NEW VIDEO: "INNER MONOLOGUE"----TALIB KWELI [PRODUCED BY KHRYSIS]

Filmed in Raleigh while on tour, we have the Talib Kweli (@TalibKweli) banger "Inner Monologue". Produced by Carolina beatsmith Khrysis (@KHRYSIS), "Inner Monologue" is the first single from the critically-acclaimed release Gravitas, released exclusively on Talib Kweli's website. Check out the dope video below (with cameos from Big K.R.I.T and Khrysis to name a few). Support the movement and cop Gravitas!

MUSIC: "THE NEXT CHAPTER (STILL LOVE H.E.R.)"---COMMON [PRODUCED BY J. PERIOD]

 

 

One of the most classic Hip Hop joints is the incomparable "I Used To Love H.E.R." by Lonnie Rashid Lynn, known thoughout the cosmos as Common (@Common). To continue the ode to Hip Hop, Common released the very dope "The Next Chapter (Still Love H.E.R.), produced by J. Period (@jperiodBK). The timing of this single coincided with the unveiling of the New York Times best-seller Rage Is Back , written by Adam Mansbach (@AdamMansbach). I know I'm a few months late with this single, but it deserves attention before we close out 2013. Hopefully Common will be reinvigorated to release more dopeness for '14 and beyond.

PEACE AND BLESSINGS!!!

LINK: http://soundcloud.com/jperiod/common

 

VIDEO: 9TH WONDER ROCKIN' BEATS

9th Wonder is one of the best commodities Hip Hop culture has to offer, be it with production, teaching, and being an ambassador for NC Hip Hop. It's a great thing to see that he has also embraced the new Maschine Studio by Native Instruments. Via his dope and entertaining Ustream page viewers get a hands-on approach to watching 9th craft his beats as well as critiquing up and coming beatsmiths. No doubt in my mind this NC cat is one of the dopest to do it PERIOD. I'm very glad and proud to say that 9th Wonder is definitely an inspiration in this thing we call Hip Hop. Enjoy the aural dopeness on this glorious Christmas Day!
Video streaming by Ustream

NEW VIDEO: "REGGIE GAME 5"---DRIQUE LONDON

"One of the best talkers that ever walked Raleigh" is an apt description for Drique London (@DriqueLondon).  The wait for him to drop the video for "Reggie Game 5" is finally over.  Directed by Kimberly Woodruff (co-directed by Timothy Johnson and Jordano Rastelli), you find Drique London waxing poetic while the Oak City skyline provides the backdrop.  The HardWork (@HaRDcovertWoRK) production is another banger in the growing catalog for the Carolina spitter.  With no further adieu, here we have the very dope visuals for "Reggie Game 5" (from the upcoming album A Hard Nights Day).



VIDEO CREDITS:

Kimberly Woodruff (Nine19 Films)
Timothy Johnson (Burning Ace Photography)
Jordano Rastelli (Rastelli Media Productions)

NEW MUSIC: HD DREAMS [MIXTAPE]---LONNIE MOORE

 

East Baltimore emcee/vocalist/actor Lonnie Moore (@lonniemoore23) represents Harm City to the fullest on his newest mixtape HD Dreams.  This fifteen-track banger features production from K. Portis, Chevy Beats, ASAP Jermz, Spaz Neely, CMPLX, Dante Desperado, and Bear, and covers a lot of ground musically.  From gritty East Coast boom-bap to smoothed-out R&B, LM brings his Fastlane Campaign to the forefront.  With Consumer Voice CEO Lewis Williams (@cvegceo) helping to mold the musical vision, you have a mixtape that could easily be noted as a full album.  There are no fillers on this joint.  Peace to www.allbmorehiphop.com (@allbmorehiphop) for offering the link to the download and showcasing another B-more gem.  Show support and hit the link below.

 

DOWNLOAD:  http://www.allbmorehiphop.com/index.php?option=com_muscol&view=album&id=468

 

 

NEW MUSIC: KEV BROWN PRESENTS---EARLY REED: THE DOSE (THE MFN FILES) FEATURING J SCIENIDE

 

 

Kev Brown (@KevBr0wn) has been churning out quality music over the past few years under the Low Budget moniker (@LowBudgetCrew). What we have here in the 4th Quarter of 2013 is a dope project with Low Budget cohorts Early Reed (@EarlyEh) and J Scienide (@JScienide).  Kev Brown Presents...Early Reed---The Dose (The MFN Files) Starring J Scienide is dope, make no mistakes about it.  Early Reed puts the SP-505 to good use on this throwback EP, as he seamlessly chops and constructs sonic beds for J Scienide to rest his lyrics. Brown, Supastition (@Supastition_NC), Hassaan Mackey (@HassaanMackey), and DJ Jon Doe all lend their talents to this aural treat. If you're looking for rhymes with no filler and beats to nod your head to, this is the EP to listen to for the remaining part of '13 and into 2014. Visit the Bandcamp page to support the artists and their music: 

http://l0wbudgetrecords.bandcamp.com/album/kev-brown-presents-early-reed-the-dose-the-mfn-files-starring-j-scienide.

When naysayers state there is no good Hip Hop, you just have to dig a little deeper. Radio play is not the place to look for dopeness. It may be under the radar, but it is there nevertheless.

MUCH LOVE TO THE DMV MOVEMENT!

 

 

VIDEO: "THANK YOU"---BUSTA RHYMES FEAT. Q-TIP

The synergy between Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip is quite evident whenever these Native Tongue relatives collaborate.  "Thank You", produced by Tip, of course features the Alicia Myers-sampled song of the same name.  One listen, and it not only takes the listener back to the creative era of the Golden Era, but also is a peek into the future of grown and mature Hip Hop offerings.  Kanye West and Lil Wayne join forces to provide support and solidarity for the G.O.O.D. Music and YMCMB camps.  This joint will be a part of Extinction Level Event 2 LP that the Dungeon Dragon will be releasing on Cash Money Records.  I would also hope and pray that it will be featured on the upcoming collaborative effort The Abstract And The Dragon, which is scheduled for a December 12th release (peep the artwork after viewing the dope video below).

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

The Abstract And The Dragon Artwork:

 

 

I am definitely looking forward to this 4th Quarter project.  Support dope Hip Hop!

 

 

 

NEW MUSIC: AN ODE TO REASONABLE DOUBT [EP] ---- SKYZOO AND ANTMAN WONDER

 

One of the most creative minds and dynamic talents in Hip Hop, Skyzoo (@Skyzoo) has been making beautiful music on a consistent and regular basis. From Cloud 9: The 3 Day High to A Dream Deferred, the man born Gregory Skyler Taylor has been at the apex of thought-provoking lyricism and quality over quantity-based music. You can check the resume. There are NO releases in his catalog, be it mixtape, EP, or album, that can be considered sub-par. S-K-Y-Z-O-O continues the trend with the conceptual masterpiece An Ode To Reasonable Doubt. To pay homage to one of his BK influences, Skyzoo has concocted a joint that will not only coincide with the 44th Birthday for the one and only Shawn Corey Carter, but end 2013 on an extremely high note. Truth be told, this has been a good year for Hip Hop releases.

This auspicious EP follows in the vein of the Elzhi masterpiece Elmatic (with Will Sessions providing the musical backdrop to great effect). For AOTRD the Illadelph producer Antman Wonder (@antmanwonder) added a very lush and organic feel to the nine-track offering. Antman Wonder is no stranger to creating dope music; check his credits ranging from fellow Philadelphia resident Peedi Crakk to Chicagoan Add-2. Below you can lock and load the artillery that Skyzoo and Antman Wonder are aiming at the heads (metaphorically speaking). This is undoubtedly a dope born day treat for Jay Z (no hyphen) and dope aural treat for the rest of us Hip Hop individuals. Enjoy An Ode To Reasonable Doubt, throw up the ROC symbol, and witness another masterpiece from one of the dopest, yet underrated, cats in the industry.  It is indeed "a scholar written and orchestral approach to what raised us".

 

LINK:  http://loyaltydigitalcorp.bandcamp.com/album/an-ode-to-reasonable-doubt

NEW MIXTAPE: BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL---ADD-2 AND KHRYSIS

 

 

It didn't take long for Chicagoan Add-2 (@ADD2theMC) to drop a project after signing with 9th Wonder's JAMLA imprint.  With Khrysis (@KHRYSIS) on the boards with the heat, this mixtape will surely warm our ears and hearts for the winter months to come.  Nine bangers are among us, ranging from "The Birth" to "The Glorious".  With features from like-minded artists GQ (@LifeOfGQ)) and Rapsody (@rapsodymusic), Between Heaven And Hell is poised to end 2013 on a high note when it comes to independent Hip Hop releases.  Download the dope collaborative effort below.

GRAFFITI ROCKED---THE WHITEWASHING OF 5 POINTZ

The end of an era in Queens. 45-46 Davis Street in Long Island City (in the borough of Queens) was a mecca for urban artists and graffiti masters. I say was because it is set for demolition. The slap in the face is that overnight it was whitewashed (an appropriate term in my non-humble opinion).  Since 1993 5 Pointz has served as a mutual meeting ground for like-minded and highly creative artists to flex their skills.  In the middle of the night on November 19th, reminiscent of the Baltimore Colts leaving for seemingly greener Indy pastures, cowardly lions made their way down the proverbial yellow brick rode that is Davis to paint over the blood, sweat and tears etched onto the walls of the former warehouse.  No regard for the historic value that is 5 Pointz.  Commerce provided the upper hand once again, as the almighty allure of the dollar superceded the value of a venue with graffiti at its core.

Tracing the history of The Institute Of Higher Burning back to the early 90's as the Phun Phactory, one can only imagine the countless hands that have gripped aerosol cans and other artifacts to make their individual pieces of art living facts.  In fact, even with the whitewash effect in effect recently, the defiant have protested by retagging the building as of this writing.  Make no mistake, the graffiti may be gone, but the spirit behind the artistic expression lives on.

The curator for the majestic urban museum, Jonathan Cohen, is known to the aerosol world as meres One, and he took on the astronomical responsibility of transforming the defunct for a year Phun Phactory into what the borough of Queens (and the world for that matter) came to know and love.  Artists from near and far trekked to the location to make a graffiti-laced mark on the cavernous walls.  Names within the urban art world such as Cope2, TATS CRU, Tracy 168, Stay High 149, and many others tagged, bombed, and painted from their souls on the globally-recognized largest aerosol art center on the planet.  This undertaking of a grand and, truthfully, global scale should NOT go unrecognized.  Too much has been vest and invested in making artist dreams come true at this location.  The same ol' story of gentrification and development is now ready to take its toll on an old building to some, but a monument to countless others.

 

 

Words really can't and won't do justice to what 5 Pointz means to the graffiti world.  Hip Hop is always a target (negatively speaking) and is used by commercial outfits for THEIR gains.  What about OUR gains?  Historic Hip Hop landmarks such as 45-46 Davis Street, 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, 205th Street and Hollis Avenue and other hotspots in the Big Apple and beyond are within the crosshairs that P.E. classically showcase as a logo.  Public enemies to the so-called public interest is what our culture is recognized as, to this day.  Most may not know, or care, about the happenings with 5 Pointz.  That is a shame indeed, because creative expression should not be swept under the rug or whitewashed.  Should we tear down the Washington Monument in  to make way for US Highway 1 expansion?  Should we blast the Gateway Arch in St. Louis in order to provide space for an overpriced condominium community?  Let that marinate for a moment.

 

 

 

Where do we go from here?  Let's hope that Hip Hop can move forward in a constructive manner and provide other outlets for creative expression in NY and elsewhere.  Graffiti Alley in Harm City, Venice Graffiti Pit in Venice Beach, Free Expression Tunnel in Raleigh, Graffiti Underground in Philly (I can go on and on not only here in the United Snakes, oops, United States, but worldwide) are examples of a thriving culture that cultivates graffiti as a viable, visible form of expression.  5 Pointz is still in its physical form, albeit naked.  Jerry Wolkoff, the property landlord for the iconic location, has the green light to move forward with his grand plans for two apartment buildings (41 and 45 stories high, per reports).  5 Pointz is whitewashed until its demolition, but colorful images imbedded in the hearts and minds of those in the know will last for many more years.  If you don't know the true history, visit the website that houses photos and info for 5 Pointz:  www.5ptz.com. 

 

I don't want this whitewashed image to be the lasting memory for The Institute Of Higher Burning.

 

 

5 Pointz should forever be remembered and revered as a safe haven for artistically-inclined and like-minded people to network, discuss, bond, fellowship, and ultimately create.

#RIP5Pointz

Sources:

www.5ptz.com
www.huffpost.com/us/entry/4316483
www.scottshawphotography.com/?tag=philadelphia-graffiti-underground
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_Pointz
www.graffiti-walls.com
www.matadornetwork.com/trips/10-places-where-graffiti-is-legal

SAMPLE SUNDAY----THE REED EDITION

First of all, I want to say Rest In Power to Lou Reed, iconic rocker and founder of The Velvet Underground.  He was an integral piece to that seminal punk rock scene that New York fostered, including varied characters such as Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Debbie Harry, David Bowie, Patti Smith, and many others.  You may not be familiar with his musical discography, but I am pretty sure that Hip Hop heads have heard this featured joint for Sample Sunday before. 

A Tribe Called Quest dug into the vaults to unearth a gem on their seminal debut Peoples Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm.

The video made this jam even more noteworthy, in my opinion.

Q-Tip undoubtedly had (and still has) an impeccable ear for picking loops and samples, as witnessed by the 1972 RCA album from Lou Reed, Transformer.

  The David Bowie and Mick Ronson produced "Walk On The Wild Side" is easily recognizable from the first couple of seconds of listening.  I remember this song from my childhood during television commercials, or those six-plus hour drives from MD to NC cruising to easy listening stations along the way. 

 

 

This esoteric cut made the perfect backdrop for Tip and Phife to "kick it", so to speak.  When you listen closely to the Reed joint, you hear topics and themes ranging from sexuality and drugs, almost taboo subjects considering this song received a lot of radio play in the 1970's.  Nevertheless, the original made its way to the record collection and ears of Q-Tip at some point, leading way to a classic song being used to make a classic song on a classic album.

 

 

 

Again I say Rest In Power to Lou Reed.  Go visit his discography.  See where the quirky lyrics were derived.  Enjoy the artistry that is Lou Reed.  Appreciate the music.  Walk on the wild side.

 

 

Sources:

 

www.whosampled.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Reed

 



ALBUM: CEE-SPAN---ROME CEE AND GREENSPAN

Rome Cee and Greenspan combined forces to drop a dynamic EP entitled Cee-Span.  This September 11th release has garnered nothing but positive attention and praise on a nationwide scale, not limiting these two lyricists to being known as just Baltimore-based artists (even though Harm City shows much love to their native sons).  Please take a listen and get a glimpse into the world of Cee-Span, as this six-song collection of dopeness takes us on a lyrical journey outside the 81 square-mile radius of B-more.  With production from the likes of August Flight Gordon, Carvo Music, Pablow Beats, Swiff D and R-Play Beats, we have a soundbed that matches the fire and passion behind the lyrics throughout.  Al Great, Chelsea Terrace and Masherra Hunt add just the right Old Bay Seasoning to the delectable crabcake that is Cee-Span (peep the reference Wisdom Seekers).  Expect more from both Rome Cee (@RomeCee) and Greenspan (@Greenspan410) in 2014 and beyond, because both artists are poised to make a major splash and crush the notion of what an emcee from our fair city is capable of doing.



http://greenspan410.com
http://romecee.com

ALBUM REVIEW: THE PROTOCOL---ULLNEVANO AND LOGIC MARSELIS

This review has been a long time coming, but good things come to those who wait Wisdom Seekers.  The Protocol is the long-awaited project from the creative minds of B-more emcee Ullnevano (@ullnevano) and VA beat representative Logic Marselis (@logicmarselis).  I've been aware of the project for a while now, and it is very good indeed that it has finally seen the light of day.  It has taken a hot minute for me to properly review The Protocol, for Wisdom tries to be very thorough in his approach.  I wanted to let the listening experience sink in, then listen again, and listen again, in order to give an honest description and depiction for listeners and readers alike.

Thirteen cuts deep, The Protocol starts with "Again", showcasing Logic Marselis at his best with bringing dope samples to life.  Ullnevano hits the ear with stream-of-consciousness verses that blends with the soundscape provided by LM.  "Go On" continues the trend as beats and rhymes collide, creating an explosive example of studying the craft of Hip Hop.  Ullnevano paints pictures by using the mic as a brush over the Marselis canvas.  My personal favorite on this album has to be the third offering on the album, "Can't Complain".  "Filled out the Scan-Tron" is the pathway 'Neva takes to vividly depict living life with no regrets and moving forward without letting roadblocks hinder.  Logic Marselis dug into his vast crate of soul samples to unearth an uplifting joint to take listeners on that path.

I don't know how true Ullnevano's claim was at the beginning of "Hold" that he waited four months for beats from Marselis, but this tidbit opened the doors for the song to take shape.  Another dope foray into territory that you don't see or hear in music today.  You can clearly hear the 9th Wonder influence on the title cut "Protocol" with the soul-based chops present throughout.  'Neva does another good job dropping gems over the sounds that abound. 

"City Limits" is going to be on constant repeat, as Ullnevano, Soosh*e, and Logic Marselis himself drops lyrical bombs over an engaging and engulfing joint.  Kudos for everyone on this song bringing their A-games.  Sean Armstrong has a strong showing on the next TP offering, "Epic".  As usual, the musical backdrop drives the energy on this song, with piano keys providing the emotional push for Armstrong and 'Neva to wax poetic.  Nice nod to the Purple Tape by Sean Armstrong on this one.  With the title "RZA Rings" I was envisioning a Wu-inspired song complete with Saturday morning kung-fu aural effects and lyrical acrobatics that the average listener may not be able to decipher.  It doesn't quite live up to that heady comparison, but it is still a cool joint nevertheless.  Featuring Action Figures, "RZA Rings" is still a nice nod to the Wu-Tang spirit.  Next on the menu is "The Jam", another ode to those songs that stick out in the minds of true Hip Hop heads.  Ullnevano, the self-proclaimed "Word Wizard" on "The Jam" makes certain that he brings heady lyricism and witty wordplay to the forefront.

The energy of the album did start to lag somewhat, however, towards the end of The Protocol.  "Good Grief", featuring Teddy Faley on the rhymes and Chinch 33 on the cuts, starts with a panned and filtered sample, but it doesn't quite allow for the emcees in place to spit heat.  It definitely is not a bad song, by any means, but it doesn't quite measure up to the best of The Protocol.  It is good to hear an actual joint with some cuts.  It has almost become a lost art within Hip Hop circles in 2013.  "The Idea" has a nice vocal sample to compliment the lyrics of 'Neva.  "Get up get out and get something" is the mantra spit during the chorus on "Get Something", giving the listeners another uplifting and positive message to digest (with a nod to the Outkast classic from their debut album).  Closing out The Protocol is the dope "Catching On".  Sounding like a vintage Little Brother song reminiscent of The Listening or The Chittlin Circuit 1.5.  Marselis again brought the heat, bringing life to a soul-based sample and allowing 'Neva to stake his claim as a force to be reckoned with on the underground scene.  "Beats, rhymes and life is what we're on" is an apropos statement, especially on this blog.  That simple phrase sums up the mission for The Protocol.

I'm impressed with the offering that Ullnevano and Logic Marselis has presented to the masses.  Not only should Harm City and the DMV be proud of The Protocol, as it is one of the best joints of the year, but it holds up very well with other underground, independent albums and mixtapes by artists such as Rapsody and Oddisee.  Make no mistake, this album reaches further than the states of Maryland and Virginia, and should make noise no matter the region if the listener appreciates a balanced approach to music-making.  Support the artistry that The Protocol presents to the Hip Hop world.  It is a breathe of fresh air in a sometimes stale atmosphere.  You can cop this breathe of fresh air at the following:  http://magnetikmoments.bandcamp.com/album/the-protocol.

Beats, rhymes and life is what we're on...

#THE #PROTOCOL

OFFICIAL VIDEO: "THE PROTOCOL"---ULLNEVANO

Here is the official video for the lead single from the dope Ullnevano and Logic Marselis release The Protocol.  My B-more cohort, with great assistance from his VA partner in beats and rhyme, has dropped the visual companion for an album deserving of shine within the Hip Hop community.  Enjoy the various nuances of the video, from the MF Doom-like masked cat, to the Camden Yards cameo throughout. 

#The #Protocol

OFFICIAL VIDEO: "CAN'T COMPLAIN"---ULLNEVANO

 

Ullnevano (@ullnevanohiphop) and Logic Marselis (@logicmarselis) are showing the world what true, unadulterated Hip Hop is all about with the release of The Protocol.  This Baltimore to Fredericksburg duo has given usa very dynamic joint for 2013, adding to the wealth of solid Hip Hop concoctions this year.  Peep the visuals for "Can't Complain", the first video release linked to The Protocol.  Syranno Debergiak (@Syranno) provided the visual direction for this dope look. 




More insight forthcoming for The Protocol, which is thus far one of the most complete projects of the year, due to the balanced lyricism from Ullnevano and visceral production from Logic Marselis.

#SALUTE

THE MIDDLE PASSAGE---HIP HOP AT 40

Happy Born Day to my beloved Hip Hop!  August 11, 1973 (when I was just a little, okay, big tyke of three years old) is the recognized and celebrated date that Hip Hop had its fledgling genesis.  1520 Sedgwick Avenue, just like urban addresses throughout metropolitan areas throughout the nation, housed young, creative souls looking for an outlet to party and bullshit.  Clive Campbell, known to the Hip Hop universe at Kool Herc, along with his sister Cindy, set the stage and template for what we are now celebrating, forty years later. 

A DJ Kool Herc Party/Back To School Jam is how the nondescript index card and makeshift flyer labeled this West Bronx gathering in the recreation room of the high-rise that Herc and sister Cindy called home.  As The Notorious B.I.G. so aptly stated, "never thought that Hip Hop would take it this far".  But it did.  With DJ Kool Herc taking his Jamaican, dancehall-tinged roots and developing his unique style, the stage was set for DJ culture to flourish and become the backbone of Hip Hop, even today.  Herc has been very secretive about his playlist that humid, summer eve in that historic landmark, but you can guesstimate that joints of the day, such as "Give It Up Or Turn It Loose" by the Godfather James Brown, "Bongo Rock" by The Incredible Bongo Band, and "The Mexican" by Babe Ruth made its way through the speakers for that youthful crowd to enjoy.

Fast-forward to 2013, the 21st Century, and we have covered much ground with Hip Hop culture.  Introducing the world to a movement that most never imagined would be a worldwide tour-de-force, we pay homage.  Around the same time that Herc was blessing ears with his Merry-Go-Round turntable technique, Stevie Wonder released to the world Innervisions.  I parallel that title with the path that the forefathers of Hip Hop culture laid.  They had the internal vision to bring unity, artistic expression, and a sense of against the grain bravado to those that were often misguided, misinterpreted, misrepresented, but not missing in action.  Even though Kool Herc is credited for bringing the culture of Hip Hop to the world, others had weighty contributions.  Afrika Bambaatta, Kool DJ Dee, Grandmaster Flash and Grand Wizzard Theodore can all lay claims to fame to creating a culture collectively, from the subterranean streets of the Big Apple to globally.

How does it feel to be middle-aged Hip Hop?  How did you get to this point?  A few years ago, Nas stated emphatically that Hip Hop Is Dead, but it is making its mark commercially, to say the least.  Unfortunately, that commercial footprint has hindered the creativity that sparks the culture.  For every Little Brother, you have a Trinidad James, reaping financial benefits without paying any true dues, in my opinion.  And there is the rub when it comes to this thing we call Hip Hop, specifically that highly visible part that involves spittin' rhymes, so to speak.  Over the years, Hip Hop has always had this issue with sacrificing substance for superficial.  Be it MC Hammer or Vanilla Ice, the backpack contingent has looked at the commercial side of "Rap Music" with that ever-present side-eye.  "Hip-Hop" versus "Rap" has been in constant rotation on the illusionary cultural turntable since Run-DMC "Walked This Way" into Middle America (pun intended).  It's unfortunate that lyricism and musicality has pretty much taken a back seat to fly-by-night Rich Homie Quans and the like.  No disrespect to him, because I don't follow his movement or music, but it is very evident that he doesn't possess the lyrical dexterity of a Lupe or Kendrick (two artists that have managed to balance the artistic with the commercial).  I feel, however, that the music as a whole can said balance across the boards.  Unfortunately, the MTV's and BET's won't pump their machinery in the direction of very talented artists deserving of shine.  BET had the audacity a few years ago to even go as far as to state (publicly mind you) that a group like the aforementioned Little Brother was "too intelligent" for its viewers.  Such a slap in the face.

So where do we as a culture stand?  At a crossroads?  I think that there is indeed a market for Hip-Hop At 40.  There is going to be a dope lineup performing in Durham, North Carolina at the DPAC to coincide with North Carolina Central University Homecoming.   Return Of The Legends will be a two-night affair with some of the icons that have made Hip-Hop culture the cash cow that it is now.  Rakim.  EPMD.  Das EFX.  The Pharcyde.  Brand Nubian.  Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth.  Camp Lo.  Even BBD is making an appearance, showing that their brand of Hip Hop, even though it was "smoothed-out on the R&B tip" appeals to the masses in this day and time.  I am so looking forward to this joint.  I don't consider it "old-school", but "true school".  I don't want to necessarily place a label on the music at hand, but I want to be very clear that Adult Contemporary Hip Hop can thrive.  Truth be told, throw the labels to the side and create dope music. 

"Dope beats, dope rhymes what more do y'all want..."
                                                                                      ----Phonte

Hip Hop is 40.  I will be 44 in January.  Jay Z (hyphen removed) will be 44 in December.  Eminem is 41 today (October 17th).  Black Thought is 42.  Snoop Dogg (or Snoop Lion or Snoopzilla) is 41.  DJ Jazzy Jeff is  I can on and on about the maturity (and sometimes lack thereof) within Hip Hop.  I won't, however, because the script is still being written about the real-life and real-time culture that started in the urban Big Apple jungles and has now spread globally.  I am glad to be a character is this film (an extra, but in the film nevertheless).  I salute Hip Hop for what it was, what it has become, and what it will be in the future.  We Are Hip Hop!

   

DOCUMENTARY----40 YEARS OF HIP HOP BY KRS-ONE

To coincide with Hip Hop reaching that 40-year threshold, we have Blastmaster KRS-One bringing us 40 Years Of Hip Hop.  Filmed in Amsterdam at the Bijlmer Parktheater for Hip Hop Appreciation Week, KRS-One took his teachings to an international stage.  He has been one of the most vocal proponents for Hip Hop culture since the Golden Era, and his lecture/documentary is proof-positive that he will continue on that path of Hip Hop enlightenment.  More than 102 minutes of footage, interspersed with video excerpts, gives the viewer a glimpse into the true tenets of the culture.  "I Am Hip Hop" is more than a slick saying, but a venerable truth for KRS-One.  Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone!

 

 

 

CAROLINA BLUE LYRICISM---AN INTERVIEW WITH DRIQUE LONDON

 

INTERVIEW BY:  WISDOM

The original plan was to meet up and coming NC lyricist Drique London at Triangle Town Center to chop it up at my favorite spot Barnes & Noble.  That didn't quite come to fruition, so Plan B went into effect.  Drique London so graciously spoke with me via phone for a good 30 minutes.  Very cool character.  Humble.  Intelligent.  These are qualities that are sometimes lacking in the swagged-out atmosphere of Hip Hop in the 21st Century.  I've been around enough entities within this unforgiving bloodsport to know when someone is the genuine article, and when someone is perpetrating a fraud.  Drique London is indeed the genuine article.



Photo acknowledgement:  katrinlaskowski.net

Talking with Drique London, it becomes apparent that he has multiple influences infused into his overall style.  "I was born in Selma, and moved to Queens at an early age.  I think that dual experience molded me into the artist that I've become."  You can hear both the Southern hospitality and direct Yankee musings during our conversation.  Being an up and coming artist in a swag-driven industry can be a difficult proposition, but he takes it all in stride.  "My mom really inspired me to do this, man.  I used to record little tapes when I was about 11, then around 16 I recorded my own project.  I went to Millbrook High School in Raleigh, had my own label in high school, World Face Entertainment.  It was cool, just being a kid in school, making music on my own terms."  Touching on his place in the North Carolina Hip Hop scene, Drique London made it quite clear that he has quite a ways to go, but he wants to leave his mark on the industry as a whole.  "Cats like 9th Wonder, Little Brother, they paved the way for me to do what I am trying to do today.  It's an honor to even be mentioned when their names are spoken.  I'm here just to do my part and advance this culture, in my own way bro."



Photo by Kali Rogers

Taking a look at the NC scene, there are quite a few like-minded artists that are walking that same path that Drique London is embarking on in 2013 and beyond.  Dope talent such as King Mez, Rapsody, Charlie Smarts and others have proven that there can be a flair of intelligence within the Southern realm of this Hip Hop culture.  "I've known King Mez a long time", says Drique, who was able to record the dope joint "The Cypher" with Mez and fellow Carolina representative and Kooley High member Tab-One.  "For 'The Cypher' I reached out to Mez, Mez put his verse down, then I reached out to Tab-One to add that finishing touch to the song". Looking at the video for "The Cypher", you can almost feel that synergy that these three distinct, yet like-minded, artists shared. Filmed in Raleigh by Kent Willard for Depth Of South Productions, it showed the solidarity and potential that NC has when it comes to Hip Hop music as a whole.  "It was produced by Majestic, who I've been down with for a good while."

Photo excerpt from Kent Willard on set for "The Cypher"

 

 

2013 has indeed been a busy year for Drique London.  He has been putting the finishing touches on A Hard Nights Day, which will most definitely bring more exposure in NC and beyond for his Dreams Of Children Music Group imprint (DOCMG), which includes London, Majestic, U'nique Music and Donovan McCray.  I asked the NC lyricist about where he sees his perpetual grind taking him, and his response was a resounding "everywhere".  "Keep working, thinking of ways to expand my craft.  I would love to be on 106 & Park spittin' in The Backroom.  But you know what...if I don't ever touch a Grammy, I'll still be content with who I am as an artist and person".  He indeed has other aspirations, be it fashion, sneakers, running a Hip-Hop site, in essence just branching out to fulfill his ultimate creative purpose.  Make no mistake about it though, the music is taking precedent for this year and for years to come.

 

 

 

"The Finale" is a recent offering from Drique London, but it is definitely not a final listening from this very talented, humble and grounded individual.  Even though we talked music and his career for a brief time, I feel that I have known him for a good while.  He is wise beyond his years, and dope beyond the average emcee spittin' nonsense.  Follow him on Twitter @DriqueLondon to catch a glimpse of what makes Drique London poised to make noise for a long time to come.  You can also go to his blog for further information and discography:  http://driquelondon.blogspot.com/.

 

Special thanks to Drique London for allowing me the opportunity to document this place and space for others to notice the talent that he is.  This interview has been a long time coming, since our original discussion took place months ago.  I hope and pray that this does a little justice for the artist that he is, and will become over the years. 

 

Peace and blessings!

 

 

 

 

  

NEW MUSIC: THE BEAUTY IN ALL (INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM)----ODDISEE

DMV Emcee/Producer extraordinaire Oddisee has just released his instrumental offering The Beauty In All via the very dope Mello Music Group imprint.  It's no secret that Oddisee is from that true school of Hip Hop production that I love and respect, and The Beauty In All brings that further to light.  Twelve cuts in all, you can feel the vibe that Oddisee was conjuring throughout the instrumental dopeness.  That dopeness is exhibited through the emotional rollercoaster that is life, with ebbs and flows, ups and downs.  This is nice joint to listen to while cruising the streets of DC, B-more, NY, Philly, ATL, Raleigh, Miami, Houston, Phoenix, LA, Oakland, or wherever you call home.



You can check out this offering, along with the accompanying mixtape Tangible Dream via Bandcamp.  Oddisee keeps bringing the heat to take us into the fall and winter months.  Enjoy!

LINKS:

https://soundcloud.com/mellomusicgroup/sets/oddisee-the-beauty-in-all
http://www.mellomusicgroup.com/pages/oddisee-1
http://www.okayplayer.com/news/oddisee-speaks-on-tangible-dreams-the-beauty-in-all-okayplayer-interview.html

MIXTAPE: A TRIBE CALLED KAST---THE LYRICS OF OUTKAST OVER BEATS BY A TRIBE CALLED QUEST

Nappy DJ Needles has blessed us with the ultimate mash-up with A Tribe Called Kast---The Lyrics Of Outkast Over Beats By A Tribe Called Quest.  Two of the most revered and beloved groups in Hip-Hop get the non-silent treatment, blending the dual entities into a seamless musical and lyrical gumbo.  Since I have the utmost respect for both Tribe and 'Kast, a mixtape of this caliber would have to bring the Hip-Hop noise, and it does.

MIXTAPE STREAM:  http://streaming.djdownloadz.com/stream-mixtape-new.php?mixtape=djneedles_atribecalledkast

You can download this dopeness from the DJ also known as Nodzilla at the following: 
http://www.djdownloadz.com/dj-needles-a-tribe-called-kast-mixtape. 

At a running time of 38:28 this 12-cut joint rocks from beginning to end.  Nappy DJ Needles is an entity to look out for the rest of '13 and beyond.  I love spreading the word about talented entities within Hip-Hop culture, and Nappy DJ Needles definitely fits the mold.  Follow him on Twitter:  @nappydjneedles. 

PEACE WISDOM SEEKERS!

VIDEO: "NOSETALGIA"----PUSHA-T FEAT. KENDRICK LAMAR

 

 

 

October 8th is the unveiling for the Pusha-T solo debut My Name Is My Name.  From the internet buzz and word on the street activity, we have the makings of a very combustible album.  Couple that with Mr. West almost having an aneurysm during the album release party, and one-half of The Clipse is slated to move into that stratosphere of Hip-Hop stardom (not saying that he isn't already a dope artist).  Joining forces with all-world lyrical wonderkind Kendrick Lamar to film the visuals for "Nosetalgia" in Compton, Pusha-T is letting the world know that he is ready, willing, and able to carry a portion of that proverbial Hip-Hop torch.

I'm looking forward to this album dropping next week.  An album review will be forthcoming.  I think that King Push has the ingredients in place to rival works from his group offerings.  We shall see!  In the meantime, check out the inner workings of King Push via his Tumblr:  http://kingpusha.tumblr.com/.

Special thanks to NPR Music and Okayplayer for showing that Pusha-T love and sharing this joint with the world.

BEAT MAKING LAB---TRUE BEATS, RHYMES AND LIFE

Beat Making Lab is a project very near and dear to my B-more to NC heart.  Entrenched in this thing we call Hip Hop from its earliest beginnings, I've witnessed the negative connotations associated with the culture.  It is a rare moment when Hip Hop is shown in a positive, uplifting light.  I have always felt that this artistic movement can be useful as a teaching tool, not only on a local level, but from a global standpoint.  Beat Making Lab is just that, the creative brainchild of Pierce Freelon and The Apple Juice Kid.  Starting as a course at UNC Chapel Hill (go Tar Heels), it has now taken on a new life through PBS (go Sesame Street).  Through this partnership, Beat Making Lab is reaching the masses, exposing the creative and artistic powers of Hip Hop.  It's a simple concept that is reaping benefits:  supply the tools for youth to express and create through beats and rhymes. 

I can go on and on, but I think the proper thing to do is to show the first two episodes of a five-episode where Freelon and The Apple Juice Kid travel to the Fiji archipelago in Melanesia.  PBS and Okayplayer are just some of the viewing venues that are sharing this with the world.  Add WISDOM SEEKER to that list.  Peace to my NC brethren Pierce Freelon and The Apple Juice Kid for sharing their efforts and time to expand Hip Hop on a global level.

Heartbeats In Fiji (Episode 1)

 

Trapped In Paradise (Episode 2)

 

 

 



SOURCES:

http://www.beatmakinglab.com/
http://www.okayplayer.com
http://piercefreelon.com/

PETE ROCK AND CAMP LO----80 BLOCKS FROM TIFFANY'S PART 2

Pete Rock and Camp Lo have teamed up again to bring us 80 Blocks From Tiffany's Part 2, the follow-up to the dope first installment.  Twenty-six prime cuts that read more full-length album than mixtape, Geechi Suede and Sonny Cheeba bring that vintage Lo flow to the ears of avid listeners.  With one of the very best to ever touch a MPC bringing sonic heat for the '13 summer, you have the makings of a dope collabo.

 

Since the debut of the critically-acclaimed Uptown Saturday Night, Camp Lo has been releasing dope, not of the norm hip hop, while Pete Rock has his place cemented in the hallowed, graffiti-sprayed walls of our culture.  So it came as no surprise that these titans linked for 80 Blocks From Tiffany's, and this current joint is a continuation on a common theme with the releases.  Follow along, as Suede, Cheeba, Rock, and cast of diverse characters (Mac Miller, M.O.P., Ab-Soul, Talib Kweli, Uncle Murda, Tyler Woods) take you on a neo-blackploitation journey.  Make certain to download and enjoy this next installment in the evolution of Camp Lo and Pete Rock:  http://www.datpiff.com/Pete-Rock-80-Blocks-From-Tiffanys-Pt-2-mixtape.512846.html

Follow Camp Lo and Pete Rock via Twitter:
@PeteRock
@OfficialCampLo
@Camplo

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NEW VIDEO: "GET AWAY (FEATURING THE SPIRIT OF THE WU)"----DE LA SOUL

Like the Rubik's Cube represented in the new video for "Get Away (Featuring The Spirit Of The Wu)", De La Soul continues to amaze and confound on so many levels.  You may want to cheat and take the stickers off in order to align the colors, but what fun is that?  Listening to De La Soul is like attempting to solve the cubic puzzle, it takes multiple tries before grasping the concept at hand.  I've loved De La since the beginning, mainly because they represented the avante garde side of Hip Hop.  Complex.  Different.  Etheral.  Dope.  Most would consider what De La has brought to the table as over most people's heads.  I would certainly agree.  With this new joint, you get Pos and Dave trading cryptic lyrics over the Wu-Tang Clan intro for Disc 2 from Wu-Tang Forever (which in turn was sampled from the 1982 flick Duel To The with music by Michael Lai).  Their new album should be available for dissection and consumption later this fall.



OFFICIAL VIDEO: "HEARTLESS"-------P.O.E.T.

OVER 100K VIEWS AND COUNTING ON VEVO IS A GOOD SIGN FOR P.O.E.T., THE B-MORE EMCEE THAT IS MAKING MOVES ON THE HIP HOP SCENE.  HIS PERPETUAL GRIND IS REAPING BENEFITS, AS SEEN WITH HIS NEWEST VIDEO "HEARTLESS".  FILMED BY DOPE VIDEOGRAPHER ABENI NAZEER, YOU GET A GLIMPSE INTO THE TALENT AND MIND OF P.O.E.T.  "HEARTLESS" IS AN AGELESS TALE TOLD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A 20-SOMETHING HIP HOP HEAD THAT MANY OF US CAN RELATE TO, SO PEEP THE VISUALS BELOW.  YOU CAN FOLLOW THE ARTIST ON TWITTER:  @IAMPOET87.



OFFICIAL VIDEO: "GUN FEVER"------HIEROGLYPHICS

ONE OF THE MOST SLEPT-ON ENTITIES IN THE HIP HOP REALM HAS DROPPED A VERY RELEVANT AND POIGNANT VIDEO FOR THEIR SINGLE "GUN FEVER".  WITH ALL THIS TALK ABOUT GUN CONTROL AND SAFETY, THE OAKLAND-BASED HIEROGLYPHICS CREW (CONSISTING OF CASUAL, SOULS OF MISCHIEF, DEL, PEP LOVE, DOMINO, DJ TOURE) ARE BRINGING THEIR VINTAGE FLOWS TO A 2013 AUDIENCE.

DON'T BE FOOLED INTO THINKING THAT THIS IS A HIERO COMEBACK.  IF ANYTHING, IT IS MORE LIKE THE NON-LISTENERS ARE GETTING A GLIMPSE INTO WHAT THIS DYNAMIC CREW HAS BEEN DOING FOR MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS.  SUPPORT THE REAL, AND SUPPORT HIERO IMPERIUM.  A FULL-LENGTH ARTICLE/INTERVIEW IS IN THE WORKS, SO STAY TUNED WISDOM SEEKERS!  UNTIL THEN, PEEP THE DOPE VIDEO BELOW.

VIDEO: CRATE DIGGERS---J DILLA RECORD COLLECTION EDITION

CRATE DIGGERS HAS BEEN A DOPE SPOTLIGHT ON THE ART OF DIGGIN' FOR JOINTS AND HIGHLIGHTING VINYL COLLECTIONS FOR HIP HOP AFICIONADOS AS VARIED AS DJ JAZZY JEFF, RHETTMATIC, PETE ROCK, ADRIAN YOUNGE AND OTHERS.  THIS EDITION IS VERY SPECIAL---JAMES DEWITT YANCEY.  IT HAS BEEN SEVEN YEARS SINCE THE PASSING OF THE MOST REVERED PRODUCER WITHIN THE HIP HOP PANTHEON.  WATCHING THIS DOPE, YET EMOTIONAL, EPISODE BRINGS UP IMAGES OF J DILLA LIVING, BREATHING, EMBODYING HIP HOP TO THE FULLEST.  EVEN IN DEATH, HIS INFLUENCE HAS LIVED ON, AS SEEN WITH J ROCC, DJ SPINNA, HOUSE SHOES, AMP FIDDLER, FRANK NITT, TALIB KWELI, HIS BROTHER ILLA J, AND HIS VERY STRONG MOTHER MAUREEN "MA DUKES" YANCEY DISCUSSING HIS LOVE AND PASSION FOR MUSIC. 

WTF: AN OKAYMENTARY

I AM A PROUD CHARTER MEMBER OF OKAYPLAYER, A SOCIETY OF SOUL/HIP-HOP INTELLECTUALS THAT SHARE A COMMON BOND FOR ALL THINGS CENTERED AROUND THE LEGENDARY ROOTS CREW.  FOUNDED BY ANGELA NISSEL AND AHMIR "QUESTLOVE" THOMPSON AS A MEET-AND -GREET FAN SITE (OF SORTS), IT HAS EXPANDED AND GROWN INTO A MOVEMENT AND DE FACTO WAY OF LIFE, SO TO SPEAK, FOR OKAYPLAYERS AROUND THE GLOBE.  RELATIONSHIPS HAVE BEEN FORMED, MUSIC HAS BEEN CREATED, AND LIFELONG KINSHIP HAS BEEN DEVELOPED ALONG THE WAY FOR AN ECLECTIC GROUP OF CHARACTERS TO SAY THE LEAST.  NO ONE IS SAFE FROM SNARK WHEN DEALING WITH OKP (ASK LUPE OR TALIB KWELI), BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE FAMILY, SISTER SLEDGE STYLE.  FOR A PEEK INTO WHAT OKAYPLAYER MEANS, CHECK OUT THIS DOCUMENTARY TRAILER FOR WTF:  AN OKAYMENTARY.

PURCHASE THE DOCUMENTARY AT THE FOLLOWING LINK:  https://chill.com/numerouscats/wtf-an-okaymentary

SAMPLE SUNDAY----THE STATE OF HIP HOP EDITION

BEFORE I GOT MY TIME WARNER, ALL-SEEING EYE ON, I HAD THIS REVELATION, EPIPHANY, INSIGHT INTO THE STATE OF HIP HOP.  WHAT ALWAYS GROUNDS ME IS REVISITING THE TENETS OF THE CULTURE, NOT FORGETTING WHERE IS CAME FROM, IN ORDER TO SEE WHERE IT SHOULD BE HEADED.  EARLIER, I WAS WATCHING INTENTLY THIS "SAMPLING SOUL" DISCUSSION VIDEO BY 9TH WONDER, JAMES PETERSON, AND MARK ANTHONY NEAL.  DISSECTING ILLMATIC, THE MASTERPIECE CREATION BY NAS DURING A BYGONE ERA WHEN LESS WAS MORE, IS A LESSON IN MINIMILIST INGENUITY.  IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS STILL CONSIDERED THE BEST HIP HOP CREATION EVER.  I CAN VIVIDLY REMEMBER THE LANDSCAPE OF OUR HIP HOP CULTURE DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE 20TH CENTURY, WHEN TIMBERLANDS AND BAGGY JEANS WERE THE NORM.  BOOM BAP RULED IN MY EARS, WITH CATS SUCH AS PETE ROCK, Q-TIP, LARGE PROFESSOR, L.E.S., AND DJ PREMIERE BRINGING HEAT THAT HAS BEEN UNSURPASSED, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION.  I CAN GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE APEX THAT ILLMATIC REACHED, BUT SINCE THIS IS MY FIRST SAMPLE SUNDAY EDITION IN A VERY LONG TIME, I WON'T GO ON AND ON ABOUT ITS CULTURAL IMPACT.  WHAT I WILL DO, HOWEVER, IS DISCUSS THE FIRST PROPER TRACK FROM ILLMATIC.  I SAY PROPER, BECAUSE "GENESIS" IS MORE OF AN INTRODUCTORY JOINT, BRINGING THE LISTENER INTO THE AHEAD OF HIS TIME WORLD OF NAS.  "N.Y. STATE OF MIND" SET THE TRUE STAGE FOR THE ALBUM THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED FOR MANY MOONS. 

LISTENING TO THE WAY THIS SONG WAS CONSTRUCTED CONJURES IMAGES OF A GRIMY STUDIO SESSION BETWEEN PREMIERE AND NAS.  THEIR MUSICAL MARRIAGE CAN NEVER BE BROKEN, BECAUSE THIS SONG IS PROBABLY THE PINNACLE POINT IN BOTH CAREERS FROM A PURE STANCE.  YOU CAN FEEL THE WAY PREMO MATCHED BEATS WITH NAS' LYRICAL FIRE. 


"N.Y. STATE OF MIND" STARTS WITH A DONALD BYRD SAMPLE, "FLIGHT TIME", TAKEN FROM THE 1973 RELEASE BLACK BYRD.  REST IN PEACE TO THE GREAT BYRD, WHO PASSED AWAY A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH AGO ON FEBRUARY 4, 2013.  THOSE GUITAR NOTES ON "FLIGHT TIME" GIVES A FEELING OF GLOOM BEFORE THE REST OF THE PREMO TRACK TAKES HOLD, SETTING THE STAGE FOR ONE OF THE GREATEST HIP HOP JOINTS.

THE JOINT THAT REALLY LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR NAS TO EXPOUND LYRICALLY ON WHAT NEW YORK CITY, SPECIFICALLY QUEENSBRIDGE PROJECTS, MEANT TO HIM WAS THE JOE CHAMBERS "MIND RAIN".  CHAMBERS IS ANOTHER DYNAMIC, YET SLEPT ON JAZZ MUSICIAN WHO HAS A DEEP CATALOG OF MUSIC, BOTH AS LEADER AND SESSION PLAYER.  "MIND RAIN" WAS A VERY DARK, GLOOMY, YET JAZZY TRACK FROM THE 1978 RELEASE DOUBLE EXPOSURE.

WHAT DJ PREMIERE DID WITH THIS INCREDIBLE JOINT WAS MATCHED IN TENOR AND TONE BY WHAT NAS SPIT OVER A SPAN OF MORE THAN FOUR MINUTES.  YOU ARE TRANSPORTED TO QUEENSBRIDGE, WITH THE SCENT OF WEED, LIQUOR, AND DESPAIR SURROUNDING ALL WITHIN THAT MENTAL TRIP.  HOWEVER, "N.Y. STATE OF MIND" DIDN'T WALLOW IN THE MUCK, SO TO SPEAK, BECAUSE YOU COULD SENSE THAT NAS WAS A YOUTHFUL VISIONARY WHO WANTED MORE THAN A LIFE OF "SMOKIN' BLUNTS AND HITTIN' STUNTS".  THE STAGE WAS SET FOR ILLMATIC TO BE A CULT CLASSIC, A CLASSIC THAT COULD BE DISCUSSED IN THE CONTEXT OF A DUKE UNIVERSITY SETTING.  NO OTHER JOINT COULD PROPEL A HIP HOP ARTIST TO SUCH MYTHICAL HEIGHTS.  LOOKING BACK AT THAT TIME PERIOD WHEN ILLMATIC REIGNED SUPREME GIVES A CHARACTER SUCH AS MYSELF THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHERE THE POTENTIAL IS IN THIS 21ST CENTURY SOUNDSCAPE.  I SALUTE NAS AND DJ PREMIERE FOR CREATING A MASTERPIECE, ALONG WITH THE OTHER SELECT FEW CAST OF CHARACTERS THAT BROUGHT ILLMATIC TO LIFE.