The Audacity of Dope

While the weather has been nice out here in Seattle for a while (yes, we do have nice weather, shocking, I know), it’s finally starting to feel like summer.  This weekend featured the annual “Bite Of Seattle” festival, an awesome exhibition match between Chelsea FC and the Seattle Sounders in front of 66K at Qwest Field, and A-Trak & Theophilus London shutting down Chop Suey.  All of this under 80 degree sunny skies mind you…and now this coming weekend will feature our KUBE Summer Jam at White River Amphitheater.  Nothing like summer in the SEA.

On this week’s show, we played new cuts from folks like Killer Mike, Donnis, J. Cole, Pac Div, Goapele, Slaughterhouse, Mr. Hudson, Rakim, and more.  We also ran a joint from the big homey Jake One off his project with Freeway, along with world premiering the final version of Nas’ “Film.”  The version that you’ve heard floating around the net features the original beat from last year’s Red Bull Big Tune winner, C-Sick, but the final version sports revamped and replayed music, along with the proper mixing and mastering.  With our very own J. Moore co-writing the hook, you know we had to drop the official version of that big tune.

Last but not least, shout to Consequence for calling in to talk about his new single with Kanye & John Legend (the joint is crazy) and his upcoming Cons TV album.  “It’s the Cons fool…word!”

Show #216 (7-19-09)

1. Rakim – “Holy Are You”
2. Killer Mike – “In My City”
3. Donnis – “Heartbeat”
4. J. Cole – “Ladies
5. The Physics ft. Macklemore – “Good” (Local Music)
6. B.o.B – “Camera”
7. Pac Div – “For You”
8. Get Busy Committee – “Come And Talk To Me”
9. Freeway & Jake One – “Bloggers” (Local Music)
10. **INTERVIEW WITH CONSEQUENCE #02, PT. 1**
11. Consequence ft. Kanye West & John Legend – “Whatever U Want”
12. **INTERVIEW WITH CONSEQUENCE #02, PT. 2**
13. Mr. Hudson ft. Kanye West – “Supernova”
14. Drake – “The Winner”
15. DJ JS-1 ft. Wordsworth & Rahzel – “What’s Happening”
16. Skyzoo – “The Beautiful Decay”
17. Slaughterhouse – “Warriors”
18. Grynch – “My Volvo” (Local Music)
19. Nas ft. Choklate – “Film (Final Version)” (WORLD PREMIERE)
20. Lupe Fiasco ft. Matthew Santos – “Shining Down”
21. Goapele – “Milk & Honey”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?inztxznej5n
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/629529039f341627/ )

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.

While I get the opportunity to interview lots of dope artists, it’s standard practice that their conversational abilities pale in comparison to the music they make.  However, when someone as talented, eclectic, and interesting as K’Naan drops by the Sound Session studio, it’s virtually guaranteed to be a good time.  Sure enough, chopping it up with the man who fled Somalia’s civil war on the last commercial flight to leave Mogadishu proved to be an enlightening, and humbling, experience.

We discussed the current political upheaval in Iran, the pirates off the shores of Somalia, the gifts and curses that come with being a cultural ambassador, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, his recent Troubadour album, and more.  He even leaked some information on upcoming projects that hasn’t been reported yet…enjoy!

K’Naan on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?nttezgrtzz3
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/620305724e5447e5/)

If you’re still sleeping, wake up and cop Troubadour in stores now.

It’s strange how doing a weekly radio show means that whenever a major event happens, your thoughts are automatically documented.  I’m sure nobody else does, but I’ve gone back and listened to some old shows after historic moments and it’s kind of cool/strange to have these moments frozen in time.  This episode of SNSS is no different, since I’ll always remember it as the show after we lost literally the most popular person on the planet, Michael Jackson.

By now, there’s really nothing left to be said about the situation, but obviously Mike will be remembered for his incredible highs as well as disturbing lows.  As I mentioned in my initial blog post, regardless of all the trouble he had in his life, his music was exceptional and will live forever.  As we do for all talented musicians that were part of this hip-hop culture, we’ll continue to play songs on our show that carry on Mike’s musical legacy the best we can.  RIP to the King…

Peep this week’s show to hear new cuts from folks like B.o.B, Mayer Hawthorne, Ayah, Chali 2Na, The Kid Daytona, Mos Def, and more, plus an excellent local lineup featuring M64, Mycle Wastman, and The Physics.

Also, be sure to check out the full interview with K’Naan.  We talked all about the uprising in Iran, the pirates in his home country of Somalia, the gifts and curses that come with being a cultural ambassador, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and…oh yeah…his music.  It was a good one.  Shout to Enrique, Jesse, and Simi from IGA/Octone for bringing K’Naan through the station.

Show #213 (6-28-09)

1. Mos Def ft. Talib Kweli – “History”
2. B.o.B – “Do You Have The Stamina”
3. De La Soul – “Big Mouf”
4. Mayer Hawthorne – “When I Said Goodbye”
5. Ayah – “Fallen”
6. Wu-Tang Clan ft. Ghostface Killah & Tre Williams – “I Wish You Were Here”
7. The Physics – “Callin’” (Local Music)
8. Chali 2Na ft. Damian Marley & Stephen Marley – “Guns Up”
9. Slaughterhouse ft. M.O.P. – “Woodstock (Hood Hop)”
10. J. Cole – “Grown Simba”
11. DJ JS-1 ft. CL Smooth, Brother Ali, & Sadat X – “Nuthin’”
12. Drake ft. Phonte & Elzhi – “Think Good Thoughts”
13. **INTERVIEW WITH K’NAAN (SNIPPET)**
14. K’Naan – “Fire In Freetown”
15. M64 (Ragen Fykes & Ohmega Watts) – “Rhythm Of The Drum” (Local Music)
16. Big Pooh ft. Darien Brockington – “Move”
17. Outasight – “Brand New Day”
18. Lupe Fiasco ft. Matthew Santos – “Shining Down”
19. The Kid Daytona ft. Bun B – “Air Born”
20. Mycle Wastman – “As Long As I’m With You” (Local Music)

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?51mhznyoz1z
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/62029183c749b9f9/

Link to download the FULL interview with K’Naan – http://www.mediafire.com/?nttezgrtzz3
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/620305724e5447e5/)

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.

If you’ve been following along, we’ve hit some nice milestones recently, namely Show #200 a few weeks ago.  It doesn’t take a math major to realize that 200 shows = 200 weeks and give or take a few Sundays off, that’s adding up to about 4 years.  Well this past week, we officially celebrated 4 full years of Sunday Night Sound Session on KUBE 93.

While we have a lot of fun on SNSS and don’t take ourselves very seriously at all, broadcasting a show like ours on a 100K-watt Clear Channel station in a top market for 4 years is actually a pretty special accomplishment.  As a media studies major from back in my college days, I’ve always been cognizant of the effects of media consolidation and the danger it brings.  To combat that, it’s been a pleasure using the airwaves and the website to provide a powerful, consistent voice for alternative and independent artists from around the world.  It’s a responsibility we take seriously and we work hard every week to create a quality program for listeners to enjoy.  All the while, our number one goal is to be true to our beliefs and represent the hip-hop culture with the respect it deserves.

To four…and hopefully many more…years of SNSS – “raise your glasses to the sky”

Show #207 (5-17-09)

1. Raekwon ft. Method Man & Ghostface Killah – “New Wu”
2. Elzhi – “Deep”
3. Cory Gunz ft. Willie The Kid & MarVo – “A New Day”
4. Drake ft. Bun B – “Uptown”
5. Mos Def – “Casa Bey”
6. Donny Goines ft. Outasight & Peter Hadar – “Sublime”
7. Scribes – “Roll My Way” (Local Artist)
8. Chester French – “Time To Unwind”
9. Eminem – “My Mom”
10. Asher Roth – “La Di Da”
11. Bruce Leroy – “Million Dollar Dream” (Local Artist)
12. Busta Rhymes – “Shoot For The Moon”
13. Izza Kizza ft. Colin Munroe – “Connect The Dots”
14. Colin Munroe ft. Joell Ortiz – “Piano Lessons”
15. The Kid Daytona – “The Engine”
16. **INTERVIEW WITH BLUE SCHOLARS, GRYNCH, & DV-ONE**
17. Toni Hill – “This Thing Called Love” (Local Artist)
18. Slakah The BeatChild ft. Drake – “Enjoy Ya Self (Remix)”
19. Julian Marley ft. Damian Marley – “Violence In The Streets”
20. J Dilla ft. Black Thought – “Reality TV”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?zuuymgqmjjz
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/60217878c91f946b/ )

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.

What up world?

You ever have those moments where some things in your life are going [Andre] fantastically well [/3000], but because of them, you’re also incredibly busy?  Well…yeah, I’m there right now, so this recap will be short.

This week we ran some great joints from folks like Wale, Crooked I, Kid Cudi, Asher Roth, Chester French, the new homies Pac Div (what up fellas!), and gave Diz Gibran and Trackademicks their SNSS debuts.  We also world premiered the new single from Seattle’s own Dyme Def, “Pick Up Ya Flow” featuring Saigon, played a snippet of our interview with producer Focus (full version will be posted on the blog this week), and gave out a bunch of Nipsey Hussle mixtapes.

In short, another average night of excellence.

Show #202 (4-12-09)

1. Diz Gibran – “New Religion”
2. Fashawn – “The Outer City”
3. Trackademicks ft. MoxMore – “Topsidin’”
4. Wale ft. Lady Gaga – “Chillin’”
5. Dyme Def ft. Saigon – “Pick Up Ya Flow” (WORLD PREMIERE) (Local Artist)
6. Crooked I & DJ Wicked – “Jackin’ For Beats 2009”
7. Pac Div – “Pac Div (What It Is)”
8. Tanya Morgan ft. Blu – “Morgan Blu”
9. Drake ft. Trey Songz – “Successful”
10. Shad – “I Heard You Had A Voice Like An Angel”
11. **INTERVIEW WITH FOCUS (SNIPPET)**
12. Focus ft. Big Pooh, Sha Stimuli, & Kurupt – “Homage To Pete Rock”
13. Kid Cudi ft. Kanye West, Common, & A-Trak – “I Poke Her Face”
14. Roddy Rod ft. Phonte (of Little Brother) & Carlitta Durand – “This Time Around”
15. Big Pooh – “Rear View Mirror”
16. J. Pinder ft. Fatal Lucciauno – “Crossfire” (Local Artist)
17. Common Market – “Slow Down Moses” (Local Artist)
18. Asher Roth ft. Cee-Lo – “Be By Myself”
19. Chester French ft. Wale – “I’m Sorry”
20. Nipsey Hussle ft. Slauson Boys & K. Young – “Roll The Windows Up”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?2w20tyvink3
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/58625472993645b2/)

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 back, J. Moore and the rest of the Red Bull Big Tune fam brought Elzhi (of Slum Village) and Black Milk to the town for the Seattle edition of the beat battle.  Before tearing it down at Neumo’s that night (I’ll toss some of that footage up if I get time), they came through Sound Session to record an interview with us.  Unfortunately, since we’ve had so many guests coming through lately, it’s taken a minute to get the audio up for y’all.  Better late than never though, especially when you’re dealing with two of the dopest artists in the industry right now.  I don’t think anyone is seeing Elzhi bar for bar, and with the release of Tronic, Black has staked his claim for the top MC/producer out there.  Seriously…do you hear how he’s spittin’ on that album?

Anyway, the interview was recorded in between the releases of Elzhi’s The Preface and Black’s Tronic, so there are a few occasions where it sounds dated.  Even still, I highly recommend checking out the full discussion to hear them break down both projects in detail.  They also talked about their inspirations both past and present, their creative processes, all things Detroit, what changes they hope Barack can bring to the people, their upcoming work, and much more.  Enjoy!

Elzhi & Black Milk on Sound Session – http://www.mediafire.com/?4nl20wo3wjy
(back up / streaming link – http://www.zshare.net/audio/52144263069bf0be/ )

Do yourself a favor and go cop The Preface and Tronic if you haven’t already.  Your “Best of 2008” list isn’t complete without both of ’em, trust me.