New York, NY (November 19, 2008) - These types of conversations might be considered once in a lifetime, at least for a fan like myself.
Clark reaches into the Godfather bag for a minute in Part 3 and gets to discussing the performance skills of folks like Talib Kweli and Kardinal Offishall, revealing who the greatest West Coast rappers and emcees are and why any rapper would be kidding themselves if they thought they made a better album than Slick Rick. He also co-signs a dude you might be familiar with right now… the homie Curt@!n$.
Part 4 is all about emceeing and who does it best. Superman fleshes out his rationale behind tabbing Jay-Z as the No. 1 emcee and Biggie as the No. 1 rapper, the difference between emceeing and rapping, where Eminem and Andre 3000 fit in, and why everyone nowadays thinks they can rap.
New York, NY (November 20, 2008) - Courtesy of Shake & Meka. I was supposed to be at this event, but Pop was in town and we grabbed some dinner over at Frankie & Johnny’s. For all you steak lovers, that is the spot. La familia > all, anyways. It’s an Italian thing. Expect to see some more Jon Hope on the site though, dude is grindin. Be watchin for that Sha Stimuli blog today, too.
Download the Obama mix of “Destined To Shine” here and Statik Selektah’s “Stick To The Script” album version here.
New York, NY (November 18, 2008) - Dante Ross again comin through with the footage. Here in Part 1, we got three tracks from Devin, live from his show at Highline Ballroom (would he perform anywhere else?) in NY last night. Check out “Blow Some Weed,” “Lacville 79,” and “She Wants That Money.” Score.
New York, NY (November 18, 2008) - Aww sheit! Blu is without a doubt one of my favorite emerging emcees. The pimp limp on the track is crazy, I’m breakin my leg listening! Track by Mainframe is hallucinogenic and the visuals are slick, I’m with the whole kind-of-blurry-limited-view stee; gives you that squinty-eye-I’m-tired-not-wasted-back-off façade I’m sure everyone can relate to. You-know-what-I-mean? Raise up.
New York, NY (November 18, 2008) - Courtesy of OnSmash. Normally I don’t like posting just one track, but this has too much dopeness on it to keep it shelved. Alchemist’s new EP “The Cookbook” hits iTunes today. Download “Therapy” here. Go cop.
New York, NY (November 17, 2008) - In response to the recent complaints about voting and questions into the methodology behind the way SRC and Loud.com chooses it’s finalists, VP of SRC Dante Ross takes a few minutes to clear things up. Hopefully, this will put an end to the chatter and can be understood as a message that myself, Loud.com and all the SRC staff in a position to see this contest succeed are committed to keeping an open dialog with our users and community about all concerns and questions.
Thanks again for riding with Loud.com. We always appreciate our members regardless of what their opinions of us are, and I say it all the time: at the end of the day, this site exists as a service for all unsigned, independent artists to develop a community of believers in their music and art. Handle yourself accordingly and good things will happen. Peace.
New York, NY (November 17, 2008) - DJ Clark Kent is a legend in the game. He put on Jay-Z, was one of Biggie’s best friends and has cultivated a respected niche in the industry as a tastemaker and astute businessman. He stopped through SRC not too long ago and chopped it up for a good hour. Much respect to Clark for taking that kind of time to build with us.
In Part 1 of a five-part series, Clark addresses the way the game has changed because of the web, the Internet buzz around artists like Charles Hamilton, how Joe Budden might be one of the best lyricists ever and why a guy that gets “super-busy” like Lupe Fiasco can still sell records.
New York, NY (November 17, 2008) - VP of SRC Records Dante Ross was out and about at the Woodies and he snuck a camera into the spot to capture this set with Asher Roth performing a snippet of “I Love College” and The Cool Kids spitting bars from “Delivery Man.” Peep the stage dive.
New York, NY (November 17, 2008) - The homie TJ definitely understands the meaning of the 11th hour, aha, diggin that grind stee dukes!! This one hit the inbox two minutes before midnight, and what a welcome surprise it was this AM. Nice mix of new and oldish Bobby Ray, courtesy of DJ Scream and their various affiliates. Download “Who The F#@K Is B.o.B (Mixtape)” here.
New York, NY (November 16, 2008) - Courtesy of the homie Kevin Nottingham. He and his crack team of diggers went in to find the samples for the classic Pharcyde record. Still one of the records that remind me why I love hip-hop. Here’s a few:
New York, NY (November 14, 2008) - In anticipation of his new record, “808’s & Heartbreak,” it seems there’s been a deluge of Kanye West appearances in the media, both positive and negative. Maybe the deluge is always running and it’s only now more apparent because he’s got an album coming out, but either way, if you’re a fan or a hater, there were a few articles floating around this week that should satiate your appetite for the biggest ego on Earth. Maybe I’m alone here, but I’ve pretty much OD’d.
In this article, Kanye calls himself the voice of a generation, something akin to Michael Jordan. Maybe. But here’s my question: Can you really be the voice of a generation just because YOU say you are? I know he’s not my voice, and in all likelihood, he’s not your voice, either. And I can speak confidently that there are many other more important voices that people have gravitated to since “Blueprint” put him on the map, and even more, in my lifetime.
Maybe I’m not sure what “Voice of This Generation” is supposed to mean? Did the Beatles actively call themselves that? Or did they wait until a writer or commentator did it for them before acknowledging it? I have no shrine built to Kanye West in my apartment; and I don’t look to his music to guide me through the down times or lift me higher during the good ones. In fact, he’s probably the last person I’d go to for that. I dunno, when someone SUGGESTS to me that they are the voice of my generation… I’d probably have to tell them to shut the fuck up.
Fader: great magazine; stylish; cool stories; ahead of the curve. A great rag to even be associated with. So… what’s the problem? I don’t know. It’s a picture dude posed for. I’ve seen a lot worse from Ye and many other celebs. Shit, if this is bad, I’ve taken atrociously awful photos then. When was the last time anyone, celeb or scrub, took a nostril shot that came out good, though? I mean, c’mon; I get it. But… really?
From everything I’ve heard from people that have worked on Ye’s concerts, if homie doesn’t like something, he’s not afraid to let you know right then and there. And I can’t imagine that a person with that sort of personality, coupled with his star power, would even take this sort of picture if he or she didn’t approve of it first; and if he or she DID agree to take it, they would at least demand to see the results before they were broadcast to the entire world. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but there are some artists who would kill for that type of exposure. I can think of a few on this particular site.
Having to endure the loss of his mother, I understand where these comments come from. It’s a hardship that can shape the rest of your life, having a loved one taken so suddenly. And let’s face it: everyone is looking for love, at least at some point in their lives. Some people are lucky to find it; some never will. If they do stumble upon it, though, a good number of fairly intelligent folks have blindly pushed it aside for material or personal pursuits when the demands became too great. Others keep it close, but are keen on abusing it more than embracing it.
Whatever you do with love, though, it’s a tough thing to find at all, and when it is finally found, realizing the impact it can have on your life takes awhile. Which is why a lot of people remain unhappy; even when they’re IN love. Your chances of meeting the person you’re going to be with are highest when it’s through someone that you trust. It’s not likely she’s going to be in gold paint, though. Again… just sayin.
I’m not trying to hate on the dude, but I’ve seen him be whisked out of the Knitting Factory in NYC without so much as being touched. In a hallway about 3 feet wide. Into a waiting car that had the engine running and about 300 screaming kids around it, all with picture phones, video cameras and dirty hands. In about 60 seconds flat. The physics were actually pretty astonishing. Which leads me to my question: how can he escape unscathed from a place like that, yet, at a posh nightclub with security and a spacious exit surrounding him, manage to mush a photog’s camera, who was likely behind a velvet rope, that is solely there to give him more publicity? Smh.
Epilogue:
Look, I’m not trying to bash the dude. He’s achieved a lot in a short time. And he’s worked hard for it, without a doubt. And I won’t lie, I’ve danced to his songs; there’s been many times where the words have been stuck in my head. “Gold Digger” is a great party song and “Stronger” is a work of genius. I got chills the first time I heard “Through The Wire.” And it’s human nature that EVERYONE will make mistakes or be hypocrites or say things in the heat of the moment that have other people perceiving them a different way than is intended. It happens to me daily. And probably to everyone reading this. That’s really the best thing about Kanye: he is unabashedly exposed at all times (pause) and doesn’t seem to mind.
However, it’s when those moments are overshadowed by a non-stop ego-trip, set inside the life he lives, peppered with an attitude like the world owes him something… I have to draw the line. I can’t get down with people like that on a personal level, regardless of inner-demons or circumstances I may not fully understand or the dopeness of the instrumentals they make. It just doesn’t process. Sort of like when he says we’re not allowed to feel sorry for him because he did a Louis Vuitton ad, right? Ok, but… what if I could give a fuck about a Louis Vuitton ad in the first place? What then?
I dunno, I guess you can just call me the silent scream of the minority. In the background, doing my best not to pay attention to the noise. Hoping things will eventually fade to black, but still loving the culture despite the bright lights. At least until cardiac arrest takes over.
New York, NY (November 16, 2008) - Over at Knitting Factory. Great line-up including the homies Majesty, Hasaan Salaam, hosted by Sucio Smash. Get your drink on. Possibly your smoke on. The rest I leave up to you.
New York, NY (November 16, 2008) - Spotted at 2dopeboyz last week:
…In anticipation of their upcoming album, The Takeover, the City of (2)Dope duo Zion I unleash a brand new mixtape! Featuring remixes, verses and interpretations of/by the likes of Santogold, Public Enemy, Talib Kweli, Mickey Factz and more. In classic cassette fashion the tape comes in 2 sides. The A-side has Zumbi and Amplive putting their spin on hip hop classics while the B-side reaches more towards the indie rock & electro territory. Again, The Takeover hits stores on January 27th!
Side A
1. Alien MC’s
2. The Rebel
3. Paper Thick f. Rakaa Iriscience & Richie Cunning
4. Til Tha Breakadawn f. Codany Holiday
5. Rawww f. Mr. Davin, Deuce Eclipse, and Bambu
6. Gotsta Chill (Temperature Remix) f. Talib Kweli
7. All Tha Jazz Interlude (prod. Headnodic / horns by Adam Theis)
8. Push the Button (prod. Sean Christian)
9. The Choice Jump Off
Side B
1. Juicy Juice
2. How Does It Feel f. KFlay & Del the Funky Homosapien
3. Mama Told Me (prod. Beat Camp)
4. MGMT vs MGMT f. Mickey Factz
5. The D Interlude
6. Santogold One (rmx) f. The Grouch
7. Weird Fishez f. Young Deuce
8. Fight for the Right (Muse Remix)
New York, NY (November 16, 2008) – Aha this is dope. Friends put me onto GCH years ago and I would get a mild case of hip-hop neck whenever their shit would come on, but that pop bullshit they started spewing out turned me off. Hopefully they go back to what made them different in the first place, cuz they go in here. Having Estelle on-hand definitely helps. The flick reminds me a little bit of “Sabatoge.”
New York, NY (November 16, 2008) – Having landed a fulltime gig as Jimmy Fallon’s band when duke takes over for the god Conan O’Brien in March of 2009, the almighty Roots crew will take an extended break from their exhaustive touring schedule, effective immediately. However, ?uestlove explains to OkayPlayer that it’s not as bad as it sounds.
New York, NY (November 14, 2008) – Ahh, the Shiny Suit era. In tribute to the very first CD single I ever bought, here’s a little Ma$e and Puff Daddy for that ass. Aha.
New York, NY (November 13, 2008) - DJ Definit put together a nice lil project that should give you another reason to add to your Tribe collection. Download “A Lounge Called Quest (Mixtape)” here.
New York, NY (November 14, 2008) – Get you a backstage pass into a Lupe show. The rockband steez is ill, fits his personality more than I would have imagined. Having seen this, I’d say Mickey Factz’s stage show is very similar, minus the band.
Nothing really of note is said lyrically, but I’ve seen Fiasco several times and each time he gets better. Props.
New York, NY (November 14, 2008) – A crazy 13-minute cipher with a few other surprise guests mixed in. Props to DJ Semtex for liberating this, Nahright on the look.
New York, NY (November 13, 2008) – The XXL coverboy stopped through Universal here in NYC to play some beats for SRC Head of A&R Dante Ross and we had a chance to chop it up afterwards. He gets into a RIDICULOUS verse talking about his path of growing up, and in our interview, talks more about that. The topics: meditation, doing what he’s afraid to do, thinking he was the shit when he got signed and why he keeps a compass on his left hand.
