The Audacity of Dope

Oh hell yes.  You may remember that we played this song from Cocoa Tea a few months ago on Sound Session a few times, right in the heart of the primary race, and now there’s a video for it.  How can you not love this song, especially in the summer time?  It’s perfect.  I know I’m going to have this on loop on November 5th in celebration…

Cocoa Tea – “Barack Obama”

“The movement is moving!”  Swiped from IllRoots.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to see this:

Oh hell yes x2.

“Mellow aggressive, we stay suggestive/
Some say greedy but we call it progressive/
We gotta blow, cause we’re congested/
We gotta blow, cause we’re congested”
–LMNO, “Make A Way”

The line is bad enough, but to repeat it at the end of a verse for emphasis?  Come on now, there’s no need for that.  It’s a nice joint though, Kev Brown KILLED the production all over the LMNO & Kev EP.

LMNO & Kev Brown ft. Dudley Perkins & Georgia Anne Muldrow – “Make A Way”

Listen to that beat!  Cot damn.

“Mmm, mmm, mmm.” – Big Daddy Kane

Another dope episode of SNSS in the books for y’all to check out.  Excellent tracks from artists like Nas, Crooked I, Bishop Lamont, N.E.R.D., and more.  Plus, newcomers Theo, Danny!, and Ayomari made their Sound Session debuts, and you know we’re the only show on a Clear Channel station with the audacity to play Killer Mike’s “Pressure.”  We also had local artists The Parker Brothaz and Steelo live in the studio, along with my Foundation Crossfit people.  Oh, and did I mention John Legend called in for an exclusive interview?  Big tings a gwan.

Show #164 (7-13-08)

1. Crooked I ft. Akon – “Dream Big”
2. Bishop Lamont – “Grow Up”
3. TiRon ft. Tunji (of Inverse) & Ayomari – “Quitter”
4. **INTERVIEW WITH STEELO, PT. 1**
5. Steelo – “Make Up My Mind” (Local Artist)
6. N.E.R.D. – “Yeah You”
7. Nas – “Queens Get The Money”
8. Elzhi (of Slum Village) – “That’s The One”
9. **INTERVIEW WITH STEELO, PT. 2**
10. Clipse – “Fast Life”
11. **INTERVIEW WITH JOHN LEGEND, PT. 1**
12. John Legend ft. Andre 3000 – “Green Light”
13. **INTERVIEW WITH JOHN LEGEND, PT. 2**
14. Natti (of the CunninLynguists) – “Ruled The World (Kno’s Viva La Vida Remix)”
15. Gemstones – “Free Chilly”
16. Killer Mike ft. Ice Cube – “Pressure”
17. **INTERVIEW WITH THE PARKER BROTHAZ & CASH DA HUSTLA (of I-GANG), PT. 1**
18. The Parker Brothaz ft. Big Pooh (of Little Brother) – “Text Me (Remix)” (Local Artist)
19. Kam Moye (aka Supastition) – “Where & Why”
20. Dyme Def ft. Choklate – “Don’t Ever Go” (Local Artist)
21. **INTERVIEW WITH THE PARKER BROTHAZ & CASH DA HUSTLA (of I-GANG), PT. 2**
22. Theo – “Sweetest Language”
23. Danny! ft. Von Pea (of Tanya Morgan) – “I Don’t Know”
24. Aceyalone – “Can’t Hold Back”
25. **INTERVIEW WITH FOUNDATION CROSSFIT**

Link to download Show #164 – http://www.mediafire.com/?jejzjtxomzw
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/152921416396df05/ )

Link to download the FULL John Legend interview – http://www.mediafire.com/?dzzz1jn4mzb
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/15217999dd8b92cf/ )

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.

The man, the myth, the John Legend, called into Sound Session this week to talk all about his upcoming Evolver album.  With D’Angelo on his seemingly endless sabbatical, I think John is officially my favorite R&B singer, so it was an honor to have him on the show for a second time.  He dropped back to back classic LP’s (garnering 5 Grammy Awards in the process) and I don’t think there’s another singer making such consistently exceptional music.  If Evolver‘s lead single, “Green Light” with Andre 3000, is any indication, it looks like he’s got another classic on his hands.

We discussed the direction of the project, what it’s like working with Kanye West, his involvement in Barack Obama’s campaign, his own charity work, future projects, and more.  I’ll be airing portions of the interview on tonight’s show, but you can check out the full conversation here:

John Legend on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?dzzz1jn4mzb
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/15217999dd8b92cf/ )

Be on the lookout for the “Green Light” video dropping in the next few weeks, and I don’t even need to tell y’all to cop Evolver later this year…

(LOL @ the look at 0:49)

It’s not even really funny because of the logical age/Viagra connection, but instead, it’s hilarious to watch “the Straight Talk Express” constantly veer off the tracks.  It’s been an awful week for McCain, and this little incident aboard his bus didn’t help matters.  If heath insurance companies are covering Viagra, it’s most certainly wrong that they won’t cover birth control.  Too bad he voted against that.  Of all the issues to get stumped on, you could not have picked a more awkward topic for McLame.

We have a lot of younger listeners on Sound Session, as anybody who’s sat in during the show and heard us answer the request line can attest to (i.e. a call for the “Wu-Tang Twins”…sigh), so sometimes I feel like I need to educate some of y’all. If you don’t know much about the legendary Boot Camp Clik, this video will serve as a nice intro for first group to put BCC on the map, Black Moon. Hopefully part two drops soon.

I’ve been meaning to post this up for a minute but the inbox was wylin’ out on me. So, perhaps you’ve heard of this “hipster” hip-hop movement, eh? You know…the idea that since a lot of MC’s are wearing tight (literally, no slang), flashy clothes, and rhyming on either throwback beats or electro-synth stuff, they must be part of this “hipster” takeover. In actuality, most of the artists who fall into this category are just talented dudes rapping honestly about their lives. Some definitely rock clothes that Mars Blackmon himself might shun, but really, that’s the style of streetwear that’s popular these days. If you ask me, it’s less embarrassing than a 5XL white tee, but I’ve never claimed to be any sort of fashion guru. I still subscribe to the “send me a free t-shirt and I’ll wear it” philosophy.

The point is, people are denigrating some really dope artists by tossing that “hipster” label at them. Plus, they get forced into in a box that’s ridiculous to begin with. Ray Protege is a DJ from Chicago (often cited as the heart of the movement between Lupe, ‘Ye, Cool Kids, Kidz In The Hall, etc.) and he’s decided to release this mixtape to poke fun at the whole issue. Whatever label you want to put on these artists, they’re dope. The tape features songs from Sound Session favorites like the Kidz In The Hall, Pacific Division, Wale, Mickey Factz, the Knux, and more. Cover, tracklisting, and download link after the jump.

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Tunji sent over this dope video of Talib (with Hi-Tek!), Buck, and Pete performing at the American Museum of Natural History a few weeks back.  Pete Rosenberg makes a good point – back in the day, who would have thought you’d see hip-hop take over a place like that?  Very ill.

Here’s the new video from M.anifest off his album Manifestations.  To be honest, I haven’t heard a ton from dude, but everything I’ve checked out, I’ve liked a lot.  Also, he’s working on a project called A.R.M. (African Rebel Movement.) with another dope MC, Krukid, and Seattle’s own Budo on production.  The title plays off the fact that M.anifest is from Ghana and Krukid’s from Uganda.  I’m still trying to research exactly what part of Africa Budo is representing…but in any case, the music is fire!  They should have a single leaking to y’all real soon, be on the lookout for it.

For more, check out M.anifest’s official site.

“I wish the Ku Klux Klan didn’t own Snapple”
–DMX, “I Wish”

The best part is actually the “DAMN!” adlib he drops after that line.  I wish X would make albums like It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot again.  Anyway, I guess Earl wasn’t curious enough to hit up Snopes.  I haven’t had a Snapple in years, but I used to down those pink lemonade jawns like nobody’s business.  If you want to hear this atrocity of a song, it’s your call

DMX ft. Seal – “I Wish”

Yes.  That Seal.  I don’t know why either.

Shout to Eskay for pointing this one out.