Sound Session #291 (12-26-10) – Best of 2010

Posted in Episodes, Sound Session on December 27th, 2010 by Hyphen

In a few days, we’ll all celebrate the end of another year (or do you celebrate the start of the next…glass half full vs. half empty?) but before 2011 arrives, it’s tradition that every media outlet in the world releases some sort of wrap up on the previous 12 months.  Here at SNSS, we’re no different…although ours is [hubris] inherently better [/hubris].  In reviewing last year’s Best of 2009 list, I noticed my explanation still applies:

Keep in mind, these are not the biggest records of the year…nor the blogosphere favorites…or Twitter picks.  Nah, these are 26 24 of our favorite songs that we played heavily on SNSS in 2009 2010.  They are not in any sort of countdown or follow any other ranking schema.  We included a few of our favorite records from the town and crossed into other genres as well.  In other words, we followed our normal formula for spinning great music on the radio, but we just supersized it on some Barry Bonds-Roger Clemons-Alex Rodriguez super powered steroid type steez.

Speaking of baseball, we’re closing in on our 300th show.  Not exactly at Cy Young level yet, but still a notable accomplishment in today’s radio environment.  As always, we’re thankful to have the opportunity to shine light on great music and talented artists, plus we really appreciate every soul who tunes in.  We had more positive feedback and new listeners in 2010 than ever before and SNSS continues to move onward and upward.  In all seriousness, it’s humbling to be one of the last bastions of the culture on commercial hip-hop radio.  Thank you.

As I did last year, I’ve included some notes for our selections below, as well as a few honorable mention picks that we would have included on the air if we had enough time.  Any feedback/debate is welcome.  Did we miss any joints in particular?

Enjoy!

Show #291 (12-26-10)
**Best of 2010**

  1. Nas & Damian Marley – “As We Enter”
  2. Big Boi ft. Andre 3000 & Sleepy Brown – “Lookin’ 4 Ya (Full Mix)”
  3. Candidt ft. Maya Jenkins – “Imaginary Stereo” (Local Music)
  4. N.E.R.D. ft. Nelly Furtado – “Hot-N-Fun”
  5. Freddie Gibbs – “National Anthem (FTW)”
  6. Big K.R.I.T. ft. Devin The Dude & Curren$y – “Moon & Stars (Hyphen Remix)”
  7. Wiz Khalifa ft. Killa Kyleon – “Spotlight”
  8. Concise Kilgore – “Alaska”
  9. Freeway & Jake One ft. Raekwon – “One Thing” (Local Music)
  10. Aloe Blacc – “Dollar”
  11. Nottz ft. Dwele – “You Need This Music”
  12. Reflection Eternal ft. Jay Electronica, J. Cole, & Mos Def – “Just Begun”
  13. The Physics – “My Place” (Local Music)
  14. U-N-I ft. Miguel – “Lately”
  15. Kanye West ft. Dwele – “Power”
  16. Rick Ross ft. Jay-Z & John Legend – “Free Mason”
  17. The Roots ft. STS & Joanna Newsom – “Right On”
  18. Bilal – “All Matter”
  19. Shad – “Rose Garden”
  20. Theophilus London – “Flying Overseas (Version 1)”
  21. Sol – “Dear Friends” (Local Music)
  22. Dom Kennedy – “1997”
  23. The Kid Daytona – “On The Hill”
  24. Drake – “Fall For Your Type (Same Mistakes)”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?dgoqsov4ft9aqld
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/84451733eaf81c64/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/vfjlt0697jzy)

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.

Notes:

  1. Lead single off a hugely underrated album.  Damian’s production guidance + Nas’ introspective social commentary = WIN.
  2. It’s a shame that this flawless Outkast record (Dre’s verses!) wasn’t even on Big Boi’s album because of label politics. The Clipse told y’all bout Jive…
  3. Speaking of ‘Kast, this local gem sounded like it was birthed at Stankonia…but with a west coast and distinctly Seattle influence.
  4. “Ok, we wrote this for a purpose…” and they succeeded.  Stadium music, 50 thousand at a time.
  5. Gibbs is everything that hip-hop purists want in a MC.  We almost picked “The Ghetto,” but this record was harder, thanks largely to a chorus reminiscent of Pac’s best.
  6. When a record has an incredible chorus and Devin The Dude featured on it, you just assume he supplies it.  Not here, where Krit’s crooning steals the show.  I blended Curren$y’s verse from the remix with the original to round it out.
  7. There were a handful of great records on Kush & OJ and we were one of the shows to help break “Black and Yellow,” but our favorite was “Spotlight.”  Wiz wins the best adlib of 2010 with, “this beat go perfect with my belt.”  TGOD.
  8. I guarantee we’re the only show with this record on our Best of 2010 list, but that’s a shame.  The Sade sample gets flipped so nasty, you can’t help but make the Cliff face when you hear it.  Possibly my favorite beat of the year.
  9. Extended fam of SNSS (you may have caught J. Moore as Free’s hypeman on tour this year) dropped a great album and thanks to a careful clean edit, this was our favorite track to play off The Stimulus Package.
  10. Aloe was EVERYwhere in 2010 and his success is well deserved.  Many in the country don’t know the artist, but they know the song.  And he murdered “Politician” live in studio with us.  Epitome of an artist.
  11. Between the title, the lyrics, the hook, and the beat, no record summed up SNSS better than this song.  Take your corporate $$’s thaaaaattaway.
  12. Talib and Hi-Tek not only reunited with each other and Mos, but they brought along newcomers Jay Elec and J. Cole for an instant classic.  As Kweli mentioned in studio with us, this record could fit right in with any early Blackstar/RE project.  And that’s a beautiful thing.
  13. The Physics delivered our favorite local record of 2009 with “I Just Wanna Beat,” and they’re on the list again with the less direct, but equally sultry, “My Place.”
  14. And when wifey is at your place, play this record and let Miguel talk to her.  “You on my mind right now…”
  15. My favorite artist of the year (and the decade…and ever?) with the biggest song of the year.  Everything Yeezy did in 2010 was an event and this comeback record sparked it all.  Plus, the homey S1 got introduced to the rest of the world with a great look.  “No one man should have all that power”…but he does.
  16. I was ready to go back to back ‘Ye with “Live Fast, Die Young,” but J picked another great track from the Bawse.  Kudos to Ross, who successfully evolved from an industry punchline a few years ago to making some of the best mainstream hip-hop music we have.  His ear for beats might be the best in the whole industry.
  17. An incredible beat is complemented by a somewhat lackluster verse, until we hear, “I’m Black Thought, what could be more prolific?” and the song kicks into the next level.
  18. J’s favorite song of the year has an eerie Marley-esque feel to its lyrics and Bilal hitting notes that only he can.  Honorable mention for one of my favorites, “Think It Over,” off the same album.
  19. Sharing the “best writer in the game” title with Lupe Fiasco, Shad finally got some well deserved respect stateside in 2010.  If you’re still sleeping, you’ll wake up soon.  Don’t worry.
  20. Anytime your song acts as my ringtone for a good 6 months of the year, you’ll likely make the Best Of wrap up.  Your getaway anthem.
  21. As I mentioned in the post for this video, Sol is one of Seattle’s rising stars.  And with our well respected scene, he’ll soon be making noise around the country.  Cop it now while his rookie card is cheap.
  22. “1997” sounds like it was a great year for Dom and a 15 year old Hyph would agree.  I also agree that “I hate how rappers use the term fresh so looooooosely.”
  23. Daytona is one of our favorite MC’s in the game right now and his flow over this classic sample are a match made in heaven.  Add in a Nutso/Leon “Above The Rim” reference from the greatest movie ever made and I’m all in.  “He’s playin ball…with no ball!”
  24. Yes, Drake’s singing.  Yes, he has limited range.  Yes, 40’s beats aren’t the most varied (…yet).  Yes, he gave this record to Jamie Foxx.  But yes, he has an incredible knack for capturing situations many of us have been in through his lyrics and yes, this is one of the best records of 2010.  Don’t make the same mistakes in 2011.

Honorable mentions from artists not otherwise represented:

  • Black Milk ft. Royce Da 5’9″ & Elzhi – “Deadly Medley”
  • Donnis – “Gone”
  • Homeboy Sandman – “Mean Mug”
  • Janelle Monae – “Cold War”
  • Jay Electronica ft. Diddy – “Ghost Of Christopher Wallace”
  • J. Cole – “Who Dat”
  • Kidz In The Hall – “Grizzly Man”
  • Laws – “Hold You Down”
  • Lupe Fiasco – “I’m Beaming”
  • Miguel ft. J. Cole – “All I Want Is You”
  • Slum Village ft. Posdnuos & Phife Dawg – “Scheming”
  • The Foreign Exchange – “Maybe She’ll Dream Of Me”
  • Trek Life – “Wow”

Of course there are more, but if you really want to know all the records we liked in 2010, peep our archives!  See you in 2011!

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England v. USA…in Legos

Posted in Comedy, Sports, Videos on June 14th, 2010 by Hyphen

Legos make everything better.

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Sound Session #258 (5-9-10)

Posted in Episodes, Sound Session on May 10th, 2010 by Hyphen

As I was jotting down this week’s playlist, I looked at the date and thought, “hmm…May…isn’t that supposed to signify something special?”  I suppose this is how married folks feel when anniversary time comes around (speaking of which, happy anniversary to the ‘rents! And Happy Mother’s Day as well! Love you guys).  You realize you’re supposed to do something, but you can’t remember exactly what.

After checking my ring finger, I realized, no…I’m not married…but damn, this past week marks 5 full years of Sound Session on the air at KUBE 93.  Our very first episode was on May 8th, 2005 and 257 shows later, here we are at May 9th, 2010.  Since we tend to keep track of milestones by episode rather than date, J. Moore and I didn’t even realize it until just now.  While we’re certainly proud of hosting an independent hip-hop show on commercial radio without compromising one iota for 5 years, as we’ve always maintained, everything we do actually has little to do with us.  Instead, it has everything to do with the artists, the listeners, the higher ups who believe in our abilities, and most importantly, the culture that we live and breathe every day.

Even when we play non-hip-hop records, we are hip-hop in our mindset, ideals, and actions.  The folks that can relate also know that you do what you do without any need for praise or recognition.  You do it because you don’t know any other way.  That’s Sound Session and that’s why 5 years have gone by in a blink of an eye.  Here’s to many more…

Show #258 (5-9-10)

  1. Jay Rock – “Love My Momma”
  2. Donwill ft. Ca$he & The Park – “Love Junkie Wallpaper (Remix)”
  3. Kidz In The Hall – “Grizzly Man”
  4. Eminem – “Despicable”
  5. Shad – “Yaa I Get It”
  6. J-Live – “The Way That I Rhyme”
  7. Moe Green – “Hometown”
  8. Aloe Blacc – “Take Me Back”
  9. The Physics – “My Place” (Local Music)
  10. Bruno Mars ft. Cee-Lo & B.o.B – “The Other Side”
  11. N.E.R.D. ft. Nelly Furtado – “Hot-N-Fun”
  12. Lupe Fiasco ft. Alicia Keys – “Love Letter To The Beat”
  13. Theophilus London – “I Want You”
  14. Jay Electronica ft. Diddy – “Ghost Of Christopher Wallace”
  15. Diamond District – “Streets Won’t Let Me Chill (Apollo Brown Remix)”
  16. Roc Marciano – “Thug’s Prayer”
  17. J. Cole – “Who Dat”
  18. Bop Alloy (Substantial & Marcus D) – “Save The Day” (Local Music)
  19. Ghostface Killah ft. Mary J. Blige – “All That I Got Is You” (Throwback of the Week)
  20. B.o.B ft. Ricco Barrino – “5th Dimension”
  21. Jack The Ripper ft. Geologic, Sol, & Scribes – “Don’t Look Back” (Local Music)
  22. Nas & Damian Marley ft. Dennis Brown – “The Promised Land”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?njjydlde0yh
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/75946676a98fa748/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/fbd1pudjnx7c)

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.

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K’Naan – Waving Flag (Celebration Mix) (video)

Posted in Artists, Music Videos, Sports on March 13th, 2010 by Hyphen

The official song of the 2010 World Cup gets a more universal remix and a dope video from Nabil Elderkin.  I wish I was headed to South Africa, but I’m already scheming on Brazil 2014…

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Jenesis Magazine – January 2010 issue featuring…me!

Posted in News, Sound Session on January 11th, 2010 by Hyphen

I never thought I’d ever utter the words, “I’m on the cover of a magazine,” but thanks to Thomas and the good folks over at Jenesis, I can cross that off the bucket list!  If you aren’t familiar with Jenesis, it’s a really dope online mag that everyone who frequents this site should enjoy.  They routinely profile great artists and show love to pretty much everyone that we support via TAOD and Sound Session.  Be sure to download this month’s article to check out the feature on yours truly, along with some dope pieces that round out the “DJ’s vs. Bloggers Issue.”

Download hereJanuary 2010 Jenesis Magazine

Much like the article in the Seattle P.I. highlighting J. Moore, SNSS, and myself, I’m flattered and very appreciative of the support Jenesis is giving with this piece.  Many thanks to the owner Thomas Agnew and the writer Mike Wilson.  Thanks fellas!

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Sound Session #240 (1-3-10)

Posted in Episodes, Sound Session on January 4th, 2010 by Hyphen

Fresh off the heels of our Best of 2009 edition of SNSS, this week’s episode brings us back to our usual routine.  In other words, more of the same great music that you’re not hearing anywhere else on commercial radio.  And if you’d like some evidence (in case our archives aren’t proof enough), be sure to check out this new article in the Seattle P.I. about SNSS: Sunday Night Sound Session – The Best Radio Show You’ve Never Heard.

Of course, you’re already familiar with the show cause you’re a fellow music lover, but big shout to Elliott Smith for writing the piece and helping spread the word to the masses.  Be sure to check out his sports and movie blogs as well, great stuff.

And now…I present to you…without exaggeration…the best Sound Session we’ve done this entire decade!

Show #240 (1-3-10)

  1. Skillz – “2009 Wrap Up”
  2. Clipse ft. Yo Gotti – “Showing Out”
  3. Slum Village – “Da Night”
  4. Black Milk – “Keep Going”
  5. Fashawn – “Memory Lane Freestyle”
  6. AZ – “I’m Ill”
  7. Reflection Eternal ft. Jay Electronica, J. Cole, & Mos Def – “Just Begun”
  8. **INTERVIEW WITH NEEMA**
  9. Grieves & Budo – “Smile For The Blade” (Local Music)
  10. Grand Agent – “One Man Army”
  11. Bavu Blakes – “May I”
  12. Strange Fruit Project – “Sepia Tone”
  13. The Knux ft. Malbec – “Fruits”
  14. Outasight – “Downtown In My Mind”
  15. AB – “Less Than Enough”
  16. Lupe Fiasco – “I’m Beaming”
  17. Robin Thicke ft. Snoop Dogg – “It’s In The Morning”
  18. Clemm Rishad ft. Adrian – “Windows” (Local Music)
  19. 1-O.A.K. – “Lovecats”
  20. Miike Snow – “Animal (Mark Ronson Remix)”
  21. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – “The End” (Local Music)

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?dajjmjjwozg
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/70807600943fefd1/)

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.

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