2009 Crotona Park Jams: Bronx NYC July 9, 16, 23 & 30

Presented by NYC Council Member Joel Rivera and The Friends of Crotona Park, Tools of War, Rane & Serato

July 9th kicks off the official 2009 Crotona Park Jam Series - now in our 7th year of recreating the classic park jams from the 1970s and early 80s with a legends and pioneers only line up!

JULY 9
The Diabolical DJ Biz Markie (he's just our friend)
GrandWizzard Theodore (The L Brothers, Fantastic Romantic)
PopMaster Fabel (Tools of War, Rock Steady Crew,)

JULY 16
Afrika Bambaataa (Zulu Nation, Soulsonic Force)
Kool DJ Red Alert (Zulu Nation, 98.7 KiSS FM)
DJ Jazzy Jay (Zulu Nation, Soulsonic Force)

JULY 23
DJ Jazzy Joyce
DJ Scratch (88 NMS World Champion)
DJ Rockin Rob (Mean Machine)
GrandMaster Roc Raida (95 DMC World Champ + Busta's DJ)

JULY 30
DJ Cash Money (88 DMC World Champion)
DJ Lord Finesse (DITC)
GrandMaster Caz (Cold Crush Brothers)

Thursdays July 9, 15, 23 & 30 @ Crotona Park
5 - 9pm. FREE! All Ages! Host: GrandMaster Caz (Cold Crush)
Crotona Park at Charlotte St & Crotona Park East, Bronx NYC 10457. 2 or 5 train to 174th St. or BX 11, 15, 17 or 55.

INFO:
myspace.com/toolsofwar
itsmypark.org

TAME ONE (Former Member of The Artifacts) Releases ACID TAB VOCAB

Press release:

Amalgam Digital presents TAME ONE's new release, ACID TAB VOCAB. Acid Tab Vocab is a conceptual album that invites the listener on a journey through the artist’s many moods by generating an atmosphere that encourages experimentation and open-mindedness. Knowledge of the production-duo Parallel Thought, who produced the album with fellow member Drum, describes the new album, “It doesn’t matter what you’re on, whether it’s acid, weed, anger or happiness, this album takes you through the mood you’re going through, amplifies the feeling and takes you on the ultimate trip.”

The album features guest vocals from fellow underground hip hop mainstays such as Del the Funky Homosapien and fellow Weatherman members, Aesop Rock and Amalgam Digital’s own Breeze Brewin. “Acid Tab Vocab” also sheds light on Tame One’s past and family. The artist opens up about his early years on ‘Suede Adidas,’ and pays homage to relative Redman on the second single, ‘Press Rewind.’

"Anxiety Attacks"


"Molly" Featuring Aesop Rock and Breeze Brewin


Purchase the CD HERE

Tanya Morgan, Marco Polo & Torae and Brown Bag All Stars at Southpaw July 8

Wednesday, July 8th @Southpaw:

TANYA MORGAN, MARCO POLO & TORAE w/ Special Guests: Che Grand, Brown Bag All Stars & DJ Element

BHF '09 alumsTanya Morgan, Marco Polo & Torae, and The Brown Bag All Stars take over the stage at Southpaw. Fresh off the release of new critically-acclaimed albums - Tanya Morgan's "Brooklynati"and Marco Polo & Torae's "Double Barrel" - and go into this performance with a lot of hype to live up to.

Southpaw, 125 5th Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY

The Smile Rays' Producer BATSAUCE Drops "SPY vs SPY"

Super producer BATSAUCE, from The Smile Rays, releases a new 24 track instrumental project "SPY vs. SPY". Batsauce is no joke with the beats and if you looking for some of the most gritty and creative, sample heavy boom-bap-download this now!

Download "Spy Vs. Spy" exclusively at WYDU

TRACKLIST

1. Cathedral
2. Priveledged Information
3. Danger Zones
4. Assassin
5. Surveillance
6. Code Breaker
7. Antagony
8. Hot Pursuit
9. Over-Ground
10. I Spy
11. Some Secret
12. Go Beyond
13. Far Away
14. Undercover Blues
15. Medically Unfit
16. The Picture
17. Lab Rats
18. Los Alamos
19. In The Cold
20. Code of Conduct
21. Surprise Attack
22. Rio
23. Interception
24. Spy Triptych

MOVIES: Documentary "NEW MUSLIM COOL" Takes Inside Look at Fusion of Islam and Hip-Hop

First broadcast on PBS' P.O.V. series, "New Muslim Cool", produced and directed by Jennifer Maytorena Taylor, follows Puerto Rican American rapper Hamza Perez's ride through the streets, projects and jail cells of urban America. This film gives audiences an insider’s view of a little-known cultural fusion between Muslims and street beats that has been developing since the very beginnings of hip-hop culture. The result is a surprising challenge to stereotypes of both Muslims and urban youth in America that encourages viewers to look critically at the “clash of civilizations” between Islam and the West.

"New Muslim Cool" can be viewed online in its entirety HERE through July 24th 2009.

R.I.P. VIBE Magazine 1993-2009

VIBE magazine, the urban-music magazine founded in 1993 by Quincy Jones, ceased operations today due to the recession.

From The New York Times:

Word was broken early this afternoon by the Web site dailyfinance.com and spread to other music and media news sites. The spokeswoman, Tracy Nguyen, said the Vibe staff would be formally notified in a meeting at 2 p.m. She said she did not know how many people would be laid off as a result of the closure. The closure of Vibe leaves just two large-circulation music magazines, XXL and The Source, focusing on hip-hop and R&B. The Source has had its own troubles, going through a bankruptcy and emerging under new ownership last year. A rock-focused magazine, Blender, folded last year. Read more HERE

VIBE will be missed that is for certain. Known for many classic issues filled with fashion, music, lifestyle and at times, investigative journalism, VIBE followed the same lane as Rolling Stone but was geared toward an African-American and multicultural audience. Some of the greatest articles on many of hip hop and R&B's biggest stars graced the magazine. Their interviews with the Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Mary J. Blige, and R. Kelly to name a few, were among the most revealing and insightful portrayals in print. The first music industry function that I attended was sponsored by VIBE magazine. The VIBE Music Seminar, introduced in summer of 1996, was my inaugural venture into networking with the industry's movers and shakers. It was held at Jacob Javitz Convention Center in New York City over 4 days. I nervously made my way, solo, through seminars, showcases and panels with a home burned CD of my beats. Mostly ignored due to my unknown status and shy approach, it did not discourage me from moving forward. That is my special connection to VIBE. Thank you to all of the writers, editors, photographers who shaped VIBE and executed Quincy's vision. I anxiously await the next phase of hip hop journalism...