As avid fans of live instrumentation backing hip-hop acts, we’ve been riding for this El Michels Affair crew just off the strength of “Cream” and the few songs we heard a while back.

My man Slangeditorialz stumbled across this joint, with the band performing with an abridged version of Wu-Tang Clan, and passed it along much to my delight.

The beauty of this joint is that the band makes alot of the songs better (“Pinky Ring” off Iron Flag) while others become listenable (“That’s Gangsta” off Golden Armz Redemption).

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the Wu could be one of the first hip-hop acts to become a successful Las Vegas act. Money is money, these cats perform pretty well with the band backing them and their discography is deep enough that this recording been much longer if they wanted it to.

“Its Yourz” is slowed down; not screwed but definitely smoothed out. When “Criminology” comes on you’ll either lose control or lose your ears courtesy of the horns featured on the track. Taking on a new life, “Ice Cream” has a melodic sound that gives the crew room to play, ad-lib etc.

The only drawbacks were…

- The whole crew wasn’t there. Present were Rae, U-God, Deck and Gza, leaving Meth, Rza and Ghost missing in action.

- Of course, Dirty’s not on here and the crew alternates performing his verses. We’re left only to imagine what Dirt Dog could’ve done with the band holding him down.

Very much well worth a listen.

Wu-Tang + El Michels

As we continue…

Rapper Fabolous shot in NYC parking garage

Life imitating art imitating life…would it be so strange if we had alot more of these Sopranos and/or Cheddar Bob type shootings happening with rappers?

Black Thought is mad @ Def Jam

Let’s stop focusing all of the animosity on Jay and give a fair share to L.A. Reid since he’s over Jay. L.A. is R&B all the way and obviously promotes those artists harder while letting hip-hop artists flop or succeed on their own. Def Jam = Death Jam?

VH1′s Hip-Hop Honors’ Airs Tonight

Respect your roots.

St. Lunatic Rapper Alleges Police Brutality
Ali says he was tasered nearly 50 times during traffic stop. “I was afraid. I had a bowel movement on myself, he tased me so long,” he added. “You see my back, he tased me 35 times over and over and he held it every time.” True story as funny as that sounds, it’s not. I seen a kid get tasered that much before and it was not a pretty sight when it goes so far as to where you lose control of bodily functions. Somebody cue up some KRS-One.

Not on as big scale nationally, but still another story of police brutality in the hip-hop community…

Seattle’s DV One’s battle with local police has rallied the hip-hop community there.

Regardless of the outcome, it’s good to see hip-hop giving a voice and a support to a just cause.

Wesley Snipes Indicted…

First, Mr. Biggs, now Flipper? Say it ain’t so, Nino…

Stray Shots

Birdman & Lil’ Wayne – Like Father, Like Son

Silk-Always_And_Forever

Billy_Cook-R_N_B_Gangsta

Jojo_Pellegrino-Pellafreestyles_Volume_1

Jibbs-Jibbs_Feat_Jibbs

P_Diddy-Press_Play

Mac Dre-The Best of Mac Dre II

Gangsta Blac-Gangsta Blac

DJ Zirk-Underworld

Ludacris-Word of Mouf

Main Source-Breaking Atoms

DJ Squeeky & the Family-On a Mission

VA-Assassin_and_San_Quinn-Fillmoe_2_San_Jo_2

VA-Big_Mike-This_Is_Why_Im_Hot_Part_4

VA-Ill_Bill-Ill_Bill_Is_The_Future_Vol_II_(Hosted_By _La_Coka_Nostra)

Amos Lee – Supply And Demand

10.17 Stray Shots File

10.17 Stray Shots Changelink

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