Jay Elec tweeted about this yesterday and he came through. Two typically monstrous verses and several minutes of Diddy talking shit.
Jay Electronica feat. Diddy - The Ghost of Christopher Wallace
April 2010 Archives
Jay Electronica feat. Diddy - The Ghost of Christopher Wallace
Jay Elec tweeted about this yesterday and he came through. Two typically monstrous verses and several minutes of Diddy talking shit.
Jay Electronica feat. Diddy - The Ghost of Christopher Wallace
Stimulus: Theophilus London - I WANT YOU
That new Theo. As expected, it's a remarkable, effortless blend of hip-hop, pop, electro, funk and r&b. It samples Marvin Gaye, Ellie Gould and Tweet with equal relish. It's plastered with absurdly direct progressive maxims like "Accept the New," "Don't Be Afraid," and "Do Not Fear the Digital World, It Will Not Kill Us All." Judging by the current climate, the ascendant prince of avant garde is right on time, which is to say, ahead of the pack.
Tracklist and download after the jump
Continue reading Stimulus: Theophilus London - I WANT YOU.
Eminem - Not Afraid (produced by Boi-1da)
Recovery in stores June 22. Respect to YourAudioFix. Suddenly I can't wait:
"To the fans I'll never let you down again, I'm back. I promise to never go back on that promise. In fact, let's be honest that last Relapse CD was 'meh' perhaps I ran them accents into the ground. Relax I ain't going back to that now."
Drake - Find Your Love (produced by Kanye West)
It's an 808s cut with singing less dependent on Autotune. Haters rejoice. And what's with the terrible artwork for Drake singles? Looks like a gaffer from the "Scream" video on a coffee break. Looks like a Levi's ad for stone washed denim. Looks like I'm being sold cologne. Looks like the black dude from O-Town's major label debut.
Song is alright.
Drake - Find Your Love (produced by Kanye West)
Stimulus - Game & DJ Skee - The R.E.D. Room
The stacked-with-famous-hip-hop-talent mixtape from Game leads off with his 20-minute bonanza and sets the table for The R.E.D. Album, presently penciled for June 15.
Speaking of the album, here's a bonus cut/leak that features Justin Timberlake and Pharrell. It's a pulse, friends. The R.E.D. Album may actually arrive in June.
After the jump, enjoy the tracklisting, download link and a new Game video featuring enduring rapper crush, Stacey Dash. Sounds expensive.
Game - Ain't No Doubt About It
Continue reading Stimulus - Game & DJ Skee - The R.E.D. Room.
Eminem - Despicable Freestyle
ATG contributor, Eddie Strait in the early morning hours via text message:
"Have you heard that Eminem freestyle 'despicable'? It goes hard. Can't wait for Recovery!!!"
Enough said. Almost. Enjoy.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Everytime
Their album drops next week. "Everytime" is reason to pay attention. The thugs ride a sunny beat and wax 'hood celebrity paranoia, tightly sticking to the "everytime I turn around someone up in my business" credo. But despite repeated resentment, this one is more harmony (no one sing-raps like Bone) than thug.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Everytime
New Theophilus London video 'Life of a Lover'
One of our favorites doing it returns with the hotly anticipated I Want You mixtape the day after tomorrow. Guess where you'll be able to find it? Si, exactamente, a qui.
NFL Draft First Round furthering thoughts
The NFL Draft's first round debuted in prime time last night from Radio City Music Hall. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell embraced the future with a loose, playful evening wherein he bear-hugged players drafted, introduced picks by nicknames like "Silverback," let a Make-A-Wish foundation Steelers fan silence aggressive New Yorkers chanting, perfectly audibly via the hall's excellent acoustics, "she said no, she said no" in timely fashion by having him announce Pittsburgh's pick.
Elsewhere Jon Gruden cussed while reading a text and Steve Young and Todd McShay looked ready to pound Josh McDaniels mafioso style in the men's room for drafting Tim Tebow. ATG's takes:
- Tebow is an insult to Broncos fans. It's an arrogant pick and shows McDaniels is not an especially deft planner. He trades for Brady Quinn, who is 25. He backstabs his guy, incumbent Kyle Orton, and he blows a first round pick on a wildcat player and a project just so he can secure an opportunity to develop a project and flex his muscle as a quarterback whisperer. Denver has needs and leaks everywhere: no receivers, no tight end, two receivers named Brandon, offensive line problems, secondary problems.
- Even as a wildcat guy, Tebow was always a bruiser, barrel-the-competition type and he can't do that as a first round pick quarterback in the NFL unless he wants to accept his fate as the next Mike Alstott which would make McDaniels look like an idiot for taking a first rounder on him so it won't happen so he'll be ineffective. In the NFL, your Wildcat player needs to be a slasher: Ronnie Brown, Pat Williams, Tashard Choice. He needs to find a lane and hit the whole fast. Terrible pick.
- That said, I do think college success translates better than potential and upside and many special college quarterbacks -- Steve Young, Doug Flutie, Drew Brees -- were denied better careers because they didn't fit the specimen mold. Tebow is a self-important, narcissistic man who orders Tim Tebow Kool Aid every time he goes out to bars, but he is a proven winner and him mattering in three years is not an unimaginable thought. Character is crucial and he's a superstar and he's durable and strong and a leader. If Jake Delhomme and Trent Dilfer can get to the Super Bowl, Tim Tebow can be a starter in this league. This does not excuse the first round pick, however.
- Detroit is trying and it's not stupid blind darts like the Matt Millen era. I don't know how they get to even third place in the NFC North, but kudos for the hope and adorable aggressiveness. They got the best player in the draft gift-wrapped and it felt like a steal at number two overall in Suh; Jahvid Best will be a star and contribute immediately; Tony Scheffler joins Pettigrew as a legitimate tight end weapon and security blanket for young Matthew Stafford; Nate Burleson makes Calvin Johnson that much more deadly; Kyle Vanden Bosch is an under the radar defensive line pickup and I think they'll win seven games and more importantly, learn to win.
- The Bill
Parcells School of Football strikes again: Miami, New England trade
down. Just. Wow. New England's been idle all offseason and has a chance
to secure the best receiving tandem in the league by drafting Dez Bryant. Two gazelles plus
Wes Welker with a three-time Super Bowl winning quarterback gunslinging
like 2007. We've never seen two big, tall playmakers on one team; Larry Fitzgerald
and Anquan Boldin worked out alright in Arizona, yes? You can get to a Super Bowl with an
overpowering passing game. You kinda need to nowadays. Bryant and
Moss and Welker would have been like when we used to play Madden '03
and paired together Moss and T.O. An avalanche of mismatches. Diva
receivers take plays off and the fear is that unlike the video game,
the lazy plays and chemistry issues become problems. Again, the all-world passing attack worked out for the Cardinals, Colts and Saints. And here the Pats would have
Welker underneath getting 200 catches. Or New England could, you know,
get over fact Laurence Maroney was a terrible first rounder and go for a
north-south ace like Ryan Matthews or a versatile Brian Westbrook/Barry
Sanders hybrid in Jahvid Best. And the pick-flipping hasn't even been
that effective, they've missed tons over the last few years: David Thomas over Owen Daniels, Reche Caldwell over Greg Jennings.
- On that note, props to San Diego for making a bold move for an impact player that fits perfectly in Ryan Matthews. They just won the AFC West. Still...
- Kansas City is an exciting team and as long as they don't listen to Charlie Weis and draft Jimmy Claussen, they'll finish second at, say, 8-8.
- Big 12 stand up: our favorite conference produces draft's first four picks and Gerald McCoy's tears were infectious. Great moment.
- I think the connecting theme this year will be teams getting over past mistakes and atoning will see immediate payoffs and stubbornness will fail. New England comes to mind and ditto for Oakland: JaMarcuss Russell plays like his jersey number and the bigger problem is that he'd honestly rather eat cookies than improve, the Raiders must find another quarterback. Miami loves Sergio Kindle's talent but fears injury, lacks impact talent it needs to be a top flight team. And of course, Denver with its insistence on bringing in project signal callers.
- The flipside: Detroit making power plays, Buffalo realizing Marshawn Lynch is more trouble than he's worth and securing the most dynamic, versatile, playmaker in the draft. C.J. Spiller is akin to putting Kevin Durant on a shitty NBA team from Oklahoma and letting him go for 40 points on a nightly basis. Spiller will do it all...
- Best is Jerry Jones swallowing his pride, realizing the sexy impact guys at his position needs (safety, offensive line) are not there and rather than settling for Taylor Mays or the South Florida kid (one of these safeties will be around tonight in round two and if not the Cowboys can get offensive tackle protege Bruce Campbell or former Rhodes Scholar, Myron Rolle), making a poetic, BOLD, CAPSLOCK DECISION to move up and land Dez Bryant by trading with the Pats. Shit just got real for Dallas and people know it. He's penance for passing on Randy Moss (the best receiver of all-time and I'm happy to debate this at length); he's redemption for overvaluing Roy Williams and for mismanaging the Terrell Owens experiment. And as he's said, they are keeping Roy and Tony Romo is committed to improving their chemistry. The Dallas Cowboys just got a difference maker worth two wins. 13-3 and a bye are givens. And how about the Wade Phillips drafts since his unpretentious, let-me-do-my-defensive-guru-thing-and-you-can-have-the-glory-I-don't-care-I-love-cheeseburgers style took over Parcells's ego in 2007: Anthony Spencer, Doug Free, Felix Jones, Mike Jenkins, Martellus Bennett, Tashard Choice, 2009 was about loading up on depth from rounds three-seven and now DEZ FUCKING BRYANT.
Decision: Donwill - Don Cusack in High Fidelity
The Tanya Morgan breakout milks an indie classic and comes up with one of the most memorable hip-hop records of the year. Boost your cred by namedropping him with friends.
Freeway goes for a ride
Pitchfork.tv catches up with our favorite rhymesayer in their new "Selector" feature - which I guess is kind of like their "Day Tripping" feature, except with black people. Another vid, including a pretty sick freestyle, after the jump.
Continue reading Freeway goes for a ride.
DJ Premier takes the high road
Primo stays classy in his public reaction to the passing of longtime partner, Guru:
IT WAS A SAD DAY FOR ME TO GET CONFIRMATION ON THE DEATH OF A MAN WHO I WILL CONTINUE TO CALL MY BROTHER, KEITH ELAM, BETTER KNOWN AS GURU OF THE LEGENDARY GANG STARR.
I'VE BEEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON A LETTER SPEAKING ILL OF ME WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY WRITTEN BY GURU IN HIS DYING DAYS. ALL I WILL SAY ABOUT IT IS THAT OUR TIME TOGETHER WAS BEAUTIFUL, WE BUILT A HIP HOP LEGACY TOGETHER, AND NO ONE CAN RE-WRITE HISTORY OR TAKE AWAY MY LOVE FOR HIM. ONE THING I WOULD NEVER DO IS PLAY AROUND WITH THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS LIFE.
I WILL CELEBRATE GURU'S LIFE... I WILL HONOR HIS MEMORY... I WILL GRIEVE WITH THE ELAM FAMILY OVER HIS UNTIMELY DEATH... I WILL REMEMBER THE GANG STARR FOUNDATION AND ALL OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF GANG STARR WHO CAME BEFORE ME - WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER... MOSTLY, I WILL CHERISH EVERYTHING WE CREATED TOGETHER AS GANG STARR, FOREVER. I'M GONNA MISS HEARING HIS SIGNATURE MONOTONE VOICE WHEN HE WALKS IN THE ROOM, BUT THE SONGS WILL ALWAYS BRING IT BACK TO ME....HIS RHYME FLOWS WERE INSANE, AND I WILL NEVER REMOVE HIM FROM MY HEART AND SOUL.......REST IN PEACE TO THE MAN WHO FELT "SATISFACTION FROM THE STREET CROWD REACTION" ... I LOVE YOU GOO.......DJ PREMIER
The Endorsement: Tanya Morgan
Tanya Morgan are one of those acts that we listen to far more than we blog about. It's a shame really, and we're going to rectify it starting right now. In case you're not familiar, TM are a boom-bap trio hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio and Brooklyn, New York and including rappers Donwill, Ilyas and rapper/producer Von Pea. Their thoughtful, down-to-earth lyricism and predilection for heavy, head-nodding, old-school production place them squarely in the gene line of acts like the Tribe, De La, Slum Vill, and Little Brother. As of this year, all of those acts are more or less retired, but TM, who released their debut Moonlighting in 2006, are thankfully keeping it moving.
So. Tanya Morgan. DON'T SLEEP. Their latest, Brooklynati, which includes the above jam "Bang & Boogie" and features Phonte, Blu, Peter Hadar and others, dropped last year. This year, group member Donwill has been killing the game with his solo project Don Cusack in... High Fidelity, also in stores now. Check the video for that album's lead single, one of my favorite hip-hop songs in years, "Laura's Song" after the jump.
Continue reading The Endorsement: Tanya Morgan.
Guru's sister speaks, Solar's letter (probably) fake
Well shit. According to an official statement released by the Elam family, Guru never regained consciousness following his February heart attack. Thus, he could not have possibly written the Solar-released, ominous letter. Writes sister, Pamela:
The Elam family wishes to thank the fans of our son/brother/father uncle/nephew/cousin Keith aka GURU for the outpouring of love, concern and support.
Our hearts are broken by the loss of someone we loved so much. GURU was devoted to his young son, who will most keenly feel his absence.
GURU suffered from multiple myeloma for over a year. Accrued complications from this illness led to respiratory failure and cardiac arrest. As a result, GURU was in a coma from mid February until his death and never regained consciousness. Early on the morning of April 19th, he became hypertensive due to low blood pressure. He again went into cardiac arrest and slipped away from us.
GURU died far too young but he was, and we are, proud of all his many legendary musical contributions.
The family is not aware of any foundations established by GURU. We know and understand that countless fans want to express their condolences and love and, to that end, we are planning a memorial event in the near future that will be all-inclusive. Please look for further details from the family as they become available.
You did it, Devin (Happy 4/20)
Did you name your album Suite #420 after picking 4/20 as a release date, or was it the other way around?It just came about because since the early 2000s I had wanted to put an album out on 4/20, and we tried to put one out in 2004, and we looked at the calendar and it didn't fall on a Tuesday. We realized 4/20 wouldn't be a Tuesday till 2010 and I said, "Man I don't know if I'll be rocking then," so I just kind of gave up on the idea. So it's a blessing that I could still be a part of hip-hop in 2010. I had to name the album that.
Congratulations, bro. In the dude's honor, enjoy his latest video and some classic mp3s after the jump. And cop Suite #420... you know, whenever you degenerates come down.
Continue reading You did it, Devin (Happy 4/20).
New B.O.B. ft. Eminem and Hayley Williams - 'Airplanes pt. II'
We've been ambivalent about B.o.B., Atlanta's hottest hip-hop export of the moment, but I think this music is pretty straightforwardly bad. Eminem, who apparently has dibbs on the last verse of whatever song on which he appears written into his contract, is obviously the standout when compared to Bobby's typically annoying and elementary delivery and rhyme patterns. But even Em is in woeful Relapse mode, affecting that weird halting cadence that he apparently hasn't been able to shake since rehab.
But hey, I'm a sucker for the fiery-cute girl from Paramore. + 1 point.
Guru dead at 43
GangStarr anchor and general hip-hop legend, Guru, passed away Monday morning after a secretive, lengthy bout with cancer. Last month, the disease triggered a coma-inducing heart attack. The artist, born Keith Elam, was 43. Here's an on point rundown of highlights and here's a farewell letter he allegedly wrote to supporters, it also takes shots at DJ Premier:
I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world. I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options.
I have a non-profit organization called Each One Counts dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a cure for this terrible disease that took my life. I write this with tears in my eyes, not of sorrow but of joy for what a wonderful life I have enjoyed and how many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting.
My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself. Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family, friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody's feelings on the matter. It is my wish that counts. This being said I am survived by the love of my life, my sun KC, who I trust will be looked after by Solar and his family as their own. Any awards or tributes should be accepted, organized approved by Solar on behalf myself and my son until he is of age to except on his own.
I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this. I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. As the sole founder of GangStarr, I am very proud of what GangStarr has meant to the music world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of Hip-Hop/Jazz. I am most proud of my leadership and pioneering efforts on Jazzmatazz 4 for reinvigorating the Hip-Hop/Jazz genre in a time when music quality has reached an all time low. Solar and I have toured in places that I have never been before with GangStarr or Jazzmatatazz and we gained a reputation for being the best on the planet at Hip-Hop/Jazz, as well as the biggest and most influential Hip-Hop/Jazz record with Jazzmatazz 4 of the decade to now. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do! As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small mindedness, greed, and ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the world. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and represents some of the best years of my life.
T.I. prepping mixtape with DJ Drama, releases uber-jam with The Dream
Fuck A Mixtape coming soon. Here's its trailer. This correpdoning song, featuring r&b lover man The Dream, is the shit. I much prefer T.I. as the heartthrob/radio cash cow to T.I. as a street corner gangster. He has the trap pedigree, for sure, but he's just such a likable guy that his mean mug always feels forced. This joint is just so light and digestible.
As a bonus, I included a dope Dream cut with Jeezy (he dropped the Young, remember) from his forthcoming Love King album. It's coming May 18. As a corollary, I firmly believe this summer will be monstrous for rap on a national scale as its brightest stars are releasing not only new albums but thus far excellent singles. See you at the club.
T.I. featuring The Dream - Love Again
The Dream featuring Jeezy - Love King
Stimulus - Dice Raw - Dilla, Dice, Pregunta
You may remember Dice Raw as the Philly emcee who always steals the show on songs from The Roots. He's got a great, fiery presence and memorable quotables like "I'm kinda like W.E.B. Dubois meets Heavy D and the Boyz."
Back in February, The Roots released a mixtape with full-band interpretations of Dilla beats. Two months later, a competent rapper gets his hands on them. Tracklist + download link after the jump.
Continue reading Stimulus - Dice Raw - Dilla, Dice, Pregunta.
Delving into the 'Exhibit C' rap phenomenon
First and foremost, Game has won the "Exhibit C" space race. His version is a myriad of great lines stuffed into 20 minutes and yeah fam, he's absolutely back on my radar as an important voice in the, um, game. But Thursday's beefy onslaught over Jay Electronica's winter classic, "Exhibit C," got me thinking about the gobs of trial versions circulating the mixtape circuits since its messiah-like reception late last year.
Bloggers take veiled, annoyed shots at the product. No doubt because nobodies crowd their inboxes with eager attempts. Many attack the exercise as lacking vision. But really, the great thing about such a commanding, unifying track like "Exhibit C" is using the occasion to flex talent. I've enjoyed almost every one of these bits. All-world hip-hop songs should be recreated by rappers, it's the most unbiased metric to measure skillz.
With that in mind, here's a breakdown of "Exhibit C" highlights from the underground.
Joell Ortiz
Tone: Focused, indignant rant released in aftermath of the devastating Haiti earthquake; basically a history lesson
Sample lyric: "Before the ground shook, we never offered them love/people was eating cakes made of oil, water and mud"
Cypha Da Prynce
Tone: Solid effort from Kanye-endorsed rapper; at 2:21, the shortest of the bunch. Also falls into familiar trap of rhyming "Electronica" with "harmonica"
Sample lyric: "I get blowed like harmonica/met Veronica/got blowed and got it on with her"
B.o.B.
Tone: Clunky, on the spot radio flow. Full of miscues, but is at least an actual freestyle
Sample lyric: "Uno is my numeral/they say hip-hop is dead I guess I missed the funeral"
Stylah
Tone: British rapper brings thick accent, regional slang I don't follow
Sample lyric: I got nothing, but it does sound good.
Twista
Tone: Fast, as usual
Sample lyric: No real lyrical highlights, just a bunch of rapid fire bars. Fun.
Nickelus F
Tone: Guy that may or may not have written for Drake brings melodies and cheeseball, suburban lyrics; also one of the first "C" flows to arrive on the scene during December
Sample lyric: "Nickelus F comes the hardest...that's what she said"
Mike Millz
Tone: Far Rockaway newcomer does New York proud, overcomes nasally, high voice
Sample lyric: Lotta back-to-back stuff. Technically proficient shit. "They respect us just like North Korean troops" is a cool line.
Stix
Tone: Perhaps the most average, nondescript of the bunch
Sample lyric: "I make it rain with Sprint's cell phone connection: about 4Gs"
Cassidy
Tone: Lots of hard, aggressive shit that "Cass do." He comes in right when the beat drops and saves us a little time, which begets kudos
Sample lyric: "I keep Franklins like Aretha do...stay fresh like kids on Easter do...you a sucker you do things that a sucker do...your girl say she never come when she sleep with you"...These go on for a while
Papoose
Tone: Overlooked street guy rambles, takes then timely shots at Tiger Woods
Sample lyric: "You an Uncle Tom nephew, why should I respect you?"
Fabolous
Tone: Mixtape-closing rampage of nonsensical charisma
Sample lyric: "They call me Fab Electronica/Presidential suite so it's Fab and young Monica/Stevie Wonder niggas better grab your harmonica/screaming "go daddy" so it's Fab and young Danica/if it goes down better grab your Titanic, brah"
Murph
What: East Coast street shit. Sorta homoerotic
Sample lyric: "Tell them lame fuck boys they ain't fuckin' with me"
Jimmie Hoffa
Tone: Career introspection with a side of lamenting U.S. foreign policy
Sample lyric: "Me and the law always been on different sides"
On Denver's The Foodchain
A trusted ATG ally put me on to Denver hip-hop collective, The Food Chain, and I've been enjoying their album fairly regularly all week. Their newly released LP, Corpses, features hideous artwork but dark, late '90s recalling pseudo-conscious hip-hop. Its guests are a pretty spot on way to gauge their sound: Joe Scudda, Big Pooh, Talib Kweli, Chaundon. The work is worth sampling, spinning, loading.
Get their album. Read about The Food Chain in careful, well-reported, sweetly naive and hyperbolic fashion.
Wiz Khalifa - Kush & Orange Juice (Mixtape)
Photo by Callie Richmond for ATG.
People I respect rave about this kid. Stash his new release after the jump.
Continue reading Wiz Khalifa - Kush & Orange Juice (Mixtape).
The Endorsement: J. Cole
Photo by Callie Richmond for ATG.
Been listening to lots of The Warm Up, J. Cole's 2009 mixtape. Cole is an emerging voice in hip-hop by default as the first artist signed to Jay-Z's new imprint, Roc Nation, and it made sense to test the waters. ATG's visual assassin, photographer Callie Richmond, sang his praises during South by Southwest and I thought he did an admirable job as Jay's arena opener. He's an XXL Freshman, a blog mainstay, respected and name-dropped by important people. It's becoming increasingly difficult to ignore Cole's career.
Believe me, I tried.
Continue reading The Endorsement: J. Cole.
New Drake video - 'Over'
Sadly, Kanye wasn't invited to provide his abundant, bountiful and titillating "cinematography."
Thank Me Later's latest rumored release date is June 15th.
The week in hip-hop journalism
Here's what ATG has been catching up on:
- Tom Breihan on G-Side, Freddie Gibbs, Freeway and rap's recession.
- Robbie Ettelson on Rick Rubin: the man, the myth.
- Complex talks to Tony Williams on his most memorable Kanye West sessions.
- Verena von Pfetten on hip-hop's internal struggles with baggy pants.
- Lauren Carter on B.o.B.'s rising stock.
- Jose Gutierrez, Jr. on the return of the hip-hop battle via venues, scenes and organizers in Olympia, Washington.
Morning notes: Kanye's album due in June, Dre's single due Friday
- According to Billboard, Kanye West is in Hawaii finishing up his album with Q-Tip, RZA, Pete Rock. Twitter transmissions have left West's cohorts readily identifiable, but west disciple Big Sean tells Billboard the unnamed project (prolly Good Ass Job) drops in June.
- Dr. Dre's lead single from his white whale of an album, Detox, is called "Under Pressure," features Jay-Z, and Ester Dean wrote the hook. We're set to hear it Friday.
- Rapper Big Pooh on the end of Little Brother: "...just taking time apart, Phonte went into the singing thing and was Grammy nominated for the singing and that's where his heart is at now and I just went a little more edgy with my music and a little more West Coast-inspired with my music and just got further away from the Little Brother sound or style with the vocal samples and things of that nature."
- "...we have personal things that we need to take care of before we even get to the music portion of the relationship. We need to discuss that who knows how that is going to end up. People don't understand that it's not as simple as just wanting to make some music. Nah. We need to settle. Because we had a personal relationship with him, we have to get that settled first and that's so far down the line. That's what people don't understand. When you have a personal relationship with somebody and you came from nothing to something with them and that personal relationship goes astray, it takes so much to set that right before you can even fathom doing music together. It's as simple as that. It's not like if you did some beats for me and we never had a real personal relationship and we fell out. It would be easy for us to rectify that and make some new music. I have to like you to make beautiful music with you, but that would be easy.
But this situation is different because the business crossed over into the personal and it fucked up everything. It fucked up the business relationship and the personal relationship. The personal relationship would definitely have to be fixed all the way before a conversation about music would occur." - Yelawolf is 30. Cool.
Lollapalooza snubs hip-hop
Fading burn outs returning to their Simpsons-early '90s roots (Cypress Hill), a revivalist r&b guy infamous for Bel Biv Devoe (Raphael Saadiq), and a well-connected up and comer with more famous cosigners than actual fans (B.o.B) will be the only semblance of hip-hop during Chicago's Lollapalooza festival in August.
Three marquee festivals linchpin the summer season. Coachella is the spring fling. Bonnaroo props up the midsummer fatigue in June. Lollapalooza is the August crescendo. Coachella and Bonnaroo have already shown their cards and put on for the genre across the board: Jay-Z, Wale, P.O.S., 2ManyDJs, Major Lazer, Flying Lotus, Gorillaz, De La Soul, Mayer Hawthorne, Jay Electronica, Nas & Damian Marley, Kid Cudi.
Held annually in Chicago's Grant Park since 2005, Lolla is a must. We're talking Rage Against the Machine/Kanye West/Wilco/Radiohead/Nine Inch Nails as headliners in one sitting, charging the masses. While Coachella and Roo bring the party to scenic, rural grounds, Lollapalooza is held on the shores of Lake Michigan, in the heart of the Dunkin' Donuts district, downtown in one of the most densely populated U.S. cities. Whereas the other two festivals are defined by camping and mushrooms and free love, Lollapalooza is about crowded subways full of locals and enjoying Lupe Fiasco with his hometown skyline approvingly adorning the view.
To be clear, Lollapalooza is the most accessible of the major festivals and thus it bears an added responsibility to diversify beyond trendy college rock and trendy college rock from 20 years ago. No, Lady Gaga doesn't count.
Big Boi - Shutterbugg
Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty is coming May 4. Every bit of media attached to the project has been wonderful.
"Shutterbug" is the lead single and isn't as perfect or addicting as "Shine Blockas" and "Fo Yo Sorrows," but it's in the building: a hardworking, thoughtful, bouncing club jam.
Big Boi - Shutterbugg
Case of the Mondays - April 5
The week in MP3s.
It's another gray morning of bad coffee, powder creamer and small talk. March Madness will end soon and there's no paid time off lingering until Memorial Day. ATG has tunes for catching up, coping including an iTunes bonus cut from the forthcoming, final Little Brother album, Drake and The Dream teaming up for the ladies and 9th Wonder...on the mic??!!
Download the songs after the jump.
It's another gray morning of bad coffee, powder creamer and small talk. March Madness will end soon and there's no paid time off lingering until Memorial Day. ATG has tunes for catching up, coping including an iTunes bonus cut from the forthcoming, final Little Brother album, Drake and The Dream teaming up for the ladies and 9th Wonder...on the mic??!!
Download the songs after the jump.
Continue reading Case of the Mondays - April 5.
NYC Bureau: XXL Freshman Showcase @ the Highline
Few things get the internet goin nuts quite like XXL's annual freshman series these days, so when we got invited to check out the official showcase @ the Highline Ballroom in NY, we had to swing through.
Continue reading NYC Bureau: XXL Freshman Showcase @ the Highline.
Video: Frontline - 'The Quake'
One half of the ATG editorial board (the Reggie half) spent 2010's early months tirelessly laboring for Frontline on a documentary. It's called "The Quake" and it premiered March 30 on PBS. In Reggie's words:
Our film is a thoughtful, exhaustive look at Haiti's unnaturally deadly disaster and the spiraling humanitarian crisis that threatens to confound the largest global relief effort in modern memory. It features interviews with Secretary Hillary Clinton, Former President Bill Clinton, and Partners in Health Founder Paul Farmer among many others.
Thanks so much for your support and don't forget to check it out!
P.S. I designed the promo graphic!
Check it out after the jump.
Continue reading Video: Frontline - 'The Quake'.
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Co-founder/Executive Editor: Ramon RamirezCo-founder/Executive Editor: Reggie Ugwu
Senior Writers
Cass Luskin
Jerod Couch
Evan Daniels
Natalia Ciolko
Web Design
Jeremy Hurd
