The Audacity of Dope

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.

I spent last week in Los Angeles and just like I say after every trip there, half of the city is awesome and half is horrible.  I’ll spare you the lowlights, but on the positive tip, shout to all the folks I spent time with: at ESPN’s LA office, at the Hard Knock TV annual 3 on 3 basketball tournament, and at the BET Awards functions.  Despite losing in the championship game of the hoops tourney, we had a great time and we’re definitely looking forward to the next one.  Along with hoops, the other highlight was definitely a trip to Disneyland.  I hadn’t been in about 20 years since I was a little kid and it really is the happiest place on earth.  Go there, with or without kids.  You’ll have a great time.

As for this week’s SNSS, you already know what it is.  Dope music from folks like Dom Kennedy, Fiend, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Drake, Kanye, Wale, The Bullitts, Mac Miller, Asher Roth, Bas, Lion Babe, Shad, TiRon & Ayomari, and more.  Plus, the young homies, Brothers From Another, joined us in the studio.  Be sure to check out their new Tacos On Broadway EP (features include Sol, Dave B, Thaddeus David, and Asher Roth) right here.  They’re definitely a group to look out for, not just in Seattle, but on a national level.

Enjoy the show!

Show #420 (6-30-13)

1. Dom Kennedy – “Never”
2. Prodigy & Alchemist – “Breeze”
3. Fiend – “Maria Sharapova”
4. **INTERVIEW WITH BROTHERS FROM ANOTHER, PT. 1**
5. Kanye West – “Black Skinhead”
6. Run The Jewels (Killer Mike & El-P) ft. Big Boi – “Banana Clipper”
7. Wale – “88”
8. Schoolboy Q ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Collard Greens”
9. **INTERVIEW WITH BROTHERS FROM ANOTHER, PT. 2**
10. Brothers From Another – “Drunk Talk” (Local Music)
11. **INTERVIEW WITH BROTHERS FROM ANOTHER, PT. 3**
12. Drake ft. Sampha – “The Motion”
13. The Bullitts ft. Jay Electronica – “Murder Death Kill”
14. CharlieRED – “GreenGREED”
15. J. Cole – “Villuminati”
16. Romaro Franceswa – “Loyalty” (Local Music)
17. Mac Miller – “Bird Call”
18. Asher Roth – “Pop Radio”
19. Shad & Skratch Bastid – “Clappin’”
20. Tanya Morgan ft. Exile – “Together”
21. TiRon & Ayomari – “Haven’t You Heard?”
22. Common – “Resurrection” (Throwback of the Week)
23. Tope ft. Grynch & Spaceman – “Family Affair” (Local Music)
24. Bas ft. J. Cole & KQuick – “Lit”
25. Lion Babe – “Treat Me Like Fire”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www61.zippyshare.com/v/76904578/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/93b1660472/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/wpi9b9l8azwp)

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.

Just a quick note for this week’s SNSS archive since I’m heading off to Los Angeles in a few hours.  Check episode #419 for new music from Jon Connor, Run The Jewels, Add-2, Curren$y, Bas, J. Cole, Mac Miller, Lion Babe, Dom Kennedy, Dornik, Drake, and more.  Plus, the homies CharlieRED let us world premiere their new track, “GreenGREED,” though it’s not in the archive for y’all that didn’t listen live.  You can check it out on their site here.

Enjoy the show and LA folks, hit me up if you’re around this week!

Show #419 (6-23-13)

1. Jon Connor ft. Talib Kweli – “Rise Up”
2. Prodigy & Alchemist ft. Havoc & Raekwon – “R.I.P.”
3. Run The Jewels (Killer Mike & El-P) – “36” Chain”
4. Kanye West ft. Charlie Wilson – “Bound”
5. Romaro Franceswa – “Black King” (Local Music)
6. **CharlieRED – “GreenGREED” (WORLD PREMIERE)**
7. Add-2 – “Paper”
8. Curren$y ft. Young Roddy – “Grizzly”
9. Bas ft. J. Cole & KQuick – “Lit”
10. J. Cole ft. Nas – “Let Nas Down (Remix)”
11. Statik Selektah ft. Action Bronson, Joey Badass, & Mike Posner – “The Spark”
12. Mac Miller ft. Jay Electronica – “Suplexes Inside Of Complexes and Duplexes”
13. Tony Touch ft. Eminem – “Symphony In H”
14. Cassow ft. Smoke DZA – “Chains On A King” (Local Music)
15. Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Doggy Dogg – “Deep Cover” (Throwback of the Week)
16. Schoolboy Q ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Collard Greens”
17. John Legend – “Made To Love”
18. Lion Babe – “Treat Me Like Fire”
19. M.i ft. Denitia Odigie – “This 1”
20. Th3rdz – “Settle Down” (Local Music)
21. Dom Kennedy – “Never”
22. Drake ft. Sampha – “The Motion”
23. Dornik – “Something About You”
24. Mayer Hawthorne – “The Stars Are Ours”

Link to download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www46.zippyshare.com/v/20992355/file.html
(back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/ae7a184faa/)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/h9eyl1xdl27m)

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.

Sorry for the delay, but here’s episode #418 of SNSS for y’all.  Dope music from Yonas Michael, Schoolboy Q, Thunderbird Gerard, Hustle Gang, Logic, 7 G.E.M.S., MeLo-X, Shad, and more.  Was planning on writing a lengthy piece on the NBA Finals, but with the delay, that’s moot.  Congrats to the Heat and the greatness who is King James.  He’s still not on MJ’s level though.

This week’s episode, #419, will be coming shortly.

In the interim, you can peep our interviews with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and J. Cole from KUBE 93’s Summer Jam by clicking on their names.

Enjoy!

Show #418 (6-16-13)

1. J. Cole ft. TLC – “Crooked Smile”
2. Yonas Michael – “Volvo”
3. Th3rdz – “Be Yourself” (Local Music)
4. Schoolboy Q ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Collard Greens”
5. Thunderbird Gerard ft. Kenzie May – “Firewurx”
6. Hustle Gang ft. Travis Scott, B.o.B, & T.I. – “Animal”
7. Travis Scott ft. James Fauntleroy – “Drive”
8. Logic – “5AM”
9. Prodigy & Alchemist ft. Havoc & Raekwon – “R.I.P.”
10. 7 G.E.M.S. (Tragic Allies & Tragedy Khadafi) – “I Know I’m Reckless”
11. Tony Touch ft. Action Bronson & Kool G Rap – “It’s A Queens Thing”
12. Statik Selektah ft. Action Bronson, Joey Bada$$, & Mike Posner – “The Spark”
13. ScienZe ft. Blu – “Charlie Brown”
14. 2Pac – “If My Homie Calls” (Throwback of the Week)
15. Kanye West ft. Charlie Wilson – “Bound”
16. Mayer Hawthorne – “Reach Out Richard”
17. Ripynt ft. Q-Dot – “Father’s Day” (Local Music)
18. MeLo-X – “The Truth”
19. Shad & Skratch Bastid – “Outta My Head”
20. M.i ft. Blu & Dawni McCray – “Church West Texas”
21. Romaro Franceswa ft. Fearce – “Bounce” (Local Music)
22. Rapper Big Pooh – “Gold Chain”
23. Bob Marley & The Wailers – “Is This Love (Jason Bentley Remix)”

Download/stream the mp3 of the show – http://www69.zippyshare.com/v/90557701/file.html
(back up – http://linkmixes.com/hvkni2yyohuy)
(2nd back up – http://www.solidfiles.com/d/39eaa42b3b/)

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.

Along with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, we sat down with good friend of SNSS, J. Cole, at our recent Summer Jam concert at the Gorge.  The video of our interview doesn’t fully share how dope a conversation this was, mainly because of the lack of proper equipment we had down there, but there’s still a lot of interesting stuff from Cole.

Of course we spoke all about his new Born Sinner album, including the pressure he felt while making it, why he decided to compete with the other artists dropping 6/18 too, and why the album is his attempt to “beat the system.”  We also spent time talking about his favorite subject, basketball, and what it’s like being friends and playing ball with NBA players, their words of encouragement for him, and if he would trade rap for hoops.  There’s some more random goodness in there too.

Shout to Cole for always being one of the coolest dudes in the industry and always supporting our show.  Be sure you cop Born Sinner in stores now!

J. Moore and I had the chance to catch up with our homies Macklemore & Ryan Lewis at Summer Jam recently and as always with these guys, we had a great time.  I wish I could have shared all of the conversations we had with them off camera, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of good stuff in this for you to check out.

We centered the discussion around their meteoric rise to superstar status, which is a bit surreal to witness since we’ve known the fellas for so long and they haven’t changed a bit since all this started.  They’re still great, down to earth, regular guys…who just happen to be REALLY talented…and through an incredible mix of hard work, smart decisions, rabid fan support, and some fortuitous luck, they’re now at the top of the music industry.  It’s an amazing accomplishment, and not one that can really be put in words, but we tried to wrap our heads around it a bit.

We also spoke on their first appearances on Sound Session years ago and looked towards the future with details on their tour, recording, and promotions strategies, including some insight on their next album.  All in all, good times.

Thanks to Mack & Ryan for chopping it up and a special shout to Mack for his sincere appreciation he showed us at the end of the interview.  Having one of our peers talk about the respect he has for SNSS and our work over the years was perhaps a pseudo Full House moment (cue the music), but it’s one I’ll remember.

We appreciate you, fellas.  Keep making the Town proud!