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.

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.

(why is there a Wolf Blitzer CNN clip in there?)

You know, honestly, I prefer the fan made video I posted yesterday.  But regardless, this is dope and Cordero gets props for including Jay Smooth and Info in it.  Plus, I’m glad he decided to take this in the ‘new media’ direction, in that WE ARE the new media outlets.  Blogs, messageboards, podcasts, etc. can all help fight media consolidation.  Don’t let the internet turn into the radio.

Swiped from Mr. X.

The homey Substantial has been making crazy moves lately with his single, “It’s You (I Think),” off his Sacrifice album, and now he needs your help to keep the momentum going.  The video is one of five finalists in a MTVu contest, where the winner goes into regular rotation on the station.  It’s real easy to vote, and Stan deserves your support so get to it and vote as many times as you’d like!

TO VOTE:

1) GO HERE: http://www.mtvu.com/music/freshmen
2) Click VOTE next to Substantial’s “It’s You” video
3) Click VOTE AGAIN
4) Repeat steps 2-3 all as many times as you’d like!
5) Done

It’s just that simple folks.  If you don’t remember it from all the spins on Sound Session, listen to the song again and watch the video:

(these are all real stories in the verses btw)

Shout to QN5.

Here’s a dope fan video for Nas’ “Sly Fox” track off Untitled created by Ego from Soundcircuit.  With the recent news that Rik Cordero and Nasir are working on an official video (complete with Jay Smooth and Miss Info cameos!), I hope the real one takes this idea even further.  Fox News is a complete joke, and I could really write a book on all the things wrong with that network.  Suffice it to say, as a media studies major, they represent everything wrong with mass media in this country to me.  At their best, they’re poor journalists.  At their worst, they’re racist criminals.  ARE THEY HERE?  EFF EM.

I’m not a huge fan of this track, but I dig all the artists involved with it.  I just like their separate work more I suppose.  Either way, here’s the video for the song that Converse & Cornerstone helped put together.  Videos like this are hilarious to me, since I know the artists probably shot two takes for a total of 15 minutes in front of a green screen.  Then some unlucky (but talented) editors slaved away for weeks, turning the raw footage into the piece of art you see above.  The visuals are dope.  Shout to all my Cornerstone folk, what up Blaze!

Pharrell, Julian Casablancas, & Santogold – “My Drive Thru”

More N.E.R.D. bonus tracks available here.

Video swiped from Eskay’s.

So dope.  Thoughts:

• I approve of any muay thai reference.
• Ironic, I also walk around the city with someone playing a bass drum behind me.
• I heart Keri Hilson.
• This might be the dopest single this year in terms of straight lyrics.
• That third verse is one of my favorite verses of the year.
• When it’s all said and done, Nas could very well be the G.O.A.T..
• Cop Nas’ album on the 15th!

Courtesy of On Smash.

Heard this last night on the ‘slow jams’ program I always check on my way into Sound Session, and I remembered the line that always stood out to me:

“He’s mine/You may have had him once, but I got him all the time”
–Mokenstef, “He’s Mine”

Technically, that’s flawed logic.  If she had him onc — oh, nevermind.  Absolutely classic track from Monifa, Kenya, and Stephanie…I wonder what ever happened to them.  Enjoy the mp3 if you can’t find your copy, and I’m tossing in the remix with Grand Puba as well:

Mokenstef – “He’s Mine”
Mokenstef ft. Grand Puba – “He’s Mine (I Got Him All The Time Remix)”

A.P.T. – “O Bama”

“O Bama” >>>> “A Milli” all day.  Peep A.P.T.’s blog if you want to hear more.

Shout to smokeYYY for the mp3.  Double shout to Nils for finding the video.

Whooooooo, speak on it Mike.  The only thing I really have an issue with is the idea of “eff saving the planet.”  I understand the point he’s trying to make, but without a planet, everything else becomes moot.  Regardless, greatness in its rawest form.

Courtesy of OnSmash.  And the mp3 courtesy of Mr. X:

Killer Mike ft. Ice Cube – “Pressure”