The Audacity of Dope

(L-R: Upendo, Maseo, (Vitamin), Marcus, & DV)

Last Sunday, many of those closest to J. Moore gathered at Ciudad in Seattle, one of the venues owned by Jon’s longtime friend and business partner, Marcus Lalario.  It was held 2 days after Jon’s 48th birthday on April 21st, which I’m happy to say is now officially known as Jonathan Moore Day in the City of Seattle.  Dope to see one Mayor recognize another.

I also posted up a classic SNSS episode from his 44th birthday in 2013, complete with all sorts of gems from Jon on life & death, here.  Hope you enjoy the walk down memory lane…

The memorial at Ciudad was a great event (albeit a bit heavy on the Egyptian Musk) and we had a blast catching up and remembering J’s life.  Everyone grieves in different ways, but one thing’s for sure: J would want us to focus more on celebrating life than mourning it.  The building was filled with life, love, laughter, and music, all things that I’ll forever associate with Jon.  Thank you to everyone who came through and special thanks to Marcus for organizing the event.

Marcus, Upendo, DV-One, and Maseo from De La Soul all came through Sound Session to kick it with DJ Nphared and I after the festivities.  We played new tracks from artists like Big Boi, Killer Mike, Organized Noize, Joi, Snoh Aalegra, Vince Staples, Gorillaz, Pinder, Kendrick, Black Thought, Talib + Styles P, ANoyd, Little Dragon, Porter Ray, Dave B, and more.

It was especially fun to interview Maseo again, an absolute hip-hop legend.  We chatted about De La’s history, NYC rap over the years, the artificial nature of the commercial vs. underground divide (including his regret for being a part of the Roots’ “What They Do” video), and of course, his friendship with Jon that dated back to 1989!  Vinny & Johnny, the Merlot Brothers.  Shout to all the fellas for coming through and helping send off Jon right.

Show #592 (4/23/17)
**Co-hosted by DJ Nphared**

1. Big Boi ft. Killer Mike & Jeezy – “Kill Jill”
2. Organized Noize ft. Joi & 2 Chainz – “Kush”
3. Snoh Aalegra ft. Vince Staples – “Nothing Burns Like The Cold”
4. Pinder ft. Choice & Gifted Gab – “Focused” (Local Music)
5. Kendrick Lamar ft. Zacari – “LOVE.”
6. David Banner ft. Black Thought & WatchTheDuck – “Who Want It”
7. J. Period ft. Pharoahe Monch, Posdnuos, Black Thought, & Joss Stone – “Rise Up!”
8. Talib Kweli & Styles P ft. Common & Little Vic – “Teleprompters”
9. Joey Badass ft. Schoolboy Q – “Rockabye”
10. ANoyd – “Brand Name Water”
11. **INTERVIEW WITH MARCUS LALARIO & MASEO (OF DE LA SOUL)**
12. GoldLink ft. Jazmine Sullivan & Kaytranada – “Meditation”
13. Little Dragon ft. Agge – “Celebrate”
14. Gorillaz ft. Vince Staples – “Ascension”
15. The Cool Kids – “TV Dinner”
16. **INTERVIEW WITH MASEO (OF DE LA SOUL)**
17. Nas – “Halftime” (Throwback of the Week)
18. Porter Ray – “East Seattle” (Local Music)
19. Dave B – “Dive” (Local Music)
20. **INTERVIEW WITH MARCUS LALARIO, DV-ONE, & MASEO (OF DE LA SOUL)**

Download – https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72U-rgJjvmWcDdwSWFtbW1BSm8

If you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and stream/download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

Feels like a whirlwind couple days for me, as we did this week’s Sound Session episode from just off Wall Street in New York City and now I’m writing this from back in Australia, a mere 10k miles apart.  Shout to everyone I saw in NYC and double that for everyone I didn’t get a chance to catch up with.  Time ran out but we’ll get up next time!

In the meantime, enjoy this week’s episode featuring new music from Smoke DZA & Pete Rock, Pearl Gates, Tribe, Like & Kali Uchis, The Weeknd & Daft Punk, Topaz Jones, Jhene Aiko, Daniel Caesar, Yo Trane, Blu & Union Analogtronics, Innanet James, Common, and more.  Some really good records in there, enjoy!

Show #577 (11/20/16)

1. Smoke DZA & Pete Rock ft. Jadakiss, Styles P, & BJ The Chicago Kid – “Milestone”
2. Meek Mill – “Blue Notes”
3. All Star Opera – “Give You This Feeling” (Local Music)
4. Like ft. Kali Uchis – “Blah Loops”
5. Kung Foo Grip x SCLY ft. Jamel Moxey – “This Is Life” (Local Music)
6. Pearl Gates & Syll – “Symphonic”
7. The Game – “Grew Up On Wu-Tang”
8. A Tribe Called Quest – “The Space Program”
9. De La Soul – “Ego Trippin’ (Part Two)” (Throwback of the Week)
10. Mayer Hawthorne – “Time For Love”
11. The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk – “I Feel It Coming”
12. Topaz Jones – “Motion Sickness”
13. Jay Prince ft. Jordan Rakei – “Where You Belong”
14. Macklemore – “Wednesday Morning” (Local Music)
15. Ray BLK – “50/50”
16. Childish Gambino – “Redbone”
17. Daniel Caesar ft. Kali Uchis – “Get You”
18. Jhene Aiko – “Maniac”
19. Yo Trane – “Late Night Drive”
20. starRo ft. Masego – “Yams”
21. Blu & Union Analogtronics – “One Two”
22. GTA – “Illuminate”
23. Common ft. PJ – “Unfamiliar”
24. Innanet James – “Black”
25. Alicia Keys – “More Than We Know”

Link to download – https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72U-rgJjvmWWGZuazBTMGhuTWM

If you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and stream/download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

As I write this, all sorts of craziness is happening in Dallas.  No write up this week.  Just stay safe out there and love each other, please.

New music on this week’s SNSS from Logic, Masta Ace, Slim Thug, Jidenna, Knox Brown, Tom Bailey, R.LUM.R, Flores, Khalid, GoldLink, Tom Misch, and more.  2 throwbacks celebrating the 20th anniversaries of 2 classic albums as well.

Show #558 (7/3/16)

1. Logic – “Flexicution”
2. Vic Mensa – “16 Shots”
3. Masta Ace ft. Pav Bundy, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, & Chuck D – “Young Black Intelligent”
4. A-F-R-O & Marco Polo – “Long Time Coming”
5. Apathy – “Pay Your Dues”
6. Slim Thug – “Peaceful”
7. Nas ft. JoJo Hailey (of Jodeci) – “Black Girl Lost” (Throwback of the Week)
8. K.A.A.N. – “Music”
9. Bop Alloy (Marcus D & Substantial) ft. Steph The Sapphic Songstress – “Party With A Purpose” (Local Music)
10. Jay IDK – “Somebody”
11. Jidenna – “Chief Don’t Run”
12. Knox Brown ft. Anderson .Paak – “No Slaves”
13. De La Soul ft. Common – “The Bizness” (Throwback of the Week)
14. Vursatyl – “If These Walls Could Talk” (Local Music)
15. Loyle Carner ft. Kwes – “Florence”
16. Tom Misch – “I Wish”
17. Tom Bailey – “Voodoo Woman 2.0”
18. R.LUM.R – “Frustrated”
19. Palmistry – “Club Aso”
20. Gifted Gab ft. Mario Sweet – “Piece Of My Love” (Local Music)
21. Miguel – “Come Through and Chill”
22. Flores – “Oceans”
23. Khalid – “Location”
24. GoldLink ft. Masego – “Late Night (Swell Remix)”
25. Yuna – “Best Love”

Link to download – https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72U-rgJjvmWa1FwWnZhb1FCYUk

If you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and stream/download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” – Mike Tyson

That phrase popped into my head twice recently: first on Sunday when Rougned Odor gave us the 2016 version of Chris Child to Kobe, clocking Jose Bautista (if you haven’t seen, behold) and secondly, tonight, when the Thunder stepped to the Warriors and handed them only their 2nd home loss all season.  In the long run, both Joey Bats and the Warriors will be ok, but they certainly lost any lingering air of invincibility, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Dubs can recover.  One thing is for sure, the entire city of Seattle is hoping they do…

As for the music on this week’s SNSS, it was decidedly less confrontational.  Smooth tracks from dvsn, River Tiber, Barney Artist, Jay Prince, Rittz, Katy B, Kaytranada, ScienZe, and Chance The Rapper anchored the show.  Special throwback celebrating 25 years of De La Soul Is Dead.  Stream or download below, hope you enjoy!

Show #552 (5/15/16)

1. DJ Quik & Problem – “Straight To The City With It”
2. REKS – “The Recipe”
3. Candidt – “We Won” (Local Music)
4. Schoolboy Q ft. Kanye West – “That Part”
5. Skepta ft. Pharrell – “Numbers”
6. George Maple ft. GoldLink – “Sticks and Horses”
7. TWENTY88 (Big Sean & Jhene Aiko) – “Talk Show”
8. Tope – “Better Place” (Local Music)
9. ScienZe ft. Sidsel Ben Semmane & Adrian Cullen – “Colours & Dates”
10. Drake – “Weston Road Flows”
11. Bas – “Clouds Never Get Old”
12. Chance The Rapper ft. Francis and the Lights & Jeremih – “Summer Friends”
13. Gifted Gab ft. Jarv Dee – “Gettin’ Smokay” (Local Music)
14. J Dilla – “The Creep (The O)”
15. De La Soul – “Trainwreck”
16. De La Soul – “Keep The Faith” (Throwback of the Week)
17. Kanye West ft. Ty Dolla Sign & Post Malone – “Fade”
18. Kaytranada ft. Phonte – “One Too Many”
19. Katy B – “Honey”
20. Rihanna – “Same Ol’ Mistakes”
21. Yuna – “Lanes”
22. Rittz ft. E-40 & Mike Posner – “Inside of the Groove”
23. Brasstracks ft. Jay Prince – “Good Love”
24. Barney Artist ft. Emmavie – “Nothing Around”
25. River Tiber ft. Pusha T – “Illusions”
26. dvsn – “Another One”

Link to download – https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72U-rgJjvmWdG0ta2hqZ1NhdjQ

If you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and stream/download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

It’s about that time again!  Loyal Sound Session fans will likely remember that J. and I hosted Cornerstone Mixtape #115 back in May of 2009 with DJ B-Mello on the 1’s and 2’s (click here to check that out if you missed it!), and now we’re happy to report that we’ve been selected again to head up the long-running, historic mixtape series.  We are presenting May’s tape, marking 4 years to the month since our last go-round, and also celebrating our recent 8 year anniversary of SNSS!

Just like last time, it’s an absolute honor to be selected for this tape.  The team at Cornerstone has always been some of the most knowledgeable, respectable, and coolest cats in the industry and they’ve curated this monthly mixtape series for over a decade with care, skill, and consistency that very few can match.  As soon as I started working at my college radio station, I became a fan of their monthly releases, which always featured the dopest DJ’s from around the world presenting their take on the freshest music of the moment.

To say that in this small way, we can compare ourselves to folks like Jazzy Jeff, Pete Rock, Revolution, the Fantastic Four, Sway & King Tech, the Baka Boyz, Premier, Red Alert, Kid Capri, Stretch Armstrong, Bobbito, J. Period, etc….honestly, it’s still an incredible feeling.  We’re just happy we’ve been able to do what we’ve done over the last 8 years and we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished.  When cats like Rob Stone, Dru Ha, J, Kid Potential, and the rest of the Cornerstone crew recognize and choose to highlight us with their series (twice!), it’s humbling.  We’re just very grateful.  Thank you, fellas.

For this tape, we decided to recreate what we do with Sound Session each week on KUBE 93.3 FM so it plays almost exactly like our live broadcasts, just without the commercials and with the swear words (even better, right?). We selected some of our favorite records of the moment and tried to highlight those that weren’t getting the credit they deserved.

These include great songs from some bigger names like Black Milk, Tyler, Big K.R.I.T., De La Soul, Blu, and Chance The Rapper, and also guys who are steady on the come up like MeLo-X, Young Roddy, the Smash Brovaz, Phil Beaudreau, Johnny Polygon, and more.  Plus, you know we always rep for the Northwest, and with our scene exploding right now, there were plenty of options to choose from.  In the end, we picked songs from John Crown, Nacho Picasso, Avatar Darko, Jake One, and the Physics.  We even tossed in a few world premieres, one from our homey THURZ and the other a dope record from The Game featuring Jadakiss, Styles P, and AR-16 that the world hasn’t heard before.

Above all, it’s 80 minutes of DOPE music.  This is what we do.  And we’re happy to share it with you.

Download/streaming links below.  Enjoy!

01. Homeboy Sandman – Sunday Night Sound Session (Exclusive)
02. Black Milk – Sunday’s Best / Monday’s Worst (Computer Ugly)
03. John Crown – Ben Franklin (Phinisey Music Group)
04. Kris Kasanova ft. Skeme and Jarv Dee – Shut Em Down (Exclusive)
05. Nacho Picasso & Avatar Darko – Black Velvet (Moor Gang / Fang Gang)
06. Tyler, The Creator – 48 (Odd Future)
07. Raz Simone – Formula To Life (Exclusive)
08. Young Roddy – This One (Jet Life)
09. MeLo-X – God Magic (Galax Recordings)
10. Quelle Chris ft. Tanya Morgan, Cavalier & Fresh Daily – Greene Eyes (Mello Music Group)
11. THURZ – ThirdEye (WORLD PREMIERE) (TNS)
12. Amp Live ft. James Melo – D.H.E.A. (Plug Research)
13. denitia and sene – trip. fall. (input)
14. Tuxedo – So Good (Exclusive)
15. The Physics – Take A Win (Exclusive)
16. Chance The Rapper – Acid Rain (Exclusive)
17. The Game ft. Jadakiss, Styles P, and AR-16 – Last Supper (WORLD PREMIERE) (Interscope)
18. Smash Brovaz – Whatever (Exclusive)
19. Big K.R.I.T. – Serve This Royalty (Cinematic Music Group / Def Jam)
20. L’Orange ft. Blu – Alone (Jakarta Records)
21. De La Soul – Get Away (A.O.I. Records)
22. Johnny Polygon – Normal (Exclusive)
23. Phil Beaudreau – Take It High (High Renaissance)

Link to download/stream the mixtape - http://www14.zippyshare.com/v/84334272/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/212294eb92/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/7eb8nu0rk5my)
(3rd back up - http://www.sendspace.com/file/4ql1yt)

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 radio show we do, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

No time for a wrap up, gotta run across the street and enjoy this last day of the Bumbershoot Festival (Best Coast, Passion Pit, M83, Skrillex, and more today…shout to Yelawolf, Mac Miller, and Big Sean yesterday).  Enjoy this week’s SNSS with music from The Physics, Macklemore, Frank Ocean, ASAP Rocky, Yuna, MeLo-X, Thurz, Stalley, Hit-Boy, The Black Opera, Pac Div, Mac Miller, and more.  Shout to the homey Fleeta Partee for coming through the studio and debuting his new “Apathy” record with Jake One on production.

Enjoy!

Show #377 (9-2-12)

1. The Physics – “So Funky” (Local Music)
2. DJ Khaled ft. J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T., & Kendrick Lamar – “They Ready”
3. Beanie Sigel ft. State Property – “The Reunion”
4. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz – “Thrift Shop” (Local Music)
5. **INTERVIEW WITH FLEETA PARTEE, PT. 1**
6. Fleeta Partee – “Apathy” (Local Music)
7. Brother Ali – “Mourning In America”
8. **INTERVIEW WITH FLEETA PARTEE, PT. 2**
9. Frank Ocean – “Pilot Jones”
10. ASAP Rocky – “Purple Kisses”
11. TiRon & Ayomari – “Radio”
12. Yuna – “Live Your Life (MeLo-X Motherland God Mix)”
13. De La Soul ft. A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah, & Monie Love – “Buddy (Native Tongues Remix)” (Throwback of the Week)
14. Nas – “The Black Bond”
15. The Kid Daytona – “Luxury Raps”
16. Thurz ft. Johnny Polygon – “Are You Not”
17. J. Bizness ft. The Black Opera – “Giraffes”
18. Stalley – “Petrin Hill Peonies (Harry Fraud Wavemix)”
19. Pac Div ft. Mac Miller & Raven Sorvino – “Black Acura”
20. Rochelle Jordan – “Pressure”
21. Nitty Scott, MC ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Flower Child”
22. Hit-Boy – “East vs. West”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?73f465i7a451sz2
(back up / streaming link – http://www.sharebeast.com/75e5mb61oxfu)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/k62srlrt7kta)

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.

Just another weekend here at SNSS…you know: Halloween night, having Maseo from the legendary De La Soul co-host with us, playing crazy dope records, etc..  The usual really.

But in all seriousness, this was a really fun episode for us.  Maseo and J. Moore go way back, so it was great to have him come through and talk ish while we spun joints from folks like Lupe, Nottz, Kid Cudi, Aloe Blacc, Mayer Hawthorne, J-Live, Kanye, and more.  We got the low down on the incredible Gorillaz/N.E.R.D./De La Soul/Little Dragon tour that’s shutting down stadiums all over the country, plus heard an update on De La’s next album.  All sorts of fun.  Tune in and enjoy!  RIP Granma Hyphen and Gregory Isaacs too…

Show #283 (10-31-10)
**Co-hosted by Maseo (of De La Soul)**

1. Young Buck ft. Lupe Fiasco – “AM/FM”
2. Lupe Fiasco – “The Show Goes On”
3. Rashid Hadee – “Someday”
4. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Xperience – “Crew Cuts (Jake One Remix)” (Local Music)
5. De La Soul – “The Return Of D.S.T.”
6. Nottz ft. Dwele – “You Need This Music”
7. Kanye West ft. Jay-Z, Pete Rock, Kid Cudi, & Charlie Wilson – “The Joy”
8. Kid Cudi ft. Mary J. Blige – “These Worries”
9. Wiz Khalifa – “Mezmerized”
10. State Of The Artist – “Chief Seattle” (Local Music)
11. The Kid Daytona – “Fly Lullaby”
12. J-Live – “Home Or Away”
13. Candidt ft. Maya Jenkins – “Imaginary Stereo” (Local Music)
14. N.E.R.D. ft. T.I. – “Party People”
15. Gregory Isaacs – “Night Nurse” (Throwback of the Week)
16. Aloe Blacc – “I Need A Dollar”
17. Slakah The Beatchild – “B-Boy Beef V2”
18. Mayer Hawthorne – “No Strings”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?44ad4p1wa452bw5
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/8224655563edbab0/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/d6amsy4qk6wh)

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.

I’ve been meaning to post up this footage for…well…almost a whole year.  Damn.  Eh well, better late than never!

I shot some visuals for De La’s performance at Bumbershoot last year and the homey mind of i edited it together nicely.  Enjoy and be sure to come to the festival this year.  Drake, J. Cole, and Jay Electronica alone should demand your presence.

I’m not quite sure how I had a 3-day weekend and yet I’m still scrambling to catch up coming into the work week…hmm.  Oh wait, sure I do.  BUMBERSHOOT.

Long story short, Seattle hosted our annual Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival this weekend and despite the rain sneaking in here and there, it was a smashing success.  Along with countless dope indie rock cats, we saw some great performances from folks like De La Soul, The Knux, Mayer Hawthorne, Janelle Monae, many of our favorite local artists, and more.  Even the Black Eyed Peas rocked it, no lie.

I had the special pleasure of DJ’ing for the homies U-N-I during their set and we’ll be posting up some footage of that soon on the blog.  Shout to Y-O and Thurz for putting on a great performance and also getting some hoops in on their trip.  The last game may or may not have ended with your truly draining a 3 pointer in Thurz’ eye.  I’m not sure.  My memory is a bit fuzzy.  Ask about me.

Peep this week’s show for all sorts of great music, plus a snippet of our interview with Kid Cudi.  The full interview will be posted up soon, but if you’re dying for Cudi Content, chew on this.  We also had A. Uno of Steelo come through to give away tickets for the Sneaker Pimps show on Thursday (performances by the Clipse, Slick Rick, Steelo, They Live, GMK, Fresh Espresso, future ABDC champs the Massive Monkees, and more!) plus Nightclubber Lang (aka Karim of Myx Music) dropped in as well for some updates on the burgeoning hip-hop empire that is Myx.  What a weekend…

Show #223 (9-6-09)

1. Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys – “Empire State Of Mind”
2. Dynas ft. DJ Jazzy Jeff – “The Future”
3. A.R.M. ft. Brother Ali – “Heaven Only Knows”
4. D. Black ft. Marissa – “Yesterday” (Local Music)
5. **INTERVIEW WITH NIGHTCLUBBER LANG (KARIM OF MYX MUSIC), PT. 1**
6. Jern Eye ft. Mistah F.A.B. & Zion I – “Get Right”
7. Rashid Hadee – “Set In Stone”
8. Fresh Daily – “Video Gaming”
9. **INTERVIEW WITH NIGHTCLUBBER LANG (KARIM OF MYX MUSIC), PT. 2**
10. Mayer Hawthorne – “The Ills”
11. **INTERVIEW WITH KID CUDI (SNIPPET)**
12. Kid Cudi – “Soundtrack 2 My Life”
13. Drake – “Fear”
14. Sean Price ft. Skyzoo & Torae – “Duck Down”
15. KRS-One & Buckshot ft. Mary J. Blige – “The Way I Live”
16. **INTERVIEW WITH A. UNO (OF STEELO)**
17. Pac Div – “Whiplash”
18. Blue Scholars ft. Shad – “Dawn’s Song” (Local Music)
19. Macklemore – “The Town” (Local Music)
20. Raekwon ft. Lyfe Jennings – “Catalina”
21. BK-One ft. Phonte, Brother Ali, & The Grouch – “Here I Am”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?hcyt25ngjmz
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/65294337ab35170c/ )

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.

(Thurzday, me, & Y-O at last year’s DunkXChange)

Yes y’all, Bumbershoot Festival is finally here and it’s all set up to be a big weekend at the Seattle Center.  Come through the Fisher Green Stage (the big one right in the middle near the fountain) at 5:45pm on Saturday to see U-N-I, featuring yours truly on the 1’s and 2’s, though I’d recommend getting there early at 4pm to see Mayer Hawthorne too.  De La Soul will be on that same stage at 9:30pm as well.

I’ll also be helping introduce the homies the Knux and the Black Eyed Peas on the main stage Monday, but to check out the full line up, click here.