The Audacity of Dope

Well this came out of nowhere.  Peep this Dwele directed video for a brand new Slum Village song produced by Karriem Riggins.  Seems like there may have been more, but after Baatin’s untimely passing, perhaps the video and song were cut short to highlight Titus.  RIP.

Seattle people: Don’t forget that we have our (abridged version of) Rock The Bells on Friday at Showbox Market.  Reflection Eternal, Slaughterhouse, Slum Village, Pete Rock, and a few others.  Holler @ a Hyphen when you see me there.

Back to business as usual this week, nothing but good music and good times.  Check out this week’s Sound Session for new songs from artists like Chali 2Na, the Kidz In The Hall, Raekwon, Kev Brown, Pac Div, Anjulie, Lushlife, Seattle’s own Blue Scholars, and more.  Speaking of the town, huge shout to the Massive Monkees for killing it in the first round of “America’s Best Dance Crew” on MTV.  Not only are they repping the 206 to the fullest, but they’re also representing true b-boy culture on one of the biggest stages in the world.  Keep up the great work fellas, we’re all proud of you.

Be sure to check out our full interview with the elusive and legendary Bilal too.  We had a great discussion about his classic 1st Born Second album, what he’s been up to since its release almost a decade ago, his upcoming Air Tight’s Revenge project, and much more.  It’s a great one.

Show #219 (8-9-09)

1. Blue Scholars – “HI-808” (Local Music)
2. Nas ft. Choklate – “Film”
3. Chali 2Na ft. Anthony Hamilton – “Don’t Stop”
4. Kidz In The Hall – “Flickin’”
5. Lushlife – “The Kindness”
6. Khingz – “Blaq Han Solo” (Local Music)
7. Slaughterhouse ft. M.O.P. – “Woodstock (Hood Hop)”
8. Raekwon ft. Inspectah Deck, Method Man, & Ghostface Killah – “House Of Flying Daggers”
9. The Roots – “How I Got Over”
10. **INTERVIEW WITH BILAL (SNIPPET)**
11. Bilal ft. Mos Def & Common – “Reminisce”
12. Kev Brown – “The Random Joint”
13. Rashid Hadee – “Set In Stone”
14. Pac Div – “Young Black Male”
15. Drake ft. Saukrates – “The Search”
16. Fresh Espresso – “Something New” (Local Music)
17. Brother Ali – “Us”
18. Mos Def – “Pistola”
19. Mayer Hawthorne – “One Track Mind”
20. Anjulie – “Some Dumb Girl”
21. Peter Hadar & Theophilus London – “Want You 4 Myself”

Link to download the mp3 – http://www.mediafire.com/?i4goitumtzq
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/63949230e475187d/)

Link to download the full interview with Bilal – http://www.mediafire.com/?limxqmnyonz
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/6388930225a66890/ )

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 ago, J. Moore and I held a quick informal poll on Sound Session with our listeners – Of the most well respected ‘big 3’ R&B singers of the last 15 years, who is your favorite – Maxwell, D’Angelo, or Bilal?  Despite only releasing one official album, Bilal battled it out with D’Angelo for the top spot and they ended up tying the vote.

Personally, after hearing 1st Born Second in 2001, my entire vision of R&B was shaken to the core.  On that one record, Bilal displayed a soulfulness in his music, songwriting, and most noticeably, his voice that hasn’t been topped since.  Simply put, it’s a flawless album and marks one of the crowning achievements of the Soulquarian collective.

When Bilal came through the SNSS studio, we jumped at the chance to ask him all about that album, his Love For Sale follow up that was unfortunately shelved by Interscope (Industry Rule #4,080), and his upcoming project, Air Tight’s Revenge.  We also discussed his upbringing, his first big break as D’Angelo’s back up singer (and his prompt firing), behind the scenes stories from the Soulquarian days, his favorite J Dilla memory, and much more.  Check out the full interview below to catch up with the legendary Bilal Oliver.

Bilal on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?limxqmnyonz
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/6388930225a66890/ )

If you’re a music lover and don’t own 1st Born Second, cop it immediately…

(4:32 FTW)

I like how I’m so busy/tired these days that I upload my own footage and forget to post it on TAOD until I see it on other blogs.  Whoopsidoodle.

Much like the Asher Roth footage I posted last week, here’s a medley documenting Cudi’s performance in front of 15K people at our Summer Jam from the end of last month.  After coming out to his intro, he ran through joints like “Dat New New,” “Is There Any Love,” “Sky High,” “Make Her Say,” and “Day N Nite.”  I’ll have more SJ footage soon, plus interviews with Cudi and Asher as well.  Stay tuned…

By now, most of you have heard Nas’ collaboration with the 2009 Red Bull Big Tune champion, C-Sick, but I thought I’d post up the ill behind the scenes footage of the making of “Film.”  Above, you can peep a little background on C-Sick’s journey, while the two studio segments are below.

Also, neither of the 2 versions of the song that have leaked online so far are the final edit, so I’m posting that up too.  In case you’re living in the woods, my co-host on Sunday Night Sound Session, J. Moore, created the Red Bull Big Tune with Vitamin D, Jake One, DV-One, and Marcus Lalario.  The homies helped put this song together and even recruited Seattle’s own Choklate to sing the hook.  Due to sample clearance issues, C-Sick’s original beat had to be replayed, and you’ve yet to hear the final, official version of the track…until now.  Enjoy!

Nas ft. Choklate – “Film” (final version)

I’m not sure if it’s just a natural part of getting older, but it seems like an inordinate number of people in the public eye have passed away this summer.  We’ve had to start our show with RIP shouts almost every week, and sadly this edition of SNSS was no different.

By now, you’ve probably heard that we lost yet another member of the legendary Slum Village family, Baatin, last week, but I also got news that an old friend of mine passed too.  Jose Hernando was a great friend of my family and even rented a room from us when I was in 7th and 8th grade.  For those two years, he was almost like a big brother to me and I’ll always remember those days fondly.  We used to play all sorts of video games and he was always there to help with anything I needed.  He was also a semi-pro bicyclist and was training a few weeks ago near Seward Park when a van hit him and placed him into a coma.  After fighting bravely, he passed in peace on the 24th.  He’ll be survived by his wife Chanel, his two children, and all the people he touched throughout his life.  You couldn’t wish to know a nicer and cooler guy, and I’m happy I was able to have Jose in my life, even though it was far too brief.  I really wish we could have caught up before all this happened.

You hear it all the time, but it’s so important not to take life for granted.  Reach out to your friends and family and tell ’em you love ’em.  You never know what life will bring, so live each day to the fullest and be the best person you can be.  We’re all in this together and our interaction and relationships are what make life special.  I hope you’re all doing well and if I haven’t talked to you in a while, let’s catch up – DJHyphen@gmail.com.

Show #218 (8-2-09)

1. Eminem – “The Warning”
2. Clipse ft. Keri Hilson – “All Eyes On Me”
3. Noel Zancanella ft. Baatin – “Could It Be”
4. Slum Village ft. Marsha Ambrosius – “Cloud 9”
5. Crown City Rockers – “Soul”
6. The Roots – “How I Got Over”
7. Lushlife – “Until The Sun Dies”
8. Fresh Espresso – “The Lazerbeams” (Local Music)
9. Drake ft. Saukrates – “The Search”
10. Statik Selektah ft. Lil’ Fame, Saigon, & Sean Price – “Critically Acclaimed”
11. Blue Scholars – “Coo” (Local Music)
12. Consequence – “Closer”
13. Nas ft. Choklate – “Film”
14. Beatnick & K-Salaam ft. Bun B, Talib Kweli, & Colin Munroe – “Don’t Die”
15. Mayer Hawthorne – “Shiny & New”
16. Nicolay ft. Carlitta Durand – “Lose Your Way”
17. Peter Hadar & Theophilus London – “Want U 4 Myself”
18. Mr. Hudson ft. Kid Cudi – “Everything Is Broken”
19. Brother Ali – “Us”
20. Guilty Simpson – “Coroners Music”
21. Sonny Bonoho – “Judge Brown” (Local Music)
22. Jay-Z ft. Kanye West & Rihanna – “Run This Town”
23. Raekwon ft. Inspectah Deck, Method Man, & Ghostface Killah – “House Of Flying Daggers”
24. J. Cole – “Dream Girl”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?gfzijmezgtd
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/636035690e255b56/)

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.

People around the 206 know that I’m notorious for not going to many shows, but I may have to make an appearance this Wednesday at the Vera Project (in Seattle Center, right next to Key Arena).  As J. Moore, Jake One, Vitamin D, DV-One, and Markus do in every city that Big Tune hits, the entire week is filled with great events for the public and for the participants.  Since Seattle is the home of the event, you already know that we’ve got some dope stuff going on before this Friday’s battle at the War Room.

Case in point, hit up the Vera on Wednesday for a free show from The Physics, J. Pinder, and Spaceman, along with an exclusive video documenting the collaboration between last year’s Big Tune winner, C-Sick, and the legendary Nas.  See y’all there.

Those of you in Washington (or stalking my Twitter) probably heard that we had our annual Summer Jam concert yesterday at White River Amphitheater with performances by the New Boyz, Asher Roth, Kid Cudi, The-Dream, Pitbull, Flo Rida, Sean Paul, Akon, and Ludacris.  Usually, I have nightmares of these days because it’s a fun event for the audience, but generally really hectic to work.  Last year was a painful double dose as I spent the entire day registering voters  for the Obama campaign (we put onnnnn) and then running around backstage interviewing cats.  This year was a lot more relaxing as I spent the majority of the time chilling with my two favorite acts on the bill, Asher and Cudi, and their folks.

We’ll have interviews coming soon with those two, but in the meantime, I grabbed some footage of Asher’s performance for y’all.  Peep the video above to see him, Brain, and Wreckineyez run through a few joints from Asleep In The Bread Aisle, including “She Don’t Wanna Man,” “Be By Myself,” and of course, “I Love College.”  For more Summer Jam footage hitting the net all week, keep your eyes on this page.

I highly recommend checking out the Great Hangover Tour with Asher, Cudi, Pac Div, and B.o.B if it hasn’t hit your town yet.  I’m slightly salty that we didn’t get the full lineup here in Seattle, but SJ with 1/2 of it was dope too.  Anyway, peep it…you won’t be disappointed.

Sometimes you have to take some personal time and I’m currently in between a movie double header (the new Harry Potter was cool…older Guy Ritchie film up next), so nothing special this week.  Just a RIP shout to Arturo Gatti and special thanks to the Physics for coming through the Sound Session studio.  [Biggie] And anotha one [/Big]

Show #215 (7-12-09)

1. Grynch ft. Tunji & Geologic – “Smoke and Mirrors” (Local Music)
2. J. Cole – “Ladies”
3. Chali 2Na ft. Elzhi – “When Will I See You Again”
4. Jay Electronica – “Exhibit A”
5. Alchemist ft. Eminem – “Chemical Warfare”
6. Freeway – “Freeway’s Beard”
7. Slaughterhouse – “The One”
8. Bishop Lamont ft. Xzibit – “Hallelujah”
9. **INTERVIEW WITH THE PHYSICS, PT. 1**
10. Drake – “The Winner”
11. Mr. Hudson ft. Kanye West – “Supernova”
12. Consequence ft. Kanye West & John Legend – “Whatever U Want”
13. B.o.B – “Camera”
14. **INTERVIEW WITH THE PHYSICS, PT. 2**
15. The Physics – “I Just Wanna Beat” (Local Music)
16. Major Lazer ft. Mr. Vegas & Jovi Rockwell – “Can’t Stop Now”
17. Get Busy Committee – “Come And Talk To Me”
18. Amen – “Tried To Tell Ya”
19. Wale ft. K’Naan – “Um Ricka”
20. Choklate – “Sun’s Out” (Local Music)
21. Melanie Fiona – “Walk On By”
22. Fashawn – “Life As A Shorty”
23. Maxwell – “Playing Possum”
24. **INTERVIEW WITH THE PHYSICS, PT. 3**

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?jwjnd2zmknm
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/62640210530a2bc4/)

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.

Brand new video off Chali’s Fish Outta Water, in stores now on Decon Media.  While most people know that the big homey Jake One produced this, little known fact: Sound Session’s very own J. Moore is on the background vocals on this hook.  That’s riiiiiiiiight!