The Audacity of Dope

Fresh off the release of his official debut album, Termanology called into Sound Session this week to talk all about Politics As Usual.  If you missed my first interview with Term from a few years ago, hopefully you’ve waken up since then and have been following his career.  He’s killed it for years through his mixtapes and guest appearances (particularly on Statik Selektah’s projects) and now he’s dropped a great joint of his own.  Politics As Usual features guest spots from Prodigy, Bun B, Freeway, Sheek, and Lil’ Fame (of M.O.P.) and production from…get ready…DJ Premier, Hi-Tek, Alchemist, Pete Rock, Havoc, Buckwild, Nottz, Easy Mo Bee, and Large Professor.  Wow.

In this interview, we talked about what it’s like working with those legendary figures, the influence Big Pun had on his style, his upcoming projects, his tour plans with Method Man & Redman, and, as usual, politics.  Check it out:

Termanology on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?5zfrqdfyntz
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/1998459928ef455f/ )

Be sure to cop Politics As Usual in stores now and catch Term, Red, & Meth on the “Stay High” tour coming to a town near you this winter.  Seattle people: the tour swings through Bellingham at Western Washington University on Nov. 2nd and then in the city at Showbox Sodo on Nov. 5th.  See you there.

(click here to watch in HD)

As I mentioned in my last post, brothers Krispy Kream and Rah Almillio, collectively known as The Knux, came through Sound Session a few days ago.  Not only are these dudes cool as hell, but they’re dope lyricists and great musicians who play all the instruments in their songs.  How many other groups are doing that?

We chopped it up about a variety of topics, including their upcoming Remind Me In 3 Days album (y’all aren’t ready), their transition from New Orleans to Los Angeles after Hurricane Katrina, the unique sound behind their “Bang! Bang!” single, and more.  To grab just the audio (including the two songs we played, “Bang! Bang!” and “Cappuccino (Remix)”), hit either of the links below.  Otherwise, watch the video above, but be sure to click here to watch it in glorious HD.

The Knux on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?dnwttnzizya
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/19660347750f4f96/ )

Special shout to my man Brian (and Greg The Dude visiting from L.A.), who handled all the filming and editing.  Brian will be helping us out on a bunch of projects moving forward, so be on the lookout for more SNSS in HD.  You know how we do.

Oh, and a special note that the new homey Krispy wanted me to pass along: those 3 Knux tracks that leaked recently (“Amazing,” “Hard Days Night,” and “Otherside”) are real old and not on the album.  However, you can peep the official sampler right here.  Cop Remind Me In 3 Days on October 28th!

(if you prefer watching in higher quality on YouTube, peep parts 1, 2, and 3)

This past week, the “Seeing Invincible Sounds of Summer” tour swept through  Seattle and N.E.R.D. and Common tore it down at the Showbox SoDo.  Besides these guys being some of my favorite artists of all time, they’re also some of the coolest dudes I’ve met in the industry.  When I really think about, it’s mind blowing that I’m actually cool with Common, a living legend and inarguably one of the top MC’s in rap history.  Wow.  How the hell did that happen?

Anyway, aside from a few random wack encounters, everyone I’ve interviewed has been pretty nice and down to earth.  However, Com is on another level.  This dude is seriously one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and it was ill to have him come through the studio and make his third appearance on Sound Session.  Random SNSS trivia: 3 years ago, Com was our very first interview as we had him on the show for an hour long discussion, running through stories from each of his albums.  Classic.

This time, we talked all about his upcoming Invincible Summer Universal Mind Control album and what it was like working in full with the Neptunes and Mr. DJ.  We also touched on his acting work, including updates on the next Terminator movie and his role as Green Lantern in the oft-delayed Justice League project.  And you can’t sit down with Com and not talk about politics, so we discussed how the media has been affecting the presidential race and what he would do if he was given executive power.  Before he left, we reflected on his past work and brainstormed some of his favorite verses.

You can either watch the interview above, or, as recommended, download the broadcast audio feed (with his “U.M.C.” single included) through one of the links below.  Enjoy:

Common on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?3mmtwhzzmxt
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/19201421efd3c1a7/ )

Universal Mind Control should be dropping sometime in November and you already know it’s an instant cop.  Also, be sure to check out the tour when it hits your town.  Com performs a few tracks off it that sound incredible, namely “Gladiator.”  You really need to see it live, trust me.

Last night’s Sound Session will be posted later today, hold tight. I’ve got some things I need to tend to first, like…a new job!  Don’t worry, SNSS ain’t goin’ nowhere.  Your boy just got a [Kanye] good ass job [/’Ye], that’s all.

Between a few solo appearances and some Little Brother interviews, Phonte has now been on Sound Session five times.  I think that pulls him ahead of a few other artists for our all time most interviewed guest.  This time, I caught up with the big homey backstage at the Washington stop of Rock The Bells last weekend.  Originally, we were gonna grab Big Pooh as well, but I think he got caught up watching Nas tear it down.  It was truly a great day out at the Gorge (especially now that it’s over…I’m not a big fan of festivals…or driving 2.5 hours to get there) and I’m still planning on putting together some footage from it soon.

In the meantime, check out this interview with Phonte.  He played me the entire upcoming Foreign Exchange album (what up Nic!), Leave It All Behind, and it blew me away.  I’m not sure the world is ready for this project.  Instead of giving you my review, peep the interview to hear Tay talk about how it differs from their classic Connected debut, how their creative process worked this time around, and how his music has evolved over the years.  We also discussed his Gordon Gartrell Radio podcast series, the potential sequel to Zo! and Tigallo Love The 80’s, the early plans for the next Little Brother record, and if we’ll see Tay Pain take over the hook game in 2009.  Enjoy.

Phonte on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?oteqnscax2t
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/187456482714ebd1/ )

Remember to cop Leave It All Behind digitally on October 7th or on CD on the 14th.  The CD comes complete with instrumentals (and incredible artwork), so you already know which one I’m getting.  Stay up to date at their official site, TheForeignExchangeMusic.com.

(if you prefer YouTube, here are parts 1 & 2)

One half of Seattle’s own Common Market, RA Scion, came through Sound Session yesterday and we recorded it for y’all.  We chopped it up about their new Tobacco Road album, their unique release party coming up on Thursday at Neumos, their experiences performing at the protests of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, and more.  You can watch the video above, or if you prefer just the audio, grab it here:

RA Scion on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?nu43ylmjxn3
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/1839003132f3b8cf/ )

Tobacco Road drops tomorrow…cop that!  Shout to the other half of CM, Sabzi, who we saw over the weekend as the Blue Scholars tore down Rock The Bells.  Some random RTB video will be popping up on TAOD this week.

3RD UPDATE: The interview Vimeo clip appears to be working at the moment. If it stops, please use the YouTube link right underneath the video. The live footage has been removed at the request of the label, sorry.  Holler @ me if there are any problems.

(if you prefer YouTube, watch it here)

Last weekend, the lovely Ms. Janelle Monae came to Seattle and we had the pleasure of sitting down with her for an interview on Sound Session.  If you’ve somehow missed her huge (and well deserved) buzz all over the net, she’s a singer from Kansas City, Kansas, by way of New York and Atlanta, who broke into the industry with Big Boi’s Purple Ribbon label.  After debuting on his Got Purp, Vol. 2 compilation, she linked up with the other half of Outkast, Andre 3000, and appeared on 2 songs from their Idlewild project.  She then released the first part of her Metropolis mega-series, The Chase Suite, only to re-release the Special Edition after impressing Diddy at a live performance enough that he immediately signed a partnership with her.

Janelle sat down with us to talk all about her background and inspirations growing up, how she connected with Big Boi and Diddy, the intricate storyline behind Metropolis, and much more.  You can either watch the interview above, or, as I would recommend, download the broadcast quality audio feed below (complete with one of the songs off Metropolis).

Janelle Monae on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?glvcjjxcbt5
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/18029402495320a0/ )

Even at such an early stage of her career, Janelle’s live show is legendary so I shot some footage from her concert at the Nectar Lounge later that night.  Watch the clip below to see her run through songs like “Violet Stars Happy Hunting,” “Many Moons,” “Smile, “Sincerely, Jane,” and “Lettin’ Go.”

EDIT:  Video has been removed at the request of the label, sorry.

Go see this woman when she comes to your town, she’s incredible.  Seattle people: Janelle will be back on October 3rd at the Showbox opening for Jamie Lidell.  Be there.

One of my favorite artists in the industry, SoulStice, came through Sound Session again recently to chop it up. If you missed our interview from last year where we covered a lot of his background (from the Chi, relocated to DC) and previewed his Dead Letter Perfect album, you can download it here. This time around, we talked about the reception that album received, his upcoming Beyond Borders project, the various hip-hop scenes around the world, the presidential race, how he balances his music career with his day job at the Department of Defense, and more.

It’s always fun to talk about substantive issues with real intelligent artists who are passionate about their music and their ideas. Sadly, that’s kind of rare in this industry, so I enjoy it when people like SoulStice come through. You can check out the entire interview, which also includes his “Bird’s Eye View” song with Kev Brown, through either of the links below:

SoulStice on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?sgslqaughak
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/176309330398e9b2/ )

Track down Dead Letter Perfect if you missed it from last year and be on the lookout for Beyond Borders. It’s shaping up to be a great record.

When describing my taste in hip-hop, I’ve always explained that my favorite kind of artists are those that make that “everyman” kind of music. Not only is it generally truthful and authentic, but I can relate to it much more than the trite, generic, exaggerated styles that usually receive so much exposure. That’s not to say that music can’t be good and I won’t bump it, but I’ve always preferred to listen to good ish that I connect to and can make me think.

Most of the time, this split launches the useless “commercial vs. underground” debate, but I think the best artists are those that can exist in both sub-genres. People like Outkast, Nas, and Kanye have become legends in this lane, and there are a ton of upcoming artists staking their claim as well. A lot of them seem to be coming out of Los Angeles right now, with Blu, Inverse, U-N-I, and Pacific Division leading the way. Another MC that fits into that category is one I’ve been listening to for years, Bishop Lamont.

Since signing with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath label in 2005, Bishop’s seen his popularity skyrocket, and deservingly so. He’s released a series of excellent mixtapes (Pope Mobile, Caltroit w/Black Milk, The Confessional, etc.), and now he’s prepping his debut album, The Reformation, due out in November. At the same time, he’s been working with Dre on his mythical Detox project, serving in the same capacity as Snoop did for The Chronic.

He recently took time out of that busy schedule to call in to Sound Session and discuss all things Aftermath. He talked about all the details surrounding The Reformation, what it’s like working with Dre, what’s hiding in the legendary Aftermath vaults, and much more. Bishop even told some behind the scenes Detox stories. You can check out the entire interview here:

Bishop Lamont on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?jwofmqs2c4k
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/17246074f1977a07/ )

With Bishop leading things off and new projects from Eminem, 50 Cent, and Dre on the way, look for Aftermath to make a huge impact over the next year. It all starts with The Reformation in November. Get ready.

(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.

(if you prefer YouTube, go here)

I remember hearing Kardinal Offishall for the first time after stumbling upon his “U R Ghetto” joint (a classic, btw) during the Napster glory days in 2000.  A couple years later, he dropped Quest For Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 and from then on, I was a huge fan.  Nobody combines raw, lyrical, boom-bap hip-hop with dancehall/reggae as well as Kardi.  We brought him through the Sound Session studio a few weeks back while he was here in Seattle to open up for Wyclef Jean.  It was fun to meet him just cause I was a fan, but it was even doper to find out how cool and intelligent dude is.  Definitely one of my favorite artists out there.

We talked all about his upcoming Not 4 Sale album, breaking into the mainstream with Akon, his background growing up in Toronto, the differences between the Canadian and American music industries, his dream collaboration, and much more.  Like I said, he was mad cool, so we ended up having a real long discussion.  If you want a front row seat, you can watch the entire interview above, or you can download the broadcast audio feed below:

Kardinal Offishall on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?hzttvhqcyyv
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/16484508ab15efc9/ )

Remember to cop Not 4 Sale on September 9th!  In the meantime, download his Limited Time Only mixtape here.  It should tide you over.