VIDEO: THE ROOTS "Get Busy"

2nd hot new video featuring Dice Raw and Peedi Peedi from The Roots upcoming new release, RISING DOWN. Check out the 1st one for the song "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)" HERE

Peace to thetastecrew.com for the heads up!

IAMISEE at Knitting Factory for "Planet B-Boy" Premiere Afterparty

Emcee and producer IAMISEE tore down The Knitting Factory in NYC at the afterparty for the premiere of PLANET B-BOY on March 21st. We played an IAMISEE track, "Generation 1", last year on THE ZRO HOUR. His manager Sister7 contacted me about one of his songs getting placed in the film invited me to come see him perform.


IAMISEE reps Philly and his rhymes and stage show were tops. Backed by DJ DP-1, IAMISEE proceeded to rock for over an hour(!) and never lost the crowd. I heard some of the best hip hop in a long time that night and hung on every word. When I see artists live, I examine their stage techniques and confidence on the mic. I look for clear delivery and the ability to switch it up on demand. IAMISEE had all the main ingredients to rock a party.



Not to be outdone, DJ DP-1 of the TURNTABLE ANIHILISTS, showcased his incredible scratching skill throughout. He was given a solo showcase but did not wait till then to reveal the skill set. He dropped fluid scratches over every track and with the combination of IAMISEE emcee skills, we were treated to a classic two man hip hop performance. The b-boys in the house lost their mind and we were reminded what the "true school" is all about.

MOVIES: "PLANET B-BOY" Review

pictured above: EDAYE with director of PLANET B-BOY, BENSON LEE at New York premiere 03.21.08

A bit late posting this but never too late to spread the word on one of the greatest hip hop movies ever- PLANET B-BOY. I can confidently say that (as shown by my cheesy smile above) it's one of the greatest due to the focus on a very under appreciated facet of hip hop as well as the expressed love for hip hop culture as spoken by the film's phenomenal dancers. PLANET B-BOY is a documentary that follows five teams of b-boys as they prepare for the event of their lives. The "Battle of the Year" b-boy championship is held annually in Germany and its competitors are culled from international semi-finalists that represent their country of origin. The film follows two teams from South Korea (Last For One and reigning champions Gamblerz), one from Japan (Ichigeki), France (Phase-T) and the United States (Knucklehead Zoo) respectively.


pictured above: B-boy Katsu from the Japanese team “Ichigeki” with his mother and brother at their family tea shop in Osaka. Photo Credit: Benson Lee. Elephant Eye Films

Throughout PLANET B-BOY we see each team in their native environment and gain insight into how the love for hip hop culture both binds them and drives them to self expression. As I was watching I felt proud to see how other cultures have embraced something uniquely American as hip hop and how it has evolved into an all-inclusive way of life for youth around the world. We see the same misunderstanding and minimal support from some parents as they struggle to identify with their children. We also see them come around when they see how participating in hip hop has enriched the lives of their children.


pictured above: Korean “Gamblerz” B-boy team member dancing at 2005 World B-Boy Championships in Braunschweig, Germany. Photo Credit: Benson Lee. Elephant Eye Films

The dancing is outstanding and you will stare in awe as these b-boys craft some of the most innovative, daring and seemingly physically impossible moves. The film is in limited release so catch it when it hits your city. SUPPORT it by all means. With all the dance shows currently on television, we are seeing a resurgence in the art of street dancing. PLANET B-BOY is a must see for all who love hip hop and for those who forget that the culture is more than emcees and DJs.

Bekay Weighs In On NY's Former Governor

WOW. Our boy BEKAY completely airs out the recent prostitution scandal involving New York State's former Governor Eliot Spitzer and escort Ashley Dupree. Its a preview track off his upcoming mixtape with DJ Sickamore.

Check it-

GOVERNOR F*CKER

VIDEO: SKILLZ "Crazy World"

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The 1st Annual Roots Picnic Festival in Philadelphia June7th 2008

Taken directly from their posting on Myspace:

The band has been talking for years of curating their own all day event featuring their friends and favorite groups from across all genres and we are pleased to officially announce the line up of The Roots, Gnarls Barkley, Sharon Jones + The Dap Kings, Deerhoof, Santogold, J*Davey, Diplo, and Esperanza with more to be announced. It all goes down at Philly's Festival Pier at 2pm. Tickets go on sale next Friday at 10am ET.

For More Information: www.rootspicnic.com

VIDEO: ILL INSANITY feat. DASHAH "Decorated Vets"

SPOTLIGHT: PACIFIC DIVISION

Pictured above left to right: BeYoung, Mibbs, and Like

This week's spotlight artist is a group from the left coast that feels like the resurrection- PACIFIC DIVISION. Pacific Division, Palmdale, California’s trio consisting of brothers Like and Mibbs, along with BeYoung, have been together dating back to 2001, shortly after their high school days. Joining the workforce lacked appeal compared to the glossy dreams that the guys had vicariously lived through as Hip Hop fanatics – so they went for broke and chased destiny with microphones and exclusive sneaks. the troop from just north of Los Angeles emulated their idols, such as Native Tongues, Hieroglyphics and even Thug Life in slow-crafted, conceptual music. In mid 2006, Pacific Division’s Blend Tape premiered, as a thematic mixtape combining mid-‘90s classic-inspired covers with newer works with producer Swiff-D (The Diplomats, Snoop Dogg, Nas). Songs chronicled day-jobs, trying to appeal to the fairer sex without fat pockets, restoring a Black presence in Hip Hop, and carefully coifed wardrobes amidst the pursuit of glory. We dropped a couple of Pacific Division tracks on THE ZRO HOUR in the past and we featured the crazy video for their single "F.A.T. Boys '08". These Fashionable Artistic Trendsetters bring the vibe of native tongue along with a fresh energy that's been missing from the screwface styles present in much of radio friendly hip hop. Their music grabbed me immediately and took me back to the true school. Check em out and let them know what you think..

The Wake Up Show pt 1

NEW SHOW: THE ZRO HOUR 03.15.08

Pictured from top to bottom: Supernatural, Rhymefest, Kool G Rap, Kid Novice, The Knux, Kaimbr & Rock (Heltah Skeltah)

Weee're Baaack...with a great new episode of THE ZRO HOUR featuring some incredible new joints for 2008! We set the show off with a long missed SUPERNATURAL joint and followed with heaters by THE KNUX, AKROBATIK feat CHUCK D, BEKAY, KIDZ IN THE HALL, AAROPHAT, KOOL G RAP(!),ETERNIA & HERO (E-Dot & Darp Malone). Don't miss the hilarious RHYMEFEST "duet" with MICHAEL JACKSON.

Alexie F. and myself have been cooking up some strong moves lately and we want to take this time to say thank you and props to all those who support us and come through for good vibes, great music and Info. Come back and visit often. Spread the word..
THE REAL HIP HOP IS OVA HERE!* *peace KRS ONE!*

THE ZRO HOUR 03.15.08 (103MB)

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PLAYLIST

BUDDHA BLESSED IT-Supernatural
SUN MOVE ON-Aarophat
BE AWARE-Hero
CAPPUCINO-The Knux
DUI-Edreys
RISIN' UP-Kool G Rap
BATTLIN' MYSELF-Bekay
YOU AIN'T REAL-Eternia
THE SWEETEST THING Rmx-Lauryn Hill feat. John Forte
DRIVING DOWN THE BLOCK-Kidz In The Hall
NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE-Rhymfest & Talib Kweli
MIKE THE MENTOR-Rhymefest & Michael Jackson
ATTEMPTED MURDER-Rock (Heltah Skeltah)
44 BARS OF NOV-Kid Novice
BREAKEM OFF-Kaimbr
KINDRED-Akrobatik feat. Chuck D
FREEDOM-Lauryn Hill

Video: Pace Won & Mr. Green "Hip Hop"

New video from one of our spotlight artists PACE WON & MR. GREEN.

Godhead The General @ The Nuyorican Poets Cafe

If you are in the NYC area on Saturday, March 15th, slide through to check out Godhead The General at one of my favorite venues for that realness- NUYORICAN POETS CAFE.

VIDEO: The Roots "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)"

Crazy new video and single release from Philly's and the worlds greatest hip hop band, THE ROOTS! Peace to TRACE BLOG for the heads up.

SPOTLIGHT: DASHAH

This week's spotlight artist is again someone not new to THE ZRO HOUR but the time is now to reveal more about the "Rap Burglar" aka "The Inkaholik" emcee known as DASHAH. Dashah represents a needed return to the days of emcees who invest their life into the pen and pad. Dashah's focused, deliberate flow shows the beat who's in charge and keeps headz focused on his descriptive wordplay. Born in Alabama, Dashah was raised in Long Island, a long time Hip Hop Mecca. As a kid he was surrounded by music- schooled to funk by his DJ dad and rap from the fellows on the block. Dashah loved everyone from Digital Underground to Big Daddy Kane and the Native Tongues posse. In the mid 90’s D and his family (he’s the middle of 4 kids) moved further out on the Island and, coincidentally their new neighbors were the families of old school legends Rakim and Erick Sermon. In high school Dashah and his boys started making homemade mix tapes and by 1997 he was in his first MC battle and then his very first show. “I was 17 and I was getting a little local buzz.” The next year D and his crew Long Island Trees came through with another tape and then just as things were heating up, Dashah went down south to spend time with his dying grandmother. “All my grandmother wanted was for me to finish school and succeed in music. After she passed, I decided to get serious because it was what she asked me to do.” In 1999 Dashah moved back home and two years later dropped the Unexplainable First Edition: which lead to opening slots for Ja Rule, Fabolous and Naughty By Nature Even though things were going well, D decided he needed a change of scene to push his career even further. He moved to Cali in 2002, dividing his time between LA and San Diego. Money was tight but that didn’t stop Dashah from spending his last dime on a hip-hop convention. His hope? That he’d make some connections and get his music into the right hands.

He did and soon D had a manager who hooked him up with producer Chris Warrior. After two years creating hot songs Warrior introduced D to Yon Styles, a young industry vet (Black Eyed Peas) and product manager for Fuzz Artists- an indie digital label. Styles dug what he heard and offered D a deal but Dashah admits, “I wasn’t sure. It was so new but then I figured, why not?” In 2006 Dashah signed with Fuzz Artists, formed his production company Top Shelf Enterprises, and headed back to NY: ready to reaffirm his hometown’s legacy. After dropping “F*ck Da Majors” D and crew headed back to the lab where they are currently cooking up his Fuzz Artists debut. This year will see the release of his album project. Dashah is due to drop a mixtape before the album (Yo D, when can I hear it?) and is currently featured on the first single, DECORATED VET off of ILL INSANITY's (new group featuring two former members of the X-Ecutioners-Rob Swift and DJ Eclipse and DJ Precision) new CD GROUND XERO. Hit him up and let him know what you think...

We Still Love You B.I.G. Poppa..And Guess Who's Starring As The Notorious One?

Although the anniversary of B.I.G.'s (Christopher Wallace) death was officially yesterday, March 9th, it is never too late to show love and remember one of the best and most loved to ever do it. I am a bit biased since I am from Brooklyn (Bed-Stuy born and raised) but his legacy still stands. Pump the first two CDs, "Ready To Die" and "Life After Death" and weed plate the posthumous releases (except for a handful of heaterz) during this sad memorial.


We have been hearing bits and pieces about the production of a Biggie bio pic and last week it was revealed who won the coveted title role- Brooklyn rapper Jamal Woolard aka "Gravy". Woolard mad a couple of albums in the 90's and was signed to Warner Brothers Records. He made the headlines in 2006 when he was shot in the buttocks outside of NY's Hot 97 radio station becoming a victim of a drive by shooting. His casting has the blessing of B.I.G.'s mom, Voletta Wallace, an executive producer on the project. You won't believe who is slated to play her...Click HERE to find out.

FOREVER CLASSIC- "Big Poppa"

Not Just Another American Gangster REMIX Album...

I found this on PROGHIPHOP.COM. AMERICAN GAMER is an unofficial remix album of Jay-Z's recent release "American Gangster". This project blew me away because of the focus on the production concept. Many have used video game music and soundtracks to rock over but this collection of beats brings a great dimension to Hov's wordplay. The tracks have crazy atmosphere and get your head noddin' unexpectedly. The project features production by Random Beats, K-Murdock, Ravage, pac-O-naut & Macross. Download this heater for your collection..