The Audacity of Dope

In the immortal words of Cam’Ron on Bill O’Reilly, “I got dirty on you doggy!!!!!”

But in all seriousness, this is rather important stuff.  For many of us, the Keating Five scandal happened when we were just children.  I certainly didn’t know anything about it at the time, and only heard vague references about it before becoming heavily interested in politics a few years ago.

In essence, the behavior and decisions McCain made during this scandal, and even today, make it painfully clear that he is not someone who should have any impact over our economy, especially during a crisis like this.  I’m not an economist, but I do firmly believe that there’s a certain level of regulation that you need.  The basic Republican tenet of deregulation has been shown time and time again that it’s not beneficial for the country.  Simply put, they are awful in all economic matters unless you’re “rich.”  May I remind you:

Even if we make every single right decision from here on out, it will take years for us to recover, let alone excel.  Obama’s plan and team of economic advisors is head and shoulders above McCain’s, which is why the Republicans have decided to throw the kitchen sink of smears at Barack.  It’ll continue to get worse, until McCain completely ruins any sort of positive legacy he has cultivated over the years.  But actually, when you look at things like the Keating Five, perhaps his reputation isn’t so sterling after all.

Dope new video for the lead single from Murs‘ latest album, Murs For President, which is in stores now.  I hate when I get chased by acrobatic parkour experts wearing gimp masks too.  But on the serious tip:

“I coulda done a Nas and screamed “hip-hop is dead”/
I got up off my ass and I did something instead/
Signed with the devil, brought the scene up a level/
Killed the beast from within, I’m a born again rebel”

That sums up Sound Session perfectly.  I’ve always said that we’re like Neo operating within the Matrix.

Anyway, Murs will be here in Seattle on Saturday for a show with Kidz In The Hall at Nectar.  Before that, I’ll be linking up with him…any questions y’all want me to ask?

Video courtesy of OnSmash.

Brand new freestyle joint from 1/3rd of the mighty A.R.M. (what up Budo!  what up M.anifest!), the immensely talented Krukid.  You really need to peep how he rips Kanye’s beats and drops some insightful, educational ish about voting in this year’s election at the same time.  It was already my kind of track, and then Krukid went ahead and blessed The Audacity of Dope with a shout too?  Aw man, it’s a wrap.  Thanks homey!

Krukid – “Swagger Lockdown (A Voting PSA)”

Speaking of voting, an important note to my Seattle people: while our registration by mail deadline has passed, you can still register in person until October 20th if you go down to the King County Elections HQ in Renton.  For more information, take your tardy ass here.

Love it, especially because it’s open to so much interpretation.  Thoughts?  Ready for 808’s and Heartbreak, or are you scared?

Swiped from Tunj.

I was just talking to Jay Bird about this video at Jake One’s release party on Monday night, and lo and behold, here it is.  Slug and Ant never disappoint and this clip for “You” off their last album, When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint That Sh*t Gold, is no different.  I didn’t know this, but according to Jay Bird, that “fingerboarding” stuff is actually a legit activity.  It looks pretty dope, but I don’t think I’d want to spend my time practicing “fingerboarding.”  Maybe that’s just me.

Cop that Atmos!  Cop that Jake One!  RSE/206 connect all day.

(man, Marco is smoking in every video.  we gotta get you off those homey!)

Here’s the brand new video for Reef The Lost Cauze‘s “I Wonder,” produced by Marco Polo.  They circulated a trailer for this a few days ago, but here’s the full product.  Super dope.  In Reef’s own words:

This song actually was never supposed to happen. I got a beat cd from Marco at a Beat Society in like 2005. He gave me all these bangers, battle ready type joints. I was lovin it but there was this one joint that had such a dope feel to it, and it had this voice sayin “I wonder” in the chorus and I knew that was my beat. This shit was like number 14 on the cd and he was like “you sure? This is the one you want?” but I convinced him I would do it justice.

So some time went by and due to my budget I couldn’t afford to cop it off him, and he was trying to hook me up but he had bills too so I understood. I told him to try and hold it for as long as he could. So like a year went by, and the track was pretty much not gonna happen. We hadn’t spoken really, he was grinding and getting his placements and he was workin on his album as well. So I figured by now it was gone.

So as fate would have it, I seen him in Philly at this show I was playin at wit Wu, Redman, Jedi, and mad other people. It was nuts. He was supposed to have some tickets waiting but things got screwed up and I got him in, and after that he waived the fee haha. Funny thing is, after I got the greenlight to write to it, I got shook. I knew I wanted to say something but I didn’t know what. So I ended up not even finishing the song until I was on the train to his crib in Brooklyn to record it. I got high as shit, got on the train with the first verse written, put the beat on in my headphones and just wrote around the hook. It’s just things I wonder about, things I think about as a grown man in America. My perspective has changed over the years, I’m aware of more things going on in the world and this song articulates that somewhat.

A lot of it is just me trying to sound smart.

Word up.  Cop Reef’s album, A Vicious Cycle, on the 28th.  I thiiiiiiiink Seattle’s own MTK might have a beat on there.

Reef The Lost Cauze – “I Wonder”

Swiped from 2DopeBoyz.

I’m on my white guy ish right now.  My t-shirts feel tighter every day.  Sometimes you just gotta do it.

Here are two joints that have leaked recently, both of which are absolute fire.  The first is from Pharrell’s new group, Chester French, who are set to blow the hell up in 2009, if not earlier.  I’m still mad that these dudes had to cancel their Bumbershoot appearance and then didn’t open for Common & N.E.R.D.’s tour here in Seattle like they were supposed to.  Wtfffff.  Anyway, here’s the official, mastered version of their single:

Chester French – “She Loves Everybody”

Yeah, the dude who remade Kanye’s “Flashing Lights” into one of the illest joints of last year, Colin Munroe, is back with his own single.

Colin Munroe – “Will I Stay”

Be on the lookout for the remix with Wale too.  Eh what the hell, one more Chester French joint for the road…

Chester French – “My Party”

Apologies for the brief delay on posting up this week’s Sound Session, but best believe this was a classic night.  We were joined in studio by the big homies Jake One and Brother Ali to play Jake’s entire album, White Van Music, and talk all about it.  Well, we almost ran the entire thing.  Sorry Keak.

Since this is such an important piece of music for our hip-hop community here in Seattle, we had to celebrate.  That celebration carried on officially the next night at Jake’s release party, but this kind of kicked it off.  There were a ton of great stories told on (and off) air about how the project came together, so sit back, relax, and experience White Van Music.  Oh, and then COP IT IMMEDIATELY.

Our video expert Brian was in the studio documenting the night, so I’ll be posting up footage of the interview portions with Jake and Ali as soon as it’s ready.  Same goes for the release party the next night.  In the meantime, enjoy the SNSS audio through one of the links below:

Show #175 (10-5-08)
**Co-Hosted by Jake One & Brother Ali**

1. Jake One ft. Black Milk & Nottz – “I’m Coming” (Local Artist)
2. Jake One ft. M.O.P. – “Gangsta Boy” (Local Artist)
3. Jake One ft. Freeway & Brother Ali – “The Truth” (Local Artist)
4. Jake One – “Turn It Down” (Local Artist)
5. Jake One ft. D. Black – “God Like” (Local Artist)
6. Jake One ft. Little Brother – “Bless The Child” (Local Artist)
7. Jake One ft. Posdnuos (of De La Soul) & Slug (of Atmosphere) – “Oh Really” (Local Artist)
8. Jake One – “Hi” (Local Artist)
9. Jake One ft. MF Doom – “Trap Door” (Local Artist)
10. Jake One ft. Young Buck – “Dead Wrong” (Local Artist)
11. Jake One ft. Bishop Lamont & Busta Rhymes – “Kissin’ The Curb” (Local Artist)
12. Jake One ft. Freeway – “How We Ride” (Local Artist)
13. Jake One ft. Alchemist, Evidence, & Prodigy – “White Van” (Local Artist)
14. Jake One ft. J. Pinder, GMK, & Spaceman – “Big Homie Style” (Local Artist)
15. Jake One ft. Blueprint – “Scared” (Local Artist)
16. Jake One ft. MF Doom – “Get ‘Er Done” (Local Artist)
17. Jake One ft. Casual – “Feelin’ My Sh*t” (Local Artist)
18. Jake One ft. Elzhi & Royce The 5’9” – “Glow” (Local Artist)
19. Jake One – “R.I.P.” (Local Artist)
20. Jake One ft. Vitamin D, C Note, Maine, & Ish – “Home” (Local Artist)

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?ijm0j7uyj90
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/20192616e1aa393c/ )

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.

Chyea.  For those missing my Wack Lyric of the Day posts, this is hotter than LA sunshine.  Happy now?  Don’t worry, WLotD will be back soon.

But nah, for real, this is heat.  In case you can’t read above, the homies Thurz & Y-O linked up with Evidence, Big Pooh, Aloe Blacc, Fashawn, Mickey Factz, Theo, and Kes Kaos for the remix to their classic “Beautiful Day” cut.  Get that:

U-N-I ft. various artists – “Beautiful Day (Remix)”

And a little Sound Session throwback in case you forgot:

You can be cynical all you want, but I think it’s really dope to see people get inspired like Nas has been from Obama.  He’s obviously decided that he wants to educate himself on things that he wasn’t interested in prior to Barack running for office.  Whether you have this awakening at 18, 30, or have a reawakening at 65, this movement is real.  Is Barack the answer to all life’s ills?  Of course not.  Has he already changed the world for the better?  Definitely.

And are we just getting started?  Absolutely.

Shout to the homegirl KayCee for filming this.