The Audacity of Dope

Here’s the Sound Session playlist and download links from Sunday night.  As usual, we had a ball playing the best new music around, plus we were joined in the studio by the homey Geologic from the Blue Scholars.  Along with laughing at our crazy callers, Geo was in the building to talk about the upcoming Blue Scholars and Common Market shows at the end of the week here in Seattle.  If you’re in the town, you better be coming through Neumo’s Thursday, Friday, and/or Saturday night to see two of our most talented groups tear it down like they always do.  Shout to the entire Massline family.

We also had a quick appearance from two of our Cali friends, Glasses Malone and Mistah F.A.B., who dropped in before performing at the Star Bar.  First off, you haven’t lived until you’ve heard these two cap on each other.  I wish y’all could have heard the off-air convo…hilarious.  Secondly, be on the lookout for Glasses’ major label debut, Beach Cruiser, coming in March of ’09.  Dude has been putting in work in the Cali underground for years so it’s good to see him on the verge of such big success.

Do what you do and peep the entire show below:

Show #185 (12-14-08)
**Co-Hosted by Geologic (of Blue Scholars)**

1. 88 Keys ft. Bilal – “M.I.L.F.”
2. Alchemist ft. Evidence, Blu, & Kid Cudi – “Therapy”
3. Freeway – “Look Around”
4. Ghostface Killah – “Slept On Tony”
5. Blue Scholars – “Joe Metro” (Local Artist)
6. Q-Tip ft. D’Angelo – “I Believe”
7. Black Milk – “Hold It Down”
8. **INTERVIEW WITH GLASSES MALONE & MISTAH F.A.B., PT. 1**
9. Glasses Malone ft. Lil’ Wayne & Birdman – “Haterz”
10. **INTERVIEW WITH GLASSES MALONE & MISTAH F.A.B., PT. 2**
11. Souls of Mischief – “Tour Stories”
12. Evidence ft. Elzhi & Aloe Blacc – “To Be Determined”
13. 6th Sense ft. Adele – “Bringing 1988 Back” (WORLD PREMIERE)
14. K’Naan ft. Chubb Rock – “ABC’s”
15. Common ft. Martina Topley-Bird – “Everywhere”
16. N.A.S.A. ft. Kanye West, Santogold, & Lykke Li – “Gifted”
17. He Say She Say – “Crash Dummie”
18. U-N-I – “Hollywood Hiatus”
19. Clockwork – “Same As Me” (Local Artist)
20. Joe Budden ft. the Game – “The Future”
21. Fresh Espresso (Rik Rude & P-Smoov) – “Elegant” (Local Artist)
22. Sene – “Whateva, Wheneva”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?ymzmtolw3lz
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/52807805c886e2c9/ )

Link to download the parts with Glasses Malone & Mistah F.A.B. – http://www.mediafire.com/?rejomlz2njm
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/52808768b3ac3185/ )

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.

A few months back, J. Moore and the rest of the Red Bull Big Tune fam brought Elzhi (of Slum Village) and Black Milk to the town for the Seattle edition of the beat battle.  Before tearing it down at Neumo’s that night (I’ll toss some of that footage up if I get time), they came through Sound Session to record an interview with us.  Unfortunately, since we’ve had so many guests coming through lately, it’s taken a minute to get the audio up for y’all.  Better late than never though, especially when you’re dealing with two of the dopest artists in the industry right now.  I don’t think anyone is seeing Elzhi bar for bar, and with the release of Tronic, Black has staked his claim for the top MC/producer out there.  Seriously…do you hear how he’s spittin’ on that album?

Anyway, the interview was recorded in between the releases of Elzhi’s The Preface and Black’s Tronic, so there are a few occasions where it sounds dated.  Even still, I highly recommend checking out the full discussion to hear them break down both projects in detail.  They also talked about their inspirations both past and present, their creative processes, all things Detroit, what changes they hope Barack can bring to the people, their upcoming work, and much more.  Enjoy!

Elzhi & Black Milk on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?4nl20wo3wjy
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/52144263069bf0be/ )

Do yourself a favor and go cop The Preface and Tronic if you haven’t already.  Your “Best of 2008” list isn’t complete without both of ’em, trust me.

Like I mentioned a while back, I got a chance to catch up with the homies Evidence (of Dilated Peoples) and Alchemist when they came to Seattle at the start of the month for the “Still High” tour with Red & Meth.  We’ve had both dudes on Sound Session a few times before, but this was the first occasion where they came through together.  Every time I chop it up with Ev and Al, they’re cool as hell.

This time around, we talked all about their current projects, including Evidence’s Layover EP, Alchemist’s Alchemist Cookbook (which drops online today!), Al’s Gang Green album with Oh No, and their Stepbrothers group effort.  They also touched on how new media has affected their careers, the recent West Coast resurgence, who they list as dream collaborations, and much more.  Peep that:

Evidence & Alchemist on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?yzjtjgejieu
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/51481522ef6ce739/ )

Go grab Al’s Alchemist Cookbook at your favorite digital retailer and be sure to cop The Layover EP a week from today.  If you’ve been staying up to date on the videos so far, you know it’s crazy…

I don’t know if you heard, but some dude named Barack Obama is our 44th President.  Pretty crazy, huh?

With this being our first Sound Session since the historic election, you know we had to celebrate.  We kicked off the show with a nice set of tracks dedicated to Barack’s victory, including new joints from Jay-Z, Common, Brother Ali, Q-Tip, and 3 of XXL’s Incoming Freshmen Class, B.o.B., Charles Hamilton, and Asher Roth.  After getting our celebration out the way, we got back into some of the best music out right now from people like Kanye, Devin The Dude, Black Milk, Evidence, and more.  Good music + good times recapping the past week.  Listen to the very beginning to hear how J. Moore watched the election results with WHO?!?!?!?! How crazy is that?

We also had 88 Keys call in (again…peep the interview from June here) to talk about his Death of Adam project that drops today, so make sure you cop that and support G.O.O.D. music…yes pun.  Also, shout to J. Pinder for swinging by the studio to fill us in, pause, on his new mixtape, No New Taxes.  Pinder may have lost his campaign for President, but at least he’s still one of Seattle’s best.  Cop that for a buck at OnlyGP.com.

Show #180 (11-9-08)

1. Jay-Z ft. Tony Williams – “History”
2. Novel ft. Joell Ortiz – “I Can Be President”
3. B.o.B. ft. Charles Hamilton & Asher Roth – “Change Gonna Come”
4. Brother Ali – “Mr. President (You’re The Man)”
5. Common – “Changes”
6. J. Period ft. Q-Tip – “Q-Tip For President”
7. Jake One ft. Kardinal Offishall & Pharoahe Monch – “Hurt U” (Local Artist)
8. **INTERVIEW WITH 88 KEYS #02**
9. 88 Keys ft. Kanye West & Malik Yusef – “Stay Up (Viagra)”
10. Kanye West – “Heartless”
11. Devin The Dude ft. 14K – “I Need A Song”
12. Illa J ft. Debi Nova – “Sounds Like Love”
13. Foreign Exchange ft. Darien Brockington – “Take Off The Blues”
14. The Reallionaires – “Call Me” (Local Artist)
15. Black Milk ft. Royce The 5’9” – “Losing Out”
16. **INTERVIEW WITH J. PINDER**
17. AD – “All That I Had” (Local Artist)
18. Keelay & Zaire ft. Tunji – “Addicts For Real”
19. Fashawn ft. Evidence – “Our Way”
20. Evidence – “The Layover”
21. John Legend – “If You’re Out There (Obama Mix)”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?mmdz21ovyja
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/5117608845439706/ )

Link to download the full interview with 88 Keys – http://www.mediafire.com/?gvyhtqz5zdn
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/51176379078607c9/ )

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.

(watch part one in High-Def on HyphenTV)

Loyal listeners of Sound Session know that the big homey Jake One often drops by the studio to kick it, but we’ve never really done an official interview with him.  With the release of his debut album, White Van Music, a few weeks back, we had to bring in Jake and talk all about it.  Not only did he give us all sorts of behind the scenes stories about the project, but we ran through the entire album on air, joint by joint.

If you haven’t checked out White Van Music, you’re missing out on some of the best beats of the year and guest appearances from Black Milk, MF Doom, Alchemist, Busta Rhymes, Bishop Lamont, M.O.P., Freeway, Posdnuos, Slug, Little Brother, Prodigy, Elzhi, Royce The 5’9″, Young Buck, and many more.  Another guest from the album, Brother Ali, also came through SNSS that night to pay his respects to the latest chapter in Seattle’s rich musical history.

You can watch all the interview segments through part one (above) and part two (below), but make sure you watch them in HD on the HyphenTV Vimeo channel.  If you want the audio of the entire show for the mp3 player or the ride, here you go:

Jake One on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?ijm0j7uyj90
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/20192616e1aa393c/ )

(watch part two in High-Def on HyphenTV)

Cop White Van Music right now!

Even though Crook has been leaking these tracks individually, the time has come for the official tape to drop.  Dude is a beast on the mic and also real nice in person.  If you haven’t checked him out killing it on Sound Session a few months ago, peep a few freestyles here and here.

The Block Obama + The Audacity of Dope = a sure thing.  Download this tape ASAP.

1. Intro
2. Rappers Ain’t Sh*t
3. A Millie Freestyle prod. by Komplex
4. Trafficin’ Green
5. I’m Cold ft. G Malone and Hard Head
6. Hood Politics
7. Straightin’ it Out ft. Sauce da Boss
8. Hard on da Blvd
9. Stronger Freestyle
10. Circle Gnag ft. Horse Shoe Gang prod. by Jim Gettum
11. Freak [NC-17] Prod. by KG
12. W’s Down prod. by Komplex
13. New West Baby ft. Coniyac
14. Signs ft. One-2 prod. by Komplex
15. Lift em Up ft. Nino Bless
16. Horse Shoe Gang Freestyle
17. Swagga Like Crook prod. by Komplex
18. What’s Hip-Hop?
19. Fast Money
20. Welcome to My City
21. [Bounus track] I’m a Problem ft. S.C.

Download here.

(if you prefer watching in higher quality on YouTube, peep parts 1, 2, and 3)

This past week, the “Seeing Invincible Sounds of Summer” tour swept through  Seattle and N.E.R.D. and Common tore it down at the Showbox SoDo.  Besides these guys being some of my favorite artists of all time, they’re also some of the coolest dudes I’ve met in the industry.  When I really think about, it’s mind blowing that I’m actually cool with Common, a living legend and inarguably one of the top MC’s in rap history.  Wow.  How the hell did that happen?

Anyway, aside from a few random wack encounters, everyone I’ve interviewed has been pretty nice and down to earth.  However, Com is on another level.  This dude is seriously one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and it was ill to have him come through the studio and make his third appearance on Sound Session.  Random SNSS trivia: 3 years ago, Com was our very first interview as we had him on the show for an hour long discussion, running through stories from each of his albums.  Classic.

This time, we talked all about his upcoming Invincible Summer Universal Mind Control album and what it was like working in full with the Neptunes and Mr. DJ.  We also touched on his acting work, including updates on the next Terminator movie and his role as Green Lantern in the oft-delayed Justice League project.  And you can’t sit down with Com and not talk about politics, so we discussed how the media has been affecting the presidential race and what he would do if he was given executive power.  Before he left, we reflected on his past work and brainstormed some of his favorite verses.

You can either watch the interview above, or, as recommended, download the broadcast audio feed (with his “U.M.C.” single included) through one of the links below.  Enjoy:

Common on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?3mmtwhzzmxt
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/19201421efd3c1a7/ )

Universal Mind Control should be dropping sometime in November and you already know it’s an instant cop.  Also, be sure to check out the tour when it hits your town.  Com performs a few tracks off it that sound incredible, namely “Gladiator.”  You really need to see it live, trust me.

Last night’s Sound Session will be posted later today, hold tight. I’ve got some things I need to tend to first, like…a new job!  Don’t worry, SNSS ain’t goin’ nowhere.  Your boy just got a [Kanye] good ass job [/’Ye], that’s all.