Friday, November 15, 2013

Meet France's Toughest Rappers





Saturday, November 9, 2013

Viktor Vaughn - Raedawn ( Dj Boogy Beatles Remix ) MPC-Forum BB#47


Yes , I liked the way the last battle went down so I decided that I wanted more , and subscribed for an other beat battle


I chose the Viktor Vaughn's A Capella to do the remix because somehow I can't really explain , I didn't knew about him ...

 I used all 3 musics from the Beatles ( Strawberry fields , Flying and Come together ) to create this beat No synthesizers were use this time , only my trusted MPC Akai 2500 , I only added the drumz , the bass line from my Roland Fantom and some scratches of Method Man and Wyclef Jean using my turntables




 Shouts to Obi Dan for the samples and all the other producers from MPC-Forum , you guys really are a source of inspiration , I really enjoyed myself doing this , and I can't wait to here and comment on all the other productions , please feel free to do the same

Cheers
Dj Boogy

 N.B.: send me an email at boogywarfare@hotmail.com if you want to use the instrumental of this beat with the title of the beat ( Raedawn Remix instrumental BB#47 ) in the subject

Thursday, October 31, 2013

MTV Artists Debuts First Mobile App, Tell Us What You Think

Mtv-artists-appsToday MTV Artists launches a new app to leverage all that info and content they've been gathering on their site. If it takes off that will certainly be enticement for more artist involvement. I don't find the app that compelling but I'm not good with apps so maybe you'll have a different response. However I'm also wondering why I don't hear more about MTV Artists outside of their own publicity. Hypebot readers, any thoughts on the state of MTV Artists? Musicians, in particular, are you finding the site of use?

MTV Artists makes a lot of sense. It gives a major media corporation a way to leverage their considerable assets and relationships to create an artist-friendly site that could connect with a lot of fans.
MTV Artists has continued to add useful features for artists with help from Topspin. They're also offering promo opps and artist opportunities.

MTV Artists Mobile App
The new MTV Artists iOS app is now available for download.
The app is free. It includes a song id feature, which is a nice touch, and a lyrics search. You've got artists and pictures and videos. Basically the MTV Artists site brought to mobile.
Announced features include:
  • Song Identification
  • Lyrics Search
  • Artist Search
  • Artist Info At-a-Glance
  • Retro Archive Footage
  • Exclusive Content from Your Favorite Artists and MTV
  • Seamlessly Follow Artists Social Pages From One Place
  • Access to buy songs and tickets
My Brief Experience of the App
I did a lyrics search for "wood grain wheel." The first result was the Slim Thug album and other results were from different artists. Clicking on that took me to the Slim Thug page but I was hoping for the song cause I already know how to find Slim Thug by typing in his name.
And since the video is free on YouTube I kind of thought I'd find it here as I would with many free apps that allow you to access music from YouTube, SoundCloud, etc. But I just found a handful of Slim Thug videos that I didn't want to see and other content and social links.
I did see more interesting looking options for artists that are hot at the moment. But I could never find the combined social stream implied by today's announcement:
"Seamlessly Follow Artists Social Pages From One Place: Getting dizzy from jumping back and forth between Facebook and Twitter and still feel like you’re missing out on updates from your favorite artist? MTV Artists streamlines artist’s social feed into one place to keep you in the loop and not out in the cold."
I played around a bit. A couple of times I got dropped into what felt like a no-man's land. The first time seemed like a glitch. The second time it was a gigantic Pepsi ad crunched onto my iPod Touch screen that I thought was another glitch.
What's Your Take On MTV Artists?
But I'm not good with mobile apps. So check it out and let me know in the comments. Am I missing the value or am I so glazed at seeing all these features in various configurations over and over again for the last year or two that I just don't get the newness?
And what about MTV Artists? Musicians say they want things like free publicity and the ability to go D2F on other people's platforms. MTV Artists seems to be trying to provide such things. So what's going on out there?
More:
Hypebot Senior Contributor Clyde Smith (@fluxresearch/@crowdfundingm) also blogs at Flux Research and Crowdfunding For Musicians. To suggest topics for Hypebot, contact: clyde(at)fluxresearch(dot)com.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Beyonce : Trailer for LIfe is But a Dream DVD. Pre-sale available now on amazon.com. in stores November 25


We're only about a month and a half in, but so far 2013 has been The Year of Beyonce. The Presidential Inauguration. The Super Bowl Halftime Show. Oprah’s Next Chapter. And perhaps the most highly anticipated Bey-related event of 2013 thus far (because we’re sure there’ll be more): her new HBO documentary Life is But A Dream (which she not only starred in, but also directed. And produced. And narrated. And… you get the picture). The film promised to delve into the behind-the-scenes world of Mrs. Carter and reveal emotional and intimate details of the notoriously private pop star’s personal life. But did it deliver? The reviews are in and it seems that the critics… can’t agree on that. Head below for a roundup of the mixed bag reactions to Queen B’s documentary. :: The New York Times calls Life is But A Dream “as contrived as ‘Madonna: Truth or Dare,’ but probably for good reason it is neither daring nor entirely truthful. It’s an infomercial, not just about Beyoncé’s talent onstage but her authenticity behind the scenes. She is a people-pleasing diva and she wants to keep it that way.” The paper concluded that “this documentary doesn’t really convey what life as a celebrity is like, but it does say a lot about how this celebrity would like to be seen.”  :: The A.V. Club also found the doc reminiscent of Truth or Dare, however questioned whether the former was as honest as the latter. They proclaim that the film is not for the “casual fan … who finds Queen Bey attractive and entertaining and all,” but caters more to “the true believers, for only Beyoncé’s biggest fans could look beyond the amount of superficiality and narcissism in the doc.” :: In probably the most succinct review of the movie, Indiewire calls LIBAD “the film equivalent of a selfie.” The site note that even though she keeps “an iron grip on her own image” throughout the documentary, Beyonce is still “immensely watchable and fabulous.” Read more








Feel That , MPC 2500 Battle beat for MPC-Forum.com

   Yes I finally decided to enter Beat battles on the internet ! I'm going to participate in all the ones where I feel their's a challenge and I will keep you guys posted on every developments. I've chose MPC-Forum.com because i really like this forum as it helped me for many years to acquire the desired skill i needed to push  my sound to the next level .

   I wanted to give this beat a feeling of suspense and uneasiness , it's kind of reminiscing some type of Jeru
the Damaja and Dj Premiere Classic Production for those who knows their Old School , I would lie if I didn't say that those guys didn't influence me in my rebellious teenage years. This instrumental as definitely an East Coast vibe to it that many of today artist like J Cole , Kendrick Lamar , Hopsin , Tyler The Creator , are promoting ...

   This Hip-hop Instrumental was made with my favorite weapon : the MPC 2500 fully equipped with the JJOS XL and 128 MB of Ram , I've used a Fantom xr for the bass line and the rest is all sample based in the key of G#m , I've used Melodyne for most of the transpositions , Serato scratch live for the subliminal Scratches and recorded everything on my Korg 3200 at 44 Khz 24 Bits , then I transfered the filed in Soundforge and used the T-Racks plugins to master the stereo track and Voila !

Feel free to listen , comment and like ! Peace

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Papoose Encouraged By DJ Premier's Support

Papoose Encouraged By DJ Premier's Support

Exclusive: Papoose also discusses his new videos and Remy Ma's impending return from prison next year.
Papoose plans to be busy. During the next several months the Brooklyn rapper, who released his The Nacirema Dream album March 26, says he'll be a fixture in the studio and in front of the camera. 
"I’m working on my next project, but at the same time, I’m just creating visuals for every song on my album at this point," Papoose says in an exclusive interview with HipHopDX. "I wanna push this album to the ends of the globe. I don’t feel this is an album I’m just gonna drop and forget about. The response from the people is that they want visuals for records like 'Motion Picture.' So I was able to shoot a couple good videos. I shot the '6 AM' video featuring Jadakiss and Jim Jones. And then we sampled Ice T on the chorus, so the OG Ice T came out. It’s gonna be epic when that comes out. We already shot videos for the singles with Ron Browz and DJ Premier, and these are all unreleased. So I’m looking to shoot the video for 'Cure' and a couple others."

Papoose signed to Jive Records in 2006 and soon announced that his first album with the imprint would be The Nacirema DreamHe was dropped from the label the following year and, after releasing a string of mixtapes, Papoose released an updated version of The Nacirema Dream album independently in March.
Several notable Rap figures told Papoose that he couldn't relax now that he'd released his long-awaited debut album. "I was talking to brothers in the game I respect like DJ Premier," Papoose says. "He was telling me, 'Yo, man I love the album. I’m glad you finally got it out, and you can’t hesitate to drop the next one. It can’t take seven years…you gotta be fast on it. And I’m definitely gonna be a part of it.' He’s not the only one that’s told me that; I’m hearing it from a couple different people. Just judging from what people that support me are saying, I think I’m gonna have to move fast to get this next album out. I’m already planning, plotting and strategizing on that. Remy [Ma] will be home next year, and I’m just gonna be contributing to her movement and what she’s trying to do from behind the scenes. We’re working on a lot of things under the table, because a lot of different companies and entities are reaching out to her. We’re planning her comeback, so I feel sorry for everybody."
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY OMAR BURGESS

Kendrick Lamar Is The Future (Mixtape)

Live From HeadQCourterz (06/07/2013)

Monday, May 13, 2013

Lauryn HIll ~ Neurotic Society ~ Lyrics On Screen

The Real Horror of Benghazi Was Ethnic Cleansing-Let’s Talk About That | Davey D's Hip Hop Corner

The Real Horror of Benghazi Was Ethnic Cleansing-Let’s Talk About That | Davey D's Hip Hop Corner

Rakim – Get Visual (Unreleased Version)

Rakim – Get Visual (Unreleased Version)

Curtis Mayfield performs "Freddie's Dead" on Soul Train 1973

Public Enemy performs "Rebel Without a Pause" on Soul Train 1987

Public Enemy - Arsenio Hall 1993 1 of 2

ERIC B&RAKIM -ON SOUL TRAIN

EPMD on Soul Train (dancers Portia Kirkland/Bernard Alexander)

EPMD - Rampage feat. LL Cool J

EPMD - So Whatcha Sayin'

Marley Marl - The Symphony (Video)

Saturday, May 4, 2013

LIVE FROM HEADQCOURTERZ (04/19/2013) Posted April 24th 2013 at 4:21 PM by gimantalon

Lauryn Hill Pens Open Letter About Her Sony Deal and Money Woes

It has been reported that I signed a new record deal, and that I did this to pay taxes. Yes, I have recently entered into an agreement with Sony Worldwide Entertainment, to launch a new label, on which my new music will be released. And yes, I am working on new music. I’ve remained silent, after an extensive healing process. This has been a 10+ year battle, for a long time played out behind closed doors, but now in front of the public eye. This is an old conflict between art and commerce… free minds, and minds that are perhaps overly tethered to structure. This is about inequity, and the resulting disenfranchisement caused by it. I’ve been fighting for existential and economic freedom, which means the freedom to create and live without someone threatening, controlling, and/or manipulating the art and the artist, by tying the purse strings. It took years for me to get out of the ‘parasitic’ dynamic of my youth, and into a deal that better reflects my true contribution as an artist, and (purportedly) gives me the control necessary to create a paradigm suitable for my needs. I have been working towards this for a long time, not just because of my current legal situation, but because I am an artist, I love to create, and I need the proper platform to do so. The nature of my new business venture, as well as the dollar amount reported, was inaccurate, only a portion of the overall deal. Keep in mind, my past recordings have sold over 50,000,000 units worldwide, earning the label a tremendous amount of money (a fraction of which actually came to me). Only a completely complicated set of traps, manipulations, and inequitable business arrangements could put someone who has accomplished the things that I have, financially in need of anything. I am one artist who finds value in openly discussing the dynamics within this industry that force artists to compromise or distort themselves and what they do, rather than allowing them to make the music that people need. There are volumes that could (and will) be said.”

Davey D's Blog

5 Best Podcasting Tutorials

5 Best Podcasting Tutorials

Saturday, April 27, 2013

HaitiRozo: Poor Little Rich Haiti to Be Fleeced of Copper-Sil...

HaitiRozo: Poor Little Rich Haiti to Be Fleeced of Copper-Sil...: By Dady Chery - Haiti Chery Show me a corporate boss who calls Haiti the “poorest country in the western hemisphere,” and I’l...

How the Dayton Police Tried to Silence My Voice [VIDEO] | Davey D's Hip Hop Corner


This weekend, I had an opportunity to speak and perform in Dayton, OH, with the legendary MC Lyte at an event called, “Dear Dr. Hip-Hop: Speak, Be Heard, Be Considered.” A few days before arriving, I got a call from one of the organizers telling me that the Dayton Police Department had a “problem” with some of my lyrics and demanded to know what songs I was going to perform before they would secure the venue.
Being that this wasn’t the first time a group tried to censor me, I immediately got on the phone with my lawyer who advised me on what action I needed to take.  I sent this email as my response:


How the Dayton Police Tried to Silence My Voice [VIDEO] | Davey D's Hip Hop Corner

Jailhouse Roc: The FACTS About Hip Hop and Prison for Profit | Davey D's Hip Hop Corner


GoldenUndergroundTV recently released an interview I did with them late last year. I got a bit animated at the end. Only so many interviews in a row I could handle being asked aboutChief Keef.
My tirade wasn’t really about Chief Keef. It wasn’t about Gucci Mane or Wocka Flocka or any of the acts spontaneously catapulted into stardom by synchronized mass media coverage despite seemingly universal indifference (at the very best) regarding their talent. Whose arrests, involvement in underaged pregnancies, concert shootouts, and facial tattoos, dominate conversation for weeks at a time, with their actual music a mere afterthought, if thought of at all.

Jailhouse Roc: The FACTS About Hip Hop and Prison for Profit | Davey D's Hip Hop Corner

Jay z ft Common - Open Letter Part 2 Remix (New)

Top 10 Posterizing Dunks of the 2012-2013 season!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

DJ Absurd - Ear 2 The Streets Radio Episode 73 (4/22/13)


Lauryn Hill Postpones Prison Sentence & Signs $1 Million Sony Deal


Things seem to be looking up for Ms. Hill. 
Lauryn Hill made headlines lately for owing the IRS upwards of $1.8 million in back taxes. 
After pleading guilty to tax evasion for the years between 2005 and 2007, Lauryn Hill has worked out a deal with the judge, and surprisingly, a new deal with record label Sony. 
Lauryn's presiding judge scolded the "When It Hurts So Bad" singer for making "no effort" to pay her taxes back, but showed some leniency by postponing her sentencing until May 6. 
In return, the judge has now given Lauryn Hill a May 3rd restitution date, where she is expected to pay back $650,000 in owed taxes by using some of her Sony advance money. 
Read more


The first solo album by the Fugees' most distinctive voice quickly wipes away the pretensions of so many current hip-hoppers' discs. It does so by both engaging their widescreen ethos--"To Zion," with its martial drums and gospel choir, is as epic a production as has been heard in 1998's pop music--and speaking the plain truth. Reminiscent in its scope of nothing so much as Aretha's early-'70s Spirit in the Dark and Young, Gifted and Black, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill also easily earns its late-'90s place next to Erykah Badu's Baduizm. Even more personal, if hardly any more political, than cohort Wyclef Jean's Carnival, Miseducation focuses equally on her life (especially the birth of her child) and social concerns about the present and future. Its often quiet surface, if anything, lends intensity. "Everything you drop is so tired," she scolds artistically dead-ended rappers on "Superstar"; if more artists shared her vision, occasional eccentricities and bottom-line talent, she wouldn't have to complain. --Rickey Wright


Their remake of "Killing Me Softly" was the hit, but that's only the beginning of the story. A hip-hop trio whose talents reach out into the world of the pop song (Wyclef Jean is a fine guitar player, and Lauryn Hill's a heck of a singer), the Fugees are also all distinctive, inventive rappers--you find yourself waiting for each of them to take the next verse in turn. The beats are the familiar crossed-armed boom-bip, but the group's understated grooves and subtle effects lie low in the mix. Aside from two kicky covers of classics (the other is Marley's "No Woman, No Cry"), The Score's focus is on the stars' rhyming with the free-form grace of performance poets and showing that they've thought deeply about the issues they raise. --Douglas Wolk


Go See Me at The Top Instrumental Trap Beat


Sample Beat Free Download



The Combat Jack Show With Styles P

The Ghost came in and rocked through his most of his storied history with the Lox, Diddy, DMX, Tupac, Mary J. Blige, the East West Coast beef, how D Block’s legendary lyrical beef with Roc-a-fella almost spilled out into the streets and more. P also shed some real grown man tears reminiscing about the Notorious B.I.G. as he rolled that real pungent. Tune in and get all this work. His latest album ‘Float’ is available for sale now.

 Styles P, a member of The LOX and the larger D-Block Hip-Hop collective, grew up in Yonkers, New York rapping alongside Jadakiss (Jason Phillips) and Sheek Louch (Shawn Jacobs). In their late teens the trio met Mary J. Blige who was so impressed with their tough street east coast lyrics, she gave them a big break by putting their demo in the hands of Sean “Diddy” Combs. Diddy immediately hired the trio to write for Bad Boy Records. With the label, The LOX quickly started collaborating on hits with Diddy, the Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, and Mariah Carey which gave them instant notoriety and status within the hip-hop and mainstream charts. Read more
   

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Jay-Z Sells Nets Stake, Earns Warren Buffett-Like Return

Jay-Z and Buffett on the cover of Forbes in 2010. Jay-Z is retiring again–this time not as a musician, but as a co-owner of the Brooklyn Nets.

 The hip-hop mogul officially announced the news via his Web site, Life + Times:

" Being a member of the Nets organization surpassed some of my greatest ambitions. It was never about an investment; it was about the NETS and Brooklyn. My job as an owner is over but as a fan it has just begun. I’m a Brooklyn Net forever."

 This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. FORBES reported that Jay-Z would have to sell his stake in the team nearly three weeks ago, after he announced his intention to start representing professional athletes through his Roc Nation Sports. Given the new business venture, the NBA’s rules required him to relinquish his stake, as Jay-Z confirmed in his statement.

Read more

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Snoop Lion #Reincarnated Press Conference




Snoop Lion is a new moniker of multi-platinum artist and entertainment icon, Snoop Dogg, whose ability to stay at the forefront of popular culture and new technology has resulted in unwavering relevance. Snoop Lion, in conjunction with VICE Media and Stampede Management, are set to release REINCARNATED, the multi-media project capturing Snoop s exploration of reggae music and spiritual growth. The project includes a reggae-influenced album executive produced by Diplo and Major Lazer, a feature-length documentary of Snoop's journey and career which premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews, a photo book, and a self-sustainable gardening initiative named Mind Gardens.

Raggamuffin Instrumental Riddim Free Download !


Sunday, April 14, 2013

RZA Interview With DJ Whoo Kid





Quentin Tarantino presents The Man With the Iron Fists, an action-adventure inspired by kung-fu classics as interpreted by his longtime collaborators RZA and Eli Roth. Making his debut as a big-screen director, co-writer and leading man, RZA alongside an exciting international cast led by Russell Crowe and Lucy Liu tells the epic story of warriors, assassins and a lone outsider hero who all descend on one fabled village in China for a winner- takes-all battle for a fortune in gold. Blending astonishing martial-arts sequences from some of the masters of this world with the signature vision he brings as the leader of the Wu-Tang Clan and as one of hip-hop's most dominant figures of the past two decades, RZA embarks upon his most ambitious, stylized and thrilling project to date. Joining Crowe, RZA and Liu in the cast are Rick Yune, Jamie Chung, Cung Le, Dave Bautista, Byron Mann, Daniel Wu and Pam Grier. The Soundtrack features original songs created for the film by artists including The Black Keys, Kanye West, the Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah, Wiz Khalifa, Talib Kweli, Pusha T, Raekwon, Method Man and RZA who collaborates with Flatbush Zombies as well as The Black Keys.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Whodini performs "Friends" on Soul Train (1984)


I use to pump this joint all the time in my walkman , before the mp3 players , before the CD players , yes ! I'm talking about the cassette players , let me take you back to 1984 yo ! Stop listening to commercial media trying to find real Real Hip-hop because you won't !

 

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Conquering Lion Sue for International Peace!: New Aquarian Age of Reason 2013!

Conquering Lion Sue for International Peace!: New Aquarian Age of Reason 2013!: Conquering Lion sue for International Peace! To all human beings on this planet to whom universal human rights to fundamental equa...

The Psychological Covert War on Hip Hop - Professor Griff


This book was not what I had expected; though still an excellent and informative read. I expected the book to be about witnessing this corruption from the perspective of an artist in the hip hop game. I expected it to be about the motives and conduct of music executives and their methods of propagating negative Hip-Hop to brainwash the masses as we clearly see happening in the mainstream. The book was indeed about all of that, but not to the extent that I had expected. The book instead lead up to the topic of Hip-Hop by first telling the reader about declassified operations such as MK-ULTRA to convince the reader that conspiracies/mind control experiments do and have undeniably occurred. As an alternative media/political analyst of 5 years now, I had already known of and verified the many cases the book presented. So to the skeptic reading it I say, everything within is verifiable, most of which declassified government operations I had already read about. However, never just blindly believe something that sounds doubtful to you, but more importantly never dismiss anything, you owe it to yourself to research and verify everything personally. Before reading any book like this, I urge you familiarizing yourself with a psychological concept called "confirmation bias" and then be open minded, but never blindly accepting. I myself had already validated mostly everything before reading the book so I was able to read it with confidence. So instead of being skeptical as someone new to the information may be, I was impressed with so many topics being covered in one book. Many important cases even just broken into a single paragraph prompting the reader to research further. I would recommend this book for anyone, not just Hiphoppas because the collection of declassified conspiracies within the book do not all pertain to Hip-Hop, they are mostly all topics that are often mentioned in the "truth movement" and should become common knowledge. The book also suggests several other books and briefly explains the relevance of them. To paraphrase I would describe "The Psychological Covert War of Hip Hop" like this. The book simply paraphrases several crucial topics that all should be made aware of. Instead of going into great detail about each topic, it simply explains what it is and urges the reader to research further. The book is full of pictures and also promotes other books that have relevance. The Psychological Covert War on Hip Hop is a genuine and effective attempt to awaken "sheeple" more than it is about Hip Hop individuals, Hip-Hop products or the Hiphop culture itself. It is all relevant and I, a Hip Hop Artist myself recommend this book especially for a person not well versed in conspiracies because the book gives the reader a variety of undeniable cases, and sources, enough to familiarize one new to this type of information with everything they need to know for a base knowledge to get started on their own path of research as I did years ago. The book is basically about researching further yourself, but provides a ground to get started. To know how this all relates to Hiphop, read the book for yourself, it is all relevant.

It's Bigger Than Hip Hop: The Rise of the Post-Hip-Hop Generation


Asante (b. 1982) decries the negativity of much of mainstream hip-hop. Though people his age “were born into the hip-hop generation, they feel misrepresented by it and . . . see the dangers and limitations of being collectively identified by a genre of music they don’t even own.” Their “lack of ownership . . . has allowed corporate forces to overrun hip-hop with a level of misogyny and black-on-black violence” that has led “some young folks to disown the label ‘hip-hop generation.’” A similar argument could be made about nearly every underground movement that achieves pop-music supremacy, but Asante feels mainstream marketing of hip-hop has robbed his generation of a valuable voice for enunciating social and political criticism and made the music “a conservative instrument, promoting nothing new or remotely challenging to mainstream cultural ideology.” He declares that “post-hip-hop,” rather than marking the death of rap, represents a shift to a more inclusive movement incorporating culturally significant subject matter. Weighty, probably vital reading for keeping up with youth culture and pop music. --Mike Tribby 

Friday, April 5, 2013

The Come Up - Instrumental Hip-hop Beat



Easy Flowing Beat For MCs that want to explain their opinions and be heard from far ! Either you flow fast or slow , the beat is show nonchalant and hypnotic that the listener will get your point and listen to the lyrics in an altered state of mind , This Beat is so versatile that Lil Wayne or Rick Ross could Flip this their Eyes Close , and at the same time drive the dancefloor crazy . Great also for Remixes , you slap an a capella on it and you have your own remix for the Clubs !

Sunday, February 10, 2013

R.I.P. DONALDSON TOUSSAINT L’OUVERTURE BYRD II (DECEMBER 9, 1932 – FEBRUARY 4, 2013) Guru Featuring Donald Byrd - Loungin'




Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II (December 9, 1932 – February 4, 2013) was an American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter. A sideman for many other jazz musicians of his generation, Byrd was best known as one of the only bebop jazz musicians who successfully pioneered the funk and soul genres while simultaneously remaining a jazz artist. Read More


Dr. Donald Byrd's deeply rooted jazz background never stopped him from constantly pushing jazz forward, opening the minds of his listeners in the process. Produced by Larry Mizell in 1973, Black Byrd is filled with beautiful music that captures his passion for sound. The sophisticated, uptempo instrumentals are funky and danceable, but also extremely smooth. Byrd's impeccable trumpet meshes perfectly with the African-influenced beats and rhythms. Jazz purists may want to look into earlier Blue Note recordings such as Royal Flush and Byrd in Flight. --Shane Hunt


You can almost feel the heat off the Harlem (or neighbourhood) pavement from these tunes. There's a sultriness to these vibes that recalls hot summer breezes, just hanging out, and the natural horniness that days like that arouses. A very outdoor groove abounds here, with instrumentation and chord progressions that recall blaxploitation soundtracks, but with greater flair and always with the lightness of spirit and sheer delight in life that Byrd exhibits so flawlessly in his more upbeat offerings. Easy perhaps to overlook as a funky background music, it's actually an accomplished affair and another example of Byrd's mastery of creating atmosphere.


Donald Byrd & Pepper Adams produced some of the greatest hard-bop albums in the 60's that there ever was, comparable to some of Lee Morgan's best efforts. If you want to one album to buy, check this one out!! It is unfortunately one of their last albums in the studio and also the last featuring Duke Pearson who would go on as Blue Note's a&r man and also lead his own big band. In fact Pearson along with drummer Philly Jo Jones provide the spark that Byrd-Adams needs!! From the title tune to the late Neal Hefti's classic "Cute" (a drum piece for the great Philly Jo), this album will leave you smiling. Their next album with a young newcomer by the name of Herbie Hancock would feature more modally based tunes rather the usual hard bop repetoire but you should check that out as well. Recommended for hard boppers and Byrd/Adams alike!!


DONALD BYRD is truly a music-master. He has done numerous great albums over the years. This CD is undoubtedly one of the best ways to appreciate the 'Godfather of JazzFunk'. Not only is this disc packed with cool, funky and deep timeless trax (buy this disc and it will never go out of date), it also provides the blue-print for future jazz and dance-orientated music. In other words, THE BOMB! The majority of the tracks are produced by the wizard-like production duo the MIZELL BROTHERS, who are responsible for JOHNNY HAMMOND's and BOBBI HUMPHREY's best material. The collection of tracks will move your body (eg. CHANGE, DOMINOES) as well as your soul (WIND PARADE, YOU AND THE MUSIC, LANASANA'S PRIESTESS). Which is why you can't fail. I'd put this disc up there will the best of my Soul/Jazz/Funk collection, and believe me my collection is big.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Nas 92Y Interview With Anthony DeCurtis



Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones is an American rapper and actor. He is the son of jazz musician Olu Dara. Since 1994, Nas has released eight consecutive platinum and multi-platinum albums and sold over 13 million records in the United States alone. Aside from rapping, Nas is also an occasional actor.
His musical career began in 1991 when he was featured on Main Source's track "Live at the Barbeque". His debut album Illmatic, released in 1994, received universal acclaim from both critics and the hip hop community. It is frequently ranked as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.His follow-up album It Was Written debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Charts, stayed on top for four consecutive weeks, went platinum twice in only two months, and made Nas internationally known.
From 1996 to 2005, Nas was involved in a highly publicized feud with rapper Jay-Z. In 2006, Nas signed to Def Jam. In 2010, he released a collaboration album with reggae artist Damian Marley, donating all royalties to charities active in Africa. His tenth studio album, Life Is Good was released in 2012.
Nas is often named as one of the top rap artists. MTV ranked him at number 5 on their list of The Greatest MCs of All Time.In 2012, The Source ranked him No. 2 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time. Read more


Always controversial and uncompromising in his role as hiphop s most influential MC, and often its most severe critic, Nas has completed his first new studio album in four years, LIFE IS GOOD, scheduled to arrive in stores July 17th on Def Jam Recordings. The album s new advance track, The Don, produced by Da Internz, Salaam Remi and the late Heavy D, made its premiere earlier last month on New York DJ Funkmaster Flex s Hot 97 radio show. Response to The Don has been nothing short of rapturous. Rolling Stone raves on his new single, the Queens rap godfather spits vicious rhymes over a rugged, island-flavored beat...if Nas keeps up this level of quality, his new album is going to be like Illmatic all over again.


Nasir Jones made this debut album at the age of 20, already armed with the calm perceptiveness and been-there-done-that attitude of a much older ghetto vet, though sometimes his inner callow youth shows itself. Illmatic is a look back at a life spent in the culture of the projects, acknowledging joy as much as pain and taking note of violence as a fact of his environment rather than a focus of his life. It's enlivened by Nas's kicky, deep-threaded multiple rhymes--you can tell he grew up listening to Mr. Magic's rap show and internalizing the secrets of everybody's flow--and by tracks from a bunch of all-stars, including the Large Professor, DJ Premier, and, most memorably, Q-Tip ("One Love"). --Douglas Wolk

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Masta Killa " Selling my Soul"


masta-killaMasta Killa may be the silent assassin of the Wu-Tang Clan, but his sword cuts sharp when he does speak. The legendary Brooklyn emcee recently released his third solo album Selling My Soul and I had the opportunity to speak with 9th member of the Clan about a variety of subjects. Masta Killa & I spoke about the new LP, his inspiration for its production style, the status of his Loyalty Is Royaltyalbum and why timing is of the utmost importance to his work. Jamel Arief also sheds light on a reggae project he’s been working on and explains why he believes we’ll finally see the Wu-Tang Clan come together once again for a new album in 2013. You can check out everything Masta Killa had to say below.
Justin: What’s up Masta Killa?
Masta Killa: Just, what’s going on brother?
Justin: I wanted to talk a little about your new album Selling My Soul. Originally the third album you were planning was Loyalty Is Royalty, so how did this one come about and end up being released instead?
Masta Killa: I was kind of testing the climate of where I thought the music was at this time. And it just seemed like to me, Selling My Soul was needed for the Hip Hop universe because right now, my opinion is you can’t get any music like [Selling My Soul]. Everything else is like you can get that over there, you can get that over here. I just felt like Selling My Soul is needed right now for the people, just good music that you can put on without having to fast forward and be played at any occasion. I felt this was the right time for this particular project.
Justin: One of the things that stood out about the album was the vibrant, soulful production. It actually reminded me of Ghostface’s The Pretty Toney Album and I know you shouted him out on this LP. So, was there any influence from that project for you here?masta-killa
Masta Killa: Well, I’ve been influenced by beautiful music since I knew what music was. I have a song on there called “Dirty Soul” where I mention a few artists that I’ve been a fan of and that I’ve studied since, like I said, first started listening to music. So for me, to just want to make something beautiful and to make something nourishing is only me giving back everything that I’ve studied.
Me and my brother Ghost, we have that same ear for music. He loves a lot of old soul. We get on the road, we go in chambers, put on some old stuff and we be singing and bugging out. [Laughs] So our chambers are similar and that’s probably why you hear that closeness of both our chambers.
Justin: You mentioned “Dirty Soul” and you pay homage to Ol’ Dirty Bastard on it, mimicking his rhyme style. What was it like to do that tribute to him?
Masta Killa: Aw man, I had to give it to ‘em cause to me he was one of the most soulful brothers within Wu-Tang. I mean, he was dirty soul! When I heard the production, immediately when I heard it I was like, “This is something my brother Dirty would’ve loved.” It just sounded like him. So I was like, I’m gonna go write in one of his chambers and I’m also gonna pay tribute to – not all cause if I list all the groups that I loved, it probably would’ve been a ten minute song [Laughs] – but I’m gonna drop a few names of a few people that I love and respect and I have to mix in my brother Dirty. And as a matter of fact, I’m gonna say a rhyme of his just to pay homage and how I think he would have done it you know?
Justin: Absolutely. Now another standout track for me was the joint with Kurupt, “Cali Sun,” and it does not have the typical production we’ve come to associate you with. Is it important to challenge yourself like that as you continue on in this game and take those types of chances? Read more

As a big Masta Killa fan, I was looking forward to this release, only to be disappointed by an abbreviated album lacking cohesion. The artist stated that he planned to put his "soul" into the project, hence the title. However, unlike symmetry and quality production on Ghostface Killah's R&B influenced "Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry", this album is disjointed by a lack of consistent soul. On "Wise Words", Killa talks over Zapp's "Be Alright" which seems more like an uncreative sample of Tupac's "Keep Your Head Up" as opposed to a sampling of the original version. Killa actual takes production credit on this song, however, "reproduction" is a better term. On "Divine Glory" he takes a direct stab at R&B rap. Unfortunately, the song lacks any musical substance. At one point, the beat drops for about 30 seconds as Killa raps a cappella. Once the beat returns for another 45 seconds, the song is cut abruptly without wind-down. Perhaps the biggest disappointment on this album is "Dirty Soul" which is said to feature Ol' Dirty Bastard. Instead, we have another song with Killa speaking over the beat, paying tribute to various R&B groups. He eventually begins to honor several "soul brothers", including Ol' Dirty Bastard. Once this introduction is made, Killa proceeds to kick a verse imitating Dirty which is a far cry from an actual guest feature. There are few noteworthy songs on this disc: "Soul & Substance", "Things Just Not the Same", "Food", and "All Natural", with the later song falling short of the three minutes. This is another problem with the album - all but four songs fall under four minutes. When you add this to a few unremarkable skits, along with one song ("Wisdom") that is basically a skit without an artist, you have what amounts to an EP. Making matters worse for hardcore Wu-Tang fans, the album is void of any appearance by a clan member. Instead, we're given "Cali Sun", a lifeless song featuring west coast artist Kurupt. Masta Killa may have struck a good idea when planning this project, however, the album lacks quality or punch. With six years separating his last release, this will be a disappointment for most fans. I take some satisfaction in supporting one of my favorite artists, but wonder how satisfied Masta Killa is with this album.


It seems oddly appropriate that, some 10 years after the Wu-Tang Clan first put the world on notice, Masta Killa would finally get to put out his solo album--he's the last of the original Clan members to deliver one. Even more remarkable is that, at a time when the Wu mostly seem like material for a future "I Love the '90s" installment (Ghostface excepted), Masta Killa puts together an impressive album in the best tradition of the Clan: dusty, dissonant soul loops, lyrics that are all about style rather than shine, and that classic sinister quality embodied by the Wu's best albums. Had this album come out in 1998, people might have hailed it as another Wu classic, especially with the brilliantly biting "School" and the unexpected sentiment of "Love Spell." Add in cameos from all the family--Ghost, Inspectah Deck, the GZA, etc.--and No Said Date suddenly takes you back to the heady days of, oh, 1996. Way old school. --Oliver Wang


Seriously, Masta Killa was the last guy I expected to hold down the Wu Tang when they started to slip. When I got word that he was dropping an album back in '04, I just knew it was going to be the worst solo album in the entire Wu camp (Not that he was wack, but every group has that one guy that may not get as much shine/spotlight as the rest of the crew...Masta Killa was that guy). Then I popped No Said Date into my CD changer......and it's still there. Fast forward to 2006 ...... With the release of Made In Brooklyn, Masta Killa should easily be regarded as one of the most consistant Wu members (along with GZA and Tony Starks). The album has a distinct Wu sound despite production from cats like Pete Rock, PF Cuttin', MF Doom, and some relatively unknown beatsmiths (Jig Sor, Whyz Ruger, Chris Conway, Mark Grant....just to name a few). To list every dope track would result in me writing a 12 paragraph review. Trust me when I tell you that this joint is nothing short of definite satisfaction. The production is tight, MK brings it on the mic, and every living member of the Wu (R.I.P. Ol' Dirty) comes through to drop verses. As far as flaws, there aren't many. I wasn't really feeling "Let's Get Into Something" or "Lovely Lady" and "Older Gods" may fall under skip material if you're not in the mood for it. The rest of the album is practically untouchable. As a whole though, the album isn't as creative as his previous LP. Made In Brooklyn is as good as you're going to find in rap this year. This album along with strong joints from Ghostface (Fishscale), Inspectah Deck (Resident Patient), Mathematics (Soul Of A Man), Raekwon (The Vatican Mixtape), and Bronze Nazareth (The Great Migration) marks a strong return for the WU in 2006. It gets two thumbs way up from me. I recommend making this one a collection piece. Standout Tracks: East MCs feat. Victorious, K. Born, Killa Sin, & Free Murder, Pass The Bone [Remix], It's What It Is feat. Raekwon & Ghostface (My Favorite), Iron Gods Chamber feat. U-God, RZA, & Method Man, Street Corners feat. Inspectah Deck & GZA, Nehanda & Cream, E.N.Y House, Ringing Bells, and Then & Now feat.Karim Justice, Shamel Irief, & Young Prince


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