Words By Jason Hortillas

Wale. Skyzoo. Illmind. All three have made some noise individually but combined it looks like the future of Hip-Hop is in good hands. Yes, it may be too early to solidify any one of them into a definitive chapter in Hip-Hop history, but you can’t deny that all three are in the running.

This was a definitely a pleasant surprise as I stumbled on this while checking out the Myspace page. After getting pissed about Rupert Murdoch induced spam, I check Illmind’s page as he posted a flyer for a new gig. I look to the right on the jukebox and see “Lyrically Inclined” flash over the jukebox ticker. Read the rest of this entry »

Stray Shots

Duke Da God Presents Harlem Classics

Al Green – Lay It Down

Jill Scott – Live @ Chicago Theater

MJG – Pimp Tight

Taking Back Sunday – Tell All Your Friends

Young Jeezy – Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101

Mack 10 – The Paper Route

Sadat X – Wild Cowboys

Sadat X – The State of New York Vs. Derek Murphy

Killarmy – Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars

Herschelwood_Hardheadedness-A_Million_Dollars_Later

Stray Shots

…or would that be a flagrant?

At least you know I ain’t just preachin’ it. Last night, I took my happy ass to Best Buy too & I will be going to see them on May 27 as well.

We’ll be pluggin’ the winner for the Erykah Badu Giveaway very soon. If you entered, watch your inbox.

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The first shall be last and the last shall be first…

Just as predicted, the last track on the GZA’s seminal classic Liquid Swords was the first time much of the Hip-Hop world was exposed to the spiritual diatribes from one Killah Priest. Much like the diametrical views displayed on “B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth),” Priest has continuously challenged listeners with his illuminate visionaries of religion and surreal experiences while still remaining a fierce presence on the microphone.

In case you lost track of Priest’s whereabouts, he’s never stopped putting in work since that unforgettable cameo over a decade ago. Still freshly removed from his last album The Offering, which was released last August, Priest is set to deliver yet another project—Behind The Stained Glass as takes as few moments to give all the details to TSS Crew’s TC in between a busy day of photo shoots and video spots.

TSS: What’s good Priest?

Killah Priest: Yo, what’s the deal!

TSS: What video you shooting for today?

Killah Priest: I’m shooting “Profit Of Man” today. This my fourth video I shot so far. I shot “Ghetto Jesuz” from The Offering and I shot “Hood Nursery” from the new album. There’s going to be four videos from this new album.

TSS: Oh so you still promoting The Offering too?

Killah Priest: Nah, that’s just a video that me and the producer wanted to do from a while back, but I’m basically still pushing everything ya know?

TSS: That’s what’s up. And you still being grindin’ and pushing albums, but it’s been more on the low-key end. You think you’ll ever bounce back on a major (record label)?

Killah Priest: I don’t even know man ’cause the way things are going, everything is coming towards independent anyway. And I don’t even know if the majors would ever want me again anyway. (laughs). I’m major and I’m trying to make it major, feel me?

TSS: No doubt, basically doing your own thing. But give us some insight on where the inspiration for the content of your lyrics comes from.

Killah Priest: The inspiration comes from different sources of life. Predicaments, dealing in the spiritual sense. For Black people, we’re always dealing with that spiritual connection so the lyrics stem from that.

TSS: Did you ever study theology in school?

Killah Priest: Nah, but I definitely went through all of that. Studying bibles, Mathematics, theology. I learned mine straight from the street. In school, I did the reading and writing, but I did my own research too and that’s where I gained the most knowledge. You can do your best learning by traveling and so forth.

TSS: Of course: life experience. And you’ve been described as prophet by your fans. Do you view yourself as such?

Killah Priest: (Laughs) Oh man. Well I just wanna make a profit in the pockets (laughs). But nah, if a prophet consists of telling ya’ll the truth, then that’s what it is. If it’s telling to truth to shame the devil, then yeah. I wanna be more than a prophet, because they prosecute them and I just want to tell the truth.

TSS: And what can we expect from seeing Killah Priest live in concert?

Killah Priest: It’s an experience. I take control of the crowd while having fun at the same time. People will tell you, “Priest does his thing.” And that’s what kinda kept me alive to be real.

TSS: So tell me about your latest Behind The Stained Glass? Read the rest of this entry »

When we first posted the snippet, you were warned that this song’s reign would be a long one.

Well, it’s number one in the country right now.

Lil Wayne – A Milli BW Lollipop (Promo CDS)

^ Snatch the instrumental & show the world you’re better than Wayne.

Lil Wayne — Whose ‘Lollipop’ Is #1 [MTV]

Lil Wayne Hits No. 1 On Singles Chart [Reuters]

Previously Posted — “Sex Sex & Lil Wayne”

Words By Khalid Strickland

EPMD’s goodwill tour finally touched down at a sold-out Nokia Theater in New York City. Much like the Super Bowl-winning Giants, the legendary duo of Parrish Smith and Erick Sermon received a heroes’ welcome in their home city. But before EPMD stormed the stage, the fired-up crowd was treated to performances by the members of the D.I.T.C. crew (Lord Finesse, O.C., Showbiz & A.G.), Lords of the Underground and a kinetic set courtesy of Naughty By Nature. Each act had hits aplenty and the packed house seemingly knew every classic record line for line.

Once the fans were worked to a fever pitch by the seasoned vets, the legendary EPMD took center stage and proceeded to rip shit. Erick Sermon set the tone from the jump, making the crowd roar as he proclaimed, “There will be no Laffy Taffy in here tonight!” It was a sight to behold. Midway into EPMD’s set, DJ Scratch got his customary spotlight moment and brought the house down with his feats turntable manipulation. No matter how many times I see Scratch do his thing, I always walk away amazed; he’s mastered the turntables the way Jimi Hendrix mastered a guitar. From start to finish, the entire concert was energetic. Read the rest of this entry »

Phonte speaks via his Myspace…

“…he would’ve been signed to a record deal.”

I know it sounds crazy, but it really ain’t THAT crazy.

It seems to me that becoming a rapper is the only way that Black male victims of our justice system can receive any sort of “justice” at all. After all, NOTHING sells more magazines and CD’s apparently than dead and/or criminally insane niggers, right?

RIGHT?

*sigh*

Conventional wisdom says that people often laugh in order to keep from crying.

But even my halfway joking in the subject line couldn’t stop the tears from falling once I heard the Sean Bell verdict a few days ago. To echo the sentiments shared by the brother Ant Springer on hiphopdx, the Bell verdict made me shed tears for the first time in what seems like forever.

The Darfur Genocide?

Absolutely horrendous, but no tears from the kid.

Hurricane Katrina?

Sadness at first, but later turned to rage as I saw how our government completely mishandled it. I was at the brink of tears, but still not quite there.

9/11?

A tragedy, of course. But once I got over the shock of seeing two planes hit the WTC on some Jerry Bruckheimer shit, and called to make sure my fam in the DC area was cool, I (like many other Black males in their early 20′s at that time) just wanted to know what that new Hov was taumbot.

The Sean Bell verdict was the first news piece that was able to break through the emotional numbness that I, and many other Americans have been dealing with in the wake of our declining empire. For the first time in my 29 years, I just shook my head out of frustration and wondered a), “When does this shit ever stop?” and b), “What the fuck do I tell my sons?” Read the rest of this entry »

Don’t this song & video both have that energetic, funny 90′s-version of Busta that we love?

Isn’t it good to see Spliff Star beside Busta again too?

Didn’t he have “Touch It” a few years back, now it’s “Don’t Touch Me”?

Is Busta the only Aftermath artist gettin’ to release material?

Contraâ„¢ on discover & assist with this video.

Stray Shots

VA-The_Music_Of_GTA_IV_(Special_Edition)-OST-2008

Baby_D-A-Town_Secret_Weapon

Ransom-Street_Cinema

Bake_Up_Boyz-Fresh_Out_Da_Kitchen

DJ Michael Watts – Swishahouse Classic Flows Vol. 1

Portishead-Third

Big_Noyd-The_Co-Defendants_Volume_1

Webbie-Savage_Life_2

Rocko-Self_Made

Sarah_McLachlan-Rarities_B-Sides_And_Other_Stuff_Volume_2

Hot Dollar – 100 Laws of Power 2.0 (The So So Def Edition)

Andre_3000-Alter_Ego_The_Mixtape_(Presented_By_Trapaholics)

Killa_Kyleon-Killa_Music

VA-DJ Victorious And Sha Stimuli – The Secret

VA-Boss_Hogg_Outlawz-Headed_To_Da_Kappa_2K8-(Bootleg)-2CD-2008

Stray Shots

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Words By Patrick M.

It’s easy to forget what a force X to the Z was before “Pimp My Ride” was ever conceived. He led the way in representing the West Coast underground with the late 90′s releases At The Speed Of Life and 40 Dayz and 40 Nightz. Three songs off 40 Dayz… remain in constant rotation – “Chamber Music,” “Three Card Molly,” and “What U C Is What U Get.” These three songs resonate with me for their unified raw ferocity and the subtle differences between them exhibit the different ways one can make a timeless song. Read the rest of this entry »

Prime example of why Drew says rappers don’t need to get involved.

But I digress.

David D. expressed a need for our artists to use their voices to make sure our generation & Hip-Hop itself was heard. I’ll spare you my full opinion Read the rest of this entry »

You were buying the album anyways, right?

Well how about a chance to buy the album, show your support…and win something in the process?

Yep, we’re back at it, just like we did before with the TSS x Little Brother “Proof Of Purchase” Giveway.

Same process to enter…

1. Grab a sheet of paper & write your name on it.

2. Take a picture of your CD & that piece of paper. Read the rest of this entry »

The legendary Roots crew is an enigma within the realm of Hip-Hop because they are known for their live performance & use of instruments, moreso than for their actual albums. This is partly due to the fact that they don’t cater to the desires of fans or try to keep up with what’s going on in the current landscape of rap music. They do what they do & if you like it cool; if not try again next time. It’s also because since they make their living on the road, that they feel free to do whatever they want (& their label is willing to tolerate) when they put together a studio album. Staying with the darker sound found on their last album Game Theory; The Roots give us Rising Down, the title believed to have been taken from the book “Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent Means.”

Wasting no time in unleashing the title track, Black Thought is joined by Mos Def & Styles P. on “Rising Down.” The three emcees speak on the ills of society over a sparse backdrop of a keyboard loop & drums. The theme continues on “Get Busy,” as Black Thought, Dice Raw, & Peedi Crakk continue to weigh-in on what’s going in the world. Read the rest of this entry »

Words By David D.

This past weekend was the biggest party weekend at Davidson College. I drank, partied and was in that zone since Wednesday night.

Then I woke up this morning and it hit me…

Those muthafuckin pigs got off the hook. No time. Nothing. 50 shots.

Usually my iPod gives me a lot of answers.

When I am getting ready for a party, Boosie does the trick. When I wanna get some work done, Illmatic is there. Pressured? Kanye. Angry? DMX.

But right now I’m at a loss.

I’ve tried everything. I flipped open some books of poetry for Dunbar, Robeson, Langston Hughes and the rest to see what the forefathers said in their trying times. It did help me a little bit, but I want more.

Amerikkka’s Most Wanted, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Some Immortal Technique, even the new Roots album, nothing. They can’t grasp the anger, confusion, sadness and loss I feel today.

On the night of 9/11, I sat in front of the television and blasted my newly purchased Blueprint. I zoned out and let the lyrics take me to a different place where these tragedies didn’t happen. Read the rest of this entry »

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