The Audacity of Dope

(watch part one in HD on HyphenTV)

J. Moore and I recently got the chance to have one of our favorite artists in the game, the one and only Murs, come through Sound Session and kick it with us.  Back when I used to do college radio down in Los Angeles (KSPC what up!), I used to joke about how many people would call in to request Living Legends music.  Seriously, I’d get one every 15 minutes…it was crazy.  They have such an ill following in Cali (and worldwide), and it’s been great to watch Murs build upon that to take his career and brand to a new level.

When we sat down with him, we talked all about his new Murs For President album, why he decided to sign to a major label, his love for No Limit & Cash Money records from the late 90’s, life on the road, politics, and much more.  Be sure to watch both parts of the interview to see why he’s the most authentic rapper you’ll ever find.

(watch part two in HD on HyphenTV)

If you need the audio for your mp3 player, here you go:

Murs on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?zwmqjo3htnj
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/529083346101e751/ )

If there are any problems with the links or videos, just let me know.  Enjoy!

As I mentioned in the last post, Glasses Malone and Mistah F.A.B., came through Sound Session this past week while in town for a concert.  We didn’t get to knock out one of our traditional “Inside the Actor’s Studio”-style interviews, where we could really go in depth, but it was fun regardless.  We talked a little about Glasses’ upcoming Beach Cruiser album, his background, how he got his name, and why F.A.B. enjoys keeping his fingernails finely manicured hahaha.  Check it out:

Glasses Malone & Mistah F.A.B. on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?rejomlz2njm
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/52808768b3ac3185/ )

As always, click the “interviews” link on the sidebar to listen to most of our recent interviews.  Get your podcast game on point too.

(or watch on HyphTube)

The homey Braille has made a few appearances on Sound Session before, but this was the first time he’s been able to make the trek up from Portland to Seattle to kick it with us live in the studio. He brought along his Lightheaded fam too, Othello and Ohmega Watts, so we caught up with them all for a minute and talked about their current projects. Braille allowed us to give a world premiere to “Fill It In,” one of the joints off his upcoming album with S1 (of Strange Fruit Project). Also, before he left, he even dropped a real freestyle (remember those?) off the dome and killed it. You can watch the freestyle above and download the audio of the full interview through either of the links below:

Braille on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?mmzmmkjwzjq
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/524711662323a585/ )

Northwest people: be sure to check out Braille’s holiday event, “Everybody Say Ho!”, on the 11th in Seattle (see flyer) or the 19th at Berbati’s Pan in Portland. It’s going to be a great time…be there!

A few months back, J. Moore and the rest of the Red Bull Big Tune fam brought Elzhi (of Slum Village) and Black Milk to the town for the Seattle edition of the beat battle.  Before tearing it down at Neumo’s that night (I’ll toss some of that footage up if I get time), they came through Sound Session to record an interview with us.  Unfortunately, since we’ve had so many guests coming through lately, it’s taken a minute to get the audio up for y’all.  Better late than never though, especially when you’re dealing with two of the dopest artists in the industry right now.  I don’t think anyone is seeing Elzhi bar for bar, and with the release of Tronic, Black has staked his claim for the top MC/producer out there.  Seriously…do you hear how he’s spittin’ on that album?

Anyway, the interview was recorded in between the releases of Elzhi’s The Preface and Black’s Tronic, so there are a few occasions where it sounds dated.  Even still, I highly recommend checking out the full discussion to hear them break down both projects in detail.  They also talked about their inspirations both past and present, their creative processes, all things Detroit, what changes they hope Barack can bring to the people, their upcoming work, and much more.  Enjoy!

Elzhi & Black Milk on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?4nl20wo3wjy
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/52144263069bf0be/ )

Do yourself a favor and go cop The Preface and Tronic if you haven’t already.  Your “Best of 2008” list isn’t complete without both of ’em, trust me.

(watch it in HD on HyphenTV right here)

A few weeks ago, the big homies Talib Kweli and Corey Smyth stopped by KUBE to make their 4th appearance on Sound Session.  It’s always great to meet and interview people for the first time, but it’s even better once you get to know them and your ‘interviews’ just turn in to catching up with old friends.  It probably could have been under better circumstances though, cause right before we got up, this happened.  It shows you how cool Talib is that despite just finding out about the theft, he still took time for us before trying to find the laptop.  Booooooooo @ that “fan” who took Kwa’s MacBook.  Shame on you.

Anyway, if you missed any of the previous discussions, you can check ’em out on our podcast page right here.

This time around, we talked all about his current projects, including updates on the next Reflection Eternal album with Hi-Tek, his Idle Warship group with Res & Graph Nobel, and all things Blacksmith. We also discussed what it’s like to operate his own label, how new media has affected his career, a little politics, and more.  Be sure to watch it in high-def on the HyphenTV Vimeo page, or if you only want the audio, grab it below:

Talib Kweli on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?2dmzymzi3jt
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/515797634df69ac9/ )

Blacksmith is the movement.

Like I mentioned a while back, I got a chance to catch up with the homies Evidence (of Dilated Peoples) and Alchemist when they came to Seattle at the start of the month for the “Still High” tour with Red & Meth.  We’ve had both dudes on Sound Session a few times before, but this was the first occasion where they came through together.  Every time I chop it up with Ev and Al, they’re cool as hell.

This time around, we talked all about their current projects, including Evidence’s Layover EP, Alchemist’s Alchemist Cookbook (which drops online today!), Al’s Gang Green album with Oh No, and their Stepbrothers group effort.  They also touched on how new media has affected their careers, the recent West Coast resurgence, who they list as dream collaborations, and much more.  Peep that:

Evidence & Alchemist on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?yzjtjgejieu
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/51481522ef6ce739/ )

Go grab Al’s Alchemist Cookbook at your favorite digital retailer and be sure to cop The Layover EP a week from today.  If you’ve been staying up to date on the videos so far, you know it’s crazy…

^^poor Adam.

Even though we had 88 Keys call in to Sound Session a few months ago back in June (peep that interview here), with Death of Adam finally dropping today, we thought we’d remind y’all to cop it.  You can check the first interview for all sorts of information about the album and then check part two below.  This time around, Keys talked about what he wanted to do with DoA, how it affected his musical plans for the future, and even dispensed some important advice to men everywhere.  Check it out:

88 Keys on Sound Session #02 – http://www.mediafire.com/?gvyhtqz5zdn
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/51176379078607c9/ )

Cop Death of Adam in stores now!

Over the weekend, I got the chance to talk with Steve McKeever, the founder of Hidden Beach Recordings, for the latest edition of Sound Session.  You’re probably familiar with the label through their releases from some of the dopest soul & jazz artists (Jill Scott, Kindred, Bebe Winans, Mike Phillips, Tony Rich, Lina, etc.), but they also recently teamed up with the Barack Obama campaign to release Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement.  The compilation features great songs from artists like Kanye West, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Ozomatli, and more, and all the money goes directly to the Obama campaign.

With November 4th only 2 days away, I talked with Steve about how this project came about, what issues are most important to him this election, what words of wisdom he wanted to impart to the youth, and more.  You can check out the entire interview below:

Steve McKeever on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?zryzqgfj2nu
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/50825349e7680eb2/ )

After you check out the interview, head on over to BarackObama.com/music to cop the album and donate to the campaign.  Every little bit helps as we push through the finish line.  After the 4th, the album will be available in normal retail locations.  In any case, GET OUT AND VOTE!

(watch part one in High-Def on HyphenTV)

Loyal listeners of Sound Session know that the big homey Jake One often drops by the studio to kick it, but we’ve never really done an official interview with him.  With the release of his debut album, White Van Music, a few weeks back, we had to bring in Jake and talk all about it.  Not only did he give us all sorts of behind the scenes stories about the project, but we ran through the entire album on air, joint by joint.

If you haven’t checked out White Van Music, you’re missing out on some of the best beats of the year and guest appearances from Black Milk, MF Doom, Alchemist, Busta Rhymes, Bishop Lamont, M.O.P., Freeway, Posdnuos, Slug, Little Brother, Prodigy, Elzhi, Royce The 5’9″, Young Buck, and many more.  Another guest from the album, Brother Ali, also came through SNSS that night to pay his respects to the latest chapter in Seattle’s rich musical history.

You can watch all the interview segments through part one (above) and part two (below), but make sure you watch them in HD on the HyphenTV Vimeo channel.  If you want the audio of the entire show for the mp3 player or the ride, here you go:

Jake One on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?ijm0j7uyj90
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/20192616e1aa393c/ )

(watch part two in High-Def on HyphenTV)

Cop White Van Music right now!

A little while back, I mentioned chopping it up with Shawn Jackson and my old homey Newman from Giant Panda during the Seattle stop of their tour with People Under The Stairs and Common Market.  What better time to post that Sound Session interview up than today, when their New Jack Hustle group album, Soundcheck, officially goes on sale?

Check out this interview to hear Shawn and Newman talk all about how New Jack Hustle came together and what they wanted to do with Soundcheck.  Among other topics, they discussed the unique recording process behind the album, how it differs from their past work, their backgrounds, the recent explosion of the Los Angeles hip-hop scene, and more.  Plus, you can peep one of the songs off the album, “Ronald,” featuring the criminally slept on Versatyl from the Lifesavas.  Enjoy:

New Jack Hustle on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?mdz1nxmjw5m
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/50124594cf82f2eb/ )

For more information on NJH, hit their MySpace and then cop the album today!