Phorilla.com

A list of rappers who went to college. . .

ABB brings it home: Check for new Arcee featuring Kardi (yesssssssss suh!) and Little Brother (have I mentioned these cats before? I should have). Arcee and LB b-sides, too.

Today, a couple new UK bits I'm feeling. I'd BEEN hearing about Ms. Dynamite, so I finally got my hands on the stuff. "Boo" is cool, but the one that got me is "Ms. Dy Na Mi Tee", a Pete Rock-sound number. Big-ups for something I always like: the 'pretend-scratching' of a well-know vocal sample, but they're not really cutting the orignal (just listen for the Jimmy Walker-ish "Dy-no-mite" in this one). But, uh, yeah, just impressed with the few cuts I've heard. A mix-up of styles is always good, and I think she has enough of a strong personality and something to say to build a career. UK press are even dropping some Lauryn Hill comparisons (?). Will pick up the album when I see it around.

Also worth exploring: "The Streets", a garage-meets-hip hop cat who else mixes up the styles. Not as big on this guy, but worth a listen for some really interesting production. More here.

After listening to both of these pieces, I'm left thinking that the quality of the production coming out of the UK right now is SICK across the board. I dunno if it's all that rain that forces cats to stay indoors with their Soundforge and Protools, but them put in WORK!

Just finished writing a blurb on b-boy music for a UK mag. Big up the Artist Formerly Known As Ol' Curly Bastard for the hook-up. I think I'm gon look to exercise my writing chops more in the future: I like talking to people.

The new producer killing-time shit is downloading Timbaland instrumentals. Dude is a genius worth studying without letting the vocals distract you. From tempo to tempo the quality is there. Collect them all. . .

Femm Nameless are an all-female Afrobeat group out of NY(?). A little gimmicky, but the MP3 is kinda nice.

The Floetry video has finally dropped. Still feeling this one, once again this is the shit the radio ought to be playing. . .

Looks like Marc Mac (4Hero) is teaming up with Brasilians: "Featuring Patricia Marx, Max de Castro, Jair Oliveira and Wilson Simoninha as well as a 12 piece backing band of some of the hottest young musicians from Brazil today, mixing up bossa nova, drum n bass, samba, broken beats, jazz..." These are good times.

A couple overlooked tings I've been pumping: Mos Def Umi Says (Zero 7 mix) and Keith Murray Herb Is Pumpin. And Kelis.

Shouts to Huma (INP Crew) for the Keithy.

Whattup Kelis?

Who knew there was a Neon Phusion remix of Len's wonderful one-hit? Time to hit the WinMX. . .

Here's the story on Urbanfest, which didn't pop like it should have. Big-up Nine Planets, Fonetiks, Audio Fix, Technical Sense, De La and a lot of others for tight performances under the circumstances. Special shouts to Persaud for working his ass off to get things moving and making the best of a weak situation, good lookin out guy.

If you haven't been following the news, Truth Hurts and Dre are being sued for $500M by the publisher of the original Indian (TV-taped) tune. The story of a lawyer cash-grab doesn't interest me, but check for the original sample of the original (right margin). Nice flip, Quik!

Devin the Dude "Doobie Ashtray" is the hottest Premier production to come out in a second. Love the little updates of the standard Preme formula, Devin's chorus vocals are sweet, and the songwriting does capture the moment. Smoker's anthem. Dunno if they'll make a video for a sess-themed joint, but I hope this hits regardless.

Worth checking for: DJ Skitz. UK hip hop producer with a heavy reggae influence, so we the North West Indian-influenced can relate. Here's an interview and some samplings. . .

Shit, somehow a good post just disappeared from here. Otherwise, just a heads-up that myself and the rest of the Squad will be up at Urbanfest - also well-known for the most confusing website of all time. We'll be up 3-4:30pm Saturday on the Concrete Sound Session stage. Also, don't miss DL, Fonetiks and of course De La.

The latest on MIAs Portishead. . .

Ladies and gentlemen. This is the moment. We have found him. The long-lost one, the chosen has been re-discovered.

It's Kardi . . . and THE 'EH' MAN!!!

If you were a Cosby kid, you'll understand.

Beleza Music looks really tight. Check for the archived King Britt shows (whooo!), the weekly radio show, and a bangin list of links under "Influences". Working the 9 to 5 was never this good without my radio. Philly What!

Sorry for no meat in the updates lately, but I've been busy with beats, the 9 to 5, volunteering, etc. Haven't even talked to the squad in a week. Right now, I'm looking for a new DJ bag: peeped the Urban section at eBags and Turntable Lab's DJ bag section. Any other suggestions?

Hottest ness I've heard in a while: Benzino "Rock The Party". Dunno who produced this, but the beat is raw hand drums-meets Timbaland key patches sickness!

Bling47.com has a gang of Jay Dee audio up on the media page. Check for full songs by D-town artists like J-Dilla, Dwele, Slum Village, Frank'n'Dank, and others. They also have a Jay Dee "Unreleased" twelve for sale with a few sound clips. . .

Here's a speech given by a lawyer named Lawrence Lessig a few months back. He's involved in a lot of work to prevent Microsoft, the major record labels, and the big film studios from encroaching further into the powers of individuals to do creative stuff. For example, whenever Disney's copyright is going to run out on Mickey Mouse, the US Congress seem to magically extend the length of copyright for EVERYONE. This goes way beyond not being able to legally do bootleg Afro Mickey tees though. In general it keeps the new generation of creative people (that's us foo') from creating new art and new ideas. Most of you won't be interested in the business angle of the speech, but there's a few big ideas in there that I highly recommend you check.

For me the big message is that "creativity and innovation always builds on the past". Doesn't that lend a lot more legitimacy to sampling and remixing? We always knew that Preme wasn't just "stealing" the work of others to create his masterpieces, but this makes it clearer than ever, in terms that the old people who run the world right now can understand. It's important to remember that whether it's in the realm of art, science, business or whatever, everyone who's every come up with the next next shit has ALWAYS built on the work of a lot of other people.

I'm just as shook as everyone else. Makes me want to re-evaluate what I thought about a lot of things, y'know?

This is why I love Okayplayer - it's the o-fficial "Broken Beat Primer" post. Things go off-track a little, but some joints to check and healthy discussion as well. Hadn't heard the Neon Phusion joint yet and it's TEE-IGHT!

A kinda surreal interview with Yao Ming. Sample quote "Q: What kind of car do you want to buy? A: A big one that can fit me."

New cat to check: sounds like Jay Dee meets Kraftwerk, from the D and working with Dilla, signed to Prefuse 73's label. Name is Dabrye. First album is One/Three, new one is Instrmntl. This one is in the headphones constantly as I've paid my late video fine, bought food, and put off working on my own beats. It's a genuinely fresh sound, I'm real excited. Here's background. Big up Linus at Organised for turning me onto the D.

Neptunes news on Jigga, N.E.R.D., others. These cats are truly prolific: they're making more shit in the back of the tour bus, while they're on tour, while they just finished Jigga tracks and half Timberlake's album. No joke, that work ethic is inspiring. They must have assistants and ghost producers helping out, but the discog is still as hefty as Isaac Asimov's. . .

Guilty pleasure of the moment: Trina and Tweet "No Panties". Love the harmonies and vocal production on all of Tweet's choruses- I wonder how much of that she's responsible for? I heard she's BEEN around the industry and it took Tim to blow her up. The Tweet half of the video is intriguing too.

New interview (from August 24th) with the Abstract Poetic. Candid too: Tip speaks upon getting offered ridiculous sums to re-form Tribe, some nice production tips, lots more laidback talk. Big up T-Wrecks for the link.

Jay Dee is coming to T-dot. He'll be up at Fez Batik on Peter St. on September 27. Doors open from 10pm-3am and Dilla is scheduled to spin from 12am-2am. More on Dilla, including crazy audio archives, at Rensoul.

If you have a chance, tune into CKCU 93.1 FM at 10-11am EST Sundays for An Indian Morning. Been listening to this show since late Saturday nights began for me, and it's always been the best thing for nursing a hangover and hearing new sounds. Dr. Dehejia has the most relaxing voice I've ever heard, and he drops a good mix of Indian classical music with more modern stuff. Good background music for reading the new issues of Wax Poetics and Complex magazine. Speaking of Indian music, you might want to peep Bhagavan Das, a project involving Beastie Mike D, famous Indian classical performer Bhagavan Das, and Money Mark, among others. Based on a quick needle-drop, not my thing though.

No one's really been rating him for a while, but just a heads-up that Em doesn't rank with me AT ALL any more. Trying to start something with Moby while your big homeys are managing beef with Suge Knight is straight bitch. Still one of the illest, but you know Em doesn't respect the intelligence of his fans if he thinks threatening Moby at a corporate awards ceremony is gangsta. This is the beginning of the end. Question: is there anyone easier to pick on than Moby? Maybe next Em should prove his thuggish-ruggishness by taking on the Olsen twins.

Top 20 D'n'b records of all time as ranked by the Arena readers. A good intro for those who haven't followed the drums over the last 10 years and want to learn (like T).