The Audacity of Dope

Ah yes, the list that generated enough tweets in the Seattle hip-hop community to trend the other day has reached its conclusion with the release of the #1 video above.  For those unaware, D-Money of Juice Radio put together this project inspired by the MTV “Hottest MC” debate where he asked several media figures in the Seattle/Tacoma area to submit lists of their top 15 “freshest MC’s.”  The panel was comprised of myself, Casey Carter, Sara from Fresh N Def, Sermon from Sermon’s Domain, DJ SupaSam, DJ Swervewon, Josh Rizeberg, and DJ Iceman.  A final slot was reserved for fan votes collected on Juice Radio’s website and you can view the entire list and the accompanying videos here.

We were told to construct the list using specific criteria focusing on solo MC’s (not groups or singers) and their accomplishments within the past year.  The various categories we were instructed to key on ranged from sales/downloads to radio play, from concert draws to media recognition, and every variable you can think of in between.  In the end, even with the criteria, the idea was to make picks based on who we felt were the overall “freshest” in the NW, which is obviously subjective to each individual.  Not surprisingly, we had fairly different lists, and also not surprisingly, it was revealed during the course of our discussion that some of the panel did not follow the criteria or fully understand it.  What’s a hip-hop list without some controversy from the very start (and the inability to do the most basic tasks correctly)?

The format allowed for the panel to bump up artists if we were convinced during our discussion that they had been voted to an incorrect slot.  Personally, I would have preferred the panel to simply fill out their lists accurately from the jump and then we could stick with where someone was voted.  If you’re deemed knowledgeable enough to be on the panel, you should be able to construct a good list and defend your picks without getting swayed during the discussion to vote someone up or down.  That said, when Macklemore was revealed as #3 on the list, I was happy we’d have a chance to vote him to his correct position at #1 because it’s clear that with the criteria we were told to use, nobody has excelled more than him in the past year.  It’s not even debatable in my opinion.

I was disappointed that the list didn’t unanimously have him at #1 to begin with, but I can’t speak for the selections of any other panel member.  All I know is that only 6 of the 15 artists I selected made the final list (though they only revealed the top 10, so I suppose 5 were never going to make it).  Of those, I think the most startling omissions were Geologic (aka Prometheus Brown) and Ish (aka Palaceer Lazaro of Shabazz Palaces).  To conclude a “Freshest In The NW” list without two of our most successful and influential artists, who continue to release great music to widespread critical and consumer acclaim, seems like a travesty.

Regardless, it seems the list accomplished what it set out to do, which was to generate conversation about all the talent we have in the Northwest.  Were there things I would do differently if this were my project?  Absolutely, starting with the fact that I would never do it to begin with.  However, this is Juice Radio’s creation and I enjoyed giving my two cents in the discussion.

That said, I’m troubled by the reactions of many people, mainly because they seem to be attacking the idea that this is some sort of definitive list.  Of course it’s NOT a definitive list!  I thought that would have been common sense, but yet again, for the 24823948239423424th time in my life, I’ve overestimated the intelligence and comprehension levels of the general public (though if I continue to do that, it’s really more my fault than theirs).  Individual lists are fine, but it’s the idea that combining a group of lists, from anyone, somehow transforms these individual opinions to fact that is completely absurd.  I assumed everyone would understand that, but I was wrong.

I hope you enjoyed the debate and the videos, but I’d advise you do yourself a favor and don’t take it too seriously.  Then again, that’s also just my opinion…

Big shout to everyone I ran into down in Los Angeles this past week, especially Nick and the whole team at Hard Knock TV.  I had a blast playing in their basketball tournament and celebrating their 7 year anniversary and 50 million YouTube views.  Here’s to many, many more!

Check out new music on this week’s SNSS from artists like Kanye, Pac Div, Eighty4 Fly, Ray Dalton, Wale, Khaleel, ADaD, Little Dragon, Lupe Fiasco, O.C., Apollo Brown, and more.  Enjoy!

 Show #368 (7-1-12)

1. Killer Mike – “JoJo’s Chillin’”
2. DJ Khaled ft. Kanye West & Rick Ross – “I Wish You Would”
3. Nas ft. Rick Ross – “Accident Murderers”
4. Pac Div – “Automatic”
5. Eighty4 Fly ft. Neema – “Go Slow” (Local Music)
6. Dom Kennedy – “Girls On Stage”
7. Big K.R.I.T. ft. 8ball, MJG, & 2 Chainz – “Money On The Floor”
8. Brothers From Another ft. Prometheus Brown & Thig Natural – “Molly Moon” (Local Music)
9. Ray Dalton – “So Emotional” (Local Music)
10. Rashad – “Make Love 2 This”
11. Wale ft. Stalley – “Fluorescent Ink”
12. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib ft. BJ The Chicago Kid – “Shame”
13. Khaleel ft. Panchi – “Rappin’ Exercise”
14. Big Boi ft. Pimp C, Bun B, & Big K.R.I.T. – “Gossip”
15. Brother Ali – “Stop The Press”
16. ADaD ft. Fashawn & Naledge – “Space Invaders”
17. Asher Roth – “Good Morning View”
18. Little Dragon – “Sunshine”
19. Lupe Fiasco – “Bitch Bad”
20. O.C. & Apollo Brown – “Caught Up”
21. The Stop The Violence Movement – “Self Destruction” (Throwback of the Week)

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?2as2qjfanq7zjy8
(back up / streaming link – http://www.sharebeast.com/zj65nw89z78r)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/r7zxegdgc7mf)

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.

Pretty busy this week, so I’ll keep it simple.  New music on this episode of SNSS from artists like The-Dream, Freddie Gibbs, Madlib, Dom Kennedy, Cocaine 80’s, Hodgy Beats, Oh No, Phife Dawg, Mike Jaggerr, Stevie Crooks, Alchemist, and more.  Hope you enjoy the tracks!

LA friends: I’ll be in Los Angeles this week from Wednesday to Sunday.  I’ll be at Hardknock TV’s 7th year anniversary on Saturday, but if you want to link up any other time, or there, just hit me up.  Looking forward to seeing y’all!

Show #367 (6-24-12)

1. The-Dream ft. Pusha T – “Dope Chick”
2. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib ft. BJ The Chicago Kid – “Shame”
3. Curren$y ft. Estelle – “That’s The Thing”
4. Kardinal Offishall ft. Shi Wisdom – “Mr. Parker”
5. Brothers From Another ft. DJ 100Proof – “Sonic Boom” (Local Music)
6. Brother Ali – “Stop The Press”
7. Frank Ocean – “Pyramids”
8. Rashad – “Make Love 2 This”
9. Dom Kennedy – “1:25”
10. Cocaine 80’s – “Motivation”
11. Oddisee – “Paralyzed”
12. Oh No ft. Phife Dawg & Jose James – “Dues N Dont’s”
13. Dark Time Sunshine ft. Reva DeVito – “Never Cry Wolf” (Local Music)
14. Nas ft. Rick Ross – “Accident Murderers”
15. Mike Jaggerr ft. Maffew Ragazino – “Don’t Stop”
16. Alchemist ft. Danny Brown & Schoolboy Q – “Flight Confirmation”
17. Stevie Crooks – “Iverson”
18. 50 Cent – “All His Love”
19. Ice Cube – “Once Upon A Time In The Projects” (Throwback of the Week)
20. Camila Recchio – “A Million Ways” (Local Music)
21. Hodgy Beats – “Lately”
22. Big K.R.I.T. – “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”
23. Add-2 ft. John David Provitt – “Love Jones”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?o4n77mmur4fkk07
(back up / streaming link – http://www.sharebeast.com/a6147hxfbii7)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/b0nk9ftuliyu)

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.

Speaking of Seattle hip-hop, here’s the new video from the homey Wizdom, which features his childhood friend Nate Burleson…and Nate’s amazing shoe collection. Nate’s such a shoe fiend, his rap moniker is actually New Balance…or it was, when he rapped.  I’m not sure if he still gets on the mic, but dude wasn’t bad at all.  That said, his NFL career seems to be going pretty damn well, so I think we’re happy he’s staying focused there.

Check out more of Wizdom’s Unearthed project here!

Pinder heads out to Hawaii (and what also looks like Los Angeles) for the video to “A Learning Game” off his official debut album, Careless.  And while it’s shot fairly similar to Kid Ink’s “Time Of Your Life,” the clip turned out great.  When it comes to Seattle hip-hop, obviously Macklemore is getting a ton of notoriety (and rightly so), but JP is quietly having his own success around the country.  Couldn’t be happier to see him winning right now.  Keep going Pinder!

New music on this week’s SNSS from the likes of Hit-Boy, Kardinal Offishall, Nottz, XV, Schoolboy Q, B.o.B, The-Dream, House Shoes, Black Spade, Raheem DeVaughn, and more.  Plus, we were joined by Onry Ozzborn of Dark Time Sunshine live in the studio.

Enjoy!

Show #366 (6-17-12)

1. Hit-Boy – “Jay-Z Interview”
2. Kardinal Offishall ft. Nottz & Peter Jericho – “Take It There”
3. Mr. MFN eXquire – “Huzzah”
4. **INTERVIEW WITH ONRY OZZBORN (OF DARK TIME SUNSHINE), PT. 1**
5. Dark Time Sunshine ft. Reva DeVito – “Never Cry Wolf” (Local Music)
6. Big K.R.I.T. ft. Melanie Fiona – “If I Fall”
7. **INTERVIEW WITH ONRY OZZBORN (OF DARK TIME SUNSHINE), PT. 2**
8. XV ft. Schoolboy Q & B.o.B – “Aaahh! Real Monsters”
9. Sol – “Be Good Or Be Careful” (Local Music)
10. Blue Scholars – “May Day” (Local Music)
11. Ab-Soul ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Illuminate”
12. Pusha T ft. The-Dream – “Exodus 23:1”
13. The-Dream ft. Pusha T – “Dope Chick”
14. Frank Ocean – “Pyramids”
15. Dom Kennedy – “My Type Of Party”
16. Rashad – “My Pad”
17. Add-2 ft. John David Provitt – “Love Jones”
18. House Shoes ft. Black Spade – “Sunrise”
19. 2Pac ft. Dramacydal – “Me Against The World” (Throwback of the Week)
20. Curren$y – “Showroom”
21. Raheem DeVaughn – “Dooms Day”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?982jo7d2vpczb78
(back up / streaming link – http://www.sharebeast.com/sncoyp90ipwz)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/4mox55egme6c)

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.

Teaser from Frank and Nabil featuring his new “Cleopatra” record.  Frank will be performing at Showbox Market on July 13th here in Seattle and you won’t want to miss it.

On this week’s SNSS, we brought back one half of Grammy Award winning, multi-platinum production group, Tha Bizness, and Henny brought Dow Jones with him this time to complete the crew.  A few days prior, J. Moore and I had the pleasure of appearing on their panel about “How The Music Industry Really Works In 2012” alongside Jake One, Macklemore, BBoy (Two In The Shirts clothing), Sermon’s Domain, Miss Casey Carter, Eddie Francis, and the Sacramento Kings’ starting point guard, Isaiah Thomas.  We had a great discussion and I can’t wait until Henny & Dow do it again next year, even bigger.  Peep Sermon’s recap here.  Much respect to everyone involved!

We were also joined in studio by one of our favorite producers, Marcus D, who  just released his new Melancholy Hopeful album with appearances by Substantial, One Be Lo, Luck One, Choklate, Cise Star, Funky DL, and more.  Cop it here!

PROPS! also came through to debut his new track with Stalley (produced by Vitamin D) and give out some tickets to their show next week, alongside Miss Casey Carter and Chikara (from Rock Paper Scissors).  Stalley will be doing an in-store appearance at RPS at 3pm on the 10th before their show, so check that out and grab an autograph from one of MMG’s finest.

On top of all that, we played joints.  New music from 50, Ab-Soul, Meek Mill, Drake, Big Boi, Rashad, Curren$y, Big K.R.I.T., and more, plus we world premiered a new cut from Jimi 84 (formerly known as Yonas Michael, who is formerly Y-O from U-N-I).  Super dope record.  Enjoy the show!

Show #364 (6-3-12)

1. 50 Cent – “Complicated”
2. Ab-Soul ft. Jay Rock & BJ The Chicago Kid – “Lust Demons”
3. Meek Mill ft. Drake & Jeremih – “Amen”
4. **INTERVIEW WITH PROPS!, PT. 1**
5. PROPS! ft. Stalley – “Fresh & Fly” (Local Music)
6. **INTERVIEW WITH PROPS!, PT. 2**
7. Big K.R.I.T. ft. Devin The Dude – “Hydroplaning”
8. Dom Kennedy – “My Type Of Party”
9. Big Boi ft. Theophilus London & Tre Luce – “She Said OK”
10. **INTERVIEW WITH MARCUS D, PT. 1**
11. Marcus D ft. Cise Star, Substantial, Funky DL, & Mario Sweet – “Night On The Town” (Local Music)
12. Slum Village ft. Phonte – “Special”
13. Rashad – “I Wanna Love You”
14. **INTERVIEW WITH MARCUS D, PT. 2**
15. Kid Ink – “Time Of Your Life”
16. Curren$y ft. Corner Boy P – “Sunroof”
17. **INTERVIEW WITH THA BIZNESS, PT. 1**
18. Henny & Parker – “Headband & Macallan” (Local Music)
19. Lupe Fiasco – “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free)”
20. Big Daddy Kane – “Warm It Up Kane” (Throwback of the Week)
21. **INTERVIEW WITH THA BIZNESS, PT. 2**
22. Blu ft. Mela Machinko – “Kiss The Sky”
23. **Jimi 84 – “Bad Man” (WORLD PREMIERE)**
24. Killer Mike – “Don’t Die”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?59gqxkc0jed4j6g
(back up / streaming link – http://www.sharebeast.com/mwghd4uvrjda)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/ddr467z3po25)

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.

Ahhh, if only every weekend could be a 3-day weekend.

Check out new music from artists like 50 Cent, Meek Mill, Dom Kennedy, Blu, DJ Nu-Mark, Ab-Soul, Sene, Add-2, Lupe Fiasco, One Be Lo, and more on this week’s episode of SNSS.  We were also joined in studio by one half of the Grammy award winning, multi-platinum production group Tha Bizness and his long time collaborator and good friend of SNSS, Parker.

Be sure to come hear Tha Bizness, Jake One, DV-One, Macklemore, Eddie Francis, Erick “Sermon’s Domain” Donaldson, B-Boy (T.I.T.S. Clothing), J. Moore, and myself talk about “The Way The Music Industry Really Works In 2012” this Friday at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Federal Way.  It should be a great panel with lots of knowledge and networking, and, of course, it’s free.  More info here and here.  Come through!

Show #363 (5-27-12)

1. Killer Mike – “Willie Burke Sherwood”
2. Jarv Dee – “I Just Wanna” (Local Music)
3. 50 Cent ft. Ned The Wino – “Lay Down (Smoked)”
4. Meek Mill ft. Big Sean – “Burn”
5. Dom Kennedy – “My Type Of Party”
6. **INTERVIEW WITH HENNY (OF THA BIZNESS) & PARKER, PT. 1**
7. House Shoes ft. Danny Brown – “Sweet”
8. Maffew Ragazino – “Sr.”
9. Tha Alkaholiks – “DAAAM!” (Throwback of the Week)
10. Blu ft. Mela Machinko – “Kiss The Sky”
11. Slum Village ft. Phonte – “Special”
12. **INTERVIEW WITH HENNY (OF THA BIZNESS) & PARKER, PT. 2**
13. Grynch – “When I’m With You” (Local Music)
14. DJ Nu-Mark ft. TiRon & Ayomari – “Feel The Way About”
15. Ab-Soul ft. Alori Joh & JaVonte’ – “Empathy”
16. Hawthorne Headhunters – “If You Were My Baby (Reprise)”
17. Sene – “Footprints”
18. Add-2 – “Cotton Fields”
19. Lupe Fiasco – “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free)”
20. Marcus D ft. One Be Lo – “Third Person” (Local Music)
21. 1982 (Statik Selektah & Termanology) ft. Mac Miller, Bun B, & Shawn Stockman – “Happy Days”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?lx8ajslbtghvbfv
(back up / streaming link – http://www.sharebeast.com/zehhrbmhdyb5)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/35hrau7u5o1v)

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.

Mitch: Here is a new joint from PROPS! featuring Stalley from Maybach Music Group and it’s a perfect tune to ride around and bump this summer. You can catch both PROPS! and Stalley live in concert June 10th at Neumos in Seattle, more info here.

Hyphen: Looks like we’ll be giving out tickets for this show on the June 3rd episode of SNSS.  Tune in, as always…