The Audacity of Dope

Normally, I’d stay completely out of the buffoonery that is the MTV Video Music Awards, but this year, everyone in Seattle paid close attention since some of our homies were up for the night’s biggest awards.  Congrats don’t even seem like enough, but perhaps all caps will help: CONGRATS to Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Zach, Jon Jon, Ray Dalton, Mary Lambert, and the entire crew responsible for “Thrift Shop,” “Same Love,” and “Can’t Hold Us.”  I know MTV wasn’t ready to let Justin lose after the N’Sync reunion, but let’s be honest, Mack & Ryan deserved the video of the year too.  3 out of 6 ain’t bad though.  An amazing accomplishment and one Seattle will be proud of forever.

As for the rest of the VMA’s, well, it made me think of Amy’s famous opening line to the first verse of “Me and Mr. Jones“.  I will say that of all the silly memes to spawn out of the debauchery, this one of Kanye’s had me in stitches (only 5% of readers will get it, but if you do…maaaaaaan).  Other than that, this article from The Onion pretty much nailed it, and expertly laid out why every commercial media source is inherently flawed when presenting you with content.

This is part of the reason we enjoy doing SNSS as much as we do.  We literally have no stake in any of this, so we aren’t required to do anything other than play great music we believe in.  It could be from mega-stars (Jay-Z or Drake), local artists (Royce The Choice and GMK stopped by this week), longtime industry vets (Fat Joe or AZ), up and coming MC’s (Earl Sweatshirt or Vince Staples), or even artists outside hip-hop (Janelle Monae, Yuna, Miguel, and Jose James).  Whatever we like, we play.

This week, we liked some damn good records.  Check ’em out.  And RIP to Aaliyah.

Show #428 (8-25-13)

1. Jay-Z ft. Rick Ross – “F*ckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt”
2. AZ – “I Excel”
3. Fat Joe ft. Action Bronson – “Your Honor”
4. Drake ft. 2 Chainz & Big Sean – “All Me”
5. Shawn Chrystopher ft. Dom Kennedy & Ashly Breshe – “Situation”
6. THURZ ft. Cali Martyr – “Got Damn, Got Damn”
7. The Kid Daytona – “Hilary”
8. Fice – “The Odyssey” (Local Music)
9. Black Milk – “Perfected On Puritan Ave”
10. Big Sean ft. Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica – “Control”
11. Rapsody ft. Phonte & Jay Electronica – “Jedi Code”
12. **INTERVIEW WITH ROYCE THE CHOICE & GMK, PT. 1**
13. Royce The Choice ft. Peta Tosh – “Benihanas” (Local Music)
14. Earl Sweatshirt ft. Vince Staples & Casey Veggies – “Hive”
15. **INTERVIEW WITH ROYCE THE CHOICE & GMK, PT. 2**
16. The Weeknd ft. Drake – “Live For”
17. ST 2 Lettaz ft. Joi Tiffany – “Flashlight”
18. Janelle Monae ft. Miguel – “Primetime”
19. Mayer Hawthorne ft. Jessie Ware & Large Professor – “Her Favorite Song (Large Professor Remix)”
20. Tope ft. Luck-One – “New Day” (Local Music)
21. Tanya Morgan – “Pick It Up”
22. Wu-Tang Clan – “Method Man” (Throwback of the Week)
23. Yuna – “Falling”
24. Jose James – “Come To My Door (Taylor McFerrin Remix)”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www61.zippyshare.com/v/22899875/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/5502d20793/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/wzibepo0dquv)

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.

This week’s SNSS archive featured new music from Rapsody, denitia and sene, Kent Money, Lupe Fiasco, Royce The Choice, Porter Ray, Ayatollah, Anthony Hamilton, Earl Sweatshirt, Frank Ocean, Lapalux, and more.  Of course we also had to spin the new Big Sean record, “Control,” and talk about Kendrick Lamar’s verse that took over social media last week.  Was it a game changer?  Was it even one of Kendrick’s best verses?  Why are the only rappers responding, those who weren’t even mentioned?

Check out episode #427 to get our take, and enjoy the music as well!

Show #427 (8-18-13)

1. J. Cole ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Forbidden Fruit”
2. Rapsody – “Kingship”
3. Thaddeus David – “Love Sh*t” (Local Music)
4. Drake ft. Majid Jordan – “Hold On, We’re Going Home”
5. denitia and sene – “it’s your fault”
6. Royce The Choice ft. GMK & Porter Ray – “For The Jeeps” (Local Music)
7. Kent Money ft. Dave Young – “Wondering Why”
8. Nickelus F – “Watermelon and Chicken”
9. Craig David ft. Mos Def – “7 Days (DJ Premier Remix)” (Throwback of the Week)
10. Lupe Fiasco – “SLR 3 (Round Of Applause)”
11. Big Sean ft. Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica – “Control”
12. Stalley ft. Schoolboy Q – “NineteenEighty7”
13. Earl Sweatshirt ft. Frank Ocean – “Sunday”
14. Banks ft. Gilbere Forte – “Waiting Game (RAAK Remix)”
15. CharlieRED – “On My Mind”
16. Ayatollah ft. Anthony Hamilton – “I Just Love Music”
17. Arima Ederra – “New Old School Love”
18. Raleigh Ritchie – “In Too Deep”
19. Scribes – “Backseat (New Ride)” (Local Music)
20. Sound Fx – “Nothing Less”
21. David Dallas ft. Freddie Gibbs – “My Mentality”
22. Lapalux ft. Kerry Leatham – “Without You”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www55.zippyshare.com/v/61720141/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/8776907ac9/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/dqpoo3pni8ho)

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.

New visuals from the homey Pinder. Produced by town legend Vitamin D, video by Charles Donaldson and Yuk The World’s BeanOne.

Fresh.

A few random thoughts for this week’s SNSS archive.  Let’s break out the bullet-points!

• Yeezus gets better with every listen, and I already liked it to begin with.  If you don’t enjoy “Bound 2,” “Black Skinhead,” “New Slaves,” “Blood On The Leaves,” “Send It Up,” etc., I don’t know what to tell you.
• I enjoyed our little sexy time set in the middle of this week’s show.  Jesse Boykins, Raleigh Ritchie, AB, and Rhye, all in a row.  Yes.
• You need to peep that Raleigh Ritchie record.  Watch out for this kid.
• Clint Dempsey signing with the Seattle Sounders is great for our city, the MLS, and the continued growth of soccer in America, but it’s bad for the progression of our top level talent with the national team.  We still need our best players playing in the top leagues and the MLS isn’t there yet.  There may be more positives than negatives here, and being in Seattle, I’m certainly fine with Deuce playing for the hometown team, but I wish he could still represent for us in the EPL.
• Speaking of the EPL, Jason Sudeikis killed this.
• Be sure to peep the video of our recent interview with Kid Ink right here!

And with that, enjoy episode #425:

Show #425 (8-4-13)

1. Kanye West – “Black Skinhead”
2. U-God ft. Inspectah Deck & Elzhi – “Mt. Everest”
3. Willie The Kid x Alchemist ft. Action Bronson & Roc Marciano – “Medusa”
4. Tony Touch ft. The Lox – “Bars”
5. Add-2 – “Rings & Crowns”
6. Jay-Z – “Picasso Baby”
7. YP ft. James Fauntleroy – “Money Talks”
8. J. Cole – “Mo Money”
9. Tito Lopez – “Re-Lax”
10. ANTHM – “AMG Forever”
11. J. Pinder – “Loaded Gun” (Local Music)
12. Drake ft. 2 Chainz & Big Sean – “All Me”
13. Shad ft. Saukrates – “Stylin’”
14. ScienZe – “Under The Bleachers”
15. Homeboy Sandman – “Relapse”
16. Tom Pepe & Jesse Judd ft. Chev – “Coffee & Tobacco” (Local Music)
17. Dave B – “Galaxy Defenders” (Local Music)
18. Jesse Boykins III – “Young and Beautiful”
19. Raleigh Ritchie – “In Too Deep”
20. AB – “You Used To Love Me”
21. Rhye – “Open”
22. Phil Ade ft. Dee Boy & Raheem DeVaughn – “Simply Beautiful”
23. Joey Badass ft. Smoke DZA – “Death Of YOLO”
24. Arrested Development – “Tennessee” (Throwback of the Week)
25. Mos Def – “Pistola (Preservation Remix)”
26. sayknowledge – “I’m Here”
27. Mayer Hawthorne ft. Jessie Ware – “Her Favorite Song”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www57.zippyshare.com/v/66867345/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/e97c7a9cf1/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/bxkuahd3we14)

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.

Shout to Kid Ink for coming through the Sound Session studio recently and chopping it up.  We discussed his background and when he first realized he could make music a career, before getting in depth on the keys to his independent success and why he decided to sign with a major label. He had an interesting take on how labels are adapting to work better with artists like himself, who have a dedicated fan base before inking a deal.

Real cool dude, I enjoyed our convo.  Shout to Detooz Films on the cameras!

New music on this week’s SNSS from artists like E-40, Hieroglyphics, Mayday, Da$h, AB, Oddisee, Stalley, Kavinksy, The Weeknd, Jesse Boykins III, and more.  We were also joined in studio by our good friends, Malice & Mario Sweet of the Physics crew.  Be sure to check out their new project, Enjoy:Like:Love, right here.

To top it all off, our longtime pal, Mayer Hawthorne, called in to chop it up about his new Where Does This Door Go album and the status of his highly anticipated Tuxedo project with Jake One.

Enjoy the show!

Show #424 (7-28-13)

1. Schoolboy Q ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Collard Greens”
2. E-40 ft. Danny Brown & Schoolboy Q – “All My Potnas”
3. Hieroglyphics – “Highway Five”
4. **INTERVIEW WITH MALICE & MARIO SWEET, PT. 1**
5. J. Cole ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Forbidden Fruit”
6. Mayday ft. David Correy – “Save Ferris”
7. Da$h ft. Ab-Soul & Retch – “Whale”
8. Kanye West ft. King Louie – “Send It Up”
9. Jay Z – “Beach Is Better”
10. Joey Badass ft. Chuck Strangers, Dessy Hinds, & Kirk Knight – “Satellite”
11. ChillxWill ft. P. Blackk – “Pickin’ Pockets” (Local Music)
12. Def Dee ft. Oddisee & Tranquil – “Still Propa” (Local Music)
13. Mobb Deep – “Survival Of The Fittest” (Throwback of the Week)
14. **INTERVIEW WITH MALICE & MARIO SWEET, PT. 2**
15. Malice & Mario Sweet – “Kortney Luv” (Local Music)
16. AB – “You Used To Love Me”
17. **INTERVIEW WITH MALICE & MARIO SWEET, PT. 3**
18. Mac Miller ft. Niki Randa – “I Am Who Am (Killin’ Time)”
19. ScienZe ft. Luxx – “The Pleasure”
20. **INTERVIEW WITH MAYER HAWTHORNE**
21. Mayer Hawthorne – “Allie Jones”
22. Asher Roth – “Pop Radio”
23. Stalley – “A-Wax”
24. Jesse Boykins III – “Young and Beautiful”
25. Kavinsky ft. The Weeknd – “Odd Look (Remix)”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www21.zippyshare.com/v/23056028/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/0b2c619215/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/48wb5ddczad3)

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.

New music on this week’s SNSS from Rapsody, Wale, ScienZe, Mayer Hawthorne, The Rub, ANTHM, Jesse Boykins III, Hiatus Kaiyote, Tech N9ne, Quasimoto, and more.  Plus, we ran our interview with D-Why, an up-and-coming artist poised for big things.  No frills, just dopeness.

Enjoy the show!

Show #423 (7-21-13)

1. Rapsody ft. Wale – “Dark Knights”
2. ScienZe – “Lights”
3. Mayer Hawthorne – “Robot Love”
4. The Rub ft. Misun & Lil Fame – “Feel You (Marco Polo Remix)”
5. REKS ft. EzDread – “Only Lonely”
6. Tito Lopez – “Y.O.U.”
7. ANTHM – “AMG Forever”
8. TxE – “Recess” (Local Music)
9. Jay-Z ft. Nas, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, & Swizz Beatz – “BBC”
10. Shad & Skratch Bastid – “Bound 2 (Dub)”
11. Kanye West – “Blood On The Leaves”
12. **INTERVIEW WITH D-WHY, PT. 1**
13. D-Why – “Good Will Stunting”
14. **INTERVIEW WITH D-WHY, PT. 2**
15. J. Cole – “Chaining Day”
16. Quasimoto – “Astronaut”
17. iLLChris ft. Like & Stewart Villain – “U Know What I’m Like” (Local Music)
18. Joey Badass – “#LongLiveSteelo”
19. Tech N9ne ft. Kendrick Lamar, Mayday, & Kendall Morgan – “Fragile”
20. Unknown Mortal Orchestra ft. Killer Mike & Mr. MFN eXquire – “So Good At Being In Trouble (Black Noise Remix)”
21. Sol – “Jump In” (Local Music)
22. Slum Village – “Summer Breeze”
23. Jesse Boykins III – “Doing It Wrong”
24. Paid & Live ft. Lauryn Hill – “All My Time” (Throwback of the Week)
25. Hiatus Kaiyote ft. Q-Tip – “Nakamarra (Remix)”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www2.zippyshare.com/v/17737971/file.html
(back up link – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/90f3875367/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/dma6y9ztey7d)

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.

When we weren’t playing dope new music from artists like MeLo-X, J. Cole, Tito Lopez, REKS, The Bullitts, Kanye, Jay, Joey Badass, and more on this week’s SNSS, we spent much of our talk time discussing the tragic Trayvon Martin case and incomprehensible acquittal of his murderer.  Peep the show for more, but suffice it to say, when we feel a wide range of emotions, from anger to sadness, but yet don’t feel shock, something is horribly wrong with the system.

On a lighter note, we were also joined in studio by the homies: Louis V, Peta Tosh, Spaceman, iLLChris, and Nacho Picasso.  Enjoy the show!

Show #422 (7-14-13)

1. Reef The Lost Cauze – “The Prey”
2. MeLo-X – “The Truth”
3. J. Cole ft. James Fauntleroy – “Born Sinner”
4. REKS – “The Molotov”
5. Tito Lopez – “Y.O.U.”
6. **INTERVIEW WITH LOUIS V, PT. 1**
7. Louis V – “Ride” (Local Music)
8. Jay-Z – “SomewhereInAmerica”
9. **INTERVIEW WITH LOUIS V, PT. 2**
10. Mac Miller ft. Action Bronson – “Red Dot Music”
11. Joey Badass – “Sweet Dreams”
12. **INTERVIEW WITH PETA TOSH, PT. 1**
13. Peta Tosh – “Plane” (Local Music)
14. Halo & Masta Killa ft. Rocki Evans – “No Matter”
15. Mayer Hawthorne ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Crime”
16. **INTERVIEW WITH PETA TOSH, PT. 2**
17. iLLChris ft. Sir Michael Rocks – “Coolin’ With The Coolest” (Local Music)
18. **INTERVIEW WITH iLLCHRIS & SPACEMAN, PT. 1**
19. Spaceman – “Procrastinatin’” (Local Music)
20. Run The Jewels (Killer Mike & El-P) – “Run The Jewels”
21. Public Enemy – “Fight The Power” (Throwback of the Week)
22. Shad & Skratch Bastid – “Bound 2 (Dub)”
23. **INTERVIEW WITH NACHO PICASSO, PT. 1**
24. Kanye West ft. Frank Ocean – “New Slaves”
25. The Bullitts ft. Jay Electronica & Lucy Liu – “Close Your Eyes”
26. REKS – “Winners & Survivors”
27. **INTERVIEW WITH NACHO PICASSO, PT. 2**

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www73.zippyshare.com/v/52572614/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/7bfc0c2117/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/qveg758v6nij)

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’s really rare that any artist, especially those from my own backyard, will sneak up on me with great music that I wasn’t expecting, but that’s exactly what newcomer Romaro Franceswa did with his self-titled project that we’ve been playing heavy on SNSS lately.  This past episode, we were joined in studio by Romaro and his Yuk The World compatriot, Fearce, to discuss his background, linking up with BeanOne, and how they managed to drop such a fresh debut project.  I highly recommend you download the album here.

As for the rest of the show, you already know what it is.  Dopeness from Bas, Peta Tosh, Run The Jewels, Mos Def, Kanye, Tony Touch, REKS, Masta Killa, Booker T, Estelle, Yuna, and Jay-Z.  Plus, the legendary AZ called in to talk about our throwback of the week (“Life’s A Bitch” with Nas) and his upcoming Doe Or Die II album.

Enjoy the show!

Show #421 (7-7-13)

1. Bas ft. J. Cole & KQuick – “Lit”
2. Peta Tosh – “Plane” (Local Music)
3. Drake ft. Sampha – “The Motion”
4. **INTERVIEW WITH ROMARO FRANCESWA & FEARCE, PT. 1**
5. Jay-Z – “Picasso Baby”
6. Run The Jewels (Killer Mike & El-P) – “Get It”
7. Prodigy & Alchemist – “Dough Pildin’”
8. Tony Touch ft. D-Stroy – “Touch & D-Stroy”
9. Mos Def – “Pistola (Preservation Remix)”
10. Kanye West ft. Frank Ocean – “New Slaves”
11. **INTERVIEW WITH ROMARO FRANCESWA & FEARCE, PT. 2**
12. Romaro Franceswa – “Bella” (Local Music)
13. Romaro Franceswa ft. Fearce – “Bounce” (Local Music)
14. **INTERVIEW WITH ROMARO FRANCESWA & FEARCE, PT. 3**
15. Joey Badass ft. Collie Buddz – “My Youth”
16. REKS – “Winners & Survivors”
17. J. Cole – “Runaway”
18. Nas ft. AZ – “Life’s A Bitch” (Throwback of the Week)
19. **INTERVIEW WITH AZ**
20. AZ – “We Movin’”
21. Halo & Masta Killa ft. Rocki Evans – “No Matter”
22. Antbzy Caam ft. Peta Tosh & Jessica Domingo – “Summer Coolin’” (Local Music)
23. Mac Miller ft. Schoolboy Q – “Gees”
24. Audible Doctor ft. Oddisee & Hassaan Mackey – “The Vibe”
25. Booker T ft. Estelle – “Can’t Wait”
26. Yuna – “Right Again”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www59.zippyshare.com/v/67380538/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/c8be7c3433/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/yhz3xg2mugtz)

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.

My favorite artists in the Northwest, The Physics, just dropped visuals for their Jake One produced “Take A Win,” off Tomorrow People.  You can grab this track and others on the Cornerstone Mixtape J. Moore and I released last month (right here) and be sure to get the full Physics album here.

Congrats to Malice and Mario Sweet from the Physics crew on the birth of their son today too!

Xavier Jamaal Sweet. Born at 7:04 am on 07/04/2013. #BabySweet2013

— Malice & Mario Sweet (@MALICEandMARIO) July 4, 2013