VIDEO: RAH DIGGA- "This Aint No Little Kid Rap"

RAH DIGGA is back baby! I premiered this song on THEZROHOUR podcast S06E19. Support the ladies of hip hop!

MUSIC TECH: Spectrasonics Trilian has all the bass you’ll ever need

If there’s any other instrument or element in popular music styles that has a profound of an effect on the over feel of the tracks as the drums do, it’s gotta be bass! A great bass riff, bass line, or bass part can take a track to the next level….gives it that thump baby! Honestly, when it comes to virtual bass sounds, one name usually comes up pretty much every time.

Spectrasonics.

Their first product ever, was Bass Legends, a sample cd dedicated to the bass. Then some years later they produced Trilogy the first virtual instrument that was specifically made up of acoustic, electric, and synth bass sounds. That set the bar and Trilogy became the “go to” plugin for all your bass needs. Those with the computer power, and memory to take advantage never looked back.

Enter Trilian. The successor and evolution of Trilogy.

Quick Specs

* Content: 34gb core library
* Format: AU, VST,RTAS
* Price: $299

How does it sound?

Real. Fat. Deep. Huge. Live. Amazing. Thick. Round. Smooth. Harsh- yeah..I could keep going. Honestly, words really can’t describe it, you really have to hear it.
There are things that you may not even realize are missing from your bass sounds/instruments, until you play with Trilian!

Seriously, the detail in these instruments is beyond comparison, and I’ve heard/tried quite a few bass libraries in my days. Take the acoustic upright bass for example, when I heard it…man, I promise I thought I could smell it! It sounds that real. And let me be honest here, I’m no bass player, I have friends that are, and I’ve heard enough live bass in my years to know what one sounds like. It’s like I can actually hear and FEEL the strings vibrating, I feel like I’m actually playing the instrument.

The electric basses are the same thing, everything just sounds so authentic to my ears, from nice and smooth, to hard and harsh, the use of the fx in Trilian allow you to pull up a sexy fender electric and then pull up a harsh, trashy, heavy metal bass right after.

The fingered Clean Fender is amazing, based on the Fender J-bass, the character is just so useful. Thing is, after listening to these samples, it’s hard to even look at anything else, I hit the keys and I’m confident I can feel the strings vibrating, really…AND I can hear them. It’s not just a bass tone, I’m convinced they somehow trapped tiny bass fairies into the software that hit real bass strings every time I send them a midi message…true story. I also liked the muted Chapman Stick…and the picked Hip Hop bass from the Trilogy library, has a nice deep, boomy tone. Of course those are just a few of the many I loved.

Cool, so you expect good realistic bass right…how about the synth bass section?

Man it’s like a freakin museum of synths known for producing fat, throbbing, floor shaking bass! Seriously, Moog, SE-1, Roland, Access Virus, Waldorf, Dave Smith…if these names mean anything to you, then you know what type of treasure awaits. Not only that, but they sampled and reproduced some stuff I had absolutely NO idea ever existed, quirky limited run synths and modules, stuff only a true fanatic would know about. I was happy to see this stuff too.

READ MORE at the original post HERE

MUSIC TECH: Motu BPM beatmaking first look and first beats

I just got Motu BPM last Friday. Bought it from someone that wasn’t using it, hadn’t even been registered yet. I had to check it out for myself.

I plan to have a full review of it, but just like I did with Native Instruments' Maschine, I want to spend some more time learning it. I just wanted to show a few quick tracks and some features I liked about it so far.

Originally posted HERE

VIDEO: JASIRI X- "What If The Tea Party Was BLACK?"

JASIRI X never pulls punches and always comes correct. In the above videos and song Jasiri poses the mot obvious question-"What IF the Tea Party was Black?". We ALL know that when it comes to the outspoken and often racist views attributed to the Tea Party movement, it is a double standard. If there was a Black organization that spoke with the same venom and tactics, it would be shut down and discredited. Can anyone say COINTELPRO?

VIDEO: CYMARSHALL LAW- "The Flyness"

Here is the Official Music Video for the single "The Flyness" from Cymarshall Law & The Beatnikz' upcoming album, "Freedom Express Line," dropping August 31st via XOXO Records and distributed by Sony Red.

DOWNLOAD "The Flyness" by Cymarshall Law & The Beatnikz

New Music From KONCEPT of The Brown Bag AllStars

Koncept "You Knew" featuring Sene (produced by The Audible Doctor)

This is the first leak off of Koncept's upcoming free EP titled "Playing Life".

VIDEO: PACE WON & MR. GREEN "Liquor & Drugs" Trailer

PACE WON & MR. GREEN reunite for another banger! "The Only Number That Matters is Won" coming this Fall on Raw Poetix Records/The Orchard.

NEW Album from CYMARSHALL LAW & The Beatnikz- "Freedom Express Line"

New Jersey emcee CYMARSHALL LAW returns with a new solo project featuring full production by Swedish production team The Beatnikz. Due to drop in August, Cymarshall is proclaiming this to be his best work to date. Preorder at AMAZON.COM. First single, "The Flyness", to be released later today.



In case you missed- Cymarshall Law & Skit Slam are EVERLIVEN SOUND available now on iTunes!

REVIEW: ETERNIA & MoSS- "AT LAST" + Premiere of NEW Video "Goodbye"

Yes! AT LAST the long awaited, long promoted, full length debut album from ETERNIA & MoSS is here. Long time listeners of THEZROHOUR podcast and readers of the blog have gotten familiar with the self proclaimed "hip hop unicorn". Yes she's white, from Toronto, yadda yadda yadda...and skilled to def as an emcee. Producer, MoSS (fellow Canadian and no less ill), combined forces to provide a refresher course on skills and substance in hip hop.

My review may be somewhat biased considering that I have long championed Eternia's talent and viability. Make no mistake, if I am not feeling any of the material I would not hesitate tossing a brick at it. I kept "At Last" on repeat for a few days to take it all in. The project is VERY personal, sharp, filled with commanding flows and dense production. When I first cracked open the CD, I went through my ritual of scouring the liner notes. To my surprise, Eternia and MoSS revealed their thoughts and creative process about every track. It was good to read that there was some disagreement over the direction or content within a couple of the tracks. Creative minds will always disagree or stand by personal vision but it was nice to know that the final product reflects the dedication of these two artists.

The album begins with an audio scene from one of Eternia's live concerts which is fitting due to the way MoSS had the epiphany which led to this project. Seeing Eternia live was the way I first became exposed and my reaction was just as visceral. The next four tracks, "Any Man", "32 Bars", It's Funny (ft. Joell Ortiz) and "The BBQ (ft. Rah Digga & Rage)", go hard showcasing Eternia's lyrical venom. She more than holds her own with veterans and fellow lyrical beasts Joell Ortiz, Rah Digga and (Lady of) Rage. MoSS dials in some pure, neck snapping heat that makes Eternia rise to the occasion. The following 6 tracks is where you understand that her life is truly in the pad. "Pass That" is an autobiographical account of her turbulent entry into the world juxtaposed with third (?) person tales of other kids faced with challenging family and societal pressures. "To The Past" finds Eternia regretful, slightly ashamed yet focused on her new beginnings in life. "The Half" is the anthem for children of "rolling stone" fathers. Eternia often speaks on her father who is a reputed gangster and on this track she reaches out to her extended siblings who share his bloodline. "Played Out" is an ode to many of her failed relationships and examines the role she played in choosing some of these situations. Talent runs in the family as her sister Jessica Kaya laces the hook with lilting vocals. "To The Future" is a haunting, revealing letter to Eternia's future husband. She is warning any potential suitor that she is damaged, distrustful and still healing from some very traumatic experiences with men. One of my favorites. "Dear Mr. Barcardi" is a "Dear John" letter to her favorite libation. All was not good though as you can assume. This classy emcee was sort of a lush at times and sloppy with her drinking. She mentions running into EPMD's Erick Sermon and embarrassing herself. A cautionary tale that many (especially young women) should heed.

The final 4 tracks from the album return to the boom bap/flame spittin' rhymes that Eternia & MoSS excel at. "At Last" (ft. Termanology and long time collaborator Reef The Lost Cauze) finds E back in her comfort zone mic to mic. Termanolgy and Reef are the proper company to keep as they kill the beat like its their own track. "Day In The Life" features fellow Toronto emcees Tona and veteran Maestro Fresh Wes (!). The track is pure fun and high energy. On "Catch Me", one of the hottest beats on the album, reveals that Eternia is both humble enough and sure of herself to avoid diva status and mix it up with the peeps. The album wraps with the sinister backdrop of "Goodbye". Eternia has often intimated that she could very well leave the industry behind. She is a leader exhibiting a no nonsense swagger. Her lyrics on this closer exemplify this attitude. There is already a dearth of female emcees repping with true lyricism and it would be a shame to see her magnetic presence diminished. The video for "Goodbye" just dropped today! Check it out:



ETERNIA & MoSS' "At Last" is the album that I wanted to hear from this great team. MoSS' production is laced with thick drums, bluesy organ, guitar licks and theatrical backdrops. Eternia delivers some of the most passionate lyrical content that you will hear from any emcee- male or female. If I were to rate it, I would give it an 8 out of 10. No fast forward material present at all. If there is another project from these two, I would like it to be just one mic and one producer. Eternia's verses leave you wanting more.

PURCHASE "AT LAST" Digital CD thru iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/at-last/id377896884
(or Key Word Search 'Eternia MoSS' in iTunes Store)

PURCHASE "AT LAST" Physical CD thru Fat Beats:
http://fatbeats.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=9447

VIDEO: RAS KASS feat. DJ Rhettmatic- "Goldyn Chyld II"

He's baaaack! Ras delivers the sick flow that he is known for. The album could be a sleeper.

VIDEO: REFLECTION ETERNAL- "Ballad of The Black Gold

Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek release a brand new music video for "Ballad of the Black Gold", an ode to the oil crisis. I premiered this song on the latest podcast of THEZROHOUR. Great, great song. Powerful video.

MUSIC TECH: Making a beat on Native Instruments Maschine with no samples

This is another video showing how Native Instruments Maschine is not just a sampler or beat machine, but that it can be used just like a workstation or keyboard.

Instead of using it by sampling records or songs into it, I am using the internal sounds and creating music like I would on a Roland Fantom or Yahmaha Motif.

Originally posted HERE

VIDEO: GENERAL STEELE- "Amerikkka's Skemin' "

New video from Steele of Smif-n-Wessun off the 2010 Bucktown USA release "General Steele Presents: Amerikkka's Nightmare Part 2 Children of War".

VIDEO: RHYMEFEST- "City Is Falling"

Newest video off Fest's sophomore album, "El Che".

MUSIC TECH: Importing your own samples into Native Instruments Maschine

In this video I just want to show you how easy it is to import your samples for use in maschine. When you do it this way, you can browse through your own sounds right from the hardware controller, just like internal native instrument sounds.

This is important for me, as I use Maschine without having the monitor on or the software is minimized. I do EVERYTHING from the controller. Maschine is dope, straight up, probably my favorite released product last year. Serious.

Originally posted HERE