COLLECTIBLES: Ltd. Edition Fine Art Screen Print Posters of AFRIKA BAMBAATAA

A fine art screen print in honor of Afrika Bambaataa, the godfather of Hip Hop, is is now available to coincide with the official birthday of Hip Hop and the anniversary of the Zulu Nation. The image is a portrait of Hip Hop DJ pioneer and 1st Hip Hop activist: Afrika Bambaataa by photographer Theo Jemison and remixed by graf artist Kofie One. This 18" x 24" limited edition screen print was printed with 8 colors (including metallic gold ink) at Hard Pressed Studios in Los Angeles CA and signed by Afrika Bambaataa, Kofie and Theo Jemison. Each of the 100 prints is priced at $135. Available at YODEPOT.COM

VIDEO: EDREYS- "Get Free"

One of our SPOTLIGHT artists, EDREYS, drops a video for his song "Get Free" that features his illustration and directorial skills. Check an earlier post on Edreys HERE

CYMAR​SHALL​ LAW & MR. JOEKE​R ALBUM​ NYC ALBUM​ RELEA​SE PARTY​

Come out to the Knitting Factory this Friday to witness the skills of CYMARSHALL LAW and to celebrate the long awaited release of his new album with producer MR. JOEKER- HIP HOP IN THE SOUL. Featured performers include Silent Knight, John Robinson, Pryme Prolifik and Tiye Phoenix. Sucio Smash hosts while DJ Ings is featured on the 1s and 2s. $10 at the door. Check KNITTING FACTORY for more info.

VIDEO: RUGGED N RAW feat. HASAN SALAAM- "I'm Broke and Proud"

South African Music Legend Miriam Makeba Collapses Onstage, Dies

From The Huffington Post:

She died just how she wanted to _ singing on stage for a good cause. And her recorded songs wafted out of taxis and radios, as fellow Africans struggled with their grief at her passing.

Miriam Makeba, the "Mama Africa" whose sultry voice gave South Africans hope when the country was gripped by apartheid, died Monday of a heart attack after collapsing on stage in Italy. She was 76.

In her dazzling career, Makeba performed with musical legends from around the world _ jazz maestros Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon _ and sang for world leaders such as John F. Kennedy and Nelson Mandela.

Makeba collapsed after singing one of her most famous hits "Pata Pata," her family said. Her grandson, Nelson Lumumba Lee, was with her as well as her longtime friend, Italian promoter Roberto Meglioli.

"Whilst this great lady was alive she would say: 'I will sing until the last day of my life'," the family statement said.

Read more at the link above.

VIDEO: THIS WEEK WITH JASIRI X Episode #9

Shepard Fairey's New Obama Poster and Free Stickers

Subculture and street art legend, Shepard Fairey aka OBEY, is the illustrator who created the most iconic image from President-Elect Batrack Obama's campaign has designed a victory poster and is distributing FREE stickers celebrating this historical event through MOVEON.ORG. MOVEON.ORG will also be offering limited edition posters (24"x36") for sale tomorrow Saturday November 8th at 12:30pm eastern time. These 5,000 limited edition prints are offset printed on French Paper Company's Cream Speckletone stock under the artist's supervision. Each print is numbered by hand, 1 through 5000. The first 1000 in the series are signed by Shepard Fairey. The prints signed by the artist will be available to those who donate $500 or more, while supplies last. The unsigned prints will be available to those who donate $80 or more, plus an additional $10 donation to cover shipping, while supplies last. Posters can be ordered HERE

ALL NET...WE DID IT!! CONGRATS President-Elect Barack Obama

J.PERIOD & Q-TIP RELEASE "Q-TIP FOR PRESIDENT" FREESTYLE; ANNOUNCE ALL-STAR BEST OF PROJECT

From the Press Release:

In the hip hop community, J.Period’s “Best Of” remix projects have become the stuff of legend. Hip hop and R&B heavyweights such as Kanye West, The Roots, Mary J., Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keys are not only collaborators in J.Period mixes—they are huge fans. Now, J.Period is pleased to announce the latest in his award-winning remix series, a collaboration with one of hip hop’s most creative and influential artists of all-time: Q-Tip.

This landmark collaboration signals a real revival of the hip hop spirit, in keeping with the theme of Q-Tip’s new album, The Renaissance (“rebirth”), scheduled for release on Election Day, Nov 4. With the historical significance of this day in plain sight, J.Period & Q-Tip will release of an exclusive freestyle entitled “Q-Tip for President”—a reaffirmation of the best in hip hop, and a throwback to the elements that once made hip hop a powerful vehicle for social and political expression. The track, which revives Rakim’s classic of a similar name, will be available on Election Day as a free download on www.jperiod.com and across the internet.

To continue to help raise awareness for Q-Tip’s new album, J.Period has enlisted an all-star cast of Native Tongue contributors, including Questlove, Talib Kweli, Busta Rhymes, De La Soul, Consequence and Black Thought to record exclusive material for the forthcoming “Best Of” tribute mix. Encompassing nearly 20 years of catalog, J.Period’s “Best of Q-Tip” seeks to remind fans of the depth of Q-Tip’s influence and contributions to hip hop, as well as to introduce his music to a new generation of hip hop fans around the globe. The complete mix is scheduled for release in early December, and will also be available as a free download on www.jperiod.com.

Download Q-TIP FOR PRESIDENT" HERE

Lets See How This Movie Is Gonna End...

VOTE VOTE VOTE!

VIDEO: THIS WEEK WITH JASIRI X Episode #8

Shakir Stewart, Jay-Z's Successor At Def Jam, Dies

From The Huffington Post:

NEW YORK — New York City-based Def Jam Recordings says that the executive that succeeded Jay-Z as the head of the legendary hip hop music label has died.

The company said in a statement that executive vice president Shakir Stewart died on Saturday. The cause of death could not immediately be confirmed.

Stewart signed such artists as Rick Ross and Young Jeezy to the label before being named in June to the post once filled by Jay-Z. In that role, Stewart oversaw the development of new talent, managed producers and guided the label's vision.

More info on his death is forthcoming.

UPDATE 11/4:

The executive who succeeded Jay-Z as the head of hip-hop music label Def Jam Recordings died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound near Atlanta, police said Sunday.

Executive vice president Shakir Stewart, 34, died on Saturday, his New York-based label said in a statement.

Stewart was found Saturday afternoon in the bathroom of his home in the Atlanta suburb of Marietta, Cobb County police spokeswoman Cassie Reece said Sunday. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Police described the shooting as self-inflicted and would not say who discovered Stewart.

The record label issued a statement Sunday on behalf of Stewart's fiancee, Michelle Rivers, and his family.

"Over the past several weeks, Shakir's behavior was inconsistent with the man we all know and love," the statement said. "As much as we all tried to help him, Shakir was in deep pain and largely suffering in silence."

Coldplay Meets Jay-Z: Mick Boogie & Terry Urban Presents VIVA LA HOVA

One of my peeps put me on to this unofficial release. Its a mashup/remix album utilizing music from Coldplay and vocals from Jay-Z. Apparently this one's a smash. I haven't heard it yet but you can get yours HERE. Mick Boogie even has a blog for Viva La Hova.

VIDEO: "Children Sing" by PACE WON and MR. GREEN

Above is the video for the song "Children Sing" by Pace Won (of the Outsidaz) and Mr. Green. We premiered the song earlier this year and featured Pace won and Mr. Green as SPOTLIGHT artists. The track is off of the album THE ONLY COLOR THAT MATTERS IS GREEN. Cop it at your favorite outlet..

VIDEO: Unauthorized Biography of BOB MARLEY

Rapper SHAUN BOOTHE returns with the second video in his 12 part unauthorized biography series featuring Bob Marley.