The Audacity of Dope

(Part One in HD on HyphenTV)

As I mentioned in the post with just the audio, Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek came through Sound Session two weeks ago to talk all about their new album.  Here’s the entire in-depth interview with these two legendary hip-hop figures, and more importantly, just two all around good dudes.  Support them by copping Revolutions Per Minute and for the youngins who never bought Train of Thought, you better get that too!

Part 1: “RPM’s,” “City Playgrounds,” and “Back Again.”

(Part Two in HD on HyphenTV)

Part 2: Affion Crockett/Russell Simmons skits, being considered “conscious,” the marketing of “neo soul,” “Strangers” featuring Bun B, “In This World,” sampling Jay-Z’s classic lyric, “Got Work,” and more.

(Part Three in HD on HyphenTV)

Part 3: “Midnight Hour” featuring Estelle, “Lifting Off,” the war on drugs, “In The Red,” and more.

(Part Four in HD on HyphenTV)

Part 4: “Ballad Of The Black Gold,” energy consumption, live instrumentation vs. samples, “Just Begun” with Jay Electronica, J. Cole, and Mos Def, and more.

(Part 5 in HD on HyphenTV)

Part 5: “Long Hot Summer,” working as a group, “Get Loose” with Chester French, “So Good” and the return of MC Hi-Tek, the absence of Dion on the album, and more.

(Part 6 in HD on HyphenTV)

Part 6: “Ends” featuring Bilal, the pursuit of money, music piracy, the autobiographical outro of “My Life,” the future of Reflection Eternal, and more.

Enjoy!

Pardon the delay in archiving the last 2 episodes of Sound Session, but I wanted to make sure I gave you guys every option for checking out our in depth interview with Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek, collectively known as Reflection Eternal.  In celebration of their new album, Revolutions Per Minute, Talib and Tek came through to talk about every song on the project and the inspirations behind them all.  Consider this an “Inside The Rapper’s Studio” style interview, not for the faint of heart.  Oh…and BUY THE ALBUM!!!!

Note – the interview played on air was not the full discussion.  If you’d like to check out the entire interview, please view the videos through the link below.

Show #261 (5-30-10)

1. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 1**
2. Reflection Eternal – “RPM’s”
3. Reflection Eternal – “City Playgrounds”
4. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 2**
5. Reflection Eternal ft. Res – “Back Again”
6. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 3**
7. Reflection Eternal ft. Bun B – “Strangers (Paranoid)”
8. Reflection Eternal – “In This World”
9. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 4**
10. Reflection Eternal – “Got Work”
11. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 5**
12. Reflection Eternal ft. Estelle – “Midnight Hour”
13. Reflection Eternal – “Lifting Off”
14. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 6**
15. Reflection Eternal – “In The Red”
16. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 7**
17. Reflection Eternal – “Ballad Of The Black Gold”
18. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 8**
19. Reflection Eternal ft. Jay Electronica, J. Cole, & Mos Def – “Just Begun”
20. Reflection Eternal – “Long Hot Summer”
21. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 9**
22. Reflection Eternal ft. Chester French – “Get Loose”
23. Reflection Eternal – “So Good”
24. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 10**
25. Reflection Eternal ft. Bilal – “Ends”
26. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 11**
27. Reflection Eternal – “My Life”
28. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 12**

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?yweowynmtqk
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/76743509fd03f5b6/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/bdytv0q0rr07)

Link to download just the interview breaks – http://www.mediafire.com/?l4wommmmwyn
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/7674405781126bf1/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/y65gnbvwms07)

Watch video of the interview – https://www.theaudacityofdope.com/2010/06/08/reflection-eternal-on-sound-session/

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

While J. Moore held it down for Seattle and Sound Session in Los Angeles for another Red Bull Big Tune battle, I was more than happy to provide another episode to our loyal listeners.  Peep this week’s show for dope new music from artists like Nottz, Sol, Dom Kennedy, Drake, Wiz Khalifa, the Roots, and more.  Plus, in celebration of one of our favorite MC’s releasing his new album today (albeit only in Canada at the moment), Shad called in to talk about TSOL.  I don’t care if it’s not in physical stores here today…you must find a way to cop this record!

Show #260 (5-23-10)

1. Nas & Damian Marley – “Friends”
2. Nottz – “Cars”
3. Sol – “Dear Friends” (Local Music)
4. Hardwerk & Jansport J – “Computer”
5. Common ft. Queen Latifah – “Next Time (Just Wright Version)”
6. Big K.R.I.T. ft. Devin The Dude – “Moon & Stars”
7. Dom Kennedy – “1997”
8. J. Cole – “Who Dat”
9. Drake – “9AM In Dallas”
10. Dr. Oop ft. Rogue Venom – “Green Butter”
11. Jack The Ripper ft. Khingz, Sol, & Grynch – “Thanks” (Local Music)
12. Reflection Eternal – “Ballad Of The Black Gold”
13. The Roots ft. Jim James – “Dear God 2.0”
14. Janelle Monae – “Cold War”
15. Theophilus London – “A Stranger’s Heart”
16. Wiz Khalifa – “The Statement”
17. DJ Honda ft. Mos Def – “Travellin’ Man” (Throwback of the Week)
18. **INTERVIEW WITH SHAD, PT. 1**
19. Shad – “Yaa I Get It”
20. **INTERVIEW WITH SHAD, PT. 2**
21. Canary Sing – “H206” (Local Music)
22. Alicia Keys ft. Drake – “Un-thinkable (I’m Ready) (Remix)”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?yio20dmwyia
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/7648388297105e20/)

Link to download just the interview with Shad – http://www.mediafire.com/?ztdzg3ofzmz
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/76484269c27cdaa4/)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

On Saturday, May 29th, Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek will be making the Seattle stop on their Revolutions Per Minute Tour at the Showbox Market.  We’ve been giving away tickets on the air through Sound Session, but now we’re extending a special offer to our loyal readers on The Audacity of Dope and KUBE93.com.

We’ll be interviewing the duo at 2pm on Saturday and if you would like to join us to meet and hang out with Reflection Eternal, email me – DJHyphen@gmail.com – these 3 things:

1. Name Talib’s business partner for their label, Blacksmith Music.
2. Name 3 guests from Reflection Eternal’s Train Of Thought album.
3. Name the first video released from their new album, Revolutions Per Minute.

I’ll pick 2 winners and you’ll each be allowed to bring a guest to the interview.  It’s just that simple.  What are you waiting for?  Go!

Contest ends Thursday, May 27th, at 3pm Pacific Time.

As we push onward and upward into our 5th year of Sound Session, we had another great episode.  While J. Moore was out in Philadelphia for the Red Bull Big Tune beat battle, I was joined in the studio by Sol and Jack The Ripper, two very dope local artists putting in work these days.  We also played part of our interview with Big Sean (full interview coming soon…I hope!) and some crazy records from Theophilus London, Big K.R.I.T., Shad, Homeboy Sandman, Nas & Damian Marley, and more.

On the personal tip, I finally saw Avatar (um, insane on Blu-ray, suppose I shoulda caught it in IMAX 3D), but the most impressive Blues over the weekend had to be Chelsea achieving the double in the English Premier League.  The big homey Didier Drogba is simply unstoppable right now and he scored another cracker (yes…that’s what soccer folks call a great goal…and yes, it’s fun to yell out “cracker” when celebrating):

You ready for the World Cup?

Show #259 (5-16-10)

1. Reflection Eternal ft. Bun B – “Strangers (Paranoid)”
2. Eminem – “Despicable”
3. J. Cole – “Who Dat”
4. Gil Scott-Heron ft. Nas – “New York Is Killing Me (1200 Squad Remix)”
5. Theophilus London – “A Stranger’s Heart”
6. Big K.R.I.T. ft. Devin The Dude – “Moon & Stars”
7. Shad ft. Relic – “We Are The Ones (Reservoir Party)”
8. **INTERVIEW WITH SOL**
9. Sol – “Not The One” (Local Music)
10. Wiz Khalifa – “The Statement”
11. Homeboy Sandman – “The Carpenter”
12. Exile ft. Torae & Ruste Juxx – “Radio (Marco Polo Remix)”
13. Dr. Oop ft. Rogue Venom – “Green Butter”
14. **INTERVIEW WITH BIG SEAN (SNIPPET)**
15. Big Sean – “What U Doin”
16. Common ft. Queen Latifah – “Next Time (Just Wright Version)”
17. Hardwerk & Jansport J – “Computer”
18. **INTERVIEW WITH JACK THE RIPPER**
19. Jack The Ripper ft. Geologic, Sol, & Scribes – “Don’t Look Back” (Local Music)
20. The Last Emperor – “Secret Wars, Pt. 1”
21. Nas & Damian Marley – “Nah Mean”
22. The Physics – “My Place” (Local Music)
23. Little Brother ft. Bilal & Darien Brockington – “Second Chances”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?xezdymgj1qd
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/76222169cac1dd65/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/x2tgtmejdu39)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

As I was jotting down this week’s playlist, I looked at the date and thought, “hmm…May…isn’t that supposed to signify something special?”  I suppose this is how married folks feel when anniversary time comes around (speaking of which, happy anniversary to the ‘rents! And Happy Mother’s Day as well! Love you guys).  You realize you’re supposed to do something, but you can’t remember exactly what.

After checking my ring finger, I realized, no…I’m not married…but damn, this past week marks 5 full years of Sound Session on the air at KUBE 93.  Our very first episode was on May 8th, 2005 and 257 shows later, here we are at May 9th, 2010.  Since we tend to keep track of milestones by episode rather than date, J. Moore and I didn’t even realize it until just now.  While we’re certainly proud of hosting an independent hip-hop show on commercial radio without compromising one iota for 5 years, as we’ve always maintained, everything we do actually has little to do with us.  Instead, it has everything to do with the artists, the listeners, the higher ups who believe in our abilities, and most importantly, the culture that we live and breathe every day.

Even when we play non-hip-hop records, we are hip-hop in our mindset, ideals, and actions.  The folks that can relate also know that you do what you do without any need for praise or recognition.  You do it because you don’t know any other way.  That’s Sound Session and that’s why 5 years have gone by in a blink of an eye.  Here’s to many more…

Show #258 (5-9-10)

1. Jay Rock – “Love My Momma”
2. Donwill ft. Ca$he & The Park – “Love Junkie Wallpaper (Remix)”
3. Kidz In The Hall – “Grizzly Man”
4. Eminem – “Despicable”
5. Shad – “Yaa I Get It”
6. J-Live – “The Way That I Rhyme”
7. Moe Green – “Hometown”
8. Aloe Blacc – “Take Me Back”
9. The Physics – “My Place” (Local Music)
10. Bruno Mars ft. Cee-Lo & B.o.B – “The Other Side”
11. N.E.R.D. ft. Nelly Furtado – “Hot-N-Fun”
12. Lupe Fiasco ft. Alicia Keys – “Love Letter To The Beat”
13. Theophilus London – “I Want You”
14. Jay Electronica ft. Diddy – “Ghost Of Christopher Wallace”
15. Diamond District – “Streets Won’t Let Me Chill (Apollo Brown Remix)”
16. Roc Marciano – “Thug’s Prayer”
17. J. Cole – “Who Dat”
18. Bop Alloy (Substantial & Marcus D) – “Save The Day” (Local Music)
19. Ghostface Killah ft. Mary J. Blige – “All That I Got Is You” (Throwback of the Week)
20. B.o.B ft. Ricco Barrino – “5th Dimension”
21. Jack The Ripper ft. Geologic, Sol, & Scribes – “Don’t Look Back” (Local Music)
22. Nas & Damian Marley ft. Dennis Brown – “The Promised Land”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?njjydlde0yh
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/75946676a98fa748/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/fbd1pudjnx7c)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

This week’s SNSS was one of my favorites in quite some time.  We were joined in studio by Grynch, DJ Nphared, and Marcus D, plus we had Substantial and Oddisee call in from the East Coast.  All are dope musicians and good people, so it’s always a pleasure to chop it up with them.  Additionally, we played a ton of great music (well, what’s new) from some of our favorite artists.  Here’s my quick 2 cents on a few of the records:

• B.o.B & Lupe – can’t wait to see these guys at the Showbox Sodo on Friday…
• N.E.R.D. – I still insist there is no better job in music than being Pharrell
• M.I.A. – I can’t hear this record without breaking something.  Uber hard.
• Shad – there’s nobody in the game that makes me rewind for lyrics more than Shad K.  TSOL drops May 25th!
• Kendrick Lamar – the definition of “spazzing” on a beat
• Tunji – reminds me of “Paris, Tokyo” in a way…
• J. Cole – I really wish they woulda left the b-word in the chorus for the radio edit. You can say that these days!
• Donnis – This record is a sleeping giant. Isn’t Donnis working with Atlantic now? Why aren’t they pushing this? Smash hook.
• Eminem – Lyrics/flow are insane, as usual, but shoulda got Drake for that chorus. Don’t laugh, it’s true.
• Public Enemy – Arizona took another L this week, so we thought we’d remind them
• Nas & Damian Marley – this might be the best album of the year when it’s all said and done
• Drake – I love this record…and my Jansport still fits!  Imagine that.

Enjoy!

Show #257 (5-2-10)

1. B.o.B – “Fame”
2. Lupe Fiasco ft. Alicia Keys – “Love Letter To The Beat”
3. N.E.R.D. ft. Nelly Furtado – “Hot-N-Fun”
4. M.I.A. – “Born Free”
5. Free Sol ft. Outasight, Kyle Lucas, & 8Ball – “Before You Slip”
6. Shad – “Yaa I Get It”
7. J. Pinder – “Three Words” (Local Music)
8. **INTERVIEW WITH ODDISEE**
9. Kendrick Lamar – “The Heart, Pt. 1”
10. Cook ft. Tunji – “Underneath The Stars”
11. Theophilus London ft. Jesse Boykins III – “Life Of A Lover”
12. Jay Electronica ft. Diddy – “Ghost Of Christopher Wallace”
13. J. Cole – “Who Dat”
14. Donnis – “Gone”
15. Eminem – “Not Afraid”
16. **INTERVIEW WITH BOP ALLOY (SUBSTANTIAL & MARCUS D)**
17. Bop Alloy (Substantial & Marcus D) – “Save The Day” (Local Music)
18. **INTERVIEW WITH BOP ALLOY (SUBSTANTIAL & MARCUS D)**
19. Public Enemy – “By The Time I Get To Arizona” (Throwback of the Week)
20. Braille – “Up” (Local Music)
21. Nas & Damian Marley – “Friends”
22. **INTERVIEW WITH GRYNCH & DJ NPHARED**
23. Drake – “Find Your Love”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?ziwylhddm0n
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/756967150d7f329f/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/cvo1vs9durdv)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

Soon after posting up last week’s SNSS on the blog, I heard the unfortunate news that the legendary Guru passed away.  While the circumstances surrounding his coma and battle with cancer have been strange, suspicious, and possibly manipulated by his business partner Solar, enough has already been written and gossiped about on that front.  Unless some new information comes to light, I’m leaving all that to the parties involved.

What I will hold on to instead is the incredible amount of quality work that Guru left us, both as a part of Gang Starr and with his Jazzmatazz projects.  No, he wasn’t the best MC bar for bar and people seemed to either love or hate the monotone voice, but his contribution to this music and culture is one that few rappers will ever equal.  Guru didn’t just talk the talk in his rhymes: he was a living embodiment of hip-hop, both the positive and negative aspects (like all great artists).  He wasn’t a perfect man, as some in the Seattle hip-hop community can personally attest to, but ultimately, I’ll remember him for his classic records and constant effort to promote positivity in his music.

There have been plenty of great tributes to Guru already, but we wanted to pay our respect by dedicating the entire SNSS episode to him this week.  We had about 400 records we wanted to play, ranging from the early Gang Starr stuff to Jazzmatazz to guest spots and b-sides, but we just ran through them live and picked ’em along with our listeners as we went.  We also dropped in a few snippets from our last interview with Guru in 2007.  Shout to the entire Elam family, the Gang Starr Foundation, and 7 Grand Records.  Enjoy the music and RIP to Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal…

Show #256 (4-25-10)
RIP Guru Tribute

1. Gang Starr – “You Know My Steez”
2. Gang Starr – “Who’s Gonna Take The Weight”
3. Gang Starr – “Ex Girl To The Next Girl”
4. Gang Starr – “Work”
5. Gang Starr – “The ? Remainz”
6. Gang Starr ft. Nice & Smooth – “DWYCK”
7. Gang Starr – “Step In The Arena”
8. Gang Starr – “Conspiracy”
9. Gang Starr ft. Inspectah Deck – “Above The Clouds”
10. Gang Starr – “Just To Get A Rep”
11. Gang Starr – “Soliloquy Of Chaos”
12. Gang Starr – “Mass Appeal”
13. Gang Starr – “Full Clip”
14. Gang Starr – “JFK 2 LAX”
15. Gang Starr – “Skills”
16. Gang Starr – “Manifest (Remix)”
17. Guru ft. Jay Dee & Bilal – “Certified”
18. **INTERVIEW WITH GURU (7-24-07) (SNIPPET) #01**
19. Gang Starr ft. Big Shug & Freddie Foxxx – “The Milita”
20. Gang Starr ft. K-Ci & JoJo – “Royalty”
21. Gang Starr – “Code Of The Streets (Kenny Dope Mix)”
22. **INTERVIEW WITH GURU (7-24-07) (SNIPPET) #02**
23. Gang Starr – “In Memory Of”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?witiy2igvmz
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/754311037e24d58f/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/yx88e5nfhqpk)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

“Real DJ’s don’t take requests”

That’s a line in the new J-Live (yes, new J-Live!) track that we ran this week and it definitely stood out to me the first time I heard it.  I was going to write a quick essay with my thoughts on the topic, because I can see both sides to some extent, but then I looked at the clock and realized it was 1am and I haven’t had dinner yet.

I’d love to hear your take but, um…yeah…in short, most DJ’s should take more responsibility with what they play, though not necessarily on radio where hands are often tied, just in general.  Regardless of your level of skill or the outlet you push the music through, if you’re a DJ, you’re a selector.  You have a responsibility to live and breathe the music you shine light on.  You use it to express your feelings, the same way the artists make records to express theirs.  Don’t you love it when a song says something you can’t?

Perhaps it boils down to how you view your role: are you there to appease the listener or are you there to support what you believe in?  Maybe both.  It may not be the politically correct answer, but I don’t play music for people.  I play music for the music itself.  I’m just lucky that a few people enjoy listening to my picks…and with that, another episode of SNSS for the dedicated few:

Show #255 (4-18-10)

1. Kidz In The Hall – “Grizzly Man”
2. Donnis – “Gone”
3. Big Boi – “Shutterbug”
4. J. Cole – “We On”
5. J. Pinder – “Go Far” (Local Music)
6. Vitamin D ft. The Note – “Who Dat????” (Local Music)
7. Kendrick Lamar – “The Heart, Part 1”
8. Cook ft. Tunji & Deacon The Villain – “Towards The Future”
9. Yahzarah – “Why Dontcha Call Me No More”
10. Janelle Monae ft. Big Boi – “Tightrope”
11. Erykah Badu – “Gone Baby, Don’t Be Long”
12. Pac Div ft. Ty$ – “Rollin’”
13. Drake – “Fall For Your Type”
14. Nas & Damian Marley ft. Dennis Brown – “The Promised Land”
15. Eulorhythmics – “Leavin’”
16. Little Brother ft. Chaundon – “So Cold”
17. B.o.B ft. Lupe Fiasco – “Past My Shades”
18. J-Live – “The Way That I Rhyme”
19. Dead Prez – “Mind Sex” (Throwback of the Week)
20. M64 – “In The Pocket (Grillade Remix)” (Local Music)
21. Passion Pit – “The Reeling”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?dtot2njzmoj
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/7516981535311b19/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/5oaxdslkpbai)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

Another fun episode of SNSS this week and another great weekend full of dope shows here in Seattle.  Not only did Freeway and Jake One cap off the weekend with an epic performance at the Stimulus Package release party on Sunday night, but one of our favorite groups out there, Little Dragon, made their second appearance in the town on Friday.  J. Moore and I recorded a quick interview with our Swedish friends aboard their tour bus, so be sure to peep that video if you haven’t already.

Other than that…enjoy the dopeness:

Show #254 (4-11-10)

1. Joell Ortiz ft. Novel – “Call Me (Statik Selektah Remix)”
2. Gil Scott-Heron ft. Nas – “New York Is Killing Me (1200 Squad Remix)”
3. Opio – “Aggression”
4. Erykah Badu ft. Kirsten Agnesta – “Incense”
5. Cook ft. Tunji & Deacon The Villain – “Towards The Future”
6. Pac Div ft. Ty$ – “Rollin’”
7. Asheru ft. Raheem DeVaughn – “Boondocks”
8. Miguel ft. J. Cole – “All I Want Is You”
9. Sonny Bonoho – “Dark Everyday” (Local Music)
10. Little Brother – “Tigallo For Dolo”
11. Danny Brown – “Gametime”
12. Delorean – “Dear Langston”
13. Roc Marciano – “Raw Deal”
14. Brother Ali & Fashawn – “Breakin’ Dawn Boys”
15. Big Boi – “Shutterbug”
16. After The Smoke – “Typical Weekend”
17. Yahzarah – “Why Dontcha Call Me No More”
18. Gorillaz ft. Little Dragon – “Empire Ants”
19. D.I.T.C. – “Day One” (Throwback of the Week)
20. Vitamin D ft. The Note – “Who Dat????” (Local Music)
21. J. Pinder – “Three Words” (Local Music)

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?mtkocmzjj2o
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/7490820659841040/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/dndc13h74r2q)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.