The Audacity of Dope

There won’t be an episode of Sound Session tonight, as I’m in the Bay Area for Game 7 of the NBA Finals, so I wanted to make sure we got last week’s archive up for y’all.  I’ve never been to a Finals game and it feels like there’s never been a more anticipated game, so I’m about as excited as it gets.  Either Steph and the Warriors cap off the greatest season in NBA history, or LeBron adds to his greatness, the Cavs become the first team to ever come back from 3-1 down in a Finals, and the city of Cleveland breaks its long streak of suffering.  Y’all know me though…west coast all day…so let’s go Warriors!

We’ll be back on air on the 26th.  In the meantime, enjoy the last episode with records from De La Soul, Vursatyl, Mark Battles, Mick Jenkins, Vic Mensa, Asher Roth, midnight, Vince Staples, Jonwayne, A. Chal, Maxwell, the first Jurassic 5 track in a decade, and more.  Throwback goes out to all the grads, congratulations!

Show #556 (6/12/16)

1. Joey Badass – “Devastated”
2. De La Soul ft. Snoop Dogg & Mack Maine – “Pain”
3. Vursatyl ft. Ja’Kar Abel – “I Got It (DJ Spinna Remix)” (Local Music)
4. Drake – “4PM In Calabasas”
5. Mark Battles – “This Is Me”
6. Mick Jenkins – “The Artful Dodger”
7. Pusha T ft. Jay-Z – “Drug Dealers Anonymous”
8. Vic Mensa – “Dynasty”
9. REKS – “Jump Shots”
10. Asher Roth ft. Michael Christmas & Larry June – “Laundry”
11. ScienZe ft. Chuuwee – “Bon Appetit”
12. Flume ft. Vince Staples & Kucka – “Smoke & Retribution”
13. midnight ft. The Internet – “Native America”
14. Chance The Rapper ft. Ty Dolla Sign, BJ The Chicago Kid, Anderson .Paak, Raury, Nico Segal, & Lolah Brown – “Blessings (Reprise)”
15. Draze – “Irony On 23rd” (Local Music)
16. Miles Davis & Robert Glasper ft. Phonte – “Violets”
17. Jonwayne – “That’s O.K.”
18. Jurassic 5 – “Customer Service”
19. Kanye West – “School Spirit” (Throwback of the Week)
20. DJ Khaled ft. Drake – “For Free”
21. antbzy ft. Cole (of Brothers From Another) – “No Better Feeling” (Local Music)
22. A. Chal – “Vibe W/U”
23. George Maple ft. GoldLink – “Sticks and Horses (George Maple Remix)”
24. Yuna ft. Usher – “Crush”
25. SG Lewis ft. Raye – “Yours”
26. Maxwell – “1990X”

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

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.

Oh man, very late on getting you guys some recent SNSS episodes to rock to in the car, on the train/bus, at the gym, at the desk, etc., my bad!  Luckily, the music from our final 10 Year Anniversary Special is timeless.  If you missed parts 1 and 2, click here.  Again, we went through our archives and picked out two records from each year that we really, really loved, and thought represented the show well.  There were hundreds of other GREAT songs that didn’t quite make the cut, so these are really some of our favorites.

We also took a few minutes out of the show to give the homey Post Malone his first radio interview.  Fun little fact to look back on years from now…

The next two episodes will be up soon.  Enjoy the cuts!

Show #520 (5-31-15)
**10 Year Anniversary Special, Week #3**

1.    Jay-Z – “Dear Summer” (2005)
2.    Kanye West ft. Jay-Z – “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)” (2005)
3.    The Game ft. Kanye West – “Wouldn’t Get Far” (2006)
4.    J Dilla – “Won’t Do” (2006)
5.    **INTERVIEW WITH POST MALONE**
6.    Amy Winehouse – “Me & Mr. Jones” (2007)
7.    Outlawz ft. Young Buck & Dion – “Drivin’ Down The Freeway” (2007)
8.    Big Boi ft. Raekwon & Andre3000 – “Royal Flush” (2008)
9.    N.E.R.D. – “You Know What” (2008)
10.    Nipsey Hussle – “Hussle In The House” (2009)
11.    Pac Div – “Mayor” (2009)
12.    Shad – “Rose Garden” (2010)
13.    Nottz ft. Dwele – “You Need This Music” (2010)
14.    Frank Ocean – “Novacane” (2011)
15.    Tyler, The Creator – “Yonkers” (2011)
16.    Yuna – “Live Your Life” (2012)
17.    Gilbere Forte – “Pray” (2012)
18.    Drake ft. Jhene Aiko – “From Time” (2013)
19.    Drake ft. Sampha – “Too Much” (2013)
20.    Anna Lunoe ft. Jesse Boykins III – “Heartbreak In Motion” (2014)
21.    J. Cole – “Fire Squad” (2014)
22.    Scribes – “Roll My Way” (Local Music) (2009)
23.    Ray Dalton – “So Emotional” (Local Music) (2012)
24.    Blue Scholars – “Southside Revival” (Local Music) (2005)

Stream/Download via Soundcloud:

(back up – https://www.sendspace.com/file/j1gekp)

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.

Well, well, well, this sure snuck up on us.  This past episode of SNSS marked our 9 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!  We feel overwhelmingly blessed and privileged to be able to present SNSS to you each week, and many thanks are in order for our supporters and management at KUBE 93, plus all our listeners in the local community and worldwide.  We’re here 100% for the music and culture, so it’s certainly not about us, but we’re flattered every time we reach one of these milestones.  Next up, show #500 and then next year, the SNSS 10 year anniversary.  We’ll definitely have something special planned for that one…

In the interim, we just keep on doing what we do.  Are we the Tim Duncan of independent hip-hop shows on commercial radio?  Perhaps, but since when is that a bad thing?  Hall of Fame numbers and hopefully this is just the beginning.  On this week’s episode, we were joined in studio by our homies V. Dot and Tasman Holloway (formerly known as Louis V), plus an emerging R&B singer from Tacoma, Kalieb Nash.  If you’re curious whether he can sing or saaaaaaing, check out the 2nd part of our interview where he laid down a little acapella for us.  That boy good.

Of course, we couldn’t do a show on Mother’s Day without paying homage to the women that brought us here and continue to make the world go around.  Hope you guys enjoy the multiple throwbacks and remember what Kanye said, “it don’t gotta be Mother’s Day, or your birthday / For me to just call and say Hey Mama.”  Give that lady a call if you’re blessed enough to still have her in your life.  Love you Mom.

Show #465 (5-11-14)

1. 2Pac – “Dear Mama” (Throwback of the Week)
2. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib ft. Ab-Soul & Polyester – “Lakers”
3. People Under The Stairs – “Get Hip”
4. Grynch ft. Kokane – “On A Good One” (Local Music)
5. Girl Talk & Freeway ft. Jadakiss – “I Can Hear Sweat”
6. **INTERVIEW WITH V. DOT & TASMAN HOLLOWAY, PT. 1**
7. V. Dot ft. Tasman Holloway – “Make Way For The Wave” (Local Music)
8. Beanie Sigel ft. Scarface – “Mom Praying” (Throwback of the Week)
9. **INTERVIEW WITH V. DOT & TASMAN HOLLOWAY, PT. 2**
10. Lil Wayne ft. Drake – “Believe Me”
11. SOHN – “Artifice”
12. **INTERVIEW WITH KALIEB NASH, PT. 1**
13. Kalieb Nash – “Again” (Local Music)
14. Raleigh Ritchie – “Stay Inside (The Internet Remix)”
15. **INTERVIEW WITH KALIEB NASH, PT. 2**
16. Mya – “Cherry Lips”
17. Jesse Boykins III – “Plain”
18. Little Dragon – “Klapp Klapp”
19. Kanye West – “Hey Mama” (Throwback of the Week)
20. Young Roddy – “Baby”
21. Ghostface Killah ft. Mary J. Blige & Poppa Wu – “All That I Got Is You” (Throwback of the Week)
22. The Intruders – “I’ll Always Love My Mama” (Throwback of the Week)

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/65d69b56a3/DJ_Hyphen_and_J._Moore_-_Sunday_Night_Sound_Session%2C_Show_465%2C_5-11-14.mp3
(back up – http://www4.zippyshare.com/v/22279299/file.html)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/qh74jt6tq15t)

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.

Our good friend Lupe made another appearance on Sound Session recently, though this one was in the form of our “Studio 93” series, where we interview an artist in front of a large group of winners.  We talked about his upcoming Tetsuo & Youth album, including details about his creative process and a discussion about how responsible complex MC’s are in ensuring listeners understand the messages they put in their verses.  We also discussed how he collaborates with other artists and how he’s often turned down for these projects because of his past controversial statements, before moving on to topics like his relationship with Rick Ross and how the music industry has changed as technology has improved over the years.

It’s always fun to chop it up with Lu, who really is one of the most gifted individuals we have in hip-hop.  He’s an innovative thinker that likes to challenge the status quo, which is always necessary, plus him and Shad are the 2 best writers in the game, imo. Hope you guys enjoy the conversation.  Shout to the Marsupial Empire for recording and editing.

FNF up!

(you like that 3rd person blog title, don’t ya?)

The homies Doc and Armond do one of the best hip-hop podcasts around with their Clock Radio Speakers show and I was honored to be a guest on a recent episode of theirs.  Toss this on and listen to us nerd out about all sorts of topics, including rap’s fascination with radio play and how radio really works, Wale’s issues with Complex, “event” releases in 2013 from artists like Jay-Z and Beyonce, my #InboxMadness Twitter series, industry tastemakers, and a whole bunch more.  Just a fun discussion with some folks that truly love music.  Good times.

It’s the last Sound Session of the year, which means only one thing: time for our annual “best of” wrap up show!  You can peep previous year end episodes here (2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009), but for this year’s list, see below and check our notes too.  As always, we pick what we feel represented the best artists and music that we highlighted on SNSS all year.  Normally, we avoid picking more than one track from an artist, but we couldn’t resist this year.  Kanye and Drake dominated 2013, in every sense (“HOW, Sway?), and they had too many records to only pick one.  Those guys were the MVP’s, but there were lots of great records this year:

Show #446 (12-29-13)
**Best of 2013**

1. Action Bronson – “Strictly 4 My Jeeps”
2. THURZ ft. Cali Martyr – “Got Damn, Got Damn”
3. A$AP Rocky ft. Skrillex & Birdy Nam Nam – “Wild For The Night”
4. Kris Kasanova ft. Skeme & Jarv Dee – “Shut Em Down”
5. Tyler, The Creator ft. Frank Ocean – “Bimmer”
6. Kanye West ft. Charlie Wilson – “Bound 2”
7. Kanye West – “Black Skinhead”
8. Pusha T ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Nosetalgia”
9. Step Brothers (Evidence & Alchemist) – “Step Masters”
10. Nacho Picasso – “Crime Waves” (Local Music)
11. Jay-Z ft. Rick Ross – “F*ckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt”
12. Romaro Franceswa ft. Fearce – “Bounce” (Local Music)
13. Shad ft. Saukrates – “Stylin’”
14. Smash Brovaz – “Whatever”
15. Drake ft. Sampha – “Too Much”
16. Sampha – “Too Much”
17. Drake ft. Jhene Aiko – “From Time”
18. The Physics – “Play It Off” (Local Music)
19. J. Cole ft. Nas – “Let Nas Down (Remix)”
20. Isaiah Rashad – “Shot U Down”
21. Porter Ray – “5 Mics” (Local Music)
22. Chance The Rapper – “Acid Rain”
23. Big K.R.I.T. – “Serve This Royalty”
24. The Internet – “Dontcha”
25. denitia and sene – “trip. fall.”
26. Raleigh Ritchie – “In Too Deep”
27. ForteBowie – “Gucci Mayne”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/8f31e46420/
(back up – http://www35.zippyshare.com/v/99509846/file.html)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/hq2mac07719g)

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.  Action released lots of quality music in 2013, but this collab with Harry Fraud was his best.
2. Finally! A twerk record with lyrics. Club goers and backpackers unite!
3. ASAP’s collab with Skrillex didn’t quite fit with the rest of his album, but that’s not a bad thing when a track is this hype.
4. Kris, Jarv, and Skeme delivered a banger. Sadly, most folks are still sleeping. Not SNSS doe.
5. Tyler’s maturation resulted in one of the best albums of the year and this outro featured a beat that Pharrell wishes he made.
6. Yes, the video is absurd. Yes, the lyrics aren’t super dope. But this is my favorite record of the year. Just insanely enjoyable and a classic ‘Ye sample. You can’t front.
7. Another crazy beat, but the lyrics shine here. Kanye’s crazy but a genius. He was spitting truth all year in these songs and interviews.
8. Pusha had another great year (hanging with ‘Ye helps). This and “Numbers On The Board” were classics.
9. Speaking of classics, Ev & Al nailed this old school inspired slapper.
10. Seattle’s hip-hop scene is on fire and Nacho is the most intriguing MC we have. 2014 will be huge for him.
11. Jay dropped an average album (by his standards) but it still had a few gems, including this anthem.
12. Shout to BeanOne with possibly my favorite local beat ever. I could listen to that loop all day!
13. One Canadian legend linked with another soon to be Canadian legend. SK’s having fun on this one, but those lyrics are still rewind worthy.
14. Good ol’ fashioned boom-bap for the cold weather. T-Dot to SEA, connect.
15. We could have picked numerous records from Drizzy, but this one was a no-brainer. That hook. That beat. Those lyrics. Lock.
16. We had to give props to Sampha’s original that Drake sampled as well.
17. Still think Jhene had the hook of the year on “From Time.”
18. Last year, I mentioned that if the Physics release music in a year, they’re guaranteed to be on our year end list. Well, they released music. And it didn’t disappoint.
19. There were lots of dope “moments” (see Kendrick’s “Control” verse) but one of our favorites was Nas responding to Jermaine.
20. Kendrick was everywhere in 2013 and Q kept anticipation bubbling for his upcoming album, but TDE’s newcomer introduced himself to the world with one of the best tracks of the year.
21. The best part of Seattle’s hip-hop scene is that the future is looking STRONG. Cats like Porter, Romaro, and Dave B are leading the way for the youngsters.
22. Chicago’s up and comer linked with Seattle’s production OG, Jake One, and the resulting song was the highlight of Chance’s album.
23. A lot of folks are taking K.R.I.T. for granted and waiting for him to drop that undeniable classic, which will certainly come, but in the meantime, he continues to release great music. Another year, another great mixtape.
24. The Internet might have had the sleeper record of the year. J still points out that if they sold this track to Janet Jackson, it’s a guaranteed #1 hit. What a record…
25. Denitia Odigie and Sene collaborated for one of the surprise albums of the year and this was the first offering we heard off it. Still knocks.
26. Raleigh Ritchie’s an artist that might be off most people’s radars, but it’ll come in time. This is just a taste of what’s in store from this UK singer.
27. Forte simply does it all: raps, sings, produces. He’s good. He’s gucci.

Honorable mentions from artists not otherwise represented:

• 2 Player Co-Op (Trackademicks & 1-O.A.K.) – “Someone Great”
• 50 Cent ft. Kendrick Lamar – “We Up”
• AB – “You Used To Love Me”
• Amp Live ft. James Melo – “D.H.E.A.”
• A$AP Mob ft. A$AP Nast & Method Man – “Trillmatic”
• Bas ft. J. Cole & KQuick – “Lit”
• Big Sean ft. Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica – “Control”
• Bondax – “Gold (Snakehips Bootleg)”
• Busta Rhymes ft. Q-Tip – “Thank You”
• Childish Gambino – “3005”
• Dag Savage (Exile & Johaz) ft. Aloe Blacc – “When It Rains”
• Dave B – “Illectric”
• De La Soul – “Get Away”
• Disclosure, Sam Smith, Jimmy Napes, & Nile Rodgers – “Together”
• Eminem ft. Buckshot – “Don’t Front”
• Halo & Masta Killa ft. Rocki Evans – “No Matter”
• IamSu! – “Hipster Girls”
• Jadakiss ft. The-Dream – “Big Boy Dialogue”
• Janelle Monae ft. Miguel – “Primetime”
• Jhene Aiko – “The Worst”
• Joey Badass – “Unorthodox”
• John Crown – “Ben Franklin”
• John Legend ft. Rick Ross – “Who Do We Think We Are”
• Logic – “Nasty”
• Mack Wilds – “Magic”
• Mayer Hawthorne ft. Jessie Ware – “Her Favorite Song”
• MeLo-X – “God Magic”
• Mystikal – “Hit Me”
• Nickelus F ft. Drake – “Number 15”
• Quelle Chris ft. Tanya Morgan, Cavalier, & Fresh Daily – “Greene Eyes”
• Raz Simone – “Cold”
• Rick Ross ft. Jay-Z – “The Devil Is A Lie”
• Run The Jewels (Killer Mike & El-P) ft. Big Boi – “Banana Clipper”
• Schoolboy Q ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Collard Greens”
• Scribes – “Backseat (New Ride)”
• Sol – “Jump In”
• ST 2 Lettaz – “Trillmatic”
• Tanya Morgan – “For Real”
• The Black Opera ft. Mayer Hawthorne – “Queen Of Hearts”
• T.I. ft. B.o.B, Kendrick Lamar, & Kris Stephens – “Memories Back Then”
• Yo Gotti ft. J. Cole – “Cold Blood”
• Young Roddy – “This One”

2014: let’s gooooooooooooo

We’re celebrating our 8 year anniversary of SNSS tonight.  That’s a lot of shows.  Lots of numbers on the boards.

While this record is a biiiiiiit too Kanye-esque at times, I’m a Yeezy stan, so I’m not mad.  Gambino’s dope.

While J. Moore is overseas holding it down with THEESatisfaction on their European tour, our trusty stand in DV-One co-hosted this week’s episode of SNSS.  We were also joined in studio by good friends Lace Cadence and Jon Augustavo so it goes without saying that good times were had by all.  Musically, you already know we had to run the two new Kanye records that took the web by storm last week, alongside other gems from artists like Killer Mike, Aloe Blacc, Wordsworth, Denzil Porter, Big K.R.I.T., Iron Solomon, Mikkey Halsted, Lupe Fiasco, and more.

Enjoy!

Show #356 (4-8-12)

1. French Montana ft. Jadakiss, Styles P, Red Café, Fat Joe, & Uncle Murda – “Shot Caller (NY Remix)”
2. Killer Mike ft. Scar – “Untitled”
3. Quakers ft. Aloe Blacc – “Sign Language”
4. Wordsworth – “Joy & Pain”
5. T.I. – “Love This Life”
6. Kingdom Crumbs – “For The Birds” (Local Music)
7. **INTERVIEW WITH JON AUGUSTAVO & LACE CADENCE**
8. Kendrick Lamar ft. Dr. Dre – “The Recipe”
9. BJ The Chicago Kid – “Other Side”
10. OnCue – “Kinda Late”
11. Kanye West ft. Big Sean, Pusha T, & 2 Chainz – “Mercy”
12. Kanye West ft. DJ Khaled & DJ Pharris – “Theraflu”
13. Ma$e ft. Puff Daddy – “Lookin’ At Me” (Throwback of the Week)
14. Denzil Porter – “Bring It On”
15. Driicky Graham – “Snapbacks & Tattoos”
16. Kardinal Offishall – “Get It In (B4 I Go)”
17. BlakMic ft. E.I.C. – “Time Out” (Local Music)
18. Miguel – “Arch ‘n Point”
19. Maffew Ragazino – “Amaretto Sour”
20. Big K.R.I.T. – “Red Eye”
21. Havi Blaze – “I’m A Murderer” (Local Music)
22. Mikkey Halsted ft. Lupe Fiasco and Jim Lavigne – “Gone”
23. Iron Solomon – “Get On My Level”
24. Nas – “The Don”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?6shoethar3s7qiy
(back up / streaming link – http://www.sharebeast.com/itkibf6x9jbe)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/dtjhq7bpa76r)

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.

Incredible new visuals from Nabil Elderkin and the Distant Relatives.  “Patience” is found on one of two albums Lupe mentioned as his favorites of 2010 in our interview, and I must agree.  I remember hyping this album up and then being surprised when people didn’t generally rank it as high as I did.  It’s going to go down as one of the more underrated projects of the last decade.

Sidenote: how salty does Kanye have to be after seeing this?  Nabil is virtually his in-house director and he was sitting on this gem that would have been perfect for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy aesthetics…