The Audacity of Dope

Some footage of Capitol Hill here in Seattle after Barack’s our victory swiped from Blogs Is Watching.  Do you realize that Obama literally had people dancing in the streets throughout the entire world?  I’ve been telling you this is big.  [Usual Suspects] I mean ‘orca’ big [/Keyser Soze].  We’ve never seen anything like this and it’s almost like all our mistakes have been erased.  We have a chance again…

More footage from my dude Druuuu:

Dru, you need to add that Journey dance mix to the gym soundtrack ASAP.

Wow. I can’t believe we’re here: less than 24 hours from Election Day.  After all the hard work everyone has put in over the past year (and more for some of y’all), it’s finally time to go to the polls and vote for change.  By voting for Barack Obama tomorrow, we’re telling the world that America is ready to turn the corner on the last 8 years and move into the future with the right policies, strategies, beliefs, and behavior.  It’s time to regain our position at the head of the table and make the world a better place.  We’ll lead by example from here on out.

Throughout the election cycle, hip-hop has played an important and influential role, one that future generations will look back upon and recognize much more than we do right now.  Yes, at times, our culture does more harm than good, but overall, hip-hop continues to be the voice of young people around the world.  It drives popular culture and was synergistically tied into Barack’s entire campaign, providing an ever changing soundtrack throughout the primary and general elections.

On last night’s Sound Session, we ran an entire prObama show and played nothing but songs written for and inspired by Barack.  Big shout to all the artists who used their platform to speak on such important issues and apologies to those who we didn’t get to play on the show due to time constraints.  It may seem corny, but everyone who has made Obama songs over the past 2 years has really played a part in this campaign.  Somewhere, somebody was moved by the art you created…and that’s what it’s all about.

Another huuuuuge shout to Michelle Gregoire, daughter of Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, for coming through and co-hosting the show.  She broke down exactly why Barack and Michelle Obama have endorsed Gov. Gregoire’s bid for reelection, and why we all need to vote for Gregoire when casting our ballots for Obama.  This may be a “change” election nationally, but here in Washington, Gov. Gregoire has done a great job and deserves another 4 years…especially with like-minded people coming into power in Congress, the Senate, and the White House.  With everyone pushing progressive policies, we’ll see a lot of great things happen in the next 8 years, both nationally and at home here in Washington.

Lastly, many thanks to the founder of Hidden Beach Recordings, Steve McKeever, for calling in to talk about the Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement album they released in conjunction with the Obama campaign.  Be sure to check out the full interview through one of the links below.

Download this episode of SNSS and spread it around to anyone who’s fired up about this historic time.  If you’re waiting in line tomorrow at the polls, bump this in your mp3 player and remember what you’re doing this all for.  Change is coming and it starts with us.  GO VOTE TOMORROW!

Show #179 (11-2-08)
**Co-Hosted by Michelle Gregoire**

1. Big Boi ft. Mary J. Blige – “Sumthin’ Gotta Give”
2. DJ Green Lantern – “Stand Up (Interlude)”
3. Dres (of Black Sheep) – “The Choice Is Yours (Taster’s Choice Remix)”
4. 6th Sense – “Ignite The People (Like Obama)”
5. Daytona – “Can I Kick It”
6. Jay Smooth – “A Poem For The Young Voter”
7. John Mayer ft. Twista & Joe Budden – “Waiting On The World To Change (DJ Green Lantern Remix)”
8. M.anifest – “Age Of Obama”
9. Kidz In The Hall ft. Talib Kweli & Bun B – “Work To Do (Change Remix)”
10. Cocoa Tea – “Barack Obama”
11. DJ Green Lantern ft. Gabe Real & Jay-Z – “What We Need”
12. Wyclef Jean – “Obama For President”
13. Nas ft. Johnny Polygon – “Black President”
14. Joell Ortiz ft. Dante Hawkins – “Letter To Obama”
15. H-Town All-Stars (Bun B, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Cory Mo, & Trae) – “Obama ‘08”
16. **INTERVIEW WITH STEVE MCKEEVER (CEO OF HIDDEN BEACH)**
17. Malik Yusef ft. Kanye West & Adam Levine (of Maroon 5) – “Promised Land”
18. DJ Green Lantern ft. Jay-Z – “Lick A Shot”
19. Ludacris – “Get Buck Freestyle (Politics (Obama Is Here))”
20. DJ Noodles – “Division & Fear (Interlude)”
21. RAtheMC – “Ready Or Not”
22. DJ Green Lantern – “Find Ur Dreams (Interlude)”
23. Alpha – “Obama ’08 (Do The Knowledge)”
24. DJ Green Lantern ft. Wale, Rhymefest, Christina K, & Royce The 5’9” – “Black President (Remix, Pt. 2)”
25. DJ Green Lantern – “1 Mic, 1 People (Interlude)”
26. Rock City – “Paper Planes Freestyle (Ride For Obama)”
27. Nappy Roots – “Good Day (The Barack Obama Yes We Can Remix)”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?di3x3z2oynz
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/513827915293195f/ )

Link to download the full interview with Steve McKeever – http://www.mediafire.com/?zryzqgfj2nu
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/50825349e7680eb2/ )

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.

Over the weekend, I got the chance to talk with Steve McKeever, the founder of Hidden Beach Recordings, for the latest edition of Sound Session.  You’re probably familiar with the label through their releases from some of the dopest soul & jazz artists (Jill Scott, Kindred, Bebe Winans, Mike Phillips, Tony Rich, Lina, etc.), but they also recently teamed up with the Barack Obama campaign to release Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement.  The compilation features great songs from artists like Kanye West, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Ozomatli, and more, and all the money goes directly to the Obama campaign.

With November 4th only 2 days away, I talked with Steve about how this project came about, what issues are most important to him this election, what words of wisdom he wanted to impart to the youth, and more.  You can check out the entire interview below:

Steve McKeever on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?zryzqgfj2nu
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/50825349e7680eb2/ )

After you check out the interview, head on over to BarackObama.com/music to cop the album and donate to the campaign.  Every little bit helps as we push through the finish line.  After the 4th, the album will be available in normal retail locations.  In any case, GET OUT AND VOTE!

Yes, she can.

I hit up the Lykke Li show in Seattle last night and it definitely lived up to my high expectations.  If you’re unfamiliar with her, peep this post from a while back.  As for the concert, let’s see…

• Performing my favorite songs of hers (“Little Bit,” “I’m Good, I’m Gone,” “Tonight” (ultimate mood music), and more)?  Check.
• Kanye-esque “Love Lockdown” style live percussion?  Check.
• Hauntingly dope live voice?  Check.
• Swedish swag (shout to my people)?  Check.
• Breaking out a megaphone to sing random verses?  Check.
• Covering 2 classic hip-hop songs (BDP’s “Sound of da Police” and Tribe’s “Can I Kick It”) and 2 of my favorite samples ever (Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam” and Wendy Rene’s “After Laughter (Comes Tears)”)?  Check.
• Crazy Euro hippie white girl sex appeal?  Check.

Even if you’re a novice to the indie rock scene like I am, break out your schmedium t-shirt and go see her when she comes to your town (dates available here).  Also be sure to check out her album, it’s dope.  Her live show is even better.

(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!

WARNING. WARNING. We are now one week away from the most important day for the United States that any of us have lived through.  Are you ready to vote on Nov. 4th and turn this country around?

If you’ve listened to any episode of Sound Session or read a few blog posts here on TAOD, you know that I’m taking this election very seriously.  I hope the rest of you are too, because we simply can’t afford another 4 years of the same failed policies both home and abroad that we’ve witnessed during Bush’s disgraceful presidency.  We didn’t talk too much about the election on the latest episode of SNSS, mainly because I’m saving that for next week’s show on the 2nd.  Oooh boy, you hip-hop republicans will hate that one…

This past show featured our normal mix of dope music from people like Black Milk, Evidence, Kardinal Offishall, Q-Tip, Shad, Foreign Exchange, and more.  Plus we ran Kanye’s emotional ode to his mom, Joe Budden’s reworking of that Coldplay track I’ve been telling everyone to rhyme over, one of the standout tracks from the exceptional new album from The Knux, and more.

We also had Brainstorm of Dyme Def and Twixx of the world famous Massive Monkees crew come through to talk about the International B-Boy Championships going down at the Paramount on Saturday.  Dope breaking, DJ’ing, and performances by Dyme Def, B.o.B., and Pacific Division?  Wow.  I’m there.  Cop your tickets here.  Of course, if you were listening live, you could have won free tix to that show and Q-Tip, The Cool Kids, and The Knux too.  But you already knew that…

Show #178 (10-26-08)

1. Planet Asia & DJ Muggs ft. B-Real – “Lions In The Forest”
2. Ruste Juxx ft. Lil’ Vic – “Get Up”
3. The Knux – “Life In A Cage (Electric)”
4. **INTERVIEW WITH BRAINSTORM (of DYME DEF) & TWIXX (of MASSIVE MONKEES), PT. 1**
5. Jake One ft. M.O.P. – “Gangsta Boy” (Local Artist)
6. Saigon ft. Lil’ Fame (of M.O.P.) – “WW4”
7. Black Milk ft. Royce The 5’9” – “Losing Out”
8. Evidence ft. Phonte, Blu, & Will.I.Am – “For Whom The Bell Tolls”
9. **INTERVIEW WITH BRAINSTORM (of DYME DEF) & TWIXX (of MASSIVE MONKEES), PT. 2**
10. Kanye West – “Coldest Winter”
11. Kardinal Offishall – “Nina”
12. John Legend ft. Andre 3000 – “Green Light (Cook Classics Remix)”
13. Now On – “The Willows”
14. Joe Budden – “Sidetracked”
15. Mos Def – “Life In Marvelous Times”
16. Sweatshop Union – “Timelines” (Local Artist)
17. Shad – “Brother (Watching)”
18. Q-Tip – “Move”
19. Illa J ft. Affion Crockett – “DFTF”
20. Diverse – “Escape Earth”
21. Incise ft. Tunji (of Inverse) – “True Greatness”
22. Akrish – “No God” (Local Artist)
23. Foreign Exchange ft. Yahzarah – “If This Is Love”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?mbymlzle0lm
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/50562182aa8e6ee7/ )

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’m glad this video is dope, because otherwise I’d almost feel contractually obligated to post it.  Let’s see…

• It features a ton of my good friends.
• It bigs up the 206.
• The Red Bull Big Tune was created by the other half of Sound Session, J. Moore, along with the homies Jake One, Vitamin D, and Marcus.
• I was in the building.
• It’s a great event.
• Budo is hilarious.

I could go on, but the video is pretty self explanatory.  Congrats to Brainstorm and Rising Son for advancing to the finals in NYC.  Let’s hope we get back to back Seattle champions…

Yes, yes y’all.  Here’s the newest edition of the greatest radio show on corporate radio, Sunday Night Sound Session for you to enjoy at the office, in the gym, on the commute, etc..  We played some of the dopest songs out there by people like John Legend, Butta Verses, Black Milk, Planet Asia, Murs, Foreign Exchange, and more.  We also ran two incredibly ill singles that you’ll hear all over the place in the coming months, John Legend’s “No Other Love” and Kanye’s “Heartless.”  For fellow diehard ‘Ye fans…does his beat on “Heartless” remind anyone else of the track he made for his Jagged Edge “Let’s Get Married” remix (same beat he used for Rhymefest’s “Fight With The Best”)?  Super dope regardless.

Along with all the good music (no pun), we gave out tickets for upcoming concerts with Q-Tip, the Cool Kids, Pacific Division, B.o.B., Dyme Def, and the Massive Monkees.  Plus, Microsoft hooked us up with some custom Murs and Kidz In The Hall Zunes (what up Paul!) for a few lucky winners.  If you’re in the Northwest, you really should be listening live…we reward our faithful listeners.

Lastly, we aired an interview with Newman (of Giant Panda) and Shawn Jackson, known collectively as New Jack Hustle.  Their album, Soundcheck, is in stores today so go cop that!

Shout to my dude David from the Barack Obama campaign as well for coming through to tell y’all how to get involved in the final 2 weeks of this historic election.  We’re almost there.  Yes We Can.

What can I say…it was a big show.  Peep it:

Show #177 (10-19-08)

1. John Legend ft. Estelle – “No Other Love”
2. Butta Verses – “Cassanova Brown”
3. Shad – “Brother (Watching)”
4. DJ Green Lantern – “Stand Up”
5. Incise ft. Tunji (of Inverse) – “True Greatness”
6. Statik Selektah ft. Little Brother, Chaundon, & Joe Scudda – “On The Marquee”
7. Akrish – “No God” (Local Artist)
8. Diverse – “Escape Earth”
9. Termanology – “The Chosen”
10. Kanye West – “Heartless”
11. **INTERVIEW WITH NEW JACK HUSTLE, PT. 1**
12. New Jack Hustle (Newman & Shawn Jackson) ft. Vursatyl (of the Lifesavas) – “Ronald”
13. **INTERVIEW WITH NEW JACK HUSTLE, PT. 2**
14. Black Milk ft. Pharoahe Monch, Sean Price, & DJ Premier – “The Matrix”
15. Planet Asia & DJ Muggs ft. B-Real – “Lions In The Forest”
16. Kidz In The Hall – “Children’s Story”
17. DJ Green Lantern – “1 Mic, 1 People”
18. Murs – “Can It Be”
19. Sweatshop Union – “Oh My” (Local Artist)
20. Jake One ft. J. Pinder, GMK, & Spaceman – “Big Homie Style” (Local Artist)
21. DJ Green Lantern – “Find Ur Dreams”
22. Malik Yusef ft. Kanye West & Adam Levine (of Maroon 5) – “Promised Land”
23. Foreign Exchange ft. Muhsinah & Darien Brockington – “Something To Behold”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?m2hmddyo3m2
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/50312005dcea41ca/ )

Link to download the full interview with New Jack Hustle – http://www.mediafire.com/?mdz1nxmjw5m
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/50124594cf82f2eb/ )

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 was just talking to Jay Bird about this video at Jake One’s release party on Monday night, and lo and behold, here it is.  Slug and Ant never disappoint and this clip for “You” off their last album, When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint That Sh*t Gold, is no different.  I didn’t know this, but according to Jay Bird, that “fingerboarding” stuff is actually a legit activity.  It looks pretty dope, but I don’t think I’d want to spend my time practicing “fingerboarding.”  Maybe that’s just me.

Cop that Atmos!  Cop that Jake One!  RSE/206 connect all day.

You should already know by now, but here’s another clip explaining why you need to cop Jake One’s White Van Music on Tuesday.  And for my Seattle people, remember that Jake will be sitting in on Sound Session this week to play the entire album and talk about every joint.  Plus, on Monday, we’ll all be at the War Room for the official release party.  Ali will also be in the building for a performance.  Don’t miss it.