When The Legendary & M. Def get together, it's always fresh (as reference to the title of this post). Here they are on Jimmy Fallon performing the single Casa Bey from Mos' new (and very dope) LP The Ecstatic.
And related news, The Roots have pushed back their latest LP, How I Got Over To October. It's all good in that a Roots album is always worth the wait. Especially since they never come wack.
And on that note... I'm out.
Another Fallon/Roots Crew Presentation. It's shit like this right here, that keeps me watching this show.
And on that note... I'm Out.
Wale, Black Thought, Peedi Crakk, Young Chris, and Tuphace on the same track. And yes, the shit is hot (pun intended). Intresting factoid, according to Okayplayer, this was produced by Ritz Reynolds during the Rising Down sessions and recorded the same night as "75 Bars." Download link after the jump.
Wale- Hot Shyt (feat. Black Thought, Peedi Crakk, Young Chris, and TuPhace) (Produced By Ritz Reynolds) (Download Link)
(Props To Okayplayer.com)
And on that note... I'm out.
Courtesy of ConsTV.
The History of The Knitting Factory: Straight From Founder Michael Dorf
And as a extra bonus... OkayPlayer Jam 08
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Go on and get that Nickelodeon money, LOL!!!
The Roots On Yo Gabba Gabba (Video Link)
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For any fan of The Roots, Dilla, Blackstar, or Hip-Hop for that matter, needs to read this story. Man, if there were two cats in this age of Hip-Hop who's brain I would pick for stories, it would be Pharrell and ?uestlove. The seem to have the best backstage stories.
?uestlove vs. Jay Dee: The “Little Brother” Beat Story (From FWMJ's Rappers I Know)(Link)
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Today The Work Begins.
I plan on writing a whole article on last night, but that won't be for another couple of weeks when I have time to write it. But for right now, I believe ?uesto sums up how I'm feeling about last night.
As a bonus, check out this election party Common and Kweli held last night @ The Hard Rock Cafe in Chi-Town (Com's reaction is classic, lol!!!)
And on that note... I'm out.
I have always enjoyed DJ Hyphen and J. Moore's show. They always have dope exclusive interviews. Here are two I caught on Youtube. If you're in the Seattle area, you can catch their show on Kube 93 FM. If not (like myself), check out their website to download their show as a podcast.
Interview With The Game
Part 1:
Part 2:
Interview With ?uestlove:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Part 4:
Part 5:
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Part II of the interview with ?uestlove, Black Thought and DJ Enuff. In this part they talking about "The Money Making Jam Boys" collective, what they are listening to now, how they prepare for a show, and much more.
As an added bonus, here is The Roots with B Bun performing "International Players Anthem" at a recent show in Houston (R.I.P Pimp C).
And on that note... I'm out.
The Roots' ?uestlove and Black Thought chop it up with DJ Enuff about the careers and music today. This is part one of the interview. Part II is coming soon.
And on that note... I'm out.
The subject of Love in Hip-Hop as been present every since LL took the bold risk of recording "I Need Love" for his 1987 Sophomore album Bigger And Deffer. So because I had some "love shit" on my mind while writing, I decided to post some of my favorite videos about the Hip-Hop and the opposite sex.
Mos Def- Ms. Fat Booty
Storytelling wise, this is one of my favorite songs period. Mos vividly tells the story of the shorty who had "all the right weaponry." Also musically, if you have heard the original sample for the song, you know that producer Ayatollah chopping work is bananaz.
Talib Kweli- Never Been In Love
Keeping the Blackstar movement goin (I wish Brown Skin Lady had a video), not only one of my favorite joint from Kweli's The Beautiful Stuggle, but one of my favorite Just Blaze beats.
Jay-Z- Song Cry
Another Just Blaze And The Blazettes Presentation, featuring Young Hov. This one was on repeat when I was bumping The Blueprint back in 8th Grade.
The Roots & Erykah Badu- You Got Me
Although "Complexity" from Phrenology (which featured Jill Scott, who wrote the hook for "You Got Me" and was featured on the song's demo) gets more burn from me, you gotta show love to grammy award winning record that introduced the mainstream to The Legendary Fifth Dynasty from The Illadelph. ?uesto's Drum and Bass inspired drumming on the tracks outro is extra dope.
A Tribe Called Quest- Bonita Applebum & Find A Way
Is really neccessary for any explanation for these two selections? Bonita is still holds up to this day and Find A Way is one of the my top 5 Dilla beats. The bassline is fuckin' immaculate.
Slum Village- Climax (Girl Shit)
Another favorite Dilla Beat of my mine, and one of my favorite SV videos. Check out Gary Coleman's cameo on his "One won't do it, not enough for me no," steelo. Check out S.V's "Multiply" from their last self-titled album. That joint to me is the sequel to "Climax."
The Pharcyde- Passing Me By & She Said (J. Dilla Remix)
Sad to say, but Passing Me By is damn near the theme to my love life. The She Said remix is one of my favorite Pharcyde joint. I love the cinematography of the video.
Little Brother- Slow It Down (Live On MTV.COM)
Did I just say "Passing Me By" was the theme to my love life? Well... almost, actually, it's Phonte's verse on this LB classic that says it all.
Bilal feat. Mos Def & Common- Reminisce
Sonically, another Dilla Dawg favorite of mine. Common's verse on here I can relate to a lot, that's why, although this is not a video, I HAD to put this joint up here.
Common- The Light, Come Close, And I Want You
As far as Hip-Hop love songs go, for me, Com has the crown. Although LL started it, Com has master the craft. The Light (another damn Dilla Classic, what is this the 5th Jay Dee produced jawn on this list?), not explantion needed. I Want You, one of my favorites from Finding Forever, I couldn't stop playing this one the day I got the album. Come Close, hidden gem in the catelog of Pharrell And Chad. As a matter of fact, I didn't know it was The Neptunes until about 2 years ago, that produced Come Close. I will be using this one when I propose. So ladies, if you are dating me, and I start rapping this song to you, to quote Flava Flav, "You know what time it is."
LL Cool J- I Need Love, Hey Lover, & Hush.
Of course I had to show love the joint that started it all. Hey Lover (featuring Boyz II Men) won a grammy back in 1996. This most likely the best of sequel to Hey Lover. Hush was pne of my favorite joints from Uncle L's 11th album "The DEFintion".
I know I missed a couple (this whole post could have been filled with all LL joints honestly), but what are some of your favorite Hip-Hop Love joints? Hit me with your selections on the comment page.
And on that note... I'm out.
you should vote for Barack Obama.
If you have registerted to vote yet, I have seven words for you... WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU WAITING FOR!??!?!?!?!? This is one of the imporant times in American history and change must be made, let your voice be heard. All that shit about your vote not counting and all that is bullshit. Do not be fooled, that what "they" want you to think. The power's in your hands... so use it.
Click here to register to vote
And on that note... I'm out.
From Blender Magazine:
Blender: What was your high school nickname?"
"You have to go outside and play to get a nickname. I knew about was school, homework, dinner and three hours of drum practice in the basement. I couldn't even watch TV, but during the Michael Jackson madness, when he won all those Grammys, my dad let me watch the show. Wynton Marsalis won 2 Grammys and said 'I want to thank my dad for making me pratice 5 hours a day' My dad said "Oh hell... get back in the basement!"
- ?uestlove of The Roots
And on that note... I'm out.
Been gone for a minute and not posting as much as should, but I have good reasons why. This has been one...
Can't say anything yet, but A LOT of new music and projects coming within the next couple of weeks. Also, I'm launching H.F.P. T.V in a couple of weeks on Youtube. I'm just filming now and getting everything in order. Speaking of filming....
The documentary "Inside Dorm 25" is coming REAL soon. And if you don't know what I'm talkin about, it's cool. I'll fill ya'll in on the details soon.
Lastly, my primary objective at this time, graduating and getting the hell outta Marymount. My concentration has been on various things over this past year, and this the first time I have ONLY been just a student, so a nice change of pace at this time. I said in a previous entry, I was ready for whateva, ready for the ride, and maaannnnn has it been... the good, the bad, the ugly, and the disgusting, fo real, fo real. But I feel I have outgrown my environment, and it's about that time, ya know?
Sidenote, If you're ever in L.A, check out The Walt Disney Concert Hall...
Went there for the first time last night. Beautiful building with some dope classical music (although that last piece had me fighting to stay awake, lol!!).
Overseas Bonus Tracks from "Rising Down." And if you still don't have that LP, you stallin, and you sleepin!!!
Everybody Get Up....
And on that note... I'm out.
On Rap City: Thought In The Booth With ?uest on the wheels...
On Letterman perfoming "Rising Up" with Wale and Chrisette Michele. Peep ?uesto's shirt...
Live On DJ Green Lantern's Sirius Show performing the title track with Styles P.
And to come full circle (and showing love to album's interlude @15,) is a classic freestyle session with a young Thought and ?uest on the beatbox.
Once again, V.I.P. Records in the LBC came through again and had the album a day eariler. Needless to say, this record has been on repeat since Monday afternoon and will continue to be on repeat throughout AT LEAST for the rest of the week. I would give a full review, but I'm tired, lol. Tommorrow is a BIG DAY and I need sleep!!!More on that in tommorrow's post. Just know you need this album... period. One of the best of the year, hands down. The Legendary have done it again. I wore my Roots shirt to school with pride today, lol.
Rising Down IN STORES NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And on that note... I'm out.
"Yesterday I heard a B-Girl girl crying/ I asked her 'What's Wrong.' She said the have been playing the same song on the radio all day long... I got something you been waiting for..."
One more week... one more week.
And on that note... I'm out.
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.
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.
(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.
