The Audacity of Dope

Every day, another person asks me what I’ve been listening to recently and most of the time, I default with “whatever we’re playing on Sound Session.”  It’s an easy answer since it’s true and there’s just too much music being released to keep everything top of mind.  Recently, I’ve switched it up a bit because there are a few artists killing it to such a degree that I’ve found myself listening to their projects over and over.  One such artist is Los Angeles’ Dom Kennedy, who is quietly writing a blueprint for independent success without a major cosign.

If you haven’t checked out his past few releases, you’re missing out on some of the dopest music around, especially for these west coast summer days.  I can’t recommend The Original Dom Kennedy and the two editions of From the Westside With Love enough.  Cop ’em now!

Dom will be performing in Vancouver on Thursday, August 24th, and thanks to our friends at Fortune Sound Club, we’ve got one pair of tickets to give out here on TAOD.  Whether you live in Van City or you’re a fellow Seattle resident able to make the drive up, if you want to check out the show, just answer the question below by emailing me – DJHyphen@gmail.com – and I’ll pick out a winner on Sunday, the 21st:

Question:  According to one of Dom’s singles, in what year did he write his first rhyme?

If you know the answer and can go to the show, hit me up!  Along with Dom’s performance, they’ll be celebrating the 4 year anniversary of The Freshest, one of the illest DJ collectives around.  It’s gonna be a great night…

I’m glad this song and video came out after the Fox News “controversy” regarding Com’s appearance at the White House, just cause I know it would be an easy target. Nas murdered this record, btw.

I’m sure most of you have seen the “Otis” video by now, but I’m guessing there are a few folks like myself that spend the work week focused on the day job and getting to that Watch The Throne level.  I’ve seen the song and video analyzed ad nauseum, but I did enjoy Toure’s breakdown of the swag off between Hov & Yeezy.  Check it out here.

And while I’m a huge Jermaine fan, this is hilarious:

#ColeWorld.

Even though the 8mm film and Sol’s Kenny Loggins steez make this video look like it was shot decades ago, it’s a brand new set of visuals for the track off his Dear Friends III EP.  If you haven’t downloaded it yet, grab the dopeness at SolSays.com.

Hahahahah…shout to the homey Tone for sending this over. Classic.

Perhaps it’s just me, but the way Fam-Lay’s rhyming on this doesn’t sound like what I’m used to from him. That’s not a bad thing though, since it’s a dope record. The beat has that typical Neptunes feel, but with a bit of Erick Sermon influenced twist. As for the video, I’m convinced that the Star Trak camp hangs with nothing but the finest females…

This video gets a post for a few notable reasons:

• One of the better opening shots I’ve seen recently.
• Quoting the iconic “Jean Claude van Damme I’m fine!” FPoBA line.
• Fashawn is dooooope and I like what I’ve heard from Omar so far.
• Summer’s already almost over and I’ll miss videos like this when the rain hits here in Seattle.
• I miss my Cali homies.
• The homey Aren got his cameo on at the BBQ.

Dope stuff!

The new video for Mayer’s ode to Detroit makes me really glad I was an 80’s baby, rather than an 80’s adult.  Wow.

New Drizzy courtesy of OVO.

Drake – “Headlines”

Aloe’s given us numerous awesome performances of this record (remember this one?), but it’s so classic that it deserves yet another. Between the suit and the drink, he’s got a sort of Bob Harris, “for relaxing times, make it Suntory time” swag going on.

If you missed the time Aloe came to the Sound Session studios and absolutely demolished a live version of “Politician” for us, enjoy: