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July 24, 2008
July 22, 2008
Wednesday, July 23rd @ 205 Club in NYC
205 Chrystie St., at Stanton St. New York, NY 10002
212-477-6688
212-477-6688
July 20, 2008
Killer Mike In Store: Tuesday July 22nd @ 7pm @ FBNY!!
Killer Mike is back with his latest release “I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind II”. Come down to Fat Beats NY on Tuesday July 22nd to meet Killer Mike in person and get your copy of “I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind II” signed. He’ll be here at 7:00pm to set it off!!!
K-Salaam & Beatnick Album Sampler -> Free Download
"Whose World Is This?" is a concept/compilation album from the minds of production duo K-Salaam & Beatnick. The Album features all new and exclusive songs from artists such as: Kardinal Offishall, Young Buck, Buju Banton, Trey Songz, Sizzla, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, & more... All songs fit around the central theme of the album, and all songs were produced by Beatnick & K-Salaam. Besides just producing the Album, K-Salaam & Beatnick also played a very large role in the songwriting process as well.
"Whose World Is This?" is the first official offering from the hottest new production team in the game. With upcoming placements on artists such as: Young Buck, Collie Buddz, Pharoahe Monch, Sizzla, and more. This production duo is slowly branding themselves as the "go-to guys" for real music.
For more info on K-Salaam & Beatnick, go to:
Myspace.com/ksalaammusic Or
Youtube.com/ksalaamandbeatnick
"Whose World Is This?" is the first official offering from the hottest new production team in the game. With upcoming placements on artists such as: Young Buck, Collie Buddz, Pharoahe Monch, Sizzla, and more. This production duo is slowly branding themselves as the "go-to guys" for real music.
For more info on K-Salaam & Beatnick, go to:
Myspace.com/ksalaammusic Or
Youtube.com/ksalaamandbeatnick
July 18, 2008
Wu-Tang Legend Gza/Genius Announces Long-Awaited New Album
One of the most renowned and continually relevant hip-hop emcees of all time, GZA returns with his long awaited fifth solo album, "ProTools." An original member of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, GZA has established himself as a perennial force in hip-hop over his 13+ year solo career. Recently, GZA's contributions have driven the phenomenal success of the 2008 Wu-Tang Clan reunion album "8 Diagrams" as well as two of independent hip-hop's recent flagship releases: Think Differently Music: "Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture" and the DJ
Muggs/GZA collaboration "Grandmasters."
With an entrenched and rabidly loyal fan base, "ProTools" marks the long awaited return of one of hip-hop's most revered and respected emcees.
And just wait until you hear what he has to say!!! The album's first leak track, "Paper Plate," finds GZA going in hard at a Vitamin Water mogul on this ihiphop.com exclusive.
With "Paper Plate," GZA is in top form, a true veteran showcasing the incomparable style that has defined witty battle rap for the greater part of a decade.
Spitting 104 bars of straight heat, GZA cuts the legs out from under the G-Unit impresario, reminding us all how sweet beef on wax really sounds. Using metaphor and lyrical imagery (and without employing a single curse word), GZA gives it to us "burnt & crispy."
True heads stand up...The Genius has finally returned.
Muggs/GZA collaboration "Grandmasters."
With an entrenched and rabidly loyal fan base, "ProTools" marks the long awaited return of one of hip-hop's most revered and respected emcees.
And just wait until you hear what he has to say!!! The album's first leak track, "Paper Plate," finds GZA going in hard at a Vitamin Water mogul on this ihiphop.com exclusive.
With "Paper Plate," GZA is in top form, a true veteran showcasing the incomparable style that has defined witty battle rap for the greater part of a decade.
Spitting 104 bars of straight heat, GZA cuts the legs out from under the G-Unit impresario, reminding us all how sweet beef on wax really sounds. Using metaphor and lyrical imagery (and without employing a single curse word), GZA gives it to us "burnt & crispy."
True heads stand up...The Genius has finally returned.
July 16, 2008
July 14, 2008
Friday Photo Shoot.
Here's a few photos from a shoot with artists Verse All from this weekend withe freehiphopnow photographer eklektic. Visit Verse All's site http://verseall.com
July 10, 2008
July 9, 2008
Conscious & Rabbi Darkside @ Vox Pop July 15th
On Tuesday July 15th 7PM (Half Time Show is at 9PM. Don’t lollygag please) you’ll be able to catch me at Vox Pop in Brooklyn providing the halftime show entertainment for A to Z Emcee, hosted by Tah Phrum Duh Bush and Super King Armor. I have a 25 minute set. Tah ensured me that he’d be expecting a full set from me, or else...! Accompanying me on this night is a good friend of mine, Rabbi Darkside. You may recognize him from MTV’s Made. He’s teaching this young lady how to beatbox. Rabbi will be Djing this set as well as performing a tune with me and a tune of his own, a single from his forthcoming album ‘Building the Better Bomb’ (album release party 7.19.2008 at Mercury Lounge). Rabbi D in my opinions is one of the best emcees in New York. I wouldn’t produce anything for him if I didn’t feel so. Also making an appearance during my set is Brooklyn’s own Coole High. We have a couple songs that will make you ask, ‘So where’s that collaboration album?’. Soon come. Soon come. Pending acts, Gif, and Core Rhythm haven’t confirm their appearances yet. All in all, I’m putting together a great set that all in attendance will enjoy. If you can’t be there you still can check it out live online via the http://whoischillys.com/ website. We’ve got all areas covered...! The show is $3 for spectators. $10 for Contestants. Yeah remember it’s A to Z Emcee. An emcee challenge with a cash prize of fifty bucks. I’m the halftime entertainment...Vox Pop
1022 Cortelyou Road Brooklyn, NY 11218 Q train to Cortelyou Road 718–940-2084
EA Sports and Kidz In The Hall Team Up for Madden 09
Kidz in the Hall just landed them selves a spot on the soundtrack for the 20th Anniversary Edition of the highest selling video game franchise of all time- Madden NFL 2009!This year the Madden team "considered 4000+ songs before deciding on the final 26 tracks" - making this an even more impressive feat than in previous years. This year Madden set out to "create a definitive soundtrack that would be a combination of returning classic Madden acts, ass-kicking new bands and some very cool surprises from hip-hop to hardcore and beyond."
The track chosen was none other than "The Blackout" from Kidz latest album "The In Crowd", on Major League/Duck Down Records, and truly demonstrates the rapid-fire lyricism of MC Naledge and masterful bass heavy beats of DJ Double O. This is probably why Steve Steve Schnur, worldwide executive of music and marketing for Electronic Arts, said "we believe that this time next year, Kidz In The Hall will be true Hip-Hop superstars."
Over the years the majority of Madden's music has come from emerging artists. It even helped introduce such hip hop stars as artists like Chamillionaire, Nappy Roots, Lupe Fiasco, Papoose, MURS, Slim Thug, and Swizz Beatz. Now by putting the up-and-coming hip hop artists of today and tomorrow like Kidz in the Hall, Madden is continuing its legacy as "the game that made the music matter." So grab a copy and keep a look out for the hottest track on the game- Kidz in the Hall's "The Blackout"!!!
July 7, 2008
It’s All About The YOOOOOUTH: An Educator’s Perspective on the Pursuit To Diss Souljah Boy
Even before Souljah Boy broke into the mainstream over a year ago with the song Crank Dat Souljah Boy along with the dance that came with it he has been both a cultural icon for young people and a subject of ridicule for many traditionalist Hip Hoppers. What’s changed in the past few months is that veteran limelight artists such as Snoop Dog are now going out of their way to publicly diss the 17 year old. Newer underground artists such as Naledge of Kidz in the Hall have joined the carnival by jumping on top of speakers at their concerts and frequently chanting “F**K SOULJAH BOY!” (I personally witnessed Naledge doing this at a recent concert at Club Cinema in Fort Lauderdale). As I’ve been sitting back and watching these displays I’ve been asking myself questions “Is all of this really necessary? Why are they giving so much negative attention to this 17 year old kid?”
Then came perhaps the most extreme case; the Ice T mixtape recording in which he blames Souljah Boy for “single handedly killing Hip Hop” and telling him that he should go “eat a d**k.” The 50 year old pioneer claims that he did not intend for the recording to be heard publicly. After Souljah Boy dissed the Hip Hop pioneer through Youtube, Ice T apologized through the same means. However, in reviewing how the “apology” was delivered, in my own assessment it was practically like saying no apology at all. Besides Ice T saying that he still thinks Souljah Boy’s music is “garbage,” Ice T’s son appears at the end and says that he thinks Souljah Boy should go “eat a d**k.” In great disappointment, I ask the question “Is Ice T really showing and proving that he is a responsible elder in this culture we know as Hip Hop?” At the same time I question how mature of an elder a man could be when he continues to try to (at least in image) re-live his childhood dream of being a pimp.
As an educator who grew up in the Golden Era of Hip Hop, I have my personal sentiments about Souljah Boy’s music, particularly the song Crank Dat Souljah Boy in which the immature yet misogynistic phrases “Superman that H*” and “Super Soak that H*” are chanted. When the song was being pumped heavily on the air waves at all hours last year, I maintained a very negative stance towards it knowing that little children were listening. I even called the FCC complaining about it. However, when school started in late August, I was confronted with another reality … MY STUDENTS LOVED IT! They especially loved Souljah Boy when he made a special guest performance a month later at a football pep rally at my school. Over half the students were on the gym floor hopping side to side to the hollow beat. I didn’t blame the students for jamming to the song; I blamed the adults that were in charge for allowing the song to be sung. Behind closed doors, I confronted those in authority over the issue.
When I close my classroom door after the bell rings each and every class, I am very protective of what enters my students’ eyes, ears and minds. Unlike other teachers who are much looser, I don’t allow them to listen to their ipods or PSP’s while they are working. However, I frequently engage them in questioning their likes, dislikes and world view in general. One day I was reviewing some reading material in my American History classes. When it was time for new students to read, I called on them by yelling “YOOOOU!!!” just like how it’s chanted in the song Crank Dat Souljah Boy. Needless to say, my students were enjoying the experience. After we read and discussed the material, I asked my students “You guys really like that song, hugh?” Most of them said that they did. I smiled in response and rhetorically asked “Yeah, it’s pretty catchy isn’t it?” I followed by asking “But is it responsible?” … “Do you think an elementary school student should be listening to the message ‘Superman that H*?’” Without judging them and just simply questioning them in what they believe to be right and wrong I achieved greater results in those few minutes than in years prior in which I constantly criticized their music. I had learned through hard trials that in order to get my students to listen to me I can not first destroy what they love.
Later on in the school year, when I covered the history of Hip Hop (which, by the way, they absolutely enjoyed and demanded more as we went further and further into it) I discussed with them the reasons why major record labels sign artists such as Souljah Boy, who owns these labels, what they are actually trying to sell and why practically the same set of songs are played on urban radio no matter where you go. To simply jump on a speaker at your concert and scream “F**K SOULJAH BOY!” to a group of white suburban “back packers” or broadcasting yourself on Youtube with messages about why you think an artist’s music is garbage is not addressing the real problems surrounding Hip Hop music and Hip Hop culture today. You are certainly not affecting the most critical audiences that would most ensure Hip Hop’s longevity. If conscientious artists truly wanted to change the current state of Hip Hop and youth culture, they would need to devote more energy towards collaborating on community projects that transcend music, speaking to students at schools and community centers and creating alternative marketing and distribution outlets for their products. In these endeavors young people should be included on an entrepreneurial-internship type level as Hip Hoppers such as Wise Intelligent is doing with his Intelligent Kids mentoring program and Dr. Roxanne Shante is doing in New York with an ice cream shop in Queens, New York.
One last thing, let us be mindful that Souljah Boy himself is just 17 years old and in definite need of mentoring, just like thousands of other youth who aspire to become artists. Instead of putting up barriers between themselves and what they believe is not “Real Hip Hop,” it would make more sense for veteran artists to work and serve as advisers to young artists such as Soldier Boy with the goal of steering them on a better path. This makes complete sense if your mission is to authentically improve the state of the music and the culture since it is young artists such as Souljah Boy who have the attention of the youth. Souljah Boy by himself is not the reason why Hip Hop is in such a low state. A huge part of the reason why things are the way that they are is because the older generations complain too much about the way things ought to be, yet they do nothing about it.
LET US NOT CONTINUE MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES AS OUR PREDECESSORS AND STAY DISUNITED AND DEFEATED! INSTEAD, MAKE MORE STRIDES TOWARDS WORKING TOGETHER IN UNITY AND IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITIES!
PEACE!
Tony Muhammad teaches American, African American and African History at an inner-city high school in Miami and is currently involved in efforts to reform The African American Voices Curriculum for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Tony is most noted for his work as publisher of Urban America Newspaper (2003 – 2007) and co-organizer of the Organic Hip Hop Conference (2004 – 2008).
Then came perhaps the most extreme case; the Ice T mixtape recording in which he blames Souljah Boy for “single handedly killing Hip Hop” and telling him that he should go “eat a d**k.” The 50 year old pioneer claims that he did not intend for the recording to be heard publicly. After Souljah Boy dissed the Hip Hop pioneer through Youtube, Ice T apologized through the same means. However, in reviewing how the “apology” was delivered, in my own assessment it was practically like saying no apology at all. Besides Ice T saying that he still thinks Souljah Boy’s music is “garbage,” Ice T’s son appears at the end and says that he thinks Souljah Boy should go “eat a d**k.” In great disappointment, I ask the question “Is Ice T really showing and proving that he is a responsible elder in this culture we know as Hip Hop?” At the same time I question how mature of an elder a man could be when he continues to try to (at least in image) re-live his childhood dream of being a pimp.
As an educator who grew up in the Golden Era of Hip Hop, I have my personal sentiments about Souljah Boy’s music, particularly the song Crank Dat Souljah Boy in which the immature yet misogynistic phrases “Superman that H*” and “Super Soak that H*” are chanted. When the song was being pumped heavily on the air waves at all hours last year, I maintained a very negative stance towards it knowing that little children were listening. I even called the FCC complaining about it. However, when school started in late August, I was confronted with another reality … MY STUDENTS LOVED IT! They especially loved Souljah Boy when he made a special guest performance a month later at a football pep rally at my school. Over half the students were on the gym floor hopping side to side to the hollow beat. I didn’t blame the students for jamming to the song; I blamed the adults that were in charge for allowing the song to be sung. Behind closed doors, I confronted those in authority over the issue.
When I close my classroom door after the bell rings each and every class, I am very protective of what enters my students’ eyes, ears and minds. Unlike other teachers who are much looser, I don’t allow them to listen to their ipods or PSP’s while they are working. However, I frequently engage them in questioning their likes, dislikes and world view in general. One day I was reviewing some reading material in my American History classes. When it was time for new students to read, I called on them by yelling “YOOOOU!!!” just like how it’s chanted in the song Crank Dat Souljah Boy. Needless to say, my students were enjoying the experience. After we read and discussed the material, I asked my students “You guys really like that song, hugh?” Most of them said that they did. I smiled in response and rhetorically asked “Yeah, it’s pretty catchy isn’t it?” I followed by asking “But is it responsible?” … “Do you think an elementary school student should be listening to the message ‘Superman that H*?’” Without judging them and just simply questioning them in what they believe to be right and wrong I achieved greater results in those few minutes than in years prior in which I constantly criticized their music. I had learned through hard trials that in order to get my students to listen to me I can not first destroy what they love.
Later on in the school year, when I covered the history of Hip Hop (which, by the way, they absolutely enjoyed and demanded more as we went further and further into it) I discussed with them the reasons why major record labels sign artists such as Souljah Boy, who owns these labels, what they are actually trying to sell and why practically the same set of songs are played on urban radio no matter where you go. To simply jump on a speaker at your concert and scream “F**K SOULJAH BOY!” to a group of white suburban “back packers” or broadcasting yourself on Youtube with messages about why you think an artist’s music is garbage is not addressing the real problems surrounding Hip Hop music and Hip Hop culture today. You are certainly not affecting the most critical audiences that would most ensure Hip Hop’s longevity. If conscientious artists truly wanted to change the current state of Hip Hop and youth culture, they would need to devote more energy towards collaborating on community projects that transcend music, speaking to students at schools and community centers and creating alternative marketing and distribution outlets for their products. In these endeavors young people should be included on an entrepreneurial-internship type level as Hip Hoppers such as Wise Intelligent is doing with his Intelligent Kids mentoring program and Dr. Roxanne Shante is doing in New York with an ice cream shop in Queens, New York.
One last thing, let us be mindful that Souljah Boy himself is just 17 years old and in definite need of mentoring, just like thousands of other youth who aspire to become artists. Instead of putting up barriers between themselves and what they believe is not “Real Hip Hop,” it would make more sense for veteran artists to work and serve as advisers to young artists such as Soldier Boy with the goal of steering them on a better path. This makes complete sense if your mission is to authentically improve the state of the music and the culture since it is young artists such as Souljah Boy who have the attention of the youth. Souljah Boy by himself is not the reason why Hip Hop is in such a low state. A huge part of the reason why things are the way that they are is because the older generations complain too much about the way things ought to be, yet they do nothing about it.
LET US NOT CONTINUE MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES AS OUR PREDECESSORS AND STAY DISUNITED AND DEFEATED! INSTEAD, MAKE MORE STRIDES TOWARDS WORKING TOGETHER IN UNITY AND IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITIES!
PEACE!
Tony Muhammad teaches American, African American and African History at an inner-city high school in Miami and is currently involved in efforts to reform The African American Voices Curriculum for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Tony is most noted for his work as publisher of Urban America Newspaper (2003 – 2007) and co-organizer of the Organic Hip Hop Conference (2004 – 2008).
Artist Of The Week - Maiysha
Don't be quick to stereotype soul singer Maiysha based on her looks, she may have fashion model on her resume but she isn't just another pretty face. In fact, when it comes to this stunner her vocals are just as strong as her beauty is striking. A child of divorce, Maiysha, who now calls Brooklyn, NY, home, grew up alternating between the Midwestern metropolises of Minneapolis and Chicago listening to a diverse list of artists that included Stevie Wonder, Prince, Blondie and Billy Joel. Her debut album, This Much Is True, is set to hit stores in August and with her star clearly on the rise I sat down with the songstress this week to find out more about who she is, the secret she kept from her coworkers during the high point of her modeling days, and what led to her fantastic interpolation of the Peter Gabriel classic "Sledgehammer." Click here...
July 2, 2008
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