February 3, 2012

Bisco Smith X Peter Jay (Jackson P) - Corner Store Elixir



Even though he sorta abandoned us by heading west to continue his life's journey, we don't hold it against him. We have much love for Bisc. If you don't know'em you should. A very talented artist when it comes to both sound and visual work. His catalog continues grow as does his being. You can always rely on the one they call Bisco Smith to deliver passionate music that he believes in. After listening, you should too.

February 2, 2012

AtLas' (@Polaryss) - Side Show



When was the last time you attended a circus? According to AtLas' the rap game entertains quite a "Side Show" as she affirms this emphatically on her latest release. Tell us what you think about, the song, the state of rap music and you fondest memory under the big top. You're not afraid of clowns are you?

Follow AtLas' on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Polaryss

Where's SOPA and PIPA when yah need'em? K'Naan Angry With Mitt Romney's Use Of 'Waving Flag'


By Katie Byrne If you've ever listened closely to K'naan's music, you'll note that the Somalia-born rapper paints pictures of the harsh reality of his upbringing in a war-torn country, so it's no wonder then that he's taken issue with Mitt Romney using his single "Waving Flag," as part of his campaign. Without permission, Romney has played the song during some events on his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination and K'Naan has now publicly condemned this.

"I have not been asked for permission by Mitt Romney's campaign for the use of my song," the Somalian/Canadian rapper said in a statement to MTV News. "If I had been asked, I would certainly not have granted it. I would happily grant the Obama campaign use of my song without prejudice."

"Waving Flag" became an international sensation back in 2010 when it was played at that year's World Cup. With assists from will.i.am and David Guetta, the soaring tune camouflages a song about poverty and oppression in a heart-stirring call to arms to let your banner fly.

This is far from the first time a politician has used a song without an artist's permission — actually, this isn't even the first incident this week. According to TMZ, Survivor filed a lawsuit Monday against Newt Gingrich for using their song "Eye of the Tiger" at his events. During the 2008 presidential election, Jackson Browne sued John McCain for his use of "Running on Empty," and John Mellencamp asked McCain to stop scoring his campaign stops with "Our Country."

After a decisive win in Florida on Tuesday, Romney will duke it out with his fellow GOP presidential hopefuls at Saturday's primaries in Maine and Nevada.

Source: MTV

January 24, 2012

Homeboy Sandman "The Miracle" Subject: Matter EP Stones Throw

This is the debut Stones Throw release for New York-based MC, Homeboy Sandman. We could tell you all about it, but we chose to let Sandman say it for himself, all over the record cover: “6 rap songs with content no one has ever rapped about before in the history of rap music. Unfortunately not a very difficult thing to do.” Click the cover below for the rest of the story. Homeboy Sandman has also just recorded a new, exclusive track celebrating the release of the record, “Subject Matter Out Now”. Produced by Audio Games - Listen here: Homeboy Sandman - Subject Matter Out Now by Stones Throw Records On the web - http://stonesthrow.com/homeboysandman On Facebook - http://facebook.com/homeboysandman On iTunes - Homeboy Sandman - Subject: Matter

January 12, 2012

TEDxGallatin - @Farbeon - Hip Hop Re:Education



Fabian "FARBEON" Saucedo epitomizes the Hip Hop Renaissance. As an artist, educator and agent of change he has graced stages, panels and classrooms globally, from the streets of Spanish Harlem to the halls of Georgetown University to the former USSR air-force hangers of Hip Hop KEMP in the Czech Republic. In addition to rocking shows with The Last Poets, Rob Swift, Fishbone, The Coup, J-Live, Wordsworth, Method Man and Camp Lo, he has co-taught classes with Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, and Fab Five Freddy. FARBEON is the co-founder of Say Word Entertainment, a collective of socially-conscious and like-minded artists, musicians, and promoters, who work to maintain and support the development of genuine hip-hop culture, community, and activism in NYC and abroad. In 2002, FARBEON worked with veteran producer Foundation (Universatile Music) to drop his debut album, "Collective Memory" which remains a classic 9 years after its release. As well, FARBEON has expanded his performance range to include the use of loop stations and effects pedals. His music has been featured in television and film. FARBEON is the Co-Founder and Director of The Hip Hop Re:Education Project, a community-based organization that develops Hip Hop educational and cultural programming in New York City, throughout the United States and abroad. He also serves as the NYC Program Director for the BronxBerlinConnection, a year-round cross cultural exchange program that uses Hip Hop to explore and express the unique experiences of urban youth around the world, the critical challenges they face and the solutions necessary to enact change in their communities. He has toured Europe 7 times in the last 3 years, including this past fall with support from the U.S. State Department. He is currently developing his own Masters Degree in Hip Hop Re:Education through the Gallatin School of Individualized Studies at New York University and plans to graduate in the Fall of 2012. You can find out more at www.farbeon.com and www.reeducate.org.

Hip Hop Re:Education is an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning that relies on an array of best practices to meet the needs of today's global learner. Remixing education to include arts-integration, digital media and youth-centered curricula, Hip Hop Re:Educators encourage youth to commit to a craft and invest in the creative process. Programs like the BronxBerlinConnnection, a year-round cross cultural exchange program that connects young people from New York City and Berlin, use this progressive educational approach to transform communities, engage marginalized and disengaged youth and improve youth motivation and achievement. Using the same beats, common lyrical themes and different languages on two separate continents the BronxBerlinConnection works to not only produce multi-lingual, cross-cultural poems, songs and albums, but more importantly it seeks to engage today's youth in a continual process of cultural exchange, raising forth critical dialogue. Thus far the BronxBerlinConnection has developed 2 full-length records, facilitated 4 international cultural exchange trips and filmed and released dozens of music videos and documentary films.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

December 28, 2011

Friend and contributor @TastyKeish needs our help.

Earlier today I created a Chipin fundraiser page for a good friend of freehiphopnow.com.
My good friend and co-host of "A Monthly Bondfire" lost a valuable tool last night. Someone walked off with her MacBook shortly after our event at BPC. 
Needless to say that it's not a good look to lose an item beyond the cost to replace it, the data contained was invaluable. She just did a two week tour of the west coast so you can imagine the amount of footage, interviews and photographs that were lost. 
TastyKeish is a self employed individual. The majority of her living income comes from the use of her personal computer; voice overs, journalism, etc...
I've set the price to $2,400 to cover the cost of the MacBook, taxes and AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook Pro. Bare in mind she is still paying for the laptop that was stolen.
All funds go directly to TastyKeish. I'm asking for help so that she may be able to replace her comp before the new year rolls in. All help is appreciated. You will be blessed for your contribution. 
http://conscious.chipin.com/get-tastykeish-back-online
          P.S. Chipin uses Paypal. 
          1. You do not have to have a Paypal account to make a contribution.
Thanks again for your support. TastyKeish most definitely is great contributor of much time and effort to help create opportunities for artists in our NYC community as well creating awareness about pressing issues that are important to us all. This year alone TastyKeish has personally funded numerous projects for artists, helped raise funds for Japan Society and Haitian relief and daily lends knowledge, motivates and entertains her online network of followers and fans. Please help me give back to her. Thank you.

December 20, 2011

A Monthly Bondfire featuring "Chaz Van Queen" December 27th



Hosted by The Bronx Über Villain & TastyKeish

Music: DJ Boosh Wheelz
Guest Performer: Chaz Vaz Queen

Door Opens at 10PM
$5 Before 10:30PM $10 After (THERE IS NO GUEST LIST)
Mic Open sign-up begins… 10PM (15 slots available. No calls, no tweets, no signing up for anyone but you…)

Follow A Monthly Bondfire at http://www.Twitter.com/morebondfire