tariq freestyle at 15 years old)
5) 75 Bars (Reconstruction) [with Tuba Gooding Jr.]
6) (Up Theme) Becoming Unwritten (instrumental)
7) Criminal [with Truck North (a Philly MC bubbling under) & Saigon]
8) I Will Not Apologize [with Porn (another Philly MC bubbling under) & Dice Raw & Talib Kweli (on the hook)]
9) I Can’t Help It [with Malik B & Porn] (This is Malik B’s response to The Roots’ song “Water”)
10) Singing Man [with Porn (as Virginia Tech-like Shooter) & Black Thought (as Sierra Leone youngin’ soldier) & Truck North (as suicide bomber)]
11) (Up Theme) Unwritten [with Mercedes Martinez]
12) Lost Desire [with Malik B & Talib Kweli]
13) The Show [with Common]
14) Rising Up [with Wale & Chrissette Michelle] (p.s. Wale says “this is not a go-go song”)
15) Birthday Girl [with Patrick Stump]
· HIDDEN TRACK: Live at WPFW (Howard University), 1994
· HIDDEN TRACK: The Pow Wow 2 (end of the phone conversation)


April 29th... cop that shit.

And on that note... I'm out.

The Shady One's Return To The Boom Bap

(Em On The Wake Up Show In '99)

(From Hip-Hopdx.com)

Back in the 90’s it seemed that in order to be somebody you couldn’t possibly do an album without the legendary DJ Premier stamping his trademark production. From Nas to Jay-Z and everyone in between, a DJ Premier track made every artist worth talking about official.

These days, those calls have dwindled as the younger crop of emcees have opted to go another route while Premier nurtures a new batch of emcees.
But there’s one person that needs that extra punch to make his comeback official and he picked up the phone to make that call… Marshall Mathers aka Slim Shady aka Eminem

"I just got a call from Eminem," Primo revealed exclusively to HipHopDX.
The song, titled “Keys To The City,” will indeed be on Eminem’s upcoming album (possibly leaked as the street single) and will be the first time Slim Shady will put his signature flow behind a DJ Premier backdrop.

“It’s a song that he actually produced and he wasn’t crazy about the track,” Premier says as he recalls the conversation between he and Em. “(I told him) as long as I can strip it clean and do what I do with your vocals it will be dope,” and the final result according to Premier? “It’s dope!”

The former Gangstarr producer explained that he thought the initial song Eminem did with his own production was great but Eminem called, wanting that “DJ Premier sound.”
But how exactly will the two sound together?
“Man…Eminem is back,” Premier continues. “He attacked the track with a new style, just fucking ridiculous, kind of like how he came with ‘The Way I Am’ but even more lyrical like the old Eminem.”

With a legend like DJ Premier saying that the song is “ridiculous” what more can you expect? Be on the lookout for “Keys To The City” off of the as-yet-titled Eminem album dropping this year.

I was having a conversation just last night about how that lyrical Eminem needs to come back. And what better way to do it... ON A PREEMO TRACK!?!?!? This calbo is LONG OVERDUE!!! The day that record leaks, it will be on here for your listening pleasure.

Last I heard, Em's 5th LP entitled King Mathers, will drop this fall.

And on that note... I'm out.

"Relax Yourself, Let Your Conscience Be Free..." (c) EPMD

Cueing up Black Sabbath now...

Got a chance last night to relax a bit and go out with some peoples of mine and picked up some things...
First... albums

Case in point, The PR is back on this one. Worth the purchase

I have not gotten around to these yet. I'll listen to them 2nite.



Books...

For anyone that is like me and reads liner notes while listening to albums, this book is MUST (let me repeat myself) MUST have. I read the chapters on Com's Resurrection, Tribe's The Low End Theory, Pete Rock & CL Smooth's Mecca & The Soul Brother, and The Roots' Do You Want More!?!?!?!? all last night. An incredibly dope piece of literature.

Movies...
This edition of Homeboy On Films...

Dope concept, excellent build up, corny ending ("Don't worry... I got you." LOL!!! To anyone who has seen the movie, they understand that line). I need to catch up on my movies. I heard mixed reviews on Semi-Pro (the movie I was going to see originally), but I'm gonna check it out anyways soon. About a 7 outta 10 rating overall.

It's Friday... Turns my music up...

A LITTLE LOUDER!!!!


And on that note... I'm out.

Say Word !?!? Vol. 2: Dru Hill

Being that Dru Hill was one of the doper male R&B groups of the 90s, this shit is sad, but hilarious to watch at the same time. Part of me wants to say this is all looks scripted (especially the fight), but seeing Sisqo's acting before ("Snow Dogs" anyone?), it can go either way ("He's not even suppose to drive," LOL!!!)

Regarless, if anything, along with the "In My Bed" So So Def remix, this will continue to get played by me in the years to come.


And on that note... I'm out.

Get Busy

The 2nd video of The Roots' upcoming LP, Rising Down, Get Busy. This is featuring Roots Crew staple Dice Raw, Peedi Peedi ("Dice Raw & Black, fuck the internet/ find a baseball bat, break a bootlegger's leg" LMAO!!!!) and "The Magnificent" DJ Jazzy Jeff on cut duties. This video is a play off the movie, "Office Space," (peep the afro pick USB Drive).

And on that note... I'm out.

Work

What my life is right now. But yo, A LOT of big things goin down and a lot of big announcements dropping soon. This is one of my favorite Roots Crew joints.
FYI- You can find this on the soundtrack to Bait starring Jamie Foxx.

Also, make sure you cop...

Free For download @ The Myspace.

And on that note... I'm out.

"We Gonna Take It Back To 1988 Right?"

I remember bumpin' this back in 7th grade when this dropped. This still holds up as one of my favorite tracks from The Clansmen. This was from their 2000 LP "The W." Check out the young L.L they have in the video. Cell phone that looks like a brick and all, lol.

And on that note... I'm out.