The Audacity of Dope

Damn, watching this clip was like watching the last episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 🙁

But in all seriousness, Little Brother’s music as a group meant so much to me and played such an important role in my life from 2001 to now, it’s definitely sad that they’re ending the group (…at least for now).  Of course, on a positive note, Phonte, Pooh, and 9th will be making lots of great music in the years to come and judging by other group breakups and rapper retirements, I don’t know if I’ll give up all hope just yet…

Not exactly a happy go-lucky record, but definitely a dope (no pun) track and video from Sky.  Directed by Artemus Jenkins, off Skyzoo’s The Salvation.

Self-explanatory.

Oh hell yes.  As referenced here, Shad’s new album, TSOL, is on the way and I couldn’t be more excited for a project this year.  I think the only other rapper that makes me rewind for lyrics as much as Shad is Lupe, and y’all already know I’m a Lupe Stan.  If you aren’t up on Shad, don’t worry, there’s room on the bandwagon.  But um…get on NOW.

Shad – “Yaa I Get It”

Spread the mp3 to your people and share the good word on Shad…

“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.

This kid Kendrick Lamar really came out of nowhere in the past year to become one of my favorite new MC’s.  He spazzed on this joint something crazy.  Shout to Dave for sending it through.

Damn…the girl in this video is hella cute.  Oh…and the song is dope too. LOOOL @ Double-O’s adlibs.

Thurzday and Y-O are back with another video off A Love Supreme 2.0, this one directed by Jerome D for “Desha Dayana.”  Freshness.

Slow down J, you’re killin’ em.

Damn, my man who doesn’t like when I post Drake stuff on the site is gonna want to skip over this one too hahah.  Not to compare the two unfairly, but Donnis does share Drake’s abilities to appeal to a nice cross-section of the hip-hop crowd.  He can rap.  He can make catchy hooks (this one is a monster).  He picks good beats.  As he references in the song…it’s a nice mixture of Kanye, T.I., ‘Kast, Jay-Z influences, combined with his own talent that shapes his sound.  I’m a fan.