HEAT ROCKS: EPISODE 6 --- ILL CAMILLE ON COMMON'S LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE (2000)

I'm definitely a huge fan of the podcast Heat Rocks with Oliver Wang and Morgan Rhodes.  Both hosts are dynamic in their individuality and perspectives on music.  Of course Episode 6 strikes a chord because it speaks on one of my personal favorites, Like Water For Chocolate (2000).  Common put himself fully on the Hip Hop map with this Soulquarians gem.  If you're not familiar with The Soulquarians collective, it was comprised of Questlove, James Poyser, D'Angelo, Q-Tip, Erykah Badu, Bilal, Common, Mos Def (now known as Yasiin Bey), Talib Kweli, Roy Hargrove, Pino Palladino and the incomparable J Dilla (Rest In Beats).  I gravitated towards that sound and sonic artistry because it came from a place I could fully identify with when it came to Neo-Soul and Progressive Hip Hop.  Years later I'm still immersed in that movement, even as others have moved on to the trappings of Trap/EDM/Mumble Rap or any other categorization I may not be a part of at this point in life.  Without expounding too much on my own fascination with Common and his music, I will allow Ill Camille, another dynamic emcee to break down the seminal project.  Ill Camille is an LA artist that is part of a very progressive movement on the Left Coast (somewhat similar in nature to what we heard from the Soulquarians camp in the late 90's-early 2000's).  Her most recent project entitled Heirloom garnered praise and attention as a stylized piece of Hip Hop artistry.  Make certain to check out Heirloom and her discography via her website:  http://www.illcamille.com/.  Enjoy the podcast and tune in to other Heat Rocks episodes to get some very insightful conversations.

LINK:  http://www.maximumfun.org/heat-rocks/heat-rocks-ep-5-ill-camille-commons-like-water-chocolate-2000

[VIDEO] RAPSODY --- "POWER"

Congratulations for NC lyricist Rapsody (one of my favorite artists in any genre) on her Grammy nominations for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song.  Laila's Wisdom is a gem, replete with top-notch lyricism and laser-sharp production.  "Power" (featuring Kendrick Lamar and Lance Skiiiwalker) is a riveting video that shows the gradual growth and determination of Rapsody.  She is one of the few artists that I can genuinely say has paid her dues, and those dues are paying grand dividends.  After peeping the powerful visuals for "Power" (pun intended), support and cop this extremely dope project.

#JamlaIsTheSquad
#WelcomeToJamRoc

iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lailas-wisdom/id1276699895

Website:  http://www.iamrapsody.com/

Twitter:  @rapsody

[NEW VIDEO] DE LA SOUL --- "ROYALTY CAPES"

Strong Island trio De La Soul once again are showing and proving that there is no expiration date on dope Hip Hop.  Dave, Maseo and Posdnous dropped the Grammy-nominated gem and the Anonymous Nobody August 2016, and more than a year later we are still reveling in the extended shelf life of that Kickstarter-funded project.  The newest video is for "Royalty Capes" (featuring Gina Loring) and it starts off with an honest and surreal look into the medical condition that Dave is dealing with on the daily (congestive heart failure).  With the passing of his Native Tongues brethren Phife, it brings into full focus that Golden Era emcees are facing their own existence and mortality as they embrace middle age.  I'm definitely a part of that reality, and it is refreshing that De La STILL is a beacon of light in Hip Hop.  Continue supporting the culture and cop and the Anonymous Nobody.

Website:  http://www.wearedelasoul.com/
Twitter:  @WeAreDeLaSoul  @DeLaSoulsDugout  @PlugWonDeLaSoul