@TKintheAM Episode 3: Homeboy Sandman & Jessica Estevez (@iheartdilla)

Now Available on iTunes! Subscribe Today! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/tk-in-the-am-spreaker/id591008358

@TKintheAM Episode 2: @QueenGodIs

The official first live TK in the AM broadcast with guests! An amazing show to really get things started. Patrice Peck of Ebony.com discusses black pop culture 2012 and beyond. Also a top five list of very useful mobile apps. We got to know QueenGodis a bit who gave us a tremendous spoken word piece, entitled "Dear Claire Huxtable" she recently performed at the Apollo Theater. What a great way to end the week!

Guest curated playlist of the day:
LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out
Queen GodIs - I Love U
Lupe Fiasco - All Black Everything
Nas - Bye Baby
Beyonce ft. Andre 3000 - Party
Queen GodIs - Living Life 
 

adidas Presents | ALL INTERVIEW: MF DOOM

Q & A With Thinker (@Thinx19)

What was your introduction to production?  What about producing keeps you interested?
I'd have to say that I was introduced to the process of music producing by one of my closest friends and mentor, Onree Gill. Spending time with him in studio sessions with the likes of LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Easy Mo Bee and so on... this made me realize that producing was something that i wanted to do. Music is my true passion. I find inspiration in almost everything so this keeps me interested in producing, I'm always eager to find out how my inspiration might manifest it's self.

Why Maschine?
In my opinion, Maschine is the best product out there. I'm a huge fan of all things Native Instruments because of their obvious commitment to excellence. Maschine is the perfect pairing of hardware and software. The hardware is light yet sturdy with durable pads and knobs while being aesthetically pleasing. The software is user friendly, it reacts fast and it's super convenient to be able to open it up as a plugin inside of your DAW.

Why are musicians Bill Evans and Chick Corea so fascinating to you ?
Composers are to a musicians what architects are to carpenters. The process starts with the vision and I've always been fascinated with the idea that one person can basically look into the future by writing and arranging parts for multiple instruments much like an architect that envisions a final structure. Bill Evans was an amazing composer. I grew up listening to Chick Corea, He might be my favorite musician of all times. His music captures so much more than my sense of hearing. There is a spiritual quality that I can feel and even see in his music sometimes.

What artist of the past would you have liked to produce music for and which
producer would have liked to construct a project with? Why?
I wish that I could have produced music for and with John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix. They were both supremely talented and they also represented ideals that helped mold my current state of awareness in regards to the rights that we all have as humans.

How often do you seek out new sounds? How do you discover new music?
I can't say that there's a scheduled time for me to seek new music but every so often when I've been listening to familiar sounds for too long I need to cleanse the musical palate. When it comes to new music, I tend to discover it via the web. Tweets and Facebook posts. Sometimes I'll get a link via gchat and other times I'll just chance upon something new while I'm browsing the net.

Artist Of The Week – Nyle

Anti-machismo, lonely stoner, and a post-Tribe/Pharcyde type of vibe are just three of the ways Nyle feels his work can be described. Most people who hear him rhyme, however, have found a shorter, one word, description for his style – dope. Nyle’s fan base has been growing steadily since his arrival in NYC from Philly a handful of years ago and he points to his content as one of the reasons for this, saying “the stuff I write about is easy to relate to.” Nyle also has a great range when it comes to his music as he point out his body of work includes everything from “straight rap jawns like ‘Gangrel,’” to “a T-Pain parody song called ‘Fuck A Nice Guy.’” No matter what he may be spittin about, Nyle has developed a reputation for always gettin busy on the mic and this week I caught up with him to ask him about making it in NYC’s crowded hip-hop scene, which kind of naysayers he loves, and why so many people know him by so many different names. Read more...

A Conscious Twinterview w/ YC The Cynic

@Conscious How do you approach creating a new rhyme/song/verse....?
@YCtheCynic Me? I don't have a set ritual. Its more so a feeling that I'm in a creative mood. Then I try to figure what flow sounds best.
@Conscious How do you go about choosing tracks to rock over?
@YCtheCynic At this point, I just choose tracks that I like. Beats that I'd listen to, on a regular, w/o words. Plus, if it'd fit my style.
@Conscious What do you consider your style to be?
@YCtheCynic I'd say funk or jazz inspired stuff, that leaves space for the words to be heard/felt/understood. Like a Rebirth of Slick...
@Conscious How long have you been performing? What is your goal with this rap thing?
@YCtheCynic My first performance was about 2 or 3 years ago, but I haven't had many, until recently. I've been rhyming for over 8 years now. My goal is 2 provide good music, an alternative to the detrimental stuff out there. Financially, I'd just like 2 live comfortably. I don't care to be rich/wealthy. I'd just like to, not worry about working...and completely focus on doing what I love.

Last.fm/Presents Interviews Finale at SXSW 2009

Last.fm/Presents took a short road trip to find the best barbecue in Texas with Interdependent Media's Finale. Chillin' at Kreuz Market in Lockhart, Finale broke down his new album, newfound Dilla fans and the new "hip" artists at SXSW.

A Twintterview With Praverb

FreeHiphopNow What's the name of your most recent Project? Hook us up with a link.

Praverb Center of Attention...http://tinyurl.com/clwfm7

FreeHiphopNow What's the general feedback been like for this release? What's different about this piece compared to the last?

Praverb the general feedback has been decent, I believe that the project highlights my discontent at the industry. The last project..

Praverb was a mixtape haha...

FreeHiphopNow Have you been performing a lot? Where are you located again?

Praverb sheesh the last time I performed was in 07' I believe...been on a hiatus haha and I am located in Northern Virginia...

FreeHiphopNowThat's a long time man. So other then having issues with the industry. How are you feeling about music? Anyone out that you like?

Praverb Sheesh I love music but personally I had to take a step back and regain that passion...I am feeling a lot of cats...Elzhi

Praverb Royce, Joe Budden, Crooked I, Sly Boogy, AML, Buff 1, Torae, Kenn Starr, Oddisee, Lyriciss, Skyzoo, Blue Scholars, Common...

Praverb Finale, Donny Goines, Reign Man, MC Juice, Brother Ali, T.I., Luda, Surreal, Blu, Pacific Division, Invincible, Termanology..

Praverb Cassidy, The Lox, Roc Marciano, Eminem, Diamond District, Kero One, Master 3, T.E.F.L.O.N., Memphis Reigns...and more

FreeHiphopNow How do you go about selecting production?

Praverb sheesh I usually work with a camp of producers that I have gathered through the years (Destro, Cold Legistics, and Hairy)

Clash Speaks To The Enigmatic (MF) DOOM...

The man has many faces, many monikers through which he channels a singular vision of hip-hop that’s been allowed to expand in the margins without coercion from corporate suits and label politics.

But here, now, today, he is simply DOOM.

Daniel Dumile’s widest-known alter ego has dropped his ‘MF’ prefix for album three, ‘BORN LIKE THIS’ (the name is taken from a Charles Bukowski poem), but the British-born and New York-based rapper’s ear for the absurd in anyone else’s hands, his love of experimentation and sculpting designs anew, remains absolutely apparent. Five years may have passed since his last solo offering, ‘MM..Food’ (an anagram of his name, FYI), but DOOM hasn’t been lazing about, resting on his laurels.

In the same year as ‘MM..Food’, 2004, he released the ‘Madvillainy’ album, a collaborative effort with acclaimed producer Madlib (a follow-up is in the works); 19 months later, ‘The Mouse And The Mask’ emerged, showcasing DOOM’s vocals alongside beats and pieces from white-hot studio wiz Danger Mouse. So, while DOOM as a solo artist has been off the scene, his rhymes have found their place in the public’s ear – both collaborations took Dumile to a new level of recognition.

And it’s this raised profile that ensures Clash gets 30 minutes phone time with the man himself. It’s late here but early there, and DOOM’s just getting started… Read interview here..

Why - G (Zulu Nation) Freestyle & Interview @ VoxPop

Fader Interview with Rapheal Saadiq

Q&A With SumKid About The Song, 'Chuck Norris On Drugs'

What inspired such an interesting song? This is a really wild time. There's this unprecedented collision of technology, environmental issues, mass spiritual awakening, war and widespread conflict....the list goes on. There are lots of fun, interesting, saddening, frustrating and beautiful things going on in the world and I think it's remarkable. I wanted to speak on so much, but I don't feel like being preachy. I feel like makin fun shit for people to rock to, but still leave with plenty to think about and digest. It's not about me saying there's anything particularly wrong or fucked up, it's just like "Wow! Look at all the crazy stuff!!". I just felt like my head was exploding with all of the stimuli here on Earth. So that's what inspired this song.... the explosion of my head.

Are there any plans of releasing a video for this song? If people actually show an interest in the song, I'll move on a video.

What if Chuck Norris catches wind of this? Chuck Norris doesn't catch wind. He traps it, tames it, trains it and rides on its back. Hey, if he does, I hope he listens. That'd be cool.

What else musically is on the horizon for you this year? Any word on Pygmy Paul and dem Low folks? The project that "Chuck Norris On Drugs" is on will be center stage for me this year. Also, my project with Belief "The Lone Wolf" is finally coming to life this Summer. We're releasing the first single in a couple of weeks. I've just put my band together so that I can start upping the ante on my live shows.

The Nobody Hole is my biggest labor of love, thanks for asking about it. Being that it's so much more than just a musical project, I gotta take things step by step. It's almost like working on a a feature film. Even after I recorded it, I was at peace with it taking 5 or 6 years to come out if that's what it took to get the visual art, the soundscape, and the platform in the right place to put that project out. It's an intense project. I'm working on character design right now with an extremely cool and talented artist/illustrator by the name of Jared Rogness. Folks who are interested can stay tuned at The Nobody Hole's Myspace Page

Besides that, The VJC and I are plotting our next group project and will probably start recording late this Summer in Atlanta. I'm also doing music direction for my wife's new short film, "The Bohemian" which features music from one of my favorite artists, Conscious.

Just tryna stay busy!

Artist Of The Week – Rabbi Darkside

How many MCs do you know of were signed to their first label after responding to an ad that simply said “Emcee wanted. Abstract, not commercial?” The real surprise is that’s not even the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the uniqueness of Rabbi Darkside. Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Rabbi D has been living in NYC since 2000 and after a short stint on Sit-n-Spin records, the label he rhymed his way onto thanks to the aforementioned ad that he spotted in the Village Voice, he found his true home when he discovered the club Sin Sin in 2003 and with friends Farbeon and Hired Gun created both the group 3rd Party and Say Word Entertainment. Rabbi D’s solo debut, Building the Better Bomb, is being readied for a spring release, but I had to sit down with him now to find out more about his journey both to and within Hip-Hop, his travels to the Czech Republic to work with artists, and the video for his song “Bill Muthafuckin Murray” that’s been making the rounds on the internet. [Click - Here]for full story.

DJ Ese Interview With DJ Halo

Had the entire Embedded crew instudio to help raise funds for WPKN/WPKM. Didn’t do much of that, but had a fun time anyway. Talked with Ese about the orgins of his label “Embedded”, his new effort “Side Two” and recording tips for up and coming MCs.

J-Zone Interview With DJ Halo

In promotion of his soundtrack to the unreleased film “To Love a Hooker”, I had a chance to talk with J-Zone. Touches on some interesting topics; mixed label rosters and under promotion of artists on the indie level. A bit long but I tend to ramble…Good Stuff, take a listen!

SRC Pres Gaby Acevedo on looking for new artists

SRC President Gaby Acevedo talks about what he's looking for in a new artist and how artists can use Loud.com to its fullest potential.



LOUD.COM INTRODUCES THREE NEW SEMI-FINALISTS IN THEIR $100,000 SEARCH FOR HIP HOP’S NEXT SUPERSTAR

New York, NY (October 18, 2007) – Loud.com announced the second group of semi-finalists in their $100,000 on-line rap competition today. With six of the nine semi-final spots now filled, the next ten weeks will be the final opportunity members have this year to earn a chance at the money and a deal from SRC Records.

Grabbing first place and $25,000 for his efforts, North Cak emcee Drop (http://www.loud.com/dRopHotteStnNorthCak) won over the judges with a smooth, charismatic flow and an impressive following on the site. Coming in second and earning $15,000 was South Carolina’s Dirty Rap (http://www.loud.com/DirtyRap). Hailing from the Boston-area and taking the $10,000 third place prize was The Franchise King (http://www.loud.com/TheFranchise_KingMC). All three noted that they maximized the interactive features on Loud.com and used other outside web sources to increase their exposure.

“I had mad people helping me out this time around,” Franchise said. “I won a round in the first ten weeks but didn’t get picked. This time, though, we pounded the site even harder and it worked out. To be here, you have to love the culture first, with the music as an extension of that. But you also need to realize it’s a job, too. If somebody asked you if you wanted to get paid to write raps, what would you say, you know? This is how it happens.”

The Loud.com and SRC Records A&R Department review all submissions, and music from the narrowed pool of weekly winners goes through SRC’s top brass before a decision is made. Coupled with the payout of $50,000 for each semi-final round (in addition to the grand-prize winner’s $100,000 purse), the entire process speaks to the level of commitment put forward from everyone involved with the site, be it the high-profile producers, the execs in the building, or the unsigned emcees that make the site function. Co-chairman of Loud.com and hip hop pioneer Steve Rifkind commended the contestants on their efforts. As head of SRC Records, he will be the man guiding the career of the ultimate winner.

“We had some incredible submissions this round, and these are the top three that emerged,” Rifkind said. “There was a lot of debate because the voting in-house was so close, and we’re happy about that. It is a great example of commitment on both ends and, more important, it shows the direction Loud.com is moving. This is a community-first site and we expect it to produce top-notch talent. This is an exciting time for everyone.”

All three winners were featured in exclusive interviews on their respective hometown urban radio stations this past week. The Franchise King was in-studio on WJMN JAM’N 94.5 in Boston at 3pm Monday, Dirty Rap visited KTTB Hot 103.9 in Columbia at 1pm Tuesday and Drop chopped it up on WQOK K97.5 in Raleigh at 12pm Wednesday. Loud.com is currently featuring print interviews with the latest semi-finalists.

ABOUT THE WINNERS

DROP

Hailing from North Carolina, Drop is almost a throwback to the rhymesayers that dominated the game during rap’s golden era – socially conscious, sick flow and in touch with the culture. Drop fronts the FIF GANG, with FIF standing for F.irst I.n F.light (“because North Cak niggas was the first to be fly,” he says. “My passion speaks more than my lyrics. I got a song for every occasion and I'm making enough music to live eternally. I’m socially conscious. I speak on poverty, police brutality, racism, single mothers, deadbeat fathers and lack of education (in our system). When I speak, the world listens.” Drop is associated with producers that have worked with Lil Wayne and Dipset, among others, and has a mixtape out right now, “Plead Da FIF Vol. 1,” available for sale. http://www.myspace.com/dropthugafella

DIRTY RAP

At 28, Dirty Rap is no hip hop spring chicken. Splitting time between Arizona and South Carolina, he’s been around, having opened shows for Clipse, Juelz Santana, Ying Yang Twins, Devon the Dude, Twista, Paul Wall, Chamillionaire, Mack-10 and a host of others. He’s put out three solo albums and four albums with his crew, the Gnac Boys (Yak Boys). And he’s spoken to a lot of people. But what’s interesting is his unorthodox approach and perspective in making music. It’s a mature and calculated process, yet at the same time very much in the moment. Check out more of the “deep, aggressive voice and suitcase full of hope” at http://www.myspace.com/dirtyrap.

THE FRANCHISE KING

It’s pretty arrogant to call yourself The Franchise King. But like The Game and King Tip before him, Sunny Shines is more than just swagger and flow. Repping just outside Boston in Dover, NH, Franchise is quick to point out that to make the music he makes, you have to love hip hop first. First piece of evidence – instead of a biography, he lists a set of rules (see “Commandments”) about how to go about your business. He’s opened for KRS-1, has an upcoming show with Wordsmith and Rhymeswell and is getting set to drop on Boston stages this winter. His crew’s mixtape “Everybody’s Listening Vol. 1” moved over 1,000 units independently, and Vol. 2 is on its way. Get on-board at http://www.myspace.com/lovefranchise.

ABOUT LOUD.COM

LOUD.COM is an online competition, open to all registered users. Loud.com offers users the ability to download professional beats from Hip Hop’s hottest producers for just .99 cents, use a unique on-line recording tool to overlay raps over the tracks, have the songs judged by celebrity producers and compete for $100,000 and a record deal with SRC Records, home of multi Platinum, Grammy Awarding winning artist such as Akon and David Banner. LOUD producers have made hits for The Notorious B.I.G., 50 Cent, The Game, Jim Jones, Lil Jon, Rick Ross, Talib Kweli, Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes and many more. Log on to LOUD.COM now!

Chamillionaire Interview (OnSMASH Exclusive)

Kweli On Tavis Smiley - Ear Drum

Talib Kweli Discusses his new album with Tavis Smiley on PBS and issues concerning why certain artists can sell records while others struggle.


Here's Kweli's interview with Tavis in 2004 before the Blacksmith label while he was still with Geffen.

Trel Mack - Mack of the Year

The city of Philadelphia definitely has made its mark in hip-hop over the years. In the early stages the city was first put on the map with Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith, Schoolly D, The Roots, and many others Philly has brought it’s share of hip-hop with it’s own unique sound. As Philly hip-hop continued to rise the 215 brought in the game more stars with Beanie Sigel, Eve, Cassidy, Gillie Da Kid, Elliot Ness, Freeway, and now as the Philly hip-hop generation continues to grow it’s next biggest star is on the way. After building a strong buzz over the internet with the hit singles “Autograph” and “Be Ya Man” a ladies man by the name of Trel Mack is here to make his way into the industry and that is definitely with the strength of Street Knowledge. Read more...

Another Great Ghostface Interview...

We discovered this interview on 'Chesing The Cool'