The Audacity of Dope

Along with Crooked I, one of my favorite MC’s that transcends the “best on the West Coast” classification is Los Angeles’ Blu.  He’s one of the best period.  He’s been doing it for a minute, but he really burst on to the scene in the last 2 years and people all over are starting to take notice.  The album he dropped with Exile, Below The Heavens, was an instant classic to me and my favorite project from last year.  Go cop it if you haven’t already, I promise it’s ill.

Blu recently stopped by Jesse Thorn’s NPR radio show, The Sound of Young America, for a dope in depth interview about his background.  If you aren’t familiar with him, this provides a nice glimpse into where he’s coming from.  Enjoy:

More info and a downloadable link here.

(yeah, that’s me in the way back…lookin’ like the Kanye bear blasting off)

I’ve been slacking on the CrossFit posts, but the Jedi Gym reminded me.  This weekend we did:

Tabata Squats for a warm up
5 rounds for time:
200m run
15 kettlebell swings
15 burpees

Using 25 lbs, it took me 18:39.  Kinda disappointing, I’ll have to work on my burpee game.  For someone who enjoys doing hella push ups, it’s strange that those slowed me down so much.  Eh well, next time.

Speaking of which, I’ma keep posting crossfit related goodness until at least one of you random Seattle readers comes out to the free workouts on Saturdays @ 11 AM at Foundation Fitness with me.  It’s on Lake City WY and 100th, so it’s pretty easy to find for North Seattle folk.  You don’t even have to be in shape, you just have to enjoy getting some exercise.  Plus, it’s fun and healthy.  What could be better? Hit me up for details, or you can check it out for yourself at the Foundation site.

“Geeks are cool now…this is our time”

I agree completely.  Dru, when are we going to incorporate “kill pose” at the gym?

Swiped from Yeezy.

As I’ve said before on this site, virtually anything involving Transformers will be posted…especially when it also involves two of my favorite MC’s, Jean Grae and Talib Kweli.  Shout to Corey Smyth and the whole Blacksmith family.  Cop Jean’s long awaited album with 9th Wonder, Jeanius, today!

Bonus: Talib’s last appearance on Sound Session (his 3rd overall) from Aug. ’07 – http://www.mediafire.com/?crtec4xn5zy

Swiped from OKP.

So dope.  Thoughts:

• I approve of any muay thai reference.
• Ironic, I also walk around the city with someone playing a bass drum behind me.
• I heart Keri Hilson.
• This might be the dopest single this year in terms of straight lyrics.
• That third verse is one of my favorite verses of the year.
• When it’s all said and done, Nas could very well be the G.O.A.T..
• Cop Nas’ album on the 15th!

Courtesy of On Smash.

(Part 1 of 3)

One of the dopest MC’s in the game, Crooked I, came through Sound Session last night while he was up here in Seattle over the holiday weekend.  We talked about his groundbreaking “Hip-Hop Weekly” series that dominated the blogosphere over the past year, his upcoming B.O.S.S. album and Block Obama mixtape, his “Dream Big” single with Akon, and more.  Plus, he even blessed the mic by ripping a few beats: Jaylib’s “The Red” (in part 2) and the end of A-Trak & Lupe Fiasco’s “Running Man” (part 3).  Be sure to check HyphenTV to watch these clips in high quality (Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3).  You can also download the audio by itself below, and of course the whole show right here.

(Part 2 of 3)

(Part 3 of 3)

Download the audio of the Crooked I interview – http://www.mediafire.com/?u3zz10rybmv
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/148487462fa062a7/ )

Remember to call or email your local stations and request “Dream Big.”  It definitely has a chance to break through and get Crooked the mainstream success he deserves, but since he’s doing it independently, he needs our support. C.O.B.!

This was a fun show.  We ran a ton of dope new music, plus Crooked I came in to kick it and lace us with some exclusive freestyles.  Videos of the interview with Crook coming in the next post.  In the meantime:

Show #163 (7-6-08)

1. Kidz In The Hall ft. Pacific Division, Tyga, Glasses Malone, & Mistah F.A.B. – “Drivin’ Down The Block (West Coast Remix)”
2. Common ft. Pharrell – “Announcement”
3. Skillz ft. Common & Talib Kweli – “So Far, So Good (Remix)”
4. Dyme Def ft. Darrius Willrich – “Journey” (Local Artist)
5. Kid Cudi ft. Wale – “Is There Any Love”
6. Kardinal Offishall ft. the Clipse – “Set It Off”
7. Reks ft. Lil’ Fame (of M.O.P.) – “All In One (5 Mics)”
8. Killer Mike – “God In The Building”
9. The Saturday Knights – “45” (Local Artist)
10. Nas – “Sly Fox”
11. Kam Moye (aka Supastition) – “Welcome To My Life”
12. Shawn Jackson – “Feelin’ Jack”
13. Bishop Lamont – “Grow Up”
14. **INTERVIEW WITH CROOKED I, PT. 1**
15. Crooked I ft. Akon – “Dream Big”
16. Elzhi (of Slum Village) ft. Royce The 5’9” – “Motown 25”
17. **INTERVIEW WITH CROOKED I, PT. 2**
18. **CROOKED I – LIVE FREESTYLE #01**
19. Wizdom – “Bring It Back” (Local Artist)
20. Natti (of the CunninLynguists) – “Ruled The World (Kno’s Viva La Vida Remix)”
21. A-Trak ft. Lupe Fiasco – “Running Man”
22. **CROOKED I – LIVE FREESTYLE #02**
23. **INTERVIEW WITH CROOKED I, PT. 3**

Link to download Show #163 – http://www.mediafire.com/?y2b59ycddg2
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/14848152143cd7e6/)

Link to download just the parts with Crooked I – http://www.mediafire.com/?u3zz10rybmv
(back up / streaming link for just the parts with Crooked I – http://www.zshare.net/audio/148487462fa062a7/)

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.

Heard this last night on the ‘slow jams’ program I always check on my way into Sound Session, and I remembered the line that always stood out to me:

“He’s mine/You may have had him once, but I got him all the time”
–Mokenstef, “He’s Mine”

Technically, that’s flawed logic.  If she had him onc — oh, nevermind.  Absolutely classic track from Monifa, Kenya, and Stephanie…I wonder what ever happened to them.  Enjoy the mp3 if you can’t find your copy, and I’m tossing in the remix with Grand Puba as well:

Mokenstef – “He’s Mine”
Mokenstef ft. Grand Puba – “He’s Mine (I Got Him All The Time Remix)”

True story, I went to a place called The New School in Wallingford for 3rd – 5th grade.  If I would have known about the “Case Of The PTA” then, it woulda been a wrap.

Ramsey Lewis – “The Mighty Quinn”

Also used by Speech & ’em and on a certain Bizarre Ride (shout to Kevin Nottingham).

A.P.T. – “O Bama”

“O Bama” >>>> “A Milli” all day.  Peep A.P.T.’s blog if you want to hear more.

Shout to smokeYYY for the mp3.  Double shout to Nils for finding the video.