VIDEO: SAFARI- "We Still Here"

First single produced by EDAYE (!) from the debut mixtape "WILD LIFE: WHO LEFT THE GATE OPEN??" coming mid-June 2010. Clean version of video HERE

DOWNLOAD:

SAFARI- "We Still Here"
BONUS freestyle: SAFARI- "Lyrical Dope"

BOOKS: The BeatTips Manual 5th Edition

Props to my dude Saint Joe over at soundsandgear.com. Saint Joe did a great review of this impressive must have manual for both new and veteran beatmakers. "The BeatTips Manual" by Amir SA'ID. Check his review below and read more HERE

Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal

R.I.P. to an absolute emcee. Guru is one of the greats and almost every head I know is a deep fan of his music. Although he and DJ Premier fell apart, their work together will serve as a blueprint for authenticity in hip hop. I am not at a loss for words over his death but I am mourning with all those who were hypnotized by his monotone flow. 43 years is way too young to expire but his legacy will remain far longer. I remember chillin' at S.O.B.s in the early nineties and Guru would be in the same crowd living hip hop with the rest of us. Above the clouds..

BOOKS: HOW TO RAP: The Art and Science of the Hip-Hop MC by Paul Edwards plus Foreword Kool G Rap

PRESS RELEASE:

With a foreword by Kool G Rap and interviews with over 100 major MCs, HOW TO RAP: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC guides the reader through the artform of Rap in the words of the artists, giving an inside look behind their creative processes and techniques.

Over 100 artists interviewed exclusively for the book include classic MCs and groups such as Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, Mobb Deep, AZ, Jurassic 5, Cypress Hill, Pharoahe Monch, Boot Camp Clik, Masta Ace, and A Tribe Called Quest, as well as more recent artists such as Clipse, Styles P, The Black Eyed Peas, Crooked I, Immortal Technique, Royce Da 5'9", Papoose and Nelly.

HOW TO RAP breaks MC'ing down into content, flow, writing, and delivery with topics such as writing in your head, punching-in vocals, and interacting with the crowd all tackled from different angles by numerous pros.

The book also features the first complete breakdown of "flow", allowing readers to create tongue-twisting compound rhyme styles like Kool G Rapand Eminem, complex conversational flows like Nas, Jay-Z, and OC, the classic true school patterns of Melle Mel, and everything in between.

For more info on the book, visit www.howtorapbook.com

GetGreen South Bronx Fest w/ HIp Hop Legends: GrandMaster Caz, DJ Jazzy Jay & MARE 139

Sat. April 24: GetGreen: South Bronx Earth Fest @ St. Mary's Park Boogie Down Bronx

12pm-4pm. FREE! All Ages! Feat. Hip Hop legends and pioneers: GrandMaster Caz. DJ Jazzy Jay and Carlos Mare 139 Rodriguez plus Global Man, the Environmental Mobile, Textile & E-Waste recyling drive, youth performances, eco-centered music contest and more! St. Mary's Park 146th St. & St. Ann's Ave, Bronx NY 10455. Rain or Shine! If it rains, come across the street to Betances Community Center 465 St. Ann's Ave.

Trains: 2 or 5 to 149th & 3rd Ave or 6 to Brook.
Buses: Bx 17 or 19 to St. Ann's or Bx 2 4 15 21 41 or 55 to 149th & 3rd.
Info: getgreensouthbronx.wordpress.com and facebook.com/GetGreenSouthBronxEarthFest

Thanks to TOOLS OF WAR for the heads up.

MUSIC TECH: Native Instruments Free Soft Synths- KORE 2 Player and KONTAKT Player

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS, creators of some of the most powerful and widely used software synths on the market, offers two plug-in synth players available for FREE download. These can be used both as a stand-alone application or within any sequencer/DAW host as a VST®, Audio Units™ or RTAS® plug-in. KORE 2 Player and KONTAKT Player provide an introduction into the world of sounds offered by Native Instruments. KORE 2 Player is a software synth that comes with a 400MB sound library that can be expanded with additional synth libraries, many for as low as $59. KORE 2 PLAYER includes six Native Instruments sound engines under the hood and provides ready-to-play sounds that can be browsed and tweaked via the intuitive KORE 2 PLAYER interface. The KONTAKT Player is a sample playback synth that allows for innovative, highly playable instruments. The virtually unlimited flexibility of Kontakt Script Processing allows for instruments with unprecedented functionality and musicality.

Check out the video below for a sample of the MASSIVE THREAT sound set available for the KORE 2 Player. Shout out to Saint Joe at soundsandgear.com:

MUSIC TECH: KORG iElectribe Drum Machine for Apple iPad

It was a matter of time before something like this would be launched. I just didn't believe that I would see such a great product so fast. The iPad has been unleashed on the public last week and thanks to MATRIXSYNTH, we now have info on a great new music app for the iPad, KORG's iElectribe Drum Synth/Sequencer. Retailing for a limited time for $9.99 (regular price $19.99), KORG has designed a software emulation of one of their classic drum machine/grooveboxes. The iElectribe works flawlessly as an exact replication of the hardware sound and functiionality.



More info HERE
Purchase from the iTunes App Store

NEW! THE ZRO HOUR S06E17

After a 3 week hiatus, THE ZRO HOUR returns with the first podcast of Spring. Summer is just around the corner but the heat is right here. I drop new music from REDMAN, MARCO POLO & RUSTEE JUXX, KID CUDI & SNOOP DOGG, METHUZULAH feat. DINCO D (Leaders of The New School), DAVID BANNER, PRODIGY (Mobb Deep), METH, GHOST & RAE, PROTE-J and the first single from ETERNIA & MoSS' upcoming album "At Last".

I also premiere a few tracks from debut artist, KALAE ALL DAY. Kalae All Day is a AFROMATIKNEOHIPPIEROCK* who is making noise on the indie scene in NYC. I saw her perform during last fall's CMJ Music Festival and had to reach out. Listen to and purchase her debut album AFROMATIKNEOHIPPIEROCK*SOLEMUZIK at http://www.kalaeallday.bandcamp.com. Kalae and I linked for a video interview in Harlem, N.Y. Check it out below:



Enjoy the show!

THE ZRO HOUR S06E17

DOWNLOAD HERE (77MB)

PLAYLIST

PLAYED LIKE A PIANO- King Tee feat. Ice Cube & Breeze
LOOKIN' FLY- Redman
STAFF STYLE STICKFIGHTING- Methuzulah feat. Dinco D
JUST THE BEGINNING- Diggy
FUCKIN' WIT A GANGSTA- Marco Polo & Rustee Juxx feat. Sean Price
ITS FUNNY- Eternia & MoSS feat. Joell Ortiz
I DO MY THING- Kid Cudi feat. Snoop Dogg
THE PHONE TAP (Welcome to State Prison)- Prodigy
LIFE'S A BITCH- Fashawn feat. Talib Kweli
O.G. LYRIKALBOOKBAGGER- Kalae All Day feat. Homeboy Sandman
BROOKLYN BOYS (Live @ Southpaw)- Kalae All Day
FOREIGN- Prote-J
NISSAN, HONDA, CHEVY- Joell Ortiz & Jim Jones
STRANGE- David Banner feat. Remo
TICKET 4 2- Camp Lo
JERU THE DAMAJA FREESTYLE w/ RAHZEL
BREAKITDOWN- Kalae All Day feat. Mic Wilson
MIRANDA- Meth, Ghost & Rae
CLASS OF '87- Tony Touch feat. Big Daddy Kane, Kool G. Rap & KRS One

Call for Volunteers - Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival 2010

The Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival would not be possible without the help of the hundreds of dedicated volunteers who donate their time, energy and creativity every year to produce the largest music festival in the five boroughs. Volunteers are the public face of Brooklyn Bodega, who work on a wide variety of projects during the Festival. Opportunity awaits at this unique organization!

PLEASE JOIN AND MAKE 2010 THE BEST YEAR YET!

Schedule:

Entering its sixth year the BHF aims to highlight Hip-Hop's legacy as an agent of artistic progression, community building and social change. BHF 2010 events will continue to reflect the full range of Hip-Hop culture, which spans music, film, academics, grassroots empowerment and more.

 Thursday, June 3rd Media Day
 Monday, July 5th - Show and Prove
 Tuesday, July 6th - Bodega Education Initiative
 Wednesday, July 7th - Salute the DJ
 Thursday, July 8th - Movie Night
 Friday, July 9th - Kickoff Party
 Saturday, July 10th - Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, DUMBO
 Saturday, July 10th BHF After party

Volunteers can choose between two different levels of commitment: Sign-Up or Full-Time (described below). In short, the Sign-Up program offers flexible scheduling for day of only volunteers. Full-Time Volunteers begin in the production process, marketing, publicity, sales, sponsorships, graphic design and more. Required to begin immediately and jump onto plan.

For more info go to brooklynbodega.com or contact:

Corrie Zaccaria
Volunteer Coordinator
718.210.3340 hr@brooklynbodega.com

Eternia & MoSS Announce Release Date “At Last”

PRESS RELEASE:

ETERNIA & MOSS “AT LAST” WILL BE RELEASED JUNE 15th, 2010 ON FAT BEATS RECORDS

In 2007, Eternia began recording her sophomore album with MoSS (a fellow Canadian), two years later the LP is complete and the title of the album says it all: At Last! Going where instinct took them, Eternia and MoSS’ collaborative union manifested into a sonically consistent album inspired by classic, boom-bap rap records (I.E. Ghostface Killah, Gangstarr, EPMD, Wu-Tang, & Nas).

MoSS is one of Hip-Hop’s fastest rising producers (see his work with Raekwon, Obie Trice, Ghostface, Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, AZ, Slum Village, Havoc, Kool G Rap, KRS-One, Buckshot etc) and the first producer signed to DJ Premier’s “Works Of Mart” production company—needless to say, the classic boom-bap aesthetic is a lane MoSS is more then comfortable in.

At Last is entirely produced by MoSS and features appearances by some of Hip-hop’s elite, including Joell Ortiz, Ras Kass, Termanology, Tona, Reef The Lost Cauze and luminary female emcees such as Rage, Rah Digga, Jean Grae & Tiye Phoenix. Eternia is at her finest over MoSS’ production, offering raw, confidant & vulnerable first-person perspectives over gritty and moving soundscapes. At Last promises to resonate in a musical arena where most rap albums fail to deliver beyond a ring-tone single.

Eternia has toured across Canada, the U.S., Australia, Mexico & Europe numerous times. Perhaps most noteworthy, she was invited to tour with Roxanne Shante, Bahamadia, Invincible and DJ Shortee across Europe on the historic “WE B-GIRLZ” tour in 2008, the first ever of its kind. Recently, Eternia has transformed herself from ‘that Canadian rapper’ to a household name on North American Hip Hop News & Blog sites, with her weekly video episodes “’AT Last’ - Road to Release Day” garnering well over 90,000 hits collectively and featuring Hip Hop legends DJ Premier, KRS-One, Pharoahe Monch, MC Lyte, Jeru the Damaja, 88-Keys, Jean Grae, Marco Polo, Smif N Wessun all co-signing the album.

COLLECTIBLES: KIMBO SLICE figure by Round5

Coming to a Target near you mid-April 2010!

Round5 presents series 2 of its Ultimate Collector Series of UFC figures. Kimbo rose to notoriety after a series of backyard street fights that earned him millions of views on youtube. He has made a transition into professional MMA fighting and was featured on last season's Ultimate Fighter TV series. Retailing for $12.99, this figure will be a highly sought after collectible.

Check out more images HERE

DJ Bobbito Garcia aka Kool Bob Love Announces New Residency at Camaradas El Barrio NYC - 1st Monday of Every Month!

DJ Bobbito Garcia
aka KOOL BOB LOVE
announces his new residency!

The FIRST MONDAY of EVERY MONTH beginning APRIL 5th, 2010 at

Camaradas el barrio
2241 First Ave.
between 115th & 116th St.
Spanish Harlem NYC
212.348.2703
www.camaradaselbarrio.com
6 Train to 116th St.

9pm - 1am
Only $5. 21+ with ID only

Spinning Latin, Nu-Jazz, Afro-beat, Rare Funk, Sweet Soul, Progressive Hip Hop, Soulful House, Roots & Ballads!

Upcoming: Mondays, April 5, May 3, June 7, July 5, August 2 + September 6

Thank you to TOOLS OF WAR for the info.

Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings "I Learned The Hard Way" Drops April 6th

PRESS RELEASE:

Sharon Jones continues her march toward Soul-Rock domination with the release of I Learned The Hard Way next week, April 6th, on Daptone Records.

I Learned The Hard Way was produced by Bosco Mann and recorded on an Ampex eight-track tape machine by Gabriel Roth in Daptone Records’ House of Soul studios. This record drips with a warmth and spontaneity rarely found since the golden days of Muscle Shoals and Stax. Sharon’s raw power, rhythmic swagger, moaning soulfulness, and melodic command set her firmly alongside Tina Turner, James Brown, Mavis Staples, and Aretha as a fixture in the canon of soul music. From the lush Philly-Soul fanfare that ushers in “The Game Gets Old” at the top of the record, to the stripped down Sam Cooke-style “Mama Don’t Like My Man” at the tail, the Dap-Kings dance seamlessly through both the most crafted and simple arrangements with subtlety and discipline. I Learned The Hard Way is the “Daptone Sound” at its finest.

Full album stream of "I Learned the Hard Way" exclusively at NPR.org:

http://bit.ly/c77u0G

LADY DAISEY Releases New Single/Debut Album on BBE Records in May

THE ZRO HOUR has long supported Lady Daisey, Batsauce and their group The Smile Rays. Lady Daisey & Batsauce have signed to BBE records for the debut release of Lady Daisey's solo album.

LADY DAISEY- "Magical" (streaming)
LADY DAISEY- "Magical" DJ Vadim RMX (streaming)

PRESS RELEASE:

Lady Daisey has rocked venues around the globe - from small smokey clubs to massive hip hop festivals - her message is one of love and inspiration, soulfully presented over head noddin' Batsauce beats. Singing since she was 5, Lady Daisey has developed a playful powerhouse style that's sure to grab the attention and steal the hearts of everyone within ear's reach. It's like sunshine for your soul... This is Daisey & Batsauce's first BBE release and features many special mixes including one from DJ Vadim. Debut album "In My Pocket" due May 7th 2010.

LL COOL J Shuts Down Sarah Palin & Fox News

Eat 'Em Up L...Chilll!

HUFFINGTONPOST reports on a battle between LL Cool J and Fox News stemming from a current promotion for an upcoming Sarah Palin special. Fox promoted the show to appear as if LL Cool J was going to be one of the subjects interviewed by Sarah Palin. LL tweeted, "Fox lifted an old interview I gave in 2008 to someone else & are misrepresenting to the public in order to promote Sarah Palins Show. WOW,". Fox News responded Wednesday morning, saying they would cut the footage of LL Cool J (aka James Todd Smith) from the special.

Read more at the link above.