Not a music video, but the homies Court Dunn and Emilio Rojas hooked up for this quick piece where Emilio runs off some things that define hip-hop to him. Really well done and bonus points for the Wu-Tang Financial reference.
The homies Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are not only two of my favorite artists from the town, but they are also two of my favorite people in the Seattle music scene. They’re just really cool dudes who love making art and take it pride in everything they do. When you mix in their incredible talent on top of that (need proof?), it’s mandatory to check for everything they’re involved in.
Here’s their long awaited collaboration, The Vs. EP, where they sampled some contemporary bands and combined rock with hip-hop. Don’t get it twisted though, this isn’t some half-assed, corny mash up project. Instead, it’s an excellent piece of work where Ryan’s lush soundscapes are complimented perfectly by Mack’s heartfelt and sobering (quite literally) rhymes. I can’t recommend this highly enough.
Download here.
For getting a mention on the cover on the new Billboard! Not a bad look for the homey Grynch or the town…I love it. Peep the Q&A right here.
A little before Pac Div dropped their Church League Champions project, Like, Mibbs, and BeYoung came through the Sound Session studio to chop it up on a variety of topics. We discussed that mixtape, the digital EP they put on iTunes a while back, and of course their upcoming full length debut, Grown Kid Syndrome. They also talked about the importance of their live show, how their creative process likens to their game on the court, their favorite underrated West Coast MC’s, the L.A. scene, a possible collaboration with Andre 3000, and much more.
Pac Div on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?nzmr3eh32oi
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/649045665d98875b/)
This was one of the most enjoyable interviews I’ve done, mainly because chilling with Pac Div reminded me of kicking it with my college homies back in SoCal. These dudes are real hip-hop heads who love Dilla and basketball…pretty much all it takes to be cool in my book. Plus, we’re both fans of the Arizona Wildcats and even spent time commiserating over that damn 2001 NCAA Championship game. For the record: I still hate you, Mike Dunleavy.
New Rik Cordero visuals for the DJ Khalil produced lead single from Joe Budden, Royce The 5′9″, Joell Ortiz, and Crooked I, aka Slaughterhouse. Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll hip-hop.
ahahahahahaah aw man, look at the homies Krispy and Al! The Knux made one of the least diverse crowds I’ve ever seen go absolutely crazy at the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee this weekend. LOL @ the irony of ending with Dead Prez’ “Hip-Hop”…I love it.
Seattle people: Be sure to come check out the Knux at Bumbershoot this year, where they’ll be opening up for the Black Eyed Peas on the mainstage. Shout to Krispy, Al, Josh, and the whole crew. See y’all soon fellas.
The first of the homey Court Dunn’s 4 part video series highlighting the elements of hip-hop creates some ill breaking visuals for Camp Lo’s “Double Doors.” I believe that’s a Thirstin Howl III spotting on the last verse too. Just like the Blue Scholars proved with “Coffee and Snow,” you don’t need a huge budget to make a dope video these days. Major labels should take note.
Swiped from the Dopehouse.
Wow. I can’t believe we’re here: less than 24 hours from Election Day. After all the hard work everyone has put in over the past year (and more for some of y’all), it’s finally time to go to the polls and vote for change. By voting for Barack Obama tomorrow, we’re telling the world that America is ready to turn the corner on the last 8 years and move into the future with the right policies, strategies, beliefs, and behavior. It’s time to regain our position at the head of the table and make the world a better place. We’ll lead by example from here on out.
Throughout the election cycle, hip-hop has played an important and influential role, one that future generations will look back upon and recognize much more than we do right now. Yes, at times, our culture does more harm than good, but overall, hip-hop continues to be the voice of young people around the world. It drives popular culture and was synergistically tied into Barack’s entire campaign, providing an ever changing soundtrack throughout the primary and general elections.
On last night’s Sound Session, we ran an entire prObama show and played nothing but songs written for and inspired by Barack. Big shout to all the artists who used their platform to speak on such important issues and apologies to those who we didn’t get to play on the show due to time constraints. It may seem corny, but everyone who has made Obama songs over the past 2 years has really played a part in this campaign. Somewhere, somebody was moved by the art you created…and that’s what it’s all about.
Another huuuuuge shout to Michelle Gregoire, daughter of Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, for coming through and co-hosting the show. She broke down exactly why Barack and Michelle Obama have endorsed Gov. Gregoire’s bid for reelection, and why we all need to vote for Gregoire when casting our ballots for Obama. This may be a “change” election nationally, but here in Washington, Gov. Gregoire has done a great job and deserves another 4 years…especially with like-minded people coming into power in Congress, the Senate, and the White House. With everyone pushing progressive policies, we’ll see a lot of great things happen in the next 8 years, both nationally and at home here in Washington.
Lastly, many thanks to the founder of Hidden Beach Recordings, Steve McKeever, for calling in to talk about the Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement album they released in conjunction with the Obama campaign. Be sure to check out the full interview through one of the links below.
Download this episode of SNSS and spread it around to anyone who’s fired up about this historic time. If you’re waiting in line tomorrow at the polls, bump this in your mp3 player and remember what you’re doing this all for. Change is coming and it starts with us. GO VOTE TOMORROW!
Show #179 (11-2-08)
**Co-Hosted by Michelle Gregoire**
- Big Boi ft. Mary J. Blige – “Sumthin’ Gotta Give”
- DJ Green Lantern – “Stand Up (Interlude)”
- Dres (of Black Sheep) – “The Choice Is Yours (Taster’s Choice Remix)”
- 6th Sense – “Ignite The People (Like Obama)”
- Daytona – “Can I Kick It”
- Jay Smooth – “A Poem For The Young Voter”
- John Mayer ft. Twista & Joe Budden – “Waiting On The World To Change (DJ Green Lantern Remix)”
- M.anifest – “Age Of Obama”
- Kidz In The Hall ft. Talib Kweli & Bun B – “Work To Do (Change Remix)”
- Cocoa Tea – “Barack Obama”
- DJ Green Lantern ft. Gabe Real & Jay-Z – “What We Need”
- Wyclef Jean – “Obama For President”
- Nas ft. Johnny Polygon – “Black President”
- Joell Ortiz ft. Dante Hawkins – “Letter To Obama”
- H-Town All-Stars (Bun B, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Cory Mo, & Trae) – “Obama ‘08”
- **INTERVIEW WITH STEVE MCKEEVER (CEO OF HIDDEN BEACH)**
- Malik Yusef ft. Kanye West & Adam Levine (of Maroon 5) – “Promised Land”
- DJ Green Lantern ft. Jay-Z – “Lick A Shot”
- Ludacris – “Get Buck Freestyle (Politics (Obama Is Here))”
- DJ Noodles – “Division & Fear (Interlude)”
- RAtheMC – “Ready Or Not”
- DJ Green Lantern – “Find Ur Dreams (Interlude)”
- Alpha – “Obama ’08 (Do The Knowledge)”
- DJ Green Lantern ft. Wale, Rhymefest, Christina K, & Royce The 5’9” – “Black President (Remix, Pt. 2)”
- DJ Green Lantern – “1 Mic, 1 People (Interlude)”
- Rock City – “Paper Planes Freestyle (Ride For Obama)”
- Nappy Roots – “Good Day (The Barack Obama Yes We Can Remix)”
Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?di3×3z2oynz
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/513827915293195f/ )
Link to download the full interview with Steve McKeever – http://www.mediafire.com/?zryzqgfj2nu
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/50825349e7680eb2/ )
If you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.
WARNING. WARNING. We are now one week away from the most important day for the United States that any of us have lived through. Are you ready to vote on Nov. 4th and turn this country around?
If you’ve listened to any episode of Sound Session or read a few blog posts here on TAOD, you know that I’m taking this election very seriously. I hope the rest of you are too, because we simply can’t afford another 4 years of the same failed policies both home and abroad that we’ve witnessed during Bush’s disgraceful presidency. We didn’t talk too much about the election on the latest episode of SNSS, mainly because I’m saving that for next week’s show on the 2nd. Oooh boy, you hip-hop republicans will hate that one…
This past show featured our normal mix of dope music from people like Black Milk, Evidence, Kardinal Offishall, Q-Tip, Shad, Foreign Exchange, and more. Plus we ran Kanye’s emotional ode to his mom, Joe Budden’s reworking of that Coldplay track I’ve been telling everyone to rhyme over, one of the standout tracks from the exceptional new album from The Knux, and more.
We also had Brainstorm of Dyme Def and Twixx of the world famous Massive Monkees crew come through to talk about the International B-Boy Championships going down at the Paramount on Saturday. Dope breaking, DJ’ing, and performances by Dyme Def, B.o.B., and Pacific Division? Wow. I’m there. Cop your tickets here. Of course, if you were listening live, you could have won free tix to that show and Q-Tip, The Cool Kids, and The Knux too. But you already knew that…
Show #178 (10-26-08)
- Planet Asia & DJ Muggs ft. B-Real – “Lions In The Forest”
- Ruste Juxx ft. Lil’ Vic – “Get Up”
- The Knux – “Life In A Cage (Electric)”
- **INTERVIEW WITH BRAINSTORM (of DYME DEF) & TWIXX (of MASSIVE MONKEES), PT. 1**
- Jake One ft. M.O.P. – “Gangsta Boy” (Local Artist)
- Saigon ft. Lil’ Fame (of M.O.P.) – “WW4”
- Black Milk ft. Royce The 5’9” – “Losing Out”
- Evidence ft. Phonte, Blu, & Will.I.Am – “For Whom The Bell Tolls”
- **INTERVIEW WITH BRAINSTORM (of DYME DEF) & TWIXX (of MASSIVE MONKEES), PT. 2**
- Kanye West – “Coldest Winter”
- Kardinal Offishall – “Nina”
- John Legend ft. Andre 3000 – “Green Light (Cook Classics Remix)”
- Now On – “The Willows”
- Joe Budden – “Sidetracked”
- Mos Def – “Life In Marvelous Times”
- Sweatshop Union – “Timelines” (Local Artist)
- Shad – “Brother (Watching)”
- Q-Tip – “Move”
- Illa J ft. Affion Crockett – “DFTF”
- Diverse – “Escape Earth”
- Incise ft. Tunji (of Inverse) – “True Greatness”
- Akrish – “No God” (Local Artist)
- Foreign Exchange ft. Yahzarah – “If This Is Love”
Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?mbymlzle0lm
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/50562182aa8e6ee7/ )
If you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.
You know that old saying, “when you’re not busy, that’s when you need to worry?” Well, thankfully, it doesn’t seem like I’ll be worrying anytime soon. The downside of being [Zoolander] ridiculously good looking [/Zoolander] busy is that I end up getting way behind on all the dopeness that’s sent to me.
My man M.O.S. from Crew54 hit me with this new EP from his partner in rhyme G-Christ, and I was finally able to peep it today. If you’re sleeping on the Crew, they’re some really dope artists from Texas making earnest, boom bap, soulful ish. I really recommend you check them out. You can start here, then make sure you peep their group work as well:
1. Intro – prod. by Kingverse
2. Living Big – prod. by Reeplay
3. Forsake His Love ft. Alpha 20/20 – prod. by Alpha 20/20
4. Kcuf G-Christ (Skit)
5. Put It Down ft. DDC prod. by The Fiyamen
6. Losing Control – prod. by Zaire of the Sole Vibe
7. Going – prod. by G-Christ
8. Damage Is Done
Download here. (right click, save as)
