The Audacity of Dope

Hands down, my favorite part of hosting a radio show for the last decade (wow…i’m old) is helping shine light on folks who aren’t getting the respect they deserve.  Now, those within the industry obviously know how talented Focus is, but the general public is still a bit behind.  Recently, they’ve started to learn as he’s unleashed his “homage” series of songs dedicated towards some of his biggest inspirations (DJ Premier, J Dilla, and Pete Rock so far).

We had the chance to catch up with Focus on Sound Session and talk all about how that series came together and who will be next up to receive a homage production.  We also talked about his background (his dad was the bass player in Chic…what!?!), what it’s like working with Dre on Detox, his creative process, the development of his artist, Kida, why there are more good beats than good rappers, and much more.  You can even hear Kida’s new track with Focus, “Must Be Nice,” included in the interview.  Peep it:

Focus on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?u1ekwyj4zmn
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/5867236469e95e65/)

Be on the lookout for the next homage to drop real soon and please stop sleeping on this dude.  He flips every style better than most producers flip their specialties and he’s also taking music in his own direction at the same time.  Get familiar now or play catch up later.

What up world?

You ever have those moments where some things in your life are going [Andre] fantastically well [/3000], but because of them, you’re also incredibly busy?  Well…yeah, I’m there right now, so this recap will be short.

This week we ran some great joints from folks like Wale, Crooked I, Kid Cudi, Asher Roth, Chester French, the new homies Pac Div (what up fellas!), and gave Diz Gibran and Trackademicks their SNSS debuts.  We also world premiered the new single from Seattle’s own Dyme Def, “Pick Up Ya Flow” featuring Saigon, played a snippet of our interview with producer Focus (full version will be posted on the blog this week), and gave out a bunch of Nipsey Hussle mixtapes.

In short, another average night of excellence.

Show #202 (4-12-09)

1. Diz Gibran – “New Religion”
2. Fashawn – “The Outer City”
3. Trackademicks ft. MoxMore – “Topsidin’”
4. Wale ft. Lady Gaga – “Chillin’”
5. Dyme Def ft. Saigon – “Pick Up Ya Flow” (WORLD PREMIERE) (Local Artist)
6. Crooked I & DJ Wicked – “Jackin’ For Beats 2009”
7. Pac Div – “Pac Div (What It Is)”
8. Tanya Morgan ft. Blu – “Morgan Blu”
9. Drake ft. Trey Songz – “Successful”
10. Shad – “I Heard You Had A Voice Like An Angel”
11. **INTERVIEW WITH FOCUS (SNIPPET)**
12. Focus ft. Big Pooh, Sha Stimuli, & Kurupt – “Homage To Pete Rock”
13. Kid Cudi ft. Kanye West, Common, & A-Trak – “I Poke Her Face”
14. Roddy Rod ft. Phonte (of Little Brother) & Carlitta Durand – “This Time Around”
15. Big Pooh – “Rear View Mirror”
16. J. Pinder ft. Fatal Lucciauno – “Crossfire” (Local Artist)
17. Common Market – “Slow Down Moses” (Local Artist)
18. Asher Roth ft. Cee-Lo – “Be By Myself”
19. Chester French ft. Wale – “I’m Sorry”
20. Nipsey Hussle ft. Slauson Boys & K. Young – “Roll The Windows Up”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?2w20tyvink3
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/58625472993645b2/)

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.

Across all genres, there might not be an artist with more buzz right now than Asher Roth.  Sadly, it seems like most people, industry or not, are stuck on the smash single, “I Love College,” and the image that track represents.  In reality, Asher is much more than a one hit wonder responsible for the new frat boy anthem.  Instead, he’s a really dope MC, a thoughtful businessman, and an all around cool ass dude.

He took a minute from his busy schedule last week to call into Sound Session right before we all headed down to SXSW.  In the interview, we talked all about his upcoming Asleep In The Bread Aisle debut, the misrepresentation that “I Love College” brings, his producer and secret weapon, Oren Yorel, why being a white rapper is like being the Highlander, and much more.  Plus, we ran his new “Lark On My Go Kart” track and reminisced about everyone’s favorite Saved By The Bell moment.  You can check it out right here:

Asher Roth on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?yiw2fzdilyo
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/578401220336b51f/)

If you’re still hating on Asher, I hope you can peep Asleep In The Bread Aisle with a clear mind, because the music and talent are there in bunches.  Don’t get it twisted.

Whoooo…I know I’ve already mentioned it a ton on the Twitter and on the blog, but SXSW was incredible last week.  Basically, it was a high school field trip with all your closest hip-hop buddies.  Damn near everyone in the industry (well, at least indie hip-hop) mobbed down to Austin to enjoy 80 degree weather, free food & drinks, and more live music than you can possibly imagine.  While the performances were insane, the best part was just meeting with so many like minded folks.  Hip-hop ain’t dead in the least.  You just might think so if you aren’t looking in the right direction.

Shouts to everyone we ran into down in Texas, let’s run it down real quick…*deep breath*…Heavy Hitter, Blue Scholars, Common Market, Grynch, DJ Nphared, Budo, Grieves, David Meinert, Jessica @ Spectre, Exile, the whole Rhymesayers camp, Brother Ali, Jake One, Abstract Rude, Deep Rooted, U-N-I, the Agency Group, Jon Kim, Jonathan @ Om, Fresh Daily, Blu, Theresa @ the Musebox, 6th Sense, Outasight, Daytona, Freeway, Peter Rosenberg, Mazzi, Homeboy Sandman, Lanna @ Dada.net, Chelsea @ CO Clubs, Syntax Records, New West Records, JJ @ Foundation, Now On, Haircut/Mayer Hawthorne, 14KT, Buff1, Stephanie @ A-Side, DJ Graffitti, ID @ Interdependent, D.O., Garrett @ North Starr, Alex @ Ruby Hornet, Raekwon, Karim/Nightclubber Lang, Keelay & Zaire, Fortilive, the Myx Music fam, Theo, Asher Roth, Tanya Morgan, I Self Divine, Doomtree, Chris London, CurT@!n$, Odyssey, El Prez, Donny Goines, Dae One, Noni Spitz, Clint @ MVD, Bryan @ Paper Garden, Yvette @ Mint, Bambu, DJ Phatrick, Eskay @ Nah Right, TC @ Smoking Section, DJ Low Key, TJ @ TJ’s DJ’s, B-Rich, Playboy Tre, B.o.B., Hi-Tek, Daniel Glogower, Dow Jones of Tha Bizness, Shad, G, Classified, Cook Classics, GregTheDude, Charles Hamilton, Kid Cudi, Plain Pat, Emile, Big Sean, GLC, Mr. Hudson, Consequence, Janelle Monae, Ian and Jason @ Black Box, Hey Ocean, Adam @ Feldman & Associates, 88 Keys, Crew54, Yak Ballz, Connie @ Filter, Kidz In The Hall, D-Solo, Mickey Factz, P. Casso, Kosha Dillz, Matt @ Coalmine, Staci @ Interscope, Hanif of Animal Fam, Henri, Donnis, The Knux, Hip-Hop Official, the Cool Kids, Pac Div, Grace & Glenn @ Columbia, Tom Windish, Green Lantern, Balance, Curren$y, Steve Aoki, A-Trak, Mistah F.A.B., Talib Kweli, Corey Smyth, Strong Arm Steady, Amanda Diva, Eli Paperboy Reed and the True Loves, Davey D, Zion I, BK One, Camp Lo, Hollywood Holt, Proton, K’Naan, Lady Sov, Rye Rye, N.A.S.A., Truth Universal, Hollyweerd, Izza Kizza, Grip Plyaz, Tami @ Epitaph, and many, many more that I can’t remember right now…my apologies! That almost felt like making liner note thank you’s…wow, I don’t envy that.

Anyway, a lot of the talent out at SXSW was represented on this week’s SNSS playlist.  Shout to Asher and the SRC/Universal Motown fam for calling in to help debut his “Lark On My Go Kart” track.  I’ll post up that full interview shortly, but in the meantime, enjoy the music!

Show #199 (3-22-09)

1. 88 Keys ft. Kid Cudi – “Ho Is Short For Honey”
2. B.o.B. – “Mr. Bobby”
3. Wale ft. Lady GaGa – “Chillin’”
4. Rhymefest ft. Queen Latifah – “Goin’ In”
5. Pacific Division – “O.P.P. Freestyle”
6. **INTERVIEW WITH RIPYNT**
7. Ripynt ft. Jazz Digga – “Can’t Take It” (Local Artist)
8. Blu & Miss Jack Davey – “iFeel”
9. GLC ft. Kanye West & T-Pain – “Flight School”
10. **INTERVIEW WITH ASHER ROTH (SNIPPET)**
11. Asher Roth – “Lark In My Go Kart”
12. Kidz In The Hall – “I Got It Made (Reebok Classic ’09)”
13. Zion I ft. K. Flay – “Coastin’”
14. J. Pinder ft. Shawn Starr – “Havin’ Problems” (Local Artist)
15. U-N-I & Ro Blvd ft. Kes Kaos – “My Life”
16. Mayer Hawthorne – “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out”
17. Braille & S1 ft. Strange Fruit Project, Thesis, & Ragen Fykes – “Broken Heart” (Local Artist)
18. Shad – “I Heard You Had The Voice Of An Angel”
19. Tanya Morgan – “So Damn Down”
20. Keelay & Zaire ft. Prophit – “Nurf To The Turf”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?kowtrojwezz
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/57521853875b9324/)

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 the full interview with TiRon that we recorded a few weeks ago right before his new Ketchup project dropped, and I finally got some free time this weekend to get it out there for y’all.  If you’re still sleeping on TiRon, you’re missing out on one of the most talented dudes doing it right now.

Be sure to download Ketchup and peep this interview to hear him talk all about his background coming up in the L.A. scene, linking with Pacific Division, the new mixtape and the Handshakes & Pounds, Pt. 2 follow up, how the web helps (and hurts) new artists, and much more.

TiRon on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?mddijmkn5zj
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/57110291095b68ba/ )

Get some of that New West in your life…

What up, what up?  I know it’s been a minute since I’ve posted anything up, but your boy has been mad busy.  After heading down to Oregon last weekend for a basketball tournament with my 6th grade select team that I coach, I promptly caught a crazy cold that has me stuck in bed.  I fought it all last week and seemed to be doing pretty well, but when you have a nagging cold and don’t eat or sleep well all week, it usually catches up to you.  Running around from 9am – midnight every day for weeks at a time definitely got to me.  And someone please tell me why it’s still snowing in March in Seattle…wtfffff.

Anyway, I hope to be blogging more again soon.  Here’s this week’s Sound Session to get things started.  Darn good show if I say so myself…

Show #197 (3-8-09)

1. Buggs Tha Rocka ft. Little Brother – “Get Away”
2. Reflection Eternal ft. Bootsy Collins – “Internet Connection”
3. Focus ft. Big Pooh, Sha Stimuli, & Kurupt – “Homage To Pete Rock”
4. DJ Babu ft. MF Doom & Sean Price – “The Unexpected”
5. **INTERVIEW WITH MACKLEMORE & CASSIUS**
6. Blame One ft. Sean Price – “Disturbed”
7. Nottz ft. Kardinal Offishall & Cory Gunz – “Can’t Hide The Truth”
8. Braille & S1 – “For Life” (Local Artist)
9. John Legend – “Lay Your Head Down”
10. Mayer Hawthorne – “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out”
11. Zion I ft. K. Flay – “Coastin’”
12. LaRue – “Rise Up” (Local Artist)
13. Kid Cudi – “Sky Might Fall”
14. TiRon ft. Ayomari – “3 Drink Minimum”
15. Ms. One ft. Black Milk & Big Pooh – “2 MC’s”
16. Drake – “Lust For Life”
17. Saigon & Statik Selektah – “The Rules”
18. Ripynt ft. Jazz Digga – “Can’t Take It” (Local Artist)
19. Pacific Division – “Mayor”
20. Slaughterhouse (Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Royce The 5’9”, & Crooked I) – “Fight Club”
21. Method Man & Redman – “A Yo”

Link to download the mp3 – http://www.mediafire.com/?ododhcoedzi
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/56841816dcd6056c/)

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.

The homies Y-O and Thurzday came through Sound Session at the end of last year and it’s taken me a minute to post up the video of the full interview.  We aired part of the audio a few weeks ago, but here’s the full thing.  You can peep the clip above to hear them talk all about their upcoming Love Supreme project (dropping soon!), their possible beef with the Knux, the dreaded ‘hipster’ label, and much more.

If you want to check out the broadcast audio and hear it all more clearly, here’s the audio only:

U-N-I on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?vuh4mjmr5o3
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/56497985ef8e1e3a/)

And if you missed the last time we had U-N-I in the studio, click here.  I hope you remember this:

In between my 2.5 jobs and my lack of sleep, I don’t have a whole lot to say about this week’s SNSS.  You already know the drill though…an hour and half of the dopest music [Olbermann] in the wooorrrrrlllllld [/Keith], featuring tracks by Pac Div, U-N-I, Blu, Kid Cudi, Colin Munroe, Deep Rooted, Strong Arm Steady, Nottz, Kardinal Offishall, Mayer Hawthorne, B.o.B., and more.

On top of that, we were joined in the studio by local artist Avatar Young Blaze (who talked about his collaboration with Lil’ Wayne) and the big homey Jake One.  Also, the homies from Highline Community College came through to talk about their Hip-Hop Summit event going down later this week.  I’ll be featured on one of the panels, so if you’re in the neighborhood Thursday at noon, drop on by the Des Moines campus and check out what’s sure to be a great convo.

Show #195 (2-22-09)

1. Pacific Division – “Mayor”
2. Big Tone – “Business”
3. U-N-I ft. Black Milk – “Castle Vee Re-Up”
4. **INTERVIEW WITH AVATAR YOUNG BLAZE**
5. Avatar Young Blaze ft. Lil’ Wayne – “King of the Streets” (Local Artist)
6. J. Period ft. Consequence & Kid Cudi – “Buggin’ Out 2009 (Tribute Mix)”
7. Dela ft. Blu – “Mars (Remix)”
8. Focus ft. Frank Nitti, T3, Baatin, & Illa J – “Homage To Dilla”
9. Kid Cudi – “Day N Nite”
10. Colin Munroe ft. Young Buck – “I’m Fine”
11. Drake – “Say You Will Freestyle (Say What’s Real)”
12. Big Sean – “Supa Dupa”
13. Deep Rooted – “D.E.E.P. R.O.O.T.E.D.”
14. Strong Arm Steady ft. Chace Infinite (of Self Scientific), Planet Asia, & Affion Crockett – “Black History”
15. Nottz ft. Kardinal Offishall & Cory Gunz – “Can’t Hide The Truth”
16. Rise & the Avid Record Collector – “Rise Anthem”
17. Spaceman – “This Is That Fire” (Local Artist)
18. Sol ft. Philharmonic – “Spliff” (Local Artist)
19. Mayer Hawthorne – “I Wish It Would Rain”
20. B.o.B. – “Generation Lost”
21. **INTERVIEW WITH JAKE ONE**

Link to download the mp3 – http://www.mediafire.com/?z2q1mml3b5k
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/5609436093d03955/ )

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.

Man, how great would it be if every Monday was a holiday?  It’s a lot easier to host a late Sunday night show, sleep in the next day, and then post up the archive when you don’t have to run to work first thing in the morning.  I’m not mad at this at all.

Last night was a pretty fun show, though I was a little bored with nobody else in the studio (if you couldn’t tell by this post).  J will be back from his travels next week, but in the meantime, I played some dope tracks from folks like M.O.P., Cormega, Drake, Kid Cudi, the CunninLynguists, Mos Def, K’Naan, Big Boi, and I might have debuted a new Mayer Hawthorne (DJ Haircut) track too.  Not sure if anyone’s played that one yet, but, obviously, it’s dope.  Peep it all below:

Show #194 (2-15-09)

1. M.O.P. – “Blow The Horns”
2. Blame One ft. Sean Price – “Disturbed”
3. Cormega – “Maybach Music Freestyle”
4. Drake – “Say You Will Freestyle (Say What’s Real)”
5. Sol ft. Philharmonic – “Spliff” (Local Artist)
6. Kid Cudi – “Day N Nite”
7. J. Period ft. Consequence & Kid Cudi – “Buggin’ Out 2009 (Tribute Mix)”
8. Mic Legacy ft. Skyzoo – “The Radio”
9. Focus ft. Frank Nitti, T3, Baatin, & Illa J – “Homage To Dilla”
10. CunninLynguists – “Never Come Down (The Brownie Song)”
11. Big Tone ft. Blu – “A Song Called Triumph”
12. DJ Deckstream ft. Mos Def – “Life Is Good”
13. Wale ft. Young Chris & Tre – “Nightlife”
14. Spaceman – “This Is That Fire” (Local Artist)
15. P.A. ft. Emilio Rojas & F.T. – “Illy Bop”
16. Rhymefest – “Exodus 5:1”
17. K’Naan – “Somalia”
18. U-N-I – “Night Nurse (Remix)”
19. Big Boi – “Ringtone”
20. Avatar Young Blaze ft. Lil’ Wayne – “King of the Streets” (Local Artist)
21. Marsha Ambrosius ft. Little Brother – “Sunshine”
22. Foreign Exchange ft. Darien Brockington – “Take Off The Blues”
23. Mayer Hawthorne – “I Wish It Would Rain”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?wmmojntyytd
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/55734911caa83c04/ )

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.

Wow.  It’s 1:30AM (PST) and whether it was Khaled or not, which I’m sure we’ll find out by the morning, I just watched the standoff with LAPD end on the live chopper feed and it was not pretty.  According to Fox in LA, the driver of the Bentley killed himself so RIP to whoever it was.

On that note, I really don’t have anything to say about this week’s SNSS.  You know the drill.  I can’t think of anything to write after watching something like that.

Show #193 (2-8-09)

1. Termanology ft. Big Pooh, Chaundon, & Joe Scudda – “Pay Jay”
2. Super Smoky Soul ft. Guilty Simpson – “Knockout Kings”
3. Big Tone ft. Blu – “A Song Called Triumph”
4. J. Period ft. De La Soul – “Excursions 2009 (Tribute Mix)”
5. **INTERVIEW WITH SPACEMAN**
6. Spaceman – “This Is That Fire” (Local Artist)
7. The Knux – “Fire”
8. Cunninlynguists – “Never Come Down (The Brownie Song)”
9. Q-Tip ft. Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, & Lil’ Wayne – “Renaissance Rap (Remix)”
10. Beatnick & K-Salaam ft. K’Naan & Buckshot – “In Jamaica”
11. Alchemist ft. Twista & Maxwell – “Smilin’”
12. Musab – “Get Life”
13. New Jack Hustle (Newman & Shawn Jackson) ft. Vursatyl (of the Lifesavas) – “Ronald”
14. Convinced ft. Shawn Jackson, Tunji (of Inverse), & El Prez – “Mass Appeal 2009 (Remix)”
15. Inverse ft. Deacon the Villain (of the Cunninlynguists) – “So True”
16. Sol – “Road Is Rough” (Local Artist)
17. Avatar Young Blaze ft. Lil’ Wayne – “King of the Streets” (Local Artist)
18. N.A.S.A. ft. Kanye West, Santogold, & Lykke Li – “Gifted”
19. U-N-I ft. Black Milk – “Castle Vee Re-Up”
20. Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah – “Criminology, Pt. 2”
21. Nat King Cole ft. the Roots – “Walkin’ My Baby Back Home (Remix)”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?mminwim2t0v
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/5537726963b7f026/ )

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.