MP3/Video: D.Black - "Special" Feat. Fatal Lucciauno (Prod. By B.Brown) 01.28.2010 Seattle's Own Speaks On Ali'Yah, Offers First Leak From Forthcoming Free EP
The Song & Videos:
Following the release of his well-received MYX Music Label debut Ali'Yah, Seattle-based MC D.Black is showing no signs of slowing down in 2010. Teaming up with fellow Emerald City native and frequent collaborator B.Brown, D.Black is gearing up to release a brand new (and free!) EP entitled Black and Brown – D.Black will be handling all the vocals, while producer B.Brown provides the beats. In anticipation of the release, D.Black is leaking the first song from the forthcoming EP for public consumption. "Special" is about taking a stand against the destructive ways that most people live their lives. "We got a generation dying over wealth, but we constantly chasing our self," raps D.Black. It showcases the lyrical skills and sophistication you have come to expect from D.Black, smooth production by B.Brown, and features a guest spot from fellow Sportn' Life Records labelmate MC Fatal Lucciauno. The trio prove that, just in case you weren't sure, Sportn' Life Records and MYX Music Label are a force to be reckoned with.
Joining the songs are two exclusive videos featuring D.Black speaking on the creative process behind Ali'Yah. D.Black takes some time to tell us what the album means to him, and where he drew his inspirations for it. "I'm transcending and ascending into a more spiritual being - in a lighter realm." Black, a firm believer in the Messianic Hebrew roots of Christianity, talks about his journey from darkness and lack of direction to the light and newfound direction in his life. "I listen for and I write for those that are in the light," says D.Black. He hopes that listeners will listen with an open mind, and re-listen if need be, to follow the words that he is sharing.
Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, D.Black's musical roots are deep, with his mother and father both involved in pioneering hip-hop groups in the Seattle music scene. In 2006, D.Black released his debut album, The Cause & Effect, a huge regional success, allowing the emcee to share the stage with Nas, Freeway, Bun B, Clipse, Paul Wall, The Boot Camp Click, and more. After being mentored by Vitamin D, a staple and veteran of the Seattle hip-hop scene, D.Black began making a name for himself by working on projects with producer Jake One. One such collaboration resulted in D.Black being featured on Jake One's White Van Music, on the track "God Like," helping to cement the Seattle emcee as a household name beyond the Pacific Northwest. Jake One and Vitamin D were also both instrumental in helping D.Black create his new album, offering guidance and production on the record. D.Black's new album, Ali'Yah, is now available everywhere via Sportn' Life Records/MYX Music Label.
About MYX Music:
MYX Music Label was founded in 2007 by industry veteran Karim Panni of the Boom Bap Project (Rhymesayers Entertainment). MYX Music Label is under the umbrella of MYX TV, which is the only music and lifestyle channel dedicated to the Asian American community. Distributed nationally, MYX TV showcases the hottest major label and independent content as well as dynamic original programming that fuses fashion, comedy, and culture. MYX Music Label integrates the newest technology while developing innovative digital distribution and promotion strategies to service their artists. The MYX Music Label was created for the sole purpose of using the MYX TV visual network platform to promote the finest independent hip-hop and urban music. MYX Music Label's ambitious release schedule for 2009 includes groundbreaking works from production duo Keelay & Zaire, D.Black, Jern Eye, and Kam Moye aka Supastition. Also, adding to their versatility as a label, MYX Music Label DVD releases include The Nutshack, Built From Skratch, Str8 Laced and Slanted Comedy, which features today's top Asian American comedians For more information on MYX Music Label, please visit http://www.myxmusiclabel.com .
Gab is hitting the road again, this time starting in the USA and then continuing on to Europe. Dates are scheduled in states he doesn’t hit up often, so make sure to catch him on this round!
February 13, 2010 Whiskey Dick's South Lake Tahoe, CA
February 16, 2010 The Roxy Los Angeles, CA
February 17, 2010 Club Metronome Burlington, VT
February 18, 2010 Asylum Portland, ME
February 19, 2010 Outland Ballroom Springfield, MO
February 20, 2010 The Cabooze Minneapolis, MN
February 21, 2010 The Channel @ Wired Live Houston, TX
February 27, 2010 Marsatac Festival Marsellie FRANCE
February 28, 2010 Grand Mix, Tourcoing Lille FRANCE
March 1, 2010 Marinoquinerie Paris FRANCE
March 3, 2010 Laiterie Strasbourg FRANCE
March 4, 2010 Rainbow Garden Birmingham UNITED KINGDOM
March 5, 2010 Jazz Cafe London UNITED KINGDOM
March 6, 2010 Sound Control Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM
March 7, 2010 Freebutt Brighton UNITED KINGDOM
March 9, 2010 Leeds University Leeds UNITED KINGDOM
March 10, 2010 Rescue Rooms Nottingham UNITED KINGDOM
March 11, 2010 Thekla Bristol UNITED KINGDOM
March 12, 2010 Globe Cardiff UNITED KINGDOM
March 13, 2010 Vibraphonic Festival Exeter UNITED KINGDOM
If you’ve watched television at all in the past month there’s no doubt you’ve seen the McDonald’s commercials that feature emcees rhyming in public transportation vans. The ads are a glossy example of what Joe Revitte and his wife have been doing for almost a full year now with their brainchild, Dollar Van Demos. 30+ videos deep, Dollar Van Demos has worked with a number of former Adam’s World Artists Of The Week, including longtime B-Listers Dyalekt, iLLspoKinn, Kalil Kash, Hasan Salaam, Miz Metro and Poison Pen. “In some ways I call myself a MySpace director,” Revitte explains, “because they have amazing music on MySpace but there isn’t a visual component to their music, so I’m like why don’t you do a video with me inside this crazy Flatbush Avenue dollar van?”
Revitte likes to put the birthdate of Dollar Van Demos at February 28th, 2009, because that’s when they...
$5 MINIMUM DONATION (more encouraged) Proceeds to benefit the J Dilla Foundation CEO / Chair / Spokesperson Maureen "Ma Dukes" Yancey For more info, visit http://www.jdillafoundation.org .
Swollen Members have announced the dates for their upcoming US tour alongside Humboldt County hip-hop duo Potluck. The tour will kick off February 18th, 2010 in Seattle, WA and run through March 7th in Spokane, WA.
"We are excited about this upcoming tour with Potluck," commented Prevail from Swollen Members. "Potluck has been killing it for a while now and they have a great live show to back it up. The balance of what we and the sound Potluck brings to this tour will make for many memorable performances."
"Swollen Members have been in the hip-hop scene for a while now, and we've always respected their sound and the fact that they constantly tour," added 1 Ton from Potluck. "I think the combination of both groups on the same tour is going to make a great show for fans. We're excited to get back out on the road with our Suburban Noize family."
Swollen Members’ are enjoying some of the biggest success of their career after signing with Suburban Noize Records. The group’s sixth studio album, "Armed To The Teeth", debuted at #146 on the Billboard Top 200 and #5 on the Heatseekers charts. Since the album’s release, “Armed To The Teeth” has been named one of the best hip-hop records of 2009 by iTunes, alongside albums from Ghostface Killah, Slaughterhouse, KRS-One, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and Twista. Swollen Members’ video for the track "Bollywood Chick" featuring Tech N9ne can be seen online at http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=100455459 .
Potluck is riding high after completing a 2-month tour across the US with reunited hip-hop icons D12. Potluck's sophomore album, "Pipe Dreams", has been embraced by hip-hop fans from coast to coast who have been mesmerized by the group's lyrical depth, rapid fire flows, and head nodding beats. The Source Magazine championed the group’s sound saying, "There are strong reggae and good vibe undercurrents throughout this 21-cut ode to the high life." The group recently released a new digital EP, "Pothead Music Vol. 1: The Dank Alumni Experience", which is only available through digital retailers and online at www.SubNoizeStore.com. Potluck is currently streaming the new track “Vapors” online at www.MySpace.com/Potluck .
CATCH SWOLLEN MEMBERS & POTLUCK ON TOUR: Feb 18 - Seattle, WA @ Neumo's Feb 19 - Bellingham, WA @ The Nightlight Feb 20 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Feb 21 - Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall Feb 23 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge Feb 24 - Avon, CO @ Agave Feb 25 - Steamboat Springs, CO @ Ghostranch Saloon Feb 26 - Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep Feb 27 - Ft. Collins, CO @ Aggie Theatre Feb 28 - Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre Mar 01 - Breckenridge, CO @ Three20South Mar 02 - Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre Mar 04 - Park City, UT @ The Star Bar Mar 05 - Ketchum, ID @ NexStage Theater Mar 06 - Ketchum, ID @ NexStage Theater Mar 07 - Spokane, WA @ The Boulevard
Nokia and Rihanna Release Exclusive Content Free Rihanna App Available on Ovi Store and Offers Unique Content and Latest News
Nokia launched the exclusive Rihanna App. Bringing fans closer to Rihanna, the new App delivers news, music, photos and exclusive video content direct to Nokia's entertainment-rich handsets including the Nokia N97, Nokia X6 and Nokia 5800 XpressMusic.
Video content available through the App includes live performance videos from Rihanna's album launch event. Additionally, fans can access music samples, a Rihanna biography and photo library, and, when available, information on Rihanna's forthcoming 2010 tour. The App content is unavailable elsewhere and is regularly updated for fans.
The App also provides a direct link to the Nokia Music Store where fans can download exclusive album content including a Nokia bonus track, Hole In My Head, written and produced by Justin Timberlake.
In addition, an exclusive Donni Hotwheels remix of Rihanna's smash single, Russian Roulette, is also available to those who download her album, Rated R, exclusively via the Nokia Music Store.
On November 16, Rihanna performed tracks from her new album exclusively with Nokia. With a set list including former number ones Umbrella and Disturbia, Rihanna's performance was streamed live and globally to her fans on every continent. The show included live Twitter commentary from music fans across the world. The Rihanna App and exclusive video content from the show is now live at www.nokia.com/rihanna .
More About The Ovi Store By Nokia:
Ovi Store is Nokia's one-stop-shop for free and paid content, with support for a range of device types from smartphones to feature phones. Globally, Nokia device owners, in more than 180 countries, across more than 100 Nokia device models in 30 languages have access to Ovi Store. Many of the content industry's biggest names along with independent application developers are distributing their media, applications and games through Ovi Store by Nokia. Content providers and application developers interested in distributing their content through Ovi Store should visit publish.ovi.com. Nokia is a pioneer in mobile telecommunications and the world's leading maker of mobile devices. Today, we are connecting people in new and different ways - fusing advanced mobile technology with personalized services to enable people to stay close to what matters to them. We also provide comprehensive digital map information through NAVTEQ; and equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.
Check Out His Latest Mixtape, Limos Were Cool In The ’90s HERE And Keep A Lookout For "Trippy," His Collaboration With Kid Cudi, On The Web Now!
Emerging from a thick haze of hallucinogenic rhymes and vintage beats comes Rich Hil, the latest ground-breaker riding the next wave of hip-hop.
Since bursting onto the scene, Rich has made his mark with a series of mixtapes that show off his raspy croon and stream of consciousness narratives. An East Coast transplant now living in L.A., Rich Hil ambitiously fuses classic pop influences with hip-hop rhythms and blunted West Coast cool. On Limos Were Cool In The ’90s, he doles out frank rhymes about the highs of fame, power, and money — as well as that epic comedowns that come hand-in-hand with the lifestyle. Tracks like “Until We Bleed” and “All the Hippies Say” are spaced-out, down-tempo synth jams that walk the line between R&B and rap and delve into love and loss. On “Getting In Them Thangs” Rich wraps slinky verses around a hook featuring fellow artist Phlo. Rich is inspired by a variety of artists ranging from Memphis Bleek to Jimi Hendrix, and his sound draws from everything from classic soul to West Coast electro. It’s this idiosyncratic style that Rich Hil has dubbed “hippie,” a mix of vintage beats, unabashed tributes to drug culture, and a laid back flow that reflects his rejection of hip-hop’s blinged out, bottle-service past, embracing instead a back-to-basics lifestyle not unlike his indie rock counterparts.
Rich Hil and his distinctive croon have already caught the attention of artists like Lil Wayne, Kid Cudi and Swizz Beatz, and earned him praises from The Smoking Section, Nah Right, and OnSmash. His latest mixtape, Limos Were Cool In The ’90swas produced in collaboration with Atlanta’s legendary producer Don Cannon, and is a prelude to Rich’s upcoming debut full-length, set for release later this spring via Limo Life Records. The album will feature “Trippy”, Hil’s psychedelic collaboration with Kid Cudi.
Rich Hil will be touring extensively this spring – stay tuned for dates!
While we were relatively quiet (at least publicly) in 2009, 2010 is going to be a busy year for Karma Response Unit Records! Starting next Wednesday we will be sending out free weekly MP3s to everyone on our email list. Between that and my “Happ G’s 44 Remixes” project, we will be giving away close to 100 free songs this year! Feel free to spread the word on that and to encourage people to sign up.
And to celebrate our 10th birthday as a record label this year (on July 4th) we are releasing 10 retail projects as a promotional campaign we’re calling “Ten in 10” (creative title huh?!).
The first 3 projects, dropping in March, are; Side Effect “Cabin Fever”, Happ G “7 Touches”, and “Karma Response Unit’s B-Sides (2000-2010)”, featuring new music from Jake Lefco, Reef the Lost Cauze, 40th Dimension, Side Effect, Snuff of Media 101, Briz, R-Son, and more. We are extremely excited about all 3 of these projects and will be in touch shortly with more specific release date info as well as free downloadable samplers from all 3 projects.
- VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK: Urban Art Beat cast video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBl5VbT19rc Awesome program! Watching this put a big smile on my face and gives me some hope in an increasingly depressing world, not to get too heavy on you though! And we're really happy that our boy Jake Lefco has been able to be a big part of this program from its beginning.
And lastly, any of you who might be interested in helping out with our newly formed street team and/or web team please send us an email and we can add you to either or both.
The Midnight Specialists consist of MC extraordinaire, the Master, and beat-smith taeOne. Their debut album, The All Nighter, is a brooding and cautionary tale of modern urban life in New York City. The Master provides personal insights and lyrical dexterity rarely seen in todayship hop. taeOne’s soundscapes range from classic east coast boom bap to drum and bass. The combination results in a plethora of styles manifesting itself in the form of a struggle between cynical disdain and undying faith. Dripping with chest-vibrating bass and wielding an edge of paranoia, their style is rooted in the classic New York rap sound, with Boot Camp Click and Organized Konfusion being central influences.
They begin the album with a scary and off putting rant from comedic legend George Carlin recorded shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This sense of dread is a central element of the album and provides the Midnight Specialists with the fury needed to make a classic New York City hip hop album.
"The All Nighter, is nothing but classical NYC hip hop. Known as Midnight Specialists, they come with an original sound, dark in nature, but still very musical, The All Nighter, gives me hope that NYC still has it.... " - Wake Your Daughter Up (http://www.wydublog.com/)
"East Coast duo The Midnight Specialists provide three verses of paranoid street rap over three different beats (the Ills). It’s very trippy and it requires multiple listens. I rarely get anything this good from a random blast. Might have to kinda sorta check this album out when it drops." – www.metallungies.com
"I gave it a listen while I was home for a bit Saturday and was amazed by the track. It's slower in nature, but has some cool sounds entrenched into the rhythm. But what it does mainly is let Reef, Lex and the rest of the MCs just run a muck all over the track. We know what Reef is capable of and it's good to hear my good friend Lex kill a track again. Great song all the way around." - www.wydublog.com (Wake Your Daughter Up)
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Superheroes of hip-hop!
