Saturday, August 28, 2004
Phonte sports the orange jersey
Phonte out of Little Brother collab-ed with Nicolay and the result is The Foreign Exchange "Connected". They met via the message boards at okayplayer.com and a lot of the guests are present or spoken highly of around those parts as well. The production is nice: nothing ground-breaking but really well-executed deep, thick hip hop on the golden age tip. Can't get enough of Phonte's lyrics though - strong stuff that I'm watching for his stuff now like the "name" emcees (Mos, Kweli, J-Live, etc.).
One thing I love about this project - in this day of the perfect promo shot (heavy on the photoshop), there's something mad real about scrawny Nicolay towering over 'te in half the press images.
One thing I love about this project - in this day of the perfect promo shot (heavy on the photoshop), there's something mad real about scrawny Nicolay towering over 'te in half the press images.
New Mos due Sept. 28
Black Dante is also fronting something called the "Mos Def Big Band" that plays today in Central Park. "Beyond his own compositions, Mos Def plans to showcase material by Gil-Scott Heron, Chick Corea and Miles Davis, among others."
Monday, August 23, 2004
Live from a piano bar near you. . .
Kanye West & John Legend (his consistent keys collaborator) kick off this week's Benji B show (Aug. 20) with a live piano-and-vocal duet. Not even that hot, but I like that 'Ye is always trying new things - I wish the production had been a lot dirtier, but hell, it's different.
"Strictly customized boots and designer-certified suits"
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Bugz Remix LP soon come
The King Ad-oru
Andrew P just put me up on his great blog Adoru. Similar variety of flavours as Phorilla (good hip hop music and related visuals, plus other good music) but the man is a lot more conscientious about seeking out good bits and staying up-to-date. A quick look turned up:
- the video to Stones Roses "Fool's Gold" (Windows Media, I think) - classic early-90s "baggy" dance-rock cut with a James Brown break. Great house party tune, brings to mind a certain era.
- A link to Ruben Fleischer's site. He directed the new M.i.a. "Galang" that deserves to be huge, the new Dizzee Rascal and "Fix Up, Look Sharp" (Quicktime). He also includes what's going on in his head. (p.s. saw M.i.a. on the cover of the new Fader mag yesterday)
- Nike ad (.mov) which emulates Madden-style camera moves.
Friday, August 13, 2004
M.i.a. "Galang" Video
M.i.a. "Galang" has a video - and it's the LICK. If we get all the girls who listen to Britney to blast M.i.a. the world will be a better place. Best ruff pop music I've heard in ages. Lino gets the props.
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Sales Is High
From "B" (is that BrainChild?):
De La Soul new album in September.
guests include Ghostface (!), Madlib (!!), Jay Dee (!!!), MF Doom (!!!!!!!!), DJ Premier (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) just to name a few...
and they are currently designing the Nike De La Dunks...
It's rare that these star-studded projects meet expectations, but this one is bound to have some banginess on it.
Fun fact courtesy of TT Lab
Trevor Jackson (aka Playgroup) was responsible for the cover art of PM Dawn's "Set Adrift On Memory Bliss"
Monday, August 09, 2004
"I salt & pepper my mango, throw spear out the window"
It's all about m.i.a. right now, can't get "Sunshowers" (or its tight video) out of my head. Love the flow and accent, bass comes right on the track (love the dirty touches every four bars), even the tempo is great for mixing. All signs point to her not waiting long to blow either: she's got a great story to tell, a unique thing (non-West Indian doing dancehall and it's not cornball), and she's cute.
Thanks to 'Lan for the original turn-on and Lino for pointing me to the video. . . I'm still looking for the first single, "Galang", which is even hotter.
Thanks to 'Lan for the original turn-on and Lino for pointing me to the video. . . I'm still looking for the first single, "Galang", which is even hotter.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Can't Stop The Rock
Thanks to everyone who came out last night, especially Magnificent for dropping jaws with a CLASSIC set. You did bring it as promised guy. . .
Also: blue yankee fitted, fuck a G-unit sneaker. Palm Squad kicks, courtesy of Frame:
Friday, August 06, 2004
Damn. . .
that timing's a little eerie. Rick James just died. May he rest in peace - all jokes aside he brought some heavy-duty music into the world.
Rick James interview
Allhiphop.com did an interview with Rick James and it's some of the funniest shit I've read in a while. He made $30-40 million off "U Can't Touch This" and charged the label a mil an hour - for what??? Cocaine IS a helluval drug. Still worth a read - aside from its comedy value - for some insights on the next generation of musicians.
Here's part 2 and it looks like there are three more excerpts coming.
Here's part 2 and it looks like there are three more excerpts coming.
George is not my homeboy
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Uprising Radio this Saturday
Cham and I have started hosting a show on local station CKCU 93.1FM first Saturdays of every month (aka the day after Disorganised). We call it Uprising Radio, and we each bring our own steez to the table: electro-funk and dancefloor punk from my partner, and the raw funk to hip hop to bruckbeat and beyond from me.
If you're in Ottawa give it a listen, and if you're elsewhere you can listen live online. . . this Saturday's the next one. . .
If you're in Ottawa give it a listen, and if you're elsewhere you can listen live online. . . this Saturday's the next one. . .
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Chappelle is rich, (you know the rest)
Chappelle has re-upped with Comedy Central in a deal for up to $50 mil. Lots of other tid-bits in the article: he's touted for Paramount movie bio on Rick James (hard to believe that won't turn out wack), he and Mooney have a project under consideration for Comedy Central (should be hot), and he turned down an offer to host the MTV Video Awards (wise move, it's hard not to come off corny on that shit). It also mentions that Neil (aka the white co-writer) is in for a heap of scrilla too, which begs the question: where's Charlie Murphy's payday?
I had no idea the show was so popular, this is ridonkulous. Good for Dave, better him than Ray Romano or whoever. . .
I had no idea the show was so popular, this is ridonkulous. Good for Dave, better him than Ray Romano or whoever. . .
Monday, August 02, 2004
A Thin Line. . .
Here's a great tidbit from Gossiping Bitches (which is usually pretty cot damn funny):
Wondering why Cut Chemist's album is taking forever to come out? Everybody say it with me now: sample clearance. But here's the funny part. It seems Cut has been busted on a couple samples by none other than the wife of Mr. Josh "DJ Shadow" Davis, who handles intellectual property issues such as this for a living. Music sure does make strange bedfellows, but we're guessing this is going to put a crimp in any future Shadow/Cut plans. Remember that it's bros before hoes, Shadow!
Wondering why Cut Chemist's album is taking forever to come out? Everybody say it with me now: sample clearance. But here's the funny part. It seems Cut has been busted on a couple samples by none other than the wife of Mr. Josh "DJ Shadow" Davis, who handles intellectual property issues such as this for a living. Music sure does make strange bedfellows, but we're guessing this is going to put a crimp in any future Shadow/Cut plans. Remember that it's bros before hoes, Shadow!
Sunday, August 01, 2004
Pho's hot hot heat August 10
1. Wale Oyejide feat. Jay Dee "There's A War Going On" (Shaman Work)
2. Rhian Benson feat. Dwele "Tell Me How It Feels (Bugz in the Attic remix)" (DKG)
3. Nuspirit Helsinki "Honest (Jazzanova's Honestly Yours remix)" (Sonar Kollektiv)
4. M.i.a. "Fire Fire" (XL)
5. Jadakiss "The Champ Is Here" (Don't Matter)
6. Slum Village "Do You" (Capitol)
7. Mobb Deep "Throw Your Hands Up" (Jive)
8. Daktaris "Soul Explosion LP" (Desco)
9. Moonstarr "Detriot" (Sonar Kollektiv)
10. Nas "Thief's Theme" (Columbia)
2. Rhian Benson feat. Dwele "Tell Me How It Feels (Bugz in the Attic remix)" (DKG)
3. Nuspirit Helsinki "Honest (Jazzanova's Honestly Yours remix)" (Sonar Kollektiv)
4. M.i.a. "Fire Fire" (XL)
5. Jadakiss "The Champ Is Here" (Don't Matter)
6. Slum Village "Do You" (Capitol)
7. Mobb Deep "Throw Your Hands Up" (Jive)
8. Daktaris "Soul Explosion LP" (Desco)
9. Moonstarr "Detriot" (Sonar Kollektiv)
10. Nas "Thief's Theme" (Columbia)
?uestlove and King Britt
try to get their licenses. That's the premise of On the DL (20 min.), which doubles as an ad for Scion. Amateurish with funny bits - I always love anything that gives you a window into the studios of music-makers, though. The highlight is Alma Horton as ?uesto's driving instructor going off on an impromptu "you got your license" jam ;-)
Thanks to Ger Dragon for the heads-up.
Thanks to Ger Dragon for the heads-up.
And another one. . .
Definitely didn't group on techno, but I've been hearing bits here and there as a result of broken beat dudes namedropping. Moonstarr's latest is Detriot (snippet page), and I dunno what else to call it except "straight-up techno". I think this stuff is easier to fathom as I learn about the roots of the D. Another tune I'm big on these days.
Roots heat
I don't actually have The Tipping Point yet 'cause it hasn't hit Ottawa on vinyl, but I can't get enough of the George Kranz "Din Da Da" bonus cut. 80s synths, build-it-up-then-drop-it-out arrangement, and just raw energy. Snippet here if you haven't heard.
