The Audacity of Dope

At the end of this week’s Sound Session, we started tossing around the topic of “your favorite rapper.”  Of all the pointless music debates I seem to have every day, this one has to be my favorite.  I just love that there’s no wrong answer.  How are you going to correct me on my favorite MC?  That said, I reserve the right to clown you when you say something off the wall.  “Pras?!?!?!  PRAS?!?!?!?!  I guess that’s how you was raised…”

Show #269 (7-25-10)

1. Nas & Damian Marley – “Nah Mean”
2. Big K.R.I.T. – “Country Sh*t”
3. Kaimbr ft. Roddy Rod & Hassaan Mackey – “Army Fatigue Rap”
4. Asher Roth – “I’m Eddy”
5. Dom Kennedy – “Locals Only”
6. Fice – “Two Five Three” (Local Music)
7. Dam-Funk ft. MC Eiht & Steve Arrington – “Hood Pass Intact (Remix)”
8. Onra ft. T3 – “The One”
9. Lauryn Hill – “Repercussions”
10. Shad – “Telephone”
11. Pigeon Hole ft. D-Sisive – “Light Show” (Local Music)
12. J. Cole – “Premeditated Murder”
13. Curren$y ft. Mos Def – “Breakfast”
14. Laws ft. Funkghost – “Vintage Futuristic 2”
15. The Roots ft. STS & Joanna Newsom – “Right On”
16. Rakaa ft. Aloe Blacc – “Crown Of Thorns”
17. Trek Life – “So Supreme”
18. Moe Green – “Non Title Match”
19. Big L ft. Kid Capri – “Put It On” (Throwback of the Week)
20. Outrageous & Dice – “I Love My Life” (Local Music)
21. Shawn Jackson ft. John West – “Lil Big Man”
22. John Legend & The Roots – “Our Generation”
23. Drake – “Karaoke”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?kvoqc7tp16k5i6u
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/787223765744d5e7/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/bf27kkujeinf)

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.

On the positive side, I got a promotion at the day job so I’m now managing our Client Services division…along with about 4 other jobs there (raise FTW though).  On the downside, I worked a 14 hour day today.  So yeah, just the basics…but know that we murdered this show…[Dame Dash] lyrically, B!!!! [/Dash]

Show #268 (7-18-10)

1. Nipsey Hussle ft. Lloyd – “Feelin’ Myself”
2. Cook Classics ft. Co$$ – “The L-O”
3. Kendrick Lamar ft. U-N-I, Skeme, & Brown – “I Do This (Remix)”
4. Bun B – “Let ‘Em Know”
5. Big K.R.I.T. – “Country Sh*t”
6. Freddie Gibbs – “National Anthem (FTW)”
7. Curren$y ft. Mos Def & Jay Electronica – “The Day”
8. Rick Ross ft. Raekwon – “Audio Meth”
9. Drake ft. T.I. & Swizz Beatz – “Fancy”
10. Parker Brothaz ft. Big Pooh – “Hard Work” (Local Music)
11. SOTA ft. Grynch & XP – “Say Say” (Local Music)
12. Dam-Funk ft. MC Eiht & Steve Arrington – “Hood Pass Intact (Remix)”
13. Big Boi ft. Vonnegutt – “Follow Us”
14. Black Milk – “Welcome (Gotta Go)”
15. J. Cole – “Premeditated Murder”
16. Marco Polo ft. Arcee – “Ambition”
17. Moe Green – “The Level After Like”
18. Canibus – “Second Round K.O.” (Throwback of the Week)
19. Fice – “Two Five Three” (Local Music)
20. John Legend & The Roots ft. Melanie Fiona & Common – “Wake Up Everybody”
21. Miike Snow – “Cult Logic”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?n7cgszozy5j7zl3
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/78500484814af329/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/b2krexdp46dp)

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.

You remember when you were a kid and your parents (if they loved you…shots fired) would ask about your day at school?  Regardless of what happened, 90% of the time, you’d respond to “how was your day?” with “…good.”  I mean, you could have aced a test…gotten into a fight…got that date to Homecoming…etc., but it’s always first nature to just sum it up.  “Good.”

Well, sometimes these Sound Session archives feel the same way.  That’s not a bad thing.  On the contrary, we just continue to provide that piffery.  Uncut, raw, dopeness…straight to your veins each week (enough overt drug references for ya?).  “How was Sound Session this week?”…”Dope.”

And in case you’re wondering, our throwback is in response to the Oscar Grant madness…aka the only decision worse than Bron Bron this week.  Speaking of which, here’s some advice: announce the creation of a specific chapter of your charity that will focus on Cleveland’s youth.  Pledge a minimum of 2 million, which is a drop in the bucket for you.  Anytime someone attacks you for the callousness you showed the Cavs, say you’re sorry but that’s just sports anyway…your charity work shows how you really feel about the community.  Diffuses the situation and 2 million in donations buys you 10 million in PR.  But nah…run with the “all the ad revenue from my ego-tastic special goes to the B&G Club” angle.  [Jamie Foxx] Yeah, that’ll get ’em on your side…yeah [/I am your conscience].

Show #267 (7-11-10)

1. Jazmine Sullivan – “Holding You Down (Goin’ In Circles)”
2. Big Boi ft. Sam Chris – “The Train, Pt. 2 (Sir Lucious Left Foot Saves The Day)”
3. Rick Ross ft. Jay-Z and John Legend – “Free Mason”
4. The Kid Daytona – “On The Hill”
5. Shawn Jackson ft. John West – “Lil Big Man”
6. MED ft. Talib Kweli – “Classic”
7. Raphael Saadiq – “It’s A Shame”
8. The Physics – “My Place” (Local Music)
9. Drake – “Paris Morton Music”
10. Aloe Blacc ft. The Grand Scheme – “Billie Jean”
11. Pharoahe Monch ft. Mela Machinko – “Shine”
12. Homeboy Sandman – “Calm Tornado”
13. Marco Polo ft. Promise – “The Bridge”
14. Shad – “Keep Shining”
15. D-Sisive ft. Moka Only – “West Coast (Remix)”
16. Laws ft. Emilio Rojas & Big K.R.I.T. – “Hold You Down (Remix)”
17. Parker Brothaz ft. Big Pooh – “Hard Work” (Local Music)
18. Jay Dee – “F**k The Police” (Throwback of the Week)
19. Slum Village – “Lock It Down”
20. Cook Classics ft. Co$$ – “The L-O”
21. SOTA ft. Sol – “You Know Girls” (Local Music)
22. Dom Kennedy – “1997”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?uzicwmngkjy
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/78259758490876d7/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/fgzetk9kpj6s)

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.

It seems like there are a million things I could talk about for this week’s recap – from our Summer Jam to the World Cup…oh, and perhaps the NBA Finals – but I’ve been discussing these things so much in real life, I don’t even feel like typing ’em haha.  If you want to chat, say somethin’.

Show #264 (6-20-10)

1. Kanye West ft. Dwele – “Power”
2. Dom Kennedy – “Locals Only”
3. Cook Classics ft. Tunji & Deacon The Villain – “Towards The Future”
4. PackFM – “The Support Group (Interlude)”
5. PackFM – “I F*cking Hate Rappers”
6. Big Boi ft. Andre3000 & Sleepy Brown – “Lookin’ 4 Ya”
7. Wiz Khalifa ft. Killa Kyleon – “Spotlight”
8. **INTERVIEW WITH CLOCKWORK**
9. Drake – “Thank Me Now”
10. Shad – “A Good Name”
11. Bilal – “Free”
12. Slum Village ft. Colin Munroe – “Faster”
13. Cool Nutz – “Monster Up” (Local Music)
14. Spaceman – “I Get It In” (Local Music)
15. Royce Da 5’9” ft. Black Milk & Elzhi – “Real Hip-Hop”
16. The Roots ft. Blu, Phonte, & Patty Crash – “The Day”
17. Theophilus London ft. Jesse Boykins III – “Life Of A Lover”
18. Kardinal Offishall ft. Jully Black, Allistair, Korry Deez, Wio-K, & Black Kat – “Ol’ Time Killin’” (Throwback of the Week)
19. JFK – “12 Years” (Local Music)
20. Eternia & Moss ft. Rah Digga & Lady of Rage – “The BBQ”
21. Homeboy Sandman – “Mean Mug”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?zymktkm2qfq
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/77527238b74d9b09/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/nuvrvrfii3rd)

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 swear it feels like just yesterday when we all watched Zinedine Zidane gracefully end his legendary soccer career by high-fiving Marco Materazzi’s chest with his forehead (confused?), but 4 quick years later and it’s already time for another World Cup.  While I’ve had a few debates with my non-soccer loving friends, overall, it seems like everyone is pretty excited about the tournament.  On the pitch, every country other than Germany is off to a slow start, but that’s fairly typical for the Cup.  As the teams get into their second games, things will loosen up a bit and the questionable goalkeeping combined with Adidas’ controversial Jabulani ball should provide some memorable moments.

Unfortunately, due to the time difference from South Africa to the Pacific Northwest, half of these memorable moments will occur when we’re asleep or just waking up.  Consequently, I’ll wrap this up in hope that I can change my schedule for the next few weeks.  Early to bed (for once) means that I can actually catch the 7am (or perhaps the 5am…well, naaaah) game before hitting the office.

Peep this week’s episode of SNSS for less soccer talk and more musical dopeness, including tracks by Rah Digga, Drake, Kanye, Reflection Eternal, Shad, Outkast, and more.  Plus, we played part of our recent interview with one of the illest new MC’s in the game, Laws.  Be sure to check out the full interview right here.

Show #263 (6-13-10)

1. Rah Digga – “This Ain’t No Lil’ Kid Rap”
2. Homeboy Sandman – “The Carpenter”
3. Asher Roth – “G.R.I.N.D.”
4. Cook Classics ft. Freddie Gibbs – “Midwest Malcolm”
5. Dom Kennedy – “1997”
6. Big K.R.I.T. ft. Devin The Dude – “Moon & Stars”
7. Sol – “Dear Friends” (Local Music)
8. Theophilus London – “Flying Overseas (Version 1)”
9. Shad – “Telephone”
10. Big Boi ft. Andre3000 & Sleepy Brown – “Lookin’ 4 Ya”
11. Janelle Monae ft. Saul Williams – “Dance Or Die”
12. **INTERVIEW WITH LAWS (SNIPPET)**
13. Laws – “Hold You Down”
14. Drake – “Show Me A Good Time”
15. Kanye West ft. Dwele – “Power”
16. TiRon – “Boys & Girls”
17. JFK – “On The Regular” (Local Music)
18. The Roots ft. John Legend – “The Fire”
19. Little Brother – “Whatever You Say” (Throwback of the Week)
20. Cool Nutz – “Monster Up” (Local Music)
21. Reflection Eternal ft. Bilal – “Ends”
22. Electric Wire Hustle – “They Don’t Want”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?jzwmmzdgxnm
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/772375449f425bcf/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/vtgzsorsdzzp)

Link to download the full interview with Laws – http://www.mediafire.com/?mz1yu3znh20
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/772049093f61ac06/)

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.

While on tour with Reflection Eternal (check our interview here) and U-N-I, one of the nicest up and coming MC’s in the game, Laws, stopped by the Sound Session studio to chop it up.  We talked all about his background, linking up with the J.U.S.T.I.CE. League production team, his 4:57 mixtape with Don Cannon, his upcoming Yesterday’s Future project, and more.  Check out the links below for the full interview!

Laws on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?mz1yu3znh20
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/772049093f61ac06/)

If you haven’t downloaded 4:57 yet, grab it right here.

Fresh off the heels of our Reflection Eternal album release celebration episode, we’re right back into a normal edition of Sound Session.  And when I say “normal,” I mean an hour and a half of ridiculously dope and varied music from around the globe.  Peep this week’s show for jawns from Cee-Lo, Drake, Electric Wire Hustle, TiRon, Shad, the Roots, Homeboy Sandman, Slum Village, Laws, and the unquestionable song of the moment, Kanye’s “Power.”  This is why we ride with you Yeezy!  Shout to the homey Spaceman for coming through as well…ch-ch-check it out:

Show #262 (6-6-10)

1. Cee-Lo – “Georgia”
2. Janelle Monae ft. B.o.B & Lupe Fiasco – “Tightrope (Wondamix)”
3. Big Boi ft. Big Rube – “General Patton”
4. Mike Bigga ft. T.I. – “Ready Set Go”
5. Drake ft. Jay-Z – “Light Up”
6. Rick Ross ft. Kool G Rap – “Knife Fight”
7. Eminem ft. Pink – “Won’t Back Down”
8. **INTERVIEW WITH SPACEMAN, PT. 1**
9. Spaceman – “Get It In” (Local Music)
10. **INTERVIEW WITH SPACEMAN, PT. 2**
11. Kanye West ft. Dwele – “Power”
12. Electric Wire Hustle – “They Don’t Want”
13. Shad – “Rose Garden”
14. TiRon – “Boys & Girls”
15. Asher Roth – “G.R.I.N.D.”
16. Sol – “Not The One” (Local Music)
17. The Roots – “Doin’ It Again”
18. Homeboy Sandman – “Mean Mug”
19. Fugees – “Manifest” (Throwback of the Week)
20. JFK – “High School Sweetheart” (Local Music)
21. Slum Village ft. Colin Munroe – “Faster”
22. Laws – “Flashback”

Download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?mygwjyrnyg1
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/770044155b883faf/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/6ttc6r6anh6k)

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.

(Part One in HD on HyphenTV)

As I mentioned in the post with just the audio, Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek came through Sound Session two weeks ago to talk all about their new album.  Here’s the entire in-depth interview with these two legendary hip-hop figures, and more importantly, just two all around good dudes.  Support them by copping Revolutions Per Minute and for the youngins who never bought Train of Thought, you better get that too!

Part 1: “RPM’s,” “City Playgrounds,” and “Back Again.”

(Part Two in HD on HyphenTV)

Part 2: Affion Crockett/Russell Simmons skits, being considered “conscious,” the marketing of “neo soul,” “Strangers” featuring Bun B, “In This World,” sampling Jay-Z’s classic lyric, “Got Work,” and more.

(Part Three in HD on HyphenTV)

Part 3: “Midnight Hour” featuring Estelle, “Lifting Off,” the war on drugs, “In The Red,” and more.

(Part Four in HD on HyphenTV)

Part 4: “Ballad Of The Black Gold,” energy consumption, live instrumentation vs. samples, “Just Begun” with Jay Electronica, J. Cole, and Mos Def, and more.

(Part 5 in HD on HyphenTV)

Part 5: “Long Hot Summer,” working as a group, “Get Loose” with Chester French, “So Good” and the return of MC Hi-Tek, the absence of Dion on the album, and more.

(Part 6 in HD on HyphenTV)

Part 6: “Ends” featuring Bilal, the pursuit of money, music piracy, the autobiographical outro of “My Life,” the future of Reflection Eternal, and more.

Enjoy!

Pardon the delay in archiving the last 2 episodes of Sound Session, but I wanted to make sure I gave you guys every option for checking out our in depth interview with Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek, collectively known as Reflection Eternal.  In celebration of their new album, Revolutions Per Minute, Talib and Tek came through to talk about every song on the project and the inspirations behind them all.  Consider this an “Inside The Rapper’s Studio” style interview, not for the faint of heart.  Oh…and BUY THE ALBUM!!!!

Note – the interview played on air was not the full discussion.  If you’d like to check out the entire interview, please view the videos through the link below.

Show #261 (5-30-10)

1. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 1**
2. Reflection Eternal – “RPM’s”
3. Reflection Eternal – “City Playgrounds”
4. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 2**
5. Reflection Eternal ft. Res – “Back Again”
6. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 3**
7. Reflection Eternal ft. Bun B – “Strangers (Paranoid)”
8. Reflection Eternal – “In This World”
9. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 4**
10. Reflection Eternal – “Got Work”
11. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 5**
12. Reflection Eternal ft. Estelle – “Midnight Hour”
13. Reflection Eternal – “Lifting Off”
14. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 6**
15. Reflection Eternal – “In The Red”
16. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 7**
17. Reflection Eternal – “Ballad Of The Black Gold”
18. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 8**
19. Reflection Eternal ft. Jay Electronica, J. Cole, & Mos Def – “Just Begun”
20. Reflection Eternal – “Long Hot Summer”
21. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 9**
22. Reflection Eternal ft. Chester French – “Get Loose”
23. Reflection Eternal – “So Good”
24. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 10**
25. Reflection Eternal ft. Bilal – “Ends”
26. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 11**
27. Reflection Eternal – “My Life”
28. **INTERVIEW WITH REFLECTION ETERNAL, PT. 12**

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?yweowynmtqk
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/76743509fd03f5b6/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/bdytv0q0rr07)

Link to download just the interview breaks – http://www.mediafire.com/?l4wommmmwyn
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/7674405781126bf1/)
(2nd back up – http://usershare.net/y65gnbvwms07)

Watch video of the interview – https://www.theaudacityofdope.com/2010/06/08/reflection-eternal-on-sound-session/

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.

While J. Moore held it down for Seattle and Sound Session in Los Angeles for another Red Bull Big Tune battle, I was more than happy to provide another episode to our loyal listeners.  Peep this week’s show for dope new music from artists like Nottz, Sol, Dom Kennedy, Drake, Wiz Khalifa, the Roots, and more.  Plus, in celebration of one of our favorite MC’s releasing his new album today (albeit only in Canada at the moment), Shad called in to talk about TSOL.  I don’t care if it’s not in physical stores here today…you must find a way to cop this record!

Show #260 (5-23-10)

1. Nas & Damian Marley – “Friends”
2. Nottz – “Cars”
3. Sol – “Dear Friends” (Local Music)
4. Hardwerk & Jansport J – “Computer”
5. Common ft. Queen Latifah – “Next Time (Just Wright Version)”
6. Big K.R.I.T. ft. Devin The Dude – “Moon & Stars”
7. Dom Kennedy – “1997”
8. J. Cole – “Who Dat”
9. Drake – “9AM In Dallas”
10. Dr. Oop ft. Rogue Venom – “Green Butter”
11. Jack The Ripper ft. Khingz, Sol, & Grynch – “Thanks” (Local Music)
12. Reflection Eternal – “Ballad Of The Black Gold”
13. The Roots ft. Jim James – “Dear God 2.0”
14. Janelle Monae – “Cold War”
15. Theophilus London – “A Stranger’s Heart”
16. Wiz Khalifa – “The Statement”
17. DJ Honda ft. Mos Def – “Travellin’ Man” (Throwback of the Week)
18. **INTERVIEW WITH SHAD, PT. 1**
19. Shad – “Yaa I Get It”
20. **INTERVIEW WITH SHAD, PT. 2**
21. Canary Sing – “H206” (Local Music)
22. Alicia Keys ft. Drake – “Un-thinkable (I’m Ready) (Remix)”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?yio20dmwyia
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/7648388297105e20/)

Link to download just the interview with Shad – http://www.mediafire.com/?ztdzg3ofzmz
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/76484269c27cdaa4/)

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.