The Audacity of Dope

Why the hell was this never released?  A few things could be tightened up, but the video is cool and the song was an insta-classic as soon as that first College Dropout advance leaked.  Ah…those were the days.  Senior year of college…the memories!

Ok, so I like the official version of the video more than the bootleg that leaked, but I dunno…still doesn’t do a ton for me.  Rihanna’s Aneesa meets Cruella de Vil look just isn’t hot to me and the action poses she strikes throughout are kind of cringe-worthy.  I suppose that’s what they were going for.

I do like the nightie lingerie outfit though…I approve of that.  The alternate mix of the song is cool too, though it’s only slightly different than the album version (my current ringtone).

While at Rhymesayers’ epic Soundset Festival in Minnesota, the homey Peter Parker linked up with the other homies Jake One & Freeway for a quick chat about their upcoming album, The Stimulus Package.  If you thought White Van Music was a big record for Jake and for Seattle, wait till this one drops.  It’s gonna be a big moment for the merging of the commercial & underground scenes nationwide.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go destroy some folks on the soccer pitch in this lovely 80 degree Seattle weather.  [Jada] ah-HAAAAA [/Kiss]

After another long winter and spring, it finally feels like summer here in the 206.  If you’re anything like me, the perfect complement to 70-80 degree weather is a good soundtrack and that’s exactly what we’re giving you each week with SNSS.  Peep the latest episode featuring dope new music from folks like Drake, Kid Cudi, B.o.B, Asher Roth, U-N-I, P.Casso, Tanya Morgan, Homeboy Sandman, Donny Goines, Outasight, Brother Ali, Marco Polo & Torae, Chester French, Fresh Daily, Oddisee, Santigold, and more.  We were also joined in studio by two of our illest up-and-coming Seattle MC’s, J. Pinder and Shawn Starr, and we aired a snippet of our interview with Exile.  We’ll be posting up the full interview on the site soon, but in the meantime…

Show #209 (5-31-09)

1. Drake ft. Lil’ Wayne – “Ignant Sh*t Freestyle”
2. Kid Cudi – “Super Boo”
3. U-N-I – “Land Of The Kings”
4. B.o.B – “Put It On Me ’09 (Reebok Classic Mix)”
5. Brother Ali – “Real As Can Be”
6. Tanya Morgan ft. Jermiside – “Don’t U Holla”
7. P.Casso ft. Von Pea & Homeboy Sandman – “Best In Show”
8. **INTERVIEW WITH SHAWN STARR & J. PINDER, PT. 1**
9. Shawn Starr ft. GMK – “Past The Games” (Local Artist)
10. Mos Def – “Casa Bey”
11. Skyzoo ft. Talib Kweli & Reks – “When I Rhyme”
12. Donny Goines ft. Outasight & Peter Hadar – “Sublime”
13. Scribes – “Can You Hear Me” (Local Artist)
14. **INTERVIEW WITH EXILE (SNIPPET)**
15. Blu & Exile – “Love Line”
16. Santigold – “Your Voice”
17. Fresh Daily ft. Oddisee & Mela Machinko – “Universal Medicine”
18. Asher Roth – “Sour Patch Kids”
19. Guilty Simpson – “Stress”
20. Bruce Leroy – “Million Dollar Dream” (Local Artist)
21. Marco Polo & Torae ft. Masta Ace & Sean Price – “Hold Up”
22. Chester French ft. Wale – “I’m Sorry”
23. Windimoto ft. Phonte – “Don’t Let Me Leave Alone”
24. **INTERVIEW WITH SHAWN STARR & J. PINDER, PT. 2**

Download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?ldzjtyjy2cj
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/608328707136b4e0/ )

If there are any problems with the links or 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.

Having been on the airwaves for almost a decade now, sometimes it’s easy to get stuck in the routine and lose some of the excitement that got me into this industry in the first place.  While it’s fun to interview hip-hop’s next generation and meet all the up and comers, there’s nothing better than chopping it up with someone who I listened to back in “the good ol’ days.”

When I got to college in 2000 and discovered the magnificence that was Napster + a T1 connection, I downloaded just about every ‘underground’ track I could find.  Among those gems was Louis Logic’s Music To Drink By compilation, which I definitely consider a personal classic (even though I was never a drinker…shrug).  Since then, Lou’s gone on to release more great projects, many of which have fallen a bit under the radar.  With the upcoming release of his Spork Kills surf-pop meets hip-hop hybrid album, Beaches Love Us, he’s about to burst back on the scene with more noise than ever.  Don’t believe me?  Peep the video for the first single, “Night Of The Hip ‘N Dead”:

A little while back, Lou came through Sound Session to talk all about the early 2000’s underground scene, his work with the Demigodz, his musical and personal evolution, his time as roommates with Travis from Gym Class Heroes, why Spork Kills is his best and most important work to date, and much more.  Do yourself a favor and check out this in-depth interview with one of hip-hop’s best lyricists:

Louis Logic on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?gxzkmkv2ig2
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/607441023e2f958e/ )

Shout to my dude Type for helping bring Louis through the show…now he’s a homey from the real “good ol’ days,” all the way back in middle school.  What up Jeff!

Ahahahahahaha, greatness.  Though to be fair, range is generally not our problem.  It’s every other skill set on the highest level, but we have jumpers for days.

Via the new and improved QN5.com.

Despite the special effects looking like cut scenes from an early 2000’s computer game (Starcraft FTW), I kinda dig this video.  Well, upon further review, I think I just like he song and the clip itself is adequate.  Kanye kind of bodies his verse (for a guest 16 on a R&B track) and The-Dream is actally one of the few pop/R&B singers I like these days.  Though I don’t like that there’s a hyphen in his name…not one bit.  Why does The-Dream have a hyphen and Flo Rida doesn’t?  These are the things that keep me up at night.

Sidenote, Seattle folks: The-Dream (and perhaps Ms. Milian?) will be coming to Summer Jam this year, July 25th at White River Amphitheater.  For more info and the complete lineup, click here.  And since it is a recession, if you want to cop lawn seats for $9.33, we’re having a special promotion this Saturday from 10am  – 1pm at White River.  Plus, if you find me there and mention The Audacity of Dope, you win a special prize*.

*special prize is dap lasting no longer than 2.3 seconds.

Yessir!  It doesn’t get any more 206 than this one.  Big shout to everyone involved in this video, many of which are my favorite folks in this industry/community.  Great to see everyone get some shine and I’m still a little disappointed I wasn’t able to hit up the shoot too.  If I remember right though, I was coaching my 6th grade select squad to some Eastside ass-whooping, so it’s all good.  Would have been nice to get a little U-District/Ravenna repping though hahaha.  The end of this song (“peace out homey!!!”) will always be a great memory, as that soundbite was taken from one of our crazy SNSS callers when Jake was in the studio one night.  Classic.

Special props to Jake, Zia, & Pinder for doing a great job with this clip.  Townbidnassmane.

Yeah, Cudi’s on the hook on this too, along with Hudson…not sure why nobody ever credits him…

Anyway, here’s the long awaited video for Kanye’s “Paranoid,” one of my favorite songs from the past year.  Unfortunately, this video doesn’t really do a lot for me, mainly cause I don’t think Aneesa from the Road Rules/Real World Challenge Rihanna is that hot.  Sue me.  Song is still the JAM though.

If you remember the first video from Shawn Jackson & Newman’s New Jack Hustle project, you already know this one was gonna be fresh.  Add in Ohmega Watts and dope, innovative idea and it’s a wrap.  NW/Pitzer in this piece.  Peep the interview with New Jack Hustle from SNSS a while back right here.

Any of you own some of the vinyl in the video?  I know I do…