VIDEO: C'MON SON 8 with Ed Lover

MUSIC TECH: AKAI to release MPC2500 Special Edition in 2010

Originally posted at CRATEKINGS

Akai plans to release a Special Edition MPC2500SE sampler/sequencer that will be available in white with carbon paneling and come equipped with 128MB RAM and a CD-R drive pre-installed.

www.akaipro.com

O.C. & A.G. Drop New Live Video, "Oasis" Now Available In Stores

DOWNLOAD the title track "OASIS"

Tracklist w/ producers:
1. Oasis – Produced by Statik Selektah
2. Keep It Going - Produced by E Blaze
3. Give It Back - Produced by Lord Finesse
4. Alpha Males - Produced by Lord Finesse
5. Young With Style - Produced by Show and KC
6. Every Day Life - Produced by E Blaze
7. Think About It - Produced by E Blaze
8. Against The Wall - Produced by E Blaze
9. Put It In The Box - Produced by E Blaze
10. Boom Bap - Produced by Show
11. Reality Is - Produced by E Blaze
12. Contagious - Produced by E Blaze
13. Supreme Squad - Produced by Show
14. God's Gift - Produced by E Blaze
15. Get Away - Produced by Lord Finesse
16. 2 For The Money – Produced by Show
17. Pain – Produced by E Blaze

http://www.myspace.com/ocandag
http://www.nature-sounds.net/

VIDEO: LXD League of Extraordinary Dancers

Look at how far hip hop/street dancing has come. This performance is incredible for the precision and atmosphere that combines classical/operatic styles with some of the illest b-boy moves around. Taken from a recent episode of "So You Think You Can Dance".

SOULS OF MISCHIEF Team Up with PRINCE PAUL for "Montezuma's Revenge"

East Oakland, Ca. hip hop crew, Souls of Mischief return with a new album executive produced by the legendary Prince Paul. Recorded in San Francisco in a house on Montezuma street, the new CD expands their legacy and offers a return to form for this talented crew. Emcees A-Plus, Phesto, Opio and Tajai continue to bring excellent chemistry and slick wordplay although their flows are a little different from their first appearance in the 90's. This is Souls of Mischief's fifth album and some of their best work to date.



Cop it on iTUNES.

VIBE Resurrected?

I heard rumors about a possible relaunch of VIBE Magazine and a new issue is on the stands as we speak. I am going to pick it up to find out the story on that.

VIDEO: ED Lover Ain't Sugar Coating Sh*t- C'MON SON 7

VIDEO: Pace Won & Mr Green - "Who I Am"

Directed by Anthony Sylvester (www.myspace.com/anthonymjsylvester)
Produced by Kevin Lopez (www.kevinlopezfilmworks.com)
Cinematography by Anthony DeRose (www.anthonyderose.com)

"The Only Number That Matters is Won"...coming in 2010.. featuring a guest appearanceby one of hip hop's biggest superstars of all time.

Stay tuned..

VIDEO: A Look Back At GRAND PUBA

This is the companion post to this week's podcast of THE ZRO HOUR, paying homage to the one and only GRAND PUBA:

SEXY- Masters of Ceremony (no embed available; click to view)


WAKE UP (Reprise in the Sunshine)



360 (WHAT GOES AROUND)



CHECK IT OUT feat. Mary J. Blige



WHAT'S THE 411? feat. Mary J. Blige (Yo! MTV Raps Performance)



A LITTLE OF THIS feat. Kid



I LIKE IT (Wanna Be Where You Are)

NEW! THE ZRO HOUR Podcast S06E08: GRAND PUBA- Master of Ceremony

THE ZRO HOUR is back with a tribute to one of the most talented, pioneering and trendsetting emcees- GRAND PUBA. Grand Puba has long had legendary status with over 20 years in hip hop. From message driven raps centered around the philosophy and teachings of the 5% Nation of Gods and Earths, to party jams that stay on repeat, Grand Puba has long been a favorite of fans and peers alike. Puba has lengthy production credits dating back to his work with Positive K and has always produced music for his own projects. He has returned to recording and dropped a 4th solo album this year titled "Retro-Active". I had the pleasure of meeting and briefly interviewing him this summer at his listening party in NYC.



This episode is absolutely one of the best as I am proud to present some of Grand Puba's best work. Enjoy the show!

THE ZRO HOUR S06E08: GRAND PUBA- Master of Ceremony

THEZROHOUR.COM

DOWNLOAD HERE (87.5MB)

PLAYLIST

VERY SPECIAL
STEP TO THE REAR
360 (What Goes Around)
A LITTLE OF THIS feat. Kid
REEL TO REEL
SEXY- Masters Of Ceremony
WHO CAN GET BUSY LIKE THIS MAN?
PROPER EDUCATION
WAKE UP (Reprise In The Sunshine)
CHECK IT OUT feat. Mary J. Blige
WHAT'S THE 411?- Mary J. Blige feat. Grand Puba
INTERVIEW WITH GRAND PUBA
WHO MAKES THE LOOT?- Brand New Heavies feat. Grand Puba
GRAND PUBA, POSITIVE & L.G.
SKINZ- Pete Rock & CL Smooth feat. Grand Puba
ALL FOR ONE- Brand Nubian
I LIKE IT ( I Wanna Be Where You Are)
SAME OLD DRAMA feat. Large Professor
CHANGE GONNA COME

MIXTAPES: DJ JAZZY JEFF Presents MY FAVES VOL. 1

This was released earlier this year and its never too late to cop this incredible compilation of some of DJ JAZZY JEFF's
favorites remixed by the man himself. Classics by Nas, Biggie, Jay-Z, Pharcyde and Wu-Tang get the Jazzy Jeff treatment. Free download below.

DJ JAZZY JEFF Presents MY FAVES Vol. 1

Track List

1. Gimme the Doe
2. Loot
3. Moment of Clearness
4. Uno Amore
5. Passin By Me
6. Hip No Ties
7. Allow Me Too…
8. It Ain’t Hard
9. Da Orchestra
10. Dirty Shoulders
11. Kick the Door In
12. Bill the Top
13. Made U Peek
14. Dollatown
15. Hustle Knockin’

VIDEO: Producer ILLMIND Speaks On His Career, Mixtape Series & Producer Showcases

Originally posted at CRATEKINGS

Blaps, Rhymes & Life Vol. 4 free download will be available for free download online on December 7th, 2009. The projects is entirely produced by Illmind, and features the usual mix of mainstream and up and coming artists with that Illmind stamp of approval. To download all 3 previous volumes, go to WWW.ILLMIND.BIZ

MIXTAPES: 4-IZE “Illuminated Animals”

PRESS RELEASE:

What happens when ultra emcee’s collaborate with a generous dose of realness? You encounter "Illuminated Animals!" 4-IZE and fellow beast emcee’s are shining new light on Hip Hop with the "Illuminated Animals" project. The project is presented by Upstairs Studio, an Atlanta based recording studio whose clientele include De La Soul, MF DOOM, Musiq Soulchild and more.

“Everybody has a beast laying dormant inside them” says 4-IZE. “Illuminated Animals was created to shine light on that beast inside of us all. Waking up that sleeping monster takes conscious effort and knowledge of self. That’s exactly what everyone on the project does with hopes to inspire all those who listen to do the same – Wake up their inner monster!”

4-IZE is joined by fellow emcee’s Señor Kaos, Punchlyne, and 4-IZE’s brother Number 2. Lending their soulful essence are vocal artists Anthony David, Scar and Yirayah.

The entire project is produced by Floyd the Locsmif (50 Cent, Ceelo Green, O.C, J Live) and DJ Rasta Root (CEO Smokin Needles Records & DJ/Manager Phife ATCQ).

Download at www.4IZE.com

TRACK LIST

1.) Classic Example – ft. Señor Kaos & Punchlyne
2.) Rollin Like A Gee – ft. Scar
3.) Hard To Quit The Rhyme – ft. Señor Kaos & AnthonyDavid
4.) Listen Carefully – Skit #1
5.) Ultra Beast – ft. Punchlyne & Number 2
6.) Would You Do It – Interlude
7.) Foods, Fruit & Animals – ft. Punchlyne & Señor Kaos
8.) When Keepin It Real Goes Wrong
9.) Dat Ain’t Gone Ride – ft. Señor Kaos & Punchlyne
10.) Wrong Kid Died – ft. Number 2
11.) Nobody – ft. Señor Kaos
12.) Badger Milk – Skit #2
13.) Vibe Awards
14.) Caterpillars – ft.Anthony David
15.) Don’t Nobody Care – ft. Yirayah
16.) Can’t Stop Thinkin bout You – ft. Anthony David
17.) Outro

Today is World AIDs Day-Remembering Eazy E & Hip Hop’s Stance Against a Dreaded Disease

Thanks to DAVEY D for this great post:

"...I just feel that I’ve got thousands and thousands of young fans that have to learn about what’s real when it comes to AIDS. Like the others before me, I would like to turn my own problem into something good that will reach out to all my homeboys and their kin. Because I want to save their asses before it’s too late.”

-EAZY E

Many of us have forgotten these haunting words from the late Eazy E who died from AIDs back in 1995. His death sent shock waves within the Hip Hop community and helped open people’s eyes. His death also helped shatter the myth of that HIV and AIDS was solely a gay white man’s disease. Today as we acknowledge the 22cd World AIDs Day where the theme is Universal Access and Human Rights, most of us are far more educated and understand that AIDs is a worldwide situation that has impacted all communities. Sadly in spite of the urgency, many of us have reverted back to what is deemed as irresponsible behavior. Many of us have looked at the success of people like basketball player Magic Johnson who was diagnosed with HIV and come to believe that this disease will not touch us…

READ MORE at his original post and get links to FAQ about HIV & AIDS.

Below is a classic live performance of "America (America Is Dying Slowly)" by Wu-Tang & Killah Priest from 'Yo MTV Raps":

VIDEO: Dame Dash Discusses His Next Movement and The "Wackworld" in Hip Hop

This is a great interview/roundtable discussion with Dame Dash where he discusses his "BlackRoc" project, his hand in the creation of Mos Def, Jay Electronica and Curren$y’s new group, Center Edge Territory and the necessity of hip hop overcoming the "wackworld" machine. Dame sounds like he is maturing and has renewed vision in place.

Thanks to 2DopeBoyz