The Audacity of Dope

Brand new visuals for one of the best records of the past year.  Sai-giddy’s Warning Shots 2 drops on the 29th on Amalgam Digital and while we still don’t know when that Atlantic project will ever be released, at least we’ll continue to get some good music in the meantime.

Oh, and if you don’t know, Red 5ive is Just Blaze’s alter ego when he decides to sing hooks.  The name is derived from Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing jet in Star Wars:

“It’s a trap!”

(Thurzday, me, & Y-O at last year’s DunkXChange)

Yes y’all, Bumbershoot Festival is finally here and it’s all set up to be a big weekend at the Seattle Center.  Come through the Fisher Green Stage (the big one right in the middle near the fountain) at 5:45pm on Saturday to see U-N-I, featuring yours truly on the 1’s and 2’s, though I’d recommend getting there early at 4pm to see Mayer Hawthorne too.  De La Soul will be on that same stage at 9:30pm as well.

I’ll also be helping introduce the homies the Knux and the Black Eyed Peas on the main stage Monday, but to check out the full line up, click here.

Dubs in the air.

D. Black and the Sport’n Life crew came through Sound Session recently to talk all about D’s upcoming Ali’Yah album that drops on the 15th.  Always a pleasure to open the SNSS studio up to dope artists, but it’s especially fun to chill with good people.  Download the whole audio of the show right here.

D.Black, a Seattle-based rising hip-hop artist, took some time out to visit the good folks J. Moore and DJ Hyphen over at KUBE 93 for Sunday Night Sessions to speak about his newest release Ali’Yah. While talking about Ali’Yah, D.Black made special note of the increase in maturity and artistic development since his last album. That maturity is evident on such songs as the recently released “Yesterday,” the first single off Ali’Yah, and when asked about the song D.Black explained the concept saying, “All of us have had situations in our past that if we look back at it, we breathe life back into it. So it’s better to leave yesterday behind and look forward to tomorrow.” The positive vibe was reflected back by the fans as well as D.Black spoke with a few folks who called. D.Black also spoke on the opportunity he had to work with so many talented artists while crafting Ali’Yah, noting the contributions of fellow artists Jake One, Vitamin D, B. Brown, Melissa, Choklate, Spaceman, Kuddie Mak and many others. Be on the lookout for D.Black’s newest album Ali’Yah available September 15th via Sport’n Life Records/MYX Music Label.

Damn, when we first played this song on Sound Session a while ago, apparently it wasn’t finished.  I had know idea the homies Budo, Krukid, and M.anifest were getting Ali on there too!  This is a big tune…

A.R.M. ft. Brother Ali – “Heaven Only Knows”

Check out their site and stay up to date with one of my favorite up and coming crews out there.

After weeks of teaser pics, behind the scenes vignettes, sneak previews (and sneak previews of sneak previews), the long awaited follow up to Drake’s “Best I Ever Had” video has finally hit the net.

First off, I prefer the mixtape version of this song from So Far Gone (minus Weezy’s completely unnecessary appearance) rather than this edit with an added verse from Trey Songz.  Plus the hook just doesn’t catch the same without hearing “the hoooooooes.”  Why is “hoes” even edited?  That’s not a bad word at all.  “Hoes.”  See?  No censor.  Thank you Don Imus.

Aside from the [Ludacris] HOErrible [/Luda] censorship, visually, I think the video is pretty much spot on.  If there was one iota of sunshine in this clip, I would have been livid.  The beat, melody, subject matter, etc. all combine for a perfect late night soundtrack.  It’s almost too bad the single couldn’t drop later in the year.  This would be ideal for the cold Pacific Northwest winter.

I already know what you’re thinking: did Hyphen really just post a LMFAO video on TAOD?

Yeah, I did…here’s why:

1. I’m currently infatuated with Jonna from the Real World Cancun (strangely, this obsession started after the threesome episode that aired last week…hmmmm) and she’s looking great in this clip.  KW did point out that she clearly didn’t get the “video girls don’t have to kiss the artist” memo though.
2. Chelsea from the Paradiso Girls isn’t that bad either (she’s killing the Kelly Kapowski look here…I approve).
3. The theme is a nod to the late John Hughes.
4. Keytar dude, keytar.
5. And, to be honest, I kinda like this song.  Sue me.  That hook is a smash.

Maybe I’m watching too many of these Euro dance videos that come across my desk at the day job, I dunno.

Quick!  Somebody make a generic, wannabe Premo beat that reminds me of the Rawkus days so I can tighten my Jansport.

Super fresh web promo for a new Adidas line, shot by one of Kanye’s favorite directors, Nabil Elderkin.  Reminiscent of one of Nabil’s best videos:

Sound Session listeners have probably noticed that the past few playlists have been filled with cuts off Hadee’s insanely dope 808’s & Hadee: Chopped Not Screwed remix project and I still think too many people are sleeping on it.  Peep the interview above to hear Rashid talk all about the project with Fake Shore Drive and download the tape asap right here.

I’m telling y’all: one of the best releases of the year, easily.

*Ok, ok…to be fair, I haven’t even heard it.  I sure hope the early reviews I’ve seen on Twitter aren’t accurate though.  The leaks I’ve heard thus far haven’t been that impressive, but I’m about to give it a real listen…here goes nothing!