You may have heard us talking about this on Sound Session the past few weeks. It’s official: two of the best in the game, Elzhi and Black Milk will be coming out to the Seattle stop of the Red Bull Big Tune Beat Battle. It’s going to sell out, so be sure and cop those tickets…
As much as we all complain about D’Angelo’s disappearance, at least he’s popped up on a few dope collaborations over the years (“So Far To Go” & “Imagine” come to mind). Maxwell, on the other hand, has laid reeeeeally low. I spotted this recent live performance of his classic “This Woman’s Work” over at the Smoking Section, and had to post it up. If for some reason you don’t have the song, download it ASAP:
Hint: play this song for any girl born in the 80’s who played basketball growing up and watch what happens.
(if you prefer YouTube, go here)
The same day that Kardinal Offishall came through the Sound Session studios, Wyclef Jean stopped by for his second appearance on the show. If you missed the first interview, you can find it on our podcast page right here. Since we discussed his recent album, Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant, last time, we got to have a much more in depth convo with Clef during this interview.
Some people have criticized his recent hip-hop work and his forays into pop, but Clef will always be one of my favorite artists. Without exaggeration, I’d rank both the original Carnival and the Fugees’ The Score in my top 5 albums of all time, and maybe even higher. Perhaps I’m in the minority there, but any way you slice it, they’re classics. Plus, he was my very first interview back in 2000 when he headlined the MTV Campus Invasion tour during my college radio days (KSPC what up!). Dude was cool as hell then, and it’s the same today.
In this interview, Clef told us some stories behind his favorite songs from the past, why the Fugees reunion failed, what it’ll take to make it happen, how he’s seen the industry change over the years, how his music reaches around the world, his charity work, politics, and much more. Plus, just like last time, he wouldn’t leave without dropping a little freestyle for us. Though I must say, he was the one who wanted to use “A Milli.” Lord knows it’s been rapped over enough, especially since it’s not even a great beat…at all…but I digress.
You can either watch the interview above (not recommended, since the audio is sketchy), or listen to the broadcast feed below (mixed in with beats & songs). I’d check the mp3 if I were you:
Wyclef Jean on Sound Session #02 – http://www.mediafire.com/?akv85dmyfbp
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/16860037c2b69ad0/ )
I also tossed in some footage of Clef recording the freestyle at the end of the interview video. If you just want to watch that part or download the song, here you go:
Wyclef Jean – “A Milli Freestyle (Sound Session Exclusive)”
Caribbean swagger…big up to Clef.
The homey Emilio got a nice feature on Loud Favorites the other day. He talks a little about his background, the Phaze One project, DJ K.O.’s upcoming album, and his own EP due out soon. If you missed his video for “That Time,” check it out here. Bonus footage of Emilio spitting some bars (killed ’em!) after the jump.
Spotted at the Dopehouse.
Yes, you can.
The #1 Human Being, Kanye West, performed at Madison Square Garden in NYC last night, and tore it down as usual. Instead of his traditional “I’m, I’m…sky high!” rendition of “Touch The Sky,” he ended the song with a heartfelt speech to the crowd. This is why dude is my one of my favorite people in the industry (well, that and this). Although he’s still completely wrong about Souljah Boy being dope, he’s spot on concerning everything else. And even when I disagree with what he says, “you gotta love it though, somebody still speak from his soul.”
Spotted at Info’s, who, according to interviews I’ve been reading to prepare for my own later on today, is public enemy #1 for an upcoming Sound Session guest. It’s wack when two people actually doing good work in this industry filled with morons (note to email blasters) have a misunderstanding. I’m sure it ain’t that serious though, *shrug*.
This is the kind of ish that I love about hip-hop: just people relaxing, having fun, and showing their skills. Wale, Green, Just, Sky, and Supernat have a little freestyle session backstage at Rock The Bells (NYC, I think). Supernat killed it, obviously, but Just kinda ripped it there too. Is there anything that dude can’t do? LOL @ Wale at the end, greatness.
Spotted at Info’s.
The second part of the interview with Wyclef, Lauryn, and Pras in Toronto from 1994 (first part here). Still crazy to think this happened almost 15 years ago. Can you imagine if the Fugees stayed together? I think they’d be right there challenging Outkast as the greatest group of all time. Without exaggeration, The Score, The Carnival, and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill are all in my top 10, easily. Look out for a new interview with Clef this weekend where he reflected a lot on these “good ol’ days.”
Video courtesy of The Meaning of Dope.
Pac Div get a little feature on Hip-Hop Official as they’re named Artist of the Week. They explain how their deal with Universal came about, how they have more substance than you may think, and how everyone in the game is a “hipster rapper.” There’s also some footage from a live performance of “Women Problems” from one of those Standard Hotel rooftop parties everyone in LA seems to tell me about. Look out for an Inverse feature on HHO soon…
Spotted at Eskay’s.
A little snippet of Kardinal, Solitair, and Lindo P performing “Dangerous” at a Pepsi DJ Division event in NYC a few days back. Seeing these dudes rock live is a sight to behold. In the interview with Kardi that I’ll post up tonight, he discusses the importance of his live show, how being raised by Jamaican parents in Toronto helped spark that energy, and a million other topics. Get ready, this interview is a long one. A couple more of these and I’m changing the show to Inside The Rappers Studio.
Shout to Info for the footage.
Here’s a dope little video of the homies Y-O, Thurz, and Swivll performing “Castlevania” from their Hip-Hop Official interview a little while back. I love that Y-O always breaks out that NES during this song. If you missed him doing just that at the Seattle DunkXchange a while back, the footage is up right here.