Blu – NoSleepForADay

Herfection always seems to have great content I can’t find on other blogs, particularly when it comes to Blu.  As Heather puts it, “the best to hardly do it” gives us a rough 8-minute instrumental project.  It’s obviously a disappointment to not hear Blu’s ethereal lyrics grace a single track, but it’s at least something from one of the most interesting newcomers in music.

In his own run-on sentences:

Peaz&Blessings,
ItsYaBoy,FellBackForASec
ButTheOverDoseIsComing,
SlowlyThough
WeGoneStartItOffWithSomeFunTimeShit
IDidThisOneDayThisSummer
FuckingAroundWithThe2000XLForTheFirstTime
WasGettingTheIntroduceToTheFunctions
AndThisIsWhatBlossomedFromTheCrashCourse
ALittle8MinuteBeatTapeAppropriatelyTitled
“NoSleepForADay”
ProducedByTheBluAsBulb(theBrightIdea)

Download: Blu – NoSleepForADay (.zip)

Previous:

Blu & Exile – LoveLine(s),DedicatedToLastFe’vrier

Blu – HerFavoriteColo(u)r (mixtape)

Throwback Post: DJ Frank – Take Me Away Fast

(This was originally posted on Aug. 12, 2008, but it’s worthy of a second go-round)

“I’m a DJ. I love music, and I want to make people dance.”

This is a really interesting documentary sent to me by J. Kashi about a New York DJ who travels to Africa over a 3 year period in search of rare records.

Mr. Kinetik – ‘Hulk’s Soul’

Off the upcoming S.O.S. (Sounds of Soul) project from Mr. Kinetik.  Also check the s.a.i.n.t. RECON page for updates.

“Like Bill Withers and Crusaders, my Soul Shadows on my mind
often times, have made me blind
One of a kind love affairs with my music
helped me get through it,
to grow my life off of the Peace (of my Soul)
to help those that needed it, but my work got lost in download overload
still I hold the soul, with my weaponry
be prepared for anything that steps to me…”

Download: Kinetik – Hulk’s Soul

Video: The Foreign Exchange feat. Muhsinah – ‘House Of Cards’

Wow, Foreign Exchange just upped the ante for music videos.  The content of Leave It All Behind is very much about the peaks and valleys of relationships.  This song in particular plays the role of valley, when lies, facades and uncertainty come crashing down.  It’s strange to see Phonte so straight-faced, but his role as a mourning narrator fits perfectly.

Drake feat. Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem – Forever (prod. Boi-1da)

(artwork courtesy of NR)

Lot of good verses on this song… can’t quite pick my favorite yet.  Bottom line, this was a Drake song, he sings the hook, and he added 3 heavyweights without an album out. Bravo, young man.  Off Lebron’s More Than A Game soundtrack, which could be to 2009 what the Above The Rim soundtrack was to 1994.

Download: Drake feat. Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem – Forever (prod. Boi-1da)

J. Cole – Back to the Topic Freestyle

While I’m workin on the album I get urges to go off on certain beats I love. This is similar to the process of how The Warm Up originally started. I’m already sitting on some gems as we speak. I figured yall been rockin that warm up for a couple months, let’s let some of them out.
First up; Back To The Topic Freestyle
What’s all this leading to? Shit, it ain’t no tellin..
“I Came Up, I Warmed Up, the next up…”
- J. Cole

10.Deep Presents: Donnis – Diary Of An ATL Brave

I first caught wind of this mixtape at Vinyl Meltdown, then saw Complex Mag select it as the “mixtape of the week“.  With the J.Cole’s, Wale’s, Cudi’s, Blu’s, Drake’s, & Big Sean’s of the world, it’s hard to imagine there’s room for another up-and-coming rapper worth listening to.  However, with a 10 Deep stamp of approval (previous recipients Cudi & Wale), Donnis goes macadamia over original a 12 track opus.  ‘Gone’, ‘Underdog’ and ‘Country Cool’ top my list right now.

Download link & interview after the jump

Trailer: ‘More Than A Game’

Lebron’s new movie about the high school years comes out next month.  Pretty forward thinking to film a documentary of Saint Vincent-Saint Mary’s & hold it back for years, or maybe they just pieced together footage from players, coaches, etc. Either way, the other 4 seniors are about to be movie stars… can’t be mad at that.

Run This Town (Official Directors’ Commentary)

The Rosenthals are hip hop’s comedy kings. “I’m just wondering how the Yeezy’s with the pink accent fit into the ‘black on black’ everything rule?”

Raekwon – House of Flying Daggers (feat. Inspectah Deck, GZA, Ghostface Killah & Method Man)

Reporting live from Shaolin, Dizzy sent me this video the other day, and it is crazy.  The artwork, animation and sound effects fit perfectly with Wu’s style & Dilla’s thumping beat.  Brain smashing, spine cracking and lots of blood spilling paint the picture, so the squeamish should keep moving.  As the Vinyl Meltdown crew said, this calls for a full-length Wu Tang animated flick.  Until then, I’ll settle for the release of Raekwon’s OB4CL2.

Download: Mudkids – ‘Ride’ (off the new EP avail 8/25, MKEP)

Free Download: Mudkids – ‘Ride’ (Track 1, MKEP) (UPDATE: I just noticed that MOKB put up this song yesterday… oops.  Get it here, or there… either way is a good decision)

Rusty Redenbacher, Mudkid numero dos, gave me a sneak peak at the new project available on iTunes 8/25.  As a follower of the Kids for years, I can say this 6 song collection can stand right along with heavyweights like Higher (2001) or Basementality (2006).

1 ‘Ride‘ sets the tone, and the pace for the eargasms about to ensue, courtesy of a face-scruncher from Tyler Knapp.
2 ‘How Many’ chews up & swallows the pride we all hold so… proudly.
3 ‘Abraham’ showcases Rusty’s storytelling chops, through a wide-shouldered friend.
4 ‘Shades’ gives Russ his closeup, he’s not hard to find.
5 ‘The Plan’ is a blueprint for doing things your own way (a Mudkid tenet), declaring war, “you farging bastages.”
6 ‘Nitty Gritty’ is just that, a raw track with lyrical exercises from 3 wordsmiths.

I’ll be picking up my hard copy of MKEP at the release party TONIGHT at the Vollrath (118 E. Palmer St.) w/ Emily Wells, which Metromix selected as the #3 Live act of the week (above #6 MC Hammer)

Also, be sure to read the brand new interview with Rusty Redenbacher (by Grey Granite) over at Heavy Gun Blog.

Video: The Foreign Exchange LIVE, Indianapolis, 8/15/09

The Foreign Exchange show at the Athaneum Saturday was simply incredible. A big, big thanks to @procircuit for making this happen!  Phonte, Nicolay, Carlitta Durand, Zo!, Darien Brockington & the rest of the crew didn’t disappoint in any form or fashion.  In his first visit to Indy, the Little Brother MC took everyone in attendance on a journey. As he put it, “if you paid $30 for a ticket, I feel you deserve a $60 show”… “We want you to feel better than you did when you walked in here”, which was a promise kept.  I got audio of the entire show, and am trying to figure out how to rip it to my computer…. so look out for that hopefully.  This is especially important because Phonte spit my favorite LB verse of. all. time.  “Sometimes I think I’m from another world (PREACH!)…”.

It was just a really great night overall.  alpha & Bashiri both had memorable opening sets, the vibe was perfect, and I got to politic with some great folks. @deuce2 @MrKinetik, @SeanieMic, @TxtBook93, @alphaisforever and for those I didn’t get to, (@djlimelight, @allenimagery, @procircuit), … next time.

I had the hurt-face when I realized I couldn’t bring my camera (dead batteries, 2 weddings, 2 diff states, one weekend), but me mayne man Seanie Mic came through with the videos!! (which got picked up at 2dopeboyz… very nice).  For all the videos, go to Seanie Mic’s Youtube page.

Opener, & local musician, Bashiri, turned a few heads with his Gnarls cover:

Video: Jay-Z ft. Kanye West & Rihhana – ‘Run This Town’

Everything Jay does will be scrutinized and over-analyzed, but I like this. Has a little ‘Victory‘ and ‘California Love‘ feel to it.

Morris Day & The Time @ Rib America Fest, Indy, Monday Sept. 7

“You mean the guys from that Prince movie?”

CONCERT INFO:

Morris Day & The Time close out the last day of the Rib America Festival at Military Park in downtown Indy at 6:30pm Monday, Sept. 7th. Tickets available at Ticketmaster or the Rib America site.

“Never say an unkind word about The Time!”

DOPE Couture Presents: alpha.live + CMART – ‘Steal From The Rich’

You choose your own adventure today.

1.) I held this back for ONE WEEK exactly, for all you who were too lazy to click the link to alpha’s new project, Steal From The Rich. It was part of a calculated strategy to withhold the download, and then smack you with it 7 days later.

2.) I was slippin’ on my blog game.

Either choice is correct as long as you download this album, featuring Rhymefest, Naledge (Kidz In the Hall), DJ Limelight, Scott Matelic and others. alpha pours himself into this album, chock full of earnest rhymes, catchy hooks and beats that cause face wrinkles.

I talked with alpha on the phone for almost an hour last week, and will be giving you pieces of that conversation soon. Until then, check out a great interview at Hip Hop Junkie by Kevin Miles.

2 Real, 2 Furious

The Rosenthals celebrate 2 years and runnin’, with features from Mick Boogie, Miss Info, FWMJ, Joe Budden, Peter Rosenberg, & others. Comedy.

Literal Music Video: Biz Markie – Just A Friend

Another one from funnyman Seanie Mic. This time he takes the Biz Markie video, re-writes the lyrics & gives you a literal interpretation. Check it out. He does customized raps too, so if you want to give a unique gift to someone, check out Parodyrapper.com.

Video: Nike SB – Today Was a Good Day (Extended Version)

This is sick.  P. Rod strollin through LA, with some cameos from Kobe & Ice Cube.

(via Nah Right)