The Audacity of Dope

I’ve been in New York this week for some ESPN day job stuff and didn’t really get a chance to do anything music related, as I’ve been so busy working and hanging with some great co-workers.  That changed on Friday when I took the day off to explore the city a bit and visited my people at UMG and WMG.  After a long day, I headed back to my hotel and noticed Twitter was a buzz with Kanye’s amazing rollout of his “New Slaves” video projected on to 66 walls across the world, including one in Brooklyn.  At first, I thought it was the only NYC showing, but after checking their schedule, I noticed the last showing of the night was a few blocks from my hotel but was supposed to start 5 minutes ago.

Having worked in the industry for 13 years, I’m fully aware of hip-hop time, so 5 minutes ago really meant it was going to start in about 15.  Tossed on some clothes and jogged down to the 5th Ave Prada store (right across from Trump Tower) and sure enough, there was a crowd of about 50-75 people waiting for the showing.  Within minutes, a large black truck pulled up and crew dressed all in black hustled to pull off the tarp covering the cargo bay and unveiled the projector and speakers (seriously looked like something a Batman villain would do in Gotham City).  After a quick set up, they showed the piece, which is, of course, just as dope in its style and content as it is in its guerrilla marketing rollout.  Yeezy is back and spitting that real.

After playing it, the crew said they would run it back in about 15 minutes. They left and came back like clockwork, but after setting it up, waited a good 10 minutes before showing it a 2nd time.

Turns out, Kanye himself was on the way to watch this showing as he is in NYC for Saturday Night Live later tonight. He stood behind us with a phone up, as if he was filming like everyone else. Right after it ended, he hopped in his Maybach and drove off. And then he made us pancakes (…Chappelle Show reference).

Shout to everyone in the crowd that night. Real cool atmosphere as all us Yeezy fans were excited to see his new work and be a part of the rollout. Shout to Global Grind and XXL for picking up my video and tweets, and any other sites that have posted it.

And shout to Kanye for the realness. #YeezySeason

Kanye’s solo records >>>>>>>>.  Would have loved to see a more official video, but these images look dope enough on their own.  This will be on the soundtrack to RZA’s movie, The Man With The Iron Fists.

Happy birthday ‘Ye!

No, this isn’t super producer Hit-Boy interviewing Jay-Z. Instead, this is Hit…rapping? And it turned out dope! Bink! on production for this record, introducing the producer to the world as a MC. I’m rooting for this kid, but he probably doesn’t need it. With all his success lately, it seems like a foregone conclusion that he’ll be a major player in the game for quite some time.

Jay and Yeezy are so big, they can’t even get booked for their own music videos these days.  At least the fantastic director, Romain Gavras, took a break from making incredible visuals to wack M.I.A. songs to do a clip for a great record.  Dopeness.

That said, his best video is still Justice’s “Stress.”  Insane:

I was pretty apprehensive when I heard this was a “live” video, but I actually like what they’ve done here. Mixing in live footage with what appears to be staged model shots (or I suppose that really could be the LA crowd…they’re winning with the females down there) and alternating between live and studio audio was a nice touch. Plus, as long as you aren’t prone to epileptic seizures (no, seriously…heed the warning at the beginning), the effects are great. Kanye even gets directorial credit on this one. Yeezy taught you.

I didn’t think I’d like this, but they won me over with a few of the lines (“I’m Wale’s secret Santa” and Drake’s intonation on “liiiIIIIIIFE!”) and a few impressions in particular (Big Sean, Beyonce, J. Cole, Kreayshawn, Birdman, Drake, and Wyclef). J. Cole receiving a basketball as a gift was golden too. Pretty good stuff overall.

Order of appearances: Nicki Minaj, Big Sean, Plies, Rick Ross, Beyonce, J. Cole, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Tyler The Creator, Kreayshawn, Lil B, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Birdman, Drake, Wyclef Jean, Rihanna, and LMFAO.

Another insanely hectic week in the books, but Sound Session is back like we never left…cause we haven’t.  Episode #341 marks our final show of 2011 since next Sunday is Christmas (oh yeah…I should probably get on that whole “shopping” thing…), so after this, we’ll see y’all in 2012 with our best of ’11 wrap up edition.  Don’t miss it!

I tossed a few videos from Jay-Z & Kanye’s Watch The Throne tour up on Twitter for those unlucky folks who haven’t seen it live (you’re slippin’), so you can peep them right here.  After that, enjoy SNSS #341 with new music from Snoop & Wiz (produced by Jake One), Lupe Fiasco, Tunji, Murs, Asher Roth, Action Bronson, Brothers From Another, Summer Leather Vest, John West, The Kid Daytona, Drizzy, Black Star, and more.  See y’all next year…it’s a new day.

Show #341 (12-18-11)

1. Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa – “Let’s Go Study”
2. Freddie Gibbs ft. Dom Kennedy & Polyester – “Menace II Society”
3. Lupe Fiasco – “Double Burger With Cheese”
4. The Sleepwalkers ft. Tunji, Murs, & Noah King – “One”
5. Asher Roth ft. Action Bronson – “Choices”
6. City Hall – “Out For A Rep” (Local Music)
7. 50 Cent – “Wait Until Tonight”
8. John West ft. Pusha T – “Lovely”
9. Childish Gambino – “L.E.S.”
10. **INTERVIEW WITH BROTHERS FROM ANOTHER, PT. 1**
11. Brothers From Another – “Mr. Dynamite” (Local Music)
12. Choklate – “Christmas Time Again” (Local Music)
13. **INTERVIEW WITH BROTHERS FROM ANOTHER, PT. 2**
14. Jay-Z & Kanye West – “New Day”
15. Common – “Lovin’ I Lost”
16. Drake – “Hate Sleeping Alone”
17. Lauryn Hill – “Ex-Factor” (Throwback of the Week)
18. Amy Winehouse – “Best Friends, Right?”
19. Summer Leather Vest – “Unison”
20. Black Star – “You Already Knew”
21. The Kid Daytona ft. Melanie Fiona – “Love Is Love”
22. DTMD ft. Oddisee – “Untitled”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?290862il6npn6jl
(back up / streaming link – http://hulkshare.com/rv7qwvn7sivf)
(2nd back up – http://www.zshare.net/audio/9760744397cf08b6/)

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.

Talking with a director buddy of mine and we agreed that Hype Williams’ visuals here are not very impressive, but I must admit, this song has grown on me the past few months.  Kanye’s verses are poor for his standards (almost sounds like the corny cameos he’ll make on big pop records like Katy Perry’s “E.T.” remix), but overall, the song works.

Besides…”BLOOOOOOP BLOOOOOOP!“

The official visuals for one of my favorite songs of the 2011 summer season finally dropped. Summer, girls, basketball…bet.  Be on the look out for Jermaine’s follow up single, “Can’t Get Enough” with Trey Songz, to take over radio and television soon as well. Cole World!