Almost a year after dropping his aptly-titled album Self-Explanatory, the always posted Classified keeps dropping videos like leaves in autumn. This go round shows the Nova Scotian commotion go home to deliver an ode to a country who owns the rights to both the telephone and the garbage bag, “Oh…Canada.” Full of proud Canucks draped up and dripped outside in red, white and booze, this fine piece of Cazhmere-direction proves how much habitual pride can hold you down regardless of radio play. Read the rest of this entry »

Charged, Joe. That’s the best way to describe this dance remix of Cudi’s psychedelic original. Steve Aoki takes the OG, adds an uptempo pace, some techno and catches and repeats a single line to set it all in motion. Thus you have the makings of a totally revamped tune to get your system into gear. Read the rest of this entry »

Aqua with a fine addition to the game with this unreleased Tribe The Love Movement into featuring Mos Def.

Back in ‘98 I was Hip-Hop Music Director at WTJU in Charlottesville, Virginia. The nondescript position made me privy to treats like an advance copy of A Tribe Called Quest’s then last hurrah, The Love Movement. OG promo man Al Lindstrom had been servicing me with music from Jive Records for a minute so after a few pestering phone calls (e-mail? nah.) he sent me the CD advance, making me that ninja amongst my inner circle of Hip-Hop heads. Read the rest of this entry »

“Without Apache there would have been no Queen Latifah, no Naughty By Nature, no Chill Rob G., no anything. Apache was the string that tied all of Flavor Unit together. Without Apache none of this would be.” — Shakim of Flavor Unit

When I read that New Jersey original Apache passed away yesterday, I was on my way out the door and didn’t have time to put together the words I already knew I wanted to say. Most people commonly associate his name with “Gangsta Bitch,” his hit record, and then that’s where they stop. True enough, “one hit wonder” is highly applicable but that one hit had a lot going into it and did quite a bit in influencing others. Read the rest of this entry »

Regina. Whoomp! There It Is.

Introducing The Whopper Bar: Burger King To Sell Beer At Fast Food Joints [NY Daily News]

Inside The Offices Of Pixar Studios [Unreality]

Jackson Estate Opposes Stipend For Joe Jackson [AP]

Why is Google Afraid of Facebook? [ReadWriteWeb]

Kermit The Frog Shuts Down School [Blippitt] Read the rest of this entry »

Last year’s reigning 6th man of Hip-Hop, Donny Goines is ever relentless in making sure you remember his name. You would think that after two LPs in 12 months (including one of the best sleepers) one would sit back to catch their breath, but DG keeps his pace while others who started out fast are wheezing in the back. Read the rest of this entry »

If this record sounds like the beginning of something, it’s because it is. It’s also the beginning of an era as former frontman for The Verve, Richard Ashcroft embarks on a new adventure with his new band United Nations Of Sound as they link with NME to cut the red tape on their project tentatively titled Redemption. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re a frequenter of this site, you’ve already read one review of Mickey Factz’ EP, The Dark Phoenix #Alpha. Of course, it was Factz’ own take on the proceedings, complete with esoteric explanations on the deep metaphorical significance of each track. Unfortunately for Factz, a more unbiased listen reveals not some game changing philosophical opus, but an incomplete mishmash of alterna-rap styles that sounds more like a poor imitation of recent albums than the blueprint for the Next Big Thing. Read the rest of this entry »

While the only actual link of bloodline between these two are merely strands of cannabis, there’s no denying the fact that Nasir Jones and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley have a kinship in the studio when it comes to creating stirring rebel rock for the freedom fighters. It started once upon a time as the duo traveled on a “Road To Zion,” a single from Damian’s solo LP Welcome To Jamrock; an album that went on to spawn two Grammy Awards including best Reggae album in 2005. Read the rest of this entry »

Your favorite artist probably wouldn’t mind “keeping it real” and flipping the bird to Clear Channel or Radio One if there wasn’t financial benefits to be reaped. It is common practice for royalties to be paid to artists for having their songs blasted on the radio–or so you were taught to believe. The radio station does shell out a mandatory royalties to the composer, songwriter and publishing company associated with them. Unless that said artist a.k.a. performer can checklist either of the three on their resume, they get nada. Read the rest of this entry »

Prince. By a country mile, this guy is one of the greatest enigmas of all time off personality alone. Attempting to truly figure the icon probably mimics the same success rate as Mark McGwire motivating kids to steer away from drugs. That’s probably why he’s hailed as one of the greatest musical minds ever though, so no qualms here. One thing that is known, however, is his adoration with the Purple People Eaters, the Minnesota Vikings. Read the rest of this entry »

When he’s not in church and life deals him lemonades, $pitta rolls up that “Lemon Kush.” David D. gave him a pass for flickin’ blunt ashes in class and you can clearly tell on this Gucci Mane swipe that Curren$y is a functional stoner. Read the rest of this entry »

“I’m a giant to defeat/my name rings bells overseas/while your on your knees, giving dome for BDS spins and a chance to rise/I get respect from same niggas you idolize… So indirectly I’m your idol, guys”

Vandalyzm may not be the father but that doesn’t stop him chastising any beat that crosses his path. This here is no exception as he navigates the matrix that is the music business.  Flanked by fellow STLien Tef Poe, the duo follow Wayne’s template while exercising their inner demons. Read the rest of this entry »

“This series has forced me to look at the seasons and time in a different way, they’re like theme music.”

After an Odd Summer and Autumn, the natural progression is an Odd Winter. Odd Winter is the third installment in producer Oddise’s season-themed series of instrumental music and it should prove to be on par with the rest. Listen and love. Read the rest of this entry »

Last night, somewhere in a gold-plated 5th Avenue penthouse, David Stern was on his knees praying to His Holiness that Allen Iverson catches a bad hand, blows up and gets arrested at an Atlantic City casino directly before Valentine’s Day. Three-hundred miles away in Boston, Ray Allen was pulling out of some blonde bean pie in order to cuss out his flat-screen for delivering the following headline.

“Iverson Among All-Star Game Starters.” Read the rest of this entry »