BEAT THIS! A HIP-HOP HISTORY [DOCUMENTARY]

I am a documentarian and historian by nature I guess.  I am always attracted to the informative nature of Hip Hop culture, so it should come as no surprise that this gem strikes my fancy.  Beat This!  A Hip-Hop History is an early venture into documenting the culture, in a similar vein as Wild Style.  Focusing on legendary icons such as Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Jazzy Jay, The Cold Crush Brothers, and others, Beat This!  A Hip-Hop History should be added to your hopefully growing catalog of Hip Hop-themed TRUE pieces of film.  There are quite a few that doesn't dilute the cultural significance of each element that comprises the Hip Hop sphere.  At 54:14, this slice of history should be watched and revered, showcasing where Hip Hop originated, and how no entity can claim to predict its impact on so many facets of existence worldwide. 

[NEW MUSIC] BLU --- SOUL AMAZING (PART FIVE --- THE ALCHEMIST EDITION)

Blu (@HerFavColor) has surprised us with another dope offering, this time utilizing excellent production from the Alchemist (as well as Bombay).  This installment in the soul amazing series has a definitive jazzy mode, perfectly constructed for Blu to wax poetic.  I love how Blu is bucking the proverbial system and making music on his own terms.  It seems that Cali-based artists are taking the baton and making independence a priority when it comes to music.  I am NOT mad at Blu for promoting his creativity via Bandcamp for a $40 price tag. When the art is good and coming from the heart, don't sell yourself short.  Definitely a mantra to live by in 2015.  Enjoy the eleven choice cuts featuring various emcees such as Planet Asia, Chuck Inglish, Rakaa, Action Bronson, Evidence, Roc Mariano, Quelle Chris and others.  Another feather in the cap of the budding and colorful lyricist.

  https://thenewcolorblu.bandcamp.com/album/soul-amazing-part-five-the-alchemist-edition

FASHAWN --- THE ECOLOGY [DOCUMENTARY]

Fresno rhyme spitter Fashawn (@fashawn) has been making waves with his Left Coast sensibilities and unique storytelling abilities.  As an artist on the Nas-helmed Mass Appeal Records, Fashawn is showing the now school with Golden Era influences throughout his musical palette.  You get the sense through his lyrics that this young man has witnessed much in his twenty-plus years on planet Earth.  Viewing The Ecology documentary will only strengthen that notion.  With appearances from family and friends (most notably his mother), you see what has influenced Fashawn to be the artist and man that he is becoming right before our very eyes.  Support the young lion by purchasing his newest musical release The Ecology.

 

 

 

[VIDEO] LIVE FROM THE STREETS (EPISODE 6) --- "PLAY THE BACK" FEAT.WORLD'S FAIR AND PITCHBLAK BRASS BAND

Episode 6 of Live From The Streets with Mr. Green (@GreenHipHop) features him interacting on a creative level with PitchBlak Brass Band (@PitchBlakBrass), a 10-piece Brooklyn, NY collective that bridges the gap for Hip Hop with live instrumentation and boom bap sensibilities.  Of course the police had to interfere with this process along the way, but not before Mr. Green was able to gather enough sonic material to create the soundscape for World's Fair (@THEWORLDSFAIR) to spit some potent bars for listeners to grasp.  Enlisting the brief vocal stylings of Singing Dragon, Green is able to build a dope joint showing the creativity and expansive nature of this music we call Hip Hop.  Peep other episodes of Live From The Streets at the following:  http://noisey.vice.com/live-from-the-streets/.

[VIDEO] LIVE FROM THE STREETS (EPISODE 3) --- "THE BLASTMASTER" FEAT. KRS-ONE, HAKIM GREEN & MARIO LEVIS

Mr. Green (@greenhiphop) is at it again with this installment of his very dope Live From The Streets series sponsored by Noisey.  I've peeped a few of these and have been inspired by Mr. Green utilizing sounds and samples taken from urban and street scenes during his travels.  This episode has special significance, as Mr. Green gets the opportunity to chop it up AND make a dope joint with the legendary Blastmaster himself, KRS-One (@IAmKRSOne), along with Channel Live representative Hakim Green (@HakimGreen).  Taking the sampling cues from international street performer Mario Levis, Mr. Green proceeds to construct the track from scratch (no pun intended).  Once you get the chance to check this out, go visit the site for all of the gems in this ingenious series that should get more shine.  Thanks for providing some much needed inspiration within this thing we call Hip Hop!

 

 

http://noisey.vice.com/live-from-the-streets

DJ JAZZY JEFF (LIVE FROM JOHNNY BRENDA'S)---DOING IT FOR DILLA! [LIVE TRIBUTE]

The greatest representing for the greatest!  DJ Jazzy Jeff (@djjazzyjeff215) spun an incredible set at Johnny Brenda's in Philly to celebrate the life and legacy of James DeWitt Yancey, better known to the Hip Hop world as J Dilla (or Dilla or any number of nom de plumes).  Hosted by Dayne Jordan (@THEREALDOSAGE), you get a nice collection of vintage, as well as obscure, Dilla joints, with Jazzy Jeff delivering it in his classic cut and paste style.  Dilla was a true artisan and genius, and his legacy will live on through his countless tracks.  I appreciate that Mr. Vinyl Destination took the time to show his love and support, as witnessed by the crowd that experienced that magical moment in time at Johnny Brenda's.  Download and keep this in constant play!