The Audacity of Dope

A few weeks back on Sound Session, we had the pleasure of chopping it up with one of hip-hop’s rising stars, J. Cole, during his first trip to Seattle.  I’ll admit that I wasn’t up on J back when The Come Up dropped, but a few homies recommended it shortly after the release, and I once I checked it out, I was hooked.  Now that The Warm Up has solidified his “got next” status and he’s on tour with Jay-Z, it’s only a matter of time before he becomes a household name.

Peep our 3 part interview with Cole to hear him discuss all sorts of topics:

Part 1:

(watch on HyphenTV)

• His background and influences
• How he found his own voice on the mic
• His first rap names
• The tenacity in his delivery
• How graduating college helped him as an artist and person
• His experiences hustling beats as a producer

Part 2:

(watch on HyphenTV)

• His audition with Jay-Z and when he got signed to Roc Nation
• The Come Up vs. The Warm Up
• The state of his basketball game these days
• The Blueprint 3 tour and Jay’s cosign
• The status of his debut album
• His production influences

Part 3:

(watch on HyphenTV)

• Where he sees himself in 5 years
• What he would change about the music industry
• His 5 favorite foods
• The decline of MySpace

You can also download the entire interview, including some topics that weren’t included in the video segments, right here:

J. Cole on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?amymlnnjndy
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/6849461769676d85/)

“Everyday a star is born…”

My goodness, this ish is hard as f**k!

Be sure to peep my interview with Malice and Pusha from Sound Session recently.

EGGGGHHHHHHCK!!!

As a prelude to their collab album, The Stimulus Package (February 16th, 2010), the big homey Jacob Wizzle links up with Freeway and Don Cannon to release The Beat Made Me Do It.  As J. Moore always says, “Freeway just loves to rap.”  And he’s exceptionally good at it.  Cop this immediately.

Download here.

Flawless track(s) and video, though I would have loved to see “Young Black Male” get a full treatment.  That’s one of my favorite songs of the year and every verse on there is fire.  Directed by Carey Williams, who also handled duties for “Pac Div” and “Throwing My Money.”

If you haven’t downloaded Church League Champions yet, what are you waiting for?

I don’t know why I love this as much as I do.

This dude is so ill on the drums.  Ridiculous.  Download link courtesy of the Dopehouse.

Drake ft. Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Eminem – “Forever (Travis Barker Remix)”

Oh, and for the record: after further inspection, Lil Wayne remains thoroughly outclassed on this track.

Here’s a mixtape from Michigan-native Mike Posner that came out a few weeks ago, but I felt it was worth posting just in case people missed it. There’s definitely a handful of noteworthy records on this project. Check out “Speed of Sound” and “You Don’t Have To Leave,” plus there is an eerie rendition of John Mayer’s “I Don’t Trust Myself.”

Posner is an emerging song-writer/singer to look out for as he recently signed a deal with Jive Records.

Download here (courtesy of 2DopeBoyz) – http://www.mediafire.com/?ojtnmmlz55m

On Monday, Nov. 16th, Raphael Saadiq will be performing at the Showbox Market and he’s bringing with him one of the dopest, up and coming singers out there, Anjulie.  Because Anjulie and her folks are so cool, she’ll be kicking it with us on Sound Session live in studio the night before.  And since we’re so cool, we’re giving you a chance to join us as well.

If you and a guest want to meet Anjulie, sit in the studio throughout our radio show, and take home a signed copy of her self titled debut, all you need to do is email me – DJHyphen@gmail.com – the answer to this (incredibly simple) question:

What province in Canada is Anjulie from?

That’s it.  Contest ends Friday at 10am.  I’ll be selecting one person to receive a pair of passes to join us, Anjulie, and the other winners we got on the air Sunday night.  Good luck!

Just the biz this week…shout to the homey Kosha Dillz for coming through the studio and kickin’ it with us.  Anjulie will be sitting in next week, don’t miss it!

Any Seattle people going to check out Little Dragon tonight at Nectar?  “I’m so excited!!!!”

Show #232 (11-8-09)

1. Clipse ft. Cam’ron & Pharrell – “Popular Demand (Popeyes)”
2. Nipsey Hussle ft. Snoop Dogg & Pooh Bear – “Gangsta’s Life”
3. DJ Crazy Toones ft. Kurupt – “2 Turntables and a Microphone”
4. People Under The Stairs – “Down In L.A.”
5. Fashawn – “The Ecology”
6. Brother Ali ft. Freeway & Joell Ortiz – “Best@it”
7. Royce Da 5’9” ft. Busta Rhymes – “Dinner Time”
8. **INTERVIEW WITH KOSHA DILLZ, PT. 1**
9. Ghostface Killah ft. John Legend – “Let’s Stop Playin’”
10. Ice The Villain ft. Raheem DeVaughn – “Walk With You”
11. EvergreenOne & Todd Sykes – “Girl Song” (Local Music)
12. Sol ft. Grynch – “No Sleep” (Local Music)
13. J. Cole – “Welcome”
14. Mike Posner ft. Big Sean & Freddie Gibbs – “Bring Me Down”
15. CunninLynguists ft. Freddie Gibbs – “Imperial”
16. **INTERVIEW WITH KOSHA DILLZ, PT. 2**
17. Kosha Dillz – “L.A. Ish”
18. Little Dragon – “Runabout”
19. Timbaland ft. Drake & Lupe Fiasco – “Say Something (DJ Hyphen Edit)”
20. Emilio Rojas – “Tic Toc”
21. Blue Scholars ft. Shad – “Dawn’s Song” (Local Music)
22. Mr. Hudson – “White Lies”
23. Kosha Dillz – “Live Freestyle”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?ejjgzmm2mxo
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/682545044e8b3b70/)

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.

Easily one of the darkest moments in human history, but Tewz, a dope producer from Chicago, turns it into a moving piece of art.  Here’s his description:

I shot this video in Japan during the Summer of 2009. All of the archival footage was shot entirely from the video monitors in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum at the exact location where the first atomic bomb was dropped. I developed the Super 8 film entirely by hand in the bathroom of my apartment on Grand in Chicago, Il. The music was created from 45’s I purchased in Japan during the same time.