The final single from Skyzoo's critically acclaimed album THE SALVATION. Produced by Best Kept Secret. Directed by Artemus Jenkins. Starring Skyzoo, Skarr Akbar, & introducing Shaunetta Squalls. THE SALVATION is in stores now via Jamla/Duck Down Music. Click here to purchase: http://bit.ly/bzyHPx
After releasing a slew of tracks off their compilation project, Invasion Vol. 1, and a successful Dope Winter Ball Tour, the Town Techno purveyors League510 are proud to release the title track and first single off their album, To The Beat. Playing off League510's imaginative back-story, "To The Beat" depicts their exciting journey to planet Earth as TK, Mont, Mr. Knowitall, and DJ Blacksmith lead an alien invasion landing in the Bay Area.
Joining forces with their extraterrestrial sound waves and eccentric effects, "To The Beat" explodes with color, animation, and outlandish costumes, courtesy of Axiom Media Group and Tim Lillis. The video looks like a scene from a video game with League510's laser guns and power meters ranging from "Normal" to "Town". League510 explains, "With the help of a young Oakland native, we transformed ourselves to fit in, then realized the ills of this new planet and the mistake in adopting those new behaviors." They continue, "Instead, we set out to right these wrongs with the help of our newfound friend. All is well until the villain, the embodiment of all ignorance and cause of Oakland's turmoil, shows up and an epic battle ensues." Rather than death rays, League510 shoots Town Techno rays, injecting their music into everyone around them. Spoken like the leaders they are, League510 proclaims, "We may be aliens and you may not understand us, but there is no need to fear us. Believe in the League!"
Look out for League510's Earth invasion from Clear Label Records, To The Beat, in Spring 2010.
Emcees TK, Mont, Mr. Knowitall and DJ Blacksmith better known as League510 are pioneers of a sound that is all their own, Town Techno. With a sound that is out of this world, League510's musical journey began in a galaxy far away from ours. After traveling the universe for years, they entered our galaxy and our planet shortly thereafter. With sights on our world, the quartet chose to land in the hills east of Oakland, CA. After hiding their ship deep in the hills they approached this new town with great curiosity and were immediately amazed by the vibrant culture that they found. Adopting the Bay Area scene as their new home, League510 wasted no time in beginning their new musical journey here in our world. Using advanced abilities, the four emcees quickly mastered the art of sound and gave birth to Town Techo, a form of music that would unite the people in heightened awareness; to show them to take action, to appreciate the fun in life, to believe in themselves and to believe in The League.
About Clear Label Records:
Founded in Oakland, CA in 1999, Clear Label Records has established itself as one of the top independent labels in the Bay Area. The company is owned and operated by Tajai Massey, renowned recording artist with the group Souls of Mischief and the crew Hieroglyphics, who brings a unique perspective to the label utilizing his experiences as a major-label recording artist turned independent label owner & successful touring musician. Clear Label is home to recording artists of many genres such as Chris Marsol, Baby Jaymes, FamSyrk, Deep Rooted, League510, and more. Through a partnership with Pushing the Beat (PTB) called ClearBeat, the label is also home to Oakland’s hottest street artists including Beeda Weeda, Shady Nate, D-Lo, Sleepy D and others. Look for full-length releases from all of these artists in the near future. For more information, please visit http://www.clearlabelrecords.com
If you don't know about DJ Halo you'll definitely want to check out this free 45+ mix, which is a promo for his May 12th show at Good Life in Boston, MA. Halo also spins every Friday and Saturday night at Karma in NYC.
Now available for free download is the The Heart & Brain "Mbodiment" Album Sampler! TzariZM & Vis Major have completed an album of straight head-nodding Boom-Bap goodness that any Hip-Hop head will appreciate from start to end. Along with The Brain, Vis Major, on the mic and the Heart, Tzarizm, on the production, this joint is definitely nothing less than the title itself. "Mbodiment" features guest appearances from Supastition aka Kam Moye, Akrobatik, Butta Verses, Wordsworth, Critical, MidaZ the Beast, Illustrate of Grey Matter and more. Get ready to feel the MBodiment of Hip-Hop!
Peep the tracklisting: 1. Intro – Fetus Musik 2. Live Sh!t 3. Jazz Kickin' 4. Ol' Man 5. Heart Beat Check (Interlude) 6. Time iz Money feat. Critical & Tamara Bernard 7. Rockstarr (R.I.P. Jimi) 8. The Heart's Message 9. Bottle Fead 10. The Setup feat. MidaZ the Beast & Illustrate (Grey Matter) 11. Life's Desire feat. Mylodic 12. My Heart Beatz feat. Butta Verses & Sekani 13. The Lung Breathez (DJ YNOT) 14. Lounge Ontop feat. Sienna Blayze 15. Serious feat. Supastition & Akrobatik 16. Brain Wave Check (Interlude) 17. Mis-Takez 18. To Love To Miss feat. Wordsworth & Illustrate (Grey Matter) 19. On The Market 20. Blood Line: Life & Death 21. This Hard Life Goes 22. Blood Transfusion (Enderlude)
Having just recently premiered an edited version of the video for "Curtain Call," the lead single from the album, LeftBack, Little Brother is excited to bring fans the uncensored version of the video. The aptly titled "Curtain Call" signals the opening salvo from what is the celebrated group's last album. "We gonna do this thing one last time," Phonte begins on the track. With the deep fried southern bump that has seasoned Phonte and Big Pooh's music from day one, (courtesy of beatwrecker Khrysis) it's almost easy to miss the bittersweet nature of the track, as the acclaimed duo bid a fond farewell to their fans.
The clip was directed by video maestro Matt Koza (whose resume includes clips for RJD2, Foreign Exchange and others), and captures the kinship of the Hall of Justus family. Koza cites the release as the "final curtain call for the play of the decade." With cameos from the likes of Chaundon, Justus honcho Big Dho and Jozeemo, Koza captures the crew clowning around backstage (which the director notes is the fun-loving essence of the LB/HOJ crew). This imagery is juxtaposed with the crew standing before a packed, elegantly dressed crowd on hand to catch the fictional (but sadly imminent) last appearance of the mighty Little Brother. Surveying the pop-rap landscape it's safe to say that today's hip-hop is rarely crafted as caringly as "Curtain Call", and for a song that signals the end, it feels like a new beginning. Just try not to get misty eyed as the rap giants give each other a loving pound and part ways at the end of the clip.
Little Brother's fourth and final album, LeftBack, is available Tuesday, April 20 via Hall Of Justus.
Little Brother, the Durham, North Carolina group formed in part by Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh, released their debut album The Listening on ABB Records in 2003. They are now gearing up for the release of their fourth album, LeftBack, which will be the last of Little Brother’s illustrious career, available now via Hall Of Justus. Continuing the tradition they set with the critically acclaimed third release GetBack, Big Pooh and Phonte have enlisted multiple producers for LeftBack, both from within and outside of the Justus League camp. The album features production from the likes of Khyrsis, Denaun Porter, J.Bizness and guest vocals from Torae, Truck North, Jozeemo, Chaundon, Median, and more.
Even though some of the things said about Primo this week weren't kind, it seems he chose to take the high road. This official statement comes from the DJ Premier Blog, "The Only Fansite Approved by DJ Premier" on the web:
IT WAS A SAD DAY FOR ME TO GET CONFIRMATION ON THE DEATH OF A MAN WHO I WILL CONTINUE TO CALL MY BROTHER, KEITH ELAM, BETTER KNOWN AS GURU OF THE LEGENDARY GANG STARR.
FROM 1988-2004, WE EXPERIENCED SO MUCH SUCCESS TOGETHER THAT WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR BUSINESSES INDEPENDENTLY AND GIVE EACH OTHER WHAT GURU CALLED “CREATIVE SPACE”, BEFORE PLANNING TO REUNITE FOR OUR 7TH LP WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT. TRAGICALLY, WE WILL NEVER REACH THAT DAY.
I’VE BEEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON A LETTER SPEAKING ILL OF ME WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY WRITTEN BY GURU IN HIS DYING DAYS. ALL I WILL SAY ABOUT IT IS THAT OUR TIME TOGETHER WAS BEAUTIFUL, WE BUILT A HIP HOP LEGACY TOGETHER, AND NO ONE CAN RE-WRITE HISTORY OR TAKE AWAY MY LOVE FOR HIM. ONE THING I WOULD NEVER DO IS PLAY AROUND WITH THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS LIFE.
I WILL CELEBRATE GURU’S LIFE… I WILL HONOR HIS MEMORY… I WILL GRIEVE WITH THE ELAM FAMILY OVER HIS UNTIMELY DEATH… I WILL REMEMBER THE GANG STARR FOUNDATION AND ALL OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF GANG STARR WHO CAME BEFORE ME – WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER… MOSTLY, I WILL CHERISH EVERYTHING WE CREATED TOGETHER AS GANG STARR, FOREVER. I’M GONNA MISS HEARING HIS SIGNATURE MONOTONE VOICE WHEN HE WALKS IN THE ROOM, BUT THE SONGS WILL ALWAYS BRING IT BACK TO ME….HIS RHYME FLOWS WERE INSANE, AND I WILL NEVER REMOVE HIM FROM MY HEART AND SOUL…….REST IN PEACE TO THE MAN WHO FELT “SATISFACTION FROM THE STREET CROWD REACTION” … I LOVE YOU GOO…….DJ PREMIER
BURNTmd - "Stand Back" (feat. Krondon, Phil The Agony & Planet Asia)
The Brooklyn-bred, Vermont transplant BURNTmd releases his EP Lets Get Ill today, 4.20 through his newly formed imprint GTD Entertainment. The EP features guest appearances from several noteworthy artists & producers including DJ Green Lantern, Copywrite, Akrobatik, Planet Asia, Phil The Agony, Krondon, Illmind, J. Glaze, Reef Ali & more! Click on either of the links below to download the album 2nd leak "Stand Back" featuring Krondon, Phil The Agony & Planet Asia, produced by J. Glaze. If you like what you hear, go out & support by coppin the EP off iTunes, here.
BURNTmd - Stand Back (feat. Krondon, Phil The Agony & Planet Asia)
After hitting listeners with a flurry of tracks, DaVinci is back with a second video off The Day The Turf Stood Still, "Ben". For this video, Fillmore's own created an all-encompassing metaphor through money, Ben Franklin, and the $100 bill.
With samples from the King of Pop's, "Ben", DaVinci, paired with producer Big D., takes Michael Jackson's lyrics and sets them to a common theme, but with a twist. Ben Franklin, the King of the Streets, is seen throughout with a smile drawn on his $100 bill face; in DaVinci's town, without Ben in your pocket, you're nothing.
"My main inspiration behind "Ben" was to express the growth of my relationship with money from the moment I started hustling as a teen, until I became a man," says DaVinci. "I wanted to show how far one goes to have material things for both right, and wrong reason." While the video follows different stories of gambling, drugs, and prostitution, the message is all the same - with one's back up against the wall, the quest for financial sustenance leads down many different paths. Such a message is made clear by lyrics such as, "You got your mind on your money / And you climbing in deep / Well just remember who the King of the Streets / Clockin' cold hard cash / Running fast from police / Hey you running with the King of the Streets." This track off of DaVinci's debut ablum, The Day The Turf Stood Still, is now available both for purchase and free download via SWTBRDS Creative Collective.
After making a number of End Of Year lists with their latest group effort, Brooklynati, Tanya Morgan is proud to release the official video for the 2009 favorite "Bang N Boogie." Shot in Brooklyn and at Gray's Papaya in Manhattan, the video depicts younger versions of Von Pea, Donwill, and Illyas being young, wild, having a good time, and of course experiencing some unintended consequences, all while surrounded by beautiful women. Von Pea explains, "We all decided to just tell the story this time and stay away from costumes and comedy." However, even that concept couldn't take away from Tanya Morgan's obvious chemistry and charisma. For Donwill, as the weather gets warmer and spring arrives, the fun vibe of "Bang N Boogie" makes it perfect for a springtime release.
Von Pea's solo album, Pea's Gotta Have It, drops this summer via Interdependent Media
Tanya Morgan is back with their third project, Brooklynati, following the success of Moonlighting and The Bridge. Since Von Pea, Ilyas, and Donwill formed Tanya Morgan in 2003, they have received high praise from media elites such as Spin, The Source, XXL Magazine and a resounding seal of approval from the blogosphere. Considered by many to be our generation's torchbearers for De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest, Tanya Morgan will once again put their skills on display with the unique hip-hop Americana sounds of their Brooklynati album this spring. Based on the fictitious city of Brooklynati, this release pushes the boundaries of a concept album by incorporating not only lyrical imagery but also cultivating a culture and mindset, which can be experienced through the City of Brooklynati Chamber of Commerce website: http://www.brooklynati.com/home.html. The sites, sounds, memories, and events of Brooklynati were unleashed via Bay-Area based record label Interdependent Media, the architects behind the funding and development of Brooklynati. Wanderlusts can feed their souls at http://www.Brooklynati.com
About Interdependent Media:
Founded in 2006 in the Bay Area by Evan Phillips, Interdependent Media has built unique strengths in the development, production, and marketing of recorded music via new methods of marketing and promotion. Armed with a comprehensive understanding of both traditional and emerging methods of marketing, iM has successfully created multi-faceted methods of raising awareness and interest in their projects. Industry veterans Ian "ID" Davis and Dominic Del Bene head operations at iM and are credited with discovering and/or developing artists such as 9th Wonder, Little Brother, Tanya Morgan, Blackalicious, Del the Funky Homosapien, the Hieroglyphics and more. In 2009, iM will be releasing multi-media projects from artists Finale, Canibus, K'naan, Truthlive, and Tanya Morgan. For more information, please visit http://www.imculture.com
In preparation of his upcoming release, Declaime is proud to release the second leak off his album FONK, entitled "Gangsta." True to Declaime's self-proclaimed style, the track overflows with off-kilter effects and a swelling electro-synth line that challenges a ghostly piano melody. Producer Quazedelic, whose accolades include projects with George Clinton and Snoop Dogg, balances the warped funk vibe with a straight drumbeat and a faint electric bass line. However, even with such an active setup, Declaime's signature style shines through as he raps that "There'll always be someone more gangsta than you." To him, "Gangsta" is about shedding light on on the untold struggles of gang life. Declaime explains, "It's a message to the gangsters to wake up. This is not how we're supposed to be, and this music should heal, uplift, and cause harmony - not disharmony."
This album will mark the first release from Declaime and Georgia Anne Muldrow's new label SomeOthaShip Connect. It will drop in conjunction with Darryl Moore's debut album Where I'm At on May 4th of this year.
In a world obsessed with immature desires a man in his rarest form must rise and stir against the tide of conformity. Heeding the call is Declaime, an incredible artist talent hailing from Oxnard, California. The visionary poet first amazed his family with his musical aptitude at age two, and with no father figure in sight, started a lifelong fascination with superheroes at an early age. Experiences with gang life left Declaime disillusioned, and he emerged a transformed man ready to begin a mission of enlightenment through the power of sound. The producer/emcee/visual artist began his journey on a track with Tha Alkaholiks, and he went on to work on with Lootpack, Oh No and KanKick to name a few. Declaime has been prolific in bringing metaphysical hip-hop into being for the masses, previously releasing Illmindmusik, Andsoitissaid, Mad Men On Arrival, A Lil' Light, Conversations With Dudley, The Dank And Jammy Show, Expressions 2012 A. U., Beautiful Minds, The Message Uni Versa, Holy Smokes, and SomeOthaShip. His latest album FONK is slated to drop on May 4th via Declaime's own label imprint SomeOthaShip Connect.
![[Capture the Sun]](coverart/illogic-Capture.jpg)
Superheroes of hip-hop!
