The Audacity of Dope

Huge super duper hyphenated Euro shout out to my man Nils, who sent me this email recently:

Hey Hyphen,

I am writing from Germany, and I want to say “Thank you” for putting your sound session show online so that I can download it each week! I started listening to it in June 2006 starting with show #50-something. (I don’t know why) but I got to your myspace page somehow (googling, I guess) and started listening and cutting the shows to single mp3 tracks on my PC, having a good time every time I am listening to the mp3’s. The first mp3 track that I can cutting remember is “The storm” by the “Procussions”. Other remarkable artists are Grynch and Choclate.

I have been watching american TV shows since my youth (starting with Star Trek:Enterprise, ALF, A-Team, Simpsons, Baywatch among many others), so that I feel some kind of connection to the USA. This might seem strange on the first sight, but I just think that american culture is just some kind of different. I watch “Conan O’Brian” and “Jay Leno” since 10 years. I listen to your show since 2 years. : )

Well, I don’t know what you think of this email, but for me you are a kind of “anchor” to american hip hop culture and music. I don’t understand each sentence of the music, but many beats (connected with the vocals) are a very welcome earcandy.

I have learned English language for 9 years at school, but I still don’t get the lyrics. Maybe I just I don’t really want to understand, I just want to feel the beats and the flow of the rappers/singers. The sound of the music is just satisfying enough, and understanding 48 bars of foreign language is really hard work.

Without you, I wouldn’t have bought the “Kenna”-CD, downloaded the U-N-I mixtape and so on.

Last week I have started reading your audacity of dope website/blog. Thanks for that as well, you have a huge output. That is remarkable. I will read your blog in the future.

Greetings from Germany,
Nils

(Nils’ English is crushing my German)

I get emails like this every now and then (as I’m sure a lot of artists & DJ’s do), but it’s always wild and encouraging to see how I can affect what people listen to all over the world.  I started DJ’ing back in 2000 with the sole purpose of helping shine light on good music that people might not be hearing elsewhere.  Things have evolved a bit since then, but still, that’s the whole point of all this.  To put a dude from Germany up on Kenna, U-N-I, Choklate, and other dope artists is the illest thing to me.  I love living in a world where technology brings us closer together with every day that passes.

I really appreciate every single person who’s checked out anything I’ve done over the years, especially those as dedicated as Nils.  It’s all about the music though, and I’m just lucky enough to be the conduit sometimes.  Big shout to all music fans, artists, DJ’s, bloggers, industry heads, and friends who genuinely care about this artform.  Y’all inspire me daily.

*cue “Full House” aww moment*

(not the full interview, just a clip!)

The ringleader of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, the RZA, came through Seattle last week and stopped by Sound Session for the second time (peep his first appearance here).  This time, we talked all about his brand new Bobby Digital album, Digi Snacks, and also reflected on the last Wu project (as seen in the video clip), 8 Diagrams.  We also discussed his work in Hollywood, his upcoming projects, discovering new talent, the Wu-Tang music vault, politics, and much more.  You can download the entire interview here:

RZA on Sound Session #02 – http://www.mediafire.com/?0vydexjjjdo
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/144489091aa62b41/

Part of the interview was aired on the show last night, which you can download here.

Another good show this week, here’s the playlist and mp3 if you missed it:

Show #162 (6-29-08)

1. The Game ft. Travis Barker (of Blink 182) – “Dope Boys”
2. Busta Rhymes – “Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water On ‘Em) (Travis Barker Remix)”
3. Nas ft. Busta Rhymes – “Fried Chicken”
4. Dyme Def ft. One Be Lo – “Bring It Back” (Local Artist)
5. Alpha – “Obama ’08 (Do The Knowledge)”
6. Wale – “The Artistic Integrity”
7. S1 (of Strange Fruit Project) ft. Big Pooh (of Little Brother) & Kay – “Mash”
8. Chaundon – “The Greatest Warrior”
9. Common ft. Pharrell – “Announcement”
10. **INTERVIEW WITH RZA #02, PT. 1**
11. RZA ft. Inspectah Deck – “U Can’t Stop Me Now”
12. **INTERVIEW WITH RZA #02, PT. 2**
13. Erykah Badu ft. Pharoahe Monch – “The Healer (Remix)”
14. Kam Moye (aka Supastition) – “Welcome To My Life”
15. **INTERVIEW WITH WIZDOM**
16. Wizdom ft. Thig Natural (of the Physics) & Octane – “Ever Since” (Local Artist)
17. The Saturday Knights – “45” (Local Artist)
18. Royce The 5’9” – “I’m Me Freestyle”
19. N.E.R.D. – “Time For Some Action”
20. John Legend ft. Andre3000 – “Green Light”
21. Coldplay – “Lost”

Link to download Show #162 – http://www.mediafire.com/?jbt0plblenb
(back up / streaming link –http://www.zshare.net/audio/144535087a8d32b8/

Link to download the FULL interview with RZA – http://www.mediafire.com/?0vydexjjjdo
(back up / streaming link for the full RZA interview –http://www.zshare.net/audio/144489091aa62b41/

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.

Before we get to the info for last night’s Sound Session, it appears that the links for the last 2 shows have been acting up.  Here are new links for them:

Show #159 (6-8-08): http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WN593WXZ
Show #160 (6-15-08): http://www.megaupload.com/?d=G62H03S2

And as for this week, here’s the playlist and download link(s):

Show #161 (6-22-08)

1. The Clipse – “Fast Life”
2. LL Cool J – “Rocking With The G.O.A.T.”
3. Buff1 (of Athletic Mic League) ft. Black Milk – “Never Fall”
4. eMC (Masta Ace, Punchline, Wordsworth, & Stricklin) – “Leak It Out”
5. Dyme Def ft. One Be Lo – “Bring It Back” (Local Artist)
6. DJ K.O. ft. Skyzoo, Emilio Rojas, & Median – “Start It All Over”
7. Dwele – “Workin’ On It”
8. Kam Moye (aka Supastition) – “Welcome To My Life”
9. Jelani ft. 6th Sense & Wildabeast – “The Proposal”
10. MC Lyte ft. KRS-One & Sleepy Brown – “Love”
11. Nas ft. Keri Hilson – “Hero”
12. Nappy Roots – “No Static”
13. Freddie Joachim ft. Blu – “Mars (Remix)”
14. Liquid Spirits ft. Phonte (of Little Brother) – “If You Don’t Love Me”
15. Erykah Badu ft. Pharoahe Monch – “The Healer (Remix)”
16. The Saturday Knights – “Patches” (Local Artist)
17. RZA – “No Regrets”
18. Black ELement – “Human”
19. Wizdom ft. Thig Natural (of the Physics) & Octane – “Ever Since” (Local Artist)
20. Alpha – “Obama ’08 (Do The Knowledge)”
21. Blu – “The Classy Man”
22. N.E.R.D. – “You Know What”
23. John Legend ft. Andre3000 – “Green Light”

Link to download Show #161 – http://www.mediafire.com/?v2mwlgyxdmz
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/14071073c78ef603/ )

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.

Sorry for the lateness, but here’s Sunday’s Sound Session for y’all to check out. As always, more dope ish…

Show #160 (6-15-08)

1. Edo G – “Be A Father To Your Child”
2. Skyzoo ft. Wale – “Lyrically Inclined”
3. Crew54 ft. Donny Goines – “Ghetto Is Our Home”
4. Buff1 (of Athletic Mic League) – “Classic Rap”
5. Common Market – “Red Leaves” (Local Artist)
6. El Prez ft. U-N-I & Dale Danja – “UAintUpOnThis!”
7. Elzhi (of Slum Village) – “The Transitional Joint (Baby Girl Glow)”
8. RZA ft. Inspectah Deck – “U Can’t Stop Me Now”
9. Nas ft. Johnny Polygon – “Black President”
10. Sha Stimuli – “Am I Different”
11. **INTERVIEW WITH FOUL MOUTH JERK & TOPR, PT. 1**
12. Foul Mouth Jerk ft. Masta Ace – “Smalltown USA”
13. **INTERVIEW WITH FOUL MOUTH JERK & TOPR, PT. 2**
14. Reks – “Say Goodnight”
15. Nappy Roots – “No Static”
16. **INTERVIEW WITH MR. XQUISIT**
17. Mr. Xquisit – “Radio/iPod” (Local Artist)
18. Bishop Lamont ft. Busta Rhymes – “Kissin’ Tha Curb”
19. Grieves & Type – “Dame Dreamin'” (Local Artist)
20. Blu – “Departing Flights”
21. **INTERVIEW WITH MR. XQUISIT & GRYNCH, PT.1 **
22. Liquid Spirits ft. Phonte (of Little Brother) – “If You Don’t Love Me”
23. N.E.R.D. – “You Know What”
24. **INTERVIEW WITH MR. XQUISIT & GRYNCH, PT. 2**

Download Show #160 – http://www.megaupload.com/?d=G62H03S2

Download the full interview with Foul Mouth Jerk & TopR – http://www.mediafire.com/?jy4c0i1gy3p
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/13571318ee1dfcfb/ )

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.

A few weeks back, Foul Mouth Jerk and TopR came through Seattle on their “Marathon of Shame Tour” and I had a chance to chop it up with ’em in the studio. We talked all about their recent albums, life on the road, collaborating with legendary figures in hip-hop, a little politics, and more. You can also hear Jerk’s song with Masta Ace, “Smalltown USA,” and TopR’s new track featuring Jerk, “The Name Game,” during the interview as well. Dope, boom bap inspired ish. Check it out and get familiar with the homies through the links below:

Foul Mouth Jerk & TopR on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?jy4c0i1gy3p
(Back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/13571318ee1dfcfb/ )

Be sure to check out their latest projects, Jerk’s Streetlight Music and TopR’s The Marathon of Shame!

The longtime homies, Inverse, just got their second well deserved feature on MySpace. This time, along with being on the front of the “Music” section, they also got placement on the main login page. So when you sign in to listen to horrible musicians trying to befriend you and sell you crap stay up to date with your friends, look out for Toby and Tunji. You can also download their ridiculously dope So Far (The Collection) project off their page for free, so go get that if you’re sleeping. These guys are destined for big things people…get on the bandwagon now.

And if you’re thinking “Tunji…that name sounds familiar,” that’s cause you’ve been hearing this at 10:45 PM every Sunday night on KUBE 93.3 before we start our show:

Tunji – “Sunday Night Sound Session Intro”

Be sure to check out their blog regularly too!

Here’s the playlist and download links for last night’s edition of Sunday Night Sound Session. The music was crazy, if I do say so myself. There’s so much great music out right now, it’s a privilege to play these joints over the airwaves. Check it out if you missed it:

Show #159 (6-8-08)

1. The Roots ft. Mos Def & Styles P – “Rising Down”
2. Nas ft. Johnny Polygon – “Black President”
3. Nappy Roots – “No Static”
4. Common Market – “Bonanza” (Local Artist)
5. Freddie Joachim ft. Othello – “Wake Up”
6. Dwele ft. Slum Village – “I’m Cheatin’ (Remix)”
7. Elzhi (of Slum Village) – “The Know”
8. Reks – “Say Goodnight”
9. N.E.R.D. – “Yeah You”
10. Robin Thicke – “Magic”
11. Kidz In The Hall ft. Estelle – “Love Hangover”
12. El Prez ft. U-N-I & Dale Danja – “UAintUpOnThis!”
13. Blu – “The Classy Man”
14. Tanya Morgan – “We Doin’ Our…”
15. Grieves & Type – “Dame Dreamin’” (Local Artist)
16. Saigon ft. Red 5ive – “Believe It”
17. Joker The Bailbondsman – “She Was Like” (Local Artist)
18. Busta Rhymes ft. Reek Da Villain, Spliff Star, The Game, Lil’ Wayne, Nas, & Big Daddy Kane – “Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water On ‘Em) (Remix)”
19. Giant Panda – “Speakers Funk”
20. Common ft. Pharrell – “U.M.C. (Universal Mind Control)”
21. Big L – “Unexpected Flava”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WN593WXZ

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.

The Roots and Erykah Badu came to Seattle last Thursday to perform at Marymoor Park. While there, J. Moore and I had a chance to hop aboard the Roots’ (dope as hell) tour bus and talk to their drummer/ringleader, the legendary ?uestlove. We recorded the whole interview (shout to Caitlin on the Flip Cam) for y’all to check out. It’s 5 parts on YouTube, but the conversation was so dope and extensive, I didn’t want to just put up clips.

?uest spoke about all sorts of topics, including their new Rising Down project, the lost Roots album, volunteering for Barack Obama’s campaign, working on albums from Al Green and Marvin Gaye, why Black Thought is continually underrated, the rumor of a sequel to Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, and more!

Check out the first video here, and the rest after the jump.

Part 1 of 5

Also, if you can’t watch the videos and just want to peep the audio, you can do that right here (ZShare link available here). Warning: the audio only quality is a bit janky…the Flip Cam’s microphone + a running tour bus = an audiophile’s nightmare.  I suggest watching the videos if you can.

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(“said i was a nerd, but i ain’t a punk” – Skateboard)

Chyea. I’ve been looking forward to the new N.E.R.D. album, Seeing Sounds, for a while and it’s finally here. In Search Of… is a personal classic to me, and while Fly or Die didn’t hit me as hard, it’s still real dope. The day before the Glow In The Dark Tour kicked off here in Seattle, Pharrell, Chad, and Shae came through Sound Session for a little listening party for material off this album (what up Blaze!). Ish sounded dope then, and it’s even better now. It drops this coming Tuesday, June 10th, and if you have any sense in you, you’ll cop this over Wayne’s Carter III disaster. Support good music from artists who put their hearts and souls into their art, painstakingly analyzing every frequency and note they create…not someone who wastes his talent by getting trashed off every drug imaginable, mumbling his way through disjointed rhymes, and slapping the auto-tune effect on it. Hmm, perhaps that was a bit much. Maybe I am a hater. [Mavado] Anywaaaaaaaaay [/Mavado]

Since I interviewed N.E.R.D. right before I launched this blog, here’s a clip of Pharrell explaining the meaning behind the album’s title in case you missed it. Be sure to download the full version of the interview as well, right here.

And a hilarious bonus clip of Pharrell pushing this kid off the stage that’s been all over the net this week. The dap + shove move is clutch.

Remember: Cop the N.E.R.D. album on Tuesday!