With his latest mixtape, Feature PREZentation II, Inglewood native El Prez is treating his fans to one more project before his full-length, Leadersh!t drops next year (which isn’t really as far away as it sounds). As has everything in 2011, the tape’s cover is fully 3D ready, so strap on your red-and-blues for optimal viewing. Read the rest of this entry »

When you have 100+ artists packed in one venue at a festival like A3C, chances are they’re going to mingle and chop it up. New relationships are born, and collaborations, that otherwise probably wouldn’t happen, come about. One such occurrence, at the legendary Stankonia studios, has LA’s Thurz pairing up with ATL hosts Killer Mike and Aleon Craft for the track “Bitches and Drugs.” Read the rest of this entry »

They say “the cheese stands alone” but SMKA and Aleon Craft pack too much flavor in their packaged goods to ever get complacent. Still glowing with radioactive inspiration from their last outer body experience, the Atlanta conglomerate are taking the world by meteor storm with Craft Singles, a focused delve into the realm of alternative rock. Read the rest of this entry »

Birds in the sky and fish in the sea have nothing on Sean Falyon, the rap pugilist who manages to Be Everywhere you can possibly think of at the same time. After his first act of ubiquity gained some traction, the East Coast-born, Dirty South resident decided it was necessary to remind you of his globetrotting abilities. Read the rest of this entry »

Why would anyone settle for less when there’s something better out there waiting for them? That’s the way Shane Eli sees things and that’s what he’s aiming to give listeners with the release of his second mixtape, I Can Do Better. With better production, better lyrics, better sequencing and practically anything else that’s in his control, Eli’s goal is to raise the bar. Read the rest of this entry »

I could probably count on both of my hands and maybe one foot the number of male R&B singers I actually enjoy listening to. No offense to Scar, but he’s not on the list. The presence of El Prez and Aleon Craft, buoyed by SMKA’s dreamy synths and hyper hi-hats, far outweigh Scar’s opening verse. Read the rest of this entry »

A few things worth looking twice at…

– The street before you cross it.

– 85% of The Cooler girls.

– An Aleon Craft commandment. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s a day for football, relaxing and borderline brilliant HBO programming. It’s also the smoothest joint rolled fat in the center off Aleon Craft’s The Stargazing Soundtrack. When you’re as cool as an ice cube’s sweat, a casual stroll around the neighborhood becomes a party on the highway. Read the rest of this entry »

With summer coming to a close, the sounds of simmering hot dogs and perfectly executed shot-gunned beers are steadily dying off like the lightning bugs that illuminate the nighttime sky. Catching the seasonal essence, Aleon Craft and his fellow ATLiens give us visuals to his verse from the Nappy Roots-assisted “A Different World”—showing their idea of summertime fun when the sun goes down. The perfect ode to Wham-O slippin’ and moonshine sippin’, emulate Craft’s video and enjoy the last bits of the season before the first leaves drop. Read the rest of this entry »

With the final leak from his upcoming The Stargazing Soundtrack hosted by Mick Boogie & Terry Urban Aleon shows us where the draws the force for all of his intergalactic odysseys. Read the rest of this entry »

You can call Aleon Craft weird, strange, crazy or deranged, just make sure you have the “dope” in front. The ingenius genius from the big bad South is lending his talents to Mick Boogie & Terry Urban’s The Stragazing Soundtrack later this artist which are mostly songs being executed live on the Atlanta Stargazing Tour as we speak. Read the rest of this entry »

Aleon & SMKA have been putting in heavy work this summer, both in the studio and performing as a part of the Atlanta Stargazing Tour. As they’re joined by visiting friends often and throughout, we get a morsel like “A Different World” as a result. Read the rest of this entry »

A weekend night on the town dressed in casual clothes. Nothing too prim and proper; newly pressed shirt and pristine kicks as key parts to your wardrobe. Haircut game proper from a trip to the barbershop earlier in the day. The vehicle wiped down by hand and the ashtrays emptied. Seats reclined and moving at a steady but slow pace, ready to take in the city lights & night life.

Setting things in motion with “Step Out,” Grip Plyaz makes a play to dominate your pregame playlist with this soulful ode to living the life. With a helping hand from Aleon Craft and production by The Weathermen, this is nothing short of theme music as Grip’s cadence coasts across the brassy backdrop. Music perfect for sailing along with no particular destination in mind except making memories out of moments. As if the vision couldn’t get any clearer, this Corey Davis-directed video should paint the rest of the picture.

Check out stills from the shoot @ Governed By Loyalty. Grip’s 6 Pack Vol. 1: A Prelude To Purp Wind & Fire, coming soon.

Dre warned us on “Aquemini.” Bobby Ray was one of the first sustained sightings.  Now SMKA affiliated Aleon Craft, ATLien by the way of Decatur, is back with another close encounter for your headphones.  Read the rest of this entry »

Photo by Lee Starnes

As a culture, we’ve come a long way since Kool Herc was spinnin’ records in the park. And, oh those kookie Atlantans keep pushing the envelope. First Big links with the Atlanta Dance Company and manages to work Hip-Hop into the dance circuit. Now, CNN features SMKA & A.Leon’s work with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

“This is a very special and unique collaboration between Hip-Hop and Classic that is truly the first of its kind. SMKA was commissioned by The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to remix a piece for their “Concerts for Young People” series. The song 808 Blake created is called “Music is My Life” produced by SMKA, and it is written and performed by Aleon Craft. Additionally, Parker Smith played the guitar and Brand Dorfman scored the peice. It has been performed 20 times since October 2009. CNN covered the collaboration last week and aired the special today.”

Three x dope. Imagine telling your mom or lady,”Nah I gotta go play with the orchestra tonight. CNN’s filming the performance and I got an interview with them after.”

[CNN]