I actually received a hard copy of this and decided to rip and reup for the masses since it’s two criminally underrated musicians who deserve a marching band to trumpet their cause. Jazzy Jeff and Ayah will be releasing This Way soon. With the snap of Jeff’s drum patterns & crisp production matched with Ayah’s full, round vocals, the duo’s complimenting styles should produce more than the fair share of playlist-worthy additions. For now, the sampler to the release – complete with five full songs & seven snippets – should tide listeners over until to the project’s drops. Read the rest of this entry »

You can call it corporate synergy, brand advocacy, a step above a 15 minute commercial for Absolut or whatever else you like. But you can’t deny the quality of the presentation.  Plus, Jay always makes for an engaging interview who always finds something new to say.  This time (for me at least), it was him talking about performing at MSG a few days before The Black Album dropped, fully expecting to wow the crowd with new songs.  Instead, he was greeted to a full house rockin’ with him word for word, just like any other song from his discography. Read the rest of this entry »

It looks as if Asher’s taking a quieter approach, serving up only a handful of leaks preceding the arrival of the full course meal. Presented by DJ Wreckineyez, Seared Foie Gras With Quince And Cranberry (what a name) features a handful of guest features – Talib, Blu, Pac Div and others – as well as Asher holding it down on his own over well-cooked production “served” by the likes of Just Blaze, Timbaland and Kanye. Read the rest of this entry »

Jackie Kimberly Janay

Rumor Control: Essence Is Not Going Anywhere [Singersroom]

Loneliness Is A Cool iPod…Happiness Is A Warm Album Cover [Pop Matters]

What Does Hip-Hop’s ‘Young’ Prefix Actually Mean? [Vulture]

Disney Bans Fake Boobs from Pirates [Gawker]

CollegeHumor Interview: Sarah Silverman! [College Humor] Read the rest of this entry »

And so it came to pass that I fell into an auditory stupor of epic proportions, and sought sanctuary in a genre previously dismissed in my mind as “white music.” That is to say, emo. Read the rest of this entry »

Live from Mothership Decatur, Aleon Craft arrives to the third rock to bless you with some country rap tunes. Instead of bombarding you with the entire shock gamma ray, this is only the first installment of The Prologue. Produced by the almighty SMKA and a drunken appearance from Playboy Tre, AC won’t ask to be taken to your leader… Read the rest of this entry »

Looks like B.o.B.’s breaking a few tricks out of his bag, bringing out two potent remixes in less than 24 hours. First Big hops on a track, now Grand Hustle’s recently released king comes through with a scatching verse for the remix of the May 25th original. Read the rest of this entry »

Over the course of the SXSW weekend, I had a chance to politic with plenty of artists and managers, exchanging information and opinions about the nature of rap and the music business as a whole. When asked how they could increase their online presence, my biggest suggestion was that they invest in a video or two. Perhaps even greater than a solid mixtape or a hot song, a strong video can go full blown viral within a few hours of posting.

On a smaller scale, fans are still fans and they like to connect faces with voices, which videos allow them to do. Even though there’s the perception that outlets are few because BET & MTV don’t show videos anymore, it’s grossly untrue. YouTube and Vimeo can be the most powerful allies of an artist on the rise. Adopt a DIY mantra, find a solid but equally hungry film crew and you’re on your way. Why? Because @ the end of the day, YouTube is still one of the most powerful online tools for music discovery. Read the rest of this entry »

Reflection Eternal back again with another video, this time featuring Bun B and for the track “Strangers.” The album Revolutions Per Minute hits stores April 20th.

I will not, shall not, cannot indulge in this one early. If LeftBack going to be their last one, there’s absolutely no need for me to rush the experience. I’ll wait until the retail drops…via Rapidshare. It’s okay, I can say that because I’ll be pre-ordering a copy. Pooh & Tay always gets their fair cut of my paycheck. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by K. Barrett

It’s always exciting when two musicians of entirely different genres team up. Thus is Broken Bells, Danger Mouse’s recent collaboration with Shins’ front man, James Mercer. Expectedly, the duo’s self-titled debut is a hipster’s wet dream. The disc employs all the fashionable nostalgia indie kids love with a touch of hip-hop credibility. But as Burton proved with the Black Keys’ Attack and Release, it’s possible to be both cool and genuine simultaneously. His affinity for ‘the strange’ turns out to be a good match for Mercer’s deeply heartfelt and abstract lyricism. Read the rest of this entry »

When the seas parted, eleven Crew members walked from various points across the great expanse of America to convene in Austin, Texas. Though we spent a handful of days indulging the senses together — thrown into the immediacy and intimacy of a shared experience — the mark SxSW leaves on a person is as unique as a fingerprint. We all took in different shows, talked to different people and shook different hands. Read the rest of this entry »

I kept seeing and hearing this commercial throughout the NCAA’s yesterday. Told you fools Steve Aoki’s remix was tremendous and as energetic as it gets. Read the rest of this entry »

While it will add to the radio appeal, this song could be suffering from too much Terius. Minus him and imagining Drake shooting solo, it tips the same lane traveled by SFG’s “Houstatlantavegas,” which would be a great thing. With Mr. Nash in this said unfinished mix, we’re bordering on a R. Kelly sound that’s a tad too sweet for consumption. I’ll wait it to hear a final version that makes Thank Me Later and how it fits before making a judgment. Read the rest of this entry »

After a snippet appeared on the mixtape that wasn’t, here’s a more complete version of “Countin’ Money.” For archival and anticipation purposes only, as this supposedly will feature Gucci and Jewman before all is said and done for it to appear on Bun’s Trill OG album. Read the rest of this entry »