Murs & 9th speak on Sweet Lord (part 1)

Posted in Artists, Other Peoples' Interviews, Videos on August 12th, 2008 by Hyphen

(woah, sneak diss there at the end…yikes.)

Murs, 9th Wonder, and Murs’ hair talk about why you should download Sweet Lord if you haven’t already.  And if you haven’t, why not?  It’s free.  Go grab it here.  Sidenote, has anyone seen an interview where Murs explains his hair?  Seriously, he must have talked about it.  I know people who won’t even check for dude because of it, and I need some funny explanation to placate them.  I might have to ask him about it at Rock The Bells, but really…I don’t want to be that guy.

Courtesy of Always Hustle, who apparently will drop part two tomorrow.

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Wyclef Jean on Sound Session (again!)

Posted in Artists, Interviews, Live Performances, Politics, Sound Session, Videos on August 11th, 2008 by Hyphen

(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.

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Shawn & Gary

Posted in Sports, Videos on August 8th, 2008 by Hyphen

*tear*

Saw this on the Laced Up blog (what up fellas?) and had to post it.  Too many classic memories in there.  I mean, come on…how many times do you see someone get dunked on and dap the dude who did it (3:58)?  I can’t believe they’re gone.

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Emilio Rojas on Loud Favorites

Posted in Artists, Live Performances, Other Peoples' Interviews, Videos on August 8th, 2008 by Hyphen

The homey Emilio got a nice feature on Loud Favorites the other day.  He talks a little about his background, the Phaze One project, DJ K.O.’s upcoming album, and his own EP due out soon.  If you missed his video for “That Time,” check it out here.  Bonus footage of Emilio spitting some bars (killed ’em!) after the jump.

Spotted at the Dopehouse.

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Kardinal Offishall on Hip-Hop Official

Posted in Artists, Other Peoples' Interviews, Videos on August 8th, 2008 by Hyphen

Kardi links up with HHO for a quick interview talking about his album, breaking through with “Dangerous,” and his Black Jays/Circle families.  Of course, if you want the thorough interview, check Kardi on Sound Session.  Another interview with him from JumpOffTV at his listening party after the jump too.

Swiped from Nah Right.

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Bishop Lamont on the red carpet at HOB LA

Posted in Artists, Other Peoples' Interviews, Videos on August 7th, 2008 by Hyphen

The homey Bishop Lamont sold out the House of Blues Los Angeles recently and a whole bunch of the new west coast movement showed up to support.  Bishop also speaks briefly on his upcoming album, The Reformation, but you can hear a much more thorough discussion on everything he’s doing on Sound Session in the next few weeks…stay tuned.

Spotted on Nah Right.

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“Can I Talk My Ish Again?”…’Ye in NYC

Posted in Artists, Live Performances, Videos on August 6th, 2008 by Hyphen

Yes, you can.

The #1 Human Being, Kanye West, performed at Madison Square Garden in NYC last night, and tore it down as usual.  Instead of his traditional “I’m, I’m…sky high!” rendition of “Touch The Sky,” he ended the song with a heartfelt speech to the crowd.  This is why dude is my one of my favorite people in the industry (well, that and this).  Although he’s still completely wrong about Souljah Boy being dope, he’s spot on concerning everything else.  And even when I disagree with what he says, “you gotta love it though, somebody still speak from his soul.”

Spotted at Info’s, who, according to interviews I’ve been reading to prepare for my own later on today, is public enemy #1 for an upcoming Sound Session guest.  It’s wack when two people actually doing good work in this industry filled with morons (note to email blasters) have a misunderstanding.  I’m sure it ain’t that serious though, *shrug*.

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Wale, Green Lantern, Just Blaze, Skyzoo, & Supernatural freestyling @ RTB

Posted in Artists, Live Performances, Videos on August 5th, 2008 by Hyphen

This is the kind of ish that I love about hip-hop: just people relaxing, having fun, and showing their skills.  Wale, Green, Just, Sky, and Supernat have a little freestyle session backstage at Rock The Bells (NYC, I think).  Supernat killed it, obviously, but Just kinda ripped it there too.  Is there anything that dude can’t do?  LOL @ Wale at the end, greatness.

Spotted at Info’s.

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The Fugees on RapCity (Canada), Pt. 2

Posted in Artists, Live Performances, Other Peoples' Interviews, Videos on August 5th, 2008 by Hyphen

The second part of the interview with Wyclef, Lauryn, and Pras in Toronto from 1994 (first part here).  Still crazy to think this happened almost 15 years ago.  Can you imagine if the Fugees stayed together?  I think they’d be right there challenging Outkast as the greatest group of all time.  Without exaggeration, The Score, The Carnival, and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill are all in my top 10, easily.  Look out for a new interview with Clef this weekend where he reflected a lot on these “good ol’ days.”

Video courtesy of The Meaning of Dope.

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Pacific Division = HHO Artist of the Week

Posted in Artists, Live Performances, Videos on August 4th, 2008 by Hyphen

Pac Div get a little feature on Hip-Hop Official as they’re named Artist of the Week.  They explain how their deal with Universal came about, how they have more substance than you may think, and how everyone in the game is a “hipster rapper.”  There’s also some footage from a live performance of “Women Problems” from one of those Standard Hotel rooftop parties everyone in LA seems to tell me about.  Look out for an Inverse feature on HHO soon…

Spotted at Eskay’s.

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